[2008] Metro Star Magazine, December 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 12

[2008] Metro Star Magazine, December 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 12

Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics

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.

Star Media, Ltd;

https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19

Star Media, Ltd

December 01, 2008

Greg Steele
James Nimmo
Joey D.
Victor Gotin
Rex Wockner
Susan A. Muscari
Vernon Britt
Romeo San Vicente
Andrew Collins
Donald Pile
Ronald Blake
Ray Williams
Jack Fertig
Devre Jackson

Metro Star Magazine, November 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 11
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/200

The Metro Star Magazine, January 1, 2009; Volume 6, Issue 1
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/132

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PDF
Online text

English

magazine

https://history.okeq.org/items/show/199

Southwest Missouri
West Arkansas
Southeast Kansas
Eastern Oklahoma
The United States of America (50 states)

~NWW.METROSTARNEWS.COM "WE DELIVER DIVERSITY" DECEMBER 1, 2008
life and times ofan OHahoma legend.
ByMetro StarStaff
WoCkmer News Service
Photo) Bill Francisco,~Clogger Bill, haspofarmed over 350
b~efits andfundraisenfor the ~dsa and surrounding Communities
since !93Z
In the beginning, God created heaven and earth and Bill
Francisco on September 5, 1931. He was born in the middle
of the Great Depression. His Mother and Dad were Portuguese
farmers, poor as the dirt they farmed. His job until
school years was pulling weeds in the garden.
"My career started when I was six ),ears old. I was in the 1st
grade in Tulsgs Longfellow Hementary Schoo! at sixth and
Peoria. We did a fund-raiser for the school. They staged still
life portraits of Oklahoma history. I was selected as the young
boy in the Ponca City.statue of The Pioneer Woman for my
very first on-stage performance. Playing a statue, I had to
stand perfectly still and not move for three minutes! The most
difficult thing in the world for a six year old boy to do is stand
still! I wanted to do such a good job, every night when the
curtain went up, I would hold my breath the full three minutes
so I wouldn’t move a muscle and be the perfect statue,
but of course I almost passed out."
........Continued see SANTA page-15
protesting Califom,as ’assage ofl~ropost,
tion 8. Wackner News
An estimated 7,500 to 15,000 people marched through former New York Ammerican Civil Liberties Union Executive
Manhattan Nov¯ 12 protesting caiifornia’~ Proposition 8, the Director Normal Siegel Said t~e was c0mfortable ,vith a figure
- - state ~-on~titution of 7i500; and longtime gay activist Bill Dobbs, who opposes
Nov. 4 to end same:sex marriage, which yeas legalized by the same.sex marriage, favoring civil unions instead, said 5,000 to
7,000.
~e march began at the Mormon Temple on Columbus Av, "Tonight was an amazing success and I was proud ofNew
enue, went down Broadway, turned east on 61St Street, then York City standing in Solidarity with California and getting
south on Central Park West to Columbus circle, people out in the streets doing something meaningful," said
Johnson, who is director of government affairs at a Wall Street
realresta*e-development firm and political director of the
popular gay blog Towleroad.
California’s Supreme Court has been asked to delete Prop
8 from the constitution, anda ruling is expected rdatively
Estimates of the turnout for the march varied. Journalist and quickly. The American Civil Libe*:ties Union, Lambda Legal,
radio personality Michelangelo Signorile reported 15,000; the National Center for Lesbian Rigl!ts and other parties say
Gay activists have claimed that more than half of the money
that funded the ubiquitous TV ads that convinced Californians
to vote for Prop 8 was donated by Mormon families at
the church’s urging.
lead organizer Corey Johnson estimated 12,000; blogger and Prop 8 illegally "revised" the state constitution rather than
participant Joe Jervis (JoeMyGod) Said 10,000 to 15,000; merely amending it.
.,,,,....,.:Con{inued see NYC Page-8
My name is Chili.
2 December 2008
~#w.metrostarnews.com
Oklahoma City GLBT and Allied
Community Rallies
Over two hundred demonstrators t~llied on the Oklahoma City, City Hallsteps to p~otest discrimination
voted in by California, Arizona, Florida andArkansas on Nov 4. Photo by ~ctor Gorin.
On November 15 on the steps ofthe Oklahoma
City Hall, there was an outpouring
ofemotion & solidarity as over 200 GLBT
people and their fair minded allies gathered
together to protest the passage ofProposition
City, yet nobody here was involved, so I decided
that I was going to do this." At 24, a lifdong
Oklahoman, he brought it together through
Internet work and word of mouth, naakAng a
grand occasion that received mainstream televithe
rights ofthose who may want to marry
later, but also left in legal limbo s~ae sex
couples who had already gotten married
For Trey Dill, who brought it all
together, organizing this protest was his first
venture in social activism. As he puts it, "After
the passage ofProposition 81 found myself
kind ofangry, and Igot on the Internet and
began browsing every GLBT website. One
day I stumbled onto the jointheimpact.com
website, which was organizing these rallies
nationwide. There ~vas a listing forOklahoma
McCullar and Marlena Weaver, who had gotten
married in California October 20, xvhose
marriage is now in legal limbo. Although they
realized that their marriage would not be recognizedqn
Oklahoma, the passage ofProposition
8 still hurt.
As Kara put it, "It makes us feel like we’re not
worthy enough. ~aey’ll take our taxes, ~ve l~ve
in the same community, yet we are second class
citizens. We’re here to protest this, because gay
or straight we all should have the same rights.
STOP HATE IN THE
HALLWAYS
By Victor Gorin
OKLAHOMA CITY. OK Educators,
mental health professionals, activists and others
interested in Oklahomds students came together
November 13 for the 2nd Stop Hatred
in the Hallways Conference. Following the
success of the first conference held in Oklahoma
City, this meeting was held at the U.S.
Postal Service’s National Facility for Employee
Development in Norman, bringing in people
throughout Oklahoma interested in making
Oklahoma’s schools safer.
The Conference was originally organized by
Cimarron Alliance, mainly because ofa glaring
need that wasn’t being met. While there have
been many incidents ofschool violence, and
conferences and discussion to address it, there
had never been a conference, seminar or major
Ann Simank Social worker &former OKC
Councilperson, Randy Tate Conference organiz-
~ Tanya Cox representingACLU Oklahoma.
Photo by Victor Gorin
meeting that included what many feel is the
most common form ofbullying, those who are
or are perceived to be gay or lesbian.
Whether the problem is growing or simply
being recognized and addressed is open to
question. What is certain is that there
definitely is a problem. In a national study, over
30% of U.S. students reported being involved
in bullying either as a bully 13%, a victim 11%,
or both 6%. Coming dose to home, the Oklahoma
State Department of Health did a study
surveying 7848 Oklahoma students. They
found similar results, with 33% that had been
involved in bullying, 12% as the bullg, 14% as
the victim, and 7% involved in both. One in
five students worried often or daily about being
bullied. More than halfnever reported it to an
adult at school or a parent. When asked what
could be done about the situation, 213 of those
xvho were bullied and
halfofthose not bullied
wanted better adult
supervision.
Not only is bullying
damaging to both the
victims, but frequendy
the bullies suffer as well,
with over 60% ofthose
categorized as bullies
in grades 6-9 having
at least one criminal
conviction by age 24. A
study with the U.S. Department
ofEducation
of37 school shooting incidents found that
71% ofthe shooters felt threatened and/or
persecuted, or had been attacked.
Following a welcome by Richard Odgen,
Chairman of Cimarron Mliance, the conference
was addressed by Oklahoma Attorney
General Drew Edmondson. He pointed out
how things have dhanged, how prejudices of
home are brought to schools, and those who
,ire different frequently become objects ofbullying.
.............Continued see STOP HATE page-11
December 2008
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www.metrostarnews.com ~et~tJSTAR 5
What’s the Matter with
Oklahoma?
By Gov. David V/alters
Photo: Gov. David Walters (nndb.conO
I waited three days in the hopes that my fuming
at Oklahoma’s counter performance to the
collective heave ho that the rest of the nation
gave to the Republicans would subside.
It has not.
Axnending the title ofTnomas Franks’ insightful
book about how conservatives won
the heart of g,ansas ,.. "What’s the Matter
with Oklahoma?" Did we really just do this?
We’re the winner of the national championship
for the highest McCain/Palin margin at
65.6 percent; the only state where Republicans
gained ground in the state house, senate
and statewide offices; and the only state in
which McCain/Palin carried every county.
Not one of our 77 counties ,vent Democratic,
not a single blue dot. Sen. Obama polled
10.8 percent in Beaver County. This was not
out of 100 votes where percentages are easily
distorted, but out of 2,462 votes cast.
Now you are thinking that we cannot expect
mu& progressive thought out of a county
best known for its cow-chip throwing contest
(two tries if you lick your fingers after the
first). BUt I have been to Beaver county and
met good people and don’t understand
89.2% decided Sarah Palin should be vice
president of the United States.
It’s not just our friends in Beaver scouring
the landscape for aerodynamic cow patties.
Twenty-one counties fell below 25 percent for
Obama and 39 counties, more than half of
the 77, fell below 30 percent.
The top bastion of Democratic performance?
Cherokee county, where they used to spray
for Republicans, held McCain/Palin to "only"
56.percent. The heart of our most Democratic
county only allowed Obama to get
within 12.2 percent of a single county victor,/.
Howard Dean called me as I was looking at
these
..........Continued See WALTERS
OkEq Sponsors a Care
Drive
TULSA, OK (PR) __ OkEq is sponsoring
a Care Drive as part of our Home for the
Holidays. Donations are being accepted at
the Center for Our House Too, which serves
approximately 75 clients affected by HIV and
AIDS. Our House Too needs personal items
such as cleaning supplies and toiletry items.
The Parish Church of St. Jerome’s Food
Pantry served over 500 householcks and over
1000 people last year. The food pantry needs
canned foods, stuffing mixes, hamburger
helpers, etc. The drive will continue until the
end of the year. A full list 0fitems needed is
available at the Center and on our website,
~wccw.okeq.org
Holiday Music Is In
Air
TULSA, OK (OKEQ) Council Oak Men’s
Chorale Presents "A Holiday Happening" - an
event so festive even Rudolph will be jealous!
December 2nd, 5th, and 6th starting at 8:00pro
at the Trinity Episcopal Church. For more
information visit the web site at http://vcww.
counciloak.org.
Sisters In Song is also holding a Holiday
Concert. The event scheduled for Dec 13th.
Stay tuned for details or visit ww~v.myspace.
com/sistersinsong.
NEW GAY CLUB
OPENS INJOPLIN
JOPLIN, MO (PR) __ With several new
GLBT bars opening and closing this past
year, the Joplin Gay Community is looking
forward to a place to gather and have fun that
they can depend on to be open the next day.
The PLA-Mor Lounge should be just that.
Local business man and owner ofthe new dub,
Bill Jack is well know and respected in the area.
They are open Monday- Saturday 3:00PM
to 1:30 am. Located at 532 South Joplin Ave
Joplin MO 64801, phone 417-624-2722.
OGRAAnnounces 2009
Royalty Team
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) _ OGRA
has announced the New OGRA 2009 Royalty
Team. Miss OGRA 2009, Anita Ryder
Mr OGRA 2009, Larry Bourne Ms OGRA
2009, Brooklyn Rachelle OGRA would like
to invite everyone to come and join us for our
next genera! membership meeting, Sunday
December 7th 2008 at 2:00 PM at the Ledo,
in the Habana Inn Complex.
The OGRA 2009 Royalty Team would !ike
to invite everyone to their first fundraiser of
their reign, Saturday December 20th 2008
from 8:00 PM until 10:00 PM at the Finishline,
in the Habana Inn Complex.
They ~vill be raising money for the 2009
Great Plains Rodeo and their Charity Partners.
During the evening a Christmas wreath
auction will be held and door prizes will be
given away. They will also be issuing the organizations
contributions to the charity partners
for 2008. "Please join us to recognize al! the
hard work the organization has done for this
community during the 2008 year." N~e 2008
charity partners are RAIN Oklahoma and
Other Options.
Dennis R. Neill Equality
Center opens December
exhibit
TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Dennis R Neill
Equality Center Gallery exhibit for December
is a fundraiser for the Gallery. The theme for
the exhibit is ’Reflection on a Red Stiletto’.
Each ofthe eleven participating artists were
given ~a red stiletto to use in their creation or to
use as inspiration for their creation. That piece
~vill be donated to the Gallery and available
for purchase throughout the exhibit in a silent
auction. The Opening Night Reception for the
exhibit ~Vill be Thursday, December 4th, from
6 to 9pro, at the Center, 621 E 4th St, Tulsa.
The exhibit and silent auction will rm~ through
December 31. Each artist will also have one
additional piece ofhis/her artwork on display
for sale. Proceeds from this fuaadraiser will go
towards the purchase ofwood benches for the
Gallery, additional lighting, additional display
pieces, etc.
Artists that will be participating include:
Michael Christopher
Ann Marie DiStefano
Karen Greenawalt
G Krysta Hamilton
Allie Jensen
Nick Kountoupis
Sharyl Landis
Josh New
Jessica Newman
Directory ofLocal Animal Shdters
Tulsa Shelter 918-669-6299
Broken Arrow 918-259-8311
OKC 405 297 3104
Muskogee 918 686 7297
Stillwater 405 372 0334
Coweta 918-486 2137
Siloam Springs 479 524 6535
Claremore 918 341 1260
Sand Springs 918 246 2543
Jenks 918 299 6311
Owasso 918-272-4965
Sapulpa 918 227 2722
Norman 405 321 6725
Collinsville 918 371 1000
Courtesy ofwvoCalabrescue.net
6 ~etroSTAR December 2008
Wockner News Service
Colorado sends openly
gay man to Congress
Schwarzenegger: State
Supremes may undo
Prop 8
Photo:j~red Polls by Rex l~ckner
Openly gay Jared Polls was elected to the U.S.
House of Representatives on Nov. 4 from
Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District, which
encompasses areas north and west of Denver,
including the city ofBoulder.
Polls, a 33-year-old Democrat, is the first
openly gay man elected to Congress who was
out when elected t’or the first time. U.S. Rep.
Tamlnv Baldwin. D-Wis., holds the female
distincrmn in that regard.
California Gov. A,wold Schwarzenegger thinks
the state Supreme Court may annul Prop 8.
Photo by Rex Wockner "
California Gin: Arnold Schwarzenegger told
CNN on Nov. 9 that the state Supreme Court
may welt "undo" Proposition 8, the voter initiative
that re-banned same-sex marriage Nov. 4
by amending the state constitution.
,~d the governor suggested he thinks that
would be a good ~ove.
"They had a very, very strong campaign, the
pro-Proposition 8 people, and I think that
the people that tried to defeat it did not have,
"~e voters of out" district have spoken clearly maybe, as goo_d a campaigner had as much
that they ~an~ change brought t~Washing~rn,- moneY behi"nd ~" t, whatever, Schwarz’ enegger
Polls told the Denver Post. "I look fbr~vard to said. "I think it is unfortunate, obviously, but
taking my out-of-the-box approach and creative
ideas to help shake up "Washington?
In his primary-election victory speech in
August, Polls introduced his partner, made reference
to being gay, ~d said, "I always worried
that that ~vould get in the way (of) giving back
mad contributing to our society:’
A millionaire who made his money in online
ventures, Polis spent $5.6 million of his own
funds in the campaign.
Polls becomes the sixth open gay to serve in
the I-louse ofRepresentatives, following in
the footsteps of Baldwin, current Rep. Barney
Frank kD-Mass.), and former Reps. Gerry
Studds (D-Mass.), who is deceased, Steve
Gunderson (R-Wis.) and Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.).
Frank, 68, is now the powerful chairman of the
House Financial Services Committee.
Frank told the Post in August, "We are reaching
that point where among.Democratic
voters sexual orientation ofa candidate is not
a factor."
He also said that once he’s no longer the only
gay male congressman, he won’t feel as much
pressure to be a role modd and plans to start
smoking cigars in public again.
it’s nrt the end because I think this will go
back into the courts, this will go back to the
Supreme Court because the Supreme Court
very clearly in California has declared this
unconstitutional. It’s the same as in the 1948
case xvhen blacks and whites were not allowed
to marry. This falls into the same category. So,
I think that we will again, you know, maybe
undo that, if the court is willing to do that, and
then move forward from there and again lead
in that area?
In addition to the anti-gay side’s having aired
much more effective ads than the pro-gay side
did in the huge TV-advertising war, Schwarzenegger
said there were other factors that
aided Prop 8’s passage.
"Because of the big turnout amongst African-
Americans and Latinos, that had an effect also,
which they did not expect, so there’s all kinds
of other things there;’ he said. "And I think the
religious groups have done a really big campaign,
a lot ofthem, to support Proposition
8, and so on, and so it’s a very, very difficult
thing."
Before the TV ad war started, Prop 8 had been
losing in the polls by as much as 17 points.
2qae governor also offered some advice to
California’s gay population.
°I can start indulging some bad habits; Frank
said. "Let the young gay people find someone
else to emulate?
"(Y)ou should never ever give up; he said.
"They should never give up. They should be on
it and on it until they get it done:
Laxwers for the gay side filed suit in the state
Supreme Court on Nov. 5 seeking to annul
Prop 8. They said it is not merely an amendment
to the constitution but rather a "revision"
that fundamentally alters the guarantee of
equal protection.
Constitutional revisions require a t~vo-thirds
vote ofthe Legislature to reach the ballot. Prop
8 got there by activists’ collecting signatures on
petitions.
"Proposition 8 is invalid because the initiative
process was improperly used in an attempt to
undo the constitution’s core commitment to
equality for everyone by eliminating a fundamental
right from just one group -- lesbian and
gay Californians," said the American Civil Liberties
Union, Lambda Legal and the National
Center for Lesbian Rights.
"Proposition 8 also improperly attempts to prevent
the courts from exercising their essential
constitutional role ofprotecting the equal prote.
ction rights of minorities," the groups said.
Same-sex marriages begin
in Connecticut
Don Perata and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass.
Gay groups and others have filed suit seeking
to invalidate Prop 8, arguing that it unconstitutionally
"revised" the constitution, rather than
merely amending it.
When changes in the constitution have farreaching
effects on the document’s structure
and purpose, the process of amending it must
begin in the state Legislature, with a two-thirds
vote. The process cannot start solely with voters
signing petitions, as was the case with Prop 8.
"Proposition 8 is invalid because the initiative
process was impropetly used in an attempt to
undo the constitution’s core commitment to
equality for everyone by elinainating a fundamental
right from just one group -- lesbian and
gay Californians;’ said the American Civil Liberties
Union, Lambda Legal and the National
Center for Lesbian Rights.
Same-sex couples began marrying in Connecticut
on Nov. 12 after final judgment was entered
in a case decided by the state Supreme Court
on Oct. 10.
In a 4-3 ruling, the court had declared that the
state’s policy ofoff~ring same~sex couples:only
civil unions violated that state constitution’s
guarantee Ofequal protection under the law.
One report, based on partial data, said 66 marriage
licenses were issued to same-sex couples
across the state in the initial hours after samesex
marriage becanae legal.
With California voters’ recent decision to
re-ban same-sex marriage, Massachusetts is the
only other U.S. state where gay couples can
marry.
~ae California move, which anaended the state
constitution, is under assault in several new
lawsuits filed with the state Supreme Court,
and gays and their supporters have staged
numerous large street demonstrations up and
dmvn the state since Nox: 4.
On S,a.ra,,y, No . 15, w=e .ge, ,-ooraihated
anti-~grop 8protests across the country at
10:30 a.ra. Ca~fornia time. 7his was the scene
in San Francisco. Viockner Newspboto by Steve
Silb~an
Legislators want Pro
overturned
Forty-four California
legislators filed a brief
with the state Supreme
Court on Nov. 10 urging
that Proposition 8, the
constitutional amendment
that voters passed
to qe-ban same-sex marriage,
be overturned.
Signers included Senate
President Pro Tempore
8
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www.metrostamews.com MetroSTAR 7
California Supreme
Court Grants Review In
Prop 8 Legal Challenges
Court To Determine
Constitutionality of
Prop 8
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (PR) __ November
19, 2008) -- Today the California Supreme
Court granted review in the legal challenges
to Proposition 8, which passed by a narrmv
margin of 52 percent on November 4. In an
order issued today, the Court agreed to hear
the case and set an expedited briefing schedule.
q-he Court also denied an immediate stay.
On November 5, 2008, the National Center
for Lesbian Rights, the American Civil Liberties
Union, and Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit
challenging the validity of Proposition 8 in
the California Supreme Court on behalf of
six individuals and Equality California. The
City of San Francisco, joined by the City of
Los Angeles and Santa Clara County, filed a
similar challenge, as did a private attorney in
Los Angeles.
The lawsuits allege that, on its face, Proposition
8 is an improper revision rather than
an amendment of the California Constitution
because, in its very title, which ,vas
"Himinates the right to marry for same-sex
couples," the initiative eliminated an existing
right only for a targeted minofit): If permitted
to stand, Proposition 8 would be the first
time an initiative has successfully been used
to change the California Constitution to take
way an existing right only for a particular
group. Such a change would defeat the very
purpose of a constitution and fundamentally
alter the role of the courts in protecting
minority rights. According to the California
Constitution, such a serious revision of our
state Constitution cannot be enacted through
a simple majority vote, but must first be approved
by two-thirds of the Legislature.
Since the three lawsuits submitted on November
5, three other lawsuits challenging
Proposition 8 have been filed. In a petition
filed on November 14, 2008, leading African
American, Latino, and Asian American
groups argued that Proposition 8 threatens
the equal protection fights of all Californians.
On November 17, 2008, the California
Council of Churches and other religious
leaders and faith organizations representing
millions of members statewide, also filed a
petition asserting that Proposition 8 poses a
severe threat to the guarantee of equal protection
for all, and was not enacted through the
constitutionally required process for such a
dramatic change to the California Constitu~
tion. On the same day, prominent California
womeffs rights organizations filed a petition
asldng the Court to invalidate Proposition 8
because of its potentially disastrous implications
for women and other groups that face
discrimination.
In May of 2008, the California Supreme
Court held that barring same-sex couples
from marriage violates the equal protection
clause of the California Constitution and
violates the fundamental right to marry.
Proposition 8 would completely eliminate the
right to marry only for same-sex couples. No
other initiative has ever successfully changed
the California Constitution to take avcay a
right only from a targeted minority group.
Over the past 100 years, the California
Supreme Court has heard nine cases challenging
either legislative enactments or initiatives
as invalid revisions of the California Constitution.
In three of those cases, the Court
invalidated those measures.
For more information on dais case, go to:
http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/
highprofile/prop8.htm
MISS BAMBOO 2009
CROWNED
By Greg Steele
Photo: Miss Bamboo 2009 Lady Katherine
TULSA, OK __ No prelim, no registration
fees, not known for glamour, but an absolute
celebration of campy fun with a big heart.
That is the Miss Bamboo Pageant. Although
this year’s contestants did break with tradition
and were quite stylish. Lady Katherine was
a bit sleazy with her very revealing Victoria
Secret underwear!
Votes for each contestant were determined by
the amount of money each was given by the
audience for their performance.
Our House Too ofTulsa ~vas the recipient of
this years proceeds of $625.00. Our House
Too offers a variety of services for people
who are HIV+ or living with AIDS. You can
contact them at 918-585-9552 or 203 N.
Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127
Conspicuously absent from the entertainment
line-up this year was self proclaimed
Empress of the Bamboo, Miss Mona Lott
and Miss Bamboo 2007 (2 X default) Czarina
Rottchacokoffwho’s Hollywood caliber talent
was very much missed.
A constitutional revision requires a two-thirds
vote of the Legislature to begin the process,
while an amendment can be placed on the
ballot simply by collecting enough voter
signatures on petitions, as was the case with
Prop 8.
"Proposition 8 is invalid because the initiative
process was improperly used in an attempt to
undo the constitution’s core commitment to
equality for everyone by eliminating a fundamental
right from just one group -- lesbian
and gay Californians," the legal groups said.
"Proposition 8 also improperly attempts to
prevent the courts from exercising their essential
constitutional role of protecting the
equal protection rights of minorities," the
groups said.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on
Nov. 10 expressed support for overturning
Prop 8.
"This will go back to the Supreme Court
because the Supreme Court very clearly in
California has declared this unconstitutional,"
Schwarzenegger told CNN. "It’s the same as
in the 1948 case when blacks and whites were
not allowed to marry. This falls into the same
category. So, I think that we will again, you
know, maybe undo that, if the court is willing
to do that, and then move forward from there
and again lead in that area."
Schwarzenegger also urged gay Californians
to "never ever gir.e u.p".o.n marriage.e.q.u.al.i~.:
"They should be on it and on it until they get
it done," he said.
8 ~®t~oSTAR December 2008
Neiman Marcus Gift Idea For Christmas 2008
Limited-Edition Fighter
Motorcycle
There’s the startling, dare we
say sex); design that fuses raw
power with crisp simplicity. It’s
an evolution of the machine,
at once taken back down to its
core elements while being reinvented
and re-engineered for
optimal performance. It’s our
street-legal sci-fi dream come to
life, in the form of the limitededition
Fighter Motorcycle.
Ours exclusively courtesy of
Confederate Motor Company°,
the first ever Fighter packs
190 mph of performance into
its cutting edge carbon fiber,
titanium, andaluminum chassis~
There’s the 64" wheelbase,
27"H seat, integrated braking
system, tots of high-tech bells
and whistles, and custom NM
edition features. But, honestly,
ride it once and you’ll be too
jacked up on adrenaline to remember
all the details. (To view
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v~.metrostarnews.com ~®t~oSTAR 9
Is Gay Marriage A Q,Eestion Of
Rights?
By Gerald Libonati
~e marriage protection amendment that bans same-sex
couples from marrying was on the ballot in three states last
Tuesday. It passed in Florida and California by a margin of
52% to 48% with a majority of the precincts counted. In Arizona,
a conservative state that once rejected the amendment,
it passed by 56% to 44%.
[[he results came as no surprise, emphasizing once again that
the rights of unpopular minorities should never be put to a
popular vote.
How many times was the Equal Rights An,~,endment for
~vomen squashed? The first public Womans Rights Convention
was held in 1848 west of Syracuse, New York.
African-Amlericans did not win equal rights by a popular vote.
The country vehemently fought against it. Equality for blacks
required an act of Congress. So too, should equal rights for
cay men and lesbian women be written into lave, not restricted
y it.
Some might feel gay marriage is not a question of rights,
yet the expression of religious values is protected by the first
amendment. After all, it is a religious Viewpoint that same-sex
couples should not be allowed to marry, and it is the spiritual
vie~cpoint of gay and lesbian couples (and the mental health
community) that homosexuality is a good and valid expression.
It is, to be sure, a religious debate as well as one of legal
benefits.
One can’t help feeling violated every time there is a gay/lesbian
issue on the chopping block. It becomes a lightning rod
for the religious right to rally agm’nst with their bumper stickers
and selbrighteous slurs. How many gay and lesbian people
feel battered during times like this?
Yet, the struggle for gay rights may be part of a process that
has not yet finished. Certainly, the zeitgeist has improved significantly
over the years regarding attitudes toward gay/lesbian
people. And if it is hard to imagine a time when GLBT people
are a part of the Atnerican mainstream, remember it was once
hard fbr women and black Americans to imagine, too.
Gerald Libonati is an award-winning wrimr in South Florida.
He has writtenfor the Sun-Sentinel, 7he Miami Hera~ 7he
Advocate and various gay/lesbian newspapo’s. He is the author
ofthe new novel, ’7~eter Wo~" the sto~ ofafamous gay rock star
who goes incognito mfind love.
NO on Prop 8 Campaign Leaders
Call on Community to Stand
Together
SACP,AMENTO, CA (PR) __ Top leaders from the NO on
Prop 8 campaign today issued the follmving statement urging
leaders in the community to stand together following the passage
of Prop 8.
"This has been an incredibly difficult week for Californians
who are disappointed in the passage of Proposition 8, which
takes away the right to marry for same-sex couples in our
state. We feel a profound sense of disappointment in this
defeat, but know that in order to move forward we must continue
to stand together as one community in order to secure
full equality in California.
"In working to defeat Prop 8, a profound coalition banded
together to fight for equality. Faith leaders, labor, teachers,
civil rights leaders and communities of col0r, Republicans,
Democrats, and Independents, public officials, local school
boards and city councils, parents, corporate law firms and
bar associations, businesses, and people from all walks of life
l’oined together to stand up against discrimination. We must
build on this coalition in order to achieve equal rights for all
Californians.
"We achieve nothing ifwe isolate the people who did not
stand with us in this fight. We only further divide our state if
we attempt to blame people of faith, African American voters,
rural communities and others for this loss. We know people
of all faiths, races and backgrounds stand with us in our fight
to end discrimination, and will continue to do so. Now more
than ever it is critical that we work together and respect our
differences that make us a diverse and unique society.. Only
with that understanding will we achieve justice and equality
for all."
Geoff Kors, Executive Director, Equality California
Kate Kendell, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian
Rights. Lorri Jean, CEO, Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center
Delores Jacobs, CEO, San Diego Gay and Lesbian Center
925 L Street, Suite 1200 Sacramento, CA 95814,
Time for Waiting is Over
-he Time for Action is NOW.
By James Nimmo
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ A recent joint press release from
Equality California, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Los
Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center ,,,a,,n~d the San Diego Gay and
Lesbian Center is counseling that We achieve nothing ifwe
isolate the people who did not stand with us in this fight. We
only further divide our state ifwe attempt to blame people of
faith, African American voters, rural communities arid others
for this loss.
I disagree completely. No longer, no longer, no longer must
religion be used as the cudgel to separate any person from
their legal rights of fair treatment and protection under the
law.
I walked by a religious proselytizer today in downtown Oklahoma
City. I hadseen him yesterday when he made a speech
for Gee-sus on the bus I was riding. Today, though, he was on
the sidewalk and said to me, "Did you know God loves you?"
I looked him in the eye for a few seconds and replied, "F***
ofiq.", and walked away.
I’ve never acted that way to a stranger before and depending
on the perceived physical danger to me, it wofft be the last
time I respond to an uninvited encounter with a proselytizer.
Religion has and continues to be the major block to the
implementation of rights for gay/lesbian citizens because of
wh~tt we do in private and who we love in public.
Religion ,vas the chain around the necks of slaves, it’s been the
chastity belt forced on women’s reproductive choice, and it’s
been the Closed book preventing the age-appropriate teaching
of responsible sexual information to children.
Religion instructs the empty-headed to fear our differentness,
to treat us with disrespect and with barely concealed contempt
to encourage violence against our property and bodies.
Wegays/lesbians are far too complacent, accepting, and willing
in our own disenfranchisement from our birth right as
citizens.
I welcome the peaceful protests in California and elsewhere
that are demanding the protection and benefits of the laws
that are applied to others but not to us.
Our self-appointed equality leaders who counsel shyness and
acceptance of a later time should act like leaders or get out of
our way. The time is long past for coyness and politeness.
Dr. M. L. King said it best in his "Letter from Birmingham
Jail", April 16, 1963 with this paragraph:
X~re know through painful experience that freedom is never
voluntarily given b~ the oppressor; it must be demanded by
the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct-action
campaign that was "well timed" in the view of those who have
not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For
years now I have heard the ~vord Wmt. It nngs ~n the ear of
every Negro with piercing familiarity. This "Wait" has almost
always meant Never. We must come to see, with one ofou
distinguished jurists, that "justice too long delayed is justice
denied." ( http://www.mlkonline.net/jail.html )
With the immorally presented kangaroo-court vote that
passed Prop 8 in California and with other anti-gay measures
in Arizona, Florida, and Arkansas, I think we gays/lesbians
have waited long enough. Let the marches continue!
As we march, let’s take our chant from the newly-elected
President Obama’s campaign, Yes, we can!
numbers. He wanted to say, "thank you" ... for what I have
no earthly idea.
I unloaded about our local results, but Howard didfft take the
bait. His politically correct language has been finely honed
from thousands of scathing attacks on each of his utterances.
He opined that the economy is much better in Oklahoma
than most states and that many other states have a sizable
portion of their popul,a,tion tl~at,~ould normally be concerned
about leaders who are different than they are. But in those
states the economy and the need for change overwhelmed
their normal reticence to select someone "unlike" them.
Man that guy can talk.
While t am fuming, foaming, uttering and mumblin,F, obscenities,
he sounds like he just graduated from The vabama
School of Cool. So should we do anything?
Ofcourse we should. Not just for competitive partisan
reasons, but because it’s not good for Oklahoma to run so
counter.
One national media service recently said bas,,ed on the polls,
the future of the Re,publica,n Party lies with old white people
and hayseed states. I, dont believe that, but much ofme nation
does and we dont need to be in that category.
Another pundit said that to understand the current Republican
Party one has to "understand the unique culture and
politics ofAppalachia."
Are you kidding me? Hayseed states and Appalachia! Call
your local chamber and ask them if they think this is somehmv
good for us.
From a national image it’s a disaster. From a local basis can
you imagine how this emboldens Republicans in the state
house, now firmly in control of the l~gislature? Do you think
we are going to hear much about education, health care and
jobs -- or are we simply going to get a double dose of Guns,
God, and Gays?
Gun sales in Oldahoma skyrocketed immediately prior to the
election and particularly afterwards. The vast majority of these
Oklahoma voters really believe that Obama -- in addition
to not being a Christian, being affiliated with terrorists and
intent on doubling our taxes -- is also going to take their guns!
What was that comment during the campaign about clinging?
So what do we do?
Before we start shouting and stepping all over each other like
the national Republicans, we should first calmly talk about
process. Hmv do we determine what are the highest contributing
factors to this unusual trend in Oldahoma? Let’s assume
that we can identify with polling and focus groups the top 20
contributing factors, and then perhaps we can identify that
half of these we cannot do an) thing about.., but a plan to
address the other half may have merit. I have lots ofideas ...
but I really have to cool off first.
Posted by David Waiters at: http:llreddirtblog.typepad.coml
red dirt blog/
10 ~÷troSTAR December 2008
Rhis was best shown by the keynote speaker, Stephen Wessler,
who directs the Center for the Prevennon of Hate Violence
located in Pordand, Maine, and was a former assistant Attorney
General in that state was well. He is the author ofthe book,
"The Respectful School," and has received many awards for his
work in the area of civil rights.
OkA¢homa State Attorney Gene~alDrew Edmondson. Aspeaker at
the 2nd Stop Hate in the Hallways Conference. Photo by Hctor
Gorin
He pointed out that serious bullying begins with words. He told
ofa student (pseudonym John), ~vho was perceived to be gay
by 4 male students at his school. At first they talked behind his
back, and nobody objected. It escalated to name calling direcdy
to John. ~aen it escalated to tripping and shoving in the hall,
with no objections or intervention. The following February
he ~vas jumped by three boys and severely beaten, and nobody
intervened or told an adult. This followed by 3 more similar
incidents, including an attempt in the bathroom to put his head
in an unflushed toilet, and another incident where a boy put
John’s head in a noose and pulled it tight for over 40 seconds. Finally,
When one ofthe boys threatened to shoot John, the threat
was overheard by a girl ~vho reported this to school authOrities,
Finally the police were called and Mr. Wessler, as a prosecutor
with the state hate crimes prosecution unit, finally took action.
Ironically, the four boys involved in the harassment were age 12.
Although the conference included the issues ofGLBT students,
it was also inclusive ofother forms as ~vell, including those of
Islamic students ~vho were harassed (frequently called terrorists),
Latinos frequently called "beaners" or "tacos". Other issues
included students with disabilities, and other characteristics
such as being overweight.
Reverend Scott Jones ofOklahoma City’s Cathedral ofHope
led a panel discussion ofreligion and the role it played in harassment,
and also those who are victimized. Another workshop
conducted by Kathy Middleton with the Oklahoma State
Department of Health, showed and demonstrated how bullying
could be prevented, and how students & administrators can
deal with it. And intervention can’t come too soon, not only for
those bullied, but for all Oklahoma students who have the right
to a productive, safe education.
Oklahoma Couple Marries
Photp: Rex Ball, Architect/Urban Designer, aformer US Commissioner
ofFine Arts and Stephen Edwards, multi-award winning
Interior Designer in Oklahoma were mar~ed October 24 in
Palm Springs, CA by Mayor Steve Pougnet.
The couple has been together for 24 years. Both are originally
from Central Oklahoma where they first met. Having also
lived in Washington, D.C. the couple settled in Tulsa in 1996.
B~th ~e a~tive iii Hist0fi~il PreserVation and have renovated
two Tulsa houses for themselves both ofwhich are located in
neighborhoods on the National Register of Historic places. In
Oklahoma City they renovated the Mid-Century landmark
Raymond Carter designed Residence on Barnes Circle which
is also visible from Pennsylvania Avenue.
The services were conducted on Friday, October 24 by the
Mayor of Palm Springs in the Mid-Century designed City
Hall. q-he Mayor hadwritten the words of the service. Witnesses
were former Tulsans Mike Green and Jim Trotter also
Architect Dan Logan of Palm Springs and Malibu.
The couple has 5 daughters and nine grandchildren.
Father and son marry partners in
Palm Springs double wedding
By Rex Wockner
Charles Robbins, executive director of~e Trevor Project, and
Damon Romine, director ofentertainment media at the Gay &
Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, got married Nov. 2 in
Palm Springs in a double ceremony that also saw Romine’sfather,
David, marry hisparmen La~wy Barrett. From left: Robbins,
Damon Romine, David Romine and Barrett. Photo
by DavidA. Lee
Charles Robbins, executive director of~he Trevor Project,
the national suicide-prevention helpline for gay youth, and
Damon Romine, director of entertainment media at the Gay
& Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, got married Nov. 2
in Palm Springs in a double ceremony that also saw Romine’s
father, David, marry his partner, Larry Barrett.
Robbins, 46, and Damon Romine, 42, have been together for
nine years and Barrett and David Romine have been together
for 16 years.
It was believed to be California’s first same-sex double wedding
ceremony shared by a father and son.
Same-sex marriage became legal in California on June 16, following
a Supreme Court ruling, and became illegal again on
Nov. 4, following passage of a ballot initiative that amended
the state constitution to negate the ruling.
Gay groups have filed suit to block the amendment from
taking effect. At press time, the State Supreme Court had not
ruled on the case, and county officials had stopped issuing
marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Will & Grace creator marries
Max Mutchnick, a creator and executive producer ofTV’s
Wilt & Grace, got married to lawyer Erik Hyman on Oct. 25
in Beverly Hills.
"We wanted to be a part of the wave of same-sex couples getring
married before the election," Mutchnick told The New
York Times.
~e couple have been together for two years. They moved in
together a week after meeting and have never spent a night
apart since.
Mutchnick told The Times that Hyman is the most intelligent
and confident man he’s ever met, and the only one he’s met
who can withstand his insecurities and histrionics.
Hyman said he felt hard for Mutchnick’s passion, charm and
humor.
The couple have two daughters, who were born to a surrogate.
California voters ended same-sex marriage in the state Nov.
4, amending the state constitution to say, "Only marriage
between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."
Gay groups have filed suit to block the amendment from
taking effect. At press time, the State Supreme Court had not
ruled on the case, and county officials had stopped issuing
marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
OKLAHOMA CITY COUPLE
WED IN CALIFORNIA
Kara McCullar & Marlena Weaver demonstrate on Oklahoma
City Hall steps. The couple was legally married in California
October 20. Photo by Victor Gorin.
www.metrostarnews.com MetroSTAR 11
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@ Bamboo Lounge, TulSa .....
@ Finishline, Oklahoma City
@ The Copa, Oklahoma City
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@ The Ledo, Oklahoma City
@ Steve’s Hideaway, Tulsa
Community Fellowship
"A place where you can be who God created
you to be andfi’iends’hips becomefamily"
Worship Experience
Sundays 5:30p.m.
Pastor Neill Spurgin
PastorNeih’@ExpressionsOKC.com
(40 ) 76 - 7s
~w.ExpressionsOKC. corn
Lansbrook Event Center
6009 NWExpressway
Oklahoma City, OK
December 2008
On Saturday, Nov. 15, there were coordinated anti,Prop. 8 protests in 300 cities in all 50 states
and several other countries at 10.30. a.m. California time, ~lengthy march from San Diego’s
Balboa Park to the Count~
25;000 ~ar~hers, Photo by Re~ Wockne~
On Sa~twday, Nov. 1£ there were huge, coordinated
anti-Prop 8protests across the country at
10:30 a.m. Ca~lifo~ia time. ~is wa~ the stone
in San ~,n&co. ~&nerNewspbom by Steve
39am the
stage to repeate!ly create a~ant rambowflag, to the de@,}t ofnews
photographers and cameramen.
ter and ~dsa rallied in opposition to California’s Prop
S. Arqzona, Florida outlJwedMardage ~quality an~
Arkansas voted toprobibit GLBT~doption,
Saturda November 15, 2008 25,000 str~g mti~Prop 8 grassroots protest in San Di~g0~
N
Wockner News Service
Caribbean health offidals
call for repeal of
buggery laws
UK Ministry ofDefence
paid $6.2 million to
sacked soldiers
Gay couple arrested in
Mexico for kissing and
hugging
UK to give lesbians equal
access to fertility treatment
Some government officials in attendance at The United Kingdom’s Ministry ofDefence
the recent annual meeting ofthe Pan Carib- has paid $6.2 million to people who were Txvo male U.S. citizens were arrested in Playa A controversial bill that passed Britain’s House
del Carmen, in Mexico’s Q,~intana Roo state, ofCommons Oct. 22, authorizing stem-celt
bean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS called kicked out ofthe armed forces before the gay
for kissing and hugging in public, the Mexico research that implants human cells into animal
for repeal oflaws that criminalize gay sex as a ban was lifted in 2000, officials said Nov. 7. eggs creating hmnan-animal hybrids, also
pathway to slowing the spread ofthe virus, the
City daily E! Universal reported Oct. 22.
cleared the way for lesbians to access fertility
Caribbean Media Corporation reported. Sixty-five people have been compensated,
receiving an average of $96,300 each. Eric Schroeder, 22, andJosd Mdndez, 35, were treatment and for a lesbian couple to be named
"Ifxve repeal the Buggery Act it reduces risky
accused of committing "a moral misdeed" (una on a birth certificate as a child’s parents.
behavior and puts the onus on men who have "Over the past few years the MoD has made falta a la moral), jailed for 15 hours and fined
sex xvith men to act in a responsible way," strenuous efforts to reach amicable settle- 2,000 pesos ($148). The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
passed the House ofCommons 355-129 and is
said Dr. Peter Figueroa, head ofthe Jamaican ments in relation to those legal claims which
Ministry of Health’s AIDS program. "When remained outstanding and we are pleased that Schroeder told the paper that on Oct. 10 the unlikely to be further modified before becompeople
see themselves as excluded or discrimi- compensation has now been awarded in all couple was "resolving some differences that ing law.
hated against and stigmatized, it promotes these cases;’ a spokesman said. we had" and, as they walked out ofthe house,
risky behavior?
"there were a few hugs and a kiss out front:’ "We’ve always thought it scandalous that lesbian
couples could lawfully be excluded from the
Britain’s armed forces lifted their gay ban on safety of (National Health Service) clinics, for
The health minister ofthe island nation of orders from the European Court ofHuman At that point, police arrived, handcuffed them,
Dominica, John Fabien, agreed, saying: "We Rights. then drove them around while they "picked up which we all pay," said Ben Summerskill, chief
need to take this to another level, I think the
more people who presumably had committed executive ofleading gay lobby group Stonewall.
other crimes," he said. "Often they’ve been forced to use unregulated
level ofprime ministers.... The whole ques- backstreet services instead?
tion ofmen who have sex with men ... we can’t
bow our heads in the sand and say it do~s no{..... .................. 1 ...."-They,wanted money and realizingthey , ,, DutCh men convlc~:eG weren t going to get it, they drove us around Children in lesbian and gay families develop
happent.rayndtoI,villsee howbderivveincgou, ldthe getPr°cessthingsbaCkgoingh.°.m..e of injecting sex partriers Schroeder said. ’ in exactly the same social and intellectual way
gge need to really fall in line mad try to get it off
the books."
Barbados’ health minister, Dr. David Estwick,
asked, "What are we going to do about reaching
men who have sex with men when we have
laws against their sexual activity in most Caribbean
countries.
Jamaica’s Figueroa added that when gay sex is
stigmatized, "it drives not only the epidemic
underground, but it also means that men ~vho
have sex with men disguise their sexuality, take
on a girlfriend and have sex with women who
are unaware that they are really people who
have sex with men, and therefore this acts as a
bridge in terms ofHIV transmission from the
gay community."
The lneeting was held in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
According to Amnesty International, 11
Caribbean-area nations continue to ban gay
sex -- Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize,
Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jmnaica, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Hungarian Parliament passes
nexv hate-crime laws
Hungary’s Parliamentpassed legislation in
early November extending hate-crime laws
to cover members "ofa social group" and
making it possible to initiate civil proceedings
against someone ~vho engages in degrading or
intimidating behavior toward another based on
"sexual orientation."
The changes need the approval of President
L~szl6 S61yom and also must be able to
withstand possible Constitutional Court challenges.
The court previously has struck down socalled
hate-speech laws on freedom-of-speech
grounds.
with HIV
Two men in Groningen, Netherlands, were
convicted Nov. 12 of attempting to cause grievous
bodily harm by injecting several men ~vith
HIV-infected blood after apparendysedating
them during gay sex parties arranged over the
Internet.
One of the perpetrators, who vcas also convicted
ofrape, received a nine-year prison sentence
and the other was sentenced to five years.
The Groningen District Court determined that
while all the victims in the case were HIV-positire,
there was no way to know if the assaults
caused their infections, given that they had
willingly participated in barebacking orgies.
Resistance in UK to gay
adoption
A recent ICM Research survey conducted
for the United Kingdom’s National Adoption
Week revealed a high degree of resistance to
adoption by gay couples.
The poll of 1,007 people found that 40 percent
ofth0se questioned think gay male couples
should not be allowed to adopt and 36 percent
think lesbian couples should be banned from
adopting:
Susan Cotton, adoption manager for the
charity Action for Children, told the BBC the
findings xvere "shocking and disappointing."
"We have successfully placed children with
both gay couples and single people. We know it
works," she said.
The couple’s eventual incarceration at the main
police station ended after they paid a cop a
300-peso fee to take one oftheir credit cards
and withdraw money to pay the 2,000-peso
fine, Schroeder said.
SPain’s ueen Sofia
hot water with gays
Spain’s Q~een Sofia is in hot water with gays
after the newspaperH Pals published excerpts
Oct. 29 from an upcoming biography of the
queen by journalist Pilar Urbano.
ha "The Q~_een Up Close" ("La Reina muy de
cerca"), Sofia, 69, is quoted as saying: "I can
understand, accept and respect that there are
persons ofother sexual tendencies, but should
they feel proud to be gay? Should they ride on
a parade float and come out in demonstrations ?
ffall ofthose ofus who aren’t gay came out in
protest we would halt traffic."
She went on: "Ifthose persons want to live
together, dress up as bride and groom and
marry, they could have a right to do so, or not,
according to the laws of their country, but they
shouldn’t call dais matrimony, because it isfft.
q-here are many possible names: social contract,
union contract?
Spain is one ofsix countries where same-sex
couples have access to full marriage.
A royal spokesperson conaplained that the
quotations are not "exactly" accurate.
The State Federation ofLesbians, Gays, Transse~
uals and Bisexuals demanded that Sofia
recant her reported statements.
as any others," he said. "This latest step forward
for our communities is an important reminder
that lesbian and gay families are every bit as
loving and tender and magical as any other."
Irish president condemns
Speaking at a GLBT youth forum in Galway
on Oct. 30, Irish President Mary McAleese
condemned anti-gay bullying.
"Homophobic bullying continues to be a societywide
issue, including in our schools, and the
link between it and suicide sends a clear message
that this trend must be reversed," she said.
"By refusing to go along with loudly voiced
prejudices, we can overcome the bias and hostility
experienced by many young gay people
throughout the country."
McAleese also said people don’t choose to be
gay but rather discover that they’re gay.
Australian de facto
couples who split to be
treated as divorced
Australia’s Senate passed a bill Oct. 16 to treat
unmarried couples who break up the same as
married couples who divorce.
The measure, which was returned to the lower
house for approval ofSenate anaendments, will
create a uniform national standard for separating
de facto coupmsles, gay and straight, sending
them to federal family-law courts to work out
property settlements, pension splits and other
Issues.
Attorney-General Robert McClelland said the
changes are "long overdue."
14 ~÷troSTAR December 2008
"In my junior high school years at Wilson Jr. High I delivered
the Tulsa Daily "World morning paper on horseback for three
years on what was then a two lane country road called Yale
Ave. I had to quit riding horseback because the customers of
a new housing development called "White City" complained
that my horseback deliveries was tearing up their beautiful
yards. I graduated in the 10th graduating class of Will Rogers
High Schoo! in 1949."
"The start of my dancing career was 1950 ~vhen I joined the
new qfillsa Opera Ballet. ~-his was the time when opera companies
retrained a Corps de Ballet and operettas were popular.
~l~.e Tulsa Opera_ Ballet would practice in the ballroom of
Richard Mansfield Dickenson’s home on Riverside Drive and
F!ouston Ave., which is now known as the Spotlight Theater
on Riverside Dr.
"t received a scholarship in 1952 to study dance with the
"Ruth St. Denis Dance Foundatioff’ in Hollywood. While I
was there I also studied ballet and jazz at the "Eugene Loring
School of Ballet. M1 of the great dancers of the Holly~vood
musicals of the 50’s would teach in their idle time at Loring’s
studio, t was honored to take classes with some of Hollywood’s
best. I was accepted with 150 other dancers in the
Chorus of"On the Rivera" staring Danny Kaye and the Great
"Gwen -Verdoff’. However, I nm~er made it to the final Audition
because my dance career was interrupted in 1953 with a
draft call from UNCLE SAM. Thinking my dance career was
oveI; ! found it was just beginning."
Photo: Bill Franc#co served in the A4ilimry 1953-1955
"My tour of duty took me to the occupation forces in Augsburg,
Germany. I was blessed! They allowed me to continue
my volunteer dancing for tile kindergarten kids in West
Germany."
"I was honored for nay volunteer dancing in Germany by
becoming the only American awarded a medal by the city of
"Augsburg at the 1954 Fashing Festival. They even wrote a nice
article about me in the Augsburg newspaper which was in
Get,nan and I didn’t understand a word of it. I sent it home
to my mother in NAsa and she gave it to the Tulsa \Vorld to
interpret and they published it in English in the Tulsa World
Sunday Mar. 21, 1954."
"Rett,rning home to Tialsa in 1955, I again auditioned for the
renowned Tulsa Opera. I landed the leading male dancer, all
with gold pigment and Crisco! I was beautiful (like an Oscar)
but I had to work the next day. I took a shower to wash the
gold pigment away and my hair turned green! I went to work
and was ridiculed, LOL, the boy with the green hair."
"In 1956 1 began dancing with the "Tulsa Civic Ballet"
today knmvn as Tulsa Ballet Inc. I danced the premier of
The Nutcracker and also performed the first Dr. Coppelius In
Tulsa at the Municipal Theater today our Lady on Brady I also
danced in the first two summer musicals with the "Tulsa Little
Theater" at the 15th and Delavcare Playhouse."
keShe could
er my given name. She
what my name was and
\ in his usual vivacious reply said "just//
CLOGGERB I //,
Because volunteer dancing could not sustain me financially,
I went to work for American Airlines in 1955. In 1961 American
decided to move their finance department to NYC where
they purchased their first computer. This was my opportunity
to see hmv the professionals dance in the Big Apple. Let me
tell you, I was just a little worm in the Big Apple. What a
culture shock, nobody does volunteer dancing in New York.
Everyone is a union professional. ! realized my love of country
folk music, bluegrass and clogging there. I studied with
the International School of Dance one semester. I realized
dogging was what I wanted to dance the rest ofmy life. Isn’t
is ironic? I fell in love with dogging in ]"FYC and had it all
around me growing up in Tulsa.
I returned home to Tulsa after 13 years in New York and
spent all my free time attending clogging classes and workshops.
The IGRA had become very popular with clogging
teams throughout the U.S. and Tulsa. I attended a fund-raiser
for OGRA in 1987 at "STROKES" and saw the renowned
"Bunkhouse Cloggers" from Oklahoma City perform. I
was so excited and impressed to see a rodeo clogging team
that I wanted to form one from Tulsa for OGRA. Thus the
"GREEN COUNTRY CLOGGERS" ~vere born in 1988.
The Green Country- Cloggers became famous from the Mississippi
west to Los Angeles, dogging to standing ovations in
Oklahoma City, Dallas, Phoenix, Denver, Los Angles, Kansas,
Joplin and Tulsa..We performed for two seasons at Tulsa
Mayfest and the Bluegrass/Chilifest.
When the Green Country Cloggers moved their practices to
Tulsa’s Silver Star for bigger dance space we were doing a big
fund-raiser to raise money to take the cloggers to Los Angeles
~br a rodeo performance. Our Mistress of Ceremonies
was a eighteen year old (not old enough for the bar) known
as KA~S KOHL. To this day in 2008, Kris Kohl has done
more benefits and fun&raisers than any other entertainer in
Tulsa and she is the real legend of this community. Our music
maestro, arranger, recording artist and D. J. from the cloggers
conception in 1988 was Ron Greenwood. Thank you Quake
for all your loyalty and contributions to the cloggers. Kris
Kohl was to introduce my solo. She could not remember my
given name. She asked Qtmke what my name was and in his
usual vivaciotrs reply said "just call him CLOGGERBILL"
And from that time on, fbr 18 years, to the birth of"Santa, I
have been known as "CLOGGERBILL" Now I’ve forgotten
my real n~e.
I left the Green Country Cloggers in the capable hands of the
worlds best Leather Clogger "Gene West" who took the cloggets
to new heights. I formed the "OK Country Cloggers"
from other Cloggers around Tulsa. We performed benefits
for Tulsa Opera at Cains Ballroom and Tulsa Ballet Inc, at
Harwellen. The OK Country Cloggers quickly dwindled into
a trio competition team.
The Ok Country Cloggers had performed for two seasons for
"Black Gold Days" in Glenpool. I was teaching a clogging
class at the community center. They asked if I would dress
as Santa and clog for the kids at their Children’s Christmas
Party, of course I said yes. That was the birth of"Santa
Clog". The kids just loved Santa Clogging and a lot of adults
also. The next year I created my own Santa Suit, and started
growing nay own beard with theatrical white wash. Since I’ve
performed hundreds of Santa Clog benefits over the past ten
years. It was so much fun (because I’m such a ham), that’s
when I decided I wanted to be the real Santa for the rest of
my life.
In 2004 1 entered "SANTA_" in the Grand Lake dogging
championship in Grove, Oklahoma. I had worked so hard
on the choreography that I pinched the ~ciatic nerve in my
left hip and neuropathy begin to set in. But I kept going. I
knew I had to win that competition before I could qualify for
National World Competition. I did win mad took 1st place in
that show.
I guess when you stop your career, you should always stop at
the top, when everyone knows who you are, not what you
were. I tried to do a couple more Santa Clog benefits in 2005
but my leg was in such pain I could not continue. I then had
lower back surgery and the severe pain was gone but the
neuropathy would not go away.
I would like to thank my two very best friends for sticking by
me and helping me through this crisis. Mr. Paul: (aka), Helga.
another community legend of spirit, giving, benefits and
caring, for getting me the best surgeons, standing by me thru
surgery and coming by my home on his way to ~vork every
day to wash my ass and change my bandages. Arnie XWard,
for taking so much time offwork to take me back and forth
from exams, doctors and hospitals. SANTA loves you both so
dearly. I would not have survived without you.
No~v Santa only does children benefits, private corporate
parties and my favorite adult bars: N0 eio~ng; just takAng
pictures, giving out pre~ents havi@ ~ iittl~ ~,~ arid ....
loving every moment. Now I am one of the most sought after
Santa’s in Tulsa. I begin getting requests for appearances in
July for the December season. Santa has appeared in four
magazine and six newspaper articles. Someday I dream of
Santa dancing again in the spirit of the season.
From 1937 to 2004 (67 years) I have danced over 350
performances, benefits and fund-raisers for the Tulsa and su>
rounding communities. I was actually paid union wages for
one show. The Vandever’s summer fa~shion show at Southern
Hills Country Club about 30 years ago. So, if you divide the
$50.00 into 350 performances, I have been paid just about
.07 cents per performance. Does that make me a professional
volunteer?
I would like to take this opportunity to let the world know
how very much I appreciate all the support and devotion of
good friends, entertainers and bar~8~ners (past and present)
for helping me do what I love best, DANCE !!
As Santa said when he rode out of sight, Happy Holidays and
to all a Good Night !
,~w.metrostarnews.com ~etroSTAR 15
QEe’ Syrah, Syra ::
Celebrate the holidays with a cool red wine
Briefhistory
~ais grape may not be commonly associated
with the holidays like other red wines, however,
this varietal rates highly among the most elegant,
tastefhl and food friendly wines. To that
end, I recommend that we consider adding a
bottle or two to our wine shopping list for this
season. We have much to celebrate and sharing
wine & food with friends & family is the best
thingwe can do.
For most wine lovers, as we talk about Syrah or
Shiraz; two specific places ofthe xvorld come
tO mind: Rh6ne Valley in France and Australia.
Syrah is found in other wine regions of the
~vorld, though- California, Italy and South
Africa- hmvever the reference areas of this
grape are still considered France and Australia,
each being identifiable for its particular style.
Ofcourse, of the two regions, the one having a
longer tradition is the Rh6ne Valley, whereas in
Australia, Syrah - or Shiraz, as it is commonly
known in the land ofkangaroos - has a history
shorter than two centuries.
(which translates as New Castle
common in southern
Languedoc-Roussillon
blended with Grenache Noi
C
Syrah fro
aromas ofblack pepper -
associated with wines
Food parings
The northern part of the Rh6ne Valley, in
France, remains one of tl~e undisputed reference
point.s for the production ofwines made
with the Syrah grape. The best examples of
varietal Syrah, are the ones produced with the
appellations Hermitage, C6te-R6tie, Cornas,
St-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage. Wines produced
in these areas have Strong fruit aromas,
a good acidity, dry body and an appreciable
mineral taste. Hermitage has a deep color and
intense fruit aromas, in particular black currant,
full body and evident astringency. Syrah
is also common in the southern part ofRh6ne
Valley and it is used in Ch~teauneuf-du-Pape
to emit
often
area.
Trinity
’04- Oregon
Slammer ’06- California
Pousseur ’06- California
to your favorite wine
purchase a bottle or
~d & wine with friends and
r yourself.
Syrah is a good turkey or ham F ’ "
who knew ? We always think Pinot
best red wine choice. A lot may hinge on the
way your meat is prepared. Appetizers with
veggies or cheeses with a sharp like flavor can
also pair ~vell.
This writer also bar tends and hosts wine &
food events known in town as the
Wine Enthusiasts ofTulsa.
www.~neSpectato~:com
www.Foodand~ne.com
............. www.~Vikipedia.org
This months recipe courtesy of: Directions:
Ogunquit, Main
Christmas Goose With Cabbage
About 4 hours before ser~,ing:
Remove giblets and neck from goose. Refrigerate
giblets and neck to use in soup another
Discard fat from body cavity; rinse goose with
running cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
Fasten neck skin to the back with 1 or 2 skewers,
With goose breast-side up, lift wings up toward
neck, then fold under back of goose. With string.
tie legs and tail together. With fbrk, prick goose
skin in several places.
Place goose, breast-side up, on rack in open
roasting pan. Rub goose with 2 teaspoons salt.
Insert meat thermometer into thickest part of
meat between breast and thigh, being careful tha
pointed end of thermometer does not touch bone.
Roast goose in 350 degree oven about 3 hours.
Start &ecking for doneness during last 30 ~ninutes
of roasting goose.
slotted spoon, remove bacon to paper travels to
drain. In bacon fat in saucepan over medium heat,
cook green cabbage, onion, caraway seeds, and
I teaspoon salt until cabbage and onion are very
tende}, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally;
keep warm,
About 20 minutes before goose is done, in small
saucepan, heat red currant jelly and marsala. Brush
goose occasionally with idly mixture.
Goose is done when thermometer reaches 180
degrees to 185 degrees and thickest part ofleg feels
sof~ when pressed ~th fingers protected by paper
towels.
When goose is done, remove skewers and string.
Linep,latter with reserved red and green cabbage
leaves. Place goose on cabbage leaves: let stand 10
minutes for easier carving. Spoon red and green
cabbage on platter with goose.
t frozen goose (12 pound size), thawed salt
1 medium sized head red cabbage
I medium sized head green cabbage
1 medium sized onion
1 large green cooking apple
1 package (8 ounce size) sliced bacon
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon caraway seeds
1/4 cup currant jelly
2 tablespoons &T marsala wine
Mier goose has roasted fbr I hour. prepare red
andgreen, cabbage’, reserve fi.~v outer leaves of red
and green cabbage for garnish. Slice red and green
cabbage and onion; dice apple; cut bacon into 1/2
inch pieces,
In 12-inch skillet over medium- lmv h~r. cook
half of bacon until browned. With slotted spoon,
remove bacon to paper towels to drain. In bacon
tht in skillet over medium heat, cook red cabbage,
apple, red wine vinegar, sugm; and 1 teaspoon salt
until cabbage is very tender, about 25 minutes.
stirring occasionally; keep warna.
Meamvhile, in ~-quart saucepan over medium-low
heat, cook remaining bacon until browned.iWith
Jonathaffs Restaurmat ~
Bourn
it into a
)resence
16 #~®troSTAR December 2008
Trace Adkins At the BOK Center, Tulsa
TRACE ADKINS
with special guests:
Craig Morgan &Jason Michael Carroll
Tickets On Sale Oct 3 @ 10am
Ticket Prices: $52 and $42
When Trace Adldns appears on stage, his towering presence
and floor-shaldng baritone instantly energizes the crowd.
With a string ofhits spanning more than a decade like "Honky
Tonk Badonkadonk; "Hot Mama," "I Got lVly Game On,"
and "Ladies Love Country Boys;’ and his powerful, heart-stirring
ballads like "I’m Tryin;’ "Arlington;’ "Every Light In The
House;’ and "I Came Here To Live;’ Adldns takes his audience
on a roller coaster ride ofemotions.
Cirque du SoleiFs Saltimbanco
Dec 10, 2008 to Dec 14, 2008 at BOK Center
Cirque du Soleil’s Saltimbanco
December 10th at 7:30
December 1 lth at 7:30
December 12th at 3:30 & 7:30
December 13th at 3:30 & 7:30
December 14th at 1:00 & 5:00
Ticket Prices:S97, $77, $62, and $42
Group tickets: For groups of+20 or more receive 10% offyour
tickets, group discounts do not apply to Friday or Saturday show
times. For group tickets please call 918-894-4252
Cirque du Soleil weaves its magic in Tulsa for the first time with
Saltimbanco. Saltimbanco is the very first "classic" Cirque du
Soleil touring show to be presented in arena. The Saltimbanco
arena tour, proudly presented by iShares, will performed 8 shows
at the BOK Center from December 10 to 14 inclusively.
December At ~lhe P.A.C. Tulsa
Performance Dates
3 FREE Brown Bag It: Tulsa Festival Ringers
John H. Williams Theatre
4-28 FREE Artist Janet Duvall
PAC Gallery
5 Available by
Subscription Tina Brown
Chapman Music Hall I View Interactive Seating Chart
6 BUY Christmas with TOC
Chapman Music Hall I View Interactive Seating Chart
11-14, 16-23 BUY A Christmas Carol
John H. Williams Theatre
Dec 12-t4, 19-21 _ Wind in the Willows, Charles E. Norman
Tl~eatre
Dec 12-14, 17-20 BUY The Santaland Diaries, Liddy Doenges
~eatre
Dec 13-14, t8-21 BUY The Nutcracker (Tulsa)
Chapman Music Hall
More ENTERTAINMENT see page 20
www.metrostarnews.com
INSIDE
HOLLYWOOD By Romeo San Vicente
Deep Inside Hollywood,
which reports on new projects
for Nicole Kidman and
Jane Fonda
Fonda Returns to Broadway with Moises Kaufman
She’s a producer, memoirist, exercise guru, and multi-Oscar-winning
actress, but fihn legend Jane Fonda’s roots go all the way
back to Broadway. And while she hasn’t strutted and fretted her
hour upon the stage since the early 1960s, Fonda is preparing
her return to the Great White Way in a new play ~vritten and
directed by Moises Kaufman, the gay writer behind "The Laramie
Project". "33 Variations" focuses on a musicologist (Fonda)
and her study ofBeethoven’s obsession with a particular piece of
music. Fonda hasn’t been completely absent from the stage--in
recent years, she:s participated in several one-night-only special
presentations ofEve Ensler’s "The Vagina Monologues". Get
ready for New York to be abuzz when the woman who was
Barbarella returns to Broadway this winter.
Landon’s Career Remains Hot with "Burning
Palms"
"Burning Pahns" may sound like a clothing-optional gay resort,
but it’s actually the new film written and directed by Christopher
Landon, the openly gay son ofTVlegend Michael Landon.
On the heels of Christopher’s success as the co-writer of the hit
"Disturbia", dais Holl)-a,ood legacy returns with a new satire that
pokes fun at the residents ofvarious segments ofLos Angeles,
and "Burning Palms" boasts an interestingly eclectic ensemble.
Slated to star in the fihn are Dylan McDermott, Shannen
Doherty, Lake Bell, Nick Stahl, Zoe Saldana, Adriana Barraza
("Babel"), Colleen Camp and Rosamund Pike. They’ll play
characters whose storylines overlap in five different vignettes set
in different L.A. neighborhoods. Vditch for the smoke in 2009.
Kidman and Tneron Go Out [’or "Danish"
Nicole Kidman and Chadize Theron both won Oscars for
playing lesbians and for ~vearing fake noses--in "The Hours"
mad "Monster", respectively--but the mind reels about what
kind ofprostheses will be required for their next movie. "The
Danish Girl" will star the duo as real-life artists Einar and Greta
Wegener. Einar (Yddman) began life as a man but later became
the world’s first transsexual in 1931; Einar’s road to womanhood
began xvhen he stood in for a female model in a painting that
Greta (Theron) was creating. Anand Tucker ("Shopgirl", "Hilary
and Jackie") will direct from Lucinda Coxon’s adaptation ofDavid
Ebershoff’s book. Look for Kidman and Theron to astound
the world almost as much as the real Wegeners did, when "Tne
Danish Girl" eventually hits theaters.
Soon, We’ll MI Be "Spartacus"
The smash success of"300" put muscular, leggy men in togas
back on the ctfltural radar, and "Xena" exec producer Sam Raimi
(who directed some obscure art films with "Spider-Man" in the
tide) intends to keep them there. Raimi is one ofthe driving
forces behind "Spartacus", a new series for the Starz cable channel
that centers around a legendary slave rebellion against the
Roman Empire. Insiders say the show will shoot for the same
intense violence and distinctive graphic-novel look ofboth
"300" and "Sin City", so Romeo figures that means lots ofoiled
up, brawny lugs fighting each other to the death in leather miniskirts.
And that’s good TV! "Spartacus" starts shooting in New
Zealand at the beginning ofthe year ~vith an eye to unfurling its
muscular majesty on Starz next summer.
N~troSTAR 17
entire country, we want to thank the gays and
lesbians in California for fighting this batde for
us. And keep fighting until we win!
by Donald Pile and Ray Williams
GAY TRA¥ LER’S, BOYCOTT UTAH
"Morman Church Millions Help Pass Prop 8"
Photo: Salt Lake CiF Temple
things "right", it is time for
the rest ofgays and lesbians in
the rest of the country to do
what they can to help.
M1 travelers have a choice..... a choice as to
where to go, where to stay, where to
dine and where to visit. A few years ago the
state of Colorado made some very bad decisions
and thousands and thousands ofboth
business as well as personal travelers made the
choice NOT to visit or spend any money in
that state. The state was financially hurt terribly
by that boycott as conventions and business
meetings were canceled. Fortunately the state
mended its ways and now the gay community
has once again started visiting the state. We
are extremely" proud ofthe fact that Colorado
elected the first openly gay congressman, Jared
Polls. He was certainly the best person for that
position.
So secondly; we are telling
our readers to BOYCOTT
UTAH ! Salt Lake City is
the world headquarters of the
Mormons and the Mormon’s
account for about 62% of the
population of Utah. Tourism
brings in about $6 billion
a year to Utah. They have
~vorld-class skiing, the film
festival among many, things.
Thousands ofMormons
worked as volunteers and
spent tens ofmillions ofdollars
on Proposition 8.
As just one gay couple out of the nearly 20,000
gay couples who were LEGALLY
married this summer in California,
we resent the Mormon
Church’s involvement in our
civil rights. Is it okay they can
have 10 spouses, but yet deny
us to have just one ? Mormon
spokesmen say that they had a
right to do ~vhat they did. \Ve
also have a right to do what
we are doing, ha 2008 you just
cannot take away anybody’s civil
rights and expect not to get a
backlash. You cannot take away
our legal marriage and get away
with it. No, NO, NO!
Photo: Golden Gate B,;idge San Francisco. Califo,
saia’sflght against Prop 8failed on November
4 mobilizing hundreds ofthousands who held
protest rallies around the world. Visit California.
And now we come to Proposition 8. As one
ofthe nearly 20,000 gay couples who were
LEGALLY married this summer, we were devastated
with the results on Nov. 4. Since we do
not live in Cali~brnia we are not able to attend
any of the rallies and protest marches but our
readers from around the country have sent us
dozens and dozens ofemails asking what they
can do. We have told them two things. First,
GO to California, spend money with those
~vho are wanting our business. There are thousands
ofstraight owned businesses in California
who are on our side. There are thousands
ofgay mvned businesses who have worked hard
on defeating Proposition 8 as well as thousands
and thousands ofgays and lesbians who went
door to door and worked tirelessly. They are all
to be conm~ended highly. They did not sit idly
by and just hope for a victory. They worked
long and hard.
So as the gays and lesbians who live in California
take to the streets and protest and march
and do whatever that they can to have the
California Supreme Court step in and make
No matter what state you live
in, BOYCOTT the Mormon
Church but by all means BOYCOTT
the entire state of Uta!!
Don’t go there, don’t spend your
gay dollars there, don’t purchase
anything from any company
that is based in Utah. There
will be plenty oflistings of
businesses who gave money for
Proposition 8. Boycott them
all! The gaypress in California
has done and will continue to do
a fabulous job ofkeeping all ofus
informed about Proposition 8.
This is not just a California story, but a story
for the entire country. With Barack Obama
becoming the first African-American President
of the country it wotfld have been nice to think
that prejudices were going to be a thing ofthe
past. However the Mormon Church proved
us wrong about that. Hate still does exist and
mainly in the eyes ofthe Mormon Church.
Photo: Echo Lake Denver; CO. Fortunately Colorado mended
it’s ways and now thegay community has once again started
visiting the state.
On behalfofmillions ofgays throughout the
Eureka Springs Tourism
Increases Despite Tough
Economic Times
EUREKA SPRINGS, AR (PR) __ In one
of the slowest economic periods in recent
memory, and at a time when other tourist
destinations are experiencing downturns, this
Ozarlcs getaway is doing remarkably well.
Mayor Dani Joy’s o~ce reports that receipts
f~r Eureka Springs city sales t~es have
increased, year-to-date, 2.36% over last year.
Meanwhile, City Advertising and Promotion
Commission figures reflect an even larger
improvement. Operations Manager Sheila
Hulsey said 2008 C.A.EC. tax collections
year-to-date are up 9.6% over the same period
in 2007.
Mayor Joy believes several factors are respon-
;ibte for the city’s strong economic showing
in the face of national financial turmoil. "First
of all, our community has come together
this year in a coordinated effort to make the
tourist’s stay in Eureka Springs the best it can
be. "And, simultaneously, we’ve done a better
iob of marketing ourselves."
Tne mayor also cited high gas pr!ces as afactor.
"When gas was near!y" $4 a gallon, travelers
saved money by staying closer to home."
She continued, "Some chose a domestic
vacation instead of taldng an overseas flight.
Many others picked a destination within a
few hours drive over one a few days away."
Joy also believes Eureka Springs’ relatively
inexpensive lodging and meals have helped
the city grow while other tourist destinations
have declined. "We’re quite a bargain compared
to the larger, glitzier vacations spots,"
she said.
Finally, the city’s quiet, relaxing feel could
be a factor. "When you come here you feel
like you’ve stepped back in time," the mayor
stated. "We have Victorian homes, locally
owned shops in an historic downtown, and
no stop lights or mega-malls. We’re a very
refreshing escape from the rat race--and,
especially these days, people value that!"
Once October figures are received by the city
and the C.A.P.C., Chamber of Commerce
President Jeff Feldman believes they will
shove an even larger improvement. "Most of
our members say they’re having an excellent
month," he commented. ’~md several business
owners have told me they’ve had their
biggest days and weekends in history."
For info on Eureka Springs, contact
Ken Rundel, CAPC, P.O. Box 522, Eureka
Springs, AR, 72632.
479-253-7333 ken@eurekasprings.org
18 ~÷troSTAR December 2008
www.metrostarnews.com #~®troSTAR 19
OKC Civic Center
Music Hall December
Events
Nov. 28 - Dec. 20 A NICE FAMILY GATHERING
a comedy by Phil Olson
Nov. 28- Dec. 21 ROMEO &JULIET
Dec. 4 - Dec. 6 A VERY MERRY POPS presented
by the Oklahoma City" Philharmonic
Dec. 5 - Dec. 21 THEJUNGLE BOOKby
Rudyard Kipling, adapted by Rick and Erin
Cheek
Dec. 5 - Dec. 21 A TUNA CHRISTMAS by
Ed Howard, Joe Sears and Jaston Williams
Dec. 6 - Dec. 7 THE NUTCRACKERpresented
by the Tulsa Ballet
Dec. 7 CANTERBURY CHRISTMAS
Dec. 11 CARLOS MENCIA
Dec. 12 John Prine with Iris DeMent
Dec. 13 - Dec. 21 THE NUTCRACKER
- OI<C Ballet CompaW
Photo afMike P~,or in American ~eatre Co’s
produ~:tion ~se Santaland Diaries. Photo by
MichadErvin, Ervin Productions.
TULSA, OK (PRy __ The Santaland Diaries,
a merrily subversive t~ale, is David Sedaris’
humorous and acerbic acconnt ofworking as
an elf at Macy’s in Manhattan. It has become
an ’anti-holiday’ cult classic. NPR humorist
and best-selling author David Sedaris made his
comic debut reading his "Santaland Diaries"
on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition.
Sedaris’ sardonic humor and incisive social
critique have since made him one ofNPR’s
most popular and humorous commentators. In
2001, Sedaris became the third recipient ofthe
Thurber Prize for American Humor, and was
named by Time magazine as "Humorist of the
Year."
The Santdand Diaries runs December 12th
through 20th in the Doenges Tneatre ofthe
Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Curtain time is
at 8:15 PM xvith matinees at 2:15 PM. Tickets
at MyTicketO~ce.com, area Reasor’s stores, at
the Performing Arts Center at 3rd and Cincinnati,
or chage by phone a 596-7111.
Website- www.lo
bitter girl
iecomics.com E-Mail- KylesBnB(~aol.com
emalh bittergirl@qsyndicate.com
20 December 2008
by Jack Fertig December 2008
"Be playfut, Libra,""
Mercury is in Sagittarius stimulating talking,
so work on listening. He’s tripping through
aspects first to Uranus and Chiron, offedng
healing through inspiration and wild experiments,
then to Saturn, Neptune, and Eris,
offering ways to either protect or unblock
tribal notions and boundaries, especially
across religious/spiritual barriers. It’s a
good chance to get through to fundies in the
family.
ARIES (March 20-Apri~ 19): Some
of the craziest ideas from your wildest
dreams will have some practical application.
They will need some work.
Hash it out with a few friends to see
how those wacky notions can fit in the
real world.
TAURUS (AprR 20 - May 20): How do
social pressures influence your sexual
autonomy? Playing with others necessarily
requires some compromises, but
you’re entitled to stand up for yourself.
You may want to hold back on the
impulse and negotiate a more fulfilling
position.
GEMiNi (May 21- June 20): To reconcile
problems with a partner or colleague,
try exploring entirely new ideas.
What you eventually do work out can
inspire fu[ther innovations to provide a
new ~roach to long-standing problems
at home.
CANCER (June 21- July 22): Sexuality
can be healing, catalyzing new ideas
- especia!ly when you try something
new! Open yourself up to exploring
fantasies. The oneg that are hardest to
verbalize will teach you tocommunicate
in new ways.
LEO {July 23 - August 22): Casual
jests can be unintentionally hurtful. Be
ready to apologize, and to learn something
in the process. Your humor will be
handier when grappling with arguments
that leave you wondering What’s really
important. Balancing sympathy and
logic is the tdck!
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22):
Cleaning house can help solve problems
with your partner, or just bring up
problems that have been hidden. Keep
up the effort even if it means an argument.
The make-up sex will be terrifi!!
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22):
Trying to be logical at work will backfire.
Be playful and allow yourself to
be inspired. Playing competitively with
others can bdng out some long-hidden
demons. Open discussion and humor
can exorcise them once and for all.
SCORPIO (October 23- November
2t): Set aside some money for impulse
spending, but keep the receipts! Arguments
with friends are especially likely,
but keep in mind that these are people
you have to live and work with. Keep
your disagreements civil and your ego
under control.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December
20): You’re even more loquacious
than usual, but that can help heal
old family problems. Work problems
are more complicated, but keep talking.
Focus creative, competitive playfulness
towards achieving your ambitions.
CAPRICORN (December 2t - January
19): Let your mind wander a bit.
Discuss the crazier dreams and ideas
that emerge with a friend. Letting
yourself sound a bit weird can prove
valuable. You don’t have to agree with
old-fashioned notions, but study them
well to develop a clearer argument
against them.
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February
18): Your friends are used to your weird
side so don’t be shy. Revealing some of
your wilder fantasies can prove therapeutic,
maybe for them as well. Airing
those notions can also help you clarify
your sexual.boundaries.
PISCES (February 19 - March t9):
Some of your ambitions are unrealistic;
talk privately with a boss or some expert
to develop clearer goals. Then take time
out to consider what you need to do to
improve your relationship. Never mind
your partner’s faults. What do _you_
need to do?
MCCo METROPOLITAN
COMMUNITY CHURCHES
Rev Steve T. Urie
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2902 E20~ S~t
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MCC of the Living Spdng
t7 Bk SHeet
Eureka S~gs, AR 72632
479-25~9337
W0mhip Sundays at 6:00 PM
Have a God filled and BleSSed Day!
ww-w.metrostarnews.com #~etroSTAR 21
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Chuck Breckenridge
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Oklahoma’s HlVlSTB Hotline
Creating
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Our House, Too offers a variety of
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We provide a Toiletry and Household
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[]
WVg,r~TgZMETROSTAR2qEVgS.COM
22 {~*~{?troSTAR December 2008
Support those who support us. Their
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3540 E. 31st
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800-535-2437
Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline
SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC
2902 E. 20TH STREET,
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Service Saturday 9:30 AM
MCC of the LIVING SPRING
17 Elk Street
Eureka Springs, AR 72632
479-253-9337
Wbrship Sundays 6pm
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918-706-1887
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www.metrostarnews.com N®troSTAR 23

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