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[Sub-Series] Newsletters & Publications > Tom Neal Newsletters > Tulsa Family News
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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
Tulaa Cluba & Reataumnta
*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
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Weekend and evening appointments are available.
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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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3733 S. Memorial, 6600344
1216 S. Harvard, 587-1778
Sapulpa Location:
109 N. 22
Meet ,Local
~X3rigin. 18+. Additional features from 67
~guys you like
" 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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[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
Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights
Tulsa Teacher's Credit Union
Vatican
-
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/51794f50820e6f610ddbaca277f5f06f.jpg
fabb4187d66be371fff872f5d9578476
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/857717084d696fa751b866247e1bb6c9.pdf
eb58751b326810ffb526bcb2aadb751b
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[Series] Newsletters & Publications > Ozarks Pride, Ozarks Star, Star, Metro Star Newspapers, 2004-2011
Subject
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Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics
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Ozarks Pride
Ozarks Star
Star
Metro Star
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2004-2011
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English
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magazine
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Ozarks Pride's first issue began in January of 2004. Then follows Ozarks Pride (2004), The Star (2005), and The Metro Star (2008).
This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit.
This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Southwest Missouri
Western Arkansas
Eastern Oklahoma
Southeast Kansas
The United States of America (50 states)
Creator
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Ozarks Pride/Star Media
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An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
C.D. Ward
T.J. Kelly
Chaz Storm
Marion Wilson
Greg Steele
Randy Vineyard
Steve T. Urie
Chaz
Lady Bunny
Romeo San Vincente
Steve T. Urie
Donald Pile
Ray Williams
Michael Hinzman
Jack Fertig
Identifier
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https://history.okeq.org/items/browse?collection=19&page=1
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magazine
Text
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"WWW.METROSTA~qEWS.COM "WE DELIVER DIVERSITY"
UN Ge era Assembly hears pro-gay presentation
"9gockner News ~/ire
It was read into the record by
Argentine AmbassadorJorge
Argtiello.
q’he 66 countries affirmed "the
principle of non-discrimination,
which requires that human rights
apply equally to every hmman
being regardless ofsexual orientation
or gender identity; and
denounced "violence, harassment,
discrimination, exclusion, stigmatization
and prejudice ... because
of sexual orientation or gender
identity:’
statement also called for
the decriminalization ofgay sex,
77
SLxty-sLx nations at the UN General Assembly supported a
groundbrealdng statement Dec. 18 confirming that international
human rights protections include sexual orientation and
gender identit):
It was the first time a statement condemning rights abuses
against GLBT people was presented in the General Assembly.
gay
Americans support
Woclmer News Wire
A Harris Interactive poll released Dec. 3 found that Americans
support a range ofpolicies and protections for gay people.
The Pulse ofEquality survey, cmmnissioned by the Gay &
Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, found that majorities of
Americans favor either marriage or civil unions for gay couples,
hate-crime laws to protect gay and transgender people, letting
gays in the military serve openly, and allowing gays and lesbians
to adopt children.
~ae telephone survey questioned 2,000 adults beBveen Nov. 13
and 17 and had a margin oferror ofplus or minus 2 percentage
points.
Among the specific findings:
* Seventy-five percent of U.S. adults favor either marriage or
domestic partnerships/civil unions for gay and lesbian couples.
Only 22 percent oppose any legal recognition ofgay couples.
........... Continued See POLL Page-8
Saudi Arabia
"To love is not a crime;’ said
Louis-Georges Tin, president of the International Day Against
Homophobia Committee, which initiated the process that led
to the statement. "To decriminalize homosexuality world,vide is
a batde t’or human rights.... This (statement) is a great achievement
(but) I also want to remind everyone that ending the
criminalization ofsame-sex love wilt be a long, hard battle:’
Leading British activist Peter Tatchell called the statement "history
in the making."
"The UN statement goes much further than see’king the decriminalization
ofsame-sex acts;’ Tatchell said. "k ondemns all
human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender
identity, urges countries to protect the human rights ofLGBT
people and to bring to justice those who violate these rights,
and calls for human rights defenders who oppose homophobic
and transphobic victimization to be allowed to carry out their
advocacy and humanitarian work unimpeded."
........... Continued See UN Page-14
JANUARY 1, 2009
Oklahoma’s 2009 Mr. O.G.R.A.
Larry Bourne chats with the
Metro Star.
By Victor Gorin
Photo: ~adr. OGRA 2009 Larry Bour~ze By Victor Gorin
The Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association ( better known as
OGRA) has a proud history ofnot only promoting the country
lifestyle in the GLBT community, but also to the straight community
as well. Letting gay cowboys knmv they can truly be
themselves is a cause they promote proudly, but they do more.
OGRA also has a proud history ofhelping wordBvhile charities
such as Other Options, Infant Crisis Services, Young Gay
Lesbian Alliance, and R.A.I.N.
Also a proud tradition are the OGRA Royalty, which features a
Mr. OGRA, a Ms. OGRA" Brooklyn" and Miss OGRA Anita
Ryder.. The new Mr. OGRA is Larry Bourne, who’s made many
cowboys happy bartending at the Finishline the past 5 years.
Sharing his life and his thoughts with the Metro Star, he gives us
his perspective on our community and OGRA.
................Continued See OGP,A page- 15
comes out ....Page-7
Janua~ 2009
2
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~.metrostarnews.com ~÷t~oSTAR 3
World Aids Day December
1, Remembering the
Past-Facing Future-
The Crisis is not over.
By Victor Gorin
Following the Mayflower UCC ~:orldAIDS
Day Service, Reverend Loyce Newton Edwards
places a card on a o’oss honod~ her siste,;
Lavonn Newton whopassd ~tv~yfivm AIDS
related illness.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ On December
1, the 20th World Aids Day Service was held at
Mayflower Congregational Church, along with
countless others worldwide. Along with music,
preaching and praise was not only remembrance
of those xvho have passed on because of
HIV, bur also hope for the future. The service
concluded with the opportunity to fill out a
card of a loved one lost to HIV and attach it
to one ofa group of crosses in the courtyard.
For Rev. Loyce Newton-Edwards the service
had special meaning, as she had lost a transgen-
&red sister, Lavonne Newton to AIDS related
illness. As she put it, "The service was deeply
moving and a wonderful way to honor the precious
lives that have been lost to AIDS, and to
offer comfort to their devastated families. My
prayers continue for more community compassion,
HIV prevention advocacy, as well as more
effective HIV/AIDS related medications."
Being that World AIDS Day is now in it’s 20th
year, this reminds us that although advances
have been made in the treatment of HIV, there
is no reason for complacency. In Oklahoma
there are around 4500 known cases ofpeople
infected with HIV, including around 1700 in
Oklahoma County alone. Currently the fastest
growing rate of infection among demographic
groups tragically is young people aged 15-24,
disproportionately gay and male.
Although medical science is far ahead ofwhere
it was over 20 years ago when AIDS first
became an issue, safe sex is still important. As
Chuck Longacre ofRed Rock North, an HIV
testing/counseling facility pointed out, "R’s still
a deadly disease. The disease can still be fatal.
However, often one can be helped ifthe virus is
detected early, so we encourage those who are
sexually active to be tested every 3 months."
Testing is still available at Red Rock North,
4400 N. Lincoln Botdevard (OKC), telephone
(405 424 7711. It’s a free test, and in
most cases can be completed in around 20
minutes. This, coupled with educational efforts
is also part ofthe reason for the day, and that is
the hope for a better future.
Angda Monson Runs For
O dahoma City School
Board Chair
By Victor Gorin
Photo: Angela Monson, State Representative Anastasia
Pittman-District 99 (Center)Jesus Gasper Lovie
Givens e3~ Danielle Gaddis by Hctor Gorin
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ Angela Monson,
on the last day offiling, got into the race
for Oklahoma City School Board chair. She
challenges incumbent Kirk Humphreys, and
the election will be February 10. As a Democrat,
she was elected to the Oklahoma State
House ofR~epresentatives in 1990-District 99,
and was later elected to the Oklahoma State
Senate in 1993 -District 48. She Served as a
State Senator until forced out by term limits in
2005. She is currently Associate Provost with
the Oklahoma University Health Sciences
Center, and is a longtime ally ofnot only the
GLBT commtmity but numerous progressive
Causes.
Kirk Humphreys was appointed as Chair by
the OKC School Board when the position
was vacated by CliffHudson, and is a former
mayor ofOklahoma City, and an ally ofmany
conservative causes. Learn more about this key
race with our next issuel
Metro Star Classfieds
2" square for as litde as
$43 per issue.
Email: starnews@sbcglobal.~
918.1
’Unsung Heroes’ Honored
for AIDS Awareness
Advocacy
TULSA, OK (PR) __ On Tuesday, three Tulsa
CARES employees were recognized by the
AIDS Coalition ofTulsa at the 19th annual
Evergreen Spirit Awards Luncheon, which
recognizes the work ofcolleagues and volunteers
who have gone the extra mile in the fight
against AIDS in our community:
Jamie Baker, care coordinator; Bruce Lewis, ofrice
manager/executive assistant; and Marianne
X~etherill, registered dietician were among
those recognized with the Evergreen Spirit
Award, which symbolizes strength, courage,
commitment and resilience.
"It is so important to recognize ’the unsung heroes’
in Tulsa’s effort to stop AIDS," said Janice
Nicklas, director ofTnlsa Community AIDS
Partnership and senior planner for the Community
Service Council. ~Our colleagues still
work long hours, to the point ofexhaustion,
and many have vowed to stay at it until we get
the epidemic under control. Sadly, the numbers
ofHIV positive Americans are growing larger
each year and many Tulsans are getting infected
who are unaware that that they are at risk,"
Other Evergreen Spirit Award winners are:
Gary Meadows, Community ofHOPE; Terry
Klein, St. Joseph~s Residence; Chaz Gaut,
Hospice of Green Country; David Odle, Oklahoma
Department ofHuman Services; Barbara
Saunders, community volunteer with the HIV
Prevention Program for Incarcerated Women’s
Program; and Stan Smalts, Oklahoma Department
ofHuman Services. Two top awards were
also given at the annual luncheon: the Truman
Geren Memorial Award for HIV Prevention
was awarded to Heather Nash, American Red
Cross, and the Richard Shackelford Award for
HIV Care honored Shana Cozad, Oklahoma
State Department of Health.
"Our award winners are constantly reminding
Tulsa area.residents to take the HIV test - it is
quick, free and painless," Nicldas said. "Everyone
should know their HIV status."
Founded in t991, Tulsa CARES, a United Way
organization, delivers services to low-income
people living with HIV/AIDS in northeastern
Oklahoma. Services include: case management
by professional social workers, access to physicians
and prescription medication, counseling
services, housing
assistance, access to
nutrition information at
its on-site food pantry,
as well as other forms of
support. Tulsa CARES’
mission is "Delivering
social services to
people affected by
HIV/AIDS: For more
information about Tulsa
CARES, visit www.
tulsacares.org.
Tulsa CARES Celebrates
Life
34icah Hartwdl, Nutrition Services Directo~
begins digging~r the Tulsa CARES’ Celebration
ofLife tree-planting co’emony.
TULSA, OK (PR) __ In observance ofWorld
AIDS Day, Tulsa CARES hosted a "Celebration
of Life" reception for its clients.
On Monday, December 1, Tulsa CARES clients,
staffmembers, and friends came together
to celebrate the lives 0f those still living xvith
HIV/AIDS and to rmnember the lives ofthose
who have died from this disease. The "Celebration
ofLife" was replete with food, crafts and
a tree planting ceremony that symbolizes hope
for a cure.
Tulsa CARES’ Celebration of Life in-kind
sponsors ,sere Starbucks, Q~eenies and QEikTrip.
Five Crepe Myrtle trees were donated by
Up with Trees.
Tulsa CARES’ mission is ddivering social
services to people affected by HIWAIDS.
Tulsa CARES is a United W’ay Agency.
For more information, visit vcww.tulsacares.org.
SAVE & FILL YOUR PIGGY
4 January 2009
in the spirit of Christmas, the 18th annual Loaves and Fishes
Dinner Show was held at the Copa OKC, raising over $6956.
Featuring entertainers (Photo) Ben Williams, Kitty Bob Aimes,
Sonja Martinez, John Beebe and Matthew Heath Fitzgerald, the
show was held on both December 8 and 9, with proceeds going
to help the Winds House, a home & hospice for those living
with HIV.
PeggyJohnson and ReVerend Dl: Kathy McCallie at Church of
the Open Arms Fundaraiser
Oldahoma Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth with OGLPC
Co-Chair Paul ~nompson at the ,amnual NAACP Banquet in
Oklahoma City.
.... Scotty Mandell, Robin D0rner and Loring Wagner strike a pose
at the Diversity Bttsiness Association’s Christmas Party.
Ken Sims, Jennifer Lancaster, Rebecca Hurst and Blaze Bush
at the Marriage Equality Rally in downtown Oklahoma City
December 20.
Santa ( Pam Norton) and Mrs. Santa (Victorola) at the Church
ofthe Open Arms Christmas Party
Dear Editor:
My name is Robaire ~atson and I’m a gay military veteran
who’s been living in the San Francisco Bay Area for 18 years. I
spent 6 years in the military as an openly gay, man. At age 23 I
joined the Navy in search of adventure. Being a gay man, I was
determined that I wasn’t going to allow the military to change
my true identity. My story isn’t about the latest trend or the latest
hot actor, or the latest hot "trick~ it’s about the importance
of"being who you want to be"! Who needs to serve in silence ?
I just want to bring a positive ground breaking story to the
fbrefront. I grexv up in a primarily white small Texas town and
the middle child of a Southern Baptist family. I was in the Cub
Scouts and Boy Scouts, played high school football for a brief
time. I always knew I was gay. After high school, I earned money
t’or college by working in the oil fields. I studied design and
fashion merchandising in Dallas at ~ades School of Design. I
joined the US NaW in 1989 and served six years through two
enlistments until 1995.
Being openly gay in the military and not receiving threats to my
life, allowed me to keep my integrity: I never felt the need to tell
anyone on my command that I was gay or introduce them to
my boyfriend. I always felt that people knew I was different, just
by the way I conducted myself. When you sho~v others respect,
they show you respect in return.
I was a US Navy Ship’s barber who served aboard the USS
Kansas City as it traveled the seas promoting freedom during
the Gulf’~Y~ar and Operation Southern XWatch offthe coast of
Somalia in 1993, traveling to Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong,
Dubai, Jebel All, UAE, British Columbia, Mexico, and the
Philippines during my two enlistments. I’m black and openly
gay and never encountered the slightest discrimination aboard
this xvarship.
I have never forced my sexual preference on anyone. I don’t ~vant
someone who’s straight doing that to me. gqaen the "Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell" law xvas passed, my shipmates told me, "\X[atso!~, we
don’t have to ask and we don’t have to tell."
I had a group ofgay friends on the USS Kansas City. We were
the gay version of"Sex and the City" onboard the ship. XXre were
known as the Fierce-Four. Our personal lives were better than
any episode of Q~.eer as Folk. My friends said, because of me,
they were able to be themselves without prejudice. I took several
ofmy shipmates to gay bars & dance clubs, not because it was
my idea, but because they asked me too!
I dated an Ensign and a Lieutenant while in the military. I ,also
dated a Major in the United States Army and a Marine. All the
following military men who came across my, life had to keep
their personal life a secret. It’s not about being an officer in the
military or subjecting yourselfto starring in a skin flick to get
your point across, about "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’: It’s knowing
that you have a job to do and a mission to accomplish. ~bu can’t
allow your sexual preference to interfere.
The government needs to worry about the individuals who they
allow to enter the military that haven’t been outside the county
line, and refuse to accept someone who is different. Sometimes,
these type ofpeople want to judge you, based on their religious
beliefs. Ifyou can’t accept me for my race or sexual preference,
will you be there for me in a time ofwar ?
I’m very fortunate that I was able to be openly gay and live
my life accordingly during active duty. I want other men and
women who enter the armed forces who are gay to be able to live
their lives just as openly as their straight counterparts and when
they become veterans to be treated ~vith dignity and respect. I’m
very proud to have done my duty serving my country:
Thank you,
Robaire Watson
San Francisco, CA
wv,~v.metrostamews.com ~ot~oSTAR 5
A NEW PLACE TO
ENDUP
By Victor Gorin
Photo: End ~o owner Blake (Center) wit,§ the
End [J)) dancers
TULSA, OK__ When the first Endup club
on Memorial closed a few years ago, it left a gap
that Blake Alterman knew needed to be filled.
While not for everybody, there are truly gay
men that love to watch the hot boys dance. Not
far from some ofTulsgs other gay clubs, it’s located
at 5336 E. Admiral Place, a site vacant for
over a year last occupied by a straight biker club
called The Luclo! Shamrock. Dancers will be
featured 7 nights a xveek, taking up where the
old Endup left off, but with more than twice
the space and ample parking.
While it is planned and destined to be a swinging
spot for those wanting to watch male dancers,
it has more to offer as well. A section ofthe
bat" ,vi!l be like a regular bar, with pool tables,
cruising and conversation. Other fun endeavors
are planned also with Bathroom Bingo Nights
starting in January, hosted by emcee Earnest
from the ladle’s bathroom, rewarding winning
participants with cash and prizes.
Hours are from noon tmtil 2 a.m. 7 days a
week, so stop by and check it out, especially
during Happy Hour with $1 offall liquor
drinks from noon until 8 p.m. 7 days a week.
As Blake puts it, "xg&’re just looking to have a
good time with a bar that everybody’s gonna
love coming to." Sounds like a great beginning.
SUPPORTERS OF
IT¥ LIGHT UP
DOWNTOWN OKC
By Victor Gorin
Photo: Organizer Trey Hill with activistJames
Nimmo by Hctor Gorin
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ Around 30
determined souls braved the icy chill December
20 in OKC’s Bricktown near the entrance
of the Southwestern Bell Bricktown Ballpark,
holding a candlelight vigil supporting marriage
equality for all Americans, including the GLBT
community. Surprising, there were no negative
epithets, fisticuffs or even threats thereofmade
by Bricktown partygoers, only some interested
glances. The event did get media coverage by
KOKH Channel 25, and participants got a free
"Oklahoman for Marriage Equality T-Shirt;’
made possible thru the generosity ofJames
Nimmo, his partner Don Chabot and Brittany
Novotny.
The event came together through the organization
ofTrey Dill & Chuck Longacre, activists
also largely responsible for a previous rally at
the Oklahoma City Hall November 15 xvhich
brought out over 200 people protesting the
passage of Proposition 8, Which took away the
right ofsame sex marriage in California.
As Ms. Novotny praised the marchers, "As we
keep getting people out for events like this,
people won’t feel they have to be scared to be
who they are, and straight people won’t be as
scared to support us. We’ll keep doing this until
all ofOklahoma says Yes, You all are part ofus
and we’re all equal:
January 2009
N
Wockner News Service
Reports: No quick action
against DADT
President-elect Barack Obama rnay not move
quickly to repeal the military’s "don’t ask, don’t
tell" ban on open gays, according to published
reports.
A Nov. 24 report in The AtlantaJournal-Constitution
said: "Very quietly, the Obama team
has let it be known that the new administration
will not immediately reassess the U.S. military’s
policy of’don’t ask, don’t tell: ... Raising the
topic ofgays in the military was considered by
many to be the second oftwo out-of-the-box
decisions that ended badly for a newly elected
President Bill Clinton (in 1993)’.’
The National Journal and The Washington
Tunes said Obama might wait until 2010 to
’tackle the ban.
However, the gay newspaper ~Tashington
Blade reported Nov. 25 that an unnamed
Obama spokesperson said the mainstream-media
reports were premature.
"An Obama transition team spokesperson, who
spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the
decision on how to approach repealing ’Don’t
Ask, Don’t Tell’ ... would be ma& after more
experts have joined the Obama administration;’
the paper said.
"Tnese decisions will not be made before the
full national security team is in place;’ the
Blade quoted the spokesperson as saying.
AJuly poll by The \Vashington Post and ABC
News found that 75 percent ofAmericans said
"yes" when ~isked, "Do you think that homosexuals
who do publicly disclose their sexual
orientation should be allowed to serve in the
military or not ?"
The poll found that even Republicans (64
percent) and white evangelical Christians (57
percent) supported scrapping the ban.
The random survey of 1,119 Aanerican adults
had a margin oferror ofplus or minus 3 percentage
points.
Florida’s ban on gay
adoption struck down
A Florida circuit court in Miami struck down a
state law that barred lesbians and gay men from
adopting Nov. 25.
The court granted adoptions to a gay man,
represented by the American Civil Liberties
Union, who has been raising two foster children
since 2004.
"Our family just got a lot more to be thankful
for this Naanksgiving;’ said Martin Gill,
a North Miami resident who is raising two
brothers, ages 4 and 8, with his partner.
are extremely relieved that the court has recognized
that it is wrong to deny our boys the legal
protections and security that only" come with
adoption."
The court ruled that tile ban violated the equalprotection
guarantees of the state constitution
because it irrationally singled out gay people
and their children for different treatment.
The court also found that the ban denied
children the right to permanency provided by
federal and state law under the Adoption and
Safe Families Act of 1997.
"Reports and studies find that there are no
differences in the parenting ofhomosexuals
or the adjustment oftheir children;’ the court
said. "TheSe conclusions have been accepted,
adopted and ratified by the American psychological
Association, the American Psychiatry
Association, the American PediatriCAssociation,
the American Academy ofPediatrics,
the Child Welfare League ofAmerica and the
National Association ofSocial Workers. Based
on the robust nature ofthe evidence available
in the field, this Court is satisfied that the
issue is so far beyond dispute that it would be
irrational to hold otherwise; the best~interests
ofchildren are not preserved by prohibiting
homosexual adoption."
The Florida law barring gays and lesbians from
adopting was the most expansive anti-gay parenting
law in the country. It was passed in 1977
in response to an anti-gay crusade led by Miss
Oklalloma 1958, and orange-juice spokeswoman
Anita Bryant.
Admirals, Generals urge
DADT repeal
A former Army secretary and 103 retired admirals
and generals issued a call Nov. 17 for repeal
ofthe military’s "don’t ask, don’t tell" ban on
open gays.
Among the document’s signers were a former
Naval Academy superintendent, retired
four-star Adm. Chades Larson, and former
PresidentJimmy Carter’s Army secretary, Clifford
Mexander.
It is believed that there are about 65,000 gay
people serving in the military, not counting the
627 who were kicked out last year for failing to
stay sufficiently closeted.
Gay band, anti-gay
preacher to participate in
inauguration
Wanda Sykes comes out,
blasts Prop 8
The Lesbian and Gay Band Association, which
is composed of 34 marching and concert
bands fi’om the U.S., Canada and Australia,
will march in President-elect Barack Obama’s
inaugural parade Jan. 20.
Although LGBA concert bands performed at
inaugural celebratious t’or Bill Clinton in 1993
and 1997, this will be the first time a gay band
has marched in a presidential inaugural parade.
~ihe gay contingent will include t77 musicians
in the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue a~er
Obama is sworn in on the steps ofthe U.S.
Capitol.
In making their selections, the Presidential
Inaugural Committee and military musicians
assessed the applications of 1,400 marching
bands, drill teams and musical groups.
Nae committee’s Web site lists more than 40
such participating contingents, including several
high-school and university bands.
Meanwhile, Obama came under fire from gay
activists on Dec. 17 for selecting influential
evangelical preacher Rick xWarren to deliver the
invocation at the inauguration.
Human Rights Caxnpaign President Joe Solmonese
calAed the move ’h genuine bl0w to LGBT
Americans."
"We feel a deep level ofdisrespect when one
ofthe architects and promoters of an anti-gay
agenda is given the prominence and the pulpit
ofyour historic nomination; Solmonese said.
"Vge urge you to reconsider this announcement."
The National Gay arid Lesbian Task Force said,
"We urge President-elect Obama to withdraw
his invitation to Rick Warren and instead select
a faith leader who embraces fairness, equality
and the ideals the president-elect himselfhas
called the nation to uphold:
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
President Nell Giuliano said, "It is ... deeply
troubling that the President-elect has selected
.....Continued See Inauguration Page-11 ’
Comedian xYC:anda Sykes came out publicly
Nov. 15 at a Las Vegas rally against California’s
Proposition 8.
"When California passed Prop 8 ... I felt like
I was being attacked, personally attacked,
our community was attacked," Sykes said. "I
got married Oct. 25. You know, I don’t really
talk about nay sexual orientation, I didn’t feel
like I had to, I was just living my life and, not
necessarily in tile closet, but I was just living
my life. Everybody that knows me personally,
they know I’m gay. And that’s the way people
should be able to live their lives, xgre shouldn’t
have to be standing out here demanding
something that we automatically should have
as citizens ofthis country. And I got pissed off.
They pissed me off. I said, You know what, now
I gotta get in your face. And that’s what we all
have to do now."
Sykes said, as others have, that the passage of
Prop 8 did have an upside.
"They pissed offthe ~vrong group ofpeople,"
she said. "They have galvanized a community:
XWe are so together now and we all want the
same tiling and we are not going to settle for
less."
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The Las Vegas rally was part of a national day
ofprotest against Prop 8 that saw demonstrations
in 300 U.S. cities
and towns, including
such unlikely places
as Allentown, Fargo,
Fayetteville, La Crosse,
Macon, Shreveport and
Missoula.
In California, there
were protests Nov. 15
in 58 separate towns
and cities.
www.metrostarnews.corn N~÷troSTAR 7
Same-sex marriage bill
to be introduced in New
Hampshire
New Hampshire State Rep. Jim Splaine plans
to introduce a bill next year to legalize same-sex
marriage.
New Hampshire already has a comprehensive
same-sex civil-union law, and nearby Connecticut
and Massachusetts allow gay couples
to marry~
Splaine told the Concord Monitor newspaper
that the civil-union law bestows only about
90 percent of the state-level benefits and
obligations of marriage, xvhich leaves same-sex
couples without full equality under the law.
Some 600 same-sex couples have entered into a
civil union in New Hampshire.
EltonJohn does not support
same-sex marriage
Elton John says gays are wrong to want to get
married and should settle for civil unions.
"We’re (David Furnish and I) not married.
Let’s get that right;’ John told USA Today on
Nov. 12. "We have a civil partnership. What
is wrong with Proposition 8 is that mey went
for marriage. Marriage is going to put a lot of
people off, the,vord marriage.
"I don’t want to be married;’ John said.
very happy with a civil partnership. If gay
people want to get mar}led, Or get together,
they should have a civil partnership.... You ~et
the same e~ual rights.... Heterosexual peopm
get married:
John’s assertion about ~equal rights" is essentially
true in the United Kingdom, where John
and Furnish entered their civil partnership. ~Ihe
UK civil-partnership law is national in scope.
In the U.S., on the other hand, civil-union and
domestic-parmership laws are state laws that
grant equal rights only on the state level, leaving
civilly united gay couples without access
to-more than 1,000 federal rights, benefits and
obligations ofmarriage.
But, at the same time, the U.S. government also
does not recognize the same-sex marriages that
have taken place in California, Connecticut,
Massachusetts or abroad. However, it would
require less ofan overhaul of federal policy to
start recognizing married same-sex couples
than it would to create some kind ofnational
recognition of states’ hodgepodge ofcivilunion
and domestic-partnership laws, some of
which grant all state-level rights of marriage
and others ofwhich do not.
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has said
repeatedly that he supports extending federal
recognition to same-sex unions, though he
does not favor opening marriage itseltto samesex
couples, citing religious objections. Obama
nonetheless opposed California’s Proposition
8, in which voters amended the state constitution
on Nov. 4 to re-ban same-sex marriage.
ha a nutshell, Obama does not think gay
couples should have access to marriage but also
does not think any laws should be passed to
prevent gay couples from accessing marriage.
* U.S. adults are evenly divided on xvhether gay
couples should have access to marriage -- 47
percent say yes and 49 percent say no.
* Sixty-four percent think gays in the military
should not have to stay closeted, as required by
the =don’t ask, don’t tell" policy.
* Sixty-three percent support expanding
hate-crime la~vs to cover gay and transgender
people. At present, 31 states and the District
of Columbia have such laws that cover sexual
orientation and 12 of those laws also encompass
gender identity.
* Fifty-one percent favor protecting gay and
transgender people under existing laws that ban
discrimination in employment, housing and
public accommodations. Twenty states and the
District of Columbia have such laws that cover
sexual orientation and 13 of those laws also
encompass gender identity.
* Sixty-nine percent oppose bans on gay adoption.
=We observed a positive relationship between
knowing a gay or transgender person and one’s
attitudes toward them and the policy issues
that affect their lives," said Laura Light, Harris
Interactive’s vice president ofpublic-relations
research.
"Based on other surveys we have conducted
on attitudes toward LGBT people and issues,
the results ofthis survey suggest that public
sentiment in the U.S. is trending toward greater
acceptanF~ ofgay- and transgender-related
policy issues:’
The survey found that people under 65, and especially
those 18-34, are more gay-friendly than
people over 65. Women are generally more
supportive than men. Latinos are more supportive
than whites and blacks when it comes
to gays in the military. Blacks are more supportive
than whites and Latinos on hate-crime
laws. And Catholics and "mainline" Christians
(Protestant, Mormon or %ther Christian") are
more supportive than "born-again" Protestants,
Mormons or other Christians.
Nineteen percent ofthose questioned said
their feelings toward gay people have become
more favorable over the past five years. They
attributed the change to such things as knmving
someone who is gay, seeing gay people
on TV and in movies, passage ofgay-friendly
laws, news coverage ofgay issues, and learning
of the gay-friendly positions offriends, family
members and religious leaders.
"Knowing someone who is gay or lesbian" ,vas
the most significant factor, cited by 79 percent
ofthose whose feelings had evolved.
Seventy-three percent ofthose qu{stioned
know or work with a gay or transgender person
and halfof that 73 percent know or work with
five or more gay or traaasgender people, the
survey found.
Full poll results: tinyurl.com/6nojlq.
Iowa Supreme Court
hears marriage case
The Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments
Dec. 9 in Lan~bda Legal’s case on behalfof
same-sex couples who want to marry.
"XTge put our best case forward, and hope that
the court breathes life into the Iowa Constitution’s
promise of equality," said Senior Staff
Attorney Camilla Taylor.
The couples’ case was argued by former Iowa
Solicitor General Dennis Johnson of Dorsey &
Whimey.
"The government has no business standing in
the way ofa loving same-sex couple who wants
to take responsibility for each other and their
fancily," Johnson said.
Lambda filed suit in Polk County District
Court in 2005 on behalfofsix same-sex
couples who were denied marriage licenses,
arguing that the denials violated the liberty
and equality guarantees in the Iowa Constitution.
In 2007, the court agreed that banning
same-sex couples from marrying was unc0nstitutional,
and the county recorder and registrar
appealed to the state Supreme Court.
One gay couple -- Sean and Tim McQ,u)llan
ofAmes -- got married before Judge Robert
Hanson quickly suspended his ruling when it
was appealed.
8 ~÷~roSTAR January 2009
DVD" ’re Angels"
with the release oftheir album.
Jason and &Marco have recently
taken a&antage of C~l~ornlas
United
Metropolitan Community Church
Sunday Services @ 11:00 AM
1623 N. l~laplewood Tulsa, OK
918-838-1715
w.mcctuisa.org
Troy Don Wheat34ar 19, 1966 - Dec 6, 2008
TULSA, OK (OkEq) __ Troy Wheat, son
of Betty and Paul Wheat was born on March
19, 1966 in Alva, Oklahoma. He died on the
6th of December, at his home in Tulsa, at the
age of42 years, 8 months and 18 days.
Troy is survived by his parents Paul and Betty;
a sister and her husband, Paula and Bill Miller
ofWoodward; his significant other, Christopher
Roberts ofTulsa; two nieces and their
spouses, Shannon and Craig Chestnut and
thei} children Jace and Jayden ofMustang, Karrie
and Kendel Kay and their children Sloan,
Reece, Braton and Kinley ofAshland, Kansas;
a number ofother relatives and many friends.
He graduated from Alva High School in 1984.
After moving to Tulsa, Troy attended and
graduated cosmetology school in Jenks. He
became a successful stylist in Tulsa. He was
very involved in the Miss Cinderella, Miss
Oklahoma and Miss America Pageants. One
of the highlights ofhis life was when his client
won Miss America in 2006.
A family and friends visitation reception
was held Thursday December 1 lth at Ninde
Brookside Chapel, 3841 S. Peoria, Tul’sa, Oklahoma
74105.
Obituary ofMary Lorene Marlett,
mother ofDemo Candidate Ron
Marlett
Ron Marlett was the Democratic candidate
runmng against Mrs. Kern in HD 84.
The following is from Ron:
My mother. Mary Lorene Marlett, passed from
this world December 17.
She has suffered from Alzeheimers Disease the
past two years,
From my earliest years. I can remember her
involvement in the Canadian County Democratic
Party. She described herself as a Yellow
Dog Democrat, someone who would vote for a
yellow dog before voting for a Republican.
However. she loved her Republican friends.
In a community where racial epithets were
socially acceptable, she taught that those words
wouldn’t be tolerated in our household. When
I hear politicians talk of"family values", I
wonder if they were taught that racism wasn’t a
family value. I attended precinct meetings with
her and accompanied her to a state convention.
She raised my brother and me with values of
equality, fairness and the value ofhard work.
When I was younger she saw that I got to Little
League baseball games when my dad was tied
up responding to an electric outage in the rural
electric cooperative, xXihen I left home, she
became involved in my brother’s scouting as
was extremely proud ofhis attaining his Eagle
Scout Award.
When my father became disabled, she ;,cent
to work at XXrestern Hectric, later AT&T. She
continued there until being offered an early
retirement. She continued to live in Union
City after my father’s death in 1987. She began
having health problems that probably signalled
the onset ofAlzheirmers, but I was too close to
the situation to recognize it. About two years
ago a doctor diagnosed it and told me she had
two years left.
She celebrated her 75th birthday and received
letters from Oklahoma politicians praising
her for her ~vork for the party. Her long time
Democratic friend, Oberta Bergdall attended
that party.
She was particularly proud of having attended
President Carter’s inaugural ball. Toward the
end ofher life, no one in the Democratic Party
could really remember her. When I attended
the C:anadian County Democratic Bean Supper,
I felt I represented her.
She died surrounded by people who loved her
and was very peaceful mad free ofpain. I am
struck by the reliefI feel that she no longer
suffers and the realization that I will not see her
again.
She was a blessing to those she cared for and to
the Democratic Party she loved.
Ron Marlett
www.metrostarnews.com ~Oet~oSTAR 9
Close, but no cigar.
ByJan~es Nimmo
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ q-he recent release of the biopic
"Milk" about the life and death ofSan Francisco Supervisor
Harvey Milk revivified interest in Milk’s most famous phrases
such as "Come out, come out, wherever you are;’ and "Don’t
blend in:’
Another openly gay activist to have his speeches and writings
dusted offis Bayard Rustin, an openly gay African-American
who was a colleague ofDr. M.L. King and who was given behind-
the-scenes credit for organizing the March on Washington
in August, 1963 where Dr... King made his iconic and forward
lookAng"I Have a Dream" speech. Mr. Rustin was forced to take
a back-seat due to fears that his orientation and arrest record
would undoubtedly be used against the civil tights movement.
From the book Time on Two Crosses: The Collected Writings
of Bayard Rustin by Bayard Rustin (Cleis Press, Carbado and
Weise, editors) we get the succinct gay agenda, if there ever was
one, that I think most ofus gay/lesbian activists can agree on
"the job ofthe gay comnaunity is not to deal with extremists
who would castrate us or put us on an island and drop an Hbomb
on us."
The fact ofthe matter is that there is a small percentage of
people in America who understand the true nature of the
homosexual cornmunity. There is another small percentage who
will never understand us. Our job is not to get those people who
dislike us to love us. Nor was our aim in the civil rights movement
to get prejudiced white people to love us. Our aim was
to try to create the Idnd ofAmerica, legislatively, morally, and
psychologically, such that even though some whites continued
to hate us, they could not openly manifest that hate. That’s our
job today: to control the extent to which people can publicly
manifest anti-gay sentiment." (http://tiwurl.com/5w77yr)
What we should continue to be doing is proving our gay/lesbian
equality ofcitizenship to the broad range of the valuable demographic
~mown as the undecided, who politicians always court.
For our purposes it’s those people who all have gay and lesbian
family members or friends, xvho wouldn’t think ofhurting them
but somehow aren’t connecting the dots that ifsome of us gays
and lesbians are getting hurt, all ofus get hurt.
Dr. King said it in a more engraved style: "It may be true that
the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from
lynching me, and I think that’s pretty important."
Laws don’t prevent crime or change the minds of the incorrigible,
but laws do provide a way to legally make it uncomfortable
for prejudice and violence to be acted out against minorities.
~is is one reason our enemies are very anxious that hate crimes
bills that include language for the protection ofsexual orientation
and gender presentation are not passed either at the Federal
or state level. Our opponents claim such laws would limit
speech and hamper the free exercise of religion. But as Rep Barhey
Dank (Mass.) said earlier in December, 2008 at a Victory
Fund luncheon, these laws are directed at actions ofviolence not
at xvords; expression is not the target ofhate crimes laws, but
physica! behavior is. (http://tinyurl.com/5963au)
Yes, we truly live in the age ofOrwell xvhere words can be
wolves in sheep’s clothing. We read ofMormon and Catholic
spokespeople offended by the peaceful protests ofgay/lesbian
supporters in reaction to losing the November Prop. 8 vote in
California.
It seems these t~vo denominations that gave much of the money
fueling the thei~ ofa civil right in California were surprised
by the bacHash to the imposition of their religious dogma on
the non-member citizens of California
( http:/itinyurl.com/6qp2xz ), (http://tinyurl.com/6215gd).
To me, it looks as ifthe First Amendment establishment clause
is being ignored because there are some denominations that ~vill
perform same-gender marriages yet their religious freedom is being
abridged by the passage ofProp 8.
And just why does prejudice and discrimination seem to originate
with bible-trumpeting homo-haters ?
Could it be because they already live in a ddusional world of
superstition and make-believe, offairy stories about sky-based
good things, and dark-and-dirty ground-based bad things ?
Could it be because they still live in the world ofBronze Age
nomads ~vho had no science and no concept ofa world beyond
the horizon they could walk toward in a day?
The current (I hesitate to call them "modern day") generation
offtmdies lives in a world of technology and communication
that would seem like godly magic to their Abrahamic ancestors.
They use this science to disperse their simplistic balderdash
that’s rooted in desert-wandering myths and witch-doctoring
and think nothing ofthe plain evidence and contradictions that
shows them to be deeply deluded and ignorant. "Ihe last hundred
years have passed them by and disproved the ancient runes
and cabals they so desperately need to explain their conflicting
childhood dreams ofomnipotent, omniscient super heroes
rescuing them from death and oblivion.
Personally I don’t care what they do as consenting adults in the
privacy of their religious establishments or even on the public
street corner. However, no group has the legal prover to impose
religious dogma in the law books ofany state or Federa! code.
There continues to be a principle ofseparation ofchurch and
state, equality and liberty for all, that is paramount to the continuation
of this country as it was founded. African-Americans,
Native Americans, and women have gained their civil equality
in spite of the restrictions originally written in the Constitution
and later remedied by Amendments.
So far, 30 states have amendments or laws forbidding same-gender
marriage in addition to the alleged "Defense ofMarriage
Act" (DOMA). Two states have understood the rights ofgays
and lesbians to have civil marriage, Massachusetts and Connecticut,
with a handful ofstates having various marriage-like rights
available but not the real thing. Close, but no cigar!
Just as Plessy ~: Ferguson was overturned by Brown v. Board
ofEducation ending educational segregation; just as Bowers
v. Hardwick was overturned by Lawrence and Garner v. Texas
removing sodomy laws from enforcement, just as Colorado’s
Amendment 2 was overturned with Romer v. Evans, we can
look forward to our day in a courtroom as well as the court of
public opinion.
Although Frederick Douglass was disappointed by the 1857
Dredd Scott decision that refused full citizenship to free blacks
as well as slaves, he found a reason to look forward, saying, "My
hopes were never brighter than now." Slavery was brought to
forefront ofthe country and the unsavory ownership ofpeople
could no longer be ignored.
Though we gay citizens are not owued physically, our social and
economic prospects are curtailed. Thanks to our enemies, our
own equality prospects been brought to the forefront and our
equality will be won.
Straights and Homophobes: lae
Words hat Bind Us.
By Gerald Libonati
Language shapes our self-image and some of the words we use
are misleading, inadequate or just plain wrong.
Take the word straig!at, for instance. "We use it to describe
heteros; men and women who are not gay or lesbian. And every
time we use the term we indirectly insult ourselves. What does
the word mean in our society?
Straight means proper, upstanding, law-abiding and decent. Are
~oruugbs,eiynogu’srterasitgrahitgwhti.thIfmyoeu, ’rreefegrosotdo,hyoonuetsrta)v:eWl thheenstyroaiug’rhet-oafnfdnarrow.
’Damn straight’ means emphatically right, unequiv0-
cally correct.
So ifheteros are straight what does that make us - crooked,
dishonest, drugged and apparently indecent ?
We need to think ofourselves in a way that reflects the goodness
and quality that exists within our ranks, g[e are terrific people
and we may as well acknowledge that in our language.
Another word that completely escaped our gaydar is the term
homophobia. We use it to define prejudice against gay and lesbian
people. But it just doesn’t seem to be up to the job. It’s weak
and ambiguous. When we talk about someone who dislikes others
based on their skin color we call them racist. Much stronger
word. Phobic people, in general, tend to be fearful but polite.
People who openly disapprove ofgay/lesbian folks are neither.
Are we too nice when ~ve describe our critics in such an affable
way? Homophobic! Doesn’t sound so bad. Surely, the terms
they have for us are more forthright.
Who thought of calling hatred a phobia, anyway? Ac,t,t}ally, it
was psychologist George Weinberg in his 1972book Society
and the Healthy Honaosexual:’ He was tapping into the theory
that violence toward gay people came about because of a fear of
homosexuality, especially by those repressing their own same-sex
urges.
But what about all the other gay bashers who aren’t reacting to
their inner homo ?
The rest ofthe world has already learned that words define us
to others and molds our selfqmage. That’swhy secretaries are
executive assistants and garbage men are sanitation engineers.
GeraM Libonati is the author afthe neu, novel Pete*" [’Vo~7 the storr af:a
fiam°uv.~Ta ro& star who ~oes incognito mfind love. He ~s an award-winningjournalist
in &uth £1orig, workingfir the Sun-SentineL He has also
wri~enJbr ~e .~iiami He,ald, ~e dd~ocam andfi’egznce~jbrgaT/tesbian
newspapers around t,~e munW.
10 ~,~÷t~oSTAR January 2009
ROBERT MATSON’S LATEST
EPIC "A GATHERING" AND
HIS NEW NTURES UPCOMING
By Victor Gorin
Photo: RobertMatson by Victor Go,qn
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ Lyric’s Plaza Theater hosted
a unique play with A Gathering, but Robert is a playwright
where one can count on non-convention. After all he brought
us Tails of the Closet and Drama Q~eens, and even a masculine
answer to the Vagina Monologues entitled Beneath the Zipper,
which celebrated the penis. But who ~v0~ld have expdcted agay
thriller on stage, with seat edging suspense that would have awed
Agatha Christie herself? But there it was, entitled A Gathering,
where 9 gay men are trapped on an isolated island, cut offffom
the outside world, and there is a killer or killers among them.
With a scenario almost identical to Agatha Christie’s novel,
"And then there were None," it starts offfun and campy with
the wisecracking antics ofToW "Toneisha" Hayes ( portrayed by
Chris Castleberry) who was supposed to be drag entertainment
but instead was the first to go. Then there was the hard drinking
Dr. James Armstrong ( portrayed by Timothy Stewart), a self
proclaimed bisexual who was enamored with Toneisha ~vhile
she lasted. The play ends in surprise as character Neil Lawrence
( portrayed by Jerome Stevenson) turns out to be the killer, and
concludes with his suicide and that of the last left one left alive,
the handsome resort employee Courmey Claythorne( portrayed
by Scott Hynes), who xvas left xvith the bitter choice ofself destruction
or being accused of murdering all the others when the
authorities eventually arrived.
What inspired this wild tale ? W’ell, besides Agatha Christie, Mr.
Matson added that "I love murder mysteries. I wanted to give
Agatha’s story a different twist. This xvould be a great piece to
work with, and how to make it xvork with 9 gay men. I worked
on it for about 2 years."
Although he has done past work with maW theater companies
includingJewel Box, CityRep, Guthrie’s Pollard Theater &
Carpenter Square, he is currently the Academy Administrator
for Lyric Academy, which involves registration for acting classes
taught there and he teaches adult acting classes as well. As for
the fnture, he is working on" a couple things, including a loud
gay comedy with Oklahoma ties to it." But that’s all he’ll say
right now, so we can all be breathless with anticipation.
someone whose defamatory and damaging anti-gay statements
and vie~vs ... clearly divide rather than unite Americans."
Gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., called Obama’s move very
disappointing.
~Religious leaders obviously have every right to speak out in opposition
to anti-discrimination measures, even in the degrading
terms that Rev. Warren has used with regard to same-sex marriage;’
Frank said. "But that does not confer upon them the right
to a place ofhonor in the inauguration ceremony of a president
whose stated commitment to LGBT rights won him the strong
support ofthe great majority ofthose who support that cause:’
GeoffKors, executive director of Equality California, said he is
so annoyed by Warren’s participation that he will boycott the
inauguration.
"I have decided to decline the invitation to attend the inauguration
as I cannot be part ofa celebration that highlights and
gives voice to someone who advocated repealing rights from me
and millions ofother Californians;’ Kors said. "Rick Warren ...
actively works to dMde Americans based on who we are and has
been an ardent supporter of efforts to ostracize LGBT Americans:’
Speaking in support of California’s Proposition 8 before the
November election, Warren said, "We should not let 2 percent
of the population change a definition ofmarriage that has been
supported by every single culture and every single religion for
5,000 years.
In reality, many cultures over the past 5,000 years have embraced
polygamy.
More recently, Warren told
Beliefnet.com that same-sex
marriage is equivalent to
"having a broth& anff Sist& b~
together
... an 01der ~ "
and calling that a marriage...
one gw having multiple wives
and calling that marriage."
(Warren: ’Tin opposed to the
redefinition ofa 5,000-year definition
ofmarriage. I’m opposed
to having a brother and sister be
together and call that marriage.
I’m opposed to an older gny
marrying a child and calling that
a marriage. I’m opposed to one
guy having multiple wives and
calling that marriage:’ Interviewer:
"You think those are
equivalent to gays getting married?"
Warren: "Oh, I do:’)
Brooklyn man
dies after probable
ha e attack
A Brooklyn man who was attacked
with a baseball bat Dec.
7 as he walked arm in arm with
his brother died on Dec. 12.
Josd Sucuzhafia); a 31-year-old
Ecuadorean immigrant, and his
brother were walking together
in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood
after a night out when
three black men shouting
nationa
anti-gay and anti-Latino slurs jumped from an SUV and broke
a beer bottle over Sucuzhafiay’s head, beat him with a bat and
kicked him.
The brother, Romel, escaped down the street, then returned
to the scene and scared offthe attackers by telling them he’d
phoned police on his cell phone.
Police are investigating the killing as a hate crime and are offering
a $27,000 award for information leading to apprehension of
the assailants.
On Dec. 13, hundreds ofprotesters marched from a Bushwick
park to the site of the attack.
Hundreds ofprotesters marched in Brooklyn Dec. 13 after an
Ecuadorean man who was walkinga~n in arm with h# brother
was attacked with a baseball bat and later died. 2he assailants
shouted ann’-gay slurs. Photo byJoeJervis.
www.metrostarnews.com [~Ie~°oSTAR 11
@ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa
@ Steve’s Hideaway, Tulsa
@Club 209, Tulsa
@ ~e Second Chance Animal Sanctuary
@ Finishline, Oklahoma City
@ The Copa, Oklahoma City
@ The End Up, Tulsa
@Angles, Oklahoma City
@Club Majestic, Tulsa
@ The Ledo, Oklahoma City
CLUB 209 HOSTS PHOTOGPHERVINCENT
SCOTT
Ok ahomans for Equality art gallery
opens Josh New photo e libit
By Judy Gabbard
Arches by Photographer Hncent Scott
Photography Art byJosh New
TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center art
gallery starts a new year ofit’s monthly First Thursday meetthe-
artist receptions featuring photographs from native Tulsa
resident Josh New. The reception will be held Thursday, January
1st, 2009, from 6-9pm.
Josh New, a teacher ofJapanese at Booker T Washington High
School, is currently a graduate student at the University of
Tulsa in photography.
TULSA, OK__ Dennis Olson, owner ofDoArt Worlds,
sponsored the opening of "Pioneering Seas6n" featuring the
photography ofVincent Scott at Club 209, Tulsds Arts Bar in
the historical Brady District. Club 209 features various artists
throughout the year. The Club is also a great place to enjoy local
entertainment on weekends, such as Vallerie Star Light Rock +
Acoustic, Rebecca Ungerma~i with the Frank Brown Trio and
the Three Penny Upright, A Little Bluegrass. Visit Club 209
on the web at www.club209tulsa.com for monthly updates on
art exhibits and entdrtainment.
Vincent Scott is a world traveled photographer whose eye for
the beauty in our world, has thrilled many onlookers coast to
coast. Dennis Olson, an artist in his own right, chose to sponsor
these photographs because ofMr. Scott’s photographic eye and
production techniques. To contact Dennis Olson emaih do@
doart~vorld.org. The opening night was an exciting experience of
fine art, flowing wine and the admiration’ ofhundreds ofguest.
After graduating from Oklahoma State, Mr. New worked in
Japan for three years, where he developed a love oftravel and
the exotic. Since then he has traveled to many countries and
discovered a talent in photography. That love and talent has
brought Inm to TU to ~rther hone his s-kill aa~d allow hu~ the
freedom to experiment aa~d take his photographs further than
just glorified vacation photos.
"My photographs have been, more than anything, my attempt
to control and catalog the world around me’; states New. "I’m
moving in a direction where I am starting to manipulate my
images to illuminate my thoughts and ideas, but they primarily
remain shots ofthe patterns and vibrant colors I see around
me. This exhibit is a sampling ofboth photos I have taken on
my journeys and the first steps in my attempt to, essentially,
photograph my thoughts, which also seem to be constructed in
colors and patterns"
The exhibit will remain up through the month ofJanuary, and
can be viewed Monday thru Saturday from 3-9pro. The Dennis
R. Neill Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th St., in downtown
Tulsa. More info can be found on the web at okeq.org.
Community Fellowship
"A place where you can be who God created
you to be andfriendghips becomefamily"
ors ip Experience
Sund s 5:30 p.m.
Pastor Neill @urgin
Pasto ressionsOKC, corn
(~05) 761-1878
"~w.ExpressionsOKC.com
Meeting at
Lansbrook ~¢ent Center
6009 NWE~pressway
Oklahoma Cio~, OK
Calif. Attorney
General Brown:
Prop 8 is invalid
by Rex g¢ockne~
In a stunninglegal move,
California Attorney General
Jerry Brown formally urged the
California Supreme Court to
invalidate Proposition 8 on Dec.
19 because, in re-banning sanaesex
couples from marrying, the
voter-approved constitutional
amendment deprived people
of an aspect ofliberty that the
Supreme Court previously had
concluded is guaranteed by the
California Constitution.
Ordinarily, it is the attorney geqeral’s job to defend the state’s
laws, not attack them.
"Proposition 8 must be invalidated because the amendment
process cannot be used to extinguish fundamental constitutional
rights without compelling justification;’ Brown said in a
statement.
"There are certain rights that are not to be subject to popular
votes, otherwise they are not fundaanental rights;’ he added in
an interview xvith the San Jose Mercury News. "Ifevery fundamental
liberty can be stripped away by a majority vote, then it’s
not a fundamental liberty:’
Rejecting recent arguments submitted to the state Supreme
Court by gay-rights lawyers, Brown concluded that existing
case-law precedents ofthe court do not invalidate Proposition
8 either as an improper revision of the state constitution or as
a violation ofthe separation-of-provers doctrine. But that does
not resolve the matter; he said.
In its May 15 decision legalizing same-sex marriage, the state
Supreme Court "held that article I, section 1 ofthe California
Constitution provides a right to marry that cannot be denied
to same-sex couples;’ Brown’s office said. "In order to invalidate
such a fundamental right, the court must determine that there
is a compelling justification to do so. But in (its decision), the
court found that no such compelling justification exists. Accordingly,
Proposition 8 must be stricken."
"~ae use ofthe (ballot) initiative power to take avcay a legal
right deemed by this Court to be fundamental and from a group
defined by a suspect classification is a matter ofgrave concern;’
Brown said in his brief to the court. "Proposition 8 should be
invalidated as violating the inalienable right ofliberty found in
article I, section 1 ofour Constitution."
In its May decision, the state Supreme Court struck dmwa the
state’s opposite-sex definition ofmarriage as unconstitutional,
citing a fundamental right to marry under the state constitution
and the constitution’s guarantee ofequal protection under the
lav,r,
The court further determined -- in a move that legal analysts
said was unprecedented for a supreme court -- that any discrimination
based on sexual orientation is constitutionally subject to
the strictest level ofscrutiny by courts, which made it dramatically
harder for any level ofgovernment in California to defend
itself in any arena where gays, lesbians and bisexuals are not
treated the same as heterosexuals.
This was accomplished by the court’s declaring sexual orientation
to be, like race and religion, a so-called "suspect classification"
-- a categorization that forces any government in California
that treats GLB people differently in any way to prove it has
a specific compelling interest, rather than a mere rational basis,
for doing so.
While Prop 8 wiped out the part of the court’s decision that
legalized same-sex marriage, it did not alter the more ground-
,b,reaking part of the ruling that found sexual orientatiT~n to be a
suspect classification.
Gay rights lawyers said back in May that the suspect-classification
determination would prove to be even more ofa
game-changer for California gays in the long run than xvas the
decision to legalize same-sex marriage.
IfBrown’s argument passes muster with the state Supreme
Court, that prediction will have been borne out.
Equality California Executive Director GeoffKors praised
Brown’s court brief and its novel argument.
"He just demonstrated the ldnd ofleadership that isn’t motivated
bypolitical expediency but by what is right," said the head
of the state’s leading gay lobby group.
HIV diagnoses among
European gay men nearly
double since 2000
HIV diagnoses among men who have sex
with men (MSM) increased 86 percent in 23
European countries between 2000 and 2006
-- from 3,003 cases to 5,571 cases -- according
tO a report in the journal Sexually Transmitted
Infections.
Researchers from the EuroHIV program
analyzed data from 24 of the 27 member nations
of the European Union along with data
from Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, and
compared those figures with similar year-2000
data gathered from 23 nations.
There were 7,693 ne,v HIV cases reported
overall among MSM in 2006, ofwhich 2,597
occurred in the United Kingdom. Other
nations with high diagnosis rates included
the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Portugal and
Switzerland.
Much lower rates ofMSM diagnoses were
found in Hungary, Lithuania and Slovenia,
even though Hungary saw a 118 percent
increase over 2000 and Slovenia saw a 257
percent increase.
Four nations saw a decline in new HIV diagnoses
among MSM over the six-year period:
Cyprus, Iceland, Lithuania and Luxembourg
(though Luxembourg’s rate is still high).
The researchers said stepped-up HIV testing
may have affected the statistics to some degree,
meaning an increase in diagnoses may not
correlate precisely ~vith an increase in actual
infections.
They also suggested that infections may be
increasing as HIV-positive men who have sex
with men live longer and remain sexually active
and presumably able to pass on the virus.
Other findings included:
* In 20 countries, the percentage ofMSM who
had full-blown AIDS at the time oftheir HIV
diagnosis decreased from 25 percent in 2000 to
t0 percent in 2006.
* In 30 countries, full-blown AIDS diagnoses
decreased from 2,422 in 2000 to 1,445 in
2006.
* In those same countries, HIV-related deaths
decreased 57 percent over the period, from 876
in 2000 to 373 in 2006.
"’qge have reported a recent increase in the
number ofHIV diagnoses among MSM in
nearly all (European) countries, and in some
countries this probably" represents a true increase
in incidence;’ the researchers said. "This,
combined with the high prevalence ofHIV
reported in many gay community settings,
the high prevalence ofHIV among MSM
diagnosed with STI (sexually transmitted
infection) and the high sexual mobility of this
population, highlight the need for a Europewide
HIV prevention strategy:’
Wockner News Service
Sweden to strike six sexual
diagnoses from list
Sweden’s National Board ofHealth and Welfare
will strike six sexual diagnoses from the
nation’s official list ofmedical diagnoses onJan.
1, Stocldaolm’s ~ae Local newspaper reported.
The agency will remove transvestism, fetishism,
fetishistic transvestism, sadomasochism,
gender-identity disorder in youth and multiple
disorders ofsexual preferences from the list.
"W’e don’t want to contribute to certain sexual
behaviors being thought ofas diseases," said
board director Lars-Erik Holm. "These diagnoses
are rooted in a time when everything other
th~ the heterosexual missionary position was
seen as sexual perversions."
Homosexuality was removed from the list 30
years ago.
Australian Parliament
gives gay couples equal
rights
Australia’s Senate and House of Representatives
passed legislation in late November that
changes some 100 laws to give gay couples
equal rights.
The measure now goes to the Governor-General
for formal approval.
The changes, introduced by the federal government,
extend spousal rights to same-sex
de facto couples in areas such as health care, ’
taxation, pensions, parenting, public benefits,
workplace benefits, workers’ compensation,
veterans’ affairs, elder care and educational
assistance.
"At long last we have removed discrimination
against same-sex couples from commonwealth
law;’ said Attorney-General Robert McClelland.
Gay campaigners cheered the.move but said
gay couples will not have complete equality
until they can get married.
Chinese gay HIV cases
increase
The percentage ofgay men in China ~vho are
HIV-positive increased from 0.4 percent in
2005 to 4.9 percent this year, the Ministry of
Health said Nov. 28.
But straight sex remains the predominant way
HIV is transmitted in China, accounting for
40 percent ofnew infections, compared with
28 percent from IV drug use and 5 percent
from gay sex.
The gay statistics were based on data collected
from 18,000 gay men in more than 60 cities.
China has recorded a total of260,000 HIV
cases, 77,000 AIDS cases and 34,000 AIDSrelated
deaths.
Burundi’s parliament
votes to ban gay sex
The parliament of the Central African nation
ofBurundi voted to specifically criminalize gay
sex Nov. 22 as part ofa package ofmore than
600 legal changes that included abolition ofthe
death penalty, news reports said.
According to Amnesty International, male,
male sex previously was banned and,ptmished
under laxvs governing "immoral acts.
The vote on the changes was 90 to 0 with 10
abstentions. The measure now moves to the
Senate, then to President Pierre Nkurunziza.
Neither is expected to oppose it.
The small, landlocked nation has a population
of 8.7 million, a life expectancy ofless than 52
years, and a per capita gross domestic product
at purchasing-power parity of $300. ~l-he comparable
figure for the U.S. is $45,800. Norway’s
is $ 53,300, Mexico’s is $12,400 and Vietnam’s
is $2,600.
80% ofSouth A ricans
thimk gay sex is wrong
Despite a constitutional ban on discrimination
based on sexual orientation and its being one
of only six nations where same-sex couples can
marry, South Africa remains deeply homophobic,
a new survey has found.
The Human Sciences Research Council’s annual
South African Social Attitudes Survey,
released Nov. 24, found that 80 percent of
respondents think gay sex is wrong.
Whites, city dwellers and highly educated
people polled less anti-gay than blacks, "coloureds"
(mixed-race people), people with less
education and those living in rural areas, the
Sunday Times reported.
Britain to count gay populafion
Britain’s Office for National Statistics is going
to count the gay
population.
Starting in January, a sexual-orientation question
will be included in
several of the office’s routine surveys, leading to
an eventual estimate
of the size of the nation’s gay community.
Respondents will choose from heterosexual/
straight, gay/lesbian,
bisexual or "other" -- or can opt not to answer.
Officials say the results will be useful for gauging
levels of
discrimination and unequal treatment and addressing
those problems.
The signatories overcame strong opposition
from a group ofgovernments that routinely try
to block UN attention to issues ofsexual orientation
and gender identity. Fifty-seven nations
signed an alternative statement, promoted by
the Organization of the Islamic Conference,
that affirmed the "principles of non-discrimination
and equality," but said universal human
rights do not include "the attempt to focus
on the rights ofcertain persons" because "the
notion oforientation spans a wide range of
persona] choices that expand way beyond
the individual’s sexual interest in copulatory
behavior with normal consenting adult human
beings, thereby ushering in the social normalization,
and possibly legitimization ofmany
deplorable acts:
~ae countries that signed the pro-gay statement
are Mbania, Andorra, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,
Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia,
Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany,
Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius,
Mexico, Montenegro, Nepal, Netherlands,
New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, S~o
Tomd and Prlncipe, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Former
Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia, Timor-Leste,
unite~Kingd0m, Uruguay ~Venezueta~ .....
The United States refused to sign the statement,
saying its broad language could reach
into areas that fall outside of federal jurisdiction,
such as the right of each U.S. state to
define marriage.
qt is altogether shameful that on this 60th anniversary
of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, the Bush administration should
take one final swipe at the universal application
ofhuman rights for all;’ said Julie Dorfof the
Council for Global Equality. "The shoe incident
in Iraq last week painfully shows us how
low this country has sunk in the world’s view."
Gays march in Hong
Kong £or first time
Hong Kong saw its first gay pride parade Dec.
13. About 1,000 people marched, including
many who came from Taiwan and mainland
China.
~he two-mile procession traversed Hennessy
Road in the city center.
Attendance may have been positively, influenced
by news reports before the parade, when
Hong Kong’s biggest bus company refused to
rent a double-decker bus to pride organizers.
14 Janua~ 2009
Larry: I see it as being a representative, not just for OGRA or
the gay community but also the State of Oklahoma. We go to
other states and other rodeos and meet a lot ofpeople. Also
important is our fund-raising, which is one ofthe reasons I went
for this title.
Victor: This fund-raising not only helps the charities themselves,
but I’m sure you also see it as promoting the positive
image ofthe GLBT people in the cowboy lifestyle.
Larry: It think it has, and I think a lot ofyoung people have
gotten interested in it because ofthe fund-raising, shows and related
activity. Also people see you don’t have to be a full fledged
cmvboy, just interested in die country lifestyle and having fun.
Victor: Although the world is changing, OGRA still defies
sonle stereotypica! beliefs..
Photo by Chaz
competition is asgreatfor the Cowgirls and Cowboys at
OGR~4’~; Great PLains Rodeo as an), other rodeo.
Larry: Strangely enough, there are still people we encounter
who are shod~ed that there are gay cowboys, that they even exist.
They have interesting questions, such as "Are the rodeos really
rodeos ? .... Do you really ride horses ?"
Victor: Have you ever really roped a cow ?
Larry: Yes I have, nay parents have owned ranches and I have
roped cows, branded cattle, pulled calves, done all diat.
Victor: You grew up in a small town?
Larry: Ha}wcorth, a small town not far from Idabel. g[e lived
on a f~trm there, went to school, did our chores, slopped the
hogs, fed the chickens, took care ofthe horses. We even rode our
horses to school when the buses couldn’t get through.
Victor: So you had a typical growing up there ?
Larry: Yes, but my family moved around a lot, and I experienced
city life as well. I got involved ~vitll the gay community after I
graduated from O!dahonia Christian University ofEdmond
witli a degree of Marketing & Business. After moving back to
IdabeI, my first gay bar experience was the Roundup in Dallas.
I soon began working with HIV organizations including the
Mariah Foundation, Carepoint, and with the OHahoma State
Health Department.
Victor: But the shining star ofOGRA is the Great Plains Rodeo,
which has been held at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds for
many years as a Memorial Day weekend celebration.
Larry: More and more people are coming to that and really having
fun. Some people are surprised that our rodeos are truly the
same "kind ofrodeos, although we do feature goat dressing and
sometimes other campy events thrown in.
Victor: What impact do you think t~he movie Brokeback
Mountain had on the gay community, society in general, and in
particular gay cowboys ?
Larry: Really it brought the gay community into the mainstream,
that there was more to the gay community than an
urbaaa community ofdrag queens & flamboyant individuals, to
see them as regular people with difficulties we all face in real life.
It made the gay cowboys feel more accepted, to let them kalow
they can be themselves. It also educated the urban gay community
of the problems rural gays face.
Victor: ~¢¢’here do you see die future ofOGRA?
Larry: When OGRA began we were teaming up witl~ other
states, and now we’re doing one the largest rodeos on our own.
Ofcourse we’d like to see more people volunteer, but to put tllis
on with the resources we have shows a true hardworking spirit of
Oklahomans.
Victor: How long have you been in Oklahoma City ?
Larry: Seven years, and I have felt good seeing the increased
interest in OGRA and the friends I have made there. I have been
glad to hear from out oftowners how impressed they are that
the various parts ofthe gay communit); the disco crowd, drag
queens, the cowboys, the lesbians, get along so well together
compared to other places.
Victor: So how do people learu more about OGRA?
Larry: ~lere~ our website ~a-,wv.ogra.net, to learn what we’re
doing, about our events, and other related organizations & chatrooms
where one can talk with other cowboys and learn even
more. There’s room for all types ofpeople and talent, lesbians,
gay" men and we also have some straight members.
There you have it, a proud tradition now 23 years young derived
from the frontier spirit ofOklahoma. The GLBT community
ofOklahoma can look forward to ~vhat OGRA can do for our
future.
Connecticut unlikely to amend
constitution on marriage
Connecticut voters strong!y oppose anaending the state constitution
to re-ban same-sex marriage, according to a QEinnipiac
University poll released Dec. 17.
The poll of 1,445 registered voters found that 61 percent oppose
an anlendment and only 33 percent support it.
Same-sex couples began marrying in Connecticut on Nov. 12
after the state Supreme Court ruled that offering gay couples
onbi civil unions violated the state constitution’s guarantee of
equal protection under the law.
The poll found dlat 52 percent ofvoters agreed with the Supreme
Court’s decision, 39 percent did not and 9 percent had
no opinion.
The poll’s margin oferror was plus or minus 2.6 percentage
points.
MERI Day ofService to Provide
for Foster Children in Rhode Island
& Arkansas
RHODE ISLAND (PR) Dec 8 __ As Marriage Equality
Rh6de Island (MERI) made a commitment to community
service this holiday season it couldn’t help but acknovdedge
sorrow at the passage ofAct 1 in Arkansas, a thinly veiled attack
on the gay community that bans unmarried couples from
adopting children or serving as foster parents. Although the
Arkansas state motto calls for both "Mercy andJustice; neither
was demonstrated by proponents ofthis legislation which harms
families and children. MERI fights for the rights and protection
ofall families in seeking marriage equality for Rhode Island’s
GLBT residents.
On \Vednesday,
December
10 MERI xvas
at the State
House to collect
items for
not only" the
RI Food Bank,
Crossroads,
Amos House
mid the IRIE
Transitional
Home for
women and
children, but
also the foster
children ofArkansas
xvhose
wishes for new
families have
been curtailed.
Mayor Dani
Joy ofEureka ....
Springs, Arkansas
accepted
and distributed
RI donations.
In her letter
to MERI,
Joy stated, "I am greatly honored that your organization would
focus your energy and compassion on our many children that receive
foster care throughout our state. With the passage ofAct I
our state is left with a large number ofchildren that are either in
need offoster care, or currently in foster care... Again, let me say
that I am in axve ofyour compassion during this holiday, season.
We are truly grateful,"
File Photo Eureka Springs Birayor DaniJoy
Food bank requests included boxed and canned goods, pmvered
and evaporated milk, potato flakes, cereal, oatmeal, pasta, rice,
soup, condiments, crackers, tuna, peanut butter, jelly/jam and
juice. Amos House needs coffee and personal hygiene items.
Crossroads could use slippers, hats, mittens, gloves and scarves
for men, women and children (4 mos - 18).
The young women and their children living at the IRIE Transitional
Program, under the auspices of the RI Foster Parent
Association (RIFPA) learn skills to improve their lives mid break
the cycle ofpoverty. Ten teens ages 16-20 and their 7 children,
ages 4 months - 6 years, live in the facility. Contact MERI for
items noted on the IRIE wish list.
MERI Day ofService partners include RI Pride, inFOCUS and
the Gay Straight Alliance ofWarwick Veteran’s Memorial High
School. For raore information, contact Susan MacNeil at smacneil@
marriageequalityri.org or by calling 401-463-5368
www.metrostarnews.com ~÷t~oSTAR 15
We have a lot to celebrate including the January
20th date for President elect Obama. This year
may be the start of something big for each of
us and our personal endeavors. This is truly a
time to click our glasses together. Here is a litde
about sparkling wines from France and Spain
Champagne
French monks were the first to bottle a sparkling
forra ofwine called Champagne, named
after the Champagne region ofFrance.
The method of making "mousse" (another
name fbr bubbles) in a bottle was invented by
the efforts ofD~reJean Oudart (1654 - 1742)
and Dora Pierre Pdrignon (1639 - 1715),
Benedictine monks and cellarmasters at the
respective abbeys of Saint-Pierre aux Monts de
Chalons and Saint-Pierre d’Hautvillers,
The region ofChampagne has a colder and
shorter growing season. Champagne grapes
had to be picked late in the year, with less time
available for fermentation. During fermentation
yeasts are used to convert the sugars of
the grape juice into alcohol and cold winter
temperatures stopped the process. The monks
developed a method of making Champagne
wine by using a second fermentation process
that took place in the bottle during the following
spring. The second fermentation created
carbon-dioxide bubbles that are the sparkle of
Champagne.
Cava
A Spanish sparkling wine is called Cava and
was first made as early as 1851, although the
true roots ofthe Cava wine industry can be
traced back to Josd Raventos’ travels through
Europe in the 1860s, where he was promoting
the still wines ofhis Codorniu winery. His
visits to the Champagne region sparked an
interest in the potential of a Spanish version
Happy fmay noF fi~ ~yeryqne s budget, and its super New ~.... " DPoenr~lgnon. Rose 96/Sn-nply_ _puta; lthough.
h~rd to fifid~ thi~ wifie is ~ller~
of the sparHing wine, usifig th~ same~ , p.roduction
methods. ~e local Maekbeo, P~retlada Inmerial Nectar/This one is
and Xareldo grapes were well smtqd t~h~s more in~er~sting than {he Wliite Star. It~ fruit
wine st de and whereas earlY versions W~e f.o.rw.a.rd..& 9ffdry- deh-cl¯ous.
called champ~n or xampany after Champa~~ .
Catalan winemakers wadted ~o dis{ingui-sh 5~< [: Piper,Hela ieck B~Ut
from the Vr nc 0un par ,
adopted the name Cava aAer the Cat’an qV6?a Toad H611ow Amplexus Brnt/~is one is
~r cave, where ~e wines were tradi{~on~lly ported to Califbrnia from the Cremant region ~::
stored. ...... of F{auce.
Accordin~ t.o S.pan.ish.wine laws, Cava cache C0dorniu Cava Brut/ SparHing wines f"rom
produced m s:x wine [eg~ous ~such as A~:md} ~pain can be among the most interesting in
de Duero, Navarra and ~oja)but 95% ~f taste. ~ey’re usually fi-uit forward & quite
Spanish Cava production takes affbrdable;
Pene&s region. In order for the wines
called "Card’ they must be made in
tional m&hode champenoise. Wines
the lmv-cost "Charmat process" may
called "Spanish sparkling wine".
Food
Champagne tends to
ers or opening courses in a
well with
shellfish like
ofcourse
gegura Viudas Cava Brut Reserva
This writer is one ofthe manager~ at the Grand Vin
wine shop. He also bar tends and hosts wine & food
events known in town as dae
Enthusiasts ofTulsa.
9fwine byJames Laube/
This months recipe courtesy of:
Shrimp Verde
Ingredients:
] pound thin linguine, cappelini or PRIMI
PI?~TTI
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
I Bag Spinach
1 Pound Shrimp-fresh ot fi’ozen- shelled and
&veined
2 Cloves Garlic
8 tablespoons thatsanice "VERDE" basil
pesto crema sauce
To prepare:
Boil water in large pot with splash ofsalt and
drop of oil to keep pasta from.sticking
-pasta as directed on package making sure not
to overcook, drain, set aside
Sautd olive oil, gatlic and spinach about 5-10
minutes, add fresh or defrosted shrimp and
sautd in mixture until pink!orange in color.
Add thatsanice! "VERDE" and mix together,
pour entire mLxture over pasta and toss making
sure pasta is evenly coated.
If desired, top with some grated Parmesan
cheese (although strict old school Italians
frmvn on putting cheese over seafood but it
tastes good !)
Serving ideas:
Serve as a first course with a fish entrde like
halibut or swordfish
like
s
)ver
[en& modern
traditional flavors. Ifyou
y from them and they offer
f~atured on many television shows including
the Food Network and have been featured in
nmen
At The BOK Center Tulsa
Brad Paisley
Jan 24, 2009 at BOK Center
With special guests!
Dierks Bentley
Darius Rucker
Ticket Prices: $39.75 & $46.75 Tickets On Sale Now
Cdine Dion
Feb 2, 2009 at BOK Center
RESCHEDULED DATE!
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2009
All tickets previously purchased for the original date will be
honored. Refunds xvill be available at point ofpurchase.
Time: 8:00pm Doors: 7:00pm
Ticket Prices: $167.00, $127.00, $77.00, $49.50
~hlsa is one of45 cites and the only city in Oklahoma on this
tour. 2q~roughout her career, Celine has been honored with
over 1000 Awards, including Grammys, Oscars, Golden Globes,
World Music, Juno and Felix Awards. She is the biggest-selling
female artist ofall time.
Billy Joel & Elton John
Mar 17, 2009 at BOK Center
Billy Joel & Elton John
Face 2 Face Tour
March 17, 2009
7:30pro
Tickets On Sale Now
There is no presale for this concert
Ticket Prices: $179, $99, $53.50
Billy Joel and Elton John, the most successful and longest-running
concert pairing in pop history! Billy and Elton open the
concert with a series ofduets, playing tvcin pianos and trading
vocals. Each artist then performs a set with his own band. A
grand finale brings the two superstars and their supporting musicians
ba& together for a dosing encore. This includes some of
both Billy and Elton’s greatest hits along with an unpredictable
selection ofrock and roll classics.
INSIDE
HOLLYWOOD By Romeo San Vicente
Deep Inside Hollywood,
which reports on a new
project for Margaret Cho
and Kal Penn
Cho and Penn Unite for Sisters
Q~eer-identified entertainer Margaret Cho is quite the Renaissance
svoman- she’s a stand-up comic, author, actress, blogger,
and activist. And now she can add "director" to her resume with
Two Sisters, her feature debut. Ifyou were expecting something
racy from the potty-mouthed comedian, forget it; the movie is
slated to premiere on ABC Family. Plot details are being kept
under wraps, but Cho has assembled an impressive cast, including
Kal Penn (from the Harold and Kumar movies, as xvell as
The Namesake) and the gorgeous Tamlyn Tomita (who recently
popped up on Heroes), plus Kathy Najimy (King of the Hill)
and Elaine Hendrix (Tru Loved, The Parent Trap). As for the
lady herself, Cho will also appear in a small role. Look for Two
Sisters to make its premiere on ABC Family in 2009.
Pee-wee Comes Back to the Playhouse
~Pnere are a lot ofunanswered questions floating around about
Pee-wee’s Playhouse: Ti~e Movie, like "Is it really happening?"
and "Is Johnny Depp playing Pee-wee ?" So far the only certainty
is that Paul Reubens, ~vho, than!ffull); is still in charge ofPeexvee
Inc., is jump-starting this cash cow one more time and is
working on the goal ofa 2009 release date for the slow-moving
production. Plot details are few and up for debate. Casting, too.
(Who’ll replace the late Phil Hartanan? What happened to the
guy who played the unambiguously gayJambi ? Will S. Epatha
Merkerson return as Reba the Mail Lady? Please?) But all will
surely be answered eventually, possibly via ticker-tape readout
from Conky the Robot’s torso. And ifJohnny Depp shows up,
even as a Pee-wee doppelganger, that’s just fine, too. Now ifthe
cameras would only hurry up and roll.
No, Really: Lesbian Vaanpire Killers
Whether it’s Snakes on a Plane or ~Pne Incredibly Strange Creatures
Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!?,
a movie’s title can sometimes tell you everything you need to
knm,: And so it is with Lesbian Vampire Killers, a new British
horror-comedy about a Welsh village whose xvomen have
been cursed by the local Sapphic bloodsuckers. In aa~ attempt to
improve matters, the tovcn sends txvo hapless visitors (played by
James Corden and Mathew Home, the stars ofthe BBC sitcom
Gavin & Stacey) into the woods as a sacrifice to the titular
undead. The film also features Paul McGann (Withnail & I,
Doctor Who) as one of the few remaining men in the village.
Lesbian Vampire Killers ~vill put the bite on audiences in 2009.
Next Christmas, Make the Yuletide Gay
Romeo loves a good holiday dassic, and some gay filmmakers
obviously feel the same way about the genre, with Make the
Yuletide Gay now going into production. O.Eueer actor Adamo
Ruggiero (who played out-and-eventually-proud Marco on Degrassi:
~e Next Generation) and Allison Arngrim (best known
as frontier mean girl Nellie Oleson on Little House on the
Prairie) will don their gay apparel for this coraedy about what
happens when a guy who’s not out to his faanily goes home for
the holidays and then has to explain the sudden appearance of
his boyfriend. Yuletide also features Ian Buchanan (Twin Peaks)
and gay" indie-fihn vets Derek Long (Socket) and Steve Callahan
(East Side Story). Look for Make the Yuletide Gay to pop up at
around the same time as 2009 Advent calendars.
w,~w.metrostarnews.com ~etroSTAR 17
by Donald Pile and Ray Williams
"T VELING AND MEETING PEOPLE"
Photo: Donald Pile & Ray Williams
Since we are always telling our readers to
"Always remember to have fun when traveling,
meet new people and talk to everyone"
we decided to devote this travel column to the
fabulous and interesting people that we have
met and dealt with, in our travels. These, ~ve
will list in no particular order and they live
from coast to coast.
Hizabeth Taylor has always been so gracious to
remember our anniversaries and holidays. We
have so many to list in Palm Springs. There is
Jim Doyle &Jerry Efron, Tyke, Wayne, Millie,
Shirley, Jim LaMarrina, Ken & Grant, Tom &
Doug at the Terrazzo, Burt XWahquist, artists
Robert Sharer & Giorgio and restaurateurs, Sol
and Chris ~vho we first met when they owned a
B & B in San Francisco and now mvn a restaurant
in Puerto Vallarta and also own a home in
Pahn Springs.
In New
~%rk City,
Jean-
Claude
Baker,
the exciting
owner
ofChez
Josephine’s
Restaurant,
author
Tom
Monsell,
play-
~vright
Matthew
Lom-
Photo: Chq~G~r!os at the Hi-Life bardo
C,~e in Ft. Lauderdale (Tea at
Five and
Looped) and movie director/producer Rick
McKay. His movie "Broadway: The Golden
Age" is a terrific movie.
In Florida, the famous portrait photographer
Jack Mitchell & Bob Pavlik, entertainers
Auntie Marne, ToW & Gloria, the best jazz
duo and Miguel Reyna, who without a doubt
is the finest piano entertainer/singer that we
have ever met! and the lovely and extremely
talented Faye Harrod and her friend Gloria
Delro); Casey Koslowki, owner; Herb Pianin,
General Manager; Peter Mehas, Guest Services
Manager and the entire staff at the Grand
Resort and Spa in Ft. Lauderdale who operates
the finest gay resort in the country, Chuck
Smith and ChefCarlos at the Hi-Lit~ Care,
Alan Beck & Nick and Norma. Also in Ft.
Lauderdale, Al & Tom and Steve & Ells~vorth
and the deceased fabulous pianist/entertainer,
Houston, and then dear, dears friends, Ed
Hayes &John Dunne in St. Petersburg who
are truly delightful.
And there are the people that we have met
quite by accident who have become dear
friends such as Ginny & Willy in Florida, Kala
& Frank, the absolutely ~beyond Fabulous"
owners of the Luna Vista B and B in Rimrock,
Arizona, Michael McFall & Luis Gonzalez in
Phoenix, ChefMarcdlino and his fabulous
wife Sima, owners ofMarcellino Ristorante
in Phoenix, Gordon & Kin at the Inn of the
410 in Flagstaff who are super special guys and
Charlotte Welch and her daughter Katie in
Flagstaff.
In Billings, Montana we met Barbara Hill, a
wonderful
entertainer
who has
"come
OUt~
no not
lesbian,
but "just
simply
came
out to
life"
and has
found
true
happi- ,-
ness at
last. We Photo: Actor LeslieJordan
just wish
that everybody could find themselves like she
did. In St. Louis, Michael Lance &JeffArchuleta,
owners ofNapoleons’ Retreat B & B where
we first met the "fun couple; Smitty and Eddy
in Mississippi who we will be seeing again on
our way driving to Florida in January. They
can’t help it because they were born straight!
And then there is actor, Leslie Jordan, authors
Christopher Rice and Robert Hofmann,
filmmaker Craig Highberger, (Superstar In A
Housedress) and filmmaker Mialyn Hanna
(White Shadows). A new friend who ~ve are
in contact with but haven’t actually met yet,
author Louise Penny in Canada.
Photo: Countess Alexis &Ray ~qlliams
Also wonderful people like the Countess
Mexis, the QEeen Diva who now" lives in Hollywood.
She certainly epitomizes elegance and
"old Hollywood", plaDvright Gene Danklin
Smith and Steve Nycklemore, director of the
Hollywood Museum, our good friend, Attorney
Andrew Lee who now resides in Mexico,
Dean Perkins (Crystal Chandelier) in New
Hampshire, Rodger & J.T. in the Q.~ad cities,
Chris X~alsh in San Francisco as wel! as gZalter
Edgar, owner ofthe 24 Henry B&B and the
Village House B&B in San Francisco. In Seatrle,
Stephen Bennett, owner of the Gaslight
Inn B and B and visiting there,ave met Tom
& Doris Friedman from the Hamton’s in New
York who ,are will visit When we are in New
England next year. In Santa Fe, New Mexico,
Ralph Bolton and Robert Frost, owners ofthe
Inn ofthe Turquoise Inn.
Four o~tstanding people are the late Dalee
Henderson who was and is an inspiration to
thousands ofpeople and to Raymond Bilbool,
former owner ofthe Secret Garden B&B in
West Hollywood and our dear friend Stefan
Hemming, owner ofthe Liberace Estate in
Palm Springs who hosted our 35th Anniversary
two years ago and to Mel Haber, owner of
Melvyn’s Restaurant and the Ingleside Inn in
Palm Springs. Their lives have reached many.
So here we are, two guys who live in the middle
ofthe country who are fortunate in that we
get to travel a lot and meet so many people. In
our travels, we really have been so fortunate
to meet so many fun, interesting and exciting
individuals.
q-his column is warmly dedicated to all of daese
people that we have met in our travels and we
are looking forward to meeting many more in
our future. Remember, in the words of the
late Dalee Henderson, "When you wake up in
the morning, it is a miracle! The rest ofthe day
is up to you!" Truly, today is the first day of the
rest ofyour life. Ifyou are not happy with your
life it is no one’s ffmlt but your own.
We want to thank our dear friend Chaz XWard,
Publisher-Editor ofthe Metro Star for his support.
internationa
Boy George could face
jail for ’imprisoning’
escort
Singer Boy George may land in jail after being
convicted Dec. 5 of
falsely in~prisoning male escort Audun Carlsen
in London.
Last April, George handcuffed Carlsen to a
book on the wall of George’s
bedroom fbr about an hour, saying he suspected
Carlsen had hacked into
his coruputer following a previous photo session
between the two men.
Car!sen claims George also attacked him with a
metal chain af,er he
broke free and began his escape from the apartment.
Car!sen told the court the computer story was
made up and that George
probably was upset because Car!sen refused to
have sex ~vith him the
previous time they met.
City apologizes for past
anti-gay actions
1he City Council ofHobart, Tasmania, in Australia,
apologized Dec. 10 for banning a booth promoting
gay law reform from the city’s weekly Salamanca
Market in 1988.
In the weeks that followed, more than 100 people
were arrested for refusing to vacate the site, marking
Australia’s largest-ever act ofgay civil disobedience.
The apology, delivered by Lord Mayor Rob Valentine
before more than 200 former arrestees, GLBT
community members and civil leaders, including
state Premier David Bartlett, coincided with the
20th anniversary ofthe crackdown and the 60th anniversary
ofthe signing ofthe Universa! Declaration
ofHuman Rights.
"The Hobart City Cotmcil apologizes for prohibiting
the gay law reform stall at Salamanca Market
in 1988 and for the resulting arrests aud bans,"
Valentine said. "We are sorry for the pain and
trauma caused to all involved, including GLBTI
people; their family members, friends and supporters;
and those council officers who were required to
carry out the council decision. We are also sorry that
the actions we took may have encouraged ill-will
and discrimination towards GLBTI people in the
broader community. We resolve that actions such as
these will never happen again."
The apology was formally accepted by Rodney
Croome ofthe Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights
Group, which has operated the booth continuously
at the Saturday outdoor street market since 1988.
"Twenty years ago, as we sat in police cells for the
crime of being ourselves, we could not possibly have
imagined something like this," Croome said. "People
everDvhere who suffer human rights abuses should
take this apology as a sign that no matter how bad
things seem there is ~lways hope ofa better future:
Prior to the apology, a City Council-sponsored
photo exhibit ofthe arrests was unveiled at the Salamanca
Arts Centre. The council also is sponsoring a
~ublic art work at Salamanca Place commemorating
e arrests.
18 #~troSTAR January 2009
, and two
and
instruc-
~.metrostarnews.com
OKC Civic Center Music
Ha~1 January Events
Jan. 5 SWEENY TODD presented by Broadway
Tonight
Jan. 9 -Jan. 31 ORPHANS a comedy-drama
by Lyle Kessler
Jan. 9-Jan. 31 Orphans
Jan. 10 INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS
presented by the Oldahoma City Philharmonic
Jan. 22-Jan. 25 Julius Caesar
Jan. 23 -Jan. 24 CHRIS BOTTI presented by
Oklahoma City Philharmonic
Jan. 25 HOLD THE CANNONS! ~e
Story and Glory ofTchaikovsky and the 1812
Overture
Jan. 27- Feb. 1 OPRAH WINFREY’S THE
COLOR PURPLE
Jammry At The Ford
Center OKC
Jan. 21 st - Jan. 25th ~;,hlking With Dinosaurs
Jan. 30th -Jan. 31st ~l!ie Revolve Tour
January At The P.A.C.
Tulsa
Jan 4 David Finckel and "Wu Hart
John H. Williams Theatre
6-31 FP~EE Highway412
PAC Gallery
Jan 10 Miss Gay Oklahoma USofA Pageant
Liddy Doenges Theatre
Jan 17 An Infinite Ache
Liddy Doenges Theatre
Jan 20-25 Oprah Winfrey Presents: Wue
Color Purple Chapman Music Hall
Jan 23 The Tannahill Vgeavers
John H. xg/illiams Tneatre
Jan 24 Ralph’s World
John H. Williams Theatre
Jan 27 Ethel Cabaret
Liddy Doenges Theatre
Jan 28 Ethel Concert
John H. Williams Theatre
Jan 30-31 OMEAAll-State Music Festival
Chapman Music Hall
bitter girl
FOR
Webs#e- www.kylecomics.com
en~il: bittergifl@qsyndtcate.com w~wcjoanhilty.net
20 #4etroSTAR January 2009
by Jack Fertig January 2009
"Toot your horn, Taurus!"
Jupiter is starting his yearlong passage
through Aquarius, where he inspires
new visions offreedom aa~d scientific
exp,,loration. This mini "age ofAquarius
is a year ofgreat luck to anyone
with that Sun sign or Ascendant, but
check with your astrologer to see when
that lucky year actually starts!
ARIES (March 20 -April 19): You’ll be
amazed to see what your friends would
do for you. Take the opportunity to
advance yourself politically and socially,
and to promote whatever goals and ideals
you see improving the world.
TAURUS (April 20 o May 20): Don’t be
shy! Toot your horn and let everyone
know what you’re worth. This is your
chance to rise to any position you’re
qualified for. You have a bigger career
peak in 12 years, but promotions now
can boost your trajectory.
GEMINi (May 21 - June 20): .At least
give a listen to the Wackiest, most
far-out ideas coming your way. Take
classes that challenge everything you
believe in. Ask yourself and the world
all the hard questions, and be ready for
whole new worlds of answers.
CANCER (June 21 - July 22): New
sexual adventures beckon - and
celibacy and monogamy may count as
"adventures," if they’re new to you. You
can get your sex life where it should be
or wherever you want it. Are they the
same? Be careful what you wish for!
LEO (Ju~y 23 o August 22): This is your
lucky year for relationships. That could
include becoming very happy with being
single. Join in political or community
groups; do things that fulfill you, get
you out among others, and accomplish
some good. Love will come when it is
ready.
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22):
Health-wise, this is generally a good
year, but be careful of your liver. You
can get almost any job you want, if
you’re suited for it. Make sure to have
the education you need for the post you
want.
LIBFL~k (September 23 - October 22):
If you wants kids, now’s the time! If
you prefer having time for fun, explore
new pleasures, hobbies, and creative
directions. Try something you’ve only
considered at the edges of your wildest
dreams. The more "out there" and daring,
the better!
SCORPIO (October 23 - November
21): Whether it involves moving or
decorating, embark on the big domestic
changes that will make your home what
you really want it to be. Do what you
can to heal family problems. You can
hardly go wrong.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December
20): Could you be any more
loquacious? Keep your mouth out of
trouble by harnessing the brain behind
it. Learn a new skill or language, or sign
up for any class that offers you a different
direction.
CAPRICORN (December 21 - January
19): This should be your lucky
year for money, but it comes with some
deceptive lures. Still, odd chances that
shouldn’t work might prove very lucrative.
Think ahead, but be ready to take
advantage of sudden opportunities.
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February
18): In a 12-year cycle, this is your
lucky year. Buy a few lottery tickets now
and then, travel, or take some classes.
You can expand yourself educationally,
economically, and/or otherwise. But
watch your diet!
PISCES (February 19 -March 19):
The worst things that happen to you
could turn out for the best, although it
may take a while to see that. By next
year, you’ll be very glad for the experience
and insights.
MCC0
Rev Steve T. Urie
Spidt0fChdst MCC
2g02 E2~ Street
J0plin, M064804
417-52~
Worship Saturdays at 10:00 AM
Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
MCC 0fthe Living Spdng
17 Elk S~eet
Eureka Spriags, AR 72632
47525: 9337
Worship Sundays at 6:00 PM
Have a God filled and BleSSed Day!
53
~65
54 55 56
Across
1 Gay horror writer Perry
6 Release from bondage’
11 Be in the hole
14 writer X~stan ~ugh
15 Lincoln Center s Walter
16 Brownb Dirt
1’
~aeater
3 Af~eck’s Chasing Aany crush
4 \~’ork under Edith Head, perhaps
5 Cut quickly
6 Seduction step, perhaps
7 M0by Dick, to ~daab
8 Retreat for D.H. Lawrence
9 Same~sex vow’ in Connecticut
10Always, to Emilg Dickinson
11 Cather novel of 1913
12 Place for a Rivera mural
13 What Carson Kressley did to the straight
guy?
18 Glenn Burke, formerly
22 James Deans East ofEden role
24 Wol£bn ofFreedom to Marry
ww~.metrostarnews.com ~et~oSTAR 21
¢
Heights Historic District is: [ BUY G1 Joe Action F~gm:es
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22 Metr0STAR January 2009
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7204 E. PINE
TulSa, OK
918_836_8700...........................
wwwabaingooloungetulsa.com
CLUB 209
209 N. BOULDER
Tulsa, OK
918-584-9944
CLUB MAJESTIC
124 N. BOSTON
2htsa, OK
918-584-9494
www.clubmajestictulsa.com
FINISHLINE
2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSX~TAY
Oklal~oma City, OK
405-525-2900
www.habanainn.com
STEVES HIDEAWAY LOUNGE
11730 E. 11TH
Tulsa, OK
918-437-0449
Open Sun- Sat 2pro to 2am
THE COPA
2200 NW 39TH EXPRESS\gAY
Oklahoma City, OK
405-525-0730
www.habanainn.com
THE END UP
5336 E. ADMIRAL PLACE
Tulsa, OK
918-836-0915
THE LEDO
2200 NW 39TH EKPt~SSWAY
Oklahoma Cit7, OK
405-525-0730
www.habanainn.com
EXPP,ESSIONS Comm Fellowship
6009 NW Expressway
Oklahoma City, OK
405-761-1878
www.expressionsOKC.com
ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you.
HOPE TESTING CLINIC
3540 E. 31st
7hlsa, OK
800-535-2437
Oklahomgs HIV/STD Hotline
SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC
2902 E. 20TH STREET,
Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480
Service Saturday 9:30 AM
CHUCK BRECKENI~DGE
K.elter Williams Realty
Tulsa, OK
918-706-!887
GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa
New and Historic Homes for Sale
and Rent For Info:
www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com
MCC of the LI\qNG SPRING
17 Elk Street
Eureka Springs, AR 72632
479-253-9337
Worship Sundays 6pm
MCC UNITED
1623 N. Maplewood, Tulsa, OK
918-838-1715
~w~v.mcctulsa.org
OPENARMS YOUTH PROJECT
2015 -B S. Lakewood
Tulsa, OK 74112
918-838-7104
www. openarmsproject.org
OUR HOUSE, TOO
203 N. Nogales Ave
Tulsa, OK 74127
918-585-9552
KING OF MASSAGE
In or Out Calls
Oldahoma City, OK
GUSHER’S RESTAURANT
2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY
Oklahoma City, OK
405-525-0730
Located inside Habana Inn
TOM &JERRYS
1501 N.W. 23RD
Oklahoma City, OK
405-524-9100
>>
405-314-3898
JUDY G. PHOT0’S
Tulsa, OK
judvgphotos@sb%lobal.net
918-743-8636
CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE
3627 N\Xz EXPPd~SSWAY
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
405-840-2106
www.c21 goldcastle.com
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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
[2009] Metro Star Magazine, January 1, 2009; Volume 6, Issue 1
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics
Description
An account of the resource
The Metro Star’s first issue began in August of 2008. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004), The Ozark’s Star (2004), and The Star (2005).
This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit.
This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Star Media, Ltd
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Star Media, Ltd
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
January 1, 2009
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Image
Online text
PDF
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
magazine
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Chaz Ward
Victor Gorin
Greg Steele
James Nimmo
Joey D.
Rex Wockner
Susan A. Muscari
Gerald Libonati
Vernon Britt
Romeo San Vicente
Andrew Collins
Donald Pile
Ronald Blake
Ray Williams
Jack Fertig
Judy G.
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Southwest Missouri,
Western Arkansas
Southeast Kansas
Eastern Oklahoma
The United States of America (50 states)
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19
Relation
A related resource
The Metro Star, December 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 12
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/199
The Metro Star Magazine, February 1, 2009; Volume 6, Issue 2
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/131
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/132
A Gathering
adoption
AIDS Awareness Advocacy
American gay rights
Angela Monson
art
Art Gallery
Comics
community
crossword puzzle
DADT
Don't Ask Don't Tell
Elton John
entertainment
equal rights
First Thursday
foster children
gay adoption ban
gay sex ban
HIV cases increase
HIV diagnose
homophobes
international news
Josh New
Kyle's Bed and Breakfast
Lesbian and Gay Band Association
marriage
marriage equality
National news
Oklahoma News
Oklahomans for Equality
poll
pro-gay
Proposition 8
Qscopes
regional news
Robert Matson
same sex marriage
sexual diagnoses
Star Scene
Supreme Court
theater
travel
United Nations
viewpoints
Vincent Scott
Wanda Sykes
World AIDS day