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https://history.okeq.org/files/original/c141f742e757cbb74c5703b59f50d96e.jpg
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https://history.okeq.org/files/original/d356e35cbb901eb137a4d4f61191f365.pdf
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Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
[Series] Newsletters & Publications > Ozarks Pride, Ozarks Star, Star, Metro Star Newspapers, 2004-2011
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics
Publisher
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Ozarks Pride
Ozarks Star
Star
Metro Star
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2004-2011
Format
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Images
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PDF
Language
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English
Type
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magazine
Description
An account of the resource
Ozarks Pride's first issue began in January of 2004. Then follows Ozarks Pride (2004), The Star (2005), and The Metro Star (2008).
This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit.
This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Coverage
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Southwest Missouri
Western Arkansas
Eastern Oklahoma
Southeast Kansas
The United States of America (50 states)
Creator
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Ozarks Pride/Star Media
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
C.D. Ward
T.J. Kelly
Chaz Storm
Marion Wilson
Greg Steele
Randy Vineyard
Steve T. Urie
Chaz
Lady Bunny
Romeo San Vincente
Steve T. Urie
Donald Pile
Ray Williams
Michael Hinzman
Jack Fertig
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/browse?collection=19&page=1
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
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magazine
Text
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LOCAL NEWS NATIONAL NEWS ~ WORLD NEWS ~ LIFESTYLE FITNESS ~ TRAVEL N ADVICE
THE PREMIER SOURCE FOR GLBT OKLAHOMA
ENTERTAINMENT
ClI’4ARI::!ON ALLtANC£
FOUNDATION
Oklahoma’s Oldest LGBT Organizations Seal Partnership on page-3
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 9 TwiRer.com/MetroStarNews ..... MetroStarNews.com FREE I SEPTEMBER 1,2010
Roth, Askins, Edmondson speak at
Oklahoma Democratic Party event
By Robin D-Townsend
Contributing Writer
California same-sex marriages Mocked
for several more months
By Rex Wockner
At the Democratic H, ofFame Dinner in
~bematorial candidate Lt. GovernorJari Askins (¢ (r)
andfo~Tner Cotporation Commissioner event emcee, Jim Roth. Robin D-Townsend
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ At
the Oklahoma Democratic Party 2010
Homecoming Rally and Activists Hall
of Fame Dinner, Attorney General Drew
Edrnondson made it "crystal clear" that he
supports Lt. Governor Jari Askins in the
race for Governor of Oldahoma. Opponents
in the primary dection, both candidates
maintained mutual respect noted statewide by
citizens as well as many media oudets. Asldns
won the nomination garnering 50.28% of the
vote.
"We have got to elect Jari Askins
Governor of this state, no question about it. I
support Jari Asldns without reservation, and
I will do everything I can to get her elected
governor of Oklahoma," Edmondson said
as he delivered a heartfelt speech supporting
Astdns.
Asldns fol!owed the intro by saying, "I am
truly proud to stand in front of you as your
candidate for Governor. It takes every one of
us, but together, we can make this happen.
........Continued See ODP Page-7
Cowboys and Cowgirls to invade Tulsa
By Michael W. Sasser
Contributing Writer
TULSA, OK __ Oklahoma’s gay countrytinged
community is welcoming back the
Sooner State Rodeo Association (SSRA)
Rodeo this year with the 2010 Sooner
State Stampede, October 1 - 3 at the fully
equipped and handsome Bridle Creek Horse
Ranch and Resort in Sperry.
N~e Sooner State Stampede represents the
return of SSRA rodeo after several year hiatus.
~e International Gay Rodeo Association
(IGRA) sanctions the rodeo and it is one of
the most anticipated events for the regional
gay community. It is expected to attract a host
of competitors and fans for a fun celebration
of al! things western including both good
spirited competition and of course some great
fun.
~ousands march in. California Aug. 4 in celebration ofJudge Vaughn Walker) mding that
PropOsition 8 was unconstitutional. Photo @ DavidPoller
SAN FRANCISCO, CA The 9th U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals on Aug. 16 blocked
any same-sex marriages from taking place
in California while proponents of the state’s
marriage ban appeal the Aug. 4 district-court
ruling that found Proposition 8 in violation
of the U.S. Constitution.
The appeals court said it will hear the case
the week of Dec. 6, and it set up an expedited
briefing schedule for the case’s attorneys.
The court also ordered the proponents of
the ban to prove that they have "standing" ro
appeal the decision made by District Judge
Va~ughn Walker.
The actual defendants in the case,
including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and
Attorney General Jerry Brown, have refused
to defend Prop 8, and the Court ofAppeals’
order seemed sympathetic to the idea that
proponents of the ban, as "defendantintervenors,"
are not properly situated to
appeal Walker’s ruling.
If they are not that could end the case
and same-sex marriage would again be legal
in California under Walker’s original ruling,
although a decision on standing could be
appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The
defendant-intervenors are the same people
who put Prop 8 on the ballot in 2008 to
overturn the state’s legalization of same-sex
marriage.
"The 9th Circuit put the appeal on a
fast track and specifically directed the Prop
8 proponents to address ’why the appeal
should not be dismissed for lack ofArticle
III standing’ in their opening brief," said the
National Center for Lesbian Rights. "That
means the court will consider whether the
proponents of Prop 8 have the right to file an
appeal at the same time that it is considering
whether Judge Walker’s decision that Prop
8 violates the federal Constitution is legally
correct."
.........Continued See MARRIAGES Page-5
Headquartered in Tulsa, the Sooner State
Rodeo Association is a Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual
and Transgender non-profit organization
dedicated to performing charitable duties for
the surrounding area through fund-raisers,
horse shows, and rodeo performances. SSRA
was organized for individuals interested in
western related events such as rodeos and
horse shows, horseback riding, western/
square dancing, and clogging. SSRA bars
all prejudices related to sex, national origin,
sexual orientation, religion, race or any other
prejudice the organization may encounter.
Sooner State Rodeo Association was
founded in 2002 to give men and women
in the northeastern Oklahoma interested
in promoting and participating in rodeo
a new avenue of expression. They host
fundraisers for Tulsa area charities as well as
their own organization. SSRA holds royalty
competitions each October for Mr. SSRA,
Ms. SSRA, Miss and MisTer SSRA. Royalty
is an important part of their organization
as they represent SSRA at rodeos and
fundraising events.
SSRA is one of 28 member associations
of the IGRA. IGRA serves to foster the sport
of rodeo amongst other country and western
activities. IGRA along with its fellow
........Continued See RODEO Page-4
No maffer who yot
are on life’s journ~
Bani"uptcv o Civil Rights oCriminN
iment: LJ Jga Jon
625 . Sth street
MIDLAND REGION CHAPTERS of the
Presen The
Oct 15 o 17
Register Now!
~obwmtmid~and.org
~.NABWNT.ORG
For more information contact
Doug Reynolds at
816-444-3692
djdoug268@aol.com
Crown Plaza Hotel
Oklahoma City, OK
~,.~[..e[_g....e...i~..h ,.eT,~ ~:
"5~(~ l~,;;n~hCich2gPoters:
PACT Cleveland
MACT Dallas
MACT Kentucky
BWMT Milwaukee
BWMT Detroit
Form÷~" Chapters:
PACT St Louis
MACT Kansas City
MACT Youngstown
MACT Indianapolis
2 September t, 2010
Now is the time to work for real and lasting ctange
"I am convinced that while our party is not perfect full equality for GLBT
Americans will come much faster with Democrats in charge. More than ever now
is the rime to be strong and continue to work for real and lasting change." Michael
Mitchell, Executive Director National Stonewall Democrats
By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director Michael ~a/iitchell zoith Oklahoma Stonewall
Democrats Secretary ~ctor Gorin
WASHINGTON, DC __ kanid the
excitement of marriage equality making new
history for the GEBT community and all
Americans, the Stonewall Democrats held
their National Convention in V/ashington
D.C. July 30-August 1 at the Capitol Hilton
Hotel. Drawing delegates from all over
the country, from New Jersey to Nevada,
as expected there was much discussion of
marriage equality on a natiomvide and state
by state basis, the military "Don’t ask don’t
Tell" policy still in place, and affirming
Stonewall’s alliance with organized labor
which includes giving their business to
unionized hotels, airlines and other goods and
services whenever possible.
Founded in 1997, the Stonewall
Democrats is America’s only grassroots GLBT
organization of the Democratic Party. They
are focused on malting change primarily in
three ways: Educating the GLBT community
about the differences between the political
parties, mobilizing the GLBT community to
get out the vote for fair-minded Democrats,
and to oppose the efforts of Republicans
when they attempt to roll back or obstruct
progress for the GLBT community while
working with the Democratic Party in
the struggle for equality. Viith over 90
chapters across the country including one
in Oldahoma City formed in 2001, their
members do the work of calling voters,
doing mailings and other assistance for good
candidates while working with local and state
Democratic Party officials.
Along with a tour of our capital city
and the White House, the delegates heard
from several noteworthy speakers including
the Executive Director of the Democratic
National Committee Jen O’Malley, along
with U.S. House Representative Jared
Polis ( Colorado’ Democrat District 2)
who is the Ist openly gay man elected to
Congress as a fi’eshman. %ey al]~ heard
from two of our proudest straight allies, U.S.
Representative Patrick Murphy (Democrat-
Pennsylvania District 8), who was the first
Iraqi war veteran to serve in Congress who
is an ardent opponent of the U.S. military’s
"Don’t ask Don’t Tell" policy along with
U.S. Representative Dina Titus ( Nevada
Democrat-District 3).
The meeting concluded Sunday August
1 with Executive Director Michael Mitchell
wishing the delegates well and encouraging
them in the work facing them in the fall
elections.
Speaking ofOklahoma
values
By Robin D-Townsend
Contributing Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ CNN
spent an afternoon at the campaign office of
Brittany Novotny, taping for an upcoming
segment ofAmerican Morning. Novomy is
the candidate who seeks to unseat Sally Kern,
the current representative of State House
District 84. Kern is known worldwide for a
speech when she told a group of supporters
that homosexuality is "The biggest threat that
our nation has, even more than terrorism or
Islam."
Novotny said of Kern, "She has angered a
lot of people with the kind of divisive rhetoric
she has used. She has been out of touch with
the issues. We are at the bottom in teacher
....... Continued See NOVOTNY Page 7
AIDS Walk OKC A Tradition
ofHope Now at a new Time and
Location
By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
OKLAHOMA CITY%
O.KLAHOMA CITY, OK When the AIDS virtu
first surfaced in the United States during the early 1980s it
not only cost many lives, it created a climate and fear and
resurrected homophobia that overshadowed a period of
increased acceptance of the GLBT community. The epidemic
was used by conservative religious and political leaders to
foster homophobia, even referred to as a "gay plague:" by
the late Reverend Jerry Falxvell. In answer to a lack of serious
action at first by government officials and mainstream society,
gay activists took the lead in the fight against AIDS, increasing
Funding for research and public education about HI.V. When
NBA Star Magic ~ohnson revealed that he had AIDS, more
straight allies joined this cause when it became obvious that
the virus did not discriminate.
Organizations formed in Oklahoma City to help those
at~cted by HIV, many ofwhich are with us today including
RAIN (Regional Aids Interfaith Network), Other Options,
and the Winds House. Vvrhat these agencies had in common
was a desperate need for funds, thus beginning AIDS Walk
OKC.
~e first AIDS Walk OKC came together in 1998, and
it has grown to be one of Oklahoma City’s most prominent
annual events. Money raised from the ,valks is distributed to
various Oklahoma agencies helping those infected or affected
by HIV including not only the before mentioned agencies,
but also others involved including Planned Parenthood and
the Latino Community Development Agency. In previous
years it has been held in October beginning at the Crystal
Gardens, but this year there has been a change of time and
location with increased activity.
It all happens on Sunday September 19, beginning with
a 5K run sponsored by Dell. Registration for the run will
begin at 11:00 a.m., beginning in Bricktown at the corner
ofJoe Carter Drive and Rent Avenue, and the runners take
off at 12:30 that afternoon Registration to participate is $20
if purchased in advance, or $25 the day of the run. One car~
register online at www.aidswalkokc.org.
The AIDS Walk itself will take place that afternoon
beginning at Bricktowffs Sonic Plaza ( !ocated on the south
side of Rent Avenue across from the AT&T Brickmwn
Ballpark), and the theme this year is "Each Step brings
Hope." There is free reserved parking for participants, with
registration beginning at 12:30 p.m. with step 9fiat 2 p.m.
Before the walk one can check out vendors and service
organizations that xvill have booths for this event which is free
and open to the public.
For more information on how to participate contact info@
aidswalkokc.org. AIDS Walk OKC is a 501 c3"organization, so
all contributions are tmx deductible
State’s Oldest LGBT
Organizations Seal Partnership
PONCA CITY, OK (PR) __ On July 31, 2010 leaders
from Oklahoma City based Cimarron Alliance Foundation
and Tulsa based Oklahomans for Equality met in Ponca City
for the purpose of signing a Memorandum of Understanding
that creates a statewide partnership. These two organizations
are the state’s oldest advocacy and education groups for
Oldahoma’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Combined, they have nearly a half-century of advocating for
this population.
According to Toby Jenkins, President of the Oldahomans
for Equality Board of Directors, the organizations have had
a cordial relationship for years. "\re have always had the
highest regard for Cimarron Alliance and they have been very
supportive of Oklahomans for Equality as welt. This past
year our organizations have had a very intentional approach
in working together. The time is right to formalize our
partnership."
Scott J. Hamilton, Executive Director of Cimarron
Alliance, concurs with Jenkins. "For the past six months
our organizations have deve!oped an amazing working
relationship. Our missions are very complementary and we
hold OIcEq’s leadership in very high esteem. We believe that
we can accomplish far more together than either of us can on
our own.
Jenkins and Hamilton believe that this initiative will have
far-reaching benefits for Oklahoma’s gay community. It forms
the framework for more cohesive program development,
legislative work and, ultimately they believe, serving as a
powerful voice for LGBT Oklahomans throughout the state.
"We are not merging our organizations," said Hamilton.
"Instead, we are capitalizing on each other’s strengths and
experience to serve more people than ever before."
The choice of Ponca City as the location for the MOU
signing was, according to Jenkins, very intentional.
"We chose Ponca City because it is a neutral site, rich with
Oklahoma nationally recognized landmarks and history. On
September 16, 1893, the greatest land run in the history of
the state began right here in Ponca City. More than 100,000
eager land-seekers raced for claims. Their stories are of
endurance, hope, pride and determination, and are all of the
things our organizations represent," said Jenkins.
Hamilton echoed Jenkins’ sentiments and noted that
Ponca City is representative of many Oklahoma towns and
cities. "We love the history and symbolism here in Ponca
City. We could, though, have chosen any place from here
to Ardmore, from the Otdahoma Panhandle to the hills of
southeastern Oldahoma. Our goal today is to demonstrate
that Oklahomans for Equality and Cimarron Alliance
Foundation are dedicated to addressing the needs of every
LGBT adolescent, adult, and senior as well as their families,
friends and loved ones in Oklahoma" he said.
As important as this MOU is to both organizations,
Hamilton and Jenkins indicated this is only the first step
of a broader plan to include other organizations. "This
creates a statewide partnership that will broaden our reach
immediately," said Jenkins. "But as we move forward, we
envision inviting many other organizations to join with us,"
he continued.
"In time we will welcome LGBT groups and other allied
organizations to partner with us," said Hamilton. "~ais way
we gain strength and provide even greater empowerment and
support for individuals and groups. \Vgorking together there is
no limit to the advances we can make toward equali~ for all
Oldahomans," he concluded.
Oklahomans for Equality, originally called Oklahomans
for Human Rights, began in 1980. The organization seelcs
equal rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
individuals and fan~ities through advocacy, education,
programs, alliances and the operation of the Dennis R Neill
Equality Center.
The mission of the Cimarron Alliance Foundation,
founded in 1995, is to support educational efforts that
validate personal identity, promote public enlightenment, and
advance equality for LGBT Oldahomans.
The full Memorandum of Understanding can be viewed
at the organizations’ respective websites: okeq.org and
cimarronalliance.org.
TEN Co’Founder Elected to
National Post ¯
Laura Belmonte, President The Equality
Nelwork (TEN)
TULSA, OK (PR) The Equality Network would like
to congratulate our co-founder and vice-president, Laura
Belmonte, on her election to the Board of Directors of the
Equality Federation, the national alliance of state-based
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organizations.
The Equality Federation announced the move during their
annual summer meeting in Baltimore, MD.
"I am honored to be elected by my colleagues from across
the country to serve on the Equality Federation Board of
Directors," Belmonte said. "As we continue taking important
steps toward equality here in Oklahoma, I am excited to
play an active role in building the LGBT equality movement
on the national level. Pro-LGBT victories in places like
Utah, Alabama, and South Carolina prove that the model
of statewide advocacy pioneered by Equality Federation
members works in challenging political climates. That is an
inspiration - and a charge for action - for those of us working
in the Sooner state."
The Equality Federation ~vorks to achieve equality for
LGBT people in every state and territory by building strong
and sustainable statewide organizations in state-based
movements. The Equality Network (TEN) is represents
Oklahoma in the national alliance.
The Equality Network works to achieve equality and
secure legal protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender Oldahomans through advocacy, coalition
building, and individual empowerment in the political
process.
Ride Arc
TULSA, OK (PR) A special reception to honor and
meet Danielle Girdano will be held Saturday September 4th,
2010 6:00 pm at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, Tulsa.
Sponsored by PFLAG Tulsa and the Dennis R. Nell Equality
Center, Ride the Arc is a first-of-its kind multi-state bicycle
ride for equality and justice. Spearheaded by athlete Danielle
Girdano, Ride the Arc intends to publicize the need for equal
rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT)
people to raise awareness about the high GLBT suicide rate,
and to promote places ofwelcome and refuge and affirming
groups. Commencing in Minneapolis on August 9th, it will
end in Dallas on September 18, the eve ofDallas’s GLBT
Pride Weekend.
The 1,300 mile distance requires Danielle’s faith to guide
and sustain her as she trains for Ride the Arc. Danielle will
carry the message of love and inclusion every mile of her
ride. Join Danielle for the ride of her life, and help change
the world for GLBT people everywhere. For info: (www.
ridethearc.org) Make donations payable to Ride the Arc.
September i, 20i0 3
It’s About a Lot More than
Marriage
Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern
is foaming at the mouth again. She declared
it "horrific" that this week’s ruling that
California’s ban on same-gender marriage is
unconstitutional.
After I gave an interview on KTOK
Radio this morning, she told the station that
"homosexuality- is a behavior and the question
must be asked whether all behaviors are equal.
Tlais is a behavior and it’s a behavior that has
been proven scientifically and statistically to
be a deadly behavior."
Ofcourse this is nonsense. One’s sexual
orientation is not a behavior. That’s aldn
to saying Sally’s brown hair is a behavior.
Sexual orientation and gender identity are
like height, eye color, right handedness; they
are all part of our makeup. But we shouldn’t
expect truth from Sally.
The website examiner.corn reported
earlier that Sally said gay marriage is a form
of"debauchery like abortion, porn6graphy,
sex trafficldng, divorce, illegitimate births and
child abuse." She even went so far as to blame
gay marriage on the nation’s economic woes.
And we all remember when Sally said that
LGBT folks pose a greater risk to the United
States than terrorism.
Friends, you can’t make this stuff UP" This
is the reality of where we are toda}:
t heard a syndicated radio host last night
talldng about a revolution because "activist
judges" are not abiding by the will of the
people. Odd, isn’t it, how only those judges
that make rulings not in line with ultra
conservatives are labeled as activists.
tf decisions of equality were left up to
the will of the people, ~’rican-Americans
would still be riding at the back of the bus
and women would stil! not have the right
to vote. If it truly is the ~vill of the people in
this country to deny rights to others and to
provide one level ofjustice for some people
and another level for others, then we’ve no
choice but to continue our procession to the
courts.
The claims that allowing same-gender
couples to marry violates the institution of
marriage mystifies me. How in the ~vorld can
my being married to another man impact
negatively the marriage of a straight couple?
Allowing two men or two women to marry,
offering them the same rights as any other
couple, strengthens the fabric of this country.
Ultimately, though, this is not about
marriage. It is about unequal treatment.
It is about withholding rights. It is about
denying liberty and justice and the pursuit of
happiness to millions ofAirier,cans.
And this takes gay marriage from a gay
issue to a human rights issue. Every good
person, regardless of sexual orientation or
gender identity, has a moral obligation to
stand firm for equality for all people. We need
every LGBT person and every family member
of a lesbian, gay ,nan, bisexual or transgender
person. We need honest legislators with
integrity and pastors with compassion. We
need educators and journalists and attorneys
who will not back away from what is right.
\re must work together, speak togethe,;
march together, vote together, and love
together.
This is not about the future for LGBT
persons. It is about the future of our nation.
Scott J. Hamilton, Executive Director
Cimarron Alliance Foundation
Religion and Sex Best
Conducted by Consenting
Adults in Private
From the smallest crossroads one stop
light town to the largest state in the American
Union, religion has stood in the municipallegislative
door to stop the recognition of
gay/lesbian cM1 rights.
Ten countries now recognize and support
same-gender marriage. They are Argentina,
Canada, Portugal, Spain, Holland, Belgium,
Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and South Africa,
according to the International Lesbian and
Gay Law Association, (www.ILGLaw.org) .
Many of these countries govern their people
without the profound religious obeisance
that interferes with the passage of any
pro-gay/lesbian law, ordinance, or policy in
the United States, regardless of the level of
governance.
Our national myth of being founded on
equality is a shell game.
N~e real root of America’s founding was
the need for a fundamentalist sect to escape
to a region of the world where they could call
their own repressive religious shots without
the need to compromise with other faith
POVs. Eventually other denominations and
sects infected even the Puritan tradition.
Some colonies required membership and
tithing towards particular churches even if the
citizen choose not to attend services:
Rhode Island was the first colony to
recognize religious freedom of conscience.
Maryland had a back-and-forth struggle
regarding recognition of the Catholic and
Protestant faiths. Each side suppressed the
other when they had the POLITICAL power
to do so.
Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute for
Religious Freedom from 1779 reads:
"[N]o man shall be compelled to frequent
or support any religious worship, place, or
ministry whatsoever; nor shall be enforced,
restrained, molested, or burthened in his
body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on ¯
account of his religiouS opinions or belief,
but that all men shall be free to profess, and
by argument to maintain, their opinions in
matters of religion, and that the same shall in
no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil
capacities."
Tlae language of the Jefferson statute
clearly alludes to the suppression of
fi’eedom of conscience and the coercion
of property experienced in many of the
Colonies. Jefferson was so proud of this
accomplishment that the title is engraved, at
his direction, on his grave market; but NOT
the fact he was a president of the United
States. ( http://en.wildpedia.org/wikil
Freedom of religion )
Women are not mentioned in the
Constitution and were only recognized
nationally as legal voters in 1920 with
passage of the Nineteenth Ainendment.
African-Airier,can slaves and the indigenous
Americans were spedfically enumerated as
3/5ths of a person. Several American states
had educational tests or poll taxes to maintain
power over minorities who the majority
wanted disenfranchised from voting or
removed fi’om any other participation in the
governing process.
It’s no wonder gays and lesbians are
treated as non-entities in much of federal law.
4 September 1, 2010
Every minority in American history
has had to fight tooth-and-nail for legal
recognition under the law and our gay/lesbian
equality fight is no different.
I think the so called sacred "institution"
of marriage is as much a miasma as the myth
ofAmerica’s founding being based in equality.
There’s nothing sacred about it. gC~y do the
50 states allow completely~secular marriages
with absolutely no mention of religious faith?
Those non-religious marriages using only
a state marriage license are just as valid as
the recent marriage of Chelsea Clinton and
the spending of an estimated three million
dollars.
The emotionalohopes and expectations
associated with marriage have long been
diminished by the actions of the heteros
themselves.
My relationship with my partner has
lasted 33 years with total commitment toward
each other in spite of the failure of our state
and federal governments to give us aW of the
support that hetero couples receive in spite
of our paying more per centum of taxes than
hetero couples 0fthe same income level.
My partner and I want the same tax and
other economic benefits that the heteros are
getting.
Judge Vaughn \Valker’s Prop 8 opinion
is the very first major statement that plainly
addresses the religiously-bigoted and sociallyignorant
prejudices held against gays and
lesbians. ( http:/hinyurl.com/28jm16s )
Whether it’s called marriage or domesticpartner
benefits makes no difference to
us. I’ve long said our gay/lesbian equality
movement was using the xvrong word for
America’s profound sky-god-believing
majority" to accept. There’s no way too much
political, legal, and emotional water under the
bridge to recover the separation of church and
state argument regarding marriage equality.
We don’t need a religious blessing,
societal approval or the neighborhood
welcoine wagon to make a stop at our door in
order to be American citizens.
\Vge need ONLY the judicial and
legislative equality of law, that’s all, JUST
THE LAW!!!
We’ll take care of our own private
emotional feelings towards one another,
thank you very rauch!
Keep religion confined along with sexual
activity in private among consenting adults.
James Nimmo
Oldalaoma City, OK
Obamacare Pre-existing
Condition Insurance
Now Enrolling
By Healthy Living Ne~vs
Some call it health reform, some
Obamacare, yet many with a pre-existing
heath condition and no health insurance
may call it a life saver. For them the xvait for
affordable health insurance may be over.
The Pre-existing Condition Insurance
Plan (PCIP), part of the new Affordable
Care Act, is now enrolling, enabling at last
chronically ill and uninsured individuals
access to affordable health insurance.
"For too long, Americans xvith preexisting
conditions have been locked out"
said Secretary Kathleen Sebdius. "The Pre-
Existing Condition Insurance Plan gives them
a new option - the same insurance coverage
as a healthy individual."
The PCIP provides an opportunity for
LGBT community members, many ofwhom
have been denied, or could not afford, health
insurance because of HIV, diabetes, cancer, or
other once exclusionary conditions.
Federally funded at $5 billion, PCIP is
slated to provide a broad range of health
coverage including primary and specialty care,
hospital care, and prescription drugs. Once
enrolled coverage begins immediately and will
provide limitless health insurance coverage,
low deductible with low co-payments, at least
in theory.
Early enrollment is being encouraged,
howevm; as PCIP’s popularity may be
substantial and there is concern that there
may not be enough funding to meet the
potential demand. By enrolling early you can
ensure that you won’t be put on a waiting
list. Ttae federal government and or states
will administer PCIP so enrollment costs and
eligibility, requirements may vary fi’om state
to state.
PCIP will run until 2014 when it will
be replaced by more affordable insurance
exchanges from which even members of
congress will have to purchase their insurance.
In the meantime, the AIDS Drug Assistance
and Ryan White programs will remain in
place, that is for as long as they are funded.
If you are in need of health insurance
coverage due to a pre-existing condition visit
healthcare.gov. As enrolhnent may require
proof of a pre-existing condition contact your
member organizations such as SSRA donate
thousands of dollars each year to charities.
Winners from this year’s rodeo ,nay go
on to compete at IGRA’s World Gay Rodeo
Finals in Laughlin, Nevada.
Its location, a terrific host hotel and a fun
calendar of events have buoyed anticipation
of the Sooner State Stampede. The Ramada
Tulsa Airport East~.l 010 North Garnett
is the host hotel, with Bridle Creek (www.
bridlecreekok.com) .just a few minutes away.
\vgith mention of SSRA, the hotel rate is just
$55.
The Sooner State Stampede fun starts on
Thursday, Sept. 30 with a 7pro - 9pro VIP
Party at Club 209.
Friday October 1, 6pm-9pm: Registration
at hotel and arena. 6pm-8pm: Entertainment
(All IGRA & Association Royalty are invited
to perform) 8pm-9pm: Live performance
by Gary Robert Strickland from Growing
Mylow. 9pm-til Homorodeo.com Meet &
Greet at Tulsa Eagle.
Saturday, October 2, 7:30pm: Buses
load at the hotel for the Bar Crawl. $5.00
admission 8:00pro: Bar Cravd
Sm~day, October 3, 7:00pro: Awards
Banquet at Club Majestic. In addition
to rodeo events the weekend features
entertainment and bus transportation.
For more information about the Sooner
State Roundup, admission and schedule of
events, visit ww~v.soonerstaterodeo.com.
By Rex Wockner
Media decides Prop 8 found himselfin an identical situation of
ruling on an issue that is related to his or her judge is gay sexual orientation.
Michelangelo Signorile, who has been
credited with inventing outing when he ~vas
a columnist at New York’s defunct OutWeek
magazine in 1989, said the Walker outing
was "a testament to how easily the media is
manipulated by the right into doing things
about which editors and reporters claim to be
staunchly opposed."
He said the Walker repor~ amounted to
"outrageous hypocri~ ... on the part of the
corporate medid’ because "even with proof
and evidence, news or~nizations reuse to
report on the secretly gay sexu~ orientation
of conservative, ~ti-~y politicians and
public figures when the ~rgument for their
exposure is made from the left."
U.S. District CourtJudge Vaughn Walker
Lady Gaga denounces
Arizona immigrants law
In a break with past practice on outing,
the U.S. mainstream media decided in early
August that U.S. District Judge Vaughn
Walker, who struck down Proposition 8
as unconstitutional, is gay, openly gay or
reportedly gay.
W’alker has never publiCly said ifhe~ gay
o~ s~raight. In the p~t~ U:S~ mainsffeam
media have avoided Outing people who’ve
chosen nor to out .themselves. .......
Most of the reports either attributed
Walker’s alleged gayness to other mainstream
reports or said it is common knowledge in
certain San Francisco circles. Some reports
flat-out called him "openly gay," without
attributing the assertion to any event or
individual.
~le Associated Press took the plunge on
Aug. 6, writing: "Rumors have circulated
for months that Walker is gay, fueled by the
blogosphere and a San Francisco Chronicle
column that stated his sexual orientation
was an ’open secret’ in legal and gay activism
circles. Walker himself hasn’t addressed the
speculation, and he did not respond to a
request for comment by ~e Associated Press
on Xhursday."
"l-he New York Times wrote, "Several
published reports have stated that the judge is
himself gay."
New York’s Daily News said, "The federal
judge who upended California’s samesex
marriage ban this week is now being
scrutinized by some for being gay himself."
Fox News called Walker "one of three
openly gay federal judges in the country," and
a CNN opinion piece called him "an~ openly
gay federal judge."
The Washington Post let a political analyst
call Walker "openly gay."
Anti-gay activists have suggested that
Walker’s purported gayness means he
shouldn’t have accepted the Prop 8 case, since
it deals with whether marriage is only for
straight people or also for gay people.
~i1~e anti-gay activists did not address ~e
fact that a heterosexual judge would have
Lady Gaga. Photo by Rex Wockner
Lady Gaga forcefully denounced Arizona’s
anti-immigrant law during a July 31 concert
in Phoenix.
Gaga said she had been asked tO boycott
Arizona "and I said, ’You really think that us
dumb fucldng pop stars are gonna collapse
the economy ofArizona?’"
"(We need to) actively protest prejudice
and injustice and the bullshit that is put on
our society," she said. "I will not cancel my
show. I will yell and I will scream louder and
I wil! hold you and we will hold each other
and we will peacably protest this state."
"Do not be afraid because if it wasn’t for
all of you immigrants, this country wouldn’t
have shit," the pop diva told concertgoers.
The law, lm0wn as S.B. !070, requires
pol!ce to check an individual’s immigration
status if an officer suspects the i;xdividual may
be in the U.S. illegally.
LGBT direct-action group GetEQUAL
had asked Gaga to take a stand against the
law, saying it makes it "a crime to be brown."
Gay people are much more likely than
straight people to oppose the la~,v, a Harris
Interactive poll found.
Sixty-three percent ofLGBT Americans
oppose the law and 45 percent of LGBT
Americans strongly oppose it. However, 60
percent of straight people support the law and
41 percent s.upport it strongly.
The poll also found that, because of the
law, 43 percent ofLGBT respondents are less
likely to vacation in Arizona and 36 percent
are less likely to attend a convention there.
The proponents’ opening brief is due Sepf.
17, the plaintiffs’ opposing brief is due Oct.
18 and the proponents’ reply brief is due Nov.
1.
A decision that the proponents lack
standing could come in December. If the
9th Circuit Court decides the proponents
have standing and goes on to consider the
constitutionality of Prop 8, it would not be
expected to isstie a decision until sometime in
early 2011. Either decision could be appealed
to the U.S. Supreme Court. -
Meanwhile, the plaintiffs challenging Prop
8 could appeal the 9th Circuit’s current stay
to the U.S. Supreme Court right now but
have given no indication they will do so.
Robin Tyler, whose marriage to Diane
Olson was the first same-sex marriage in
southern California two years ago, said the
stay is deeply disappointing.
"We are tired of our emotions being
batted around like pingpong balls," Tyler said.
"Gays and lesbians are human beings, and
there is not one legal reason to delay same-sex
marriages in California. Martin Luther King
said, ’Justice delayed is justice denied.’ He
also said, ’Wait means never.’ Once again, our
hopes have been dashed."
NCLR Executig;e Director Kate Kende!l
said: "Every add~’ n~ o..n.a..l.day that cou.p.l.e.s.must
wait to marry again in California iS painful,
but despite the terrible disappointment for
the many couples whose right to marry has
been delayed yet again, today’s ruling includes
another significant victory for our side. The
court did the right thing by putting the case
on a fast track and specifically ordering that
Prop 8 proponents show why they have a
legal right to appeal. This ruling brings us
one step closer to ending the nightmare of
Prop 8 and restoring full equality for all
Californians."
Lambda Legal called the stay "painful."
"We are saddened by the 9th
Circuit’s decision to maintain the stay
ofJudge Walker’s ruling that Prop 8 is
unconstitutional," said Jennifer Pizm; director
of the group’s Marriage Project. ’%7e very
much hoped to see same-sex couples again
free to celebrate their love and mutual
devotion through marriage starting later
this week. ~/e 1,mow this delay is painful for
couples in love, who have been denied their
basic rights for too long already."
She also said the 9th Circuit failed to
apply "the standard test for when a stay
should be ordered."
The test requires, among other things,
that an appellant prove a strong likelihood
of winning on appeal and that the appellant
would suffer an irreparable injury without
a stay. Judge Walker said the Prop 8
proponents failed to pass any part of the test.
The 9th Circuit’s order did not explain its
determination.
September 1, 20i0 i 5
O ahoma City Museum ofArt features Sketch to
Screen E ibition with Grand Finale
By Victor Gorin
Contributing Writer
"Ttxe work I have created for this show
hopes to evoke an experience of serenity,
energy and excitement for life - and silliness
out of the viewer. To summarize: this show is
an artistic collage of Seasons, Seasonings and
Sensations. I invite you to indulge and enjoy
my work."
° The show begins with a reception on
Thursda?; September 2nd fi’om 6-9pro and
continues throughout the month.
N
New Faces At Tulsa
Ballet
Featured at the Skyline Terraceparty Oklahoma City Icon Ginger Lamarpictured with longtime
partnerf~): Gorin photo
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ Film history
aficionados got a real treat when the Okdah0ma
City Museum of Art featured their Sketch
to Screen-The Art of Hollyw~*0od Costume
Design E>~ibit May 6 thru August 15. Cocreated
by Film Curator Brian Hearn and
Associate Curator Jenni}~r ~os, the exhibit
featm’ed costumes from films ranging from
Gone with the Wind to Legally B!onde. The
project was 3 years in the making, obtaining
articles for exhibition from other museums
and private collections throughout the country,
but also including two local contributors,
the O~:dahoma Cowboy & Western Heritage
Museum and the Oklahoma History Museum,
whose items were featured in the western
section of ti~e exhibit: Accompanying thi~
event was a film series of movies with costumes
shown in the exhibit including not only Gone
with the Wind, but also classics like Dick
Tracy, Atonement, and a sing a long party with
Mama Mia.
Mama Mia was part of the climax of
the exhibition, which was the Last Call
Party" held Thursday August 12. That party
featured a costume contest emceed by
Johnathan Kayne, a famous gay fashion
designer, and a party with a live DJ on the
Skyline Terrace featuring 2 Oklahoma City
icons of female impersonation, Ginger
Lamar and Lexus Carrin~on.
The Oklahoma City" Museum of Art
is open Tuesday thru Saturday from 10
A.M. until 5:00 p.m. until October, with
Thursdays open until 9 p.m, with Sunday
hours from noon until 5 P.M. The museum
features an excellent restaurant, with dinner
& a movie package deals available. Museum
members aAso get discounts at Tulsds Circle
Cinema. For more information check
out their website is wv,¢aokcmoa.com,
telephone (405) 236 3100.
Art Opening and E ibit of Original Works:,
Photographs by Shelley McGoNn
TULSA, OK (PR) __ The September
Oldahomans for Equality (OkEq) showcase
and exhibit of local artists at the Dennis R.
Neitl EqualitT Center (621 E. 4th Street in
downtown Tulsa), will feature the Art of
Shelley McGoffin.
Shelley McGoNn is a Tulsa native. Her
art was originally inspired by her love of and
passion for food---eating it, cooldng it, looking
at pictures of it, collecting and displaying
plastic versions of it and talking about it. Her
first experiments with painting on canvas were
centered on exaggerated still life, food generally
the subject. Eventually she chose tO explore
the abstract art world of inner emotional
statements in this area Surrealism was always an
artistic inspiration to her Salvador Dali being
her main at~nity. Although her paintings are
not in the Surrealistic style, her abstract
works have a touch of their own surrealism.
Shelley’s art impacts her life thru its
ability to allow her to become a vessel into
which energy vibrations which did not
originate from her find a resonance. "The
act of painting a piece of art on canvas
is, for me a translation, a transmission of
my own inner passions onto a vessel thru
which I hope the viewer will experience an
intimate vibration of the energy originated
by and within me."
The current shmv for which she has
painted is all new material. It is differe~at
fi’om her previous works in that is draws
on her willingness and growing ability to
broaden her inspirational field and try new
stTles of abstract interpretation using vibrant
colors and images - channeling her spirit.uai
experiences with nature and equality.
TULSA, OK (PR) __ Tulsa Metro
Softball League, Tulsa’s only LGBT softball
league, is ge’aring up for its second fall season°
beginning September 19, 2010. Games vdll
play on Sundays in the early evening and last
through November 7, 2010.
This year TMSL has set up Fall Bal! to be
a relaxed social season enabling members to
mix & mingle and get to lmow one another.
It is also great for new members as it vcill
allow them to meet people, make friends,
and find or form a team for the competit@e
spring season!
Fall Ball registration will open on August
22, 2010. At 6PM on Sunday September 5th
TMSL will hold a "Draft" party at the Dennis
R. Neill Equality Center in Downtown Tulsa
where Volunteer Team Captains will select
players for one of eight teams from a "hat"
containing the tickets of all players registered
for Fall Ball. TMSL will provide team .jerseys
that players get to keep!
TMSL has three registration options for
players:
1. Players may register on an individual
single player ticket.
2. Couples may register with and be
placed on the same ticket as their girlfriend/
boyfriend/partner which guarantees they will
be on the same team.
3. Single players may find a friend, register
as a "couple", and be placed on the same
ticket guaranteeing they will be on the same
team.
Dues for TMSL Fall Ball 2010 are set at
$20.00 per player fi’om August 22, 2010 till
September 5, 2010. After the "Draft" late
registrations will be accepted with dues set at
$30.00 per player. Late registration will be
allowed until Opening Night, September 19,
2010 no registrations will be accepted after
Opening Night.
For more information on Fall
Ball & TMSL people can visit w~v.
TulsaMetroSoftball.com or emaiI at
TulsaMSL@gmail.com
Wang Yi, 7he Vertiginous Thrill ofExactitude
(William Forsythe)
TULSA, OK (PR) __ Tulsa Ballet artistic
director Marcello Angelini announced
today the addition of 12 new dancers to the
company’s roster for the 2010-2011 season.
"Tulsa Ballet brings the wood to our city,
not only in the global premieres we offer each
year, created by internationally recognized
choreographers, but in the ten nationalities
represented by our dancers," said Arlgelini.
The new dancers include:
Claudio Cocino joins the compaW
as demi-solist. From Turin, Italy, Cocino
trained at Teatro dell’ Opera di Roma and the
Royal Ballet School in London. In 2007, he
joined the Teatro Dell’Opera ballet company.
He won the L. Massine Positano prize for
the Art 0f Dance in Positano, Italy in 2009,
one of the most prestigious awards given to
rising stars or established dance personalities
in Italy.
Joining the corps de ballet are Forent
Bouyat - France, Jo@ Antonia Checa - Spain,
Alexandra Christian - U.S., Alex Harrison
- Great Britain, Rodrigo Hermesmeyer
- Brazil, Elise Miller - U.S., Gwdna~lle Poline
- France, Erin Pritchard - U.S., Jonathan
Ramirez - Colombia, Susanna Sal@ - Italy,
and Laura Suttle - Great Britain.
In addition, Kate Oderkirk - U.S. has
been promoted from demi-soloist to soloist,
and Sarah Jane Crespo - U.S. has been
promoted fi’om apprentice to the corps de
ballet. Ms. Crespo is the first dancer to join
the company from TBII, Tulsa Balle{’s preprofessional
ensemble. The company’s roster
now stands at 29 artists, while TBII boasts 12
pre-professional dancers recruited ft’om some
of the best American schools.
Tulsa Ballet is a professional ballet
company whose purpose is to serve as an
essential asset of its extended community
through internationally-acclaimed artistic
excellence and exemplary @ucation and
outreach. Regarded as one of the top
ballet companies in North America and
internationally recognized as a leader in the
field, Tulsa Ballet consistently brings the
finest works of the classical and contemporary
repertory to the Oklahoma stage, presenting
the same works and sharing the same worldrenowned
choreographers with the top
dance organizations in the World. For more
information, visit ~vw~a:tulsaballet.org.
By Ronald Blake
Contributing W-riter
Ronald Blake, Certified Fi*ness Instructor
through ISSA International Sports Sciences
Association
10,000 Seeps!
The car won’t start. The bicycle has a flat
tire. Your neighbor left for work 20 minutes
ago. ~Pne bus line is 14 blocks away. The
number for the cab company has been busy
forever. Your pulse quickens, sweat beads
on your forehead, you furrow your brow,
and you realize you may have to ....WALK!
Loosen your tie and put on those sneakers
and "Walk Like a Man". It’s going to be
different today!
There is an exercise program called the
"10,000 Steps a Day" and today is YOUR
day to start. The goal of this program is to
get people to become more aware of their
health and fitness through the ancient art
of walking. That many steps each day are
equivalent to four or five miles traveled. Don’t
"WalkAway Renee" just yet! It can be done!
You will need a pedometer to measure
your steps. These $20 and under devices won’t
break your bank and they conveniently attach
to your waistband. Stay away from buying
one online since there is not any walking
involved in the process. Purchase one at any
of your loc,~ sporting goods stores. Then
you will simply need to start "\v-vralking on
$~i~!~in~!" .... .... .....
Forget what the modern world has taught
you about convenience and the on-demand
attitude. You will need to work to earn your
10,000 steps. It begins early in fl~e day and
in earnest as you yawn, stretch, and rub your
eyes after wrestling with your alarm clock.
Climb out of your bed and "\Valk Like an
Egyptian" to the bathroom on the other side
of the house to get your day moving right.
After you’ve showered, dressed, and
eaten you will be ready to change the way
you approach the world. You can walk to
work, walk to the bus, or drive to work
and park four blocks dmvn the street. You
vdll need to get creative and don’t be afraid
to try something different. There is always
somebody out there trying this walking thing
too and "You’ll Never Walk Mone."
Get to work and take the stairs instead
of the elevator. Get to your office and walk
around your desk as you yap on the phone
and earn your commissions for the week¯ Get
to your lunch break and walk with your coworkers
during the last half of the lunch hour.
Get to the last part of your work day and
meet your team members in person and not
through e-mail¯ Smile or whistle on your way.
It’s OK to "Walk This Way!" You have to earn
those steps someway and you might as well be
happy doing it!
When you arrive home, you can continue
to "Take a Walk on the Wild Side!" The
possibilities include walking the dog, walking
and talking on the phone, or just plain old
wa1~ng ~ith {he ~eighbm-~ f~ ~6~ ~Cise
and gossip[mongering.
The 10;000 steps program is something
that can be fun! It gives you that ehance
to strive for a daily goal and it can change
you profoundly! Get your pedometm; get
motivated, and you’ll want to go "Walkin’
After Midnight."
e-mail:
CNNtapesfor an upcomingAmerican
Morning. Photo by Robin Dorner
pay; there were 40 teachers in the Putnam
City School District alone that were laid off
and I never saw her [Kern] put forth any
legislation to stop this."
Novomy said the top three issues in
her campaign are helping small business,
insuring that all children have the best
education in Oldahoma and investing in our
transportation infrastructure.
"In a time where the economy is so bad,
we need to be doing things to help promote
bringing in businesses," said Novomy.
Reflecting on the goodness of this state and
the benefits of our lower cost of living she
added, "We’ve got great things to attract
people to Oklahoma."
The youngest of five siblings, Novotny was
born in Chickasha. She grew up in Oklahoma
City and graduated from Westmoore High
School in 1998. In 2002, Brittany graduated
Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Sociology
from the University of Science and Arts of
Oldahoma, earning her Jurist Doctorate from
the Hastings College of Law University of
California in 2005.
"It’s important that we work together,"
said Novotny. "This is really a campaign,about
all of us and our future as Oldahomans. In
July 2009 the Journal Record ran an editorial
stating that Kern is bad for business.
CNN’s American Morning offers political,
domestic and international stories. Most are
scripted segments including a heavy dose of
political news each morning. The program
mainly focuses on news to attract viewers,
who prefer a more straightforward morning
show. Its main competitor is the Fox News
Channel.
American Morning is aired live every
weekday morning from 7 to 10 am (CST). As
of this writing, CNN’s air date of Novomy’s
interview is not known. Please visit the
Novotny website at www.brittany4hd84.com
for air time and date.
The results of this primary election should be
used as an example in every civics class that
every vote counts!" Askins thanked voters and
Edmondson for their support, reflecting on
her past political experiencequalifying her as
the best candidate for this office.
"We are privileged to have two candid,,ates
leading this state who are truly a class act,
said Jim Roth, former state Corporation
Commissioner who served as emcee for the
event. "We are so proud of the campaigns you
both ran."
Those inducted into the Activist Hall
of Fame were Jack Boyte, Miller Newman,
Charlie & Juanita King, Troy Green, Tommie
Lou Levi and Rev. Dr. John A. Reed Jr.
The general election will be Tuesday,
November 2nd. For more information about
voter registration, statewide candidates and
candidates in your area, please visit www.
ok.gov/elections/.
Courtesy o£~vwcw.labrescue,net
this
but it sounds FUN!! In
tO live in a
says I would do best in
kids who will wrestle with me. I hope you
will put in your application and cm~e ~ut to
mee{ me I’ll give );ou a big Hig ..
Ifyou’d like to see Grammar or any of
th~ other adoptable dogs visit the Lab
Rescue Tulsa Oldahoma website at:
labre~Cue,net, All available dogs are listed
there. We also show our dogs t~e first
three Saturdays ofthe month, so watch
the website f6r the locations.
September 1, 2010 " 7
~~! ~nstant Ace
the Nation’s Top Gay
10 September 1, 2010
Photo’s by Victor G. and Robin D.
Out &About in Oklahoma
@ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa @ The Copa, Oklahoma City
@ 7he Democratic Homecoming andActivist Hall ofFame Dinner,
Oklahonm City
By Ed Sikov
Ed Sikov is the author ofDark Victory; 7he Life
ofBette Davis and other books aboutf!lms and
fihnmakers.
"Snobs invent Fire Island Iced Tea"
Six of us ~vere lined up in beach chairs
judging the gym rats on parade at the water’s
edge.
"Why does that guy have ’Bondi’ printed
on his ass?" I inquired. "I love Make Way for
Tomorrow, too, but it’s a strange film to be
referenced on a musclehead’s butt."
"It’s not Beulah Bondi, darling. It’s Bondi
Beach in Australia~" This came from my
3artner, Dan, who then turned on me: "Did
rou hear what Dr. Film Studies just said?" he
trumpeted to the others, who made snorting
noises at my expense.
Jack Fogg yawned, stretched, and said,
"Let’s make Long Island Iced Tea." "You
would drink that," his boyfriend Sammy
replied.
Jack became defensive: "What’s wrong
~vith Long Island Iced Tea?"
"People wilt think we’re from
Massapequa," Chipper explained.
"Or Hicksville," Paolo added. "Can you
imagine saying you’re from Hicksville? You
might as well be from East Jesus."
I agreed. "We’re maldfig ’Fire Island Iced
Tea’ because we’re on Fire Island, not Long
Island."
"What’s in it?" Sammy asked.
"We’re inventing it," I declared. "What
should be in our drink?"
"Lots of fruits," said Dan.
"And logs of alcohol," Pao!o added.
"It needs a fire component," Chipper said.
"What tastes hot?"
I had an inspiration: "Absolut Peppar!"
Chipper got into the spirit(s): "And
Citron for the fruit. And Orange Curacao.
And your inevitable lime juice."
"Why do you always have Orange
Curacao?" asked Jack, the reporter; he was
prone to interviewing people, which irritated
me, so I answered: "Because Blue Curacao
turns an orange Screwdriver the color of
vomit."
"Aha," said Jack, buying my, made-up
reason. I’m dementedly jealous ofJack, so
I put a notch on the Ed vs. Jack scoreboard
I keep in my head.
Michelangelo’s David strolled by. "What
can we add t° represent him?" Dan asked.
"Coke Zero!" Sammy shouted to our
communal delight. ~-he pore; perfect hunk
thought we were laughing at him and glared.
We tried a fe~v recipes before we found
one that worked, which meant we were
hammered by dinnertime. I grilled the
Lemon-Dill Lamb-burgers to death. Dan
burned the buns. But Paolo, always under
control, pulled off a lovely Caprese Salad, and
since we bought a peach pie from the grocery
store, dessert was fine. "Where do these great
pies come from?" I once asked the Long
Island teenager behind the counter. "Poh’t
JefE.," she answ~ered, meaning Port Jefferson.
The accent alone proved why ~ve had to have
an "Iced Tea" of our own.
Fire Island Iced Tea
2-parts Absolut Peppar
2-parts Absolut Citron
I-part Beefeater
1-part cup tequila
l/2-part Orange Curacao
1-part or 1/3-cup unsweetened lime juice
3-parts Coke Zero or the soda of your
choice .
Fill a tall glass with ice and add liquors
and lime juice. Pour soda in gently to keep
the fizz. Note: The conventional drink is
called "Iced Tea" because the cola turns
the white liquors tea-colored. But I prefer
Limonata, the Italian le,hon soda, which
makes the drink taste like spicy lemofiade.
Use what you like, and dofft worry about
what color the result is. If it looks gross, put
it in an opaque plastic cup, stick a straw in it,
and nobody will know the difference.
@ Finishline, Oklahoma City
12
@ Ledo, Oklahoma City
September
Join Metro Star Enews for BreakAng News Updates as they haj~pen. Keep
informed throughtout the monthr Join us at www.Metroatari’~ews.com
SSRA Member Don George, Tulsa
TULSA, OK __ The Metro Star Online
edition at www.metrostarnews.com is
updated daily with Top Local and National
Ne~vs stories that concern the GLBT
community. The \Vorld News feed module
will keep you informed about community
news from around the globe.
The Metro Star Online was one of the first
nationally to send out a News Bulletin on
the California Prop 8 ruling from Federal
Judge Vaughn Walker on August 4. Metro
Star Online was the chosen media to
release the signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding between Oldahomans for
Equality and Cimarron Alliance Foundation
on July 31.
Join today and we will keep you informed
and it’s FREE.
Chuck Breckenridge
~hether buying or selling
I’l! work hard for you.
’lecomics.com E-Mail- KylesBnB@aol.com
597 M~ Road
Arkansas
ww~v.magneticvalleyresort.corn
info@magneticvalleyresort.com
800-210-8401 479-244-6821
September 1, 2010 13
By Jack Fertig
September 20t0
"Just be yourself, VirgoV’
Venus and Mars dancing through Libra
while opposing Eris boost competition
and conflict. Mercury retrograding
past the Sun in Virgo brings egotisticai
miscalculations into the picture. Go
slow, easy and careful. Be the tortoise,
not the hare!
ARIES (March 20- April 19): Strive for
your best without comparing yourself
to colleagues. Can you be the best at
teamwork? Even efforts to cooperate
will highlight your ego, but as long as
you’re your own sharpest critic, that can
be good for you.
TAURUS (April 20- May20): Too
often you feel your best isn’t good
enough. Your efforts are appreciated.
Why do you shortchange yourself?
Playfully exaggerating those feelings
- and whatever comes up with them
- can help you get clarity.
GEMINI (May 21- June 20): "The family
that plays together slays each other?"
That’s not how it goes, but maybe you
should find your fun outside for now.
Either way, remember that standing
in your community is based more on
cooperation than being "the best" at
anything.
CANCER {June 21- July 22): Slips
of the tongue reveal what you really
think about your roots and your
current job and trajectory. Pick your
company carefully, being sure to have
a confidante you can trust. Also, use
these accidental insights to revise your
plans.
LEO (Ju~y 23 -August 22): Be very
careful of your facts and figures. You’re
likely to exaggerate the humiliation
of being caught in a mistake, but the
financial costs of errors can be much
more real than the cost to your ego.
VIRG0 {August 23 - September
22): Let others plan your birthday
party. You’re having too much trouble
managing details and they’ll fall all over
each other trying to make your bash
everything you deserve. Trying to look
sexy is sure to backfire. Just be yourself
and they’ll come running.
LIBRA {September 23 - October 22):
Worries about your relationship are at
least exaggerated and likely unfounded.
Go over them carefully, preferably with
your partner, strip away the needless
fears, and get a clearer vision of real
problems you can work on.
SCORPIO {October 23 - November
21): Friends are too eager to help, but
listen politely, if briefly. There might
be some good suggestions in all that
meshugas. Competing with colleagues
can drive you crazy. Focus on doing
your best. "You’ll accomplish more.
SAGITTARIUS/(November 22
- December 20): Your long-range plans
are not looking good. Normally you
would roll with that and adapt. Now it
looks more serious, That’s just worry,
but yes, some revisions need to be
made. Analyze problems now; solve
them next month.
CAPRICORN (December 21
- January 19): Work is looking good
if you can only keep your mouth out of
the way. Absorb information and others’
perspectives now. Take time to figure
that out before responding. Even if by
negative examples, your family offers
excellent lessons for building your
future. -
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February
18): You may be able to convince
everyone you’re right, but something
at the heart of your argument is wrong.
Invite criticism. Open discussion and
testing your premises can help you
figure out where the flaw is. ’
PISCES (February 19 - March 19):
Money and sex are the two biggest
issues for couples to deal with, but
first get ego and miscommunications
out of the way. Humility and admitting
mistakes is necessary on both sides,
but you can only do for yourself.
1
12
3 4 5 i6 7 8 9 10
~
11 12 i13
!14
17
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~
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27
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28 29 30 ,31
~
32 33
! 38
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54 W
60 61162
Community for
People iving
H V/A ©S
A 501. c (3) Non Profit Or~.~nizadon
Our House, Too offers a variety of
activities for people who are HIV+ and
or living with AIDS to help combat the
social isolation ~at many of our
people live through each and eve.-
day. We provide a Toilet~ and Household
Pantry for those who are HIV+
and or living with AIDS who cannot
afford to purchase these items for
themselves_ ~te invite anyone who
would like to volun[eer or provide financial
assistance to please contacl
us by phone 9t 8-585-9552 or e-mail
ourhousetoo9865@sbcglobal.net
35 End of the quip
39 Victor/Victoria actor [¥ter
40 Verdi’opera
41 Gay Hamilton
42 L-~am of Kinsey
44 Straw hat
46 Beginning ~o whiz
47 kA. lang’s~I Gal"
52 Barrie~ precipitation
53 Source ofth( quip
55 No no~e for a l;u~c~
58 V0d S uad° Character
59 Edmund to Colette?
ancestral home
12 Hoar
13 Alpine feedback
14 ~iily Elliot epithet
22’ Bdieve :n0t!",
23 Mil; Student b0#
26 Number 0fsidm to a gay, symbol
27 Transsexual Richards
28 Que n 0free hill
29 Dicks rtmning mate
30 Like Abner, before Viagra?
31 NB~ Sketch source
33 Stuff~ ~trides
34% eat; to UlrichS
35 Tart taste
36 Kindof colUmn
37 Ola comedian g orge
}8 Poet Teasd~e
!3 Like an~igayhnguage
~5 ~ii~d testacle?
18 P !fistname, in Goldfinge~
19 Greased th~ palm ofU
56 With title tO
il Fine point
53 George Burns film
~4 Gay p0rn director Fnmcis
55 Dangle like a package
Solution p~e 15
14 September 1, 2010
Support those who support us. Their ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you.
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ACCOUNTING:
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625 N.W. 13oh Street
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AUTO DEALERS:
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7204 E. PINE
Tulsa, OK
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FINISHLINE
2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY
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405-525-2900
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1338 E. 3RD
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918-592-1188
Open 7days week 2pm to 2am
ENTERTAINMENZ"
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INSURANCE:
ORGANIZATIONS:
PHOTOGRAPHK:
CHURCH of the OPEN ARMS
3131 N. PENN. JUDY G. PHOTO’S
OKC, OK 405-525-9555 Tulsa, OK
Service Sunday 10:45 AM judygphotos@sbcglobal.net
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EXPRESSIONS Fellowship
4010 N Youngs
Oklahoma City, OK
405-761-1878
www.expressionsOKC.com
HOPE TESTING CLINIC
3540 E. 31st
Tulsa, OK
800-535-2437
Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline
OKLAHOMA STONEWALL
DEMOCRATES
Oldahoma City, OK
www.okstonewall.org
OUR HOUSE, TOO
203 N. Nogales Ave
Tulsa, OK 74127
918-585-9552
RED ROCK B.H.S.
4400 N LINCOLN BLVC
Oklahoma Ci~ OK 73105
405-425-0473
Toll Free 1-877-339-3330
SPIRIT OF CHPdST MCC
2902 E. 20TH STREET.
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Service Sunday 6pro
REAL ESTATE:
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405-840-2106
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CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE
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Tulsa, OK
918-706-1887
GAY REAL ESTATE
Nations Top Gay/Lesbian Realtors
www.GayRealEstate.com
1-988-420-6683
GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa
New and Historic Homes for Sale
and Rent For Info:
www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com
RESTAUP~tNTS:
GUSHER’S RESTAURANT
2200 NW 39TH EXPP,ESSWAY
Oklahoma City, OK
405-525-0730
Located inside Habana Inn
Classified Text Classified
A ILAC R
~ ~ELI
E ACIN
R THEC
R AlES G
E NK~N A
N TELL
E T
E GBON S
ARW~
G LING A
A OBIE
L~ RENT B
Ai EDG~ A
September 1, 2010 15
"What matters, as always, is not what we can’tdo,
Stonewall Democrats is a recognized group of the
Oklahoma and national Democratic Par~.
Working to educate voters and politicians about issues of the GBT
Tuesclay~ September 7,
meet the ~ st Tuesday ofevery month at the "
’E D RAT~C
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
[2010] Metro Star Magazine, September 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 9
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
September 01, 2010
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics
Description
An account of the resource
The Metro Star’s first issue began in August of 2008. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004), The Ozark’s Star (2004), and The Star (2005).
This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit.
This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Creator
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Star Media, Ltd;
Publisher
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Star Media, Ltd
Contributor
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James Nimmo
Victor Gorin
Ronald Blake
Michael W. Sasser
Robin Dorner-Townsend
Judy Gabbard
Romeo San Vicente
Andrew Collins
Jack Fertig
Lisa Keen
Ed Sikov
Steven Petrow
Rex Wockner
D'Anne Witkovski
Keith Orr
Chris Azzopardi
Format
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Image
PDF
Online text
Language
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English
Type
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magazine
Coverage
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Southwest Missouri
West Arkansas
Southeast Kansas
Eastern Oklahoma
The United States of America (50 states)
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19
Relation
A related resource
The Metro Star Magazine, July 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 7
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/191
The Metro Star Magazine, October 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 10
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/196
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/197
000 steps
AIDs walk OKC
Bitter Girl
Cimarron Alliance Foundation
Danielle Girdano
Don't shop-Adopt
Fitness-10
funnies
Kyle's Bed and Breakfast
Lady Gaga-Arizona immigrants law
Metro scene
National Post
Nightclubs and Bars
Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Oklahoma Democratic Party
Oklahoma News
pre-existing condition insurance
Prop 8
QPuzzle
Qscopes
same sex marriage
Sex-Consent
Shelley McGoffin
Sooner State Rodeo Association
Stonewall Democrats
The Equality Network
Tulsa ballet
Tulsa Metro Softball League
-
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/26f854c3995f27a23db06ea81fb3892c.jpg
73fe64901f21242a27312157b458f4ea
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/27c69474d3e752b6abe4bcc37d74a5c2.pdf
a1966cf0dd310fea9ec011cc64385b4f
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
[Series] Newsletters & Publications > Ozarks Pride, Ozarks Star, Star, Metro Star Newspapers, 2004-2011
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Ozarks Pride
Ozarks Star
Star
Metro Star
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2004-2011
Format
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Images
Online texts
PDF
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
magazine
Description
An account of the resource
Ozarks Pride's first issue began in January of 2004. Then follows Ozarks Pride (2004), The Star (2005), and The Metro Star (2008).
This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit.
This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Southwest Missouri
Western Arkansas
Eastern Oklahoma
Southeast Kansas
The United States of America (50 states)
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ozarks Pride/Star Media
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
C.D. Ward
T.J. Kelly
Chaz Storm
Marion Wilson
Greg Steele
Randy Vineyard
Steve T. Urie
Chaz
Lady Bunny
Romeo San Vincente
Steve T. Urie
Donald Pile
Ray Williams
Michael Hinzman
Jack Fertig
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/browse?collection=19&page=1
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
magazine
Text
Any textual data included in the document
THE PREMIER SOURCE FOR GLBT OKLAHOMA
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 3 Twi~er.com/MetroStarNews e MetroStarNews.com
U,S, Census being Conducted for 2010 Same Sex Marriages and
There is a particular need and focus
on the LGBT community and the
census. This community is one of
those that has been undercounted.
Many don’t feel a connection to
the government and how it affects their
lives. An inaccurate count could negatively
affect their lives and community fro7 the next
ten years or longer."
Emmet Morris, Partnership Coordinator U.S.
Census Regional OfFice, Kansas City, Missouri
By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ For the last
220 years the U.S. Census Bureau has been
counting the people of the United States of
America, recording numbers that reflect many
great changes. When the first census was
taken in 1790, it was administered by the late
our 3rd president. At the time it showed
the population of the United States to be
3,929,326 people, ofwhich 697,681
Emmett Morris, U.S, Census Partnership
Coordinator with Fran Dozz ofChurch ofthe
Open Arms in OKC. Gorin photo
were African American slaves ,who counted as
3/5 of a person for purposes 0f taxation and
representation. New York City, then as now,
was our largest municipality, but 0nly had
around 33,000 people.
Over two centuries later our 2000 census
showed a population of 281,421,906 people,
and 16% of those counted received a "long
form" with over 100 questions, going into far
more depth including inquiries about home
ownership, finances, relationships and other
data. Then as now there were no inquiries as
to sexual orientation, but for the first time it
did provide a way for gay and lesbian couples
to be counted. Asking the sex of the residents
of a household with the corresponding
relationship, among the options listed for
the first time was "unmarried partner."
If two persons of same sex at the same
address answered with that option, it would
statistically record a same sex couple. At that
time legal same sex marriage did not exist.
~is has changed since then as same sex
marriages became legal in 7 countries, the
first being the Netherlands in 200!, followed
by Belgium, Sweden; South Africa, Norwa~
Canada and Spain. It became legal in the US
~nfive St~t~s, the first being ,M~achusetts in
004,followed by Vermont~ Ne~v Hampshire,
COnnectiCut, and I6wa; plus marriages that
took place in California ~lufing a brief period
MARCH 1, 2010
cann0wbec0 d!
it was legal there during 2008. As dais is
the first census since same sex marriages
have gained legal status, this is the first
time that same sex couples will be counted
as married partners if they indicate that
is their relationship.
But for the GLBT community as well as
all Americans, the census affects far more
than that. Numbers from the census impact
almost every aspect of our lives, which
makes it imperative that there is an accurate
count of all the people in our country and
where they are. It affects over 170 Federal
allocations of money to states and localities,
including money for transportation,
healthcare including HIV grants, education
induding money for school lunch and
breakfast programs, Medicaid assistance,
money for housing and nutrition assistance,
grants for drug education and treatment,
Head Start and child care programs, crime
prevention assistance and much more. Data
~rom the census also determines how you are
represented politic~11); affecting government
operations from the Federal level all the way
to local School districts.
........Continued See CENSUS Page-4
Gay vet: military is ready for openly gay servicemen
By Michael W. Sasser
Contributing writer
Photo: Navy Lt. Everett "Earl"Morrow
While President Barack Obama’s call for
the end of the military’s ’Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell’ (DADT) policy is stalled in bureaucratic
neutral, one recent NaW veteran tells Metro-
Star that he believes servicemen are ready for
out comrades.
"Once the decision is made (to end
DADT), I think the transition will be quick,"
said former NaW Lt. Everett "Earl" Morrow.
"Troops don’t get enough credit. They will
be supportive of it. I’m not saying that there
won’t still be homophobes. There are still
racists and sexists out there."
However, Morrow said, his experience
taught him something about servicemen.
"I was surprised that more people than
not said they didn’t care ifsomeone serving
with them was gay," Morrow said.
Morrow, who granted his first interview as
an out veteran on the subject to Metro-Star,
said that he has plenty of experience on which
to base his experience. He had a successful
NaW career for five years, leaving active duty
in April 2008 in part because of
the DADT policy. The
to repeal the
policy recently
prompted his
to speak out on
the subject.
........Continued See DADT Page-9
State Senator Russell Introduces a Bill restricting
Oklahoma cooperation with Federal prosecution of
Hate Crimes
By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK As he
had promised to do earlier, State Senator
Steven Russell (Republican District 45) has
introduced legislation ( SB 2165) that among
its provisions would greatly limit Oklahoma
state, county and !ocal law enforcement
from providing evidence or assistance to
Federal authorities prosecuting hate crimes. It
proposes that "law enforcement agencies shall
deny access to law enforcement records to any
Federal agency when such request is made
relating to a case handled and completed
by a law enforcement agency of this state,
and the purpose is to attempt to investigate
or prosecute the individual or individuals
pursuant to 18- U.C.S. Section 245 (the
Federal Hate crimes law with protections
added in 2009 for sexual orientation, gender,
gender identity and disability- Matthew
Shepard-James Byrd act). Exceptions are
basic information that is available for public
inspection and records of those convicted
pursuant to Section 850 Tide 21 of
Oklahoma Statutes, which are Oklahoma’s
Hate Crimes laws which do not cover sexual
orientation or gender identity.
What this entails is that if an Oklahoman
was victimized by a hate crime, and Federal
authorities deemed the case to be under
their jurisdiction, loca! authorities could
not provide data beyond the most basic
information available to the public, witness
statements, physical/forensic or other any
other type of evidence or assistance. This
would prohibit providing as evidence to
Federal authorities a bloody baseball bat or
gun used in that type of crime to assist in
their prosecution of that hate crime. Since
crimes committed due to a victim’s sexual
orientation/gender identity are not Hate
Crimes under Oldahoma state law, and this
restriction ~votfld make Federal prosecution of
this type of crime in Oldahoma very difficult
if not impossible, this would greatly impede
Hate Crimes protection for the GLBT
community in Oklahoma.
Senator Russell has stated, "Oklahoma
has tough good laws that include hate
crimes laws. Any murder or brutal assault is
hateful. That is the problem with singling ,,
out something more with this Federallaw.
However A1 McAffrey, Oklahoma’s only
openly gay legislator, (Democrat-District
88) has a different opinion, considering
this legislation a publicity stunt stating,
" Preventing crimes against Oklahomans
because ofwho they are is in no way an attack
on free speech. This is nothing but emp,ty
rhetoric used to scare and mislead folks.
D ion School District
retains gay-friendly book
By Michael W. Sasser
TULSA, OK__ ~adter a flurry of
controversy in January, the Union Public
School District ofTulsa County has retained
a gay-friendly book available to students.
By a 3-1 vote, the District Board of
Education decided that "Buster’s Sugartime"
would remain on the shelf. The book, by
author Marc Brown, is a simplified version of
a 2005 episode of the PBS series "Postcards
from Buster." It is ostensibly about Buster
the Rabbit’s exploration of how maple syrup
is made in Vermont. However, the bulk of
this particular episode revolves around Buster
hanging out with the children of a same-sex
couple. Despite only a pair of Very gentle
allusions to same-sex parents, the content did
prompt many stations to pull the episode.
Last year, some parents argued that
the book was inappropriate and took their
complaint to the district’s Materials Review
Committee. That committee backed the
book’s presence by a 6-1 margin. At least one
set of parents appealed the decision to the
Board of Education, which then confirmed
the decision with the January 3-1 vote.
Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq)
President Toby Jenkins said that he wasn’t
surprised by the decision.
"When I first heard about it, I didn’t
know what would happen,’~ Jenkins said. !~But
I wasn’t surprised by the decision because this
is one of the more progressive school districts.
They have a non-discrimination policy and a
strong Gay-Straight Alliance."
Old~q board members include a couple of
out Union District employees, Jenkins said.
"I knew what the background of the
school board was," he said. "Still you can
never be too sure. Boards often cave to
pressure."
Jenkins praised Union for a positive
experience interacting on the issue and
for even setting up an emait contact for
community advocates to express their
opinions.
"They were very good to work with,"
Jenkins said.
According to Jenkins, stirring the
controversy were some advocates who
apparently went so far as to express dismay
at the bigotry and homophobia expressed by
some school parents.
"In no way was that something that
we did and no statement from us cast any
dispersion on parents," Jenkins said. He
suspected that some advocates got carried
away in their emails to the dedicated address
with the District.
The more virulent commentary prompted
a comlnent from a Union District official
defending parents. Its theme was that
complaining parents were protesting because
gay marriage is "illegal" in Oklahoma - a
position Jenkins said is unfortunate and not
true.
"Gay marriage is not legally recognized in
Oldahoma, it is not illegal," Jenkins said. "If
a couple marries outside Oklahoma and then
comes home, no one comes to arrest them.
It’s just that the state doesn’t recognize the
marriage."
Still, Jenkins was pleased with the
outcome and with the District’s handling of
the mattm:
"I don’t lmow if there will be another
appeal but for now it seems resolved," Jenkins
said. "Now is a quiet time, but before long
it will be something else. There is always
something else."
The Union Public School Board did not
reply to an email seeking comment.
Group Forming
At OSU-OKC
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) __ A
new social/activist group has formed at
OSU-OKC called Diverse Partners, Family,
& Friends. Organized by Kyle Moore, the
group plans to focus on educational goals and
equality for GLBT students at the university.
As it is a student group recognized by the
university, only enrolled students can vote,
but meetings are open to everyone interested.
They will meet every Tuesday at 6:15 PM in
the Conference Room North on campus. For
more information contact Kyle Moore at 405-
209-6340.
uptcv * CiVil Ricjhts *Criminal
’ment o Family Law * Liticjation
N.W. Street
city, OK 7SlOS
To Haiti with love meeting was called February 15 to determine Sooner State Sofi ball nights. Contact HSR at: 405-521-
ifOGLPC had a future and if so, was the 9696, herland@herlandsisters.org or
community ready to make it happen, herlandsist~rs.0rg.
Presided by co-chair Jeanne Flanigan, International Women’s Day (IWD) is a
that meeting was held at Church of the global day celebrating the economic, political
Open Arms, attended by around 15 people, and social achievements ofwomen past,
some of~vhom were longtime activists and present and future. ~e IXWD ~vebsite lists
some newcomers. Ms. Flanigan agreed to events worldwide celebrated on or around
continue serving as co-chai~; and Secretary March 8 each year. For more information
Victor Gorin also agreed to continue in that about IXYgD: ww~c.internationalw0mensday.
position. Co-chair Paul Thompson resigned com.
his position, Enough interest was shown
for another meeting which would be at the
regular time, the second Monday of March
which would be the 8th at 7 p.m. ~at.
meeting will happen at the usual place, the
Neighborhood Alliance Building located at
1236 N.W. 36th Street of Oklahoma City.
A benefit to supply HIV
reeds for Haidans
By Robin Dorner
Contributing Writer
O~OMACITY, OK On January
!2 a magnitude 7.1 earthquake shook Port au
Prince, Haiti. The earthquake left hundreds
of thousands dead, millions were homeless
and left without food, water or resources.
Many of trs thought, "What can I do to
help?" XTge sent money, food, water, medical
supplies and many of our own citizens went
to help in rescue efforts. As the cleanup
continues, there is still much needed help.
"When the earthquake first hit Haiti, I
asked Robin [Dr. Robin Meyers, Mayflower
Church pastor] ifwe could do a Haitian
benefit concert at Mayflower," said Rev. Loyce
Newton Edwards, an associate at Mayflower
who has a Masters Degree in Divinity. "Dr.
Maria Lupe, another Mayflmver member and
I had a shared vision for this event because of
the devastation in Haiti."
Edwards is committed to helping HIV
+ people stay alive and she lost a sister to
the disease in 1999. On the UCC (United
Church of Christ) national level she serves
in three areas related to HIV/AIDS: UCAN.
Inc., UCAN Inc. Leadership Team, Wider
Church Ministries Board of Directors HIV
AIDS Ministries.
Haiti has the highest HtV/AIDS rate
in the western world. Tl~e UCC Common
Global Ministries has a longstanding
~dationship xvith a communion of 6.000
chucches in Haiti. The UCC Haitian Relief
Fund had raised over $650,000 for Haiti
relief ofwhich 100% of the proceeds go ro
our partners in Haiti.
By design, this event falls on the first
day of"The National Week of Prayer for
the Healing ofAIDS" for ~vhich UCC is a
co-sponsor. That week starts Sunday March
7th, which is the day of the benefit. "To
Haiti with love" wil! include one great hour
of sharing, filled with music, poetry, and
inspirational spealdng. At the end of the
benefit donations ~vill be accepted for Haitian
relief efforts for HIV medications.
Please make plans to attend this great
event on Sunday; March 7th at Mayflower
UCC Church located at 3901 NW
63rd Street in Oklahoma City. For more
information or to make a donation, please
contact Rev. Loyce Edwards at 405-642-0124
or email her at loycee@sbcglobal.net.
O ahoma Gay and
Lesbian Political Caucus
Holds Re-organizational
Meeting
OFRAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) __ It was
a turning point for the Oklahoma Gay and
Lesbian Politica! Caucus, an organization first
incorporated in 1985 that ~vorked to register
and educate voters of the GLBT community,
and also to educate elected officials about
issues of the community as well. During
recent years OGLPC had faced difficulty due
_to lack of partic_ipation, and a special
Democracy for America
to Host Grassroots
Training in Tulsa
Locals to participate in voter contact,
fundraising, organizing and messaging
sessions
BURLINGTON, VT (PR) Hundreds
of local activists, campaign staffers and
candidates wil! receive hands-on training at
an upcoming Campaign Academy hosted
by Democracy for America. The two-day
interactive worlcshop will be held March
13-14 at the Tulsa County Democratic Party
headquarters 907 S. Detroit Ave, Tulsa, OK.
Experienced campaign professionals will
lead sessions in voter contact, fundraising,
communications, online organizing and
much more to empower progressive activists
with ~he skills to win electiofis in November
and beyond. Attendees will also have a chance
ro meet with localprogressive Candidates and
learn about job andvolunreer opportunities
in their area.
"Our Campaign Academy trainings
empower citizens with the tools to change
their communities," said DFA Training
Director Matt Blizek.
The DFA Campaign Academy aims to
focus, network andtrain grassr0ots activists
in the skills and strategies to take back our
country, manage successful campaigns or run
for office themselves. Since 2004, DFA has
held more than 100 trainings throughout the
country.
For more information visit: www.
democracyforamerica.com.
Obituary
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ Dennis
Allen Dohm aged 48, passed away at OU
Medical Center January 7 due to massive
organ failure caused by a heart infection and
damage to an aortic valve. He was a well
known entertainer in Oklahoma City, best
known in his drag persona as Danae Daniels.
Performing in regular shows and benefits
at Tramps, PhoenLx Rising, & the Hilt, his
wild wit and outrageous humor wowed his
audiences, showing he was truly special.
Oklahoma Tobacco
Free help
Association
Opens their 2010 Season
By Victor Gorin
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Once again
Oklahoma’s Sooner State Softball Association
is opening up for their biggest season ever.
During 2009 3 of their teams represented
Oklahoma at the NAGAAA ( North
American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance)
g[orld Series held that year in Milwaukee,
with the Oklahoma Chaos team achieving
the best results with a 7th place finish. Now
comprised of 12 teams, the League is working
on recruiting players, coaches, sponsorships
and other support. Based on their growth
last year, they feel they can look forward even
better times ahead.
Now into their 7th season, the league was
formed in order to provide those interested
in the GLBT community a place for
camaraderie and to play ball! Recreational
players are welcomed as well as serious
competitors.
On Friday March 19 Angles will host
a Recruitment Party for the League at 9
p.m. This event is a great chance for those
interested to learn about the league, have
a few drinks, get to know some of the
players and learn what it’s all about. Past
and current players are encouraged to wear
their team shirts/jerseys, and there will be an
informaional booth for learning more and
signing up.
For more information contact
Recruitment Director Chad Previch at
soonerstatesoftball@hotmail.com.
Herland Celebrates
International Women’s
Day
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR)
__Herland Sisters Resources will celebrate
International \Women’s Day with an "All
That Jazz Party" on Saturday March 6th at
The Boom Club and Restaurant, 2218 NW
39 th Street. The Jazz Party is a fund-raiser
for Herland bookstore, their lending library
and events for women, in cooperation with
Cimarron Alliance Foundation. The party will
feature music by the Dynamics, a local jazz
band, playing standards and original music.
This is a come-and-go event, beginning
at 6 PM with drinks, hors d’oeuvres by
Chef Suzie Lopez, and music until 9pm.
Guests will be asked for a donation at the
door, encouraged to wear gay attire, and
will be offered wonderful art work to buy
at the silent auction. The auction includes a
beautifully framed poster signed by the artist
Native American Dana Tiger, art glass, and
jewelry along with gift certificates from local
businesses.
Herland Sister Resources (HSR) is a
non-profit organization, and one of the few
U.S. women’s bookstores/lending libraries in
operation for over 20 years. The bookstore
is located at 2312 N\V 39th St., and is open
from 1-5 PM each Saturday. HSR also
sponsors Spring and Fall Retreats at state
parks, monthly supper clubs, a poetry group,
the Annual Pride Picnic and game
Ron Harwood &
Cathy Hill Seeking
International Leather
By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
Cathy Hill and Ron Harwood. Gorin photo
OKJ_At-IOMA CITY, OK It was a hot
Friday night at Angles February 12 when a
fundraiser was held to send two of our major
tideholders of the leather community ro
international competition.
Ron Harwood, our current Oldahoma
Mr.Leather, who also holds the title ofTulsa
Mr. Leather 2009, will be competing in
Chicago for the International Mr Leather title
May 28-Junel.
Ms. Cathy Hill, who currently holds the
title of South Central Leather Woman 2009 is
seeking the title of International Ms. Leather,
and that competition will be held in San
Francisco on April 15-18.
The next upcoming leather contest in
Oklahoma will determine our new Tulsa
Mr.Leather, and that event will take place on
Saturday, March 20 at Tulsa’s Club Maverick’s
at 8 p.m. ~is will follow a meet and greet to
be held the preceding Friday night, March 19,
at t the Tulsa Eagle.
Tulsa Metro SoRball
League’s Spring 2010
Season Starting
TULSA, OK (PR) __ Tulsa Metro Softball
League (TMSL) will hold their spring clinics
March 14-20 at Hicks Park, 3443 S. Mingo
Rd, Tulsa. They may only have one spring
clinic. The spring clinics are for new players
looking for a team and returning players who
want to change teams. Team Coaches ,vill be
present to scout the local talent and to recruit.
For more information visit:
vmwv.TulsaMetroSoftball.com
~<,.metrostarnews.com M{~TI~OSTAR 3
I Low Change
Looks Like, but M1 I
Can See Are Two Faces.
Constitutional Rights Are Not a
Raffle Ticket Prize
by James Nimmo
OKI~HOMA CITY, OK __ In this
article from the Salt Lake City Tribune,
http://tinyurl.com/ygpfl~6u we’re told that
support for LGBTs has "shot up" over the
past year following passage of a bias ban
approved by the Salt Lake City Council that
includes sexual orientation/gender iden’tity in
housing and employment.
How- many time, have I heard that
legislatures and courts must not get too far
ahead of the "will of the people" or there will
be some ill-described chicken-little type of
reaction among the voters, respect for the la~v
and morn and apple pie will diminish and
Gee-sus himself will come to earth and....
well, you get the drift.
AaCter reading the article I’m again
reminded that so many people, such as
toe-the-line Mormons, can change their
opinions merely because their leaders in
effect tell them to, either directly through the
legislative process or by leading xvith their
own behavioral change.
If this SLC Tribune poll is close to
accurate in its description, just how accurate
is the dreadful prediction that if United States
Supreme Court rules in fa~vor of same-gender
marriage on appeal of the currently litigated
California Prop 8 trial~ ,~x~erica ~vill fall into
total oblivion with Joe Six-Pack hubbies
divorcing their long suffering wives to run
offfor a gay fling with Ted Haggard, and
Sally Soccer rooms running off to pal around
with Ellen Degeneres for free samples of
Cover Girl make-up? Just how far in front
of public opinion does the Supreme Court
need to be ifa majority of Mormons in Utah,
which led the fight with Roman Catholics
against Prop 8 in California in 2008, can
increase by a range of 10% to 45% their
approval and acceptance of gay/lesbian civil
rights in their own state?
By the way, the recognition ofmy
civil rights is inherent with my birth as
an American citizen and in no way needs
approval from anyone, let alone those who
believe in golden tablets from the sky, magic
underwear, and ancestral baptism. The denial
of my civil rights because I’m gay is what’s
wrong, not my desire to have the same social,
financial, and legal benefits which I’m paying
for with my taxes. No one’s Constitutional
civil rights should be held up as the prize for a
rafl]e ticket in the lottery of public opinion.
What I’m coming around to is this: If
America had a national spokesperson who
led using the force of law as well as his own
example and not just by mere words of fierce
advocacy, and who had led by his presence
in Maine in its recent vote on same-gender
marriage, or even farther back, to the
California vote in November 2009 on Prop
8--both votes having a devastating setback
on civil rights fiar gay/lesbian taxpayers--can’t
you imagine that successful votes would
have reinforced the legislative and judicial
decisions that were already in place at the
time, decisions that fully recognized our
rig!~ts of citizenship?
What if that person was the president of
the United States, one who prides himself
on his commitment to changing the tone of
government in Washington?
I know what change-I-can-believe-in
looks like, but all I can see are two faces.
Oklahoma Man Sues Tax
Commission Over "IM
Gay" License Plate
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) __
Oklahoma taxpayer Keith Kimmel has filed
a civil lawsuit in Oklahoma County
District Court against the Oklahoma Tax
Commission, continuing a battle for freedom
of speech on vanity license plates. The suit
seeks to have part of the Commission’s rules
regarding the issuance of personalized license
plates declared unconstitutional.
Keith Kimmel, who filed the suit
through his attorney provided the following
statement: "The Oklahoma Tax Commission
is continuing to subject Oklahomans to a
subjective decision making process in issuing
personalized vanity license plates. Under our
state Constitution, all Oldahomans enjoy
the right to freedom of speech and an equal
opportunity to express their viewpoints.
Previous testimony in the administrative
proceedings held on this matter have
shown that the Commission is sdectively
granting and denying applications based
on Commission employees’ own personal
prejudices and viewpoints. The Constitution
requires that state rules are ;¢iewpoint neutral,
with an objective standard that puts the
taxpayer on notice ofwhat is legal and what
is not. This suit is intended to put an end
to the Tax Commissions unconsntunonal
practice of subjecting taxpayers to the whim
of individual employees."
The case is Keith Kimmel v State
of Oklahoma, ex rel, Oklahoma Tax
Commission, Oklahoma County Case No.
CJ-2010-1072.
Federal law requires that the count
include all U.S citizens, all legal residential
noncitizens, long term visitors, and illegal
aliens. There are many groups that have
been undercounted in the past, including
African Americans, Native A~mericans,
Latinos, the poor, and the GLBT community.
Discrimination and prejudice against people
in these communities have made many feel
bitterness and distrust of government in
general, causing them to avoid cooperation
with the census either out of anger and/or
fear.
Although we can be reasonably certain
that there have always been GLBT people in
America, there is little recorded history about
them until the 20th century, and considering
the legal status of the GLBT community until
the late 20th century, this would hardly be
surprising. Sodomy laws, which prohibited
same sex activity, were in affect in all 50
states until 1962 (when Illinois was the first
state to repeal their state sodomy statute),
and some, including Oklahoma’s, were in
effect until 2003 when the U.S. Supreme
Court invalidated these statutes (Lawrence
vs. Texas). Currently there is still no Federal
protection for the GLBT community against
job and housing discrimination, nor is there
in 29 states even today, including Oldahoma.
There was no Federal Hate Crimes law until
late 2009. Understandably there are many in
the GLBT community who feel, like others
in similarly challenged groups, resentment
and!or fear of government which could cause
them to avoid participation in the census.
In order to ensure an accurate count,
legislati.on has made the process safe for all
to participate. Information obtained by the
Census Bureau is confidential by Federal
law (Title 13 U.S. Code). Any employee
that divulges confidential information
outside the agency could face up to 5 years
imprisonment and be fined up to $250,000.
Census information about an individual
cannot be used in a court of lave, nor is that
information subject to disclosure under the
Freedom of Information Act. No individual,
private business or government authority
can obtain personally identifiable data from
the Census Bureau, including the ~]hite
House, Internal Revenue Service, U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services, the
military, welfare agencies, CIA or the FBI.
The rule even supersedes the Patriot Act. Yet
despite these protections there is still fear and
mistrust that impedes cooperation and causes
~ndercounting. The bureau realizes that
these protections wofft serve their intended
purpose of ensuring an accurate count unless
people know about and understand them.
Therefore, combined with these safeguards is
a massive educational effort, and the GLBT
community is now included among those
groups they want to reach out to.~
X~orldng with this effort is Emmett
Morris, a Partnership Coordinator with the
Census Bureau worldng in the Kansas City
Regional Office that oversees Oklahoma. He
met with the Metro Star to inform the GLBT
community about the 2010 census and its
importance, and also to gather ideas about
hmv to work with the Oklahoma GLBT
community to ensure an accurate count. As
he put it, "We want the GLBT community
to know that the census is really about them,
as it is with everyone. It’s about their future,
and ,ve live with everyday tangible aspects of
our lives that come about because of census
numbers including roads, jobs, bridges,
companies locating here and more. It’s not
a bunch of numbers that live in abstract
in Washington D.C. in some computer.
These numbers actually come back to serve
community needs, prosperity and our quality
of life."
In mid March 90% of U.S. households
will receive a U.S. Census form to fill
out. This will be preceded by a postcard
letting the, residents know in advance. ~xe
questionnaires will sent out by address and
not to individuals by name. The form has
only 10 questions, is easy to fill out and can
be returned by mail with the provided postage
paid envelope. If there is no response it wilt ’
be followed by a second form, and if there is
still no response a census worker will attempt
to get the information in person. In
the interest of an accurate count at the lowest
possible cost, recipients are encouraged to
fill out the form and mail it back as soon as
possible.
The Census Bureau will be worldng with
various communities in this effort, setting up
centers to help people with the forms, answer
concerns they may have, and gathering
information. Bi or multi lingual people will
especially be needed, as they are planning
to provide assistance in 59 languages. They
will need workers to staff these centers,
along with field workers to do follow up
inquiries door to door and to count people
in unconventional housing, including the
homeless. In this effort they will attempt
to hire personnel from their respective
communities, realizing that people who have
familiarity with a certain community, group
or ethnicity can do a better job reaching out
to those who need to be counted. Currently
the U.S. Census Bureau has 5 Oklahoma
offices, located in Oklahoma City, Tuls~l,
Tahlequah, Enid and Lm~on. They are many
job openings, so ifyou are interested in what
could be a quite interesting endeavor that
could lead to other opportunitieS,~please call
toll free 866- 860-2010. It’s a chance that
comes once every 10 years.
"First t sday" Art
Opening and Exhibit of
New and Original Works
by Robb Conover
TULSA, OK (PR) __ ~ne March
Oklahomans for Equality (Old,q) showcase
and exhibit of local artists at the Dennis R.
Neill Equality Center (621 E. 4th Street in
Downtown Tulsa), will feature a new and
unusual "Progressive Display" of works by
artist Robb Conover; the show begins with
a reception on Thursday, March 4th from
6-9pro and continues throughout the month
of March.
The March exhibit at the Dennis R.
Neill Equality Center Gallery will feature a
catalogue ofworks by Robb Conover which
will create a progression of art from one
side of the gallery to the other. This is an
exciting acrylics on canvas display; it is unlike
anything that has been in the Gallery before
and promises to be an unusual and visually
stimulating presentation. Robb lived in Tulsa
in the 1970’S and 80’s; He currently resides in
Dallas and is represented io several galleries
there. Please join us to visit with Robb at
the Opening Night Reception on Thursday,
March 4, from 6to ,9pm. Refreshments
will be served. Robb s art will be on display
through March 20 t 0.
4 ~ttET~:~,OSTAR March 2010
Gays arrested at NYC marriage license bureau
Four members ofa newACT UP-like group known as Queer Rising were arrested in Manhattan On
Feb. 12 after chaining then~elves to the entrance ofthe New York Ci{y Marriage Bureau. Photo by
Jamie McGonnigal, www. TalkAboutEquality.org
NEWYORK, NY__ Four members of
a new ACT UPdike group known as Queer
Rising were arrested in Manhattan on Feb."12
after chaining themselves to the entrance of
the New York City Marriage Biireau.
Alan Bounville, Jake Goodman, Justin
Elzie and Gabriel Yuri Bollag sought equal
marriage rights for same-sex couples.
Dozens of gay marriage supporters
cheered them on.
Twenty same-sex couples went inside and
tried to obtain marriage licenses. ~ey were
rebuffed.
A gay naan and a lesbian then presented
themselves as a faux couple, asked for a
license and were given one.
"New York City is home to the Stonewall
Riots and in that tradition we are here to say
that equality doesn’t arrive through the
ballot box," said Queer Rising spokesperson
Spring Super.
"~e bankrupt strategy of putting all
efforts into electing so-called friendly officials
has failed," Super said. "We must shift to
building a grassroots, national movement
that demands full equality by any means
necessary.
New York state recognizes same-sex
marriages from other jurisdictions but does
no~ allow them itse!£
Same-sex marriage is lega! in Connecticut,
Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and
Vermont. It also is legal in Belgium, Canada,
the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa,
Spain and Sweden -- and in Argentina’s Tierra
del Fuego province. It will become legal in
"Washington, D.C., in March and in Portugal
later this year.
S.F. Chronide says iud e
federal Prop 8 ca e
gay-
Vaughn Walker, the judge heariflg
the federal same-sex marriage case in San
Francisco, "is himself gay," the San Francisco
Chronicle reported Feb. 7.
The case, featuring famous lav~Ters Ted
Olson and David Boies on the gay side, seeks
to overturn Proposition 8, California’s voterpassed
constitutional ban on gay marriage,
as a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s
guarantees of due process and equal
protection under the law.
"Many gay politicians in San Francisco
and lawyers who have had dealings with
Walker say the 65-year-old jurist, appointed
to the bench by President George H.W. Bush
in 198% has never taken pains to disguise --
or advertise -- his orientation," the Chronicle
said.
Asked by the paper if he had "any
concerns about being characterized as gay,"
Walker responded, "No comlnent."
Right after the interview was conducted,
however, another judge contacted the paper,
identified himself as ~d~lker’s friend, said
he had spoken with Walkeh and expressed
concern that "people will come to the
conclusion that (\Nralker) wants to conceal his
sexualiD:"
"He has a private life and he doesn’t
conceal it, but doesn’t think it is relevant
to his decisions in any case, and he doesfft
bring it to bear in any decisions," said the
second judge, who agreed that Walker’s
sexual orientation is "newsworthy" -- in the
same way it would be newsworthy if a Jewish
judge were hearing a case involving the Anti-
Defamation League, the Chronicle said.
A lawyer for the pro-Prop-8 side, Andy
Pugno, said his team won’t do anything with
the revelation.
"We are not going to say anything about
that," he told the Chronicle. "
The National Organization for Marriage,
however, might feel less restrained.
In a letter to supporters about the
Chronicle article, Executive Director Brian
Brown alleged: "We do lmow one really big
important fact about Judge Walker: He~
been .an amazingly biased and one-sided force
throughout this trial, far more akin to an
Wockner News Service
activist than a neutral referee. That’s no secret
at all."
The trial is expeqted to resume sometime
in March or April for closing arguments.
Gay lmaTers, activists and others who
followed the testimony have.asserted, nearly
unanimously, that the gay side won the case
in a landslide.
Walker’s ruling likely will see appeal to the
9th U.S. Circuit Court ofAppeals and then
to the U,S. Supreme Court.
If successful, the lawsuit could bring
about tlxe legalization of same-sex marriage
nationwide. If unsuccessful, it could have the
effect of stopping the movement for same-sex
marriage, which now is legal in five states,
dead in its tracks for possibly a generation.
Moves to repeal samesex
marriage in Iowa and
NH fail
Iowa legislators opposed, to same-sex
marriage vcere unable to force resolutions
out of House and Senate committeds Feb. 9
in support of a statewide vote to amend the
constitution to re-ban gay nuptials.
Nineteen senators signed a petition to get
the Senate measure out of committee, but 26
signanires were needed.
In the House of Representatives, a vote to
push the measure out of committee failed 45
to 54. "
A recent poll found that 62 percent of
Iowans don’t think the Legislature should
tackle the issue.
Same-sex marriage became legal in Iowa
in April 2009 courtesy of the state Supreme
Court.
A spokesman for the state’s main gay
rights group, One Iowa, expressed relief at
the developmeffts but warned against the g~,
side’s letting down its guard.
"Our opponents are ruthless aped will
stop at nothing to take away the freedom
to marry," said Communications Director
Justin Uebelhor. "There were four legislative
attempts to undermine the Supreme Court’s
ruling last year and we expect more political
attacks this year. We don’t want to take
anything for granted and are communicating
this message to our supporters and media on
the ground. In addition to the constitutional
amendment, a religious-exemption bill has
already been proposed and we have to be
vigilant of any attempts to chip away at the
ruling."
Also on Feb. 9, a committee of the
Ne~v Hampshire House of Representatives
overwhelmingly killed t~vo bills aimed at. rebanning
same-sex marriage.
One bill called for a public vote on gay
marriage. The other would have repealed the
la~v that legalized it.
In addition to being allowed in Iowa
and New Hampshire, same-sex marriage
is legal in Connecticut, Massachusetts and
Vermont. It also is legal in Belgium, Canada,
the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa,
Spain and Sweden -- and in Argentina’s Tierra
del Fuego province. It will become legal in
Washington, D.C., in March and in Portugal
later rkis year.
www.rnetrostarnews.com g~ET~,# STAR 5
Stress Test
By Ronald Blake
Contributing V&iter
Photo: RonaM Blake, Certified Fittwss
I~zstructor ~hrough ISSA International Sports
Sciences Association
You have vowed to lose 30 pounds before
your niece’s wedding in September. Your
trainer and doctor are recommending an
exercise stress test before you lace up the
sneakers and start sweating. What’s that and
who needs one of those?
These tests can also be called graded
exercise stress tests or GXT’s. Affix whatever
title you want to this procedure but it
simply measures how your heart performs
with and without exercise. Nae American
Heart Association (AIq_A) has stated that an
individual under 40 years old can forego this
test if he or she has had a normal physical
exam, doesn’t show signs of cardiovascular
disease, and has no coronary risk factors.
The captain’s turned off the caution sign and
you’re }}ee to roam around the exercise
However ifyou are a man or women over
40 years old, have an abnormal physical exam
and/or have two or more coronalT risk factors
then it’s time to schedule that exercise stress
test. This just means your fitness flight has
been grounded until the medical tower dears
you for takeoff.
The GXT can be done in a doctor’s once,
a hospital, or a specialized hea~Ith cam facility.
Talk with your doctor and decide where this
should take place. Nae .AH~ guidelines call
for there to be professionals trained in CPR
to administer these tests. Furthermore, one of
the techs in the testing area should be advance
cardiac life support certified with a doctor iri
the building. You’re not in Haiti after the big
quake so it’s safe to assume this is all in place
when you go for your exam. It’s just nice to
know for peace of mind!
The test is usually done on a treadmill
wtaile you are hooked up to devices that’ll
give you a feeling of Pinocchio and Geppetto
attaci~ment. The test with its tracking
equipment wil! check your blood pressure,
heart rate, and the electrical activity and
rhythm of your ticker. An analysis will be
performed before any stress or exercise i~
started and an additional analysis will be
gathered as exercise is introduced. Your heart
could show signs of adequacy at rest but not
after exercise. There are maW possibilities and
the results will show this.
Tr~e nurses, doctors, and techs
administeting this exam will gradually
increa~se the speed and incline on your
treadmill to assess your cardiovascular limits.
~{Then symptoms of exhaustion and fatigue
appear the testers will cease their period of
sadistic glee and record the findings.
The findings should be discussed with
your doctor. About 15% of these results will
be false positive which indicates there is a
problem when there really isn’t a problem.
About 30% of the results will be false
negative reports which show you are OK
when you really aren’t. This is ~vhen you look
at your doctor with your best confused face
and beseech his advice. Another GXT might
be requested or other testing methods might
be called upon for further explanation of your
situation.
When in doubt always make the decision
to err on the side of safety when starting a
fitness program. That might mean taking
the GXT. Tixese tests are just as important as
buying the correct training shoes, workout
clothes, and health club membership. Join
my masochistic readers who called their
physicians to inquire about graded exercise
tests several minutes ago!
This column is brought to you by that
guy who once challenged George Bush
to a spelling bee. That orthographist who
never heard back from the \ghite House is
Ron Blake and he can be reached at wv~v.
myblalcefitness.com.
Oklahomans for
Equality Tulsa opens
Health Clinic for the
uninsured.
TULSA, OK (PR)~ __ OlcEq has opened
a Health Clinic in collaboration with Dr.
Jeremiah Rutherford, M.D., PC for the
uninsured. The clinic will be held at the
Dennis R. Nell Equality Center, 621 E. 4th
Street, Tulsa, OK each ~ursday from 6 pm
to 9 pm.
The dinic also offers free HIV testing
Tuesday through ~ursday, 6-8 pm and
Saturday, 4-7 pro.
For more information: 918-743-4297
Tramps, OKC Have a
Heart Benefit--Love at
its finest
By Victor Gorin
Designer Keith Reding with emcee l~aven Del
Ray at Have a Heart Benefit at ~’amps. Gorin
photo
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ It is rare
to see a more festive expression of love than
what happens at Tramps every Valentine’s
weekend when they hold their Have a Heart
Benefit. It began over 20 years ago as a team
effort of the late Larry Crosby, then a coowner
ofTramps, and Sister Gall Addis who
was then with Catholic Charities’ Loaves and
Fishes program which provided meals for
those living with HIV.
Since then it has become a wild yet sacred
Okflal~oma City tradition. Although Larry
has passed away; his sister Camille Rohn still
is a part owner ofTramps. Ms.Rohn and the
staff ofTramps, along with many othe[s of
the community who share their time, {alent
and money, have made this event a proud
tradition in her brother’s memory.
~xis year it was special as the celebration
was held on Valentine’s Day itsel}] giving it
a special bonus, although as Camille puts it,
’This is giving back to the community, and
we look forward to it every year." This time
over $8,000 was raised, and Tony Sinclair
is already shopping for fabulous items to
auction off next year!
6 March 2010
Week three is a charm on RuPauFs Drag Race.
most recer t cor testant to a hay away talks £ood,
com try Western and the beauty
By Bebe Zahara Benet
I was surprised to learn Mystique ~vas
ecstatic over RuPaul switching out their script
with the one being used by the other team.
"For us, it got easier because the script was
easier," she explained. "I was happy. It was
actually fun." I also wanted to know what she
thought of Raven, and her sometimes very
cutting comments about Mystique and food.
"Out of everybody on the show, Raven is the
only one I have not heard from," Mystique
told me. "Haters are everywhere, but haters
make my life easier, because I work harder
just to make you hate on me even more."
Mystique stands by her decision to go
with a very modern interpretation of country
wear for her runway walk, and argues what
the other girls presented was more a Western
look. "I don’t like making fun of people," she
explained, noting that if she had gone for a
stereotypical look it may have offended her
most dedicated fans.
When I think Mystique, I think splits,
more splits, which leads to additional splits.
And then remember Mystique? She’s the one
who nails the splits! I can barely lift my leg,
and here is a big girl making it look so easy.
"My signature is my eyes and my spins," she
said. But when she really wants to shock, she
breaks out a split. Mystique must get into
the zone, because when she watched her solo
on TV last week, she didn’t even remember
she did a death drop! Now that’s a girl who
knows how to work for a crowd.
Mystique, thank you for your inspirarion,
thank you for your self-integrity and thank
you for being yourself.
~~ello all you beautiful people!
Can you believe it is week three of RuPaul’s
Drag Race already? So much is happening
- let’s get right into my conversation with
Mystique Summers Madison, the Texas
beauty who went out with a bang!
I was impressed how well Mystique did in
the third episode’s opening challenge, when
she just dove right in and swallowed down
all those mystery foods she had to eat. "I
was like, ’Oh no, it’s fried food,’" Mystique
remembered. "I hadn’t had fried food in four
months. Oh my God, I just went for it. I
was just swallowing, I wasn’t tasting." Even
though she looked like a cool cucumber,
Mystique was nervous. "It was the scariest
thing evel;" she revealed. "Zl~at was drag Fear
Factor["
~at win made Mystique one of the
group leaders for the Disco "Extra Greasy"
shortening TV commercial exercise, and
I wanted to know what her strategy was
for pictdng which gifts would be on Team
Mystique. "Pandora did work editing
TV commercials, and Jessica is a dancer,"
Mystique explained. "Everybody else had
pretty makeup and were people I got along
with."
Catch RuPaul’s Drag Race at 9 p.m. (ET/
PT) every Monday night on Logo and visit
LOGOonline.com to find out about viewing
parties in your area. Until next week, kisses
and splits!
NOTE: Ifyou missed weeks 1 &2
Metro St[zr News online will cover all
12 weeks and it will beposted on out"
website at: www. metrostarnews, corn
www.metrostarnews.corn ~t~oSTAR 7
3131 ~. Pennsylvania,Oklaho 405.525.9555
put the °°gay°°
in Christian,
CC Un
A ~etropoli~n Co~uni~ Church
Chuck greckenridge
Whether buying or selling
I’ll work hard for you.
8 March 2010
"%q~en t watched the initial Senate
hearing. I was offended by what the
opposition said - that [gay servicemen]
undermine units," Morrow said. "The
policy already does that. You can’t build unit
cohesion because people cafft be honest.
There are a lot of traditions in the military, a
lot of social situations that really help create
camaraderie. People bring their wives and
girlfriends to events."
Morrow said that he believes most of the
men with whom he served would have been
able to handle his coming out if it had been
possible. It was not; and a promising career
was cut short to the Naw’s detriment.
"There were other reasons as well, but
certainly the policy was a big part of it,"
Morrow said. "I did not think there was
any way for the two parts of my life to work
together."
Morrow grew up in a small town in
Connecticut, graduated high school and then
opted for the US Naval Academy. He was
keenly aware of his orientation from an early
age but said he had no struggle to come to
terms with it. Still he decided to head to the
Naval Academy where he effectively had little
social life for the following four years.
"It didn’t occur to me what a challenge
it would be being gay and going to the
Academy;" Morrow said.
Morrow’s social isolation continued for
the bulk of his active duty career, which
included periods ashore as well as serving
on submarines. It was during the long time
underwater that he had the opportunity to
learn about the sensibilities of those with
vchom he served.
"We had a tot of time to discuss just about
eveD~hing and the subject ofhomosexuality
came up," Morrowsaid. "It really surprised
me that most people said they really didn’t
care."
Had he been able to serve openly, Morrow
believes it would have helped serve the cause
of understanding and acceptance. Once
people find that they lmow someone who is
gay, it is much more likely that they would
be accepting. In many cases, Morrow said,
prejudice is just a matter of unfamiliarity.
Morrow said that he was pleased to see
Navy Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, assert recendy that
servicemen were not being given the credit
for acceptance that they deserved.
Still, after years of being afraid of being
identified and even though he was offered
the exact position and assignment he most
coveted with the Nav~ he left active duty and
today works in the medical equipment field
in New York. He said that were DADT not in
effect, it was likely he would have stayed with
the NaW.
"Ultimately DADT is discrimination,"
Morrow said. "It fails to recognize that
homosexuality is the same as race and sex.
Tl~e military doesn’t recognize that. In general
if that was recognized the policy would end
tomorrow. As a consequence of that, the
military is losing good people."
Today, Morrow remains in the Reserve.
lie’s a member of SAGALA -- Service
Academy Gay & Lesbian Alumni -- and he
participated in an off-camera interview for
the documentary film "Out ofAnnapolis,"
which is expected to premiere this spring,
likely on the independent film circuit.
Morrow said that gay men aa~d women
will oneday be able to openly serve in the
military - it’s only a matter of when. He said
that the potential for the repeal ofDADT is
"as real" as it has ever been.
"~xe Chairman of the Joint Chiefs,
Secretary of Defense Gates...the highest
military officers all agree...I think it’s come a
long way," Morrow said. "Since it was passed
by Congress, it must be repealed by Congress.
I think there are currently 180-something
congressmen willing to effectively eliminate
DADT. Hopefully it will be sooner than
later."
LGBT Lobby Day to be
hdd at state cap to1
By Robin Townsend
Contributing XX~riter
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ The
Equality Network is hosting a lobby day at
the State Capito! and you are invited, in fact,
encouraged to attend. The event is geared to
visitors telling our representatives that citizens
care about LGBT equality in Oklahoma.
There xvill be a brief training, networking,
and visiting with representatives as well as
having lunch together.
"From its inception last year, TEN (The
Equality Network) identified an annual
LGBT Lobby Day as one of its top priorities,"
said Laura Belmonte, Vice President and Co-
Founder ofTEN. "We believe a consistent
presence at the State Capitol is critical to
increasing and maintaining the visibility
ofLGBT Oklahomans and their allies, to
putting forward a proactive program for
LGBT equality, and to giving individuals
the knowledge and confidence they need to
engage their representatives effectively."
Belmonte’s personal advocacy experience
spans almost twenty years and has entailed
public speaking, creating and organizing
e-advocacy campaigns, writing op-eds, media
monitoring, and lobbying public officials
directly. She is a professional historian and
lifelong news and politics junkie - those
traits also help shape and inform my activist
endeavors.
"Our most important goal is to secure
passage of pro-LGBT legislation and to block
passage of bills that are detrimental to LGBT
Oldahomans," adds Bdmonte. "This will be a
continual, long-term effort. It is going to take
time and effort to move Oklahoma toward
more inclusive and just public policies for
LGBT people."
TEN would like to have people from
as many of Oklahoma’s political districts as
possible participate in LBGT Lobby Day. If
concerned citizens from any district register,
appointments will be made with those
representatives, including Rep. Sally Kern.
"In the current session, Senator Steve
Russell has introduced a bill highlighting the
inadequacies of Oklahoma’s
hate crimes law," furthers
Behnonte. "Sen. Russell’s
bill makes it impossible for
law enforcement officials to
work with federal agencies
in prosecuting hate crimes
targeting people because of
sexual orientation or gender
identity’. In essence, the
senator’s bill attempts to
lock in place Oklahoma’s
current weak hate crimes
statute and to prevent the
state from enforcing the
LGBT-inclusive federal hate
crimes law, the Matthew
Shepard and James Byrd, Jr.
Hate Crimes Prevention Act
enacted in October 2009.
Passage of this bill would have
a terrifying impact on LGBT
Oldahomans."
To register for LGBT lobby
day, please go to http://
theequalitynetwork.org. There
is no fee for the event. For
more information, contact
Laura Belmonte at lbelmonte@
theequalitynetwork.org or
918.906.2134. For more
information about TEN, see
the art*de in next month’s
Metro Star.
Deep Inside
Hollywood
By Romeo San Vicente
Susan Sa andon entering
Valley
PoiSed to re-enter pop-culture
consciousness as a feature ilhn, The Big Valley
is justthe right sort of remake candidate: one
that’s had time to exit public consciousness
first. It has no other cast
yet, but Romeo would
love to see a gay cowboy
subplot somewhere in
the mix. Nothing major,
just something where the
quiet "special friends" get
to live happily ever after.
Susan Sarandon Paramount Pictures Photo
Whorehouse to
reopen for business
Back in the 1960s, Barbara Stanwyck
(who may or may not have been bisexual - as
was rumored during her career - but who
was a favorite of lesbian and gay audiences
all the same) played Victoria Barkley, sturdy
matriarch ofthe wild west TV drama The
Big Valley. So it’s fitting, in a way, that Susan
Sarandom about whom no one creates
sexuality rumors because her early career
choices (The Hunger and The Rocky Horror
Picture Show) more or less cemented her
position as a queer screen icon, may be
stepping into Stanwyck’s ladylike boots~
So Nine tanked at
the box office. Oh well.
We’re now back at a
point in the moviemaking
landscape where
one failed big-budget
musical doesn’t derail the
genre’s viabilit~ which
is great news for fans of
that heightened reality
where breaking into song
and choreographed dance
moves is commonplace. Here come two
more: The Song Is You, from Dreamgirls
director Bill Condon, is about a man who
turns to music as a refuge, connecting it to
key moments in his life (or as Condon has
described it, "(falling) into his *Pod Shuffle").
In turn, the man also falls into a romance
with a singer he hasn’t even met. At the
same time, the remake ofThe Best Little,
Whorehouse in Texas is or;the horizon. No
cast yet, no release date yet, no nothing yet,
...Continued seeHOLLYWOOD page ~ 12
~.metrostarnews.com ~{ETROSTAR 9
March 2010
Room Rates
From ~2.95
A~About
Our Suites
Photo’s by Victor G. & Judy G.
Out &Aboua in OKC & Tulsa
@ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa
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Free help 184.8669
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Deep Inside Hollywood-continued from page -9
just a teasing promise. So, a biopic about the late gay artist Robert
message to people responsible: Mapplethorpe, she probably knew tl~er&l
obviously she’s not going to be clout-and cash-collecting detours along
play the lod, but there must the way. And here they are: the horror film
be a liberal infusion of Dolly Zoe, slated for 20 ! 1 a~nd Co-starring James
Parton into this
movie all the
same. Anything ~
tess wilt be
blasphemy. Now
go r~ake i~ work.
Anyone who
fbllows the man recently ejected
from a Southwest Airlines flight
for taking up too much seat
space knows that Kevin Smith
is a bear. A heterosexual one,
but }till a bear. ~d his gay
bear colleague, documentau
fihmnaker }v~alcolm Ingrain
(Small %wn Gay Bar, which
Smith producedX has enlisted
the help of Silent Bob to get
his new project offthe ground.
Smith has executive-produced
and also makes an appearance in
Bear Nation, a doc from Ingram
about the bear subculture (for
the still-uninitiated, they are that niche Van Der Beek and Freddie Prinze, Jr. (is it
market of gay" men who refuse to Shdve, xvax, set in the ’90s too?} in which Dushku play,s
or say no to seconds at the buffet} and all the a small-town waitress terrorized by... -,veil...
ways they’ve begun to make their presence
known in the larger gay" world. 7fhe film
premieres any minute now at Austin’s South
By SoUthwest Film Festival. Non-Ausdnites
will have to wait for a local lest or cable
airing, all ofwhich are highly likely to follow.
Prep now by growing that fiacial hair.
Ehza Dushkus road to Mapplethorp
something; you’ll see when it opens. And
then there’s the future mega-event ka~own as
Ghostbusters III, a project sh& been circling,
one that would pretty nmch catapult her to
the A-list, with all th’e production shingle
perEs that status tends to dole out. Hope so.
And really, what’re a few slimed ghosts on the
road to making art?
Romeo San l~cent&J~vorim thing about
Actors with ambition to produce and bea~s # thdrproximity toj}ied chicken
direct knoW that tO make d~ir dream projects and wa~s. He can be reached care ofthis
come true there are dues to be paid. So publication or at DeepInsMeHollywood@
whenDollh0use star Eliza Dust~ku announced qsyndicate.com.
her intentions to n’lake ~lhe Per~?ct Moment,
@Club 209, Tulsa
12 March 2010
by Jack Fertig March 2010
"Tweet, ScorpioV’
Mercury in Pisces sextile to Pluto in.
Capricorn offers very deep insights that
seem illogical, but go with your gut.
Your subconscious may be catching
rational connections that your conscious
- mind doesn’t see.
ARIES (March 20- Apri~ 19): Folks in
charge have a hidden agenda. Reading
between the lines isn’t necessarily
paranoiac. Confide in a close friend
to keep that in proportion. If you must
choose between loyalty and ambition,
think ahead and remember who you
are,
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Hints
of the future and conversations with
friends challenge some of your beliefs,
triggering inner conflicts. You like life
more certain, but accept the challenge
to be truer to yourself and more ready
for what’s coming. Resistance to
inevitable change only makes it harder.
GEM~N~ (May 21- June 20): Sharing
a confidence with your boss could
open him or her up to letting you in on
some secrets. The road to power r~eed
not pull you away from your friends,
but your goals may-challenge you to
choose or reconcile.
CANCER {June 21- July 22): Ideals
and religion should offer guideposts,
not strict instructions. The way to
effective partnership in love and work
needs some improvisational detours
from those marked paths. Independent
thought and extrapolation breathe real
value into.old faith and wisdom.
LEO (Ju~y 23 - August 22): There’s
a time and place to show off your
sexual prowess. At work that energy is
best sublimated to focus on practical
techniques to get powerful results. Go
slow and steady at exercise. Trying too
hard could get you hurt!
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22):
Identifying strongly with a sexuallydefined
community can strengthen or
limit your individuality - or do both.
Discuss this with your partner or a
Iongtime friend. Be very clear about how
your milieu affects your own creative
spirit.
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22):
Service to your community does give
you deep insight; respect that it does
so for others, too! Sharing your insights
will help everyone; try to keep the
corn petitive urges entirely friendly to build
cooperation.
SCORPIO (October 23 - November
21): "Your wonderfu, wicked wittiness will
delight your friends, but could make big
trouble at work. Keep a journal handy or
Tweet your pals in those moments when
you can hardly suppress yourself, but it
is neither the time nor the place!
SAGITTARIUS (November 22
- December 20): Pluto in Capricorn
until 2023 means that financial worries
will be with all of us for awhile, and that
you will tend to worry way too much.
Your biggest challenge is to keep
perspective. That takes practice. Easy
does it!
CAPRICORN (December 21
-January t9): If you’re not careful you
may reveal some very personal secrets.
If you are careful you could learn a few!
Assert yourself in a mature way - being
responsible and independent- to shift
your status in your family.
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February
18): A shopping list or receipt could be
a meditative focus. Consider what you
eat, what you use, what you need, what
you don’t and how this reflects your
habits and goals. Compare the reality to
your ideals and see what you can learn
about yourself.
PISCES (February 19 - March 19):
Even if a bit pessimistic, your foresight
will be appreciated. Times are tough,
and a thoughtful assessment is much
more valuable than false optimism.
Ruthless honesty could still upset some
friendships; try to be diplomatic.
METROPOLITAN
COMMUNITY CHURCHES
Rev Steve T. Urie
Spirit of Christ MCC
2902 E 20th Street
Joplin, MO 64804
417-529-8480
Worship Sunday 6:00 PM
Community Meat Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
www.socmcc.org
Have a God filled and BleSSed Day!
Across
Hemsley sitcom)
38 Pointless
39 Milita~, policy
Farewell"
musical
theme from a Sherman
Down
10r~sm, e.g.
2Top
3 Lady’s title
4 iWriter Calvino
5 Audeffs adieus
6 Cabaret’s "Mein . "
7 Name that rhymes w~th dtck .
8 Sex Pistols singer Vicious
9 Take care of
10Home of the WNBA’s Lynx
11 Gay vide~ directory name
12 Da Vinci~ Lig~
i3 GUmming on tl~estage
21,Basi~,0fB~
25 Gangster niclmamed Scarface
27 Bend over and grab them
28 Home swle
30 Chop
31 Lesbos, for one
32 Slippery swimmers
33 Cheese in red
34 Petv 0fA League of~eir Own
35 %e I in IHO# (abb~0
36 Supporters of~ome drag queens
40 Bryant, but not Bear
41 Bosie, to Alfred Dougi~
47 ~ternative to HBO
49 Rods of drivers
5 ! Intercourse while surfing?
52 Keep an the ground
53 Rest atop
54 Lingo
55 Woody~dley
56 Garfeld s wNpping boy
57 Beau, barely
58 Nickelodeon ~plorer
59 Force;that ~mes you to go down
52
Soludon page 15
be mailed
www.metrostarnews.com ~7 oSTAR 13
AXDSWALK OKC
Holding their First
Fundraiser of2010
Each Step Brings Hope
By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
OI<LAHOMA CITY, OK __ AIDS Walk
OKC began in 1998 with a mission to raise
money and consciousness about HIV, to help
those infected and affected, promote prevention,
and raise awareness and understanding through
education. Since then this annual event has raised
over $400,000 for various nonprofit groups
working in these areas including RMN, Other
Options, Guiding Right, and many others.
~is ?Tear the Walk has been moved up to
September 19 and the route has changed, now
beginning at the Sonic Plaza in Brickto~vn.
Although the route has changed it still is a Sunday
afternoon event with preregistration beginning at
12:30 P.M. with stepoffat 2 p.m. Likewise tables
~vill still be available for vendors and for various
groups to give out information. The Walk will also
be preceded that day by the 5K run, which will
begin on John Carter Drive and Rent Avenue,
with registration for that event beginning at 11
a,m.
Participation in that race costs $20 in advance,
$25 the day of the race, and the runners are offat
12:30 p.m.
Now chaired by John Greer MDSWalk OKC
has 5 new board members, Dwayne Jones,
Scott Hines, Cindy Cabrera, Diane "Wood &
Maria Srouiji, who share a vision for the future.
This year’s theme for the ’,Walk is "Each Step
Brings Hope", and their first fundraiser will
be at Partners, March !9 at 9 p.m., featuring
entertainers John Beebe, Sonja Martinez and other
great local entertainers. It’s a chance to get this
event off:to a strong start for 2010!
For more information www.aidswalkokc.org
"Gay? I though you "1 got an upgrade.,’
were bisexual."
\ !
& by Greg Fox
lVebsite -
... WITH My
www.kylecomics.com E-Mail- KylesBnB@aol.com
bitter gid
March 2010
Suppo~ those who suppo~ us. Their ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you.
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Tulsa, OK
CHURCH of the OPEN ARMS
3131 N. PENN,
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Service Sunday 10:45 AM
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637 S. 131st East Ave
Tulsa, OK
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HOPE TESTING CLINIC
3540 E. 31st
Tulsa, OK
800-535-2437
Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline
GUSHER’S RESTAURANT
2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY
Oldahoma City, OK
405-525-0730
Located inside Habana Inn
SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC
2902 E. 20TH STREET,
Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480
Service Sunday 6pm
MCC UNITED
1623 N. Maplewood, Tulsa, OK
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2117 NW 39th St.
Oldahoma City, OK
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BAMBOO LOUNGE
7204 E. PINE
Tulsa, OK
918-836-8700
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CLUB 209
209 N. BOULDER
Tulsa, OK
918-584-9944
CLUB MAJESTIC
124 N. BOSTON
Tulsa, OK
918-584-9494
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2200 NW 39TH EXPP,£SSWAY
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405-525-2900
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THE COPA
2200 NW- 39TH EXPRESSWAY
Oldahoma City, OK
405-525-0730
vavw.habanainn.com
USED EVENING GOWNS
Tulsa, OK 74127
918-585-9552
OKLAHOMA STONEWALL
DEMOCRATES
Oklahoma City, OK
www.okstonewall.org
OK_LAHOMANS for EQUALITY
621 E. 4th Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
918-743-4297
www.okeq.org
Chuck Breckenridge
8o70 o 887
~XPnether buying or selling
I’ll work hard for you.
Northwest Arkansas
Center For Equality
"Linldng Together as One"
For more information:
888-391-9222
v#¢~¢¢,nwacenterforequality.org
179 Church Ave, Fayetteville, AR 72703
A~kansas~ Bxdasive
597 Magnetic Road
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
www.magneticvalteyresort.com
info@magneticvalleyresort.com
800-2!0-8401 479-244-682J_
Creating
Community for
People iving
with
H V/A DS
A 501 c (3) Non Picofit Organization
Our House, Too offers a variety of
activities for people who are HIV+ and
or living with AIDS to help combat the
social isolation that many of our
people live through each and everyday.
We provide a Toiletry and Household
Pantry for those who are H1V+
and or living with AIDS who cannot
afford to purchase these itenqs for
themselves. We invite anyone who
would like to volunteer or provide financial
assistance to please contact
us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail
ourhousetoo9865@sbcglobal.net
Tulsa, OK 74158
w~v.metrostarnews.com ~ETROSTAR 15
its biggest impact since Roosevelt, because the conservative
movement has been thoroughly repudiated through
"What matters, as always, is not what we can’t do,
it,s what we can and must do."
Stonewall Democrats is a recognized group o~ the
Oklahoma and national Democratic Pariy.
Working to educate voters and politicians about issues o~ the
community, we are working to make change and shape history.
T | ,2 7
We mee~ ~he I s~ Tuesday ofevery month a~ ~he
LAHOMA STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HEADQUARTERS
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[2010] Metro Star Magazine, March 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 3
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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.
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James Nimmo
Victor Gorin
Rex Wockner
Michael W. Sasser
Robin Dorner-Townsend
Judy Gabbard
Romeo San Vincente
Andrew Collins
Jack Fertig
Lisa Keen
Steven Petrow
Keith Orr
Chris Azzopardi
Victor Gorin
Judy G.
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Southwest Missouri
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Eastern Oklahoma
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The Metro Star Magazine, February 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 2
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/188
The Metro Star Magazine, April 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 4
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/186
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advertisement
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religion
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Sooner State Softball
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Tulsa Metro Softball League
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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.
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Southwest Missouri
Western Arkansas
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LOCAL NEWS ~ NATIONAL NEWS ~ V¢ORLD NEWS @ LIFESTYLE ~ FITNESS TRA~¢~L ~ ADVICE ~ ENTERTAINMENT
THE PREMIER SOURCE FOR GLBT OKLAHOMA
Page-!4
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 7 Twitter.com/MetroStarNews ® MetroStarNews.corn JULY 1, 2010
.sa to
By Michael W. Sasser
Contributing Writer
Tulsa Ci~ Council votes to include sexual orientation to ci~y policy. Photo by Mia Bella Images
Oldahom s
have a chance
difference By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
17th meeting.
While most rank and file GLBT
Oldahomans have no protection against
discrimination, Tulsa city employees will
enjoy codified defense.
"This makes such a strong statement to
the region on how Tulsa is a welcoming and
sensible island in a state that is often ridiculed
for being intolerant and unjnst towards
marginalized populations," said ~is Wilmes,
OHahomans for Equality (OkEq) Director of
Advocacy.
The policy has been a long nine in coming
- 35 years, in fact.
In !975, then Mayor Robert Lafortune
commissioned a report that recommended
the city adopt this polic?; but the report was
rdected. In 1994 the Tulsa gay community
Commission has recommended that Tulsa
adopt an inclusive policy.
Wilmes and Oldahomans for Equality
worked in collaboration with Nancy
McDonald ofPFLAG Tulsa and Alice
Blue and Tommy Chesbro of the City of
Tulsa Human Rights Commission worked
with City Councilor GT Bynum and City
Councilor Maria Barnes to bring about the
formal vote by the Tulsa City Council.
"Tonight, PFLAG parents celebrate with
the LGBT community," said McDonald. "No
longer can a city employee be discriminated
against based on sexual orientation. The
majority of City Councilors are to be
applauded for their vision and vote for Tulsa
to be an inclusive city."
....Continued See CITY COUNCIL Page-11
BrittaW NovotW and
Kern to face off
November 2 for State
Ho se District 84
By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK The
smoke has finally deared and the race is on.
Although the filing ended with 4 candidates
vying for the State House District 84 seat,
the two others will not be on the ballot.
Republican Garrick Voth was challenging
Sally Kern for her party’s nomination for
the General Election. Voth, a 34 year old
Oklahoma City resident who described
himself as a conservative Republican, also
Brittany Novotny andLt. Governor Candidate
Kenneth Corn. Pressphoto
described Ms. Kern as ignoring the needs of
her district. When publicity surfaced shortly
after the filing that he had been arrested in
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ This
election cycle is offering GLBT Oklahomans
and their allies a major opportunity to vote
for real change. Although Oklahoma has
the dubious honor of being the reddest state
in the country; we have never had so many
candidates to vote for who are either GLBT
or allied with us.
In this issue of the Metro Star there is a
candidate for District Judge (Jackie Short),
2 candidates for U.S. Representative District
5 (Tom Guild & Billy Coyle) and an
Oklahoma County Commissioner District
1 ( Willa Johnson) each directly asking for
your vote by advertising in the Metro Star.
running for State House District 71,
Democrat Amy Corley running for State
House District 53 and Democrat Mike
Shdton running for District 97. In the State
Senate we can vote to keep Andrew Rice
(Democrat District 46), who has always been
one of the GLBT community’s strongest allies
in the legislature. All of them face opposition
from Republican and/or Independent
candidates in the General Election.
Last but certainly not least, Brittany
Novomy is running against Sally Kern to
represent State House District 84. Sally has
made history and garnered international
attention as one of the most anti-gay
In addition there are 2 candidates running laxvmakers in the country. Brittany, has
who are 0penlygay, Tom Kovach running for already made history.as ~k]ahoma~s first
Stat~ Rep~es;~}~[ti~e Di~tricv ~4 and Andrew transgendered candida{e aud Sheis ready
Willi~ for Si~di~e Representative in District tO fight for GLBT equality. GLBT and
66. fair ~inded Voters of that district have
There are also 2 DemoCratic Candidates an Opportunity to give Ms. Novomy a
running for the Oklahom~ City State Ho~e vict(Jr} ~at W~uld likewise no doul~t get
DiStrict 93 seat allied with the GLBT
community, former legislator Wanda Jo
Peltier and Wilfredo Santos Rivera ( formerly
of the Oklahoma City School Board, one of
only 2 members who voted not to fire openly
gay teacher Joe Quigley.)
There are other candidates allied with
our community we will be able to vote for in
the General Election November 2. There is
our only openly gay State Representative Al
McAffrey- Incumbent Democrat District 88
of Oklahoma City, and our allies Democrat
Dana Orwig running for State House District
87 also of Oklahoma city, JeffTracy in Tulsa
international attention and give Oklahoma
a better image, besides getting better
representation. For more information or to
contribute to her campaign, her website is
brittany4HD84.com.
On a further positive note, our allies
Anastasia Pittman ( Democrat District 99)
and Richard Morrissette (District 92) have
already been elected by acclamation ( no
opponents filed.)
Check out the voting instructions on page
9 if you need any information about voting
in this upcoming and future elections. The
GLBT community has never had as many
candidates seeking our vote, and it’s up to us
to make that worthwhile.
Will Rogers Park last September, charged
with attempting an act of public lewdness
with another man ( the case is still pending),
he withdrew from the race.
The other candidate was Ray Prewitt,
aged 40 and a resident of Bethany running
as an Independent. Ms. Kern successfully
challenged his eligibility before the Oklahoma
State Election Board, and he was stricken
from the ballot as he had not been registered
as an Independent at least 6 months before
the filing period as the law requires to be
eligible.
Brittany faces a three time incumbent who
has for better or worse, undoubtedly attracted
national and even some international
notoriety. She replaced another conservative
Republican, Bill Graves who was likewise
famous for anti-gay sentiments, when she was
first elected in 2004. She was re-elected
without opposition in 2006, and defeated
Ron Marlett to win a third term in 2008. She
is married to Steve Kern, the Pastor of Olivet
Baptist Church and has 2 adult sons. She had
been a teacher at Oklahoma City’s Northwest
Classen High School, teaching American
Government and coaching the girl’s golf
team. She led opposition to the book "King
and King" being in the children’s section of
Oklahoma County libraries, daiming that the
American Library Association is "trying to
sexualize your children." She has made public
statements stating that homosexuals are a
bigger threat to our nation than terrorism,
resulting in countless public demonstrations
and demands for an apology; even generating
a phone call from Hlen Degeneres placed
........Continued See BRITTANY Page- 17
No matter who
are on life’s journ~
3131 ~. Pennsylvania,Oklaho
Straight but not narrow.
believe in equality for everybody
fight for that in Washington.
and I’ll
I NEED YOUR VOTE JULY 27.
Bi!Iv Covle is orga nized, well
fUnded and his beliefs are right in
line with the fair minded
people of the Fifth District.
-Richard Ogden
Organized by:
leave a message please
Major Sponsors:
h o m a
New Report Shows Surprising
Gains for Gay O ahomans
P/~oto: Laura Belmonte, President ~e
Equa[i~ ~work (TEN).
TULSA, OK
(PRy June 16,
2010 __ g/ith the
Ttflsa City Council
poised to add sexual
orientation to its
nondiscrimination
policies fi3r public
employees, a new
report by the
TEN Institute, the
research arm ofThe
Equality Network,
reveals that *
several Oklahoma
municipalities
already extend these
protections to their
gay employees.
Preliminary data
from an ongoing
project documenting
municipal policies
on lesbian, gay,
adopted
inclusive
t.heir public
explains
*Williarns,
president
Network.
bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens challenge longstanding
assumptions that LGBT Oklahomans have virtually
no legal protections at the local level.
"W~nen we began this research, we expected o.nly to
validate the widespread belief that few communities protect
their ~ ~ LGBT citizens
here. To Update: Late Thursday
surprise evening the Tulsa City
~bund Gounc~ "qoted 6-3 in
favor of adding sexual
orientation to the
nondiscrimination policy
v. for public employees....,
our great
mad joy, we
that maW
cities have
already LGBTpolicies
fo[,
employees.
Ph.D.,
ofThe Equality
Del Cit)~ Altus, McAlestm; Miami, Noble, and Vinita al!
have nondiscrimination policies including sexual orientation
among the categories protected in the hiring, promotion, and
retention of public employees.
Another group of municipalities do not offer employment
protections for their LGBT public employees, but does
include sexual orientation in their anti’harassment personnel
policies. ~aese include Muskogee, Chickasha, and Perry.
Oklahoma City" is the only municipality xvith an ordinance
outlawing harassment, intimidation, or assault based on sexual
orientation. ~is protection is particularly significant because
the states hate crimes taw does not currently encompass sexual
orientation.
Currently, there are no municipalities in Oklahoma that
include gender identity or expression anaong the protected
categories for either public employees 6r the general citizenry.
2qae study, also shows that Ponca City, Cushing, and
Sallisaw appear .to sanction housing discrimination against gay
people. For example, in defining what constitutes a disability,
Cushing’s housing ordinance states "’handicap’ does not apply
to an individmd because of sexual orientation or the sexual
preference of the individual or because that individual is a
transvestite." qThe Ponca City and Sail!saw housing ordinances
are worded similarly.
"~9{fe were stunned to discover such bizarre and offensive
assertions enshrined in public policy in 2010. These three
communities are clinging to the characterizations 0f LGBT
people that the medical and psychological establishments
rejected ahnost fi3rty years ago. \~ghile we agree wholeheartedly
that being gay is not a disability, we believe that allowing
landlords to bin" LGBT people from renting an apartment f6r
which they qualify as tenants is blatant discrimination." stated
Williams.
TEN Institute will continue to analyze municipal policies
on LGBT Oklahomans and will integrate them into its
Municipal Equality Database. The pre.liminary findings
may be accessed at http:/l~aw~/v.scribd.com/doc/33127989/
Municipalities-Database
~e E,q.uali~ Network. works, to achieve equali~y and to secure legal
*vmcuonjbr /esbmn ~y bzsexua[ and trans ender Oklahomans
d;~rough advocao,, coal~)on building, and in~i,idua/ empowerment in
the polidcalprocess..
3 GLBT Organizations honored
as U.S. Census Partners at the
O ahoma State Capitol
SundayJune 12
By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
TobyJenkins receives the U.S. Census Bureau’s Partnership Award
on beaalfofOk~homansfor Equalio,. ~ his l@ is D,: Robert
Groves, National ~& Census Bm~au Direcm,; and w his right
Re~onal Dimcmr DennisJohnson. Gorin phom
OKLAHOMa\ CITY, OK __ In the Blue Room of
the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City maW
organizations were honored for their work helping the
U.S. Census Bureau obtain an accurate count with correct
information for 2010. A tradition every decade since the first
tally in 1790, the U.S. Census proves increasingly important
as the data gathered may determine ?vhere government
resources are allocated, where companies locate, as well as
countless other factors affecting the life quality ofAmericans.
Working to achieve this goal for 2010 the Bureau worked
with a wide variety of diverse organizations to help them
reach out to various demographics of society, especially those
who might be fearfu! or and/or otherwise reluctant to be
counted. In his address Dr. Robert Groves, the Director of the
U.S. Census Bureau, thanked the honorees for their efforts
that truly paid off, as this year’s operation is already ahead of
schedule and under budget. This involved a ~vide variety of
faith communities, social groups and advocacy organizations,
included among them alliances from the GLBT community:
This was significant also in that for the first time, GLBT
couples could be counted as married.
The three GLBT organizations honored that day were
Oklahomans for Equality from Tulsa, Oklahoma City’s
Cimarron Alliance, and the Metro Star. Feeling privileged
to be included among the honorees on behalf of Cimarron
Alliance, Director Scott Hamilton stated "XWe were so
honored to be part of it. XWe felt it was a big step forward.
The Census people were extraordinary partners, and were so
encouraging of our work in the community. I think that in
the long term the comraunity ,/viii benefit substantially from
the work that we were able to do."
N
OGRe’s riderless horse ceremoW
honors community leader
By Robin D-Townsend
Contributing Writer
7he riderless horse ceremony lends respect th# year to Cookie
Arbuckle w/so diedApri119th , 2010. Picmred above (r to 0 #
K/int Weiden, co-director OGRA 2010 leading t]~e horse with
Lina Hineman and ~Ia,y Arbuckle. Photo by Denise Whithorne
ofishoo~ru.com
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ Once again OGRA
(Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association) served the community
by hosting a better-than-ever event for their 25th annual
rodeo over Memorial Day xveek-end. Nais year’s rodeo charity
partners were midtown OKC based - Other Options/Friends
Food Pantry, Be The Change, and Expressions Community
Center. The amount donated to these charities varies each year
based on participation, events and overall donations.
"The event went just a smooth as it always does,’ said ....
Steve Sublet, a returning visitor to the annual event. ~’OGRA
has a history of being a well run rodeo and they sure proved
that again this year." Sublet is former IGRA (International
Gay Rodeo Association) Royalty as well as a performer who
has been selected for the 2011 season of’Americgs Got
Talent.’
The Riderless Horse Ceremony was dedicated to Other
Options and Friends Food Pantry founder Coolde Arbuclde
who died on April 19th of this year. "q]ae saddle is the one we
used in our family years ago when we showed Arabians," said
Mary Arbuckle, Coolde’s daughter who is now tile Executive
Director of Other Options and Friends Food Pantry. "The
colors symbolized - blue, for Oklahoma as mom died on ¯
April 19th, the green was for mother earth, which is where
we placed her ashes and the red was for the tireless work
morn did for the HIV/AIDS community." This ritual adds
such poignancy to the event which manually includes this
observance.
The history of the gay rodeo dates back to 1975 when
Phil Ragsdale of Rend, ix~, came up with this most creative
idea to raise funds. He thought an amateur gay rodeo would
be fun, raise money, and even erase a lot of gay stereotyping.
Over 125 people took part in this event and the winners were
crowned; first, "King of the Cowboys," second, "Queen of the
Cowgirls," and third, "Miss Dusty Spurs" (the drag queen).
It was great fun and a minor success. It wasn’t until 1985 that
gay rodeo came to Oklahoma.
The IGPvA has a rich history of supporting associations
that support their communities. They help other groups
provide quality events. Naey promote, in a positive way,
the GBLTQ country western lifestyle and support amateur
sportsmanship through participation, competition and
recognition. They are comprised of numerous regional Gay
Rodeo Associations from across the United States and Canada.
07.01.2010
Openly- Gay
Candidate
running for State
Represe tative in
Norman’s House
Dis ric 44
By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
No,vnan CiO, Coucilman TOm Kovach
NORMAN, OK Tom Kovach ~vas ~
glad but not totally surprised ~vhen he
became the 2nd openly gay man elected to
the Norman City Council. He’d lived most
of his life in Norman, his family locating
there when he was only 1 1/2 years old. His
father was a philosophy professor at OU, and
after graduating from Norman High School
Tom earned a undergraduate degree in letters
from Oklahoma University. While attending
college he worked in a Safe,vay Store, and as
a union member there with the United Food
and Commercial Workers (UFCV¢) he won
his first election to be the Secretary/Treasurer
of his local. Later going on staff for the union
he found he enjoyed advocating for people.
He and a friend opened and operated a
successful bakery called Jason D’s, for over
!0 years. He then joined Astronomics, a
company that sells quality optics worldwide,
where he ~vorks today. Only two years ago
he joined the race to be on Norman’s City
Council to reprelent \Vard 2, and his victory
in 2008 not only made him the 2nd openly
gay person to serve on the Council, but the
4th openly gay elected official in Oklahoma
history. In 2010 he ~vas re-elected to his City
Council seat without opposition.
Tom is 47 and has been with his partner,
Will Weir, for over 11 years. He takes pride
that Will is listed as such on the Normaffs
city website, and credits Will for helping him
through the tough times and giving him the
strength for much of what he has been able to
accomplish.
Mr. Kovach believes his city council
experience will serve him well in the
Oldahoma Legislature. As he puts it, "My
ward is about 1/2 the size of the district,
and I’ve advocated for people and helped
constituents with their problems. You also
deal with larger issues that affect the whole
town. You learn how to work to make things
happen."
Pleasantly enough, he found that
his sexual orientation wasn’t much of a
campaign issue, and proved to be a nonissue
during his time in office. In 2010 his State
Representative Bill Nations would be forced
out of office due to term limits, so Mr.
Kovach decided he wanted to run for that
office where he felt he could make positive
change happen on the state level.
" I learned at the city council that one
person can make a difference, and even if
you’re in the minority speaking out can
help change direction. The s{ate is facing
monumental problems, especially the budget.
We are falling behind in many areas that
would make a state proud, such as education.
We’re last in the nation in the area of women’s
health and 1st in the rate ofwomen in prison
per capita. These are things we should be
working on, and when there is a problem
there is also an opportunity to address it,"
and he elaborated to say, "Instead they have
been scapegoating, Randy Terrill with the
Hispanics and Senator Russell trying to
exdude GLBT Oklahomans from Federal
hate crimes laws. You can’t just sit by and let
that go."
If elected he wants not only to be an
advocate for working Oklahomans. He is
also pro-choice, and as expected has stated he
xvill advocate in favor of equality for GLBT
Oklahomans. He has been endorsed by the
Victory Fund (a national organization that
funds campaigns of GLBT candidates), and
on July 27 he will face 3 Democrats in the
Primary Election. 2 are OU law students.
Emily Virgin who is 23 years old and Isaiah
McCaslin who is 26. The third Democrat is
Robert Murphy who is 52. This 4 way race
will result in a runoff if no candidate garners
50% of the vote. There are no independent
candidates, so the winner will face the sole
Republican in the race, Kent Hunt, in the
November 2 General Election.
Although Mr. Kovach feels he has a strong
following and is fairly confident, he stresses
that no election should be taken for granted,
and he isfft going to.
N
Friend ofOklahoma’s
GLBT Community Reelected
by Acclamation
By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
rote Representative Anastasia Pittman
J~iend Rachelle Taylor (left). Gorin photo
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Anastasia
Pittman, a longtime friend of not only the
GLBT community but also an advocate of
equality and justice for many progressive
groups and causes, has won re-election to the
Oldahoma State House of Representatives
with the closing of the filing period June 9
when she drew no opponents.
She represents District 99, first elected
to that position in 2006. Prior to holding
office she had earned a Bache!or’s Degree in
Journalism at Oklahoma University and a
Master’s Degree in Education and Behavioral
Science from Langston University in 2002.
She garnered legislative experience worldng in
the State Senate from 1999 through 2006 as a
clerk, media assistant and legislative assistant.
She has also worked as a Spanish instructor
and has hosted a radio talk show: She has
one child, Ayshia, and among her many
mi!estones she was honored as Legislator of
the Year in 2009 by the Cimarron Alliance.
Tom Guild-Democrat
for Congress
By By Robin D-Townsend
Contributing Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK As
candidate filing is completed and political
season is upon us, community leader and
Professor Tom Guild, an Edmond Democrat
has filed for U.S. Congress. He hopes to
be the Democratic nominee to represent
Oklahoma’s Fifth District, which includes
most of Oldahoma County, and also
Pottawatomie and Seminole Counties. Guild
is currently the Secretary of the Oklahoma
County Democratic party.
"The 5th Congressional District has not
had a Congressman who represented all of the
district in quite some time,"
said Guild in an interview
with The Metro Star. "We
are becoming a very diverse
district and as time passes the
district will become even more
so. I’m the only candidate with
progressive values ~vho will be
open to the ideas and needs
of all of the people in our
district."
Guild taught 27 years
at the University of Central
Oldahoma in Edmond,
where he was conferred the
title of professor emeritus by
the Board of Regents; and
three years at Oklahoma City
University. He taught political
science and legal studies
at UCO, and in the MBA
program at Oklahoma City
University. He earned a BA
in political science from OU
and his juris doctor degree
from SMU School of La~v.
Guild was a Robert Dean Bass
- Memorial Scholar ar OU and
the Maurice E. Purnell Scholar
at SMU.
Guild is proud of the
support he has received from
various diversity groups. "It
was gratifying at our first
campaign event we had leaders
from at least nine different
groups represented," added
Guild. "The diversity of that
event reflects the diversity of
our campaign and hmv we will
serve our constituents once
As a candidate who supports diversi~ Professor
TOm Guild will make his ,vtn at the 7he 5th
Congressional District seat in Oklahoma. 7he
seat is being vacated by Mary Fallin. Robin DTownsendphow
background, which includes 30 years of
teaching experience at the college level, taught
me how to value different people, different
cultures and different ideas and to work with
a wide range of individuals." In a previous
run for office, Guild had strong support from
a diverse coalition in the state’s largest county.
Guild plans to work hard to protect
and expand the middle class and make
the American dream a realistic possibility
for everyone in the 5th District. For
more information, please visit www.
guildforcongress.com.
N
"At Century 21 Gold Castle our BEST
proper#es are ourPEOPL
3627 NW Expressway
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
07.0’i.2010
By Samantha Fields and Lisa Keen
Keen News Service
An informal survey by the Washington
Post published June 18 asked a tiW number
ofwell-placed experts -six-- to say what they
think will happen if federal Judge Vaughn
Walker overturns California’s ban on same-sex
marriage. Two of the six pointed to existing
polling data to warn of the potential for a
negative impact.
Scott Keeter, director of survey research at
the Pew Research Center, said Pew’s previous
polling data predicts "bacldash." ~lose
polls, and others, have historically shown
LGBT victories in court lead to an increase
in public opposition to same-sex marriage.
It happened a~ter the U.S. Supreme Court
struck down state sodomy laws (in June
2003). It happened after the Massachusetts
Supreme Judicial Court ruled gay couples had
a constitutional right to marriage equality (in
November 2003). And even before ~Talker
issues his decision, said Keeter, polls indicate
the public opinion climate "remains chilly"
for same-sex marriage.
Joe Mathews, a senior fellow at the New
America Foundation, a political think tank,
said that, while public opinion is trending
m £wor of marriage equaht~, a d,ws~ve
court decision that gets too far ahead of
voters could prolong the fight over same-sex
marriage for a generation or more...."
"Ifjudges strongly support overturning
Prop 8 at each stage of the appeal, this
emerging judicial consensus that gay-marriage
bans are unconstitutional would speed
acceptance of such unions across the country,"
wrote Mathews. "But if Prop 8 is overturned
by a narrovdy and nastily divided U.S.
Supreme Court, say 5 to 4, such a decision
could conceivably do more harm than good."
So, where is public opinion on same-sex
marriage right now?
~¢o recent reports shed some light on
that, and some doubt.
First, the light: ~e 2010 Values and
Beliefs survey, which Gallup conducts every
May, indicated that 52 percent of adults
surveyed consider "gay and lesbian relations"
to be "morally acceptable," compared to 43
percent who said they are "morally wrong."
Five percent had no response or had some
other opinion. The results were based on
random telephone interviews with 1,029
adults conducted between May 3 and 6,
2010. Hie margin of error is plus or minus 4
percentage points.
¯ne 52 percent saying "morally
acceptable" was up three points over 2009,
when 49 percent said "morally acceptable."
And the percentage saying "mora!ly wrong"
was down four points -from 47 percent in
2009 {o 43 percent this year. (Five percent no
opinion or Other response in 2009.)
~is year was the first time since Gallup
began asking the question that more than 50
percent ofAmericans said they believe "gay
and lesbian relations" are morally acceptable.
"W~at’s different this year is that the
spread between ’morally acceptable’ and
’morally wrong’ is a whole lot bigger," says
Lee Badgett, a professor of Economics at
UMass Amherst, and the research director at
the Williams Institute for Sexual Orientation
Law and Public Policy at UCIA. It was a
nine-point spread this year, compared to only
a two-point spread last year.
"The question is," said Badgett, "will that
turn out to be a tipping point or not?"
Gallup polling data shows the "morally
acceptable" response has been on a steady
trend upward since 2004. It took a sixpoint
dive in 2004, .just six months after the
Massachusetts high court issued its landmark
marriage equality decision.
The percentage ofAmericans who
consider gay relations to be "morally wrong"
--43 percent-- is the lowest it’s been in a
decade. And also for the first time, a larger
percent of men said "morally acceptable" than
women ~- 53 percent of men and 51 percent
ofwomen now believe "gay and lesbian
relations" are morally acceptable.
The change in men’s attitudes was striking.
tn May 2006, 39 percent of men polled
said they felt "homosexual relations" were
morally acceptable. By this year, that number
had jumped to 53 percent. That’s a 14-point
iump, while, over the same period, acceptance
among women increased just 2 percent.
Gary Gates, a demographer at UCLA
who studies the LGBT population, cautions
against putting too much stock in one
poll But, he Says, "a varietT ofpolls have
been showing, depending on the wording,
increased amounts of acceptance towards
LGB and, in some cases, T people. That
acceptance has gone up in both men and
women.
To a certain degree, the improvements
could have something to do with the fact
that Gallup’s wording changed in 2008, from
"homosexual relations" to "gay and lesbian
relations." According to Gates and Badgett,
people respond differently in polls on gay
issues depending on the way questions are
asked. Questions about "homosexuals" tend
to receive more of a negative reaction than the
same questions about "gays and lesbians."
~The closer you get to people having to
think about sex," said Gates, "the worse gay
people do in polls."
But experts agree, saying there is probably
no single reason for this change in how
men are polling, but rather a number of
contributing factors.
"Some of it is exposure," says Mark
Stevens, a psychologist at California State
University in Northridge. "Guys are growing
up where they have friends who are gaF: There
is a little bit more in the media, on the
And it’s kind of cool to be a little bit more
liberal and a little bit more accepting."
Gates agrees that exposure is likely a big
part of it, though not just for men.
"We know that a higher proportio~ of gay
people are being more open and being more
open at younger ages. And we do know that
1mowing gay people or having a relationship
with an LGBT person does actually have an
impact on people’s broader attitudes."
Age is, and always has been, a factor,
something that was clear in the surveys
results. Younger men (like younger women)
are generally more accepting than their
parents and grandparents.
In addition to the increase in acceptance
among men, the Gallup poll also found
improved attitudes towards gays and lesbians
anmng every other sub-group polled: from
Catholics to Protestants, Democrats to
Independents, moderates to conse,watives.
Though the degree to which those views
shifted differed greatly, it’s evident that
there is a stead}; gradual shift raking place
. in the way Americans view gay and lesbian
relationships and civil rights for gay people.
In fact, Gallup’s polling this year shows the
public views "gay and lesbian relations" as
more morally acceptable than doctor-assisted
suicide (46 percent) and less than having a
baby outside of marriage (54 percent).
But what about legalizing marriages for
same-sek couples?.
While the Gallup poll showed 52 percent
of people said they consider "gay and lesbian
relations" to be "morally acceptable" and 58
percent said those relations should be "legal,"
only 44 percent said such marriages should
be recognized. ~hat is up four points from
2009, and up 16 points since 1996, when
Gallup first began astdng about gay marriage
specifically. The Gallup polling on gay
marriage is now approximately where it was
for interracial marriage in the late 1970s and
early 1980s. The balance in favor interracial
marriage crossed its tipping point with the
1991 survey -when 48 percent approved and
42 percent disapproved marriage between
blacks and whites.
But do people’s attitudes necessarily
translate into how they are likely to vote on
an issue? Not as reliably a~s one might expect.
Political scientist Patrick Egan, who has
done considerable polling on gay-related
political issues, examined the results of 167
pre-election polls on 32 different ballot
measures concerning either same-sex marriage
or domestic partnerships. He found that preelection
polls "consi"stently underesn"m’ ated"
the number of people xvho would vote for a
ban on same-sex marriage -by all average of
seven points. And, "the share of the public
saying they intend to vote for or against these
measures typically chaiages very little over the
course" of the ballot measure campaigns.
This gap between how voters say they
will vote and what they actually do in the
voting booth does not appear to be a product
of wanting to give the a poll-t~er a socially
desirable response of supporting equality for
all, said Egan. He could find no evidence
for that. For instance, he said, in states ~vith
large gay populations, one would expect
many people who wanted to ban gay marriage
would tell a pollster that they were against the
ban. Voters in California, for instance, would
be more likely than voters in Mississippi to
say they ~vere going to vote against the ban
and then vote for it. But there was no such
correlation and no other evidence emerged in
Egan’s analysis to explain tile gap.
Still, it’s clear Americans are becoming
inc~reasingly open and accepting and experts
and polling data suggest this trend will
continue -unless something happens to set
opinion back.
"You never know how socie9, is changing,
and sometimes it’s not very obvious because
it’s very subtle," says Stevens. While the
reasons such a shift is occurn"ng now "mi"ght
not be necessarily explainable," he says, "it’s
really good to see."
State House candidate openly supports GLBT
inclusion
By Michael W. Sasser
Contributing Writer
Jefl~Tracy candidatefor Oklahoma House District 71 with wife Stacey and
son Eli. Pressphoto
TULSA, OK Hes stralg t, has a
beautiful family, wants to be the next District
71 State Rep. - and JeffTracy would be
supportive of GLBT issues even if he weren’t
already" committed to inclusion issues on
principle.
"I believe in equality issues but even if for
some reason I didn’t, I would still represent
the GLBT community’s concerns because you
don’t pick and choose who you represent,"
Tracy told the Metro-Star. "District 71 has
the highest density population ofGLBT
persons in Oklahoma. The support I have
received has been fantastic. I have the moral
obligation to support equality issues."
Tracy is the son of a police officer and a
Registered nurse. He is an Amarillo, Texas
native who graduated from the University of
Tulsa law school. He said that he has long
been interested in politics but finally decided
to run as a result of being parent of a son
almost two-year old.
"Being a parent cha.nges your perspective,"
he said.
At just 27 years old, the attorney hopes to
unseat Republican
Dan Sullivan in
what has historically
been a GOP
stronghold.
Tracy, though,
said the campaign is
going well.
"We’ve looked
at the numbers and
the numbers took
good for us," TracT
saKt. It s atway
tough to take on
an incumbent but
I believe that if you
have good idea, you
can do well."
Inclusion issues
aren’t the highest
profile issues in the
campaign. On his
website Tracy addresses issues of wastefu!
spending, education, healthcare and the need
to support the energy sector while developing
green job technology.
"I am so sick ofwhat’s going on in the
State Legislature," Tracy said. "They have no
concern for kids well-being. ~xey’re talking
about different abortion bills and carrying
guns at work."
Tract has built a warm relationship with
the GLBT community and recognizes that
this could be used against him.
"I know I will take flack for it - that’s
almost a given in Oklahoma," Tract said.
"But that doesn’t mean that they are right. It’s
a moral issue. We have the moral obligation
to respect people. If people don’t elect me
because of what I believe in, that’s fine. My
family will still love me. They won’t take away
my birthday. What would be worse is if I
didn’t remain true to what I believe in."
For more information on JeffTracy, State
House candidate, District 71, visit wvcw.
jefftracy.org.
Attorney Richard Ogden appointed by Governor
Brad Henry to the Board of Regents
By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
Attorney Richard Ogden sworn in by Districtfi~dge Barbara
Swinton and wittnessed @partner Mike McLain. P~vss ghoto
OK3~&HOMA CITY, OK __ Attorney
Richard Ogden, an openly gay and longtime
activist for the GLBT community has been
appointed tothe Board of
Regents for the Regional
University System of Oldahoma
(RUSO) June 10, sworn in
by District Judge Barbara
Swinton. He is currendy
vice-president and manager
of the Mulinix Ogden Hall
~amdrews and Ludlam PLLC
Law Firm of Oklahoma CitT.
He has previously stowed as the
Chair of the Cimarron Alliance
Foundation.
AS a Regent, Mr. Ogden
is part of that governing
board responsible for the
hiring of university presidents,
employment and budgets along with other
aspects of administration pertaining to
Oldahomgs system of higher education.
Governor Henry expressed his confidence
stating, "Richard Ogden is a proven leader
with the judgment, skills and commitment
necessary to make a positive difference for
the universities and students in the RUSO
system. Richard has dedicated his life to
making Oldahoma a better place, and I know
he will be a great addition to the RUSO
board. I greatly appreciate his willingness to
serve that state in this capacity."
His appointment is for 9 years, serving
six regional universities, East Central
University (Ada), Northeastern State
University(Tahlequah), Northwestern
State University(Alva), Southeastern State
University" (Durant), Southwestern Oklahoma
State University(\Weatherford) and the
University of Central Oklahoma(Edmond).
As for Richard he is glad to serve stating, "I
would like to thank Governor Henry and the
leadership of the House and Senate for their
dedication and continued financial support
for higher education, especially during these
difficult economic times. I took forward to
worldng alongside my fellow regents and
regional university presidents, as well as the
governor and legislature. "
Billy Coyle-Democra t
for Congress
By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
Born in Oklahoma City in 1974, his family
moved to Florida when he wag a teenager
and he graduated from Fort Lauderdale
High School in 1993. He then enlisted in
the United State Marine Corps, made it
through boot camp at South Carolina’s Parris
Island, followed by 7 years of se~ice until
honorably discharged in 2001 at the rank of
E-5 Sergeant.
After graduating with a bachelor’s
degree from Florida State University, he
later returned tO Oklahoma City where he
graduated from the University of Oldahoma
Law School in 2003¯ He has since been a
practicing attorney’ with OKC’s Coyle Law
Firm. He is married, and his wife Heather is
an assistant district attorney for Oklalmma
County: Together they have a 2 year old son,
Jack.
Understandably, veterans issues are
important to him. As he sees it, "Right now
we have veterans who are unable to get the
attention they deserve from the very country"
they fought for."
Another area is jobs. On this he states,
"We continue to have American jobs going
overseas while our elected officials have
become complacent. That’s wrong and un-
American. Very litde is Made in America and
I want that to change.
And while it may be rdatively easy to
be a straight family man in the Bible Belt,
he is among only a few candidates willing
to openly ask for the support of the GLBT
community in the reddest state in the
country. He has not only advertised in the
Metro Star, he is scheduled to speak to the
Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats, and has also
rented a booth to meet widi potentiad ;corers
at the Pride Festival al0ng wi~ ~ent~ i~
the Pride Parade. Asked if he feared the wrath
of Republicans and rightwingers he replied
¯ to this reporter, "I don’t care, they’re going to
pick on me anyway."
For more information about his
campaign, or hove to contribute and/or
volunteer Call 405 (600 9161) or access his
website wwcw.bill)~coyle2010.com
Billy, Heather and their son Jack. Press photo
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ It isa first
for Oklahoma when we have not one, but
~vo candidates running for Congress that
are openly asking for the support of the
GLBT communitT. Billy Coyle, a veteran and
straight t~mily man is one of them, ready to
take on "Washington for what he believes is
dest,3,erately needed change. ,
This campaign is about the common "
,nan. I m not running because I nee
a job, nor am’I a politician looking for
a government career. I want to be a
Congressman looking out for the people
of O~dahoma, and Billy also added, I m
tired of big government, big insurance, and
big politics. I am convincedI can make a
difference."
SAGE (Servi°ceS &
Advocacy [’or GLBT
Elders)
TULSA, OK (PRy __ The Dennis R.
Neill Equality Center is launching day time
programing for those who are retired or free
during the day.
OkEq ~vill be establishing a SAGE chapter
(Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders)
which is a national program geared toward
individuals over 50.
Each Tuesday the Center will open at
10 am for Coffee and Bagels followed by a
computer class taught by Don Satterth~vaite
at 1 t:00 am in the Cyber Center’. Lunch will
be provided at noon for a donation. At 1 pm
there will be a book Study on classical gay
authors such Edward Albee, Oscar Wilde,
James Baldwin, and Armistead Maupin.
"Pne Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th
Street, Tulsa.
The following corresponence on ENDA
from Senator Coburn should be of interest to
your readers
Dear Editor A ick Tutoria{
on the Gay/Lesblan
Equality Decisions o£the
Kende! Powers Supreme Court
Moore, OK
Dear Mr. Powers,
or Frank Rich can be the Best Man at
my Marriage
Thank you for writing me about S. 1584,
the Employment Non-Discrimination Act
(ENDA). I enjoyed reading your message
and learning about your family’s history of
in~olvement with tt~is issue.
I hope that you wiil accept my sincere
apology {or the delay in my response. A
tenfold increase in mail volume has made
it difficult for me to stray current in my
correspondence. Even so, I am sorry to have
kept you waiting.
Let me be clear: I believe discrimination
is wrong and I am committed to fighting
prejudice. As a businessman and a family
physician, I believe employees should be
judged upon their individual merits and
work ethic, and should not be dismissed
without proper cause related to their actual
performance. I know we can agree that each
of us deserves to be treated with respect and
without bias. Nevertheless, I have concerns
about the Employment Non-Discrimination
Act (ENDA).
As currently drafted, the bill is
ovedy vague and broad, and will spur
by James Nimmo
O~tHOMA CITY, OK __ As the
time draws near for the final arguments of
Perry v. Schwarzenegger, aka the Prop 8
trial, we’ll come to the close of chapter four
in the ongoing saga ofAmerica’s love-hate
relationship with diversity, be it based on sldn
color, gender, or sexual orientation.
I’ve numbered this as chapter four
because there have been three previous
chapters in our gay/lesbian history that have
been decided by the United States Supreme
Court, the first one going against us, vdth the
subsequent two keeping us in the game.
Bowers v. Hardwick (1986) ruled 5-4
against us, claiming" ... a rig!~t to engage
in such conduct is ’deeply rooted in this
Nation’s history and tradition" or ’implicit
in the concept of ordered liberty’ is, at best,
facetiotts." ( http://tinyurl.com/jus3e )
Romer v. Evans (1996) reared its ugly
face in an attempt to further keep gay citizens
away from full indusion in the political and
needless liti~t~on. The bi!l~ text creates , ,.............
mcons~stencles w~m ex~st,ng te{aera~ civil , ~
for us, Justice Kennedy wrote ~hat {he passage
rights starutes. I am atso concerned that
a discrimination claim could be based
on ’real or perceived" sexual orientation
characteristics. ~][hese terms will require a
court to decide their raeaning. Issues such as
these require the Senate Health, Education,
Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee to
};arther study this legislation and amend these
vague terms so Congress does not abdicate its
legislative duty to the courts. In addition, ~
also am concerned that ENDA would impede
the religious liberties ol:’churches and of
other non-proifit religious groups. The current
religious exemption in the bill is not robust
enough and should be expanded.
tn addition, I believe states are already
appropriately working to address this issue. In
fact, thirty-one state~ have some form oflaw,
regulation or executive order that requires
protecting employees from discrimination
based on sexual orientation including some
states that protect transgendered individuals.
When a majority of the states have shown
a propensity to address an issue as they
see fit, Congress should not intervene and
unnecessarily preempt state law. I believe
government is at its best when it is closest to
the people and our states should continue to
decide how best to protect employees from
discrimination.
Again, thank you for writing me on this
issue. If you have any additional concerns,
please fed free to write again. I look forwad
to hearing from you in the future.
Sincerely,
Tom A. Coburn, M.D.
United States Senator
of Colorado~ Amendment 2 disallowing any
recognition of gay people under the laws of
Colorado was unconstitutional.
He wrote in the ma ority opinion that
"laws of the kind now before us raise the
inevitable inference that the disadvantage
imposed is born of animosity toward the class
of persons affected." The Court implied that
the passage of.&nendment 2 was born of a
"bare...desire to harm a politically unpopular
group". ( http:/Itinyurl.com/49m9er )
Turning the page we get to tbe decision
striking down sodomy laws with the Supreme
Court’s decision in Lawrence v. Texas (2003)
that helped immensely in removing the
uncharged felon status every gay man and
woman carried with them as these laws were
selectively enforced to intimidate us in our
public and private lives. ( http://tinyurl.
com/br2tj )
The Prop 8 ruling, regardless of~vhich
gay or homo-hating party it favors, will
eventually make its way to the US Supreme
Court where for many years the decisions
have been 5-4 with the 5 going mostly to
the regressive sides of the arguments, be they
social justice or economic equality questions.
I was tickled pink when Olson and
Boles took up the clarion call from the Equal
Rights Foundation ( equalrightsfoundation.
org ) to make a full court argument on our
behalf~br civil rights in marriage. Even as the
purpose of the trial has been to reverse the
unconscionable passage ofCalf" fo~rm"a’s Prop 8
that disallows same gender marriage
after a favorable California Supreme Court
ruling, there’s no doubt in my mind that
the extensive media coverage and social
conversation of the nearly four-year hist~iry
of this latest action to remove gay/lesbian
discrimination has been effective in diluting
the homo-hating potions and superstitious
invectives thrown at us. The echoes of
previous court decisions that have been heard
across the country will prove too powerful for
the cobwebs of prejudice and animositT to
resist.
Frank Rich, op/ed columnist for the New
York Times and first pick for best man at my
marriage, has written an optimistic essay (
http:lltinyurt.com/38gornv ) I recommend
for anyone down in the dumps
over our on-again/off-again progress for civil
equality. Mr. Rich writes that approval of
same-gender marriage is higher now than the
approval for inter-racial marriage a year after
i{ was supported by a Supreme Court ruling
in 1967 (Loving vs Virginia), I think thanks
to the vastly easier modes of communication
now available with social networking and the
Internet.
If Limbaugh can have Elton John sing at
his fi~urth marriage can my first marriage be
far behind?
* CiVi Rights *Criminal
’ment * Family Law * Litigation
625 13,th Street
: City’s, OK 73103
07.01.2010 ~’J’~R
Celebrations during
Hard Times Benefit
Our House Too
By Judy Gabbard
Contributing Writer
]:~rogr~m Director Steve [Vissen and 7E~,rT~
owner Margarita Chand~e~ Judy G. photo
TULSA. OK __ Xghen our :ountry and
particularly O~ahoma was in the grip.s of
severe hardship during the Great Depression,
people in their communities came together
for hard times dances, bake-offs and rummage
sales with the proceeds going to help those
in need. %ese events not only made things
better for the beneficiaries, but also gave a
spirit of community solidarity to those who
contributed as welI.
Carrying on this proud tradition is Our
House, Too. Located in Ttdsa at 203 N.
Nogales Avenue, assistance is available there
for people living with HIV/AIDS providing
household and toiletry needs, weekly meals,
food baskets and general support. The
weakened economy has affected charitable
organizations in Oklahoma and natiomvide,
with declining donations combined with
ever increasing needs. Our House, Too is
also feeling this dilemma, so in the spirit of
coming together as a community they are
organizing 3 events to generate awareness as
wall as raise much needed funds.
~ihere will be benefit shows at TNT’s on
both Friday Jtfly 2 at 9:30 p.m. and Saturday
September 4 also at 9:30 p.m., ~vhere you can
enjoy cold beer, fine drinks, tasty snacks and
great entertainment to support this worthy
cause. TNT’s is located at 2114 S. Memorial
Drive in Tnlsa.
In addition to these events is their Sixth
fimnual Drag Queen Bingo (bingo like your
mother never played). %is grand event of
course features female impersonators, but
also "all kinds of cmnpy fun. It all happens at
Tulsa’s CaMs Ballroom located at 423 Main
Street at 8 p.m. on Saturday August 21.
Our House too would like to thank
their Program Director Steve Nissen, TNT’s
owner Margarita Chandler and all those
who work hard to make these events happen
and keep Our House Too operating to serve
our community. Our House Too is a 501c3
organization so donations are tax deductible,
and 100% of donations received benefit
their clients. For more information about
their services, donating or volunteering, or
about these events contact Our House Too at
918 585 9552 or visit their website at www.
ourhousetoo.com.
N
Obdahoma Tobacco
Domestic Abuse in the
GLBT Community
A secret shame £or us
"We learned that 40% of gay men
wind up in abusive relationships.
Clearly this is a huge problem we’re
just not talking about. I was excited to
see people come out for this workshop. It
,vas a chance to inform and educate, and
to hear firsthand ka~owledge from those
who had been in abusive relationships.
I hope this opens the door for more
conversations in our comrnunit):’ Scott
Hamilton. Cimarron Alliance Director
By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
Erin Walker OKC ~CA Director ofOutreach
and Vo&nteer S~ice~: Gorin photo
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Domestic
abuse has never been easy for our society to
talk about. Family loyalties ("what goes on
here stays here"), guilt of the victim ("If I’d
been a better ,vife, he wouldn’t hurt me")
and the ego of the abuser ("She made me
do it.’) When the women’s movement of the
late 1960s and 1970s brought what had been
and is still somewhat taboo out into the open
these were some of sentiments expressed.
However, at the very least some of these
beliefs are now being questioned, and there
are more options now for victims of abuse to
change their lives with more assurance that
they don’t need to feel ashamed to get help.
As the GLBT community has made
great strides towards equality, xvith open
relationships more widely accepted and
even marriage (a concept not even fathomed
only 20 years ago) what inevitably followed
were many problems and taboos coming
out of the closet as well. In response to this,
when Cimarron Alliance held their monthly
educational discussion group on June 3 they
focused on domestic abuse in the GLBT
community. ~eir special guest
was Erin Walker, the Director of Outreach
and Volunteer Services of the YWCA,
which has provided help for domestic
violence victims since the late 1970s.As she
pointed out during the discussion, domestic
violence in the GLBT community occurs
with relationships of all types of people and
lifestyles, rich and poor, various educational
levels, religions and cultures just as it does
among heterosexuals.
As Erin put it, "Domestic violence is an
equal opportunity epidemic." Erin pointed
out that as same sex relationships have
become better known, so has the veil of
secrecy been lifted about domestic abuse that
happens there as well.
Paula Sophia Schonauer. an Oldahoma
City police oi~cer and activist with the
GLBT community, has answered hundreds of
domestic disturbance calls during her 18 year
career with the department, including many
involving same- sex couples. Concurring with
Ms. Walker’s experience, she saw that the
dynamics were the same. Likewise through
the years she has seen increased awareness
and better handling of these situations by
law enforcement. Legislation such as the
Domestic Abuse Act has made procedures
easier for victims and does not differentiate
between heterosexua! or same sex couples.
Erin did relate that currently the ~VCA has
an excellent relationship with the Oklahoma
City Police Department. which is helpful
as domestic violence intervention is almost
always stressftd and frequently dangerous to
the o~cers responding as well..
While recognizing that abuse in same
sex relationships follows most of the same
patterns as their straight counterparts, there
are unique aspects as well. Often a controlling
partner will threaten to "out" their partner to
their employer or family, k has been reported
that occasionally police departments will take
same sex domestic violence calls less seriously
than those of heterosexuals. Whether valid of
not, people abused in same sex relationships
may fed they aren’t resources that can help
them.
The YWCA maintains a 24 hour hodine
for victims of domestic abuse which has
expanded their services to include assistance
for same sex victims as well. As with any
caller, the listener at the hodine will try
to obtain as much information as the
caller wants to give, with priority on safety
planning. In the case of a lesbian in need of a
place to stay, she could be taken to a women’s
shdter. At present there are no facilities for
male victims, however a man in this situation
would not be turned away, in some cases a
hotel room could be provided as a temporary
refuge.
Erin most stressed this point, " No
matter what type of relationship people
find themselves in, we want to reach all
communities, .especially those that are under
served."
N~eir 24 hour hotline-- 800 522 SAFE.
N
to
NE~07.0’!.2010
Voter Registration in
© ahom
Eligibility: A person who is eligible to
register to vote must be at least 18 years old,
a United States citizen and a resident of the
State of Oklahoma.
How to Register: ~bu must fill out a
voter registration application form. Voter
registration applications are available at
your County Election Board, post offices,
tag agencies, libraries and many" other
public locations. You will be offered a voter
registration application when you get your
driver’s license and when you apply for
assistance at some government agencies. You
also may" down!oad an application form.
~bu must sign and date the oath printed
on t2qe form. "g’nen yon sign the voter
registration application form, you swear that
you are eligible to register to vote.
Changing Your Registration: Ifyou need
to change your name, your address or your
political affiliation, you must fill out another
voter registration application form. You may
change your registration at any time xvith
one exception. You may not change your
political affiliation during the period from
June 1 through August 31, inclusive, in any
even-numbered year. The last day on which
you may change your political affiliation
before the closed period is May 31; the first
day on which you may change your political
affiliation after the dosed period is September
t.
Submitting Your Application: You may
mail your voter registration application to
the State Election Board, The card is already
addressed, but you must add a first-class
postage stamp. If you fill out your voter
registration application form at a tag agency
when you get your driver’s license or vchen
you apply for assistance at a government
agency, the agency will mail the form to the
State Election Board for you.
~,bter Identification Card: You do not
become a registered voter until the county
election board in the county where you reside
has approved your application. \~en your
application is approved, the county election
board will mail a voter identification card to
you. Your voter identification card lists your
name, address, political a~liation and the
polling plaee for your voting precinct. When
you receive your voter identification card,
look at it care~hlly and report any errors to
the county election board immediately. Keep
your voter identification card in a safe place
and always take it with you when you go to
vote.
If your voter registration application
cannot be approved, you wilt receive a letter
from the county election board. ~lhe letter
will tell you why your applicatior~ was not
approved and explain the steps you need to
take to become registered. You may be able
to return the letter with some additional
information, or you may need to fill out and
send in another voter registration application
forn!.
Closed Primary System: Oklahoma has
a closed primary system. O~fly voters who are
registered members of a recognized political
party may vote for the party’s candidates
in primary and runoff primary elections.
Registered Independent voters may be
eligible to vote in party’s primaries and runoff:
primaries if authorized by the party.
However, nonpartisan judicial offices,
state questions and county questions often are
included in primary elections. All registered
voters, including Independents, are entitled
to receive those ballots. At general elections,
all voters receive the same ballot and may vote
for any candidate or question on the ballot.
When to Register: You may submit your
voter registration application form at any
time. However, voter identification cards
cannot be issued during the 24 days prior to
an election. If your registration application is
received by the county" election board during
the 24 days before an election, you will not
receive your voter identification card until
after the election.
tf you will become 18 during the 60 days
before an election, you may apply for voter
registration between 25 and 60 days before
the election.
Additional Information: For additional
information about voting in Oldahoma,
contact your local county election board or
the State Election Board.
Oklahoma State Election Board
PO Box 53156
Oklahoma City, OK 73152
(405) 521-2391
Download and print application: www.
ok.gov/elections/Voter_Registration/Voter_
Registration_Application_Form/info@
elections.ok.gov
Church ofthe Open
Arms to host
Homosexuality and
Scripture Confederence
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ Church
of the Open Arms-UCC ( United Church
of Christ) of Oklahoma City is hosting a
Homosexuality and Scripture Study on
Sunday, July 18 from 4 pm until 6 p.m.
Tt~e Reverend Kathy McCallie will lead this
workshop, shmving ways to defend the belief
that homosexuality is neither sickness nor
sin. ~ae study will focus on the history of
the scriptures and the cultural settings of the
texts in the spirit of faith and understanding.
In particular "clobber passages" (scriptural
references used to demonize or "clobber"
GLBT folks) will be clarified. ~is conference
is flee, hmvever to RSVP is encouraged.
Childcare is available if reselwed no later
than July 12. To RSVP or to obtain more
information call (405) 525-9555 or check
out the church website at wccw.openarms,
org. ~he church is located at 3131 N.
Pennsylvania Avenue in Oldahoma City.
By Steven Petrmv
Stewen Petrow. is the author of"7~e Essential
Book ofGay Manners &Etiquette. "Send
him your questions at queeries@live.com.
Can I break up with my boyfriend by
text?
By Ronald Blake
Contributing Xg~riter
RonaM Blake, Certified Fimess Inst~wtor
through ISSA International Sports Sciences
Association
Sun Tzu ~vas a management conflict
philosopher and author who lived in a time
and land far, far away. He’had many grand
things he laid out in his writings but we shall
focus on only one of his wise sayings: "All
battles are won before they are fought." My
task today is to make this relevant to your
health and fitness mode in your life.
X~bu are on lunch hour and are driving
down the boulevard of broken diets and yo~
are hungry. %ree of your best work buddies
are in the car with you. "W’e don’t have much
time and we need to just grab something
now," is the consensus from the backseat and
shotgun positions. You’ve already !ost this
battle and you’ll end up eating out of that
fat trough with Ronald, Hamburglar, and
Grimace. This could have been avoided with
a little pre-lunch menu planning or the sack
lunch fi’om home.
You havefft run in over five years but you
used to be the All-Conference runner back
in your university day]. You grab those dusty
Asics shoes and decide to give that five mile
race the old college try at the old college
pace. You’ve already lost this battle and will
end up limping and muttering obscenities
for the next four score and seven hours while
you nurse that sore Achilles. This could have
been avoided with a gradual training regimen
and the purchase ofsome new shoes before
entering that Charity 5K race.
After one round ofJose Cuervo you
announce your retirement from cigarettes
beginning tomorrow. After three rounds of
Jose Cuervo you announce with mucho gusto
your intention to banish Joe Camel from your
life beginning tomorrow. After five rounds of~
Jose Cuervo you boisterously and vehemently
declare your partnership with nicotine to
be dissolved beginning tomorrow. You’ve
already lost this battle even before the seventh
round of Senor Tequila. This could have been
avoided by making a signed declaration to
stop smoking while you weren’t half in the
bag with agave juice. The sober prover of pen
to paper has a great effect on action.
Your class reunion is three months away
and you want to shed that freshman fifty that
you’ve put on since being named most likely
to blah, blah, blah in the Quill and Scroll
Yearbook. You’ve joined the health club and
you want Donna Dixbottom to rue the day
she turned you down to the prom. You’ll
show her the error of her ways with that great
body and that rented Sebring convertible.
You’ve already lost this battle and Ms.
Dixbottom will only treat you to a haughty
cursory glance at the festive soiree. You need
more than just a health dub membership and
a desire, You need a daily workout routine
and a trusty companion to guide you to your
fitness goals.
Think about what you want to accomplish
in life. You don’t need to be Chinese, have
a two syllable name, or be a philosopher to
achieve successes in your time. You only need
a well prepared plan and action.
Chmarron Alliance hosts art show to kick-offPride
month By By Robin D-Townsend
Contributing Writer
Pride in Art, an art show presented by Cimarron Alliance Foundation m kick-offPride
month, was held at the Istvan Gallery in Oklahoma City. Pictured above are (l to r)
foyer Cima,ron Board member Terry Gatewood andMargaret Cox, Cimarron Board
member andpast chair ofthe organization. Robin D-Townsendphoto
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__To ldck-off an art show, sale, and reception held earlier
LGBT Pride month, the Cimarron Alliance this month at OKC’S Istvan Gallery. The
Foundation hosted "Pride in Art," event showcased the creativity and diversity
among LGBT and LGBT-supportive artists.
The festive, casual evening also featured
entertainment provided by Mary Reynolds,
Louise Goldberg, and Jamie Bramble.
"We came to enjoy the art, celebrate
diversity and to support other organizations
that do the same," said John Greer, President
of the AIDS Walk of Oklahoma. "It is helpful
to businesses, the community and those in
need when the organizations work together in
support." A fundraiser for tile AIDS Walk wil!
be at the COPA on July 19th, from 6-10.
Pride in Art artists participating in
the show include: Jennifer Barron, Gary
Bates, Rick and Tracey Bewley, John Carter
(Orlando, FL), Sue Clancy (Norman), Sam
Echo!s, Ron Ferrell, Richard Ydeffman,
Christina Kovash, Kenny McCage, Monty
Milburn, Bernadette Martinez, Cindy Mason,
Louis Scott, Joe Slack, Sue Moss Sullivan,
Frank Troutman, Rhonda Polen X~ernick
(Nashville, TN), Cynthia Daniel Wolf- and
others. Each artist will provide up to five
pieces or original art for the show. Sales will
benefit both the artists and the Cimarron
Alliance Foundation. Event sponsors were
Premium Beers of Oklahoma - Bud Light,
Iguana’Mexican Grill, Istvan Gallery, and Art
Fusion Studios.
Since the incorporation of the Cimarron
Alliance Foundation, the organization has
operated under the leadership of a dedicated
volunteer Board of Directors. From the
very beginning, Cimarron’s Board has been
comprised of people within the LGBT
community and straight persons supportive
of the organization’s mission. For the past 13
years tile Cimarron Alliance Foundation has
served as a powerful resource for individuals
and organizations vcithin the LGBT
community.
The mission of the Cimarron Alliance
Foundation is to support educational
efforts that validate personal identity,
promote public enlightenment, and advance
equality for LGBT Oklahomans. For more
information about Cimarron Alliance visit
vcww.dmarronalliance.org.
"First " ursday" Art
Opening and Exhibit
ofOriginal Works:
Verisimilitude -New
Paintings by Michael
Christopher
TULSA, OK (PR) _The July
Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) showcase
and exhibit of local artists at the Dennis R.
Neill Equality Center (621 E. 4th Street in
downtown Tulsa), will feature the Art of
Michael Christopher. "lhe show begins with a
reception on Thursday, July 1st from 6-9pm
and continues throughout the month.
Michael Christopher began figurative
painting as a young teen - dropped it by the
time he turned twenty - and started again
thirty years later. Michael’s other creative
pursuits have included professional acting,
theatrical production design, composing
incidental music for the theatre, writing
scores for musicals and an opera. Michael
helped organize the Tulsa Artists Coalition
and he founded the Tulsa Center for
Contemporary Art (TuCCA).
What started a few years ago as a handful
of illustrations for a graphic novel project
became a more serious return to painting.
The works in this show reflect an eye for
photorealistic rendering and a vision that
loves and understands the human form. ~xe
works in Verisimilitude spread open the time
frame, drawing on the idealized realism of the
early oil paintings, touching on themes from
his 1987 "Living Arts ofTulsa" shmv, Boys
in the Machine, infused with a poetry earned
from life as an artist working across many
disciplines.
The paintings in Verisimilitude raise
interesting questions about artistic values.
Some viewers have .expressed an initial
feeling of disappointment when learning
that the works, which seem so realistically
to be painted with a physical brush, were
really made in the computer as if the digital
medium is somehow beneath fine art. The
works are not from photographs, but using
drawing software similar to programs used
in architecture and engineering. After a
computer drawing is made it is "painted"
using brushes, smudge sticks and other tools,
each tool a small computer script written by
the artist. These digital paintings take at least
as long to create as "wet paint" works. This
new dimension within realism is one of the
fascinations that drove the creation of these
paintings. Follow the progress of new projects
and experience Michael’s art and music, at
wv#cc.michaelfire.com.
2010 Primary Tues.
July 27° General E ection:
Tueso November 2. ese
Democratic candidates
gear up £or an important
campaign £or O ahom s
f t re:
GOVEI~2qOR
Lt. Gov. Jari Askins
Attorney General Drew Edmondson
LIEUTEN~T GOVERNOR
State Sen. Kenneth Corn
ATTOP&qEY GENERAL
Jim Priest
STATE AUDITOR & INSPECTOR
Steve Burrage
STATE tNSUR~qCE COMMISSIONER
~m Holtand (incumbent)
STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION
State Sen. Susan Paddack
Jerry Combrink
Larry Huff
STATE T~SURER
Stephen Covert
STATE L&BOR COMMISSIONER
Lloyd Fields (incumbent)
U.S. SENATOR
Jim Rogers
Mark )vgil~S ..... .....
U.S. CONGRESS
District 2: Dan Boren (incumbent)
Jim Wilson
District 3: Frankie Robbins
District 5: Billy Coyle
Tom Guild
STATE SENATE
District 2: Sean Burrage (incumbent)
District 4: State Rep. Nell Brannon
Mark Cornell
District 6: Jay Paul Gumm (incumbent)
District 8: Roger Ballenger (incumbent)
District 10: Dale Christenson
District 14: Donna Spring, Daryl Roberts
District 16: John SparEs (incumbent)
District 18: Janice Aldridge
District 24: Susan Brooks, John Branum
District 26: ~Tom Ivester (incumbent)
District 32: Randy Bass (incumbent)
District 42: Mike Kelly
District 44: Randy Rose
District 46: Andrew Rice (incumbent)
District 48: Constance Johnson (incumbent)
Steven Davis, Mark E Temple, Clyde E.
Maddon
STATE HOUSE
District I: Dennis Bailey (incumbent)
District 2: Glen Bud Smithson (incumbent)
District 3: Jake Leming, James Lockhart,
Jarrod Ridenour, Matt Webb, David Hogan
Traci Barnes
District 4: Mike Brown (incumbent)
District 6: Chuck Hosldn (incumbent)
District 7: Larry Glenn (incnmbent)
District 8: Ben Sherrer (incumbent)
District 9: Eric Cullen
District 10: Nick Brown
District 12: Vc~ade Roussetot (incumbent)
District 13: Jerry McPeak (incumbent)
District 14: Brad Clinkenbeard
District 15: Ed Cannaday (incumbent)
Annie J. Goolsby
District t6: Jerry Shoemake (incumbent)
James Bo Delso
District 17: Brian Renegar (incnmbent)
District 18: Donald Condit, John M.
Freeman, Carolyn Hilt, Roger Shirly
District 19: R.C. Pruett (incumbent)
District 20: Paul Roan (incumbent)
District 21: Oden Grube, Chris Pierce,
Nathan Williams, Jerry Tomlinson
District 22: x.X/es Hilliard (incumbent)
District 23: Mark Manley
District 24: Steve Kouplen (incumbent)
District 27: Chris Odneal
District 28: Ed Smith
District 29: David Narcomey
District 30: Donna Marie Vogelpohl
District 32: Danny Morgan (incul-nbent)
District 34: Cory Williams
District 35: Rodger Ensign
District 36: Greg Brown
District 37: Ken Luttrell (incumbent)
District 43: J. E Hemminger
District 44: Isaiah McCaslin, Emily Virgin,
Tom Kovach, Robert Murphy
District 45: Wallace Collins (incumbent)
District 49: Samson Buck (incumbent)
District 53: Amy Corley
DiStric~ 56: Maya To~ralba
District 58: Wilson John Adamson
District 60: Purcy Walker (incumbent)
District 64: Michael J. Corrales
District 65: Joe Dorman (incumbent)
District 66: Eli Potts, David Phillips, Andrew
Thomas Williams, Melani Hamilton
District 68: Troy Zickefoose, Seth \gatkins
District 71: JeffTracy
District 72: Seneca Scott (incumbent)
District 73: Jabar Shumate (incumbent)
Kevin Matthews
District 77: Eric Proctor (incumbent)
District 78: Jeannie McDaniel (incumbent)
District 84: Brittany Novotny
District 85: Gall Vines
District 86: John Auffet (incumbent)
Jeff Collyge, William Fourkiller
District 87: Dana Orwig
District 88: AI McAffrey (incumbent)
District 89: Rebecca Hamilton (incumbent)
District 9 t: Hollis Harper
District 92: Richard Morrissette (incumbent)
District 93: Wilfredo Santos Rivera, Wanda
Jo Peltier, Jeff Pecld~am
District 94: Scott Inman (incumbent)
District 95: Michael A. Walker
District 97: Mike Shelton (incumbent)
District 98: Dennis V/. XWeese
District 99: Anastasia Pittman (incumbent)
District 101: Johnny Laudermilk
Creep of he Month ByD’AnneWitkowski
"Family Research CounciF’
yes. N~e fabled "Gay Agenda."
Having invested so much in the fight against
it, anti-gay groups will leap at anything that
they can hold up as proof that a sinister gay
agenda exists.
So when the Gay and Lesbian Activists
Alliance ofg[ashington, D.C., released
"Agenda: 2010," the Family Research Council
pounced, cla,vs out.
GLAA calls "Agenda: 2010" an "electionyear
briefing paper on local LGBT issues."
FRC calls it a veritable blueprint for a hostile
LGBT takeover.
In a June 16 W’ashington Update post,
FRC posits, "What’s left for homosexual
activists to do after they’ve trampled voters on
their way to the altar? tn Washington, D.C.,
where same-sex ’marriage’ is legal (for now),
the gay and lesbian crowd is just getting
warmed up."
The post is accompanied by a graphic
reading of the ’,Homosexual Agenda"
alongside a list of things like innocence,
family and public health. Through each item
is a blurry red line with a few drops of red
here and there. Presumably it’s supposed to be
spray paint (Vc~at, is the gay agenda written
on the xvall of an abandoned warehouse?) but
it cotfld also be blood. AIDS blood, of course.
"Apparendy, their updated political
agenda spans everything from classroom
infiltration to legalizing prostitution," FRC’s
message continues.
I have to ask- what does "classroom
infiltration" even mean? Sending in
undercover homos to high schools like a gay
"21 Jump Street?" And I have a follow-up:
"Will there be a reality show?
So just what is the "everything" this new
agenda covers?
"Local groups will try to elect more
homosexuals to places of power, push
in-school gay-straight alliances, support
D.C. sex-oriented businesses, defend adult
entertainment, grant special perks to crossdressing
prisoners, force same-sex adoption
and legalize sex tra~cldng," claims FRC.
\Voah: Sounds ambitious. But let’s address
some of these claims.
First of all, what FRC calls "cross-dressing
prisoners" are often actually transgender
people, some who have broken the law, others
who have been victims of crimes. "Ihe "special
perks" include not throwing them into jail
cells based solely on what’s between their legs.
GLAA also doesn’t want to see them "denied
appropriate health care, sexually assaulted,
abusively strip-searched, (or) placed in
protective custody that amounts to punishing
the victim," which are some of the current
"perks" of being a trann>
As for legalizing "sex tra~cMng," that’s
not quite it. GLAA does advocate legalizing
prostitution. While a controversial position,
they’re hardly calling for a sex-for-mone>
free-for-all. GLAA raises a lot of important
issues, i~cluding "survival sex," where people
- ~’requently gay runaways and transgender
people - turn to prostitution
out of desperation, when it’s the only option
they have left. Throwing them in jail doesn’t
address the core problems.
"If (policymal~ers) want to provide safer,
healthier and more sustainable alternatives
to survival sex, you can support the creation
of drop-in centers, transitional housing,
job training, counseling, addiction recovery
programs and other services for at-risk
populations," GLAA’s agenda reads.
Oooh, counseling and transitional
housing. Really racy stuff.
"Lots of people in this country mistalcenly
believe that this community will be satisfied
when it redefines marriage," FRC claims.
"That’s not the case. Homosexuals and
transgenders (sic) won’t be happy until they
sever every moral underpinning in America."
That’s right. Because LGBT people have
no morals and fantasize every night about
living in some kind of lawless neo-sexual
apocalyptic hellscape. You hear that, FRC? It’s
right here, in writing. It must be true. And
it must be true for all LGBT people ,vithout
exception. Feel free to use it in your next
fundraising letter. Tell your members we said,
"Boo!"
Ttae occasion prompted OkEq to hold a
supportive Town Hall rally at the Dennis R.
Neill Equality Center.
"It is a great day to be gay in Tulsa
Oldahoma!" said OlcEq President Toby
Jenkins, echoing a slogan he has often
employed at Pride and on other occasions.
"This time I am serious."
While the city council vote has been
met with optimism throughout the GLBT
community, some residents still see the need
for progress.
"IfI get beat up tonight, will the police
actually come help?" pondered one young gay
Tulsa man who did not want to be identified.
"We can still be fired without cause and
we can still be abused and lmow there’s a
good chance authorities won’t be interested in
helping," said Rogers County’s Brett Peason.
"This is a great step but it doesn’t really affect
most people in the community."
Others suggested that the city should
address the issue of equal protection at
companies that do business with the city
- thus xvidening the scope of the new policy’s
effects.
Oldahomans for Equality said that it
would continue to press the City ofTulsa
to add gender identity to the employee
non-discrimination policy and also begin
the dialogue with other Tulsa County
municipalMes.
OkEq encourages supporters of the new
policy to personally contact City Councilors
GT Bynum, Maria Barnes, Roscoe Turner,
Jack Henderson, Chris Trail and Bill
Christiansen and express appreciation.
Tulsa elected ot~cials can be contacted at
~ax~¢~.~v.cityoftulsa.org/ourcity/elected-oNcials.
aspx,
07.0’1.20’!0
For D~r~c~ Judge Vote...QuMity &Experience
in 2010
35
45
$5,000 Face Value
Cost
Call
918o695o1806
$10,000 for accede a~
death
H~V Coverage
T
For
uildforcon,
Congress
ressocom
forby G~itd for Congress, PO Box @21, Edmond, OK 738~s
07.01.2010
Photo’s by Judy G. Photography
Downtown Tulsa, Oldahoma June 5, 2010
.................................................................................Continued on page-!8
By Andrew Collins
Andrew Collins covers gay travelfor the New
Drk Times-owned website About.corn and is
the author ofFodor’s Gay Guide to the USA.
t
Exploring Coasta Maine
Maine’s classically quaint seaside towns
and breezy beaches seem tailor-made for a
rela~ing vacation and sure enough, the state’s
coastal sections are invaded by pleasure
seekers ai! summer. Prestigious, blue-blood
retreats like Kennebunkport and Camden
overflow with magnificent estates, while the
pristine scenery" ofAcadia National Park and
Camden Hills State Park draw scads of hikers
and bikers. Artsy and gay-popular Ogunquit
makes a wonderfully low-keyed alternative
m Provincetown. while hip Portland and upand-
coming Rockland offer sophisticated arts
and dining.
The state’s shoreline twists and turns for
an astonishing 3,478 miles - counting every
inlet, cove, and bay; only the states ofAlaska,
Florida and Louisiana can claim more miles
ofwaterfront. You could spend all summer
exploring the dozens of inviting hamlets up .
and down tile coast.
The southwestern edge of the state - just
70 miles from Boston and about 300 miles
from both Montreal and New York City - is
not only the most accessible, it has the most
to offer gay and lesbian travelers. The region
extends from the bustling outlet-shopping
hub of Kittery north through Ogunquit and
tip to Ken.nebunkport.
Fringed by a lovely 3-mile beach, tiny
Ogunquit first developed a discernible gay
following in the 1930s, with the opening of
one of the country’s first successful summer
theaters, the Ogunquit Playhouse. It still
presents first-rate theatrical productions
today. The gay presence grew in the ’60s,
when hippies and beatniks started regularly
renting cottages and homes here. By the
following decade the scene fully blossomed
with the opening of a gay guest house, as well
as a disco called Anabelle’s (still open but now
called 02).
U.S. 1 and Shore Road, the main drags
through the village, bustle with funky shops,
ar~ galleries, boutiques and several good
restaurants. It’s a very short walk to the beach
from iust about any point in town. Ogunquit
supports a pair of lively gay nightclubs, a
piano lounge, and several restaurants with
inviting bars. In a state xvhere beaches can
sometimes be pebbly or difficult to access,
Ogunquit has one of Maine’s most celebrated
ones - tile northern reaches of this fine,
golden spit of sand draw a predominantly
lesbian and gay crowd.
Consider an excursion south to Kittery’s
hundreds of mid- and high-end outlet shops.
Or check out York’s Stonewall Kitchen -
nearly 20 years ago, a local gay couple named
Jonathan KAng and Jim Stott started selling
their fabulous jams, mustards, relishes and
sauces at a farmers market. They soon formed
this now-internationally renowned emporium
and mail-order company of delicious gourmet
foods. For the best scenery on this trip, follow
Shore Road south from Ogunquit through
York’s Cape Neddick, where you can stop
[:or a picnic at the park that overlooks the
diguified Nubble Lighthouse (built in 1879).
There are about a dozen gay-oriented
accommodations in Ogunquit, most of
them male-owned but catering to a mLx of
women and men, Jtist a fe~v of the excellent
possibilities include Moon Over Maine
(http://www.moonovermaine.com), a fully
restored 1830s Cape-style house with perioddecor,
well-chosen art, and a great location
in the heart of the village; and the reasonably
priced Ogunquit Beach Inn (http://www.
ogunquitbeachinn.com), a handsome litde
1920s compound comprising a main house
with five guest rooms, as well as two cottages
with full kitchens (rented weekly). A bit more
upscale are the lovely Gazebo Inn (http://
www.gazeboguesthouse.com), a handsome
14-room property with two hot tubs and a
gym and sauna; and the beautifully situated
Rockmere Lodge (http://www.rockmere.
corn), which is just offthe famed Marginal
Way walking path - most rooms have ocean
views.
Charming Portland lies within striking
distance of Ogunqnit, perfect ifyou need
a dose of urbanity. Don’t overlook this
youthful, progressive city as a base, either,
especially ifyou’d rather browse museums and
stroll along shop-filled streets than loi1 about
on the beach. Portland daims a dynamic arts
scene and some of the best restaurants in
Maine. You can also check out a few very fun
GLBT nightspots.
The city crowns a hilly peninsula,
surrounded by rivers and harbors - you’ll
see water from many points and find the
bulk of the city’s best restaurants, shops
and bars in the histgric Old Port district, a
warren of cobbled lanes and vintage redbrick
warehouses fringed by a phalanx of wharves.
A short drive or moderate walk puts you
square in Portland’s West End, where grand
sea captains’ mansions mingle with smaller
row houses. More than two decades of intense
rehabilitation have given the neighborhood
a graceful countenance, and lesbians and gay
men have restored many of these homes.
In the heart ofdowntown’s arts district,
the gay-friendly Eastland Park Hotel (http://
www.eastlandparldmtel.com) has tastefully
appointed rooms with handsome colonialinspired
furnishings - several units have
kitchens. Amenities include a well-equipped
fitness center, and a rooftop lounge with
great city views. More intimate gay-popular
options include the historic Inn at ParkSpring
(http://www.innatparkspring.com), which
Boats in Camden Harbor
is just steps from the Portland Art Museum
and six warmly furnished rooms; and
the Morrill Mansion B&B (http:/Avww.
morrillmansion.com), a 19th-century
mansion on a picturesque West End Street
- the seven tasteful room contains period-style
furnishings.
To see a less-developed side of the state,
it’s about a two-hour drive from Portland
- much of it along a very scenic stretch of
U.S. 1 - to the resort comnaunities along
western Penobscot Bay; including Rockland
and Camden. You’re not going to encounter
as many gay travelers out this way, but
there are a handful ofvery gay-friendly
accommodations. Maine’s Mid-Coast is
a place for quiet vacations, ideal if you’re
a hiker, photographer, fishing enthusiast,
or sailor. Camden is home to a fleet of
Windjammer sailing ships (http://www.
mainewindjammercruises.com), which can be
booked not only on multiple-day excursions
throughout the region but also for afternoon
jaunts along Penobscot Bay.
The craggy 1,000-ft peaks of Camden
Hills State Park are a regional highlight; you
can tread along more than 20 miles of rugged
nature and hiking trails through this dramatic
5,500-acte paradise, and overnight in a
112-site camping area. The once-workaday
town of Rockland has blossomed of late, with
several outstanding restaurants and cafes. The
key draw here is one of the foremost small
art collections in the nation, the Famsworth
Art Museum, which contains works by many
noted Maine painters, including the George
Bellows, Louise Nevelson, and the Wyeth
¯ The on-site Wyeth Center explores that
famous family of painters.
Rockland’s elegant, yet reasonably
priced LimeRock Inn, is operated by a
lmowledgeable and friendly couple Frank
Isganitis & EJ. Walter, who prepare a
delicious breakfast each morning. Rooms in
this handsome Queen Anne Victorian are
done in period style, but with such modern
perks as flat-panel TVs with HDTV/DVD
and clock radios with iPod docks. First-
Andrew Collinsphoto
rate restaurants and galleries are just steps
awa): The gay-owned Camden Harbour Inn
(http://www.camdenharbourinn.com), with
its spectacular location overlooking the town’s
harbor, is ideal for a luxury getaway - the 18
rooms and suites are sumptuously appointed,
and the on-site restaurant, Natalie’s, serves
exceptiofial contemporary American fare.
Still about 75 miles farther "down east"
(Maine lingo for in the direction of the
Canadian Maritimes - "down" refers to the
fact that longitude decreases as you travel
east), lies Mr. Desert Island. Here you’ll
find the resort town of Bar Harbor and the
adjacent 40,000-acre Acadia National Park.
A 27-mile Loop Road meanders through the
park, accessing trailheads and many scenic
vistas. Some.hiking trails climb up to 1,530-
foot Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on
the Eastern Seaboard, and still others hug the
granite-strewn shore. In Bar Harbor, the Abbe
Museum, set in the 1893 former YMCA
overlooking the village green, contains an
enormous trove of artifacts and exhibits that
trace the state’s Native American history.
Bar Harbor has dozens of motels, hotels
and inns, among them the gay-friendly
Anne’s White Column Inn (http://www.
anneswhitecolumns.com) and its sister
property, the larger and more elegant
Clefrstone Manor (http://www.cleftstone.
com). ~ae advantage ofAnne’s White
Column Inn is its close proximity to area
shopping and dining. One other excellent
LGBT-friendly option in Bar Harbor is the
Aysgarth Station (http://~vw~v.aysgarth.com),
which is quite affordable and located very
close to several good restaurants.
With so long a shoreline and so relatively
small a population, Maine offers one
precious commodity that’s all too rare in the
northeastern U.S.: space. Although parts of
the coast has been developed with mini-golf
centers and condo colonies, the majority of it
remains beautifully preserved and ideal for a
memorable getaway.
07.01.2010
help
Demented Inc.’ Tour graces the Copa to promote
their new DVD ofmadness ’Memoirs ofDmentia"
By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
Jenna Zdia, Dmentia Divi~yl and OKC’s Bearded Lad3,. Gotqn photo
OKLAHOMA CI~L OK On Sunday
the 13th ofJune Rachae! Eik~’s Sunday
night show had a special treat as Dmentia
Diviw1 / a.k.a, director Glenn Storm) and
his sid&dck Jenna Telia performed and
promoted Dmented Inc’s new film, "Memoirs
of Dmentia.:" With Drnentia showing up in
the style of Dawn Davenport. she and Miss
Telia put on quite an act promoting this work
of art.
Nxis 90 minute film is not for everyone,
bur &finitely a must for those who love
artistic dysfunction, insanity and pure white
trash truly in the style ofJohn Waters, who is
credited with inspiring this epic. Various ideas
and concepts show up clearly with obvious
influences from the xT~qzard of Oz, the
infamous Female Trouble movie, the Rocky
Horror Picture Show, the classic Deliverance
fli& ~ a real squealer) among maW others.
With only 4 people in the cast, it tells the
story of mad Scientist Dr.Frankemveenie
who creates the lead hermaphrodite, she male
Dmenria Divinvl. Dmentiahas ahard life
running a bordello, fights off the advances of
Hillbilly Cousin Earl only to be impregnated
by Officer Baloney Pony. She sells her baby
for cat’fare to Cousin Earl, who falls for her
neighbor Petunia.. Meanwhile Officer Baloney
Pony happens into a gay bar, falls into a
slumber, and in his subsequent dream follows
the Yellow Bri& Road to see the Queen of
Zoe who tells him how he can come back to
earth as a gay man. All of these happy events
are entered into Miss Divinyl’s diary, who
wonders about her lost child. Will there be a
sequel???
For cultist movie fetishists, this movie is a
Godsend. For more information or to order
this DVD check out www.Dmentedlnc.com.
deadCENTER film depicts reversal o£Cali£ornia
gay marriage law
By Robin D-Townsend
Contributing Writer
Oldahoma City, OK In the film ’8:
The Mormon Propositioff’ a former Mormon
missionary. Director Reed Cowan depicts the
events supporting the passage of Proposition
8. He chose to leave our opinions but rather
chose to tell the story objectively without
opinions, which he felt the public cleady
wanted. ~e film was originally premiered
at the Sundance Film Festival and received
the longest standing ovation in the histmw of
that festival., despite that it was held in Utah
where Mormons number well above 60% of
the population.
"I am honored to present this film at
deadCenter", said Melissa Scaramucci,
deadCenter Board Member and Director/
Producer with Crazy Diamond Productions.
Scaramucci and the organizing group invited
Oldahoma’s own TEN ( The Equality
Network) to talk to the crowd about the fight
in Oklahoma toward equality for all.
For those who dofft remember, on June
17, 2008 the California Supreme Court ruled
that California’s ban on same sex marriage
was discriminatory, thus making same sex
marriages legal in that state. Following
this ruling thousands of gay couples got
legally married in California, but this new
matrimonial freedom would not last long.
Anti-gay groups hired companies to
obtain signatures to put Proposition 8 on
the ballot of the November 4, 2008 election.
Successful at obtaining enough signatures,
Proposition 8 was on the ballot and simply
stated, "Only a marriage beva,een a man and
a woman is valid or recognized in California."
This proposition passed~ not only ending
the right of same sex couples to marry in
California but also leaving the marriages
of those same sex couples ,vho had already
married in lega! jeopardy
~e film depicts the astonishing approach
of the Mormon Church and their leadership,
primarily from Utah, using their tax free
financial support to get this measure passed.
"Ihere is proof by documentation and video
Emotions ran high during thefight to allow gays
to retain the right to marry in California. Their"
~orts were in vain.
in the film that this information is not
fabricated. This documentary follows
the activities of the Mormon Church,
questioning the legality of their actions
supporting Proposition 8 as a tax free entity,
donating millions to promote its passage.
The passage of Proposition 8 was a
crushing defeat for gay rights activists who
had hoped that public opinion on dais issue
had shifted enough to help them defeat dais
measure. The film depicts addition irony in
that the Mormon Church claimed to take
this action in the name ofJesus Christ. This
exploration of the Chur& ofJesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints’ involvement in the passage
of Proposition 8 reveals their secretive,
decades long campaign against same sex
marriage. More information about the film
can be found at wv#;v.mormonproposition.
com.
Business is booming for
Sean Hayes
Things were looking tough for Sean
Hayes for a minute there - his coming-out
interview in The Advocate came off as cranky
and too-late, and then that Newsweek piece
suggested he was too gay to be convincing
as the hetero leading man of the Broadway
revival Promises, Promises. It looked for a
second like he was damned if he did and
damned if he didfft. But the one-time Will &
Grace star is having the last laugh: He scored
a Tony nod for the show, reviews for his gig
as host of the Tony Awards were glowing, and
his prodnction company scored a hit with the
sitcom Hot in Cleveland, which premiered.
to high ratings on TV Land. Hayes will be
keeping his TV mogul hat firmty~in place,
with NBC Universa! signing a two-year deal
with Hazy" Mills (his company with Todd
Milline0 to develop new shows for network
and cable. (Yoglt recall Hayes showing off his
sitcom-creating acumen On Bravo’s Situation:
Comedy.) So yes, naysayers, this gu)?s
officially a litde more than "Just Jack~"
from her national TV talk show. During
July of2009 she issued her "OHahoma
Citizen’s Proclat~aation for Morality" at the
Oldahoma State Capitol in which she blamed
our nation’s troubled economy on "same
sex marriage, divorce, pornograph)~ sex
trafficking and other forms ofdebauchery’.
On economic issues she iS likewise far to the
right, opposing a minimum wage increase
in Oklahoma in 2006 ~vhen it was $5.15 an
hour, even requesting that a study be done
to see how people living on that wage could
better budget their money.
Although Brittany has already made
history by being the first transgendered
person to run for public office in Oklahoma,
she isn’t running for that reason. She has
publicly stated, " I understand that there
are going to be some folks who try to make
this election about the fact that my medical
history includes a gender transition, but I’m
running for office because I believe I’m the
best candidate to fight for jobs, education and
transportation."
Born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, Ms.
Novomy graduated from the University of
Arts and Sciences of Oldahoma and went on
to get her law degree from the University of
California-Hastings and is now a practicing
attorney. She is an active member of the
Young Democrats, who elected her as a
national committeewoman and also honored
her as their 2010 Woman of the Year.
Oklahoma House District 84 indudes
parts of northwest Oklahoma City, Bethany
and Warr Acres. She’s ready for the fight and
feels "I think our chances are really great.
People are ready for a change."
07.01.2010
Photo’s by Victor G. & Judy G.
Out &Aboa~t in Oklahoma
@ Tulsa Eagle. Tulsa
Tasha Carrington and Billy Jackson per[orming to the smash
hit of Lady Antebelliums’. "Need You Now". tt was well
received by the overflow crowd in attendance. Photo by
Ernest Atchison
@ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa
@ Angles, Oklahoma City
@ The Copa, Oklahoma City
@ Tulsa Pride Parade 2010
@ Finishline, Oklahoma City
Mayor Oscar Goodman oI~cially welcoming the award ~vinnmg celebrity
Gay Travel Columnists, Donald Pile and Ray Williams to Las Vegas.
@
@ Tulsa Pride Parade 2010
@ Tulsa Pride Festival 2010
@ Tulsa Pride Festival 2010
07.01.2010
By Ed Sikov
for Me, Marg itff’
Craig was giddy on the ferry: "Margaritas
are my tCavorite drink!" He clapped his
dimpled hands in excitement and began singsonging,
"Goodie goodie gumdrops!" He was
still jolly because I had withheld my controlfre~
Msh plan. I had no intention of using that
sticky-sweet frozen concentrate he loved, and
I was too much of a food snob to even let the
bottled pigswill variety into the house. Once,
in a notorious act of radical foodie-ism, I
poured Sa!’s bottle of Yucatan Yuri’s Primo-
Papi Mix off the de&. Before I had a chance
to tel! an outrageous lie about Yucatan Yuri’s
whereabouts, Sal saw me, rushed outside in
a fuD4 and punched me in the shoulder. We
didn’t speak for a month.
"Vge need frozen concentrate, of course.
W-e do have orange liqueur...."
"I have to tell you something," I began,
but the two nasty Pomeranians owned by the
cable sex show hostess Raven Wren - who
apparently didn’t have enough smarmy gay
men around her in the city, so she bought
a place in the Pines - suddenly defined
the term "bad canine karma" by attacking
a distraught muscle-boy’s twin white Shih
Tzus. The ensuing screeching and yelping (by
Raven) drowned out further discussion.
Vge were in the grocery’s frozen foods
section with one of Craig’s giant-size
Cabbage-Patch-Ydds fists engulfing a can
of corn syrup with artificial lime flavor
when I yanked it out of his hand; declared,
%XZe’re not using that"; and threw it back
into the freezm: Craig looked stricken. "Let’s
make our Margaritas from scratch, OK?" I
demanded, none too consolingly. "I don’t
_want_ scratch," Craig whined; "I want my
Margaritas! V/hy are you so mean? Why
can’t I have what I want?" "l-hen came big
whopping tears streaming down his colossal
face, which rippled with despair.
whopping tears streaming down his colossal
face, which rippled with despair.
At first I was mortified. But I’m here
to tell you that mortification is preferable to
the near-suicidal guilt that followed. I Wasn’t
on the ferry any more so I couldn’t jump
off. I could do nothing but hate myself to
the bone. "Don’t cry! Get what you ~vant!
I’ll make Margaritas my way, and you make
yours your way." I pulled the can of frozen
concentrate out of the freezer. "See?" I said,
putting the wretched junk into our cart. Then
I took one of Craig’s soft hands in mine and
led him toward the unsweetened lime juice.
"Ihe Margarita, Two Ways
Craig’s way: Dump a can of children’s
frozen concentrate into a blender, add ice
and enough tequila to keep everyone from
realizing how crummy the drink tastes, and
press "ultra-high"; if you’re lucky you’ll forget
to put the top on the blender.
My way- makes four cocktails:
3/4-cup inexpensive white Tequila (it’s
dumb to waste fine tequila by drowning it in
a Margarita, but then I’m a cheapskate)
1/3-cup unsweetened lime juice
1/4-cup orange liqueur (we had Orange
Curacao on hand - you can use any tTpe)
l/4-cup Really Simple Syrul5 (you can buy
Simple Syrup ready-made, or you can boil
sugar and water and stand around staring at a
candy thermometer, or you can make Really
Simple Syrup by putting equal parts sugar
and water in a jar and shaking it until the
sugar dissolves)
Pour some flaked salt onto one small plate
and a thin layer of lime juice onto another.
Add all ingredients to a large cocktail shaker
with some ice; shake. Dip the rim of each
glass first in the juice and then in the salt,
then pour the Margaritas in the center.
N
AWeekend ofPageantry at Angles Newly Crowned
Miss Gay Oklahoma US ofA Newcomer and Miss
Gay US ofA at Large
By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
Miss Gay US ofA Oklahoma at Large 2009 Lindsay Paige,
winner Bianca LeBlanc, April Reign Miss Gay US ofa A at
Large and 1st alternate Cordillia 3/Ionroe. Gorin photo
OKI~HOMA CITY, OK__ Jack
Calcote, Steve Davis and Nathan Thomas had
a busy weekend as they put on two pageants
back to back Friday June 11 and Saturday
June 12. Angles came back to life as the girls
competed for their titles, retaining the usual
glamour of yesteryear while also reflecting
changes in the field of female impersonation
in Oklahoma.
The trio of Calcote, Davis & N~omas
owns both pageants as well as the Mr[ Gay
Oklahoma US ofA Contest ( men competing
as hot men, not to be confused with Mr. Gay
US ofA MI, which is for male illusion). The
nationwide Gay US ofA system differs from
the Miss Gay America System in that while
that system does not allow surgical alterations
below the neck, the Miss Gay"
US ofA system allows unlimited
alterations except that one must
have male genitalia. The At Large
US ofA system in addition
requires that the contestants
weigh at least 200 pounds.
The weekend marked a
special occasion as the Miss Gay
Oklahoma US ofA Nexvcomer
contest was premiering with
their first pageant. Emceed by
the team of Rache! Erikks( Miss
Gay Oldahoma America 1994
and Miss Gay America 2004)
and Jozlyn Welch ( Miss Gay
Oklahoma US ofA at Large
2008), the winner was Carmen
Deveraux with 1st alternate
Ferrah Mikals. N~ey will both go
to on compete in the national
Miss Gay US ofA Newcomer
Pageant held August 11-13 in Indianapolis.
The following Saturday Lindsay Paige passed
on her title as Miss Gay Oklahoma US ofA
at Large to Bianca LeBlanc, with Cordillia
Monroe as 1st alternate. That festive night was
emceed by the lovely Latina Tillie Laine, who
herselfwas a Miss Gay Oklahoma America in
1983. The winners of that contest will go on
to compete in the national Miss Gay US ofA
at Large Pageant which will also be held also
in Indianapolis October 6-8 of this year.
3-he Mr Gay US ofA Contest will be
held this upcoming August 25 at the Copa.
For information about that contest e-mail
Mr.Calcote at calcojack36@yahoo com.
N
07;0"1.2010
E-.~ail- KylesBrd3@aol.eom
Chuck Breckenridge
Whcthcr buying or sclling
I’lI work hard fi~r you.
Private Me=~s Reso~
597 Magnetic Road
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
www.magneticvalleyresprt.com
info@magneticvalleyresort.com
800-210-8401 479-244-682:1
Abutting Downtown,
::Bars, Clubs, Baseball, BOK Center, Tulsa Gay
Cente,: Affi3rdable Homes amd Aparmaeuts.
For more L.~fo~ation visit:
www.gaybradyheightsmlsa.com
English Garden Paradise with
Private Tree Top Balcony
6365 S. 84th E. Ave., Tulsa
web site with full information
www.Tulsa4Bedroom.com
With outer planets hanging out near the
cusps, Mercury entering Leo and Venus
into Virgo kick off a lot of issues. Being
cute, outspoken and constructively
cdticat (let’s hope!) wilt have broad
ramifications. Modesty, compassion and
forethought are atways good to check
before speaking.
ARIES (Narch 20- Apri~ 19): Playful
banter can help stimulate a better work
environment, but not [oo playful lest
your intentions are misunderstood.
Spontaneous provocation has its place,
but strategic consulting with colleagues
will probably prove more effective.
TAURUS (Apri~ 20 - Nay 20): Your
new playful streak could come off as
critical and bitchy. Sometimes a Bette
Davis impression just can’t make it
right. One should never let go of the
Golden Rule - but’cha are, Blanche!
Well, you easily could. Be extra mindful
and considerate!
GEN~N! {Nay 21- June 20): You have
a lot to say and it feels very important
to you. Your family and boss may
disagree. Look for a new perspective
and tweak your message a bit. Listen
to friends with radical, challenging
suggestions.
CANCER (June 21- July 22): Even if
changing jobs seems risky these days,
con sider taking the chance. Staying
where you are could be worse. Any
current dissatisfaction with your job
invites self-sabotage. Seek advice from
a friend experienced in the work you
want to do.
LEO (Ju~y 23 - August 22): However
you identify with your words, some
separation is good. Your partner can
help open you up to powerful new
ideas. Look past long-held notions to
your most basic values; it’s better to
take in those fresh notion s.
WRGO (August 23 - September 22):
Step out of the social whid for a bit.
Focus on taking care of yourself inside
and out. A new look should honor your
age, not hide it. Knowing your limits can
help you zero in on your strengths.
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22):
Conflicted about social opportunities?
You may be better off in quiet retreat
with fewer, better friends. Favor the
more productive and creative ones.
Save time and energy for your partner,
even if you don’t have one - yet.
SCORPIO (October 23- November
21): Balancing friendly conversations
with the boss, and maintaining
friendships with colleagues, and could
get you a huge promotion. Never forget
where you came from and that going up
the ladder helps you to pull others up
after.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 -
December 20): Showing off newfound
wisdom could quickly force you to admit
to the limits of your recent learning.
Instead, ask thoughtful questions of
a real expert. Don’t be shy! An outr4
creative approach could spark new
directions and insights for both of you.
CAPRICORN (December 21 -
January 19): Sex seems to be shifting
from practice to theory. That’s OK,
especially if you consider deeply what
it’s all about. Old messages on the topic
take sudden relevance. Tapes to erase?
Valuable but forgotten lessons? You
could be surprised.
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February
t8): Your sex life should be picking up
pretty well. What does your partner say
about that? A discussion on the topic is
at least in order. People do change and
grow. Even if everything is hunky-dory,
it’s good to talk.
PISCES (February 19 - March t9):
Being playful is important, but for now
focus more on the actual work and
responsibility of your relationship,
real or hypothetical. When you feel
uncertain and use your partner for
grounding that may be unfair to him or
her.
Community for
People living
with
H V/A DS
50I c (3) Non ! rofit Organization
Our House, Too offers a variety of
activities for people who are HIV+ and
or living with AIDS to hel p combat the
social isolation that many of our
people live through each and everyday.
We provide a Toiletry and Household
Pantry for those who are HIV+
and or living with AIDS who cannot
afford to purchase these items for
themselves. We invite anyone who
would like to volunteer or provide financial
assistance to please contact
us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail
ourhousetoo9865@sbcglobat.net
1!23
14
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39 48
4~ 511
2"1 22
28 129 ! 30
34
4~ 42 43 } 3~
61
63
47
Across Dow~
1 Dumbledore might cast one
Solution page22
07.0t.20t0 @~ 8T~
SuppoR those who suppo~ us. Their ads allow us to distribute your communi~ news FREE to you.
HABANA INN
2200 NW 39TH EXPW
Oklahoma Cit?; OK
405-528-222t
www.habanainn.com
MAGNETIC \(~LEY !?~SORT
597 Magnetic Road
Eureka Springs, AR
800-2 I0-8401
ww~v.magneticvalleyresort.com
ACCO
I~LLY KIRBY, CPA
4815 S. HAR~v~ARD, SUITE 424
Tulsa, OK * 9!8-747-5466
Certified Public Accountant
VALERIE WILLIFORD
625 N.W2 13th Street
Otdahoma CiV, OK
405-226-8585
AUZO
PdiYNOLDS FORD
LanT Bourne & David Stevens
600 *X’: Memorial Rd
Oklahoma CitT; OK
405-639-9940
BAR HELP *IX!ANTED
OKC: %e Copa is
currently seeking a bar
manager ~or ~e Copa and
a bar manager for ~amg!es,
for appointment
[405) 525 0730
ALIBIS
1200 N. PENN
Olda.homa City, OK
405-605-3795
Open daily 3pm
ANGLES
2117 NW 39th St.
Oklahom~ Cit); OK
w~:anglesclub.com
THE LEDO
2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY
Oklahoma City, OK
405-525-0730
wv,~v.habanainn.com
TULSA EAGLE
!338 E. 3RD
Tulsa, OK
918-592-1!88
Open 7days week 2pm to 2am
oa
CHURCH of the OPEN ARMS
3131 N. PENN,
OKC, OK 405-525-9555
Service Sunday 10:45 AM
EXPRESSIONS Fellowship
4010 N Youngs
Oklaboma City, OK
405-761-1878
ww~v.expressionsOKC.com
HOPE TESTING CLINIC
3540 E. 31st
Tulsa, OK
800-535-2437
Oklahomds HIV/STD Hotline
For dvertis[ng
CRISTtE’S TOY BOX
1039 S. Meridian
Oklahoma City; OK 73108
405-948-3333
CRISTIE’S TOY BOX
3126 N. May Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
405-946-4438
PHOTO D
JUDY G. PHOTO’S -
Tulsa, OK
judygphotos@sbcglobaLnet
918-743-8636
OKLAHOlvIA STONEWALL
DEMOCP,ATES
Oldahoma City, OK
w*a~aokstonmvall.org CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE
3627 NW ~RESSVTAY
O~HOMANS for EQUALITY Oklahoma City, OK 73112
621E. 4th Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
918-743-4297
w~vz0keq.org
OUR HOUSE, TOO
203 N. Nogales Ave .................
Tulsa, OK 74127
918-585-9552
405-840-2106
www.c21goldcastle.com
CHUCK BRECENRIDGE
Keller Williams Realty
Tulsa, OK
918-706-188g................
RED ROCK B.H.S.
4400 N. LINCOLN BLVC
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405-425-0473
Toll Free 1-877-339-3330
GUSHER’S RESTAURANT
2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY
Oklahoma Cit).; OK
405-525-0730
Located inside Habana Inn
SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC
2902 E. 20TH STREET,
Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480
Service Sunday 6pm
BAMBOO LOUNGE
7204 E. PINE
Tulsa, OK
918-836-8700
wwwv;bambooloungetulsa.com
THE END UP
5336 E. ADMIRAL PLACE
Tulsa, OK
918-836-0915
Open 7 days a week 2pm to 2am
FINISHLINE
2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY
Oklahoma Ci9; OK
405-525-2900 ’
w~,v;habanainn.com
THE COPA
2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSVgAY
OkJahoma City, OK
405-525-0730
wv~*~:habanainn.com
E L
T A
T
A N
o
L R
¢ D
~’m p~oud of the
Stonewall Democrats on my 234th Birthday!
"We are at a moment now when liberalism is poised to have
its biggest impact since Roosevelt, because the conservative
movement has been thoroughly repudiated through reality."
"What mailers, as always, is not what we can’t do,
~ it,s what we can and must do."
Stonewall Democrats is a recognized group of the
Oklahoma and national Democratic Par~.
Working to educate voters and politicians about issues of the
comr~uni~y, we are working to make change and shape
NEXT MEETING iS TUESDAY JULY 6, 7:00 We meet the 7st Tuesday ofevery month at the
k~OMA STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY kIEADQUART
Dublin Core
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Title
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[2010] Metro Star Magazine, July 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 7
Date
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July 01, 2010
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics
Description
An account of the resource
The Metro Star’s first issue began in August of 2008. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004), The Ozark’s Star (2004), and The Star (2005).
This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit.
This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Creator
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Star Media, Ltd
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Star Media, Ltd
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James Nimmo
Victor Gorin
Rex Wockner
Michael W. Sasser
Robin Dorner-Townsend
Judy Gabbard
Romeo San Vincente
Andrew Collins
Jack Fertig
Lisa Keen
Ed Silkow
Keith Orr
Chris Azzopardi
Victor Gorin
Judy G.
Format
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English
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,agzine
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Southwest Missouri
West Arkansas
Southeast Kansas
Eastern Oklahoma
The United States of America (50 states)
Source
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19
Relation
A related resource
The Metro Star Magazine, June 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 6
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/192
The Metro Star Magazine, September 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 9
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/197
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/191
Adopt
Anastasia Pittmam-Oklahoma House of Representatives
Bitter Girl
Brad Henry-Board of Regents
Cimarron Alliance
cocktailchatter
Creep of the Month
deadCENTER
Domestic Abuse
Don't Shop
Family Research Council
First Thursday Art Exhibit
Fitness-Sun Tzu
funnies
Gay marriage
General Election
Jeff Tracey-District 71
Kyle's Bed and Breakfast
Memoirs of Dmentia
Metro scene
Miss Gay Oklahoma
Miss Gay US of A
Movies
Nightclubs and Bars
non-discrimination-orientation
Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association (OGRA)
Our House
Pride Month
QPuzzle
Qscopes
Sean Hayes
Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)
Supreme Court
Tom Guild-Congress
Tom Kovach
Too
travel
Tulsa Pride
US Census
Voter Registration
-
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/c7641729331198cf80878d1d621281e2.jpg
216b9c8ff0503606252ceeef63779479
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/b310cde7c20101c7d372a18f34483f0e.pdf
c52538920077b3300b717fc407c32658
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[Series] Newsletters & Publications > Ozarks Pride, Ozarks Star, Star, Metro Star Newspapers, 2004-2011
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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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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
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https://history.okeq.org/items/browse?collection=19&page=1
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THE PREMIER SOURCE FOR GLBT OKLAHOMA
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 4 Twi~er.com/MetroStarNews
to exempt Oklahoma
Ha e Cr mes Law protecting GLBTs
State Senate
It is very sad that any lawmaker in Oklahoma would introduce legislation that would
force Oklahoma law enforcement officials to violate ground brealdng Federal law that
would extend legal protections to LGBT Oklahomans who may become victims of
violence motivated by bigotry." Statement by State Senator Andrew Rice who was
one of the 6 Senators who voted no.
By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ SB 1965,
introduced by State Senator Steven Russell
( Republican-District 45) deals mainly with
the Fede~aI Hate Crimes expansion signed
into law by President Obama in October
22,2009, which added Federal Hates
crimes protection to include gender, sexual
oriei~tation, gender identity and disability in
addition to the already covered categories of
agencies from sharing evidence or providing
assistance ro Federal authorities if they are
im~esrigating a hate crime in Oklahoma. It
has passed the State Senate 39-6.
Oklahoma Hate Crimes laws (Section 850
Title 21) cover race, color, tel igion, gender,
disability, familial status and national origin.
As sexual orientation and gender identity are
not covered, hate crimes against GLBTs in the
state of Oklahoma could not be prosecuted as
such under state law, yet such a crime could
be punished as a hate crime under Federal
[axe; which passage of SB 1965 would attempt
m change. However Constitutionally Federal
Law supercedes state law.
As Tamya Cox of Oldaboma’s ACLU puts
it, "For example, if a bloody baseball bat was
used in an Oklahoma hate crime against a
gay person and it was held by state authorities
who are most likely to be first on the scene,
if this bill becomes law it could not be
given to Federal authorities as evidence for
prosecution." Since Oklahoma State Hate
Crimes laws don’t covering GLBTs, SB 1965
would make it virtually impossible for hate
crimes against GLBTs in Oklahoma to be
successftdiv prosecuted as hate crimes.
Scott J. Hamilton. Executive Director
of the Cimarron Alliance stated, "\g)~e are
appalled that the Oklahoma Senate would
pass legislation that, in effect, green lights
violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgendered citizens in this state. Not only
is it unconstitutional, it is unconscionable.
In the meantime our state vdll spend without
limit to defend this in court. Oklahoma is
in the midst of a budget crisis of historic
proportions. I find it hard to believe that
bigotry is so pervasive in our state that our
policymakers would rather pass hate filled
legislation than addressing failing schools and
reductions in services for seniors."
........Continued See BILL 1965 Page-5
T lsa M tary Veteran
Kelly rbv honored
by O ahomans for
By Michael xYZ Sasser
TULSA, OK Oklahomans for Equality
(OkEq) is set to h--~nor Tulsa accountant Kelly
~rby with a Lifetime Achievement Award on
April 24 at their 30th Anniversary Equality
Gala.
"I have to say that at 56 years old the
word ’lifetime’ is a little daunting," says the
aftable longtime activist.
Kirby is being honored for 20 years of
major activism for the Oklahoma GLBT
community.
"I appreciate the fact that they are
recognizin,g my accomplishments," Kirby
says. I think what I have done is important
and I would have done it without aW
recognition of it."
Kelly WKirby 1974 at age 20, United States
Air Force, honorguard dress uniform.
® MetroStarNews.com APRIL 1,2010
Pau Robert ompsor
A lifetime ofservice-forever a
By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
(1939-2010)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Among
Oklahomans who take an interest in equality
and justice there are very fe~v who didn’t
know about Paul Thompson, and many
knew him xvell as he -worked hard to make
Oklahoma better until his life ended. At least
2 generations ofactivists worked beside him,
enduring the heartbreak ofsetbacks and the
joys ofvictories as history marched on. His
energy was tireless, chairing meetings, working
with bureaucracies, organizing events, making
speeches, doing mailings, and on and
gacy
on. Although he had his own
business, PRT Designs (interior
decorating), his true passion
was working with people for
justice. He was well known
for his outspoken pride clearly
shown by his trademark outfits,
which included xvearing a
different rainbow color with
matching socks every day. He
co-chaired the Oklahoma Gay
and Lesbian Political Caucus
from 1992 until 2010, and was
active for many years with the
Oklahoma Democratic Party.
He also played a significant
role in organizing Oklahoma
City’s first Pride Parade in 1988,
a true ~ilestone not only for
Oklahoma City but rather the
entire GLBT community of
Oklahoma.
That event was a major
turning point in Oklahoma,
with the KKK waiting in the Safexvay (now
Homeland) parking tot on N.-W. 39th Street
to stop the "queer parade." But that event had
a happy ending as fellow activist Jim Ninamo
put xt, "When they saw how many participants
were marching, they tucked their tails and left."
The rest was history, with that proud tradition
continuing today. Paul served as the Male Co-
Chair for the OKC Pride Parade and Festival
for many years until 2009, when he was given a
Chairmanship Emeritus Award for his service.
........Continued See THOMPSON Page-4
For more than two decades, Kirby has been a
visible activist for GLBT issues with an emphasis
on marriage equality and for gay
and lesbian service members. It
hasn’t always been an easy role to
play.
On \Vorld A~DS Day in 1991,
Kirby participated in a smal!
demonstration in Tulsa on a wet,
rainy night. Unbeknownst to him,
his photo was taken and the next
day appeared in a newspaper.
"1 lost a relationship
that had been long
term when he was
discharged from the
Air Force for being
gay," Kirby says.
"I got a phone call from my biggest client the
next da)~" Kirby remembers. "q-he mvner of the
company asked me ifI had the opportunity to
make a statement for my cause, if I would do it. I
hadn’t really thought about it until then, but I said
that yes, I probably would. An hour later, I was
fired and lost two-thirds ofmy business. I basically
had to start over from scratch building my business.
I guess that was my activist wake-up call."
_*Kirby said that "he hasn’t shut up"" since then,
giving well over 100 interviews and malting
sure his clients know he might end up in the
media.
"A lot of people in Tulsa
feel that they can’t speak
up because of family or
community or work," Kirby
says. "I had to get past that."
Still Kirby said he
believes different people
should be featured by
media as representative of the state GLBT
community.
........Continued See KIRBY Page-7
Cimarron Alliance Moves Forward with new- O ces
and a Dynamic Director
By Victor Gorin
Contributing writer
Margaret Cox proudly cutting the ribbon held by the new Executive Director Scott J. Hamilton, with
Lisa Ptsiri of the Oldahoma City Chamber of Commerce looking on. Gorin photo
OKLM-IOMA CITY, OK__ Cimarron
Alliance Group was formed in 1995 as a
political action committee (PAC) focused
on equality for the GLBT community in
Oldaho,na. Although other groups existed at
that time, anaong them the Oldahoma Gay
and Lesbian Political Caucus, the Mliance
was a venture of successful business people
and professionals who would be able to
give serious financial backing to deserving
candidates seeking public office as well as
put on events for the GLBT community.
First chaired by the late Bill Rogers, the
organization became a major force for the
GLBT community and the Oldalxoma
political landscape.
In 1997 the Cimarron Alliance
Foundation was formed as a 501(c)(3)
organization, a nonprofit status which enables
an organization to, among other things,
accept contributions which are tax deductible
to the giver. While this type of organization
is prohibited fi’om most political activity,
including contributing to or promoting
candidates or political parties, the CAF was
focused on educational issues facing the
GLBT community, informing not only them
but also straights as well.
In this endeavor they have held events
such as their annual Leadership Summit,
which is a convention of leadership from all
GLBT groups. They made history in 2001
when their Gay Pride banners for Oklalmma
City light poles were oMered taken down
by then Mayor Kirk Humphreys. They took
the city 1:o Federal court and on September
13,2002 Judge Robin Cauthron ruled
that the banners were protected by Federal
free speech rights mandated by the U.S.
Constitution. Redesigned in 1997, the Pride
banners still fly on special occasions.
Now as we face a new decade with pride
facing prejudice, especially with opposition
to GLBT equality clearly shown to be alive
and kicking in Oldahoma, Cimarron is
facing challenge as they undergo change. For
the first time they have an office, !ocated at
729 N.gi. 17th Street in OHahoma City.
Likewise they now have their first fulltirne
Executive Director Scott J. Hamilton, a
native Otdahoman. A~er many years in New
York City with many ventures he has returned
home to fight for equality. Born inI960 in
south Oklalmma City, he graduated as a
valedictorian of Capitol Hill High School in
1978. He later graduated from OU with a
Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, and his first
job was being a promoter for the Oldahoma
Opry, an Oldahoma City venue for country
and western musicians. He later took a far
better paying position with an oil company
but lost that job during the oil bust of
1983, actually driving to the unemployment
office in a Mercedes. What followed was a
variety of ventures to pay the bills, ranging
from teaching junior high school chorus to
painting garage doors to makJng doughnuts,
among other endeavors. Finally he flew to
New York City (the Mercedes long gone)
with 3 suitcases and $200 to meet a friend
awaiting he could stay vdth. Doing writing
and consulting for an import/export business,
he moved on to success with the advertising
agency Charron, Schwartz and Partners.
Walking through the subway one fateful
day beneath Grand Central Station he saw
Wayne Johnson, a gentleman that would
prove to be a soulmate. As the relationship
came together, Scott came out at work
(no problem) and they legally married in
Connecticut.
Following this, he got involved working
with nonprofit organizations. Finding himself
laid off, he began checking around for other
....... Continued See ClMARRON Page 5
2 April 1, 2010
is T.E.N?
By Robin D-Townsend
Contributing Writer
7he Equalily Network, or TEN. is comprised of
three organizational entities: TENPAC, TEN,
and TENInstitute. Pictured above is Laura
Belmonte. an activist who is also i4ce President
and Co-Founder ofTEN. Townsendphoto
TULSA. OK TEN, or "The Equality
Network" is a non-partisan statewide
organization working to achieve equality
and secure legal protection for tesbian.
ga)~ bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
Oklahomans through advocacy, coalition
building and individual empowerment in the
political process. Founded in 2009. TEN is
comprised of three organizational entities:
TEN PAC, TEN, and TEN Institute.
"Over the last decade or so that I’ve
worked for LGBT equalityin Oklahoma
I’ve become increasingly impressed with the
amazing progress statewide LGBT advocacy
groups are having elsewhere," said Laura
Belmonte, Vice President and Co-Founder of
TEN. "Last year a number of positive forces
converged and we concluded that the timing
xvas right to implement a three-pronged
strategy of ’educate, advocate, elect.’"
Belrnonte also has a PhD amd is currently
Director ofAmerican Studies and associate
professor ofArnerican History at Oklahoma
State University.
"The launching ofTEN is the fulfilhnent
of a personal dream and I feel very fortunate
ro have the opportunity to work ~vith such
a committed and talented group of people,"
adds Belmonte. "Each day, we are hearing
from people all over the state - most in places
where there is no organized effort for LGBT
equality - and we are quite encouraged by
the alliances that are developing. With time,
effort, and a lot of help we think that TEN
can help make some positive changes for
LGBT Oklahomans."
TEN is affiliated with the Equality
Federation (vrww.equalityfederation.org),
the national alliance of state-based LGBT
advocacy organizations. Collectively these
state groups have compiled a remarkable
string of pro-equality victories on a range of
issues including workplace fairness, antibullying
and relationship recognition. Even a
small group ofw!!l-prepared constituents can
make a powerful impression on a legislator.
Legislators need to hear from people who
support LGBT equality all the time, not only
at times when the LGBT community is being
targeted.
"The board combines people with
professional and non-professional experience
in lobbying and advocacy at the state and
local levels on causes as varied as LGBT
rights, animal protection, HIV/A.IDS,
economic injustice, and gender equality," adds
Belmonte. "This wilt be a continua!, longterm
effort. It is going to take time and effort
to move Oklalaoma toward more inclusive
~nd just public policies for LGBT people."
For more information you may contact
Belmonte at lbelmonte@theequalitynetwork.
org or 918.906.2134. Our web site is ~wcw.
theequalitynetwork.org. You can also find
TEN on Facebook and Twitter (follow
TENEquality).
Openly Gay Norman
City Councilman wins
re-election but now is
running for State House
NORMAN, OK (PR) __ When Tom
Kovach was first elected to the Norman City
Council in 2008, he wasn’t the first openly
gay person to do so. That milestone was
achieved by David Ray in 2002, but Tom did
have the distinction of being the second, and
of being re-elected unopposed this year. He
represents Ward 2.
However, as State Representative Bil!
Nations of District 44 is leaving office due to
term limits, Tom Kovach has announced he
is running for that office as a Democrat, His
stated reasoning, " Sometimes government
produces ideas that in the light of day lack
common sense. I have always been willing to
speak out on those occasions as the voice of
the people, and I remains so."
"Throughout my years in Norman I
have worked with people from all walks
of life, helping them find solutions to the
problems they faced. I have done so as a
union leader, a smal! business owner and now
as a local business executive. I accomplished
these things through honesty, respectful
communication and a willingness to hear
all sides of an issue, the same qualities that
will mark my service as your next state
representative."
He has lived in the district more than 40
years, graduating from OU with a degree in
Letters. He currently works as a Customer
Service Manager for Astromomics, a leading
U.S. dealer and producer of quality optics.
He and his partner Will Weir are active in
many social service agencies in the Norman
area, and look forward to doing more for their
fellow Oklahomans.
A Toast to Life
It’s time to Paint the Town Robert!
By Robin D-Townsend
Contributing W-riter
Other Options andFriends Food Pantry board
president, Robert Painter tu,ws 40 in Apriland
isplanninga huge_f!~ndraising eventfor t,§e
organization to celebrate the occasion. Townsend
photo
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK It’s a birthday
bash like none other. Turning 40 is Robert
Painter, famous for his ’best little tact stand
down by the tracks,’ (a.k.a., ~lhe Iguana
Mexican Grill). Painter is also the board
president of Other Options, Inc (OOI) and
has chosen to celebrate ’the big 4-0’ in a very
unique way.
"Our Toast to Life event is the signature
fundraiser for Other Options and it is
held annually in April?said Painter. ~Ttpril
also happens to be the same month as my
birthday. I really w~tnted to take advantage
of the name Ihave made for myself to help
an or,ga,~)ization who has done so much for
people.’
Painter became acquainted with OOI
when his dear friend, Tim Wade ~vas
diagnosed with HIV. The only place he could
find immediate help at no cost in Oklahoma
City was at Other Options. This is where
Painter met Mary Arbuclde, Executive
Director ofOOI and Friends Food Pantry.
Wade found assistance with medication, food
and other support services at OOI. Sadly,
Wade passed away in 2009 but Painter has
kep,t, his memory alive by giving back.
The bigge,,st thing we [O~I] need is our
own building, adds Painter. That is why our
goal is $40,000 for this event and
I think we can do it." Forty seems to be the
magic number.
Since 1989 Other Options in Oklahoma
City has provided professional, consistent
services to people who are HIV positive and
disabled individuals, focusing on the impact
HIV/AIDS has had in the lives of those they
serve. The mission of Other Options is to
create a better understanding of HIV/AIDS,
provide training, guidance and provide
educational directories that link the affected
community to services.
The venue will include live music,
various artists and entertainers, dancing, and
deadCenter will be showing films on the big
screen, there will be a fashion show and a
silent auction will be held. Another unique
part of this event will be the art gallery
featuring Oklahoma City artists Debbie
Curtis, Joe Slack, Ben Potter, Brent Weber
and Bryan Boone. Other surprises are also in
store.
~Toast to Life; Paint the Town Robert,’
vdtl be held on April 10th at 7:40pm at 25
NW 9th (just \grest ofNae Iguana). Tickets
for the event are $40 and will include food,
drink, entertainment and parldng. For tickets
or to make a donation please call (405) 605-
8020. Reserve tickets are requested; the event
is free to clients of Other Options.
1st Annual Tulsa
Violence Symposium
In Memory of
Joseph Walker-Hoover Jaheem Herrera
TULSA, OK (PR) April 16, 2010
hosted by Youth Services ofTulsa. Nae event
will take place at Langston University Tulsa
starting at 9AM. Registration to attend this
event is not necessary.
The event will address national and local
concerns about the growing problems of
student-on-student abuse in our communities
- Bullying, Dating Violence/Date Rape, and
Domestic Violence.
Ifyou would like to schedule a booth for
your organization, please contact Michael
Merryman at 918.382-4429, or email to
mmerryman@yst.org.
’uPtcv - Civil Rights *Criminal
ment Family Law - Litigation
625 N.W. t S.th Street
a City, OK
www.metrostarnews.com [vIETROSTAR 3
Dear Editor, from hatred and discrimination? X~y is Sen.
I wanted to share the letter
Congresswoman Mary Fallin sent to me in
response to my letter regarding EDNA and
The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill and
the reaction of the Oldahoma Legislature.
Russell afraid of gay/lesbian equality under
the law?
Senator Russell just can’t stop fighting
wars and looking for enemies. He should reenlist
and put his life back on the line, for his
country of course.
Kendell Powers
Oklahoma Civ/
James Nimmo
Oklahoma City, OK
March 8, 2010 Dear Editor,
Mr. Kendel Powers
600 Northwest 23rd Street, Suite 101
Oklahoma City, OK 73103-1464
Dear Mr. Powers:
that still mean something to the people of
Oklahoma, the law is so vaguely defined and
so unenforceable that it seems to be more of a
handout to trial lavo,ers than anything else.
As your Representative, I stand for
religious liberty and people of all faiths
and oppose a convoluted, vaguely defined
and unenforceable set of new regulations
governing personal behavior and hiring
practices. Thank you again for taking the
time to share your ideas and concerns. As
the 11 lth Congress addresses the man),
challenges facing our nation, I hope you will
continue to share your thoughts and vie,vs
with me. However, due to increased security
measures, mail delivery may be delayed for up
to two weeks. Accordingly, I encourage you
to visit my website at ,aw~v.fallin.house.gov
to contact me via email in the future. While
visiting my site you may also sign up for my
e-newsletter as well as find usefu! information
about the 11 lth Congress.
Sincerely
Mary Fallin
Member of Congress
Dear Editor,
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ Hunting
season is on for gays and lesbians as long as
the Oklahoma Legislature is in session. If
the rednecks don’t get us the suit-and-tie boys
will.
Not content with passing SQ 71 ! in
2004 making marriage only bet~veen one
man and one woman as many times as they
like, the Senate has just passed 39-6 a bill
(SB1965) to opt out of the recentl~ passed
federal Shepard/Byrd Hate Crime~ I[aw.
~e bill nmv goes to the House side of the
Capitol.
Senate Bill 1965 seems optimistically
numbered in that I’m sure Sen. Russell,
the sponsor, and 38 of his colleagues on
both sides of the aisle would like to return
to the year 1965 ifno~ earlier, when gays
and lesbians knew that our place was not
alongside other Americans but rather in the
closet of narrow, scared shadows with the
door hinges well rusted. ~e voting record is
located here: http://tinyurl.com/ycgog86
It’s odd that many of these legislators
weren’t even born then or were very young.
Where did they learn such animosity towards
strangers that never did them any harm?
Surely not in their church pews or at their
dinner tables, do you think?
After all, African-Americans had just
achieved a legal victory in 1965 with the
’passage of the Civil Rights and Voting Acts
for which white bigots thought the sky would
fall in. The sky did not fal! in and it won’t
fall in when gays and lesbians achieve our
social and legal victory over the bigots of
Oldahoma. 2q~e only thing lost will be the
legal right bigots so jealously retain to impose
their ignorance over the rest of us.
According to Sen. Russell’s legislative
webpage he has a serious military record
and several medals. If medals are a mark
of bravery why is Sen. Russell so afraid of
gays and lesbians that he sponsors bills that
remove them from the protection of the law
and maintain their second-class status as
taxpayers--second-class in that gay/lesbian
money is ACcepted for payment of taxes yet
we are EXcepted when it comes to protection
Thank you for taking the time to
contact me about the Employment Non-
Discrimination Act. Understanding your
ideas and concerns is important to me, as it
helps me to better represent you and the Fifth
District of Oklahoma.
The Employment Non-Discrimination
Act, or ENDA, would extend existing
provisions of Federal law to prohibit
employment discrimination on the basis of
"actual or perceived" sexual orientation. The
bill expands civil rights protections on the
vague basis of perception, requiring courts to
determine an employer’s thoughts when an
employment action is taken. Currently Title
\HI prohibits workplace harassment that is
based on race, color, religion, sex, or national
origin.
This legislation is anotber example of
political correctness gone wrong. This bill
is constitutionally questionable, weakens
both state and federal marriage laws, and
creates a legal trap for businesses, schools,
and people of faith. I have long opposed the
government’s creeping assault on the faithbased
values our country was founded on, the
flaws in this bill are numerous and obvious.
ENDA is inconsistent with the rights
guaranteed by the Religious Freedom
Restoration Act (PdaRA), which prohibits
the Federal Government from substantially
burdening the free exercise of religion. It
nullifies the rights of some religious schools
which, although not "controlled, managed
or owned by a specific religion," may still
consider religious faith and traditional
moral values to be an essential part of their
curriculum. This opens some of Oldahomds
most successful faith-based institutions to
unconstitutional government involvement
and supervision. Without a blanket
exemption for all religious educational
institutions, nondenominational religious
schools will be forced to operate under
government review of curriculum and
constant fear of litigation.
The.proposed legislation makes a
protected class based on sexual behavim;
which will jeopardize our constitutional
rights to freedom of speech and religious
expression. ENDA is a direct attack on
individual religious freedoms and creares a
lega! tightrope for employers over which law
to follow and violate. Employers with rnoral
or religious beliefs opposed to homosexualiV
will be forced to lay down their rights and
convictions at the door, creating a hostile
work environment. In addition to ENDA’s
blatant disregard for traditional values, values
Hawaii’s Garden Isle: Kauai, In terms
of scenery, the one Hawaiian island that
comes closest to living up to the expectations
of many first-time visitors is Kauai, a
comparatively small but magnificently lush
isle of rain forests, towering seaside cliffs and
seduded beaches. Sumptuous full-service
resorts to quaint B&B’s. A list of where
to stay and things to do now online in our
Travel Section @ www.MetroStarNews.com
TULSA, OK__ Senate Bil! 1965 has to be
defeated. This bill would restrict Oklahoma
law enforcement from complying with the
federal justice department during a hate biased
crime investigation.
The bill’s author, State Senator Steven
Russell, has suggested the Federal Hate Crimes
Prevention Act would restrict free speech (aka
ministers preaching against homosexuality).
So the Oklahoma Senate has refused to
hear bills that would assist victims ofliate
biased crimes but have tentatively approved
another bill that would remove any hope of
justice for LGBT victims ofviolence.
This is unacceptable and I strongly urge
everyone to contact their State Senator and
challenge them to not approve Senate Bill 1965
on it’s final hearing.
Visit this website and find out how to reach
your senator.
http:llwww.facebook.comll195662;www.
oksenate.gov/Senators/maps.htm
TobyJenkins
President,
Oklahomans for Equality
Tulsa; OK .......... ......... : ...... ........
Metro Star Travel
Column Now Online
Kauai’sfamedNa Pali Coast, with its 4, 000-
foot cli~ rMng big,§ above the sea. Photo by
Andrew Collins
He was born in Oklahoma City on
November 19, 1939. AaCter growing up there
and graduating from Central High School
he worked maW jobs before creating PRT
Designs, His road to activism began when he
was arrested after leaving a gay bar over 40
years ago on bogus charges of lewd conduct.
Unlike almost any of his peers, he fought
the charge and won. He continued to fight
injustice wherever he saw it. In addition to
activism in the gay community he also helped
African Americans, serving on the board of
the Oklahoma City NAACP for over 15 ),ears
as well.
A memorialput up on the Nix/2. 39th Street Strip
Median at N.14z. 39th andPennsylvania by
NathanidBatchelder qfthe Peace House
Paul passed away March 8 at Baptist
Integris Medical Center due to a stroke and
subsequent heart failure. A memorial service
was held for him at the 1st Unitarian Church
March 14. Speakers included Laura Rhoads,
who knew him as "Unde Paul" when he
was her childhood friend, as well as former
Oklahoma Commissioner Jim Roth.
Followed by a potluck supper a multitude
of his friends and fellow activists shared
memories, lamented how far he’d brought us,
and how to make his legacy live on.
No ma#er who yot
are on life’s journ~
3131 ,R. Pennsylvania,Oklaho 405.525.9555
4 tsv{~£T~qOSTAR April 1,2010
jobs in a nationwide search. By chance he
found an executivedirector’s position open
with Cimarron Alliance and his first thought
was,, A gay organization in Oklahoma CitT,
how is that possible?"
He applied for the position and got it.
With the encouragement of his partner
’,Wayne (still in New York but who will join
him later) he has plans for a new direction fi~r
himself and for Cimarron. One of his major
concerns, as it is for all nonprofits, is how to
achieve objectives or even survive in this type
of economy. His answer, "You keep going
because the needs do not abate just because
money is tight. If you believe in social jnstice,
that doesn’t stop until there is justice. "
He has been pleasantly surprised at the
financial contributions people have made
recently to the organization, and those
volunteering their time and talents as well.
He also realizes that for a long time there was
a perception that Cimarron is an organization
primarily focused as being an elite group of
white,~ wealthy, handsome gay men. When it
was formed in 1995 a membership cost $250.
Today there are no dues to join the
organization, and the Cimarron Alliance PAC
no longer exists. Currently the Foundation
hosts an annual Stop Hate in the Hallways
summit, which has been a major factor for
school systems in Oldahoma considering
or implementing anti-bullying policies that
protect students who are GLBT or perceived
to be from harassment, q-he main objective
now is more outreach.
As Scott stated, " One of my goals for "
this year, besides raising enough money to
pay the bills, is to demonstrate with sincerity
and conviction that this is an organization
that is approachable and dedicated to serving
everyone in the community."
Beginning in April Cimarron Alliance
Foundation will begin a "411 Series" ofg0
minute presentations on various aspects of
problems facing the GLBT community.
Topics covered could include living with
a partner who is an addict, tax problems,
domestic violence, health issues, inheritance
laws, situations usually faced by people in
general with unique aspects for GLBTs.
How does it feel to be directing an
organization like Cimarron in the reddest
state in the country? Scott feels encouraged
stating, " ~ have found pockets of folks who
are progressive in their thinking, deeply
committed to social justice in a personal way.
W~ile this is m~ incredibly red state I think
there’s hope because I see work being done,
quietly moving forward. That lets me kmow
justice is not an insurmountable problem."
~fhere will be monthly meetings at the
office, encouraging networking with officers
from other GLBT organizations. ~Ihey will
happen at 5:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of every
month. Now located at 729 N.W. 17th
Street in Oklahoma City, they can be reached
e-mail at info@CimarronAlliance.org or by phone (405) 495 9300. Their website
warw.cimarronalliance.org
tn addition to the obvious intention to
deny protection to GLBT Oklahomans,
Senator l~dce pointed out that the bill, ,-is it
was written, likewise prohibits Oklahoma
law enforcement from providing evidence to
Federal authorities investigating any category
of hate crime committed in Oklahoma,
including those committed due to the victings
race or religion as well as all categories
covered by Federal law. As of press time, the
bill was headed to the Oldahoma State House
of Representatives, but may undergo changes
before it is voted on there. Senator Rice
stated that he hopes the bill is stopped in the
House or vetoed by the Governor. Pat Sund,
a spokeman for Governor Henry, said the
governor is watching the bill but has not yet
made a decision as to whether he will sign it.
Memori , David
Osthoff
OKI~AHOMA CITY, OK __ David
Henry Osthoff lost his battle with an
extended illness ~aursda~; February 25, 2010,
in Oldahoma City. He was born September
26, 1953, in Hopewell, Virginia to Charline
Ehrlich.
David had several jobs through the years,
but will mainly be remembered as a server at
Gusher’s Restaurant for many years before
returning to Cookson, OK to care for his
mother. He enjoyed reading, gardening and
playing pool in the Family Pool League.
David was a very caring and
compassionate person. He never judged
people, never met a stranger and never forgot
anyone’s birthday or anniversary.
He was preceded in death by his loving
mother and father Charline and Billie Ballew.
He is survived by two brothers and a sister;
six nieces and nephews, and many close
friends. Special thanks to the staff at North
Winds Living Center in .O,KC.
A celebration of David s life is planned for
Sunday; April 18th in The Finishline located
inside The Habana Inn at 4:30 p.m.
Londerm D, Raine
captures the title
ofMiss Gay Lawton
By Victor Gorin
Contributing Writer
~nner Londenn Raine with ~l[ie Laine, Miss
Gay Lawton 1982 andMiss Gay Oklahoma
1983. Gorin photo
OKd_AHOi~cb~ CITY, OK__ It was a
glamorous nigl~t at Angles March 5 when
the Londenne Raine was crowned the new
Miss Gay Lawton 2010, with 1st alternate
A_lanna Paige. As a preliminary to the Miss
Gay Oklahoma Pageant, they wil! go on to
compete in that event. Also performing at the
occasion was our current Miss Gay Oklahoma
Shantell Mandelay.
Miss G~ Lawton is one of the longest
running preliminary competitions to Miss
Gay Oklahoma, which began in 1978. Now
29 years young, the first Miss Gay Lawton
was Lady Paris in 1981.5 winners of this
pageant have gone on to win the title mCMiss
Gay Oklahoma, and one (.Jacqulyn DeVaroe)
has won the title of Miss Gay America. The
current promoter is Aubrey Stone, who is
Miss Gay Lawton of 2004.
Eureka Springs Diversity
2010: THE GAYLIEN
EKEND
EUREKA SPRINGS, AR (PR) __ Eureka,
the little city in the hills of the Arkansas .
Ozarks that has become the pride of diversity,
is gearing up for 2010. Spring Diversity will
be held on April 9 -11. The same weekend
as the annual U~EO. Conference. You’re
invited to come join the Gaylien invasion of
NOT just a few city blocks, NOT just a small
handful of business, but one entire city.
What’s to do? Say "I DO" and register
your love with a Domestic Partner Certificate.
The Courthouse is closed Saturday and
Sunday so come early Friday or hangover till
Monday. Tnere are over 150 unique shops
and galleries to browse or max out your credit
card.
To start your weekend drop by the Pizza
Bar. The Pizza Sluts will host their third
Diversity X~¢elcome Mixer there at 13 N.
Main, on Friday, 6-8 PM. You can pickup
a complete schedule of Diversity Weekend
For more information visit wvc~v.
eurekapride.com or diversitTpride.com
Art Opening and Exhibit
ofOriginal Works by ’
Dennis R. Scott..
TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Apri! exhibit at
the Dennis tL Neill Equality Center Gallery
will feature works by Dennis 1L Scott. If
there were a simple way to describe his art,
it would be called "accidental art" since art
is the accident of discovery - the unexpected
result of the meandering mind. Dennis Scott,
a retired English teacher, resides in Tulsa,
Oklahoma.
He is ~ writer, lyricist, poet, craftsman,
and artist. He has previously exhibited and
sold his art at Utica Arts in The Square
Show, Blue Dome Festival, Dennis R. Neill°
Equality Center Gallery, River Walk Arts
Festival, Cherry Street Arts Festival, Brook
Arts Festival and the Parsons, Kansas Art
Walk. His art has been sold to clients as far
away as Florence, Italy. Dennis Scott has been
creating in the medium of digital "art" for the
last six years. His work is unlike typical digital
or computer art because his art depicts his
own way of seeing life and interpreting what
he sees. One could easily peg Dennis Scott’s
art abstract, impressionistic, or surreal but
categories are of little concern to him.
The art exhibit at the Dennis R. O’Neil
Equality Center Gallery in April titled "Les
Belles Dames Nues" (Lovely Nal(ed Ladies)
,vill feature over 65 nude prints of Dennis
Scott’s art with over 40 of the works never
having been printed before. Dennis Scott’s
nude art is tasteful, yet evocative. Please join
us to visit with Dennis Scott at the Opening
Night Reception on Tnursday, April 1, from
6 to 9pro. Refreshments will be served.
Dennis’s art will be on display throughout
April.
Free help
www.rnetrostarnews.com ~1ET}~OSTAR 5
Supplements
By Ronald Blake
Contributing writer
Haotv: Ronald Blake, Cerdfied Fitness
Instructor throz<gh ISSA International Sports
. SciencesAssociadon
My best fi’iend said I should do it. My
brother said t should definitely do it. My
co-worker said I don’t need to do it. My
neighbor has never done it. Everyone has an
opinion on taking supplements for health and
well being. Should you do it? I have an easy
but nebulous answer: I don’t knovd Let me
gather some information from you.
If you have a food allergy then you
might want to consider taking supplements.
Someone lactose intolerant will not drink
milk or eat dairy products. This aversion
to Betsy the Cow could cause a deficiency
in calcium. Someone with a gluten allergy
might miss out on the benefits of thiamine
and riboflavin. This too could require
supplementation.
Ifyou are very athletic and push
your body to the outer limits of sanity
then you’re a likely candidate for extra
nutrition. This would certainly include
triathaletes, marathoners, or bodybuilders.
A 40 hour work week, intense training, and
housecleaning when you get home might
lead to insipid intercourse intertwined
with irascibility in the evening. That isn’t
fun! These uber athletes should strongly
consider supplementation to get those needed
nutrients that lead to late-day copacetic
copulation.
If the ornitho!ogy creatures gathered at
your birdfeeder are eating more than you
then it might be time to purchase meal or
drink supplements. It isn’t safe to take in less
than 1000 calories per day and it can zap
your energy xvhile depleting valuable mineral
reserves like iron from your body. Consult the
family doctor or a nutritionist for suggestions
on getting what your body needs to function
properly.
If you drink like Karen Walker, Captain
Jack Sparrmv, or Mayberry’s Otis Campbell
then you are an excellent candidate for
supplemental drinks or shakes. Alcohol can
adversely affect the body’s absorption and
metabolism of nutrients. Excessive alcohol
ravages the liver and pancreas too. This al!
means that the body doesn’t get the nutrients
it really needs.
tfyou take a blow torch to all your foods
and frequendy use adjectives such as charred,
burnt, crispy, or well done to describe your
meal it is a good bet that supplements on
a store shelf have your name on them.
Overcooking foods usually destroys B-group,
C, and E vitamins. Boiling vegetables can also
denude beneficial vitamins and minerals and
le,ave you needing rnore nutritional assistance.
Light steaming of vegetables can keep the
good stuffin and taste just as good.
Dieting can cause a need for supplements
too. Many dieters are now eliminating entire
food groups fi’om their plates. That means
these folks aren’t getting important vitamins
and minerals that would normally come
from these food groups. Eliminating all
carbs, all fat, or all protein just isn’t wise. Talk
with your medical experts about nutritional
replacements for these lost foods. You could
also just go back to being a regular human
being and sensibly eating carbs, fat, and
protein togethe~:
MI of this information should really
guide you toward a professional opinion
now. Consult your doctor, a certified fitness
trainer or a nutritionist to assist you with
deciding if supplements are necessary for
you. Your brother, your co-worker, and your
neighbor probably aren’t doctors, a certified
fitness trainer, or a nutritionist. With that
advice and lmowledge move your thimble five
spaces to GO and collect your nutrients and
vitamins for improved health and wellness!
¯ N~is health and fitness column is brought
to you by that guy ycho enjoys visits to
Hooters despite his non-breeder status. That
lover ofwings guy is Ron Blake and he can be
reached at www.myblakefimess.com.
Tony Kushner Pulitz&
Prize-Winning Playwright,
To Appear On Sunday,
April 18 .
TULSA, OK (PR) __ Renowned
screemvriter and creator ofAngels in America,
playwright Tony Kushner will make his first
live appearance in Tulsa on Sunday, April
18, 20!0 at the Synagogue: Congregation
B’nai Emunah. He willbe interviewed on this
occasion by noted actor and filmmaker Tim
Blake Nelson.
The Synagguoe is located at the corner
of Peoria and Seventeenth Street. Details are
available on the Synagogue xvebsite: www.
tu!sagogue.com.
3rd Mr. Gay US ofA
Contest held at Angles
Amadeus York ofTexas
gets the tit]e
By Victor Gorin
Mr Gay US ofA MI in white Amadeus York
with theprevious winner Richard Cranium.
Gorin photo
OKI.~AHOMA CITY, OK__ For
aficianados of male impersonation it was a
night in heaven March 14 when the new
winner was crowned Mr.Gay US ofA M!
( male illusion). Beginning March 12 the
contest opened with 50 contestants, narrowed
down to 12 finalists on the Sunday night
conclusion. Promoted by Brenda Quayle,
the contest is part of the US ofA pageantry
system which is now in its 26th year of
operation. Accompanying the contest was
a silent auction benefitting Camp Kindle,
an organization providing free camping
programs for children and young adults
infected or affected by HIV.
Giving up his tide was Richard Cranium
ofTexas. The new winners were 2nd
runnerup Windz ofNew York, 1st runnerup
Chad Meridian ofArkansas, and the new Mr.
Gay US ofA M! Amadeus York ofTexas.
6 NETROSTAR April 1, 2010
"It would be good if readers and viewers
see a different face each time there is an issue
in the community," Kirby says. "The broader
community should see different people."
Kirby has always been willing to speak out
on issues. He and his partner of 11 years are
legally married in California and Kirby has
been a tireless advocate of marriage equalityan
issue that has gained momentum around
the country in recent years but not budged in
conservative leaning Oldahoma.
Ending the ban on out GLBT
servicemernbers in the US military has also
been a cause near, dear - and personal to
Kirby. He served in the Air Force at the end
of the Vietnam War and several of his friends
were discharged because they were gay. One
of those friends was particularly special.
"I lost a relationship that had been long
term when he was discharged from the Air
Force for being gay," Kirby says. "I don’t
lmow if it would have worked out for life, but
I felt a very personal pain."
Kirby became active in the military issue
after former President Bill Clintoffs efforts to
lift the ban on GLBT servicemembers evolved
into the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy
that stands today. Since then he has joined
in on lobbying efforts of the state delegation
and lobbied organizations to which be
belongs - the American Legion and the
Non-Commissioned officers Association -- to
support repealing the ban.
With the current debate on repealing
DADT, Kirby feels there is some progress
being made (~ward equal rights to serve.
’ Each time the issue comes up, there are
more and more people willing to support
repealing the ban," he says. "Whether or not
there are enough people now I don’t lmow. I
think right now there is as good a chance as
there has ever been. I wish the military
would look at the other countries who have
removed that ban - none of them have had
any problems."
Kirby says he is committed to continue
pushing for his causes and for the
advancement of the community. ,
For more information on OkEqs 30th
Anniversary Equality Gala, visit www.okeq.
org.
Your life an open book
on Drag Race
The autobiography challenge sends the
latest queen packing on Ru-Paul’s Drag
Race
By Bebe Zahara Benet
As I travel
all around
the country
to promote
my new
single,
so many
people have
told me that
this season’s
Jessica Wild
reminds
them of me.
I told my
mija this
during our
interview
this week,
many things I loved about watching her
on RuPaul s Drag Race. ticAll reca~ ~foweek
7andprevious shows ate online now. All 12
weeks will be posted on our website at: www.
mewosta~ews.com
’~,,~,~v. metrostarnews.corn ~(~t~°oSTAR 7
April 1, 2010
~v.metrostarnews.com
10 April 1, 2010
Photo’s by Victor G. & Judy G.
O~t &About in OKC & Tulsa
@ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa
@ Angles, Oklahoma City
@ The Cop& Oklahoma City
@ Finishline, Oklahoma City
@ The End Up, Tulsa
Club Maverick Hosts 19th Annual
Straley. Gorinphoto
, will be goin~ to the
this coming
April.
The Leather Lifestvle has been around awhile in OHahoma, and
@Club 209, Tulsa
com.
puf "
in Chri
@Club Majestic, Tulsa @ Ledo, Oklahoma City
12 ~®t~oSTAR April 1, 2010
by Jack Fertig April 2010
"Go back to basics, GeminW’
Saturn backing into Virgo reminds
us to clean up old business before
starting new relationships. Aspecting
Uranus and Neptune, she’ll dig up
complications that must be dealt with to
make progress. Go slowly and carefully.
You have until late July to get it right.
ARIES (March 2(}-Apri~ 19):
Recalculate the equation of any
partnership that’s troubling you. Can
or should it be saved? Strong instincts
and inspiration could lead you astray,
but probably contain a kernel of truth.
Friends can help you reconcile those
with reality.
TAURUS (April 2(} - May 2(}): Feeling
stuck at work can push you back to reexamine
your goals. Where do you feel
most creative, and what doyou really
have to offer? If professional goals feel
nebulous, frame the question in terms
of your social ideals.
GEMIN~ (May 21- June 20): While your
goals and ideals seem to be in flux,
go back to basics, The most relevant
questions about reaching out to the
world around you ar6 taught early in
life. Be nice, share and try to learn.
Community service can also help clear
your head:
CANCER (June 21- July 22): Discuss
longstanding family issues with
siblings, or community problems with
neighbors. Things probably aren’t as
dark and complicated as they feel. New
perspectives will help if you’re willing to
be _very_ open-minded.
LEO (July 23 - August 22): New
ideas and skills can help get you out of
financial trouble, but first understand
how and why you got into that trouble.
You won’t get that on your own. Your
partner or an advisor can help you
figure it out.
VIRGO (August 23 - September
22): Taking the weight of the world on
your shoulders is bad for your health.
Discussing problems with your partner,
or a trusted friend or counselor, is
necessary even if it’s aggravating. A
mild exercise program (swimming?)
and meditation help,
UBRA (September 23 - October 22):
It seems you can’t catch a break, so
make one for yourself. Take time off to
meditate and play. Settle your nerves
and charge up your batteries. You need
this. in the long run it’s the responsible
thing to do!
SCORPIO (October 23 - November
21}: Take a hard look at your future
and get ready to clear out the clutter in
your life. Mending fences could mean
quitting some friendships and groups,
but offers you a chance to make it clean
and amicable.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22
- December 2(}): Clean up any loose
ends and nasty rumors affecting your
reputation. Helpful inspiration comes
from your home and family. Advice
from siblings and neighbors can seem
confusing, but don’t take it too literally
and it could prove valuable.
CAPRICORN (December 21
- January 19): Coming toward a peak
of your professional reputation, now is
the time to get the word out about your
achievements and services. Typos and
snafus lie in wait. Be very attentive to
those details!
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February
18): You’re coming into a phase of your
life where your ideas and your mind will
be much challenged. Review what you
believe and why. Confusion about who
you are and what’s important can be a
healthy stage of growth.
PISCES (February 19 - March
19): Feeling unsure about sex and
relationships can be a good step
toward greater awareness. OK, it’s
uncomfortable now. Meditation and
other quiet secluded retreats - some
with your love, some without - will ease
the exploration.
METROPOLITAN
COMMUNITY CHURCHES
Rev Steve T. Uric
Spirit of Christ MCC
2902 E 20th Street
Joplin, MO 64804
417-529-8480
Worship Sunday 6:00 PM
Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
www.socmcc.org
Have a God filled and BleSSed Day!
69 Spread
70 Boston cager, briefly
771 Social customs
72 silence ~r Copland
,Output
role fbr fodie
63 Initial stake "
65 Plumb of The Brady Bunch
Solution page 15
:~Nw.metrostarnews.com ~®troSTAR 13
by Greg Fo×
,,wme.kyleeomics.com E-Mail -
Chuck Breckenridge
"~&cd~er buying or selling
I’ll work hard for you.
You determine your
own hours,, your own
pace aRe your own
compensation. Great
way to work around
your current scnedule,
earn extra money.
and try. new financial
services career.
597 Magnetic Road
Eureka Springs, Ark~ansas
www.magneticvalteyresort.corn
info@magneticvalleyresort.com
800-210-840~ 479-244-6821
2116 N~7 43rd
CULLENS PENNSYLVANIA AVE.
Contact the owner to
view this wonderful
home.
~=~. (405) ~4-5~52
April 1, 2010
Support those who support us. Their ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you.
HAB.A~A INN
2200 N%%r 39TH EXPRESSWAY
Oklahoma City, OK
405-528-222!
www.habanainn.com
MAGNETIC VALLEY Pd~SORT
597 Magnetic Road
Eureka Springs, AR
800-210-8401
,a~aw.magneticvalleyresort.com
NELLY KIRBY, CPA
4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424
Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466
Certified Public Accountant
VALERIE WILLIFORD
625 N.VZ 13th Street
Oklahoma City, OK
405-226-8585
PR~MEPdCA
Dana
~hlsa, Oldahoma
877.700.9503
THE END UP
5336 E. ADMIRAL PLACE
Tulsa, OK
918-836-0915
Open 7 days a week 2pm to 2am
THE LEDO
2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY
Oklahoma City, OK
405-525-0730
www.habanainn.com
TUI~A EAGLE
1338 E. 3RD
Tulsa, OK
918-592-1188
Open 7days week 2pm to 2am
CHURCH of the OPEN ARMS
3t31 N. PENN,
OKC, OK 405-525-9555
Service Sunday 10:45 AM
DIVERSITY CHRISTIAN
FELLOWSHIP
637 S. 131st East Ave
Tulsa, OK
www.realacceptance.com
HOPE TESTING CLINIC
3540 E. 31st
Tulsa, OK
800-535-2437
Oklahoma’s HIWSTD Hotline
EXPRESSIONS Fellowship
4010 N Youngs
Oklahoma City, OK
405-761-1878
www.expressionsOKC.com
JUDY G. PHOTO’S
Tulsa, OK
judygphotos@sbcglobal.net
918-743-8636
CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE
3627 NW EXPRESSWAY
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
405-840-2106
www.c2 lgoldcasde.com
CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE
Keller Williams Realty
Tulsa, OK
918-706-1887
~srA
GUSHER’S RESTAURANT
2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY
Oklahoma City, OK
405-525-0730
Located inside Habana Inn
~A~GLES
2117 ?’PgZ 39th St.
Oklahoma City~ OK
ww,v.anglesclub.com
BAMBOO LOL~GE
7204 E. PINE
Tttlsa, OK
9!8-836-8700
www.bambooloungetulsa.com
CLUB 209
209 N. BOULDER
Tulsa, OK
918-584-9944
SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC
2902 E. 20TH STREET,
Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480
Service Sunday 6pm
MCC UNITED
1623 N. Maplewood, Tulsa, OK
918-838-1715
www.mcctulsa.org
OUR HOUSE, TOO
203 N. Nogales Ave
Tulsa, OK 74127
918-585-9552
OKI_AHOMA STONEWALL
DEMOCRATES
Oklahoma City, OK
vaw#.olcstonewall.org
OKLAHOMANS for EQUALITY
621 E. 4th Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
918-743-4297
www.okeq.org
CLUB MAJESTIC E N Y A ~R[A N S E S
124N. BOSTON P O tO P ~EIR O CAR D O
Tulsa, OK ~--A O 0~-0- E N T 918-584-9494 ,--
,,~wv.clubmajestictulsa.com H ~ k J J g I O N T A O
2200 NW 39TH ~P~SSWAY
405-525-2900 L A P S E ~O A T I H~S T O P
o THE COPA
2200NW39THE~P~SSWAY O V V O ~glo L ~ AIR C H E O ahom ci ,O S S
405-525-0730 A R S
AL EVE OREO CE L T
~ORE S~ REST TA L E
M~Si Bl~ke’s ~uying’ from 2:00
7:00 p,m, Dancersat 16:00
$,75 i~ome~tic drafl~,from noom2:00
&.m. !’Blak8 s Buyhg from n0omTi00
p:m. Dancers at ;t0:00
$6.00 BEER BUST from 2:00 p.m..,2:00
a.m. "Blake’s Buying" from 2:00 p.m.o
7:00.p.m. Dancers at 10:00 p.m.
...........$4.50
Windex....................................................................................$4.50
EndUp Shot...........................................................................$2.00
EndoUp-O>The-Floor Sho{...................................................$&O0
RaRlesnake, ..............................................................................$3.00
w~av.metrostamews.com ~ETROSTAR 15
~s ~i~gesl i~pad since Roosevelt, ~ecause the conservative
7
4100 No L]~e]~ Av÷nu÷, Oklahome Ci~ 140S) 427-3366
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
[2010] Metro Star Magazine, April 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 4
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
April 01, 2010
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics
Description
An account of the resource
The Metro Star’s first issue began in August of 2008. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004), The Ozark’s Star (2004), and The Star (2005).
This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit.
This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Star Media, Ltd
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Star Media, Ltd
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
James Nimmo
Victor Gorin
Rex Wockner
Michael W. Sasser
Robin Dorner-Townsend
Judy Gabbard
Romeo San Vicente
Andrew Collins
Jack Fertig
Lisa Keen
Steven Petrow
Keith Orr
Chris Azzopardi
Victor Gorin
Judy G.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Image
PDF
Online text
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
magazine
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Southwest Missouri
West Arkansas
Southeast Kansas
Eastern Oklahoma
The United States of America (50 states)
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19
Relation
A related resource
The Metro Magazine, March 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 3
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/193
The Metro Star Magazine, May 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 5
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/194
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/186
Advice
Art Opening and Exhibit
Bitter Girl
David Osthoff
Don't shop-Adopt
Drag Race
employment discrimination
federal hate crimes law
fitness-supplements
funnies
Kelly Kirby
Kyle's Bed and Breakfast
Miss Gay Lawton
Mr. Gay USA
Obituaries
Paul Robert Thompson
QPuzzle
Qscopes
Rainbow Pages
Robert Painter-Other Options and Friends Food Pantry
T.E.N.- The Equality Network
The Gaylien Weekend
Tom Kovach
Tony Kushner
travel
Tulsa Violence Symposium