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[Sub-Series] Newsletters & Publications > Tom Neal Newsletters > Tulsa Family News
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Deputy Police Chief To
Speak At TOHR, Nov. 14
TULSA (TFN) - Tulsa Deputy Chief of Police Bobby
L. Busby will be the featured speaker at the Nov.
meeting of Tulsa Oldahomans for Human Rights
(TOHR) at the Gay Community Services Center at 21st
&Memorial.The meeting begins at 7:30pm. Topics for
discussion with the ChiefBusby will include expanding
Tulsa’s "diversity" training for new police recruits and
for in-service training to include sexual orientation as
wall as rate and etlmicity. Also on the agenda will be
discussion of recent police visits to local Gay and
Lesbian_nightclubs. All are invited to attend.
TOHR will also hold a new volunteer orientation on
Nov. 9th at 7pm at the Center. Center organizers also
held an openhouse for thenew facility in October. They
note that about 80 people attended the event including
a substantial number of visitors in town for a leather
event. TOHR also hosted a Feastfor,~riends dinner
with raised over $1,000 for The NAMES Project.
Hate In Vermont
BROOKFIELD, Vt. (AP) - Mark Hackett was
thunderstruck when he looked at the fence facing property
he owns on Vermont Route 14. "Exaente the Fag,"
it declared, its message clear despite the misspelling.
Hackett, who is Gay, rents the property to two families,
one of whom has been feuding with the property
owner next door on whose fence the hate message was
spray-painted. Although Hackett as landlord has been
only peripherallyinvolved in the neighborhood dispute,
its message was obvious to him.
"It’s clearly there for me to see.., the message to my
tenant was,’ Seehow yourlandlordlikes that,’ "Hackett
said. "I just think the ’Take Back Vermont’ message is
making it OK to say stuff like that. I don’t have a
problem with people voting Democratic or Republican
or supporting any candidate they want... But you start
seeing that stuff around the state and it’s not about
politics, it’s about hate."
And it is happening more and more around Vermont
in this heated and polarized campaign season. In
Burlington, the Outright Vermont office has taken to
locking its doors and taking other security precautions
after two differentmen walked into the office on Oct. 13
and threatened to kill a staff member. "The first one
basically asked her what she was going to do to eliminate
herself, then told her if she didn’t eliminate hersdf
he would," see Vermont, l~. 2
DIRECTORY P. 2
EDITORIAL P. 3
US & WORLD NEWS P. 4
HEALTH NEWS P. 6
ENTERTAINMENT P. 8
GAY STUDIES P. 10
¯ Servin Lesbian Ga Bisexual + Transg~n~er_ed ~ul__Fa~s_, ~r Fa~ili~.~ Friends
: Gays Excluded From
i Tulsa’s "Diversity"
¯ Metropolitan Ministry Lauds Local Mix
: But Sees On!y Race, Religion + Ethnicity
¯ NEWS ANALYSIS ~- When is "diversity" not diverse? Only in
¯ Tulsa where "do-gooder" organizations, like Tulsa Metropolitan
¯
Ministry (TMM), the National Conference on Community and
¯ Justice (NCCJ), and others can sin~ the praises of interfaith
¯ tolerance andunderstandingwhile excluding or ignoringLesbian
¯ and Gay Tulsans, regardless of faith.
In this case,TMMissued a"Statement in Support ofDiversity"
¯ which defines diversity only in terms of race, ethnicity and
¯ religion. TMM’s newexecutive director theRev. StephenCranford ¯
stated that he did not know if the omission was deliberate.
However, TMM staff said that the text of the statement was
written by TMM board president, Dr. Sandra Rana, who is a
leader in Tulsa’s Islamic community. Members of Tulsa’s Is-
" lamic community have made hostile remarks towards Gays on
¯
several occasions, most recently when a Muslim representative
¯ at a NCCJ Trialogue on Marriage said that his society would
¯ murder any Gay men who attempted to marry each other. Dr.
’ Rana did not respond to messages left about the "Statement in
¯ Support of Diversity".
TMMhas a history of mostly ignoring Lesbian and Gay issues
¯ with one notable exception: the support of an amendment to ¯ Oklahoma’s hate crimes statute whichTulsa Representative Don
: Ross introduced in the legislative session prior to last year’s.
¯ Radford Rader, pastor ofCollegeHill Presbyterian Church, an ¯
officially welcoming congregation of Lesbians and Gay men and
¯ member of the TMM executive board, responded that the state-
" ment was meant to address racial and ethnic diversity because of
¯ the coming of the KKK. It was written right before the incident ¯
¯ at the Jewish cemetery. Rader stated that he did not feel that the
exclusion was deliberate.
see TMM, p. 9 ¯ Gay Grandmothers Just
Want to See Grandkids
TULSA (TFN) - It’s a sad story when families get caught up in
¯
homophobia and prejudice. It’s common when couples separate
after one or the other parent realizes that they are Lesbian or Gay.
¯ And when thelegal systemgets involved, often the Gay parent ¯
loses, though around the US and evenin Oklahoma, courts cases
." are holding that Lesbians or Gay men are not ipso facto bad
¯ parents. But when grandparents are involved, it’s even more ¯
difficult because the law defers almost completely to parents.
¯ That’s where two Tulsa women, Julene and Schrie, find
¯ themselves. Both were once married to men and have children ¯
fromthose relationships.
¯ Some of those kids have no problem with their Lesbian moms.
¯ And one of them didn’t have a problem with them, when she
¯ needed free babysitting and before she was married to a man ¯
who’s areligious fundamentalists. Now the daughter and the son-
¯ in-law who says he’s the head of the house find that "it’s in the
¯ best interest of the kids" that the kids not see their grandmother
¯ or her partner who’s just as close. ¯
Legal experts hold out little hope, and even if there were
¯ grounds for a court case, judges andjuries in Oklahoma are often
¯ .not sympathetic. But this does not deter friends of the women ¯
¯ who praise them for their kindness and support to their friends and employees when they find themselves in need.
¯ The women own a local dub out on Garnett which while it is
not a Lesbian or Gay oriented venue has patron who are remark-
" able supportive of the pair.
¯ Bar employee, Tummy Peevyhouse, was particularly outspo-
¯ ken in her concern for her friends and employers, as was also a
¯ bar patron, Tommy Clown. Frustrated by the limitations offered
by the legal system, Peevyhouse’s response was if the law allows
¯ this [situation], then the law needs to be changed.
¯ Meanwhile, the grandmothers just wait and have faith that as ¯
their grandsons reach legal maturity, they will reassert them-
" selves and come to see them on their own.
HEAR the Quilt
World AIDS Day- Dec, 1
¯ Council Oak Men’s Chorale Benefit
¯ TULSA-The fifth andlargestdisplay ofTheNAMES
Project will behddat tbeTulsa Conventi,o,.n Centeron
¯ on December 1 - 3. The event entitled, HEAR The Quilt" will open with student tours during daytime
¯ hours on World AIDS Day, Friday, December 1.
The opening ceremonies for the general public for
¯
"HEAR The Quilt" will be proceeded by the tradi-
] tionalWorldAIDS Day candlelightmarch.Themarch
¯ will begin at the Courthouse Plazajust west of 5th and
¯ Denver at 6:30, Friday evening.Marchers are encour- ¯
aged to bring organizational banners andbells; candles
¯ will be provided. Parking is available at the Conven¯
tion Center garage. The march will follow a short
¯ route through downtown Tulsa and will return to the
convention center for the Quilt’s opening at 8pro.
This display of the Quilt will feature 188 sections
¯ of the Quilt, each twelvefeet square. The display will
, be free and open to the public. Organizers note that
¯
the Quilt has the power to teach, to touch hearts, and
¯ to change minds.
In conjunction with the "HEAR The Quilt" Dis-
" play, the Council Oak Men’s Chorale under the
¯ direction of Rick Fortner will perform at Hope Uni-
¯ tarian Church, 8432 South Sheridan Road, Tulsa on
: Saturday evening,December2 atT:30pm. Admission ¯
is free, with a suggested $10 donation. Proceeds will
¯ benefit the NAMES Project Tulsa Area Chapter.
There also. will be an interfaith worship service
(coordinated by Reverend Cathy Elliott, pastor of
MCC United Church) to be held at the Quilt display
¯ on Sunday, Dec. 3at 9:30am.
¯ For more information, call (918) 748-3111 or send
e-mail to info@TulsaQuilt.org ¯ Maine To Vote Again
On Gay Civi,I Rights
¯ HALLOWELL, Maine (AP) - Maine’s latest refer-
" endum on civil fights for Gay citizens resurrects
¯ familiar arguments on both sides, but this time propo-
¯ nents have polished the proposal and picked up a
¯ potentially influential ally. In wirming support from
the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, backers
have sought to buttress an exemption for religious
¯ institutions. They have also sought to counter claims
¯ that the measure would award anything special or
¯ endorse specific sexual behavior.
Last time around, the Catholic church sat out the
¯ dection debate, saying it could not support a law
¯ enacted by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Angus
¯ .King because of ambiguities in its language. The
¯ enacted measure was repealed in February 1998
¯ before it ever took effect by a rare "people’s veto"
¯ referendum vote. The outcomein that special election
: was 51% for repeal and 49% against.
~ This time, with numerous other matters on state
¯ ballots expected to produce a bigger voter turnout,
¯ approval of Question 6 would again expand the ¯
Maine Human Rights Act. The proposal would in-
" dude the category of"sexual orientation" in a list of
¯ groups protected against discrimination in the areas
¯ of employment, housing or access to public accom- ¯
modations and the extension of credit. The new
version, however, approved by the Legislature and
signed by the governor in April, is more limited than
the repealed law. "We’ve repeatedly said work needs
to be done to clean up the language," says Catholic
diocesan spokesman Marc Mutty. "And we did that."
Besides the religious exemption, the new version
specifies thatno change in affirmative action requirements
is intended and see Maine, p.3
Tulsa~Clubs & Restaurants
*Chasers, 4812 E. 33
*CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial
*Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine
*Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan
Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square
*St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st
712-2324
610-5323
583-2119
835-2376
744-4280
745-9998
*The Star, 1565 Shelida~, 834-4234 ~
*Renegades/Rainbow Room, i649 S~. M~in 585,3405
*TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial §~920836
*Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd
~
1584-1308
*The Yellow Brick Road Pub, 2630 E. 15th 749-1563
Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals
Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard
Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71
Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41
Body Piercing by Nieole, 2722 E. 15
*Border~ Books & Music, 2740 E.21
*Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale
Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria
*CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria
*Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. llth
Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis
Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker
Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468
743-1000
250-5034
665-4580
712-1122
712-9955
494-2665
743 -5272
746-0313
295-5868
581-0902, 743-4117
622-0700
749-3620
744-5556
838-8503
369-8555
712-9379
592-0460
744-9595
610-0880
628-3709
808-8026
742-1460
459-9349
744-7440
745-1111
341-6866
712-2750
582-3018
747-0236
582-8460
599-8070
747-5466
585-1234
584-3112
663-5934
664-2951
838-7626
743-4297
747-5932
834-0617
834-7921, 747-4746
749-6301
260-7829
481-0558
835-5563
743-1733
665-2222
592-0767
*Deco to Disco; 3212 E. 151h
Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria
*Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan
Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial
Ross Edward Salon 584-0337,
Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main
Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria
Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 551h P1.
Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr.
Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare
*Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st
Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planniug
Mark T. Hamby, Attorney
*Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly
*International Tours
Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 151h
*Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th
David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering
The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening
*Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15
Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210
*Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha
*Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd
Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31
*Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place
Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo
*The Pride Store
Rainbowz on the River B+B,POB 696, 74101
Richard’s Carpet Cleaning
Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors
Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square
PaulTay, Car Salesman
*Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis
Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard
Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling
*Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan
*Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis
918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615
FOB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159. e-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink.net
Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal
Writers + eontributom: James Christjohn. Karin Gregory, Barry
Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche. Lament Lindstrom. Esther
Rothblum, Mary Schepers, Hughston Walkinshaw
Mem~ber of The Associated Press.. ~ _ ~ ~ ,
Issued 0ffor,befot~ th6 1 ~t of~ each month,~entire contents
Of this publicatioxi are protected by US 6opyright 1998 by
To/.~/:k~,,~ N~and may not be~ptoduce~ eitherin whole
or in part without written permission from the publisher.
Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s
sexual orientation. ~orrespondence is assumed to be for
"pi~blication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes
the sole property of TM-~/c¢,,,,~... Nv~,. Each reader is
entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution
points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248.
¯ *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457
Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics &
¯ Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140
¯ *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777
¯ *Free SpiritWomen’s Center, call for location&info: 587-4669 ¯
Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827
¯ Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438
HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd, 583-6611
¯ *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378
¯ *HouseoftheHoly SpiritMinstries,1517 S. Memorial 224-4754
¯ *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 ¯
NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111
¯
NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658
¯ OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157
¯ *OSU-Tulsa ¯
PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901
¯ *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674
¯ Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152
¯ R.A:I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 ¯
*Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325
: St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882
¯
St. Dtmstan’,s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140
¯ *St. Jerome s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088
*Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171
¯ *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225
~ Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105
¯ Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only ¯ Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c!o The Pride Center 743-4297
: T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827
¯ *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule
; *Tulsa Community College Campuses
¯ *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 21st & Memorial 743-4297
¯ Unity Church ofChristianity,3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833
.. BARTLESVILLE
¯ Barflesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353
¯ TAHLEQUAH
: Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900
¯ Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900
¯ Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-936~3
¯ EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
www.gaytulsa~.org - website for Tulsa Gays & Lesbians : Autumn Br~,eeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253-7734
T,,t~ ^~-~.A~=~~ Cha;-bh~i; ~:chOOIS&~. Universities "- Jim &Brent s Bistro 173 S. Main 501-253~7457
A!~r~ ~Xrr~t+~,~~r~tT~ 7’h~:~ [-’ ~ ’~ ~ ~ :~ "~~-95~....~eVito~s’R~S~L -5 Ce~ter~ St.’’ t. ~ ..... ,. ,: 1, ~ ~,1-~53~
~1 So~sU~Ch~ch, 2952 S. Peofia 743-2363 : ¯~dR~nbow, 45 ~!~ Spnng ’St: .....5.01.2.5.3 ~5
Black & ~te, ~c. ~B 1~01, T~sa 74159 5~-7314 ¯ MCC of ~e ~ving Spring 501-253-9337
Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6
B/.L/G/T-Alliance, Univ, of Tulsa United Min. Ctr.
Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston
*Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1.
Church of the Restoration UU, 1314 N.Greenwood
*Community of Hope Church, 2545 S. Yale
*Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation
Council Oak Men’s Chorale
*Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware
583-7815
583-9780
585-1201
& Florence
587-1314
747-6300
749-0595
748-3888
712-1511
Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 501-253~2776
Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-253-5332
Positive Idea Marketing Plans ....... 501-624-6646
Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 501-253-6001
White Light, 1 Center St. 501-253-4074
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696
* is where you can find TFN. Not all are Gay-owned butall are Gay-friendly.
said Keith Elston, executive director of the
group dedicated to Gay and Lesbian youth.
"The other one was much more blunt that he
was going to ’kill fags.’ "
Burlington police are investigating the
incidents, but there have beenno arrests and
cOauretffUiglhatbVoeurtmtro~nntgh.at9s pbregcvoidme~e .msauf.ec.hty mt°oir.tes
staff, volunteers and especially its clients.
From tasteless bumper stickers to graffiti
on highway pavement, it’s apparently become
socially acceptable in the political
climate of 2000 to use derogatory terms for
Gays and Lesbians that once were considered
epithets. There have been scattered but
persistent reports at schools across the state
about anti-Gay incidents and harassment.
On the pavement of the road approaching
the Champlain Bridge near Fort~i~conderoga
inNew Yorksomeonerecently spray-painted
in large white letters "FAGS," with arrows
pointing over the bridge into Vermont.
"How much more explicit can you be
about creating an aura of fear for day-to-day
life?" said Lynne Bond, a psychology professor
at the University of Vermont who has
studied Gay and Lesbian issues.
Vermont’s new civil unions law, granting
most of the rights and benefits of marriage
to same-sex couples, clearly has prompted a
broad public discussion about the lives of
Gays and Lesbians. There are deeply held
beliefs about the morality - or some would
say immorality - of homosexuality. But
before the civil unions debate, those beliefs
were rarely expressed in langnage that’s so
offensive to Gays and Lesbians.
"It seems to me that some people, have
broken out of the social constraints of civility
that I think people were honoring during
thelegislativeprocess," said BethRobinson,
the Middlebury attorney who argued the
lawsuit that led to civil unions.
People who oppose civil unions say
they’ve been unfairly maligned becausejust
they don’t agree with the law. They complain
that they’ve been described as bigots,
hate-mongerers and homophobes. They say
that their ’Take Back Vermont’ signs and
other political placards havebeen knocked
over, defaced with Gay symbols and stolen.
"I think there have been ugly incidents on
both sides," Republican gubernatorial candidate
Ruth Dwyersaid atadebatein Lyndon
Center last week.
Still, it once was eousidered ill-mannered
at best to use such terms as fag and dyke aad
queer in civil conversation. The anger over
civil unions appears to have erased that
unwritten rule in Vermont, at least for the
time being. And that makes many Gay and
Lesbian Vermonters feel as if they’re under
attack, even if it’s a small minority of civil
union opponents who:are behind the hate.
~ : ~ ~P~@I’O~6*~[re~, frimtrated lthat
1 didn-t~get ~d~* ~ivil ~iOrls bill killed
Legislature, some of them have taken it.
upon themselves to link an ominous, mystical
Gay agenda to the civil union bill,"
- Elston.said. ’,’They’ve.been-falsely suggest~
ing that there s something in the civil unions
bill that requires the teaching of homosexuality
in schools. They’ve been foolishly
suggesting that Outfight teaches homosexuality
in the schools, that we’re distributing
pornography." see Vermont, p.3
World Watch:
News Not Covered in Our Daily
by Tom Neal, editor/gadfly/publisher
It’s old fashioned to place as much import on a daily
newspaper but then as a newspaper publisher and editor
of now seven years, I am somewhat committed to the
concept. Unlike the internet, radio and television, those
more ephemeral of media, the printed word, even on acid
filled newsprint leaves a legacy, a picture of where we are
and where we were, in a way that is more accessible and
probably more permanent.
This new and irregularly published column, like much
ofthis newspaper’s coverage, intends to bring to attention
things which otherwise might not get addressed.
Andwhile our daily newspaper, The Tulsa Worldis not
the worst newspaper in America, it does have some
foibles, some journalistic lapses which stem from its
parochial circumstances: a privately owned, smaller town
paper with a historically greater emphasis on coverage of
wealthy whites, rather than minority citizens and issues.
It’s better than it used to be but...
We are in the height of the United Way campaagn, and
as in years past, The Tulsa World is a major supporter of
TulsaAreaUnitedWay (TAUW). This is notintrinsically
a bad thing. TAUW does do much good for many. But
TAUW also funds organizations which engage in discnminatory
practices and itself may discriminate. There
are ongoing questions about the true percentage of funds
which go to services rather than administration.
Onemight think that The Wormwouldat least look into
these issues. But year after year, The World’s coverage of
United Way is a public relations flakmeister’s dream,
with shamelesslypromotional stories aboutTAUWfunded
agencies which nm during the United Way fundraising
campaign.
Canwedoubt thatifTAUWwere funding’~penly racist
or anti-semitic agencies that The World would write
about it? Despite claims of separation between the newsroom,
and advertising and ownership, The Worm has a
clear conflict of interest between its promotion of United
Way and its commitment to good journalism.
The World will change when they know that their
readers like you andme find their practices unacceptable.
Not to pickonJoe Worley, executive editor butultimately
he’s responsible for the decision to coddle Tulsa Area
United Way and its bad mannered (and in one case,
clearly lncohapetent) management. Joe’s ntunber is published
on page A-2 everyday. Let him know when The
World’s doing a good job of covering Lesbian and Gay
issues (overall, they’re doing better these days) but also
let him know what’s not working too.
’In the current, embittered political atmosphere, it is
difficult to counter such arguments. And so it feeds on
itself and results in slogans that once would have been
considered epithets being painted on a neighbor’s fence.
Although it’s unpleasant for many Vermonters, regardless
of their homosexuality, people who have been
involved said they will continue speaking out. "You have
to just keep on.telfing the truth, over and over again,"
El~n ~akl. !’Everyti~n~,thCy ~ylie~ ~a~bgut you,’yqq l~av¢
t~ exp0~e. ~em ~s [i~e~ on~!,Y0q ~aYq ~to ~t~lil,th~ .tnifl~
people hear that message."
"They Don’t Want Civil Rights, They Want Special Rights"
Early this morning, before I was really awake, or maybe
late last night drowsing with the television on, the history
channel was showing footage about the struggle Black
Americans had to end legal segregation. This part ofrecent
American history is a particular interest of mine but this
was mostly things I’d heard or seen before. But then there
was an image that caught my attention, one I’d never seen
before.
An old black and white image showed a white Southerner
marching with a placard Saying, "They don’t want
civil rights, they want SPECIAL rights!" And here I
thought that particular carnard wg~ newly minted to
mischaracterize the desire of Lesbian and Gay persons to
live our lives relatively unmolested, with a some semblance
of the same opportunities which non-Gay citizens
enjoy.
Perhaps I should not have been surprised. In the fight
over whether Lesbian and Gay Americans should serve
openly in defense of our country, almost word-for-word
rhetoric was trotted out to oppose Gays as was used to
oppose racial integration of the US military.
Prejudice, like taxes and death, is, it seems, fundamental
to the human condition, with Americans, like others,
occasionally transcending our biases. After many shameful
years of oppression, Americahas slowly set aside some
of its racism. But different prejudices, seeing a void, have
come forward.
In response, we can do several things. Many simply seek
to live their own lives, quietly, avoiding harassment as best
as possible. Others speak out as best they can. But all who
are citizens can vote, and after the election, can contact
those who are supposed to be representing us.
Of course, in Oklahoma, this is often an exercise in
frustration. Our elected federal leaders are nearly all dedicated
to attacking or restricting the rights of Lesbian-and
Gay citizens - and their staff are usually rude and arrogant.
But not to hold them accountable is to let them
assume that all agree with their prejudice.
Needless-to-say, in this election, if you are reading this
before Nov. 7th, please consider the difference between
the Republicans and the Democrats. As bad as the Democrats
may be in Oklahoma, on a national level, that party
has clearly talked and walked the talk. Positions for fair
treatment of Lesbian and Gay citizens are in the Democratic
platform and have been honored in action by the
national party, not perfectly, but under Clinton and Gore,
more than ever before.
Bush and the Republicans may have moderated some of
their anti-Gay, neo-nazi rhetoric (though not the Oklahoma
party) but this is the party which brought us years of
indifference to the HIV/AIDS crisis under Reagan, as well
as a documented hostility to addressing anti-Gay hate
crimes, let alone civil rights issues like employment, fair
housing, military service, legal recognition, of our relationships
and families, etc.
It’s not that I especially like Gore, or that Bush isn’t an
idiot, it’s just that given the choice, we have no choice.
This guy will be making the next Supreme Court appointments.
And decisions which have been crucial to our lives
(like Bowers v. Hardwick which said that straight oral sex
is constitutionally protected but the same act for Gays can
be a felony crime, Dale v. the Boy Scouts of America,
Colorado’s Amendment 2) have all been mostly narrowly
decided cases. Another Scalia, or Clarence Thomas, the
type of choices we’ve seen from Republican presidents,
would not bode us well.
Vote like your life depends on it- in many ways, it does.
-Tom Neal, editor & pubisher
that there would .be no. requirement for employers to
provide benefits for the partners of Gay and Lesbian
workers.
"The diocese has never been opposed to any of the
proposals," Mutty says. But he says changes this year not
only made it possible for the church to sign on as an
advocate, but were also aimed at making the measure
acceptable to a majority of people statewide.
Michael Heath of the Christian Civic League of Maine,
a leader of one of the major groups opposing the measure,
says the shift from neutrality to advocacy by the Catholic
diocese was a major setback. The prospect of a busy
balloting day is also a concern for opponents, he says. "If
there’ s a big turnout of voters, then a lot of sort ofimpulsive
voters are going to be there," Heath says, fretting that those
unfamiliar with details of the proposal may not appreciate
its impact.
Heath says the morality of homosexuality remains central
to the debate and that conferring rights with this
proposal could lead to further Gay demands. "It lays the
foundation for a lot of other things," Heath says.
Observers on both sides suggest much of the Maine
electorate appears-to have grown weary of the issue, which
in one form or another has occupied debate on public
policy for at least two decades. In 1992, the first local Gay
fights law was passed by the Portland City Council. Three
w.gr~s later, Maine~ vot.,¢,r~,~rejected a proposal to prevent
municipal and other government bodies.in the state from
passing laws barring anti-Gay discrimination.
In 1997, after years of legislative warring, a state civil
rights law was enacted. But just months later, the people’s
veto vote forced by opponents repealed that. "It was very
close the last time it went around. I know there’s been a lot
of work on both sides," says bakery worker Sara Wagner
in Hallowell. "I hope it passes." In a brief, streetside
interview, Wagner said her awareness of discrimination
facedby people sheknew ofmade the ballot questionmore
than an abstract matter of principle. "It has real life implications,"
she said.
Heath, in contrast, maintains the proponents’ claims of
acturd discrimination are specious. "It’s obviously not
widespread," he says.
Earlier this month, in response tO an inquiry by one of
the referendum bill’s leading legislative champions, Attorney
General Andrew Ketterer advised that ~at least the
threat of discrimination is real under existing statutes.
"The federal and state law, as currently written and interpreted
by the courts, do not prohibit the denial or termination
of employment, the denial of credit, the denial of
public acco~nmodation or the denial of housing because of
sexual orientation," Ketterer wrote.
The most recent campaign finance reports show that
supporters from the Maine Coalition for Equal Rights,
now known as YES on 6, reported donations of nearly
$260,000 and expenditures of $240,000.
The Christian Action League collected $37,500, but is
also opposing proposals on video gambling and doctorassisted
suicide. According to a recent poll by the Portland
research firm Critical Insights Inc., respondents favored
the referendum by 59% to 29%, with 11% undecided.
Question 6 on Maine’s ballot asks:
"Do you favor ratifying the action of the 119th
Legislature whereby it passed an act extending to all
citizens regardless of their sexual orientation the
same basic rights to protection against discrimination
now guaranteed to citizens on the basis of race, color,
religion, sex or national origin in the areas of employment,
housing, public~acco.ram~datipa~.a~d~cr~edi[ .and
where th~ a~t expregs’ly~s~te~
confers legislative approval Of, or sp~,i~ d’gtig tb;
any person or group of persons?"
¯ Okla. Reps. = Total Zeros
: Not that it should come as any surprise to anyone, but
¯ the Human Rights Campaign, HRC, reports in their
¯¯ scorecard for the 106thCongress thatOklahoma’s Representatives
and our Senators, Largent, Cobum, Watkins,
¯
Watts, Istook, Lucas, Nickles and Inhofe received total
¯ zeros on 10 questions about legislation of concern to Gay
¯ citizens. This is why voting matters, friends. - TFN
Scouts Fire Gay Man
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) - A Boy Scout
executive was stripped of his Eagle Scout status and
fired by the Boy Scouts of America National Council
10 days after he publicly admitted he is Gay, his
attorney said. Len Lanzi, Boy Scouts Los Padres
Council executive director, worked for the scouting
organization 14 years before he was terminated by
mail.
"We plan to pursue all legal remedies available to
him," said Lanzi’s attorney, Steven Serratori, whose
Century City firm specializes in employment law "I
think it’s fair to say that everybody is surprised at the
arrogance of the Boy Scouts," Serratori said. "To think
in this day and age that they think they can fire
someone based on their sexual orientation..." A U.S.
Supreme Court rnling last summer upholding the Boy
Scouts" right to exclude Gay members does not apply
to its employees, the lawyer said.
Lanzi, whose territory includes Santa Barbara and
SanLuis Obispo counties, is believed to be the highestranking
Boy Scout executive to publicly acknowledge
his homosexuality since the Supreme Court ruling in
June.
Los Padres Boy Scout boardmembers told the Santa
Barbara News-Press their options were limited because
of the national council’s policy on Gays. "We
could contradict the national Boy Scout policy, and
possibly risk the whole council being decommissioned,
orwecan go along with firing him," said Karl Eberhard
a member of the Los Padres Boy Scouts board. "I
maintain that the whole thing is completely idiotic," he
added.
Neighbors Don’t Mind
Alabama Ga " Nudists
WAVERLY, Ala. (AP) -h grovel road winds through
John Bales’ wilderness resort. It looks like any of the
paths leading to huntinglodge_s wherecountless Southern
men spend weekends this time of year. Then, you
come to the sign: "Clothing optional area."
This isn’t your ordinary, out-of-the-way spot in the
woods of east Alabama. Bales owns Black Bear Camp,
a 33-acre resort catering to Gay men who enjoy nature
au naturel.
Black Bear Camp isn’t for hunting. It’ s for socializing.
The clientele tends to be Gay men best described
as the rugged type: Many have beards and bellies and
would rather sit around the lodge watching football on
TV than go to a Gay bar. "Probably more than 50% of
our customers are married or divorced with kids,"
Bales said. "’We don’t get the flamboyant type."
There were rumblings when another clothing-optional
campground for Gay men opened near the south
Alabama town of Geneva a couple of years ago. A
Lesbian-operated retreat where guests wear clothes,
Camp Sister Spirit, drew heated protests in 1993 after
opening in rural Mississippi.
But Bales hasn’t heard any complaints from surrounding
Lee County or nearby Waverly, a town of
" h
160 people, many,of them elderly. I know my ne.l.g .-
bors. They know I mGay, and they know I opened ttus
place," he said. "There hasn’t been a problem with it."
Many residents don’t know the camp exists: Bales
doe’Sn’t adverd~ locally, and there are no signs indicatinglthat
a dbfhing-opti0nal resort for Gays is just
off busy U.S. 280. But people who do know about the
camp don’t seem concerned about what’s going on in
the woods north of Auburn. "If that’ s what turns them
on, let ’em go on," said Waverly town clerk DeLene
Cawley. "If I belonged to a nudist colony that’s where
I’d want to be."
A leader of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Alabama
isn’t surprised by the lack of controversy. "As
long as there’s no loud music and people keep to
themselves I wouldn’t think people would have a
problem with it," said David White.
Bales, a 57-year-old math professor at Tuskegee
University, didn’t set out to get into the clothingoptional
resort business. He began buying land around
Little Loblockee Creek in 1982 and began building
1ears later with plans for the camp to provide a source
of income when he retires in 2009.
There’s bunk space for 24 in the 3,600-square-foot
lodge, whichhas a tin roof and all the comforts ofhome
plus some: Internet access, satellite TV, a hot tub and
an above-ground swimming pool with deck. Bales has
had as many as 30 customers on a weekend, but the
more typical crowd is six or seven.
"It was not my original intention to be clothingoptional,"
he said. "But shortly after I opened, I began
to get inquiries from clothing-optional groups asking
whether that was allowed. "It didn’t take me long to
realize that the remoteness and seclusion of the camp
made than a natural option and a good niche market to
enter."
With prices ranging from $8 for daytmae guests to
$40 a night for double occupancy bunks, Bales hopes
to break even this year as far as operating costs go. He
weeds out the occasional unannounced visitor just
looking for a good time. "No one wants to come down
here and have people who are looking at naked guys
and propositioning them for sex," he said. "That will
drive away my business.’"
Journalist Group Calls
For Partner Benefits
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The Society of Professional
Journalists approved a resolution calling for
news organizations to provide benefits for domestic
parmers of their Gay and Lesbian employees. .
The measure was opposed by some SPJ members
who said the professional organization should not get
involved in employment matters such as benefits.
Delegates approved the resolution by a margin of 85 to
36 at SPJ’s national convention.
Sally Lehlman, SPJ’s diversity chair, said the resolution
would ensure that Gay and Lesbian journalists
are not treated "like second class citizens in the newsroom."
"It’s not about employment from our perspecfive.
It’ s about fairness and accuracy in content, which
emerges in part from fairness in the newsroom," she
said.
Mark Scarp, an editorial writer for the Scottsdale
(Ariz.) Tribune, and member of SPJ’s executive committee,
said the group should follow its precedent of
leaving employment issues up to unions. "I personally
support domestic partner benefits but I believe it qualifies
as an employer-employee relations issue," Scarp
said. "We’re a professional association and I felt it
wasn’t appropriate for us to make a determination on
such an issue."
A few years ago, SPJ comuussioned a survey on
reporters’ salaries, but would not get into trying to
persuade employers to improve pay, Scarp said.
Gay Couple Get
Abducted Child Back
CATHEDRAL CITY, California (AP) - A 10-yearold
boy abducted by his grandfather who accused the
child’s caretakers of promoting a Gay lifestyle has
been returned to the couple. Miguel Washington was
surrendered to authorilies by relatives in Pennsylvania
and returned to the home ofhis uncle, Paul Washington
Jr., and Timothy Forrester. "Right now he’s really
happy to be home," Washington Jr. said. "We’re absolutely
elated. Our family is united again."
An attorney for Paul Washington Sr. and Sandra
Washington, Mignel’s grandparents and Washington
Jr.’s parents, said his clients intend to pursue custody.
"My clients don’t feel that’s the best home for him,"
said attorney Bill Hence Jr. "I’m very disappointed in
the agencies that were supposed to be protecting the
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Outreach Program Thurs. Nights
Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment
Call for meeting times and place:
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fights of the child." A hearing was scheduled for
December.
Miguel was born to Angelena Washington, the
younger Washington’s mentally disabled sister, who
was impregnated while living in an assisted-care facility,
family members said. At the time, family members
informally agreed to have him raised by Washington
Jr., a hardware store salesman, and Forrester, a teacher.
Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Tex
Ritter said his office had not decided if charges will be
filed in the abduction. The elder Washington picked up
Miguel for an overnight fishing trip on Oct. 6 andnever
brought him back, Washington Jr. said.
Instead, Washington and For/ester received a letter
from a Los Angeles law firm Oct. 7 stating that Miguel
had been removed from their home and accusing the
pair of "actively promoting or influencing a Gay
lifestyle for the minor." The letter cited Miguel’s
participation in ballet and "Gay art class" instead of
baseball as one reason for the boy’s removal.
Germany Ready to
Recognize Gay Partners
BERLIN (AP)-Germany’s governing coalition wants
to pass a law giving equal legal status to Gay couples
early in November, politicians stated. Leaders from
the Social Democratic and Greens parties said they
plan to have the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament,
approve the bill Nov. I0.
Conservatives, however, control a majority in the
upper house of parliament and have criticized the law.
To get around their opposition that could scuttle the
bill, lawmakers laid out a plan Friday to divide the
legislation into two parts.
The government majority in parliament would pass
administrative regulations creating the legal frameworkforGay
couples without the upper house’ s agreement.
However, the upper house will still be called on
to approve lifting the disadvantages to Gays contained
in labor and tax codes.
ACLU Trying Bias
Reduction Program
ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia is one of three states
chosen by the American Civil Liberties Union to pilot
a program to educate teachers about bullying of Gay
and Lesbian students.
The ACLU says students who identify themselves
as Gay are more than four times as likely to suffer
bullying than heterosexual students. Gary Weber, legal
director of the Georgia ACLU, said Gay students
also have higher rates of absenteeism and suicide. The
program will use panels - including a Gay student,
perhaps a parent of a Gay student, a school administrator
or classroom teacher and an attorney - to explain
the legal liabilities schools face if they ignore harassment.
TheACLU will begin contacting schools in November
to schedule traimng sessions. Districts that refuse
the training may be called by an ACLU attorney to
briefly explain legal liabilities. Kentucky and Indiana
are the other two pilot states. No date has been set for
expanding theprogram, which was developed in northern
California, to other states, ACLU spokesman Eric
Ferrero said.
Big .Brothers, Big Sisters
Bans Gay Volunteers
OWENSBORO, Ky (AP) - The local chapter of Big
Brothers-Big Sisters, which links children with adult
mentors, will no longer allow Gays to participate in the
program. The board voted 10-9 to bar openly Gay
volunteers following a closed-door meeting.
Board members had raised concerns about health
issues and fear that it would create confusion among
childr+n over sexual orientation matters, said Sue
Krampe, executive director. The debate on whether to
conunue to allow Gays to mentor children surfaced
recently after Brian Combs, a case manager and minister
at Christ View Christian Church, quit after learning
a homosexual was a mentor in the program.
The board was deadlocked in a vote earlier this
month. Combs had been the only person to raise a
complaint prior to the first vote. But since then, the
agency has fielded 18 telephone calls in opposition to
allowing Gays in the program, Krampe said.
Volunteers had been asked their sexual orientation
during the initial screening process and parents were
allowed to veto amatela based on their answers.
Nationally, only a "handful" of the 500 chapters of
the American Big Brothers-Big Sisters prohibits homosexuals~
from mentoring children, Krampe said.
Each local chapter can set ~ts ownpolicies on the issue.
she said.
Newspaper Chain to
Offer Partner Benefits
GRANDRAPIDS, Mich. (AP)- Six of the eight Booth
newspapers in Michigan will offer benefits to partners
of Gay employees starting in January. The papers that
will offer the benefits are The Ann Arbor News. The
Bay City Times, The Flint Journal, The Jackson Citizen
Patriot, the Kalamazoo Gazette and The Saginaw
News. The eight Booth newspapers are owned by
Advance Publications, based in New York.
George Arwady, publisher of the Kalamazoo paper,
said the new benefits were "pretty well accepted" by
employees. "It’ s a matter of equitable treatment for our
employees," Arwady said. "We have not made a big
deal out of it, mad it’s not a big deal."
Margaret DeRitter, an editor at the Gazette, said she
was pleased by the amaouncement. "I wasn’t aware of
employees internally pushing for.it," said DeRitter,
who is Gay and a 12-year employee of the paper. "I
thought it was great the company would do this without
any prompting from the staff. It says they value all
of their employees and want to be fair and equitable."
Mother of Slain Soldier
Appeals Army Decision
WASHINGTON (AP)-The mother of a FortCampbell
soldier who was murdered in iris barracks is seeking to
overturn the denial of her $1.8 million wrongful death
claim against the Army Kutteles sent an appeal of the
Sept. 27 decision by the military to Army Secretary
Louis Caldera. Kutteles, of Kansas City, Mo., said
fellow soldiers believed Winchell was Gay and harassed
him for months before he was beaten to death
with a baseball bat while sleeping in his cot July 5,
1999 at a post in Kentucky. The Army knew about the
harassment but did nothing to stop it, she said.
Pvt. Calvin Glover of Sulphur, Okla., was sentenced
to life in prison for murdering Winchell. Another
soldier was given a 12 1/2-year sentence for lying to
investigators. The Army inspector general issued a
report in July on Winchell’s murder.
The report found evidence of low morale mad anti-
Gay behavior among members of Winchell’s unit, D
Company, 2nd Battalion of the 502nd Infantry Regiment.
It concluded, however, that the chain of command
at Fort Campbell responded,a:ppropriately with
respect to enforcing the Pentagon S policy of permitting
Gays to serve in the military so long as they keep
their sexual orientation private.
Kutteles says should Caldera side with her, the
Army wouldbe taking full responsibility for Winchell’s
death. "We have to do this for our son’s sake. He died,
and I want his death to be meaningful," she said. "I
want other mothers and fathers not to have to go
through this."
Easier-to-Swallow
Anti-AIDS Pills
WASHINGTON (AP).- The government
approved a new easier-to-use version of a
standard AIDS drug that may ease patient
complaints that the medicine is too hard to
swallow. The drug is ddI, often used in the
multi-drug cocktails that AIDS patients
take to fight the virus. Until now, patients
havehad to chew, or dissolve in water, two
large, bitter-tasting ddI pills twice a day.
Those pills also frequently were blamed
for diarrheaand other gastrointestinal side
effects.
The Food and Drug Administration approved
a once-a-day capsule version of
ddI. Swallowing the capsule, to be sold
under the brandname Videx F_C, means no
nasty taste problem. An FDA spokeswoman
said thenew ddI may cause fewer
dangerous interactions with other medications
that AIDS patients take, because the
capsule does not contain abuffering ingredient
used in thechewable version.
Also, manufacturer Bristol-Myers
Squibb contends a special coating on the
new version means it may cause fewer
gastrointestinal side effects. Although
Bristol-Myers never ddirecdy compared the
old and new ddI to prove that, the FDA
said getting rid of that old buffering ingredient
may indeed help.
Bristol-Myers did notreveal whenVidex
EC would begin.selling, or if it would cost
the same as the old version,-,.
Researchers & Drug
Co. Dispute Results
CHICAGO (AP)-A study suggesting that
a vaccine-like AIDS treatment is ineffective
has provoked a public dispute between
the manufacturer that paid for much
of the study and doctors who say the company
tried to squelch their research.
The study’s conclusions, published in a
recent Journal of the American Medical
Association, echo doubts aboutHIV- 1 Immunogen
that were expressed several years
ago by advisers to the U.S~ Food and Drug
Administration. The results suggest that
when added to the drug regimen for HIVinfectedpatients,
HIV-11mmunogenfailed "
to reduce the risk of devdopingfull-blown ¯
AIDS. The drug cames the brand name ..
Remune. ¯
Immune Response Corp., the drug’s "
manufacturer, contends that researchers "
omitted favorable data and skewed the
results. The company entereda fairly com- .
mon arbitration process during which it "
tried to produce "a more balanced manu- :
script," said Dr. Ronald Moss, the ¯
company’s vice president of medical and "
scientific affairs. Instead, the researchers "
~~:.~¥i~lated daeir~eonttaomalagreement and i
r. 1~blish~in~oinpletefindings;Moss ~aid.~ ....
"It seems like tabloid journalism that "
lAMA would not investigate this further" "
before publishing, Moss said,
HIV-1 Immunogea was developed by ."
the late Dr. Jonas Salk, who created the ."
first polio vaccine. It was developed be- ."
fore powerful "drug cocktails" including ¯
protease inhibitors became standard HIV :
treatment, and Immune Response says :
subjects’ use of such drugs affected the :
findings in the JAMA study. ".
Dr. James Kahn of the University of
California at San Francisco, the smdy’s
lead author, said the company withheld
important data and then tried to suppress
publication.
The company denies both claims. In an
arbitration complaint last month, Immune
Response also demanded $7 million to
; 10 millionfrom Kahn and the tmiversity,
claiming dissemination of the negative
findings caused,it financia], harm, university
attorney :Christopher Patti said. The
university contends Kahn was-allowed to
publ.ish the results.
The study of2,527 patients inthe United
States found that Remune did boost levels
ofinfection-fighting white blood cells, but
the authors questi,o....n~fl whether the effect
was clinically significant.
JAMA editor Dr. Catherine DeAngelis
defended thejournal’s decision to publish.
’q’his study stands on its own scientific
merit," she said. "It was peer-reviewed as
~uch." In a JA1V[A editorial, she said the
dispute illustrates what can happen when
disagreement erupts between researchers
and a funding sponsor who "has a proprietary
interest in the findings."
Moss said the study was published without
the consent of some of the researchers.
The company and one of the dissenting
researchers, Dr. John Turner of Graduate
Hospital in Philadelphia, drafted a letter
Monday to DeAngelis, decrying publication
of a manuscript that contains "incomplete
and inaccurate information." The
final manuscript contains "some major
statistical flaws," said Turner, who believes
HIV-1 lmmunogen can slow disease
progression. "ff I were HIV-positive,
I would batter down any door necessary to
get it, period," Turner said.
Doctors Org. Cites
Conflicts of Interest
CHICAGO (AP) - A funny thing happened
to Dr. Jerome Kassirer at a recent
lecture to medical students about financial
conflicts of interest for doctors: It turned
out the free buffet was provided by amajor
drug company. Kassirer had a blunt message:
Medical schools and training programs
"must teach that there is no free
lunch. No free dinner. Or textbooks. Or
even a ballpoint pen."
From freebies for medical students to
research funding that can taint study results
to the growing practice of marketing
prescription medicine direcdy to consumers,
drug_companies have a growing and
sometimes unseemly influence on doctors,
according to articles, studies and editorials
published recently in the Journal of
the American Medical Association.
The relationship between research and
indus~try appears to beunde.r growing scm-
’ fihy~The edit6fof, the:New’ E~tgl~tnd Journal
of Medicine wrote an extraordinary
critique in May, saying scien.ce_ is being~
compromised by the growing influence ot
induslry money. That same month, the
Harvard Medical School said it would not
ease its conflict of interest standards, considered
the toughest in the nation, and
Dean Joseph B. Martin called for a national
dialogue on the issue.
Most experts agree that research needs
industry dollars. The top 10 pharmaceuti-
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Mary Schepers
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and several other artists
present a showing and sale of:
Clay sculptures, pottery anF:Lddcorative
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Oklaiaorna NAI,L.\I... covdia!iv ~.t~,v~v~ v,ott
to a chocolate and champa~r~~ ~ete in
support of abortion and reprt~d~ctive
rights in Oklahoma
Celebrating 27 Years of Choice
Sunday, November 12, 2000. 1:3(.1 - 3:30 p.m.
:"~’° fob~heldat Resonat~~e - " ~
Champagne, Coffee, Chocolates
$25 per ~ndividual
[’lea.~ R.S.V.P. to the NARAL L)ffice: 4.4-9585
cal companies spent nearly $23 billion on : days, washing the condoms with water
clinical research last year- more than the ¯ and soap afteruse. Researchers will check
nearly $18 billion provided by the Na- : the condoms for rips or tears and examine
tional Institutes of Health, JAMA editor ." the participants to make sure that’reuse
Dr. Catherine DeAngelis said. ¯ doesn’t cause rashes or irritations.
The problem is when researchers have " "In terms of the whole spectrum of birth
f’mancial interests in companies funding " control, it’s not the best," Said Barbara
their work. DeAngelis said such research ¯ Lea-Kruger, spokeswoman for the Viris
lower in quality and more likely to " ginia Department of Health’s HIV/AIDS
report findings favorable to the company, division."Butifwe’retalkingaboutwomen
One study found ,that. 7,6 percent of the : who don’t have access to other forms of
faculty researchers at the University of ¯ birth control and who come from a culture
California at San Francisco~aad personal " wheremenareless willing touseacondom,
financial ties to their drug company sport- " it’s a Viable alternative."
sorslastyear.Mostwereshort-termspeak- :
ing engagements or consulting agreements Seniors & HIV/AIDS with minimal payments. ¯
State and federal-guidelines require re- CANTON, Ohio (AP) - Older people
searchers to disclose certain financial ties, . sometimes have an awkward approach to
and a UCSF policy prohibits faculty in- ¯ sexual issues that puts them at risk for
volvedinindustry-sponsoredresearchfrom " HIV, health counselors say.
receiving any compensationfrom the corn- " SusanJ. McCollum, who teaches people
pany during the study. 50 and older about the risks of contracting
Elizabeth Boyd and Lisa Bert, with HIV, said older people must be aware of
UCSF’s Institute for Health Policy Stud- the risks. "It’s dangerous for any group of
ies, said a campus committee "worked to people to think they’re immune," said
accommodateallbutthemostovertlycon- McCollum, a counselor for Planned Parflicting
relationships in the interest of en- enthood ofStark County.
couraging its faculty, and, presumably, According to the U.S. Centers for Disencouraging
future outside investment in ease Control and Prevention, the number
the university." of older people becoming infected is in-
The authors suggested that financial ties creasing. An estimated 10.9 percent, of
may be more prevalent at other universi- men with HIV and 9.4 percent of women
ties with less stringent policies. A 1998- with HIV are 50 and older.
2000 study of 89 major universities found "People that age have not grown up with
that only 17-19%- had specific limits or condoms, like people who are in their
prohibitions on relationships with indus- 20s," McCollum said. "For a woman in
try. While most had co~fflict of interest her 60s to talk to a man about condoms..
policies, the3, were not as effective be- ." McCollum also said it’s an awkward
cause they don’t spell what is prohibited, adjustmentforpeoplewhoarenewly single
the authors said. after having been in along-term marriage
Dr. Jordan Cohen, president of the As- or relationship. "Women4Oandolderdon’t
sociation of Americau Medica! Colleges, want to grow old alone," McColhma told
announced that the group is forming a task The Repository for a story published Sunforce
to investigate conflicts of interest dav."They’reputtingthemselvesoutthere,
and reach a consensus on what types of but they don’t know enough, or they’re not
relationships with drug companies should able to talk about condoms. It puts them at
be allowed, a real disadvantage."
Around the world, an estimated 85,000
Women’s Corldo[~
women, middle-age and older, have been
infected with HIV. McCollum has had
May Help HIV Fight young women come for HIV testing who
want her to talk to their mothers about
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - A condom for risky sexual behavior.
women that never quite caught on in the KimJackson, spekeswomanfortheOhio
United States is being studied to see if AIDS Coalition, said that while her group
reusing it can make it more economical does not offer educational programs speand
help fight AIDS in developing coun- eifieally targeting seniors, older people do
tries. The United Nations AIDS program participate. "We have a general education
has been distributing the Reality Female program for people of all ages," Jackson
Condom to women in areas such as sub- said. "We are seeing more people that age
Saharan Africa, which has been-devas- attending our programs. We had several
tated by AIDS. people in their 70s at our last program."
The key to providing female condoms, Bonnie Bolitho, executive director of
which retail for $2 to $3 apiece, to poor " Planned Parenthood of Stark County, said
women is making them affordable, said ; many older people have the incorrect idea
Dr. Susan A. Ballagh, the clinical trial’s thatHIV-AIDS is a "homosexual" disprincipal
investigator~ ..-~ :. ~ ; :;~ .ease~~ thatit aff~ts O~[y yo~mgtpeople.
~;- -TheChicago-basedF.emal¢H~althCom~ i :. "rl~ere~.s tl~tse~e~that :~It-cot~’’~t"~pen’ to
pan~,theproduct’ssolemannfaclurer, sells ~ me,"’ she said. "You’re talking about of
the condoms to international family plan- ¯ group of people who have been monoganing
agencies for as little as 70 cents a , mous for most of their lives. Now, they’re
piece. ; at a different stage of life. Some haven’t
But women’s condoms could be even ¯ put a lot of thought into how it (HIV)
more economical if they were reused. Re- ¯ affects them."
searchers at Eastern Virginia Medical " According to Bolitho, "It’s the age-old,
School arerecntiting 80 couples to test the ; overarchiugproblemoftalkingaboutsexu_
condoms. Half the couples will use the ¯ ality, and it’s plain old-fashioned denial.
condom once. The other couples each will ; Denial is one of our great enemies."
use a single condom five times over 15 ~
by Jim Christjohn, entertaiment editor ] child out once in a while. I wasn’t expect-
Hey folks, welcome to the time of the ¯ ing a great movie, but it surprised me. The
year when we celebrate the fact that the " filmis well acted - hard to find in a movie
Indians helped the
pilgrims onlyto be
thanked with
slaughter and removal
from ancestral
lands. Go
America!
The first thanksgiving
was basically
afour day celebration/
party
wherein the Native
Americans provided
the food, fun,
and games. It really
wasn’t about
religion at all, as the
lore surrounding it
wouldhave youbelieve.
Anditwasn’t
too long after that
whentheEuropean
invaders started
getting a bit greedy for the profits land
conld bring from new immigrants, and so,
in the name of- God, "took" the land from
the Natives. Oh, and there was a religious
aspect to it, once the "pilgrims" figured
out how to work the land from the Natives
and didn’t need them anymore..,,It was
either convert or die for the heathen Nafives.
Ah, the things the don’t tell you in
school - or church.
On to more cheerier thoughts - I drug
my curmudgeonly editor to afilm recently.
(Well, OK, he wanted to go, too, and
hasn’t been terribly curmudgeonly lately.)
We saw "The Little Vampire." OK, now
stop laughing. It’s good to let the inner
li...We saw
"The Little Vampire."
OK, now stop laughing.
It’s good to let the inner
child out once in a while.
I wasn’t expeetlng a great
movie, but it surprised me.
The film is well acted -
hard to find in a movie
starring children;
well written;
and superbly filmed... "
starting children;
well written; and
superbly filmed.
And it had something
for everyone
- it didn’t "talk
down" to kids, nor
did it avoid being
funny in an adult
way.
The film is
’~’:~-m~bout a young
Americanboy who
moves to England
due to his father’s
business. HE’s
miserable,being an
outsider - and
picked on at school,
in particularby two
twins. It certainly
broughtback some
memories in that
respect. I knew a pair of twins who were
the scourge of Hurst Junior high, and it
was kind of like watching a flashback -
except with better accents. Anyway, our
hero has a fixation with men in capes -
sound familiar? (Hint: Read last month’s
column.)
And Io and behold, he meets a boy
vampire, and they form a close friendship.
This results in many misadventures, including
foiling a would be vampire hunter
and the aforementioned bullies. I highly
recommend seeing this film, because it’s a
fun ride, entertaining, while putting forth
some good-thoughts. A lot of care andlove
went into this film, and it shows.
GIFTS
OF THE
S£ASON!
COUNCIL OAK
MEN’S CHORALE
ALL SOULS UNITARIAN
Tmditionalists,ofcourse, abhorthat each " Choralewillperform.AndonDec.9,there
year December holidays begin earlier and " will be a gala dinner in the Great Hall,
earlier. Christmas in September isincreas- ¯ Chaired by friends to the community,
ingly a reality. Catherine Seger
But one of the
local traditions
which we don’t
mind seeing early
nearly so much is
Philbrook
Museum’s annual
holiday celebration
and exhibition,
Home for the Holidays.
The event
kicks off with the
Festival of Trees.
T,he ~Fe~sfival
tures trees,
wreaths, and more
by local artists, designers
and school
children. The event
is chaired by Lou
Hodgson and caterer
Mark Lackey
is artist liaison.
At the museum members’ opening on
Dec. 2 at noon, the Council Oak Men’s
and Hillary Kitz.
And of course, local
A-listers,
Talmadge Po-well
and Steve Wright
are helping out by
chairing the Patron
Party and
Treeview.
The featured artistforHomefor
the
Holidays is Lisa
Regan of the GardenDevaSculpture
Co. Regan, whose
work is seen
through out Tulsa’ s
gardens, has been
shown in Better
Homes and Gardens,
shows her
work at Mayfest.
Her commemorative ornament, shown
" above, .is an aluminum tree with bead
¯ accents.
E[ecUon Day, Nov. 7
Who Will Pick the
NEW SUPREHES?
Decisions we make at the ballot box will resonate for
decades, including the make-up of the Supreme
Court. Our choice: continue the path of progress or
take a sharp U-turn back to the anti-glbt politics of
the ’80s. We need your voice for our jobs, for our
families, for our lives.
HUMAN
RIGHTS
CAMPAIGN
COME OUT VOTING ¯ www.hrc.org
Tuesday, November 7
Election Day
HRC WATCH PARTY
Because win or lose, it’s good to be among friends
9 PM
3340 South Peoria, Tulsa, OK
Must be 21 Cash Bar
HRC envisions an America where lesbian and
gay people are ensured of their basic equal rights.
You can help us do our work by joining us for
either or :both of ~the:se~ ev~t..s~ (or by jgining
~HRC - ’ ii~’~ !j~ :i~3-" ~i ~li !~8~[2913 ;r emaii
hrctulsaoHahoma@ aol.com).
HUMAN
RIGHTS
CAMPAIGN~
by Tom Neal, editor/publisher
Although the National Conference for Community and Justice claims to be an anti-hate
group, for at least the last 4-5 years this anti-bias organi~tion has activdy discriminated
against Gay & Lesbian Tulsans as well as failing to speak out when Gay & Lesbian
Tulsans were targets of physical violence as well as recipients of legislative and other
attacks on their civil rights.
At their Trialogue on Marriage, hosted by Boston Avenue Methodist Church (a church
which has been host to several events at which Lesbian and Gay Tuls’ans were attacked
or excluded), Trialogue organizer Mr. Levson, then cantor of Temple Israel, stated that
JOI g
0 II B
HATE
he and other NCCJ organizers deliberately excluded same gender mamage from
discussionbecauseitwouldhave been"too controversial." This was done despite thefacts
that the issue could not have been more prominent in public discussion because of court
cases in Hawaii, and even though the issue is still in debate in many Christian denominations
and in several Jewish organizations.
NCCJ has repeated been asked to reform their actions: to add openly Gay or Lesbian
persons to their board of directors, to speak out on legislative issues, to live what they say
they are about.
To date, they have refused to do so, preferring to raise substantial sums from Tulsa
"society" events such as honoring Bob Lorton, owner ofThe Tulsa World for his "human
rights" work despite the fact that The World for at least 15 years had documented anti-
Gay business practices which they publicly defended and despite The Wordls
acknowledgement of racist hiring practices in their newsroom in response to an EEOC
complaint.
Some Gay community observers, however,
wonderhow it is that the hate groups,
like the KKK, don’t manage to forget
Lesbians and Gay men including them in
their hate rhetoric, but the folks who supposedly
are "allies" manage only to hear
the KKK’s racist and anti-Sem~itic comments.
Groups who endorsed the "Statement in
Support of Diversity" include a number
who have been supportive of Lesbians and
Gay men. These include: Community of
Hope, All Souls, Hope and Community
Unitarians, Fellowship Congregatxonal
¯ Church- UCC, Jewish Federation ofTulsa
and even the Metropolitan Community
¯ Church United (MCC). Calls to All Souls,
MCC-United, and Fellowship Congrega-
¯ tional were not returned. Perry Simons,
¯ executive director of Jewish Federation
¯ said that organization does not discrimi-
: hate on sexual orientation.
¯ In contrast, Father Rick Hollingsworth,
¯ oftheParishChurchofSaintJeromewrote
¯ a letter in protest of the the "Statement in
¯ Support of Diversity"
¯ In it, he notes that, "The Parish Church
,¯ of St Jerome is certainly in support of
celebrating and supporting the wonderful
¯ diversity, which surrounds us in our beau-
" tiful city... I am concerned however that
¯ the statement on diversity see TMM,p. 10
Name Games by Michael Craft
Reviewed by Barry Hensley
Tulsa City-County Library
It takes a speci~ talent to pull off a
murdermystery novel andone ofthebetter
Gay mystery series, Mark
Manning mysteries by
Michael Craft, has a clever
new entry, Name Games.
Delving into an unlikely
topic, the world of minia-
.tures, Craft has created a
fun, although not particularly
suspenseful mystery.
Set in rural Wisconsin,
main character Mark Manning
is now the publisher of
the local newspaper and
leading a very open and out
life with a longlime partner,
while raising a neglected
nephew. The big
news in town is the upcoming
Midwest Miniatures
Society Exhibition, which
attracts enthusiasts worldwide.
Two of the most
prominent figures in this
little underworld, Carroll
Cantrell and Bruno
Herisson , who happen to
be arch rivals, are being
"...Anthropologist
Sherry Ortner,
drawing on the
French feminist
Simone Beauvolr,
once proposed that
’Man is to CultUre as
Woman is to
Nature.’ Ortner was
seeking a reason for
why, almost everywhere,
people value
what men do more
than they value what
women do.. ¯ "
homophobic District Attorney, Harley
Kaiser, and a New Age feminist, Miriam
Westerman, who is somehow convinced
that Gay pom"hurts women." Add to this,
the nephew, Thad, trying outfor the school
play and Mark’s lover,
Nell, who is trying to decide
whether to move his
architectural practice to the
small town from Chicago.
When Cantrell (who has
man3, health problems) is
discovered murdered, the
exhibitionis turned upside
down and things really get
uncomfortable when the
Sheriff becomes the primary
suspect. Manning,
aided by his sleuths at the
newspaper, set out to clear
the Sheriff.
The characters inName
Games are nicely drawn,
if a bit stereotypical ]]ae
town, Dumont, is remarkably
(and a bit unrealistically)
progressive and unconcerned
about the iGay
influence~ ofManning and
his cohorts. (Could there
really be a town like this in
today’s America?)
flown in. Grace Lord, a sweet little old
lady,is hosting and coordinating the ev~nt.
The Sheriff, Doug Pierce, a closeted Gay
man, is in the midst of a reelection bid
while dealing with a pornography trial
involving "dirty book stores" on the edge
of town. The trial is being pushed by the
is not as broad as it should be. This is
evidenced I believe by the omission of
Sexual Orientation as part of that diversity
in the statement.
Gay and Lesbian persons are an integral
part of Tulsa’s rich diversity which When
joined together with other forms of diversity
create community. When Rabbi Marc
Fitzerman was speaking this last Sunday
at the rededication, He was very dear,
’Those whohate Jews, usually hate Catholics,
Those who hate Catholics usually
hate Gay and Lesbian people...’
As a Pastor of a Parish which primarily
serves the Gay and Lesbian community
and as a religious leader who is openly
Gay, I am unable to sign the document
without the inclusion of Sexual Orienta-
The obligatory sex scenes are really just
¯¯ uninspired dream sequences, and leave a
little too much to the imagination. The
¯ mystery is a fun and exciting ride, but it is
¯ certainly nothing special. In fact, this ¯
novice mystery reader managed to figure
] our whodunit long before the end of the
¯ for Human Rights (TOHR) said that the
lack of inclusiveness raised concerns and
~ would likely be addressed in upcoming
: organizational meetings for a formal response.
:
:
and love diversity. We have many reli¯
gions, many nationalities, many cultures
here, and we’re taught to respect them.
¯ When the hell ~s someone going to respect
¯ us for our diversity? If you want to do
: something to help, there’s a number to
¯ call, and an ever popular website to visit.
¯ It’s the Human Rights Campaign Founda-
¯ uon, 800-498-0382, or www.hrc.org. ¯
When we stand up and show people that
¯
we do exist, especially in great numbers,
¯ then things are going to happen. Or, as
¯ Melissa Etheridge said, "when you free
uon as-part Of that .,diu~si.ty..._,: i ¯ " your mind, a rockin’ jam will follow." If
Our people have~J~en, the Unfox~:unate .:, we can each one of us find one person, or
victims of bigotry, prejudice and hate ¯ child, to reach, then we’ve taken the first
crimes for centuries, including the holocaust.
To not speak openly about these
issues promotes the silence, which has
imprisoned Gay and Lesbian children of
God for far too long."
Father Hollingsworth toldTulsa Family
News that he read his letter to his congregation
and that the response has been overwhelmingly
supportive of his position.
Greg Gatewood of Tulsa Oklahomans
¯ steps in stopping fascism. Hitler ended up ¯
in a bunker, having shot his wife and
¯ sticking the guninhis mouthbefore shoot-
" ing. I think many Other fascists (read
¯ fundamentalists) forget that fact. Hatred
¯
turns inward, but not before the hater has
¯ devastatingly hurt others. Something that
¯ shouldbetaughtinEVERY SundaySchool
-" class. And please remember one thing:
: VOTE!!!!!!!
Timothy W. Daniel
Attorney at Law
An Attorney who will fight for justice
& equality for Gays & Lesbians
Domestic Partnership Planning,
Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy
1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504
128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma
Weekend and evening appoinlments are available.
Are You Gay or Bisexual?
Are You Native American?
Support Group is here:f0r yotJ!:~’ " ~’~’~.~" ~-’-"
¯ Evening support group meetings
¯ Relationship workshops
¯ Short trips, outings and retreats
¯ Free HlVtesting
For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project
918.588.1900, x4275 or x4276
-International
Fresh Start
Seeking men & women to help with
expansion in the area. Must be independent,
goal-oriented, have a great attitude
and excellent people skills.
Call 663:5323.
Country Club Barbering
Custom Styling for Men & Women
David Kauskey
3310 E. 51st, 747-0236,~ues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm
ody
TI- ,ll
Tulsa’s only
professional
body-piercing
- College Hill
Presbyterian Church
In response to God’s Love,
College Hill Presbyterian Church
is a commtmity of God’s people
called to tell others the
Gospel of Jesus Christ
through worship,
servzce, and evangelism.
To nurture our faith, we gather for
worship, prayer,
study and fellowship.
Trusting in a living, loving God,
we seek to become a compassionate
voi~ for peace andjustice.
Our congregation.welcomes all
persons who respond in trust and
obedience to God’s grace
in Jesus Christ, and desire to become
part of the membership and ministry
of Christ’s church.
M~a~~s!~.9~ ~-:,Opt: ~-.~i!...~9,Pl..~.
regardless of race, .ethnic origin,
worldly condition, marital status, or
sexual orientation.
Sunday Worship. 1 lam
712 S. Columbia Ave., 592-5800
(One block west of Delaware and the
University of Tulsa Campus)
by Karin Gregory
"Man Shot in Local Gay Bar", "TeenagerAssaulted
Because Suspects Believed
HimGay","’We Don’t Have Hate Crimes
in Brown County’".
Seems everywhere you look now, there
are hate crimes against the G/L/B/T com-
~’munity, or-alleged hate
"!crimes~ or people denying
;hate crimes exist. There
are even those very few Who
deny homosexuality exis ts,
and I believe our Dishonorable
George W. Bush to
beamong them (I don’t~ve
up a chance to let you all
know you MUST vote November
7).
Interesting news about
the teenager. Not that it
doesn’t happen at every
.school, but the school
where this took place is the
same one from which our
disti9,guished arts and entertainment
editor .graduated.
Back in those days,
we didn’t have hate crimes. Wall, we did,
but we didn’t call them that. Boys who
were Gayjust had to be beaten up and take
it "like a man", or they had to develop
those queen-like attitudes of death that
would scare any quarterback into his tiny,
homophobic, neanderthal area of his body
called a mind.
One of my friends, the one who thinks
we’re all going to hell, says all Crimes like
murder, assault, rape, etc. are hate crimes.
I disagree. There are certainly crimes of
passion. There are premeditated crimes.
There are even assaults with deadly weapons
with intent to kill. But they are for a
purpose - to either get rid of someone so
disturbing to you (like a wife, husband,
mother-in-law), or to get money to buy
drugs, cigarettes, or "fabulous" outfits.
The people committing these crimes may
hate the person AT THAT TIME, but not
always. In other words, the criminals
aren’t their own self-proclaimed Adoif
Hitlers, who have decided to take all logic
and reason and bury them, sending us back
into theDarkAges. But thereAREpeople
who are self-proclaimed Hirers, whether
they want to believe it or not, spreading
NOT the words of Jesus, but the words of
hate to a nation.
Maybe they weren’t the ones who beat
up Matthew Shepard and lefthim to die, or
the ones who had a direct hand in James
Byrd’s death, or the people who raped
BrandonTeena, only to shoothim to death
repeatedly, later. But they had a hand in
each one of these deaths. For eachone
you-reading:this..fight now, there are at
least 20 (at least in Texas and Oklahoma)
ignorant people who believe that homosexuality
isn’t something you’re born with.
That you can change if you want to. That
you’ve chosen to be laughed at, beaten up,
fired from your job, ostracized from your
families. These are the people who have
raised the suspects in the above headlines.
They’ve "carefully taught" their children
to, as the "South Pacific" song goes, "hate
-"...Bach in those days,
we didn’t have hate
crimes. Well, we did, but
we didn’t call them that.
Boys who were Gay just
had to be beaten up and
take it "llke a man", or
they had to develop those
queen-llke attitudes of
death that would scare
any quarterback into his
tiny, homophoble,
neanderthal area of his
body eafled a mind...."
all the people their relatives hfite." Many
of them, of course, in the name of Jesus.
Stealing a line from an old Woody Allen
movie,"ifJesus came down and saw what
was going on in his name, he’d never stop
throwing up."
If you’ve read my columns from the
beginning (and I thank
BOTHofyou,by the way!),
you know I’m a fledgling,
coming out only after everyone
else has not only
blazed the trail for me, but
made that trail a four lane
highway! So no, I’ve
NEVER experienced what
most of you have in your
"out" lives. I still think I
can walkhandinhand with
a woman in public, or kiss
her on a residential street
in Dallas (and have!), and
not receive any flack from
it. But I taught public
school for eight years, ten
years toomany, and Iknow
whatkids say to each other,
not caring that their words hurt. More
importantly, I’ve heard teachers and other
school staff go on the attack against gays,
saying that the Bible doesn’t condone it.
We’ve had this discussion before, but I
just want to let you know that your childrenmay
be being taughtbyahomophobic
teacher. And believe me, teachers still do
have influence on children. So children
are taught to hate another child because
that child may be different. Obviously, if
I can look through a gay newspaper and
pick out,just by going through one quarter
of it, three separate stories on hate crimes,
there’s a problem. One that needs to be
addressed. Well, it’s been addressed, but
many ar~turning their heads. While crime
is rampant on the streets, and hate crimes
against the G/L/B/T community has skyrocketed,
thelegislature still cools its heels
over this issue.
It shouldn’t have to take television to
fire me up, but watching highlights from
the "Equality Rocks" concert onVH-1 did
it for me. During the evening, the parents
of several hate crime victims, Matthew
Shepard’s parents and James Byrd’s parents
among them, gave a small speech that
had the more than 45,000 audience crying
openly. Then Melissa Etheridge, herself
not able to contain tears, sang her song
about. Matthew Shepard, "Scarecrow."
How can people, after watching that,
still believe that these boys should have
died? How can anyone hate a group of
people just because they .are different?
How can they facethemselve~inthemom- *.
ing,-knowin~ thav they~ce*contril~me~.., in
ANY way, to these deaths? How many
times can we turn away and do nothing?
We have a revolution going on in this
country. Most people don’t want to believe
it. They’d rather dose their doors.
Hell, so would I, but I can see the revolution
coming even stronger than before.
.The one consistent thing thatI was taught
mschool about the United States is that we
are a melting pot see Lesbian, p.lO
Healing
VROJECT
AIDS Memorial ~.uilt ~
wareness"
World AIDS Day Candlelight Memorial March
Friday, December 1st, 6:30pm
Tulsa Civic Center Plaza, 5th & Denver
The NAMES Project Quilt Opening, 8pm
This advertisement is donated by Tulsa Family News. TFN appreciates the opportunity to support this showing of the Quilt, and The NAMES Project.
Original Format
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periodical
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[2000] Tulsa Family News, November 2000; Volume 7, Issue 11
Subject
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Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
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Tulsa Family News
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
Publisher
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Tom Neal
Date
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November 2000
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James Christjonh
Karin Gregory
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
Hughston Walkinshaw
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Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
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Tulsa Family News, October 2000; Volume 7, Issue 10
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Englsih
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newspaper
periodical
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Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
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https://history.okeq.org/items/show/606
2000
AIDS
AIDS drugs
AIDS Quilt
AIDS research
American Civil Liberties Union
aMUSEments
arts and entertainment
Barry Hensley
bias reduction program
Bobby L. Busby
Boy Scouts
businesses
Christmas
churches
civil rights
civil unions
contraception
family
HIV
HIV testing
homophobia
Human Rights Campaign
Jim Christjohn
Karin Gregory
NAMES Project
National Conferencce for Community and Justice
nudism
Openarms Youth Project
Partner Benefits
performing arts
Philbrook
Raging Lesbian
Read All About It
Red Cross
Red Rock Tulsa
restaurants
seniors
Society of Professional Journalists
Tom Neal
Tulsa Family News
Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry
Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights
Tulsa Police Department
Two-Spirited Indian Men's Support Group
World AIDS day
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[Sub-Series] Newsletters & Publications > Tom Neal Newsletters > Tulsa Family News
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MCC +American Expre.ss
Offer Financial Planning
TULSA - Tulsa’s Metropolitan Community Church
United (MCC-United) with Theresa M. Barnard, a
financial planning advisor with American Express Financial
Advisors will present a series of financial planning
seminars at MCC United. One seminar will be
"Financial Strategies forGayMen&Lesbians" and will
be held onTuesday, September 5th and will be repeated
on Tuesday, October 10th. Barnard will present "Retirement
- Explore Your Options, Create your Retirement
Income," on Tuesday, .September 19th and ,Estate
Planning" on Tuesday, October 24th. All seminars
will be at 7pro at the church located at 1623 No.
Maplewood, just north and west of Sheridan and Pine.
Bamard and MCC United provided the following
statement from American Express Financial Advisors:
"We want to make our commitment to Gay men and
Lesbians clear. Just as we have ~ktended domestic
partner benefits to our Lesbian and Gay employees
worldwide, wearecommi tted to providing sound finan,
cial advice that specifically addresses the unique finandal
issues affecting our Lesbian and Gay clients."
see MCC, p. 3
Women Try to Change
Canada’s Marriage Law
VICTORIA, CANADA (AP.)- Two women at the
center of a constitutional court challenge exchanged
vows inJuly as friends andrelatives witnessed the union
ceremony. Judy Lightwater, 49, and Cynthia Callahan,
36, pledged to "cherish and sustain each other" for all of
their days with "passion, honor, patience and laughter."
Since Canadian law recognizes marriage only between
aman and awoman, it was legally impossible for
the Gay activism to get a marriage license. But the
British Columbia government has asked the provincial
Supreme Court on behalf of the couple to declare that
same-sex marriages are legal. The court challenge is
expected to reach the Supreme Court of Canada within
about seven years.
The provincial government issues marriage licenses
but is boundby federal rules as to who qualifies. "When
I see there are two people who are dearlyin love and
want to make a commitment to each other and want to
have the same access to laws that are available to others,
as a human being I ask myself why should ~ose people
not be able to make that commitment? said B.C.
Attorney General Andrew Petter.
"We’rein loveandwe want to tell everyone about it,"
........... said Lightwater: "It"s not that complicated.~ More love
in the world is something everyone supports."
The other couple named in B.C.’s court petition are
Murray Warren and Peter Cook, who filed a human
rights complaint after they were. refused a marriage
license 18 months ago. see Courts, p. 3
DIRECTORY P. 2
EDITORIAL P. 3
US & WORLD NEWS P. 4
HEALTH NEWS P, 6
ENTERTAINMENT P, 8
GAY STUDIES P. 10
Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans;Our.Families + Friends
" Building AEVER
A More Light Presb erMn Weekend
¯ TULSA - A local liberal protestant church, College Hill Presby-
¯ terian Church recently became a"More Light" church byjoining
¯ the More Light network, a group of Presbyterian affiliated
¯ organizations which are dedicated to welcoming Lesbians, Gay
men, Bisexuals and Transgendered persons into the church in all
roles, both as lay members and as ordained leaders and clergy.
Now in August, on the 25, 26, and 27, the congregation will
host a "More Light" event and organizer both to help educate
local religious groups and individuals, and to recognize and
¯ celebrate College Hill’s joining the More Light group.
The Session (the board of directors of the congregation) has
invited Michael Adee, Ph.D., who is a full time organizer for
More Light network, a weekend of workshops.
~ According to College Hill’s spokesperson, "these three days
¯ will be filled with opportunities for worship mad fellowship
¯ together, to learn more about ministry to and with Gay, Lesbian;
Bisexual and Transgendered persons, and to inform and welcome
¯ others to this ministry of compassion, inclusion and justice."
The opening event will be a lunch on Friday; August 25th,
¯ from noon to 1:30 in the Fellowship Hall of the church which is
¯ located at 712 So. Columbia Ave. The church is just west of the
¯¯ campus of theUniversityofTulsa and sinceTU has tomdown the
old Kendall School to build a Tennis Center, the church can be
seen from Delaware.
The lunch presentation is called, "Building a Church for
Everyone," and church professionals and elders from Presbyterian
Churches in the area are invited to attend this luncheon. Adee
will give a short presentation on the history and goals of More
Light Presbyterians, followed by a question and answer session.
The meal will be $5.00.
On Saturday, August 26th, Adee will lead a workshop "Caring
for All God’s People," from 8:30- 12:30 again in the Fellowship
Hall. According to organizers; those attending this event will
gain greater understanding of the pastoral care needs of GLBT
people and their families, see Light, p. 3
¯ Others May Follow
Vermont’s Lead On Unions
¯
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP)- Legislators in Rhode Island and New
¯ York are hoping their states follow Vermont’s lead in granting
¯ same-sex couples the benefits of marriage. "From New Hamp- ¯
shire to California, politicians are intrigued by the civil unions
¯ statute Vermont created to grant Gay and Lesbian couples rights
¯ and benefits without wandering into the politically volatile ¯
thicket ofmarriage. But most advocates say Vermont will remain
." a pioneer on the issue for the foreseeable future while the public
¯ becomes more comfortable with the idea. ¯
A state senator in New York is drafting a bill based on
: Vermont’s statute and a Rhode Island state representative is
." pushingabill to expandhis state’s marriage laws toinclude same-
¯ sex couples. "I would not introduce anything but marriage;’ said
: Rep: Michael Pisamro, a Democrat from Cranston, R.I. "I don’t
: necessarily see something like civil unions or domestic partner-
. ships as a stepping stone to marriage." Pisaturo earlier this year
; said Rhode Islanders are still uncomfortable with the idea of
¯ recognized partnerships between Gay people. That’s why heheld
~ . off on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage and will try next year.
¯ In the New York state Senate, Manhattan Democrat Tom
: Duane is drafting a bill that his aide said would be "similar to"
." Vermont’s first-in-the-nation civil unions statute, although de-
." tails were still being worked out. "Our Legislature won’t be back
, ’ until January., ~s~ it wouldn’t be until then,", said Scott Mdvin. ~
: Advocates also see opportunities in New Hampshire, Con-
: nectient, New Jersey, Massachusetts and California for laws
¯ granting marriage benefits, either through marriage itself or
¯ through a civil unions compromise like Vermont, s. ¯
"I think the situation we’re in is Vermont will be there and will
." have to have the courage of its convictions for a while and then,
¯ I think, it will fall into place in a number of spots," said Beatrice ¯
Dohrn, a lawyer for the Lambda Legal Defense and Education
: Fund, which led the legal fight in Hawaii for Gay marriage.
¯ Although most advocates insist that full inclusion in marriage
¯ statutes is the only way for Gay and Lesbian couples to achieve
; equality, some see the civil unions statute as a good way to begin
." moving toward that goal.
¯ "Using Vermontas a model, other legislatures wishing to enact
¯ equal benefits,~ see Unions, p. 2
¯
Boy Scou.ts Target.ed
For Ant -Gay B=as
¯
TULSA - In conjunction with a National Day of
¯ Protest ofthe Boy Scouts ofAmerica~ Kerry Lewis,
¯ spokesperson for Tulsa Oklahomans for Human
¯ Rights (TOHR), has announced that TOHR and
: other local organizations will hold a protest at the
¯ local headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America on
¯
August 21st. The time of the event will be available
¯ by contacting TOHR at 743-4297.
The protest is in response to a recent US Supreme
Court decision which overturned a New Jersey
court ruling that the Boy Scouts’ anti-Gay policies
were illegal under New Jersey non-discrimination
laws. According to Lewis, "the purpose of these
protests is to provide a visible and rational response
to their discriminatory and de-humanizing policies."
The Indian Nations Council of the BSA is located
at 3206 So. Peoria. Parking is limited at the
site but is available on the street a few blocks away
in the Brookside business area.
Lewis noted also that there are also several other
options for you to register your protest of the Boy
Scout policy. One is to write a letters of complaint.
Informational materials, including sample letters,
are available by contacting TOHR.
¯ And in discussions with Tulsa Family News,
¯ Lewis acknowledged that another aspect of the
¯ Boy Scouts’ discriminatory policies was Tulsa
¯ AreaUnitedWay’s (TAUW) funding for the BSA.
¯ Lewis acknowledged that some in the community
¯ favor designating TAUW as the target of protests ¯
or demonstrations, but that those discussions were
~ ongoing.
¯ Lewis also said that the next meeting of Tulsa’s
Diversity Council will beonTuesday, August 22nd
¯
at 7pm at the Center.
: Further in the future is a visit to Tulsa by Dr.
: Laura Schlessinger, radio talk show host known for
her characterization of Gay people see BSA, p. 3
Barnes & Noble Boots
¯
TULSA-In amove thatis being decriedby smaller
¯ newspaper publishers across the US, Barnes &
¯ Noble has thrown out most community publica-
¯
dons out of its stores across the US.
¯ In Tulsa, Barnes & Noble representatives sent ¯
notice to TulSa Family News by letter in the last
¯
week of June of the new policy which went into
: effect on July 1st. Newspaper reports from else-
. where in the US note that Barnes & Noble sent the
: letter to most publication in sometime in March.
: Local representatives could giveno explanation for
¯ the several month delay before informing Tulsa
: publications.
¯ Barnes & Noble stated in its letter that it was
: removing the publications in order to use the space
¯ forit own merchandise but after TFN publisher
: spoke with (the no~w former) manager of the 71st
: St. store, it became clear that while minority pub-
: lieatious were being removed, Barnes &Noble was
¯ creating a new space inside the store for two com-
" ¯ mtmitypublications; TulsaPeopleand Urban Tulsa.
¯ These two were retaining distribution privileges
¯ because they have the largest volume of copies
¯ ¯ distributed. Both- Tulsa People (TP) and Urban
: Tulsa (UT) are publications with histories of fail-
" ing to serve Tulsa’s Gay &Lesbian communities or
: of having anti-Gay policies (UT).
Tulsa Family News publisher Tom Neal said,
¯~ "this policy inherently discriminates against mi-
¯ nority community publications. By virtue of being
¯ minority, we simply cannot compete on a highest
," volume basis."
: Neal added that given a choice between making
¯ purchases at Barnes & Noble or at Borders, he
¯ encourages community members to buy at Borders
¯
which consistently has been more supportive of
: Lesbians and Gay menin Tulsa. Neal also suggests
¯ that readers letMattMozzoni,manager of the 41st ¯
St. Barnes & Noble see Barnes & Noble, p. 3
Minority Newspapers
Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants
*Chasers, 4812 E. 33
*CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial
*Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine
*Club Vortex, 2!82 S. Sheridan
*Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria
Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square
*St. Michael"s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st
*The Star, 1565 Sheridan
*Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main
*TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial
*Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd
"*The Yellow Brick Road Pub, 2630 E. 15th
712-2324
610-5323
583-2119
835-2376
749-4511
744-4280
745-9998
834-4234
585-3405
660-0856
584-1308
749-1563
Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals
Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 747-1508
*Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580
Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122
*Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955
*Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665
Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272
*CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313
*Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. 1 lth 295-5868
Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117
Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700
Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468
*Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th - 749-3620
Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556
*Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838,-8503
Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial 369-8555
*Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712-9379
Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main 592-0460
*Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoffa- 744-9595
Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. 6!0-0880
Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709
Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026
*Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 742-1460
Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349
Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440
*Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111
*International ~[ours 341-6866
Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750
*Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018
David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236
The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460
*Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070
Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard. #210 747-5466
*Li~:ing A~tSpace, 308 South Kenosha 585-1234
*Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112
Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934
*Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place ....~-
664-2951
Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626
*The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297
Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, "74101 747-5932
Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617
Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921,747-4746
Scribner’ s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301,
Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829
*Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558
Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563
Fred Welch, LCSW, Connseting 743-1733
*Wherehouse Music. 5150 S. Sheridan 665-2222
*Whittier News Stand. 1 N. Lew~s 592-0767
www.gaytulsa.org
Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities
AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337.74101 579-9593
All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363
Black & ~Vhite, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314
Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815
*]3 L/G/T Alliance. Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 5K3-9780
*Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201
*Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Horence
*Church of the Restoration UU, 1314N.Greenwo°d 587-1314
*Commtmity ofHope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300
*CommunityUnitarian-Universalist Congregatmn 749-0595
Council Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888
*Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511
*Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457
Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics &
Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140
*Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777
Free SpratWomen s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669
918.583.12.zhS, fax: 583.4615
POB 4140. Tulsa. OK 74159
e-mail: Tu!saNews@ earthhnk.:~et
Publisher + Editor:
Tom Seal
Writers + contributors:
James Christjohn. Karin Gregory, Barry Hensley, J.-P.
Legrandbouche. Lamont Lindstrom. Esther Rothblum, Mary
Schepers. Hughston Walkinshaw
Member of The Associated Press
Issued on or before the ! st of each month, the entire contents -:
of this publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by
T~,u~ ~:o~ Ndw~ and may not be reproduced either in "
wholeorin part without written permission from the publisher. "
Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s ,.
sexual orientation. Correspondence is assmned to be for
publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & be- ".
comes the sole property of rJ,4~ ~.’. Ncnu4~ Each reader
is entitled to 4 copies of each ediuon at distribution
¯
points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248.
Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827
Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438
HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611
*Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194
Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378
*House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood
Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437
*MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715
NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral PI. 748-3111
NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658
OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157
*OSU-Tulsa
PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901
*Plalmed Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674
Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152
R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195
*Red Rock Mental Center, !724 E 8 584-2325
O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults
O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth
St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincim~ati 425-7882
St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140
*St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088
*Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171
*TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225
Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105
Co~tfidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only
Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c,~o The Pride Center 743-4297
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform~ Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827
*Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule
*Tulsa Community College Campuses
*TulsaGay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297
Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833
BARTLESVILLE
*Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353
OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN
Borders Books & Music, 3209 NW Expressway 405-848-2667
Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907
TAHLEQUAH
Stonewall League. c~J! for i~fformation: 9!8-456-7900
*Tahlequmh Uvjtarian-Uni vcrsalist Church 9182456-7900
Green Country A!DS Cozdition, POB !570 918-453-9360
NSU Schoo! of C,ptometry, 1001 N. Grand
HIVtestln,, e’ve~v other T~es. 5:30-8:30. cal! for dates
Autunm Breeze Restaurm~. L~w~.. 23
*Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main
DeVito’s Restaurant. 5 Center g t.
Emerald Rainbow. 45 &l:2 Spring St.
MCC of the Living Spring
Geek to Go!, PC SpecialisL POB 429
Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery
Positive Idea Marketing Plans
Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East
White Light, 1 Center St.
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
*Spirit of Christ MCC. 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134
501-253-7734
501-253-7457
501-253-6807
501-253-5445
501-253-9337
5~ 1-253-2776
50!-253-5332
501-624-6646
501-253-6001
501-253-4074
417-623-4696
* is where you can f’md TFN. Not all are Gay-owned but all are Gay-friendly.
Tulsa Family News wishes to correct an
error in our July issue. In an article about
GayTulsa.o,:g, we mistakevJy indentified
their Associate Webmaster, Scan, as Seth
and as a "partner" in the r,on-profit organization,
rather than by his correct title.
TFN regrets any all,stress this caused to the
staff and friends of GayTulsa.org. - TN
equal status for Gay and, Lesbian people
wi!l look at this," said David Smith ofthe !.
Humau Rights Campaign, the nation’s
the country that would look to this.’.’
Vermont’s law is parallel to mamage
but ~s a separate legal creation. It has
prompted a lot of debate around the country
about granting benefits to couples who
want legal recognition and protection for
their long-term relationships.
Vermont lawmakers have said repeatedly
that their law could be a model for
other states to emulate as they seek to
steer clear of the emotional debate about
marriage. Thirty-two states have adopted
statutes specifically outlawing Gay marriage.
Because civil unions aren’t marriage,
though, the Vermont authors of the
law say, they’re a way to take a step
without getting bogged down in emotion,
religion and morality.
But to people like California Assemblywoman
Rep. Carole Migden of San
Francisco, that’s demeaning. ’.’Thepremise
of civil union is still an insult, but nevertheless
we’re pleased that the state of
Vermont recognizes the quality of Lesbian
and Gay equality in a less-than-dignified
way," said Migden, whose state last
year outlawed Gay marriage in a referendum.
"We’re moving along. Each year we
add to it, It’s a step-by-step buildingblock
process."
Some Gay civil rights advocates caudonthat
experiences in Hawaii and Alaska,
where courts said same-sex couples should
be allowed to marry and then lawmakers
and voters reversed them, should temper
any predictions that the idea of civil unions
will spread quickly beyond Vermont. "I
think it’s important to bear in mind that
Vermonti s aleader in notjust civil rations,
but in terms of hate crimes, second parent
adoption and nondiscrimination is sues for
the Lesbian and Gay community," said
Tim Sweeney, deputy executive director
of New York state’s Fanpire State Pride
Agenda. "I think that’s an important context
to keep in mind."
Political considerations appear to be far
from the minds of many of the people
entering into civil unions since they became
thelaw on July !. Ofthe 115 that had
been reported to the state vital records
division through Monday~ more th;m tw othirds
have b~eu between conples from
outside Vermont. That’ s even though civil
unions are not legally recognized anywhere
else in the country.
That "alone will make a difference in
other states, though, advocates say, be~
cause it is generating debate in practically
every state. "The whole mo~cement an
Vermonthas createda tremendous amount
of education and discussion about Lesbian
and Gay relationships and the kind of
discrimination we face," Sweeney said.
"It’ s been an extremely positive discusstun
and very helpful to humanize Lesbian
and Gay relationships and our families
."
by Tom Neal, editor/publisher
How disappointing that Colin Powell would lend his
credibility to the Republican scam of being a party of
inclusion at the recentGOPconvention. Since the days of
that deficit-creating monster Reagan, Republicans have
represented the worst in American character: hate-mongering,
religiously intolerant, and committed to undermining
constitutional rights of those unlike themselves.
In Philadelphia, we see Blacks, Latinos, women and
the disabled trotted out but we still read the same attacks
o~ Gay Americans. Gays can be soldiers ouly at the cost
offree speech. Gayrelationships,by federal law, can only
be end class.
In Oklahoma, Democrats aren’t much better. Republicans
talk nasty about Gay taxpayers. Democrats keep
quiet but both abuse the authority of the State to attack
Gay Oklahomans. God forbid we should get through a
legislative session without a vote by the majority to
remind us of the contempt in which we are held.
Whenboth parties treat all fairly, when the accidents of
birth: race, ability, ethnicity, sexual orientation and the
choices of a free citizenry: political affiliation, religious
"lifestyles" or "preferences", all are of no more importance
than that of being left or fight-handed, then Americans,
Republican and Democrat, can say we are thenation
of fairness for all.
The statement continues, "whether you’re single, in a
committed relationship, or caring for children, yotir
?maerican Express financial advisor ca~’help you take
control of your financial future. We can help you:
Establish savings and investment plans.
Protect your assets from unnecessary taxation.
Avoid financial restrictions placed on unmarried
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proceeds."
Bamard requests that those wishing to attend please
telephone in advance to her at 748-8191, ext. 121.
They have been in a relationship for 29 years. "The
community support has been really important to me
because I don’t have the support from my family," said
Callahan, whose parents did not attend her union ceremony.
as being "biological error[s]". TOHR is trying to work
with other groups to design an effective protest for her
visit this fall.
On Tuesday, Aug. 8th, TOHR will hold its general
membership meeting at the Tulsa Gay Community Services
Center at 7:30pm. The regular business session
(which is usually short) will be followed by a special
program presented by the Credit Counsding Center of
Tulsa, a Short presentation on financial responsibility,
etc. Members and those interested in the community are
invited and encouraged to attend.
And on Sunday, Aug. 13th, the"Lesbian Connection,"
a program of TOHR, is inviting EVERYONE in the
community to come out and have fun at Keystone lake.
Burgers will beprovided - youbring the rest! Swimming,
volleyball, fishing, boating, etc. will be available all day.
Call the Center for directions.
The initial planning meeting for "Diversity Celebration
2001" will be held at the Tulsa Gay Cominunity
Services Center beginning at 1 lain on Saturday, Aug.
19th.
know about their nnhappiness with the new policy.
Mozzoni seemed to be sympathetic to the situation but
has stated that since it comes down from corporate.
headquarters, hehas litflechoice. Mozzoni canbe reached
at 665-4580.
National Gay Organizations Comment on Cheney
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Human Rights Campaign
(HRC) and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
(NGLTF) have issued comments on the record o’f Richard
B. Cheney, George W. Bush’s Vice-presidential
nominee, on Gay and AIDS issues.
Cheney, a former defense secretary in the administration
of Bush’s father, and a member of the U.S. House of
Representatives from 1978-1989, has an extremely conservative
record, HRC noted. Like Gov. Bush, however,
Cheney seeks to package a conservative record with a
moderate image, the organization said. "The choice of
Secretary Cheney is in keeping with Governor Bush’s
strategy of staking out conservative pos!,tions and wrapping
them in a moderate package, said Wiunie
Stachelberg, HRC’s political director.
As a Wyoming congressman, Cheney opposed early
efforts to address the HIV/AIDS crisis. Most notably, he
was one of 13 House members who voted against the
AIDS Federal Policy Act of 1988, the first major bill to
provide funding for HIV/AIDS counseling and testing.
Cheney also supported an effort to reduce funding for
HIV/AIDS research. In addition, Cheney voted against
the Hate Crimes Statistics Act of 1988 and supported an
amendment that added anti-Gay language to the bill.
As defense secretary, Cheney supported Pete Williams,
the department’s chief spokesman, when The Advocate
magazine revealed his homosexuality. "I have
operated on the basi, s over the.years with respect tO my
personal staff that I don’t ask them about their private
lives," said Cheney. "As long as they perform their
professional responsibilities in a responsible manner,
their private lives are their business."
Cheney opposed President Clinton’s effort to lift the
ban on Gays serving openly in the military. Cheney told
CNNin 1993,"I am one of those people who believes that
people’s sexual preference and orientation are a private
matter. It’s something that is a personal matter for them,
and no one else’.s business. And that’s the way I ran the
civilian side of the Pentagon... On the military side,
though, you can’t pursue that policy."
Later in the interview, Cheney ffaid: "I basically don’t
believe in discrimination, but I did conclude, as secretary
of defense, that the ban on Gays in uniform was appropri-
Topics include: coming out, integration of sexuality and
faith, responding to homophobia in the church and society,
helping parents of GLBT children and children of
GLBT parents. This group is open to all. ’ It will be
especially helpful for GLBT people and their families,
their friends, and fellow church members, elders, teachers
and youth leaders. Continental breakfast and snacks will
be served.
Sunday morning, the Church School Mid-highs to
Adults will.begin at 9:35 in the Chapel. This event is rifled
"Bringing Body and Soul Together (Let’s Talk about
Faith and Sexuality)" This Church School Class will
feature’an interactive discussion on Christian sexual
ethics. Those choosing to attend will share in an hour
devoted to how Christians integrate faith and sexuality in
living the Christian life. The focus will be what makes
’good relationships’ for all God’s people.
Then on Sunday, August 27th, the regular worship
service at 11amin the Sanctuary will feature a sermon by
Michael Adee. The service entitled "Celebrating Diversity
and Inclusiveness" will honor "Christ’s call to be
inclusive." The chancel choir will offer special music for
the occasion and communion will be celebrated. This is
the formal event to mark College Hill’s declaration to be
inclusive and work as part ofMore Light Presbyterians to
bring the Presbyterian denomination to the inclusion of
GLBT people in ordination as well as membership..
Finally on Sunday afternoon from 5:30- 7:30, aYouth
Event, "On Being Gay & Being Christian" will be held.
The College Hill youth fellowship will be hosting
individuals and other youth groups for pizza and open,
informal conversation about sexuality andfaithfor youth.
Adee will be the facilitator on topics ranging from being
GLBT and Christian, coming out, harassment at school
and church, sexual sdf-esteem, dealing with family, and
Gay/Straight friendships.
This event hopes to help Gay and Straight youth underctand
themselves and each other better.
For more information about these events, contact "
College Hill Presbyterian Church at 592-5800.
: ate."
¯. HRC has endorsed Vice President A1 Gore for presi-
¯ dent. He has yet to name a running mate. Cheney is
: currently the chief executive officer of the Halliburton
: Co., a publicly traded company that supplies equipment
¯ to the oil industry. Halliburton does not have a non-
. discrimination policy thiat includes sexual orientation nor
: a domestic partner program for Gay employees.
¯ According to the NGLTF research, Cheney opposed
: the Equal Rights Amendment, opposes reproductive
¯¯ choice and supports prayer in public schools.
NGLTF notes like HRC that Cheney in 1993 opposed
¯ President Clinton’s effort to lift the military ban and
¯ openly Gay servicemembers. At the height of the debate,
¯ Cheney warned that defense cuts and the proposal to lift
: the ban "have led to a decline in the quality of military
¯ recruits."
¯ He added that "the whole reduction in defense spend-
: ing, the controversy over Gays in the military, has led to
: an unwillingness to serve and low morale."
¯ NGLTF adds that Cheney has served as a trustee of the
¯ arch-conservative American Enterprise Institute, where ¯
he was a former senior fellow. The American Enterprise
¯ Institute is home to many right-wing thinkers, such as
¯ former Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork, former
¯ House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Charles Murray, ¯
author of "The Bell Curve," a book which suggests that
¯ differences inintelligence existbetweenblacks and whites
¯ and that these differences are genetic and immutable.
¯ American Enterprise Institute scholars have also been
~ outspoken in their opposition to equal rights for Gay,
: Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people.
: "George W. Bush has flubbed the most important
¯ decision in his presidential camp~gn," said Elizabeth ¯
Toledo, NGLTF executive director. "His compassionate
¯ conservatism holds out no compassion whatsoever for
¯ theGay, Lesbian,BisexualandTransgendercommunity. ¯
Furthermore, it sends a chilling signal to women, to
¯
people of colo~: and to those concerned with fairness and
: equality that a major political party would offer up a
candidate with such a background to the voters. This
¯ selection demonstrates that right-wing, religious extrem-
¯ ists are still a powerful force on the political landscape."
¯ Openly Gay Republican ¯ Featured at Convention
. PHILADELPHIA -Rep: Jim Kolbe of Arizona made
¯ history when he became the first openly Gay member of
¯ Congress to address a Republican convention. The Ari-
¯ zona congressman had a prime-time speaking slot, ad-
¯ dressing the GOP on trade issues for three minutes.
¯ Kolbe, first elected in 1984, is the most senior openly
¯ Gay member of Congress andis the only openly Gay
¯ Republican in the House. Having Kolbe speak at the
¯ convention was an idea first raised by Washington city
¯ councilm_.an David Cataniain April, when the Log Cabin
] Republicans, themostprominent Gay GOPorganization,
." met with presidential candidate George W. Bush.
¯ Bushmetwith the group, a first for a candidate preparing
to pick up the GOP presidential nomination, despite
his opposition to many of the its issues, including Gay
." marriage. Log Cabin Republicans Pleased Members of
¯ the Log Cabin Republic,~ns are delighted by Kolbe’s
: place.in the convention lineup - especially considering
¯ that he backed Bush’s rival, Sen. John McCain, during
¯ the primary season.
¯ According to the group, this is the first lime a wall- ¯
known openly Gay person has gone to the podium at the
¯ GOP national convention. In 1996, a little-known Log
¯ Cabin Republican member from California, Steve Fong,
¯ gave alow-prof’ile, one-mi nute speech amidlittle fanfare.
[ But some socially conservative Republicans, who are
¯ opposed to civil rights for Gay people and have warned
¯ Bush about reaching out to the Gay community, were
" unhappy with the prospect of having Kolbe speak, One
leading conservative Republican told ABCNEWS he
¯ was "flabbergasted" by the decision, and called it a
~ "shock." "It is not going to be a happy time," said the
¯ Republican. "I think it is a really bad decision."
: Kolbe is a founding member of the National Advisory
¯ Board of the Log Cabin Republicans; the nation’s most
[ prominent Gay GOP group. In 1997, he gave the keynote
¯ address at the LOg Cabin Republicans convention. Kolbe
¯ was a strong proponent of the NorthAmerican Free Trade
i Agreement.
Pentagon Says Gay
Policy Is Working
WASHINGTON (AP) - The military’s much-criticized
policy on Gays in uniform is working, but
training must be improved to eliminate anti-Gay
behavior like the abuse that led to a soldier’s murder
in Kentucky last year, the Defense Department said.
"We think we’ve got it right this time," Carol
DiBattiste, the undersecretary of the Air Force, told a
news conference Friday to publicize anew Pentagon
program to re-emphasize in training that such behavior
is unacceptable.
Speaking at the same news conference, Bernard
¯ Rostker, the undersecretary of defense, said he disagreed
with President Clinton’s statement last year,
after the beating death of Pfc. Barry Winchell by a
fellow soldier at Fort Campbell, Ky., that implementation
of his policy on Gays was "out of whack."
"I don’ t agree with that characterization. I think the
policy is working reasonably wall to provide a degree
of safety’.’ for Gays in uniform, Rostker said. "The
days of witch hunts, the days of stakeouts, are really
gone." Even so, Rostker said, more needs to be done
to ensure that everyone in the military understands
the policy.
The Clinton administration’s policy on Gays in the
military is derived from a law passed in 1993 after
Clintonfailed topersuade Congress and the Pentagon
to allow Gays to serve openly. ~.The policy, known as
"don’t ask, don’t tell," holds that Gays can serve in
uniform so long as they don’t reveal their sexual
orientation. One problem, however, has been unwarranted
investigations of people suspected of being
homosexual. There also is a fear among discreetly
Gay service members that if they ,qomplain about
harassment, they will be discharged. ’"
The announced plan to eliminate anti-Gay behavior
was created by a panel of civilian and military
officials led by DiBattiste of theAir Force. It was in
response to a Pentagon inspector general’s report in
March that found anti-Gay behavior was commonplace
in the military. DiBattiste said the key to her
panel’ s plan is adoption of an"overarching principle"
meant to clarify to all in the military that unacceptable
behavior includes not just abuse of Gays but also
"inappropriate comments or gestures." "That’s the
high road that we need to take," she Said.
The DiBattiste panel’s 13-point "action plan" is
largely reiteration of previous expressions of deterruination
to stamp out anti-Gay behavior and to hold
military commanders responsible for policy infractions.
Last December, Rostker’s predecessor in the
undersecretary’s post, Rudy de Leon, issued a statement
that "harassment of service members for any
reason, to include alleged or perceived homosexuality,
will not be tolerated," and commanders must take
prompt action against violators.
Michelle Benecke, an executive director of the
Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund, an advocate
for Gay rights in the military and a frequent critic of
Pentagon policy; called the DiBattiste panel’s report
"’thoughtful and considered." ’.’Today’s recommendations,
if implemented, would be a very good start,"
Benecke said.
The spark that caused- the Pentagon to take a closer
look at the Gay policy’s implementation, and at the
extent of anti-Gay behavior in the field, was the
Winchell murder at Fort Campbell on July 5, 1999.
Two of Winchell’ s fellow soldiers were convicted in
the crime and are in prison.
Gen. Eric Shinseki, the Army chief of staff, released
the Army inspector general’s report Friday on
circumstances surrounding the Winchell murder. The
report concluded that some members ofDCompany,
2nd Battalion, 502rid Infantry Regiment, Winchell,’ s
unit in the 101st Airborne Division, violated the
military’s policy against anti-Gay behavior, but it
exonerated all commanders at Fort Campbell.
TheArmy report also concludedno general climate
of homophobia existed at Fort Campbell. With some
exceptions, "It was determined that the command
climate at Fort Campbell before 5 July 1999 was a
positive environment," the inspector general’s report
said. It also said the chain of command at Fort
Campbell "respondedappropriate1y"when confronted
with situations that appeared to violate the "don’t ask,
don’t tell" policy.
" Rep. Mart,y,. Meehan, D-Mass., questioned these
conduslons. ’Giving FortCampbdl arelatively dean
bill of health doesn’t square with recent reports of
prevalent anti-Gay harassment throughout the services,"
Meehan said.
Vermont Papers Will Print
Civil Union Notices
RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) - Aunotmcements for civil
unions are beginning to appear alongside wedding
announcements on wedding pages in newspapers
around the state. At many newspapers, editors said
they will treat announcements of same-sex unions the
same as traditional marriages, placing them in the
same section of their newspapers and in the same
format, although perhaps under a different heading.
The decision "took about 30 seconds of deep
thought," said Valley News editorJim Fox. "It wasn’t
very difficult." "Of course we would treat them the
same," said .amnette Sharon, managing editor of the
Manchester Journal. "ff they want to make that announcement
to their neighbors, the newspaper is the
place for that to happen."
Evennewspapers thathave editorialized against the
law granting marriage-like benefits to same-sex
couples appear likely to print civil union announcements.
Mark Smith, publisher of The Caledonian-
Record, said no one had.brought such a notice to his
St. Johnsbury paper, but if someone did, he would
probably publish it. "My personality is such that it
will depend on the attitude of the person who comes
through the door," he said. Smith said he would
comply with a polite request but dig in his heels if he
felt pressured.
So far,the reqtlests have been few. In Brattleboro,
where the first civil union was certified just after
midnight on July 1, no announcements have been
submitted to the local newspaper, the Reformer.
In August, that will likely change, though, when
John Calvi and Marshall Brewer of Putney, have a
civil union ceremony, and submit an announcement.
The couple- and the newspaperi- made national news
more than a decade ago when the Reformer became
the first mainstream newspaper in the United States to
publish a Gay wedding announcement.
Joseph Watson of Leicester, entered a civil union
with his partner, Michael Warner, on July 7. Watson
said he had no problem with sending out the notice,
which has appeared in the Addison County Independent
and was in the July 23 edition of the Sunday
Rutland Herald and Times Argus. It will also be in a
new "Milestones" section of the Gay newspaper "Out
in the Mountains" and is expected to be published
soon by The Burlington Free Press.
Addison . County Independent publisher Angelo
Lynn said his paper received only aletter of praise for
its publication of Watson’s civil union notice. At the
Newport Daily Express, however, managing editor
Susan Davis doesn’t expect such a smooth reception.
Davis said if she receives civil union notices, she
will print them as long as her publisher approves. But
she anticipates a backlash. "I don’t have a problem
with it, but I know a lot of people do," she said. "’This
is the Northeast Kingdom and everybody is running
anti-civil unions (for the upcoming dections).. It’s
a huge issue up here."
Man Charged With Hate
: Crime in Beating Death
BARRON, Wis. (AP) - A man charged with helping
murder a 22-year-old hearing-impaired, mentally dis -
: abled man now also is accused of a hate crime in the
: killing. Prosecutors contend Raymond C. Walton,33,
¯ of Barron, helped beat Michael J. Hatch to death with
¯ a tire :iron Oct. 20 because Walton thought Hatch was
: Gay, according to court records.
: Walton was charged with being party to first-
." degree intentional homicide and armed robbery in
¯ Hatch’s death. The hate-crime enhancer was added to
". the charges last week.
~ Barron County District Attorney James Babler dedined
comment on the hate crime filing, which says
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Walton intentionally selected the victim because of
his belief or perception regaa’ding Hatch’s sexual
orientation.
Authorities say Walton a~d Corey L. Kralewski,
21, killed Hatch and left his body in a rural Barron
County corufield. A criminal complaint said
Kralewski, Walton and Mary Reed spend the evening
of Oct. 19 at several Barron bars. Kralewski played
pool with Hatch, whom he knew from high school.
Later, the group left the pool hall and drove to a
field near the Dunn County line. Reed told authorities
she sat in her truck while Kralewski beat Hatch with
a tire iron. Walton also hit Hatch several times, she
said. In a written statement, Kralewski told authorities
heknocked Hatch down with afew blows but that
Walton did most of the beating. Walton showed
authorities Hatch’s body. Kralewski pleaded innocent
to a homicide charge and goes on trial Aug. 7.
Reed, 34, pleaded guilty to aiding a feton and was
sentenced to t~vo years in prison.
Chicago Bishop Faces
Ecclesiatical -Charges
CHICAGO (AP) - A United Methodist lay member
has filed a complaint with the church, accusing his
Chicago-based bishop of using the office"as a public
relations and news media channel for promoting
homosexuality," among other things. John
Juergensmeyer, an attorney and member of a United
Methodist church inElgin, is calling for Bishop C.
Joseph Sprague to resign or be removed.
Sprague, formerly a United Methodist pastor in
Columbus, Ohio, heads the church’s Northern Illinois
Conference. He was one of several Methodists,
including at least one other bishop, arrested while
protesting anti-Gay measures adopted at the church’ s
general conference in Cleveland in May
Juergensmeyer said that Sprague’s arrest was a
"triggering point" for his complaint. But he said
Sprague’s overall political views have long troubled
him and other conservative United Methodists. "He is
reducing the church only to a political instrument
rather than a spiritual force." said Juergensmeyer,
rather than a spmtum io~c~, ~a~,., o~.~r,~,l.....av.,
who also ~s accusing Sprague of promotang writings
about Jesus Christ that luergensmeyer says violate
church doctrine.
Earlier this month, Sprague told the United Methodist
News Service that the letters of complaint
seemed to be "part of an organized effort of a small,
very vocal minority." He also said he made his views
clear when he stood for election as bishop four years
ago. Sprague was re-elected to his second four-year
term at the church s North Central Jurisdictional
Conference this month.
Man Gets Two Life
Sentences for Slaying
BALTIMORE (AP) - A man who told police he
attacked Gay men because he thought Gays were evil
was given two life sentences for the slaying of a h.otel
guest last June. Gary William Mick, 25, was gaven
one life sentence for first-degree murder and a concurrent
20-year sentence for robbery for the attack on
Christopher Williams Jones. He received a consecutive
life sentence with all but 30 years suspended for
first-degree attempted murder and a concurrent 20-
year sentence for attempted robbery for a separate
incident last September. Mick, of Baltimore, pleaded
guilty to the two attacks in May.
Jones, 37, of Metuchen, N.J., was attending a
pharmaceutical conference in Baltimore whenhewas
found bludgeoned to death at the Admiral Fell Inn.
"We loved our son and his partner in life as we love
all our children and their lifemates. The emptiness we
feel because of this loss is extreme," said Howard
Jones, the father of one of the victims, in a family
statement to the court.
Prosecutors said Mick accompanied Jones to his
hotel room after the two met. once.inside, Mick
struck Jones nine times on the right side of the head
with a claw hammer. He then stole Jones’ truck and
credit cards, which he used to buy clothes, jewelry,
food and a beard trimmer, prosecutors said.
The second attack occurred in September. Prosecutors
said Mick attacked another man he had met, but
the victim was able to fight him off.
Lesbian Recieves Headof-
Household Status
SACRAMENTO (AP) -The state Board of Equalizationhas
voted to grant head-of-household tax status to
a Lesbian who is supporting her partner and nonbiological
child. The board voted 3-2 to allow the Los
Angeles family to file with one of the women as the
head-of-household, which will savethem about $2,500
a year in state and federal taxes.
Helmi Hisserich and Tori Patterson of Los Angeles
have been together 14 years and had a daughter in
1997. Patterson gave birth and has stayed home to
raise the baby since then. When Hisserich filed a tax
return for 1997, she checked the box for head of
household and calculated accordingly.
The Franchise Tax Board said she was not eligible,
saying head of household status covered situations
only where an unmarried person was paying more
than half the expenses of an adoptive or foster child,
or any blood relative. They said she owed $1,050,
Hisserich said.
Sbnnnon Minter, staff attorney for the National
Center for Lesbian Rights in San Francisco, argued
Hisserich’s case before the board June 30. "This is the
first time they’ve addressed this issue," he said. "It
recognizes the reality of our families and gives legal
validation to the reality that our client is a parent
regardless of the fact that she doesn’t have a biological
relationship to the child."
Hisserich said the board had to consider whether a
heterosexual couple would be treated in the same
manner. "But if we were a heterosexual couple, we
would be mamed. We’ve been together 14 years,
we’ve registered as domestic partners in our city, our
county and the state. We’ ve done everything we can,"
she said.
The Board of Equalization will vote again after its
staff prepares a written decision, and will comment
publicly on its reasoning when the vote is final,
according to spokeswoman Cristina Herrera. That
could take up to three mouths, she said.
-- ~i~-n~)g~s~i~d tile vote was the logical extension of
Califo~aua court rulingsin the past two years that had
granted parental status to Gay men and Lesbian
couples planning and having children. Because intent
was the basis of his winning argument in the tax case,
Minter said the decistonmostlikely woulon’t apply to
situations where someone moved in with a partner
who already had a child. The ruling affects only state
tax status, but I-Iisserich said the Internal Revenue
Service followed the state on head of household
status.
Jury Votes Death to
Killer of Lesbian Couple
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -A Mnltnomah Countyjury
sentenced to death a Portland man who killed a
Lesbian couple in a karaoke bar. Eric Walter Running,
49, was fOund guilty of two counts of aggravated
murder in the February 1998 shotgun slayings
of Jaqueline J. A_ffderson, whom he had dated, and
Barbara J. Gilpin. Running killed the women after
Anderson, 29, a poet and writer, broke up with him
and returned to her 10-year-relationship with Gilpin,
44, a landscaper.
In an unusual split, the jury imposed the death
sentence only for Anderson’s murder, giving a life
sentence without the possibility of parole for Gilpin’.s
death. Ten of the 12 jurors voted to give a deat~
sentence in Gilpin’s murder, but a unanimous verdict
is needed.
"’Barbara Gilpin deserved the same verdict as my
daughter," said Jack Anderson. "But one death sentence
is all that it takes. I don’t care if he dies
tomorrow or never, I’m just glad he can’t be a threat
to anyone anymore." Running smiled as the verdicts
were read. Hewill become the 25thperson onOregon s
Death Row at the state penitentiary in Salem.
Almost 20 patrons at the Ambassador Restaurar.’-a
and Lounge in Portland witnessed Running kill
women Feb. 24, 1998. Rurming’s lawyers offered
insanity defense.
Se.n.a.te OK’s $600 ¯ $200 million interuational program to
Million for AIDS
batfleHIV/AIDS. Speaking ahead of the
. " ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian
WASHINGTON (AP)-Legislafioncom- " Nations) Regional Forum, Asia’s largest
mitring up to $600 million in U.S. aid for " security conference, Downer noted prefighting
HIV and AIDS in Africa and ¯ dictions that AIDS threatens to reduce or
developing countries elsewhere was " even reverse Asia’s economic growth. "I
passed at the end of July by the Senate. On
don’t think the Asia-Pacific region can
avoicevote, theSenateapprovedabillby turn,!ts back on this devastating prob-
Sens. Bill Ffist and Jesse Helms, both
lem, Downer told’anews conference.
Republicans, authorizing $300 million in " Most of the $200 million will be tar-
¯ geted at countries in the Asia-Pacific re-
" glen, Downer said, and Canberra expects
¯ to work dosdy with the Association of
¯ Southeast Asian Nations.
¯ Much of the funding remains uncom-
", mitted, but some will augment existing
¯. programs in Indonesia and Papua New
¯ Guinea, Australia’s immediate northeru
¯ neighbors.
Relations Committee, said the bill requires
that up to $220 million of all U.S.
bilateral funding forHIV-AIDS programs
over the next two years be spent on supporting
orphans in Africa. T,he United
Nations has predicted that the disease is
expected to wipe out half the teen-age
population in some poor countries in Africa.
Similar legislation passed in the House,
which voted earlier this month to fully
fund President Clinton’s request for $2’44
million next year for combating and treating
AIDS in poor counmes.
each of the next two years for AIDS
prevention and treatment and also for the
care ofAIDS orphans in developing countries.
Thebill directs the Treasury Department
to establish a trust fund with the
World Bankfor the prevention efforts and
the treatment of orphans.
Helms, chairman of the Senate Foreign
HIV-Treatment Ctr.
Targets Blacks
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - A treatment
center for blacks who have AIDS or HIV
is planned in a county where only a third
ofblackAIDS patients gettreatment, compared
to half of infected whites. Rochesterhas
the second-highestnumber ofAIDS
cases in Ne~v York state, after New York
City. The number of local AIDS cases has
leveled off among whites but is climbing
among blacks, according to the Rochester
Primary Care Network.
Existing programs are not reaching t~
growing number ofblackmenanawom
who are HIV-positive, Art Collier, prestdent
of Primary Care Network, said. The
rateamong MonroeCounty’residents who
are black is over eight times the rate
among white residents, he added. Before
1991, 64% of reported AIDS cases in
Monroe County were among whites mad
27% were among blacks.
The center expects to have an initial
casdoad of about 150 patients. Besides
medical care, services will include mental
health counseling and treatment for substance
abuse. TheNational Black Leadership
Commisston onAIDS is helping plan
the center and recruit ablack staff, Collier
said. Coordinatbrs believe black patients
will respond better to treatment by black
medical personnel. Dr~Anson .,W;urapa.,~
black physician at strong Memon
Hospital’s AIDS Center, said blacks tend
Russia’s
Infections Growing
MOSCOW (AP) - The number of registered
HIV cases in Russia has soared in
the last six months and will continue to
grow, but the government doesn’t have
the money to fight the epidemic adequately,
a top health official said.
By tl~e middle of July, Russia had some
53,1~30 registered HIV cases, with almost
half ofthemcomingin the last six months,
said Vadim Pokrovsky, the head of the
Federal AIDS Prevention Center. But he
said that the actual number of Russians
infected with HIV, the virus that causes
AIDS, is probably more than 300,000,
since only about 10% of the population.
has been checked. "The regi,s,tered cases
are only the tip of the iceberg, Pokrovsky
said. "We must accept the fact that we are
facing avery quickly spreading epidemic."
Increaseddrug use andprostitution since
the collapse of the Soviet Union have
been two key reasons for the rise in HIV
cases? Still, a low incidence in HIV-ca.ses
in recent years as well as more pressing
economicproblems m.ean ~.e~g~ov~eru~,~t,
has been slow to combat AID~. in zu ,
only 46 million rubles ($1.65 million)
was set aside to combat HIV and AIDS,
Pokrovsky said.
If Russia doesn’t take new measures to
stop the spread of the virus, the country
could have some 1.6 million HIV cases by
2015, he said..and those who are infected
nrobablv won’tbeable to get the help they.
the government’s manmty to pay. wm
people probably shouldn t count on getting
treatment," Pokrovsky said. .
HIV is worst in the Moscow regto.n,
where some 5% of young people are infected,
Pokrovsky said.
Rise in HIV
Infections ih Gays
College Hill Presbyterian Church
announces a
"More Light" Weekend
with Michael Adee
National Field Organizer, More Light Presbyterians
August 25 - 27, 2000
Building A Church for Everyone
Friday, August 25th, Luncheon: Noon - 1:30, Fellowship Hall
History and goals of MoreLight Presbyterians, followedby a question and answer
session. Cost: $5.00 for the meal
Caring for All God’s People
Saturday, August 26th, Workshop: 8:30 - 12:30, Fellowship Hall
Pastoral care needs ofGLBT people and their families. Continental breakfast and
snacks will be served.
Bringing Body and Soul Together
Sunday, August 27th, Church School Mid-highs to Adults, 9:35am, Chapel
An interactive discussion on Christian sexual ethics.
Celebrating Diversity and Inclusiveness
Sunday, August 27th, Worship ll:00am, Sanctuary
A special worship to celebrate our diversity and Christ’s call to be inclusive.
Michael Adee will preach and we will share communion together.
On Being Gay and Being Christian
Sunday, August 27th, Youth Event 5:30 - 7:00pm
The ColleggHill youth fellowship will be hosting individuals and other youth
groups for pizza and informal conversation about sexuality and faith for youth.
College Hill Presbyterian Church, 712 S. Col~bia Avenue, 592-5800
(One block west of Delaware and the Uni;~sity of Tulsa Campus)
’Financial Pla.nning With A
Clear Comm,tment.
~t American Express Financial Advisors, we want to make our
3ommitment to gay men and lesbians clear. Just as we have extended domestic partner
oenefits to our lesbian and gay employees worldwide, we are committed to providing
sound financial advice that specifically addresses the unique financial issues affecting
our lesbian and gay clients.
Nhether you’re single, in a committed relationship, or caring for children, your Americar
~xpress financial advisor can help you take control of your financial future. We can help
~OU:
Establish savings and investment plans
Protect your assets from unnecessary taxation
Av.oid financial restrictions placed on unmarried couples
Avoid costly delays in the recei pt of life insurance proceeds
series of Seminars given by
"heresa Barnard, American Expeess Financial Advisor
Where: MCC United When: 7:00 P.M.
1623 N Maplewood Ave
¯
TORONTO (AP) - Figures showing.a
to mistrust the medical sys.te.m, a~.d w.~en , rise of HIV infections amongG~Y., menm
everyone on the staff is whtte, tlae s~tua- " Ontario could be the fLrst sigu O~ mcreastion
is worse. - " ~.... " ing HIV levds for Gay men in Cam.a.dar
Natioo~!JY, one in .5~b,~abk.,m~,’~s,.m7 AIDS. activists note. A. recent prownce2 1. Create your Retirement Income
fectedw~HIV,’,andAiDSis’theleaamg i wide study conducted by University ot [Tuesday; September 19th
cause’of!~a,.~.~d~allblackAmerica~ Toronto and community gr6ups f°und an
between:th~.~g~of 25:and44:Thbdis-~. increasing number of HIV infections [e Estate Planning
ease i’s gr6wiiig fastest among -black among O~tario Gay men ~ter_ 19°~6,~ _ r [ Tuesday, October 24th
women, who a~.ount for 56% of HIT ~ In 1992, the infection rate was ,.~ 1~
cases in women. " - " 100 people tested, the ~tudy found. The
/
¯
number dr°pped t° 0"87J 1"00 in 1"996; d
Australia
a]or HIV Initiative-’" -" "
risen to 2.07/100 people testea. llae stuaY
mirrors recent results in San Francisco
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Australian " which showed that HIV infections among
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer an- " Gay andBisexualmentherenearlytripled -
nounced thelaunchrecenflY of asix-year’ over the past two years.
-’inancial Strategies for Gay Men & Lesbians
Tuesday, September 5th and Tuesday, October 10th
Please R.S.V.P.
RetirementExplore Your Options with Theres;~ at
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Power
Connect.
Public Service Company of Oklahoma
Customer Service Is Now Available 24
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These days, traditional 8-5 business hours
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by Karin Gregory
I just love Dr. Laura Schlessinger. Really,
I do. I think she and I could be great
buds. You know how some girls make
plain girls their friends just to make themselves
look prettier? Or how some pal
around with fat girls just so they’ll look
thinner? Well, Dr. Laura could be my
girlfriend (eeeewwww, not that way!!!)
because every stupid thing I’ve ever said
in my life would sound intelligent next to
the things she says. And she’ll be saying
plenty, I’m sure, come October, when she
rides in on her broomstick to Tulsa.
Who is Dr. Laura, you ask? If you’re
Gay, you’ve been in a cave. Laura
Schlessinger, shock jock advice-giver of
the radio circuit, has called Gays and
Lesbians "biological errors", "sexual deviants",
and my personal favorite,
"pedophiles."
She says she does this out of compassion
for us, not out of hatred. Oh no, I
don’t feel hated and maligned by those
statements, do you? She spews her hatred
and bile via the airwaves, with complete
support from the Religious Right. You
know them- that group that has the inside
info on the "homosextml agenda"! As if
her radio show weren’t bad enough,
Schlessinger’s taking her "teach intolera-:
ze" rantings to the TV screen in September,
courtesy of that "giant" of great
television programming, Paramount.
"OK," you’re saying, "the Lesbian is
once more raging about something, but
what has that got to do with me? What’s
one more ignorant person in a long line?"
Funny you should ask. "Dr." Laura (she
has a Ph.D in physiology, not psychology)
has become svch a controversial
figure (much like Am., Bryant in the late
’70s when she tried to inflate anti-Gay
legislation) that the G/L/B/T commurnty
has united to protest her television show.
All over this country are planned protests
to keep her off the TV screen.
And debates have become so heated
that major advertisers such as Proctor &
Gamble, American Express and United
Airlines have pulled out, saying that they
don’t need any more controversy. And
Geico InsuranceCompany (my insurance
company!) tookits advertising away from
her radio show at the beginning of July.
The reason? The company could not, being
supporters of diversity, condone the
words and actions ofsomeone who clearly
sees diversity as wrong. These are not
their exact words, mind you, but .youmay
find out more by going to
www.stopdrlaura.com.
Let’ s lookat this woman’s careerbriefly
and find out just what led her to this
homophobic phase in her life. Several
years ago I.first heard her radio program,
and I thought that she was telling people
the truth, even if they didn’t want to hear
it. Somehow I admired that, although I
didn’t always agree with everything she
said. She is a big proponent of parents
taking control in the home and not blaming
everyone else for how their’children
behave. That part hooked me since Iwas
a middle school teacher at the time and
saw parents who didn’t think they hadan]
responsibility for their child’s behavior.
So far, so good. And I even read reports
that she used to support theG/IJB/T community.
Two years ago, however, she
converted to Orthodox Judaism, adopting
intolerance as her Bible. Now she says she
can’t support the G/L/B/T community
because of religious teachings.
If you hate me, hate me. But don’t lie
: about it, saying you’rejust~following the
¯ Old Testament. Hell, if we followed all
the Old T0.~tament teachings we’d still be
¯ selling ot~ daughters into slavery; still
¯ buying s~ves from neighboring coma-
" tries; and~ould be allowed to kill, with-
" out impunity, anyone who worked on the
¯ Sabbath. Gee, I didn’tknow that the Jew-
¯ ish could also play pick and choose with
¯ religious teachings like some Christians.
How much does she really believe in
¯ these religious texts? Who knows? She
doesn’t even have a consistency when it
¯ comes to condemning homosexuality.
¯ Well, she does, but she tries to say that
¯ she’s not condemning anyone. The point
¯ is,shehas saidthingsinprintandonradio, ¯
takenthemback, backpedaled, madeother
¯ people speak for her so many times it’s
¯ ridiculous. Her stand is so ambivalent, so
¯ setin sand, thatno one canbelieve or trust
¯ anything that comes out ofher mouth. Her
¯ press agents said she apologized for her
¯ remarks about Gays being "errors", and ¯
¯ then the next day she said she wasn’t
apologizing.
¯ Dr. Laura has denounced the American
¯ Psychiatric Association and the National ¯
¯ Education Association for their - oh, I
suppose- compassk hate stance on equal
¯ rights for all, andinstead has sold her soul
¯ to Religious Right organizations like Fo-
¯ cus on the Family. She promotes, within
¯
her own radio show, an intolerance to-
" ward Gay people on all levels, even to the
¯ point of denouncing hate crimes legisla-
¯ tion.
¯ I can see her leading cheers to teach
children who’ve just come home from
¯ school how to actively hate homosexuals.
"Gays are bad! Gays are fey! Let’s go
¯ bash ~ Gay today!" She says she is a
¯ moralist and has openly opposed the Ver¯
mont same-sex partners’ rights decision a
few months ago. But again, she’s not
¯ hatingus. She’sjustcompassionate.Yeah,
¯ this is why she takes an attitude of "I’m
right no matter what" on her radio show,
¯
and will also, I’m sure, on TV. But let’s
¯ see how that could work against her, shall
¯ we?
Anyone who’s ever watched a few epi-
: sodes of"Frasier" knows how easy it is to
¯ just hit a button and get rid of pesky caller
¯ #1. How does this work on TV, when
¯ you’re faced with the pesky caller in per-
" son? Taping. has already begun on her
: show, andfrom the reports, it doesn’ tlook
¯ likeasuccess. Dr. Lauradidn’tknow how ¯
to ask the proper questions, or even know
¯ some rudimentary technical televison
¯ knowledge i~her first tapings.
¯ There’s n~question that Dr. Laura is ¯
used to the ~d~o. But she also wants an
¯ audience like the one on radio - one she
¯ can rant to ,and not have to.see. Because ¯
¯ for all her bravado and showmanship, she
really DOESN’T WANT to help anyone.
: She actually doesn’t seem to like people.
¯ You can bitch and moan to people all you
: wantif you don’tsee their faces. She’s on
: radio and~feels safe.
i Guess What? Rea[peopie~
! may had.e, more difneultyi~ing~p.le
0ff if she him to .fae~i. them, [f’.~votild be
interesting to seehow b~y!hla~ di~S if
¯ she has to face questions about her views
¯ on homosexuality, but I know I won’t be
~ watching. I think she should just quietly
¯ go away, like Anita Bryant. A career
¯ shriveled by her own hatred. ¯
¯ Gregory is a Texas based writer, who
lives near Ft. Worth. Sheformerly taught
¯ school and also was a newspaper re-
. porter.
by Jim Christjohn, entertainment queen as ffelll He speaks atleast threelanguages o trammg. And to do this you need that of doing the constant prePs/media events,
Happy summer, folks! Been a lot of fluently, and has a mischievous sense of o traimng. So it’s easy to injure your voice, being portrayed in press as living a life
changes since the last column- went on a humor. Welose alotofcastmembers, whohaven’t that wasn’t close to reality and the rumors
visit to Chicago where I discovered an Described as Versace on hyper speed, ¯ had the kind of vocal traimng that will based on the illusion. For instance,
artist I’m eager to tell you about, and Braehetti changes costumes at lightning ¯ sustain you through a show like this. And, "There’d be a photo op at a party. I’d go
closed the door on a ghost from the past; fast speed, transforming into more than " like I said, even if you have had it, there just long enough for the picture, then g~t
started a new job and more. 80 characters and giving life to legions of ¯ are moments you forget. And you defi- home to a cup of tea and bed. DoingS8
First, local news: Cyndi Vetter directs personalities. His show is a multi-media o nitely feel it later. Even the trained folks shows a week plus recording an~ alb~
Heller Theatre’s first production of the extravaganza, combining comedy, mu- . lose voices as they get caught up in the didn’t leave much time for a Wild
new season, "A Coupla White Chicks sic, magic, and emotions of the even if I’d wanted to live one. Thenthe~
Sitting Around Talking" by John Foi:d video in a unique show " I’d be, splashed across the C~adian
Noonan. Starring local favorites Julie collage of acting, ". , .Deserll~ed as Versace on Jc: What el- equivalent of the National Inquirer, with
Tattershall (an excellent actress) and storytelling, stunts layper speed, Braelaett] c]aan~es fect has doing this an article about what a party boy I was.
Maude Mix, it is the story of two women and caricature. He show had in terms Please."
who are complete opposites of each other, is thewinner ofthe costumes at li~latnin~ fast speed, of impacting your Feeling too tied to the show, he decided
and the unlikdy bond they form. They 2000 Moliere life and/or views to start over and move to NYC, where
discover that, together, they can over- Award(theFrench transformln~ into more tlaan 80 of the world? ironically, he ended up being recast in
come anything. The production runs Au- Tony, which has
el~araeters and ~ix,~n~ life to.
MH: "As I Rent. He took a week or so off to record
gust 3-6, at the Heller Theatre, 5328 S. never been one by said, I’ ve been vocals for the new album, which he pro-
Wheeling Ave. Reservations are rectA- anyone outside of le~ions of personalities, through years of duced and played instrument~ for.
mended at 746-5065. France), and a de- training, withsing- Heloves performing, dislikes pressjun-
While in Chicago, I had the chance to lighffully impish His slaow is a multl-media ing, and acting, kets and meeting hordes of people. He
meet some marvelous people, including fellow.Addalittle
extravaganza, eomblnln~
and dancing. I’d made an exception to come to Tulsa, for
TomMichael,whoIlaterlearnedisoneof Cirque De Soleil been so close to which the event was nice and relatively
the top cabaret artists across the nation, too that mixture comedy, music, marie, and v’ldeo getting parts so low key, in his eyes. At th~ time of the
consistently in the industr~’s top ten lists above, too. many times, only interview,hehadflownoutfromNYCity
amongthecompanyofMichaelFeinstein, Brachetti ar- in a uniclue colla~e of acting, to lose them to 6:30pm the prior evening, didpress, upat
Maureen McGovern, Betty Buckley, rivesinTulsaatthe peoplewhohadn’t 5:30am for more press, and was flying
Michael McAssey (who hosted the PAC courtesy of storytelling, stunts and earlea- had any training. I back an’hour after I spoke with him. Ah,
eveningatthepianobar-somethingTulsa Celebrity Attrac- was about to quit the glamorous life! ture. He is... a
desperately needs), Sally Mayer, Donna tions August6-13. show busines s Chad was kind enough to give me a CD
Murphy, and Amanda McBro(~fi. Tickets can be had deliChffully impish fellow, when the call came sampler of his new album, "No. 1 Fan,"
~He’s been actively singing in the Chi- by calling 596- from the Rent and it’s very good. Nice melodic rock,
cago nightclub scene for 12years, andhas 7111.Iwilltellyou Add a little Cirque De Soldl people. I’dbeenin and I love the first song -"Small Town
also performed with the Boston Pops and now, the costumes
too tlaat mixture above, too..,
so many situations Girl;" atl.~,ode to not giving up on dreams
Spokane symphonies. In 1995, he was that Brachetti de- where I’d been and p~venng with what life gives vou
invited to participate in the national Caba- signedandcreated through al! this Ng~i~2i~ really nice beach-boys n{eets
ret Symposium with such luminaries as rival any elaborate [and] training, and Fl’~i~,ood Mac kinda tune about break-
MargaretWqfiting, Julie Wilson. and Ann Bette Midler workedreallvhard ~ mg-!:~p¢ or ~vantiug to, by the title .of
Hampton Callaway. His album, "Sailing Cheridrag Queen onmy craft c~nly to ¯ "I~xmgton." After that is "Say Good-bye
On," is the perfect music for romancing extravaganza. Di ...RENT opens August 99 see people with no : t~hip-hoppy kinda rappish song
yournewguyorgal.TomMichael’svoice I mention he’s
and runs tlarou~la September 8
experieuce get wi~eat pop hook, withsomejazz~a~,d
wraps around you like a warm blanket on cute, designs a parts I was up for, rock bi-~:thrown in for good measure. It s
a winter’s night, and draws you in. mean frock, in his for 8 performances, and had just be- about growing up, growing old, selling
I was privileged to meet theman behind mid thirties (he’s come so disheart- out, doing what you’re told. "I know who
the voice, and spend-an afternoon with cagey about his RENT is only ttae ened with the biz. I wanna be..." The next ~s a ham~ting
him. He is as nice as the voice he sings age) and single?
~tla musical to win both
Sothis,gethngthat ballad/rocker, an ode to loneliness of a
those incredible love songs with. And RENT Opens call, really .rein- lostfriencFrelationshipanddrinkingalone.
he’sboyishlyhandsome, withblondehair August 29 and tlae Pulltzer Prize and forced my faith in On each, his voice handles the material
and incredibly intense eyes that dance runs through Sep- the business and and styles with aplomb, and he has a very
with light ’ every so often. His smooth tember3for8per- several qony Awards..." renewed that appealing tone. It seems there will be
" tenor voice and immaculate phrasing fin- formances. Tix go dream, something for everyone on the full CD,
mediately gave me a new perspective on on sale June 12th Also, I’ve be- and it will be worth picking up. I hope ~t
that style of voice, at 596 7111. RENT is only the fifth musi- come much more spiritual. I wasn’t spiri- gets radio play.
My favorite cut is the title song, which cal to win both the Pulitzer Prize and tual at all when I took this part. But Mimi Jeffrey Seller, the show’s producer,
I’ve heard done before, but not with such seve :al Tony ,Awards. Matinees are set is such a wonderful character and she’ s speaks of show with real enthusiasm, and
feeling that you feel the song flowing for Sat & Sunday, and there will be a grounded in faith, and to play that, every his eyes light up when speaking of the
around you. Beckie McKenzie, who un- special $25 per seat matinee on Wednes- night I have to believe it on stage. Since impacthe’s witnessedthe showhaveupon
fortunately was out of town the.Sunday I day, August 30. doing the show and portraying a charac- its audience. He sees "Rent" as a transforsaw
Tom perform, lent her voice and Presentatthepressconferenceannounc- ter, Mimi, who is very spiritual, I have mative experience. He hopes the show
arranged the music for the album, and ing this special addition to Celebrity At- become more open to that aspect of life will reach the younger Gay teens and
there’s not a tinker on it. When I asked tractions’ season were Marcy Harriell, where once I wasn’t, and I’ve heard from twenty-somethings and send a message
my host "Which local artists’ CD should MIMI on Broadway, and Chad friends and fans about their own searches that "Yes, you can be gay and successful,
take home with me as a souvemr. , the Richardson,ROGERonBroadway, flown for meaning, whichis one of the themes of that gay is more than OK and is cool. You
immediateresponsewasTomMichael’s’, in for the day to perform a couple of the show. And that has inspired me to can live ~oodlife, a rich life," and hopes
And he was right. Tom Michael’s "Sail- numbers from the show. They were both start searching. It’s so nice to bein a show they will be moved by the relevant expeing
On" is available from Amazon.corn, dynamate, and had incredible voices, that’s inspiring instead of traumatizang." rienees the show represents. The message
or Tower Records, Original Cast Records I was able to ask a few questions of Marcy Harriell has not done a CD yet, of inclusiveness is important to him for
(1-888-627-3993), Borders, Barnes and them, which they were most ~acious in but hopes ~t is in her future. And I can the audience to ’get."
Noble, Footlight Records, and answering. I spoke first with Ms Harriell, assure you, evenifshe sings the telephone Even today, he still has a passion for
CDNOW.com: who was as gracious as she was beautiful, book, it would be well worth listening to. this show evident in his speech and the
BrachettllS comang. No,~t s notaplece JC: This seems like an incredibly diffi- Chad Richardson is Canadian rock way his eyes light up. Having aecomof
tOast with herbs and tomatoes on ~t, it’s cult show to do, especially in terms of the singer, and has had two albums produced, plished quite a bit for his 35 years, he
ArturoBrachetti, the quick-change artist, vocals. His third is the upcoming "No. 1 Fan," chalks his success up to being a
Think "Greater Tuna" meets Robin Will- MH: (laughing) "Oh yes! Well, I’m a due out in May. He’s a handsome man, workaholic. He never tires of seeing the
Jams while doing David Copperfield’s classically trained singer - opera and so and he also has an incredible voice, much show s effect on audiences, its power to
act. Greater Tuna had two guys doing on, so doing this show was really different easier to listen to in many ways than embrace and connect with all people, and
quick changes to create the 22 characters in terms of it being arock show, basically. Anthony Rapp, the originator of the role. make them feel part of a family.
of a small mythical town; Arturo is one It places totally different stresses on your He also has incredible presence and very Of course, that does kind of clash with
man creating 88 characters during the vocalchords,andrequiresalotofstamina; piercing eyes. the show’s detractors, who feel that it
course of an evening - from cowboys to because when you get caught up in the Chad was a member of the Canadian glamorizes drug use and unsafe sex, but
geishas and barmaids to Royal Mounties, emotion of the show - which happens at cast ~f Rent, who reached rock-star fame you can’t please everyone.
he is a very channing man and handsome some point every night - you forget the .o as a member of the show. He quickly tired
by Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D.
My sister just reported in from the annual
family reunion. Earlier this month,
the uncles, aunts, and cousins congregated
in apark on the suburban
slopes ofMt. Diablo,
California. Safe here in
Oklahoma, I’ve somehow
managed to .miss the last
decade ofthese family pic-
But news filters back.
This year my second
cousin Michael reappeared,
somehow on parole.
I am surprised because
it wasn’t too long
ago thathe attacked an elderly
couple in their car,
pulled up at a gas station.
He stabbed the oldwoman
dead. A .Vietnam War
flashback, Michael’s lawyer
said, which could wall
be true.
My family doesn’t talk
much. What facts I have
derive from the Oakland
Tribune lnternet newspaper
archives. Orrather, the
truth is that we happily gossip about each
other when those others aren’t listening.
Wejust don’t speak such things publicly.
And there at the picnic also were my
second cousins, once-removed, who are
autistic. Our gossip wonders if this condition
is their parents’ fault. The brothers,
who are now in their 30s, somehow make
a living repairing trails in Yosemite National
Park. We all know something about
them despite the fact that their autism is
never spoken of at our reunions.
My first cousin arson was at the picnic
too. arson is 46, unmarried, does something
with computers, and still lives with
my aging aunt and uncle. It makes one
think. It makes us gossip, too. Perhaps I
have a Gay cousin: Or perhaps arson is
just a happy solitary. Who knows? We
never talk about it:Opeuly, that is.
My family - likes yours, maybe - religiously
follows our own policy of "Don’t
ask, don’t tell." This peculiar sort of secrecy
is the framewt,rk of the closet. The
closet comes into being just because we
have agreed not to notice what is obvious.
arson’s sexual identity is an open secret.
He knows what he is, and we know what
he is too. But because we never admit
what we know, not publicly anyway, we
avoidhaving to deal withits consequences.
If we did acknowledge that we know,
we might have to do something. Dismiss
the newly uncloseted Gay from the Army,
for example. My family wouldn’t discharge
Orson.(or me either,.for that matter)
fromthe clan,butitwouldface having
to revalue Gayness. It would lose the
comfort of our open secret. This would
demand considerable emotional and political
transformationonall sides, It’s alot
easier just to go along to eat the hotdogs
and hamburgers and chat about kids and
the weather.
Eve Sedgwick, a literary critic and one
of the founders of "queer theory," proposedin"
TheEpistemology ofthe Closet"
that open secrets are fundamental within
modern American culture.
Part of her argument can be restated
simply. Homosexuality - which throughout
much of the 20th century couldnot be
recognized publicly - is nonetheless always
present within contemporary no-
My family doesn’t
talk much. What
f~ets I have derive
from the Oakland
Tribune Internet
newspaper archives.
Or rather, the truth
is that we happily
gossip about each
other when those
others aren’t
listening. We just
don’t speak such
things publiely.
¯ tions of sexuality. Gayness exists in order
: to maintain theboundaries of straightness.
¯ Wejust don’t admit it:
¯ Gayness has to exist as an open secret.
It is a shadowy, inverted,
and devalued reflection of
straight. When it emerges
from the closetand appears
clearly in public, it threatens
¯straightness if it becomes
a possible, alternative
normal sexuality.
Straight can’t exist withoutGay;
butitperhaps also
can’t exist-notin thesame
way, anyway - when the
open secret is revealed.
Likemurder and autism
in the family, the
unspeakability of secret
Gayness has maintainedits
shame. We’ve heard the
reaction: "Go ahead and
be Gay. Butkeepit to yourself.
Don’t thrust your
lifestyle in my face. We
don’t want to know about
it. How dare you Gays
flaunt k ? Can’t you keep it
secret?"
¯ You can understand the worry. Flaunt-
" ing destroys open secrets. Public recogni-
¯ ,tion of Gayness erodes the normality and
"6ounds of straightness. Telling one’s se-
¯ crets unsettles the uncles and the aunts
¯¯ and their elemental notions about who
¯ and what they are. Who can blame them? Nowonderthey’dratherhappily smalltalk
¯ with arson abouthis job andhis car- and
¯ not about what he does when no one is
;" looking (or when they are pretending not
¯
to be looking).
¯ So my family dogs its job, keeping our
¯ open secrets. And it’s not just my timo- ¯
¯ rous relatives. I have thirty-something Gay friends who avoid certain bars for
¯ fear they might run into family friends
¯ who’dtell thex" rmother. Li" kemomdoesn’t
¯
already know. But, sometimes, she really
doesn’tknow- she honors the open secret
¯ by not admitting that she’s seen through
¯ her son years ago.
¯ One of these years I’m going to finally
¯ make it home to the family reunion.
¯ "Orson," maybe I’ll say,"So what do you
¯ think of those Back Street Boys?"
¯ Lamont Lindstrom teaches anthropology
at the University of Tu,lsa.
¯
¯ It takes courage to scrutinize yourdefense structures, belief system, values, self-
" worth, self-doubt, behavioral patterns, and
¯ overall identity, and to shed the traits and
¯ beliefs thatno longer functionin your life.
¯
It takes uncommon courage and integrity
~ to implement the insights of that scrutiny,
¯ and to live honesty and authentically. ¯
Anyone who enters and completes this
: process is a survivor, and deserves the
¯ rewards of liberation, identity autonomy,
¯ and happiness."
: While much of this book is geared to-
" ward use by straight therapists for their
¯ Lesbian and Gay clients, lay people will
¯ also find it valuable. It will help people to ¯
fully understand that the rituals they have
¯ gone through are not unusual and that
: their goal shou!.d be a vibrant, happy and
¯ healthy life.
¯
Check for this title at your local library,
¯ or call Readers Services at 596-7966.
Timothy .W. Daniel
Attorney at Law
|
An Attorney who will fight for
justice & equality for
Gays & Lesbians
Domestic Partnership Planning,
Personal Injury,
Criminal Law & Bankruptcy
I 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma
~sareavailable.
Are You Gay or Bisexual?
Are You Native American
Support Group is here .for you!
¯ Evening support group meetings
¯ Relationship workshops
¯ Short trips, outings and retreats
¯ Free HIV testing
For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project
rr
IGTA member
Call 341.6866
international
Toursiormorein!ormation.
e Therapy services
Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T.
Pager: 918-889-5255
Voice Mail: 918-697-9282
Lic. #t34133
Country Club Barbering
Custom Styling for Men & Women
David Kauskey
3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Ffi., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pro
Tulsa ’sonly
professional
body-piercing
American
Theatre
Company
presents
Shakespeare’s
Twelfth
Night
Augus, 17- !9
August 24 - 26
Eight o’clock
Eight dollars at. the gate
Phil brook Museum
2727 South Rockford Road.
by Ted Anthony, AP National Writer
N~V YORK (AP) - 715ose eyes. ~tNose
eyelashes. Those cheekbones. Those outfits.
She Is m~ American original, this
Tammy Faye Bakker - for better and for
worse, an utterly umque vessel that conrains
the strange stew of celebrity, spirituality
and sin we have come to expect from
our fallen 1cons in recent decades. Who
better, then, to explore, to figure out, to
focus in upon than the face that launched
1,000 quips? That’s the mission of a new
documentary, and "Tile Eyes of Tammy
Faye" doesn’t disappoint.
For those of you living on Jupiter’s
moons, Tammy Faye Bakker (now
Tammy Faye Messner) was/is the excruciatingly
mascaraed ex-wife of
tdevangelist Jim Bakker and former costar
of PTL, the North Carolina-based
television ministry that imploded in a pit
of accusations and recriminations in the
late 1980s.
He trysted with Jessica Hahn (who later
paraded in Playboy) and went to jail. She
got addicted to pills and ended up marrying
his best friend. Jerry Falwell got involved.
Things got nasty. Pop culture
references were born. Mascara companies
prospered.
Now, more than a decade later, Tammy
Fgye paces-the halls of her California
gated-community house, trying to sti~lI
together the swatches of her life and fin__
out what’s important to her. This proves
to be a funny and tragic endeavor, and
filmmakers Randy Barbato and Fenton
Baily chronicle it as it unfolds. Narrated
by RuPaul, of all people, it’s a festival of
weirdness camed out on an impressively
documentarian level, and it offers a deadon
look at Tammy _ aye without ever
poking fun at her. It lets her do all the
work, and work she does.
- She gives us a tour of her makeup case
(the eyes come from L’Oreal Waterproof
- She is praised by relatives in strange
ways ("When she was born, she had perfecfly
manicured fingernails:’ says an
aunt).
- She goes to a photographer to get new
head shots and smpri ses the makeup artist
by announcing that her lips, eyes and
eyebrows are permanently lined.
The film’s success, though, lies in assembling
a portrait of Tammy Faye that
transcends parody. She is an easy target
for a hip, sarcastic documentary. Instead,
we find out about a woman who was
reaching out to Gays and AIDS patients
long before anyone else in the Christian
broadcasting community Welearn about
awoman who endured cancer, thenjudged.
the experience worthwhile because ~t
brought her closer to her daughter. And
we discover, though she never says it
outfight, that she still respects Jim Bakker
- and may well still love him xn some
ways. Bakker, too, is interviewed here,
watched balefully by his new wife as he
talks - and sometimes reminisces fondly
- about his time with Tammy Faye.
In the end, you’re left with several
questions aboutTammy Faye: What DID
she and Bakker believe in? God? Ego?
Money? Themselve,’ 9 And what does she
really look like under all those layers?
Whatever she ultimately is, Tammy
Faye deserves some sympathy. She’ s been
through alot that wasn’t her ownmaking.
She’s going to church again, singing ~n a
local choir and trying to figure out just
who she is - an admirable trait in anyone,
and something not to be lampooned, no
matter what her past has held. "I don’t
know of any woman in our time who has
been so maligned," Pat Boone tells the
camera. "And yet she just keeps going."
And that trajectory makes for a fascinating
documentary - whether you end up
seeing it as a valid piece of journalism or
an entertaining celebrity car wreck.
Homosexual Rites of Passage: arises from lack of awareness that others
A Road to Visibility & Validation
by Marie Mohler, MA
reviewed by Barry Hensley
Tulsa Ciry-CounU Eibrary
Like e~eryone else, Lesbians and Gay
men go through a series of life events that
shape their personalities, morals and ability
to interact with other people. However,
because of sexual orientation, there
is often a different set of events and there
are different hurdles to jump. This book
analyzes these rites of passage to help
Lesbians and Gay men understand themselves.
Author ~ [thief approaches a variety of
topics, each with, a sep~ate chapter, inciudi~.
g ~,~nderstar,,ding Fear, Overcoming
c.~- Coming Out, Con-a~fitment
Rimai s ar,_d Aging Rites. Each topic builds
o~ the prevtous one.
Fern plays a big role for both straights
and Ga)’s. For Gay people, fear serves as
an obstacle to growth. For straightpeople,
fear of Gays "’smt’aces in antiGay bashing,
picketing, propaganda, hazing, attempts
at converting homosexuals and
discrimination in the workforce. Energy
is tied up in keeping the Lesbian and Gay
individual out of their world, consciousness,
and own ide.nti.ty,.b.y attemp.ting t,o,
keep homosexuahty mws~ble and stlent.
Mohler suggests that straights fear Gays
due to ignorance. "This ignorance often
may differ from one’s sdf. There is often
no motivation to learn about other cultures
or sexual orientations. Thus, anything
different from the self is considered
abnormal."
One thought provoking section in the
chapter on aging deals with the death of a
same sex life partner. A Gay or Lesbian
individual’s "truest support system, emotionally,
physically, sexually, and finandally,
may be flflfilled by this one person.
In light of’the fact that many heterosexual
peers and families may not mfite understand
the magnitude of homo~sexual fee!-
rags _~md. Gay!Lesbi,~ conuni~mem to !ife
parmers, ~t ma~ be devastating to not
rec~’~c ~N’.: much-needed suppn<i: dmSng
this a;~,::’~;v-g pefic,l. The heterosextml
majci:~.~? ~m,,y be blind to exiuatiL~g the loss
of one’s life partner to ’,he loss of a husband
or wife. While this lack of support is
a great tragedy, with great potenial for re-
~njuring and shaming homosexuals during
a time of great mourning, it is thevery
reason why Gay men and Lesbian women
needto stand together as a community
and validate the troth of their parmerships."
The chapter on coming out summarizes
the upbeat feel of the entire book: "(the
coming out) process affects homosexuals
physically, emotionally, and intellectuall)
- see Passages, p. 10
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
newspaper
periodical
Dublin Core
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[2000] Tulsa Family News, August 2000; Volume 7, Issue 8
Subject
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Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Creator
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Tulsa Family News
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
Publisher
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Tom Neal
Date
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August 2000
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James Christjohn
Karin Gregory
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
Hughston Walkinshaw
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Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
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Tulsa Family News, July 2000; Volume 7, Issue 7
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English
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newspaper
periodical
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Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
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https://history.okeq.org/items/show/603
2000
African Americans
AIDS
aMUSEments
arts and entertainment
Bars
Boy Scouts
businesses
churches
civil unions
Colin Powell
Dick Cheney
gay bashing
Gay marriage
Gay Studies
hate crimes
HIV
homophobia
Jim Christjohn
journalism
Karin Gregory
Lamont Lindstrom
Marie Mohler
marriage equality
military inclusion
Murder
Native Americans
performing arts
Raging Lesbian
Read All About It
Republican Party
restaurants
support groups
Tammy Faye Messner
Tom Neal
Tulsa Family News
-
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/590625efbb63be8cb25d8b9dc93531aa.jpg
b702d4d8f1ee914bff551b9101daf0e2
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ed98d8ae2a578073440d4ea6e68c6db6
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High Court + Scouts:
No Gays Need Apply
by Laurie Asseo, Associated Press
WASHINGTON - The Boy Scouts can bar Gays from
serving as troop leaders, the Supreme Court said at the
end of June in a 5-4 decision on "free-association
rights." The decision may also let the-6.2-millionmember
organization reject Gay boys as members.
Forcing the Scouts to accept Gay troop leaders would
violate the organization’ s right of"expressive association"
under the Constitution’s First Amendment, the
justices nded on the last day of their 1999-2000 term.
"The Boy Scouts asserts that homosexual conduct is
inconsistent with the values it seeks to instill," Chief
Justice William H. Relmquist wrote for the court. Requiring
the organization to have a Gay scoutmaster
would force it "to send a message, both~£o the youth
members and the world, that the Boy Scouts accepts
homosexual conduct as a legitimate form of behavior,"
the ,..hief justice said.
"-.We’ re very pleased," said Scouts spokesman Gregg
Shields. "It’ s going to allow us to continue our mission
of providing character-building programs for youth."
see Scouts._ tg. 9
uNPredicts: AIDS Will Kill
One Half.of African Teens
GENEVA (AP) - AIDS has killed 19 million people
worldwide, but the worst is yet to come, the United
Nations has just predicted: the disease is expected to
wipe out half the teen-agers in some African nations,
devastating economies and societies.
’q’here is a whole generation which is being taken
outYsaid Peter Plot, head of the U.N. Joint Program on
HIV/AIDS. He said vulnerable countries in Asia, Eastem
Europe and the Caribbean risk a similar catastrophe
unless they act now to control infection rates.
In its 135-page report released at the end of June,
UNAIDS estimates:
-The virus has killed 19 million people worldwide,
up fronr 16.3 million at the end of 1998. ~t has infected
34 million more, including 5.4 million last year alone.
-More than 13 million children have been orphaned
by AIDS.
-In 16 sub-SaharanAfrican countries, more than onetenth
of the population ages 15-49 carries the Human
lmmunodeficiency Virus, or HIV.
-In seven of those countries, at least one-fifth of the
population is infected.
One-of the countries where 20% of the population is
infected is South Africa, which has 4.2 million people
who are HIV positive- the largest single national total.
The southern African nation of Botswana has the worst
rate, with more than one in three adults infected. That is
the equivalent of 90 million people out of the U.S.
population of 270 million, see Africa, p. 9
DIRECTORY P. 2
PRIDE PHOTOS P. 3
US & WORLD NEWS P. 4
HEALTH NEWS P. 6
ENTERTAINMENT P. 8
GAY STUDIES P. 10
Serving Lesbian; Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends
Pride 2000: Greg,
Greta + ORU Too
TULSA - While the Edsel ferrying Greg Louganis broke down and despite a steady but mild rain, Tulsa’s 2nd Pride
Parade went off without a hitch. Beginning at the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center near 41st & Peoria, several
hundreds gathered along with grand marshals, Olympic champion Greg Louganis and distinguished US Army veteran
Greta Cammermeyer.
The. parade featured
churches, choirs, drag
queens and female impersonators,
leather "boys and
daddies," bars and businessmen
who spread out over
more than a mile and ended
up at Veteran’ s Park for the
Pride Festival.
This yearlikelast, a handful
of protesters gathered at
the beginning of the parade,
and then scurried to the end
to protest yet again.
Incontrast with those who
were protesting, the pastor
and a couple of members of
the CarbondaleAssembly of
God passed out bottles of
water without any message
of condemnation as they did
last year also. When asked
about their effort, they said
they just wanted to act with
compassion and to avoid the
nastiness - leaving judgement
to the Almighty.
see Pride, p. 6
Humanity Unites for Human Rights Oral Roberts University Alumni
Gree Louganis at the Millennium Parade Sharon Toele with Greta Cammermever
i" Vermont Judge Won’t Block-
Unions, Officials Rebel + More
¯ MONTPELIER,Vt. (AP)-Opponents ofVermont’ s civil unions. ¯
made another legal bid to block thelaw from taking effect on July ¯
¯ 1st. A day after a Superior Court judge refused to issue a ."
¯ preliminary injunction blocking the first civil unions ceremonies.
¯ from taking place, opponents filed a new request and added new °
plaintiffs.
A Virginia lawyer representing Shdtra and the other plaintiffs °
said Superior Cpurt Judge Stephen Martin did not have enough ;
information beftre him when the judge ruled that no irreparable °
harm would occur if the law went into effect. ¯
Lawyer Erik Stanley asked to add two new plaintiffs to the ;
lawsuit: town clerks in Corinth and Fairfield, who say they would °
be harmed if forced to issue civil union licenses. ¯
"These town clerks object to doing that on moral and religious °
grounds and have asked the attorney general’ s office if they could "
not issue these licenses," Stanley said. ’The attorney general ;
responded in a letter to them that if they refuse to issue civil ¯
unions licenses, they could be faced with civil lawsuits from the "
individuals to whom they refused to issue licenses." There also ¯
is the remote possibility of criminal fines or prison terms. ¯
Several town clerks say they object to homosexuality and do ¯
not want to be forced into providing licenses that will grant same- "
sex couples nearly all the rights and benefits Of marriage. " "
The clerks now have been added to 15 people who sued to -"
overturn the law. Eleven of those plaintiffs are members of the ¯
Vermont House who opposed civil unions, including prominent"
representatives such as Sheltra, Oreste Valsangiacomo, D-Barre, °
Robert Starr, D-Troy, and George Schiavone, R-Shelburne. ¯
They argue that an informal betting pool among 14 House "
members who supported the bill should invalidate it. The 14"
bettors each threw in a dollar to wager on the number of "yes" ¯
votes the bill would garner when it went before the House for ¯
preliminary approval in March. It passed by seven votes that day. "
Opponents argued the pool should have disqualified those who "
participated because it gave them an interest in the outcome of the ¯
vote. ¯
In a recent ruling, Martin said allowing Gay and Lesbian "
couples to enter into civil unions beginning Saturday would pose :
no harm to the initial 15 plaintiffs, see Vermont, p. 9.
Coke Adds Benefits for
Gay +-Lesbian Partners
WASHINGTON The Human Rights Campaign,
anational Gay civil rights organization, commended
the Coea-Cola Co. today for announcing plans to
extend health care benefits to same-sex domestic
partners of its United States-based employees.
"This is excellent news, and yet another sign that
domestic partner benefits are becoming a standard
component of benefits packages at forward-thinking
companies," said Kim I. Mills, HRC’ s education
director who oversees WorkNet, HRC’s
workplac project. "With this announcement, Coke
becomes the 99th member of the Fortune 500 to
take this important step."
The Human Rights Campaign and its Business
Council have been working with Coea-Cola and
KOLAGE, its Lesbian and Gay employee resource
group, for many months on this issue, Mills said.
HRC WorkNet (www.hrc.org/worknet) provided
data, strategy and other advice as needed.
The Coca-Cola Co. released a statement today
announcing the benefits, which will begin Jan. 1,
2001. According to the statement, employees will
be able to sign up during the fall benefits enrollment
period. The company also said it is researching
opportunities for implementing its policy on a
global basis. "Our company is committed to attracting
and retaining the most diverse workforce
in the world," Coca-Cola said in the statement.
"Our goal is to ensure that the Coea-Cola Company
is the best place for all people to work. This
extension ofbenefits is another step toward achieving
that goal."
"The Coea-Cola Company has provided worldclass
leadership to the beverage industry, and to the
business commtmity in Atlanta and all of Georgia
by taking this historic action," said Harry Knox,
executive director of the Georgia Equality Project,
whichrepresents Georgia’ s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
and Transgendered citizens, see Coke, p. 2
Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants
*Chasers, 4812 E. 33
*CW’ s, 1737 S. Memorial
*Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine
*Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan
*Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria
Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square
*St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st
*The Star, 1565 Sheridan
*Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main
*TNT’ s, 2114 S. Memorial
*Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd
712-2324
610-5323
583-2119
835-2376
749-4511
744-4280
745-9998
834-4234
585-3405
660-0856
584-1308
*The Yellow Brick Road Pub, 2630 E. 15th 749-1563
Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals
Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular
*Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41
Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15
*Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21
*Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale
Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria
*CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria
*Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. 1 lth
Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis
Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker
Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468
*Deco to Disco, 3212 E. ISth
Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria
*Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan
Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial
*Ross Edward Salon
Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main
747-1508
743-1000
250-5034
665-4580
712-1122
712-9955
494-2665
743-5272
746-0313
295-5868
581-0902, 743-4117
622-0700
749-3620
744-5556
838-8503
369-8555
584=0337, 712-9379
592-0460 "
*Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 744-9595
Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. 610-0880
Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709
Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026
*Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758.E. 21st 742-1460
Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349
Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440
*Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111
*International Tours 341-6866
Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750
*Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018
David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236
The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460
*Kerfs Flowers, 1635 E. 15
599-8070
Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466
*Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha 585-1234
*Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112
Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934
*Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951
Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626
*The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297
Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101
747-5932
Richard’ s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617
Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921, 747-4746
Scribner’ s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square
749-6301
Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829
*Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558
Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard
835-5563
Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling 743-1733
*Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan 665-2222
*Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis
592-0767
www.gaytulsa.org
Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities
AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101
579-9593
All Sods Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria
743-2363
Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159
587-7314
Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6
583-7815
"13/UGFr Alliance, Univ. ofTulsa United Min. Ctr.
583-9780
*Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201
*Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence
*ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314
*Community ofHopeUnited Me~o~li."~st, 2545 S:.Yale 747-6300
*Community Unitarian-Universanst tgongregauon 749-0595
Council Oak Men’ s Chorale
748-3888
*Ddaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware
712-1511
*Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31
742-2457
Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics &
Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140
*Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard
747-7777
*Free SpiritWomen’ s Center, call forlocation &info: 587-4669
)18.583.1248, fax: 583.4615
POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159
o-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlinl~ net
Publisher + Editor:
Tom Neal
Writers + contributors:
James Christjohn, Karin Gregory, Barry Hensley, J.-P.
Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum. Mary
Schepers, Hughston Walkinshaw
Member of The Associated Press
Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents
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whole orin part withoutwrittenpermission from thepublisher.
Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’ s
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is entitled to 4 copies of each ediuon at distnbutton
points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248.
Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827
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HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611
*Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194
Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378
*House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood .
Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 ¯
*MCG United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715
gAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111
NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658
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*OSU-Tulsa
PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901
*Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674
Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152
R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195
*Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325
O’ RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults
O’ RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth
St. Aidan’ s ,Episcopal church, 4045 N. Cincinnati
425-7882
St. Dunstan,s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st
492-7140
*St. Jerome s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088
*Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171
*TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225
Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105
Confidential I-IIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only
Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827
*Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule
*Tulsa Community College Campuses
*Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297
Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833
B,ARTLESVILLE
*Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353
OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN
¯ Borders Books & Music, 3209NWExpressway 405-848::2667
: Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907
: TAHLEQUAH
: Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900
¯ *Tahlequah Unitarian-UniversalistChurch 918-456-7900
Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360
NSU School of Optometry, 1001N. Grand
HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates
EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
Autunm Bre~.,ze Restaurant, Hwy. 23
*Jim & Brent s Bistro, 173 S. Main
DeVito’ s Restaurant, 5 Center St.
Fmerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St.
MCC of the Living Spring
Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429
Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery
Positive Idea Marketing Plans
Sparky’ s, Hwy. 62 East
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www.gaytulsa.org
stirs controversy
TULSA - gaytulsa.org, a non-profit continues
to stir controversy about and in the
Tulsa Lesbian, Gay, Bi and ~rans communities.
Hosted by webmaster David and his
: partner, Seth, a statement onthe sitenotes,
¯. " [that it is] an effort to chronicle the dme
sl~ent out and about in the Tulsa gay scene
¯ mixed with a bit of news and
¯ information. We do not claim to be fair,
objective, or even nice. This is 99%
¯ opinion. Whileyoumayormaynotagree,
¯ wecanpromise youwill be either amused,
¯ baffled, or (more commonly) pissed if ¯
¯ youkeep visiting. We acceptgossip, slander,
or anything else you want to submit
¯ we can post here."
¯ The awardwinning sitefeatures links to
¯ other web sites of interest and offers the observations of local writer, Dyke Di-
¯ vine. Also included are cordial descriptions
of local and state pnnt media: Tulsa
Family News, The Gayly Oklahoman and
¯ newcomer to Tulsa, the recently renamed
Tulsa Triangle.
¯ On the net: www.gaytulsa.org
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
*Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 41%623-4696
* is where youcan findTFN¯NotallareGaY"ownedbutallareGay"fri"endly"
i The Georgia Equality Project also played
¯ a key role in working with the company
: andKOLAGEto helpbring aboutthenew
¯ policy.
¯ GEP also unveiled a new initiadvg~to-
¯ day to persuade nine other Georgia COm-
" panies to provide domestic partner ben-
" efits to their Lesbian and Gay employees.
¯ These companies are: Home Depot, At-
: lanta Gas Light Co., BellSouth, Georgia
¯ Pacific, DeltaAirlines, Wachovia, United
¯ parcel.Service, Shaw Industries and Gulf
¯ Stream Aerospace.
¯ "Some companies in Georgia are be-
: hind the times in their treatment of their
Lesbian and Gay employees, said Kno .
"We are launching this initiative because
our Gay daughters, sons, fathers, moth-
. ers, aunts, uncles and cousins should re-
. ceive benefits for their dependent family
¯ members just like everyone eis .
¯ Earlier this month, DaimlerChrysler
: Corp., Ford Motor Co. and General Mo-
¯ tots Corp., along with the United Auto
¯ Workers umon, announced they would
offer health care coverage to same-sex
¯
partners of all eligible U.S. employees. It
¯ was the first time an endre industry, along
¯ with its leading umon, announeed domes-
¯ - tic partner benefits simultaneously. More
: than.3,400 private and public employers
¯ provide these benefits to their employees.
¯ So far this year, an average of five
: employers a week are announcing these
: benefits, according to HRC’ s WorkNet,
: which tracks these trends. Many of
¯ America’ s leading companies offer these ¯
benefits including: IBM, MicrosoftShell
~ Oil, Walt Disney, Fannie Mae, Cifgroup,
¯ Xerox, Time Warner and United and
: American Airlines. Additionally, more ¯
thanhalfoftheFortune 500includesexual
: orientation in their non-discrimination
¯ polities.
: Letters Policy
: TulsaFamilyNewswelcomes letters on ¯
issues which we’ve covered or on issues
: you thinkneed to be considered. Youmay
: request that your name be withheld but
letters mustbe signed&have phonenum-
~ bers, or be hand ddivered.
Anti-Gay Ads in Mexico "¯ past. of police was once so pervasive that
hate crimes andsame-sex domestic violence went
MEXICO CITY (AP) - The two leading candidates
in Mexico’ s presidential campaign have raised eyebrows
by casting doubts on each other’ s masculinity.
But the real surprise to .many,,,I~__ple in tl~i."s land w~.ith
a reputation for "machismo has been me negauve
reaction to the tactic.
Criticism led opposition candidate Vicente Fox to
quickly drop a negative TV ad aimed at rival Fran=
cisco Labastida, the candidate of the long-governing
Institutional Revohition.ary. Party, or PRI. Using a
¯ Mexican slang termfbr s0iii~0ne Of madefined seXu2
ality, the ad showed Labastida hugging and lifting a ~
PRI colleague by the thighs: It also featured shots of
male strippers at a’ campaign rally for another PRI
candidate. "
After canceling the ad, Fox’ s socially conservative
National Action Party, known as PAN, ran an advertisement
in newspapers defending itself tothe Gay
community. The p~t,,y is "not against.the ,O,,ay community
in any way,’ the ad said, adding: In a Fox
admiulstration, there will befrcedOm for people to
live without masks."
Carlos Monsivais, an author and social critic, said
the party’ s retreat was a milestone for Mexico, where
there are no openly Gay politicians and homosexualtty
has not been wtdely accepted..The most tm.po,
t~( thing is that even Fox and the right had to oacK
down and apologize to the Gay commumty,, h,e’ s.atd.."
"It’ s incredible to hear the word ’homophobta oemg ~
used even by the right."
Labastida’ s supporters have drawn their own criticism
for taking shots at.Fox’ s masct!!.inity with allusions
to his separation fromhis wife andhis being the
father of four adopted children. Such attacks have
seldombeenso directinMexicanpolitics, althoughin
the previous presidential election six years ago, the
PRI allegedly hired transvestites to attend an opposition
campaign rallyin Veracruz state in an attempt to
discredit it.
This time, the attacks were started by Fox. Fo,x,
called the PRI candidate a sissy and" La Vesttda,
a pun on his rival’s name implying Labastida is a
cross-dresser. But the atmosphere changed when a
minor-party candidate, Gilberto Rincon Gallardo of
the Social Democratic Party, stuck up for homosexuals,
the handicapped, rape victims and Indians in a
televised debate, the first time many of those groups.
had been mentioned in the race. "In weak democracies
like Mexico, legal protections are necessary to
prevent a tyranny of the majority over minorities, so
that people can decide on their own private lives
withou,,t a majority imposing its moral or cultural
views, Rincon Gallardo said.
On June 17, the Gay community held what was by
far the largest Gay-pride parade in Mexican history,
with organizers estimating a turnout of 30,000. Just
¯ five years ago, SUCh parades drew an average of about
1,000 people. But Gays haven’ t had much success in
their effort to make an issue of the banning of some
Gay cultural events by PAN officials in towns they
goBveemnj.amin Araujo of the Front for-People with
AIDS-HIV said that "Gays are more tolerated than
accacne~udteadte"iisnaMneimxipcoosasnibdiltihtyat. aTnhoepperenvl.yat..Ge,nacye,,p.oo.Il"~iatni.c,.ua.1-.
Gayattitudes wasillnstratedbY areportoymet_,mzen)
CommitteeAgainst Homophobic Hate Crimes: It
estimates that 190 Gays were killed in Mexico bec1a9u9s9e.
BofuttMheoirnss~evxautasl soereisenptraotgiorenssb.etWweeesnul1!h9a9v4ena"ndt
reached the point of having an openly Gay candidate,"
he said. "But we are now at a point where there
can no longer be an openly anti-Gay candidate."
Denver Cops & Gays
Work Together
DENVER (AP) - Gays and Lesbians have formed an
alliance with police to deal with late-night cruising,
loud noise and sex in public around Cheesman Park.
Police, Gay civil-rights activists and park neighbors
have been handing out fliers to motorists for the
past few weeks warning that police will crack do.wn
on traffic, park curfew violations and inappropriate
activity on surrounding streets. ¯
Thejoint effort wouldnot have been possible in the
¯ unreported, activists said.
: "I think there was, clearly, some traditional stereo-
. typing on both sides, but that has changed alot," said
¯ Lt. Jimmy Martinez, who leads a communi.ty-poli.c;
~ ing team in the Cheesman Park area: Marttnez sara
¯ acting Police Chief Gerry Whitman devised the strat-
~ - egy when he was captain of District 6 surrounding
~ Cheesman. Once the "Fort Apache" of city police
~ districts, District 6 is now a model for community-
~ policing programs.
Cheesman is ~a .well:known gathering #ace for ~ -~
Gays and Lesbians,~and friction de~eloped between
neighbors andparkusers¯ Marfinez~idpolicegot the~ --
Cheesman Park West Neighborhood Associationand
Equality Colorado, a statewide Gay civil-rights orga-
: nization, directly involved.
¯ Representatives on both sides said the strategy has .
~ worked. "For one thing, our work with the Denver
:~
police has become a model for how an organization
like ours can work with law enforcement," said Lori
¯ Girvan, directorofEquality Colomdo.DedeDePerein,
¯
who heads Equality’s Anti-Violence Project, sai.’d
i cooperadun with police has "built bridges" over me
". Gay community’ s prevalent, persistent fear and misi
trust of law enforcement.
JoeBarrows of theChcesman ParkWestNeighborhoodAssociation
saidheandhis neighbors frequently
called oolice with complaints before the communitypolicing
campatgn. Now compl.amt.s a~..e rare: Tl~.e
result has been a positive changem tlae atsrupttons m
the neighborhood. It’ s been a positive experience all
the way around," he said.
Mormans Attack Gay
Relationships in Nevada
CARSON C1TY (AP) - A Mormon church-endorsed
ban on same-sex marriages cleared one hurdle recendy
when the secretary of state’ s office said aballot
~etition contained enough signatures. The ruling by
Deputy Secretary for Elections Susan Morandi advanced
the constitutional referendum to its final step
- a test sampling names on the petition for regist.ered
voters. County clerks and voter registrars were given
until July 7 toverify that registered voters signed the
petition.
Morandi’ s office said the Coalition for the Protection
of Mamage got 120,558 people to sign its 15etitlon,
which is almost three times the number of
registered voters needed to put a question on the
Nevada ballot: Under the measure, Nevada would
recogmze mamages only of a re.an and woman. ,That
already is part of state law, but advocates want to t~acK
it up in the state constitution.
Opponents say the initiative amounts to discriminadota
and bigotry. The Progressive Leadership Alliance
of Nevada and about 20 other groups across the
state formed the Coalition for Unity to campaign
against the ballot measure.
The Coalition for the Protection of Marriage is
heavily supported by the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, whose members were central to
anti-Gay marriage efforts in Hawaii and Alaska, and
most recently, in California. However, the former
Catholic bishop of Las Vegas, Daniel Walsh, asked
priests and paris.ke_s to. support the ’~.aditi0nal f_~amily"
but not to support Ziser’ s effort because it fosters
ill-will toward Gays.
Gay Pride in Tel Aviv
" TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) - Celebrating Gay pride,
thousands of Israelis in tank tops and shorts danced to
¯ deafening music and waved rainbow-colored flags at
¯ the end of June. The annual street party has become
¯ the latest venue in the culture war between secular
¯ Israelis and devoutJews who consider h°m°sexuality
¯ an abomination.
¯ "We promise to support your struggle against the
~ religious," legislator Tommy Lapid, leader of the
¯ secular rights party Shinui, told the cheering crowd.
~ In recent years, Gays and Lesbians in Israel have
¯ scored a string of successes in the courts, though not
¯ in parliament, where ultra-Orthodox religi°us Parties
¯ have considerable deut. Last month, the Supreme
Court allowed a Lesbian spouse to be registered as the
United in
God’s Love
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seeondparentofherpartner’sbiologicalson-in1994, ¯
Norway’ s only female bishop, RosmarieKohn, faced
same sex unions were recognized for benefit pur- ¯
a revolt by nearly one-third of her own clergy when
: she allowed openly Lesbian Siri Sunde to return to the
poses.
The court rulings have coincided with growing " pulpit. Sunde had been barred after she married her
public ,acceptance of Gays. Just a few years ago, ". female companion. Gay marriages are legal in NorpublicdisplaysofGaypridewereunheardofinlsrael.
¯ way, with all the fights of heterosexual marriages
By contrast, Gays were hugging and kissing in Tel : except church weddings and the right to adopt.
Aviv’ s central Rabin Square in 1998 to celebrate the ¯
transsexual singer Dana international’ s victory in the : Germany Considers
Eurovision Song Contest. ¯
743-GAYS (743-4297) Over the last few years, the Gay pride parade has ¯
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6-9 l~m, Sunday..,-.:F~day ~’r~ (?0 ~ ba~erstof the Ga3~ prid~ moyeme.nt~ T~ech~,0
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in-hand. There were no religious protests. Tel Aviv is
anoverwhelmingly secular city, and the parade was
being heldjust before the onset oftheJewish Sabbath,
during which observant Jews refrain from work and
travel.
Taking a break from the blazing heat, Kinneret
G01an said the scene made her feel that Israel was no
different from othercountries. "You only see pictures
of Israel when rocks are being thrown. I’m proud that
despite everything we can still do this," she said.
Golan~ said that in the increasingly bitter culture
war betwTeen Israel’ s secular majority and thedevout
minority, the distrust is. so great that "each side
defines itself as the opposite:of what the other is."
Therefore, she said, many secular Israelis will sup-
]2~ort causes as long as they are denounced by the
’~:~’~r~igious community.
Lapid, standard bearer of the secular fight against
whathe calls religious coercion, said his party and the
homosexual movement are natural partners. Next
week, a bill proposing recognition of same-sex civil
unions will be up for approval. However, Lapid said
it will likely fail because of the influence of the
religious parties. But some of those dancing in the
parade said they paid little heed to politics. "Who
cares what they do in the Knesset? Look at this
celebration," saidAnat Schumaker, one of theparticipants.
"We’ re here and they can’ t do anything to stop
Gay Clergyman Shakes
Up Norweigan Church
OSLO, Norway (AP) - The selection of an openly
Gay clergyman in defiance of state Lutheran church
guidelines raised concerns Friday that the issue of
homosexuality could split the church. The Church of
Norway’ s highest body, its 85-member national congress,
ruled in November 1997 that clergy who enter
homosexual partnerships could not hold jobs that
require ordination.
However, the~Oslo Bishops’ Council of clergy and
laity voted 4-3 on June 15 to appoint Jens Torstein
Olsen as chaplain for the Majorstue Church. Olsen
noted onhis application that he was living with a Gay
partner.
The council minority appealed the decision to
Trend Giske, head of the churches and education
ministry that formally employs state church clergy.
He initially said he saw no reason to reverse the
council majority’s decision, but will make a final~
decision next month. If hired, the 51-year-old Olsen
would be Norway’ s first male minister who is openly
living with a Gay partner.
Oslo Bishop Gmmar Staalsett saidhe expects the.
ministry to respect his council’ s majority, in keeping
with usual practice. "Olsen is dearly the best qualified
for the post," Staalsett said.
But the move prompted Norway’s head bishop,
Odd B0ndevik, to say he was calling an emergency
meeting of the national bishops council on the matter
probably in August. "The appointment.., can split
the Church of Norway," he was quoted as telling the
Norwegian news agency NTB.-"When we said the
issue does not have to be a splitting factor, we assumed
that each individual bishop would be loyal to
the national church council’s resolutions and the
church itself," Bondevik was quoted as saying.
An anguished debate over Gay clergy has already
led to bitter disputes within the church. Last year,
reform. Half a million people were expected for the
annual Christopher Street Day parade in the German
capital. The bill, to be presented to parliament before
t breaks for summer next month, would recognize
registered Gay palTmerships as families, said Greens
lawmaker Volker Beck. However, homosexual
couples apparendy would not have the right to adopt
children - a demand of the Greens rejected by the
dominant Social Democrats.
Gay partnerships wonld get legal rights similar to
heterosexual couples on taxes, social security and
~mmigration law - an important point for Gay couples
where one parmer is a foreigner. Beck said the proposals
still require formal approval bythe parliamentary
groups of the two governing parties.
Opposition conservatives blasted the plahs and
hinted they would try to stall the bill in th~ upper
house of parliament, where the govemment,lack.s a
majority. Thomas Goppel, aleader of Bavaria s rightist
Christian Social Union party, called the proposals
"absurd." Germany’ s Association ofGays and Lesbians
welcomed the draft saying it did notmeet all of the
group’ s demands but still were a great st p forward."
Minnesota ’Sodomy’
Law Under Challenge ¯
¯ MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A state law that makes oral
and anal sex acrimeis unconstitutional and shouldbe
¯ thrown out, tim Minnesota Civil Liberties Union
¯ claimed in a lawsuit filed at the end of June. The
i MCLU and the Lesbian and Gay Rights Project of the
American Civil Liberties Union are challenging
¯ Minnesota’ s sodomy statute, saying the law violates
the right of privacy guaranteed by the state constitui
tion. Thelaw - which applies to all consenting adults,
even married heterosexuals - makes violations pun-
: ishable with a year in prison and up to $3,000 in tines.
¯ Theclass-actionlawsuit,filedinHennepinCountY,
¯ asks the court to declare the statute void and prevent ¯
the state from enforcing it. The plaintiffs include two
: married heterosexuals who say they risk prosecution,
: a Lesbian who fears eviction because her lease pro-
" hibits illegal activity, a Gay law student who fears
¯ being disbarred, a divorced Gay manwhofears losing
¯ his right to visithis children, and a group of Lesbian,
¯ Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered lawyers and law
¯ students.
¯ According to the MCLU, 18 states still have sod-
.: omy, statutes, down from all 50 in 1961. In five of
": ~ose s’tat~s, the law hpplies 0nly to Gays [editor’s
¯
note: Oldahoma is one of those with laws only di-
¯ rected at Gay people]’. Legislatures have repealed
¯ sodomy laws in 25 states, while courts have over-
. turned them in others. In one of the most recent cases,
an appeals court in Texas voided that state’ s sodomy
¯ law two weeks ago.
¯ Attorney General Mike Hatch was out of state and ¯
unavailable for comment on the lawsuit, said his
¯
spokeswoman, Leslie Sandberg.
¯ Tom Prichard, executive director of theMinnesota
Family Council, which has helped fight off attempts
¯ to repeal the law at the Legislature, said the law
should stay on the books, and he criticized theMCLU
¯ for filing the lawsuit. ’°They’ re trying to do an end run
by getting the courts to strike it down instead of going
through the appropriate channel, which is the Legis-
¯ lature," Prichard said.
. ated offices to deal specifically with Gay
alth Officials to health issues. Officials in Seattle have
Focus Gay Needs :d velo#as iali d mpaigntovac-
¯ cinate Gay men for hepatitis.
BOSTON (AP) - Boston public health
officials have agreed to try to better meet
the needs of the city’ s Gay community by
collecting data onillnesses,raising awareness
of health issues and seeking funding
for new programs. Their decision follows
the lead of other big U.S. cities, where
officials have already taken action to address
the health needs of Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual and Transgender residents.
’q’hereis clear datathat shows there are
health differences between the Gay and
larger communities," said Stephen
Boswell, executive director oftheFenway
Community Health Center, which serves
a high percentage of Boston’ s Gay population.
"If those problems are addressed,
we can make a significant impact."
At a conference held in Boston in May,
officials from public health agencies
around the country cited studies showing
Gays are at risk for a range of health
problems, including depression, breast
cancer, and substance abuse.
After years of focusing solely on HIV
and AIDS, Boston’s public health officials
decided soon after the conference to
develop a more efficient way to deal with
the community’s other pressing needs,
said John Auerbach, executive director of
me Boston Public Health Commission.
q~nis.is the first time the he~Ith department
has acknowledged it needs to specifically
address the health needs of the
Gay community," he said. "This is a significant
step forward."
Health departments in New York, Chicago
and San Francisco have already c~e-
While Louganis left immediatdy alter
the parade to fly out of the city,
Cammermeyer spoke briefly in the rain,
noting that she really might have preferred
not to come to Tulsa, thinking that
it might not really be safe or wdcoming,
but that probably she needed to come to
Tulsa for precisdy that reason.
Another group which received great
atteiation was ORU.out.com, a new Lesbian
and Gay alumni organization for
Oral Roberts University (ORU). While
Gay alumni groups exist around the country,
ORU.out.com is unusual in thatORU
has a policy of banning Gays as.students,
faculty or staff. Regardless, ~e ~oup
numbered about 20 and group orgamzer,
Jeff McKissic notes that about 60 people
have gotten involved.
Orgamzers of the Parade and Festival,
Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights,
Inc. estimated that some 3,000 participated
or attended.
More than !00,000 march in
Paris Gay Pride parade
PARIS (AP)- In a festive celebration of
Gay pride; more than 100,000 people
marched and danced on the last weekend
in June through the streets of Paris behind
a giantbanner with the slogan for this
year’s parade: ,Homophobia - a social
pl~gr~h------ Educatton Mimster Jack Lang
and the Socialist Party’s mayoral candidate
Bertrand Delanoe were among the
politicians thatkicked offGay Pride 2000
behind dozens of motorcyclists from the
Gay Bikers Club.
Rainbow-colored flags waved under
overcast skies as the parade wound from
:: Feds to Fund AIDS
¯ Vaccine Search
¯ WASHINGTON (AP) - Four new part-
" nerships were announced by a federal
¯ health agency Tuesday to provide fund-
: ing to groups attempting to bring anAIDS
¯ vaccine to market.
i Theseparme.rships, call,edHIV ~acone
¯ design and development teams, were
¯_ prompted by~ a. presidential dirertive to
¯ increase public-private cooperation in
: developing vaccines to major diseases,
: according to the National Institute of Ai-
: lergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID),
¯ the section of the National Institutes of
: Health that set up the deals.
¯ "Many vaccines in use today resulted
i
fr°mb°th g°verument-sp°., snL0r--~andpfi.-
vate research," said Dr. Anthony S. Faucl,
: director of NIAID.
¯ The awards are incentive-based, aimed
¯ at teams that have a vaccine in develop-
: ment but have not yet reach_ed human
~ testing. The teams will receive funds as
¯ they achieve preset goals.
¯ Three U.S. companies - Advanced
~ BioScience Laboratories in Kensington,
¯ Md.; Chiron Corporataon in Emeryville,
¯ Calif.; and Wyeth Lederle Vaccines and
¯ Nutrition in Pearl River, N.Y. - as well as
~ a consortium of Australian universities
¯ led by the University ofNew SouthWales
¯ all have different tactics on how to create
¯ a serum that will protect humans from
; HIV infection, which causes AIDS.
.district. Boolmng techno and 0asco music
¯ played as drag queens and other elabo-
¯ rately costumed men and women danced
on colorful floats and along the sidelines
of the parade Police estimated the crowd
size at between 100,000 and 130,000
people, while organizers said that 250,000
people turned out for the event.
Coinciding with the weekend of the
parade, Social Affairs Minister Martine
¯ Aubry said the government planned to
: introduce new laws oudawing discrimi-
¯ nadon against homosexuals. Aubry said
: the new legislation would appear as an
¯ amendment tO a "social modernization"
: bill currently going through Parliament.
¯ Denver Pride Draws 100,000
¯ DENVER (AP) - More.than 100,000 at-
" tended Denver PrideFest 2000. The festi-
~ val, organized by the Gay, Lesbian &
: Bisexual Community Services Center, is
¯ inits 10th year. No violence was reported
~ dUring the parade betweenCheesmanPark
: and Civic Center Park that featured 100
: floats. The festival also featured 230
¯ booths and. a family zone with the signs:
~ "drug-~ alcohol-, hate-flee zone."
¯ Activists told a crowd at the Civic Cen-
: ter that good people standing up to big-
~ otry, not legislation, will protect Gays,
¯ Lesbians and Bisexuals from violence.
¯ "In every case, a mass mobilization of
¯ people changed thepolitteal clunate, sm
¯ Leslie Feinberg, author of ’q’ransgender
¯ Warriors" and "Stone Butch Blues."
Gay Pride Elsewhere
¯ SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A rollicking
; ,,Gay p,fi,de parade replete with dancing
nuns, all-maleche.~rleading squads and
¯ drag queens in stilettos attracted a half
¯ million revelers as it made its way from
Timothy W. Daniel
Attorney at Law
An Attorney who will fight for
justice & equality for
Gays & Lesbians
Domestic Partnership Planning,
Personal Injury,
Criminal Law & Bankruptcy
1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504
128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma
Weeke~qd and evening appointments are available.
Just for laughs
artur0
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Directed b~/
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Pierre Bernard
-~ "Arturo Brachetti is
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August 6-13
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" the waterfront to City Hall.
As David Ellard watched the processouthern
Paris to its destination at the ¯ sion see Pride, p. 8
Place de la Bastille, near the city’s Gay
Power
of Oklahoma
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by Karin Gregory
COMING OUT.
Even the words evoke an ominous, almost
surreal scene, like the Great and
Powerful Wizard, whose
deep voice echoes
throughout closets everywhere.
In my case, my 44
yearold closetwas sot’ffled
that I couldn’t hea~ the
echo e~}en if I tried, i finaily
Sprang out, machete
inland, :r~dy to tell everyone
that I’ma Lesbian!
Well, two or three people,
anyway.
Because I didn’t know
what was all involved in
"coming out." I had no
good role models to speak
--of in that area. And don’ t
tell me Melissa Etheridge
and Ellen DeGeneres -
because famous people
will always be heard and
don’ t have to repeat themselves.
I, onthe otherhand,
have to tell friends individually
and hear such remarks as: "Oh, I
always knew that"; "Yeah, I was wondering
when you were going to tell me"; and
the ever popular, "YES! We knew it! We
win the bet!"
Umm, friends, if you knew it for so
long, how come I JUST found out? You
could have let me in on it! (Best friend’ s
¯ note: I tried! You don’ t just sit someone
down and tell them "Um, Karin, I think
you’re Gay. Deal with it!" - Jim) Actually,
I hav&known, all my life, but I never
gave a name to it. And there were the
various signs that threw me totally off
track. Instead of telling you my. boring
life, I’ 11 give you a sampling of it, interspersed
with the steps I went through (and
probably many of us go through) in realizing
my true nature. ~
I know what you’ re saying. If I’mreading
Tulsa Family News, I know I’m Gay
and what could you possibly tell meabout
it?" Nothing, but since I want you to read
about my boring life anyway, I have to
jazz itup somehow. Also, there may be a
few of you who are reading your
boyfriend’s copy of this newspaper. If
you’re "curious" and your boyfriend is
reading Tulsa Family News, then you’ re
both Gay! Read on.
I. "I’m What?"
Sooner or later you have to start questioning.
What kind of music do you listen
to? Yep, if you answered Tori Amos, Ani
DiFranco, Sophie B. Hawkins, !Indigo
Girls, and Sarah McLachlan, then you
need to examine your lifestyle. I haven’ t
known a Gay personyet who doesn’ t love
Sarah McLachlan. However, if you own
five differentcopies ofMelissa Etheridge’ s
Breakdown (and I do!), the questioning is
over. ’ ~ ¯
II..Environment
.I came into this world kicking and
screaming, and when I found out, in my
neighborhood full of boys,-that I was
differentfromthem, Ikickedandscreamed
again. I wanted to be a boy. lplayed just
like ~the boys; doing everything they did
exeep,tJ~,e,, standing up. And I was pissed
I icouldn’t master that! Physically and
¢motionall);i Was a gifl~butI thought like
a:boy. So when I would question myself
- years later, I always wentback to the same
thing: I HATED girls then. Well, most
little boys do hate little girls at that age. If
"It was hound
to happen...
Marolyn was
i~autfful, with
lees and
weB, 7ou
~en yo~ mantra
[or a smmer
s~s no~
~ST yo~ ~d;’
" they don’ t, they’ re usually Gay boys WhOr’i".
.. feel more comfortable around girls play-
" ing house, school, and Easy Bake Oven.
¯ By the .way, if you played with dolls
when you werelittle, don’ t
think that disqualifies you.
Especially if you. had a
Barbie doll and spentmany
a day practicing undressing
her. It was when I was
13 that things became, for
want of a better word,
sticky.
III. Crushes
She walked in beauty,
like the night...OK, so
they all did at one time or
other, didn’t they? This
particular she walked into
my eighth grade English
classroOm, and I immediately
thought,"Wow, she’ s
pretty." I never used that
word to describe any gift
before. All right, there was
the time I whistled at Ann
" Margret in the movie theatre
when she came on
" screen in "Viva Las Vegas."
¯ Some people don’t see signs that say
" "Caution - Falling Rocks"; I don’t see
¯ signs that clearly scream, "Karin- you’ re.
¯ a Lesbian. Get over it. when my eighth
¯ grade crush continued into ninth grade, I
¯ went to her house for a sleepover.
I’ll say this here and now - Jane Eyre
¯ shouldbeforbidden reading injunior high.
" The protagonist as a little girl has a crush
" on her best friend, which author Charlotte
¯ Bronte says ~s normal Besides the very
¯ obvious inference that Charlotte had her
¯ own Lesbian feelings, it did much to help
¯ me rationalize the rest of my life. If I felt
¯ something for a girl, then I invoked the
¯ name ofCharlotte Bronte, and things were
¯ "normal" again. So when I wanted to
: watch my friend undress in front of me,
¯ that wasjust anormal straight girl feeling.
¯" When I fantasized about crawling in bed
: naked withher, I still usedCharlotte Bronte
: as a guide. Charlotte was talking about
- "little" girls, mind you.
¯ When I was 30 I met a woman who,
". without touching me, did things to my
¯ southerly regions that no one had ever
done before. When I’ d had enough frus-
" tration, I had sex with a man, and truly
¯ believed there was something wrong with
: me for not feeling what I thought I should
¯ feel. Whom did I call in as my counselor?
" Yep, good old Charlotte.
¯ IV. In Love
It was bound to happen, and this time a
¯ Lesbian became not only my crush, but
¯ probably the only person I’ ve ever fallen
: in love with. Marolyn was beautiful, with
¯ great legs and a great pair of - well, you
¯ get it. When your mantra for a summer is
¯ "She’s just my friend, she’s just friend,
¯ she’ sjustmy friend", she’ s notJUST your
¯¯ friend.
Have you ever had amoment of clarity?
¯ Amoment when suddenly the clouds part,
¯ the sky opens up, and you just KNOW
-" what you want? Marolyn took me to my
¯ first Lesbian bar (we were "just friendg’:,,
¯ mind you), Sue Ellen’ s in Dallas. As we
danced a slow _..d~,c~ together, my m~ ....
-" merit of clarity hit. I d shoved down the~.;~ ~
¯ feelings about Marolynfor so long that a!l,;!’~::
¯ at once they came rushing at me and l
¯ conldn’ t deny any longer. I looked arotmd
¯ and just knew I had finally found some-
" place to belong, see Lesbian, p. 11
by Jim Christjotm, entertainment editor
Some of you might ask, "What’s he
clucking about this time?" And well you
might - run, don’t walk, to see Chicken
Pun. Created by ’%Vallace and Gromit"
impresario Hick Parks, this rollicking
comedy about chickens dreaming of a
better p!a~..~.~, ~far away fromthe ~neentra-
¯ tion c~ami3 Chlcken farm ttiey re in’fs a
witty, int~-.ligentfi~~1m........ ¯ .~
I havehad my suspicions~’abtut Nicks~
familystatus given
some subtle references
in the
Wallace&Gromit
shorts (available
on video, and well
worth it), such as
Gromit (a dog)
knitting a rainbow
striped sweater.~
The Wallace and
Gromit shorts are
guaranteed to
cheer up the most
depressed person
in the world, and
watch for the
subtle touches he
puts in, like the
newspaper-headlines
in thepapers
the characters
read.
While the films are claymation, they
are not children’s films. With Chicken
Run, thereality ofwhathappens to chickies
whodon’ tlay theft share ofeggs is brought
home in an unflinchingly touching way.
And yes, you wiII reIate to the characters
- and never look at chicken pot pies the
same way again. As for the aforementioned
clues as to the Gay sensibility of
the film, Cheek out the ratsi relationship.
And when the birds are practicing flying,
one ofthe best gags was when they fall,
and the rat says "It’ s raining hens", which
to those of us who re,c~l a certain song
with a similar rifle, realize it’ s a pretty big
tipoff as to the sensibility that inspired
this film.
The jokes are all extremely well done,
and the sight gags, well, the film begs a
second and third viewing to take everything
in, and look at the backgrounds.
There are gems hidden everywhere. It is
ironicthatMel Gibson,homophobicadulterer
that he is, lends his voice to the film
in a really well done turn as a Rhode
KD Lang
¯ KD Lang’s newCD is a delight. Re-
: member those lazy weekends whenmom
: (in some ease, you) Wouldpiit her favorite
¯ records on the changer in the late 60’ s
: early70’s?BarbraStreisand’sStoneyEnd,
¯ and Sergio Mendes’ Brazil ’66 come to
¯i miipindadt.eWd ieiilil{,aK~Dfhioa~sslt~a.k~enmthait~sofu’n.d~_a~nv~d-,"~ ~
¯ met fling that grows in to ab~t diore of a.
"...While the films are
claymation, they are not
children’s films.
With "Chicken Run,"
the reality of what happens to
ehiekles who don’t lay their :
share of eggs is brought home in
an unflinehlngly touching way.
And yes, you will relate to
the characters- and never look
at chicken pot pies
the same way again...."
serious thing.
And it is the perfect
album for a
cloudy Sunday afternoon
with your
loved One, your.
summertimefling.,
or even an imaginary
lover. The
-albuin’ S title is In~..
vindbte Summer,
and La Lang has
ne~er soundedbetter.
Thealbumprogresses
with the
nervous, first on~-
tact ditty about a
possibleloveinter--
est titled "The
Consequences of
Falling", and she
captures the moment
perfectly.
Island Red cock named Rocky. One must
think that someone planned that casting -
and this is the place for an obvious joke,
¯ This segues into an up tempo number
¯
called"Summertime Fling" thateapsulizes
¯ that high, giddy feeling when itis discov- ¯
ered that indeed, the objet d’affection
: returns the feeling. It is sure to bring a
: smile to the mostjaded heart. Thememory
¯ may be buried deep, but it’ s in there some-
" where! The albums builds to a quieter
: climax than one might imagine, as the
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: seriousness of the relationship deepens. Are You Gay or Bisexual?
¯ "Love’ s Great Ocw.an" is a winner, and - ~B~,~t Va~ll ~r’~[il/a~ &m~.e’|eltrm9 _
has a mysterious feel to it that gives the /’~1 ~ /OM II~.ilI~.~ a’~III~.~lI~.ll.
album some weight. The rest are pretty~--
standard love songs, pleasantto~ " ............. n’
eat for a dinner o essin to- /ulsas iwo-~plrlteo inolan Me S ",eta \"~
: makeout album. The retro feel is great, Support Group ts here for you.
¯ andblends well into the music, capturing
¯" the feeling perfecdy ofsome ofmy favor-
: ite songs remembered-from childhood
: and beyond. Highly recommended. It’ s a
¯ great companion, piece to Melissa
: Etheridge’s darker "Breakdown". With
: Melissa, you cover the darker cynical
: moments, with La 1 ang, the bright sun-
: shiny day moments.
¯ I caught Arturo Brachetti on a guest
¯
appearaneeonDrewCarey, andyes,he’s
: family, and yes,he’ s fantastic. Well worth
¯ Evening support group meetings
¯ Relationship workshops
¯ Short trips, outings and retreats
¯ Free HIV testing -
which I will leave to your imaginations. ¯ seeing what he’ s gotup his sleeve! Check
Think about it. (R~oc~y,.....Rhode, gg~.it? ;.,rpriorcol~f~r~t~.. ¯ :
Right up there with Ginger Chickeh, ifi~ : .... And fi~t mbliffi, the’R~ilt ifiteiaiiews!’
heroine of the piece. Rosemary is the :
Chicken that doesn’ t have babies. You’ll
get it when :~you see.the, film.) All the
actors are marvelous, and if you’ re a fan
of any of the British comedies on PBS
Sunday nights, you’ll recognize a few
voices. If there’s one film you see this
summer, make it this one. It’ 11 be well
worth your time. I plan to see it several
more times, and get the DVD when it
comes out - just to scroll through the
frames and catch what I missed the first
ten times. And I think instead of chicken
pot pies, I’ll stock up on the vegetarian
ones instead. Andinstead of roast chicken
sandwiches, the veggie chick burgers as
well.
Buh-bye, colonel!
¯" in the city’s 30th annual Lesbian Gay
¯ Bisexual Transgender Pride Parade, he
¯ said such events provide "a little light of
: hope.., acceptance of Gay people is still
¯ the toughest issue out there," said Ellard,
¯ 35. "The religious right still thinks we’re ¯
a threat to family values. But when you
¯
look at the Gay families marching with
: their children.., you see thatit’ s not true."
¯ What began in 1970 as a meager pro-
: cessionfollowedby an unassuming"Gay-
¯ in" at Golden Gate Park has become one
: of California’ s biggest events,
¯ see Pride, p. 9
For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project
’q’beprobability thatyoudiefromAIDS
when you arc 15 today is over 50%in
these countries," Plot told a press conference.
"We arc going into societies where
there arc more people in their 60’ s and
70’ s than there are in their 40’ s and30’ s,"
hc said. "This is unheard of."
¯ In Washington, the Peace Corps an-
: nounced a worldwide campaign to push
¯ similar measures - training its 2,400 vol-
: unteers inAffieain preventive tedmiques
¯ and forming a200-member"crisis corps"
: tohelp educate commtmities. "There is no
¯ option for any organization working in
: development other than to play a role in
¯ helping these countries confront the HIV-
¯ AIDS crisis," Peace Corps Director Mark
With dwindling numbers of economi- i Schneider sai~.
eally active adults left tosupport the re~ L .,~ .~o~~i~~~.~d~l~st rate
of the .’.population, the. impact on ~.~tff~ot~:~i~A~i~t~i2~.;%~ is cooving
¯ . ~!~ .....,~ ~,-~.o:,~. ~7~." ~~ ~7,~>.>-.~ : ~_.: Afficamnattous ts devastating. Agng,~ t.~ ~ai[.an*-~i~su~ssf.u~ ~..emBpatgn 0,f protural
production in nations like Zim.~: ~ moting’¢Offdoni~us~. And’ Brazil" s policy
bwe, wh,ere 2,000people die each w..~ee;;~ : of prevention coupled with locally pro-
AIDS, is falling. Businesses are goi~i~g ¯ ducedaltemativestohigh,costanfi-AIDS
bankrupt beeause of the deaths of skilled, : drugs has halved the number of deaths
educated staff members. Hopes of better
education are also in tatters. The number
of new teachers trained in 7a~bia is just
keeping pace with .the number felled by
AIDS. Children are leaving school because
they are orphaned or forced to work
to support their families.
Hospitals are overwhelmed by AIDS
patients. Many have inadequate supplies
of even basic antibiotics to fight the pneumonia,
tuberculosis or mouth fungus that
accompany AIDS, let alone the sophistieated
drugs whichhave eased suffering in
rich countries, the report said.
Denial continues to be a problem. The
report cited a 1999 survey of 72 minors
orphaned by AIDS in a hard-hit Kenyan":
commnIfity: Although all knew of the
disease~one of them believed their parents
had died of it. Most thought witchcraft
or a curse was to blame.
Piot Said one of the reasons for the
explosion of cases in southern Africa is
the legacy of apartheid~ which separated.
men from their families in rural areas and
forced them to work in towns, with only
prostitutes for relief. But he said govern:
ments were also to blame for ignoring the
problem for too long. "What is happening
in southern Africa should.be a lesson for
countries today which don’t have a big
problem yet," he said. "I’m thinking of
Asia, I’m thinking of easte,,m, Europe, I’m
thinking of the Caribbean. About $~ bill
lionis needed annually forprevention and
education programs to turn the tide, Plot
said. He called for debt-relief programs
for poor comitries..
Sandra Thurman, director of President
Clinton’s White House Office on AIDS
policy, said the report urgently underscores
the need for goverm~ent l~aders to
face the crisis head on. "It will take the
engagement of all sectors of all societies
ifwewantto winthebattle againstAIDS,"
Thurman said in a recent statement.
Although Asiahas relatively low infec:
tionrates overall, there arefears that could
change because of the density of its population,
gome 0.7% of the Indian po,,p~ation
is ~IV-positive, or 3.7 milliof~ii~e
overall:Thediseasehas so farbeenl~g~ly
confined to drug addicts.
Infections in the former Soviet blocare
soaring because of drug addiction. Piot
said the number of new HIV cases in
Moscow last year far outstripped all previous
years combined. And the disease is
proliferating in Caribbean countries like
Haiti and Barbados because people have
multiple sexual partners from an early
age.
Despite the gloom of the report, Plot
said there are signs of hope. Uganda,
whichused to be the worst-affected country,
has slowed new infections thanks to
strong prevention campaigns and increased
condom use. Zambia is following
suit.
: and led to huge savings in hospital bills,
," the report said.
¯ "In the West and in Europe, the impact
:. of treatment has been spectaculars" Piot
said. "Mortality has really collapsed..There
isa longer and better life for people with
AIDS."Onthe Net: http://www.uuaids.org
In renewing his plea for suspending the
law until the central issues go to trial,
Stanley argued that there is realharm that
could happen.’ The clerks’ rights to freed0m
of religion under the Vermont Constitution
would be violated, he said:,
He also argued that taxmoney wouldbe
spent through providing,rights and benefits
to same-sex couples. Permitting
umous to go forward that may in the
future be ruled unconstitutional would
cause irreparable harm, he said. In all, the
~ lawsuit_,claims.:that the.,civil unions_law_
violates five different articles of the state
Consttitution, several state statutes and
House rules.
Many of those arguments were made
when the i|~wsuit first was flied and the
state’ s lawyer handling the ease said he
did not believe any substantially new
claims were made that would prompt the
judge to change his mind. "I don’t think
there’ s a ntl~ ttdt:~~ys~~u:can only ask
once, butinpractical term~ someonewould
put together their best case for a preliminary
injunction," said Chief Assistant
Attorney General William Griffin. "My
view is they’ ve had their day in court and
-the court made a decision. I.guess I’ d be a
little surprised if we went around again."
Varmont Official May.Dof~ LaW
TOPSHAM, Vt. (AP) - The town clerk is
considering defying the state by refusing
to issue civil union licenses to Gay and
Lesbian couples. Juanita Claflin describes
the unions as "endorsed perversion." The
law, whichis to gointo effectJuly 1, states
that if a town clerk does not want to issue
the licenses he or she must at least appoint
someone else to do so.
In a memo sent on town letterhead to
every Topsham honsehold earlier this
month, Claflin tells voters she will not
issue the licenses and asks if they believe
she should defy the law, resign or appoint
a willing assistant to deal with the paperwork.
Most of the responses so far have
urged defiance of the law, but Claflin said
she has not decided whether to risk lawsuits
and penalties by following the
townspeople’ s wishes.
"I still have to make that absolute final
decision," she said. After the townspeople
respond, she will meet with the select
board and possibly hold a public meeting
to tell residents about the potential consequences
of defying the law. "I made the
commitment to the people that I would
uphold what they said," she added. "If "
they’ re still of that opinion (after being
informed of the consequences), I’ll take :
my licks." ¯
At least one other town clerk, in "
Tunbridge, has resigned over the issue. In
Waterbury, the town clerk and assistant
town clerk also resigned recently, citing "
unspecified personal reasons and an ef- ,
fective date of July 1. ¯
Claflin’ s opposition to civil unions has "
~no secret since She was elected in "
summa.e,dCh. t~hWe hpe~n,,s~h.ee ,w,easxcsewp0trtonins,elslheciivni-l
on licenses into her oath of office. At
the time Claflin thought the bill, then
being debated, would notpass, she says in
her letter. "Well, I was wrong... The
unthinkable did become law," she writes.
"I stand firm and unwavering in my commitment
to refuse to be a party to this
endorsed perversion based on my constitutional
rights and personal belief."
But theNew Jersey assistant scoutmaster
ousted when the organization learned
he is Gay expressed dismay at the ruling.
"I’mdef’mitely saddenedby thedecision,"
said James Dale. "People don’t join the
Boy Scouts beeaus~ they’re anti-Gay.
People join the Boy Scouts because they
want acceptance, they want community."
The ruling did not specifically give the
Scouts permission to bar Gay youth from
membership, but its language left room
for that interpretation. "I think it suggests
that they can" ban Gay boys from being
Scouts, said Evan Wolfson, Dale’ s lawyer.
"They won the.right to declare themselves
an anti-Gay group." University of
Southern California law professor Erwin
Chemerinsky agreed, saying, "I don’ t see
any basis for drawing a distinction between
Scout leaders and Scouts."
The Scouts organization, formed in the
United States in 1910 and now boasting
6.2 million members and adult leaders,
has a policy that "avowed homosexuals
are not extended membership or leadership
positions," Shields said. He would
not say whether the organizationhas withdrawn
membership from Gay youths.
But Scott Cozza, an adult Scout leader
in California and president of Scouting
For All, which advocates letting homosexuals
join, said: "They’ve kicked out
Gay Scouts and now they’ll continue to
do so because they’ ve been given the goahead
by the Supreme Court to continue
to discriminate."
The justices reversed a New Jersey
Supreme Court decision that said the
Scouts wrongly ousted Dale, an Eagle
Scout. The state court said the Scouts
violated a New Jersey law banning discrimination
in public accommodations.
But Rehnquist wrote, ’q’he forced inclusion
of an unwanted person in a group
infringes the group’ s freedom of expressive
association" if it harms the group’s
ability to advocate its viewpoint. His opinion
was joined by Justices Sandra Day
O’ Connor, Antonin Scalia, Anthony M.
Kennedy and Clarence Thomas. Dissenting
wereJustices John Paul Stevens, David
H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and
Stephen G. Breyer.
Writing for the four, Stevens said the
New Jersey law does notforce the Scouts
"to communicate any message that it does
not wish to endorse. New Jersey’s law,
therefore, abridges no constitutional right
of the Boy Scouts." Wolfson, Dale’ s lawyer,
had cited Supreme Court decisions
during the 1980s that let states force the
Jaycees and Rotary International to admit
women as full members.
But Rehnquist said requiring such
groups to accept women members would
not interfere with the message they seek
to express. Instead, the chief justice likened
Dale’ s case to a 1995 Supreme Court
ruling in which thejustices let the private
sponsor of the Boston St. Patrick’s Day
Parade exclude a group ofGays andlesbi7
a~.s, s,,aying parades are a"form0fexpres~
slon.
The American Center for Law and Jus~
tice, a conservative advocacy group that
supported the Scouts’ appeal, said the
ruling "will have a dramatic impact on all
private organizations - including religious
groups - to define their own mission and
set their Own criteria for leadership."
The. Human Rights Campaign, of the
largest Lesbian and Gay civil rights organizatious,
called the Supreme Court decision
to allow the Boy Scouts of America
(BSA) to continue its ban on Gay scouts a
travesty of justice that may allow large,
open membership groups to be above the
law and evade .state and local nondiscrimination
laws.
"We are gravely disappointed with a
ruling thatgives theBoy Scouts ofAmerica
the ability to discriminate withimpunity,"
said HRC Legal Director Tony Varona.
"TMs is a hollow victory for the Boy
Scouts of America - considering the
wasted time, energy and money it has
spent on maintaining its ability to .discriminateand
attack young menwhohave
served its organization with distinction. Is
this any way to teach youth aboutfairness,
honesty and justiceT’
Dale was 19 and an assistant scoutmaster
of a Matawan, N.J., troop when in
1990 he was identified in a newspaper
article as co-president of a campus Lesbian
and Gay student group at Rutgers
University. The Scouts’ MonmouthCouncil
revoked Dale’ s registration as an adult
leader, andhe sued, citing the New Jersey
anti-discrimination law. The New Jersey
court ruled that the BSA is not a private
club, but a public accommodation given
its size, open membership and extensive
entanglement with government agencies.
In its appeal to the Supreme Court, the
Boy Scouts argued that New Jersey’ s antidiscrimination
law infringed on its First
Amendment right to association.
)’In accepting the BSA’s arguments
concerning expressive association, the
Court inexplicably ignored the fact that
theBSA’ s purposeandmessagehas never
had anything to do with sexual orientation,"
added HRC’ s Varona. "To the contrary,
the Boy ScOuts’ oath stresses public
serviceandhonesty, andits Congressional
charter and bylaws make clear that membership
is open to ’any boy’."
Dale now lives inNew York City and is
advertising director for a magazine for
people who are HIV-positive.
On the Net: Supreme Court decision in
Boy Scouts of America v. Dale: http://
supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/99-
699.ZS.html
and one of the world’s best known celebrations
of Gay pride. Numerous celebrities,
including comedienne Margaret
Cho, made appearances. Police said the
parade had proceeded peacefully, and
knew of no counter-demonstrations.
Parades took place also in S~atfle. New
York, Chicago and Atlanta.
by Lamont Linds~rom. Ph.D. skins for very long. Early medical science
Is it the unkixxdest cut? That’s what a ¯ of the late 19th century seized on the
foreskin-challenged writer to Dear Abby " operation as a cure for excessive masturrecently
claimed. He bitterly reproached ¯ bation and also to treat an odd collection
his morn for letti~ag himbe
circumcised - a condition
he blamed for bis regrettable
shortcomin~,~ inbed.
Circtmacision is a body
modificationritua~ ",hathas
fascinated antLropologists.
People everywhere
redesign-their ~odies.
Modification may be as
simple as a haircut and a
shave, or more invasive
foot-binding, ear-piercing,
- head-molding, ~attoomg,
or scarification. Modifying
the body carries social
and personal meaning. Individuals
may remake
themselves -andhow they
think about themselves -
by altering their bodies.
These alterations have social
implications as well.
We ustmlly know what to
think when we see someone
dieting, or sporting a
new tattoo, or a tongue
pierce, or a shaven head.
Humans modify lots of
body parts - elbows, fingers,
chins, bellies - but
it’ s no surprise that many
societies have fixatedupon
Cireumelslon is a
body modlfleatlon
ritual that has
faselnated
anthropologists.
People everywhere
redesign
their bodies.
Modifieatlon may be
as simple as a halreut
and a shave, or
naore invaslve footblndln~,
ear-piereln~,
h d-mo!dln ,
tattooln~,
or searlfleatlon.
l~lbdlfyln~ the body
earrles sodal and
personal rneanlnff
the foreskin. Like earlobes, foreskins are
easily pierced, sliced, or cut away without
much endangering human functiomng.
Unilke earlobes, however, foreskins attach
to the dhief organ of male pleasure
and reproduction. Many cultures have
elaborated the powerful symbolic uses of
snipping off a piece of men’ s genitals.
Circumcision is often the key component
of male initiation rituals, as it is on
Tanna, anislandin the SouthPacificwhere
1livedfor some years. TheTarmese gather
up their sons between the ages of six and
twelve and lead them away to a secret
house in the forest to be snipped. Traditionally,
boys were cutwithbambooknives
- their foreskins sliced down the top - an
superincision rather than a circumcision.
Nowadays, island fathers anduncles might
take the boys down to a local clinic for a
full-blown Western circumcision.
The loss of foreskin marks the boy’s
journey into manlaood. Tannese kids tease
boys who are yet to be circumcised. They
call them a name that means something
like "pulls back skin." A Presbyterian
missionary from New Zealand lived on
Tanna, in th~ 1980S wi,th his triple~ sons.
My island friends were scandalized that
these boys remained uncircumcised as
they approached their teen years. Every
time the boys wandered by, you knew
localmenwere ponderingbambooknives.
New Zealanders, like most people in the
world, leave their foreskins alone. Circumcigion
is uncommon in Europe, Asia,
and Latin America and is disappearing in
AustraJia and Canada. We Americans
share the ritual mostly with sundry Pacific
Islanders and Australian Aborigines,
peoples of the Middle East (notably Jews
and Arabs), and various northern and central
African societies.
Artistic depictions of circumcision in
Egypt dated to 4500 years ago suggest
that the ritual has a long history. But
Americans haven’t been snipping foreof
other conditions. Once
circumcision became part
of the modern medical
toolkit, doctors were loath
to giveitup. They invented
a series of spurious rationales
for the operation. The
newes t defense of circumcision
argues that uncut
menare three to eight limes
morelikely (different studies
give differentnumbers)
to.catch HIV. The vires -
so says this hypothesis -
attaches itselfmorereadily
to cells thathave been kept
tender underneath a foreskin.
Whether or not this latest
medical rationale for
circumcision holds up,
cutting has powerful social
meanings that go far
beyond the merely hygienic.
Just why do we
mess withforeskins? Is this
a male attempt to appropriate
natural female fertility:
Menbleed their genitals
to mimic menstruation?
Or are men coneemed
to drain away dangerous
female blood from
their sons, as do the Tannese, in order that
these boys can fully mature? Or do men
cut their sons - and in so doing potentially
endanger the reproductive future of their
family line - as a mark of loyalty to their
tribe? Or do boys undergo symbolic castration
as a-price they pay fatherg to join
the men? Anthropologists have proposed
all these explanations.
It’s pretty clear that in 20th century
America circumcision became a marker
of class and status. Only people with
money could afford doctors and genital
surgery. And only trendy parents who
supported mainstream beliefs about public
hygiene would accept new scientific
rationalizations for the operation. Circumcision
rates were far higher among the
urban and the wealthy than they were
among poorer, rural, immigrant, or minority-
group families. Middle-class white
boys carried on their bodies the mark of
their family’ s status claims.
By the 1940’ s, the medical industry had
captured control of childbirth. A majority
of women went into hospital to give birth.
And for the first time amajofity of Ameri-
:canb0ys wer~eircumcised. Circumcision
rates peaked at around 85% in the 1970’ s.
Since that decade, these numbers have
dropped - as an anthropologist would
predict - down to 60% in the mid 1990’ s.
When everyoneshares the same practice,
that practice no longer serves to create
distinctions of class and status among us.
Thefact thatmanyHMOs nowadays force
parents to.pay for the.operation also has
spared many sons’ foreskins~
Still, being cut continues to symbolize
"clear," "healthy," and "modem" across
much of America. Until these meanings
erode, it’ s likely that many of us will yet
be able to hold our heads up high, should
we happen to mninto any teasing Pacific
island boys.
Lamont Lindstrom teaches anthropology
at the University of TUlsa.
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Gilcrease Museum
1400 Gilcrease Museum Road
5 9 6 2 7 0 0
by Jim Christjohn, entertainment editor
Sam Harris returns to Tulsa as Josephin
Theatre Arts’ productionofAndrew Lloyd
Webber’s "Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat"
heading up a cast of thousands
of locals - well, ok,
maybe not quite thousands,
but it’ s aprettylong
cast list.
The cast includes John
Orsulak and Patrick
Hobbs, members of the
Council Oak Men’s
Chorale’ s (we really need
agoodacronymhere!) and
formerly Finales, along
with David Hubbard,
Kathy LaFortlme, Bradd
Gillespie, Larry Gray, and
Eric Cornell (an actor and singer to watch,
as he’s got a lotta talent, and he’s dedicated
to performing enough to go far).
Directed by New York’s Jon Grodeski,
the musical is a.,lively rethinking of the
biblical tale of Joseph and his jealous
brothers.
Sam Harris, a Sand Springs native, left
home at 15 to pursue the dream of performing
on Broadway. Everyone knows
about Star Search, and the recording career
that followed. His latest endeavors
have included the critically acclaimed "In
the Life," a Broadway musical; Grease on
Broadway; and his latest CD, "Revival",
a return tohis pop and soul roots.. He also
wrote the TBS sitcom "Down to Earth."
He’s been a busy boy! And he still manages
to look fabulous!
. He recently completed work on the
feature film "In the Weeds", with Eric
Bogosian, Molly Ringwald, and Joshua
Leonard. He recently premiered his new
oneman show, "Revival", and is planning
to tour the show after a New York Run.
He’ 11 bemaking his Tulsa concert debut
July 28 in "An Intimate
Evening with SamHarris."
There’s a joke in that, but
I’m trying to maintain a
more staid image. Actually,
there’s about three
jokes I could make. It’s
kindalike resisting chocolate
- you know it’s the
right thing to do, but it’s
just so tempting.., but no,
I have eschewed that behavior.
Performances run July
14th- 23rd, and the
evening shows start atT:30
rather than the usual 8pm, so plan accordingly.
Matinees are at 2pm. The venue is
Tulsa Community College’s PACE theatre
at their southeast campus at 81st and
169, so don’ t go downtown to thePACfor
this one. For more info., call 595-7777.
July 15th is "Sand Springs Night" in
honor of Mr. Harris’ hometown roots.
July 19th is "Youth Night" - if you don’t
qualify for that one, you can at least pretend
to be from Sand Springs.
And I would like to welcome a couple
of new writers to Tulsa Family News.
Hughston Walkinshaw will be covering
film and local theatre for us here. He’ll
make his debut in our August issue. And
while -I’m at it, some of you have read
about my best friend Karin. Wall, who
wouldhave thunkitbut she’ s finally’’come
out" and this month, we will feature her
thoughts, in a new column entitled"Raging
Lesbian."
Sam Harris
More importantly, the woman with her
arms around me was the woman I wanted
to be with. My heart was telling me this
was right, tree and just. Then the song
ended, and that insidious thing called my
brain took over. Years of living in the
Bible Belt made me once again think too
much, and I acted straight again. Which is
fnnny since I obviously don’t know from
straight. Too many missed opportunities
later, and my unrequited love affair with
Marolyn (I didn’t DARE think about this
at the time!) endedwhen shemovedaway.
V. Random Musings
Don’t get me wrong. Three girls does
not a Lesbian make. There have been
many more I’ve felt "that way" about,
including Ms. Black Hair, DeepBlueEyes
with whom I worked; Ms. Nude Model
whom I LOVED to draw in art class; the
two English teachers at school where I
taught; and the young P.E. teacher at the
same school. Comeon, there’ sALWAYS
a P.E. teacher! And when I was 25, there
was the <ahem!> 16 year old I worked
with! Hey, I can’t be arrested for my
thoughts, not even in Tulsa!
VI. Acceptance.
I know acceptance doesn’ t come in six
easy steps, but time and space being what
they are, I’ ve cut to the chase. What made
me finally accept myself as a Lesbian?
Not any one thing. I guess years of chipping
away at my libido, and the fact that
everytime I had sex with a man, it coincided
with some girl I had a crush on.
Then there’ s the entertainment world. A
friend got me interested in’qRte X-Files"
years ago, but for the past few seasons my
heart has skipped a few beats more and
I’ ve thought,"Was DavidDuchovny even
in that episode tonight?" If you listen
exclusively to Melissa Etheridge for a
year, it’ s not just her music you identify
with. And even when you do identify with
it- need I say more?- you’ re Gay! When
you tape the ENTIRE Gay Rights Rally
on CSPAN it’ s a pretty sure bet that, yes,
you’ re Gay!When you seriously consider
moving to the state capital (what do you
call a city FULL of Lesbians? Austin!),
then, you guessed it - you’ re Gay! When
your best friend calls you long distance
from Tulsa to tell you the new issue of
Curve is out - with Gillian Anderson on
thecover- and youhaul ass to the nearest
Gay neighborhood to buy it within the
hour, well, you’ vejust taken a ride on the
Dyke Express! When you own copies of
"Desert Hearts", "Bound", "Everything
Relative", "Claire of the Moon", etc., and
display them prominently on your shelf,
then grrlfriend, you have swung those
closet doors open for the last time.
And it feels good, clean, and honest.
|
Want to get involved?
Need to get tested for HIV or
a Coming Out Support Group?
Call 743-GAYS (4297)
Tulsa Gay
Community
Services Center
1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor
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Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
newspaper
periodical
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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[2000] Tulsa Family News, July 2000; Volume 7, Issue 7
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Creator
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Tulsa Family News
Source
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
Publisher
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Tom Neal
Date
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July 2000
Contributor
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James Christjohn
Karin Gregory
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
Hughston Walkinshaw
Rights
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Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
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Tulsa Family News, June 2000; Volume 7, Issue 6
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English
Type
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newspaper
periodical
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Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
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https://history.okeq.org/items/show/602
2000
AIDS
aMUSEments
arts and entertainment
Bars
Boy Scouts
businesses
churches
civil unions
Diversity celebration
Gay Studies
health
HIV
Jim Christjohn
Karin Gregory
Lamont Lindstrom
performing arts
Pride
Raging Lesbian
Read All About It
restaurants
sodomy laws
Tom Neal
Tulsa Family News
-
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/712578396993d523934aa25341e075bc.jpg
c1b27a5396a4f0156c29c13e55faeb94
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/0e437c62fbb7e50af3b715f849e29a6d.pdf
63ebf7074a306816b93e5aae614b7fb0
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[Sub-Series] Newsletters & Publications > Tom Neal Newsletters > Tulsa Family News
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Methodist "community council" which did adopt the goal.
Neal suggested to council co-ordinator Marly Newman that "
TULSA-Inaneffortbothnerve-wrackingandtedious ." McDonald be asked to lead the effort because of the World’ s ¯
several Tulsans, SueKnanse, KentDoss,I~arenWeldon ." seeming preference to deal with representatives of non-Gay ¯
(and another who need to remain unnamed), were ¯ groups which advocate on behalf of Gay people rather than Gay
arrested in Cleveland with the Reverend Mel White and : people themselves. ".
191 others in acts of peaceful civil disobedience at the " In a widely distributed June 1st e-mail about the change,
recent United Methodist Church. Conference: ¯ McDonald wrote"how you will also remember that PFLAG had
The acts of civil disobedience, blocking a car park " to be very creative in the design of our signature ad for the paper "
exitfolloweddaysofnegotiationswithMethodistchnrch : as part of the PROJECT OPEN MIND Campaign"- areference ¯
leaders about the anti-Gay policies of the United Meth- " to how PFLAG under the former World policy could not use its ¯
odistChurch (UMC). The conference held in Cleveland ¯ own legal name because it included the banned words. ~.
was attended by hundreds of UMC delegates. ¯ McDonald added, "... PFLAG submitted an ad and with
The Methodist church like some other "mainline" ~ several revisions, it has been approved... The cost of the ad is "
Christian denominations has adopted policies which " approximately $500 and [it is] to run on Sunday, June 4th, in the ¯
limit participation of Lesbian and Gay persons in that ¯ Living Section. It has Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians ¯ Will Allen, Emily Sizeraore &
group. White stated, "the United Methodist Chruch has " and Gays, as well as some other statements, ’Is someone you care " Matthew Holloway are winners
ahistory of social concern [butthey haye] anti-homo- " for gay orlesbian? Issomeoneyoulovegayorlesbian?Ifso, call ¯ ofCoraraunity Hero awards.
sexual policies in place that lead to discrimination ¯ Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays’ and then it ¯
suffering, and even death." _. lists our Helpline number."
The Tulsans joined other notable civil fights leaders. ¯ McDonald also wrote, "I have no idea what the response will "
YolandaKing, theRey.Dr.JamesLawson, friendofDr. " be? I suspect some positive and some negative so theHELPLINE ¯
King, Congressman John Lewis of Georgia and others. " has been notified. If anyone is so moved to help thelocal Chapter ¯
see Arrest, p. 10 : with the cost of the ad, see World, p. 2 "
Gays Better Educated,. ForJustices+Couples, Unions. Missouri Backwoods:A
Lower Paid Than Straights " Require Creative Language ° Hotbed of Hate Groups
WASHINGTON (AP) - Men who consider themselves
"unmarried partners" of another man are better educated
on average, but make less money than heterosexual
men of the same age, according to a study that°
claims to take the most comprehensive look ever into
the lives of homosexuals in America.
Women who have female "unmarried parmers" also
tend to be more educated, but earn salaries comparable
to those ofheterosexual womenin the same age bracket,
according to the study in this month’s issue of
"Demography," the journal of the Population Association
of Americ&
"An important point that is clearly articulated is that
it illustrates the impact of anti-Gay discrimination .on
income levels," said David Smith, spokesman for the
organization Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy
group for Gays and Lesbians.
Advocates applauded what they said was the first
comprehensive study of homosexuals but cautioned
against drawing any t-nan conclusions until more research
is done.
"Demographically, this is a hard population to target
and analyze. Data on sexual orientation is not as easily
avai[dible as information on race~ gender and age," said
Seth Sanders, a study author and .an economist at the
University of Maryland.
The study looked at statistics from the 1990 Census.
~the first,count to allow people to check offthatthey lived
with:an .unmarried partner of the same sex.
see Pay, p. 11
DIRECTORY P. 2
EDITORIAL P. 3
US & WORLD NEWS P. 4
HEALTH NEWS P. 6
ENTERTAINMENT P. 8
GAY STUDIES P. 10
by Ross Sneyd, Associated Press Writer
MONTPELIER, Vt. -"And now, by the powers vested in me by
the state of Vermont, I pronounce you.. ?’ What? Partners?
Together as one? Joined as family?
Unlike marriage, there’ s no common syntax for the new world
of same-sex civil unions. Because the couples are twomen or two
women, the old fried-and-true "man and woman" or "husband
and wife" phrases don’ t quite make it.
With no rulebook and few traditions-as wall as no other state
sanctioning what willbe the equivalent of same-sex marriage and
thereby offering some guideposts - Vermont’s justices of the
peace and .couples entering civil unions are crafting their own
conventions and rituals.
There has been a lot of discussion, both lighthearted and
serious, about how to conduct a ceremony. ’q’here’ s so much
creativity in our community among Gay and Lesbian couples in
how to create outward signs of their commitment," said Mary
Hurlie, ajustice of the peace in Hinesburg who has been with her
female partner for 13 years. "But we haven’ t gotten to that level
of detail, yet."
As marriages must be "solemnized" by judges, justices of the
peace or members of the clergy, so, too, will civil unions have to
be "certified." But there aren’t any rules. The civil unions law
says only that they must be certified. There’ s no script ~,State
statute that must be followed for a marriage, either.
"Just like marriages, there aren’t any magic words," said
Secretary of State Deb Markowitz. " ’We pronounce you man
and wife, husband and wife,’ they’ rejustmade up. Youdon’ t find
them in statute."
Training sessions have been held for justices by the secretary
of state’ s office in recentweeks becauseit is almost unquestioned
that it will be to them that the primary responsibility for performing
civil umons ceremonies falls. That’ s because there are few
religious faiths that bless same-sex unions and so there won’ t be
many clergy members willing or able to certify civil tmions on
behalf of the state.
Justices of the peace have a handful of responsibilities under
state law. Most have to do with taxes and elections. A town’ s
iusdces - there are as few as fiveinsmall towns see Unions,p.ll
Humanity Unites For Human Rights
Diversity Celebration 2000t
"Diversity Celebration 2000!" is an eight-day
celebration of the human rights movement with the
goal ofuniting northeastern Oklahoma’ s Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual and Transgendered (GLBT) and
¯ GLBT-friendly communities. Tulsa Oklahotnans
for Human Rights, Inc., Oklahoma’s oldestr~rnreligious
Gay community organization released it
final schedule
which follows:
Friday,June 2nd
Diversity Celebration
2000!
will kick off at 7
pm with an Interfaith
Service led
by Rev. Mel
White at the Williams
Theatre in
the Performing
Arts Center
(PAC). Special
musical guests include
Council
Oak Men’s Chorale,
Ernestine
Holloway is notpictured. Dillard, Jessie
Scott, and the
Fourth Quarter gospel quartet. Participation by
persons with a variety of faith traditions will be
included in the program. Admission is free. An
offering will be taken, see Pride, p. 7
by Doug Johnson, Associated Press Writer
¯ GAINESVILLE, Mo. - The remote and rugged
¯ Ozark hills blanketed with dogwoods and oaks are
¯ treasured by hunters, hikers and others wanting to
¯ get away from the bustle of urban life.
." The pastoral hills are also a haven for hate
¯ groups, authorities say. Southern Missouri has
¯ drawn more than its share of religious sects and
¯
white supremacists looking for a place to hide.
¯ Last week, police arrested the Rev. Gordon
: Winrod- the leader of an anti-Semitic church ~ for
: allegedly kidnapping six of his grandchildren and
: concealing them for years at his farmhouse in the
¯ hills. The only explanation authorities offer for ¯
why the kids werekidnappedis thatWinrod thought
: theirtwo fathers wereJewish. Sheriff SteveBartlett
¯ said the youngsters had been taught by their grand-
-¯ father to distrust authorities. At one point, the
sheriff said, the children shouted at deputies, "Get
: your Jew hands off me."
: Winrod, 73, and his followers gained a reputa-
¯ tioninOzark Countyformass mailings ofliterature
: calling law enforcement officers and prosecutors
¯ "Jewdicials" - a play on the word judicial - and
¯ claiming-they cover up murders of whites. ¯
It’ s not uncommon to find that kind of sentiment
~ in some areas of the Ozarks, which straddles the
: state line between Missouri and Arkansas. Experts
¯ say the region draws hate groups and people con-
: nected to the white supremacist "Christian Iden- ¯ tity" movement.
¯. "We are richin these types of groups down in this
¯ part of the country for some reason," Highway
: Patrol Sgt. Marty Elmore said. Southwest Missouri
: is often characterized by a lack of adequate law
¯ enforcement in rural areas and lacks a tradition of
: heavy-handed local government and gun control, ¯
said Robert Flanders, former director of the Center
¯ for Ozark Studies see Hate, p. 7
Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants
*Chasers, 4812 E. 33
*CW" s, 1737 S. Memorial
*Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine
*Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan
*Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria
Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square
*St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st
*The Star, 1565 Sheridan
*Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main
*TNT’ s, 2114 S. Memorial
*Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd
*The Yellow Brick. Road Pub, 2630- E: 1-5th.....:-
712-2324
610-5323
583-2119
835-2376
749-4511
744-4280
745-9998
834-4234
585-3405
660-0856
584-1308
--749- 1563
Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals
Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 74% 1508
*Assoc. in Med, & Mental Health, 2325 S. HarYard 743-1000
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580
Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122
*Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955
*Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665
Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272
*CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313
*Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. 1 lth 295-5868
Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117
Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700
Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468
*Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620
Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556
*Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838-8503
Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial 369-8555
*Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712-9379
Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main 592-0460
*Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. P~eoria 744-9595
Four Stai: Imi~ort Automotive, 9906 E. 551h PI. 610-0880
Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709
Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026
*Gloria Jean’ s Gourme( Coffee, 1758 E. 21 st 742-1460
Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349
Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440
*Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111
*International Tours 341-6866
Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750
*Jared’ s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018
David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236
The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460
*Kerfs Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070
Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466
*Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha 585-1234
*Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112
Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934
*Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951
Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626
*The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297
Rainbowz on the River B+B, PUB 696, 74101 747-5932
Richard’ s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617
Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921,747-4746
Scribner’ s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301
Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-78-29
*Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558
Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563
Fred Welch, LCSW, Counsding 743- !733
*Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan 665-2222
*Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767
Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities
AIDS Walk Tulsa, PUB 4337, 74101 579-9593
All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363
Black& g~hite, l,nc,~,POB 1400!,Tulsa,7~4~5.9... 58%7314
Bless The Lord at All Tsmes Chnstian C~"nter, 2207 E. 6 J583-78’15
*B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. ofTulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780
*Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201
*C~hapman Student Ctr.,:University of Tulsa, 5th PI. & Florence
Chureti oVth_~Rest~or~tionUU,1314N.~reeawt~od : 587-:13,14
*C~~°.U~’~’ari2UniVexsalist Congregafirn 749-0595 748 3888
,Delilw~e~i~yilotise¢:iSilS "Dela~vare .- 712-15.11
*DemOcratiC Headquarters, 3930 E: 31 742-2457
Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics &
Episcopalians, PUB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140
*Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777
*Free Spirit Women’ s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669
Friend For A Friend, PUB 52344, 74152 747-6827
918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615
PUB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159
e-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink.net
Publisher + Editor:
Tom Neal
Writers + contributors:
James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche,
Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers
Member of The Associated Press
Issued on or before the 1 st of each month, the entire contents
of thig publication are protected by US copyright 1998 b)
T~ /:~,~v.~ and may not be reprodu~.d (~th~r~i~a:
whole orinpart W~th0utwrittenpermission from thepublish~.
Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’ s
sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for
publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes
the sole property ofT~ ~.’. N~- Eachreader
is entitled to 4 copies of each editmn at distribution
points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. "
Friends in Unity Social Org., PUB 8542, 74101 582-0438
HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611
*Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194
Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378
*House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood
Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437
*MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715
NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral PI. 748-3111
NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, PUB 14068;’74159 365-5658
OK Spokes Club (bicycling), PUB 9165, 74157
*OSU-Tulsa
PFLAG, PUB 52800, 74152 749-4901
*Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674
Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152
R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195
*Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325
O’ RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults
O’ RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth
St. Aidan’ s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882
St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140
*St. Jerome’ s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088
*Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171
*TNAAPP (Native American men). Indian Health Care 582-7225
Tulsa County Health Department, 46 16 E. 15 595-4105
Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only
Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniforn~’Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827
*Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule
*Tulsa Community College Campuses
*Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105
Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown
BARTLESVILLE
Thanks be to you for that wonderful article,
"Our Governor Foot-in-Mouth
Keating"... wentto TulsaLibrary, picked
up first copy of Tulsa Family News and
began reading... Laughed out loud, and a
long overdue laugh it was, over the comments
of Mr. Keating and your"right-on
analogies." The very ideathat there should
have to be a public consensus to treat all
people fairly! What hideous stereotyping
by our governor...
[I] regret that there is no place close to
¯ ,my ho,me, w,he,r,e !,.c,gn.get your. w.onderful
", i~per. The’littl~ ~egment ,~0 ~epoi’i hate
,, ~ sigee~h 0i: virleh~e~ Call i.he Gay communit~
cent~ris so r~assuring... Loved the
~ Quilt article, unfortunately got my paper
." too lateiio go. Extended thanks.
¯ - Gay-friendly in Depew.
*Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353
OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN
Borders Books & Music, 3209NW Expressway 405-848-2667
Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907
TAHLEQUAH
Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900
*Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456=7900
Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360
NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand
HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates
EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
Autuinn’Bre~ze Restaurant, Hwy. 23
*Jim & Brent’ s Bistro, 173 S. Main
DeVito’ s Restaurant, 5 Center St.
Emerald.R_ainbo~,4~ &l/2_Spfing,St. ~ .....
MCC of the Living Spring
Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, PUB~ 429
OldJailhouse_ Lodging, 15 Montgomery
Positive Idea Marketing Plans
Sparky’ s~ Hwy. 62 :East
White Light, 1 Center St.
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
*Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134
¯ Announcements Policy
¯ Tulsa Family News will provide space
¯ for holy union ceremony, marriage
-" ceremony, birth, adoption and death
~ announcements ona space availableb~sis.
Photos are welcome, though we cannot
promise placement or return them, so
¯ please send copies to Tulsa Family NewS,
; PUB 4140, Tulsa 74159.
¯ Letters Policy
¯ Tulsa-~amily News welcomes letters
¯ on issues which we’ve covered or
¯ issues you.think need to be consider~ed,
¯ You may request that your name be with-
: held but letters must be signed & have
¯ phone numbers, or be hand ddivered. 200
¯ word letters are preferred. Letters to o~¢r.
publicat.ions will be re-printed as ks~
appropriate. ~.~
501-253-7734
501-253,7457
: any donation wouldbe appreciated. Please
send to PFLAG, PO Box 52800, Tulsa,
¯ OK 74152. I truly believe this will ope~
the door for PFLAG as well as o~
organizations to submit ads to theT~
World. Our thanks to Joe Worley
¯ assisting us with this policy change. He
~ was very, very helpful.’"
: The World’ s anti-Gay policy is doen-
¯ mented back to the middle’80’ s when a
: Lesbian owned card, gift and book store,.
743-4297 ¯ Two’s Company, located near 31st &
749-8833 ¯ Harvard was told the World would not
¯ accept advertising for the store because ¯
the owners wanted to let readers know the
¯ target audience, i.e. Lesbians and Gay
¯ men. The owners conducted a one day
¯ picket of the World but the policy re-
. mained unchanged.
¯"
In 1993, when Tulsa Family News pub¯
lisher Tom Neal, opened a gift and card
¯ shop "tomfoolery !" at the Silver Star, the
World also refused to accept advertising,
even though the store did not trade in
eroti~ Or any other possible objectionable,~
fials, citing the same policy, .
A~,~arslaterl PFLAG, TulSa Cliap5~
ter ran afrul of the same anti-Gay po|i~¢y
501-253-6807 ¯ when it tried to run a pro-Gay civi! .rights _t
501-25_3-~5 :.. signature ad. !ntetesgngly, the
501:253:9337 : la~editsbw~ipoli’cy~’~WW~eks]~e~r,-’~te.~’~a
501-253-27"/6~. : runninffthe censrr~’FLAGa~.~a...i~)
501-253-5332, : accept~l’~ an anti-G~i~,iid from a"~Jali~0I¢~U
501-624~’6~~ ¯ of weS~side Tulsa &i~ches
501-253-600I": one of:~banned~c~ds. .
501-253-4074 : Editor’s note: for a related editorial,
¯ see page 3. The editorial was written the
417-623-4696 " earlier in the day before the news broke
¯ about the World’ s newpolicy. Hats offto
¯ Nancy McDonaldfor her work in negoti*
is where you can findTFN. Not all areGay-owned but all are Gay-friendly. ating this new policy.
by Tom Neal, editor &publisher
For being the proverbial 900 lb. gorilla of our local
media, those folks over at The Tulsa Worm sure seem to
be thin-skinned about criticism. One editor, whom I
respect greatly, took particular umbrage atmy calling our
daily, "a country-club newspaper."
I suspect ,that a good part of his irritation is that he
knows there s still truth in the charge. The Tulsa World
has made great progress in providing better coverage of
all of Tulsa, including our minority communities, - even
Gay people. But like the town it serves, it carries with it.
its parochial,.elitist and raciSt/anfi-minority phst~. And f6r
every .step forward, there s~ems tb t~ffve tO be a least one
step back. " :-
Consider this charming carto0h"0y Simpson, reproduced
here, with its somewhat sophisticated bigotry and
stereotyping. The comment of "real girls only," implying
that Gay men are somehow like women but yet are less
than women, is full ofunexaminedmisogynism. It comes
out of a hierarchy where straight men (and traditionally
straight, white men) are superior, women are lesser
creatures, and Gay men are even lower because we’re
men "who want to be women." Lesbians, of course, exist
only to populate the sexual fantasies of straight men.
To put this cartoon in the proper historical context, we
need only think back to early 20th century racist political
cartoons in which Black Americans were represented
ape-ishly and made to speak in "step’ n’ fetch it" dialogue
- or other cartoons where orthodox Jews or Japanese-
Americans were misrepresented as evil foreigners.
Ironically, Simpsonjust gets it wrong. The GirlScouts
of America are clearly on record as saying, they, unlike
the Boy Scouts, do not discriminate on tile.,.basis of sexual
orientation. The organization does use adult men as well
as women in its programs in leadership and in training
roles,: Therefore, not only would young women who are
Lesbian be welcome, adult Lesbians and Gay men could
also participate and no doubt have.
And guess what, the Girl Scouts are doing just fine.
But The Worm is not doing so well. For at least 15
years, our daily has maintained an anti-Gay .advertising
policy which bans the words: Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual.
Theyjustify this saying that they are a"family" newspaper.
Note that this ban does not apply to content of news
articles, editorials or, obviously, cartoons!
In fact, The World literally could notdo the basic work
of a newspaper, merely reporting the stories of our city,
country and world, if they censored these words.
¯ How can anyone with a shred of reasoning think that
these words ifplaced in an advertisement somehow have
an adverse impact on any family, if dearly the same
words placed in a news story right next to an ad are
acceptable.
What really is going on here is epitome of institutionalized
prejudice. The policy doesn’ t make any sense, it is
bigoted and discriminatory but no. one at The World has
the courage to say that what they’re doing is just wrong.
And in being silent, they, the reporters, editors, other
: staff, both straight and Gay, become collaborators in
¯ societal oppression. In a society which seems to have to
¯ have an "other" againstwhich to define itself,Gay people
currently occupy the place Blacks, Jews, Indians, Irish
¯ and others have had.
¯ Contrast this with an advertorial section in a recent
"Out" magazine in which The New York Times bragged
¯ about its excellent coverage of Lesbian and Gay issues,
: and its commitment to its Lesbian and Gay readers and
¯ staff. Can you seeThe World doing that? I hope to seejust
that someday. Who knows maybe next year The World
¯ which is certainly profligate with its sponsorship of ¯
public events will even join Oklahoma’ s Gay press in
¯ being a sponsor of June’ s traditional Pride events.
¯ Don’tlaugh-itjustmighthappen.Andwhynot, thead
¯ policy’s now changed, why not even more progress?
by Joe Andrew and Edward G. Rendell
After theoverwhelming turnout at the MilleniumMarch
and record participation in the recent presidential primaries,
Gays and Lesbians across the country are more
united than ever in their fight for equality and inclusion.
The Democratic Party is proud to stand with them - to
fight with them - as we all celebrate Gay and Lesbian
Pride this month.
Democrats have forged lasting relationships with the
Gay and Lesbian community by supporting common
sense issues related to basic fairness and non-discrimination
for all Americans. Unlike discriminatory and divisive
Republican figures like Pat Robertson, Gary Bauer,
and presidential candidate George W. Bush, Democrats
believe that our diversity is a source of great strength.
While getting Bush to meet with Gays and Lesbians in
his own party is like pulling teeth, A1 Gore has worked
side-by-side with openly Gay and Lesbian advisors
throughout his life. On specific policies that improve the
lives of Gay Americans like hate crimes legislation,
funding: ~or HIV/_AIDS¯ research, atii5~- :!he Empl9yment
Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA~;~.tli~re is no comparisonb~
tween the candidates. Gorehas supportedGays and
Lesbians~time and time again.
BUSHII~PPOSES HATE CRIMES BILLS ~ ~ ~ .t~, ,’~ ,. ¯ .. ~" . -
A.c~,r,~ng to the.Le’~fJ~an/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas
(L(~."~R~.~)~,~.m.~re than 2,~ hate crimes were reported to
th~’Fe~Departmen~6fPublic safetybetween 1992 and
19971 ~i~(eefi percem~ere hate cfim~s motivated by the
victim’s sexual orien~ation~ making Gays ’and Lesbians
the second most-targeted group of hate crime victims in
Texas.
Given this fact, George W. Bush still opposed provisions
in the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act that would
have included protections for Gays.and Lesbians from
hate crimes. The bill would have mandated stiffer penalties
for cases in which victims of violence are targeted
because of their race, gender, or sexual orientation. His
spokesman said that Bush "does not support special
¯ rights based on sexual orientation."
¯ Special rights? Where is the leadership? Bush wants ¯
the world to believe that he is a compassionate, but
." apparently his compassion does not extend to all the
citizens of Texas.
¯ "... We need leaders llke AI Gore
: who will speak out against
¯ homophobla and prejudlee in a fight
: to maintain elvll justice and equality.
¯ Through his aetlons and
i
the aetlons of hls party, it is clear that
¯ George W. Bush is not that leader...
As we celebrate Gay and Lesbian Pride,
: Democrats pledge our support and
¯ eontlnued work to promote
¯" requal opp~rtufilty and ndn-dlserimlnatlon
¯ for a strong and united America.
As a Party, we embrace these ideals
because we believe that
no American should be left behind..."
Democrats, on the other hand, have begun to wage an
all-out campaign against hate crimes in America. We
have also endorsed and fought for civil rights legislation
that would protect Gay and Lesbian Americans from
¯ discrimination.
A1 Gore has been a tireless advocate for passage of the
: Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA), calling on Con-
." gress to come together in one voice on this issue. HCPA
¯ would expand the definition of hate crimes to include
: those based on sexual orientation, gender or disability
¯ and allow for the prosecution of those crimes under
federal law.
¯ Democratic leaders have walked the walk in the fight
¯ ; against hate in America. We are the party of inclusion
¯ because wehavejudgedandwill continue tojudgepeople
~ based on the content of their character.
: BUSH: SILENT ON HIV/AIDS
: Bush’s silence on HIV/AIDS as governor is simply
¯ deafening. Despite the fact that almost 10,000 Texans
: have died ofAIDS under his watch, Bush has never taken
¯ a publicpolicy position on the epidemic. In fact, he never
¯ even publicly used the word"AIDS" in office.When the ¯
Children Uniting Nations Chairperson Daphna Ziman
¯ asked US governors for assistance regarding the AIDS
¯ epidemic in Africa, forty-nine governors responded to
¯ her urgent personal letter and only one governor ignored ¯ the plea: George W. Bush. In December 1999, Bush also
: received a failing grade on Lambda Legal Defense and
¯ Education Fund’s (LLDEF) World AIDS Day Report
¯ Card.
:. ,Since the beginning of the Adminislxaf!on, President
Clinton and Vice President Gore have proven their com-
-¯ mitment to fight for AIDS research again and again.
During the last seven years, the Ryan White CARE Act
¯ ha~ seen funding ,increases of more than 292 percent in
° funds fo~ medicationsfserving low-inb.6_’me in~lividuals.
¯ Overall fundingforAIDS~relatedprograms has increased
by more than 122 percent during thisAdministration.
¯ A1 Gore has been on the front lines of fighting the
¯ epidemic. Recently, he announced an Administration
¯ initiative to commit more than $100 million to fight the
worldwide AIDS crisis and increased funding for re-
" search, care andprevention. Weneed a leader that has put
: a great deal of thought on this vital issue.
: BUSH: AGAINST ENDA
." As governor, Bush opposed employment protection
¯ for Gays and Lesbians. He refused to adopt an Adminis-
: tration non-discrimination policy that includes sexual
¯ orientation. see Demos, p. 7
Candian Supreme Co,,urt
Holds for Pro-Gay Ruling
OTTAWA (AP) -The Supreme Courthas rejected an
Ontario government request to re’clew a landmark
decision on Gay civil rights. The Attorney General
for Ontario had asked for a rehearing of theM and H
case, referring to a Lesbian couple whose breakeup
almost a decade ago triggered a dispute over assets.
The case began when one of the women in the case,
known only as M, found she couldn’t sue her ex’-
partnerHwhen their relationship ended. Mthen went
to court to have the spouse law struck down.
The high court ruled in an 8-1 decision that the
definition of spouse in Ontario’s family law was
unconstitutional because it discriminated on the basis
of sexual orientation. Theruling last yearwas specific
to Ontario, but legal experts said other provincial
governments and Ottawa had few options but to
amend their lawsor face having them struck down in
similar battles. The House ofCommons passed legislation
to bring federal legislationinto lineandOntario
grudgingly amended its laws but still launched a bid
for a rehearing before the Supreme Court.
The two Toronto women, who had bought a home
and started an ad agency together, settled the money
dispute out of court long before their case wound its
way to the country’ s highest court.
Presbyterian Court
Rulings Are Gay-friendly
!AP)-The Presbyterian Church’ s highest court ruled
~n May that local congregations have the right to
conduct religious ceremonies celebrating Gay unions
that stop short of marriage. The d~ision by the 16-
member court is binding unless the General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) overrides it.
The case, one of three on Gay issues argued before
the tribunal, stemmed from a same-sex ceremony
performed in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. The Northeast regional
church court ruled that ceremonies of "holy
union" for same-sex couples may be conducted ifit is
made clear they are not marriages. The high conrt
agreed, though it instructed regional church bodies to
make a clearer distinction between marriages and
"blessing services."
A second case before the high court involved a
homosexual candidate for the ministry who said he
did not intend to remain celibate, even though church
rules require clergy to observe either "fidelity in
marriage" or"chastity in singleness." In that case~ the
Northeast regional court decided that he could continue
as a candidate, and that his "manner of life"
could be evaluated prior to ordination. Again, the
high church concurred. It said the denomination’s
standards of fidelity and chastity are to be applied at
the point that a person is azonsidered.for ordination,
not during, candidacy~
Freda ~ar~dn,~r~ and Clifton Kirkpatrick, the two
national leaders Of the 2.6 million-member denomination:~
headquartered in :Louisvil!,e, Ky., said in a
~ecent i~astoral letter that the 0aurt s decisions real-
:firm. churchpolicy of disallowing Gay-marriages and
the.ordinatiOn Of’s(xua~ly active Gays., Theseissues
will Surface again when.the General Assembly.meets
in Long Beach,:Calif., fromJune 24 to July 1. Among
legislation to be considered: a proposal to ban samesex
marriage.
Utah High School Club
For Gay Issues Meets
SALT LAKECITY (AP) - Five years after the debate
over Gay school clubs began in Utah, East High
School students on Wednesday held the state’ s first
school-sanctioned club meeting to discuss current
events from a Gay and Lesbian perspective.
The PRISM Club - People Respecting Important
Social Movements - meeting featured Laura Gray, a
Salt Lake City attorney involved in Gay-rights issues.
.About45 students attended. Students said they talked
about the historical, legal and religious significance
of marriage and the current restrictions barring Gays
and Lesbians from forming such unions.
The district barred news media from the. meeting,
claiming it was for students only. However, district
personnel attended, along with an attorney for the
Utah chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
The ACLU is representing East High juniors Jessi
Cohen and Margaret Hinckley, who in April filed a
federal-court suit claiming the district violated their
First Amendment rights to free speech by rejecting
PRISM as an academic club. The district banned all
nonacademic clubs in 1996, a year after East High
students tried to form a Gay and Lesbian support
group. U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell issued a
temporary restraining order against the district last
month, forcing it to temporarily acknowledgePRISM
as a legitimate club pending the outcome of the
students’ lawsuit.
The meeting was "definitely a win," said East High
senior Ivy Fox, whounsuccessfully sued the districtin
1998 over the ban. "It’ s such a good feding to see all
your hard work pay off." Sophomore Evan Done
attended the club meeting, but didn’ t think the discussion
was appropriate. "It is an important step for the
Gay community that needed to be taken," he said, but
"I don’ t really think it has a place in school."
PRISM advertised the meeting with fliers and during
regular school announcements over the school
intercom. Some of the fliers were destroyed and some
students posted "straight pride" fliers, which showed
two connecting male symbols and two connecting
female symbols that were crossed out.
Three Receive First
Shepard Scholarships
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Three Gay and Lesbian
high school students were awardedfull tuition to Iowa
state universities under a new scholarship named for
slain Gay student Matthew Shepard.
The scholarships, worth approximately $25,000
each over four years, were presented Tuesday to
Galen W. Newton, Jessica M. Brackett and Paul N
Wharmel. The scholarships include tuition, books and
fees at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University
or University of Northern Iowa.
The scholarship program was announced in March
by Gov. Tom Vilsack and the mother of Matthew
Shepard. theWyoming college student who was beaten
to death by two men. Police said the attack was
motivated in part because Shepard was Gay.
The scholarships are awarded to Gay students based
on academic achievement, financial need and community
service, Vilsack said. Brackettcredited Vilsack
for trying to provide greater civil rights to Gay Iowans.
"He’ s really pushing for rights for everybody
andI thinkhewill be ourmain strength during thenext
four to six years," Brackett said. "I think he’s going to
push for progress."
Newton said he.plans to remain.active inGay rights
.’. issues whilein college. He said the Scholarship is abig
encouragement. "People are beingawarded for being
courageou_s,".he s-aid. ¯ -
Funding for the scholarships.~omes from a chari-
.tablefoundation establishedbyprominentDes Moines
businessman Rich F...y~.~haner..An’rpe~l.y Gay RepubS
lican, Eychanermad~ an unsuccessi~ui bid for the U.S~.
.House in 1984, but’lost :in the~.
Vatican Increases
Attack on World Pride
ROME (AP) - A top Italian cardinal weighed in
against a major Gay gathering scheduledin Rome in
July, stepping up a campaignto move the event
elsewhere. "What we are asking is not at this time and
not in Rome," said Cardinal Camillo Ruini, president
of the Italian Conference ofRoman Catholic Bishops.
World Gay Pride Roma 2000 is expected to draw
hundreds of thousands of Gay and Lesbian participants
for a week starting July I. The Vatican has
opposed the city’ s plans to host the gathering, saying
it is out of keeping with the church’ s Holy Year that
has been drawing millions of pilgrims to Rome.
Some opponents fear the event will turn into a
demonstration against Pope John Paul II, who has
defended the Vatican’ s condemnation of homosexual
acts. "I don’ t believe it is by chance that they selected
Rome this year," Ruilfi said.
United in
God’s Love
MCC-United
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Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm
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Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation
After Hours Appointments Available
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In another development, the Gay civil-lights group
ArciGay called for the resignation ofPremier Giuliano
Amatoforhi s remarks before parlianlent earlier in the
week.. Amato said that "unfoftnnately" the Gay Pride
week week must be allowed to be held because of
constitutional protection for public gatherings.
Gays Losing Supporter
ST. PAUL (AP) - State Sen. Allan Spear, who is
retiring after 28 years, will probably be remembered
for work that took "probably less than 10% of my
time" - his advocacy of rights and protections for
Gays and Lesbians. "Nobody can get elected and
adequatelyserve a constituency on Gay,~ssues alone,:
Spear said..",But it’s important to have people for
whom Gay i~su~s are a~hi.gh priority." . "
Spear became the first openly Gay legislator in
Mimlesota- and one of only two in the nation - when
he acknowledged his homosexuality in 1974. His
retirement at the end of this year will likely leave just
one openly Gay legislator: Rep. Karen Clark, DFLMinneapolis.
Scott Dibble, who is running for a
House seat in Minneapolis, is also Gay, but there
would be no openly Gay senators.
Spear believes ~t is important for Gay people to
have legislative representation. "It helps a lot to have
someone come from the Gay community who can
speak from the inside," said Spear, DFL-Minneapolis.
"You need someone who can talk about what it’ s
like growing up Gay, or coming out, or what it’ s like
to deal with a partner who you feel is your spouse, but
society won’ t recognize as your spouse. Other people
can sp,,eak out on those issues, but it isn’ t quite the
sanle,
Ann DeGroot, executive director of the Gay political
action group OutFront Minnesota, said part of
Spear’s legacy will be other legislators who can.
advocate for Gay rights, whether they’re Gay or not.
"Of course we’ re going to miss Allan," she said. "We
haven’t had a session without him yet. "But we’ve
worked with other people so much, other leaders who
are supporters, we know we can count on them.?’
Gay.& Lesbian Parents
TroUbled by State Law
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Chris and Mike Croghan-
Miller are like other parents, caring and proud. They
videotaped their son’ s birth, took time off from work
when he was born, and in the weeks before, had an
announcement party, a baby shower, painted the
"baby room" and spent days with a ~erious case of
"the butterflies." But there is one difference some say
makes them unfit parents - they’re Gay.
Advocates argue that the bottom line is a good
home for the child that meets the requirements set by
the state. "We don’t care whether they’ re married,
single or Gay," said Carolyn Amett, contract attorney
"for Adoptions ofKentucky. "We don’ t discriminate."
Kentucky Youth Advocates’ director Debra Miller
said the concern should be "that any child is adopted
by parents who have the emotional and social support
necessary to be good parents. We don’t think that
there’s anything constitutional that makes a Gay or
Lesbian parent unable to do that. Noris there anything
that guarantees that heterosexual folk can be good
parents."
The Croghan-Mil!er.family is part ofaboom~~t~e
numbe~ Of Gays ~d Les~iafls ~fi~osin~’to’becSth~e
parents, according to the San Diego-based Family
Pride Coalition. Though state officials and private
adoption agencies in Kentucky don’ t keep any estimates
on how many Gay men or Lesbian~ have
adopted here, the San Diego group claims 15,000
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered families
as members, including dozens in Louisville. ¯
And across the nation, cases of adoption and custody
issues involving Gays and Lesbians have become
increasingly visible. Mostrecently, Mississippi
joined Florida and Utah in banning adoptions by
Gays, despite arguments that it is an unconstitutional
violation of due process and privacy rights.
The Cabinet for Families and Children has recently
proposed changes that would "make our systemmore
accepting to a broad variety of families," said Mike
Jennings, a cabinet spokesman. But the change is not
being made specifically out of consideration for Gay
and Lesbian couples.
Gay Teens Face
Harassment & Isolation
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. (AP) - During her junior and
senior years in high school Lilith visited the hospital
seven times for severe depression, self-mutilation
and thoughts of suicide. She was trying to destroy
hersdf, she said. Destroy the thing within her that was
making her different from her classmates.
Lilith is Gay and, during her early teen years, the
thought of being a Lesbian "practically .disguste0,".
her. ~he denied it, ran from it, ti-ied to erie it’f~om.!,i~ ~
soul!, but her affeeti0n for bilker ffomenw~ beCrn{i~
impossible to ignor~ Lilith ~ Who, f0( pi-i~acy #~aI- i
sons, chose a fictitious name for this story - is now 20,
a full-time college student and a self-assured Lesbian
woman. But, she says, her high school years were
rough.
Like many Gay youth, Lilith suffered through
harassment and lack of acceptance, feelings of isolation,
and self-imposed silence. Gay teens are twice as
likely as heterosexual youth to seriously consider
suicide because they feel adrift in an unsupportive
world.
Overall, the nonheterosexual population (Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual and Transgendered) is 5-10%, said
Brad Becker, executive director of the Gay &Lesbian
National Hotline. High school percentages are likely
the same, but surveys are skewed because most teens
are not comfortable answering gender-preference
questions. In addition, many have yet to figure out
their sexuality, he said. "They may not be identified
as Gay,, said Becker. "They know something is
different but have yet to pinpoint their sexuality.".
"Teens begin feeling their sexuality around the age
of 13," said Linnea Bailey, a Lancaster psychologist
who specializes in Gay and Lesbian issues. "So much
of being a teen is exploring sexuality. If they realize
they are not part of the norm, it can be frightening.
They know that those who are different get picked
on." Gay and Lesbian youth commonly struggle with
self-esteem issues and may withdraw from family
and friends. They often skip school and may eventually
drop out in search of an accepting peer group. If
they do come out and continue in school, they risk
being harassed or beaten by those with differing
bdiefs.
In an average school day, says the Gay, Lesbian and
Straight Education Network, the typical Gay teen will
hear 26 anti-Gay remarks. And, one in six Gay youths
are beaten so badly they seek medical attention. "The
last acceptable form of overt prejudice is against
Gays," Bailey said. "It’s still extremely bad in the
public school systems."
Most Gay teens wait to come out until they are in
college or the work world. There tends to be greater
diversity and less peer pressure. "Often it’ s the first
time they are away from home and family," said
Anthony Lascoskie Jr., coordinator of the Lesbian
Gay Bisexual Allies at Franklin & Marshall Colleg_e
and .treasurer of the Pink Triangle Coalition. "They
can be Gay at school and straight at home." Boys
typically come out at age 18; gifts, 23.
Julian, a 19-year-old Millersville student, came out
the summer before his junior year of high school by
writing a letter to a trusted faculty member. During
his junior year he began telling his friends. J~ian.said
most of his friends were OK with his sexuality, but
some faded away. And although there were no physical
attacks, there were plenty of verbal attacks.
- Bailey said~lack of- peer suPport is.the, one of the
worst koadblbcks for ~ay teer~sl During a time When
support is most important, there is typically very
little. "Imagine dating as a Gay teen-ager," she said.
"If you break up with a same-sex partner, there’ s no
support. Who do you go to to talk about it? There is so
much loneliness and isolation."
Black Church To
Fight AIDS Harder
TUSKEGEE, Ala. (AP) - Black ~hurch
leaders, trying to overcome policy differences
in their efforts to combat AIDS~
have gathered in Tuskegee to try to put
together a plan of action. More than 300
bishops, pastors, priests and laymen from
across the nation and as far away as Africa
tookpart the lastweek inMay in theAIDS
Conference for Black Churches at
Tuskegee University.
Black churches have been Slow to take
onAIDS because of the stigma associated
with frank discussion of sex, drugs and
homosexuality in church, church leaders
said. There is also disagreement over issues
such as the distribution of condoms
and needle-exchange programs. "This
hesitationis killing our people," U.S. Surgeon
General David Satcher told the conference
in a videotaped statement.
Blacks accounted for 45% of all AIDS
cases reported in the United States in
1998, according to federal data. Africa is
home to 23.3 million of the world’ s 33.6
million infected people, said Dr. Helene
Gayle, head of the AIDS center at the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Within a decade, she said, there will
be 40 million orphans in Africa because
of the disease.
Church leaders and AIDS experts said
their efforts likely will focus ottxeaching
teens and young adults. The Rev. Calvin
Butts III, president of the Council of
Churches of the City of New York, said
churches must teach sex education. "Un~
less we learn to talk about it, we’re not
going to solve the problem of AIDS," he
said. "You can’t be hypocritical about
this, because it’ s killing us." Other leaders
said churches should boost outreach efforts
in jails and prisons. Nearly one-fifth
of people who are HIV-positive will be
incarcerated at some point in their lives,
according to CDC data.
Pernessa Seele, founder ofThe Balm in
Gilead Inc., the organization that sponsored
the conference, said church leaders
must provide better counseling and care
to people with AIDS. "Church folk are
Gay folk, they are.., straight folk. We’re
all family," she said. "But some people
justdon’ tgetit. We’ ve got to tear down all
these barriers."
AIDS Vaccine to
Be Tested in Haiti
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Vanderbilt
University Medical Center will work with
the nation of Haiti to test a vaccine for
AIDS. The research hospital is seeking
150 local volunteers for testing in Nashville
this summer. Tests begin in Haiti in
the fall.
.’,~It’~s:important-for,the.science of vaccine
development to embrace the developing
world, where most of the AIDS
burden is now," said Dr. Barney S. GrahamofVanderbilt~
s AIDS Vaccine Evaluation’Unit.
"We’re veery excited about
workilig with Haiti."
Vanderbiltis 0neof five medical centerg
in °be:United States testing a vaccine
based on a virus which ca°mot reproduce
in mammals - the canary pox virus. Scientist
splice genes for inactive HIV proteins
into the canary pox virus, and inject
it into the volunteers. If it works, the
vaccine will stimulate the body’ s immune
defenses into action, including the production
of a white Mood cell that can
dispose of HIV-infected cells to prevent it
from spreading inthe body.
"It’ s not a perfect vaccine, but it is the
best candidate we have now," said Dr.
Peter F. Wright, also of Vanderbilt. Side
affects of the vaccine can include mild
fever and mnsde soreness. There is no
chance of getting infected with HIV, Graham
said. "We’ re not at all worried about
safety," Graham said.
Vanderbilt’ s research is supported by
an annllal grant of $2 million from the
.federal govemmentwhichis goodthrough
2005. If this year’s tests are successful,
large-scale trials will be done in 2001.
:Russia Too Poor to
Fight AIDS CriSis
MOSCOW (AP)- Registered HIV cases
in Russia are snowballing and the cashstrapped
government is too poor to confront
the health crisis, a senior health
official said in May. "That means people
will simply die without treatment," said
VadimPokrovsky, thehead ofthe Federal
AIDS Prevention Center.
Last year, 18,140 new cases of infection
with HIV - the virus that causes
¯ MDS - were registered; that’s dose to
half of all the HIV cases registered in
Russia since 1987. Pokrovsky told anews
conference that at least a two-fold increase
is expected this year, and that the
registered number of cases are likely only
one-fifth to one-tenth of the real number.
’q’hat means that the real number of HIV
cases may reach 300,000-400,000 by the
~.nd of this year. By 2005 we may have
about 1 million cases, under an optimistic
scenario," he said.
Intravenous drug users aecountformost
of the new HIV cases, but the virus is
rapidly spreading through sexual contacts,
Pokrovsky said. "In some regions around
Moscow up to 5% of all young people
have AIDS," he said. "According to other
estimates, up to 15% of Moscow prostitutes
are infected with HIV."
The relatively small number of officially
registered HIV cases has prompted
a negligent attitude in the government,
which has been slow to earmark funds for
combatting the disease. Officials have
sometimes hampered privately funded
AIDS prevention efforts. TV ads and billboards
promoting the use of condoms
have disappeared after authorities complained
they were harming public morals,
¯ Pokrovsky said.
Currently, only therelatively rich Mos-
¯ cow city governmentcan fully pay the bill
¯ for treating AIDS patients, while other
¯ regions provide only a fracdon of funds
¯ needed to pay for expensive treatment.
According to Pokrovsky, a modern
¯ course of treatment for AIDS comes only
¯ a fraction cheaper than in the West, be-
¯ causemostdrugs areimported. Suchtreat-
¯ ment costs about $10,000 per patient, he
’ ~aid,~ a hefty sum a’or ~the.economicalIy
¯ struggling nation. "The nmnber of pa-
¯ dents will be so high, that only few of
¯ them will get treatment," he said. "No
¯ more than 10% of the patients may count
¯ on receiving treatment." ¯
OK AIDS Network
ADAP, the AIDS Drug Assistance Pro-
. gram is working but is severely
¯ underfunded. OKAIDS Netis asking that
¯ the following legislators be asked to sup-
, port more funding in the next session.
Write: Senators Stratton Tayltr, Ben
¯ Robinson, Angela Monson, Cal Hobson,
¯ Enoch Kelly Haney and Representatives
¯ Loyd Benson, and Bob Weaver at State
Capitol, 2300 No. Lincoln,OKC730105.
Timothy W. Daniel
Attorney at Law
An Attorney who will fight for
justice & equality for
Gays & Lesbians
Domestic Partnership Planning,
Personal Injury,
Criminal Law & Bankruptcy
1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504
128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma
Weekend and evening appoinlmenls are available.
Tulsa City County Library System
is proud to support
Humanity Unites for
Human Ri£!hts
Diversity Celebration 2000
and presents
Not All Fruits are Oranges:
the Roots, Branches & Produce of
the Gay & Lesbian Literary Grove
by
Dr. T. Alan Culpepper, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor.ofEnglish~ Rogers State University
Tuesday, June 13, 7pm,
Aaronson Auditorium, Central Library
Look for the Library Booth at the Millenium Festival
and check with Central Library for books and videos of
interest to Gay & Lesbian readers, families and friends.
when i dare
to be powerful -
to use my strength
in the service
of my vision,
then itbe Qm
tmpo ant
whether i am
afraid.
¯..audre Iorde
please oin
)Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights
in welcoming
/
/
Dr. Margarethe Cammermeyer
and
Mr. Greg Louganis
as guest speakers
,--of.the
"Humanity Unites for Human Rights"
0 "DIVERSITY CELEBRATION 20001"
black-tie (optional)
benefit dinner and silent auction
Friday, June 9, 2000
The Summit Club
6th & Boulder
Tulsa, Oklahoma
(free parking in Bank of America tower)
VIP Reception; 7:00 PM / $50 per person
Reception: 7:00 PM
Silent Auction: 7:00 -- 9:00 PM
_ Dinner:,8:00 PM/,$75 per person
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- ~:~ $750 /.table of eight & VIP reception
for ticket information,
please see enclosure
I
at Southwest Missouri State University in
Sptingfield.
"When I think of Ozark County, I always
think ofhow the sheriff did not have
a car until 1937," he said. "The rivers
weren’t bridged and there was no real
road system developed." Outlaws looking
for cover in the backwoods - including
such notorious villains as Bonnie and
Clyde and Jesse James - were drawn to
the area for those reasons, Flanders said.
Religious~based groups, typically those
who shun the doctrines of mainstream
churches, appreciate the quietandreserved
nature of fellow Ozarkers. ’’There is a
long tradition in the hills that you live and
let live, no matterhow weird the beliefs of
your neighbors might be," Flanders said.
Both Springfield and Bransonhave seen
national and regional supremacy conventions
in the last year. In February, some
225 people gathered in Branson for the
third annual convention of the Identity
group Songs for His People.
"You’ re tight in the middle of the Bible
Belt, which plays an important role in the
culture there," said Devin Burghart of the
Chicag0-based Identity watchdog group,
Center for New Commlmity.
’‘These guys come strolling along singing
songs andholding Bibles, which allows
them a certain degree of legitimacy
in the area. But behind it all is still the
same message of hate and intolerance,"
he said. Christian Identity espouses white
Anglo-Saxon virtues and calls Jews, racial
minorities and Gays enemies of God.
S6memembers believe in death sentences
for those who violate "’God’ s law."
In August, Identity follower Buford
Furrow Jr. allegedly killed a Filipino-
American postal worker and wounded
five others after opemng fire on a Jewish
day-care center in Los Angeles. A month
earlier, two brothers-also Identity adherents
- allegedly killed a Gay couple in
California and set fire to several synagogues.
Through the 1980s, the Identity movement
became associated with other extremist
groups, including The Order, the
Ku Klux Klan and The Covenant, the
Sword, and the Arm of the Lord, or CSA.
Many residents here say they have felt
intimidated by supremacist groups like
CSA and Winrod’ s church. Most define
to be interviewed or ask not to be identified
for fear of retaliation.
"These guys would wear fatigues and
walkinto thepostoffice withguns swapped
to their waists," said Tim Morgan, owner
of a marina in Pontiac, a town of fewer
than 300 not far from Gainesville. "They
were intimidating because they were so
military-looking."
Winrod’ s church, called Our Savior’ s,
consisted-mostly~ ofhi~ adult ehilO*en,
their families and a few other followers.
The sheriff said he began distributing his
racist mailings to every county resident.
"People Wouldcall and Complainabout
it, but there is nothing we could do- he
hadFirstAmendmenttights ," Bartlett said.
"We could only keep an eye on him."
Now, Winrod is accused along with
two ofhis childrenofabducting his grandchildren
from their North Dakota hometowns
in 1994 and 1995. Their mothers
are M.ready serving ptison terms for kidnapping.
At ~ pretrial court, appearance Thursday,
Wiurod said he did not have an attorney
The court has givenhim until June 13
to either retain counsel or waive his tight
to representation. A preliminary hearing
on the case was set for June 21.
Authorities fear the Wiurod case will
attract attention from other affiliated
groups. ’‘There are groups like this all
over the country, peoplewhomaybearen’ t.
closely affiliated with one another but
who share similar beliefs, and they decide
they want to come and get involved in
these situations," Said Elmore, the highway
patrol sergeant. "We don’ t want that
to happen this time."
On the Net:
Southern Poverty Law Center:
http://www.splcenter.org ~
Center for New Community:
http://www.newcomm.org
Yet again, he dismissed these basic protecdons
as "special tights ." In addition, he
has sided with the extreme wing of his
Party and refused to endorse the Fmployment
Non-Discrimination Act (F_aNDA).
ENDA wouldput an end to discrimination
against Gay men and Lesbians in the
workplace - discrimination that is currenfly
legal in 39 states. AI Gore and the
Democratic Party have fought vigorously
for ENDA because we believe in the tight
of every American to bejudged on his or
her merits and abilities, and to be allowed
to contribute to society without facing
discrimination on the basis of sexual ori_-_
entation.
As President, AI Gore also would continue
President Clinton’ s Executive Order
prohibiting discrimination based on.
sexual orientation in the federal civilian
workforce. Facing aRepublican challenge
to the Executive Order, Clinton and Gore
worked with Representative Barney Frank
and other fair-minded Members of Congress
to defeat the Republicans’ and-Gay
amendment with the support of over 90
percent of Congressional Democratsl
We need leaders likeAl Gore who will
speak out against homophobia and prejudice
in afight to maintain civil justice and
equality. Through his actions and the actions
ofhis party,it is clear thatGeorgeW.
Bush is not that leader. There is every
indication that he would make no room
forGays and Lesbians inhis WhiteHouse.
As we celebrate Gay and Lesbian Pride,
Democrats pledge our support and continued
work to promote equal~opportunity
and non-discrimination for a strong and
umted America. As a Party, we embrace
these ideals because we believe that no
.aanetican should be left behind.
An interpreter for the deaf will be provided.
- The Rev. Mel.White heads, Soulforce,
Inc., anon-profitorganization thatruns an
ecumenical network of volunteers committed
to the teachings and applying the
principles of nonviolent civil .disobedience
on behalf of sexual minorities. Rev.
White has relendessly devoted his life to
heal the wounds caused by: the anti-Gay
rhetoric and to enter into dialogue with
the faith organizations that perpetuate
hatred and violence toward sexual minotifies.
In the past year, Rev. White has
led "direct actions" with Rev. Jerry
Falwell, the trial of Rev. Jimmy Creech,
and most recently, the General Assembly
of the United Methodist Church.
Shortly after visiting Tulsa, Rev. White
will lead a delegation see Pride,p. 8~
Pr
by Jim Christjohn, mac guru & more
Brachetti is coming! No, it’ s not apiece
of toast with herbs and tomatoes on it, it’ s
Arturo Brachetti, the quick-change artist.
Think "Greater Tuna" meets Robin Williams
while doing David Copperfield’s
act.
GreaterTuna had two guys doing quick
changes to create ,the ,22 characters of,a
small mythi.cal town; Artur9 is one man
crearii~g 88characters during the course
of an evening ~-grom cowboys to geishas
and barmaids to
Royal Mounties,
he is a very charmlng
man - and
handsome as well.
He speaks at least
three languages
fluently, and has a
mischievous sense
of humor rivaling
yours truly.
Described as
Versace on hyper
speed, Brachetti
changes costumes
at lightning fast
speed, transforming
into more than
80 characters and
giving life to le-
"... Deserlbed as Versaee on
hyper speed, Braehettl changes
costumes at lightning fast speed,
transforming into more than 80
characters and giving llfe to
legions of personalities.
His show is a multl-medla
~xtravaganza, eomblnlng
comedy, tousle, magle, and video
in a unique collage of aetlng,
storytelling, stunts
and earleature . . ."
gions of personalities. His show is a multimedia
extravaganza, combining comedy,
music, magic, and video in a unique collage
of acting, storytelling, stunts and
caricature. He is the winner of the 2000
Moliere Award (the French "Tony"
award), and a delightfully impish fellow.
Add a little Cirque De Soleil t~ that
mixture above, too.
I had the chance to speak with him
before one of his sold out shows in Paris,
France. A U.S. tour is planned for 2001,
buthis first stop for a very limited engagement,
is here in Tulsa. Whenasked, "Why
Tulsa?" he responded, "Well, you have to
start somewhere!" He spoke of it being
the "center of the United States" and as
such, a good place to begin.
tie spoke of the Italian art of"transformation"
as not having been seen in thirty
years. It had its origins in the 17th century
as an offshoot of the commedia del’ artr.
According to Brachetti, Giovanni
Gabrielli was the originator of "transformarion,"
performing all the characters of
the commedia del’ arte single-handedly,
changing masks and characters all byhimself.
I asked him what prompted him to create
such a show-, and his response was that
he was doing some add-on acts for a
production of "Midsummer Night’s
Dream" (French pr~oductions often thro,w_
extra scenes ifffor fun), which led to him
creating a one man show in which he
played all the parts, an embryonic version
of his current two hour plus show, for an
arts festival.
A later version of the show, largely
autobiographical, opened in June ’99 in
Montreal. Selling outevery night, he eventually
took the show to Paris. There was
no advertising budget, and the first week,
they had to find people just to sit in the
audience. After that first week, however,
word of mouth started and the show exploded.
Brachetti would like audiences to leave
the show different from when they entered.
He said that the show speaks to the
eight year old child witltin all of us. In the
dip of the show, s beginning, shown at the
press conference, it begins with a mysterious
masked man removing his mask to
reveal yet another mask underneath, continuing
for some time.
Just that brief dip spoke to me of the
fact that we all wear so many masks from
day to day, ,to the point where the real
personbecomes buried over ume. It s.eems
to me, that his show is about removing the
masks of adulthood so that We can free the
child trapped within, (but then agaifi, I’ m0
a psychology major,
and can read
deep insight into
anything).
I will say that
sequence is very
powerful, and can
only imagine what
therest ofthe show
must be like.
Brachetti hopes to
restore the wonder
of the world as
seen from the eyes
of kids. He alternated
as he spoke,
from well-educated
adult to impish
child.
He’ll eventually
play S_an Francisco (the costumes will
go over big there) and New York, as well
as Chicago. Brachetti arrives in Tulsa at
thePAC courtesy ofCelebrity Attractions
August 6-13 and to OKCat the Rose State
Performing Arts Theater august 15-21.
Tickets can be had by calling 596-7111.
I don. t know if he’ s Gay, but I will tell
you now, the costumes that Brachetti designed
and created rival any elaborate
Bette Midler/Cher/Drag Queen extravaganza.
Did I mention he’ s cute, designs a
meanfrock, inhis mid thirties (he’ s cagey
about his age) and single? Me first, guys !
For’those Goddess worshipers out there,
I am pleased to announce Goddess: Tulsa
Artists’ Coalition Women’ s Show 2000,
sponsored by TAC and The University of
Tulsa School of Art. It features Goddessthemed
artwork, and the exhibit goes up
June 8 and runs through July 7th. The
opening is from 5-8pm June 8, and the
regular gallery .hours are 9am-4:30pm
Mon. - Thurs. and 9am-noon Friday. The
gallery is in TU’ s Alexander Hogue Gallery
at 5th Street and College Avenue.
Andfor those wondering, Stevie Nicks,
new album "Trouble In Shangri-La" is on
permanent delay, as usual Apparently,
there are troublein the Shangri-La recording
studio in which she’ s been working
with a revolving doorful of producers
.since ,!997. Have fun at the Diversity.
Celebrations, ~_nd be safe! ’ ¯
We’ ve seen it before. The horror of the
ship’ s sinking never quitemadeit onstage.
You’ re more bothered by the horror of
having paid to see this show. The songs,
for the most part, are mawkishly written,
stealing from everyone imaginable - Gilbert
and Sullivan, Lloyd Webber,
Sondheim. Few original ideas are in the
music, which is a pity. This is portrayed as
homage, but basically, it seems Yeston
just couldn’t come up with anything on
his own. Want something better? Wait for
Rent later this summer.
Are You Gay or Bisexual?
Are You Native American?
Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men s ~/k~
Support Group is here for you! ,-~/~.~/
¯ Evening support group meetings
¯ Relationship workshops
¯ Short trips, outings and retreats
¯ Free HIV testing
For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project
Call JOHN RAGAN, the friendly, caring real estate agent who understands
your special needs! 918-583-2125 800-559-1558 wrvw.NewNest.com
of Soulforce members on a direct action
to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church U.S.A. as they debate the
inclusion of Gays and Lesbians in that
denomination.
Organizational sponsors include:
Soulforce in Oklahoma (presenting sponsor)
TulsaOklahomans forHumanRights
(presenting sponsor) Community ofHope
Church,CommimityUnitarian/UniversalistCongregationDignity/
IntegrityofTulsa
FellowshipCongregational Church, Green
Country Society of Friends (Quakers),
Metropolitan Community Church United
(MCC), Parents, Families and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays in Tulsa (PFLAGTulsa),
Parish Church of St. Jerome, Regional
AIDS Interfaith Network of Oklahoma
(RAIN-OK), and Volunteers in
Action Committee of All Soul’s Unitarian
Church as wall as others.
Soulforce Workshop
Saturday, June 3rd
A SoulforceWorkshop led by Rev. Md
White will be held at the Charles Norman
Studio at the Performing Arts Center at 2
pro. Rev. White and his partner, Gary
Nixon, will provide training in the principles
of M.K. Gandhi and Martin Luther
King, Jr. as part of the non-violence justice
movement. The workshop will last
until 5 p.m. Admissionis free.
TOHR Follies 2000
Saturday, June 3rd
¯he bawdy humor and sentimental
songs of theTOHRFollies returns at 8 pm
at the Doenges Theatre, PAC. Join a host
of performers and singers celebrate your
favorite show tunes from a "100 years of
Broadway." Elaborate productions from
the timeless works of Rodgers &
Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome
Kern, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Charlie
Smalls will entertain you. A Reception
will follow in the Charles Norman Studio
with catering provided by Curt & Marj’ s.
Admission is $15 each. Tickets will be
sold through the Performing Arts Center
Ticket Office beginning around May 3rd.
Call the PAC for ticket information at
596.7111 .or 800.364.7111 or buy your
tickets online at www.tulsapac.com.
Entertainers: Sedackeiry Taylor
Alexander, Johnny Cronin, Domoniqne
Daniels, Veronica De,core, Vivian
MINI-MOVIE FESTIVAL
Thursday, June 8th
AMini-Movie Festival will run throughout
the day on a 60" screen at the Tulsa
Gay Community Services Center. The
Community Center is located on the corner
of 38th and Peoria (above Boulevards).
Popcorn and refreshments will be
available. Admission is free. Schedule:
1:00 pro, Lilies
3:00 pm, Beautiful Thing
5:00 pm, It’ s In The Water
7:00 pro, Broadway Damage
9:00 pm, Everything Relative
Black Tie Benefit
Friday, June 9th
TOHR offers the opportunity to meet
Margarethe Cammermeyer and Greg
Louganis at a VIP Reception at7pmin the
Grille Room at The Summit Club on the
31 st floor. The Summi t Club is located in
the Bank of America Building at 15 West
6th Street. Free parking available in the
building. Admission is $50. An Open
Reception and Silent Auction will begin
at 7 pm at The Summit Club on the 31st
floor. All proceeds will benefit TOHR’ s
fight for GLBT equality in this region.
The Benefit Dinner begins at 8 pm at
The Summit Club on the 30th floor. Guest
speakers are Margarethe Cammermeyer
and Greg Louganis. Please joinTOHR in
presenting its wall-deserved "Community
Hero" awards to three high school
students who have shown extraordinary
courage in dealing with their sexuality:
Will Allen, Emily Sisemore, and Matthew
Holloway. An interpreter for the
deaf will be provided.
Tickets are available for the VIP Reception
and the Benefit Dinner by "calling
743.4297, or by mailing ticket requests to
TOHR, P.O. Box 2687, Tulsa, OK74101,
or by dropping by the Center on the corner
of38th and Peoria between 6 pm and 9 pm
Sundays through Friday and Noon to 9
pm on Saturday.
Millennium Pride Parade
Saturday, June 10th
The Millennium Pride Parade will beffin
at 11 am at the Tulsa Gay Community
Services Center at 38th and Peoria. Grethe
Cammermeyer and Greg Louganis will
serve as Co-Grand Marshals. Organizers
claim it will be bigger and more colorful
than before. The Parade will follow the
same route as last year from the Center to
Veteran’ S Park at 18tk and Main.
Deveroe ::.Fontaine, Green ~Country Drop-offpoints are set along the Parade
~Oogg,e.rs, DanHale, Miitthew Holloway, Routethis year. Buses!shuttles will begin
~H~’l.~a’..~s Horribles, KriS Kohl~.CeCe.. ~ ~mn’mg at 8!30 a;m, Please park your
¯~roi,x,~taRichards,Tabith9Tayl0r,--: veliid~ at Veteran s Park and catch ~e
T~aT Neill, ’Victoria Turelie,:R~becea . bu~ofShtittleonthenorthsideofVeteran s
U.ngermah,.ahd Komona Wannaliiya, -.’Park. --’There is no charge to ride the bus/
All events tke!d at the Performing Arts
Center are fundedin part b~r a grant-from
the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trnst.
uNIi"ED - An Art Exhibit
Tuesday, June 6th
An Art Exhibit entitled "United" will
have an opening reception at the Recep-
!ion Hall of All Soul’ s Unitarian Church
beginning at 6 pm. Wine and soft drinks
~vill be available. Hors d’ oeurves will be
fPrereO.VAideldl bSyouTlsWUCnaittaerriinang.CAhdumrcihssiios nloiscated
at 2952 South Peoria.
Artists: Otto Decker, John Duvall, Jody
Ellison, Dana Gilpin, P.S. Gordon David
Halpern, Isaac Harper, Ken Johnston,
Elizabeth Joyner, Kraig Kallenberger, C.
LynnMallett, KathleenPendergrass, Mary
Schepers; Kelley Vandiver, David
Vamecky & others.
shu..tt!e.
FESTIVAL
Saturday, June 10th
The Millennium Pride Festival (formerly
the Picnic) will begin at 11 am at
Veteran’s Park. There will be dose to
fifty booths, as well as food vendors, beer
and soft drinks, and lots of activities.
Margarethe Cammermeyer and Greg
Louganis will give the opening remarks.
TOHR’ s "Community Hero" awards will
be given to three courageous local teenagers:
Will Alien, Matthew Holloway, and
Emily Sisemore. Entertainment go on all
afternoon and into the evening. A sixteenteam
volleyball tournament will run
throughout the day on three volleyball
courts. There is also a Celebrity Dunk
Tank with Audra Sommers, Dyke Divine
and David from gay.tulsa.org, Tom Neal
ofTulsa Family News, Marty Newmanof
the Human Rights Campaign, and more.
by James Christjohn ~ ¯
I’m not sure which is the greater trag- "
edy: the sinking of the ship and its aftermath
- or the creation and execution of "
this musical. Don’t get me wrong, the "
performances were OK, for the most part,
some were excellent, and there were afew
songs thatmade the show somewhatworth
the time it took to watch it. But it was a
remarkable example of how easy it is to
get Tony Awards these days.
At the time this disaster (the musical)
struck, it was the only original American
musical offering on Broadway. Everything
else was Lloyd Webber (i.e., English)
or French. So, to get a Tony, you
need to: 1. merely be American; 2. write a
musical: 3. base it on something historical,
but only superficially. Take known
names and make up cartoonish characters
to go with them; 5. even if what you write
is unfocused and mediocre, if there are no
other Americans writing musicals, you’ll
get a Tony.
If you’ re wanting a mildly entertaining
evening with some really bad staging,
scenery, and costumes that dwarf the set,
and NO historical accuracy (other than
the fact_the ship sank), by all means waste
your money.
The show itself is historically inaccurate
to the point of sheer ridiculousness.
That wouldn’ t be such a peeve with me if
the marketing weren’ t hyping it as being
historically accurate, claiming the "story
is told truthfully" and that "historical accuracy
of Titanic (the musical) makes it
an ideal show for parents to share with
school age children." Only if the parents
wish to point out how inaccurate the marketing
can be and musicals hyped as historically
accurate aren’ t. And it wouldn’ t
be so bad if the actual stories - as told in
the transcripts of the inquiries, easily come
by in paperback form - were as dramatic
as you can get. The), didn’ t need to ~nake
up half of what the,’,’ did.
Thorn Sesma, who portrays Thomas
Andrews, the Titanic’s Designer, sang
like he had a mouthful of marbles. He
seemed to have a speech impediment,
making it hard to understand what he was
saying. And youknow, if you’ re on stage,
evenifyouaremic’ d,DON’TMUMBLE.
This was.,rampant during the evening....
One man, whose Iin~s throdghout
song ~ere "Not a ibit not .a aide
¯ repeated ad.~auseum, s~,t~a,.d..ed~!jke"Noti!’:
: bitch, not a,iittl~ bitch. ~ I ldd.you noti..
Marcus ~:Ch.a,it, who" played, stoker ."
Fredefiek.~.~tt,. ~d"a ,:bi~athless fali
setto q0altty-that .s~ded:lik¢ .an
ment ~betw.’.,e~n MiChael ~Ct~w.ford,aniti.~
Andy Gibb. Even though he Was nile d tO
the hilt (as all were), y.oo, coul~l understand
him at times, due to his breathless
"Phantom of the Opera/Michael
Crawford’~ style of singing. His vibrato
was annoying as well, distracting from
one of the most powerful songs in the
show. When he whispers, you can’ t hear
him, when he belts, he reveals a glorious
voice, a wonderful tenor.
Timothy A. Fitzgerald, as Fleet, the
lookout spotting the iceberg, has the most
wonderful voice, perfect for the song "No
Moon", arguably the best song in the
show, and the most haunting. Lyrically,
it’s one of the better moments, and
Fitzgeraldhandles it withgrace andbeauty,
which he has plenty of in terms of stage
presence. Pity the authors did away with
the other lookout (one of those little inaccuracies);
"No Moon" would have been
awesome as a duet.
The standout performances were the
three Kates, immigrants in steerage revealing
their dreams of a new life
America. Meiissa Bell, Kristi Barber,
Kate Jetmore were excellent in the"
gest roles in the play. They had the
successful song in the show in term
revealing character and furtheriv
story, revealing the hopes and dre:
the immigrants of the time.
TomGamblin, in my opinion the su c,
gest male actor, was an excdlent foil and
future husband as Jim Farrell, who Kate
Murphy decides will be her husband. It is
their story which is the most effective in a
show that tries to tell the story from too
many perspectives. It was their characters
I actually cared for, and it was their moments
that worked in an otherwise dismal
script.
Theragtime song,"Autumn," and afew
other songs were memorable for their
melodies. That’ s about all that can be said
for them. The book, well, I say keep a
couple of lines that were humorous, and
start over. I was disappointed. It seemed
like an inventive premise, and one which
could havemade history entertaining. The
staging was weak, particularl y when the
iceberg was sighted by the one lookout.
The set did tilt at the end (like we’ ve never
seen that before), but the set was mosdy
made up of very inaccurately drawn and
painted drops that looked like something
out of a high school production. After
Jekyll and Hyde’s detailed lab, Beauty
and the Beast’s castles and villages,
Titanic’ s drop-heavy scenery was a bit of
a letdown.
On Broadway, the show had a three
levd set, making several of the numbers
quite different. Here we were treated to
awkwardly stage numbers, wlfich basically
left the cast walking in circles representing
different levels and areas of the
ship, which ended up quite muddled ~n
terms of telling who was where on the
ship. At one point, as characters were
stepping in and out and around, it became
quite ridiculous. The tableau, which was
originally to have shown the ship striking
the iceberg, was nothing more than a very
small model of the ship, withlights, pulled
across the stage - no ice in sight. The
model boat, lit up :with Chxistmas lights,
being pulled across the stage was quite
humorous. And the promisedcollision
tableau, hyped beforetheshow opened on
Broadway, is still missing. . .
I really liked the cheesy and totally
hilarious flame effect of the boiler room
furnaces. This little .bit of very Obvious
whitedothbeing blownupwards by afan,
not even dose to the scale of what the
flames in those boilers must have been
like. Now I’m quite willing to suspend
disbelief, but this went far beyond what
could be expected. It looked like these big
burly men were shoveling coal onto bic
lighters. Iwas rolling withlaughter. Yeston
also says "themusic is the scenery." Well,
ithas to be, since apparently they couldn’ t
afford paint or artists from the look of it.
The drops seemed to come in at the wrong
scenes, particularly in the opening. I understand
theatre is representational by
nature, but here we’ re dealing with a very
famous boat.
The problem with the show is that it
tries to tell too many stories, and because
of that, it’ s hard to really care about any of
the characters, who are portrayed as caricatures
anyway. At the end, youjust don’ t
care. OK, the set rises at one end on
hydraulics, see Titanic, p. 8
by Lamont ]~indstrom, Ph.D.
Vexillology. There’s an arcane word "
for you. It means the "study of flags." :
Thousands of rainbow flags are soon to ¯
wave as we enter the season
of Gay Pride celebration.
Gay flags, like Gay
Pride, are fairly recent inventions.
Gilbert Baker
sewed up the first rainbow
flag for the 1978 Gay Freedom
Celebration in San
Francisco.
Over the past two decades,
Freedom has made_
way for Pride and the rainbow
flag has lost some
stripes. Baker’s original
creationboasted~eight colors,
each of which represented
a fine ideal: orange
is healing; yellow the sun;
green is nature and blue
art: indigomeansharmony
while violet stands for
spirit: redis life and, last
butnotleast,pink symbol-
.1zes sex.
Pink went first. A company
Baker approached to
produce his flag commerdally
couldn’t locate any
pink nylon.
And the next year, when the San Francisco
parade committee adopted the flag
as a symbol, symmetry required yet another
reduction. The parade decorator demanded
that the route feature three colors
on the left and another three colors on the
right. Indigo disappeared. In its short lifetime,
the rainbow flag has lost both sex
and harmon.y. Something of a .parable,
perhaps, of modem Gay life.
Archaeologists have dug up flag-like
symbols from civilizations in both Old
World and New. Humans, from our beginmngs,
have imagined a variety of symbolic
objects to represent social groups.
Anthropologists call a symbol that stands
for a group a "totem."
Today’ s flag clearly derives from these
original totems..In many societies, animals
are the preeminent totemic figure,
andanimal totems surviveinto thepresent.
Small town businesspersons divide up
into coteries of Elks, Lions, and Moose.
Andthink ofthe Britishlion, orthe American
eagle, or the Canadian loon, or the
California bear. And don’ t forget the Gay
bear. These totems decorate our flags and
our money.
A variety of things besides animals
symbolize groups. The rainbow is an archetypal
totem that we share with Austra=
lianAboriginal bands amongvarious other
peoples around the world..Rainbows are
syi~b01ic~dl~ p~tentl~0~ in nature and in
a number of religious traditions. Some
folks complain about aGay appropriation
of the_rainbow., tote.m~ just ~as some old
ftohgeieW~?ogrdri.p~ea~ythtohtmthee~y :’~mnerroy io6rfilgiveerluys,.,’e
othdS,~i~, hav~ ebbed rainbows ineluding
Jesse Jackson’s coalition, the
Uuivei~ity 6f Hawai~i’s football team,
and the US Army’ s 42nd Division. I acquired
one of my rainbow flags from an
innocent straight friend who bought it
planning to display his.concerns for the
environment.
~/tere is no end of social and psycho-
- logical theory that attempts to explain
why we dream up totems to represent our
groups. A century ago, the pioneer soci-
Because flags stand
for group, Gays had
no need for a flag
until we conceived of
ourselves ~1~ ~t
eolleetlve --or a
¯ eommumty as
some of us llke to say.
Baker’s needlework
in 1978 signified
the transformation
of homosexuality
from a psyckologleal
condition to a
political identity.
ologist Emile Durkheim remarked that
totems are sacred just because they stand
for the group. Our human societies exist
before any one of us is born, and they will
continue after we die. Society,
thus, is "supernatural."
We make into a god
what has shaped us and
what sustains us as individuals.
But it’s hard to
grasp concepts so abstract.
Instead, wefocus our feelings
and .affiliations upon
the totem - the sacred being
whosematerial formis
the flag.
We are good at creating
solidarities - only human
groups_ often define
themselves largely by opposing
themselves to some
other. We pledge allegiance
tO ourown totem as
a symbol ofourselves. And
we express distaste for our
enemies by despoiling
their flags, as Palestiuians,
Israelis, and members of
various high school bands
are wont to do.
It is pretty clear
Durkheim was right about
that sacredness. We have
¯ fervent Congressmen in Washington each
¯ year in a frenzy to outlaw sinful desecra-
¯ tions of the American flag.
¯ Perversely, some South Caroliniansjus-
¯ tifyofficial display oftherebel Confeder- ¯
ate flag as mere historical commemora-
¯ tion. But everyone knows that echoes of
¯ their antebellum religion are also at work ¯
here.
Because flags stand for group, Gays
¯ had no need for a flag until we conceiv~l ¯
of ourselves as a collective - or a "com-
" mlmity" as some of us like to say. Baker’ s
; needlework in 1978 signified the trans-
. formation of homosexuality from a psychological
condition to a political iden-
Since this time, we have put into play
various other symbols, including pink and
black triangles borrowedfrom Nazi prison
wear, theLambdacharacterfrom the Greek
alphabet, and the red ribbon.
Of these, the rainbow stretches the farthest.
I have seen rainbow flags unfurled
in Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Den-.
mark, andbeyond. Theflag’ s global spread
testifies to the rise of a transnational gay
community. Think of this as flags parade
b~this summer. Long may the rainbows
wave on our totem poles.
Lament Lindstrom teaches anthropology
at the University oJ Tulsa.
The protesters wre joined by the Rev.
Bishop C. Joseph Sprague from No. Illinois.
Local architect and activist Sue
Knause noted that the police were "fabulous"
with some officers stopping to have
their photos taken with some of the more
famous arrestees. And their jddge, she
adds, said, "keep up the good work -I
stand with you today."
While the protests did not change the
policies, organizers have promised that
1,000 arrestees at the next conference. A
principal orgamzer of this action was
Tulsan Karen Weldon. Info. contact
Soulforce at the Gay Community Center.
to benefit Saint Joseph Residence +
Regional AIDS Interfaith Network
Saturday, June 3rd, 10-5, +_ Sunday, June 4th, 1-5
$10 donation at the door or in advance.
David Daniel, 1603 S. Carson
Wiley Parsons, 1601 S. Carson
Monty + Jane Butts, 240 E. Woodward Blvd.
Brett + Maricarolyn Swab, 2112 So Norfolk Ave..
Dr. Robert & Dena Hudson, 2707 S. Rockford Rd.
Tickets for this tour may be obtained at each home.
For more information; call Charles Faudree, Inc: at 747-9706.
METROPOLITAN TULSA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
salutes
Humanity Unites for
Human Ri$lhts
Millennium Pride 2000
and
honors Tulsa’s
Lesbian and Gay .’.,.
Chamber of Commerce members
for their leadership on
business, civil rights and health issues
in the Tulsa community.,
To join MTCC, call 585-1201.
IGTA member
Call 341.6866
]. X,otuerSr onrmaot ,i,no. on maol ,on.
Massage Therapy Services
Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T.
Pager: 918-889-5255
Voice Mail: 918-697-9282
Lic. #C4133
CountryClub Barbering
Custom Styling for Men & Women
David Kauskey
3310 E, 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm
Tulsa’s only
body-piercing
Poweful
Images:
portrayals of
Native America
GilcreaseMuseum
1400 Gilcrease Museum Road
5 9 6 2 7 0 0
and as many as 15 in larger communities
- sit as the board of civil authority to
certify yoter checklists or to hear tax appeals.
They also have the option of officiating
atweddingceremonies. Beginning July 1,
they’ll also have the authority to officiate
at civil unions. The one catch is if they do
one, they’ 11 have to doboth. That’ s enough
to prompt some justices to quit the marriage
business because they oppose the
civil unions law.
Experts, such as lawyer and former
Deputy Secretary of State Paul Gillies,
who have been guiding justices through
thenew responsibilities, say that’ s fine, so
long as they don’t discriminate. Under
Vermont’s non-discrimination laws, if
justices perform weddings for heterosexual
couples, they may not refuse to
perform civil unions ceremonies just because
those couples are homosexuals.
Some justices have put out the word
that they’re happy to officiate at civil
unions ceremonies. "I feel they deserve
it," said Huntington justice Don Dresser,
who has officiated at two weddings. "It’ s
thelaw and I’mcomfortable with it. I have
a lot of Gay friends... I’m going to treat
everyone the same."
Some Gays and Lesbians who happen
to be justices say they’re excited that
they’ll be able to officiate at civil unions
ceremonies. ’Tmexcited. I’mso thrilled,"
Hurlie said. "This is really an honor to
certify civil unions for folks."
So, now, what’ s left is to determinejust
what ceremonies should be. The short
answer is that whatever is done for a
Wedding would work for a civil union.
"’The big question was, "What do .you sa.y
at the end?’ ’I hereby .. what?’ "" Gillies
said. "We suggested:’ I hereby certify this
civil union.’"
Markowitz said her office did not want
to dictate the words, but she recognized
they would carry emotional weight. "The
justice has to say sonaething that shows
the imprimatur of the state is making the
union official, whether it’ s a marriage or
a civil union," Markowitz said. "The most
straightforward, kind of sticking to the
law pronouncement would be: ’I now
certify your civil union.’ Really, that’s
what a person is doing."
There are some traditions to follow,
though. There have beena few religious
faiths, for example, who bless same-sex
relationships. The Unitarian Universalist
Society is one. The Rev. Brendan Hadash
of the St. Johnsbury Unitarian church, for
example, estimates he’ s performed probably
20 opposite-sex marriages and about
an equal number of same-sex commitment
ceremonies over the years.
He’ s developed a series of phrases and
uses the one that the couple finds most
comfortable. "I usually pronounce that
use: "I recognizeyouas spirituallyunited,"
or "You are now joined as wife and wife,
which I find a little odd. Others are "You
arejoined as spouses, partuers, iovers~" or
"I declare that you are now.united inlove,
that you are duly wed."
With the civil unions law, though, he’ 11
be adding one phrase to his blessings. "At
the end of the service I used to always
make a point of saying, ’By the power
vested in me by my denomination, I declare
you...’ "Hadash said. "Now I can
say ’by.the power vested in me by the
church - and the state.’ "
It also culled data from two other academic
studies that studied the Gay and
Lesbian population: the National Health
and Social Life Survey and the General
Social Survey.
Starting with the 1990 C~nsus, respondents
living with a person of the same sex
had the option ofchecking off "unmarried
partner" in the section that asks for the
relationship between people. Other options
included "husband/wife," "roomer/
boarder," "housemate/roommate" or
"other nonrelative."
The study said that among men aged
25-34 living with amale parmer, 29% had
at least a college degree, and 13% a graduate
degree, compared with 13% and 4%
for men with female parmers.
However, within the same age group,
men with a college degree and a female
partner had mean earnings of $29,162 a
year, compared with $28,618 for samesex
unmarried partnered men with a college
degree. For those with graduate de-
~4ees, the discrepancy grew to nearly
,000 - $36,072 to $32,465.
Of men aged 35-44 with unmarried
partners of the same sex, 32% graduated
from college, and 24% had a graduate
degree, compared with 13% and 7% for
males with a female partner.
Within the same age bracket, males
with college degrees and same-sex partners
had mean earnings of $36,054 per
year, compared with $38,629 for those
with female partners.
The same discrepancies were not found
among Lesbians, Sanders said. For instance,
women aged 35-44 with college
degrees and with a same-sex partner had
mean earmngs of $28,387, while those
with a male partner had mean earnings of
$28,734; of those with graduate degrees
in the same age range, the figures were
$34,427 for women with same-sex partners,
and $34,295 for those with male
partners.
Sanders shied away from saying it was
definitive proof of discrimination against
Gays. He instead suggested one reason
may be that Gays tend to enter more fields
that offer lower salaries. The study also
found that 22% of Lesbian couples living
together have children, compared to 5%
of Gay couples living together. Sanders
said that may show that Gay couples have
less pressure to get higher-paying jobs.
"This is the tip of the iceberg in terms of
finding out who the Gay and Lesbian
community is," said PaulaEttelbrick, family
policy director ofthe National Gay and
LesbianTaskForce. "Whatthey also point
out it is the clear problem ofhow to define
what it is to be Gay or Lesbian."
OK Spoke Club
TheOK Spoke Club is beginning its rides
again. A long ride (20 miles plus) will
begin, atZiegler Park at 7:30am’on June
3rd & 24th. Length and destination to be
determined at the ride. Water and helmet
". are required.
¯ A short ride(5 miles) along the Katy
’: Bicydep~in Saii.d)SiJfings will beginat
. 6:30pmonJuneT~atid21s’t. Wateriand
¯ helmet~ate ~tr0ngly r~mmelided...: ¯ :
Af6:30plh, a short fide will begin at the
Pride Cent~L 3749 S. Peoria, rea~ parking
¯
lotonJune24th. Waterandhelmetstrongly
¯ recommended.
¯ Info: POB 9165, Tulsa, Ok 74157,
¯ email: Okiebicycle@prodigy.net
] www.geocities.com/westhollywood/pa-
¯ rade/3301
Humanity Unites
for Human R lhts
Diversit Celebration 2000
Grand Marshalls for the Millennium Pride Parade
Dr. Grethe Cammermever
Oistin~luished Veteran of the United States Armed Forces
Gre~! Lou~lanis
US O!~mpie Champion
Pride Week Events
Interfaith Worship Service
Performing Arts Center, Williams Theatre
Speaker: the Reverend Dr. Mel White
Friday, June 2, from 7pro (free)
Interfaith Soulforce Workshop
Performing Arts Center, Norman Studio
Led by the Reverend Dr. Mel White
Saturday, June 8, 2 - 5pro (free)
Humanity Unites For Human Rights
Black Tie Optional Dinner
Speakers:
Greg Louganis and Grethe Cammermeyer
Summit Club, 7pro reception, Bpm dinner
Friday, June 9th, $75 person
Benefiting Tulsa Oklahomans for Human
Rights, the parent organization of the
Gay Community Center
TOHR Follies: 1OO Years of Broadway
Performing Arts Center, Ooenges Theatre
Saturday, June 8, 8pm, $15
United Art Exhibit, Opening Reception
All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 So. Peoria
Tuesday, June 6, 6 - 8pro
Millennium Parade 2000
Saturday, JunelQ, llam
From the Gay Community Center to
Veterans Park at 18th and Boulder
Pride Festival, Veterans Park, llam - 8pro
Free shuttle from Veterans Park to Parade.
Mini-Film Festival
Tulsa Gay Community Services Center
Thursday, June 8, z~ - till it’s over...
For more information about these events,
call 7~8-~297 (Gays).
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
newspaper
periodical
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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[2000] Tulsa Family News, June 2000; Volume 7, Issue 6
Subject
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Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
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Tulsa Family News
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
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Tom Neal
Date
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June 2000
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James Christjohn
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
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Tom Neal/Tulsa family News
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Tulsa Family News, May 2000; Volume 7, Issue 5
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English
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newspaper
periodical
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Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
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https://history.okeq.org/items/show/601
2000
African Americans
AIDS
AIDS drugs
AIDS vaccine
aMUSEments
arts and entertainment
Bars
Boy Scouts
bullying
businesses
churches
civil unions
Democratic party
Diversity celebration
Gay marriage
gay parents
Gay Studies
hate groups
HIV
homophobia
inequality
Jim Christjohn
Karin Gregory
Lamont Lindstrom
marriage equality
Native Americans
OK Spoke Club
performing arts
PFLAG
Pride
Raging Lesbian
Read All About It
restaurants
Tom Neal
Tulsa Family News
Tulsa World
Two-Spirited Indian Men's Support Group
-
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/5c20e910de7ca592dd63588152eca356.jpg
5039f94c9a494f334604c83bb2e762fa
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/913cc5281b957402396a10de0ebc77ca.pdf
402d385ff5bf2220bca8bdfefc9b523c
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[Sub-Series] Newsletters & Publications > Tom Neal Newsletters > Tulsa Family News
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Brief for Dale v. BOy Scouts
by Tim Talley, Associated Press ~rite~ -
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Some state lawmakers
demanded in mid-April that Oklahoma Attorney General
Drew Edmondson withdraw from participating in a
U:S. Supreme Court case on whether to allow Gay boys
and men in the Boy Scouts of America. Resolutions
were f’ded in the state House and~ Senate opposing a
friend-of-the-court briefEdmondson filed supporting a
New Jersey court decision that ordered the Boy Scouts
to reinstate a homosexual scout leader.
"I think it is a dark day for Oklahoma that we have
taken this stand, by and through our attorney general, in
favor of Gay rights and against the Boy Scouts," said
Rep. Frank Davis, R-Guthrie, a former scout master
whoseresolutionhas70co-authors.Aresolutionpassed
by the Senate says Edmondson’s position "is in dramarie
opposition to the moral ideals of.our state and is
inappropriate in this case of first impression before the
United State Supreme Court."
In a statement, Edmondson saidhe respects the views
of lawmakers who oppose his action. But the attorney
general said the state’ s position see Attorney; p. 2
Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends
: ,~. Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community PaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations
¯ Co!legeHill Presbyterian
::Church Welcomes Gays
TULSA - This last Palm Sunday, the Session (the board of
directors) of College Hill Presbyterian Church, one of Tulsa’ s
older"mainline" congregations, voted 13 yes, zero no’ s with one
abstention to become officially a member of"More Light Presbyterians."
College Hill, located a block west of the University of
Tulsa is the first Presbyterian congregation in Eastern Oklahoma
(o. take the position of welcoming
all to attend and serve
the church regardless of
sexual orientation.
More Light Presbyterians
is a national network of
churches and individuals
working for justice, love and
the full embrace and inclusion
of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual
and Transgendered
persons and their families.
The name is taken from the
words of the Rev. John
Robinson (c. 1620),"we limit
not the truth of God to our
poor reach of mind - by notions
of our day and sect - crude, partial and confined. No, let a
new and better hope within our hearts be stirred, for Godhath yet
more light and truth to break forth from the Word."
The decision for College Hill came after more than 14 months
ofprayer, study and discussion. Acongregational voteon several
statements and positions, one affirming open inclusion, another
reaffirming the mission statement of More Light Presbyterians,
and for becoming a More Light congregation passed, 87%, 90%
and 80% respectively. .
Pastor Radford Rader noted, "College Hill has long been a
congregation which has stood for jnstice issues and with groups
of people who others ignore or exclude.., we cannot remain in
the closet, but want to rejoice in who we are as a family of faith.
¯ .we are blessed by our Gay and Lesbian members."
College Hill’ s history is one of s0cialjttstice, seeChurch,p.11
College Hill Presbyterian
GI,s Mom Suing Arm i- Supreme Court Hears Gay Civil
WASHINGTON(AP)-Them°ther°fas°ldiermur- " R|ghts Case: Dale vs. BSA dered in his barracks believes the Army’s attitude ,
toward Gays created the atmosphere that led to the
killing. Patricia Kutteles of Kansas City, Mo., said she
would file a claim with the Army, seeking roughly $1.8
million in damages for the death of her son, Pfc. Barry
Wincbell,21. Shesaidfellow soldiers believed Winchell
was Gay and harassed him for months before he was
beaten to death while sleeping in his cot last July at Fort
Campbell, Ky. The Army knew about the harassment
but did nothing to stop it, she said. "We want theArmy
to be held accountable," Kutteles said.
Pvt. Calvin Glover, 19, of Sulphur, Okla., was convicted
of premeditated murder and sentenced to life in
prison for the attack. Another soldier was givena 12.5-
year sentence for lying to investigators and obstructing
justice. Thekillingprompted criticism ofthePentagon’ s
policy onhomosexuals in the military. Under the policy
known as "don’t ask, don’t teli.;’:~,Gay-members of the
military can continue to serve.as Ibng as they keep their
sexual orientation to themselves.
Kutteles’ attorney,Adam Pachter, saidheplans to file
under a federal law that allows people to seek reimbursement
from the military for injury or death. The
claim will be sent toMaj. Gen. Robert T. Clark, the
commander of Fort Campbell, but Army Secretary
Louis CaldemprobAbly’will make thef’mal decision on
whether to pay, Pachter said. Kutteles’ claim also alleges
Fort Campbell officials ignored underage drinking
on the base and did not provide a way for soldiers to
call 911 from the barracks.:Glover has said he had been
drinking prior to theattack~ Maj. Pamela Hart, an Army
spokeswoman, declined to comment on the claim but
said soldiers cannow reach 911 from their barracks. She
also said soldiers hadreceived additional training about
the military’ s policy on Gays.
Kutteles said her goal is to get the Army to admit
wrongdoing and take corrective action. "I don’t think
you~put aprice on your child’ s life,’.’ she said. "Your
world is changed if you lose a child. Nothing caa ever
rip3at it."
¯ WASHINGTON, D.C. - Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is not
¯ entitled to expel an exemplary member who is openly Gay from
¯ its ranks, the National Gay and LesbianTask Force said at the end
¯ ofApril as theU.S. SupremeCourtwas hearingargumentsinBoy
Scouts of America v. Dale. The ruling on the case will likely be
: issued before the term ends in early summer.
: ’q’he Boy Scouts’ mission is to promote model citizenship and
¯ integrity," said Panla Ettdbrick, NGLTFFamily Policy Director.
: "It is ridiculous and wrong to exclude a man whose outstanding
¯ personal character fulfills this mission simPlY because he is
¯ Gay."
-" "The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case on appeal by the
¯ BSA after the August 1999 unanimous decision of the New
¯¯ Jersey,Supreme Court. The court found that the BSA falls under
New Jersey’ s anti-discrimination law and cannot deny any per-
" son "accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges"
: because of sexual orientation.
¯ Because the Scouts do not organize for a specific anti-Gay
¯ message; the New Jersey Supreme Court also found that the
¯ inclusion of openly Gay assistant scoutmasterJames Dale would
¯ not violate the BSA’ s First Amendment rights offree association
¯ and free speech.
." ~I’llis case represents a classic struggle in our country?s ever-
" evolving democracy," said Ettelbrick, a veteran attorney and
: national expertLon legal-issues facing.the Ga~y~ lesbian~ bisexual
¯ and transgender community. "It is the stragglebetween agroup’ s ¯
right to establish its own values and the government’ s obligation
¯ to ensure that the law does not give effect to those private biases
when they are used to inhibit equality." .. . ~
: Ettelbrick praised the Lambda Legal Defense and Education
¯
Fund, which has served as lead counsel for James Dale and has
¯ assembled a broad collection of groups to sign friend-of-the-
. court briefs. Those groups range from NGLTF and the National
¯ Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
: to the attorneys-general of 10 states, including Oklahoma Attor-
: ney General Drew Edmondson (see related story this page).
¯ NGLTF’ S brief can be found online via I..ambda’ s website at
: http:/Iwww.lldef.org/sectionslseetionsldalepresskit/
: amicusaclu.html.
i
Vermont Governor
Signs Gay Union Bill
by Ross Sneyd, Associated Press Writer
¯ MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Gov. Howard Dean ¯
signed into law on Wednesday, April 26, 2000, a
¯ bill making Vermont the first state to give Gay and
’ Lesbian couples all the rights and benefits of mar-
¯ riage - without legally declaring it a marriage. ¯
"I think the powerful message is that in Vermont,
¯ we tend to value people for who they are, not what
¯ they are," the Democratic governor said after the
House gave the measure final approval Tuesday.
° The bill, which House members supported 79-68,
¯ arrived at the governor’ s deskjust before lunch and
¯ was signed quietly prior to a2pmnews confe~e,nce, ¯
Vermont lawmakers didn’t use the term mar-
" riage to describe the official state sanction. Instead
¯ they set up aparallel track of"civil tmions," which
¯ would give Gay and Lesbian partners the property
and other legal fights of spouses. Such unions
¯ would become legal July 1. No state has ever gone
¯ so far in recognizing the relationships that Gay and
"- Lesbian couples form.
." Three couples and the lawyers who sued in 1997
¯ when they were denied marriage licenses watched
in the crowded Housechamber as the final roll was
¯ called and House representatives agreed to minor
." changes made by their colleagues in the Senate.
¯ Stacy Jolles and Nina Beck stood cradling their 5-
¯ month-old son, Seth. PeterHarrigan stood embracing
Stan Baker, who held a small necklace from
¯ which his parents’ wedding rings dangled. And
¯ Holly Puterbaugh held hands as Lois Famham
¯ wiped tears fromher eyes. "This isn’ tmarriage, but
it’ s ahuge and powerful bundle ofrights that we’ ve
¯ finally gotten," Baker said moments after the vote.
¯ After the vote, Rosana Vestuti, 41, of Montpelier,
sat on a window seat as legislators, Gay and
." Lesbian couples and thepress milled about. "It’ s so
¯ nice. I have all this in my eyes," see Vermont, p. 7
¯ OKC Gay Group Meets
With Daily Oklahoman
OKLAHOMACITY -Leaders in OklahomaCity’ s
are hailing an early April meeting with Sue Hale,
: the new executive editor of the Daily Oklahoman.
¯ The Daily Oklahoman which was characterized in ¯
the Columbia Journalism Review as "the worst
: newspaper in America" has been known for its
¯ unfair treatment of Lesbian and Gay issues, not ¯
only on the editorial pages but in regular, "objec-
¯ five" newscoverage.
¯ Those who met with Hale are participants in a
¯ new speakers bureau. "Speakers for Gay and Les-
¯ bian Issues" was organized with the goal of reach-
¯ ing out to the straight commtmity to facilitate ¯
¯ understanding of the realities of.being Gay and
Lesbian. Karen Pars0ns,Nathaniel Batchelder, Paul
¯ Thompson, and Rob Abiera attended the meeting
¯ with Hale, a thirty-year veteran of the Daily Okla-
" homan.
¯
Hale was chosen to be the successor to Stan
¯ Tiner, who left the Daily Oklahoman after several
¯ months of working to remold the paper into a more
¯ progressive, contemporary medium which would
¯ more accurately reflect the diversity of Oklahoma
." City.
¯ Halewas approached after reports.began to surface
of her interest in "social justice" issues. And
¯ though homophobic diatribes continue to grace the
editorial page - still under the firm control of
¯ Patrick McGuigan - the rest of the paper was ¯
showing signs of neutrality, if not being outright
; Gay-friendly.
¯ One place where the paper was showing signs of
¯ openness has been in the movie reviews. Kathryn
; Jenson White had come from the Oklahoma Ga-
: zette (OKC’ s alternative weekly) and had always
¯ been of decidedly liberal persuasion. It did not take
¯" long after Tiner’ s departure to see that she would
: continue to be so, and when two GLBT-themed
: Oscar coatenders see Daily, p. 11
_;
!
Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants
*Chasers, 4812 E. 33
*CW’ s, 1737 S. Memorial
Full Moon Care, 1525 E. 15th
*Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria
Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Sqtmre
*St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st
*The Star, 1565 Sheridan
*The Storm, 2182 S. Sheridan
*Renegades/Rainb0w Room, 1649 S. Main
*TNT’s, 2114’S: Memorial
*Tool Box, 1338 E: 3rd
712-2324
610-5323
583-6666
749-4511
744-4280
745-9998
834-4234
835-2376
585-3405
660-0856
584-1308
*The Yellow-Bri~k-Road.Pub,~-2630,E...1$th, ........ ;749~1563
Tal~a~BtlstPiesse~Set~ices, &: Pcofe~s~o~als~.~.; :
Advanced Wireleg~&::P~,S~ Di~ithl Cellulhi ~ ~ ~ i.tJ ~ q47:q508’
*Assdd ih~19I~d!&:M~fi¢~l ~da]ttl)2325 8’: H~ii~c~a~ 74g-’~i000’,
Kent Balch &Assr(~htes, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506
*Barnes & N~bl~’ B66ksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034
*Barnes &N0bl~Broksellers, 5231 E. 41
Body Piefdfigby Nicole, 2722 E. 15
*Borders Books & MUsic, 2740 E. 21
*Borders BOoks’ &MUsic, 8015 S. Yale
Brooksid~ J~w~lfy,4649 S. Peoria
*CD War~hogs~,’3807c S. Peoria
*Cheap Thrills~ 2640 E. 1 lth
Cherry Stl Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis
665-4580
712-q 122
712-’9955
494-2665
743~5272
746_0313~
295-5868
581-0902, 743-4H7
Community Cleani~ag, Kerby Baker
Tim Daniel, Attorney
*Deco to Dfsco, 3212 E. 15th
DoghouSe oti:Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria
*Elite Books &Videos, 821 S. Sheridan
*Ross Edward Salon ~"58420337,
Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main ,., " ’-.
*Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria
Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th PI:
Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med: Ctr.
.Gay & Lesbian-Affordable Daycare
*Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st
Learme M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning
Mark T. Hamby, Attorney
*Sandra’ J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly
*International Tours
Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th
*Jared’ s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th
David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering
The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening
*Kerfs Flowers, 1635 E. 15
Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210
*Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha
*Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd
Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31
*Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place
Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo
*The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor
Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696,74101
Richard’ s Carpet Cleaning
Teri Schutt Rex Realtors 834-7921,
Scribner’ s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square
Paul Tay, Car Salesman
*Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis
Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard
Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling
*Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan
*Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis
622-~0700-
352:9504, 800-742-9468
74%3620
744~55~6
83828~03
712-9379
59"2-0460
744-9595
6t0-0880-
628-3709.
808-8026
742~1460
459-9349
744-7440
745-1111
341-6866
7.12-2750
582-3018
747-0236
582-8460
599-8070
747-5466
585-1234
584-3112
663-5934
664-2951
838-7626
743 -4297
747-5932
834-0617
747-4746
749-6301"
260-7829
481-0558
835-5563
743-1733
665-2222
592-0767
Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities
AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593
All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363
Black & White, Inc.POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 -587-7314o
Bless Ttl~ LO~d at~All Tirn~ -Chflstian Ce-n’tdr/2207 E. 6 58327815-
*B/LiG/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780
*Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201
*Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence
*Churchof:the RestorafionUU., t3t:4N:Greenwood 587-1314"
*CommtmityofHopeUnitedMethodist,2545 S. Yale 747-6300
*Comrmmity Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595
Council Oak Men’ s Chorale 748-3888
*DelawarePlayhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511
*Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457
Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics &
Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140
*Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777
*Free SpiritWomen’ s Center, call for location&info: 587-4669
Friend ForA Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827
918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615
POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159
e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlinlc net
Publisher + Editor:
Tom Neal
Writers + contributors:
James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche,
Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers
Member of The Associated Press
Issued on or before the 1 st of each month, the enttre contents
hi" this ubli t~on e protecte~l bv US copyright 1998 8y
~/~ ~ :ahd~may~hd~,be~ep~oduoed e~tlaer m
~ w,hol¢ort~p.a~_ ~’~l~OUt w~atte~a p~.r0~SSlQ~~ro~ ~publisheir. ~
Publication of a name or photo does not.indicate a person’ s
sexual orientation. Corr~spbndeii~ i~assumed to be for.
publication" unlessootherwis~noted,, must be signed & becomes.
the ao_l¢ property ofr~ ~’~.’. Nt,w4 Eachreader
is entitled to 4 copiesof each editt0n at distribution
pointsJ Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248.
: Interfaith AIDS Ministries
: Dear friends,
¯ The present realities of HIV/AIDS and
: decreased focus on and interest in HIV-
: related issues have made providing HIV/
: AIDS servicesadifficnltifnotimpossible
r task. This is true on a national as well as
: local level, Late last fall Interfaith AIDS
: Ministries (IAM) received a letter from
: AIDS National InterfaithNetwork (ANIN)
that itwas closing its doors," as a result of
: financial difficulties which cumulatively
¯ .v". und" e,.r~l",nc.d ~I ’ ~ Vl"l~b,"l i "
: reaht~l~s ~a~e~t ~n~pq~s~ble,. ~o ttmcgqq
¯ :..is With deep r~gret that I must announce
: that the boardof Interfaith AIDS Minis-
¯" ’tries has’made the decision to discontinue
: client services.
: I have for srme time continued as the
¯ directorona.volunteerbasis at the board"g ¯ reques ; L’.am no longer able to d.o
¯ Work-~.~,~.~ and personal responslbl,~i,7
582-0~38 ties maKeit impossible forme to continue
¯ Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st. 481-1111 ¯
HOPEI HiV-.Outredch,Pi?~vefifibn:,Edt~cafion 834-8378
: .*H0us.e. O~ the Holy Spitff ~_~nstri¢s,.32!0~ s~~. ’Nb~wood .......
:::-iii~e~ ~iDS MJnislii~s/~ ...... 4381~437, 800-284-2437 ."
:."¥~C~~ United~-i623 :N. Mapi~w00d~: " ~ 838-i715
¯ NAMESPr0ject,.3507 E. Admiral- PlY . 748-3111 . ¯
NO.W, Nat’l Or.g for Womeri;"POBlZ!0.68174159 365-5658
¯ OK Spokes Club (bic~clifig), POB 916~,-.74157 " .
¯ *OSU-TUiSa ’ " ’ ¯
¯ ..PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 :
¯
*Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 "
¯ Prime-Timer~P.O. Box 52118, 74152 "
¯ R.A.I:N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network~ ........ 749-4195 ¯
¯Red Ro~k Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 ..... 584~2325 ¯
; O’ RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults
O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth "
St. Aidan’ s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 ¯
¯
St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140
¯
*St. Jerome’ s Parish Church, 205 W. King .582-3088 "
¯" *Tulsa,~ea United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 ¯
¯TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 ¯ ¯
Tulsa County HealthDepartment, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 :
¯
Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only "
¯ TulsaOkla. for HumanRights, c/o The PrideCenter 743:4297
¯ T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform!Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827
*Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule ¯
: *Tulsa Community College Campuses "
¯ *TulsaGay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297 ¯ ¯
Unity Church of Christianity,3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 ¯
Friead~,..in ~nity Social Org., i~i3 8~2~ 7..4 !.0. !
HIV~.~ente~2~i’38Chas’. Page Blvd. " -- 583-6611 : to do thejob rrsponsibly. It requires more ........
*Tulsa C.A.R:E.S., 3507 E. Admiral- 834-4i94~. time and energy than I am now able to
BARTLESVILLE
*Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353
¯ OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN
Borders Books & Music, 3209 NW Expressway 405-848-2667
Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907
¯¯ TAHLEQUAH
Stonewall League, call for information: 918~456-7900
¯ *Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900
¯ Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360
¯ NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand
HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates
: EUREKASI~;RINGS, ARKANSAS.
"~ Auttmm’ Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23
¯
*Jim & Brent’ s Bistro, 173 S. Main
DeVito’ s Restaurant, 5 Center St.
Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St,
: MCC:0f the Living Spring
: Geek to Go!,TC Specialist, POB 429
¯ Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery
¯ Positive Idea Marketing Plans
Sparky’ s, Hwy. 62 East
: White Light, 1 Center St.
: JOPLIN, MISSOURI
*Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696
501-253-7734 "
501-253-7457 :
501-253-6807 "
501-253-5445 ¯
501-253-9337 :
501-253-2776 "
501-253-5332 .
501-624-6646 "
501-253-6001 "
501-253-4074
¯
* is where you can find TFN. Not allare Gay-owned but allare Gay-friendly.
commiLAnd there is no one wilting and
able to take my place.
The bisard has made the decision t~
continue IAM’s existence, at this time.
IAM’s board will continue to meet periodicallyand
monitor the changing reali:°
ties of HIV/AIDS, its effect on our community
and any future role IAM may play
inmeeting needs. It is the ministry’ s hope,
of course, that the future will bring a cure.’.
that some day gatherings will be in remembrance
only.
The board and I wish to express our
deepest appreciation for you support of
the work of this ministry over the many
years of its existence. Without that support
IAM would not have been able to
serve the hundreds of individuals which it
has assisted withpractical, emotional, and
spiritual support. Thank you on behalf of
thosewehave served for themany gifts of
your time, your talents, and your support.
I appreciate the opporttmity the ministry
has provided me to serve those affected
by HIV/AIDS and to get to know
and work with all of you. It has been very
hard for me to step away from this work
knowing there is so much more to be
done. However, I know I have reached
that place where, even though there is alot
more I would have liked to have done, I
have done all I can do for now. I would ask
that you continue your prayers of those
living:~ith and affected by HIV/A~DS
and fofthOse who minister to them, for a
cure for this,devastating disease, and frr
those who have served Interfaith AIDS
Ministries. Thank you and God bless you.
Faithfully,
- Chaplain Diane Zike, Director
"focused on the issue of state’s rights"
and that the high court’, s ruling in the case.
"will have no direct effect in Oklahoma."
"Oklahoma does not have the same antidiscrimination
law as New Jersey,"
Edmondson said. "For me and my office,
this matter was soldy decided on the
advancement of states’ rights."
Theissue ofstates’ rights involves powers
reserved to the states under the 10th
Amendment and immunity from lawsuits
under the 1 lth Amendment.
Edmondson, a former Boy Scout and
see Attorney, p.7
by Christopher Graft, Associated Press Writer
On the day Unilever bought Slim-Fast for $2.3 billion
and Ben & Jerry’s for $326 million, it was the smaller
purchase that captured the headlines and attentionnationwide.
TheNew York Times, The Washington Postand The
Associated Press were among the major news organizations
that focused on the purchase of the tiny ice cream
company, mentioning the acquisition of the much-larger
Slim-Fast only to savor the unusual pairing of the fatten,
ing and dieting duo.
ceutical industry or whoever is his enemy of the moment.
It is remarkable, actually, that Vermont gets as much
attention as it does - through Ben, Jerry, and Bernie, and
through U.S. Sens. Pat Leahy and Jim Jeffords and Gov.
Howard Dean, all of whom have images of straight
talkers in a business full of bluster. I suspect the nation’ s
high interest in things Vermont has something to do with
"... More and more in recent years Vetmont
has been out front in tackling tough Why? Why does a $326 million purchase gain more
attcntionthatva$2.3~billionone?Qu~fle-simplybecauseno ¯ probl.ems. There is something about the
one ldab~s 6r~ cares ~h6 !o~vns Shn~-Fast." ~ . , ~ ¯ . ¯
Butdle k~d~Be~duidflie ’ldid,& J " ~’" ""~ ~ ,.small ~s~ze of the state that allows exper~-
¯ ! y ,, ! , y.:,. . ’. erry. mlamey care . .... ¯ ¯ : ¯
who owns th~s’c0mpa@.~ h~;ce ~dffay~ b~fi ~ttnazed’l~ ~. :nlentat~i0ii. Aiad ther is something a~ well
the wide interest in Ben & Jerry’ s. By the news media.
And by peo_p,te in general. Because, to be blunt about it,
Ben & Jerry s is a tiny company, with an insignificant
share of the ice cream market. The appeal, though, stems
from the fact there are two real guys at the heart of this
company; two guys who want t6~do good.
No faceless multinational ctlialj._"~,y with layers of
bureau...cracy. This xs Ben and Je~’.~,~-stlll doing a little
scooping here and there, and always keeping their eyes on
social concerns. And that strikes a nerve with the publicl
Twoguys who want to do good. Helping out the little guy
by earmarking 7.5% of the pretax p.r.ofits for charity and
running campaigns to help children and savethe family
farm. Two guYS. Doing good.
Bernie Sanders strikes that same nerve. This past week
found him gushingly profiled in the New York Times and
prominently featured in the Boston Globe, the National
Journal.and on Nagonal Public Radio. H~ is just one of
435 members of the U.S. House - and ye’~ he reaps far
more than his share of publicity - just like Ben and Jerry
do. Why? Because he, too, strikes a nerve. Bernie is the
fighter for the little guy, taking on the powerful pharma-
" about the attitude of its polltieal leaders
¯ and people, an attitude that champions eivll
i
r~ghts and foeuse~ on the little guy.
: As difficult as it seems for some people,
the debate this year over extending
i
benefits to Gay and Le~hian couples
is part of that tradition..."
: theseindi~iduals, but it als0 has s0me~ng to do with the
state, its people and its heritage.
¯ In a time when many people feel disconnected from
~ their communities, when they feel overwhelmed by the
¯ stresses and strains of everyday life, Vermont seems to
¯ offer an anchor and a hope. Vermont is small enough.to
retain the seBs¢ of community lost elsewhere, and is
¯ unafraid to try the unconventional - to stand up for the
¯ litde guy. ¯
Ben, Jerry, Bernie and the others are not creating a new
image for Vermont: They are simply building on what
Editor’s note: the following are remarks made by new
NGLTF Executive Director Elizabeth Toledo at the National
Press Club at apress conference held on April.25.
"Good morning. I am here this morning to discuss the
state of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender
movement (GLBT) for equality in the United States.
As many state legislatures across the land wrap tip their
work and adjourn, we are seeing a frenzied pace of
legislative activity surrounding GLBT issues. For only
the second year in our movement’ s history, we have seen
bills favorable to our community outnumber unfavorable
bills - and the ratio is rapidly increasing.
So far this year, the National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force has tracked 466 bills, of which 288 are favorable
and 178 are unfavorable. By comparison, last year, we
tracked 269 favorable bills and 205 unfavorable bills.
A trend has emerged which shows that although the
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender population remains
under fierce attack, the movement toward civil
rights for all is steadily gaining strength.
Today the Vermont House of Representatives is poised
to give final approval to a bill that would allow same-sex
couples the right to enter into official civil unions sanctioned
by the state. If approved and signed into law, the
Vermont bill will do what no state has ever done before
- it will pr0~ide same~s,¢x couples wi~ al! of the fights,
benefits iitid ~i~0fi-iilsNties Of niarfiag~ thai a state can
offer.
Vermont has garnered a lot of attention, and rightfully
so. But did_you know_ about Georgia? Indiana? Mai_ne?
Alabama?’GeOrgia this Tear foi~ ,the firs:t!time ever: has
passed and enacted a hate crimes law. Indiana has passed
and enacted a hate crimes data collection law. While not
a full-blown hate crimes law, it represents the first rime
hidianalegislators have everreacted favorably to aGLBT
issue. Maine has passed and forwarded to the voters a
full-scale civil rights law that includes sexual orientation.
In Alabama, the House has passed an historic bill adding
.sexual orientation to the existing hate crimes law. Thebill
is scheduled to come up for a heating in the Senate
tomorrow.
Five states - Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire,
New Mexico, Wisconsin - have defeated attempts to
either pass or strengthen anti-same-sex marriage laws.
¯
The pace of activity this year continues a trend we first
¯ noticed in 1999, a breakthrough year for the GLBT
; .- movement. Last year’ s legislative victories included his-
" toric advances in such disparate states as California,
: Kentucky, New Hampshire and Nevada. In California,
legislators passed and the governor signed a trio of bills
: "...Vermont has garnered a lot of
: attention, and ghtf lly But did
you know about Georgla.9
Indlana.~ Maine.9 Alabama?
Georgia this year for the first time ever
has passed and enacted a hate erlmes
law. Indiana has passed and enacted a
hate cr~mes data collection law..."
that established a statewide registry for same-sex couples,
added sexual orientation to thenondiscrimination clauses
under the state Fair Employment and Housing Act and
offered public school students some protection against
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
In Kentucky, tWO cities..and two_ 9oun.ties ad~pted, pro-
GLBT civil rights measures. In New Hampshire, a law ¯
preventing same-sex couples from adopting children was
repealed. And Nevada became the 1 lth state to ban job
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
~While we hav~ l~geiy ~picked-ul~iii flJ~ ~e’a~’2000 -
where we left off, the news is not all good. Two states -
Utah and Mississippi -have passed bills preventing "
same-sex couples from adopting children. Two state "
legislatures - Colorado and West Virginia- passed laws
preventing same-sex couples from marrying, and Call- "
fornia voters approved a measure banning the state from "
recognizing same-sex marriages in other states. The "
number of states that have explicitly passed laws banning
same-sexmamagewill reach 33 ifthe Colorado governor ,’.
signs that statefs legislation. :
Such activity reflects the unfortunate reality of our ,"
movement. There is a checkerboard quality to the legal ¯
and cultural victories for the LGBT movement, and too "
¯ was there. This state has always been seen as a bastion of
¯ common sense and a breeder of courageous people.
Yes, Vermont’ s pastoral image is of a bygone era of
¯ village squares and hillside farms. But its political image,
its heritage, in fact, is of courage, of caring, of going
¯ where others fear to tread.
Ralph Flanders was about as conservative as they
~ come. But he had the courage to stand up in the U.S.
¯ Senate and call for an end to Joe McCarthy’ s red-baiting,
¯ taking a stand that for Flanders was steeled in the values ¯
in the Bill of Rights. And so it was for George Aiken,
¯ fighting against :the banks, the rai!roadS, and~ flae marble
¯ and:~~ani,t.~i,n~t.u.stries in the ’3Os~ and spegaki~g up yche,It
¯¯ - others,would not .about the~ ,folly’,.of,Vietnam. :, . . . ..
More and mpre in. recent ~ears V,e.rmont:has been out
¯ front in tackling tough problems. There is something
: about the small size of the state that allows experimenta-
¯ tion. And there is something as well about the attitude of
¯ its political leaders and people, an attitude that champions
¯ civil rights and focuses on the little guy.
¯ As difficult as it seems for somepeople, the debate this
¯ year over extending benefits to Gay and Lesbian couples
¯ .is part of that tradition. Again the eyes of the nation are on
~ the state. Certainly there is apprehension and even oppo-
¯ sition, but it is reassuring and pleasing to see how much
: applause thereis. A South Carolinanewspaper writes that
¯ "Vermont has offered a sensible model for secular civil
¯ unions;" theArizonaDaily Star says "this is probably the ¯
¯ best solution possible to an emotional, important debate
that strains the bounds of Americans’ tolerance and
¯ respect for each other," and the Concord (N.H.) Monitor
; says Vermont has "passed what was a test of conscience."
¯ A tourist promotion campaigns a few decades back
¯ proclaimed that Vermont is what America was. It is more
¯ accurate today to say that Vermont is what America
¯ wants to be.
often the difference between legitimacy and illegitimacy
in the eyes of society may rest on something as arbitrary
as a state boundary. Many residents of thiS country
assume that the great strides of the civil rights movement
have afforded broad protection against discrimination for "
all. In fact the legal reality is that those of us in same sex
relationships have notbeen fully protectedfrom discrimination
in housing,jobs, family law, education - virtually
every aspect of our lives is subject to discrimination and
sadl y, hate violence or harassment remains a reality in
every state in the nation.
Too often the cultural strides that are made in the
media, in places or worship, in schools and universities
and in the workplace are misinterpreted as a sign that
equality has been won.
I’ll give you an example. The National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force frequently receives phone calls from
same-sex couples asking for alist of states in which they
can legally marry. These individuals see shows like Will
and Grace or Dawson’ s Creek. They worship in churches
or synagogues that welcome them. They are out in the
workplace or at school. They just assume, like many
heterosexual Americans, that the barriers of discrimination
have been eradicated.
The reality, of course, is quite different¯ Not a single
state allows same.sex mamage. 39 states allow Gay,
"Lesbian, Bisexual:and Transgender employees.to be fired
from ourjobs. 28 states lack hate crimes law s that include
sexual orientation. 18 states criminalize loving, same-sex
relationships.
.~ " T~day the GLBT movement i~ at a crossroads We.are
under open assault by those who would deny us basic
.human rights., and at the same time the nation.is witnessing
a surge in support for our cause. Ourtives, our
liberty, our pursuit of happiness depend upon our ability
to build strong political infrastructure and organize on the
state and local level.
Local orgamzing has always been the trademark of the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Fortunately, we
are not alone. Today, the state and local political infrastructure
of the GLBT movement in the United States is
stronger than it has ever been before.
In 1996, NGLTFhelped found the Federation of Statewide
LGBT Political Organizations. see NGLTF, p. 11
College Course to Focus
On Net Hate Groups
BOSTON (AP) - One shows an image of a slain Gay
man burning in hell Another claims the FBI has
declared war on white Christians. A third pretends to
pay homage to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., then
suggests the civil rights leader was a sex fiend, a
communist and a "plastic god." They ~e radical,
hate-driven Internet sites and they are increasing
rapidly. This fall, they also will be the basis for a
communications class at Emerson College called
Hate.com. Robert Hilliard, an Emerson communications
prof~e,ssor, vlans to use ,the sites to examine how
radical gxpups use fi!e Internet to recrmt new members.
" "
Hilliard became interested in extremists~ when.he’
stumbled across a far-right talk radio show, and later
wrote abookonthe topic withBoston College professor
Michael Keith. "We began to listen and we said,
’Here we were, communications professionals and
we didn" t know about these people,’" Hilliard said.
"People have got to know what these people are
saying." Their book, "Waves of Rancor: Tuning in
the Radical RighC’ was well-received and ended up
onPresident Clinton’ s summerreading list. Hilliard’ s
says his class will .examine how the groups target
xmpressionable youth, how they multiply and how
they foment rage¯
More than 300 extremistWeb sites are on the
Internet today, ranging from neo-Nazi alliances to
Gay and Lesbian haters to Holocaust denials sites,
according to the watchdog Southern Poverty Law
Center¯ In 1998, the group counted 254 such Web
sites, up from 163 in 1997.
Experts say extremists are careful’not to urea away
viewers with upfront, inflammatory statements or
epithets. Instead, rock music and games draw in new
members gradually. OneNeo-Nazi site features bands
like RaHoWar, which stands for Racial Holy War.
"Others attract viewers with seemingly mainstream
articles, but the articles can lead to racist and conspiratorial
theories bolstered with passages from the
Bible and alternative historians.
Hilliard plans toinvite some hate site creators to the
class, giving them a chance to defend their work. One
rote creator satdhe s open to such challenges. I thi
the media is extremely biased against my point of
view and I want to provide an alternative to their
news," said Don Black, creator of Stormfront, one of
o.. the Web’ s oldest white nationalist sites.
Hilliard and others emphasize that extremist sites
are fully protectedby the First Amendment and stress
they are not calling for their removal. However,
Hilliardmakes no bones abouthis hopes that students
work to combat them. ’q?hese are people saying’We
must arm ourselves for a holy war to rid the world of
those who are not white, Aryan Christians or those
who disagree with our points of view,’" he said.
Idaho Public TV Faces
Program Challenges
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho. (AP) :-Adding adisclaimer to
.controversial programming on Idaho Public Television
may pacify prograrnm~ug restrictions from the
.Legislature while allowing the stationto keep federal
funding.
Idaho Board Of Education member Curtis ’Eaton
¯ proposed.Friday the board require PublieTelevision
tO air a disclaimer stating the station does not sanction
acts or events depicted in programming. In a letter
dated,April 13, Eaton asked.the ¯board to consider the
option-as a way torectncile what he describes aft
contradictory statements in recent.legislation that
require theboard to regulateprogramming deemed to
promote acts illegal in Idaho.
The controversy over programming began last.
spring, when Idaho Public Television General Manager
Peter Morrill decided to air"It’ s Elementary," an
hour-long documentary abouthow five public school
districts across the country dealt with teaching kids
about homosexuality. Christian conservatives lobbied
the board to veto the program, but in June 1999
the board voted unanimously not to interfere with
Morrill’ s programming decision.
But the Legislature got involved this spring by
including restrictions in a funding package for the
network that reouire the board to monitor and reject
programming that "promotes, supports or encourages
the violation of Idaho criminal statutes." Because
sodomy is illegal in Idaho, the bill could be interpreted
tomeanprograms like"It’ s Elementary" should
be cut. Or, because robbery is an Idaho felony, documentaries
about legendary thieves Bonme and Clyde
mightbebarred. ButboardmemberHarold Davis said
he agreed with the restrictions and felt "It’ s Elementary’
crossed the line iiito promoting "the Gay
lifestyle." Heopposed Eaton’ s proposal, saying itwas
not sufficient to meet Legislative demands for new
policy.
Methodists Callings,For:+
Investigation of Bishop
SACRAMENTO (AP) - Some parishioners want
religious leaders to investigate the United Methodist
Church bishop who decided not to charge 68 ministers
who attended and endorsed a Lesbian wedding.
The western region of the United Methodist Church’ s
College of ~3ishops received two letters from parishioners,
asking for aninvestigationinto whether Bishop
Melvin Talbert disregarded church laws, including
one banning same-sex unions. Bishop Elias Galvan of
Seattle, a member of the religious body, said the o
letters would be reviewed to see if they merit complaint
status.
John Stumbo, a Fort Valley, Ga., lawyer and member
of the Coalition for United Methbdist Accountability,
said the complaints centered around comments
Talbert made when he announced that there
was no basis f01~ a trial. At the time, Talbert said it was
more important for the church to be all-inclusive than
to puuish someone for blessing a union not officially
sanctioned by the churcJa; But Stumbo said Talbert
and the church’ s investigative committee disregarded
a church law against homosexual, marriage in reaching
their decision,
If the-College of Bishops finds grounds for complaint,
a separate committee wouldinvestigate whether
Talbert should be tried in a church court, which would
have the power to impose a number of penalties,
including expulsion. Talbert’ s secretary said thebishop
was travding and could not be reached for comment.
The Rev. Don Fado of St..Mark’ s United Methodist
Church in Sacramento performed the January 1999
ceremony for churchmembers Ellie Charlton, 64,and.
Jeanne BametL 69. He and 67 other ministers offiCiated
en masse at the ceremony.
University Denial of
Benefits Ruled Legal
P1TTSBU-RGH (AP) - The University of Pittsburgh
has-legally denied health benefits to same-sex partners
of employees, an AlleghenyCounty judge ruled.
Judge Robert Gallo said that Pitt’ s policy is neutral
because health benefits are offered to all employees
regardless of sexual orientation, and Pitt also denies
benefits to unmarried partners of heterosexual employees.
"This ruling dearly iupholds what has been
the university’ s .position, thr0~ghout these proem,dings
- namely that the universityhealth benefits plan
is legal and nondiscriminatory," Pitt spokesman Ken
Service said.
But. Deborah Henso~, ia’former Pittinstn~ctorWho-’
sued when the university denied benefits to her Le~.-
bian partner, said she’would appeal to Common~
wealth Court. ’~Fhis is.important in terms of fairness.,,
and equality," Hens,on s~d.."pitt has .l~e~¯ ~gh~ng
tooih and nail, inmy opiuion,tojus,tff,y~ disenmina~tton
against Gay and Lesbi~in persons. Henson and six
others were plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging that Pitt
violated a city ordinance banning discrimination
against Gay~ and Lesbians. I-Ienson’ s attorneys had
wanted the case to be heard by the Pittsburgh CommissiononHumanRelations,
whichhears complaints
about violations of the city ordinance.
Ga!lo said the commission has nojurisdiction over
Pitt. In November, Gov. Tom Ridge signed a law
exempting state universities and colleges from being
forced by city anti-discrimination laws to provide
same-sex benefits. Pitt is a state-affiliated institution.
United in
God’s Love
¯ MCC-Un=ted
Sunday WOrship
11:00 am
1623 N. Maplewood
Reverend Cathy Elliot
Pastor
918/838-1715
Community
Unitarian Universalist
Congregation
at Community ofHope
2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595
.... A Welcoming Congregation
HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am
Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm
3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon
- Sandra Hill
Licensed Professional & National Certified
Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist
Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation
After Hours Appointments Available
2865 E: Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111
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Outreach Program Thurs. Nights
Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment
Call for meeting times and place:
918-58.4=2325
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~9413 E. 31St St., Tulsa 74145
918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-444-5934
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Ghild, Family, Individual & Gouplo Psychothorapy
(918) 743-9559
2121 South Columbia, Suite 420
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518
The Pride Store
1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor
Tulsa Gay Community Services Center
743-GAYS (743-4297) .. i .
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"Recognizing that Pitt’ s health care contract on its
face prohibits Pitt from providing benefits to both
same sex and heterosexual unmarried couples, making
n~ distinction between the two, it is dear that the
commi ssion would be precluded from finding that an
unlawful practice hadbeen committedbyPitt," Gallo’ s
written ruling said.
Other universities in Pennsylvania that offer samesex
benefit~ include the University of Pennsylvania,
Swarthmore College and DickinsfnCollege. C.amegie
MdlonUniversity.faculty earlier this monthaccepted
a recommendation-that the:,.university ,provide samesex
benefits as wall..CMU’ s board of trustees must
approve the recommendation as well before samesex
benefits will be extended, according to university
spokesman Don Hale.
BOSh
on Vermont Civil Unions
¯ Clark delivered opening and dosing arguments ¯
while Richard Van Wagoner, another Salt Lake City
¯ lawyer, grilled Seidel on her decision to disqualify
¯ PRISM but sanction the Polynesian Club and the
¯ Odyssey of the Mind Club. ’Seidel also nixed a
¯ women’ s literature club, saying she had suggested a
¯ genderless literature club instead. Campbell seemed
¯ particularly interested in that decision a~d asked for
¯ district records on it. ~ "....
." The judge frequently turned oia Dan: Larsen, an
¯ assistant Utah state attorney general d~fending the
¯ school district, attacking his argiamentsand declaring
school administrators were not hb~v~:the law. Dis-
- trict Superintendent Darlene Roblds: who was in the
¯ courtroom but did not testify, S~iid tti~ school board
¯ "wasla:t tr~_’0g to violate studen[s" ~F,ifst Amendment
¯ ~nghk~ and welcomed any ~]anfi~ohC ~ ll~ear~
"bring on, the m~tte~r~ ,
TEMPLE,Texas (AP)-Republican presidential candidate
George W. Bush refused to be drawn into
comment on Vermont’s civil unions, which would
grant to same~sex couples some 300 state benefits of
marriage, including medical decision-making, tax
breaks and inheritance. Bush has opposed recognizing
same-sex unions in Texas. "They have a right to
pass a law," Bush said. "It’ s the right of the state to
.make that decision just like it’s the right of the state
of South Carolina to make the decision on the flag."
Bush also met with a group ofGay Republicans last
week in Austin and said he was "a better person" for
heating their stories but still disagreed with them on
Gay marriage. The Texas governor answered questions
after making an elementary school appearance
to_~,r.omote "character education" on the anni .v.ersary
of the Columbine shootings.
School District InC0urt
Fi0r Rejecting Gay Club
SALT Li~KE CITY (AP) - A fede~r,al judge recently
shai~ly questioned a’s~hoor distiict s refuSai.to’sanctibia’
"d" ’ ~~d:¢rff ~ dub ’ that would-focus:,on:Gay "~-:
IJYe:sbjan~ssu¢si"’~ust (~ecaus~ yo~gof6"safi’6ol’d~i
m~y~.~0!~ -th~ii,~’~iis~ Aiii~iidifiefi{iights; U..S,"
Di~ft Jildg~ Teiah’ chmp~~tttold’.a lawyer for’the
S~,t-~ .city’s~tiool ~’~&:Campbell made.no
d~Li~ionlasr m’or~,...B.~t.~:.i.s e.x_pected’t0 nile ~60n
o..n~a’reqye~ by stud~,nt org~:z~r~’i6b~c~ia~lVadnfiil:
is~t6r~ find .~_~ "PRrSM~’Peoi~l~ R~spectingIm~
pdrt~t s~iAl Mov-&ia~nt~= ter@o:rary school privileges.
Campbell will then’decide the crux of the case:
w3aether schoql 9ffici~s violated the First Amendmeat
or their own-policy in sh~bb~ag., PRISM:Tot-?
merly the Gay-Straight Alliaiice and_now, reconsti-.
ttitM M’ii~i" aii ac~id’6G~i~ ib~ar to satisfy new district:
c[abrules, -
_ .Cynthia ~¢i_.dd i. the_Oi,S_tri’~? s._as~istani,~upe~nten-:
¯ dent, struggled on the stand Tliurs~y.~0¢xplaii~ why.,
PRISM didn’ t.qualify as, an academic_club;.contend:
ing,it represents a~ narrow..viewpoi~ o.n ~.~.erican
hist6ry and sociology In 1996, the school districi
el.i_nu,’na,ted all nonacademicdubs’i:aiher.than idlow
Qay .dubat East RighS&ooL ambve.that ,was
in~federat court..... .....",.. ~ .... ~, , ,.
,,7i?ne,G~y,~cltlb ~, 0n!y .n~et ~t’e~ ,h~ ~s
qo~.l~.u~:~.g,rpup. thin, must ~efi( siJa~e aiii£.~hy
insurance~ Th~~i~a’l~ ;sn ’t~16~l t6 liand ~tU~t t’l,y..¢~ oL
c~uh ~ha~e.t0~ay.fQr~ :,es si Coh~:saia’.’C6iien ~’d:
i~qrpos; ,oLtll.e .cfii~ is tbi~i~ss history"f~bifi:the
pcrsp.e.,,~tive~ of’G~y~ a~a)’?!;~in~."Seida ti~Z them
~O~i~ :Uec~U~ ~e’d0ii~t t~ch c,,urri~ulum from the
viewpini:dfGays and Legblans. ’. .
Stephen.Clark, l¢.gal director for the American
Civil ,Liberties, U,ni"on of Utah, argued that the denial
was a straighff0.r~v)ffd First Amendment v,iolation.
Clark also contends the district manipulated its own
club policy and sealed its decision against PRISM
with a new, still unwritten rule disqualifying clubs
advocating an "exclusive viewpoint" of subjects.
Lesbian Housing Rights
NEW YORK (AP) - A lawyer for a Lesbian medical
student asked a state appeals court to order Yeshiva
University to let the woman and her domestic partner
live together in school-subsidized housing.
James Esseks told a five-judge panel of the New
York State Supreme Court’ s Appellate Division that
Yeshiva’ s policy discriminates on the basis of marital
status and sexual orientation in violation of city and
state law. Esseks said the university pern-ts married
students to live in school housing only with spouses
and children. Because Gay couples cannot legally
marry, the policy has a disparate, discriminatory
impact on them, he said. Esseks represents Sara
Levin, 28, of San Francisco, a fourth-year student at
Yeshiva’ s Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Yeshiva
University is the oldest andlargest institution of
higher education under Jewish auspices in the United
States.
University Members
Protest Anti-GaY Slurs
GORHAM, "{~/Iaine (AP) - Abou(.125.~t_udent~, staff
and administrators attended ameeting following three
incidents o£ anti-Gay bias at the University of Southern
Maine. One student and two others were arrested
_ by GorhamandUSMpolicein connection with one of
" the three_’in.cidents, all of which took place during a
¯ one-week period earlier this spring. President Rich-
- : ard Pattenande assured participants.at Wednesday’ s
:Tmeeting that anti-Gay acts will not be tolerated.
:’ "USM stands unflinchingly for equality~. -. homophobid
has.no place at USM," Pattenande said..
The incidents began on the weekend of April 8-9
when anti.Gay graffiti was foundin Woodward Hall.
The graffiti referred to a resideatadvisor. The next
incidenthappened on April 13 when the same
Woodward resident advisor and anotheradvisor intervenedin
an out-of-control party. Both were taunted
~ with violent, anti-Gay threats. Last Saturday, another
¯ dormitory.staff workerfoundawritten-anti-Gay death
threat had been slipped under her’dtbr~" .......
’ Alhb:ama Hate:i::Cii :i:mes
Law Revision In:Trouble
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - At:i~n-danc~..at. a Senate
comfifittee meeting could determine the fate Of
lcgist~tif~;to ~;po,laxkA!.~b._a~a,~’.A~h~.qrim,es !~w to
indud~NXnald~r~e~a~:.ti...on.!.7~.e.t)i:!$ pa~red~R~
49-39:on.April 6..George, Olssom Mbntgomery .area
coordinator for-the Gay and Le~ian,Al!iartc,e .of
Alabama~,s~d ’.~e ,J~c!~ci_ary _Co~t.t~~: sharply
which commi.B~me,_~a~bcrs shoN,upat tlag~tiil~eting.
Committee, cL~irman.:Rodger,:,Smi,ih~ianan, a
supporter Of the bill, agreed thdco~tteeii spfit 50-
50 and,attendance,could determine t!~.outcome.
Alabama law already mandates, mini.mm:n prison
terms that felons must serve for crimes motiyated by
race, color, religion, national origin, :ethnicity or
physical or mental disability. For instance,, if a person
committed a crime that is normally punishable by one
to 10 years in prison, the hate crimes law mandates the
person must serve at least two years in prison.
TB Spreading In
Transgender Group
ATLANTA (AP) - A tuberculosis outbreak
in the Transgender commtulities of
Baltimore and New York City may be
spreading to 0ther:cities, the government
said recently. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention confirmed 26 active
cases and 37 dormant cases of tuberculosis,
most of them connected to members
of the transgender community inthe
two cities.
The’ CD~,, ~s~ th~t~m~ig~asgender to:
encbn~Ss~"cro~-~dr~ss~dr~,~ those who
haveig~.,derg0~eI
and indi~id~Jai~ ~tio ~re’plafining to un~
dergo sex-change operations. All of the
cases in Baltimore were men except for
fourwomenwho w’ere eitherfamilymembers
of the men or health care workers
who treated them. Many had a strain of
TB treated with common antibiotics. The
government said 62% of the tuberculosis
patients tested positive for HIV, the virus
that causes AIDS. People with HIV are
susceptible to tuberculosis and could die
if not treated.
Transgenders often travd to many cities
frequenting social clubs and participaring
in fashion and dance competitions.
"Frequent travel and social network links
identified among the Baltimore andNYC
cases have raised concern that thi~ strain
¯ . may be circulating in other’~ities
among young, mobile transgender persons
withHIV infection," theCDCsaid in
a report¯
The CDC is checking for additional
cases linked to the same strain in Atlanta,
"Baltimore, Boston,NewYorkCity, Philadelphia
and Washington, D.C.
Actor Bruce Willis
Donating to Charity
LOS ANGELES (AP) - There’ s more to
theBruceWillis appearances on"Friends"
than a potential ratings boost. The actor,
who agreed to be a guest star on NBC’ s
"Friends" for three episodes during the
May ratings "sweeps," is donating earnings
from the show to five charities. The
amount of money wasn’ t disclosed.
The American Foundation for AIDS
Research, AIDS Project Los Angeles, the
Elizabeth Glaser PediatricAIDS Foundation,
the Rape Treatment Center and
UCLAUnicamp for underprivileged children
will share the money, Willis publicist
Paul Bloch said.
On "Friends," Willis plays the widowedfather
ofRoss’ new girlfriend. Willis
became friendly with "Friends" actor
Matthew Perry when they both starred in
the movie "The Whole Nine Yards."
Study on Prison
Sex in Kentucky
MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) - A Morehead
State University professor is conducting a
study on prison sexuality, a topic he says
has been shrouded in silence but must be
dealt with. The information could be used
to combat the spread of AIDS and improve
prison safety. Christopher Hensley,
a sociology professor who directs
Morehead’s Institute for Correctional
Research and Training, said the survey is
the first of its kind in Kentucky.
Hensley studied prison sex in Oklahoma
and found that nearly one in four
male prisoners had engaged in sexual
activities with fellow inmates. Overall.
13.8% of all prisoners said they had been
: "threatened sextmlly" by other inmates
: and 1.1% said they had been raped.
". If they have AIDS or another sex~mlly
¯ transmitted disease, they’ll be spreading
: it to their partners, he said. "These people
: are g,oing to be getting out of prison and
¯¯ they re going to be having sex with their
wives or husbands," Hemley said.
: The sweeping 46-question survey .,asks
¯ about jailhouse consensual sex,
: autoeroticism and rape. About 3,600 of
: Kentucky’ s 15.300 prisoners have been
¯ asked to participate. The survey is volun-
!, ~tary and_anonymouL Funded in part b~ a
.: ~$1,600 ~ant from ’Morehe~id~State,! the ":~i ~ques~i~res have~n ~ent to i.m~tes
¯ ’. dt three Of the state’ s .12 male prisons and
: toinmatesatthestate’sonlyfemaleprison.
¯ Results will be released this fall.
Hensley’ s research has "extraordinary
value," said Cindy Stmckman-Johuson, a
professor of psychology at the University
of South Dakota. But~topic is so taboo
that few scholars focus on it, she said.
"We should have hundreds of people
studying it," Struckman-Johnson said.
"Sex inprisonis amajor cause ofviolence
... of upset and turmoil, a major cause of
disease."
Prisoners’ rights advocates also say the
sexuality data could be useful. "Prison is
a very violent place and ff (officials) can
get a better idea about the reality ofprison
rape and what’ s going on, hopefully they
caTu be more prepared to deal with that
issue," said Kara Gotsch, a public policy
coordinator with the Washington, D.C.-
based National Prison Project of the
American Civil Liberties Union.
Struckman-Jotmson said some prison
administrators try to quash these kinds of
studies out of concern about negativepublicity.
But Morehead State administrators
and Kentucky prison officials approved
Hensley’ s study.
Hensley also has co-written an article
on conjugal visitation in Mississippi, and
his study on consensual homosexual activity
in male prisons in Oklahoma is
scheduled for publication in December in
a prison-related academic journal.
Russian Prison
For HIV+ Inmates
MOSCOW (AP) - Authorities in a Siberian
region plan to open a separate prison
for inmates infected with HIV, the virus
that causes AIDS, a news report said last
month.
About 600 HIV-positive convicts are
serving time in prisons of the Irkutsk
region, and another 300 infected people
are held in pre-trial detention, said Boris
Gronik, chief of the regional Justice Ministry
branch in charge of prison administration.
Gronik said afflicted inmates
present a danger to other prisoners, and
need to be removed; the ITAR=Tass news
agency reported. "Unless they are all gathered
in one place, the situationmayget out
of control," Gronik was quoted as saying.
Russia already has one special prison
for HIV-positive convicts, ITAR-Tass
said. The jail is located in the Baltic Sea
enclave of Kaliningrad, which has one of
the highest concentrations of AIDS cases
in Russia.
In a separate development, authorities
in the southern Siberian republic of
Buryafia, next door to lrkutsk, said 101
HIV cases have been registered in the
republic, up from 24 at the start of the
year, ITAR-Tass reported.
HIV has been spreading fast in Russia
and more than 30,000 registered cases
March.
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Weekend and evening appointments are available.
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Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men’s
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Call JOHN RAGAN, the friend!y, caring real estate agent who understands
your special needs! 918-583-2125 800-559-1558 ~.NewNest.com
reviewed by Barry Hensley . In the mid 1960’ s, Garlandstarted re-
Tulsa City-County Library ¯ cording her memories and feelings on a
Judy Garland’ s fascinating and tumul- " reel to reel tape recorder. Theoretically, it
tuous.life has become the subject of yet ¯ was to be a verbal, and hopefully moneyanothercontroversialbiography,
thistime " making autobiography, butinreality,forby
Gerald Clarke, author tifiedbyherfavoritewine,
of "Capote." Goddess of "Extraordinarily Blue Nun, it became a ti-
Gay men of a certain age, . oor, at~ ehoosln , . ~ade.ag~in~t~pe°p!eand
Judy died inlJun~iof. 196~,~ ¯-P. .... ~,~ :- ¯ ~ .; cbmpafli~s~ "who"~ had a week. before’thei tone.-" .... hn,s t~ d.s",,,:the ""~ ’.wronged her. C~arlde
wall rio.t in York,
her 77 ..... "s. ems especially proud
which started the modem that he had access to these
Gay rights, movement.
From Dorothy in "The
Wizard of Oz," through a
series of film successes, to
someembarrassing television
performances, and, fin.
ally., to aging songstress
staging substandard tunes
written by her lover, Judy
Garland’s career was a
rollercoaster ride unparalleled
in showbiz history.
. .Through thenewspapers, radio and television,
the public eagerly watched her
career rise and fall many times over a
thirty year period. Each triumphant performance
was soon followedby some sort
of disaster. Extraordinarily poor at choosing
husbands, the public followed her
volatile personal life as well, although
they were probably unaware of a few
Lesbian encounters that are mentioned in
Get Happy. Cycling down to an untimely
an-d-litigation filled end, Judy’s stormy
life finally exhausted and frustrated her
friends, fans and family. Her story is one
of the greatest indictments against the
excessive use of drugs and alcohol that
American popular culture has produced.
After ten years of interviews and meticulous
investigation, Clarke has written
ahuge tome, second only to GeroldFrank’ s
700 page biography, "Judy," in 1975.
Clarke had access to the personal diary of
Dottle Ponedel, Judy’ s longfime makeup
woman, who apparently found that Judy
was the most interesting thing in her life.
Clarke also interviewed many of Judy’ s
costars, friends, directors and conductors,
including Arfie Shaw, Lena Home, and
Judy’ s mostinfluential husband, SidLuft.
she said, wiping the tears and gesturing at
the joyous chaos on the House floor.
Their jubilahon was matched by anger
among opponents, who have complained
that lawmakers weren’ t listening to their
concerns. "The people of the state of Vermont
will be back in November and this
legislation will be repealed," said John
Nelson, a 70-year-old retired salesman.
The state Supreme Court unammously
ruled in December that the couples were
being unconstitutionally denied therights
and benefits of mamage. The legislature
decided to establish a parallel system for
Gays rather than broaden marriage statues
to include Gays and Lesbians.
The civil unions essentially duplicate
marriage, but are not recognized under
federal law denying Gay couples benefits
such as Social Security andirmnigrafion.
Under the law, Gay ~ouples will be
able to go to their town clerks and have
their unions certified by a judge or by a
member of the clergy. Breakups will be
handled in Family Court.
volatile personal life
as wall, although
they were probably
naware d a few
Lesbian encounters
that are mentioned in
~et Happy’..."
tapes, although at leastone
other Garland biography
has utilized them. Thecontent
of the tapes is very
interesting, although painfully
sad, as she lashes out
at the people who .made
millions off of her name
but left her penniless.
With the exception of
some films and her celebrated
Carnegie Hall concert,
Clarkelargely ignores Garland’ s professional
life, preferring to give us lurid
gossip and personal problems instead of
analyzing her varied career. In fact, of the
almost 500 pages in this book, only four
are dedicated to’q’heJudy GarlandShow,"
the 1963 CBS series that was the last,
sustained effort of her career (and which
is currently available on DVD.)
Reviewers and fans seem intensely polarized
about their opinions of this book.
(Check out the Amazon.corn reviews!)
While listing over 50 pages of notes and
acknowledgements, Clarke often relies
on unverifiable comments, some of them
quite ugly. He also seems obsessed with
Judy’s sex life, a topic well covered in
Judy Garland: The SecretLife ofanAmerican
Legend, by David Shipman. However,
his decade ofresearch pays off occasionally,
with someinteresting stories and
comments, although we must be aware
that what we are reading is quite probably
as much a juicy novel as it is a serious
biography. Either way, it’ s an intriguing
read.
Check out Get Happy, as well as many
of Garland’ s films or music at any branch
Library, or call Central at 596-7977.
the parent of a former Boy Scout, said
there have been 255 requests for the state
to join friend-of-the-court briefs since he
became attorney general in 1995. The
state has signed on to 111 of them, 68
dealing with states’ rights. "In making
those decisions, we have always tried to
focus on the legal issues rather than the
political ones," he said.
But lawmakers said Edmondson’s action
makes ~*. appear the state opposes the
right of the Boy Scouts to choose their
own leaders.
"’Drew Edmondson has put Oklahoma
on record in the highest court in the land
as being in favor ofthe homosexual movement
against the Boy Scouts," said Rep.
Bill Graves, R-OKC,-an outspoken opponent
of civil rights for Gay people. "I
thought the decision by the New Jersey
Supreme Court was an outrage," Graves
said.
Editor’s note: the switchboardfor the
Oklahoma House of Representatives is
800-522-8502.
Editor’s lugte: due to gremh’nesqueglitches
tn the e-mail, our regular "Amusements"
column byJim Christjohn never got to the
editorial desk. Unfortunately this came to
light at first::lighr’the mormng before
going to’.press, andbeing brave, but northat
brave, :I dtdt no:t invoke the wrath of
the dembn~ by Waking him at 5:30am.
Future issues.~willfeature interviews by
Christjohn: with members of the cast of
cal, will be at the
Tulsa Performing
Arts Centerbeginning
May 30 thro’
June 4th. As the
promoters, the
Tnlsa-based Celebrity
Attractions,
note interest
in the ill-fated
ship has been _ ~om Sesma
great, resulting in
televisionprograms, a"major motion picture,"
novels and "even a cookbook."
Indeed.
The show was written by Peter StOne,
known for other shows: 1776, T~e Will
Rogers Follies, My One & Orii~, and
music and lyrics are by Maury Yeston ..
(Nine, Grand Hotel).
Titanic wonmultiple’q’ony" awards~in
1997 and New York Observer critic, Rex
Reed claims, " you will never see anyder
of wonders, to TULSA! This Pulitzer
and Tony award winning work by the late
Jonathan Larson-was introduced to Tulsa
theatre and media, folk at a.recent PAC
reception.
Coordinated by the ever gracious and
lovely Tracey Norvell, fed a grea~ llmch
by the Polo GrilF s Tal.madge Powell, and
wowed by perfomances by two .current
Broadway casrmembers flown into Tulsa
forithe; ~vent.,~’sa~_~ hear,~d.: the veff~ .era
ergetie,(~md:cute-)-p~.~l~!ce~, Jeffre~ ~!1~
deseribethe off-off
Broadway .and
shaky origins of
Rent, as well as the
tragic death of an
aeortic aneurysm
of composer/
writer Jonathan
Larson on the very
eve of the show’s
successful opening.
Larson drew
inspiration for
Rent from Puccini’s La Boheme but set
his work in New York’ s East Village and
with people living with HIV (rather than
TB), Lesbian lawyers, drag queens instead
of Parisian poets and painters.
The music draws on!the traditions of
American gospel and in the words of.the
Houston Chronicle~ "Rent .is that rare.
musical whose content and style areo£the
present rather than the past..
words of pro.d.ucer Jeffr,y Sellers~ tradithing
this impressive anywhere elser on’ tional :upt wn . t_h_eatre;,t.e..Broadway,
Broadway." Certainly,Titanic seems cer~ .... was not-:~’our.characters ;,our stories, our
tain t0 pl~hse the target audience ofCelebi; "" music, i. 2;.S~1~8 addecL that ,The.New
rity Attractions and to bring in any nlmi: "~ York Ti~oa~.s,:q,a~:.,ed ;~e~t~Ya, shimm~
ber ofcharter buses full of traditional ~ea~ ¯ choonpceufrowr-i~ffei h~iAm.mmeri~_d.c’w~n.-ith th~Pe~q~ng
theatr~igoers. ~ ....
Theatre Tulsa Goes Gay!?!_,-. ~ Arts Center’s..director~-.33lm~e~i~ iii~t
.......for T~s.a.;:R.¢.n.tj~!O~ag0~erdue!
Tulsa Family News is delighted to re.:., Rent 9Li.t.lbe ip:Tulsa, f,om Augusi 29Rt
ceive notice that
TheatreZul~a’ S final
seasonproductionis
theTerrence
McNallyhit,Lips
Together, Teeih
Apart."
It Will run April
28, 29, and May3-
6 at8,l~.~,; ~e~e_w.ill
be a:~ma~lee
all
PAC Jolm~H.
............Io tP+~9..Pt., 3rd :~ith
-I ev.~i~n.g and marl:
nee,performances.
Tickets, range, be:..
$25 to.$55
,a~..dgQ:on ~.ale on
June 12. Call 596-
7111,800-364-
~731I. or go to
Willidins :Tkeatre.’ ..... :
Veto S~fanic~directs this "adult sitmi:"
tion" drama:~dae elegant beach house "
on Fi~I~taii~i:~;brother and sister and
their i(d~tig~e~pouses attempt to cel-:
ebrat~i=tll~-~t~6~li:0f July. Surrounded 6if:
bo.th s[d~Tb,~]~e~ii~ve h~ses~Ga~.~i~ieff:~ "
me" two sfi~:~i~t ~codpqeg’exi~Xa*
own!ives ~[li~it;sorrow, and agnawmgup.,,~
t~my~!~es their‘ affluen! hab’-’
it~ hfid]SeR~ pi~jii~li~s ~i~zle~n the:sum:~
,"~l)~:" ~" ?’Q *~ "~ .... - ;....
~’;" ~i’¢ " ~ "
Tl~eT~fl:aa 1§’one~,~(e!,ty-~Ndest
arts ,0.~g. a~!..~a,tlons ..and -ael~owle~t~mg
Gay~i~ ,th~"th~iff~ is ’a big step, n~ot t6 ¯
me~tidff~cNali~ is one Of
temporary pla~fights so check this production
out, W~:don’t get that many ¯
chances trsee theatre in Tulsa which
acknowledges-the eXistence ofGaypeople: "
525,600 Minutes :
Having said that, the extraordinary new
Ameficanmusical, Rent, is coming, won- "
;~ Do, you got:Hope? ~
Fran~_.~,C.~thy Kc~ting’, sfavodte~ulsa
designer_ ,~gd..H!.V/AtDS .. fund.raise-~,~
Charles-Faudree,-once again has, o~ga;
nized theHopeCafid~eli.~ht~0urforea~!y,
June. TI~.,"~,eve~t not,rnly,heips i~aise f~d~i
groups;p~c~yide~car~, toW-opl,e liv~:ii~
see some6fTulsa s mostbeau~i~f~@~,
rated, homes.- ......... -,.:~....
The pub!ic:tour on SituMay, i~; 3rd
and Sunday~ Jun¢.4th i%~tures fiv~ l~0mes
for a donation ofonly $10. Ticke,ts fi3r tliis
tour may be obtainld a~ each..home ¯
There is also a donor tourfeaturing four
more homes on Iune 1 for those who
donate $125. And patrons (donations of
more than $450) will gather at Doug &
Susan Pielsticker on June 10th.
For more information, call Charles
Faudree, Inc. at 747-9706.
I
to benefit Saint Joseph Residence +
Regional AIDS Interfaith.Network
Saturday, June 3rd, 10-5, + Sunday, June 4th, 1-5
$10 donation at the door or in advance.
David Daniel, 1603 S. Carson
Wiley Parsons, 1601 S. Carson
Monty + Jane Butts, 240 E. Woodward Blvd.
Brett + Maricarolyn Swab, 2112 S. Norfolk Ave.
Dr. Robert & Dena Hudson, 2707 S. Rockford Rd.
Tickets for this~,t~Jr may be obtaL"gd at each home.
For more intormation, call Charles Faudree, Inc, at 747-9706.
THE MUSEUM SHOP
AT PHILBROOK
748.5304
April 29, May 5 & 7, 2000
Prices Start. at Just $15!
Act Now!
Call 587-4811
December
MonthlyElectric Bills.
At PS0, we kn0w ihat,changing .... "same each month, because ifs basedweather
condi~qp~:throughout~e
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bills to rise and fall dramatically.
Which can make it hard to plan your
householdlmdget~That’s,why~
our Average Monflxly Payment plan,
could be your budgeting solution.
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adag Or S’tgn up for AMP on our
website at vccc,v.csw.corm
PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY. OF OKLAHOMA
A Central and South West Company
by Busaba Sivasoboom
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - They
giggled like girls and limp-wristed their
high-fives, but when these players spiked
a volleyball, opponents knew they were
facing some of the meanest men on a Thai
Bacldin 1996, a transvestite volleyball
team with a woman coach overcame an
anti-homosexual campaign to keep them
out and competed!ha meffs national club
volleyball championship They wonboth
the tournamentandthehearts.of the crowd.
Now; their tale has been turned into a
movie titled "Satree-lek," or "Iron Ladies,"
and it’ s quickly turning into one of
the biggest box office hits in Thai history
- while spotlighting the country’s ambiguous
feelings about transvestites and
homosexuality.
DirectorYongyootThongkongtoon said
that on the surface, Thai society is open
and tolerant of transvestites and homosexuality.
The two are often equated in the
popular mind, though not all transvestites
are homosexuals, or vice versa.
Transvestite cabarets are popular with
tourists and several television shows feature
transvestites-prompting an edict last
year by the government to broadcasters to
tone it down. The order, however, has
widely been ignored.
ButYongyoottoldTheAssociatedPress
that transvestism was a lifestyle far removed
from that led by most Thais, and
his debut film takes a look at how other
people : react to having transvestites as
neighbors, rivals and colleagues.
In the movie, the team was insulted by
words and gestures at the beginning of the
tournament. However, when they showed
they could play as well, and better- than
their rivals, they gradually gained respect
from fans and other players.
"I chose to present it as a comedy,
because I thought a drama might be boring,"
said Yongyoot, who formerly directed
TV commercials. "An audience is
more easily attracted by a comedy film."
When the movie began showing nationwide
in March, it became an instant
hit and pulled in more thaii 100 million
baht ($2.7 million) in thefirst month, 10
times what it cost to make.
That already makes it second Thai film
in all-rime box office receipts behind the
A walk-through butterfly exhibit at the
Tulsa Zoo and Living Mus~umwil! open
onMay 6 and will continue through October
8. The exhibit is open from 10am -
5pmand visitors canexperiencehundreds
ofnative butterflies up-el0seand in flight.
Nearly 30 species of North American
butt.efflies.and ~ few s,p~..’es ofmoths will
be represented itl an enel6~&l garden setring,
near the Animal Kingdom Building
and features a variety offlowering plants.
This exlfibit is free wi~ the ~regular Zoo
admission.
Wings ofWonderis set withina30x 96’
greenhouse covered with a light mesh to
contain the animals. The exhibit features
a "chrysalis house" where visitors can
watch as each butterfly emerges from its
chrysalis or pupa and prepares for flight.
Winding stone pathways, a water feature,
benches, andeducational exhibits enhance
the exhibit area.
Wings of Wonder is dedicated to increasing
visitor knowledge and appreciation
of butterflies which are signature
150 million baht (dlrs 4 million) earned
by "Nang Nak," last year’ s arty retelling
of an old ghost legend that is credited with
giving a new breath of life to the moribund
Thai film industry.
Pakorn Pimton, a transvestite and coordinator
of the Gays Against AIDS group,
said he was unsurprised by the success of
the movie and he hoped it would open
useful debate. Gays are accepted as entertainers,
Pakom said, because Thais d(,
see movie stars and television program
hosts as serious. ,~ -
"Howe~,ifthey go beyond’that line to
be a doct~,~polifiCi~, banker Or top~nfili,~
tary official - I guess the answer is no,
Pakorn said. "We still use a two-tier measure
for members of our society." Violence
against homosexuals is rare in Thailand,
Pakorn said, but many barriers remain
against open homosexuals. The Gay
rights movement is weak. His group regularly
receives calls fromhomosexuals who
-fear coming out of the closet because they
risk their jobs or status.
Kitikorn Meesapya, senior psychologist
at the Department of Mental Health’ s,
said that Thais can accept homosexuals
that keep a low profile. Homosexuals in
Parliament and the military are well treated
until their lifestyles are publicly exposed
- a fairly rare occurence. "But then they
will fac~ harsh criticism from society,"
Kitikorn said, expressing hope that
"Satree-lek" might encourage more tolerance
and help some people to express
themselves as homosexuals.
For Kongrith Singnukote, one of the
1996 champion players, the film’ s strongest
pointis that it’*talks about peacefully
living together in society by accepting the
differences of each person." Kongrith
works as a bank teller. He goes to work in
men’s clothes, but wears makeup and
¯" speaks in a girlie voice. All his colleagues
¯ know he is a transvestite. Kongrith says
: he gets teased a bit, but no one has ever
¯ shown violence toward him. He says he is
: grateful that his family accepts him as he
: is.
: Being the subject of a hit movie hash~ t
¯ raised.his celebrity ambitions,however,
and he doesn’t see a career for himself
: beyondretail service. "I know that thereis
¯¯ a barrier for us," he says. "For now, I’m
satisfied at being what I am."
¯ species for conservation. By fostering a
greaterunderstanding of theneeds and the
¯ life,cycle of butterflies we can hdp con-
" serve these delicate creatures.
-" In addition tothe butterfly enclosure,
: knownas"Butterfly Landing," the grounds
¯ aroundtheexhibithavebeen planted with
: butterfly-attracting plants to encourage
:
v~s~tataon by someof our natt,~e butterfly
residents. Thebutterflies exhibited inside
¯ Butterfly Landing have not been taken
~ from:the wild but are procured through
¯ certified butterfly suppliers. ¯
¯ Exhibits describing the lifecycle of the
butterfly, the differences between moths
¯ and butterflies, common butterflies of
¯ Oklahoma, chrysalis and butterfly !dent!-
: fication, and about attracting butterflies
¯
to yards will be included in the exhibit.
¯ Also planned for this summer is a vision
¯ exhibit that will enable visitors to see like
: a butterfly. The Animal Kingdom Build-
. ing will also house agift cart specializing
¯ in butterfly-related books, souvenirs, and
gifts. Info: 669-6600 orwww.tulsazoo.org
r
by Lament.. Lindstrom, Ph.D.
What do you call a dead Blond in a
closet?
- a 1964 hide and seek champion!
The recent flush of
Blendjokes is an interesting
cultural phenomenon.
Jokes are more than just
funny. They are also dangerous
because they are
polilical. Overthepastfew
decad~s~: change~ iri
Amefi’~t"~ ~olitib~[ arena
have affectedboth the content
and practice Ofjoking.
Itis alittleless easy than
it used to be to joke about
ethnic and religious
groups, handicap, gender,
or gender-orientation.
Blonds have emerged as a
safe target in politically
conscious, if not always politically correct,
America. Andmanyjokes that previously
featured Jews- or Blacks or Gays
have been reworked into Blond jokes.
This is not to say that offensive joking
has disappeared. Rather, it is just a little
less public. American politeness conventions
demand that I should not tell a joke
whose "butt" is in my audience, unless I,
too, am in the targeted category, or unless
I already have a close relationship’~vith
those I potentially offend. But I can joke
all I want as long as the butt can’ t hear me,
or if I do indeed intend to offend.
Thewebsite, www.whitepride.com, for
example, offers along list of by now very
stale Jewish, Black, and "faggot" jokes.
Here’ s a sample groaner from the"white
pride" boys:
Why was the faggot fired from his
job at the sperm back?
- for drinking on the job!
Jokesters sometimes complain about
the "political correctness" that has narrowed
the contexts in which they can
safely perform. "Come on, it’s only a
joke!" But of course jokes aren’t just
jokes. They are also assertions about the
world, or at least one particular view of
the world. The lines that jokes ckaw between
the funny and the unfunny reflect
local understandings of normality. Jokes
are potent oral texts that, retold over and
over again, maintain certain ways ofthinking
about people and behavior.
Why do brides wear white?
- so they will match the other
domestic appliances!
.Even ironic jokes, such as this, refresh
established ways of thinking about men,
women, and the gendered division of labor.
In particular, the swarm of jrke~
flying constantly around a community
protects existing systems of inequality.
People joke "downwards" more than
they do upwards.~ :People joke far more
often about the powerless than they
about the powerful. There are far more
jokes about women than there are about
men. "More jokes about ethnic and religious
minorities thanthe white-bread Protestant
mainstream. More jokes about the
handicapped than about the able. More
jokes about the old than the young. More
jokes about Oklahoma than about California.
Do you know what an Oklahoma
divorce and a Texas tornado have
in common? - in both cases
¯ somebody is gonna
¯ lose a trailer house!
And there are many more jokes about
being Gay than about being
Straight. We usually
"~V’hy is it so hard abide by the politeness
constraints ofjoke-telli~,
for women to find in fact, because we realize
that jokes (even "just-amen
that are jok~sT’) have this political
" weight. ,Th..o~sewhofeel tSe
sensitive, earing,, ~ ’ Sfing~hidd~n ’within the
.a.n..d ’geed-look"m
- because those guys
already have
ho rlends!?’
laughter sometimes protest
when etiquette breaks
down.
GLAAD, the Gay &
Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation, for example,
has attempted to police the
telling ofcertainGayjokes
in the m~ss media, notably
on a number of morning radio shows
whose sleazy hosts are keen to boost their
market share. Such policing, of course, if
successful merely shrinks the arenas in
which Faggot jokes are safely told. They
still circulate freely in less public Spaces.
Each time I teach Cultural Anthropology,
I have my students as a group collect
jokes from their friends. I figure that these
joke archives provide good evidence about
which of the joints of American society
currently ache the most.
Last week, the students broughtin about
150 jokes. For the first time in years, none
ofthese was a"faggot"joke. And the only
ethnic joke was turned in by a clueless
Japanese woman, happily ignorant of the
American politics of public joking. Instead,
nearly half the collection consisted
of Blond jokes. Blonds, poor things, are
nowadays the butt of choice when American
jokesters are nervous and unsure of
our audience.
What do Blonds put behind their
ears to attract boyfriends?
- their ankles!
Our collection also included several
"counter-jokes" whose butt is strategically
reversed. There are, for example,
Brunette jokes - the futile ripostes of oppressed
Blonds. There are also "stupid
men jokes" - invented jokes that attempt
to counteract the dominant targeting of
women within the’universe of American
jokes.
Why did God create man?
- because a vibrator can’t
mow the lawn!
While these attempts to resist inequality
by shifting a joke’s target upwards
may have only limitie~." politigal,fimpact, it
sfillfecls"goodtolaflgh.: ~:: ~ -~’~
Why is it so hard for women to
find men that are sensitive,
caring, and go~dqo~king? -~
because those guys _~
already have boyfriends!
LamontLindstrom teaches anthopology
at the University of Tulsa.
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"All About MyMother" and"Boys Don’ t
Meet Local
Guys for
Hot Ti
@Odgi
Cry" - actually showed up in OKC, she
madeit abundantly clear that shehad been
completely won overby them and was not
about to be shy about saying so in print.
Sympathy towards GLBT issues might
be expected from someone like White,
but it was definitely a surprise to see the
much nibre conservative reviewer, Jerry
Shottefi~irk, being taken in by the Ma-
.donna:Rupert Everett"Next BgstThing."
¯ election - and what could be the most
¯ importantelectionofourgeneration. The
: GLBT voting bloc has proven to be one of
¯¯ the most powerful constituencies in the
country in recent election cycles. If our
¯ voters are motivated to the polls and elect
¯ supportive leaders, we could have the ¯
opportunity to shape groundbrealdng le-
: gal protection. If the nation elects leaders
¯ who are hostile to all that NGLTF stands ¯
for, we could witness a serious backlash
¯ to our h~rd-won gains.
¯ Dr. Martin Luther King. once said the ¯
moral arc of the universeis long but bends
Surprises were cropping up in the rest .: toward justice. Dr. King was right - but
!~f th~ p,gper ~. W~I!, indu~g the busi- ¯ with our continued o!;gahi~gg g~ad motif
~es .,~..; o ~ .w~i~ g~ ~)le on .~_~o ~,~ ~jzatmn, we~make ~at,ii~.~;0’~,.~
:~est~c p~mership~ p,6ilc~es..a~.ong OkI’fi- ¯ much more qmckly
fioma compames- mcludiffg qu,otes from: $~,,-.~oundectir~1973, ttie
~Lucent’s I~aren Par~ons w~o is involved : Lesbian Tbsk Force W~’l?s to~iiniinate
inLuqent~sLesbianandGayemployees’ ¯ prejudice, uiolence andiwustice against
;brgani’zafion, EQUAL!. :- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexualgtn~l T~ransgen-
: Striking, 5wey r, was.a group of :. &red people at the local, state dnd naarticles;
oii 1~hate crimes in the Sun- ¯ tional level. As part ofdbrOaddr ~Ocial
iday, March 20 issue. Mostof these ar- : justicemovementforfreOdom;]usticeand
titles appeared in ~ Community see- : equality, NGLTF is creattYg d Worm that
fion, Milch w’as’d~_i’ilh~lPdedia.the late : ~respects and celebrates_ ttie’diversity of
~F,dition ’on Stmday’. The~e, in b!a~k and .’. ’human expression and identity where all
White, was the opeii as~ertidii.’.tiia~ Okla- i .people mayfully participate in society.
h°ma City"s Human Rights CASmmlssi°n i
I ] .Was abolished by(the City Council bemuse
they iesent&!havingt.6 deal with
the issue. 0fiG@’Ri~h?s, cbml~iete, with
~uote by c.ottt~,¢ilmenqbi~r~Je@ Fo~hee: " During WWII, the church Sheltered.Japa-
.-.; "The councilis tiredof.th6is~ue’hlways ; nese-American students who were given
being b~ought forward, and flae vehicle the opportunity to study atTU ratherth~a,n,,,
that is alWays brin~g.i’.t forward is the " beincarceratedinAmerican"internment
human rights comm, ss~on...~ If the vehicle
is bringing you dompany that you
don’ t want ... then you do away with the
vehicle."
In meeting with Hale, Speakers for Gay
and Lesbian Issues hoped that they would
open a dialog between the Daily Oklahoman
and the Gay and Lesbian community
of Oklahoma City. According to Speakers,
Hale provided them with many opportunities
by asking many questions
about Gay and Lesbian issues. Speakers
for Gay and Lesbian Issues noted the
positive trend in the paper’ s coverage of
Gay issues.
Hale revealed that those changes had
come at a price: while the articles on hate
crimes had generated both positive and
negative responses fromreaders, some of
the negative responses had been vicious
and involved actual threats. But, Hale also
said she was not going to let that stop her
from continuing to cover controversial
issues. She said that when a story generates
strong reactions on both sides, she
knows she’ s doing her job right.
This federation consists ofpolitical groups
that fight for equality. In just four years’
time, the Federation has grown to represent
members in every state in the union,
gro,wthinsuch ashort
period of time.
With the Federation’s help, last year
NGLTF was able to produce the largest
:~ grassroots mob~fion:inputmoyem~ntfs
history. We helped organize some 350
rallies and other events in all 50 state
capitols, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico, during
a one-week period. Our campaign -
called Equality Begins at Home- and the
work of the Federation paved the way for
the wonderful successes we have seen in
the past year.
Now many state legislatures are wrapping
up their business and adjourning.
Attention will soon shift to the November
camps. Later the church was involved in
the "Sanctuary" movement which offered
relocation of Central American political
refugees, both documented and-undocumented.
Aletter issued tomembers ofthe church,
signed by Rader and Clerk of the Session,
Kathy Evanson, notes, "None of these
actions changes who we are as a congregation;
but, they declare who we area and
what we want to be in our relationships
with one another. We are still a loyal,
supporting congregation of the Presbyterian
Church,U.S.A. We have done nothing
improper according to our
denomination’ s constitution. We are not
changing any signage, letterhead, preaching
or program. We are declaring inclusion
and affirmation of all our members
and our openness to a group of people
long rejected and stigmatized by society,
and within the Christian commtmity...
College Hill is a majority "straight"
church but with visible and welcome Lesbian
and Gay families.
Editor’s note: Tulsa Family Newspublisher
and editor, Tom Neal is a member
of College Hill Presbyterian Church.
An Evening With
The Quilt
On Thursday evening, May 25, the
NAMES Project Tulsa Area Chapter of
the AIDS Memorial Quilt will sponsor an
evening of meditation and remembrance
at Fellowship Congregational Church,
2900 So. Harvard in Tulsa, from 7-9 pm.
You. are invited to drop in anytime
during this time period to meditate, pray,
or simply view the Quilt. Feel free to stay
just afew minutes, or as long as you wish.
The NAMES Project Tulsa Area Chapter
invites everyonewhohas been touchedby
the AIDS pandemic to take a moment
from their evening to remember and reflect.
For more information, please contact
the NAMES Project Tulsa at (918)
748-3111 or TulsaQnilt@usa.net
Humanity Unites
f’or Hu’man Rights
Diversity .Celebration 2000
Grand Marshalls for the Millennium Parade
Dr. Grethe Cammermeyer
Distinguished Veteran of the United States Armed Forces
Gre£! Lou~lanis
US Olympic Champion
Pride Week Events,
.Interfaith Worship Service
The Tulsa Performin£l Arts Center
Speaker: the Reverend Dr. Mel
W.hite, author and activist
Friday, June 2, from 7pro (free)
TOHR Folbes.
1OO Years of Broadway
Saturday, June 8, 8pm, $15
PAC Doenges Theatre
Black Tie Optional Dinner
~i:Featuri~ 6re~q Louganis
The Summit Club
Friday, June 9th, $75 person
VIP reception at $50 person.
Benefitin~l Tulsa Oklahomans for
Human Ri/thts, the parent
or~Ianization of the
Gay Community Center
Millennium Pa~de 2000
Saturday, June IO, llam
Beginning at the Gay Community
Center at 87th and Peoria and
endin~i at Veterans Park
at 18th and BouIder
The Pride Festival
Veterans Park, llam 8pro
For more information about these
events, caIl 748-4297 (gays).
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
newspaper
periodical
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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[2000] Tulsa Family News, May 2000; Volume 7, Issue 5
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Creator
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Tulsa Family News
Source
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
Publisher
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Tom Neal
Date
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May 2000
Contributor
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James Christjohn
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
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Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
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Tulsa Family News, April 2000; Volume 7, Issue 4
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English
Type
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newspaper
Periodical
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Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/600
2000
AIDS
AIDS Quilt
aMUSEments
arts and entertainment
Barry Hensley
Bars
Boy Scouts
businesses
churches
civil unions
Daily Oklahoman
Diversity celebration
Elizabeth Toledo
Gay marriage
Gay Studies
George W. Bush
harassment
hate groups
HIV
HIV prevention
homophobia
housing
Idaho Public Television
Jim Christjohn
Karin Gregory
Lamont Lindstrom
marriage equality
military inclusion
Murder
NAMES Project
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
NGLTF
Partner Benefits
performing arts
Pride
prison
Raging Lesbian
Read All About It
restaurants
slurs
Supreme Court
Tom Neal
tuberculosis
Tulsa Family News
Tulsa Zoo
United Methodist Church
universities
University of Pitsburgh
-
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/fe478eb503346b76d111ec713654575c.jpg
ff08337cc5191cc189c5ab43992f499b
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/09b2986511645c17d24e2596c65e850a.pdf
c8ca09acf9a97df515cf3a1f54ee1045
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[Sub-Series] Newsletters & Publications > Tom Neal Newsletters > Tulsa Family News
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Berlin Exhibit Looks at
Gay Victims of Nazis
by Paul Geitner, Associated Press Writer
BERLIN (AP) - Focusing attention on along-neglected
group of Nazi victims, a two-part exhibition about Gays
persecuted under the Nazis opened Sunday at museums
m Berlin and in a former concentration camp where
many of the victims were killed.
The exhibits of documents, photos, drawings and
other objects collected during 10 years ofresearchis the
largest on the subject ever mountedinGermany, project
organizers said. It documents the fate of700individuals
who suffered under the Nazis’ draconian anti-Gay laws
and tells 60 personal stories.
"We want to return to the Gay victims of the Nazis
theirnames and to show their lives, as far as possible, so
as to.at, least symbolically liberate them.from the dehumamzmg
barbarity of the Nazis,’" said Andreas
Stemweiler, project director at the Gay Museum in
Berlin, where part of the exhibit is being shown.
The other half opened at the Sachsenhausen concentration
camp, where many Gay men - labded with a
.pink triangle- ended up because of the camp’s proxim-
,ty to the capital, see Nazis, p.3
Be Counted: Effort to
Include Gays in Census
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - A national campaign to
include Gays and Lesbians in Census 2000 is urging
same-sex couples to check offtheboxindicating they’re
unmarried partners.
Using e-mail, ads in Gay publications and word-ofmouth,
thecampaign is an un0fficial way to get a partial
indication of the nation’s Gay and Lesbian population,
the San Jose Mercury News reported recently. "We
want to make the point that there is such a thing as a Gay
or Lesbianfamily,’" said PaulaEttelbrick, family policy
director for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
The federal government added the unmarried partners
category to the census in 1990, to recognize heterosexual
couples who live together without being married.
That year, 150,000 same-sex households were
identified. "It was a vast undercount,’" said Ann
Northrop, board member for the Institute for Gay and
Lesbian Strategic Studies.
Those involved in the so-called "Out the Census’"
campaign say that even though individual Gays and
Lesbians won’t be counted, the number of couples will
provide a partial account. And additional information
included on U.S. Census forms could provide a valuable
snapshot of the community, including income levels,
ethnicity and the number of same-sex couples raising
children.
While the campaign is getting nationwide attention,
some Gays and Lesbians are wary ofrevealing toomuch
information. Rikki Westerschulte, who is raising a
daughterwith herparmer, says sheknows many couples
who are nervous about declaring their sexual orientation
on an official government form.
The recent passage of Proposition 22, which recognizes
only marriage between a man and a woman in
California, adds to the suspicion. "You walk down the
hall at work and wonder, ’Who is it I think I can trust,
who really feels I’m immoral?’ "Westerschnlte asked.
Other couples are angry they cannot declare themselves
as married, see Census, p. 11
Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends
Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community PaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations
Camme,rmeyer .To Join
Lougan s at Pr de 2000
TULSA - Last month, the organizers of Diversity Festival 2000
announced that US Olympic champion, Greg Louganis, would
serve as Grand Marshall for the° Millennium Pride Parade this
June. This month, organizers confirmed that Dr. Grethe
Cammermeyer, distiguished veteran of the United States Armed
Forces, will join Louganis as grand marshall.
Cammermeyer challenged
US anti-Gay/Lesbian policies
which forced her out of her
nursing positionin the United
States Reserve forces. Her
lifestory was madeinto a television
film produced by
Barbra Streisand, starring
Glenn Close.
Cammermeyerhas come to
Tulsa before. She spoke at
the Universi ty of Tulsa in the
spring of 1995 to an audience
of about 300 Tulsa Family
New~ writer Lauri Cooper
shown in the photo at right
interviewed Cammermeyer.
The week of Pride events begins with an interfaith worship
service to be held at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. The
Reverend Dr. Mel White, author and civil rights activist, will be
the principle speaker at this event. White will lead a workshop
also to be held at the PAC on Saturday, June 3, from 2-5pm (free)
on the principles of non-violent social change.
Lougams will speak at a black tie optional dinner to be held at
the prestigious Summi t Club on Friday, June 9th. Tickets for the
event are $75/person and there will be a VIP reception at $50/
person. These events will benefit Tulsa Oklahomans for Human
Rights, the parent organization of the Gay Community Center
and Oklahoma’ s oldest Lesbian and Gay non-religious organization.
Organizers anticipate that the parade will follow the sameroute
as last year,
Cooper & Cammermeyer
SoulForee in Oklahoma
Members of Soulforce in Oklahoma Marched at
the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade in January.
TULSA- Oklahoma’s oldest Gay and Lesbian organizataon is a
religious one, the congregation now know as MCC United, the
Metropolitan Community Church United. So perhaps it is fitting
that one of Oklahoma’s newest community organizations also
has religious roots. "Soulforce in Oklahoma" is part of an effort
begun by the Rev. Mel White and his spouse Gary Nixon.
Soulforce is an ecumenical network of volunteers committed
to teaching and applying the principles ofnon-violence on behalf
ofsexnal minorities. Thename derives from the workofMohandas
Karamchand Gandhi, a leader of India’s independence movement.
Soulforce or truth force is a translation of "satyagraha" a
concept Gandhi began developing as a young lawyer fighting for
racial justice in South Africa. Gandhi’s thinking greatly influenced
the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his work for civil
rights for Black Americans.
The goals of Soulforce are to end the suffering ofLesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgendered persons, to change the minds and
hearts of religious leaders whose anti-Gay campaigns lead directly
and indirectly to that suffering, to be guided by the
principles of "relentless non-violent resistance, and through this,
try to bring hope and healing to society.
In Tulsa, Soulforce was organized by individuals involved in
MCC United and the group has been holding regular meetings at
the Gay Community Services Center. see Soul, p. 7
¯
Tulsan Chosen
For HRC Board
¯ Fundraiser Audra Sommers
: To Join Marty Newman in DC
¯ TULSA - Audra Sommers, who is planning an
¯¯ AIDS benefit in Tulsa next month, has gained
national recognition
¯ forher humanrights
- efforts. Sommers
¯ has been named to
the Board of Gover-
¯ nors of the Human
¯ Rights Campaign, a
¯ 300,000-member
national organlza-
¯ tion that batdes dis-
-¯ crimination against
sexual minorities.
¯
As a board mere-
¯ ber, Audra will be
¯ responsible for re-
. cmiting, promoting
¯ awareness ofhuman rights issues in Oklahoma and
¯ serving as a liaison between Oklahoma and the
¯ national organization in Washington, DC, where ¯
she will be heading for orientation this month. "I’m
¯ really, really happy that I was appointed, to the
: Board of Governors," she said.
¯ Sommers joins Tulsan Marty Newman on the ¯
Board of Governors. Newman expressed delight
: with Sommers selection. "Audra has a ~roven
.. history of work on behalf of the commumty, and
¯ she has an enormous number of people wholook to ¯
her leadership," noted Newman. He added that
." HRC is concentrating its effolas on Tulsa at this
¯ time and he feels Sommers will add immeasurably ¯
to HRC’s strengths.
see Audra, p.3
Audra Sommers
Pentagon Admits Hate
Speech is Widespread
by Robert Burns, AP Military Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Anti-Gay speech and harassment
is commonplace in the U.S. military,
especially among young enlisted troops, according
to a Pentagon inspector general’s survey. 85% of
those surveyed said they believed that anti-Gay
comments are tolerated on their base or aboard
their ship, and 37% said they had personally witnessed
or been the target of harassment - such as
hostile gestures, graffiti or physical assault- based
on perceived homosexuality.
The survey released last month also found a
widespread belief among troops that the Clinton
administration’s so-called "don’t ask, don’t tell’"
policy on Gays in the military - which Vice President
A1 Gore says he would eliminate if he were
elected president-is not working. President Clinton
himself has said the policy, forged in 1993, is now
"’out of whack.’"
Defense Secretary William Cohen, responding
to theinspector general’ s survey results, announced
he was creating a committee of military and civilian
officials to draft a plan for measures to improve
the policy’s implementation. Cohen put the onus
on military chiefs to fix the problem. "The report
shows that military leaders must do more to make
it clear that harassment based on sexual orientation
violates military values,’" Cohen said in a memo to
the military chiefs and service secretaries.
The administration’s policy, set in law by Congress
in 1993 after a heated political battle, says
Gays and Lesbians may serve in the military so
long as they keep their sexual orientation to themselves.
Dubbed "don’t ask, don’t tell,’" the policy
still bars openly homosexual people from serving
in uniform. Although the policy was designed to
make it easier for Gays to serve, an increasing
number have been discharged in recent years.
see Pentagon, p..10
Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants
*Chasers, 4812 E. 33 712-2324
*CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial 610-5323
Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th 583-6666
*Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria 749-4511
Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square 744-4280
*St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st 745-9998
*The Star, 1565 Sheridan 834-4234
*The Storm, 2182:S. Sheridan 835-2376
*Renegi~des/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main 585-3405
*TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial 660-0856
*Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd 584-1308
*The Yellow ~rick Road Pub, 2630 E. 15th , 749-15.63
Ailyanced:Wi~el~Ss 8~:PCS; Digital Cellular ~: ’~ 74%1~08)
*Assoc.. in- Med. &M~ntal Health, 2325 S I Harvard 743- t000
Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034
Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 4I 665-4580 ¯
Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122 -"
*Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955 :
*Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665 ,"
Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272 ¯
*CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313 :
581-0902,743-4117 ;
Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700 ¯
Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 ¯
¯Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620 "
¯Devena’s Gallery, 13Brady 587-2611 "
Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556 :
¯Elite Books & Videos, 821 S Sheridan 838-8503 ¯
¯Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712-9379 "
Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main 592-0460 "
¯Floral Design Studio, 3404 S,~eoria 744-9595 ¯
Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. 610-0880 ¯
Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709 ¯
Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026 ¯
¯Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 742-1460 ¯
Learme M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349 "
Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440 "
¯Sandra J. Hi~.’.ll, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 "_
¯International Touts ~ 341-6866
Jacox AnimaiClinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750 ]
¯Jared’~ Antiques,~]602 E. 15th ~ " ~582-30i8 :
David Kauskey,. Country Club Barbering 747-0236 :
The Keepers, Housekeeping &Gardening 582-8460 ¯
¯Ken’s Flowers; 1635 E. 15 599-8070 ,"
Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 :S. Harvard, #210 747:5466 ",
¯Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha 585-1234 ¯
¯Midtown Theater, 319E. 3rd 584-3112 ¯
Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934 "
¯Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951 ¯
Puppy Pause II, t060 S. Mingo 838-7626 ¯
¯Thh Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297 ",
Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 747-5932 "
Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617 "
Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921, 747-4746
Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301 ¯
Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829 ¯
¯Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558
Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563
Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling " 743-1733 "
¯Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan 665-2222 "
¯Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767 "
Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities "
AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579,9593
All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363
Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314
Bless The Lord at All Times ~tiristian Cdn’t~r, 2207 E~ ~5 ....583-78"15
¯B/IAG/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780
¯Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201
¯Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. &Florence
¯Churchof the RestorationUU~ !3 l~N.Greenwood 587-1314
¯Comm’~ty ofHope United Methotttst, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300
¯Communi~ Uniti{rian-Universalist~ongregati0n 749-0595
,Council Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888
¯Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511
¯Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457
Dignity/Integrity of Tnlsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics &
.... Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140
¯Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777
¯Free Spirit Women’s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669
Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827
918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615
POB 41413, Tulsa, OK 74159
e-mail: TulsaNews@ ear~hlinlc net
Publisher + Editor:
Tom Neal
Writers + contributors:
James Chfistjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche,
Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers
Member of The Associated Press
Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents
of.-.thi’s publ~cati6n are protected byUS copyright 1~98 by
i~r~ ~4~ /~1~u4 and may not be reprodu~.d either in
whole orin pm:twithout written permission from the publisher.
Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s
sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for
publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes
the sole property of T~,~t F¢~.’. N~÷ Each reader
is entitled to 4 copies of each editaon at distribution
points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248.
Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438
HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611
*Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194
Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81 st 481.1111
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378
*House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood
Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438~2437, 800-284-2437
*MCt~ United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715
NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111
NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658
OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157
*OSU-Tulsa
PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901
*Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674
Prime-Timers, P.O. Box52118, 74152
R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195
*Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325
O’RYAN, support group:[<~r t8-24 LGBT young adults
O’RYAN, Jr. support.group for 14-17 LGBT youth
S.t.Aidan. s Eptseop Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425~7882
St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492:7140
*St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088
*Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171
*TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225
Tulsa County Health Deparunent, 4616 E. 15 5954105
Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on.Thursdays only
743-4297
298-0827
Tulsa Okla. for HumanRights, c/o The Pride Center
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc.
*Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule
*Tulsa Community College Campuses
*Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105
Unity Church ofChristianity, 3355 S. Jamestown
BARTLESVILLE
743-4297
749-8833
*Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353
OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN
Bdtders Books & Music, 3209 NWExpressway 405-848-2667
Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907
TAHLEQUAH
Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900
*Tatdequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900
Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360
NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand
HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates
: EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
":- 32utunui Bi~ceze- ~dstaurant, Hwy. 23
¯ *1ira & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main
DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St.
¯ Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St.
; MCC of the Living Spnng
¯ Geek to Go!, PC. Specialist, POB 429
Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery
; Positive Idea Marketing Plans
; Sparky’s,Hwy. 62 East
¯ White Light, 1 Center St.
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
¯ *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134
501-253-7734
501-253-7457
501-253-6807
501-253-5445
501-253-9337
501-253-2776
501-253-5332
501-624-6646
501-253-6001
501-253-4074
417-623-4696
* is where you can f’md TFN. Not all are Gay-owned but all are Gay"friendly.
Some 600 homosexuals were killed there
between 1939 and mid-1943 alone, according
to the researchers.
The Nazi anti-Gay law,knownas "Paragraph
175,’" was directly solely against
Gay men, since the Nazis were mainly
concerned with perceived threats to their
ideal of Aryan manhood. Lesbians were
generally ignored, although some were
arrested as "asocials’" or "prostitutes.’"
Few surviving victims ever came forward
after World War II because of continning
stigmaassociated withhomosexualkty,
whicl~remained illegal in West Germfiny
~mder the sam~ Nazi law until 1969:
Tens of thousands of men were prosecuted
in those postwar years.
Historians also generally ignored the
Nazi per.s..e~..u;~n of homosexuals until
the 1980s, meaning many survivors had’
already passedaway, organizers said. Only
a handful are known to still be alive; their
stories are told in a U.S.-made documentary,"
Paragraph 175,’" whichwon awards
at film festivals in Berlin and at Sundance
this year.
Germany’s center-left government introduced
a bill last week - 55 years after
the end of the war - that would require
parliament to officially recognize and
apologize to Gay victims. It also calls on
the government to study whether a blanket
annulment should be issued for convictions
under the Nazi anti-Gay law,
under which even a glance between men
could be cause for prosecution. -
Guenter Morsch, director of tli’~
Sachsenhansen memorial, noted that protests
erupted after the first plaque dedicated
to Gay victims of the Nazis was
hung at the Dachau concentration camp
outside Munich in the 1980s. Last year,
Germany’s national Holocaust memorial
day commemorated Gay victims for the
first time with .a ceremony at
S~lchsenhansen. Events like that and the
¯ new exhibit are important, he said, be-
; cause all groups - not just those that are
¯ "politically correct’" - must be remem-
-"- bered if tolerance is to be promoted.
: About 200,000 people were interred at
Sachsenhausen between 1936 and 1945;
: including Jews, Roma, communists ",rod
¯ other political prisoners. More than 1,400
Jews were killed there, thousands more
sent off to be killed in Auschwitz. Others
were forced to work in adjacent factories.
You mayfind the Gay Museum at
www.schwulesmuseum.de
Audra, who is also a volunteer fund-
¯ raiser, is currently producing her largest
¯ event to date, a three-hourAIDS benefit at
Tulsa’s Performing Arts Center that wi’ll
~ feature Thrifty president Don Himelfarb
: as keynote speaker.
¯ ThePAC show,"Connecting the Hearts
¯ ofTulsa,"is scheduledforApri120 atTpm
¯ and will benefit Tulsa C.A.R.E.S. Fea-
¯ tured performers include Debbie ¯
Campbell, Rebecca Ungerman and
¯ children’s musical groups from All Souls
¯ Unitarian Church.
¯ The John H. Williams Theater seats
429, andAudrahopes to sellit0ut. Tickets
¯ are $10 general admission, $20 VIP seat.-
," ing, and $5 students.
¯ For more information or tickets, call
~ 832-7919. see Audra, p. 3
by Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D. :
"Unmarried Partner." That’s the U.S. ¯
Census 2000 official term for boyfriends ;
and girlfriends. It’s either that or else you "
check Husband/Wife, Roomer/Boarder, ¯
Housemate/Roommate, or Other "
Nonrelative. ¯
How should I label my live-in? I can’t ¯
call him Husband or Wife. He’s not a :
Boarder. He’s much more than a RoOm- "
mate. (TheCen~uginfbmas us tha~ Room- ¯
mates "share living quarters primarily to :
share expenses.") AndOther Nonrelative; :
although correct, is hopelessly inadequate.
So, for lack of better alternative, the boyfriend
must be an Unmarried Partner.
I am pleased to see the Census Bureau
demands, rather romantically, that the
Unmarried Partnerhave"aclose personal
relationship with Person 1" (that is, with
me). I know some Unmarried Partners °
whose onetime close personal relations :
have aged into an icy and tight-lipped co- ¯
erastence. "
The Census, as a condensed.form of "
Ameri~anculturalpresumption, thinks that :
people really ought tO be related to their -
roommates either by blood or by marriage.
Anthropologists call such presumptions
"residencerules"- expectation about
who should live with whom. There are
patrilocal and matrilocal societies where
children live with either father’s or
mother’~ people. In avunculocal situations
-the tropical Trobriand Islands -
hildren move an with mother s brothers.
Where virilocal rules arefollowed, women
reside with their new husbands. Or there
is theuxorilocal opposite: traditional Hopi
Indian grooms, for example, move’ their
belongings into their bride’g house. And
there isthe "neolocal" U.S. where all
couples should establish new, independent
households.
All these patterns describe the co-residency
of kin, and the American situation
is no different. Most of us live with relafives
as we grow up: "mothers, fathers,
sis{~s, and brothers. And most of us live
with even more relatives after we marry:
husbands, wives, sons, and daughters.
There are just two anomalous periods in
mostAmericanlife cycles when wemight
find ourselves living with non-kin (with
"Other Nonrelatives," according to Census
language). The first consists of the
few years between leaving morn and dad
behind and marriage.
This typically is the time of higher
educalionwhen young twenty-somethings
pile up in dormitories, fraternities, sororities,
and shared apartments. The second
comes with old age. We agomze over the
mor~ity of farming mom out to some
nursing home ward full of strangers.
The experience of life with non-kin and
strangers is fraught with aggravations and
difficulties. The common bathrooms,
those dirty dishes, the housemate’s woeful
taste in music. Life with mere friends
or roommates is rocky and unstable. My
nervous students busy themselves with
inventing "fictive kinship" labels for one
another. They pretend that the co-residents
in their sororities or fraternities are
"just like" their sisters and brothers. And
they watch a lot of "Friends," relying on
Hollywood to romanticize and make fun
of the peculiar experience of sharing their
toilet seats with the "Other Nonrelated."
Weare broughtup to live with relatives.
Sbared residence withkin is easier for two
reasons. We are morally obliged to forgive
the exasperations of our revolting
brothers that we would never stand from
a friend. And we ablemore easily to take
our revenge on our irksome siblings,
spouses, orchildren, unconstrainedby the
politeness conventions that govern our
relations with non-kin. Wash those dishes
or you are grounded! Pick up your filthy
socks, slob!
Gays and Lesbians are in something of
a residential quandary: many of us never
mo~e beyondthis stageof life with nonkin.
Straights leave behind theirfew years
of shared apartments and dormitories to
¯ return to new households composed of
:. kin. But since Gays and Lesbians cannot
¯ marry, officially at least, we live out our
lives with roommates, other nonrelatives,
¯ and unmarried partners.
¯ This perhaps explains some of the fra- ¯
gility ofGay households. "It’sMyWay or
the Highway!" is easier to demand when
you aren’t shouting at relatives. Many of
us havemetguys whowereperfectcouples
before they made the fatal mistake of
moving m together. And we have other
friends who are resigned to living solo.
No spare toothbrushes in theirbathrooms.
They’ve relied too often on the unkind=
hess of strangers.
Soyou snoopingFedenumerators, come
along and count me. I’m checking the
Unmarried Partner box. At the moment at
least, I’m happily living with the UP. I
realize, given American cultural patterns,
that the non-kin structure of our household
is anomalous. It will require extra
effort and forgiveness to keep it going.
Forget or forgive those badly squeezed
.toothpaste tubes. TheUPis neitherbrother
nor spouse but t still want him arodttfl"to
be counted in 2010: ,-:~:
LamontLindstrorn teaches anttfOl~lbgy
at the University of Tulsa.
Among the. survey’s key findings:
- 80% of the 71,500 members of the
Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps
surveyed said they had heard offensive
speech or jokes or derogatory names or
remarks about Gays in the past year. The
service members were not asked if they
had. participated in such behavior.
-33% said they heard it often. It was
reported most frequently in the Marine
Corps and least in the Air Force. Such
behavior was reported to be most common
among junior enlisted troops.
--Of the offensive behaviors or actions
reported as directed against Gays, offensive
speech was the most common. It was
mentioned by 89% of those who reported
witnessing or experiencing some form of
harassment. Hostile gestures were reported
by 35%; threats or intimidation by 20%;
graffiti by 15%, vandalism of personal
property by 7% and physical assault by
9%.
The survey was done on 38 U.S. military
bases and aboard 10 Navy ships and
one submarine from Jan. 24 to Feb. 11.
The spark that caused the Pentagon to
take a closer look at how the Gay policy is
being implemented - and the extent of
anti-Gay behavior in the field - was the
bludgeoning death lastJuly ofaGay Army
private, Barry Winchell, at FortCampbell,
Kentucky. His killer, a fellow Army private,
was convicted and sentenced to life
in prison.
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Mississippi House Bans
Adoptions by Gays
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi may become
the second state with a law banning homosexual
couples from adopting children, althoughlawmakers
embracing the idea say they are unaware of any cases
ofGay adoptive parents. The House approved theban
with no debate late in March, nearly a week after a
similar proposal died for lack of action. The adoption
ban was revived after an orchestrated phone call
campaign by supporters.
Only Florida has a law forbidding Gay adoptions,
but other stateshave policies that keep homosexuals
from seeking adoptions. Bill opponents and supporters
said they were unaware of adoptions in Mississippi
involving Gay couples or any couples hoping to
adopt.
Mississippi Baptists and the Tupelo-based American
Family Association had lined up in support of the
proposal. On the other side were the American Civil
Liberties Union, which has threatened alawsuit, and
homosexual groups.
"It’s ridiculous,’" said Eddie Sandifer of Jackson,
director of the Mississippi Gay and Lesbian Alliance.
"This is going to be in court. It’s just a waste of
taxpayers’ money. They know there’s going to be a
lawsuit and they’ll lose eventually.’"
House Public Health Commi ttee Chairman Bobby
Moody, D-Louisville, said, "ff it’s the right thing to
do, it doesn’t matter to me if it leads to a lawsuit or
not.’" "What constitutes a family is not a homosexual
couple,’" s~iid Moody.
The bill was approved 107-8. There could be an
attempt for a second vote. "That bill is of the assumption
that anybody who’s Gay wilt,abuse children.
That’ s not a good ~rgument. I can’tjudge one’ s moral
turpitude. I’m not qualified to do that,’" said Rep.
David Green, D-Gloster.
This is the second time in three years that Mississippi
lawmakers have gotten involved in Gay issues.
In 1997, they banned homosexual marriages. The
adoption ban was added to a bill dealing with nurse
practitioners. That proposal lets the practitioners prepare
paperwork about the physical or mental condi- -
tion of a child being put up for adoption. Now doctors
must do the paperwork.
Moody said the House vote came in response to a
public outcry. "There’s been a lot of publicity created
around the state. It gave the false impression to some
religious groups that it was happening or there was a
possibility it could happen,’" he said of adoptions by
Gay couples.
Rep. Mary Coleman, D-Jackson, said lawmakers
"’were infringing on people’s private lives.’" David
Ingebretsen, director of theACLU in Mississippi, has
said his group may sue on behalf of aGay couple if the
bill becomes law. Other states have been sued over
their adoption policies. The bill does not ban a Gay
individiml from trying to adopt a child. It goes back to
the Senate for more consideration.
PlanetOut Website and
Advocate/Out to Merge
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - PlanetOut, which caters
to Gays and Lesbians, has announced plans to acquire
Liberation Publications, the largest publisher of Gay
and Lesbian periodicals and books in the country.
Liberatiofi Publications Inc. produces the Advocate
newsmagazine and will soon own Out magazine.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The companies
describe the deal as a merger, but the Interact
company will be the dominant partner; allowing the
magazines "tO continue publishing under their own
brand names.
"You can characterize it as the AOL-Time Warner
in the Gay space,’" said Megan J. Smith,.chief executive
of PlanetOut. Her five-year-old company operates
the Web site
www.planetout.com, along with an online radio and
film service and PlanetOut TV, which airs on the site
and on Canadian television.
In 1996, the San Francisco-based site became the
first Gay-oriented enterprise to secure venture capital
funding. The company has since established parmerships
with AOL, Netscape, Yahoo! and other major
Web companies as well as made advertising agreements
with Arista Records, Virgin Adantic Airways
and Johnson & Johnson.
Liberation Publications is based in Los Angeles. It
announced Feb. 21 that it. would acquire New Yorkbased
Out Publishing Inc., the publisher of Out and
HIV+ magazines.
The Advocate, a 33-year-old bi-weekly with a
circulation of about 88,000, concentrates on news,
politics, business and medical information. Out~ a
monthly launchedin 1992, has a circulation of 115,000
and focuses on culture, entertainment, fitness and
other topics. The Gay marketis considered a prime for
Intemet players because a high percentage of Gays
and Lesbians use the Internet and because the Intemet
)rovides.a level Of anonymity.
Dr. Schlessinger’s TV
Show Draws Protesters
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Paramount Television says it
is committed to putting tough-talking Dr. Laura
Schlessinger on TV, the tough-talking protests of
hundreds of angry Dr. Laura demonstrators notwithstanding.
"Shame, shame, shame,’" more than 200
Gay civil rights protesters shouted outside Paramount
Pictures, where they demanded the studio drop plans
to put the controversial radio host on television this
fall.
Schlessinger, known to her listeners as Dr. Laura,
dispenses relationship advice onher enormously popular
radio show. She has called homosexuality a"biological
error’" and "deviant.’"
"When Paramount bought Laura Schlessinger’s
show, they bought abattle withtheGay community,’"
said Joan Garry, executive director of the Gay and
Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. "We’re going
to do whatever it takes’" to get the ParamOunt Television
Group to abandon the syndicated show, Garry
said.
So far Paramount has stood firm. and none of the
stations signed on to air Schlessinger’s show have
backed out. In arecent statement, the studio §aidit was
committed to presenting moral and ethi’~fl issues
without "creating or contributing to an en~cfroimaent
of hurt, hate or intolerance.’"
One of the signs carried by the demonstrators read
"No More Matthew Shepards.’" a reference to the
Gay student killed in Wyoming in 1998. Also fueling
the protest is anger over the passage last month of
Proposition 22, which bans same-sex marriage in
California.
"We will do whatever it takes to keep the pressure
on. The strategies will be about advertisers and the
affiliates,’" Garry said, declining to specify whether
that meant station or sponsor boycotts.
Countering the demonstrators were about 75
Schlessinger supporters organized by Campaign for
California Families, a conservauve, nonprofit organization.
"We’re the majority Of people who pay to see
Paramount films and who tune in to Paramount television
shows. We are in support of Dr. Laura being on
the air,’" Said Cherri Gardner, a spokeswoman for the
group.
Conservatives Sue City
Over Partners Benefits
BOSTON (AP) -A conservativelaw firm is suing the
city of Cambridge, claiming that the ordinance that
allows homosexual couples to register as domestic
partners is illegal and unconstitutionhl.
"The ordinance isboth legally and morally wrong.
.. This legal action is necessary to defend marriage
and the family,’" Vincent P. McCarthy, Northeast
counsel for the Virginia-based American Center for
Law and Justice, said Tuesday in a statement.
In July, the state Suprem,e Judicial Court struck
down an executive order issued by Boston Mayor
Thomas Menino that was intended to give health
insurance coverage to Gay partners of Boston city
workers.
The ACLJ assisted the Catholic Action League in
that case and predicted another legal victory against
Cambridge. It also said it planned to file a suit against
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the city of Springfield. The Catholic Action Leagueis
also involved in the Cambridge case.
Under the Cambridge ordinance passed in 1992,
Gay couples go to City Hall and register as domestic
partners. Once registered, partners of a city or school
worker are entitled to the same health benefits as
spouses of city and school workers.
Michael Gardner, Cambridge’s personnel director,
who administers the be~lefits, said he felt the ordinance
was both legal and constitutional.
"It was our view that we should continue to follow
the ordinance passed by our legislative body,’" he
said.
The law firm, which brought the suit onbehalfof 12
Cambridge residents, attacked the ordinance on a
number of legal fronts, but one argument was the one
that succeeded in the Supreme Judicial Conrt last
year.
The SJC had rifled that the" Boston executive order
was "inconsistent’" with a decades-old state law that
granted cities the authority to provide health insurance
to workers, their spouses and dependents.
Gary Buseck, executive director of Gay and Lesbian
Advocates and Defenders, said he would be
happy if Cambridge fought the case vigorously.
But he also called on the Legislature to pass a bill
designed to grant cities and towns the power to extend
the benefits if they chose. The bill has passed the
Senate but is pending in the House, he said.
"The Legislature can put an end to all of this and
~make sure cities and towns have an option of extending
health insurance to all their employees,’" Buseck
said.
Georgia Hate Crimes
Bill Gets Final Passage
ATLA~’qTA (AP) - The Georgia Senate gave final
passage to a bill allowing stiffer penalties for hate
crimes. Gov. Roy Barnes will have to sign off on it
before it can become law. ~
The. origii~ Version of the bill specified which
types ofbigo.try warranted a hate crime, but the House
amended the: measure to be more vague. It now
mentions only.crimes motivated by "bias or preju-
Sen. Vincent D. Fort, D-Atlanta, said he would
have preferred the.originalianguage but was willing
to accept the ctian~e~.
.A jury would, declare defendants guilty of a hate
crime after they were convicted ofanother crime such
as vandalism, arson, assault or murder. The initial bill
would have allowed the judge to make that decision.
That changeprompted Sen. Clay Land, R-Columbus,
to reverse his original vote and support the measure.
~At that time,.I felt the legislation was unconstitutional
because it did not provide the accused with a
¯ jury trial,’" he said.
Under the bill, sentences and fines for misdemeanors
would be increased by half, up to the maximum
allowed, for hate crimes. Felony prison sentences
¯ would be increased byfive years up to the maximum
sentence. Defendants convicted ofhate crimes would
have to serve at least 90 percent of their sentences.
Women Lawmakers Key
To Civil Unions Win
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - A greater percentage of
women than menin the Vermont House of Representatives
voted in favor of the civil unions bill that
passed in the House last week.
Female representatives approved by a wide margin
granting same-sex couples tile benefits of marriage
through civil unions while their male counterparts
turned it down. The women voted for the bill 35-9
while the men voted against it 60-41.
All but one of 32 female Democrats voted in favor
of the bill, while four of 12 Republican women voted
for it.
Although women make up relatively smaller proportions
of each caucus, more than half of the Democrats
voting yes were women, and more than a quarter
of the Republicans voting yes were women.
Rep. Anne Pugh, D-South Burlington, said female
constituents in general asked her to support the bill,
while men asked her [o oppose it.
"It may have m do with the fact that women
traditionally focus on family, and nurturing and relationships
- that women’s identity comes from connecting,’"
Pugh said.
Rep. Michael Vinton, D-C01chester, a retired state
trooper who has been outspoken in his criticisms of
anti-Gay arguments, said he bdieved women felt less
threatened by homosexuality. "For whatever reason,
I feel there’s more fear among the male gender,’"
Vinton said. "Men seem to be more crfical of people
-it’s just our species, probably.""
The trend reflects women’s greater receptiveness
to homosexuals across the country, according to national
policy experts.
"Women overwhelnfingly support Gay aud Lesbian
civil rights more than ~nen, generally speaking,’"
said Paula Ettelbrick, director ofthe National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute.
"’Women identify more because, like Gays and
Lesbians, they have not been part of the system as a
group, and theymaderstand the need and desire to be
a full citizen,’" she said. However, she said the fact
that the Vermont House had passed a civil unions bill
at all "shows that mendike everybody else have the
capacity to change on issues involving their own
communities.’"
The bill passed on a final margin of76 to 69. Voting
yes were 57 Democrats, 14 Republicans, four
Progressives mad one Independent. Voting no were 50
Republicans, 18 Democrats, and one Independent.
N.M. Christian Coalition
Files Phone Co. Benefits
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - The New Mexico branch
of the Christian Coalition is accusing U S West of
abusing public trust by providing employee benefits
to homosexuals and other umnarried workers. In a
document filed with the state Public RegulationCommission,
theNew Mexico Christian Coalition says the
policy is "offensive to decent, moral subscribers who
want phone service.’"
Edward Lopez Jr., U S West’s vice president in
New Mexico, said he is disgusted to "see-this kind of
hate and intolerance’" in a state as diverse as New
Mexico. Lopez says. the policy is good business. "We
believe our work force mirrors that of our. custom-
: ers,’" he said. "We’ve better able to understand .our.
customers needs and respond to.them.’"
¯ In its one-page filing, theChristian group contends
U S West’s benefits policy promotes the spread of
¯ AIDS and other sexually transmitteddiseases. "We’re
¯ saying there’s a moral issue of unmarried people that
¯ donot deserve benefits. If there is any way to prevent
¯ that from happening, we’ll do that,’" said Mark Bur-
" ton, executive director of the Albuquerque-based
¯ group. The group, affiliated with Pat Robertson’s
Christian Coalition of America, also contends in the
¯ filing that homosexuals are prone to violence and
¯ child molestation.
¯ Linda Siegle, alobbyist for theCoalition forEquality,
called the group’s statements "ludicrous and
¯ absurd, based on every lie and stereotype perpetrated
¯ on people who are Gay.’"
About 2,500 private corporations, universities and
other organizations across the nation provide domes-
" tic partnership benefits, she said.
¯ In its Mar~h i0 filing,’ the New Mexico Christian
¯ Coalition requested the PRC investigate "the social
¯ implications of this heinous U S West policy.’" "The
partners of homosexuals .shouldn’t have the right to
¯ get benefits fromamonopoly when I have no other
choice (for servic£),’" Burton said. " "
The Public Regulation Commission currently as
investigating U S West’s customer rates. Commission
chairman Bill Pope said he couldn’t comment on
anything contained in the filing because the panel has
yet to hear the rate case.
South African Gays
May Give Blood
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) -
Gay men have a constitutional right to
donate blood, the South African Human
Rights Commission has ruled. The commission
said it was no longer Gays who
were most at risk for HIV in South Africa,
but people in their early 20s.
The commi ssiondemandedthat ablood
bank in Western Cape change its practice
of not accepting blood from homosexual
men. Western Cape Blood Transfusion
Service director Arthur Bird on Friday
said he disagreed with the decision and
was seeking legal advice.
The case came about after Andrew
Barnes, a public relations manager, responded
to an urgent plea for new donors
in the midst of a severe blood shortage last
year. A nurse at Western Cape Blood
Transfusion Service declined Barnes’
blood afterhemarked "yes’" ontheform’ s
question of whether he had had sex with a
man. Barnes had been in a r~lationship
with anothermanformore than two years.
The commission said the decision to
reject Barnes’ blood was ’~discrimination
in terms of the Constitution." It said it
would take the blood bank to court unless
it explains what changes it will make to
avoid breaching people’s constitutional
right to equality before April 3.
Teacher With AIDS
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - HIV/AIDS activist
Cathy Robinson was a teacher in
1991, living a storybook life with her
husband, pregnant with their second child.
She and her husband, Dan, went to the
doctor for what was supposed to be a
routine physical for life insurance and
learned theunimaginable: They both Were
infected with the virus that causes AIDS.
Three years later, she developed AIDS.
"My first instinct was, ’I know where
I’ve been. Where have you been?’ "
Robinson said. Then headlines flashed
through her head declaring Belle Glade -
where she had worked with children- the
AIDS capital of the state. She wondered if
she had contracted the deadly virus there.
Buttwomonths later, Robinson, 34, found
out she had contracted HIV from a man
who died from AIDS complications in
prison while doing time for raping her
July 4, 1984, at a Tallalaassee convenience
store where she worked. Privacy
laws prohibited the prison from disclosing
to Robinson that he had AIDS.
She went seven years without finding
out she had HIV. She gave it to her husband
during that time, but her children,
Garrett and Lyndsy, are HIV-free. There
is only about a 20% chance a pregnant
mother will pass onHIV to her baby. With
medicine, the chances drop to 4%.
Robinson, who also wasdiagnosed with
breast cancer two year~s ago, is coping
with her own mortality by spending the
time she has left to promote safe sex and
persuade people to get tested. Her efforts
includ~lhe NAMES Project AIDS Memoria~:
Quilt display, which is being displayed
this month in the Hollis Wellness
Center at Florida Southern College.
Robinson. travels throughout Florida
talking with students, sheriffs’ deputies
and commumty groups about HIV and
AIDS, defying stereotypes of the "typical’"
AIDS victim, as a mamed, white,
middle-class mother of two.
Laws about HIV status disclosure vary
by state. In Florida, it takes a court order
to have someone convicted of sexual assault
tested. "We don’t as a state mandate
testing, and emergency rooms don’t have
time to doit,’" Robinson said. "They (tell)
victims of sexual as sault, ’In afew weeks,
you should get tested.’ "
Assistant State Attorney Sherri
Scarborough, who handles many of the
criminal sexual assault cases in Polk
County, said state statutes allow the court
to order HIV tests of anyone accused of a
crime where bodily fluids are exchanged.
But the victim has to request the tests and
ask that the health department notify them
of the results. Scarborough said she only
remembered two cases in the past six
years when a victim wanted to have his or
her attacker tested. One whs aT0-year-old
woman. The other was a college student.
Robinson was a student at Florida State
University when she was raped. Two of
her attackers were convicted, but a third
man never was arrested. She testified in
the two trials but did not ask that her
attacker be tested because there was no
HIV test at the time. "In 1985, there was
a test. I called right away, but they said,
~Cathy, you don’t need to worry. The only
people who get HIV are Gays and drug
users,’ " she said. Meanwhile, her attacker
was being treated for AIDS in
prison.
WhenRobinson foundout she was HIVpositive,
she said she didn’t tell anyone
for amonth. Thev. two months passed, and
she was about to give bir~ to her son,
Garrett, now 8. "Three nurses refused to
give us care. One, not knowing anything
about me, assumed we decided to have
children even though we had AIDS. She
called (the Department of Children and
Families) to try to get them to take our
kids away,’" Robinson said.
ThenRobinsonmadea choice she could
never take back. She decided to talk about
her story in schools and churches to raise
public awareness. "By going public, there
was no way I could ever teach again,
which was fine,’" she said. "Then they
wiped my husband’s job out of his company.
We paid tbr groceries with credit
cards for a while... Thenwerealized they
were going to turn our lights out. We
moved in with my parents in Clewiston."
Cathy and Dan since have moved to
Fort Myers with her best friend, a nurse.
But they decided five years ago to have
Garrett and Lyndsy, 9, continue to live
with her parents, to ease the transition on
the day the~ know will come. The
Robinsons see their childrenon weekends
and holidays. They write in journals and
make tapes to record memories they want
the kids to remember.
"We knew ultimately we were going to
die,’" Cathy said. "We thought it was
importantfor them to transilion. Wenever
thought we’d still be transitioning five
years later. Our biggest fear was dying
before Lyndsy and Garr’ett were old
enough to remember us.’"
Bill Gregory, an advertising professor
at Florida Southern, fellow AIDS activist
and friend, said Cathy hves to spread the
message. But radiation therapy has made
it more difficult in recent months. Cathy
travels to Miami for radiation treatments
because she can get them free in exchange
for leading educational programs. She
puts about 1,500 miles a week on her
leased Ford Explorer traveling throughout
the state for AIDS education, stressing
safer sex and HIV testing.
"You have to be tested,’" she said. "No.
1, you don’t want others to get infected.
No. 2, they can treat you. If you are
negative, you have a chance to rethink
your activities that got you there.’"
Timothy W. Daniel
Attorney at Law
An Attorney who will fight for
justice & equality for
Gays & Lesbians
Domestic Partnership Planning,
Personal Injury,
Criminal Law & Bankruptcy
1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504
128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma
Weekend and evening appointments are available.
January April July October December
Even Out Your
Monthly Electric Bills.
At WoO, we know that changing
weather conditions throughout the
year can cause your monthly electric
bills to rise and fall dramatically.
Which can make it tmrd to plan your
household budget. That’s why~
our Average Monthly Payment plan,
could be your budgeting solution.
With~you pay about the
same each month, because ifs based
on your previous 12 months usage.
That makes budgeting a breeze.
And best of all, ifs free. AMPis}ust
one of several flemq~le payment
options PSO offers you. For more
information, we’re available 24 hours
a da~. Or s’tgn up forAMP on our
website at www.csw.corm
PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA
A Central and South Weat Company
Kelly Kirby,. CPA, PC
Certified Public Accountant
a professional corporation
Lesbians and Gay men face many special
tax situations whether single or as couples.
Electronic filing is’available for faster refunds.
747-5466
4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135
Are You Gay or Bisexual?
Are You Native American?../,=
Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men s
Support Group is here for you~.
¯ E~ening support group meetings
¯ Relationship workshops
¯ Short trips, outings and retreats
¯ Free HIV testing
For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project
beginning at the Gay Community Center
¯ at 37th and Peoria and ending at Veterans
Park at 18th and Boulder. The parade will
begin at llam The Pride Festival will
also begin at Veterans Park at 1 lain and
will continue till about7 or8pm, finishing
off the week’s events.
TOHR organizers include Kerry Lewis
as chairperson of the overall effort. "Humanity
United for Haman Rights -Diversity
Celebration 2000," Greg
Gatewood, TOI-IR president and festival
chair,Audra Sommers,parade chair, Lynn
Moesteller, sponsor chair, Mitchell Savage,
media chair, Ktis Kohl, festival entertainmentchair
andNedBruha, incharge
of festival booths and beverages.
On June 3, Saturday, That evening also
at the PAC Doenges Theatre, the TOHR
Follies, not seen for a namber of years,
will reprise, 100 Years of Broadway with
tickets available through the PAC. Tuesday,
June 6th, an art exhibit, "United" will
open and on Thursday, June 8th, there
will be a film night. Locations and times
will be announced later.
For more information about these
events, call the Gay Community Services
Center at 743-4297 (Gays).
And while the organization has not been
in Tulsa for long, already it’s become
active and visible. Soulforce members
along withTOHR, Tul sa Oklahomans for
Haman Rights, marched in the M.L.King,
Jr. Day parade, marking the first time
openly Gay people and groups have partidipated.
And for the kick-off for this year’s Gay
Pride events, Diversity Celebration 2000,
Soulforceis bringing Mel WhiteandGary
Nixonback to Tulsafor aninterfaith workshop
and to lead a Soulforce workshop.
White and Nixon were in Tulsa several
years ago for a regional conference of
i~FLAG, Parents, Families and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays, held at All Souls
Unitarian Church.
Also on May 6-12, in Cleveland, Ohio,
at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Soulforce
will hold Soulforce University (SFU) SFU
is arare, one-week opportunity for people
offaith to learn and apply the principles of
nonviolence. SFU is being held in conjunction
with the world congress of the
United Methodist denomination of Chris-.
tianity, General Conference 2000 which
will also be in Cleveland, on May 2-12.
Historically, Methodists have cared
about the poor, the homeless, and the
outcast. Soulforce organizers state, "sadly,
decisions made by their [United Methodist]
General Conferences over the past
three decades have ended that tradition of
caring and made outcasts of God’s Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered
children. We hope to help end those unjust
and discriminatory policies.
For thirty-t~vo years United Methodist
leaders have debated the issue of homosexuality.
Too many of" their delegates
have ignored the historic, scientific, psychological,
pastoral and even biblical evidence
thathomosexuality is neither a sickness
nor a sin. As a result, with almost
every General Conference the U.M.C. has
hardened its anti-homosexual position.
That position leads to discrimination, snffeting,
and death.’"
Several Tulsans involved in Soulforce
will participate in the Cleveland events.
HEAR the Quilt
The NAMES Project Tulsa Area Chapter
is proud to announce the return of the
Quilt to Tulsa for a major display at the
Maxwell Convention Center December1
through 3, 2000.
The success of a major Quilt display is
dependent on volunteers from our community.
To develop interest and support
for this major World AIDS Day event, the
Tulsa Area Chapter will host a reception
on Thursday evening, April 27 at 7: 00pm
at Fellowship Congregational Church,
2900 South Harvard, Tulsa.
Please join us as we bring together the
community in preparation for "HEAR the
Quilt." We’ll have sections of the Quilt on
display and lots of information about upcoming
events Refreshments will be
served and it will be a great opportunity to
renew old friendships andmake new ones.
For more information you can contact
us at (918) 748-.~1 ll or at
TulsaQuilt@go.com
OK Spoke Club
The OK Spoke Club is begimfing its tides
again. A long ride (20 miles plus) will
begin at Ziegler Park at 7:30am on April
8th & 15th. Water and helmet are required.
A short tide (5 miles) along the Katy
Bicycle path in Sand Springs will begin at
6:30 pm on April 19th. Water and helmet
are strongly reconnnended.
At 9am, a long ride will begin at the
Pride Center, 3749 S. Peoria, rear parking
lot on April 22th. Water and helmet are
required. A short ride will leave from
there at 6:30 pm on April 26th. Water and
helmet are strongly recommended.
For more information, contact the club
at POB 9165, Tulsa, Ok 74157, or emaii
to: Okiebicycle@prodigy.net
Texas Lesbian
Conference
For 13 years now, Texas Lesbians have
presented one of the best conferences in
the US. This year’ s event, to be held at the
Renaissance Hotel, Greenway Plaza on
May 19-21 in Houston.
The conference will feature Urvashi
Vaid, former executive director of the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force,
cartoonist/cormnentator, Alison Bechdal,
creator of"Dykes to WatchOut For," poet
and author Ntozake Shange and Lesbian
comic Marga Gomez.
Andifthese were not enough of a draw,
TLC offers a variety of workshops on
legal, financial, spiritual and other issues.
TLC is awoman only event for which you
must be 18 to attend. For more information,
write POB 66012, Houston 77266.
Or "call 713-460-3435 for a registration
form. .
Living ArtSpace
New Show
Tul’sa’s contemporary art gall~ery~: Living
Ai~tSpace, now located at 308 South
Kenosha will present exhibition opening
& gallery talk by artist, John Hitchcoek,
on Thursday, April 6, 5:30-8pm.
Hitchcock invites the viewer tobecome
a participant in his installation by encouraging
them to "play games" and receive a
silk screened pnnt or an object. Using
games derived from Native American traditions,
the artist challenges the participant
to make the comparison between
traditional culture and the artwork.
Once upon a time, there was a teenager
named, for lack of a better moniker, Jim.
He was teased most of his school life for
being gay, name calling and threats of
physical violencebeing the
chief tactics deployed by
most of the other kids -the
mainstays of which were
the dreaded "jocks."
He had few friends, but
one of the few he considered
a friend happened to
be Shaun. Shatm was in
choir and on the football
team, and Jim had known
him for a few years, since
Jr High. What Jim repressed
and suppressed
was his physical and emotional
attraction for Shann.
Shaun wasn’t classically
handsome, but something
about him was incredibly
attractive to Jim. Maybe it
was just that, unlike the
other jocks, who singled
Jim out for particular torment,
Shaun always had
treated him with kindness
" ~roadway Damage’
is another little sleeper,
low budget movie that
is actually quite
wonderful...
The film is a ~ood
old-fashloned romantle
eornedy, kind of llke
the old screwballs
eomedles of the 30’s...
It’s a well-wrltten,
well-fihned, well-acted
" story that is sure to
brin~ a smile to
anyone’s face..."
and yes, even friendline,ss. This was !lJghly
unusual. Jim and Shaun s friendship~ew,
and they hung out a bit together. Jim
continued suppressing, and just enjoyed
Shaun’s company, basking in the glow of
their friendship.
At one point, they went to a film together.
Shaun sat with legs spread wide,
his leg touching Jim’ s. Wall, all Jim could
focus on throughout the film was the
sensfition of Shaun s leg against his; the
bea~from the other boy’s body flowing
in~d~s, the fact that he was really uncomfortable
due to the fact that certain feelingSwere
rising., feelings he’d been hiding
from everyone, including himself.
0~things w~re rising too, and he had
no!~deahow tohandle this. He wasn’t sure
ifShaun was doing this deliberately or by
accident. In ~_ospect, it had to be on
purpose. Shfiuns leg never left contact
wi~Jim’s tmtil the film was over. Jim
wasi:terrified.~Did he dare move, and cut
off~ie contact which he really so desperatdy
Wanted?Or should he re~pond?Was
thi~ ~test? Surely Shaun was aware of the
comments and teasing; he’d seen it happen,
To this day, Jim has no memory of
that film or what it was. Just the sensation
of Shaun’s leg and the accompanying
delight/fear.
Jim’s fervent yet deeply hidden desire
was for Shaun and he to bein love. Yet, of
course this could never be. Shaun was
straight-Jim thought. Andhe was ever so
aware of the fragility of friendship- he’d
~aot had many, ai~d would do nothing to
jeopardize this one.
One time, Shaun asked Jim to join he
and some friends for a swim. When Jim
got to Shaun’s house, he discovere~...that
the friends.~were other members of the
football team - the ones who so delighted
inmakinglife aliving hell for Jim. "Well",
he thought,"This should be ablast. NOT!"
To his surprise, they all got along. Jim did
feel incredibly out of place and utterly
self-conscious the whole time they were
around. Had to be careful not to slip up
and steal a glance at the wrong moment,
not that he could see anything without his
coke-bottle glasses anyway.
During the swim day, Shann told an
interesting story: He had entered a bar on
a certain street in. Arlington, Texas, and
thought it was a real cool place - until he
began to notice all the other patrons were
men - and looking at him. Then he left in
a hurry. You can imagine
thecomments this brought
on from the jocksters. It
was all Jim could do not to
ask WHERE. In fact,
Jim did devote a considerable
amount of time to
thoughts onhow to get the
desired information without
giving myself away,
but never could figure out
a foolproofmethod. Some
years later, Jim did go in
search of the aforementioned
place - and discovered
it was in a shopping
center with no sign age or
indications of any sort that
there was anything in the
shopping center. You had
to know where and what it
was to get there and find
the place. Interesting...
Later that day, Shaun
and I found ourselves
alone in his parent’s house. He excused
himself to take a shower, and was in there
along time. A really long time. Jim began
to wonder if he should just go home,
Shaun was in there so long. Then, out he
popped, completely nude - and Jim with
no glasses on! (He was near blind without
them.) It took a lot of control not to look
down, whichhe recalls doing anyway, for
a split second. Shaun probably caught it.
He paused, saying, "Sorry, forgot to take
my clothes i.n with me." Then went into
his room. Jim was nonplused. Here Shaun
is, withakidheknew was teased for being
Gay, exposing himself.
He spent along time inhis room, too,by
the way Jimwas certain this was all atest,
and the slightest wrong move would end
the friendship - after all, Shaun was a
good Southern Baptist boy, going to a
church that literally preached coercion to
get new members.
Yes, Jim knows better now. There were
signals being sent, Jimjust misinterpreted
them. Jim wished he hadn’t, even though
that would have ted to heartbreak. Jim
really was in love with Shaun. Last Jim
heard, Shaun was married, with kids. Sad
thing is, that all Jim had to go on were
negative images of Gayness. That’s all
that was out there in the world then. There
was no "Will and Grace", no positive
movie role models. And All he knew was
that one wrong step could end a friendship,
Or even get him beaten - or, in one
case he read about, killed.
Whichleads me to aDVD review:_"Get
Real". The story is pretty much the same
as above, withnerdy schoNboyfallingfor
upperclassmanjock. Except in the case of
"Get Real", the relationship is consummated
when schoolboy finds out that the
jockster is indeed, homoerotically inclined.
Of course, Mr. Jock is severely
suppressing, and holding on to his straight
identity with every’ fiber of his being. The
film played Tulsa for about a week in ’96
or ’97. I’m sure not everyone got to see it,
so I won’t spoil the ending. Let’s just say
schoolboy .comes out publicly and discovers
his inner strength. He’s accompanied
by a female friend, who remindedme
ofmyfriend Karin, who is now a Lesbian!
More on that later, see Amuse, p. 9
GILCREASE MUSEUM
April 29, May 5 & 7, 2000
Call 587-4811
Church of the Restoration
Unitarian Universalist
11 am, Sunday, 1314 North Greenwood, 587-1314
EUREKASPRINGS DIVERSITYCELEBRATION
-Friday, April 7
- 8:30pm to 12:30am,Dancing in the Ozark Room at the Basin Park Hotel (12 Spring
Street) with DJ Jon Caswell. Sponsored by theMCC of the Living Spring. Cover: $5 per
person. Cash Bar. Must be 21.
- 9pm to 12:30am, Karaoke at Shaw’s Tavern (37 Spring Street)
- 10pm to 2am, Breakfast at thenew Eureka House of Blues (in the basement of the x’~ :w
Orleans hotel at 63 Spring Street) or,
- 1 lpm to 2am, Breakfast at the Eureka Food Court (37 Spring Street)
Saturday, April 8
10am to Noon, Canoe float on the White River. $25 per canoe. Singles welcome- r
reservations and info, call theBeaver Dam Store at 501-253-6154.
10:30am. to Noon, Learn a littl6 of Eureka S prings’ history on a guided walking to,
the Historic District. Meet at Sweet Spnngs next to Rogue’s Manor on upper !:
Street. For further information, call 501-253-0070 or e-mail walking@nwaft.com.
- Noon to 3:30pm "Go Fly a Kite!" Weather permitting, bring your kites and your
cameras.at the beautiful Pond Mountain Lodge and Resort (two miles south on HighWay
23). For more information, contact Judy Jones at 800-583-8043.
- lpm to 2:30pro Head out to Lake Leatherwood Park (off Highway 62 West) for an
informative, guided trail hike. Get there a few minutes early and bring some water; some
walking sticks will be provided. You can also hike on your own on one of
the various trails in Eureka Springs’ "City Park". To obtain a trail map or
for further information about the park, please e-mail lthrwood@ipa.net. For
further information about the hike, call Steve at 501-253-9380 or 9384 or
e-mail gands@ipa.net.
- Please visit the unique shops and restaurants in the Eureka Springs
Diversity Cooperative. Let them know you’re here for Diversity Weekend!
- 3:30pm to 9pm,Check outThe Holein the Wall (191/2 Spring Street) forKaraokewith
Lita! Lunch and dinner will also be served. For further information, call
501-253-8361.
- 9pm to lain; Dance to the high,energy club ttmes of DJ Jon Caswdl at Center Stage
(37 Spring Street). Must be 21. Cover: $5 per person. Sponsored by The Emerald
Rainbow, Mark E. Cook Properties and Center Street Bar & Grill.
- 9pmto 12:30am, Belt out your favorite tunes as Shaw’s Tavern (37 Spring Street) once
again hosts a Karaoke night for "family" and friends.
- 10pm to 2am, Brealffast at thenew Eureka House of Blues (in the basement of the New
Orleans hotel at 63 Spring Street) or,
- 1 lpm to 2am, Breakfast at the Eureka Food Court (37 Spring Street)
Sunday, April 9
- 2pm to 6pm, Join us again at Center Stage (37 Spring Street) for a tea dance and drag
show, with performances by the "girls from Tulsa" and music by DJ Jon
Caswell. Must be 21. Cover: $5 per person. Sponsored by The Emerald
Rainbow, Ermilio’s Restaurant and Center Street Bar & Grill.
- 7pm, MCC of the Living Spring (17 Elk Street) will hold a service. Call
501-253-9337 for information. All are welcome!
For a listing of businesses supporting this and similar events, check out
the Eureka Springs Diversity Cooperative website at www.shimaka.coln/eureka/diversity
or drop by The Emerald Rainbow at 45 1/2 Spring Street for a printed copy.
Oklahoma Repertory Theatre Opens
TULS A-Theatreleaders from twoTulsa : and the Boys" by So. African playwright
organizations, Tulsa Repertory Theatre
and Wayward Theatre Co. have joined
together to create the Oklahoma Repertory
Theatre (also known as OK REP).
Catherine Adkins, Skip suraci. Christopher
Ferguson-Long and Nathan Huntley
will serve as executive artistic director,
advisor, associate founding artistic director
and associate artistic director, respectively.
OKREP,like the companies out of
which it grows is committed to "unique,
professional theatre, children’s theatre,
arts in education and community outreach."
OK REP will open its season with the
Pulitzer Prize winning, "Master Harold
The film translates well to DVD, maintaining
the widescreen image, and with
excellent rarity. Sadly, there’s no extra
features so prevalent now in DVD releases,
such as director’s commentary,
behind the scenes documentaries, etc. It
would have been .nice to have the actor’s
recollections of the making of the film
and the affect it had on them. However,
that does not detract from the fact it’s a
well-written film with an excellent.cast
and beautiful cinematography. The only
thing that bothered one of my friends at
the .initial showing was that jock boy
Athol Fugard. The production will mn
May 11-14 and May 18-20 at Tulsa’s
Performing Arts Center Liddy Doenges
~[]aeatre at 8pm and Sundays at 2pro, and
is supported in part by grants from the
Oklahoma Arts Council and the Tulsa
Performing Arts Center Tn~st.
The play, directed by Nathan Huntley,
is that of a young man growing up and
growxng aware in 1950’s South Africa
apartheid. Tulsa actors Greg Herman, Bill
Thomas and Christopher Ferguson-Long
perform the roles. Tickets are available at
the PAC box office, 596-7111, for $12/
adults and $9/students/seniors. For more
information, call OK REP at 592-6310.
seems to come from a well-heeled family,
yet has a working class accent. I noticed
after he pointed it out, but that did not
detract from the otherwise excellent performanees
given by Ben Silverstone as
the cuteschoolboy Steven Carter, Charlotte
Britain as his friend who faints on
command, and the hunky Brad Gorton as
thejock upon anyone Wouldbe daft not to
develop a crush. Available from Wolfe
Video (www.wolfevideo.com).
Along the same lines, sort of... well,
not really, but there’s a well-done scene
that exemplifies the kind of dynamic I
wrote of regarding seeing that tmnamed
film with Shaun, is "Billy’s Hollywood
Screen Kiss." see Amuse, p. 11
by Tom Neal, editor & publisher
Some Oklahomapolitical observers have noted that the
one good thing for this state about a win by Republican
presidential candidate, George W. Bush, is that we’d get
to send the Honorable Frank Keating, Governor of Oklahoma
packing back off to DC, though others have said
Oklahoma’.s gain might be to the nation’s detriment.
"... ff it were not enough to invoke
this bigoted image ofGay people
-preying on the young, he
foflowed it with a comment about
how Gay people are among the
wealthiest Amerleans. I had
to wonder if next he’d betalklng
about how ’all Black people
have rhythm’ or ’the international
Jewish banking eonsplraey.’..."
This February, t took my’father to lunch at the Press
Club to see Keating do his song and dance. I imagine that
Keating expected a rather friendly reception- these days
the Press Club membership hardly includesany reporters
but rather mostly public relations types - good enough
people but hardly known for hard hitting .journalism.
They’re there to put a nice spin on tttings, not to get at the
truth, typically. Andyou can count on The Tulsa Worldto
report only selectively on comments made there.
Then there was Dad and me sitting right up front. And
dear Mr. "I am not descended from a Baboon" Keating*
likely did not know what he was in for. Mr. Keating
waxed eloquently about how ifwe only re-made government
to be like"’business," and not just coincidentally
turned it all over to the Republiczins, all would be great
with our state. I could nothave a~kedfor a better setup for
my question to the Governor since in Oklahoma, it’s
business leading the way in treating Lesbian and Gay
citizens, well, like equal citizens.
The question put to the Gov. was this: Oklahoma’s
leading businesses,American Airlines, the state’ s largest
private employer, K.imberly-Clark, Dollar-Thrifty Auto
Group whose CEO, Joseph Cappy was just appointed to
the State Board of Regents for Higher Education, all of
these corporations promise not to discriminate on sexual
orientation. Since "business" shows us the way, Keating
* ina recent controversy about teaching evolution in
public schools, Keating claimed he was not descended
from a baboon. The Tulsa World contested that claim.
Operat=on Montreal,. To ¯
was asked why state government was not following their
lead.
Frank’s answer was an embarrassment to the state of
Oklahoma. He said there was not a public consensus to
support treating all people fairly and had he stopped at
this, I could hardly have argued withhim.
But he went on to invoke the most shameful of stereotypes,
saying that the state government of Oklahoma
could not promise to treat Gay and Lesbian Oklahomans
fairly because "a homosexual schoolteacher might try to
’promote’ his ’lifestyle’ to elementary school students
and then the state could not discipline the teacher..."
Andif it were not enough to invoke this bigoted image
of Gay people preying on the young, he followed it with
acomment abouthow Gay people are among the wealthiest
Americans. I had to wonder if next he’d be talking
about how "all Black people have rhythm" and "the
international Jewish banking conspiracy."
I did have the opportunity to say.his allegation about
Gay "wealth" was false but not to question his premises
about promising to treat public employees fairly.
And this, of course, ignores the fact that it is almost
unimaginable that any Gay teacher would engage in
inappropriate discussions - they’re all too scared because
: they know they’ll be harassed or fired in any school
district in the state. Any inappropriate conversation by a
¯ teacher with students, whether heterosexual or homo-
" sexual, already has avenues for remedy.
I agree with Keating, Oklahoma can learn from the
: example of "business." First and foremost, Frank needs
¯ to figure out that discrimination is bad for business and
¯ badforOklahoma. "Business" has figured this out. Ameri-
" can and Dollar-Thrifty don’t go beyond the minimum
¯ federallaw r.eqmresjust because they regreatfolks. Th y
¯¯ do it because they can’t afford to lose good workers and
¯ some of those good workers ar’-e Gay.
It really shouldn’t be that hardfor Frank Keating. All
¯ he needs to do is to reframe the questionin terms to which
¯ he can relate: shall we not include Catholics in our non-
- discnmmattonlawsbecausewecouldn tfiretbemlfthey
mdocmnated our children with the Cathohclifestyle m
schools? Keating shouldknow that itwash’ t thatlong ago
: that precisely those stereotypes were common in thisstate.
After all, Keating claims to be a Christian. And as
: such, he is commanded to "treat others as he would be
¯ treated." That?s pretty straightforward. I’d bet even a
¯ "lower" primate, maybe even a baboonmight be able to ¯
figure that out. The question is can our governor?
by Dave Fleischer
Senior Fellow, Policy Institute
National Gay andLesbian Task Force
Have you ever met ahomophobe? Of course you have,
which is why you might not immediately be eager to
campaign door-to-door using the "G" word when we
need to win an election.
You might be thinking: Holy Roller, don’t a lot of
people go into rant mode the minute we say the Word
"Gay?’"
Actually, they don’t. Everywhere I’ve gone door-todoor
with teams of volunteers,-
once we explain in
plalnlanguage the issue voters
will be facing, the overwhelming
majority are on
.our side. Most of the rest are
undecided. This has been
true in Anchorage, Houston,
and Fayetteville, Arkansas;
in San Francisco, suburban
Westchester County,.in Miami
(nope, not just in South
Beach) and in both Democratic
and Republican parts
of Spokane, Washington. And that’s just the places in
1998-and 1999 that we’ve gone door-to-door in.
Sure, we start in neighborhoods wherewe believe we’ll
find many supporters. But even when we broaden to a
- diverse set of neighborhoods, 60 to 90% of the time,
voters are surprised to learn that the basic rights, of Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered (GLBT) people
are under attack.
"... I don’t want to tell you about
my%exllfe - but ff I’m doing
a job at my job,
should my boss be able to fire me
just because I’m Gay?"
[long pause, she says uncertainly]
"I’ve never thought about that..."
"Well, I’m Gay, and this may surprise youbut it wasn’t
a choice for me. And if I’m doing a goodjob at work, do
you think my boss should be. able to fire mejust because
I’m Gay?"
"I don’t want to hear about your sex life."
"I don’t want to tell you about my sex life--but if I’m ~
doing a goodjob atmyjob, shouldmy boss be able to fire
me just because I’m Gay?"
. [Long pause]
[She says uncertainly] "I’ve never thought about that."
"Well, that’s what you’ll, be voting on. Here’s the wording
that will be on the ballot.
Takealookatit. [Pausewhile
she reads] What do you
think?"
I didn’t make this voter a
supporter. But I did move
her from leaning against us
to someone who might be
undecided. Theconversation
took abouttwominutes. Then
I was on to the next door.
If we’ve trained our-volunteer
team well, we communicate
our key message
within the limits of the voter’s attention span. Then we
ask what they think. And they tell us.
Soinetimes their answer isn’t easy to hear (I didn’t love
Ms. Informed’s ?Gays can change"). Butifwe listen with
genuine interest, and offer a clear, honest exchange, they
return the favor. We usually-leave the door either knowing
we’ve found someone leaning toward us, or someone
who is now open to hearing more.
A...J--~"~’~A~.~,~’A,,’~ (;.... ~Vhenthe~ydo, they say somethinglike. OfcourseI Benefit uur= i i i i i i~i~..,,..; :=~-agai~i’s’t--d~sc~aination, against anybody. I like/don’t care
Localentrepreneurandmouth-about-townactivistNed about/dort’flike Gay people, but discriminationis always
Bruha will present "Operation Montreal" at The Silver
Star, 1565 So. Sheridan, at 10pm on Friday May 5th.
Brnha notes, "’this night of rare comedy and mad-cap
entertainment will aid Audra MarieSommers, an individual
among us who has selflessly impleme.nted her
.talents to l~tter the Tulsa areafor the past decade,,She has
raised money for the poor and the sick." ,
Themoney raised the evening of thi~ event wiR,be ~used
to help Payfor medications, travel and down-time trom
both of lie) jobs for the transgendered Sommers as she
recoups from surgery which will bring her physiology
into correspondence with her gender identity.
This event is called Operation Montreal because after
many years of research, Sommers has chosen worldrenowned
surgeons in Montreal. Any funds raised will
not be used for the surgery. Sommers has underwrittem
the surgery by taking a mortgage on her home.
For more information about this event, call 585-1644,
or write, "Operation Montreal" c/o Ned Bruha, P.O. Box
471282, Tulsa, OK. 74147-1282, or send e-mail to
partygram@webzone.net
wrong."
So the experience of going door-to-door is enormously
encouraging. It’s both productive for the campaign, and
also personally affirming.
This doesn’t mean that every voter is immediately
happy to see us. But as a reality check, here’s the toughest
door I’ve had so far.
Scene: a sweaty August ’98 morning in Fayetteville,
Arkansas; a white senior answers the door
..’...’.Hi, Ms. Informed?" Yes
"Hi, Ms..Informed, my name is Dave Fleischer, and
I’m with the Campaign for Human Dignity. A human
rights resolution is on the ballot - it says that here in
Fayetteville we won’t tolerate discrimination on thejob,
whether you’re a man or women, black or white, Gay or
non-Gay. What do you think about that?"
"Well, I think that if Gay people would just go to
church, they would realize it’s a choice, they don’t have
to be that way". [She went on in this vein for a minute. I
listened.]
Nobody says this work is easy. But, contrary to our
worst fears, it isn’t confrontational. It’s more like the
ordinary experience of one tiuman being talking to another
human being.
And there’s an unexpected personal benefit. If we reopen
our hearts, we are liberatedfrom a piece of internalized
self-hate and our own stereotypical thinking about
the public. It turns out that most of them are human, too
- and more open than we give them credit for being.
Most importantly, voteridentification works. SAVE
Dade in Miami has built a list of.more than 15,000 Gay -
and pro-Gay voters by having dbnversations just like
these, by going door~to-door and by talking to voters
when.they go to vote. Basic Rights Oregon beat back their
last two state-wide anti-Gay ballot measures by doing
voter idenlification on a large scale, and has a list of
125,000 voters statewide.
Sure there are closed-minded homophobes out there.
But they are far fewer and less grumpy than you’d guess
-a mere needle in a Gaystack. If we’re going to win
elections, we need to talk with everyone to find our
supporters. Factis, voters are ready tolistentous,ifwe’re
willing to listen to them. Are we?
Meet Local
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The number of Gays and Lesbians in
the United States is not known because of
largely unreliable studies. Advocacy
groups often claim 10% of the population
is homosexual, basedon surveys ofsexual
behavior conducted by researcher Alfred
Kinsey taken in the 1940s. Other surveys
put the number between 4% and 6%.
Amore direct census question concerning
sexual orientation isn’t likely by the
lime the2010 census roils around. Itwould
take afederal legislation to require collection
of the data. And, advocates say, it’s a
tricky ’question. "Is sexual orientation
defined by feelings of attraction, exclusivity
or praetors?’" Norfllrop asked.
Best known for launching the career of
"Willand Grace’ s" "Jack", Sean P. Hayes,
that’s about the best thing about this film.
It’s got some good moments, but never
quite congeals into a satisfying film. Brad
Rowe, Meredith Scott Lynn, and Hayes
mmin good performances, but the rest of
the cast falls flat, as do many of the jokes.
Hayes stars as Billy, a starving artist photographer
who is the other man in an
unsatisfying relationship he settles for
because (as he. tells everyone repeatedly
in this film until youjust wantto slap him)
he CAN’T FIND A MAN.
He stumbles upon Gabriel (the immensely
appealing Brad Rowe), and instantdysfunctional
crushdevelops, in spite
of the fact (?) that Gabriel is straight.
Hilarity ensues (yawn). There’s the prerequisite
drag queen comicrelief trio, that
should never have .entered this film, because
they are rather pointless to.the plot,
content, and are really so bad they detract
from the film..Obvibusly, theyare ~aeant
to be bad, but all the ~vay t~ough the
opening.sequence~ and at se{~eral points
~(way too many) through the film, they
-..seem to just be inserted for no reason. If
they were doing something that was
plot~orthyand actually funny, itmight be
a good thing. They’re not, and basically
just fill time when the director can’t pull
his head out long enoughto actually make
a film.
This DVD comes with a commentary,
and even that - usually a high point and
asset - is utterly boring. Yes, Sean’s a
wonderful actor -now. OK, Brad was
uncomfortable with thefilm and part starting
out. (Why is never detailed, and that
was what might have been actually interesting.)
OK yes, there are lots ofhomages
to old films, most of which are obvious,
especially with the dream/musical sequences.
Overall, Billy’s a fine addition
to an avid collector ofGay film, for archival
purposes. It’s amusing once through.
But it’s a definite rental, not a keeper.
Also available from Wolfe Video.
An excellent film to have on DVD for
repeated viewings and the extras, is"Gods
and Monsters." It is a most moving and
affecting film, and the disc has lots of
goodies, along with a commentary that
actually IS interesting, adocumentary with
Clive Barker as host, interviews with the
actors, and lots oflovely details. The film,
based on Christopher Brain’s book, is a
look .at what might have happened in the
days leading to James Whale’s mysterious
death.
Whale, the director best known for the
films "Frankenstein" and "Bride of Frankenstein"
in the ’30’s, was found floating
¯ in his pool fully clothed. No answers ever
¯ came out of the investigation. Sir Inn
¯
McKellan, in abravuraperformance, plays
~ Whale, the absolutely dynamic Lynn
¯¯ Redgrave plays his housekeeper and
caregiver Hannah, and the absolutely brilliantandbreathtakingly
gorgeous Br~ndan
Fraser plays a yard man that Whale be-
" friends.
: This didplay the major theatres,butjust
¯ in case, I won’t give away any more of the
." ending than I have. The performances
¯ were all top notch, with nary a misstep.
¯ The cinematography is beautiful, and the ¯
detail in sets, costumes, and styleis dead-
" on.~(No pun intended.) As an. actor, it’s
~ ~really hard.f,0rme to see a film that makes
¯¯ ~m~fo~etI m~watehing~a film. This one
did. I was surprised, as the end credits
¯ were rolling, to find I had tears runmng
: down my face. The film so engrossed me
¯ that Iwasn’t even aware when that began. ¯
It’s an interesting film on many levels,
¯ the most superficial being Whale as dirty
." old man spying on the yard man; and~the
¯ deepest being the comments on aging, ¯
and the families we surround ourselves
¯ with as that happens. The interplay of
¯ straight andGay, andfear. The betrayal of ¯
¯ the body.and time, the interplay between
youth and age, the reasons we make the
¯ choices in life that we do make., all are
." explored on many levels.
¯ It’s definitely worth viewing several
¯
times, if for nothing more than seeing the
¯ details you missed first time around. The
¯ commentary, as opposed to the useless ¯
blathering on Billy’s HSK, is insightful,
¯
informative, and frequentlylamusing.
." There’s enough mix in details of how the
¯ film was made, how attention to details
: was as important as performance, behind
¯ the scenes stories of what went on during
¯ filming, what it was like to deal with this
¯ or that to keep one quite amused.
." ~ And after watching the film go by wlth
" the commentary, especially re~ardihg the
." director’s intentions, it’s kind of a fun
¯ game to play to seehowmuch youpieked
’’up on. ~klso, some historica~ facts_ are
." thrown in, not in a dry, witless manner,
¯ but which augment the viewing Of the
: film. So, for me, it gets a definite. BUY
¯ THIS! Even if you only get the video
~ version (which may or may not have the
documentary), it’s worth it. Available at
; Wolfe Video.
"Broadway Damage" is another little
sleeper, low budget movie that is actually
quite wonderful. A romantic comedy that
actually is, as~ opposed to Billy, it stars
some very talented unknowns in a film
that is well written and leaves you feeling
good. "Nerdy Guy’~ and "Beautiful Boy"
in New York looking for"Mr. RightY BB
is always finding people bad for him, and
pursues one that is really bad news. NB is
seeking Mr Right and has a crush on BB
Enter BB’s roommate Quirk~y~rl. QG is
trying to make it inNYCon hiSrtwn, even
though daddy’s rich. He wants her to get
a job, something she’s never had to do.
She and the boys form a fun trio, and have
merry adventures in NYC.
The film is a good old-’fashioned romantic
comedy, kind oflike the old screwballs
comedies of the 30’s upon which it is
patterned. The ending’s predictable, but
the g~tting there is fun, as with most
journeys. Even if you know where you’re
going,, the trip is never the same twice,
right? It’s a well-written, well-filmed,
well-acted story that is sure to bring a
smile to anyone’s face. It should have
received wider release w~h,en it played the
film houses, but is a gem I m sharing with
you. Yep, available at Wolfe Video on
VHS and DVD.
presents
.... an eclectic mix of choral literature ranging from Baroque to Broadway,
from pop classics of the ’50s and ’60s to a bawdy sea chantey
an~J.an American Folk song featuring the Green Country Cloggers.
,Friday and Saturday, April 7 & 8, 2000 at 8pm
Williams Theatre, Tulsa Performing Arts Center
(reception following)
Tickets: PAC box office, 596-7111 in Tulsa,
1-800-364-7111 or online at www.tulsapac.com
COUNCIL oak a fellowship of gay men dedicated to musical excellence in
the performance of choral literature, providing a source of
pride, unity, and support, while presenting a positive image
for ourselves, our community, and society as a whole.
FOR MORE INFORMATION about the COUNCIL oak meN~S c~or~aLe and its parent organization,
the non-profit Vocal Pride Foundation, visit our award-winning website at www.eouneiloak.org.
Original Format
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newspaper
periodical
Dublin Core
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[2000] Tulsa Family News, April 2000; Volume 7, Issue 4
Subject
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Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
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Tulsa Family News
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
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Tom Neal
Date
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April 2000
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James Christjohn
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legranbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
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Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
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Tulsa Family News, March 2000; Volume 7, Issue 3
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English
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newspaper
periodical
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Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
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https://history.okeq.org/items/show/599
"Operation Montreal"
2000
adoption
AIDS
AIDS Quilt
aMUSEments
arts and entertainment
Audra Sommers
Bars
Blood Donation
businesses
Census
Christian Coalition
churches
civil unions
Council Oak Men's Chorale
Diversity celebration
Dr. Grethe Cammermeyer
Dr. Laura
Gay marriage
Gay Studies
Greg Louganis
Harmonic Diversity
hate crime bill
HIV
holocaust
homophobia
Human Rights Campaign
Jim Christjohn
Karin Gregory
Lamont Lindstrom
Liberation Publications
Living ArtSpace
marriage equality
military inclusion
NAMES Project
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
OK Spoke Club
Partner Benefits
performing arts
PlanetOut Inc
Pride
Raging Lesbian
Read All About It
restaurants
Soulforce
Texas Lesbian Conference
Tom Neal
Tulsa Family News
Tulsa Repertory Theatre
-
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cf15973a5275e8195487a21b5d7d7507
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[Sub-Series] Newsletters & Publications > Tom Neal Newsletters > Tulsa Family News
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Bomber of London
Gay Pub Pleads Guilty
LONDON (AP) - A man accused of setting off~in~bs
i Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulaans, Our Families + Friends
: Tulsa’s Largest Circulation CommunityPaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations
Louganis to Lead Pride 2000
¯ Olympic Champion Will Be Parade Grand
¯ Marsha|l and Black Tie Dinner Speaker
The Rev. Mel Whiteto Begin Week’s Events
TULSA - Some Gay community observers might have thought Rights, the parent
apparently targetedatracial minorities andGays pleaded "
guilty to three counts of manslaughter late in February "
and admitted causing three explosions thatinjuredmore
than a hundred people. David Copeland, 23, admitted "
planting the bomb that killed three people on April 30,- "
at the Admiral Duncan, a Gay pub in central London. "
Prosecutors did not immediately accept the ¯
manslaughter pleas, and a further hearing was set for "
sometime in March. Copeland also admitted ¯
responsibility for explosions .on April 17 in Brixton, a :
south London neighborhood with a large black ¯
population; and April 24in Brick Lane, an east London "
neighborhood with a large Banglades.~ population. "
NY State’s 1st Gay Mayor "
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (AP)-. Dan Stewart, New
York’s first openly Gay mayor, is intimately acquainted ."
with Gay-bashing bigots..AYter all he used to beone.."
"When I was in high school, two boys went to court over .
the right to go to the prom together," Stewart said. "I ¯
spoke out loudly against them on TV, on the steps of the
RhodeIsland Supreme Court. Imade amockery ofthem
- because I knew who I was, and I was scared ~to. death
people would find me out." ¯
Two decades later, Stewart has no such fears. He was "
open about his homosexuality when he ran for mayor of ¯
this lakeside city near the Canadian border last fall. "I
told the people,’Iam what ! am- Takeme or leaveme,"’ :
Stewart said."Itold them, ’Ifyouchooseto takeme, I’m "
going to do one hell of ajob for you. But if you choose ¯
not tO take me because I’m Gay, I understand. I used to :
be prejudiced too." :
Asittumedout, his sexualitywasn’tanissue. Perhaps ¯
it would have been, had hebronght a male partner to a :
political event during his,six years on the City Council. ¯
But Stewart keeps his personal life out of the public eye :
~- mostly 60 miles away in Montreal, where his partner ¯
lives. It also helped that his opponent, the five-term "
Democratieincumbent, was knOWn for supporting Gay ."
and Lesbian issues such as nondiscrimination statutes, ¯
and had long enjoyed the endorsement of Gay lobby ."
groups. "The.race was on community issues," Stewart "
said. "My opponent never used the words ’sexual ¯
orientation. ’" ¯
Buoyed by endorsements from Republican Gov. ¯
George Pataki and the city police union, the former Air °
Force sergeant and long-haul trucker won by a narrow ¯
margin, becoming one of five openly Gay city mayors ¯
in the country. "
In some ways, Stewart has taken more heat for being "
GOP than for being Gay. The Empire State Pride :
Agenda didn’t endorse him until the llth hour - and
then, he insisted that part of the Gay lobby group’s "
$1,000 campaign donation go to the Republican Party. :
"I always get thesame thing (from Gays) wherever I
go: How canyon be Gay and be a Repubhcan. What as
wrong with you?Are you insane?,’"- said Stewart, a tall, "
dapper man with an enthusiastic manner and a dimpled :
grin. "But there’s a change going on. In exit polls over ¯
the past 10 years, consistently ~a third of people who ¯
identified themselves as Gay have said they voted "
Republican." :
In a recent interview in his second-floor City Hall ¯
office, see Mayor, p. 7 "
that the annual pride festival organizers would be hard pressed to
top their accomplishments of 1999 withUS Congressman Barney
Frank, Democrat from Massachnsetts, serving as grand marshall
of Tulsa’s first Gay Pride Parade.
However, event organizers fromTulsa Oklahomans for Human
Rights, have, at the very least, matched the stature of last year’s
speaker with US Olympic champion, Greg Louganis, to se’ive as
Grand Mhrshall for the Millennium Pride Parade this June.
Louganis’ appearance will cap a week of Pride events which
will begin with aninterfaithworship service featuring the Reverend
Dr. MelWhite. White is known as an author, forhis autobiography,
"’Stranger at the Gate," and formerly as a ghostwriter for right
wing religious leaders like Jerry Falwell. White more recently
has been leading a social change organization, Soul Force,
modeled on the ideas of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mohatmas
Ghandi.
Like White, Louganis is also an anthor and an actor as wall as
an athlete. His autobiography, "Breaking the Surface" topped the
New York Times bestseller list, and as a lecturer, he has spoken
about his chall~nges with a difficult childhood, his struggles in
coming out and with dyslexia, his experience with domestic
violence and with being HIV positive.
Louganis wonhis first Olympicmedal, a silver, at age 16 in the
1976 Games. In 1984, at age 24, he won two gold medals, one for
the platform and one for the springboard - the first man in 56
years to accomplish this feat. In 1986, he again won awards the
same events in the World Championships, and then in 1988, won
double gold medals for diving in two consecutive Olympics.
Louganis will speak at a black fie optional dinner to be held at
the prestigious Summit Club on Friday, June 9th. Tickets for th,e,
event are $75/person and there will be a VIP reception at $50~
person. These events will benefit Tulsa Oklahomans for Human
: Vermont:Married or Partners?
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Lawmakers debated last ~nonth
whether to limit aproposed domesticpartnership system to stonesex
couples or to allow opposite-sex and blood-relative couples
to qualify, also. There are some in the Legislature who believe
that broadening the proposal might make it more politically
palatable to a greaternumber ofpeople, improving its d~ances of
passing. But others argue that such a revision would diminish the
central aimofthelegislation beingdraftedby theHouse Judiciary
Committee: providing therights andprotections ofeivil marriage
to Gay and Lesbian couples.
As the Judiciary Committee prepares to finish its work on the
bill,that debate is coming into sharper relief. Members of the
committee faced the issue, along with the potential political
implications. "Iunderstand that there are people who see expanding
this ... enhances the attractiveness of the legislation," said
Committee Chairman Thomas Little, R-Shelburue. "’But I’m not
sure we have the time to expl.ore all that stuff." "I support that in
prineiple, but it’s a significant diversion from what we’ve been
working on," said Rep. Steve Hintgen, P-Burlington. "q hope it
doesn’t drive this to a halt." "ff you don’t do it you might drive
it to a halt," said Rep. Michael Vinton, D-Colchester.
In sum, that’s what the comunttee faces. In recognition of that,
Little has been trying to develop a companion to the domestic
partnership systemknown as reciprocal benefits, that falls short
of the marriage-like benefits that would be provided to Gay and
Lesbiancouples. Thereciprocal benefits,.however, might include
workers’ compensation benefits that could flow to a reciprocal
benefits partner, certain inheritance and real estate and other
property benefits.
Althouglino votes have been taken,noconsensus has developed
in the Judiciary Committee that opposite-sex couple should be
included in the domestic partnership system, which the panel has
taken to calling "civil domestic unions." There also has not been
a lot of discussion in the committee about permitting blood
relatives- such as two brothers, two sisters, a brother and a sister,
or a daughter and her elderly mother - to become domestic
partnerships.
¯ But such expansions have been discussed down th~hall in the
Ways and Means Committee, the tax-writing panel that will have
to review the tax implications of the bill Rep. Albert Perry, DRichford,
see Vermont, p. 5
orgamzation of the
Gay Community
Center and
Oklahoma’s oldest
Lesbian and Gay
non-religious
organization.
Organizers
anticipate that the Greg Lougams
parade will follow
the stone route as last year, beginning at the Ga~’
Community Center.at 37th and Peoria and ending.
at Veterans Park at 18th and Boulder. The parade
will begin at llam. The Pride Festival will also
begin at Veterans Park at 1 lain and will continue
till about 7 or 8pro, finishing off the week’s events.
TOI-IR organizers include Kerry Lewis as
chairperson of the overall effort, "Htunanity United
for Human Rights - Diversity Celebration 2000,"
Greg Gatewood,TOHR presidentandfestival chair.
Audra Sommers, parade chair, Lynn Moesteller,
sponsor chair, Mitchell Savage, media chair, Kris
Kohl, festival entertainment chair and Ned Bruha,
in charge of festival booths and beverages.
Other Pride events include a Soul Force workshop,
led by the Rev. Mel White, to be held in the
Performing Arts Center (PAC) LowerLevelTheatre
onJune3, Saturday,from 2-5pro (free). That evening
also at thePACDoenges Theatre,theTOHRFollies,
not seen for a number of years, will reprise, 100
Years of Broadway with tickets available through
the PAC. see Pride, p. 11
:
Gordmans recently invited diva Audra Sommers
to try shopping with them again after shefirst
receivedpoor treatment atthe Yale Ave. store.
Sommers praised the Corporate and store
managementfor their.responsiveness,
Gay Men’s Chorale to
¯ Hold Spring Concert
¯ TULSA- Council Oak Men’s Chorale will present
¯ two concerts on Friday and Saturday, April 7 & 8
¯¯ at 8pm in the John Williams Theatre of Tulsa’s
¯ Performing Arts Center. The concerts, entitled
"’Harmonic Diversity" will feature music from
~ Broadway tunes, 5O’s & 60’s pop songs, "sea
¯ chanteys," a Welsh lullaby, and a baroque piece.
-" The Green Country Cloggers will perform a cameo
¯ number.
: The Council Oak Men’s Chorale is a fellowship
of Gay men dedicated to musical excellence who
: seek to provide a source ofpride, unity and support
," and to present a positive image for themselves, the
¯ Gay community and to society, as a whole. The
¯ group is a chapter of the Tulsa-baSed Vocal Pride
Foundation, and a member of GALA: the Gay and
" Lesbian Association of Choruses.
Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants
*Chasers, 4812 E. 33
*CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial
*Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th
*Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria
*The Mix, 2630 E. 15th
*Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square
*St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st
*Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan
*The Storm, 2182 S. Sheridan
*Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main
*TNT’s, 21145. Memorial
*Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd
712-2324
610-5323
583~6666
749-4511
749-1563
744-4280
745-9998
83~ ~234
835-2376
585-3405
660-0856
584-1308
Tulsa,Businesses, Services, & Professionals
Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular
*Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard
Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 523 1 E. 41
Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15
*Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21
*.Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale
Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria
*CD Warehouse, 3807e S. Peoria
Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis
Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker
Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468
74%1508
743-1000
747-9506
250-5034
665-4580
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494-2665
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260-7829
481-0558
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592-0767
*Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th
*Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady
Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria
*Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan
*Ross Edward Salon 584-0337,
Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main ""-
*Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria
Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E 55th H.
Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr.
Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare
*Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st
Leanne M. Gross, Insurance &financial planning
Mark T. Hamby, Attorney
*Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly
*International Tours
Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th
*Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th
David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering
The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening
*Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15
Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210
*Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brady
*Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd
Mingo Valley Howers, 9720c E. 31
*Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place
Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo
*The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2rid floor
Rainbowzon the River B+B, PUB 696, 74101
Richard’s Carpet Cleaning
Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921
*Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square
Paul Fay, Car Salesman
*Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis
Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard
Fred Welch, LCSW, Counsding
*Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan
*Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis
Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities
AIDS Walk Tulsa, PUB 4337, 74101 579-9593
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Black & White, Inc. PUB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314
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*B/L!G/T Alliance, Univ. ofTulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780
*Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201
*Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th PI. & Florence
*ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314
*CommunityofHope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300
*Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595
Council Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888
*Ddaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511
*Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457
Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics &
Episcopalians, PUB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140
*Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777
*Free Spirit Women’s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669
Friend For A Friend, PUB 52344, 74152 747-6827
918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615
PUB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159
o-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink.net
Publisher + Editor:
Tom Neal
Writers + contributors: ~-
James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche,
Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers
Member of The Associated Press
Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents
of this publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by
Td~ /:~.,,.z~ N~, and may not be reproduced either in
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*HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611
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*House of the H01y Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood
Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437
*MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715
NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral H.. 748-3111
NOW, Nat’l Org. forWomen, PUB 14068,74159 365-5658
OK Spokes Club (bicycling), PUB 9165, 74157
*OSU-Tulsa
PFLAG, PUB 52800, 74152 749-4901
*Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674
Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152
*R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195
*Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325
O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults
O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth
St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882
St. Dtmstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140
*St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088
*Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171
*TNAAPP (Native American men). Indian Health Care 582-7225
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Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only
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*Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule
*Tulsa Community College Campuses
*Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38,74105 743-4297
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BARTLESVILLE
*Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353
OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN
*Borders Books&Music, 3209NWExpressway 405-848-2667
*Borders Books & Music. 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907
TAHLEQUAH
*Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900
*Tablequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900
*Green Country AIDS Coalition, PUB 1570 918-453-9360
NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand
HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates
EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23
*Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main
DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St.
Emerald Rainbow, 45 &1/2 Spring St.
MCC of the Living Spring
Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429
Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery
Positive Idea Marketing Plans
Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East
White Light, 1 Center St.
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
*Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U 134
501-253-7734
501-253-7457
501-253-6807
501-253-5445
501-253-9337
501-253-2776
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* is where you can lind TFN. Notall areGay-owned but all are Gay-friendly.
by Michael Kuchwara
DENVER (AP) -The audience is greeted
by a bare, black brick wall, a single light
and a row of wooden chairs and desks.
Later, a few video screens and film clips
are added.
¯ Still, nothing else is reallyneeded to tell
¯ the story of Matthew Shepard and the
effect his-murder had on the town-of
¯ Laramie, Wyo. It is a spartan, yet
¯ appropn,’,ate setting for "The Laramie
Project, astirring, emotional tale, almost
¯ epicinscaleas itswirls through thedetails
of this young gay man’s brutal death and
¯ how the residents ofLaramiedealtwithit.
The-play, which had its world premiere
¯ in February at the DenverTheater Center,
¯ presents a cavalcade of characters
¯ portrayedby eightactors from theTectonic
TheaterProject, aNewYork-based troupe.
¯ They even play themselves.
"TheLaramie Project," writtenby these
¯ actors as well as otherTectonicmembers
including founder Moises Kaufman, was
drawn from their interviews with more
than 200 people. Yet it is more than just
,docudrama. It is a story of feeling as well
¯
as fact. Each gets its fair share of stage
¯ time, grounding the evening in reality
¯ without sacrificing the emotional intensity
of people trying to deal with their hopes,
¯ fears and prejudices.
¯ What makes "The Laramie Project" so
¯ intriguing are its shades of gray. Nothing
is simple. There are no easy answers in
coming to terms with Shepard’s death.
¯ Kaufmanandctmpanypresenta variety
¯ of memorable portraits culled from their
taped interviews. There’s Reggie Fluty,
¯ thepolicewomanwhountied Shepardfrom
¯ the fence post. As vividly portrayed by
¯ Mercedes Herrero, Fluty is a vibrant
¯ woman, confronted with something so
¯ horrific that she says, at one point, "They
¯ show showed me a picture.., days later
I saw a picture of Matthew... I would
¯ have never recognized him."
¯ Equally unnerving are comments from
Rulon Stacey, spokesman at the hospital
where Shepard died. In Greg Pierotti’s
intense performance, Stacey breaks down,
¯ watclfingthecourageofShepard’sparents
¯ as they confront their son’s death. Pierotti
also gives weightandan emotional honesty
: to the commonsense statements from a
¯ priest, Father Roger, who decides to get
¯ involved in leading a vigil for Shepard.
What ties the townspeople together are
¯ their efforts to understand. As the doctor
¯ who first treated Shepard when he was
¯ broughtintoaLaramiehospital emergency
¯ room says,"This is something thatoffends
us. I used that word a little earlier and I
¯ think that’s a good word. It offends us!"
Stephen Belber excels at two of the
¯ showier roles in the play - particularly a
¯ tough-talking taxicab driver who
¯ epitomizes the "live and let live"
¯ .philosophy that threads its way through
." the speeches of many of the many of
¯ people interviewed.
¯ Right now, "The Laramie Project" is
¯ still undergoing changes. Thirty minutes
; were cut from the play after the .first
¯ preview. Even now at two hours and 45
minutes, it could use more of a trim.
: Shepard himself is not a character in
¯ "The Laramie Project," but his presence
¯ haunts the play. It hovers sweetly yet
sadly over the entire proceedings, as well
¯
as the town he loved so much.
That is only appropriate. As one of the
residents says at the end of the evening,
’¢I’he last thing Matthew Shepard saw on
¯ this Earth were the sparkling lights of
Laramie, Wyo."
Lesbian Survey Results
In the past two years, you may have seen an
amlouncement about a study on how "Lesbians and thei?
sisters are similar or different." This mmouncement
appeared in 200 Lesbian mad Gay/Lesbian periodicals
(including Tulsa Family News). It was also sent to 614
Lesbian/Gay religious orgamzations; 105 Lesbian bars:
54 women’s bookstores; 346 cmnpus Lesbian/Gay
Bisexual/Transgender groups; and 83 groups listed as
"’etlltlicimttlticul tural."
Tiffs research was conducted by Esther Rothblum, a
liprofessor
of psychology
at the University
of Ver-mont, who
studies Lesbi~m igsue~.
She was interested~in
how Lesbians mid their
heterosexual sisters
differ on demographic
factors.
For exanlple, manv
studies about Lesbimas
have found them to be
highly educated, not
very religi,ous, and
livi~’lg in l:u’ge cities.
Obviou_’~ly, this does
not describe all
Lcsbia~, but there
mav be reasons why
Lesbimls are differeut
flom women iu the
general U.S.
population.
.... eontrlbutes
to [Lesbian]
demoSraphle
factors?
¯ .. }-][ere are some
speeulatlons:
- Hi her
education
may result in
beeomln
Lesbian . . Y
For example, Lesbians may move to large cities to find
other Lesbians, to moveaw@froth their parents and their
politically conservative home town, or to be more
anonwnous. Similarly, Lesbians nmy have high levels of
education bccanse they didn’t get married innnediately
after lugh school, or didn’t have clfildren at a you age.
In this study, Rothblunt conipared Lesbians’~vith thei?~
sisters. Unlike members of other minority groups (e.g.,
African-Americans, Jews, inunigrants), Lesbians (mad
Gay men) differ m one importm~ respect in that their
sibhngs me generally members ofthe domimmt gr0tq~
(hctcrosexnalsL In the case of biological sisters, thex
would share the stone race m~d etlmicitv, and have had th~
s~une parents. The\ mav also bc close in age. So tiffs
method would allo~, vou’to exmnine the lives of Lesbimls
side by side with sistel.s who m-e not Lesbian.
A total of 1,2(~- questiotmmres were requested bx
email, telephouc, or mail. mad 762 of these were retullmd.
Ilcrc are the results of the 184 sister pairs iu which one
was Lesbim] mid the other \vas heterosexual:
- Lvsbians arc older thm] their heterosexual sisters.
- Lesbiaus are also more likely to be first-bores when
looking at ages of all l)rother’s mad sisters. (This is
interesting, because research on Gay men has sho~vn
thcnt to be younger sons.)
- Lesbians have higher levels of education th,’m do diet r
heterog~’,~Ual sisters.
- Heterosexual women are more likely to be
homemakers than their Lesbian sisters. There ,are no
differences in other types of employment status, or on
occupational level.
- Because Lesbians have higher educationM levels,
they would be expected to have a higher individual
income. Still, Lesbians mad dleir heterosexual sisters had
similar individual mid fanlily incomes.
- Heterosexual women were part of formal religions iu
adulthood, whd’~as L~lSfan~ Were mtte likely to endorse
altenmtive spiritual beliefs.
- Lesbians were more likely to be living with a female
partner or living alone. Heterosexual sisters were more
likely to be married, li vh~g with:a,~ale p.,?r,mer, m~d living
with children
- For those wonlen . in a relationslfip
with a partner (121 Lesbians ,and 149 heterosexual
women), heterosexual women have been in this
relationsltip for a longer time period ( 11.4 years) than
Lesbians (6.87 years).
- Lesbians were more likely to be"]iving in a large city
than their heterosexual sisters.
- There is no sig~fificant difference in how many years
sister pairs have been living in their current location.
- But Lesbians live further from their previous location
than do heterosexual sisters.
¯ by Dave Fleischer
: Senior Fellow, Policy Institute
¯ National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
¯ As ourcommunity faces anew wave of Millennial anti-
" Gay ballot measures, it would be easy to be fearful about
¯ our prospects. After all, eight out of twelve votes on
¯ homophobic referenda went against us in 1998 and 1999
¯ alone. Yet the shocking thing about our cotmnumty
¯
losing so many elections is that we actually "know how to
¯ win them.
What effective strategy
¯ persuades voters to stand
:-, with-us? After six years
¯ training Gay, lesbian,
¯ bisexual and transgender
¯ (GLBT) leaders around the
¯ country to run for office and
¯ manage campaigns, I know
¯ it’ s when we "come out mad ¯
talk" - engage voters one-
¯
on-one and ask them what
¯ they think.
¯ Vehen we do, the fuzz)’,
unflattering image of us as
¯ oddities from an X-Files episode dissolvcs._ Voters
¯ reconsider who we are and are much less likely m fall
¯ for propaganda that makes us out to be something we’re
¯ not.
Just as importantly, what proven strategy identifies
¯ voters who are already supportive? The very stone
¯ conversation. Because when we do "voter I.D.’" -askiug
¯ each voter "Can we count on your vote’?" - we build a
¯ reliable list of Gay and pro-Gay voters to whom ~ve can
¯ return, to turn out our vote, election after election. Since
¯ many of our strongest supporters often miss clectious, ~vc
_. lose without this kind of follow-up.
Making a voter I.D. list isn’ t glamorous, but it makes or
¯" breaks our campaigns across the country. Maine offers a
useful case study. In February 1998, fineGLBTconmlunit3
¯ lost Maine’s state-wide law bmnung discrinlination ou
the basis Of sexual onentation. It had taken Maine leaders
ten years to pass the law: die Christian.C.oalition erased it
ten months after it passed, despite a vali-anl battle bv our
How did we lose? The New York Times post-electiou
analysis was ~ shockingly clear. It quoted a Bowdoin
.: College professor with 25 years, of Maine polling
¯ experience, who said, "Maine is no more mtolcrmn than
¯
other states, and given a well-lq_ln "gay;-rights- c&mpatgn,
would likely split into tw.o canlps, with 55%. supporting
’Gay rights’ mad 45% against." A well-rim cmnpaign is
built on turmng out its base. The low turnont of pro-Gay
voters cost us the election.
How did the Christian Coalition tuna out ~ ts supporters.
¯ when we couldn’t? They prepared for the election by
starting tQ identify their voters well m ad\m~ce. Eigl~t
months before electiol~ day, the Cln’istian Coalitiou
gathered 58,000 petition si~latures to call the February
1998 election. They began the cmnpaign With the name,
address and phone number of 58.000 voters who they
could turn out to vote.
Pro-Gay activists started withno sitnilar list. We cotfld
have- m November 1995. voters across Maine defeated
ml m~ti-Gay measttre. But the "95 cmnpaign didn’t talk
with voters oue-on-ouc to idenlify our supporter,s. Of the
221.562 people who voted with us, our comnmnity eudcd
"... eight out of twelve votes on
homophoble re~erencla went-a.~M~nst
us in 1998 and 1999 alone.
Yet the shoekin$ thln$ about our
eommunlty losln$ so many eleetlons
is that we actually
hnow how to win them . . 7’
the canlpaign -l~aowing the
nmnc. address and phone
number of fewer than 3000
Gav.and pro.Gay,voters. - -.
X\~ began the" 98 cmnpmgn
with 30(~) on our list..versus
58,000 on theirs. Whc~
e]ectiou day ’98 crone, wc
lost by 7.299 votes, bccansc
83,409 who voted wiOa us in
"95 didn’t ttma out to vote
again in "98. We lost Ihal
election, but we shouldnt
lose [le~’l - so long as
lcmn from theexpencucc.
For cxmnple, wc will likely fnce an anti-’Gay repeal
vote just like Maine’s m *’liami-Dade Couutx The
upconm~g cmnpmgl~ is hatmtcd bx the one wc losl [111977
It Anita Brvaut"s "’Save timChildren" cauapai~n
Fortunatel y, key leaders in SA VI ~ Dade, the local lmlnan
rights group, Jorge Murstfli. Shcila O’Fmlell, Gcore
Kctclholm. mid Griscl R~xlrigncz, have begun to bnihl
their list. By lcachiug lcssous flom other canq)aigus, thcx
have motivated their vohmtccrs to talk face-to-face
VOleI’S.
On July 29. SAVI~ l)adc had its biggest voter I
success v~t. In twelve hours. 300 volunteers had facc-tofacc
couversations with 4.909 voters. SAVE Dadc has
~dreadv built its list to iududc 15.000 Gay and pro-(~a
vol~rs.
Ofcourse. 15.0(~) i s not cu~)n~ h. ’l’bc Chfis finn ( ~o~ d i u
will begiu their cmnpmgn with a lisl of 33,000 SUpl)ortcr~
of their own. Ihe number ol l)ClH~on ~igllaturc~ Ihc~
to put lhc issue on lhc ballot
Butdm SAVE l)adc strategy to invite our fi’icnds to Ihi
election ~s a winning one. On July 29, as they realized
what they had done and bcguu, Shcila O’ Farrell c-nmilcd
me: "’Well. Dave. you szfid 6.000 and I laughed. You ~aid
30 phonc bm~k~ with 10+ vohmtccrs m~d I rolled m~ c~
And tomght we exceeded any expectations I ever had
do you kuow what? 1 guess that trap we teach rcall’
woi:ks~ I think 1 had quit bclicvmg thal Thanks
cliallenging mc "
In tough elections, there is uo SmUt Claus. XVc have
~lOW who our friends ;u’c if we xv~uit to win:’]’o klloXv xx
they ~u-c, wc have lo ask. onc-oll-OllC. Then wc C~l~
thai List mid check il twice - and win the Iougla election.
that lic almad
- Lesbimls live flirther from their lnother :rod from thcilfather
than do their heterosexual sisters
- l~sbim~s have moved to fl]cir CUlTent locatiou because
of their oxvn cducatiou. I [ctm’oscxtud women have movcd
to their cu~ent location because of their partuer’s job.
- Lesbians have higher self-esteem titan do their
beterosexuM sisters
-There are at differences bet~veen sister pmrs ou any
measure of mentM health (such as depression, m~xietv.
etc,)
z Lesbians and their hEterosexnalsigters ~e 6x~ctlx the
san~e average height (5 feet 5 inches) but Lesbians w~igh
more (161 lbs on average) than do hctcroscxn~d sisters
(143 lbs). -Lcsbimis are more likel~ to have been in
l)sychotherapy than their heterosextu~ sisters.
- Both sisters tend to have heMth insurance, but
heterosexual sisters are more likely to have health
insurance through their parmer, and to have dental
lnstlr~lce,
hnplications:
HeterosexuM women ~e more like census data of U.S
women than are Lesbians on: m~age, living wifl~ rome
pm’tner Ctfildren Religion ~ucation Population density
Convelfience smnples of~sbim~ flint fiud that I ~sbim~s
live in l~ge cities, ~e lfighly educated, have a lo~v
income relative to education, and may not be religious,
may~morerepresentative ofthe ~sbians who p~ficipate
m Lesbian communily organizatious ~md c\cnt.s
What is it about being a Lesbian that contributes to
dcmoglaphic factors? llcrc arc some speculations:
13cing older and firsl boru may result in Increased
education.
- Not bciug mmTied or havi~ tg children at a yotmg age,
living Mone and/or not beiug in a long-term rclationslfip
umv. result iu highcr education and geographic mobility.
tli~hcr education may result iu becoming I.csbimi
- Liging in l~ge cities nmy expose women to l.esbian
" d0nmlfinifies. ............
Wlmt is it abont being a Lesbian that contribntcs
mental health and other factors’? Ilelc arc some
specu.lati ous:
- Do l.esbians reln~fin<~m~l:byedin order to mmff}ain
hcMth insurance whereas liet:~ro~eXnM lnm’ried
can become homenmkers due to their husbands’ 6cncfits?
- Are Lesbiaus less focused ou weight and appearance?
Or do heavier young women become ~sbians m~d!or
increase edncadon becanse of fewer dating or relatiouship
options?
- Does Lesbians" greater use of psychotherapy account
for dmlack ofmentM hemth differences between ~sbians
(a stiglnatized group) and their heterosexnM sisters?
- Does belonging to a supportive conmm~fity account
for Lesbians’ higher self-esteem
A
Newspapers Refuse to
Print PFLAG .Listing
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A family of weekly
newspapers distributed free to 126,000 Central Coast
households and businesses has created an outcry over
its refusal to publish news deemed favorable to Gay
orpro-choice viewpoints. More than adozeneditorial
employees of tWO of ~he papers have quit since the
policy came to ,light last week.
The papers, which circulate in San Luis Obispo,
Paso Robles andAtascadero, have beenhit with about
400 cancellation-requests. Earlier this week, about
100 people protested outside the County courthouse
in San Luis Obispo, some carrying signs that read,
"No Bigotry. in My ~owa,’:
: The c~rttro~er~y:ste:r0s from:a ¢:ommuuity calendar
listing; for~ Parents, Friends and ~Eamily~0f Lesbians
ahd ~ays~ Bisexuals .and Transgendered Persons,
which ran in the’Atascadero Gazette from Nov. 25
until Feb..17.~’=That’ s whe,n the paper’s editor, Ron
Bast, wa~ ioid tlie chain S owner had 6rdered the
listing pulled.Bast-said he was told there were to be
no storie~ tli~ ~lit~ed Gays or abortioninafavorable
light. He has since quit, saying he believes the paper
has failed in its mission to provide unbiased coverage
of the community.
Civil rights acavists, meanwhile, said theywere
appalled at the action ofcompany owners Mary and
DavidWeyrich."Hehas th~ fight todothi~ofcourse,
¯ incorporating as a nonprofit organization, outlining
: possible programs and figuring outhow to pay for the
¯ gathering place.
: Travis Blackwell, 33, co-chairman of the planning
~ committee, said he hoped the center would be a place
¯¯ for anyone to getin touch with the Gay community.
"And I hope it will raise asvareness, understanding
: and tolerance for the lesbian, Gay, bisexual and
transgender community," Blackwell said. "That’s.
one aspect. Theotheris actually having a central place.
where we cau all be safe and meet and take part in
programming and workshops and things that better
each of us as well as our community as a whole.’"
Gay centers across the country offer everything
from soccer leagnes to medical services, counseling
-and day.care. Although cities nationwide of about the
same size as-Charlotte have had. them.for years, no
other North Carolina city has a center, qocai ;Gay
leaders ,said.
In 1996, Mecklenburg County commissioners cut
arts funding after a local production of the Pulitzer
prize-winning play "Angels in America," because of
its homosexual content. And last year, Samantha
Gellar won a contest for young playwrights in 1999
with her story of two women who meet on a bus, fall
in love and share a kiss. The contest sponsors would
not allow it to be performed, saying its subject matter
was not appropriate for the festival’ s middle and high
school audience. .
United in
God’s Love
MCC-United
Sunday Worship Reverend Cathy Elliot
11=00 am Pastor
623 N. Maplewood 9181838-1715
" ~ i" f"~ .........
Community Unitarian Universalist
Congregation
at Community ofHope
2~Lg South Yale, Sundays at llam, "/49-0595
A Welcoming Congregation
hnttheparttliatupsetmepers°nallyisthathehadaI MiSSiSsippi Lawmakers
representing this as atmecommuuity .newspap~," Move to Bar Adopbons said Robyn Murphy, past president ~of.the central, i
Coast Gay and.L~bian Alliance. . .... i , , . . ; JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi lawmakers
The vtfeytichs m-owned billlioard giant Martin.i moved, to bar Gay couples from adbpting children
Mediabefoxe thecompany wassold fo~$610 mi’llion, with a Tuesday debate about morality and the fea~ of
great deal of support starting out because he was
HOUSE OFTHE HOLY SPIRIT
Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am
t... ,~,~,~ ~,,. :rt..,~..,, u~,~. ~ \Ve~,~,~ : e~ag homosexuality. The executive director Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm
Wim,~v Tlu~_v mtMi~ho~l a ~lat~mt~.nt ~,i Ihe~r ° Of~Misst$$1[~!. ~list Cofl¥1~aUon Boald teld a
p.mt.os.op.n.~.tn..re.ce.nt.e.m.uoUS.. .t.n..c. issu~c ~nas ¯. ~Hou.s~e su.b..c-m.n.:m.m.ee..th.at.e.h¯iidr©n rinsed
~,:~z,’~n~’~’~ ~1~ U~ith ;nt,~orilW mtt4 ~ih0 tnd~ Wifl~ - ¯ Ilomosexuals 0~i10,1~ more mt~v to ue troy.
.... ~:~..~.~ .... ............. ¯....-, ..... ~ ...... Opponentssmdtheyfeareddieadoptionbanwould ’ ~ " [
....=~,, v~v,,-- " ¯ ’ ** * " ..... " ...... v....................... Licensed Professional & National Certified
~ ~ .... ° " ....¯ "- -;: = ;’d -~ ; onentauon =s irrele ant m adopttons; .... ......
uast ann omer mrmer stm;ers Sma mey m not , ¯ ,~,~-~; t,^^,,_:,,= ~:=,~:.....
editorial content of the publicattons when theylbegan ¯ . _~ :_ ,t.~. r... u..... ~. a:.~. -
m.~t.rj.ous, xnep,a~e,rs,ue~g~o:p~p~nexntgmt~t~.um ~r,: Barber said he eame to the Capitol on behalf of a Aft~l"Hours AppointmerltsAvailabl~
wire iwo more scneameo . . . , , .
................. s saidthe : Gaycoupletrymgtoadoptachild ‘They re upstanding 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 21.5, 745-1111
Wevrichs ar~ notdictatino content. iuSt our ¯. etuzens~ ~neynappentouenomosexna~ -notrelevant.
philosophy, which has ~. d~ from day one."
"The staff onboard has a dear understanding of the
Weyrichfamilyandtheirvalues," he said. "Inpublisher
meetings throughout the pastmonths,wehave covered
these topics in depth."
He said-the Gazette papers, which promote
themselves with the slogan "Hometown Journalism
at its Best" on the bottom of each front page, also
refuse advertisin,g from nightclubs and tobacco
companies. ~’We ve picked.up 13 new advertisers
because of this," Hansen said. "We’ve received 400
e-mails this week that arejustpo,sitive mid supportive.
Pemple resiXct,,us for’what ~ve ve Said ~and that we
stand up for it.
One observer says the debaie has at least one upside
- forcing residents to discuss the meaning of the First
Amendment. ’YI’he idea that free speech and a free
press is being discussed is extremely healthy,!’ said
Randall Murray,a California Polytechnic,,U,niversity,.
San Luis Obispo, journalism professor¯ While not
embracing~Weydchor..his,views, ~ereali~.Lhat he is
peffecdy secure to set editorial policy. Rather than
impose on him ,o,ur editorial policing, the remedy is
coUnter-speech. " i ’ ~: "
Charlotte Gays Plan
Community Center
CHARLOTTE (AP) - Charlotte, the city that has
drawn national attention in recent years for its anti-
Gay atmbsphere, could have its first-ever community
center for Gays as early as 2002.
The Community Center Planning Committee will
spend the next six months scouting for a location,
¯ They would make good parents," Barber said.
" The Rev. Jim Futral, the Baptist leader, said by
~ allowing Gays to adop,t., the state would encourage
¯ homosexual lifestyles. These kids will be influenced
¯" in a way wedon’ t want them tO beinfluenced," he said
: during the hour-long meeting. Rep. John Reeves, RJac.
kson, the subcommittee chairman, said the bill
was not meant to punish Gay people but was "trying
to do what’s right by the children." Rep.. Gary
Chism, R-Columbus, said legislators should be
concerned about children and "we shouldn’t place
them. in a lifestyle that’s unnatural." "It gives an
indication to thatchild that this is aproperrelationship,"
Chism said.
Mississippi is among five states this year debating
legislation over adoptions, by Gays, according to
Hector Vargas,’a lawyer for the Washington-based
National Gay and Lesbian TaskForce~o,The others.are
. Hawaii, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah: vargas
said judges’ rtmin consideration "should be whether
or not the parents are a loving couple and can provide
for the child." "
The bill also says that the state will not recognize
¯ adoptions by Gay couples in other states. That
: provision could be unconstitutional, Vargas ~id.
"_ Several states have been sued over policies banning
¯ Gays from adopting.. Only Horida statutorily bars
" Gay couples from adopting.
~ Robin Lemer, staff attorney for the American Civil
¯ Liberties Union in Mississippi, said state lawmakers
: shouldbe worried about crime committed by children
¯ who grow up without families. ’‘The greater issue is
" how can we best raise children to be good adults," she
said.
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Outreach Program Thurs. Nights
Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment
Call for meeting limes and place:
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.... . 9413E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145
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Trinna L. W. Burrows,.LSW, ACSW
Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy
(918) 743-9559
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Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518
The Pride StoreV
1307 E. 38th, 2nd.floor
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743.GAY S (743-4297)
6-D prn; Sunday ~ Friday
12-D pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the Center
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The Episcopal Church Welcomes You
Georgia Hate Crimes Bill
ATLANTA (AP)- Several hours after Palm Sunday
seryices ended at Red Oak United Methodist Church,
parishioners found themsdves watching from the
cemetery outside as the ehnrch was Consumed by fire
set by monists. "I stood there in the graveyard with
mymembers, singing while it burned down," saidthe
.Rev. John W: Pace, pastor of the black church in
Stoekbridge. ’ It was hopeless. We could not stop the
fire."
Pace says his congregation was victimized by a
hate crime. And he wasn’t alone in asking the Hons~
~ J~.di~ary C0mmitte,elo appr~ove stiffer penalties.for
cn.mes .~lotivated by race, religion, gender or sexnal
onentataon.
Committeemembers also hear~~rom arabbi whose
-synagogue was vandalized and a Gay mm~ who was
assaulted with a knife at his throat. "Terrorism has an
impact both on the victims and an .impact on the
community at !arge," said Sen. Vincent Fort, DAtlanta,
~e bill s author. "Hate crimds are terrorism
because of that fear."
Barron Segar,.a professional fund-raiser, told the
committeehow he was~surrounded by eight menafter
-leaving aGay nightclub in Atlanta:in 1992. One ofthe
men grabbed Segar from behind and helda knife to
¯ But Rep. Dan Grossman, D-Denver, and other
: oppo.nents said the Vermont Legislature appears to be
¯¯ moving towardrecognitionof ’~domesticparmerships’’ rather,than same-sex marriages. The final vote came
¯ after opponents argued it was a simple attack on ¯
homosexuals. "Thebillis nothingmore than something
: based on fear and I think it is an irrational fear,’"
: Grossman said. "What horrible thing would happen
: to us. It s gratmtous and mearisspirited:’" ~, - :
¯ Supporters denied that. "It’s based oh the
¯ accumulated wisdom and experience of cultures for
¯ 7,000 years," said Rep. Shawn Mitchell, RBroomfield.
"We alwayshave i:ecognfized as-self-
!eviklent that marriage i~s~joinih~dfopt~site m~mbers
:~ .,o~ the human species." Pas~hail !said ~h~ Offered the
measnre as a reiriforcement OP’gootl publicpolicy."
Gay Teens Ask.
,Peers For Tolerance
MIDDLETON, Wis. (AP) - Cal!ing.for an end to
harassment and narrow-mindedeess, a group of Gay
and Lesbian teen-agers and their friends,is trying to
¯ persuade a majority of teachersand students to sign a
p edge ..calling for tolerance_ 9.f ~students of all
hi.s .thro.at. "This is what we do to (Gays)," the man i b~k.:grounds and persuasions..! .... : - . . .
,:v, s;xtut.d~,:~uxs~i;n~g:;.a~n.~,=e.~.p,i.,t.~h.e=t..f~o.r~~=h2o~~.a,:,;o,_s~.e:.x-~u..a.l.s....~~:.e.~a.~l’,t.~~k.e.r...¯ , ~ndse,y.Clough., one of t.he s.~,d.e.nts o~g.amzang the - ~.,.~.~.~;mto ~g~uuuu mau-m¢ men scattere~; u o pma- ge0~,o~ nve.~ stud _s_he. ~dent.do.;~~ es-w...i.m... the GaY
hves-w~th;’me~erV day: tstilt~liaTe=iti!~h~es,’’ ¯ coun~.l!mty m. part tw.eause a ~e friend of her
;Sdgari~"dt~B~ifhly~~ttaek~dis d0h; ( Tli~se~’~r~ed tw~ : family lost a partner to AIDS.. 8hedeS..eti’bed, her
" W~eks mtail ...... ..... " ,, ~. childhood as extremely difficiilt~ .r and said she has
:: :;~ Rabbi;,TS.= ¯Robert Iehay of ~-Coni~te~ati~ix:,or: found. ,Goys and.lesbians to be’,~’0_~e.~0f the most
: VeShalrmre~lled:h0w ~e synagog~e.~ ~D~I~alb. ¯ und..d.~smnd.ingpe°ple I’ve met in.~y~|ifei:r .
"- C0tmtv ~ag vandalizex~1~4,e~;ffi-th~ag~iV",~ai~t’~ " ] ne stug~nt ~oup says its goalis to get most of the ¯d .. - , .r..’~ ¯ M ~1-~ ¯ " ,-~ " ¯ ::Nl~ri:sw~ligas~dthewords~bloodsuek~r~~ ot~b~t~ " : school s 1,600 students and 200. teachers.to s~gn a
,~Sihee’thetL~I~l~ysaid,:the c0n~i~galion ~~-had:a ."-pled~e’.~f!~lerance andinthe.p~to~e~at the
police.om~atev~’serv~ce~unetion=indMing_ i s¢.h~l a~qepts a!l students.....
weddings .iWe~sleepat¯ni~ht;’;hesaid::"Bat~livavs ~. :rng~schoolisoftenaprimepla~efor~a.ystudents
" t~i.tll;an.e~ie :6~,, .in case~°omea,~,;; k~,,,~a,,~ ,,,-: -~ : ¯ to be dbused, accordimz to a reoort last. Year bv the
" Fort~s bill ¯passed -the Senate,bv~jttst’two~rtes ~ Gay,...L~,~fib!an and Strmght Educatto.n Network. The
-. ~arlier thi’s m~nth, Thebi!t~,a!lr~S.~n~es to ii~se -. gr°up~,~9_Yed teens in32 states imd f~un~ that 91
percent of Gay and lesbian teens reported
up to five years in cases Where.~ey determine the : "homo.phobic" remarks at school and 69perccnt said
victims were chosen because of race, color, religion,
national origin, ancestry, ei’hnicity, gendei, disiibility
or s~xiial 0dentationl ...... .
COlorado -Ban-on
Gay Marriage Advances
DENVER, (AP) - A marriage.between, one man and
one woman would be the 0uly uniOn r~cogni2ed as
.legally validby the state under a’bill approved by
House lawmakers. The House,-which approved the
.measureon a 36-29 vote; sent it to-the-Senate, where
-it- probabl.y wDuld :pass,.,according to Sen. Mark
Hillman, R-Burliugton. Senators approved a shnilar
proposal earlier this inonth. Gov. Bill Owens has said
he.would sign the bill if approved by the I eegislature.
In its original version, House Bill 1249 would have
authorized courts to enforcenbnee0n0~nic provigions
of prenuptial ¯contracts Spousoring Rep; "Mark
Paschall, R-Arvada, succeeded Monday in.stfippi.ng
all language from the bill-and substituting it with
provisions to ban same-sex.marriages and to ensiire
the state, would not recognize S,’une-sex marriages
,pefformedJoutside~tsbordet~: :=:~ ,:, ~,,
As it did Moilday, the Hbuse on :ruesda) .rejected
a motiOn ,to~ send the bill to- the:House~:Jddiciary
Committeeforapublic hearing. Moderate~Republieans
_. on.. that, com~ttee.lastl v~ab joined.~t~b~rats in
kiliing a-’.similar;bill2 Coni~nitteemeinb~sargued~hat
they should be allowed.to, giv~ ~the-bill a(public~
hearing; but Paschall and other supporte,,r.s~ said¯ the~
-concept l~as :had extensive public input.
obvious, transparent attempt to kill the bill, said
House Majority Leader Doug Dean; R-Colorado
Springs.
He and other supporters said the measure is
necess.ary to avoid forcing Colorado to officially
re¢ogmze same-sex marriages performed elsewhere.
Supporters said a recent ruling by the Vermont
Supreme.Court called for legislative action on samesex
mamages, and that action could mean official
recognition of such unions.
¯ theyexperieneedsomeformofharassmentorviolence.
" Patrick Kelly, an openly Gay freshman, said that
while Middleton tends to be more accepting of Gay
: students,thanmany otherhigh schools, there is always
¯ room forJmprovement.
¯ "’ LisaAarli, a teacher who advises the student group,
says she has seen great enthnsiasm over the pledge
¯ event. "It’ s given a lot of kids someflfiug to Nab onto
for a lot of different reasons," she,said. :’The kids on
¯ the margins ,are being pulled into something big m~d
¯ prayerful in tke school." . ....
¯
said he beieved the l~gislature sliotfld be.as.inclusive
¯ as possible in the bill nmv, rather th,-m have to face
~ such questio~m agMn some other, time. "My persom~
¯ opimon is I don?t wm~t to have to.go t~ough ins for
" another reason. I don’ t want another ~gislature to go
" tl~ough ~s," he said.
Little wo~d prefer to keep tfie_~co~.e:.’of the bill
focused on the Gay and ~sbi~conples who sued for
" the fight tomTy in the fi~st place..~at’s ~vhy the
qivii d0m~l[¢.u~on bill~so~eloselyznfi~ors~age
¯ statutes. ?We haven’t seen ~y, eviOence that people
¯ that ~e.bro~ers and sisters, bro~ers ~d ’bro~ers,
" sisters: ~d sisters seek to eslablishthe:s~e,.Nnd of
" : inti~m~ -~i!~~:ha~e~felt~th~
discfi~fio~~their efforts toestablis~$~ly
: u~," ~tfle sMd. ’~e desi~ of the ~iIl, we hope, is
" to ereate~ a NNo~on" ~vherN~e~ ~ n6-~:~ateriM
¯ ~ ~, 7 " -~ ~’ ¯ ~:,..~ =~ .: ~:.~;,~ ~,,,~ : ~. ~:~.~ . ¯ff~en~ between ~fir~age-~fl domeshc"umons)
~d t-herefore no consti~utionM differe-n~’~between
" ~ tWO."
. However at a r~ent Repub]i~ S~te Co--tree
: meet~g, Ve~ont Republic.s rejected, at least
¯ tempos]y, a push by the p~ty’s state chM~,
" Pa~ck G~, for a ConsdmdonM ~en~ent
" supporting opposite-gender m~fiage o~y, The
¯ pro~sM stated ~atbemuse ~e state Supreme Court’ s
: derision in B~er v. State open~ ~e door for s~e-
. gender m~age, ~e OenerM Assembly shoedbe~
¯e pro~ss of ~en~ng ~e constitution.
’4,
JeSSeJackson
Get H!Y Test
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Rev. Jesse :
Jackson stuck a cotton swab between his ."
cheek and gums Thursday to demonstrate :
how easy it is to take an oral test for the ¯
virus that causes AIDS and to encourage ."
other black Americans to be tested. "
’q’he crisis has not left. It is no longer "
fron.t-page. It’s not gunfire. It’s not ."
cocame, crack or heroine. It:s not gang ¯
warfare," said the civil rights leader, "
speaking at the Max Robinson Center of "
the Whitman-Walker Clinic, in one of the ¯
capital’s poorest neighborhoods. "But
nobody is safe," Jackson said. "I want to "
send amessage to everyAfrican-American :
that does not know his or her HIV/AIDS ¯
status to get tested." ."
Jackson, who said he had taken a blood "
test for the virus years ago, took the newe~ ]
oral test to draw attention to the issue as ¯
hundreds of people gathered in ¯
Washington for the Johns Hopkins "
University 2000 National Conference on
African-Americans and AIDS¯ ¯
Theresults ofJackson’s testate expected "
to be ready Saturday but, as is common :
practice, they will remain confidential. It ¯
was-not immediately clear if Jackson "
would release results of his test. "
Blacks make up 13% of the U.S. ;
population, but they account for 57% of ¯
all new HIV infections detected and nearly’,.:
half of all cases of full-blown AIDS, "
according to the Centers for Disease ;
Control and Prevention. Additionally, ¯
more treatments have become available, ¯
but AIDS deaths among blacks increased ¯
45% between 1991 and 1996, even as ¯
mortalityamongwhites decreasedby24%, "
statistics show. "
Jackson .called on the president, first :~
lady and leading presidential candidates
to set an example by submitting to testing,
noting, "The first issue is to remove the
taboo and reststance to testing."
Patent Could Block
AIDS Research
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A feud between
two groups of researchers over who owns
the rights to a gene helpful inAIDS therapy
threatens to slow the development ofnew
drugs and treatment, The Los Angeles
Times has reported. Maryland-based
HumanGenomeSciences securedapatent
earlier in February ~hat gives it a 17-year
claim on a gene that apparently controls
how AIDS begins infecting its victims.
However, thebiotechfirm only isolated
and decoded the gene. Company officials
acknowledge they had no knowledge of
its use when they applied.for a patent in
June 1995. Agroup ofacademic scientists
say they were the ones who proved the
gene could be used tO explain why. some
people repeatedly exposed t6 HIV never
develop the disease.
Meantime, the patent, gives Human
Genome Sciences control over who can
use the gene in commercial,devel’0p~ient
of new AIDS drugs, potentially limiting
the practical use ofthe academic research.
The ownership decisionby the U.S. Patent
andTrademark Office outraged the group
ofacademic scientists whosay thebiotech
firm co-opted their discovery.
"If the patent office awards a patent to
someone who clones a gene, even though
they have no notion of its function and no
real idea of its use, that would be like
saying, ’I found a fungus, therefore I
should get credit for penicillin,"’ said the
University of Maryland’s Dr. Robert
:Gallo, Whoheaded the group,of academic
researeher~ studying HIV infection.
That group and several other
independent researchers learned in late
1995 that the gene is a so-called "viral
receptor" that the HtV virus attaches to.
They also discovered that defective
versions of the gene generate a protein
that suppresses infection by preventing
HIV from attaching to cells. "The
likelihood is that this is the molecule that
needs to be used for the virus to go from
one person to another," said New York
University’s Dr. Dan Littman, who also
contributed to the academic study.
William Haseltine, chairman and CEO
of Human Genome Sciences, maintains
companyresearchers did extensive work
isolatingthe gene that justifies the firm’s
ownership of the patent. Haseltine said
thepatentwill notimpede outsid~ research,
adding that the company is making the
gene available to academic researchers at
no cost. He said the patent will only stem
the unauthorized use of the gene for
commercial purposes.
AIDSactivists havereacted withvenom
toward the company, which they accused
of capitalizing on the suffering of others.
"’These guys are the robber barons of the
geneticage," saidGreggGonsalves, policy
director of the Treatment Action Group, a
New York-based AIDS lobbying
organization. ’q’his is not about making
progress on AIDS; its about making
money.’"
Meantime, the U.S. patent office plans
to enforce new guidelines in March that
would require applicants to better
demonstrate the function and usefulness
of discoveries. Officials at the National
Institutes of Health, however, complain
that the new regulations fail to go far
enough.
i Clinton Plan May
¯ Benefit HIV Postive
¯¯ WASHINGTON (AP)- In an experiment
that could significantly, expand federal
¯
benefits to patients with the AIDS virus,
~ the Clinton administration is allowing
.. Maine to provide Medicaid payments to
¯ people are HIV-positive but do not yet
¯ have AIDS. Previously, patients could
; notqualifyuntil theyhadfull-blownAIDS.
¯ Health Secretary Donna Shalala said ¯
Thursday that Maine would be the first
¯ state to offer such a plaff,"whichcan give
." more people living with HIV access to
¯ promising therapies.’" Several other states
: are looking at offering a similar plan,
¯ officials said. "Betterresearch, prevention
¯ and treatment is helping people with this ¯
¯ disease livelonger, healthier lives, even
as.we continue our search fora cure," said
~ Shalala at a conference on black people
¯ with AIDS.
¯: Recentstudies have showfl that the early
use of.AIDS-fighting drugs can slow the
." disease and increase life expectancy.
However, many people with HIV
¯ _generally do not qualify for Medicaid,
¯ which provides health insurance to low-
" income Americans, until they have
¯ symptoms and are considered disabled." ¯
Without the plan, "the Medicaid
¯ program was in the untenable position of
¯ having to wait until someone grew so sick
¯ with AIDS that they became disabled" ¯
before treatment and drugs conld be made
¯ available, said Francis Finnegan, Maine’s
¯ Medicaid director. ¯
¯ The state’s five-year demonstration
projectbeginsinSeptember.Tobeeligible,
¯ a participant must be HIV-positive and
¯ haveanincomeofless thanabout $25,000,
¯Timothy W. Daniel
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pregnant women and the elderly or
disabled with incomes below the poverty ! the 37-year-old mayor mused:about
level were eligible for assistance. The surprising twists and turns in his life. "It’s
benefitpackage will indudedrugtherapy,
office visits, lab services, case
management, hospitalizations, mental
health and substance abuse services.
About 1,300 Maine residents are
infected with HIV and 350 have AIDS,
according to the Maine Bureau of Health.
The new waiver will allow the state to
offer treatment to about 300 people who
couldn’ t otherwise afford it. Officials said
the early intervention is expected to reduce
the need for costly hospitalization and
prevent addi tional infections.
Nationally, about 900,000 people are
infected with HIV, a third of those with
full-blown AIDS, said Kathryn Bina, a
spokeswoman for the federal Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. A third
of those whose HIV hasn’t progressed
into AIDS, about 200,000 people, don’t
know they have the disease, she said.
Claudia French, acting executive
director ofAIDS Action, a national AIDS
support group, said more states need to
ad’o~t suchaplan. ’~roday’s announcement
will prolong the lives of low-income
Mainers with HIV, but we want all HIVpositiveAmericans
tohave access to drugs
that could keep them from developing
full-blown AIDS," said French.
’Shooting Gallery’:
to Open in Sydney ¯
SYDNEY, Australia (AP)- This nation’s :
first experimental heroin "shooting ¯
gallery" will open later this year in a "
former pinball parlor in Sydney, the
Uniting Church, which will run the 18- "
month government-approved trial, "
announced at the end of February. "
The Site in Kings Cross, a suburb :
notorious for drug use and prostitution, "
has been approved by New South Wales :
police and the state’s health department. :
It will be run by an expert on AIDS and ¯
aim to provide a clean, safe environment :
for addicts to take their drugs. "Our
primary aim in operating the medically
supervisedinjecting centeris to save lives,"
said Uniting Church spokesman Rev.
Harry Herbert."
New South Wales state premier Bob
Carr said he understood concerns of local
residents who have fought to prevent the
gallery being opened, but said it would
help improve public health. "We think it
mayhelp save lives and get the problems
out of the streets of Kings. Cross into a
medically-supervisedlocation,’? Cartsaid.
Thecenter’ s medical director Dr. Ingrid
van Beck said about 200 addicts would ¯
use the center to shoot up when it opens, :
possibly as early as July,, just weeks "
before Sydney hosts the 2000 Olympic
Games. .
United Nations drugs experts this week "
condemned "shooting galleries" but
authorities in Sydney and two other cities
have said they will forge ahead with plans
to open them.
Want to get involved?
Need to get tested for HIV or
a Coming Out Support Group?
Call 743-GAYS (4297)
Tulsa Gay Community
Services Center
1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor
the
: ~a strangejourney," he said,, shaking
¯ his head. "I started drugand alcohol abuse
: when I was around 10," he said.
¯ The drug and alcohol abuse worsened
when h_e was a teen-ager having conflicts
with his policeman stepfather and
struggling with the emer~ng realization
that .he was Gay.
"I joined the military when I was 18 to
escape a lotof things, and because I wanted
~o be somebody," Stewart said. "And, I
onestly thought that in the military, I d
go straight. It didn’t quite work out that
way. I found more Gay people in the
military than I’d ever known."
His eight years in the Air Force brought
him to this city of 21,000 on the shore of
Lake Champlain. When his tour of duty
ended, he started driving a tractor trailer.
Then came a drug and alcohol relapse.
"I fell flat on my face," Stewart said.
With the help of a network of friends,
Stewart struggled to overcome his
addictions. "I sobered up on Dec. 14,
1988, and I’ve been clean and sober ever
since." It was the recovery process that
led Stewart out of the closet. "I was 26
years old, sitting in the basement of a
church at a recovery meeting at 1 a.m. on
New Year’s Day. I said, ’I can’t stav sober
!,f, I .keep hiding the truth,"’ Stewart said.
It lifted a huge burden. When you live a
lie, you suffer the consequences."
Backin the eabofabigrig, he considered
his furore. "I wanted a sense of inclusion
in the system, having a positive role,"
Stewart said. He got involved with the
AIDS activist group, ACT UP, handing
out condoms on the street. His activism
ultimately led him into mainstream
politics.
Of roughly 500,000 elected officials at
the local and national level across the
country: about 180 are openly Gayand the
vast majority are Democrats, according to
the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a
.Washington-based group flint seeks to
¯ increase the number of Gay and lesbian
¯ public officials. "It’s hard to overstate the
. value of having outstanding opeul3,,’ Gay
~ and lesbian people in public office, said
¯ Sloan Wiesen, a spokesman for the Gay &
: Lesbian Victory Fund. "When Gay and
straight legislators are working together
: on less contentious issues, like education,
; health care, or fixing roads, people are
¯ more inclined to stand up f0rfairness
¯ when a nondiscrimination issue comes
: up," Wiesen said.
Stewart hopes the national attention he "
¯ en.j,,o,ys,by .virtue 0f,,b~,ing aGayRepublican
Will neip the city. I m invited to all these
events - the State of the State address, the
State of the Union. It gives me the
opportunity to get the message out that
Plattsburgh exists, and we need" things
here. A lot of people around the country
want to help, because they want to see me
succeed."
Stewart does have some regrets. 0~e is
that he never worked up the courage:to
talk to his mother about the fact that he’s
Gay before she died in a car acdident four
years ago. "I was making visits to the
White House on Gay issues, but I was
afraid to talk to my own mother about it.
It shouldn’ t have been that way," Stewart
said, his voice trailing off.
Another regret was that he taunted the
boys who wanted to go to the prom at
Cumberland High School.
see Mayor, p. I1
TWO REVIEWS AND A MUSE!
[love John ~Villiams’ film scores. I
really do; they are sweeping, grand things,
alwaySsuitable for driving to, especially
the S~.Wars and Indiana Jones scores¯
Hedidagreatjob.on 1979’s
Draciihi, d~ea~iiig, an
o~atie score that soared
andswooped al,ong with
Dr~c~ffd~tly..It s my all=
score.- too :bad it h~Snot
been reissued comp!etdy
as some of his others have¯
What happened was, way
backwh~,scores were not
released in the version
heardin the film. Williams
was 7::..notorious for
rerecording .chopped up
bits~iof, his: sc0~ds, edited
t6gethdri .....ahogether
diffe~gntly ~ft0ffa~the film,
aadrdea~edas the ori
mdtifnpicture s’dundtrack
qt is a nice thing to
wish for
peace ~ndha~mony
amm~.~p~oipl~
I wonder if it will
’ever kappen. ~
One can, only hope
that. Deganawida
will come along and
help create a world
that engenders
with .a just-too~tight cardboard Slip case
covenng the CD case mid the thick liner
notes abit too tightly, so that getting die
blasted tiring out is enough to prejudice
your listeafing experience (childproofCD
cases?).If you’re a purist
and a Williams collector.,
.this is for you. If not, well,
rent the film.
~ .Jomme~he~mndoahhas
a uewirelease out,and it is
well worth seeking out mid
buying. A member of the
Wolf Clan of the Oneida
(Iroquois) Indians in New
York, Joaame has put out a
:number of bestselling,
award-wi~ufing CDS that
arejustincredible tolisten
to (Orenda, ~Matriarch,
Lifeblood)¯ She_has a
lovely, clear,: bell-like
voice that .Ires an intimate
quality to it that can’t, be
:beat. Sheap,,l~ffed in Peter
Whnt~.y0a ggt Wasnot the laarmony anaong Buffet.t" S y Spirit,:- A
s0u.fidi~,.a~(.~,er~annoying d-f- ¯ ~,, " 1 ’~.- .- Jotmley in,Dance, Drum,
to~p.ufiS.~!, b.uLa reerea.ted
~re~ng~ peop,es_~. : ~ .-m!d:,~oug",,:-and opened
.~rms.~...ash:..o[~,hat rmght ’ : :.. " :~ :;. ’- ~Wo.odstock ~94. :She:~has
ha~g:~n~n!h9 soundtrack at somepoint~ ;. beenailed~-aa!~i-ve Ameii.can:yersion of
In!re.a~..~ ca~_e~.,, this was disap~ointing, ~; Enya,:.a.1,.lhough; L.~eall~-!-hiak.,that’s
This,~beguntochange,firstwithpufists ,~ ,c,ompari~g:,oa.pl~e~.:,~,d,+,oranges.
rais~g~:S~jhenwithrecordcompanie,s : Pea~gmai~er,_SJoameyr:i:sanenchanting
,a,ct~[yt,iste~nipg. The score to Williams - r ~lbmn:, wi~h beautiful~melodies. Iti~ sung
Close-Eae0unters of the 3rd Kind".was ~ in her~nativg~Oneida Jaaguage, and- the
one::of .the. first to be remastered and ~ liner;aotes~.~conta_;n the :story. :and a
rel~:witli all cues (music bits) int.act.. ¯ trans!afioa:~into:English of:/he lyrics: It is
~di]s:reallygreat~sincemuchofw.hat , the.p~effeet:~bumt~li-ght~some,oandles,
mad~ the sou~dtrack~so great were ~CU! : and relax -~ith, with-its genre :melodies
¯ ."~" ~. " ’: : "- ’.~ ’ ~ ’6 --~ ....~z ~-~ ~ ,:~-~-~,~,~-,. ,~;’,’::-, ,~:’L~"~’J-~ . ~nta~t. ~twas also great. Then the S-.~y~ i,. mumc,-ofLtl~ ~f~ri~:~ of,~.lroqums
V~$i ~l~gy was. released with:.,t..b.~;~: Co~f~%~li~x~i~ihg,~t6~er-~ter
sou~atra_~ks"intact. That was beyond"~:~ many.:cemu~eS-ofW-~;-~-tli~M61iav~k,
wonderful. Now, Rhino records has ~ ~Onei~;.Onoiidaga, Cayuga; Seneca; and
released, something score purists have " TuscaroralndianNations.~’Peacemaker’s
desired since-the film came out: The
"Superman". soundtrack, complete, and,
no pun intended, uncut.
Great in that the quality of sound is
incredible for a score recorded in 1978,
great that the record companies are
releasing complete sets ofsoundtrack CDs.
Notso.hot after a listen and the realization
that Williams copying Williams is not
really worth a 2" CD set, because almost
every cue on the two CDs (despite what
the liner notes claim) is almost lifted note
- for.~ note/from Star Wars. Oh a few
sequences are rearranged, but "Luke
Skywa~ker!s~" i.Theme" is clearly
recognizable in one cue, and the original
openingnotesfrom"StarTrek" are audible
in another; in.what one might surmise to
beatributes,Williams borrowing ofthemes
is nothing new;’,many classical references
abound in Star Wars; but to blatantly
borrow so much from oneself is just
lazi~s~’~ ~:of.. li.ke~a~in~;i’~Well, I
don~f~[lik¢i~ri~ti~t,g~~,,w.hat
can r.borrow from the .~,~gltv~l,~ear~
S~n~.~ays,~eco~zes. T0,~,fair,
m~be~h~J~.t d~dd’"~h~,~e-lmucl~ tim.e .~d
that. w~- tiieifio~t practic~i, s01ution~- ai~d
maybe-theirwas why a fully complete
score was never released.
Still, it’ S a pleasant listen, especially if
you recall the thrill of Christopher Reeve
in blue tights and hotpants fondly, as I do.
Who paid attention to the score? I must
say that Rhino has done a fine job on the
remastering; the sound quality is, as I
said, incredible. The packaging is odd,
: Journey isdedicated-to children
¯" everywhere and to th0se striving forpeace
¯¯" betweenpeople andharmonyfor all living things.
¯ Peacemaker’ sJourney tells the storyof
¯ Deganawida and Hiawatha, who smv the
tribes warring ambngst themselVes, and
: sought to bring peace and harmony to the
¯ people~ -Relationships ~etween the tribes
¯" had deteriorated into constant war, blood
: feuds~and revenge killings. In danger of
: self-destruction; the Iroquois were saved
¯ by the sudden appearance ofa Huron h01y
¯" man known as the "Peacemaker."
: Deganawida (Two RiverCurrents Flowing
; TogetheO re.ce~yeda vision from the
¯ Creator of peace’and cooperation among
". all Iroquois.Apparently he was hindered
2 by either.a language or speech difficulty,
:... but :~ganaw,ida~ ~eaxttialty,, w:o~ ~the
¯ support of Hiawatha (.Mionwatha - He ¯
Makes Rivers), an Onondaga who had
~ beeo~n~..~:;Mg~aw.~:~ar~ ~i,ef. With
:: t.h~irfighiiii~Mdjoin i6~th~inale~i~ue.
: ~~end tdiS~fii Degan~widablotted 3ut
: thesun"t;6:~dh~,~il~:tfieS:’,elucima~t;’~,i~oi~r
¯ eclipse, visible ’ih(upstate New York
." occurred in 1451 suggesting another
~ possible¯ d~t~ for these events. The
¯ formalion ofthe League ended the warfare
: between itsmembers bri~ging the Iroquois
: a period of unprecedented peace and
¯ prosperity. It also brought political unity
¯ and military power.
: "Peacemaker’s Journey" will be
~ releasedMarchT, 2000. seeAmuse, p. 11
The University of Tulsa
The Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay & Trans Alliance
presents
ANiOKLAHOMO PROMO 2000
2-’~ightSi.~~di’,~y ~f:C£11~loid Scintillation
B+~n+i’:~,+++~m+~:~+~*~@+~;~;Chi.~olls, and Out of Se~on
Friday, Ma~h 24, 7- I2:0~ midnight
.GOd Shave (he Queen,Watermelon Woman
Indecent Acts: O~car Wilde, Cynam, P~t~ in Motion,
and C~sh
Sunday, March~ 26, 2-7pm
Different for Girls, All Over Me, Under Heal, and
Our Mom’s a Dyke ,.+
Chapman Hall Theater, 2835 East Fifth Street
: -. :’- ~.: (not~the+:Alleri~Chapman~Activity Center)
Eas{ of Delaware Avenue on the University of Tulsa campus.
Please look lL~r rainbow flags to lead you in off Delaxvare Avenue.
¯ Thi+ ex;+fit is offered in +6iijunction withomyn,~&
Hentage-Month. Actlvtt~es.
P!.eg.s,e=,<+c~+ntact,..~g. J~6~s~+~at’ 63.1~:~3 i:!5 to make arrangements
for accessibility, accommodations.
A
Jurnpin ",
Singin " .
Movin"
and Groovin"
Good Time!
Warren Vach4
and the
NEW YORK CITY ALL,STAR BIG BAND
and direct from London!
THE JIVIN’ LINDY HOPPERS
Sunday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Chapman Music Hall, 3rd &.Cincinnati
Tickets: $15,-$20, $2S,
*Includes post-performance swing dance
’ Discounts a~aihble ~or~gr6h’p~ and’ ~tudents
Call: 596-7111 or Outside Tulsa:~1-800-364-71il
"Online:.’Rrano.tulsapac.com
Tulsa PerformmgSA~s Center Trust
Holland Hall
SCHOOL
MIDDLE & UPPER SCf-IOOL TESTING (GRADES4 - ll)
PRIMARY SCHOOL TOUR (AC~ 3 - GRADE 3)
PRIMARY SCHOOLTESTING ~qDERGARTEN- GRADE 1)
To reserve your place, please call the
i Admlssi~n Ot~ce at .,t81-1111, exte~i~n 25 t.
5666 E. 8 Ist Stre~J~.~ Bet~eea~le.& Sheridan ~ Tulsa ~ www.hollandhalLorg
HSllatid Hall admits q~lifid’~studm~i ivfit~ ~egard to rat6 sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, or physical disability.
Church,of the Restoration
Unitarian Universalist
11 am, Sunday, 1314 North Greenwood, 587-1314
by Mary Schepers, Do-lt-Yourself-Dyke
There was your DIYD, on her knees,
aching, throbl~ing~-on the verge of tears -
wondering why her mouth says "yes"
when her brain screams "No, no, no!" No,
gentle readers, we are not revie~ving the
DIYD’s-latest forays into courtship, but
~rather her most recent
Volunteereffort to help out
a friend in need. As you
accumulate handy skills
..~and .-become geuerally
perceived as arather useful
indiv:idual, expect to be
asked to help out others.
This is quite fair; after
all, most ofus, your DIYD
included, have accumulated
skills and learned
lessons (someti~nes not
positive ones) from those
who:have helped us on our
ownprojects: Quidpro qu,o
is a conunon currency tn
the world of home
improvement; the student
evolving into the teacher is an apt, and
expected, metaphor. -
" In short,_darlings;give backwhat has so
generously been shared.withyou~Orbegin
ficcumulating favors(that can be repaid
later in yourown moments Ofdire need:It
is common proffer; it is cxpected,~and it’
is honorable, and as sly as your DIYD
may seem, she is absolutely honorable..
Therein lies the.theme; the exemplar.
and the moral of our m0nthlytale. Listen’
closely and ieani from yore DiYD.-And
remember that this is a. cautionary story;
not a vehicle for blame,unlessR is your
poorDIYD’S~ whodidn°taskforsufficient
"There was your
DIYD, on her
knees, aehln~.,
thr0bhi O;on the
ver~e o~ tears -
wonderln$ why
her mouth says
’yes" when her
: infomiation before promising her vast
¯. array ofskills, tools and energy to a friend
: The particulars of die story ,’ire not
~ important. What matters is that a favor
¯¯ was asked of the DIYD - to help lay tile.
¯ Rule number one: if the task at hand is one
that you are not only good at, but have a
particular vanity over,
watch out! You m’e very
susceptible! Alld the
DIYD is the tile and grout
di~’a. Having refitedevery
c6nv~i~tionatstiffaeeinher
liouse, she finds herself
wonderizi~,7 Liii unguarded
moments, whether the
garage or the front porch
could, benefit from the
tasteful application of
ceramic tile. She was, m
fact, ripe for the phscking.
She graciously agreed.
Wlfich brings us to rule
nmnber two: agree on and
set all the parameters
around the proposed
! project befom.taldng it On: For those o,,f
you.whoshudderat theword "bom~dafies,"
¯" find a word thai works, b~t doi t~ al!ddo it
: thoroughly. This not only protec.ts you
~ from unpleasant surPrises, but the party to
i whom you are lending assistance aswelE
Nothing can sour a friendship like an
: ~tmisin4¢rpretedand goneaw.ry. ’
: Both sid~ should knowwhat is expected,
¯ ’ what wil! actually occur, ~hat amount of
¯ dme is involved, how~.much work is
: inv61vht, hoW much each person is.
: responsible for, and~ whatthe fairexchange
will, be. Any changes should be
E comm,tmi.¢ated u~ front:..,., ." _’ .’," "
50 New-Books at the Library
by Barry Hensley
Tulsa City-County Library
Over the last few momhs, .the Tulsa
City-Cotmty Libraryhas acquired dozens
of recent tides of interest to the gay
community. Cheek your local branch
library for these dries, or call the Readers
Services department at 596-7966.
LESBIAN FICTION
Shy Girl by Elizabeth Stark
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
Hers 3: Brilliant New Fiction by Lesbian
Writers
6th Sense: A Cassidy James Mystery
by Kate Calloway
Bogeywoman: A Novel by Jaimy Gordon
Lost Daughters by J. M. Redmann
November Ever After by Laura Tones
The Other Woman by Ann OiLeary
The Vintage.BookoflnternatiomdLesbian
Fiction
GAY MALE FICTION
Breakfast with Scot by Michae! Downing
Comfort and Joy by Jim Grimsley
Justice at Risk: A Benjamin Justice ~iYnkStSelriypbbyyJoRhintaMCiorregsain,Wilson
Surrender.Dorothy by Meg Wolitzer
Minions of the Moon by Richard Bowes
Capital Queers by Fred Hunter
EveryManfor Himselfby OrlandOudand
His 3: Brilliant New Fiction by Gay
Writers
LESBIAN NONFICTION
The Queen of Whale Cay by Kate
Surmnerscale
TheWhole Truth:A Case ofMurderon the
Appalachian Trail
by H. L. Pohlman
Monologues and Scenes for Lesbian
Actors by CarolynGage-
Janet, My Mother; and Me: A Menloir of
Growing Up by William Murray
Baby Precious Always Shines: Selected
Love Notes by Gertrude Stein
Lesbian Health: Current Assessment and
Directions
My Lesbian Husband: ALandscape ofa
Marriage by Barrie Borich
Hunting the Witch byEllen Hart
ApplesandOranges:MyJourney Through
Sexual Identity I~y Jan Clausen
RestrictedAccess: LeSbians on Disability
To Believe in Womem ’What, Lesbians
Have Done for America by’ Lillian
Faderman
GA~ MALE NONFICTION
How to Survive Your Own Gay L~e
by Pet~ Brass " .
VulgarFavors:Andrew Cunanan,G’ianni "
Versace, and the Largest FailedManhunt
in U S. History by Maureen Orth
Crisis ofDesire by Robin Hardy
Love in A Different Climate
by Jeremy Seabrook
Finding the Boyfriend Within
by Brad Gooch
When It’s Time to Leave Your Lover
by Neil Kaminsky
see Read, p. 1:
by Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D.
"Faggots !" I was sitting inmy car talking
to my friend Errol when I heard the word.
One of ErroF s cantankerous neighborsno
pal, obviously - had barked at us as he
marched past the car. I didn’t know
whether tO feel outraged or amused. It had
been a long time since anyone "called me a
name, at least publicly. Sticks mad stones,
I thought. And did I really mind being a
faggot anyway?
Still, the hairon my neck Stood up.
Rude slurs are good e~idence of the power
of words. Even-if 0nly symbolic, words
have an ~mpact. Some words ,are deeds.
Linguists study "’speech acts" that shape
or change the world. Utterances like "I
promise, "I apologize," "I resign," or "[I
name you] faggot!" have serious
consequences (as anyone knows who has
been "pronounced" man or wife).
Language can’carry either a positive or
a negative charge. Both sacred speech and
profane speech are dangerous. In many
religions, no one knows the name of god.
Or even where onedo..,e.s; the deity’ s name
is never uttered aloud, Magical words can
change the world. The secret word
"sesame" opens the cave. Abracadabra
pulls the rabbit from the hat. Uttering a
sacred name can have unintended
consequences. You might wake sleeping
gods. It’s safer to steer clear of charged
labels.
A similar sort of ritualized avoidance of
naming characterizes many kinship
systems around the word. Son-in-laws
never pronounce the personal names oftheir
wives’ parents, and .vice versa. In
other societies, brothers and sisters avoid
¯ in public? Who can use which word, and
¯¯ in which context? "Gay" and "Lesbian"
have recently become broadly accepted
¯ terms for homosexuality. Some have also
¯ attempted to revaluate "queer."
Revaluation succeeds when the labeled
¯ themselves embrace a slur as their own,
defusing its negative charge. Thus,"Queer
Theory" is currently being taught in
¯ Ameficau umversities.
Then there’s "faggot." Faggot, as a
negative homos’exual label dates back
¯ onlyto 1910, although it was used as early
¯ as the late 16th century to slur women. In
¯ fact, a number of today’s Gay slurs -
¯ including the term "Gay" itself- were ¯ first applied to women. A "Gay" woman
¯ in 1650 Faagland was a prostitute. Robert
¯ Scott’s Gay Slang Dictionary (online at
http:/!~vww.hurricane.net/.~vizard/
19.htnfl) lists 156 synonyms for"fag" mad
¯ more appear else~vhere in the dictionary.
(Scott also has 37 terms for "Lesbian.")
These include Spmfish-derived’~maricon"
~ and "’pato," French "tapette" (although
¯ pede ~srmss~n~),~dd~sh fe~,ele, and
¯ British/Australian "poofter." Then there
are the more obscure "’cot betty,"
¯ "daffodilly," "fu," "whoopsie boy," and
"uffimay" - "muffie’" in Pig Latin.
~’Faggot,’" unlike "Gay". or "Queer,"
~ still remains impolite. The ~vord is
¯ dangerously profane.. Not many of my
¯ academic colleagues are willing to teach
¯ courses ~in "Faggot Theory." But the profane is always close to the sacred.
." Because of its charge, "faggot" is more
¯ hurtful but also thusmore useful indefining ¯
who and what we are. When we name
¯ each other by the word, we make a strong,
each other’, s names like hot potatoes. ~ pt~blic claim to belong to a shared world
Anthropology suggests" that such ¯ .~oFfaggotry. So, still sitting in ~ny 4,’if; I
"avoidance relations" smooth over areas
of potential social conflict.
Negativel5 charged words are equally
powerful. The profane also carries a
wallop. A curse c,’m kill. The villagers I
lived with in Vanuatu were always fearful
when someone spoke evil of thegn. Even if
someone swore without thinking, in the
heat of an angry moment, the ancestr~fl
ghosts ufight hear and punish the person
who cursed, or the person who ~vas cursed.
or both.
Sociologists of the 1970s formulated
what tlaey called "labeling theory?" They
analyzed the ways in which lal~els, like
faggot, impact both society and the
individual. Socially. an arsenal ofnegative
labels maintains power inequalities. Those
on the bottom of the social ladder shoulder
the brunt of these terms. Individually,
such slurs unavoidably tinge our sense of
who we are. Like muttered curses, they
can harm. Even if we are of the strong,
"words may never hurt us" sort, we still
have to take into account their social
currency:We must respond tO slurs ifonly
to deny their validity and power over us.
Labeling theory in the 1970s particularly
noticed ethnic slurs the N word, the H
word, and all those othe~ lfibels ,that~e
today t66 impolite to say. Dhrin~"~iE last
generation, American speech etiquette
(what socio-linguists call "pragmatics")
has shifted to make use of these labels
hazardous. More recently, the same has
occurred with words like faggot. In a way,
however, new politeness rules give these
words even more power than they once
had, as Errol’ s neighbormay have realized.
There is a politics of labeling here.
Whose words will become the standard
labels - the one everyone safely may use
jnst gave that !@#S% the evil-eye.
But in 1996, at a Gay pride parade in
Providence, R.I., he took the opportunity
to make ,’unends,
"’I stood tip in t¥ont of 3,000 people mad
lnade a public apology to the Gay
couununity aud the two gentlemen who
went to that prom together," Ste~vart said.
"It was very emotional." "
Stewart 1]as been criticized bv some iu
the Gay connnumty for not being more
out froht with his personal relationslfips.
He bristles at that.
"’My personal life is extremely private,"
he said. "People have a lot of gall to
impose their opinions on someone who’ s
trying to make a difference - to tell me
that because I’ ve reached a certain stature,
I have to promote some Gay agenda."
’~¥qaen it comes to being a role model,
Stewart believes it’ s more important to be
a greatmayor than to spotlight his personal
life. "Having-openly Gay elected people
gives us our place at the table mad proves
that we are just as capable as anybody
else," Stewart said. "And it helps change
people’s minds abont how to consider
Gay people in their daily lives. It’s all
about being positive in what you do."
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@Origin. 18+. Additional features from 67
!n April of this year the "Warrior in Two
Worlds" documentary will air nationally
on PBS. Keep an eye open for the exact
time and date in your area. This is a
compelling story of Eli Parker, a Seneca
Chief and a Union general in the Civil
War. Joanne wrote the sound track.
It is a nice thing to wish for peace and
harmony among peoples; I wonder if it
will ever happen. One can only hope thal
_ Deganawida will come alo~ag and help
create a word that engenders harmony
among differing peoples. Maybe then there
will be no more Gay bashing, lynching,
genocide... Sometimes, with news of
another Matthew Shepard-like case
-coming along once a week, it’s hard to
believe any change is occurring. Yet, I
watch TV, and see Will and Grace, and
many other shows that have or feature
Gay/Lesbian characters, I see films that
are about Gay folk even showing here in
the crotch of the bible belt (Beautiful
Thing, for instance) and can see a
difference. Because when I grew up, the
onlyimage I had ofGay folk were the man
mentioned in the book on birds and bees
my parents gave me at 14 - published in
1945 - that stated homosexuals were men
who hung around playgrounds in trench
coats offering you candy. I remember
thinking - in a rare moment when I wasn’t
busy suppressing, repressing and denying
- that that was what I had to look forward
to? That’s what I was? Ick. And the news
at the time, if Gay folk were mentioned at
all, "was nothing but images of the most
whacked out, far out people on the planet.
Lovely.
Now, kids have it much easier. Is it
paradise? No. Obviously not, and there
are people who are very much fighting to
prevent growth and understanding, and
raising monsters all around us. As Melissa
Etheridge wrote in her song "Scarecrow"
on the albttm "Breakdown": "’We all gasp
’this can’t happen here’, we’re all much
too civilized, where can these monsters
hide?’" She answers: "But they are
knocking on our front door, They’re
rocking in our cradles, They" re preadfing
in our churches, And eating at our tables."
And she’s absolutely right; that’s exactly
where they are. The boogeymen are out
there; and occasionally they do get you. In
another song on the same album, she
writes: "There is no marc, There are no
secrets, We all begin this race at the start,
But I have come this farWith a truth of the
heart. Deep down inside I think we’re all
the same. Try not to judge someone And
never shame. I do bdieve that people are
good. They just want hope and respect
And to be understood. Sometimes it hard
sometimes it’s strange But the truth of the
heart is people can change"
And this is true; I’ve seen it happen. Far
too infrequently, but it can happen. And
that’s the hope that can feed the fire of
change, andkeepus going whenit gets too
much. And it does feel that way,
sometimes. I had gotten to that point, after
seeing the internal strife within the
communities, as well as from outside.
How can we hope to change the world
when we can’t even agree amongst
ourselves? I’ d certainly decided it wasn’ t
worth an effort. Butmy best friend Karin,
aftermany years ofcomplainingabout the
world, has finally taken steps. To at least
make an attempt. And her doing so has
reignited a flame within me. And if that
spark might ignite another, then perhaps
the tamers of the world can unite. And
thus is hope reborn, like a phoenix frown
the ashes. And the world has changed; it is
so much easier tocome out earlier. There’ s
less a chance ofsomeone being afraid that
they’re the only one - like I did, There
were no role models. There were no out
Gay folk that I could talk to. There were
few resources available even at.the library,
unless it was reinforcement of the writing
in that booklet morn and dad gave me.
Thanks to the folks who were willing to
come together and fight and be,,,~ocal ~md
out when it was much more dangerous to
do so, the younger Gay folk do have
options we older folk didn~ t have. For thai
reason alone, the fight must continue. So
get involved, even if it’s coming out to
someone youhaven’ t yet. The only way to
dispel the lies and misi~ffonnation of the
radically wgong is to present ourselves as
we are - hmnan beings. That h~s done
more to change folks around me tha_u all
the marching and worn out footwear in
the world. And what is it that we all seek,
really? Not sex; and people who think
that’s what it’s all about are just plain
wrong. Tell them so. It’ s about the right to
love without being discriminated against.
And if they give you guff about that, just
tell them what author Lynn Flewelling
told me: Love is love.
Tuesday, June 6th, an art exhibit,
"United" will openandonThursday, June
8th, there will be a film night. Locations
and times will be announced later.
For more information about these
events, call the Gay Community Services
Center at 743-4297 (Gays). Groups who
want to enter a float in the parade are
encouraged to attend the float clinic on
March 11 from 1-4pro at the Center.
Gay Men’s Friendships: Invincible
Cotnmunities
by Peter Nardi
The Elusive Embrace: Desire and the
Riddle ofldentity
by Daniel Mendelsolm
Prayer Warriors by Stuart Howell Miller
Widescreen Dreaths : Growing Up Gay at
the Movies
by Patrick Horrigan
Victory Deferred: How AIDS Changed
Gay Life in America ¯ by Johi~-Manual Andriote
; OF INTEREST TO EVERYONE
¯ Gay Parents/Straight Schools: Building
¯ Comnfftnication attd Trust
by Virginia Casper
¯ Witness to Revolution: The Advocate
¯ Reports on Gay and Lesbian Politics
¯¯ 4 Steps to Financial Securityfor Gay attd
Lesbian Couples
¯ by Harold Lustig
Multicultural Detective Fiction: Murder
¯ from the Other Side
Outon Stage: Lesbian andGay Theatre in
". the Twentieth Century
¯ by Alan Sin.field ¯
TheQueerSixties by PatriciaJuliana Smith
¯
Gaylaw: Challenging the Apartheid of
¯ the Closet
¯ by William Eskridge
: To Be Continued, Take Two
i by Michele Karlsberg
Disidentifications: Queers of Color and
¯ the Performance ofPolitics ¯
by Jose Munoz
"- SomethingInside: Conversations with Gay
¯ Fiction Writers
CouNCiL oak meN’S c or<aLe
presents
an~eclectic mix.of.choral.literature ranging from Baroque to Broadway,
from pop classics of the ’50s and ’60s to a bawdy sea chantey
aod an American Folk song featuring the Green Country Cloggers.
Friday and Saturday, April 7 & 8, 2000 at 8pm
Williams Theatre, Tulsa Performing Arts Center
(reception following)
Tickets: PAC box office, 596-7111 in Tulsa,
1,800-364-7111 or online at www,tulsapac.com
council oak a fellowship of gay men dedicated to musical excellence in
the performnnce of choral literature:, providing a source ot"
pride, unity, and support, w;h{]e presenting a positive image
for ourselves, our community, and society as a whole.
FOR MORE INFORMATION about the council oak me~’s Cl~oI~aLe and its parent organization,
the non-profit Vocal Pride Foundation,visit our award-winning website at www.counciloak.org.
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
newspaper
periodical
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/.
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[2000] Tulsa Family News, March 2000; Volume 7, Issue 3
Subject
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Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
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Tulsa Family News
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
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Tom Neal
Date
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March 2000
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James Christjohn
Barry Hens;ey
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
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Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
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Tulsa Family News, February 2000; Volume 7, Issue 2
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English
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newspaper
periodical
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Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
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https://history.okeq.org/items/show/598
adoption
AIDS
AIDS research
aMUSEments
arts and entertainment
Barry Hensley
Bars
Bill Clinton
businesses
churches
civil unions
Community Center
Council Oak Men's Chorale
Dave Fleischer
Diversity celebration
Do-It-Yourself-Dyke
domestic partners
Gay marriage
gay politicians
Gay Studies
Greg Louganis
Harmonic Diversity
hate crimes bill
HIV
HIV testing
homophobia
injection site
Jesse Jackson
Jim Christjohn
Karin Gregory
Lamont Lindstrom
lesbian survey
marriage equality
Mary Schepers
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
performing arts
PFLAG
Pride
Raging Lesbian
Read All About It
restaurants
The Laramie Project
Tom Neal
Tulsa Family News
violence
youth
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Bishop.Spong Retires
TEANECK, N.J. (AP) - Bishop John Spong, an
outspoken supporter of the ordination of Gays and
women, and blessings of same-sex unions in the
Episcopal church, retired in January as head of the
Diocese of Newark. Spong, 68, celebrated one of his
final services as bishop at the Glenpointe Marriott
ballroom before hundreds of guests. His successor will
be John Croneberger.
Since his elevation to bishop in 1976, Spong has
raised eyebrows and blood pressures for his beliefs_
ranging from women becoming priests to supporting
same-sex marriages to the ordination of openly Gay
ministers. ButSpong, a native of Charlotte, N.C. who
speaks with the slightest ac~ut, left the diocese with
few words of controversy. "It’sjust the next stage ofmy
life," said Spong. .’,.
"Basically, I’ve been a bishop, but also an author and
lecturer," he said. "But in all ofmy ordained life, it was
participating in movements of people who’ve been
diminished in society, like people of color and Gays,
that the church has diminished where I’ve worked."
Among those present at Friday’s 126th annual
convention of the Diocese of Newark were the Rev.
Richard HollowayofEdinburgh; ~.-~- - See Spong~.p.lO
Southwest Air Adds, Non-
Discrimination Policies
DALLAS - Southwest Airlines has amended its nondiscrimination
and anti-harassment policies to include
sexual orientation, according to Chief Executive Herb
Kelleher.
The move, announced Jan. 24, came after a spate of
alleged anti-Gay harassment at the airline, which led
some Southwest employees to raise safety concerns.
The tensions boiled over when Southwest Airlines’
Pilots’ Associationpublished ahomophobicletterfrom
one of its members in its December newsletter.
The letter, by Capt. Gary S. Ward, urged Kelleher to
reject calls for the airline to provide domestic partner
benefits saying, ’Will therebeaneedto hireadepartment
to check on who is shackin..e, t~p with whom?" The
newsletterinstructedpilots to write theirownlettersand
deliverthemto their SWAPArepresentativefordeftvcry
to Kelleher.
Dean Hervochon, vice president of the Transport
Workers Union Local 556 representing Southwest’s
flight attendants, said the publication "institutionalized
homophobia" and created a hostile work environment
that "could jeopardize the safety of all persons on the
aircraft." "If the front doesn’t talk to the back of the
airplane, you’ve got a problem," Hervochon told
WorkAlert.
Kelleher and leaders of sWAPA and TWU met Jan.
17 to discuss how to respond.TWUrepresentatives also
pressed Kelleher to add sexual orientation to the antiharassment
andnon-discriminationpolicies. Meanwhile,
the vice presidents for flight operations and in-flight
services along with SWAPA and TWU officials sent a
letter Jan. 20 to flight attendants and pilots attempting to
defusethe situation. Howcver, Gayemployees criticized
the letter as inadequate and for using objectionable
language, such as "lifestyle choices."
Then Kelleher announced the change in company
policy in a letter to all Southwest Airlines employees.
"Forsomeyears, I have explidfly declined toamendour
anti-harassment and see SWAir, p. 10
" Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families .+ Friends
Tulsa’s Largest Circulation CommunityP~perA~vailable In More Than 75. City Locations
!Teachers Credit Union: No
:-Loan for Lesbians as Couple
: Credit Union AskedAuto Dealer If They Were Gay
¯ TULSA- WhenTheresaandJoanWrightwenttoTulsaTeachers
" Credit Union, they just wanted a car loan. The women are
: expecting their second child and had found a van.at a local auto
: collection. And since they have shared checking and savings
accounts at Tulsa Teachers Credit Union, and good credit, they
: naturally went there, expecting that getting a loan would be
: relafivd~ painless. "
.i.~ ~Wlmt they experienced they say, however, was hurtful and
~; dUenmioenan(riInTgC. U,A)c, cnoortdoinnlgytroeftuhseedWtoriegvhatlsu,aTteutlhsaemTeaascahceoruspCler,eid.ei.t
: basing alOan!on their combined income but someone from the
: creditunion evencalled theauto dealershipaskingifthedealership
: staff"knew they were Gay?"
¯ And the Wrights characterized the behavior of their loan
officer, Sandy Roth as very rude, particularly about the issue of
: evaluating their joint income for loan purpose. Roth refused to
¯ look at their joint income saying it was because they are not
". married.
In contrast to Tulsa Teachers Credit Union, a loan officer at
i Tulsa Municipal Employees Credit Union stated that they accept
¯ unmarried couples withcombinedhouseholds as loan applicants,
: noting that she’d assisted at least two Lesbian and two Gay
: couples with loans.
¯ Bank of Oklahoma stated that they had not always accepted
: couples whose relationships were not legally recognized but that
: they now do so. And a senior officer at Spirit Bank encouraged
¯ Lesbian.and Gay couples to apply with her bank, noting that
: Spirit Bank would not tolerate anti-Lesbian or Gay bias.
." Theresa Wright noted that Ms. Roth refused even to look her
: in the eye when she went in to sign the loan papers. The Wrights
: noted that the dealership, in contrast to the credit union, was very
¯ nice, and that irwas the manager assisting them in purchasing
¯ their new vehicle, who said, "I’m just going to say something.
: Your bank called and wanted to know the nature of .your
: re!ationship-are they Gay?" Heassuredthemthathis organization
¯¯ welcomed everyone and also had Gay people working for it. Ms. Rpth’s su_l~’visor-at TI’CU, David Snyder refused to
comm~h~ and ref~ed’~ to Chuck Reed, ~ see Credit,p. 10
¯ TulsaPFLAG & TOHRmembersmarchedfor thefirst time in the ¯
Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Parade in January.
TOHR Receives a. $10k Grant
i TULSA-Inmid-December, TulsaOklahomasforHumanRights
¯ (TOHR) received a $10,000 grant from the Colin Higgius
: Foundation. Thegrantis for the Tnlsa Gay Community Services
: Center programming, marketing and development expansion
¯ project. Specific goals of the project include the production and
: distribution of a ommttnity referral guide, the enhancement of
_" Lesbian Connection- a program that encourages increased
: involvementfromthewomenofourcommunity, and anexpanded
¯¯ Pride 2000 Festival.
The marketing and development aspects of the project will
focus on enhanced communication and media inaterial as well as
¯ increased membership and volunteer involvement.
: The Colin Higgins Foundation is based in San Francisco,
: California. Colin Higgins,screenwriter, director and producer,
: established the Foundation in 1986. Mr. Higgins is remembered
¯ for his remarkable human comedies, including Harold and
: Maude, Silverstreak, Foul Play and Nine To Five.
: He created the Foundation in order to further his humanitarian
: goals. OneoftheFoundation’smainprioritiesistoempowerGay
menand Lesbiansby supporting community-based organizations
: that combat homophobia and foster leadership.
: TOHRdirectors indicated thatitis honored to receive thegrant
: and that they have ambitious goals for 2000 and beyond.
New Pastor Leads at
Tulsa’s MCC-United
¯ TULSA - After a number of months with an
¯ interim pastor, Oklahoma’s oldest extant Lesbian
¯ andGayorganization, theMetropolitanCommunity
¯ Church United (MCCU), has a new pastor, the
¯ ReverendCathy l~liott, whojoinedthecongregation
¯ at theend of 1’999.
¯ Elliott,grewupin themidwest, butcame toTulsa
¯ from Florida where she was invoIved with two
: Metropolitan Community Churches in the MCC
Fellowship. However, prior to working in Florida,
¯ she served a Congregation in-Rochester, New York
¯ and some years ago, was associated with the MCC
¯ in Little Rock.
Like many MCC pastors, Elliott came to the
¯ MCC Fellowship through a winding path, having
¯ become more serious about her faith while at
university. There, she joined a church that was
¯ theologically evangelical, but after a fe~v years, as
¯ sheacknowledgedbring Lesbian, she foundherself
¯ becoming involved in an MCC that was about 40
miles away. Anditwas fromthis initial association,
: that her calling to the ministry came.
¯ In a recent interview with TFN, Elliott praised
¯ theworkhernew congregationhaddoneinmerging
¯ the formerly two separate churches, MCC-Greater
¯ Tulsa and Family of Faith MCC. As she and they
¯ havebeguntobecomeacquainled, thecongregation
¯ is looking at how they will grow, spiritually and
otherwise.
¯ Some members of the congregation .have also
¯ become involved in a serious social action
¯ organization, called Soul Force. The group was
¯ founded by MCC pastor and writer, the Reverend
¯ Mel White. White, who once wrote for anti-Gay
¯ evangelical such as Jerry. Falwell, modeled Soul
¯ Force on the theories of non-violent confrontation
" for social .change of Martin Luther King, Jr. and
¯ MahatmaoGhandi.
see Elliott, p. 11.
¯ Marriage Is Civil-Rights
"Issue Says Vermonter
: MONTPELIER,Vt. (AP)-One ofthemostpainful
: things about figuring out he was Gay as a teen-ager
¯ was coming to the realization that he would never
: get married and have a family. Ed Flanagan came
¯ from an Irish-Catholic family, one of five kids,
: "four straight and one Gay," he says. His fatherhad
: an alcohol problem and"the end resnlt was that we
¯ childrenwerevery, very closein terms ofsupporting
: each other to get through that environment." His
: relationships with his brother and three sisters
: "have been very crucial in terms of all of the five of
: us surviving and flourishing," Flanagan said. "It’s
¯ a very strong presence that we all feel with one
: another and a source of important emotional
¯ support."
Trying to find a place within the Gay comrmmity
: ofthe 1960s and ’70s wasn’t easy for someone with
: such strong family ties. "That culture back then did
¯ not accommodate the id_ea,,o,f family," he said in an
interview this past week. In the midst of the Gay
: culture I felt Very alien, for that reason and others."
: Now that culture is changing, it’s "becoming more
¯ family-oriented, and longer-term relationships are
¯" becoming more prevalent," Flanagan said. And
¯ state law appears to be changing, too.
¯ Today, Flanagan sees a future in which getting
married, perhaps even being aparent, may become
: options forhimandotherGaysandLesbians. There
." may be an oasis on the horizon for people who have
¯ wandered much of their lives in an emotional
: desert. And as the first and still only openly Gay
¯ man in the country to hold a statewide elective
: office, Flanagan believes he might be in the right
¯ time- the dawn of a new millennium - and place -
". Vermont - to help bring that future about. ’~l’his is
: the course ofhistory inVermont. Here it is andhere
: I am," he said.
Fromthe windows oftheoffice 6fstate auditorof
: accounts, see Ed, p. 11
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*Chasers, 4812 E. 33
*CTg’s, 1737S. Memorial
*Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th
*Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria
-*The Mix, 2630 E. 15th
712-2324 :
610-5323 :
583-6666.
749-4511 :.
749-1563 ~
*Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square 744-4280 ¯
*St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st- 745-9998
*Silver Star. Saloon, 1565 Sheridan
834-4234
~The Storm, 21,82S, Sheridan
835-2376
*Renegades/iRainbowRoom, 1649 S: Main-
585-3405
.~Tdrl-’ BOX, 1338~13.>3ra ~° : :: : :: :’"~84~ l~3"0g "
~ ~ ’:r ,TUl~a BUsinesses, Services, & Professionals ~:
Advanced WireleSs & PCS, Digital Cellular- .. 74%1508
*Assoc. in Med. &Mental Health, 2325 S.Harvard 743-1000
Kent Balch & Associates, Health& Life Insurance 747-9506
*Barnes &Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71
250~5034
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 523 1 E. 41
665-4580
Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15
. 712=1122.
*Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21
712-9955
*Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale -
494-2665
Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria
*CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria .
Cherry St Psy_cho~eralff, 1,51~5 S,. Lew*s .581-trot
Community Cleamng, heruy tsager ;,~....., onK-~-~
Tim Daniel, Attorney 33z-~tr*, ~....-~
*Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th
*Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady
749-3620
587-2611
744-5556
838:8503
584-0337, 7i2-9379
592-O460
Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria
*Elite Books & Videos; 821 S. Sheridan
*Ross Edward Salon
Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main
*Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria
Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th PI.
Cathy Fmlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr.
Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare
*Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st
I_eanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning
Mark T. Hamby, Attorney
*Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy~ 2865 E. Skelly
*International Toms ¯
Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 151h
*Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th
David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering
The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening
*Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15
Kdly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210
*Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brady
*Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd
Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31
*Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place
Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo
*The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2rid floor
Rainbowz on the River B+B,POB 696,74101
Richard’s Carpet Cleaning
744-9595 ¯
610-0880 -
628-3709 :
8O8-8O26
742-1460
459-9349
744-7440
745-1111
341-6866
712-2750
582-3018
747-0236
582-8460
599-8070
747-5466
585-1234
584-3112
663-5934
664-2951
838-7626
743-4297
747-5932
834-0617
Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors
*Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square
Paul Tay, Car Salesman
*Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis
Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard ~
Fred Welch, LCSW, Counsding
*Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan
*Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis
834-7921,747-4746
749-6301
260-7829
481-0558
835-5563
743-1733
665-2222
592-0767
Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities
AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101
579-9593
All Sods Unitarian Chmch~ 2952 S. Peoria
743-2363
Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 "
587-7314’
Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6
583-7815
*B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr.
583-9780
*Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston
585-1201
~Chapman Student:Ctr.; University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence
*Church of the Resto~ationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314
,C.-ommunity ofHopeUnitedMethodist, 2545 S" Yale 747-6300
,CommunityUnitafian-Universalist Congregation
749-0595
Council Oak Men’s Chorale
748-3888
*Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware
712-1511
*Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31
742-2457
Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics &
Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475
355-3140
*Fellowship Congre,g. _Church, info" 58%4669
*Free SpiritWomen s Center, cm " 747-6827
Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152
918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615
POB 4140, Tulsa, OK74159
e-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink.net
Publisher + Editor: " "
Tom Neal
Writers + contributors:
James Christjohn, Barry H~nsley, J.-P. Legrandbouche,
Lamont Lindstrom, .Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers ~..
Member of The Associated Press :
Issued on or before’the 1st~af,cach~m0nth,-the enUre~contents.;
of this publication: ar6 ptrt~t&l?l~tda:~yrightl~~
T~( F~,~ N~~ ~fid may ~6t~ ~q~oducetl’,~ ~:
wholeorin partwithoutwritten~Ssionfromth~publisli&:.
Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s
sexual orientation. Correspondence is, assumed to be. for
publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed& becomes
the sole property of T~J.~~Nc~u÷ ~acli reader
is entitled to 4 copies of each edidon at ,distribution
points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248.
" Gay Pro Lifers March On
¯ Onjanuary24,2000,about20members
:of the Pro-Life Alliance of Gays .and
: Leshi.ans. (PLAGAL). did an am.P_y~ng
:,~ at the annual Marcia ior Lit-e protesung
:. the Roe vs. Wade decision on its
i nnniversary despite being .tl~¯cate_n.e.d
.: March told PLAGAL that they~.~uta no_
¯ march, s~n,,c~_, they. ,,w,ere Gay.-Now, if
:. PLAGAL closet’ed themsd~ andjust
....~9A%~e’Righ.t to t~te MarCH, an
oth groups,_w, eaUow t0.ma@be,. hind
~: b:~nners- refl~tingtheir various eiamcnes,
: organizations or states but if.PLAGA~
¯ m~mbers carried its banner, they woma
". be arrested and thrown in jail.
¯¯ This being known at the annual
PLAGALmeefngontheeveofthemarch,
" members decided to risk being arrested.
"_ After all, they reasoned it would be
hypocritical ffPLAGALhid at the March
,FHufiieVndEsRinCUennitteyr,S4o1c3ia8lCOhrags.,.PPaOgBeB85lv4~2a, 174101 - -558832--60641318 .:~ .fhoarrdLtiofebewinhcelnudfoerdoypeearnslytihnepyrifdoeuegvhetnstos
:Tulsa C.A.R:E.S., 3507 E. Admi
834Z4194 : ~-indparadeswithinitsowncommunity.in
Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st " 481-1111 ." addition, if PLAGAL bowed to the
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention,.E~_u__ca~on _ 83~8378 : 0ressmesimposedbytheorganizers, they
*House of the Holy Spirit Miustries, 3?~l,0e,,S,~%Nff~rw~oo~ 2437 .. : ~do the Gay ~)mmunity no, g.oqd..
lnt,~fslth IDSMinistries ’ ~..~6-/~-I,DI, OUU-~.~’I-z¢’~, ... By.not marching, they would be
~’l~"~mA’ted,i623 N, Maplewood - .: g ~8-~~ ~
ac~nowiedging that is was fight t~o hate
I~AMES Project,3507 E. Ad_mi,ml_ ~PI,: ..... ~, ~,~a~_~.~ ¯ and this would be a backward step.
NOW, Nat’lOrg. forWomen~POB lqotas, t,H3y :)to-o,, :. PLAGAL members do not want to be
OK Spokes Club ~cyding), FOB 9i65, 74157 . excluded from the Gay community just
*OSU-Tulsa . "
PFLAG, FOB 52800, 74152
749-4901 -
*Harmed parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 58%7674 :
Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152
*R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network
~ 749-4195
*Red Rock Mental.Center, 1724 E. 8
584-2325 ."
.O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults :
O’RYAN, ~r. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth "
St. Aid,art’s Episcopal Chinch, 4045N. Cincinnati 425-7882
S,, r~,,-~tan’s EniScoval, 5635 E. 71st
492-7140 "
~t.Jer~--~me’s P~arish ~hurch, 205 W. King 582-3088 "
*Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171
*TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225
?ulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105
Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thmsdays only
Tulsa Olda. for HumanRights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc.
298-0827
*Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule
*Tulsa Community College Campuses
*~ulsa Gay Comn;unity Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297
Unity Churchof Christianity,3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833
BARTLESVILLE
*Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353
OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN
*Borders Books &Music, 3209NWExpressway 405-848-2667
*Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907
TAHLEQUAH
*Stonewall League, call for information:
918-456-7900
*Tahlequah Unitarian-UniversalistChinch
918-456-7900
*Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360
NSU School of Optometry, 1001N. Grand
HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates
EUREKA SPRINGS,~ARKANSAS " -
Autumn Breeze Restamant, Hwy. 23
*Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main
DeVito’s Restamant, 5 Center St.
Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St.
MCC of the Living Spring
Geek to Go!,~ PC Specialist, FOB 429
Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery
Positive Idea Marketing Plans
Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East
White Light, 1 Center St.
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
*Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134
501-253-7734 "
501-253-7457 "
501-253-6807 ¯
501-253-5445
501-253-9337
¯
501-253-2776 "
501-253~5332
501-624-6646 ¯
501-253-6001 "
501-253-4074 "
417-623-4696
* is where you can find TFN. Notall are Gay-owned butallare Gay-frlendly.
becameoftheirpro-lifebeliefs andvalues, ~okmewise, they do want to be excluded
the pro-life communityjustbecause
they are Lesbian and Gay. Therefore,
despite the threats, PLAGALappegr,ex]_at
themarch,andwhenthepolicebamcaneu
. them. PLAGAL .members maneuvered.
around the police and entered the parade
further up the street marching under their
banner with the word "censored" taped
across so everyone would know what the
vords were underneath. Their decision to
ignorethearrestthreatsfromtheorganizers
was noted in The Washington Post, The
Washington Times, and several others
news publications throughoutthe counlry.
Themajority ofGays and Lesbians may
not share the briefs ofPLAGAL,but the~
shouldbeproud ofthis small group within
its community. PLAGAL’s presence was
a step toward bridging the gap between
those individuals and the Gay community
as a whole.
At the end of the march, members of
FemtmstforLife , Colleg~ates for Life ,
Catholic priests and bishops, and others
from all walks of life and religions
congratulated and thanked PLAGAL.
see Letters, p.8
An nouncements Policy
Tulsa Family News will provide space
for holy union ceremony, marriage
ceremony, birth, adoption~ .and death
announcements ona space availablebasis.
Photos are welcome, though we cannot
promise placement o~r ,re~ttEn ~e~, so
please send copies to I utsa ~ amtty ~vews,
POB 4140, Tulsa 74159. ~
¯ ~. Letters Policy :~’
i" Tulk~’Fam@ News welcomes letters
0~ issfi~:,which we’ve covered or~on
issues you think need to be considered.
You may request that your name be withheld
but letters must be signed & have
phonenumbers, or be hand ddivered. 200
word letters are preferred. Letters to other
publications will be re-printed as is
appropriate.
byChristoptterGraff " ~ Solawmakers arefaced withadivision thatis widening
¯ !dONTPF.l.lP.R, Vt,(AP)-DonnaLescoeofStarksb°r° ¯ atatime they are looking for .~...useus~s_;ReP.- T~o~. Little,
: had a simple message for legislators when she testified the chairman of the.HouseJudidary COmm;ttee, ls aman
,,onGaymmriage."Beheroes~" ~ who has a keen ability to fmd commonground and to
lawmakers tohavethe courage toextendi¯ stitch together=. divisions, He Js -a Repubfican who : the nmrriage laws tOincludeGays¯ and Lesbians. , commandS’.re.speCt.from-b.oth par.fies~:~But he seetmhaend
,r :, -~ ,,,~h, SO simule It is hard to be a hero , frustrated this past. week by the w~demng rather
bv Tom Neal, puoltflg,r & eaztor .... . u ~t ~,~,. ,~ v _:.. ..... ¯ ¯ . ohab y most non-Gry O @Oma : i .".es,the o ti=.rew.lawmakers
they had no Lesbian orGcoa:ynstfl.uents.. wmlesomeoi *_..m°nmemlle’mmma-,em. vm,.~°~-nsare.s°ucmP.".........
_,. mp ..-...~
. " w~’lling to casts: vote that
them aresimply bigots, many of them know that they- . looked _li~..e .anything bu.~....... . ouldbothdrlast.Nomatter
oughtto:~be mpportive of basic.civil fights for Gay "- heroe~ folio.wt~.g a re~,,.m " ’~f’k,, ~-~..!. f~ogn6 lavcmaker~ ~. - l~nw stron~ the evidence that
........ " " " ¯ Ilk UUIIC aaa,o ..~.~ .~--~- .~
~aUzens.’But they are scared that,treating Gay people Tuesday__ mg P, . _ _
¯ ,. " . ¯ " ’, , . " " ¯ " .. " * "
~..,faidy. ..w..a.l.l so, mc,e,nse. othvegr te:rs~.. that they., are=oft.m__:..., _h-.~,g~!tgo~-a.~a-~.t ....... not ea@-. It ~s nothln~ less dmiedthdr dviln~ghts;~t~s
~.~lhdistta~ttishfibt~ fr0in Oldalaoma R~publicans. ,,-~ ~ ~ ....shell’sn,°q~cm-a~Y-~ ~ : ~ ./ !* ..../ ....L .... - t...a f~ra leoislator to cast a
¯will be~ deaded 0n TU~da.y;Match 14th. Some 0f,the " them9bPere:!lapfs noeverr e. o[ Freedomand Unlt-~. firestormot races are dfeetivdy settled (Brady Pringledoes~have a i have .1..~0,l~.!e att_~dyd
Democratic oppon~eatbut in thai~ heavily Republican . a pum~c nearing at me " How to ~ve Gays and Lesbians :polls in November.
district, it likely doesn’t matter), but others ~ar~.. still : Statehouse.Andthenumber
unsettled. " - ~ ¯ ~ " : ¯ would have been thousands
Of particular interestto TulSa’s Lesbian and Gay - moreifasnowstormhadnot
commlmities is Cound! District 4 .for which former ~ kept many away.
.~ Yes, eye.one who spoke
And even if lawmakers
tl~elr ~xlom an~l yet preserve tl~e craft a package extending to
unity at the state~
Gays and Lesbians benefits
such as having a say in the
It is the stm~ heroes are madeo[." medical decisions of, their
incumbent Gary W~tts ischallengingcurrentincumbent parmers;theyknow therewill
Anna Falling. While _.Gay and ~tiian households a~ - wascivil.Butthecivilitydid
foundthroughont thedty~-thisdistri¢t,mosflyMidtown, ; not mask the passion: Or the division. The tremors in " be a vote on the.floor on same-sex marriage - and that
is. easily the most. heavily Gaylone.of the..dt~ For_ ~ people’s voices, a mixture of nerves .and emotion, spoke - tally, no matter what the outcome, will beused in .the fall
examp!e,jnstonornextttlny_v~;shortbloek~thereare " volumes about-the depths of feeling.~ What became " elections. " Following .the hearing it seemed m the
at least six Gay families2 . i-.~~ ~. - ,.. -. :. apparent’at theheming is thatthe two sides are moving : Statehouse timt lawmakers would like to f’md a way to
. One could argue, of course, that- Ms~ Fallingrs very -- fresher aparL - avoidany voteonthis issue this year.Theideaofcreating
nubile lan.qe., in oood iudoment onnon-Gav issues (win ~-" WhentheSupr_em~eC.o.urtissuedi~.~be.r.idec.i.’s.ion :.a special com~!ssio.n .to .craft. a solu~o~n ,~an~d .rgel~O~ht;o~ r..::-:~.,r.:-- ,, < .,r-~-.,. ..... : ~. nsband~s~ -_ sa g Gays and Lesbians are eg.~fled tP the rights,. ". law.n~Kersnex[yearmt~mgatscus.ssa.tmt _P~r.napsua~ her recycling program pu.bfic or private, her h ...... ym ¯ ¯ ¯ - - ...... . o t the
¯ n,mmdfi~oroaniTatlon arml~n~f0~nUbficfundson.which ¯ bendits and protecuons gtvenroamedcouples, e_veryone ¯ ~sjustamo.m~entar~. ,.a.nd, ex.p.ected hesitancy foil w ng
~.~’~l"~.---e7------rr:~--~, r , i . - . ,~ " .t,d--.A ~,~,~teww P,,-a~e and I ~=~h~rt~ ~.q e coul"t -" na~sion80t tile DUDIIC lleallnl~.
¯
.
.snewastovote),areenoughtopersuaaeLesmananatJay - ’-~..’2p~. ""~"*,?." ""~ .’~"..~"~’.’.’-:...l.~a~s.ed the.. .
~_~__,= _r.t.~_.,~,,t,.nm,~tttiiiX~endnnhowthedebateis
_ " ~.F2.-............¯,.;~.l,~.t~.i .r~v.r,~--..,~.t.~.n.f.~..e.-~_e.x. mam__aaoge al80 rimmed ¯ frmned m the comm~_ weeks. Opponents ll,ge me. m. p ,L. arg.en.t a.n.dl.na.ol.e .sul.tra.-e.xtr.em.e.re.ng.to.-po.n.u.co.s,.a.no..-..~,¯ .t.~, b~" ause the court di¯d not stri¯ke down the state,s .¯ are seeki"ng to" portray the Supreme Court deeimon as
her rtosuu[y Io OUr t’I1oe evenls, it s Cl~ar Inat amlost . ,a,.~..j . . . .
. . .
,,~....,,1,1 h~ ~,~tt,~ ¯ mamage laws~ Bishop Kenneth Angell calle~_, the court . some_ra.di.’.ca.l, andug,com.ttm.~fio.na).mo.ye ,F~Ve.nnon.t.ers,
~:................ -
ruling aadecisivevictoryfor.tradifionalmamage."
¯ thoughdtlshardtotmagrnet~meIJusuceJenreyAmestoY, Thatbringsus toGaryWatts. Gary,likesomeOklahoma -
Democrats is not particularly prejudiced. Like those : R seemed at that moment that legislation creating
same Democrats, he’s not shown much leadership, He : dthormouegshti.cBpuatritnnetrhsehmiposnftohrsGinacyestahneddeLceissbioianntshewtowuolds.l~ose~s
and they don’t haleus - theyjust don’.t want to deal with -
our issues. have’ staked out positions worlds aparL
,But sOi~eone"s got to.start, kno@ing that.we’ll lose the
first or five engagements but that.each time our issues,
like a city non-discrimination ordinance, or equal
compensation (full benefits for our familiesas well as
equal wages)for Gay cityemployees, or a city domestic
partners registry, are debated,the public learns. I believe
that-Oklahomans are basically fair and eventually will
respond to a reasoned argument.
And in the meantime, a fair-minded city councilor
could push for administrative changes, like getting the
"diversity" training forourpolice departmentto deal with
more than just race. After all, it’s our city too.
: Bishop An,g,ell recently-condemned domestic
: partnerships as steponetowardfullacceptanceofsame- "
¯ sex marriage" and has evenchallenged ~evalidity ofthe
¯ Supreme C,o.~_~ ruling itseLf, saying ~.his~t.o ,arms,to .
Catholics, q~ere are many sound legm minus WhO .
¯ question the Supreme Court’s authority to even issue "
¯ such mandates to the legislature.’"
: At the same time, Gays and Lesbians are saying a ¯
system of domestic partnerships is insufficient to meet "
the spiritofthe Supreme Courtrtding. Adomesticpartner "
sounds like someone who cleans the house, Jonathan
Radigan told lawmakers.
: amuchbeloved andeminentlyrespectedpersonwhois as
: moderate and generally as cautious as they come, doing
¯ something radical or unconstitutional. It was Amestoy
: who wrote the court rnling.
: Andthe hearingdidmuchtoeducatenotju~tlawmnkers,
but also the public at large. ~Vermont Public Radio did a
great service by broadcasting the hearing statewide.
Vermonters of all political and social back_groun.ds .got a
chance to hear the scripture readings, the pasmon, the
division. They also got to hearfrom the real.people whose
lives will be most affected by the legislative action.
The task facing lawmakers is noteasy. It is nothing less
than living up to the state’s motto of "’Freedom and
Unity." How to giveGays andLesbians theirfreedomand
yet preserve the unity of the state?
It is the stuff heroes are made of.
by Dave Fleischer, Senior Fellow Policy Institute
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
We love coming out - except when we hate it.
Welovereminiscing onand celebrating ourpast acts of
daring. Comingoutishow wediscoveredbothcommunity
and freedom. It’s how we found both love and a life.
But it’s hard to snmmon the energy and courage to
come out 24/7 - to ask, tell, and pursue on a daily basis.
That’s why campaigns sidestep the "G" word. When
we say~ person-to-person, "What do you think ,a,b~,ut tl~."s
anti-Gay ballot measure?", we are also asking, "What do
you think about me? Do you see me as a human being,
although I’m Gay and you probably aren’tT’
’. Most campaigns avoid coming out, way out_ They
rarely engage voters .perso.n-to-person, and of,te~, av~oid
mentioning sexual on~mtataon. Recent research oy ls.en
~eager (himself an openly-~ay candidate for office)
~uggests that57% of candidate’~ who think of themselves
as "openly Gay" don’t actually disclose their sexual
orientation to voters before the election.
Likewise, many campaigns to defeat anti-Gay ballot
measures twist themselves into p~etzels to avoid the
words "Gay", "Lesbian", or that new scare word
(rarely so clearly):
ifax
Thd challengeofbeing outhas turned us inward before.
: Look around our community. Most of our organizations
: are refuges -"safe space"- safe from meaningful
¯ encounters with straight people. We draw 200,000 to a
: pride parade to celebrate, yet only a relative handful to
¯ political campaigns to safeguard our fights.
¯ But relying onrefuges is a risky strategy. It suggests to
: our opponents that the rest of the world is theirs, and it
¯ leaves us vulnerable topolitical attack. Soplease consider
¯ afew specificcoming-outactionsthatbuildourcollective ¯
power and don’t unduly disrupt your everyday life.
¯ 1. Join acampaign where you get to ask voters one-on-
: one, preferably face-to-face, if we can count-on their
¯ votes.
¯
In 2000, California, Miami-Dade County, Florida,
¯ Maine, and possibly Oregon face ballot measures that
¯ affect your rights. If you live in one of these places, join ¯
your local campaign.
¯
If you used to live in one, make a list of everyone you
; know in your old hometown. Dig out your old address
book or high school yearbook. Ask your siblings or
¯
parents to jog your memory. I’ll bet you know at least 50
¯ people you can call. Whea you reach them, explain the
and ask if we can count on
: "Hometown Project", because it builds on the power of
¯ our relationships with family and friends, even when
; we’ve been out of touch.
: If you have never lived in the hot-spots du jour, don’t
¯ feel neglected. Make a list of everyone you know who
¯
does live in one. You must know 20 people. Send them
¯ this colnmn. Follow uponthephone.Weneedevery vote,
¯ and you will help create a new habit of doing the one-on-
" one ask.
~ 2. Host a house party to raise money for one of the
communities under attack. Invite 120 friends and
." acquaintances to your home to hear about this new wave
¯ of ballot measures. Call all 120 personally and ask each
¯ to come. You will bring together 40 people, raise a ¯
minimum of $1000, and f’md at, least six new volunteers.
¯ 3. Get training. If face-to-face voter contact sounds
: intimidating, seek out training, At the¯National Gay &
¯ Lesbian Task Force Creating Change conference ¯
November 10-14, we taught the nuts and bolts, went
¯ door-to-door talking with Oakland voters about the anti-
-¯ Gay-marriage Knight Initiative. In one evening, we will
identified hundreds of our supporters, and educated
undecided, voters.
,. rput up the periscooI~..~::~t~sgreat that our community
- but reality
In some cases, the registry document can provide
further legal proof of a relationship, Roche said. It
could come into play, for exhmple, when a Gay couple
with jointly owned assets separates.
The registry stirred relatively little opposition in
Ashland, where it was approvea by a 4-1 vote of the
City Council, Roche said. Nationally, registries have
spurred voter initiatives and lawsuits. Courts validated
Atlanta’s registry but overturned a registry in
Minneapolis, according to the Lmnbda Legal Defense
and Education Fund. The registries can be designed !o
~PP!~ ~ both Gays and t~f~rosextml~i~,as Seattle s
i~,i[~i~ ~bepurely ;~.~ml~6iic o{’~iV~ sp~i~...d
tl~e-~ ’~ :: ~ :": " ~. -" ’ .~
i .Reform
:Same-Gender Rituals
NEW YORK (AP).=-Two years after they postponed
a contentious showdown over same-sex blessing
rituals, the rabbis ofJudaism"S liberal Reform branch
will face a decision on the issue at this year’s
convention. Leaders of the 200-member Women’s
Rabbinic Network have agreed to force the issue by
submitting a resolution sanctioning such ceremonies
to the Central Conference OfAmerican Rabbis, which
holds-*its national convention, March 26-29 in
Greensboro, North Carolina.
The coqeaders of the women’s network, Rabbis
Shira Stem and Susan-Stone, said the resolution
agreed" to’recently will differ only slightly from a
proposed text the same group published in January.
" That text said: "The relationship of a Jewish, samegender
couple is worthy ofaffirmation through
appropriate Jewish ritual and. :-: .each rabbi should
decide ab0ut-0l’ficiafio-n- a~,Ysfdin-g-t6 hig/her"own
rabbinic conscience." The conference’s top two
officials had signed a January declaration urging all
American tdig~ons to normalize same-sex couples.
And a conference Sexuality study committee in 1998
.. endorSed recognition rituals for such couples.
The women’s net~brk cffes the sexuality
i C~mtifittee’s view that Judaism’s historic opposition
¯ to homosexual behavior no longer applies.
But there is division within Reform rabbinic ranks.
: The conference’s "responsa comnuttee,’,whose
¯¯ rulings guide the practices of Reformrabbis, opposed
thechangeinaT-2decision.Amemberoftheresponsa
committee majority, .Rabbi .:Jeffrey Salkin of Port
Washington,NewYork, saidReformrabbis arealready
free to conduct same-sex rituals if they want. But
Salkin fears that officially approving the practice
would"tearrdati,onships apart" amongReformrabbis,
and hurt Reform s relations ~ith otl~[r branches and
its hopes-.~fot full a-cce~tance.in {g~el?-Whatevet
happens, Salkin said; ~’We:are looking at something
that will ha¢e massive historical iml~pr~ce." ~ "-
¯ Me,mawhile, the Episcopal’Churchig~s to release
a proposal on same-same rituals within a weekortwo
Conventions ofthe Presb~[6ri~m Ch~Ch (U,S.~.) an~
United Methodist Church will also deb~!le the issue
this year. .:. ~- " ~
Gay Club Embraced at
Catholic College
United in
God’s Love
MCC-United
Reverend Cathg.E~liot
Pastor ~)
Sunday Worship
11:00 am
1623 N. Maplewood 918/838~715
~.~,~ ~ "7.-
Community Unitarian Universalist
Congregation
at Community ofHope
2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595
A Welcoming Congregation
HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am
.................. Wgd_._Bible- Study, ~7 pm
3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon
Sandra Hill M.s.
Licensed Professional & National Certified
Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist
Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation
After Hours Appointments Available
2865 E. Skelly DriSe, Suite 215,745-1111
Red Rock Tulsa- O’RYAN
Oklahoma Rainbow Y0hng Adult Network i~’
Outreach Prografn Thurs: Nights
Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment ~. .:
Call for.mee.ting tinies ~ind place: ~
918-584:2325
Mingo Valley Flowers
II
Court UpholdsPortl and
Civil Rights Ordinance
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Gay rights advocates have won
a round as the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld a
Portland ordinance against discrimination based on
sexual orientation. The court, in a 9-1 ruling reversing
a lower court, said the city had the power to give
citizens the right to go to state courts to enforce the
anti-discrimination ordinance.
Even some,of,the appealsjudges in the.majority,
tho~.igtr, ~orried-@ati tl~e~c0~ ~.i,,hav~ V~iatut~d
roofs, toward giving private partigs new..avenues
sUeiffSeateeo.ur~s overlocaHa~sx.The rightto sue-was
tthet~yi~su~-,N~bod~:oIai,m~4ltmt!hecity1aek~ ~he
~weri lx~:iid0pt~:~e-ordinanee.in~t991., that bars
disNNmati~n, i~ eniployment, housing, and public
accommodations.. ,S~te.taws against employment
discrimination don’t include sexual orientation. The
city ordinance also outlaws discrimination based on
sources of income, which is aimed at protecting
welfare recipients.
"This is a great day for civil rights in Oregon,P said
PortlandMayor Vera¯ Katz..Port.land ~.s once.agatn a
leaderin efforts to protecttherights ofall our citizens."
The case decided involved employment. A
MultuomahCounty temporaryjudge, MonteBricker,
~n .1.997 ruled against David Sims, who claimed he
was fired as a cook at Besaw’s Cafe in .Portland
because he is Gay. Owners of the business denied the
accusations and have not made a decision-on whether
to appeal to the oregon Supreme Court.
Bricker said the city couldn’t givepeopleapathway
to state courts to seek enforcement of rights under a
local law. But the appeals court said the city didn’t
exceedits authority, giving Sims the chance to continue
............with hislav~sttitin_which he.~6"nght either damages or
Basic Rights Oregon, a leading Gay civil rights
advocacy organization, also praised the decision.
"We’re very pleased to hear that the court has upheld
employees’ access to fight discrimination at the state
courtle el, : stud spokeswoman Maura Roche.
More than one appealsjudge hadmixed feelingson
thecase, which had been before the~cottrt since fall of
1998. Only Judge Walter Edmonds Jr. dissented
entirely. But four others, including Chief Judge Mary
Deits, said while they agreed with the outcome, the
court went further than necessary. The decision
"sweeps too broadly" in deciding that cities can
broaden the "duties and liabilities of private parties,"
Judge Virginia Linder wrote in a separate concurring
opinion. Edmonds said the decision violated the
concept of state sovereignty over local governments.
Oregon City/Count,y May
Try-Partners R gistry
RTL N , Or . eit: of t’ortland and
Multnomah County are ~nsiderir~ theadopdon of a
domesdcpartuefship registry as away~’prGay couples
t6 Officially iog thdr ~;~i~onships, A jOint ~registry
wotfld be ihe second ,~.::~gon ,ag_.d~ong three
dozen nationwide. In Oc~be~AsKihhd approved a
registry for s/tree-sex couples 18:or older. So did
California. Seattle has had one since 1994. And New
Orleans, Boston, New York and Iowa City, Iowa also
have them.
The registries stop far short of conferring marriage
s-tatus- on- Gay -couples= "~Bul~, it’s~ ,still-. an
acknowledgment of. a relationship that two people
who are committed to one another have," said Maura
Roche, spokeswoman for Basic Rights Oregon. "And
it’~ s away~to aeknoWiedge i-t in:a pt~bli~.forum~ which
hopefally Wi~,leadito. ~g~puh!ie: understanding
¯~at~drmi~icaneedi:BotmJ~T~] cxec~ti:ve director Of
She.-said the~Ialks are;.~.~st~p)i’~-thffright direction
becaus,e a registry represent§ a chatNejn family.
That s oae o~ the mNn..eoiicerns of Lou Bores
exec~utive ~r...e.rgtor ~:;ffae:C~eg0ii chapter of the
:.~)::: :~ais in Po~ilanO;and the na~9~’~, heL~aid:Beres added
that he would try to organize h:pmtegt~a~ainst Katz
and Naito if registries were e~(tended io homosexual
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - When Dan Neuville
started classes as a freshman at Saint Joseph’s College
in Standish last year~ the Gay man felt very lonely.
Considering the church’s stance on homosexuality,
Neuville wasn’t suq:rrised that there was no Lesbian-
¯ Gay studentorganizationlike.~ose at-secular colleges.
"Tl~ere was-novd~ere form~to go.on,campus," Neuville
said...........
Now Newzille has creati~d ~dmewhere to go.,~qaough
Catholic ze~cNag bars ~homosex~mt¢ from tam’Gage
and sexual activity, &e State’[ only Roman Cail~olic
college has:f0~-med a stude~tdub where heterosexual
and homosesua! smdcms
The Gay/St~ight
stat~ff "as
s~uden~
dozen
Jennifer B@iiton;pres~d~nt~of: the student.senate;
9413 K 31st St., Tulsa 74145
918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-444-5934
Family Owned& Operated
- - - - -- ~" ~- --7--- - - -
1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor
Tulsa Gay Commtmity Sen,ices Center
743-GAYS (743-4297)
6=~pm, Sunday - Friday..
"12-9~m, Saturday; all sales.benefit’the Center/~-.i.
Local
- --KEVIN BURLESON
Keller ~Willgams Rea!ty
712-2252
Burleson@kw.com
2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114
An Independent Member Broker
OPENARMS,OPENMINDS-,OPENHEAKq’S
Saint Aidan ,<. .Saint Dunstan
4045 N. Cincinnali,i~7882 .ii~~East 71st 492~7140
Saint John :......Td~ty - "
4200 S. Atlanta Pla~.~/42-7381 .,501: $.: Cincinnati, 582-4128
Welcomes You.
said the ~cp.llege’s administrators, staff and students
have received the new group well. "On our campus,
iwe’re open to all issues, and as students we’re
encouraged to discuss issues in society. Gay issues
are one of those," she said.
Thealliancehasmoreheterosexual than homosexual
members and is not intended to compel anyone to
endorse homosexuality, Neuville said. "We’re not a
.. ~ mili~antgroup. We’renotprotesting,pickefn,g, saying,
"Damn it, we want you to accept us,"" he said.
club
Gay on
.to talk andleam tissues
andbias against l
to make Of troths
.Saint
Straight
For the
problematic
sexual
¯ whether homosexuality is a choice or biological is
." irrelevant. "Gay and Lesbian people are not treated
." equally in many respects,’" sa~d Jane Marquardt, an
¯ attorney who donated to the Shepard scholarship
." fund. The scholarship is meant "to help a particular
." Gay student develop leadership skills, than people
¯ can realize Gay people are no different than anyone
." else," Marquardt said.
:: Gay Student Sues School
RENO. Nev._ (AP) - A former Washoe County high
i School studentclaimsWashoeCounty school officials
: failed t0 stopverbal andphysica!harassmentinflicted
i-liy classmates becaus~ h~,is.Gay... In afederal lawsuit
:. fded recendy, Derek Henkle ailcges school officials
1 : denied him~i:~te~:~.~.elofhls sexual
.. ofientation:~d ,d~died,’:.~ fr~:, ~li:rigllts by;
’: allegedly urging him tohide being ~ay. Tl~_e suit als0~
.. maizes claimsofnegfigenceandinfliclionofemolional.
¯" distress. " ’" ...... :’=. .....
: I-Ienkle:~suit is .being h~ndled.~by me:Lamb~a
: Legal Defense and Eduction Fund, a New York-
¯ : : based Gay rights.o~ganiza~on, it seeks unspecified
t .::damages, Namedas defendan.ts are prindpals;a vice
: prin~pal, a.teache~, and ~pus poSce officers.
: School district offi~:ials had no iimnediate comment.
¯ "we haven’t been served with anythin$ yet and unSl
" wedo,obvionsly we~m’tcommenton thespedfi~,"
district Spokesman~Steve Mulvenon said.
Jon
,a~Gay
.~"It’s not a conditiOn
who is
But the Catholics,
: shouidbe~
Catholic
,Derek thandled I
and
at:the-hands .of
said. call: :.Henkle
clearly what :the stated
-.Gay Scho|ershi
including students ~and faculty at
University have raised more than $50
~e. Matthew Shepard Scholarship
enaowment wil!.pro~ide $2,000 a year
Bisexual ortransg~
grade point average,.=
"I think it makes":us a,
Hinds,. a Weber: State staff member who
: a highway~
" administrators ~
At Washoe
! relatedlY
: students to
said his complaints to
lot while two campus
Davidson said the p_ri’ncipal
pcople hewas Gay.
students who
tell Lesbians and Gay
closet," Davidson said.
¯Gay Pride to.
Happen pite vatican
--~, Wyo., ROME (AP) - A Gay Pride week that comes smack
.: college studentwho was Severely pistol ’ i iirnktehdetmheidVdalteicoafnt,hbeuRt Roommane,CsmatahyoolircinHsoislytedYtehaarththaes.
left to die. The -
¯ " laws across the nation. :
."_.-i .Scho!arshiplapplieants must be a sophQ~ or :: aelvoenngtwwiiltlhbethalelo.Gw,,ae~ydptoritdaekeepvleancte,."bYutoiutmwioguhltdnobtegoa
: higher level, t~king 12 credit hours per s~es~er. A : mistake to ban it, Mayor Francesco Rutelli said.
500 to 750 word essay, the World Pride Roma 2000 is expected to bring
needs, academicperformance .: hundredsofthonsandsofGaysandLeshianstoRome
with or service to the pay, Lesbian,
Organizers are working to finalize
scholarship endowment with the
there are no applications.
"There are sexnal m~inorifies.Andthis is
"there’s a scliolarship here,"’ said
President
But
said Weber State student Niki
with culture
¯ at the same fire,the eityis overflowing with religions
: pilgrims eomingto th~Jubileemillenniumcelebrations
: calledby PopeJ0hnPaul II."Romehas amillenninm-
: old code of welcome~.and respect that won’t change in
¯ 2000." RutelEtold a city council meeting on Holy
: Year issues:,~:The. ~Vatican, which condemns
: homosexual acts but.not homosexuality itself, had no
official comment ~the July 1-9 event. Vatican
Officials denied~.~.~ that the Holy See had tried to
÷:: cgoent diitticoanncoelfe~a.-,.n~iio;~[n~,~~ti_.,thae lsooffaiccikanlso,wwlehdogeSdptohkaet tohne
Vafica was irritate, by the fact that the gathering
t~mes ~:J~ee yeax.
seeNews,p. 10
rZ
Better.Drugs i Oral Sex Not As
Equal Fewer Pills i Safe As Thought
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Powerful new ¯
AIDS drugs in development should help
relieve one of the biggest problems of
treatment - the pill burden. Over the past
four years, new treatment combinations
have revolutionized AIDS care, changing
HIV infection from a death sentence to a
disease that is treatable, if not curable.
However,patientsmustadhereto atedious
and exacting sehedule of downing pills,
.often more than 20 a day.
Now, drugmakers are working on new
drugs that require m~ch smaller doses as
wall as better versions of the old standbys
that can be taken less frequently.
Experts say that if all goes well, overthe
next two or so years it may be possible to
reduce the .pill burden to just four tablets
taken once a day. "Most drugs are dosed
twice or three times a day for a reason.
Once a day is not enough. The Holy Grail
would be to take all your medicines once
aday with as few capsules as possible. We
are not so far from that, maybe in the next
couple of years," said Dr. Eugene Sun,
head of antiviral drug research at Abbott
Laboratories.
About half of all patients who initially
respond to treatment eventually find their
virus levels rebounding, and the most
common reason for this is failure to stick
to apill schedule. Thepill-taking schedule
is more than just a nuisance. 71~ose who
miss even a few doses risk losing control
overtheir virus. Withoutenoughmedicine
in the bloodstream, HIV comes roaring
back, often generating mutant versions
that are resistant to the drugs.
Akeyingredient of mostdrug regimens
is a class of medicines called protease
inhibitors. They are often combined with
two or three older kinds of drugs, such as
ddI and AZT.
At last month’s 7th Conference on
Retroviruses andOpportunistic Infections
in SanFrancisco, doctors describedresults
of testing with new varieties of prot.ease
inhihibors. Some of these medicines are
10 times more powerful than the ones that
transformed AIDS treatment. Protease
inhibitors are by far the biggest lump in
the pill burden. Typically patients must
take three of them three times a day - a
total of nine pills -often on an empty
stomach.
In the works areproteaseinhibitors that
doctors hope will need to be taken twice
or even just once a day. One of these is
Bristol-Myers Squibb’s drugcode-named
BMS-232632. In preliminary testing
directed by Sanne, it appears that one or
two ofthese pills once aday is as effective
at suppressing HIV as the standard dose
of nelfinavir, an older protease inhibitor.
Abbottpresentedpromising results with
its experimental protease inhibitor ABT-
378, showing it Seems to work against
strains of virus that are already resistant to
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Many Gay
men consider oral sex a safer alternative
to intercourse, but a new study finds it
carries a real risk of spreading AIDS.
Even without condoms, oral sex is
widelyregardedtobe safe sex, eventhough
: health agencies have never officially
: conceded that. A new study conducted in
i
San Francisco shows that frequent
unprotected oral sex can also be risky,
." though certainly not as much as anal sex.
: "The message is not that everyone will
¯ get infected through oral sex," said Dr.
-" FrederickHechtofSanFrancisco General
." Hospital, a coauthor of the study. In fact,
¯ analintercoursecouldbe 100timesriskier.
¯ Because of declines in unprotected anal
: intercourse, therehas beenabigreduction
." in high-risk exposure, I-Iecht said. But
~ -~._~ere is still plenty of low-risk exposure
¯ tl~ough oral sex without condoms, "and
." that low risk adds up." His study found
: that oral sex was probably the cause of8%
¯¯ of recent HIV infections among a group
of homosexual men examined in S~m
~ Francisco.
¯ In the past, there have been occasional
¯ reports ofpeopleapparently catching HIV
orally. But health investigators have had
¯ difficulty being certain, since Gay men
¯ who have do oral sex also may engage in ¯
¯ other, riskier sex practices, such as anal
intercourse.
¯ Now diagnostic tests allow doctors to
¯ narrow downthe timing ofHIV infections.
¯ They were used in the latest study,
." described as the most definitive on the
subject to date. The work, conducted with
¯ the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
¯ Prevention, was presented in San
¯ Francisco at the 7th Conference on
¯ Retrovirases and Opporttmistic Infectious.
¯ "’Wlfile oral sex may still be safer than
." anal intercourse or vaginal intercourse, it
¯ is not without risk and perhaps has higher
¯ risk than we would have expected
¯ otherwise," said Dr. Helene Gayle, the
CDC’s AIDS chief.
" The researchers sought to learn the
¯ meaus ofinfectionin 102 GayandBisexual
¯ men who had recently caught HIV. When
¯ all other possible means of infection were
¯ ruled out, oral sex turnedout to be the only
¯ risk behavior in eight of these men. Most
0 said they thought- oral sex had little or no
° risk.
° Because o~ the strict criteria used, the
: real number of cases resulting from oral °
sex may actually have been higher. For
° instance, two men said they had oral sex
-" but not anal sex. But they also said they
o had blacked out once and could not be °
sure what had happened, so they were
¯ excluded from the total.
. All of the men apparently caught the
¯ virus by giving oral sex, rather than
receiving it, and none used condoms.
¯ "We know that the only safe sex is total
other drugs. The drug will be combined 0 abstinence or sex with a mutually
smaller doses~ wel!..... ~ ~
.~’ Ufie~p~.cteff~ide et~l~b.cts can quickly
derail deq~loptuent of these drugs -MerCk
Research Laboratories was scheduled to
presentresultS ofits new protease inhibitor
at the meeting. But two weeks ago, it
suspended human testing of the drug after
rat experiments turnedup possible kidney
damage. Themedicine, called MK-944A,
is acombination ofanew protease inhibitor
and an older one, called indinavir, into a
single pill that would be taken once or
Timothy W. Daniel
Attorney at Law
An Attorney who will fight for
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Domestic Partnership Planning,
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1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504
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Weekend and evening appointments are available.
January April July October December
Even OutYour
Monthly Electric Bills.
withritonavir, another protease inhibitor, o monogamous,non-HIV-infectedparmer,"
into pills that willbo-taken three at a time, : ’~ Gayle said. "Everything else has some
twic~:~a day. The comp.,.a~y?~.s working on ° degree of risk. The sense that oral sex is
safe sex may have been an unfortunate
message."
Gayle said she a~sumes that the risk of
oral sex when properly using a condom is
close to zero. She also .said that if oral sex
alone has played a large role in the spread
ofAIDS, that wouldalready havebecome
obvious during the 20 years.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, head ofthe National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases, noted that some Gaymenturned
to frequent unprotected oral sex after
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Are You-Gay or Bisexual?
Are You Native American?
Tulsa s Two-Spirited Indian Mona _ / ~\~"~
Support Group is here for. you! .~i=-J.~Y LX~
¯ Evening support group meetings
¯ Relationship workshops
¯ Short trips, outings and retreats
¯ Free HIV testing
For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project
at 582-7225 Ext. 208 or 218,
giving up anal intercourse.
"A lot of us in the public health field
havebeen saying all along to be careful of
~akrottehceteridskfieslllaotwio,,"buhtewshaaitd.s l"oPwe?o"ple
AIDS Virus First
Emerged in 1930
SANFRANCISCO (AP)-Theworldwide
AIDS pandemic has beentraced to asingle
viral ancestor who emerged perhaps
around 1930. Earlier research had ¯
suggested that the ol~tbreak began in the ¯
first half of the 20th century, but the latest :
analysis, doneat the Los Alamos National ."
Lab in New Mexico, appears to be the ¯
most definitive so far. -"
Bette Korber, who keeps a’database of
HIV genetic, information at the lab,
calculatedHIV’s family treebylooking at
the rate the virus mutates over time. She
assumed these genetic changes happen at
a constant rate and used a supercomputer
to clock the mutations back through time
tO a common ancestor.
Korber estimates that the current
pandemic goes back to one or a small
group of infected humans around 1930,
though this ancestor virus could have
emerged as early-as 1910 or as late as
1950. From this single source, she
suggests, came the virus that now infects
roughly 40 million people all over the
.world. ’This offers a small piece in a
larger puzzle concermng the origins of
HIV," she said.
Experts believe that HIV’s ancestor is a
virus that ordinarily infects chimpanzees.
Somehow it spread to people - .perhaps
thirough abite or hunting mishap -~n west
equatorial Africa. Justwhenthis happened,
though, is .still a mystery, Korber Said.
The leap from chimp to man could have
beenaround 1930. Oritmayhaveoccurred
much earlier and the virus stayed within a
small group of humans.
Theworkchallenges atheory thatAIDs
actually began in the 1950s, when HIV
was accidentally mixed with the polio
vaccine. In last year’s book ’¢Fhe River,"
Edward Hopper theorizes that HIV
contaminated batches of the vaccine that
were grown in chimp dssue. This then
spread when the vaccine was tested in the
Belgian Congo. Korber said this is highly
unlikely, since it would require the
introduction of at least 10 genetically
separate strains ofthe virus into the vaccine
from different chimps.
Dr. Steven Wolinsky of Northwestern
University called Korber’s project "a
computational tour de force." Korber
based her work on the genetic codes of
160 different copies of the AIDS virus.
She analyzed them on a Los Alamos
supercomputer, called Nirvana, that can
perform l trillion computations per
second. The earliest existing sample of
HIV was found in a blood specimen
obtained in Leopoldville - now Kinshasa
- in 1959.
Virus Testing Helps
AIDS Treatments
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Doctors say
they can improve the chance of
successfully treating AIDS by measuring
how each patient’s virus stands up to the
drugs intended to kill HIV.
Through evolution, HIV can grow
resistant to any of the standard AIDS
drugs, andoftenitis invulnerable to several
at once. The specific combination of viral
resistance varies from patient to patient.
In theory, doctors can brew up the most
potent AIDS drug cocktails for their
patients if they know the strengths and
vulnerabilities of the viruses they carry.
In the past, doctors have attempted to
dothisbychecking the virus forthegenefc
mutations that make it impervious to
various drugs. However, complex mixes
of mutations are sometimes hard to
translate into drug treatment plans.’
In a new approach called phenotypic
resistance tesdng, doctors can check the
virus against all of the standard drugs to
see which ones can kill it, then .use~the
results to tailor their strategy. "With this
information, you can make better
decisions," said Dr. Calvin Cohen.
Understanding virus resistance is
especiallyimportantwhenputting together
new drug combinations after the initial
drug cocktail fails to wipe out all visible
signs of the virus. Doctors have 15 AIDS
drugs to pick from, and the choice often
amounts to an educated guess.
Cohen and colleagues studied
phenotypic testing at the Community
Research Initiative of New England, an
independent AIDS research organization
in Brookline, Mass. He described the
results Monday, in San Francisco at the
7th Conference on Retroviruses and
Opportunistic Infections.
. The test was developed by Virco N.M.,
a European biotechnology company that
financed the study with Glaxo Wellcome
Inc., the pharmaceutical company.
Doctors say anadvantage ofp,henotypic
testing is the simplicity of ~lle results.
"The person’s virus is grown in a culture
and then ,put into a test tube with each
antiviral drug," Cohen said. "We monitor
to seehow wellitgrows. Ifitstops growing,
.that drug works. It’s that simple."
The new test costs $800 per patient.
Screening the geneticmutations inHIV to
figure outdrug resistance has beenaround
longer and cOsts about $400 to $500 per
patient.
Doctors say that trying to understand
how well drugs will work by analyzing
viral genes can be daunting when the
virus is resistant to several drugs.
Sometimes resistance to one pill can help
the virus withstand another, even though
it does not specifically have resistance to
that medicine. "Phenotypic resistance
testing will be attractive because it is so
mucheasier to interpret," said Dr. Douglas
D. Richmanofthe University ofCalifornia
at San Diego.
To check the test’s value, Cohen’s team
studied 274 patients who had failed to
respond to an initial round ofAIDS drugs.
Half were randomly assigned to receive
phenotypic testing, while the rest got
standard care without testing.
After 16 weeks, 58% of the patients
getting phenotypic-testing had responded
so well to their new combination of drugs
that the virus hadfallentoolow tomeasure.
By comparison, 37% of those without
testing did this wall. "Until this study, all
of this was reasonable but unproven,"
Cohen said. "Now we can prove it."
~:~":Wa~ to get involved?
Need to.get tested for HI~ or a
Coming Out Support Group?
Call 743-GAYS (4297)
Tulsa Gay
Community
Services Center
1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor
~ J. Christjohn
Happy Imbolc,
Groundhog’s
Time for
initsfirstt
for some~
the
,~cultural
list of events
and. relevance.
~ At thispoint, I
or film and,
: On with the
." good month for staying in and riding out
¯ winter storms. Orgiving into spring fever
y ." when possible.
when ¯ Now for those thirty-somethings that
: recall growing up to the sounds of the
Partridge Family. with
"As you may fondness, David ~sidy
hasaCDoutentitled:"Old
notice, I’ve’-~: Dog, .Ne~ T~ck."
S~inging
~no
is
so. it’s ok,
is
else, an
and
the
Of -interest
,dosed
music
v URL:
it
13th.
18th
pretty
of the~ show that
fisten
on tS~ Partrid
childhood favorites in col~.
Back to.the present..
VALENTINE’S DAYis 9oming!~Gift
idea?i,.The ever handso.m~,<~piani~t’.:Jim
Bric~provide~ lovely~usic p~ect
for,~elight dinners, an~ohn T,rones
croo~,the perfect ballads t6~t]hem0od
for ..~gh romance on [h~ir-~CDs,
restively. ThelIX~rfect m~ic.to ~t the
moodfor a romanticev~....
Ok,themomentyou :reall-~n atting
for. TheStevie Nicks mentioa.She’s back
¯" in the Studio working onthe~W CDafter
". the performing break i~’Vegas and
i
Cafifomia. SherylCrow isagamproducing
- no mention of what happened to Mr.
." Hip-Hop producer. Thank G~oddess!
, m,~chers
¯ wereGay or straight, what mattered was
i the sl~ed.belief of those ~ching that
day. ~dnow those Right to’Life March
org~fi have Somethingto. think h!~out
¯ for n~t ye,ar,
: o~~. . .::~. .Ch~,..’.rman-oMfPicLhAaGelAFLeP~A¢.nCs
:
: -~lie ~4~li~al Action Committ~for ~.- i~: " .~.=~Lffe Lesbians and~ays
. . :.::~.
Long b~fom multi:million-dollar book deals
were the fashion~Alexandre Dumas’ son
(yes, the "The Three Musketeers" author)
converted his tonidLtomedqerminal love affair
into a best sel~.~lhe~, composer
Guisep.,pe Ve~: ~dpted. ~8r story for o~ra
(hello, ka Travi~), Toda~ choreoorapher
Val Canipamli flni~edthe job of turning.
"La Traviata" into dance. Usino drama,.
not melodrama. For understatement
underscored. A full-lenoth Iovestory.
FRIDAY 8 PI~:EBRUARY 11
SATURDAY 8 PMFI:RRUARY1~
SUNDAY 3 PMFEDRUARY 1~
SEASO~ SPON~:
Irish Dance
Company
-The-original
and the best.t
Chapman Music Hall
3rd & Cincinnati.... ¯.
Tickets: $12, 16 & 20
Call:-596-7111
Order on line: www~,tulsapac.com
Tulsa Performing ~rfs
Center Trust
World Treasures S~ason:
Celtic Gems.
¯-Si~0ns~rs: O.klah~ma Arts ~:.:ur~i~,..Urban T.u!sa
JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL EVENIN~
ON THE SET OFMANON
WINE AND HORS D’OEUVRES.
ENTERT]~INMENT ......
ooooo o~60~oo o oo oo~.~_O~O oo~o o o o oo out o-o’o o~ooo o
FRIDAY, MARCH 3,
5:30 - 8:00 PM
ON THE STAGE OF THE
.......~UtLSA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
$35 PER PERSON
$75 PARTY AND
:.
~ SUNDAYS
~Ble~qs the Lord At All Times Christian Center,
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 5837815
Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service - 6pm, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation
S~rvice - i 1am, 2~5~.~5 &Yale, 749-05~ (WeicQ~ing) - : " "
Church of theRestoration Unitarian Universaiist
ropo ommumty C
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc.
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood
Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America)
Mass - 1 lain, 205 W. King (east of N. Denver), Info: 582-3088
Unity Church of Christianity
ServiceS: 9:15 & 11:00 am, 3355 S. Jamestown, 749-8833
University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance
~6:30 pm, Meets at the United Minis,try Cir., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780
I~" MONDAYS
lilY Testing Clinic, Fr~ & anonTmous testing. No appoinl~¢n[ r~zluired.
Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (~st o~ Hazard)
HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Ceater
7:30pro, 220"7 E. 6th, 583-78t5
PFLAG, Parents., Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
2nd Mo~/~ach too. 6:30pro,Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard
Women/Children & AB)S Committee, call ~or meeting date, aoon, 585-5551
Council Oak Meu’s Chorale, rehearsals - ca]! for times, imfo: 748-3888.
~ TUESDAYS
AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call, ~or ne×t.m~ting date. 1430 S. BouJder, 585-5551
~!~e=~d Let Liye, CommlmitT o~ ~0pe ~nitedMethodist, 7:~, 2,~5 S. ~ale
IYlultieultural ~I])S Coalitiou, call for ne×t m~ting date.
~rban L~ague, 240 E~st Apache, 584;0001
PrimeTimers, meus group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th
Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/IIOPE)
Tuesdays, 6 pro, Pride Genter, 1307 E: 38th, irffo: 743-4297
I~" WEDNESDAYS
Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center
Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pm, 3210b~o. Norwood
Tulsa-Native American Mens Support Group, more informatidJL. ~call 582-7225
TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call fo_r..info: 595-7632.
Lambda A-A, 7 pro, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft. - -. ......
I~’THURSDAYS ,
H~PE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Edu~(ion "~:;~)~": _
Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing:,~ ~ 8:313pm 834-83.-7~ 3507’E. Ad~niral " ~
O~lahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’.RYAN) " -
Support/social group for 18-24’s, call Red Rock Mental Health a~ 584-2325 ....
Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, [nfo: 834-4194
I~" FRIDAYS
Safe Haven,~iotm~AduJts Sc;ci~d Group, l st Eft/each ~no. 8pro, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th
~" SATURDAYS
out-of their h0mes~ ! can’t i~..gin~e
throwing my Child out of;the hbu~e: ;
TheS~~mby Holloway, ~as
¯S~tan,wh0:cam¢.~s’s am~’Who
’ had been r6b~andiron on the road.
In the story, the priest, afraid of being
deemed unclean, passes by. But the
Samaritan stoppedtocarefortheunknown
mall.
"The point of the parable is that good
refiglon, following, traditions in these
Scotland, dozeus of prints, and Spong’s -" anti-discrimination policies, to. include
second:wife; ChriSti~i~. ’When In~arried ," specifically :sexual- orienta’tion::~ Why?:
Jack, I knew. what was ahead," said
Christ.i.ne.,.w.,h..o..m..a..m..e.A. Spong. m..19.9.0......nc.e.xl.ed. Kelleher wrote ’Perha " was
’When ~ou:-~up. (forGays)~,you~r¢~ =/Wrong
going to ge~:hit. ?You cannot know Gay ." _ think so, at least with restart to theVast
imd Lesbian people without wanting to .. maioriW of oar nconle." kelleher addrd
hugthcm.Someofthcmhavebeenthr~wn ." he was modifying the pohcy to include
¯.. o~rsmagnex;iewthyatmcivgehrtuhncaevretaeixnits~t,e-dam-boingutihtiys
." score."
_" ’WVhat happened at. Southwdst is an
¯ example
-" well-mcnningexecutives simplyto donor
_" give sexual orientation issues in the
workplace the consideration they
deserve, stud Kim I. Mills, HRC s
." education director. "We applaud
." Southwest Airlines for taking this_stcp
developed systems, can now get in the toward creating an inclusive work
.,w.a.y. ofus g~tting t,o~:~ saidI~oll0way..~ environmont~ for ih~ OayandLesbian
e~. of us arc, w_all~g on the road to i amployees., While Southwest has added
Jericho,andwem~tIookf~Himbecause
along the s~d¢ of the road...... .’. offer dom=sticParm~r~:healthbenefits.
priestandmothcr,stoodnexttoSpongas policies and e~pects
a sign language interpreter. "He will be :: announc=ment nO later the,, June. "
sord~ missed,." saidDeats, whowas first ,." _ _ " .............
ago.~Imayn0tagreewithevcrythingh¢ ! [~]l=-Ie.ll -....- I
says; but I truly minfi..~’re and respect him . .
for stan,.d~n.gup,f0r~hat he believ~ in." ._. vice president orlon"di.ng, andI_~s Rector,
Deats said she believed in more ." president, neither of.whom had returned
traditional routines of-prayer. "It can be ¯ calls by press time. Dr. Jerry. Carr611,
boring, I know. And I’m not saying the -" chairperson of the TTCU board of
bisho~ does.n’t pray, bu~ I believe ~-nore ." directors,andpr0vostatOSU-Oldahoma
.stronglyin themystical practices ofprayer
in the ~hurch," said De~ts.
Croneberger was rector of the Church
of the Atonement in Tenafiy for i8 years,
and a priest for more thsn 34 years.
Croneberger~60,was oneofsix candidates
- all ofwhomfavor ordaining noncelibate
Gays and blessing same-sex unions - in a
field that included the Rev. Canon Gene
RobinsonofNewHampshire,whomissed
becoming the first openly Gay Episcopal
bishop in the nation by several votes.
Asfor Spong, he willlecture at Harvard
University starting next month, buthas no
plans to move from Morris County. His
latest book, "Here I Stand," was published
this year.
Spong, father of three daughters, said
he found talking to students a great
pleasure, Last week, Spong lectured at
Lewis & Clark University in Portland,
Ore.- "I love the minds of 18- to 23-yearolds,"
Spong said. "Nothing is sacred and
they asked all kinds of questions."
There were no,,questions asked here
duringthe service, buttherewas amomen!
of fear when the Rev. Dana Rose slipped
off the back of the riser as Spong and
others wereblessing breadandwine. Rose
was helped to his feeti and Spong quickly
gave him the sign of the cross.
Rose, a Gay priest who’s also black,
was ordainedfirstas adeaconby Spongin
May 1998. "People say, ’You’re a priest
and you’re GayT" said l~ose, who works
for the Gay and Lesbian ministry in the
diocesez "Now, there are ;many, priests
who are Gay, but black? I believe in
inclusion of all people, like me, into .the
church, just like the bishop."
City, did callback andsaid he thought
theremustbe"amajormisunderstanding"
and that the "professional loan officers
would not do that [make inquiri~,into.
loan applica=s sex~.orientation]~. .-
as saying that the Vatican "expects from
the premier a gesture ofcommon sense,"
anapparentcallforthe Italiangovernment
to intervene to cancel the Gay event.
Sodano also was quoted as saying the
controversy "puts into question" the
concordat, adocumentregulalingrelafions
. between Rome and the Vatican that was
first signed in 1929 and was revised in the
1980s. A pro-Vatican member of
parliament, Mario Baccini, called the
mayor’s decision’a "moral and material
slap" in the face of the Holy See. Vatican
officials said theHoly See was displeased
by the city’s cooperation with the
organizers, including allocation of
$180,000 to cover municipal costs like
security.
Rutdli has been a big Jubilee booster,
shepherding the city through major
constructionprojects-includingaVatican
garage-to spruce itupforan estimated30
million pilgrims.
Gays have criticized the pope’s
teachings on homosexuality, but Italian
Gay leaders denied any disrespect is
intended by holding World Pride during
theJubilee. "It’s not an anti-Jubilee event
nor an event against the pope," said
Francesco Falsetta, an official oftheMario
Mieli Homosexual Cultural Association,
one of the organizing groups. World
Pride’s main event will be a July 8 march
through the city. Organizers say it will
also feature conferences, sporting events
and parties..
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Tulsa Loeation~ ~-: .....
2001 S. GarneR, 43%2~.~.~.
3733 S. Memorial, 6600344
1216 S. Harvard, 587-1778
Sapulpa Location:
109 N. 22
Meet ,Local
~X3rigin. 18+. Additional features from 67
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" be," he added. "’It’s been this norm that
.: they grew up with: Andin so many. ways,
: pamcularlym~nt, we vebeen, ery
Do something that brings yoUlhto serio~s°. sensitized to~~ity,humannghts,
conversation with people who-aren’t just : but.there’.s~i~sg~.,a~i,’ng,.darke,,xception
likeyou. : tot~tw~thGaY~i:~Lesbiaus._ ..
For some of you, this will feel like a : ~ Whenlegis~,’~kFl.a~gan wl~.t.he
leap of faith-l~rhaps in God, orat least ; thinks.ofa~ys~d!domest=cparm..ershi.ps
in other people. ",- ..... . as an alternafi~t0same-sex mamage, ne ¯
Maybe this runs counter’ to all the : tells them "it~a~t tap into all of the
cultural conditioning you’ve received ¯ wonde_r,,ful, ~fic and em~o.tion.al
about self-sufficiencyi abouthow wrong ! impacts that~conveys. ~nenlze
itistoaskforhelp.MaybethiSchaHeages . asksaqu~..fio.n~."~~:t~te, isabl~.°ffi~ally
prized coph~g m~l~nisms ~t Ser~_e you : t.o rec0~ila..~i’~,s,e,.p~nng re,a,
well whenexcepti-o~d individualeffortis , domesf!_c-p~.e~!:aw;.-wny men wgmu
enough..... " ;-y0ufeelgt~fig~ed:t.0makeit’diff~emtrom
¯Bu~aoindividualwinsanelection;alone i ~ theCivil m~a~e’ 6flexed to ~ght
If!we don’t engage oth~r humanb~ings, ; VermonterS?" ~ " ¯ ~.
we remain tempting targets to-the :bullies : Hanagan said :he believes there’s an
ontheright:IfwewanttoendGay-baiting " analogy to be drawn from the experience
in public life, we have ~o use what we
know: the power of one h,man being
talkln£ to another human berg about
what matters.
We need to be outward bound, despite
the discomfort. Because, in elections, the
greatest thing wehave to fearis fearitself.
Hanagan can see diagonally across-State
Street to the Statehouse, where the
Vermont Legislature this year is crafting
a response to ahistofic decision from the
.stat~-~ i :~Supreme " ~ i ,:.~.Court.
That decision said i~"~iola~d the
VermontConstitution todeny~tted
Gay-and Lesbian couples the~i~health
of other benefits heterosexuaV~ed
couples take for granted. .=.!i!:."ii(
Hanagan, 49, is in his fourthi~year
term as ~mditor and long has beea.,kn~_w,.n_
to harbor loftier potitical ambiO~,He s
~md~,ttaking 0ae long-expected:~i~tfo_r
higher office this year, and has.raised
morethan$400,000" alotforachallenger
inVermont- so farinhis campaignfor the
Democratic U.S.. Senate nomination.
He’s been able to raise money around
the country from supporters of Gay men
and Lesbians, but even more so from
former Harvard Law School classmates
who have found themselves in lucrative
careers and can afford to be generous.
Flanagan took a risk five years ago
when he acknowledged for the first time
publicly that he was Gay, and he’s taking
arisk now in being such a strong advocate
for same-sex marriage. "I assume any
professional political consultant would
advise against it," he said. "But some
issues are so compelling and so pure that
political considerations becometrivialand
inappropriate. This is at the core of my
beliefs. I’mnot going to equivocate in the
slightest and I hope Vermonters will
respectmycommitmentto prmcipl,,e, even
if they may not thoroughly agree.
More often than the campaign trail,
Flanagan is drawn these days to the
Statehouse, because he senses history in
the making, because he relishes and is
fascinated by legislative deliberation and
because he knows that, for many
lawmakers, he can put ahumanface on an
abstract set of issues. As he’s walked the
Statehousehalls lately, Flanagan sm.’dhe’ s
noticed "people tend to move ~n my
direction more often than normal. I’m a
person they know and most often like
quite a bi~ and relate to. I’m real. I have a
real personality that they’re familiar with,
so there isn’t that fear component of
something foreign.
"I don’t think often people are as
homophobic as they think they should
"For me,
some time tc
mamage
stress
come when
many Gays and’ Lesbians had coming to
grips with themselves 20 or 30 years ago,
to the straggle many straight people are
having now When thinking about
somethinglike same-’sexmarriage. "When
you foste~ real bigotry againast iso.mdeonoef
he said.
"That’s-the of bigotry.. It
weighs
years, but
and "one’s private life will be put back
into its private place."
Flanagan, who said he has "a great
capacity tolove," also offered a glimpse
into whatapersonal heavenonearthmight
look like. "I would love to be a dad. I’ve
always cherished the idea of being a dad
and I think I would be a good dad?’
Locally, members ofMCCUnited have
created a chapter of Soul Force and at
least one member joined White and 200
other Gay and Lesbian (or friendly)
Christians in a meeting with FalWell.
Elliott has as a personal goal, the
development of the Community of the
church, not the building or the number of
members as much as the network of
support for the members - much like the
model of the earliest Christian
communities.
However, Elliott and other
congregational leaders do discuss the
possibilities of physical change for the
group. Acknowledging the s~ ,newhat
isolated location of the church build~ z
(off major streets in a ver) q~
neighborhOod)~, they consider that t
tufty-sell this building and find a more
visible .and central location. But Elliott
emphasizesthat these things are ouly just
possibilities and are not anything which
will happen soon. The spiritual life comes
first and the rest will follow as the Spirit
calls MCC-United to be.
For more information about the
Metropolitan Community Church United
or about the Soul Force efforts, call 838-
!715.
The Eight Annual
2000
Saturday, March 4
Cocktails, 7pm, Dinner, 8:15
Myriad Convention Center, Grand Ballroom
Auction & Dancing, Blacl( or Red Tie
to benefit the
Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund
1999 Beneficiaries:
AIDS Support Program, Inc.
American Red Cross,
Oklahoma County Chapter
CarePoint, Inc.
Cimarron Alliance Foundation
LegalAi6ofWestem Oklahoma, Inc.
Northern Lights Altematives
Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund,
Individual Assistance Fund
Oklahoma Hemophilia Foundation
Oklahoma Medical
Research Foundation
Oklahoma Mental Health Council -
RedRockBehavioral Health Service
Other Options, Inc.
Planned Parenthood of
Central Oklahoma
Regional AIDS Interfaith
Network (RAIN)
Tulsa CommunityAIDS Partnership
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
newspaper
periodical
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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/.
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[2000] Tulsa Family News, February 2000; Volume 7, Issue 2
Subject
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Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
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Tulsa Family News
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
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Tom Neal
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February 2000
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James Christjohn
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
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Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
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Tulsa Family News, January 2000; Volume 7, Issue 6
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English
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newspaper
periodical
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Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
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https://history.okeq.org/items/show/597
AIDS
AIDS drugs
AIDS research
aMUSEments
arts and entertainment
Bars
businesses
Chatholic Church
churches
civil rights
Colin Higgins Foundation
community
Dave Fleischer
Episcopal Church
Gary Watts
Gay marriage
HIV
homophobia
Jim Christjohn
Judaism
Karin Gregory
lawsuits
marriage equality
Metro Communtiy Church Unted
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
non-discrimination policies
Partner Benefits
partners registry
performing arts
Pro-Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians
Raging Lesbian
Read All About It
restaurants
Saint Joseph's College
scholarships
Soulforce
Southwest Airlines
Tom Neal
Tulsa Family News
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Friends RallyAround
Accused Musician
District Attorney Suspected of Bias
by Tom Neal, editor &publisher
Around Tulsa’ s Gay community, the reaction is one
of dismay and disbelief at the allegations of indecent
exposure made against musician and chorale leader,
Rick Fortner.
According to a Dec. 3rd Tulsa Worm story, a 16 year
old man has accused Former of masturbating in front of
him in a sauna of All-American Fitness Center in
Broken Arrow. A spokesperson for the Broken Arrow
p01icenoted that themanand Former were the only ones
in the sauna.
Friends and acquaintances notethat F,grmermaintains
his innocence, and have stated their suplJort for Former.
Mitchell Savage, spokesperson for the Council Oak
Mens Chorale (COMC) for which Former is music
director, said that the board of directors of the
organization has voted to express its support for Former
and their belief that his innocence will be established.
- TheCOMCboardposition was endorsedby the group’ s
general membership also. Savage added that he has
been acquainted for 15 years see Fortner, p. 10
Anti-Gay Harassment
Alleged in Public Schools
Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends
Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community PaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations
V rmont Marriage Victory
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - By the time Nina Beck and " previously said he would support Gay mamage,
¯ Stacy Jolles got the news, it seemed like everyone already knew:
¯¯ The Vermont Supreme Court had issued its long-awaited ruling
on Gay marriage. They had won.
¯
The court ruled unanimously that Gay and Lesbian couples in
¯ Vermont should enjoy all benefits and privileges afforded to
¯ heterosexual couples who can legally marry. It is the first court
: in the nation to make such a sweeping ruling on the question.
’ But the justices split on whether it should amount to marriage.
¯ Onejustice splitfrom themajority’ s view that the state Legislature
¯ should decide whether Gays and’Lesbians should actually be ¯
allbwed to marry or shouldbe given domesticpartnership benefits
¯ equivalent to heterosexual marriage.
The split was of no immediate concern to Beck and Jolles and
¯ the other two couples who sued in 1997 when their town clerks
denied them marriage licenses. "It’s just fantastic this decision
¯" could come following his birth," Beck said as Jolles stood
¯ alongside her holding their month-old son Seth.
The issue now will be the subject of debate before the
: Legislature, which convenes on Janl 4. "I think the court has
¯ broken all barriers by dearly riding that we have a class of
¯ individuals in Vermont who are being denied their rights and I
thinkit is the Legislature’ s responsibility to correct that injustice ,"
¯
said Peter Shumlin, Senate president pro tern.
¯ But the question will be how. Should Vermont statutes be
¯ amended to permit two men or two women to marry? Should a
¯ domestic partners registry be established for Gay couples to
¯ record their relationships and therefore qualify for the benefits
¯ now accorded heterosexual mamed couples?
¯ "I think it’ s going to take a couple ofweeks, anyway, forpeople ¯
tounderstand what this means," said Rep. Thomas Little, chairman
¯ of the House Judiciary Committee. "Everyone wants to have a
: virtually immediate informed reaction to it, but I think it takes
¯ longer than.that."
: Gov. Howard Dean said same-sex marriage "makes me
¯ uncomfortable, the same as anybody else." He predicted the
¯ Legislature would comply with the court decision by enacting a
¯ domestic partners law rather than making marriage legal for
: same-sex couples. House Speaker~Michael Obuchowski, who
¯ Evergreen Awards Recognize
i Beal, Campbell, and Others
TULSA -Allegations of anti-Gay harassment have
risen at two Tulsa high schools. On two campuses,
teachers contend that they and some students have been
singled out for inappropriate attention.
While Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) does have a nondiscrimination
policywhich TPS’s attorney interprets
as protecting Gay teachers, staff and students from
discrimination, that policy does not explicitly ban
discrimination based on sexual orientation. It
"The Board is committed-to-the concept of
nondiscrimination in relation to race, religion, sex, age
national origin, handicap and other human differences.
This policy will prevail in al matter concermng staff,
students and the public." However, in the interests of
protecting these teachers from possible further
harassment, their names are being withheld.
One teacher, who is active in a local Gay mens’
singing group, was called into his principal’ s oftrme and
was shown a copy of the group’ s concert program. His
participation in the group was highlighted with a
- comment, -*’is -this~ legal .w’ Another teacherwhohelps,
With a support group for Gay kids. had a self-identified
"Christian" fundamentalist teack-zr attending support
group meetings andthe teacher whodoes notidentify as
Gay but as Gay-friendly felt there was an intent to
identify her as Gay and therefore to threaten her job.
Andatonecampus;twoyoungwomenwere suspended
for a public display of affectkm. A Gay teacher and
other students whb were familiar with the incident
claim that the two women were not behaving with any
less discretion than heterosexual students use in the
same circumstances, They do claim that the
administration response w~:much more harsh than for
heterosexuals. However,~ TPS spokesperson, Tiffany.
Bruton responded to TFN inquiries, saying that the
students’ conduct was well beyond socially acceptable
behavior even for heterosexuals. The students involved
did not respond to TFN requests for an interview.
TULSA - The 1999 Evergreen Awards recognized the work of
a number of Tulsans involved in HIV/AIDS issues. Prominent
among these were Dr. Jeffrey Beal and his parmer Ted Campbell
for their years of service as Tulsa’s principal physician treating
HIV and AIDS related illness and for Campbell’s mental health
practice around those issues.
The lunch ceremony was held at the offices of the Community
Service Council (CSC) on Dec. 7th, and opened with a remarks
Ted Campbell & Dr. Jeffrey Beal
by ~chael Conley of Tulsa CARF~, Melanie Speetor of Tulsa
’County Health Dept. and John Hawk Cocke of Indian Health
Services.
Presenters and the recipients of the awards included many of
Tulsa’ s most prominent activist/workers around HIV/AIDS care
and prevention. Sharon Thoele, exeentive director of Tulsa
CARES, Erie Ramirez of Planned Parenthood, Kathy Bird of
RegionalAIDS Interfaith Network, Tulsa officewere afew of the
presenters andrecipients included videographerAllisonCosslett,
Wendy Weisberg, Audra Sommers for her fundraising work,
Kay Rollins for NAMES PROJEC~ leadership, and Jeremy
Simmons for prevention education.
The Evergreen Awards are presented by the Tulsa AIDS
Coalition which was introduced at this event by Tim Gillean and
represented by CSC staffer, Janice Nicklas.
: said politics might prevent that. "What I’m hearing
¯ from my colleagues is that they’re saying that ¯ domestic partnership is amorepolitically attainable
situation and I think I’d have to agree with that
¯ analysis,"saidObuchowski,aDemocratlikeDean.
¯ Thoughthey were ecstatic, the three couples who
sued will hold off on their celebrations until they
¯ get an opportunity actually to say their vows in a ¯ wedding ceremony. "I think the acttml celebration
¯ will be when we get married," said Stan Baker,
standing withhis armaround partner Peter Harrigan.
Winnie Stachelberg, Political Director with the
¯ Human Rights Campaign, one national Gay
¯ organization noted,"we are thrilled that the Vermont
¯ Supreme Court had the wisdom and courage to
hand down this historic, landmark decision. There
¯ has never been a logical or justifiable reason to
exclude same-sex couples from marrying, and
¯ decision validates the unfairness of exclusion. This ¯
is a tremendous victory forGay and Lesbian couples
¯ in Vermont who are now one-step closer to being
¯ considered equal in the eyes of the law."
¯ Paula Ettelbrick, attorney and Family Policy Director at the National Gay and Lesbian Task
¯: Force Policy Institute said, "the court’s decision is
unique in that it commands that the state give samesex
couples every benefit and protection that
: currently provides to married couples."
¯ "However, bystopping short offully recognizing
: the freedom to marry, the court has opened the door
¯ to complete equality but has not constitutionally
¯ guaranteed it. Now the batde progresses to the
: Vermont Legislature," Ettelbrick continued. "We
¯ have the opportunity as a community to convince
lawmakers to provide the full badge of citizenship
¯ by recognizing the freedom to marry."
¯ Ettelbrick noted that Vermont is a logical state to
¯ become the first see Vermont, p. 12
New Leather Contest
TULSA- Ric Poston, Oklahoma Mr Leather 1999
and his partner James Murray _Mr Tulsa Leather
1997 have announced they are producing a new
leather contest, Mr. Sooner State Leather. The
contest will be a preliminary event to the StateTitle
of "Oklahoma Mr Leather" and is open to any
Oklahoma resident.
This first event will be held in Oklahoma City on
the weekend of April 21 - 23, 2000 and any profits
from the contest will benefit the Leather Archives
and Museum in Chicago.. The event will provide
education and information about the community,
"demonstrations," opportunities for brotherhood, a
brunchonSunday,andthe contestitselfon Saturday
night April 22, 2000.
Judges for the contest .will be Dave Rhodes,
owner and editor of The Leather Journal, Terrell
Brown, Oklahoma Mr Leather 2000, Oklahoma
Drummer2000 (to be announcedin February 2000),
and Michael Vrooman, the current International
Miss Gay Rodeo and a former International Mr ~sayRodeo,MarkMalonInternational Mr. Leather,
tRunnerUp-t997;and alternatejudge, Ed Smith
who is an avid supportor of local and nadonal
Leather and Drummer events.
The contest will be held at the Habana Inn,
Oklahoma’s all Gay hotel and bar complex. For
reservations (be sure to mention the contest for
special rates), contact the Habana Inn, 2200
Northwest39thExpressway, OklahomaCity,73112
1-800-988-2221, www.habanainn.com. For any
furtherinformation about the contest, applications,
and weekend packages contact:
ms.oonerstatelthr@aol.com.
Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants
*Chasers, 4812 E. 33
*CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial
*Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th
*Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria
*The Mix, 2630 E. 15th
*Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square
*St. Michael’s .Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st
*Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan
*The Storm, 2182 S. Sheridan
*Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main
712-2324
610-5323
583-6666
749-4511
749-1563
744-4280
745-9998
834-4234
835-2376
585-3405
*TNT’s, 2114S..Memorial 660-0856
*Tool Box,. 1338. E, .3rd o 584-1308
Tulsa Businesses, Services, &:Pr~fe~si6nais
Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 747-1508
*Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard
Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71
*Barnes &Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41.
Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15
*Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21
*Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale
Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria
*CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria
743-1000 :
747:9506 :
250-5034-,"
665-4580 ¯
712-1122 "
712-9955" 2
494-2665 ~
743-5272 ¯
746,0313 :
Cherry St: Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117
Community Cleaning, Kerby..Baker 622-0700
Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468
*Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620
*Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady
Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria
*Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan
*Ross Edward Salon ,~,: 584-0337,
Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main
*Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria
Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1.
Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr.
Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare
*Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st
Learme M: Gross, Insurance & financial planning
Mark T: Hamby,.At.tomey ¯ ..
*Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E Skelly
*International Tours
Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th_
*Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th
David Kanskey, Country Club Barbering
The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening
*Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15
Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210
*Living Al"tSpace, 19 E. Brady
*Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd
Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31
*Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place
Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo
*The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor
Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101
Richard’s Carpet Cleaning
587-2611
744-5556
838-8503 -
712-9379
592-0460
744-9595
610-0880
628-3709
808-8026
742-1460
459-9349
744-7440
745-1111
341-6866
712-2750
582-3018
747-0236
582-8460
599-8070
747-5466
585-1234
584-3112
663-5934
664-2951
838-7626
743-4297
747-5932
834-0617
834-7921,747-4746
749-6301
260-7829
481-0558
835-5563
743- 1733
665-2222
592-0767
Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors
*Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square
Paul Tay, Car Salesman
*Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis
Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard
Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling
*Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan
*Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis
Tulsa Agencies~ Churches, Schools & Universities
AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 741-0L .... 579-9593
All Sods Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363
Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314
Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815
*B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780
*Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616-S. Boston 585-1201
*Chapman. Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th PI. & Florence
*ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314
*Community ofHope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300
*Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595
Council Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888
*Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511
*Democratic Headquarters,3930 E. 31 742-2457
Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics &
Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74!70-1475 355-3 t40
*Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777
*Free SpiritWomen’ s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669
Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827
"
.
"
Publisher + Editor:
Tom Neal " "
Writers + contributors: ¯
James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lament "
Lindstrom, Bob Rounsavell, Esther Rothblum. Mary Schepers
~dember o! The AssociatedPress ...........
Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents -"
:of this publication are protected by :US copyright 1998 by
Nta, and may not be repr-oduced either.in :
whole orinpar~withoutwrittenpermission from thepublisher.
Publicationof a name or photo does not indicate a pers0n’s .
.sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for :
publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed’& be: "
comes:the ~ole property ofT,J Eachreaaer "
~s entitled :to 4 copies of each editton at distribution ",
points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248.
Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542,74101 582-0438 ¯
¯HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611
¯Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 "
¯Holland Hall School,5666 E. 81st 481-1111 :
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 ¯
¯House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood :
Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438=2437, 800-284-2437 "
¯MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 ."
NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral PI. 748-3111 ¯
NOW, Nat’lOrg. for Women; POB 14068,74159 365-5658 "
OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157
¯OSU-TUlsa °
PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 ¯
¯Planned Parenthood~ 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 ’
Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152
.*R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195
¯Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 " 584,2325
O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults :
O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth
St. Aidan’ s Episcopal Church, 4045 N.Cincinnati 425-7882
St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 "
¯St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 "
¯Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583=7171
¯TNAAPP (Native AmeriCan men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 "
Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 :
Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only :
TulsaOkla.forHumanRights,c/oThePrideCenter 743-4297 :
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 ¯
¯Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule
¯Tulsa Community College Campuses ,"
¯TulsaGay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297
Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833
BARTLESVILLE ¯
¯Bardesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337=5353 ¯
OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN ."
¯Borders Books &Music, 3209 NWExpressway 405-848-2667 -"
¯Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 ¯
TAHLEQUAH "
¯Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456=7900 "
¯Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900 :
¯Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 :
¯ NS.U School of Optometry, 1001.N, Grand.........:
HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates "
¯¯ EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23
¯
*Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main
¯ DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. ¯
¯ Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St.
MCC of the Living Spring
: Geekto Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429
¯ Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery ¯
¯ Positive Idea Marketing Plans
Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East
: White Light, 1 Center St.
." JOPLIN, MISSOURI
¯ *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134
* is where you can find TFN. Not all are Gay-owned butall are Gay-friendly.
501-253-7734 ,"
501-253-7457 ¯
501-253-6807 ¯
501-253-5445 "
501-253-9337 "
501-253-2776 "
501-253-5332 ¯
501-624-6646 "
501-253-6001 -’.
501-253-4074 "
417-623-4696 "
It’s Elementary + more...
December 22, 1999
On the heels of a tremendously
successful campaign togetIt "sElementary
aired on public television, we are thrilled~
to announce our new media series for
kids. We are writing to you today to tell
you a little about the project and to ask for
yo~help: .W.e.hopeyo.u’!l eonside.rm.~king
a year-end contribution toward its
completion and distribution.
We’ve been asked repeatedly by It’s
Elementaryfans, "When are you going to
make sombthing we can show to kids?""
.Finally wehave an answer -- THAT’S A.
FAMILY! -- a video for elementary
school children about family diversity.
To learn more about THAT’S A
FAMILY! and to make a donation to
ensure its successful completion, please
read the rest of this email, or go to:
http:.//www.womedia.org/support.html
on the internet.
THAT’S A FAMILY! is the first video
in our. long-awaited media series for
children, "Respect for All." THAT’S A
FAMILY! introduces children to different
kinds of families, while the second and
third videos~in the series center on
dispelling Gay and Lesbian stereotypes
and confronting anti-Gay name-calling.
In THAT’S.A FAMILY! you’ll meet
children’ who were adopted; are
multiracial; haveparents whoare divorced;
are being raised by step-parents, single
morns or dads, or by grandparents and
guardians. There also are children with
Gay dads or Lesbian morns, and their
stories are intertwined with those of the
other families.
THAT’S A FAMILY! is scheduled for
release in the spring of 2000. It has the
potential to reach hundreds of thousands
of children, giving elementary schools a
truly inclusive, respectful teaching tool
that children will love to watch. Wehave
no doubt that the long-term impact of this
project will be tremendous. Giving
elementary school students the opportunity
to hear the words "Gay" and "Lesbian"
described in a matter-of-fact way by their
peers, and experience Gay and Lesbian
families inthe contextofsuchanincredibly
diverse group of other families, could
have a profound effect on their values and
behavior for the rest of their lives.
To kick off this ambitious media series
for children, we need your help. We need
to raise additional funds to finishTHAT’S
A FAMILY! this winter and to launch its
distribution. Our work is not commissioned-
instead we independently
produceand distribute ourmediaprojects.
see It’s... p. 14
Announcements Policy
Tulsa Family Newswitl provide-space
for holy union ceremony, marriage
ceremony, birth, adoption and death
announcements onaspace availablebasis.
Photos are welcome, though we cannot
promise placement or return them, so
please send copies to Tulsa Family News,
POB 4140, Tulsa 74159.
Letters Policy
Tulsa Family News welcomes letters
on issues which we’ve covered or on
issues you think need to be considered.
You may request that your name be withheld
but letters must be signed & have
phonenumbers, or behand delivered. 200
word letters are preferred. Letters to other
publications will be re-printed as is
appropriate.
by Tom Neal, editor & publisher
January is National Volunteer BloodDonor Month and
most newspapers in the city have received press releases
exhorting Tulsans to donate blood.
According to Tulsa’s chapter of the American Red
Cross’ communications manager, Maggie Jewell, "the
winter time is a crucial time for blood donations and that
many new donors are needed to help meet patient needs
in local hospitals...many donors who regularly give find
that they cannot during the winter months because of a
cold or the flu.., the nation’ sblood supply... [is] just a
few hours aheadofdemand. Asit stands today, ifeveryone
stopped donating blood, our nation’s supply would
disappear within only two days..."
So you’d think that the Red Cross would welcome all
donors. In the Red Cross" press releases, they state, "to
donate, one must be 17 years or older, weigh at least 110
pounds, and be feeling wall the day of the donation..."
What they don’t say is that ffyou are Gay, you don’ t lie
about it, and you give blood, they throw your blood away
- even though ALL blood is tested for HIV antibodies
anyway! Anyone who’s had sex with someone of the
samegender since,ifmemory serves me, 1984, is banned.
To reframe a 19th century prejudice: "Irish need not
apply" becomes "Faggots need not apply."
The local Red Cross shrugs off responsibility, saying
it’s a national policy. The national Red Cross places the
blame on the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). They
all know that thisis bad science. "
Once one might have presumed-a tight correlation
between sexual orientation/behavior and HIV status.
Today, those exposed to the HIV virus can just as easily
be heterosexual. Infact, one of the parts ofour population
whichhas disproportionately highinfectionrates is young
Mrican-Americans. Does anyone think we’d see the Red
Cross or FDA saying, "Young Blacks need not apply"?
The reality is that this discrimination is socially wrong
as well as bad public health policy. TulsaArea Red Cross
can’ t:change it by itsdf but its Board of Directors can go
on record to call for a change in the policy (it wouldn’t
hurt if they added a non-discrimination pohcy too). And
it can stop trying to sweep this prejudice under the rug.
Until it and the FDA change their policies, its press
releases should read, "to donate, one must be 17 years or
older, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be feeling well the
day of the donation.., andnot be aGay or Bisexual man."
by Tom Neal, editor/publisher
Early on the morning of Dec. 3rd, like many others, I
was shocked to see the face of a friend, someone whom.
I respectandlike, inTheWorld accused ofa vcry unlikely
act.
Reading the article and knowing the man, my first
reaction was to wonder that the charges had been brought
at all. It is a classic, "he said, she said" recast as "the
straight ’boy’ said, the Gay man said."
According to comments made to the Tulsa World by
Broken Arrow police, the
only persons present at the
allegedactwere RickFortner
and themanwhohas accused
him of lewd behavior (I say
man who accused because at
16 if he were a murderer,
he’d be considered an adult
and 16maynotbevery wise,
but it’s hardly a child in this
day and age).
I then wondered at
possible motivations for his
accuser. Was this the sick
behavior of a young man struggling with his own
homosexuality andprojecting his self-hatred onto another
target?
Or is he yet another young American man warped into
mindless hatred Of men who love other men by a society
whose need for some hated "other’ dates back to before
the Republic was founded (let me see: we Americans
havehated Indians in the East, we’ ve hated Blacks, we’ve
hated Jews, we’ve hated Germans, we especially hated
the Irish, we’ve hated Catholics, and Poles, and again
Indians in the West, and Asians: Chinese, Japanese, Fast
Indians, we’ve hated Commumsts, Socialists, Unionists,
women who dared to vote -or merely not be endless
baby-factories, hell, we’ ve even hated some Republicans
- I personally have thought that Ronnie Reagan was one
of the most profoundly and blandly evil men of our time
but I digress).
Former says he is innocent and I believe him as do his
friends and colleagues at his work, All Souls Unitarian
ChurchandinCouncil Oaks Mens Chorale whichFortner
founded and leads, and I hear his family, thank God.
But even when his innocence is proven, and these
charges likely are shown to be shameless political
opportunism by Tulsa County District Attorney Tim
Harris, Fortuer remains victimized by the accusation. His
reputation has been called into question and defending
" Fortner says he is innocent and I
believe him... But even when his
innocence is proven, and these
charges likely are shown to be
shameless politlea! opportunism by
Tulsa County District Attorney
Tim Harris, Fortner remains
victimized by the accusation...."
himself can 0nly be costly even if the charges are without
merit.
So why is this haptmning? Political and other observers
have known for some dme that Tulsa District Attorney
Tim Harris is closely associated with right wing political
extremists who call themselves "Christian."
Tulsa’s DA’s earlier demonstrated their willingness to
abuse the powers of the office to promote a ultra rightwing
agenda when they failed to prosecute seriously the
brutal hate assault against Tony Orr and Tim Beauchamp
until after prim media had
written about the DA’s bias,
failing even to get them
victim’s compensation for
their medical injuries as the
DA’s office does for other
crime victims.
Local attorney and
TOHRboard member Kerry
Lewis suggests that Harris is
shamelessly using this
accusation to appeal to the
part ofhis electoratewho are
rabidly prejudiced, to appear
as though Hams is "fighting crime" andjust incidentally
destroying Rick Fortner’s lifein the process.
We can likely anticipate that much of our District
Attorney’ s strategy, if they have the nerve to push such a
seemingly meritless case so far, is going to be to engage
in blatant legal "Gay-bashing." It will be suggested that,
ipso facto, Rick’s a"homo" and therefore capable of any
evil, and that any accusation by a red-blooded, all-
American boy is, of course, God’s own Truth!
But what’s really on trial here, is American justice
itself. As has played out generation after generation, with
minority after minority, the reality has been that our
justice, at its best- is uneven, and more often than not is
wildly unfair, favoring wealth, whiteness and heteromaleness.
And all the problem is not in the DA’s office. Some
Tulsa police, year after year, engage in varieties of anti-
Gay bias, including breaking the very law, with no
restriction nor anti-bias training from Chief Palmer nor
the elected official to whom he answers, Mayor Savage.
But right now, what matter is that Rick Former is
treated fairly. I don’ tknow if he’ s got alegal defense fund
set up but he may need it.
I’d suggest that any help readers might give, be sent to
the Rev. Suzanne Meyers at All Souls Unitarian Church.
They’re in the book.
by Dave Fleischer
National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
Ask voters a question - then listen to their answers -
and you get what Lily Tomlin calls a "goosebump
experience." Why the adrenaline rush? Because you
challenge not only your cherished ideas about the voters,
but also what you believe about yourself.
I was reminded of this while campaigning in Carol
City, an African-American, working-class Miami
neighborhood. I was with a team of volunteers from
SAVE Dade, the group preparing to defend their county
Human Rights Ordinance.
Scene: short, bald, Jewish me at.the door, talking to a
voter: "The Ordinance protects all of us from
discrimination, whether we’~re aman or woman, black or
white, Gay or non-Gay. The newest part of the law is the
part that includes Gay people. Some people want to take
the law .apart and remove Gay people from it. But we
think that s wrong-wethink everyone ought to be treated
with dignity and respect. What do you think?"
,,W,_ith barely a pause, the voter began "My church says.
¯. Oy ray. I figured I knew where we were headed, and
it wasn’t the promised land. "My church says--Jesus
loves everybody. Diseriminadon is always wrong." She
and I had a brief, affirming discussion.
I went to door #2, said my piece, and the voter
immediately began,"My church says..." I listened. "My
church says homosexuality is a sin. It’s wrong. Read
your Bible, and you’ll see the Lord has a plan for a better
life for you." As he amplified his point of view, I was
: trying to decide how quickly to exit. When he stopped
: talking, we paused and looked at each other. Then I said,
"Well, I’m Gay. I likemylife, and if IYm doing a goodjob
¯
at myjob, do you think my boss should be able to fire me
¯ just because I’m Gay?"
¯¯ The voter looked astonished: "Wall of course, no one
should fire you for that." That started a back-and-forth
¯ that surprised both of us. Wedisagreed about why people
are Gay. We agreed that discrimination against G.ays is
¯ unacceptable. After a fewminutes, as hewas prepanng to ¯
read tomefrom the Bible, I called ahalt, thanked him, and
¯ moved to the next door.
: What I learned about myself was how hard itis to ask
: a question and hear the answer. Both times, it only took
: three words before I thought I knew what was coming.
¯ Both times, I was Wrong but I realized why asking
~¯ questions is uncomfortable.Whenwe ask a question, and
really wait to hear the answer, we are not Controlling the
¯ situation. We are sharing control with the other person.
American culture teaches us all to like control. To
¯ celebrate our individuality - to believe that one pe.rson
¯ can make a difference - to have it our way--is as
¯ American as a.microwaved Mcwhopper.
But growing up Gay raises the stakes. Many of us
realize early on that we’ re different, subject to ridicule or
¯
hurt. So we crave control as a way to protect ourselves,
¯ and to survive. We pump up our talent for isolated
¯ individual achievement, sometimes neglecting team-
" building and our curiosity about others.
: Our life becomes a search for refuge. To protect
¯
ourselves, we build communities and organizations
¯ designed to shelter us. Butwe thenmiss genuine, reciprocal
¯ connectionwithotherpeople, especially thosewho aren’ t
just like us. Werarely ask them what they think ofus. We
¯
assume we know.
¯ When we don’ t ask real questions - like "What do you
think?"- we rely on Our past experience. No wonder that
¯
we hold onto ahigh level of paranoia. We can’ t forget the
¯ feelings we knew when we were young. We can’t miss
¯ the hostility expressed by right-wing extremists now. that
¯ we are older. ¯
But, guess what? Neither has much to do with where
¯ most Americans stand today. When we lack confidence
¯ in other people, it is no wonderwe struggle in campaigns. ¯
Ourlifeis a niche, but in elections we need50% + 1 of the
¯ participating voters on our side.
¯ It is understandably scary to put aside our past hurts to
test the possibilities in the present. It’s easier to avoid
person-to-person campaigning; it’s tempting instead to
¯ rely on every other possible form of communication, all
of which have at least some value. But what price do we
[ pay for our lack of curiosity, our unwillingness to risk
: authentic exchange? Are we, without meaning to, buying
¯ intothelargerculture’stoleranceofstereotypicalthinking?
~ Who is most imperiled when it’ s a deviant act to ask a
¯ question - or to question a stereotype? Let’s rescue ¯ ourselves. Goosebumps are ours, for the asking.
Dave Fleischer is a seniorfellow at the Policy Institute
ofthe National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
Nationwide Insurance : Allen said. Allen said much of the group’s time is
Adds Partners’ Benefits:¯ teachers can ha,,v.e a tough time discussing even with
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Nationwide Insurance those~who don t have a disability.
Company has just begun to offer employees a new : The Arc, formerly known as th.e .Associatio~
benefits package that will recognize same-sex : Retarded Citizens, adopt,e~,.. a posmon paper mr
d0mestic partners. The plan also .will cover relatives " " year~ ago affirmin_g that. indiv]~du,~.s with m~enn~
_ including extended family members~uch as : retardationarepe°plew~tlasexualIeel.mgs’~nhee~n~}
’grandparents - roommates and unmarriedpartners
~vho live w,ith the .employees, Donna. James; [ the 7:2 million people with,,mental retardation in the
Nationwide s senior vice president :of ihuman ¯ United States, s~ys people have fundamental ri,g,h,ts
resources, told The Outlook, an iaiiependent [ as individuals to have privacy, love and be loved.
¯ eater Columbus Ga,c community. ~ Sfill,. Gay people with mental disabilities are often
newsPaper°f,thegr.: - . . .,’.= ~,-~-’--,=-1= ¯ o,;~,~: "zed somefimesb arents,orcaretakers-the
Those co,v:_cream.u..~si tt~. a:.e.,p-enaoe.n..t.o. nm. e~’~auP~..’u~ . o~,~att_ ,,
em lo eeforsupp0rtorsnarelmanclalrespOn~t°mq¢ v~"v *~ a r
"
P Y. ........... .... .
.... ’ r-All of Nationwide s 28,000 .
¯ . ¯ _ . .’. .--. ¯ wem~pthlotyheeewsaorere.klig.eib..!.e..f0rth-,ep~ lan.Byear: ly~’mber"’ ¯ ’. " W : ~lrglfllfl CoHrt to lalevle
A recentForbesMagazine sur~ey, mo!area:
unmarried parmers .are ovyr~..byh~e’~l~9.ben,efitS ~ :: ’ ROANOKE, Va. (AP)-A Virginia.appe~s court,has
10% of .the businesses with :at least zoo em~toy~.. : agreed"to review the constitutionality oI a state taw
Companies that.pr0vide.same-sex P.-aFtner~e3Its .: tl~t ~nalizes oral sex between consenting adults.
indtide:Lotus!.De~vd0pment Corp.,MicrosoRtsorp:, .. The.Virginia Court of Appeals agreed to ~ear. the
-IBM, Walt Disney Co.,Honeywell and Xerox. ¯ ~i~s ~)f nine men convicted of soliciting sodomy
¯ " " e : from undercover police posing as Gay me~... .
McCam, Forbes:Endors : The case will test alaw that some autho~taes say ~
a legitimate way to deter public sex acts. opponen ’Don’t Ask, DOn’t-Tell’- ": 0fthelawarguethatit’sanarchaicinvasionofprivacy
.... .........si .that targets homosexu~,,s. The law, referred to as
WASHINGTON(AP)-TheClintona~stxatto.n
polieybarfing0penh0mosex.ual~sfro,m,..military~e_ ; ,crimes against nature, applies to all consenting
~vorksandshouldbepreserYed,Kepumtcancanoauate~ ’" adults, homosexual and heterosexual, who engagem
" oral sex in public or private. Violating the law is a
Sen. JohnMcCainanffSteveForbes s~din Decem~ber;
¯ McCain~ a former naval officer and prisoner oI war felony, plmishable ,by up to five years in prison.
inVietnam, Saiahewo,~dhave sen.1.°r o,f.fieer,s,re,v]ew
Those who say it s time for Virginia to join the list
the p0ffcy, but ad,d,ed, I support me poncy, i oeueve
of states that have abolished their alifi-sodgmy laws
that it;s working. ’ ,, , "
i are. encouraged that the appeals court has agr.e.e,d to
On"Fox Ne~s Sunday, Forbes said: ’The military
¯ hear the case. The sodomy law also was invokedmthe
is not an institution for socialengineering. It has. a
¯ case of Sharon Bottoms, a Richmond-area woman
~:ery real,role of protectingus. It... operates in very
" who lost custody of her son in 1993 when ajudge said
speJzial circumstance§, and theref0reapresident must
" she was an linfit mother because she and her female
take heed of leaders such as Gen. Powell and G.en.
¯ lo~er engaged in oral sex.
Scfiwarzkopf Who s,a,y that you cannot have open
inhispetitiontothe.appealscourt, Garrison said,,,the
Gays in the military.. The Repu.bh,ca~,~ fro,nt-ru~n~ar~
’ : case is not just a Gay issue, but one that affects me
ri ht to 4 5 million adult Virginians to be
Texas Gov George W.-Bush, also nas. enaorseu
Clinton policy. "
,
The position of Vice President A1 Gore, a,Viemam
they have a reasonable expectataon to privacy, t ne
veterat~, and.his Democratic Opponent Bill Bradle~ is
appeal attacks the law from several angles: that it
that people who.can be firefighters, police officers
¯ violates privacy rights guaranteed by both state and
andmembe~s,ofColigress shouldhaVeopenaccess to
federal Constitutions; that it is based on religious
.military service as wall. Gay civilrights activists who ¯
met with Clinton ¯last week said the president¯ told "
them the ~’don’.t ask, dOn~t.tell’’ policy was a failure..
R.., ,rded-Gays and ¯
Lesb"ia"ns" "Find Support.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP)- For decades, the ¯
sexuality of people with mental, dis~abi!i_ti_e_s,^W_~e]~ ¯
taboo a subject that parents ann prolesslonm~ ,o~ ~
acknowledged its ..ex~stence. The disabl.ed were o~ften ¯
treatedas if they Were eternal children; immune irom
desire. Bu,t as people with mental disabilities come of :
age in a more accepting’atmosphere, they are’:
grounds and thus violates the separation ofchurch and
state; and that its potential five-year prison sentence
subjects defendants to cruel find unusual punishment.
Eighteen men were charged under the law-in the
Roanoke Police Depfirtment;s sting. The biggest
challenge for those appealing .their convictions may
be convincing the appealS.court that they have legal
standing to overturn a’law that affects not just them,
but all adult Virgimans. In 1979 - the-last’ time a
higtier state court heard a challenge of the sodomy_.
law, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that a man
arrested in Richmond had no such standing2 ’
Since then, several states have recoglfized that
defendants arrested for alleg.ed public ~.ex acts are
entitled to fight the law not just as it was applied to
them, but as it potentially co~d be applied to bthers.i
formerly Family of Faith & Greater Tulsa MCC
Joined as one body of believers.
Come celebrate with us.
Sunday Services, 11 am
~aplewood, 8~18-1715
Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC
Certified Public Accountant
a professional corporation
747-5466
4021 S. Harvard, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135
HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIq
Sun. Worship, ~0:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am
Wed. Bible Study, 7 prn
3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon
Sandra Hill M.S.
Licensed Professional & National Certified
Counselor, Cel:tifled Hypnotherapist
.,Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation
After Hours Appointments Available
2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745~111
Community Unitarian UniversalL’
Congregation
at Community ofHo~p~
South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0S9!
A Welcoming.Congregation
experiencing an open discussion abom relationships ¯ Mingo Valley Flowers
an~’s~x ~and for Some, acknowledging that .they may Thirty years ago, all 50 states had laws that forbade
be homosexual.. " f eo le witl~ " consensual oral sex. Today, Virginia is one of. 17
For the past.year, a small group’o P P : statesthat’stillhassu~halaw- ’
mental disabilities has be~n ga~hexqng ~- transported ¯ ¯ - 9413 E, 31st St., Tulsa 74145
from group home~ and independentl~ving facilities ". 918-663-5934, fax: 663:583~,1800-444-592
.byth~ircareta~ers+-to,djs~us~the~-r¢-d[c~’ue~nt°fn°~t~ :
Court Bars Child
o~y beingmenta~iy ~a~d~ea~i~ed, but being Gay ~or ¯ Visitation, Rights milr
On a monthly basis, ~ey meet a~ a group with a : CHICAGO (AP) ~ Shelived withher Lesbian parme,r- . .
advocates for:the disabled say:more’ " n . ,-., . ~nva"cy¯ .-.~.-~.-.~..,~..ri.~.r.ti.i .".~.a.t.e.l.us; .t.no.t.c.o.ve.r.e.d.u.nd.e.r.a. state law-governing Visitaaon rights. ~ne oec,slon
NewHaven group:~d the meetings are niSt a dating ":
service. Ratl~er;the sessions’are an opporttmity for a~. upjhue~ud.~j:~a~il~r CH’~u~ntaCn:~l~ul.~gg:eopinionii~t~d
¯segment of the populati°n that is d°ubl:y ils°)ated.t°, : th~illin0islaw.~pecifi~i~]iame~i~i~?eS.’~.~e~ : l,li-,~ , 12~21’.S~uttlCo~umbialSuRe420 ,~
~lk oper~y about feelings, ,pressures,~ana" socm~ ¯
situations. Left.unaddressed; ~exu~iiy in.,a person :’ as.fotmerspous~sandgran.dparen ~,. -~ i ~i. ~;.’
1~q~4-351.8
With a m~nL~i :disability can ,manifeSt itself in : to Visitation rights with children. If.is silent fin me ~’’~
inappropriate, and...s0metimes,, ,s~lf-destructive. ,ways; : issue of former same-sex p.armer~,:
Child.i Family, IndividualA.,Couple Psychother~
" 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518
TulSa Gay Community Services Center
743-GAYS (743-4297)
.6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday
12-9 prn~ Saturday, all sales benefit the Center
OKLAHOMA COMMUNICATIONS
Local - Long Distance
Cellular -Paging
747.1508
Free Car Adaptor &
Leather Case with New Cell Phone
Help Celebrate
A Great American Hero
Join TOHR
. PFLAG and Soul Force
for the
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Monday, danuary 17
From Pine & Greenwood to
the Greenwood Cultural Center
Gather at9 am, Parade at 11 am
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Keller Williams Realty
712-2252
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2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114
An Independent Member Broker
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The Episcopal Church Welcomes You
Amanda met her partner, "Helen," in 1984 when
they were living in Georgia. Helen was artificially
inseminated in 1993 and gave birth to a daughter that
December. Amanda was involved in the preparations
for the birth and helped take care of the little girl for
a year and a half. The relationship ended in 1995. The
next year, Helenmoved to Chicago with her daughter
and has refused to allow Amanda any contact with the
child since 1997, the court said. Amanda’s suitargued
that even though she was not married to Helen, She
Should have the same rights parents have under
common law. Sawyer, an attorney for the Eainbda
Legal Foundation, said a decision would be made
later on. whether to appeal to the Illinois Supreme
Court.
Helen’s attorney, Leon Finkel, noted that Illinois
does not recognize common law in such cases’~ He
said boyfriends, aunts and uncles and in some cases
even stepparents are among those whoare not entitled
to visitation rights under Illinois law.
Finkel also said limiting the list was a good idea.
because parents should only m special instances be
forced to give up the power to determine who is
allowed to visit their children.
He added that while Illinois doesn’t recognize
same-sex marriages, it does recognize same-sex
adoptions. Had Amanda legally adopted the girl, she
would have had visitation rights and the dispute
would never have taken place, he said.
Study Says Marriage Ban
Would Hurt Children
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - At least 40,000
children living with Gay couples and 100,000 more
with Gay single parents would be affected by a
proposed state ban on same-sex marriages, according
to a new study. Those children could feel ostracized
by. society if their parents’ Unions were considered
invalid, concludes the review by Michael Wald, a
Stanford University law professor who specializes in
public policy’s effect on children. Proposition 22
would let California recognize only marriages
performed between a man and a woman. It will be
voted on in March.
’q’his alleged study, which promotes homosexual
marriages, is nothing more than a bogus political
campaign hit piece against Proposition 22 and the
institution of marriage," said Robert Glazier, a
spokesman for the Yes on Proposition 22 campaign.
Wald’s review used findings by the American
Psychological Association and several research studies
on same-sex parents. "By all reports, these families
are doing very wall," Wald said. "It is different,
obviously, growingup in afamily with two parents of
the same sex, but children adjust to it." Studies have
shown that the children of Gay parents are welladjusted
and do wall in school, but often face
intolerance, he said.
The report drew criticism from David Orgon
Coolidge, director of the Marriage Law Project atThe
Catholic University ofAmerica inWashington, D.C.,
who called it "an attempt to mislead voters." "prop 22
is not about same-sex couples," Coolidge said in a
written statement. "Prop 22 is about whether
Californians will be allowed to decide for themselves
how marriage will be defined in this state."
Colorado Anti-Marriage
Amendment Progresses
DENVER (AP) - A proposed constitutional
amendmentto restrict same-sexmarriages in Colorado
has been approved by the .secretary of state’s office
and now advances to a 30-day challenge period, ifapproved
by voters, the measure would recognize
only marriages between, a man and a woman and
would make same-sex marriages performed in other
states invalid in Colorado.
Themeasure, which cleared the secretary of state’s
ritle-setting board in December, will face opposition.
"As a statewide agency,we are eommitted to fighting
this every step of the way," said LoriAnn Girvan,
executive director of Equality Colorado. "We feel
that the taxpayers of Colorado don’t need another
anti-Gay ballotinitiative that will re-ignite our state’s
reputation as a place of intolerance."
Candace McCune, an Englewood lawyer
representing proponents of the measure who formed
the group Coloradans for Traditional Marriage, said
the measure would close a loophole in the state
Constitution. The Legislaturelast year rejected an
attempt by Sen. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Fort Morgan,
to pass a statute similar to the proposed amendment.
Opponents oftheinitiativehave 30 days to challenge
it. Ifit survives, signatures ofnearly 64,000 registered
voters. W~ould have to be collected tO.l~m the ~easure
off ~1i~ ~6all0t. Coloradatis- for Tradiu6nal" Marriage
also withdrew a proposal to ban same-sex marriages.
Hank Aaron Slams
Pitcher’s Comments
ATLANTA (AP)- Hall of Famer Hank Aaronjoined
thebarrage ofcriticism against AtlantaBraves pitcher
Johp_ Rocker, despite his apology for making
derogatory comments about Gays and minorities.
Aaron said he was "very sick and disgusted about
the whole situation" and questioned how Rocker
could continue in baseball. "I have no place in my
heart for peoplewhofeel that way," the all-time home
run king, who is the Braves’ senior vice president,
told syndicated radio host Jay Mariotti.
About 15 activists protested outside Turner Field,
urging the Braves to fire Rocker for the comments,
which were published i~n a recent Sports Illustrated.
"There may be some room for redemption, but not
as anAtlantaBrave," said Michael Langford, president
of the United Youth-Adult Conference. "We
encourage him to enter his resignation right now and
go into an early retirement."
Rocker told Sports Illustrated he would never play
for a New York team because he didn’t want to ride
a subway train "next to some queer with AIDS." He
also bashed immigrants, saying, "I’m not a very big
fan of foreigners... How the hell did they get in this
country?" While driving in Atlanta during the
interview, Rocker criticized Asian women: Look.
Look at this idiot," he said of another driver. "I
guarantee you she’s a Japanese woman. How bad are
Asianwomenatdriving?" Healso calledan overweighl
black teammate "a fat monkey."
Rocker apologized in a ffritten statement, saying he
was carried away by his "competitive zeal" against
New York Mets fans. He said heis not a racist mad the
comments do not reflect his true feelings.
Civic groups and a member of the Atlanta city
Council delivered aletter to Braves owner TedTurner
and general manager John Schuerholz demanding
Rocker’s immediate firing. "We would have hoped
there would havebeen amore scathing condemnation
of these comments," said Councilman Derrick
Boazman. "This was more thanjust rhetoric. This was
hate." There was no answer at Turner’ s office, and his
publicist did pot return a telephone call.
Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig called Rocker’s
remarks "inappropriate and offensive." He said
baseball is reviewing the matter and would take
"appropriate action." There is precedent: Former
Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott was suspended
from baseball for the 1993 season for her use of racial
and ethnic slurs.
¯ Pentagon .Seeks Tougher
: Stand Aga,nst Harassers
¯ WASH!NGTON(AP)-The U.S. Defense Department
¯ is piessing armed services leaders to re-emphasize to
¯¯ commanders that harassment of troops based on their
sexual orientation will notbe tolerated. The Pentagon
: has drawn fire recently for its "don’t ask, don’t tell"
: policy. Critics say an increasing number ofGay and
Lesbian servicemembers arebeingharassed, contrary
: to the stated policy ofpermitting them to serve so long
: as they do not declare their sexual orientation.
: The criticism sharpened after a court-martial in
¯ which anArmyprivate was convicted of murdering a
¯
Gay ,soldier harassed with the knowledge of his
¯ superiors. PresidentBill Clinton said earlier lastmonth
¯ that the Pentagon’s policy on Gays was "out of ¯
whack."
". see Briefs, p. 14
Older Americans
With HIV Increasing
HOUSTON (AP) - An aging population,
life-extending treatments, and a
misperception that AIDS is a disease of
the young have fostered an increase in
AIDS infections among older Americans,
the Houston Chronicle reported recently.
Nationally, about 11% of reported AIDS :
cases are in people 50 or older, the
newspaper reported.
Seniors are the age group with the
fastest-growing AIDS rates - up 22%
between 1991 and 1996, compared with a
9% increase among people age 13-49,
according to the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
However, health officials warned that
the increases seem dramatic because the
numbers are small. A 106% increase in
the number of older women infected
through sex, for example, is based on an
increase from 340 eases to 700 eases.
"’At this point, the numbers are so small
that they really have notbeen perceived as
a problem," said Dr. Rose Brownridge,
acting bureau chief of the Texas
Department:of Health division that deals
with AIDS and other sexually transmitted
diseases. She added, however, that the
issue needs further study.
About 72,000 .americans age 50 and
over and about 4,50(3 Texans have been.
diagnosedwithAIDS. N~gneknows how
many seniors are infected with HIV, the
virus that causes AIDS, because not all
states require HIV reporting and because
older people arethought to be tested far
less often than their younger counterparts.
According to the CDC, slightly more than
one-third of older people with AIDS are
Gay or Bisexual men. About one of five
was infected by using a dirty needle to
inject drugs.
While popular attention has been
focusedon declining infection rotes among
children, AIDS among seniors has been
virtually ignored. That must change, said
Marcia try, chief of social science
research on aging at the National Institute
onAging. "The pointis that society cannot
ignore AIDS in that pediatric population,
in the young adult population or the older
population," Ms. try said. "For people
living longer or getting infected at_ an
older age, these people are incredibly
isolated, and they may not getthe treatment
they need."
That is likely to change with the
onslaught of baby boomers nearing
retirement age, said Kathy Nokes, a New
Yorknursewho works withinfected older
patients and editor of a book on seniors
with AIDS. "Baby boomers talk about
everything, try everything, demand
everything," she said. "To a 60- or 70-
year-old, that’s not polite."
Ironically, the drug Viagra that has
allowedmanyoldermento revive dormant
sex lives also has heightened concern
aboutthe spread ofAIDS. "They are pretty
AIDS-unaware as they venture out into
the world of sexual activity," said Sara
Selber, executive director of AIDS
Foundation Houston. "AIDS wasn’ treally
on their screen at the time they were
(previously) sextmlly active."
Fish Gene Key to
Immune System
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A gene discovered
in puffer fish - which have immune
systems similar to humans - may hold
secrets to learning more about diseases
that affect the human immune system,
such as AIDS, medical researchers say.
~esearchers doing work at St.
Petersburg’s All Children’s Hospital
published their findings in this week’s
Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences, an academic journal.
Despite the finding, researchers do not
know what the newly found gene does,
said Gary Litman, the University of South
qoridaimmunologistwholedthe research
effort.
However, they do know the gene plays
amajor role in theimmune systembecause
of its complex structure.
In addition to the puffer fish, the
~mportant gene is found in other bony
fish, including zebra fish and sharks.
"The hunt is on for this gene in man,"
said Litman, who is working with eight
other researchers in Florida and in
California and Massachusetts. "Now we
know where to look."
Researchers are using computers .to
search human DNA for the identical or
similar sequence of 114,000 amino acids
found in the fish DNA. There are about 3
million amino acids in the human body.
Discoveries about the immune system
can affectnew developments in treatments
for diseases ranging from common
allergies to cancer and Alzheimer’s
disease.
Litman said thenew gene mightprovide
clues to an additional type of immunity
that doctors might not have realized.
AIDS Most
Important Story
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP)- The
discovery of and ongoing efforts to treat
and find a cure for AIDS was the top story
of the century, according to a survey of a
group ofhigh school history students. The
students surveyed by The Hutchinson
News otherwise generally agreed with
adult readers surveyed by the newspaper,
but, adults gave AIDS barely a mention.
’ It had such a high impact on what they
thought about their own mortality," said
Susan Smith, a teacher atHutchinsonHigh
School. "They didn’t think they could die,
and they certainly didn’t think having sex
could make them die."
Lindsey Derr, 16, saidnews aboutAIDS
is evenmoreimportantnow that the disease
is generally understood by experts and
millions of people have been identified as
AIDS,positive. Jacqui Faber, 16, said a
lot of people still don’t know enough
about where and how to get tested.
Some issues identified by students as
mostimportant occurred long before their
lifetimes, such as womengaining theright
to vote in America. Other issues that are
again xn the news, such as the Scopes
"Monkey" trial pitting evolutionary theory
against creationism, weren’t seen as
important.
Other stories that were big during their
lifetimes, such as the explosion of the
space shuttle Challengerandthemeltdown
¯of the Russian nuclear power plant at
Cheruobyl, were neat the bottom of the
high-school list.
Thebombing ofPearl Harbor that led to
U.S. entry into World War II, top of the
general readership’ s list,was infifthplace
among the students.
A high-ranking story on the students’
list that ranked low among the gener~
readership was the "I Have a Dream
speech given by the Rev. Martin Luther
King Jr. Talesha Brassield, a 16-year-old
junior, said King’s speech was still a
reminder that Americans have a lot to
learn about respecting each other. "There
The Second Annual
Progressive Alliance Summit
The State Capitol
Oklahoma City
Saturday
Januar 15th, 2000
Join activists from many different
progressive movements from across the
state for skills and coalition building.
Keynote Speaker: Frosty Troy
The Oklahoma Observer
For more information or for reservations contact Planned
Parenthood in Tulsa at 918-587-7674
or Keith Smith at The Smith Group: 405-840-2219
Are You Gay or Bisexual?
Are You Native American?
Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men’s
Support Group is here for you!
¯ Evening support group meetings
¯ Relationship workshops
¯ Short trips, outings and retreats
¯ Free HIV testing
For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project
at 582-7225 Ext. 208 or 218
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THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOUNDATION
PRESENTS
Equality Rocks
Saturday, April 29, 2000
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, DC
Hear Our Voices
Our Vision For the New Millennium IsAWorld Where
Peopl.e Can Live With Hope, Equality and Safety.
Join Melissa Etheridge, Ellen Degeneres, Anne Heche and
a Host of other Stars as They Rock. the New Millennium and
Take a Stand for a Safer, BetterWorld for Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender People Everywhere. Tickets on
Sale at 800..551.SEAT or www.ticketmaster.com
are still people that believe people have to
think the same, look the same and believe
the same things," Talesha said.
Thais Protest US
Drug Monopoly
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Some 120
Thai activists and HIV-AIDS patients
camped Wednesday outside the Health
Ministry demanding an end to a U.S.
pharmaceutical monopoly thatmakes antiviral
drugs too expensive for most in
Thailand. They want theThai government
to enforce a patent act to legalize local
manufacture of Didanosine or DDI, a
medicine that suppresses the deadly HIV
virus in a patient’s blood, delaying the
onset of AIDS.
Few. of the more than 1 million HIV
postive individuals in Thailand, a country
of 62 million people, can afford drugs
such as DDI and AZT, imported to
Thailandfromoverseas,mainlyfromU.S.
manufacturers.
DDI,manufacturedby U.S. ftrmBristol-
Myers Squibb, is sold at50 baht ($1.25) a
tablet in Thai hospitals. Patients need at
least fourtablets aday, costingin all about
6,000 baht-10,000 baht ($160-250) a
month. A Thai office worker earns about
4,400 baht($110) amonth. Thedrugprice
would be halved if Thailand produce it
locally.
Last month, Medecins Sans Frontieres,
the Nobel Peace Prize-winnlngemergency
healthcare group, said U.S. trade pressure
has made proper health care for H!V/
AIDS patients nnaffordable in Thailand
and other less developed countries.
Activists said access to DDI, used by
around 5% of people living with HIV in
1997, declined over the past two years due
to Thailand’s economic recession. Since
theHIV epidemicbeganin the early 1990s,
more than 260,000 Thais have contracted
full-blown AIDS.
’q’he government has full legislation to
enforce the act butit fears the U.S. will be
angry andit mightlead to trade sanctions,"
said Paisal Tan-ud, spokesmanoftheThai
Network For People Living With HIVAIDS.
The activists plan to camp outside
the ministly in Bangkok until they get an
answer from the government.
Earlier this year, campaigners succeeded
in demanding local manufacture of
Diflu.can, a drug used to treat cryptococcat
memngitis, a fungal infection of the brain
which occurs in HIV-AIDS patients.
The government has allowed two local
pharmaceutical compames to produce the
drug, originally manufactured by the U.S.
drug company Pfizer.
Girl + Grandmother
Tell Their Story
WOODBRIDGE, Va. - When Annisha
Wilbum was 4 years old, she went to live
with her grandmother, Valerie Reeder-
Bey, who is HIV-positive. Reeder-Bey
knew she had to talk about her condition
with her granddaughter. The hard part
was finding a way to do it without
frightening her or delving into
uncomfortable details. "I was living in
fear that anything could happen," said
Reeder-Bey,46,wholives inWoodbridge.
"I wanted to tell her. I just really had to
find the way without being graphic."
She started by jotting down things that
Annisha shouldn’tworry about: "It’ s okay
to hug," she wrote. "It’s okay to hold
hands." As the girl got older, she started
making her own contributions to the list.
¯ Talking on the telephone with her
: grandmother was OK, Annisha pointed
¯ out, or going rollerblading together.
¯ Thus was born "My Grandma Has
: AIDS: Annisha’s Story," a 14-page
¯ illustrated children’s book that was
¯ published this year by a pharmaceutical "
¯ company and distributed at the U.S.
Conference on AIDS in Denver and a
World AIDS Day commemoration in
¯ Boston.
"- Annisha and her grandmotherare both
¯ listed as authors, but thebookis writtenin
¯¯ Annisha’s voice. "Hi. My name is
Annisha. This is a story about my
grandma," the book begins. "She is real
: special to me. Mygrandmaisjustlikeany
¯ other grandma. My grandma has AIDS."
The book goes on to describe the various
things they do together. "I know that ifmy
friendhas AIDS, I cannotcatch itbybeing
~ their friend," Annisha says in the book.
~ Reeder-Bey, who also lives with her
¯ husband, Tommy, is excited about the
: book’s distributionandhopes parents will
¯" use it to introduce the subject of AIDS to
i¯ tHheeairvcehniilndrVenie.wS,haeniosnaplrsoofitthtehafotpurnodveirdeosf
: health counseling and support groups for
¯ people living with AIDS. "I would love
¯ forit to be in ev,,e~y household. That’s ~e
ultimate dream,’ she said. "Even if it s
¯ not in every household, I want everyone
~ to know about it."
: The road to "My Grandma Has-AIDS:
¯ Annisha’s Story"was along one. It began ¯
¯ whenReeder-Beywent toherownmother,
looking for solace after she learned she
¯" was HIV-positive. Reeder-Bey said she
¯ spent 22 years as an alcoholic and drug
¯ addict. Her mother could not accept the
: diagnosis and sent her daughter away, she
: said: "I forgive my mother now, but then,
¯ I couldn’t take it," she recalled.
¯ Six years later, Reeder-Beywas alcohol-
. and drug-free andembarking onanew life
¯ as an AIDS activist and drug counselor.
¯ Then her daughter, who has had her own
: struggles with addiction, asked her to take
in Annisha. "Wehad already spent a lot of
." time together," Reeder-Bey said of
¯ Annisha. "She just became a part of my
: life."
When Annisha was 6, Reeder-Bey
¯ thought the two of them had a book worth
¯ sharing. She went to several well-known
: children’s book publishers, who told her
¯ that the subject matter was inappropriate
¯ or didn’t fit their needs.
¯ Butthebookdidcatch the eye ofofficials
." at Agouron Pharmaceuticals, a La Jolla,
." Calif.-based company that makes the
." AIDS drug Viracept, and Agouron
¯ published it. Agouron has an active
: outreachprogramthatfocuses particularly
¯" on minority communities, and the book
¯ worked well with that program, said Joy
¯ Schmitt, a company spokeswoman.
: Reeder-Bey also made sure that Prince
¯ WilliamCounty school administrators got
: a copy of"Annisha’s Story." Annishais a
¯ third-grader at Featherstone Elementary.
¯ Agouron said it plans to distribute the
~ book at otherAIDS conferences, with the
¯ authors’ permission. In the meantime, ¯
Reeder-Bey is a one-woman distribution
¯ machine, bringing books to her doctor’s
¯ office, to work, to wherever she thinks
¯ someone would pick one up. "I want
: people to open up and start talking to kids
: about it. Kids want you to be open with
: them," Reeder-Bey said.
¯ And Annisha said she plans to keep
¯
writing. She has advice for other would-
~ be authors: "I think they should write
¯ what’s in their imagination, and write
: what’sin their heart."
Happy New Year and Century to " hit Broadway, running for 2 years. This
everyone! "If you’re with me, next year : ground breaking drama about 9 Gay men
willbe... The perfect year!" Sorry, Petula ¯ gathering for a birthday party with catty,
left a little Norma Desmond behind. (The ¯ emotionally trying results spawned a film
line is from a song that features ~ -by William Friedldn (who went on to
prominentlyinthemusical, direct "the Exorcist", and
"Sunset Boulevard".)
Actually, there were afew
days I couldn’ t tell the two
apart. What, me catty? I
don’t know what you
mean. . . (Eyes bat
iunocenfly. Well, as close
as I can get... Shaddup!
Stop snickering amongst
yoursdves!)
January at the PAC: Ben
E. King performs with the
Tulsa philharmonic the 7
&8. The armchair traveler
goes to France on the 10;
and the All State Music
Festival happens onthe 15.
"Gaelic Storm," the Irish
band that played in the 3rd
class steerage section of
the Titanic appears at the
PACJanuary 19 &20. Leo
danced a jig to their tunes
in the film. Latin music is played by
Scarles, Allen and River on the 22, and a
concurrent concert hapl~L’ns with Janina
Fialkowska at the piano. On the 23, Das
Puppenspeil (I love that name!) puppet
theatre performs with the Philharmonic,
and the month closes with "Buddy," the
Buddy Holly musical from the 25 through
the 30. "Crossing Delancy" opens on the
28. More info on these artists to come. If
~ou lust can’t wait, you can always call
e f~iendly folks at the PAC ticket office
at 596-7111.
Forthose abitmoreventuresome, Dallas
seems to be the place of interest in
upcoming months. GeorgeWinstonplays
Majestic Theatre Jan 7; and for those who
recall a rather large member of the Rocky
Horror Picture Show cast, Meat Loaf
performs at McFarlin Auditorium Jan 16.
My, they’re really bringing in the class
acts now, aren’t they?
For the more modem crown, Counting
Crows plays the Bronco bowl Jan 25, and
Beck plays there Jail 26. Kids in the Hall,
the all male cross dressing comedy troupe
of some fame in the mid-90’s plays the
Bronco bowl Feb 3. The Pretenders, with
opening act "Gay Dad", perform at the
Bronco Bowl Feb 6. The Chieftains, for
those who like their Irish music Irish, are
at the Fort Worth Bass Performance Hall
Feb 6. Back in Dallas, Diana Krall plays
the Majestic Theatre Feb 18. And for
those into boy bands, Backstreet Boys
(almost has-beenS) are at Reunion Arena
March3-4. For themorefolksy set, Crosby,
Stills, Nash and Young are playing
Reunion Arena March 7th.
For thosepining for somedecent theatre
- and I know many of you are, even if you
don’t attend it- Mort Crowley’ s seminal
work, "The Boys in the Band", runs
through January 29 at the Fort Worth
Theatre (817-921-5300). It rated a full
page storyin theFortWorthStarTelegram.
Apparently, Fort Worth has become a
progressive town, in that one of its oldest
and mostprestigious theatres has started a
series of Gay plays called the "Labor of
Love" series. They have sold out.
Hello, Theatre Tulsa!
"Boys" opened in April 1968, and was
one of’the first, if not the first, Gay play to
"Sorcerer") and nnhinged
the closet door that held
Gay theater locked inside
and blew it down the
hallway.
. FortWorthTheatrehas
already produced two
shows this season thathad
to do with some aspect of
homosexuality:
"Seducing Sally" and
"The SantalandDiaries".
Folks, this is a city
nicknamed "Cowtown".
Hello? It’ s about the size
of Tulsa. They have 3
theatres there that are
unafraid to try something
new -CircleTheatre, Stage
West, and now, the most
staid of the Fort Worth
Theatres.
We have Heller, and
: sometimes TU, and the quality of theatre
¯ in this town is very hit and miss. I know
: that’ll tick some folks off, but it’s true.
¯ And more often than not, it’s missing.
: Let’s work on that, shall we? I mean,
¯ Cowtown, really!
Tickets are $10 - $12 dollars, and a
¯ percentage of ticket sales goes to AIDS
~ Resources of Rural Texas. And from the
: pics of the cast, it looks like it would be a
¯ handsome evening, indeed. Thanks to
: Mark Lowry of the Fort Worth Star
Telegram for some of the info used in this
: tern.
Usually, when I write of an album
wherein the songs, music and lyrics, tend
to eerily reflect events in my own time
space, it’ s a safe bet that I’m writing about
Stevie Nicks. Shejust does thht sort thing.
I got walloped this last week by an album
my best friend Karin (who’ s straight, by
the way) mademelisten to. She started off
by saying some of the songs reminded her
of me and one of my last major romantic
entanglements. Then she started playing
it, and I was just about knocked out of the
car. The album is by an artist I never gave
much ~hought to, except to wish that I’ d
never hear the phrase "I Wanna Come
Over" again. Yes, I was ~,valloped by a
Lesbian MdissaEtheridge slat~stalbum,
"Breakdown" (an ironic rifle, given the
album’ s previously stated significance) is
a treasure trove of powerful lyrics and
dynamite music.
The song "Stronger Than Me" is one of
the ones my best friend Karin related to
: my experience from her viewpoint. The
~ lyrics are dark and intense, and the music
; echoes their intent. "I don’t know how
: you can take it / invest your heart and then
¯ youbreakit / I don’ tknow how youcan set
: it free / you must be stronger than me"
: certainly sums up my somewhat
¯ overoptimistic romantic enthusiasms
according to Karin.
"Breakdown" is a power ballad about a
~ love gone so wrong one has left, but the
¯ other p~rson keeps pulling you back like
~ a pit of quicksand. "I’m coming to your
~ breakdowntonight.""Enough ofMe" was
¯ another sock to the stomach in its eerie
: capturing of what the last year of my last
; majorrelationship was like. see Jirn,p. 14
The Tulsa Phiharmonicpresents
pianist
Janina Fialkowska
the third concert in the,
Masterworks Series
Saturday, January 22, 8pm
Tulsa Performing-Arts Center
Debussy, Prelude a l’apres midi d’une faune
Grieg, Piano Concerto in A minor, op. 16
Wagner, selections from
Der Ring des Nibelungen
Tickets: 747-PHIL or 596-7111
earles, Allen & Rive.ra
URBANTULSA
THE KERR FOUNDATION, INC.
FOUNDERS AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
"cO IJ/IELLIAS cao~oea~v:VAL CANIPAROLIw~:FREOEIIIC CHOPIN
Long before multi-million dollar book deals -
were the fashion, Alexandre Dumas’ son
(yes, the "The Three Musketeers" author)
converted his torrid:turned-terminal love affair
into a best seller. From there, composer
Guiseppe Verdi adapted the story for opera
(hello, "La Traviata"). Today, choreographer
Val Canipamli finished the iob of turning
"La Traviata" into dance. Using drama,
not melodrama. For understatement
underscored. A full-length love story.
"You don’t have
to knew ballet
to love ballet.
You just have
to try it."
-- MARCE£LO ARGELJNI
ARTISTIC DIRECTOI~
" FRIDAY 8 PI~EBRUARY 11
SATURDAY B PMFEBRUARY 12
SUNDAY 3 PMFEBRUARY 13
SEASON SPONSORS:
ABC Music
Order tickets by calling The Tulsa BaJlet Ticket Offica: 749-600|
4512 S. Peoria Ava. , Tulsa, OK 74105-4563 ¯ VisH
GILCREASE MUSE
I~" SUNDAYS
Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service - 6pm, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Service - 11am, 2545 S. Yale, 749-0595 (Welcoming)
Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist
Service - 1 lain, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-1314
Metropolitan Community Church United
Service, llam, 1623 North Maplew00d, Info! 838-1715
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc.
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood
Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America)
Mass - 1lain, 205 W. King (east of N. Denver), Info: 582-3088
Unity. Church of Christianity
Services: 9:15 & 11:00 am, 3355 S. Jamestown,749-8833
University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gayfrransgendercd Alliance
6:30 pm, Meets at the United Ministry Ctr., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780
~’ MONDAYS
HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required.
Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378)3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard)
HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
7:30pro, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
2rid Mon/each mo. 6:30pm, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard
Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551
Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals - call for times, info: 748-3888.
I~" TUESDAYSAIDS
Coalition of Tulsa, call for next meeting date. 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551
Live And Let Live, Community of Hope United Methodist, 7:30pro, 2545 S. Yale
Multienltural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date.
Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001
PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center. 1307 E. 38th
Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE)
Tuesdays, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, info: 743-4297
~ WEDNESDAYS
Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center
Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pm, 3210b So. Norwood
Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more information, call 582-7225
TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for info: 595-7632.
Lambda A-A, 7 pm, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft.
~" THURSDAYS
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education
Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pm 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral
Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN)
Support/social group for 18-24’ s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-2325
Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, Info: 834-4194
~ FRIDAYS
SafeHaven, Young Adults Social Group, 1 st Fri/each mo. 8pm, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th
I~" SATURDAYS
Narcotics Anonymous, 11 pm, Community of Hope,1703 E. 2nd, Info: 585-1800
Lambda A-A, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft.
t~= OTHER GROUPS
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info: 298-0827
Gal-A-Vanting, Womens Social & Cultural Group
Call for info: Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-6825.
OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization. Long rides & short rides from
Zeigler Park. Long & short tides from Tulsa Gay Community Center. Write for info:
POB 9165, Tulsa, OK 74157
Mixed Volleyball, non-active in winter, call Shawn at 243-5190 for spring activities.
Ifyour organization is not listed, please let us know. Call 583-1248 orfax 583-4615.
reviewed by Barry Hensley
Tulsa City-County Library
Here are a couple of new books at the
library that you shouldn’t miss! A few
years ago, author Rik Isensee wrote an
eulighteningbookforGay
men, rifled "Reclaiming
Your Life: The Gay
Man’s Guide to Love,
Self-Acceptance and
Trust." He’s back with a
new winner for those of
us in our, ahem, late
thirties (and on up), "Are
You Ready?"
The time has come for
the community to
understand that Gay life
doesn’t end simply
because you remember
Watergilte. This book
helps you learn to
celebraie i the positive
things about aging
(flexibility, " greater
"One d Isensee’s
primary tasks is to
help Gay males
reach closure with a
youtlt~l identity¯
The key to this is
learning to stop
living for the
moment¯ For a
¯ reclaim youthful ambitions. This tendency
: can be compared to the stage of
¯¯ ’bargaining’ in grief reactions. If only I’d just work harder, exercise more, go to
¯ bars, get a facelift, get a tattoo- I’ll be all ¯
right."
One of the suggested
steps toward stabilizing
your life is to get in a long
term relationship. Just
because it didn’t work
whenyouwereyoungand
foolish doesn’t mean it
won’t work now! There
is a good section that
provides some basic
guidance toward finding
a rdationship, including
"what are you looking
for?," "distinguish
_between desirables.and
necessary qualities," and
variety of reasons, "be open to men who
" don’tfityouinsual type." we are living longer. _There are alsosomegood
tolerances, self ann " 1- ....
¯....
" ~ d nav" ate neell to remmn
acceptance) an lgate~_____-~_~.
the negatives (dis-eti~ vital and involved.
over physical aging,
d i s i 11Usi onm e n t,--It Is very Important
examples of how
depressio,and lethargy).
One of Isensee’s to-not waste time
primary tasks is to help re]ivln6 -
Gay males reach closure
with a youthful identity, the past..
The key to this is learning
to stoplivingfor themoment. Fora variety
of re~ons~ we are living long~-and need
to remain vital and involved. It is very
important to not waste time reliving the
past.
As Isensee explains, "During this
uncertain time, when we’ ve lost our way,
there may be a sense of not having
accomplished anything. Itmay be difficult
to remember earlier goals or to ascribe
any significance to them. It’s also hard to
imagine what else we would like to do.
Rather than tolerating the anxiety of not
knowing, some men are tempted to make
up for lost time - through some radical
change for its own sake, or a mad dash to
with Former and does not believe the
accusation to be credible.
Attorney Kerry Lewis, who is also a
board member of Tulsa Oklahomans for
Human Rights suggested that anti-Gay
bias and political opportunism on the part
of Tulsa County District Attorney Tim
Harris and his staff may be behind this
accusation.
Lewis noted that such a case would
have appeal for Republican Harris whose
voter bast is tied to religious extremist
elements in the Republican Party. Lewis
also said that given the level of anti-Gay
prejudice in the area’s jury pool; Harris
maybecalculating thatheneednotactually
prove Former guilty, that is that merely
being a Gay man accused by a younger
man will be taken as proof of guilt in a
legal system. that is hostile to minority
citizens.
DrumwrightattorneyTimDaniel whose
practice~has’included defending Gaymen
relationships change over
the years. No, thesethi~gs
are not easy, but the hard
work will pay off in. the
end!
Another new book is,
’q’he Book of Gay and
Lesbian Quotations."
This is a fun compilation
of quotes by Gays and
¯ Lesbians; and Gay-friendly peopleas well,
¯ from ancient times to the present. It is a
." simple reference book broken down into
¯ broad subjects: solitude, morality, hope,
¯ etc.
: Some of the better quotes are: "a waist
¯ is terrible thing to mind," "anyone who
¯ says that softball is a boring game to
. watch isn’t looking at the right things!,"
: and "the only way of getting dd of
temptation is to yield to it." This is a super
: book for one liners.
: Check for these and other fun books at
¯ your local branch library, or call the ¯
Readers ServicesdepartmentattheCentral
: Library at 596-7966.
: who say they were entrapped by Tulsa
¯ Police, believes that the Tulsa County
¯ DistrictAttorney uses anti-Gay bias in the legal system to plea bargain cases,
: knowing that accused Gay men, even if
¯ they are not guilty, or even if the police ¯
engaged in illegal conduct themselves in
¯ order to make an arrest, will accept a
~ "deal" rather than risk having a hostile
¯ jury and even more serious charges and
¯ punishment.
: Anti-Gay hate crime victims, Tony Orr
¯ &TimBeauchamp, also have pointed out ¯
that Hams’ office failed to assist them in
: getting normal compensation for their
: medical expenses due to the assault on
¯ them, and that the DA’s office did not
¯ even prosecute seriously their assailants ¯ until after The Tulsa World wrote a story
: about the DA’s inaction.
¯ Fortner did return a call to TulsaFami!y
: Newsbutonadviceofhis attorney declined
; to comment onthe allegations. Calls to
: Former’s attorney were not returned.
January April July October December
Even Out Your
Monthly Electric Bills.
At PSO, we know that changing
weather conditions throughout the
year can cause your monthly electric
bills to rise and fall dramafieally.
Which can make it hard to tflan your
¯household budget. That’s why~
~ourAverage Monthly Payment plan,
could be your_budgeting solution.
Wata~you imy about the
same each month, because it’s based
on your gnevious 12 months.usage.
That makes budgeting a breeze.
And best of all ifs free. AMPis just
one of several ttem~ole payment
o~ons PSO offers you. For more
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P- 9 PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA
A Central and South West Company
Holland Hall
SCHOOL
PRIMARY SCHOOL TOURS (AGE 3- GRADE 3)
MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL TOURS (GRADES 4- I I)
MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL TESTING (GRADES 4- II)
PRIMARY SCHOOL TESTING (KINDERGARTEN- GRADE I)
To reserve your place, please Call the
Admission Office at 481=111.1; extension 251.
5666 E. 81st Street ~ Between Yale & Sheridan ~ Tulsa ~ www.hollandhall.org
Holland Hall admits qualified students without regard to race, sex. religion, national or ethnic omgm, or p~.sical disabili~..
800-559-1558 ~.NewNest.com
The new Patti Johnsqq Wilson YWCA wi, be opening February 2000
Fitness Center
Aerobics
Aquatic Programs
Licensed Child Care
Our Proffress
Le s!
by Mary Schepers . - I will respect electrical energy and will
TFNdo-it-yourself-dyke extraordinaire ¯ notwireanyfixture, outletorswitch’hot."
The holidays are over, the mistletoe " - I resolve to keep saw blades sharp and
delightfullynsed, abusedandrefused.The ¯ clean. I will unplug power saws before
long nights and short days of winter seem ¯ removing the blade.
to stretch on forever. It is - I resolve to use trendy
the time to dreamoffuture
projects that will not be
started until spring time
comes. And it is time for
making all of those godawful
New Year’s resolutions
that endurebutfor
a mere matter of days.
Why not combine home
projects with good
intentions andmake some
resolutions you’ll actually
keep?
Inall modesty, and with
absolutely no sense of
overstepping boundaries,
your DIYD gently offers
her own suggestions for
your approval and
implementatzon.
Considerityourblueprint
for a millennium of
satisfying home projects.
Or consider it your DIYD
telling you what to do -
again. And always. Why
should this century be any
different than the. last?
You love it, ducklings,
you know you do! Now,
repeat after me
- I resolve to always work
safely! I will read and follow direction~
and will not by-pass guards or safety
devices. I will use personal protection
(safety glasses, earplugs, etc.), and ask for
help if I need it.
-I will measure twice (minimum!) and
cut once. Woodis expensive and screwing
up makesmecranky and unbearable. Let’ s
avoid that this year.
-I will not swear to the extent and/or
noise level that the dog or cat needs deep
therapy.
-I will always involve my partner (if
applicable) inhome repair and decoration
decisions. Even if they say they "don’t
care" - trust me, cupcake, theydo!
- I resolve to take good care of my tools.
I will keep them clean, organized and in
good repair. I will thereby not waste
precious project time obsessing about the
mystery location of the screwdriver or
paint roller.
- I resolve not to treat any ofmy partner’ s
questions as stupid - no matter how
glaringly obvious the answer or solution.
- Iwill not loan out tools I care about to
people who abuse them or do not return
them, I will acknowledge my emotional/
psychological bond with my tools,
especially thoserequiring apower supply,
- I will buy that leather tool bdtas soon as
I can. And I will use it (silk boxers
optional).
- I resolve to always set my ladder up on
a stable, even surface and to havesomeone
watching out for me nearby. That
especially applies if I am on the roof. The
dog does not count as my ’safety buddy.’
-I resolve to overcome my fear and
loathing of spiders and slugs long enough
to enter the crawl space and make that
minorplumbingrepair to thebathtub drain.
Other-wise, I will overcome my aversion
to paying a plumber to do the same.
"In all modesty, and
with absolutely no
sense of overstepping
boundaries, your
DIYD gently offers
her suggestions for
your approval . . .
Consider it your
blueprint for a
millennium of
satisfying home
projects.
Or consider it your
DIYD telling you
what to do - again.
And always.
Why should this
century be any
different
than the last?"
colors and designs in my
home sparingly, remembering
fullyhow appalled
I was by the ’50’s Peptopink
bathroom walls, tile
and tub. I am leaving a
legacy! (this does not
apply if you wish vengeance
on your heirs)
- I will always get three
quotes for any contract
labor, as well as
references.
- I resolve to be more
respectful for the people
wor.king atmylocal home
repatr palace, even thal
patronizing boob in
plumbing. Fantasize
about replumbing his
fixtures, butdon’tactually
threaten to do it this time.
-I resolve to buy very
good paint brushes and
keep them clean and
properly stored for a
lifetime of painting
pleasure.
-I will not tell friends,
family or relative
strangers how they
screwed up their latest
project and what I wouldhavedonebetter.
Do give them a stack ofDIYD columns as
a form of gentle guidance.
- I resolve to do one project this year, no
matter how small, to improve the
aesthetics, efficiency or value ofmyhome.
- I resolve tomakemy DIYD that cocktail
- a Manhattan with two cherries - as a
small token of the gratitude I bear her for
enlightening my life and improving my
home!
And your DIYD resolves to be back
next month to help you make good on
some of these intentions.
PS: Your DIYD doesn’ t waste precious
energy tying cherry stems into knots with
her tongue when it is better applied to
practical projects!
¯
By the time ~this song played, I was
¯ becoming a fan. So much so, I bought the
CD
If ’ ,
: you ve been depressed, and couldn t
¯ explain how debilitating a state it really
¯ can be, "Into The Dark" is one of those
¯¯ songs you play for people to make them
understand what the dark night of the soul
¯ is all about. One ofthemore powerful and
dark songs on thi~ album, it leaves you
." haunted. It’ s a ditty about going "into the
¯ soullinto the heart/into the dark", and
: realizing that one’s been spinning one’s
wheels keeping a dead relationship alive,
¯ not that Iwouldknowanythingabout that.
"There was tire/therewas death/there was
¯ lyingonyourbreath/Itumedaway/Iwould
¯ pretend/but the fire never ends/I’ve been
¯
here sleeping all these years. "
_" Lest you think it’s all doom a~ad gloom,
: JulieCypher, Melissa’s longtimepartner,
¯ requested a more upbeat song for fear her
to recognize same-sex civil marriage. It
was thefirst state to offer domesticpartner
benefits to state workers, one of the first
states to recognize second-parent
adoptions and one ofthe first states to ban.
discriminationbasedonsexual orientation.
-The Mormon church, which has
campaigned.-against Gay marriage in
Vermont, Hawaii and California, issued a
brief statement repeating its position and
¯ saying,"As the legislative process moves
forward, The ChUrch of Jesus Cqh-’ist of
Latter-day Saints urges the citizens of
Vermont and their elected representatives
to protect the uniqueness and sanctity of
traditional marriage and to preserve the
family ~ the basic unit of society."
Next Door In New Hampshire
A statelawmakeris trying to make sure
Gay New Hampshire couples do riot take
advantage of the Vermont ruling. Rep.
Gary Torressen, R-Center Harbor, says
he was disappointed by the decision that
Gay couples are entitled to the same
benefits and protections as husbands and
wives. Torressen said he filed., his bill,
which would prevent New Hampshire
from recognizing same-sex marriages
contracted out of state, in anticipation of
the Vermont court’s decision.
The Legislature repealed a ban on Gay
foster parents and Gay adoptions. The
state also has a law that protects Gays and
Lesbiansfrom discrimination in housing,
employmentand access topublicfacilities.
State Sen. Rick Trombly, a Boscawen
Democrat who is Gay, said New
Hampshire shouldgo further and set upits
own domestic partnership system. Rep.
Martha Fuller Clark, D-Portsmouth, has
filed a bill that would extend medical
benefits to domestic partners, andrecently,
trustees for the state university system
approved domestic partner benefits for
employees. But Gays and Lesbians still
lackfull acess to the samehealthinsurance,
disability benefits, tax breaks and
inheritance protections that married
couples enjoy.
Trombly believes New Hampshire
lawmakers would support a domestic
partnership system as a fundamental
affirmation of equal rights. But he does
not believe they would support Gay
marriage, because many believe
heterosexual marriage has a religious
significance.
State Sen. Pat Krueger, a conservative
Republican from Manchester, said
Tuesday she had Gay friends whose lives
were complicated by their lack of legal
protections, and she would consider
supporting domestic partnerships. A
spokeswoman for Gov. Jeanne Shaheen
said the governorremains opposed to Gay
marriage. Spokeswoman Pamela Walsh
declined:comment on Shaheen’ s .view of
domesticpartnership.legislation, sayingit
was premature.
Excerpts from the Supreme
Court decision on marriages:
Maythe stateofVermontexclude samesex
couples from the benefits and
protections that its laws provide to
opposite-sex married couples? That is the
fundamental question we address in this
appeal, aquestionthatthecourtwellknows
arouses deeply-felt religious, moral, and
political beliefs. Our constitutional
responsibility to consider the legal merits
of issues properly before us provides no
exception for the controversial case. The
issue before the court, moreover, does not
turnon the religious-or moral debate over
¯
inlimate same-sex relationships, butrather
¯ on the statutory and constitutionai basis
for the exclusion of same-sex couples
: from the secular benefits and protections
: offered married couples.
¯ We conclude that under the Common
Benefits Clause of the Vermont
Constitution, which, in pertinent part,
e,ads, that government ~s, or ought to be,
instituted for the common benefit,
¯¯ protection, and security of the people,.
¯ nation, or community, and not for the
particular emolument or advantage ofany
i single person, family, or set of persons,
¯ who are a part only of that community,"
plaintiffs may not be deprived of the
: statutory benefits andprotections afforded
¯ persons of the opposite sex who choose to
~ marry. We hold that the state is
¯ constitutionally required to extend to ¯ same-sex couples the common benefits
: and protections that flow from marriage
under Vermont law.
". (and)
¯ While the laws relating to marriage
¯ have undergone many changes during the
¯ last century, largely toward the goal of ¯
equalizing the status of husbands and
¯ wives, the benefits of marriage have not
¯ diminished in value. On the contrary, the
¯ =benefits and protections incident to a
: marriagelicense under Vermontlaw have
: never been greater.
¯ (andfrom Justice Denise Johnson)
¯ This case is undoubtedly one of the
¯ most controversial ever to come before
¯ this court. Newspaper, radio andtelevision
¯ media have disclosed widespread public
¯ interest in its outcome, as well as the full
¯ spectrum of opinion as to what that
¯ outcome should be and what its
¯ ramifications may be for our society as a ¯
whole.
¯
.One line of opinion contends that this is
¯ an issue that ought to be decided only by
¯ the most broadly democratic of our
¯ governmental institutions, theLegislature; ¯ and thatthe small group ofmenandwomen
: comprising this court has no business
deciding an issue of such enormous
¯ moment.
: For better or worse, however, this is
¯ simply not So. This case came before us
¯ because citizens of the state invoked their
¯
¯ constitutional right to seekredress through the judicial process of a perceived
¯ deprivation under state law. The Vermont
¯ Constitution does not permit the courts to decline to adjudicate a matter because its
¯ subject is controverslal, or because the
¯ outcome may be deeply offense to the
Strongly held beliefs of many of our
¯ citizens.
¯ We do not have, as does the Supreme
¯ Court of the United States, certiorari
-’ jurisdiction, which allows thatcourt, inits
¯ sole discretion, to decline to hear almost
¯ any case. To the contrary, if a case has
¯ been brought before us, and if the
¯ established procedures have been
¯ followed, as they were here, we must hear
¯ and decide it.
: Moreover, we must decide the case on
¯ legal grounds. However much history,
: sociology, religious belief, personal
¯ experienceor other considerations may ¯
inform our individual or collective
: deliberations, we must decide this case,
¯ and all cases, on the basis of our
¯ understanding of the law, and the law
¯ alone.
¯" Thismustbethe trueandconstant effort
¯ of every member of the judiciary. That
¯ effort, needless to say, is not a guarantee
¯
of infallibility, nor even an assurance of
¯ wisdom. It is, however, the fulfillment of
.. our pledge of office.
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A UTHENTIC FRESH
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Outreach Program Thurs. Nights
Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment
Call for meeting times and place:
918-584-2325.
TOM NEAL
BUILDING
&
GARDEN
DESIGN
58:3- 1248
by Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D. ¯ into gender patterns as soon as they are
One of my students owns 189 pairs of ~ born, wrapping them in blue or pink
athletic shoes. Not quite Imelda Marcos, ~ blankets. Walk into any toy store and you
butgettingthere.Anthonyisjust20years ¯ knowwhenyou’veenteredthegirls’aisle.
old and already he is a sophisticated ¯ Everything suddenly has turned pink.
collector. Collecting things is oddly ¯ Several of my friends with young sons
importantformany ofus.
I have other friends who
accumulate Native
American artifacts. And
books. And jazz vinyl
recordings. And Cacti.
And uniforms.
Most of us collect
some-thing evenif this is
only string or a draw full
Of condoms. Our houses
are museums. One ofmy
professors saved sheets
of toilet paper from bathrooms
around the world.
Me, I have.a stupendous
collection of refrigerator
magnets.
We buy stuff; we give
it away; we receive it;
andwe curateit: Think of
all those shoeboxes lined
UP in Anthony’s bedroom.
Things, clearly,are
important for reasons
beyond the utilitarian.
Evenwearing themevery
second until the day he
dies, Anthony will never
use up all his Shoes. He
buys themto ownandnot
particularly to wear. They
helpmake sense ofwhom
he is - or at least who he
thinks he wants to be.
Because ofthiS, ormaybe
it’s their smell(they give
him a buzz.
Having just survived
the holiday season, we
know the pleasures and
pains of stuff. Did you
get what you want for the
holidays? Did you make
a list? Did you check it
twice?
Everyone grumbles
about the materialism of
a onetime religious
celebration. But complain
away, I sure had a
lot of desperate company
last month when I went
foraging for things in the
bleak shopping expanses
of Walmart.
"We slot our
ehildren into gender
patterns as soon as
they are born,
wrapping
them in blue or
pink blankets.
Walk into any toy
store and you know
when you’ve entered
the girls’ aisle...
Several of my
friends w~th young
sons complain that
it is difficult to find
gender-neutral toys.
’One two-year old
boy loves to play
with brooms and
vacuunl cleaners.
His morn, of course,
has to go to the
girlS’ side to find
toy household
eleanlng equipment.
And, worse, the kid
likes to play with
dolls. His father
nervously protests
his son’s
babydoll games.
" Je~z! Can’t you buy
the boy atru~k?"
This connection Of stuff and identity is
characteristically American. We learn
early on to~ define ourselves in terms of
things, We_+play a:game with children
called "favorites." Weinsist that kids tell
us their favorite"color~ music, television
show, make of car,.or ice-cream. Evenif
complain that it is difficult
to find gender-neutral
toys: One two-ye~ old
boy loves to play with.
brooms and vacuum
cleaners. His ~m0m+ of
course, has to go to the
girls’ side to find toy
household cleaning
equipment. And, worse,
the kid likes to play with
dolls. His father nervously
protests his son’s.
babydoll games. Jeez!
Can’t you buy the boy a
truck?
This paternal nervousness
signals the symbolic
strength of the connections
we draw between
things and identity, ff doll
equals girl, thenboy-whoplays
-with-doll equals
girlish, perhaps even Gay.
Our use of particular
things sends messages,
accurate or not, aboutwho.
we might be. We know
that both men and women
need to.practice nurturing.
Butthe doll-loving boy,
like the toy gun-toting girl,
violates the cultural code
of consumption that attributes
gender to things.
And, who knows? Maybe
the Kid really just likes
dolls. Or maybe he has
already figured out our
consumption code and he
likes dolls on purpose in
order to Send dad a
message.
My daughters, too’old
for dolls, and also,too old
for Pokemon, this year
wrote Gameboy camera
on their Christmas lists.
They didn’ t seem worried
about the name. Why
Gameboy and not
Gamegirl? In hierarchical
systems, it is easier to
"ups,h,ift" than "dowm
Shifi. Gifts wear pants.
Not .too many boys wear
¯ dresses. Women become d0ctors; not too
¯ many mendreamaboutbecominganurse.
" Except, perhaps+ some of those sweet,
¯ doff-loving boys of course
~When I was a kid, Barbie dolls didn’t
:~ last long in my neighborhood. We’ d steal
¯ themfromour sisters .and use thbm cruelly.
we aetuallyhave,nofavorites-~ this question ¯ They,w~ould.’be J..gan of Arc atthe stake,
puslies~s tomeasureandsztuateoursel~es: . andWor~.~ If ~eh~d any ~ense, w~ W~~d
svi_thin the w0dd of goods.. So goes .,".ha’ve,ca~-~f~illyst6i?&l them away intheig
American.inff!~iduality:;~and.so..goe~rour..: ." boxes to’become’rich by selling them to
_economy:as well....... ~ , - ....... " ........ ., today’s fanatic Barbie ¢_ollectors: I can
Favorites make less senseintta.ditional~ ~ recommend a great website with-pictures
societies where individuality is ,muted~ ." of.Ken, from 1961 to 2000: Check out
and where the range of goods is.litfiited. ¯ www.manbehindthedoll.com. This guy
But even in ¯simpler societies,¯ things: ." ~ really likes,his boy dol|s.J’m suggesting
differentiate gender.. Women wear : to Anthony thathe build a similar Shrine
differentarticles of clothing than do men~ : to his boy shoes :’ . z
They oftent~s~different tO~Is~ The)~ may .~ Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.’D,~ ~teaChes
noteatihesamefoods~.W,eslotourchi.’l.dren. "- anthropology, at .t:he.~University of Tulsa,
We dedicate an enormous mount of
resources to outreach, networking,
building allies and forging ties with
advocacy, educational and religious
organizations. Even when distribution
goes well, though, it hardly covers our
costs. To do this kind of media work, we
rely on outside support from our friends
who share our goals and understand the
unique role films like IT’ S
ELEMENTARY and THAT’S A
FAMILY!canplayinprevenfingprejudice
and violence.
Pleasehelp us keep thehugemomentum
IT’S ELEMENTARY generated going
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by getting THAT’S A FAMILY! out of
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P.S. We are honored to let you know
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Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon
said thatRudyde Leon, the under secretary
of defense for personnel, and Douglas
Dw0rkin, the acting general counsel,raised
the matter in a Dec. 18 memorandum to
service leaders. "It is important that the
leadership of each of the services issue a
strong statement to the field that
harassment~of service members for any
reason, to include alleged or perceived
homosexuality, will not be tolerated,"
according to thememo,releasedThursday
by the Defense Department.
Bacon said it had not been made
sufficiently clear to commanders that a
service member’ s complaint about being
harassed for alleged homosexuality is not
grotmds forinvestigating the complainant.
Instead it should be the basis for
investigating the harassers, he said.
image would be one see Jim, p. 14
of a liorrible drago,n,, given the tone of the
oth~"rdationship songs. Melissa asked
her~f,"How much do I love Juiie? I love
her~uchthat I would want to die in her
ar~ Quite a wonderful thing to say
aboi~.’ anyone’s lover, male or female.
"S!O~p" was the answer to the question, a
lovely song about getting away from the
noise ofthe world and snuggling into your
¯¯ lover’s arms and listening to him/her
breathing, and feeling trusting and
¯
comfortable enough with another person
: to be able to sleep. It’s a lovely song of
¯ quiet comfort.
¯
And then there’s issues of equality.
: "Truth of the Heart"is a wonderful ballad
¯ to the truth that "We all begin this race at
: the start" and about how "deep down
: inside we’re all the same / try not tojudge
¯ someone / and never shame." Partnered
¯
for almost 11 years now, the two have two
¯ children of their own. Melissa wrote this
¯ song to explain to their children about ¯
how to deal with life. Words to live by. In
: "MamaI’m Strange", thejoys of growing
¯ up Gay - or just different - is artfully
: explored, with just the fight amountof
¯ angst to remind us where we came from
¯
and how hard the struggle could be at
¯ times~
¯ The single most striking song is called
: "S~carecrow", and it’s about Matthew
¯ Sheppard. She said she hadlots of trouble
," w~riting that because here she was also
¯ writing ’’Truth of the Heart" as well and
¯
felt she couldn’t be writing about people
: being good in one song and denounce
¯ them in another. So the end of the song is
". her way of forgiving (but not forgetting)
¯
the second attacker (I think he was going
¯ to trial or prison at that time). It has to be
: heard to be experienced. If you aren’t
¯ crying and angry after hearing it, you’re
¯
dead.
¯ There are two versions of this CD, one
¯ of which is already hard to find. It has ¯
three extra songs, "Touch and Go",
: "Cherry Avenue" (where she mentions
the name of one-of the Lesbian bars in
¯ which she sang for about 4 years before
being discovered -Que Sera), and "My
¯ Beloved", and is released in a cardboard
¯" case. The regular version has 11 songs in
theusual plasticjewel box; Whichincludes
: the lovely ode tounrequitedlove, ’"’Angels
¯ Will Fall". That’ s the one most folks are
¯ going to be familiar with at this point. ¯
For you men out there: I know that in
¯ some-minds, there’s a big chasm between
¯ Gay men and Lesbians, and this extends
¯ to performer preferences. I’ve heard the
¯ nasty comments - from both sides. All I
¯ can say is, get over your prejudices, and
¯ get this CD. It’s well worth it, and
¯ incredible in its beauty and reflection of
¯
life. And, Melissa, you have a new fan.
Thank you Karin, for your contributions
¯ to widening my musical horizons and the
infolmation contained in the above article
¯
about the backgrbund of the songs. Seems
¯ ironic that I’ mbeing tutoredinGay culture
¯ and musical icons by a straight woman, ¯
but suchis life. I feel like I shouldknow all
¯
this alrcady!
." There’s a few things Karin said that I
¯ think bear repeating, for both Melissa
¯
fans, and more importandy, for us all: "I
¯
am so happy that I could bring a singer
¯ into your life who writes and sings from ¯
¯ the heart. VH1 is rertmmng her "Behind
the Music" next week, and I’m going to
tape it for you You’ll like it. It’ s the only
¯ oneI veseenwheretheartmtlsn thit~hing ¯
about something. Someofthemjustwhine
¯
endlessly. ’I love Shania Twain, but her
¯ BTM special was one endless bitch and
¯ whine.
¯ Stevie Nicks doesn’t bitch, but she’s
: had such lousy things happen, to her, by
: her own hand, that it just sounds so
¯ depressing. You know Melissa has been
¯ depressed, butthere’s somuchshedoesn’t
¯
say. I saw John Mellencamp’s BTM
¯ (Behind the Music), I’ve sc~en Cherts
¯ dozens of times, along with Madonna’ s,
and Melissa’ s just seems so upbeat that
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Tulsa Locations:
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see Jim, p. 15
she seems to have had a great life. Like I
said before, growing up Gay anywhere, I
know from you, is awful, but growing up
Gay in Leavenworth, Kaus~ must be the
pits. She doesn’t make much of anything
depressing. I was veryimpressed. Thanks
for the remark to the Gay men to listen to
Lesbians. I think they shodd each take
heed of that.
And remember, she’s the only one I
know of getting the word out to the
.mainstream crowd. P,e~,,ple like her so
much that they tend to. forget" (or tryto
...forget) that she’s Gay. She doesn’t let
them. ("Someone’s spitting blood/face
downinthe dirt/someone’ s thinking about
~ a gun/to try and stop the hurt/someone
drew conclusious/on the wail of destiny/
someone’s getting louder/and that
someone would be me.") That should be
importanttous ail."- Miss KarinGregory.
And I agree.
Janis Ianis performing Saturday March
4 in Dallas, TX at a club called Uncle
Caivin’s with Buddy Mondlock. And
ladies, as aiways, if you have something
to contribute or would like to see in this
column, please let me know care ofTFN,
or email me at tfnentritr@aol.com.
I wouldn’ twantto disappointthe diehard
readers of this column, so now it’s time
for... The Stevie Nicks mention. She has
a featured track on the new Sheryl Crow
and FriendsCDand video. The song is the
venerable Gold Dust Woman, and she’s
never sounded better! The CD’ s out now,
video to follow. Sarah. McLachlan,
Chrissie Hynde, the Dixie Chicks and
others aiso sing with Sheryl. And Stevie
still has a few shows left to do in Las
Vegas at the house of Blues this month.
Hernew album, first duein October oflast
year, now set for sometime this year,
maybe, is being produced by one of the
better known producers of hip hop and
rap. I’d mention the name, but I caff t
rememberit. Shery! Crow was producing,
which wouldhavemadefor an interesting
aibum - she did the excellent jobs of
producing the Stevie songs forthe Practical
Magic soundtrack. Stevie and rap... That
will be interesting as well, aithough I fear
for different ~easous. We shall see.., or
hear.
The ever handsome pianist Jim
Brickman performed at the PAC on
December 10, 1999, along with the very
talented John Trones and the beautiful
Anne Cochran. The show was lovely, an
eveningofromance and seasonal favorites,
and as Mr. Brickman described the
evening, much like a gathering of friends
round the piano. Okay, if the friends had
areally large living room, and reaily good
- moodlighting. Andamplifiers. Thegroup
.i did a swell job ofmaking a cavern into an
intimate cabaret. Mx. Brickman has a
charming sense ofhumor and intelligence
.to complementhis goodlooks. (Evenbetter
m person and up close. I love my job...)
He seemed very relaxed, and it was like
meeting an old friend for the first dine.
His playing can certainly set amood, from
exuberant to melancholy and romantic all
at the same time; and has a warmth to it
thatis reminiscentof spending the evening
with a loved one by a fire.
Or, if you’ re .single, as I am, curledup in
a comforter with a good book and cup, of
cocoa. Now that weknow how I spendmy
evenings... What? Have I said too much?
Mr. Brickman is a prolific songwriter as
well, setting words to music that is lovely
: to hear and unabashedly sentimental in
feeling.
: Anne Cochran, who met Mr. Brickman
¯ inhigh school, where they formed aband,
: has one of the most incredible voices I’ve
: heard. And her phrasing with a song is
: immaculate. Shecaptured thewarmthand
joy of the compositions she performed
withexpertease, andhas alovely, energetic
yet relaxed stage presence that also added
to the ambiance of the evening. She has a
new CD out called "Lucky Girl’_’, which I
would highly recommend for a gift based
on whatI heard that evening. Iwould have
one in my hot little hands right now had
they not been sold out. She isa name you
might be familiar with, she has had a top
¯ 5 hit with Jim Bfickman on the song
: -"After All These Years" which has been
: reed by skater Rosalyun:Summers, both
: live and recorded. It was also the song
¯ used on the final episode of "Home
: Improvement", andshe will be featured in
:- the Lifetime television speciai"A Golden
Moment". Definitely worth checking out.
You can order her CD at
www.AnneCochran.com.
John Trones (pronounced ~tro-ness’),
who is as nice and gorgeous as he is
.talented (what a voice! whata smile! what
a chest! what a pleasant man!), was a
delight to listen to as well.
With a million dollar smile that shines
like a searchlight, and a voice that has
incrediblerange and expressiOn,hejoined
Anne on several numbers and had some
lovely solos. His singing soared through
the Chapman theatre and could melt the
most hardened heart. He has an aibum of
standards and ballads out called
"Forward", which I was able to snag and
most definitely would make a great
Valentine’s girlie for the special man on
your list. He can melt the ice off the fiorth
Pole with that voice, and his phrasing and
reading of the standards is right on target.
A pity he’s in Minneapolis, I would love
to see more of him. He does Cabaret there
at Blanche’s, and has performed in a
number of Gay plays, listed on his web
site, www.JohnTrones.com, which is
worth a look. You can also order his CD
there.
After listening to several review CDs of
dubious quality sent to TFN, put out by
Gay artists of dubious talent, attempting
to sing standards and not succeeding very
well at anything other than murdering the
music, I am glad to say that his would be
the one I would, and did, purchase.
They were joined by Tracy Silverman
on electric violin, and he did quite an
interesting variationonthe Beade’ s"Here
Comes The Sun". His playing added an
interesting embellishment to Mr.
Brickman’s piano. I will say he had the
most lovely and LONG hair I’ ve seen on
aman in along time. He has an album out
on Windham Hill records. If you get the
chance to catch any or all of these artists
should they make a return appearance,
DO SO! You won’t regret it. Just make
sure you have a date, and one that won’t
stand you up.
I was looking forward to Peter Buffett’ s
"Spirit: A Journey in Dance, Drum, and
Song"aunique blend of Native American
and contemporary music, dance, and
storytelling, to have been held January 3
and 4th, 2000 at the Brady Theatre.
According to the latest info, ail spring
dates have been put onhold. According to
my sources, a late spring tour is in the
plans.
James Christjohn serves as TFN
Entertainment editor with emphasis on
the performing arts.
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
newspaper
periodical
Dublin Core
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[2000] Tulsa Family News, January 2000; Volume 7, Issue 1
Subject
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Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
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Tulsa Family News
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
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Tom Neal
Date
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January 2000
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James Christjohn
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Bob Rounsavell
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
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Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
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Tulsa Family News, December 1999; Volume 6, Issue 12
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English
Type
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newspaper
periodical
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Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
Identifier
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https://history.okeq.org/items/show/596
2000
AIDS
AIDS drugs
AIDS research
aMUSEments
arts and entertainment
Bars
Blood Donation
bullying
businesses
children
churches
Department of Defense
Do-It-Yourself Dyke
Domestic Partner Benefits
Don't Ask Don't Tell
Dr. Jeffrey Beal
Evergreen Awards
Gay marriage
Gay Studies
HIV
homophobia
homphobia
It's Elementary
Jim Christjohn
John McCain
Karin Gregory
Lamont Lindstrom
Leather
marriage equality
Mary Schepers
mental disabilities
military
military inclusion
Mr. Sooner State Leather
NAMES Project
Nationwide Insurance
Oklahoma Mr. Leather
performing arts
Raging Lesbian
Read All About It
Red Cross
restaurants
Ric Poston
Rick Fortner
Rik Isensee
sexual assault
sodomy laws
Steve Forbes
Ted Campbell
That's A Family
Tom Neal
Tulsa Family News
Tulsa Public Schools
Vemont
Vermont
visitation rights
-
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0e7511b0b72731c11cce0aad31be669d
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db25bf09d6c0e879203f02da1b23e3ed
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[Sub-Series] Newsletters & Publications > Tom Neal Newsletters > Tulsa Family News
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A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
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Title
A name given to the resource
[1999] Tulsa Family News, December 1999; Volume 6, Issue 12
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Creator
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Tulsa family News
Source
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
Publisher
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Tom Neal
Date
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December 1999
Contributor
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James Christjohn
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Bob Rounsvell
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
Rights
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Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
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Tulsa Family News, November 1999; Volume 6, Issue 11
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English
Type
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newspaper
periodical
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Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
Identifier
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https://history.okeq.org/items/show/594
'All About My Mother'
1999
ACT-UP
adoption
AIDS
aMUSEments
anti-gay legislation
arts and entertainment
Audra Sommers
Bars
Boy Scouts
businesses
California
China
churches
couple recognition
Dave Fleischer
divorce
Don't Ask Don't Tell
Dr. Jeffrey Beal
Dr. McCutchen
Dyke Psyche
E. Annie Prouix
Entertainment Notes
Ernestine Dillard
Esther Rothblum
Gay marriage
Gay Studies
Germany
hate crimes
hate crimes bill
Hillary Clinton
HIV
homophobia
James Christjohn
Jim Christjohn
Lamont Lindstrom
marriage
Matthew Shephard
military
military inclusion
Mount Zion Baptist Church
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Partner Benefits
performing arts
Quentin Crisp
Read All About It
restaurants
South Africa
Southern Baptist Church
Susan Savage
Tom Neal
Tulsa Family News
United Methodist Church
Vermont
World AIDS day
-
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8fe36b0f2e6d0aaeb169422a1fe38536
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ac7abe1d33b993bca233b903f8e5848d
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[Sub-Series] Newsletters & Publications > Tom Neal Newsletters > Tulsa Family News
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THE NAMES PROJECT
Quilt Tours Black Colleges
Coretta Scott King Slams Homophobia
ATLANTA (AP) - During the AIDS Quilt tour of
historically Black colleges and universities, Coretta
Scott King told those viewing the memorial that
homophobiahas prolonged and worsened the epidemic
within the Black community.
"It is particularly sad tome when I hear Black people,
includiug some in leadership positions, making
homophobic comments and attacking t.he humm] rights
of Gay and Lesbian people," the widow of die Rev.
Martin Luther King Jr. said Monday during the tour’s
opening ceremonies at Clark Atlanta University,
Regardless of sexual orientation or gender, Blacks
have a signiticantly higher risk of becoming infected
with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Stati-stics show
ntost new HIV infections occur among people 25 and
younger. The Black community has been hit particularly
hard. According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Blacks account for about half the new HIV
infections, AIDS cases and AIDS deaths, though they
represent only 13% of the U.S. population,
"With the stigma on homosexual behavior mthe
African-American coxmnunit~¢, ¯ see Ki.,t~, ~9.: 15
Matthew Shepard
Murder Trial Update
LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) - Gay college student Matthew
Shepardwas pumaneled to deathby Aaron McKirmey in
a drunken, drug-induced rage after Shepard made a pass
at him, McKirmey’s attorney Said as: his trial began.
"’Did Matthew Shepard deserve to die? No, that’s
ridiculous-. No manslaughter victim deserved to die,"
Jason Tangeman said in opening statements. "That’s
what Aaron McKirmey is guilty of, manslaughter."
The roofer’s judgment that night Vas affected bv
alcohol, methamphetamines and "~ome sexuall}
traumatic and confusing events in his life," Tangeman
told jurors.
Prosecutor Cal Rerncha said his case against
McKinney will not deal with Shepard’s Gayness. "It
will simply be about the pain, suffering and death of
Matthew Shepard at the hands of the defendant, Aaron
James:McKimaey," he said." The Human Rights
Campaign, a national Gay civil rights organization
strongly condenmed the use of the.’’blame the victim"
defense in the trial.
Shepard, McKinney and Henderson met in a Laramie
bar about a year ago, where Shepard asked McKinney
for a ride home, humiliating him in front of friends
because McKinney believed Shepard was Gay,
Tangeman contended. Tangeman said McKinney, 22,
was confused by three homosexual encounters that
occurred when he was 7, 15 and 20: In one case,
McKinney was forced into an oral sex act with a
neighborhood bully, Tangeman said.
Rerucha said McKirmey and Henderson drove
Shepard, 21, to a remote area, where they robbed, lashed
him to.the fence and pistol-whippinghim into a coma.
Opening statements were made after ajury of 10 men
and:six women, including four alternates, was seated in
McKinney’s trial on charges of first-degree murder,
kidnapping androbbery. Thejury includes three students
at the University of Wyoming, where Shepard was a
freshman. McKinney could receive the.death penalty.
Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends
Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community PaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations
World AIDS Day
Memorial Service at Historic Mt. Zion
Baptist Church Dedicated to the
Memory of HIV/AIDS Activist Phil Wiley
TULSA - The 10th annual World AIDS Day Candlelight March
and Memorial Service will be held at one of Tulsa’s most
historical traditionally African-American churches, Mt. Zion
Baptist Church, led b~ the Rev. Calvin McCutcheon. The march
will begin gathering at 6:30 near St. Monica’s Churchjust south
of Carver School east of Greenwood Avenue This is just south
of Pine.
The march will begin about 7pm and will continue about a mile
south on Greenwood to John ttope Franklin Bottlevard which
travels west through the Oklahoma State University at Tulsa
campus to Elgin. Mt. Zion is on FJ~n just across the OSU-Tulsa
parking lots near 1-244.
The theme for the march and memorial is "Fa~d the Silence"
and the service will feature the music of Ernestine Dillard, the
Council Oak Mens Chorale and the Mr. Zion church choir. Tiffs
Tulsa service is dedicated to the memory of 1o"cal ttIV AIDS and
Gay civil rights activist Phil Wiley who died of kidney failure last
summer.
Orgamzers note that all tilnes are approximate aud that lhey
will provide candles and matches but encourage marchers to
bring banners and bells to nng on the march.
For more information, call Interfaith ..\ IDS Mira stries at 438-
2437.
Also on World AIDS Day, an organization called "\Vc The
Peopl.e Li.ving .with AIDS/HIV’" will join with thousm~ds of other
orgmuzatlons m remembering, fiercel3, those the~ lmvc !ost to
the AIDS epidemic.
They will do this through the posting of the manes of their
members, friends and loved ones lost to ,A IDS on the. \ IDS \Vatch
webpage, which will display the .,aan]es of tens of thousands of
people who have died from :kIDS. one at a mnc in the 48 honrs
before and after December ist.
They request that readers consider adding the uames of those
whom they have lost to AIDS to the list. The page is localed m
http:/iwww.aidswatch.org. Click on "’Add a name "’ to include the
name, of~v°ur loved one, friend or colleague to the li st.
Community Center News
All Community Meeting, Nov. 16, 6:30pm
TOHR Meeting, 11/9: Carol Petersen,
Author, Poet + Gay Man in Hitler’s Navy
TULSA - The third all community meeting will be held at the
Communiiy Center on Tues., Nov. 16th at 6:30pm. About 35
individuals attended the last meeting in Sept. and the
representatives of a number of organizations, churches and
businesses decided to convene a community council with TOHR,
Tulsa Oldahomans for Human Rights, the parent organization of
the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center, coordinating the
exchange of information.
Local attorney and original meeting co-convener Dennis Neill
will present a draft contract to clarify the relationship between the
various groups. For more information about the next conmaunitv
meeting, call the Community Center at 743-4297.
On Tues. Nov. 9th at 7:30pro, TOHR will hold its montlflv
membership meeting. The meeting, which is open to the publiC,
will feature remarks by Carol Petersen, a Romanian born poet,
biographer and educator. Petersen, a Gay man.~ even found
lfimself serving in the German Navy during the N~i government
of Adolf Hitler.
Petersen has-published works on Albert Camus, Andre Gide,
John Steinbeck, Goethe, Spanish poet Lorca, Thomas Mann as
wall as works of poetry. He has taught French and German
literature and awarded one of the highest honors in France, the
Chevalier de L’oi’dre des Palmiers Academique de France.
Other News: House of the Holy Spirit Calls Pastor
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries announces that they have
selected a new full-time pastor, Chuck Breckenridge.
Breckenridge served in a pastoral capacity in a Wichita
congregation where he formerly resided. Breckenridge is also
known for having published and edited The Parachute, a now
defunct regional publication. He also started The Triangle Of
which he has recently served as general manager. Breckenridge
was installed as pastor on October 17th. Troy McGoveran,
spokesman for House of the Holy Spirit notes, "the entire
congregation is very excited about the movement going on in our
church.., we.. welcome Pastor Breckemidge to our church.. ?’
Falwell MeetsWith Gays
LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP)-The Rev. Jerry Falwell,
who has denounced homosexuals for years, held an
.unprecedentedmeeting with GayChristians recently
m an attempt to reduce violent acts against Gays
and Christians. Both sides said the gathering was
productive.
Dozens of anti-Gay protesters denmnstrated
outside, yelling at Gay supporters as they entered
the church parking lot. The Rex’. Fred Phelps of
Topeka, Kan.. whose congregafiou also taunted
Gays at the funeral of slain Gay college studcm
Matthew Shepard. said Falwdl is a hypocrite for
ineeting with the Rev. Mel White, a Gay minister
and his followers.
"Falwell used to teach the Bible word for word.
now he’s going off and meeting with these fags and
going against everything he’s ever taught," Phelp,~
said. "He always says ’hate the sin. bnt love the
simmr,’ but it’s ~mpossible to separate the t~o
Does ajudge send the crime or the crintinal tojail’?"
Falwell. who has long believed lha~
homosexuality is a sin, insists he will not change
Iris views, but has agreed to tone down tfis anti
language that Gay civil rights activists
encourages hatred and violence towar~t
homosexuals.
"’We are here because ihnocent people ol vari~
faiths, racial and ethnic groups and sexual
preferences have increasingly had their live~
abruptly mid violently ended by people ~vilh
opposing vie~\s.’" Fah~ell told th~ group of 4
delegates in ~velcomiug then] to the anti "~ml,,ncc
fortun Saturday afternoou
x~q]itc brought 200 Gays mid Lesbians l’rom 3~*
slates to p~ticil)atc in the forum. They were ]t)]ncd
by 2~)evm~gelic~d Chnsfians who supjmrt Fid~ cEstmacc
"q hi s is the first step iu ourjoume3 tm~ auct~
reconciliation." s~d White, who held a pra3 e~ ~ ~gil
Ffida3 mght for 20 Gay men or gm~sgcndcred
people killed because of their sexu~ oneutation.
see Fahvell, p. 10
France OK’s Gay and
Non-Gay Partnerships
The British Broadcasting System (BBC) reported
in October that the French Parlimnent has approved
a controversial bill that gives Gay couples mare of
the rights enjoyed by married people. The NatiOnal
Assmnbly passed the Civil Solidarity Pact (PACS)
by 315 votes to 249.
The PACS allows unmarried couples to register
their umon and enjoy some of the tax, legal and
social welfare benefits associated with marriage. It
is intended to allow Gay and heterosexual couples
who are not married to "’organise their common
life". Partners who want to separate will be able to
do so via a letter of separation. According to Justice
Minister Elisabeth Guigou, the bill will improve
the lives of more than five million people.
Conservative opponents immediately said they
would ask the Constitutional Council to role whether
the law was unconstitutional. Religious leaders
have strongly denounced the law, saying it enables
a form of homosexual marriage.
The PACS wasintroduced by the riding socialists
and the government’s majority made approval
virtually certain. It has been one of themostbitterlycontested
pieces of social legislation for years,
opposed by conservatives and by leaders of the
Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths in France.
see France, p. 15
LI~ DIRECTORY P. 2
EDITORIAL P. 3 ~I~ US & WORLD NEWS P. 4
. HEALTH NEWS P. 6
~ ENTERTAINMENT P. 8 COMMUNITY CALENDAR P. 9
READ ALL ABOUT IT P. 10 Z DO-IT-YOUR-SELF DYKE P. 11
DYKE PSYCHE P. 12
mmm GAY STUDIES
P. 13
Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants
*Bamboo Lounge, 7204 E. Pine
*Boston Willy’s Diner, 1742 S. Boston
*Empire Bar, 1516 S: Peoria
*Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th
*Gold Coast Coffee House; 3509 S. Peoria
*Jason’s Deli, 15th & Peoria
*The Mix, 2630 E. 15th
*Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square
*St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st
*Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan
*Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main
*TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial
*Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd
832-1269
592-2143
599-9512
583-6666
749-4511
59%7777
749-1563
744-4280
745-9998
834-4234
585-3405
660-0856
584-1308
Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals
Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 747-1508
*Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000
Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580
Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122
*Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955
*Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665
Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272
*CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313
Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117
Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700
L:m Daniel. Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468
" ~_~eco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620
*Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady 587-2611
Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S Peoria 744-5556
*Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838-8503
*Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712,-9379
Events Unlimited, 507 S. Mai~’ 592-0460
*Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 744-9595
Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. 610-0880
Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709
Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026
*Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E 21st 742-1460
Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349
Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440
*Sandra J. Hill, MS. Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skellv 745-1111
*International Tours 341-6866
Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750
*Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018
David Kanskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236
The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460
*Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070
Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-~-!-66
*Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brad3,’ 585-1234
*Midtown Theater. 319 E. 3rd 584-3112
Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934
*Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951
Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626
*Peace Of Mind Bookstore, 1401 E. 15 583-1090
The Pride Store. 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297
Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 747-5932
Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617
Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921, 747-4746
*Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301
Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829
*Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 48t-0558
*Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563
Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling 743-1733
*W~hittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767
Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities
AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593
All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363
Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314
Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815
*B/L/G/T Alliance. Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780
*Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201
*Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence
*Church ofthe Restoration UU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314
*Community ofHope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300
*Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595
Coundl Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888
*Dela}vare Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 7!2-t511
*Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457
Dignity!Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics &
Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140
*Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777
*Free Spirit Women’s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669
918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615
POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159
e-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink.net
Publisher + Editor:
Tom Neal
Writers + contributors:
James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont
Lindstrom, Bob Rounsavell, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers
Member of The Associated Press
Issued on Or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents
of this publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by
To],~ ~:~ Now4 and may not be reproduced either in
whole orin partwithoutwritten permission from the publisher.
Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s
sexual orientataon. Correspondence is assumed to be for
publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes
the sole property of Tofl-~ .~,~.’. N~- Eachreader
is entitled to 4 copies of each edit!on at distribution
points. Additional cop~es are available by calling 583-1248.
Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827
Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438
*HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611
*Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194
*Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378
*House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood
Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437
*MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715
NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111
NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658
OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157
*OSU-TUlsa
PFI~AG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901
*Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674
Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152
*R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195
*Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325
O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults
O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth
St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincim~ati 425-7882
St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140
*St. Jerome’s Parish Church. 205 W. King 582-3088
*Tulsa Area United Wa3,, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171
*TNAAPP (Native American men), [udiat~ Health C0a’_¢- _582-7225
Tulsa County Health Department. 4616 E. 15 595-4105
Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only
Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, cio The Pride Center 743-4297
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827
*Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule
*Tulsa Community College Campuses
*Tulsa Gay Community Center. 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297
Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833
BARTLESVILLE
*Barflesville Public Library, 600 S. Johi~stone 918-337-5353
OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN
*Borders Books &Music, 3209NWExpressway 405-848-2667
*Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907
TAHLEQUAH
*Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900
*Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900
*Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360
NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand
HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates
EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
Autunm Breeze Restaurant, Hwv. 23
*Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Ma]n
DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St.
Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St.
MCC of the Living Spring
Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429
Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery
Positive Idea Marketing Plans
Sparky’s, Hwy; 62 East
White Light, 1 Center St.
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
*Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134
501-253-7734
501~253-7457
501-253-6807
501-253-5445
501-253-9337
501-253-2776
501-253-5332
501-624-6646
501-253-6001
501-253-4074
417-623-4696
* is where you can find TFN. Not all are Gay-owned but all are Gay-friendly.
Audra Sommers:
To All .My Friends
Tiff s ruessage brings to youinformation
about my up-coming benefit called
’~onnecting The Hearts of Tulsa" Friday
November 5th, at 10:30 p.m. at the Silver
Star. This eventfocuses onthe Prescription
Assistance Program which as youknow is
very, very important to many.
As a community of caring individuals I
ask all ofyou once again to come together
as compassionate and sympathetic
members of our community and show
your support. Without fai! every year, you
pull out all the stops and arrive in droves.
My heart shines with delight to see all of
your faces as we raise the much needed
money to keep those who can’t afford the
necessary medications alive and well.
Come, meet new people and see some
new faces. Uniting together_we make the
difference.
Please join all my guests:
Miss Gay America
- Catia Lee Love
Miss Gay Oklahoma America
- Bridgett Lee
Miss Gay Oklahoma USofA
- Kris Kohl
Miss Fish-Lake Nevada
- Slutisha Swamppussy
Miss Midwestern Plains USofA
- Victoria Turrell
Miss Tulsa USofA 1998
- Jasmine Turrell
Miss Gay University Of Tulsa
Homecoming Queen 1999
- Audriana Sommers
The Green Country Cloggers
Miss Silver Star USofA 1996
- Tera "T" Neil
Miss Gay Oklahoma At Large USofA 96
- Domonique Daniel’s
Miss Feticia Winters
Miss Ebony Hall
Miss Tabatha Taylor
Miss Gain A Pound
Miss Miranda McMillian
Miss Tore McMillian
Miss Audra Sommers
and her special "Grab Bag Segment"
Mr. Steve Sludder
And Mr. Brock Masters - video star
along with many, maaay others.
I look forward to seeing everyone at the
StarFriday NovemberSthat 10:30p.m. It
is going to be the best show ever!
With love and respect,
- Audra Marie Sommers
Announcements Policy
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Letters Policy
Tulsa Family Newswelcomes letters
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issues you think need to be considered.
You may request that your name be withheld
but letters must be signed & have
phone numbers, or behand delivered. 200
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appropriate.
Editorial: Singing Those Millennium March Blues
To March or Not March?
That is the question - ok, ok, yes that’s tired and
perhaps, even trite but I couldn’t help it. The millennium
does indeed approach and with it, the next great Gay
march scheduled for next April.
Called by Robin Tyler, Lesbian event organizer par
excellence, taken up by the Gay community’s
organizational 800 pound gorillas, the Metropolitan
Community Church (MCC) and the Human Rights
Campaign(HRC), the Millennium Marchhas beenfraught
with controversy from its beginning.
No one doubts that these events are tremendously
ehapowering for those ofus who attend. I can attest to that
from my experience.at the last march. My long-suffering
ex (just ask him ;-) and I organized a group mostly of
students and others on limited incomes from Texas to
travel bybus to DC. Since this was a budget trip we stayed
about 12 to a room, 3 or 4 to a bed with some on the floor
of a hotel in the Virginia suburbs.
But the moment ofmy epiphany was when weboarded
the Metro (subway) at the 2nd to the last stop that far out
into the suburbs, and everyone waiting, and everyone on
the train but for perhaps one or two per car, w,as Gay, or
Lesbian, or Bi, ornon-Gays whomwe’ddearly welcomed
into our tribe.
For once tobe safe, for once to be inOUR space is a rare
and precious thing. There we could hold hands in the
street without the fear that we Were taking our !ives
literally in our hands. For once, we could say that we
don’t mind "straights" as long as they "behave"
themselves.
Formany this was alife transforming experience¯ From
it, they came back and became active in the organizations
of their hometowns. This clearly is go6~l:
And yet, some questions remain. First of these i.s
whether, this march will even come off at all. Because
MCC and HRC proclaimed that a march was going to
happened before they consulted the many other
organizations which make up the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
and Transgendered civil fights and cultural movement,
the March was immediately caught up in controversy.
This "movement" is-tremendously diverse and building
consensus is long hard work. Prior march organizers did
do so through long and sometimes painful (I write this
Do you know where a number of Tulsans have been
during the last 18 months? Buried in trash. We studied
different curbside recycling programs from around the
state and from across the country. About 100 cities were
looked atby theTAREboard’ s subcommittee onrecycling.
Ourmost important discovery: each community is unique
in its requirements for recycling.
In Tulsa, most of the trash we generate is incinerated at
the trash-to-energy plant. The burning process results in
waste by-products that can mad do pollute our air. For
example, some substances like plastic can be harmful
when burned. Recycling will take them out of the trash
collection burned at the Walker Hall recovery plant. The
more Tulsa recycles, the more we improve Tulsa’s air
quality for our young, our elderly, and most significantly,
our chronically ill. And let us not forget that we are
breathing the same air.
Recycling does not ouly helpinmaking the environment
cleaner and healflfier; it also has economic benefits other
than quality of life. Once Tulsa citizens recycle enough
items that can be reused, a recycling industry will be
created an become a viable part of the economy with
added job opportunities,
In the beginning, Tulsans, will be able to recycle four
types of items. Newspapers, includin°g the slick
advertisement sections, compose the first recycling
category. Now you cannotrecyclemagazines and business
forms; these are another category which may be added at
a later date. However, you can still take them to MET
recycling centers.
The second category acceptable for recycling in Tulsa
will be aluminum. Drop all aluminum beverage cans inj
the recycling container; however, you cannot recycle
other forms of aluminum. Please rinse them immediately
after use. Remember that recycling pick up is every other
: from serving as a representative) meetings.
¯ And according to the Nov. 9th i°ssue of The Advocate,
¯ control of the event has _been shifted from Robin Tyler to
~ Malcolm Lazin, interim executive director. Kerry Lobel,
executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task
Force (NGLTF), earlier resigned from an oversight board
for the March because of concerns about event
"...the moment of my epiphany was
when we boarded the Metro (subway) at
the gnd to the last stop that far out into
the suburbs, and everyone waltln~, and
everyone on the train but for perhaps one
or two per ear, was
Gay, or Lesl~ian, or Bi, or non-Gays whom
we’d el rly we6om l into our tdl . "
organization and raised the question of whether the event
would need to be rescheduled or dropped.
But another question to ask is this: is this the best use
ofour communities’ resources? NGLTFhas been arguing
that we, as a movement, should be putting more of our
energies into local and state efforts at change. This
doesn’tmean abandoning federal level efforts but working
harder locally.
In Oklahoma, we’ve started to see some results from
just such efforts; the Cimarron Alliance has substantially
changed somelegislative attitudes in theOklahomaHouse.
FundingforHIV/AIDS care andprevenfionhas benefited
from lobbying by Tulsan Steve Eberle. These things
would not have happened unless some Oklahomans
decided to invest in local efforts.
According to Kelly Kirby, former Tulsa Oklahomans
for Human Rights (TOHR) president, longtime activist
and current Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and
Gays (PFLAG) board member, at least 40-50 Tulsans
stopped by a reception Marty Newman gave at the last
march. And likely there were some from the city who did
not attend.
So I have to ask, as another former TOHR president
who begged for money for that organization and for the
community center, what would happen if some of those
week. Besides, you will make it so much easier for those
separating our recyclables.
Plastic is one of the most important things to recycle.
As petroleum-based products, these items release toxins
when burned. You can recycle all plastic beverage bottles
including mostpop, milk, and water containers, as well as
soap and detergent bottles. Rinse our the container to
prepare these items for recycling and dispose of the lids.
It is easy to remember which plastic items are acceptable.
Look for the number "1 "or "2" inside the little triangle on
the bottom of the container.
.The final or fotu:th category for Tulsa’s new recycling
program is glass. Both clear and colored glass bottles and
jars will be accepted. Nounbroken glass will be taken, nor
will the program accept other housewares or plate glass
from windows. Since the glass before putting out for
collection and discard the lid. Because of the once-everytwo-
weeks collection, you may want to rinse after use, if
it contains food.
Curbside recycling is a great addition to Tulsa’s solid
waste disposal program. Now it is up to us to make it
succeed. Begin sign up for this new service. Just call the
Mayor’s Action Center at 596-2100 and tell them that you
wish to sign up for curbside recycling. It is scheduled to
start on Nov. 1st. The cost is only $2/month; it will be
added to your city utility bill. Recycled items will be
collected twice a month on an every other week basis.
Before the program begins, you will be informed about
your curbside pickup days.
You can also sign up by clicking on www
cityoftulsa.org/recycle or www.tulsarecycles.com.
Remember this program can succeed only ifenough ofus
participate. So sign on now!
Bob D. Rounsavell is a freelance Tulsa writer who
specializes in environmental education.
dollars did stay here in Oklahomainstead of adding to the
profits of American Airlines, or United, or Marriott or
Hilton?
Let’s guess that many of those 50 attending spent about
$500 to $1000 for their visit. A few who traveled as I did
with my student group perhaps spent as little as $200-
300¯ One might argue that an average expenditure might
be about $600 for a total of $30,000. But on the other
hand, $30k would pay the current rent on the Community
Center for almost two years !
Now that other TOHR ex-president argues that while
many in our community are willing to spend that money
on whatis in essence an extraQueer vacation, he feels that
few would be willing to mm around and invest that
amount into our community if there’s no immediate gain
for themselves. And sadly, I would like to argue with him
but as a community organizer, I can’t - because I’ve seen
that what he claims is mostly true. What if we did value
our rights and invested in our communities as much as we
did our fabulous vacations, great clothes, stylish homes
and cars?Whatcould we accomplish then? After all, ifwe
don’t take care of ourselves, who is going to? "Straight"
people? - Tom Neal
PS: those of you who’ve already got this message,
thanks! Keep up the good work and drag a friend along.
Tom Neal, publisher & editor ofTulsa Family News,
helped tofound and direct the Coalition of Lesbian/Gay
Student Groups and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation, Dallas Chapter andhelped iofoundGLAAD
National. He also served as co-chair ofthe University of
Oklahoma Gay & Lesbian Association, and helped to
found the Rice University Gay Alumni group as well as
serving on Tulsa’s Pride committeefor several years.
On Nov. 9th, Tulsans will have the opportunity to vote
on a $109 million bond package to invest in the needs of
Tulsa Public Schools and the children of the district. The
Citizens Bond Development Committee has identified
more than $600 million in building, facilities, teaching
materials and transportation needs for the District in a
comprehensive, strategic plan that covers 20 years. The
bond issue to be presented to voters on Nov. 9th will be
m~ important step in adequately addressing the need of the
District and in creating a District ofunparalleled excellence
in the state... - Sincerely, Ruth Ann Fate
President, Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education
Chair, Citizens for Better Education
2121 So, Columbia, Suite 103, Tulsa
: by Tom Neal, editor/publisher
¯ Some Gay readers will likely look at the excerpted
¯ letter above and respond: "yeah right, why should I care
~ - I don’t have kids"and"TPS is ahomophobic institution
¯
which doesn’t deserve my support." Some non-Gay
~ readers will likely read this and also wonder why Gay
people should care about education issues.
But the reality is that many Gay people (using the term
broadly to include LGB and T folk) do have children,
some by marriages to non-Gay folk before coming out,
and some by adoption, and some creative Lesbians and
Gay men are having our own children. Even those of us
who do not have children directly of our own, like me,
have no fewer than eight nephews and nieces about half
of whom were educated in Tulsa Public Schools. And we
have friends with children too.
.My pointis that despite the an.ti-Gay stereotypes which
paint Lesbians and Gay men as anti-family, we have a
strong interest in providing a good educational system to
the children of our community. We also have some selfinterest
in that there tends to be a correlation between
education and the lessening of anti-Gay prejudice. And if
we insist that TPS, an educational system which we help
fund, seek to teach the values of respect and tolerance for
all citizens, to teach that the diversity of our city makes us
stronger, then we, Gay and Lesbian citizens, regardless of
whether we have children who directly benefit from TPS,
will gain. Therefore, on Nov. 9th, please consider voting
yes: do it for kids.
Friends Mourn
Murdered Gay Pastor
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Calling him a "an
oversized angel inhumanform,"mourners andfriendsof
a slain pastor and Gay civil rights activist led
tributes to him. The Rev. Edward R. Sherriff, 68, an
associate pastor at the Cathedral of Promise
MetropolitanCommtmity Churchin Sacramento was
found stabbed to death in his home Oct. 20 in what
police believe was a robbery. More than 300 friends
andfzraily crowded into the church where Sherriff
served as co-pastor for 11 years. Later in the day,
mourners filled the sidew~ilks to "celebrate the
home~zoing" of the slain activist.
A t~ndf-ul.of local religious leaders paid tribute to
Sherriff, including Sister Catherine Connell, director
of the Catholic Wellspring women’s center, and the
Rev. Isaiah Muhammad of the Nation of Islam.
Sherriff’s daughters were als0 among the crowds.
"It’s amazing to me the people who love him, who
truly love him," said Scharlene Sheriff.
Sherriff’s other daughter Marsha Lanier said she
does notbelieve her father’s murder was ahate crime.
Helikely died because he went out ofhis way to help,
Lanier said. ’That’s one thing he would have been
proud of," she said.
Court to Reconsider
Religious Bias Ruling
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The federal appeals court
that allowed religious landlords to deny rentals to
unmarried couples agreed to reconsider recently at
therequest of states, cities andcivil rights groups. The
9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said an 11-judge
panel will decide whether property owners with
religious objections to certain types of tenants are
entitled to exemptions from housing discrimination
laws. The case involves state and local laws in
Anchorage prohibiting housing discrimination based
on marital status. The ruling would also al’fect
discrimination based on sexual orientation, where
barred by law, and possibly other categories covered
by laws in the nine states of the nation’s largest
federal circuit.
A panel of the court ruled 2-1 in January that
enforcement of the discriminationlaws would violate
the rdigious freedom of two Anchorage landlords
who had religious objections to providing homes for
unmarried couples. With no compelling state interest
at Stake, the landlords could not be forced to choose
between their businesses and their religious beliefs,
the courtmajority said. The court said a majority ofits
21 activejudges had voted to set the January decision
aside and order a new hearing before the 11-judge
panel, at a date not yet scheduled.
Requests by Alaska and Anchorage for a reheating
were supported by national civil liberties and Gay
civil-rights orgamzations, cities including Los_Angeles
and San Francisco, and the states of California,
Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Hawaii.
California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, who
enlisted his counterparts in the other states, said
discrimination laws would be affected in every state.
"q’here’s no inherent conflict between state antidiscrimination
laws and the private religious view s of
a landlord," he said. "Fhe issue is whether they can
discriminate in their commercial and business
activities."
Kevin G. Clarkson, lawyer for the Anchorage
landlords, said he wasn’t surprised by the rehearing,
but argued that his clients’ ’interests were more
important than those of the state or would-be tenants.
’%Vhat’s at stake is the First Amendment right of
property owners to manage their property consistent
with their religious beliefs," Clarkson said. He said
there was no evidence that unmarried couples in any
state have had trouble finding housing because of the
religious objections of a small number of landlords.
Conservative religious organizations such as Focus
on the Family and the American Center for Law and
Justice, as well as the more liberal National Council
of Churches, have filed arguments supporting the
landlords.
The Supreme Courts of Alaska and Californiahave
upheld their state discrimination laws against
challenges .by religious landlords. But if the federal
appeals court sides with thelandlords, property owners
throughout the circuitcould sidestep statecourtrulings
and go into federal court for religious exemptions.
The suit was filedby KevinThomas and Joyce Baker,
who each own several rental properties in Anchorage
and said they had consistently refused to rent to
unmarried cohabitants because of their Christian
beliefs. They have not been accused of violating the
state or local laws but asked the court to bar" their
enforcement.
In the January ruling, Judge Diarmuid O’Scannlain
said the law not only placed an unconstitutional
burden on landlords’ religious practices but also
violated freedom of speech, by prohibiting owners
from asking about a tenant’s marital status, States can
imposesuchrestrictions onbusinesses for compelling
reasons, such as preventing discrimination based on
race or sex, O’Scannlain said. But he said
discrimination on the basis of marital status isn’t
banned by the Constitution, federal law or the laws of
many states, and no compelling interest has. been
shown for its elimination. The case is Thomas vs.
Anchorage Equal Rights Commission, 97-35220.
Methodists Attack Boy
Scouts’ Anti-Gay Policy
tIACKENSACK, N.J. (AP) - The Boy Scouts of
America could lose an important ally as it prepares to
appeal a New Jersey Supreme Court ruling that the
group couldnotremove aNew Jersey manbecausehe
is Gay.
The United Methodist Church, which sponsors
about 15% of the 3.3 million Scouts in the United
States, has scolded the group and is threatening to halt
its sponsorship if things don’t change. Although the
church "would like to enthusiastically affirm and
encourage this continuing partnership of the church
and Scouting, we cannot due to the Boy Scouts of
America s discnmanat~on agmnstGays; the Gener
Board of Church and Society said earlier this month.
The board is a top policy-making body of the
Methodists. It also encouraged the Boy Scouts to stop
the policy barring homosexuals. ’"We further, for the
sake of our continmng partnership, call upon the Boy
Scouts of America to discontinue this exclusion of
Gays," the board concluded in the Oct. 10 statement.
The Methodists earlier had said the church wanted to
triple the number of Scouts it sponsors.
But the Boy Scouts say the threat won’t dissuade
themfrom appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court. Greg
Shields, a spokesman for the Boy Scouts, said the
organization hopes the case will be heard before next
year’s summer recess. Shields also said he believes
the Boy Scouts’ longtime relationship with the
Methodists will endure. "We feel like we have a
¯ strong base of support within the congregations,"
¯ Shields told The Record of Hackensack.
¯ The appeal plan follows aunanimous Augustruling
: by the state Supreme Court that says the policy of
keeping out homosex~mls violates the state’s anti-
" discrimination law. The court said the Boy Scouts
¯ organization constitutes a "place of public
accommodation" because it has a broad-based
membership and forms partnerships with public
¯ entities such as police and fire departments.
¯ James Dale, 29, ofMatawan inMomnouth County,
¯ was an assistant scoutmaster whe was kicked out of
the Boy Scouts nine years ago whenleaders found out
¯ he is Gay. He sued., seeking reinstatement. Dale
¯ earned 30 merit badges, seven achievement honors
¯ and other awards, and became an Eagle Scout during ¯
his 12 years in the organization. He was expelled by
¯ theMoumouthCouncilin 1990 after the group leamed
from a newspaper article that he was Gay. The Irving,
¯
Texas-based organization has said if forced to accept
¯
Gays, the organization would not be able to build
¯ moral character in boys.
The New Jersey ruling contrasted with a March
¯
1998 decision by the California Supreme Court inthe
¯ Boy Scouts’ favor. In that ruling, alsounammous, the
¯ court said the organization was not abusiness and was
: therefore free to exclude Gays, as well as atheists and
¯ agnostics. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an
: appeal of that decision.
Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC
Certified Public Accountant
a professional corporation
747-5466
4021 S. Harvard, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135
MCC-United
formerly Family of Faith & Greater Tulsa MCC
Joined as one body of believers.
Come celebrate with us,
Sunday Services, 11 am
1623 North Maplewood, 838-1715
HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am
Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm
3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon
Sandra Hill M.s.
Licensed Professional & National Certified
Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist
Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation
After Hours Appointments AvailabIe
2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111
Community Unitarian Universalist
Congregation
at Communi~. ofHope
2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595
A Welcoming Congregation
Mingo Valley Flowers
9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145
918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800rdA.4-5934
Family Owned & Operated
Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW
Ghild, Family, Individual & Gouplo Psychotherapy
(918) 743-9559
2121 South Columbia, Suite 420
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518
Cathy Fur g, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
1980 Utica Square Medical Center
Tulsa, Oklahbma 74114
voice: 628-3709, fax: 712-9854
Adults, Children, Couples, and Families
OK~HOMA COMMUNICATIONS
Local- Long Distance
Cellular- Paging
747-1508
Free Car Adaptor &
Leather Case with New Cell Phone
The Pride Store
1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor
¯in Tulsa’s Gay Community Services Center
743-GAYS (743-4297)
6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday
12-9 pm, Saturday, all’ales benefit the Center
KEVIN BURLESO N
Keller Williams Realty
712-2252
Burleson@kw.com
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Contact Paul on: (918) 582 8460
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4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381
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5635 East 71st, 492-7140
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Boeing ExtendsBenefits
to Same-Sex Partners
SEATTLE (AP) - The Boeing Co., citing the need to
maintain a quality work force and the benefits of
diversity, plans-to extend health-care benefits next
year to same-sex domestic partners of salaried nonumon
employees. The decision, announced to
company managers by electronic mail, was praised
by Gay civil rights advocatesl It was criticized by
unionleaders, however, for leaving outtheirmembers
and nnmarried heterosexual partners. Company
officials did not say how many employees would be
affected. RoughlyhalfofBoeing’s 202,000 employees
worldwide are salaried and non-union.
A recent Forbes Magazine survey indicated
unmarried partners are covered by health benefits in
10% of the businesses with at least 200 employees.
Companies that provide same-sex-partner benefits
include Lotus Development Corp., Microsoft Corp.,
IBM, Walt Disney Co., U S West, Honeywell and
Xerox.
In the e-mail, James B. Dagnon, Boeing’s senior
vice president for personnel, said the move was made
for two reasons: ’~First to attract and retain talented
employees, and second to walk the talk on diversity.
"Diversity, with a capital D, means acknowledging
employees have different backgrounds, preferences
and interests."
A task force of personnd managers and minority
employees w.asformedto study theissue last year, bu.t
consii~eration of an initial proposal was stalled until
the company’s financial performance improved in
recent months, Boeing spokesman Peter Conte said.
The decision is long overdue, said Charles Fay,
chairman of Hands-Off Washington in Snohomish
County and Dennis Rybicki, a spokesman for the
SnohomishCountyElections Committee., which,r~an~__. s
political candidates on Gay and Lesbian xssues, q’his
should send a signal to other employers, large and
small, that it’s goodbusiness to recognize the value of
all families," Fay said.
Charles Bofferding, executive directorof the Society
ofProfesSional Engineering Employees inA.erospa.~,
said the move seemed to be designed to sabotage ,his
group’s contract-negotiations, which begin soon.
SPF.EA, formerly the Seattle Professional Engineering
Employees Association, is the second-largest imion
at Boeing, representing 23,000 scientists, engineers,
manual writers and technical workers. SPEEA
negotiators will seek the benefit but don’t want to
sacrifice other potential contract gains to obtain it,
Bofferding said. ’This attitude, that management
knows best and employees will take whatever is
dished, out, this is outrageous ,"he said. "Is the Boeing
Co. going to discriminate againstheterosexuals now?"
Conte said health-care benefits will not be offered
tO unmarried heterosexual partners because they can
get married, an option from which same-sex parmers
are barred by law.
Tim Flynn, a spokesman for the International
Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers,
which r~ep~resents hourly producuon workers and is
Boeings largest union, said Machinist leaders may
discuss same-sex benefits before expiration of the
three-year contract that was ratified in September.
Annetta Small, director of the West Coast office of
Kerusso Ministries, which seeks to persuade Gays
and Lesbians to become heterosexual through
Chrsfianity, said she opposes any extension ofbenefits
to non-married partners. "We are giving benefits to a
behavior that I believe is wrong and that I believe is
immoral," she said. "I don’t believe that we should
extend these benefits to people who are not married."
Hate Letters Sent to
Rhode Island Politicos
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Threatening letters with
anti-Gay sentiments have been sent to the Providence
mayor, the city’s liaison to the Gay community and
two men who were recently assaulted in a Gaybashing
attack.
One letter, which Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr.
received, described Providence as a ’Tag lovin’ city".
Leaflets that said "Fake Action Against Queer’s,
¯ were also scattered downtown and placed on cars.
¯¯ City and police officials said they are taking the
threats very seriously because they appear to be part
¯ ofan organized effort. Inresponse, thepolice assigned
¯ extra officers downtown. "In this day and age, this
’- should not be. We’re not going to tolerate it," Cianci
~ told The Providence Journal.
¯ W. Fitzgerald Himmelsbach, the city’s liaison to
the Gay and Lesbian community, also received a
" death threat over the telephone. He received a call at
¯ his business from aman who said, "Die, you fagg.ot .
~ All the letters said ’~omosexuality is a sin against
¯ humankind and God," and all were signed "The
¯ Trench Coat Mafia" - the name used by a group of
"- students at Columbine High School, in I.ittleton,
¯
Colo., that .included the two gnmmen who killed 13
¯ people there last spring. -
Himmelsbach saidletters receivedby the twoassault
". victims threatened that they would"endup inhell like
[ Matthew Shepard," the Wyoming college student
¯ who was beaten to deathlast fall because he was Gay.
¯ The letters were sent to Ed Webb, 34, and Noah
] Schwartz, 41, both of Providence. On Sept. 19 in
: downtownProvidence, themensaid about20college-
" aged men yelled "faggots" and then five of the men
¯ beat them up.
¯ Both Himmelsbaeh, who has been the liaison for
~ two years,and Cianci saidreceiving threats is nothing
¯ new but both are worried that this is part of an
~ organized effort. ’~Eianci vowedto fred the "cowards"
.. who are the perpetrators and then prosecute them for
. hate crimes. Police do not have any suspects yet.
: Denver Considers
:: Couples Registry
¯ DENVER (AP) - City Council members are
: considering a proposal that would create a registry to
~ record the relationships of Gay and Lesbian partners
and other committed but unmarried couples. The
¯ proposal, heard by the city council, would allow
Denverites to officially record their partnerships to
¯
qualify for insurance benefits some companies offer
¯ to the "domestic partners" of their workers. And, for
¯ same-sex couples, it would allow their unions to be
: acknowledg?,.d,, if only nominally, by local
" government. It sfinallytimeforthecitytorecognize
." committed relationships," said Councilman Ed
¯ Thomas, who, along with Councilwoman Cathy ¯
Reynolds, has beenplanning such aregistry for several
¯ years. .
¯ To qualify, both members of a couple would have
¯ to be unmarried, 18 years or older and sharing the ¯
¯ same household with a partner who is not a blood
relative. A filing fee at the city’s clerk and recorder’s
¯ office is expected to be about $20. Couples would be ¯
¯ required to notify that office if their relationships
dissolve. The plan had tentative approval by most
members ofthe city s Safety and Personnel Commatt
¯ except council member Ted Hackworth, who said it
¯ "doesn’t make sense." ¯ Itis slated for further discussionby council members
¯
in the coming weeks. Advocates hope to have the
registry in place by Valentin~ s Day. If approved,
¯ filing with the registry wouldn t constitute amarriage
or common-law marriage, nor would it affect
¯ inheritance rights.
¯ Still, advocates say itwouldprovide documentation ¯
¯ for couples seeking benefits from United Airlines,
Coors, Denver city government and other employers
¯ who insure domestic partners of workers. Proponents
¯ also hope it would help advance rights whenit comes
¯ to visiting partners in the hospital ormaking medical ¯
decisions on their behalf. Theregistry would similarly
¯ benefit seniorcouples who choosenot to marry because
¯ they would lose Social Security or other benefits.
~ Boulder has a similar registry program, as do the state
¯ of California and 35 cities in 25 states nationwide.
¯ Irish Jury Convicts
Writer’s Assailants
: PHILADELPHIA (AP)- Ajury in Irdand convicted
¯ two men in the near-fatal beating of a well-known ¯
Philadelphia writer of Gay-themed books who was
¯ overseas researching a novel see News, p. 13
Magic Johnson
Plays in Sweden
BORAS, Sweden (AP) - Magic Johnson
entertained a sellout crowdTuesday night
with some of the trademark skills he used
to help the Los Angeles Lakers win five
NBA rifles.
The 40-year-old star, 10 years older
than the second oldest player on the court,
had 14 points and 11 rebounds as Magic
M7 beat Sallen 84-60 in.the Swedish
basketball league.
"The first half was a little tough, but the
second was easier.,"Johnson told the 3,319
spectators after,the game, his first nonexlfihition
contest since leaving the NBA
for good in 1996.
Johnson missed some easy layup
attempts. "That’s easy when the
atmosphere was as charged and the
euphoria as high as it was tonight," he
said. After a standing ovation before the
game, Johnson drew further cheers when
he promised to return to play more games
for Magic MT.
MT, which missed the playoffs last
season, is 7-0 this season,.with Johnson’s
appearance generating great interest in
the sport in Boras, a city of 110,000 in
western Sweden.
Johnson, who led Michigan State to the
1979 U.S. National Collegiate Athletic
Association rifle, learned he had tested
positive for the HIV virus that can cause
AIDS in 1991. He retired for the first rime
justbefore the startof the 1991-92 season.
After returning to play on the U.S.
Dream Team that won the gold medal in
the 1992 Olympics, he made a brief
comeback before the !992-93 season, but
quit again after several players expressed
concerns about playing against him.
In January 1996, he returned to the
Lakers and played the remaining half of
the season, retiring again, at age 37, after
the Lakers were eliminated from the
playoffs.
Louganis in
Nun-Drag?
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) - Greg
Louganis has picked up a new habit. The
Olympxc gold medal-winning diver is
starring in the musical comedy, ’~lunsense
A-Men," which runs through Dec. 5 at the
Hollywood Playhouse.
Lougams, who wonfour gold medals in
two Olympics and later disclosed he was
Gayand HIV-positive, will pull on a habit
six rimes a week for his role as Sister
Robert Ann, a streetwise nun who always
wanted to be a star. All the nuns in this
production are men.
The former diver, author and
motivational speaker says he likes working
in an ensemble cast. "There’s always
someone there to hold your hand," said
I_ouganis, 39. "It feels more supportive, I
guess.’"
Thou.gh Louganis now has AIDS, he
looks and feels healthy. He says he does
not think aboutbeing arole model. "We’re
all haman. We all make mistakes," he
said "Role model, in my mind, is
perfection and one can’t be that. I try to
encourage young people to be their own
heroes and their own role models."
AIDS & So. Africa
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) -
After the end of apartheid, South Africa
pushed to get patients out of overcroWded
hospitals and into preventive care clinics.
But as fast as the country has built 700
¯
new clinics since 1994, traditional state
¯¯ hospitalshavefilledupwithAIDS patients
who occupy up to 60% of the beds, South
: African Health Minister Manto
¯ Tshabalala-Msimang said recently.
¯ ’’We expected the demand for hospital
¯ caretodrop,"shesaidatanews conference
; at theheadquarters oftheAfrican National
¯ Congress. "But the HIV and AIDS
¯ epidemic has increased the burden." The
¯ briefingwas one ofa series by theANCon
¯ its progress in ruling the country.
¯ Tshabalala-Msimang chairs the party’s
¯ health committee.
-" Some 3.6 million South Africans are
¯ infected with AIDS, roughly one in eight
." adults, and the government says 1,500
¯ new :infections occur every day in one of
." the world’s fastest rates of infection. A
¯ narionalAIDS councilwillbefunctioning
: by year’s end, Tshabalala-Msimang said.
¯ ’’We should have had the council in place
: already," she said.
: Controversial proposals, such treating
: pregnant women with HIV with a drug
¯ therapy to prevent transmission of the
¯ virus to infants, will be discussed next
¯ month at a meeting of regional health ¯
ministers, she said. The government so far
: has rejected the proposal as too expensive
: and possibly even dangerous in terms of
¯ long-term side effects.
¯ The healthministers fromthe Southern ¯
African Development Community will
¯ also discuss blood safety anddevelopment
¯ of an HIV vaccine.
: AIDS Threatens
Asia’s Prosperity
KUALALUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -The
AIDS epidemic in Asia could erase the
region’s economic gains over the last two
decades unless governments maintain
funding for social programs, aWorldBank
expert warned late last month.
In Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia,
Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam and
Southern China, AIDS had gained a
"strong foothold," even before the
economiccrisis struckin 1997, saidMartha
Ainsworth, a senior World Bank
economist.
The dreaded virus "threatens to slowly
unravel the progress in improving the
human condition.and to diminate if not
reverse the benefits of the economic
miracle,’’ Ainsworth told the 5th
International Congress on AIDS in Asia
and the Pacific.
The region’s two-year economic crisis
may have further hurt Asia’s fight against
AIDS, said Ainsworth. Cash-strapped
governments wereforced to slash budgets
and lower wages. The crisis also pushed
thousands of families into poverty and
many women into prostitution.
"’Even before the crisis, political
commitment to AIDS prevention in the
region was weak," said Ainsworth. "Many
policy makers are still in denial."
Development policies before the crisis
channeled funds into education and health
¯ care budgets, resulting in higher life
expectancies and reduced poverty:
¯ "The full impact of the crisis on HIV
: depends critically on how well
~ governments and households succeeded
¯ .in maintaining socialsafety nets," said
: AJnsworth, an expert on the effect of
¯ AIDS on households. Ainsworth said
: AIDS hadalready subtracted several years
¯
offtheaveragelifeexpectancies ofcertain
¯ countries.
A U.N report released at the four-day
¯ conference esrimates that by 2010, the ¯
overall death rate will be 20% higher in
OECE~%
WorldAIDS Day 1999
Candlelight March & Memorial Service
sponsored by Interfaith AIDS Ministries
Wednesday, December 1st
End the Silence
Mount Zion Baptist Church
419 North Elgin (next to OSU-Tulsa)
Gather 6:30 at St. Monica’s, Marshall Place at
Greenwood (just south of Pine), March at 7pm,
Service at 7:30, all times approximate! Bring
banners & bells; candles provided. Info: 438-2437.
Are You Gay or Bisexual?
Are You Native American~.~
Tulsa s Two-Spirited Indian Men s
¯
Support Group ~s here for you!
¯ Evening support group meetings
¯ Relationship workshops
¯ Short trips, outings and retreats
¯ Free HIV testing
For information call Tulsa Native.American AIDS Prevention Project
at 582-7225 Ext, 208 or 218
Dial-Up Accounts
Dedicated ISDN
Connections
Virtual Hosting
Visit our web page
"www.igisweb.net"
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Internet Marketing
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On-Site Setup Available
Oklahoma NARAL cordially invites you
to a chocOlate and champagne fete in
support of abortion and reproductive
rights in Oklahoma.
Celebrating 26 Yedrs.of Choice
Sunday, November 7, 1999, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
to be held at Resonance
1608 S. Elwood, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Champagne, Coffee, Chocolates
$25 per individual
Please R.S.V.P. to the NARAL Office: 494-9585
Stay Healthy Naturally
Wellness
Rejuvenation
Longevity
Dr. Terrance L. Sullivan
Doctor ofNaturopathy
Certified Colonic Hygenist
Certified Reflexologist
Certified Herbalist
Certified Accupressurist
provides consultations by appointment
Iridology- Hair Analysis - Herbal Supplements
Pain Control - Nutritional Analysis
4520 So. Peoria, Brookside, 712-1400
Myanmar due to AIDS fatalities. In
Cambodia and Thailand, it may rise 15%
because of AIDS. The United Nations
estimates that 7 million people in Asia are
infected with the HIV virus or AIDS.
Speakers at the conference, which ends
Wednesday, have urged Asia to act fast to
curb the epidemic or risk the devastation
now facedby Africa, which has 21 million
AIDS-related cases.
Experts areparticularlyconcemedabout
the effects of AIDS on Indonesia, the
world’s fourth largest country, where the
regional economiccrisis was compounded
by political upheaval. It diverted attention
and funding from the AIDS epidemic,
Aiusworth said. ’~olitical turmoil nodoubt
increased risky behavior for the spread of
HIV," Ainsworth said.
She said countries such as Thailand
one of the high-risk areas in Asia, had
proved that maintaining commitment to
AIDS -prevention programs paid
dividends. HIV cases dropped among
prostitutes,menwith sexually-transmitted
diseases and blood donors in Thailand
despite the economic crisis, she said.
"Many governments in this region have
a window of opportunity to act early and
prevent an epidemic," Ainsworth said.
Children at Risk
in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) -
Seeking to help young children deal with
a soanng number of sexual assaults,
national health and education officials are
considering an education program for
primary students to teach about rape and
HIV infections, a newspaper reported
Sunday.
A pilot program was tested in the
Nor~ern and F~ee State provinces, where
about 700 children received the lessons,
the Sunday Times of Johannesburg
reported. About 14,000 children are
sexually violated every year, police reports
say, but a large number of rapes go
unreported, anti-rape activists say.
About 8% of the adult population is
HIV positive. One factor that experts
belie,ve has contributed to child rape is the
persxstent myth that sex with a virgin can
cure the disease.
Abraham Seckle, an Education
Department official, was quoted assaying
the program would "empower learners to
protect themselves." A consultantinvolved
in the project, Darleen Edwards,
said that children are taught to "run, yell
and tell" in the program.
PLWA to Race in
Iditarod Next Year
MESA, Ariz. (AP)-The first Arizonan to
enter Alaska’s most grueling sled dog
race faces two major obstacles before he
even steps to the starting line. Chuck
Kin.g, 39, of Tempe, has no experience
racang. He has only 100 miles actually
riding a dog sled. And King is. HIV
positive. Every day, he takes fisffuls of
anti-viral pills just to stay alive.
But he doesn’t see this as a setback. He
views his illness and the March 4 Iditarod
sled-dog race as a chance to prove that
people with AIDS don’t have to
concentrate on survival alone. "In the last
seven years, I was supposed to have died
three times and I made it through all of
that," King said in a telephone interview
from Wasilla, Alaska.
The Iditarod this year will stretch 1,152
miles fromWasilla to Nome, takingracers
" at least 10 days to complete. And that’s
: only if the expected 80 participants keep
up a good pace. The snow layers the trail
¯ in multiple feet, not mere inches.
¯" Temperatures dip deep into thenegatives,
numbing hands and lungs. At night;
¯ Sections of the woods-darkened course
." are lit only by the aurora borealis, which
¯ crackle and cast shadows in the trees and
: snow. Switchbacks get so steep in some
¯ areasthatdrivers can’tseetheleadoftheir
¯¯ 16-dogpack.A driver unlucky enough to
fall off gets left in a cloud of snow and
¯
regret. ’q~here ain’t no waitin’ in this
." race," said Raymond "Raymie"
¯ Redington, King’s sled-dog trainer. ’q’he
¯" huskies are bred to go. They’ll bolt off the
." starting line even if you say halt."
." Redington should know. The 54-year-
. old Alaska native’s father founded the
¯ racein 1973. He has been in 111ditarods;
: his highest placing was seventh. Since
: September, Redington has trained King
¯ on a four-wheeler that simulates a sled-
: dog team. King will work with the dogs as
¯ the snow starts to fall.
¯ King began training last year, gaining ¯
¯ about 100 miles of mushing experience.
Oddly, being a native Arizonan could
give him a boost: King was trained as a
bo.y to handle amule drawn wagon, which
¯ ~mrrors mushing techniques, Redington
¯ said. King will have to be up to speed by
: Jan. 1, whenthelditarod’sfirstqualifying
race, the Knik 200, takes place. The 2nd
~ qualifier is a week later.
¯ Only after the 500 miles of racing will
’ Redington know whether King is ready
: for the Iditarod. "I don’t know how he’s
¯" going to do when it gets real freezing,"
¯ said Redington, who remembers the 38-
below zero wind chill he endured in the
¯ 1974Iditarod. "Buthelooks healthynow. "" ¯
That hasn’t always been the case for
¯ King. Six years ago, the 6-foot man had
¯ wastedto 118pounds. Doctors gav,eKing, ¯
a former respiratory physician, 90 days to
live after diagnosing him with multidrug
¯ resistant tuberculosis. At one point, his Tcell
count, a measure of the body’s
¯ resistance to disease, bottomed out at 40;
~ a virus-free, healthy person’s T-cell coun!
usually reaches 1,000.
Kinghad one wish: to see Alaska before
¯ he died. Two years ago he took a cruise
." there, and he caught another bug. This
time, it was mushing. "That’s all he could
¯ talk about," said his father, Dick King.
¯ "He was suicidal, depressed at times. BUt
this brought him out."
Science lent a hand, too. Strong anti¯
viral drugs called protease inhibitors
became available. King was soon on a
¯ five-drug ’.’cocktail"prescribed to him by
Scottsdale’s Dr. Thanes Vanig. He began
¯ popping about 26 pills a day. He said he ¯
has to smoke marijuana to beat down the
¯ nausea caused by themedieation. He also
,- has to take percocet, and even morphine,
¯ to numb the neurological pain to his lower
¯ legs that was caused by the tuberculosis
¯ and AIDS drugs. His T-cell count has
¯ jumped to 560, the lower side of normal.
¯ He’s also gained 44 pounds, thanks in
¯ large part to injections of human growth
: hormone, a $4,000-a-month drug that he
; said was donated by a pharmaceutical
¯ company.
¯ WhenKingrecentlyreturned to Alaska,
¯
his spirits were high, His po~c,k,etbook is
¯ - the opposite. King is feveris!!) lining up
¯ sponsors, such as Tempe Mayor Neil
¯ Giuliano, to make it through the race and
¯ bring AIDS awareness to a new level,
¯ "It’s not just for people with AIDS," he
¯
s.aid. ’q~hemessageis for everyone: Don’t
¯ g~ve up. Don’t ever give up."
L
by James Christjohn
Upon viewing the PBS production of
"Spirit: A Journey in Dance, Drum, and
Song" on PBS, I contacted Peter Buffett,
the composer and creator. Upon learning
that there would be a National Tour with
a stop in Tulsa at the Brady
Theatre on January 3,
2000; I had the opportunity
to askafew questions. You
can get the video of the
production that originally
aired on PBS, as well as
theCDat areamusic/video
stores. It’s powerful in
those mediums (reviewed
previously), and one can
only imagine the impact of
the piece live.
JC: Hello, Peter!
PB: Hello! Well...
finally I’m answering your
questions. I was frantically
finishing a record for a
friend. It had to be done by
yesterday (which it was)
so I can go to New York
today to start all the
mechanics it’s going to take to get the
"Spirit" showon the road by the Fall. At
somepoint, you’11 have to get the’’making
of" part of the video. I think you’ll really
enjoy it. "(Note: The "Making of..." is
included on the retail vide~’Of the show.)
JC: It’s such an amazing piece that
works on so many diffdrent levels, l was
wondering whatinspired the idea to bring
together the different elements - dance.
song, etc. - to create the show?
PB: I wanted to bring all the elements
together for two main reasons. One,
"A hundred years ago
people sang
the Ghost Dance
songs in the hopes
that the world would
return to the way
it once was,
Now, the choir in
some of the Spirit
songs are singing those
very same words in
hopes that the world
can become
what it could be. ""
- Peter Buffett
because in Native cultures, song anddance
are usually linked. You can’t have one
without the other. They both contribute to
the telling ofthe story. Andthe projections
help bring the natural (or unnatural.., or
supernatural) worldinto the theatre. That’s
the "art" reason.
The "commerce" reasonis
that I knew my show
would be competing with
larger and larger events.
Not only theatrical, but
lmaxmovies,hugebudget
movies and all sorts of
entertainment that tugs at
the consumer. I wanted to
try and create something
thatpeople could honestly
say they hadn’ t seenbefore
(no small feat). So this was
my attempt..
JC: Well,judgingfrom
the response at the taping
from the audience, and the
incredible response I’ve
seen to the video, l’d say
you achieved your goal.
PB: It’s important to
note that I’m not in the "bigger is better"
: camp (as it may sound) but people want
and deserve their money’s worth. Andit’s
getting harder to "outdo" the last thing ~n
[ terms ofp0werful soundandimagery. My
[ hope is that the message of the show has
as much effect on people as anything else.
JC: I can only speak from my own
¯. experience, and that oflistening to others
¯ who have seen the video, to say that it was
very powerful in that regard, and
¯ communicated its message wonderfully.
see Buffett, p. 14
couNciL
Is proud to present
gie Hall veteran soprano, Floxane La Combe.
nature "COMC Sound" has attracted sold out audiences.
Order your tickets in advance.
November 19 & 20
JOHN WILLIAMS THEATRE
TULSA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Call 596-7111 for tickets
www.counciloak.org
~’~#Made possible in part oy a grant from the Tulsa Pedorming Arts Center Trust.
by That Entertainment Guy
Livin La Vida Loca Tour, the Divine
king, Ricky Martin appears in Dallas al
Reunion Arena, Dallas, Thursday, Nov
4, 1999, at 8:00PM. Now this would be
the concert to take binocnlars to - and the
telephoto mini-camera. Ticket prices for
the Prince ofPop: $35.00- $75.00 Charge-
By-Phone #: 214-373-8000.
The Divine Queen of All Things is also
performing in Dallas in November. No,
not Stevie, although she is the otherQueen
of All T’nings Divine; but the Divine Ms.
Millennium Tour: Bette Midler in Concert,
A Beaver Production takes place Sunday,
Nov128,1999 at8:00prn at ReunionArena.
As she said in one early concert tour,
’qTais ain’t no cheap meat you’re lookin’
at!": Ticket prices run $50.50 - $150.50,
Charge-By-Phone at 214-373-8000.
Peter Buffett’s "Spirit - A Journey in
Dance, Drums and Song" is a music,
dance and percussion spectacle that
combines the power of contemporary
music with the songs, chants and dances
of Native American culture. The release
of the CD coincides with the PBS
Broadcast ofthe live show of Spirit, which
features over 80 performers - including
twenty dancers with both modem and
traditional training, an orchestra withboth
modem and ancient tribal instruments, a
flits choir and percussionists pounding
outheart-stopping rhythms on a variety of
drums.
The show runs in Tulsa, January 4-9, at
the Brady Theatre; and if you miss that,
then you can catch "Spirit" in Dallas,
March 7-12 at the Majestic Theatre.
You really didn’t think I’d let you get
away without the obligatory mention of
Stevie Nicks herself, did you? Yes, La
Diva nicks is performing three shows:
Two in California’s HOuse of Biues in
December, and one in Las Vegas HOB on
New Year’s eve. Tickets went for an
outrageous $127 (balcony seating) and
$227 (Orchestra - STANDING!). There
only a few floor spaces left for the New
Year’s show.. All others sold out. Believe
it or not.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the
"Send the obsessed reviewer to see S tevie
and not come back fund" can send
contributions to TFN. Just make sure my
name’s in big letters on the envelope, or
I’ll never see the money. It’ll end up in the
"buy the publisher new household
gimmicks" fund.
The Divine Ms. Nick’s new album
should be out the 1st of the year, if not
sooner. And hopefully, with a more
affordable tour. Apparently the cost of
chiffon has risen - a lot.
Fight Clubis.amovie that under ordinary
circumstances, I would have never gone
to see. However, I was not under ordinary
circumstances, and was swept along to
see it. I thought I’d hate it. After seeing it,
I think everyone should see it. The acting
is dynamic, the pace is breathless, and the
intellect behind it is tremendous. The
violence is not that bad, one scene aside,
and the points the movie makes are well
worth the viewing. The humor is well
done, and the homoeroticism between Ed
Norton and Brad Pittmakes it worthwhile.
see Fight, p. 15
.Parade of Ligh! s.
Come celebrate the spirit of the holiday season
at the PSO Christmas Parade of Lights.
Saturday, December 11, Downtown Tulsa at 6 p.m.
View parade floats up close, Friday, December 10,
at the HolidayFest (Brady Arts Distriot) fl om 6-9 p.m.
Pubfic Service Company of Oklahoma
A Central and South West Company
I B B (I T Z
"emotionally and visually rich ..."
-Performing Arts Review, Taiwan
"unforgettable scenes of disparate beauty"
-Davar
"intense in feeling ...
deep in intellectual content"
-The Plain Dealer
"bold, flLnging athleticism"
-The Kansas City Star
November 16 at 8 p.m.
Chapman Music Hall
Tulsa Performing Arts Center
3rd & Cincinnati
Tickets: $15, $22, $25
Call: (918) 596-7111
Outside Tulsa: 1-800-364-7111
Online: www.tulsapac.com
Presenting
by Rami Be’er
Co-presented bj,:
Oklahoma Israel Exchange
"Dazzling," "Pounding," "Unsettling," "Erotic"
"The dancing--real, vital dancing--of these 18 people
becomes a dyfiamo for transforming experience and
recharging the spirit." The Village Voice
Sponsored in part by:
"You don’t
have to know
ballet to
love ballet.
You just have
to try it."
-- MARCELLO ANGELINI
ART ST C D RECTOR
:Mixed Repertory includes two Oklahoma premieres
FRIDAY 8 PM
NOVEMBER 5
SATURDAY 8 PM "
NOVEMBER 6
SUNDAY 3 PM
NOVEMBER 7
Be one of the first anywhere to witness Tulsa Ballet’s first commissioned
piece. Tailored to the strengths of the Company by an international
genius. Classical ’roots, contemporary movements A prime-time
performance of2Oth-century choreography. The way people dance today.
Andwili tom0rrow: "
Tickets start at $8.
THE 199.9 - 2000 SEASON IS SPONSORED IN PART BY:
Order tickets,by calling The Tulsa Ballet Ticket Office at 749-6006, PAC at 596-7111
or Carson Attractions at 584~2000 * 4512 S. Peoria Ave. ¯ Tulsa, OK 74105-4563
Visit our web site at www.webtek.omitulsaballet
~ SUNDAYS
Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service - 6pro, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Service - 1 lain, 2545 S. Yale, 749-0595 (Welcoming)
Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist
Service - 1 lam, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-1314
Metropolitan Community Church United
Service, 1 lain, 1623 North Maplewood, Info: 838-1715
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc.
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood
Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangdical Anglican Church in America)
Mass - 1 lam, 205 W. King (east of N. Denver), Info: 582-3088
Unity Church of Christianity
Services: 9:15 & 11:00 am, 3355 S. Jamestown, 749-8833
University of Tulsa Bisexuai/Lesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance
6:30 pm, Meets at the United Ministry Cir., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780
~ MONDAYS
Mixed Volleyball, Helmerich Park, 71st & Riverside, 6pm, call Shawn at 243-5190.
HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required.
Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard)
HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
7:30pm, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
2nd Mordeach mo. 6:30pro, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard
Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551
Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals - call for thnes, info: 748-3888.
~ TUESDAYS
AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call, for next meeting date. 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551
Live And Let Live, Community of Hope U~fited Methodist, 7:30pm, 2545 S. Yale
Multicultural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date.
Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001
PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th
Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE)
Tuesdays, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E 38th, info: 743-4297
~ WEDNESDAYS
Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center
Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries,. Inc. Service - Vpm, 3210b So. Norwood
Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more information, call 582-7225
TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for info: 595-7632.
Lambda A-A, 7 pm, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft.
~ THURSDAYS
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education
Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pm 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral
Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN)
Support/social group for 18-24’s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-2325
Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, Info: 834-4194
~ FRIDAYS
SafeHaven, Young Adults Social Group, l st Fri/each mo. 8pm, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th
~ SATURDAYS
Narcotics Anonymous, I 1 pm, Community o!~ Hope, 1703 E. 2nd, Info: 585;-1800
Lambda A-A, 6.pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd fl.
~ OTHER GROUPS
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info: 298-0827
Gal-A-Vanting, Womens Social & Cultural Group
Call for info: Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-6825.
OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization. Long rides & short rides from
Zcigler Park. Long & short rides from Tulsa Gay Community Center. Write for info:
POB 9165, Tulsa, OK 74157
Ifyour organization is not listed, please let us know. Call 583-1248 orfax 583-4615.
reviewed by Barry Hensley : substanceabuse and, now, a sympathetic
Tulsa City-County Library : wife with a decidedly un-Christian like
Whathappens whena"radical Lesbian" ¯ penchant for screaming and yelling. The
goes undercover to infiltrate the " author’s interaction with this member of
organizations of the religious Focus on the Family is most
right? She writes a book, of
course! Fortunately, this isn’t
"jnstaanotherChristianbashing
book, as Minkowitz is able to
see past her obvious
disagreements with these
groups and find some real,
human common ground. Life
is full ofgray area, as this book
shows.
Ferocious Romance is a
humorous but serious lookinto
religious fight organizations,
such as Promise Keepers and
Focus on the Family.
Minkowitz dons a fake
monstachc and lowers her
voice to attend a Promise
Keepers weekend that really
opens her eyes. In addition to
experiencing the fully
expected propaganda of men
itaking charge of the familyi
and making women submissive, she al~o
witnesses burly mencrying,hugging each
other andexpressing words offorgiveness.
She enjoys discussing this absurdity of
the feminization of the Christian Men’s
movement~
Her discussions with James Dobson’s
Focus on the Family are of more concern.
She has long conversations with a cute
voung man named Bobby, who is an
~tthappy "ex-Gay." It becomes evident
that Bobby’ s life is in a shambles due to
the cumulative effects ofchildhood abuse,
"The a.thor’s
interaetion with
this member of
Focus on the
Family is most
;nsi~htful. She
also meets with
several high level
exeeutlves in the
or~anlzatlon
whose arguments
t~t they are not
homophone are
astoundln~ in
their h~oe~sy."
insightful. Shealso meets with
several high level executives
in the organization whose
arguments that they are not
homophobicareastoundingin
their hypocrisy.
After these encounters with
the religious right, the author
inexplicably dives into an
account ofthe International S/
M Leather Fetish Celebration
that she attended inNew York
City to-celebrate the twentyfifth
anniversary of the
Stonewall Riots. We really
learn more than we ever
wanted to know about her
involvement in S/M. This
topic surfaces occasionally
throughout the book and her
comparison of conservative
Christians and S/M
practitioners is humorously
¯¯ enlightening.
As the 2000 elections approach, the
: religions right will undoubtedly take center
.. stage to promote their candidates and
, agenda. It is in everyone’s best interest to
: understand what these groups have in
¯ store for the country, should their ¯
candidates be elected. This book gives a
: bit ofinsightinto what’ s going onin these
¯ organizations. Check out Ferocious
Romance at your local branch library or
¯
call the Reader’s Services department at
: Central library, at 596-7966.
Members of each group were paired
together at the tables and encouraged to
gettoknow each other. Before the meeting,
the groups agreed to disagree on whether
Gays can be Christians and to focus on
ways to deter violence against Gays and
Christians, Falwell cited the September
shootings at a Texas church and recent
school shootings inwhichChristians were
targeted.
At a news conference following the
meeting, Falwell andWhite apologized to
each other for harsh words they have said
about the other’s groups over the years.
"I’ve been a preacher for 47 years, a
preacher of the gospel.., but in the end
homosexuality is. wrong," Falwell said.
’’It is my hope that evangelicals might
build a bridge of friendship -to Gays and
Lesbians as we have to alcoholics and
unwed mothers."
White, an author and minister with the
Metropolitan Community Churches, was
the ghost writerofFalwell’s autobiography
before White acknowledged being Gay.
Delegates from both groups thought the
meeting was good.
The same weekend, many of Mel
White’s groups listened to Falwell’s
Sunday sermon. Falwell, 66, began the
serviceby welcoming White andhis guests
and briefing his congregation on the antiviolence
forum conducted at the church
the day before. At that meeting, both sides
apologized for harsh words said over the
years and discussed ways to reduce
vio~lence against homosexualS.
¯" ’His sermon was amazang, said David
¯ Chandler, 36, a Gay man from San
: Francisco and one of the more than 4,000
: worshippers who jammed into Thomas
¯ Roads BaptistChurch. "Hesentamessage
: to parents to love their children no matter
." what.... I admire and respect Falwell for
¯ taking that stand." In his sermon, Falwell
¯
stressed that he will hot change his belief
¯ that homosexuality is a sin. But he added, ¯
"That has nothing to do with the love
: factor involved. We are to be lovers of all
menand women."Falwell’ s sermon came
¯" from Proverbs 13, which offers advice on
¯ successful living in the eyes of God. He
¯ spoke on the importance of working hard,
¯ living with integrity and not focusing on ¯
material things. He also talked at length
: about the importance of parents loving
: their children unconditionally.
¯ "For him to invite these fags here and
¯
into his church is an abomination,"Phelps
: said outside the church. "Now, Jerry
¯ Falwell is just as much a sinner as Mel ¯
White and both will bum in hell."
: Theservice endedwiththe congregation,
." singing the hymn "Only Trust Him.
¯ Falwell interrupted the song to reiterate to
: worshippers that what he or anyone else
: thought of them did not matter, but what
¯ was important is their relationship with
¯ God. White said it was "a shame" that
: protesters like Phelps brought hostility to
¯
aplace of worship. "What we have hereis
¯ a great moment for our country, Gays and
¯ Falwell worshipping together," White ¯
said. "It’s a small start, but it’s a start."
The Gift of Pride
In Honor of...
Or
In Memory of...
Someone Special to You.
For a small gift of $25.00, you can donate a beautiful Christmas poinsettia
to a local AIDS hospice. Your gifts will adorn the stage at"
"A Council Oak Christmas," November 19-20.
Call Today for COMC Carolers at Your Holiday Party!
To Order: Call COMC at (918) 748-3888
Medical
Excellence And
Compassionate
Care Since
1926.
¯ ST. JOHN MEDICAL CENTER
WJj Medical Excdlence ’ Compassionate Care
Timothy W. Daniel
Attorney at Law
An Attorney who will fight for
justice & equality for
Gays & Lesbians
Domestic Partnership Planning,
Personal Injury,
Criminal La w & Bankruptcy
1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504
128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma
Weekend and evening appointments are available.
RESTAURANT AT PHILBROOK
TUES-SUN, I I-2
$13.95 ¯ Sunday, II to2 ¯ Reservations, 748-5367
TOHR
Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights
Home Holiday Tour
Saturday, December 11,noon- five o’clock
Several homes in historic Tulsa. Reception at the
Center tofollow. More info. after Dec. 1st. 743-4297
by Mary Schepers, Do-It- Yourself-Dyke
Hey, baby, it’ s coldoutside. Andbefore
you start heating it up in front of the
fireplace, take some precautions. Notjust
theustml ones, ducklings! Thehouseneeds
some love and attention,
too. And by attending to a
few simple details, not
only will your house o’
love be snug, but safer,
too. You know what a
raving bitch your DIYD
is about safety, but she
does it out of a place of
love. Which place, she
demurs to answer..
The first order of
business is to keep the
winter winds and drafts
outdoors where they
belong. Inthe oftrepeated
words of the Oracle, ’We
don’t have a heating
contract with the great
outdoors,’ although you
may feel that way when
you get the first heating
bill for the winter. And
the side benefit is that if
you can keep the house
warm, you won’t have to
bundle up, and neither
will your schnookie,
unless,ofcourse, youfred
the layers of sweats and
sweaters an erotic
challenge. From thereon,
you’re on your own!
Try to take care of your outside heat
sinks (places you lose heat) before the
weather dips to 45 degrees during the day.
Mostofthematerials you will useperform
better when it’s warm - that’s a life
philosophy worth adopting! Checkaround
windows and doors for loose or cracked
caulking and replace where needed.
Around pipes or conduits that enter the
house, use an expanding foam product
like Good Stuff or better yet, Daptex,
which can be tooled, painted and cleaned
up with water, It costs a little more but is
worth it. Use this also to seal any gaps
between your foundation and the siding of
your house. It’ s like mousse with attitude.
Work it, girl[ If you’re really hard core,
make a trip under the house and seM up
around the pipes coming up into your
house, and the same from the garage. This
also discourages unwanted visits from
mice, who use pipe and conduit holes like
a superhighway to the supermarket. And
darlings, there’s no way to make trapping
mice attractive. Think about it.
It is also a good idea to insulate behind
switch and wall outlet plates. Special foam.
cutouts can be bought at your local home
repair store, so that all you have to do is
unscrew the plate, fit the cutout in and
replace the plate. It is amazing how much
cold air leaks in that way, especially in
older houses. Occasionally, thefitbetween
the plate is too tight, but not often. The
foam cutouts are cheap and it takes little
time to do this.
Before firing up the furnace for the first
time, it is advisable to have a contractor
come and give it a gogd cleaning and
inspection - the older your unit, the more
important this step is. Most heating and
cooling contractors will do a combined
winterandsummerservice forareasonable
sum, resulting in increased efficiency and
¯ reduced chance of injury. Heater
¯ malfunctions can result in explosions or
¯
fires, and sweeties, we have worked so
¯¯ hard to make your house into a fabulous
home.- It’s worth your peace of mind and
personal safety. If you
have a fireplace, 6all a
licensed sweep to clean
thechimneyandto inspect
and repair the firebox and
flue: Your DIYD prefers
to do this in the spring,
when scheduling is less
hectic for the sweep, and
then the fireplace is ready
togo as soonas inspiration
and a little cool weather
hits. This should be an
annual event for masonry
fireplaces, and every two
years if you have a metal
flue.
If you’re the intrepid
sort who doesn’t mind
scampering out on the
roof like a rabid squirrel,
get a good extension
ladder and do some
maintenance and cleaning
on the roof..Be sure that
the ladder has firm, steady
footing and is not placed
near any powerlines. Get
a hose with a power
nozzle or a blower and
blast those gutters clean,
especially at the
downspouts. Clean any
; leaves, sticks or debris offthe valleys and
¯ gables of the roof, and look for any loose ¯
shingles. Use an appropriate kind of roof
¯ goo or caulking to repair, and use this also
¯ around any flueflashings thatmightbenefit
¯ from some extra sealant. This is a good
¯ time to evaluate if you will need to repair
¯ or replace your roof in the spring. Be
: careful up there, and never crawl around
¯ on the roof without having someone at
¯ home in case you need help or get hurt.
Make sure she or he is not glued to a ball
¯ game or otherwise out of contact. At a
¯ time like that, you deserve the extra ¯
attention, pookie!
~" This is a good time of year for a lube
¯ job, or perhaps several. No, we’re not
back in front of the fireplace with Baby
¯ justyet-patience,my impetuous darlings !
¯ Borrow Dorothy’ s oil can and put a drop
on door hinges and garage door chain
¯ drives to keep things smoothly operating
¯ and silent in the winter, when the metal ¯
¯ contracts and squeaks. You know your
DIYD considers the aesthetics as well as
¯ the practical matters.
If you have storm windows, give them
¯ a good cleaning to let in as much winter ¯
sunlight as possible, and check for any
necessary repairs. Ifyoudon’ t haveenergy
¯ efficient windows,consider getting ~torms
¯ or even using the heat shrink film to
¯
provide some dead air spacq on your
¯ windows and to keep your house toastier.
0 : Now that the DIYD has planned your
: social life for the next couple of weekends,
¯ you can get busy making your nest cozy
¯. and snuggly for the winter: And if you’re
¯ very lucky, perhaps you will get yourjust ¯
reward- and we’re not only talking about
." a lower bill! Why don’t you go get a
; couple pairs of silk boxer shorts,just to be
¯ prepared? Be hot, not frigid, this winter! ¯
Ciao, ducklings!
"This is a good tlme of
year for a lube job, or
perhaps several. No,
we’re not back in front
of the fireplace with
Baby just yet -
patience,
my impetuous darlings!
Borrow Dorothy’s oll
can and put a drop on
door hinges and garage
door ehaln drives to
keep things smoothly
operating and silent in
the wlnter, when the
metal contracts and
squeaks. You know
your DIYD eonslders "
the aesthetles as well as
the practleal matters."
by Esther Rothblum, Ph.D.
Coming out as a Lesbian is difficult
enough, but is even more stressful when
the woman is an
immigrant and is
struggling to come out in
anew countryand using a
new language.
For several years now,
Dr. Oliva Espin, a
professor of women’s
studies at SanDiego State
University, has been
studying the lives of
immigrant and refugee
Lesbians. The topic had
to do with her own life
experience as an.,
immigrant and with the
imm.!granteli.ents she was
seeing m her
psychotherapy practice
for over twenty years.
"I saw that there were
some experiences that
.were common to
immigrant women," Dr:
Espin .told me. "A major
theme I found most
interestingwashow often
the woman would be
talking to me in Spanish~
for example, and then
switch to English when
she began talking about
being a Lesbian. There
seemed to be something
about using a second
language that helped
distance Lesbians from
whatever they had been
told was bad in their
i also think that
women who have come
outas Lesbians when they
were still children, may
have more disruptions
about theirownidentity,"
Dr. Espin said. ’q’hey
ask ’who am I?’ or ’What is wrong with
me?’ For .them, coming out so young gets
mixedup with other issues ofidentity. For
girls who also fecl that they are not ’rexd
Americans,’ or who as immigrants are
different in color or in language or in
cultural traditions - being Lesbian is one
more thing that strains their relationship
with their parents."
Furthermore, the parents may feel that
their daughter’s Lesbianism is something
she has "caught from those Americans."
When immigrant Lesbians come out as
adults, they have a stronger sense of
identity and coming outdoes not getmixed
up with the turmoil of adolescence
although it may get mixed up with the
turmoil of migration if they are recent
immigrants.
Dr. Espin has been conducting research
and interviewing immigrant women. She
found two types of immigration
experiences. Some women were Lesbian
before the migration, or else where
somewhatdissatisfied with what they were
even if they had no language for this.
’~2oming to anew countrymadeitpossible
for them to come out. This is true for
women from all countries, not just those
from traditional cultures. Being awayfrom
the familiar environment gave them
permission to come out; being I_~sbian
Dr. Espln has
been.., interviewing
immigrant women...
"Coming to a new
country made it
possible [or them to
come out.
This is true for
women from all
countries, not just
those from
traditional cultures.
Being away from the
familiar environment
gave them
permission
to come out;
being Lesbian was
very freeing
in this way.
I’ve even spohen with
Lesbians born in the
U.S. who have told
me that they had to
move all the way
across the country in
order to come out."
was very freeing in this way. I’ve even
spoken with Lesbians born in the U.S.
who have told me that
they had to move all the
way across the country in
order to come out."
The other group of
women Dr. Espin
interviewed was actively
Lesbian in their home
country, immigrated to
the U.S., and found that
the U.S. Lesbian culture
was different and had to
adjust their way of being
to the new culture. That
was sometimes very
difficult. "Some women
who were used to playing
roles very actively," Dr.
Espin continued, "if they
were used to being ’the
man,’, they couldn’t
understand why their
partner did not want to
cook their meals, for
example. Or, vice versa,
women who lived lives
that were ve~ closeted in
their home countries,
foundit terribly offensive
when I would use the
word ’Lesbian’ and were
threatened by not having
a cover-up."
In general, Dr. Espin
has found that immigrant
communities focus very
much on the "decency"
and "purit.y" of the
women in their
community. "Because the
communities are
experiencing difficulty
adjusting to the U.S., they
want to prove that they
are good people. It is the
behavior of women that
describes the family. So
: when you have a Lesbian daughter, how
¯ are you going to explain that to yourself
: andto your community? They may think
: , that this is what happens to all women
¯ when they come to America."
Dr. Espin has also found that Lesbian
: daughters tend to be more educated than
: their parents or their heterosexual sisters.
¯ As a result, the Lesbian daughters tend to
: bemaking more money andin many cases
: runmng the community centers and
¯ activities. "So coming out is also difficult
: for the Lesbian immigrant in terms of the
: community losing their mast in her. The
community doesn’t have the language
skills, the education, and the access to the
dominant culture that she does."
Dr. Espin has written about her
experiences intwo recent books. Formore
information, see Women Crossing
Bbundaries: The Psychology of
Immigration and the Transformation of
Sexuality (Routledge, 1999) and Latina
Realities: Essays on Healing Migration
and Sexualities (Westview, 1997).
Esther Rothblum is Professor of
Psychology at the University of Vermont
and Editor of the Journal of Lesbian
Studies. She can be reached at Dewey
Hall, Univ. of Vermont, Burlington, VT,
email: esther.rothblum@uvm.edu.
Red Rock Tulsa
Free Confidential
HIV Testing
Walk-in Clinics
Tuesday Testing, 5 -8 pm
Pride Center, 1307 East 38th
Wednesday Testing, 5-8 pm
Red Rock, 1724 East 8th
Daytime appointments available.
Call for more information:
918-584-2325
Church
of the Restoration
Unitarian Universalist
11 am, Sunday
1314 North Greenwood
587-1314
We knowyou’re
going to love this[
Restaurant & Cabaret
3 i 0 East First Street
918-599-9949
Massage Therapy Services
Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T.
Pager: 918-889-5255
Voice Mail: 918-697-9282
Lic. #C4133
Want to get involved?
Need to get
tested for HIV?
Need a
Coming Out Support
Group?
Call
743-GAYS (4297)
Tulsa Gay
Community
Services
Center
i307 E. 38th
at Peoria, 2nd floor
Country Club
Barbering
Custom Styling
for Men & Women
David Kauskey
3310 E. 51st, 747-0236
Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm
IGTA member
Call 341.6866
International
Toursformoreinformation.
Red Rock Tulsa
O’RYAN
Oklahoma Rainbow
Young Adult Network
Outreach Program Thurs. Nights
’ Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment
Call for meeting times and place:
918-584-2325
AUTHENTIC FRESH
1TALIAN RAJNBOW
CUSINE TROUT
ofEureka Springs.
Voted Number One in Arkansas!
(501) 253-6807, Closed Wednesday
5 Center Street, Eureka Springs, AR 72632
TOM NEAL
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Gay Owned, Operated & Rainbow Proud
Gay Mecca of the Ozarks
Beautiful Eureka Springs, Arkansas
at the time of the assault. A Circuit Court
jury in northwestIreland deliberated about
two hours before finding 20-year-old Ian
Monaghan and 21-year-old Glen Mahon,
both ofSligo, guilty of "recklessly causing
serious harm" in the Jan. 31 attack on
Robert Drake, at his apartment. The
defendants were convicP,xlofIrishcharges
equivalent to aggravated assault in the
U.S.
Barely conscious, Drake lay for more
than 12 hours in a pool of blood before a
friend, Ciaran Slevin, discovered him. A
police officerwhorecordedDrake’s words
as he lay motionless inhis blood-spattered
kitchen with a severe head injury told the
jury that he believed he was recording
Drake’s "dying declaration."
Thedefensecontended thatDrakemade
acrudehomosexual pass atone ofthemen
and that the other then struck Drake in the
face to make him stop.
Doctors had to open a hole in his
windpipe to ease his breathing; he also
experienced pneumonia, kidney failure
and other complications. Drake returned
to Philadelphia by medical transport in
March to undergo five months of
rehabilitation to learn to walk and speak
again. Though he was released from the
hospital two weeks ago, his speech and
mobility remain seriously impaired. He
uses a wheelchair to get around, and a
letter board to assist in communicating.
Drake was in the middle of a speechtherapy
session at his Center City
apartment when word of the verdict
reached him. Through a friend, he said
that he was pleased with the verdict, ’"out
not surprised."
Monaghan and Mahon are free on bail
awaiting sentencing Jan. 10, when they
could get up to 10 years in jail. "It speaks
volumes that Robert, eight months after
¯ theincident, needs round-the-clock care,"
said Slevin, an Irish physician now living
with Drake in philadelphia. "I hope the
severity of the punishment meets the
severity of the crime."
Brattleboro Offers
Partners Benefits
BRATI’LEBORO, Vt. (AP) - Selectmen
have voted to extend health benefits to
same-sex domestic partners of town
employees. TownAttorney Robert Fisher
said the decision to extend the privileges
to same-sex parmers, but not unmarried
partners of the opposite sex, followed the
trend of law in Vermont and other states.
The University of Vermont extends
benefits to same-sex couples, Fisher said.
The city of Winooski is planning to as
well after an employee filed a complaint
with the Vermont Labor Relations Board.
"Winooski hasn’t come out with a policy
just yet," Fisher added. "They’re still
researching insurance issues. But if they
don’t follow the arbitrator’s decision,
they’ll likely wind up back in court."
He said Burlington, Vermont’s largest
city, extends health benefits to all the
domestic partners of city employees,
whether the rdationship is same-sex or
opposite sex. The town of Middlebury
also offers benefits to same-sex couples,
said Steve Jeffrey, the executive director
of- the Vermont League of Cities and
Towns.
TheVermontSupremeCourtis deciding
whether to legalize same-sex marriages in
Vermont. If it does, the towns’ policies
: will be irrelevant, Fisher said. The policy
: passed tmanimously. The issue wasn’t
¯¯ controversial, Fisher said. "It’s one of
these things where they’re wiseenough to
¯ realize that if there were a grievance with
¯ respect to this sort of an issue, that based
: on the case law both around the country
¯ -and the Labor Relations Board here in
¯ Vermont, that they would be fighting an
: uphill legal battle," Fisher said of the
: select board. "I think they look at it as an
¯ opportunity to perhaps steer clear of
¯ possible legal pitfalls in the future."
" Blue Cross-Blue Shidd of Vermont,
: which supplies health insurance to most
Vermont municipalities through the
¯ VermontLeagueofCities andTowns,has
: offered domestic partner benefits to large
¯ groups for a few years now, said Leigh
Tofferi, a company spokesman. Those
benefits were available to same-sex and
different-sex partners.
Lesbian & Gay
Seniors Sought
: BOSTON (AP) - Targeting an older
: generation open about its sexuality and
¯ thinking about its golden years, some
developer~ are looking to build Gay-
" friendly retirement communities.
: "We want to create something that
¯ mirrors the life they’re living now," said
¯ BoSton real estate agent John Goode, part
¯ of9gr°up planning .an urban homosexual
¯ reUrement commumty in Boston.
~ In generations past, societal pressures
¯ forced many Gays and Lesbians to keep ¯
their sexual orientations under wraps.
: Today,developers think those who helped
¯ pave the wayfor vibrantGay communities
¯ will want to continue living in Gay
¯ communities after retirement.
¯ "In the mainstream aging community,
there is the assumption that everyone is
¯ straight," said Terry Kaelber, executive
¯ director of the New York-based Seniors
Active in a Gay Environment. ’’We have
: a place that does not assume that. In fact,
¯ it assumes that old people can be attracted
: to old people of the same gender."
¯ Kaelber’s group is working with a real
estate development company to locate a
¯ site and investors for a 100-unit, mixed-
: income assisted living facility. Current
options for Gay- and Lesbian-themed
¯ retirement housing consist primarily of a
¯ handful of mobile home parks and small
¯ resorts in Florida and Arizona.
Goode’s group of seven partners wants
¯ to build a 75- to 100-unit retirement
community somewhere in Boston. The
project, called Stonewall Communities,
¯ is named after aGay bar inNew York City
¯ where a 1969 police raid sparked what
many say is the begimfing of the modem
¯ Gay civil rights movement. ¯
Other entrepreneurs across the country
¯ also have begun thinking about how the
¯ Gay and Lesbian baby boomers pushing
¯ into their 50s will want to spend their ¯
retirement years. "I’m looking for the
¯ active retirement market," said Peter
Lundberg of San Francisco, who is trying
to round up capital to build a Gay
¯ retirement community in California.
¯ Gay retirement housing options will
: likelyincreasedramaticallyinthecoming
¯ years, said Laura Connolly, who chairs
¯ theLesbianandGayAgingIssues Network
¯ for the San Francisco-based American
¯ Society on Aging. "I think it will grow ¯
over the years," slie said. "They will be in
¯ a variety ofconfigurations, from the more
: affordable trailer park options on upto the
¯ more upscale and expensive models."
How did the story develop?
PB: Many years ago whilereading "Son
of the Morning Start’ I was struck by what
we all may have lost by the greed and ego
of relatively few men. I wasn’t so much
taken by Native history as I was the belief
system behind the firstpeople of.this land.
JC: One of the things that struck me
while viewing the show was that this was
much more than a show, this was a ritual,
what theatre started out as. And ritual
that worked successfully to bridge past
andpresent.
PB: I alsoknew thatmostpeople (myself
included) thought of Indian history asjust
that.., history, museum pieces etc. So it
was important to do a couple of things.
Bring the culture into the present and
future tense. And incorporate a mythical
story about aman"sjourney tofindhimself.
By understanding his past - better
understanding his role in this life. I was
hoping to bridge worlds for people on
both sides. Wemight be able to accept, as
_ opposed to feel guilty or angry. And if we
can get to acceptance, we can progress to
learning.
JC: I like that philosophy
PB: A hundred years ago people sang
the Ghost Dance songs in the hopes that
the world would return to the way it once
was. Now, the choir in some of the Spirit
songs are singing those very same words
in hopes that the world can become, what
it could be.
JC: What a lovely vtsion.
PB: Pretty lofty goals., but hey,
somebody’s got to try.
JC: !’d say, from what l’ve seen and
heard, you’ve succeeded admirably.
Before I wear out my welcome, one last
question: What inspired you to utilize
Native American music in 3,our works ?
PB: To me, almost all Native tribes on
may land have the true connection and
understanding of that land. Here, not only
can we learn things about how we fit into
the fabric of the physical world through
Native American culture. But we can also
learn a thing or two about the spiritual
world.
PB: I’m really glad that you hear the
music staying true to the ancient as well as
the modem. The show (and the music)
can’t work any other way. It’s where the
two worlds combine that the magic
happens.
JC: That is so true. in more ways than
one. It’s a dzfficult balance, and rarely
have I heard it done so well.
PB: If you liked the video, I’m sure
you’ll love the live version!
JC: Having seen the video and the
impact it had on people, 1 can barely
begin to imagine the effect ofseeing it live.
I can’t wait. Thank you, Mr. Buffett.
© 1999J. Christjohn, all fights reserved
A unique opportunity to view and
purchase art works and hand crafts from
local women artists occurs Nov. 5 - 6.
Hosted by local artists Kathleen
Pendergrass andMary Schepers, the show
and sale will also highlight works by
Susan Norris, Robin Dunn, Donna
Richardson, Cara Liggett, Nicolasa
Kuster, Gayla Norman and others.
"We want to showcase the incredible
talent that we have in the Tulsa area,"
Schepers said. "There ’are a lot of very
talented artisans here who are not
represented in galleries or who are just
starting their careers. We’re having the
show at my house and studio to keep the
whole setting fun and relaxed, as well as
making these exciting works accessible to
a broad audience.
’~lt’s a good time to consider buying a
special gift for the significant people in
~our life, or for adding an original piece of
art to your own home, or even for buying
something practical likehath salts, candles,
display cases or smudges. Prices are
reasonable, especially compared to the
premiums paid for works shown in
galleries or higher priced venues such as
Eureka Springs. We’ll have clayworks
and sculptures, paintings, etchings, and
many other fun items."
The preview for the show is Friday,
Nov. 5 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The
show and sale continues Saturday Nov. 6 .
from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 pro. The address
is2727E. 56thSt. (51sttoColumbiaAve,
South on Columbia to 56th St) in Tulsa.
For details or directions, please call Mary
at 743-6740.
The Kibbutz Contemporary Dance
Company, an Israeli arts group will present
....Aide Memoire"," a full-length
contemporary dance by renowned
choreographer and KCDC Artistic
Director Rami Be’er at the at Tulsa
Performing Arts Center’ s Chapman Music
Hall on November 16 at 8 pm. Tickets are
$15, $22, and $25 with discoants for
groups of 10 ormore and student discounts
at the door (call (918) 596-711 lot order
online: www.tulsapac.com).
Choreographer Rami Be’er states that
....Aide Memoire.... is not about the
Holocaust nor does it describe the
Holocaust; it deals neither with
documentation nor a historical account.
Rather, "Aide Memoire" introduces the
maaner in which the remembrance of the
Holocaust can be approfiched and
expressed in an inspired, artistic medimn.
The subject of Holocaust remembrance is
relevant to present-day life and reality as
it lurks in the background of mundane
existence, penetrates deep
subconsciousness, and dwells forever in
personal and collective memories.
"’Aide Memoire" presents the audience
with a sequence of scenes moving about
the stage just like a cinematic flashback.
Theproduction conveys afleeting glimpse
of images which.the audience must face in
a lfighly personal manner. The audience
has ne alternative but to use its senses to
impart meaning to the images. "Aide
Memoire" has no central narrative, nor do
two opposing sides face each other.
Cruel stormtroopers are absent, yet there
exists a reminder of the struggle by those
who were there and experienced those
atrocities firsthand. Within this conflict,
we observe their efforts to continue the
fabric of human relationships, whether as
: individuals, couples or xn groups, and to
express the fundamental right of every
¯ person to continue to dream.
Be’er joined Kibbutz Contemporary
: Dance Company in 1981 as a dancer and
¯ choreographer. His works have won
¯ several international awards and have
~-become the trademark of KCDC’s
: repertoire. He became the company’s
Artistic Director in 1996.
¯ The Kibbutz Contemporary Dance
: Company was founded in 1970 by
_" Holocaust survivor Yehudit Arnon.
: Although based in Kibbutz Ga’aton near
¯ the Lebanese border, see Dance, p. 15
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Tulsa Locations:
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ecord
&
Lis n
it’s not surprising that this is the case,"
said Dr. Helene Gayle, director of the
CDC’s National CenterforHIV, STDand
TB Prevention.
AIDS experts say injection drug use is
commonly perceived as a major factor in
the spread ofAIDS among Blacks, but sex
is the primary method of transmission.
They say bisexual behavior among Gay
Black men who feel pressured to have sex
with women accounts for a significant
number of the infections among
heterosexuals.
Black preachers and politicians have
been criticized for letting the problem go
unaddressed. "Black communities have
been so overburdened that the idea of
adopting another burden is not appealing,"
said Cornelius Baker, executive director
of the National Association of People
with AIDS.
Slowly, leaders say, more attention is
being focused on the issue. Earlier this
month, Black churches in Atlantagathered
for the first National Black Church HIV/
AIDS Institute. Thegathering was an effort
to help pastors learn how to deal with the
disease.
Last Thursday, faith leaders, policy
makers, commumty activists and AIDS
researchers met in Atlanta to discuss
combating AIDS among Blacks. On the
same day, the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People,
announced a series of educational films
aimed at raising HIV awareness.
The CDC has also awarded $39 million
in federal funds to 100 national, state and
local organizations to help prevent HIV
infections in minority communities. "We
must mount prevention and treatment
strategies that deal with people where
they are now, not where we want them to
be or where we imagine them to be," said
Phill Wilson, director of the AIDS Social
Policy Archive.
Nonetheless, the statistics continue to
upset AIDS activist Denise Stokes, who
has been HIV-positive fo~ 17 years. "One
day, this is ultimately where I’m going to
end up," she said pointing to the quilt.
"I’m going to be a panel on some wall in
some library. "I just hope the library isn’t
full of people with AIDS."
A lot of straight folk are going to go into
this thinking it’s aboutbeating otherpeople
up, and come out thinking about a lot of
things.
Some of you, due to the timing of the
paper will have seen it - don’t ruin the
ending for those that haven’t. And if you
haven’t seen it because you don’t think
it"s your kind of movie, go see it. You’ll
be surprised. Brad Pitt’s bod is well worth
seeing. Amd since I work in a football
sized building filled with cubicles, I could
relate well to Ed Norton’s plight in the
beginning of the film- living life to support
things he’s bought, working in a mindless
dronin.gnumbness of cubicality. Anyway,
go see It.
Oh yeah, Helena Bonham Carter turns
in a magnificent performance as well. I
kept wondering why her character was
sleeping with guys, though.
In the interest of a public service
announcement, I will pass this along:
Warrior Way Martial Arts is offering a 3
hour class on selfdefense againstpunches,
kicks, and grab attacks; knife and gun
attacks; and club attacks. This takes place
on Saturday, November 13 from 12 - 3
PM at Warrior Way martial Arts, 2717 S.
Memorial. The cost is $25 in advance;
$35 after Nov. 6. Call to register at 664-
9100.
These guys are serious and know their
stuff, and with the violence against Gay
folk on the rise, I think everyone should
make an investment in something like
this. Knowledge is power, and in this case
could mean the difference between life
and death. Literally. Learn, and practice
what you learn, and stay safe.
And my final words for this column:
life is notabout surviving orjobs orl’mding
love, although it’s nice if it happens. It’s
about facing fears and making dreams
come true, struggling against yourselfand
others to find your strength and make
things happen. Being ready, and in the
right place and time for opportunity to
strike is important. Butifyou’re notready,
or are afraid, it will pass youby before you
know it, and that’s when regret sets in,
which leads to bitterness. So try all the
things you can, and do all the things you
wanted to do - and it’s never too late.
- James Christjohn
its members come from settlements all
over Israel. The dancers rehearse five
days a week at Ga’aton Studio, but on
weekends return home to work on their
various kibbutzim. Not only is KCDCone
of Israel’s foremost companies, it has also
earned an international reputation of
renown and is invited to perform at
numerous festivals worldwide.
Kibbutz Contemporary Dance is copresented
by the Oklahoma Israel
Exchange. Sponsors for this event include
the Oklahoma Arts Council, Heartland
Arts Fund. The National Endowment for
the Arts, Schustennan Family Foundation,
KCFM 94.1 and ONEOK Foundation.
Opponents fear it will eventually lead to
Gay couples being able to adopt children,
although the government has opposed any
such move.
Last November, parliament rejected a
conservative bid to sink the controversial
bill. At the time, left-wingers said PACS
was needed to adapt outdated laws to the
evolution of French society, where
marriage is on the decline.
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a space. TFN reserves the fight to edit or refuse any
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Friendly, honest, & very experienced
7 42 year young realtor seeks sincere &motivated
." buyers &sellers. Into MLS. You won’t be
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Original Format
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newspaper
periodical
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[1999] Tulsa Family News, November 1999; Volume 6, Issue 11
Subject
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Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
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Tulsa Family News
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
Publisher
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Tom Neal
Date
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November 1999
Contributor
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James Christjohn
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Bob Rounsavell
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
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Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
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Tulsa Family News, October 1999; Volume 6, Issue 10
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English
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newspaper
periodical
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Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
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https://history.okeq.org/items/show/593
1999
AIDS
aMUSEments
arts and entertainment
Asia
Bars
Boy Scouts
businesses
children
churches
civil union
Colorado
Community Center
couples registry
Dave Fleischer
Denver
Do-It-Yourself Dyke
Domestic Partnership
Dyke Psyche
Esther Rothblum
Ferocious Romance
France
gay bashing
Greg Louganis
hate mail
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
HIV
homophobia
James ChrstJohn
Jerry Falwell
Jim Christjohn
Kathleen Pendergrass
Magic Johnson
marriage
marriage equality
Mary Shepers
Matthew Shephard
Millenium March
Mount Zion Baptist Church
Murder
NAMES Project
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Native Americans
partner and marriage rights
Partner Benefits
People Living With AIDS
performing arts
Peter Buffet
Read All About It
Recycling
religion
restaurants
seniors
South Africa
That Entertainment Guy
Tom Neal
Tulsa Family News
Tulsa Public Schools
Two-Spirited Indian Men's Support Group
World AIDS day
-
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European Union to British
Army: No More Gay Ban
STRASBOURG, France (AP) - The European Court of
HumanRights ruled latein September that Britain’ sban
on homosexuals in the armed forces is a breach of
humanrights. The court found in favor ofthreemenand
a woman who were discharged from the British armed
forces in line with its absolute ban on homosexual
personnel after they admitted their sexual orientation.
The court said the British policyyciolated Article 8 of the
European Convention on Human Rights which defends
the right to respect for private and family life.
"The Court considered the investigations, and in
particular the interviews Of the applicants, to have been
exceptionally intrusive," thc European court said in a
statement. "The investigations conducted into the
applicants’ sexual orientation together with their
discharge from the armed forces constituted especially
grave interferences with their private lives," it said.
The verdict cannot force a-change of law, but the
applicants considered it a step towards ending
discriminationin thearmedforces. Defense Sec. George
Robertson said other existing cases involving Gays in
the British armed forces will be put on hold while the
government studies the implications of:the ruling.
Gay Demos Organize
TULSA- Local. Democratic Party activists will hold an
organizational meeting for a Tulsa chapter of the the
National Stonewall Democratic Federation on Sunday,
October 24th, at 4pro at the Tulsa Gay Community
Services Center (the Pride Center), at 1307 East 38th
Street, 2nd floor..
Stonewall Democrats, acaucus within the Democratic
Party works to secure the rights ofall people, regardless
’of sexual orientation or gender identity and serves as a
voicewithin the DemocraticParty for Lesbians andGay
men. Organizers noted in their press release that the
Oklahoma,Democratic party is rather conservative with
regard to civil rights for Gays and Lesbians and seek to
educate state party leadership about Lesbian and Gay
issues.
They list the following specific goals of the National
Stonewall Democratic Federation as:
(1) mobilizing voters through a national grassroots
network of Gay and Lesbian Democratic clubs and
individuals to advance the fight for Gay and Lesbian
civil rights;
(2) improving the record of the Democratic party by
- pressing it further inthe direction of full recognition of
the rightsofGay men, Lesbiansand Bisexuals to befree
from prejudice;
(3) educating voters on the vast difference that exists
between the two major parties on our issues, and the
importance of voting Democxatic as the most effective
way to achieve our goals;
(4) fighting the anti-Gay rhetoric of the Republican
conservative-wing, which has increasingly become the
instrument of those d~dicated to denying us our rights.
The organizers are encouraging those who share
these values to come to the October 24 meeting which
will feature membersfromthenewlyformedOklahoma
City Stonewall Democrats chapter. Paul Barby,whoran
as an openly Gay candidate for US Congress in
Oklahon~a’s 6th district will speak.
For more information, telephone Start Simpson at
582-6557. ~
:.Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsane, Our Families + Friends
¯ Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community PaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations
i Tulsa Area United. W .y Fun.ds
Support Anti-Gay D,scr, minat,on
: TULSA (TFN) - In a recent promotional piece printed and
¯ inserted in The Tulsa Worm for free, Tulsa Area United Way
¯
(TAUW) touted its strong points. TAUWclaims to be thelargest
¯ non-governmental funder of health and human services.in the
¯¯ Tulsa area, funding some 231 programs at 68 member agencies.
TAUW also claims to have a lower than 10% overhead as
¯ compared to overhead of up to 40% declared acceptable by the
¯ National Charity Information Bureau.
¯ Joe Cappy, chairman/CEO and president of Dollar/Thrifty
Automotive Group, in the Tulsa World insert, claimed, ’q’ulsa
¯ Area United Way gives each of us a sensible, cost-effective
¯ approach to helping the people in our community who need it
¯ most..." ¯
But there are those who take issuewith some aspects of United
Way s funding,, partacularly that of the Indian NaUons Council of
¯ the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The BSA is one of the earliest
¯ organizations funded in Tulsa by the predecessors to the current
: United Way but the Scouting organization has been under fire
¯ nationally for its anti-Gay policies. The BSA claims the Scout
¯ pledge to be "morally straight" refers to being heterosexual and
¯ .therefore bans Gay youth from being Scouts or Gay men from
¯
being Scoutmasters on the grounds that to be Gay is intrinsically
¯ to be "morally non-straight."
¯ Recently, the BSA lost a legal challenge to thi s anti-Gay policy
¯ brought under New Jersey state law. Former Eagle scout James Dale won his lawsuit but in response to questions from The Tulsa
¯ World,aspokespersonfortheTulsa-basedIndianNafionCouncil
of the BSA r~affirmed the ban in this area.
¯ And when TAUW kicked off its 75th anmversary campaign,
¯ running from Sept. 10th to Nov. 1 lth with a goal of raising
$21,497,725.00, some of these individuals said no to helping
¯ United Way because of the funding for an organization which
blatantly discriminates.
¯ Most ofthe individuals who spoke asked to remain anonymous
¯ citing fears ofretaliationfromTAUWor risk to their employment
¯ by public.ly speaking ~bout Lesbian and Gay issues in’h city with
fewprote~tious again~wolkplace discriminationbasedon sexual
¯
orientation.
¯ One Gay couple, both of whom are public
¯ employees, had slightly different reactions to the
issue of funding for the Boy Scouts.-One noted that
¯ "we’re so used to it, thatwedon’ t think about it"but
¯ he added that it’s "time when United Way needs to
start analyzing what they’re doing."
: However, his parmer noted that the organizations
¯ his employer was set to help for United Way’s Day
¯ of Caring were the Boy Scouts and the Salvation
Army, both organizations which he claims
¯ discriminate against Gay people. He notified his
¯ employer that he would not participate in the Day
¯ ofCaring because of those organization’ s anti-Gay ¯
policies.
¯ Another couple, Lesbian, said that it was a"tough
¯ question." One women, again who requested
¯ anonymity because of her job (she is a teacher), ¯
characterized the Boy Scouts’ policy as
¯ reprehensible but noted too that United Way funds
¯ the YWCA, an organization which has a non-
" discrimination policy which includes "sexual
¯ orientation." Her partner added that TAUW also
¯ funds Youth Services of Tulsa (YST) which has
¯ programs that benefit Lesbians and Gay men but ¯
she also acknowledged that YST hadkept those
¯ programs "closeted,"i.e. not publicized because of
¯ fears that UnitedWay fundingmight be withdrawn,
despite the fact that the failure to publicize the
¯ program significantly limitedYST’s ability toreach
¯ those whom the program was intended to help.
: Tulsa Area United Way’s marketing
representative, Beth Kuehnert was asked to explain
¯ TAUW’s continued funding for the BSA and
¯ initially, in a cordial and civil conversation, Ms.
Kuehnert said she was not aware of the Boy Scouts’
position nor see TA UW, p. 12
¯ Community Center News Eureka Springs Holds
Community Meeting 111 6. Diversity Celebration
¯
TULSA - Organizers of the First Annual Community Center ¯ EUREKA SPRINGS - Fall is around the comer,
¯ Film Festival to be held on Oct. 7-9, Tulsa’s Gay Commtmity : andintheOzarks,it’salmosttimefor thebi-annual
¯ Center andits parent organization, TulsaOklahomaus forHuman " Diversity Celebration Weekend in Eureka Springs,
: Rights (TOHR) will show both Lesbian and Gay films, both : Ark. ! Organizers say this event, scheduled forNov.
’. feature length and shorts beginningat 5:30 onThurs, and Fri. and " 5-7, will be bigger and better than ever!
: from 2pm on Sat. and Sun. ¯ Metropolitan Community Church’s Friday night
¯ In addition, theCenterwillhostTOHR’sfirstComingOutFair " dance and camival will kick off the weekend at the
: "Discovering Yourself" from noon to 6pro on Sat. Oct. 9th. A " top of the Basin Park Hotel. On Saturday morning,
." record number of community organizations have committed to " strollthestreetsofEurekaonahistoric(andcolorful)
¯ particil~ating in the Coming Out Fair. . walking tour, canoe on the White River, or hike in
¯ GregGatewood,TOHRboardpresident,noted that at the Sept. ." Lake Leatherwood Park. ¯
.14th commlmity wide meeting held at the Center about 35 " Intheearlyaftemoon,bringthekidstoa"family"
ihdividuals attended and the representatives decided through a family picnic at Harmon Park, sing like you’re in
i largely consensus process to convene a commlmity council of the shower at karaoke, or listen to the sounds of
¯ organizations, churches and businesses. The group also decided : localandvisitmgGay/Lesbianmusiciansatseveral
toaskTOHRto co-ordinate theproposedbi-monthlymeetings to " different venues around town. And please be sure
: exchange information and ideas. . to visit all the wonderfully unique shops, and
¯ Marty Newman, a Human Rights Campaign board member, : support the Diversity Cooperative businesses of
¯ who along with TOHR co-founder Dennis Neill, called the first " Eureka Springs.
: meeting this summer, expressed his satisfaction with the Sept. " Then, after a delightful dinner (it’s Eureka
- ". meeting and the general progress of the process. Newman-noted ¯ Spri.ngs’ Food and Wine Festival this weekend,
¯ thatTulsaPFLAG chapter co-founder,Nancy McDonaldattended ¯ too),work offthosecaloriesattwofantasticdances.
¯ the meeting and that Mrs. McDonald recalled that TOHRs by- : AtCenterStage, DJ Jonwillraisetheroofwithhigh
." laws had at one time had a provision for a community advisory ¯ energy club music. And the Basin Park Hotel
¯ council. Meeting co-convener Dennis Neill, an attorney, was ¯ Ballroom will come alive with electrifying
i given the task of drafting a contract to clarify the relationship " performances by "Barnes", a dynamic GLAMA-
¯ betweenthevariousgroups.Formoreinformationaboutthenext ~ winningsinger/songwriter seeEureka, p. 14
¯
community meeting, call the Community Center at 743-4297. ."
: Also, the CommunityCenter will be the site ofanall-community ¯
¯ Halloween Costume Ball to be held on Saturday, Ocotober 30th, :
¯ 8pm at 1307 East 38 Street, 2nd floor. The event will be BYOL "
¯ but soft drinks and ice will be provided. :
: Organizers suggest that while this is a costume party, a loud ¯
¯ shirt and simple mask will-do. Guests should not feel compelled :
: to spend a lot of money, just to use a little imagination. The :
: sponsors, Prime Timers of Tulsa, stated that the purpose of the :
_" party is for all groups connected with the Pride Center to have an
¯ opportunitytogettoknowonemlother, andhelpbuildcommunity, i
Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants
*Bamboo Lounge, 7204 E. Pine
*Boston Willy’s Diner, 1742 S. Boston
Burger Sisters Restaurant, 1545 S. Sheridan
*Empire Bar, 1516 S. Peoria
*Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th
*Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria
*Jason’s Deli, 15th & Peoria
*Lola’s, 2630 E. 15th
*Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square
*St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st
832-1269
592-2143
835-1207
599-9512
583-6666
749-4511
599-7777
749-1563
744-4280
745-9998
*Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan ........ 834-4234
"*Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main 585-3405
*TNTrs, 2114 S. Memorial 660-0856
*Tool, :Box, 1338 E. 3rd 584-1308
Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals
Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital CelIular 74%1508
*Affinity News, 8120 E; 21 610-8510
*Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000
Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034
*Barnes & Noble Booksdlers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580
Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122
*Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955
*Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665
Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272
*CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313
Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-13902, 743-4117
Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700
Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468
*Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620
*Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady 587-2611
Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556
*Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sher~llan 838-8503
*Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712-9379
*Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 744-9595
Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1 610-0880
Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709
Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026
*Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 742-1460
Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349
Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440
*Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111
*International Tours 341-6866
Jadox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750
*Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018
David Kauskey,’ Country Club Barbering 747-0236
The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460
*Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070
Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466
*Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brady 585-1234
*Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112
Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934
*Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951
David A. Paddock, CPA, 4308 S. Peoria, Ste. 633 747-7672
Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626
*Peace of Mind Bookstore, 1401 E. 15 583-1090
The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2rid floor 743-4297
Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 747-5932
Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617
Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921,747-4746
*Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301
Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829
*Tickled Pink, 3340 S. Peoria 697-0017
*Tulsa Book Exchange, 3749 S. Peoria 742-2007
*Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558
*Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835~5563
Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling 743-1733
*WhittierNews Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767
Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities
AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593
*All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363
Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314
Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center. 2207 E. 6 583-7815
*B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa Canterbury Ctr. 583-9780
*Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201
*Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th PI. & Florence
*ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314
*CommunityofHopeUnitedMethodist,2545 S.Yale 747-6300
*Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595
*CouncilOak Men’s Chorale 748-3888
*Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511
*Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457
Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics &
Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140
*Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777
918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615
POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159
e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlink, net
Publisher + Editor:
Tom Neal
Writers + contributors:
James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche,
Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers
Member of The Associated Press
Issued on or before the 1 st of each month, the entire contents of this
~blicaatnidonmaaryenportobteecrteedprboyduUcSedcoepityhreirgihntW19h9o8leboyrTin~part without
written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or
photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. Correspondence
is assumed to be for publication unless ot.herwjse no,ted,,~must
be signed & becomes the sole property of T~
Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution
lYoints. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248.
*Free SpiritWomen’s Center, call for location& info: 587-4669
Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827
Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438
*HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611
*HIV Resource Consortium, 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194
*Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378
*House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood
Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437
*MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715
NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111
NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658
OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157
*OSU-Tulsa (formerly UCT, formerly Rogers U. whoever...)
*Our House, t 114 S. Quaker 584-7960
PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901
+Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674
Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152
*R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195
Rainbow Business Guild, POB 4106, 74159 665-5174
*Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325
O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults
O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth
St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882
St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140
*St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088
*Tulsa Area United Way, 1430S. Boulder 583-7171
TNAAPP(Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225
Tul sa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105
Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only
743-4297
298-0827
Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc.
*Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule
*Tulsa Commumty College Campuses
*Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105
Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown
BARTLESVILLE
743-4297
749-8833
*Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353
OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN
*Borders Books &Music, 3209NWExpressway 405-848-2667
*Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907
TAHLEQUAH
*Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900
*Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900
*Green Cotmtry AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360
NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand
HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates
EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
*Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23
*Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main
DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St.
*Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St.
MCC of the Living Spring
Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429
Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery
Positive Idea Marketing Plans
Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East
*White Light, 1 Center St.
FA YETTEVI LLE, ARKANSAS5
*Edna’s, 9 S. School Ave.
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
*Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134
501-253-7734
501-253-7457
501-253-6807
501-253-5445
501-253-9337
501-253-2776
501-253-5332
501-624-6646
501-253-6001
501-253-4074
501-442-2845
417-623-4696
* is where you can ftndTFN. Notall areGay-ownedbutallare Gay-friendly.
Holy Union
Ceremony
Alan Williams and Gregory Casillas
celebrated a Holy Union Ceremony on
Friday, September 24, 1999, in Eureka
Springs, AR. Presiding over the intimate
union was Reverend Vivian Juett. The
commitment ceremony was witnessed by
Zoe Dearing and Nancy Ermding.
After traveling to Dallas, TX, San
Francisco, CA and Nashville, TN to
celebrate with friends and family, the
couple will reside for’a short period in
Tulsa.
Obiturary
Dr. W. Malcolm Jacox, a veterinarian
well known in the community for his
kindness and gentleness with both his
animal patients and their caregive~s, died
Sept. 22. Services were held at Floral
Haven Memorial Gardens Mausoleum on
Sept. 25. He will be greatly missed by
many both in and out of the Gay
He is survived by his family and his
longtime companion. Those who wish to
honor his memory are encouraged to
support a charity of their choice.
Condolences may be sent care of Jacox
Animal Clinic, 2732 East 15th, Tulsa
74104.
Mr. Tulsa ¯
Leather 2000
The Mr. Tulsa Leather 2000 contest was
held September 10, 1999, at the Silver
Star Saloon in Tulsa, Oklahoma.The
evening included a benefit for Miss Gay
Mid America, Catia Lee Love. Love will
participate in the Miss Gay America
contest.
Four contestants participated in the
contest: Jay Fleming, Kelly Kirby, Dayvid
Montross, and Tony Hall, all of Tulsa
Oklahoma. Themencompeted in Personal
Interview, Street Wear, Swimwear/
Physique, and Full Leather Image events.
The judging panel consisted of: Ron
Greenwood, Mike Ryan, Ed Smith, John
McCuistian, Don Lawrence, all also from
Tulsa. The tally master was James Murray,
Mr. Tulsa Leather 1997.
The winner of the contest was Jay
Fleming of Tulsa. Jay is a past "Mr Gay.
Leather Long Beach 1987" and the 20th
Elected Emperor, Greater California
Empire. Fleming will compete for the
Oklahoma Mr. Leather 2000 title on
October 22-24, 1999.
Heis an event promoter for such events
in Tulsa as Mayfest, Gatesway Balloon
Festival and chairmanof Street Party 2000;
benefiting Street School and Tulsa at risk
youth.
Contestproducer, Ric Poston,MrTulsa
Leather 1999 and the Oklahoma Mr
Leather 1999, said of Fleming, "he is an
outstanding citizen and will be a great
representative for the Tulsa Leather
Community." The first runner up was
Kelly Kirby and the 2nd runner up was
Dayvid Montross.
For more information on OML2000,
check the T.U.L.S.A. website at
WWW.TULSALEATHER.com
Editorial: Un!ted Our Way
by Tom Neal, editor andpublisher
This year is the 75th anniversary of a program of
charitable giving in Tulsa which has become known as
Tulsa Area United Way (TAUW). Tulsa’s United Way
supports some 231 programs offered by 68 member
agencies and hopes to raise over $21 million and help
perhaps 250,000individuals this year. Obviously, all this
is worthy.
For example, oneof the I’d suggest that
agencies which TAUW supports is Tulsa instead of letting
"C.A.R.E.S., formerly and" TAU~V’ sllee its tare
moreaccuratelyknown as
the HIV Resource
Consortium. Tulsa Area
UnitedWayalso funds the
Community Service
Council that manages the
Tulsa Community AIDS
Project, one of the most
effective funding sources
for fighting HIV infection
and for providing care for.
individuals with HIV
relatedillnesses. These are
worthy organizations - as
are many, many others
which TAUW funds.
However, along withthe
many good organizations
which TAUW funds is
another. Thatis the Indian
Nations Council of the
Boy Scouts ofAmerica. It
off the top, glve your
dolhrs dlreetly to
Tulsa C.A.R.E.S. or
other or~an{zatlons in
our eommunlty...
groups that really do
give a damn about
us. Let’s stop using
our dollars and those
of our families and
friends to support
United Way’s
prejudlee and
eowardlee. Let us be
unlt,~ our way.
is the official policy of the Boy Scouts, both locally and
nationally, to discriminate on the basis of sexual
orientation. They’ve been rather explicit about this.
The last time the Indian Nations Council of the Boy
Scouts of America voiced this policy locally was in
August when James Dale, a former Scout in New Jersey,
successfully challenged the BSA’s apartheid policies
under New Jersey state law and won. A local BSA
representative however reiterated-its support for BSA
prejudice.
Now as a former Boy Scout, I’m hardly hostile to the
true values of the organization. But I do not believe that
thephrase, "morally straight," ori_ginating around th_etum
of the century, ever, ever could be thought to refer to
heterosexuality, using an interpretation of the word
"straight" whichnever existed until at leas t some 60 years
later. However I recognize that it is the prerogative under
current federal, state and local law, of the BSA to engage
in invidious discrimination if it chooses to do so. It is
reprehensible behavior but it is quite legal.
However, even if this bigoted conduct is legal, there is
no justification for Tulsa Area United Way to use the
funds it receives from the community as a whole to
subsidize the systematic discrimination of the Indian
Nations Council of the Boy Scouts of America. After all,
if we were to substitute "no Jews allowed" or "no Blacks
allowed" lot"no fags allowed," I would hardy have to be
writing this essay.
Part of why TAUW still funds this apartheid
organization is an accident of history. The Boy Scouts
have been funded for most of TUAW’s existence. Back
in thoseearly days theBSA was one ofafew organizations
that did address youth issues. That is no longer so. Andin
contrast with the BSA, the Girl Scouts, for example, have
explicitly said that sexual orientation is not relevant to
participation in their organization and they have a nondiscrimination
policy.
Now if Tulsa Area United Way had a comprehensive
non-discrimination policy, they might have some greater
degree of credibilityas an organization committed to fair
treatment of all. But they don’t.
Infact, Ms. "duck’n’cover" KathleenJ. Coan, president
and chief professional officer, is so gun-shy of the issue
she’s managed not to returnphone calls to this newspaper
for nearly four years -now that’s what I call real
professional conduct (though in fairness, Ms. Coan did
take aphone call once whenTFN was calling on deadline
and her p.r. person was unavailable) But it does call into
question, Ms. Coan and TAUW’s commitment to all of
Tulsa’s communities when she seems primarily willing
to talk to non-minority news orggnizations, for example,
." The Tulsa World- not frequently known for challenging
¯ the Tulsapower establishment, often inseparable from it.
." And what is more troubling about the unexamined
¯ decision to continue to fund the Indian Nations Council
¯ of the Boy Scouts of America by TAUW is the lack of ¯
leadership from TAUW’s board of directors.
¯ A number of TAUW board members come from
¯ corporations that claim that they do not discriminate on
." sexual orientation. Foremost among these are Public
~ Service Company of Oklahoma, Dollar Thrifty
¯: Automotive Group, Inc. and Bank of America, and yet,
somehow, not one of these very highly paid and
: presumably ratberintelligent men seem to havemade the
_" connection between their own corporate policies
¯ emphasizingfairness andTAUW’s supportfor ablatantly ¯
bigoted program. Or perhaps they’vejust not"counected
." the dots." Or perhaps, they’re hoping thatnoone will ever
¯ hold them responsible. ¯
Regardless, until Tulsa Area United Way see fit to
: begin to treat Lesbian and Gay Tulsans as equal human
: beings by adding sexual orientation to its non-
,. discrimination policies and chooses not to fund
¯ organizations which discriminate, the best bet is for us to
¯ not to contribute to Tulsa Area United Way but to take
." those same dollars and to give them directly to worthy
¯ organizations.
¯ I’d suggest that instead of letting TAUW slice its take
¯ off the top, give your dollars directly to Tulsa C.A.R.E.S.
¯. or other organizations in our community, like the
¯ community center, or the Cimarron Alliance or PFLAG,
¯ groups that really do give a danm about us. Let’s stop
¯ using Our dollars and those of our families and friends to
¯ support UnitedWay’s prejudice and cowardice. Let us be
¯ united our way. ¯
TulsaFamily News editorandpublisherTomNealhas
¯ volunteeredonaUnitedWayfundsdistributioncommittee
¯ on services for semor citizens tn the Tulsa area. ¯
Unfortunately, hefound thatTulsaArea UnitedWay staff
went out of their way to censor and suppress questions
¯ about how well member agencies were serving Lesbian
¯ and Gay seniors, even when the agencies were willing to ¯
answer the questions and despite TAUW claims that
¯ their evaluationprocess is "volunteer driven." Neal also
¯ has asked to serve on the funds distribution committee
¯ which looks at the funding for the Boy Scouts Indian ¯
Nations Council but, for some reason, keeps getting
¯ reassigned to senior services - imagine that.
First and foremost, let me put your mind at rest about
¯ two of our regular columnists, our fabulous Do-It-
" Yourself-Dyke, Mary Schepers and Tulsa City-County
¯ Library book reviewer, Barry Hensley. Both columns
¯ will resume next month.
¯ An,other upcoming event is the annual World AIDS ¯
Day Memorial Service. This year’s event will be at
¯ Mount Zion Baptist Church under the auspices of the
¯ Rev. Calvin McCutchen, Sr., one of Tulsa’s most ¯
distinguished religious leaders. The date, as always will
¯ be Dec. 1st which is a Wednesday but the details of the
~ march and precise time of the service will be announced.
¯ It is expected that Council Oak Mens Chorale who had ¯
their first ever performance at a World AIDS Day
¯ Memorial Service will again lend their talents. The event
. is being co-ordinated by Diane Zike, former executive
¯ directorof Interfaith AIDS Ministries andBeverlyDenton ¯
Galbreith. For more information, call 438-2437. - TN
An nouncements Policy
Tulsa Family News will provide space for holy union
¯ ceremony, mamage ceremony, birth, adoption and death
" announcements on a space available basis. Photos are
~ wdcome, though we cannot promise placement or return
¯ them, so please send copies to TFN, POB 4140, Tulsa
¯ 74159.
¯ Letters Policy ¯
Tulsa Family News¯ welcomes letters on issues which
¯ we’ve covered or on issues you think need to be considered.
You may request that your name be withheld but
¯ letters must be signed &h.ave phone numbers, or be hand
~- delivered. 200 word letters are preferred. Letters to other
~ publications will be printed as is appropriate.
Drug-resistant Strains
of AIDS Virus Rising
CHICAGO (AP) - Highly drug-resistant strains of the
AIDS virus are on the rise, showingupin as many as 4.5%
ofnewlyinfectedpatients in twonew studies. "Resistance
is slowly increasing," said Dr. Roger J. Pomerantz, an
expert not involved with either study, "If you were
looking at this five years ago, you would see zero."
The studies - published in the Journal of the American
Medical Association (JAMA) - involve mostly Gay
white men. Resistance, however, may be more prevalent
in other groups, such as drug users and their sex partners,
researchers-said.
About 40,000 new HIV infections occur yearly in the
United States. In recent years, powerful drug cocktails
have subdued the virus to undetectable levels in many
patients. But studies have found the virus persists or
comes roaring back in 10% to 50%.
The complicated drug regimen has proved difficult to
adhere to, and many patients who missed doses or quit
taking theirmedicines developed drug-resistantinfections
that are now being passed’along to others.
"I wasn’t that surprised. This is what happens in
infectious disease," said Pomerantz, director of the Center
for Human Virology at Jefferson Medical College in
Philadelphia.
HIV is still so new that scientists disagree even about
how to define resistance. And since both studies used
laboratory tests, no one really knows how the definitions
will translate into patient care. Giving high doses of a
drug may be enough to overwhelm a virus’ resistance,
Pomerantz said.
In one study, researchers at the University ofCalifornia
at San Diego defined resistance as a 10-fold increase in
HIV’s ability to withstand a drug when compared with a
laboratory strain. That study, led by Dr. Susan J. Little.
tested 141 patients - in San Diego, Los Angeles, Dallas,
Denver and Boston- and found that three (2%) had HIV
with at least 10-fold greater resistance to one or more
drugs. An additional 36 patients (26%) had HIV that was
2.5 to 10 times more resistant.
In the other study, researchers at Rockefeller University
in New York defined resistance as a threefold increase in
HIV’s ability to withstand a drug. That study, led by Dr.
Daniel Boden of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research
Center, tested 80 subjects in New York and Los Angeles.
Of 67 in whom resistance could be tested, three (4.5%)
had HIV that was highly resistant- fivefold resistant- to
multiple drugs. The subjects were among 18 (26.8%)
with HIV that was at least threefold resistant to at least
one drug.
Testing every newly infected patientfor drugresistance
would be impractical because the tests cost several
thousand dollars and are difficult to interpret, Pomerantz
said. But if a patient takes a drug cocktail faithfully and
it isn’t working, testing should be considered to see how
the combination of medicines might be reformulated, he
said.
Don’t Go to Sleep Yet
For a while, it seemed that there mightbe a light at the end
of the tuunel of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. And for many
¯ things are better than they used to be: to become HIV
¯ positive is not immediatdy to know that your death was
likely six months away like it was in the 80s.
But the news report above from The Associated Press
¯ should slam home the message that we cannot be
¯ complacent; we must continue to educate ourselves and
¯ our children about protecting themselves against HIV
¯ infection, through all appropriate means: safer sex with
¯ its reduced risk, no sex, i.e. abstinence where appropriate
¯ and through the strengthening of longterm relationships ¯
through their legal recognition not only for heterosexuals
¯ but for Gay men and Lesbians.
¯ The best way to deal with AIDS is to prevent further
¯ infections but also to insist on adequate funding for ¯
proper care for those who are already infected and more
¯ funding for more successful treatments for AIDS.
¯ Please, please be safe, hdp those still in need and
¯ remember those whom we have lost. -Tom Neal
Accused Killer of Gay
Soldier To Stand Trial
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) - An Army private
charged with premeditated murder in the. beating
death ofafellow FortCampbell soldierwill stand trial
at a general court-martial, the Army said Sept. 24th.
Thecharge against Pvt. CalvinN. Gloverwas referred
to court-martial by Maj. Gen. Robert T. Clark, Fort
Campbell’ s commanding gelleral. Clark reviewed an
iiiv~tigative hearing he~’d in August for Glovet and
rexx:ived recommendations from the investigating
officer, brigade commander and staffjudge advocate.
The hearing was similar to a civilian grand jury
investigation. Glover, of Sulphur, Okla.,is charged in
the death of Pfc. Ban-y L. ,Winchell, of Kansas City,
Me. No date has been set for G10ver’s courtmartial,
which will be open to the public. The courtmartial
is scheduled to be at Fort Campbell.
According to Army investigators, the 21-year-old
Winchellwas beaten with abaseball batinhis barracks
on July 5 and died the following day at Vanderbilt
University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. Gay
civil-rights advocates say anti-Gay sentiment m,ay
have been behind, or at least contributed to, me
ldlling. Winehell was perceived as Gay by some
soldiers in his mlit and friends contend he was
beginning to explore his homosexuality when he
Another investigative hearing was held several
weeks ago for Spec. Justin R. Fisher, who is accused
of being an accomplice in Winchell’s death. Fisher,
of Lincoln, Neb., is accused of .encouraging Glover in
the attack and lying to Army ii~qestigators about his
iiavolvement. No decision has been made yet on
whether Fisher’s case should proceed to a courtmartial,
an Army official added. Both Glover and
Fisher are being held at Fort Knox.
Gay Priest Resigns
NEWARK,N.J. (Ap)-AGaypriestwhoseordination
divided the Episcopal church has left theparish where
he ministered for six years, blaming the controversy
that surroundedhim. Rev. Barry Stopfel said the furor
strained his relationship withhis partner, andpreached
his last sermon at St. George’ s Church in Maplewood
at the end of September. "My ministry has not been a
typical one," Stopfel toldThe Star-Ledger ofNewark,
N.J. in a story published recently. "It has been deeply
gratifying but very stressful, and ithas taken its toll on
me and our marriage."
When Stopfel was ordained as a deacon in 1990,
conservative Episcopal bishops filed heresy charges
against Newark Bishop Walter Righter. Righter’s
trial was averted, but a church court in 1996 ruled that
church doctrine does not explicitly bar the ordination
of practicing homosexuals. The division, however,
remained between the church’s conservative and
liberal factions. Stopfel, 51, andhis partner aremoving
to a 25-acre farm in an Amish area of Pennsylvania,
where he said he will write a book.
Methodist Minister
Faces 2nd Church Trial
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -The Rev. Jimmy Creech, who
faces another church trial for performing a Gay union
ceremony, said the churchlaw against suchceremonies
amounts to institutional bigotry againstGayChristians.
Reached at his Raleigh, N.C., home, Creech said he
was disappointed but not surprised with.a church
committee’s deci~i0n ordering him to stand trial.
Nebraska United Methodist Church Bishop Joel
Martinezannouncedthfit theformerNebraskaminister
will stand trial for Officiating a Chapel Hill, N.C.
ceremony fortwo meninApril.AMarch 1998 church
trial cleared Creech of violating church law for a
similar 1997 ceremony involving two women. At
least two complaints were filed as aresult of the April
ceremony. Atissuein Creech’s 1998 trial was whether
thechurch’s ban on same-sex unionswas a pastoral
guideline or church law. The church has since
established the ban is church law.
Creech said the trial will be "a detriment to the
church." "It’s a waste of time and money. The trial is
an actofviolence againstLesbians, Gays andbisexual
people," Creech said. While Creech said he admits he
violated the churchlaw byperforming the Chapel Hill
ceremony, the immorality of this law makes him
innocent of violating the order.and discipline of his
denomination, ofwhichheis accused. "I think thelaw
itself is a violation of the highest ethical standards of
the United Methodist Church," Creech said. Creech
said thechurch’ s positiononGayunions is comparable
to racism. "How can such an encumbered church
witness to the grace bf God?" he asked.
Martinez’s assistant, Rev. Mel Luetchens, said
Martinez will .appoint another bishop as presiding
authority for the case. A jury of 13 ministers will
[ecide Creech"s fate. Ministers will lead the defense
and theprosecution.Thetrial likely will beinNebraska
in the next couple of months,-Luetchens said. If
convicted Creech faces a wide range of possible
)unishments, including dismissal from the United
Methodist clergy.
Creech is on voluntary leave of absence after.
Martinezdeclined toreappointhim pastorofOmah.a’s
First United Methodist Church after the earher
controversy. He remains part of the Nebraska
conference and is answerable to Martinez.
Vermont JudgeJudged
By His Wife’s Vote
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - A group opposed to
same-sex marriage; "Take it to the People," says a
VermontSupremeCourtjusticemightnotbeimpartial
as he reviews a pending case.
"Take it to the People" says the wife ofJusticeJohn
Dooley voted in June as a member of the Governor’s
Commission on Women to give an award to the three
same-sex couples who are challengxn.g Vermont
marriage law. Sandra Dooley’s vote raises questions
about whether the justice is impartial in the case now
before the Vermont Supreme Court, said Ruth
Charlesworth of Burlington, a member of the antimarriage
group. "I think it is outrageous that the wife
of the Supreme Courtjusdce should come out (with a
public stand) when this issue isn’t yet decided,"
Charlesworth said. ’‘This isn’t fair to the citizens of
Vermont."
Thecourtis considering alawsuit seeking to overtmal
the state’s refusal to issue marriage licenses to samesex
couples. Despite its concerns, ’’Take it to the
People" hasn’tformally requested thatJustice Dooley
disqualify himself from the case.
Judith Sutphen, executive director ofthe Governor’ s
Commission on Women, said Sandra Dooley has
been on the commission for 15 years. Theorganization
has supported allowing same-sex couples to marry
since. 1996 - before the lawsuit brought by two Gay
men and four Lesbian women was appealed_ to the
Supreme Court, Sutphen said.
Commissioners have the right to take independent
votes on issues, Sutphen said. "A wife has a right to
vote as she chooses, as does a husband," she said.
"The votes of one spouse don’t necessarily reflect the
. judgment or opinion of the other spouse."
"Take it to the People" argues that rules of judicial
¯ conduct sayjudges should disqualify themselves when
their spouses have interests that could be substantially
: affected by the proceeding. The lawyers at the office
." of the attorney general who are defending the state’s
mamage lawweren’t available to comment.
-" Beth Robinson, an attorney representing the three
: couples in the Supreme Court appeal, said she felt
confident the deliberations would be fair. "We have
: no reason to question Jusdce Dooley’s ability to
~ impartially judge this case on its legal merits,"
: Robinson said. "Justice Dooley and his wife are two
¯ different people with two different jobs to do."
¯ Judge Dismisses Same-
Sex Marriage Lawsuit
¯
ANCHORAGE (AP) - A judge has dismissed a
lawsuit filedby twoAnchoragemenwho claimed that
: the state’s marriage laws discriminated against them.
¯ Judge Peter Michalski took the action late in
¯ September, nearly a year after Alaska voters
¯ overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment
¯ limiting marriage to a union of one man and one
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Jay Brause and Gene Dugan had claimed in their
lawsuit that it was discriminatory to not allow samesex
couples the same health insurance and other
benefits that married and unmarried heterosexual
couples enjoy. It was their lawsuit that spurred the
pbtition drive that put the same-sex marriage
amendment before voters last November.
Bob Wagstaff, the lawyer representing the two
men, says the case will be appealed to the state
Supreme Court. Wagstaff says his clients’ lawsuit is
at its heart an equal-rights case, not a Gay marriage
Town Considering
Partners Registry
ASHLAND, Ore: (AP) - Same-sex couples can’t get
married in Oregon, but in this town, they may soon be
able to get registered. The City Council is likely to
consider settingupsucharegistry for domesticpartners
at its upcoming meeting Oct. 5. City Attorney Patti
Nolte said he is unaware of a similar registry in
Oregon.
The registry would allow domestic partners - two
unmarried people age 18 or older who live togetherto
document that relationship. Gay couples cannot
marry under Oregon law, which recognizes marriage
as the union of a manand a woman.
"I believe it is appropriate that AglJland, as a caring
community, should lead the way," said Neil Sechan,
speaking for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender Political Caucus of Southern Oregon.
The local chapter of Parents, Family and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays are also backing the proposed
registry.
Mayor Cathy Shaw said she believes a registry
would have limited effect on unmarried couples,
whether heterosexual or same-sex. "I would be
incredibly proud to be mayor of a community that
provides this service," she said recendy. "I am a great
believer in the institution of marriage... I understand
why this community is asking us to do this -.how
importantit.is to be able to celebrate in an official way
your commitment to another person.’"
Rosemary Dunn Dalton, also speaking for the
caucus, said a registry would let unmarried couples
establishrelationships for purposes ofvisitation rights
in hospitals and other institutions. She said a registry
would provide proof of partnership for businesses
offering benefits to domestic partners.
The Oregon Court ofAppeals decided last year that
if local governments offer benefits to domestic
partners, they cannot deny benefits to same-sex
couples because of the constitutional guarantee of
equal protection. The court did not nile on Oregon’s
legal definition of marriage. Ashland is among the
local governments that have extended benefits to
same-sex couples to comply with the ruling.
A proposed ballot measure, to write the definition
of marriage into the state constitution and bar benefits
to unmarried couples, died in the 1999 Legislature.
Albuquerque To Vote
On Discrimination Ban
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - Lillian Mueller says she
Gays in Albuquerque have lost their jobs and been
denied housing because of their sexual orientation.
Mueller, the mother of a Gay son and president of the
local chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays, has formed a new group called
TheCampaignforHumanRights. The group’s purpose
is to mobilize support for a proposed amendment to
the Albuquerque city charter that would add sexual
orientation and mental disability to the antidiscrimination
section.
The issue will be on the Oct. 5 municipal election
ballot. The charter now bans discrimination based on
race, religion, sex and national origin. "It’s not a
question of special rights," she said. "It’s a question
of equal rights.’"
Butthe Christian Coalition ofNew Mexico strongly
opposes the charter amendment because it believes
"the Gay lifestyle" is wrong. Mark Burton, Christian
Coalition executive director, said his group will alert
people in voters guides that go to about 300 churches.
"It’s not a behavior that we want to have a
nondiscrimination policy for," he said. "It’s a health
haTard. It spreads AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases,
so there’s no reason to endorse a behavior that’s
dangerous and hazardous."
Albuquerque added a human rights section to its
charter in the early 1970s. The state Legislature in
March rejected a bill that would have outlawed
discrimination based on sexual orientation. It was the
"third time such a measure was killedin the House. The
bill would have expanded the state’s Human Rights
Act to cover sexual orientation, malting it il!egal’to
discriminate on that basis in matters of empld’yment,
housing, credit, public-accommodations and’union
membership.
Eleven states and more than 170 local governments
include sexual orientation in their nondiscrimination
statutes, supporters Of the bill say. The cify of
Albuquerque bars Such discrimination against its
employees and when providing public services.
Alleged Killers of Gay
Men Must Stand Trial
REDDING, Calif. (AP) - Two brothers accused of
murdering a Gay couplemust stand trial and may face
the deathpenalty ifconvicted, ShastaCounty Superior
Court Judge James Ruggiero has ruled.
Benjamin M. Williams, 31, and James T. Williams,
29, will each be tried on two counts of murder and
related charges. The brothers are accused of killing
Gary Matson, 50, and Winfield Scott Mowder, 40, in
July. They are also suspects in June arson fires that
caused more than $1 million in damage to three
Sacramento-area synagogues. Matson and Mowder
were found shot to death in their bed July 1 in rural
Happy Valley, about 165 miles north of Sacramento.
The Williams brothers, being held without bail,
have pleaded innocent to first-degreemurder and four
robbery, burglary and auto theft charges. The judge
ruled that prosecutors can seek the death penalty, a
decision that hasn’t been made.
Prep School Attacker
Free Until Trial
GREENFIELD, Mass. (AP) - A Tennessee youth
accused of using a knife to cut anti-Gay slur into the
back of a fellow prep school student can continue
college classes while awaiting trial, a judge said.
Matthew Rogers, 20, of Franklin, Tenn., pleaded to
charges of assault with a dangerous weapon.
Franklin Superior Court Judge Lawrence Wemick
continued bail at $10,000 cash or $50,000 bond on
condition Rogers live with his parents or at the
University of Mississippi where he is taking classes.
Before his arrest, Rogers had held an appointment to
the U.S. Naval Academy.
Rogers and another student at the Northfield Mount
Hermon School, Jonathan Shapiro, 18, of Keene,
N.H., were initially charged in Greenfield District
Court following the May 27 incident. The two are
accused of slashing the word "HOMO" in shallow
cuts on the back of a 17-year-old student during a
dispute over music. Authorities said no one actually
believed the victim was Gay. The argument arose
over the rock band Queen and the characterization of
its music as "Gay."
Promoters of Community
Center To Respond
ELK CITY, Idaho (AP) - Promoters of a community
education and performing~center expect to respond
to charges by critics of the ~roposed c~nter who fear
it could be used by homosexuals and become a place
where teen-age girls get abortions. Plans to build the
center have created division in the town of about 400
in remote Idaho County. Objections to the center
range from locating it on school property to the fear
homosexuals will use it to stage performances and
teen-age girls getting abortions there. Critics have
said since the center would be on public land there
could not be restrictions placed on who uses it.
New AIDS Drug
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A medicine
developed in North Carolina that blocks
the AIDS virus from getting inside cells is
showing promise among patients whofail
to respond to standard AIDS drugs. The
medicine, code-named T-20, is still in
early-stage testing, but researchers said it
could offer a reprieve for those who have
run out of options.
"It looks quite good," said Dr. Michael
Saag of the University of Alabama. "We
are looking at something with a.totally
different method of. action. It is an
important, potent new option."
T~20 was discovered at Duke
University. It is being developed by
Hoffmatm-La Roche Inc. and Trimeris
Inc., a small biotech company in Durham,
N.C.
Thedrug is the furthest along of a new
class of AIDS medicines called fusion
inhibitors. They work by thwarting the
virus’s ability to fuse with blood cells and
insert their genetic material into them.
However, the treatment has one large
drawback compared with other AIDS
drugs: Instead of being a pill, it must be
injected twice daily. Nev~rtbeless, Saag
said patients in advanced stages of AIDS
are willing to give themselves shots, and
they seem to tolerate the drug well.
The results were reported by Dr. Jay
Lalezari of Quest Clinical Research in
SanFrancisco atameeting ofthe.,Aga,erican
Society for Microbiology.
Other AIDS drugs work principally by
thwarting the virus’s ability to stitch its
genetic material into cells it has invaded
orbyblocking its ability to dispersemature
copies of itself.
Doctors gave T-20 to 55 people who
had high levels of the AIDS virus despite
trying many different combinations of
AIDS medicines. While these standard
drugs have proved to be life savers for
many with AIDS, they do not work for all
patients.
Doctors administered T-20 in
combinationwith other drugs, eventhough
the patients’ HIV was resistant to the
older medicines. After four months of
treatment, virus levels fell significantly in
33 of the volunteers. In 20 of them, the
virus fell to levels too low to bemeasured.
Saag cautioned that the treatment is
unlikely to work forever. But he said
doctors hope it will dday rebound of the
virus for perhaps-a year.
T-20 is part of the protein thatmakes up
the AIDS virus’ outer coat. Ordinarily it
comes into play with another peptide- T-
21 - as the AIDS vinm grabs onto blood
cells andprepares to enter them. Scientists
found that flooding the body with extra
copies of T-20 gums up this attachment
process,
Another AIDS study released at the
meeting found that treatment very early in
the course of an AIDS infection does not
wipe out the virus entirely, as some had
hoped.
Dr. Martin Markowitz of the Aaron
Diamond AIDS Research Center in New
York City reported on four patients who
started treatment within seyen to 90 days
of catching HIV. All signs of their virus
disappeared, andthey chose to stop therapy
after three years:
Thevirus reappeared within two to three
weeks, One patient went back on
treatment, but the three others stayed off.
After shooting up, their virus levds fell
again to low butdetectable levds.
Researchers said the results raise the
possibility that in such situations, the
¯ body’s immune system may be able to
¯
k~p I-HV in check without completely
eliminating it. Are You Gay or Bisexual?
: Satcher Looks at Are You Native American?
:¯ Kids’ Health , . ,
Tulsa s Two-Sp,r,ted ,nd,an Mens
: ROBINSVILLE, Miss. (AP) - U.S. ¯ SurgeonGeneralDavidSatcherhasissued Support Group is here for you!
¯ a warning about the health of America’s
¯ children. Satcher, speaking to a health ¯ Evening support group meetings
: association recently in Tunica County,
¯
said children are growing fatter, lazier,
¯ Relationship workshops
¯ more sexually active and increasingly ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats
¯ addicted to toxic substances. ¯ Free HIV testing
¯ Satcher, former president of Meharry
¯ Medical College in Nashville, .Tenn.,
-spoke tO 400 public health care workers
¯ and advocates at the annual meeting of the
¯ Mississippi Public Health Association.
¯ Regarding the disparity in health care,
¯ Satcher said that in the last 10 years
minorities, women and children have
: fallen behind in many areas.
¯ Satcher said progress has been made in
¯ dealing with infectious diseases and there
¯ has been a decrease in the number of ¯
cancer cases, injury-related deaths and
¯
adult smokers. However, the munber of
: teen-age smokers has risen_rapidly, Satcher
¯ said.
Obesity has become a virtual epidemic
¯ among both adults and children, Satcher
said. The current generation of children
¯ and teen-agers is the most inactive the
¯
country has ever had.
One of the results of that inactivity has
¯ been an increase in Type 2 diabetes in
¯ children. In the past, physicians were told
never to look for Type 2 in individuals
¯ - under40 years old, Satcher said. Now, the
disease is occurring in children under the
age of 10. Emphasis must be placed on
physical activity and on diet, Satcher said.
The American diet consists mainiy offats
and sugars, he said. In one year, the average
American will consume 156 pounds of
added sugar.
Weneedto promotehealthy lifestyles,
Satcher said. "We need to promote
physical activities. We need to promote
nutrition and avoidance of toxins like
tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs. We
need to promote responsible sexual
behavior."
40% of college students and 30% of
high school students are binge dri.nking,
Satcher said. That has contributed to an
increase m automobile accidents and
irresponsible ~exual behavior.
"Weneed to talkmorewith ourchildren
aboutwhatit means tobesexually active,"
Satcher said. "When we don’ t teach sex in
¯ the schools, at home and in the churches,
¯ but they do teach it out on the streets or ¯
after school when there are no adults
¯ around, our children aren’t going to
¯ become responsible, sexual adults."
¯ His warning was directed not just to
teen-agers, but to all people. Every day,
16,000 peoplebecomeinfected with HIV,
¯ the virus that causes AIDS. In the years
: since the disease’s discovery, HIV has
¯ infected 50 million people and resultedin
14 million AIDS-related deaths.
¯ "In my opinion AIDS is the worst
: epidemic since the plague of the 14th
: century or maybe the influenza epidemic
," of 1918," Satcher said. "AIDS is
: increasingly a disease o,,f people of color,
¯ women and the young.
: African Americans account for almost
: 50% of new cases; Hispanics, 20%; and
¯ women, 25%. Not enough is being done
¯
to prevent the disease, Satcher said, even
though people know how to stop the
¯ spread.
For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project
at 582-7225 Ext. 208 or 218
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AIDS Czar at
Detroit AIDS Walk
DETROIT (AP) - Federal AIDS czar
SandyThurmanandMayorDennis Archer
led thousands of walkers in a fund-raising
event for programs that help treat people
infected with the deadly disease. The
Detroit event was one of 12 statewide
sponsored by AIDS Walk Michigan.
"Walk on walkers!" Thurman shouted
to cheering participants at Hart Haza,
where the3.1-milewalkbeganandca_rex!..
Many held helium balloons and signs
with messages such as "AIDS has many
faces."
Despite the cheery atmosphere and
warm sunshine,Thurman broughta chilly
message about the disease, which she said
will have infected 100 million people
worldwide by 2005. "We’re at the
beginning of an epidemic, not the end of
an epidemic, with no vaccine, no cure,"
she told reporters before the walk began.
"It’s not going to be over next week. It’s
not going to be over in 10 years. It’s
probably not going to be over in my
lifetime.’"
A sign of hope is the success of anti-
AIDS drugs that are keeping thousands of
people infected with the HIV virus free
from symptoms. ButinmanyThirdWorld
natxon~, including much of AIDSdecimated
Africa, the medicines remain
unaffordable and the publichealth system
inadequate, she said.
This is the second year of a coordinated
AIDS WalkMichigan. Lastyear, 10 walks
statewide raised $2~0,000,
This year, walks also tookplace Sunday
inAnnArbor, BerrienCounty, Flint,Grand
Rapids, Holland-Saugatuck, Kalamazoo,
Lansing, Muskegon, Port Huron,
Saginaw-Midland-Bay City and Traverse
City.
But organizers sdid/he ~)etro’it event
was particularly important because of the
high rate of AIDS in the city. With about
10% of the state’s population, Detroit has
nearly half of the reported AIDS cases,
they said.
"It’s the No. 1 killer of young African-
American males and the No. 2 killer of
young black females," said Detroit
Episcopal Bishop R. Stewart Wood Jr. as
he set out on the walk.
Wood’s diocese, which has 35,000
members from Lansing to the Ohio line,
has not been immune from the effects of
AIDS.
"Every one of our congregations has
been touched by AIDS - members or
loved-ones who have the disease. We’ve
lost two of our clergy to AIDS," he said.
Teresa and Bill Snell came in from
Wayne County’s Redford Township to
walk in this year’s walk, taking turns
pushing 15-month-olddaughter Courtney
in a three-wheeled jogger’s stroller.
They raised a total of $49, most in
pledges of $2 to $3, for their part in the
walk. The 20 walkers from Mrs. Shell’s
agency, the Detroit Hispanic Development
Corp., raised $1,500 for. the fight, against
AIDS. "It affects so many people and
families around you," she said. "I don’t
know anyone who has died,.of AIDS, but
I do know that it is something that affects
all kinds of people," her husband said.
"It’s something that’s got to be stopped."
Award Given to
African Groups
NEW YORK (AP) - The world’s largest
humanitarian prize - $1 million - was
awarded to an organization whose
accomplishments include bringing health
care to the Maasai and Turkana, two of
Africa’s nomadic tribes.
The Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian
Prize, awarded to the African Medical
and Research Foundation, will give the
organization funds it needs for additional
work in AIDS and malaria prevention. It
will also helppay to trainmore health care
workers.
’q’his million will go along way and it
will allow us tokeepmanyprojects afloat,"
saidJohn R. Batten, director ofthe Nairobi,
Kenya-based AMREF, who accepted the
prize at a ceremony in New York on
Tuesday.
Startedin 1957as aprogram thathelped
needy Africans get specialized medical
care- particularly reconstructive surgery
- AMREF now provides health care
services to 21 African countries. Programs
are run from offices in Kenya, Tanzania,
Uganda and South Africa. This year’s
budget was $19 million.
Over the years, AMREF built a twoway
radio network that boosted hospital
communications in East Africa,
spearheaded the use ofinsecticide-treated
mosquito nets to reduce childhoodmalaria
deaths and performed more than 40,000
operations.
It also has trained thousands of health
care workers and specialists and brought
services to the most remote corners of
Africa, including to tribes that roam the
continent.
What sets AMREF apart from most
international non-governmental organizations
is that more than 95% of its
employees are Africans.
’q’he approach we use in tackling all of
theseproblems is community-based," said
Peter Muchiri Ngatia, director for
AMREF’s Uganda office. "Some
prdl~lems "in A~r~ca, such as AIDS and
HIV, areaggravatedby cultural practices."
Much of the prize, which will be spent
over three years, will be directed at two of
Africa’s biggest killers - AIDS and
malaria.
"AMREF’s success in building an
African-led and African-run health care
system that is accessible to all provides a
strong model for aid agencies around the
world," said Barron Hilton, chairman of
Hilton Hotels Corp. and a board member
of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
AMREF was selected out of 225
nominations made by members of the
international community, including
diplomats, foundation leaders and
academics.
Once nominations are made, the Hilton
foundation researches the organization
and performs On-site visits. After that,
selections go to an independent
international jury.
Last year, Medecins Sans Frontieres,
or Doctors Without Borders - the largest
independent international medical aid
organization - won the prize.
¯ Feds Pushingf0r
: Name"Reporting
¯ FRANKFORT, Ky~ (AP):-, The General
¯
Assembly could be asked to require
: doctors treating people infected with the
: virus that causes AIDS to report them by
¯ name. It is the only way to ensure that
: federal money for AIDS treatment and
" program keeps flowing, a task force’s
~ reasoning goes.
: "The practicality is this," Dr. Anna
¯ Huang, see Health, p. 11
byJames Christjohn, entertainmentQueen
By the time you read this, the film will
be gone (thanks toWoodlandHills Cinema
for bringing it to us!), but as it will be a
great stocking stuffer - no catty remarks,
please - I will review it for your reading
pleasure anyway. And since I’ve never
worried about timeliness
before, why start now?
"Get Real" was a
wonderful film about a 16
year old Gay boy in
England, and the process
of "coming out" - he runs
into an older boy at his
school, and they find
themselves in "love", or
what seems to be love.
Only one problem: The
older boy is ashamed of
his Gayness, and wants
everything kept "hushhush."
Needless to say, many
poignant moments ensue,
all of which rang true for
me and the other person
viewing the film with me.
Much was true to life,
although much of it was kind of "what if
I had come out at 16 instead of 21"
speculation for me. I was a late bloomer,
what can I say? Speaks a lot for "the
environment.
At any rate, I found the film absorbing
and realistic, in many aspects. As my
friendpointed out, "Yes, but there were so
many’cinematicmoments.’ "Myresponse
was, "yes -and ? - life is made of
’cinematic moments.’ Sometimes we’re
lucky enough to havelots of them." I
pointed out several ’cinematic moments’
that we shared that he’d forgotten, and he
conceded the point.
He also took umbrage with the ending,
whichwas realistic. (Warning: Don’tread
beyond this point to the next paragraph if
you haven’t seen it and don’t want it
spoiled)
He wanted a more romantic ending
¯ (ironic, given his criticism only moments
before of the "cinematic moments"). The
¯¯ boys split, our hero deciding against a
futurebased on deceptionand hiding with
: one so.uncomfortable with himself.
¯ To me, that was a happy ending - he
: was strong enough to standup for whathe
believed, both in a public
And of course, no
column written by
yours truly would
be complete
without a
mention of
"You Know Who."
And if you
don’t know, then
you’ve not been
reading this
seetion regularly,
now have you?
and personal sense, and
wasn’t willing to "settle"
for less.
Yes, the sappy ending
myfriendproposedwould
have been ok, and his
rationalewas that so many
mowes with Gay
characters end up with
depressing endings that
he’d have liked to have
seen an alternate ending
where both come out and
live happily ever after.
Yeah, maybe it. would
have been nice, but I
applaud the author and
producer’s strength to
stick with this ending.
And to me, it was a
happy ending of sorts. All
¯ depends on perspective, I suppose. At any
¯ rate, The activg was top-notch, the ¯
characters were real, and it is definitely a
¯ film destined to be at the top of my DVD
¯ wish list."
: "Beauty and the Beast" ended its run on
¯ aninterestingnot.e.Abeautifulproduction,
¯ albeit with sometechnieal difficulties (the.
: first week’s shows were in reality
: "previews", in which technical errors are
: more or less expected and worked out)
¯ such as bad timing on the lighting,
¯ °
reveahngcharacter’ s "di° sappearances"to
¯ beactors running inand out oflights when
¯ it should bedark, beasts transforming into
: princes and getting stuck in mid-
’ transformation by malfunctioning
¯ "magic" ("this spell canceled due to
¯ technical difficulties") and mysterious
¯ illnesses taking out cast members.
". see Beast, p. 14
by the Helmerich Foundation
October 16, 22 & 24
Tulsa Perf:oming Arts
Act Now!
587-4811
596-7111
for tickets.
OKLAHOMA
T 0 H R
by John Curran
ATLANTIC CITY - The flowers and
dime-store crown were real. Nearly
everything else was fake, from the
eyelashes to thecleavage tothetip-synched
songs.
WelcometoAtlantic City’ s otherbeauty
pageant, the one for men dressed in drag.
Seven blocks and a world away from the
stage where Miss America 2000 was
crowned, the Miss’d America Pageant
lampooned its famous older sister with a
raucous, gender-bending spoof funny
enough to bust a girdle.
Held annually on the night after Miss
America’s crowning, Miss’d America
provides a sarcastic antidote to the applepie
sincerity of the real pageant. The
swimsuit competition? A display of
chunky thighs and muscular arms. The
musical production numbers? Over-thetop
atrocious. The evening wear contest?
Outright hysterical.
The only serious thing Sunday was the
cause: Theeventraisedmorethan $15,000
for support programs run by the South
Jersey AIDS Alliance. "It’s the wildest
show this side of the Boardwalk," said
Bill Mattel, the alliance’s former chief
executive.
Wild, indeed. There was Miss Sallotta
¯ Tea, who squeezed 240 pounds into a
: sequined black cocktail dress and opera-
" length black gloves. Down the runway
¯ wentMissTea, pushing acartloadedwith ¯
goodies and warbling a versionofthe title
: song from the musical "Cabaret." "Life is
¯ abigb,uf,fet, myfriend. Socometothebig
buffet, sang Miss Tea.
¯
Then there was Miss Tenee, a 6-foot-3
: inch, 205-pounder, who began a talent
¯ segment in a purple Afro wig and brown ¯
velour dress. That soon disappeared,
: revealing a silk chemise. Miss Tenee won
: the crown, was given a dozen roses and
¯ headeddown the bulb-adornedrunway as
¯
the crowd sang a reworked version of
". "There She Is," the Miss Americastandard.
¯ The capacity 600-person crowd was a ¯
mix of Gay and straight, casino workers
and local politicians, Miss America
¯ Pageant hairstylists and female
¯ impersonators. ,
Not that there wasn t some authenticity
¯
to the proceedings. Miss America 1998
: Kate Shindle, who spent her reign
¯ promoting AIDS advocacy and needle
: exchanges, sang "My Man" during the
: show. "As far as I’m concerned, what’s
: any pageant without a former Miss
¯ Whatever singing StreisandT’ she said.
M
E TI"VAL
OCTOBER
7, 8, 99
9 9 9
Professional
Business
"You don’t
have to know
ballet to
love ballet.
You just have
to try it."
AR11Sl1[:
:Mixed Repertory includes two Oklahoma premieres
Exposition
~SUNDAYS
Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service - 6pm, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Service - 1 lain, 2545 S. Yale, 749-0595 (Welcoming)
Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist
Service - 1 lain, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-1314
Metropolitan Community Church United
Service, l lain, 1623 North Maplewood, Info: 838-1715
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc.
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood
Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America)
Mass - 1 lain, 205 W. King (east of N. Denver), Info: 582-3088
Unity Church of Christianity
Services: 9:15 & 11:00 am, 3355 S. Jamestown, 749-8833
University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance
6:30 pm, Meets at the Canterbury Ctr., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780
~ MONDAYS
Mixed Volleyball, Helmerich Park, 71st & Riverside, 6pm, call Shawn at 243-5190.
HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required.
Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard)
HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
7:30pro, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
2rid Mon/each mo. 6:30pro, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard
Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551
Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals - call for times, info: 748-3888.
I~"TUESDAYS
AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call for next meeting date. 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551
Live And Let Live, Commuuity of Hope United Methodist, 7:30pm, 2545 S. Yale
Multicultural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date.
Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001
PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th
Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE)
Tuesdays, 6 pro, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, info: 743-4297
I~ WEDNESDAYS
Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center
Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pm,’3210b So. Norwood
Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more information, call 582-7225
TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for info: 595-7632.
Lambda A-A, 7 pm, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft.
~THURSDAYS
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education
Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pm 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral
Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN)
Support/social group for 18-24’s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-2325
Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, Info: 834-4194
I~" FRIDAYS
SafeHaven, Young Adults Social Group, I st Fri/eachmo. 8pro, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th
~" SATURDAYS
Narcotics Anonymous, 11 pm, Commmlity of Hope, 1703 E. 2nd, Info: 585-1800
Lambda A-A, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd t, ~i~ _
I~’ OTHER GROUPS ......
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info:298-0827
Gal-A-Vanting, Women~ Social & Cultural Group
Call for info: Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-6825.
OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization. Long rides & short ddes from
Zeigler Park. Long & short rides from Tulsa Gay Commtmity Center. Write for info:
PUB 9165. Tulsa, OK 74157
Ifyour organization is not listed, please let us know. Call 583-1248 orfax 583-4615.
by George Bria
POUND RIDGE, N.Y. (AP) - Gardening
~njoys suchaserenereputation thatgetting
njure~ at it seems almost laughable: Yet
anoverzealous greenthumbcanalsomean
a sore elbow.
Thecasualtyhsts are. swelled, ofcourse,
by the power eqmpment
ix~juries oaten stiffered through
¯ in’attention or failure to wear
,:protective gear~ But.whatwe’re
talking about here is soreness,
strains and sprains.
A common ailment is
tendonitis. You can get tennis
elbow just pulling weeds, the
repetitive squeezing motion
inciting inflzmmation.
Back muscle spasm is
another trauma that threatens
the wheelbarrow lifter or the
person who bends abruptly or
improperly to perform some
taskinflowerbed or vegetable
patch. Sometimes it just
happens without an easily
pinpointed cause.
Having suffered both these
: abdominal muscles," Pearlman says. "In
¯ essence, thesemuscles act as"guy wires,"
¯ to keep your baekmhne. She prescn
a series of abdominal strengthening
: exercises and also exercises to condition
¯ other muscles related to the back.
: If, in spite of all this, back spasm
suddenly strikes, Pearlman
says stop your garden work
immediately, head for the
house and lie down on an ice
pack for 20 minutes. That’s
just a beginner. Then do some
exercises and maybe take a
pain reliever. Repeat the
sequence four or five tames
during the first day. In two or
three days you should be
better, she says, and if not,
think of going to a doctor.
Pearlman prescribes a
variety of push-ups and
weight-lifting exercises to
-strengthen arms. One. way to
strengthen hands, she says, is
repetitive squeezing of a
semisoft rubber ball.. Aside
from strengthening exercises,
"Lets get
down to earth
and be real;’
Pearlman says,
"gardening is
an active,
contact "sport."
"When is the
last time you
sat still in your
garden?"
- Barbara
Pearlman
ailments from my gardening, I can testify :
they’re just as painful as if you got them "
on the tennis court, as I did, or from some °
other sport or at work. To add to potential
miseries, a bad elbow you got in tennis
might heal only to flare up again in the
garden. Tendonitis can hit the shoulder,
too,andoften does. There are conditioning
exercises youcan do, andprobably should
do, to prevent injuries, but in my
experience inflanu~tory ailments like
tendonitis sometimes seem to happen
willy-nilly.
One day you’re fine after w.eedigg an,d.
anotherday you develop pain tlaat doesn t
go away. The same thing happens to a
pitcher or a hard-serving teums player
despite conditioning. Proven therapies,
involving drugs, exercises or even surgery,
exist to heal such injuries but preventing
them from happening in the first place is
something else.
Nevertheless, suggestions exist, and a
good book has just come out aimed at
conditioning youto minimize the chances
of getting hurt while gardening.
"Gardener"s Fitness" by Barbara
Pearlman (Taylor Publishing Co., $12.95,
paperback), a Manhattan fitness expert
and a gardener, prescribes exercises,
proper posture and attire and relaxation
teclmiques. The 151-page book contains
easy-to-follow instructions and helpful
illustrations.
"Lets get down to earth and be real,"
Pearlman says, "gardening is an active,
contact "sport." "When is the last time
you sat still in your garden?" she asks, "If
you’re not hauling heavy rocks, you’re
pushing a wheelbarrow, toting tools,
dragging the hose, or whacking weeds.
You’re in perpetual motion, unless of
course your idea of gardening is planting
:apot of~etunias orp~msies onyourpaso?’
Pearlman identifies tlie body parts mat
workhardestinthe garden as arms,: ,,l~ees,
hands "and, abov,~ all, your back,. Back
pain,"shesays,~s the gardener sbugaboo.
Unless your back is made of steel (in
which case, youprobably can’.t g.etinto ,al,1
the contorted positions gardemng cans
for) at some point during the season, your
back is bound to protest."
’The very best defense against back
painis agoodoffense, whichmeans strong
knee fitness involves proper squatting in
the garden, Pearlman says. This means
keeping your heels flat, otherwise far
: much pressure is placed on your knees."
: "Knowing how to bend over andhow to
¯¯ lift an object (or yourself) the correctway
is crucial to gardening," Pearlman says.
: ’The chance of straining your back is far
: greater if youneglect tobendyourknees."
¯ When carrying things, she says, "you ¯
should use the strongest and largestjoints
and muscles (those in your arms) for the
." job to avoid direct pressure on your
¯ smallestjointsandweakestmuscles (those
: in your hands and fingers.)"
¯ "There is a right way and a wrong way
¯
to move when you garden and malting th,e,
¯ right moves makes good garden sense,’
". Pearlman says. "It’s as simple as that."
::
:DonationsRejected
¯ JOHANNESBURG, South Mrica (AP)-
¯ A provincial blood donor service has
¯ started turning away black blood donors
¯ between 18 and 35 years because of the
: high risk of infection from AIDS and
¯ other diseases, E-TV reported in
: September.
¯ Eric Saunderson, head of the Natal
BloodTransfusion Service, confirmedthat
the agency is importing blood from
Hollandand theWestern Cape, a province
with a lower rate of HIV infections.
¯ "Ourresponsibility is to thepatient, and
¯ it’s the right of every patient to have the ¯
safest blood possible," Saund~rson said
¯ in the television interview.
¯ Ronald Louw, a spokesman from the ¯
Gay and Lesbian Coalition, denounced
the practice of apartheidblood collection.
¯ ’q’his is discrimination," he said.
¯ About 8% 0f all South Africans are ¯
HIV positive,~a rate that reaches up to
¯
25% in some communities in KwaZulu-
¯ Natal, where the Natal service is located,
¯ and elsewhere in the country. But a racial
: breakdown of the infection rate was not
¯ known.
Black Blood
The MoreThings
Average
New Car Price
1985 $ 9,011
1998 $20,000
Minimum Wage
1985 $3.35
1998 $5.15
Postage Stamp
1985 22¢
1998 32~
The More Things Average Price of
Electrici~ Per Stay The Same. Residential kWh
1985 6.,$¢
Alot has changed since 1985. Prices for many 1998 5.7¢
consumer goods have more than doubled. But one
thing has stayed the same. Our rates. They’ve remained virtually
unchanged for almost fifteen years. Top value for
P~9 your energytdollar. The most reliable service
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The Gift of Pride
In Honor of~,
Or
In Memory of...
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For a small gift of $25.00, you can donate a beautiful Christmas poinsettia
to a local AIDS hospice. Your gifts will adorn the stage at
"A Council Oak Christmas," November 19-20.
Call Today for COMC Carolers at Your Holiday Party!
To Order: Call COMC at (918) 748-3888
Timothy .W. Daniel
Attorney at Law
An Attorney who will fight for
justice & equality for
Gays &.Lesbians
Domestic Partnership Planning,
Personal Injury,
Criminal Law & Bankruptcy
1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504
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Weekend and evening appointments are available.
Holland Hall
SCHOO’L
PRIMARY SCHOOL TOUR (aGE 3- GRADE 3)
ALL CAMPUS OPEN HOUSE
To reserve your place; please call the
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www.hollandhall.org
Holland Hall admits qualified students without regard to race, sex, reugton, national or ethmc ortgm, or p~.’sical disabiliF.
by Anthony Breznican
Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The aggressive
roles of men in sports, movies and
television can cause boys to equate
violence with masculinity,
according to a report released
today byachildren’s advocacy
group.
A survey of 1,200 boys,
ranging from 10- to 17-yearsold,
revealed their favorite
entertainment often depicts
brutality as a heroic way to
solve~problems, said Harvard
psychologistWilliam Pollack,
who helped analyze the study
for ChildrenNow. "It’s gender
straight-jacketing," Pollack
said. ’q~hese boys believe that
in order to be a real man- like
the ones in the media - they
have to be violent and
aggressive."About74%ofthe
characters and sports figures
viewed by the participants
committed brutal or defiant
acts or demonstrated antisocial
behavior such as
ridiculing or lying, Pollack
said.
The study was released at the start ofthe
group’ s anntml conferencein Los Angeles.
Children Now, an independent advocacy
group for children in Oakland, plans to
use the findings to call on entertainment
executives to promote a more
compassionate image of men, said Lois
Salisbury, president of the organization.
According to Ms. Salisbury, the
kickboxing crimefighter on "Walker,
Texas Ranger" on CBS and the
sensationalized crashes and arrests on
Fox’s "World’s Wildest Police Videos"
were among the worst for reinforcing
negative stereotypes ofauthoritativemen.
"Theyjust glorify heavy-handed tactics,"
she said.
She also speculated that professional
wrestling’s blend of scantily dad women
a University ofLouisville assistantmedical
professor, said: without federal money,
only people with insurance will have
access to the relatively few doctors with
experience in AIDS treatment.
"I think we’re at a point the legislation
needs tobe considered,"Huangsaidduring
a public hearing by the legislature’s Task
"It’s gender
straightjacketing,"
Pollack said.
"These boys
believe that in
order to be a
real man - llke
the ones in the
media - they
have to be
violent and
aggressive."
- William
Pollack
: and muscle-bound fighters could cause
¯ relationship problems for adolescent boys
"_ who might imitate the behaviors they see
¯ acted out by the wrestlers when trying to
: woo women. ’The image is that men are
meant to be defined by anger
and violence and power and
sex," Ms. Salisbury said.
’There is very little roomfor a
range of behaviors such as
compassion and
compromise."
She points to ABC’s ’¢Fhe
Drew Carey Show" as an
example ofaprogram that has
very little violence and draws
itshumorfrom the crew-cutted
comedian’s portrayal of
schlepping throughamundane
job. "He’s stuck in ajob that’s
going nowhere and the whole
basis (of the show) is that he is
¯ . . a loser," Ms. Salisbury
said. "That tells boys that the
only place to be is at the top.
Otherwise, you’re to be
laughed at."
Michael J. Gerson, a
psychologist and lecturer at
Loyola Marymount
University, criticized Children Now for
¯¯ drawing what he characterized as an
elementary conclusion about the effects
¯ of media violence on young people.
¯ "Researchers canunderestimate the ability
of children to make distinctions between
¯ fantasy andreality,"Gerson said.’~A child
¯ may s~oot his fingers like a gun, but he
doesn t have to develop a killer mentality
¯ or wish to be destructive." i-iowever,
¯ Gerson saidChildren Now was correct in ¯
proposing that the blending of sex and
¯
violence can confuse adolescents who
¯ should instead associate gentleness with
¯ intimacy. "I do object to movies where the
¯ girl and the guy get into the back seat of
¯
the car and a Miler pops out and cuts them
¯ in half with a chain saw," Gerson said.
¯ "That can cause problems."
Force on HIV/AIDS Prevention, Services "
and Financing. "
Thirty-three states require people !
infected with HIV, the human ¯
immundeficiency virus, to be reported by "
name. The federal government is :
pressuring all other states, including ¯
Kentucky, to follow suit. Those that balk ¯
could lose federal funding for AIDS, the "
task force says in a report. ."
The recommendation brought a fierce ¯
response aboutprivacy-evenamong task "
force members - at the public hearing. "I "
call it blackmail," said Barry .Norris, a ,"
task force member from Louisville. But, ¯
Norris asked, what choice does Kentucky "
have. Do we just not take themoney9... °
¯ Do we make a principled stand?" Jeff ."
Vessels, executive director of the ¯
American Civil Liberties Union in "
Kentucky, said states should challenge
the federal agencies. "It’s a terrible thing
that we have to sacrifice so much privacy
in the name of money," Vessels said.
An AIDS patient said the stigma of the
disease would drive many people
underground. "For the fear of reporting
their names, they simply will not go get
tested," Michael Seidler of Louisville
testified.
Thestate keepsrecords ofAIDS patients
by name, but not of people infected with
ttIV..For that reason, the state’ s reports of
HIV infection are considered suspect by
federal record keepers at the Centers for
Disease Control. Mollie’Adkins, of the
Kentucky Department for Public Health,
said name reporting is the most reliable
way yet found to ensure cases are not
duplicated and statistics are not inflated.
Names would he maintained, in a state
database, not passed along to the CDC.
The task force also says the legislature
should restrict access to the information
and enact stiff penalties for breaches.
Seidler, the AIDS patient, said that was
wishful thinking. Computer hackers got
into Florida’s HIV-test database, he said.
"Ifyoucan guarantee somethinglike that’ s
not going to happen..." Seidler said, "by
all means go outand get tested yourselves."
by Esther Rothblum, Ph.D.
Do Lesbians drink more alcohol than
heterosexual women? In the not-toodistant
past, the Lesbian bar
was one of the only places " ~ome d the
where Lesbians could go to
early studies
meet other women. On the
otherhand,many Lesbianbars su~,rested that
h~iVe Closed down, indicating
Pdr.einrhkainpgs lt~hsast aLndeshbaivaensot-haerer- upd-toLoensblei~atnhlsrdplaces
to socialize,
To find out more about
Lesbians and alcohol-use, I
interviewedDr. TondaHughe~
in the Department of Nursing
at the University of Illinois at
Chicago. ,Some of the early
studies suggested that up .to
one third of Lesbians were
serious alcohol abusers," she
said, "but often these
researchers collected their data
from Lesbians in bars. So itis
not surprising that this method
found a large number of
Lesbians who were heavy
drinkers. I think that that is
why we have the bdief that
Lesbians are atriskfor alcohol
abuse."
Nevertheless, Dr. Hughes
believes that Lesbians drank
more than heterosexual
women in the 1960s and 70s.
"Lower rates of drinking
among Lesbians now is partly
due to changes in drinking in
the whole population, to more
health consciousness, and to
the AIDS crisis, which has
alertedus to the risks ofalcohol
and drug use," she said. She
also felt that Lesbians used to
drink more during the coming
out process, in order to deal
with social anxiety and stigma
involved in meeting other women and
coming to terms with being a Lesbian.
In a study conducted in Chicago, New
York City, and Minneapolis/St. Paul in
the mid-1980s with more than Lesbians,
Lesbians overall were no more likely to
reportalcohol-relatedproblems than we.re °
heterosexual women. Only Lesbians in
the 50-60 year old age range reported ¯
more alcohol problems than did their "
heterosexualcounterparts. Dr. Hughes has ¯
conductedaseries of studies withLesbians "
and heterosextml women that focus on °
various mental health factors, including ¯
alcohol use and abuse.
Her results indicate that Lesbians these "
days are no more likely to drink heavily "
than are heterosexual women. In fact,--
Lesbians were more likely to report ¯
abstaining from alcohol altogether for the "
past year than were heterosexual women.."
Most of the Lesbian and-heterosexual ¯
womeninher sample drank alcohol at low "
levels. White Lesbians, however, drank "
morethandid AfricanAmericanor Latina ¯
Lesbians.
"Interestingly, there are more Lesbians ."
who report that they are in recovery, "
though" she added. Only 2% of."
heterosexual womenhadbeenin treatment
for alcohol or in 12-step programs,
compared with 17% of Lesbians--a large "
difference. This may be the result of prior ¯
heavy drinking among Lesbians. Or it "
may be thht Lesbians are more aware of "
were serious
alcohol
abusers~~
she said, ’but
often these
researchers
co||ected tbelr
data [rom
Lesblans ;n
bars. So it’s
not surprlslng
that this
method [ound
o[ Lesbians
who were
heavy drinkers.
I think that
that is why we
bare the belld
that Lesbians
are at r~sk [or
alcohol abuse.’"
~ substanceuse issues than areheterosexual
¯ women. Oneofthe questionsinthesurvey
is "Have you ever wondered if you had a
drinking problem," and 47%
of Lesbians answered "yes" to
this item compared with only
14% of the heterosexual
women. This finding again
hints at heavy alcohol use in
thepastonthepartofLesbians.
Finally, there was a trend for
older Lesbians to report more
drinking, and these are the
Lesbians who were adults
during earlier times when
drinking was more part of the
Lesbian commurtities.
Dr. Hughes is interested in
exploring patterns of drinking
across various age groups of
Lesbians. Specifically, she is
interested in whether older
Lesbian~ who were adults
during earlier times when
drinking was more part of the
Lesbian cotumunities are
continuing to drink heavily.
She is also interested in the
question of how Lesbians and
their partners moderate each
others drinking, because
research on heterosexuals
shows that partners’ drinking
is a major factor in how much
people drink. We still know
very little about all Ihe factors
that increase or decrease
Lesbians’ risk for alcohol
abuse or alcohol-related
problems.
Esther Rothblum is Professor
of Psychology at the
University of Vermont and
Editor of the Journal of
Lesbian Studies. She can be
reached at Dewey Hall, Univ.
of Vermont, Burlington, VT,
¯ emaih esther.rothblum@uvm.edu.
of The Tulsa Worldnews story about the
New Jersey ruling. Ms. Kue.lmertpromised
to check into the issue and to telephone
back the next day.
TAUWenjoys significant supportfrom
some of Tulsa’s most well known
corporations. Debbie Graham ofQuikTrip
Corporation said that her organization
had supported UnitedWayformany years
because it helps a vast variety of agencies
but-that QuikTrip doesn’t get involved in
"the politics of individual agencies."
And while Ms. Graham could not
confirm that Quik Trip has a nondiscrimination
policy which explicitly
includes "sexual orientation," she noted
that it is their practice not to discriminate.
Quik Trip had provided promotion of
the United Way campaign in the form of
a printed solicitation for support on Quik
Trip paper bags.
Emily Gill of Dollar Car Rental did
confirm that her company and its parent
group, Dollar/Thrifty Automotive Group
(DTAG) which Mr. Cappy chairs, does
have an explicitnon-discrimination policy
butMs. Gill wasunable to address whether
any one atDTAG saw any conflictbetween
their internal non-discrimination policy
and see TA UW, p. 13
Red Rock Tulsa
Free Confidential
HIV Testing
Walk-in Clinics
Tuesday Testing, 5 -8 pm
Pride Center, 1307 East 38th
Wednesday Tdsting, 5-8 pm
Red Rock, 1724 East 8th
Daytime appointments available.
Call for more information:
918-584-2325
Church
of the Restoration
Unitarian Universalist
11 am, Sunday
1314 North Greenwood
587-1314
We knowyou’re
going to love this..r
Restaurant & Cabaret
ltxst~~ tla~
~’f~rO~ ¯.
310 East First Streel
918-599-9949
Massage Therapy Services
Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T.
Pager: 918-889-5255
Voice Mail: 918-697-9282
Lic. #C4133
Want to get involved?
Need to get
tested for HIV?
Need a
Coming Out Support
Group?
Call
743-GAYS (4297)
Tulsa Gay
Community
Services
Center
1307 E. 38th
at Peoria, 2nd floor
Country Club
Barbering
Custom Styling ¯
for Men & Women
David Kauskey
3310 E. 51st, 747-0236
Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm
¯ IGTA member
Call 341. 6866
International
Tours/ormoreinformation.
Red Rock Tulsa
O’RYAN
Oklahoma Rainbow
Young Adult Network
Outreach Program Thurs. Nights
Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment
Call for meeting times and place:
918-584-2325
ERESH
ITALIAN RAINBOW
CUSINE TROUT
ofEureka Springs
Voted Number One in Arkansas!
(501) 253-680Z Closed Wednesday
5 Cen~er Street, Eureka Springs, AR 72632
TOM NEAL
BUILDING
&
GARDEN
DESIGN
583- 1248
Compatibility
reports .
for you
and
your
friends
or
lovers.
599-0717
Gay Owned, Operated & Rainbow Proud
Gay Mecca of the Ozarks
Beautiful Eureka Springs, Arkansas
by Lamont Lindstrom, Phdg.
Last snmmer I wentto afriend’ s fiftieth
birthday p~arty.,] I think actually it was at
least his tbir or even fourth fiftieth
birthday. He is de_t,_e~_.ined.n_o,t to get any
older. Freezingone s agent50ts somewhat
more mature than those of us who fixate
on 30, or even 25. Another birthday boy I
know is at 28 and holding. Andmy friend
Steve- who is 33 and gorgeous - always
shaves five or six years off his age on
those tempting messages he leaves on
telephone dating, lines.
Welcome to America.
Growing up around here is
good. But growing old can be
a problem. We all know about
the bittersweetness of
birthdays. Next time you are
in a card store, have a look at
those nasty if cruelly funny.
cards that we are encourag
to giveanyoneunlueky enough
to have turned 40. Women
complain that the onusof age
falls most heavily on them.
Men, as they wrinkle, gray;
and sag, at least might bope.~o
grow to be distinguished.
Women, on the other hand,
age into grannies and crones.
My sly friends who have
recycled or lost a few of their
blrdadays, however, don~t
seem to be waiting eagerly for
distinguished, silver-haired
maturity. They, too~ would
rather stay young and juicy.
Theexplosion of men’s hair dye, plastic
surgery, and youthful herbal supplement
commercials flashing daily on my
television screen suggest an increasingly
desperate age-panic among all of us, no
matter our gender.
When I was 24, I lived on Tanna, an
isolated South Pacific island. Everyone
there is related to everyone. Newcomers
- quickly receive "fictive kin" identities in
order better to fit into village life. Soon
after I arrived, all the kids began calling
me kaha - "grandpa." I was taken aback
by this. Why, back then, I had hardly any
gray hair after all! OnTanna, though, as in
most places on earth, ageis pr_estigio.us..
Those kids were doing me abig favor wttla
that grandpa thing. Myislandfriend Nariu,
who was hardly older than me, within a
few years had started referring to himself
(and me) as "’we old men." Nariu was
ambitious and since old men ran his
society, he was determined to become a
senior citizen as soon as he could.
American fears of aging clearly have
much to do with how years connect up
with power and prestige. I sometimes ask
my university students when they think
adulthood begins. When do you truly
become an adult? They tend to place this
somewherein the20s-afew years bey.ond
their own age. Most Americans associate
adulthood with economic independence:
having one’s own job, paying 0n.e’s.o.wn
bills. We see some 35-year-old still hvlng
with mother as sadly still a little juvenile.
I also askmy youthful students for their,
defimtmns of nnddle-aged and old.
Answers here are more variable. (Some
startmiddleage-at30.) Generally, though,
true oldness connects with retirement.
Once we leave the workplace for good,
we lose salary, power, prestige, and any
final fleeting claims to youth. People
throughoutmost of the world can’t wait to
get old. The older they are, the more
¯ authority and influence they have within
their fzmilies and societies. Here, if you
: want to be president at age 69, like Ronald
¯ Reagan you’d better pour on that black
¯ hair dye.
. Gay menmay bemore panickedby age
: than most Americans. We have all heard
: bitter complaints about our agi_sm ~ a~,d
lookism- and such gripes are often samy
: justifiedbypersonal experience. (Lesbian
¯¯ society is,l~___ha,p_s kinder to it_s wrin.kl,ed
sisters ) It s fun to read the age limitalmns
in classified personal ads.
"Gay men may Most of the lovelorn are ISO
sweet-youngthings. Notmany
be more want to date those of well-.
panicked by
age than most
Americans.
We have all
heard bitter
complaints
a~out our
agism -- and
lookism - and
such gripes are
often sadly
justified by
personal
experience."
aged .and mature vintage.
Many ads have upper age cutoffs
- commonly 30 or 35 or,
morerarely, 40. Some seekers
are willing to date over a
decade’s span-five years
younger to five years older
than themselves. Many 40-
somethings speei-ficaldl’y
request none but the 20-
something... Good luck...
More gray hair on the way for
you, I think.
Or there is the daddy niche:
Sugardaddies,leatherdaddies,
bears and cubs. A few
yonngish personal advertisers
won’ t touch anyone
underneath 45 or 50. They
want~eir daddy. At.leastthere
remarns, here m .agist
American, one specialized
market opporUmity for mental, ,facial,,and
financial maturity. So you can atways ouy
a youth if you can’t have youth yourself
Then there are the age-blind. They "go
bv~t_he s,n_i_r_i t. "Thev_o_romisetodateanyone
18 to 88, or so they say. I logged onto a 61-
vear-old’s personal page on the Internet.
"Ageis only a state of mind,"it said. Yeah
right. Are you from Tanna or America?
Check out your mirror. But I’m taking
notes. Those birthdays keep rolling. And
next year the cake might set off the smoke
Lamont Lindstrom. Ph.D. teaches
anthropology at ~he University of Tulsa?
the discriminatory policies of the BSA
and United Way’s failure to pledge not to
discriminate. Ms. Gill promised aresponse
after consulting with others in her
organizationbutfailed to respondby press
time.
Likewise, Jean Johnson, Bank of
America’s southwestern press
spokesperson, pointed out that the bank,
with its origins in San Francisco, has
some of themostprogressive policies, not
only pledging not to discriminate but also
¯ prowiding domestic partner benefits to
¯ their employees. She added that Bank of
] America is one of United Way’s largest
~ supporters on a national level. Roger
¯ Whaley ofBank of America serves on the
~ board of directors of TAUW.
: The Tulsa Area United Way campaign
¯
enjoys further promotional sup.port fr,.om
Tulsa area television stations. Accoromg
’. to the staffperson at KOTV, Channel 6,
: the stations which represent the major
~ networks and Fox all agree to do public
¯ service announcements.
" Pat Baldwin of KTUL, Cbannel 8 who
¯ is a member see TAUW, p. 14
The regular Belle’s father was
hospitalized during the run, and at the last
matinee, folks in the audience neverknew
of the backstage drama going on. The
Beast became ill at the end of the first act
(where he flings himself across a balcony
In despair of ever being loved, and the
curtain falls). When the backstage crew
revolved the set to help him down, they
found the actor playing the Beast hanging
over the balcony - passed out cold. They
revived him, and he decided to go on with
the show:
However, you could never tell from the
audience that anything was wrong. After
the performance, he was whisked to the
hospital as soon as the curtain fell. It
appears he may have been suffering from
a bleeding ulcer.
The understudy went on that evening,
and I hear he did well, despite misgivings
on the part of some of the crew and other
castmembers-not tomentionhehimself!
I was sorry to see the troupe leave - they
were such nice folk.
October events at the Performing Arts
Center (596-7111 for tix) include Tulsa
Ballet’ s "AnnaKarenina", Oct 1-3; Sabella
Oct 2; The Celtic Series with Natalie
McMaster, Oct 8-9; Tulsa Opera’s
"Carmen, Oct 16-24; ATC’s Titanic
mystery, "Scotland Road", Ok 22-30;
and The Phil’s pops concert, "Sound and
Sorcery" Oct 29-30.
I look forward to the arrival of Petula
Clark as Norma Desmond in "Sunset
Boulevard." However, I still think Carol
Bumett should tour with the show; that
would bea .fresh interpretation in many
respects. The reviews I’ve read and heard
from friends thus far have reassured me
we are in for an excellent show. The
magicin themaking will arriveNovember
23 -28.
And of course, no column written by
yours truly would be complete without a
mention of"YouKnow Who."Andifyou
don’tknow, then you’ve not been reading
this section regularly, now have you?
Shame on you!
The ever-ethereal Stevie Nicks made a
stumling appearance on the top-rated
Sheryl Crow and Friends concert on the
,Fox network, and it was interesting to
note that she garneredthemostenthusiastic
audience response of the eminently
talented bunch.
"Gold Dust Woman" never sounded
better, and according to the rumor mill,
her new CD’s in the can, awaiting release.
Sheryl Crow produced theCDin between
tours. Also, Lesbian Icon, Melissa
Etheridge, if you follow the Tulsa World
columns, is rumored to be scheduling a
Tulsa appearance. We’ll be awaiting word
on that situation.
And "heart-and-other-body-partsthrob"
Ricky Martin will be in Dallas
November 4th. Ay cammba!
of the board of directors of Tulsa Area
UnitedWay, failed to respond to the voice
mail asking him to call.
In contrast, Bud Brown, new general
manager ofKOTV, Channel 6, noted he’d
only been in Tulsa for 3 weeks, and had
not seen the Tulsa World article in which
the Boy Scouts reaffirmed their anti-Gay
stance but he noted that his corporation,
The Belo Corporation which owns the
Dallas Morning News, WFAA in Dallas
and a number of other television_ stations,
: is "very clear...very firm" on their
¯ corporatenon-discriminationpolicy which
¯
includes "sexual orientation."
: Greg Gatewood, president of Tulsa
¯ Oklahomans for Human Rights (TOHR),
¯
was one .Gay person willing to have his
: name used though he emphasized that he
¯ was speaking as an individual not for
¯
TOHR. Gatewood saidhefeltUnitedWay
: did a lot of good, funding for example,
¯ TulsaC.A.R.E.S.andotherorganizations,
¯
and that he’d given to United Way in the
: past. However, he added that he did not
¯¯ agreewith theBoy Scouts’ policy and that
he’d like to see United Way open a
: discussionwith theGay community about
¯ the Boy Scouts, trying to f’md common
¯ ground. He added thathe’dlike to include ¯
the Boy Scouts in that dialogue also.
¯
He suggested that instead of asking
¯ Tulsa Area United Way to stop funding
¯ the Boy Scouts that TAUW should be
: asked to fund an organization which
: provides services to Tulsa’s Lesbian and
: .Gay communities. Gatewood emphati-
¯ tally agreed thatTAUW shouldamendits
: ownnon-discrimination policy to include
¯ "sexual orientation."
: A prominent member of Tulsa’s Gay
¯ community, Vernon Jones, partner of the
¯
late Phil Wiley and civil rights and HIV/
¯ AIDS issues activist, recalled that Tulsa
¯ Area United Way also has a history of
: racial discrimination. He remembers
¯
newspaper articles from his youth
¯ reporting on how TAUW refused to fund
¯ agencies which served Tulsa’s Black
¯ commtmity. Jones,likeothers appreciated
¯
TAUW’s support for HIV/AIDS services
¯ " but thought United Way should not fund.
the BSA.
Beth Kuehnert, Tulsa Area United
Way’s marketing representative, did not
call back as she promised. When asked
about this by telephone, she accused Tulsa
Family News of calling and harassing
United Way supporters, naming one in
particular. Ms. Kuehnert was informed
that a news story required speaking with
more than just her and that all contacts
with United Way supporters had been
through their designated press
representatives and clearly identified as
news inquiries and had been quite cordial.
And despite earlier promises to try to
answer questions about United Way’s
decision to fund .the Boy Scouts, Ms.
Kuehnert now stated that "I’m not going
to ask this question in the middle of the
campaign.., the decision [to fund the Boy
Scouts] was made in the spring [last
spring]."
When TulsaFamilyNews contacted the
UnitedWay corporate supporter who had
allegedly been the subject of TFN
harassment,TFN was told that they’d said
nothing of the sort but only that they’d
called Tulsa Area United Way president
¯
and chief professional officer, Kathleen
¯ Coon, to say that the issue of funding the
: Boy Scouts had been raised.
¯ This corporate spokesperson
¯
characterized the conversation with TFN
¯ as very civil and cordial.
At press dine, Tulsa Family News had
¯ made either three or four phone calls over
: at least a four year period to Tulsa Area
~ United Way president Kathleen Coan
¯ requesting the courtesy of a return phone
¯ call.
¯ To date, Ms. Coon, despite an apparent
¯ ready accessibility to The Tulsa World
¯ and other non-minority news orgam-
." zations, has refused to return any calls.
¯ For a related editorial, please see
; United Our Way, p. 3.
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Tulsa Locations:
2001 S. GarneR, 437-2~.~.~.
3733 S. Memorial, 6600344
1216 S. Harvard, 587-1778
Sapulpa Location:
109 N. Mission, 227-2322
They’re ready and waiting...all you have
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©Origin. 18+. Additional features from 55¢/min.’-Cal1800-440-8050.
(and former lead singer of "lnae Nylons),
whose sound is an eclectic hybrid of
electronicpop witharock ’n’ roll swagger,
and the fabulous "Doris Daze", an allwomen’s
pop/rock band that is currently
making a big splash in Dallas. (Check out
these websites, www.mp3.com/dorisdaze
and www.loudboybarnes.com, to get a
taste of their music.)
And it’s not over yet! Don’t dare miss
the dance and drag show on Sunday
afternoon at Center Stage. Besides the
always exciting, always surprising
performances of Domonique Daniels,
.Carla Renee, Miss Helga, Tara T’Neil,
and Tabitha Taylor of Tulsa, Okla., and
our ever-popular DJ, Jon Caswell,
"Barnes" will make a guest appearance!
So call your friends, select your
wardrobe, and make your lodging
reservations now!! You won’t want to
miss this weekend!!! Call The Emerald
Rainbow at (501) 253-5445 or visit
www.shimaka.com!eureka/diversity to get
a full schedule of activities.
DIVERSITY CELEBRATION
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
" bRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5
2:30 pm - 5:00 pin"Family" musicians
perform at Mud St. Espresso Cafe on
Main St.
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm More entertainment
at the Kaffeehaus Aroma in Basin Park
Hotel.
8:00 pm - 12:30 am M.CC. of the
Living Spring hosts Carnival Under the
Rainbow - Dance and Game Night. Game
booths- will raise funds for local projects
and organizations while Jon Caswell spins
an eclectic mix of dance music. A great
way to kick off the weekend! Basin Park
Hotel Ballroom. Cover: $4.50 per person,
$7.50 per couple. Must be 21.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6
10:00 am - Noon Catch the end of the
fall colors canoeing down the beautiful
White River. Call the Dam Store at (501)
253-6154 for details. $22!canoe.
10:30 am - Noon Enjoy a "colorful"
historic walking tour wi~ Bill. Meet at
Sweet Springs on upper Spring St. next to
Rogue’s Manor. No charge.
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Bring the kids to a
"family" family picnic at Harmon Park.
Food and games. Call Samuel Strickland
for details (501) 253-7837. Children of all
ages welcome. No charge.
Be sure to check out the unique shops
andrestaurants listed in the Eureka Springs
Diversity Cooperative. Let them know
you’re here for Diversity Weekend!
1:00 pm - 4:00 pro, Did you bring your
singing voice? Give Karaoke a whirl with
Lita at the Hole in. the Wall off Center St.
No cover.
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Give your feet a
break, and listen to some great musicians
at Mud St. Espresso Cafe and Kaffeehaus
Aroma. Tips appreciated.
9:00 pro- 1:00 am Party, party, party!!
Dance, dance, dance!! Come on out to
Center Stage, and dance like you mean it
to Jon’ s high energy club tunes;ORShake
your booties at the Basin Park Hotel
Ballroom to the live performances of
dynamic GLAMA-winning L.A. Singer/
songwriter Barnes, and the fantastic pop/
rock Dallas-based women’s band Doris
Daze. (Both will have their CDs available
for sale.) Must be 21! Cover charges:
Center Stage only - $5 per person. Basin
Park only - $10 per person. Both venues -
$13 per person. What a nightt !
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7
2:00 pm - 6:00pmYou can’t leave yet!!
Meet us again at Center Stage for our tea
dance and drag show. Those girls from
Tulsa, those talented, and always
fantabulous entertainers, Domonique
Daniels, Carla Renee, Miss Helga, Tara
T’Neil and Tabitha Taylor will knock
your socks off with their dazzling
performances, while Jon graces us with
his DJ magic once again. AND, to add to
the excitement, Barnes will be there to
sharehis terrificvoice andpowerful music
in a Special guest set. Must be 21! Cover:
$5 per person.
7:00 Inn M.C.C. of the Living Spring
Service at 17 Elk St. Call (501) 253-9337
for information. All are welcome!
OTHER HAPPENINGS
* Friday night from 10 p.m. ’til close,
Clary and K.J. will havelive entertainment
and dancing at Center Stage.
* If you’re feeling adventurous (and a
little brave), you may want to check out
the Ghost Tours at the Crescent Hotel.
They start at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday,
Saturday and Sunday, and last for
approximately anhour andfifteenminutes.
Discounted price of $8 per person to
anyone wearing a purple"Eureka Springs
Celebrating Diversity" button (available
for half a buck at The Emerald Rainbow).
Call (501) 253-8030 or 2428 for details.
* In keeping with both themes this
weekend, Judy at Pond Mountain Lodge,
is hosting a "family" wine tasting, with
hors d’oeuvres, from 5 to 7 p.m. on
Saturday. Admission is a favorite boftle
of wine from your state or $10 per person.
Pond Mountain is on Hwy 23S about two
miles from its intersection in town with
Hwy 62. Call (800) 583-8043 for
reservations.
* After the dances on Friday and
Saturday nights, Basin Block Cafe (across
from Basin Park Hotel) will be open for
breakfast from midnight ’til 3 a.m.
* This weekend is also Eureka Springs’
Food and Wine Festival, and many of the
town’s fine restaurants are offering special
menus, from light fare to exquisite multicourse
dinners. If you’re interested, call
theChamberofCommerceformoredetails
at (501) 253-8737.
Be sure to stop byThe EmeraldRainbow
to pick up your Diversity Cooperative
booklet and discount coupons from some
of the Coop’s businesses!
And please join us at our next Eureka
Springs Diversity Celebration Weekend
on April 7, 8 &9, 2000 ! ! ! Keep an eye on
www.shimaka.com/eureka~diversity for
details.
The Eureka Springs Diversity
Celebrationweekendis producedby Linda
Williams and M.C. Delahanty and
sponsored by The Emerald Rainbow and
the businesses of The Eureka Springs
Diversity Cooperative,
Classifieds - how to work them:
First 30 words are 5;10. Each additional word is
25 cents. Options for your ad:
Bold headline - $1, all capital letters -
$1, all bold & capital letters - $2, ad in
box - $2, Ad reversed - $3, tear sheet
mailed - $2 Blind P.O. Box - $5
Please type or print your ad. Count the words -
word is a group of letters or numbers separated by
a space. TFNreserves the right to edit or refuse any
ad. No refunds. Send ad& payment to POB 4140,
Tulsa, OK 74159 with your name, address, telephone.
Ads will run in the next issue after receipt.
For Good Home
Friendly, honest, & very experienced
42 year youngrealtor seeks sincere&motivated
buyers &sellers. Into MLS. You won’t be
disappointed. 712-2252 or 745-2245
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And now you can apply online at
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*.~l~his offer a~ail~l~ on
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ApplyAt
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Or Call Us
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At 588-6010
Or Apply Online At
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
newspaper
periodical
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
[1999] Tulsa Family News, October 1999; Volume 6, Issue 10
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Creator
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Tulsa Family News
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Tom Neal
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
October 1999
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
James Christjohn
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
Rights
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Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
Relation
A related resource
Tulsa Family News, September 1999; Volume 6, Issue 9
Format
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Image
PDF
Online text
Language
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English
Type
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newspaper
periodical
Coverage
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Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/592
Africa
African Medical and Research Foundation
AIDS
AIDS drugs
AIDS reporting
AIDS research
aMUSEments
Arkansas
arts and entertainment
Associated Press
Atlantic City
Bars
Britain
businesses
churches
Community Center
Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize
Dave Fleischer
David Satcher
Detroit
discrimination ban
Dyke Psyche
Episcopal Church
Esther Rothblum
Eureka Springs
European Union
Garden Notes
gay bashing
Gay Studies
George Bria
HIV
homophobia
James Christjohn
Jim Christjohn
Jimmy Creech
John Curran
Lamont Lindstrom
lawsuit
Maasai
masculinity
media
military inclusion
Mr. Tulsa Leather
Murder
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
National Stonewall Democratic Federation
partners registry
performing arts
Pride Center
Read All About It
restaurants
Sandy Thurman
South Africa
Surgeon General
Tom Neal
toxic masculinity
Tulsa Area United Way
Tulsa Family News
Tulsa Gay Community Services Center
Turkana
violence
-
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01ac67d300b49a6f29c23f0ed9e22670
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/5df7343d2ef171690467ddc16be5804d.pdf
e98f20f52aa510572e017796bd6c6bf5
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[Sub-Series] Newsletters & Publications > Tom Neal Newsletters > Tulsa Family News
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A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
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United +AmericanAirlines
To Offer Partners’ Benefits
WASHINGTON - In a bold move with global
ramifications for Gay and Lesbian workplace equality,
United Airlines - the world’s largest airline - became
the first major U.S. airline to offerfull domestic partner
benefits, according to a press release from the Human
Rights Campaign (HRC). United Airlines announced
the decision on July 30.
’q’his enormous victory will have a global impact in
helping to create fair and equitable workplaces for Gay
and Lesbian people," noted HRC Executive Director
Elizabeth Birch in a statement released early in August.
"We congratulate Unitedforjoining therapidly growing
legion of compames who realize that treating all
employees with dignity andrespect is goodfor business.
United has definitely earned their wings. This is a noble
challenge to other carriers to now align their benefits
packages to reflect fairness and equality for every
employee."
As a result of United’s action, Equal Benefits
Advocates, a San Francisco-based group, declared an
end to the educational boycott of United. That
organization called the.boycott in Febrtmry to .raise
public awareness of United’s lawsuit, see United, p. 2
Arizona Legislator Takes
On "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell"
by Melanie Carroll, Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK - "Don’t ask, don’t tell?" Doesn’t work. ¯
That’s the word from an openly Gay Arizona legislator "
and Army Reserve officer being investigated for :
dischargeby the military. State Rep. Steve May,inNew ¯
York recently for a meeting of the Log Cabin
Republicans, a Gay political group, called for an end to .
the military’s policy on Gays.
"A.t a time when recruiting and retentionis becoming ¯
a serious problem, and some members of Congress are .
discussing a reinstatement of the draft, how much "
longer will we degrade our military readiness by ¯
discharging competent, qualified, trained men and ¯
women?... This policymustcome to an end,"May said. "
A spokesman for the Army Reserve confirmed an "
investigation of May is under way; it started Aug. 7. ¯
’¢foday I am facing discharge proceedings because I ¯
have refused to lie about who I am," May said. While
never discussing his sexual orientation with military ¯
officials, he was open about it when seeking election ¯
last year. May, who still serves in the Army Reserve
once a month, saidhe willlikely be discharged when the "
Army’s investigation is complete. - ¯
Sen. John McCain, a former POWl said thereis room :
in the GOP for openly Gay _r,ep,r.,e.sen,t~tives, but,add,~e~,’ "
that besupports [he fiiiiitary s ’dOn t ask~ don t tell’ "
policy. "We should in our party refrain from ¯
discrimination in any form,.M.cC.aan.satd. As-forMay, :
"he’s a fine man," McCain added. "I have the greatest
respect for him?’ Yet, as a member of the:mili~,May
is subject to constraints growing out of the natur~ ~t~the
military service, McCain said. Hesaid that sincesoIdiers ¯
must live in place and with people not of their own . :
choosing, the policy regarding a soldierrs Sexual _"
orientation makes sense.
Stacey Sobel, a senior attorney with the Washingtonbased
Service Members Legal Defense Network, is
representing May against the Army Reserve.
see Officer, p. 2
Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tuleans, Our Families + Friends
Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community PaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations
Congressi,onal Committee
Hears Tulsans On Hate Crimes
WASHINGTON-TheHuman
Rights Campaign (HRC), the
nation’s largest national
Lesbian and Gay political
organization, with members
throughout the country, brought
Tulsa hate crime victims Tony
Orr and his partner Tim
Beaucamp to Washington in
early August to testify?before
the hearing ot the House
Judiciary committee on the
.faced for a stonger federal
response to hate crimes,
specifically asking the House of Representatives to pass the Hate
Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA).
InSeptember 1997, Orr and Beaucamp were standing at an
ATM at State Bank in the Brookside neighborhood when three
men approached them. They called the two men "faggots" and
proceeded to brutally beat them.
Orr suffered a concussion and received stitches for the many
gashes onhis head. Bcauchampreceivedpermanentnerve damage
after the orbital bone around his eye was broken.
Speaking at a press conference before the Congxessional
hearing, HRCexecutive director Elizabeth Birch introduced Orr,
saying, "we urge Congress to listen to the courageous men and
women who came forward today to speak ofthe unspeakable hate
cr~mes that irreversibly changed their lives.., it is clear that hate
crimes are a national problem and now is the time for Congress
to embrace real solutions. The House should follow the Senate’s
lead and pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA)."
To demonstrate the reai-life impact of these crimes, Birch
introduced "A Decade of Violence: Hate Crimes Based on
Sexual Orientation," a newly published report by the Human
Rights Campaign and the Southern Poverty Law Center. The
report details the rise in hate crimes and the impact it has on its
victims and society.
Tulsan Orr noted, "people like us in communities all across this
country need some place to turn seeCongress,p.lO
Tony Orr & Tim Beauchamp
¯ ’Jenny Jones’ Murderer Guilty
¯ PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) - A jury rejected a claim that Jonathan
¯ Schmitz was driven to kill a Gay.acquaintance because of his
unrelenting and unwanted advances, starting by revealing a crush
on a talk show. "If he was Gay and a woman had approached him
that way, would it have been right for him to kill her because she
put anote and a flashing light in his door?" askedjuror Kimberley
Manney.
Schmitzwas convicted inlate August of second-degree murder
in the death of Scott Amedure,who had appeared with him on
’q’he Jenny Jones Show." It marked the second time that a jury
hadfoundhim guilty of that charge. The first conviction was later
overturned"We wanted to send a message that it’s not all right to
act this way," juror Ted Hight said.
Schmitz’s second trial avoided the debate over the role played
by Ms. Jones’ show, which was amajor part of acivil trial against
the-show and Schmitz’s first murder trial. Instead, the jury
debated Schmitz’s state of mind. As the verdict was read,
Schmltz, 29, hung his head, stared down and clasped his hands
under his chin.
Schmitz’s first conviction for second-degree murder in 1996
resulted in a sentence of 25 to 50 years in prison; the Verdict was
thrown out on appeal due to an error in jury selection. Oakland
County Assistant Prosecutor Donna Pend~rgast Raid ~he Would
ask for the same penalty when Schmitz is sentenced Sept. 14. "I
always knew if thejury followed the law it would come back with
this verdict," she said
Schmi tz’s attorney, Jerome Sabbota, sought a le~s~r verdict Of
manslaughter, saying that Amedure continued to pursue Schmitz
to the point Schmitz "lost all reason." The segment never aired.
He said Amedure lied to Schmi tz about the show, entitled "Same-
Sex Secret Crushes," and set Schmitz off byleaving a suggestive
note and blinking construction lightonhis door. Amedure "never
let up and he never backed off. He created a situation when any
reasonable person would have snapped," Sabbota said.
The facts in the case were not disputed in the four-day trial. On
¯ March 6,1995,Amedure revealed his crush on’q’heJenny Jones
Show," along with a sexual fantasy. Schmitz told him he was
." heterosexual. The two flew back to Detroit together and stayed
." out late drinking with a mutual friend, Donna Riley.
: Onthe morning of March 9, 1995, see Jones, p. 15
¯ Community Center News
¯ TULSA - Tulsa’s Gay Community Center and its
parent organization, Tulsa Oldahomans for Human
¯ Rights (TOHR) have announced a full schedule of
¯ events for the next several months. On Sept. 11,
¯ TOHRandParents, Families &Friends ofLesbians &Gays (PFLAG) will hold aGarage Sale to benefit
¯ both groups. The sale will run from 7am to 4pm at
¯ 5303 E. 27th Place atDarlington. Donations of sale ¯
items may be left at the Center up to Sept. 8.
Later, on Sept. 25, TOHR along with many
¯ others will host a Feast for Friends dinner which
¯ supports THENAMES PROJECT, theAIDS Quilt
; organization. TOHR’s dinner at the "Double T
; Ranch" will begin at 5pro and a $15 donation is
¯ requested. Those who cannot attend a dinner can
¯ join the dessert finale at the Southern Hills Marriott
; at 8:30. Into: TOHR, 743-4297 or THE NAMES
; PROJECT, 748-3111.
¯ Along with the First Annual Film Festival on
Oct: 7-9 (see TFN’s Entertainment column which
begins on page 8for more details as well as the
Film Festival ad on page 8), the Center will host
¯ TOHR’s first Coming Out Fair "Discovering ¯
Yourself" from noon to 6pro on Sat. Oct. 9th.
; TOHR is also kicking off a new project, the
CommUnity Pages, which is a Gay & Lesbian
; "yellow" or "pink" pages, or directory to Gay and
¯ Gay-friendly businesses and organizations.
; Tulsa formerly had such a directory called "Gay
Tulsa" which was published by former resident,
Kharma Amos. Amos, however, moved to the
; Northwest to attend seminary and for a number of
; years, no directory has been published. (Editor’s
¯ note:TulsaFamilyNewsalsoprovidesfreelistings
¯ in its directory to those who request them.) ¯
TOHR volunteers will be soliciting advertisers
¯ this fall and hope to publish a community directory
; early next year. Those interested in being listed or
¯ advertising should contact TOHR board member,
¯ Kerry Lewis, at POB 2687, Tulsa 74101 or by email
at pride_center@yahoo.corn
¯ Wichita: No GaysAIIowed
Tulsa Big Bros: No Prob.
¯ WICHITA/TULSA (AP/TFN) When the
¯ Sedgwick County Big Brothers Big Sisters went
¯ asking for mentors for a new program, everyone
¯ was invited to participate. Everyone exceptmembers
¯ of Ten Percent, a campus Gay and Lesbian group. ¯
Big Brother Big Sisters of Sedgwick County
¯ began its search for mentors by sending letters to
¯ Wichita State University student organizations. ¯
Thoughit wasn’t supposed to,Ten Percentreceived
¯ a letter soliciting volunteers. The letter said Big
: Brothers Big Sisters clients were "waiting for a
¯ mentor like you."
However, Ten Percent, which describes itself as
: a"campus organization for Lesbian, Bisexual,.Gay
: and Transgendered university students and their
¯ friends and allies," didn’t fit Big Brothers Big
¯ Sisters’ policy. The youth group does not allow
¯ Gay men or Lesbians to serve as mentors.
¯ Casey Ritchie, spokesman for Big Brothers Big
: Sisters, said theletter was part of a mass mailing to
¯ all Wichita State University groups. "We simply
¯ feel it’s not in the best interest of the youths we
: serve to put them in the middle of any potential
¯ controversy," Ritchie said.
The letter was addressed to Chris Taylor, vice
¯ president of the 50-member group, whose name is
¯ based on studies that suggest that 10% of the
: nation’s population is Gay. see 10%,p. 3
DIRECTORY P. 2
EDITORIAL p. $
US & WORLD NEWS P. 4
HEALTH NEWS P. 6
ENTERTAINMENT P. 8
COMMUNITY CALENDAR P. 9
D-I-Y-D P. 11
DYKE PSYCHE P. 12
GAY STUDIES P. 1:3
Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants
*Bamboo Lounge, 7204 E. Pine
*Boston Willy’s Diner, !742 S. Boston
Burger Sisters Restaurant, !545 S. Sheridan
*Empire Bar, 1516 S. Peoria
*Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th
*Gold Coast Coffee House. 3509 S. Peoria
*Jason’s Deli, 15th & Peoria
*Lola’s, 2630 E. 15th
*Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square
*St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st
*Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan
*Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main
*TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial . ~
*Tool~Box, t338 Ei 3rd ’:~ ~ ~ ~ -
832-1269
592-2143
835-1207
599-9512
583 -6666
749-4511
599-7777
749-1563
744-4280
745-9998
834-4234
585-3405
656804--018350682~
Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals
Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Celhdar 74%1508
*Affinity News, 8120 E. 21 610-8510
*Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000
Kent Balch & Associates, Health& Life Insurance 747-9506
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580
Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122
*Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955
*Borders Books &Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665
Brookside Jewdrv, 4649 S. Peoria- 743-5272
*CD Warehouse,’3807c S. Peoria 746-0313
Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117
Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700
Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468
*Dec¯ to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620
*Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady 587-2611
Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556
*Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838-8503
*Ross Edward Salon ~’- 584-0337, 712-9379
*Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 744-9595
Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. 610-0880
Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709
Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026
*Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 742-1460
Leaune M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349
Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440
*Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111
*International Tours 341-6866
Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750
*Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018
David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236
The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460
*Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070
Kdly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466
*Living ArtSpace, 19 E Brady 585-1234
*Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112
Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934
*Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951
David A. Paddock, CPA, 4308 S. Peoria, Ste. 633 747-7672
Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626
*Peace of Mind Bookstore, 1401 E.. 15 583-1090
The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2rid floor 743-4297
Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 747-593.2
Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617
Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921, 747-4746
*Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301
Patti Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829
*Tickled Pink, 3340 S. Peoria 697-0017
*Tulsa Book Exchange, 3749 S. Peoria 742-2007
*Tulsa Comedy Club; 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558
*Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563
Fred Wdch, LCSW, Counseling 743-1733
*Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767
Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities
AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593
*All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363
Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314
Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815
*B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa Canterbury Ctr. 583-9780
*Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201
*Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence
*ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314
*Community ofHope United Meth~tist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300
*Conmmnity Unitarian-UniversalistCongregation 749-0595
*Council Oak Men’s Chorale 585-COMC (2662)
*Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511
*Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 . 742-2457
Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & G.ay Catholics &
Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140
*Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777
918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615
POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159
e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlinlcnet
Publisher + Editor:
Tom Neal
Writers + contributors:
James Christjohn, Barry Hensley; J.-P. Legrandbouche,
Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers
Member of The Associated Press
I ssued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of this
,publication are protectedby US copyright 1998 by rJ,~ {:_~/’L@..
¯~~tnd ma’y: fiot~b~ r~l~rtc[ub~d e~th~ in~hoq~b’r in part vc~flioiit
~ written permi~si0n ~om ~th~ publisher:" l~bfi~a~ion of a name or
photo does not indicate a person’s sekual orientation. Correspondence
is assumed to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must
be signed & becomes the sole property of T~-4~ {:~ N=u4.
Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at disfribution
points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248.
*Free Spirit Women’ s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669
Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827
Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438
*HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611
*HIV Resource Consortium, 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194
*Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378
*House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. NorWood
Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437
*MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715
NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111
NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658
OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157
*OSU-Tulsa (formerly UCT, formerly Rogers U. whoever...)
*Our House, 1114 S. Quaker 584-7960
PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901
*Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674
Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152
*R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195
Rainbow Business Guild, POB 4106, 74159 665:5174
*Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325
O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults
O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth
St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882
St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140
*St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088
*Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171
TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225
Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105
Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only
743-4297
838-1222
Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform]Leather Seekers Assoc.
*Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule
*Tulsa Community College Campuses
*Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105
Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown
BARTLESVILLE
743-4297
749-8833
*Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Jolmstone 918-337-5353
OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN
*Borders Books &Music, 3209NWExpressway 405-848-2667
*Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907
TAHLEQUAH
*Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900
*Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900
*Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360
NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand
¯ ~ HINtesting~every other Tues, 5:30,8:30, call ~for dates....
EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
*Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253-7734
*Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main 501-253-7457
DeVito~s Restaurant, 5 Center St. 501-253-6807
*Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. 501-253-5445
MCC of the Living Spnng 501-253-9337
Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POE 429 501-253-2776
Old Jailhouse Lod~ng, 15 Montgomery 501-253-5332
Positive Idea Marketing Plans 501-624-6646
Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 50!-2531-6001
*White Light, 1 Center St. _ 501-253t4074
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS5
*Edi~a’s, 9 S. School Ave. 50i-~42-2845
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
*Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 ~5.. 32, Ste. U134 417 6’2Lq-4696
* is where you can find TFN. Not allare Gay-owned bu~ll are Gay-friendly.
"It’ s ironic that his qualities ofintegrity
and honesty got him elected in Arizona.
¯
Now thosequalitiesaregettinghimkicked
¯ out of the Army Reserve," Sobel said.
¯ Sobel added that since the
implementation of"don’t ask, don’t tell,"
¯
in 1994 the number of people discharged
¯ from the armed services has increased.
¯" "This demonstrates that the policy is not
¯
working," Sobel said. Lastyear the Army
¯ discharged 1,149 members of the armed
¯ fo.r..ccs ~or being G.ay~,ua.der. ’~do!~t. ask,.
~" don’Lt~ll." In 1~97, idi~lhw f6i~ 997
~: ~eopte-0ut of die miii~_y. In 1994; 6i7
:,’. ~eople were dismissed.
May, a lieutenant trained in nuclear,
chemical and biological warfare defense,
also is qualified as a paratrooper. He is
second-in-command of the 348th
Transportation Company.
"The boycott was a success and now it’s
over,;’ Jeff Sheehy, founder of Equal
Benefits Advocates, told HRC. "We are
grateful thatHRC supported this action;it
really made a difference. Together, we
liave sent amessage to corporateAmerica
that this issue is important to our
commlmity."
"Wehave changed the world, and given
that United is providing worldwide
benefits, that is not hyperbole," said San
Francisco Supervisor Mark Leno. "I want
to commend and recognize HRC’s early
and immediate support upon our request
to honor the Equal Benefits Advocates in
their designing of the boycott. Theboycott
certainly played arole in the outcome, as
did the courts."
United’s domestic partner benefits
package will offer a full range ofcoverage
toGayandLesbian couples. Thesebenefits
include medical and dental benefits, life
insurance, pension survivor rights,
bereavement and medical leave and flight
discounts. Heterosexual domesticpartners
will only receive non-economic benefits
such as bereavement or medical leave and
flight discounts. The decision will affect
97,000 United employees worldwide.
According to the SanFrancisco Chronicle,
the airline said their domestic partnership
program will not go into effect until May.
United came under heat from Gay and
Lesbian advocates this year for.joining in
a lawsuit to stop San Francisco from
making them comply with a local
ordinance that said they must offer
domestic partner benefits in order to do
business in the city. United argued that
they did not have to comply with the
ordinance because they were a national
company that only had to follow federal
government mandates.
U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilkin
recently ruled that the airlines had to
provide "soft benefits" such as
bereavement or medical leave. However,
they did not have to offer employees
economic benefits, such as pensions or
health insurance. Theairlines, represented
by the Air Transport Association, are
appealing the ruling.
Letters Policy
Tulsa Family News welcomes letters on issues
which we’ve covered or on ~ssues you think
need to be considered. You may request that
your name be withheld but letters must be
signed & have phone numbers, or be hand
delivered. 200 wordletters are preferred. Letters
to other publications will be printed as is
appropriate.
Guest Editorial: Keeping Gay Kids Safe Too
l~y Kerry Lobel, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
More than 50 million young people in grades K~ 12 trek
back to school this month. They bring with them the
concerns of their parents and their communities over the
issue of school safety. Seeing the flood of back-to-school
stories on the local news, I sense that something - or
someone - is missing from this picture.
Specifically, five million someones. That’s thenumber
ofestimatednumberofGLBTQ (Gay, -Lesbian, Bisexual,
transgendered or
questioning) students in
"our public schools. For
them, safetyis aneveryday
concern.
Let’s consider some
statistics:
- 28% Of Gay, Lesbian
and Bisexual youth drop
out of school because of
harassment and verbal
attacks, according to a
study conducted by the
U.S. DepartmentofHealth
and Human services.
- 22% ofboys and29%
of girls perceived as Gay
or Lesbian have reported
physical attacks by
students, according to
another study by the same
agency.
-80% of Gay and
Lesbian teens report
feelings of severe social
isolation at school,
What can you do?
Demand that your
school dlStrlet adopt
pollees that protect
students and teachers
from harassment and
discrimination; p~-ovlde
staff with workshops
and training; support
eurrio~la that includes
information about the
llv~s and contributions
of GLBT people; and
allow for the formation
of Gay-Stralght
Ai~’~anees. , .
according to statistics provided by the Gay, Lesbian, and
Straight Education Network.
Right now, our nation is having a public discussion
overwhat to do about violence in the schools. President
Clinton held a summit. Columbine, Colorado officials
put in place a policy of "zero tolerance" for harassment
and taunting. Many are pointing fingers at the
entertainment industry or the gunindustry or the Interact.
Republicans and Democrats, in typical fashion, are
pointing fingers at each other.
But once again, our voices are left out of the debate.
Our voices are enriched by painful experience, for who
among us can forget the frequency with which epithets
like "fag" and "dyke" are casually tossed around on the
playground, in the school cafeteria, inthe locker room,
Nevertheless, airlineindustry experts expect Other airlines
to follow United s lead~
¯ even in the school classroom.
¯¯ What can be done?
The good news is progress can- and is - being made to
¯ protect our schoolchildren. In the state of New York, for
." example, legislators this summer filed (but have not yet
¯ passed) the Dignity for All Students Act, which would
¯" direct schools to adopt policies to create a safe school
environment for all students. The proposal would revise
: state curriculum requirements to include human relations
¯ education. This curriculum Would enable students to
¯" :foster an appreciation- of people of different sexmd
¯ orientations as well as different racial or religious
backgrounds.
In the state of California, legislators defeated similar
legislation by one vote. That was disappointing, but the
bill progressed further than ever before, and I amhopeful
California and New York will join Connecticut,
Massachusetts and Wisconsinin protecting their students.
Across the country, hundreds of school districts have
examined ways to keep young people safe. Perhaps some
ofyoureading this columnhavejoined in this effort. I like
to say that equality begins at home- and there’s no better
place to join the battle for GLBT equality thzn at your
local school district.Groups such as the National Youth
Advocacy Coalition (www.nyacyouth.org) and the Gay,
Lesbian, and Straight Education Network
(www.glsen.org) are already working across the country
to improve the lives of GLBTQ youth.
What can you do? Demand that your school district
adopt polices that protect students and teachers from
harassment and-discrimination; provide staff with
workshops and training; support curricula that includes
information about the lives and contributions of GLBT
people; and allow for the formation of Gay-Straight
alliances and other clubs that address homophobia and
heterosexism in school.
As the award-wiuning documentary producer Debra
Chasnoff ("It’s Elementary") taught us, children are not
bornwith bigotry andintolerance- they learn it. Wouldn’t
it be wonderful, if we used back-to-school season as a
platform to address safety for our children?
Five million children are waiting for us to act.
Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force works to eliminateprejudice, violenceandinjustice
against Gay, Lesbian, Bisexualandtransgenderedpeople
at the local, state and national level. Aspart ofa broader
socialjustice movementforfreedom,justice andequality,
NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates
the diversity ofhuman expression and identity Where all
people mayfully.participate in society.
According to the Chronicle, a spokesman for the Air
Transport Association said that although none of the
group’s members except United is offering the benefits,
they probably will, even as they press for appeal
Just a few days after United Airlines announced ~ts
decision, AmericanAirlines officials informed theHuman
Rights Campaign that they would become the second
major U.S airline to offer domestic partner benefits to
Gay and Lesbian employee~ worldwide.
-.HI~ ~ s Birch~said of,American Airlines’ decision, "W~
are witnessing history and the beginning of a new era of
fairness for Gay and Lesbian airline workers. United’s
landmark decision has clearly had a domino effect, where
walls.of discrimination-.are:falling each day." And Birch
added, "American Airlines is HRC’s official airline and
we ate enormously proud that they have taken this
important step."
American’s domestic partner benefits package will
offer a full range of coverage to the partners of Gay and
Lesbian workers. These benefits include medical and
dental insurance, life insurance, pension survivor fights,
bereavement and medical leave and flight discounts. The
decision will affect more than 100,000 American and
American Eagle employees worldwide.
American and United Airlines join a greater trend in
corporate America where employers are increasingly
offering domestic partner benefits to Gay and Lesbian
employees. Overall more than 2,800 U.S. employers
currently offer domestic partner benefits, according to
HRC’s WorkNetprojectwhich tracks this trend. Currently
70 Fortune 500 companies offer these benefits, including
AT&T, Chase Manhattan Bank Corp., General Mills,
IBM, Mobil Oil,TimeWarner, and Walt DisneyCompany.
In addition, more than 99 colleges and universities, 73
state and local governments and hundreds of non-profit
organizations and trade umons are currently offering
domestic partner benefits, according to HRC’s WorkNet.
I-IRC’ s WorkNet project, which also assists companies
in implementing domestic partner benefits and with other
workplace issues, worked closely with GLEAM, the Gay
employee group atAMRCorporation, the parentcompany,
of American Airlines in formulating the policy.
Taylor said the group would use the incident to try to get
Big Brothers Big Sisters’ policy changed.
However, in contrast to the Wichita group, Tulsa’s Big
Brothers Big Sisters has no "’across the board" ban on
Lesbians or Gay men acting as mentors. The group’s
spokesperson, Martha Desmond, Community Relations
Director, did note that the issue probably would come up
in the screening interview and would be shared with the
child’s parent. She said she was not aware of the issue
having arisen before. According to executive director,
John Jacobs, the agency’s overriding concern had to be
the best interest of the child, especially since most of the
children served by the program may already have
challenges which they face. Also, Jacobs stated that while
a parent might veto a potential mentor because he or she
is Gay, a parent, for obvious reasons, may also chose to
take into consideration matching race, or religion or a
nnmber of Other factors as well.
¯ Call me foolish or
[ naive if you llke, but I
¯ still hope {or
an Oklahoma that
¯ could stand up to any
¯
other state in our
nation in justice, in
equal opportunity, in
: decent education. I
¯ believe our people are
¯ up to it. I just wish we
¯
had leaders who were.
by Tom Neal, editor & publisher
A few years ago, my father and I prevailed upon Sen.
Don Nickles to meet with us about Gay &Lesbian issues,
and we trekked over to Oklahoma City one warm winter
day. We figured with one conservative Republ,ican and
one progressive Democrat, one straightman and one Gay
one, we were presenting a bipartisan view on civil rights
issues. We were scheduled for 15 minutes and gotnearly
-30..........
When all was said and
done, Oklahoma’s senior
senator, hardly surprisingly
had not changed his
mindone little iota, though
he was quite civil. All we
got out of the meeting was
the c~mpliment that "you
are a good spokesman for
your cause." Gee thanks.
So it’s not as though I
really thought any
constituent comment
made to his office would
make a difference, but
periodically I like to try to
bdieve in our American
democracy: that if you
have faith and speak the
truth, that eventually right will prevail, despite the ample
evidence ofmostofourhistory whereminority Americans
are involved, be we Black, Indian, Female or Gay, or any
combination thereof.
But after reading one or another bits of tripe from the
senator about the recess uomination by Pres. Clinton of
openly Gay ambassador James Hormel, I figured I should
at least not let Mr. Nickles believe that all Oklahomans
agreed with him.
I called. I left a~ message.
I didn’t think much more about it.
That was until I got a form letter from our senator
saying how he agreed withmy position and in which letter
proceeded to trash Hormel.
Obviously that was not my position.
Now mind you, this sort of inverse idiocy ~s just the sort
of thing we’ve come to expect from Oklalaoma’s jtmior
senator, Jim Inhofe, of pornographic office computer
fame. Sen. Inhofe, who sings the praises of private
enterprise although he’s lived off the public dole most of
his ilfe, ts reputed by thosein this town who should know.
not to be particularly bright. And I can say from first hand
experience, that he’s rude to constituents. So the simple
incomp.etence of getting a constituent’ s~position enurely
wrong is somewhat expected from his office.
But from Nickles, we should be able to expect a bit
more. But then again, I also still believe in democracy.
So of course, I called again to ask if it’s possible for
Nickles’ office to do better. Because surely, surely no
matter how much evil been done in this state in one way
or another, nothing could have been so bad that we
deserve two Inhofes!
Nickles" staff did begrudgingly ad~nit that maybe they
should have gotten it right. But they made the claim that
they really don’t have to represent all the c~tizens of
Oklahoma, that all Nic.kles has to .do is ,to represent
whatever he said in his campaign that gothim elected and
that was enough. So forget about whatever you may have
believed about representative democracy, about the need
for elected officials to find solutio~as for all their
constituents, it’s winner take all and the rest be damned.
I can’t believe that this approach is in our state or
nation’s best ~nterests. I believe that Americans and
Oklahomans in particular, are fair-minded people who
would respond to leaders who sought compromise and
consideration for all instead of the "leaders" wehave who
wallow in prejudice and bigotry to fill their campaign
coffers and get elected (mind you, I’m not picking just on
Republicans, too many Oklahoma Democrats are just as
bad, the only difference is Democrats just don’t talk as
dirty about you when they’re stabbing you in the back).
Call me foolish or naive if you like, but I hope for an
Oklahoma that could stand up to any other state in our
nation injustice, in equal opportunity, in decent education.
I believe our people are up to it.
I just wish we had leaders who were.
Colorado Springs Holds¯
Gay Pride Parade & Rally
COLORADO SPRINGS, Cold¯ (AP)-Two-year-old :
Kyle wore a T-shirt that said "I love my Gay ¯
mommies," and knows 25-year-old Jennifer "
Porterfield as "mommy" and 32-year-old Becky "
Lewton as "mama." Each year Porterfield gets a card ¯
on Mother’ s Day and Lewton gets breakfast in bed on
"Becky’s Day." "We’re no different than a straight "
family," Lewton says. "We argue about the same "
stuff. Believe me." . "
They were among.those p.articipating .in the. m,n,th "
annual Colorado Spnngs PrideFest parade and ratly, "
held on the last Sunday in August. At the end of the ¯
parade, police estimated between 3,500 and 4,500 ¯
people filled Acacia Park for a celebration sponsored "
by the Pikes Peak Gay &Lesbian Community Center. "
"We’reteachers. We’relawyers. We’reprofessional "
pa,,,,,l~" Lewton said. "(The oarade) is certainly not ¯
s’~xV’t~l thing, and thats"- wha’t people think it is."
About a dozen protesters, some holding placards i
and a couple of them carrying crosses; stood at one ¯
street comer as the parade passed. Police reported no ¯
problems.
The .rally capped a week that brought Gay.iss..ues
into the headlines in Colorado Springs, including
those triggeredby ameeting oftheNational Religious
Focus on the Family Christian ministry xor aueg y
"inflammatory" rhetoric about homosexuality.
Focus respondedonSundayin~tfull-pagenewspaper
ad that said its staff members who attended the
conference had hopes of establ}shing dialogue but
were blind-sided by the accusataon.
Focus, and the Christian Coalition of Colorado,
also had criticized Colorado Springs Mayor Mary
~Lou Makepeace for sigmng a proclamation
recognizing Gay-Pride week.
ButCity Councilman Richard Skorman marchedin
the parade and told the crowd at the park the mayor
would have faced controversy regardless of her
response to PrideFest organizers’ request for the
proclamation.
The banners in the parade heralded civil,rights
groups, support groups, Gay pageant winners and
Gay-friendly churches, includingFirstCongregational
Church, All Souls Unitarian Church and Pikes Peak
Metropolitan Community Church.
The handful of protesters staked out the no,rthw.e,st
comer of Platte Avenue and Tejon Street wlaere me
six-block parade terminated. Parade participants
occasionally taunted and blew kisses to the protesters
who called for the marchers to "’repent."
Missoula Gets First Gay
Community CenterAgain
MISSOULA (AP) - Wanting to show they’re "just
next-door people," volunteers will open a downtown
Gay and Lesbian community center here Wednesday¯
Founders of the Wes tern MontanaGay and Lesbian
Community Center have Seen raising money for the
project since last fall and now have about $19,000
from 50 paid members.
But finding an affordable rent in Missoula’ s visible
down~own axea wa.s ~ bigger challenge than raising
the money, supporters said. With a rent budget of
$800 a month and their goal focused on downtown,
themembers havebeencombing thereal-estate market
formonths:: ...... -, ’ -: - -’ ’-~. ":.
What they ended up with is a two-room office state
wi~ hardly=the room for a dance or even a public
lectfire. But it’s a start, said Cat Carrel, one of the
lcadera~pf the effort. ’qlais is a start-up space," she,,
said,"and itrsa good first start-up. Wecan get goln~.
Missoula last had a Gay and ,L~,,sbian commumty
~enter during the first half of the 80s, when the nowdefunct
organization."Out in Montana" hadoffices in
the Wilma Building in downtown Missoula. After 15
years without asocial and service-oriented center; the
town’ s Gays and Lesbians wanted aplace to meet that
was not a bar, said Randy Chancy, executive director
of the Missoula AIDS Council.
The center’s fledgling efforts had a wide variety of
allies, from student groups at the Uni~iersity of
Montana to several area churches. Early in the effort,
the center got a $1,000 grant from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. The money will go
toward a Healthy Lifestyles Program, which .will
include health and mental health support serwces,
stress reduction and education about sexually
transmitted infections.
The Gay Outdoors group, Gays and Straights
Together, and other organizations will also use the
community center as their headquarters.
’°I’he idea is to have our space available for other
groups, and to use our office for as a resource to bring
other groups together," said volunteer Casey Charles.
The group has also drawn a $5,000 grant from
Broadway Cares, a fund of ~the actors’ equity
organization inNew York. It willhelp starta speakers’
bureau and foster work on HIV prevention.
The center will have security measures in place, but
its members stress they’ve had no trouble with
opposition to the center.
OtherMontanacities have services forGay, Lesbian,
bisexual and transgender people, but the. closest
community centers are in Spokane and Boise.
The group is working on bylaws and hopes to have
a board of directors in place by the end of the year.
Utah Bans Unmarried
Foster Parents
OGDEN, Utah (AP) -The s tate Division of Child and
Fnmily Services has adopted apolicy to bannnmarried
couples from providing state-sponsored foster care.
The new policy, adopted Friday, August 27th, by a5-
2 vote by the DCFS board, defies standards set by the
Child Welfare League of America, a professional
association representing more than 1,000 voluntary
and public agencies.
Board chairman Scott Clark, the drivingforcebehind
the decision, said unmarried, unrelated adults living
together abuse children more often than married men
and women. "I read in the newspaperjust last night of
two cases in which boyfriends abused the children in
their girlfriends’ homes," Clark said.
In the past, Clark has also referred to Gay couples
- who, because they cannot m.ar~,,_, w!ll be b~ar~,e~,,
from fostercare-as contributing to gendercontusion
of children in their care.
Only twoboardmembers, Regnal GarffandVirgrnia
Higbee, opposed Clark’s recommendations. They
argued the new rule would narrow the field of foster
parents, who are already outnumbered nearly 2-to- 1
by children in state custody who need homes.
Garff, a retired juvenile court judge, also criticized
Clark’s example because neither of the cases sited
involved foster children. "I am relterating my
opposiuon to this whole thing.., that example is
poorly conceived and poorly argued," he said.
The changebrings matches similar state restncuons
¯
passed earlier this year for adoptive parents.
But groups like the Child Welfare League of
¯ America, the American Bar Association and the
¯ American Civil Liberties Union have opposed such
policies. Opponents say too many quesuons are left
¯ unanswered by the policy. For example, there is no
¯ provision for common-law marriages, which go into
¯¯ effect after seven 3,ears. And it is unclear if the rules
apply when an unrelated adult rents living space from
¯
a foster or adoptive paxent.
¯ The Child Welfare League is so staunch ih its
¯ opposition that the association recently sent DCFS Director Ken Patterson aletter asking its end°rsement
¯
be removed from the agency’s po!icy manual...Th,e
¯ board gwiftly a~ounrt0datedthat reituestb~removing
¯ thephrase that refers toDCFS policy as "in accordance
with the standards of the Child Welfare League of
¯ America."
¯ Gay Pastor’s Church
: Work Continues in Ames
¯
¯ AMES, Iowa (AP) -Though technically an outcast in
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Steve
¯ Sabin’s ministry continues at Lord of Life Lutheran
Church.
The ELCA has removed Sabin from its roster of
] ministers because he has a Gay parmer. The church
Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC
Certified Public Accountant
a professional corporation
747-5466
4021 S. Harvard, Suite 2.1_0,.Tulsa 74135
MCC-United
formerly Family of Faith & Greater Tulsa MCC
Joined as one body of believers¯
Come celebrate with us.
Sunday Services, 11 am
1623 North Maplewood, 838-1715
HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am
Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm
3210b S. Norwood, Irdo: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon
Sandra Hill
Licensed Professional & National Certified
Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist
Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation
After Hours Appointments Available
2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111
Community Unitarian Universalist
Congregation
at Community o]Hope
2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595
A Welcoming Congregation
Mingo Valley Flowers
9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145
918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-4~A.-5934
Family :Owned & ,Operated ....
Trinna L. W. Bui’i ows, LSW, ACSW
Ghild, Family, Individual & Gouplo Psychothorapy
(918) 743-9559
2121 South Columbia, Suite 420
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518
Unity Church of Christianity
Loving, Inclusive Christian Spirituality
SundaF Worship Services
9:15 and 11:00 a.m.
www.openmindopenheart.org/Tulsa/Unity
3355 S. Jamestown Avenue
(918) 749-8833
Rev. Steve Colladay, Minister
Home of the Daily Word
OKLAHOMA COMMUNICATIONS
Local- Long Distance
Cellular- Paging
747-1508
Free Car Adaptor &
Leather Case with New Cell Phone
The Pride Store
-1307 E. 38th, 2rid floor
in Tulsa’s Gay Community Services Center
743-GAYS (743-4297)
6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday
12-9 pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the Center
KEVIN BURLESO N
Keller Williams Realty
7.12-2252
Burleson@kw.com
2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114
An Independent Member Broker
Housekeeping &
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Contact Paul on: (918) 582 8460
POB 3150, Tulsa, OK, 74101
OPENARMS,OPENMINDS,OPENHEARTS
Saint Aidan
4045 N. Cincinnati. 425-7882
Saint John
4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381
Saint Dunstan
5635 East 71st, 492-7140
Trinity
501 S. Cincinriati, 582-4128
The Episcopal Church Welcomes You
earlier this month voted to keep its ride requiring
homosexual ministers to remain celibate. "My call
right now is ministry at Lord of Life," Sabin said.
"I’m going to stop holdingmy breath for the ELCA to
come along."
When Sabin was.removed from the church’s list of
ordained ministers last year, the 150-member
congregation supported him. By keeping him as their
pastor, the congregation risks .expulsion from the
While Bishop Philip Hougen of the Southeastern
Iowa Synod said he is "uncomfortable" with Sabin as
Lord of Life’s minister, he has not asked the Synod
Council to expel the congregation. ’To remove them
in,order tomakesome sort ofpoint about purity seems
t0be~to benot worth the effort," Hougen said. "I don’t
want to cause any more pain."
At the Churchwide Assembly earlier this month in
Denver, ELCA leaders passed a resolution that
reaffirmed previous assembly statements that
committed the church to continuing discussion of the
issue of ordination of Gays and Lesbians. "How long
do you have to keep studying it?". Sabin asked last
week.
Sabin, who has two daughters, was ordained as a
minister in 1985 andbecame pastor at the Lord of Life
Church inAmes later that year. He was married at the
time, but the 10-year marriage ended i.n 1990. Sabin
began living with Karl von Uhi abont four years ago.
Former Lesbian Couple
Must Share Custody
GOLDEN, Colo. (AP) - A district judge has ordered
a former Lesbian couple to share custody of a 10-
year-old girl they raised, but ruled the youngster must
live in New York with her biological mother during
the school year.
Jefferson County DistrictJudge Christopher Munch
said he based the decision on what he considered the
best interests of the child. The youngster will spend
summers and school vacations in Colorado.
He noted she will be able to make friends and attend
a neighborhood school in Albany, but if she remains
in Colorado, she will have to commute daily from
Aurora to Jefferson County, rougtfly a ’40-mile round
trip, Munch said. "(Gift M) will be living in a race
middle-class, rural to suburban home with her morn
and stepdad," Munch said.
Thejudge emphasized that he did not consider the
past rdationship of the two women or their sexual
orientation when he made the decision.
Identifiedin court papers as "Gift M," the youngster
was raised by Leaune Bueker, her "psychological"
mother, and Kelly Cunningham, her bio1ogicat mother,
until the two women separated two years ago.
The womenwere awardedjoint custody in February
1998, but the arrangement became complicated when
Ms. Cunninghammarried Michael Naylor andmoved
to Albany. Ms. Bueker remains single. Mrs. Naylor
"was pleased with the decision. "The judge gave
appropriate (onsiderat~on to the facts and came up
with a. decision that was difficult to make," said
attorney Ron Litvak. Ms. Bucker declined comment.
Sen. Hatch Apologizes to
Blacks But Not To Gays
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Sen. Orrin Hatch said
Wednesday hehad been "inarticulate" and apologized
to NAACP officials for a statement in which he
compared Gay civil rights with black issues.
. The Utah Republican, who is a GOP presidential
candidate, came under fire earlier this month for
saying,"People of color can’t do anything about their
color." Hatch continued: "I do believe Gay people
have a choice to live within the legal rules or not.
That’s why we have civil-rights laws to protect
African-Americans from discrimination."
JeanettaWilliams, presidentof the SaltLakebranch
of the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People, called Hatch’s remark "a poor
articulation of what he was trying to say."
Heather Barney, a Hatchspokeswoman, said Hatch
"apologized for being inarticulate." "He did note that
he was coming from a strictly legal perspective, that
there is judicial precedent that the courts have treated
race as distinct from sexual orientation, which is the
point h~ was making," Barney said.
Darin Hobbs of the Gay and Lesbian Political
Action Committee in Salt Lake said Hatch did the
right thing by apologizing to the NAACP. Next, he
saidHatch shouldapologize to Utah’s Gaycommunity.
"The senatoris unable to recognize the commonalities
between homophobiaandracism," Hobbs said. "Both
are bigotries rooted in fear and ignorance."
Williams and Edward J. Lewis, president of the
NAACP tri-state conference for Utah, Nevada and
Idaho, said they felt Hatch’s’apology was sincere.
They were scheduled to meet with Hatch at 1 p.m.
but di’dn’t arrive at his Salt~Lake office until-an hour
later. Hatch pushed back other meetings and talked
with them for 45 minutes. "The importance of this
meeting was we established a need to sit down and
have a dialogue with him," Lewis said.
Williams said she also discussed concerns about
Hatch’s voting record on civil-rights issues. She said
Hatch made no promises but agreed to consider the
NAACP’s views. Hatch and Sen. Bob Bennett, RUtah,
received F’s in the NAACP’s latest
congressional report cards.
Also, Bennett apologized to theNAACPfor saying
Texas Gov. George W. Bush would win the GOP
presidential nomination unless "some woman comes
forward, let’s say some black woman ~omes forward,
with an illegitimate child that he fathered."
Comparing the remarks by the two senators, Lewis’
said: "On,e, was more severe, but they were both in the
same pie.
Williams and Lewis said Hatch and his wife, Elaine,
are lifelong NAACPmembers. Hatch co-sponsored a
bill to award civil-rights pioneer Rosa Parks the
Congressional Gold Medal, whichis Congress’ highest
honor.
Barney said Hatch has enjoyed a good relationship
with the NAACP. "His door has always been open to
Jeanetta and the NAACP," she said. "They meet
regularly and he is proud of some of the things he has
been able to accomplish which benefit minority
communities in Utah."
Hatch has previously raised the ire of Gay civilrights
groups. In 1988, he called the Democratic Party
"’the party of homosexuals; they are the party of
abortion." InJune, he told delegates to the Republican
state convention they could be proud because "we
don’t have the Gays and Lesbians with us."
Gay Couple Murdered
After Recording Message
REDDING, California (AP) - Two brothers killed a
Gay couple after forcing them to record an answering
machine message saying they had suddenly become
ill and were leaving town for medical help, authorities
say. Benjamin Williams, 31, and James Willianas, 29,
could face the death penalty ifconvicted of murdering
Gary Matson, 50, and Winfield Mowder, 40. The men
were found shot to death in their bed July 1. in rural
Happy Valley near Redding, northeast of San
Francisco. The suspects have pleaded innocent.
According to the court documents, sheriff’s deputies
went to the victirrisr home after Matson’s relatives
thought the answering machine message sounded
forced and odd, and may have been someone else’s
voice. The message said the. victims were headed to
San Francisco to see "a specialist friend"for medical
help and would return "in about a week."
"Off the message, it’s evident that the person who
recorded themessageis under distress andwas possibly
forced to make the recording," officers said. In the
background, another voice can be heard saying, "just
calm down."
Based on information from Matson’s father and
brother, investigators said the message was recorded
"very dose" to the time of the slayings. Thedocuments
were unsealed following a legal challenge by several
news organizations.
Evidence in the brothers’ homes also allegedly
links themto the arson ofthree California synagogues.
Those fires caused more than $1 million in damages.
Authorities also found handouts from the World
Church of the Creator, a white supremacist group,
which preaches extreme racial and religious views.
AIDS Deaths
Decline
ATLANTA (AP) - Two years after
powerful new drugs brought a sharp drop
in AIDS deaths nationwide, new
government figures released today show
the declinein AIDS deaths slowed sharply
a year later. AIDS killed 17,047 people in
the United States last year - a decline of
20% from 1997. From 1996 to 1997, the
drop in deaths was a much more dramatic
42%, which health officials attributed to
the effectiveness of new drugs.
"As we anticipated, we are now seeing
the first signs ofa slowing in this trend,’"
said Dr. Helene Gayle, director of HIV
prevention for-the federal Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, said
during the National HIV Prevention
Conference. "In a period of only two
years, new combination therapies cut the
annual level of death in half," she said.
"But for the time being, it appears that
much of the benefit of these new therapies
has beenrealized." In 1995, 49,351 people
died from AIDS in the United States. By
1996, that dropped to 36,792, and the
number was down to 21,222 in 1997.
TheCDClisted several possible causes
for the slowdown in reductions of AIDS
deaths. Most people who know they have
HIV are already being treated, Gayle said.
Drug resistance among some AIDS
patients causes the treatment to fail, and
other patients fail to keep up with, the
complicatedjuggling of pills they,have to
take for the drugs to be effective. New
HIV infections in 1998 were estimated at
roughly 40,000 - a number that’ s held
steady for the past decade.
The CDC said AIDS continues to kill
blacks in higher numbers than other racial
groups. Blacks, who make up about 13%
of the population, accounted for 49% of
AIDS deaths in 1998. Thirty-two% of
deaths were among whites and Hispamcs
made up 18%. "In many ways, the story of
how well we do in HIV and AIDS will be
told by how well we do with the African-
American population," Gayle said.
The three-day conference, organized
by theCDCand 17 other agencies, features
2,000 scientists, doctors, researchers and
advocates addressing efforts to monitor
and prevent the spread of HIV, the virus
that causes AIDS.
Gayle and others opened the conference
by warning against complacency. "It’s
becoming increasingly difficult to get
people to pay attenuon to HIV prevention
and that in and of itsdf is a primary reason
for this conference," she said.
Since the 1980s, more than 300,000
have died of AIDS. The recent success of
some treatments have made some people
complacent about the disease. "Despite a
growing complacency about the need for
HIV prevention, HIV remains a serious
disease that is still very much with us and
there is a greater need for HIV prevention
today more than ever," she said.
Black Churches To
Step Up AIDS Fight
BOSTON (AP) - Local black religious
leaders plan tomeetwith state Department
of Public Health officials and members of
the AIDS Action Committee to discuss
ways to better educate their congregations
about the disease. The meeting, involving
26 black leaders, signals a change in the
black church’s approach to AIDS,
religious scholars and activists told the
Boston Globe.
They said the conservative theological
views about homosexuality, intravenous
drug use and premarital sex held by many
black religious leaders have led them to
shy away from the issue.
But leaders are now seeing they must
pay attention to the disease because of
their obligation to help people in need,
according to Pemissa Seele, founder of
the New York-based Balm in Gilead
ministry. The ministry raises AIDS and
HIV awareness among black
congregations nationwide. "Their
responsibility to save lives has nothing to
do with their theology on homosexuality
or sex outside marriage," Seele said.
"We’re talking about two different
apples."
In the Boston area, only about 90 of450
black churches promote HIV awareness,
the Globe reported. Meanwhile, blacks
account for 26% of all AIDS cases in
Massachusetts, though they make up only
6% of the population. Nationally, AIDS is
the leading cause of death for black men
and women ages 25 to 44.
Rev. Conley Hughes, pastor ofConcord
Baptist Church in Boston’s South End,
said thechurchcanbe apowerful influence
in the fight against AIDS because it has
historically been an institution blacks
could count on. Many blacks consider the
church society’ s most credible source of
authority, Hughes said.
Experts-Discuss
Vaccine Progress
BALTIMORE (AP) - Doctors and
scientists from 20 countries gathered in
Baltimore las t month for a conference to
. discuss progress made in the effort to find
an AIDS vaccine. The annual meeting,
which began years ago as an informal
gathering of Dr. Robert C. Gallo, codiscoverer
of the AIDS virus, and his
colleagues, has grown into one of the
largest AIDS conferences in the w6rld.
More-than 1,000 physicians, scientists
and others are expected to attend the
conference, hosted by Gallo and the
University of Maryland’s Institute of
Humafi Virology, which he directs. "It is
possible that the components for a
reasonably successful vaccine are almost
there, in our hands, but we don’ t know it
yet," Gallo told The(Baltimore) Sun. ’Tm
much more positively inclined than a year
or two ago." However, it could be years
before a vaccine is developed.
At the conference, Gallo expected one
of the more significant discussions to deal
withTat, or transactivating protein, which
is made by HIV. Researchers have found
that Tat plays akey role inHIV spreading.
"You can regard it as one of the missiles
from HIV infection that leads to the
problems in the immune system and
facilitates the virus’ spread," said Gallo,
who has done some of the work.
Researchers have -shown that
vaccinating monkeys against Tat lowers
the amount of the virus and lessens the
immune system’s impairment.
Gallo and his collaborators have tested
Tat in humans for safety, both as a
preventive vaccine and as a therapeutic
one. He said his group’ s strategy will be to
create a sort of vaccine cocktail, by
combining aninactivatedTatprotein with
another vaccine approach.
Over the past 10 years, more than 40
preventive AIDS vaccines have been
tested worldwide involving about 10,000
volunteers. Only oneAIDS vaccine, made
by the California company VaxGen, is
headed for the-testing stage that will
determine if it prevents HIV.
Medical
Excellence And
Compassionate
Care Since
1926.
¯ ¯ ST. JOHN MEDICAL CENTE_R
q P Medical Excellence. Compassionate Care
Are You Gay or Bisexual?
Are You Native American?/
Vulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men’s
Support Group is here for you!
¯ Evening support group meetings
¯ Relationship workshops
¯ Short trips, outings and retreats
¯ Free HIV testing
For information call Tulsa Native Amencan AiDS Prevention Project
at 582-7225 Ext. 208 or 218
Dial-Up Accounts
Dedicated ISDN
Connections
Virtual Hosting
Visit our web page
"www.igisweb.net"
(918) 622-4965
I nternet Marketing
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On-Sit~ Setup Available
Stay Healthy Naturally
Wellness
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Longevity
Dr. Terrance L. Sullivan
Doctor ofNaturopathy
Certified Colonic Hygenist
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CertifiedAccupressurist
provides consultations by appointment
Iridology
Hair Analysis
Herbal Supplements
Pain Control
Nutritional Analysis
4520 SO. Peoria, Brookside
712-1400
¯Transplants for HIV
Patients Possible
PITF~BURGH (AP) - Only a handful of
medical centers around the world are
willing to transplant organs in HIVpositive
patients - a- controversial
procedure both in terms ofmedical success
and societal acceptance. But surgeons at
an international liver transplantation
conference saidmuch ofthat could change
as aggressive new therapies like the socalled
AIDS "cocktail" allow people
infected with HIV to live longer.
"As far as I’m concerned, they’re all
patients," said transplant surgeon Dr. Nigel
Heaton of King’s College Hospital in
London, where four HIV patients have
been given transplants. "I don’t believe in
social reasons for exclusion."
What he does want is data - hard
numbers that will prove or disprove the
theory that transplants can help people
infected with HIV. Key toHIV transplants
i s finding patients who are healthy enough
to qualify and are willing to take care of
their new organs once they get them.
Another key is controlling hepatitis C,
which is often found in HIV patients and
invariably reinfects the new liver once i~
has been transplanted.
At this point, there is very little data on
transplantation for patients infected with
HIV, the virus which causes AIDS, and
no papers have been published, experts
said. Only recently have a select few
surgeons performed the procedure
knowingly, although there is some
historical data from before patients were
checked for HIV infections. "’People think
we’re crazy for doing it," said Dr. John
Fung, head’of the Um~ersity ofPittsburgh
Medical Center’ s transplant center.
But early indications show that liver
transplantation is effective in reversing
the complications of end-stage organ
failure m some HIV-positive patients,
Fung said. He presented findings at the
conference on four HIV patients who
underwent the procedure between
September 1997 and March 1999. In all
the cases, the liver transplants reversed
the distinguishing characteristics of
chronic liver failure, including fluid
retention, muscle wasting, fatigue and
jaundice. HIV traces remained
undetectable with patients who continued
the drug combination with protease
inhibitor and none developedopportunistic
infections, Fung said.
Medical experts often question Fung
and others about the.use of scarce resources
- in this case, healthy human organs- and
the safety of surgeons operating on HIV
Calif. A! ow
Needle Exchange
SACRAMENTO,Calif. (AP)- Tryi:n~ to
slow the spread of AIDS, the Legislature
sent Gov. Gray Davis a,bill that would let
cities and counties setup n~dle-exchange
pro~s for ~g addicts. Cmwent state
law b~s such progrmns butfour CNifo~a
cities - Berkeley, Los Angeles, San
Fr~cisco and Santa Cruz - ~d M~n
County have adopted emergency
ordi~s ~lowing needle exchm~ges.
Davis’ office said the Democratic
governor has not taken a position on the
Nll, wNch passed the state Senate.
At le~t 15 o~er states have authorized
ne~e-exch~gepro~s,~ough~ere
~e exch~ge progr~s operating in more
th~ twi~ that m~y states, according to
AssemNy~vomanKe~ M~zoni’s office~
Supporters of her proposN sNd studies
have shown exchange progrmns redu~
the spread of the A IDS vires.
There lmve been atleast six o~erneedleexch~
ge bills intr~uced in ~ifo~a
since 1993. They either died in the
Legislature or were vetoed by then-
Repubti~ Gov. Pete Wilson.
infected patients in a procedure that
Chemist Gets $7 m.
For AIDS Research
NEW BRUNSWICK,’N.J. (AP) - A
Rutgers University chemist who helped
researchers study the most lethal part of
the AIDS virns will get nearly $7 million
in federal fnnds to continue his work. Dr.
Edward Arnold has won an award from
the National Institutes of Health that will
double federal suppor~ of his research.
The prize, called MERIT for Method ~o
Extend Research in Time, will extend his
funding from a five-year grant for $3.4
million to a grant spanning 10 years and
providing nearly $7 million.
His work is aimed at developing longerlasting
drugs to fight the deadly AIDS
virus. "The whole philosophy of research
is the more you know, the better chavce
you have to fight something," Arnold told
the East Brunswick Home News Tribune.
The new funding will aid his study of a
protein called reverse transcriptase, or
RT. The protein plays a key role in the
virus’ early life cycle, giving itinsm~ctions
to duplicate its deadly properties. It is the
involves a lot of blood . . molecule targeted by anti-AIDS drugs
S0cietallv sorn0 ~o,,~,i,~ ,~;.J ~,.,, ¯ includingAZT, DDI, Nevirapineand3TC.
whether org~a~s sho~d~’tiao~’~ : The virus colnmonly mutates so quickly
lifestyle choices may have led to their " that it becomes irmnune to drugs. Arnold
infection, said the doctors, who prefer that
medical reasons determine who gets a
transplant.
Recently, the University of California
in San Francisco received a $1 million
grant to perform transplants on HIV
patients. The state money will fund
transplants for 10 people, and doctors
hope the information will help build a
database to determine if the operation can
be a medical success in HIV patients. "I
think there is a great deal of trepidation in
the medical community, and I don’ t think
it’s ill-founded at all," said Peter Stock,
associate professor of surgery at UCSF.
"We have to be very cautious."
While some insurance companies in the
." is trying to devise a way to see what drug
resistance looks like. Heis mapping three-
. dimensional pictures of the RT protein,
_" getting a look at its detailed atomic
" structure. Such views can help researchers
¯ see how the virus interacts with" drugs.
". "We need to understand how drugs can
¯ fail," Arnold said. "If we can do that, we
- can be more aware of how to design them
.* - how to avoid those hurdles."
¯ His work first gained prominence in
1992 when he and others created a threedimensional
computer model of the RT
protein. Arnold’ s workis also focusing on
the design and development of an AIDS
vaccine, something that has eluded
researchers thus far.
J
by James Christjohn
TFN entertainment writer
Hey there, hi there; ho there! Whereho?
There ho? Who you callin’ a ho? Sorry,
just had to. Something about Disney
inspires that kind of mania, especially
after having lived with a Beast for so long.
(editor’s note: aren ’tlucky
the Beast is occasionally
quitefor-bearing?)
Speaking of beasts,
Beauty and the Beast is
here! They’ve been
building sets, chopping
sets, recreating and creating
costumes for a month
now, working 15 hour
days[ And it looks to be
faaaabulous ! Especially
those moving pillars., I
LOVE those moving
pillars t There’s just something
so intrinsically...
phallic about moving
pillars ! I want somefor my.
house! Really the- magic
begins September 7 and
runs through the 19. And
the conductorand assistant
conductor, James and Brent, are very
handsome and char~i,"ng men, so say hi if
you can when they re out on ~e town!
Call 596-7111 for tix.
Lynn Flewdling has written one of the
best series of Gay fantasy novels to come
along since Mercedes Lackey’s "Last
Herald Mage" trilogy. "Luck in the
Shadows", which I’ve written of before;
"Stalking Darkness", and the just out
"Traitor’s Moon" follows the trail of
intrigue and romance of Seregil and Alec,
the main protagonists.
I recommendthe books highly to anyone
¯ with or without an interest in the genre.
They have everything: magic, intrigue,
romance, murder, and just about
everything else you can think of, in a
artistically perfect package. The events
and characters are such that you hate the
book to end, and the characters stay with
I wondered ff the
average fantas~ r~.a+der
would follow that far
- they have, and
¢ladly for
the most part.
I eet letters from
straiCht Curs
sayln~ essentially
"I shouldn’t be ok with
t~s, but I amP’...
Others ~ve sald it
made it ~sler to talk
~th Gay relatives.
youlong after the lastpage
is turned.
~Lynn was gracious
enoughto spare some time
for some questions while
working on the new book,
"The Bone Doll’s Twin:"
JC: I have enjoyed the
Nightrunner series. Your
characters are so welldrawn,
that theyseem real
enough to wonder what
they’re up to long after the
book isfinished.
LF: I’m so glad to hear
that the story and the
characters work for you.
That’s high praise indeed.
That’s how I feel about
my favorite books.
JC: What inspired you
to write these characters
as "Gay" men (Seregil & Alec, the
protagohists) ?
LF: Well, as I recall, I wanted to create
"a hero that challenged the stereotypical
molds set by Eddings. or Jordan (well
known fantasy writers). Hence his
profession and methods. The Gay part -
not: sure. Partly the mold breaking, bu~
mostly just how he wanted to be. Perhaps
he’s my animus? Whatever the case, the
characterjust cameout that way and I love
him. Alec was more ofa conscious choice.
I could see where it was all headed,
see Fantasy, p. 14
by.TFN staff
As we move into the fall, Oklahoma’s
arts calendar is increasingly busy. On
Sept. 11, at 8pm at Holland Hall’ s Branch
Theatre, Richard Gere Productions, the
Loseling Institute and Unity Church of
Christianity and Unity Center of Tulsa
present "The Mystical Arts of Tibet"
featuring the Drepung Loseling Monks.
This group ofmonks have performed with
composer Phillip Glass, and performers
such as Paul Simon, Natalie Merchant,
the Beastie Boys and others. For tickets,
call 582-6624 or 749-8833.
Already open at Gilcrease is an exhibit
of Inuit artwhich will be shownuntil Nov.
7th. The .works, which include sculpture,
prints and tapestries, draw on a private
collection which has never before been
publicly exhibited. Pieces from
Gilcrease’s-collection will complement
the exhibit. Gilcrease anthropology
curator, Jason Jackson, suggested that
these works will appeal to those who
appreciate traditional Native American
art as well as those who like modem art
coming outofwestern Europeantmditions.
hffo: 596-2700.
Local youth activist Emily Sizemore is
one of the organizers of Arts for AIDS, an
event scheduled for Sept. 25th. They are
looking for singers, other musicians,
writers, actors, visual artists, etc. If
interestedinparlicipating, please call 361-
1000.
That same evening, the Tulsa
Philharmonic will open see Arts, p. 14
"It’s Elementary"
Tolerance Film Provokes Debate
CHICAGO/TULSA (AP/TFN) - Thirdgraders
in New York debate the idea of
Gay mamage. Storytime for first- and
second-graders ata school in Cambridge,
Mass., includes the book "Asha’ s Mums"
about a little girl who has two Lesbian
mothers. Eighth-graders in San Francisco
fire questions at a Gay man and Lesbian
who visit their classroom. All areexcerpts
from a controversial documentary, "It’s
Elementary: Talking About Gay Issues In
School," which first caused a stir when
several public television stations decided
to air it this summer.
Now it’s being used by many schrol
districts nationwide as a training tool for
teachers, most recently in Chicago -
unifying what some say is a growing
move to incorporate Gay and Lesbian
issues into curriculum, from elementary
to high school.
Critics say talkabout suchissues belongs
at home. But others say it’s a matter of
dealing with issues that students already
see every day innewspapers,ontelevision,
in movies - and maybe even in their own
communities or classrooms.
"Both schools and families have to
address the issue somehow because it’s
there - and it’s not going back into the
closet," says Tony D’Augelli, a
psychologist at Penn State’s College of
Health and Human Development who
studies Gay youth ~sues. see Elem.,p.15
T
Call today to receive a
1999-2000 season brochure
Season subscriptions,
starting at $44for adults,
are now on SALE!
FOR 1999-2000 SEASON BROCHURES CALL
TULSA~PERA
1999-2000 SEASON
MEET THREE WOMEN
To.DIE FOR
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Season tickets on sale now!
Save 25% off single ticket prices!
Season tickets start at just
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FOR 1999-2000 SEASON BROCHURES CALL
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¯ Mas~Ywol"~s "
. Classics usic
on . "toe RocRs"
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FOR 1999-2000 T~CKaT INFORMATION CALL
1999-2000
Celtic Series
SAVE $10 by purchasing the entire series!
Natalie MacMaster An Irish Christmas
October 8t~ & 9~ ¯ 8pro November 21,~ ¯ 3pro
Gaelic Storm (Celtic BonusO
The ’Party Band’
from the blockbuster movie 17tanic
January 19m & 20za ° 8pro
Trinity Irish Dance Company Anam
February 20= ¯ 3pro March 3,1 &
~c~~h~d Gere Productions & the Loseling Institute present
The Mystical Arts of Tibet
Sacred Music Sacred Dance for World Healing
with the famed Multiphonic Singers
of Drepung Loseling Monastery
September 11, 8 pm
Branch Theatre, Holland Hall School
5666 East 81 st Street
Jointly sponsored by Unity Church of
Christianity and Unity Center of Tulsa
Call 749-8833 for tickets.
T 0 H R
L M
E TI-VAL
BER
~ SUNDAYS
Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service ~ 6pro, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Service - 1 lam, 2545 S. Yale, 749-0595 (Welcoming)
Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist
Sbiviee - t 1am, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-13 I4
Metropolitan Community Church United
Service, llam, 1623 North Maplewood, Info: 838-1715
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc~
Sunday School - 9.’45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood
Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America)
Mass --11am, 205 W. King (east of N. Denver), Info: 582-3088
Unity Church of Christianity
Services: 9:15 & 11:00 am, 3355 S. Jamestown, 749-8833
University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance
6:30 pm, Meets at the Canterbury Ctr., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780
~ MONDAYS
Mixed Volleyball, Helmerich Park, 71st & .Riverside, 6pm, call Shawn at 243-5190.
HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required.
Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard)
HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
7:30pm. 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
2nd Mon]each mo. 6:30pm, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard
Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551
Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals - call for times, info: 585-COMC (2662)
~ TUESDAYS
AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call for next meeting date. 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551
Live And Let Live, Community of Hope United Methodist, 7:30pm, 2545 S. Yale
Multicultural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date.
Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001
PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th
Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE)
Tuesdays, 6 pro, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, info: 743-4297
~ WEDNESDAYS
Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center
Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pm, 3210b So. Norwood
Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more information, call 582-7225
TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for info: 595-7632.
Lambda A-A, 7 pro, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft.
~" THURSDAYS
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education
Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pro 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral
Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN)
¯ Support/social group for 18-24’s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-232.5
Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, Info: 834-4194
~" FRIDAYS
SafeHaven, Young Adul{s Social Group, 1 st Fri/each mo. 8pm, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th
~" SATURDAYS
Narcotics Anonymous, 11 pm, Community of Hope,1703 E. 2nd, Info: .585-1800
Lambda A-A, 6 pro, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft.
I~" OTHER GROUPS
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info: 298-0827
Gal-A-Vanting, Womens Social & Cultural Group
Call for info: Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-6825.
OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization. Long rides & short rides from
Zeigler Park. Long & ~hort rides from Tulsa Gay Community Center. Write for info:
POB 9165, Tulsa, OK 74157
Ifyour organization is not listed, please let us know. Call 583-1248 orfax 583-4615.
Associated Press - Your lawn crunches ¯
like potato chips.when you walk on it..
Even your older trees are showing stress. :
Although you mightbe tempted to coddle _"
your plants, you can kill them with too ¯
muchkindness, say experts inPenn State’ s :
College of Agricultural Sciences. *-
"Pruning, fertilizing and
watering can fool plants.into
thinking it’s springtime and
trigger new growth," said
Robert Nuss, professor of
ornamental horticulture. "New
growth won’t have time to
mature before the frost. Not
only will you kill it, but you’ll
use up next year’s buds."
"If you have a landscape
contractor or arborist do your
work, there’s only so much
they’ll want to do during a
drought," said Rick Johnson,
associate extension agent in
Delaware County. "Since
normal plant care practices
might be harmful under
drought conditions, under-
"Focus your
water~ng-efforts
on plants you
~n do
some~blng about,
llke ornamentals,"
ke added.
"With lawns, it’s
just a waiting
game until the
rMn and cool
w~ther return."
stand that these contractors may advise
against them."
Nuss and others offer some specific
suggestions. "Grasses gO into a semidormant
state and become vulnerable
when it’s dry," said Peter Landschoot,
associate professor of turfgrass science.
"Now that the water’s been turned off,
you should limit activities and traffic on
lawns as much as .possible. Come
September (October in Oklahoma) - if
we get rain and cooler weather- you can
fertilize and overseedto getsomerecovery.
Ifwe don’t get enough rain in September,
wait tmtil next spring to oversee&’"
"Focns your watering efforts on plants
you can do something about, like
ornaments," he added¯ "With lawns, it’s
just a waiting game until the rain and cool
weather return.’"
"Pruning’s a gamble," said Nuss. "If
you’re sure the parts are dead - if they’re
brittle and dry - go ahead and cut back to
the live tissue. This will promote some
healing and help the plants aesthetically.
Butremember, ffweget somerain,proning
can trigger growth in the buds."
"Fertilizers are salts - even organic
materials such as manure -and salts can
bum roots," Nuss said. "If you want to
give plants nutrients, wait until October
(late November or December here) when
they’re fully dormant."
"Watering is key for woody plants,"
Nuss said. "When the top 1-11/2 inches of
soil are dry, water down to 8-10 inches -
to the root zone," he said. "You can
accompllsh~ this by dire~t, slow watering.
Trickle water on very slowly so it soaks
into the soil, with no rtmoff. Also, when
you water at night, you lose less to
evapOration."
But watering has its dangers. "If you
overwater in areas with heavy soil or slow
drainage, you can saturate the root zone
and force out the air," Nuss says. "This
can suffocate the roots and kill them."
Whenroots die, you’ll _see top wilting in
¯ the plant, Nnss says. "Mostpeopleinterpret
this as a lack of water, add even more and
aggravate the problem. After watering,
most plants should recover overnight. But
if the plant remains wilted, you may have
root damage from overwatering."
For new plantings, Nuss recommends
keeping the initial root ball moist. "Water
bevond the planting hole, not just at the
base of the plant," he said. "That way, you
don’t drown the roots, and new roots have
moist soil to move ~nto."
Mulching is the next best solution to
watering, Nuss says. "But be sure to water
under mulch, not on top of it. It takes at
least an inch ofrain to get through organic
mulch." In extreme conditions,
Nuss said covering the
soil surface with black plastic
will retain extra moisture.
"You.can hide the plastic with
organic mulch," he says.
To supplement watering, use
gray water (from such uses as
cooking and the laundry rinse
cycle) on ornamentals, Nuss
said. "But move from tree to
tree soyoudilute it. Also, don’t
use water that contains
chlorine bleaches or laundry
softeners. For health reasons,
don’t use gray water on leafy
vegetables or root vegetables.
"With a drought this serious,
I’d focus watering on highvalue
plants and shrubs," Nuss
¯ said. "Savefresh waterforyour vegetables,
¯ use gray water on the ornamentals, and
¯
don’t water your flowers. Flowers are
¯ going to die with the. first frost anyway."
"Droughts have a negative effect on
¯
most insect and mite pests that attack
: landscape plants," says Greg Hoover,
extension entomologist. "Because of last
year’ s drought, forinstanee, wehavefewer
adult Japanese beetles this year, and
probably will see even fewer next year."
But hot, dry weatherfavors two different
groups of insect and mite pests. "Woodboring
insects successfully attack trees
and shrubs that are stressed," Hoover said.
"If you don’t have water restrictions, the
bes~ thing you can do for woody plants is
water them. Supplement watering with
rainfall collected in buckets or barrels, or
water from dehumidifiers."
"The two-spotted spider~mite, acommon
pest on garden and landscape plants, also
thrives in hot, dry weather," Hoover said.
"The winged euonymus - what some
people call ’burning bush’ -is particularly
vulnerable. When indicated, use an
appropriate miticide on infested plants."
Hooverrecorfimends using wetpowder
insecticide formulations. ’q’hey’re less
likely to damage plant tissues during hot,
dry Weather when used according to label
directions."
whenjustice is not served. We need to be
able to appeal to a higher authority’when
localities and states do not-for whatever
reason- fully investigate and prosecute a
hate crime. On behalf of hate crimes
victims everywhere, I urge Congress to
pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act."
On" added, "we were targeted because of
who we are, not for any other reason...
they were trying to send a message that
"our kind’ are not welcome in Tulsa and
deserve to be beaten or die. It is time to
send a message that what is not welcome
are hate crimes."
Under current law, a hate crime can be
federally prosecuted only if the victim is
targeted on the basis of race, religion,
color or national origin, while on federal
property or while exercising a federally
protectedright, such as vodng or attending
school: see Congress, p. 11
Change...
~- Minimum:Wage
1985 $3.35
Average 1998 $5.15
New Car Price
Postage Stamp
1985 22¢
1998
1985 $ 9,011
1998 $20,0OO
q- e More
Stay The m ee.
Average Price of
Electricity Per
Residential kWh
A lot has changed since 1985. Prices for many 1985 6.4¢
consumer goods have more than doubled. But one 1998 5.7¢
thing has stayed the same. Our rates. They’ve remained virtually
unchanged for almost fifteen years. Top value for
p~~
your energy dollar. The most reliable service
possible. And better choices than
Public Service Company of Oklahoma ever before. You can count on it.
A Central and South West Company
For Sale: Retro Wagon
1968 Mercury Colony Park
Completely rebuilt 1995, all new interior, stripped to bare metal and
repainted red. Everythihg rebuilt or replaced. 390 cu. in. engine,
auto, air, power steering, disc brakes, windows, seat,
and rear window. Clock was quartzed. Speakers and shoulder straps
for the power seats were big ~eal in 1968.
We’ve driven it 40K since rebuilding it and have all the receipts and
pictures of the restoration. If you’re interested in having this "one of a
kind" car, call 494-2055 for Cheryl or Jack. Priced at $4900 OBO.
It would look great in next year’s Pride Parade!
Timothy W. Daniel
Attorney at Law
An Attorney who will fight for
justice & equality for
Gays & Lesbians
Domestic"Partnership Planning,
Personal Injury,
Criminal Law & Bankruptcy
1-800-742-946’8 or 918-352-9504
128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma
Weekend and evening appointmenls are available.
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Exlerior Wash * Engine Bay Wash ¯ Wax*
Inlerior Vacuum ¯ Carpet & Upholstery Shampoo
¯Paint Condition May Affect Outcome
Four Star
Import
Automotive
Ltd.
by Mary Schepers, Do-It-Yourself-Dyke :. Sometime, a lot.of surface rust and less
Thelazy, unbearably hot days of summer ¯ paint is actually a blessing. You have
arewaning, andwiththemuchanticipated ~ options at this point: either follow your
coolness returns the inclination to sit DIYD’s safety procedures and use an
outside, to see and be seen. And wouldn’t ," abrasive wheel on your drill to work off
you like to be seen as hip and
beyond cool in your authentic,
retro and increasingly collectiblelawnfurniture?
Ofcourse
you would. It’s a great
complement to your authentic
Hawaiian shirt and kicky
cocktail or iced tea glasses. Be
fabulous to the hilt, darlings,
or stay at home!
Fortunately, not everyone
has tumbled onto the fact that
those steel lawn chairs that,
until ten years ago, decorated
many a grandma’s porch or
front lawn are highly
collectible. And they
comfortable and easy t~o
maintain. Garage sales andthe
more junky variety of antique
stores can still offer a bargain;
where you might pick up a
rocker or glider for as little as
five to fifteen dollars.
Otherwise, prepare to pay
upwards of thirty dollars. Your DIYD
know what she’ll choose! Economize on
the chairs and tempt a sweet lady with a
lovely cocktail and still have change.
Yours is a most practical, yet romantic,
DIYD!
.Check some of the basics out when
buying a chair. Water and rust tend to
congregate in certain places. Checkriveted
areas as well as the runners that contact
the ground for excessive rust. Stay away
from anything that is too rotten or any
spots that look like the metal has started to
buckle and pinch. There’s a proper time
and place for buckles and pinches, but it’s
not on your lawn furniture. Or perhaps it
will be...
Minor rust holes on the runners are not
unusual as long as the runner is still
relatively strong. Find that welder and
have a new half round piece welded on for
about fivedollars, unless you know ofone
who can sit with you on your soon-to-beseductive
glider. Quid pro quo can be so
entertaining.
Paint removal can be a real chore.
the rust and paint (trust your
¯.. The palntln~ DIYD on this one: it isn’t
anything like a big vibrator.
is where you e.an Jollies are definitely limited);
really express or take it down to the friendly
yourselves with Dip ’n Strip furniture
refinisher and pay a modest
color, color, color! stun to have it done for you.
Go wild with The DIYD strongly recommends
the latter, if only for
those hold colors the reason that people tendeo
- it pays to fo paint these chairs with leadbased
paints, and inhaling the
advertise! dust is quite dangerous.
Or irritate l~he Got most of that loose paint
and rust off now? Oh, you’re
neighbors with a doing so well! As you may
hot pink that remember from painting our
kitchenproject,weleftarather
matches your enthusiastic dyke vigorously
lawn ~larnln~oes. shaking her can of Rust-OLeum
Well, girlfriend, it is
The possibilities your time to shine!
are endless! Put your stripling chair on
newspaper and put on the coat
¯ of spray primer. Darlings, I know you’re
: coIor conscious, but it doesn’t matter if
¯¯ you use the red or the gray primer. It really
doesn’t. Please follow the directions on
¯ the can. Keep the can about 10 inches
¯ away from yourwork, use a slow side to
: sidemotion, andrememberthatthreelight ¯
coats are better than one heavy one that
¯ willrun and trailandjust ruin your look of
¯ urban sophistication. Put an extra coat on
¯ curces and any other rust:prone areas.
¯ Use a minimum of three color coats to
¯ finish the project.
¯ The painting is where you can really
¯ express yourselves with color, color, color !
¯ Go wild with those bold colors -it pays to
: advertise! Or irritate the neighbors with a
¯ hot pink that matches your lawn ¯
flamingoes. The possibilities are endless !
¯ And if you don’t like the color, paint over
it. It’s a tradition with this sort offurniture.
¯ Consider it your cultural contribution ¯
to the neighborhood, and fix your DIYD a
¯ cocktail when you are done. She prefers
¯ Manhattans !
¯ Two cherries, of course. Ciao, Bella!
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act would
address these limitations by allowing
federal involvement when necessary and
thereby helping to forge and strengthen a
lasting partnership between state and
federal law enforcement officials m
fighting hate crimes. The Hate Crimes
Prevention Act limits the federal
governrnent’ sjurisdiction to only themost
serious violent .crimes directed at persons,
not property crimes.
Lead House sponsors ofthe Hate Crimes
Prevention Act are Reps.. John Conyers,
D-Mich; Mictiael Forbes, D-N.Y.; Connie
Morella, R-Md;TammyBaldwin, D-Wis.;
and House Minority Leader Richard
Gephardt, D-Mo. The Hate Crimes
Prevention Act was passed by the Senate
this summer as an amendment to the
Commerce, State, Justice Appropriations
Bill. President Clinton has-promised to
sign HCPA into law if it is passed by
¯
¯ Congress.
This bill would allow states with
inadequate resources to take advantage of
¯ Department of Justice resources and
personnel in limited cases that have been
¯ authorized by the Attorney General. The
Hate Crimes Prevention Act has broad
¯ bipartisan backing and support from
notable law enforcement agencies and
state and local leaders, including 22 state
¯ attorneys general, the National Sheriff’s
¯ Association, President Bush’s former
Attorney General Dick Thoruburgh, the
Police Foundation and the U.S.
¯ Conference of Mayors.
¯ Hate.crimes basedon sexual orientation
were up 8% in 1997, according to the
¯ latest FBI statistics. Sexual orientation
," was the third highest category of hate
¯ crimes behind race and religion and
¯ represented 14% of all hate crimes
¯ reported. Currently, hate crimes
¯ monitoring and enforcement consists of a ¯
patchwork of laws that offer citizens
¯ varying see Congress, p. 12
by Esther Rothblum, Ph.D. get cervical cancer." Two women even
Dr. Sue Wilkinson is currently reported that they were considered
conducting the first national survey of "virgins" by the medical profession
Lesbian health in the United Kingdom because they had had sex withwomen but
with doctoral student Julie Fish. The" not with men!
survey managed to contact Lesbians in But the pap smear is not a comfoitable
almost every postal district of the United procedure for many women, and may be
Kingdom, from the southern particularly painful, uncomtip
of England to the islands Cervical cancer fortable, unusual or trauoff
northern Scotland. Over. appears to l~e matizing for Lesbians. 38% of
1,000 Lesbians answered the Lesbians in the U.K. study
questionnaire, which focused .connected. with reported .that they. had never
on breast cancer, mammo- sexual activity, had a cervical smear for this
grams, breast self-exam, particularly reason. One Lesbian reported
cervical cancer, and pap that she viewed a speculum as
staears, penetrative sex "a huge metal crocodile."
I recently spoke with Sue wlt]~men. Tl~is Othershadheardhorrorstories
about the early results of this . from friends and partners that
studY, Which focus oncervica1 Is why Lesi~ians the procedure was aversive,
screemng. Unlike many lmve traditionally humiliating, or painful.
cancers, cervical cancer has ]~een vlewed as Finally,, Lesbians raised
an early warning stage, with questions about havingamale
abnormal cells present. This is at low rls]~ for health provider "pokingwhy
women are told to have cervical cancer, around in my body,"
regular pap smears (or cervical specifically, in the vagina. Or
smears, as they’re called in the.
But Lesglans
they were concerned that the
U.K.). may lmve ]~ad health care provider con-
SueandJuliefoundthat 12% sex with men ducting the procedure would
of Lesbians eligible for result in questions about their
cervical screening had previously, and/ sexual activity or would
NEVERhadapap:mear.This or t]aey may ]~e assume they were heterois
higher than comparable U.S. sexual.
figures of 5% found by the ha’~cln~ sex with This important study raises
National Lesbian Health Care men evenw]a~le some questions about cervical
smears. DoLesbians whohave
However,Surveiynthisthefiguremid-19lo80w’Se.isr eallln~ t]aemselves
neverhadintercourseneedpap
than that of 17% for women in Lesl~ans. smears at all, or need pap
the general U.K. population Cervical cancer smears less often? How can
who report never having had a
cervical smear. What is is not well
pap smears be performed in a
matter that is more positive
surprising about these low understood, so for Lesbians?
figures for womenin the U.K.
ineludin~
is that the U.K. has national Fish can be contacted at the
women, Sue Wilkinson and Julie
health service. Pap smears are Lesl~ians, may l~e Department of Social
free, and women receive a at rls]~ for other Sciences, Loughborough
reminder letter every five
years,withtwoorthreefollow- reasons unrelated
University, Loughborough
LE11 3TU United Kingdom.
uplettersiftheydon’tcomein tosexualaetlvity. - Esther Rothblum is
for the pap sinear, Professor ofPsychology at the
When Sue andJulieexaminedLesbians’ ¯ University of Vermont and Editor of the
written comments about cervical Journal of Lesbian Studies. She can be
screening, they found that one reason for " reached at John Dewey Hall, University
non-attendance was lack of time. "But " of Vermont, Burlington, VT. E-maih
apart from that, it looks as though the two ¯ esther.rothblum@uvm.edu.
main categories of response are-that "
Lesbians feel they don’t need a smear and °
secondly, negative aspects of the ¯
procedure," said Sue, "they imagine the "
procedurewillbepainful,orembarrassing, ° levels of legal protection depending on
or thatthey will encounterheterosexism." where they live. Twenty-two states and
Cervicalcancerappearstobeconnected " the District of Columbia have hate crimes
with sexual activity, particularly " laws that include sexual orientation.
penetrative sex with men. This is why ¯ Twentystateshavelawsthatdonotinclude
Lesbians have traditionally been viewed- ¯ sexual orientation. Eight states have no
as at low risk for cervical cancer. But " hate crimes laws at all.
Lesbians may have had sex with men ¯ SpeakingwithTFN, Orr&Beauchamp
previously, and/or they may be having ¯ expressed their disappointment with how
sex with men even while calling Tulsa district attorney staff members
themselves Lesbians. " handled theprosecution of their attackers.
Cervical cancer is not wall understood, ° They indicated that had Orr not had
so women, including Lesbians, may be at ¯ .professional experience as a journalist,
risk for other reasons unrelated to sexual : specifically covering crime stories, they
activity, In the U.K. study, about 40% of : likely would have given up in frustration
Lesbians felt they did not need a cervical : while trying to get information abouthow
screen because they had never had ¯ the case was going. Their perception
intercourse. Many Lesbians wrote that : remains that Tulsa DA considered the
they had specifically been told this by a " assault to unimportant because they are
doctor or nurse. Examples of this were: : Gay men.
’¢I’he doctor has decided that I do not ¯ Orr noted that finally they contacted
require one as I am a Lesbian and have " Susan Ellerbach, managing editor of The
never had a sexual relationship with a : T.ulsaWorld, andthatoulyafterTheWorM
man," or "the nurse informed methat it : wrote about their experience, and having
was virtually unheard of for a Lesbian to to out himself see Congress, p. 13
Red Rock Tulsa
Free Confidential
HIV Testing
Walk-in Clinics
Tuesday Testing, 5 -8 pm
Pride Center, 1307 East 38th
Wednesday Testing, 5-8 pm
Red Rock, 1724 East 8th
Daytime appointments available.
Call for more information:
918-584-2325
Church
of the Restoration
Unitarian Universalist
11 am, Sunday
’1314 North Greenwood
587-1314
We knowyou’re
going to love this[
Restaurant & Cabaret
East First Street
18-599-9949
Massage Therapy Services
¯
Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T.
Pager: 918-889-5255
Voice Mail: 918-697-9282
Lic. #C4133
News
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More
610-8510
8120 East 21 st
(21 st+Memorial,
next to Boot City)
We buy back good
used adult magazines.
CoUntry Club
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for Men & Women
David Kauskey
3310 E. 51st, 747-0236
Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm
[GTA m~mb~r
Call 341.6866
International
Red Rock Tulsa
O’RYAN
Oklahoma Rainbow
Young Adult Network
Outreach Program Thurs. Nights
Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment
Call for meeting times and place:
918-584-2325
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Gay Mecca of the Ozarks
Beautiful Eureka Springs, Arkansas
by Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D. .
My lawn is wilting. So are a lot of my
friends’ relationships. Maybe it’s the
wicked summer heat that makes people
touchy and irritable. Recent casual gossip ¯
nearly broke up my friend Shawn and his ".
lover. The boyfriend walked when he ¯
heard stories of Shawn’s previous exploits. ¯
Emotionally, he couldn’t handle knowledgeofhis
lover’s onetimerelations with :
other guys.
We’ve got a name for that emotion: ¯
sexual jealousy. Shawn’s
tmhappiness prompted me to
think about the green emotion.
Jealous feelings, and their
sorry consequences, are an
endlessly fascinating motif in
popular novel and film.
Besides, most of us have
experienced jealously in
person. We’ve learned to use
the word to label a peculiar
mental state and aching body
sensation sparked by our love
interests.
The word has been around
for years. English speakers of
the 12th century borrowed
’jealousy’ from Old French.
And those speakers on the
continent previously had
adopteditfrom the Latinzelus,
derived from the even more
ancient Greek zelos, that
originally m,,eant something
like ardor or "fervor."
Jealousy andzeal-andjealous
and zealot - are linguistic
cousins, all derived from the
samerootconceptofemotional
upheaval and intensity.
Jealousy’ s deep cultural and
linguistic roots indicate the
popularreachofboth emotion andconcept.
We use a language of jealousy to
understand why Shawn’s boyfriend
dumped him. Whose lips were kissing
Shawn before his? Whose arms had
already held that waist? Yet,
anthropologists debate the facts ofhuman
emotion. Can we say that there are
emotions that we all feel because we are
human? If so, which ones? Love, hate,
happiness, sadness, fear, anger? Are there
other emotions that people in one culture
cultivate and learn to feel thatareunknown
or less important m other societies? Just
how normal - and how universal - are
feelings such as sexual jealousy?
Those anthropologists of the
sociobiological persuasion often figure
that jealousy ~s indeed a human universal
¯ with an adaptive function. Men are never
completely sure that the baby a woman
carries is theirs. Jealousy works = so goes
the story - to motivatemen to police their
women in order to better the odds that
the.y have fathered her babies. An),
easygoing man withdut Some yet~to-beidentified
gene for.jealousy would have
contributed less to thehuman gene pool in
that he may not have fathered the children
he thought he did.
Butwhatof women?They always know
that they are the mothers of their children,
so what should they care if the guys mess
around elsewhere? Andwhat of Shawn?
It’s unlikely thathis boyfriendwas jealous
because of evoluationary womes that a
rival would make him pregnant.
We could argue that our bodies have an
inbnilt heritage of emotions, includln.
jealously, nomatterwho arelovers happen
to be. Still, other anthropologists argue
that our body feelings are only half the
story. The other half - perhaps the more
important half - is the way we have of
labeling, understanding, and talking about
those feelings. We sense a rush of
chemicals through our brains and body,
butwe can’tknow what is happening to us
until we put these feelings into words.
Anddifficult cultures have different ways
of.classifying and interpreting those same
chemical flushes.
anthropologists
debate the facts
ofhuman emotion.
Can we say that
emotions that we
all feel because
we are human?
If so, whleh ones?
Love, bate,
bappiness,
sadness, f~r,
anger?
Are there other
emotions that
people in one
culture eultlvate
and learn to feel
that are
unknown or less
important in
other soeieties?
You may have heard of the
German emotion
schadenfreude - which is
pleasurefelt atsomeoneelse’ s
misfortune. Many of us also
take pleasure from other’s
misfortunes, but English has
nowordthat specifically labds
this twisted enjoyment. Does
this lin,g,nistic gap mean that
wedon t sense this pleasure as
deeply as do Germans?
And even if jealousy is a
human universal, it may be
that some ofus experience the
feeling more intensely. Gore
Vidal reports in his
autobiography Palimpsestthat
he and his lover never have
sex. This he finds this on the
street. His "lover," instead,
provides breakfast
conversation and other forms
of sexless companionship.
Clearly, many couples have
created similar "open"
relationships inwhich they are
able to at least mute any
feelings of sexual jealousy,
Some occasionally have
campaigned to open up all
relationships.
During the 1960s, many
: preached and sometimes practiced "free
love."They hopedto stifle sexualjealousy
¯ in order to rework the economy of
¯ relationships. No one was meant to own
¯
anyone else. No one ought get jealous.
Sex was healthy recreation, freedom, even
¯¯ spiritual; jealousy was wrongly
possessive, limiting, and neurotic.
¯ It was no dice, though. For most of us,
¯ jealousy remains the flip side of love- or
of love American-style anyway. The
¯
babyboomers failed to stamp outjealousy
¯ because they could not remake the
¯ associated emotion of love. It remains ¯
¯ might) hard to love and not get jealous. If
you don’t feel jealous, can you really be in
love? It is plausible that humans in other
¯ places and at other times have experienced
¯ and understood the body flashes that we
] call jealousy in various ways. But around
¯ here, don’t let me catch you messing
¯ around!
Lamont Lindstrom teaches anthro-
¯ pology at the University of Tulsai:
¯ profesgionally, did local law enford~ment;
¯ take the casemore seriously. SpecifiCally, ¯
two of their assailants had not been made
: to perform their sentences whichinduded
community service and a fine to the court.
¯ Orr and Beauchamp also stated that it is
¯
typical in assaults of this type for the
~ victims to receive compensation for their
¯ losses due to the assault, and that they ¯
specifically requested compensationfrom
¯ theDistrictAttomeys, see Congress, p.14
butwonderedifthe averagefantasy reader
would follow that far - they have, and
gladly for the most part.
I get letters from straight guys saying
essentially "I shouldn’t be ok with this,
but I am!" even if it makes them a little
uncomfortable any-way. Others have said
it made it easier to talk with Gay relatives.
Ifmy stories have anysocial value, perhaps
it’s .that. Mostly, I just follow my muse
where~she leads and hope it works.
JC: Andhow haveyou managed to do it
so well?
LF: Love is love.
JC:Andhow doyou keep trackofall the
.intrigues? My head is spinningfrom what
l’ve gotten through in "Traitor’s Moon!"
LF: Copious notes and charts on the
wall. I see that Bantam (though they cut
my glossary, now available on.my web
page) left a blank page at the ends. I hope
people will use it for notes, like I did
reading "Trainspotting." The next book,
’‘The Bone Doll’s Twin" goes back in
history to one of the. Skalan queens, but
there will bemoreNightnmners, too. A&S
are already prowling restlessly about my
brain, hungry for more work.
JC: 1 understand you’re appearing at
Gaylaxicon, a sci-fi convention for Gay
and Lesbian fans of the genre in
Alexandria, Virginia.
LF: Gaylaxicon promises to be a lot of
fun. I’ve had a lot of contact with the
organizers and they are simply the best
I’ve ever dealt with. Hope to teach a
writing workshop forthemwhile I’m there.
JC." Have you heard of Loreena
McKennitt? Her music and appearance
reminds me ofsome ofyour "aurenfaie"
characters.
LF: Aurenfaie? I’ll claim her. "Mask
and Mirror" is my personal favorite of all
her disks. My husband is a great fan of
female vocalists and has amassed quite a
collection, which I dip into. (My tastes
seem torunmore to GeorgeThoroughgood
and Melissa Etheridge a lot of the time,
along with someLeonardCohen and Rufus
Wainwright, a new discovery.)
JC: Andon thatmusical note, l ’d like to
say thank you to Lynnfor sharing some of
her inspirations, writings, and - methods
behind the madness’ with us.
!ts 51 st season wiihpianist John Browning
m a program featuring Brahms,
Tchaikovsky and Berlioz. Prior to the
concert at 7pm, long time radio man and
the voice of the OK Mozart Festival
(Simon Estes - he’s the bestest!) Edward
Dumit will lead "Musical Moments" a
pre-concert discussion. For more
information, call the Phil at 747-7445.
Also at the end of Sept. Heller Theatre,
one of Tulsa’s theatre companies that
actually interested in newer works (as
opposed-to recycling the same old stuff,
again and again and again), are presenting
"Dallas to LaGuardia R.T." on Sept. 23-
25 and Sept.. 30-OcL 2, a play about a
couple that misses a flight and winds up
invited to stay .over with complete
strangers. Later in Oct. Heller will present
"Fortinbras" revisiting Hamlet in a
contemporary political context.
Early in Oct. the Oklahoma Center for
Poets and Writers presents its Celebration
of Books on Oct. 1-2 at OSU-Tulsa with
a remarkable assemblage of artists, even
including some Gay ones. Some names
include Michael Wallis, William
¯¯ Bernhardt,GuyLogsdgn,CliftonTaulbert,
Eddie Faye Gates, C.J. Cherryh, Rich
¯ Fisher and folksinger Michael Martin
." Murphey. Info: 594-8215.
¯ Alsoin Oct. the Performing Arts Center
Trust presents Sabella, featuring"global"
¯ music on Oct. 2 and on Oct. 8th & 9th,
¯ TPACT’s Celtic series (now so popular that they’ve added 2nd performances, and
alas, forgotten their friends who helped
¯ them before the Celtic series got so
¯
popular) will start with Natalie
¯ MacMaster,fiddler extraordinaire. I don’t
think any of the Celtic series artists I’ve
¯ seen have ever been bad, so check it out.
." And on that same busy weekend, both
¯ Tulsa’s and Oklahoma City’s Gay
¯ communities are presenting arts events in ¯
honor of National Coming Out Day.
¯ OUTART’99inOKCwillfeature 10new
." release films, two plays, a music special
¯ and visual artists. The Gala opening, A ¯
Black Tie Dinner and A Movie, Friday,
¯ Oct. 8th will present the southwest
: premiere of the film"Edge of Seventeen"
¯ as well as a buffet dinner and wine bar. ¯
For more information or tickets, see the
¯ advertisement on page 16, or call 405-
¯ 752-2762 or 800-722-8866.
¯ That same busy weekend, TOHR and
¯
the Gay Community Center will hold
¯ TOHR’s first film festival at the Center.
¯ The first film will be shown at 7:30pro on
Thursday~ Oct. 7 with films also being
¯ shown on Fri. evening and on Sat.
¯ afternoon and evening. Call 743-4297 for
¯ more information.
: It also appears that local presentation of
¯ Gay and Lesbian films may show back up
on a big screen. AMC Southroads 20 will
¯ present a Lesbian themed film, "Better ¯
Than Chocolate" on Sept. 10, and a Gay
¯ film, "Trick" on Oct. 1st. The key to
¯ getting theseon aregular basis is to support
the theatre that takes the risk. S o vote with
your dollars !
None was ever received. In fact,-this
¯ became an issue in Orr’s Congressional
testimony. Rep. Mary Bonn, widow of the
¯ late Sonny Bonn, attacked err and
¯ Beauchamp saying that the Tulsa District
¯ Attorneys office claimed that they had ¯
been uncooperative with th DA and had
¯ notfilled out the forms necessary toreceive
¯ compensation..Orr and Beauchamp
¯ counter that not only-did they not receive ¯ the forms, thry did not even know of their
existance until Bonn raised the issue.
¯ Commenting to TFN, Human Rights
¯ Campaign Political Director Winnie
Stachelberg said, "I urge "the Gay and
¯ Lesbian community ofTulsa to act now in
¯ support of this bill (HCPA), so that
incidents like these are prevented.... i~t is
¯ important that the; Gay and LeSbian
¯ community of Oklahoma is protected at a
federal if not at a state level.’"
Want to get involved?
Need to get tested for HIV?
Need a Coming Out Support Group?
Call 743-GAYS (4297)
Tulsa Gay Community
Services Center
" 1307 E. 38th at Peoria, 2rid floor
¯
¯ For Good Home
Friendly, honest, & very experienced
¯ 42 year young realtor seeks sincere &motivated
buyers &sellers. Into MLS. You won’t be.
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Tulsa Locations:
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¯ their own training - they do haw ay
: about curriculum. Ifnothing .else, ~ ays
: parents can ask to have their , v~.:~
Chicago school officials- who stress ¯ excused from a lesson the-: find
that "It’s Elementary" will not be shown . objecttonable: SaysP~,~shall, Mywarm g
to students -are atadskittishabouttalking to parents would be: Beware.’ "
about, their plan. They confirm that the In Oklahoma, there’s been no public
district’s 589principals will view thefilm " outcry about "It’s Elementary" because
beginning in September and receive a " the Oklahoma Educational Television
copy of the Video for their schools - a plan
¯ Associationhas chosen not to air thepiece.
funded by Lesbian tennis star Billie Jean " Malcomn Wall, executive director of
King.But several teacherswho vealready " OEFA, claimed that OETA’s decision
viewed the film on their-own declined to : not toair theprogram was not based onthe
be interviewed out of feat of criticism,
content, i.e. Gay & Lesbian issues but
A city official who helped get the film " rather that OETA is offered far more
- in part due to backing from chicago " programs thaJa it can ,possibly. air. He
Mayor Richard Daley ~ .into the dis~t characterized it as.a routine passing over.
was more forthcoming. She says the " However, Wallis relatively new at OETA
decision was aimed at fostering tolera9,ce ¯ and the association has had a history of
and, in turn, preventing violepce ag..mns,t " mostly refusing to air programs with
Gayand Lesbian students. "It’s pmcttcm. Lesbian and Gay content. One notable
Itmakes good sense. It’s about safety_, for " exception was the airing of an award
children.Idon’tthinkanybody,regardless winning program, "Breaking the Code"
of their religious background, can argue ¯ about the Gay man who broke the Nazi
with that," says Mary Morten, Daley’s ¯ messagecodeinWorldWarlI. However,
liaison on Gay and Lesbian issues. " OETA first refused to air this program
School officials in San Francisco, who ] and did so only after being pressured by
are also using "It’s Elementary" have ¯ Oklahoma City’s Gayly Oklaho_.man
gone as far as imposing a ban on anti-Gay newspaper and Tulsa Family News. "they
slurs. "Go stand on a playground. I " also waited to air the program later in the
guarantee you that you will hear within " summer of 1998 after the Oklahoma
Ru.n.ut.es..ra.os..~a.yin~",,,’Oh, that’s so Gay¯ ¯ Legislature was out of session, instead of
What at(you a fag? says KevinGogin, airing in May or June like many PBS
director of support services for sexual : affiliates did.
minority youth for the San Francisco ."
Unified School District who regularly ¯
speaks to teachers and principals
nationwide. ¯
Moves to address Gay and Lesbian " Schmitzarrivedhometofindthenoteand
issues in the classroom are not, however, " light in his doorway from Amedure.
without opponents, among them tough- Schmitz withdrew money from his bank,
talking radio talk show host Dr. Laura " bought shells and a shotgun and drove to
Schlessinger and several religious groups " Amedure’s mobile home. Schmitz went
who have made "It’s E"lementary" a "¯ inside to see if Amedure was home, then
went back to his car, got the gun and shot
priority target.
Patti Johnson - a member of the " ~maedure twice in the chest- all while
Colorado Board of Education who has
wearingthegreenbowtieandwhitemxedo
spoken out against use of the filmin her shirt from his job as a waiter.
state - says she agrees with having a no- Pendergast told jurors that Schmitz
slur policy but says some teachers are " werreactedtomereembarrassment."The
going too far. "I don’t thinkyou have to go
ouly reason that murder is an issue is that
into bl , deep explanattons, especlall.y
Scott Amedurewas Gay and (Schmitz’s)
when kids are little, Johnson says. It s manhood, so to speak, was insulted on
kind of like when you want to stop a 2- national TV," she said. "Wall, you know
year-old fromrunninginto the street. T.hey
what? Get over it." Jurors said while some
don’t always understand death or dying, agreed with. Sabbota at first, they
But they understand a quick swat on the
eventually decided that Schmitzacted too
slowly for the crime to be an actofpassion.
butt."
One official at the Washington-based "There was just way too much time
Family Research Council, calls the film
involved for a reasonable person to make
,,anindoctrinationtool-plainandsimple." some choices," said juror Bruce Sole.
Sabbota said he would appealthe
"Whyareyoucreating aresource to create
abei~htened sensitivity.., on a behavior verdict, saying Oakland County Circuit
choice that is cons!,,dered problematic to a
Judge Wendy Potts should ,have letjurors
whole lot of folks? ’ asks JanetParshall, a hear about Schmitz’s history of mental
former teacher and spokeswoman for the illness andalcoholism. Hehadbeentreate~t.
nonprofit organization which is known " for manic depression and tried to comnnt
for its anti-Gay policy positions. ,
suicide four times in the years before the
Filmmaker Debra Chasnoff says she s killing. "We knew it was an uphill battle
simply providing resources to teachers from the start," Sabbota said.
whoalready have to deal with such issues Ms. Jones and the producers of the
in the classroom. "It just doesn’t work to show were not called to testify, as they
say, ’We’re ,going to all be race to one
hadbeenintheprevioustrials.Thejuryin
another; don t use those words here.’ I the civil case awarded Amedure’s family
thinkyouneed to explain who those words $25million; that verdictis being appealed.
are hurtful to," says Chasnoff, director Jurors said the show played a role in the
and co-producer of "It’s Elementary. kilhng,butwas not the sole cause. I think
The debate is not likdy to end soon. most of us felt it Was a whole series of
Thisfall,Chasnoff’s SanFrancisco-based events, H~,ht sal .
media center also will begin distributing a After seven jurors spoke to the media,
curriculum guide for.elementary teachers Amedure’s father, Frank Amedure St.,
that includes lessons they can incorporate shook hands with each one. "ijust want to
into discussions about Gay and Lesbian thank the jury. God bless you," he said.
Schrmtz’s father, Allw~ Sc~unitz, said
1ssues. " Such moves frustrate Parshall, who he didn’t ka~ow what to think about the
notes that - w~le parents don’t ha;’e verdict. "T~crc’s no wwcaer~, or losers
much control over what teachers use lot here," he said. "’Everybody loses."
Oklahoma Cit~ Oklahoma
nteen. ,
~m &Hallways, Out
¯ Ramr Bkde Smile ¯ Likei~
"BroadwayDam~e
.Theatre Productiom~
Talesf?om the Closet
.Drama Queens
etro Mens Chorus
Women’s ChO~u,
"Plus=Over 20 Aru)ts
various mediums on disflay.and sale
For More Information Visit our web site at: www.gayokc.com/outart99 or call 405-752-2762
Steamroller Blues
- 18th & Boston -
presents a
Blues Evening
a -benefit
to support
HIV & AIDS
services
featuring Tulsa Bands
Wed., Sept. 29
7:30- midnight
7th Annual
Walkathon
for AIDS
Services
Saturday,
October 2
Veterans Park
18th & Boulder
9am, registration
9:45 step off
voicemail: 579-9593
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
newspaper
periodical
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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/.
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[1999] Tulsa Family News, September 1999; Volume 6, Issue 9
Subject
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Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
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Tulsa Family News
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
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Tom Neal
Date
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September 1999
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James Christjohn
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
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Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
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Tulsa Family News, August 1999; Volume 6, Issue 8
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English
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newspaper
periodical
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Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
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https://history.okeq.org/items/show/591
'It's Elementary'
1999
African Americans
AIDS
AIDS drugs
AIDS research
AIDs Walk
American Airlines
arts and entertainment
attorneys
Bars
Big Brothers Big Sisters
businesses
children
churches
Colorado
Community Center
Dave Fleischer
divorce
Do-It-Yourself Dyke
Don't Ask Don't Tell
Dyke Psyche
Entertainment Notes
Esther Rothblum
Garden Notes
Gay Studies
hate crimes
homophobia
Human Rights Campaign
James Christjohn
Jenny Jones
Kerry Lobel
Lamont Lindstrom
Mary Schepers
Missoula
Murder
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Native Americans
needle exchange
Orrin Hatch
Partner Benefits
performing arts
Pride
Read All About It
restaurants
Tim Beauchamp
Tom Neal
Tony Orr
Tulsa
Tulsa Family News
Tulsa Two-Spirited Indian Men's Support Group
United
Utah
Wichita
-
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Gay Couple Murdered In
California; Senate Passes
TwoAnti-Hate Crimes Bills
HAPPY VALLEY, Calif. (AP) - In this tiny, largely
conservative farming community, Gary Matson and
Winfield Mowder were accepted. It didn’t matter that
they were Gay. They gained respect through their
community Work. They helped create alocal children’s
museum, and Matson helped establish the 20-year-old
Redding Farmer’s Market.
Now tWO brothers who Eave been linked to a series of
arson fires at Sacramento synagogues are accused of
killing the couple, police said. Authorities said one of
the alleged gunmen, Benjamin Matthew Williams,
sometimes sold vegetables andherbs atM~son’s ~narket.
"It’s beyond words that the farmers market may be
the connectionbetween the victims and thekillers," said
Margaret Jensen, who tends a market stall stocked with
squash and onions. "If they burned the synagogues, too,
that takes it to a level that is just staggering from
someplace we think of as a small community."
The bodies of Matson, 50, and Mowder, 40, were
discovered July I at theirhomeinHappy Valley, a small
community just outside of Redding in northern
California. They had been shot in their bed.
Afew days later, after one of the victims’ credit cards
was used, police staked out aYuba City business where
the creditcardpurchasewas to be delivered, andarrested
the Williams brothers. The brothers were both armed
and one was wearing a bulletproof vest, police said.
Yuba City is about 120 miles southeast of Redding.
see Hate, p. 10
Council Oak Mens Chorale
Presents August Concert
Other UpcomingEvents: Feast + AIDS Walk
TULSA-TheCouncil Oak Men’sChorale, Tulsa’s Gay
men’s singing organization will present a concert,
Brothers Forever on August 27 & 28 at 8pro in the John
Williams Theatre at Tulsa’s Performing Arts-Center.
COMC will be joined in concert by Positive Voices of
Dallas, Texas. Areception willfollow theperformances
and tickets, $12, are available through the Performing
Arts Center box office at 596-7111 or 800-364-7111
(outside of Tulsa).
Also, coming up is the annual Feast for Friends, a
ftmdraiser .for-THE NAM-ES~ PROJECT-,. the. AIDS
Memorial .Quilt. In the event, organizations and
individuals join each other for private dinners at which
theattendees donate to supportTHENAMES PROJECT
and then all of the various dinner groupS’ come together
for entertainment’and dessert at 8:30pro at the Southern
Hills Marriott. For more information, call 748-3111.
Later in October, the annual AIDS Walk will be held
on October 2nd. For more information, call 579-9593.
DIRECTORY/LETTERS P. 2
EDITORIAL P. 3
US & WORLD NEWS P. 4
HEALTH NEWS P. 6
ENTERTAINMENT . P. 8
COMMUNITY CALENDAR P. 9
READ ALL ABOUT IT P. 11
DYKE PSYCHE P. 12
GAY STUDIES P. 13
" Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered TuIsans, Our Families + Friends
" Tuisa’s Largest Circulation CommunityPaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations
° TOHR Center News: President
"Resigns; $5k Grant Received
TOHR&Community CenterformerpresidentSteve
Horn (right) and with hisfriend Phil at Pride ’99.
TULSA - Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, Inc. (TOHR),
Oklahoma’s oldest non-religions Gay and parentorganization of
the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center has experienced a
change in leadership. Board president Steve Horn resigned in
July in order to take anew job in Dallas. Horn had been employed
with CFS. Upon his resignation, TOHR vice president, Greg
Gatewood became president.
Gatewood praised Horn for his leadership and noted that the
change in leadership would not affect any of the programs that
TOHRand the Center had planned. He noted that for August, the
¯ organization had calle~,,a work day at the,,C.enter on 8/8 at noon,
a planning meeting for MilleniumPride, the Parade and Picuic Next Gay Community ’ for 2000 on 8112 at 7:30 and acommunity potluck with a"Cajun"
" theme for 8/21at Tpm. Meeting Called for 9/14 Other significant news for the Center was the receipt of a
" $5,000 grant for general operating expenses from the Gill TULSA -. With about 40 people attending,
° Foundation. Center volunteer of the year, Tim Gillean, was representing most of Tulsa Lesbian and Gay, and
¯ responsible for writing the grant application~ New president HIV related groups, the first community wide
¯ Gatewood emphasized that while the grant would help the Center meeting in several years brought together young
:. develop a small emergency reserve, see TOHR, p. 14 and not so young, Gay and non-Gay, political and
non-partisan groups. Therepresentattves spent over
two hours discussing their group’s goals and what ¯ NGLTF Starts Family Program common ground they may have.
: VeteranAttorney Paula Ettelbrick to Lead Initiative WashingtonHigh School’sGay-StraightAlliance
and TU’s BLGT Alliance were there along with
¯ JULY 26, 1999--The Policy Institute of the National Gay and most of the Gay-friendly religaons groups in the
¯ Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) today announced creation of a city. Cimarron Alliance and Tulsa Oklahomans for
° Family Policy program to secure inclusive definitions of family Human Rights also attended with RAIN, the
¯ in national, state and local policy contexts. The Family Policy Regional AIDS Interfaith Network, and HOPE,
¯ Program will engage in research, policy analysis, coalition HIV Outreach, Prevention and Education as well.
building, strategy development and collaborative work with a Under the facilitation of Marty Newman and
¯ wide range of family-focused organizations to ensure that the DennisNeill(who’dissuedthecallforthemeeting)
¯ needsofGay, Lesbian~BisexualandTransgender(GLBT)families a number of possible community goals were
¯ are considered and protected, identified: to replace the Tulsa Community AIDS
"We are in the midst of a revolution in family creation within Partnership funding (which is due to end soon),
¯ GLBT communities, but ironically, and inaccurately, our relocate the Community Center when its lease
¯ movement is characterized as being anti-family," said NGLTF ends, ~o-ordinatecommtmity fundraisingandeven:s
: Executive Director Kerr3, Lobel. "This Program at NGLTF’s to better support various organizations, and where
Policy Institute takes aim at the myths that persist about our appropriate, do political and civil fights related
families and will formulate a genuinel y pro-family public policy work. see Aleetin~, ~. 1]
agenda from the vantage point of GLBT people’s lives."
TheFamilyPolicyprogramatthePolicyInstituteisfundedby Saint Jerome to Host major gifts from several parents., including Seattle City
Councilwoman and philanthropist Tina Podlodowski, and Ordination Ceremony
California-based donors Jennifer and Kathy Levinson through a
TULSA - The Parish Church of Saint Jerome will
gift from the Lesbian Equity Foundation of Silicon Valley.
welcome clergy and lay leaders of the Evangelical
Urvashi Vaid, director of the Policy Institute announced that
AnglicanChurchinAmericafromacross thenation
nationally known Lesbian attorney and family advocate, Paula
for the denomination’s annual ordination
Ettelbrick, has been hired to direct the Family Policy Program.
ceremonies. The RightReverendCraig Bettendoff,
Ettelbrickha~ worked onlocal, state and national family policy presiding bishop will ordai~ or receive candidates
issues for the past 13 years. She is former legal director of
duringtheregularworshipservicesofSaintJerome
Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund, where she developed on Sunday, August 8th at llam. The weekend
the group’s.emphasis on family advocacy and founded the
eventsbeginatlpmonSaturday,August7thandan
Family RelatioushipslProject. She served as publicpolicy director
Evensong service will be held that day at 6pro with
for the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
dinner to follow.
Since 1994, Ettelbrick has been legislative counsel for the
Candidatesfortbediaconatewillbepresentfrom
Fan.pire State Pride Agenda, where she is credited with helping North Carolina, Arkansas, Illinois, and Oklahoma.
wm passage of New York City’s comprehensive domestic
BishopBettendorfwillalsoordaintothe presbytery,
. partnership policy and drafting innovative municipal and state
¯ pro-GLBT family laws.
candidates fromNew Mexico,New York, Colorado,
¯ California and Florida. ¯ Ettelbrick and her partner, Suzanne Goldberg, have a two-year All events are open to the public. For more
¯ old son and are expecting another child in September. She has
information, call Father Rick Hollingsworth at the
¯ taught law for 10 years and currently teaches a course on
Parish Church of Saint Jerome, 582-3088.
." sexua!i~ty and the_law atNewYorkUni versity Law School and the
¯ UniversityofMichiganLawSchool.Earlierthisyear, Ettelbrick ¯ Served as the National Coordinator of the highly successful Tulsa C.A.R.E.S Gets
""EqualityBegiusatHome"campaigu, spousoredbyNGLTFand Phili.p Morris Grant ¯ tbe Federation ofStatewideLGBTPolitical Orgamzations, which
: encompassed 350 rallies and other events in all 50 states plus : TULSA -Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., Tulsa’s Center for
: Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia last March. ¯ AIDS Resources, Education and Support, formerly
and observed that Ettelbnck s experase will be invaluable to known as the HIV Resource Consortium, has
: .thenational GLBTmovement’s efforts to organizearoundfamily : received a grant of $15,000 to its food pantry from
¯ issues. She pointed out that as of June of 1999, almost 50 anti- : the Philip Morris Companies, Inc.
: GLBTfamilybillshadbeenfiledinstatelegislaturesthroughout ¯ Stephen C. Parrish, senior vice president for
: the country. "This nationwide mobilization against our families : corporate affairs came toTulsathelastweekofJuly
¯ comes directly from the anti-Gay religious fight and its think " to announce the award to the Tulsa Area United
¯ tanks," Vaid said. "It is an effective strategy because the GLBT : Way agency. According to comments reported by
¯ political movement at the state level remains understaffed and ¯ The TulsaWorM,executivedirector, SharonThoele,
¯ underfunded." " indicated that the grant word be matched by
The NGLTF Family Policy program will pursue three major " $15,000 from another philanthropic organization
" objectives: first, to provide the data and arguments that can " and wonldhelp purchase afreezer and refrigerator.
¯ enable activists to secure inclusive definitions of family in ¯ The award was oneof38 given to organizations in
- national, state and local policy frameworks see NGLTF, p. 3 " 24 states, and the only Oklahoma award.
Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants
*Bamboo Lounge, 7204 E. Pine
*Boston Willy’s Diner, 1742 S. Boston
Burger Sisters Restaurant, 1545 S; Sheridan
*Empire Bar, 1516 S. Peoria
*Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th
*Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria
*Jason’s Deli, 15th & Peoria
*Lola’s, 2630 E. 15th
*Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square
*St.~ Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st
*Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan
*Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S Main
*TNT’s,. 2114 S. Memorial
*Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd
832-1269
592-2143
835-1207
599-9512
583-6666
749-4511
599-7777
749-1563
744-4280
745-9998
834-4234
585-3405
660-0856
584-1308
Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals
Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 747-1508
*Affinity News, 8120 E. 21 610-8510
*Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000
Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580
Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122
*Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955
*Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665
Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272
*CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313
Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S.Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117
Community Cleaning, Ke~by Baker 622-0700
Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468
*Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620
*Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady 587-2611
Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556
*Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838-8503
*Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712-9379
Four Star Import Automotive, 9~06 E. 55th P1. 610-0880
Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr~ 628-3709
Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026
*Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 742-1460
Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349
Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440
*Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111
*International Tours 341-6866
Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712~2750
*Jared’.s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018
David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236
The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460
*Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 -599-8070
Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466
*Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brady 585-1234
*Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112
Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934
*Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951
David A. Paddock, CPA, 4308 S. Peoria, Ste. 633 747-7672
Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626
*Peace of Mind Bookstore, 1401 E. 15 583-1090
The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297
Rainbowz on the River B+B,’POB 696, 74101 747-5932
Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617
Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921, 747-4746
*Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301
Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829
*Tickled Pink, 3340 S. Peoria 697-0017
*Tulsa Book Exchange, 3749 S..Peoria 742-2007
*Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558
*Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563
Fred Welch, LCSW, Counsding 743-1733
*Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767
Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities
AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593
*All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363
Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314
Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815
*B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa Canterbury Ctr. 583-9780
*Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201
*Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence
*Churchofthe RestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314
*Community ofHope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300
*Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595
*Council Oak Men’s Chorale 585-COMC (2662)
*Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511
*Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457
Dignity/integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics &
Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140
*Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777
918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615
POB 4140. Tulsa, OK 74159
e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlinlc net
Publisher + Editor:
Tom Neal
Writers + contributors:
James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche,
Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Sehepers
Member of The Associated Press
I ssued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of this ¯
~Lblication are protected by US copyright 199,8 byT~/:~.
¯
¯ and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part Without:
written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or
photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. Correspon- -"
dence is assumed to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must .
be signed & becomes the sole property of TJ.~.~N,~,~. .
Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution ¯
points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. ¯
¯Free Spirit Women’ s Center, callforlocation&info: 58%4669 "
Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827
Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438
¯HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 ¯
¯HIV Resource Consortium, 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 :
¯Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111o¯
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 .
¯House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood ¯
Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 "
¯MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 ."
NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111
NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658 "
OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 "
¯OSU-Tulsa (formerly UCT, formerly Rogers U. whoever...)
PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901
¯Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 "
Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152
¯R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 ¯
Rainbow Business Guild, POB 4106, 74159 665-5174 "
¯Red Rock MentaI Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325
O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults ."
O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth ¯
St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 :
St. Dtmstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 "
¯ St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088
¯Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 ¯
TNAAPP(Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 "
Tulsa County Health Department, 46i6 E. 15 595-4105 ."
Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only ¯
Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center " 743-4297 ¯
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 838-1222 ¯
¯Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule ¯
¯Tulsa Community College Campuses ¯
¯Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297
¯
Unity Church ofChristianity, 3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 "
BARTLESVILLE "
¯Bartlesville Public Library,600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 "
OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN
¯Borders Books &Music, 3209NWExpressway 405-848-2667 ’
¯Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573~4907 ¯
TAHLEQUAH
¯Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 ¯
¯Tahlequah Unitarian-UniversalistChurch 918-456-7900 ¯
¯Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 "
NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand
HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates .
EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS :
¯Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253~7734
¯Jim & Bren.t’s Bistro, 173 S. Main 501-253-7457 ¯
DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. 501-253-6807 ¯
¯Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. 501-253-5445 "
MCC of the Living Spring 501:253-9337."
Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 501-253-2776
Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-253-5332 :
Positive Idea Marketing Plans 501-624-6646 :
Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 501-253-6001 :
¯White Light, 1 Center St. 501~253-4074 ¯
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS5 ¯
¯Edna’s, 9 S. School Ave. 501-442-2845 ¯
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
¯ Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U 134 417-623-4696 ¯
¯ is where you can find TFN. Notall are Gay-owned butall are Gay-friendly.
Zoning Concerns
On the eve of the August 10 bond
election for street improvements, I find
myself in the awkward position of being
asked to vote ’yes’ while some of my
basic property rights are under the threat
of seizure. Againstmy very vocal protests,
the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning
Commission (TMAPC) recently voted to
’downzone’ myhomefrom amulti-family
to a single-family category. I purchased
my house with the intention of adding a
rental .unit in the future for supplemental
income, and I wish to retain the existing
zoning designation.
Currently, I have theright to build eleven
apartments on my property. If the zoning
is changed, I will have the right to one
single-family dwelling. This constitutes
an obvious taking of my development
rights without fair compensation, and I
resent the TMAPCIs insistence on
rezoning without my consent.
Doesn’t theTMAPChave enough to do
without tinkering with the privateproperty
of a taxpayer who is satisfied with the
existing zoning? The ’planners’ should
attend to their business of more efficient
metropolitan planning by allowing
residential infill development in the
downtownneighborhoods. Then,perhaps
we would not be faced with multi-million
dollar bond elections to support hundreds
of miles of streets and utilities sprawling
across such a sparsely populated city.
-Sincerely, Paul Uttinger, Tulsa
TITLE VII. Earlier this month, another
Eastern Districtjudgehadrejected aclaim
that harassment aimed at gays is covered
under the federal anti-discrimination
statute, Title VII ofthe Civil Rights Act of
1964. In rejecting the suit of a Gay postal
worker who claimed he was subjected to
a hostile work environment, Judge
Leonard B. Wexler ruled in Simonton v.
Runyon, that discrimination based t~pon
sexual orientation did not fall within Title
VII’s ban of "sex" discrimination.
However, Judge Spatt ruled in Qninnv.~
Nassau County Police Department, No.
97-3310, that there is no such similar
limitation upon a claim framed.directly
upon the Equal Protection clause in the
U.S. Constitution.
Title VH specifically enumerates five
types of discrimination that it bans, and
the list does not include discrimination
basedupon sexual orientation, Judge Spatt
pointed out. In contrast, he wrote~-the
Supreme Court in Romer recognized that
homosexuals are directly protected trader
the Equal Protection Clause from
"invidious and irrational discriminationbased
on sexual orientation."
Chris P. Termini, of McCabe, Collins,
McGeogh & Fowler, represented Nassau
County. Two individual defendants were
separately represented by Ronald J.
Morelli, of Mulholland, Minion & Roe,
and Alan J. Reardon. Susan Fitzgerald;of
Leeds & Morelli, also represented Mr.
Letters Policy
Tulsa Family News welcomes letters on issues
which we’ve covered or on issues you think
need to be considered. You may request that
your name be withheld but letters must be
signed & have phone numbers, or be hand
delivered. 200 wordletters are preferred. Letters
to other publications will be printed as js
appropriate.
In many parts of the United States, Gay, lesbian, " running for any office in this party." While I had good
bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) persons have
achieved an equal status in the communities in whichthey
live. But not in Oklahoma. Not yet. The Democratic
National Committee (DNC) recognizes GLBT persons.
But not the Oklahoma Democratic Party (ODP). Not yet.
In 1998 the DNC
adopted a policy
requiring each state
to nameGLBT
delegates to the
National Democratic
Conventions. The
DNC has recognized
that the majority of
GLBT persons, like
the majority of
straight persons, are
caring and
responsible citizens
entitled to an equal,
not special but equal,
presence in the DNC.
The ODP, once
moving towards
inclusion of GLBT
persons, now under
new party leadership,
rejects or ignores that DNC policy.
Much has been accomplished in Oklahoma for which
GLBT persons should all be proud. Moving a hate crimes
bill from a legislative committee to the House floor for
debateis somewhatmiraculous, considering the prevailing
Oklahoma attitudes only a few years ago when the
Oklahoma City Council rejected and terminated the
HumanRights Commission. Whathas been accomplished
can be attributed to the efforts of GLBT and affiliated
political organizations such as OGLPC (Oklahoma Gay
& Lesbian Political Committee), The Cimarron Alliance
Group, TOHR (Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights),
PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) with
the support of the NAACP and various labor and faith
organizations. Although these organizations are the heroes
in the efforts to date, they are not adequate for what is yet
to be accomplished. These organizations focus on issues
and review candidates from a non-partisan perspective.
What is missing in Oklahoma is the partisan participation
of GLBT persons, open partisan participation within the
major parties, not unlike the women’s organizations and
other caucuses.
Straights raise families; GLBT persons care for the
community in which those families live. Just look at who
we are. We are present in every profession and job
category as wall as present or have been present in every
elected office level, whether we admit it publicly or.not.
Throughout recorded history GLBT persons have often
been the movers and shakers for communities, the caregivers,
the compassionate, the artists, even leaders of
historical fame. Themajority ofus as GLBT persons have
the same expectations and dedication to our communities
as the majority of straights among whom we live and
work with side by side. But you would not know that if
youJistened to partisan leaders in both major Oklahoma
parties.
As a congressional candidate for Congress from
Oklahoma’s Sixth District in 1996 and again in 1998, I
made many friends with Democrats. I know and have
good contacts with Democrat. leaders in each of the 24
counties comprising the Sixth District. That is an asset
that I believe valuable as a party worker. I let it be known
that I wanted to serve as the District Secretary when the
incumbent indicated the day before the convention that
he would not run for re-election.
Without detailing the series of events leading up to the
conclusion of my attempt to place my name in line for
District Secretary, the man who became District Chair at
that April conventionblockedmefromrunning for office.
During a fifteen-minute conversation with him prior to
the Convention, hemade it clear that he and other elected
officials in the Sixth District did not want me to run for
any office. He would not say it was because I am Gay but
his remarks left me with only that justification for his
statement, "I am running for chair to keep you from
~ support among delegates I had contacted in that 24-hour
¯ period leading up to convention, I knew that it would be
." difficult to fnnction as a team. I did not seek the nomination
¯ during the convention. There was no caucus to turn to for
¯ support.
A quotation from the May 25 Daily
Oklahoman interview with the newly elected
ODP Chair, Mike Mass, speaks to my
concern as a Gay person:
"Mass said he thinks the party under Hall
has eottoned too much to what he calls
splinter groups¯ He and Hall were both at a
funetlon, and a Gay and lesbian advocate
asked Mass what he was going to do to help
the Gay eommunlty. ’Nothing,’ Mass replied.
Mass thinks the party has tended to make a
big deal about such groups."
Even amore glaring
concern for GLBT
persons is the election
of a new state chair
for the ODP during
its May 15 convention.
Representative
Mike Mass, a very
vocal opponent ofthe
hate crimes bill in the
legislature, was
elected by a two-vote
margin in an election
fraught with fraud.
(I am leading a
challenge of that
election for the
purpose of restoring
integrity to the ODP.
A petition calling for
a new election was
signed by more than
¯¯ 200 co-signors and filed with the DNC ou June 9.) ~
quotation from the May 25 Daily Oklahoman interview
with the newly elected ODP Chair, Mike Mass, speaks to
¯ my concern as a Gay person: ¯
"Mass said he thinks the party under Hall has cottoned
¯ too much to what he calls splinter groups. He and Hall
¯ were both at a function, and a Gay and lesbian advocate
¯ asked Mass what he was going to do to help the Gay ¯
community. ’Nothing,’ Mass replied. Mass thinks the
¯ party has tended to make a big deal about such groups."
¯ If therewas apartisan presenceofGLBTpersons in the ¯
ODP, or at least the acknowledgment of the DNC’s
¯ directive to include GLBT persons as delegates, this
¯ archaic attitude would be a relic of the past instead of
¯ facing us for the future in the ODP.
¯ There are national part~san organizations for both the
Democratic and Republican parties - The Log Cabin
¯ Republicans and the National Stonewall Democratic
¯ Federation (NSDF). GLBT persons in Oklahoma need
that partisan identification so that they can have a"seat at
¯ the table" when partisan political decisions are made.
: The NSDF was organized at Kansas City in May 1998
¯ for the purpose of mobilizing GLBT persons through a ¯
national grassroots network of GLBT Democratic clubs.
¯ There are GLBT Democratic clubs that are joined with
¯ their state Democratic party. Colorado and Michigan
¯ both have a federated GLBT Democratic dub within ¯ their State Democratic parties. GLBT Oklahomans need
¯ that presence in our state party. An Oklahoma Stonewall
¯ Democratic Club must be organized. I am a recently ¯
¯ electedregional director for theNSDFandurgeinterested persons to check out the website at
www.stonewalldemocrats.org or contact me by e-mail,
paulb@pldi.net.
The mere thought of a public GLBT presence in the
Oklahoma Republican Party (ORP) is breath-taldng. But
itcan midmustbe Created. WhenthoseGLBTRepnhlicafs
who have been supporting their party in the background
with contributions and party activismmake their presence
known to the ORP, then there is an opportunity for
inclusion in ORP policy making. Republican Oklahoma
GLBT persons should connect with the National Log
Cabin Republicans and establish an OklahomaLog Cabin
Republican Club.
Wemust do this. Wemust orgamze a partisan presence
of GLBT persons in each of Oklahoma’s major parties.
That is the Gay agenda that I am aware of- to be treated
as an equal in civic life as we continue to hold ourselves
to the same standards of responsibility and caring as
expected of straights. Wemust ask for a place at the table.
Editor’s note: I agree with Paul Barby but Would even
speak more strongly. We must demand our place at the
table and must challeng~ bigots like Mike Mass. We
might also question some of our "friends"like Tulsa
Democrat Sally Frasier who helpedgetMass "elected."
by Tom Neal, editor andpublisher
By now, Steve Hornis probably getting settled down in
his new home in Dallas. Steve, until his recentjob related
move, was in the middle of his second term as president
of the board ofTulsaOklahomans for Human Rights, Inc.
(TOHR) - the parent organization of Tulsa’s Gay
community center (the awkwardly renamed Tulsa Gay
Community Services Center).
Tulsa has been
fortunate in
havln~ a number
of dedleated
volunteers to our
Lesbian and Gay
eommunltles
(and BI and
Transgendered)
over many years.
Unfortunately,
we haven’t really
done a very ~ood
job of
reeognlzlng or
thanklng them
for their work.
Tulsa has been fortunate in
having a number of dedicated
~,olunteers to our Lesbian and
Gay communities (and Bi and
Transgendered) over many
years. Unfortunately, we
haven’t really done a very good
job of recognizing or thanking
them for their work. We use
themandthen ignore them when
we’re not actually vilifying
them. There are, of course, a
few exceptions, individuals who
repeatedly receive recognition
but many more don’t.
So I’d like to be one to clearly
thank Steve Horn for his
dedication to TOHR. Steve
became president just after I
served, inheriting the same big
mess with TOHR’s HIV testing
programs that I and several
previous TOHR presidents had
inherited. And while he and I
would still disagree profoundly
about how those issues were resolved, i.e. the separation
of the testing clinic into a stand-alone organization, his
work as a whole was great. He continued and expanded
onalegacy ofvolunteerism andleadership that’s continued
for nearly 20 years with TOHR. see Horn, p. ]4
Legal Win: Bias Against
Gays Unconstitutional
Editor’s note: the ruling noted below has greatpotential
for judicial remedies for anti-Gay bias in the United
States. Traditionally, many civil rights advances in this
country have come through court decisions and this
shows promise for fair treatment for Lesbian and Gay
citizens.- TN
by Daniel Wise, New York Law Journal, July 6, 1999
In a ruling believed to be one of first impression, a
federal judge in Uniondale has found discrimination
against homosexuals in an employment context to be
actionable as an Equal Protection violation.
Eastern District Judge Arthur D. Spatt issued the ruling
in upholding a $380,000 verdict that ajury awarded two
weeks ago to a former Nassau County police officer who
claimed he had been hounded out of his job by his fellow
officers and supervisors after they learned he was Gay.
The officer, James M. Quinn, resigned after enduring
nine years of taunts that included the prominent posting
in his stationhouse of cartoons labeling him a child
molester, a transvestite and a sadomasochist. "
"Judge Spatt is the first judge to explicitly recognize
that. discrimination based- upon, sexual- orientation .can
give rise to a hostile work environment claim under the
Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution," said
Mr. Quima’s lawyer, Frederic Ostrove, ofLeeds &Morelli
in Carle Place.
In concluding that harassment based upon an animus
against homosexuals was actionable lmder the Equal
Protection clause, Judge Spatt relied heavily upon a 1996
U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S.
620. Thatruling struck down an amendment to ColOrado’s
constitution that prohibited Gays and Lesbians from
obtaining any legal protections -legislative orjudicial -
from discrimination.
The Supreme Courtin Romerconcluded that the statute
withdrawing legal protection from homosexuals could
not stand because it was motivated by "irrational fear and
prejudice," Judge Spatt pointed out.
Similaxly, thejudge reasoned, thehatecampaignagainst
Mr. Quinn had been motivated "by irrational fear and
prejudice towards homosexuals." see Ruling, p. 2
Gay Conversion Group
Holds Convention
WHEATON, Ill. (AP) - Exodus International, a :
Seattle-based organization that claims homosexuals
can be converted to change their sexual behavior,
openedits annual conference as protesters sang gospels
softly nearby.
"A whole new chapter has opened up," said Bob
Davies, executive director of Exodus. "For the first
time in our 23 year history, the body of Christ has
gotten behind this ministry."
About 1,200 people attended the rally, the biggest
attendance, since the group began in 1976. Leaders
attributed the large turnout to a nationwide ad
campaignpromoting conversionfromhomosexuality,
As the group clapped inside, the Rev. Bradley
Mickelson of the Metropolitan Community Church
of the Incarnation in Oak Park, Ill., led a quiet march
of 50 people outside. "We need to be a voice for
people who think they’re living in sin, to tell them
how to be liberated and free," said Mickelson, whose
Chicago-area church is open to homosexuals.
Exodus International burst.into public notice a year
ago with full-page ads m major newspapers
proclaiming its belief that Gays and Lesbians can
change. Conservative groups such as the Christian
Coalitionhelped pay for the.campaign. Exodus teaches
that"freedomfromhomosexuality is possible through -.
repentance and faith in Jesus Christ" and seeks to
provide hdp for "men and women who desire to
overcome their homosexuality."
The conference, a mixture of training workshops
and inspirational rallies, is meeting at Wheaten
College, a prominent Evangelical Protestant school,
but is not sponsored by the college.
Cynthia Marquardt, member of the Oak Park
congregation, said sexual conversion is impossible
and that Exodus’ message contributes to -violence
against Gays and Lesbians. "Exodus has a right to
their message, and we will continue to proclaim that
God loves us just as we are," she said,
Exodus is afederation of 131 independentministries
located in 38 states and the District of Columbia, plus
several overseas affiliates. Theorganizationis staffed
by people from a var~,ety of Christian denominations.
Manyofthegroup sleaders saytheyusedtobeGay
or Lesbian and merely offer options to people that
want them. Exodus is closely aligned with
Homosexuals Anonymous, a twelve-step movement
patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous, and with the
National Association for Research and Therapy of
Homosexuality,madeup ofpsychological counselors
who work for change through "reparative therapy."
Both the American Psychiatric Association and
American Psychological Associationhave denounced
Christian-based reparative therapy, saying it doesn’t
work and can cause psychological damage.
Phelps to Protest
in Vermont
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP)- Members of a church that
organized a picket outside the funeral of a murdered
University of Wyoming student last year plan a
protest on the lawn of the Vermont Statehouse next
week.
The Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kans.,
plans to have a dozen people in Montpelier on Aug.
3 to picket against Gay marriage, said Shirley Phelps-
Roper, a church a!!orney and dangh,ter of founder the
Rev.FredPhelps. Whenthenation smilitant, activist
fags brag about a place - watch out!" said an
announcement distributed by the church. "Well,
they’re bragging about Vermont from sea to shining
sea. They think Vermont will soon allow filthy fag
beasts to marry each other."
The Vermont Supreme Court is considering a
lawsuit seeking to overturn the state’ s refusal to issue
mamage licenses to same-sex couples. Some legal
experts have predicted that Vermont could become
the first state to legalize such marriages.
Phelps-Roper said a dozen members of her church
would spend the weekend in Ottawa and Montreal,
protesting a decision on domestic partnership by the
Canada Supreme Court and then picketing the
Montreal Gay pride parade. The group then will
travel to Vermont, slie said.
The church is virulently anti-Gay and pickets
frequently. In October, it picketed-outside the funeral
~fMatthew Shepard, who authorities say was killed in
part because he was Gay.
Oregon Anti-Gay
Marriage Bill Dies
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A watered-down proposal that
began as a ban on Gay marriages failed in the Senate
last month. The proposed ballot measure would have
asked voters only whether the Legis!~ture sh.ould
have the power to define What cbiastitutes a marnage.
As passedby the House, the proposal definedmarriage
as atmionbetweenmanand woman. Sen. Neil Bryant,
R-Bend, said the measure as reworked by the Senate
set a middle ground in the dispute, but foes argued the
revised measure would accomplish nothing.
The proposal stemmed from an Oregon Court of
Appeals ruling that employers cannot discriminate
against homosexuals and must provide benefits to
same-sex partners ofgovernmentworkers. Supporters
of the anti-Gay mamage measure contended that the
court decision opened the door for legalization of Gay
marriages.
Alabama Passes
Gay-Friendly Law
MONTGOMERY, AIa. (AP) - The Alabama
Legislature is drawing praise from the National Gay
and LesbianTaskForcefor passing domestic violence
legislation that could make Alabama the first state to
cover homosexual couples. In its legislative update
July 16, the task force listed the Alabama domestic
violence legislation as one of the "highlights" of
legislative sessmns nationwide.
Butthe sponsor of thelegislation, state Rep. Yvo,,n~e
Kennedy, D-Mobile, said, "That’s way off base. At
issue is a bill passed on the Legislature’s final day
June 9, when dozens of bills were flying through the
House and Senate with little or no discussion. Gov.
Don Siegelman signed the bill imo law June 19.
Ms. Kennedy and Carol Gundlach, executive
director of the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic
Violence, said the purpose of the legislation was raise
the cost of a marriage license by $15 to provide more
funding for shelters for domestic abuse victims and to
broaden domestic abuse laws to cover more than
spouses. The legislation expands domestic abuselaws
to cover violence "occurring amongfamily, household,
dating, or engagement relationships.’"
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, a
Washington-based group that works to eliminate
prejudice and violence againstGaypersons, is focusing
eta the word "household" in the new Alabama law.
"You couldhave two peoplein a same-sex relationship
and that’s a household," said David Elliott,
communications director for the task force.
The task force’s legislative report said Alabama
"’became the first state to enact a bill expanding the
state’s definition of domestic violence to potentially
includeGay, Lesbian, bisexual and transsexual people
under Alabama’ s domestic violence law." But Elliott
concededit will probably take acourt case to determine
whether the task force’s view is correct.
Ms. Kennedy, who sponsored the bill for the
Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said the new
law is silent about sexual orientation. But she said
homosexual couples were never mentioned in any of
the legislative debate on the bill.
Ms. Gundlach said the language was copied from
Alabama’s 1989 warrantless arrest law. That law
allows police to make assault arrests without an arrest
warrant when an assault occurs between two people
living together. She said she has heard of cases where
police used the law to make arrests involving
homosexual relationships that turned violent. ’q’hat’ s
just common sense. People in homosexual
relationships can and do assault each other and the
victim needs protection," she said. But she said the
xndusion of"household" in the 1989taw and the 1999
law does not legitimize homosexual rdationships
trader state law.
Jerry Bassett, director of the Legislative Reference
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Service and chief bill-writer for the Legislature, said
the new law was supposed to apply to couples who
could get married, but chose not to. "Whether you
could extend that to people who couldn’t get married
if they wanted to, I don’t know," he said. He agreed
with the task force’s spokesman that it would take a
court case to find out.
While the legislative update from the National Gay
and Lesbian Task Force complimented Alabama on
the domestic violence legislation, the state Legislature
camein forcriticismfor refusing to expandAlabama’ s
hate crimes law to cover sexual orientation despite
the Feb. 19 beating death of Billy Jack Gaither of
Sylacauga. ButAlabama was not alone. Twenty other
state legislatures turned back similar ~.egislation, the
task force noted.
Gay Couple Appeals
Adoption Ruling
ERIE, Pa. (AP) -Twomenhope an appeals court will
allow them to become adoptive parents and help
defineparental rights forGay couples in Pennsylvania.
The couple has asked the state Superior Court to
overturn a decision by Erie County Judge Shad
Connelly, who nded las t month that state law dictates
that only one man can be the legal parent of the two
children. Lower court judges have differed on the
issue, and appeals courts have not made a definitive
decision. Connelly said the Legislature should
specifically sanction Gay marriages before judges
can allow Gay couples to adopt.
The children, an 8-year-old boy and a 7-year-old
gift, were adopted by one of the men and raised since
infancy by the couple. The man who does not have
legal custody said he wants to be officially named a
parent in case his partner dies. "The children have
been and will continue to live with their family
regardless of the court’s action," said Karen Engro, a
la~vyer for the couple. "ff the adoption is granted,
everyone wins. Bydenying it, everyone loses."
The men, who are 43 and 42 years old, have been
together for 18 years and are identified only by their
initials in court records. They have asked reporters
not to use theirnames to protect the children’s privacy.
Another lawyer for the couple, Chris Biancheria,
said other Common Pleas Court judges in the state
have granted "second parent" adoptions for Gay
couples. She said a Superior Court ruling in favor of
the adoption could help establish guidelines for lower
courts. "It would mean that these type of adoptions
would have to be granted in every county," she said.
She said Connelly, in ruling against the adoption,
ignored the Legislature’s stipulation that all adoptions
be consideredin light of "the children’ s best interests."
In his ruling, Counelly wrote that the "best interest"
issue was irrelevant because the request was illegal to
begin with. "Because the Legislature has not seen fit
to specifically sanction such adoptions-as this, this
court is not empowered to grant the petitaon for
adoption," he wrote.
High School Gay-Straight
Alliance Recognized
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) - West High School on
Thursday formally recognized a support group for
Gay and Lesbian pupils. The action, in a formal letter,
gives theWestHighGay/Straight Alliance recognition
retroactive to April 1. The letter follows the school
board’s narrow margin approval ofthe dublast week,
10 weeks after several current and former pupils filed
suit over Principal Robert Baines’ decision not to
recognize the group without school board approval.
Jennifer Levi, a lawyer from Gay & Lesbian
Advocates & Defenders, a Boston nonprofit
representing thepupils, said Thursday the recognition
"is a great day for the students at Manchester High
School West." The lawsuit charged the principal
discriminatedagainstthe group under the Equal Access
Act because no other student association has been
required to get school board approval to use school
facilities.
Supporters of the Gay Straight Alliance say it
offers support and acceptance to pupils ~ho are Gay,
Lesbian or bisexual in an often hostile environment.
Italso helps educate others abouto~fensive stereotypes
and acceptance of differences.
Court Rejects Ex’s
Visitation Appeal
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Despite pleas by Gay
civil-rights groups, the state SupremeCourthas turaed
down an appeal by an Alameda County woman who
sought the right to visit two children she helped raise
with her Lesbian partner. An appellate court ruled in
April that the woman, Kathleen C., had no parental
rights because she was not the biological mother, and
because there was no evidence that the children were
being harmed by living with their biological mother.
The state’s high court denied review of the case in
July. Only lustices Stanley Mosk and Janice Rogers
Brown voted to grant a hearing, two short of the
needed majority. The appellate ruling is now binding
on trial courts statewide.
The case was closely watched by Gay civil-rights
groups, who wanted California to follow a handful of
court rul!ngs in other states that have granted parental
rights to former members of same-sex couples.
Kathleen and her partner, Lisa W., started living
together in February 1985, when Lisa’s daughter was
almost 3. They had a child together by artificial
insemination in 1987 and separated in 1990. Kathleen
was allowed to visit the children onalternateweekend
until November 1994, when Lisa cut off visitation.
Kathleen argued that she should be considered the
children’s "de facto parent," one who develops a
parent-like relationship by providing daily care,
affection and concern over a long period.
An appellate court in New Jersey ruled this March
that a woman who had helped her .Lesbian partner
raise two children was a "psychological parent"
entitled to visitation. Courts in Wisconsin and
Pennsylvaniahave also granted limited parental rights
to former members of Lesbian couples.
ButAlamedaCounty Superior CourtJudge Roderic
Duncan ruled against Kathleen C. and was upheld by
the 1st District Court of Appeal.
Kathleen had shown the characteristics of a "de
facto parent," but there is no legal authority to grant
a non-parent visitation rights "’over the objection of
the biological parent and in the absence ofany showing
of detrimentto the child," said the opinionby Presiding
Justice Daniel Hanlon. The ruling means Kathleen
cannot see the children until they turn 18. They are
now 17 and 12.
The state Supreme Court appeal drew support from
the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the Youth
La~v Center, the American Civil Liberties Union and
other advocacy groups.
The appdlate ntling "leaves the two children...
locked in the embrace of but one of their mothers,
denied by her - and by the courts of this state - any
contact with the other woman they call ’Morn,’ "said
E. Elizabeth Summers, alawyer for Kathleen, in court
papers. She acknowledged that a Lesbian partner can
get parental rights by adopting the child with her
partner, but said not all California counties, or judges
in the same county, allow adoptions by same-sex
couples.
Mormans Lose Members
Over Anti-Gay Stance
SALT LAKECITY (AP) - The Mormon church says
it regrets a protest by dozens of dissident members
trying to quit the church because of its campaign in
California against Gay. marriages. The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement
saying it was defending the "traditional family" by
pushing for a California ballot initiative that seeks to
preempt legalized same-gender marriages.
The dissidents say the church crossed a line from
religion to politics by asking its 740,000 California
members to "do all you can" to assure passage of the
initiative.
Church spokesman Dale Bills said, "we regret that
any member would ask to have his or her name
removed from our records because the church has
joined a coalition in California to oppose samegender
marriage."
New Test Catches
HIV Quicker
RICHMOND,Va. (AP)-Theagency that
collects most blood donations in central
Virginiais still usingtwo standard tests to
screen blood for the AIDS virus, four
months afterfederal healthofficials urged
blood baul~ to use a new test. The new
test, called Nucleic Acid Testing; was
recommended by the Food and Drug
Administration on March 3. NAT may
significantly reduce the time thatHIV can
avoid detection in current blood tests.
¯
reaching," MethodistHealth Care System
¯
president Peter Butler said.
: Science Advances,
i Prejudice Remains ¯
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - T.J.
¯
contracted the virus that causes AIDS 18
: years ago. He says nothing’s changed.
¯ "Wall, almost nothing," "he said. "A lot
: has changed in medicine, but very little
: has changed in stigma and prejudice." So
¯
little that he feels obliged to use T.J.
¯ instead of his real name.
TheFl’)A’sreq°mmendati°n~et"w°° i ,,~’li~eitl arural’~rea~
w~s~.~f_5,re ~iPetet~b~gman; William good iqtca, (o use my name, he said. T.J.
C C~ippy ¥6tmg~" tmderwent:V~seular~ ~ hdped form the Long Term ~Survivors
surgeryat~MedicalColleg~ofVirginia : Group for people living with AIDS in
Hospitals in Richmond..Young said he : Oklahoma. It has about 200 members.
contracted HIV from a blood transfusion
he received during the surgery.
Virginia Blood Services, the regional
blood bank., last week acknowledged that
a unit of blood it sent toMCV may have
been tainted with HIV. The unidentified
donor tested negative when theblood was
given but later tested posluve.
The NAT procedure is not yet required
because it is experimental and there are
questions abouL how to implement it
nationwide But FDA spo,k,eswoman
Len0re Gelb said the test will’ help close
the window" when. HIV cannot, be
detected.
Virginia Blood Services has used the
test for another virus, hepatitis C~"since
April 15 as part of a study, said
spokeswoman Laura Cameron. She said
the procedure would be used to test blood
when it is licensed by the FDA, which is
awaiting results .of NAT experiments
around the country.
Atthe timeYoung contendshe received
the taintedblood, only afew blood centers
had the technology to implement the ne.w
test for AIDS, said Dr; Celso Bianco, the
president of America s Blood Centers¯
"Even if the (NAT) test worked, it would
not have benefited this recipient," Bianco
said.
The new test detects HIV at very small
concentrations even before the body
produces antibodies to the virus. Blood
banks now use a test that spots antibodies
to HIV and another that finds a protein
attached to the virus.
In a study published this month in the
medical journal Transfusion, scientists
studying an HIV-infected chimpanzee
discovered that the new test narrowed the
detection window by three weeks. They
also found that blood from the HIVinfected
chimp did not infect another
animal until the virus concentration was
detectable using the new test.
New Medical Center
HOUSTON (AP) - A new cell and gene
research center here could revolutionize
therapy for many illnesses, including
cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes
and AIDS, say doctors. Formation of the
International Center for Cell and Gene
Therapy, a collaboration by Baylo,r
College of Medicine, Texas Children s
Hospital andTheMethodist Hospital, was
announced this morning. Officials said
the center will be the first in the world to
combine basic science mid clinical
research with pediatric and adult celland-
gene-therapy transplant facilities.
Creation ofthe center was prompted by
new understanding of the molecular basis
ofdisease and theneedfornovel strategies
for cell and gene therapy.-"We realize the
medical possibilities are endless and the
potential impact on patients is far-
: "We’ve had members burned out of their
¯
home and run out of town," he said. "One
¯ family just recently moved to the city
¯ (from a natal community) because they
¯ couldn’t take it anymore. The mother has
AIDS." T.J. said the quality and length of
life for people living with AIDS has
¯ improved because of medical advances,
¯ but there is still a long way to go. "People
~ have started believing thatit’s over. It’s a
¯ long way from being over," he said.
Pam Cross, director of the Regional
AIDS Interfaith Network, agreed that the
¯ much of the general public remains
¯ ignorant of the disease. "People have ¯
¯ become quite complacent. They’ve taken
good news from headlines and TV about
¯ medical advances," she said. "They think
it’ s a cure for HIV and there’ s not. "We’re
~ not seeing a drop. Nationwide, we still
have 40,000 people a y,e,ar becoming
¯ infected with this disease.
T.J., who got AIDS from a Gay
; relationship, fits into the Centers for
~ Disease Co~,trol and Prevention"Pre- 1987
: Definition. That definition refers .to the,
Original list of"oppormnistic infect|ons.
In other words,he got the virus that causes
AIDS before AIDS had a name.
In Oklahoma, there have been 5,441
reported HIV/AIDS cases, according to
theOklahomaState Departmentof Health,
which began tracking the disease in 1982.
Figures show no confirmed heterosexual
¯ cases were recorded the first four years
records were kept, but in the past four
¯ years about 10% of overall cases have
¯ been heterosexual. ¯ ’t ¯ Ms. Cross said documented cases don
¯
fully represent the amount of people who
¯ have the disease. "If they’re anonymous, ¯
¯ there’s noway oftellinghowmany people
have it. I’ve heard estimates that cases
¯ could be as many as 10 times higher (than
¯ what is documented)," Ms. Cross said. ¯
’qqaere are alot of people that don’t know
~ theDyorne"iJnofhecntseodn,, ashe19s-myea. r survivor of
¯ AIDS, said he thinks the biggest reason ¯
¯ for increase in heterosexual cases is
ignorance andalackofAIDS educationin
¯ Oklahoma. "There’s still a lot of that ’It
~ can’ thappenhere’ attitude.I don’ t see the
¯ education taking place that I see in
~ California," saidJohnson,41, whois G.ay.
¯ "The schools there have a curriculum that
¯ involves HIV prevention. There is not the
¯ samecommumtyawarenesshere, hesaid.
¯
Shelly Hickman, spokeswoman f.o,r .,file
i state Department of Education, sam m.e
¯ state requires that schools have a certain
: amount of AIDS education curriculum,
¯ but much of it is left up to the schools¯
¯ ’‘There is some discretion on how it is
~ taughtandwhenitis taught," Ms. Hickman
¯ said."Weareinfavoroflocal communities
~ that they use what’s best for them."
¯ Peggy, who would not use her real
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name, said the state doesn’t do enough to
protect future generations from getting
.AIDS. "People think this diseaseis starting
to go away," she said. "This is afact oflife
- we have to protect our future and give
them the information they need to protect
themselves. How can we do that if we
have to be careful about what words we
say or don’t say in this state? "This
generation is not like generations in the
past. We can’t treat our youth like we did
three or four generations ago. They’re
having sex younger and younger."
Peggy said she got HIV from her late
husband when’he got it from a blood
transfusion in the mid-80’s. She said she
and herhusband hid their disease from the
community toprotecttheir children. "Until
society accepts this disease and is able to
talk about it, it will go on and on," she
said. "Heterosexual people are afraid to
¯¯ country can import lower-cost drugs
without infringing on patents.
¯ The issue of African access to AIDS
¯ drugs has taken on a political dimension ¯
recently. Gore has been caught in a fight
¯ between AIDS activists seeking cheap
¯ generic drugs for South African AIDS ¯
victims of the disease and U.S. laws
: intended to protect drug companies from
¯ having theirpatents violated abroad. Gore
: has saidhedoesnotopposeSouthAfrica’s
¯ attempts to produce or obtain generic
¯ AIDS medicines as long as those efforts ¯
donot violate laws protecting patents.
¯
A 1997 South African law granted the
¯ government unspecified power to obtain
¯ cheaper AIDS drugs. About 40 ¯
pharmaceuticalcompanies worldwide are
: challenging the law in South African
: courts, fearing itmay beusedin a way that
¯ violates patent rights.
be tested because they’re afraid they’ll be :
labeled as Gay. So then they go and ~x;e :
it to someone else and the cycle goes on.r’ ¯
Congress Hears
¯African Appeal
WASHINGTON (AP)-AnAIDS patient
from Malawi asked Congress for help in
settling trade-disputes that could deprive
poor African countries such as her own of
vital drugs.
Chatinkah Nkhoma, 37, believes she
would be dead now had she stayed in
Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital, where the
drugs she needs either are tmavailable or
cost too much. Millions of other Africans
are not as lucky, said Nkhoma, who came
to the United States as a graduate student.
~’I’m their voice. I’m here to cry for help,"
Nkhoma testified tearfully before the
HouseGovernmentReform subcommittee
oncriminaljustice, drug policy andhuman
resources.
The government did act in response:
Vice President Gore on Monday
announced a new $100 million proposal
to help Africa stop the spread of AIDS.
Nkhoma also appealed to lawmakers to
¯ reject arguments that the drags may cause
more harm than good in poor nations
unable to ensure AIDS patients adhere to
strict drug regimens. Experts have said
that people who do not take the drugs as
prescribed actually may become sicker or
devdop drug-resistant strains of theAIDS
virus.
AIDS deaths in the United States have
declinedbecause ofadvances in treatment,
but they remain on the increase in Africa,
where it is the leading cause of death.
Trade disputes have developed over
some countries’ efforts to reduce the cost
ofimporting AIDS drugs, withsomeblame
directed at pharmaceutical companies.
"What happens to countries who.., do
not purchase their AIDS drugs from drug
companies, instead looking to. buy them
through cheaper sellers, often times other
countries? Under direct pressure from the
pharmaceuticalindustry, they arepunished
bythe UnitedStates," Rep. Bernie Sanders,
I-Vt., said in a written statement. He said
thesecountries couldlose theirpreferential
tariff treatment "all because the
pharmaceutical companies do not wish to
lose any of their tremendous profits."
Joe Papovich, an assistant U.S. trade
representative, said the Clinton
administration believe it can resolve the
disputes, which involve drug companies’
efforts to protect their patents and help
recoup research costs. He said the
administration is working with South
Africa, where 45% of the military is
infected with the AIDS virus, so that
More Die From
: AIDSThan War
: NAIROBI, Kenya(AP)-AIDS killed 1:4
: million people in eastern .and southern
," Africa last year, overtaking armed
¯ conflicts as the No. 1 killer in the region,
," the U.N~ Children’s Fund said recently.
: Theepidemic, whichhas hit this portion
¯ of the African continent harder than
: anywhere else in the world, has left 6
: million children orphaned in eastern aud
¯ southern Africa, amounting to70% of the
¯ world’s AIDS orphans, said UNICEF ¯
DeputyExecutiveDirectorStephenLewis.
¯ 48% of the world’s AIDS cases are in this
¯ region, Lewis said during the release of
¯ UNICEF’s annual report on AIDS. It ¯
called for emergency action to curb the
¯ spread of AIDS in Africa.
¯ "Fundamentally,AIDS is spreading and
¯ stifling the economic and social
" infrastructure of the entire continent. It is
¯ killing the most productive age group,"
¯ Lewis said. "It is doubling and tripling
¯ infant mortality rates. It is returning life
-" .expectancy to the levels of 1960s." "It is
: the modern incarnationof the Dante’s
¯ Inferno," Lewis said. "Neaier has Africa
¯ faced such a plague."
~ Worldwide, some 16,000 people daily
" are infected.by HIV, the virus that causes
¯ AIDS, and there are 8.2 million AIDS
: orphans, most in sub-Saharan Africa, the
" report said. The report warned that AIDS
: could increase infant mortality in eastem
¯ and southern Africa by 75% and double
: the death rate of children under fivein the
¯ region in the next decade. "Thenumber of
: orphans in Africa constitute nothing less
¯ thananemergencyrequiring an emergency
: response," the report said.
¯ In Uganda, some 1.1 million children
¯ under 15 - or 11% of the country’s child
¯ population-have lost one or both parents ¯
to AIDS, the highest number of AIDS
¯ orphans in the world. In the developed
¯ wodd, that figure is at 1%. ¯
Especially important was educating
¯
people on prevention and on building
¯ tolerance in the region, where AIDS
¯ victims arefrequently shamedinto silence.
¯" Men, more than women, were intolerant
¯ of the disease, often refusing to be tested
: or to support wives stricken with AIDS,
¯ Lewis said.
: Lewis attacked Western nations for not
: financing the fight against the scourge in
¯ Africa. "It is morally indefensible," Lewis
~ said, "That the West is prepared to spend
: upwards of $40 billion to fight war in the
¯ Balkans then to engage in the economic
¯ restoration ofKosovo, andless than 1% of
: that to save the lives of tens of millions of
¯ women, children and men in .adriea."
by James Christjohn
Well, Just saw the new Muppets in
Space (MIS). It only served to make me
nostalgic for the days when Jim Henson
was at the helm of Muppetland. His son,
Brian, strives to follow in his footsteps
and for the most parts does a pretty good
job, but for whatever
reasons, the muppets
justseem to be puppets
now, not beings with
personalities.
In MIS, the plot
focuses on Gonzo,
who doesn’t know
what he is. Neither
does anyone else.
Turns out, he’s an
"alien from outer space
that.got left behind on
a mzsslon many years
ago, and now his
family is looking for
him. This could have
been the setup for a
really tinny "Pigs in
Space" type romp,
taking on all the big
space films, like Star
Wars, Close Encounters, Star Trek, etc.
And, while it has a few cute moments,
it fizzles like booster rockets with a furl
leak. I was really hoping it wout~d be good,
so it is with heavy heart I ~rite this.
Missing are the cameos that populated the
first three muppet films to such success,
the rapid fire jokes, and the witty
commentary on society that was the secret
weapon of the muppet minds. This is not
to say that you won’t find a few chuckles
in the film, which is worth seeing at the
dollar movie.
Especially relevant - and attention
getting - are the bits where Gonzo is
telling the gang that"I didn’ t choose to be
this way, I was’born this way." There are
other moments like that as well, which
indicates more of an overt Gay sensibility
to the film that one might suspect. These
moments are what makes the film worth
seeing.The pacing is-off on most of the
jokes - many of which absolutely depend
on the perfect timing to be funny rather
than misfires.
The ending leaves one wishing formore
- morebuildup,more climax, betterjokes.
It is kind ofperfunctory, and at no time do
the muppets sing any of the songs except
for one perfunctory number, and it’s an
oldie everyone will recognize, mainly
because it was overplayed in the 80’ s way
toe much. It was obviously thrown in at
the last minute, probably as a result of a
production meeting wherein someone said,
"But we HAVEto have a muppet musical
number! It’s expected!", and someone
else said,"Well... OK. I guess so. What’ll
we do?" "How about some old song from
the 80’s that everyone knows? That way
we won’t have to pay for songwriters?"
That, too, was disappointing, for one who
remembers the Muppet Movie for the
music as wall as the dream of one little
green frog to "make millions of people
happy."
Switching hats here, I thought I’d cross
over into TFN Book reviewer Barry
Hensley’s territory and make a
recommendation for "Queer Astrology
for Men" by Jill Dearman. Ms. Dearman
writes in a humorous style, which can
seem light until you read - really read -
whatshe’ s writing. (Shemustbea"sadge"
- Saggitarian) It makes the more
~ challenging aspects of the signs a little
¯ easier to take, and makes one aware of
¯ them without alienating or antagonizing,
¯ except in a good natured, "just kidding"
" kinda way. She’s been writing
¯ professionally aboutastrology for 9 years,
and has studied astrology since childhood,
and she does seem to
One of my favorite
numbers was the
"Jadhouse Tango",
wherein a bunch of
murderesses explain
why "they done it".
I think anyone who’s
been in a relationship
could probably
identify with many of
the reasons.
know her stuff.
As an astrologer
(Gemini MoonAstrological
Services, see
ad within these pages),
I am always on the
lookout for new and
informative
information on
astrology, especially
pertaining to Gay and
Lesbian folk This
book fits the bill quite
nicely and accurately,
Informally written,
it is an overview of
the sun sign..(themost
basic part of one’s
personality. Of
course, for a really
accuratepicture, afull
interpretation or birthchart is necessary;
since the other planets can mitigate/
amplify the sun sign’s qualities in any
given person.) As such, it is scarily on the
target.
As a Sagittarius, I found that section
(sometimes unfortunately) to be dead-on:
And having spent more than my share of
time around Leas, I read that section as an
objective "test" of the accuracy of the
writing, and again, it was quite right. So,
if you’re looking for a quick overview of
someone’s personality, and what makes
them tick, tiffs would be one of the better
book.
For a more complete picture, if you
know the person’s moon sign and rising
sign, I would recommend reading those
sections as well. Sun: basic ego quirks and
personality; rising sign or ascendant: how
they appear to others (Which explains
why a sun sign appears to be something
else entirely, emphasis on the "seems".);
and moon sign: emotions and the
subconscious - the way someone filters/
expresses emotional tendencies. Or, in
the case of one Leo I know, not.
It’ s a worthy addition to thebookshelves
of anyone curions about what makes
people tick, psychology, or mateshopping.
And, as a former total skeptic
and a psychology major, I can say give it
arty; you’llbe surprised. Forget the overly
general newspaper tidbits (especially the
Tulsa World -"Sagittarius: Today you’ll
have a day" just doesn’t cut it with me),
and go for the real stuff. This is a good
start,
If you can, check out "Chicago", at the
PAC throughAugust 1 st. The Kander and
Ebb musical starring Sandy Duncan is
worth seeing. The men and women are all
gorgeous, and the staging is perfect. The
story of the "sensationalization" of two
murders for publicity’s sake is certainly
timely. Ms. Duncan is gorgeous and turns
in a great performance, and the dancing
alone is worth seeing.
One of my favorite numbers was the
"Jailhouse Tango", wherein a bunch of
murderesses explain why "they done it",
I thinkanyonewho’s beenin arelationship
could probably identify with many of the
reasons.
see Arts, p. 11
present...
of Dallas, Texas~
Reception
Following
Performance
JO]’ll~ YdlLLIAMS THEATEll
AUG. 2"/~: 28 - 8 PM
~Made possible, in part, by a grant from
the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust.
Tickets $12
Tulsa
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~ SUNDAYS
Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service - 6pm, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Service - 1 lam, 2545 S. Yale, 749-0595 (Welcoming)
Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist
Service - 1 lam, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-1314
Metropolitan Community Church United
Service, l lain, 1623 North Maplewood, Info: 838:1715
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc.
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service.- 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood
Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America)
Mass - 1 lam, 205 W. King (east 0f N. Denver), hffo: 582-3088
Unity Church of Christianity
Services: 9:15 & 11:00 am, 3355 S. Jamestown, 749-8833
University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance
6:30 pm, Meets at the Canterbury Ctr., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780
~ MONDAYS
Mixed Volleyball, Helmerich Park, 71st & Riverside, 6pm, call Shawn at 243-5190.
HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required.
Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard)
HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
7:30pro, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
2nd MonJeach mo. 6:30pm, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard
Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551
Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals - call for times, info: 585-COMC (2662)
~TUESDAYS
AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call for next meeting date. 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551
Live And Let Live. Community of Hope United Methodi st, 7:30pm, 2545 S. Yale
Multicultural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date.
Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001
PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th
Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE)
Tuesdays, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, info: 743-4297
~ WEDNESDAYS
Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center
Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pm, 3210b So: Norwood
Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more information, call 582-7225
TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for inib: 595-7632.
Lambda A-A, 7 pm, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft.
~" THURSDAYS
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education
Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pm 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral
Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN)
Support/social group for 18-24’s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-2325
Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV AIDS, Info: 834-4194
~ FRIDAYS
SafeHaven, Young Adults Social Group, 1 st Fri/each mo. 8pm, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th
~" SATURDAYS
Narcotics Anonymous, 11 pm, Community of Hope,1703 E. 2nd, Info: 585-1800
Lambda A-A, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, 2rid ft.
~ OTHER GROUPS
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info: 838-1222
Gal-A-Vanting, Womens Social & Cultural Group
Call for info: Mary at 743-6740, Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-68251..i
OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization. Long rides, 7am on 8~ & 8/
21. Short ride, 6:30pm on 8/5, 6pm on 8/18 from Zeigler Park. Short ride, 6:30pro, 8/
25 from Tulsa Gay Community Center. Write for info: PUB 9165, Tulsa. OK74157
lfyour organization is not listed, please let us know. Call 583-I248 orfax 583-4615.
READ ALL ABOUT IT
reviewed by Barry Hensley
Tulsa City-Couniy Library
For a short time, in 1997, the worldwas
mesmerized’by the odd and frightening
story of Andrew Cnnanart, as he went on
a killing spree across several
states, ending.with themurder Indiana’s
of fashion designer Gianni ¯ ". ~ "
Versace in Miami. This
¯recounting of Cunanan’s
interesting life and horrifying
death makes fascinating, ff
difficult, reading.
Growing up in a lower
middle class family,Cunanan
learned early in life to
embellish tte truth to make
him seem more important. He
studied the.finer things in life
beginning as a child, and by -
high school, dazzled his
teachers with his knowledge
andtaste, andwonrespectfrom
other students with his sharp
wit, easy’ demeanor and
exceedingly good looks.
As he eased into gay life in " sentence at
California, Cnnanan learned thathe couldeasilymanipulate ~’- 39~0 words!
otherpeopleinto situations that
were advantageous to him. He had a few
seim-serious relationships and even had a
sugar daddy at one point. The two people
he was serious about, David Madson and
JeffTrail, each soonrealized thatCunanan
was a fraud. To get away from him, they
each left the state, ironically both ending
up in Minnesota.
As Cunanan’s friends deserted him,
with no job and low on funds, he went to
Minnesota, hoping one of his old
boyfriends wouldinvitehim to stay awhile
- untilhe wasbackonhis feet. BothMadson
and Trail, who barely knew each other,
were simply hoping that he wouldstay for
acoupleofdays andleave. Whenitbecame
gravcst sin,
and the thing
that makes
the book so
hard to read,
is his highly
approach to
sentence
structure.
I do kd
The brothers were being held in lieu of
$150,000 bail on charges of receiving
stolen property after authorities said they
found awallet, credit card, driver’s license
and Social Security card belonging to
Matson.
Federal and local authorities said the
brothers also were being investigated in
connection with the Sacramento
synagogue fires onJune 18 that caused $1
million in damage..
TheWilliams brothers livedinamodest,
wood-frame house in Redding, where
investigators said they found material
espousing white supremacist beliefs.
Amongthematerial foundwas literature
from the Illinois-based World Church of
the Creator, according to news reports. A
former member of the church, Benjamin
Smith, killed himself last week after a
two-state shooting spree targeting
minorities inTndianaand ~linois thatkill~.~
two men and wonnded nine others.
Also found in the house was alist of32
prominent Jewish and civic leaders in
Sacramento, and FBI special agent James
Maddock said protection was ordered for
those individuals. Officials also urged
Reddin~’s only Jewish congregation,
Temple Beth Israel, to increase secun y.
ii
evident that no offers were forthcoming,
Cunanan tttmed bitter and surly. After a
minor betrayal by Jeff Trail, Cunanan
snapped, bludgeoning Trail to death with
a hammer. And so began his killing spree
which also included Madson, an elderly
friend in Chicago, an unlucky
cemetery worker whose truck
Cunanan needed, and finally,
Versace.
Author Gary Indiana did a
lotofresearch butmuch of the
book revolves around what
Cunanan was thinking, how
he formulated his plans, and
conversations between
Cunanan and his victims.
Since all of the participants
are dead, Indiana is simply
making up. a good story,, With
events that may ormay not be
true.But, Indiana’s gravestsin,
and the thing that makes the
book so hard to read, is his
highly unusual approach to
sentence structure. I clocked
one sentence at 320 words!
Frustrations aside, this
is an interesting story, and
there are some fairly good
photographs to help put faces
¯ with names. There is an unseemly photo
." Of Ctmanan’s bloody corpse, after his
¯ suicide, which is better suited to a tabloid
~ thanarespectablebook. Ctmananwas ful!
¯ of contradictions; smart but doing stupid
¯" things, sweet yet mean to those around
him, and;mostofall,complex yetshallow.
¯ His is a warning to materialistic social
". climbers that there is more to life than
superficial appearances, and if you take
¯ things too seriously, you can wind up
: hurting yourself and those you love.
¯ Check for Three Month Fever at your
: local branch library, or call the Readers
: Services departmentatthe Central Library,
¯ at 596-7966.
i Anti-Hate Crimes Legislation
: Advances in Senate
¯ WASHINGTON - The Senate has taken
i a ,strong stand against the rising tide of
hate violence in America by adding the
¯
Hate Crimds Prevention Act to the
¯ Commerce, Justice and State appro-
¯ priations bill, both the Human Rights
"_ Campaiguandthe National Gay&Lesbian
¯
Task Force asserted recently.
¯ "The Senate took a dramatic step
¯ forward in making this nation a safer ¯
place for all Americans," HRC Executive
: Director Elizabeth Birch said a day after
¯ the Senate added hate crimes language to
¯ the appropriationsmeasure. "We appla.ud ¯
this responsibleeffort to stem the growing
: trend of hate crimes in our country."
¯ ’q’his is the first concrete action taken
¯ by either chamber since America buried
¯" Matthew Shepard, James Byrd Jr., Billy
~ .Jack Gaither, and many transgendered
: people whose names and faces do not
make the newspapers," said Kerry Lobel,
¯ executive director of the National Gay
¯ and Lesbian Task Force.
_" "It is a good first step. But we have a
¯ long way to go and we must now mm to
¯ the House and tell our representatives
: how critically important this legislation
¯ is. In short, we must keep up the heat." ¯
Theamendmentapprovedby the Senate
: see Hate, p, 14
Red Rock Tulsa
Free Confidential
HIV Testing
Walk-in Clinics
Tuesday Testing, 5 -8 pm
Pride Center, 1307 East 38th
Wednesday Testing, 5-8 pm
¯ Red Rock, 1724 East 8th
Daytime appointments available.
Call for more information:
918-584-2325
Church
of the Restoration
Unitarian Universalist
11 am, Sunday
1314 North Greenwood
587-1314
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Tulsa Locations:
2001 S. Garnett, 437-2444
3733 S. Memorial, 6600344
1216 S. Harvard, 587-177~
Sapulpa Location:
109 N. Mission, 227-2322
And if you haven’t heard Sarah
Mclachlan’s "Mirrorball" CD, I would
recommend that yougo get itnow. As one
of the few artists I’ve heard that sounds as
good live as She does on her studio
recordings, this is a standout collection of
live performances that showcase her
talents to a tee. A DVD/videotape is to be
released soon of-the performances
captured on this CD, with extra songs. If
you didn’t get to see her inOKC, I can tell
you that this is the next best thing.
Also, for those who have missed the
regular "Stevie" updates, Ms. Nicks’
album is nearly completed, with an
October release date,
The most concrete action taken,
however, was acommitmenttomeetagain
as a group on Sept. 14, at the TulSa Gay
Community Services Center (the Pride
Center) at 1307 E. 38th St. probably at
6pro. For more information, call Marty
Newman at 582-4673.
Want to get involved?
Need to get tested for HIV?
Need a Coming Out Support Group?
Call 743-GAYS
Tulsa Gay Community
Services Center
1307 E. 38th at Peoria, 2nd floor
HUman Rights Campaign Fears Religious
Liberty Bill May Threaten Civil Rights
WASHINGTON - The House passed the ¯ discriminate on the basis of sext~A
~::i.: Religi~us Liberty ProtectionAct (RLPA) : orientation.
last month and defeated a substitute bill
that would have closed a dangerous
loophole in RLPA that could threaten
civil fights ff not remedied in the Senate,
according to theHaman Rights Campaign.
"In its current form, this bill poses a
grave threat to civil rights laws throughout
thecountry," saidHRCExecutive Director
Elizabeth Birch "In an unconscionable
vote~.the U.S. House of Repre.sentatives
has indicated its willingness, to trample onthb
civil rigllts ofwomen, people of color,.
people with disabilities and Gay and
Lesbian Americans."
"While we support the intentions of the
Religious Liberties Protection Act, it is
shameful that the House rejected an
alternative bill that would have protected
civil rights," said HRC Political Director
Winnie Stachelberg.
A substitute bill sponsored by Jerrold
Nadler, D-N.Y., was defeated in theHouse
190 to 234 after an hour-long debate. The
Nadler bill would have clarified RLPAby
preventing an individual from using
religious beliefs to undermine local or
state civil rights statutes. Without the
Nadlerbill, which was necessary forHRC
support, the Rep. Charles Canady0 R-Fla.,
sponsored Religious Liberty Protection
Act-a bill designed to safeguard religious
expression- passed the House306 to 118.
RLPA would prohibit any state or local
law from placing a "substantial burden"
on a "person’s religious exercise" even if.
the rule is not designed to infringe on a
person’s religious beliefs. The problem
is; the bill currently does not clarify
whether state andlocal anti-discrirhination
laws can be ignored by a person who
claims that these laws violate his or her
religious beliefs.
"We cannot support legislation that
might threatenanti:discrimination statutes
thatprotect Gay andlesbianAmericans in
11 states and 101 municipalities," said
Stachelberg.
Thefollowing is an excerpt of a letter
that was sent by HRC executive director
Elizabeth Birch to our allies who are
supporting the RLPA without civil rights
protection.
The- Human Rights Campaign is proud
to have the support of a broad-based
coalition ofreligious organizations in the
struggle for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual
equality. However, in light of the position
many such organizations took on last
week’s House vote in support of the
Religious Liberty ProtectionAct(RLPA),
I wouldlike to share withyou our thoughts
on RLPA. First, we believe the intent of
this legislation is a worthy one - religious
freedom is an important righL But, as
currently drafted, this bill is flawed.
We strongly believe support for this
legislation, as currently drafted, is not
consistent with support for Gay and
Lesbian rights....
Like you, the Human Rights Campaign
strongly supports the principle of
protecting the free exercise of one’s
personal religious beliefs that serve as the
foundation for RLPA. Just as strongly, we
believe that Lesbian, Gay and bisexual
Americans shouldnotface discrimination
at work, at home or in their communities
because of their sexual orientation. It is
clear from statements made by members
of the coalition supporting RLPA that
they believe individual landlords and
employers should be allowed to
’_ Unfortunately, the question
¯ answered during last week’s debate <~n
: RLPA is, in my mind, the most import~zt
: one: what religious liberty fights wo~.! d
¯ be lost or weakened by the inclusion of a
: civilrights provision?Formembers of the
¯ coalition supporting this bill who profc.qs
¯ a desire to resolve this impasse in good
: faith, I find the rejection of this provision
¯ completely bafflin.g....:
¯" " Our ~ concern! ls:.com~pou,n,ded by
statements made by (he bill’.s chief:
¯ sponsor, Congressman Charles Canady,
~ and one of the leading members of your
¯ coalition, Steve McFartand, of the ¯
¯ Christian Legal Society. During
Saturday’s broadcast of the CSPAN
" program Washington Journal, Canady
¯ said"I believe there are contexts in which
: this bill could result in a claimant who is
¯ defending agmnst the application of a
¯ local Gay rights ordinance to raise a claim
that would be successful - I think this law
would trump the Gay rights ordinance."
¯ Mr. McFarland also acknowledged this
." intended use of RLPA in response to a
¯ question fromCongressman Jerry Nadler ¯
during his congressional testimony on
¯ RLPA before the House Judiciary
¯ Committee.’s Subcommittee on the
¯ Constitution on May 12, 1999. I am sure
¯
you can understand why such statements
¯ do little to dispel the very real fear that
¯ some intend to use RLPA as a sword to ¯
strike down the civil rights of others in the
¯ name of religious liberty. Whether it is
; your intent or not, opposition to a civil
¯ rights exemption ts support for
¯ discriminationbased onsexual orientation
" - a position in direct opposition to the
¯ principles that are the foundation of the
Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
: We are particularly passionate about
: the need for a civil rights provision in
¯ RLPA because of the lack of any federal
laws prohibiting employment
." discrimination on the basis of sexual
; orientation. The eleven state laws and
¯ nearly 200local laws are the few and very
: hard fought civil rights protections
] availableforGay and Lesbian Americans.
: Many of those laws took fifteen years or
¯ more of struggle by the local community
¯ to pass....
The Religious Liberty Protection Act,
.~ as currently drafted, will put more
¯ Americans at risk of discrimination, not ¯
fewer. Enacting this legislation without
: stating clearly in the bill that RLPA does
¯ not provide a defense to non-compliance
¯ with stateor local anti-discriminationlaws ¯
undercuts those laws ....
¯ To allow RLPA as a defense against
: discrimination is to defend religious
¯ practices that do real and definable harm ¯
to others. From our perspective, your
¯ opposition to the civil rights provision
." means you are defending the right of a
¯ religious individual, who chooses to be a
: landlord or employer, to impose their
¯ religious beliefs on a Gay or Lesbian
¯ American by denying them a job or a
: place to live because of their sexual
: orientation. To find ourselves in this
: disagreement with you, our long-time
¯ allies, deeply saddens and angers us... ¯
We ask you to join with us as this bill
." moves forward to strongly encourage the
: Senate to include a civil rights provision
¯ and enact areligious liberty protection act
: for all Americans.
¯ - Elizabeth Birch, Executive Director
byEsther Rothblum, Ph.D.
Giventhenumberandrange ofresearch
projects about Lesbians in recent years, it
is easy to forget how challenging it was to
survey Lesbians even a decade ago. In the
1980’ s, Caitlin Ryan and Judy Bradford
conducted @hat became the National
Lesbian Health Care Survey. This study
eventually resulted in 1,925 completed
questionnaires from Lesbians in all 50
U.S. states. It figured prominently in the
recent Institute of Medicine
Report of the National
Academy of Sciences. Even
today, there are Lesbians
(including me!) who
remember completing a
questionnaire for this study
15 years ago. I recently asked
Caiflin and Judy to describe
the "herstory" and process
of conducting the National
Lesbian Health Care Survey
in the mid- 1980s.
In the late 1970s, Caitlin suggested
forminganational organization thatwould
be multi-disciplinary, focus on Lesbian
- and Gay health issues, and sponsor
research and education. She began to talk
with other Lesbians about the need for a
survey. There was no av~i~lable
information on how Lesbians
conceptualize Lesbian health. She was
also interested in how stigma affected
health, mental health, self care, and access
to care.
Sheapplied for agrant though thenewly
formed National Lesbian and Gay Health
Foundation and hired a research
consultant, Dot Parkel, who was a
sociologist and survey researcher. Dot’s
role was to help design the study and to
develop drafts of the questionnaire, using
the input Caitlin had received from many
Lesbians.
Caitlin told me: "I remember talking
with a researcher who was herself a
closeted Lesbian, who sat down with me
and basically told me that I could not
possibly do a study like this. She just felt
that it was not feasible. And, of course,
therewas no such thing as arepresentadve
sample. I saw this womanrecently and we
laughed about her earlier skepticism. She
said, ’I told you that you couldn’t do and
you went out and did it.’ "
Judy got started by attending the
Intemational Lesbian and Gay Health and
AIDS Conference atNew YorkUniversity
with a good friend, a man who was in her
class in graduate school. They were both
interested in AIDS research, which was
just getting started then. EverywhereJudy
looked- and she went to a lot of sessions
at the conference - there were mostly
men. Then she noticed in the Conference
program a scheduled time for a women’ s
group meeting. It turned out to be an
orgamzing meeting for the National
Lesbian Health Care Survey, and Caitlin
was facilitating the group. When Judy
said she was a graduate student and
described a little of what she was doing,
she suddenly became co-investigator and
was responsible for data analysis and
preparing the survey report.
One of the things Caitlin had been very
concerned about was inclusion. So many
of the early studies, and even those
conducted today, have shown very highly
educated samples of Lesbians. Shewanted
¯ . . it is easy
to forget how
challenging it
was to survey
Lesbians even
a decade ago.
: to include women of color and women of
¯ diffeient economic backgrounds and not
¯ have language be a barrier. So she talked
with people about how to ask clinical
¯ questions in a non-clinical way. Caitlin
¯ said: "I talked with women bus drivers,
day laborers, women who had been
¯ recently diagnosed withcancer, about their
¯ experiences and how we should ask these ¯
questions. All of that helped frame how
¯
we would shape a questionnaire."
She elicited
suggestions about language
in a series of focus groups
that took place in several
different parts ofthe country.
They pre-tested the
questxonna]re at several
Lesbian and Gay
conferences and with
individuals around the
country. They would ask the
womenin the focus group to
fill out the questionnaire, and
¯ then they would sit around and talk about
¯ it alittlebit, and hearwhat people thought ¯
of it to make it more accessible. After
" several go-arounds using that process,
: they finalized the questionnaire.
¯ SinceCaitlinhaddone the early Lesbian ¯
andGayhealth organizing, shehad alarge
¯ address baseofpeopleall overthecountry
who were willing to help distribute the
¯ quesdounaires. They set up a distribution ¯
plan that was kind of an unusual approach
¯ tO snowball sampling. The methodology
¯ was intended to get the questionnaires out ¯
as broadly as possible to people all over
the country, including Alaska; They were
concernedwithgetting the survey to underrepresented
populations that hadn’t been
sampled before, so they made a
commitment to getting it to Lesbians in
the military, Lesbians living on Indian
reservations, and Lesbians in prison.
They also. tried reaching non-English
speaking women and they tried to reach
Lesbians of color in a variety of ways,
including having Lesbians of color give it
out to their networks around the country.
The National Coalition of Black Lesbians
and Gays sent a mailing about the survey
and how important it was and how to
participate. The Wisconsin Governor’s
Task Force sent out mailings that went all
over the state of Wisconsin. The National
Organization of Women sent out
information abeut the survey, and
information about it was published in a
variety of Lesbian and Gay newsletters.
The survey went out in the fall of 1984
and by early 1985 they had received
surveys back from 1,925 Lesbians from
every U.S. state. It was a wonderful
experience for them,hearing from somany
Lesbians across the country, and had the
sense of a national movement. There was
an electric energy - everyone had a great
sense of how important the survey was.
Of course, a major issue was how to
obtain money to fund data entry and data
analysis. The early 1980s was not a time
for funding Lesbian projects. Once the
struggles for funding were over (though
the study was funded on a shoestring),
Judy sent the questionnaires out to the
Virginia State Prison, where all the lab’s
data entry was done at that time. She told
¯ me: "The questionnaires did not arrive ¯
back. When our project manager called
¯
about this, seePsyche, p. 13
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by Lamont Lindstrom
For years and years I used to gethaircuts
athome. Mona, spouse, roommates,lovers
- whoever was handy with scissors - had
a whack at my head. The result varied but
the price was right. So I was a latecomer
to theworld of barbers, professional haircutters,
hairdressers, and stylists. Thefirst
time I paid someone for a haircut I was
nervous. I was 40 years old but had never
been inside a salon. That chair, the sink,
those weird tools - it all reminded me of
the dentist. However, I soon learned to
appreciate hairdressers’ skills and also
the pleasure of a shampoo and an
occasional head massage.
But I was still worried when I moved to
Japan for seven months. My hair grew
faster than I could learn Japanese. I riffled
desperately throughmyratty oldJapanese
"useful phrases for tourists" looking for
haircut vocabulary. I had the book in my
pocket when I picked a shop at random
from the scores of salons in downtown
Kagoshima.
Lucky for me, the stylist and owner had
trained with Vidal Sassoon in London.
And he remembered enough English to
understand roughly how I wanted my
hair. He had an army of assistants, too,
who shampooed me and got me ready for
the cut. (They would drape a cloth over
my eyes while working on me - I wasn’t
sure if this was to keep out the suds, or
spare me the rude view of their nostril
hair.) The shampoo always finished with
a beautifully relaxing head massage - a
standard service in Japanese salons.
I have just finished reading an analysis
of hair styling written by anthropologist
Grant McCracken: Big Hair: A Journey
into the Transformation of Self.
McCracken interviewed both stylists and
customers about the transforming powers
of hair. He suggests that we Americans
get new hairstyles in order to recreate and
change ourselves. When we reach a point
in life where we need a change, we redo
our hair. Or when the boyfriend dumps
you, a new buzz cut and goatee can help
relieve the pain.
A few years ago there was a weird
outbreak of ponytails among my 40-
something straight-guy friends
Something about hitting the Big 40 made
these aging friends cultivate their long,
graying locks. Perhaps they figured this
was the last chance before it all fell off
anyway.
Psychologists from Freudondownhave
commented on the sexual meaning of
hair. Delilah cuts away Samson’s
hewas told ,they wouldn’ t code the surveys.
I got another company to.do it and the
same thing happened. Finally when it
came to the third company I was told that
the data entry staff were afraid to touch
the questionnaires for fear of getting
AIDS !"
Over the years, wherever Judy and
Caitlin are, they continue to nm into
Lesbians who participated in the survey,
and who want to talk about the impact that
it had on them. Many women wrote pages
of material in addition to the answers they
gave to the items on the questiormaire.
For published results of the National
Lesbian Health Care Survey, see:
1. Bradford, J.B., & Ryan, C. (1991).
Who we are: Health concerns ofmiddle-
¯ manhood by fleecing his curls. Though ¯ nowadays- thanks to Michael Jordan and
¯¯ others - the bald knob is equally sexy.
Whether one goes for flowing ponytail or
¯
smooth, shiny scalp, the pointis that when
¯ life gets messy or gloomy, we run to our ¯
barber.
¯ In Kagoshima, someof themoreelegant
¯ salon assistants had dyed their black
¯ Japanese hair blond and I wondered if ¯
they were Gay. But then I felt guilty for
¯ thinking stereotypically. All hair stylists,
¯" of course, are not Gay. Warren Beatty in
Shampoo.testified to that. Still, Gay men
¯ have, been deeply involved in the
¯ emergence of today’s hair industry.
¯ McCracken reviews some of the giants of
¯ 20th century hair styling: Ernest Adler, ¯
Alexandre, and Antoine - the 1950s
forerunners of Sassoon - and many of
¯ these men dearly were Gay. ¯
Furthermore, theAmerican marketplace
¯ feeds off cultural creativity generated
~ within local, often otherwise unap¯
preciated communities. It steals hiphop
stylefromurbanstreets;itborrows stylistic
¯ developments in language, dress, and hair
from Gay men and women. The long hair
¯ of the 1960s and the cropped hair of the
¯ 1990s both largely originated in Gay
circles.
The combination ofhomosexuality and
¯ personal service is not unusual across the
¯ world. Many of the small town beauty
¯ salons springing up in the Philippines and
elsewhere, for example, are established
¯ by Gay men.
¯o It may be that culturally ambiguous
¯ homosexuality-whichstands bothoutside
and between the categorical opposition
betw.eenmal,e andfemale-makes personal
service easier. If the server is somehow
outside the arena ofordinary heterosexual
gender competition and dalliance, then
his touch is easier to bear. It is not news
that. map.y Gay men provide personal
service m restaurants, hotels, hospitals,
rest homes, as well as in hair salons.
Next time you need a new you, do
something about that hair. It may be that
developments in genetics and cloning one
day will replace plastic surgery to allow
us effortlessly to remake ourselves:
Perhaps change our skin color, orbuy new
orange eyeballs, or a bigger set ofpecs, or
trade in our ears or more personal body
parts. But until that day comes, we’ve got
our hair. You can redo with a new do.
Which renfinds me. It’s about time for
a haircut.
Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D. teaches
anthropology at the University of Tulsa.
agedLesbians. In B. Sang, J. Warshow, &
A.J. Smith (Eds.) Lesbians atmidlife: The
creative transition (pp. 147-163). San
Fransisco, CA: Spinsters Book Company.
2. Bradford, J.B., Ryan, C.,&Rothblum,
E.D. (1994). National Lesbian Health Care
Survey: Implications for mental health
care. Journal of Consulting and Clinical
Psychology, 62, 228-242.
3. Ryan, C., & Bradford, J. (1993). The
NationalLesbian Health Care Survey: An
Overview. In D. Garnets & D.C. Kimmel
(Eds.) Psychological perspectives on
Lesbian and Gay male experiences. New
York: Columbia University Press.
Esther Rothblum is Professor of
Psychology at the University of Vermont
and Editor of the Journal of Lesbian
Studies. She can be reached atJohn Dewey
Hail, University of Vermont, Burlington,
VT. E-mail: esther.rothblum@uvm.edu.
and to effectively refute the anti-family
policies of the right-wing; second, to
actively build an effective and
collaborative national pro-GLBT family
network among GLBT and mainstream
organizations working on family issues;
and third, to educate the general public
about the value and values of GLBT
families.
Ettelbrick will assist NGLTF in
articulating a voice in policy debates that
have a great impact on GLBT families,
including debates on adoption, coparenting,
foster Care, alternative
insemination and recognition of "broader
family support networks. In addition,
NGLTF will raise GLBT perspectives in
debates that have traditionally excluded
consideration of GLBT perspectiyes.
Examples include definitions of family in
Social Security reform proposals~ the
Older Americans Act and immigration
policy.
Noted Vaid, "A number of legal and
advocacy groups do excellent work in the
arena of family issues, but no group
currently coordinates the efforts of our
movement in this area so that
collaboratively we can muster the
resources weneedto changefamily policy.
In addition, there is no national research
center for policy development and policy
analysis ~n family issues. With GLBT
families facing attack on so maiiy fronts,
the need for a coordinated national
approach has never been greater."
Announcement of the Family Policy
Programis partofalong-term commitmenl
on the part of the NGLTF Policy Institute
toGLBTFamilies. Beginning in the 1980s,
NGLTFhousedthefirstnational Families
Project. Throughout the 1990"s, the Task
Force worked actively on a number of
family issues. Last year, NGLTF
organized "Celebrating Our Families," a
15-city national tour to raise the visibility
of GLBT family issues and to organize
against attacks by right wing groups. In
1999, the Policy Institute published The
Domestic Partnership Organizing Manual
to help employees and citizens around the
country mobilize to obtain important
benefits for their families.
Founded in 1973, the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force works to
elimiinateprejudice, violence andinjustice
against Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual
andTransgenderedpeople at thelocal, state
and national level. As part of abroader
social justice movement for freedom,
justice and equality, NGLTF iscreating a
world that respects and celebrates the
diversity ofhumanexpression andidentity
where all people may fully participate in
society.
For example, if anyone had suggested
that in the third year after weheld the first
Pride March (all 65 brave souls - likely
more non-Gay than Gay) that we would
have hnndreds at the Pride Parade and
Picnic of this year with no less than
Congressman Barney Frank as grand
marshal. While the principal credit for
that goes to Mitchell Savage and Ric
Martin and many others, it was nndcr
Steve’s leadership that these people came
together.
Andjustkeeping theCommunityCenter
afloat is no little task. While the Center
continues to serve many. groups and
members of the community, it still needs
broader support. Air conditioning has to
be paid for (air conditioning repairs have
to be paid for) as well as rent and other
expenses.
I would suggest that the greatest way in
which we can honor Steve Horn - and
those who served before him as well - is
to continue to support the work he did: to
help keep our community center open, to
improve it; maybe one day, even to help
build our own building - imagine.
would expand federal authority to
prosecute hate crimes. Currently, federal
officials canouly intervene if a victim is
engaged in a federally protected act such
as attempting to vote, go to school or serve
onajury. Federal officials catmotintervene
at all in hate crimes based on disability,
sexual orientation or gender.
The Senate also passed a watered-down
amendmentby Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah,
that does not cover sexual orientation,
disability or genderand wouldonly expand
federal jurisdiction to hate crimes
committed after the crossing of state lines.
"The Hatch amendment fails to
recognize that no one should be a target
for bias-motivated violence," Lobd said.
"Hate crimes legislation that doesn’t cover
sexual orientation, disability and gender
is a farce."
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act has
been a top. legislative priority of both
organizations and passage of the
amendment culminates months of
work."With strong administrationbacking
and bipartisan support in both houses of
Congress, we expect to be in a strong
position in the conference committee to
ensure final passage of the Hate Crimes
Prevention Act," Winnie Stachelberg,
HRC’s political director, said today.
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act has
strong supportfrom President Clinton and
the administration has made passage a
priority. Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., has
scheduled a hearing on the measure in the
House Judiciary Committee on Aug. 4.
HCPA currently has morethan 180House
cosponsors from both parties.
theneed for individuals in the community
¯ to support the Center remained.
According to Tracey Conaty,
"- spokespersonfor the Gill Foundation,Tim
, Gill, software developer of Quark,
established the Fmmdation in 1994 as a
: catalyst for and’to provide resources for
: communities in pursuit of justice and
¯" equality. The foundation also seeks to
buildawareness ofthe contributions which
: Gay men and Lesbians make to American
¯ society. Since its inception, Tim Gill and
¯ the Gill Foundation have provided nearly
$13 million to hundreds of community
¯ organizations.
Gatewoodalso mentioned several other
¯" events at the Center. On Sept. 25th, the
¯ Centerwill host aFeast for Friends dinner
in support of THE NAMES PROJECT.
¯ And in Oct. the Center will present a
¯ National Coming Out Day Festival and ¯
¯ Fair. This event will include a mini film
festival as well beginning on Oct. 8th.
: More information will be available as the
¯ event approaches.
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
[1999] Tulsa Family News, August 1999; Volume 6, issue 8
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Tulsa Family News
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Tom Neal
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
August 1999
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
James Christjoh
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
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Tulsa Family News, Volume 6, Issue 7
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https://history.okeq.org/items/show/590
adoption
AIDS deaths
AIDS testing
AIDs Walk
Anti-hate crime legislation
arts and entertainment
attorneys
Barry Hensley
Bars
businesses
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
churches
civil rights
Civil Rights Act
Community Center
conversion therapy
Council Oak Men's Chorale
Dave Fleischer
discrimination
divorce
Dyke Psyche
Entertainment Notes
Esther Rothblum
Exodus International
Feast with Friends
Fred Phelps
Gary Indiana
gay bashing
Gay marriage
Gay Studies
Gay-Straight Alliance
Greg Gatewood
HIV/AIDs
HIV/AIDS research
homophobia
Human Rights Campaign
James Christjohn
Lamont Lindstrom
lawsuits
Malawi
marriage
marriage equality
Murder
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Native Americans
Parish Church of Saint Jerome
Paul M. Barby
Paula Ettelbrick
performing arts
Phillip Morris
Read All About It
religious liberty
restaurants
Steve Horn
Three Month Fever
Tom Neal
Tulsa CARES
Tulsa Family News
Tulsa Metropolitan Ara Planning Commission
Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights
Tulsa Two-Spirited Indian Men's Support Group
Westboro Baptist Church
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First Gay Ambassador,
James Hormel, Sworn In
WASHINGTON (AP) - Sedate events are the norm in
the gilded confines of the State Department’s eighth
floor reception room but there can be exceptions. The
atmosphere was downright raucous on Tuesday, June
29 over a seemingly routine happening.." the swearing in
of a new ambassador. James Hormel, who is Gay, took
the oath as ambassador to Luxembourg in the presence
ofhundreds offriends whohad siipported Hormel’ s ofttroubled
nomination since it was first announced 20
months ago.
Hormel’s supporters cheered loudly as he was sworn
in as America’s first openly Gay ambassador. "What an
inered!ible privilege it is to be standing before you
today,’ said Hormel, an heir to the Audiin, Minn.-based
Hormel Foods Corp. fortune.Secretary of State
Madeleine .Albiight was there, along with Sens. Ted
Kennedy, D-Mass., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.
Television cameras lined the rear of the majestic State
Department hall. Normal procedure on such occasions
is to bar the press altogether.
Uncertainty had shrouded Hormel’s appointment
almost from the day he was nominated because of
opposition from a few senators, see Hormel, p. 12
30 Years After Riot, Gays
& Lesbians Take Stock
NEW YORK (AP) -~,years ago, police raids on
Gay bars were a fact oflife~ You took themfor granted
the way you took being hated for granted," says Joan
Nestle, a writer and activist who started going to,
Greenwich Village bars as a tean-ager in the 1950s~
Volunteers carried a 120footRainbowflagfrom the Community
Center to Veterans Park where Congressman Frank spoke.
2000 Attend 1st Tulsa Parade
TULSA-Tulsa’ s firstGayPrideParade was declared a sweeping
success by its organizers and by almost all who attended.
-According to The Tulsa World, more than 2000 attended the
event which featured US Congressman Barney Frank, Democrat
from MassaChusetts as grand marshall and which had more than
35 entries. Frank spoke at the traditional picnic which followed
the parade and again at a dinner that evening at the Greenwood
Cultural Center. At both events, Frank suggested that straight
Americans are not essentially bigoted but rather bdieve that they
are expected to be anti-Gay. He strongly encouraged Gay &
Lesbian citizens to become politically active.
Sponsors of the events indued Mark & Mike, Cimarron
Alliance, the Parish Church of Saint Jerome, MCC United,
Council Oak Mens Chorale, PFLAG, Bud Light, Pepsi-Cola/Dr
Pepper Bottling Co. of Tulsa, Jason Reed, The Storm, Jack
Wallace, T.W.’s A.F.A.B. Catering, Tulsa Family News and
some others. Photos of the parade andpicnicfollow on page 3.
Cath, of St. John the Divine
Hosts Stonewall 30 Service
NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, speaking on the
eve of the 30th anniversary of the Stonewall riot, urged Gays and
lesbians Saturday to bring their fight for equal fights to the ballot
box. The congressman, who was greeted with a standing ovation
ata Manhattan celebration of the 1969 incident, told the crowd
So when the patrons of a bar called the Stonewall Inn ¯
fonghtbackJune 27,1969-attackingpolice with rocks,
.bottles and fists that stmtling act of defiance became an .
instantwatershed event. Gayactivists considerit akin to
the .Montgomery bus boycott or the lunch-counter sitins
that galvanized the civil rights movement.
This lastmonth~parades andralfiesinNew York, San
Franciscoanddozens ofcities worldwidecommemorate
the Stonewall riotandmarkthreedecades ofremarkable
change.
While Gay pcople are not universally accepted - a
Time/CNN Foil last fall found that 48% of Americans
believe homosexuality is morally wrong-Lesbians and
Gay men are becoming increasingly integrated into
American society.
"We’ve made a sea change in notjust public opinion
but public policy as well:~ says Kerry Lobel, executive
director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, a
lobbying groupbasedin Washington, D.C."We see that ."
in areas like civil rights, hate crimes; family issues and ¯
sodomy repeal, we have more possibility of legislative :
change than ever before."
Lobel cited Nevada, whose Legislature recendy ."
banned job discrimination see 30 Years, p. 14 .
DIRECTORWt.E’I’rERS P. 2 :
EDITORIAL P. 2 ;
US & WORLD NEWS P. 4 "
HEALTH NEWS P. 6 "
ENTERTAINMENT P. 8 .
COMMUNITY CALENDAR P. 9 .
DO-IT-YOURSELF-DYKE P. 11 ."
DYKE PSYCHE P. 12 .
GAY STUDIES P. 15
~.that the gains made by the Gay comm_u~,’,ty were substantial. But
¯ ne s~sed.~that the.struggle continues. °We have fought on our
.terms, said Frank, D-Mass., one of only three Gay members of
". Congress. ,ButI urge you to take the next step. Use our political
. ¯ power..You have to vote. Your friends have to vote."
Frank-was one of about two dozen speakers, performers and
activis~ appearing at "Stonewall 30: A Sacred Celebration."
Some. 1,500 Gays and lesbians turned out at.the Cathedral of St.
John the Divi~e for the event, which commemorated the start of
the Gay rights movement.
OnMonday,June28,the Christopher Street siteofthe Stonewall
Inn will .be Added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Angry Gays fought with police who had rousted them from the
Stonewall on June 27, 1969.
: Frank, whotookpot shots at closeted Gays in Congress and the
: -Rev. Jerry .Falwell, said that there should be no complacency
: among Gay civil rights activists. "No one should ask us to be
¯ grateful because there’s less bigotry," Frank said to rousing
cheers. "It never should have been there at all."
Therest of the ceremony,was by turns solemn andcomical. The
New York City Gay Men s Chorus sang a requiem for the late
Matthew Shepard, the Wyoming youth killed by Gay-bashers,
and a group called Lavender Light performed "We Shall
Overcome."
But actor Jay Goede did a hilarious reading of a 1969 Daily
News article on the Stonewall riot, opening with its homophobic
headline: "Homo nest raided. Queen bees are stinging mad."
Later, drag performer Miss Coco Peru - in red wig, matching
lipstick and sequined purple dr~s - stood in the pulpit with Gay
police Sgt. Edward Rodriguez. As a Gay boy growing up in the
Bronx," Miss Peru said, "I never dreamed I’d be in the world’s
largest Gothic cathedral, in the pulpit, in full drag." She smiled,
and the audience applauded.
Longtime activist Jimmy Flowers stands before
Parade Grand Marshall US Rep. Barney Frank.
Community Leadership
Meeting Called for 6/20
TULSA - Established community leaders, Marty
NewmanandDennis Neill, have called acommumty
leadership meeting for 6pro on Tuesday, July 20.
According to the letter that went out under
Newman’s and Neill’s names, the intent of the
meeting is to capitalize on the "renewed sense of
excitement and energy" that’s resulted from the
recent Pride weekend events: Tulsa’s first parade,
the annual picnic and the dinner featuring US
Congressman Barney Frank from Massachusetts.
The letter went to nearly 50 businesses and
organizations, from bars to churches inviting each
to send one representative to present their priorities,
fo seek ways better to work together, and to "work
towards building a more cohesive Gay & Lesbian
community." see Meeting, p.11
From one religibus extreme to another at the
Parade, Rev, LesliePenroseto anti-Gayprotesters,
Rev. PenroseAccepted in
UCC; l her Religi .us
i Groups Also Welcomzng
¯" TULSA- TheReverend Leslie Penrose, pastor of
: Community of Hope Base Shalom Congregation
¯ has had her request for transfer of her.ordination
: accepted by the Ecclesiastical Council of the
¯ Oklahoma Association of the United Church of
: ChrisL Penrose, _had received her ordination within
: the United Methodist Church but had been
: experiencing harassment within that denomination
¯ by anti-Gay activists because she had performed
: religious ceremonies that blessed same-gender
¯ relationships, i.e. "holy unions."
: Pem’ose, writing in Community of Hope’s
newsletter, noted that the process of being
nszderedfor transfeXincludedpreachingasermon
: and presenting several papers and then waiting for
: the vote by the council. But she also said that upon
¯ arrival, she’d been greeted with a comment from
: the Rev. Russell Bennett saying, "your name’s
," already on the cakeF’ And indeed after the "yes"
¯¯ vote, Peurose was .welcomed at a reception where
there was a cake that said,"Welcome, Leslie, to the
¯ United Church of Christ!"
: But the UCC is not the only Christian group
: trying to welcome Lesbians and see Leslie, p. 14
Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants
*Bamboo Lounge, 7204 E. Pine 832-1269
*Boston Willy’ s Diner, 1742 S. Boston 592-2143
Burger Sisters Restaurant, 1545 S. Sheridan 835-1207
*Empire Bar, 1516 S. Peoria 599-9512
*Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th 583-6666
*Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria 749-4511
*Jason’ s Dell, 15th & Peoria 599-7777
*Lola’s, 2630 E. 15th 749-1563
*Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square 744-4280
*St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st 745-9998
*Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan 834-4234
¯ *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main 585-3405
*TNT’ s, 2114 S. Memorial 660-0856
*Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd 584-1308
Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals
Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 747-1508
*Affinity News, 8120 E. 21 610-8510
*Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000
Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580
Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E 15 712-1122
*Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955
*Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665
Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272
*CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313
Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117
Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700
Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468
~Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620
*Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady 587-2611
Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556
*Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838-8503
*Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712-9379
*Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 744-9595
Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E: 55th P1 610-0880
Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709
Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026
*Gloria Jean’ s Gourmet Coffee~ 1758 E. 21 st 742-1460
Leaune M. Gross, Insurance &financial planning 459-9349
Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440
*Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111
*International Tours 341-6866
Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750
*Jared’ s Antiques, 1602.E. 15th 582-3018
David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236
The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582:8460
*Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070
Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466
*Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brady 585-1234
*Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112
Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934
*Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951
David A. Paddock, CPA, 4308 S. Peoria, Ste. 633 747-7672
Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626
*Peace of Mind Bookstore, 1401 E. 15 583-1090
The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2rid floor 743-4297
Rainbowz on the River B÷B, POB 696, 74101 747-5932
Richard’ s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617
Ted Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921, 747-4746
*Scribner’ s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749~-6301
Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829
*Tickled Pink, 3340 S. Peoria 697-0017
~,Tulsa Book Exchange, 3749 S. Peoria 742-2007
*Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481,-0558
*Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563
Fred Welch, LCSW, Couusding 743~1733
*Whittier News Stand, 1 N; Lewis 592-0767
Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities
AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593
*All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363
Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-731~4
Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815
*B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa Canterbury Ctr. 583-9780
*Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201
*Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th PL & Florence
*Church oftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314
*Community ofHope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300
*Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595
*Council Oak Men’ s Chorale 585-COMC (2662)
*Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511
*Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457
Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics &
Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140
*Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777
918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615, POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159
o-mail: TtlLsaNews@earthlinlc net
t~8~:+l~.~9[Jsers.aol.com/TulsaNews/
l~om Neal
~/riters + contributors:
lean-Claude de Flambeauchaud
Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandboucbe, Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers, Adam West
Member of The Associated Press
Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of this
~abul~ication are protected by US copyright 1998 by rJ.4~ ~:..,~
and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part witt~out
written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or
photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orentafion. Correspondence
is assumed to be for publication unles~,ot,herwjse nqted,,r~ust
be signed & becomes the sole property of !~ t’,~.’. N~w~.
Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution
points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248.
: *Free Spirit Women’ s Center, call for location &into: 587-4669
¯ Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827
Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438
-" *HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611
¯
*HIV Resource Consortium, 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194
¯ *Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111
HOPE, HI~ Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378
: *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood
¯
Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438~2437, 800-284-2437
¯ *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715
¯ . NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111
: NOW, Nat’lOrg.forWomen, POB 14068,74159 365-5658
¯ OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157
¯ *Our House, 1114 S. Quaker 584-7960
¯ PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 ¯
*Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674
¯ Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152
: *R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195
¯ Rainbow Business Guild, POB 4106, 74159 665-5174
¯
*Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E 8 ~ 584-2325
," O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults
¯ O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth
St. Aidan’ s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882
: St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140
¯ .*St. Jerome’ s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088
:. *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171
¯ TNAAPP(Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225
¯
Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105
¯ Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only
¯ TnlsaOkla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297
: T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform]Leather Seekers Assoc. 838-1222
~ *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule
¯ *Tulsa Community College Campuses
: *Tulsa Gay Commuaity Center, 1307E.38,74105 743-4297
¯ *OSU-Tulsa (formerly UCT, formerly Rogers U. whoever...)
." BARTLESVILLE
; *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. JohnstOne 918-337-5353
! OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN
¯ *Borders Books &Music,. 3209 NWExpres~way 405-848-2667
: *Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907
: TAHLEQUAH
: *Stonewall League; Call for information:~. ’ 918-456-7900
: *Tahlequah unltarian-UniversalistChurch " 918-456-7900
¯ *Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB t570- 918-453-9360
¯" NSU School of Optome.t~’y, 1001 N. Grand
: HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates
: EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
: *Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253-7734
: *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main 501-253-7457
¯ DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. 501-253-6807
¯
*Emerald Rainbow,45 &l/2 Spring St. 501-253-5445
," MCC of the Living Spring 501-253-9337
: Geek to Go!, PC Specialist; POB 429 501-253-2776
¯ Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-253-5332
¯
Positive Idea Marketing Plans 501-624-6646
¯ Sparky’s, Hwy..62 East 501-253-6001
¯ *White Light, t Center St. 501-253-4074
¯ FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS5
¯ *Edna’s, 9 S. School Ave. 501-442-2845
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
¯ : *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696
¯ * iswhereyoucanflndTF~.NotallareGay-owaedbutallareGay-friendly.
by Tom Neal, editor &publisher
For this month, I’m going to try just to
¯ say something nice. It’ s not what comes
¯ naturally now. After almost 6 years of
¯ journalism and more than 10 years of all
but full-time, unpaid activism for civil
¯ rights for Lesbian and Gay Americans,
¯ I’ ve grown cynical. It’ s hardnotto become
¯ thatwayworkinginOklahoma andTexas ¯
- dearly not Gay-friendly environs.
:- But this last month’ s success of Pride
¯ ’99 helps to bolster that wee bit of hope
" that’s not entirely faded. And Pride ’99
: organizers deserve to behonored for their
¯ work.Severalnamesneedtobementioned
¯ particularly: Rick Martin who chaired the
¯ picnic for his second year, and Mitchell
Savage who chaired the Barney Frank
¯ dinner. Others also merit recognition:
¯ Steve Horn as TOHR president, Kerry ¯
¯ Lewis aspro-bonolegal counsd, andTim
Gillean who was honored as TOHR
," volunteer of the year, Robin Leach, and
¯ the rock, in the sense said by the Christ to ¯
Saint Peter (and graphic designer par
¯ excellence)ofthecommunitycenter,Greg
," Gatewood. There are others, no doubt,
¯ who should also be named, a host of ¯
additional volunteers, and I wish to honor
¯ -them as well.
¯ Congressman Frank was a joy to hear,
¯ an inspiration, a gentle goad to us as a ¯
commumty toovercomeourcomplacency.
: Especially in a state where Gay and
¯ Lesbian citizens effectively have no ¯
¯ politicalrepresentation,itseems ourvoices
are heard in our own government at least
: through this Congressman from
¯ Massachusetts. My hope is that his
message willbe taken to heart and that our
¯
people will get politically involved - we
: can change this state.
It’ s already happening, thanks in huge
: measure to the Cimarron Alliance’ s work
¯ at the Oklahoma Capitol, and as I have
¯ said before, in particular to Keith Smith’ s
¯ and Nancy McDonald’ s work there (yep,
¯" you did read that -nice words even for
", those with whom I’ve occasionally, or
: even frequently, disagreed).
¯ Now post-Pride, we must build on this ¯
success. There are signs this is happening.
~ Two of our most respected community
¯ leaders have called a leadership meeting
~ to see what common ground we can
: establish. This is great. It’s been tried
: before but the time wash’ t right and these
~ two have the stature to bring together
¯ those who might not otherwise meet.
¯
However, I’ll suggest that the goal of
: such organizing should not be "unity."
¯ We are a widely diverse group with class,
: race, gender, educational, age, and health
~ status differences, and recreational
¯ preferences. Unity in such a diversity is
¯ impossible, andinourpast,nationally and
locally, has frequently been "achieved"
: through a kind of Gay fascism, where
: those with dissenting views were told to
¯ conform or pay the price usually by an
: economic, gender and racial elite, i.e.
¯ rich, white guys.
: However, building consensus, through
¯¯ long hard work, by really listening to.the
diversity ofourcommunity(communities)
¯ is possible, see Pride, p~ 10
¯ Letters Policy
Tulsa Family News welcomes letters on ~ssues
~ which we’ve covered or on issues you think
¯ need to be considered. You may request that
," your name be withheld but letters must be
," signed & have phone numbers, or be hand
¯ delivered. 200 wordletters are preferred. Letters
: to other publications will be printed as is
~ appropriate.
A giantRainbowflag ends theparade at Veteran’s Park.
Cimarron Alliance may have had the most artistic float,
Al & David had the coolest bikes in the paradel
The University ofTulsa’s Bi/Lesbian/Gay/Trans Alliance
Gay-j~iendly straight supporters also marched.
Paul Barby behind Marthd Hardwick & her kazoo band..
Greg Gatewood, US Cong. Barney Frank, & BJ Medley
T.U.L.S.A. - butch guys with sweet smiles.
PFLAG’s McDonald
Hilary Kitz & son.
CSC"s Janice Nicklas
Father Walt Rockabrand
" Fabulousdiva&fundraiserAudraSommersandfriends.
Counci!OakMens ’. Chorale alsoperformed atthepicnic.
The cross ofHouse of the Holy Spirit stood in witness.
Theparadecoveredmore than a mile, Peoria to Riverside.
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Miss Gay Black Oklahoma America 1999
The University ofOklahoma’s Gay/Lesbian/Bi Alliance
¯ ,. FrustratedHousewivesplayedanexcellentsetattheend.
Lawmakers Fight Anti- ¯ agenda." - Supporters said it is a long-overdue
Gay Discrimination
WASHINGTON - Democratic and~Republican
lawmakers from New England revived efforts
last month to pass a federal law prohibiting job
discrimination against Gays. To boost the
measure’s chance of passage, lawmakers have
rewritten it to explicitly prohibit preferential
treatment of Gays, such as hiring to meet quotas
or designing affLrmative action standards to make.
up for past discrimination.
Opponents of the Employment Non-
Discrimination Act, known as ENDA, have
successfully fgught it in three previous
Congresses on the grounds that it would extend
special protections to Gays.
"ENDA will achieve equal rights - not special
.flights- for gays and lesbians," said Sen. James
J~fords, R-Vt., who plans to pass the bill out of
his Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Committee andthen try to force considerailon.by
the full.Senate. In 1996, the Senate defeated a
similar bill by one vote.
Vice President A1 Gore, campaigning in Los
Angeles at a Gay and Lesbian center, voiced
support for the legislation. "It does not confer
any special rights, but it does outlaw the kind of
discrimination that has become all too common
in our society," he Said.
The bill was introduced by Jeffords and Sens.
Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Joseph
LielJerman, D-Conn., and in the House by Reps.
Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Christopher Shays,
R=Conn. "If they’re able to get it out of the
Senate, that would create tremendous pressure
on the House," said Shays, an influential
moderate.
Shays and other ENDA supporters argue that
the bill would pass the House - if conservative
Republican 1eaders allow it to comeupfor debate
-becauseit is backedby amajority ofAmericans.
ENDA would extend basic civil rights
protections in the area of employment to cover
sexual orientation. Such protections are already
afforded to people on the basis of race, religion,
gender, national origin, age and disability.
Eleven states --California, Connecticut,
Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey;
Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, New
Hampshire and Nevada - already prohibit job
discrimination against gays.
ENDA would prohibit employers of 15 or
more, employment agencies and labor unions
from using an individual’ s sexual orientation as
the basis for employment decisions, such as
hiring, firing, promotion or compensation. The
bill would exempt the .military and religious
organizations. It would not require benefits for
workers’ same-sex partners.
Oooonents aren’t buying the argument that the
bill- ~v~n’ t confer special-rights. RobertH. Knight
of the conservative Family Research Council
said sexual orientation shouldn’t be a category
that receives federal protection from job
discrimination because it involves behavior.
Other specially protected categories, such as
race, gender and disability, do not.
"What if that person was representing a
company and it became known that that person
had wild and bizarre sexual tastes?" he asked.
"That reflects on his employer. An employer
should have the right to say,’I don’t want to have
that kind of person working for me." "
: statement in support of equality, since same-sex
¯ couples cannot marry.
¯ The list would be similar to those in about 50
: cities across the country, including Atlanta,
~ Boston and Madison. Under the measure, same-
" sex couples could pay $30 to have their names
¯" placed on the registry. They would have to be 18
." or older, live together and show some form of
: financial unity, such as a joint bank account or
~ joint ownership of a vehicle.
¯ Two years ago, the council rejected by a vote
~ of 14-3 an effort to give health and funeral leave
~ benefits to unmarriedpartners ofcity employees.
¯ However, the currentmeasureis less controversial
¯ becauselittle,ifany, taxpayermoney is involved=
Still, about 130 people came to the meelang o!
~ the council’s Judiciary and Legislation
¯ Committee. T,,h,er~ewereapplause,hisses,mut.ters
~ and "Amens during testimony for and against
~ theproposal. CaseyLepianka, whocalledhimself
~ anevangelist, told the committeethattheproposal
¯ condones Sinful behavior and would help send
same-sex couples to "the fires of hell."
¯ Bill Attewell of Milwaukee said the.registry
would make it easier for himto get benefits from
¯" his partner’s employer. "It angers me that simply
: by living my life with my partner, it becomes a
~ politicalissue," Attewell said.
If approved July 13 by the council and signed
Milwaukee May
Register Gay Couples
MILWAUKEE (AP) - A Common C6~incil
committee has approved the creation of a
voluntary city-run registry that would allow Gay
couples to formally declare their relationships.
Tile measure, which passed 3-1 over the loud
objections of Bible-quoting critics, goes to the
full council next month.
Opponents said the registry is the first step
toward carrying out a destructive "Gay-fights
Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC
Certified Public Accountant
a professional corporation
747-5466
4021 S. Harvard, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135
MCC-United
formerly Family of Faith & Greater Tulsa MCC
Joined as one body of believers¯
Come celebrate with us.
Sunday Services, 11 am
1623 North Maplewood, 838-1715
". by Mayor John O. Norquist, the registry would
¯ take effect in September.
Gore Visit.s LA Gay
CommunltyCenter
,de .N.M ! od
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Vice President AI Gore,
seeking to bolster his credentials as a unifier, ¯ " fo"rgi ~n_d_ _A~d~l-llt~
offered a forceful defense of affirmative action.
I MeG ted 6_2_3 71.e?
and paid tribute to aGay andLesbian.ommunity
center. He faced a skeptical audience at the Gay i.
1
center, where Javier Garcia :asked, !’I want to know exactly why you’rehere."Garcia saidlater Io July 26-30th, 6-8pm each night
hewas"suspicious" thatGore’sappearance was [ I 838-1715
C~ll Soon tO Enroll.
purdy political. I Gore’s tour of the center came exactly one
weekafter his rival for the Democraticpresidential
nomination, formerNew Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley,
visited it.
"I’m here to learn and to pay honor to this
~lace," Gore said, adding the Gay and Lesbian
Center of Los Angeles was helping to chang,
attitudes and abolish some .. irrationa~
discrimination thetis all toocommon."Hegranted
his only interview of the day to the Advocate, a
national Gay and Lesbian news magazine.
"Thevicepresidenthas alongtimecommitment
to bringing our country together," said Gore
spokesman Chris Lehane. "He strongly believes
that we’re much stronger as a country when all
aspects of our community work together and
come together."
Gore said he supports federal legislation that
would outlaw discrimination against
homosexuals at the workplace, and bills
criminalizing certain hate crimes.
Michelle Byler, 22, said she didnrt find Gore
convincing. "He didn’t really speak to me or say
anything to impress me," said l~yler, who said
she left the Army after acknowledging her~
homosexuality. She added that she had reef.
Bradley aweekearlier andfoundBmdleyequally.
tmimpressive.
Arkansas Sodomy
¯ Challenge Continues
: LITTLE ROCK (AP) - A group challenging the
¯ constitutionality ofArkansas’ law against s°d°my
; can continue with itscourt acdon against the
; state, the Arkansas Supreme Court-ruled. In its
¯ June 24th opinion, the court ruled against a
¯ request that the law be thrown offthe books.
¯ The court overturned a chancellor s refus to
~ grant a motion by the state attorney general’s
¯ office and the Pulaski County prosecutor to
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9413 E. 31st St.
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fax: 663-5834
800-44A.-5934
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Sun. Worship, 10:45 am,
Sunday School, 9:30 am
Wed. Bible Study, 7 prn
¯ note our new address
3210b S. Norwood
:Info., call 224-4754,
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Sandra Hill
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Lesbian Affordable Daycare)
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¯ specificconsensual actsbetweenpersonsofthe same sex. ¯ discrimination, although the ordinance in
The court agreed with the attorney general and " Lonisvilleonlyaddressesemployment.’‘Thereis
¯ prosecutor that a chancery court lackedjurisdiction in the " a perception that all Gay and Lesbian people flee
small towns to live in big cities, and that’s not
¯ matter. However, the courtdisagreed with their argu.m,en.ts,
that a constitutional challenge must be.postponed until ¯ true," said Guess, of Zion United Church of
someoneisarrestedandchargedwithviolatingthesod°my ". Christandco_ch"aWirmeansohfothuelHdenndoertsohnFavaiernetSoScfalmeepaiogunr.
¯ statute.
The justices ordered that the case be transferred to ¯
communities of choice becauselegal protections
: ccoirncsutiittuticoonaulritty, owf ictrhimjiunarlisldawicst.ioAnny tsouchdedcecidlaerattihoen ": areino1f9fe9r4ed,Hinenbdigergseorncrietiveiss.e"ditspersonndpolicy
¯ so that it doesn’t discriminate against employe~.s could be appealed to the Supreme Court. .
¯ The suit that seven homosexual men and women filed
on the basis of sexual ofientation. However, It
¯ " applies only to people working or seeking
¯ in Pulaski County.Chantry ~?.~,,t. ~,k.,e~l., ,Ch.:an~.d~ ~; e~ployment in;cit’y governmehL " CollinsKilg°re~°ldeclarethes°dOmyiawunc°nsttmu°n ¯ Guess said Fairness Campaign officials have
¯ and to bar enforcementof the statute. . : . ¯
¯ TheLambdaLegalDefenseand,FxlucationF.lm,d.hafltsedee
. met with the four city commissioners and the
mayor to share stories of people being denied
the decision ,,Welookforwardtotlaenextstepln,tmsca:s, ¯ apartments or being turned down for.jobs. ~dade]
¯ ---the chanc~ to show that the.sodomy,law, .violate,s,,tlae . Fairness Campaign plans to present a mo
¯ p.riv.a.cy.an.d ~e,qi,u~aIlnpmrohtdeactionflraiwghvtesroStuzLaensemBanGaonldtb~eargy ¯ ordinance to the commission in August .or
¯ ArKansans......staf. - ¯ ¯ " September. Opponents are promising to defeat it
Shehad argued the case since it was filedln January 1998.
The suit said members of the group had performed and
saying thelaw would guarantee special rights ant
¯ would perform in the future,sexual ac.t.s bar~ed, by~ me_
that homosexuality is morally wrong and against
statute, and that they feared prosecuuon. ~oaomy l~
" Biblical teachings. . ,
misdemeanor under thelaw, ptmishableby up to a year in
" City Commissioner Robby Mills opposes, me
ordinance but admits it has a chance ot passing.
jail and a $1,000 fine. The suit says the law violates their
ruingdhetsr ttohperliavwacsyi,nacsewthelel asstatthueteirdfiogehstsntootepqruoahlipbriot taeccttsioonf ¯" HlitetlesatyoswtnhleikdeeHbaetnediesrspooninbdeelosso.k"iWnghayt tshhisouislsduea
¯ tha~evenourstateandfederalofficeh°lders cannot
sodomy between heterosexuals.
, : CoOunntyapPperoals,ecthuetoarttLoarnrreyy Jgeegnleeyrala’srgoufefdic,eaamnodngPuolathskeir ¯ dspeceinddemony?t"imhee wsaoidrrylaisntgwaebeoku.t"wI hwaot usltdreleitksewtoe
things, thattheirofficeswereimmunefromlawsuits, that " are going to pav,e, next and what sewer project we
: the chancery court was not the proper place to file the are going to d&
¯ lawsuit and that the law should be challenged only in ". Guess said the measure has the support of
several area congregations and church leaders,
: defense of a prosecution. " from Catholic priests to Presbyterian ministers.
: Gay Couples Covered by : Lon Oliver, senior minister at First Christian
¯ . Church, said he has been shocked by the tone of ¯ Domestic Violence Law someopponents,whohavesaidthattheordinance
" would lead to teaching homosexuality in schools
¯ TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A circuit judge has ruled Florida’s : and that Henderson would become a haven for
¯ domestic violence law covers Gay couples¯ "To hold Gays . ,’The harslmess of the rhetoric and the fear
¯ otherwise would undermine the efforts to safeguard, " has surprised us all," he said.
¯ regardless of gender, the rights of victims of domestic
¯ The Green Valley Baptist Association, which
¯ violence," Judge Ronald N. Ficarrotta wrote in his rifling, represents 30 churches andabout 14,000members
" " The ruling came in the case of David Baker who was . _themajorityoftheminHendersonCounty~has
¯ charged with violating a domestic violence restraining " adopted a resolution denouncing the ordinance.
¯ order taken out by his former partner, David Lozier, 39.
¯ Mills, the city commissioner, said that
¯ Public defenders asked the judge last week to dismiss " Henderson citizens generally do not accept the
¯ the case against Baker, saying the injunction was invalid. " homosexuallifestyle¯"Our community is apolite
¯ They maintained the judge who signed the injunction commumty that will not g. .I~O,,P,.......
’ " et in le’s face and
¯ ,,w.rongly recognized ahomosexual relationship a~ family.
" say, ’You shouldn’tbe doing that, lae sam.
. The court, in issuing, this, injuncu~on,, r,eco.~g~i~zed. a
¯ when this is brought forward, you’ll see a huge
¯ homosexual relationship as a family, which vlotates me " amountofpeoplewanting to voice their opinion."
¯ longstanding policy of ~e Flori,da, Constitution, s~tut.e~s_,
¯ The debate could go statewide. State Rep. Kathy
Legislature and courts, Baker s lawyers wrote, rmnoa - Stein,D_Lexington,hasproposedabillthatwould
¯ doesnotrecog~.’.zemarriagesbe.twee,ns,a,.m..e-,s.exp~,ar,m_~oS~ ¯ protect homosexuals, from discrimination.,s The
¯ FicarrottasaldBakerandLozter, wnouvextt°gemert . measurecouldbediscussedatnextyear General
.. seven years, sharing ahousehold andjointbank accounts,
¯ Assembly session.
¯
didlive together as family. Legislators who expanded the
¯ domestic violence law in 1991 intendedit to protect all " Namibian Court Rules ¯ meLmobzieerrshoafdaahcocuusseedhohlids,ohneetsiamideipnahrtinseorr°dfers.-trhkinghim for Lesbian Couple
andlaterharassing him wlth threatemngphone calls. I m . WINDHOEK, Namibia - Namibia’s high court
¯ very happy with the decision," he said. ¯
¯ Hillsborough County Public Defender Julinnne Holt
has ruled that Gay and Lesbian couples have
¯
saidherofficewillr,e,viewthejudge’sorderbef°redeciding
" exactly-the same fights in the country as
¯ whether to appeal. Webelieve that it’s not dear that (the
" heterosexual couples. The Namibian newspaper
" "d ..... if " said the ruling was a rebuke to often hom°ph°bic
’ " law) covers same-sex couples, she sal . the term, as
~ afnmily,"isnotdefinedinFloridala~v andthereapparently
¯ government that had sought to deny a German
are no previous cases on the issue, according to court
¯ woman a residence permit because of her
¯ " relationship with her Namibian parmer.
¯ records. In theruling, Judge Harold Levy also ruled the
¯ Small Kentucky Town May of Home Affairs must supply reasons
¯
for refusing an application for permanent : Ban Anti-Gay Bias ¯ residence.Thejudgerejectedministryatguments
¯ that the nature of the rdationship betw~m Liz ¯
HENDERSON,Ky.(AP)-WhentheLonisvilleB°ard°f " Frank, a German, and Elizabeth Khaxas, a
¯ Aldermen voted earlier this year to ban discrimination ~ Namibian, had no bearing on the application.
~ against homosexuals in the workplace, the Rev. Ben ¯ The couple has been living together for several
Guess was at city hall to celebrate. Now, Guess finds years and are ratsmg a son. Not only is thi
¯ himself involved in a similar debate in his own city of relationship recognized, but the respondents
¯ Henderson¯ A group of citizens is urging M_ayor Joan
¯ (HomeAffairs)shouldha,v,.etakenit~toa.ccx).unt,."
Hoffman and the City Commission to make it-illegal to
¯ Levy said in his ruling. I have no hesitation is
¯ discriminate in employment, housing and public saying that the long-term relationship between
¯ accommodations based on aperson’s sexual orientation.
¯
the applicants in so far as it is a universal
¯ If approved, Henderson would become the second partnership, xs recogmzeo t~y ia , wrote Levy.
MARK T. HAMBY
Attorney
Bankruptcy
&
Civil Matters
Call for More Information
1500 Nations Bank, 15 West Sixth
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119
744-744~
Fax 744-9358
OPENARMS,OPENMtNDS,OPEN
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4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882
Saint John
4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381
Saint Dunstan
5635 East 71st. 492-7140
Trinity
501 S. Cincinnati, 582-4128
The Episcopal Church Welcomes You
Anonymous HIV
Tests Droppin
ATLANTA (AP) - Fewer Americans are
choosing to remain anonymous when
tested for HIV at federally funded clinics,
hospitals and prisons, according to a
government report¯ In most states, people
can get tested for the AIDS virus without
giving their names. But the number of
federally fundedanonymous tests declined
nearly 27% between 1995 and 1997, the
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention reported recently.
"One of the reasons perhaps is that
people are beginning to see HIV as more
of a treatable condition and perhaps less
of a stigmatizing disease," RobertJanssen,
deputy director of HIV and AIDS
prevention at the CDC, said. The decline
coincides with theemergence of powerful
drugs that have allowed HIV patients to
live longer, more normal lives. Also, new
laws and regulations have been designed
to protect the confidentiality of people
who give their names when tested.
The study period alsoincludes the arrival
of the home AIDS test, which went on the
market in 1996 and gav.e people another
option for checking their HIV status
anonymously.
The CDC looked at 6.3 million HIV
tests conducted at health clinics,hospitals,
drug treatment centers and prisons.~Those
sites conduct about 15% of H~.V tests in
the United States. Federally funded HIV
tests declined8% overall,from2.5 million
tests in 1995 to 2.3 million in 1997. The
drop could reflect the wider options
available for testing and a growing
population thathasbeen tested anddoesn’t
feel the need to do it again, Janssen said.
Joycelyn Elders at
AIDSWalk Michigan
DETROIT (AP) - Former Surgeon
General Joycelyn Elders advocated the
use of condoms, commumty involvement
and needle exchange programs in
Michigan’s fight against AIDS.
Elders kicked offAIDS Walk Michigan
- Detroit, a September fund-raising event
coordinated by the Michigan Women and
AIDS Committee. The walk’s organizers,
who helped bring Elders here, said they
hope to raise community awareness of
AIDS and HIV, especially among
minorities.
In 1997, AIDS was the leading cause of
death among blacks ages 24 to 44, despite
falling AIDS death rates for the general
population, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. It was
the second leading cause of death among
Hispanics in that age group in 1996.
But Denise Stokes, a member of
President Clinton’s AIDS Advisory
Council and a speaker at aregional AIDS/
HIV conference here this week, said HIV
and AIDS do not strike limited
¯ communities. "The only requirement to
get HIV is to be human," said Ms. Stokes,
who has lived with HIV for 17 years.
Elders saidthegovernment is harming
society bynbtmaking more clean needles
a~ailable to. drug users. ~’I consider that
absolutdy abuse," Eiders: said during a
Detroitnew~ conference. Some Michigan
cities have privately funded needle
exchange programs.
Elders also highlighted the experiences
of families with mothers with AIDS. She
said thatin thepast, criteriafor diagnosing
AIDS were based on men, not women.
Thus,womenoftenreceivedlate diagnoses
and didnotreceive treatmentIn time. "We
have almost 100,000 children who have
been orphaned because of the death of
their mothers,", she said.
She urged churches and communities
to talk with young people about HIV and
AIDS, but said telling them to abstain
from sex isn’t enough. Instead, she would
make condoms available to students, many
of whom are sexually active already, she
said. "Weknow abslinence works, heaven
knows it works," Elders said. "But we are
sexual beings, and the vows of abstinence
break far more easily than do latex
condoms."
Arab World Needs
More AIDS Info
ABHA, Saudi Arabia (AP) - AIDS
specialists, health workers and
government officials wound up a threeday
conference with the ~onsensus that
information onthe deadly disease must be
more vigorously disseminated throughout
the Arab world.
Cases ofAIDS and HIV - the virus that
causes AIDS - remain relatively low in
the Middle East and North Africa region
- 19,000 adults and children in the region
were infected with the human
immunodeficiency virus in 1998,
compared with44,000 infectious in North
America and 30,000 in Western Europe.
But the disease is slowly spreading; and
nearly 500 people gathered in this
mountain resort some 1,000 kilometers
(620 miles) south of Riyadh this week to
hear the latest on how to combat the
epidemic. "The stumbling block is that
thefigures (onHIV-AIDS infections) may
not be accurate," said Dr. Fahad A1-
Rabiah, a specialist oninfecfious diseases
at King Faisal Hospital in Riyadh, the
capital.
The conference, the third such gathering
held every five years, was organized by
the King Faisal Hospital and Research
Center, the World Health Organization
and the Saudi Health Ministry.
Strict social and moral codes that
prohibit premarital sex, adultery,
homosexuality and drug abuse are
effective in slowing the spread of HIV
infections in Arab and Islamic countries,
the speakers noted. But these same codes
consider discussing sex and sex education
taboo, limiting the flow of information
about the disease. WHO estimates that
there were 210,000 adults and children
with HIV or fully developed AIDS in the
Middle F_~st and North Africa region in
1998.
The conference speakers pointed out
that the number of cases will continue to
rise as more young people experiment
with sex and drugs without knowledge of
safe sex methods and other precautions.
MostHIV cases in the region are attributed
to heterosexual transmission and shared
drug needles.
Adding to the growing concern, many
Arab governments are not willing to treat
AIDS as athreatening epidemic, so testing
for HIV and medicine supplies are
inadequate.
According to ,1998WHOfigures, there
e~are~. 373 AIDS patients" in Saudi Arabia,
¯ considered the most socially and
religiously strictcountryin theArabworld.
"The figures are low, but that should not
make us become lazy (in combating
AIDS)," Dr. A1-Rabiah said. "The most
important way to fight the disease in the
kingdom now is to make people aware of
it and admit that it exists."
Timothy W. Daniel
Attorney at Law
An Attorney who will fight for
justice & equality for
Gays & Lesbians
Domestic Partnership Planning,
Personal Injury,
Criminal Law & Bankruptcy
1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504
128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma
Weekend and evening appointmenls are available.
Are You Gay or Bisexual?
Are You Native American?
Tulsals Two-Spirited Indian Men’~
Support Group is here for you!
¯ Evening support group meetings
¯ Relationship workshops
¯ Short trips, outings and retreats
¯ Free HIVtesting
For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project
at 582-7225 Ext, 208 or 218
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Tuesday& Thursday
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Some Less Likely to
Get HIV/AIDS Care
WASHINGTON (AP) - Minorities, the
poor and people who contracted AIDS
through drug use are less likely to get
needed care, including revolutionary new
drugs that have prolonged life for
thousands ofpeople, according to the first
national study of AIDS treatment.
The disparities were particularly acute
in 1996, when the study began, and have
improved somewhat over two years. But
the gap persisted for many groups,
including women, who are most likely to
get HIV through sex with a drug user and
are also less likely to be in treatment.
Future research will focus on the cause
of the disparities: Are certain patients
failing to seek care? Or are the attitudes
and practices of doctors and hospitals
making it harder for these patients to get
it?
"At least on an unconscious level, some
providers may have more aggressively
tried to provide these treatments to certain
patients," said Dr. Martin F. Shapiro of
the University of California at Los
Angeles, lead author of the study being
published today in the Joumal.-of the
American Medical Association (JAMA).
Shapiro also noted that the differences
in care based on insurance type and race
persisted, evenwhenresearchers took into
account such factors as how the person
contracted the virus.
This, he and others said, reflects larger
disparities in the health system that go
well beyond AIDS. "The voices of the
poor are not heard well in this country,"
Shapiro said. ’-’In the case of HIV, the
consequences of that can be quite
profound."
Overall, care improved from 1996 to
1998. At first, just 29% of ~all patients
were receiving care that met all six
standards. Thatjumped to47% two years
later.
But the care differed widely among
groups. In 1998, for instance, 88% of
whites were receiving powerful protease
inhibitors, but just 80% Of blacks were.
Similarly, 87% of men infected through
sex with other men were taking these
drugs in 1998, compared with 81% of
those infected through drug use.
Some of the gap had narrowed, but
researchers found that tread had slowed,
meaning further improvements were not
likely. While disparities in access to health
care are widespread, unlike other diseases,
mostpeople with theAIDS virus can trace
their infection to one of two sources:
homosexual men or intravenous drug
USerS.
Part of the explanation is simple
economics. People infected through
intravenous drug use, or sex with a drug
user, generally have less money, less
education and more life problems - all of
which keep them from getting effective
care. Someone who can’t pay the rent or
buy groceries or who is addicted to drugs
may find getting medical.care a low
priority. "That tends to be much more of
adown-and-outpopulationinevery way,,
said Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint, who studies
racial disparities in health at Harvard
Medical School.
At the same time, the Gay commLlnity
has mobilized around the disease,
educating its members about treatment
options and the importance of getting
care. But while the AIDS epidemic hit
homosexnal men first, black~ are the
fimting growing group of victims, now
accounting for nearly half of all new
infections, making the disparities in care
even more alarming to public health
officials. There are many AIDS clinics in.
the Gay community but few that are
targeted to drug users, said Peter Lurie of
Public Citizen’s Health Research Group.
"The injection drug users are a relatively
forgotten part of this epidemic," he said.
The new research comes from the HIV
Cost and Utilization Study, the first
national data on care for people with HIV
and AIDS. Researchers identified about
231,400 American adults with HIV.who
were receiving at least some medical care
outside the militaiy or prison, in all states
except Alaska and Hawaii.
From this group, a random sample of
more than 2,000 patients was chosen for
interviews beginning in early 1996 and
againin early 1998. Researchers measured
six components of care- three relating to
use of medication and three related to use
of doctors and hospitals.
Morgues Stay Open
Longer DuetoAIDS
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - State
morgues are extending their hours to cope
with Zimbabwe’s soaring death rate,
mostly as a result ofAIDS, the main state-
. controlled newspaper reported in June.
An estimated 3,000 people now die every
week in the southern African country,
nearly 70% of them from AIDS-related
illnesses, The Herald reported.
Harare’s main hospital will now staff
its morgue around the clock and other
hospital mortuary facilities will extend
closing time by four hours to 8 p.m.,
health authorities said, according to the
newspaper. Families ofthe dead also were
being asked to remove corpses within 24
hours of death to reduce overcrowding in
morgues, the paper said.
The National AIDS Coordination
Program estimaies that more than 80,000
Zimbabweans will diefromAIDS-related
illnesses this year. The World Health
Organization says some 25% of
Zimbabwe’s 12.5 million people are
infected with the virus that causes AIDS.
Churches Helping
Support PLWAs
RALEIGH (AP) - Churches and secular
groups in one area of North Carolina are
consolidating to work together on what
they call a holistic approach for AIDS
patients. A coalition of faith-based
congregations Will consolidate with two
secular AIDS service agencies to create
the largest Triangle organization helping
people cope with the virus. Triangle is the
¯ name for the central geographical area of
North Carolina.
: Thenew entity, which still has no name
¯" or central location, will help people with
HIV or AIDS secure federal funding for
" housing, track Social Security benefits
: andfind supportgroups. Anditwillmatch
¯. clients who want spiritual help with a
chaplain or a congregation ready to help
i them. "It’s one thing to give lip service t,o,
compassion; it’s another thing to do it,
"_ said Stacy Smith, who chairs the Triangle
¯ AIDS Interfaith Network’s board of ¯
directors. "For congregations, the
: consolidation points to a way they can
: walk the walk- not just talk the talk."
¯ BeforeAIDS advocates agreedto allow
: churches to work with them, they insisted
: on two conditions: All clients would be
i treated equally no matter how they were
infected, see Health, p. ~4
by TFN Entertainment Editor
Can youbelieve that it’s nearly the year
2000? And that 1999-2000 is Broken
Arrow Playhouse’s 20th ~nniversary
season? 13APC is celebrating this
milestone with six productions: You’re a
GoodMan, CharlieBrown, Murderonthe
Nile, Greater. Tuna,
Arsenic & Old Lace,
Steel Magnolias, and
The Sound of Music.
While none of these
productions are strict-.
ly Gay plays, this is a
company doing good
work that’s always
been Gay-friendly.
Yes, it is ajourney out
of mid-town to the
wilds of Broken
Arrow (except for
those of you who live
out there anyway) but the productions
merit the journey.
Speaking of good works, Saint Louis
Bread, and .local franchise owners, Jim
and Gaynell Magers havebeen great about
supporting local charities. So when they
opened their fourth _and fifth Tulsa
locations, it ~should be little surprise that
they gave 100% (100%! ! ! !) ofthe proceeds
of their opening "dry runs" to charity.
When the Woodland Hills ,location
opened, the proceeds benefit~l Tulsa
CARES (formerly the HIV Resource
Consortium) and the Girl Scouts. The
opening ofthelocationnear Bishop Kelley
benefited Bishop Kelley. So when you
dine next at St. Louis Bread, thank them
for their community spirit - they don’t
¯ have to do it and it really helps.
St. LouisBreadBenefitfor TulsaCARES
and the Girl Scouts: co-owners Jim &
Gaynell Magers, Tulsa CARES
presidentJoeINorvetl, &J.A. Hankins,
Bishop Kelley Director ofDevelopment
: And if you’re thinking of taking in a
¯
meal at The Polo Grill, consider dining
¯ thereonJuly 6th, whenthose two fabulous
¯¯ Gay guys, financial guru,SteveD,Wright
and his buddy, Taimadge Poweil will be
: the Polo Grill’s guest chefs. It should be
great menu - you can
get a preview on
KJRH’s morning
show on July 5th.
Make your reservation
now !
Don’t forget that
Gilcrease has the
exceptional show,
Taos Artis ts and their
Patrons, 1898-1950
up through July 18th.
And opening in
August is their show
featuring extra-
. ordinary masks from Northwest Native
¯ American tribes.
¯ At theendofSeptember,THENAMES ¯
PROJECT will hold its annual Feast for
¯ Friends on 9/25 at the Tulsa Marriott
¯ Sou-them Hills. If you don’t recall, this is ¯
theeventwhereyoudine withyourfriends,
¯ casually or formally and then join all the
: other Feast supporters for dessert. The
¯ event raises funds for HIV/AIDS
¯ education and specifically to present
: portions of the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
¯ The next local presentation of part of the ¯
quilt is planned for World AIDS Day,
¯ Dec. 1, 2000. Into: 748-3111. Also,
¯ Council Oak Mens Chorale has a
" performance planned for August. We’ll
: bring you more about that. Stay posted.
by the Rev. Mel White, Soulforce, Inc.
On June 26, the Huntington Library in
Pasadena, California, announced the first
publicexhibitionof the Nurembergpapers.
Signed by Adolf Hitler himself, the
original documents havebeenonfile since
they were donated by General George
Patton in 1945. Hitler decreed these brief
laws to guarantee the"racial purity" ofhis
Third Reich. They redefined the role of
Jews in Germany and opened the doors to
holocaust. "I felt like I was viewing the
first draft of the death warrant that led to
the demise of one-third of world Jewry,"
said Dr. Uri Herscher. "Once deportation
began" added UCLA professor Saul
Friedlander, "these laws determined who
would live and who would die."
The four primary paragraphs were
pnblishedin the Los Angeles Times. I was
stunned by their familiarity. The minute
.they are on display, Gary and I will be
there to see them. IhopeI won’tembarrass
him with involuntary tears. We should
publish them in every GLBT paper in the
country With the warning: It could happen
again!
Paragraph 1: Ended theright of Jews to
marry freely. Sounds like a reason to work
even harder to defeat the "Antigay
Marriage" laws.
Paragraph 2: Ended the right of Jews to
have sexual intercourse freely. Sounds
like a reason to continue our efforts to
rescind the "Sodomy’’ laws.
Paragraph3. Ended the right of Jews tO
employee or be employed freely. Sounds
like a reason to support ENDA, the
Employment Nondiscrimination Act.
. paragraph 4. Ended the right of Jews to
¯ display/serve the nation’s flag freely.
¯ Sounds like areason to seek thatpromised
¯ executive order from President Clinton to
¯" end the ban on gays in the military at last.
; While we’re celebrating all our hard-
" earned victories (and we deserve the time
¯ to celebrate), we need to remember that ¯
Berlin in the 1930s was the most gayfriendly
city in the world. How quickly
¯ life as cabaret became a nightmare of suffering and death.
¯ Too many of us believe our adversaries
¯ are ~fools who are only using us to raise
funds and mobilize volunteers. In fact
¯ they are sincere believers, determined to
¯ end our rights.
Too many of us think that it is NOT
important for us to contribute time and
¯
money to help continue our struggle for
¯ equal rights. Infactany one ofour primary
adversaries raises more money every
¯ month in part to end th.ose fi.ghts than our entire commumty raises in a year to
¯ preserve and protect them.
¯ Too many of us think the danger is
passed and that time is on the side of
¯ justice. In fact Dr. King madeit very clear.
¯ "Time is on the side of injustice."
¯ Even if Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwdl,
¯
James Dobson and the others look to you
¯ likefools who arelosingpower, their antihomosexual
rhetoric is reaching critical
mass in thehomes and churches of our
childhood. Let these documents remind
us that it could happen again. Our
¯ "Nuremberg Laws" are in place or on the ¯
ballot. All it would take is for you or for
¯ me to do nothing.
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Call today to receive a
1999-2000 season brochure
Season subscriptions,
starting at $44ftr adults,
are now on SALE!
FOR 1999-2000 SEASON BROCHURES CALL
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FOR 1999-2000 SEASON. BROCHURES CALL
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Natalie MacMaster An irish Christmas
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February 20*~ ¯ 31)r~ March 3,d & 4~ ¯ 8pro
~" SUNDAYS
Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service - 6pm, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Service - 1 lain, 2545 S. Yale, 74%0595
Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist
Service - 1 lain, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-1314
Metropolitan Community Church United
Service, 1 lain, 1623 North Maplewood, Info: 838-1715
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc.
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood
Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America)
Mass - 1 lain, 205 W. King (east of No. Denver), Info: 582-3088
University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance
6:30 pm, Meets at the Canterbury Ctr., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780
~ MONDAYS
Mixed Volleyball, Helmerich Park, 71st & Riverside, 6pm, call Shawn at 243-5190.
HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required.
Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard).
HIV RapSessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
7:30pm, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
2nd Mon/each mo. 6:30pm, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard
Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551
Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals - call for times, info: 585-COMC (2662)
~" TUESDAYS
AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call for next meeting date. 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551
Live And Let Live, Community of Hope United Methodist, 7:30pro, 2545 S. Yale
Multicultural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date.
Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001
Rainbow Business Guild, Business & prof. networking group. Info: 743-4297
PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th
Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE)
Tuesdays, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, info: 743-4297
~" WEDNESDAYS
Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center
Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pro, 3210b So. Norwood
Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more information, call 582-7225
TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for info: 595-7632.
Lambda A-A, 7 pro, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft.
~= THURSDAYS
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education
Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pm 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral
Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN)
Support/social group for 18-24’s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-2325
Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, Info: 834-4194
~" FRIDAYS
Safe Haven, Young Adults Social Group, 1 st Fri/each ino. 8pm, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th
~ SATURDAYS
Narcotics Anonymous, 11 pm, Community of Hope,1703 E. 2nd, Info: 585-1800
Lambda A-A, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft.
~’= OTHER GROUPS
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info: 838-1222
Gal-A-Vanting, Womens Social & Cultural Group
Call for info: Mary at 743-6740, Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-6825.
OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization. Long rides and short rides
from Zeigler Park. Long rides and short rides from Tulsa Gay Community Center.
Write for info: POB 9165, Tulsa, OK 74157
!fyour organization is not listed, please let us know, Call 583-1248 orfax 583-4615.
Reviewed by Barry Hensley
Tulsa City-County Library
One of the biggest controversies surrounding
the Gay civil rights movement
today is the act known as outing- one
person publicly identifying another,
closeted person as homosexual, against
their wishes. Although this
trend seems to be winding
down, there are still many
people, young and old, who
are unable to .identify themselves
as Losblian or Gay.
Because they ar~ not prepared
to,acknowledge their orientation,
they lead double lives to
disguisethe truthfromfriends,
families and eoworkers.
"Outing Yourself," by
Michelangelo Signorile,
recognizes the difficulty of
these situations andprovides a
step-by-step program for
making the .journey from
"Identifying Yourself" to"Not
Thinking About It at All."
Signorileoutlines 14 steps,
under six general parts which
include "Outing Yourself to
Yourself," "Outing Yourself
to Other Gay People," "Outing
Yourself to Your Straight
Friends," "Outing Yourself to Your Family,"
"Outing Yourself to Your C0workers,"
and, finally, "Coming Out Every
Day," which includes ways to help others
undertake the same journey.
Signorile examines the most difficult
steps in the first chapter, where he presents
the thoughts of other authors, including
film historian Vito Russo, who
said, "The truth will set you free, but first
it will be a pain in the neck," and Mark
Thompson, who commented, "Basically,
coming out is a death and rebirthexperience.
To come out, something has to diewhateveritwasyouthought
your were...In
asense, you’rekiiling aformer constructed
identity and creating anew one." Also in
this chapter are exercises to do whichmay
seem simplistic to some, but helpful to
others, depending on how comfortable
one is with the coming-out process.
We can create a list of shared goals,
particularly here in Oklahoma where we
have so far yet to go.
i’11 be so bold as to list afew I hope will
make the cut: continuing the work to pass
improved hate crimes protections in the
Oklahoma Legislature, asking for nondiscrimination
policies in private and
public corporations and agencies;
replacement .of elected officials who
support prejudice against Lesbians, Gay
men, Bisexuals and Transgendered
persons.
Some of this canbe the work ofjust one
individua. Rogers University, now OSUTulsa,
added~term "sexual orientation"
to its non-discrimination policy because
one.person asked them to do so. That was
me. Now had that request not been heard
by social progressives ontheRogersboard
like Nancy Feldman, Dorothy Dewitty
and SharonKing Davis, it wouldnothave
passed. But they wouldn’t have run with
that ff someone hadn’t asked. Each of us
canbring this reform effort to someaspect
of our lives.-
A. number of significant Tulsa
¯ As the journey continues, the author
¯¯ documents true experiences which reveal
the common frustrations related to-
" homophobia and the act of
: "deprogramming yoursdf" from stereo-
. types and the myths that cause lesbians
: and gays to feel out of place in a straight
S;~norlh...
presents the
thoughts of
other authors,
ineludlng
film hlstorlan
Vito Russo,
who s~;d,
’~Fhe truth
will set you
free, but
first it will be
society. In "Meeting Other
-Gay People," the reader is
reminded that today, with gay
community centers, organizations,
newspapers and computer
bulletin boards, the gay
bar is no longer the primary
gathering place. There is a list
of related books, many of
which arein thelibrary, which
should be consulted to further
explain the sometimes
complex and contradictory
feelings that many people
experience.
In "That First Talk,"
Signorile prepares readers for
the inevitable questions and
concerns that arise when
having thatimportant chatwith
parents or other family members.
He acknowledges that it
is not always wise to come out
to parents immediately.
Timing is everything, and it
may be best topostpone yourconversation.
As you get near the end of the book,
which deals with coming out at work and
helping others to come out, it is apparent
that a common thread has been woven
through chapter after chapter: maintaining
a positive approach. Regardless of
who is being addressed, people coming
out are urged to ignore negative comments
and concentrate on having a truth-"
ful, uplifting and educational conversation.
¯ Signorile has also authored "Queer in
¯ America" and numerous columnsfor na-
¯ tional periodicals.Afew years ago,hehad
: a notorious reputation for outing public
" figures, but he has mellowed consider-
" ably and this book is a patient and under-
. standing guide, free from harsh judge-
~ ments or urgings to sacrifice oneself for
"the cause."
." institutions have already made the pledge
¯ to treatGaypeoplefairlyin theworkplace:
~ our largest employer, American Airlines,
¯ Public ServiceCompany, Kimberly-Clark
_. and others. Wenee~l, to build alocal public
¯ awareness campatgn about their good
work and encturage others to follow that
: lead (like TU, for example and Home
¯ Depot to mentionanother).
: I have one last agenda item. We’ve got
: a great community center but as many
¯ know it’s got a lease that will not be
¯ renewed. Now is the time to plan for tke
: next center, one that is bigger and
: preferably owned by us. It’s certainly
¯ feasibleifalotofus withmodest incomes
: join withfew of our community members
: with not so modest resources to find a
i
buil~ng and to endowit. One community
wag s saidthatifafew of’ourcommunity’s
: wealthiest merely redirected a portion of
: their interior decorating budgets, we’d
: have a buildingpaid off and its annual
operating costs covered. I, ofcourse, don’ t
know if that’s true butwehave to ere.ate a
: vision of a better future. And while we’re
: atit, how about a Gay neighborhood too?
¯ Not just a midtown where we’re part of
: the fabric but one where we really can
: even hold hands, without fear. Imagine.
Red Rock Tulsa
Free Confidential
HIV Testing
Walk-in Clinics
Tuesday Testing, 5-8 pm
Pride Center, 1307 East 38th
Wednesday Testing, 5-8 pm
Red Rock, 1724 East 8th
Daytime appointments available.
Call for more information:
918-584-2325
Church
of the Restoration
Unitarian Universalist
11 am, Sunday
1314 North Greenwood
587-1314
We,knowyou’re
going to love this[
Restaurant& Cabaret
310 East First Street
918-599-9949
Massage Therapy Services
¯
~~I~Ed’gar O. Cruz, L.M.T.
¯ Pager: 918-889-5255
Voice Mail: 918-697-9282
News
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Tulsa Locations:
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3733 S. Memorial, 6600344
1216 S. Harvard, 587-1778
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by Mary Schepers .
Your DIYD found herself in a :
compromising situation
recently. She was hot. She was
sweaty. She was close to her
work. Polishing. Grinding.
And then it occurred to her -
"Am I being safe?" The
answer, unfortunately, was
"No." Removing rest with
power equipment requires a
minimum of personal
protective equipment (PPE) to
keep you safe. Rest assured,
Muffins, that your DIYD
promptly set her work aside,
had a cool drink of water, put
on her safety glasses, a pair of
leather gloves, a dust mask
and some earplugs. Then she
returned to her work, whioh
she brought to a very
satisfactory, and safe,
conclfision.
All too often, the important
element of working safely at
home eludes us. It’ s awkward.
It’s uncomfortable. The job
will only take a few moments,
so who needs it? Or, more
often, wejustdon’t think about
it. So this month, your DIYD
happily dons her Safety Cop
uniform to coax you ~nto
submitting to safer work
practices in your fabulous
home. Surrender, Dorothy!
First, read instructions. The
law requires s afety notices and
admonitions onmost products
fi .power tools, adhesives,
pmnts, and lawn chemicals. Follow the
safety instructions fully.
It’s a good idea to have some PPE
handy around the house for when you
need it. Make a kit and keep it sealed and
stored in a clean, dry place where you’ll
remember it. Suggested items: Dust and
mist tuasks (don’t reuse these,
Rockefeller!); latex or vinyl gloves;
earplugs (clean the reusable type after
every use. Don’t reuse disposable ones);
safety glasses and/orgoggles; work gloves
that fit.
Lawn and Garden Work: For mowing,
weed eating, grass blowing and edging,
preserve and protect them.
Too many of us think the danger is
passed and that time is on the side of
justice. Infact Dr. Kingmadeit very clear.
"Time is on the side of injustice."
Even if Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell,
James Dobson and the others look to you
like fools who arelosing power, their antihomosexual
rhetoric is reaching critical
mass in the homes andchurches of our
childhood. Let these documents remind
us that it could happen again. Our
"Nuremberg Laws" are in place or on the
ballot. All it would take is for you or for
me to do nothing. "" o
In 1997, the Rev. Dr. Mel White received
the ACLU’s National Civil Liberties
Award for applying the ’soul force’
principles of Gandhi and King to the
liberation 9fsexual minorit~’es. He ts a cofounder
of Soulforce, Inc.and the author
0fStranger at the Gate: To Be Gay and
Christian in America.
wear safety glasses to protect your eyes
from foreign objects, earplugs for your
hearing, and a dust mask if
~AII too often,
tke important
element d
workln~ safely
at home
eludes as.
It’s awkward. It’s
uncomfortable.
Thejob will
only take a few
moments, so
who needs ~t.~
Or, more Often,
we just don’t
think about it,
So thls month,
your DIYD
happily dons her
Safety Cop
uniform to coax
you into
submittln~ to
safer work
praetlees in your
fabulous home.
you are allergy prone or
asthmatic. Drinklots ofliquids
and work early if it’ s hot.
Lawn Chemicals: If using
liquids, wear long sleeves and
pants, work upwind, spray
0nly on calm days, wear latex
or vinyl gloves and safety
glasses. Most chemicals can
be absorbed through skin and
mucous membranes, andduckling,
if it will kill weeds
or ticks, think about what it
can do to you! For dry
chemicals, wear gloves, a dust
mask and safety glasses.
Shop Work: Wear your
earplugs and safety glasses.
Never disarm guards m~ant to
protect you. Don’t use worn
out blades, bits or other
components. Use a dust mask
and keep the area well
ventilated. Using a table saw?
Then use push sticks when
cutting your stock. Saw
kickbacks are truly ugly.
Refinishing and painting:
Do it outside, if at all possible.
Wear gloves, safety glasses
and possibly arespirator. Look
at less harmful options. There
are several products for
stripping and refinishing that
are more environmentally -
and human - friendly. Do not
use strippers, Solvents or
solvent based stains and
: finishes near flame sources, such as gas
¯ water heaters, oven pilot lights and
¯ furnaces. We do not want you to go Sha-
¯¯ boom, sha-boo~n. Na-na-na-na-na, etc.
Sorry. Having a retro moment.
¯
This is just an overview to get youin the
¯ habit of looking at the safety precautions
your home projects may require. Be safe,
¯
be healthy and be back for next month’ s
: column. Your DIYD wants to tell you
what to do.for a long, long time.
: meeting is to gather, learn and find ways
¯ several "possible outcomes:"
: - a commitment to regroup every six
¯ months;
- a review of our calendars for events
¯ where we might work together;
¯" - discussion of combining mailing lists
with provision for privacy of each
¯ organization’s original list;
: - discussion of a community wide
fundraising event, similar to Dallas’ Black
Tie dinner to benefit all organizations
¯
instead of competing for thee,same dollars;
¯ - consideration of aft ~fimbrell~ co¯
ordinating organization ~or these eff0~ts.
Those receiving the letter were
¯
encouraged tO alert the Organizers ~J any
¯ group not listed who should be invited.
¯ However, the contact number listed on ¯
the letter rings to a disconnected message
¯
but Newman’s no. is 582-4673.
: Editor’s note: this month’s editorial,
¯ Say Something Nice: Praise for Pride ’99,
also comments on this meeting and some
¯
possible community goals.
The letter suggests that the point of the
better to work together but also identifies
by Esther Rothblum : recommend the book Eden Built by Eyes:
What’s the first thing that comes to , TheCultureofWomen’sMusicFestivals,
mind when we think about women’s ¯ by Bonnie Morris (Alyson Press, 1999)
music.’? Many Lesbians will
recall Alix Dobkin’s album
Lavender Jane Loves
¯ Women.
I r~eq,ently spoke with Alix
and asked how she first
became a Lesbian musician.
"I was writing aboutmy own
life," she recalled, "so music
waspartofmyconsciousness
raising." Alix had been a
professional folk singer for
many-years. "I was at the
right place, at the right time,
with the right background,
doing the right thing," she
told me. She produced a
number of albums of
women’s music: Lavender
Jane Loves Women (1973),
Living WithLesbians (1976),
XXAlix (1980), These Women
(I986), YahooAustralia
(1990), andLoveandPolitics
( 1992, acompilation album). ..,
Living with Lavender Jane (1998) wa~ a
re-release ontoCDofthefirsttwoalbums.
In addition, Alix Dobkin’s Adventures in
Women’s Music (Not Just a Songbook)
was published in 1978.
I asked Alix what other music was
around for Lesbians when she first began
performing. The answer: notmuch. Robin
Tyler had produced Maxine Feldman in
1972; a 45-rpm record with two songs.
There was the Chicago Women’s
LiberationRockBandand theNew Haven
Women’s Liberation Rock Band Double
Album. And in New York, Lesbian
Feminist Liberation conducted a talent
show and recorded it - the record was
called A Few Loving Women: Lavender
Jane Loves Women was the first album of
women’s music that was distributed
internationally.
"Those days were tremendously
exciting," Alix said. "First of all, I was
writing about myself AS A LESBIAN. I
was writing the kinds of songs in which
you could not change a pronoun and have
it still make sense. In other words, you
could not change my music into
heterosexual songs. They were clearly
and openly songs about women loving
women. I realized that as long as I was
writing songs like that, I was writing
umque material. No one had ever written
that before, and even the women
depending on Lesbian audiences almost
never write about Lesbians - in fact; they
rarely mention womenF’
Even today, Alix feels that there is a
great need for Lesbians to be writing
about their lives. She has sensed at times
that women’s music has received a bad
rap, when in fact it is precisely because of
the foremothers in .women’s music that
performers like theIndigo Gifts havebeen
successful. "There is this belief that
women’s music is confined to folk music,
which it never was," said Alix. "The
negative reaction coming from many
young Lesbians is due largely to the
backlash against feminis~a. Our
communities very much reflect what is
going on in the world generally and
feminism has been dismissed, even by
women in our own communities. I would
"There is this
belief that
women s music
is confined to
folk music,
which it never
was," said Alix.
"The negative
reaction coming
from many
.young Lesbians
is due largely to
the backlash
ag.ai.nst
emlnlSm.
for an excellent overview
and more details. Women’s
music is about raising
consciousness, and most
people don’t even know
~vhat ttiat is anym0re.
Furthermore, due to budget
cuts in education, we’vealso
lost a generation that was
schooled to appreciate
music" Nevertheless, Alix
is excited by the fact that
many of her performances
these days are atuniversities,
so that she does have an
impact on young women.
After a lifetime in New
York, Alix is now living in
California. She stillperforms
around the country, and is
involved with a club that
features concerts by women
and holds and furthers our
chlture. The Director,
Barbara Price, used to co-
¯ produce the Michigan Womyn’s Music
¯ Festival. Alix is writing a column for
: Chicago Outlines and working on a book
¯ of her memoirs.
¯ Visit Alix Dobkin’s webpage at
: www.ladyslipper.org/vendors/
¯ ladyslipper/alix_dobkin.xtml To order
." Alix Dobldn’s music and music by other
¯¯ women and Lesbian musicians, contact
Ladyslipper Music, P.O. Box 3124,
¯ Durham, NC 27715, tel. 1-800-634-6044
¯ or 919-383-8773. ¯
Esther Rothblum is Prof. ofPsychology
", at the Univ. ofVermont and Editor of the
: Journal of Lesbian Studies. She can be
¯ reatz-hedatDeweyHall, Univ.ofVermont,
: Burlington, VT, email:
¯ esther.rothblum@uvm.edu.
: President Clinton broke the impasse three
¯ weeks agowhenhemadeHormel a"recess
: appointment"-amethodthatcircumvents
: the normal Senate confirmation process.
," The State Department generally shies
¯ away from partisanship, but the whiff of
politics was in the air as Albright joined
¯ Hormel, a longtime Democratic donor
¯ and activist, for the festivities and spoke
¯ on his behalf. Civil rights for Gays and ¯
Lesbians have been a high-profile theme
¯ for the Democrats as campaigning for
: next year’s election picks up steam. Vice
¯ President A1 Gorevisited aGayandlesbian
¯ centerduringacampaignvisittoCalffornia
: last week.
¯ The Traditional Values Coalition, a ¯
churchlobby thatopposedthenomination,
¯ said in a statement that the swearing in of
¯ Hormel marks "the beginning of the Gore
¯ campaign’s efforts to woo thehomosexual
: vote." Coalition members demonstrated
~ in protest outside the State Department as
¯ the ceremony was taking place.
: ’"Unis is one of those glorious days
: when thenice guy finishes first," Albright
¯, told the gathering. "Neitherrace, norcreed,
¯ nor gender nor sexual orientation should ¯
berelevant to the selection ofambassadors
; for the United States.
¯ . Said Kennedy: see Hormel, p. 13
IGTA member
Call 341.6866
International
TOUrs !ormorein ormation.
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by Lamont Lindstrom : Cook’s flagship: Kamehameha "with
A troop (or halau) of hula dancers . many ofhisattendantstookupquarterson
entertained the seminar that lamlecturing " board the ship for the Night; among them
to in Honolulu this month. Tourists ¯ is a Young Man of whom he seems very
appreciate hula dancing as sexually ." fond, which does not in the least surprise
charged exoticentertai.’nment.
The hula reminds them that
they are on vacation in
paradise, or at least the
tourisfic version of Such.
Locals, too, appreciate, hula
but for differentreasons. Hula,
like Hawaiian language,
surfing, slack key guitars,
kalua pork and lomilomi
salmon, and similar cultural
symbols, represents "Hawaiianness."
Hula dancers
celebrate their Hawaiian
identity and tla~ir links to
ancestral tradition. There.~e
twohula styles: ’auana,which
often is tourist-trash hula
which shakes to the beat of
guitar andukulele, and kahiko,
where dancers bodies move
When ,]ames
Cook’s ships
llM at the
Island of
Hawai’i in 1789,
the En~llsh were
hor~f;ed to
d~seover that
l ding
Hawai~n ehlefs
bo g n&
in addition
to
to accompany traditional chants. You
might guess that our stodgy academic
seminar was treated to the more formal,
higher status huta kahiko.
But I prefer kahiko style--I must
confess--in that the guys d~ce shiftless
in skimpy malo; orloindoths. It is certainly
easier to appreciate dance when the
performer wears little on his body.
Traditionally, only men danced hula.
¯ Although no doubt always entertaining,
hula was principally a religious ritual
meant to communicate with gods and
ancestors. Dances took place at temples
and shrines that were taboo to women.
Nowadays, hula is mostly-women’s
business though there are several popular
men’s troops that perform and compete in
regular hula festivals. Many male hula
dancers are gay as have been some noted
kumu hula (dance school teachers and
leaders). Drivenundergroundby Christian
missionary opposition in the early 19th
century, the hularetumed as a legitimate
art form in the 1880S under the patronage
of King Kalakaua. Gay dancers have long
cultivated and daborated hula and today,
a century later, huladoes very wall as both
tourist spectacle and marker of Hawaiian
cultural authenticity.
Nowadays the local words for "gay
man" that one hears most often are mahu
and "muffy," these often indicating some
degree of effemininl~y. Traditionally,
islanders also .spoke of:aikane - a word
that appears to have meant "male lover"
though today people use the word for any
dose friend.
When James Cook’s ships called at the
Big Island ofHawai’i in 1789, the English
were horrified to discover that leading
Hawaiianchiefs hadboyfriends in addition
to wives. Charles Clerke, second in
command of the expedition, wrote: every
chief "according to his rank keeps so
many women and so many young men
([aikane] as they call them) for the
amusement of his leisure hours; they talk
of this infernal practice with all"~’
indifference in the world, not do I suppose
they imagine any degree of infamy init."
Kamehameha, who would unify
Hawai’i and.become the archipelago’s
first king, also had a boyfriend. David
Samwell, ship’s surgeon, met the future
king’s lover when Kamehameha visited
us, as we have had
opportunities before of being
acquainted with a detestable
part of his Character which he
is not in the least anxious to
The Hawaiians -
shrewd observers no doubt -
asked the English if some of
the ship’s boys and young
sailors on board were the
aikane of the ship’s officers.
One might guess that a trim
ship’s boy might begin to look
rather attractive, even to the
most heterosexist officer, on
an extended two-year voyage
around the world in the dose
quarters of a small leaky ship.
Still, the English were offended
by the Hawaiians’ pointed
questions. I suspect they mostly were
mortified and embarrassed that the
Hawaiians, unlike the English, were not
anxious to conceal their homosexual
relations, nor "imagine any degree of
infamy" in them. Any officer who might
havebeenmessing witha ships’ boy would
have been desperate to keep this on the
down low.
Today, as Hawaiians ofall sorts continue
to argue the possibilities of homosexual
marriage, the aikane serves in this debate.
Some suggest that the State of HawaJ~i
should legalize gay marriage as a way of
respecting and celebrating the past and
these islands’ onetime traditions. The
"English" view of boyfriends remains
dominant, however, and aikane are still
partially in hiding. Where once Hawaiian
homosexuality was indifferent and
therefore normal, today it has become
different and thus dangerous to admit.
There are popular statues and images of
the great King Kamehameha on view in
many public places here but in none of
these does the King have his boyfriend at
his side. Nonethdess, the past lives on in
hula. As I watched the sinuous hula dancers
in their malo I could see back into a time
and place where men saw no reason to
conceal their honorable affairs with their
boyfriends.
"There was never any honorable question
abouthis qualifications tobe ambassador."
The opposition to Hormel was
¯ "irresponsibleandunacceptable," he said.
¯ Feinstein, noting that Hormel’s
¯ appointment teared the SenateForeign
~ Rdations Committee by 16-2, said he
¯ would have been approved by an
¯ overwhelming majority had the Senate
¯ voted as a whole. By tr~idition, even one
¯ senator can preventa Vote on anomination
¯ because of a personal grievance. In
Hormel’s case, his appointment was
¯ blockedby Oklahoma senator, Jim Inhofe,
who formerly represented in Oklahoma’s
¯ (mostly Tulsa) First District in the US
House. Inhofe has received national
attention for his anti-Gay views.
"In Jim’s [Hormd] appointment, I think
¯ we open a door," Feinstein said.
..)
and-AIDS education wouldcontinue, even
if it meant handing out condoms at Gay
bars. "We wanted to make sure we don’t
repeat the mistakes of the past," said
Jacquelyn Clymore, director of client.
services for AIDS Service Agency of
North Carolina.
The consolidation, which will become
official in December, will unite the AIDS
ServiceAgency of NorthCarolina, serving
Wake, Durham and Orange counties, the
AIDS Service Agency of Orange County
and theTriangleAIDS Interfaith Network,
a coalition of 60 churches and one
synagogue. The secular agencies will get
help from a crew of about 500 committed
church volunteers, many of whom feel
called to help people with AIDS.
In the early days of AIDS, Gay men
with the virus were unwelcome in many
churches, while those who had contracted
AIDS from heterosexual contact or blood
infusions were called "innocent victims."
But in recent years, many Christians and
Jews have quietly begun reaching out to
people with AIDS, acting on scriptural
commandments to love thy neighbor.
Today, HIV infection rates are- highest
among low-income African-American
men and women, many of whom
¯ contracted the virus througli heterosexual
contact or sharing needles.
It took four years of talking for the
consolidation to move forward because
this time, it was the AIDS advocates who
harbored stereotypes of religious groups.
Some feared they would bejudgmental, if
not sanctimonious. "We asked ourselves:
’What’s in the best interest of the client?’
"said Bill Brent, executive director of the
AIDS Service Agency of North Carolina
and director of the new agency. The three
groups, withbranches across the Triangle,
will consolidate their staff, apply for grants
and raise money as one.
Man3" church volunteers say they are
happy to avoid the politics of AIDS. They
don’t ask about sexual orientation or past
drug use. "We don’t even talk about that.
It’s the relationship here and now that’s
important," said Earl Wiggins, who leads
the care team at Greater St. Paul
Missionary Baptist Church in Durham.
"Love is the key component."
againstGays, andNew Hampshire, where
lawmakers repealed a 1987 law thatbarred
Gays fromadopting children or serving as
foster parents. "You can sort of pick the
state and measure progress in every state
on the legislative front," she said.
Unimaginablein 1969was the visibility
of-Gay people today in politics,
entertainment and everyday news
coverage. Think Ellen DeGeneres, k.d.
lang; Melissa Etheridge, Flton John, Ian
McKellan, Rupert Everett. Three current
members of Congress are openly Gay -
Democrats Barney Frank ofMassachusetts
and’Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and
Republican Jim K01h¢Of Arizona- as are
scores~of other.deeted officials around ’,
theS(ountry.
’:.The love that dare not speak its name
now ~on’t shut up," says TomAmmiano,
president of San Francisco’s Board of
Supervisors. In 1%9, Ammiano was a27-
year,old,, sp,,ec~_’al education teacher and
no~e,t, ’out as, a Gay man, although, he
salt. ’it wash t hard to surmise - the
wrists and everything." He subsequently
b~e a stand-up comic and a member
of die Board of Supervisors;,where three
of 11 members are openly Gay. President
of the board since November, he’s
considered a likely challenger to San
Francisco Mayor Willie Brown Jr.
The progress made by Lesbians and
Gay men has been accompanied by
setbacks as well. Eighteen states still have
sodomy laws ontheirbooks, five of which
single outhomosexual sodomy, Efforts to
include Gays in federal civil rights and
hate-crime laws have stalled. Current law
prohibits crimes based on race, color,
religion or national origin.
Recent murders of Gay men- Matthew
Shepard, a University ofWyoming student
who was beaten and tied to a fence last
October, and Billy Jack Gaither, an
Alabama textile worker who was beaten
with an ax handle mad set on fire - raised
awareness of the persistence of anti-Gay
violence. AIDS has decimated ageneration
of Gay men, and nearly 20 years into the
epidemic there is no cure.
Still, few could dispute that Lesbians
and Gay men in 1999 enjoy rights
undreamed of in 1969.
Karl Rusterholtziives in Mission Viejo,
Calif., with his partner and their twofoster
sons. They are active in their church,
where Rusterholtz and his partner
celebrated their union with a commitment
ceremony. "l would say that we’re just
pretty average," says Rusterholtz, 36, a
microbiologist. "We’ve gone to pride
marches and stuff, but it’s not our cup of
tea." Rusterholtz says he "would like to
see federal protection, that Gays and
Lesbians would not worry about losing
their jobs or losing their homes -or losing
their children." But his own experience
negotiating the foster care system inconservative
Orange County has been
"nothing but fabulous."
Margaret Blankenbiller, 21, works in a
florist’s shop inProvo, Utah. "I’d like to
be able to hold my girlfriend’s hand when
we go out to dinner and not worry about
someone slashing our tires," she says.
Still, her family is supportive and her coworkers
- many of them members of the
conservative Mormon church - treat her
Lesbianism "like it’ s pretty normal."
Nestle, who founded the Lesbian
Her’story Archives and is now 59,
remembers when being a Lesbian was
anything but normal. At one bar she
frequented, Nestle and her friends had to
line up to use the bathroom one at a time
"because we couldn’t be trusted" not to
misbehave inside together. Toilet paper
was doled out shut by sheet. "Something
in me was moving from knowing I was a
freak to saying that someday I will refuse
this moment of humiliation;’ she says.
Nestle has ;been chosen one of two
grand marshals for Sunday’s Gay pride
parade in New York. "It’ll be a very
special moment," she says. "I see it as the
largest grassroots demonstration in the
world."
Gay men into its worship life. Unity
Church of Christianity at 3355 So.
Jamestown has welcomed a new pastor,
Steve Colliday, who happens to be an
openly Gay -man. The Unity tradition has
¯ been welcoming of Lesbians and Gay
~meri for some time.
And College Hill Presbyterian Church
(CHPC) is considering becoming a"More
Light" congregati.on which is the
Presbyterian version of bein.g a
"welcoming" congregation. College Hill
close by the University of Tulsa, has a
tradition of being involved in progressive
causes.Avote is expected in afew months.
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
[1999] Tulsa Family News, July 1999; Volume 6, Issue 7
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Creator
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Tulsa Family News
Source
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
Publisher
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Tom Neal
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
July 1999
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Jean-Claude de Flambeauchaud
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
Adam West
Rights
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Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
Relation
A related resource
Tulsa Family News, June 1999; Volume 6, Issue 6
Format
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Image
PDF
Online text
Language
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English
Type
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newspaper
periodical
Coverage
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Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/589
'One Fool'
1999
African Americans
AIDS/HIV
AIDS/HIV research
Arkansas
arts and entertainment
attorneys
Barney Frank
Barry Hensley
Bars
Burger Sisters
businesses
Catholic Church
churches
Concessions
Council Oak Men's Chorale
Dave Fleischer
denial of service
Dick Armey
Do-It-Yourself Dyke
Dyke Psyche
Entertainment Notes
Esther Rothblum
Eureka Springs
Gay and Lesbian Affordable Daycare
gay bashing
Gay Finances in a Straight World
Gay Studies
Gregory Diggins
hate crime bill
hate crimes
HIV/AIDS bias
homophobia
James Christjohn
Kenya
Lamont Lindstrom
Maine
Mary Schepers
medical abuse
Millenium March
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Native Americans
New Haven
performing arts
Peter Berkery Jr.
Pride
Read All About It
Red Ribbon Gala
restaurants
South Africa
Swan Awards
Thailand
Tim Bliley
Tom Coburn
Tom Neal
Tulsa Family News
Tulsa Two-Spirited Indian Men's Support Group
University of Tulsa
violence
Women and AIDS Regional Conference
-
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[Sub-Series] Newsletters & Publications > Tom Neal Newsletters > Tulsa Family News
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Texas House Passes
Hate Crimes Bill
WASHINGTON-TheTexas HouseofRepresentatives
passed a bill late in March (vote count: 83 to 61,
including the support of 9 Republicans) that would
enhance penalties for hate motivated violence directed
against a person because of their race, gender, religion
or sexual orientation. In addition to the House vote, a
new poll shows that the vast majority ofTexas residents
support hate crimes legislation...
"Reason and principle triumphed in the Texas
legislature today," said HumanRights Campaign (HRC)
Executive Director Elizabeth Birch. ’‘Texas lawmakers
took a giant step towards combating hate violence
against all residents of the state." The Human Rights
Campaign is the largest national Lesbian and Gay
political organization.
A new Scripps Howard poll for The Dallas Mormng
News revealed that 72% of Texans support hate crimes
legislation. According to the newspaper, the poll said
that the public supports the inclusion of all groups
currently included in the legislation: 81% for race; 80%
for women; 78% for religious groups; and 76% for Gay
people, see Texas, p. 14
TU Hosts Women + AIDS
Regional Conference
TULSA-The Second Regional Conference onWomen
and AIDS will be held on The University of Tulsa
campus Monday,June 14,intheAllen ChapmanActivity
Center, located at 440 South Gary Avenue.
Theconferenceis a comprebensive, one-dayprogram
to raise awareness, promote discussion and provide
opportunities for new directions in HIV prevention,
care and treatment for women. "We will gather together
in the spirit of concern for our community," says Jauice
Nicklas, Senior Planner of the Commttnity Service
Council and Conference Spokesperson.
According to Nicklas, the conference will benefit
everyone - women living with HIV and AIDS, people
whodeal with women’sissues, educators, policymakers,
youth organizations,healthand social service providers,
family members, volunteers and concern.ed citizens.
"In theArms oftheAngels," a documentary produced
by the National AIDS Fund Americorps Team Tulsa,
will open the conference at 8:30 a.m. with a look at
women and AIDS. Patty Lather, author of "Troubling
the Angels," will give the keynote address at 8:45 a.m.
In addition to a series of workshops, the conference
will feature a panel of HIV positive women who will
share their stories. Judith Billings of the President’s
Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS will give the luncheon
address. Saiadra McDonald, the founder of Outreach,
Inc., will present the closing address on "WhatWe Can
Do to Be a Force for Change."
see Women, p. 11
MJ DIRECTORY/LETTERS P. 2
EDITORIAL p. $
~I~I~. US & WORLD NEWS P. 4
HEALTH NEWS P. 6
~ ENTERTAINMENT P. 8
COMMUNITY CALENDAR P. 9
DO-IT-YOURSELF-DYKE P. 11
DYKE PSYCHE P. 12
"" GAY STUDIES P. 13
Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends
Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community PaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations
Gay Businesses Open + Close
Lesbian-Owned Daycare and Gay-Owned
Restaurant Open But Concessions Closes
by Tom Neal
TULSA - Maybe it’s just spring but a couple of new Gay owned
and oriented businesses have, or are about to open this month.
Andone ofTulsa’ s most visible Gay businesses has unexpectedly
dosed.
From Lesbian Baby Boom, Comes Gay Daycare
The origin of GLAD, Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare,
reflects the frustrations of two new moms, Teresa and Joan, 33
and 32 years old, trying to find good daycare for their 4 month old
son, Joseph (Joey) while they worked.
For Teresa, the final thing that convinced her to leave her 70-
80 hour a week managerial position to start a home based
business was a conflict about getting time off when their son was
sick. But for both, there was more.
After their son was bom, they explored many alternatives for
infant care. Some options using relatives or friends just didn’t
work out. Many of the day care operations which they reviewed
just didn’t seem to be very good. And most had inflexible rules
and were very expensive, with high deposits, inflexible contracts
and schedules.
For example, many day care operations require a year round
contract with perhaps only 10 days off allowed. Any more days
off have to be paid for regardless of whether the child is at the
center or not. For these morns, one of whom is a teacher and has
the summer off, it makes no sense to pay for care year-round.
However, if they don’t, they take the risk that no place will be
available in the fall again.
Furthermore, Joan and Teresa also were concerned about
raisxng their son in an enviroment wherehe will not be mistreated
because he has two morns. And they know that they are not the
only Gay parents who have these concerns. At some of the day
care centers they inspected they were asked, "where’s the father"
and were received with not very well disguised hostility. They
say that they’ve sometimes felt they had~o say they were"sisters"
in order to be treated fairly.
So finally, after thoroughly researching state requirements,
theyjust decided tO start their owndaycare in their cozy midtown
bungalow, see Businesses, p. 14
Red Ribbon Gala + SwanAwards
TULSA, Okla. (AP/TFN) - Some members of Tnlsa’s Gay
community say they were pleased Chastity Bono visited this
weekend because the author has helped mainstream Americans
become more tolerant. "Just by her coming to Tulsa, it means a
great deal to us. It helps people to come together," said Nancy
McDonald, who recently was national president of Parents,
Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).
Bono was the keynote speaker Saturday night, April 17th at the
Red Ribbon Ball, an annual black-tie gala that benefits Tnlsa
CARES, the Center forAIDS Resources, Educationand Support.
The event attracted more than 250 to the Downtown Doubletree.
Bono, the Openly Lesbian daughter ofSonnyandCher, formerly
served as the entertainment media director of the Gay & Lesbian
Alliance’Against Defamation. She was involved in controversy
for suggesting that the television show of Lesbian comedian,
Ellen Degeneres, was "too Gay." Bono, 30, spent part of the day
autographing copies of her book "Family Outing," which details
how she and others revealed their sexual orientation to their
families.
Also, at the Gala, the co-sponsoring organization, the Tulsa
Chapter of PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians &
Gays presented their annual Swan awards. Among those honored
were State Rep. DOn Ross, the Revs. Leslie Penrose and Gary
Blaine, The Tulsa World, represented by editorial board writer
David Averill, and PFLAG board member Tim Gillean.
The award to Gillean was met with consternation by two
former TOHR presidents attending the Gala,’Deb Starnes and
Tom Neal, as PFLAG credited him as ’~he founder" of the
Community Center. Both noted that Gillean helped start the
Center, particularly doing early fundraising but that after he was
voted out as TOHRpresident, he had dropped his member at the
time when the building was found and leased. "No single person
can claim the Center; Kelly Kirby was president when we began,
Tim certainly did a great deal but Deb Statues, Midge Elliott and
I sweated blood to get that building open, walls tomdown and the
place painted. Tim’s done enough other work that PFLAG
doesn’t have to rip anyone off to honor him," said Neal.
PFLAG president and Swan award presenter, Jan Allen, stated
that she was not aware of the history of the Center and that
PFLAG had not intended to slight any of the Center’s organizers.
Pride ’99 Shaping Up:
Picnic, Parade & More
US Rep. Frank to be Grand Marshall of
First Tulsa Parade + Community
Unitarians Host First Gay UU Pastor
TULSA - Tulsa’s Pride ’99
organizers have confirmed that
openly Gay US Congressman,
Barney Frank of Massachusetts
not only will attend this year’s
June 12th event but will serve as
grand marshall of Tulsa’s very
first Lesbian/Gay pride parade.
The parade will begin at 10 am at Tulsa’s Gay
Community Services Center at 38th & Peoria and
will go north on Peoria to 31st Street. From there it
will go west to Riverside Drive and will continue
north to Veterans (Boulder) Park, the site of the
Picnic as it was last year. The principle sponsors for
this year’s event are Bud Light and MCC United.
The picnic will be from noon until 5pm again. Bud
Light will be providing a large tent to provide some
shelter from the sun as wall the sound system.
Local drag diva Kris Kohl is organizing
entertainment. These range from a local band, an
appearance by the Council Oaks Mens Chorale,
various female impersonators and titleholders, and
more. Refreshments as always will be free.
Congressman Frank will also be the guest of
honorat adinner Saturday evening at the Greenwood
Cultural Center at 322 No. Greenwood near the
OSU-Tnlsa campus. Thedinner will be hosted
joindy byTOHR/Tulsa’s Gay Community Services
Center and by the Cimarron Alliance, Oklahoma’s
Gay and Lesbian political action committee.
Cocktails begin at 7pm and dinner will be at 8.
Dinner and a cash bar cocktail pre-party will be
$50/person anddinner and a complimentary cocktail
reception with Congressman Frank will be $125/
person, see Frank, p. 3
"One Fool" Play Coming
To Eureka Springs, AR
EUREKA SPRINGS, Ark. - As part of the May
Festival of the Arts, OneFool, a one-woman, oneactplay
will bepresentedTuesday andWednesday,
May25-26, 8 p.m. at Center Stage (on Spring Street
m the downtown Historic Distric0. The play,
featuring Orlando improv-actress, Catherine
Goodison, was written by Terry Baum and will be
directed by Lewis Routh. ’One Fool is a riotously
funny play about a woman’s search for the ’one
love’ withwhomshe canlive forever," says director
Routh. ’‘This wild odyssey takes her across the
world and into your heart."
Catherine Goodison began her acting career in
1994 under the direction ofLewis Routhin the play
BarDykes, where she played the role ofabig butch.
She and Routh have worked together on several
projects since that time, including the 1994showing
ofOneFool in Orlando. Goodison, whosecomedic
talenthas foundits way tomany ofFlorida’s stages,
including the famed Fringe Festival, has been a
featured performer with Act Out Theatre and the
Improvabilities comedy troupe. As part of the
troupe, her most memorable roles include Lucy in
You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, and the roles
of the Nanny and the school teacher in Baby With
The Bath Water, both plays directed by Routh.
Playwright Terry Bantu is the founder of Lilith,
the San Francisco Women’s Theater, and was its
artistic director from 1975 to 1980. During that
time, sheco-wroteand/ordirectedeveryproduction.
Moonlighting, which she directed and co-wrote,
toured Europe to great acclaim in 1979. Baum
wrote Dos Lesbos with Carolyn Myers, which ran
for two years in San Francisco and was nominated
for several awards. She has created two other onewoman
shows, Ego Trip and Immediate Family,
both ofwhich were publishedinPlaces, Please, the
first anthology of Lesbian plays.
see Play, p. 14
Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants
*Bamboo Lounge, 7204 E. Pine
*Boston Willy’s Diner, 1742 S. Boston
Burger Sisters Restaurant, 1545 S. Sheridan
*Empire Bar, 1516 S. Peoria
*Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th
*Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria
*Jason’s Deli, 15th & Peoria
*Lola’s, 2630 E. 15th
*Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square
*St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E 31st
*Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan
*Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main
*TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial
832-1269
592-2143
835-1207
599-9512
583-6666
749-4511
599-7777
749-1563
744-4280
745-9998
834-4234
585-3405
660-0856
*Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd - 584:1308
Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals
Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 747-1508
*Affinity News, 8120 E. 21 610-8510
*Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000
Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580
Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122
*Borders Books & Music, 2740 E 21 712-9955
*Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665
Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272
*CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313
Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117
Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700
Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468
*Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620
*Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady 587-2611
Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556
*Elite Books& Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838-8503
*Ross Edward Salon .~,. 584-0337, 712-9379
*Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 744-9595
Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. 610-0880
Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709
Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026
*Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 742-1460
I.eaune M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349
Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440
*Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111
*International Tours 341-6866
Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750
*Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018
David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236
*Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070
Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466
*Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brady 585-1234
*Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112
Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E 31 663-5934
*Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951
David A. Paddock, CPA, 4308 S. Peoria, Ste. 633 747-7672
Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626
*Peace of Mind Bookstore, 1401 E 15 583-1090
The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297
Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 747-5932
Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617
Ted Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921,747-4746
*Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301
Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829
*Tickled Pink, 3340 S. Peoria 697-0017
*Tulsa Book Exchange, 3749 S. Peoria 742-2007
*TulSa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558
*Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563
Fred Welch, LCSW, Counsding 743-1733
*Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767
Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & ,Universities
AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593
*All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363
Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314
Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815
*B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa Canterbury Ctr. 583-9780
*Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201
*Chapman Student Ctr., University of TulSa, 5th PI. & Florence
*ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314
*Community ofHopeUnited Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300
*Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595
*Council Oak Men’s Chorale 585-COMC (2662)
*Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511
*Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457
Dignity/integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics &
Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140
*Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777
*Free SpiritWomen’s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669
: 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615, POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159
¯ e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlinlc net
website: http://us6rs, aol.com/Tul saNews/
¯
Publisher + Editor:
¯ Tom Neal
¯ Writers + contributors:
¯ James Christjohn, Jean-Claude de Flambeauehaud
¯ Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers, Adam West
¯
Member of The Associated Press
¯ issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of this
¯ - p~blication are protected by US copyright 1998 by TJ.~ ~:...~,~.
¯ Ntw,and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without
¯ written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or
photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. Correspon-.
¯ dence is assumed to be for publication unless otherwise noted,_r~ust
be signed & becomes the sole property of T~
¯ Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution
~ points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248.
¯
Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 ¯ Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438
¯° *HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611
¯ *HIV Resource Consortium, 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194
*Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111
¯ HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378
HIV Testing, Mon/Thurs. 7-9pm, daytime by appt. only
¯ *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood
Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437
¯ *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715
¯ NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admi.’ral P1. 748-3111 ¯
¯ NOW, Nat’IOrg forWomen, POB 14068,74159 365-5658
OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157
: *Our House, 1114 S. Quaker 584-7960
¯ PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901
: *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674
: *The Pride Center, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor, 74105 743-4297
¯ Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152
*R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195
". Rainbow Business Guild, POB 4106, 74159 665-5174
¯ *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325
¯ O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults
¯ O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth
St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882
¯ St. Dtmstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140
¯ *St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088
: *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 ¯
TNAAPP(Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225
¯ Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105
¯ Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only ¯
Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center .743-4297
¯
T.U.LS.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 838-1222
¯ *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule
¯ *Tulsa Community College Campuses ¯
*OSU-Tulsa (formerly UCT, formerly Rogers U. whoever...)
" BARTLESVILLE
*Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. John.stone 918-337-5353
OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN
¯ *Borders Books &Music, 3209 NWExpressway 405-848-2667
*Borders Books & Music, 300 Nolanan Center 405-573-4907
¯ TAHLEQUAH
¯
*Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900
¯ *Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church. 918-456-7900
¯ *Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360
: NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand
: HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates ¯ EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
¯ *Autnmn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253-7734
¯ ,Jim & Brent, s Bistro, 173 S. Main 501-253-7457
¯ DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. 501~253-6807
*Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. 501-253-5445
¯ MCC of the Living Spring 501-253-9337
¯ Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 501-253-2776
¯ Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-253-5332 ¯
Positive Idea Marketing Plans 501-624-6646
¯ Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 501-253-6001
¯ *White Light, 1 Center St. 501-253-4074
¯ FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS5
¯ *Edna’s, 9 S. School Ave. 501-442-2845
: JOPLIN, MISSOURI
¯ *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-6232696
¯ * iswhereyoucanfindTFN.NotallareGay.ownedbutallareGay-friendly.
NGLTF Leader :Resigns
From Millennium March
It is with great regret that I resign as a
member of the Board of Directors of the
Millennium March on Washington,
effective immediately.
The reasons for my resignation stem
from three basic issues, which have¯
continued to grow over time. First, I have
significant political disagreements with
the March call and planning, which ha~’e
not been addressed. Secondly, I have
grown increasingly skeptical of the value
of this event for the Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT)
movement at this time. And finally, I
cannot endorse certain decisions made by
theBoard. Although I have great trust and
affection for each of you individually, it
does not assuage my concerns and
questions. I now believe I will be most
helpful to thecommunityfrom outside the
Board.
Since the initial call for the March,
grassroots activists have consistently
challenged us as national leaders. Their
concerns address the credibility and
legitimacy of the March and they have
demandedanopening of the Marchprocess
for greater discussion. Thequestions have
been on whether to march, what agenda to
march for, and how best to use the
tremendous platform and visibility that
such marches provide.
Despitemypolitical disagreements with
the call and process, I agreed to serve on
the March Board, believing my
participation could change the course of
the process. I also felt that as a
representative of the oldest national
political organization, and one of the few
explicitly progressive national GLBT
groups,myvoice was needed in theMarch
planning process. I stated at the time that
I wouldremain onthe Board as long as my.
presence represented the best interests of
Task Force members, our constituents,
and the movement as a whole.
Since I joined the Board, my
participation has been challenged by
members and activists with whom we
have deep andlongstanding relationships.
Individuals from all perspectives have
intensively engaged me, the Task Force
staff, and our Board. I took their concerns
to heart and carried them in my work on
the March Board. During my tenure, I
voted in the minority on key resolutions
on personnel issues, the naming of the
March, andthebroadening of theplanning
effort to allow more people a seat at the
table. I helped lead the successful effort to
ensure that funds raised by the March
would go to statewide organizations,
people of color organizations and other
constituents underrepresented in our
movement. However, the Board has
¯ largely ignored the fundamental issues
that lead me into become involved: why
we should march, the agenda, and the
involvement of the entire GLBT
commnnity. I cannot serve onaBoard that
will not open itself to greater input and
see Letters, p. 3
Letters Policy
Tulsa Family News welcomes letters on
issues which we’ve covered or on issues
you think need to be considered. Youmay
request that your name be withheld but
letters mustbe signed&have phonenumbers,
or be hand delivered. 200 word letters
are preferred. Letters to other publications
will be printed as is appropriate.
Talking with people inthe community, I was relieved to
learn that I was hardly the only one who was disappointed
with the celebrated Chastity Bono. Ms. Bono was "the
keynote speaker" at the recent Red Ribbon Gala benefiting
Tulsa CARES, our local co-ordinating organization for
HIV/AIDS services. The dinner was nice enough and the
attendance was about double that of last year’s inaugural
event. The organizers dearly deserve praise for their efforts.
But Ms. Bono was, to be kind, unimpressive, both as a
speaker and at her book signing at Tnlsa’s Gay Community
Services Center. To a number of observers at the Center, it
appeared that Ms. Bono had little interest in being there.
At the dinner, shefredy admitted that she’dmadenoeffort
to prepare any.remarks -and that degree of preparation
showed. Two things saved her performance. First, it was
mercifully short, and second, she did have a good, if
scatological, anecdote aboutconfronting the Rev. FredPhelps
of "godhatesfags" infamy in Topeka at a booksigning.
Her appearance may indeed have helped the event.
Attendance at the Red Ribbon Gala was about double but
then that might have happened just from being the second
year for the event. Her appearance does raise questions,
though, about America’s preocuppation with celebrity and
notoriety. AftermeetingMs. Bono, it’ s hard not to regard her
as a vcryho-hum ’~vonderbread dyke" (as one ofmy Lesbian
friends put it) who but for the accident of her birth would
hardly be getting a second hearing,!et alone a book contract.
Ms. Bono’s elevation seems to exemplify the worstAm~rican
tendency to Value notoriety over any shred of content.
But what really raises some concern about her appearance
was learning that despite her having reduced her appearance
feeby one-half, it still cost almost $10,000 for her irresistible
charms. Oursou~,,ce indicates thatMs. Bononormally charges
$15,000 for her appearances" but that du~ to her friendship
with the daughter of PFLAG’s Nancy McDonald, Bono
reduced it to only $7,500, plus expenses, of course.
This is what many wouM call a damnfine racket.
One wouldhope that the organizers came up with aspecial
donor to take on these expenses andno harm was-done to the
genuine financial needs of Tulsa CARES. And no doubt
organizers will argue that it wonld not have been nearly as
successful without her appearance.
But all I can think of is how much medicine or food that
$10,000 might have bought for persons living with AIDS -
Hello, the peop!e, this is supposed to be all about?
Maybe that $10k s money that would not have come into
this effort except for supporting Ms. Bono in the fashion to
which she’s become accustomed. But then, maybe, just
maybe, it could have been given to care-giving, and surely,
there are speakers, ones who actually prepare their remarks
andwhohave something worth saying, who’d speakfor, say,
only two or three thousand. Makes you wonder, don’t it?
- Tom Ne.al, editor &publisher
Several special ’levels. of participation in the event are
available with,the most cxdflsiCe being the Platinum table
($2500), whichincludes six seats at a table with Congressman
Frank. There will be only one Platinum table. Also Offered
is the Gold level, a table with 8 seats and an invitation to the
cocktail party with the Congressman ($1500), a SilVer level
($250) which is two seats and cocktails, and a Bronze level
($500), a table for 8 and the .cash bar cocktail party. For
tickets or for more information, call 743-4297.
Also, Sunday morning Congressman Frank will probably
be attending an interfaith prayer breakfast. Details for that
event will be announced soon.
Also in honor of Lesbian and Gay Pride, Community
Unitarian Universalist Cohgtegation (cuuc) has invited
the:Rev. DougStrong.of Community UU Church ~h ~iano~
T~xas to be guest minister attheir Sunday, May 16th, 1 lain
service. After the service, all are invited to’join CUUC and
Community of Hope ~for a potluck picnic cookout.~ The
service and picnic .will be at Community of Hope Church,
2545 So..Yale where CUUC meets regularly. Guests are
encouraged to bring both lawn chairs and food to share or t6
cook.
TheRev. Strong is a 6th generationUnitaftan-Universalist
and an openl~ Gay. man who has served congregations in
Maine, Massachusetts, Virginia, California, Wisconsin and
Arizona. Mr. Strong was the first openly Gay man to be
called to serve as a pastorAn the history of the Unitarian-
Universalism f~iith. Thiswas in 1980 inAugusta, Maine.-
by Tom Neal
Editor & Publisher
The Tulsa WorMreally is gettmg better. Whileit’s not
of the quality of TheDallas Morning News or other such
papers,itis shedding someofits moreparochial qualities.
Ofcourse, since the state’s only other major daily is The
Oklahoman, now officially recognized as
the worst paper an the United States as
¯¯ Oklahomans have long known, it’s never
been hard for The World to look better.
¯
More investigative journalism is being
¯ allowed at The World. So instead of just
¯ supporting the status quo, an elected ¯
official like Dist. 4 City Councilor Anna
¯
Falling is being held accountable for her
¯ liberal spending of public dollars on
¯ "working" vacations or for possible
" conflicts of interest she may have had
¯ when her spouse was applying for public
¯ monies which theCouncil would have to
¯ approve.
¯ This last month, The Wormalso printed
¯ a week series of in,depth stories about
¯ Tnlsa’s Latino communities. This series
is similar to ones doneaboutTulsa s Black
¯ communities. All this is very well and
¯ good. Tulsa’s "establishment," our
¯ wealthy, our influential have long taken
¯
advantage of Tulsa’s minority com-
" munities without sharing the benefits,
; without sharing the decision-making
¯ process,-most often not acknowledging
¯
even the existence of our communities.
¯ The fact that The WorM, the ultimate
¯ establishment mou~piece of Tiflsa, the
: country club paper par excellence, is now
¯ willing to acknowledge the existence of
Latino, Black, Indian and Asian
commlmil~es is.progress.
But the real proof of The World’s
commitmenttojournalistic fundamentals,
i.e. covering the community as it is. rather
advertise my gift shop, tomfoolery! which now has
The Tulsa World
really is Settln$
better. While it’s not
of the quality of
The Dallas
Morrdn¢ News
or other such
papers, it is sheddln$
some of its more
paroehlaJ qualities.
Of course, slnee the
state’s only other
major daily is
Tl~e Oldal~oman,
now offleially
reeoSnlzed as the
worst paper in the
United States as
Oklahomans have
lon$ known,
it’s never been hard
for
The World
to look better.
than as its ownership wants to present it, will come
when The World does a similar piece on Tulsa’s Gay,
Lesbian, Bi and Transgendered’communities.
¯ Ironically, more than five years ago, Worldreporters
¯ were set to do such a series. I discussed aspects of the
¯ proposalwithTulsaWorldreporters,JanetPearsonand
¯ David Fallis. The proposal was killed by-then executive
¯ editor, Bob Haring. And while I believe Joe Worley, ¯
current executive editor, is fundamentally a fair person,
¯
in general, and in particular towards.Gay people, it
¯ appears that he is constrained by the prejudices of the
¯ paper’s ownership.
¯ The Tulsa World’s owners and top business
¯ management are responsible for the newspaper’s many
¯
year’ s oldandquite official anti-Gay advertisingpolicies.
: I first encountered these policies in the middle 80’s
when a Lesbian businesswoman tried to advertise her
Gay oriented book and gift shop. I later encountered the
exact same policy almost 10 years laterwhen I tried to
: scrutiny from the communities we claim to represent.
¯ ° Thesecondreasonformyresiguationisthatlcontinue
: to doubt the value of this March at this time. I honor the
¯ valueofour previous nafi6nal Marches andacknowledge
them as having been political turning points in the lives
of many current leaders and activists. However, the
effectiveness of sflCh dn enormous commiimeiit ofiJme
and resources at a moment when more and more energy
is demanded of the GLBT movement at the state and
local level is questionable. Nothing so dramatically
reinforced this as the success of Equality Begins at
Home.
’Held one month ago and sponsored by the Federation
of LGBT Statewide Political Organizations and the
Task Force, EBAH was supported by national and local
groups, including the March Board. It demonstrated the
incrediblepowerofinveslinginstate and localmovement
building. It also exemplified the real possibilities for
political advancement of GLBT equality in eyery state~
Morefavorable bills wereintroducedin state legislatures,
transmuted into The Pride Store at Tulsa’s Gay
Community Center.
The World’s anti-Gay policy stung PFLAG, Parents,
Families andFriends ofLesbians andGays, morerecently
when the orgamzation placed an advertisement
supporting fair treatment for Lesbians and
Gays but was not allowed to spell out their
full legal name because, of course, it
includes the forbidden word: "gay".
In contrast, The Worm accepted an
advertisement from West Tulsa churches
attacking Gay people but The ~VorM
allowed the churches to use the word
"gay"! It’s bad enough that they have the
bigoted policy but worse that they enforce
it selectively.
And it only adds injury to insult that The
World, counter to the pohcies of the best
media corporations in the country, has no
non-discrimination policy that includes
"sexual orientation" to protect the Lesbian
and Gay reporters and staff. Nor has the
corporation seen fit to provide equal pay
for equal work by providing benefits for
the families of Lesbian and Gay workers.
In a day when health care is so expensive
and benefits become a significant part of
the "total employment package", this is no
little issue.
But maybe it shouldn’t be too surprising
that The Worm doesn’t recognize the
families of their Gay workers since part-0f
TheWorld’s anti-Gay policy also includes
arefusal to print engagement, anniversary
or tmion announcements for Gay and
Lesbian couples. Several years ago, v~fien
I asked Joe Worley about thi~ discriminatory
policy, he responded by asking
if all I had to do each day was to dreamup
hard questions for The Tulsa World. The
answer to thatis "no"but the issue remains.
Would The WorMban such ads frominterracial couples?
Those relationships were once not recognized as legal,
in many states.
All this might not be that surprising for a corporation
which has barely integrated its newsroom racially, and
which was cited for (and settled) an EEOC (Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission) complaint for
racist hiring practices (this according to their own
pages). It still doesn’t make it right.
So while we are making progress with The World,
they really have a still some way to go. And as daily
newspapers struggle to retain their relevancy in an
increasingly media-diverse culture, organizations like
The World will have to lose their country-club
narrowness, with its largely useless and clearly
pretentious regular columns devoted to who attended
what soiree, and their outdated view of how-minority
Tulsans, Gay as well as racial and religious groups, are
to be treated, and look at our world as it really is.
more allies were reached and involved, more media
¯
coverage was generated in every state on GLBT issues
than had ever been achieved at the state level. Because
¯ . of its overwhelming success, the campaign is likely to
¯ be repeated in years to come, perhaps even annually.
"" The National Gay and Lesbiafi Task Fbrce has
¯ committedthevastmajorityofitsresources to deepening
¯ and growing political power in every state. The time I
have spent on the March Boardhas taken awayfrommy
¯ °iniportani work ~t( ~he state and i~tl level. I need to
¯ concentrate my energies on. NGLTF’s efforts to build
this state-by-state movement and on advocating for our
¯ grassroots constituents at the national level This is the
¯ heart and soul Of our work and it requires us to have the
¯ courage of our convictions. ¯
Finally as a Board member, I have had personal
¯
financial responsibility and liability for the non-profit
¯ corporation producing the March. I am concerned that
¯ theMarch is notmoving forward in a strategicmanner. ¯
I am also concerned that neither the Boardmembers nor
] our GLBT community have full access to information
] about March management and finances.
¯ see Letters, p. 10
Arkansans Challenge:
Gay Foster Care Ban l
LITFLE ROCK (AP) - Six people are suing the
state, seeking to overturn a state policy that bans ,
Gays from serving as foster parents. TheArkansas :
Child Welfare Agency Review Board approved ¯
the banlast month. It also prevents heterosexuals
from serving as foster parents, if a homosexual
lives in their home. "This prohibition imposes a
significantburden on (the plaintiffs’).., intimate,
highly personal relationships with their partners,
as they will not be allowed to serve as foster
parents unless,they terminate those intimate
relationships," says the lawsuitfiled in Pulaski
County Chancery Court:
Department .of Human Services spokesman
Joe Quinn said the state expected the issue to go
to court. "I don’t think there was ever much
doubt," he said. The state averages 2,600 foster
children daily in about 700 homes, Quinn said.
He said the state doesn’t keep track of how many
foster parents are homosexuals.
Board memberWandaGooden said before the
ban was approved that it was "my strong
conviction that children thrive best in two-parent
homes where there is a father and mother." Ms.
Gooden said thenew rulewonld not significantly
reduce thenumberoffoster families in Arkansas.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs are two
Eureka Springs men who adopted children ages
6 and 2 and want to be foster parents; two Little
Rock men who want to serve as foster parents; a
Fayetteville woman who wants,,to be a foster
parent and a Fayetteville man who has a
homosexual son living at home.
Fewer But More
Vicious Attacks
BOSTON (AP) - The number of hate cnmes
against Gays in Massachusetts dropped last year,
but the attacks thatdidhappenweremore vicious,
according to state figures. There was a36% drop
in the number of hate crimes against Gays and
Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgenders reported
to policeandother organizations, said theFenway
Community Health Center in Boston. But there
was a 13%increase in attacks that caused serious
injury, and a 5% increase in attacks with a
weapon.
Nationally, the number of hate crimes against
Gays was down 4%last year from 1997, but
cases of violence increased 12%. The National
Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs said 33
Gay men and women were, killed in hatemotivated
attacks last year, twice the number in
1997. The coalition said two of those killed were
in Boston, but police said they were not certain
those killings were hate crimes.
Friends said a27-year-oldGay man committed
suicide last October, about one year after two
men beat him in Boston’s South End and carved
an "F" on his shoulder with a knife. "Let’S not be
fooled by the numbers" showing a decrease in
hate crimes, said Attorney GEneral Thomas
Reilly. "I see a very frightening increase in
violence.’" ¯
David Shannon of the Fenway center’s
Violence Recovery Program said that since the
killing in October of a Gay college student in
Laramie,Wyo., "therehas been ahigher visibility
of hate crimes against Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals
and Transgenders." "There has also been
increased targeting and violence," he said.
Dentist Refuses to
Treat Lesbian
FRANKLIN, N.H. (AP) - Tricia Thompson had
been going to the same dentist for two years. Dr.
Jay Roper had done her fillings and cleanings
and repatred cracked teeth. He s always bee
nice," she said. Or he was until two weeks ago,
when Thompson came in for a root canal and
Roperquestionedherabouthersexual orientation.
After learning she was a Lesbian, he refused to
treat her and told her to leave his office, she told
the Concord Monitor.
Katharine Daley, executive director of the
state Human Rights Commission, said for a
dentist to refuse to treat someone because,of their
sexual orientauon is illega! in New Hampshire.
Thompson said she may file a civil rights
complaint against Roper. ~f the commission finds
he i!legally discriminated against her, he could
be fined up to $10,000 and ordered to pay
compensatory damages.
Thompson said when she first signed up as
Roper’s patient, she put a former partner’s name
on the"spouse" lineofher registrationform. The
name was clearly a woman’s. About a month
ago, when Thompson went "ln with a bad
toothache, she was asked to fill out a new card,
~he said. She put down the name of her new
partner; they had performed a commitment
ceremony in February. Roper then told her she
needed a root canal, put in a temporary filling and
told her to returnMarch 23. By the time she came
back, accompaniedby her partner, the temporary
filling had come out and her tooth was in pain.
Before taking herinto his office, Roper heldup
the registration card she’d filled out and told her
he had questions about it, she said. Thompson
and her partner said Roper asked whether
Thompson’s "spouse" was the woman with her.
She said yes. He asked whether she had been
married to her previous partner, then divorced
and remarried. When she said yes, he asked if she
had a marriage license.
She said she asked him, "What business is it of
yours?" He shot. back, "Do you have AIDS or
something?" she said. She said she didn’t, but
she also told him she did not like his questions.
Roper shook his head, told her, "I.don’t believe
in it," and insisted he had the right to refuse
anyone treatment, she said. Roper then put her
file, her registration card and chart on the counter
and told her to take it and leave the office.
Thompson said she reminded him she had
been his patient for years. But he said he hadn’t
previously realized thatherpartner was awoman,
she said. "Basically, he kicked me out of his
office and said have a nice life," Thompson said.
’He didn’t even ask me how my tooth was."
Roper confirmed that he denied Thompson
treatment: ’qZor my own personal reasons, yes,’’
he told the Monitor. ’~ecause ofmyownpersonal
philosophy, yes." Asked what his philosophy
was, Roper replied, "I’hat stays in the office."
Asked ifhe routinely informed patients about his
philosophy, he responded, "What philosophy?"
Roper said he told Thompson she could file a
complaint with the state dental board if she was
unhaplSy withhis decision. TheAmerican Dental
Association’s "Principles of Ethics," which
governNew Hampshire dentists, say they cannot
refuse to treat patients on the basis of race, creed,
color, sex or national origin. It does not mention
sexual preference, but does say, ’‘The dentist’s
primary obligations include dealing wi~ people
justly and delivering dental care without
prejudice." A spokesman at ADA headquarters
said the issue of withholding treatment because
ofa patient’s sexual preference had ne~er come "
up before.
However, New Hampshire law is dear, Daley
-" said. In New Hampshire, health providers are
: considered a "public accomodation;" and equal
¯. access to public accomodations for Gays and
¯ Lesbians is protected by state law, she said.
¯ Gay Priest Being
:: Considered As Bishop
¯ WEARE, N.H.(AP) - The Rev. Canon Gene
". Robinson again is a finalist for bishop and if he
~ becomes the spiritual leader of the Diocese of
¯ Rochester, N.Y., he will be the first openly Gay
: bishop in the 2.5 million-member Episcopal
: Church of America~
¯ Robinson oneoffive nominees from a field of
¯ 86 applicants for the bishopric, was cited by the
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A Voicefor
Freedom & Tolerance
search committee for his spirituality and outspokenness.
The committee said his sexual orientation is irrelevant.
"I’m hoping it doesn’t become a big issue," said Janet
Farnsworth, president of the Diocese of Rochester’s
Standing Committee. "We wanted a person who would
lead us spiritually and a person who was willing to speak
out on social issues. We wanted someone who would be
apastorto all our clergy and theirfamilies andhe’ s known
for his work in clergy wellness," she told The Concord
Monitor.
Robinson, assistant to Bishop Douglas Theuner of the
Diocese of New Hampshire and a priest for 25 years,
finished third last year in his bid to become bishop of the
Diocese of Newark, N.J. "As honored as I felt to be
nominated in Newark, I’m overwhelmed at the privilege
of being nominated in a diocese like Rochester and the
courage they have shown in nominating me," he said.
"The way I can help Gay and Lesbian people the most is
by being a good bishop, not a Gay bishop," he said.
Buthis sexuality will be alightningrodfor some. Atthe
international level, the church has taken a strong stand
against homosexuality. A majority of Anglican bishops
at the Lambeth Conference of Bishops in England last
year declared homosexuality contrary to scripture. While
that group has no authority over the Episcopal Church -
the Anglican communion in the United States, it has
pressured American bishops to conform.
Thatpressure alsocomesfromwithin. Theconservative
Episcopalians United takeissue with Robinson, believing
homosexuality sinful. The group worries his dection
could cause rifts in the church. ’’We expect a higher
standard of our leaders than our members," said its board
chairman, the Rev. Sandy Greene of Christ Church in
Denver, Colo., who supports ministries that encourage
peopl9 to renounce their homosexuality.
Robinson was married with two children when he
acknowledged he was Gayin 1986. Henow lives with his
partner, Mark Andrew. In early June, he and2Madrew will
meet with voting delegates throughout the diocese. On
June 19, the diocese’s clergy and three lay people from
each of the 54 congregations will vote on a candidate,
who needs a simple majority from both groups to win.
Should Robinson be elected, he faces an even bigger
hurdle. To be ordained bishop, he must be "consented to"
by a simple majority of the nation’s Episcopal bishops as
wall as standing committees, comprised of laity and
clergy. The church went through a similar controversy in
1994 when it elected the first female bishop, Barbara
Harris of the Diocese of Massachusetts. Yet it hasn’t
rejected a bishop electedby adiocese since thelate 1800s.
James DeKovan, rejected twice, now is a church saint.
New Haven Police
Targeting Gays
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) - Police here admit they are
targeting bJacks, Hispanics, women, Gays and Lesbians
- not as suspects, but as candidates to join the force. At a
time when images of police brutality have been seared
into the American psyche, the New Haven Police
Department is recruiting the very people who have often
been seen as their victims. The department began its
campaignrecently, printing advertisements in alternative
publications and distributing fliers to inner city
organizations, churches, and a commumty center for
Gays and Lesbians. The fliers say, "I want you" in bold
letters and feature photographs of minority and women
officers. ’’We wantpopulations thathave beentraditionally
underserved by police and underrepresented in police
departments," said Kay D. Codish, director of training
and education.
Similar recnfitment drives have had mixed results in
San Francisco, Boston and elsewhere, said Penny
Harrington, director of the National Center forWomen&
Policing in Los Angeles and former chief of the Portland,
Ore., police department. "A lot of women and minorities
do not see policing as a place for them. In the media, on
television, they’re frequently shown in subsidiary roles,"
Harrington said. "If an agency is serious, they have to go
out and target."
Hubert Williams, director of the Police Foundation, a
Washington, D.C.-based research organization, said
mistrust of police in some minority communities has
reached crisis proportions because of "racial profiling,"
allegations that police make traffic stops and detain
people based on race. "In order for the police officers to
dotheirjob, they musthavepublic support," saidWilliams,
f6rmer director of police in. Newark, N.J. "You have
" populations that see the police in hostile ways, that
they’re not there to protect and to serve, but to control and
¯ oppress."
." James Mclver of the National Orgamzation of Black
Law Enforcement Executives in Alexandria. Va., said
¯¯ studies show thatapolice force that reflects the community
it serves demographically is less likely to have accusations
¯ of police brutality lodged against it. He pointed to two
¯ recent cases inNew York City. Four police officers have ¯
¯ been charged in the fatal shooting ofAmadou Diallo, an unarmed West African, and four other city officers are
¯ charged with sodomizing a Haitian suspect.
¯ According to the U.S. Justice Department Bureau of ¯
Statistics, there are about664,000 full-timepolice officers
¯ in the country. At the municipal level, the latest figures
: available show that roughly 11% are black, 6% are
¯ Hispanic, and about 9% are women. The federal
¯" government does not keep track of officers’ sexual
"orientation. New Haven’s 447-member department
¯ already is diverse compared to national statistics, with
¯ 39% being minorities and 16% female. ¯
In a newspaper editorial earlier this month, Police
¯ ChiefMelvinWearingsaid thereis noquotaandminorities
¯ don’t get extra points on their applications just for being ¯
who they are. "Our goal is simply to increase the number
¯
of applicants from those groups that, in the past, have not
¯ presented themselves for consideration in substantial
¯ numbers," he said.
¯ However, police union officials have questioned the recruitment effort and some have said they fear white
¯ male candidates will feel unwelcome to apply for the 40
¯ job openings. "Ifyoustartencouraging one certaingroup, ¯
others might feel slighted. We would like to see an open
¯ recnfitment. The key is that tlmy be qualified,’7 said Frank
¯ Lombardi, vice president of the local union. Most, if not
¯ all, police departments say they are "’equal opportunity
¯ employers,"butCodishbelieves lawenforcement agencies must go further by advertising in unlikely places such as
women’s health clinics and day care centers.
Catholics Attack Boston
Partners Benefits
BOSTON (AP) - City paramedic Kay Schmidt works
¯ hardand thinks she deserves healthinsurance benefits for
¯ her familyjust like any other city worker. Butthe Catholic
Action League of Massachusetts says its members don’t
¯ want the city to subsidize Lesbian relationships like ¯ Schmidt’s. The Supreme Judicial Court heard arguments
¯ in the Catholic Action League’s challenge to the city’s
¯ domestic parmer policy. The court’s ruling could affect
¯ Boston and other communities that offer benefits for
¯ domestic partners. Springfield, Northampton, Brookline
¯ and Cambridge also provide domestic partner benefits.
¯ Thequestionbefore the state’ s highest courtwaswhether
Boston had the authority to extendhealth benefits to those
¯ not stipulated by state law. "Providing these health
¯" insurance benefits complements the state law, it certainly
¯ doesn’t defeat its purposes," said Jennifer Levi, of the
Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, who argued
¯ before the court on behalf of Schmidt.
¯ Vincent McCarthy, representing the Catholic Action
¯ League of Massachusetts, said the city needed to get
permissionfromthe Legislature, but failed last year when
¯ Gov. Patti Cellucci vetoed the measure. Mayor Thomas
." Menino then signedanexecutive orderputting themeasure
¯ into effect. ’"What they’re trying to do now is an end run
¯
around the Legislature," McCarthy told the court.
¯ McCarthy, counsel for the American Center for Law
¯ and Justice, whichdescribes itsdf as a.nonprofit pro-
" family organization, said the city’s executive order was
¯ legally and morally wrong. "It encourages heterosexual
: and homosexuals to form what, in essence, are common
¯ law relationships which are illegal in Massachusetts, ¯
without the responsibilities of marriage, and really
¯ discourages people from getting married as well,"
¯ McCarthy said. The SJC took the arguments under
¯ advisement.
." Boston defines domestic partners as two people, of at
¯ least 18 years of age, who are not married, but who share
¯ living expenses so that one assumes responsibility for the ¯
¯ welfare of the other. It is not limited to Gay couples.
Schmidt, speaking outside the courthouse with her
¯ partner Diane Pullen and their 8-month-old daughter,
¯ said she was not looking for special privileges as a
: Lesbian, but the benefits her co-workers enjoy. She said
¯ they decided Pullen would stay home with the baby and
¯
their 7-year-old child. They said it was perfect timing
: when the city began offering health benefits for domestic
¯ partners in November. Were they to lose that benefit, the
¯
two women said Pullen would likely have to return to
¯ work and the two would pay for day care for the baby.
Responding to those critical of their"lifestyle," Schmidt
¯
said, "We are two parents rinsing two children. I work,
: we’re a family. There’s no way anybody can deny we’re
a family. And why shouldn’t we have affordable health
insurance like any other family, like your family?"
¯ Federal Hate Crimes Bill Uncertain
¯ WASHINGTON (AP) - Legislation that would broaden
¯ the federal hate crimes law by including offenses based
¯ on sexual orientation faces an uncertain future despite ¯
President Clinton’s call forlawmakers to pass it this year.
: A similar bill, which Clinton also pushed, died in the last
¯ Congress. Neither the House nor the Senate or any of the
¯ appropriatecommittees voted onit. TheWhite Houseand
¯ other supporters hope public outrage over recent well-
" publicized hate crimes will help advance the measure tbis
¯ time around.
: But opposition, however, appears so strong that a lead
¯ sponsor, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., doubts whether
" Congress will approveit. "Wehave to face the reality that
¯ it’ s a very tough sell," Specter, a former local prosecutor,
¯ said in a recent interview. "After a while you can develop
¯ a majority (of votes)but I think we’re a long way from it."
¯ Senate Judiciary Committee hearings are expected later
this month.
At a recent White House ceremony, Clinton said
¯ Congress should pass the bill this year and "send a
: message to ourselves and to the world that we are going
into 21st century determined to preach and to practice
what is right."
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act would add disability,
gender and sexual orientation to federal anti-bias laws
andmakeit easierfor the Justice Department to inveslagate
¯
and prosecute such offenses. Current law prohibits crimes
¯ based on race, color, religion or national origin. Eight
¯ state have no hate crimes laws. Laws in 21 states cover ¯
sexual orientation, 22 state laws include gender and 21
¯ cover disability.
¯ Richard Socarides, Clinton’s civil rights adviser, said
¯ the White House was more optamistic this time because ¯
of public sentiment over the killings and the upcoming
¯ Senate hearings ,The signs are better than ever before,"
¯ he said.
¯ David Smith, spokesman for the Human Rights
Campaign, a Gay and Lesbian political advocacy group,
¯ cited a Gallup poll, conducted in mid-Febrnary, that
¯ found that 70% of the public favors having a hate crimes
: law in their state. ’’We would be very happy for there to
¯
be no need for this legislation," he said.
¯ Some opponents believe federal Intervention is
¯ unnecessary, because states already are prosecuting ¯
¯ allegations of hate crimes, and discriminatory. Social
conservatives,meanwhile, view thebill as creating speci~d
¯ protections for Gays. "By including hate crimes
: enhancement for some groups, the message is that the
¯ government cares more about those victims than other
¯ people," said Robert H. Knight, senior director for cultural
¯ studies at the conservative Family Research council.
¯ Among the recent hate-crime cases:
- In Texas, white supremacist John William King was
: sentenced to death in February for dragging James Byrd
; Jr., who was black, to his death behind a pickup truck in
;
June 1998. Two other men await trial in the slaying.
¯ - In Wyoming, Russell Henderson, one of two young
¯ men charged in the beating death of Matthew Shepard, a
¯ Gay college student, pleaded guilty Monday to murder
.. andwas se~itencedtotwoconsecudvelifetermsinprison.
¯ - In Alabama, two menface murder charges in the Feb.
¯ 19 killing of Billy Jack Gaither, who was Gay. Police say
¯ he was beaten with an ax handle and burned to death
because he allegedly made a pass at one of the men.
Coburn Calls For "¯ bMealiceGveusffieh,ew, htoohoa, disdecdiedaedd.toSboecowmheena
HIV ProgramAudits "- "medi missiona ,"touredthedis°ase- infested areas of western Kenya 12 years
OKLAHOMA C1TY (AP) - Questions " ago, sheunderstoodhow muchits residents
about spending pmctices and other aspects " were suffering. 1,,was appalled at what,
of federal AIDS/HIV programs have . they didn’t have, said the 75-year-old
prompted U.S. Rep. TomCobumand two plastic surgeonfromNew City,New York.
Republican colleagues to request an audit ¯ She returned home and founded the
of those programs. " Society for Hospital and Resources
Coburn, a practicing physician from Exchange to improve health care for
Oklahoma, House Majority Leader Dick
Armey of Texas and Commerce
Committee Chairman Tom Bliley of "
Virgima sent a letter requesting the audit "
to the General Accounting Office on ¯
Tuesday. They question spending ¯
practices and other aspects of the
programs.
"X2ongress has a moral obligation to
those suffering with AIDS/HIV to ensure
thatthenearly$9bilfion directed to federal
AIDS programs is s,p,ent for purpos.~ for
this it is intended, Coburn said m a
prepared statement. "Over the past five
years I have encountered too many
instances where federal AIDS/HIV funds
have been misused."
In addition to requesting any evidence
on misuse Of federal AIDS funds, the
letter requests a report on whether
disparities existinAIDS funding regarding
race or gender, what criteria are used to
determineAIDS Drug AssistancePro.gra~.
distributions and whether tkose criteria
favor any particular region, and
information regarding compliance with
federal laws within the programs..
Other requests madein theletterinclude
information on how much money fromfederal
AIDS programs is used to pay for
overhead and other non-care related
activities rather than on direct treatment
of patients.
Black Men 7x More " passioninitandputssomuchenergyint°
it, that probably impressed me more than
Likely For AIDS " anything," Violante said.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Public " Violanteesdmatedhehadtrainedabout
health officials are sounding an alarm, for
Alabamablack males,whoare seventtmes
more likely than white males (o contract
the virus that causes AIDS. The,
Department of Public Health, which held
a news conference last month to discuss
the problem, said the spread of the disease
has reachedcrisis proportions amongblack
men.
The dan,g,er .lies in the f.ac,t that. m~any
blacksdon tknow they areimected, they
might believe the disease is still one of
homosexual white males, said Jane
Cheeks, AIDS director at the state Health
Department. A former public health
worker in Jefferson County, Ms. Cheeks
recalled working with the first people i,n
Birminghamto be affectedby HIV, which
causes AIDS. Most were homosexual
white males.
Thediseaseis now strikingmoreheax[ily
among blac.k.la.e.te.lu.~ezx-uals ¯ "We’re seeing
this as aleading causeofdeathfor African-
American males ages 25 to 44, and that’ s
got to stop," she said. She said the state
has spen{ $1.6 million On HIV/AIDS
education programs since 1993, but more
must be done. "It’s not working," she
said. "Weneed to join commumty efforts
to address this at a local level."
HIV Fight in Kenya
KISUMU, Kenya (AP) - Dr. Martha
,’Bobby"MacGuffiehas knownpain.Two
of her sons died of the AIDS they
contractedfromblood transfusions. Their
older brother, crushed by the deaths,
disappeared into a haze of drugs. She
¯ westemKenyaby sta_,aing clinics, donating
medical equipment and educating
residents how to avoid disease. Kenya’s
government provides little medical care
for many rural districts, leaving private
groups like SHAREto care,f0r the _ps~o.pl,e.
Inrecognition ofSHARE s work, Lion s
¯ Club International named MacGnffie its
1998 Humanitarian of theYear, anhonor
¯ previously given to Mother Teresa and
¯ Jimmy Carter. The award comes with a
$200,000 grant.
¯ On a recent trip, she and other SHARE
¯ volunteersfromNewYorktreatedpatients
and sprinkled donations throughout
" Nyanza province, about 160 miles (250
". kms) west of the capital, Nairobi. They
¯ gave money to expand a local hospital.
¯ They paid the school fees for AIDS
orphans. They donated drugs to treat
¯
children wit.h, disfiguring Birkitts
Lvmphoma. "It s a greater need here than
~.,h....l~e" said Eleanore Schafer, a
N’~e~v~’~]t~y’;o~ial worker who set. up
¯ SHARE’s program for sponsoring
orphans.
~ David Violante, a paramedic from
¯
Wallkill, New York, was on his fifth visit
¯ to train Kenyans in emergency medical ¯
¯ techniques. HemetMacGuffie nine years
when she taught a course for his
¯ paramedics class, andthree years later she
¯ persuadedhimand threeotherparamedics
¯ to visit Kenya. "She just has so much
¯
500 local paramedics and brought over
hundreds of thousands of doll.ars worth of
] donated backboards, stretchers, cervical
¯ collars and other trauma equipment.
MacGuffiehas spent millions here, she
~ said, wheedling donations from drug
¯. companies, civic groups and corporations.
¯ Shehas raised.tens of thousands ofdollars ¯ from her Rockland County neighbors and
¯ collected single dollars fromchildren she ¯
lectured to at schools. She remains
determined to continue working inKenya
¯ as tong as Americans support her.
¯, Editor’s Note: SHARE, c/o Martha
MacGuffie, 591 S. Mountain Rd., New
City, New York. USA, 10956.
Dentist Settles
HIV Bias Lawsuit
BOSTON (AP) -A dentist and his office
manager will pay a combined $60,000 for
allegedly committing Medic~’,"dfr,aud and
discriminating against people who were
HIV-positive, the attorney general’s office
said. Dr. Guillermo Recinos, 38, and
Yolanda Jereidini, 46, were sued in civil
¯ court in October 1998 by the attorney
¯ general’s office. They were accused of
~ violating federal discrimination laws by
¯
refusing to treat patients who were HIV-
¯
positive.
¯ They also allegedly told employees not ¯
¯ to take patients who wereHIV-positive at
their clinic in the city’s Jamaica Plain
¯ neighborhood. When one dentist in the
¯ office took a patient who was HIVpositive,
Recinos andJereidinididn’tgive
Power To
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our customers here for almost 80 years
now. But we also serve broader needs.
By contributing to the education of our
By supporting cultural events in
our communities. And by working handin-
hand with business and government
to strengthen our economy.
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being your power
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Www.csw.com
Are You Gay or Bisexual?
Are You Native American?
/
Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men s _
~ ~ ",~.~’
Support Group is here for you!
¯ Evening support group meetings
Relationship workshops
¯ Short trips, outings and retreats
¯ Free HIV testing
For information call Tulsa Native Amencan AI DS Prevention Project
at 582-7225 Ext. 208 or 218
Cherry Street
Psychotherapy Associates
1515 S. Lewis
_.E_-.~L..;:.~..<~.’-~.’-";<~-:.’,:--" (918)-743-4117
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¯ Certified in Hypnotherapy
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¯ Our Fees Are Negotiable ¯
Serving a Diverse Commum"ty
the dentist an assistant, and forced him to
clean his own instruments, Attorney
General Tom Reilly’s office said.
Recinos was also accused by Reilly’s
office of engaging in Medicaid fraud
between September 1994 and December
1998. He was accused of misrepresenting
his services, billing for services that
weren’t reimbursable through Medicaid
and engaging in duplicate billing.
Recinos and Jereidini have denied the
allegations and, inreaching the settlement,
did not admit wrongdoing. Their clinic
~emains open. The partners will split a
$20,000fmeapprovedby SuffolkSuperior
Court judge Diane Kottmyer in the
discrimination case. An $11,550 portion
of the fine will be distributed to 77
Medicare recipients in payments of $150
each. The remaining $8,450 will be
donated to the Battered Children and
Women’s program at the Elizabeth Stone
House in Jamaica Plain. Under the terms
ofthe Medicaidfraud settlementapproved
by Kottmyer, Recinos alone will pay
$40,000 in civil penalties and restitution.
So. African Women
Criticize Govt.
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) -
Women’s groups criticized the South
African government Thursday for failing
to provide medical treatment they say
could help prevent victims of rape from
contracting the AIDS virus from their
attackers.
The activists are demanding the
government provide rape victims with a
three-drug cocktail of AZT, 3TC and a
protease inhibitor Crixovan. The threedrug
cocktail is available for $820 on the
¯ private market, which represents five
¯ months of wages for an average South
¯ African.
¯¯ The Centers for Disease Control and
¯ Prevention in Atlanta recommends the
three-drug therapyforhealthcare workers
¯ who have been exposed to HIV through
¯ contaminated needles because some ¯
studies have found AZT alone has
prevented themfromcontracting the virus.
"The state has removed the death
¯ sentence" for crime, said Johannesburg
: journalist Charlene Smith. "Now we are
: asking them to remove the death sentence
¯ for rape survivors." Smith, who wrote
¯ recently about being raped and her ¯
attempts afterward to obtainAIDS-related
¯ medical treatment, spoke at a news
conference sponsoredby women’s groups
: who represent rape victims.
: Doctors and others have also
¯ complained about a decision by South
¯ Africa’s Health Ministry last year to shut ¯
¯ down pilot projects to treat HIV-positive expectant mothers in the last month of
: pregnancy with AZT, which reportedly
can reduceby half the transmission rate of
: HIV to newborns.
¯ A womanin South Africa is three times
¯ morelikely to be raped than in the United
¯ States, and South African men are much
: more likely to be infected with HIV, the
¯ virus that causes AIDS, said Nthabiseng
Mogale, head of People Opposed to
WomenAbuse. SouthAfricanwomenare
: entitled to treatment as a human right,
¯ Mogale said.
¯ One in eight South African adults is ¯
infected with HIV. The rate is tWice that
." for pregnant women, the government has
said. Police say about 65,000 women and
¯ girls are assaultedevery year, but activists
insist the number is much higher.
Medical
Excellence And
Compass.ionate
Care S nce
1926.
¯ ¯ ST. JOHN MEDICAL CENTER
I P Medical Excellence. Compassionate Care
¯ Botswana, South Africa’s wealthier
" neighbor to the north, has introduced free
¯ AZT treatment for infants born to HIV-
¯ positive mothers, said Vicki Ehrich ¯
spokeswomanfor Glaxo Wellcome, which
¯ produces AZT.
Glaxo Wellcome wants to supply the
¯ South African government with the drug
¯ for $65 perbirth, orone-third ofits market
¯ price. But the government says that’s too
: expensive. ’°We cannot afford this type of
intervention," said Khangelani
¯ Hlongwane, spokesman for the South
¯ African Health Ministry.
¯ Physicians at state-rim hospitals have ¯
clashed with the government on theissue.
¯ ’oWe’re trying to convincethegovernment
¯ that it’s actually cost effective," said Dr.
¯ Avy Violari, a pediatrician at Chris Hani
: Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto.
." The United Nations AIDS program
¯ estimates that about 600,000 HIV ¯
¯ infections are spread during childbirth
worldwide, butnofigures for SouthAfrica
." were available. Transmission of HIV
¯ through sexual assault has been less ¯
studied, partlybecause rape and AIDS are
¯ not as widespreadin Europeand the United
: States, wheremostresearchis carried out,
¯ Smith said.
:$ for HIV Falling
Behind Its Spread
¯ GENEVA (AP) - Spending by donor
: countries to combat AIDS in developing
~ countries is failing to keep pace with the
¯ spreadofthe disease, now infecting nearly
¯ 6 millionpeople worldwide each year, the
¯ United Nations said recently.
¯ "it is alarming that AIDS is expanding
three times faster than the funding to
control it," said Dr. Peter Piot, executive
director of UNAIDS, the Joint U.N.
Program on HIV/AIDS. Piot called on
industrialized nations to do more to fight
the disease in developing countries.
The agency said wealthy countries’
support for the global fight against AIDS
IS being vastly outpacedby the epldennc,
which has infected47 million people over
the past two decades. That figure includes
those who have already died from the
disease and those hying with HIV, the
AIDS-causing virus.
Funding to fight AIDS in developing
countries was $273 million in 1997, less
than double the $165 million spent in
1990, it said. During the same period, the
number of people living with HIV around
the worldmore than tripled to 30.3 million
from 9.8 million.
UNAIDS said a study by the Harvard
University School of Public Health found
the United States was "by far the largest
tnbutor to the lnternat~onal campaign,
giving $135.2 million-in 1997. But it said
that other countries ranked higher when
their contributions weremeasured against
the size of their economies. Norway gave
$93 for each $1 million ofits gross national
product; the Netherlands gave $92.
Denmark was third at $52 per 1 million of
its gross national product, followed by
Swedenat $49. Australiagave $31, Canada
$21, Britain $19, Belgium $18, United
States $17, Finland $10, Switzerland and
Germany $6 and Japan $2.
Industrialized countries are spending
less than 1% of their development aid on
the fight against AIDS, according to
UNAIDS. ’oWeighed against the global
catastrophe of the AIDS epidemic, the
level of spending for HIV prevention
around the world is minimal," Piot said.
He said in order for any aid to benefit
¯ developing countries, more money needs
to be given to fight AIDS.
UNAIDS says 95% of the people living
¯ with the AIDS virus are in developing
¯ countries, most of them in Africa. ¯
Agency officials said developing
." countries are also contributing to the
¯ campaign against AIDS. The study ¯
showed domestic spending varied from a
low of 8% in the Caribbean and 9% in
¯ Africa to 57% in Asia, 67% in Latin
America and 79% in Eastern Europe.
¯ Economics Making
:HIV Fight Harder
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Asia’s
economic crisis is worsening Thailand’s
¯ AIDS crisis, experts said, predicting that
¯ more than 100,000 Thai children will be
." orphaned by the disease by the end of the
¯ year 2000.
¯ Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai,
¯ opening Thailand’s annualNationalAIDS
¯ Seminar, told hundreds ofresearchers and
¯ health workers that the government will
¯ scrimp to findnow-scarce funding to keep
the AIDS epidemic under control.
¯ But Wirut Poolcharoen, a Health
." Ministry official, acknowledged that
¯ Thailand’s government does not know ¯
how to cope with an expected explosion
¯ in the number ofAIDS orphans. Most are
taken care of by their grandparents or
other family members. "The number of
¯ orphans whose parents die of AIDS will
¯ double by the end ofthe year 2000,"Wirnt
¯ said. "The government does not yet know ¯
how to carry such a huge burden to ensure
¯ the well-being of these children."
¯" Statisticians at Mahidol University
released a report showing that in 1997, the
¯ year that recession struck Thailand and
: much of Southeast Asia, the country had
34,349 AIDS orphans, about a quarter of
them under age five. By the end of 2000,
¯
the report predicts the total figure will be
¯ 116,508childrenorphanedbyAIDS,with
30,845 of them under five¯
Acquiredimmunedeficiency syndrome
¯
claimed 51,000 lives in Thailand in 1997
alone, according to research presented by
¯ Bangkok’s prestigious Chulalongkorn
University. Death figures were not
¯ available for 1998. "It takes years for
~ p.eople to realize they have contracted the
¯ virus, and its consequences are thereby
affecting quality of life of their family
¯ members and of society as a whole,"Wirnt
said.
¯ In the early years after AIDS was
discovered, Thailand refused to
¯ acknowledge it had a single case of the
disease, fearing damage to the lucrative
¯ prostitution industry that is a mainstay both of tourism and the sex lives of many
¯ Thai men. A change of attitude coupled
¯ with aggressive condom distribution and ¯
¯ education programs brought the epidemic
somewhatundercontrolbythemid_ 1990s,
¯ but the gains are eroding due to cuts in the
¯ health budget in ’the recession-era
economy. The government’s spending on
¯ AIDS pre~iention has fallen about 25% to
¯ 1.4 billion baht ($39 miillion) Since 1997.
¯ Thailandneeds toprepareitselftohandle ¯
the social and economic consequences of
: AIDS and the HIV virus that leads to it,
¯ said Supachai Kunarattanapruek, an
¯ adviser to the Health Ministry.
Though Thailand spends little on long-
: term care for AIDS sufferers, the country
will pay a high price for the loss of
¯ economically active people, experts said.
About two-thirds of the country’s AIDS
¯ sufferers are 25-39 years old, their prime
¯ working years.
It’s the end of the season but things are ¯ relationship between the artist and patron,
hardly slowing down. Tulsa Opera will ¯ and includes the museum’s patron,
end its season with our favorite opera, " Thomas Gilcrease who with John D.
Mozart’s Magic Flute. Performances are : Rockefeller, Jr. was a patron of artist
May 1,6 &8 at 8pm, except onThursday, ¯ JosephHenry Sharp. Formoreinformation
the6thandare or directions
in the Chap- Designer Showcase to the
man Music museum, call
Hall. This 596-2700 or
work, in visit the
German with website at
translations www~
shown above T u 1 s a
the stage, has Philharmonic
not been seen will wrap up It
in Tulsa in Chamber
more thanl0 Classics
years and the season with
cast looks to pieces by
be excellent. Bizet, Ravel
It is, of course and Haydn on
a fairy tale, May 7th at the
complete with Waiters Arts
an evil queen, 319 East 21st Street Center at
and of course, Holland Hail
we can all relate to that, can’t we? Don’t " School. Three local Episcopal choirs are
miss it. ¯ featured, Saint John’s, Saint Dtmstan’s
Switchinggearsfromtheartstoreligion, ¯ and Trinity’s. For tickets and moreinfo.,
those radical, free thinking, wild eyed " call 747-7445.
liberals, those Presbyterians are going to ¯ Also, check out the Philharmonic’s
havethenationalconferencefortheMore ¯ DesignerShowcaseat319East21stStreet.
Light Presbyterians (the official,ly Gay- : It’s a great way to see what the latest in
friendly ones) in Oklahoma’City at " high "foofI3"’ and decorating is and to
OklahomaCityUniversity’sAngieSmith ," support a great organizatxon. This is the
Memorial Chapel, NW 23rd and 26th year for the showcase and the 50th
Blackwelder, onMay21-23. Theprogram : year for the Philharmonic. Tickets are $10
begins with a dinner and worship service ¯ and it’s open Tues. to Sat. from 10-4pro
at 6pm on Friday. Workshops are : and Thurs. from l0-8pm, Sundays l-4pm
scheduledfrom8amto 10pmonSaturday ¯ but don’t get ther after 3pm or 7pm on
and Sunday will be devoted to a"ministry ¯ Thurs. if you want to get in. FYI, no
of presence." Speakers include Chris ¯
cameras and it’s not handicapped
Glaser, Janie Spahr, Scott Anderson and accessible.
more.Info:JohnMcNeese,405-848-2819 " Finally ourregular entertaiment writer
or john33 @ix.netcom.com , shares the following with credit to "News
Moving to the arts but still with a " oftheWeird"andofcourse, Rolling Stone:
religious theme, Philbrook Museum opens : "Prominent ’Christian’ radical right
an Italian Old Masters drawing exhibit in psychologist Patti Cameron told Rolling
May.TheexhibitfeaturesworksbyCrespi, Stone magazine that he feared Gay sex
Luti, Cambiaso andCantafiniandTiepolo would supplant heterosexual sex unless a
and will hang from May 9 to Sept. 12. vigilant society repressed it. ’Marital sex
Philbrook is at 2727 Rockford Rd. tends toward the boring,’ he said.
Gilcrease Museum continues to ’Generally, it doesn’t deliver the kind of
eelebrateits50thanniversarywithashow sheer sexual pleasure that homosexual
opening on May 16th. ’q’aos Artists and sex does.’ ’If all one seeks is an orgasm,’
Their Patrons,1898 -1950" was organized he said, ’the evidence is that men do a
by the Snite Museum at Notre Dame U. betterjobonmen, andwomenonwomen.’
but draws on the collections at the Metro- ’Homosexuality,’ he said, ’seems too
politan, the Museum of Fine Arts in Santa powerful to resist.’ "
Fe, the Harwood Museum of the Amazing. Time to set up more
University of New Mex-ico in Taos, recruitment stations. With publicity like
Chicago’s Art Institute and more. The this,ourplantorulethewofldwillproceed
show parti-cularly explores the much faster... - TFN editors
TOHR & Cimarron Alliance
present
A Black Tie Optional Dinner
with
US Congressman
Barney Frank
4th District, Massachusetts
Saturday, June 12, 1999
Greenwood Cultural Center
322 North Greenwood
Dinner and cash bar cocktails: $50
Dinner and cocktails with the Congressman: $125
Information: 743-4297
1
WORKIHG CLASS HEROES.IMAGES FROM THE POPULAR CULTURE
Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art
410 W. Boyd
The University of OklaSoma
TULSA-TheCouncil OakMen’s Chorale
will present it’s spring concert "MUSIC"
to be held on May 7 and 8, 1999, at All
Soul’s Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria.
Concerts on both evenings will begin at 7
PM.
Advance tickets are available from The
Pride Store, chorale members or by
contacting the COMC Ticket Office at
585-COMC. Tickets will alsobeavailable
atthedoor. Tickets areS 10.00andadvance
purchase is recommended due to sdl-out
audiences at previous events.
The program will feature a variety, of
musicfrom"Swell the Full Chorus"by G.
F. Handel, to 60’s sensation’q’umArotmd,
Look at Me". "Our audiences have come
to expect the Standard choral repertoire
¯ with an occasional twist of humor that
¯ only the men of Council Oak can do so
¯ eloquently.., trust me, concert-goers will
not be disappointed," said Rick Former,
¯ Jr., Artistic Director.
¯ Recently, members of Council Oak
Men’s Chorale performed on the floor of
¯ the Oklahoma State House of
¯ Representatives as a lobbying effort for
¯ passage of House Bill 1211. The work
performed there, ’Wile Voice," was an
¯ original composition by chorale member
: Greg Davis, and will also be given its
¯ concert premiere on May 7 & 8.
-" . Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy an
¯ evening of beautiful and exciting music
¯ performed by Tulsa’s all-male chorus, ¯
Council Oak Men’s Chorale.
Jg t,
goddesses
fIaJrttappyHour
Tuesday&Thursday
3pm toSpm
835-5563
1247 Si Harvard, Tulsa, NearTO
PRIDE ’99 "PRIDEFUL PAST... POWERFUL FUTURE!
TULSA’S FIRST ANNUAL
PARADE W/GRAND MARSHALL REP. BARNEY FRANK (D)
BEGINS@ 10:00 AM @ 38th & PEORIA
ENDING AT VETERANS PARK
TULSA’S EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL
PICNIC VETERANS PARK: -NOON - 5:00
JUNE 12th PRESENTED BY: TULSA OKLAHOMANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
SPONSORED BY: BUD LIGHT & MCC UNITED
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 918-743-4297
Sing Out, Sing Out,
Wherever You Are!
Our voices comfort those in pain
Our voices combat oppression
Our voices educate the ignorant
Our voices inspire
Our voices win freedom
The Council Oak Men’s
Chorale is a dedicated
group of gay men
united to present a
positive image
for ourselves,
our community
and society as a whole
through excellence in
the performance
of choral music.
Open Rehearsal Monday, May 17, 7 PM
Hope Unitarian Church
-For information on becoming a member
call (918) 585-COMC
Now it is time for our voices to be heard.
~= SUNDAYS
Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service - 6pro, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Service - llam, 2545 S. Yale, 749-0595
Church of the Restorhtion Unitarian Universalist
Service - 11am, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-1314
Metropolitan Community Church United
Service, llam, 1023 North Maplewood, Info: 838-1715
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc.
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood
Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America)
Mass - 1 lam, 205 W. King (east of No. Denver), Info: 582-3088
University of Tulsa BisexuaULesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance
6:30 pm, Meets at the Canterbury Ctr., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780
Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals at 5pro, Info: 585-COMC (2662)
~ MONDAYS
Mixed Volleyball, Helmerich Park, 71st & Riverside, 6pm, call Shawn at 243-5190.
I!IV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous tesdng. No appointment required.
Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard)
HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
7:30pm, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
2nd Mon/each mo. 6:30pm, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard
Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551
~ TUESDAYS
AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call for next meeting date~ 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551
Live And Let Live, Community of Hope United Methodist, 7:30pro, 2545 S. Yale
Multienltural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date.
Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001
Rainbow Business Guild, Business & prof. networking group. Info: 743-4297
PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th
Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE)
Tuesdays, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, info: 743-4297
~ WEDNESDAYS
Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center
Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pro, 3210b So. Norwood
Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more information, call 582-7225
TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for info: 595-7632.
Lambda A-A, 7 pro, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd fl
~= THURSDAYS
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education
Anonymous HIT Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pm 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral
Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN)
Support/social group for 18-24’s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-2325
Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, Info: 834-4194
~= FRIDAYS
SafeHaven, Young Adults Social Group, tst Fri/each mo. 8pm, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th
~ SATURDAYS
Narcotics Anonymous, 11 pm, Community of Hope, 1703 E. 2nd, Info: 585-1800
Lambda A-A, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd fl.
~P OTHER GROUPS
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info: 838-1222
Gal-A-Vanting, Womens Social & Cultural Group
Call for info: Mary at 743-6740, Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-6825.
OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization.
Long and short rides. Write for info: PUB 9165, Tulsa, OK 74157
Ifyour organization is not listed, please let us know. Call 583-1248 orfax 583-4615.
READ ALL ABOUT IT
Reviewed b2 Barry Hensley
Tulsa City-County Library
Major publishers are finally beginning
to recognize the importance of lavender
money! Thepopular series ofJ. K. Lasser’s
financial guides now includes Gay and
Lesbian topics, and none too
soon. It is often mentioned, by
political friends andfoes alike,
that Gays and Lesbians have a
lot of expendable income.
Here is a book to help you
put together a rosy financial
future, regardless ofhow much
money you’re making right
now.
Through aseries of charts
and sample worksheets, you’ll
learnhow toprepareforbuying
a house, starting a business,
saving for a vacation and, yes,
retirement. Although many
people share similar financial
goals, Lesbians and Gay men
need to approach the topic
differently than straight
¯ people. The most obvious
concerns are the legal barriers
that prevent Gay andLesbian
couples from participating in
the financial benefits of
.marriage. In addition, most
rnsurance and benefit
programs do not yet include
same sex couples.
Although some people are
not planning to retire, some of
us are! There~sagoodchapteronpreparing
for retirement. (Hint: As youalready know,
the earlier you start, the easier it will be.)
The scary part of this is estimating how
long you’ll live after retirement, and how
much income you will need. The charts to
determine these figures are fairy simple,
I can no longer accept the personal risk
my participation on the Board requires. I
hope that my colleagues, many of whom
are working very hard and responsibly,
will push for information and
accountability in the planning process.
In dosing, I want to assure you that the-
Task Force will be visible at the
Millennium March on Washington to
encourage Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and
Transgendered people from around the
country to continue their work through
state andlocal organizing. They will come
to Washington to experience thepower of
gathering in their nation’s capital, to feel
strength in numbers, and to create a show
of force for the GLBT community. We
will be persistent in our efforts to ensure
that the energy and momentum of the
March cames to local communities. The
fmancial commitments madebythe March
.Board to organizations dedicated to
statewide organizingand people of color
organizing could:be the finest legacy the
March will leave to our movement.
If significant changes are made in the
March planning and organizing, the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
will gladly considerrejoining theplanning
efforts for the Millennium March on
Washington. In the meantime, we will
advocate for the inclusibn of our entire
community in the March process and for
the linking ofour agenda to those of other
movements for social justice. We hope
¯ although you will need to check with the
¯ Social Security Administration to
¯ determine your probable Social Security
¯¯ benefits during retirement.When youplug
the numbers in, you’ll probably be
¯ horrified toseehow muchmoney, adjusted
¯ for inflation, you will need for a
Although many
similar f’inanelal
goals, Lesbians
and Gay men
need to
approael~ t]ae
topic dffIerently
tha. straiSht
~ple. The
most
concerns are
l~al
that prevent
Gay and
L~blan
"~ouvl~ from
~rtlei~tln$
the flnanelal
benefit~ .o~
marriage.
comfortable retirement. Start
saving right now !
Achieving your financial
goals is never easy, and rarely
fun. There is a chapter on
investing money in mutual
funds, stocks,moneymarkets,
etc., thatis sure to please all of
you business majors and
numbercrunchers. For therest
of us, however, it is
astonishingly boring, but
necessary reading.
Different insurance situations
(life, property, auto,
disability) are also addressed,
as is the inevitable topic of
estate planning. As difficult as
it may be, it is necessary for
every individual to have a
valid, up to date will. The
possible legal disputes that
arisefrompoorestate planning
canquickly wipe out any assets
you may have built. Don’t let
it happen to you, or your
significant other!
Although the topic is never
muchfun, it is vitally important
that everyone, regardless of
orientation, age or marital
: status, address their financial planning
needs. This is a good, basic book to help
you start thinking about the unthinkable.
." Cheek for this title and others on similar
¯ topics at your local library, or call the
Readers Services departmentatthe Central
~ Library at 596-7966.
: theseissues will be reflected in the March
: planning and agenda.
¯ - Kerry Lobel, Executive Director
¯
MaineTown Passes
Rights Protections
¯ FALMOUTH, Maine (AP) - The Town
¯ Council has unammously adopted an
¯ ordinance that bars discrimination based
¯ on sexual orientation, but a conservative
¯ activists says he will try to overturn the
: decision in a June referendum. The 7-0
¯ vote followed remarks by speakers on
¯ both sides of the civil-rights issue.
¯ Mark Finks, a leader of the opposition,
: vowed to continue a petition campaign
¯ that would seek to overulrn the ordinance ¯
in a June election.
¯ Councilor Jacob Manheimer said he
¯ wouldnot be intimidated by Finks’ threat. ¯
"Let’s adopt the ordinance, but put it
¯ squarely to the people if they want to
¯ repeah"t,"he stu" d. CouncM" orJohnHobson
¯ said the vehemence of the ordinance’s
¯ opponents convinced him the law was
." necessary. Councilor Dolores Vail told
." the crowd ofnearly 50people that she has
¯ a grown Gay son who straggled with his
¯ identity as a teen-ager. She said shehoped
¯ the ordinance will help families accept
." Gay members and stop "people beating
¯ upontheirchildrenanddisowuing them."
¯ The ordinance prohibits discrimination
." based.on sexual orientation in areas of
¯ employment, housing, credit, education
¯ and public accommodations.
Red Rock Tulsa
Free Confidential
HIV Testing
Walk-in Clinics
Tuesday Testing, 5 -8 pm
Pride Center, 1307 East 38th
Wednesday Testing, 5-8 pm
Red Rock, 1724 East 8th
Daytime appointments available.
Call for more information:
918-584-2325
Church
of the Restoration
Unitarian Universalist
11 am, Sunday
1314 North Greenwood
587-1314
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by Mary Schepers, Do-It-Yoursdf-Dyke
EditoJ"s note: last month the Do-It-
Yourself-Dyke advised us on refurbishing
your kitchen cabinets. This column looking
at updating your kitchen counters.
Now that you’ ve gotten ),our cupboards
in the kitchen all spruced up, it’s amazing
how, well. dingy the counter
tops look now. And the sink
looks about as stained as
Redneck Bubba’s teeth, what
there are of them. That’s the
down-side of a drawn out,
stage by stage renovation -
until you’re finished, youjust
have to putup with it. Hm, that
sounds like a straight girl’s
commentary on sex, but we
just won’t go there.
Instead, we’ll go to the old
drawing board and look at our
options for counter tops. As
usual, it will be time to review
the budget and sharpen the old
pencil when it comes down to
making your choice. The
constraints of this column
don’t allow me to teach you
about installing prelaminated
counter tops or tiling, but
fortunately, there are several
large home improvement
stores who will help you out
with classes and videos, so for
the skilled and intrepid, your
¯ options- and savings- will be
greater. And strictly from an
aesthetic view point, there are
usually lots of other ’Tamily" there, so
happy cruising. Honey, they don’t call it
"Homo" Depot for nothin’.The DIYD
blushes to admit that more than tool lust
carries her thither on a regular basis.
But yourDIYD digresses. Yes, you can
call in Surface Doctor or a resurfacing
company of that ilk, butby the time it’ s all
said and done, you might just as wall pay
for a new surface. Of course, check it out
anyway, but please review your options
before buying.Dating should be the same
way, but hopefully, you’ll show a bit
more discipline - if you’re the impetuous
sort. So that leaves you with the option of
removing the oldcounter top andreplacing
it with prdaminated counters, or tiling
over the old laminate, if it is only ugly but
not warped or popping up. You can also
remove the old counter top, replace the
surface and tile from scratch, but why
don’t we save that kind of labor for later?
The easiest optionmaybe replacing the
counter tops. If you have a relatively
uncomplicated lay out, with counters no
more than 10 foot long at a run, then you
can go and buy the counter top from a
largehomeimprovement store. Some will
do themitercut and cutouts for sink,range
or whatever; others won’t, but can
recommend someone who will do two
miters [one comer] and a sink cutout for
about $40,whichisn’tbad:Itis remarkably
easy to install these counters yourself if
YcoachOUhave a simple L, and the store will
youonwhatto do. The backsplashes
come pre-rolled inmost cases, so you can
finish them off with a smart little bead of
caulk.
If your counter top layout is more
complicated or longer, you will have to
have the counter tops custom made, and
possibly even installed by a contractoI
butthat will bepartof yourreview process.
: Tiling over is an option if the counter is
¯ basically sound - the base must be
: absolutely sound and solid to work.
: Darlings, I know some of us prefer to be
more loose and fluid, but save that
viewpoint for the finer things in life. Once
again, yourhomeimprove-ment store will
bemore than happy to help out And strletly
from an
aesthetle v~ew
point, there are
usually lots of
other "fatally"
there, so
happy erulsln~.
Honey, they
don’t call it
"Homo" Depot
for nothln’.
The DIYD
blushes to
admit that
more than tool
lust earrles her
tldther on a
regular basis.
with classes, advice and other
resources - they want to sell
you the materials, remember?
Keep in mind when buying
the tile that if you go with
lower-end, cheaper tiles fethe
most part and then use the
horrendously expensive
accent tiles, the job will be
more economical overall, and
quite attractive, to boot. You
will be applying a thinset
mortar, then your tiles and
then grouting the next day.
Consider using a darker grout,
or avoid white all together,
because darlings,itjustdoesn’, t
age well, even after sealing
the grout. And if you tile, you
will seal the grout, won’t you?
The DIYD does not tolerate
whining from those who
choose not to follow her sage
wisdom. The DIYD cannot
recommend highly enough
that you buy a long level and
using it for setting up your
lines. Also, lay out the tiles
dry and see if a little
rearranging of the cross lines
, won’t make for an easier job. Sometimes
¯ working off of true center is not best,
: especially if you’re cutting tiny pieces of
file.
¯ Realizing she hasn’t been of much
: practical help at all, the DIYD wishes you
: a fond bon voyage on your trip to the
¯ home improvement center until she
: astounds and amazes youagainnextmonth
: when she has you on your knees on the
floor. The mere thought of it makes her
¯ purr with anticipation...
:
¯" Hispanic and Native American Women
¯
Speak Out; Expanding Clinical Trials and
¯ Treatment Research for Women; Special
¯ Issues for Children in Families Affected
¯" by HIV/AIDS; The lank Between HIV
Infection, Violence Against Women,
¯ Homelessness and Substance Abuse; and
~ HIV Programs for Women: A Fdnder’s
¯ Perspective. ’This conference will allow
~ us a chance to look at the progress thathas
~ been made over the years, and the
¯ challenges which still confront us when
~ dealing with women and AIDS," says
¯ Nicklas.
¯ Conferenceregistrationfeeis $35before
¯¯ May 20 or $40 after May 20. The fee for
the luncheon only is $15. Special student
," rates are available. Seating is limited.
¯ Some confidential scholarships for
¯" housing, transportation and conference
fees are availableforHIV positivewomen.
¯ Call 585-5551 ext. 231 to receive an
¯ application. Arespiteroom and child eare
¯ are available for HIV positive women. ¯ Formore information or to register, call
¯ 585-5551.
Workshop topics will include: Breaking
the Silence - White, Mrican American,
by Esther Rothblum. Ph.D. . Research begins to happen when the
There has been some speculation about : governmentputs funds behindit, andright
whether Lesbians are at higher or lower ¯ now the Institute of Medicine of the
riskforbreastcaneerthanareheterosexual : National Academy of Science has
women. Buttherehasbeenlittleresearch. ;. publishedareportOnLesbianhcalthwhich
Now Dr. Deborah Bowen, a
psychologist at the Fred
Hutchin~nCancerResearch
Center and a member of the
Lesbian Health Research
¯ Institute, is conducting
researchonbreastcancerthat
includes Lesbians.
"Five years ago, this was
guess-work; there was no
data," shetoldme in a recent
interview. "At my Cancer
Center, we do a lot of
research about the causes of
breast cancer and how to
prevent breast cancer. There
are many experts on breast
cancer, so I had a lot of
colleagues I could talk to
about my ideas about
Lesbians andbreast cancer."
In talking with Lesbians,
Dr. Bowen realized that the
commonperception was that
breast cancer was more
frequent among Lesbians
and that perception was
frightening to Lesbians. As
a scientist, she knew there
was no proof yet one way or
the other. "That’s when I
beganthinking thatwecould
make some in-roads into
this," she said, "either by
collecting new data on
Lesbians or else by including questions
about sexual orientation into existing
studies." Dr. Bowen has done both - she
has written research grants to fund studies
specifically onLesbians andbreast cancer
and also begun to examine sexual
orientationin somelarge-scale community
surveys on hundreds of thousands of
women.
"Thebiggestriskfactorforgetting breast
cancer is being a woman," Dr. Bowen
said, "and the second biggest risk factor is
age. Even though we hear a lot about
younger women getting breast cancer, it
is really a disease of older women. And
the problem is that very few people have
studied older women who are past
menopause. So wedon’ t evenknow much
about breast cancer in womenin general."
Other risk factors for breast cancer are
having a family history of breast cancer.
"Having a close or even a distant relative
who has had breast cancer is now known
to ~put women at higher risk for breast
c~._cer, but we don’t know much about
why this is so," Dr. Bowen continued.
"Much of the research has focused on
women Who have multiple relatives with
breast cancer~ but that only accounts for
abOut 4% of all women. What about the
womanwhohada great-atmtMatildawho
had breast cancer? How does Aunt
Matilda’ s breast cancer transfer to her?"
Cancer researchers are also. beginning
to learn more about environmental
exposures, "the toxins, chemicals, and
maybe even the radiation that we
experience, some ofit naturally occurring
and some it put there by technology" as
Dr. Bowen described it, "but we don’t
how andwedon’ tknow whenthe exposure
to these environmental factors has to occur
inorder tobecomeariskforbreastcancer."
The theory goes
that ff Lesbians
have a harder
tlme finding
affordable and
affirmative
cheek-ups,
then they may he
less likely to have
mammo~rams
or to interact with
a health provider
in a Way that
would help with
early diagnosis.
So it may be that
Lesbians aren’t at
hi’her risk for
breast eaneer, just
that Lesbians
don’t get good
health eare . . .
will stimulate research on
Lesbian health issues. Dr.
Bowen said: "It’ s expensive
to do this kind of research.
You have to have lots of
money to call up 20,000
women, and with breast
cancer you have to call a lot
of women in order to reach
somewhohave thedisease."
Dr. Bowen’s research team
now asks about sexual
orientation inboth paper and
pencil surveys and in
telephone interviews. They
ask this in two ways - by
asking about identity (do
women identify as
heterosexual, bisexual,
Lesbian, or other) and also
by asking about sexual
behavior. "ffwe only ask the
former, we lose women who
have sex with women but
don’t identify as Lesbian,
and .if we just ask about
sexual behavior we lose
womenwho are notcurrently
sexually active," she
explained.
Dr. Bowen thinks there
are two camps of thoughts in
the Lesbian community
about breast cancer. ,One
has to do with reproductive
¯ factors. FewerLesbians have children than
¯ do heterosexual women. The ’fewer’ can
¯ range from about 36% to about 60% of
Lesbians whohave had children. Whereas
¯¯ with heterosexual women it’s actually
quitehigh-between 80-90% of all women
¯ havehad children. Nothaving had children
: or having had children late aright be a
¯ factor in developing breast cancer.
¯ Pregnancy might cease certain hormones
¯ that are linked to the development of
¯ breast cancer."
~ "The other camp of thought has to do
¯
with access to reliable, good, open, access
¯ to health care," Dr. Bowen said, "and
¯ Lesbians may not have such access. We ¯
know that if cancer is caught at a later
¯ stage when it has had more chance to
¯ growandspreadtootherpartsofthebody,
¯ it’ s harder to treat and can’t be treated as
~ wall. The theory goes that if Lesbians
: have a harder time finding affordable and
," affirmative check-ups, then they may be
¯ less likely to have m~mmograms or to ¯
interact with a health provider in a way
¯ that wouldhelp with early diagnosis. Soit
¯ may be that Lesbians arCh’ t at higher risk ¯
for breast cancer, just that Lesbians don’t
¯
get good health care and are likely to be
¯ diagnosed with breast cancer at a later
¯ stage when it is harder to treat."
¯" I asked Dr. Bowen what she would
¯ reconamend that health care professionals
¯ do to increase the comfort of Lesbian
¯ patients. Her suggestions: "The person
: who comes to a doctor has to trust that
¯ doctor and she has to feel comfortable
¯ bringing scary problems to that doctor.
¯ And I’m hypothesizing that one of the
~ problems bringing up sexual orientation
: in a health care setting is that you aright
¯ feel okay saying you have a cold or a
: stomach ache, see Psyche, p. 13
IGTA
Calmlem3b4er1.686’6[ .~~.~~
International
ToursSormoreinSormation.
Red Rock Tulsa
O’RYAN
Oklahoma Rainbow
Young Adult Network
Outreach Program Thurs. Nights
Meet Others in a Sa)e Enviroment
Call for meeting times and place:
918-584-2325
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1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor
in the Pride Center, 743-4297
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all sales benefit the Pride Center
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by Lamont Lindstrom. Ph.D. ¯ romantic attraction and love is indeed an
Ahinad is looking for a boyfriend in " alien idea in societies where families
Califoruia.RaisedinPakistaninawealthy,
¯ originateonlythrougharrangedmamages.
rural farnilv he immigrated to the US a ¯ Like Parivaraj’s Gay schoolboys,
few years Ego. Ahinad telephones home " Ahrnad, some-how, has also learned to
regularly to talk with his desire a boyfriend. Sex on the
parents and sisters. He misses
his family but he’s not going
back. His parents expect him
to marry and if he returns to
Pakistan he knows he ..would
find tfimself quickly caught up
in an arranged mamage with
some woman selected by his
father. So he remains in San
Francisco, despite his homesickness,
hoping to arrange his
ownmamage- but withaman.
Ahmad’ s problem is shared
by the characters of a recently
publishednovel that deals with
Gay lifein India, P. Parivaraj’ s
~restern stories
of romantic
love, and the
emergence of a
separate Gay
identity are
powerful
notions that
have spread
Oobally.
Shiva and Arun. In this book, a group of
Hindu and Muslim schoolboys face
difficult challenges related to their
homosexuality. They can only be honest
with each other about their desires that
they hide from family and even their
closest friends.
After leaving school, one is fired when
his boss discovers his sexual orientation.
All of them are pressured by family to
marry and have children. One is rejected
by his father when he refusesto do so.
Another gives in and is only able to have
awkwardsex withhis new wifeby thinking
-. of his boyfriend. He soon kills himsdf.
Marriage has failed to quell his
homosexual desire.
I discussed Shiva and Arun with a Gay
colleague who has lived in India. Based
on his experience (some of thi.s rather
intimate), .my colleague argued that the
novel’ s tragic suicide is unbelievable. He
has met hundreds of happily married
homosexual Indian men who juggle
parallel lives with wife and children in
public, and discrete sexual encounters with
men in private. Almost all Indian and
Pakistani men - whether they desire
womenormen- marry without complaint
as the normal, human thing to do. Those
who want sex withmen can easily pick up
partners by cruisi,ng in appropriate places.
Stephen Murray s 1997 book, Islamic
Homosexualities, describes street corners
in Karachi where men drive by to find
dates.
I asked Ahmad why he just didn’t give
in and go home, make his dad happy by
getting married, and find an occasional
lover on the highway roundabouts. He
replied gloomily that he couldn’ t do this.
He wants instead to live as what he really
is, a Gay man. He is exiled in California,
torn between family duties and personal
desire.
Shiva andArun taps into this sentiment
- a model of Gayness that is recently
"diffusing" (as anthropologists put this)
from West to East. Parivaraj seemingly
rejects the conclusion that Indians have
borrowed Western patterns of sexuality.
None of his characters identifies himself
as"Gav,." Pather, they are "menwho love
men." Still,he clearlyhas adoptedWestern
concepts of individuality and romantic
love. Two of his boys manage to find
happiness in the end. They fall in love,
leave their families, and move in with
their boyfriends to establish at least quasipublic
homosexual households.
The notion of long-term household
relations between two men founded in
corner before going home to
wife and kids is no longer
good enough. .
Previously, in many
societies, even if you were a
man-loving-man, there was
no obvious alternative to what
¯ all men did. You accepted the
woman that your parents
arranged for you and you
served your family by
fathering children.
In future, however,
there may be more and more
Ahmads who are unwilling to
go along with traditional
¯ " expectations. Western stories of romantic
: love and the emergence of a separate Gay
¯
identity are powerful notions that have
¯ spread globally.
, When one of Parivaraj’s young men
breaks with his parents by confessing that
¯ he loves men, they think he must be a ¯
transvestite prostitute -the only local
¯ gender category they have available to try
¯¯ tounderstandhim. Buthe snot. Although
¯ hemay not call it thus, he has adopted the Western identity "Gay" that is
: fundamentally defined by a romantic
¯ desire for boyfriends. ¯ Those ofus who celebrate individuality
¯ andlovemight applaud Abroad’ s coura.ge
¯ at defying his father, abandoning his
mother and sisters, and casting himself
: into Gay-dating hell - that horribly lonely
¯ search for romance.
¯ In my more paranoid moments, ¯
however, I worry about the recent
¯ proliferation and spread ofall sorts ofnew
social identities, including "Gay." The
¯ global economic system in large part
depends on the cultivationof multiple and
¯ splintered identities that serve-as niche
¯ markets for its goods.
: So, in addition to all the foods, and
¯
clothing, and furniture, and art, andmusic
¯ that Ahmad seems to need to buy in order
¯ to demonstrate his Gayness, I pray thathe
can manage to snag a boyfriend. But he
: already knows that they can cost a lot.
¯ Lamont Lindstrom is a professor of
¯ anthropology at the University of Tulsa. ¯
However, this semester he is teaching at
"~ the University ofCalifornia, in Berkeley.
¯ but not that you want the provider to feel
your breast, for example. Lesbians might
also worry that the provider might force
them to use high-tech solutions for their
¯ problem when they would prefer to begin
¯ with alternative solutions. Lesbians often
¯ have good reason got to trust ’the system’
¯ and right now the solutions we have for
¯ breast cancer have to with technology,
: such as chemotherapy, radiation, or
¯ surgery." She also recommends that
¯ Lesbians look for open, trustworthy
¯ providers if these exist’ in their
¯ communities.
: Esther Rothblum is Professor of
Psychology at the University of Vermont
i and Editor Of the Journal of Lesbian
: Studies.ShecanbereachedatJohnDewey
: Hall, UniversityofVermont, Burlington,
: VT, email: esther.rothblum@uvm.edu.
If the hate crimes bill passes the Senate,
where it has been in committee, it will
¯come before Bush who can either veto it
or sign it into law.
"Wehope the state Senate and Governor
Bush will follow the leadoftheHouseand
the people of Texas and pass hate crimes
legislation," said Birch.
At aWashington press conference last
month, family members of twohate crimes
victims announced their supportforfederal
and state hate crimes legislation. Both
Judy Shepard, mother of University of
Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, and
Darrell Verrett, nephew of Jasper, Texas
resident James Byrd Jr., urged Bush to
pass the Texas legislation.
As reported in The Dallas Morning
News, in 1997 - the most recent year for
available statistics-360 hate crimes were
reported in Texas. The Department of
Public Safety reported that 167 crimes
were directed againstAfrican-Americans;
64 against Gays and Lesbians; 22 against
Hispamcs; and 21 against Jews.
Theeffort to pass hate crimes legislation
is led by Dianne Hardy Garcia, executive
director of the Lesbian and .Gay Rights
Lobby of Texas and state Rep. Senfronia
Thompson, D~Texas, Chair, Judicial
Affairs Committee.
’q~he incredible leadership of Dianne
Hardy Garcia and Representative
SenfroniaThompsonhas madeit po,s.sible
for the House to-take this great stride
forward," said Birch. ’q’his is a textbook
example of how effective engagement in
thepolitical process throughlobbying and
education can have a significant societal
impact. Today, millions ofTexans are one
step closer to receiving protection from
hate violence."
Only 21 states have hate crimes laws
that include sexual orientation and eight
s.tates havenohate crimes laws. Nationally,
since 1981, hate crimes have nearly
doubled. In 1997 - the FBI’s most recent
reporting period-race-related hate crimes
were byfarthemostcommon,representing
nearly60% ofall cases. Hate crimes based
on religion represented 15% of all cases.
And hate crimes against Gay, lesbian and
bisexual Americans increased by 8% - or
about 14% of all hate crimes reported.
The Scripps Howardpoll of 1,003 adults
was conducted by telephone, March 30-
April 17. It has amargin of error ofplus or
minus 3 percentage points.
The home can hold up to 6 or 7 kids from
infants to older, and is filled with plenty, of
toys. and a nice, little backyard for play.
The operation will belicensed andbonded,
and one of the morns is qualified to work
with special education and hearing
impaired children. And in a very 90’s
touch, they are considering adding an
internet camerawhichwouldallow parents
who have web access at work to log into
a web site and checkon~ their kids!.
GLAD, Ga)~. & ~bian-Daycare ~il1
als0 ~b~a [~t[¢: 1:~§~ ;expensi.ve~ than~
comparable:qUality opera.tions. The
~riollgrcahmar.gwehi$c1h0i0s dpueer two eoepkenvemrsidu-sMtahye
$125phis which Teresa andJoan found to
be more common. And they are willing to
provide evening and weekend care by
special arrangement. GLAD,’s orgamzers
will be having a special garage sale on
May7th&8thto help kickofftheprogram.
For more information, call 808-8026.
Good Food, Good Service,
No Anti-Gay Attitude
Tulsa’s neverhad that many choices for
late night dining but now, with Burger
Sisters,just opened the last week ofApril,
Tulsa’s Gay community not only can get
good food but be treated right in the
process..
John Rothrock and Steve Walley,
owners of the Silver Star, just down the
way in the same shopping center, have
opened a "comfortable, clean" restaurant.
Rothrock notes that the restaurant
welcomes all, Gays, straights, young and
old but especially, it will be a place where
Gay people can be free and comfortable to
hold hands or to come in late from the
clubs in drag or leather and not be hassled.
In other words, straight people are
welcome - as long as they behave
themselves !
Rothrock notes, "it’s time for Gays to
grasp the respect we’ve earned.., not tO
be ashamed..." and he adds, "when you
eat here, you don’t have to hide who you
are.
Burger Sisters, which opens at 6am
offers a typical, "downhome" breakfasts,
hamburgers, fries, salads as wall as a daily
dinner special. Monday to Thursday, the
cafe will be open till 10pro. OnFriday and
saturday, they’ll stay open till 4am and
Sunday, the hours will be 10am - 3pro (all
subject to some change, after all they’ve
been open only a few days when this goes
to press). At this point, the cafe accepts
only cash, no credit cards but their prices
are very reasonable. Burger Sisters is
located at 1545 So. Sheridan, just north a
few doors from the Silver Star. Tel: 835-
1207.
Four Years They’re There,
One Night They’re Gone
According to some of their now exstaff,
Concessions, for more than four
years one of Tulsa’s largest dance clubs
closed precipitously the last Saturday of
April. Andindeed, the business signs have
been removed from the building.
One local bar observer said that rumors
in the club crowd suggested that the
business was plagued by legal costs
associated with an ongoing lawsuit. A
member of the former bar staff stated that
they were givenjust one hour notice of the
loss of their jobs.
Other members of the Gay community
suggest that the owners of Oklahoma
City’s Angles have been said to be trying
to expand their operation into Tulsa for a
number ofmonths. Theirnames also have
been mentioned as possible buyers of
Concessions’ equipment or lease.
However, other real estate watchers
wonder if the gentrification of Brookside
may result in that space being leased to
other uses.
Under the direction of Lewis Routh,
OneFoolis fast-paced and wildly original.
Though Lesbian-themed, the play
humorously and aptly demonstrates the
.. universality of every person’s quest for
~ the perfect love.
¯ Decidedly ’ adult-oriented; admission
¯ will be limited to those 21 years and older.
$10 per person at the door, with all
: proceeds benefiting the Eureka Springs
¯ Diversity Celebration being held Nov. 5- ¯
7,1999.
¯ For further information, please contact
: the show’s producers, The Emerald
¯ Rainbow, at 501-253-5445.
MANFINDER®
A GOOD WORKING OVER Safe,
sane, dominant top in Tulsa looking
for Boys into humiliation, hazing,
discipline, S&M and B&D.
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HEY COWBOYS! 31-year-old
WM cowboy, 6’4", 250 Ibs, professional,
looking for a handsome,
hairy cowboy bottom, 30-50, for
fun going out and quality times. If
you’re interested, (Wat0nga)
~13456
EXTRA BEAR OR CUB NEEDED
Gay Couple - Hispanic and White. "
Bear is 42, 5’9", 2151bs,
brown/blub-eyes, very hairy. Cub
is 33, 5’8", black/brown-eyes,
toned body. Bear likes young inshape
males, Cub likes big burly
males. Looking for extra person or
other couples who are HIV negative
for a little fun but no commitment.
(Marietta) e22247 ~
PUT A TOP ON IT GWM - 28
years old, brown hair and blueeyes.
Enjoys music, movies, am
drug free, and going to the bars
occasionally. Likes a mocha once
a week. Looking for top. (Tulsa)
’if19632
OPEN, SUBMISSIVE, AND
LOOKING WM, 24, 6’.4", 155 -
1601bs, brown/brown-eyes, very
boyish looking. I’m a bottom
who’s very submissive. I’m looking
for friends also, ISO sincere,
honest, and open-minded men.
(Elk City) ~12514
WANT TO EAT MY DESSERT
FIRST White Male looking to have
sex first, and then maybe a relationship
later on. I’m looking for a
WM, 5’10" or so with brown hair.
Prefer guys without mustaches or
beards. (Ada) ~’14584
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SPANK ME! 31-year-old GWM,
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or a group. (Ada) ’e14344
JUST LOOKING FOR SEX
Looking for a few Guys who really
like sex and having fun. I’m 31
and like to do almost anything, but
I’m not into long-term relationships.
(Ada) ff14298
JUST A COUNTRY BOY 40-yearold
WM, black/green, 5’9", 175
Ibs, ISO someone who likes fun,
travel, movies and nature. I’m
looking for someone who would
be good to me and who would let
me be good to him. If you know
how to enjoys the simpler things
in life, give me a call. (Stillwater)
~14145
LIVING ON THE EDGE Looking
for someone who likes to live on
the edge. I’m tired of all the
games and if you are too, leave
me a message. (Oklahoma City)
~10176
BUCKING BRONCO Cowboy
WM, 5’10"~ 175 Ibs, n/s, likes
homeback riding, fishing, nature
and fooling around in the woods. I
want to find someone who wants
to have some fun. If you’re looking
for a good time, give me a call.
(Weewoca) ff10117
BODY WORSHIP GWM, into
body worship, looking for a WM,
35-40, who’s into body building.
(Tulsa) ’~10314
FUN AND ROMANTIC Looking
for a romantic WM, 18-35,who
likes movies, ball games, video
games, having fun and who lives
in the area. (Ada) ’1t’13780
I’M WORTH THE CALL Looking
for a one-night stand with a very
muscular, well-endowed top: If
interested, give me a call. (Tulsa)
~13401
I NEED BEEF Looking for a Guy,
35+, with lots of muscle. If you’re
Tulsa’s answer to John Holmes or
Hulk Hogan, leave me a message.
(Tulsa) ff13126
GIVE ME THE BEEF If you’re
Tulsa’s answer to Larry Holmes or
Hulk Hogan, give me a call. I think
you’ll find this call worth your
while. (Tulsa) ’~’12814
LOOKING FOR A MUSCULAR
TOP 65-year-old WM, looking for
a WM, 35-40, who’s into bodybuilding.
If interested i:, talking to
me, leave me a message. I’m definitely
worth a call. (Tulsa)
’~12785
MUSCLE MAN WANTED 65-
year-old WM, looking for a very
muscular, well-hung WM, 35-40,
for a one-night stands. Give me a
call and find out that I’m definitely
worth it. (Tulsa) "z1’12606
LOOKING FOR A TOP SGM, 21,
6’2", 185 Ibs, lilies having fun,
movies and quality t!mes at home.
Looking for a top who would like
to get together with me. (Tulsa)
~10006
INTIMATE CONVERSATIONS
WM, late 20s, enjoys dancing, the
arts, long walks and meeting new
people, Looking fora Guy, 18-30,
for a serious, long-term relationship.
(Oklahoma City)ff10294
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WITH ME Woman 27years
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~20267
WRITER, POET, THINKER
40-year-old BF, young-looking,
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GIVE ME SOME RESPECT
Seeking a feminine-soft butch
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then call me. (Tulsa) ’~’22318
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~22368
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
[1999] Tulsa Family News, May 1999; Volume 6, Issue 5
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Creator
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Tulsa Family News
Source
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Tom Neal
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
May 1999
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
James Christjohn
Jean-Claude de Flambeauchaud
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
Adam West
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
Relation
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Tulsa Family News, April 1999; Volume 6, Issue 4
Format
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Image
PDF
Online text
Language
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English
Type
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newspaper
periodical
Coverage
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Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/587
'One Fool'
1999
African Americans
AIDS/HIV
AIDS/HIV research
Arkansas
arts and entertainment
attorneys
Barney Frank
Barry Hensley
Bars
Burger Sisters
businesses
Catholic Church
churches
Concessions
Council Oak Men's Chorale
Dave Fleischer
denial of service
Dick Armey
Do-It-Yourself Dyke
Dyke Psyche
Entertainment Notes
Esther Rothblum
Eureka Springs
Gay and Lesbian Affordable Daycare
gay bashing
Gay Finances in a Straight World
Gay Studies
Gregory Diggins
hate crime bill
hate crimes
HIV/AIDS bias
homophobia
James Christjohn
Kenya
Lamont Lindstrom
Maine
Mary Schepers
medical abuse
Millenium March
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Native Americans
New Haven
performing arts
Peter Berkery Jr.
Pride
Read All About It
Red Ribbon Gala
restaurants
South Africa
Swan Awards
Thailand
Tim Bliley
Tom Coburn
Tom Neal
Tulsa Family News
Tulsa Two-Spirited Indian Men's Support Group
University of Tulsa
violence
Women and AIDS Regional Conference
-
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/0f5c5a297cb644367e6ca3802399cadc.jpg
9f767686a7925d09e8f082502fc3f303
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/c52cad5db7656600ffc7b20b992d792c.pdf
b82e1103b092b333cea21afa7c6c8baf
Dublin Core
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[Sub-Series] Newsletters & Publications > Tom Neal Newsletters > Tulsa Family News
Text
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newspaper
periodical
Text
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New Campaign for Federal
Hate Crimes Law Passage
WASHINGTON (AP) - Oregon Sens. Ron.Wyden and
Gordon Smith are renewing their campaign for an
expanded, federal hate crimes statute, hoping thatpublic
outrage over the torture and murder of black and Gay
men will spur passage. "This is about drawing a line in
the sand and saying America.is too good.., to look the
other way in the face of violent, hate-filled acts," said
Wyden, a Democratic cosponsor of the Hate Crimes
Prevention Act of 1999, a replica of last year’s bill.
Last month in Texas, John William King, a white
supremacist, was sentenced to death for chaining a
black man, James Byrd Jr., behind a pickup truck and
dragging him to his death. Two men have been charged
in the October slaying of Gay colleg.., student Matthew
.Shepard, who was pistol-whipped and’lashed to a fence
m Wyoming. Two men also have been charged with
beating to death aGay textile worker, Billy Jack Gaither,
in Alabamalast month and burning his body on a pile of
tires.
Sen. Gordon Smith, another cosponsor of the bill,
said that as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee he often travels abroad and deplores hate
crimes in other nations, see Federal, p. 3
Alabama Man Murdered
in Anti-Gay Hate crime
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - An overflow crowd of
mourners filled Covenant Metropolitan Community
Church, honoring the memory of Billy Jack Gaither
while also calling for an end to hatred against Gays.
There was no standingroom at the 225-seat church as 17
speakers mostly clergy - decried Gaither’s death. A
handful of anti-Gay protesters picketed outside.
Steven Eric Mullins, 25, and Charles Monroe Butler,
21,.confessed to beating the 39-year-old Sylacaugaman
to death with an ax handle last month and setting his
body on fire atop kerosene-soaked tires because, they
claimed, he made a pass at one of them. Gaither’s body
was discovered by apasserby Feb. 20in CoosaCounty,
a day after he was beaten and burned.
"Mullins and Butler stated the reason they killed him
was because he was ahomosexual," said Coosa County
sheriff’s deputy Al Bradley. "We believe this to be the
true motive." Mnllins and Buffer remain in the Coosa
County jail.
Gaither met with the two men in Sylaeanga, a
community about 40 miles southeast of Birmingham,
on the night he was killed, police said. Hehad last been
seeninabarhefrequented. According to the statements,
Mullins called Gaither and asked him to go to the bar,
where they met and.apparently left together, Johnson
said. Authorities said the men apparently took Gaither
to a remote location, where the murder took place.
The memorial service drew people of all races and
ages, from all across the state, seeAlabama,p. 13
DIRECTORY)LETtERS P. 2
EDITORIAL P. $
US & WORLD NEWS P. 4
HEALTH NEWS P. 6
ENTERTAINMENT P. 8
COMMUNITY CALENDAR P. 9
DO-IT-YOURSELF-DYKE P. 11
DYKE PSYCHE P. 12
GAY STUDIES P. 14
Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tuleans, Our Families + Friends
~Cir~cuistion Comm..un" Pa eravailable In More Than 75 C" Locations
Ok.lahom; iHou e K, IIs Hate ! Gay US Congres.sman
Crime Amendment, HB1.211 :: FranktoAttend Pr,de’99
by Tim Talley and Tom Neal : TULS,A -.~Wl~i,’le some details remain unresolved,
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP/TFN)- Hate crimes legislationis dead : Tulsa s Pride 99 organizers have announced that
in the Oklahoma Legislature this year following defeat of a bill : .openly .Gay US...Congress.man, Barney Frank of
that originally sought to add sexual orientation to the state’s list Mass,ach,nsetts will .attend this
of hate erimes, year s June 12th event.
An unprecedented number of supporters, including members ~ongressman Frank is _one of
of Gay and Lesbian groups and representatives of religious me most respected l)emoorganizations
such as TulSa Metropolitan Ministry, went to the _cra~cme..mbers of ~e,,United
Capitol early in March to encourage lawmakers to support House ~ tate.s Hou,s e ox,,~,epre-
Bill 1211. sentataves ana is well ~nown
But the bill’s sponsor, Tulsa Rep. Don Ross said there was not
enough bipartisan support to add sexual orientation to the
Oklahoma Hate Crimes Act. "I said from the beginning I would
not allow this issue to become a partisan wedge issue, used
exclusively against Democrats in the next election," Ross said.
The vote killing the bill followed more than an hour of
sometimes passionate debate between supporters, who said that
certain classes ofpeople deserve special protection, and opponents
who argued that all citizens should be treated equally under the
law. The bill’s final version would have made a first-offense hate
crime afelony and providedfor enhanced penalties when~iolence
was used but did not add "sexual orientation" to the existing law.
Rep. Leonard Sullivan said the measure was divxsive and
singled out certain groups for special treatment. The Oklahoma
Hate Crimes Act distinguishes offenses committed because of
race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin and disability. But
supporters said special status has been given to crimes against
children and women, and that similar recognition is needed for
other groups because of who or what they are.
"The law is an equalizing force," argued Ross, who is one of
three Black House members. "The idea of equal protection is a
very noble concept," but it is up to lawmakers to make it work,
said Rep. Russ Roach, D-Tulsa. "This legislation protects all
people," added Rep. John Sellers, D-Enid.
Ross’ substitute bill deleting ~exual orientation was drafted in
response to the Christian Coalition opposition. Toure said fear,
hatred and misunderstanding are to blame for dropping sexual
orientation from the measure. "I never knew the hatred toward
Gay people as I do now," Ross said.
TOHR’ Steve Horn shivers with Cimarron Alliance’ Terry
Gatewood andfriend at Equality Begins at Home Capitol rally,
Reverend Leslie Penrose
Resigns as Methodist Pastor
TULSA - On March 5,1999, the pastor of Community of Hope
Base Shalom Congregation, the Reverend Leslie Penrose
submitted a letter to Oklahoma MethodiSt Bishop, Bruce Blake
initiating her withdrawal from the Methodist Church: The
following is selections of her letter which circulated by e-mail in
the Tulsa community:
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
It is with prayers for its future well-being, that I initiate the
. processofwithdrawingfromtheUnitedMethodistChurch. The
", primary reason for my withdrawal after 18 years offull time
¯ ministry is the increasing focus on complaints and charges
¯ regarding my ministry of blessing same-sex covenant
relationships.ltseemsthattheoptionshavefinallybeenreduced
¯ to either withdrawing or preparing for trial. I simply will not
¯ participate inputting God’s grace- or myprivilege as apastor ¯
¯ to bless andcelebrateany andevery relationship where thefruits ofthe spirit bear witness to that grace - on trial. Nor will I hide
¯ or lie about the ministry I do.
¯ From the time six years ago when I was sent by the Oklahoma
¯ Conference to create a reconciling base community ministry in
Tulsa, see Penrose, p. 13
for his skilled and often
scathing debate.
Mitchell Savage, member
of Tulsa Gay Community
Services Center’s Pride ’99 planning committee,
also noted that in addition to attending the annual
Tulsa Pride Picnic, planned again.for Veterans
Park at 18th and Boulder, organizers are working
on a dinner at which the Congressman would likely
speak and possibly a Sunday morning event.
Congressman Frank was graduated in 1962 from
Harvard University andtaughtundergraduates there
while studying for a Ph.D. Before completing his
Ph.D. degree, Frank became Chief Assistant to
Mayor Kevin White of Boston. In 1972,
Congressman Frank was elected to the
Massachusetts Legislature, where he served for
eight years, until 1980. During that time, he entered
Harvard Law School in September, 1974 and
graduated in 1977. In 1980, Congressman Frank
was elected to the US House of Representatives. In
a recent evaluation of Congress, The Almanac of
American Politics said "Frank is one of the
intellectual and political leaders of the Democratic
Party in the House, political theorist :andpit bull at
the same time." Frank serves on the Judiciary and
the Banking Financial Services Committees.
For more information, contact the Community
Center at 743-4297.
BTW Boasts OK’s First
Gay-Straight Alliance
by Tom Neal
TULSA - Elsewhere in the United States, high
school Gay-Straight Alliances have often been met
withconsiderable controversy. In Utah, some school
districts got rid of all their campus organizations
¯ rather than allow a group which tries to supportGay
o young adults andfoster tolerance andunderstanding.
: However, Booker T. Washington High School,
¯ Tulsa’s magnet showpiece school, appears to have
¯ avoided much of that sort of uproar and is thought
: to be the first high school with such an organization
¯ in the state of Oklahoma.
¯ Former SapulpaHigh School student, Will Allen
¯ and Emily Sizemore began the work of creating a ¯
Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) latein 1998, meeting
." withformerBTWprincipal Mr. Stevens andt’mding
¯ a faculty sponsor, Doug Gronberg.
¯ Then in January this year, after creating flyers
¯ and making an public announcement on the school
¯ intercom, they held their first meeting.
¯ Muchto the astonishmentofAllen and Sizemore,
¯ 40 students showedup. In fact, Allen stated that the
¯ turnout was notable especially since that that first
: meeting conflicted with a tryoutfor the Washington
¯ Drama Club’s production of West Side Story:
¯ Apparently BTW’s Gay population is well
¯ represented in theDramaClub and therefore, many
¯ who might otherwise have been expected to attend
¯ weren’t able. Allen also notes that similar groups in
:
Chicago and Boston frequently don’thave as many
¯ attending.
: Allen said that the GSA is comparable to other
:
studentchapters on thecampus, suchas theNAACP
¯ see BTW,.p. 13
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God Would Never
Advocate Hate
I am not pointing fingers. I am pointing
and pitching in.
¯It rained, and was quite cold and m~serable atSaturday’s ("EqualityBegins
At Home") rally on the capitol steps..The
graves of our Gay and African American
martyrs inAlabama,Jasper, andWyoming
are cold, lonely, andmiserable. Why were
there only aprox. 300 folks at the capitol
demanding that our innocent people’s
executions stop? Where were you?
I will speak for myself. When Mathew
Shepard died, Tulsa had a candlelight
vigil for him. It rained, and was nasty out
thatevening, therefore, I decided toremain
in the comfort of my warm home. After
seeing the number of folks from the
Westboro Baptist Church, that endured
the freezing rain at Mathew’s funeral - in
order to spew out hate and condemnation
to the coldbody ofaninnocent child- I felt
like aninsensitive, amoral, spineless snake
for staying.home. Where were you?
Howmany morefolks are going tohave
to die in order for you / us to see that we
need to attend these functions? The hate
crime law was turned down- even in the
state where Mathew Shepard was killed.
Arethe"moral majority" ofourlawmakers
hate mongers? I Thank God for MC
Smothermon, Keith Smith, Paul Barby,
and their likes. We need more folks like
them at our capitol, to defend the rights of
"minorities". We deserve better. Those
who have died because of ignorant hate
deserved better.
Perhaps the world does not fully
understand thathate crimes are committed
every day. Ourminority citizens are scared
to report attacks against themselves as
such, because offurther condemnation, or
for lack of concern by law enforcement.
¯ Folks are scared to speak up for equal ¯
rights - for fear of what few rights they
¯ currently have - will be torn away from
¯ them as a result. Receiving a pink slip
¯ from your employment, and adeath threat
: because of standing up for.equal rights !s
i reality. I know from experience. There ~s
~ plenty ofbehind the scene workthatnee~,s
¯ to be done, that will make a differencem
: your salvation - and the lives of those in
¯ danger of ignorant violence.
~ I know ofmany hate crimes committed ¯
in Tulsa alone- which have not received
¯ the attention they deserve. I am aware of
¯ "minority" children that were victims of
¯ violent I~ate crime - which cannot tell
~ their parents for fear of getting kicked out
¯ of their ho,,m_es. Obvi,o_nsly the general
" public says oh well,it s jt£st another fag,
¯ or blackie". Is the buckle of the bible belt
¯ so. tight.that it is r~.tri_cting blood flow to
; the brains of those who consider
¯ themselves "do-gooders"? God would
¯ never advocate hate. Never.
.’~ The general media image of the Gay,
Bi, Lesbian, and transgendered
community is out cruising River Park,
molesting littleboys, and spreading AIDS.
Wall, I have not used the parks for sex,
and see Letters, p. 3
Letters Policy
Tulsa Family News welcomes letters on
issues which we’ve covered Or on issues
you think need to be considered. You may
request that your name be withheld but
letters must be signed &hay e phone numbers,
or be hand delivered. 200 word lel-
¯ " " OB 701475 74170-1475 3_5.523_1.--42~. ; *~ ’ "t o~ Christ MCC ~2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696 ters are preIerrea~." "~’u~t.ters to other
Ep~scopahans, P , ., . Spin . ..... . ¯ " - will be rinteo as is a propna~e.
¯Fellowship Congreg. Ctxurch,2900 S. H~vard~ . ~ ~4,~-,~7~7, ,
, tswl~ere¢oucanrmaTFN-N°’~au~’eGa’’owne~~ s ap~prop_n[~.:
¯Free S~iht Women’ s Center, call for locauon ~~mo: ~o/-~,u~
.
theOklahomaStateCapitol as a local partofanational event,
Equality Begins at Home. The turnout really Wasn’ t that bad
considering that, in inimi table Oklahoma spring fashion, the
weather had turned very, very chilly and rainy. It also wasn’t
bad considering how the event’s Oklahoma City organizers
had failed thoroughly to get the word out to the statewide
community.
Their failure actually is rather surprising because those
organizers, Paul Thompson of the self proclaimed statewide
OGLPC, the Oklahoma Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus,
and Paula Hand Brown, an editor and reporter for The Gayly
Oklahomanare easily two of the mostexperienced Gay civil
fights activists in Oklahoma City.
The event itself was only symbolic. The Capitol was
locked and our only audience was, wall, ourselves and afew
media types. Thereal lobbyingwas thatdoneatthebeginning
of the month under the direction of Keith Smith and Nancy
McDonald when the Capitol was unlocked and legislators
werein attendance. But atleastOklahomacould say we were
there; wewere one of those states around the country that did
an "Equality Begins at Home" (EBAH) event.
But the event was marred by a few parochial and petty
aspects which by themselves are not that important but
which point to flaws in our national and state movement.
Th~se are the sorts of flaws that, frankly, often make u~as
effective in hindering our movement as our enemies.
One problem to which this newspaper has particular
objectionis thefailure ofthese experienced andmedia savvy
organizers to provide this newspaper with the most basic
information about the event. While TFN earlier published
" informationaboutEBAHbasedon the press releases provided
by the national sponsors, the National Gay & Lesbian Task
Force and the Federation of Stat,ewide LGBT Political
Organizations, Thompson and. Brown apparently did not
provide even the simplest press release telling precisely
when the event was going to be held.
Now in fairness, they claim that they telephoned TFN but
oddly neither I nor any otherTFN staffever found amessage
onour office number, our wireless voicemail,our e-mail, our
fax machine, or even by that old fashioned method, by post!
Some might suggest that Ms. Brown, an employee of a
somewhat rival newspaper and Mr. Thompson, wall known
to be dosdy tied to that newspaper might have had an
interest in not sharing the information fully.
Certainly, we at Tulsa Family News also acknowledge
that if the only part of rtmning this business and getting a
issue put together was to track down information from
negligentcommunity organizers, then wecould have chased
the information down as wall. However, we do have some
other events we have to cover as well. For the record,
Thompson and Brown did later telephone TFN and actually
leave messages but only after we had gone to press and only
after we complained to NGLTF organizers.
But the real issue for Oklahomain the "Equality Begins at
Home" effort is notjust that ofpoor communications. Part of
the EBAH effort was a grant of to each participating state of
$5,000. In Oklahoma, this $5K went to the Oklahoma Gay
& Lesbian Political Caucus (OGLPC).
Now if you just go by their name, you might assume that
they are genuinely a statewide-organization. However, the
organization in practice only ha~~ad a real impact in.central
Oklahoma City. In that area, they have been fairly effective.
An active OGLPC member claims that they have about 150
members, though they claim to have a mailing list of 7,000.
He surprisingly was unable to provide any numberfor Tulsa
members. And what many Gay and Lesbian civil rights
activists believe, both in Tulsa and OKC, is that OGLPC
really is just a OKC group. It’s never had any impact on
Tulsa politics.
Let us compare this with the Cimarron Alliance which,
although much newer, hasboth Tulsa and other non~OKC
members, and a track record of doing significant work
outside of OKC.
The obvious question is why did NGLTF give $5K to an
organizationwhichhadlittle credibility as agenuine statewide
organization, and which for years has seemed to be little
more than an extension of the personality of Paul Thompson
overTheCimarronAlliance withits documentable successes
across the state?
Here’s where petty local politics meets petty national
politics. NGLTF knew quite wall that OGLPC was not
widely considered credible as a statewide organization.
see Equality, p.lO
~shocked many with his.suggestion that th~ solution to
¯ .famine in Ireland, then under English domination, was
" for the Irish merely to eat their children. Swift, an
¯ Irishman himself,, indeed was being just a wee bit
¯ sarcastic and his essay is still readin literature classes as
an example of that type of essay.
It is the spirit of Swift that I’d like to
¯ invoke for part of this essay but I realize
that these words taken out of context as
¯¯ they no doubt will be, will likely provoke
shock and dismay and anger. All that said,
¯ I’d like to talk about hate crimes and hate
¯ crimes legislation, specifically that which
¯ was considered last month in our ¯
legislature.
¯ First, let us praise The Very Honorable
¯ Don Ross, one of Tulsa’s state
¯ representatives who introduced HB 1211.
¯
He can be cranky but as he once told me
¯ (and proved it), he’s one of our few
_" dependable friends in the Oklahoma
¯ House. He’s also been supportive of
¯ increased funding for people living with
¯ AIDS.
So, take some time to thank him - like
:’ your momma said, it doesn’t take that
¯ long to write a thank you note. Also don’t
¯ forget him when the next election cycle
¯ comes up. Send hima checkif you can, or ¯
volunteer. If we don’t take care of our
¯ friends, who will?
: And to highlight the positive, the
¯ progress HB1211 made is greater than ¯
anything that came before. That’s notjust
¯ my assessment but that of a Tulsa area
¯ Republican representative. He’ll be ¯
happier if I’ll leave him unnamed, but as
¯ he said, just getting the bill out of
¯ committee counts as progress. Headded that afew years
¯ ago,most of the people talking with us would not even ¯
have let us in the door.
¯ Again to recognize those whose work is making
¯ much of that difference, we need to thank Keith Smith
¯ who lobbies for our communities on his own while he ¯
does his other paid lobbying work. One day, if we are
¯ really smart as a community, we’ll figure outhow to pay
¯ Keith so that he can do even more.
¯ TulsaMetropolitanMinistry deserves great praise for
providing the initial leadership on this bill, particularly
¯ the Reverends Mildred Banks, Gary Blaine, Gaff Kecny-
¯ Mulligan and no doubt others whose names I don’t ¯
know. Attorney General Drew Edmondson and former
: DistrictAttorney Bill LaFortunealso were tremendousl)~
¯ helpfui.
Also, I would be remiss in not specifi.ca!,ly honoring
Nancy McDonald for spearheading Tulsa S efforts on
HB 1211. Standing 0utside thechamberoftheOklahoma
¯ House of Representatives with these two and~others, as
or nlzed ome
to lie in
wait outside of
notorious
"straight"-bars,
some guy walking
to his ear alone,
jump him and beat
him senseless?
Or when some
%traight" couple
has the nerve to
flaunt their
sexuality publicly,
by holding hands
or kissing, what if
we drove up on the
sidewalk to run
them down or
pulled a gun and
shot at them.
myfather and I did, is quite the education. Butnext time
we need to get more of us there!
But back to the blasphemous and scandalous, I have
¯ to wonder how quickly hate crimes laws would pass if
" the situation were reversed?
¯ What if we organized some gangs of Gay men to get
alittle drunkand liein waitoutside ofnotorious "straight"
bars, and when we see some guy walking
to his car alone, jump him and beat him
senseless. Orwhensome straight couple
has the nerve to flaunt their sexuality
publicly, byholding hands or kissing, what
if we drove up on the sidewalk to run them
down orjnstpulled agunand shot atthem?
At the very least, we could scream
epithets at them so that they’ll know how
hated and repulsive they are. And if that’s
not good enough to intimidate those
"straight" guys, wemight prevail on some
of our lipstick Lesbians to chat them up in
a bar, pretending to be "straight" and then
lure them out to where they can be beaten
or murdered or tortured - whatever.
How long do you think it would take for
hate crimes legisl.ation which included
sexual orientation to pass? Though our
legislature wouldlikely0uly makeitillegal
for us to beat up "straight" boys but leave
it just fine for them to kill us.
Mind you I do not advocate any of the
violence mentioned above; we all know it
wouldbe wrong. I think it is a testament to
the decency of most Gay people that we
face the injustice and indignity with which
we are treated with as much patience and
kindness as we do. I can’t believe that it’s
just because we have no choice.
Consider this: in the early years of the
AIDS holocaust, we had little hope; there
were no or few effective treatments; we
" had a government that was damning even more to death
¯ through its actions that were indifferent at best, and
more often hostile, and yet we never saw any of our
¯ people resorting to violence - civil disobedience, yes,
¯ butmoredidnothappenas is the casewithdesperate and
oppressed people in much else of the world. Even the
~ Jews became terrorists as old Palestine went on its way
¯ to becoming Israel.
¯ My old friend Peter and I have wondered how it is that
¯ none of those who might well have seen the world as
without hope, sought vengeance or acted in violence?
After all, when faced with the evil that Jesse Helms and
others like that represent, why no one of us sought to
send him or the many in Congress like him to the hell
they surely deserve?
But in the words of an old Holly Near song, "we are
a gentle, angry people, and we fighting, fighting for our
lives..." and maybe our persistence, along with the
righteousness of our cause will move even the hardened
hearts of Oklahoma towards justice someday.
radio programming, the (seemingly)blackmailing
Christian c~alition, and other attractive sprinkles of
ignorance. Prejudice words such as "faggot, blackie,
nigger, colored~ and queer" should never be allowed in
hateful media - of any sort. This is the dawn of a new
century political correctness changes - are we still
Neanderthals? I think that we have evolved enough to
cease advocating senseless -hate towards our brothers
and sisters.
Please make plans to attend the Pride ’99 Gay pride
parade on June 12th. Perhaps we will be more inclined
to attend a function of such ~xtreme value - if the
weather is bright and sunny. Weneed to make it known
to our leaders that hate crimes are not acceptable. Pride
’99 will be a wonderful vehicle to portray the equality
we deserve and demand. Equal rights are just that -
equal, not special.
¯ Please become more involved in advocating equality
v~a organizations such as T.O.H.R., N.A.A.C.P.,
P.F.LA.G., and others. You will be, and feel like, a
better person for your efforts.
I am not pointing t’mgers. Just pointing and pitching
in.
Conform and be dull. - Ned T. Bruha, Tulsa
Icert~ainly there are no more Gays interested in little
boys than the heterosexual community. AIDS has no
sexual preference. The words "Gay" and"black" arenot
needed as verbs. In media, when we talk about an
¯" "average" citizen, we do not say"andin thenews today,
~ a white, heterosexual groi~p of’Christians gathered in a
." local church to discuss how to stop theGays fromkilling
¯ straight folks". Please.
Why do we allow our radio stations to advocate hate
¯ via Gayjokes andracial slurs?Why does theFCC allow
." them that’’freedom of speech"? Why are websites such
¯ as the Gay Nazis, skinheads, KKK, Westboro Baptist, ¯
and Larry the Cable Guy allowed? They all seem to
." inciteignorantintolerance,hate, and sometimes violence
¯ - but when asked about what is inwriting- they refuse ¯
to admit it is hate. "We shouldbe outraged andalarmed,
¯ because theideas canlead to violent crimes"- as stated
¯ in the3/28/1999USAWeekendincludedin your Sunday
¯ papers. The minds of our innocent children are being
" soiled by seemingly innocent media: Crayons using
¯ peach as skin tone, bandages are peach- for skin tone,
Anti-Gay Stand Loses
Church Its Building
BROCKTON, Mass. (AP) - A dispute over Gay
Christians has put a priest and his parishioners who
oppose same-sex marriages on the street, so the
evicted congregation held services right on the
sidewalk. The Rev. Thomas Morris andabout adozen
members of his flock prayed outside on a recent
Sunday, despite their eviction by a judge in their
ongoing dispute with the Episcopal Diocese of
Massachusetts.
Morris and his congregation at St. Paul’s Church
opposed the diocese’s 1994 decision to sanction
same-sex unions and ordain noncelibate homosexuals
as priests. In opposition, the congregation began
withholding fees it was bound to pay the diocese.
Diocese officials maintained the dispute was not
about beliefs or issues. "What this is about is this
church needs a priest ingood standing with the bishop
and other churches in the diocese," said the Rev.
Donald Parker, the diocese vicar. The diocese is
overseen by Bishop Thomas Shaw. In the decision,
Judge Charles J. Hely said his ruling settled a legal
issue about property, not a religious issue.
In 1995, Morris’ predecessor at St. Paul’s, the Rev.
James R. HAles,was defrocked after the diocese found
him guilty of sexual misconduct. But many members
of the church stand by HAles, and say the charges
against him were concocted as punishment for his
stance against homosexuality.
Gay Irish Not Welcome
in Bronx Parade Either
NEW YORK (AP)= Members of a Gay organization
got a Bronx cheer when they tried to join the first St.
Patrick’ s Day-parade held in that borough in70 years.
Six people, including state Sen. Tom Duane and
City Councilwoman Christine Quiun, were arrested
Sunday after a.doze~! supporters of the Lavender and
Green’Al!ian.~ce stepped into the parade. "I’m an Irish
person, I’m a Gay person, I’m here to try to march,"
Duane sai& %
Lavender and Green Alliance founder BrendanFay
said his group"originally "got a call to say we were
welcome, but then we learned the welcome was being
rescindedY The ~Bronx parade’s chairman, patrick
Devine, d~d nrt ieturn telephone calls left at his home
scekin~o crniment and did not make himself fi)aifable
to reporters at.flae~ parade.....
Another gr.oup, the Irish Lesbian and. Gay
Organizafion,’hhs fifed unsuccessfully to join t13~ big
St. Patriek~sD~y??Parade down Fifth Avenue in
Manhattan f0t th(last half-dozen years criir~fruqfngs
have held ~that the.private organizauons thaVsponsor
parades may ch0.Os¢ which groups march
Quim~,Duane, Fay and the others were arrested
after the first marching band passed by and they
stepped into the parade behind the Lavender ~and
Green banner. They were stopped by a line of police
officers and informed they would be arrested if they
failed to l~ave. A few stepped aside, but others stood
fast and were led away to a police-wagon and
handcuffed before being charged with disorderly
conduct."Let themmarch!" shouted a few supporters.
"’Shame!" called outJimmy McNulty,who was among
those arrested. "Why are we not welcome?"
Several dozen spectators cheered when the parad~
resumed without the Gay group. "It’s an immoral
lifestyle," said spectator Martin O’Grady. "If they
wanted to march, the), could have marched without
their banner," said Fannie Sclafani. "t have nothing
against them, but it’s a community parade." Mary
McGarry also said they shouldn’t have tried to crash
the parade. "I have best friends who are Gay, but the
parade is not about sexual orientation. It’s about
being proud to be Irish," she said.
The parade had the feel of a small-town event,
featuring cheerleaders from parochial high schools,
kilted bagpipers, babies in strollers decorated with
Irish flags and groups like the Throgs Neck
Homeowners, which consisted of a dozen ladies
wearing off-white cable-knit fishermen’s sweaters.
Spectators were sparsdy scattered along the mileand-
a-half route along East Tremout Avenue. It was
in sharp contrast to the annual Fifth Avenue parade,
with its glitzy floats, booming drum corps and rowdy
crowds.
Stanley Rygorwas among a half-dozen people who
stood on a sidewalk behind the Lavender and Green
banner after the arrests took place. "They want them
back in the closet. They want them to be anonymous,"
said Rygor, whose wife is Irish. He said his son died
of AIDS five years ago, and he dealt with his grief by
becoming an activist. "I’m here," he added, "in
memoriam to him."
Gay Vets Want to March
FERNDALE, Mich. (AP) - A group of Gay military
veterans are taking steps to march in this Detroit
suburb s Memorial Day parade.Agroup of Ferndale s
Gay veterans hope to join members of Friends and
Neighbors of Femdale (FANS), a Gay group that has
received tentative approval to enter the parade,
according to a parade organizer.
Femdale’s parade leaders have so far downplayed
the significance of including Gays. "As far as I know,
they are planning to meet all our reqmrements,"
Barbara Earl, a secretary with the Femdale Memorial
Association, told the Detroit Free Press for a story
Monday.
The association puts on the annual parade, one of
theregion’ s biggest and oldest, dating to at least 1919.
Organizers say they will strictly enforce arequirement
limiting any show of a group’ s identity to a display of
its nagne. If enforced, that would mean FANS will
march with no explicit banner proclaiming it is an
orgamzation of Gays. "It’s not a day to promote your
own agenda," Ms. Earl said. "This is a day for the
veterans."
Gay group leaders in Ferndale said they are
ctmfortable blending in with the parade’s usual array
ofhonor guards, scout troops, high school bands and
politicians. "We wouldn’t want to do anything to
incite controversy," said Chuck Simon, president of
FANS, whichhas about 80 dues-paying members and
a mailing list of several hundred.
Parade rules require participants to refrain from
displaying their own messages and instead stick to
OffiCial Slogans, which this year are "Lest we forget"
arid "’Fgt _those who gave their all."
Navy veteran Ken Warnock, 32, who co-owns the
Jn~ 4 ~’G~y. ~0oksto~e in F~rndale, told the Free
Pre~;’fimi he will march in Ferndale’s parade with a
¯ mix ofpridd and bft-terhess. In 1987, Warnock, then
- 20, was a hrgpital Corpsman aboard a Navy ship when
he was. broughL.hefore his commanding officer,
q~esfioned abouthis sexual orientation and th]:eafen,ed
"’ With~perjury iia~e, fie said. He resisted the Navy s
" in~esfigatirnfor months, Wamock said. Ultimately,
he.r¢cgived a lessZthan2honorable discharge - not
q~-t.e as bad as a ~dishon0rable discharge, he said.
On Memorial Day, Warnock probably won’t wear
¯ his sailor s umform- it s gettang a htfle t~ght - but
beplans to carry an American flag while keeping a
watchful eye for anyone angry at Gay participants.
Despite his wariness, he said the inclusion of Gay
marchers "speaks very well for Ferndale.’"
Femdale Mayor ChuckGoedert saidhewas unaware
of the Memorial Day plans but supports the inclusion
ofFANS members and Gay veterans. "There are a lot
of groups that participate in our parade to honor those
who served. I don’t know why this would be any
different," he said.
Ohio Diocese to Reach
Out to Gay Catholics
CINCINNATI (AP) - TheArchdiocese of Cincinnati
is creating a ministry for homosexual Catholics and
their families. "The church wants to support the
homosexual person but not homosexual activity,"
said spokesman Dan Andfiacco said. "There is a need
for pastoral care of homosexual persons. The
archdiocese wants to meet that need, and not cede
teiritory to ministries that don’t support the teaching
of the church."
In recent years, RomanCatholicgroups nationwide
have started Gay ministries such as DIGNITY, New
Ways Ministry, and Parents, Friends & Family of
Lesbians & Gays. Some conservative and traditional
Catholics have criticized the groups, saying they
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undermine church teaching on homosexuality.
The Rev. Michael Leshney, chaplain to a Cincinnati
chapter of DIGNITY in the 1980s, will be spiritual
director for the new ministry. Archbishop Daniel
Pil~czyk will inaugurate the ministry with three prayer
services in April.
Leshney saidhomosexual Catholics oftenfeel i solated
because their parents are caught between the church’s
teaching on homosexual relations as "objectively
disordered" and their 10vefor their children. Themini stry
is an outgrowth of community meetings that Auxiliary
Bishop Carl M0eddel led in October to discuss the U.S.
bishops’ document on homosexuality, "Always Our
Children." During those discussions, there was a"sense
of urgency" among parents that the archdiocese have a
ministryforGay ah~tLesbianCatholics and theirfamili es,
Leslmey said. The Catechism of the Catholic Church
holds thathomosexual activity is "contrary to thenatural
law" and,objectively disordered," but thathomosexuals
should be "accepted with respect, compassion and
sensitivity."
Gay Dallas Church
To Televise Infomercial
DALLAS (AP) -A federal court settlement announced
Friday has cleared the way for Cathedral of Hope, the
nation’s largest Gay church, to air a controversial
infomercial onbroadcast superstationWGN-TV. Under
the settlement, Cathedral ofHope will pay the Chicagobased
cable station $35,000 for showing the program
five times. Thehalf-hour video includes testimonials by
members, scenes ofworship atthe3,000-memberchurch
and discussions with the families of church members.
Cathedral ofHope claimed the Chicago-based station
reneged on a contract to air the church’s program last
August. Church officials said the station pulled the
infomercial shortly before the air date for unspecified
reasons. WGN officials argued that they weren’t
obligated to air the program because the station did not
have binding contract with the church.
TheDallas church filed alawsuitin October, claiming
thatWGN accepted the a $13,000 check, made several
suggestions that the church followed and then broke its
contractandreturned the check after deciding the subject
was too controversial. The Rev. Michael Piazza said he
was pleased with the settlement. "Of course our desire
was for it to have been aired last year," said Piazza,
senior pastor at Cathedral of Hope. "But we’re very
grateful to be able to resolved it."
Pia77a told The Dallas Morning News that every
other broadcast outlet approached by the church had
refusedto air the program. ’qqaey don’t have to give you
reasons, but a couple of the media buyers told us that
stations were afraid the conservative religious
programming would be withdrawn if ours was shown,"
he said. The minster said Cathedral of Hope was
attracted to WGN because the station airs on cable
outlets in the rural areas surrounding Dallas and Fort
Worth.
Maryland Gov. Supports
Civil Rights Bill for Gays
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Gov. Parris Glendening
testified for the first time before a legislative committee
last month, describing his late brother’s hardship hiding
his homosexuality and urging delegates to outlaw
discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Glendening’s brother Bruce served 19 years in the
Air Force, including three tours in Vietnam. But as the
decorated veteran lay dying of AIDS - when the pain
was so great that it hurt to touch his skin - Bruce
Glendening said it was more painful to keep his sexual
orientation hidden for so long in order to keep his job,
Gleiadening testified.
"He lived in fear.. ," the governor told the House
Judiciary Committee. "This has weighed on me a long
tame... I’m here to ask ifwe couldmake this state amore
fair and just society."
Afterward, the audience applauded his three-minute
speech. One of several people in the audience who
shookGlendening’ s handas heleftwas SilviaRodriguez,
chairwomanofthe stateHumanRelations Commi ssion,
who said no other governor showed such courage in her
15 years with the group. "He knows this is just and fair
for all the people of Maryland," she said.
Delegates Sheila Hixson and Leon Billings, both
Montgomery County Democrats, havefailed to get
the bill approved for six years, but they have not
had such a prominent supporter before. Onlookers
packed the hearing room and one wall was lined
with television cameras.
The bill would add sexual orientation to a law
thatbans discriminationin housing and employment
because of aperson’s race, religion or gender. "The
issue is simply a matter ofintolerance and bigotry,"
Ms. Hixson said.
Baltimore City and Montgomery, Prince
George’s and Howard counties have similar laws
governing 49 percent of the state’s population.
Glendening said Prince George’s County hasn’t
suffered since it enacted the law in 1991 while he
was chief executive. "Western civilization hasn’t
collapsed because of the bill," he said.
Glendeningleftbefore delegates asked questions
about the bill. Several delegates appeared critical
ofit. Delegate Emmett Bums, a Baptist pastor, said
complaints from homosexuals would flood the
Human Relations Commission and create further
delays for Blacks and women who suffer
discrimination. In the hearing’s testiest exchange,
Billings retorted that everyone can suffer
discrimination.
Commission officials said 1 to3% of complaints
in counties that have the law concern sexual
orientation, Advocates argued that nobody should
be discriminated against for any reason. "We’re
trying to cast the net as broadly as possible,"
Billings said.
Teens Protest Gay
Story in Dawson’s Creek
WILMINGTON (AP) - More than 30 teen-agers
gathered outside Wilmington’s EUE Screen Gems
Studios to protest the homosexual subject matter of
thelocally filmed television show Dawson’s Creek.
Members of Youths Against the Promotion of
Homosexuality held placards Thursday reading
"Jack and Jill, Not Jack and Bill" and "Hollywood:
No More Gay Promo."
Screen Gems’ employees were greeted with
chants of "Don’t Holly-weird me!" as they drove
into the studios’ parking lots. "We’re sick and tired
of Hollywood trying to force its pro-homosexual
values down teen-agers’ throats on shows like
Dawson’s Creek," said Robert Hales, 17. "This
show is 100 times worse than Ellen because they’re
targeting high school kids with their ’pro-Gay’
propaganda." Ellen, which starred Lesbian
comedian Ellen DeGeneres, created a national stir
two years ago when the main character announced
she was a.Lesbian.
Theprotests aboutDawson’s Creek center around
a 16-year-old character who announced in a recent
episode thathe was homosexual. Kerr Smith, whose
character Jack was introduced on Dawson’s Creek
this season, said the show simply explores common
adolescent themes. "’Everybody knows that
Dawson’s Creek addresses prevalent issues about
teen-agers, and one of them is homosexuality," he
said. "It’s in the schools now. Ten years ago, it
wasn’t talked aboutbut now it is."
Killer Pleads Guilty
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A man accused of
murdering five Gay men because he thought it
would stop the spread of AIDS abruptly ended his
trial by pleading guilty to the charges, prosecutors
said. Juan Chavez, 34, avoided a possible.death
sentence in the capital case by unexpectedly
changing his plea about 1 1/2 weeks into trial,
prosecutor Mike Duarte said. He is scheduled to be
sentenced June 21.
Duarte told jurors during the trial that Chavez
lured themen to theirhomes supposedly for sex and
then robbed and strangled them Chavez coufessed
to the murders while serving a prison sentence for
an unrelated 1996 kidnapping. In September of that
year, he was charged with strangling the five men
in 1986 and 1989.
11 Year Old with
AIDS Speaks Out
CARSON CITY (AP) - Eleven-year-old
Michael Dowling wasn’t supposed to live
this long and he knows it. "I was born
HIV-positive. My morn was told that I’d
probably dieby the timeI was three years
old," Michael told the Assembly as they
designatedWednesday, March24as HIVAIDS
Awareness Day inNevada. Hestood
¯ next to his adopted mother’s friend,
Assemblywoman Barbara Cegavske, RLas
Vegas, as he addressed thelegislators.
The boy was born in Las Vegas to a
drug-addicted mother who passed her
disease along to him before she gave
birth. Now, l~fichael hasbeen adoptedand
is also living with full-blown AIDS.
Michael said he has to make a trip to
Washington,D.C., every couple ofmonths
so he can get two sho~ of a medication
called IL2 every day for a week. "I go to
the National Institutes of Health. The
doctors and nurses, there are the people
that have kept me alive. If not for them I
would be dead,? Mi.chael said,.
Despite his disease, the youngster says
heis planningto live afull andindependent
life. "I plan to. grow up.and be a doctor. I
do not plan to be disabled and live off
welfare and_have Medicaid pay my
doctor’s bills," he added. People.,~ith
AIDS need Nevada’s help to find "good
jobs and insurance to pay their medical
bills," he said.
After his speech, the entire 42-member
Assembly and dozens of observers in the
gallery stood~to applaud. "Mikie is not
supposed to be alive. He’s such a fighter,
he’s incredible," Cegavske said.
Surgeon General at
HIV/AIDS Meeting
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Former U.S.
Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders opened
the nation’ s annualHIV/AIDS conference
by urging the public to fight growing
complacency about the disease. "We all
have to be in this battle until it’s over, and
I want you to know it’s not over," Eiders
told about 2,000 people at the opening of
the National HIV/AIDS Update
Conference.
Few doubted that among the hundreds
of veteranAIDS health care providers and
public health workers in the crowd. But
now, Elders reminded them, there’s anew
problem: growing public complacency.
Lulledby encouraging early results from
new drag therapies,many Americans have
decided AIDS is no longer much of a
threat, said Dr. Mervyn Silverman, the
former San Francisco public health czar
and chairman of the AIDS conference,
which runs through tomorrow. He cited
survey results that suggest people mustbe
tuning out to all the AIDS awareness
campaigns.
The deadly virus is nearly always
contracted through exchange of blood or
body fluids, often during unprotected
sexual activity or from sharing intravenous
drag paraphernalia. In a survey taken in
1991, 41% still wrongly assumed that
HIV could be contracted from sharing a
drinking glass with an infected person. In
1997, the same misconception was found
in 55% of those surveyed. Similarly, 34%
of those surveyed in 1991 won-ied about
catching the AIDS virus from a public
toilet seat, as compared to 41°/0 in 1997.
87% ofyoung Americans believe they are
at no risk of contracting HIV. Yet about
one in four of every new infection occurs
in the same age group, 17- to 22-yearolds.
"Either we’re really gettingd.u.m.b.er,
or some of us in this room are notdomgI
ourjobs, Sdverm said. ’ ’ ~
Eiders offered-a familiar litany of
su ,~gestions,inclUding universal access to
health care and free needle-exchange
AIDS Researcher
Struggles for $
¯¯ )rograms, both ofwhich seem as far from
reality as when she left office in 1994.
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) - Researcher
Peter Duesberg has become a scientific
outcast because of his unorthodox AIDS
theories. But he’s still in business, thanks
to a fund-raising approach as unconventional
as his beliefs.
Duesberg, who maintains that AIDS is
not caused by the human immunodeficiency
virus but by illegal drugs and
the AIDS medication AZT; has been
raising money from private sources for
some years, living from check to check.
Buthis fund-raising tookonaddedurgency
ast November when he.feared he was
about to lose his lab at the University of
California at Berkdey for lack of money.
Friends of Duesbergsprang into acuon,
soliciting donationsby way of the Internet
and an ad in the alumni magazine. The ad
brought in a stream of small contributions,
which along with $200,000 in foundation
money and some other big individual
donations amounted to $325,000, enough
to eke out another year of operations.
Duesberg is grateful for the kindness of
friends and strangers but said it’s a hard
way to make a living. "You also begin to
see how easy itis if youjust conform," he
said.
Twelve years ago, Duesberg filled out
grant applications and the government
sent him checks. Back then, Duesberg
was a member of the elite National
Academy of Scienees, winner of a 1985
Outstanding Investigator Award from the
National Institutes of Health and aleading
authority on retroviruses, a family that
includes the AIDS virus.
But after he published his HIV theory,
his reputation tanked. The mainstream
AIDS community has rebuffed his
theories, saying it is clear that HIV does
cause AIDS and that arguing otherwise
dangerously undercuts the safe-sex
message. "Whatever inroads we have
made to help people to practice safer sex
or to exchange needles - that all goes out
the window," said David Evans of Project
Inform, an advocacy group in San
Francisco.
Since 1987, Duesberg has had 20 grant
applications turned down. A spokesman
for the NIH declined to comment. As a
tenured professor of molecular and cell
¯ biology, Duesberg still has his salary and
: position at Berkeley. But without grant
¯ money, he cannot operate a lab, which is
¯ crucial to continuing his research.
¯ The private donauons can t overcom
¯ another problem: no students. Duesberg
¯ said students visit early in the semester
¯ andseeminterested.Butafterafew weeks,
..th.ey.t.aa.e.a.wa.y. "TheY’re told bY the
¯ graduate advisers and by their peers they
¯ may not be able to get ajob, I may not be
¯ able to pay them,,,a,n_,_d it would be bad for
their reoutations, he said.
¯ Stuar’t Lynn, head of Duesberg’s
¯ division said the Berkeley ,c~_mmumty
¯ hasn’t o~tracized Duesberg. ’ Ev,eryb.o.dy~
kind of looks at him an amusea sort oz.
way," Lynn said. "Berkele,,y has alotmore
radical people than Peter.
¯ Duesberg said his lab and money
¯ problems reflect his one-man battle with
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scientists and drug companies who, he
maintains, have invested too much in the
HIV-AIDS connection to admit to an
alternative theory. "Most people don’t
realizehow an-freeweare to do sciencein
America," he said. ’q’hey can afford to
give mill.ions, but they cannot afford to
give me $100,000 or $200,000 to prove
them wrong."
Condom Program
in Cambodia Works
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) -
Declaring a pilot program to increase
condom use in Cambodia a success, the
World Health Organization and the
Ministry of Health announced plans on
Friday foranationwide campaign to tackle
the impoverished country’s skyrocketing
AIDS rate.
Targeting commercial sex workers who
are the mainlinkin the spread of sexually
transmitted diseases in Cambodia, the
"100% Condom-Use Program" has
significantly increased condom use in
brothels in thepilot’s targetarea, according
to a preliminary report released ahead of
nextweek’s National Conference onHIV/
AIDS.
Prostitutes in the seaside town of
Sihanoukville, 185 km (115 miles)
southwestofPlmomPerth, wereinstmcto
byhealth workers in October to require all
their customers to wear condoms. Ifmen
refused to comply, the sex workers were
encouraged to report them to police.
"Many sex establishments are actively
participating and there has been a rise in
the distribution and use of condoms,"
Health Secretary of State Mare Bun Heng
said Friday. "We are pleased with these
results and.., this year we would like to
expand the program nationwide."
The condom program was inspired by a
similar campaign in Thailand that
increased condom use in sex
establishments from 15% in 1989 tomore
than90%in 1992, preventing an estimated
2 million HIV cases, according to the
WHO.
Cambodiahas the highestHIV infection
rate in Asia, with 50 to 70 people believed
to become infected every day. Recent
studies have estimated that 3% of the
adult population in Cambodia is infected
with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
State Won.’t Require
HIV Marriage Test
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Memphis
lawmakeris no longer pushing legislation
that would require couples wanting to get
married in Tennessee to be tested for the
HIV virus and other sexually transmitted
diseases. Rep. Henri Brooks said she
changed her mind after the Health
Departmentestimated the tests wouldcost
Tennessee taxpayers almost $5 million a
year.
She amended the bill to require county
court clerks to make information about
venereal diseases - such as chlamydia,
syphilis, gonorrhea and hepatitis B -
available to marriage license applicants.
"We are not trying to be Big Brother or
say who should and should not marry. All
we want to do is be responsible as
policymakers," the Democrat said. "The
ones who have to pay for these healthrelated
illnesses end up being the
taxpayers."
The bill,, approved by a House
subcommittee, also requires that a small
sign be conspicuously located in the area
¯¯ Wherepeopleapply formarriagelicenses.
It would read: "AIDS KILLS. HIV and
: other sexually transmitted diseases can
¯" occurwithoutyourknowledge. Don’trisk
¯ thelifeofsomeoneyoulove.BETESTED
: NOW."
: In addition, the bill requires the Health
: Department to make annual reports to the
¯ Legislature on the status of HIV and
-" sexually transmitted diseases by gender
: and ethnicity.
¯ Brooks said sheproposed thelegislation ¯
¯ because one of her constituents found out
her husband was HIV positive after they
: mamed. She said she may renew .her
¯ efforts for testing later.
Harvard to Study
AIDS in Africa
¯ BOSTON (AP) - The Harvard AIDS Institute has been given a $2.5 million
: grant to research the AIDS epidemic
¯ devastating southern Africa. The grant ¯
from the Oak Foundation will support a
¯ three-year program on research and
¯ vaccine development. The grant will also
¯ support a demonstration project to test
: drugs nsed to block mother-to-infantHIV
: transmission.
¯ The AIDS Institute’s basic research
¯ involves sequencing the genes found in
¯ theHIV strainprevalentinsouthernAfrica.
¯ No place in the world has been harder hit
: by AIDS than southern Africa. In
¯ Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and
: Zimbabwe, up to one-quarter of people
aged 15-49areinfected withHIV 0rAIDS.
AIDS has killed 10 million people in sub-
" Saharan Africa - 90% of the world’s
¯ AIDS deaths. Another 20 million are
: expected to die, Harvard researchers
¯ added.
¯ Max Essex, chairman of the Harvard
¯ AIDS Institute, and his colleagues have
." beenresearchingAIDS inAfricaformore
¯ than a decade. The Oak Foundation, an
international philanthropy, has offices in
¯ Boston, Geneva, London and Harare,
¯ Zimbabwe.
: Know Your Legal Rights
:A Seminar for People
¯ Living with HIV and AIDS ¯
¯ TULSA- TulsaOklahomans for Human
Right, theTulsaGay Community Services
¯ Center and the Oklahoma Lesbian and
¯ Gay Lawyers Association (OLGLA) are
hosting a seminar at 7pro on April 22 on
legal issues for people living with HIV/
¯ AIDS. Kathy Nelson, executive co-
. ordinator for the AIDS Legal Resource
¯ Project will conduct the seminar at the
Tulsa Gay Community Services Center at
: 38th and Peoria, 2nd floor.
¯ The AIDS Legal Resource Project was
¯ created three years ago to help provide
," people living with HIV/AIDS with the
¯ resources to meet the challenges in their
: lives. The Project provides free legal
¯ assistance to those who qualify through a
network of 150private attorneys statewide.
: The Project can assist those qualified in
receiving denied Social Security benefits
.and in addressing health, life or disability
¯ Insurance discrimination.
: Ms..Nelson is an alumna of Oklahoma
¯ State University and Oklahoma City
: University School of Law. She has had a
: private practice in oil and gas law, family
¯ law, estate planning and probate law. She ¯
also serves on the board of directors for
¯ CarePoint, Inc. a non-profit consortium
: for HIV/AIDS health care and support in
: Oklahoma City. Info: 743-4297.
by James Christjohn Broadway dance. And a relative-of mine,
"Spirit - A Journey in Dance, Drums Raymond Christjolm was one of the
and Song" combines the power of ° singers!
Broadway choreography and contem- ° The cast includes 20 dancers with both
porary music with the songs, chants and o modemand traditional training, including
dances born of Native Indian Nation dancers
Americanculture to tell Act I eontlnues with
the story of one
¯ person’s- andanation’s "An Ea~le Above." in
- search for renewal by wlaleh Ron Anquoe
exploring ancestral
roots. (Kiowa tribe, Oh|ahoma)
This multicultural per[orms t]ae ritual
performance event,
which debuted on PBS Ea~le Dance
as part of the March
1999 pledge drive and
to convey the le~eud d
will be released on the Ea$|e Feather.
video April 20, was
conceived by Peter provldln~ the youn$ man
Buffett, working in with [~uow|ed~e and
collaboration with
Chief Hawk Pope. courage [or the journey.
Buffett composed the
music for the pivotal
Fire Dance scene in Kevin Costner’s
Oscar-winning film "Dances with
Wolves." "Spirit - A Journey in Dance,
Drums and Song" features the
choreography and stage direction ofT,o.nywinner
Wayne Cilento, who blends his
demanding trademark "urban dance"
movement with traditional Native
American dance.
And by the~ way, the video is worth
getting just to view the dancers. They are
all beautiful, with appeal to Gay men,
Lesbians, straight folk.., something fol
everyone! And boy can they move! 01~
yeah, themusic’s great, too; the CD is
availablenow, and I highlyrecommendit.
Peter has been one of the few artists te
successfully blend ancient music with
modem. Usually, whenthatblendis made,
it comes out a mess, but he’s done an
excellentjob ofretaining the impact of the
ancient with the feel of the modem, rising
above time and space to create anew form
that is emotionally satisfying on a level
few reach. LoreenaMcKennitt is the only
other artist I would say that about in her
blending of ancient and modem Critic
influences on her CD’s. But I digress,
back to "Spirit: A Journey...".
Taped during the show’s premiere
performance weekend at the Weidner
Center inGreen Bay, Wisconsin,"Spirit -
A Journey in Dance, Drums and Song"
features more than 80 performers -
dancers, choir, percussionists and
orchestra - selected from the worlds of
Native-American performance and
by Allan Smithee, special contributor
Anyone see "Footloose" whileit wasin
town? It had all the appeal of a really bad
high school play. Bad script, awful
choreography and songs worthy ofmaybe
two verses stretched out till one thought
the record player had broken and was
skipping, all added up to an evening of
dreck, despite the cast’s sometimes overenergetic
performances -and especially
the nights when one cast member was off
key. It is usually against my principles to
walk out on a show, no matter how bad -
I hold that it’s rude to the actors and
people around you - but Footloose is one
I would have walked out on after the first
30 minutes.
I find it ironic that local homophobe
and religious bigot Larry Payton, famous
arrayed in fancy dress
of feathers, beads and
bones. The orchestra
features both modem
and traditional Native-
American instruments,
a string section and
percussionists playing
a variety ofdrums. The
40-voice Green Bay
and Oneida Nation
Girls’ Choir provides
additional vocals.
The program also
features soloists
Robert Mirabal (also
very handsome), a
renowned Native-
American flautist,
vocalist and percussionist; Ron Anquoe,
a traditionally trained Eagle Dancer who
is a member of the Kiowa Tribe of
Oklahoma; and Chief Hawk Pope, a
vocalist, lyricist and composer who is
Principal Chief of the Shawnee Nation,
United Renmant Band of Ohio. Chief
HawkPopenarrates. Joanne Shenandoah,
Oneida Nation of the Iroquois
confederacy, adds her beautiful voice to
the proceedings.
"Spirit - A Journey in Dance, Drums
and Song" opens Act I with "Urban
Overtures" as a group of city dwellers
reacts robotically to the stressful sounds
of daily life. Determined,to escape this
chaos, one young man decides in "Fire
Dance" to look back to his roots and
search for a new way to live. In
"Coashelleaqu (The Shawnee Letter)," a
Native-American grandfather encourages
him to begin this journey of renewal.
"Hidden Heritage" celebrates the 500
Indian Nations.
ActI continues with"AnEagleAbove,"
in which Ron Anquoe (Kiowa tribe,
Oklahoma) performs the ritual Eagle
Dance to convey the legend of the Eagle
Feather, providing the young man with
knowledge and courage for the journey.
"Passage," Robert Mirabal’s haunting
flute solo, continues the young man’s
quest to embrace the past. Act I ends with
Spirit Dance, bnngmg together dancers
from the traditional Native-American and
contemporary urban cultures for a
celebration, see Spirit, p. 10
for censoring shows andrewriting themto
make them safe for the good Baptist
families of Tulsa to see would bring in a
show that pretty much rips the views of
fundie-brand organized religion.
In case some of you are too young to
remember the film, it’s based on an
incident in Elmore, OK wherein dancing
was made illegal by virtue of a powerful
minister in town who held that dancing
would lead to all kinds of sinful behavior.
In the film and play, a kidfrom Chicago
challenges the dictatorial evil minister,
and wins the right to hold a school dance.
As a film, it was worth a couple hours at
the dollar movie. As a musical, well, it’s
not worth that much. But Tnlsans seemed
to like it - the shows were sold out. Maybe
it’s that even a bad touring show beats
anvthin~ on TV9 At any rate, the cast was
~mlfor~v cute,’so that hellxd a little.
Tulsa C.A.R.E.S. in association with PFLAG presents
Chastity Bono
at the 2nd Annual
Red Ribbon Ball
Saturday, April 17th
7:30pm, dinner + entertainment, tickets
begin at $75/person/all proceeds benefit
Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., Information: 834-4194
Spring Concert
May 7 & 8, 1999
7:00 PM
All Soul’s
Unitarian Church
2952 S. Peoria
COUNCIL OAK MEN’S CHORALE
For tickets contact a
chorale member or
call the COMC
Ticket Office.
Tel (918)585-COMC
Visa
MasterCard
Discover
American Theatre Company
presents in its 50th anniversary year
Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
April 9, 10, 14, 15, 16 + 17 at 8 pm
April 11 at 2pm, $11-14
John Williams Theatre
Tulsa Performing Arts Center
Lisa Wilson Directing, Ken Spence as Willie Loman
This ad donated by Tulsa Family News.
~SUNDAYS
Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service - 6pro, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Service - 1 lain, 2545 S. Yale, 749-0595
Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist
Scrviee - 1 lain, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-1314
Metropolitan Community Church United (formerly Family of Faith & MCCGT)
Service, llam, 1623 North Maplewood, Info: 838-1715
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc.
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood
Parish Church of St~ Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America)
Mass - 1 lam, 205 W. King (east of No. Denver), Info: 582-3088
University of Tulsa Bisexual!Lesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance
6:30 pro, Meets at the Canterbury Ctr., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780
Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals at 5pm, Info: 585-COMC (2662)
~ MONDAYS
¯ HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required.
Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard)
HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
7:30pro, 2207-E. 6th, 583-7815
PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
2nd Mort/each mo. 6:30pm, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard
Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551
~ TUESDAYS
AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call for next meeting date. 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551
Live A~d Let Live, Community of Hope United Methodist, 7:30pm, 2545 S. Yale
Multicultural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date.
Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001
Rainbow Business Guild, Business & prof. networking group.
Meets typically the last Tuesday of each month. Info: 743-4297
PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 381h
Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE)
Tuesdays, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 381h, info: 743-4297
~ WEDNESDAYS
Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center
Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pm, 3210b So. Norwood
Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group~ more information, call 582-7225
TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for info: 595-7632.
Lambda A-A, 7 pm, 1307 E. 381h, 2nd fl.
~= THURSDAYS
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education
Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pm 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral
Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN)
Support/social group for 18-24’s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-2325
Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, Info: 834-4194
~"_FRIDAYS
SafeHaven, Young Adults Social Group, 1st Fri/eachmo. 8pm, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th
~ SATURDAYS
Narcotics Anonymous, 11 pm, Community of Hope~1703 E. 2nd, Info: 585-1800
Lambda A-A, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 381h, 2nd ft.
~ OTHER GROUPS
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info: 838-1222
Gal-A-Vanting, Womens Social & Cultural Group, Call for info: Mary at 743-6740,
Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-6825.
OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization. [nfo: POB 9165, Tulsa 74157,
Short rides: Meet at Zeigler Park, 3903 West 4th. 6:30pro, 4/21, Sand Springs ride
and 4/28, Riverside fide. Long rides: 4/17, 7am, 20 mi. ride, and 4/24, 9am 20 mi.
ride. Meet at the Community Center parking lot, 38th & Peoria.
Ifyour organization is not listed, please let us know. Call 583-1248 orfax 583-4615.
It is a fabulous number to see. R makes
you want to stand up and cheer, even if it
is a video:
Act II of"Spirit- A Journey in Dance,
Drums and Song" begins with two
numbers - "The Place Where Crying
Begins" and "The Dream" - offering a
sensual exploration of the relationship of
man and woman in a more natural world.
"Aubenaubee(Prelude to Rebirth)" begins
the young man’s journey back to his own
world; m The Thunderbird, he returns
as anewly enlightenedmemberof society.
In the final number, the two cultures -
traditional andurbancontemporary - dance
in unison, recovering the true spirit of
America.
The showitselfwas a seamless blending
of ancient and modem, combining to tell
a story that many of us can relate to today
of alienation from roots, a discontent
with where man in general is today in the
world, and a yearning for reconnection to
the earth in an age where the earth has
become one more commodity to exploit.
It held me spellbound. Seamlessly
integratingmusic, dance, ..and storytelling,
it moved me to tears-- something that
doesn’t usually happen at all, especially
withregards to avideotapedperformance.
It was beautiful. I have been in
communication with the composer/
creator, Peter Buffett, and, he has
mentioned the possibility of brfilging the
live show here in the fall. (ya heard it here
first, folks!)If that happens, don’t miss it.
It willbe an experience that will touch you
deeply, as theatre was meant to do. Andif
the video is able to move me to tears
(along with several others I spoke with
that saw i0,imagine whatanimpactseeing
the performance live wouldhave! Usually
I find videos of plays, especially musical
performances, lacking. Something is lost
in the translation from live to tape. Not so
in this case.
Peter’s other CD’s are well worth
picking up: "Spirit Dance", from which
many of the numbers in "Spirit: A
Journey..." were taken, is great, and the
soundtrack to "500 Nations" is another
winner. Joanne Shenandoahhas anumber
ofCD’s out, and "Matriarch" is one ofmy
favorites ofhers. RobertMirabal has CD’s
out as wall, and he is fantastic. Peter tends
to get lumped in the "New Age"
although his musicfar surpasses theimage
that particular labding conjures up, While
the other artists are found, at least in
Borders, under "Native American". Other
places might have them under "World
Music".
They knew so because for the last two
years, a representative of Tulsa
Oldahomans for Human Rights (TOHR)
had participated in the planning for this
eventand in the creation oftheFederation.
FromTOHR,NGLTFknew thatCimarron
was the only Oklahoma group genuinely
doing statewideorganizing, Sowhy would
they give $5,000, a huge sum for a small
and under orgamzed state like Oklahoma,
to those less likely to put it to good use?
Well, it turns out that a number of the
individuals who are involved with
Cimarron have also worked closely with
NGLTF’s semi-rival, the Human Right
Campaign (HRC). And rumor has it that
NGLTF didn’t want to help an "HRC"
organization. So, the money which conid
really, really have made a difference in
: Oklahoma went to OGLPC.
¯ WhatdidOGLPCdowiththosedollars?
: They rented a bus to bring Tulsans to the
: rally, and they rented portapots and got
: the necessary, permits for the event. But
¯ interestingly they also hired and paid Ms.
: PaulaHandBrown to help co-ordinate the
¯ event. And they used the funds to pay for
: advertising in various publications, albeit
¯ not this one. (For the record, TFN
: frequently donates ads completely free of
: charge to community non-profit
: organizations unlike our rivals who
¯ typically provide atmosta20%discount.)
¯ Also, OGLPC is permitted, according to
: NGLTF organizer, Dan Haws, to keep
¯ any leftover funds to subsidize their
¯
organizational work.
¯ Perhaps, OGLPC will transcend its past
and prove worthy of the $5K they were
: granted. Butif the reasoning for choosing
: them over Cimarronis true, then OGLPC
: and Oklahoma’s communities have
¯ become once againpawns in the games of
: our"national" organizations.
¯
The bottom line is the money should go
¯ to those who can most effectively use it.
; And you have to wonder if those who
: can’tevenissue a simplepress release, are
¯ the ones who can make the best use of the
¯ money.
" "I speak out abroad, I must not be silent at
home," the Republican said. In a positive
: sign for supporters, Senate Judiciary
¯ Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, has
: scheduled hearings on the legislation for
¯
next month.
¯ But it still faces a difficult road. Some
¯¯ co.ngr.es.sionalRepublicans have expressed
mxsgxvmgs that the legislation is
¯ unnecessary because dozens of states have
~ laws protecting the groups identified in
¯ the bill.
¯
Backers are also concemed that social
: conservahves may construe thelegislation
¯ as extending special protections to ¯
homosexuals. "This is not a bill that will,
] in one way, advantage one group over
; another," said Wyden. "I can’t believe
¯ any members of the United States Senate ¯
want to be soft on violence."
Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Aden
Specter, R-Pa.., another bill cosponsor,
said he wasn’t as optimistic as some of his
colleagues. "A lot of opponents.., pick
out hate crimes legislation for a great deal
of criticism," he said. "This is a tough bill
to get very much support."
Under the bill, current law would be
expanded so theJustice Department could
prosecute crimes based on a person’s
sexual orientation, gender or disability.
Now, the statute only covers crimes based
on race, color, religion or national origin.
Also, the bill would make federal
prosecution ofhate crimes eas~er. Current
¯ law limits prosecution to situations whexe
¯ the victim is targeted for engaging in
: certain, federallyprotectedactivities,such
¯ as serving on a jury, voting or attending
¯
public school.
: Over40 states havehate crimes statutes,
¯ but only 21 cover sexual orientation, 22
~ cover gender and 21 cover disability,
¯ according to the White House, which
¯ supports the bill.
: Senator Edward Kennedy, Democrat -
¯
Massachusetts, the bill’s lead author, said
¯
the measure wouldn’t undermine the role
¯ of the states in prosecuting hate crimes, ¯
jnstbringinvestigative andother resources
¯
of the federal government to bear where
¯ necessary.
Red Rock Tulsa
Free Confidential
HIV Testing
-Walk-in Clinics
Tuesday Testing, 5 -8 pm
Pride Center, 1307 East 38th
Wednesday Testing, 5-8 pm
Red Rock, 1724 East 8th
Daytime appointments available.
Call for more information:
918-584-2325
Church
of the Restoration
Unitarian Universalist
11 am, Sunday
1314 North GreenWood
587-1314
We knowyou’re
going to love this.r
Restaurant & Cabaret
jt, tl e
:510 East First Street
918-599-9949
Massage Therapy Services
~garO. Cruz, L.M.T.
¯ ¯ Pager: 918-889-5255
Voice Mail: 918-697-9282
Lic. #C4133
News
Better Than
Ever, Pride
Merchandise,
Magazines &
More
610-8510
8120 East 21 st
(2 ! st+Memorial,
next to Boot City)
We buy back good
used adult magazines.
Country Club
Barbering
Custom Styling
for Men & Women
David Kauskey
’3310 E. 51st, 747-0236
Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm
’I -Power
Do Good.
Supporting Local Community
Events Is Something
Everyone Can Do.
PSO has served the electrical needs
for almost 80 years
now. But we also serve broader needs.
By contributing to the education of our
children. By supporting cultural events in
And by working handin-
hand with business and goverm
mentto strengthen our economy.
Because at PSO, we believe Oneof
the best things about
being your power
company...is having
the power to
do good.
Public Service Company of Oklahoma
;4 Central and South West Company
www.csw.com
Timothy W. Daniel
Attorney at Law
An Attorney who will fight for
justice & equality for
Gays & Lesbians
Domestic Partnership Planning,
Personal Injury,
Criminal Law & Bankruptcy
1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504
128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma
Weekend and evening appointments are available.
by Mary Schepers, Do-It-Yourself-Dyke
Poor dears, your DIYD has neglected
you awfully - and she has missed you.
Honest! Sparing you the boring details,
suffice it to say that family situations
regrettably intervened, but your DIYD is
back, tmarchived and just as naughty as
ever. And isn’t that what you
really want? No, I suppose
most of you want me to get on
with that damned project you
werelefthanging withacouple
of months ago, and so I shall.
The DIYD is perfectly
confident that you have not
been squandering the intervening
months but have quite
diligently been scoping ideas
to steal and make your own in
our Kitchen remodel on the
shoestring. Now, being
Now, heln~
economical
does not equate
with being.
cheesy, so wall
the rather "
enthusia~tle
dyke with the
~tn of
Rust-o-leurn
economical does not equa[e please
with being cheesy, so will the eooIher"jets.
rather enthusiastic .dyke with ,’i-,’I
the can of Rust-o-leum please....... t ne DIYD
cool ~her jets. The DIYD
promises that she shall get her
shining moment when we
discuss refurbishing the garage
sale find garden furniture. You
have 0aonesfly] assessed both
your finances and the state’of
yourcupboards? Decidedwhat
you can livewith stylistically’?
Then lef’s get cooking.
We will be working on the
assumption that your cabinets
are sturdy enough and laid out in amanner
that is endurable until the money for the
Dream Kitchen appears (The pessimistic
side of the DIYD cautions.that any time
you have spare money, either your house
or your car will find out about it, so be
sneaky! A friend of hers adds "girlfriend"
to this .corollary.). Given those two
assumpuons, you have options. And we
all love options, don’t we?
The easiest approach may be to repaint
your cupboards, put up new hinges, and
handles and a bit of tasteful shelf paper.
Yes, you still have to prep things for
successful results. Sorry. Youwill need to
lightly sand the surfaces and clean them,
then put on a primer coat. NOT Water
based! That raises the grain of the wood or
separates the veneer..Oil based only. This
might be a good time to review the past
articles on painting and brush care. I will
always recommend that you "extinguish
pilot lights on the range if you have them
and to open windows and doors for good
ventilation. Solvents are just ugly. Then
use Kilz brand paint; it is trouble-free as
oil based paint goes, and dries in an hour
or less. The DIYD strongly recommends
taking one cabinet door at a time offwhen
repainting, and then adding thenew hinges
and handles when putting it hack on. Or
you can take the cabinets off all at once,
but mark them or handle them in some
other methodical way. Especially in older
homes, all things are not equal.
One coat of primer then, unless you get
somebleed-through, then apply two coats.
When that’s all dry, you can paint on your
finish paint. TheDIYDurges you to invest
in a semi-gloss or gloss formulated
especially for kitchens. These paints can
stand up to the moisture, and you’ll really
be grateful when you go to wipe off that
errant cake batter. Put in your shelf paper
and the you’re ready for those new hinges
promises that
she shall get
we discuss
ref~rbishin~
th..e garage sale
find g.arden
~urniture.
and handles.
Regardless of which option you choose,
you will probably want new h,ardware on
the cupboards and drawers. It s amazing
how much it spiffs things up; it is also
amazing how much it costs when you add
them all up, so take a count of what you
need, then use your calculator
when you go shopping.
It is also wise, if
possible, to find hardware that
is similar to the old as regards
screw hole placement. If you
don’t have to drill anything
new, why bother? Put a little
woodfiller in the hole, orbreak
a match stick off in it, then
attach your new hardware.
Always remember to look at
how the hardware you are
removing was attached,
especially hinges. This is not
frivolous advice!
Another option you
have is resurfacing, and this
can yield some remarkable
results. If you are handy and
rather intrepid, you can handle
the job yourself. They have
supplies and instructional
videos at Homo Depot and
other stores of that ilk. If
you’ve a bit extra tucked back
in the cookie jar and a low
reserve of patience for chaos,
by all means look into having
the job done by professional
resurfacers. They can even take care of
that god awful formica counter-top while
they’re at it. As usual, get lots of quotes,
demandreferences, and check thembefore
making this choice.
The option of last resort would be
stripping and refinishing the cabinets. You
should choose this only if a)your cabinets
are fabulous butjust dark or dingy;b) you
have prior refinishing skills; c) You have
an infinite reservoir of patience; d) your
beloved has an infinite reservoir of patience.
Nodream ofglowing wood cabine.ts
is worth a week on the couch - alone. The
dog will be in your place in bed. It can be
that bad, darlings.
As usual, it all sounds so very easy in
print, but ~rd up your channing loins,
dare to be anal retentive and methodical
and you’ll find the work rewarding. I’ll be
back next month when we deal with the
walls - if you’ve finished climbing them
by then:
and confabulations of underwear
collectors - and they establish all those
thousands of websites and chatrooms on
the Intemet. Anthropologists call these
"special interest ~oups" and, despite
pessimistic impresszons that nobody in
the country anymore talks to their folks
and neighbors, the number of interest
groups in this country has expanded
astronomically since the 1950s.
Where once people hid their fetishes as
painfully embarrassing, now, like Jay, we
happily call ourselves fetishists and
proudly broadcast our fascinations. So I
feel like I’m in good company when I’ve
got Jay working onmy toes with a dreamy
look in his eyes. It’s my contribution to
the modem American Way.
by Esther Rothblum
The Antarctic is the coldest, highest,
and driest continent on earth. Unlike the
Arctic, which consists of frozen water
surrotmded by land, the Antarctic is land
surrounded by water. Land is colder than
water, so the Antarctic has Tkere
temperatures ranging from
." here are strong spirited to start with,.and
¯¯ stronger stilluponleaving. BeingaLesbian
was not a contributing factor, whereas
¯ persistence, flexibility, emotional and
physical strength are more important.
¯ There is ajoke that usually goes around
is a joke town toward the middle of
the season: How do you get
40 degrees Fahrenheit in the
warmestpartofthe continent
in summer to minus 100
degrees Fahrenheit (.not
including the wind chill
factor) in the winter. 98% of
the continentis covered with
ice, and in fact the Antarctic
contains 90% of the world’s
ice. The ice is several miles
thick in parts oftheAntarctic
interior, so that the altitude
is similar to high mountainous
regions. Even though
the Antarctic contains 68%
of the world’s freshwater
locked up as ice, the almost
total lack of precipitation
classifies it as a desert.
Frequent blizzards and high winds form
"white outs" that make it difficult to see,
and the view is often a monotonous sheet
of white snow and ice.
Why would anyone choose to go to this
barren continent? In 1913, explorerErnest
Shackleton placed an ad in a newspaper
. that stated: "Men wanted for haTardous
journey. Small wage, bitter cold, long
months of complete darkness . . . Safe
return doubtful.., and recognition in case
of success." He received about 5,000
applications.
Most people who have come "to the
ice" in recent decades engage in scientific
research or support those who do. About
a dozen nations have built permanent
research "stations" in the Antarctic.For
several years, I conducted research on
womenin the Antarctic. I wanted to study
women who take risks, and the Antarctic
seemed the ideal setting. This work
resulted in the recent book Women in the
Antarctic(HaworthPress, 1998), co-edited
with Jacqueline Weinstock and Jessica
Morris.
Only one woman that we interviewed
for this book came out as a Lesbian, and
shewas part ofan all-women’s expedition
that skied to the South Pole. Our research
team did not feel we could ask our
participants about their sexual orientation.
In those days the U.S. Navy transported
personnel to the Antarctic (these days, it’ s
the Air Force) and as a result we were
concerned that our participants might not
want to come out to us as Lesbian or
Bisexual.
But we speculated that there might be
some Lesbians among the women who
live and work in the Antarctic. So I was
intrigued to readan article entifled"Below
the Ice: An Antarctic Journal" by Peggy
Malloy in a recent issue of Weird Sisters,
a Colorado Lesbian newspaper. I emailed
Peggy in the Antarctic (the wonders of
technology!) and she responded as
follows:
For most people who come to work in
Antarctica, it is the sense ofadventure that
draws us to this extreme environment.
Most ofus wouldnever have themoney to
be a tourist-visitor; and we would not be
able to learn to love ffduring such a short
visit, as many of us have done over the
seasons. Those who get through a season
that usually goes
around town
toward the middle
of the season:
How do you
get a date with
a woman?
Answer: be one.
There are
approximately
30g females
working in the
Antaretle program.
a date with a woman?
Answer: be one. There are
approximately36% females
working in the Antarctic
program. Yes, there are other
Lesbians in town, and a very
small handful of Gay men.
The men are quite closeted.
This was a military base at
one time and there are still
plenty ofmilitary influences
since so many ex-military
currently workfor Antarctic
Support Associates, the
civilian contracting firm in
the Antarctic. The Lesbians
are generally out, but several
are not.
This is a generally
¯ accepting environment, mainly since we ¯
all have to work andlive together forlong
¯ periods of dme. If someone doesn’t agree
¯ with a lifestyle, it’s futile to fightit. I do
¯ not try to hide my sexuality, but I don’t
¯ flaunt it either. There is always a fear that
: one won’t get rehired because of it.
¯ However, this seems to be residual from
; living in northern society, and not well
¯ founded in the hiring practices of this
¯ company. If there are any prejudices, I
¯ would say it is against women in general, ¯
not just against Lesbians. There is no
: attempt by the U.S. Antarctic Program to
¯ be Lesbian-affirmative, of which I am
¯ aware.
: I have worked at the U.S. McMurdo
¯ StationontheAntarctic continentfor three
¯" seasons so far. Each year the circle of
: friends increases: friends of friends tell
: friends,andendupcomingworkherewith
¯ us. Each year there seem to bemoremales
: who gravitate to our circle. These are
: straight men who feel more comfortable
¯ striking friendships with us,mosdy since ¯
we are"safe." There is no concern thatwe
¯ will wantanythingmorethan afriendship.
¯ Email is the best way to keep in touch
: withcommuffityfromhome. I amgratefnl
¯
to those who write and keep me informed
¯ of happenings, and gossip, and events
¯ such as the Rainbow Chorus concerts. I
: was quite involved with them before
¯ coming to work down here. This is such
¯ an isolated place, very little outside
¯ stimulation from color (th!ngs are brown
or white), smells (only the smell of fuel),
¯
and life (nothing grows here naturally
: other than some algaes). We see some
¯ seals andmaybe somepenguins at the end ¯
of the summer season. News from home
". or small care packages from friends are
¯ treasured like a long lost love’s return.
¯ Anything, and everything, is a special ¯
gift. This is also the time when I have
¯ more contact with friends than usual, as I
." can sit at the computer and drop a quick
¯ note to say, "hi, how are you doing?"
: Peggy Malloy can be contacted via
¯ email: malloyma@hotmail.eom. Esther
¯ Rothblum is Professor of Psychology at ¯
the University of Vermont and Editor of
¯ theJournal ofLesbianStudies. Shecanbe
¯ reached at Dewey Hall, University of
¯ Vermont, Burlington, Vermont. ¯
email: esther.rothblum@uvm.edu.
IGTA member
Call 341.6866
nternationa
Tours:ormoreinformation.
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They filled thepews, stood against church
walls and packed the steps leading to the
altar. "This is far beyond my wildest
dreams," said the Rev. Marge Ragona,
Covenant’s pastor. "We are amazed so
many felt you needed to be herejust as we
felt we needed to be here."
Speakers called onthe audience to speak
out against hatred and chastised people
who use the Bible to justify hate against
homosexuals. "We’re here to celebrate
this evening that God is not hate, but God
is love," said the Rev. Lawton Higgs St. of
United Methodist Church of the
Reconciler.
Roger Lovette, pastor of the Baptist
Church of the Covenant, encouraged
people to remember Gaither as a person,
not a symbol. "He was like the rest of us
with hopes, dreams and needs," Lovette
said.
Rodney Max, co-chairman of the
Coalition Against Hate Crimes, urged
legislators to pass alaw including offenses
motivatedbyhomosexuality on the state’s
list of hate crimes. "That should never,
ever happen again in this state," Max said.
After the two-hour memorial service
inside the church, people lit small candles
and stood outside singing ’~his Little
Light of Mine."
Across the street, a small group of
protesters from Westboro Baptist Church
in Topeka, Kan., held anti-Gay signs in
protest. "We are outraged at this violent
crime, but the issue is the homosexuals
are exploiting it," said Westboro’s pastor,
the Rev. Fred Phelps. "It is no longer
merely an event for the family and friends
to grieve." Protesters held signs saying
"Billy Jack Gaither bums in hell.’"
Max Griffies, 9, stood near the church’ s
step holdin,,g a sig,n declaring, "God loves
all people. Max smother, Leah Griffies,
but that still some homophobic remarks
were expressed by afew teachers to classes
after the announcement was made. and
flyers went up. However, since a large
part of the group’s mission is to educate
faculty and other students, Allen
characterized these negative remarks as
something to be expected, until Gay and
Lesbians students and is sues become more
visible.
BTW’s GSA typically meets during an
intermittent free period in the school
schedule and the group often discusses
issues or plans for upcoming events. One
such event is the "Day of Silence" on
April 7th which is intended to be a day of
protest in support of civil rights for Gay
and Lesbian persons. Washington’s
Sizemore is actually the key organizer for
the US and Canada. Also, the BTW GSA
is planning to participate in the upcoming
Tulsa Pride Parade.
And Booker T. Washington’s example
has paved the way for GSA’s in at least
two other Tulsa high schools. Smaller and
more informal groups have come together
at Central and East Central High Schools.
All of these groups have joined together
in an organization, S.A.F.E. - Student
Alliance for Equality which meets at the
Tulsa Gay Community Services Center
(the Pride Center).
For more information, messages may
be left for the BookerT. Washington Gay-
Straight Alliance or S.A.F.E. at the Tulsa
Gay Community Services Center, 743-
GAYS (4297).
said she wanted her son "to know you
don’t kill people, regardless of who they
are, and especially for what they believe
in." The message seemed to sink in as
Max watched the protestors across the
street. "Itmakes mefeel disgusted because
everybody is created equal and all people
are created by God," he said.
Police originally charged Mullins and
Butler with murder, which carries a
maximum sentence of life imprisonment
.with a chance for parole. However, grand
jurors upgraded the charge to capital
murder, which cames only two possible
penalties: electrocution or life without
parole.
In Washington, DC, the Human Rights
Campaignissued the following comments:
"in 1997, (the latest FBI statistxcs
available) Alabama reported no hate
crimes to the FBI for any category.
Reporting of statistics is voluntary under
to the Hate Crimes Statistics Act of 1990.
Alabama’s hate crimes law does not cover
sexual orientation. ’This case in Alabama
shows the great inconsistency between
states in tracking and prosecuting hate
crimes We call on Congress to pass the
Hate Crimes Prevention Act, to set a
uniform federal response for hate
crimes and signal that anti-gay violence is
unacceptable in our society,’ said Human
Rights Campaign Political Director
Winnie Stachelberg."
Kevin Ivers, director of public affairs
.for Log Cabin Republicans added, ’’There
IS something wrong in society when gay
people are continually murdered in this
maimer, and our leaders have amoral duty
~o address it.., The leaders of both parties
must speak out with eqtml forceagainst
the anti-gay hatred and intolerance that is
feeding such crimes. . Every political
leader, especially those who seek-the
presidency, must reflect on why this is
happening, and what they can do to,.h,elp
stop it from continuing."
those who gathered to becomd~othe
Community of Hope have i~orked to be
honest about who we are and what our
ministry is. without insisting that others
agree with or embrace our ministry, We
have consistently insisted that ministries
of healing and hope, and not, Gay
advocacy, be ourfocus; while at the.same
time naming that homophobia and
inhospitality are antithetical to the Gospel,
and refusing to be silent in the face of
them. We have asked only for tolerance
and respect, and have tried to offer the
same. However. increasinly, the goodness
and dignity of Gay and Lesbian persons
and their loving, committed relationships
are so consistently and ’officially’
devalued and dishonored within in this
Conference and by this denomination,
thatI can no longer maintain myaffiliation
with integri&.
Secondly, I have decided to withdraw
because the ministries of justice and
compassion to which God’s church has
been calledand in which this congregation
is engaged, are too urgent and too
important for us to faithfully allow any
more time or energy to be diverted by
denominational arguments aboutwhether
or not Gay and Lesbian persons are part
of the body of Christ, Since the day this
congregation was called into being, Gay
and Lesbian persons have been BEING
the body of Christ - offering their gifts
and graces, their time and energy, their
hearts andhands, in loving service to God
and neighbor - see Peurose, p. 14
while the Church has debated their
acceptability. "Anyone who does the will
of God is my brother or sister"(Mark 3:
35), Jesus said. That debate was settled
long ago. And yet, women, men, and
children in Oklahoma, in the US, and
around the world continue to be robbed of
life every day by hunger, homelessness,
abuse, addiction, and violence, while the
UMC spends more and more of its time
andresourcesfight~ng over who is allowed
to love who. Internal struggles over control
and authority, have seduced our Church
intoforgetting its call to be the bearers of
God’sgospel ofhopeandlove to a hurting
worM. I am weary ofthe ’forgetting’ and
the fighting, and want my life and our
ministry as a community offaith to once
again be about ’remembering Jesus’ in
ways that honor the life he lived among
andfor us.
Therefore, on Thursday afternoon,
by Lamont Linstrom, Ph.D.
My feet are looking niighty fine these
days. I~have been seeing a new friend
named Jay, who calls himself a foot
fetishist. And he has been working these
toes down to hubs, almost. Jay describes
foot-worshipping parties he has attended
where shoes andboots and soqks goflying
in all directions. He has intro~oced me to
foot magazines. The personal ads are
remarkable. They come withphotographs
showing everyone thrusting his best foot
forward into the camera lens. And
websites, too. The intemet is one big
fetish supermarket: rubber and latex here,
feet over there, underwear at the back. Or
uniforms:-I have another friend with a
closet full of uniforms. I never know if
he’s going to show up dressed in Boy
Scout drag, or as Marine, or perhaps a
water meter reader.
While Jay was mass_aging my feet one
afternoon I thought abouttheword"fetish"
- a term oddly shared by anthropology,
psychology, and sexology. SigmundFreud
himself seems to have been the first to
borrow "fetish" from 19th century
anthrol~i0gy. Scholars of West African
religion had.firstused thewordto describe
religip~s..objects from Ghana - small
carvings, amulets, and’the like-thatpeople
bdieve&~were inspirited with divinity.
Feti~h deriYes from the Latin facticious
whi..k once.meant "handmade" or
"man~0~tU~ed" (e.g., see also "factory,"
and "factotum"). The word’s connations
of "artificial," in the original sense of
"made" or "constructed, "expanded to
absorb secondary meanings of "unreal"
or "fake"-or "false." Thus, the fetish
originally was a man-made, artificial
image of-God that African devotees
believed to have divine powers. The term
is still used occasionally in anthropology
and beyond to refer to sacred objects. My
Bay Area newspaper, for example, last
week contained an advertisement for an
upcoming sale of Pueblo Indian jewelry
whichfeaturedZuni fetishes- these small,
carved animal figures sold as both
decorative and spiritual.
I am not sure why Freud borrowed
fetish to describe sexual kinkiness. We
can guess, however, that he shared the
same sorts of. European cultural biases
that led to th~ earlier anthropological use
of the word. The savage religious devotee
focuses his attention on the artifical fetish
- the man-made object - and thus misses
¯ March 4, I submitted the following
¯
statemen¢ to.Bishop Blake:
~ " Bishois.Bruce Blake
¯¯ Oklahoma Annual Conference
United Methodist Church
¯
It is with a deep trust in God’s steadfast
¯ and unconditional love that 1 write to
¯ informyou thatlaminitia,ting theprocess ¯
ofwithdrawalfrom Zhe United Methodist
¯
Church in order to transfer my ministerial
¯ orders to another denominate’on. 1 have
chosen to begin this process because I
¯ cannot remainfaithful to the Gospel and
¯ honor the requirement of the United
¯ Methodist Church not to celebrate and ¯
blesssamesexcovenantrelationships.As
¯
one who has been baptized to "resist.
¯ injustice and oppression" and ordained
: to"lookaftertheconcernsofChristabove
¯ all," I am called and charged to offer the
¯ full ministry ofthe church--including the
¯ blessing ofdovenant relationships- to all
: God’s people, including those who are
¯ Gay or Lesbian. I will do nothing less.
: - Rev. Leslie Peurose
the larger supernatural reality ofgod. The
: sexual fetishist similarly misdirects.his
¯ attention only to this or that body part or
: object, and also misunderstands the
¯ broader, complex whole of human
¯
sexuality. The foot fetishist sucks toes,
: but ignores everything above the ankle.
¯ The hair fetishist gets tangled and stuck
: up there and never moves along towards
¯ "normal" sex.
The 19th century anthropologist and
¯ psychologist both shared the belief that
¯
they could indeed define normal religion
¯ and natural sexuality. Whatever fell short
¯ of this standard could be defined away as ¯
artificial - just a fetish. Lucky for us,
¯
maybe, things aremuchmorecomplicated
: nowadays. Some complications have
¯ come along with 20th century Hedonism. ¯
While hardly triumphant (especially in
¯ Oklahoma),latterday influentialhedonists
: like Dr. Ruth proclaim that all forms of
¯ sexual behavior are good, as long as ¯
nobody gets hurt. And even that can be
¯ good, too, as long as a person wants to get
: hurta,ndiftheboundaries andgroundrules
¯ (we Americans are so legalistic) are
¯
negotiated beforehand.
¯ Jay finds sexuality in toes just as West
Africans discover divinity in beads and
: wood. So fixations .on feet, jocks,
: underwear, underarms, hair, rubber sheets
¯ - it’s all reoently wonderful.
¯ Well, perhaps not that kid living down
the street who’s discovered to have 2000
¯
pairs ofwomen’s panties hiddenunderhis
~ bed thai he’s stolen from neighborhood
¯ clotheslines. Butmostly fetishes are good.
Isn’t the right toa feti~h protected in the
¯ Constitution? At least they contribute to
: the economy.
¯ Sex nowadays is also complicated by ¯
the duty our culture demands of us to
¯ cultivate our individuality. Fetishes here
¯ are extremely useful. They help
¯ differentiate ourselves as unique
¯
individuals. If you remain stuck in plain
¯ old boring vanilla sex, you are just a
¯ cypher in the crowd. Youneed a focus, an
: angle. Somespecial way to define yourself
¯
whenfilling outoneofthosebearortwink
¯ codes one sometimes sees flaunted in
¯ email signature files. But the American ¯
desireforindividuality and our cultivation
¯
of sexual fetishes also eventually leads
¯ around to American sociability. Those
¯ fetishes are shared. Fetishists quickly go ¯
to work organizing societies of foot
¯
fanciers, seeAnthro, p. 11
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Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
[1999] Tulsa Family News, April 1999; Volume 6, Issue 4
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
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Tulsa Family News
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
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Tom Neal
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April 1999
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James Christjohn
Jean-Claude de Flambeauchaud
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
Adam West
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Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
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Tulsa Family News, March 1999; Volume 6, Issue 3
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English
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periodical
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Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
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https://history.okeq.org/items/show/586
1999
Africa
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Call To Action!
Tues., M.arch 2, 8-5
HB 1211 Lobby D.ay
at OK State Capitol
TULSA - State and local community organizers led in
Tulsa by former national Parents, Families and Friends
of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) president, Nancy
McDonald, have called for an emergency lobby day at
the State Capitol on Tues., March 2 in support of HB
1211 amending Oklahoma’s "hate crime" statute.
At the Capitol, Keith Smith, a lobbyist with the
OklahomaACLU and Sierra Club is help~g to coordinate
lobbying. Keith can be reached through Peggy
Leininger in State Senator Bemest Cain’s office. Keith
may also be reached at 405-840-2219 and by e-mail at
OKSmith@aol.com.
Mrs. McDonald has noted that parents are particularly
effective in reaching state legislators. M.C.
Smothermon, who recently ran for US Congress is
herself the mother of a hate crime victim and is encouraging
any parents who’may wish to come to the Capitol
to contact her at 405-340-7015. see Lobby, p. 3
Despite Murder, Wyoming
Rejects Hate Crime Bill
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Four months after Gay
college student Matthew Shepard was beaten to death,
amove to pass hate crimes legislation in Wyoming was
killed in committee. Wyoming is one nine states without
bias crimes laws, and lawmakers have rejected
similar measures four times since 1995.
After Shepard’s death, calls for a bias crimes law
increased - Republican Gov. Jim Geringer for the first
time supported it. Geringer said that he was disappointed
the legislation did not reach the Senate floor for
debate, but he added that no law can change how people
think about each other. Twomeasures died in the Senate
Judiciary Committee. Both would have increased the
maximum fine for a felony by up to $5,000 and raised
themaximumprison term by up to five years if prosecutors
could prove the crime was motivated by bias.
State Sen. John Schiffer, the Judiciary chairman, said
he hoped supporters of bias crime legislation would
come back in future sessions with legislation that would
have broader support. Opponents said they objected to
listing motivating factors, such as race, religion and
sexual orientation, saying the bills offered special protection
to certain groups. Others said no new laws are
needed, just strict enforcement of existing measures.
Wende Barker, state coordinator for theWyoming
Bias Crimes Coalition, said she was disappointed but
not surprised and planned to try to push for such laws
again next year.
MJ DIRECTORY/LETTERS P, 2
EDITORIAL p, $ ~ US & WORLD NEWS P. 4
HEALTH NEWS P. 6
Z~
COMMUNITY CALENDAR P. 9
BOOK REVIEW P. 10
DO-IT-YOURSELF-DYKE P. 11
DYKE PSYCHE/GAY STUDIES P. 12
mm CLASSIFIEDS + WEERWOLF P. 13
--
Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tuisans, Our Families + Friends
Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community PaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations
Oklahoma HouseCommittee
Approves Hate Crime Bill
by Tim Talley & Tom Neal
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP/TFN) - A proposal to add sexual
orientation to the list of hate crimes in Oklahoma is being
criticized by opponents who question whether it will deter anti-
Gay assaults.House Bill 1211 would add sexual orientationto the
list of groups in the state’s hate ~wimes law, which already
includes race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin and disability.
"I think we’re going in the wrong direction," Ken Wood,
executive director of the Oklahoma Christian Coalition, said
Wednesday after the House Judicial Committee voted 5-3 for HB
1211 y Rep. Don Ross, D-Tulsa. I think xt creates an inequality
of justice. This elevates particular groups to a higher status,"
Wood said.
Keith Smith, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties
Union, said the measure is supported by many Oklahoma religious
organizations. The bill’s passage by the House committee
says "violence and hatred against certain groups is unacceptable,"
Smith said. But passage by the full Legislature "will be an
uphill battle," he said.
Opponents attacked the measure for "endorsing Gay lifestyles."
’¢l~ais is more about having a homosexual lifestyle as a normal
lifestyle in contravention of 6,000 years of history," Rep. Bill
Graves, R-OKC, said. "It goes against the Christian religion."
Ross saidthe bill is a response to the beating death of Matthew
Shepard, a gay college student in Wyoming who was pistolwhipped,
robbed and lashed to a fence in October. Police said
Shepard was attacked, in part, because he was homosexual.
’q’hey thought you were dangerous because you were different,"
Ross said as he read from a letter that Ross said he wrote to
Shepard’s spirit. "You didn’t parade your lifestyle," Ross said.
"Matthew, you were still in the closet.""I’m sorry for the misfits
in our society," said Ross, who closed debate by recmng the
Lord’s Prayer.
.Critics, including Rep. Ray Vaughn, R-Edmond, said the hate
crimes law has not stopped race- and religion-based attacks.
"How would it be effective in stopping hate crimes against ;
. homosexuals?’"Vaughn said. "r(seems to me we’~e creating "a :
special class of Oklahoma citizens. We’re all entitled to the same ¯
respect." see HB 1211, p. 3
Methodist Anti-Gay Marriage
Witchhunt Reaches Oklahoma
TULSA - Tulsa United Methodist pastor, the Reverend Leslie
Peurose of Community of Hope, has had formal charges brought ¯
against her for signing a statement of support for the Holy Union "
ceremony between two California women, Ellie Charlton and ¯
Jeanne Barnett in Sacramento on January 16, 1999. ¯
Penrose, along with the Rev. Susan Ross ofPerkins, Oklahoma
¯ signeddocumentsofsupportfortheceremonylistingtheirnames ¯
: asas"officiantsinabsentia."Nearly80Methodistelergypartici_ ¯
.. pated in the widely publicized service to support the couple and "
¯ toprotestreeentdecisionsoftheUnitedMethodistChurchtoban ¯
-" its clergy from officiating or performing such services or from ¯
¯ such services from being held in Methodist owned facilities. ¯
¯ Boyce Bowden, spokesperson for the Oklahoma Conference, "
United Methodist Church, acknowledged that charges had been "
," brought against Penrose but refused to provide any further
¯" information characterizing the issue as a "personnel issue" and
¯ therefore subject to employment confidentiality rules. Bowden
did notmention charges brought against Ross. The Rev. Peurose
." was unable to comment officially.
¯ However, the charges were brought against Peurose and Ross ¯
¯ by Jake P. Barker of First United MethOdist Church of Eufaula
Barker is apparently tied to anti-Gay elements in the Methodist
." Church and copies of his complaint, as well as official responses
¯ have appeared verbatim on the website of "The Confessing
¯ Movement" (http://shell.surfsouth.com/~jwarrene/news/
ok_disobey2.html)
"_ So while the Oklahoma Conference office and Oklahoma
¯ Bishop Blake has no comment, the full text of the Conferenee’s
¯ response to Barker is available on the intemet.
¯ The heart of the response of Conference’s response is that
¯ participation in a banned same-gender union or relationship
¯ blessing requires the clergy to be physically present. Therefore ¯
the signatures of Penrose and Ross constitute only a permissible
¯ expression of their opinion rather than a violation of Methodist
ophne. Theletterwas signedby Paul Bowles, Tulsa District
Superintendent, and Grayson Lucky, Stillwater District Superintendent,
see Methodists, p. 3
Chastity Bono to Speak
atApril Red Ribbon Gala
TULSA- Tulsa C.A.R.E.S. (Center for AIDS Resources,
Education and Support), formerly known
as the HIV Resource Consortium, will hold its
second annual fundraising dinner; the Red Ribbon
Gala on Saturday, April 17th at 7:30 at the Downtown
Doubletree Hotel. The event will feature a
keynote address by Chastity Bono, author and
Lesbian and Gay media activist. Bono’s address
will emphasize the need for compassion and broad
community support in the fight against AIDS.
Proceeds from the event will support Tulsa
C.A.R.E.S. which is the principal care-giving consortium
for people living with HIV and AIDS in
northeastern Oklahoma. More than 500 clients
receive food, counseling, housing, medical prescription
assistance from the agency. Bono’s participation
in the Gala is co-sponsored by the Tulsa
Chapter of PFLAG.
Bono will also attend a booksigning in the early
afternoon (time tba) on April 17 at the Tulsa Gay
Community Services Center to benefit the Center.
Also on April 17, local divaAudra Sommers will
present Benefit 99, A Connection ofLove from 6-
8pm at the Parish Church of St. Jerome, 205 West
King. Featured artists include Ernestine Dillard,
Gregory Hyde, Link Filion, Rebecca Ungerman,
Jonathan Brown and the Council Oak Men’s Chorale.
Tickets are $25. Info: 836-5447.
Vandal Invades Center
Verbally Abuses Volunteer + Trashes Hail
TULSA - Late last month, aman entered the Tulsa
Gay Community Services Center, formerly known
as The Pride Center, shouting obsenities at the
volunteer, Shawn, who was staffing The Pride
Store that evening: The man, a white male was
described as being just over 6 foot tall and about
230 pounds with military style short red hair and a
full beard and mustache.
Shawn stated that the intruder stormed in the
store, waving a Pride flag that he’d grabbed from a
display near the stairs. She Said his message was
essentially, "how dare you f--king faggots come to
my town, you need to get the f--k out"and "I know
what you look like; I’ll be back to finish what I
started." Shawn then coolly asked him whether he
felt better now and then the intruder stormed down
the hall breaking a framed print and a floor lamp.
Shawn called 911 while the intruder was breaking
things in the hall. Tulsa Police responded
promptly and Shawn said the officers were very
professional and supportive but are not classifying
the incident as a hate crime:
Normally, Center volunteers workin teams; however,
the other volunteer had stepped out to bring
back fast food for dinner. Center board members
have begun fundraising to purchase a surveillance
system for the Center in response to the assault. ¯
Prime Timers to H.old
Gay Center Fundra,ser
¯ TULSA -The Tulsa Area Prime Timers, a local
: mens group, will hold its annual silent auction on
¯ Saturday, March 13 from 5-9pmin the Neal-Padgett
: Hall of the newly renamed Tulsa Gay Community
: Services Center, formerly known as The Pride
¯ Center. The event is held to raise funds for the
¯ Community Center and features a variety of ob-
¯ jeets from art, to collectables and even to services.
¯ Tulsa Area Prime Timers is the local chapter of
an international mens organization. Originally the
¯ group restricted membership to men 40 and above
and their partners. Now the organization is open to
¯ men 21 and above. For more information about the
¯ silent auction or Prime Timers or to donate an item
for the auction, call 627-2359.
Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants
*Bamboo Lounge, 7204 E. Pine
*Boston Willy’s Diner, 1742 S. Boston
*Concessions, 3340 S. Peoria
*Empire Bar, 1516 S. Peoria
*Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th
*Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria
*Interurban Restaurant, 717 S. Houston
*Jason’s Dell, 15th & Peoria
*Lola’s, 2630 E. 15th
*Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square
*St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st
*Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan
*Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main
*TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial
*Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd
832-1269
592-2143
744-0896
599-9512
583-6666
749-4511
585-3134
599-7777
749-1563
744-4280
745-9998
834-4234
585-3405
660-0856
584-1308
Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals
Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 747-1508
*Affinity News, 8120 E. 21 610-8510
Dennis C. Arnold, Realtor 746-4620
*Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000
Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034
Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122
*Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955
*Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665
Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272
*CD Warehouse, 3807c.S. Peoria 746-0313
Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117
Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700
Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468
*Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620
*Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady 587-2611
Doghouse on Brookside, 331LS. Peoria 744-5556
*Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838-8503
*Ross Edward Salon, 2447 E. 15th 584-0337, 712-9379
*Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 744-9595
Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709
*Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 742-1460
Learme M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349
Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440
*Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111
*International Tours 341-6866
Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750
*Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018
David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236
*Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070
Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466
*Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brady 585-1234
*Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112
Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934
*Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951
Novel Idea Bookstore, 51st & Harvard 747-6711
David A. Paddock, CPA, 4308 S. Peoria, Ste. 633
747-7672
Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626
*Peace of Mind Bookstore, 1401 E. 15 583-1090
The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor -
743-4297
Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101
747-5932
Richard’ s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617
Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921, 747-4746
Christopher Spradling, attorney, 616 S. Main, #308 582-7748
*Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301
Paul Tay, Car Salesman
260-7829
*Tickled Pink, 3340 S. Peoria
697-0017
0 *Tulsa Book Exchange, 3749 S. Peoria 742-2007
*Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558
Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling 743-1733
*Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis
592-0767
Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & ,Universities
AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101
579-9593
*All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria
743-2363
Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159
587-73.14
"-Bl~ss The Lord at All Times Christian Center. 2207 E. 6
583-7815
*B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa Canterbury Ctr. 583-9780
*Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201
*Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th PI. & Florence
*ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314
*Community ofHope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300
*Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595
*Council Oak Men’s Chorale ~ 585-COMC (2662)
*Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511
*Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31
742-2457
_Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa-Lesbian & Gay Catholics &
Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140
*Fellowship Congre,g. Church, 2900 S. Harvard
747-7777
*Free SpiritWomen s Center, call forlocation &info: 587-4669
918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615, POB 4140. Tulsa. OK 74159
e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlink net
website: http://users.aol.com/TulsaNewsl
Publisher + Editor:
Tom Real
Writers + contributors:
James Christjohn, Jean-Claude de Flambeauchaud
Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lament Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers, Adam West
Member of The Associated Press
Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of this
~4blicaantidonmaaryenportobteecrteedprboyduUcSedcoepityhreirgihnt w19h9o8leboyrTin~partFw.i.~thou.t
written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or
photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. Correspondence
is assumed to be for publication unless~ot,herwjse n.o~ted,,r~ust
be signed & becomes the sole property of
Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution
points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248.
.~riend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827
Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438
*HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611
*HIV Resource Consortium, 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 "
*Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378
HIV Testing, Men/Thurs. 7-9pm, daytime by appt. only
*House of the Holy Spirit Nfinstries, 3210e So. Norwood
Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437
*MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715
NAMES Project, 3507 E Admiral P1. 748-3111
NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658
OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157
*Our House, I 114 S. Quaker 584-7960
PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901
*Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674
*The Pride Center, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor, 74105 743-4297
Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152
*R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195
Rainbow Business Guild, POB 4106, 74159 665-5174
*Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325
O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults
O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth
St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N Cincinnati 425-7882
*St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140
*St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088
*Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171
TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225
Tnlsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105
Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only
Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297
~f.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 838-1222
*Tulsa City Hall; Ground Floor Vestibule
*Tulsa Columunity College Campuses
*Rogers University (formerly UCT)
BARTLESVILLE
*Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353
OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN
*Borders Books &Music, 3209 NWExpressway 405-848-2667
*Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907
TAHLEQUAH
: *Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900
.. *Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church
918-456-7900
*Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360
¯
NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand
!tlVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates
EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
¯ *Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23
¯ *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main
: DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St.
¯
*Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring.St.
¯ MCC of the Living Spring
¯ Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429
¯ Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery ¯ Positive Idea Marketing Plans
¯ Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East
¯ *White Light, 1 Center St.
¯ FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS5
¯ *Edna’s, 9 S. School Ave.
i
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
." *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134
501-253-7734
501-253-7457
501-253-6807 -
501-253-5445
501-253-9337
5131-253-2776
501-253-5332
501-624-6646
501-253-6001
501-253-4074
501-442-2845
417-623-4696
* is where you canfind TFN. Notall areGay-owned but all are Gay.friendly.
Carbon Copy
Mary Easely, Member
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Dear Mrs. Easely,
As a man who happens to have been a
victim of hate crimes based on sexual
orientation, I would urge you to support
house Bill 1211, simply because it’s the
right thing to do. You may or may not
agree with certain issues surrounding the
subject, but surely you can realize that to
be killed or maimed simply because of
what others perceive you to be is wrong.
We need a means to combat that sort of
behavior in this city, and this bill is an
~mportant step in addressing that.
Since moving to this state in 1993, I
have been verbally attacked withepithets
ranging from "faggot" to "f***ing queer"
while simply-walking down the street
with a friend. We were doing nothing
untoward, simply walking and talking.
~nat has happened several times - unprovoked
attacks.
In another instance, I was nearly forced
off a highway by a carfnl of kids yelling
anti-Gay slurs. It is not hard to imagine
that, considering the Mathew Shepard
case, I was lucky.
In school, I was the victim of several
assaults due to the fact I was perceived as
being Gay - long before I knew I was. I
have never been one to carry flags and
.proclaim my sexual orientation with a
bullhorn in a parade, so these attacks,
especially here in Tulsa, were a surprise -
and an unpleasant reminder of a very
difficult childhood.
I know several men who were physically
attacked, even as recently as this
year, in settings - urban neighborhoods,
daylight - that were surprisxng and upsetting
- and undeserved. If the bill passes,
then we can begin to effectively works
towards eradicating, or limiting this sort
of unacceptable violence.
Please help this bill make it through. Be
a part of the history that promoted a positive,
better; peaceful world, not a part of
history that ignored the hatred in this
world and allowed it free reign.
- name witheld by request, Tulsa
cc: Don Ross
Talking points for HB1211
It’ s not about "special rights ;"it’ s about
¯ stopping violence - Oklahoma’s current
laws arenotprotecting citizens adequately.
Many crimes, such as murder,vary the
penalties depending on the motive of the
perpetrator. A stronger hate crimes law is
no different.
No Oklahomans should fear violence
because of who they are. Hate crimes are
a form of terrorism: Hate crimes are intended
to frighten and silence not only the
actual victims, but all members of the
targeted group. Perpetrators ofhatecrimes
seek to "make examples" of their victims.
Oklahomans recognize the importance
¯ ofstanding strongagainstthosewhowonld
spread fear through violence.
Points provided by Gay Community
Services Center Advocacy Committee.
-:
¯" Letters. Policy
". Tulsa Family News welcomes letters on
: issues which we’ve covered or on issues
¯. youthinkneedtobeeonsidered.Youmay
¯ request that your name be withheld but
¯ letters mustbe signed&have phonenum-
: bers, or be hand delivered. 200 word leti
ters are preferred. Letters to other publications
will be printed as is appropriate.
However, as of press time, Barker had already posted on
the internet a further letter of complaint to the Oklahoma
Conference pursuing charges and a church trial against "
Penrose and Ross. In fact, a lay observer of these proceedings
alleged that Barker’ s complaints were being seen on the
internet for wide public viewing prior to even being received "
at the Oklahoma Conference and before Ross and Penrose "
even knew they were being accused. ¯
The text of the letter follows with only the deletion of the
charges against Ross. Those allegations are identical to
th0ge made against Peurose.
Reverend Paul Bowles and Reverend Grayson Lucky
Re: Reverend Susan Ross and Rev. Leslie Penrose
It is obvious we disagree in your comment "we can only
interpret their signatures as expressions ofpersonal opinion".
I believe thatyou err in this conclusion. In this case the
aforementioned clergy (Ross & Penrose) did infact violate
the statedposition ofthe Social Principles regarding same
sex unions as defined by the Social Principles, which as you
know, have been declared, in this instance, as having the
force of law, by the Judicial Council. By engaging in a
defiant challenge to the statedposition ofThe United Methodist
Church they have more than indicated their willingness
and ability to violate the covenant entered into at the
time of their ordination.
This breaking ofcovenant was evidenced by thefollowing
method:
1. Attaching or causing to be attached their names and
professional titles to a document containing a list of indii
viduals engaged in a behaviorprohibited by a ruling ofthe
Judicial Council.
In addition to myprevious complaints, which still stand, I
am nowfiling these additional complaints againstRev. Ross
and Rev. Penrose:
Reverend Penrose: Allegation: 1. BOD Parag. 2624f:
"dissenination [dissemination] of doctrines contrary to
the established standard.ofdoctrine of the Church"
Rev. Penrose did, on or about January 16th, 1999 attach
or caused to be attached, her name andprofessional title to
a documentin supportofsame sex unions, this is in violation
of Paragraph 3043, quoted in part, "since the practice of "
homosexuality isgncompatible with Christian teaching..." °
and Paragraph 65g "... Although we do not condone the ¯
practice ofhomosexuality andconsider thispractice incom- °
patible with Christian teaching.., ". this action expressed,
diseminated [disseminated] and otherwise revealed to the ¯
church that her doctrines were contrary to the currently ¯
stated doctrine as Contained in the Book OfDiscipline and "
Social Principles. ¯
2. BOD Parag. 2624g: "Relationships or behavior that ¯
undermines the ministry ofanother pastor" ¯
Rev. Penrose did, on or about January 16th, 1999 attach "
or cause to be attached her name andprofessional title to a "
document that encourages breaking the ordination covenant
as defined by Paragraph 2624b. By her behavior she
undermined and renderedfor naught the teaching offellow "
United Methodistpastors seeking to befaithful to the disCi- ¯
pline ofThe United Methodist Church and their ordination ¯
covenant. :
These two clergy have defiantly and unrepentantly vio- "-
lated their vows of ordina~on. 1 am insisting that they be ¯
disciplined appropriately. Ifyou as the district superinten- ¯
dents are unable or unwilling to discipline these two clergy :
persons then I have no other recourse than to demand a ¯
church trial before ajury as defined by the BOD. ¯
Sincerely, Jake Barker
Rt. 4 Box 951A Eufaula, OK 74432
co: Bishop Bruce Blake "
Although the Rev. Peurose declined to comment, lay
individuals associated with Commtmity of Hope noted that
these charges were not unexpected, especially after the
Oklahoma Conference forced the Rev: Kathy McCally of
Oklahoma City to leave the denomination. Ms. McCally ~:
transferred her ordination to the United Church of Christ --"
(UCC), the only "mainline" Christian denomination that~
ordains openly Lesbian and Gay persons. ¯
Furthermore, Oklahoma Bishop Bruce Blake was one of
the leaders in the effort to "criminalize" Methodist clergy
who perform same-gender unions. Prior to his efforts, the
restriction on such ceremonieswas a part of the Methodist
Social Discipline, seen as guidance to the thinking of the
Churchbut notchurch law. Now those who dissentfrom this
view can be charged and prosecutedfor alleged violations as
is happening with the Revs. Peurose and Ross.
¯ See associated editorial, this page.
¯ A few weeks ago, a local woman wrote The Tulsa
World to protest a recent article about Lesbian and Gay
issues featuring PFLAG. She challenged a statement
claiming that her part of the Church, the Methodists,
was one of several Christian groups that have official
positions in support of civil rights for Gay people.
She is, ofcourse, wrong.
Twenty-seven years ago, in 1972, the United Meth¯
odist General Conference adopted a statement saying,
"homosexuals no less than heterosexuals are persons of
: sacred worth... [and] we insist that all persons are
¯ entitledto have their human and civil rights ensured."
¯ Her ignorance is not entirely the lady’s fault. The
Church, Methodist and other parts, in Oklahoma and
¯ many other places, have done little to honor this civil
¯ rights commitment, or to affirm the sacred worth ofGay
¯ and Lesbian persons.
For example, every year, the OklahomaHouse passes
¯ bills clearly attacking the fundamental civil rights of
¯ Lesbian and Gay Oklahomans. Yet not once since this
¯ newspaperbegan publishinghas theOklahomaConfer- ¯
ence of the United Methodist Church ever raised its
¯ voice against these state-sponsored assaults.
¯
. That is not only our recollectionbut also thebegrudg-
¯ lng recollection of Bryce Bowden, communications
¯ directorand spokesmanfor theOklahomaUuited Meth-
~ odistConference. Notoncehas the Conference (OUMC)
¯ ever taken any proactive step towards supporting civil ¯
rights protections. Rumor is, however, that the OC may
¯ be supporting HB 1211, the "hate crimes" amendment.
: Twenty-sevenyearslater, that, atleast, wouldbeastart.
¯ However; while the OUMC has failed to honor this
longstanding civil rights commitment, no less than the
." Bishop of the Oklahoma Conference, Bruce Blake, led
." the efforts to turn the "guidance" of the Methodist
¯ Social Principles which opposed same-gender union
¯ ceremonies into prosecutable church law. It is this new
¯ law under which Tulsa pastor, the Reverend Leslie
¯ Peurose, is accused of wrongdoing. ¯
The actions of United Methodists indicate leadership
that seeks to punish those few brave Methodists who
would treat Lesbians and Gay men as equal human
beings. It is leadership that has not even tried to "ensure
human and civil fights" but worse hash’ t even bothered
to tell its general membfrship that they indeed have an
obligation to work for such civil rights.
" To judge fi:om their actions, their hollow rhetoric of
"loving the ’sinner’ and hating the ’sin,’ " should be
replaced with "we hate you people," and "we hate that
you make us confront the hypocrisy of our words and
actions." No, it’ s not in keeping with "Christian values"
and it makes them very uncomfortable but it sure looks
like the truth.
But to doso would require that these good Methodists
view themselves as less than righteous people - which
ain’t gging to happen. For me, I sometimes think I’d
rather deal with an honest Klansman than some of these
,,ood people. You might despise what the Klansman
values but at least you know his words and actions are
going to be consistent. With "good Christian folk," you
just never know.
- Tom Neal, editor/publisher
If you cannot go to Oklahoma City, you can write
your legislator at the following address:
The Honorable (then name of Representative)
¯ Eureka Springs Plans April
Diversity Celebration
¯ Featuring aQuiltdisplay, Dancing + Kite-Flying
EUREKA SPRINGS, AR - They’re doing it again in
Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and you’re invited! The
¯ - fourth Diversity Celebration Weekend is scheduled for
¯ April 9-11, and several new events will make this the
biggest and best yet.
¯ Withgreat pride and respect, the Celebration organizers
are bringing three sections (24 panels) of the AIDS
: Quilt to Eureka Springs. After an opening ceremony on
Thursday evening, April 8, the quilt will be on display
at the Unitarian Clmrch Friday and Saturday, with the
closing ceremony and folding of the quilt taking place
at the .Sunday morning Unitarian service.
Friday night, the Celebration will kick off with a
" dance from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. in the Ozark Room
of the Basin Park Hotel hosted by MCC of the Living
Spring. On Saturday, you can walk the streets of this
¯ quaint village on a guided historic tour or hike on your
own in the spring air at Lake Leatherwood. If you have
a great kite that needs a workout, "Go Fly a Kite" at,
Pond Mountain Lodge from 4:30-7:30 p.m. And in the
afternoon, when you’re ready to slow down a bit for a
light bite to eat and some great coffee, head down to
Mud St. Espresso Cafe for continuous music by local
and visiting Gay/Lesbian/friendly artists.
Now remember when you really wanted to take your
boyfriend or girlfriend to your prom, but you had to
settle for an opposite sex date or stay home? Well, on
Saturday night from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Ballroom
atop the Basin Park Hotel, you can bring whomever you
like to the "Pro~n of Your Dreams." Break out the
corsages and boutonnieres and dance to the music of DJ
Jon Caswcll. And be sure to capture this special moment
on film with the prom photographer. (Formal attire is
encouraged, but not required.) Or if you’re looking for
more of a club atmosphere, Center Street South will be
jumping with live entertainment frown 10pro- 2an~.
Sunday, you’ll have time to sleep in and catch some
brunch before the weekend wraps up with the Tea
Dance and Drag Show at Center S tage from 2-6 p.m. Jon
will spin tunes, and the Girls from Tnlsa will delight all
with their terrific performances.
That’s it in a nutshell. For a schedule of activities and
events, or to find a list of Gay-owned or friendly
businesses, check out the Eureka Springs Diversity
Cooperative and Celebration website at
www.shimaka.com/eureka/diversity, call The Emerald
Rainbow at (501) 253-5445 or e-mail emrain@ipa.net.
Make your reservations now!
Attorney General Drew Edmondson said the legislation
provides harsher punishment for individuals whose
attacks are based on who or what their victim is.
Edmondson also cited studies by medical and psychological
groups while stating that homosexuals "are
made to have the orientation they have."
Graves said sodomy is illegal in the state and questioned
whether Edmondson was trying .to legitimize
"Gay lifestyles." "I’m not talking about lifestyle. I’m
not talking about activity," Graves said. "We don’t
expect them to be arrested for what they are." Graves, a
frequent critic of Gays and Lesbians who has authored
many bills targeting homosexuals, revealed during debate
that windows in cars drivenby himand hi s son have
been shattered and his dog poisoned. He said he also has
Room (insert Representatives office number)
2300 N. Lincoln Boulevard
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105-4808.
To find the name of your legislator, you may call the
Tulsa County Election Board (or your county election
board) at 596-5780. If you give them the address at
which you are registered to vote, they will give you the
¯ names of your representatives. Also if you are not
registered to vote or have moved, they can assist yon in
¯ getting registered to vote.
: To speak with your representative or their assistants,
¯ call 800-522-8502 for the Oklahoma House of Repre-
¯ sentatives and ask for your representative’s office.
¯ Editor’s note: a special thanks to Ned Bruha of
¯ TOHR/Tulsa Gay Community Services Center’s Advo-
¯ cacy committeeforsomeofthe information listedabove.
: received obscene phone calls,.,"I can’t prove who did it,
_. whether homosexuals did it, Graves said.
¯ The bill now goes to the full House for debate.
¯" Lobby
i depends
like your life
on it- it does.
Say No to Hate Violence
Call, write, fax, or e-mail your support for
Oklahoma House Bill 1211
Call the House for your representative: 800-522-850:
Anti-Marriage Bill Moves
Forward in Colorado
DENVER (AP) -Thelatest effort to ensure Colorado
does not have to recognize gay and lesbian marriages
legalized elsewhere was approved by the Senate and
sent to the House of Representatives.
Other states havepassed similar laws as pre-emptive
strikes against efforts to legalize same-sex marriages.
Challenges to laws restricting marriage between a
man and a woman are pending in Hawaii, Alaska and
Vermont.
Senate Bill 159 would reaffirm the law defining
marriage as a licensed union between one man and
one woman. Even more important to proponents is
the section saying gay and lesbian marriages legalized
by other states would not be valid in Colorado.
This is the third try by Sen. Marilyn Musgrave, RFort
Morgan, to get a bill passed. Past measures were
vetoed by former Gov. Roy Romer. But Gov. Bill
Owens, who took office in January, has said he would
support the legislation.
Musgrave and others fear that if other states allow
same-sex marriages, Colorado would have to honor
the umons unless the state is specifically barred from
doing so.
States have traditionally recognized marriages performed
in other states. The so-called full faith and
credit clause of the U.S. Constitution directs states to
respect each others’ laws.
Congress also adopted a law allowing states to
ignore same-sex marriages legalized elsewhere. Opponents
predict the state and federal laws eventually
will be overruled by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Lesbian-Film
Controversial in India
BOMBAY, India (AP)-Theater owners who want to
screen a controversial film about lesbian love can
have police protection if they think they need it,
Bombay’s right-wing government said last month.
"I don’t think security will be necessary, but if they
ask for police protection it will be provided,"
Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane told reporters
a week after censors cleared the film "Fire"
without any cuts.
Rane’s 81~v 8ena had sent small groups of violent
protestersinto theaters into the Maharashtracapital of
Bombay and the national capital of New Ddhi to
disrupt screenings of "Fire" last year. Frightened
theater owners pulled the film, though it continued
showing to packed houses elsewhere in India. Shiv
Sena protesters had said the film, which explores the
sexual relationship of two women caught in unhappy
marriages, was an affront to India’s centuries-old
Hindu culture.
In an attempt to defuse the controversy after the
violence in Bombay and New Delhi, the government
sent "Fire" back to censors who must vet every film
shown in India and who had already passed "Fire."
Last week, the Bombay-based censor reiterated no
cuts were necessary.
With renewed approval from the censor, the film
will be screened in 17 theaters all over Bombay,
distributor Balkrishna Shroff stated.
Liberal California City
Supports Tinky Winky
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) - A city famous for radical
politics is drumming up power to the purple with a
resolution backing Tinky Winky, the children’s TV
character attacked by the Rev. Jerry Falwell as a
purse-toting symbol of Gay pride.
"We take umbrage at the threat to personal style
and choices implicit in Mr. Falwell’s designation of
Tinky Winky as an inappropriate role model," dedares
the resolution, expected to be passed by the
City Council tonight. "Long live Tinky Winky and
long live freedom from self-righteousness!"
Councilwoman Polly Armstrong, who is sponsoring
the resolution, said she wanted tO make a point
and have some fun in a city known for taking stands
on everything from nuclear proliferation (against) to
human rights in Burma (for). "We jump on every
good cause in Berkeley and I thought what fun to do
one we could laugh at. Of course there is a very
serious subtext to the humor and that is that when you
see bigotry and self-righteonsness out there you really
need to stand up to it even when it’s absurd," she
said.
A spokeswoman for Falwell did not rettm~ a telephone
call from The Associated Press Monday. But
the president of Itsy Bitsy Entertainment Co., which
licenses the Teletubbies in the United States, did have
a response: Leave Tinky Winky alone.
Kenn Viselman said lie appreciates the show of
support, but he doesn’t think political statements of
any stripe have a place in the gentle world of
Teletubbies. "He’s not Gay. He’s not straight. He’s
ust a character in a children’ s series," Visdman said.
Tinky Winky turbulence began earlier this month
with an article in the National Liberty Journal, edited
and published by Falwell, calling Tinky Winky a
homosexual role model. "He is purple - the Gaypride
color; and his antenna is shaped like a triangle
- the Gay-pride symbol," the story said, also noting
that Tinky Winky carries a purse (actually his magic
bag, show spokesmen point out).
Tinky Winky is one of the four stars ofTeletubbies,
a British show aimed at toddlers. The Teletubbies, a
bit like brightly colored oversized teddy bears with
benign baby faces, have antennas of sorts sprouting
from their fuzzy heads and television screens in their
tummies. They spend their days mainly dancing,
playing (falling down is a favorite pastime) and
watching short videos showing real children engaged
in various pursuits.
Lousiana Anti-Sex
Law Struck Down
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A state appeals court has
struck down a 194-year-old Louisiana law that made
oral and anal sex a felony, saying the law violated the
privacy rights ofconsenting adults. The decision adds
to the growing listof U.S. states thathave struckdown
sodomy laws based on rights to privacy granted in
state constitutions.
The Louisiana court on reversed the 1996conviction
of Mitchell E. Smith. He had been accused of
raping a woman but found guilty under the state’s
"crimes against nature" statute only of having her
perform oral sex. "There canbenodoubt that the right
of consenting adults to engage in private non-commercial
sexual activity, free from governmental interference,
is protected by the privacy clause of the
Louisiana Constitution," the court held. Courts in
Georgia, Kentucky, Montana and Tennessee previously
had reached the same conclusion in interpreting
their respective state constitutions and striking down
sodomy laws.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court held in 1986 in a
Georgia case that consenting adults have no federal
¯ constitutional right to private homosexual conduct,
activists have turned to individual state constitutions
to find protection from the sodomy laws. The U.S.
¯ Constitution does not mention the word "privacy,"
but the Supreme Court since 1965 has recognized that
such a right predates the 1787 document itself. However,
many state constitutions expressly grant a right
to privacy.
¯ Suzanne Goldberg, senior staff attorney with the
l_ambda Legal Defense Fund in New York City, was
¯ jubilant about the decision. "These-laws have no
: legitimate purpose and that’s what courts are starting
¯ to recognize," she said. ’°The government should not
¯
be in the business of policing private sexual behav-
~ ior." The decision will be appealed, said prosecutor
¯ Tim McElroy.
: New Mexico May Ban
¯ Same Gender Marriages
: SANTA FE (AP)-A New Mexico Senate committee
: recently approved legislation that outlaws Gay mar-
" riages and penalizes anyone who performs them. The
¯ bill passed the Senate PublicAffairs Committee on a ¯
vote of 5-3. It goes to the Judiciary Committee. It
¯ defines marriage as a contract between"one man and
¯ one woman"and says a same-sex marriage wouldnot
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be recognized in New Mexico even if it were valid
elsewhere. Anyone who performed a same-sex marriage
ceremony could be fined $50, under the legislatiorL
Supporters said New Mexico should join 29 other
states that have passed similar bills: Its opponents said
itwas unnecessary, unconstitutional andpunitive. "This
bill was notbom out of fear and ignorance... Tbis bill
simply defines what a marriage is," replied its sponsor,
Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces.
Mass. Religious Leaders
Support Gay Marriage
BOSTON (AP) - Carmen DeBenedictis is safe sleeping
in the arms of either of her two daddies. But the parents
of the newly adopted 6-week-old feel less secure about
the family situation.
That’s because, as a Gay couple, Don Picard and
Robert DeBenedictis aren’t legally married. And there
are lawmakers on Beacon Hill who want to keep it that
way. "It’s strange. Carmen is our next of kin, but we’re
not next of kin to each other," Picard said. The unconventional
Medford family attended a rally at the Statehouse
where dozens of religious leaders called for the
state to recognize same-sex marriages.
About 150 religious leaders have signed a declaration
of support for the right of Gays to marry. The group
includes Jews, Quakers, Baptists, Episcopalians, Unitarians,
Catholics and others. "The most fundamental
human right, after the necessities of food clOthing and
shelter, is the right to affection and the supportive love
of another person," the declaration begins.
But the movement faces opposition on Beacon Hill.
"I am not for Gay marriages," Gov. Paul Cellucci
bluntly declared recently. Rep. John Rogers, D:
Norwood, .is drafting a bill that would more clearly
define marriage in Massachusetts. The language in the
bill wouldrequire that a marriagebe between amanand
a woman, thereby prohibiting same-sex couples to
malty.
So far, Hawaii is the only state where Gay marriages
havebeenupheld in the courts. ButCongress responded
withthe Defense of Marriage Actin 1996, which denied
federal recognition of Gay marriage and allowed states
to ignore the unions of Gay couples married in other
states. So far, 29 states have banned homosexual marriage.
Tile Massachusetts religious leaders said they would
fight to make sure Gay marriages performed legally in
other states are recognized here. The declaration presented
by clergy compares the ban on Gay marriages to
previous bans on interracial marriages and laws prohibiting
blacks to marry.
Many of the ministers said they perform Gay marriage
ceremonies. "I am deeply troubled that...I as a
clergyman see the marriages that I officiate at are not
being legally recognized by this commonwealth," said
Rabbi Howard Berman.
Picard and DeBenedictis said they were united in a
spiritual ceremony. But a legal ceremony would give
them peace of mind. They said they face the same
obstacles as other Gay couples who want to be legally
married: spousal insurance benefits and being considered
next of kin if the other is injured or dies. "It’s
strange that the state is excited we are adopting a baby
but they are resisting letting us get married," Picard
said.
Gays Protest Anti-Gay
Immigration Policies
NEW YORK (AP) - A Gay and Lesbian group protested
U.S. immigration policies, saying the govemment
discriminates against same-sex couples when
granting visas to foreigners. "Love knows no borders,"
dozens of protesters chanted behind police barricades
outside the Immigration and Naturalization Service in
lower Manhattan.
The demonstration was organized by the Lesbian and
Gay Immigration Rights Task Force, a New Yorkbased
advocacy group. The group claims green cards
are routinely granted to heterosexual foreigners who
marry U.S. citizens, while same-sex applicants are
rejected.
"We often face an excruciating choice - our parmers
can either live an ocean apart or stay surreptitiously
in the U.S. without proper papers and under threat
of deportation," said Carl Goodman, an American
whose partner is Peruvian.
"I love an alien," said a sign hoisted by one
protester, and another man with an Australian
partner held up a red placard asking, "Can my
husband come over and stay?"
The INS called the protest misguided. "This is
not an immigration issue," said spokesman Russ
Bergeron. He said it’s a question of"the invalidity
of same-sex marriage under existing U.S. law. Any
person who is legally married has the right to file a
petition for their spouse to immigrate."
At least 10,000 Gay couples are affected, said
task force attorney SuTanne Goldberg. The task
force wants Congress to establish a special category
- such as a legally registered partnership -
that would qualify a foreigner with a longtime
partner to live in the United States, Goldberg said.
Ten countries recognize same-sex relationships for
the purposes of immigration, including Canada,
Britain and Austr~ia.
Ariz. Gov. to Legislature
Issues, Not Bedrooms
PHOENIX (AP) - Gov. Jane Hull wants lawmakers
to give more attention to matters of import and
less to bedroom issues such as medical benefits for
Gays. "I may morallyfeel one way, but I do not
believe that I need to pass laws to putmy beliefs on
the record," Mrs. Hull, a former House speaker,
said during her radio talk show.
Mrs..Hull had been asked about a bill (HB2524)
that would bar the state and universities from
extending medical benefits to "domestic partners"
of homosexuals. Cities and towns could extend
those benefits only if doing so were approved by
voters. Tucson and Pima County are the only two
government employers that offer domestic partners
benefits in Arizona. The bill sponsored by
Rep. Karen Johnson, R-Mesa, led to a heated and
personal exchange in the House last week as the bill
passed the Government Reform Committee narrowly.
Such efforts are an inappropriate expenditure of
lawmakers’ time and energy, and they should not
be limiting what benefits cities and towns may
provide, Mrs. Hull said. "I wish that we could get
down to talking about what’s really important,"she
said. "We ought to be looking at state responsibilities,
not worrying about what goes on in cities and
counties and towns and bedrooms. The legislators
are there to worry about the future of the state of
Arizona and I would prefer that that’s what they
did."
Johnson said she was disappointed with the
governor’s remarks and will continue to push her
bib despite seeing little likelihood it will pass.
Lawmakers do have a role in laws dealing with
morality, especially when public tax dollars and
activities barred by Arizona law are involved, she
said. "I feel we’re here to support the nuclear
family,"Johnson said. "I don’ t think our tax money
should be used to subvert the nuclear family."
New Zealand Lesbian
to Pay Child Support
HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) - A Lesbian
recently gaveup her legal fight against paying child
support after a High Court ruling. The former
Hamilton woman, who lives in Wellington, will
have to make child support payments to her former
partner after the High Court upheld an earlier
Hamilton Family Court ruling. The High Court
judges did not comment on whether same-sex
marriages should be recognized in law.
The Family Court had stated she must pay child
support for the children she helped bring up. The
landmark decision has wide-ranging implications
for other same-sex relationships and those where
the adults in parental roles have no biological link
to their children. The women’s names and details
have been suppressed, as are those of the children.
Common Chemical.
May Help Block HIV i
HERSHEY, Pa. (AP)-A substance found ¯
in many shampoos and toothpastes might :
hold the key to stopping the spread of :
sexually-transmitted viruses that cause ¯
AIDS, genital herpes and genital warts, :
researchers from the Pennsylvania State ."
University and two other institutions said . ¯
on Thursday.
The discovery that sodium dodecyl sulfate,
or SDS, can kill such viruses, could
have major worldwide public_health implications,
said lead researcher Mary K.
Howett, professor of microbiology and
immunology at Penn State’s Milton S.
Hershey Medical Center.
Shewasjoinedin the studybyresearchers
from the University of Pennsylvania
and BiosynInc., aPhiladelphia-basedbiotechnology
research and development
company. The group published its findings
in the February issue of the journal
Antimicrobial Agents andChemotherapy.
"This is potentially very exciting,"
Daniel Malamud, professor of biochemistry
at Penn, told The Patriot~News in
Harrisburg. "We have to remember that
these are studies in the test tube and in
animal models. There.have been many
promising drugs in the laboratory thatjust
don’t make it to the marketplace because
humans are different."
Humantrials ofSDS couldbegin within
a year, Ms. Howett said, and within two to
five years could lead to the dc.velopment
of inexpensive over-the-counter products
that women could apply intravaginally
prior to intercourse to protect themselves
or their sexual partners from infection.
The research, conducted the past two
years, was funded through the National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
and the Jake Gittlen Cancer Research
Institute. Researchers have applied
for a patent on the discovery, Ms. Howett
said. Such a product, if approved, easily
could be used in creams, gels; foams and
ointments or applied to condoms, sponges
or other types of contraceptives.
In addition to potentially curbing the
spread of AIDS, use of the substance
could stop the spread of the-human
papillomaviruses, orHPV, thatcause genital
warts.
Such warts can turn to cervical and
uterine cancer, which cause 5,000 deaths
among women in the United States each
year and 250,000 deaths annually around
the globe. Cervical cancer is the No. 1
cause of cancer-related deaths in women
in developing nations.
HPVs afflict one out of four women. In
addition to being a potential source of
cancer, they can cause physical lesions
and emotional stress.
Alkyl sulfates, the family of chemicals
to which SDS belongs, are found in high
concentrations inmosttoothpastes, shampoos
and skin product. That could bode
well for the product as it moves toward
possible approval by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration.
Genetic Testing For
AIDS Treatment
CHICAGO (AP) - Deciphering the genetic
code of each patient’s AIDS virus
appears to help doctors tailor treatments
to improve the chance of thwarting HIV’s
dogged ability to develop resistance.
One of the elements that makes HIV
such a difficult foe is the sloppy way it
makes copies of itself. Each new version
is slightly different from its predecessor.
Mutant forms quickly arise through randomgenetic
changes that are able to resist
the most powerful drugs.
In recent months, doctors have increasingly
turned to individual resistance testing.
A study released recently shows this
pays off: Analyzing patients’ viruses for
genetic signs of resistance seems to improve
treatment outcomes.
Estimates vary, but perhaps 30% to
60% of all people taking the AIDS drug
cocktails are considered treatment failures,
because HIV can still be found in
their blood. Either their virus never disappeared
completely or it rebounded.
Without the tests, doctors often must
rely on trial and error to put together fresh
combinations of medicines. Coming up
with these strategies, sometimes called
salvagetherapy, is an increasingly important
part of long-term AIDS care.
"It’s clear the test helps you choose
more active drugs for patients who are
failing therapy," said the study’s director,
Dr. John Baxter of Cooper Hospital in
Camden, N.J. He presented the latest data
Thursday at the 6th Conference on
Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections.
- Dr. Douglas Richman of the University
of California, San Diego, estamated that
as many as two dozen of these tests are
now on the market, although they have
received little testing to make sure they do
any good. "Personally, I think it’s premature,"
he said.
In Baxter’s study, financed by the National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases, doctors performed genetic
analysis on the viruses of 78 patients who
had failed treatment, while a comparison
group of 75 received their usual care.
The test analyzed viral genes that produce
two essential proteins- protease and
reverse transcriptase. Both of these proteins
are targets Of standard AIDS drugs.
When the genes become mutated, they
produce forms of these proteins that elude
the effects of the medicines.
After analyzing the tests and determining
the specificmutations in eachpatient’ s
virus, Baxter and two other virologists
then made treatment suggestions to the
patients’ doctors.
The doctors precisely followed the virologists"
advice only about half the time,
although 83% said the information influenced
their treatment decisions.
At the study’s start, median viral levels
were 28,000 copies per milhliter ofblood.
All were switched to new drug regimens,
but those whose viruses were tested did
much better. Their viral levels dropped to
815, compared to 7,950in the comparison
group. After eight weeks, half of those in
the test group had no measurable virus in
their blood, compared with one-quarter of
the other patients.
Baxter said the testing may be useful to
¯ tailor first-time treatment for those who
¯¯ are newly infected with HIV. This could
become especially important if viruses
¯ thatareimmunetomultiple drugs become
¯ more widespread, as many fear.
AFrench study, conductedby Dr. Pierre
Dellamoniea of University Hospital Cen-
¯
tet in Nice, was released at an AIDS
¯ conference in Glasgow, Scotland in No-
- vember. It produced similar results using
." agenetictestdevelopedby VisibleGenet-
¯ ics Inc.
Stopping Treatment
to Stop AIDS?
CHICAGO (AP)-The tentativeresults of
a small human experiment offer a glimmer
of possibility that the body’s own
Tulsa C.A.R.E.S. in association with PFLAG presents
Chastity Bono
at the 2nd Annual
Red Ribbon Ball
Saturday, April 17th
7:30pro, dinner + entertainment, tickets
begin at $75/person/all proceeds benefit
Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., Information 834-4194
INTRODUCING OUR NEW ASSOCIATE!
John Serrot, MSW
/EAH HUNT, MSW
Cherry Street
Psychotherapy
Associates
1515 S. Lewis
(918) 743-4117
JUDY SEYMOUR, CADC JOHN SERROT, MSW
Serving a Diverse Community
Are You Gay or Bisexual?
Are You Native America. n?/
rulsa’s Two:Spirited Indian Men’s
Support Group ~s here for you!
¯ Evening support group meetings
¯ Relationship workshops
¯ Short trips, outings and retreats
¯ Free HIV testing
For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project
at 582-7225 Ext. 208 or 218
r
Providing
Physical,
Occupational &
Speech Therapy
in the Tulsa
Community since
-199/4.
Orthopedic and Work InJuries are our
specialty. Most ins ,r.ance accepted.
Appointments made 8 a.m..to 7 p.m. M-F.
Call us today at 58g-1233.
Medkal
Excellence And
Compass..ionate
Care .Since
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ST. JOHN MEDICAL CENTER
defense system can be trained to hold
down the AIDS virus.
The clearly risky approach attempts to
mimic the success of the much-talkedabout
"Berlin patient," a newly infected
German man who stopped and started
AIDS therapy and eventually quit it entirely,
only to discover that his virus had
inexplicably disappeared. Hehas remained
free ofHIV for two years,
"I don’t see why others cannot become ¯
the Berlin patient," said Dr. Franco Loft,
head of the Research Institute for Genetic
and Human Therapy at Georgetown University
in Washington.
Lori’s team is one of a few exploring
the idea that it may be possible to wean
people away from the demanding regimen
of AIDS medicines without actually
curing them of their infections. Lori presented
his findings at the 6th Conference
on Retrovirnses and Opportunistic Infections.
Some physicians are skeptical. They
fear AIDS patients who learn ofthese
attempts will stop taking the drugs on
their own-withpotentially deadly consequences.
"My concern is that this will be
overplayed," said Dr. Robert Schooley of
the University of Colorado, a conference
orgamzer. "It sounds good to patients.
Who wouldn’t want to stop treatment?
But the real question is whether you can
change the immune response. I worry
pataents will stop therapy. Whenever that
happens, inmyexperience, the vims comes
roaring back.’"
Loft calls the approach stop and go. The
idea: Treat people with standard AIDS
drugs until all signs of HIV vanish from
the bloodstream. Withhold the medicines
until the virus returns. Then give the drugs
again, Keep repeating the cycle until eventually
the virus never comes back,
It probably won’t be eradicated entirely,
so the theory goes, but the body’s
immune defenses will be able to keel~ it
from the explosive growth that is HIV’s
killing trademark.
Loft has tried the approach so far on
three patients. While it’s still too soon to
know whether it will work, Loft finds the
first few weeks’ results promising. The
interval before the virus returns is lengthening.
Furthermore, he said that in more
aggressive experiments on monkeys, the
only practical nonhuman substitute for
AIDS research, the approach seems to
keep the virus at bay for good. The next
step is amuchlarger study involving40 to
80 patients, he said.
Dr. Bruce Walker is conducting similar
early-stage experiments on patients at
Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
"We really don’t have any data yet to
suggest that this (stopping and starting
therapy) is something we should be doing,"
he said.
"I would not put one of my patients on
this," said Dr. Roger Pomerantz of Thomas
Jefferson University in Philadelphia,
"Peoplehave talked about this, but it’s the
first time I’ve seen anyone have the guts
to try it."
In Loft’s study, three patients took a
combination of the drugs DDI,
hydroxyurea and indlnavir. The first time
.they stopped treatment, the virus returned
m one week. Doctors treated them again
and stopped. This time the virus stayed
awayfor21/2weeks. Againdoetors started .
and stopped the drugs. The virus disap- _"
peared for six to eight weeks. ."
No one knows how long this will go on ¯
or whether eventually these cycles will
put the virus into permanent retreat.
Glaxo Wellcome
Tries Combo Drugs
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.
(AP) - Glaxo Wellcome is developing
new treatments for AIDS that combine
existing drugs into one-dosage medications.
The world’s second-largest drug
company is in the final stage of development
of a drug that would fuse Ziagen, a
new AIDS drug that won Food and Drug
Administration approval in December,
with Epivir, or 3TC, and Retrovir, or
AZT.
Glaxo Wellcome - based in the United
Kingdom but with U.S. headquarters in
North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park
- expects to submit an application for
marketing approval to the FDA later this
year.
The combination follows the footsteps
ofGlaxo’ s Combivir, a"cocktail therapy",
that allows patients to take a variety of
drugs in prescribed combinations.
Combivir, which combined3TCandAZT
into one pill, posted $443 million in worldwide
sales in 1998, including $325 million
in the United States. Glaxo is already
the leading producer of AIDS drugs.
No Extra Criminal
Charges for Spitter
WOODWARD, Okla. (AP) -A man who
allegedly spit intentionally into an open
knuckle wound on a police officer and
then told the officer he was HIV-posifive
has tested negative for the virus that causes
AIDS, authorities say. Prosecutors said
Dusfin L. Clower, 18,’wouldn’t face additional
charges because of the spitting incident.
The decision was made after a courtordered
test determined Clower wasn’t
HIV-positive. Clower appeared before
Associate District Judge ]~inson Barefoot
to present the preliminary blood test results
from the state Department of Health.
Clower was arrested following a fight
in a restaurant parking lot in Woodward
on Jan. 17. He struggledwith Officer Matt
.Lehenbaur and allegedly intentionally spit
into the split-open knuckle. Lehenbaur
said in an affidavit that Clower told him
after he spit on him that he was HIVpositive.
Clower still faces felony charges of
assault and battery on a police officer and
attempting to escape custody.
AIDS Ride Nets
Only 15% to Charity
DALLAS (AP) - Of $3 million in donations
to the Tanqueray Texas AIDS Ride
last year, 85% went toward expenses,
organizers confirm. The costs included
office space, advertising and the $280,000
fee of the for-profit producer, Pallotta
Teamworks of Los Angeles, The Dallas
Morning News reported. The 15%, or
$450,000, that went to beneficiaries was
far below both projections and industry
standards for such activities.i
Chris Cole, national director of
Pallotta’s AIDS rides, said Pallotta generally
projects that it will return about 50%
of proceeds to participating charities, as it
projected in Texas last year and has delivered
elsewhere. Even that rate is unimpressive
to Daniel Borochoff, president
of the National Institute of Philanthropy.
He urges a minimum of 65%.
Producers of the 575-mile jaunt are
promising to cut expenses and attractmore
participants so that the second-year event,
set for next October, is more successful.
Les Ballets Trockadero ¯ January is an exhibit, Symbols of Faith ¯
and Belief, Art of the Native American de Monte Carlo : Church. The show features paintings,
Dancing the fine line between high art ¯ drawings, photographs, objects and conandhighcamp,
Les Ballets Trockadero de ¯ temporary art from the Native American
Monte Carlo have delighted
audiences
around the world. In
parodies of famous
classical works, from
Swan Lake to Giselle,
and of the choreography
oflsadora Duncan,
George Balanchine,
and Martha Graham,
they offer performances
which both
dance afficionados and
complete dance novices
enLjoeys.Trockaderos began
in 1974 and have
performedin dancefestivals
from New York,
Spoleto, Italy, Vienna,
Paris to the Nether-..
lands. Their tours have
taken them across the
US, Europe, South
America andrepeatedly
across Japan.
And while the repertoire
and casts of Les
Trockaderos may
change, the .original
concept remains constant:
acompany ofprofessional
male dancers
performing the full
range ofballetandmodern
dance repertoire.
The humorous sight of
male bodies delicately
balancing in toe shoes
as swans, sylphs and
water sprites delight,
amuse and still serve
Les Trockaderos original
purpose: to being
the pleasure of dance
to the widest possible
audience.
For tickets or more
information, call 596-
7111. Outside Tulsa,
call 800-364-7111 or
online contact,
www.tulspac.com
Now open at the City
of Tulsa’s Gilcrease
Museum, are two exceptional,
if divergent,
exhibits. Opening in
Tr ;kade
Les Ballets Trockadero
de Monte Carlo, March 16 only
Norman Rockwell: An American
Portrait at Gilcrease, 2/19-5/2
Alphonse Mucha, the Spirit of
Art Nouveau, 4/25 - 6/20
Churchtraditions. The
Native American
Church developed in
the late 1870’s with a
ritual basedon the consumption
of peyote
cactus. For thousands
of American Indian
people, theChurchhas
provided the spiritual
and social basis for
meaningful lives amid
the disruptions and dislocations
of 20th century
life. Grounded in
older tribal religions
from the plains region,
the Churchwas thef’Lrst
native religious movement
organized and
dessiminated on the
model of western
Christian denominations.
Just opening
at the end of February,
is a different aspect
of America: Norman
Rockwell: An
American Portrait.
This exhibitfeatures all
332 magazine covers
the artist didfor the Saturday
Evening Post
overaperiodfrom 1916
to 1963. Even as
Rockwell helped preserveAmericanmyths,
he recreated them and
made them new for following
generations.
After you’ve seen Les
Trockaderos de Monte
Carlo do their Swan
Lake, don’t you think
you ought to see Tulsa
Ballet do the original?
You have that chance,
April 9-11. Call 749-
6006 for tickets.
Also March 6, 11 &
13, Tulsa Opera will
present Dialogues of
the Carmelites, starring
the Metropolitan
Opera’s Rosalind Elias.
Call 587-4811 for tickets
and information.
T. U. L. S. A. Hosts Review + Fundraiser
The Tulsa Uniform and Leather Seekers
Association (T.U.L.S.A.) will host the
second annual charity fundraising event
called"After the Leather, the GreatLeather
Campout" on Friday, March 19. Making
special guest appearances will be ahost of
Tulsa and Oklahoma City entertainers
and tifle-holders from numerous pageants
and contests.
The event, which organizers hope will
be a ongoing effort, will take place at the
Silver Star Saloon, beginning promptly at
10pm and will benefit three local charities:
Our House, Tulsa C.A.R.E.S. Food
Chain and the Tulsa Gay Community
Services Center, formerly known as The
Pride Center.
Also this year a silent auction will take
place beginning at 9pm. The regular auction
will offer autographed portraits of
Patti LaBelle, Cher, Susan Lucci, Rosie
0’Donnell, Troy Aikman, Reba McIntire,
Travis Tritt, George Straight, Robin Williams,
Michael J. Fox, Diana Ross, Hulk
Hogan, Alec Balwin, Bruce Willis and
others.
A highlight of the auction will be an
autographed CD of Sir Elton John.
T.U.L.S.A. officers hope that this year’s
¯event will outperform last year’s which
raised Over $2500 for charity.
For any additional information, please
call Randall at 1-918-762- 3212, or contactT.
U.L.S.A, atPostOffice Box 33076,
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74102 or
www.tulsaleather.com
NORMAN ROCKWELL:
An American Portrait
May 2, 1999
3 Performances Only!
April 9-11
Tulsa Performing Arts Center
Sponsored by
Bank of Oklahoma and the Tulsa World
TICKERS NOW ON SALE! _
1998-1999 SEASON BROCHURES CALL
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
March 16 at 8 p,m.
Chapman
Music Hall
TULSA
PERFORMING
ARTS CENTER
Tickets
$10-$30
Dancing the fine line between high art and high camp, Les Bdllets
Trockadero de Monte Carlo delights audiences around the world.
~- Les Bal ets Trockadero is the world’s foremost all-male comic ballet
company.
Sponsored in part by:
OKLAHOMA
THE POWER OF CONVICTION AND DRAMA
~ SUNDAYS
Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
Community of ttope (United Methodis0, Service - 6pm, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Service - 1 lain, 2545 S. Yale, 749-0595
Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist
Service - 1lain, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-1314
Metropolitan Community Church United (formerly Family of Faith & MCCGT)
Service, 1 lain, 1623 North Maplewood, Info: 838-1715
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc.
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood
Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical AnglicanChurch in America)
Mass - 11am, 205 W. King (east of No. Denver), Info: 582-3088
University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance
6:30 pro, Meets at the Canterbury Ctr., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780
Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals at 5pro, Info: 585-COMC (2662)
~ MONDAYS
HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required.
Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard)
HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
7:30pro, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
2rid Mon/each too. 6:30pro, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard
Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551
~ TUESDAYS
AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call for next meeting date. 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551
Live And Let Live, Community of Hope United Methodi st, 7:30pro, 2545 S. Yale
Multicultural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date.
Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001
Rainbow Business Guild, Business & prof. networkang group.
Meets typically the last Tuesday of each month. Info: 743-4297
PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th
Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE)
Tuesdays, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, info: 743-4297
~ WEDNESDAYS
Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center
Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pro, 3210b So. Norwood
Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more infommtion, call 582-7225
TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for info: 595-7632.
Lambda A-A, 7 pro, 1307 E. 38th, 2rid ft.
~ THURSDAYS
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education
Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pm 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral
Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN)
Support/social group for 18-24’s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-2325
Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, Info: 834-4194
~" FRIDAYS
SafeHaven, Young Adults Social Group, I st Fri/each mo. 8pm, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th
~= SATURDAYS
Narcotics Anonymous, 11 pm, Community of Hope,1703 E. 2nd, Info: 585-1800
Lambda A-A, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft.
~= OTHER GROUPS
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info: 838-1222
Gal-A-Vanting, Womens Social & Cultural Group, Call for info: Mary at 743-6740,
Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-6825.
OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization. ItLfO: POB 9165, Tulsa 74157,
Short rides, 6:30pro, Long rides, 7am. Meet at Zeigler Park, 3903 West 4th. Pride
Rides from the Pride Center, 3749 S. Peoria. Write for winter schedule.
Ifyour orgamzation is not listed, please let us know. Call 583-1248 orfax 583-4615.
reviewed by Barry Hensley . sister andpulls out a shotgun to finish him
Tulsa City-County Library . off. As he jumps into his pickup, never to
What happens when a Gay male couple ¯ be seen again, he yells back to his wife,"a
moves from New York City to
Aiken, South Carolina to re- "Some merctmnts,
man can only take so much
temptation!"
store a post civil war man- it seemed, couldn’t The religious aspect of rural
sion?Almostanythingyoucan sell a pael~ of South Carolina was an eye
¯ imagine! Subtitled "A Resto- cigarettes.., opener for this sophisticated,
rationComedy," this true story
wltl~out invol~in~
urban Gay couple. Aiken is a
is a wonderful memoir of two town that wears Christianity
guys determined to restore a t]~e deity. Jesus on its sleeve, "Some metdilapidated
work of art. was not only t]~elr chants,itseemed, couldn’tsell
After searching across the savlor, ]ae was a pack of cigarettes , rent a
country forjust the right piece tl~elr ~nanclal video, or launder a shirt withof
property, the guys decided
advlser..,
out invoking the deity. Jesus
that Joye was just the chat- was not only their savior, he
lenge they needed. Built by Tl~ey call tlds was their financial adviserand
robber baron William "talzln~ tl~e Lord’s marketing consultant." They
Whitney,Joyecottagehasover name in ~aln." call this ".tak~,ng the Lord’s
60 rooms, 146 windows and name in gain.
128 doors¯ After being abandoned for " After three years of agonizing renovaover
a decade, every room needed exten- - tion, Joye Cottage was finally ready for a
sive work, and the house quickly became " grand opening. It came in the format of a
a "money pit" and a "handyman special " ball, not unlike the kind Mr. Whitney
from Hell¯" ¯ gave earlier in the century. After all they
. We meet a tapestry of colorful charac- went through, the bookends with the guys
ters who populate the lazy town of Aiken. " setting their sights on a 120 room housein
Bubba, a construction engineer, took the Massachusetts!
guys on an early tour of their unrestor.ed The subject of their being Gay rarely
masterpiece. His comments along the way : arises, and the locals simply refer to them
offer a glimpse into the culture of Aiken. " as "the boys¯" However, their campy re-
As they pass the remains of a frog in the ¯ marks throughout the book remindus that
basement, Bubbaexclaims"wherethere’s " they are constantly aware that Aiken is an
frogs, there’s water!" In a effort to get " unusual setting for these longtime corncopies
of keys made, Steve encounters a " panions. The authors have written several
sweet lady in a hardware store who takes ¯ books together, and their masterpiece is
up his afternoon by elaborately detailing " the Pulitzer Prize winner and National
the exploits of her fourteen grandchil- " Book Award finalist, "Jackson Pollock".
dren. This ain’t New York! : Their writing style is fun and witty¯ After
Then, there’s a gardener, Ron, who ¯ your read this book, the idea of enclosing
explains to the guys how women keep " the screened porch won’t seem as intimicoming
on to him, but his religious beliefs " dating.
and family responsibilities keep him on ¯ Check for this title at your branch lithe
straight andnarrow. That is, of course ¯ brary, or call the Readers Services departuntil
his wife catches him in bed with her . ment at Central Library.at 596-7966.
by Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D.
Corey wants to go home to Pine Bluff,
Arkansas. At the moment, he is living
with an aunt in Oakland. He makes a bit a
money as an impresario, running a stable
of male strippers and also stripping occasionally
himself.
I met Corey at Oakland’s one African-
Americangay bar during one ofhis shows.
Hewas kept busy picking uphis strippers’
tips as they dropped these onto the floor.
A wise precaution, I thought. The bar’s
neighborhood was none too good. Who
knows how many quick-fingered drunks
in need ofarefill mighthelp themselves to
a stray bill or two peeking out from gstring
or sock?
Deflecting a hustle, I nonetheless gave
Corey afide home to his aunt’s house on
Fruitvale Ave. We chatted about his two
children,mychildren, Arkansas andOklahoma,
his girlfriends, problems in California,
and his dream of opening a club in
Hne Bluff featuring the music tapes and
CDs he has collected.
Corey claimed that only oneofthe eight
guys who had bared all that evening was
gay. Yeah, right... I’m thinking. Actually,
I am wondering about the psychology
of straight-identified youngmen who
are willing to be transformed into objects
of homosexual desire for a thongful of
dollars. Or perhaps it’s sociology, not
¯ psychology- stripping being a quick way
: for the youthful, urban poor to make a few
¯ extra bucks. But it’s not just money.
¯ There’s something ,deeper than simple
¯ poverty thatmakes so-called straightboys
find satisfaction, and perhaps even pleasure,
in the desiring gaze of other men.
¯ Andmost of these were oldermen- the
bar’s clientele running a little long in the
¯ tooth. And why were we there? We, with
¯ those slippery dollar bills?
¯ Here, we need anthropology, not Sociology.
Cross-culturally, stripping is asso-
¯ ciated withrepression of sexuality and the
¯ human body. Salaciousness is impossible ¯
withoutguilty,hiddenbodies.Inthetradi-
¯ tional Arab word, harem and purdah and
: female gowns and veils go along with
¯ belly dancing and other lubricious dis-
: plays where those women get unveiled.
: The body has long been a problem in
¯ America, too. Your great-grandma put
: ruffs on her piano’s ruddy naked legs;
¯ your great-grandpa referred to his cocks
." as "roosters." But by the 1920s, strict
: taboos onbodydisplayhad erodedenough
¯ so that people didn’t have to wear their
: longjohns at thebeach any longer,women
: lost their corsets, and Vaudeville per-
: formers baredincreasingamounts offlesh.
¯ And now the cultural descendants of
: Gypsy Rose Lee perform every Monday
: night see Anthro, p. 13
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Editors note: Mary is still on sabatical
this month butpromises thatshe will have
a new columnfor the April issue.
by Mary Schepers
Toilets - Liberace thought them
unglamorous, Edmund White finds them
seductive, and most of the straight men I
work with find them an inspirational device
(well, they say they go in there to
think deep thoughts, and it takes sooo
long...). But the Do It Yourself Dyke,
quite prosaically, sees only an afternoon
project that isn’t as daunting as people
make it out to be.
And no small wonder that toilet repairs
seem so mysterious - anything a plumber
values so highly mustbe awfully complex
and arcane. The DIYD merely replies
"Poop-ola!" A friend of mine said her
toilet ran all the time and that it was going
to cost $50.00 to have it repaired, so she
ought to just go ahead and buy a new one.
Well, for about $7.00 and a half hour of
time and with some of those tools you
rushed out and bought after my last column,
you can have a quiet, efficient toilet
¯ Now, that’s something to contemplate!
The plumbing section at Homo Depot
or Builder’s Queer or any other hardware
store Will have a universal repair kit that
includes afloat and a rubber stopper. Yes,
these are the mysterious working parts of
the toilet. You may now be nonplused.
Don’t worry that the float doesn’t look
like the one in your tank - you know, the
copper rod with the little floaty thing
attached. That was, quite honesty, called
the "ball cock", so if I say your ball cock
is dripping, don~t take it pei:sonally. They
are a thing of the past, at least as far as
plumbing is concerned. This should be all
that you need, but it does prompt me to a
standard warning - anytime you work on
your plumbing, you may need to make
extra trips for other parts you didn’t think
you’d need. That’s because pipe fittings
do rust, and those nice little chrome water
cut-offvalves under the tankhave abitchy
way of just twisting off when you try to
shut them off. But that isn’t always the
case, so dick your heels together three
times and wish real hard.
The first step is to get your tools together.
You’ll need an adjustable crescent
wrench and a pair of channel lock pliers,
and it doesn’t hurt to have a pipe wrench
on hand, either. If you don’t have these
tools or the task is too daunting already,
find a handy dyke, buy her some beer and
cook her something fabulous and turn her
loose. It’ll still be cheaper than the
plumber. Have some paper towels or rags
ready, because the toilet will leak, sometime
and somewhere. Next, turn off the
water. Most of the time, there is that
chrome shut off valve under the tank and
running into the wall. It probably hasn’t
been moved in years, so expect some
resistance (kind ofremindsme ofan ex...);
you might have to wrap a rag around the
handle and use your channel locks - genfl!!
- and turn the handle counter-dockwiseuntil
itcloses completely. Ifitdoesn’t
turn or, more likely, the handle twists off
but the valve doesn’t move, grab your
keys and head for the hardware store - but
we’ll address that in a little while.
Assuming youhave successfully dosed
the valve, flush the toilet to drain the tank
and mop up the water remaining in the
bottom ofthe tank. This will also get those
nasty deposits out of the bottom that can
cause problems later, so that’s a plus.
Undip the little hose that empties into that
tube in the center of the tank, remove the
ball cock (ifyou have one) or float assembly,
and then comes the fun part: removing
the vertical water supply line into your
tank. This is attached to the float assembly.
You have to loosen a threaded collar
on the bottom of the tank directly under
that vertical inlet tube. Use your channel
locks and remember that you’re working
upside down and that it will unscrew the
opposite of what you’d normally expect.
Well, it’ s still counterclockwise to loosen,
but only if you’re on your head. This is the
time you’ll appreciate whether or not your
toidy is in a tight spot or not. The cussing
is directly proportionate to the amount of
workspace you have. Welcome to
Plumber’s World.Take the collar off, remove
the vertical water supply tube and
mop up the water on the floor. Replace it
with the new float device and tighten the
collar over the bottom. It will have a new
rnbber or plastic tube that you clip onto
the outlet pipe - pretty much opposite ofthe
removal. You may have to adjust that
’~Fea enp"at the top of the float so youcan
put tlae toilet lid back on, but that’s simply
accomplishedby twisting itup or down as
needed. You can also control the water
levd this way, but don’t get too chintzy
with the water supply, or you’ll regret it.
Reattach the water supply from the shutoff
up to the tank and you’re ready for the
next step.
Now, remove the old rubber stopper
that’s attached to the handle. Take the
little chain loose and then remove the
flapper - it usually is attached to the stem
of the outlet tube by a couple of little
rubber or plastic ears and comes off easily.
The rubber on the flapper can be kind
of slimy, so use a rag to hold it when
you’re taking it off. Replace it with the
new flapper in the kit just the opposite of
how youremovedit. Thelittle chain needs
a bit of slack, but not too much or it winds
around the lever from the handle and the
water will still run and annoy the hell out
of you.
There are pretty good instructions on
the package, complete with illustrations,
so don’t fed too confused. However, the
first kit I used forgot to tell.me about that
locking collar on the bottom of the tank,
and was I one frustrated lezzie until I
figured it out! If you’re still uncomfortable
doing this job but are determined to
learn, find someone patient enough to
coach you while youdo the work. It’s a
great way to learn this stuff.
If youhave trouble with the shut offyou
have two options - yell for help or replace
it yoursdf. This is where the pipe wrench
come in handy. You have to be able to
shut the water off at the curb; the valve for
yourmain water supply is in themeterbox
by the curb and the bar on top of the valve
needs to be turned 180 degrees to shut it
off. You can use a large wrench, but you
can buy a device called a water key that
makes it easier; it has a long hand, which
is nice if your meter box is full of questionable
water. They 0nly costabout $8.00
and are priceless when you really need
them, so consider investing in one.
After turning off the water, flush the
toilet. If it fills back up, the main water
isn’t offand you’ll have to try again. If the
water is off, put some rags under the
valve, grasp the pipe going into the wall
with a pipe wrench and turn the collar of
the valve see DIYD, p.13
by Esther Rothblum . ¯
Recently a number of books have been "
published about the Lesbian identity or ¯
femalerelationships ofprominent women ¯
who lived in earlier historical periods. "
.Mary Eichbauer was living
in Paris when she became
aware that much of the work
of Natalie Barney (1876-
1972) hadnever before been
published in English. She
receivedpermission to translate
some of Bamey’s writing
and to find an English
audience for this work.
Eichbauer" described
Natalie Bamey’s life and
work to mein a recent correspondence:
"Inherlastbook,
Souvenirs Indiscrets (Indiscreet
Memories), Natalie
says that shehad always felt
drawn to women, from her
earliest days. In the first
chapter, ’Renre Vivien,’ she
describes an intense crush
she.had on a beautiful young cousin, how "
she loved to be close to her and comfort ¯
her (the young woman was pining for :
some young beau). Natalie fell in loee "
with a school friend when she was six- "
teen, at a time when her family lived in ¯
Washington, D,C. and she was being :
courted for her beauty (and her father’s "
money) by more than a few young men. ¯
She and her friend Eva Palmer (heiress to ¯
abiscuitfortune) spent a summer together :
in Bar Harborpla~ngnaked in the woods "
at nymph (Eva) and shepherd (Natalie).
Afterthatsummer, theirrespectablefanfi: ¯
lies made sure they were placed in sepa- ."
rate boarding schools. :
"Ironically, her father’s own egotism ¯
flna!!ygaveBamey the chance sheneeded :
to begin her preferred way of life. Albert :
Barney was so eager to get back to his ¯
beloved London (which Natalie always "
thought of as a male city, as opposed to
Paris, whichwas ruledby women), and so
bored with the business of parenting, that
heleft Natalie staying at a boarding house
under scant supervision, supposing her to .
be occupied, with shopping and ’fittings’ ¯
for a gown intended for her Washington :
’debut.’ Instead, Natalie visited Carmen, :
an artist’s model who had posed for her ¯
mother. The beautiful Carmen welcomed :
Natalie into her bed (Natalie’s first time) "
and educated her in some of the ways of ¯
the world. (According to Jean Chalon, ¯
Natalie wasn’t quite sure that she could
make love to a woman without getting "
pregnant!) She walked home from her "
first meeting with Carmen repeating to ¯
herself, spellbound: ’I have a mistress, I "
have a mistress.’ ¯
"Next, she fell madly in love with one ¯
Liane de Pougy, a celebrated courtesan.
Liane took Natalie for a ride in her car- [
riage through the Bois de Boulogne, and "
their affair was launched. Later, Liane ¯
wrote Idylle.Sap,.hique ( ~apphic ldyll), a "
novelabouther Flossie, thefirstofmany
literary tributes that wouldbe dedicated tO
Barney over the years (Ren~e Vivien, ¯
Djuna Barnes, Radclyffe Hall and Lucie "
Delarue-Mardrus wrote novels featuring :
Barney as a character, and quite a bit of [
poetry was dedicated to her). Bamey’s ¯
father never forgave her for causing such °
a scandal backhome. In fact, he boughtup :
Natalie’s affair
with Vivlen was
tempestuous and
involved frequent
.separations.
Although they loved
each other dearly,
they were essentially
incompatible... She
and Barney are
hurled not far from
¯ inch other inthe
Passy Cemetery...
all the copies of Liane’s book he could
find, along with the printing plates, and
had them destroyed. Too late - the book
had already been circulated widely.
"The greatestpassion ofBamey’s youth,
however, was Ren~e Vivien
(born Pauline Tam), like
herself, an expatriate in Paris
(Tam was born in England).
The first chapter of Souvenirs
Indiscrets describes
their affair in detail. Natalie’ s
affair with Vivien was tempestuous
and involved frequent
separations. Although
they loved each otherdearly,
they were essentially incompatible.
Natalie refused to
pass upany chance for pleasure
that came her way, and
so Ren~e eventually left her
for another woman. In the
end, Ren~e died young, a
victim of anorexia and alcoholism.
She and Barney are
buried not far from each
other in the Passy Cemetery in Paris."
As Barney says in Souvenirs: "Our opposed
natures contrived to make us suffer
at each Other’ s hands for a long time. This
resulted for her in a fertile inspiration and
formyselfin aninstructive defeat. Unable
to live with her or without her, I do not
know which was most painful: our dangerona
meetings, our separations, or our
attempts at infidelity. Like so many other
lovers, wehad still more of those ’terrible
adieus one goes back on’ and those exalt-
.’ ing reunions that did not last. Apart, but
irresistibly attracted to each other, only to
lose each other once again, our persistent
love endured all the phases of a fatal
attraction that perhaps only death could
end. I still loved Ren~e, but with a vanquished
love, enslaved by the circumstances
that she had allowed to have their
¯ way with us... (Souvenirs Indiscrets)"
~ Eichbauer states: "Natalie’s .life was
¯ more important to her than her writing.
: She described the procxss of writing a
: book as one of cleaning out her desk
¯ drawers. Her writingis seldom sustained;
she expressed herself in sharp lightningbolts
of intelligence. In her introduction
to Souvenirs, she says, ’If too little of the
love I invoke appears in this book, it is
because I have better spent it elsewhere.
Here there remain only fragments.’"
Because of the importance of her salon,
Barney is mentioned, at least in passing,
in most accounts ofAmerican expatriates
in Paris. Here are the books by and about
Barney that Eichbauer recommends and
that are most readily available:
Natalie Barney. Adventures oftheMind.
Tr. John Spaulding Gatton. New York:
New York University Press, 1992.
Natalie Barney. The One Who is Legion,
or A.D. ’s Afterlife.
1930; Orono, Me.: U of Maine, National
Poetry Foundation, 1987.
Natalie Barney. A Perilous Advantage:
: The Best ofNatalie Clifford Barney. Ed-
; ited and translated by Anna Livia. Introduction
by Karla Jay. Norwich, Vt.: New
Victoria Pub., 1992. Karla Jay.
The Amazon and the Page: Natalie
Clifford Barney and Rende Vivien.
Bloomington: Indiana University Press,
1988.
see Barney, p. !3
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in tawdry Oakland gay bars. ~
We maintain enough taboo] on nudity
for strippers to make a living. The flesh
still titillates. Salacious gazingatunclothed
bodies remains an American form of
sexual pleasure. But there are (or were
until recently) somehumancultures where
people have escaped the kinkiness of
modesty. No one wears clothing or, if
they do, it’s for reasons of comfort. No
Peeping Toms, no hidden videocams in
restrooms, no voyeurs, no exhibitionists,
no pornography, no one works to snatch
an illicit glimpse at this or that body part.
The body, sexually, is a bore in places
whereit is never hidden- where exposure
causes neither guilt nor shame nor desire.
Or rather, body touch and smell may be
sexualized but nevermere looking, where
nudity is the norm.
The details ofmodesty and display vary
from one culture to another. Many have
commented on American fixation on the
female breast. Who knows if it’s childrearing
customs, our relations with mom,
or our marital relations that have supercharged
theAmerican breast, the epitome
being Barbie’s big and pointy boobs.
In much of the South Pacific, women’s
breasts traditionally were neither erogenous
nor hidden. Male desire focused
instead on meaty thighs. I’ve walked by
many bare-breasted women who modestly
busy themselves smoothing down
their grass-skirts.
On Tanna, where I lived for amunber of
years, tmditionalmale dress consisted simply
of a "penis-wrapper." Men wrapped
theirpenes in leaves and fixed these upright
to a barkcloth belt. Penis-wrappers
had disappeared for years until a roving
photographer from National Geographic
passed through the island one year and
convinced a number of guys to strip back
down into penis-wrappers to make his
South Sea photos appear more authentic
to his Americanviewers. Since then, some
ofthesemenhavemaintained the wrapper
as a political statement of their
traditionality vis-ii-vis their Christian
neighbors.
Nearly all malebody parts onTannaare
boring, and never eroticized. No one, certaiuly,
would toss dollars bills around to
catch a glimpse ofmale belly or butt. The
glans penis is the only body part that men
are ashamed to display. As soon as boys
are circumcised (between ages of5 and 10
or so) they begin covering themselves -
and uncircumcised boys are teased merci-
: lessly should their glans peek out of their
." foreskins. Stripping as a profession has
¯ little futurein much of the world.
¯ In Oakland, though, those flying dol-
." lars are sending Corey home to Arkansas.
Lamont Lindstrom is a Visiting Prof.of
". Anthropology at the Univ. of Cal~ornia,-
¯ Berkeley, during Spring Term, 1999
(lamont@yana.qal.berkeley.edu)
Mary Eichbauer lives and writes in northern
California. Her annotated translation
¯ of Bamey’s "Rente Vivien"’ will appear
¯ in a forthcoming issue of The Journal of
Lesbian Studies.
¯ EstherRothblum is Prof. ofPsychology
¯ at the Univ. ofVermont andEditor ofI’he
¯ Journal of Lesbian Studies. She can be ¯
reached at John Dewey Hall, Univ. of
". Vermont, Burlington, VT, email:
¯ esther.rothblum@uvm.edu.
: with a crescent wrench. If the parts are
¯ rusted together, you can have a real wres-
: fling match. Once the val~ce is off, remove
¯ the tube from the valve from
¯ the bottom of the toilet with the crescent
¯
wrench. Take everything to the hardware
¯ store, handittothehapless clerkinplumb-
¯ ing and tell them you want "this". Go
¯
ahead and get a new water inlet hose -
¯ you’ll be sorry later if you don’t. Also
¯ pick up a roll of the Teflon tape they sell
¯ m plumbing. Check out and cuss some
: more, because this is costing more than
¯ the replacement kit, but remember that
¯ theplumber would be charging youlabor,
¯ and that hurts.
¯
Back at home, wrap a couple of turns of
¯ Teflon tape clockwise around the threads
on the pipe sticking out of the wall. Use
your wrenches again to attach the shut-off
valve snuggly in place; wrap the threaded
end on the valve with Teflon tape and
attach the water inlet hose. Rule of thumb
in plumbing - if it’s threaded, use Teflon
tape on it. This helps give a good seal and
also makes it a lot easier if you have to
remove these parts again in the future.
Now you can proceed with your toilet
repairs as above. Once everything is attached
and snug, turn your water back on
and admire your handiwork!
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Dublin Core
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Title
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[1999] Tulsa Family News, March 1999; Volume 6, Issue 3
Subject
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Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Creator
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Tulsa Family News
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
Publisher
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Tom Neal
Date
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March 1999
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James Christjohn
Jean-Claude de Flambeauchaud
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
Adam West
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Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
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Tulsa Family News, February 1999; Volume 6, Issue 2
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English
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newspaper
periodical
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Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
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https://history.okeq.org/items/show/585
AIDS/HIV
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Barry Hensley
Bars
businesses
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Dave Fleischer
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Entertainment Notes
Esther Rothblum
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gay bashing
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James Christjohn
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Lobbying
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Mary Schepers
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Murder
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Partner Benefits
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Read All About It
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representation
restaurants
sodomy laws
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Tom Neal
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periodical
Text
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Gays in the Military Update
More "Gays" Leaving US Armed Forces
WASHINGTON (AP) -TheAir Force andArmyreport
sharp increases in the number of troops discharged for
homosexuality, and officials believe many are discontented
non-Gay recruits looking for a way out. In
releasing the figures, the Defense Department said it
was satisfied with its "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy on
homosexuality in the services. It asserted that the 1998
dischargenumbers "align" with those ofprevious years,
even though they reached an 11-year high.
A watchdog group, the Servicemembers Legal Defense
Fund, said the’figures were fresh evidence that
Gays still are being mistreated in the 1.4-million-member
active-duty military. "Commanders are still asking,
pursuing and harassing people," said Dixon Osbum, the
group’s co-executive director. ,,,~
The "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy, adopted in 1994, is
supposed to allow Gays to serve if they keep their sexual
orientation private. It punishes those who engage in
homosexual acts or take actions that call attention to
their orientation. But critics accuse the services of
hunting down Gays and driving them out of the service.
If a service member voluntarily states his or her
homosexuality, discharge is automatic.. In the.case oLa
recruit still in basic (raining, av0iuniary declaration of
homosexuality means an admjuistrative discharge that
does not carry a bad-conduct stigma. Under the Pentagon
policy there are three grounds for discharge: if a
service member voluntarily states that he or she is Gay;
if someone is determined to have engaged in a homosee
Military, p. 3
Maryland Judge Throws
Out Sodomy Law
BALTIMORE (AP) - A judge who rtded Baltimore’s
80-year-old anti-sodomy law does not apply to consensual
acts has expanded the ruling to include anal as well
as oral sex. The ruling by Circuit Judge Richard T.
Rombto settles a 1997 clas s-action suit by theAmerican
Civil Liberties Union. "This is saying the government
will not intrude in the bedroom," said Dwight Sullivan,
a staff counsel for the ACLU’s Maryland chapter,
which sued on behalf of several Gay men and Lesbians.
State officials, who did not object to tLe ACLU’s
efforts, said the ruling was largely symbolic because
few if any state residents have been prosecuted for
sodomy. ACLU officials, however, said the existence
of the law posed a threat to privacy rights and left
homosexuals vidnerable to job discrimination and unfair
attacks in child custody cases.
Thirty-one states have rep.ealed anti-sodomy laws,
while 17 still have them on the books, including Virgiuia.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a Georgia case
in 1986 that anti-sodomy laws are constitutional.
In 1990, the Maryland Court Of Appeals ruied the law
could not be used to prosecute consentual, nonpublic
acts of oral sex, see Maryland, p. 14
DIRECTORY/LETTERS P. 2
EDITORIAL P. 3
US & WORLD NEWS P. 4
HEALTH NEWS P; 6
COMMUNITY CAL ENDAR P. 9
BOOK REVIEW P. 10
DO-IT-YOURSELF-DYK E P, 11
DYKE PSYCHE P. 12
CLASSIFIEDS + WEERWOLF P. 14
ST~ervin~g Lesb[ian~, Gay,~Bisex_ual +nT~ranPsa_gl~eenrdAevraeidlabTluelIsnaMnso,reOTuhraFna7m5iClieis +LoFcraietinodnss
Hate Crimes Amendment Has
A Chance in OK Legislature
TMM - Metropolitan Ministry Endorses Amendment
TULSA/OKLAHOMA CITY - Those who knew Matthew
Shepard say that he would have wished that some good come out
of evil. And it appears that, in Oklahoma at least, some good
might come out of the horror of his murder. That at least is the
conclusion drawn by some commumty activists who see the new
willingness of Oklahoma political leaders to address hate crimes
based on actual or perceived sexual orientation.
Speaking anonymously, one clergy participantinTulsa Metropolitan
Ministry, an influential local interfaith organization,
indicated that Shepard’s murder is what helped shake the organization
out of its unwillingness to address the concerns of Lesbians
and Gay men. As she put it, they could no longer remain
silent.
And moving amazingly fast for such a diverse group, TMM
adopted as one of its legislative goals for this 1999 session, the
amendment of Oklahoma’s Malicious Intimidation Statute, otherwiseknown
as the Hate Crimes law. In fact, abill (HB 1211) for
this amendment has been introduced by Tulsa legislator, Don
Ross. HB 1211 has a companion bill introduced in the Oklahoma
Senate by Sen. Ben Brown, and Democratic party rumors have it
that Speaker of the House, Loyd Benson has committed to
support the bill. Oklahoma Attorney G~neral Drew Edmondson
already has committed publicly to supporting this amendment as
has former Tulsa County District Attorney see Hate.p. 13
Activists kick off Eq~mlity Begins at Home at fall conference.
Thousands to Go to Capitols
First Ever National Week ofAction for Equality
WASHINGTON, DC - January 25, 1999 - In the 30th aunivers.
ary year of the S tonewall rebellion- the birth of the modern Gay
rights movement - thousands of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and
Transgender people will launch an unprecedented national week
of action for equality. Equality Begins at Home, slated for the
week of March 21 - 27, is a major initiative to push state
lawmakers to support a platform of equality.
Planning for these by local activists is well under way. In
Oklahoma, Paul Thompson, of the Oklahoma Gay & Lesbian
Political Caucus is co-ordinating the Oklahoma event at the State
Capitol on Saturday, March 27. Paid can be reached at email:
Gayoglpc@flash.net, or 405-791-0202. Tulsa Oklahomans for
Human Rights (TOHR) is working to help organize Tidsans to
go.
From Montana to Maine, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and
Transgender people will come out and speak up in simultaneous
events nationwide, most ofwhich will take place at state capitols.
These actions will, mnong other things, build support for laws
that counter hate violence, ban employment discrimination,
provide for safe schools for all students, ensure.the right to adopt
and become foster parents, and address health issues including
HIV/AIDS.
Equality Begins at Home is coordinated by the National Gay
and Lesbian Task Force .and organized by the Federation of
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Statewide Political
Organizations. As part of its coordinating efforts, the Task Force
provided Federation member groups $5,000 each to support their
Equality Begins at Home organizing efforts and hired a national
coordinator for the event. Dozens of national organizations have
signed on in support of this week of action.
"Equality Begins at Home is not an end point but a beginning
point. We are going to make our statewide organizations stronger,
mobilize more people, register more voters, and demand
greater accountability from our state legislators and policy makers,"
stated Kerry Lobel, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
executive director, see EBAH, p..13
Pride CenterAnnounces
OneRecruitShortofa ToasterMembers
Drive and Gay Legal Rights Program
TULSA - How do you feel about winning a very
stylish toaster or toaster oven? That’s what Pride
Center organizers want to know. They’re hoping
that these possibilities will motivate you to join
Tulsa’s Gay & Lesbian community center, the
Pride Center and to persuade as many of your
friends, family and acquaintances to do the same.
Pride Center volunteers have organized a membership
drive from Feb. 1 to March 31 that was
inspired by Lesbian comedian, Ellen Degeneres,
and they’re offering prizes for "recruiting" new
community center members. Center spokesman,
Greg Gatewood stated that any current or new
member will receive "a toaster accessory" (what is
that???) for bringing in five new members. Ten
new members will win you a sleek new bagelcapable
toaster. And if you get 25 new memberships,
you’ll get, not just a toaster, but a toasteroven!
However, the grand prize is airfare to an exotic
seaside location so you can toast yourself in the
tropical sun. Sound good? To win this you need to
get at least 50 new memberships though the winner
will be the person who gets the most memberships
of 50 ormo~e by March 31 st. Tojoin or to get more
information, call the Center at 743-GAYS (4297).
Beginning in Feb. specifically Feb. 18 at 7:30,
the Oklahoma Lesbian and Gay Law Association
will begin a series of free legal seminars for Lesbians
and Gay men. These seminars are set up as
informal discussions drawing on the skills of attorneys
who specialize in areas of interest to the
community. Tulsa attorney Camille Quiun will
lead the first discussion on estate planning. The
discussion will be geared toward both couples and
individuals. Again for more information, call the
Center at 743-GAYS (4297)..
Other evenfs a( the ~enter include a Mardi Gras
costume party on Feb. 13 with dancing to music by
"Grandmaster DJ Tim."
see Center, p. 14
GaI-A-Vanting
TULSA - More than fourteen women met recently
to plan monthly events for "Gal-A-Vanting, Ms.
Adventures for Women." Gal-A-Vanting is a social
and cultural organization for Lesbian women.
The group seeks to provide social, cultural and selfexploration
opportunities for women as wall as a
venue for meeting and for developing a sense of
The organization was the brainchild of two
friends, Mary (also known as the Do-It-Yourself
Dyke) and Joan, who decided that there was not
enough for women to do in the Tulsa area and who,
also, were tired ofdriving to Arkansas for women’s
activities. They believed there would be enough
interest in the Tulsa community to create an organization
to provide activities here.
Approximately 20 women have attended each of
the activities hosted by Gal-A-Vanting in the past
four months. There are now more than 65 women’s
names on the mailing list. The organization has
hosted a number of events, a "women and the arts
evening" which featured poetry and various artist’s
work, a dance, a drumming circle and a movie
night.
Monthly activities are planned for the second
Samr.day ev.e.mng of each month. Also, community
service acttvltles, such as adopting a mile of road
for clean up or working with the elderly are also
planned, see Gal, p. 14
Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants
*Bamboo Lounge, 7204 E. Pine
*Boston Willy’s Diner, 1742 S. Boston
*Concessions, 3340 S. Peoria
*Empire Bar, 1516 S. Peoria
*Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th
*Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria
*Interurban Restanrant,717 S. Houston
*Jason’s Deli, 15th & Peoria
*Lola’s, 2630 E. 15th
*Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square
*St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st
*Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan
*Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main
*TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial
*Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd
832-1269
592-2143
744-0896
599-9512
583-6666
749-4511
585-3134
599-7777
¯ 749-1563
744-4280
745-9998
834-4234
585-3405
660-0856
584-1308
Tulsa Busine.~q~s, $¢ntiees,.& Professionals
Advanced Wirdess & PCS, Digital Cellular 747-1508
*Affinity News, 8120 E. 21 610-8510
Dennis C. Arnold, Realtor 746-4620
*Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000
Kent Baler & Associates, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506
*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034
Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122
*Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955
*Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665
Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272
*CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313
Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902,743-41!7
Community Cle,qning, Kerby Baker 622-0700
Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468
*Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620
*Devena’ s Gallery, 13 Brady 587-2611
Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556
*Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sherid~ii 838-8503
*Ross Edward Salon, 2447 E. 15th 584-0337, 712-9379
*Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 744-9595
Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709
*Gloria Jean’s Gourmet COffee, 1758 E. 21st 742-1460
Leanne M. Gross, Insurance &financial planning 459-9349
Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440
*Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-I111
*International Tours 341-6866
Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750
*Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018
David Kanskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236
*Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070
Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466
*Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brady 585-1234
*Midtown Theater, 319.E. 3rd 584-3112
Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934
*Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951
Novel Idea Bookstore, 51st & Harvard 747-6711
David A. Paddock, CPA, 4308 S. Peoria, Ste. 633 747-7672
Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626
*Peace of Mind Bookstore, 1401 E. 15 583-1090
The Pride Store, 1300 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297,
Rainbowzon the River B+B, PUB 696, 74101 747-5932
Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617
Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921,747-4746
Christopher Spradling, attorney,616 S. Main, #308 582-7748
*Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301
Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829
*Tickled Pink, 3340 S. Peoria 697-0017
*Tulsa Book Exchange, 3749 S. Peoria 742-2007
*Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558
Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling 743-1733
*Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767
Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & universities
AIDS Walk Tulsa, PUB 4337, 74101 579-9593
*All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363
Black & White, Inc. PUB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314
Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815
*B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa Canterbury Cir. 583-9780
*Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201
*Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th PI. & Florence
*Churchofthe RestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314
*Community ofHope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300
*Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595
*Council Oak Men’s Chorale 585-COMC (2662)
*Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511
*Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457
Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics &
Episcopa]ians, PUB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140
*FellowshiiS-Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777
*FreeSpiritWomen’s Center, call for locati"on&m’ fo: 587-4669
." 918.583.1248, fax: 583.46 15, POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159
¯ e-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink_ net
¯ website: http://users.aol.com/TulsaNews/
~ Publisher + Editor:
¯ Tom Neal
¯ Writers + contributors:
¯ James Christjohn, Jean-Claude de Flambeauchaud
¯ Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers, Adam West
¯
Memtmr of The Associated Press
¯ Issued on or before the 1 st of each month, the entire contents of this
¯ Lg~blication are protected by US copyright 1998 byT~
. N~,and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without
written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or
photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. Correspon¯
dence is assumed to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must
¯ _be signed & becomes the sole property of T~,,~ {::~.’. Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution
." points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248.
¯
Friend For A Friend, PUB 52344, 74152 747-6827
¯ Friends in Unity Social Org., PUB 8542, 74101 582-0438
¯ *HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 ¯
¯ *HIV Resource Consortium, 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194
*Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111
¯ HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, EducatioN. 834-8378
¯ HIV Testing, Mon/Thurs. 7-9pm, daytime by appt. only ¯
¯ *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood
Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2,437, 800-284-2437
¯ *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715
¯ NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral PI. 748-3111 ¯
NOW, Nat’lOrg. forWomen, POB 14068,7"4159 365-5658 ¯
OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157
: *Our House, 1114 S. Quaker 584-7960
¯ PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 ¯
*Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 ¯
*The Pride Center, 1307 E. 38, 2rid floor, 74105 743-4297
¯ Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152
¯ *R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 7494195 ¯
Rainbow Business Guild, PUB 4106, 74159 665-5174
¯ *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325
O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults
¯ O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth
St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N: Cincinnati 425-7882
¯ *St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140
*St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088
*Tulsa Area UnitedWay, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 ¯
TNAAPP(Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225
¯ Tulsa County Health DepartmenL 4616 E. 15 595-4105
¯ Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only ¯
Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297
" T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 838-1222
¯ *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule
¯ *Tulsa Community College Campuses ¯
¯ *Rogers University (formerly UCT)
BARTLESVILLE
"° *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Jotmstone 918-337-5353
¯
¯ OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN
*Borders Books &Music, 3209 NWExpressway 405-848-2667
¯
*Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-5734907
¯
TAHLEQUAH
¯
*Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900
¯ *TahIequah Unitarian-UniversalistChurch 918-456-7900
*Green Country AIDS Coalition, PUB 1570 918-453-9360
¯ NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand
: HlVtestingeveryother Tues. 5:30-8:30; call for dates
¯
EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
¯ *Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253-7734
¯ *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main 501-253-7457
¯ DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. 501-253-6807 ¯
*Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. 501-253-5445
¯ MCC of the Living Spring 501-253-9337
." Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, PUB 429 501-253-2776
¯ Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-253-5332 ¯
Positive Idea Marketing Plans 501~624-6646
¯ Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 501-253-6001
¯ *White Light, 1 Center St. 501-253-4074
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS5
*Edna’s, 9 S. School Ave. 501-442-2845
¯ JOPLIN, MISSOURI
*Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 41%623-4696
* is where you can find TFN. Notall are Gay-owned but all are Gay-friendly.
Carbon Copy
KMOD Gay Bashing?
¯ Dear Phil and Brent,
¯ As a regular listener of your show, I am ¯
concerned about the words of intolerance
¯ directed toward theGay community. Your
¯ Thursday shows seem especially filled
¯ with the promotion of hate as an acceptable
behavior. Being reasonable people,
; and I assume residents of the Tulsa com-
-¯ mumty, I cannot understand your continued
promotion of hate towards a large
¯ segment of-the Tulsa community. Hate
¯ speech equals hate crimes- aproven fact.
: Your success as morning show hosts
¯ can only mean that there are a great num-
" ber ofpeople listening. The words youuse
¯ can drastically change the world of those
¯ who listen. Your words could be respon-
- sible for the next bashing or killing of a
Gay person. Is this a responsibility you
_" are ready to accept and bear for the re-
, mainder of your life?
¯ I, as you by now expect, will no longer
¯ be tuning into your show, and will encour-
¯ age my friends and acquaintances to turn
¯ the dial as well. After all, you are "the
¯ rainbow station." The rainbow has been
: mmedinto aflag. That flag represents the
¯ pride of the Gay community.
¯ I wouldhope thatKMODwouldchoose
¯ not to continue the verbal assault on our
¯ Gay citizens. I would offer that two orga-
¯ nizations I belong to, teach tolerance
; classes, and perhapsKMOD would liketo
have some of this information. Your re-
" quest may be directed to me, or to the
¯ organizations directly.
- Ned T. Bruha, Tulsa
¯ ce: TOHR
PFLAG
Great Issue
Thelatest edition [January] ofTFN was
really a great issue. Thanks for the important
work that you do. Keep it up. Our
communityneeds it. This recentissue was
a great example of the kind of quality our
community is capable of. Anyone can be
proud with that kind ofleadership. Bravo.
And thanks.
- M.S. Tulsa
In Memorium
WASHINGTON - The Human Rights
Campaign mourned the death of activist
John Thomas, 51, who died on January
20.
Mr. Thomas served on the HRC Board
from 1982 to 1985 andplayedamajorpart
in HRC’s expansion in the Dallas area.
His contributions withHRCincludedhelping
start the Dallas Black-Tie Dinner
Committee. He helped found numerous
organizations including the Gay & Lesbian
Victory Fund.
Additionally, Mr. Thomas was former
executive director.of the Foundation for
HumanUnderstandingandthe Dallas Gay
& Lesbian Community Center, now
known as the John Thomas Gay & Lesbian
Community Center.
Letters Policy
Tulsa Family News welcomes letters on
issues which we’ve covered or on issues
you think need tobe considered. Youmay
request that your name be withheld but
letters mustbe signed&have phone numbers,
or be hand delivered. 200 word letters
are preferred. Letters to other publications
will be printed as is appropriate.
sexual act; and in the case of same-sex marriage.
"In virtually every self-initiated disclosure, the second
statement made is, ’I’d also like to be discharged,"’ said
David Smith, a spokesman at Randolph Air Force Base,
Texas. He said this led officials to conclude that a growing
number of recruits are using a Gay declaration to get out.
Smith said commanders are legally prohibited from ques-
.tioning Air Forcemembers about such voluntary statements.
"You kind of have to take them at their word,".he said.
T’jae Gibson, anAir Force spokeswoman at the Pentagon,
said an official review of discharges and personnel policies
at Lacklandlast year found that most instructors and trainees
there believed the acknowledgments ofhomosexuality were
made to cut short an enlistment. Armyofficials said they "also
suspect many Gay discharges in their service involve soldiers
looking for a quick way out, but they do not consider
the trend to be a major source of worry.
Supreme Court Lets Military Policy Stand
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court once again left
intact the military’s "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy today,
rejecting a challenge by two former servicemen discharged
after declaring their, homosexuality. The court, without
comment, turned away arguments by the men that the policy
is based on prejudice agaiust homosexuals and violates their
free-speech rights. This action, while not a definitive ruling,
marked the fifth time in recent years that the highest court
has rejected efforts to invalidate the policy. Every federal
appeals court that has considered the issue has upheld the
policy.
This appeal was filed by National Guard 1st Lt. Andrew
Holmes ofSacramento, Calif.,andNavy Lt. Richard Watson.
Holmes declared his homosexuality to. his commanding
officer in 1993. Watson was serving in Bremerton, Wash.,in
October 1994 when he submitted a written statement to his
commanding officer that said, "’I have a homosexual orientation."
Both men were discharged and sued in federal
courts. A judge in San Francisco ruled for Holmes and
declared the military policy unconstitutional. But ajudge in
Seattle ruled against Watson. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals combined the cases andupheldthe "don"t ask, don’t
tell" policy.
US Law Professors Fight .Military Policy
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Hundreds of law professors are
joining the fight to get Gays and Lesbians an equal place in
the U.S. armed forces. The battlefield is a 1996 law thatlets
the government take all federal student aid from schools
which refuse to let military recruiters on campus. Scores of
universities had barred recruiters to protest the "don’t ask,
don’t tell" policy, but let them back after President Clinton
signed the law by former U.S. Rep. Gerald Solomon.
"If we had a recruiter who said, ’We won’t hire anyone
who’s black,’ there’s no doubt about us kicking them off
campus," said David V. Chavkin, director and associate
professor at American University’s Washington College of
Law. "The notion that we should treat discrimination
against our Gay and Lesbian and bisexual and trans~gender
students as different is an outrage. The law school agreed in
1997 to let military recruiters return after attorneys decided
that not only its 1,200 students, but all of the university’s
undergraduates could lose their federal aid, including lowinterest
loans and work-study money.
At the meeting, Chavkin was working a~ a table set up
outside the Association of American Law Schools’ biggest
meeting rooms to sign up people willing to work for repeal
of the law. When theAALS meeting ends, organizers hoped
to have 100 law schools represented.
U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., who plans to lead the
repeal fight, thinks the law is very vulnerable, said Alan
Minuskin, a Boston College Law School professor. At one
point, 138 campusesbarred military recnfiters. By late 1997;.
the list had dwindled to 18. 17 were in Connecticut, where
the policy against discrimination was part of state law. The
federal law applies to all colleges and universities. The
repeal push is starting in law schools because most either
have longstanding rules of their own against discrimination
or belong to the AALS, which had a rule since 1990 against
dealing with any organization that discriminates. It changed
that rule last year, under protest, because of the Solomon
Amendment.
EdwinJ. Butterfoss, deah andprofessor oflaw at Hamline
University in St. Paul, Minn., said, "...we have a lot more
work to do. It [the Solomon law] undermines a law school!s
ability to enforce its own policies - not by attacking the
schools, but they’re attacking the students."
¯ The Associated Press
AtMartin LutherKing Day parades and prayer break-
, fasts, in their offices and in homes, many Blacks said
¯ they have a particular stake in the impeachment trial of
s~dent Clinton- the best thing thathas happened for
¯¯ Blacks in a long time."
"If Clinton is removed from "Dr. Kin~ ¯ office, that’s a slap in the face would be ¯ forBlack America," said Mikel
¯ Holt, editor of the Milwaukee suspect Of the ¯
¯ CommunityJournal, a Black impeael~ment newspaper. ’.’That’s inessence,
derailing the civil fights free- process l~eeause
¯¯ domtrain." he would be
Clinton has long enjoyed
¯ Black support, both from the suspect of tl~e
¯ public and in Congress, be¯
cause he socializes and prays impeaclters,"
¯ with Black people, appoints the Rev. Jesse
¯ them to high positions and un- Jackson said ¯ derstands the struggle of rac-
¯ ism, Black leaders said. a~ter a
: " As the trial entered its secondweek,
some summonedthe breal~ast
: name and message of the slain l~onorin~
¯ civil rights leader in Clinton’s
¯ defense - saying the two men in C]~iea~o.
¯ shared a common dream of Jackson
¯ equality, specffleally
¯ "Dr. King would be suspect
¯ of the impeachment process mentioned
~ because he would be suspect
¯ of the impeachers," the Rev. Senate ¯
JesseJacksonsaidafterabreak- 1MIajorlty leader
¯
fasthonoringKinginChicago. Trent Loft... ¯ Jackson specifically men-
, tioned Senate Majority leader reee_ntly linked.
¯
Trent Lott,who was recently
: linked by his uncle to an ultra- . . . to an ultra-
: conservatl/ve group accused of conservative
¯ promoting white supremacy. ~roup accused
i Lwoastt adfefniliieadteldaswt iwtheethkethgartouhpe of promo~in~
¯ and said he is opposed to rac:
ismand white supremacy. white
: Richard Bailey a historian supremacy¯
¯ and author from Montgomery,
Alabama, said he too was suspect of some of Clinton’s
: critics. "I think (Blacks) are most uncomfortable with
: the way matters are being handled and with the key
¯ players," he said. ¯
¯ "If the conservativepeoplewho are trying to impeach
the president come into power, it will be a tumbaek of
¯ the dock for Afro-Americans," said Edward Lewis Jr.,
i president of the NAACP for Idaho, Nevada and Uiah.
¯ Any current alternative to Clinton could be worse
," said Vicki Washington, director of Equal Opportunity
¯ and Diversity at theUniversity of Wisconsin-Extension
¯ in Madison, Wis. "Of all of our presidents in the recent
¯ past, Clinton seems to be more in tune with the impact
¯ of historic discrimination and how it continues to have
¯ bothapolitical and economic impact onAfriean Ameri_
.. cans and other people of color today," Washington said.
¯ To some, the impeachment itself is being driven by
- :~ fear of-minority power. "My question is, are they real[
hounding him for his personal transgressions, or (to
punish) him for making his administration the most
i
diverse that the country’s ever known? That, to me,
seems the undeit0ne," said Victoria Mares Hershey,
¯ first vice president of the NAACP in Portland, Maine.
Nan Stovall, another NAACP member from Port-
" land, said Clinton is "the best thing that has happened
: for Blacks in a long time," she said.
¯ Via the Internet
¯ Q - What do Howdy Doodie, the Muppets and Steve
Largent have in common?
: A - They all have cute faces with painted-on grins,
¯ empty heads and someone else’s hand up their ass
¯ making their mouths move.
Too vulgar, but too, too funny not to print. What’s
"- dangerous about Largent is that he’s .not stupid at
all.We don’t dispute the hand business though. - TN
by Tom Neal. editor &publisher
As a child, I learned much to my amazement that
some families actually tried to avoid discussing controversial
topics, especially at dimmer. Not mine. When
friends wonder about my interest in discussing ethics
and politics, all I need to do is to invite them to dinner
and.turn my father loose on them. They’ll never wonder
agmn. Note that I regard this familial inheritance of
debate and discussion as a wonderful, wonderful legacy
but it is, perhaps, an acquired taste. I share this bit of
personal history in order to put the following in context.
Since May, I’ve been.arguing at my family’s Sunday
night dinners that Bill Clinton, based merely on the
appearance of inappropriate conduct (that old lawyerly
standard), shouldresign. That is, ifhe were a gentleman.
Of course, we all know that if he had ever been a
gentleman, or even were vaguely acqtminted with the
notion, he wouldn’t be in this nasty PaulaJMonica/
Gennifer/whatever mess in the first place.
But regardless of Bill’s spectacular lapses in judgment,
many Gays and Lesbians, both of color and those
with less color, are going to understand the sentiments
of the adjacent editorial.
If the ultra conservatives, "wing-nuts" as Tul sa Republican
mayoral wanna-be, Terry Simonson, characterized
them, get completely back into power, it will be
a turning back the clock for Gay and Lesbian Americans
as well as for African Americans.
Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott not only is dosdy
tied to ultra racist organizations like the Concerned
Citizens Council but has had his anti-Gay views well
documented. And I suspect that the ccc is just about as
anti-Gay as it is racist. And while Lott is now denying
that he shares the CCC’s racist and white supremacy
views, he’s not bothering to deny his heterosexist supremacy
stances. Clearly, we Gay folks really haven’t
gotten as far along in the fight for equality as non-Gay
Blacks.
I think it is safe to sa$ that the folks who hate Clinton
because he treats Blacks more fairly than any previous
president, also hate him because he’s treated Gay folks
more fairly than any other too.
Granted his record’s not perfect. He reneged on his
promise to end our military’s ban on Gay soldiers. And
his talk about AIDS is better than his walk has been
much of the time. But he’s appointed more openly Gay
individuals to significant governmental positions than
ever before and he’s used his executive power to ban
discrimination in civilian parts of our government.
And look who’s out to get him: the slimiest of the
slime: Bob Barr, Newt Gingrich, Helen Chenowith,
Bob Livingston (something of a gentleman at least for
resigning), and Henry Hyde, adulterers, fornicators and
hypocrites all.
Note also that all of these folks were big, big supporters
of the Defense of Marriage Act that banned samegender
marriages, if and when they should happen. Let
me see, when did cheating on your spouse become part
of supporting "traditional" marriage? Bill, of course,
also signed this patently unconstitutional law.
Andone hears from time to time a runaor or two about
our saintly First District representative, Steve Largent.
One wonders what he’d say about his sex life under
oath. After all, even if he’s been utterly faithful to his
spouse, he was a great college athletic star and who
hasn’t heard of a fomieating football player? Maybe at
Brigham Young, and then only maybe. Last I checked,
fornication was still illegal in Oklahoma though it is
hardly one of our frequently enforced laws.
However, I do have to give Henry Hyde some credit
for redefining the notion of"youthful indiscretion." Mr.
Hyde cheated onhis wife at the age of 41. This 41 yearold
editor is delighted to learn that anything I do at this
point in my life still has some hope of being declared a
"youthful indiscretion."
I do digress. The bottom line: I don’t like Bill,’s
dishonesty, but I don’t like the behavior of most of the
Congress. I don’t like Congress’ "witch hunt." The $50
million Stair spent could have bought a whole lot of
drugs or food or housing to keep people living with
AIDS alive, or done any number of genuinely worthy
things for our country.
Maybe we could just impeach them all.
Hormel Renominated
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Clinton has renominated
James Hormel as ambassador to Luxembourg,
and a White House official said Tuesday the
administration hopes "fairness will prevail" in the
new Congress so he can be approved for thejob. The
Senate last year refused to vote on the nomination of
Hormel after several conservative Republicans accused
him of promoting homosexual views: The
White House accused lawmakers of prejudice.
Hormel, who is Gay, was appro,ced by the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, but Senate Majority
Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., didn’ t allow his nomination
to come to the floor in the face of scattered GOP
objections. White House spokesperson, Barry Toiv
said Hormel was among a number of.renominations
Clinton submitted to the new Congress, which began
its work this month. If approved, Hormel wonld be
the first openly Gay U.S. envoy.
Chiistian right groups had’attacked Hormel, a
vocal supporter of Gay rights and AIDS causes, over
his sponsorship ofaGay and Lesbian center at the San
Francisco Public Library that bears his name. Republican
critics called some of the material obscene and
feared Hormel might promote a "Gay agenda" as
ambassador to the tiny European nation.
Hormel must go through the entire nomination
process again, including approval at the committee
level before a Senate vote.
Florida County May Add
Partner Benefits
FORTLAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)-Broward County
may be on its way to extending to domestic parmers
of county employees the same ,benefits that married
couples now receive. A proposed ordinance would
provide medical coverage to Gay, Lesbian and unmarried
partners of county employees to the same
extentas other employees and allow unmarriedcouples
to legally register as domestic partners. The measure
also would require contractors that handle at least
S50,000 in business with the county to offer health
benefits to partners of their own workers.
If adopted later this year, Broward would join one
other Florida county, more than 100 other state and
local governments across the country and some corpora.
tions that have given similar allowances to domestic
partners.
Some business owners in Broward, Florida’s secon&
largest county, object to being told how to run
their companies. However, the commission, which
has already 6utlawed discrimination on the basis of
sexual orientation, appears receptive to the proposal.
CornmissionCha~rwoman Ilene Lieberman said she
supports most sections of the ordinance but had
doubts about imposing the mandate on private comparties
that do business with the county,
County attorneys said the proposal may conflict
with the state’s broad Defense of Marriage Act, the
1997 law that says same-sex marriages are not recognized
in Florida. Supporters said domestic partnerships
are not identical to marriages and the county’ s
proposal says nothing about child custody, divorce,
inheritance or other rights held by spouses.
Robin Bodiford and Dean Trantalis, two lawyers
and Gay civil rights activists, prepared the proposal
with the Lambda Legal Defense Fund, a national Gay
and Lesbian group.
In Florida, the Monroe County Commission agreed
in February 1998 to allow county workers to share
Lheir employee benefits with their domestic partners.
In Miami-Dade County, the state’ s largest county, the
commission approved an ordinance last month barfing
discrimination of homosextmls in the workplace
and housing.
Holocaust Coverup
Uncovered
ATLANTA (AP) - Material about Nazi persecution
of homosexuals, edited out of a teachers’ guide about
the Holocaust, will be sent to Georgia schools in a
separate letter.
The Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, which
had previously deemed the material too sexually
graphic for fifth- and sixth-grade students, agreed to
the change after a meeting with civil rights activists.
It was too late to reprint the guides, which were to be
mailed out to schools across the state by this week.
lut the commission decided to send the deleted
material to schools in a separate letter. Harry Knox,
director of the Georgia Equality Project, a civil rights
group said the new mailing also will include four
extra teachers’ guides from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial
Museum in Washington.
The 15-member Holocaust comrmssion, fornted in
1986, is a state agency. It objected to passages in the
92-page guide "Triangles, Badges, & Stars: Remembering
the Mosaic of Victims of the Holocaust." Gay
civil rights groups were upset when the commission
asked a law firm sponsonng the gnides to delete the
material. The law firm reluctandy agreed and removed
the passages from the Georgia version of the
guide. Versions of the guide were’also produced for
teachers in California and Florida.
HOmosexuals are mentioned in at least four places
in the 6,000 copies printed for Georgia middle school
and high school teachers, said SylviaWygoda, director
and chairwoman of the Holocaust commission.
Vice chairman Alex Gross said commission members
wanted only a few objectionable words removed,
not entire paragraphs.
Here are the para~aphs on Nazi treatment of homosexual
Holocanst victims which the GeorgiaCom:
unssion on the Holocaust asked to be deleted:
"German male homosexuals were targeted and
arrested because they would not breed the master
race: they were an affront to the Nazi macho image."
"’The doors of the third (cattle) car open and the
homosexuals spill forth, males only, because as
Hirnmler concluded, ’Lesbians can give birth.’ The
taunting jeers, and blows of the guards stun the men.
They will stay a night and then be rerouted to
Sachsenhausen mad Buchenwald to be with their
kind. The pink triangle they will soon wear is a result
of ajudgment that they have broken Article 175A, by
sexual act, by kissing, by embracing, by fantasy and
thought. Some will be given an opp_ortunity to recant
by successfully completing sexual activity with a
woman in the camp brothel. Most others will find
themselves tormented from all sides as they struggle
to avoid being assaulted, raped, worked and beaten to
death."
Right-Winger Seeks to
Ban Gay Student Clubs
PHOENIX (AP) - A group of conservative Republican
lawmakers is backing a bill that would ban
support groups for homosexual students from public
school grounds.
The measm’e would require school districts to ban
any student orgamzation that promotes a specific
sexual orientation, sexual activity or any kind of
criminal activity, t’We don’ t allow Playboy clubs on
,c,~tmpus to promote heterosexuality," said Rep. Linda
Gray, R-Glendale, one of the bill’s backers. "Why
should we have Gay clubs to promote homosexuality."
A 3-year-old Gay student group at Desert View
High School in the Suunyside Unified School District
has not caused any problems, said Alan Storm, the
district’s director of student services. The group’s
five members have helped educate students, teachers
and others about discrimination, Storm said. "There
arCh’ t even discussions about sex," Storm said. Storm
added the bill was a bad idea because it jeopardizes
federal funding for schools. Thefederal Equal Access
Actrequires school s to allow all extracurricular groups
to use their facilities. Backers of the federal law said
it was meant to keep schools from banning meetings
of Bible-study and other Christian groups.
Gay Teen Sues Hospital
Over ’Outing’
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A Gay Bradford County
teen-ager who attempted suicide last February is
suing the hospital that treated him, claiming news of
his sexual orientation was leaked by an employee,
Cindy Smith, and eventually spread to his high school.
Smith could not be reached by press time, but Troy
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Community Hospital president Mark Webster issued a
statement denying the allegations.
Greg Congdon, 18 and a former football player and
wrestler, said the disclosure made him an instant pariah,
forcing him to forego his senior year at Troy High-
School and study at home by himself.
Congdon’ s lawyer, Jeffrey P. Osmond of Towanda,
said he believes the suit to be the first of its kind in
Pennsylvania. ’‘This has been a springboard for a bunch
of health-care providers in the area to doubly safeguard
their policies so that this doesn’t happen to them,;;
Osmond said.
Congdon said he realized he was Gay about a month
before the suicide attempt. He told no one, terrified of
the consequences of coming out to his parents and to a
rural, conservative community. Severely depressed,
Congdon ingested 33 Tylenols in the early morning
hours of Feb. 1, 1998, went to school, and took 10 more.
Congdon told the treating physician at Troy Community
Hospital that he tried to kill himself because he was
Gay.
Thelawsuit alleges that Smith- the mother of one of
Congdon’s football teammates -examined Congdon’s
medical records and then told "third persons" that he
was Gay.
Returning to school later, "Everybody just stared at
me,". he said. "I’d get approached by several students
and they would say, ’We heard you’re a faggot, is that
true?’ I would just say, ’Believe whatever you want,’
because I was afraid I’d get beat up." Congdon left
school less than a month after returning.
Troy High School Principal Bob Grantier said he did
not know Congdon was being harassed. "If that was
reported, which it was not, it would have been dealt
with. Bottom line," he said.
Congdon expects to take his high-school equivalency
exam in the summer and attend college next fall as a
criminal justice major. Congdon’s story was featured
last month in an ESPN documentary on Gay athletes.
He also wrote about his experience for a San Francisco-
based magazine for Gay teen-agers. "I’m being
very public with it to raise awareness. We do have a
problem in today’s society and there is hate out there
toward us and other ethnic and religious backgrounds,"
he said. "Something has to be done."
Maryland Governor
Offers Anti-Bias Bill
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Gov. Parris Glendening,
prompted by memories of a brother who died of AIDS
after hiding his homosexuality throughout a long military
career, will sponsor legislation this y~ar to ban
discrimination against Gays and Lesbians. Glendening
has endorsed similar legislation in the past, but this year
it will be part of his official administration legislative
package. His bill would add sexual orientation to a law
that already bans discrimination in housing and em-
.ployment because of sex, age, race and religion.
Kathleen Nieberding-Ryan, who has lobbied for the
bill the past few years, said the governor’ s decision to
make it part of his program "will help break down some
of our barriers." "I’ve worked on this bill for a long
time," said Ms. Nieberding-Ryan, lobbyist for MarylandNOWand
former lobbyist for the Free State Justice
Campaign, an organization representing Gays and Lesbians.
"Each year we’ ve inched closer and closer, but
could not secure the one or two votes needed for
passage," she said.
Richard Dowling, head of the Maryland Catholic
Conference, said the church has opposed the bill in the
past and probabl y will do so again. "In our tradition,
discrimination against any person in regard to basic
human fights is a sin," Dowling said. He said that
includes people whose sexual orientation is homosexual,
"but orientation and practice are not the same.’"
"Whether intended or not, this legislation would have
.the eff~t oflegitimating homosexual practice, and that,
m our view, is something government Should not do,"
Dowling said.
Glendening said it was difficult for his brother to live
with the knowledge that his’ career in the Air Force
would be ruined if his homosexuality had been discovered.
"No one should be in fear of their job, no matter
what their occupation, because of their sexual orientation,"
he said.
But ~fracy Conaty, communications director for the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in Washing-
, ton, said discrimination "is a fact of life for many
Gay and Lesbian people." "This law is needed
¯ because it is still legal in the state of Maryland to
; fire somebody simply because they are Gay, Lesbian,
bi-sexual or trans-gendered," she said. "Gov.
Glendening is showing real leadership, in not only
recognizing that fact but addressing it," Ms. Conaty
: said.
:¯¯ Anti-Bias Vote May.Lead to Voter Retaliation
¯ CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) - City Commis-
: sioner Nancy Evans knows there mightbefallout at
¯ the voting booth after the City Council decided to ¯ offer protection to homosexuals under the Cedar
¯ Rapids civil rights ordinance. The City Council
¯ ,~oted 3-2 early to make the addition, protecting
¯ homosexuals from discrimination in education,
: honsing, credit, employment and public accommo-
¯ dation.
¯ "This could very well cost an election. I under-
. stand that,’" Evans said. "But cost is not what’s
¯ important. If I believe this stands for intolerance, if
I believe this is injustice, then I have an affirmative
¯ duty toact,nomatterwhatitcosts." Evans and Dale
Toddboth mentioned the Novemberelections when
¯ they discussed their votes in favor of the ordinance.
Mayor Lee Clancey joined them in the majority.
¯ Commissioners Don Thomas and Ole Munson
¯ voted against the change. The Rev. Larry Johnson,
¯ a spokesman for conservative Christiar~s in Cedar
: Rapids, saidhewill try to rally political support for
¯ a new set of candidates. Johnson said, "This thing is very offensive to a lot of people. We want to
¯ investigate to see what we can come up with as far
¯ as overturning this."
Anti-Gay Adoption
Law Reconsidered ¯
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Elizabeth Janeway and
¯ her husband wanted to become foster parents, but
: said they couldn’ t stomach the state’ s ban on Gay
¯ adoptive and foster parents. When they applied in
1991, the state asked them if they had any homo-
" sexuals in their family, Mrs. Janeway told a House
¯ committee. "I felt sick answering the question,"
i She said. "Not sick because we have a Gay son and
¯ a Lesbian daughter, but because of what the ques-
¯ tion implied about our children."
¯ Rep. Raymond Buckley, D-Manchester, wants
¯ that to end. Hehas sponsored a bill to repeal a 1987
¯
law that bans Gays and Lesbians from adopting and
¯ serving as foster parents. "This law was enacted
¯ during a time of great fear," Buckley said. "Thank-
" fully, we know much more today than we did a
¯ decade ago." The ban was passed at "the height of
." the season of hate," he said. New Hampshire is one
¯ of only two states with such restrictions; Floridais
: the other.
¯ A crowd of more than 80 doctors, ministers,
foster parents, Gay civil fights activists and others
¯ gathered to urge the committee to send the bill to
the House for a vote.
: Buckley blames the passage of the ban on fears
¯ fed by the surge of AIDS during the 1980s and
mistaken belief that homosexual parents would
molest their adopted or foster children. During the
legislative debate in 1987, one supporter of the ban
argued that Gay people wanted to "raise their own
meat" to sexually molest. "This law was enacted
despite the lack of a single complaint, not one shred
¯ of evidence, without a single incident of concern,"
¯ Buckley said.
¯ Thelaw also requires heterosexual couples wish-
. ing to adopt or be foster parents to sign a form
stating no adult in the household is homosexual.
~ "This law does more thanmerely prohibit Gays and
¯ Lesbians from adopting or serving as foster parents,"
Buckley said. "It intrudes into the homes of
¯ heterosexual couples as well."
¯ Buckley would not say whether he thought the ¯
bill was likely to pass, only that he hopes the
: Legislature has progressed since the original mea-
¯ sure passed.
Dr. ML King Would
Have Fought AIDS
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Martin Luther King
Jr. did not live to see the scourge ofAIDS,
but ifhe had, he would have been a leader
in the battle against the disease, health
care experts and religious leaders believe.
"Of course he would have been out
there talking about AIDS and advocating
programs to help stop the spread Of HIV ,"
said the Rev Lionel Starkes, an HIVi
AIDS counselor for the Clark County
Health District. Starkes was a member of
a panel that discussed the subject "AIDS:
WhatWouldBe Dr. King’ s Involvement?"
The panel was part of activities in observance
of the national holiday honoring
King’s birthday.
Ulysess Palrose, HIV/AIDS care coordinator
for Sierra Health Services, said
that nationwide, the number of people
dying from AIDS has declined, as have
the number of people infected with HIV.
But the number of blacks contracting the
vires has increased.
’Tmnot an expert on Dr. Martin Luther
King, and I don’ tknow all thereis to know
aboutAIDS, but all I doknow tellsme that
he would be a drum major" in the fight
against HIV, particularly in regard to the
African American commumty, Palrose
said.
According to national statistics, 43 percent
ofnew HIV/AIDSpatients are black.
Blacks constitute about 13 perccgt of the
population. More than 50 percent of all
babies and women infected with HIV are
’black.
Scientist Develops
New HIV Treatment
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -A University
of Kentucky (UK) scientist holds patents
on two new methods for treating AIDS
and cancer with drugs that have been
around for years. Trials of the cancer
therapy are at least two years away, but
the AIDS therapy could be tested on human
patients later this year in South Af-
Dr. Vincent Gallicchio, a cell biologist
and associate dean of research in UK’s
College of Allied Health Professions, developed
and patented the AIDS treatment
independently.
Gallicchio came up with the cancer
therapy in partnership with Milton Yatvin,
professor of radiation oncology at the
Oregon Health Science Center. They
jointly hold the patent on this treatment.
In combatting AIDS, Gallicchio proposes
a combination ofAZT or DDI- two
anti-viral drugs now prescribed for the
disease - and lithium, a drug used for
decades to treat manic depression. Research
has shown that lithium, in addition
to its beneficial effects on mental illness,
stimulates the human immune system.
AIDS kills people by destroying their
immunity. Therefore, Gallicchio thinks
that an AZT-lithium "cocktail" might stabilize
AIDS patients by charging up their
immune systems.
Gallicchio and Yatvin plan to attack
cancer with a new kind of drug-delivery
system, putting standard chemotherapy
agents inside naturally occurring human
immune cells called "macrophages."
Theoretically, the macrophages would
carry thehighly toxic chemotherapy drugs
directly to the site of the cancer, leaving
healthy tissue unharmed.
Lithiumwas first suggestedformedical
use 50 years ago, and approved by the
FDA for use in manic depressive patients
about 1970. "We’ re sort of the first to put
two and two together," said Gallicchio
who, in addition to his UKpost, heads the
International Society for Lithium Research,
a.scientific group devoted to learning
more about the drug.
One reason lithium’ s potential in AIDS
hash’ t been researched before, Gallicchio
said, is economics. Lithium is cheap. So,
there’ s been little economic incentive for
pharmaceutical finns to explore its potential
in AIDS because profits wouldn’t be
great. Lithium’s toxicity also has been
problem, but Gallieehio says that’s been
solved.
Gallicchio plans to test his idea in South
Africa, where selected AIDS patients will
be given his lithium cocktail. South Africa
was chosen as the test site, he said,
because its AIDS incidence rate is one of
the world’s highest.
In battling cancer, Gallicchio and his
pamier,Yatvin, envision a system in which
.powerful drugs would zip straight to the
site of the disease, like homing pigeons,
ignoring healthy tissue. To achieve that,
they would use macrophages.
Macrophages are large immune cells,
which are manufactured in the bone marrow
and then migrate to the body’ s orgaus.
Each organ has its own macrophage,
and each macrophage somehow
knows which organ it is assigned to. A
liver macrophage knows it’ s supposed to
go to the liver; a brain macrophage knows
it’ s supposed to travel to the brain, and so
on.
Gallicchio and Yatvin propose to use
this macrophage "homing instinct."To
treat, say, liver cancer, you could pm
chemotherapy drugs inside liver macrophages,
whichthen would carry them straight
to the cancer.
The plan would be to grow macrophages
in an artificial environment, combine
them with cancer drugs, then deliver
the mixture into cancer patients intravenously.
But Gallicchio says it will be
about two years before trials in humans.
First, researchers mustprove the approach
works in animals, and that it poses no
hazards to patients.
Charity to Help
Children with AIDS
tCAMPALA, Uganda (AP)-Funds raised
by Rotary International will pay for
projects devoted to children affected by
polio and AIDS-related diseases, the
organization’s president said recently.
Speaking to reporters before the opening
of Rotary’ s International Summit on Africa,
James Lacy of Cookeville, Tenn.,
said the organization would also fund
facilities that offer corrective plastic surgery
and finance micro-credit facilities,
job training and educational programs.
More than 400 Rotary members from
23 nations have gathered for the three-day
conference opened by Prime Minister
KintuMusoke, whoread a statement from
President Yoweri Museveni. "I’m glad
¯ that President Lacy has chosen poverty as
¯ the main theme of the conference,"
¯ Museveni said in his statement. "Poverty
: is a great problem in Africa, andwehope
; you will offer practical solutions to it."
¯ Lacy, 68, said Rotary’s efforts would
: focus this yearonchildren and their health.
: "I came here to see the problems faced by
: children and to see exactly where we can
¯ help," he said.
: Rotary has committed more than $313
: million since 1985 to the goal of eradicat-
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a Diverse Community
Are You Gay or Bisexual?
Are You Native American?
Tulsa’s Two-Spirted Indian Men’s
Support Group is here for you~
¯ Evening support group meetings
¯ Relationship workshops
¯ Short trips, outings and retreats
¯ Free HIV testing
For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Proiect
at 582-7225 Ext. 208 or 218
The perfect balance of luxury and utility.
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ing polio worldwide. The organization
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vaccine as part of the vaccination program
in sub-Saran Africa.
HIV+ Soldier Guilty
of Assault by Sex
ABERDEEN, Md. (AP) - An HIV-posifive
Army private from New York City
was sentenced to three years in military
prison after pleading guilty to aggravated
assault for having unprotected sex.
Gerland Squires, 21, also will receive a
bad-conduct discharge from the Army
and forfeit all pay and benefits. Her rank
was immediately reduced from private
first class to private.
After a 1997 blood test revealed Ms.
Squires had HIV, her commander at Aberdeen
Proving Ground ordered her to use
condoms and tell her sexual partners that
she carried the AIDS virus. But Ms.
Squires did not tell eight men she was
HIV-positive and had unprotected sex
with four of them, prosecutors said. She
told a ninth man she had the virus but did
not insist he use a condom. None of the
ninemen- six enlisted and three civilians
- has tested positive for the virus.
Ms. Squires,cryingonthe witness stand,
told jurors she had sex to escape her fear
and confusion about having HIV and
passing it on to-her daughter, who is now
9 months old. She said she feared rejeclion
if she told her sex partners she has
HIV.
Aberdeen Proving Ground, about 40
miles north of Baltimore, was the site of
the biggest sex scandal in U.S. mililary
history in 1997. Twelve drill instructors
were accused of forcing female subordinates
to have sex. One instructor was
cleared, and the remaining 11 either were
convicted or re’signed.
India’s Challenge:
AIDS Treatment
NEW DELHI, India (AP) - On paper at
least, India is ready to cope with the consequences
of increasing AIDS cases. It
hopes to avoid being overwhelmed by not
just the disease, but byfear and ignorance.
P.L. Joshi, deputy director of the
government’s National AIDS Control
Organization, confidently fingers a thick,
plastic-bound sheaf of tables and prose
that detail how nearly 1 million medical
workers, from hospital janitors to surgeons,
will be trained to care for AIDS
patients. But Joshi acknowledges the training
has barely begun, and those patients
today face being alined away by hospitals
or, when they are admitted, find that doctors
and nurses refuse even to touch them.
"’There is an element of fear," Joshi
said. "People think that if they handle
these patients, they will get the disease.
Discrimination can only be taken care of
by a strong training program."
Experts say India’s nearly 1 billion
people are in only the early stages of an
AIDS epidemic that already has swept
over Europe and America and decimated
Africa, where in some places a quarter of
the population is infected with the AIDS
virus.
.Joshi and his colleagues in India’ s campmgn
against AIDS have focused on education
and prevention, hoping to keep the
infection rate down. Now they acknowledg.
e they also must face the challenge of
canng for people with full-blown AIDS
and those infected with the virus.
The World Bank predicts that already
snuggling medical systems in developing
countries like India will be so swamped
by AIDS it will be impossible for people
with other diseases to get care.
India’ s government estimates 5 million
people, less than 1% of Indians, are infected
with the AIDS virus. That is considered
low by many experts because it is
based on very limited testing, but even
that figuremeans one of the world’ s poorest
countries has more infected people
than any other nation.
The estimate of infected Indians has
increased steadily from 2.5 million in
1996, spreading mainly through heterosexual
sex into the general public from
high-risk groups like prostitutes and intravenous
drug users. Joshi’s agency says
the number of full-blown AIDS cases has
soared from six in 1986 to 3,167 in 1996
to around 5,000 in 1998.
Knowledge about the disease is lacking
amongmostIndians,including health professionals.
Four years ago, India’ s largest
and most prestigious hospital, the All-
India Institute of Medical Sciences, surveyedits
morethan7,000 employees about
AIDS. Dr. Bir Singh, head ofAIDS training
at the institute, said he found many
staffmembers did not follow even simple
procedures like using needles properly to
ensure they did not prick themselves with
tips contaminated with a patient’s blood.
Worse, Singh found doctors and nurses
infected with the prejudices about AIDS
that are common in the rest of India. A
disease linked to sex and drugs in this
conservative society is deeply shameful,
and those infected with the virus are often
treated as if they deserve to die.
"The moment it becomes known that a
person on a ward is HIV-positive, fear
engulfs the ward. That fear is still rampant.
That shows theignorance among the
medical community," he said. "If the time
comes, God forbid, when one in four
patients is HIV+, what will we do?"
Sahara, a private residential drug treatment
program supported by international
aid groups, already faces that problem.
Director Neville Selhore estimates a third.
of the 120-130 recovering drug addicts
living at Sahara’s house in south New
Delhi are infected. "In 1990, a lot of the
people here started to fall ill," said
Selhore’ s wife and co-director, Elizabeth.
They soon learned the increasing cases of
tuberculosis and shingles pointed to the
spread of the AIDS virus and took on the
task of treating that as well as addiction.
Over the years, the Selhores have developed
a matter-of-factness about AIDS
that would be striking anywhere. The
couple and their young sons live at Sahara
along with the recovering addicts. The
boys "know about the disease, and they’ re
cool," Selhore said. "They see how we
deal with it. They know there are onlv so
many ways it can be transmitted."
At the 16-bed clinic that Sahara opened
earlier this year, attendants pat patients’
hair or help them walk with casual affection.
They counsel the patients not to
share medications like ointment, to use
condoms, to stay healthy.
Pop music plays in the background.
With books and board games on a shelf in
a room that doubles as parlor and nurse’ s
office, the atmosphere is that of an unusually
calm and orderly college dorm. The
message is simple: People with the AIDS
v~rus can live a normal life if they are
armedwithinformation. "Weteachpeople
to take care of themselves. Because how
many people can the government and
orgamzations like this take care of?"
Tulsa is blessed with quite afew excel- " eration just hasn’t seemed to work.
lent arts organizations
good fortune of this
newspaper to-be able to
work with most of
them. Tulsa Family
News was honored especially
to have been a
media sponsor for
Philbrook’s Year of
Europe in 1998. We’ve
also had the pleasure of
working with
Gilcrease, the Philharmonic,
Tulsa Ballet,
Tulsa Opera and again
the Tulsa Performing
Arts Center Trust
(TPACT).
All of these orgamzations
recognize that,
stereotypes not withstanding,
Tulsa’s Lesbian
and Gay commuand
it’s been the "
Philbrook’s new Beads exhibit
promises to be interesting
Villain no. 1: American Theatre Company.
Repeated calls to
Kitty Roberts have resulted
in no response.
Ms. Roberts apparently
thinksTheTulsaWorld
reaches everyone with
whom she needs to
bother. I mean if someone
calls repeatedly to
say they’ll give you
some free press if you
only will send a press
release, ’why not?
Surely this is not a case
of bias since a prominent
member of this
company is aGay man.
Perhaps once they
couldnothave afforded
the extra stamps but in
these days of faxes and
e-mail, what gives?
nities do support the arts, perhaps even
beyond our numbers. As the lovely
Camille Sartain, formerly ofTPACT and
now working at Gilcrease has stated, it
just doesn’t make sense for arts organizations
not to reach out to the Gaycommu-
So itmakes you wonder about the folks
who just don’t seem to get it! Ani]’they
mostly seem to be theater types, amazingly
enough. Tulsa Family News continues
to have difficulty with several organizations
whom,we will name in hope that
we .might shame them into treating Gay
people fairly. It doesn’t seem that it could
hurt since politely asking for their coop-
¯ Villain no. 2: Theatre Tulsa! run by a
¯¯ wall-known Gay man whom you can see
at Renegades’ pool tables regularly. Re-
" peated visits in person have not persuaded
these folks to share info. about their per-
" formances. Now some with more wicked
¯ tongues than I might say that no self-
" respecting Gay would want to see some of
the ponderous theatrical warhorses this
¯ company produces- still tastes do vary in
¯ ourcommtmity. Notealso, thateveaacall
." toTFboard president Dan Call stillhasn’t
¯¯ moved the mountain.
Villain no. 3: Celebrity Attractions. We
¯ save the worst for last.
¯ see Celebrity, p. 13
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
March 16 at 8 p.m,
Chapman
Music Hall
TULSA
PERFORMING
ARTS CENTER
Tickets
$1 O-$30
Dancing the fine line between hiqh art and high camp, Les Ballets
Trockadero de Monte Carlo delights audiences around the world.
~ Les Ballets Trockadero is the world’s foremost all,male comic ballet
company.
Sponsored in part by:
OKLAHOMA
,Join us. For a
of 2Oth century classics.
CELEBRATE THE 20TH CENTURY WITH THREE CONTEMPORARY BALLETS, ALL
CHOREOGI~&PHED BY MODERN [3AY DANCE MAVENS. FROM KURT JOOSS’ BRI LLIANT CLASSIC
TO NACHO DUATO’S CURRENT HIT. MOV[MENT ON THE CUTTING EDGE. BODIES IN ACTION.
BOTH ARTISTICALLY AND ATHLETICALLY. DANCE IN PURSUIT OF WHAT’S NEXT. MUCH TO
THE DELIGHT OF OUR AUDIENCE MEMBERS.
THE GREEN TABLE. THE MORE THINGS CHANGE. THE MORE WAR STAYS THE SAME.
WHAT HAPPENED TO GIVING PEACE A CHANCE! CHOREOGRAPHY BY KURT !OOSS.
JARD! TANCAT. FIFTEEN MINUTES AND BARE FEET MA] CHANGE THE WAY YOU
THINK OF BALI_ET. FOP, EVER. CHOREOGt~PHY BY NACHO DUATO.
EQUINOXE. EYE CANDh: A ..AMI LER OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SHAPES THE HUMAN
BODY CAN MAKE IN DANCE. CHOREOGRAI H¥ BY JAMES CANFIELD.
FRIDAY 8 PM FEBRUARY 5 / SATURDAY 8 PM FEBRUARY 6 / SUNDAY 3 PM FEBRUARY 7
TUESDAY 8 PM FEBRUARY 9 ! SERETEAN CENTER. OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, STILLWATER
TULSA BALLET TICKET OFFICE: 749-6006 / PAC: 1-800-364-711J OR 596-7111 / CARSON ATTRACTIONS: 584-2000
WWW.WEBTEK.COM/TULSABALLET / TICKETS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT TULSA TIX LOCATIONS IN TULSA. BROKEN ARROW AND OTHER
LOCATIONS IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA. / ALL PERFORMANCES AT TULSA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 3RDANDCtNCINNATI
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Kelly Kirby CPA, PC
Certified Public Accountant
a professional corporation
It’s time to start on those 1998 taxes!
As you know,Lesbians and Gay men
face many special tax situations
whether single or as couples.
We can help!
Electronic filing is a’~ilable for faster refunds.
747-5466
4021 S. Harvard, Suite 21.0, Tulsa 74135
Sing Out, Sing Out,
Wherever You Are!
couNciL oak
Our voices comfort those in pain
Our voices combat oppression
Our voices educate the ignorant
Our voices inspire
Our voices win freedom
The Council Oak
Men’s Chorale
is a dedicated group of
gay men united to present
a positive image
for ourselves,
our community
and society as a whole
through excellence
in the performance
of choral music.
i For information on becoming a member
call (918) 585-COMC
Now it is time for our voices to be heard.
~= SUNDAYS
Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
Community ofHope (United Methodist), Service - 6pm; 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Service - 1 lam, 2545 S. Yale, 749-0595
Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist
Service - 1 lam, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-1314
Metropolitan Community Church United (formerly Family of Faith & MCCGT)
Service, 1 lam, 1623 North Maplewood, Info: 838-1715
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc.
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood
Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America)
Mass - 11am, 205 W. King (east of No. Denver), Info: 582-3088
University of Tulsa BisexuaULesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance
6:30 pm, Meets at the Canterbury Ctr., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780
Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals at 5pm, Info: 585-COMC (2662)
~ MONDAYS
HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required.
Walk in testing: %8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard)
HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
7:30pro, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
2nd Mon/each mo. 6:30pm, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard
Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon~ 585-5551
I~ TUESDAYS
AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call for next meeting date. 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551
Live And Let Live, Community of Hope United Methodist, 7:30pro, 2545 S. Yale.
Multicultural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date.
Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001
Rainbow Business Guild, Business & prof. networking group.
Meets typically the last Tuesday of each month. Info: 743-4297
PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th
Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE)
Tuesdays, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, info: 743-4297
~" WEDNESDAYS
Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center
Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pm, 3210b So. Norwood
Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more information, call 582-7225
TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for info: 595-7632.
Lambda A-A, 7 pm, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft.
~" THURSDAYS
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education
Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pm 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral
Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN)
Support/social group for 18-24’s, callRed Rock Mental Health at 584-2325
Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, Info: 834-4194
~ FRIDAYS
Safe Haven, Young Adults Social Group, 1 st Fri/eachmo. 8pm, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th
~ SATURDAYS
Narcotics Anonymous, 11 pm, Community of Hope,1703 E. 2nd, Info: 585-1800
Lambda A-A, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd fl.
~ OTHER GROUPS
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info: 838-1222
Gal-A-Vanting, Womens Social & Cultural Group, Call for info: Mary at 743-6740,
Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-6825.
OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization. Info: POB 9165, Tulsa 74157,
Short rides, 6:30pm, Long rides, 7am. Meet at Zeigler Park, 3903 West 4th. Pride
Rides from the Pride Center, 3749 S. Peoria. Write for winter schedule.
Ifyour orgamzation is not listed, please let us know. Call 583-1248 orfax 583-4615.
by Adam West
Toby Sligh is one of those characters,
heroes really, who comes along only once
a generation or so. Like Ishmael or Pip or
Hamlet, he brings out all of
0urfears anddreams andhopes
and desires. Don’t get me
wrong, Daniel Vilmure, the
author of Toby’s Lie is not yet
a Melville or Dickens. He’s
nowhere near Shakespeare.
But when this promising
young author decided to make
a worthwhile character, he really
overshot his mark.
Toby is in love with Ia~., the
one-eyed rich kid that has the
"most popular" spot at their
Jesuit-run Catholic school.
Toby wants to take Ian to the
prom. This causes quite a stir,
which gets Toby even more
confusedthanhis mothermoving
out of the house for mysterious reasons.
It confuses him morethan the beautiful
Latin priest who may or may not be the
child molester ofyoungToby’s dreams. It
confuses him more than his theoretically
drug-dealing best friend. It confuses him
almost as much as his relationship with
the AIDS-stricken priest that’]ae visits at
lan’s behest in the local hospital.
Toby’s life gets thrown around in a
whirlwindofstrangefriends, strangerfamily
and familiar strangers. It is how Toby
¯grows tofignreeverything out, andaceept
the strangeness, that makes him a hero.
And make no mistake - to the young
people growing up Gay in this world
l’oby Sligh should be a hero.
What struck me most about Toby’s Lie
was the fact that it’s a cleverly disguised
AIDS novel. Don~t be put off. We’ve all
had enough of our emotions beingjerked
around by badly written, overly soap opera-
ish, ’woe-is-me’ plays, movies, books,
articles, poems, and television specials.
But we should not become disinterested
by a work that truly captures what AIDS
has done to our community (by ’community’
I mean Earth, not the local ’ghetto’).
This problem is not over, and Toby’s
Lie reminds us of that. Finally, an author
reminds us, touches us, in a way that
provokes thought instead of stifling it.
]’oby’s problems are many. He’s bombarded
onall sides by the schemes and lies
of everyone he knows. He’s not innocent.
But he is honest.., in a way that few of us
are ever tndy so: Toby is willing to say
what he fears. And in the end when the
fear ofAIDS piles on top of all the others,
l’oby greets it with true courage.
What Toby’s Lie tinally brings us is a
unique novel in Gay literature. Vilmure
has not succumbed to the need to whine
that our supposed classics (like E.M.
Forster, Edmund White or Andrew
Ric Poston, OklahomaMr. Leather will
host a multi-family garage sale to help
with his titleholder travel fund.
This event will be held in Jenks at 420
West Eighth .on Saturday and Sunday,
Feb. 20-21, from 7am to dark. Donations
of furniture, clothes, magazines, etc. will
be accepted and can be picked up by
calling 299-6442.
Tol~ Sli~h is one
of those
~lmracters,
heroes really,
~ho come alon~
only once a
~eneratlon or so.
Like Ishmael or
Pip or Hamlet, he
brin~s out. all of
our fea~s and
dreams and hopes
and desires.
Holleran) have. Vilmure is aware of the
dangers Of being Gay and being young.
He’s aware of everything that scares us.
However, unlikemostofus who are afraid,
this author faces the fear with
introspection and grace and
dignity. Toby does not run
away fromhis fears in the end,
and that is what saves his life.
This is a coming of age novel,
but Toby grows up like most
of us do not - Toby learns to
stand up for himself. This is a
quality that is sadly lacking in
the Gay community, no matter
how many snappy queens
you know.
I’d like to digress a little
here, soforgivemeinadvance.
This is after all my last review
for you (I’m moving to New
York!). Do you remember
Blaxploitation?Thosehorren-
¯
dous movies, books and television shows
¯¯ (Yes, Shaftwasjustas awful as Blacula!)
that poured onto the market when enter-
." tainment moguls realized that Black
¯ people liked TVtoo?
¯ I’d like to send you a warning. Beware
¯¯ of Queer-ploitation. The signs of its arrival
arehere (was In andOutor To Wong
¯ Foo really for us, even if they were much
¯ loftier than Blacula?). I came across it
¯ most recently when I started a book for
¯ this very review. The book is called Eye ¯
Contact and it is a mystery with a Gay
¯ protagonist. After my years of schooling
¯ and intelligent discourse about literature, ¯
Icouldonly thinkofonewordthatsummed
¯ up this book: stupid.
¯" Don’t be fooled by the attractive half-
¯. nakedman on the cover- his picure is not worth the price. Or the support a purchase
¯ shows to the publisher who would put out
: a badly-written, ill-conceived novel, just
¯ because they discovered Gay people read
¯
tOO.
¯ Be careful what you buy. Just because a
: book has a Gay protagonist, does not
¯ mean it is good to buy. Don’t let them
¯ think they can sell us Good Times when
¯ we could be purchasing Will and Grace.
¯ Buy Toby’s Lie or Blue Coyote (reviewed ¯
last month), rather than something that
¯ has a pretty chest on the cover and no
muscle inside.
¯ Thank you for reading my reviews and
take care of us.
¯ Adam West is no longer a resident of
¯ Tulsa or Oklahoma, having relocated the
¯ Batcave to the state of New York. He ¯
practically has no credentials, and he
¯ certainly no longer has ajob.
¯ Editor’s note: Tulsa Family News would ¯
like to thank Adamfor his work as a book
¯ reviewer and to wish him good luck and
¯ much warmth as he moves to the frozen
northland.s.
¯
Poston, as Oklahoma Mr. Leather, has
¯ traveled to 14 community events in the
¯ last H weeks. He’sbeentotheDistrictof ¯
¯ Columbia twice, San Francisco and the
Mid:Atlantic redon. Poston wants corn-
¯ munity members to know that he is avail-
: abletoassistinbenefitsandalsohasgiven
¯ seminars on Gay family structurerecently
¯ to Red Rock and to PFLAG. He will be
¯ going to IML, Intemational Mr. Leather
¯ inMay, hoping to continue theOklahoma ¯
tradition of Leather leadership.
748.5304
THE PHILBROOK
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Tues.-Fri., 8-5:.30, Sat: 8-5pm
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An Attorney who will fight for
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Domestic Partnership Planning,
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Weekend and evening appointments are available.
AMERICAN MODERN
A comprehensive retrospective of one
of the most important American artists of the
early modern period.
410W. Boyd Street, Norman, OK 405/325-3272, Free Admission, Museum Store
Organized by the Frederick R.Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and
made possible with the assistance of OAC, the NAHC HoteLrMotel Tax and the NEA.
Editor’s note: our DIYD expert is in an " try a few out, as there is some slight
alternative universe this month, at least . variation even within a similarlot ofhamaccording
to her answering machine. She ~ mers.
promises to return to earlh orbit with a o A tape measure is handy to have as
new column next month. In the meantime, well, since accurate measurements help
we repeat this useful column from last ensure successful projects. My advice is
March. to buynothing less than
by Mary Schepers Everyone al6 ft and preferably a
Everyone needs a needs a t0oll~it. 25 ft. There is a meatoolkit.
Our editor suring tape called the
laughs lasciviously and Our editor laughs "’E-Z Rule" that not
offers his own sugges- laselvlously and only has the cry.ptic
dons, which I won’t hashmarksbetweenthe
dignify by repeating, o~ers ]~is own inches but also the ac-
Whether your ambisuggestions,
whleh I tual measurement in
tions extend no further number (i.e. 1/8, 1/2,
than installing mini- won’t dignify 5/8,etc.)foraquickand
blinds, or whether it easy fix on just where
involves "project fan- by repeating, you are. I confess that,
tasies" on a regular ba- Wl~etber your prior to owning an E-Z
sis, some basic tools Rule, I sometimes had
should bc standard in ambitions extend no to count out the hash
any home. ~urtl~er than marks to verify my
To begin with; a few measurement, ttome
of the DIYD’s basic installing mlni-bllnds, repairs don’t have to
rules: first, buy the best
- or wl~etl~er it involves be that painful - oh,
tools you can afford, memories of Sister
Trust me on this one; it "project fantasies" Mary Agnes’ s math
does make adifference, class!Always try to use
and it’s a worthwhile on a regular basis, the measuring tool
maxim to follow, even some basic tools each time; this is really
if you must occasion- critical ff you are meaally
resort to layaway should, be standard suring things that need
ordelayedgratffieation, i~i any borne, to fit together, as I
Second, honor your found out to my distools
and save yoursdfalot offrustration: may inmy early handy-dyke days. Seems
keep your tools together and organized, there there’s always some variation even
They deserve b~tter than to be chucked with something as standard as measureunceremoniously
into your standardjunk ment. Of course, size queens have known
drawer, or under the seat of your car, or - this for years.
horrors! - propping up a potted plant. A few wrenches are also he~udy to have
Third, think about the tasks you do most about. My recommendations: one pair of
often and- buy the necessary tools first, normal pliers; one pair of slip joint phers
A screwdriver set is almost a given. If (channel locks); and one pair of adjustyoudon’t
thinkitis essential tohavemore able locking pliers (vise grips). This is a
than just one, used indiscriminately for bare minimum. If you are going to get
everything, please bear with me. Bare serious about home repairs, I’d also sugminimum,
four screwdrivers: large and gest a small set of combination box end/
small each of a fiat blade and a Phillips open end wrenches in the standard (not
head (cross shaped) screwdriver. Myself, metric) size, a pair of needle nose pliers,
I like four.of each type as a minimum, some wire cutters (aka, "Dykes" -Inn),
frommonstroustominute;mosttaskswill and at least one pipe wrench. However,
fall somewhere in the middle, but its great the bare minimum will take care of most
to have the extremes (no, not the Supremes) basic jobs.
on hand when you need them. Referring back to Rule no. 2, do your-
Using the proper type .and size screw- self and your tools a favor and keep them
driver helps prevent the frustration of together.I’mnotjustbeingabitanalhere;
cam-out (or"wallerin’ out", as I was raised I’m still looking for tools I used to rehab
to say) when you are halfway finished my house. Suggestions: a tool drawer in
driving a screw and can neither go further the house; a peg board with hooks in the
nor back it out. When selecting screw- garage; a plastic bucket or trays with
drivers, it is easy to ignore Rule no. 1: handles or a gatemouth bag. The there’s
Darlings, don’t do it! Cheap drivers bend, my favorite, the tool brit. I always keep a
break and lose head integrity, which also ¯ hammer, a couple of screwdrivers, ameacontributes
to cam-out. You didn’t save : suring tape and a small pair of vise grips
much money if you blow through a set of : in mine, along with a carpenter’ s pencil. I
screwdriverseveryyear.Finally,useyour ¯ can just grab that little darling and get
drivers to drive screws only. They are
° started on any basic tasks right away. It
neither cold chisels noricepicks norham- ¯ also holds the nails, screw, drill bits, etc.
mers. that I’ll be using specific to that task.
A proper hammer should also be in ° Tins brings me to a cautionary tale. My
your basic tool box anyway. There are all " friend C. was on a ladder nailing some
sortsofhammers-finishing,framiug,ball ¯ sidingrecenfly;shecarfiedhernailsinthe
peen, etc. If you only have one hammer, ¯ time-honored yet dangerous method -
make it acarpenter’s hammer. It candrive " between her lips. She and the ladder took
or pull nails, nudge a stubborn board into " a tumble, a nail went down her throat,
place, even demolish that tacky Pepto ¯ resulting in a $3500 trip to the ER. In that
pinktile tub surround. Once again, review ¯ Light, a tool belt is also very economical.
Rule no. 1. A cheap hammer will beat you If this st0ry doesn’ t convince of the merits
like a stepchild if you useit for any length ¯ of a tool belt, please consider its aesthetof
time. A hammer should feel well-bal- ¯ ics: a tool belt has a certain butchly charm
anced in your hand and comfortable to : that almost defies description. Just ask the
grip. Stanley makes a good hamm,er, but " men and women who know.
by Esther Rothblum ¯ publishers. One publisher said they had
Irecentlyhadaconversation~vithElana : too many Jews on their list already!"
Dykewomon about her latest book Be- " When Elana was doing a reading of a
yond the Pale, a novd about the lives of ¯ section of the book, an editor who hap-
RussianJewishLesbianswhoimmigrated " pened to be in the audience knew of antoNorthAmericanattheturn
"~rhen I was 12 or
other woman who was
of the century. Elana searching for Lesbian mate-
Dykewomontmsalwaysbro- 18,I tried tol~ll rial to adapt for her
ken new ground. Her book myself. I was one of storytelling performances.
Riverfinger Womanwas one "My
of the first Lesbian novels, those statistics of
section was then dramatized,"
Elana told me. "I
Beyond the Pale won the adolescent Les[rians saw this woman, Helen
1998 Lambda Literary
who attempt su~elde.
Mintz, performing it once
Award for Lesbian fiction, and I was floored. It’ s amaz-
I asked her how she be- "~hen I was . ing to see someone act your
came a writer. "I was always institutionali~d, work. She performed it in
writing. I was a writing Vancouver where the edichild,"
she said."When I was I realked tlmt tors of Press Gang Publish-
12 or 13, I tried to kill my- writers didn’t kave ers heard it and wrote to me
self. I was one of those statistics
of adolescent Lesbi- to be 0endered in the
askingmeif they could consider
publishing the book."
ans who at[empt suicide, same way that 01rls As Elana continued
WhenI was institutionalized, -. and boys did. work on the book, shehad to
I realized that writers didn’ t researchmany aspects oflife
have to be gendered in the same way that at the turn of the century. "I had toread the
. girls and boys did. That is, I could choose really dry stuff," she said, "like the history
to be neither a traditional girl nor boy; I of the grain trade in Odessa. I couldn’t go
could be a writer." Elana.found that she to Russia, so I was looking for descripcould
be eccentric and free in that m.le as tions of streets and figuring outwhat daily
a writer, life was like. My girlfriend Susan
In college at the California Institute of Levenkind is a librarian and she was very
Arts, Elanamet anumber of experimental good at finding tbings out for me. I would
poets and became active in Gay libera- read a book and then use their bibliogration.
One of her teachers knew someone phy as a starting point. I learnedhow to be
in publishing. ’¢Fhis was 1971, and they an historian." A friend gave her a book
were starting a slightly pornographic se- about the Women’ s Trade Union League,
ties for housewives to cash in on the new which turned out be quite a Lesbian orgafeminist
sexuality," Elana remembered, nization. She went to labor libraries, and
laughing, "and told me to write up my even looked up the transportation system
experiences. I wrote the first third of the in New York City at the turn of the cenbook
in !8 straight hours. I wanted to tury.
write a Lesbian novel with a happy end- At book readings, Elana prefers seeing."
But the publisher said it was not tlons of her book that describe the powhat
they were looking for. groins in Russia. "I also like to read the
By this time Elana had moved to the sectionsthathavealittlesexinthem,"she
women’ s community in Northampton, said. For example, when Chava and Rose
Massachusetts. The feminist publisher fall in love:
Daughters Inc. had sent flyers around "Rose leaned towards me, put her hand
townand afriendrecommended thatElana on my cheek to turn my face so we could
send her book to thatnew company. They see each other... ’So if you want to and I
accepted Riverfinger Woman whichcame want to, who starts?’
out in print in 1974, one year after they I pulled the tenement air down to the
published Rubyfruit Jungle. The Naiad bottom of my lungs. This was harder than
Press reprint of Riverfinger Woman con- goingout on strike. I moved my lips onto
eludes with an essay detailing Elana’s Rose’ s. Together. We had been lying in
process in getting this book published, bed together for more than two years.
Elana went on to publish three more ¯ Careful.Cousins. Leftside, rightside, I’m
books before her current novel. They Will worn out, me too, goodnight.
KnowMeByMy Teeth was a colleclion of No, I changed my mind as the kissshort
stories which she self-published in engulfed our faces and my hands found
1976. She also published abook ofpoems the soft flesh of her shoulders and pressed
entitled Fragments From Lesbos. In 1995 her close. This was easier than going on
Onlywomen Press published her book of strike. This was easier than anything."
poems Nothing Will BE As Sweet As The The response from readers has been
Taste. Elana also had a long stint as an wonderful. ’T ve gotten lots ofletters sayeditor
of the feminist periodical Sihister ing ’This is my grandmother’s Story’ or
Wisdom. ’now I understand my history’ or hetero-
Beyond the Pale began over ten years sexualwomenintheir70s or80s wholove
ago as a poem. After she had written that this story," said Elana.
poem, Elana felt that there was a longer . The "Lammies" (Lambda Literary
story there. "So I started to think who ¯ Awards) are to Lesbian writing what the
these two women would be and who their ¯ Oscars are to Hollywood. Elana’ s award
familieswouldbe, whatwouldmakethem " for Lesbian fiction is the eqnivalent of the
migrate. I started to read old books about " best actress award in the Oscars. She was
travellors in Russia at the turn of the : awarded the most recent Lammy for Lescentury.
The depths of the anti-Semitism ¯ bian fiction.
in these books was stnnning to me." For further information, contact Elana
"I wrote what became the midwife’s " Dykewomon at dyke@sfsu.edu. Beyond
story, and decided this could be a novel. ¯ the Pale was published in 1997 by Press
When the first half of the book was done, " Gang Publishers, 225 East 17th Ave.,
I got someunencouraging responses from " Vancouver, B.C. VSV IA6, Canada.
IGTA member
Call 341.6866
International
Toursformoreinformation.
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Oklahoma Rainbow
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Outreach Program Thurs. Nights
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Call for meeting times and place:
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The
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1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor
in the Pride Center, 743-4297
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Open Hearts
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4045 No. Cincinnati, 425-7882
Saint Dunstan
5635 East 71st, 492-7140
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The Episcopal Church
Welcomes You
"It is this organizing at the state level that
will ultimately counter the hostility and
gridlock we have come to know from our
nation’s capital," she added.
Never before in the history of the Gay
rights movement has there been a coordinated
political campaxgn of actions in all
50 states as well as the District of Columbia
and Puerto Rico. Equality Begins at
Homerepresents anew phase of the movement
- a focus on state orgamzing and
legislatures. The vast majority of debates
and decisions about Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,
and Transgender equality occur in
state legislatures. Equality Begins atHome
will bolster the infrastructure of the Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual, andTransgendermovement
within the states - where the heart of
the struggle for equality lies - and lead to
greater success in the overall struggle for
equality.
Each state organization will develop
events to highlight priority issues:
* In California, activists will focus on
defeating an anti-Gay ballot measure to
be put before voters next year. Events will
include a rally and youth lobby day.
* In New Hampshire, activists will hold
a rally at the state capitol to focus attention
on the need to repeal a state law
banning Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and
Transgender people from adopting children.
* In Nebraska, organizers will target
workplace discrimination. They will hold
a lobby day and circulate a "Workplace
Fairness Petition" to business owners
Early on, Tulsa Family News was’told not
to expect fair treatment from this operation
due to the religious prejudices of the
owner, Larry Payton. And true to that
warning, Payton never has taken Tulsa’s
Gay community seriously as part of his
market.
They do send out press releases sometimes
but at least on one occasion only
after the deadlines for every monthly pul~-
lication had passed. There’s not much
point in writing about this sort of event
two weeks after it’s over.
It would be one thing if their decisions
were made on serious business rationale
such as reach of a publication or the cost
for a particular market segment. But
Payton openly admits that he is motivated
by religion; that is, as a Southern Baptist
he feels it’s his religious duty to discriminate
against Gay readers. Now what was
it that Jesus said? Love your neighbor as
yourself, wasn’t it? Is that how he would
want to be treated?
Note, however, that he doesn’t hesitate
to use Gays when it is to his advantage,
say, like many of the people with whom
he does business: the actors, the theatrical
companies, even a member of his own
staff.
The one time he advertised with this
newspaper for The Phantom ofthe Opera
was because we contacted The Phantom
company who -~magine, were mostly
Gay men. It seems they thought reaching
out to us was a good idea.
Oh well, don’t look to see info. about
these companies anytime soonif wejudge
from past performance. But we always
hold out hope for redemption, that these
hard hearts might be softened.
Meanwhile don’t miss the new shows
at Philbrook. Drop by Gilcrease too when
throughout the state.
"The battleground for equality has
moved to the states, and so have we," said
Paula Ettelbrick, Equality Begins atHome
national coordinator. "We are throwing
down the gauntlet and demanding that
state officials resist the right wing’s efforts
to deny us our basic fights as citizens,"
Ettelbrick added. Equality Begins
at Home is part of a campaign to counter
the growing muscle of the right wing and
its anti-Gay attacks. In the last few years,
the right has passed dozens of anti-Gay
laws in dozens of states.
In addition, 1998 was one of the most
vicious years in recent memory. Senate
Majority Leader Trent Lott likened homosexuality
to kleptomania and sex addiction.
Congress introduced a number of
mean-spirited anti-Gay measures. Rightwing
groups launched a major advertising
campaign attacking Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,
and Transgender people. In addition,
voters approved anti-Gay ballot
measures in Alaska; Hawaii; Fayetteville,
Arkansas; Fort Collins, Colorado; and
Ognnquit, Maine
"Our demands are simple and in line
with basic American values: the right to
be safe, to have a family, to hold ajob, and
to participate fully as citizens. It’ s exactly
what every American wants anddeserves,"
said Gina Reiss, co-chair of the Federation
of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and
Transgender Statewide Political Orgamzations
and executive director of New
Jersey Lesbian and Gay Coalition.
For a calendar of events for Equality
Beg ins atHome, please view our web site
at http://www.equalitybeginsathome.org
Note also that February will be quite the
month for dance with the Tulsa Ballet
seemingly getter better with ev cry performance
(2/5-7 The Green Table. Equinoxe
and Jardi Tancat) and Les Ballets
Trockadero de Monte Carlo in for just
one, mind you, just one fabulous "men in
tights" performanceon March 16th. Don’t
miss it! - TFN entertainment editor
Bill Laforttme. In Republican circles, it’s
said that Gov. Frank Keating has suggested
that he would not oppose the
amendment.
Also the following bills were introduced
in the Oklahoma House:
HB1224- An Act relating to children;
amending 10 O.S. Supp. 1998, Section
7503-1.1, which relates to eligibility to
adopt a child; making persons in certain
cohabitation relationship ineligible to
adopt a child. Author - Pope, Tim.
HB 1707 - An Act relating to children:
amending 10 O.S. Supp. 1998, Section
7503-1.1, which relates to eligibility to
adopt; prohibiting certain persons from
adopting children. Author - Graves, Bill
HB 1314 - An Act relating to the Oklahoma
Department of Libraries; mandating
certain policies related to identification
and separation of sexually explicit
materials. Author - Graves, Bill
HB 1703 - An Act relating to state government;
prohibiting certain discrimanation;.
Authors - Graves, Bill
HB 1703 - An Act relating to state government;
prohibiting certain discrimination;
to any individual ol group on the
basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or
national operation in public employment,
education, or contracting.
Author - Graves, Bill
Plans for 1999 include a creative arts
night in .February both for the artistically
inclined and the not so artistically indined,
a bingo night in March, dance
lessons in February, a Sadie Hawkins
dance in May, a camping and float trip in
June, a spirituality and healing arts night
in July, a Casino night in August, a,.weekend
in Eureka Springs in October, movie
night in November, and a hiatus in December
(since so much else is going on
anyway) and then in January 2000, a progressive
potluck dinner. Additionally the
group has planned a Memorial Day alternative
picnic and softball game for May.
"We tried to create a wide diversity of
ideas and activities knowingthat not every
one enjoys the same kind of things,"
said Joan. "It was also suggested to have
mid-month bike rides, walking groups,
bowling nights and other sports related
activities ."
Joan added, "we hope to attract singles,
couples and break down some of the barriers
womenhave for attending. All of our
activities have a small fee to help offset
printing and postage and site rental costs.
We are also planning fund raisers for
different organizations."
To learn more about Gal-A-Vanting or
to get the mailing list, call Mary at 743-
6740, Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-
6825.
but specifically shielded only heterosexual,
and nothomosexual, activity. The
decision prompted protests by Gay civil
rights activists, who said the ruling denied
them eq]aal rights. The Court of Appeals
also was silent on anal sex, which
remained illegal for everyone in the state.
The ACLU asked Rombro to declare
the law unconstitutional, but the judge
instead ruled the Court of Appeals’ decision
on oral sex should extend to homosexual
activity as well. In the final ruling,
Rombro agreed that private, consensual
anal sex also cannot be prosecuted under
the law.
AlthoughACLU leaders had originally
planned to lobby the Maryland General
Assembly to rescind or amend the old
law, Sullivan said the organization is now
satisfied with the judge’s ruling. Andrew
H. Baida, an assistant attorney general,
said state officials want to keep the old
law to help prosecute cases of sexual
.assault,prostitution or sex inpublicplaces.
Center spokesman, Greg, adds that the
Center also is hosting regular Pride Dances
every other Saturday at 8pro. The Center
¯¯ now has a pool table to supplement the ping-pong and foosball tables it had be-
" fore.
Also, Centerlegal counsel, Kerry Lewis,
¯
shared that the board of directors of Tulsa
: Oklahomans for Human Rights, the par-
¯ ent organization of the Pride Center, had
: responded to the eviction notice of the
: Center’s landlord.
¯ - Without delving into the legal partieu- ¯
larities, the board responded to the notice
: saying that the Centerwas withinits rights
¯ under thelaw to post its signs and that the
¯ landlordhadWrongfully terminated their ¯
lease. The gist of the matter, according to
¯ Lewis is that all rights go to the tenant
: unless specifically restricted by the landlord.
¯ Lewis stated too that the landlord and
¯
his attorney had failed to show up at a
: meeting that was scheduled to try to re-
. solve the conflict.
: Lewis added that the landlord had been
: asked to respond in a timely fashion, or
: else, the board would seek legal redress
¯ for the damages already suffered by the
: Center.
¯ Editor’s note: TFN will provide our
¯ readers an update to this conflict in our
¯ March issue.
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Seeking similar dominant top. (Tulsa)
’B’18341
HOT PASSIONATE SEX Sexy Gay Man,
5’10", blonde/blue, seeks really hot Men to
turn me on and to have some hot, passionate
sex. (Tulsa) ’~16479
WILD SEX Sexual, easygoing Single Man,
into long walks on the beach and hanging
out Seeking other sexual Men to have tun
with and more. (Tulsa) 1~’16285
LOTS OF FUN, WHY NOT SHARE IT? 21-
year-old GM seeks other Guys to get
together with and date. (Tulsa) ’~’15447
ARE YOU OUT THERE? Single Gay Male,
6’, 200 10S, brown/brown Seeks another
Man, 30-50, who’s into outdoor sports,
cooking and just having fun. (McAlester)
’~15297
ARE YOU THE OUTDOOR TYPE? Single
Gay Male seeks other Men. 45-55, who
likes the outdoors, hunting, fishing and having
good times. (McAlester) "~15208
BLUE COLLAR BUSINESS This Gay,
White male, 45, 5’10. 2201bs, with light,
Brown hair and Green syes, seeks a blue
collar type who’s down to eadh, ca~ing, and
enjoys sports and the outdoors. I want to
have a one on one relationship. I don’t ddnk
or oo dregs, but I do smoke cigarettes.
(Henrietta) ’~9661
BEDWARMER WANTED This hot stud ir~
Tulsa, needs a warm body to heat me up
on cold nights. (Tulsa) ~’13077
TRUE LOVE This Gay White Male is 31-
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heve a safe discreet time with. If your intereste~
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please. (Tulsa) ’~16325
CAN YOU HANDLE IT? Hey Guys, this 25
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I am very feminine. If your man enough to
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(Tulsa) ~f17623
I WANT A NICE FIRM ASS This Gay
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
[1999] Tulsa Family News, February 1999; Volume 6, Issue 2
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Creator
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Tulsa Family News
Source
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Tom Neal
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
February 1999
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
James Christjohn
JEan-Claude de Flambeauchaud
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum
MAry Scepers
Adam West
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
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A related resource
Tulsa Family News, January 1999; Volume 6, Issue 1
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English
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newspaper
periodical
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Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/584
1999
adoption
AIDS/HIV
AIDS/HIV laws
AIDS/HIV research
anti-bias law
arts and entertainment
attorneys
Barry Hensley
Bars
businesses
children
churches
civil rights
Comic Strips
Dave Fleischer
Do-It-Yourself Dyke
Don't Ask Don't Tell
Dyke Psyche
Entertainment Notes
Equality Begins at Home
Esther Rothblum
Gal-A-Vanting
Gay-Straight Alliance
hate crime bill
holocaust
homophobia
Human Rights Campaign
James Christjohn
James Hormel
KMOD
Mary Schepers
military
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
National Week of Action for Equality
Native Americans
Oklahoma Mr. Leather
One Recruit Short of a Toaster
Partner Benefits
performing arts
Pride Center
Read All About It
restaurants
Ric Poston
sodomy laws
Tom Neal
Tulsa Family News
Tulsa Gay Community Services Center
Tulsa Two-Spirited Indian Men's Support Group
-
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/d2713edc69862f69be636ace0e33dddb.jpg
63b57f1905aa819556968f01514ae7f2
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c41e3bf8a95aecbb50e5d07f86f27f80
Dublin Core
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[Sub-Series] Newsletters & Publications > Tom Neal Newsletters > Tulsa Family News
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periodical
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Shepard Murder Update
Murder Accessory Pleads Guilty
LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) - A woman whose boyfriend
was accused in the murder of Gay University of Wyoming
student Matthew Shepard has become the first
person to be convicted in the case. Chasity Vera Pasley,
20, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to
first-degree murder.
"The impetus behind this plea was Ms. Pasley’s
alone," said her lawyer, Maribeth Galvan, who also told
the court her client could testify about what she knew
about the attack.
Shepard, 21, suffered 18 blows to the head after he
was lured out of a downtown Laramie bar Oct. 7, tied to
afence androbbed. Earlier testimony indicated Shepard
was singled out party because he was Gay.
Ms. Pasley’s boyfriend, Russell Arthur Henderson,
21, and another man, Aaron James.iMcKinney, 21, are
accused of first-degree murder, kidnapping and aggravated
robbery. Both pleaded innocent and will be tried
separately next year.
McKiuney’s girlfriend, Kristen LeAnn Price, 19, was
¯ Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends
Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community PaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Location-~
i Tulsa Plans 1st Ever Pride
Parade, 18th Pride Picnic ¯ TULSA - For a number of years, Oklahoma’s only Gay Pride
¯" Paradehas beenin Oklahoma City. But this year that will change.
Organizers ofTulsa’s anmml Pride events have scheduled Tulsa’s
first Gay Pride parade for
¯ June 12.
¯ The parade is tenta¯
tively scheduled to begin
at the Pride Center, the
¯ Gay commuuity center at @KJ MA ¯ 38th & Peoria and will
¯ move up Peoria through
¯
Brookside to 31st St. Then
theparade will follow 31st
to Riverside Drive and
continue to Veterans Park
for the 18th annual Pride PRIDE ’99 picnic.
Because of the higher
cost involved in organizing
a parade (fees for police
assisfance, street closings,
etc.) organizers are IT’S TIME FOR TULSA!
seeking major corporate MJOAINKEYAODUIRFFECROEMNCMEUNAINTDY
sponsorship beyond that IN SUPPOP£flNG THIS EVENI~.
which they’ve received CALL 743.4297 FOR. INFO!
(former corporate supporters
have included
American Airlines,
Coors, Budweiser and
Miller as well as Pepsi- Pride Activities Graphics
Cola). Sponsors are sought atthe $2000, S 1000 and $500 level as
well as at a $250 non-profit level. Major sponsors will receive
high visibility in all event materials (program, t-shirts, and other
promotional materials).
Withmore corporate support, organizers hope to provide a tent otherwise, have been quite successful in bringing
also charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree for better shelter from the heat ¢and
murder. !~Is. Pricepleaded innocent and will go on ~rial .. e ’ " " ...... ~:~:- ’ " ’~ - potentially, any rain).Also ¯ theCentertothe~attent~onofmor,epeople,localan&
Ma,, 24¯ Afithorities said "~’e w"<’~ ~’o~2~ a;~rZ’ ~x ~.~ "-’ xpa~ea-:..ente~tamment,~s-p~annea with lon~fim~ TUfsa dive, ~" ou~50f-towners. Oat~V~0~ ~dso S~id ~hat financial : fundraiser and community activist. Miss Kris Kohl helping to support for the Center is up though many more bloody clothing worn by Henderson. ¯ orgamze those efforts. For more information, call Ric Martin. members need to join in order to reach their goal of
Tulsa!
At the hearing, posecutor Cal Rerncha told District
Judge Jeffrey A. Donnell that if Pasley’s case had gone
to trial, the state would have produced evidence to
indicateHenderson and McKinneyhad attacked Shepard
with "premeditated malice," and "inflicted pain and
torture On this individual." "Pleadings for his life fell on
deaf ears," Rerucha said. see Shepard, p. 10
Oregon Bans Workplace Bias
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A December Oregon Court of
Appeals ruling has effectively outlawedjob discrimination
based on sexual orientation across the state, state
officials said.
The ruling involved a lawsuit by three lesbian employees
at Oregon Health Sciences University who
claimed their domestic partners were entitled to benefits.
Though the school began offering such benefits
last June, the court nailed down the university’s obligations.
State government also began offering gay partner
benefits to its 45,000 employees in June.
The "denial of insurance benefits to the unmarried
partners of its homosexual employees" violated the
equal protection provisions of the Oregon Constitution,
said a unanimous three-judge panel.
The state attorney general’s office said the ruling puts
sexual orientation on the same level as gendeT discriminat~
ion. ’q’his tells Oregonians that discrimination based
on sexual orientation in employment, public and private,
is illegal," said Deputy Attorney General David
Schuman.
Basic Rights Oregon, see Oregon, p. 10
DIRECTORY/LETrERS P. 2
EDITORIAL P. 3
US & WORLD NEWS P. 4
HEALTH NEWS P. 6
COMMUNITY CALENDAR P. 9
BOOK REVIEW P. 10
DO-IT-YOURSELF-DYKE P. 11
DYKE PSYCHE ~ P. 12
GAY STUDIES: ANTHROPOLOGY P. 13
CLASSIFIEDS + WEERWOLF P. 14
¯ parade chair, or 2vfitchell Savage, picnic chair, at 743-4297.
¯ Law Group .To Offer Gay
Issues Sem,nar ,n OKC
¯ OKLAHOMA CITY-OLGLA, the Oklahoma Lesbian and Gay
Law Associauon will present a Continuing Legal Educatioh
seminar this next March (date and location to be announced),
"WhereAreWe &Vvqaere DoWeGo From Here- How to Handle
; Lesbian and Gay Law Issues", in Oklahoma City. Featured
speakers will be longtime Lesbian political and legal activist,
Paula Ettelbrick. Ettelbrick was formerly the Legal Director for
Lambda Legal Defense and Education" Fund, a national civil
¯ fights litigation organizauon. She now selwes as Legislative
Comisel for the Empire State Pride Agenda, a statewide Lesbian
." andGaypolitical organization in the State ofNew York. Ettelbrick
also teaches "Sexuality and the La~ at the Umversxty of Michigan
Law School and New York University Law School. She will
speak on "Legislatively Lawyering?"
: Also speaking will be Suzanne Goldberg, a staff attorney for
¯ Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund who has been
involved in numerous cases involving the legal rights of Lesbian
and Gay citizens. Currently she is representing several Arkansas
¯ citizens in a challenge to the Arkansas "’sodomy" law. She is also
¯" counsel in the case of Equality Foundation of Greater Cincinnati
¯ v. City ofCincinnati, to contest an anti-gayballotmeasure similar to Colorado,s Amendment 2, which was struck down by the U.S.
Supreme Court in Romer v. Evans. Ms. Goldberg’s CLE topic is
¯ "’Update on Legal Issues Affecting Lesbians and Gays".
¯ Other topics will include, "’EmploymentDiscriminationAgainst
Lesbians and Gays," "Jury Nullification of Legal Protections for
¯ Lesbians and Gays," and "Best Interest of the Child: Custody
¯ Issues for Lesbian and Gay Parents.’"
Jimmy Goodman of Crowe & Dunlevv’s Oklahoma City
¯
office and Kerry Lewis from Rhodes, Hieron’ymus, Jones, Tucker
& Gable in Tulsa will moderate the sessions¯
The OLGLA is a statewide organization for attorneys who are
¯ supportive ofthelegal issues facing Lesbians and Gays.-Formore
¯ inlbmaation, call Kerry Lewis at 918-582-1173.
PrideCenter Served
With Eviction Notice
TULSA - The Pride Center, Tulsa’s Gay & Lesbian
Community Center, has been served with an
eviction notice by its landlord. TheCenter, which
is a program of Tulsa Oklahomans for Human
Rights, Inc. (TOHR) a tax-exempt, educational
not-for-profit corporation, was charged by the new
building owners with violating its lease by hanging
new vinyl signs on the south and west faces of the
upper floor, stated Center spokesperson, Greg
Gatewood. The signs read,"Gay Commumty Center
and Pride Store, Benefiting The Gay Communit)-".
Gatewood, who is a member of the TOHR board
of directors, indicated that the lease did require
getting .prior permission for any building signs
from the building owner, and that the owner alleges
that permission was not requested. Gatewood also
noted that the owner objected to the vinyl banner or
"temporary" quality of the signs. He says the owner
claims he has no objection to the content of the
signs, i.e. their "Gayness."
Gatewood did say that the organization has had
a similar vinyl sign up without objection from the
prior landlord until it was stolen and that other
tenants have had a variety of similar signs up.
However, on advice of their legal counsel, board
members have removed the signs until they can
hold a board meeting and determine a suitable
response to the building owner.
Some real estate observers have speculated that
the move on the part of the new landlord may be
motivated by the desire to move out a lower paying
tenan! and lease the space at a higher rate.
Gatewood said that the TOHR board will meet
within the next two weeks. He added that the signs,
1,000 supporters by the end of the year.
Red Rock Efforts for
Gay Youth Expand
TULSA - She has a familiar face but it’s in a new
location. Lisa Pottorf, seen by many in Tulsa’s
Lesbian and Gay co~mnunities as a guardian angel
for Gay and Lesbian youngsters, is now with Red
Rock Behavioral Health Services’ Tulsa office.
Her position was formerly held by Betsy Murphy
who came from Red Rock’s Oklahoma City programs
to open their Tulsa office.
The Tulsa office began a program for young
adults that became known as O’RYAN, Oklahoma
Rainbow Young Adult Network, an outreach organization
for Lesbian, Gay, Bi and questioning 18-
24 year olds.
The organization later created a program called
O’RYAN Jr. to provide support for youths from
14-18 years old. As part of the O’RYAN efforts, the
group IS now holding a drop-in time at the Pride
Center every Tuesday from 2:30 - 5pm.
Pottoff acts much like a surrogate morn to most
of those who attend the group, though she, as she
¯ ° puts it, is ably assisted by Ken Draper, who began
¯ working with the program as a volunteer.
¯ Red Rock also does free, confidential HIV test-
. ing at the Pride Center on Tuesdays from 5-8 pm
¯ and at their offices at 1724 Fast Sth on Wednesdays
¯ from 5-8pm. Their office which is adjacent to the
¯ Center for the Physically Limited also provided
¯ mental health support for that organization.
Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants
*Bamboo Lounge, 7204 E. Pine
*Boston Willy’s Diner, 1742 S. Boston
*Concessions, 3340 S. Peoria
*Empire Bar, 1516 S. Peoria
*Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E 15th
*Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria
*Interurban Restaurant, 717 S. Houston
*Jason’s Ddi, 15th & Peoria
*Lola’s, 2630 E. 15th
*Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square
*St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st
*Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan
*Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main
¯ *TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial
*Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd~ "
832-1269
592-2143
744-0896
599-9512
583-6666
749-4511
585-3134
599-7777
749-1563
744-4280
745-9998
834-4234
585-3405
.6.60.-0856
584-1308
Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals
Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 747-1508
*Affinity News, 8120 E. 21 610-8510
Dennis C. Arnold, Realtor 746-4620
*Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743.-1000
Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506
*Barnes & Noble Booksdlers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034
Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122
*Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955
*Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665
Brookside Jewdry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272
*CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313-
Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117
Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700
Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468
*Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620
*Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady 587-2611
Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556
*Elite BoOks & Videos, 821 S. Sheri,dan 838-8503
*Ross Edward Salon, 2447 E. 15th ’" 584-0337, 712-9379
*Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 744~9595
Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980UticaSq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709
*Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 742-1460
Learme M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349
Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440
*Sandra ~. Hill, MS~ Psychotherapy, 2865,E. Skelly 745-1111
*International .Tours 341-6866
Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. [5th 712-2750
*Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582~3018
David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236.
*Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070
Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466
*Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brady 585-1234
*Midtown Theater, 319 E 3rd 584-3112
Miugo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934
*Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951
Novel Idea Bookstore, 51st & Harvard 747-6711
David A. Paddock, CPA, 4308 S. Peoria, Ste. 633 747-7672
*Peace of Mind Bookstore, 1401 E. 15 583-1090
The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297
Rainb0wz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 747-5932
Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617
Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921,747-4746
Christopher Spradling, attorney, 616 S. Main, #308 582-7748
*Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301
Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829
*Tickled Pink, 3340 S. Peoria 697-0017
*Tulsa Book Exchange, 3749 S. Peoria 742-2007
*Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558
Fred Welch, LCSW, Counsding 743-1733
*Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767
Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & U niversities
AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593
*All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Pe0iia 743-2363
Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314
Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815
*B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa Canterbury Cir. 583-9780.
*Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201
*Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence
*Church ofthe Restoration UU, 1314 N.Greenwood 587-1314
*Community ofHope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300
*Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595
*Council Oak Men’s Chorale 585-COMC (2662)
*Ddaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511
*Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457
Dignity/integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics &
" Episcopalians, POB 701475,74170-1475 355-3140
*Family of Faith MCC, 5451-E So. Mingo 622-1441
*Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777
*Free SpiritWomen’s Center, call for location&info: 587-4669
918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615, POB 4140, Tulsa. OK 74159
e-mall: TulsaNews@ earthlink.net
website; http://users.aol.com/TulsaNews/
Publisher + Editor:
Tom Neal
Writers + e0ntributors:
James Christjohn, Jean-Claude de Flambeauchaud
Barry. Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers, Adam West
Member of The Associated Press
Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of this
~4uc,~blication are protected by US copyright 1998
by.TJ
arid may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without
written pemaission from the publisher. Publication of a name or
photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. Correspondence
is assumed to be for publication unless otherwise noted,_rpust
be signed & becomes the sole property of TJ.~
Each .reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution
points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248.
Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827
Friends in Unit3’ Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438
*HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611
*HIV Resource Consortium, 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194
¯
*Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111
¯ HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378
¯¯ HIV Testing, Mon/Thurs. 7-9pm, daytime by appt. only
*House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood
¯ Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437
¯ *MCC of Greater Tulsa, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715
¯ NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111 ¯
NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658
¯ OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157
." *Our House, 1114 S. Quaker 584-7960
¯ PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 ¯
*Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674
¯ *The Pride Center, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor, 74105 743-4297
Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152
¯ *R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195
Rainbow Business Guild, POB 4106, 74159 " 665-5174
¯ *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724E. 8" ".~ .... 584-2325
¯ O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults
¯ O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14z17 LGBT youth
St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882
¯ *St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140
¯ *St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088
*Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171
¯ TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225
." Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105
¯ Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only ¯
Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297
¯ T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 838-1222
: *Tulsa City Hall, GroundFloor Vestibule
¯ *Tulsa Community College Campuses ¯
*Rogers University (formerly UCT)
¯ BARTLESVILLE
: *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353
": OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN
¯ *Borders Books &Music, 3209NWExpressway 405848-2667
¯
*Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907
¯ TAHLEQUAH
¯ *Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900
¯ *Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900
¯ *Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360
: NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand
: HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates
¯
EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
¯ *Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253-7734
*Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main 501-253-7457
DeVito’s Restaurimt, 5 Center St. 501-253-6807
¯
*Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. 501-253-5445
¯ MCC of the Living Spring 501-253-9337
¯ Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 501-253-2776
¯ Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-253-5332
¯
Positive Idea Marketing Plans 501-624-6646
¯ Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 501-253-6001
: *White Light, 1 Center St. 501-253-4074
¯ FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS5
¯ *Edna’s, 9 S. School Ave. 501-442-2845
¯ JOPLIN, MISSOURI
¯ *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696
¯ * is where you can find TFN. Notall are Gay-owned butall are Gay-friendly.
Remember Matthew Shepard
by Donating Books to the
University of Wyoming
A Different Light bookstore is offering
a unique way to honor Matthew Shepard.
Customers can purchase any new hardcover
book and donate it "In Memory of
Matthew."
The collection of books will then be
sent to the Universtiy ofWyoming, where
Shepard was a student. Each donated
book will have a bookplate stating, ’q’his
.book was donated inmemory ofMatthew
Shepard: 1976-1998."
A list of suggested titles is available at
the store, including books specifically requested
by the University of Wyoming
library. A Different Light is at 8853 Santa
Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood.
For more details, call 310.854.6601.
- via e-mail
Editor’s note: A Different Light is one of
the US’s oldest Gay & Lesbian independent
bookstores with locations in Los
Angeles and New York City.
Scouting for All
Dear Scouting For All Supporters,
So far over this last year Scouting For
All has collected dose to 28,000 signatures.
My goal is one million. I am asking
youall to standwithmeinmyeffort to end
discrimination by the Boy Scouts of
: America against Gay kids and adults.
¯ My dad and I, with the help of friends,
: collecteddoseto3,000 signatures inNew
¯" York and over 5,000 signatures in San
¯ Francisco in just 3 days. Alex, a tender-
: foot scout in the midwest who is support-
~ ing me, collectb,d 400 signatures himsdf.
: Alex is 12 years old!
¯ Every signature helps and represents’a
¯ voice of protest. If we really want to see
: this policy of discrimination change I am
] asking all of you to step up our efforts of
: getting signatures. I am asking each of
¯ you to collect at least 100 signatures.
~ By collecting signatures you also edu-
: cate thepublic thatagreat youthorganiza-
¯ tion in America, the Boy Scouts of
: America, has one thing wrong about it.
-" It teaches us scouts to discriminate
against people who they say are different
- who they say don’t have family values.
How can the Boy Scouts of America say
that?They mustnotknow any Gay people
like I do. If they did they’d change their
policy against Gays tomorrow.
I am asking your help to make the Boy
Scouts a better program that’s for all kids.
To getblank copies ofthepetition, go to
out website at:
http://www.scouting~forall.org/
petition.htm
and print out as many copies as you need.
There’s an address at the bottom where
you can mail completed petitions back to
US.
I’m proud to be a scout. I’m just doing
whattheBoy Scouts ofAmericahas taught
me to do, to help make the earth a better
place for all people-notjustsomepeople.
Thanks. - Steven Cozza
13 year-old Life Rank Scout
Letters Policy
Tulsa Family News wdcomes letters on
issues which we’ve covered or on issues
~ you think need to be considered. Youmay
¯ request that your name be withhdd but
¯ letters mustbe signed&have phonenum-
"- bers, or be hand delivered. 200 word letters
are preferred. Letters to other publi-
¯ cations will be printed as is appropriate.
by Tom Neal, publisher & editor
To those who’ve been watching Brookside’ s increasingly
upscale redevelopment, it should come as little surprise that
The Pride Center would be threatened with eviction. Since
it opened, one local developerandhis partners havemade the
old John Zink industrial site (about a mile south of the
Center) into moderately expensive homesites, office and
retail spaces. Across the street from the Center, an old
warehouse was renovated into a trendy bakery and fancy
medical offices. The success of Brookside’s north end
dearly is spurring developers to move south along Peoria.
Therefore, when the building in which the Pride Center is
located was sold recently to owners associated with the
Brook Restaurant, it struck some as ’~andwriting on the
wall". The current tenants, most of whom are on limited
budgets, were likely to get priced out as the new owner
sought to renovate the spaces and lease them for more
money. Few thought that this wguldhappenrightaway since
the Center has a three year lease that began in late 1997.
However, as the articleon page one indicates, the landlord
claims that the Center organizers hung signs (Gay Community
Center and Pride Store) in violation of their lease and
thereforeheis seeking to break the lease. Center spokesman,
Greg Gatewood says that the owner claims he is not troubled
by the content of the signs (i.e. Gay) but rather the quality of
the signs (vinyl versus some othe~material) and lack of prior
permission. Center organizers note that these signs were not
new but merely were replacements for earlier authorized
signs whichhad been Stolen. Center organizers also note that
other tenant businesses have similar vinyl signs.
Obviously, as a non-profit organization, the Pride Center,
and its parent organization, Tulsa Okl~i~omans for Human
Rights, Inc. has limited funds for rent. The notion of a
community center has been a challenge for Tulsa’s Gay and
Lesbian community which often seems very, very fragmented.
Support for the Center has, frankly, not been what
it should be. Fortunately, that has been changing. Slowly,
people have been realizing that .the Center is thtre. In fa~t;
the Signs~:liavebeen successful,in attracting new locals and
out-of-towners to the Center.
No doubt, Center organizers and their capable legal comasel
will do their best to resolve this matter in a manner that
is fair to all parties. Andhopefully, anti=Gay bias is not really
part of the issue. But the lesson we need to draw from this is
that weneed to startnow onabuilding fundendowment with
which we can own our space. Then any decisions to move
will be ours.
Some will say that is unrealistic- that we don’t have the
resources. They said much the same about the Pride Center
once. Frankly, there are individuals in our community who
could substantially underwrite such an endowment. I won’t
name names, though many of you know them wall enough.
In the larger community, there are also resources such as
the newly formed. Tulsa Community Foundation spearheaded
by banker George Kaiser. This new organization is
drawing on the resources and generosity of some of Tulsa’s
mostprominentfamilies andbusinesses, Schusterman, Bank
of Oklahoma, Williams, Zarrow, Bartmann, Bama Cos.,
Helmerich & Payne, etc. just to mention specifically the
families and businesses that have ties to Gay Tulsans.
Kaiser has said that he supports treating Lesbian and Gay
Tulsans fairly and implied that this foundation would likely
do.the same. Let us contrast this with Tulsa Area United
Way’s funding of organizations, like the homophobic Boy
Scouts ofAmerica, whichpromotes religiously-basedpreju-
At a national level, there are foundations that will specifically
assist Lesbian and Gay groups or projects, such as the
Kellogg Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the Gill
Foundation. The latter should be high priority for Tulsans
since it specifically targets "rural" projects and Foundation
guidelines classify anything under 1.5 million as rural ! And
it can’t hurt that several prominent Tulsans now claim close
ties to Tim Gill, creator ofQuark software and founder of the
Gill Foundation.
However, to get from here to there, we are going to have
to start seeing a future. Too often we’ve just reacted to one
assault or another, whether it was a directly physical one, the
ongoing emotional battering that just being Gay in America
entails, or the bullying and/or cowardice of our elected
officials. Now is the time to build for our future.
If you want to help the Community Center, call 743-
GAYS (4297).
It’sasadcommentary on our fine state that the annual :
gathering of "our elected representatives" should be ¯
fraught with dread by Oklahoma’s Lesbian and Gay ."
citizens, our families and our friends.
We know we can count on at least one or
two virulently anti-Gay bills. These usually
are patently unconsfitutonal but they’ll get
the votes of all but one or two ofmembers of
the Oklahoma House because those members
are too cowardly to vote for anything
that resembles treating Gay Oklahomans
like equal human being. Fortunately, usually
the Oklahoma Senate behaves more
wisely.
And Cimarron Alliance, despite having
entirely too many pretentious queens formy
taste (note that I’m not referring toits Tulsa
representatives), is beginning to do some
good at least with Democratic Party leaders.
Some of this is just the result of money - no
matter what the politicians say, political
donations do buy the ears of most politicians.
Don’t believe me? Look at the source
ofpolitical dollars, then look at who benefits
from majority of those votes.
progress.
Now here’s what you can do to make a difference:
Cimarron reports that Oklahoma House leadership has
Cimarron . . . is
beginning to do
some good at lca~t
w~tk Democratlc
Party leader~.
Some of tlds is
just the result ot~
money - no
matter what tke
dPoonlalttm.icnlasndsosabyu,y
the cars o~ most
pollt-ldans. Don’t
believe me~ Look
at tke source o~
political dollars,
then look at who
benefits., .
made several committee chair assignments
to fair minded individuals. In particular, one
committee which is often the gate through
which anti-Gay legislation passes, has been
assigned to Tulsan Betty Boyd. Mrs. Boyd,
known to many in Tulsa for her work as a
television journalist, needs to hear from us.
A few years ago, interviewing her after she
(and every other member of the House save
one) voted for an anti-Gay bill, she said that
the.call fromTFN was literally the first she’d
received about Lesbianand Gay issues. This,
despite the fact that I personally know a"
number ofher Lesbian and Gay constituents~
Bottom line: you won’t be represented unless
you call!!!
The other thing you can do is to send
Cimarron some money. Many of us have
little to spare and many of us wonder if
becoming a member of the Cimarron PAC
(political action committee) at.$20 a month
is "do-able." However, the Cimarron Foun-
But just as much a part of what’s helping dation, the tax-exempt group associated with
at the Capitolis the ongoing work of a Cimarron officer, the PAC sets no minimum on donations. It is the entity
Keith Smith who lobbies for several progressive orga- ¯ that sponsored the bus stop advertisements, "Gay or
nizations. Smith and I have disagreed on issues before, ~ Straight, Everyone Deserves a Job" both here and in
and may again, but it is his steady presence, quietly : Oklahoma City. Every bit helps. So when you’re thinkvoicing
the concerns of Lesbian and Gay Oklahomans ¯ ing about buying that new sweater, CD, or going out to
as he does his other work, that has won us some. ¯ eat again, consider w.hat price our freedom is worth.
by James Christjohn . " much later. I suddenly wasn’t able tO breathe, and the
ThisChrislmas Eve, somethinghappenedthatehanged~ ". cal~ .tiaras.t. had .gotten~me .tO ~that pointvevaporate& 1
my life~ Iwascelebrating the holiday with friends, and ." started hyperventilating. About this time, my phone
suddenly felt compelled to return to my rang - it was Tom, readytocomegetme, and
apartment. I didn’t have to; I could have I called 911. askingaslewofquestious.Inbetweengasps
stayed the night, but it was important to Looking back, of air, I told him "I’m fine, you don’t need
return to that place. I got home, noticed a I can laugh -"I’m (gasp) to come (gasp) get me. (gasp) I’ll be
strange smellin theentry hall. Acrid, almost in a smoRe ~illed over (gasp) after (gasp) while." So he said,
oily. I entered my abode, and thought "Boy,
apartment, at doubtfully, "OK... Grab what you need and
do I need to dean my glasses!" Then I come on over."
looked over the frames, and saw that the xxyy street." The fireman came out and said the
haze was not from dirty glasses, but smoke "You’re at xxyy guydownstairshadbeenusingaspaceheater
sothick, Icouldn’tseetotheothersideofthe Street.~" "Yes, (Was I the only one using my gas heater?)
apartment. I immediately went to the gas xxyy street." "Is tied into two extension cords; The cords
heater, shut it down. Well, that didn’t help- that in Tulsa.~’" were lightweight (heating appliances need
I called 911. Looking back, I can laugh - heavyweight extension cords, and its’s best
"I’m in a smoke filled apartment, at xxyy "Yes. it is in not to use any with them). They were coiled
street.""You’reatxxyyStreet?""Yes,xxyy~ Tulsa!!!" "So up (the heater was only 4 feet from the
street." "Is that in Tulsa?" "Yes, it is. in You’re at xx~D" outlet.) and overheated, which caused them
Tulsa!!!~’ "So You’re at xxyy Street. Tulsa,\ Street. Tulsa. to ignite.
and~ou reinasmokefilledroomg."’".Ye.st.tl;""
and you’re in a I went into the apartment after the
"Well, sir, if the room is smoke filled, oyou fire folk sucked out some of the smoke (yes,
might want to vacate the premises." "I am smoke obvious place of one of my trademark reready
to do just that, as soon as I get off the room.~’’ "Yes!!!" marks isn’t it?) and looked around. What to
phone with you!" She got the hint. "~v’ell, sir, ff tke take?How does one decide? I wanted to take
I left takingmycordless phone, andknock- room is smoke it all. Allthe gifts that are symbols of the
ing on all the doors. No one came out, or ~iled, you mi~kt love and people that gave them to us; the
even opened the door. I heard the sirens of prized possessions that we .surround ourthe
fire trucks approaching. I calmly called want to vacate
my landlord, and informed his answering tke premises." "I
selves with, all symbols really, but symbols
that remind us of who we are, and the ones
machine of the events. I then called my ex, am ready to do we love. I settled on a picture morn sent me
Tom, andleftamessageonhismachine.The just tlmt, as soon for Christmas - a photo ofme taken in 1970,
fire folk arrived. (One of whom was very holding my prize possession at the time - a
attractive funny wha! you notice under as I ~et off tke - diecastmodel ofChitty Chitty Bang Bang. It
suchcircumstances.)They went throughmy pkone w~tk you.p’ was all I could think of to take at the time,
apartment, and couldn’t find a fire-just lots Ske got tke ldnt. because I knew it was irreplaceable. And a
of smoke. They looked in the attic, noting memento of a rare time in my childhood
that the smoke was throughout the building. At that : when I was happy. So off I went.
point, I thought, "What am I doing in here’?" I decided ¯ I never knew how devastating something like this
to leave the building again, and then as I was going ¯ could be. Panic attacks are no small thing - I never
down, both I and the hunky firefighter heard smoke : understood them until now. A smell reminiscent of that
alarm, finally going off in the apartment below mine. ¯ smoke can tighten my chest to the point of not being
They busted in the door, and smoke billowed out. " able to breathe. Tears come unbidden, for no reason.
My worst fear is dying by fire - due to probably : Fear of being alone leads you to surround yourself with
haviug been hiu-nt at the stake in a previous life. (Those :- people, to reassure yourself in some way that you are
of you who know me will probably agree.) I had never ¯ alive, that you didn’t end up dying after all. It’s irratiohad
a panic attack, so I didn’t know what hit me until " nal, you know it, see Viewpoint, p. 14
Utah to Look at
m~}., ~hat no one is doing ~:m’~ < o~.v pcopb~ :}~~ouid
i[ differenOy.’"
Most hare crime taws. Suazo sad.
es*ablish protected classes o~ people, saying m-~ o~-
fender faces e~ced penalties if the victim is targeted
due to ra~, et~q 06 gin, color, religious *’filia~
on or sexuN ofientanon.
But 6e SNt ~e Democrat stud prosecutors have
told ~m Ut~fs hate mine law - wNch went into
eff~t in 1992 - is too vague ~d lacks tee6 because
it does not define ~tegofies of prot~ted people.
Ut~’s law Nlows fore~dpenNfies on ~sdeme,
or offenses if ~e m~n~ intehds to imi~&te
or tegofize someone~ddeprive them of 6eir constimfion~
rights.
Su~o sNd ~at r~mres prosecutors to guess what
is m 6e offender’s ~nd. "I don’t~you shoMd
have to prove intent," he SNd. "It is ~fficMt m work
wi~ 6e wW it r~ds." S~o stud leNslafive ~dysts
have been reviewing 6e law to &leone what adjus~
ents coMd be made.
He sNd he does ~fidpate a fight on Capitol Hill.
StiR, ~nofity leaders like Willi~s sw a more defiN~
ve law is n~. She poifi)~ to sever~ lo~
ex~ples of hae tomes, including a cross bu~ng in
Sdt~eCity ~at prompt~ federN ch~ges ~d
filing of ch~ges agNnst a West Jor~ m~ for
h~l~g raci~ slurs at a black womb.
S~oa~d, saying people~nolonger ~ford to
i~ore hate tomes. "We have to fa~ reNities. There
~e hate ~oups out 6ere ~genng people for
e~cbackgro~d, cdor or lfestyle. Wen~d to face
~at fact." He sNd ~e reality is 6a U~~tomes
bring pe~e~a~ ag~nst ~oups of people. "We
~’t duck
Gay Mens’ Killer Gets
168 Year Sentence
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - A 20-year-old killer
smirked after being told through an interpreter that he
probably would spend the rest of his life in prison in
the deaths of three Gay men.
Ricardo Rodriguez was the first of four defendants
to go on trial in the 1997 slayings. He was sentenced
to the maximum term - 168 years - after he was
convicted in November on 13 counts, including firstdegree
murder and kidnapping.
With three consecutive life sentences, each 30
years without parole, and three consecutive 18-year
terms for tirst-degree kidnapping, "in ~1 likelihood
Mr. Rodriguez will die in prison," stag prosecutor
Jody Curran.
The bodies of Victor Monzon, 41, and Jesus
Contreras, 30, were foundbound, beaten and strangled
in an Albuquerque motel in February 1997. The
decomposed body of Osvaldo Travieso, 37, was
found dumped along Interstate 25 near Santa Fe two
weeks later. The four defendants were arrested m
Salinas, Kan., driving Monzon’s car.
Indian Police
Harass Gays
LUCKNOW, India (AP) - Police are preventing
Gays from going to a park in the north Indian city of,
LuCknow following protests from thepublic that they
were having sex there, an official said Thursdw.
Policemen have been posted at the GPO Park, a
popular rendezvous for the city’s Gays, said police.
spokesman R. S. Tomar. "Police will not allow male
couples into the park if they kmow they are GWs...
Pol icemen will ask them if they are Gay. If they hold
hmxds or are demonstrative about their affection:
we,ll suspect them of being Gay," he said in m~
interview
State prosecutor S
of parks violates :ivi; ri~i~vs, m~,> :.[i police ;krc
pzoles[ the Dohcc
Publicdisplay of a~ Iection cvcn b::~wecn a mm~ m~d
a wom~m is rare in h:dia, where man} believe homosexuMs
exists ouly in Westen~ nations
Hawaii Marriage Update
HONOLULU (AP) No further legislation is needed
on same-sex marriage, according to the state attorney
general" s office. Attoniey General Margery Bronster" s
office submitted a brief to the state Supre~ne Court
swing the consntutional amendinent approved bv
voters last month validates the current state ban on
same-sex mamage and that no further action is required.
After the amendment was approved, the Supreme
Court, Which is considering an appeal in the case,
asked the state and attorneys for three Gay couples to
submit briefs on how the amendment affects the case.
Civil liberties attorney Dan Foley, who represents the
couples, said he will submit a brief with a different
op~mon.
Senate Judiciary co-chairman Matt Matsunaga said
le~slators will have to determine if approval of
additional legislation.would help or hurt the attorney
general’s case or make no difference.
The Supreme Co.urt earlier ruled that the state’s ban
on same-sex mamage ~s unconstatutional unless the
state can show a compelling interest in Continuing the
ban. During a subsequent trial, Circuit Judge Kevin
Chang ruled that the state had failed to show a
compelling reason for continuing the ban.
The Supreme Court was considering the state’s
appeal of that ruling, but put the case on hold pending
outcome ofthe vote on the constitutional amendment.
Two Banned
Gay Books Restored
BARRON, V¢is. (AP) - Two of four books banned
because of vulgar language have been temporarily
returned to school library shelves while educators
search for a less explicit book on the same subject,
homosexuality. The school board reached a compromise
to restore thebooks,’q’woTeen-agers inTwenty"
and "When Someone You Know Is Gay" for 90 days
at the Barton High School library.
School mediadirector Irene Cooley was directed tofind
areplacement book dealing with homosexuality,
but without profanity and vulgarity. The books and
two others were banned because school board members
said they contained profane language. At its
meeting, the board voted to continue the ban on the
other books, "Baby Be-bop" and "The Drowning of
Stephan Jones."
The books were removed permanently because of
"’pervasively vulgar language, educational unsuitability
and failure of the book to reflect the
community’s values," said Superintendent Vita
Sherry.
About 60 people turned out for the board’s meeting,
with the crowd about evenly divided on whether
to maintain the bookban. "If we allow books with this
language, should we allow our children to speak like
this?" said one supporter of the ban, Bill Balz. Opponent
Mike Urseth said the ban infringed on intellectual
freedom. "In tiffs case, the freedom to learn,"
Urseth said. "Please put the books back on the shelf."
Board members said their action on the books was
based on complaints of profane language, not be:
cause they deal with homosexuality. The American
Civil Liberties [;mon of \Vi~c(msi~ ~onndation said
~n a statement ~t amic,,pates fili:..-t~ a ~’edera! lawsuit
OKLAHOMA CO~LIN[CAT~ONS
Want to ge~ involved?
Need to get tested for HIV?
Need a Coming Out Support Group?
Call 743-GAYS
the Pride Center
1307 E. 38th at Peoria, 2nd floor
Your Gay Communi~ Center
THE ANIMAL HOUSE
Reptiles ¯ Birds ¯ Small Mammals
Fish * Dog & Cat Supplies
Grooming ° Pond Supplies
4414 S. Peoria Ave ¯ Tulsa, OK 74105
(918) 747-0606
Mingo
Valley
Flowers
9413 E. 31st St.
Tulsa 74145
918-663-5934
fax: 663-5834
800-444-5934
Family Owned
& Operated
Church
of the
Restoration
Unitarian
Universalist
11 am, Sunday
1314 North
Greenwood
587-1314
Cathy Furlong, Ph.D.
Licensed Psyehologls*
1980 Utica Square Medical Center
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114
voice: 628-3709
fax: 712-9854
Adults, Children. Couples, and Families
MARK T. HAMBY
Attorney
Bankruptcy
&
Civil Matters
Call for More Information
1500 Nations Bank, 15 West Sixth
Tulsa, O klahoma 74119 Fax
744-7440
744-9358
JACOXANIMAl, CLINIC
Family’s Pet Physician
DR. MALCOLM JACOX
M-F7:30-7 Sat9-1
2732 East 15th Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104
tel: 712-2750, fax: 712-2760
Now Featuring Dog Grooming, Mon. - Fri.
Paul Tay
Car Salesman
My friends crashed into a deer with their new EQ.rd Explorer. Theyjust
bought itfrom me less than 3 months ago. Neither the truck nor the deer
survived. But, my friends called at 2 a.m. I loaned them my ear for 3
days. Great excuse to fide my bicycle to work. They thanked me with
a yummy sugar cookie. Kewl. Try that on the ’Net.
Compassionate Service/Largest inventory in Oklahoma.
3 days/300 miles money back guarantee.
260-7829
Announcing the new
MCC-United
formerly Family of Faith &
Greater Tulsa MCC
Join together as
one body of believers
Come celebrate with us.
Sunday Services, 11 am
. 1623 North Maplewood, 838-1715
Herman Handyman, Inc.
835-9598
Home Remodeling and Repairs
Drywall - Painting - Decks - Fences
Tile - Shelving - Arbors- Etc.
qeferences MasterCard & Visa Herman "Tony" Becker
against the board’s book removal action after school
resumes in January.
Texas Sodomy Challenge
HOUSTON (AP) - A challenge to Texas’s 119-yearold
anti-sodomy law has been sent to a Texas appeals
court, the latest step in a privacy rights case that could
wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court. A decision by
that court could effect anti-sodomy laws on the books in
18 states, including Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri.
In the Texas case, John Lawrence, 55, and Tyrone
Garner, 31, were arrested Sept. 17 in Lawrence’s apartment
and charged with engaging in homosexual conduct,
a misdemeanor. Both pleaded no contest last
month, but appealed with a motion to quash the charges.
Judge Sherman A. Ross dismissed the motions. Under
an agreement reached with prosecutors, Lawrence and
Garner again pleaded no contest. The judge fined them
$200 each and allowed the immediate filing oftheir new
appeals.
The case may end up before the Supreme Court
because Garner and Lawrence’s challenges are based
on state and federal constitutional questions involving
privacy rights. "I believe in the Constitution of the
United States and I believe in the rights of all citizens,"
Lawrence said. "Would you like someone busting into
your house?"
Harris County deputies entered Lawrence’s apartment
and found the men engaged in consensual sex. The
deputies were res.ponding to a false report that someone
was going crazy ~n the apartment and was armed with a
gun, according to court documents.
Although on the books for more than a century, the
Texas sodomy law is rarely enforced. Gay activists hav(
worked unsuccessfully for years to overturn the statute
there and in 17 other states that have sodomy statutes
barring consensual anal or oral sex. Five of those states,
includingOklahoma, Kansas and Missouri, specifically
ban sodomy between same-sex partners, according to
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Inc., a
Gay-rights group based in New York.
The Georgia Supreme Court in November struck
down that state’s sodomy law, following similar decisions
by courts in Kentucky, Montana and Tennessee,
and sodomy laws in Arkansas and Louisiana are under
currently attack in state courts.
Kansas" law was upheld as constitutional earlier this
year after a three-judge panel of the state Court of
Appeals refused to overturn a municipal court misdemeanor
convicuon involving a Topeka man.
Montana May Add Gays
to Hate Crimes Law
HELENA (AP) - Attorney General Joe Mazurek says
he will proceed with plans to ask the 1999 Legislature
to extend the state hate-crimes law to cover Gays and
Lesbians. But the proposal faces opposition from conservatives,
who say it would advance what they call "the
homosexual agenda".
Mazurek, a Democrat, is asking for two changes to
the current hate-crimes law. First, sexual orientation
would join the protected ranks of race, creed, religion,
color, national origin and involvement in civil rights.
And second, a harsher sentence would be allowed for
those who commit a crime and choose their victim for
those same reasons.
"We hope this would prevent people from commitung
what are already criminals acts against another
person, solely because that person is Gay or Lesbian,"
said Mazurek. %~rhat we’re trying to do is ensure that
people don’t become victims simply for something they
believe in or a lifestyle they lead.’"
The question of v~olence against Gays and Lesbians
was stirred up this year after the murder in Laramie,
Wyo., of Matthew Shepard, a University of Wyoming
student who was openly Gay. Several human rights
groups in Montana have said" the crime committed in
Laramie could easily have happened here and anti-hate
crime legislation is necessary to quash any notion that
such crimes are acceptable.
Similar attempts have failed in past legislative sessions.
But this group of lawmakers may be more willing
to make the change, one Republican leader said. "I want
to keep an openmind about that 1 egislation," said Senate
Majority Leader John Harp, R-K*dispel!. Harp said
nobody could condone what happened to Shepard.
Republican Gov. Marc Racicot has said he wonld
sign anti-hate crime legislation that protects homosexuals.
But the proposed changes will not come without
opposition. Arlette Randash, a Helena resident
who works as a lobbyist for the socially conservative
Eagle Forum, said her group will fight against
the measures. She said the changes are not needed
because such acts already are illegal, and she sees
the proposed change as a furtherance of a homosexual
agenda.
"I believe that hate crime legislation, in large
part, is being used as a front to move the homosexual
agenda forward so It is accepted by people
as an accepted standard in our community," she
added. Also, Randash said, "We don’t give people
special status based on behavior alone."
On the other hand, Mazurek said, it’s essential to
let people know hate-driven actions aren’t acceptable.
"We as a society are saying we are tolerant of
people’s views and lifestyles," said Mazurek.
Gay Man Assaulted
in Rhode Island
PROVIDENCE,R.I. (AP)-Twomenwere charged
with a hate crime in the assault of a man leaving a
Gay and Lesbian bar in Providence. On Nov. 26,
19-year-old David E. Sheldon of East Providence
and 18-year-old Taylor Grenier of Warren allegedly
initiated the attack by yelling anti-Gay slurs at
Diana Obidowski, The Providence Journal reported.
Police report that the two teens had gotten bored
at a party in East Providence and had driven downtown.
When they saw Obidowski, they got out of
their car, ran to him, knocked him down and kicked
him in the head and ribs, police said.
When Obidowski tried to run, the teens allegedly
knocked him down agmn, kicked him and punched
him in the. face. The incident ended when two
Providence police cruisers arrived.
¯ Obidowski, a 44-year-old Air Force veteran, was
treated at the Veterans Administration Medical
Center in Providence. He had cuts that he said
required 12 stitches. He was released the same day.
Obidowski is a tall transvestite who wears ladies"
size 13 shoes, but was not dressed as a woman on
the night of the attack, television station WJAR in
Cranston reported.
The teens accused in the beating face simple
assault charges in District Court under the state
Hate Crimes Sentencing Act. The law, passed by
the state legislature in July, requires offenders to
receive sentences of at least 30 days in jail.
Obidowski said he "’very, very impressed" with
how police handled their investigation. ’qhey made
me very comfortable," he told WJAR.
There were 44 hate crimes last year, including 25
in Providence. According to Bay Windows, a Gay
newspaper, there were at least six anti-Gay attacks
in Providence last summer.
Internet Bank to Target
Gays and Lesbians
PENSACOLA, Florida (AP) - When banks refused
to finance his planned Gay and Lesbian
resort, Steven Dunlap scrapped that idea and decided
to start a financial institution that would
welcome homosexuals instead of spurn them. The
result is G and L Bank - the initials stand for Gay
and Lesbian - expected to open here in the spring.
Not only would it be the only bank in the United
S tates catering specifically to homosexuals, itwould
be one o,f the first operating primarily via the
Internet. q’he whole deal is to take banking away
from you having to go to the bank and let us bring
the bank to you," Dunlap said. He envisions Gays
and Lesbians as an entry market but not the bank’s
sole customer base. "Just like Federal Express is
doing to overnight delivery, I expect to be the No.
1 brandnamein the Interact banking arena," Dunlap
said. Bold talk, but Dunlap, 42, has some unique
business credentials to back it up. He went from
selling watermelons see Bank, p. 11
Reporting May expenditures on patients.
"Compared to what we spend on all Discourage Tests? ~nds of other things, it’s just not that
ATLANTA(AP) - Some Gay men are muchmoney"for the governmentto spend,
avoiding testing for theAIDS virus in part " said project co-director Dr. Samuel A.
because they don’t want their names re- Bozzette, a health care researcher at
ported to the federal government, accord- RAND, the Santa Monica, California,
ing to a new study from the Centers for think tank overseeing the government-
Disease Control and Prevention. sponsored research.
The CDC said the survey, released re- The $20,000 tab is roughly one-third of
cenfly, underscores the need to continue the estimates from the early 1990s, when
government funding for anonymous HIV firm figures were hard to come by, and
testing, even as the agency asks states to before the advent of AIDS drug cocktails
start keeping names of people who get that have proven powerfnlly effective in
treated for the virus that causes AIDS. fending off the disease and keeping pa-
Earlier, theCDCpublishednew recom- tients out of the hospital. The stud)’ was
mendafions in which it asked all states to
¯ conducted in 1996, just as the combinabegin
reporting HIV cases either with the tion therapy was coming into widespread
person’ s name or anidentifying code. The use. It found 55% of people being treated
CDCsaystheinformationwillhdphealth for HIV were taking one of the newer
officials track HIV cases before they be- AIDS drugs by December 1996. Doctors
come full-blown AIDS. But some activ-
¯ >elieve use of the new drugs has since
ists believe privacy concerns will steer risen sharply.
some away from being tested at all. The study estimated that only half of all
The CDC surveyed 556 people in nine American adults infected with the AIDS
states in late 1995 and 1996 who were
" virus saw their doctor at least once every
considered at high risk forHIV but said six months. Many of those not getting
they had not been tested, They included " are were unaware they were infected.
homosexuals, intravenoUsdrug users and However, an encoura~ng 85% of those
heterosexuals recruited from clinics for with full-blown AIDS were getting regusexually
transmitted diseases. 19% said lar care, with most of them seeing AIDS
not wanting their names reported was one specialists.
reason they had not been tested. Only 2%
Early treatment can slow the disease,
said it was their main reason. Gay men
extend’lifespan and save money by reducliving
in states that already report~names ing hospitalizations. The study was pubwere
more concerned about privacy. 35% lished in The New England Journal of
of that group said name reporting was one Medicine. It was based on interviews of
reasonthey avoidedtesting..Still, the.most 3,072 people treated in hospitals or doccommon
reason for not getung te.stext ~.vas
tots’ offices in dozens of urban and rural
that people were afraid of learmng they
-areas around the country.
were .IV-positive.
Arkansas Accused
Ukraine to Provide of Poor HIV Care
Free HIV Medicines LrrrLEROCKC’ P -Ifyouhav AIDS
ment has ordered the free distribution of
treatment for the deadly disease, Arkanmedicine
to those infected with the HIV sas is a less than ideal place to be. The
virus and AIDS, a news report noted. In a state is one of only ahandful that contrib~
recently released resolution, the Cabinet utes no money to help people with the
also introduced free medical examina-
AIDS virus buy thenew drugs for treating
tions for .people suspected of carrying
the disease, either through joint federal
HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, the
¯ ~rograms or special state programs.
It is one of 13 states that contributes no
Interfaxnews agency reported. The report
didnotspecifywhichmedicineswouldbe money to the joint federal-state AIDS
distributed.
Drug Assistance Program, according to
The number of people infected with
GaryRose, directorofpublicpolicyforan
HIV in Ukraine, a nation of 50 million AIDS national network. Rose says Atpeople,
has soared to 23,000 people, up kansas has the "worst ADAP program."
from 18,500 in mid-1997, according to It is one of seven states - Arkansas,
govemment statistics. 80%oftheinfeeted Alaska, Montana, North and South Dawere
intravenous drug users,
kota, Oregon and Wyoming - that con-
~l~ae official figure is larger than in any tributes no money specifically for the
otherformer Soviet republic. Russia, with treatment ofAIDS and those with the HI¥
three times as many people, has reported virus that causes AIDS. Of those seven
10,283 eases, though the actual figure is states, all but Oregon have significantly
thought to be higher, fewer AIDS patients than Arkansas, and
In its resolution, the Cabinet also or- Oregon offers a special high-risk insurdered
the Foreign Ministry.to-make sure ance program for AIDS patients, Rose
that foreign .citizens staying in Ukraine says. Boiled down, Arkansas’ situation is
for more than three months have docugrim,
he adds.
ments certifying they are not infected The Ryan White Center in Little Rock
with HIV. Some 642 Ukrainians have helps patients buy drugs, but the center is
contractedAIDS over thelast decade, and so strapped for money it has stopped takhalf
of them have died, according to goving
new cases. ’%Vhat can we do?" says
emment data. Susan Goggans, the center’s director of
client services. "We can’t afford to pay AIDS CaroCosts ¯ foreverybody-we’vereachedastopping
¯ point."
Less Titan Tlaouglat " Theagen~y gets amonthly $30,270in
AIDS Drug Assistance Program money
Care for AIDS padents in the United " from the federal government. Usually,
States is less expensive than generally : it’s gone on the first day of each month. In
believed - about $20,000 per person per : addition, the center offers counseling,
year, according to a new studY. The study ¯ supportgroupsandnutritionandwellness
estimated a total cost of $6.7 billion ~nnu- instruction, as well as dental and transporally,
or less than 1% of all U.S. medical :
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ST. JOHN MEDICAL CENTER
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tation assistance.
Through the drug assistance program,
each of the center’s 272 clients take drugs
costingfrom $1,000-$2,000 every month.
But federal help doesn’t go far enough to
pay for the most expensive drugs, the
protease inhibitors, and the center often
relies on pharmaceutical companies’ patient
assistance programs to provide the
drugs for free.
Goggans says that because Arkansas
does not cover purchases of protease inhibitors,
the Ryan White Center is in a
"drug crisis." Patients taking the life-giving
but expensive protease inhibitors often
spend a large percentage of their time
chasing the drugs - trying to eke out
money from government agencies or get
drugs donated from pharmaceutical companies.
"It’s just not enough money,"
Goggans says. "We’re not doing what
other states are doing. We’re not giving
the best care we can."
Since April 1997, the Center’s caseload
has nearly doubled from 156 to 272 because
more AIDS-HIV patients are seeking
treatment and living longer. But the
$30,270 in federal funds the local center
receives through the Ryan White Care
Act has remained the same since early
1997.
SomeAIDS and HIV patientsotry to get
their medical treatment covered by
Medicaid’s medically needy program. But
many have incomes considered too high.
Patients must.reapply every three months
and often are left without coverage during
the weeks their applications are reviewed
Also, patients can’t reapply before the
¯ three-month coverage period is over. and
have to wait two week~ to-~a moffth -
sometimeslonger until theircoverageis
renewed.
Dr. Henry Masters, fonner medical director
for the health department’s AIDS
and sexually transmitted diseases division.
now treats more than 250 AIDS and
HIV patients. Masters says the criteria to
qualify for Medicaid were designed for
people with one-time medical bills, not
those with chronicillnesses. "I believe the
Medicaid system that we are using to deal
with HIV is the worst that could have ever
been dremned up," Masters says. "It’s a
very cumbersome program that results in
people starting and stopping their HIV
medicines. This is a recipe for disaster."
If a patient on protease inhibitors takes
a break from the drugs, HIV can mutate
and re-establish itself in drug-resistant
strains, making protease inlfibitors ineffective.
Even if patients manage to get the
drugs the)’ need between coverage periods.
the not -knowing whether they’ll be
covered in the future can be an all-consuming
worry, Masters says¯ "It’s stressfnl
and I think it actually worsens their
immune function," Masters says.
Officials with the state Human Services
Department-acknowledge the pro~am
isn’t perfect. Roy Jeffus, assistant director
of the department’s Medical Services
Division, says Arkansas may seek a Medicaid
waiver that would all-ow patients
with chronic diseases, such as AIDS, to
qualify for Medicaid even if their income
level or assets are too high.
Also, Gary Horton, directorof the Health
Department’s AIDS-STD Division, says
the state next year expects to see a30% to
40% reduction in the price of drugs from
.pharmaceutical companies. The state plans
to reinvest the saved money in more drugs,
including protease imhibitors, for an AIDS
Dru/ Assistance Program, he says. In
a&~i~iop.. ,’.he state will receive abou~
q~";:"o"tV,,’.!..’.)(0,: ) :uore ,ro~4 ~he icdc3:a! gcwemmerit
for AIDS drugs next year, he says.
The1998 federal budget for Arkansas’
AIDS Drug Assistance Program was $2.5
million.
Colombians Stress
Condom Use
¯ BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - Size does
." matter- at least as far as ColombianAIDS
: activists are concerned. The activists pa-
¯ raded an enormous inflated condom
~ through the streets of the country’s third
largest city hoping to draw attention to the
¯ threat of AIDS. ’The idea is for people to
¯ realize that the disease exists, that it’s ¯
here, and that it represents a far greater
." threat than the condom we’re display-
. ing,"Dr. John Jairo Palacio told reporters.
¯ Themockprophylactic, which weighed
: roughly 3,000 pounds, stretched over a
: half-mile down a holiday street fair in
¯ Call acity of two million inhabitants.
¯ The huge plastic condom was the idea
¯ of doctors specializing in sexually-trans-
¯ mitted diseases at the Santiago de Cali
¯ ¯ University and workers from drug rehabilitation
programs. Palacio said the
¯ condom took two months to build at a cost
¯ $13,000, and was paid for by the univer-
¯ sity and a condom manufacturer.
¯ Homeless PLWA
Changes Policy
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - It’s been a
tough 3ear for Patrick Biggers since he
was evicted from a homeless shelter in
Ellsworth two days before Clmstmas beca~
ise he has the virus that causes AIDS. ,4
chef who worked at some of the uation’s
finest restaurants, Biggers remains home-
" les s and has been unable to return to work.
He underwent triple bypass surgery three
months ago. But unlike last year, Biggers,
36, was not alone on Christmas. And he
takes comfort in knowing that somettfing
good has emerged from his ordeal in
Ellsworth: a policy to promote AIDS
awareness and education that he hopes
might become a model for shelters in
Maine and across the country.
The night of Dec. 23, 1997, when the
manager of the Emmaus Center ordered
Biggers to leave, remains etched in his
memory. He was told that his HIV status
posed a needless risk to residents and
staff. Biggers said his "dangerous behavior"
included talking about hi s condition,
handling a coffee cup, setting the table,
asking to pick up a baby and having sores
on the back of his hands, even though
there was no fresh blood in sight. The 22-
bed shelter arranged to put him up temporarily
in a hotel.
AIDS activists directed him to the
Mnerican Civil Liberties Union, which
concluded that the Ea-nmaus Center violated
the Americans with Disabilities Act
by discriminating against him because he
is HIV-posifive and has hepatitis C. The
ACLU filed a complaint on Biggers’ behalf
to the Maine Human Rights Commission,
asking H.O.M.E. Inc.~ the non-profit
operator of the Emmaus Center, to estab2
lish a non-discriminatory policy and be
required to pay Biggers $10,000 in damages.
The case was quickly settled.
H.O.M.E., which had replaced the shelter
manager even before the complaint
was filed, did not dispute Biggers’ assertions
and agreed to write a letter of apology,
adopt the new policy and begin education
and training. The agreemen~ set the
s~a,,e.., for devdopmer_,t of a_. five-session
I started to say that since it’s winter,
Tulsa’s arts scene is happening big time
but then if you think
about it, pretty much
ye.ar-round Tulsa is
blessed with arts events
of generally very good
quality. Already early
information is coming
"out about spring and
summerperformances,
like Bartlesville’s annual
OK Mozart Festival,
now known for its
world class perf0rmances.
AndinTulsa,LOOK,
Light OperaOklahoma
is seeking 100 singers
for its June 9-July 4th
season presented in
TU’s Kendall Hall.
LOOKis holding auditions
on Sat. Jan. 16 & Sun. Jan. 17 from
2-5pro in TU’s Tyrrell Hall, room 302.
For more. information or to schedule an
audition, call 583-4267.
At the end of January,
Philbrook will open two new
exhibits, "Pure Vision: American
Bead Artists" and "Beads:
A Cross-Cultural Medium".
The first show .will present 60
works by 28 artists. Theworks
vary from moe traditional
necklaces and bracelet forms
to large-scale sculptures, constructions,
and shrines. The
exhibit was co-ordinated by
Chris Knop Kallenberger and
was curated by Sherry I~edy of the Leedy
Gallery in Kansas City and B.J. Shegaki,
director of the Rochester Arts Center in
Minnesota. Local support is from
Philbrook’s Contemporary Cousortium.
The companion show will explore the
use of beads in cultures from 15,000 BC
Egyptian to ones from 100-
200ADSyrian to SpiroMound
of 1,200 AD and 19th century
North American Native works.
Early in February, Tulsa
Ballet will present three
dances, The Green Table,
Equinoxe, Jardi Taneat (Feb.
5 &6 at 8pro and Feb. 7 at3pm
in the Chapman Music Hall of
Tulsa’s Performing Arts Center).
The Green Table, a critically
acclaimed dance drama
set in Germany during the rise
of Adolph Hitler, is the center-.
piece of the February program.
Kurt Jooss’ ballet is as he intended
it -- to show the world
that the only w~nner of war is
death.
It opens With masked politicians
sitting around a table in
heated di scussion. Thereafter,
war breaks out and in the end,
the same politicians, wearing the same
masks, are seated at the same table forgetting
all the cruelties and casualties the war
has caused.
Paired with The Green Table will be
twomoreOklahomapremieres thatpromise
to provide an exceptional evemng of
entertainment. James Canfield’ s Equinoxe
recalls underwater images of sea creatures
which gracefully move with the
ocean’s ebb and flow and is set to a synthesizer
score byJan-Michael Jarre. Canfield,
¯ a former dancer with Joffrey, is the Artistic
Director at Oregon Ballet Theatre.
Rounding out the program
is Naco Duato’s
Jardi Tancatwhichwas
Duato’s first ballet,.
choreographed for
Nederlands Dans Theater
in 1983.
"Duato, the Artistic
Director for the National
Ballet of Spain,
is one of the brightest
stars in Europe and, in
my opinion, one of the
best choreographers in
the world today," Tulsa
Ballet’s .Artistic Director,
Marcello Angelini
related to TFN. "’He
brings a new intensity
to dance, a fluidity of
movement never seen
: before, and a new way to express emo-
¯ tions that is so deep, so powerful, it will
: change your vision of dance."
The ballet is a collection of Maye
who was dubed
by
Ella Fitzgerald.
"the greatest
white female
singer in the
world,"
will present
"A Tribute to
Frank Sinatra"
folk songs, based on ancient
Spanish folk tales in which
three couples are occupied
with the sowing, planting and
threshing of their barren land
while asking God for water to
make their crops grow. Jardi
Tancat won Duato first prize
at the International Choreographic"~
rorkshop inCologne.
He has received recognition
throughout Europe for his talents
as a dancer and choreographer.
¯
Also early in February, extraordinary
jazz vocalist, MarilynMaye, will perform
at the PAC’ s JohnWilliams Theatre. Maye
who was called by Ella Fitzgerald, "th,e,
greatest white female singer in the world,
will present "A Tribute to Frank Sinatra"
in several shows Feb. 4-6 at
Les Ballets
Troekadero de
Monte Carlo has
delighted audlenees
around the
world. Parodying
elassleal works
from "Swan
Lake" to "Giselle"
and the choreography
of Isadora
Dunean, George
Balanehine and
Martha Graham,
Les Troekaderos
offer irresistible
entertainment for
dance afieionados
- and complete
novices.
8pm and Feb. 7 at 3pm. Maye
began her careerin small clubs
and cabarets but since has performed
with orchestras from
Tulsa to Phoenix to Philadelphia.
She first appeared on
television on the Steve Alien
Show hnd appeared onJohnny
Carson’s Tonight Show a
record 76 times. Tulsa has a
tradition of bringing the great
female vocalists of our time
and Maye’s appearance continues
that.
Last but not least the famed
"drag" ballet, Les Ballets
Trockadero de Monte Carlo
will grace thePAC’s Chapman
Music Hall on March 16,
1999. Dancing the fine line
between high art and high
camp, Les Ballets Trockadero
de Monte Carlo has delighted
audiences around the world.
Parodying classical works from "Swan
Lake" to "Giselle" and the choreography
of Isadora Duncan, George Balanchine
and Martha Graham, Les Trockaderos
offer irresistible entertainment for dance
aficionados - and complete novices. The
troupe combines a knowledge of dance
with a wicked comedic sensibility -- a
buoyant and hilarious show.
Girls (and you real girls too), you don’t
want to miss this one at any cost!
- TFN entertainment editor
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~ SUNDAYS
Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
Community of Hope (United Methodist), Service - 6pm, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Service - 1 lam, 2545 S. Yale, 749-0595
Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist
Service - 1 lam, 1314 No. Greenwood, 58% 1314
Metropolitan Community Church United (formerly Familyof Faith & MCCGT)
Service, 1 lam, 1623 North Maplewood, Info: 838-1715
House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc.
Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210e So. Norwood
Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America)
Mass - 1 lam, 205 W. King (east of No. Denver), Info: 582-3088
University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance
6:30 pro, Meets at the Canterbury Ctr., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780
Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals at 5pm, [nfo: 585-COMC (2662)
~ MONDAYS
HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required.
Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TF_~T (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard)
H_IV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center
7:30pro, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
2nd Mon/each too. 6:30pro, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard
W0men/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551
I~" TUESDAYS
AIDSCoalition of Tulsa, call for next meeting date. 1430 s. Boulder, 585-5551
Mu!ticultural AIDS.Coalition, call for next meeting date.
12rban League, 240 East Apache
Rainbow" Business Guild, Business & prof. networking group.
Meets typically the last Tuesday of each month. Info: 743-4297
PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th
Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE)
Tuesdays, 6 pro, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, info: 743-4297
~ WEDNESDAYS
Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center
Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815
Houseof the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pro, 3210e So. Norwood
Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more information, call 582-7225
TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for info: 595-7632.
Lambda A-A, 7 pro, 1307 E. 381h, 2rid fl.
~" THURSDAYS
HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education
Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pro 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral
Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN)
Support’social group for 18-24’s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-2325
Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, Info: 834-4194
~ FRIDAYS
SafeHaven, Young A.dults Social Group, 1st Fri/eachmo. 8pm, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th
~ SATURDAYS
Narcotics Anonymous, 11 pm, Community of Hope,1703 E. 2nd, lnfo: 585-1800
Lambda A-A, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft.
~ OTHER GROUPS
T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info: 838-1222
Womens Supper Club, Call for info: 584-2978
OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization. Info: POB 9165, Tulsa 74157,
Short rides, 6:30pro, Long rides, 7am. Meet at Zeigler Park, 3903 West 4th. Pride
Rides from the Pride Center, 3749 S. Peoria. Write for winter schedule.
lfyour organization is not listed, please let us know. Call 583-1248 orfax 583-4615.
Reviewed by Barry Hensley
Tulsa City-County Library
A few years ago, author Liza Ketchum
wrote an award winning book for young
adults titled Twelve Days in
August. One character, Alex,
touchedmany readers, and the
author was swamped with requests
to continue his_ story.
Her new book, Blue Coyote,
follows the teenage Alex and
his family to yet another new
home, this time in Vermont.
Being a child of southern
California, Alex isn’t too
pleased with being stuck in
Vdrmont. He’s had a difficult
time making friends and
doesn’t just miss the beach,
but also his only tree, close
friend, Tito. He and Tito had
kept in touch with each other
for awhile, but, suddenly,
Tito’s letters stopped coming.
Alex attempts to track him down, but Tito
seems to have simply disappeared.
Luckily, Alex’s father, a writer, has
been offered work back in California, not
far from Where they had once liyed. Amid
some dissension Within the family, Alex
and his father move back to California.
¯ This gives Alex a chance to try to locate
Beln~ a child d
southern
Cal~ornla,
Alex isn’t too
pleased qth
beln~ stueh in
Vermont. He’s
a difficult
time mal~in~
friends and
doesn’t just mlss
the beach, but
alsohls only true,
dose friend, Tito.
his long, lost best friend.
This sets the stage for Alex to not only
getinto avariety ofsituations inhis search
for Tito, but also to realize that the trust
and affection he has for his
friend is actually infatuation.
Eventually, Alex comes to the
understanding that he is Gay,
and there is quite a bit ofattention
paid to the reaction of his
family. It is interesting to see
the different reactions of two
families whenconfronted with
Gay children, siblings and
friends. Alex’s sister is an
important character and positively
handles the realization
that both she and her brother
had, at one time, had a crush
on Tito.
This is agoodbookfor adults
and young adults alike. You
need not have read Twelve
Days in August before reading
Blue Coyote. Although it does continue
Alex’~ story, Blue Coyote stands
alone well. There isn’t any graphic sex
and only a few words that anyone could
find offensive. This is a tame but provocative
read. Check for Blue Coyote at your
local, branch library, or call i_he Readers
Services department at 596-7966.
Better Than
Ever, Pride
Merchandise,
Magazines &
More
610-8510
8120 East 21 st
(2lst+Memodal,
next to Boot City)
We buy back good
used adult magazines.
the largest gay ri,g,,hts group in the state,
hailed the ruling. The state court gave us
a ban on discrinfination in employment
stronger than anything we could introduce
in the Legislature in 23 years," said
Jean Harris, executive director of the orgamzation.
"We love it. We’ll take it."
The court turned aside the university’s
argument that it made benefits available
on equal terms to all married employees.
Thejudges said that reasomng misses the
point because homosexuals cannot marry.
"Accordingly, the benefits are not made
available on equal terms. The~y are made
available on terms that, for gay and lesbian
couples, are a legal impossibility,"
the court said.
The court concluded that homosexualg
are a distinct class and that it’s beyond
dispute that they "have been and continue
to be the subject of adverse social and
political stereotyping and prejudice."
Rerucha said HendersonandMcKinney
asked their girlfriends if they would provide
an alibi for their whereabouts and
"initially they did that."
The alibi was "broken down by investigators"
and testimony would have shown
that the two women drove to Cheyenne 50
miles east - to dispose of clothing in a
trash container and that Henderson’s
bloody shoes were later placed in a
relative’s storage shed in Laramie,
Rerncha said.
Ms. Pasldy had pleaded innocent two
weeks earlier. At the end of the 17-minute
heating, she was led from the court, head
down, long hair hiding her face. No sentencing
date was set, but Donnell indicated
it would take about 45 days for a
presentence report to be completed. Ms.
Pa~e,’ faces up to three years in pr:~sou
for the shelter’s staff that seeks to dispel
myths about AIDS and clarify legal issues
and disclosure reqmrements.
"A lot of the discrimJnatiofi is based on
fear and misinformation surrotmding these
issues," said Mary Harney of the Down
East AIDS Network. who helped develop
the program. "There are still some people
who think (HIV) can be passed by mosquitoes
and that you can get it from a
teacup if someone who has it has been
drinking from that cup." Sister Lucille
MacDonald, director of the Emmaus Center,
acknowledged that the episode was
stressful for everyone involved but said
she was pleased .at how it was resolved.
"We think a lot of important things will
happen, education-wise, for residents and
staff. That benefits all of us," she said.
Biggers, who has struggled to get by on
Social Security benefits, decided to forgo
any financial recovery. ’’The goal was to
change the policy," he said. "That was my
goal from the very beginning.’"
The ACLU said the impact of the settlement
could spread beyond Hancock
County and Maine, and perhaps be adopted
by many shelters nationwide. "My guess
is that the response will be good," said
Matthew Coles, director of its AID!HIV
Project in New York. "People who run
homeless shelters are almostby definition
good people who are trying to do something
positive in the world and make it a
better place. The problem is usually ignorance,
not malice."
Biggers, whose resttme includes some
of Manhattan’s most acclaimed restaurants,
was informed of the settlement as
he prepared to spend Christmas Day alone
for the second year in a row However
after learning of his plight, the manager of
a local restaurant invited hJlTl to join employees
to help prepare the company’s
am~ual Christmas dimaer for the needy.
’q’hafl!l be eA ce." Biggs sz&~. a~ter receiving
the s~.~rpr~ s¢ ~,’eq-ue..;,:. ’q’d ike thaC
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by Mary Schepers, Do-lt-Yoursef-Dyke ¯ inspires you to continue the work once
Are you depressed, darlings, because ~ you’ve rested up from it. You’ll be so
your kitchen is as drab as that dishwater excited at what somepaintandnew hinges
you’ve got your opera-length latex Platex " and pulls did for your cabinets that you
gloves submerged in? Do you long for a ¯ won’t mind doing the floors next month.
fantasy kitchen that makes Martha’s look " This also can allow youto have a financial
like something, from - breather, ifyotH~’~eclit.
suburban New Jersey?
Then, after comparing
your dream against
your checkbook balance,
do you weep copious
tears of disappointment?
Weep not,
child; you are not alone.
YourDIYD shares your
frustration and offers
comfort. Not a miracle,
but comfort. Remember
that as we go along.
Yes, your fairy Do-
It-YoursdfDyke-y has
a trick or two in her
magic wand (minds out
of the toybox, children!)
that canhelp you
muddlealong with your
current kitchen until
you can save up and
move up to something
more delicious. It involves
our pesky old
friend, Elbow Grease,
and dreams deferred,
but the results of a
kitchen face lift can
Are you depressed,
d~rllngs, because your
kltehen is as drab. as that
dishwater you’ve got your
opera-!ength latex Platex
gloves submerged
Do you long for~ fantasy
kltehen that makes
Martha’s look llke
something from suburban
New Jersey? Then, after
eomparlng your dream
against your checkbook
balance, do you ~eep
eoplous tears of d~sappolntment?
~Veep not,
child; you are not alone...
Yes, your fairy Do-h-
Yourseff Dyke-y has a
trlek or two in her magle
actually satisfy your
.kitchenlust- rfioderately.: Not a rip and
tear project, but a nip and rock. An eye
wash, if you will.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again
(quite possibly every month) a little paint
can do wonders. That will be the coruerstone
of our project, which your DIYD
proposes to drag out shamelessly for the
next few months. But first, put away your
rose,tinted glasses and prepare for some
coldhearted evaluations of what you have
to work with.
Obviously, ff)’our cupboards are cheap,
flimsy and dilapidated, our success ~s going
t~ be pretty limited, so keep it all in
perspective.
Also, match your budget with what can
be accomplished, and learn how to scour
the areaforbargains-outlets, resale stores,
architectural salvage, etc. Then, if a rehab
is in your relatively near future, you can
buy a few nice things and carry them over
on the redo. We are a creative lot, so let’s
use it to our advantage.
Don’ t be afraid to do the workin stages.
Actually, it prolongs the enjoyment, and
outside his father;s appliance store in
Jonesboro, Arkansas, at age 8 to retirement
in his early 30s after developing a
series of novelty products. He made his
real fortune, however, by sdling millions
of Moonies. The chubby doll-size figures
attach to car windows with suction cups
like the ubiquitous Garfidd-the-cat stickons,
but with a risque difference. "You
squeezed the b,~b and the little guy
mooned people, Dunlap said. "I got rich
off of it and I quit."
He movedin 1990fromMemphi s,Tennessee,
to Navarre Beach, about 20 miles
east of Pensacola, platming nothing more
than to siton the sugar-white beach. How-
Look at tak:t~g the
opportunity to h~prove
some essentials that
don’timmediately leap
to mind when y~u think
about fluffing up the
kitchen - it might be a
good time to learn a
little bit about wiring
and dectrical, to the
extent that you put in a
new light fixture or replace
the old outlets
with GFCI (ground
fault circuit interrupters),
which are truly a
safety must anywhere
you have water.
There are some good
do it yourself books,
complete with very
necessary illustrations,
to walk you through it,
and ifyouhave a friend
that is familiar with the
process, flatter, pitch
wand (minds out of the
wooorwhateverelseit
toybox, children!)
rakes to enlisttheir help
¯ ¯ ¯ on the project.
¯ astainless steel sink 0r~iga~bage disposal.
~ Be wary about letting your fancy stray as
¯ far as a dishwasher - you’re heading into
" more complicated territory there. Think
about flooring options.
,and if your kitchen is in the darker
coruer of your house, as is the DIYD’g,
definitely thinklight. Notjust visual light,
which is where the fixtures come in, but
¯¯- light surfaces -walls, cabinets, appliances.
It might not be the right time to go withthe
¯ retro phase and install that avocado har-
¯ vest-tone range (but if you decide you
must, the DIYD has a deal for you! Take
my old range, please.)
~ Think about using a low-luster semi-
" gloss paint - it makes clean ups easier and
¯ resists water and mildew and other dis-
" tasteful things. And new finishing tech-
¯ niques open up a plethora of possibilities.
¯ Sleight of hand is very necessary in Eye
Wash jobs. Ask any drag queen.
¯ So dream easy dreams until next month,
¯ when your DIYD helps you spiffy up ¯
those horrid, depressingly dark kitchen
¯ cupboards.
~ ever, after noticing thatthousands ofGays
¯ congregate on area beaches every Memo-
" rial Day, he decided the panhandle could
¯ support a small Gayresort. Dtmlap and a
motel developer took aplan to local bank-
" ers about six years ago. "You could just
¯ see the color runoutoftheir faces,"Dunlap ¯
¯ recalled. "My personal impression and
observation was that they did not want
[ anythiag to do with the financing solely
~ because it was a... ’Gay and Lesbian’
¯ business."
Dunlap, himself Gay, figured if that
¯
was happening hereit also washap~g
to others elsewhere. Creating a b~ak~Jr
¯ such a geographicallywidespreadmarket ¯
niche would have been difficult at b~t
¯
before the Interuet. ’The Interuet~
allows us to deliver see Bank,p~
by Esther Rothblum
I recently watched Janice Perry perform
during National Coming Out Week
at the University of Vermont. By the time
I asked her to describe her life and her
work, she was off performing
in Switzerland. So we
communicated over email.
Here are her responses to
my questions:
ER: tell me the story of
how you became a Lesbian
comedian?
JP: Is this a trick question?
Because of course, there is
the story of how I became a
Lesbian, and then the story
ofhow Ibeganperforming. I
never intended to become a
"Lesbian comedian". I began
performing and because
my sexuality is part of my
life, itcomes outin the show,
undisguised¯ Audiences
don’t often see Lesbianism presented in
this way, it’s either ’%rOW, LOOK AT
ME, I’MA BIG DYKE!!" or very covert.
Mymissionis topresentchallenging work
in a way that is accessible.
Most, but not all, of my work is highly
exaggerated autobiography. I am always
trying to find common denominators, trying
to weave many different aspects into
each piece. The major theme of a piece
about an IRS audit was power and abuse
of power (this was pre-IRS refo.rm), and
the fact that the auditor was conung on to
me was the vehicle to exaggerate the
taxpayer’s fear and the auditor’s power. I
wanted to unequivocally show the equation
between sex and power and fear. That
the auditor i~-awoman adds another layer.
This piece also unequivocally describes
both the dedication required and the extremely
dire financial situation of artists
in general. So there are many levds that
are available to the audience. They can
take whatever they want from the performance,
While this is a theatrical exag-
¯ Satire"¯ When I first started working in
: Europe, Ifoundoutthatthereis awordfor
: it-"kabarett".
I use my .whole body to deliver the
: monologues, as wall as costumes, singing;
lighting and very strong
I never intended facialgestures. Iamperforming
pieces with what I see to
to ]~eeome a be the big themes - Greed,
"Lesl~ian Fear, Abuse of Power, Sex,
comedian". War, Death and Taxes. I’m
not so interested in just telll
l:le.~an ing jokes. I am presenting
performin$ and strong content from a Lesbian-
feminist perspective in
]~eeause my a highly comedic way. The
sexuality is part comedic aspect makes my
of my llfe, it
work much more accessible
to many more people.
comes out ER: is there a particuin
tlae slaow,
lar performance that stands
out as memorable?
undls~ulsed, jp: Last year (199~/) the
Swiss queers organized a
demonstrationinBem (the capitol) against
thenew constitution, and the refusal of the
government to include equal rights for
homosexuals as partofbasichumanrights.
The organizers of the demo invited me to
come and perform. There were Swiss,
French, German, Italian speakers and me.
I came out on stage wearing a Statue of
Liberty crown and carrying a big penis
and said, "I want to.thank the Swiss Government
for making me feel right at home
here. It’s so reassuring to "know that I will
be discriminated against wherever I go."
Then I did a piece from the early 80’s
about the constitution which says that the
preamble really should readlike this:’ "vVe,
the MEN of the United States, in order to
: form a more perfect union. . No, that
should be, ’We, the WHITE MEN of the
United States.. ’ No, that should be ’We
: theCONSERVATIVEWHITEMEN...’
~ No, that should be ’We the RICH, CON-
. SERVATIVE, WHITE, MEN . .’ No,
2 that should be ’We the OLD,
RICH ,CONSERVATWE,XVHITE,MEN
geration of the truth, it is a true story. I .... " "" They really got it.
WAS audited by a woman, who D!D ER: is Janice Perry the performer difabuse
her power.
ER: What are the messages you are
bringing to Lesbians?
JP: I want Lesbians and gays to see that
it really is okay to be out. That we can
present ourselves in public and not be ki¯ lled for i" t. I ’m not hi"ding anything, I’m
not preaching anything, I’m just going
about my’business of performing in a
perfectly natural way (orimperfecfly natural).
When I play in some sin_all t.ow,.n, .an,d
the audience is mixed, as it often i s, I trunk
that it is empowering for all of us. Internalized
homophobia is the real killer.
I am also showing my total commitment
to my work. My pe,rformance, is
more theatrical than stana-up comeay.
This is "kabarett" with a small "k" in the
European tradition of powerful political
statements launched from the platform of
comedy, rather than"Kabarett" with a big
"K" or "Cabaret" with a "C" which is
usually women in glittery evening gowns
singing "Se~d in the Clowns".
This is why I am able to work so often
in Europe. In 1982, when I first started,
there was either theater or stand-up in the
USA, and nothing in-between. I had no
language to describe my work. I called it
"Comedy - Rock - Music - Theater -
ferentfrom Janice Perrry the individual?
Do youfindyourselfperforming tofriends
and lovers?
JP: I am really h~cky in that I get to let
out a lot of my desire for attention in my
Work. Before I startedperformingon stage,
I was performing all day long, because I
had no outlet for this creativity. It must
have been hell to be around. I thank my
friends for putting up with me. Now I am
much more relaxed in my personal life.
Sometimes when I arrive at a theater
where they don’t know my work, they
look a bit worried, like - "Uh-oh, this is
just a normal 48 year old woman, and she
isn’t even wearing make-up and what
kind of show will this be?" When I go on
stage, they are amazed by my energy,
which is very intense. They can’t believe
it’s the same person. There is a definite
difference between my work and my private
life.
I lead a quiet life and I have many and
vailed interests. I love nature, hiking, gardening,
cross-country skiing, bird-watching.
I’m an avid reader, I love the classics,
English social comedies from the 20’s
and 30’s, fiction, history. I love music -
rock and roll, classical, heavy metal, opera.
see Psyche. p. 13
Red Rock Tulsa
O’RYAN
Oklahoma Rainbow
Young Adult Network
Outreach Program Thurs. Nights
Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment
Call for meeting nmes and place:
918-584-2325
The
Pride Y
Store-
1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor
in the Pride Center, 743-4297
6-9 pm, Sunday- Friday
12-9 pm, Saturday
all sales benefit the Pride Center
IGTA member
Call 341.6866
International
Toursformoreinformation.
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r~.~/~:~
Tulsa’s Two-S pirited Indian Men’s
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¯ Evening support group meetings
¯ Relationship workshops
¯ Short trips, outings and retreats
¯ Free HIV testing
For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project
at 582-7225 Ext. 208 or 218
a mec~,~ism t~at
we can employ
er~t~vely to
whh and eMllen~e
our ~ender roles.
Many Gay men
regularly apply
female pronouns
ehher to themselves
or to thelr
(or enemies...).
When talkln~ about
my f~ends who do
dra~, I no longer
hedtate to
or the ;ack d ~ereof (~ t). MaIU
Austronesian languages
(spoke~ from Hawm’i to
Madagascar), conversely,
possess 15 different subject
pronoun. When I liv~ on
T~a, V~tu, before I
could Mk about ~ybody, I
had to count~emfirst. ~ere
is a prono~ for "you", a
different one for you-two ,
~other one for "you-t~"
~d still ~other for "you-
Moreover, two sorts of
"we" must be distinguished
on~msl~d.Our we blur
together two logically different
groups. Sometimes,
when we say "we," we in- use "she" and "her."
dude who we’ve speaking
to; but sometimes "we" excludes the
speaker. For example, if I tell you that
"we’re going to kiss" this mightmean that
I about to plant one on you, or ~t could
mean that I’m going neck with someone
else. On Tarma, separate pronouns exist
dicuonanes before fadi~,
away. Other dc-.gende~ed
substitmes d~at have been
proposed include s~ m~ and
air.
Gender in our pronoun system
may sustmn inanities
between men and
womenbutitis Nso am~ha-
Nsm ~at we ~ employ
creatively to play wi~ ~d
chNlenge o~ gender roles.
M~y Gay men regM~lj
apply female pronouns
ther to ~emselves or to ~eir
friends (or ene~es -"She’s
not N1 ~at~"). ~entNNng
about my friends who do
drag, I no longer hesitate to
use "she" ~d "her."
TNs is ~e in o~er c~tures whose
pronoun systems Nso encode gender.
~Nysis of ~e sp~h of a Gay ~uple
por~y~ in ~e first document~y film
about Gay life in Jap~ R~en no Sobyo
("Rough S~eteh of a SpirN") shows
that do not allow this ambigui.t},,;
,w.e’.’ includes vou;.the, other "we dales ~ more ~ermmne partner’re~ers to mmsm~
not. . with female or gender-neutral terms
set, peopte use tnese woros to tam aoout
the world and about themselves. If we
listen to how people do this, we can learn
something of their underlying concepts
about human identity. There is always
also a politics of pronouns. People use
pronouns creatively in order to demonstrate
or to assert certain claims about
themselves, and about others. My old
friend Rapi, who was the "big-man" or
leader of the village in which I lived,
surprised me one day with apronotm. He
was tdling the story of one of his great-
~andfathers, who was also named Rapi,
and he used the ’T" pronoun - "When I
smote the enemy back before Captain
Cook arrived..." (and this was in 1774!).
It became clear tome thatTannesepeople,
more so than we, incorporate into their
sense of self their ancestors, particularly
if these were ancestral namesakes. Part of
their personhoodincludes these forebears.
Whenrecounting history whichhappened
generations before they were born,, they
talk about "what I did"in that these events
are part of who they are today.
The pronoun system on Tanna, despite
its complexity, does not recognize gender.
He, or she, and it are all called "in."
Inequality between men and women on
the island runs fairly deep, but this social
ineqtmlity is not reflected in the pronominal
system. The relationship between linguist’ic
form and social structure has been
long and fiercely debated. Whatever the
facts about this might be, here in the US
there has been a fairly successful campaign
to de-genderize our first person
pronouns. In this politics of pronouns,
college students may get marked down ifthey
use "he" as the default in their essays.
~1~ polifical!y correct choice nowadays
is "Ec or she" or even the grammatically
uses mate-marKeo pronouns (ore, jtoun,
washi). Justlike Rapi and his ’T’ onTanna,
our self-construction depends on creative
use of the pronouns that our language
provides.
This appropriation of the other sex’s
pronoun may be a male thing. I have not
seen many studies of Lesbian use of "he."
(If anyone has come across he-women,
please email me.) Some feminists might
fault men for, once again, abridging
women’~s rights and experience by stealing
their "she." It seems to me, though,
that if one might attack gender hierarchy
by spaying language - replacing he/she
with thou-one can also undermine the
systemby messing with its rules. I can call
you he; or maybe this time I’ll call you
she. Remember, everyone must use her
condoms.
Lamont Lindstrom teaches anthropology
at the University of Tulsa and my be
reached at lamont-lindstrom@utulsa.edu
I love to go to the theater. Dance. Visual
Arts. Architecture. Archeology. Yoga.
Fashion. I’m very, interested in both prehistory
and pop culture. I like to see what
is gomg on in "society," both regionally
and globally, to try to identify the trends,,
see what is universal and then use this
information inmy work. In some way I’m
always working, always noticing, observing.
But I can do it from the sidelines. I
don’t need to be the center. I get enough of
that onstage.
For further informauon and to schedule
a perfornlance, contact: Janice Perry RD
1 Femsburgh~ Vermont 05456
jpakagal @aol.com
but it doesn’t stop it from happening, and
it’s frustrating to you, and the people
around you. Some of it has passed, some
ofithasn’t and will take time, and some of
it will never go away or be forgotten.
Right after, if I was alone, the chest would
tighten, I couldn’t breathe and I would
feel overwhelmed. Evenin agrocery store,
whenTom and I went together, but separated,
as we usually did, I found’mysdf
alone on an aisle, and feltmy chest tighten
- it scared the 1x;jeezus out of me. We
passed a car emitting fumes with a similar
odor to the smoke in the apartment, and I
Was right back there. And in a panic attack.
I thought, .’ffhis is silly. Stop it".
Well, you can’t. I decided to stay at the
apartment two days later.
Tom was doubtful, again, but supportive.
I did try to go back and face down my
fear. Then, as I gotintomy smokybed (I’d
left windows wide open for the two days,
and it helped - a little. The smoke issomething
that doesn’t go away easily.)
Then the ’~vhat- ifs" started. What if I had
gone home earlier (whichI had thought of
doing) and gone to sleep? What if I hadn’t
gone home till later? No one else called
911. In fact, the neighbor that finally did
come out, said "Well, I smdled a funny
smell, but didn’tpay any attention to it..."
With neighbors like that, who needs enemies?
What if...
Then the big one hit: If I was in a smoky
smelling apartment, and another fire
started, how would I know another one
had started? I mightjust chalk it up to the
already smoky apartment I was in, and
then what? An~twhatelsemightbeplUgged
in...? So, I tookTom up on his very kind
offer that if I became uncomfortable, I
could come back to his place and stay.
So, on this new years, take stock. Look
at whoyourreal friends are. Tomhas been
Wonderful., going far above and beyond
the call of duty. Look at your extension
cords. Are they the right kind for tbejob?
Are they over loaded?
Funny what you notice after an event
like this - I was inRedLobsternot too long
ago, and noticed that their xmas lights
were connected by 3 extensions cords
wound around a wooden beam. I watched
them throughout dinner.
And no matter how much one may
grumble, I am aware of just how lucky I
am to be here to grumble. I am lucky to
still have my symbols, collected throughout
my life, of the people who love me,
and the people I love. I am lucky to have
a friend like Tom. I am lucky to be alive.
I’m not too thrilled at having so much
stuff to dean, but I realize that I amlucky
it’s there to be cleaned. It was time to
move anyway, the neighbors were too
noisy. I am lucky that an apartment came
free.at this time (I’d been looking for two
months, due to the aforementionedneighbors
and a less-than-responsive landlord)
that seems perfect in every way. A neat
landlady, and nice location, and built in
storage for days! So before grumbling
about how you hate to be somewhere -
which I used to do myself- just think: You
might not be here to be able to grumble. It
~ves you a whole new perspective. Have
a happy New Year!
Classifieds - how to work them:
First :30 words are $10. E~ch additional word is
25 cents. Options for your ad:
Bold headline - S1, all capital letters -
$1, all bold & capital letters - $2, ad in
box - $2, Ad reversed - $3, tear sheet
mailed - $2 Blind P.O. Box - $5
Please type or print your ad. Count the words
word is a group of letters or numbers separated by
a space. TFN reserves the right to edit or refas¢ any
ad. No refunds, Send ad& payment to POB 4140,
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Ads will run in the next issue after receipt.
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
[1999] Tulsa Family News, January 1999; Volume 6, Issue 1
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities.
Description
An account of the resource
Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9).
The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level.
This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Tulsa Family News
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Tom Neal
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
January 1999
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
James Christjohn
Jean-Claude de Flamneauchaud
Barry Hensley
J.P. Legrandbouche
Lamont Lindstrom
Esther Rothblum
Mary Schepers
Adam West
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News
Relation
A related resource
Tulsa Family News, December 1998; Volume 5, Issue 12
Format
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Image
PDF
Online text
Language
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English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
newspaper
periodical
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper
Tulsa---Oklahoma
Oklahoma---Tulsa
United States Oklahoma Tulsa
United States of America (50 states)
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/583
AIDS/HIV
AIDS/HIV reporting
AIDS/HIV testing
anti-discrimination bill
arts and entertainment
attorneys
Barry Hensley
Bars
Boy Scouts
businesses
censorship
churches
Cimarron Alliance
Comic Strips
condoms
Dave Fleischer
discrimination
Do-It-Yourself Dyke
Dyke Psyche
Entertainment Notes
Esther Rothblum
gay bashing
Gay Studies
government assistance
hate crimes
healthcare
homelessness
homophobia
James Christjohn
Lamont Lindstrom
marriage
Mary Schepers
Matthew Shephard
Murder
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Native Americans
O'RYAN
Oklahoma Lesbian and Gay Law Association
parade
performing arts
picnic
Pride
Pride Centere
Read All About It
Red Rock
restaurants
sodomy laws
Tom Neal
Tulsa Family News
Tulsa Gay Community Services Center
Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights
Tulsa Two-Spirited Indian Men's Support Group