15 20 637 https://history.okeq.org/files/original/e181f6c6530068cbbde7af4e3b18d6e4.jpg 2c40b31811b78ff984b44cc99cce355d https://history.okeq.org/files/original/0e1d93a20d0f36f97760b60694395484.pdf 3a360adc92fa2eb2bcd9c77cca5b25a0 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. Text Any textual data included in the document Lesbian To BeExecuted- i Would Be First Woman Killed In Oklahoma : DENVER(AP)-A womanwhois scheduled,tobecome : the first female executed in~i°fOklalioma has ¯ filed~ an emergency appeal ~’_~10th U.S. Circuit : Court of Appeals. ’, -~-_.......... ~ .Wanda Jean Allen wants all 10judges-of the court to : stop her scheduled Jan. 11 execution, even after athree- " judge panel from the court-reftmed to overturn her : sentence in January. The U.S. Supreme Court~efusedtO -: consider her case and she was:denied clemency earlie~ ¯ this month. Alien maintains- as she has throughout_her previous appeals - that her prior counsel was deficient: ." AsSistant Attorney General Sandra Howard said her " office will oppose Alien’s request. : Allen was convicted of the: 1988 murder of Gloria " Leathers, her lover, outside The Village police station. " Tulsa Family NewsAdded State HistoPical Archives Allen had earlier been convicted Ofinanslaught~r. : Oklahoma’s Catholic, Episcopal andMethodist bishops have called on Gov. Frank Keating to establi.sb~a moratorium on all executions in the state.... ¯ commentary by TomNeal, editor &publisher " " OKLAHOMA CITY/TULSA - You would have thought it was : .simple to do a little "historical" research. Just as in elementary ¯ school, you go down to the Central Library and look up the ¯ . material. After a friend.mentioned some stories in The Gayly : Oklahoman that were published before this.newspaper existed, I : tried to dojust that, only to fmd thai’our library threw out its Gay ¯. publications after six months - so much for minority history! ¯ . Ha¢ing donated seven years of copies of TFN thinking that a : -portion of Tulsa’s LGBT history was being perserved, I was ~ : concerned. Suppression of Tulsa’s minority history_is hardly ¯ new. Tulsa’s Centennial celebration and book deliberately excluded any mention of the existence of Gay people, and Tulsa covered up some events, like the Rathe Riots of 1921, for years. Tulsa City County Library System (TCCLS) had reasonable excuses: they don’t have space to archive hard copies, they need to have the materials on microfilm, etc. True enough. Large newspapers, like The Tulsa Worm and The Daily Oklahoman, monopoly dailies with huge profits, of course can and do pay for their own filming. Those film rolls are then purchased-by TCCLS. However, small minority publications dearly don’t have those sorts of resources. However, The Oklahoma Eagle is in the TCCLS archives. How so? The Oklahoma Historical Society is committed to preserving more than just Oklahoma’s "mainstream" history. And in contrast to Tulsa’s usual response to its minority citizens (give us your tax dollars, keep your mouth shut andjust don’t getuppity), theOklahoma Historical Society was delighted to add Tulsa Family News to its collection including microfilming the new~paper so that OHS (and TCCLS we hope) can better reflect minority as well as majority history. ¯ With the interest of preserving as much of Oklahoma’s LGBT : historyas possible, I left amessagefor Paula Hand Brown of The ¯ Gayly Oklahoman to encourage them to provide theirback issues ¯ to the Oklahoma Historical Society. seeOHS, p. 10 NGLTF .Lesbian and-.. Gay Democrats-Concerned About Journal,sin Scholarships i AsbcroR as Attorney General WASHINGTON, DC-The National Gay and Lesbian : WASHINGTON (AP) - Several influential Democrats said ¯ So.ulforc,e-OK to Host :Noted B,ble Scholar ¯ Prof. Scott to Address.Bible Passages, + Soulforce .Goes to Rome~ MLK Parade ¯ TULSA - Dr. Brandon Scott will givea lecture this ¯¯ month based the passages in the Bible that are regularly used to attack Gay and Lesbian.people. These ¯ are the so-called "clobber" passages seen as con- ¯" demning homosexuality. Dr,~Scott is a well known New TestameiR scholar, -" a Jesus Scholar and teaches at Phillips Theological ¯ Seminaryin Tulsa. The event is open to thepublicand ¯ will be held the January 22nd Soulforce in Oklahoma ¯ meeting from 6 - 8pro at TheGay Community Ser- ¯ vices Center, 2114 S. Memorial. ¯ This event will.begin the education and training for ¯ local actions to take place, in Tulsa along with a "¯ interdenominational panel discussion on February ¯ 26th also at the Center at 6pro, to understand where : different denominations stand regarding this issue. ¯ Soulforce is an informal network of volunteers : -committed to teach, and apply the principles of non- " violence as taughtby Gandhi and Martin Luther King ." on behalf of sexual and gender minorities. Sodforce ¯ was founded in 1998 by the Rev. Mel White, author ¯ of Stranger at the Gate and his partner, Gary Nixon. ." Thewebsiteis www.soulforce.org. Innortbeast Okla- ¯ homa, contacts are KarenWeldin"Karen@cwis.net" ¯ and Susan Knanse "knalig@worldnet.att.net" ¯ "Soulforce believes that religion has become the ~ primary source of false and inflammatory misinfor- ." mationaboutLesbian, Gay, Bisexual, andTransgender ¯ people," says Sue Knause, Soulforce in Oklahoma volunteer. "Fundamentalist Christians teach that we ¯ are ’sick’ and ’sinful.’ Liberal Christian denomina- ¯ tions teach that we are "incompatible with Christian ¯ teaching." Most conservative and liberal denomina- ¯ tions re_fuse to marry us or ordain us for ministry. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that our orientation is ’objectively disordered’ and our acts of intimacy ’intrinsically evil.’ They teach that we should not ¯ marry, adopt, co-parent, teach children,, coach youth TaskForcerecentlyannouneedaFeb, 15,2000deadline to submit applications for the.NGLTF Messenger: Anderson Scholarships. The NGLTFMessenger-Anderson. Scholarship Program next year will award four $5,000 scholarships to high school seniors or undergraduatecollege students whoplantopursue abachelor’s degr,.ee in journalism at an accredited four-year college ¯or umverslty. The NGLTF Messenger-Anderson Scholarship was established by Larry Messenger and Jim Anderson in memory of Lawrence and Sdina Messenger. "The Messengers believed that there is a pressing need to encourage Gay and lesbian people to become more involvedinshapingmediaeoverage,?-’- e,,x,plainedNGLTF .Execufi.ve Director ElizabethTolbxlo.. ’Fair coverage of ISSUes important to the Gay,. Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendercommunity depend~uponthebasiepremise that all of us are created equally. But media coverage foday often begins with thediscriminatory notion that equality for GLBT people is somehow a matter for debate. By encouraging GLBT students to pursuejournalism andby assisting them with their Studies, theTask :Force hopes, to improve the way the GLBT comrnttulfies, ..a~_d moyemen.t are. covered.’" see. Scholarship,p. 3 DIRECTORY ...... P.2 EDITORIAL P.3 US & WORLD NEWS -. P. 4 HEALTH NEWS P. ENTERTAINMENT - P, BOOK REVIEW P. 10 : Sund~t.y that they .are distressed by President-elect Bush’ s cabinet , choices to date, mentioning .attorney general-designate John : Asheroft as. a particular problem, because.of his. opposition_to : abortion, gU~.¢ontrol measures, and anti,Gay positions, ¯ Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., called-Asheroftrs prospects at : Senate..confirmation for at[orney general "hardly a done deal’r : and said he is "truly worried" that Asheroft.would not.enforce ¯ federal laws. bannitlg violence against abortion clinics ~or laws : that restrict gun. ownership. In fact, Schumer commented that ~ Asheroft would work to repeal those~laws. "He is far and away ¯ the most troubling choice," Schumer said on-ABC’s-’-’TMs : Week." *’The questionis will Senator Asheroft enforce.thelaw of ." .the land on things thathe’s morally opposed to." : HoweveL Sen..,Orrin Hatch, R~Utah, appearing,,on the. same ¯ program, said he would be surprised if the Senate does not : confirm Asheroft,-the outgoing senatorfrom Missouri who has : served~that state’sattorney general and governor. "Heis aman : ofintegrity. Heis amanof great experience:’ Hatch said. "I have ¯" no-doubt, as a former attorney~ general and hopefully as-this ¯ attorney general, he will enforce the laW~.regardless of whether : he agrees with it or not" : Senate Minority ’Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D, also expressed ¯ concerns about Asheroft, saying that he and other DemoL’rats ¯ intend to ask.him tough questions during hi~s confiymation ¯ hearings~,sp~cificallYwhether he intends to enforce civil rights ¯ laws that pr,o,tect~minorities and statutes protecting equal rights : for women: -He has-to convincea i0tbf his eoliehgU~s~d fflrt : of those who are concerned.., that he Can do that," Daschle told : NBC’s "Meet the PressY ¯ Senate Republican Whip Don Nickles.of Oklahoma said he : doesn’t understand-why Ashcroft’s critics are "taking-these ¯ unfair cracks at him:" "I think some people are .... lookingfor an ¯ issue. They’re looking for a fight,"Nickles told NBC.. "They : .want to ha~ea big divisive battle. " see Ashcroft, p. 11 ¯ or serve in the military. Our goal is to. confront and : eventually replace these tragic untruths with the truth thatwe are God’s children, too, created, loved, and ¯ accepted.-by God exactly as weare," Knanse adds. ¯ During-the past summer Soulforce launched the ; "first stage" in their campaign to STOP SPIRITUAL ¯ .VIOI~ENCE noted Karen Weldin, Sodforee volun- ," teer. "We trained 1,000 volunteers on site at the : national conventions of the United Methodist, South- ¯" ern Baptist, Presbyterian, and Episcopal Churches. After silent, candlelight vigils, more than 500 of us : were arrested in carefully planned acts of nonviolent : dissent. On November 12-14, 2000 we conducted ¯ similar vigils and protests at the National Conference ~ of Catholic Bishops in Washington, DC." ¯ Mel Whitehas announced Soulf0rce,s plans to take : thenonviolentcampaignagainst centuries ofspiritual ¯ violence and anti-Gayteachings oftheRoman Catho- ¯ lic Church to the Vatican on January 5-6, 2001. ¯ Supporters of Soulforce and Dignity/USA plan to : place their specific demands for inclusion for all ; peoplein the Church on the doors of the Vatican, in ¯ amoveechoing that of Martin Lutherat thebeginning of the Reformation. ¯: Soulforee in Oklahoma is als0 joining PFLAG, HRC-Oklahoma, and TOHR in the annual Martin : Luther King Memorial Parade .on Monday, January ¯ 15th¢2001. The Parade starts atCincinnati and Pine at 1 tam and ends in the Greenwood district. March- ¯ ers are asked to arrive 30 minutes early and look for : the Rainbow-colored banners. Parking is very limited, marchers are encouraged to share a ride if ¯ possible. Formore information, Call the Commuuity Centerat743-4297between 6-9pm,Monday through ¯ Friday.. . ~,--.-.. Tulsa C[0b~"& Restaurants " -~lS.583.I248,:fax:!583.,461~!-~,i. ,, , :!! -~......: "" *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 712--2324 " POB 4140, Tulsa, OK’Tzt159. e-mail TulsaNews@earthiinlcnet ...... " *CW’s, i737S.’NIriiiofial ": 6i0-g3"~3 " Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal . " ~ " . 2.2 *Club che~:136mb~1926 E. Pine " -: -: 58~22~1~9 "" .~iii~rs’~- ~oniiibut~rs’: ~ames Chris-tjohli, Kaiin Grgg~Si%~Barr3) . Polo Gfi11’~’2038 UtiCa Square . -. - 7~-4280 i~.I ~ Rotl~blum.,Mar~ Scl~epets Hiaghston.Wall~inshaw *St. Michilel’~ Aii~ Restaurant, 3324-L E’:-31st 745£9998 -- ° ................. . *TNT’-~,~2:i-~:4N-i’l~iein0rial : : - i" ;~° 660~9856~,~" !.ssued.aroundthe’lstofeachmonth~tlieenfireconti~ms~ofdliz:i "’~ *Tool Brk; :f338 E~’3rd " " ’- i584-]308..~ p_ubli~cation are prot._eqted.~ by US cop.yEi..’ght 2001-,b~ Tulga~ *The YelliS~: Bi:i(KR0ad Pub; 263OE; 15th’ "~4~f5~~’d "v~’am~lY New~andmaynotbereprdduc~’eittle~in.ffholerri~n, TulsitBU~’~n~Ss~s, Services, &Profession~l~;..... .L.o~ p~..without.writtenpeimi~ion-frbm-.the.pi~titisher;.Publica4. ,; Assoc. in_. M._ed, ,&~ Mental Health, 2325 S. ~Arvard 7~43:~00.0; " tion of a name’or-photo:doesnot indieate, apei:son:S.~extml: Barnes & Ng-b"!e;B0oksellers, 8620 E 71 - 250,50- 3"" 4 "~6iqetltafion. Correspondence is, assumedto,befor-pabiicaiion;. " Barnes & NOble~Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 .... 665:4580-- :.’: ~.q~!eS.~S, othem¢se’note&must b~3ighed &,lSe~omes.~t~e gole- Body Piet~i.-ng~) Nicole, 2722 E. 15 ..... property oP~’ut~t~amity’New’s.: Eaeh.r~a~ter-is,entitted to ~.,, i. ’.. 21.22-!A22~ ~, copies of each edition atdiskribiafionp0iia’ts. : i,,,..:: *BorderS-B~ol~s:~&:~)[usic, 2740 E. 21 ......... 712-.9955 .o *Borderal~ooks:&’Music, 8015 S. Yale : "::. 494~266~ ~: Ad~fi0nal copies-are’available by calling-583d:248.. ........... ~-, *CD Warel~;il~i-3807c S. Peoria *Cheap ThTi!ls~26z}0 E. 1 lth ..... 295-58ff80" ! IMgnity/InteN~)idf Tiiisa -:Lesbiiln& Ga~ Cafll61i~~& . ...... Cherry S.t; psyc.hQ..therapy, 1515 S. Lewis "-581-0902, 743,4t17~ .;. : _Ep.~.scopali~; ’P.’.~17~0i?~75,7~170-1:4"~5 .? ,:’ :. 355:3140:" : Commt~ty.~leaning, KerbyBaker " i." 622-0700., : *Fellows.hipCo~gr,e.,g..ChN.ch,2.90~)’~.H~iffd’:;......747:7777 ¯ Tim Daniel, Attorney 352:9504, 800-742-9468 ’."~*’FreeSpifitWomen sCenter:,-cdl’[~’orlb~iirh&ifif0: 587-4669! ; Doghouse on Brookside; 3311 S. Peoria>".’ 2’ 744-555.6~ : Friend~ in Urfi~ g0diai’Orgi,POB 8542~74101 ..... . 582;0438: : *Elite Books & Videos, 821S. Sheridan " . 838:8503~ -~.: HIV-ER Centbr, 4-138 Chiis. Page Blvd. . ’ " 583-661I’ ¯ Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial 369,8555 :- *TUlsa.TC.AIR:E.S.:;~ 3507~.~.E. iAdmiial ....... ’ ....: 834-419z[ -" Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712-9379 ." HOPE, HIV Outreach,Preventi0n; EduCatldti . " i 834-8378 ~ Events’Unlimited, 507 S. Main " 592,0460: : *HousepftheH0iySpiriiMin;tri~s,il,~!JS.Mgmorial 224_-4754 : Floral Design Studio, 3404. S. Peoria ..... 7/1:4-9595 ¯ *MCC United, 1~52) N. MapleW06Ll ~ 838-1715 ¯ Four Star Import Automotive, 990.6 E. 55th Pl. 610,0880 :_ NAMES ProJect, 3507 E. Admiral H. 748-3111 : Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica S~. Med;.ctr. 628:3709 : NOW, Nat’.l:Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159" 365-5658 . Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026 " OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9!~:~2~~5~ " ¯ *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 742-1460 ¯ *OSU-Tulsa ...... Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial p!apping 459:93;49: :-PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 " - .......... /749-4901 Mark T: Hamby, Attorney 744:7440~ " *Hanned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria .....587:7674"- *Sandra J, Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E." Skelly 745~-’1111 ¯ Prime-Timers, P.O~ BoX 52118, 74152 *International Tours ’ 341-6866 ¯ ’-R~.A.I:N:; Regional~AIDS InterfaithN&~v0rk . 749:41,95 ; Youhaveanopportunity, too, toreachout Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 71252750 ; *Red-.Rock Mental~Center, 1724 E. 8 . ..... - ~ 384-2325 - : and listen to the concerns of Gay, Lesbian, *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th - 582:3018 ~ ’St’. Aidan’s~scopalChurch,4045N.Cincinnafi ."425-7882 : BisexualandTransgenderedAmericansand David Kanskey; Country Club Barbering 747-0236 St. Dufistan S Episcopal, 5635 E. 7tst ............ 492-7140 ¯ their parents, families, friends and allies. It The K,eepers, Housekeeping & Gardening --- 582-8460 -. *St.Jerome’s ParisliChurch, 205W. King _ . ’582-3088 ; is saidthatoneinfourfamilieshaveafarnily *Ken s Nowers, 1635 E. 15 ...... 599~8070 , : -Soulforce-OK; Rt.4,# 3534, SfiglerT~2 58713248~452-2761 " member who is Gay or Lesbian~ Weare sick Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747:32166- : : ,Tulsa-Area united Wa~y, 1430-s:Bgiiider....583-717i . ’and fir.ed of fighting thosewho would.prefer . that we all go back in the closet- and;itrp *LivingArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha ....~ 585:1234 ¯ ’*:Tlq~,7iPP (Native American men),’IndiatIHeath Care" ’ 582-7225 *Midto~i,nTheater~319E..3rd ...... 584:3112 ¯¯ ...........:..... ,:,.~ - : _~,............... ¯ seekingjustice, safety and respect for those ~utsat~ountyt-teatmJJepartment,-4o~b,e. ta........ ’,a:~a.-4tua ; welo~eThatfs ev " " -- " Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720cE. 31 ..... 663-5934 : ...... .................. -........ ; .... - " ’ ’ ..... ~~ :~ " ’- " . . ,..’, ~.~ *MohaWk MusiC, 6157 E 51 Place........ 664~-2951 :~ ; ’ 297-" : : e~Pv,°.~Ussb~Y~t.°~isakexet~fa~f~.-~cel.,n. Puppy PauselI, 1060 S. Mingo ....... 83857626 . :-T:U-,L:.S.A:.Tnlsa~Uniform/Leath~rSed~i-s A~rC "298~827. :-"- ~, !Y’~’~Y’ ¯ ’ _ ~ " " " ¯ genQerco/Mllerlcans are trcaieo. *The Pride Store - -- " ..... 743’:z~297 : ’*Tulda ChyH-~lt;rrotmd FloorVestibnle ’"~ ......:...... ~ . Rainbowzon the River B÷B,POB 696, 74101 " 747-’5932 : *Tnl~ii~cism’ifi~Unii) CollegeCampu~es ..... "........ : ................. ~ ~ Nowli~kE is this more important thatt in Richard’s CarpetCleaning ~-- 834-06q7 : ~*TulsaG~Coi~fiiimii3iC~ter;2/st&Memorial .. :1743-4297 ¯ ..our s~hools. I have been struck by .your TeriSchutt, Rex’ Realtors 834-7921,74’7.~746 :-Unity~hur.chof(2hti~tiAnit~;3355S:.Janies-trWn ¯ -.749-8833 -’:P.assjOn fOr excellence in the educati°n we Scribner’s -Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square; ...... 74-%6301 BAFITLE~VIt2LE .................................... ... give Our youth. I share that passion.’l~Ut I Paul Tay, Car Salesman. " " 260-7829 i’ iBm’tlesvillePublic.Librai’y,600 S~ Jolma0nd ~i 918~3~7-53531~ i mfalStl°loe’l~~rt.t.Os:~~W’.~eotohlas,t’"~ulnelveessns othuear cbhesiltdftreeancehersa,nd *TnlsaComedyClnb,.6906S. Lewis " 8.4~.~55~38 : TAHLg:QI.JAH _ ¯ the be’t:’fi~terials will not make the differ= Venus Salon; 1247 S. Harvard °2 .- : ~:l’7~q 7 : :.Stonewall League, call for information .... 918-456-7900 ~ ence they should. We know that: Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling _._-.o___ : - . ...... " " " " - 66522222 :." Tahl.-eq-ualrUmtanan-,Umversallst Church .... 918-456-7900 ¯ * Virtually all students in public schools *Wherehouse:Musi¢; 5150 S. Sheridan *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592 0767 ~ Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 ~ ....."918-453-9360 " regularly report heating anti-Gay remarks www.gaymlsa:0rg .... website forTulsaGays &Les-bians- ": EU" RFKA SPRIHG" ~, ARKANSAS - " " "¯ fMroamsspaceheurss(eett.sg.G,9o7v%erinnoar1is9C93oRmempiossritoonfthone Tulsa Aoenei si Churches, Sehools&0niver iiiO " "Autunm Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253-7734 " Gay and LesBian Youth; and a March 1997 AIDS Walk Tulga’, POB 4337,q4101 ...... 579-9593 " Jim &Brent’s’Bistro, 173 S. Main. 501-253~7457 ¯ All Souls:UnitariaWChureh, 2952 S: Peoria - - ........743-2-363 " DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center.St. - ¯ ¯ .’.. ~ 501,253-6807- :. :smdYby’hi"ghsch°o1 studentsinDesM°ines" Black & White, Inc: POB 14001 Tulsa 74159 587-7314 ¯ Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring-St. " - 501-253-5445 ." Iowa, found that students reported heating , ¯ anti-Gay epithets 25 times a day). Bless The Lord atAll Times Christian Center.2207 E. 6 583-7815 MCC of the Living. Spring 501-253-9337 " * Harassment of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 " Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 501-253-2776 ¯ or Transgendered youth often goes well Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 " Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-253-5332 : beyond verbal harassment to physical as- *Chapman S_tudent Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th Pl. & Florence " Positive lde;a Marketing Plans 501~624-6646 ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314 N.Greenwood 587-1314 " Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East ........ 501:253-6001 : sanlts. All too many of our PFLAG parents " have been devastated by the physical and *Community of Hope Church, 2545 S: Yale 747-6300 " White Light, 1 Center St. - 501-253-’4074 ¯ emotional harm done to their children by *Commtm~_’ty Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 " dOPLIN, MISSOURI "- their peers - unchecked by administrators Council Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888 ¯ Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696 " and teachers. *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware ..... 712-1511 " * iswhereyoucanfindTFN.NotallareGaY-0w.nedb.utallareGay-frieadly. ¯ see PFLAG, p. 11 " An Open Letter to President-Elect George W. Bush Congratulations on being elected to th~ office of- President of the United States:of:.: America. Like you, I am a patriotic An~¢ii~ can and a.person of deep faith. But I am also the motherlof a Gay son and the Executive .Dire~to_r~0f Parents, Families and Fri~ids ~f.: ._Lesbi.aas.,,.and Gays. (PF:I~.G)~ Through~o,. ¯ -lifetimegf,,working for equal justice~J have, foun~d~that di.vision catmotbe solved without .. compassion and inclusion. I h6pe that vision and values of "compassionat.e;eon.:. serv.a.tism"have taught you the sam~:_ .: In.yo0r .acceptance remarks, you_.men--. tioned then.eed"to address some ofsociet~yis., ¯ deeper:problems one person at a time~.by,. eneotlr~ggi~tg andempowering thegoodhe,art~_. and ~j~!i~i,orks of theAmerican people.!T!n esse~€¢i: this is what PFLAG does. We are.. peopi,,a~cro~s this country who reacho~i.in. lovg.tO~ those who differ from us, and.come. to u~.d¢~rstand and appreciate them.......... P.~.FL~..G_members share with you.~de..: sireAQ protect the rights and ens_ure potential, of all Americans. Youhave-a great opportunity to assure that all claims ~ that anyone was turned away from the polls ,or discouraged from voting because .of their race or ethnic origin are rigorously.and sympathetically investigated and pur.s.ued by your administration. As anationwemust face up to the continuing existence ofracism in our country and do everything we can to eradicate unfair treatment because of race. ¯" Otherwise we will not be able to reap the :.o.¯ benefits o~ourproudcommitment to liberty ¯ and.justice for all.... Thompson, HHS & An LGBT Agenda by Elizabeth Toledo, Executive Director National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Thefirst time I picketedinfront0fthe Reagan Building in Washington, D:C. was in protest of ii visit by Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson. He had signed some 0f the most misogynist legislation in the country, includingthe most restrictive atiti-abortion legislation implemented " since the Supreme Court in Roe v Wade recognized abortion as a constitutional right in 1973. He also: engineered Wisconsin’s onerous wdfare law, which kicked off the trend that resulted in punitive measures at the federal level - measures that made scapegoats of many lower-income people who lacked access to educational opportunities, job training and affordable child care. Imagine then my surprise to pick:up,several publications that serve the gay, lesbian, bisexti,~l:~dtransgender community and read an uncritical analysi~ofThompson~ whom President-designate George W. Bush has nominated to .be Secretary of Health and Human Services. Replace Donna Shalala with Tommy Thompson? The dismal reality of the presidential dection has begun to sink in. Thequestion arises, what vision and leadership will we in the GLBT movement provide over the course TFN: Beginning by Tom Neal, editor &publisher I usually write this editorial late in November because : we published our first issue midway through December in ." 1993. At the time, I’d been writing andlaying out the Tulsa section of a now defunct Kansas-based rag. Eighty-four issues have now been printed, documenting - ,, the life.and issues of our commumty, if not . . . Eighty-t~our issue~ perfectly, then better than has ever been done¯ Certaiul.y, The Gayly Oklah~man, our sister, and elder, publicationhas been around ¯ longer but as Tulsans havelong complained, : their coverage of our city has iaever been as ¯ thorough. We’ve long argued that you can- :. not successfully provide newscoverage for ¯ a town in which you don’t live. Unlike many .LGBT, let us say, Gay, for _" brevity, newspapers, Tulsa Family News is : available in a number of mainstream ven- ¯ ues: Tulsa City Hall, Tulsa City-County ¯ Library System, Barnes & Noble, Borders ¯ Books &Music, anumberofTulsachurches, ." as well as at some" Tulsa dubs, and other ¯ venues where Gay papers have been longer have now been printed, documenting the life and issues d our community, if not perfectly, then better than has ever been done.., it has been a labor of love, not money. Tulsa seems full of people who think that there are hig welcome. This easier access Should hardly buel~s to be-made in Our Eighth. Year ¯ day-out. But you find in minority communities, a mentality that we should not hold our leaders and programs or : others up to a public standard. . Clearly we disagree. ¯ Anewspaper (unlikelocal community magazines which ." seek to highlight "good things" about Tulsa and to sell advertising) exists to seek the truth and to publish it. Sometimes that is "good stuff" and sometimes, alas more often, it’s bad. Tulsa Family News seeks to be fair in our reporting and dear in our editorial Writing. Sometimes we have not been either which we regret. For example, we wrote in last month’s editorial that there are groups involved in Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry who oppose civil rights for Lesbians and Gay men. I regret that my writing was not dear. As written, it appears that I attribute that position to the ministry itself rather than constituent groups. But as I pointed out to one TMM staff person, our editorial pages are open to other points of view and that we have published letters to the editor, even when they are extremely critical of this newspaper and its writers. I am disappointed that of thenexftour. years9eIns iot u.,ghtosay that Tommy ," be taken for grantewd- therhe waes timne. .. local publlshi,n~. TMM’s. staff decided not to write with Thompson is not as bad an appointment as-Bush could ~ the only place Y0U.could find a Gay paper ~,, ~ .... . ,, their concerns. . have made~-Is itenough to say that the nomination ofSen ? ¯ ¯ v~as in a sexually oriented bookstore, or in l"lease think .again.... So with seven years down, and more to John ’.A~h~0ft to be attorney general is somehow miti" i ." adub- v~fiue~ ff~ch sofii~ifiay.bg.ungom~ " i~ ~ " . i " go~ God, advertisers, printers and writers oated’bvth~nominafionofthenrO-choiceandnro-GLBT :" fortablefr~iu~ti~g,o~ttherS,thoseunder21 for example, " "’.i~illing~wewillcontinuetodowhatwedo, hopefully with New Jersey Guy. Chi~stine Whitman~to :be head of the " may not always tiavea.c_cess. . ........... ¯ .~feweramstakes and maybe even more ads. . Environmental Protection Agency9 " ’: - :.~ ¯ :/" ’* And unlike many Gaypapers, TFN has~always limited. ::..i Particularthaiaksis~luetoourwriters,mostparticularly, Let’s give credit where it. is du~: As-Ch~afr of "the" :"the sex~tiall~ oi:itlii.".~. ~~.~i9~f.,0.urp.ag~:~¢a~e not aiiti-~ .’. myfrt~fid, form~rc0mpanion, and still neighbor, ,entercommitteethatdraftedtheRepublican’Partyplafformlast : sexbutd0t~ffni~etllaipageafterpageof-explicitpht~tos ¯ tainmentcriticJamesChristjohn.He’sbeentherefromthe summer, Th0mnson did lead the effort tO remove some ~ ¯ and personals may be profitable but push ~e llnaits of the ;i.~b’eginiiing and h/is put up with much along the way. Also, not alF:~ Of th6 ~OP’s anti-GLBT language (A measure :-:..~’:mainstream" community’s’t3feranc~",.W,e~O.ra~..e.r,g~.t.:the. :;~.’deser~,~ng of th~ a~e writers Barry Hensley, Lamont condemning recognition of same-sex Tel~ ~atioushi~s re- : hews to all, eveni~f ,i.t,’ ,c0’..s,t~ .u~.i~o,’ ~,~"~i’-; ...... . ..... :, Lindsttom, Mary Sch¢ppers, Jean-Pierre LeGrandbouche mained in Thomt~son’s draft and other~disciiminatorw ~ ¯ Which brings us-to this: it ]ias.]~,en.~a:i~biJi 0Yl0ve, nut’s. ~ (~ho t~ally, really is not me!), Karin Gregory, long-time measurea~Were later olaced back in the’platform after ¯ .~oney. Tulsa seems trUli oF people.who.thmk that thergare ;. ,advertasers Kelly Kirby, Tim Darnel, Vanessa Welch, St. religious fi~ht activist~wresfled the dotuineiit away fro~~’~:7’big bucks to be,made, in loCa!...pub!is.h~ Pl,,eAs~..e tlfink ¯ ." .Michad’s Alley, TOHR, MCC United, David. Kauskey theVvV~scon~in ~overnor) ............. ,, .’i~:L~ain. 1-iSi:6iiiiseyoutha~it~Xl0t,s~.The~¢i~areas0n that i. ~.madt]~e.bthers who make it possible to print thisnewspa- Thomp~iJn al~o has b~n a positive advo~ate for AIl~g,." 7 Lhave anothgr,j~b ~, ~,e,ll as pubii a this, fiJ paper .per~ And I must add particular thanks to our printer (and fundin~"He~stron~lv suooorted the R~an-White Care Act. : .-, Of€ourse, it wg~lfidn thur(ifinbi:etfTulsa s Gayxxwncd ;..hi.sogo,ood and patient staff), who despite beingafaithful andh~litMe~,aid~aiversforHiV_~p0sitivepeople,,. :_, i~us~iiesses"a~.~.i~Tg,~_~:i,~tio~ ~ere supporting,..u~., ,!~ can :, ,~.uth~..rn Baptist, s~d we had a right to get .our,news who are"~i~t-normallv elioible for Medi~d until they:." ""thinkofadoge~i’~sdwhocould~doso.,Graatcdi~ma.’ghtnot ": printedaudhasdone~0f°rmostofoursevenyear*,71oour have dev~’iooed AID~ s~toms. : : . ..... ~ ~’~: :. ~:ltfin~-thefii2as much beaef~t. ,~. ~ ~a~:W~.r!~d..gr.~ban : ::~adei:’s,-Ialsoaddmythanks foryourinterestand.ev,eryonce That’s two marks m favor of Thomp~qn - and in ....:l:ulsaa~tbut~t,als0.,w..o0!~...t,,,eg,~s~t,a t,eg~th.~f.:pne percent as ., m,a while, your feedback.......... oppos~ih~Tli6mpson’s nomination as Secre.,.ta:rY of Health. i~ much. ~Atld ~e,,r,e,, ~i~s;~,s0.m..._e.._.~.’n_go to_ .~e. zaid~;f,o.r, su.pporti.n.,g ; .7 ~.Las.t,:I..ran pr,oud to, n.ote th~at~, Tu~,a F,amily~,N¢.e~v~s ~.h~ nndlffii~t~h’.q~rviee~ the National Ga~aJ~sbianTask "~ your own,.as wett as not,justsupporlingguDncattons wtm ~ ¯ ,o.e,eu 0a.Oed to me arcmves oI me uraanoma rUs.totacat FoBrcuetadtogersii~~ointlterldvlaanl~dzte~rtohgeriersismivepoGrLtBanTcYen.i.tfvement for _¯. acnotm~-mGuanyithyl,stwoenreesalt~L,yi~~ol~ons¢,tl-iskuep,.tph0er.tWe~~,cL.Od,,,o.,a~0e,d~.~Le~.!r7.,y.~E.;,.e~sn;,.a :o:. -~:~m.9e9pxea.pt~erTwh,em.Sc,nocm~,eetyn w.~~itlu!saals~t~o,tbye~t_m.olcurnotfyil~L.mtoi,r’angtT,c,o~~py~s¢t8,eomf soclal~ustace must demandbetter....................... ¯ ,"¯ ¯ .N.o.w.su.ing.,w.il.l ~a.y. t;h.a..t..s.b..e.c..au:s..e..w...e..w.._.n..t.e.t.h.i.ngs which .o .¯ w-ill b. e ,abl to add to their permanent collex~ta¯ on¯ T¯ ulsa As ~’Cb~ia scott Kin~ recently noted at NGLTF’~-~:_,o_anger p.~0pl,g (.o,.r.00W t.c~ver things ,,vhich-anger~ some.¯ ,.,Faintly.News al_~_O ~c,alled and encouraged the.Gayly Oklarecen( ci(eatino Chanoe ~,onferen~e:~n~’~f the stories ¯ others). We have pubiiSl~l’e~/ti{als,critical of ctmml~- : : , ho~aan to donate €opies of their productionto.th¢.OHSso behind’th’e~No~en~ger ~{~00 election is~l~3~recedented : nity leaders, articles which, were. ~’n’~l-c,hl .0f. I=I!Vii.A_ifi.s : :, ~eof Oklahoi~a’s Lesbian and Gay.history,win be coalition’-buildin~ "In a way we hav~t~s~id an object ’: i~o~bans, eVoi~fiti’~tl ofL~sbianown,ex!r.estaurants,local ¯ ¯ preserved.TFN will alsobe donating our copies ofdefunct lesson in’t~e nower of coalition unity:’~Mrs Kin~ said "I " and nanonal theatrical producuons, and-more; .-.That ,s, of ¯. Oklahoma LGBT pubhcattons to the OHS as w~ell.. think we havre just seen.the future~ Am~fican°dem~€: : course; precisely what.,The.Tul~a:Wor~d doe~ daydn_aiid : .. Here’s to a good year in 2001 for you and for us. racy flash before our eyes last Tuesday (Nov. 7). The " coalition.that gave AI Gore a popular majority can surely be as powerful as theNew Deal coalition that transformed America in an earlier era." Quotingtheimmortal words ofherhusband, Mrs. King ¯ said, "We -are~all ~tied together in a: single garment of. ~.! destiny...An inescapable network of mutuality...I can never be what I ought to be until you are allowed to be what you ought to be." " So in envisioning abroad-based, progressive coalition, I think we must think of those who have suffered and will " suffer under a Bush-Tommy Thompson agenda. Based " on his record, how would we expect Thompson to treat ." poor GLBT people who need social services? If he ¯ punishes poorwomenfor having too many children, how " do we think he’s going to treat GLBT parents who need hdp providing for their kids? How will his support for a ." During each year of the program’s duration, four Messen- .gerzAnderson scholarships .will be available at a rate of $5,000 the first year, renewable at $2,500 the next two years for a possible total award of$10,000. Winners are required to.participate ,in a paid Messenger- Anderson Scholarship Intern Program atNGLTFoffices in Washington, D.C. or New York City during the summer of 2001. To download scholarship guidelines and an application,. please visit www.nglff.org/about/messenger.htm. For questions about the scholarship, email delliot@ngltf.org. No phone calls, please. ." Applications fortheNGLTFMessenger-Anderson Schol- : arship .Fund must be postmarked by Feb. 15, 2001¯ Win- . pro-heterosexual-marriage agenda in wdfare policies : ners will be announced this spring, and the awards, will be impactOUt:eoramunity?., ~,, ~., ., -,.’." .;. see .NGLTF,,p, 11, ,.:- ~distributed~’in~August.-~200~l,:, .’A, committee ,of, working ~ : journalists, communications specialists and GLBT activ- ¯ ists will select the .winners.. The scholarship competition ¯ is only open to undergraduate college students and to : graduatinghigh school seniors. Applicants mustbepursu- ¯ ’ing a bachdor’s degree in journalism. In instances,where ¯ colleges or universities do not offer such a degree, appli- : cants must be able to.demonstrate that they are pursuing a : career in either journalism or commtmications advocacy, ¯ Foundedin 1973, NGLTFworks to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and -Transgendered people at the local, state and national level. As part of a broader social justice moyement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that ¯ respects the diversity of human expression and identity ,.where all people ,may.fully participate in society: ......... Anti-Gay Petition Filed ¯ SALEM; Ore. (AP) - Just weeks after Oregon voters defeated an anti-Gay rights measure, Lon Mabon and his Oregon Citizens Alliance have filed-a similar initiative petition for the 2002 ballot. Mabonfiled the initiative, dubbedthe Student Protection Act II, with Federal and-state constitutions forbid s~hools from banniug books because officials disapprove of their vlewpoxnts. Enterline said she ordered the books over the summer because the library lacked biographies and she wanted students to havethe chance to learn about Gay the secretary of staters office. If it qualifies for the andLesbianrolemodels.’qThebooksarenotaboutsex. ballot, it would .be the OCA’s fourth anti-Gay civil ".. They are just about people, who have ledlnteresting, rights ballot measure.. Voters rejected measures in i producti. ve-lives. an,dal.so.ha.pp.e.n¯.to.b.e Gay,"_ .s.a.i.dTom 1992 and 1994. " .... Kovac; the school s hbrary- technician. Measure" 9 would have prohibited instruction in ¯ It isn’t the first time the district bahned booKS’. TWO public gchools~aat "encourages, promotes or sanctions" behaviors related to homosexuality and bisexuahty. Th~new xmttattve says sexual onentatton shal notbe taught inOregon public schools in iimauner that would express approval of, promote or endorse homosexual ot bisexual behaviors." Sexual orientation and homosexuality are defined as yielding, whether x thought of deM,_respectivdy, to urges fr~iiaptations to en~a~eifl sexu~ activity with members of the same gender. :~ :~’ -:’ :~ ’ In th~ fall ~afiapaign, lV!easure 9 oppoif~n(s said the meastii~~fifil(ed ~Children s health beCMii~’ it wou~! limitAIDS;edt~ation in schools and le~d (6 increased teen suicide. 7 ~ " The iie~¢’initiative says.the,,propos~AiS~te sh.o.u!,d not be~ci)fi~i,e,d,,ias limiting: age-appt.o.p~ate, ot~jective,~" dt’aetual ’AIDS educati,o,n, in~ii-ii~fi’bn reg~d~ ing hum~iii ~exuality, t~aching affi~.")i~"~the hnniim wortli~Of"alI~st~dents,’ or suicide consoling. The statute al~0 ~hould not cause the firing!.ofbpenly Gay teachers, the proposal says. Ellen L0we, who worked on the Nd 6n 9campai~i, said the new effort would not persuad~ :~;0ters WI~ rejected the measure to switch side~. "I sense that people really dounderstandthe motive~,0fLonMabon. I don’t know that they are going to be fooled," Lowe said. In a fund-raising letter dated Dec. 18, Mabon, the OCA~s executive director, told supporters that ~e antt-"Measure 9. campaign "spent close, to- a million dollars, promoting this lie" about A!DS educataon: "We must file right away to keep the homosexual activists in our schools from:taking more license w!~ our innocent children," the letter said. School Charged With. Censorship of Gay Bios SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) - Two students sued the Anaheim Union High School District for removing 10 biographies on homosexuals from their school library in what they contend is a violation of constitutional free-speech rights. The Orangeview Junior High School students.said in the U.S. District Court lawsuit that the district censored a book series called "Lives of Notable Gay Men and Lesbians." Thebooks include biographies on tennis player Martina Navratilova, economist John Maynard Keynes, and writers Willa Cather and James Baldwin. " The American Civil Liberties Union, whichfiled the suit oi~ behalf-of the two unidentified students, demanded that the district immediately return the books to the library shelves. "We all know why these books havebeenbanned;" ACLU attorney MarthaMatthews said. "The books were banned because they had a . positive statement to make to kids about Gay and Lesbian people.. ¢Fhe books were banned because of deep-seated prejudice." Principal Barbara Smith removed the books and took them to the district office in September, the suit said. No reason was given by administrators, Orangeview library teacher Chris Enterline said. "In my heart, I know it’s because they. are about Gays and Lesbians, and it says so on the front of the book," Enterline said. Telephone calls to Smith weren’t returned. : years ago, the district removed the Pulitzer Prize- : wiariinghoog,~"Beloved;r$~-f~y Toni M0rrison;.because ¯ of complaints that it was too graphic in its descriptions of a strivewho kiils l~er daughte~ instead 0f-ha4ing her ~ live as a slave. ,.;.......... ,Baitimore:,officialSlams : Gays,,ThenGets Arrested B’ALTI~(~RE’(AP)" ~-’The ~city s ~housing .~,-~- ii sioner was arre,sted after refusing tO lea~i~-a b~, ~vhere ~ h~b~htter’eomplained-~the commissioner made repeh~ ed-disparaging remarks~ab0utp.atrons h~ Su~spect~,,ed ! ~ff being Gay. "You "gttys° are fags;~ and-"-ttfi~ whole : ~ra~ i~’friil’ 6f fags"~were’amofig the r~maik~:~ ph~flT. GT~fii~6 ~lS~t~dlym.ade, a,€~ording ,fil~d, b,~Offi~r E~cert ~Lutadeju. :" Gr’a~iano,47,:~cas arre~t&l ~Bertha and restaurant in the historic Fells Point waterfront : diSLri~fi~p6li~e~pokeawomar~Ragina A~erdl’a ~Sitid. .i :Afi~r t~in~’t~i~nore~ the~remarks, the t~V~i:~at~fns, i~ Jason E~w~rd, 2~, and Prasad Narasimhff Ki~duvhlli, ; 33, asked the bartender to ask Grazi.ano to leave, the : ¯ "Police v~eiie ~alled because Mr. Graziano hadb~n -~isked,to leave and refus~.ed~ to dO :so; , Averell~-s~tt~~. ¯ "P61iC~ were called to.the sceneandheSfill refli~ed’~o ¯ leave~ .and- he-was ptaced..under arrest. The officer. i .advised the-suspecii repeatedly, to leave;and arrested,, Gra~iimo after he Said ,I don’4 have to go anyw.here~I the report said. Graziano, who was initially, charged with disorderly conduct, was released from the-city detention center later the morning of his arrest, the police spokeswoman .said. Gtaziano, a senior adviser and former general manager of theNew York City. Housing. Authority,. ,was appointedinOctober afterformercommissionerPatricia Hayne resigned following disagreement with Mayor Martin O’Malley over.how to run the department. ¯ Graziano will notbe prosecuted, said Deputy State’s ¯ Attorney HavenKodeck. "Based on our guidelines, we ¯ determined that prosecution was not warranted," : Kodeck said. "The situation was abated by Mr. ¯ Graziano’s arrest and removal from the situation;" A ¯ telephone call by The Associated Press to OrMalley’s ¯ office was not returned. " Conneetieut Scouts Try to Explain Anti-GayViews ¯ HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Connecticut Boy Scfut ." officials have distributed more than 25,000 copies of a ¯ pamphlet explaining the national organization’s tea- -" son~ for not accepting openly Gay members or adult ¯ leaders. "It is a statement of who we are and what our _" belief system is," said Douglas Ktofina, executive ¯ director of the Yankee Council, based in Milford. ¯ The pamphlet, called "In Support of Values: A ¯" Communication Tool for Parents, Leaders and Friends ¯ of Scouting," outlines the policy that was narrowly ¯ up,h~eld by the U.S. Supreme Court. ¯" "I’his is a complicated issue, but our critics are jumping up and down saying we discriminate," said ! Krofina, whose council serves 25,000 youths in most ¯ of New Haven and Fairfield counties. ~ ’q~he court said we have a First Amendment fight to II "- 11 " ’ M( c’United._..:i :~end_C~thy Ellioi~ : 1623 N~ Maplewood 918/838-1715 Community Unitat: Universalist Congregation ~t Cbthinunity ofHope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE. oF THE HOLY sPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pro, Sunday Eve. Service, 6pro 1517 S. Memorial, 628-0802, Info: 224-4754 The Open Arms Project Young Adult Support Group Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325 MingoValley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-444-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 TulSa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 The Pride 21st Street & Memorial Tulsa Gay Community Services. Center 7432GAYS (743-4297) 6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday ’ . 12-9pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the Center Important Information Call 212-461-2976 IntereSted? Call 918-447-8602 Red Rock Tulsa- Free,Confidential HIVTesting Walk-in Clinics Tues. & Thurs., 5 -8 pm at the Center, 1307 East 38th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 KIM WlLKS Independent Consultant for 357-1757 in lust a matter of hours Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 associate with whom we choose," he said. "Professed " The husband looks at the wife and says, ’did you see athei"stscan_’ t-beScout~leadersormembers el"thex:Had....-.¯.. ~who he called honey-?’ They were uncomfortable and the atheists been more organized, they would have ° we were,uncomfortable. If you eliminate that factor, it reached the Supreme Court first, and the court would -have-niled the same. way," ..... The naiion’h highest court ruled in July thatothe Boy Scouts may bar Gay.s.,from:servmg as troop,leaders, 6oncluding that forcing the Scouts to accept Gay )..eaters w~dyiolate~eo~ganization’.s First ~anendment right of free’expression. ~ . The .a~pplieation. for adult leaders does not ask.a candidate’s sexuall orientaffon, and Scouting has-~an unofficial "don’t ask, don’t tellY.policy similar to the militm-y. ’.s,;Krofina said.... Charlotte Begins: Gay. . Center Fundraisers CHARLOTI’E, N.C. (AP) - Backers of a proposed communitycenter for Gays in the Charlotte area have be.g}m a campaign to generate financial support for the project. The center would serve the region’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender population with child care, sporting events, support groups and educational seminars. The center’s soon-to-be-announced board of trustees plans to begin a fund-raising campaign to buy a site. "We are looking for a place that is going to be accessible tomost ofthe community," saidDanKJ!’.sch, a member of a committee putting together the fundraising campaign. Kirsch said the center also will welcome memberships from Charlotte’s non-Gay population. Depending on the success of the fund-raising cam, paign, supporters expect a centerloeation to be secured in two or three years. Lone ,Star Living: Gay Camping Near Waco WACO,Texas - Located off.a bumpy~.gravelled road, with an inconspicuous sign and a line of trees blockin,g the ,scenic lakeside view, ,it might be said that the Rainbow Ranch has been in the,closet for the past five years..The Gay and Lesbian campground, whichisjust outside Groesbeck, has become one of Central Texas’ best kept secrets, said Nell Johnsen, a guest turned ranch manager. "We, are. remotely located, and not highlypublicized, so alot ofpeople don’rknowthat we are out here," Johnsen said." Even’Jolmsen and his partner, Kelvin.Winn~. wlao manage, the campgrbtmds~, stumbled upon .the xanch accidentally while taking a.two~year, trip .around the United States. "We ca~e here almost by mishap," J6tmsensm"d. "I found theWeb page while we were in Arizona, and we decided to stop in and. see..It-was going to be a two-week stop, but we’ve been here £or the past nine.months." Theserenity Of the location, with campgrounds overlooking Lake Limestone and a small forest teeming’with wildlife, helps to draw many regulars to the ranch from major cities through0tit Texas and"the entire country. But it’s reallypriyacy and.the comfort of being able to spend time out in the open with their partners that keeps couples coming back. ~ "It’sjustthe simple things,like holding your partner’s hand as you walk through the wood~," Johnsenaaid. "It can’be uiieasy for f01kswith a partner of the same sex ’t6be thi~m~elves af.othef campgrounds’; so the comfort factor is areal draw here." " Sinc~ beginning theif travels at their li0ni~ Vmi~ouver, Wash’,, J0hii~en mid Wimi li~tg~ experiefi~ d theanxiety Of Staying’ el’s’ewhere: ................ °°’W~wetestaymg.ata’ very niceRV park, and I was OUtsx" de gn"lfi"ng,"’ JOlms’ en sai"d. ’~I stu" d"s’~om’".e..t.hi*n’ g""~s" basic as; ’Honey, can you pasgm8 ~li~’tong~?’ ~d you couldjiist f~ei th~i00ksfftfi~ the 8"6iipi~in th~ext’R~( ¯ makes [t;aiot easier to have a good .’.time." : To ensure that that sense of security is maintained at .." -all times, owner Peggy Thomas does not allow hetero- .¯...sexuals to c,amp by themselves at the xanch. "I will allow tffemili~ey come with Gay,campers, but not if ¯ -they come by themselves," Thomas .said.."I think it’s ." important to have a place where you can. be yi)urself, ¯ ._ hereyoudon t have to have strmgkt,peoplestarlng at .you. I opgned it because I liked Caml~i,ng and i didn’t : like being stared at." -..... ." Thomas said she picked out the location near Groesbeck because the land was cheaper than in other areas..Another nice aspect, she said, was. a tree line separadngmost of the grounds from the road outside, ." affording campers a little more privacy. That barrier ¯ makes campers feel more comfortable about being ¯ near such arural town, said Winn, althoughhe says the ¯ people of Groesbeck have been nice to them. ¯ Although the camp hasn’t had any trouble with the .. residents of Groesbeck or any other local people, the ¯ camp’sWebsite did experience asetbacklately. While ¯ tryi~,g to locate the camp’s site on several search ; engines, Johnsen found out that it had been kicked off ¯ most of them - an act that requires some kind of ¯ complaint lodged against the business. ; Becausemost of the camp’s business is generated by Internet searchers, thathurt camp attendance, he said. e found outpurelyby accident thatwe weredropped ¯ from the search engines," Johnsen said. "But werereg- : istered with all of them, and in 8 months we have had .. over 10,000 visits, and business has picked up." ¯ "It really amazes me, the perceptions that still exist ." that we are out here doing something strange, but it is : really just like a typical campground," Johnsen said. ¯ "Our sexual identity is just a part of us, but this is a ¯ place where thatis not anissue andwecan do the things we enjoy, whether it be fishing or boating or hiking. There’s just really something for everyone here." ¯ Group Asks Mormonsto ¯ Change Anti-Gay Policy ¯ SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A group of more than 300 ¯ Gay and Lesbian Mormons and their family is asking ¯ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to ¯ change its stance on homosexuality. The loosely knit ¯ group "Mormon Advocates for Further .Light and ¯ Knowledge" ran an advertisement with a petition in ; The Salt LakeTribune late in December. ¯ : The document.calleduponMormon general authori- ¯ taes to repudiate church statements about homosexual_ ; ity that are false and misleading. The petition said that 7 would include the church’s position that "same-sex .. attraction is an undesirable and unnatural emotion, ¯ Which, whenacted upon results in sinful, Satan-in- ] spired behavior." Church spokesman Dale Bills said it ~ is too early to respond to the petition, but that "President Gordon B. Hinckley has repeatedly expressed the ¯ .Church’s. compassion toward homosexuals." ¯ The.petition’s author, MacMadsen, said the petition ¯ is a last-ditch appeal to church leaders for meaningful i -dialogue about homosexuality. He said he has pleaded ¯ for two years with church leaders to hear them out. The ¯ .former Weber_State University healthy-lifestyles pro- : fessorandmen’s golf coach saidhemailedthepetition ¯ to churchleaders more than a year a.g0 _.a0~d he_r~eg.ei.v_ed ¯no response.. ] Madsen originally planned to run the ad during the ¯ Church’s Octo.~berGeneral Conference, butlackedfunds. Nonames appear due to space constraints;but Madsen said more than 300 individuals from 12,countries and ,most states,.backed it. Madsen initially, hesitated to have his name.printed, hoping to protecLhis daughter, , .who is a LeSbian. But, he said, "thereis~nothing in the :petition that I’m ashamed of or that’s inaccurate." Gay, Black And Positive in Chicago CHICAGO (AP) - Harsh is a word that could describe the streets of Chicago’s struggling Austin neighborhood, where ¯ trust is scarce- and twomenwalking hand " in hand might fear for their lives. : It’s the sortofplace whereDerrickHicks, whois openly GayandHIV-positive, could " wither away unnoti.ced, another statistic ¯ for a dusty filing cabinet. And withering ¯ away he is - though he is hardly going ." quietly. Even as he struggles to lift his " increasingly thin frame out of bed each." morning, Hicks is still one of Chicago’s most vocal advocates for the U.S. popula- ¯ tion hardest-hit by the AIDS-epidemic: " poor Blacks. : So when Frank Oldham Jr. - a bigshot ¯ AIDS administrator who’s run programs in New York and the District of Columbia ¯ - came to town two years ago, it surprised ¯ no one when Hicks welcomed Chicago’s " new AIDS czar with a friendly warning. " "Hi, my name is Derrick Hicks," he " said, shaking Oldham’s hand."And I’m ¯ going to be your worst nightmare." Qui- ¯ etly, however, Hicks was hopeful. He al- " ready knew that he and Oldham had some things in common. Oldham, too, was a ¯ Black, Gaymanin a city where the combi- " nation of thoselabels canmake for aheavy " load. " In June, Oldham made another public revelation. "I... too, am a face of AIDS," the 51-year-old New Yorker said’,-revealing his HIV-positive status in a speech at a conference for Midwest AIDS agencies. SomeofOldham’ s owncolleagues were stunned, but not Hicks. By that time, the two men had forged a friendship, a bond that has supported their respective fights against a virus that is sapping theii very lifeblood. "Heknows moreaboutmyhealth thanmy ownmother," said Hicks, whohas fended ~off three bouts of pneumonia in 2000 aloneand often directs theWest Sid~ neighborhood health services agency he foundedfrom home. "To have one likeme there," he say~ of Oldham, "’has made all the differenc~,"~ Though:..th.eir~openness is rare, Hicks andOld_arefarfromalone. Whilethe~ make up abgut !3%of~the nation s pop - iation, BlaCk .p~op!e represent about 37% of thenearly ~05,-.000AIDS cases report~ nationwi,d.~ through Dee. 1999. And the n.umber; Qf ,those who’ve develop~ full-blo_wnl .AIDSI .or-died from it la~is dropped .dr~matica!ly in som.e ~.uarter.s, the drop.~h~...beenmuch less stgnilicant the Hispanic..an~, particularly, Black communities, ~ ~ ...... ; "A lotldf i~{r.ei~tes to lack of access to health .cax¢~’~:~.s~y.s~ Victor Barnes, deP_U.tY director .f~ov~g.. ~,DC’s !-IIV prevention ,unit:But_~e.~ad:d.~_ that~Blaek people who ,are:HIV_~po.si,_ti~ve, o£te,~.~ seek ~reatment in the later-~Lgtg¢S: of .the illness. "And that often has.~Q, d9, .W!.~ stigma - and dem , Barnes:said~ In.~.,cago alone,3,670blaek residents; or 57%,of the total cases, were living with AIDS at the end of June 2000. That compares:with 27% for whites and 15% for Hispanics. Meanwhile, the number of deaths in major cities nationwidehave helped make AIDS the leading illness-related killer of the nation’s black men, ages 25 to 44, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control. And still, there is a hesitance to address it openly, even in the black community itsdf. "Evennow when someone dies with AIDS, people will say it was pneumonia," says the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who is among a growing number of black church leaders who are preaching about AIDS from their pulpits andpublicly getting testedforHIV. They hope to raise the comfort level among black followers who are worried aboutbeing tied to themostcommonforms of transmission - namely Gay male sex and intravenous, drug use. It is no easy task. In 1998, employees for Howard Brown Health Center, a Chicago clinic long known for its care of AIDS patients, carried a banner in the annual Bud Billikenparade-ahuge event founded by the city’s most prominent black newspaper publisher - and recall being met with hushed stares. The following year, officials at the nonprofit agency filed a complaint with the city Commission on Human Relations, claiming that a South Side Chicago realtor told themhe couldn’t rent them a space for a new clinic for fear of losing other.tenants. They have since found a space elsewhere in the neighborhood. Oldham has had challenges ofhis own - namely trying to unite nonprofits that, before his arriv~al, were warring over limited funding while dealing with a growing number of HIV-positive people who were surviving, but still in dire need ofsei’vices. Gay vs. straight~ black vs. white vs. Hispanic, rich vs, poor - the divisions : -were deep in a city WhereMayor Richard -. Daley was sometimes,booed,and even : pelted with .condoms, over. the way- his :¯. administration had handled the.epidemic ¯ in the early to mid:i1990S. ~Even...now, ¯ Oldham- has, about$20 millionin funding " , to dole, out~ to AIDS,agencies: thathe says : could easily put; te~ times that much-.to ¯ good use.,~ ~ ¯ ~ -.~ ¯ Still, though it hasn’t alivayS been~easy : ’ ~or thisadmi_’tted!yprivate man.to shat’~ his : ,story, Oldham*is wetl’-versedinadversRy. ,-A rising:star in-.the~.administrations-’of ~i -,former ~lqew. York,m~yors-Ed Koch-and ~" David Dinkins,. Oldha~ t’6ok a~,leave,,in :1 1994 tO run. ~the Di.st.ri.ct.o.f:.C.ol.um.b.ia., s - ¯~A,IDSprogramTsho~yafterRudyGinliani ~" ,~became ,New Y~rk. s,mayor: .:Frustrated ;: -with the,sloiw,pace,of, progress in.Wash- : °ington, Oldhammo~cedba~k to N~w York ¯ afterjustsix months; inpart; to care for.his i -elderly,parenW-who"were,-slippi,ng into ~i : senility~fid.someiimes’forgetfing’me~very ¯ face of their.0nly ekild.- : In the months that followed, he began i ;what he~c~.l,e~.~:~a’~Mp,w~n.~arii ~pjrtfl~7~He ~lso d~id~ i~ ~t test~xt for HIV- to ¯ .finally ’~tiifiTfiii wha~:lle’d already:, sus- ¯~tea ’~tti F~rlil~e~ ~".oujust~vant-to ’w’~~lkd"o~vn"a~oadandjts’~keep:g~ifi~ti,~,, -the road runs butandyoufall’0ff the rift,’ ~Oldham Says: of:thai period inhis-life:- " It was hardy th~ life lie hadenvisioned ¯ in the early 1980s.H~was h jazz Singer : who took acting class’€s-on the Side and ¯ dreamed ofmaking ’CDs. Butwhennearly ¯ 20 ofhis frleiids-ineludingthebest friend : who was also his composer Lbegan dying : ofamystefious, ruthless ldllerCalledAIDS, Power Connect. Public Service Company of Oklahoma Service Is ~Now Available 24 Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. These days, traditional 8-5 business hours" aren’t always convenient. So PSO has made it easier than ever for you to contact us. Our Customer Service Center operates 24/7 - offering around:~h~clock afiswers to your questions - ~d~e~ter access to service, Now it’s easier for you to inquire about your monthly electric bill. Or repor~ a power outage. Or arrange to have your power turned on or off. Our professionally trained, friendly and : knowledgeable customer service representatives are standing by to serve you. All day, every day. To provide faster response to your needs, we have listed our toll-free numbers below. ri-! CALL 2q.= HOUl FOR I I I I I I I I ’1 I I I -:: Custo~fier Services: 1-888-216-3523 I I I I I I I I I I .....i#fl|ing Inquiries: 1’888~-2~6-3490 Outage Reporting: 1-888-218-3919 Sevdcio. a.Clientes: 1-888..216-3505 Preguntas Sobre su Cuenta: 1-888-216.3491 Falta De Suministr0:1-888-218-3924 Public Service Company of Oklahoma I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation Lesbians and Gay men face many special tax situations whether single or as couples: Electronic filing is available for fastei:refunds: 4021 South HarvardAv hue; Suite 210, Tulsa 74t35 Are You Gay, or Bisex.ual? Are You " Tulsa’, Two-Spirited Indi:~’‘ Supra Group ~s here for you! ¯ E~ening sup~ group.~ ~gs Relation~ip workshOp~ ¯ ’ Sho~ tdps, .outings an~~ats ....... ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa° NatiVe American’AIDS:P~evei~ti6n ProjeCt 918.588.1900~ x4275 or x~,27& " more pressing matters took over¯ Nearly two decades later, Oldham saw Chicago as a chance to start the fight anew. To do it, he quickly enlisted help from everyonefrom political types and activists like Hicks to South Side pastors and anyone hooked into the city’s Gay club scene. The CDC’s Barnes calls therelationship that Oldham has built between grassroots AIDS organizers and his agency, the Chi- . cago Department of Public Health, "a national example." Others agree. "Frank has brought us some sense of civility and diversity and commonpurpose," saysGregHarr"is,chi"ef of staff for Chicago Alderman Mary Anne Smith, whose Ward includes Chicago’s largest Gay neighborhood. That neighborhoodis filled with trendy shops and restaurants on a main drag lined with rainbow columns that mark it as Chicago’s "official" Gay neighborhood¯ It is a stark contrast to Hickg’ side of town, where his own agency tries hard to blend in. There are no rainbow flags and the word "Gay" is hardly uttered. "To lay with another man is a sin; a lot of 0eople would like to say that just doesn’t happen," Hicks says, describing what he calls the general attitude in the black community. "It’s not talked about." So even his organization, which serves Gay, Bisexual and Black clients, has a nondescript name: the Greater Chicago Committee. And when they come to his agency’s food pantry or clothing bank, he asks whether they are "sexually active" and encourages them to get tested. "You have to meet them where they are," Hicks says. Oldhamagrees "Ifyou’re African American,_ you’re fighting racism.; if’ you:re African- American, you’re probably fighting poverty.. Sonow in your own community-,, you’re .going .to fight homophobia?" Oldham says. "You’dhave .to b~n awfully strong individual with a lot of support to come, up .and-say, ’I’m African American and I’m v~r~.proud to be Gay, very proud to .be Lesbian and this ¯ is .my partner,~ ?2 ~Thete are.days when:taking:the lead on all of thosefrontstakesitstotl,onOldham. But~’even~ when?ressed~ he.talks more .about-the health o£those around him than his-0~n.~ Still, ,Hick~. says.ilie~ liears the fatigue.ifi" his friend’S xoice,-, especially wh,,e,~n,’they charon the phone.late a,t night. ." Wefietoeaeh~the~,.:. but~we reb~ .starting- to- feel, our, a£gand, Our.,illness ;’ .:sa~* Hicks,, ~,ho:dedines.to. giY.e his own age~buLpredicts his own death in. the next five year.s.’~ut-not before-he.gets more ~ markdone.,, t,have a,mission,’LHicks says. "And it’s not my Teens: orailsn,t Sex MESA, Ariz.. (AP).r.,~t,d,~,,zP,.n.,a. ,19,ealth expertsLare.., c9,~cerned abou[reSults of a’ na- :.ti0nal. s~dY. s.h.~)wi~g ~’~ ~ies~nts believe sexually, transmi [ted diseases can only.be ,contracted through .sexual intercourse, and not other .typ~s. Of. physical contact. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevehtion study Shows that 15% to 20% of young men and .women will be-. come infected with herpes by.the time they reach adulthood. Doug Hauth, public information officer ¯ for the Maricopa County Department of : Public Health, said that this year alone ¯ more than 1,700 girls between the ages of ¯ 13 and 18 have been diagnosed with : chiamydia in Maricopa County, "and the ¯ numbers don’t include everybody," Hauth : said. ¯ Judy Crider, program manager .at the ¯ Scottsdale Prevention Institute, said she ¯ believes there is no disparity between the : national Survey and local teens. "Unfortu- ¯ nately, there’s a myth out there that if you : have oral intercourse, you’re not going to ¯ getdiseases,"Cridersaid.Cridersaidteens ¯ unfortunately internalized one of the argu- ¯ ments used by President Clinton when he ¯ defended his affair with intern Monica : Lewinsky by proclaiming that oral sex is ¯ notsex.ThehugepushinAIDS awareness ¯ education, meanwhile, leads kids to be- " lieve they can only get the disease from ¯ traditional intercourse, she said. Diaphragms May Reduce STD Risk ¯ EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - A University of : Oregon researcher plans to study whether : women are willing to use a diaphragm not : just to prevent pregnancy but also to pro- . tect them from sexually transmitted dis- . eases. The National Institutes of Health : has awarded a $1 million grant to the ¯ three-year project, which will interview ¯ current and former diaphragm users and .try to get young women at risk of contract- : ~ng STDs to use the device. : It is estimated that today just 2% of ¯ contraceptive users rely on the small,disc- " shaped cap that a woman fits over her cervix, creating a physical barrier to preg- ¯ nancy. When used correctly, diaphragms : ,arejust as effective as condoms inprevent- ¯ mg pregnancy. They are’also known to ¯ prevent some STDs, such as gonorrhea i and chlamydia, although it’s not known if " flaey guard against HIV, the virus that can Iead to AIDS. Currently, reSearCh is underway on new methods for "preventing the spread of STDS‘ such as miCrobicides. ¯ But Marie Harvey, research director at ¯: the UO’s Center for the Study of Women fn Society, said diaphragms mayheldfill a i niche for women at rihk o,f getting STDs .": ~tntil new methods are proven. -" Harvey is conduc~t~.g the ’study,, along i with co-researcher Sher~[ Bird. If the diaphragm protects against (some) STDs ~agnd pregnancy, and might ,offer prbtection against HIV, it ,co,.uld ~.-h.’. Wonderful op- , tion for women~ Harveysai& -. .~ Harvey got the idea-0fstadying the ’_ -~ffectiveness of diaplir~igms>~use of ~ another study she’s doing that shows high- . risk couples how to ~)i?ote~t :themselves : :during sex, primarilythrdugh ~the use of a ¯-~ondom. It’s clear the’ d6iidttm protects : against STDs, but~it~ md4~S C~fil~Olled~by ¯ -the male-and some.atien~,gcOn!t~uste them, ¯ she said. The benefits of the diaphragm is ¯ that it can be iusert~t ~p’to’"two hours "before sex, is not vislbl’e"and the man [ doesn’t have to know thewoman is using it, Harvey said. " ....... Harvey believes the diaphragmis avaluable tool for women. "I.fWOmen can’t get a man to use a condom, the diaphragm is a good option, period," she said, "even if we don’t find out it protects against HIV." 2~2 ¯ -and’performingin Houston. .. Happy Ne~ year! H~d to believe it’s ~2001. I hop~:iihelnew~iyear brings your " .was .beyond,my reach at the, time,, or I hopes and d~anS’~fi~tion, would have .been the~e. I read of a few .:.Great nev~!~ern2iidette Peters returns : moreperformances,maiulyatPoorDavid’s ::tO~ Tulsa Jan ~i.an.d~6~-.th for a~, evening of : Pub.in Dallas, but usually ! learned of the ,showtunes ~ao,.d;gl~am~our! S~e s one of the ¯ performanceafter.thefact.~d~inceithas :fewpeopleI~es~performherethatcan : become a t~adition fin tliis column, she ~rap an entire audience . ¯ performed a Stevie ¯ arot~nd her fi~igerwith " everyone should },Iicks song from the s~emingly, eff0rtle~s~ ~ "" ~ - . ~ . " 1981Steviealbum, Belease. Sheperform~vith her show, espeeaally just to ladonna 2 "The High- .thePhil, andifyouwant see ff she performs wayman." I really wish I’d been there for that! Unforttmatdy, the price of the benefit to see a true star, then don’t miss her concert! For tickets, call 596-7111. I really think that everyone should see her show, especially just to see if she performs "Making Love Alone" again. (I heard the song on her "Sondheim, etc.: Live at Carnegie Hall" CD, a recording of a benefit she did for Gay Men’s Health Crisis. And yes, it is about what you might think, and she wasn’t going to perform it last time she was here due to the rep Tulsa has of being, well, prudish. Can’t imagine why, what with the preying hands and all. Happily, Robert Reed, then artistic director of the Phil talked her into it, and the audience loved it. I was able to thank her for including it after the show. Shffs,. a lovely woman, and so tiny! You’d never think so to see her onstage, since she projects such a larger, than life persona. Andnever underestimate the power of big hair! Again, this will be the don’t miss event of the Phil’s season. So don’tmiss it! I am pleased to announce the new CD "Love Decides", Jane Oliver’s new recording is one of the most rewarding listens I’ve had in a long time. For those who haven’t heard her name, she was a cabaret diva and recording artist of the 70’s an~ 80’ s. No one can beat her whenit comes to’ wringing every bit of emotion out of a lyricl Her phrasing is impeccable, and her voice is angelic. She made four successful recordings from 1976 to 1982, which are still in print. She was rumored to have died of cancer at one point, since she never recorded anyCDsafter 1982’s"Jane Olivor in Concert". (Fhe other albums are "Jane Olivor - First Night" 1976; "Jane Olivor - Chasing Rainbows".1977; "Jane Olivor - Stay the Night" 1978; and "Jane Olivor - Best Side of Goodbye" 1980. All are well worth a listen. Her version of "Vincent" and "Some Enchanted Evening" are the definitive recordings of both songs.) Well, I later found.she never had died. .(Good it~gii,~’!:el~e:~e new CD would : .definitely~i~fi,~L~K~ so. y0~~expected .2iiie to 16~ti~i-:’0~portunity~;~ass by? ~Puhleeze.) She,had.retired from recording due to being gyppedby the record company she had~recorde~&the albums for. Left with a bitter taste in her mouth from the ,,experience, she :p.efformed live at small ..,.venues. To,.my ~s~e, she was practically in my!ba~k.;y~d?~I was living in Fort ~-Worth when,I,read sh~ was to perform at .~ an AIDS benefit in:Dallas, and was living "Makln, Love Alone" a~aln .... And yes, it is about what you might think... " "Love Decides" is her first album in 18 years, and if you have a lover, it’s the perfect Valentine’ s gift, and if you don’t have a lover, get it for your- ." self. Her voice wraps around you like an ¯ old friend’s hug, and can make the hardest " bitterest heart melt to mushy goo in no ¯ time flat. And yes, I speak from experi- : -ence. The tide track, "LoveDecides".is an ¯¯ . ode to thefact that sometimes, feelings can take youby smprise, tuming somcone you ¯ wouldn’t ordinarily be attracted to into the : love of your life, and you will have no ¯ choice in the matter. So enjoy it. My other ; favorite is "Night Song", telling the story : of realizing someone that you’ve grown ." fond of could be apotential love. She does ¯ a great cover of October Project’s "Bury ¯ MyLovely" - no not about murder. More ¯ a song of how you are wrong for this ¯ person, and basically they should forget ¯ you. The song I identify with~0stis "I ¯ had A Man." Get out of the gutter. More ¯ like, "Well, I could’ve done this or that, ¯ but... I had aman. So I didn’t. Now he’s ¯ gone, and I’m stuck here, with thelife I’ve : created. Damn, I should’ve done it!" : "Could’ve been we,~ffing rubies, Could’re ¯ been takin’ bows... Could’re been high ¯ society,-~could’ve been someone ¯ proud...Should’ve had my silver spun, ; weaver that I am.., Should’ve been getting ¯ my work done - but I had this.., man.7 So, : not all treacle and sweetness. "In The ¯ Moment" isa lovely upbeat rune, about ¯ living in the now, and loving in the now. ¯ So,it’s amanic depressive’s dreamCD. "I ¯ Believe in You" is a lovely ode to friend- " ship and support; and Jane covers "Colors _" of the Wind" with a magical quality that ¯ Vanessa Williams could only hope to ¯ achieve. ’Tll be Hei’e" wraps you up in a ¯ warm blanket, a perfect song for those .. down moments that crop up every, so of- . ten. : Jane has an intimate quality that makes it seem she’s singingjust for you, an amaz¯ ing thing to achieve on a studio recording. I would love to see her at the PAC - she, ¯ like Jim Brickman, could make that hall ¯ seem like her living room, and make you ¯ fe~i like a gues~t in h.e.r li.,v~ng ~Q~om bythe fire. Best Buy has the be,stprice On theCD : at $12.99,, andfor theperfe~t r0manfic gift, .you can t go wrong with any of Jane ¯ Olivor’s recordings, Ha.ve I ever.steered ¯ you wrong? Sodi~.the, ~igh~s,:!ight the ¯ candles, .se_elaMuse p. 9 Congregation i.ii’P~esents uriah Featuring Ellen Kushner Hostof Public RadiO’s Sound& Spirit as heard on KWGS 89.5 Saturd~y,Janl 27th, 7:30pm, Tickets $5 1719 So. Owasso Avenue, Info: 583-7699 Come, listen and be enrap Saturday, January 13, 2001 . 8pro Tulsa P~rjbrmingArts Center Ed~oin O~t~oater, conductor Jennlfer Koh, ~iolin Thea Musgrave Rainbo~o- Mozart Violin Concerto No. 4 Dvo~Lk Symphony No~ 7 . Otfi’-january Masterworks.e+en~: features the stunning ariimT ofviolinist Jennifer Koh in Mozart’s beloved ViolinConcerto No. 4. Special guest conductor Edwha Outwa[er joins her on stage for thishighly anticipated performance, also featuring the haunting beauty of I)vo~ik’s Symphony No. 7. Tickets MO to $45 by Karin Gregory Oh.-: .My...God! I think I should revise Melissa Etheridge’s lyrics.slightly to read: "Wake me up when we hit 2005!" For the new millennium (we all know it-begins THIS year) Imade a wish list that includes open:minde&Iess acrossthe board.However with our new administration, we can kiss that wish goodbye for at least four years, Now I’mnogoodatmakifigresolutions (I’just break’them before I start); but I added today "hope chest" while -the restof the~ountiy was drinking to forget the past few months~andespecially the outcome! -~ ° In the spi:rit of the Season "..._Maybe we’re so erltleal of the other bemuse we’re all tryln$ so desperately to llve normal lives when the rest O~’~e{ety views us as abnormal.., to :just ~ast, I’.m~fediiigOpfi- present a eampaiSn for :misfic"despite’ ’geeiiag the " equal ~$,}at~s, we need to ~l~ngs-~f"the Reli:gious ’:Right piippet-masters ’en- show the rest twining OurgM£ W. (and ’I Amerlea tlmt we -Ollircmvfevenrmnmngme ¯ word -busk.-anymo~;e!). :, a* e~luals. , . : Being a’child of~eSixties," " " I~,s.tillllave a hope’ that Our country will: "" ~. ) Adopt i Ve~ont .s. generosxty. The least theotherstates ’cafa dois to feel for it " /by taking,some of flue. weight off the " q’e~slat~e s Shoulders. After all, I’m sure :~;&~ran:re~idents in this tiny state are still ¯ tottering over th~ de~lslon to make"those " Gay bobs" equal; steeling themselves for ¯ . ~¢hat they must thinkwillbe Gay bars hti~ " dildo stores on every comer. " 2) Put education"a~’ the top of the list. O,K, as a teacher I think this was a given for ¯ m~. But if you really look at the serious- . hess of ignorance(and many of you have ¯ first hand experience of this that I can only ¯ imagine), you’ll agree tliat theONLY Way , we can stop homophobia is by educating. ’ My goodness, I ~nkI just putmy butt on ¯ the line by promising to actually do some- ¯ thing besides rage against a seemingly " unforgiving God. Only through spreading " the word, 10iidly but not angrily, can we ; change v~ews. Look at what happened to ¯ the Dr. I.aura campaign. If you’re asking, ." "Dr. Who?" -then the campaign suc- " ceeded! ¯ 3) Become a true democracy. Yes, I ¯ know this is autopian ideal. Homosexuals " have never been anyone’s favorite, but we " were always pushed to thebackbeeause of ¯ the Native Americans, the Irish, the Jew- " ish, African Americans, Hispanic,s, Japa- : nese-Ameficans, etc. Now we’re in the ¯ limelightbecauseracial andreligious preju- ¯ dice have (finally0 become socially unac- ¯ ceptable. And look who S left standing in : line to be hated! Ratherthan certain gov- : emmentofficials complaining thatwewant ¯ "special rights", my hope is for them to " take a look back over the past two centu- ~ ries to see that all anyonehas every wanted : are EQUALrights ! 4) See a united Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/ : Transgendered community. I know I’m : new to this so I should quitgriping and get ¯ offmy duff to help unite. What I see in the " community makes me understand that the " war won’t get wonunless we conquer this : battle in front of us: accepting each other ¯ as a community of equals, rather than ¯ "dyke", "fog", "traitor", "freak." I’ve got ¯ Lesbian friends who Wonder why I have : Gay-male friends. I know a few. who : wouldn’t let a man into their’lives even if ¯ he’s a doctor, lawyer; veterinarian. Then : there are the Gay male friends who gripe : about Lesbians asifth~y’ve only seen the stereotypes on TV, rather than getting to know us. I’ve heard from some :of th~ cfmmunlty that t~iseximls are just Gay men who cxm’t get off the fence (and the-inevitable jokes about that!). I don’t knfw how my friends feel about Tr~insgend,ered people, but I do k~ow’ :the topic never comes UP." Maybe w&re so cridcal of the Other because we’re all trying so desperately to live normal lives when the rest of society views us as abnormal~ In other words, to present’a campaign for equal’ tights, ’we need to : show therest of Americathatwe consider ¯ each other in the community as equals. Look what it’s done for the Religious Right. They may have their squabbles, but we the public don’t get to see it. They present a united front, bigoted though it may be, and have a President to play with for the next four years. That’s power! I realize we’re talking about a basic belief system and moral code as opposed to MANY belief systems with many other moral codes, but you learn from the enemy. If the only tip we want to take from the Religious Right is unity, then we need to study them. And finally... 5) Above all, respect us as valuable, irreplaceable, andEQUALhuman beings. Hell, in Texas I’d sometimes just wish we were considered HUMAN! But we can’t settle. With TV exposure of Gays and Lesbians at its highest (thank you NBC and Showtime!), you’d think we’d have it made. And that soon, in part due to the public’s viewing of such shows as "Queer As Folk" and other programs, we can soon hold hands and kiss in public without fear of being arrested, being stared at, and sacrificing everything. Maybeone day soon we’ll be stared at just because someone else wants the relationship we have, and for no other reason. Hey, I told you I was optimistic. My evil twin will return next month. Happy New Year! draw a warm bath, put this CD on, and invite someon, over. Or, make love alone. With Jane singing, you can’t lose either way. As for events around here, Theater Club presents "The Vagina Monologues" (God they can talk, too?) Jan 11-27. Call 857- 9154 for ticket info and location. Heller Theatre presents Steve Martin’s "Pieasso at theLapin Agile," the story of a fictional meeting between Picasso and Einstein. 746-5056. see amuse, p. 10 "Christ-Like" by Emanuel Xavier ¯ become his f.,,a~}ly. Membe.rs of me gangs, reviewed by Barry Hensley " form "houses to protect tlaemselves anti Tulsa City-County Library " each other andin every way fulfill the role Where does onestart when reviewing a ] of family to Mikey. His good. look.s and violent and disturbing novel about brutal, ~ shrewdness allow him to get rata me reyoung, Gay, Hispam’c gangs whoselives revolve around carefully crafted sets of, rules and, at the same time, no rules at all? These arecharacters from ferocious families Who understandnothing but deceit, confusionanddrug induced brutality. The easiest thing to say is that Christ-Like is simply a Dennis Coopernovel set among Gay, Latino gangs in New York City. Our protagonist, Mikey, is born into an incredibly~ dysfunctional family in a distressed neighborhood, where Mikey’s role model " These are 0 o ¯ ekaraeters from feroelous ~amilles who understand nothln~ but deedt, eonfuslon and dru¢ induced brutality ... It’s hard to understand why the reader would eare about this arrogant, mls~uided and eontemptlble youth, but I couldn’t put this book do~..." is a neighbor, yelling up from the street, Come on Mmam. I don t wanna come up thestairs! Just throw tl},,e, baby outthewindow! I’ll catchit! I swear!’ Mikey’s mother soon has an abusive boy~,,. friend, and a heartless relative, teenag,e Chino, stays with them, sharing Mikey s roomwhile secretly abusing theboy, physically and emotionally ..... As he grows upin. thischaotic, environment, Mikey, of €ourse, has no idea ~.at n0t all families arelil~e thls and, despite b-is intelligence and basi~gbodness, starts down the wrong path. And what a path it is! Unable to understand healthy relationships, hebecomeS-se~ua!!y active and abusive with almost anyQne,.and starts busfling on the Westsidei~i~L He discovers drugs and the in~bnd~ ~that comes with dealing. He tougi~e.nS ~p ahd picks fights so he can rob afidinj~.e, i(often i_nnoce.n.t) people. He beans t0 ~ pride in ms viciousness wi~’d~iii~.~i’_~lee. V~nen he hits adolescen~;:it~ ~er kicks him out, not becans~ i~f~fiiS~ess behgvio,r, but because he’i~iG~@~,~d~suddeulY he s onhis own. ;~ ~.o~; ,b,’ ~ ~. In Mikey’s bi~’~ reality, the underground subcul~e,of homeless hustlers stricted clubs where sex, drugs and competitiveness flow freely. This club scene is particularly dangerous. Aguy bumps you accidentally? NO problem! Just stab himright there or wait until later and beat him withabaseball bat! Hehad it comin’ to ’ir!! It’s hard to understand why the reader would care about this arrogant, misguided and contemptible youth, butI couldn’tputthisbook down¯ Perhaps because we know that Mikey is, deep down, a good kid shaped by his environment, we want him to be able to rise above being a monstrous criminal ~and realize that there isanother, world out there. But, whenev~er.h~ s.tax~tS a ~ewreia:’ tionship, we know it will end in chaos.. When he quits ~d~gs, we ~.kn~v~ h¢’!l~,, ~ start using again. Whenhe gets beaten,.w.e know it iS what he ~:~pected. ~rying p~sages to quote ff,0~ exiilain his predicament proved diffiCultL The Tulsa Philhi~monic pfesents a mati; nee performan~rf ,Peter and The Wolf with the Magic Circle Mime Companyon the 14th. 747-7445. For the artsy.craftsy~crowd, Mayf6st is seeking artists and artistes tO display their wares and worksat the 2001 Mayfest. Jan 12 is the deadline to apply for space. Musical types have to apply’the 5th. "’If I were a rieh.m~ ~.~diddle deedle dicdle diddle dee: .or, as tti~ Southern version would haveit; "Eiddle dee dee.""Fiddlcr on the.Roof’~ ~illbe appearing overhead at the PAC fiom the 16-21 with Theodore Bikel as Teyve. Yes, this is the show Bette Midler got her start on Broadwayin the 70’s, as a chorus girl. I don’t ttfink Timothy Daniel Attorney at Law . An Attorney. who will fightfor justice & equality for Gays & LeSbians Domestic-Partnership Planning, Personal Injury; Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1~800-742-9468~or-918::35.2-9504 128 East Broad~.~i,~i)promrigh!:OklahOma Weekend and evening appointments are available. ¯ the copies we have.of the miscelleneous ¯¯ defimctpublications whichTulsa’sseenat ¯ one time or another. Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights also published a news- " letter, TheTOHRReporter, formuch ofits ¯, 20 year history which documents much of ¯ Tulsa’s Lesbian and Gay history. virtually~every paragaph is,pepp~,r,e~, over,ly colorful l’an~ge Sr events. It s haid for a whit~--i3r~ad reYi’~ei ~Vi~o In addition, Tulsa Family News will send ..... .NeW Year .....:, .NewCareer Get a iaeM Siatt,bi~ ~your New Yearsresolution If you~are responsible and self’ifi*ofivated ar~dhave:a posfive .attitude. We.ii;iii’:N~!’p’)~u fulfill, ~our resolution. cati,665,,3401 TULSA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC ~P’A- R T-Y: Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat: 8-5pm ody Tulsa’s only professional body-piercing ........ Co![egg Hill Presbyterian Church In-response to God’s Love, College Hill Presbyterian Church is a communit¯.y of God’s pe_ople called tO tell others the Gospel of Jesus Christ " " ’~" - tiirough service; and evangelism. To nurtureour faith, we gather for "worship, prayer, . .... StUdy andfeilowship~ Trusting i~i a living, loving God, we.seek to become a compassionate voice.f6r:pea~ce and justice. Our congregation" wdcomes all persons who respond in trust and obedience to God’s grace . - in Jesus Christ, and desire to become part of the membership and ministry of Christ’s church. Membership is open to all people regardless of race, ethnic origin, worldly condition, marital status, or sexual orientation. Sunday Worship 1 lam 712 S. Columbia Ave., 592-5800 (One block west of Delaware and the University of Tulsa Campus) L,.i teach our students that we will reach our full potential individually_and collectively............ ¯ only when we learn to appreciate our diversity. We need to. do’::a better job of How will his Support for privatization of ." teaching our youth- our couittryfs proud ourpublie~cho0i~act~e:employment ¯ history of welcomi~!p~le~f different rightsofO~B~i~ch~tpri~)ateschool~9" ;’ religions, racial and ~,~ offgins, gen-" Or)the fight’of. :GLl~;f~ids not to gei "’." ders and opinions. Ithasnff been easy and harassed and kicked out Of those schools? " we donft always do it well, but Welcoming ,On the issue ofabortion, whaf will it ¯ diversity is at the h~gf-what has made n~ to*h~Eq.~.,(Ol~-h.ea3.~[h and human ! ournafion great. Thi~i~’whatean unite ser~ices0ffic~,r.eJi~t~!ie~un.damen~right ’. now and in’the future! We"~oW need to privaey?If lldh~s ~e rightt0 interfere : national.effort to realiz¢ihat:o’~’lives: in a deci’sion’t~~trbi~6u~reproductive ; be-enriched as individu~!~.;:a~~familie~(as ~ de~siom~~.h’&dsec~n =and frill-he do..-- communities, and asia ~atibn if We em-" to’ &ntrofOiil fii~es~..-.:........... .- .i[.:b.e.he.ve.fil..e..G..L...B...T.. community ought to" "~i "Bbirsaecex,uarlatahnerdtThraannsfegaern,d6e~r-eGdi~byro;tLheerssbiaannd, co.n~sider.issue~;~iik~~ reproductive heaith~ ¯ sisters, r ’~ an~pov~rty aceii,tr~il p~rfof our concerns : You have an awesom~ 0p~i~ty and f6r~any~,~,:~~-i~ ~er’all;’a~ignificani~i’ ; responsibility ahead of!yoi£’ We wiint to Portion of our c0.~m~,,ttt~~ty .grapples witlE q,~ work by your side to make-b~~€laools and 9e e issu~ in @e~ personal lives. And ¯ our country healthier. We .~all on you to mere are homophone policies and prae- ’: keep us - all of us who love, admire and ti~ in @.e.,i~.sf!~mtioos"that control these,;._ care about someone wh6 is Gay, Lesbian, serwces. :" ............... . . ¯ Bisexual and Transgendered - in mind in E{ut ev~ri’fdr’th~S~’~,BT activists who" ~ the days ahead. rejectamoteindii~i~,~’agenda, thereoug,ht " - Kirsten Kingdon, executive director to lit least be a mention of Thompson s " re~rd on.’~ese.spcialjs~sues. Does anyone : really beh’~ve t~at a politician who treats ,. women andpoor people lwith, such disre- : spect will hold our cximmunity in esteem? "’ I think they’re picking on the wrong per- A movement must have a set of values - ¯ son with John Ashcroft." °therwisewearejustadisconnectedgroup :- Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., told CBS’ of people who are outside the norms of " "Face the Nation" he believes Ashcroft heterosexuality. i urgeus to embrace a set : will eventually be confirmed, but not beof values that represents the struggles of - fore he is thoroughly questioned by skepevery segment of our community. Let’s ." tical Democratic senators. Likewise, Sen. thank Tommy Thompson appropriately ." Harry Reid, D-Nev., told"Fox News Sunfor his few gestures of support. But let’s ¯ day" he knows of no reason why Ashcroft reserve "praise" for a nominee who has ¯ would be rejected outright. ¯ exwn.ed it........ ¯ While Ashcroft’s nomination brought Founded in 1973, the National Gay & ; some criticism, Bush seemed less willing I2sbian Task Force works to eliminate ~ to join an ideological fight over whether prejudice; violence and.injustice against ¯ Gays may serve in the military. Former ga~, .lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered " Indiana Sen. Dan Coats, a candidate for People at the local, state,and nati0-nal level. " secretary of defense, lost out on the job " whenhereportedly told Bushhe warned to ¯ scale back accommodations made to : womenandGays in the service, Newsweek : reported, quoting an unnamed source. AnotherBushCabinet choice thatraised harass, bully and assault our youth be- : questions was former Colorado attorney cause of thdr sexual orientation or gender general Gale Norton, nominated for Seeexpression do nbt fit the stereotype of : retary of the Interior. She has expressed hate-filled extremists, but are average ¯ support for oil exploration in the Arctic youngpeoplewho~ftens.eenothingwrong ¯ National Wildlife RefUge, an idea that with their behavior. ~ Bush favors and many Democratic sena- ~-Anti-Gay harassment - as well as ha- ~- tors oppose. Norton as Colorado attorney rassment based on religion, race, ethnic , general defended Colorado’s anti-Gay origin, or any other prejudice - destabi- : Amendment 2 which was ruled unconstilizes the learning environment for all stu- " tutional. dents. No child can learn well when they " The bigger question, Democrats said, is are scared. No child should be afraid that ¯ whether Bush can work with a Senate that they will be harassed because of who they ; ~s split evenly between Democrats and are. We need to do a much better job of " .Republicans. "He’s going to have to show teaching respect for all in our schools and : m programs and policies a willingness to in ending the toxic atmosphere that exists ¯ work with Democrats, to work out comin all too many of our schools today. We : promises with us..." he said. needyourleadershipatthefederallevelto Hatch said ~ush’s stated intention to send the message that anti-Gay harass- reach out and work with Democrats is ment is wrong, genuine. We particularly ask you to Keep us in mind as you appoint a Secretary of Education. Wewill be watching - and hoping - to see if that is someone who is dedicated to an excellent and safe education for all our children. There is so much to be done. We need to The majority of young .people who Saturday,~ February ,. ....... Midnight The"Brad~.Mansion.,~ 6.20~~N. .orth~~De~nver DJ, Hors res:, ~. h,~Bar, Live Ente~ai~me~ Dr, ;~ ~Mild to Wild .Door prizes for Dressed Tickets: .....~-or $20 a~)! the door "~-~ ~va~lable The TU~;~ GLBT CommunityCenter 211~ S~!t3th~!~e~fi~i~ Drive 918~743.4297 and select~Ven-dors listed on the website. Proceeds benefit The Pyramid Project "Building a Home- Funding the Future, for the Tulsa GLBT Community Center." Made Possible by Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights (TOHR), www.PyramidProject.org Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2001] Tulsa Family News, January 2001; Volume 8, Issue 1 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource January 2001 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Karin Gregory Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Hughston Walkinshaw Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, December 2000; Volume 7, Issue 12 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 newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/608 2001 AIDS anti-gay activism arts and entertainment Barry Hensley Black and LGBTQ Boy Scouts businesses censorship Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints churches Community Center contraception Elizabeth Toledo execution George W. Bush HIV testing homophobia Jim Christjohn John Ashcroft Karin Gregory National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Native Americans Openarms Youth Project performing arts Raging Lesbian Red Cross Red Rock Tulsa representation restaurants sex Soulforce STDs Tom Neal Tulsa Family News Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project Wild Hearts Ball https://history.okeq.org/files/original/0846012a916f00b5f8064a33169fa46f.jpg 13403bd37042323904e6a8ac35051af8 https://history.okeq.org/files/original/b5db2b9cd9a0fc88f1298d18b284ac33.pdf 33ead70d0ebc045633099ac2421f8edf 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. Text Any textual data included in the document Gay Students Start LGBT Scholarships NORMAN, Ok - The Oklahoma Lambda Intercollegiate Coalition (OLIC) has announced the creation of the Oklahoma Lambda Youth Scholarship which they claim is the first such program in Oklahoma. The Coalition is an umbrella network of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender student groups from Oklahoma colleges and universities. According to OLIC spokespersons, Kent Doss of the University ofOklahoma andMandy Whitten, the President of University of Central Oklahoma Gay Alliance for Tolerance and Equality (GATE), the purpose of the scholarship is to promote pride in youth activism and foster leadership at Oklahoma college campuses. Oklahoma high-school graduates who intend to remainin the state throughout their college careers will be eligible for the $1,000 award. Applicants will be selected according see OLIC, p. 3 Tulsa ChamberAdds "Sexual Orientation" TULSA - The Tulsa Metro Chamber, which recently changed i ts namefrom the MetropolitanTnlsaChamber of Commerce, also has revised its non-discrimination policies to add the term "sexual orientation" to more traditional statues like race, religion, age, national origin, sex (gender), etc. According to Michael Hightower, media spokesperson for the organization, the .addition of "sexual orientation" waspart ofacomprehensivereview ofChamber’s internal policies. The Bank of Oklahoma’s Human Resources Dept. conducted this effort for the Chamber. This revision is part of a trend on the part of businesses to attract employees by committing to fair hiring practices. According to the Human Rights Campaign, a Washington based civil right group, 494 of the Fortune 500 companies have added "sexual orientation" to their policies. Anumberof majorTulsaemployers,including American Airlines, Kimberly-Clark, AEP/PSO, Dollar/ Thrifty Auto Group, and others have done the same. Kerry Lewis, president-elect of Tulsa/Oklahomans for Human Rights (TOHR) expressed surprise and applauded this Chamber move. TFN publisher Tom Neal noted "as one of the few openly Gay members of the Chamber, I am really proud to.see the organization welcome us. We need to support them in return." DIRECTORY P. 2 EDITORIAL P. 3 US & WORLD NEWS P, 4 HEALTH NEWS P. 6 ENTERTAINMENT P. 8 GAY STUDIES P. 10 ¯ Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends TMM’s Exclusion of i oGfayDs iDscelriibmerinataetiAocnt ¯ Pastor Says "Sexual Orientation" Was ¯ Added But TMM Board Never Told ¯ TULSA - While the incident, a KKK visit, to which a local ¯ "diversity" statement sought io i’~spond is well past, the state- " merit continues to brew controversy. Tulsa Metropolitan Minis- " try, an "interfaith" religious organization issued a statement -.¯ which defined Tulsa’s "diversity" as being composed of race, religion andethnicity, without mentioning sexual orientation. ¯ Earlier, it appeared that the failure to mention "sexual orienta- ¯ tion"mighthavebeenanoversightbasedontheKKK’ s historical ¯ ¯ attacks primarily on Jews and Blacks. However, in a return call to the Tulsa Family News, the Rev. Russell Bennett of Fellowship Congregational Church, UnitedChurch of Christ, stated that ¯ he participated in themeeting to draft the statement, and specifically he called for the inclusion of "sexual orientation" in the : statement. Bennett noted that he heard no objections to his ¯ request, and he said that he expected that "sexual orientation" ¯ would be included. : Perry Simons, executive director of the Jewish Federation ¯ attended the meeting at Fellowship Congregational Church with : Nancy Day of the National Conference for Community and Justice, Dr. Sandra Rana, representing Tulsa’s Muslim commu- : nity, the Rev. Clark Shackleford of Sand Springs, as well as ¯ Bennett. Andwhile Simmons says he does notrememberBennett ." calling for adding "sexual orientation," Simons says he feels he ¯ shouldhave raised theissue. Simons noted that Dr. Rana took the ¯ notes of what he described as a "stream of consciousness" ¯ discussion. ; However, the Rev. Radford Rader of College Hill Presbyterian ¯ and a-member of the T!VIM executive boardstated that the ¯ executive board never saw a version see TMM, p. 11 Michigan Elects First Gay Rep. ¯ LANSING, Mich. (AP)- Newly dected state House Rep: Chris ¯ Kolb heads to Lansing in January as the state’s first openly Gay ." lawmaker, but he said he has a lot more he wants to tackle than ¯ simply civil rights for Gay-people. Kolb, 42, admits his role is ; important, but it’s not his only focus. "I don’t wear it on my : sleeve. I am who I am, but I don’t bring itinto every discussion," ¯ he said of his sexual orientation. "It’s not my one and only ¯ crusade in life." : The election of Kolb, a Democrat from Ann Arbor, puts ¯ Michigan among 22 states that have an openly Gay man or ¯ Lesbianin their legislatures. TheAnnArborcity councilman first ¯ got interested in politics after receiving his bachelor’s degree in .. natural resources from the University of Michigan in 1982. He ¯ started with local government, distributing campaign literature ¯ and knocking on doors for candidates. After serving as aprecinct ¯ captain and secretary of the local Democratic Party, he won an ¯ open seat on theAnnArbor City Councilin 1993. Eventually, he ¯ became mayor pro-tern. 2 " Working on the Democratic-controlled council with former ." Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid Sheldon, a Republican, has already ¯ helped Kolb learn to forge bipartisan alliances, a key skill in the ¯" state Legislature. Sheldon admits she and Kolb were competitors, but said he never made his sexual orientation an issue. "You ¯ do not think ofhimas being the stereotypical Gay person inAnn Arbor," Sheldon said. "He’S a regular person the way you or I ." would want to be relating to a person." Kolb said he will work at improving the state of civil and human rights in Michigan,but he’s also interested in tackling ¯ education and environmental issues. He wants to work on legislation that would make it illegal in Michigan to fire employees ¯ based on their sexual orientation, something already prohibited ¯ in 11 states. "I’mnotkiddingmyself as to howfar theLegislature will be able to be moved," he said. "But civil and human rights : are along struggle." ¯ Kolb will be one of 14 new Democrats and seven Republicans ¯ to begin their first two-year state House terms inJanuary. He will be seated across the aisle see Michigan, p. 3 I TOHR Celebrates 20 Years of Se.rvice Only MCC Is Older ,n State ¯ TULSA- Itwas a different world then. Therewas no ¯ Will and Grace, few Gay or Lesbian images in print ¯ or on the airwaves, HIV was not yet discovered, and ¯ what was later called AIDS was just beginning to be seen in New York City and San Francisco. The ¯ Stonewall Riots had only ocurred 10 years before, ¯ Gay people were still subject to arrests and harass- " ment in most of the US, and world. ¯ In Oklahoma City, community activists began a group calledOklahomans forHumanRights (TOHR). ¯ Tnlsans joined that group and then formed a Tulsa ; branch. This group lead by three Tulsa attorneys, ¯ Dennis Neill, Bob Inglish andMikeGreen and others ¯ later created Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, ¯ Oklahoma’s 2nd oldest organization after Tulsa’s ¯ Metropolitan Community Church United. ¯ Twenty years later, the world has changed. Tulsa ¯ has support groups in the public schools for Lesbian ¯ and Gay young adults, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgenderedpeople are verymuchvisibleinAmeri- ¯" can media and society butTOHRis still here provid- ¯ ing community services as at the beginning with all volunteer, staffing and not that many dollars. ¯ Longtime TOHRmember and former boardmere- ¯ ber Jonathan Stanley remembers being a member as ¯ early as 1980 or 1981, adding that he recalls Bob ¯ Inglish as president and meeting in a small upstairs ¯ room in Stonehorse, a building now known as the ¯ Consortium. A particularly vivid memory of those ¯ early days was the controversy whenTOHR rented a ¯ city pool for an event and cityofficials had the pool ¯ drained because Gay p_eopl_e_had, used. it..This was in the very early days of AIDS when the disease was associated exclusively with Gay men and little was known about HIV transmission. ¯ During these years,TOHRhas provided a commu- ¯ uity information telephone line, civil rights advo- ¯ cacy, anonymous HIV anti-body testing (eventually ¯ with paid staff and HIV education outreach workers ¯ - a program which has spun off as the H.O.P.E. ¯ Testing Clinic), and for the last several years, a ¯ community center. The Center was in the Brookside ¯ neighborhood was first known as the Pride Center ¯ and featured a 5x8’ flag which flew over the building ¯ until it was repeatedly stolen. Now the Center is ¯ known as theTulsa Gay Community Services Center : and has relocated to 21st & Memorial (2114 So. ¯ Memorial), ironically sharing a wall with one of ¯ Tulsa’s oldest Lesbian bars, TNT’s. ," However, TOHR president Greg Gatewood and ; the proposed new officers, Kerry Lewis, president, ¯ 1st v.p. Vance Reed, 2nd v.p. Don Glass, secretary ¯ Curtis Evans, and treasurer Beth Persac, are hoping ¯ the current location will be a short-term one. TOHR ¯ has announced a capital raising campaign, the Pyramid Project, to purchase a permanent commtmity ." center. ." According to Gatewood, the Project has in hand ox : in pledges and grants, $65,000 of their goal ot ¯ $250,000. And the organization has set up legal restrictions such that all gifts to the Pyramid Projec! ¯ arerestricted to that useonly. Also, thoserules (whicl: ¯ were reviewed by outside legal counsel and CPA’s" ¯ restrict overhead expenditures to a maximum of ¯ and all labor for the project is volunteer. : Gatewood notes that the organization is setting uI web sites for TOHR and the Pyramid Projec ¯ (www.tohr.org and www.pyramidproject.org) whicl ¯ they expect to be available in mid-December. ." To celebrate the 20th anniversary of TOHR, th~ ¯ group will hold a Holiday reception and silent auctiol : on Dec. 10th from 4-7pm, see TOHR, p. Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’s, 1737 S Memorial *Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine *Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Sqtmre *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E 31st *The Star, 1565 Sheridan *Rene~ades/Rainbow. Rooni, 1649.S. Main *TNT’s, 211,4 S. Memorial ! *Tool Box, 1338E! 3rd " 712-2324 610-5323 583-2119 835-2376 744-4280 745-9998 834-4234 58523405 660-0856 584-1308 *The ’Yellow Brick Road Piab; 2630 E. 15th 749-1563 ’ Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 *Borders Book~ ’& Music, 2740 E. 21 *Borders B0oks’ 8~ Music, 8015 S. Yale Brookside JeWelry, 4649 S. Peoria *CD Warehri~,:3807C S. Peoria *Cheap Th~ills,~::2(~iOE. 1 lth 743-1000 250-5034 665-4580 712-1122 712-9955 494~2665 743-5272.. 746-0313 295"-5868 Cherry St. Ps,yEtirthdt~py, 1515 S. Lewis 58’1-0902, 743=4117 Community’CI~ihiiig~’Kerby Baker . " 622-0700 Tim Daniel, At~tonie~ 352-9504, 800-742-9468’ *Deco to Discoi" 3212 E. 15th 749=362Q. Doghouse 6n-.Brr0kside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556 *Elite Boules-& Vi~t~0S, 821 S. Sheridan 838-8503 Encompass,Travel," I3161H N. Memorial 369=8555 Ross Edwar~l:Sal6ii i 584~0337, 712~9379 Events Uniimited;; 507S. Main ¯ 5920460 Floral Design-S~dioi~3404 S,. Peoria " " 744~9595 Four Star ImpOrt.AutOmotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. ’ 610-0880 Cathy Furlong;PhiD.~ 1980 Utica Sq..Med. Cir.- 628-3709 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808~8026 *Gloria Jear;’~ .Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st" 742-1460 Learme MTG’rO~s~’En~i~ance &financial pl,.~a~.ng. 459~9349 Mark T. Ha~by~A’ttOrney *Sandra J. I~ll,M~S;Tsychotherapy, 2865 ~i ~kelly745:74427414101T *Internafiol~al T~urs...... 341:6866 Jacox Aniraal Cliifie, 2732 E. 15th .... 712-2.750 *Jared’s Antlques;"1602 E. 15th - - 582-3018 David KauSk~y~:~otmtry Club Barbering 747-0236 The Keepers; HoUsekeeping & Gardening 582-8460 *Ken’s Flowers; ’1635 E. 15 599-8070 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #21C -’ 747-5466. *Living A~tSpaee; 308 South Kenosha 585-1234 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112~ Mingo Valley’Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-59341 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951 Puppy Pause: IF,1060 S. Mingo 838-7626 *The Pride StOre............... 743-4297 Rainbowz’0~ the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 747-5932 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning ....... 834:0617- Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834~7921, 747-4746 Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square ...... 749-~6301 Paul Tay, Car’Salesman 260-7829 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558. Venus Salon, 1247-S: Harvard 835-5563 Fred Welch, LCSW, Cotmsding 743-1733 *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan 665-2222 *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767 www.gaytulsa.org - website for Tulsa Gays &Lesbians Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593 All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S~ Boston 585-1201 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence Church of the Restoration UU, 1314 N.Greenwood 587-1314 *Community of Hope Church, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300 *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 Council Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888 *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159. e-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink.net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn, Karin Gregory, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum. Mary Schepers, Hughston Walkinshaw Member of The Associated Press Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of this publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by ~oL~/:~,~Nt~v~ and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part wi~out written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property of, T.oLu~./:~.’.. N~. Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each. edition at distribution -points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. ¯ *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 ¯ Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics’& ¯ Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74t70-1475 " ~ 355-3140 ~Fellowshipcongreg.Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 ¯¯ -*FreeSpiritWomen’sCenter, callforloeation&info: 587-4669 Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 " " 747-6827 ¯ Friends in UnitySocial Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438 : HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 ¯ *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 ¯ HOPE,-HIV Oiitreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 ¯ *HouseoftheHoly SpiritMinstries;1517 S. Memorial 224-4754 ¯ *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 ¯ NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral PI. - , 748-3111 ¯ NOW;Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658 ¯ " ,OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 *OSU-Tuls~ seefrom anumber oflawmal~ers who signed a letter earlier this year asking the state Department of Education to invesugate Grand Haven High School for allowing Gay speakers to talk to students about being Gay during "Diversity Days." House Speaker-elect Rick Johnson, RLeRoy, and~GOP Rep. Valde Garcia ;o_.[ DeWitt were two. of the nine. staie House members who signed the iletter. Both,say, they wi!l not have_any problems worki,r~g with Kolb. The House will retain its 58-52 Republican majority when the new session starts. "I don’t agree with the philosophies of the Democratic Party, but that doesn’t mean I don’t work with Democrats," Garcia said. "Just because I don’t approve of his lifestyle doesn’t mean I can’t work with him." ¯ Kolb’s experience in government and : ability to handle himself well even when ! others disagree with him will help him in ¯ Lansing, said Jeffrey Montgomery, executive director of the Detroit-based Gay rights ¯ group Triangle Foundation. "He’s been ¯ aroundmany,many,,ch~lenging situations," .: Montgomery said. He s going to be able to : handle ahar;dful ofignorantlegislators very ¯ easily." ¯ While Kolb believes the media makes a ¯ bigger deal about his election than anyone : else, he knows his role~is important. He says ¯ the ultimate benefit of his election is as an ¯ example to members of the Gay community. "Any young person, regardless of their ; sexual orientation, whohears about this will ¯"- .t~-.G, POB 52800, 74152 ." ~*Planned Parenthood,1007 S. Peori~a ....tMme-’Timers, P.O: B.ox52t 18, 74152 -- R;A:L N:; Regional AIDS Interfaith Network - ¯Red.Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 St. Aidan’S Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinriati " StTDu~stan’sEpiscopal, 5635 E. 71st .*St: Jerome’s Parish Church; 205 W. King ¯ *TulsaArea United Way,- 1430 S..Boulder ~-*TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian.Health Care. 582-7225 ¯ Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 ....... 595-4105 .......~.,2Confideufial HIV Testing -by appt. on Thursdays ionly " :.~.Tulsi!O!d.a.T0rH,.t!m.an Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 "..- ~.U.L.S.A.iTulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 - .2 T~s~a City Hall, G~0und Floor Vestibule ;.... Tiii~ii CommUnityCoil~ge Campuse~ ~ *TulsaGay Community Center, 21st & Memorial 743-4297 ; Unity Church of Clirigtianity,3355 s. Jamestown 749-8833 "BARTLESVILLE "-B~fl~svill~Piibllc Library, 600S=. Johnstone 918-337-5353 TAHLEQUAH .......... ¯ Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 49-490t ¯ "’ realiz.e..that ~ere’s a world of opportunity," 587 76?4.... he said..,~oo often, that s not the message our community and others hear." . - , _. 749-4195 584-2325 425-7882 492-7140 582-3088 583-7171 ¯ Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church ¯ ~Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 ¯ EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS ¯ Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 ¯ Jim & Breut’s Bistro, 173 S. Main ¯ DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. ¯ Emerald Raiiabow,45 &l/2 Spring St. ¯ MCC of the Living Spring ¯ Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 ¯ Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery ¯ Positive Idea Marketing Plans- ¯ Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East ¯ White Light, 1 Center St. ¯ JOPLIN, MISSOURI ¯ Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U1.34 918-456-7900 918-453-9360 501-253-7734 501-253-7457 501-253-6807 501-253-5445 501-253-9337 501-253-2776 501-253-5332 501-624-6646 501-253-6001 501-253-4074 417-623-4696 * is where you can find TFN. Notall are Gay-owned butall are Gay-friendly. Memorabilia from the years will be on display as well as auction items from artists and ¯ merchants such as Antiquaries inTulsa, P.S. , Gordon, DavidHoot, T.A. Lorton, Kathleen ¯ Pendergrass, Rand’s Art & Antiques, Mary ¯ Schepers and others. Curt & Marj’s Cater- " ing will offer refreshments as may other ¯ Tulsa restaurants. ¯" On Dec. 1 lth, TOHR and PFLAG, Par- ¯ cuts, Families and Friends of Lesbians and ¯ Gays will hold their annual joint Holiday potluck dinner at the Center at 7pm. The : entree will be provided as will soft drinks ." and tableware. Attendees should bring veg- ¯ etables, salads and desserts and may call ¯ 743-4297. to know which of those to bring.. ¯ Gatewood also notes that planning for ¯ next year’s Diversity Celebration 2001, ¯ which includes the Parade, a post-parade ¯ ¯ Festival and ablack-tie dinnerwill continue a mid-January meeting. The precise date ¯ will be announced later, t 7pro. The entree- ¯. will be provided as will soft drinks and tableware. Attendees should bring veg- ¯ etables, salads and desserts and may call the ¯ Center at 743-4297 for which of those to ¯ bring. Gatewood ~so notes that planning for ¯ next year’s Diversity Celebration 2001, ." which includes the Parade, a post-parade ¯ Festival and ablack-tie dinner will continue ~ a mid-January meeting¯ The precise date ¯ will be announced later. World AIDS Day by Chris Labonte, semorpolicy advocate Human Rights Campaign As we commemorate the first World AIDS Day of the 21st Century,itis important to bothcelebrate our achievements over HIV and AIDS and work vigorously to ensure there will be continued success in thcfuture. With success in treatments, we risk the danger of resting on our laurels. Instead,:we :mus~ rededicate ourselves to building upon these victories anff creating a future without HIV and AIDS. ~People with the diseas~e live longer and healthier lives yet the number of those’whbar¢ newly infected in our country each year remains steady at 40,000. The.new barrier to treatment andprevention is complacency. It comes from a variety of places and appears in many forms. New highly active antiretroviral therapies have contributed to the welcome steep decline in AIDS deaths in our nation. Media and advertising campaigns for these therapies signal that one can live and should live a robust and long life - you can go rock climbing, ski down the highest mountain, and continue to do fulfilling work. While all of this is true, they fail to mention that these therapies require years of medication, multiple dtses of pills each day - sometimes with possible side effects- and all at a great expense. This somewhat slanted view of our treatment success may contribute to our prevention failure. Although gay ¯ and bisexual men hage made strides in reducing the percentage of HIV infections attributed to male-to-male sexual contact, men who have sex with men still account for approximately 40percent ofnew infections each year. By not recognizing the tree costs ofHIV infection, young gay and bisexual men are engaging in risky behavior; such as intentional unprotected anal andoral sex.Arecent study suggests that the more optimistic memwere about the new treatments, the less likely they were to use safe sex precautions or limit their number of sexual parmers. Moreover, existing health ~disparities among commm nitieS of color tuake treatments particularly out.of reach for them. For the first time, the numbek Of gay men fromcommunities of color - African Americans, Latinos, Asian Pacific-Islanders, Native American. and others - outnumber the number of white gay and bisexual men in new AIDS cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control, the federal agency :primarily responsible for prevention of HIV/AIDS. Prevention is also particularly concerning with communities of color, where young gay and bisexual men of color are often confronted with both homophobia and racism. We must address this situation immediately and offer prevention strategies targeted to the unique needs of gay and bisexual men of color so they ¯ can also benefit from treatments available to others. We also cannot ignore strategies that we know have been successful in reducing HIV transmission in the past. Far too often, policy makers ignore proven science to score political points at the expense of peoples’ lives. Needle exchange programs and abstinence are two of the most vivid examples: Successful risk reduction programs also save money on future treatment costs. The CDC has set forth an ambitious goal to reduce new HIV infections inour nation. In addition, the independent and science-based Institute ofMedicine recently released areport, "No Time to Lose," that supported the use of cost effective methods of reducing HIV transmission, including needle, exchange programs. A recent study from .the Heury.J. Kaiser Family Eotmda_tign~f.o_und that p.arents think schools should have more comprehensive sexual education curriculum and cover topics that are not generally covered, such as sexual orientation. Effective prevention methods deserve support - both financial and political support-from Congress, the administration, the public health community, and other impacted communities. We must strive to continue to find even better treatments, furthe~ reduce the number HIV infections, provide additional assistance to nations around the globe and develop a vaccine within a reasonable time frame. These goals are attainable. In a nation as wealthy and creative as ours, we should expect nothing less. ¯ Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry: Gay People Need Not Exist ¯ by Tom Neal, editor &publisher ¯ committee process and edited out that inclusion. Because It might come as quite a surprise to you to learn that there " of their and their organization’s past involvement in acts are no Gay people in Tulsa. There are no Gay bars, no Gay " of anti-Gay discrimination, it looks like Dr. Sandra Rana churches, no Gay households, no Gay parents, no Gay kids ¯ and Nancy Day of the National Conference for Commu- - you get the idea. : nity and Justice wereresponsible.TMM’s executive board At least that’s the message that Tulsa Metropolitan " never saw an inclusive version. Ministry (TMM) is putting out. While"cel- This does not excuse the executive ebrating" Tulsa’s "diversity" specifically, claiming to "... support each other’s right to live and prosper in this great community. ¯ ." TMM. somehow managed t3 "disappear" Gay Tulsans. Wehave long known that some groups in TMM are deeply prejudiced against Lesbian and Gay persons. Usually these people are identified as Tulsa’S Muslim community, some of Tulsa’s Black churches and Tulsa’s Orthodox Christian commumty. No matter how repugnant their views are to us, morally and theologically, wehave to ¯ support their constitutional right to hold : those views. But usually their objections are to.-us having those basic civil rights protections which they enjoy themsdves. They want for it-to continue to be legal for us to be firedfrom ourjobs, or thrown out of our homes or have our children taken from us. They have objected to characterizing assaults on us as hate crimes, even if the "... apologlsts for TMM ma~e the excuse that Gay Tulsans have to be sold out in order to appease the Muslims, or the Blaeh churches or the Orthodox. Gay people are ashed, again and again, year after year, to go along because some good comes out of it..." board. In this city, and in this time, it is very hard not to know that Gay and Lesbian people exist. But their oversight lacks the malice of deliberate exclusion. Many apologists for TMM make the excuse that Gay Tulsans have to be sold out in order to appease the Muslims, or the Black churches or the Orthodox. Gay people are asked, again and again, year after year, to go along because some good comes out of it. But this statement goes too far. It demands that we collaborate in the denial of our own existence. And those.who sign it knowing better, knowing thatTMM’s "diversity" statement is profoundly a lie, are no less collaborators with evil than those who kept silent in the face of Nazi horrors. TMMhas long tolerated a double standard. Gay people are asked to recognize that Tulsa Muslims and others are "funda- ¯ mentalists" and we are asked to tolerate same act is a hate crime when they are the target. : Butthey hadn’t before soughtto deny our very existence. This is largely a symbolic act but in some ways, it is more ~ powerful than the others. Even when our fundamental civil ¯ rights are denied, we are atleast acknowledged as existing. ¯ Ironically, part Of the impetus for this "diversity" statement was a visit by a particularly virulent part.of the Klu- Klux Klan. Traditionally, theKKK’s principle targets have b~nJews andBlacks.But as Gay and Lesbian people have become more visible, we have been included very explicitly in Klan hatred. This Klan visit was-no.exception. And while the Klan did not forget us, Tulsds "do-gooder" hypocrites pretend that we don’t exist. Now not all of TMM’s members take this position. Russell Bennett of Fellowship Congregational Church sought to add sexual¯ orientation to TMM’s "diversity" statement. But ina deeply disturbing and shameful action, one or two commi ttee members appear to have violated the to three equally weighted categories; community leadership, scholastic merit, and financial need. This year,the scholarship selection committee is .comprised of a student representative from five of OLIC campus organizations, and five OklahomaGLBT community leaders..The chair-person of this year, selectiOn committee is Whitten. The organizers add that applications will be available Dec. 1st from our OLIC organizations, at the Oklahoma City and Tulsa Gay Commlmity Centers and online at www.geocides.’com/okolic/. Applications will be due on Feb. 15,2001 and the winners will be announced in late March. Also, the Oklahoma ]mmbda IntercJall:egiate C0aii~0~ hold a fundraising reception in Tulsa Oli December 2’ls( from7 - 10pm at thehome ofRick and Susan Doss in Tulsa. Funds raised by this event will be used for the Oklahoma Lambda Youth Scholarship. RSVP to 405-325-4452. A donation of $25 is suggested. The goals of the Oklahoma Lambda Intercollegiate Coalition are: I. Raising awareness of GLBT youth ~ssues within our community, schools, and society; II. Sharing information and resources in an effort to provide the best possible programming for sponsoring organizations; their bias agaanst us even as Muslims, Jews, Christians, and. Unitarians somehow manage to respect each other. White supremacist groups, like the Christian Identity movement and .others who use theology much like the Muslims do to justify their prejudice, are not welcomed into.TMM. Buta special place is carved outfor anti,Gay prejudice, It is finally too much. And it is time that good people who know better stand up for their neighbors and friends and families, ff this means that Tulsa cannot support its real diversity, then at least we’ll be telling .the truth. Muslim Tulsans might have to acknowledge that they cannot object to anti-Muslim bias while oppressing Gay Tulsans. Black Tulsans ought to know better..And Jewish Tulsans mightneed to do for Gay people what was done for them by non-Jews in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s,which is to be vocally and visibly advocates for civil rights. It’s time now for this change. ¯ III. Supporting a Queer youth movement to impact the : politics of our state and nation; ¯ IV. Providing resources to the Oklahoma GLBT youth ¯ community including political and health education, a ¯ safe social environment, and an opportunity to cultivate : leadership skills, and; ¯ V. Fostering the conception and growth of new GLBT : student groupsacross Oklahoma. ¯ For more information, contact, Oklahoma Lambda In- ¯- tercollegiateCoalition 900Asp,OMU, P,m. 363,Box 169, Norman OK 37019-4058 or telephone to.405-325-4452. ¯ www.geocities.com]okolic i Stout Wins Okla.Mr.Leather : T.U.L.S. A~ (Tulsa Uniform Leather Seekers Associa- ¯ .ti.’9fa):held the annual Oklahoma Mr. Leather contest "! ~ O.cto~b_dr 20-22 at the Silver S’t~tr in Tulsa. Four Contestants from the state competed in c~ate~ories that included inter, view, streetwear, physique and full leather image. Seven judges from the US and Canada judged the contestants. International Mr. Leather 2000 Mike Taylor was among the distinguished panel. Contestants were Jason Pelkey of Tulsa, Jim Stout of Ramona, Stephen Scott of OKC-Mr. Sooner State Leather 2000, and Mark Goins of Tulsa-Mr. Tulsa Leather 2000. The weekend event began with a tour of the local clubs and Tulsa’s Gay Community Services Center. The interviews were Saturday morning and the rest of the contest was held that night. Stephen Scott was first runner-up. Scout Troop Defies National Anti-Gay Ban PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A second Rhode Island Scout troop is defying the national organization’s ban on homosexuals, Members, leaders, and parents from Boy ScoutTroop 28 have sentaletterto the Narragansett Council of Boy-Scouts saying they will ignore the policy. The troopjoins Cub Scout Pack 88, which sent a similar letter, The Providence Journal reported. ~ .The national policy is root~,in a 1910 oath that Says Scofi~- ~’.st ke~p~el~s-~ ,.ni0ralty straigl~t:~’iThe ’ !. b~via’g tlplldld~y!th~ Siipr~aid CourtthisS~er,but ’"about ~:d~ozen~ trbb~ ~at~oflwlde have stud thaiwill The leaders of Pack 28 said the words "morally straight" have nothing to do with sexual orientation. ....’The oath didnotmean to banhomosextmls but to keep .....on the straight and narrow and do what is right," said Y"Allen M. Dennison, an assistant scoutmaster with Troop 28, who has four sons in Scouting. Our assessment of whatis right is that everyone be included, and " that includes Gay leaders and Gay Scouts." ..... The Narragansett Council will forward the letter fromTroop28to theBoy Scouts ofAmericaheadquar- ’ ters in Irving~ Texas, as it did with the letter from Pack 88, said state ¢o,.u~,ci! Spokesman David Preston. Pack 88hash theard from the national Boy Scouts regarding its status and calls to the Boy Scouts of America were not returned. Officially, troops that " ignore Scouting rule~ Will have their charter revoked. To date, however, the Boy.Scouts of America has not revoked thecharter of a troop or council for ignoring .the banon Gays. The ban made news inRhode Island last year, when a 16-year-old Eagle Scout filed a complaint with the Rhode Island Human Rights Commission saying he was denied a job at a Scout camp because he is Gay. Maryland Can Ban " Anti-Gay Discrimination ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Gov. Parris Glendening~s :plan to add Gays to Maryland’s anti-discrimination law likely would not violate the First Amendment guarantee of free exercise of religion, according to the state attorney general’s office. Assistant Attomey General Kathryn M. Rowe issued the four-page legal opinion this week at the request of-Delegate Sandy,I. Rosenberg, who is expected to use it to counter religious-based arguments -.. against the proposed legislation. "I did this so we would have a:.iegal opinion on the matter instead of rhetoric that is not precise," Rosenberg said. "In an - issue as emotional as .this, everybody should do their best not to misstate the law." Rosenberg asked for the opinion after a representative of the Diocese ofWilmington testified against the governor’s plan at a public heating in Salisbury.The diocese includes Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The hearing was conducted by a commission ereated by the governor to solicit testimony about discrimination against Gays, Lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals "The teaching o.f the Catholic Church and societal tradition does not accept homosexuality as a legitimate lifestyle," the diocese said in a position paper presented at the hearing. Thepositionpaper alSO said the proposed legislation "significantly and Wrongfully encroaches (on) the First Amendment, free-exercise rights of religious institutionsand ofpersons whose actions are dri-ven by their religious beliefs." In her opinion, Rowe said there wasprecedent for laws with "the incidental effect of burdening certain religious practices" - as long as the laws do not single out one religion. There is also precedent suggesting that the hiring of ministers would be exempt from the proposed bill, Rowe said. : Navy Ends Harrassment : of Former Seaman ¯ ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)-A former midshipman who : resigned from the U.S. Naval Academy amid accusa- ¯ tious ofhomosexuality won’thave to repay the govem- ~ ment for his education, the Navy has ruled/The deci- ¯ sion means that Tommie Watkins, 25, will not have to ." reimburse the Navy the $86,000 that covered his train- . ing and tuition, plus interest. i Watkins, president of his classand an aspiring Navy ~ ~pil0t; ~s~id bewas pres’sured to. resign ~and did so ~ ~ beeau~e he feared ht~mophobia ’would preve~t him ~- fromreceiviffga fair trial:’After leaving, he acknowl- -" edged being Gay. Officer trainees who drop out or are ¯ expelled during theirjtmior or senior years are required ¯ by Pentagon policy to repay the government for their ¯ education, either ~in cash or through enlisted service. ¯ The Navy’s Board of Correction of Naval Records ." said last year that he was a victim 6f,"error and ¯ injustice," and recommended the academy waive the ." payment. That decision was overruled in March by ." Carolyn Becraft, the assistant secretary ofthe Navy for ¯ manpower. Watkins sued, and on the day of the dead- : line for the Navy to respond, his lawyer got word of the : reversal. ." Watkins, who works in Miami as the project director ¯¯ for an AIDS and HIV ministry, called the decision ¯ "long overdue and totally justified." "It’s kind of ironic, because the Navy says its core values are honor, ¯ courage and commitment," he said. "It seems like I had _. to exhibit those qualities to win this case.’" ¯ Officials from the Naval Academy declined to com- ." ment on the decision. ¯ Iowa Order Banning Anti- Gay Bias to Be Reviewed ¯ DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - It’s up to a Polk County ¯ district ,judge to rule on the legality-, of Gov. Tom ¯ Vilsack s’ci~il-rights order. District Judge Glenn Pille heard lawyers’ arguments about the order during a ¯ recent hearing. ¯ Vilsack issued an executive order in September 1999, forbidding discrimination against Gays, Lesbi- ¯ ans and Transexuals in state government employment. : The move sparked a legislative debate. Conservative ¯ legislators were particularly angry that the order ap- ¯ plies to Transsexuals. A majority of lawmakers voted ¯ to repeal the order, but Vilsack vetoed the legislation. ¯ Twenty-three legislators led by Republican Senate ¯ Majority Leader Stewart Iverson, challenged the order ¯ in a lawsuit filed in July. They said that Vilsack ¯ overstepped his authority and thathe, in effect, rewrote ¯ the law. ¯ Vilsack has said he is carrying out a state law ¯ providing equal opportunity in state employment to all : persons. Iowa Deputy Attorney General Julie Pottorff ¯ represented Vilsack at the hearing. She said the dispute ¯ is a legal question, and that Vilsack acted within his ¯ auth6rity ensuring that legal protections apply to all ¯ executive branch employees. ’°-l’his is no more than a ¯ ¯ political disagreement," Portorff told Pille. Des Moines lawyer Mark McCormick is represent- " ing the legislators and a former state employee. He ¯ argued at the hearing that the order infringes on the ¯ constitutional separation of powers and said "The ¯ governor has no power by- ~xecutive order to create ~ ¯ law." - : Vatican in Tizzy About ¯ "Fake Marriages" ¯ VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Vatican has blasted ¯ lawmakers for givinglegal recognition to so-called"de ~ facto" unions - including those between Gays - and ¯ said attempts to allow adoption by Gays were "a great danger." A 77-page document made public in Novem-~ Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at 1 lam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm, Sunday Eve. Service, 6pm ¯ 1517 S. Memorial, 628-0802, Info: 224-4754 The Open Arms Project Young Adult Support Group Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325 Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-~.4-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna .L.W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114,3518 The Pride Store 21st Street & Memorial Tulsa Gay Community Services Center .743-.GAYS (743=4297) 6-9 pm! Sudda~ ".-.!F~’{day, ~ ~ . ~ ~ ° ! 12,9~,prn~ ~Saturday, all sales benefit the C~nte? Important Information Call 212-461:2976 Interested? Call 918=447-8602 Red Rock Tulsa. . Free Confidentia!.HIV Testing Walk:in Clinics Tues. & Thurs., 5 -8 pm at the Center,. 1307 East 38th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 KIM WILKS Independent Consultant for 357-1757 ~n just a matter of hours .Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 ber by The Pontifical Council for the Family was built heavily around similar denunciations over the last few years by Pope JohnPattl II. Italian Gay groups, stung over the summer by the Vatican’s moves to try to block Gay pride events in Rome, denounced the latest pronouncement on homosexual unions. The Vatican’s council on family matters also presented a proposal to make sex crimes against children, including "sex tourism" exploitation, crimes against humanity. But .the bulk of the positions ,pr.esented. hammered away at unions betwb.en Gays as well as legal recognition for.~tmm.arried hetgcosexual~couple~. While not citing any particular, .country, thd .,Vatica.n,. spoke of ’~great concern" aboutlawiiaakers’ efforts "in many countries with an ancient Christian tradition" to give legal status to unmarried couples. Earlier this month, Germany.granted legal recognition to Gay couples, following similar moves.ove~ the 1~ decade by other Western European countries. " De facto unions ~e the result.of private behavior andshoul’d remain 0ni~e pri~at~ 1,ev_el ," . the Vatican said. It described as a ~erious sign, of.the-contempo,~ rary br0~tkd0wn in the s0dal an~ ~oral.conscilence, political eftbrts tO give institutionalstatus to delfacto couples. It Said attempts to legalize thead0ption of children by Gay. ~Q~ple,s .added ’!an elemen_t.of ~reat danger." - .. NY Town offers: Benefits GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) -The Gr.eenburgh Town Board voted un’aJaim6u~ly" tO ’offer health-be]aefits to same-sex domestic partners 0f municipal workers. "We want to treat all our employees as if they’re valuable to us," said Supervisor Paul.Feiner. New Yoj~k ~stiite,. Ne~: Yori~ City;._a~nd/~Ve’stchester CounU,.plus several ~orporation~,~.rpv.id¢~sach:benefits to homosexual couples. Of Westchester s-municipalities, only. Eastchester has..acted before Greenburgh. Under the measure;, which goesinto effect JnJanu- ..ary, an uumarried,.town, employee who.says-in an affidhvit that he or she has hadan exclusive relationship for a year can extend medical.and dental coverage to\the partner. - " . )_ Phelps at Phillips Exeter EXET.ER, N.H. (AP) - An anti-Gay ch~ch group opposed to Phillips ExeterAcadem~~ s p0!~gy .alirwing homosexuals to be dorm parents protested outside the school recently, v~aving.signs with messages .that included: ’q’hank GodforA!DS." About adoZenfol!owers of the Rev. Fred Phelps of the Westboro B.aptist Church of Topeka~ Kan., ~rrivedat ~eS~hob’i~r’rund noon after making similar demonstrations in’Ve~ont and Maine earlier. The, ,church members, oppose a measure Phillips Exeter truste~.,S approved in May that al!0ws.Gay and ,,I~,.sbian faculty and staff to serve as dormitory parents. ’ it’s destroying the fabric0fthis nation~ the~r~ls/.hat this nation ,does have," s,aid Sam Pheligs~Roper’~ the Rev.Phelps grandson.".It saslippeDi~lopestraightto hell and that’s where this.country is’headed. This is a ing match toward the end, when a group of University of New Hampshire students arrived to denounce the church group. "Relax! It’sjust sex," one student shouted. "I preach God’s word." "You preach hate." But that’s an accusation Phelps’ followers don’t deny. They maintain that God hates homosexuals and will destroy any society that condones homosexual behavior. ’q’he Christian belief is rooted not only in the love of God, but also the hate of God. You can’t have one without ,the. 9~er.,’~’. . .Pt!_dps-Roper said. "That is definitive. Th,e~ is~no.question, that Gq~t!ha,t~s, p~9..p!e.]’, ,, -~~W.~[bggQ Baptist ,O~,ur..ch ~s. ~gu,t 2Pq i~im~ers. . They have picketed~a~ ~e fun~€91s of. homosexuals, including that of Matthew Shepard,.a Gay man.who was brutally beaten and tortured in Wyoming in Octo~ ber 1998. "He’s in hall. And everyone else who.lives daat lifestyle will likely be in he!! with him unle{s.they repent," Phelps-Roper said. "Of ~.course, he could.have repented, but there’ s a snowball’, s, chance of tha~;happening." _. ¯ The Rev. Phelps did not attend, the demonstr.a_.tion. ~ His grandson said Phelps,:was .geeded back at his ¯¯ c,,h.t~h tominister But Phe!ps~Roper.saidthe growing acceptance of homosexualit~ made,:their message to ¯ iEx~ter all the more importan.t. ’;7~..’s.isimportant ~tuff. ¯ This is a ,matter of life and ~death,’:etemRy h~-re," phelps-Roper said. "When G.0~as said something is : ~.abomination, you don’t mes~.~ith it." ¯ Representatives of 14 churches from the region ¯ j6i]aekl the university students.i0PPosing Phdps? fol- 19wers. They said that thoug~flaey:don’t all agree on ¯ the moral status of homosexu~fity, they univers~ally oppose Phelps’ message. ."While we recognize their, right, to express their p,ersonal views freely concermngAcademy policy and : ~e subjectin general, we take,~.trong exception to/heir ¯ rhe.t.ori9and signs denigrati.ng0~r~eighbors,,, the,Rev’ ¯ ¯ DanielWeaver of theExeterUnitedMethodistChurch said: ~’We wholcheartedly agree:thathatr’ed, expressed ¯ or implied, as well as the adVo~icy br promotion of ¯ haff~lis anathema. It is certaird:y notitt the spirit of the ¯ v0~b~dsOf Jesus, ’Love your°neiIgl~bor~ as yourself."’ ¯ Accused Murderers of " Gay Man to Stand Trial FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) =T.w,o,teen-agers will stand : trial ear)y next year for the murder of a Gay black man from.Marion County, a judg.e., ruled~ in November. : David Allen Parker, whose lawyers may argue a di- : minished .capacity defense;,is ser~ to stand trial in ¯ Becldey on Jan. 16. His co-defendarit, Jared Wilson. ¯ will l!0t be tried until February...... ¯ Par~er, 18, ofGrantTownan~tWilson, 18, ofFairview : ar~’charged with first-degree.murder in the July 4 ° beating death of Arthur "J.R." Warren. Police say the teens pummeled the 26-year,old acquaintance with : their fists and feet, then ran over him four times with ] Parker’s car to disguise his injuries as a hit-and-run. ¯ The assault allegedly began after ~Warren told others ¯" about a sexual relationshiphe claimed to have had with : Parker. ~ Circuit Judge Rodney Merrifield said he will likely message that they need." ¯ rule within 10 days whetherjurors at thetrials will hear ~ ~..m,,d~nts, at .tl],e neari~y,22Q=ye~o!d pri~vate ,high : the teens’ confessions. Defenselawyers argue sheriff’s Schorl: apparently ~v~r~fi t irit~Stc;d~j~"h~g it~ ¯ deputies inappropriately obtained the statements the Many students and faculty members_wore x~row- :, gtay, 9.t" Lhe_.murd,er,;an accusatton, the deputies have colored pins, a symbol of support for homosexuals ¯ denied on the Witness ;/arid Judy Quirm, spokeswoman for Phillips Exeter, said " Prosecutors say Warren’s DNA showed up in evithe school’s roughly ’1,000 students decided not to attend the~demonstration; and instead .-organized a diversity celebration in another part of the campus. "The values of inclusion and diversity have been hallmarks of Phillips Exeter Academy since its formding," she said in a written statement. "The fact an objection to these principles is what brings this group to Exeter is indeed regrettable " The otherwise peacefifl protest erupted into a shout- : dence samples taken from the interior, exterior and : undercarriage of Parker’s car, as well as on wood : paneling and molding from the house where the bea~- ¯ ing began. : Parker’s attorneys, Rebecca Tate and Stephen Fitz. ¯ also asked the judge for a delay so they could hire ~., ~ expert to study their client for a possible diminished o capacity defense strategy. Bayer Seeks New AIDS Treatments BERLIN (AP) - Bayer AG, Germany’s biggest drugmaker, said Tuesday it will join the search fornew AIDS treatments as part of a shakeup of its drug research activities: The Leverkusen-based company, best-known for developing aspirin, will look for substances effective against resistant viruses, said Wol,fgang Hartwig, head of research in’Bayer s pharmaceuti- : cal busine.ss group. The company declined to specify:how muchit will invest in AIDS research. In 2000, it budgeted a total of 1 billion euros ($845 million) for research and development. Bayer said it expects to identify the first substances suitable for precliuical HIV testing within two years. Pharmaceutical research will in the future be focused on 13 fields, including seeking new treatments in urology, Alzheimer’s dementia and Parkinson’ s disease. Bayer saidit will stop its research activities for osteoporosis, fibrosis of the liver and stroke. Key Protein in AIDS. Virus Found WASHINGTON (AP) - A protein that does housekeeping chores inside cells plays a key role in spreading the AIDS virus to other cells of the body, researchers report. In studies appearing in the Proceedings of the National AcademyofSciences (PNAS), researchers say that _HIV, the AIDS’virus, uses a group of proteins, called proteasomes, to assemble new viral partitles and to spread those new particles.to uninfected cells. Ulrich Schubert of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) said test tube studies show that blocking the action of the proteasome proteins can reduce the spread of HIV infection by about 98%. Schubert, the first author of one study in PNAS, cautioned that the research was conducted only in test tubes and it is not known if the proteasome inkibitors would work against HIV in humans. "We would never inject this drug into an HIV-infected person because we do not know what would happen," said Schubert. Theproteasome inhibitors will be tested in monkeys before any human tests are considered, and those animal studies could take months, he said. Dr. Jonathan W. Yewdell, a NIAID researcher and a co-author of the study, said that althoughinhibitingproteasome shows promise as a strategy for treating HIV, "it is possible that it may not have any effect at all." He said the proteasome function is essential for healthy cells and that a drug thatblocks thatfunction could affect every cell in the body. "It is possible that the HIV-infectedcells will be more sensitive or that there are effects against the virus before" the healthy cells are affected, said Yewdell. Yewdell and Schubert said cancer researchers are experimenting with proteasome inhibitors for the treatment of prostate cancer and early studies have shown no side effects in cancer patients. The drug, however, has not been used in HIV-infected patients, they said. Proteasome’s job inside the cell is to identify and destroy old or unneeded proteins. Another PNAS study, by researchers at Pennsylvania State University, suggests that amolecule calledubiquitinplays akeyroleinhow viruses use theproteasome function in a cell to make new viral partitles. Still another PNAS study, by researchers from the Dana-Farber Caneer Institute, Harvard Medical School and the University of Padua in Italy, also demonstrates that ubiquitin plays a role in HIV particle formation. HIV spreads its infection inside thebody by forcing white blood cells, called CD4s, to make new viral particles. These partitles are released from the cells and can then infect other cells, spreading the infection throughout the body. The final part of this virus-making proeess is called budding. During budding, a new viral particle wraps itself in a membrane from the surface of the infected cell and completes its development. When the budding process is completed, the virus particle is released and can then attach to an uninfected CD4 cell and continue to spread the infection. The researchers found that HIV uses the proteasome molecules, particularly ubiquitin, to complete the assembly of a new viral particle at the cell membrane. When the pro.teasome action is blocked, HIV particle formation is crippled, they found. "Inhibiting proteasome causes fewer viruses to detach from the cell and what viru~ is madeis notas good," saidYewdell. Proteasome is most active in the budding phase of making a new HIV viral particle. It is different from protease, an enzyme that helps the HIV virus assemble precursor proteins into active proteins. Some HIV drugs, called protease inhibitors, work by blocking the action of the protease enzyme. Power Connect. Public Service Compa~ny of Oklahoma Customer Service.is Nb~Available 24 Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. These days, traditional 8-5 business hours aren’t always convenient. So PSO has made it easier than ever for you to contact us. Our Customer Service Center operates 24/7 offering around-the-clock answers to your questions - and better access to service. Now it’s easier for you to inquire about your monthly electric bill. Or report a power outage. Or arrange to have your power turned on or off. Our professionally trained, friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives are standing by to serve you. All, day, every day. To provide faster response to your needs, we have listed our toll-free numbers below. ¯ Leftover Medicines Help in Haiti + More CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) - The jar of AIDS medications that Moses Alicea plucked from among pill bottles and vials spilled across the table were bound for the dump - worthless in the United States. But in Haiti, where the lifesaving drugs will be sent, they are priceless. The medications - about $20,000 worth of protease inhibitors that can suppress HIV and prevent progression of AIDS - will be sent to the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation to help people who would otherwise never receive the treatment. At the root of the salvage effort is the vast gulfbetween availability of the medications in affluentcountries tike the United States and developing countries like Haiti. "This is importantbecause there’s peqple living with HIV who can’t get the meds like we do," said Alicea, 36, who gave his ownleftoverAIDS medications. "ffI can’t use them, somebody else can. There’s alot of stuffoutthere that’ sjustbeing dumped." Some 95% of the more than 33 million people with HIV and AIDS in the world are in poor countries, according to the World Health Orgamzation. In those regions, the so-called drug "cocktails" - Clip And Save " p I I I I I I--I I I I III CALL 24 HOURS FOR TOLL-FREE SERVICE Customer Services: 1-888-216-3523 Billing Inquiries: 1-888-216-3490 Outage Reporting: 1-888-218-3919 Servicio a Clientes: 1-888-216-3505 Preguntas Sobre su Cuenta: 1-888-216-3491 Fa]ta De Suministr0:1-888-218-3924 Public Service Company of Oklahoma I I I I I I I I i I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Medical Excellenc.e And Compass.lonate Care S nce 1926. a ¯ ST. JOHN MEDICAL CENTER q P Medical Excellence-Compassi’onate Care whichcan costupwardof $20,000 per year in the United States -are about 30 times the average monthly income and far out of reach for most people, according to the group Doctors Without Borders. The issue of global drug acess has becomeheated. Protesters doggedVice President A1 Gore last year about drug prices in Africa, and the issue is apriority for institutions like the World Health Organization that are trying to combat the disease. Clients of the group Cambridge -Cares About AIDS are collecting the drugs from friends and family members - even from their own medicine cabinets. Most of the donated drugs are left over when a person with AIDS switches drug regimens because of debilitating sitle effects. Since last December, the group has delivered some $200,000 worth of medications to Parmers in Health, a Boston-based organization with a clinic in Haiti which distributes them to people with AIDS and HIV. Partners in Health executive director Dr. Jim Yong Kim said between 50 and 100 people in Haiti are regularly receiving the medications gathered by the Cambridge group. But there’s an enormous unmet need that this effort cannot even begin to solve without global attention - and a global solution- to the drug crisis, he said. "This is now an absolute disaster and an absolute crisis," Kim said. "It’s a moral problem, but it’s also an economic and political problem.’" TheWorld Health Organizationhas protocols for donated drugs. But the organization does not have separate guidelines for AIDS medications, which generally involve complex daily regimens of 15 to 20 different pills that require close medical supervision. And the medication supply must be consistent, because interrupting the regimen can result in the HIV virus becoming resistant to treatment. Only a handful of groups send unused AIDS drugs overseas. Kim said agencies like his are "writing the book" on salvaging AIDS drugs. There is no agency overseeing the practice, no way of knowing how common it is or whether groups are adhering to WHO guidelines for drug donations, according to Michael R. Reich, acting chair of the Department of Populationand International Health at the Harvard School of Public Health. But he said that while donations will never fill the need for drugs in poor countries, this effort highlights the problem. "Troubling questions arise from gaps in access," he said. "Haiti is a country with extraordinary needs for good drugs, and donations provide a mechanism for trying to address the gap." James Russo, spokesman for the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations, an organization composed of drug companies and non-govemmen.tal organizations thatTdistribute free drugs o~¢erseas, said it is a"perfecfly reasonable and understandable and decent thing to do." Such donations may not technically be legal, because the recipient is not the person for whom the drugs were prescribed, he said. But if the drugs are properly used and distributed, thenpublichealthbenefits override such legal issues. "The fact that it needs doing is, to me, a tragic observation about the state of public health policy," he said. "Nothing but good can come from ¯ something like this." ¯ Sitting beside Alicea, Katherine Gaynes, : 54, takes a thick marker and strikes from a ¯ bottle the name of the original patient, the ¯¯ doctor who made the prescription and the pharmacy that filled it so the pills cannot ¯ be traced back to the original recipient. ¯ She said the huge overseas need for medications frustrates her, but she’s glad she’s ¯ been able to do some good. "If the rest of ¯ the world doesn’t get better, then it doesn’t ; get better for us," she said. . ¯ Rise in HIV in Gays And Natives Feared ¯ TORONTO (AP) - New numbers on HIV infections in Canada point to a worrying : trend away from safe sex in some segments of the Gay community and a steep ¯ increase of infections among FirstNations ¯ people. The number of new infections ¯ amongmenwho have sex withmenjumped ¯ by 30% from 1996 to 1999, according to ¯ the latest report on HIV and AIDS preva- ¯ lence issued by Health Canada. The hum- : ber of new infections among Aboriginal ¯ Peoples rose 91% over the same period. : Some headway hadbeen made over that : time in cutting the number ofnew cases of _" HIV infection among injected drug users, ¯ the report said, noting the number of new : cases declined 27% last year over 1996. ¯ "But no sooner did we do that than Gay : men are starting to rebound again," Chris ¯ Archibald, Health Canada’s chief of HIV/ ¯ AIDS epidemiology and surveillance, said : from Ottawa on Thursday. ¯ Before 1996, Health Canada reported a ¯ steady drop in the number of new cases of ¯ HIV among Gay men, the population most ravaged by HIV and AIDS. Gay men accounted formore than 80% ofnew cases in : 1981-83; by 1996, they made up less than ¯ a third (30%) of new cases of HIV infection. Archibald said the upward trend has ¯ VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - ." A group of health-care advocates and in- . jection drug users is aiming to make Vancouver the first city in North America to offer addicts a safe site to inject drugs. ¯ Whether the facility is a"hole in the wall" ¯ or a comprehensive health center will be ." determined by funding, says the Harm ." ReductionActionSociety, whichreleased ¯ its pilot project proposal last month. ." The society would like to have support ¯ from all levels, "but let’s get this straight, we are going to do it," said board member Dean Wilson. "One way or another, there ¯ will be such a facility or facilities," said Ross Harvey, the executive director of the ¯ B.C. Peoples with AIDS Society. The society would like to have a facility ¯ open before Valentine’s Day. The group, ¯ formed earlier this year, recently sent con- ¯. sultants to Frankfurt,Germany,where they visited five sites set up in 1994. The city ¯ released proposal recently that included a ¯ safe-sites proposal,butMayorPhilipOwen ¯ rejected the idea, saying it would be a magnet for drug addicts. ¯ also been reportedin the United States and ." the Netherlands. Vancouver Looks At Injection Site sung. And the lyrics aren’t too bad, either. He’s been performing since he was 6, and appeared in the film "Latin Boys Go To Hall" singing a song "... Siegfried and Roy have never been involved ..m ~r~ming an.i.~.ii.a.lk. i"n the’ ir h,2ves. They mold things around the personality of their animals." And maybe, if the rest of. us learned’ thattriek - love ~hOUt the ne~ for~.e~ntrol - we’d h~ve better ofhis owncomposition. He’ s played some ofthe most resi~ected venues in NYC to critical acdaini. ’ ~ He ~is also named by HXmagazine as one of the ten hottest menin NY. Judging from the press photos, I’ll second that. He’s currently working with song- .writer DesmondChilde, knowi~ for being a ’ hitwriter forRickyMar- .... ~ tin,Ch~,.and Ma~10nna. He’il surprise you. YOu’.dnever .guess he was anice.Jewish bpy relationships as well . frOmNew York - he~s ---got: that ~0ul sound by Jim Christjohn, entertainment editor Merry Yule and Winter Solstice, everyone! This year has moved fast - hard to believe we’ll be starting a new millennium soon. Hope everyone h~ a ha~pp.y hoR.day. ~. ~- ~l~a ’frijOl, ~-Jim~ ’ Brf~l~iffa~ ~rbtflrh~:t~o Tut~d D~em6~r~5~il fdt a a romantic ,evening bf musicandfun. Ifyou’ve ?iaot seen his show be- 7~ore, .or ~ ing, it s well worfla it. i?And he’s:iher~ ~ith ¯" ~onny oshioiia,’W~Ch ~’should 7~I’11 miss John Trbnes, a i, family m.-..~~m~l~ ,~ho ~’ was here~th year, but"J~bgt Doimy does a grea~jdb ~i~the songs. Ji~ can~take a huge thOt~.~d make . it seem " room, and :he’s gOkgcous to boot - very handsom~],~,Sf;.~tl~6~:~;i~uals are as good as ’the musi.~;.ye~, ~I,know...you really " didn’t exp~t ~e t without .mgn,ti.0~ngl something like that, did you?.~tf!~y!~mmended; especially as an earl~’. Yule gift for that sigfiffieant other. 596~7111:fo€ fix. If yo~J;~:i’6bidiag for nifty gffties of an entertaiifi~ s0~t,’I have a few recomme,n,- dations: Fir~ oifth~’list is "Chicken Run’, just outOgDVD~dVHS. TheDVDis the preferencehe~e, due to the fun extras they threw ina~d the".claance to see the film as it was preSgntetion screen, instead of only half the.p.ivRtr¢fformatted to fit your TV) on the VHS version. There’s two documentaries 9n ..tal.ent and how they made. those chickens ttm; and it’s fun to see thecast men~!~erswfiose ,v,oices you hear. And it is so eff.~ecti~e.you I1 never eat chicken pot pies again:-’ Favorite line: Ging,er Chickefi,.:~.’.fig’ to explain why they re having ~toi~i~aS escaping the chicken farm/pfi~on"~to g doubting member of the flock, says’ Do’you know what the problem is? ~[]ie:fe~i~S.. aren’t just ’round the farm, they’reuphe~e-in yourheads !" The other chick~ep!ies,"Aw, give it up, ducks. There’s.amillion toone chance we’ll ever get out of her,e:, Ginger, mustering up thelast bit of hope she has (All done with the eyes), rep!iles, "Well . . there’s still a chance then." And then there’s Nick and Fletcher, a pair of rats who have a rather mteresturg relataonship... And that s al I’ll say about that, except I am surprised at. a: c"ertai.n::’a:c"t.lw.?s~t2m. :t~o:,w~n; w;~ho~ di¯ dN, O""T"~fi.1re ~ff a s~i-ies:.6fl6tters aboi~t Gay i~dople" being represented as rats... Even though they’re really cute rats, in that rat-like way, and help the chickens to escape. A new artiste on the Gay scene, Ari Gold, has a new CD out, and unlike many artists capitalizing on the "I’m Gay and out, so even if I suck, you should still buy my stuff", it’s actually a really good CD, filled with dance grooves and soulful ballads that are slickly produced and well down. He deserves our Support, because he dell,v~rs.the goo~s: Mostpr6moCDsfrom Gayarfists ’end UPas coastdts 6tmini-frisb.ees. This one’s akeeper. Great for dancing and romanc¯ ing, I give-it fivesnaps. He’ sgot awebsite: WWW.ARIGOLD.COM ¯ For those~vith.cabl~;~the’Americanized ¯ ,)ersion of the British series "Queer as ~ ’ .F01k" begins airing On Sh0w~me Decem- ~ her 3rd. For.those Without c,],,ble, fihd a ¯ ’ friend that has ~it,; The~iow delivers a :" Slice of.gffy life~th~t’ ~ ~corn~ellitag, ~pto- ,)ocative, and unlike any showyou’ll see. For 22 riveting episodes, these unforgettable men.andw0in~nr~veal tfiemselves - i:eally reveal themselves - as no TV characters ever have." Well,Iknow some folk,- who are queer, who~ve seenthe original British series, and if it’ s kept intact and not Americanized todeath, it sh.ould be good. : Happyw~ffChing! .... " Open now is a duo offeline proportions ¯ ."in "Siegfried and Roy: The Magic Box." i Now, I wonder if .we get to find out just .*. :Who has that’magi€ box? "Siegfried and : ’Roy: The Mhgic B6~" i~an’iMAX biopic ¯ ~Which includes’their Las V~gas a~t~ well ¯ as abiographical storyin-azstory ofhow .’- the two men met .-as-boys in war-tom ¯ Germany, combining a love of magic, ’ ~animals, and each other to become the ." "world’S greatestillu~R~nistS." ¯ Anthony Hopkins Narrates the story of ¯ the two boys who meet on a cruise ship ¯ (oh, the fodder for puns that provides) and ~ form "a differen,,t kind of i~agic act using ¯ exotic .snimals, .: an~" als0 ~"forni ~an~ .ex- ¯ -ty.~me|y lohg ~erm ~-ela~o~s~i~. oli, the ~° :jokbs that come tomind. So much material ¯ to work with, so little space. ¯ Actually, they have my admiration and ¯ all due respect. To work and live together ¯ as long as they have and not to have killed " each other in the process, and to have ¯ remained together, is no easy task. I have ¯ heardthem speakofthat, andhow attimes, . you just wanna kill your parmer, but un- " derneath it all is the love that keeps you ¯ working together - see Amuse, p. 10 GIFTS OF T!tI S ASON!: COUNCIL OAK WISHING YOU A JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON & A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR PLEASE JOIN TULSA OKLAHOMANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AS WE CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS.{ HOLIDAY RECEPTION HONORING TOHR’s 20TH ANNIVERSAF~Y & SILENT AUCTION AN ~,.RT, AHTIQUES & FINE DINING.SHOWCASE SUNDAY, DECEMBER | 0 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM TULSA GAY COMMUNI’~Y SERVICES CENTER 2114 S MEMORIAL PARADE OF LIGHTS Come celebrate the spirit of the holiday season at the AEP-Public Service Company of Oklahoma Christmas Parade of Lights, Satu rday, Decem ber 9, downtown Tulsa at 6 p.m. View parade floats up close, Friday, DecemberS, at the HolidayFest (Brady Arts District) from 7 - 9 p.m. PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA® by Karin Gregory GEls, have you ever had that Gay male friend who does everything with you? A Will to your Grace?AJack to your Karen? The oneman-for some of you, theONLY man - to whom you’d tell your secrets? Who is warm, caring, loving, a great listener, and in many cases,has betterfashion. sense than you? The one man you can talk to all night long? That guy who will, even across the miles, allow you to cry on his shoulder about your girlfriend? And you still remember your own tearstained shoulders from when he knocked on your door at 3 a.m. Most ofus, if we’re lucky, have a guy who would be the perfect partnerforapolitically correct" family value" couple if he became a woman and we became a man. ButI’m nottalking about him here. This is another Gay man who possesses none ofthe abovequalities. Sure, he can be a nice guy- whenhe wants to be. And he DOES have better fashion sense than I, although that’s no stretch. Butwhile I embracedmy.Gayness before embracing another woman, he did his embracing, and whatever rise (eeeewww!) earl~, on, and never really learned to enjoy being Gay. "How sad," you might say. Don’t feel sorry for him. Especially when you find out where I’m spending my days lately. Great house, DirecTV, MUCH cleaner thanmy place, and the perfect party home. I had become - how shall I say? - financially non-existent and couldn’t pay my rent (sounds like a musical, doesn’t it?). My friend - let’s call him Vincent - offered to put me up in his house for a few months. OK, let’s talk realism. He was looking for someone to help him with the house payments. I would get oneroom and a bathroom, as opposed to my car. Most people in my situation wouldjump at this arrangement. Although it .would save me $400, the cost in psycffiatric visits overmy lifetime would soon absorb the savings. Let’s just say that we were the other"Odd Couple." Picture a much more obsessive/ compulsive, anal retentive Felix Unger, who is also emotionally constipated, and you have Vincent. You’re not where I am now, and I hope you never are. Let me tell you how I got here through a progression of nightly entries. ¯DAY ONE - Got to Vincent’s house about 10:45 tonight after work. I can already tell our work schedules are going to conflict as he made a great show of"having" to be up this late. This was HIS idea, remember. He showed me the alarm system. God, it feels like Fort Knox in here, motion detectors and all. He also gave me an extra key and garage door opener. It all feels so official. This IS just a trial run, after all. I’m relegated immediatdy to my room, as small as a nun’s cell. He said I could have one piece of furniture, but there’s no room for anything else. i’ve ¯ been calling and calling my girlffien.: all : night, getting nothing but a busy sig:m! : That makes me anxious and frightenex~, se : I tall Vincent what’s going on, hoping to ¯¯ get some sympathy. While I try to hug ¯ : : ~, : :, "ra.m,.~.com.p~,.a~ps.....Oh "...G~gr~|s,. ,halve you no," in’d very pugquttbhe of voi~qe; his~us~tml t0ne. He e erMd Gay pU s n< "ar0 a.me male friend whodoes VERY gingerlg: try’ing to everythln~ with you? A Will to your Grace? A Jack to your Karen? The one man - for some of you, the ONLY man - to whom you’d tell your secrets?.. ?’ much me as little as possible, as if I’m a Lesbian leper. After he leaves, I get into the closet (I thought I’d left that for good!) so as not to wake him, and call my friend Jim. He gives me a bigger hug over the phone from Tulsa than I got from Vincent. I pull out my CD player and listen to Melissa Etheridge (who else?). Somehow it makes me feel dominant. DAY TWO - After dedaring thatmy alarm woke him from the other side of the house, he leaves. Now I can walk aroundlike I want. Ooops! I forget that he leaves the kitchen blinds open. Well, his neighbors will just be confused. They thooght they were living near a Gay man!.Oa my way to work, I find my girlfriend has called to let me know she’s all right, which should put me at ease, but the thought of having to live with Vincent depresses me. It already feels like I’m giving upmy life to live according to his schedule. WhenI arrive at his house, I’m in less than a pleasant mood. Anger sets in when I realize that I forgot to tape "Will and Grace." It doesn’t help that Vincent goes on andon abouthow this was the funniest episode he’s ever seen. "Did youtapeit?" I askhopefully, already knowing the answer. "No, I was home to watch it," he says, cleaning up the kitchen in a "don’t youdaremake amess" way. Selfish bastard! This further proves my point that when a man asks you into his life, for whatever reason, he really means, "I want to live my life as I always have, with no compromises. You’ll just be around when andif I need you." NowonderI’m Gay! He woulddrive Pat Buchanan’s wife to Lesbianism. I pop my popcorn (the only thing I’ve had since noon today), and the only thing allowed to me. I once again listen to Melissa, who has a strangeway ofempowering me. I fall asleep, dreaming of using a stun gun on Vincent repeatedly. DAY THREE-Today’s finally Friday, and I might be allowed to watch some TV tonight. I’m fine all day until I enter Vincent’s abode. We’re eating pizza, and he’s buying, an obvious splurge. But we disagree on TV programming, so he watches something in his room while I have the living room all to myself to watch a Beatles special. I’ve figured out one thing - never trust anyone who hates the Beatles. It’s positively UnAmerican! Another night of silence until he comes into the living room to switch channels so he can watch the news. seeLesbian,p.11 by Lamont Lindstrom "Gifts make slaves just as whips make dogs," or so says one bit of Native American wisdom. Keep this in mind during the upcoming holiday orgy of giving and receiving. Grits aremorethan just tokens of affection. They are’als0 ~gminde~s of obligati’On ahdl du~. Giging is politiCak ~Pd]~h~ps~ I give you a present because °I like you. Butifyou accept mypresent,you also accept that you are indebted to me - at least until you can pay me back. Ihad, once, a studentfrom Saudi Arabia whose father was in the rug trade. "I’m contacting my father," he told me near the end of the term. "I’d like to give you a carpet." Oh no, I thought, visions of Baluchis and Kilims dancing inmy head. How amI going to g~vehim the "D" that he deserves? Luckily, he presented me with a cheap synthetic prayer rug decorated,with garish neon cameIs, worth only a few dollars down at yourlocal bazaar. I wasn’t that muchii~’his debt after all, and I graded him down with a lighter heart. l~erhaps we all have had an experience of over-receiving. Somebody g~ves us something that is waytoo much. What can he have in mind? What does he want in return?A pesky acquaintance surprises us with afine leatherjacket. But what does he expect?A closer friendship?A date? Need we give it up? The fancy anthropological word for gift giving is "reciprodty." I give something to you, and you give something back to me. Such exchange can be balanced or imbalanced. Either way,. this says something about power. If we engage in prolonged, imbalanced gift giving, we find ourselves in an enduring relationship of inequality. Those fine presents have made us into dogs and slaves. Parents, for instance, give a lot more to children thanchildren giveto parents. This exchangeimbalancefuels parental authority. Few morns and dads hand their children, on their 18th birthdays, a bill for $186,000. Ratherthan reciprocating the exact dollar cost of raising us, we repay parents in obedience. "As long as you live inMYhouse, you’ll do what I say!" Those gifts come with strings. . To avoid, obligfiroh~ we must balance gift giving. Only balanced exchange cre: ates equality. If some one gives us a holiday present, we feel pressured togive a present in return. Failure to reciprocate means either that we don’tmind shouldering this debt and its obligations, or that we want to break things off altogether. Does morn send out the family’ s holiday cards? What does she do when someone fails to reciprocate? Cross him off the list! Sometimes exchangeimbalancepersists ¯ for years, however. My dentist sends me a ¯ Christmas card annually. Butdo I sendone ¯ back? Nope. In this case, I amrude enough ¯ to take without giving. But I understand ¯" the deal implied by this imbalanced exchange~ I take my mouth around to his office every six months. My friends in the South Pacific go to huge efforts to raise and give away pigs just to get their neighbors’ pigs in return. If would be far easier for all villagers to eat their own pigs. But what of us? .We are madcap enough to enrich the Post Office every December by mailing, around a blizzard of Christmas cards. I send out about 60 each year, and in return I receive 60 back. But if I really am so desperate for cards to clutterupmymantelpiece, why don’t I just keep those that I buy? I’d save a 10t on postage that way. My island friends are fanatic giftbalancers. They keep exact records of how ] many pigs, baskets, and mats they receive ¯¯ so that they can give the same in return. Butthey sometimes over-give- just alittle. ¯ This iitfleextra gift, which al~O must be "... Perhaps we all ~have had an experhne¢ of over-reeelvlng. Somebody gives us something that is way too much. What can he have in mind? What does he want in return? A peshy aeq~intanee surp~ses us ~th a fine l~ther ~aeket. But w~t does he expect? A closer friendship? A ~te? Need we give it up... ?" repaid at some point, keeps the :relationship moving along. Balanced exchanges celebrate the fact that we are still investing in the relationship. Youremain important to me. Butif I amto stay your equal, I need to give you about what you give me. I am embarrassed if I return too little OR ff I return too much. Imbalance in either direction implies either that I don’t care about us as much as you do, or that I am trying to obligate you. Given the importance of exchange balance, it is perverse that we remove price tags and wrap presents. It’s a bit of a game. We see through these pretenses that "it’s the thought that counts." As experienced givers, we are pretty good at striking a balance despite the absence ofprice tags or the concealment of gift-wrap. When a friend drops off a gaily-wrapped present for you, shake that box! Make a mistake in what you give back and it could be the doghouse for you! Lamont Lindstrom teaches anthropology at the University of Tulsa. and frommurdering each other. They have also managed to survive a business that chews you up and spits you out. It’s easy to makejokes at their expense, but you know, there is a magic there, that they’ve been able to survive that business - andremain together, whenI’m sure there were many times it wouldhavebeenmuch easier to split under the pressure. see Amuse, p. 11 Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic .Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appoinlrnenls are available. As Seen On Oprah Wireless E-Mail Send and receive Internet mail Exchange wireless notes Receive information updates Chat privately Only $99.99, Motorola T900 2-Way . after $50 mail-in rebate to order: www.acninc.com, Click on the pager icon. Rep. Ruid 0429895 IGTA member Call 341. 6866 International Toursformoreinformation. Fresh Start Seeking men & women to help with ,expansion in the area. Mustbe independent, goal-oriented; have a great attitude and excellent people skills. Call 663-5323. Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, .T,ues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm ody Tulsa’s only professional body-piercing College Hill -Presbyterian Church In response to God’s Love, College Hill Presbyterian Church is a community of God’s people called to tell others the Gospd of-J~sus Christ through worship, - service, and evangelism. To nurture our faith, we gather for worship, prayer, study and fellowship. Trusting in a living~ loving God, we seek to become a compassionate voice for peace and justice. Our congregation welcomes all persons who respohd in trust and obedience to God’s grace in Jesus Christ, and desire to become part of the membership and ministry of Christ’s church. Membership is open:.to all people regardless of race, ethnic origin, worldly condition, marital status, or sexual orientation. Sunday Worship 1 lam- 712 S. Columbia Ave., 592-5800 (Ohe block west of Delaware and the University of Tulsa Campus) This without saying a word to me. After - seeing how the candidates STILL can’t " decide this election, I put on my pajamas. " That’s all, I swear. When I come out at ¯ 9:20, the TV is turned off, along with the ¯ lights. My dorm mother has declared my curfew. One thought goes through my " head - I’m going to kill him; I’m going to ¯ kill him; I’m going to kill him. Big kitchen knives flash through my mind. I go to bed " at 9:20, again listening to Melissa. She’s " giving me the wrong kind of strength, : think. DAY FOUR- This is the last day, but I " have to spend it with HIM. I see my stu- ¯ dents at my Saturday class, knowing this : will probably be the last time I teachi I’ve ¯ made up my mind as I arrive at Vincent’s. " He ignores me, as usual, while he watches ¯ gymnastics on TV, laughing for some tea- ¯ son. Hewon’t laugh forlong. Even though ~ I hate the color and look bffd in it, orange : jumpsuits will be my style for the next 20 years. Hey, they let you write,letters~in ¯ prison. Ev~nLestian~olumns, I veheard. : "Goodbye Vincent!" 5" by Karin Gregor #2238769480, Cell BlockH ¯ ofthe"diversity" statement whichincluded : "sexual orientation," saying he wouldhave : noticed its inclusion. ¯ In response,’sev~al ~gregation have commi~ted to re=examining their endorse: ment of the document? College Hill Pres- ¯ byterian Church and’ Fellowship Congre- " gational Church will’bring the.issue back to theirgov.ernmg boards. ,Andsomemere- " bers of MCC~United, Tulsa s Metropoli: ¯ tan Community Church, members of predominatelyLesbianand Gay denomi- " nation, are concerned about their church’s ¯ endorsement of a statement which does not acknowledge the existence of Lesbian -" and Gay persons. : The welcoming committee of Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation ¯ has drafted a letter to TMM saying, "we erred in our endorsement of this state- " ment"because thefailure toinclude sexual ¯ orientation is in conflictwith the values of ¯ the congregation and the letter further says ," that they wilt not endorse any future state- " ments which are not inclusive. ¯ Other groups such as Holland Hall ¯ School, the Episcopal Diocese of Okla: " homa, and the Eastern Oklahoma : Presbytery -: Presbyterian Church USA, ¯ have been asked to explain their support : for a statement which is not compatible . with their policies. In the case of the Episcopal Diocese and. Holland Hall School, : staff and religious leaders were not sure if ¯ the organization’s names had been used " with permission. ¯ Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights : (TOHR), the state’s oldest civil rights or- ¯ ganization has discussed the issue at a " recentboardandmembershipmeeting and president, Greg Gatewood stated that he ¯ would seek a meeting with Rana and Day : to request an explanation of the exclusion of "sexual orientation" from the state- ¯ ment. Further action on the part of the organization will vary depending on their responses. Other congregations which signed the "diversity" statement, like the city’s Episcopal parishes and its Unitarian-Universalists congregations, all of whom have histories of being fair to Lesbian and Gay Tulsans are also being asked to consider withdrawing their support for the statement because of the failure to include "sexual orientation." And they’ve remained incredibly successful throughout the years andups anddowns that showbiz life provides. Living with someone 5 years is a major feat, much less working with them as well. And even in relative anonymity, it’s hard enough. To have survived and remain together as long as they have - 43 years - is a major feat. FYI, Royis 5 years younger thanSiegfried. About the biographical aspects of the film, Roy says "It’s ~way~ a difficult step to open yourself up beeauge ~ou make yourself very vulnerabl~. That fneans you have to let your guard down andeveryone has access to you." Scary iild~gd. The cameras were allowed full access to the home and grounds of theirestate’. He goes on to say "I have to say;~it’s~ been pretty good to do it. It goes way badk" to when I was a boy. I had a catching smile, but in reality I was a loner. I wa~ n0t too good with people. As a mattel: offact, I didn’t trustinpeople. I trustedmy animals more." I can relate to that. The interesting thing is that,-aozording to producer Bernie Yuman,’"Roy has a bond with these animals whereby there’s no force. Force createsforce. There’s alot of love. There’s a lot of.voice intonation and camaraderie - and a lot of meat - but affection and conditioning, Roy’s never trained an animal, and Siegfried and Roy have never been involved.in, training ammalsin their lives. Theymoldthings around the personality of their animals." And maybe, if the rest of us learned that tricklove without the need for control - we’d have longer lasting relationships .as well. Food for thought. And so, for all the nasty S&Rjokes I could make, I find I reallyjust have too much respect for what they’ve accomplished to make them. In the film, you get behind the scenes visits to their home - which is like designer overkill, given their taste_~or opulence. And you get to see their private wildlife sanctuary, where they live with and raise the white tigers used in the act. Their love of the animals is evident. It’s filmed in 3-D, so you’ll be able to see Siegfried and Roy up close and personal. Numerous digital techniques were used to recreate the Europe of their childhoods. As for the magic shots, they were specifically filmed uncut as master shots, so that the audience would no that no camera tricks were used. Andrew Dunlap, who plays young Roy, was also in the all male version of "Importance of Being Earnest," which was interesting to note. Also playing is Fantasia 2000 and 3D Mania: Encounter in the 3rd Dimension; 71st and Highway 169. Healing E E ECT IIII AIDS Memorial Quilt re.n.esS World AIDS Day Candlelight Memorial March Friday, December 1st, 6:30pm Tulsa Civic Center Plaza, 5th & Denver The NAMES Project Quilt Opening, 8pm This advertisement is donated by Tulsa Family News. TFN appreciates the opportunity to support this showing of the Quilt, and The NAMES Project. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, December 2000; Volume 7, Issue 12 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Karin Gregory Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Hughston Walkinshaw Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, November 2000; Volume 7, Issue 11 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 newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/607 2000 AIDS drugs AIDS research aMUSEments anti-discrimination laws arts and entertainment Bayer Boy Scouts businesses Catholic Church Chris Kolb Christmas churches Fred Phelps gay bashing Gay Studies Gilcrease Museum harassment hate crimes HIV HIV testing holidays injection site Jim Christjohn Karin Gregory Lamont Lindstorm military inclusion Murder NAMES Project Native Americans Oklahoma Lambda Youth Scholarship Oklahoma Mr. Leather Openarms Youth Project Partner Benefits performing arts Raging Lesbian Red Cross Red Rock Tulsa restaurants Tom Neal Tulsa Family News Tulsa Metro Chamber Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Tulsa Uniform Leather Seekers Association Westboro Baptist Church World AIDS day https://history.okeq.org/files/original/6b7e676bb8ca66b2d4d4e77ec98183bb.jpg 70277c751b7608bff4b6a6a9ebd57143 https://history.okeq.org/files/original/a3ba05665eee0d1b153fdde340f774b0.pdf 6e78e6b1fae615e50dacbb10ea0a31df 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. Text Any textual data included in the document Deputy Police Chief To Speak At TOHR, Nov. 14 TULSA (TFN) - Tulsa Deputy Chief of Police Bobby L. Busby will be the featured speaker at the Nov. meeting of Tulsa Oldahomans for Human Rights (TOHR) at the Gay Community Services Center at 21st &Memorial.The meeting begins at 7:30pm. Topics for discussion with the ChiefBusby will include expanding Tulsa’s "diversity" training for new police recruits and for in-service training to include sexual orientation as wall as rate and etlmicity. Also on the agenda will be discussion of recent police visits to local Gay and Lesbian_nightclubs. All are invited to attend. TOHR will also hold a new volunteer orientation on Nov. 9th at 7pm at the Center. Center organizers also held an openhouse for thenew facility in October. They note that about 80 people attended the event including a substantial number of visitors in town for a leather event. TOHR also hosted a Feastfor,~riends dinner with raised over $1,000 for The NAMES Project. Hate In Vermont BROOKFIELD, Vt. (AP) - Mark Hackett was thunderstruck when he looked at the fence facing property he owns on Vermont Route 14. "Exaente the Fag," it declared, its message clear despite the misspelling. Hackett, who is Gay, rents the property to two families, one of whom has been feuding with the property owner next door on whose fence the hate message was spray-painted. Although Hackett as landlord has been only peripherallyinvolved in the neighborhood dispute, its message was obvious to him. "It’s clearly there for me to see.., the message to my tenant was,’ Seehow yourlandlordlikes that,’ "Hackett said. "I just think the ’Take Back Vermont’ message is making it OK to say stuff like that. I don’t have a problem with people voting Democratic or Republican or supporting any candidate they want... But you start seeing that stuff around the state and it’s not about politics, it’s about hate." And it is happening more and more around Vermont in this heated and polarized campaign season. In Burlington, the Outright Vermont office has taken to locking its doors and taking other security precautions after two differentmen walked into the office on Oct. 13 and threatened to kill a staff member. "The first one basically asked her what she was going to do to eliminate herself, then told her if she didn’t eliminate hersdf he would," see Vermont, l~. 2 DIRECTORY P. 2 EDITORIAL P. 3 US & WORLD NEWS P. 4 HEALTH NEWS P. 6 ENTERTAINMENT P. 8 GAY STUDIES P. 10 ¯ Servin Lesbian Ga Bisexual + Transg~n~er_ed ~ul__Fa~s_, ~r Fa~ili~.~ Friends : Gays Excluded From i Tulsa’s "Diversity" ¯ Metropolitan Ministry Lauds Local Mix : But Sees On!y Race, Religion + Ethnicity ¯ NEWS ANALYSIS ~- When is "diversity" not diverse? Only in ¯ Tulsa where "do-gooder" organizations, like Tulsa Metropolitan ¯ Ministry (TMM), the National Conference on Community and ¯ Justice (NCCJ), and others can sin~ the praises of interfaith ¯ tolerance andunderstandingwhile excluding or ignoringLesbian ¯ and Gay Tulsans, regardless of faith. In this case,TMMissued a"Statement in Support ofDiversity" ¯ which defines diversity only in terms of race, ethnicity and ¯ religion. TMM’s newexecutive director theRev. StephenCranford ¯ stated that he did not know if the omission was deliberate. However, TMM staff said that the text of the statement was written by TMM board president, Dr. Sandra Rana, who is a leader in Tulsa’s Islamic community. Members of Tulsa’s Is- " lamic community have made hostile remarks towards Gays on ¯ several occasions, most recently when a Muslim representative ¯ at a NCCJ Trialogue on Marriage said that his society would ¯ murder any Gay men who attempted to marry each other. Dr. ’ Rana did not respond to messages left about the "Statement in ¯ Support of Diversity". TMMhas a history of mostly ignoring Lesbian and Gay issues ¯ with one notable exception: the support of an amendment to ¯ Oklahoma’s hate crimes statute whichTulsa Representative Don : Ross introduced in the legislative session prior to last year’s. ¯ Radford Rader, pastor ofCollegeHill Presbyterian Church, an ¯ officially welcoming congregation of Lesbians and Gay men and ¯ member of the TMM executive board, responded that the state- " ment was meant to address racial and ethnic diversity because of ¯ the coming of the KKK. It was written right before the incident ¯ ¯ at the Jewish cemetery. Rader stated that he did not feel that the exclusion was deliberate. see TMM, p. 9 ¯ Gay Grandmothers Just Want to See Grandkids TULSA (TFN) - It’s a sad story when families get caught up in ¯ homophobia and prejudice. It’s common when couples separate after one or the other parent realizes that they are Lesbian or Gay. ¯ And when thelegal systemgets involved, often the Gay parent ¯ loses, though around the US and evenin Oklahoma, courts cases ." are holding that Lesbians or Gay men are not ipso facto bad ¯ parents. But when grandparents are involved, it’s even more ¯ difficult because the law defers almost completely to parents. ¯ That’s where two Tulsa women, Julene and Schrie, find ¯ themselves. Both were once married to men and have children ¯ fromthose relationships. ¯ Some of those kids have no problem with their Lesbian moms. ¯ And one of them didn’t have a problem with them, when she ¯ needed free babysitting and before she was married to a man ¯ who’s areligious fundamentalists. Now the daughter and the son- ¯ in-law who says he’s the head of the house find that "it’s in the ¯ best interest of the kids" that the kids not see their grandmother ¯ or her partner who’s just as close. ¯ Legal experts hold out little hope, and even if there were ¯ grounds for a court case, judges andjuries in Oklahoma are often ¯ .not sympathetic. But this does not deter friends of the women ¯ ¯ who praise them for their kindness and support to their friends and employees when they find themselves in need. ¯ The women own a local dub out on Garnett which while it is not a Lesbian or Gay oriented venue has patron who are remark- " able supportive of the pair. ¯ Bar employee, Tummy Peevyhouse, was particularly outspo- ¯ ken in her concern for her friends and employers, as was also a ¯ bar patron, Tommy Clown. Frustrated by the limitations offered by the legal system, Peevyhouse’s response was if the law allows ¯ this [situation], then the law needs to be changed. ¯ Meanwhile, the grandmothers just wait and have faith that as ¯ their grandsons reach legal maturity, they will reassert them- " selves and come to see them on their own. HEAR the Quilt World AIDS Day- Dec, 1 ¯ Council Oak Men’s Chorale Benefit ¯ TULSA-The fifth andlargestdisplay ofTheNAMES Project will behddat tbeTulsa Conventi,o,.n Centeron ¯ on December 1 - 3. The event entitled, HEAR The Quilt" will open with student tours during daytime ¯ hours on World AIDS Day, Friday, December 1. The opening ceremonies for the general public for ¯ "HEAR The Quilt" will be proceeded by the tradi- ] tionalWorldAIDS Day candlelightmarch.Themarch ¯ will begin at the Courthouse Plazajust west of 5th and ¯ Denver at 6:30, Friday evening.Marchers are encour- ¯ aged to bring organizational banners andbells; candles ¯ will be provided. Parking is available at the Conven¯ tion Center garage. The march will follow a short ¯ route through downtown Tulsa and will return to the convention center for the Quilt’s opening at 8pro. This display of the Quilt will feature 188 sections ¯ of the Quilt, each twelvefeet square. The display will , be free and open to the public. Organizers note that ¯ the Quilt has the power to teach, to touch hearts, and ¯ to change minds. In conjunction with the "HEAR The Quilt" Dis- " play, the Council Oak Men’s Chorale under the ¯ direction of Rick Fortner will perform at Hope Uni- ¯ tarian Church, 8432 South Sheridan Road, Tulsa on : Saturday evening,December2 atT:30pm. Admission ¯ is free, with a suggested $10 donation. Proceeds will ¯ benefit the NAMES Project Tulsa Area Chapter. There also. will be an interfaith worship service (coordinated by Reverend Cathy Elliott, pastor of MCC United Church) to be held at the Quilt display ¯ on Sunday, Dec. 3at 9:30am. ¯ For more information, call (918) 748-3111 or send e-mail to info@TulsaQuilt.org ¯ Maine To Vote Again On Gay Civi,I Rights ¯ HALLOWELL, Maine (AP) - Maine’s latest refer- " endum on civil fights for Gay citizens resurrects ¯ familiar arguments on both sides, but this time propo- ¯ nents have polished the proposal and picked up a ¯ potentially influential ally. In wirming support from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, backers have sought to buttress an exemption for religious ¯ institutions. They have also sought to counter claims ¯ that the measure would award anything special or ¯ endorse specific sexual behavior. Last time around, the Catholic church sat out the ¯ dection debate, saying it could not support a law ¯ enacted by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Angus ¯ .King because of ambiguities in its language. The ¯ enacted measure was repealed in February 1998 ¯ before it ever took effect by a rare "people’s veto" ¯ referendum vote. The outcomein that special election : was 51% for repeal and 49% against. ~ This time, with numerous other matters on state ¯ ballots expected to produce a bigger voter turnout, ¯ approval of Question 6 would again expand the ¯ Maine Human Rights Act. The proposal would in- " dude the category of"sexual orientation" in a list of ¯ groups protected against discrimination in the areas ¯ of employment, housing or access to public accom- ¯ modations and the extension of credit. The new version, however, approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor in April, is more limited than the repealed law. "We’ve repeatedly said work needs to be done to clean up the language," says Catholic diocesan spokesman Marc Mutty. "And we did that." Besides the religious exemption, the new version specifies thatno change in affirmative action requirements is intended and see Maine, p.3 Tulsa~Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial *Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine *Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st 712-2324 610-5323 583-2119 835-2376 744-4280 745-9998 *The Star, 1565 Shelida~, 834-4234 ~ *Renegades/Rainbow Room, i649 S~. M~in 585,3405 *TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial §~920836 *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd ~ 1584-1308 *The Yellow Brick Road Pub, 2630 E. 15th 749-1563 Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 Body Piercing by Nieole, 2722 E. 15 *Border~ Books & Music, 2740 E.21 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria *Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. llth Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 743-1000 250-5034 665-4580 712-1122 712-9955 494-2665 743 -5272 746-0313 295-5868 581-0902, 743-4117 622-0700 749-3620 744-5556 838-8503 369-8555 712-9379 592-0460 744-9595 610-0880 628-3709 808-8026 742-1460 459-9349 744-7440 745-1111 341-6866 712-2750 582-3018 747-0236 582-8460 599-8070 747-5466 585-1234 584-3112 663-5934 664-2951 838-7626 743-4297 747-5932 834-0617 834-7921, 747-4746 749-6301 260-7829 481-0558 835-5563 743-1733 665-2222 592-0767 *Deco to Disco; 3212 E. 151h Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 551h P1. Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planniug Mark T. Hamby, Attorney *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly *International Tours Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 151h *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 *Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo *The Pride Store Rainbowz on the River B+B,POB 696, 74101 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square PaulTay, Car Salesman *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 FOB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159. e-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink.net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + eontributom: James Christjohn. Karin Gregory, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche. Lament Lindstrom. Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers, Hughston Walkinshaw Mem~ber of The Associated Press.. ~ _ ~ ~ , Issued 0ffor,befot~ th6 1 ~t of~ each month,~entire contents Of this publicatioxi are protected by US 6opyright 1998 by To/.~/:k~,,~ N~and may not be~ptoduce~ eitherin whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. ~orrespondence is assumed to be for "pi~blication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property of TM-€~/c¢,,,,~... Nv~,. Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. ¯ *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & ¯ Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 ¯ *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 ¯ *Free SpiritWomen’s Center, call for location&info: 587-4669 ¯ Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 ¯ Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438 HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd, 583-6611 ¯ *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 ¯ *HouseoftheHoly SpiritMinstries,1517 S. Memorial 224-4754 ¯ *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 ¯ NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111 ¯ NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658 ¯ OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 ¯ *OSU-Tulsa ¯ PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 ¯ *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 ¯ Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 ¯ R.A:I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 ¯ *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325 : St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 ¯ St. Dtmstan’,s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 ¯ *St. Jerome s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 ¯ *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 ~ Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 ¯ Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only ¯ Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c!o The Pride Center 743-4297 : T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 ¯ *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule ; *Tulsa Community College Campuses ¯ *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 21st & Memorial 743-4297 ¯ Unity Church ofChristianity,3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 .. BARTLESVILLE ¯ Barflesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 ¯ TAHLEQUAH : Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 ¯ Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900 ¯ Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-936~3 ¯ EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS www.gaytulsa~.org - website for Tulsa Gays & Lesbians : Autumn Br~,eeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253-7734 T,,t~ ^~-~.A~=~~ Cha;-bh~i; ~:chOOIS&~. Universities "- Jim &Brent s Bistro 173 S. Main 501-253~7457 A!~r~ ~Xrr~t+~,~~r~tT~ 7’h~:~ [-’ ~ ’~ ~ ~ :~ "~~-95~....~eVito~s’R~S~L -5 Ce~ter~ St.’’ t. ~ ..... ,. ,: 1, ~ ~,1-~53~ ~1 So~sU~Ch~ch, 2952 S. Peofia 743-2363 : ¯~dR~nbow, 45 ~!~ Spnng ’St: .....5.01.2.5.3 ~5 Black & ~te, ~c. ~B 1~01, T~sa 74159 5~-7314 ¯ MCC of ~e ~ving Spring 501-253-9337 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 B/.L/G/T-Alliance, Univ, of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. Church of the Restoration UU, 1314 N.Greenwood *Community of Hope Church, 2545 S. Yale *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation Council Oak Men’s Chorale *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 583-7815 583-9780 585-1201 & Florence 587-1314 747-6300 749-0595 748-3888 712-1511 Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 501-253~2776 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-253-5332 Positive Idea Marketing Plans ....... 501-624-6646 Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 501-253-6001 White Light, 1 Center St. 501-253-4074 JOPLIN, MISSOURI Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696 * is where you can find TFN. Not all are Gay-owned butall are Gay-friendly. said Keith Elston, executive director of the group dedicated to Gay and Lesbian youth. "The other one was much more blunt that he was going to ’kill fags.’ " Burlington police are investigating the incidents, but there have beenno arrests and cOauretffUiglhatbVoeurtmtro~nntgh.at9s pbregcvoidme~e .msauf.ec.hty mt°oir.tes staff, volunteers and especially its clients. From tasteless bumper stickers to graffiti on highway pavement, it’s apparently become socially acceptable in the political climate of 2000 to use derogatory terms for Gays and Lesbians that once were considered epithets. There have been scattered but persistent reports at schools across the state about anti-Gay incidents and harassment. On the pavement of the road approaching the Champlain Bridge near Fort~i~conderoga inNew Yorksomeonerecently spray-painted in large white letters "FAGS," with arrows pointing over the bridge into Vermont. "How much more explicit can you be about creating an aura of fear for day-to-day life?" said Lynne Bond, a psychology professor at the University of Vermont who has studied Gay and Lesbian issues. Vermont’s new civil unions law, granting most of the rights and benefits of marriage to same-sex couples, clearly has prompted a broad public discussion about the lives of Gays and Lesbians. There are deeply held beliefs about the morality - or some would say immorality - of homosexuality. But before the civil unions debate, those beliefs were rarely expressed in langnage that’s so offensive to Gays and Lesbians. "It seems to me that some people, have broken out of the social constraints of civility that I think people were honoring during thelegislativeprocess," said BethRobinson, the Middlebury attorney who argued the lawsuit that led to civil unions. People who oppose civil unions say they’ve been unfairly maligned becausejust they don’t agree with the law. They complain that they’ve been described as bigots, hate-mongerers and homophobes. They say that their ’Take Back Vermont’ signs and other political placards havebeen knocked over, defaced with Gay symbols and stolen. "I think there have been ugly incidents on both sides," Republican gubernatorial candidate Ruth Dwyersaid atadebatein Lyndon Center last week. Still, it once was eousidered ill-mannered at best to use such terms as fag and dyke aad queer in civil conversation. The anger over civil unions appears to have erased that unwritten rule in Vermont, at least for the time being. And that makes many Gay and Lesbian Vermonters feel as if they’re under attack, even if it’s a small minority of civil union opponents who:are behind the hate. ~ : ~ ~P~@I’O~6*~[re~, frimtrated lthat 1 didn-t~get ~d~* ~ivil ~iOrls bill killed Legislature, some of them have taken it. upon themselves to link an ominous, mystical Gay agenda to the civil union bill," - Elston.said. ’,’They’ve.been-falsely suggest~ ing that there s something in the civil unions bill that requires the teaching of homosexuality in schools. They’ve been foolishly suggesting that Outfight teaches homosexuality in the schools, that we’re distributing pornography." see Vermont, p.3 World Watch: News Not Covered in Our Daily by Tom Neal, editor/gadfly/publisher It’s old fashioned to place as much import on a daily newspaper but then as a newspaper publisher and editor of now seven years, I am somewhat committed to the concept. Unlike the internet, radio and television, those more ephemeral of media, the printed word, even on acid filled newsprint leaves a legacy, a picture of where we are and where we were, in a way that is more accessible and probably more permanent. This new and irregularly published column, like much ofthis newspaper’s coverage, intends to bring to attention things which otherwise might not get addressed. Andwhile our daily newspaper, The Tulsa Worldis not the worst newspaper in America, it does have some foibles, some journalistic lapses which stem from its parochial circumstances: a privately owned, smaller town paper with a historically greater emphasis on coverage of wealthy whites, rather than minority citizens and issues. It’s better than it used to be but... We are in the height of the United Way campaagn, and as in years past, The Tulsa World is a major supporter of TulsaAreaUnitedWay (TAUW). This is notintrinsically a bad thing. TAUW does do much good for many. But TAUW also funds organizations which engage in discnminatory practices and itself may discriminate. There are ongoing questions about the true percentage of funds which go to services rather than administration. Onemight think that The Wormwouldat least look into these issues. But year after year, The World’s coverage of United Way is a public relations flakmeister’s dream, with shamelesslypromotional stories aboutTAUWfunded agencies which nm during the United Way fundraising campaign. Canwedoubt thatifTAUWwere funding’~penly racist or anti-semitic agencies that The World would write about it? Despite claims of separation between the newsroom, and advertising and ownership, The Worm has a clear conflict of interest between its promotion of United Way and its commitment to good journalism. The World will change when they know that their readers like you andme find their practices unacceptable. Not to pickonJoe Worley, executive editor butultimately he’s responsible for the decision to coddle Tulsa Area United Way and its bad mannered (and in one case, clearly lncohapetent) management. Joe’s ntunber is published on page A-2 everyday. Let him know when The World’s doing a good job of covering Lesbian and Gay issues (overall, they’re doing better these days) but also let him know what’s not working too. ’In the current, embittered political atmosphere, it is difficult to counter such arguments. And so it feeds on itself and results in slogans that once would have been considered epithets being painted on a neighbor’s fence. Although it’s unpleasant for many Vermonters, regardless of their homosexuality, people who have been involved said they will continue speaking out. "You have to just keep on.telfing the truth, over and over again," El~n ~akl. !’Everyti~n~,thCy ~ylie~ ~a~bgut you,’yqq l~av¢ t~ exp0~e. ~em ~s [i~e~ on~!,Y0q ~aYq ~to ~t~lil,th~ .tnifl~ people hear that message." "They Don’t Want Civil Rights, They Want Special Rights" Early this morning, before I was really awake, or maybe late last night drowsing with the television on, the history channel was showing footage about the struggle Black Americans had to end legal segregation. This part ofrecent American history is a particular interest of mine but this was mostly things I’d heard or seen before. But then there was an image that caught my attention, one I’d never seen before. An old black and white image showed a white Southerner marching with a placard Saying, "They don’t want civil rights, they want SPECIAL rights!" And here I thought that particular carnard wg~ newly minted to mischaracterize the desire of Lesbian and Gay persons to live our lives relatively unmolested, with a some semblance of the same opportunities which non-Gay citizens enjoy. Perhaps I should not have been surprised. In the fight over whether Lesbian and Gay Americans should serve openly in defense of our country, almost word-for-word rhetoric was trotted out to oppose Gays as was used to oppose racial integration of the US military. Prejudice, like taxes and death, is, it seems, fundamental to the human condition, with Americans, like others, occasionally transcending our biases. After many shameful years of oppression, Americahas slowly set aside some of its racism. But different prejudices, seeing a void, have come forward. In response, we can do several things. Many simply seek to live their own lives, quietly, avoiding harassment as best as possible. Others speak out as best they can. But all who are citizens can vote, and after the election, can contact those who are supposed to be representing us. Of course, in Oklahoma, this is often an exercise in frustration. Our elected federal leaders are nearly all dedicated to attacking or restricting the rights of Lesbian-and Gay citizens - and their staff are usually rude and arrogant. But not to hold them accountable is to let them assume that all agree with their prejudice. Needless-to-say, in this election, if you are reading this before Nov. 7th, please consider the difference between the Republicans and the Democrats. As bad as the Democrats may be in Oklahoma, on a national level, that party has clearly talked and walked the talk. Positions for fair treatment of Lesbian and Gay citizens are in the Democratic platform and have been honored in action by the national party, not perfectly, but under Clinton and Gore, more than ever before. Bush and the Republicans may have moderated some of their anti-Gay, neo-nazi rhetoric (though not the Oklahoma party) but this is the party which brought us years of indifference to the HIV/AIDS crisis under Reagan, as well as a documented hostility to addressing anti-Gay hate crimes, let alone civil rights issues like employment, fair housing, military service, legal recognition, of our relationships and families, etc. It’s not that I especially like Gore, or that Bush isn’t an idiot, it’s just that given the choice, we have no choice. This guy will be making the next Supreme Court appointments. And decisions which have been crucial to our lives (like Bowers v. Hardwick which said that straight oral sex is constitutionally protected but the same act for Gays can be a felony crime, Dale v. the Boy Scouts of America, Colorado’s Amendment 2) have all been mostly narrowly decided cases. Another Scalia, or Clarence Thomas, the type of choices we’ve seen from Republican presidents, would not bode us well. Vote like your life depends on it- in many ways, it does. -Tom Neal, editor & pubisher that there would .be no. requirement for employers to provide benefits for the partners of Gay and Lesbian workers. "The diocese has never been opposed to any of the proposals," Mutty says. But he says changes this year not only made it possible for the church to sign on as an advocate, but were also aimed at making the measure acceptable to a majority of people statewide. Michael Heath of the Christian Civic League of Maine, a leader of one of the major groups opposing the measure, says the shift from neutrality to advocacy by the Catholic diocese was a major setback. The prospect of a busy balloting day is also a concern for opponents, he says. "If there’ s a big turnout of voters, then a lot of sort ofimpulsive voters are going to be there," Heath says, fretting that those unfamiliar with details of the proposal may not appreciate its impact. Heath says the morality of homosexuality remains central to the debate and that conferring rights with this proposal could lead to further Gay demands. "It lays the foundation for a lot of other things," Heath says. Observers on both sides suggest much of the Maine electorate appears-to have grown weary of the issue, which in one form or another has occupied debate on public policy for at least two decades. In 1992, the first local Gay fights law was passed by the Portland City Council. Three w.gr~s later, Maine~ vot.,¢,r~,~rejected a proposal to prevent municipal and other government bodies.in the state from passing laws barring anti-Gay discrimination. In 1997, after years of legislative warring, a state civil rights law was enacted. But just months later, the people’s veto vote forced by opponents repealed that. "It was very close the last time it went around. I know there’s been a lot of work on both sides," says bakery worker Sara Wagner in Hallowell. "I hope it passes." In a brief, streetside interview, Wagner said her awareness of discrimination facedby people sheknew ofmade the ballot questionmore than an abstract matter of principle. "It has real life implications," she said. Heath, in contrast, maintains the proponents’ claims of acturd discrimination are specious. "It’s obviously not widespread," he says. Earlier this month, in response tO an inquiry by one of the referendum bill’s leading legislative champions, Attorney General Andrew Ketterer advised that ~at least the threat of discrimination is real under existing statutes. "The federal and state law, as currently written and interpreted by the courts, do not prohibit the denial or termination of employment, the denial of credit, the denial of public acco~nmodation or the denial of housing because of sexual orientation," Ketterer wrote. The most recent campaign finance reports show that supporters from the Maine Coalition for Equal Rights, now known as YES on 6, reported donations of nearly $260,000 and expenditures of $240,000. The Christian Action League collected $37,500, but is also opposing proposals on video gambling and doctorassisted suicide. According to a recent poll by the Portland research firm Critical Insights Inc., respondents favored the referendum by 59% to 29%, with 11% undecided. Question 6 on Maine’s ballot asks: "Do you favor ratifying the action of the 119th Legislature whereby it passed an act extending to all citizens regardless of their sexual orientation the same basic rights to protection against discrimination now guaranteed to citizens on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin in the areas of employment, housing, public~acco.ram~datipa~.a~d~cr~edi[ .and where th~ a~t expregs’ly~s~te~ confers legislative approval Of, or sp~,i~ d’gtig tb; any person or group of persons?" ¯ Okla. Reps. = Total Zeros : Not that it should come as any surprise to anyone, but ¯ the Human Rights Campaign, HRC, reports in their ¯¯ scorecard for the 106thCongress thatOklahoma’s Representatives and our Senators, Largent, Cobum, Watkins, ¯ Watts, Istook, Lucas, Nickles and Inhofe received total ¯ zeros on 10 questions about legislation of concern to Gay ¯ citizens. This is why voting matters, friends. - TFN Scouts Fire Gay Man SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) - A Boy Scout executive was stripped of his Eagle Scout status and fired by the Boy Scouts of America National Council 10 days after he publicly admitted he is Gay, his attorney said. Len Lanzi, Boy Scouts Los Padres Council executive director, worked for the scouting organization 14 years before he was terminated by mail. "We plan to pursue all legal remedies available to him," said Lanzi’s attorney, Steven Serratori, whose Century City firm specializes in employment law "I think it’s fair to say that everybody is surprised at the arrogance of the Boy Scouts," Serratori said. "To think in this day and age that they think they can fire someone based on their sexual orientation..." A U.S. Supreme Court rnling last summer upholding the Boy Scouts" right to exclude Gay members does not apply to its employees, the lawyer said. Lanzi, whose territory includes Santa Barbara and SanLuis Obispo counties, is believed to be the highestranking Boy Scout executive to publicly acknowledge his homosexuality since the Supreme Court ruling in June. Los Padres Boy Scout boardmembers told the Santa Barbara News-Press their options were limited because of the national council’s policy on Gays. "We could contradict the national Boy Scout policy, and possibly risk the whole council being decommissioned, orwecan go along with firing him," said Karl Eberhard a member of the Los Padres Boy Scouts board. "I maintain that the whole thing is completely idiotic," he added. Neighbors Don’t Mind Alabama Ga " Nudists WAVERLY, Ala. (AP) -h grovel road winds through John Bales’ wilderness resort. It looks like any of the paths leading to huntinglodge_s wherecountless Southern men spend weekends this time of year. Then, you come to the sign: "Clothing optional area." This isn’t your ordinary, out-of-the-way spot in the woods of east Alabama. Bales owns Black Bear Camp, a 33-acre resort catering to Gay men who enjoy nature au naturel. Black Bear Camp isn’t for hunting. It’ s for socializing. The clientele tends to be Gay men best described as the rugged type: Many have beards and bellies and would rather sit around the lodge watching football on TV than go to a Gay bar. "Probably more than 50% of our customers are married or divorced with kids," Bales said. "’We don’t get the flamboyant type." There were rumblings when another clothing-optional campground for Gay men opened near the south Alabama town of Geneva a couple of years ago. A Lesbian-operated retreat where guests wear clothes, Camp Sister Spirit, drew heated protests in 1993 after opening in rural Mississippi. But Bales hasn’t heard any complaints from surrounding Lee County or nearby Waverly, a town of " h 160 people, many,of them elderly. I know my ne.l.g .- bors. They know I mGay, and they know I opened ttus place," he said. "There hasn’t been a problem with it." Many residents don’t know the camp exists: Bales doe’Sn’t adverd~ locally, and there are no signs indicatinglthat a dbfhing-opti0nal resort for Gays is just off busy U.S. 280. But people who do know about the camp don’t seem concerned about what’s going on in the woods north of Auburn. "If that’ s what turns them on, let ’em go on," said Waverly town clerk DeLene Cawley. "If I belonged to a nudist colony that’s where I’d want to be." A leader of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Alabama isn’t surprised by the lack of controversy. "As long as there’s no loud music and people keep to themselves I wouldn’t think people would have a problem with it," said David White. Bales, a 57-year-old math professor at Tuskegee University, didn’t set out to get into the clothingoptional resort business. He began buying land around Little Loblockee Creek in 1982 and began building 1ears later with plans for the camp to provide a source of income when he retires in 2009. There’s bunk space for 24 in the 3,600-square-foot lodge, whichhas a tin roof and all the comforts ofhome plus some: Internet access, satellite TV, a hot tub and an above-ground swimming pool with deck. Bales has had as many as 30 customers on a weekend, but the more typical crowd is six or seven. "It was not my original intention to be clothingoptional," he said. "But shortly after I opened, I began to get inquiries from clothing-optional groups asking whether that was allowed. "It didn’t take me long to realize that the remoteness and seclusion of the camp made than a natural option and a good niche market to enter." With prices ranging from $8 for daytmae guests to $40 a night for double occupancy bunks, Bales hopes to break even this year as far as operating costs go. He weeds out the occasional unannounced visitor just looking for a good time. "No one wants to come down here and have people who are looking at naked guys and propositioning them for sex," he said. "That will drive away my business.’" Journalist Group Calls For Partner Benefits COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The Society of Professional Journalists approved a resolution calling for news organizations to provide benefits for domestic parmers of their Gay and Lesbian employees. . The measure was opposed by some SPJ members who said the professional organization should not get involved in employment matters such as benefits. Delegates approved the resolution by a margin of 85 to 36 at SPJ’s national convention. Sally Lehlman, SPJ’s diversity chair, said the resolution would ensure that Gay and Lesbian journalists are not treated "like second class citizens in the newsroom." "It’s not about employment from our perspecfive. It’ s about fairness and accuracy in content, which emerges in part from fairness in the newsroom," she said. Mark Scarp, an editorial writer for the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Tribune, and member of SPJ’s executive committee, said the group should follow its precedent of leaving employment issues up to unions. "I personally support domestic partner benefits but I believe it qualifies as an employer-employee relations issue," Scarp said. "We’re a professional association and I felt it wasn’t appropriate for us to make a determination on such an issue." A few years ago, SPJ comuussioned a survey on reporters’ salaries, but would not get into trying to persuade employers to improve pay, Scarp said. Gay Couple Get Abducted Child Back CATHEDRAL CITY, California (AP) - A 10-yearold boy abducted by his grandfather who accused the child’s caretakers of promoting a Gay lifestyle has been returned to the couple. Miguel Washington was surrendered to authorilies by relatives in Pennsylvania and returned to the home ofhis uncle, Paul Washington Jr., and Timothy Forrester. "Right now he’s really happy to be home," Washington Jr. said. "We’re absolutely elated. Our family is united again." An attorney for Paul Washington Sr. and Sandra Washington, Mignel’s grandparents and Washington Jr.’s parents, said his clients intend to pursue custody. "My clients don’t feel that’s the best home for him," said attorney Bill Hence Jr. "I’m very disappointed in the agencies that were supposed to be protecting the United in God’s Love MCC-United Sunday Worship Reverend Cathy Elliot 11:00 am Pastor 1623 N. Maplewood 918/838-1715 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm, Sunday Eve. Service, 6pm 1517 S. Memorial, 628-0802, Info: 224-4754 The Open Arms Project Young Adult Support Group Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325 Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-444-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 The Pride Store 21st Street & Memorial Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) 6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday 12-9 pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the Center 3 Strand Communications Long Distance 4.9C/minute $4.99 monthly fee 24 hours a day - 7 days a week Call 447-8602 Red Rock Tulsa Free Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tues. & Thurs., 5 -8 pm at the Center, 1307 East 38th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 KEVIN BURLESO N Keller Williams Realty 712-2252 Burleson@kw.com 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An Independent Member Broker Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 fights of the child." A hearing was scheduled for December. Miguel was born to Angelena Washington, the younger Washington’s mentally disabled sister, who was impregnated while living in an assisted-care facility, family members said. At the time, family members informally agreed to have him raised by Washington Jr., a hardware store salesman, and Forrester, a teacher. Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Tex Ritter said his office had not decided if charges will be filed in the abduction. The elder Washington picked up Miguel for an overnight fishing trip on Oct. 6 andnever brought him back, Washington Jr. said. Instead, Washington and For/ester received a letter from a Los Angeles law firm Oct. 7 stating that Miguel had been removed from their home and accusing the pair of "actively promoting or influencing a Gay lifestyle for the minor." The letter cited Miguel’s participation in ballet and "Gay art class" instead of baseball as one reason for the boy’s removal. Germany Ready to Recognize Gay Partners BERLIN (AP)-Germany’s governing coalition wants to pass a law giving equal legal status to Gay couples early in November, politicians stated. Leaders from the Social Democratic and Greens parties said they plan to have the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, approve the bill Nov. I0. Conservatives, however, control a majority in the upper house of parliament and have criticized the law. To get around their opposition that could scuttle the bill, lawmakers laid out a plan Friday to divide the legislation into two parts. The government majority in parliament would pass administrative regulations creating the legal frameworkforGay couples without the upper house’ s agreement. However, the upper house will still be called on to approve lifting the disadvantages to Gays contained in labor and tax codes. ACLU Trying Bias Reduction Program ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia is one of three states chosen by the American Civil Liberties Union to pilot a program to educate teachers about bullying of Gay and Lesbian students. The ACLU says students who identify themselves as Gay are more than four times as likely to suffer bullying than heterosexual students. Gary Weber, legal director of the Georgia ACLU, said Gay students also have higher rates of absenteeism and suicide. The program will use panels - including a Gay student, perhaps a parent of a Gay student, a school administrator or classroom teacher and an attorney - to explain the legal liabilities schools face if they ignore harassment. TheACLU will begin contacting schools in November to schedule traimng sessions. Districts that refuse the training may be called by an ACLU attorney to briefly explain legal liabilities. Kentucky and Indiana are the other two pilot states. No date has been set for expanding theprogram, which was developed in northern California, to other states, ACLU spokesman Eric Ferrero said. Big .Brothers, Big Sisters Bans Gay Volunteers OWENSBORO, Ky (AP) - The local chapter of Big Brothers-Big Sisters, which links children with adult mentors, will no longer allow Gays to participate in the program. The board voted 10-9 to bar openly Gay volunteers following a closed-door meeting. Board members had raised concerns about health issues and fear that it would create confusion among childr+n over sexual orientation matters, said Sue Krampe, executive director. The debate on whether to conunue to allow Gays to mentor children surfaced recently after Brian Combs, a case manager and minister at Christ View Christian Church, quit after learning a homosexual was a mentor in the program. The board was deadlocked in a vote earlier this month. Combs had been the only person to raise a complaint prior to the first vote. But since then, the agency has fielded 18 telephone calls in opposition to allowing Gays in the program, Krampe said. Volunteers had been asked their sexual orientation during the initial screening process and parents were allowed to veto amatela based on their answers. Nationally, only a "handful" of the 500 chapters of the American Big Brothers-Big Sisters prohibits homosexuals~ from mentoring children, Krampe said. Each local chapter can set ~ts ownpolicies on the issue. she said. Newspaper Chain to Offer Partner Benefits GRANDRAPIDS, Mich. (AP)- Six of the eight Booth newspapers in Michigan will offer benefits to partners of Gay employees starting in January. The papers that will offer the benefits are The Ann Arbor News. The Bay City Times, The Flint Journal, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, the Kalamazoo Gazette and The Saginaw News. The eight Booth newspapers are owned by Advance Publications, based in New York. George Arwady, publisher of the Kalamazoo paper, said the new benefits were "pretty well accepted" by employees. "It’ s a matter of equitable treatment for our employees," Arwady said. "We have not made a big deal out of it, mad it’s not a big deal." Margaret DeRitter, an editor at the Gazette, said she was pleased by the amaouncement. "I wasn’t aware of employees internally pushing for.it," said DeRitter, who is Gay and a 12-year employee of the paper. "I thought it was great the company would do this without any prompting from the staff. It says they value all of their employees and want to be fair and equitable." Mother of Slain Soldier Appeals Army Decision WASHINGTON (AP)-The mother of a FortCampbell soldier who was murdered in iris barracks is seeking to overturn the denial of her $1.8 million wrongful death claim against the Army Kutteles sent an appeal of the Sept. 27 decision by the military to Army Secretary Louis Caldera. Kutteles, of Kansas City, Mo., said fellow soldiers believed Winchell was Gay and harassed him for months before he was beaten to death with a baseball bat while sleeping in his cot July 5, 1999 at a post in Kentucky. The Army knew about the harassment but did nothing to stop it, she said. Pvt. Calvin Glover of Sulphur, Okla., was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Winchell. Another soldier was given a 12 1/2-year sentence for lying to investigators. The Army inspector general issued a report in July on Winchell’s murder. The report found evidence of low morale mad anti- Gay behavior among members of Winchell’s unit, D Company, 2nd Battalion of the 502nd Infantry Regiment. It concluded, however, that the chain of command at Fort Campbell responded,a:ppropriately with respect to enforcing the Pentagon S policy of permitting Gays to serve in the military so long as they keep their sexual orientation private. Kutteles says should Caldera side with her, the Army wouldbe taking full responsibility for Winchell’s death. "We have to do this for our son’s sake. He died, and I want his death to be meaningful," she said. "I want other mothers and fathers not to have to go through this." Easier-to-Swallow Anti-AIDS Pills WASHINGTON (AP).- The government approved a new easier-to-use version of a standard AIDS drug that may ease patient complaints that the medicine is too hard to swallow. The drug is ddI, often used in the multi-drug cocktails that AIDS patients take to fight the virus. Until now, patients havehad to chew, or dissolve in water, two large, bitter-tasting ddI pills twice a day. Those pills also frequently were blamed for diarrheaand other gastrointestinal side effects. The Food and Drug Administration approved a once-a-day capsule version of ddI. Swallowing the capsule, to be sold under the brandname Videx F_C, means no nasty taste problem. An FDA spokeswoman said thenew ddI may cause fewer dangerous interactions with other medications that AIDS patients take, because the capsule does not contain abuffering ingredient used in thechewable version. Also, manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb contends a special coating on the new version means it may cause fewer gastrointestinal side effects. Although Bristol-Myers never ddirecdy compared the old and new ddI to prove that, the FDA said getting rid of that old buffering ingredient may indeed help. Bristol-Myers did notreveal whenVidex EC would begin.selling, or if it would cost the same as the old version,-,. Researchers & Drug Co. Dispute Results CHICAGO (AP)-A study suggesting that a vaccine-like AIDS treatment is ineffective has provoked a public dispute between the manufacturer that paid for much of the study and doctors who say the company tried to squelch their research. The study’s conclusions, published in a recent Journal of the American Medical Association, echo doubts aboutHIV- 1 Immunogen that were expressed several years ago by advisers to the U.S~ Food and Drug Administration. The results suggest that when added to the drug regimen for HIVinfectedpatients, HIV-11mmunogenfailed " to reduce the risk of devdopingfull-blown ¯ AIDS. The drug cames the brand name .. Remune. ¯ Immune Response Corp., the drug’s " manufacturer, contends that researchers " omitted favorable data and skewed the results. The company entereda fairly com- . mon arbitration process during which it " tried to produce "a more balanced manu- : script," said Dr. Ronald Moss, the ¯ company’s vice president of medical and " scientific affairs. Instead, the researchers " ~~:.~¥i~lated daeir~eonttaomalagreement and i r. 1~blish~in~oinpletefindings;Moss ~aid.~ .... "It seems like tabloid journalism that " lAMA would not investigate this further" " before publishing, Moss said, HIV-1 Immunogea was developed by ." the late Dr. Jonas Salk, who created the ." first polio vaccine. It was developed be- ." fore powerful "drug cocktails" including ¯ protease inhibitors became standard HIV : treatment, and Immune Response says : subjects’ use of such drugs affected the : findings in the JAMA study. ". Dr. James Kahn of the University of California at San Francisco, the smdy’s lead author, said the company withheld important data and then tried to suppress publication. The company denies both claims. In an arbitration complaint last month, Immune Response also demanded $7 million to ; 10 millionfrom Kahn and the tmiversity, claiming dissemination of the negative findings caused,it financia], harm, university attorney :Christopher Patti said. The university contends Kahn was-allowed to publ.ish the results. The study of2,527 patients inthe United States found that Remune did boost levels ofinfection-fighting white blood cells, but the authors questi,o....n~fl whether the effect was clinically significant. JAMA editor Dr. Catherine DeAngelis defended thejournal’s decision to publish. ’q’his study stands on its own scientific merit," she said. "It was peer-reviewed as ~uch." In a JA1V[A editorial, she said the dispute illustrates what can happen when disagreement erupts between researchers and a funding sponsor who "has a proprietary interest in the findings." Moss said the study was published without the consent of some of the researchers. The company and one of the dissenting researchers, Dr. John Turner of Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia, drafted a letter Monday to DeAngelis, decrying publication of a manuscript that contains "incomplete and inaccurate information." The final manuscript contains "some major statistical flaws," said Turner, who believes HIV-1 lmmunogen can slow disease progression. "ff I were HIV-positive, I would batter down any door necessary to get it, period," Turner said. Doctors Org. Cites Conflicts of Interest CHICAGO (AP) - A funny thing happened to Dr. Jerome Kassirer at a recent lecture to medical students about financial conflicts of interest for doctors: It turned out the free buffet was provided by amajor drug company. Kassirer had a blunt message: Medical schools and training programs "must teach that there is no free lunch. No free dinner. Or textbooks. Or even a ballpoint pen." From freebies for medical students to research funding that can taint study results to the growing practice of marketing prescription medicine direcdy to consumers, drug_companies have a growing and sometimes unseemly influence on doctors, according to articles, studies and editorials published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The relationship between research and indus~try appears to beunde.r growing scm- ’ fihy~The edit6fof, the:New’ E~tgl~tnd Journal of Medicine wrote an extraordinary critique in May, saying scien.ce_ is being~ compromised by the growing influence ot induslry money. That same month, the Harvard Medical School said it would not ease its conflict of interest standards, considered the toughest in the nation, and Dean Joseph B. Martin called for a national dialogue on the issue. Most experts agree that research needs industry dollars. The top 10 pharmaceuti- Power Connect. Public Service Company of Oklahoma Service Is Now Available 24 Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. These days, traditional 8-5 business hours aren’t always convenient. So PSO has made it easier than ever for you to contact us. Our Customer Service Center operates 24/7 - offering around-the-clock answers to your - and better access to service. Now it’s easier for you to inquire about your monthly electric bill. Or report a power outage. Or arrange to have your power turned on or off. Our professionally trained, friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives are standing by to serve you. All day, every day. To provide faster response to your needs, we have listed our toll-free numbers below. o~Clip And Save CALL 24 HOURS FOR TOLL-FREE SERVICE Customer Services: 1-888-216-3523 Billing Inquiries: 1-888-216-3490 Outage Reporting: 1-888-218-3919 Servieio a Clientes: 1-888-216-3505 Preguntas Sobre su Cuenta: 1-888-216-3491 ~ " ~1’:’1, Falta De S,aminis~ro:, 1,.888-218-3924 1Nblie Settee C Imy dOkhhoma Mary Schepers and Kathleen Pendergrass and several other artists present a showing and sale of: Clay sculptures, pottery anF:Lddcorative work, silk batik paintings, etchih and lithographs; jewelry and beadwork, handcrafted bath soap and salts and more. Saturday, November 11, 10 - 6pm 2727 East 56th Street 743-6740 Oklaiaorna NAI,L.\I... covdia!iv ~.t~,v~v~ v,ott to a chocolate and champa~r~~ ~ete in support of abortion and reprt~d~ctive rights in Oklahoma Celebrating 27 Years of Choice Sunday, November 12, 2000. 1:3(.1 - 3:30 p.m. :"~’° fob~heldat Resonat~~e - " ~ Champagne, Coffee, Chocolates $25 per ~ndividual [’lea.~ R.S.V.P. to the NARAL L)ffice: 4.4-9585 cal companies spent nearly $23 billion on : days, washing the condoms with water clinical research last year- more than the ¯ and soap afteruse. Researchers will check nearly $18 billion provided by the Na- : the condoms for rips or tears and examine tional Institutes of Health, JAMA editor ." the participants to make sure that’reuse Dr. Catherine DeAngelis said. ¯ doesn’t cause rashes or irritations. The problem is when researchers have " "In terms of the whole spectrum of birth f’mancial interests in companies funding " control, it’s not the best," Said Barbara their work. DeAngelis said such research ¯ Lea-Kruger, spokeswoman for the Viris lower in quality and more likely to " ginia Department of Health’s HIV/AIDS report findings favorable to the company, division."Butifwe’retalkingaboutwomen One study found ,that. 7,6 percent of the : who don’t have access to other forms of faculty researchers at the University of ¯ birth control and who come from a culture California at San Francisco~aad personal " wheremenareless willing touseacondom, financial ties to their drug company sport- " it’s a Viable alternative." sorslastyear.Mostwereshort-termspeak- : ing engagements or consulting agreements Seniors & HIV/AIDS with minimal payments. ¯ State and federal-guidelines require re- CANTON, Ohio (AP) - Older people searchers to disclose certain financial ties, . sometimes have an awkward approach to and a UCSF policy prohibits faculty in- ¯ sexual issues that puts them at risk for volvedinindustry-sponsoredresearchfrom " HIV, health counselors say. receiving any compensationfrom the corn- " SusanJ. McCollum, who teaches people pany during the study. 50 and older about the risks of contracting Elizabeth Boyd and Lisa Bert, with HIV, said older people must be aware of UCSF’s Institute for Health Policy Stud- the risks. "It’s dangerous for any group of ies, said a campus committee "worked to people to think they’re immune," said accommodateallbutthemostovertlycon- McCollum, a counselor for Planned Parflicting relationships in the interest of en- enthood ofStark County. couraging its faculty, and, presumably, According to the U.S. Centers for Disencouraging future outside investment in ease Control and Prevention, the number the university." of older people becoming infected is in- The authors suggested that financial ties creasing. An estimated 10.9 percent, of may be more prevalent at other universi- men with HIV and 9.4 percent of women ties with less stringent policies. A 1998- with HIV are 50 and older. 2000 study of 89 major universities found "People that age have not grown up with that only 17-19%- had specific limits or condoms, like people who are in their prohibitions on relationships with indus- 20s," McCollum said. "For a woman in try. While most had co~fflict of interest her 60s to talk to a man about condoms.. policies, the3, were not as effective be- ." McCollum also said it’s an awkward cause they don’t spell what is prohibited, adjustmentforpeoplewhoarenewly single the authors said. after having been in along-term marriage Dr. Jordan Cohen, president of the As- or relationship. "Women4Oandolderdon’t sociation of Americau Medica! Colleges, want to grow old alone," McColhma told announced that the group is forming a task The Repository for a story published Sunforce to investigate conflicts of interest dav."They’reputtingthemselvesoutthere, and reach a consensus on what types of but they don’t know enough, or they’re not relationships with drug companies should able to talk about condoms. It puts them at be allowed, a real disadvantage." Around the world, an estimated 85,000 Women’s Corldo[~ women, middle-age and older, have been infected with HIV. McCollum has had May Help HIV Fight young women come for HIV testing who want her to talk to their mothers about NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - A condom for risky sexual behavior. women that never quite caught on in the KimJackson, spekeswomanfortheOhio United States is being studied to see if AIDS Coalition, said that while her group reusing it can make it more economical does not offer educational programs speand help fight AIDS in developing coun- eifieally targeting seniors, older people do tries. The United Nations AIDS program participate. "We have a general education has been distributing the Reality Female program for people of all ages," Jackson Condom to women in areas such as sub- said. "We are seeing more people that age Saharan Africa, which has been-devas- attending our programs. We had several tated by AIDS. people in their 70s at our last program." The key to providing female condoms, Bonnie Bolitho, executive director of which retail for $2 to $3 apiece, to poor " Planned Parenthood of Stark County, said women is making them affordable, said ; many older people have the incorrect idea Dr. Susan A. Ballagh, the clinical trial’s thatHIV-AIDS is a "homosexual" disprincipal investigator~ ..-~ :. ~ ; :;~ .ease~~ thatit aff~ts O~[y yo~mgtpeople. ~;- -TheChicago-basedF.emal¢H~althCom~ i :. "rl~ere~.s tl~tse~e~that :~It-cot~’’~t"~pen’ to pan~,theproduct’ssolemannfaclurer, sells ~ me,"’ she said. "You’re talking about of the condoms to international family plan- ¯ group of people who have been monoganing agencies for as little as 70 cents a , mous for most of their lives. Now, they’re piece. ; at a different stage of life. Some haven’t But women’s condoms could be even ¯ put a lot of thought into how it (HIV) more economical if they were reused. Re- ¯ affects them." searchers at Eastern Virginia Medical " According to Bolitho, "It’s the age-old, School arerecntiting 80 couples to test the ; overarchiugproblemoftalkingaboutsexu_ condoms. Half the couples will use the ¯ ality, and it’s plain old-fashioned denial. condom once. The other couples each will ; Denial is one of our great enemies." use a single condom five times over 15 ~ by Jim Christjohn, entertaiment editor ] child out once in a while. I wasn’t expect- Hey folks, welcome to the time of the ¯ ing a great movie, but it surprised me. The year when we celebrate the fact that the " filmis well acted - hard to find in a movie Indians helped the pilgrims onlyto be thanked with slaughter and removal from ancestral lands. Go America! The first thanksgiving was basically afour day celebration/ party wherein the Native Americans provided the food, fun, and games. It really wasn’t about religion at all, as the lore surrounding it wouldhave youbelieve. Anditwasn’t too long after that whentheEuropean invaders started getting a bit greedy for the profits land conld bring from new immigrants, and so, in the name of- God, "took" the land from the Natives. Oh, and there was a religious aspect to it, once the "pilgrims" figured out how to work the land from the Natives and didn’t need them anymore..,,It was either convert or die for the heathen Nafives. Ah, the things the don’t tell you in school - or church. On to more cheerier thoughts - I drug my curmudgeonly editor to afilm recently. (Well, OK, he wanted to go, too, and hasn’t been terribly curmudgeonly lately.) We saw "The Little Vampire." OK, now stop laughing. It’s good to let the inner li...We saw "The Little Vampire." OK, now stop laughing. It’s good to let the inner child out once in a while. I wasn’t expeetlng a great movie, but it surprised me. The film is well acted - hard to find in a movie starring children; well written; and superbly filmed... " starting children; well written; and superbly filmed. And it had something for everyone - it didn’t "talk down" to kids, nor did it avoid being funny in an adult way. The film is ’~’:~-m~bout a young Americanboy who moves to England due to his father’s business. HE’s miserable,being an outsider - and picked on at school, in particularby two twins. It certainly broughtback some memories in that respect. I knew a pair of twins who were the scourge of Hurst Junior high, and it was kind of like watching a flashback - except with better accents. Anyway, our hero has a fixation with men in capes - sound familiar? (Hint: Read last month’s column.) And Io and behold, he meets a boy vampire, and they form a close friendship. This results in many misadventures, including foiling a would be vampire hunter and the aforementioned bullies. I highly recommend seeing this film, because it’s a fun ride, entertaining, while putting forth some good-thoughts. A lot of care andlove went into this film, and it shows. GIFTS OF THE S£ASON! COUNCIL OAK MEN’S CHORALE ALL SOULS UNITARIAN Tmditionalists,ofcourse, abhorthat each " Choralewillperform.AndonDec.9,there year December holidays begin earlier and " will be a gala dinner in the Great Hall, earlier. Christmas in September isincreas- ¯ Chaired by friends to the community, ingly a reality. Catherine Seger But one of the local traditions which we don’t mind seeing early nearly so much is Philbrook Museum’s annual holiday celebration and exhibition, Home for the Holidays. The event kicks off with the Festival of Trees. T,he ~Fe~sfival tures trees, wreaths, and more by local artists, designers and school children. The event is chaired by Lou Hodgson and caterer Mark Lackey is artist liaison. At the museum members’ opening on Dec. 2 at noon, the Council Oak Men’s and Hillary Kitz. And of course, local A-listers, Talmadge Po-well and Steve Wright are helping out by chairing the Patron Party and Treeview. The featured artistforHomefor the Holidays is Lisa Regan of the GardenDevaSculpture Co. Regan, whose work is seen through out Tulsa’ s gardens, has been shown in Better Homes and Gardens, shows her work at Mayfest. Her commemorative ornament, shown " above, .is an aluminum tree with bead ¯ accents. E[ecUon Day, Nov. 7 Who Will Pick the NEW SUPREHES? Decisions we make at the ballot box will resonate for decades, including the make-up of the Supreme Court. Our choice: continue the path of progress or take a sharp U-turn back to the anti-glbt politics of the ’80s. We need your voice for our jobs, for our families, for our lives. HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN COME OUT VOTING ¯ www.hrc.org Tuesday, November 7 Election Day HRC WATCH PARTY Because win or lose, it’s good to be among friends 9 PM 3340 South Peoria, Tulsa, OK Must be 21 Cash Bar HRC envisions an America where lesbian and gay people are ensured of their basic equal rights. You can help us do our work by joining us for either or :both of ~the:se~ ev~t..s~ (or by jgining ~HRC - ’ ii~’~ !j~ :i~3-" ~i ~li !~8~[2913 €;r emaii hrctulsaoHahoma@ aol.com). HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN~ by Tom Neal, editor/publisher Although the National Conference for Community and Justice claims to be an anti-hate group, for at least the last 4-5 years this anti-bias organi~tion has activdy discriminated against Gay & Lesbian Tulsans as well as failing to speak out when Gay & Lesbian Tulsans were targets of physical violence as well as recipients of legislative and other attacks on their civil rights. At their Trialogue on Marriage, hosted by Boston Avenue Methodist Church (a church which has been host to several events at which Lesbian and Gay Tuls’ans were attacked or excluded), Trialogue organizer Mr. Levson, then cantor of Temple Israel, stated that JOI g 0 II B HATE he and other NCCJ organizers deliberately excluded same gender mamage from discussionbecauseitwouldhave been"too controversial." This was done despite thefacts that the issue could not have been more prominent in public discussion because of court cases in Hawaii, and even though the issue is still in debate in many Christian denominations and in several Jewish organizations. NCCJ has repeated been asked to reform their actions: to add openly Gay or Lesbian persons to their board of directors, to speak out on legislative issues, to live what they say they are about. To date, they have refused to do so, preferring to raise substantial sums from Tulsa "society" events such as honoring Bob Lorton, owner ofThe Tulsa World for his "human rights" work despite the fact that The World for at least 15 years had documented anti- Gay business practices which they publicly defended and despite The Wordls acknowledgement of racist hiring practices in their newsroom in response to an EEOC complaint. Some Gay community observers, however, wonderhow it is that the hate groups, like the KKK, don’t manage to forget Lesbians and Gay men including them in their hate rhetoric, but the folks who supposedly are "allies" manage only to hear the KKK’s racist and anti-Sem~itic comments. Groups who endorsed the "Statement in Support of Diversity" include a number who have been supportive of Lesbians and Gay men. These include: Community of Hope, All Souls, Hope and Community Unitarians, Fellowship Congregatxonal ¯ Church- UCC, Jewish Federation ofTulsa and even the Metropolitan Community ¯ Church United (MCC). Calls to All Souls, MCC-United, and Fellowship Congrega- ¯ tional were not returned. Perry Simons, ¯ executive director of Jewish Federation ¯ said that organization does not discrimi- : hate on sexual orientation. ¯ In contrast, Father Rick Hollingsworth, ¯ oftheParishChurchofSaintJeromewrote ¯ a letter in protest of the the "Statement in ¯ Support of Diversity" ¯ In it, he notes that, "The Parish Church ,¯ of St Jerome is certainly in support of celebrating and supporting the wonderful ¯ diversity, which surrounds us in our beau- " tiful city... I am concerned however that ¯ the statement on diversity see TMM,p. 10 Name Games by Michael Craft Reviewed by Barry Hensley Tulsa City-County Library It takes a speci~ talent to pull off a murdermystery novel andone ofthebetter Gay mystery series, Mark Manning mysteries by Michael Craft, has a clever new entry, Name Games. Delving into an unlikely topic, the world of minia- .tures, Craft has created a fun, although not particularly suspenseful mystery. Set in rural Wisconsin, main character Mark Manning is now the publisher of the local newspaper and leading a very open and out life with a longlime partner, while raising a neglected nephew. The big news in town is the upcoming Midwest Miniatures Society Exhibition, which attracts enthusiasts worldwide. Two of the most prominent figures in this little underworld, Carroll Cantrell and Bruno Herisson , who happen to be arch rivals, are being "...Anthropologist Sherry Ortner, drawing on the French feminist Simone Beauvolr, once proposed that ’Man is to CultUre as Woman is to Nature.’ Ortner was seeking a reason for why, almost everywhere, people value what men do more than they value what women do.. ¯ " homophobic District Attorney, Harley Kaiser, and a New Age feminist, Miriam Westerman, who is somehow convinced that Gay pom"hurts women." Add to this, the nephew, Thad, trying outfor the school play and Mark’s lover, Nell, who is trying to decide whether to move his architectural practice to the small town from Chicago. When Cantrell (who has man3, health problems) is discovered murdered, the exhibitionis turned upside down and things really get uncomfortable when the Sheriff becomes the primary suspect. Manning, aided by his sleuths at the newspaper, set out to clear the Sheriff. The characters inName Games are nicely drawn, if a bit stereotypical ]]ae town, Dumont, is remarkably (and a bit unrealistically) progressive and unconcerned about the iGay influence~ ofManning and his cohorts. (Could there really be a town like this in today’s America?) flown in. Grace Lord, a sweet little old lady,is hosting and coordinating the ev~nt. The Sheriff, Doug Pierce, a closeted Gay man, is in the midst of a reelection bid while dealing with a pornography trial involving "dirty book stores" on the edge of town. The trial is being pushed by the is not as broad as it should be. This is evidenced I believe by the omission of Sexual Orientation as part of that diversity in the statement. Gay and Lesbian persons are an integral part of Tulsa’s rich diversity which When joined together with other forms of diversity create community. When Rabbi Marc Fitzerman was speaking this last Sunday at the rededication, He was very dear, ’Those whohate Jews, usually hate Catholics, Those who hate Catholics usually hate Gay and Lesbian people...’ As a Pastor of a Parish which primarily serves the Gay and Lesbian community and as a religious leader who is openly Gay, I am unable to sign the document without the inclusion of Sexual Orienta- The obligatory sex scenes are really just ¯¯ uninspired dream sequences, and leave a little too much to the imagination. The ¯ mystery is a fun and exciting ride, but it is ¯ certainly nothing special. In fact, this ¯ novice mystery reader managed to figure ] our whodunit long before the end of the ¯ for Human Rights (TOHR) said that the lack of inclusiveness raised concerns and ~ would likely be addressed in upcoming : organizational meetings for a formal response. : : and love diversity. We have many reli¯ gions, many nationalities, many cultures here, and we’re taught to respect them. ¯ When the hell ~s someone going to respect ¯ us for our diversity? If you want to do : something to help, there’s a number to ¯ call, and an ever popular website to visit. ¯ It’s the Human Rights Campaign Founda- ¯ uon, 800-498-0382, or www.hrc.org. ¯ When we stand up and show people that ¯ we do exist, especially in great numbers, ¯ then things are going to happen. Or, as ¯ Melissa Etheridge said, "when you free uon as-part Of that .,diu~si.ty..._,: i ¯ " your mind, a rockin’ jam will follow." If Our people have~J~en, the Unfox~:unate .:, we can each one of us find one person, or victims of bigotry, prejudice and hate ¯ child, to reach, then we’ve taken the first crimes for centuries, including the holocaust. To not speak openly about these issues promotes the silence, which has imprisoned Gay and Lesbian children of God for far too long." Father Hollingsworth toldTulsa Family News that he read his letter to his congregation and that the response has been overwhelmingly supportive of his position. Greg Gatewood of Tulsa Oklahomans ¯ steps in stopping fascism. Hitler ended up ¯ in a bunker, having shot his wife and ¯ sticking the guninhis mouthbefore shoot- " ing. I think many Other fascists (read ¯ fundamentalists) forget that fact. Hatred ¯ turns inward, but not before the hater has ¯ devastatingly hurt others. Something that ¯ shouldbetaughtinEVERY SundaySchool -" class. And please remember one thing: : VOTE!!!!!!! Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appoinlments are available. Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American? Support Group is here:f0r yotJ!:~’ " ~’~’~.~" ~-’-" ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HlVtesting For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project 918.588.1900, x4275 or x4276 -International Fresh Start Seeking men & women to help with expansion in the area. Must be independent, goal-oriented, have a great attitude and excellent people skills. Call 663:5323. Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236,~ues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm ody TI- ,ll Tulsa’s only professional body-piercing - College Hill Presbyterian Church In response to God’s Love, College Hill Presbyterian Church is a commtmity of God’s people called to tell others the Gospel of Jesus Christ through worship, servzce, and evangelism. To nurture our faith, we gather for worship, prayer, study and fellowship. Trusting in a living, loving God, we seek to become a compassionate voi~ for peace andjustice. Our congregation.welcomes all persons who respond in trust and obedience to God’s grace in Jesus Christ, and desire to become part of the membership and ministry of Christ’s church. M~a~~s!~.9~ ~-:,Opt: ~-.~i!...~9,Pl..~. regardless of race, .ethnic origin, worldly condition, marital status, or sexual orientation. Sunday Worship. 1 lam 712 S. Columbia Ave., 592-5800 (One block west of Delaware and the University of Tulsa Campus) by Karin Gregory "Man Shot in Local Gay Bar", "TeenagerAssaulted Because Suspects Believed HimGay","’We Don’t Have Hate Crimes in Brown County’". Seems everywhere you look now, there are hate crimes against the G/L/B/T com- ~’munity, or-alleged hate "!crimes~ or people denying ;hate crimes exist. There are even those very few Who deny homosexuality exis ts, and I believe our Dishonorable George W. Bush to beamong them (I don’t~ve up a chance to let you all know you MUST vote November 7). Interesting news about the teenager. Not that it doesn’t happen at every .school, but the school where this took place is the same one from which our disti9,guished arts and entertainment editor .graduated. Back in those days, we didn’t have hate crimes. Wall, we did, but we didn’t call them that. Boys who were Gayjust had to be beaten up and take it "like a man", or they had to develop those queen-like attitudes of death that would scare any quarterback into his tiny, homophobic, neanderthal area of his body called a mind. One of my friends, the one who thinks we’re all going to hell, says all Crimes like murder, assault, rape, etc. are hate crimes. I disagree. There are certainly crimes of passion. There are premeditated crimes. There are even assaults with deadly weapons with intent to kill. But they are for a purpose - to either get rid of someone so disturbing to you (like a wife, husband, mother-in-law), or to get money to buy drugs, cigarettes, or "fabulous" outfits. The people committing these crimes may hate the person AT THAT TIME, but not always. In other words, the criminals aren’t their own self-proclaimed Adoif Hitlers, who have decided to take all logic and reason and bury them, sending us back into theDarkAges. But thereAREpeople who are self-proclaimed Hirers, whether they want to believe it or not, spreading NOT the words of Jesus, but the words of hate to a nation. Maybe they weren’t the ones who beat up Matthew Shepard and lefthim to die, or the ones who had a direct hand in James Byrd’s death, or the people who raped BrandonTeena, only to shoothim to death repeatedly, later. But they had a hand in each one of these deaths. For eachone you-reading:this..fight now, there are at least 20 (at least in Texas and Oklahoma) ignorant people who believe that homosexuality isn’t something you’re born with. That you can change if you want to. That you’ve chosen to be laughed at, beaten up, fired from your job, ostracized from your families. These are the people who have raised the suspects in the above headlines. They’ve "carefully taught" their children to, as the "South Pacific" song goes, "hate -"...Bach in those days, we didn’t have hate crimes. Well, we did, but we didn’t call them that. Boys who were Gay just had to be beaten up and take it "llke a man", or they had to develop those queen-llke attitudes of death that would scare any quarterback into his tiny, homophoble, neanderthal area of his body eafled a mind...." all the people their relatives hfite." Many of them, of course, in the name of Jesus. Stealing a line from an old Woody Allen movie,"ifJesus came down and saw what was going on in his name, he’d never stop throwing up." If you’ve read my columns from the beginning (and I thank BOTHofyou,by the way!), you know I’m a fledgling, coming out only after everyone else has not only blazed the trail for me, but made that trail a four lane highway! So no, I’ve NEVER experienced what most of you have in your "out" lives. I still think I can walkhandinhand with a woman in public, or kiss her on a residential street in Dallas (and have!), and not receive any flack from it. But I taught public school for eight years, ten years toomany, and Iknow whatkids say to each other, not caring that their words hurt. More importantly, I’ve heard teachers and other school staff go on the attack against gays, saying that the Bible doesn’t condone it. We’ve had this discussion before, but I just want to let you know that your childrenmay be being taughtbyahomophobic teacher. And believe me, teachers still do have influence on children. So children are taught to hate another child because that child may be different. Obviously, if I can look through a gay newspaper and pick out,just by going through one quarter of it, three separate stories on hate crimes, there’s a problem. One that needs to be addressed. Well, it’s been addressed, but many ar~turning their heads. While crime is rampant on the streets, and hate crimes against the G/L/B/T community has skyrocketed, thelegislature still cools its heels over this issue. It shouldn’t have to take television to fire me up, but watching highlights from the "Equality Rocks" concert onVH-1 did it for me. During the evening, the parents of several hate crime victims, Matthew Shepard’s parents and James Byrd’s parents among them, gave a small speech that had the more than 45,000 audience crying openly. Then Melissa Etheridge, herself not able to contain tears, sang her song about. Matthew Shepard, "Scarecrow." How can people, after watching that, still believe that these boys should have died? How can anyone hate a group of people just because they .are different? How can they facethemselve~inthemom- *. ing,-knowin~ thav they~ce*contril~me~.., in ANY way, to these deaths? How many times can we turn away and do nothing? We have a revolution going on in this country. Most people don’t want to believe it. They’d rather dose their doors. Hell, so would I, but I can see the revolution coming even stronger than before. .The one consistent thing thatI was taught mschool about the United States is that we are a melting pot see Lesbian, p.lO Healing VROJECT AIDS Memorial ~.uilt ~ wareness" World AIDS Day Candlelight Memorial March Friday, December 1st, 6:30pm Tulsa Civic Center Plaza, 5th & Denver The NAMES Project Quilt Opening, 8pm This advertisement is donated by Tulsa Family News. TFN appreciates the opportunity to support this showing of the Quilt, and The NAMES Project. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, November 2000; Volume 7, Issue 11 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjonh Karin Gregory Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Hughston Walkinshaw Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, October 2000; Volume 7, Issue 10 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online text Language A language of the resource Englsih Type The nature or genre of the resource newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/606 2000 AIDS AIDS drugs AIDS Quilt AIDS research American Civil Liberties Union aMUSEments arts and entertainment Barry Hensley bias reduction program Bobby L. Busby Boy Scouts businesses Christmas churches civil rights civil unions contraception family HIV HIV testing homophobia Human Rights Campaign Jim Christjohn Karin Gregory NAMES Project National Conferencce for Community and Justice nudism Openarms Youth Project Partner Benefits performing arts Philbrook Raging Lesbian Read All About It Red Cross Red Rock Tulsa restaurants seniors Society of Professional Journalists Tom Neal Tulsa Family News Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Tulsa Police Department Two-Spirited Indian Men's Support Group World AIDS day https://history.okeq.org/files/original/ef3c0f28c67ca333b982d6427b897bec.jpg 4128e90178c5b091e2410d7419f3f1f1 https://history.okeq.org/files/original/43b5fc66dc24c80707e29a6ce1dd9cbb.pdf 19345a3f74a3dcb4cf99880d7b679aa7 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. Text Any textual data included in the document Police Censor Books at ° Gunman Shoots Six; Borders, Barnes & Noble Kills One in Virginia ¯ . ROANOKE, Virginia (AP) - A man accused of ¯ rehant$ Told to Wrap Up Art and fatally shooting another man and wounding six "History Books, Straight Sox How-to’s " others inside the Backstreet Cafe, a Gay bar, °n the : TULSA- Prodded by Tulsa City Councilor, Todd Huston, Tulsa " evening of Sept. 22 has been arraigned on first- " police vice squadofficers visitedBorders Books &Music at8015 " degree murder charges. ¯ So. Yale Avenue, selected a number of books, presented them to The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Attorney ¯ store staffand suggested that they "shrinkwrap" those rifles. This " Donald Caldwell said additional charges such as : was in response to a constituent complaint made to Huston ~ aggravated malicious wounding or malicious : according to Charlie Jackson, Deputy Chief, Tulsa Police. ¯ wounding were possible. Malicious wounding ¯ Jackson noted that after the visit to the South Yale Borders ¯ charges carry up to 20 years in prison, whereas ¯ -~ store about which there was a citizen complaint, vice officers of " attempted murder charges carry up to 10 years. : their own initiative went to the 2740 E. 21stSt. Borders as well " Ronald Edward Gay, 53, the man accused in the ¯ as Barnes & Noble Bookstores at 5231 E. 41st St. and 8620 E. " shootings, acted because of long-standing anger at "rrial o! Accused o! 71stSt. wheretheywent throughthestoreselectingbooks which thejokespeoplemadeofhisl~,tname, police said. bookstore staff say the police indicatesd they must shrinkwrap, "He admits to shootingpeople, police investigator Gay Man’s Death Moved " store staff also said the officers stated that they were no, ° Lt. WilliamAlthoff toldTheWashingtonPost. "He intending to arrest anyone, told us people made fun of his name... He told us FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) The first Marion County ¯ Accordingtobookstoresources,TulsapoliceSergeantCalhoun " that he was upset about that.’" teen-ager to be tried inthemurder of aGay black man ¯ and Corporal Best of the "sex crimes" unit said that the ¯ Dznny Lee Overstreet, 43, was killed at the willfacejurorsinRaleighCountyinNovember.Marion" shrinkwrapping was required under Oklahoma state statute, title" scene. One other victim, IrisPageWebb,41,wasin County Circuit Court Judge Rodney Merrifield late in ¯ 21, 1040.76. This statute regulates the display of materials " critical condition after being shot in the neck. SeptembersignedanordermovingDavidAllenParker’s ¯ "harmful to minors" and requires covering materials which ¯ According to police, Gay went to a tavern that first-degree murder trial to the southern West Virginia : depict "... nudity, sexual contact, sexual excitement, or : night and asked directions to the nearest Gay bar, county. A copy of the order does not set a trial date, but " sadomasochistic abuse...when thematerial orperformancelacks ’ telling people he wanted to shoot Gays. Someone JudgeMen-ifield’ssecretarysaiditistentativelysched- : seriousliterary, scientific, medical, artistic, or political value for gavehimdirectionsandimmediatelycalledpolice, uled for Nov. 15. Merrifield had verbally approved a ¯ minors..." with minors defined as less than 18 years ofage. ¯ whowerelookingforGaywhentheshootingreport change of venue earlier this week after a preliminary : Typically the "shrinkwrap" requirement has been applied to " came in. hearing that has been continued to Oct. 12. ~ sexually oriented magazines such as Playboy, Penthouse, Men, " John W. Collins, 39, was one of those wounded. Lawyers for Parker and co-defendant Jared Wilson, ¯ etc. but not to most books. Collins told the Post that the gunfire erupted just ¯ both .17, had suggested Raleigh County as a possible ¯ Chief Jackson claims that the officers did not threaten the ¯ after he and Overstreet, a friend, hugged. Gay venue, arguing media coverage of the murder in north- " bookstore staff with arrest but merely sought their cooperation. "stood up as I was letting go of the hug, and he was central West Virginia has made it too difficult to find " Bookstore sources who’ ve requested to remain anonymous in. turning and he was also reaching into his black impartial jurors. Attorney Stephen"Fitz said Monday ¯ order to protect themselves from retaliation characterized the trench coat," said Collins, who was shot in the that Raleigh has a diverse population and probably has ¯ police visit as intimidation- particularly in light 6f the arrests of " stomach. "I saw the gun come out of his pocket... had far less exposure to ~e case Prosecutor Richard " several sales clerks for the sale of Penthouse magazines a year or " Everything was like in a millionth of a second.’" Bunner did not object to the move. " so ago. They noted that the officer by mentioning that they didnot " Gay left the bar after the shootings but was later Parker and Wilson are charged with beating and ¯ intend to arrest at this time, raised the issue as a possibility and ¯ found by police about two blocks away. Officers kickingtodeath26-year-oldacquaintanceArthur"J.R." ¯ that they felt coerced into cooperating. " found a 9 mm pistol in a trash can near the bar. Warren on July 4, see Trial, p.3 " see Bookstores, p. see Shooting, p.3 Local HRCEvents HRC: More Benefits Gay Center To Hold Grand Re-opening TULSA-Local Human Rights Campaign (HRC) activ - ists in cooperation with the national organization are encouraging voter registration drive up fill October 13. Those interested in registering can stop by Democratic party headquarters, Republican party headquarters, the offices of the League ofW0menVoters, any tag agency, theTulsaCounty ElectionBoard (No; DenveratEdison). Call formore information at 584.2918. HRCwouldalso like to send voter registration volunteers to any event or ¯ organization andasks thatorganizers againcall 584.2918. For Halloween this year, HRC is sponsoring two" performences of Helga’ sHorribles, in "Scenes from ¯ Little Shop of Horrors" at Renegades on Sun, October ¯ 29 at 3pro and again at 7pro. Tickets are $10 each and ," "Domestic partner benefits are increasingly becoming a stanproceeds benefit HRC-Tulsa. Renegades is also a " dard business practice in corporate America," said Kim I. Mills, sponsor and there will be a cash bar. Youmust be 21yo. " education director of the Human Rights Campaign. "Employers Seating is limited to only 100persons at each perfor- ¯ have discovered that these benefits hdp attract and keep the best WASHINGTON (AP) - More employers - including more than a fifth of Fortune 500 companies - are offering health insurance coverage to the partners of Gay employees, according to a report by a Gay civil rights group. The study, by the Washington-based Human Rights Campaign, found that 3,572 companies, colleges and states and local governments offered or have announced they would offer health insurance covering their employees’ domestic partners. This was up 25% from a year ago, when 2,856 employers extended such benefits. The findings were included in the group’ s annual "State of the Wor,k~,lacefor Lesbian, Gay,Bisexual andTransgenderedAmericans. ¯ Law Group to Hold Hate Crimes Panel ¯ TULSA (TFN) - Tulsa Oklahomans for Human " Rights (TOHR) will hold a Grand Opening event ¯ for the recently relocated Tulsa Gay Community ¯ Services Center on Friday, October 20 at 7pro. The ¯ new location is 2114 So. Memorial adjacent to : longtimeLesbianbar,TNT’ s. TOHR’ s also will be ¯ holding a "garage" sale to benefit the Center on ." Saturday, Oct. 14 from 8am-noon. Donations of ¯ goods are welcome and may be dropped off at the ¯ Center before the sale. ¯ On Oct 14, TOHR will also sponsor a Feast for Friends dinner to benefit The NAMES PROJECT. ¯ The dinner, called "Tulsa - The Center of the Universe" will be al fresco at the downtown sculp- ¯ ture entitled, ’’The Center of the Universe" located mance. Reservations may be guaranteed by mail to 1107 E. 19th, Tulsa,OK74120 orby credit card over the phone. Organizers promise big drag, big hair, big voices & big fun - ’cuz size matters! HRC also is sponsoring an election watch party at 9pm on Tuesday, November 7 at the fabulous I.D. Bar on Brookside at3340 S. Peoria (formerly Concessions). There will be multiple video screens to monitor the election returns and lots of hot music to enjoy while the future is determined. There will be a $10 cover charge, but that will drop to only $5 if you are wearing the "I voted" sticker. Lastly, HRC is always looking for new members. Membership runs $35. Info: 584.2913. DIRECTORY P. 2 EDITORIAL P. 3 US & WORLD NEWS P. 4 HEALTH NEWS P. 6 ENTERTAINMENT P. 8 GAY STUDIES P. 10 ¯ workers, a critical consideration in the current tightjob market." ." The report called a "landmark move" the announcement in ¯ June by Big Three domestic automakers - DaimlerChrysler, General Motors and Ford - and the United Auto- Workers that ¯ domestic-partner benefits would be offered to their more than ¯ 400,000 employees. ’’This marked the first time that virtually an ¯ entire sector of American commerce, along with its leading ¯ union, decided collectively to provide domestic partner ben- " efits," the report said. ¯ Fortune 500 companies offering or planning to offer domestic ¯ partner benefits increased from 70 in August 1999 to 102 last ¯ month. In addition, 41 of the top 50 companies in America ¯ prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, the report ¯ said. -" "All the signs point to private and public employers continuing ¯ to institute nondiscrimination policies and domestic partner : benefits," the study said. However, it noted that there is nofederal ¯ law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, nor is ¯ there one in 39 states, although President Bill Clinton issued an executive order in 1998 prohibiting such discrimination in the ¯ federal civilian work force. ¯. The number of cities and counties that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation rose from 16 in 1980 to 116 in 2000. : next to the Old U~ion Station on the pedestrian ¯ bridge. The dinner is $20 and reservations may be ¯ made by calling 743-4297. Those who just want to ¯ attend the dessert finale may go the Allan Chapman Activity Center atthe University ofTulsaat8:30pro. A $10 donation is requested. : TOHR will also present a National Coming Out Day (NCOD) panel at its monthly membership ¯ meeting on Oct. 10 at 7:30pm, and at TU on ¯ Thursday, Oct. 12, the University ofTulsa College ¯ of Law Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Law Caucus will ’ sponsor a Hate Crimes Panel discussion from noon - 2 p.m. The panel, which will be held in TU’s Moot ¯ CourtRoom of John Rogers Hall located at Fourth ¯ Place and Florence Avenue, will address the valid- " ity of Hate Crimes legislation, opposition to the ¯ Hate Crimes Prevention Act and other topics of ". relevance. Linda Lacey, a TU college of law pro- , fessor, will moderate. ¯ The program is free and open to the public. For ¯ more information, call Courtney Sdby at 836- : 9107. Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’ s, 1737 S. Memorial *Club Cherry Bomb,. 1926 E Pine *Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *The Star, 1565 Sheridan *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main *TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd *The Yellow Brick Road Pub, 2630 E. 15th 712-2324 : 610-5323 583-2119 : 835-2376 : 744-4280...; 745-9998 ¯ 834-4234 : 585-3405 : 660-0856 584-1308 749-1563 Tulsa Businesses, ServiCeb~ & pi’ofessiohals "Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E.-41 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria *Cheap Thrills,.2640 E. 1 lth 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615- POB 4140, Tulsa. OK 74159 e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlink.net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700 Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 *De,co to Disco, 3212 E. 15th Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan Encompass Travel, 13161H N.Memorial Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th PI. Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare *Gloria Jean’ s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning Mark T. Hamby, Attorney *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. skelly *International Tours Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th *Jared’s Antiques.. 1602 E. 15th David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 *Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha .... *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo *The Pride Store Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-79,21, Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square Paul Tay, Car Salesman *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling *Whereh0use Music, 5150 S. Sheridan *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis James Christjohn, Karin Gregory, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum, Mary ¯ Schepers, Hughston Walkinshaw ¯ Member of The Associated Press ..... l~U~d bh’o~lsdfbre the lit of ~gcti month; th~~ritite contents 743-1000 i 250,503:4 of thi~ °publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by 665-4580 : T~,~" ~:~ N~v~ and may not be reproduced either in 712-1122 -" whole or in part without written permission from the pub- 712-9955 " 494-2665 lisher. Publicafi0n of a name or photo does not indicate a 743-5272 ~ person’ s sexual orientation. Correspondenceis assumedto be 746-0313 " for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & 295-5868 becomes the sole property of T~,~ /z~ N~v,~ Each r~ader is. entitled to 4 copies of each editionat distribution 749-3620 points. Additional Copies are available by ~1"1~’583-1248. 744-5556 ¯ 838-8503 " HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583~-6611 369-8555 ¯ *Tulsa C.A:R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834,4194 712-9379 ~ Holland Hall School, 5666-E. 81 st 481-1111 592-0460 : HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Educauon 834-8378 744-9595 " *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 1517 S. Memorial 224-4754 610-0880 " *MCC 7United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 628-3709 NAMES Project, 3507 E Admiral PI. 748-3111 808-8026 " NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658 742-1460 " OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 7415~ 459-9349 :;--*OSU~Tulsa 744-7440 ..... PFI~G, POB 52800, 74~52 :;~_~.¯ 749-4901 745-1111 " *.Planned Parenthood, 1007 SYffeoria 587-7674 341-6866 ; Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 712-2750 ; R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 582-3018 ¯ *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 . 584-2325 747-0236 : St. Aidan’s Epis(opalChurch, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 582-8460 " St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E:-71.st 492-7140 599-8070 ¯ St. Jerome s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 74%5466 " *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 585-1234 " *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 584-3112 "- Tulsa County Health Department, 46 16 E. 15 595-4105 663-5934 ’ Confidential HIV Testing -~by appt. on Thursdays only 664-2951" Tulsa Olda. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 838-7626 : T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 743-4297 " *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule 747-5932 *Tulsa Community College Campuses 834-0617 ; " *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307E.38,74105 743-4297 747-4746 " Unity Church of Christianity,3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 749-6301, ". BARTLESVILLE 260-7829 . Bartlesville PublieLibrary, 6!30 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 481-0558 : OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN 835-5563 .. 743-1733 ¯ Borders Books & Music, 3209NW Expressway 405~848-2667 665~2222 "¯ Borders Books.& Music~ 300 Norman Center 405-5734907 592-0767 " TAHLEQUAH - www.gaytulsa.org - website forTulsaGays & Lesbians Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa; POB 4337, 74101 579-9593- ¯ All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria~ 743-2363- Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 " Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207E. 6 583:7815 B/L/G/T Allian0p, univ: of Tulsa United Min: Ctr. 583~9780 ¯ Chamber of -comm~ide- Bld~:," 616 ~s. B6st6fi .... 585-1201 ¯Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th Pl. & Florence -" Church of the Restoration UU, 1314 N.Greenwood 587-1314 " ¯Community of Hope Church, 2545 S. Yale 747:6300 ¯Community UnitarianzUniversalist Congregation 749-0595 Council O~ ~en’s Cl~6rale " 748-3888 " ¯Delawar~Playhouse;-15il S. Delaware 712-1511 ¯ ¯Democratic Headquarteis, 3930 E: 31 742-2457 ¯ Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & ¯ Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 " ¯Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 ¯ ¯FrceSpirit’Women’sCenter, callforlocation&info: 587-4669 ¯ Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 " Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438 ¯ Stonewall League, call for information: - ’~i8456-7900 Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church -9t8:456-7900 Green.Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 -o .NSU School of Optometry, 1001N. Grand HIVtesfing every other Tues. 5:30:8:30~ ~tll for dates 501-253-7734 .... 50i 1253-"]4_47’ 501-253-6807 501-253-5445 501-253-9337 501:253-27761 501.-253-5332 50i-624-6646 501-253-6001 501-253-4074 417-623-4696 EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS Autumn Br~,e~,ze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 Jini & Breht "S Bisttt, I73 S. Main DeVito,’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. MCC of the Living Spring Geek toGo!,PC Specialist, POB 429 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery Positive Idea Marketing Hans Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East White Light, 1 Center St. JOPLIN, MISSOURI Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 Scouting~for All Opposes the "Scout’s Honor Act" Congressman Tom Tancredo of Colorado has introduced counter-legislation, currently being referred to as the Scouts Honor Act (H.B. 5306). The bill was introduced along with twenty-three cosponsors, on T.Uesday, Sept. 26 Accorditi~ to AFA (editor’s note: Amerfcah "F~mily Association, a rightwing lobbying group) Director of Governmental Affairs PatrickTrueman,"AFA suppo.r.ts Colorado Rep. Tancredo’s, Scouts Honor Act, which prohibits the ¯ Useoffederal funds todiscriminate against, investigate, or deny access to public prop- " erty or facilities to the Boy Scouts of ¯ America. In addition, the bill says that no entity that accepts federal funds can compel the Boy Scouts to accept members ¯ who do not share their beliefs.’" The Scout’s Honor Act would protect ¯ the BSAwho dearly identifies as an organization that discriminates against gay ¯ youth and adults and atheists to not be ~ denied access to public facilities or funding. How can-we allow our tax dollars to ¯ support an organization thatprofesses bigotry against a segment of our society.’? Tiffs is unthinkable and should not be tolerated. Scouting For All asks that you speak out LOUD to oppose this ACT!!!! ¯ Rep.Tancredofeels thatifhecangetmany ¯ more sponsors on thebill, the Houselead- . ership may bring it to the floor for a vote. ." Encourage your congressperson not to ¯ support- the bigoted Scout’s Honor Act! ¯ ACTION NEEDED: Contact your member of Congress immediately and ~ ask that he or she not support the Scouts ¯ Honor Act which is an Act supporting , bigotry in our society. Contact your Representative by calling the capitol switchboard at (202) 225-3121. ~ Scouting For All also encourages you ; to send Rep. Tancredo a note telling him ¯ thathis actions are disgusting and support ¯ bigotry in America. He should be advocating that the BSA discontinue its discriminatory policy against our Gay youth and Gay adults and also atheists. His actions are a disgrace. Write to: - tom.tancredo@mail.house.gov - Scott Cozza,president, Scouting ForAll www.scoutingforall.org * is where you can find TFN. Notall are Gay-owned butall are Gay-friendly. Log ~Cabin Republicans to Bill Clinton Thefollowing is the text ofa letterfrom Rich Tafel, executive director ofLog Cabin Republicans, to President Bill Clinton on the issue offunding theAIDS Drug Assistance Program. September 27, 2000 Dear Mr. President: I am writing to you again on an ~ssue of great importance to millions of Americans -~funding for theAIDS Drug Assis- ’ tanc~ Program in theRyatr~White CARt~ Act. Since 1995, we have consistently ¯ asked your Administration to ensure that ¯ your annual budget requests reflect the : real ne~ds in. the ADAP program; and unfortunately your .bUdgets have fallen drastically short each and every year, and each year the Republican Congress! has put millionS:ofMollars more into the pro- , gram to ansv¢~¢~ the call. This year, your : budget request fell short again. ¯ In your budget request for Fiscal Year ~ 2001, you asked for a $26millionincrease ~ in ADAP funding, while the projected ¯ need was higher, see Letters, p.3 Unfortunately, theneed has only increased since then. Thanks to the enactment of an important minority OUtreach program, spearheaded by the Congressional Black Caucus, enrollment in the ADAP program by minority patients has increased throughout the year. This has given tremendous hope to so manyAmericans with HIV that they will have access to life-savittg treatments cnrrenfly out of reach. Overall, state and territorial AIDS directors have reported that the projected national need ftr ADAP will be closer to $130 million more than the previous year. Your budget request will not cover this additional need, and many of these new enrollees may face lotteries, rationing or simply a closed door. The Republican Congress has carried the ADAP program every year, despite the failure of leadership from your Administration. I respectfully ask again, Mr. President, that you become an active participant inmeeting the ADAP needs for so many Americans with HIV/AIDS, and submit a request to Congress for an increase of $130 million for this life-saving program in your Statement of Principles before budget negotiations end for the year. I appreciate your urgent consideration of this issue. - Sincerely, Rich Tafel, executive director "It sounded like firecrackers at first," said a woman who said she was sitting in a booth when the shooting began. She asked not to be identified for fear she might lose.her job. "I looked up and saw people falling to the ground," she said. "You could feel the wind off the bullets, they were so close." Darlene Overstreet, Danny Overstreet’ s sister, said her brother, who was Gay, visited the Back Street Cafe often. He worked as a telephone operator and lived alone in a house with his poodle. "He was a wonderful person. He helped everybody," Darlene Overstreet said. "He just stopped by to have a beer, that’ s all." Members of the Washington-based National Gay and Lesbian Task Force came to Roanoke for a candlelight vigil after the shooting. Flowers, cards and balloons were placed outside the bar by members of the community. Mayor Ralph Smith saidat anews conference after the event. ’Tm shocked and saddened by this terrible, terrible crime .... Any time one member of our community is hurt, we all suffer by that same hand." ¯ Censorship Through Inti midation ¯ by Tom Neal, editor &publisher The recent visits by Tulsa police to local booksellers raise very serious concerns about censorship, grand or petit, direct or indirect, by our local government. The method used is frankly ingenious in skirting First Amendment protections as it depends on intimidation to accomplish that which it is not legal to do otherwise. What I mean is that even though most, if not all of the materials which Tulsa police collected in the stores are clearly protected under the U.S. Constitution’s First ¯¯ Amendment, by merely showing up in the stores identifying themselves as law officers and requesting limiting ." access to these materials, Tulsa police succeeded in ¯ obtaining the collaboration ofthebooksellers. Andifthey ¯ self-censor, then thepolicenever have to prove their case, ¯ they never have to be held responsible for their probable ¯ misapplication of an Oklahoma statute. _" Note that the police claimed they were not seeking to .. make any arrests during these visits, see Censor, p.9 ! b~AAlIl Gthororeugh the years of our nailon’ s history, the American dreamhas unfolded with a deeper meaning. Today, it is : a mystery that Thomas Jefferson could have written the powerful and inspiring words of our Declaration of : Independence ~. and not free his slaves. Today, it is a mystery that our founders in Philadelphia could have written the United States Constitution ? yet not allowed women to vote. Yet America has taken the inner meaning and power of our founding documents, and given them new life in each generation. then nmning over him with a car to disguise his injuries as a hit-and-rtm. In his order changing the venue, Merrifield cited a vigil for Warren that drew more than 500 people to the courthouse steps days after the murder. The rally also attracted national Gay- and civil-rights activists and an anti-Gay group from Kansas. News organizations .have since saturated the region with coverage innewspapers, andonradio and television, Merrifield said. The Dominion Post of Morgantown and the Times-West Virginian of Fairmont have each file& more than 25 stories, he said. "Nearly. all of these newspaper articles have been located on the front page and, in fact, mostofthese articles have been thelead story for that particular day," Merrifiel~d wrot~ T.I~.~voe~ag¢ ,has con~ rained detailed infOiinafion~ about tbe.inv~ti~afion°and clearly illustrates that many Marion County residents "havebecome emotionally involvedin this case and have prejudged:the defendant’s guilt," he said. Parkerhas already confessed to beating.Warr,en~but the judge has ~yet to d~eide:~w.hether jurors will hear that confession.~ In his Statement-to Sheriff" s Detective C.L. "Chip" Phillips; Parker admitted beating Warren after discovering he had-toldrothe~ peo.p!.¢, about a sexual relationship he claimed to have with.~Parker. Wilson told Phillips that he went along with the beating because he was afraid of Parker, who had threatened to beat him, too. But defense teams argue that both boys’ confessions were improperly obtained. They say neither was informed of his right to an immediate juvenile detention hearing. They also contend Phillips delayed moving the boys from GrantTownto the courthouse sohe could dicit the confessions. Phillips denies any wrongdoing. NEW SUPREHES? Nationat Coming Out D~, Oct. 11 - E|ecUon Da!/, Nov. 7 COME OUTVOTING .* www.hrc.org El HUMAN RIGHTS : I believe very deeply that the time has come in America to widen the circle of fairness and dignity to include our ¯ ~friends, neighbors, ct-workers, and relatives in the gay and lesbian community. I am running for President to fight for ." all the people. That is why the ideals of fairness, equal opportunity, and non-discrimination are at the very heart of my ¯ campaign for President. - ¯ In the past seven years, we have taken.great strides. We have appointed the first openly gay and lesbian people to ¯ high-ranking posts in our nation’ s history. We have made our government the largest employer in the world with a : strong non-discriminati0n policy covetingsexual orientation. Wehave boosted funding for AIDS research, prevention, ¯ and treatment. We have created a new White House- Office of. National AIDS Policy. We fought insurance ¯ .discrimination against people with pr~--~xi~fing conditions Wehelp~lmore people with HIV-AIDS get access to health ¯ ! am.personallY very ~)roud tO have beenthe first Vice President ever to speak at a public event with a gay rights organization. I believe it is partly because of that record and commitment that I have been endorsed by gay andlesbian ¯ leaders and civil rights organizations across this cduntry. But ]~don’ t want to rest on that record ? I want to build on it. ¯ When people filled with hate target Gaysadd Lesbi~ang, Jews;Blacks, Latinos, and Asian-Americans, it is clear that hate Crimes are notjust like other erimes: As President, with your help, I will.lead the fight for a tough law to stiffen the penalties for crimes~of hate We need to do morb th battle HIV and AIDS 9 here at home and around the world..At the beginning of this.year, I had the opportunity tO address the United-Nations Security Council about the threat that AIDS poses to the stability and security of AfriCa and the world: As President, withy0ur help; I will lead a worldwide effort to fight HIV and AIDS. I believe wemust takebold stepsto~give all.ourpe0p!ethe best health care in the.world. Weneed to dedicate ourselves to provide access ,to.qua!ity heal~ coverage.to every.child and extend coverage to millions of adults by~ ~e:et~d 9f ~e ne~t t~residenfial term. :we needtO-~,tnfinue resear~into-HIV andAIDS and ~r~;clde ad~quat~ fhh~ng fdr i~."’~ riced to give real prescription drug benefit to senioi:sand people with disabilitie.s who are on Medicare. Weneed a strong, enforceable Patients’ Bill of Rights because it’ s time that we take the medical decisions away from ~ the HM.O accountants and insurance company bureaucrats, and give them back to the doctors, nurses, and health care ~ professionals. Americans:deserv.e the best health care, not just the cheapest.. " .... ~ ~’. ’ ’ ~ ...... ¯ We must also take strong new action to ban discrimifiation andmake sure every Americhn can re~iz~hi~.:6~ her ~. potential. As President, I will re-issue the executive order banning discrimination in the federal w0J:kfo~ce. An’d i Will ¯ fight to pass the Employee Non-Discrimination Act, which will prohibit job discrimination on the basis of sexual ¯ orientation. In this campaign, there are real differences on these basic issues of fairness. My Republican opponen.t strongly ¯ opposes hate crimes legislation. He opposes a simple law to outlaw discrimination inhiring, firing, and promotionbased ¯ on sexual orientation, In fact, right now, in Texas and in 38 other states, you can be legally fired just because of your : sexual orientation. If I am entrusted with the Presidency, we will fight to correct that injustice. ¯ The stakes are enormous in this election. We know what will happen if the Republicans take back the White House. ¯ And America cannot afford to go back to the neglect and divisiveness of the Bush-Quayle years. ¯ Instead, we must move forward to create the America of ~.highest ideals. That is why I need your help and your hard work. Join withmein this campaigii~and togetherwewill win notjust vttes, but powerful new victori~s.~oi dignity Lesbian Wins Visitations PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The Rhode Island state Supreme Court last month recognized new rights for Gay and Lesbian couples raising children. In a 3-2 decision, the courtruled that ConcettaDiCenzo could not prevent her former partner Maureen Rubano from asking the Family Court for the right to visit the son they raised together. The decision gives de facto-"in fact" - parents the same rights to petition for visitation as biological and adoptive parents. "The fact that DiCenzo not 0nly gave birth to this child but also nurtured him from infancy does not mean that she can arbitrarily terminate Rubano’ s de facto parental relationship with the boy, a relationship that DiCenzo agreed to and fostered for many years," Justice Robert Flanders wrote in the majority opinion. The ruling was based on state law allowing any interested party to "bring an action to determine the existence or nonexistence of a mother and child relationship." The justices also noted the Family Court has jurisdiction over cases involving the paternity of children born out of wedlock. Attorney Cherrie Perkins,whorepresented Rubano, a 53-year-old professor of clinical psychiatry at the medical school at the Unive,~sity of Massachusetts, said her client cried when she heard of the ruling. "She’ s now not on thin ice any more. She’ s on pretty solid ground," Perkins said. DiCenzo’ s attorney, Rosina Hunt, said the ease has drained her client emotionally and financially. "The big thing for her is she wants to keep her son in a Stable home and she doesn’ t want to go through this," Hunt said. Similar cases began surfacing in courts around the country in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and claims by "co-parents" generally were rejected, said attorney Mary Bonauto of Gay &’Lesbians Advocates & Defenders of Boston, which filed a brief in support of Rubano. Recently, however, courts in a handful of states, including Massachusetts andNew Jersey, have decided to recognize the legal status of non-biologi~ cal parents. "This decision puts Rhode Island in line with the majority of recent decisions on the topic, although this is an issue that is still hotly contested among the states," said Bonauto, who lead the fight to legalize same-sex civil umons in Vermont. Rubano and DiCenzo decided tO have a child together while they were living in Millville, Mass. DiCenzo underwent artificial insemination from an anonymous sperm donor and on Dec. 15, 1991, DiCenzo gave birth to aboy. Thecouple sent outbirth announcements identifying them both as the child’ s parents, and had the last name of Rubano-DiCenzo listed onboth the birthand baptismal certificates. The couple raised the child together for several years and the boy called Rubano her "heart room." In 1996, the pair split up and DiCenzo, now 43, moved to Cumberland. The next year, the two signed a Family Court consent order that granted Rubano permanent visitation rights on a periodic basis. In exchange Rubano waived "any claim or cause of action she has or may have to recognition as a parent of the minor child." But then DiCenzo, believing Rubano’ s visits were "disruptive and confusing" to theboy, told Rubano thatno further visitations would be permitted. Rubano appealed to Family Court, asking a judge to enforce the earlier order. DiCenzo argued the Family Court lackedjurisdiction to eater the order in the first place. The Family Court, unsure how to proceed, requested that the Supreme Court rule on the case. Perkins believes the decision clears the way for the Family Court to allow visitation. Hunt expressed coneeru that the finding may pave the way for third party parent claims from grandpareats, ex-boyfriends and others. The General Assembly may want to consider changing the law, she said. But Perkins said she sees the ruling as a boon to both Gays and heterosexuals. "You could be somebody’ s second wife or husband and essentially raise their children and if you got divorced, you could haveno rights," Perkins said. "We think that the court was actually looking for a way to redress alot ofholes in the law because’ families are changing over time and this was maybe the ease to do it." Idaho PFLAG Chapter Make Case for Inclusion SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) --The area’ s Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays chapter will make its proposal tojoin the town’ s list of credible commtmity organizations. The organization hosted the ACLUsponsored slide show and talk, "The Gay Life in Idaho: Idaho’ s Little T01d History," created by Alan Virta, head of the Boise State University library’s special collections. "It’ s amazing what you find here and there in the official records," he s aid. "S ometimes trial transcripts give a lot of information." Virta’s 45-minute show includes Idaho’s reaction to the 1895 Oscar Wilde trial in London - the playwright was charged with homosexuality -and the 1955 boys ofBoise scandal, a homosexual witchhum. Parents Jim and Barbara Hansen started the Sandpoint Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. They say that, so far, they have not been the targets of harassment in an area of Idaho typically known for its conservatism. "I find this a very open-minded community," Jim Hansen said. "There’s more suppoyt, strokes, affirmations here than I ever thought possible. That keeps me going.’" Michigan College Offers Partner Benefits MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) - Northern Michigan University faculty members have ratified a three-year contract that gives them 3.5% annual pay increases and same-sex domestic partner health benefits. The contract for the Northern Michigan chapter of the American Association of University Professors was ratified by a 159-33 vote, The Mining Journal reported. The union has about 290 members. The university’ s board of control is to consider the agreement Oc~ 6. Other changes include retirement contributions of 15.64% of annual salary, and extension of health insurance benefits to same-sex domesuc partners. Gay Games 2002: Anyone Can Compete SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -For those who’ ve dreamed of competing in the Olympics but failed to meet the athletic requirements, there’ s still hope: they can sign up for the Sydney 2002 Gay Games. The event is open to everyone. "There is no minimum standard required to participate," Game Gibson, chief executive officer of the Sydney Gay Games, noted. "No one is excluded, regardless of gender, sextmlity, race or physical ability." Organizers expect the two-week event, which includes a weeklong cultural.festival and opens Oct. 25, 2002, to attract over 14,000 participants from at least 78 countries. There are more than 10,000 athletes ¯ competing in the Olympics. Gibson also said the Gay Games, whiCh will attract mostly Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual competitors, have found their biggest sponsor. San Francisco- based Gay.com, an online supplier of services to the homosexual community, has entered into a $1.5 million agreement to be the event’ s official. Internet media sponsor,.he said. The competition, which will run from Nov..3 to Nov. 9, 2002, has 31 sports; some with a distinctive Australian flavor, chairwoman Colette Steer said, including netball and touch rugby. Butother sports on the agenda include Olympic events such as badminton, baseball, athletics, field hockey, tennis, swimming and volleyball. The sports will be held in two main zones - Olympic Park and around Sydney Harbor. As well as the official sports, the sixth edition of the Gay Games will feature exhibition events such as surfing and surf lifesaving, dragon boat racing and what organizers are calling "mind games" - ehes s, bridge, backgammon and mahjong. Steer played softball in the 1998 Gay Games in Amsterdam. She recalled with emotion waving he,r "little pink flag, as one does" ~t the Gay Games opening ceremony. The Gay Games are "an opportunity to celebratewhatweare.., and to enjoy ourselves a United in God’s Love MCC.United Sunday Worship Reverend Cathy Elliot 11:00 am Pastor 1623 N. Maplewood 918/838-1715 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, SundaySchool, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm, Sunday Eve. Servic~ 6pm 1517 S. Memorial, 628-0802, Info: 224-4754 Sandra Hill M.s. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111 The Open Arms Project Young Adult Support Group Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325 Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Ghild, Family, Individual & Gouple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 The Pride Store 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor .Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) 6-9 prn, Sunday - Friday 12-9pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the Center Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 TOM NEAL BUILDING & GARDEN DESIGN 583- 1248 Red Rock Tulsa Free Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tues. & Thurs., 5 -8 pm at the Center, 1307 East 38th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 KIN WILKS Independent Consultant for 357-1757 in~a matter of hours o~P~-N~RMS,OPENMINDS,OPENHF_At~ Saint Aidan 4045 N. ~incinnati. 425-7882 Saint John 4200 S. Atlanta Plabe. 742-7381 Saint Dunstar~ 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Trinity 501 S. Cincinnati, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You in that fiee and open--and tolerant environment," Gibson said. Over 15,000 people competed in the Amsterdam Gay Games. The first Gay Games were held in 1982 in San Francisco. Organizers said the influx of nearly 35,000 visitors to Sydney for the games and festival will injectabout $55millioninto the region’ s economy. On the Net: www.Gaygamesvi.org.au Gov. Ventura to Offer Partner Benefits ST. PAUL (AP) - If his administration moves forward with a plan to provide benefits for domestic partners of state employees, Gov. Jesse Venturawould demand proof of a committed relationship, he said in September. "There will be documentation signed; there will be contractual things that will go on between these people," Ventura said. "It’s not like a fly-by-night relationship, where, ’Gee I met someone in the bar and now I’m going to make them a domestic partner for a week and a half.’ " Few other details emerged about the possible extension of health and insurance benefits to domestic partners, a still-in-the-works proposal Venture’ s ad.. ministration disclosed recently. Employee Relations Commissioner Julien Carter said if the proposal is confined to same-sex couples only, he expects it to affect about 1% of the state’s 53,000-member workforce, or 530 employees. It’s not clear if heterosexual domestic partners would be covered. "There are a series of decisions to be made and that definition of domestic partner is one of them," said Ventura’ s spokesman, John Wodele. If heterosexuals are included, Carter said his department’s best estimate is that 3% of employees would take advantage of that arrangement. "We just don’ tknow for sure what the best planning number is, but it seems to be in (he ballpark," he said. Ventura stressed during his weekly radio show that the state needs to do something to stay competitive with the private sector: Both are fighting to attract new employees in a tight labor market. "What are they going to pick?" Ventura said of prospective hires. "They" re going to pick the company that gives them the best benefits, the best working conditions. That’ s what this issue is greatly about." Even before Venmra’s staff finalized the plan, conservative lawmakers discounted its chances. "I don’t think it’s going to fly," said state Rep. Tony Kielkucki, R-Lester Prairie. "He’ s got more support for unicameral than he has for this one." An effort failed this year to get a constitutional amendment On the ballot for a one,house Legislature. Vermont, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington. and Massachusetts offer benefits to domestic partners, according to OutFront Minnesota, an advocacy group for Gay, Lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. Fort Worth city council mulls ban on Gay bias FORT WORTH-, Texas (AP) - For the third time in eight years, a measure that would protect sexual orientation under Fort Worth’s anti-discrimination law is being discussed by.members of thecity council. The current drive to add sexual orientation is being led by Councilman Chuck Silcox; a conservative Republican who ended discussions of a similar proposal in January 1999. Under the proposal,. Gays and .-Lesbians would be added to the list of protected cl~S in Fort Worth’ s anti-discrimination ordinance. The list already indudes race, creed, color, religion, gender, disability, national origin and family status. City officials said violation of the anti-discrimination ordinance is a .nfisdemeanor. !n recent editio~as of the For/~’orth Star-Tdegram. Sitcox said his posit~o,? on tee issue changed after was approached by a Fort \Vor{h man who lost Ms job after .his employer discovered he was Gay "I didn" realize we had the kind of problems out there that we do," Silcox said. "I doff t like the idea t~hat people are losingjobs over this. Anytime there is discrimination, we need to draw the line." Nebraska Amendmentto Outlaw Gay Marriages KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) - The chief supporter and an opponent of a state ban on same-sex marriages predicted extremely different outcomes if the proposed constitutional amendment is approved by voters in November. The predictions varied from prohibiting homosexual couples from adopting children to outlawing all business partnerships between two people of the same sex. Initiative 416 would define marriage in Nebraska as a relationship between only a man and wo~nan, and prohibit any "civil union, domestic partnership or other similar same-sex relationship." At a sometimes-heated fonun before the state’s daily newspaper editors, an opponent of the measure argued that it is poorly written and threatens the legality of all relationships between two people of the same sex, such as business partnerships,joint ownerships and contractual agreements. "Passage of the amendment will lead to years of litigation that will be costly to the state and its taxpayers," said Linda Richenberg of Nebraska Advocate for Justice and Equality. The amendment would simply prohibit same-sex marriages from being recognized by the state, said Guyla Mills, chairwoman of the Defense of Marriage Amendment Committee, which collected more than the required 105,000 signatures to put the question on the ballot. Mills said many constitutional lawyers have reviewed the ballot language and say it is clear on its intent. "This amendment is not about taking rights away from anybody. It is about protecting the time-honored tradition of marriage," Mills said. Under the measure, homosexual couples - including someone who works for state government or the University of Nebraska system would be prevented from sharing state insurance benefits. It also would prevent Gay and Lesbians from adopting children. She said it will not impact the insurance providers in the state or the insurance policies of private businesses and corporations. Richenberg argued that if voters approve the ban. Nebraska will earn a reputalaon as a hostile place to work and live, prompting an exodus of ho~nosexuals and their families who have been productive members of the state’ s work force. "We don’ t want to see anyone leave the state because of this," Mills said. "Wejust don’ t think a minority ofpeople should have the right to redefine marriage for everybody." Mills pointed out several times that both of the state’s senate candidates, Republican Don Stenberg and Democrat Ben Nelson, plan to vote in support of the same-sex marriage ban. Richenberg said the amendment is unnecessary in a conservative state like Nebraska, where there is not a push to legalize same-sex unions. "A vote against 416 is not going to legalize same-sex marriages," she said. "Same-sex marriages do not exist in Nebraska, and there will be no change." The forum was sponsored by the Nebraska Associated Press Association. Lesbian Denied Right to . Legally Change Name NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - A Lesbian who wanted to hyphenate her na03e to in.cldde ’that of hbr longume partner i’s @pealing the decision of a judge who said a name change would create the impression the two women were married. The American Civil Liberties Umon of New Jersey has appealed Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Iuliani’s decision ~o deny Jill Bacharach’s application ’ to change her name. At a hearing m Augus|o !uliani deniext fi~e Cedar Grove woman’ s petiti-’,~, sayi~g he feared it wo~d create the appem’a~m~ that she and imr female ,~artner were roamed, said ACLU staff{" attorney J.C. :~Nver. Sam.esex uNons ~z,: not !egaily recogxfizcd in ~iew Jersa y arid in every state except. Vermont. "I have ~ever expecied this sort of discrimination from a court of taw’y said Bacharach, 32. Salver said the judge’ s concern about the appearance of a same-sex union is an improper basis to deny a name change. . . see Name, p. 7 Not EnoUgh Dollars : m~nt in emergency rooms, wbich is more For Homeless Sick " expensive than standard care. Emergency rooms also don’ t offer AIDS patients the NEW YORK (AP) - They carry their life’ s possessions on withering backs and hide death within their broken bodies. Some spent anentirelifetimeonthe streets, ¯ searching for a home under a molding cardboardboxin atrash-strewn alleyway. ¯ Others are teens who ran from something ¯ but stumbled into a life far worse; they " trade sex for a night in a bed. Still more " believe their luck has run out after re- ¯ centlylosingjobs,apartments and friends,. " But every day, a small handful of the ¯ thousands of homeless men and women living with AIDS in New York City make ¯ a tremendous effort rarely taken by their brethren. They seek help. They fight for ¯ life, no matter the inevitable future. Scientists haven’ t cured HIV or AIDS, but their powerful .drug concoctions that keep people alive longer create a curious " problem. Public and non-profit agencies already struggle to pay for their existing cases. Now they wonder: How can we " possibly help the new people infected " with the virus? "Today, people think the ePidemic is ¯ over," said Gina Quattrochi, the president " of the National AIDS Housing Coalition " andtheexecutivedirectoratBaileyHouse, : a private center in Greenwich Village ¯ helping homeless AIDS survivors. "The ¯ reality is people are living much ~nger, " but the vast majority are disabled. Currently, Congress is debating next ¯ year’ s budget. Advocates like.Quattrochi " requested increasing the $232 million budgetby $60 million- and were worried ¯ when President Clinton proposed upping " it to just $260 million. Disappointment " has turned to fear because Senate leaders ". don’ twantto increase the appropriation at ¯ all. "It’s thin. We have to get it up," said " U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., a longtime supporter of homeless _&IDS services who pushed the House to propose " increasing funds to $250 million. "This country i" s ro"m"ng i"n mortey." ¯ Expending millions of dollars .for AID.S- " exclusive assistance meets resistance m . every case. ’qqaere has always been pres- ¯ surefrom thefarright to portray itfor drug addicts and queers," Quattrochi said, adding that others question the need to fund specific AIDS housing when so much housing is already available. Quattrochi says only half of Bailey House’s residents are Gay or Lesbian. She noted that at least 450,000 Americans with AIDS nee~l, housing, and that’s a conservative estimate because some haven’t learned they have the illness or are mentally ill andmay neverknow. New York, the city that served 1,200 homeless people with AIDS in 1988, now assists more than 27,000. That total is steadily increasing as it has for the past few years, said Ruth Reinecke, a spokeswoman for the city’ s Division of AIDS Services. A Brooklyn federal judge’s decision earlier this week shows the city apparently hash’ t adjusted wall to the surging numbers. The judge, who slammed the Division of AIDS Services for "chronically and systematically" delaying or terminating assistance, ordered the agency placed under federal oversight for three years. The city plans to appeal the decision. Quattrochi says if members of Congress wouldlook at operations like Bailey House, they’ d understand why advocates plead for more money. The alternative, she says, is that health care costs will soar when homeless AIDS patients seek treatcounseling that could hdp decrease the spread of HIV. Bailey House, one of many nonprofit groups that assist the city in serving the homeless AIDS population, started when the virus was first identified and it was still consideredby many as homosexuals’ punishment from God. The 6 1/2-story building, set m the primest of real estate along the Hudson River, nurtured homeless AIDS survivors. In 1995, Bailey House added a vocational studies program because clients lived longer thanks to the drug cocktails and weren’t interested in just wasting away. Three years later, Bailey House opened the program to anyone with AIDS living in New York. "I wanted to do something productive with my life," said Sean Ransom, 31, who contracted the virus in the late 1980s and sought help four years ago. "I didn’ t want to... take my reeds and wait to die." Those medications - a triple combination of drugs - have doubledthe average time it takes for the HIV infection to developinto AIDS, said ProfesssorAlvaro Munoz of Johns Hopkins University’s School of Public Health. They also increased the average survival time ofAIDS sufferers from 18 months to six years. In the late 1980s, residents in Bailey House stayed an average of three months, and their stay almost always ended at a funeral home. These days, they stay abont three years, if not longer. !¢lany walk out on their own, often to Bailey House-assisted apartments. Beyond treatment, stable housing is crucial to every patients’ health, Quattrochi says. Two-thirds of AIDS patients cite housing as a top priority,just below medical treatment. Living on a friend’ s couch or moving between shelters, patients find ~t difficult and tiring to get continual care; the effort weakens the body and strengthens the disease - a deadly duo. Patients also must live with failing organs, and need refrigerators to keep their medicine effective. Stable housing becomes a primal urge, Quattrochi says. "Let me put it this way, what I always ask people is, ’Where do you want to be when you have the flu?’" she said. "You want- to be at home." These problems becomeremote when a homeless person wakes up after a night under crumbled, urine-stained newspapers. Medications? It’ s doubtful they have any. It’ s often little better in city-run shel- ¯ ters. Derryck, who declined to g~ve his last ¯" name, lived in emergency housing offi- ".. cially called Single Room Occupancy : Units, but known by residents as bare- ." boned welfare hotels. He could touch all ¯ four walls from the middle of his cubicle. "- Occupants shared a single bathroom, and he shudders when remembering the filth. ¯ Prostitutes, drugs, loan sharking, he re- : calls, this placewas amodernday Sodom : and Gomorrah.’And Derryck, who is 50, ¯ concedes he was lucky to live the,re. "There s even a lack of bad housing, he ¯ said glumly. ¯ But Derryck found his way to Bailey : House. Now hecansitonhisbedinhis 85- ¯ square-foot home, with its view of the ¯ Hudson River, watch TV, grab a snack - or his medications -from h~s mini-fridge, _" or use his personal bathroom. "It works ¯ for me,"he said with a grin as smoothjazz ~ sauntered out of his stereo’s speakers. : Behind him hung posters of singer Financial Planning With A Clear Commitment= At American Express Financial Advisors, we want to make our Commitment to gay men and lesbians clear. Just as we have extended domestic partner benefits to our lesbian and gay employees worldwide, we are committed to providing ~ound financial advice that specifically addresses the unique financial issues affecting our lesbian and gay clients. Whether you’re single, in a committed relationship, or caring for children, your Americar Express financial advisor can help you take control of your financial future. We can help ’OU: Establish savings and investment plans Protect your assets from unnecessary taxation Avoid financial restrictions placed on unmarried couples Avoid costly delays in the receipt of life insurance proceeds ~, series of Seminars given by Theresa Barnard, American Express Financial Advisor Where: MCC United When: 7:00 P.M. 1623 N Maplewood Ave -’inancial Strategies for Gay Men & Lesbians Tuesday, September 5th and Tuesday, October 10th Retirement Explore Your Options ¯ Create your Retirement Income Tuesday, September 19th ¯ Estate Planning Tuesday, October 24th Please R.S.V.P. with Theresa at 918-748-8191 ext.121 Financial Advisors TULSA TECHNOLOGY Si IOWCASE AN EVENT OFTHETULSA METRO CHAMBER 12.000 Interested in finding business solutions? Looking for business connections? Then plan to attend the Tulsa Business & Technology Showcase 2000 A comprehensive exposition dedicated to the needs of Tulsa’s business community, featuring 250 exhibit booths, Business After Hours, Power Networking~ ..Seminars ~conduc~ed by businessbuilding professionals and renowned luncheon speakers, a silent auction, door prizes, a car giveaway, and much, much more! Thursday & Friday, October 19 & 20 Tulsa Convention Center TULSA METRO CHAMBER Info: 560-0298 Sponsored by Tulsa Auto Collection, Media sponsors include KJRH TV2 Clear Channel Communication and the Tulsa World Power Connect. Public Service Company of Oklahoma Customer Service Is Now Avai|able 24 Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. These days, traditional 8-5 business hours aren’t always convenient. So PSO has made it easier than ever for you to contact us. Our Customer Service Center operates 24/7 - offering around-the-clock answersto your questions - and better access to service. Now it’s easier for you to inquire about your monthly electric bill. Or.report a power outage. Or arrange to have your power turned on or ¯ off. Our professionally trained, friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives are standing by to serve you. All day, every day. To provide faster response to your needs, we have listed our toll-free numbers below. I I I, I I I I I I I I ! I I I I I I I I I I CALL 24 HOURS FOR TOLL-FREE SERVICE ~Clip And Save I I I Customer Services: 1-888-216-3523 Billing Inquiries: 1-888-216-3490 Outage Reporting: 1-888-218-3919 Servici0 a Cliehtes: 1-888-216-3505 Preguntas Sobre su Cuenta: 1-888-216-3491 Falta De Suministro: 1-888-218-3924 Public Service Company of Oklahoma I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I BobMarley and a pink flamingo. Beyond that, the window looked out onto the water. As he spoke, a sailboat sliced through gusty winds as it cruised south heading out into the open bay. HIV Prevention Ad Banned from TV SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A set of television ads that depict bare-chested men and a male-to-female transgender delivenng an HIV prevention message have been pulled from daytime TVat a Bay Area station. Rather than run the 30-second ad during afternoon talk shows, KGO Channel 7 offered to run the ads - which encourage HIV-positive men and women to practice safe sex and be honest with partners about their status - after 10 p.m. so that fewer children would see them. A Better World, the San Francisco advertising agency that purchased the spot, chose the original time frame because researchers have discovered 3 and 4 p.m. shows are popular with Gay men. However, KGOleaders say that the ads clash with afternoon viewer expectations. "With a Rosie (O’ Dounell) episod,°, with ’NSYNC, or another pop culture guest on it, it would be a little eyepopping for a commercial like this to show up," said David Metz, director of programming services at KGO. Les Pappas, president of the agency., called KGO’s decision homophobic. "We’ ve done the research to find out what our target audience is watching, and they’ re watching Rosie and Oprah. We don’t want to be relegated or banished until after 10 p.m.," Pappas said. ABetterWorldcreated the $345,000 ad campaign for the city’ s health department after a study last month that fond the rate of HIV infection among Gay men in San Francisco is climbing at an alarming rate. New HIV infections in the city increased form 498 in 1997 to 790 last year, according to the Health Department study. NYC Loses Case Over AIDS Care NEW YORK (AP) - A federal judge has ruled the city mistreated poor people with AIDS by subjecting them to bureaucratic mismanagement and delays in housing, health and other benefits. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Sterling Johnson said officials violated theAmericans with Disabilities Act by "chronically and system.- atically failing to.provide (AIDS patients) with meaningful access to critical subsistence benefits and services." Hecalled the consequences "devastating." The opinion stems from a class-action lawsuit filed in federal court on behalf of 25,000 plaintiffs dtywide whohaveAIDS or other HIV-related illnesses. Johnson’s ruling detailed testimony - heard earlier this year at a bench trial - by plaintiffs who described getting the rtmaround from the Division for AIDS Services for months, if not years. The judge appointed a federal magistrate to monitor the agency over the next three years. Michael Hess, the city’ s counsel, criticized the ruling and promised an appeal. "Very frankly, I think it’ s very flawed," Hess said, adding that thejudge’ s opinion was "very poorly done and contains a lot of errors that I hope will be corrected." Hess said Johnson relied on informauon that was more than five years old. Statistics cited by Johnson showed that in one out Of three cases, the city failed to meetits own30-day deadline for responding to requests for services. He ordered the city to comply. The ruling was the latest in which Housing Works has succeeded in forcing Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’ s administration to overhaul portions of its policies. In 1999, U.S. District Judge Allen Schwartz found that city officials had acted with "retaliatory intent" against the nonprofit group, which has been a relentless critic of Giuliani’ s policies on AIDS. Vatican Officials: Still Noto Condoms VATICAN CITY (AP) - A Vatican official said recently that two American Jesuits have distorted church positions b,,y suggesting that the Vatiean has become more tolerant" about the distribution of condoms to fight AIDS. Monsignor Jacques Suaudeau said the Vatican stance hasn’ t changed, although the church must not be seen as indifferent to AIDS sufferers and the battle to stop the disease’ s spread. Some in the church have been seeking a softening in the position of the Vatican, which has been accused by some governments of hindering the AIDS battle. Writing in the Sept. 23 issue of "America," a Jesuit magazine, the authors pointed to an April article written by Suaudeauin the Vaticannewspaper. They said it contained important signals: That while some individual bishops have repudiated local HIV prevention programs that include the distribution of condoms, "the Roman curia is more tolerant on the matter." The article was written by the Revs. John Fuller, an associate professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, and James Keenan, professor ofmoral theology atWestonJesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Mass. Suaudeau called the article a"pretext to relaunch the argument." "This is a manipulation. It is blown up and exaggerated," he told The Associated Press. In his article, Suaudeau endorsed sexual abstinence and chastity as the methods to prevent AIDS, citing church programs to promote that. Suaudeau’ s article went on to say that the use of condoms in Thailand "had particularly good results for these people with regard to the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. It said the use of condoms in those circumstances "is actually a ’lesser evil’" but then added that "it cannot be proposed as a model ofhumanization and development." Suaudeau said he wrote the article to show the Vatican was not indifferent to the AIDS problem. Easier Access to Needles in NM SANTA FE (AP) - State health officials want to change New Mexico’ s Controlled Substances Act to state that pharmacists who prbvide syringes to intravenous-di’ug users are not guilty of distributing drug paraphernalia. State officials say the change would help combat the spread of infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis B and C. The Pharmacy Board decided to back the change, which would need to be passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Gary Johnson. In 1997, Johnson signed into law the Harm Reduction Act that made New Mexico the second state in the nation to create a state-funded needleexchange progran~ for drug users. by Jim Christjohn, entertainment editor ." homoerotically tinged moments, and it Happy Samhain! (pronounced "sow- ¯ features Amanda Bearse playing Straight. eft’- it’ s Gaelic) We turn in the wheel of " (She was the next door neighbor on"Martheyearto theseasonofthethinning ofthe ¯ lied With Children", who came out a few veils, when people all over the word felt ¯ years back.) Roddy McDowell is fabuthe shifts that marked th~ time of honor- " lous as an inept bachelor vampire hunter ing th.eir ancestors. " - One wonders why he never married - Samhain in pagan Celtic Britain, was a .* "nudge, nudge, wink, wink." The charactime forhonoring the spirits of those that " ter, I mean. And Stephen Geoffreys turns have passed on, as in a touching perwell as the day of - .I love vampire Elms, and f0rmance as the the dead in Spain " " lonelyoutcastwho andMexico.Itwas ~]alS is tlae ]~est tlme of year. gets seduced by an important boll- Chris Sarandon’ s day all over the Of course, ~t’s even l~etter ff ever-so-handpre- Christian some vampire. world, enough so ~t~s a darl~, w~indy, stormy Ue’s another one that when the that could show up Church took over, ni~lat w~tla t:launder craslaln~ outside my winthey renameditAll dow any time. It’ s Hallow’s Eve and and l~htnln~ flash~n~ and.., a fun film, and All Saints Day. It - worth the cost. shrunk from a oh~ sorry~ ~ett~n~ a bit caught Available on three day festival, DVD. to a one day cel- up ~n the deser~ptlon. For those that ebration. In Storms do that to me. like Tom Cruise Amelica, it was " " with fangs (he retrivialized into w]aere was I? fusedtodothekiss Halloween. So, with Antonio just for old times’ O1~ yes, vampires and film. Banderas - was sake, take a mo- " " this due to his inment that day to "’" security with his remember those loved ones who have own sexuality since it was inthe script?), passed on. "Interview With The Vampire" has been I love vampire films, and thisis thebest rereleased on DVD with new documentime of year. Of course, it’ s even bet{er if tary footage and a few other extras thrown it’sadark, windy, stormy night with thtm- " iu. Brad Pitt plays Lestat, and the now der crashing and lightning flashing and. quite grown up Kirsten Dunst turned in a ¯ oh, sorry, getting a bit caught up in the stellar performance as an adult trapped in description. Storms do that to me.. a child’ s body. Good for the moody vetowhere was I? Oh, yes, vampires and film. pire types. One of the best verslons of the Dracnla For fans of the original Hammer legend, although the critics ripped it to Dracnlas, there are two on DVD: Dracnla, shreds, is the 1979 Frank Langella fea- Prince of Darkness, the first sequel with ture. Langella’ s Drac would be welcome ChristopherLee, after"HorrorofDracula" to show up outside my window anytime (unavailable on DVD - dammit!); and and suck anything he wanted. The film, Satanic Rites of Dracula, which was the directed by John Badham, also stars Kate last Hammer Dracula with Chris I~e. It Nelligan and Laurence Olivier in his last was a rather inept handling of putting film performance. While there are times Drac in what was them "modem" times thepacingtrudgesabitslowly, overallthe (1973). Only for those diehr~;d film is one of the lnshest productions of "I)racufans". who can’t stand to have the legend I’ve seen, even though it is completecollections.Still,it’safunromp, based more on the play than the actual and the costumes are well worthlaughing book. That didn’ t really bother me, picky at. Did people really wear that then? LOL purist that I am, and the Dracula in this The only one with any style was Drac, in filmhas quiteadry sense of humor that is timeless black and long cloak. Dracula, easy to miss if you ares’ t prone to catch- ~" PrinceofDarkness, atleastkepthiminthe ing it. It is widely available on DVD, and " 1800’ s, although Lee is left with little to although the print they used to transfer . do but hiss and look menacing. Still, it’ s a from is prone to noise (specks where the ¯ much better picture, and a fun romp. film has started to come off the magnetic " Wemer Herzog’ s remake of Nosferatu strip it’ s on), it is still a great atmospheric " is available, but unless you want to be thrill for the buck. bored to tears with Drac’ s eternal anguish Stay away from Coppola’s version, . over killingthings, pass. It really is thoug]~ ~t~ s b!9ody awful and really sucks " "DraculaNeeds Prozac"., and Klaus Kinski - i’n a b~id’Wa~ (Pun intendedl) is So wtfiny in the part, that youjust wanna Nosferatu, the first Dracula film ever slap him after 5 minut,e~s. And talk about made, and regarded as a masterpiece of ° pace.., those 2 hours-seem like 2 days. th~Germanexpressionisticcinema,isalso Again, only for the hardcore collector, a~lable,.meticuloi~sly restored, and with although afterhearing so much about it, it a.~gry interesting commentary on DVD. was nice to finally see it. Or not. Always -?irected by F.W: Murnau, ,an openly spoken of as a "classic," it m~es me ga~ director, the homoerotic ~ndertones wonder wlm decides what w~il be deemed ~ake fi~ walt worth having, or at least, aclassic andjt~st how hard they need robe renting. Re-scored wifia the original or- hit upside the head with the inteliigencc chestra~:ion, it is a fascinating ,ook at d_m stick. Nstory. Produ~din !92~.,itacmNiyholds If 3 ou re m the moodfor something in tap wel! today, a more literary vein, I czm heartily recom-. For those seekiv.g .lus~ a fun romp mend "Desrnond", by Ulysses Deitz. A through vampire fi.hn!,’md with fang-in- weL writtensagaofamodemvampinthe cheek, there s l~ngm Night", about a Anne Rice tradition, this one does not shy vampireandhisghoul, who happens to be away from the fact that, yes indeed, the male. They have a couple of lovely vamps are Gay. see Jim, p. 9 Tuesday, November 7 Election Day HRC WATCH PARTY Because win or lose, it’s good to be among friends 9 PM 3340 South Peoria, Tulsa, OK Must be 21 - Cash Bar HRC envisions an America where lesbian and gay people are ensured of their basic equal rights. You can help us do our work by joining us for either or both of these events (or by joining HRC - it’s just $35, call 584~2913 or email hrctulsaoklahoma@aol.com). HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN~ TULSA Sunday, October 29th 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM Helga’s Horribles Present scenes from "The Little Shop of Horrors" !7th & Main, Tulsa, OK Limited Seating Call 584-~913 for reservations Must be 21 - Cash Bar A survey of books which Tulsa police required to be shrinkwrapped in Borders’ October 14 8:00 pm Friday O~tober 20 21st St. location turned up at least 20 wrapped tifles over half of which were Gay and Lesbian interest books, the other half being mostly how-to sex guides for heterosexuals. Among the Gay rifles were serious art monographs on the mid-century photographer, George Platt Lynes, controversial photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, and photographer David LaChappelle. Also chosen were history books like "Who’s a Pretty Boy Then? 150 Years of Gay Life in Pictures" and "Nothing But the Girl, The Blatant Lesbian Image" and "Gay Planet, All Things for All Gay Men." Only one title of all those wrapped, an art book by Tom of Finland, appeared possibly to meet the standard for shrinkwrapping. The police move has raised alarm in local ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) activists andGay community leaders. William Hinkle, attorney, PFLAG and ACLU activist responded to the police actions, saying "[they] can’t d,~ that. ¯. absolutely [not]." Hinkle further characterized the law as "blunt instrument," that if indeed the books were in violation of an Oklahoma statute, then an arrest should have been made. Kerry Lewis, v?’g president of TOHR (Tulsa Oklaho~ mans for Human Rights) and an attorney with a prominent Tulsa finn, called the police actions "really kind of scary" and indicated that TOHR was very interested in the impact of this action. Lewis noted thafthere appeared to be some other actions on the part of Tulsa police, a recent i.d.-check in a Tulsa club, that raised concern about a resurgence of anti-Gay harassment by Tulsa police. Other issues: Police Chief Ron Palmer stated that he did not issue the order for this action. Nor did Mayor Susan Savage know of the incident. City standards do restrict city councilors (legislative branch) from directing city employees to-perform actions. City councilor Gary Watts said that the mayor and chief of police have given permission for city councilors to talk directly to majors and deputy chiefs but that had he had a similar complaint he would have told the constituent to call the police directly. Watts said if a city councilor gave an order to the police, it was wrong, and if the officer took the order, it was doubly wrong. Corporate spokespeople for both Borderand Barnes &Noble responded. Sandy Spears, district manager for Barnes & Noble said they follow state and local ordinances but we don’t censor..." Borders representatives in a conference call claimed that they have a"dear dedication to the First Amendment but they are also conscious of the community they’re in." Borders representatives claimed they have always shrinkwrapped some books and that some come that way from the printers. (All of the Gay rifles TFN examined had locally applied bar code tags under the shrinkwrap indicating that these had not originally been wrapped. Borders representatives also claim that any customer can remove shrinkwrap in order to view a book but also acknowledged that they post no signs to let customers know about that option. They also acknowledged that to some customers the presence ofthe shrinkwrap was intimidating - that it appeared to send a message that the materials were illicit. seeming concern about Gay patrons. Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris stated that he had not been consuited before this action commenting that he’ s often seen as acting in coordination with this,sort of action but had not done so. Borders spokespeople indicated that they will send their regional management to visit Tulsa stores sometime in the next few weeks to review the situation. See editorial: Censorship Throug,;~ Intimidation, p. 3 No dancing around the subject here. And it’ s a compelling story as well, with style and wit. One of my favorites. John Peyton Cooke’ s "Out for Blood" is another excellent book with wall-written characters and a fun romp through vampland. It’ s worth hunting for in used bookstores or garage sales, since it’ s unfortanately out of print. There are two anthologies out that are worth the reading - the stories are hit and miss, but there’ s more hits than misses, so it’s worth the time - "Brothers of the Night", and "Sons of Darkness", edited by Michael Rowe and Thomas Roche. The covers are awful, but it just goes to prove the saying,"You can’ tjudge a book, etc." I’d say about 95% of the stories are excellent, which makes the 5% bearable. And there’s something for everyone. I usually don’ t care much for anthologies, but these are worth picking up. Stay away from"Vampires Anonymous". That’ s the worst piece of dreck I’ ve read in many a year of reading vampire fiction. That’ s it for the "Things that go boink in the night section." I mean, bump, yeah, bump! Still, ifyouknow of anyone with a cape And there’ s something for everyone. ! usually don’ t care much for anthologies, but these are worth picking up. Stay away from"Vampires Anonymous". That’ s the worst piece of dreck I’ ve read in many a year of reading vampire fiction. That’ s it for the "Things that go boink in the night section." I mean, bump, yeah, bump! Still, ifyou know of anyone with a cape feti sh, hates daylight, and has been around 200 years but only looks 30-something, is allergic to garlic, and has a really good immune system, send him to me... being bitten can be fun, and the neck is one of my favorite e-zones... But by merely talking about the possibility of arrests, they clearly raise that as threat if the bookstore staff doesn’t do what the police suggest/demand. Also, troubling is the role of TulSa City Councilor Todd Huston. While Chief Palmer claims that Huston did not violate city standards by contacting city staff because he did not "order" them to take a particular action (councilors are not permitted to direct city staff but are required to go through the executive branch, i.e. the mayor or chief or deputy chiefs). But any casual observer will see thatcomment by an elected official to mid-level officers is more likely to be heeded than the complaint of an ordinary citizen. And given the scandal related to former city councilor Anna Falling about orders given to city employees, Huston should have gone through the chain of command of the mayor or at least the chief ofpolice. Surely then more consideration would have been given to the dubious constitutionality of this action, see Censor, p. 10 by Lamont Lindstrom Last week my friend Henry heard a thud. Henry was hanging out at his new boyfriend’s apartment in San Francisco when something big crashed upstairs. "It’ s that annoying yobbo in the third floor apartment at it again," or so they thought. Henry’s boyfriend explained that no one in the building.liked the guy. He was catty and manipulative- the Richard Hatch of the apartmentbuilding. No boyfriends ever knocked on his door. Three days later an ambulance arrived. Theparamedics carried down a body from the third floor. Unlike TV’ s Survivor, the neighbor was the first to go, not the last. He had been lying deadjust above Henry’ s head for several days. Luckily, San Francisco weather can be cool, even in September. The ambulance drove off but Henry still felt creepy. The guy upstairs was no more butstill a presen,.~ remained. A few days later, Henry was bending over working in the garden at the back of the building. Suddenly he shivered. It felt like someone was watching him. He looked up quickly at the blank window of the third floor apartment. Was somebody still there?Was that aface? His boyfriend’ s mother, too, got goosebumps in the garage when she walked by the dead guy’ s car. The bitter queen, it seems, was now a ghostly voyeur. Henry isn’ t thrilled to spend the night at ahaunted apartment house, even one with Gay ghosts. Death has been no stranger to the Gay community, especially since the early 1980s, andmany ofus are hauntedin one way or another. Still, lurking spirits who cling to home can be annoying (even if good apartments are hard to .find in San Francisco). Luckily, Henry’ s boyfriend had already made plans to move. The ghost can keep the place. My friends on Tauna - a South Pacific island I once haunted mysdf- were similarly nervous about ghosts. Folks there are prone to stumble across spirits at any moment. Even though people mostly run into the ghosts of dead loved ones (morn, dad, grandpa), they aren’ t toohappy about these encounters. If the dead are making themselves known, there must be a reason. Ghosts can help you. But they can also hurt you too, especially if they are I didn’ t meet a~y~Gay:gh~osts imTamaa but there is a rather tricky Bisexual spirit living on the island: the dreaded and seductive Nakwa. People have sex with ghosts. What we think are "wet dreams," Islanders ~+piaiii akOff~~akwa ~ptrit sneaking ~tb bai With :thdm~. A mail: (a straight on~ atl~ast)!~s that he is having sex With ti ~tiful:w0man ~ but it’ s actually the ~iiOst Onlypretending to be a woman. Perfidious Nakwa steals the dreamer’ s semen and then changes its sex from female to male. It next creeps into the bed ofa sleeping woman, appearing as ahandsomeguy. Ithas sex with the sleeper and impregnates her with sperm stolen from its previous victim. Such ghostly pregnancies can be deadly. The woman "...Anthropologist Sherry Ortner, drawln~ on the Freneh feminist Simone Beauvoir, ~,~nee proposed that ’Man is to Culture as Woman is to Nature.’ Ortner was seekln~ a reason for why, almost everywhere, people value what men do more than they value what women do..." ¯ may die unless her false pregnancy is ~ diagnosed and treated by local healers. ," Ghosts you meet while awake can also ¯ make trouble._ One day a young woman named Risi just vanished. Her family panicked. Nobody disappears in this intimate society where everyone always knows everyone else’ s business. We rushed to the graveyard and blew triton shell trumpets loudly to put-the spirit world on nouce: buuuuuuu! Village theory was that the girl’s grandmother, who had died the previous year, had come back to fetch Risi to keep her company in "the other side" - the world of the spirits. Four days later a somewhatbedraggled Risi wandered back into the village. It wasn’t grandmother, so it turned out, but rather a handsome ghost she didn’ trecognize. ¯ He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her off deep into the forest - ¯ highup on the mountainside where people ¯ ordinarily are afraid to walk. Risi admit- " ted that she had "cooked" for the spirit. ¯ Her folks immediately suspected that she ¯ and the ghost had had sex. When a girl ¯ ¯ cooks for aguy, she’ slikely offeringmore than just yams and taro. ¯ Somehow Risi managed to escape and ¯ find her way back home. Her family was ¯ going to have to be on guard the next few ¯ months to make sure that Risi hadn’t ¯ come home with a spirit child in her ¯ Womb. ¯ That was her story at least, and none ¯ doubted it - except me, just a little, but ¯ only becauseI’veneverrunintoanyhorny ¯ ¯ ghosts myself. But when Henry told me about his Gay ghost, I wondered if per- " haps randiness is why the spirit refuses tO ¯ leave the building. The guy. got no saris- " faction while aliVe; he now haunts lzs ¯ luckier neighbors ~ staring, for example, ," at Henry’s handsomebehind. Maybe ¯ Henry should ask the ghost out on a date. ¯ Hall6ween would be perfect. Last but hardly least is the failure of the bookstores to defend First Amendment protections. What is most troubling was the corporate response which was not to reassure Gay & Lesbian customers that our books will not be wrapped but which was to defend their fight to shrinkwrap books. Wrapping books, even if you can open them (if you knOW to ask)C-sends a message that some subjects a~ebad. It isn’ t grand censorship in theformofmaking the materials unavailable but it is petit censorship and it is still objectionable~ This may seem a small issue - after ,all it’ s just a bit of shrinkwrap -but this is how rights are lost, through a slow process of erosion. Citizens might want to contact their councilors and demand that we keep our police officers out of the bookstores (and who knows what next, our libraries?) and out on the streets. Timothy .W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointmenls are available. Are You Gay. or Bisex.ual? Are YOU Native Amer|can?. Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Me¢n’s _ / ~uEpvpeonrtinGgrosuupppisorhtgerreoufoprmyoeue,tings ~j ’- ¯ Relationship workshops ~!~ ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free H V testing For information callTulsaNative American AIDS Prevention Project IGTA member Call 341.6866 nternationa Toursformoreinformation. Massage Therapy Services Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm :T]ulsa !s on!y professional body-piercing College Hill Presbyterian Church In response to God’ s Love, College Hill Presbyterian Church is a community of God’ s people called to tall others the Gospel of Jesus Christ through worship, service, and evangelism. To nurture our faith, we gather for worship, prayer, study and fellowship. Trusting in a living; loving God, we seek to become a compassionate voice for peace and justice. Our congregation welcomes all persons Who respond in trust and obedience to God’s grace in Jesus Christ, "and d~sire to become part.lof tlie~ membership and ministry of Christ’ s church. Membership is open to all people regardle..~s of race, ethnic origin, worldly dondition,madtal statuS, or , ’i, s~xual orientation. Sunday Worship 11am 712 S. Columbia Ave., 592-5800 (One block west of Delaware and the University of Tulsa Campus) by Karin Gregory ; By now votes are tallied and the facts ¯ speak for themselves: Dr. Laura ." Schlessinger’ s television talk show, after ¯ being on air only three weeks, is going ; into hiatus for "retooling." Doesn’ t that mean a major make-over? It does in my vocabulary. It also means "trouble.’" This is probably-due more to the fact that Dr. Laura’s show is BORING instead of controversial, and has also landed dead last in ratings among talk shows on television (and among many other shows as well). However, I figure that the people .over at stopdrlaura.com are giving themselves a pat on the back for a job well done since their first two protests, in Chicago and Dallas back in April, made the public more aware of this woman’ s dangerous rantings. These two major city demonstrations weren’t the last, and August 26, Austin, Texas held a protest outsideits CBS affiliate station, KEYE-TV, "The Eye of Austi..". The protest was organized chiefly by stopdrlauraanstin.com. How do I know this? I was on the front lines. Having broken my footjust a week earlier, I went down to march (as best I could) with other Gay/lesbian/straight concerned citizens who didn’t want the show to air at its scheduled 4 pm ttme slot. Their reason? CbJldren at home, many without parental supervision, would watch Dr. Laura and receive her message, thus ensuring that homophobia stays alive and dangerous in Texas. Every Fundamentalist Baptist is ensuring that as we speak. We don’ t need more help from a television talk show wannabe. Meeting with the assistant of stopdrlaura.com, Andy Thayer, was an experience. He’ s been to most of the Dr. Laura protests in most of the states in the country. That’ s lots of traveling. When I heard there would be about one hundred protesters, I was exhilarated and stopped thinking about the pain inmy footandmy hideous lack of sleep from the night before. But as 11 am approached, it was obvious there would only be about30--35 participants in this protest. The demonstmtionoutside the television stationlasted approximately anhour, alongafairlykigh traffic areain Austin. Mostcars that drove by included sympathizers, those agaiast the Dr. Laura talk show. Weheard from a local Christian miaister who had recently officiated at the funeral of a Gay boy killed in a bashing. He said that for a week after the funeral he listened to a local Christian radio station and heard endless Gay bashing from the "Christians." He made the point that not only should weblame Dr. Laurafor spreading hatred about Gays, and this radio station, but we should ultimately look to ourselves to see what .we could do to prevent this abysmal crime from happening again. Withonly35protesters present, it looked like the rest of the Gay/Lesbian] Bisexual/Transgendered community of Austin just didn’t care. Do you care? Do you have what it takes to stand on a street corner and protest? Sure you do. That’s the easy part. The difficulty comes in our everyday lives when we continually hide "...Do you have what it takes to stand on a street corner and protest~ Sure you do. That’s the easy part. The dlffieulty comes in our everyday lives when we eontlnuaily hide who we are, or when we just want someone else to take up the cause because it’s become too dlffieult beatin, our heads aCalnst that wall.. 7 who we are, or when we just want someone else to take up the cause: because it’ s become too difficult beating our heads against that wall. Having that door slammed in our face. Being turned down for thatjob. Tryingto reach a community that should understand one another, but instead tries to fight forMs/her space and keeps others out. Only when we stand united will anyone take us seriously. Look what that’s done for the religious right. They have a whole damn political party on their side. Join the battle for yourselves and your partners. As they sing in Les Miserables, "This is the music of a people who will not be slaves again." Join in the crusade. You won’ t know what you’ re missing until you do. ¯ Lesbian couples break up; separate--It was bound to happen, you say. It couldn’ t " last forever, especially in Hollywood. : Well, one couple breaks up ("I could have ¯ seen that coming from day one") and one ¯ couple separates ("This was out of left ." field"). The former quote could be said of ¯ the break up of the three and a half year ¯ relationship ofEllen DeGeneres andAnne ; Heche. Umm, not too surprising. In fact, ¯ since thenews was armounced1as tmonth, tabloids have announced the reasons for ¯ the breakup: Ellen Finds Anne in Bed ¯ With Another Woman; Ellen Finds Anne ¯ in Bed With Another Man; Ellen’s Ex Pregnant. I-Immm, why doesn’t ELLEN ¯ get any action? The day the couple an- . nouncedtheirbreakup, A~tme Heche"sup- ¯ posedly" went for a drive in very sunny, ¯ hot weather with the top down on the ¯ convertible. Not too swift for someone : SO fair skinned. Later, after "suppos- ¯ edly" suffering heat stroke,Anneknocked ¯ on a stranger’s door and began talking ." about God and spaceships. Ellen, if you ¯ were theonewhokickedherout, all Ihave ¯ tosayis: Waytogo, Grrl! ; More surprising was the. separation of ; rock star Melissa Etheridge and ten year ¯ partnerJulieCypher. Again, anotherpress ." announcement.Whatisitaboutthesefour ¯ women that makes them tell all to the ¯ world? In this case, Etheridge and Cypher ¯ split on extremely amicable terms, even ; buying two separate houses next d~or to ;- one another, so their children won t feel the separation. They will still have their ¯ two mommies beside them. Well, that’ s a ¯ way to do divorce all right, especially ¯ withchildreninvolved.However, theway ¯ Melissaimmortalizes her andJulie’ s fights ¯ into her songs, I can’ t wait for Melissa’ s ¯ next album, already being recorded. ¯ Can anything be learned from these ¯ separations?Well,if you’re a Witty come- " dielme, don’ t get involved with a flalse. If ¯ you have one of the strongest pers0nali- ," ties on the planet, then maybe you ¯ shouldn’tgetinvolvedwiththeotherstron- ¯ gest personaiiiy on the planeL in other ¯ words, You can "come to:my windoff" ¯ because ’Tmthe only one",b~tyoubett~ not be"stronger thmi me" or I n~ighthave ¯ a "breakdown." ¯ Gregory, a former schoolteacher and ¯ journalist is based in Ft. Worth. Her cur¯ rent theme song appears to beJillSobule ’s "I Kissed a Girl." Walk for Life 2000 8th Annual Tul,sa AIDS Walk Saturday, Oct. 7, 9:30am Veteran’s Park, 21st & Boulder For more information, call 585-5551. Donations will be increased by 50% with matching dollars through the generosity of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, The Walk is sponsored by the Community Service Council, and will benefit the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership (TCAP). The Walk is an all volunteer effort and there are no administrative costs. Tulsa Family News is proud to donate this advertisement in support of the Walk and the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership (TCAP) Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, October 2000; Volume 7, Issue 10 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource October 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Karin Gregory Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Hughston Walkinshaw Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, September 2000; Volume 7, Issue 9 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 newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa----Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/605 AIDS Al Gore aMUSEments and Friends of Lesbians and Gays arts and entertainment Bars Boy Scouts businesses Catholic Church censorship churches Community Center contraception Families gay bashing Gay Games 2002 Gay marriage Gay Studies healthcare HIV prevention HIV testing homelessness Human Rights Campaign Jim Christjohn Karin Gregory Lamont Lindstorm Log Cabin Republicans marriage equality Murder Openarms Youth Project Parents Partner Benefits partner rights performing arts PFLAG Raging Lesbian Red Cross Red Rock Tulsa restaurants Rich Tafel Tom Neal Tulsa AIDS Walk Tulsa Family News Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Tulsa Police Department https://history.okeq.org/files/original/6497570df6739814b1f53803976aa5b1.jpg eddbd7f8092dd730d643f946703894db https://history.okeq.org/files/original/bd25622cc45d3dc2ef36d1c050f025cf.pdf ea4d97532b62ccf57ba0218150bb41fc 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. Text Any textual data included in the document Two Teens Indicted In Murder of Gay Black Man FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) - Two 17-year-old Marion County boys were indicted at the end of August for the murder of a Gay Black man. Jared Wilson and David Allen Parker ofGrantTown were each charged as adults with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the July 4 death of Arthur "J.R." Warren. They are accused of beating and kicking Warren, 26, then running over him with a Camaro to disguise his injuries as a hit-and-run. If convicted, they could be sentenced to life in prison. A 15-year,old witness, Jason Shoemaker of Grant Town, has been charged as a juvenile with being an accessory after the fact for allegedly helping the older boys dispose of evidence. Conviction on that misdemeanor offense could mean up to.a year in jail. Shoemaker has testified that Warren was beaten and kicked with steel-toed boots in a.hous¢.then put in a car. He was still alive and begging t6 be taken home when the other boys dragged him from the car on a Grant Town road to kick and beat him some more. Parker then drove over Warren four times, the boy said. see Murder, p. 11 Los Angeles Dod.gers ApOlogize to Lesbians WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (AP) - The Dodgers apologized Wednesday to a Lesbian couple ejected from Dodger Stadium earlier this month after the two shared a kiss during a game against the Chicago Cubs. ’‘i was troubled.., because ofwhatit implied about the Dodger organization," said team President Bob Gratiano. "It means a lot to me that you are Dodger fans," he said to Danielle Goldey and Meredith Kott. "We will continue to do the right thing," Graziano said. The two were escorted out of the ballpark on Aug. 8. Goldey and Kott say they were not initially told why they were being ejected, but later they were told that someone complained and said children should not be exposed to "those people." The couple said their companions, a heterosexual couple, also kissedbut werenot ejeeted. Because ofthis, they felt the action of the eight security guards was discrimination. Besides the public apology, the Dodgers donated 5,000 tickets to three Gay and Lesbian organizations and promised sensitivity training for their employees. ’’I think they stepped up to the plate more than they had to,"Goldey said. "All we wanted was an apology ... I’m very proud to be a Dodger fan." ’’I’m extremely happy with the results," Kott said. The couple was going to file a civil rights lawsuit if the Dodgers didn’t apologize, said their lawyer Bernie Bemheim. see Courts, p. 3 U_! DIRECTORY P. 2 ~ EDITORIAL P. 3 US & WORLD NEWS P. 4 ~,~ HEALTH NEWS P. 6 Z ENTERTAINMENT P. 8 GAY STUDIES P. 10 Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends Tulsa + US Protests of Boy Scouts’ Anti-Gay Policies " OKC/TULSA (AP/TFN) - A handful of demonstrators asking ¯ the Boy Scouts to stop discriminating against Gay scouts and " leaders took their message to the streets Monday, August 21, ° targeting motorists at a busy intersection not far from the Last o FrontierBoy Scout headquarters inOklahomaCity (OKC) andin ¯ front of the Indian Nations Council in the Brookside neighbor- " hood in Tulsa. The Tulsa and Oklahoma City rallies were part of an effort ¯ plannedin atleast 36 cities and 21 states initiated by Scouting For All, a national nonprofit organization formed by Steven Cozza, " 15, of Petaluma, Calif. Cozza started Scouting For All several ¯ years ago after his father was removed as a Scout leader for .-. supporting Gay civil rights. Cozza, who said neither he nor his father is Gay, left the Boy ¯ Scouts about six months ago after becoming an Eagle Scout. ¯ Cozz~ said he no could longer support the program because it discriminates. "Scoutmasters are people to look up to. What’s " wrong with being influenced by a Gay man? Someone’s sexual- : ity has nothing to do with his character or personality," he said. ¯ The dozen OKC protesters held signs that read "Scouting ¯ should be for everyone", "Open scouting to Gays" and "Honk for ~ Gay Boy Scouts". People honked. In Oklahoma City, a couple of : people shouted obscenities and one truck driver shouted, "You [ guys are wrong"but i,n Tulsa, most of those commenting as they ¯ drove by were supportive of the demonstrators who averaged -" about 20 over a couple hour period. ." Kent Doss, a 21-year-old student a! the University of Okla- ¯ homa and an Eagle Scout, attended both the Oklahoma City and ° the Tulsa protests. Doss, who is Gay, became an Eagle Scout in ¯ 1997. He had been in scouting since the third grade. "Even after ." that many years of hard work it’s just not worth it because of the ~ negative influence," he said. ’’It is so hypocritical Everything I ¯ grew up with has been ignored," Doss said. ’q don’t want to ." abandon the scouts. I want to be apart of the dialogue, but I’m not ~ proud of scouting." In Tulsa, Doss did turn in his uniform, his ¯ merit badges and his Eagle Scout award. ¯ In June, the US Supreme Cotvt ruled 5-4 that Boy Scouts of ~ America (BSA) can bar Gays from serving as troop leaders. ¯ see Scouts, p. 2 Walk For Life 200-0 -" TULSA (TFN) - For the pasl seven years, AIDS activists, [ caregivers, people living with AIDS/HIV, and others have come : together to walk to raise money for I-IIV/AIDS care-giving and ¯ education agencies. Their services include n~lical assistance, _" prevention efforts, transportation, support groups, and home and ." hospice care. ¯ Walkers are asked to solicit pledges prior to this year’s event [ and to bring their pledge sheets and those donations to the Walk _" which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 9:30am at Veterans’ ¯ Park, located at 21st & Boulder. The Walk will begin and end at : the park going down the River Park to the 31 st Pedestrian Bridge ." and returning. ¯ Donations to Walk for Life 2000, the 8th Annual Tulsa AIDS ¯ Walk will be increased by 50% with matching dollars through the : generosity of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The Walk is ~ sponsored by the Community Service Council, and will benefit .- the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership (TCAP). ¯ The Walk is an all volunteer effort and there are no admiuistra- "_ five costs. For more information or for pledge forms, call 585- ¯ 5551. :US Court Rules Gay Mexican ¯ Citizen Eligible for U,S, Asylum [ SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A cross-dressing, Gay Mexican man ¯ persecuted in his homeland is entitled to asylum in the United ¯ States, a federal appeals panel ruled in August. -" The decision by three judges of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of ¯ Appeals expanded the social circumstances of persecution that ¯ immigration officials must consider during asylum hearings. ¯ Federal. courts have already allowed asylum for a variety of ¯ political and social reasons, including a woman’s fear of genital : mutilation in her African homeland. Just last month, the 9th ¯ Circuit ruled that an Armenian who says he has was given an ¯ ultimatum to become a Communist or leave Armenia deserved ¯ another bid for asylum. The case involves Geovanni Hernandez-Montiel, a Gay Mexi- " can citizen who dresses and behaves as a woman. Hetestified that ¯ he was persecuted by his family, school officials and police, who " he said sexually assaulted him. see Asylum, p. 9 Gay Services Center Moving to Memorial TULSA (TFN) - After several years in Brookside, Tulsa’s Gay Community Services Center is rdocating - likely to a building near 21st and Memorial. After the ownership of the current location changed, TOHR (Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, sponsoring organization of,\the center) had to fight a legal battlejust to finish the current lease. The new owners have spent considerable funds to update the location in order to lease it at much higher rates. None of the other original tenants still remain. TOHR president Greg Gatewood noted that the new center will have about the same amount of space as the current one but may have slightly lower operating costs. The new space will still have a Pride Store, the Nancy McDonald Library, and an expanded TOHRmembers only free video lending library. Volunteers to help prepare for the move and to move are quite welcome, Gatewood added and can call the Center at 743-4297 for details. TOHR events for September include: a protest planning meeting to respond to the upcormng visit to Tulsa by radio "therapist" Dr. Laura on Tuesday, Sept. 5th at 7pm at the Center (current location at 37th & Peoria, 2nd floor), new Center volunteer orientation on Wednesday, Sept. 6th at7pm,TOHR membership meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 7:30pm. This meeting will feature a presentation of an A&E (Arts & Entertainment Network) program onhate crimes. Votes on the nominating committee for next year’s officers and on bylaws revisions will also be held. And planning for next year’s Pride events, Diversity Festival and Parade will begin on Saturday, Sept. 9th at 1 lain at the Center. On Friday, Sept. 29, 8pm, there will be a video release party for Diversity 2000, a commemorative video created by BoyBlue Productions in support of TOHR. It will include highlights of all Pride Week events including: see Video, p.8 ¯ Florida Politicians Push Federal Hate Crime Bill - WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Two Republi- ¯ can congressmen are touting legislation that would ~ expand the federal government’s rolein investigat- ~ ing and prosecuting crimes based on sexual often- , tation, religion, gender or ethnicity. , U.S. Reps. Bill McCollum of Orlando and Mark ¯ Foley of West Palm Beach said while they may be ¯ members of a conservative political party, that ¯ doesn’t mean they find hate crimes against Gays ¯ and other historically persecuted groups any less -" foul than Democrats do. "The issue is not Gay : rights, the issue is hate crime," McCollum said ¯ Tuesday while meeting with Jewish leaders. "When ¯ someone is brutalized or killed.., it is fundamen- : tally wrong." ¯ The bill would provide grants of up to $100,000 ¯ for the investigation,and prosecution ofhate crimes in all 50 states. It also would give federal authori- ¯ ties the ability to prosecute hate crimes under ¯ interstate commerce laws. o According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, ¯ Florida ranks second in the nation in the number of [ active hate groups. FBI statistics show a total of " 7,755 bias-motivated criminal incidents were re- . ported in 46 states and the District of Columbia in . 1998, down about 10% over 1997. Angela Lampert of the Jewish Federation of " Palm Beach County said the group strongly sup- . ports the bill. ’’We think hate crimes are abhorrent ¯ and do not need to be tolerated," Lampert said after ¯ meeting with McCollum and Foley at Temple Beth ¯ El in West Palm Beach. In July, the Senate passed similar legislation as ¯ an amendment to a defense department appropria- " tions bill. This adds offenses motivated by sexual ; orientation, sex or disability to the list of crimes ¯ covered under federal law. McCollum, chair of the ¯ House Subcommittee on Crime, and Foley hope to ¯ pass the House version in the same way. Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial *Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine *Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *The Star, 1565 Sheridan *Renegades!Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main *TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial *Tool BOX, 1338 E.’ 3rd *The Yellow Brick Road Pub; 2630 E. 15th ;712-2324 610-5323 583-2119 835-2376 744-4280 745-9998 834,4234 585-3405 660-0856 584- t308 749-1563 Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wird~ss &~PCS,Digital Cdlular Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. P~oria *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria~ *Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. 1 lth Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 .747-1508 743-1000 250-5034 665-4580 712-1122 712-9955 494-2665 743-5272 746-0313 295-5868 581-0902, 743-4117 622-0700 749-3620 744-5556 838-8503 369-8555 584-0337, 712-9379 592-0460 744-9595 610-0880 628-3709 808-8026 742- 1460 459-9349 744-7440 745-1111 341-6866 712-2750 582-3018 747-0236 582-8460 599-8070 747-5466 585-1234 584-3112 663-5934 -664-2951 838-7626 743 -4297 747-5932 834-0617 747-4746 749-6301 26o-7829. 481-0558 835-5563 743-1733 665-2222 592-0767 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th Doghouse on Brookside, 331 t S. Peoria *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial .Ross Edward Salon Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria Four Star Import Automotive, 9906,E. 55th PI. Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st Leatme M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning Mark T. Hamby, Attorney *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E Skelly *International Tours Jacox ANmal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E.. 15 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 *Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor Rainbowz on the River B+B, PUB 696, 74101 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921, Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square Paul Tay, Car Salesman *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling *Wherehouse Music,,5150 S. Sheridan *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis www.gaytulsa.org - website for Tulsa Gays & Lesbians Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, PUB 4337, 74101 579-9593 All Souls,Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria. 743~2363 Black & White, Inc. PUB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence Church of the Restoration UU, 1314 N.Greenwood 587-1314 *Community of Hope Church, 2545 S: Yale 747-6300 *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 Council Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888 *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, PUB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 *Free Spirit Women’s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669 Friend For A Friend, PUB 52344, 74152 747-6827 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 PUB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlink.net Publisher + Editor: Tom Seal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn. Karin Gregory, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers, Hughston Walkinshaw " Member of The Associated Piess ........... Issued on orbefore the let of each month~2the endre contents of this pubhcation are protected by US copyright I998 by T~ ~1 Nt,w,t and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’ s sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumedto be for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property of Tt,~ /:€,~ Ntsu4~ Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. Friends in Unity Social Org., PUB 8542, 74101 HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education *Houseofthe Holy SpiritMinstries, 1517 S. Memorial *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, PUB 14068, 74159 OK Spokes Club (bicycling), PUB 9165, 74157 *OSU-Tulsa PFLAG, PUB 52800, 74152 *Planned Parenthood, -1007 S. Peoria Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st *St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indiau Health Care Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 582-0438 583-6611 834-4194 481-1111 834-8378 224-4754 838-1715 748-3111 365-5658 749-4901 587-7674 749-4195 584-2325 425-7882 492-7140 582-3088 583-7171 582-7225 595-4105 Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform~Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Hoor Vestibule *Tulsa Community College Campuses *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 BARTLESVILLE Bardesville Public Library,, 6"00 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN Borders Books & Music, 3209 NW Expressway 405-848-2667 Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 TAHLEQUAH Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900 Green Country AIDS Coalition, PUB 1570 918-453-9360 NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand HIV’testing every other Tt~es. 5:30-8:30, call for dates EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253-7734 Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S Main 501-253-7457 DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. .501-253-6807 Fanerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. 501-253-5445 MCC of the Living Spring 501"-253-9337 Seek to Go!, PC Specialist, PUB 429 501-253-2776 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-253-5332 Positive Idea Marketing Plans 501-624-6646 Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 501-253-6001 White Light, 1 Center St. 501-253-4074 JOPLIN, MISSOURI Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696 * is where you can trmd TFN. Not all are Gay-owned butall are Gay-friendly. Hesaid he first thought the Dodgers might have a policy against Gay and Lesbian couples showing affectionin theball park. "I’m frankly shocked," Bernheim said. ’q’heir response is atypical and outstanding." He said the Dodgers have donemore to make amends than any other corporation he’s dealt with. Goldey and Kott have been invited to sit behind home plate to make up for the game they missed. ¯ - - "It i-s not trivial-to-be thrown ouf’Of p.u,b’,!.]c..p.l~ac:eb~as~ed Of, who YOU "are,"s"d Jon Da~cids0n 0f the Lambda L~g~i’ D~-: fense and: Edlacafion Fund, a Gay advocacy group. ’q’his result is a home run for all concerned." The ruling may also permit the 6.2-mib lion-member organization to reject Gays as members. The Boys Scouts consider homosexuality contrary to their oath .requiring scouts tube "morally straight:" The90?ye~ff-Oldorganization says its goal is to ’l~iS~’itle educational programs for boys and young adults to build character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship and to devdop personal fitness.¯ EdmrddresidentJustin Spears, aformer Boy Scout l~ader, said he doesn’t know if he want~.:..Ms 8-year-old son to become a Boy Scoii~ because of the stance against Gays. "Even though they have a legal mandate, this discrimination needs to be stopped," he said. In Tulsa, longtime PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and GayS) activist Cathy Hinkle marched and spoke ofhow her Gay son was a scout but would have been barred under the BSA policy. Hinkle was joined for part of the protest by the new pastor of All Souls Unitarian Church. The OKC demonstrators marched to the headquarters, where former scout member Jim Craig, turned in his handbodkin prdtest to Jim Russnogle, director of field services for the Last Frontier Council. "In Boy Scouts I learned a lot about Boy Scout law. I believe scout law is not being followed," Craig said. "A lot of kids:that are Gay might not be tempted to co~Iv;uicide if they had more support." " Russnogle read from a statement that said that the Boy Scouts respects their rights, and ask that the rights of the BSA also be respected. "We believe avowed homosexuals should not be role models;" Russnogle read. He added that he is sorry, that Dose. no longer wants to be consid;,~ ered an Eagle Scout, "But if that is his opinion, I respect that." Rob Abiera, owner and operator of Ga~,0k~:(0m said thedemonstration was - called to show supportfor Gay Boy Scouts and Scout Masters and to educate how Gay Scouts face discrimination. "We know that the Boy Scouts has~been a pioneer in reaching out to minorities and,¯. should continue that effort in reaching out to Gays. It is completely inconsistentwith what they have done in the past," Abierav ~ said. Demonstrators were turned away from the national Boy Scouts ofAmericaheadquartersMonday afterpresenting a 55,000- signature petition protesting the organization’s ban on Gay troop leaders. Fewer than a dozen demonstrators, some wearing Boy Scout uniforms, see p. 3 were met by a security guard and not allowed past the front desk. A secretary who refused to give her name said she would forward the petition to the organization’s president. The protesters hadhoped to talk withleaders of the organization or at least schedule a meeting. ’"vVe’re disappointed," said Dave Rice, a former Scout leader who marched in Irving. ’°We don’t like confrontation. We like to sit down, shake hands and discuss a solution that’s mutually beneficial." In Seattle, more than_ 100 people rallied~ in protest Monday night. One, former Eagle Scout Doug Barnes, said he planned to send hisbadge back. Another, Jon Wartes, said he already had done so. "Does the Boy Scouts of Americareally understand the hurt that they’re doing?" said Wartes, who became an Eagle Scout in 1959 and wrote part of the Boy Scout handbook. At the Washington, D.C. protest, Graham Segroves wore his Boy Scout shirt complete with his Eagle Scout badge and other honors. Now with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Segroves, 25, said he did not realize he was Gay until he left the scouts eight years ago. Segroves said he hopes President Clinton will agree to a task force request thathe resignhis honorary presidency of the Boy Scouts He also is watching for congressional action on a proposed "Scouting f0~ All" act, which seeks to revoke the Boy Scouts’ congre~slbhal charter. The Supreme Court decision has ~IS0 left compames that donate to the Boy Scouts of America in a quandary: their employment policies contradict the Boy Scouts’ court-upheld right toban Gay troop members. The stance already has cost the Scouts financial support from companies such as Levi Strauss & Co: arid Wells Fargo. Others, concerned about hurting the beneficiaries of such funding - the boys themselves - are w~ighing their options. Chase Manhattan Corp. is considering revoking its contributions. ’XDn the face of it, some issues appear to be in conflict with our commitment to diversity," spokesman Jim Finn said. ’%Ve will make a final determination on this soon. It’s notsomething we are going to let rest for a long time." Merrill Lynch & Co. in New York, which gives between $100,000 and $150,000 a year, is "actively reviewing" its relationship with the Scouts, said spokesman Joe Cohen. Media company Knight Ridder has asked "that funds it gives to the UnitedWay notbe directed to the Boy Scouts because it conflicts "with the company’s philosophy on people and di~cersity, and the company could not support such a discriminatory stance," said Polk Laffoon, vice president of corporate relations. The Tulsa Area United Way (l’AUW)does fund the Indian Nations Council of the BSA. TAUW’s director, Kathleen Coan, at a mid-summer news conference was asked, "since TAUW doesn’t fund racist or anti-semitic organizations, why it funds non-profits (BSA, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Green Country, the American Red Cross) which discriminate against Lesbian and Gay Tulsans?" Coan, responding with obvious anger,, stated that she was "quite proud" of thefunding decisions which TAUWhas made, and made no effort to explain orjustify those decisions. Steve Tumbo, of the public relations firm Sctmake, Brookey Turnbo, and a recent addition to the Tulsa Area United Way board was present at that press conference and also reacted angrily to questiond aboutTAUW bias. Mr. Turnbo, a longtime supporter of the National Conference for Community and Justice, a Tulsa "human rights" organization with a history of anti-Gay discrimination, had promised to respond to inquiries about TAUW’s funding of anti-Gay groups if the concerns were expressed by letter. To date, TFN has received no response to a letter sent in April. Turnbo also was the organizer a few years ago of a conference which claimed to be about diversity butwhich failed to include Lesbians and Gay men in any of its planning and Turubo also refused to alter the event even when the matter was brought to his attention and individuals were willing to volunteer to help correct the exclusion. Tumbo’s firm enjoys a privileged relationship with Tulsa’s establiskment frequently working closely with Tulsa mayor, M. Susan Savage, the Chamber of Commerce and Tulsa Public Schools, frequently being involved in bond and other elections. Assault at Rose Hill by Tom Neal, editor/publisher It was a picture perfect "photo op." The rabbi, draped with his prayer shawl, was flanked one one side by Mouzon Biggs of Boston Avenue Methodist Church, Black pastor Dr. McCutchen, and the Bishop (Catholic) of Tulsa, Edward Slattery, and on the other side by our mayor, M. Susan Savage, and Sheryl Siddiqui of Tulsa’s Islamic Society. .M1 were gathered in the 100 plus degree heat and sun to condenm a horrible act of desecration: the toppling of Jewish tombstones in Rose Hill Cem- : the Nadonal Conference of Christians and Jews) sends ¯ letters to the World condemning firemen who put Chris- " tian holiday decorations up and condemns anti-Semetic ¯ attacks on Joe Lieberman but never to my knowledge has ¯ responded publicly to attacks on Tulsa’s Gay Commu- ¯ nity Center, to anti-Gay Oklahoma legislation, to the ¯ beating of Orr and Beauchamp, or even to the murder of ¯ Mathew Sheppard. However, the organization has engaged in deliberate ¯ and conscious acts of anti-Gay discrimination, most recently at an event at Bigg’s BOston etery. And Rabbi Fitzerman of Congregation B’nai Emunah put in context just precisely how this act hurt, of how it invoked memories of Nazi atrocities with a story of a road to one Nazi labor/death camp being paved with Jewish tombstones. But when push comes to shove, this still was a crime against property - not a taking oflife. Was it an assault on the psyche of a community? Of course! Not unlike the year-in and year-out psychic assaults on Gay Tulsans from our own elected leaders (members of the legislature, our governor, our congressman, our sen~ttors, our district attorney),as well as from individual~ like Jonathan Brian Duke, the man who was caught in the cemetery. According to the Tulsa WorM, Duke had been accused of harassing two Gay men who lived near him. Indeed, ifyouknew who and what to look for, Tulsa’s Gay community was wall represented in the crowd. I suspect that after Jews, we may have been the largest single group. There were "baby" Gays in rainbow beads and : shorts, a young lesbian couple quietly : holding hands leaving the ceremony ] after all was over, establishment Gays ¯ from the Church of Saint Jerome, even somehardyhumanrights activists from : Oklahoma City who dropped every- : thing to come to be here in solidarity. "So when Rabbi Fitzerman says he’s grateful to llve in an "open eommunlty," one that "embraces diversity," "a place of profound moral health," I am grateful that for Tulsa’s Jewish eommunlty, this may finally be true. I hope so. But for Gay people dearly this is not yet true. For Gay Tulsans, Tulsa remains a place of deep hypoerlsy, where our tax dollars, and our talents are greedily taken but our exlstenee is mostly denied when not speeffleally condemned. " - Tom Neal Amazingly, Rabbi Fitzerman did Avenue Methodist Church. And in a particularly cynical fundraising ploy, NCCJ honored Robert Lorton, owner and publisher of the Tulsa WorM, a business knownfor at least fifteen years for its anti-Gay discriminatory business practices, its "humanitarian" of the year. So when Rabbi Fitzerman says he’s grateful to live in an "’open community," one that "embraces diversity," "a place of profound moral health," I am grateful that for Tulsa’s Jewish community, this may finally be true. I hope so. But for Gay people clearly this is not yet true. For Gay Tulsans, Tulsa . remains a place of deep hypocrisy, where our tax dollars, and our talents are greedily taken but our existence is mostly denied when not specifically condemned. It is a place where even our presence in human rights groups is begrudging and is predicated on our not getting "’uppity." (Note how these groups much prefer to have non-Gay Gay advocates like Nancy McDonald rather than actually have Gay people at the table. Note also that this is no cnttcism of Nancy’s good and hard work. She’s not responsible for their prejudice.) And while Gay people seem to get the connection between anti-semitism and anti-Gay values, the ~luestion remains whether Tulsa’s Jewish commention Gay people along with Jews, Catholics, Blacks, Asians and Hispanic Americans as those .who are attacked because we do not fit some "mythological profile" of a "true’.’ American. But as a long observer of Tulsa’s so-called "human rights" community, it is hard not to be somewhat bitter at the contrast between how seriously assaults on Tulsa’ s Jewish community are taken as compared to those on Tulsa’s Gay commumty. Let us merely start with who was on, and who was not on, the dais! While there seems to be evidence that Gays were also targets 6f Jonathan Brian Duke, and there certainly are Gay community leaders who were concerned and attending the event, like Father Rick Hollingsworth of Saint Jerome, or members of Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights (TOHR), we were not represented. Duke had not attacked Cathohcs but the Catholic bishop was on the dais. Nor did he attack Methodists but Mouzon Biggs was there. Nor had he attacked Blacks but one of the most senior Black clergymen was there. Nor did he attack Muslims but Siddiqui was invited to the dais. Can anyone remember when ever our mayor has attended a Gay event? She’s usually conveniently out of town. Sure she sends her best bud, Hilary Kitz, whom we adore but it’s not the same. We did not see her at the memorial hdd in City Hall Plaza for Mathew Sheppard, nor did she release comment about that crime, or more relevantly did she comment on the brutal Brookside beating ofTony Orr andTim Beauchamp- indeed a local crime. Nor has our mayor responded to now years worth of calls for diversity training for police and other city workers which actually includes Gay people in the "diversity." Nor did she add her voice to the effort to amend our state hate crime statute to include "sexual orientalion." Local ’’human rights" organizations like the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ, formerly munity does. While Tulsa’s Jewish community by an3’ standard is successful in business and in political impact, and is influential due to those talents in wild disproportion to its numbers, it still seems to bdieve that it cannot risk expending its "’capital" to help Gay people. And it is also, frankly, a community which has not dealt with its own prejudices against Gay people, its homophobia and Its heterosexism. Part of the reason that things are better in Tulsa forJews is that non-Jews made the effort to try to make things better. It’s morally right for those still excluded to call on those who’ve been helped to turn and to help those still left behind. Tulsa’s Jewish community and Tulsa’s Gay community have much in common. Unlike racial minorities, neither community is an "onsight" minority. We are known by our actions, by going to our places of worship’or our community centers, or businesses. We are subject to similar pressures to just "convert." And we share the horror of Nazi persecution, a fact finally acknowledged by organizers of the local Holocaust interfaith remembrance event this year, albeit only after much cajoling and the intervention of one blessedly open minded Tulsan, herself the daughter of Holocaust survivors. The rabbi’s inclusive language is a good start. God forbid that there should be a next time for suchan event but when next there is a shared stage, an effort at representing the"diversity"ofour town, maybe thenone of our leaders will be on the dais. And maybe just like the Gay people who were in that 100 degree heat, who understand that an attack on Jews is an attack on us too, Tulsa’s Jewish commumty will throw their influence behind the Gay commumty’s efforts for fair treatment by our law enforcement system, by our legislature, and by our community organizations. The God of Israel commands, "... justice,justice, shalt thou seek..." You don’t have to be a Jew or a Christian to honor these words. Universal Florida To Offer Partners Benefits ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Universal Florida will start offering health and other benefits to domestic partners, both Gayand straight. The benefits, which will take effect Oct. 1, also will cover dependents of domestic partners. ’This is a part of our ongoing efforts to recognize the diversity of the team members in our workforce and to provide an array of benefits and services sufficient to be recognized as an employer of choice in this very dynamic Orlando labor market," said an internal Universal document obtained by The Orlando Sentinel. Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando’s largest employer with more than 55,000 workers, has offered health benefits to employees’ Gay partners since 1996. But Disney doesn’t cover heterosexual partners of employees tmless they are married. Disney doesn’t plan to change its policy regarding unmarriedheterosexual partners, said spokesman Bill Warren. "It’s our position that there is a legal remedy to be’formally married, and Seeg those benefits with heterosexual couples," Warren said. Universal, the area’s fourth-largest employer with 11,800 employees, will extend the benefits to any domestic, partner 18 or older who has lived with the employee for at least six months. In addition, the theme park resort’s statement said, partners, must have ’~oint responsibility for eachother’s financial wdfare and basic living expenses," although it is not dear how that would be proved. In addition to medical, dental, vision and dependent life insurance, domestic partners will be able to use Universal’s employee assistance program, sctfolarships and other benefits. Employees can enroll their partners in September. Hate crimes increase 11.7% in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES (AP) -Hatecrimes increased 11.7% in Los Angeles County last year, with blacks, Jews and Gays the target of most attacks, the. Human Relations Commission said. The increase was due in part to better reporting of hate crimes, officials said recently. Last year’s attack on the North Valley Jewish Community Center by a gunman led to an "unprecedented awareness" ofhate crimes, said RobinToma, acting executive director of the county Human Relations Commission. Buford O. Furrow Jr., a white supremacist, is charged with. shooting to death Filipino- American postal worker 3oseph Ileto and then wounding five people at the Jewish center. Overall in 1999, the report said, 859 crimes motivated by race. religion or sexual orientation-were reported. That was up 11.7% from 1998. It was the second-highest tally in 20 years, behind the peak year of’ 1996, when 995 hate crimes were reported. The upswing matched a 12% statewide increase in hate crimes, announced last month by the state attorney general’s office. The crimes ranges from crossbumings to killings. Overall, blacks werethe most frequent victims of hate crimes, but crimes involving religion or sexual orientation saw the largest increases. Hate crimes on school campuses .also rose sharply for the second year in a row,jumping 58.7%, from 46 to 73. Most of the crimes based on religion were nonviolent, but more than half of those against Gays and Lesbians were violent, the commission said. Univ. of Minnesota Alum Donates for Gay Center MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A University of Minnesota alunmus who made a fortune in the computer software industry has donated $500,000 to the school for an endowed Gay, Lesbian, bisexual and transgender studies center. The Steven J. Schochet Center for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies opened July 1. Schochet, a 1959 graduate, said he faced many barriers as a Gay man on campus and hopes the donation will improve the climate for GLBT students. The center will be responsible for coordinating graduate studies, establishing archives and starting a lecture series and community forums. ’.The goal of the center is to enhance the creation of knowledge about GLBT lives through academic studies and community interaction," said Liunea Stenson, Schochet Center program director. Texas A&M Waffles COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) - A Gay civil rights group urged Texas A&M University to implement an on-again, off-again ban on discrimination again~st Gays. School presidentRay Bowen suspended the policy change on Aug. 16, a few hours after it was posted on the university’s Web site. In a vaguely worded statement, Bowen said the issue needed more study. In a letter to Bowen, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force said Texas A&M shouldjoin other major universities around the state in prohibiting discrimination against homosexuals. "Failure to expressly -forbid discrimination also sends the message to the campus community that (homosexual) people are second-class citizens and that discrimination against them is acceptable," said ElizabethToledo, executive director of the task force. Bowen has stated the matter will be reconsidered after a better understanding by all confirmed parties has been achieved, said university spokesman Lane Stephenson. "He has directed the matter to go through the Office of the Dean of Student Life as the start of the process of reconsideration," Stephenson said. "We are already starting to have productive discussions within the university community." On the Net: .Texas A&M University: http:// www.tamu.edu Drag Queens-Invited to Olympic Celebrations SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - The Olympics’ dosing ceremony is going to be a drag. Drag queens will be part of the Sydney 2000 games’ finale regardless of what "right-wing reactionaries" think, ceremonies director Ric Birch said at the end of August/ Themen dressedup in outlandish dresses, wigs and makeup, will be "part of one tiny section" of the dosing ceremony, a tribute to Australian films including the 1994 cult hit ’.The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," he said. Some of the participants would be dressed in original costumes, including a frill-necked lizard outfit from the film, which features twodrag queens and a transsexual driving a pink bus through Australia’s Outback. A report in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper sparked heated debate onradio shows. One, caller said he would trade his dosing ceremony ticket after hearing the news. Birch directed the opemng ceremony at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and was involved in the opener at Atlantafour years ago. He said he was annoyed that constant leaks were wrecking what should be a surprise for the public. "I’m really disappointed at the way the mediais gleefully trying to expose the secrets that we call surprises," Birch told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio. Photographs of the Olympic cauldron being lit in rehearsals, which are usually kept under wraps, have been printed. Speculation on who will ignite the cauldron has intensified. Birch said the inclusion of drag queens also reflected one of Sydney’s mostcolorful events, the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, a Gay pridemarch and street carnival that attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators each year. "That’s part of Sydney life whether (critics) like it or not." Birch said. "For the right-wing reactionaries or whatever part of a community is ..outraged about it - well, they’re always going to be outraged." Olympics Minister Michael Knight said all the plans forthe ceremonies had been approved by the organizing committee’s board. "The dosing ceremony runs for several hours and has a very different feel to United in God’s Love MCC-United Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale, Su~n~ da~.ys at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm, Sunday Eve. Service, 6pm 1517 S. Memorial, 628-0802, Info: 224-4754 Sandra Hill M.s. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical ConsuItation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111 The Open Arms Project Young Adult Support Group Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: , 918-584-2325 Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-44A.-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. 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Cincinnati, 425-7882 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Saint John Trinity 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 501 S. Cincinnati, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You opening ceremony - it’s a party," he said. "Fhe athletes are going to be on the field from the word go as part of this giant party celebration: The whole feel will be one of great celebration and fi~n." Same-sex Marriage Ban Appears Headed to Ballot LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - It appears likely voters will get a chance to decide whether to ban same-sex marriages in Nebraska: A petition effort to place the proposed constitutional an~endment on th~ ballot gathered at leas t 19,000 more than the needed 105,214 signatures:, the Secretary Of State’ s,office announbed. The same~sex p~tition was circulated: by the De- [fehse: of Marriage Amendment Committee. With signatures t¥om 82 counties counted, the total-verified was 124,495. About 10% of the signatures were determined to be invalid. The petition effort was headed by Guyla Mills, director of the NebraskaFamily Council and a lobbyist for the Nonpartisan Family Coalifon- two groups that support the peftion. Mills said sheis confident that when all the signatures are verified they will have about 45,000 more thanwhat is required, and that will deter anyone from thinking about challenging them. At this time the Nebraska chapter of the American Civil Liberges Union has no intention of challenging anyof the signatures, even though it remains opposed to. the amendment; said ACLU director Tim Butz. A group organized to fight]he initiative, called the Vote No on DOMA (Defense of Marriage Amendment) Committee, also has no plans to challenge the signature count. Other groups opposing the effort include Nebraska Advocates for Justice & Equality, a nonprofit Omaha group, and PFLAG (Parents and Families of Lesbians and Gays). Butz said theACLU id researching what impact the amendment would have on exisfng laws dealing with business partnerships and existing legal agreements between Gay and Lesbian couples. The ACIJd also is looking into what impactit would have on companies that offer same-sex health~benefits,-to workers. ¯ The proposed constitutional amendment will read: ’~Only marriage between a man and a woman shall be valid or recognized in Nebraska. The uniting of two persons of the same sex in a civil union, domestic partnership, or other similar same-sex relationship shall not be valid or recognized in Nebraska.’" Nothing in current Nebraska law s.pecifically prohibits same-sex marriage. Supporters of the petition say it will clarify in the consmutlon that only marriages of a man and woman are legal in Nebraska. Thirt.y-tl~r.ee states have passed law s or amended their const~tutxons to ban same-sex marriages. Officials Say No to Two Morns on Birth Certificate DENVER (AP) -The state health department will ask the Colorado Supreme Court to ban Lesbian couples from placing both their nmnes on a baby’s birth certificate, a health official said. The issue was raised after two Boulder District Court judges allowed seven Lesbian couples to place their names on birth certificates. One of the women in each couple was the birth mother. The judges said Colorado law allows people who have :no biological,connection to "a child tO ~ssume parentalrights ii~ certain situations. The Department ofPublic Health and Environment appealed, arguing that the judges had overstepped their legal authority by creating a new_ kind of pare_ntchild relationship. "It needs to be the decision of the legislature rather than the courts," said Cynthia Honssinger, a director in the health department. But the Colorado Court of Appeals turned down the health department’s request to overturn the Boulder courts. The appellate court said the health department didn’t appeal on time nor should it have any interest in the matter. Honssinger said the health department now plans to ask theColorado Supreme Court to look at what the Legislature intended when it enacted the Uniform Parentage Act. Lawmakers wanted to help single mothers get child-support payments from deadbeat dads, she said. Jeanine Pow, a lawyer representing one of the Lesbian couples, said the law traditionally wants what is in the "best interest" of the child, which is two adults who are responsible for the child. "The health department is wasting taxpayer money on punishing the children of Lesbian mothers," she said. The women in the seven Boulder cases want to remain anonymous to protect their clfildren and themselves, their lawyers said. GayArts Group Sues San Antonio; Claims Bias SAN-ANTONIO (AP) - A chItural arts 2roup fliat]ost Its c~ty fundlng.m 1997 armd 4omplaint~ ,o~er !ts +ponsorship of ~i Gay and Lesbiati fihri fest~fil’ the city to court on accusations of violating the First Amendment. Attorneys for the nonprofit Esperanza Center contend the City Council cut off the organization because of its viewpoints a violation of free speech- mad because of pressure from residents who told council members they opposed "promoting a Gay lifestyle." Also Suing the city are two groups under the 13- year-old Esperanza’s fiscal umbrella, the San Antonio Lesbian andGay Media Project mad the s~nall arts gr,o,up VAN ~lie Esperanza_N~d other plaintiffs were singled out by the city because of the viewpoints expressed by ~he Esperanza ~n a variety of ways, Esperanza lawyer Am~; Kastely told U.S. District Judge Orlando L. G,qrci~i iff0utlining their case. The Esperanza Center filed suit after the council voted in September 1997 to stop giving it money. Although the couucil reduced funding to most arts groups by 15% at the stone time, Esperanza was the only one ~hat was cut off altogether. Several residents had voiced their opposition to financing Esperanza, saying they disapproved of the behavior they believed the group was advocating. The city’s Cultural Arts Board had recommended $62~500 for Esperanza, which had been receiving city money for ~even years. But after the council vote, the cit)/ i~’ei~aJ:~ment 6f Ar~s .and dultural Affhirs also withheld $14,000 from the Texas Commission on the Arts, for a total loss of about $76,500. Now, the group’s leaders are seeking the money they believe they deserve. They’re also seekang an order from the court to force the city to follow its own criteria for granting arts funding. But lawyers representing the city say council members didn’t stra~: from the criteria. They say some council members just didn’l support the Esperanza Center while others wanted to divert some of the arts funding toward more basic city progrmns. For~ner councilman Jose Menendez testified that while he had received several phone calls and letters objecting to financing Esperanza, he simply felt that artsfluading was not a priority. He said Iris district needed sidewalks, speed bumps and more firefighters. ’qqae arts ~vas an area where we could get lnore money for basic servxces." The city’s law yers questioned whether Esperanza, which used to be called the Esperanza Peace &Justice Center, should have been eligible for arts money in the first place. Indeed, some council members had viewed it more as a political organization than an arts group, former councilman Roger Flores testified. Eduardo Diaz, former director of the city’s arts depar.tment: ~onceded~ ~upon, questioning.by assistant city attorney. Amy Eubanks that Esperanza technically is not an arts organization because its massion is not exclusively the presentation or production of art. ¯ But-he-added that it has.been Esperanza’s practice over the years to incorporate arts progran~s. Diaz testified earlier that he had no doubt that Esperanza met the criteria for funding He.said the g up has been an acttve player tn cultural events for many years. He said there are :other Ynon-arts" groups that receive arts funding. At the time of the’ 97 cotmcil vote, the Witte Museum, primarily a natural history and science museum, was among four organizations that were receiving 70 to 75% of the total amount of arts funding, Diaz said. Esperanza execuuve director Graciela S anchez testified the center has used arts programs to "g~ve voice to the voiceless." Medical Marijuana To Be Investigated SAN DIEGO (AP) - The University of California, San Diego will soon begin trials on medical marijuana at the nation’ s first research center designed to explore the drug’s therapeutic potential. Doctors announced the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research as part of the state’s effort to set medical guidelines following the voter-approved medical marijuana law. The center, headquartered in San Diego, will begin distributing grants to conduct clinical trials at lmiversities and research centers throughout California as early as January. The studies will look at whether marijuana is a safe alternative for treating certmn kinds of medical conditions and the best ways to administer it, such as ¯ through pills, patches or sprays. ’~Ourjobis to show if these products are ¯ helpful and we can answer t~.at defini- -" tively," said Igor Grant, the center’s director and professor of psychiatry at UCSD. ¯ Gov. Gray Davis has already approved ¯ $3 malhon to fund theprogram first year while legislation calls for a three-year program. The center was set up in large response to Proposition 215, the 1996 state initiative allowing seriously ill pa- ° tients to grow and use marijuana f~ pain o relief, if they have a doctor’srecommen- o dation. Measures similar_to the California ¯ initiative have passed in Alaska, Arizona,. Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington state. ¯ State Sen. John Vasconcellos, who ¯ pushed for medical marijuana, pelmed the ¯ program in 1996 but initially faced oppositionfromlaw enforcement groups. Only ¯ after working with Attorney General Bill Lockyer did Vasconcellos convincemany ¯ that research was a good idea. "It’s been a very long road since the ° passage of 215 to even get as far as we had with research," said Rand Martin, a ¯ spokesman for Vasconcellos. "We have ° had to deal with alot of political problems ° and the most exciting thing is that we’re ¯ putting the politics behind us." o Proponents have long argued that marl- " juanahelps patients with chronic pain and " with AIDS, cancer and multiple sclerosis ¯ by relieving pain and nausea. Opponents . of marijuana say scientific research is " necessary. ’Wee consider research a good thing,’" -" said Bob Weiner of the White House National Drug Control Policy Office. "Fo " have medicine determined by science and ¯ not by popular will is exactly what we support." ¯ Doctors at UCSD’s center hope the " research will eventually determine" whether marijuana has medical benefits - because current federal law says the drug " has no medical purpose. Trial patients will get marijuana from : the National InStitute on Drug Abuse and - researchers have pledged to follow all medical guidelines. ’‘There’s been a long " history of contention around cannabis and it has been difficult to do research," said , Grant. "This it the ~first study that’s " mulfidisciplinary. The state of California " has taken the lead here." ¯ Malay AIDS-Group - Protests Testing KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -" Malaysia’s biggest AIDS .aw.areness and, " prevention body has protestea a proposat ¯ in a southern state to subject "_ Muslim men to HIV tests before they are ¯ allowed to getmarried, anews report said. ." The criticism of the move by Islamic ¯ religious authorities in Johor state came ¯ fromPrimeMinisterMahathirMohamad’s o° daughter, MarinaMahathir, an outspoken : AIDS activist who heads the Malaysian AIDS Council. "The assumption is blood ~ testing is somehow preventive, unfortu- ¯ nately it is not," Marina was quoted as ¯ saying by the Beriiama news agency. "- Mandatory HIV testing was also a vio- ¯ lation of human rights, she said. AIDS ¯ activists would soon meet with state offi- ¯ cials to ’discuss the proposal, she was ~ quoted as saying. ° She told reporters that educating the ¯ public on preventive measures will be ¯ more effective in curbing the deadly dis- " ease in the predominantly Muslim Southeast Asian country where discussing sexual issues in public is taboo and where introducing sex education in schools is being resisted by conservattves. Over the weekend, top government officials in Johor proposed compulsory blood tests on Muslim men, a move that would affect men in the dominant Malay community. Johor chief minister Abdul Ghani Othman was quoted as saying by newspapers that it was part of efforts to check the alarming rise of HIV cases in the state. "In 1999 alone, there was a 73% increasein ttIV cases among Malays compared to the previous year,"he was quoted as saying by New Sunday Times. Clinton: "Break the Silence’ about AIDS ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - Africans must "break the siIence" about AIDS or risk losing hard-fought democratic and economic gains, President Clinton said Sunday as the White House highlighted more than $20 million in U.S. aid to fight AIDS, malaria and other diseases devastating Africa. "In every country, in any culture, it is difficult, painful, at the very least embarrassing, to talk about the issues involved with AIDS," Clinton said after touring a health center in the Nigerian capital and hearing the stories of several people living with the disease. Clinton’s two-day stay in Nigeria was intended to underscore U.S. approval of the 15-month-old democratic government in Africa’s most populous nation, with 123 million people. Along with dealing with the heavy themes of AIDS and debt relief, Clinton used the trip to get to know a country he deliberated bypassed on his last trip to Africa, in 1998, when it was under a military dictatorship. Led by a throng of singing children, he trudged through the Nigerian village of Ushafa on Sunday, past mud brick huts and flimsy metal sheds, with scrawny chickens scattering in his path. "We want to help you build your economy, educate your children andbuild a better life," he told villagers, wearing a cream-colored royal African robe given to him by the village chief. AIDS killed 2.8 million people worldwide last year, and is now the leading cause of death in Africa. The Clinton administration will spend $9.4 million this year for AIDS and HIV infection prevention and care in Nigeria, $8.7 million more for polio eradication and $2 million toward prevention of malaria. In sub-Saharan Africa, 13 million children have lost a parent to AIDS, and the disease is reducing life expectancies and Colle.ge Hill Presbyterian Church In response to God’s Love, College Hill Presbyterian Church is a community of God’s people called to tell others the Gospel of Jesus Christ through worship, service, and evangelism. To nurture our faith, we gather for worship, prayer, study and fellowship. Trusting in a living, loving God, we seek to become a compassionate voice for peace and justice. Our congregation welcomes all persons who respond in trust and obedience to God’s grace in Jesus Christ, and desire to become part of the membership and ministry of Christ’s church. Membership is open- to all people regardless of race, ethnic origin, worldly condition, marital status, or sexual orientation. Sunday Worship 1 lam College Hill Presbyterian Church, 712 S. Columbia Avenue, 592-5800 (One block west of Delaware and the University of Tulsa Campus) Financial Planning With A Clear Commitment. At American Express Financial Advisors, we want to make our Commitment to gay men and lesbians clear. Just as we have extended domestic partner benefits to our lesbian and gay employees worldwide, we are committed to providing ~ound financial advice that specifically addresses the unique financial issues affecting 3ur lesbian and gay clients. Nhether you’re single, in a committed relationship, or i:~ng for children, your American Express financial advisor can help you take control ot’~#~rfinancial future. We can help tOM: Establish savings and investment plans Protect your assets from unnecessary taxation /X,void financial restrictions placed on unmarried cou pies Avoid costly delays in the receipt of life insurance proceeds series of Seminars given by Theresa Barnard, American Express Financial Advisor Where: MCC United When: 7:00 P.M, 1623 N Maplewood Ave Financial Strategies for Gay Men & Lesbians Tuesday, September 5t" and Tuesday, October 10t" Retirement Explore Your Options ¯ Create your Retirement Income Tuesday, September 19th ¯ Estate Planning Tuesday, October 24th Please R.S.V.P. with Theresa at 9~18-748-8191 ext.121 dimming development hopes across the ; Fe Maria, who asked that only her first continent. "Is it harder to talk about these ¯ name beused, has gained weight and feels thingsthantowatchachilddieofAIDS?" ," better, although the medicines give her Clinton asked. "We have to break the ¯ headaches. silence about how this disease spreads ; Dr. Ellen Koenig, an An~erican physiand how to prevent it." ° cian who has lived and worked in the Power About 2.6 million Nigerians, 5.4% of: DominicanRepublicfor31 years, was the the population, are afflicted with AIDS. ° impetus behind bringing the trial here. That puts the country on better footing i And she insisted the company agree to than many of its neighbors with higher ¯ continue paying for treatment after the ~onnc~~-~e1 ., infection rates, but in danger ofletting the:test. disease gain ground, Clinton said. "AIDS ". "In some places, the drug companies can rob a country of its future," Clinton ; come in, do the trial and then they leave, ¯ said. "I know you are not going to let that ¯ and the people don’t have the money to happen to Nigeria.’" : buy the medicine," said Ceneyda Brito at I~lbl|¢ S~l’~ice Cenlpan¥ of Oklahoma He promised continued U.S. support " the Dominican advocacy group AIDS for Nigeria’s transition to democracy, but ," Action. euslomer Santice Is Now Available 9.4 did not, as Nigerian President Olusegun Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. Obasanjo had hoped, agree to cancel or i Doctors Accused of cut the nearly $1 billion U.S. portion of . These days, traditional 8-5.business hours Nigeria’ s $32 billion foreign debt, amove _" Improper HIVTesting aren’t always convenient. So PS0 has made it thatwouldrequirecongressional approval.. Speaking to business executives later : JOHANNESBURG, SouthAfrica(AP)- easier than ever for you to c0ntaet us. Sunday, however, Clinton said he sup- ." More than 50 physicians here are accused of HIV-testing patients without their Our Customer Service Center operates 24/7 rpioartssperenddusctihnegetxhteradmebot,nbeyutoonnilmy pffroNvigineg- -° knowledge or consent - and then passing - offering ar0und-the-cl0ck answers to your lives anddiversifying the economy. ’q-here : on the result to the patients’ employers, uestions - and better access to service, must be a dividend to democracy for the ° media reported at the end of August. ¯ ° The University of Witwatersrand’s people of Nigeria," Clinton said. ¯ Now it’s easier for you to inquire Clinton, accompanied by danghter i AIDS Law Project has filed complaints against the doctors with the Health Prac- about your monthly electric bill. Chelsea, began his day with services at a ° titioners AssociationofSouthAfrica. The Or report a power outage. Or Baptist church in Abuja, and then ventured outside the capital to get a firsthand -" tests were performed at the request of the arrange to have your look Sunday at both the pageantry and ~ patients’ employers, the Johannesburg F.-verty of life in Ushafa, a pottery-mak- ° newspaper the Saturday Star reported. power turned on or ing center. ’‘icame to Nigeria to express ¯" Most patients were not given counsel- . off. Our professionally the support of the people of the United "- ing before or after the test, the group said, " States,"Clintontoldvillagersfromamake- ; adding that in some cases, test results trained, friendly and shift platform. ~"VVe snpport your democ- " were sent directly to the employer without ¯ informing the patient. knowledgeable customer racy. "" I~LhairatAbdulrazaq Gwadabe, whorep- A positive result meant almost certain service representatives are resents the village in the Nigerian Senate, " dismissal, the group said. In a fifth of the standing by to serve you. said she explained Clinton’s visit to vii- " cases, the employee was a domestic ¯ worker. "It’s nothing less than total dis- All day, every day. lagers ahead of time¯ "I had to translate it - as the king of the world himself is coming. : crimination. The doctor is not concerned ¯ with the well-being of the patient, just the To provide faster response The president of the world is coming to.. continued loyalty of the employer who to your needs, we have listed their chief," Gwadabe said. "o wants to know if their employee is HIV our t011-free numbers below. Dominican Republic : positivet,h"weitphroject.SaiJdennifer Joni, an attomey Hosts Drug Tests : According to the Health Practitioners ¯ Association’s rules, HIV tests can only be SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Repub- : performed without a patient’s consent if a lic (AP) - American researchers testing a o health professional has been exposed to new AIDS drug needed patients who had : infection by a needle. ~ never received any treatment. The Do- ¯ Possible punishments for physioans oi~ A~d Save mimcan Republic has them-by the thou- : found to break the association’s rules in- | sands. ¯ clude a warning, a reprimand, a fine of "It seems like a win-win," said Joy : less than 10,000 rand ($1,450), and sus- FoR 24 HOURS |I Schmitt, spokeswomanforAgouron Phar- : pensaon or removal fromthemedical reg- maceuficalsofLaJolla, California. People o ister. Abouta.2 million South Africans - TOt.k’FREE SERVICE i "are getfingtreatment., and we’re get- : roug.hly 10% of the populafion~ - are HIV I ting the patients we need for the trial." : pos~uve. Agouron is using Dominicans to test its ¯ Customer Services: 1-888-216-3523 | capravinne because it canbe hardin the : Police Arrest Man I United Statesand Europe to find patients Billing Inquiries: 1-888-216-3490 | who haven’t received any other treat-; For Spreading HIV Outage Reporting: 1-888-218-3919 I ments, between health insurance and pub- - | lic health systems. NATCHITOCHES, LA (AP) - For the Finding such people here was easy: ¯: second time recently, policehave charged I More than 2% of the country’s 8 million ° a man with intentionally spreading the Servici0 a Clientes: 1-888-216-3505 | people are infected with the AIDS virus - . AIDS virus. Eric Vashawn Alexander, Preguntas S0bre su Cuenta: 1-888-216-3491 I and few can afford medicines that cost : 26, was arrested and charged with inten- I many times the average income. "No one ¯ tional exposing of the AIDS virus. Palta De Suministr0:1-888-218-3924 ! helps you here if you have this disease," ¯ Alexander reportedly bit a man in the said Fe Maria, who lived 13 years carry- " back as he intervened in a fight between a I ing the AIDS virus without hope of get- i boyfriend and girlfriend, said police Lt. I - ting treatment before going on the trial. " Chris Stanfield. During their investiga- I ~"1~’~’.~ I Capravirine, which researchers hope" tion, officers learned that Alexander had ~~1~~,~ I will help fight off mutations of the-virus., tested positive for HIV. He was booked I has already been through the safety phase " into the Natchitoches Parish Detention of testing. In the current andcritical phase, Center. If convicted, he faces up to 10 Public Service Company of Oklahoma | 90 Dominicans and about 200 people in- years in prison, Stanfield said. Police also I the United States and Canada are helping ¯ arrestedEamestWest,,onthesamecharge ............. ¯t test its effectiveness. Some participants " after receiving complaints that he allegget a four-drug cocktail including " edly exposed four women to the AIDS capravirine; others receiveadrug cocktail ¯ virus through unprotected sexual contact. without capravirme. by Jim Christjohn, entertainment editor As an author who prides himself on getting the facts correct (Never straight, always correct); I have to own up .to an error that appeared in print in the August issue. I mistakenly attributed the appearanc~ to RENT hiTulsato the auspices of ~d~brity. AttraCtions. Thins¯ Was false, it was actually SF~:Thea~cal Group with ¯ . . : .M~eh has been maded the- Norvell, who tm~e show, inc|udln criticism o{ lamo izlng a drug-rldden life. Not so. It poignantly points out the effects -0f such a llfe. What been promoting RENT. My apologies to all parties; the error was actually caught and corrected before press time (Thanks Kristin!), but the publisher used the unrevised version of the column at press time. To err is human, and it can happen to the best of us, no matthe show is about, in my estimation, is the pursuit of dreams: and the most common dream of all - finding.love;{or that is common to allof us. Gay, Straight. ter how careful we ,, try to be. Blael~. White. and so on... So,.n6~v that the . . "oopls,~.¢g60fed..... ’ " .,,- p0rfi6n 6f~h¢ ~61Umnis out of the ~vas, on withthe ~uia Stuff!-Hope you get a ~h’ance to see RENT, it’ s a powerful show, and as one friend ofmine remarked, is "bite) and zippy." I’ll leave it to the reader to interpret those comments-. I liked the choice of words, personally. The show does reach out and bite, and it does move zippily along. The only problems I had were that themix of the sound left the vocals muddy & almost inaudible under the guitars; and that some of the performers need to work on their diction. This observation was echoed by TFN writer Karin Gregory in Dallas, who saw the same touting show down there. This show is basically rock opera, sung through almost entirely. That requires the lyrics to be audible and clear, otherwise it’s impossibleto understand the plot. I knew the show, and still l~ad to strain at many points to catch dialogue or lyrics. Hopefully, these issues will be addressed for die future shows in the rnn. In all other’ aspects, ~t was a powerful evening of theatre and storytelling. Much-has been made of the show, including criticism of glamorizing a drugridden life. Not so. It poigriantly points out the effects of such a life. What the show is about, in my estimation, is the pursuit of dreams; and the most common dream of all - finding love; for that is common to all of us, gay, straight, black, white, and so on. "Love is love", to quote fantasy writer Lynn Flewelling. And as such, should be respected and honored no matter What form it takes. RENT illustrates this in an upffont, grab you by the shirt kind0f way?Sound of Music, it alia’ t, sobe prepared.- RENT explores the issues, of love and its pursuff~ finding iL recognizing it; and notletting fear, pri~le,and n~iSunderstanding, and the defenses we all build to protect ourselves deny the love we really want to have. Fear can be an amazing thing when it comes to that. In that sense, REN~ is also about overcoming those obstacles and recognizing that love is hard to find, and shouldn’t be tossed away when the genuine articleis found.Atimely " Issue right now; as a friend of mine is ¯¯ taking a journey down that hard road that I have taken so many times before, and am " in the middle of right now. Lots of things masquerade as love - ¯ control, fear, even hatred. The real firing doesn’t land in your lap too often. Lot of lookalikes do, the trick is distinguishing ¯ the real from the fake. And too often, the -real is waF.to0 scary, and so is refused. If you’ve got the real thing, hang onto it. Well, join me on my ramble, will you?Dunno where all that came from. ¯ . Well, I do, but that’s a whole book unto itself. RENT succeeds admirably inillustrating ¯the aforementioned ideas, albeit in a much less lOngwinded way (editorr s note: indeed)¯ The ~tandout songs were "I will cover you , ’X)ne song", m~d "’Without You", wlrich is by far the most beantiful and-evocative song in the whole show It captures exactly how one feels when you know the one real thing has gotten away from you, either by circumstance, or worse, by your own clioice. "Without you, the w.d,rld turns, but I die too.., without you.. ¯ .... Speaking of Dreams, Arturo Brachetti was fabulous. Let me rephrase that... Arturo Brachetti’s show was fabulous! I hope most of you caught it, as it was an excellent evening of theatre. The man is literally a cast of thousands unto himself. And his quick change of Scarlett pre and post curtains was worth the price of admission! His show was a fast paced conglomeration of incredibly quick changes that left yon wondering ’~aow did he ’o that?", mixed with comedy, magic, and excellent s torytelling. Andhe can do amazing things with his hands. Making shadowplays, I mean. His theme? Dreams... Finding them, ¯ follo::-ing them, accomplishing them; and : having, fun with your inner ~hild while doin2 it Alternatively hilarious and p0ignant~; his range ofcharacters and’ theatre is amazing to see. He is a prime example of what one can do with dreams, belief in those dreams, and hard work - the two main ingredients of magic. The other aspect of that was the fact that, regrettably, so many of Us h~ve that child within that still has those dreams of ~hildhood, and we lock them away. Arturo was all about letting that child out to play, and having fun, which showed in his production. The show was excellent in all regards, from the autobiographical structure that set up the changes and made it an intimate evening even for the PAC’s Chapman Hall. Themusic ran the gamutfrom dance/ techno to classical, the lighting was fantastic, and Arturo’s box was huge! Well, at least the one onstage that served as sets, movie screen, prop house, and costume storage. At one pointed, he enacted an old western playing every character, and it was truly indescribably hilarious. He also performed a series of vignettes in tribute te film director see Arturo, p. 9 septem;ber FRIDAY 8 pm SATURDAY’~NgH SUNDAY 3 pro° september 22 s~ptember 2~3 ~’;~ :?’ september 24 Altan "The hottest group in the Celtic realm these days." The Boston Globe September 12 at 8 p.m. Chapman Music Hall ................. Tulsa PAC, 3rd & Cincinnati TULSA PERFORI~ING ARTS CENTER TRUST Tickets $14, $16, $18 Call 596-7111 spo,,,o,~ Outside ~ulsa call 1-800-364-7111 ~ ......... ?~’ "~: Online: www.tulsapac.com .~" Presented by the .. Tulsa Performing And you thought the ice cream man brought joy to your street¯ Sure, popsides are great. But how about a truckload of new channels, including WGN? How about.a high-speed Internet that’s always on and better priced? How.:about service so thorough and sweet you, can almost ~taste it? Now these, these are the things you can sink your teeth into. We’.re in.gear. COMMUNII~ATIONI~ 665-0200 Tulsa’s PRIDE 2000! VIDEO RELEASE PARTY Now that summer’s end is in sight and cool weather a hopeful prospect, the time is ripe to celebrate the Pride Week events that began Oklahoma’s heat wave. The Diversity Celebration 2000was a huge success that attracted fabulous people, was spectacularly beautiful, socially concious, wi.ttyand revealing. And its all on tape. This year Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights has joined with BoyBlue Productions in making a.professional commemorative video. It will include highlights of all Pride Week events including: appearances by Greg Louganis, Rev. Mel White and Grethe Cammemeyer~ the enormous parade, the art show, follies, community heroes, festival and the Soulforce. workshop. Friday night’s release party will include.a preview of the video, live performances and dancing. Details are pending but mark your calendar for 8pro Sept. 29th. And you wilI of course be able to purchase your copy at the party. Proceeds from the sales of the Diversity Celebration 2000 Commerative Video will benefit the services and programs of TOHR Orders may be placed in advance with visa or mastercard by calling TOHR at 743-4287. Orders plaCed by Sept 22 will be .available for pick up at the Release Party. # For your copies of Diversity Fest 2000 Contact the Tulsa Gay Community Service Center, 743-4297, POB 2687, 74101 x $20.00 = $ MO, Check, Visa, MC, no cash please. exp. date Signature Federico Fellini, who passed away afew years ago. It was touching, but I don’t think the audience "gotit."I doubtmost of the audience had a clue who Fellini was. At one point, the box split, and the curtains were raised to reveal the work be-. hind themagic.Anice touch, giving honor and recognition to the work that goes on behind the magic to make it happen. It was truly a magical evening, and it was funny to see the audience go from the thought process of"What the hell is this?" to ’qhis is so cool!" Armro was different from anything Tulsa has seen, and it’s a good thing. He soon held us all in thepalm of his hand. Not as tasty as this writer would have liked, but it was the markof a true artist. Tulsa’s a tough crowd to win over, especially for anything avant garde, but Arturo did it magnificently. He’ll be in a sitcom this fall, so that’ll be something to watch for. For our Lesbian readers, as wall as Gay men, Janis Ian will be appearing in concert at The Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers’ Celebration of Books, along with. poet Maya Angelou, This occurs September 29-30, and for more information, call 594-8215. In September, we have a few events wc.-th catching: On the 12th, the Irish music group Altan will make an appearance at the PAC. They have had rave reviews, and itlooks like a lovely evening ,,f traditional Irish music ahead. For tickets, call 596-7122 September 14-23, Heller Theatre presents "Art", a show about a painting that engenders discussions of the quality and meaning of.life itself. 746-5065. Theater Tulsa offers up some pop culture with the musical version of "Everything l Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" September 15-23. Tchaikovsky’s "Sleeping Beauty" wakes in Tulsa as Tulsa Ballet presents the venerable dance epic September 22- 24. (I wouldlove to see Matthew Bourne’s take on this one! He’s the man behind the homoerotic version ofSwan Lake. I doubt that will happen in Tulsa, though TBT is moving beyond a stdctly traditional approachunder Maestro Angelini.)Go see it for the music and the grace. For info, call 749-6006 Warren’s murder has drawnnational attention from Gay and non-Gay civil rights acti.vists, who fear he was killed because of his race or sexual orientation, or both. "At this point there is no evidence of abate crime," Marion County Prosecutor Richard Bunner said after the indictments were issued. "If any evidence is uncovered, appropriate action will be taken." Court records indicate Warren, Parker and Wilson argued twice the night of the beating - once about an unspecified rumor that had circulated about Warren and Parker, and the second timeabout $20 that Wilson took from Warren’s wallet: The beating began after the second argument. The grand jury met for about 90 rain: utes and then immediately issued the indictments. Wilson had soughtto block the grandjury fromhearing allegations against him, saying he should nothavebeen transferred to adult court. The Supreme Court mined down his petition 3-0. Wilson and Parker will continue to be held in a juvenile detention facility until their trial. If convicted they likely will remain in ajuvenile facility until they are 21, at which point they wouldbe moved to an adult facility. A trial date has not been set. ." TULSA - Furniture queens can now re- ¯. joicet Tulsa is now home to an Odds & Ends Outlet Store, the fourth in the US ¯ which the distinguished Baker Furniture ¯ has opened. The store is located at 4329 ¯ So. Peoria, near the old John Zink prop- " erty and is open 7 days a week. The store ¯ features Baker, MillingRoad, andMcguire ¯ furniture in a gallery like setting. ¯ Baker president, Chris Plasman, re- " sponded to questions about the choice of ¯ Tulsa, saying, "residents in larger cities, ¯ such as Chicago and Atlanta, have been ¯ clamoring to get but we chose Tulsa. ¯ Certainly Tulsa’s demographics are very ¯ favorable, butthe decisionwas alsoheavily ¯ imquencedbytheresidents’ reputationfor ." uncompromising taste and style and a genuineapp,r,eciation ofhistoryandcrafts - : manship... For more information, or store hours, " call 746-0329. ¯ He was also hospitalized for a week after being attacked with a knife by a group of men who called him derogatory names, he said. In 1995, he fled to the United States and requested asylum, but was de- At his hearing before immigration officials, a Latin American history expert testified that Gay men with female sexual identities in Mexico are heavily persecuted by the police and other groups and are likely to become scapegoats for Mexico’s economic and political problems. The expert said Hernandez-Montiel faced persecution if deported to Mexico. Federico Gomez, press director of Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission, acknowledged that homosexuals and cross-dressers still suffer from discrimination, but added that he believes Mexicans, in general, have become more tolerant of people’s sexual orientation. Gomez said he did not think the Hernandez-Montiel case "reflected society as the whole." Judge A. Wallace Tashima wrote that the appeals panel had determined that ’~3ay men with female sexual identities in Mexico constitutea protected ’particular social group’ under the asylum statute... and that Geovanm is a member of that group." The Board of |mmigration Appeals had contended that Hemandez-Montiel should return to Mexico, saying he did not estalJlish that he suffered abuse because of his membership in a particular social group. The appellate panel ordered the board to reverse its decision and grant Hernandez- Montiel asylum. Want to get involved? Need to get tested for HIV or a Coming Out Support Group? Call 743=GAYS (4297) Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor by Lamont Lindstrom When I was in highschool, my soon-tobe- Gay friend Carl spent all hi s spare time drawing fantastically elaborated plans for pipe organs. In his sketches, he piled keyboardbehindkeyboardand rank onto rank. (All those pipes and organs, of course, should have gaven me a clue.) Since that year, I have met many Gay guys with considerable creative talents, sometimes eccentrically applied. One friend constructs fantasy Christmas trees. Another designs websites. Another does flower arrangements. Another collects rococo pictures of the Holy Mother. Gays are deeply involved in the fine and less fine arts, from opera and ballet down to cheesy TV programs like Survivor. When the AIDS epidemic was at its worst, activists invented the "Day without Art" which foreshadowed how dull art and culture would be in America should all homosexuals ever pass away. Why all this Gay creativity - creativity which often is frenzied and even odd? Anthropologist Sherry Ortner, drawing on the Frenchfeminist Simone Beauvoir, once proposed that ’Man is to Culture as Woman is to Nature.’ Ortner was seeking a-reason for why, almost everywhere, people value what men do more than they value whatwomen do. She concluded that we associate women with nature, mostly because women have kids. Women are naturally creauve. Men, whose contributions to making babies are momentary at best, and much less embodied, have to express our creativity by other means. Ortner observed thathumans value culture over nature. Culture is what preserves us in nature. It tells us how to make a living off the land. Whereas culture protects, nature kills. Disease, aging, drought, famine, earthquakes and tornados may well be theendofus. Culture also needs continuous reconstruction and cultivation. We have to keep it all going and we have to make sure to pass it down to kids. Given this preference for culture over nature, Ortner concluded that men’s cultural contributions are valued more than women’s natural creativity. Others have also pointed tomasculinejealousy offeminine fertility. Womenunmistakably bring new life out of their bodies. Less natural men are driven to invent culture instead. And we are jealous enough to insist that our male creations - rituals, clubs, political parties, novels, symphonies, paintings, whatever- are somehow better, more noble, and more enduring that just another slobbery child. There is some truth here, too. An ordinary human being lasts little more than three quarters of a century at best. Cultural creations-such as political parties or rituals -may endure for generations. Gay men are particularly engaged in cultural production insofar-as many of us don’t contribute even the minor male donation to human reproduction. Instead of children, we have to live in our art, our books, our sense of style (or maybe our "...Anthropologist Sherry Ortner, drawing on the French feminist Simone Beauvolr, once proposed that ’Man is to Culture as Woman is to Nature.’ Ortner was seeking a reason for why, almost everywhere, people value what men do more than they value what women do..." dogs or cats). This is another instance- as with penis size - where Gays are hypermasculine. Gays who do not reproduce naturally specialize instead in masculine cultural creativity. Some have criticized Ortnerforoversimplifying cross-cultural nuances of male!female power relations. Another sort of complication comes from the fact that many people disbelieve an individual creativity. Everyone, of course, has a theory about where new things come from. But not everyone in the world credits individual creativity, orgenius, or talent for the birth of new things and new ideas. Even in ,our own culture, notions of creativity aren’t that old. The English noun "creativity" only dates back to 1875 or so. Before the modem era - and the triumph of indiw[ dualism - our ancestors talked instead of "inspiration," as others still do today. Once upon a time, the word "’genius" referred to an external spirit who inspired you with new ideas. It did not mean some internal, mental brilliance. Onthe South Pacific island where I once lived, nobody believes in creativity in the sense of some mysterious brainpower. Rather, clever people are those with good ties to the world of ancestral spirits. Nobody believes that men are naturally more or less intelligent, either. New ideas and new firings - if they are worth anything - have to Come via inspi- .ration from the ancestors. Clever people are those with good communicauve links with spirits, not those who claim inborn talent. Men, for instance, who come up with new songs insist that they overhear these in their dreams. Nobody would take credit for composing a song by himself. If he d. 1, how can it be any good? If you simply make up something on your own, it obviously can’t compete with music inspired with spiritual wisdom. But even on this Pacific island, men manasecultural production although they do so by monopolizing the means of inspiration rather than the means of creativity, as is the case here in America. Have a look around at your culture, goodand bad. Most of it is a male production, and a notable ratio of that is Gay male productioLna. mont Lindstrom, Ph.D., teaches anthropology at the University of Tulsa where he can be reached at: lamontlindstrom@ utulsa.edu Hospice ofGreen Country seeks volunteers to help provide care for patients and their families who are dealing with issues of terminal illness. Volunteers help run errands and provide companionship. For more information, call 747-CARE (747-2273). Volunteers are also needed at the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center, 743- GAYS (743-4297), to staff the Pride Store, answer phones, pack boxes, catalogue books and videos. Call for more info. Timothy.W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. Are You Gay or Bisex.u. al? Are You Native American? -Iulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men’s Support Group is here for ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project Call 341; 6866 Int rn.ational ToursSormorein/ormat’on. Massage TherapyS~ Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Country Cl ab Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm lbody Tulsa’s only professional body-piercing HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH THUR’SAT 11-11 SUNDAY 11-3 by Karin Gregory, TFN correspondent " With election year just around the cor- ¯ ner, I want to ask you a question: Aren’t " you afraid? Many people want to bury ¯ their heads, but you just can’t this year. It’s too important. Are you registered? Do you know the candidates and what they support, tol - erate, condone, condenm, and deny? Looking athighlights of the Rep.ublican National Convention last month (What-youthought I’d watch the whole thing?), I was interested in many things they pointed out, one of which was the "leave no child behind" theme Bush espoused. Funny, when he was our govemor’for afew months before embarking on his Presidential campaign, his "leave no state behind without a governor" theme didn’twork so well forhim. Make no mistake grrls - this is one Bush you DON’T want to push an)’- where, especially into the ~Zqlite House! Let’s look at the issues facing all of us this year. Many have spoken of a "different kind of Republican" in George W. Bush. Hrnmmm, I wonder. The Republicans made a great showof including as many minorities as they could find on the streets of Philadelphia to join their little convention. Again, great appointing Supreme Court Justices, and Bush has at least one to appoint, if he’s elected. How many of you think he’ll appoint someone who’s sensitive.to Gay civil rights? If anyone if raising ’his/her hand - PUT IT DOWN "...What 1;es were working the floor the week of the i Republican "Convention? ¯ ¯ ¯ Our eonservatlve friends made a b;g deal about inclusion - Hispanies, African Amerieans, the GaylLesbian Community, the Pro-Choieers. Yep, they really want the votes, don’t they? These people were wooed and charmed in front of cameras, but what happened the ,’morning after"? " NOW! UnderBush,manylaws brought about by the Supreme Court, laws which helped to make us a demoeracy, could be overturned~ What would hap: pen if the Roe vs. Wade decision was overturned? It could happen very easily. Andwhat do youthink would happen to the progress of Gay and Lesbian couplelaws that have come about in the last few years? Gays? Lesbians? Able to have rights? Bush already denies that Gays and Lesbians should have "special rights". Read that as "equal rights" and you have the makings of a fascist country. The makings of amanwho would make Charlton Heston look liberal. But there’s another story to this "coupling" of Bush and Dick. Yep, you ’ know what I’m talking about. Or rather, who I’m talking about. It’s the old- i est story around. Weak Texas governor runs for President; weak Texas governor wins primary; weak Texas governor. picks running mate; rtmshow. The Republicans are like that, you know. Every few years they assume a different identity, muchlike a chameleon, so they can get votes by convincing peg.ple they’re something "different" this ttme. Each time (I’m talking Reagan and George, Sr. here) the public has been fooledby the rhetoric, the nicely groomed candidates, and the lies. What lies were working the floor theweekofthe RepublicanConvention?Well, let’ s go back to those people picked from the streets of Philadelphia. Our conservafive friends made a big deal about inclusion- Hispanics, African Americans, the Gay/Lesbian Community, and even the Pro-Choicers. Yep, they really want the votes, don’t they? These people were wooed and charmed in front of cameras, but what happened the "morning after"? Well, the Republicans got together and voted onNOT including same-sex recognition among couples, NOT including Gays in hate crimes legislation, NOT including Gay civil rights of any kind, and NOT including abortion for any reason. Yeah, lies, damn lies¯ Despite all this bravado show of inclusion, the Republican ticket ofGeorgeBush and Dick Cheney already shows aHUGE bias - Bush and Dick. See? They just had to get those "family values" in after all! Many may be wondering why I’m so worried about this election year. George W. Bush is certainly not a strong politician, given the fact he was a Texas governor, the weakest form of governor. And you may be saying, ’He doesn’t make the rules; Congress does." OK, but the President is responsible for ¯ ning mate has Lesbian daughter. WHAT? Dick Cheney, so hell-bent to do every- " thing Conservative in the book, has a Les- ¯¯ bian daughter? What I want to know is ¯ why would this man be a party to a party that denies his daughter equal rights?Why ¯ would she want her father to run in this ¯ party? : On yet another television news pro- " gram, host Cokie Roberts asked Mrs. : Cheney about the possible hypocritical ¯ effects this has on their family. Mrs. : Cheney said her daughter’s lifestyle was a ." "private matter." Well, Mary Cheney has ¯ been very out for many years and has ¯ ¯ worked for Gay civil rights for many years. And I resent Mrs. Cheney saying ¯ that her daughter’s Lesbianism is a "pri- ¯ vate matter" as if the girl has a disease. ¯ ¯ Sounds to me likemomis the sicko here. So why, if homosexuality is such a ¯ private matter, has George W. Bush sup- - ported every anti-gay legislation? If ho- ¯ mo~exuality is a private matter, why does ¯ he thiM: he has the right to tell me with ¯ whom I sleep? Why do the Republicans ¯ want to make such a federal issue out of ¯ such a"private matter"? Is homosexuality " only private to the privileged few, like ¯ Mary Cheney? Or is it a matter that will ¯ decide,muchlike the sexual revolution of ¯ the sixties, the very way people look at ¯ one another in the future? As human be- " ings, not as Gay, Straight, Lesbian, Bi- ¯ sexual, Transgendered, etc., etc., etc. ] You have a decision to make. If you ¯ want ANY possibility of equality, make ¯ sure you are registered. Then make a date ¯ ¯ with yourself to go to a little booth in November. You know what to do. Walk for Life 2000 8th Annual Tulsa AIDS Walk Saturday, Oct. 7, 9:30am Vete ran’s Park, 21 st & Boulder Fo.r more information, call 585-5551. Donations-will be increased by 50% with matching dollars through the generosity of -the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The Walk is sponsored by the Community Service Council, and will benefit the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership (TCAP), The Walk is an all volunteer effort and there are no administrative costs. Tulsa Family News is proud to donate this advertisement in support of the Walk and the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership (TCAP) Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, September 2000; Volume 7, Issue 9 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource September 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Karin Gregory Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Hughston Walkinshaw Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, August 2000; Volume 7, Issue 8 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 newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/604 2000 AIDS AIDS drugs AIDS research AIDs Walk aMUSEments arts and entertainment asylum Bars Boy Scouts businesses churches Community Center discrimination bans gay bashing Gay marriage gay parents Gay Studies hate crimes hate crimes bill HIV testing Jim Christjohn Karin Gregory Lamont Lindstorm lawsuit malpractice marriage equality medical marijuanan Murder Olympics Openarms Youth Project Partner Benefits performing arts Raging Lesbian Red Cross Red Rock Tulsa restaurants San Antonio Lesbian and Gay Media Project Tom Neal Tulsa Family News VAN Walk for Life https://history.okeq.org/files/original/5d64f090519b9e896592128f02ec0c39.jpg 7132a01dcf7dd73f4768874198f90742 https://history.okeq.org/files/original/edf3b5a7d2dc2176171bea400a278963.pdf 2e81c7efa036dc8294c8bd398356f8a4 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. Text Any textual data included in the document MCC +American Expre.ss Offer Financial Planning TULSA - Tulsa’s Metropolitan Community Church United (MCC-United) with Theresa M. Barnard, a financial planning advisor with American Express Financial Advisors will present a series of financial planning seminars at MCC United. One seminar will be "Financial Strategies forGayMen&Lesbians" and will be held onTuesday, September 5th and will be repeated on Tuesday, October 10th. Barnard will present "Retirement - Explore Your Options, Create your Retirement Income," on Tuesday, .September 19th and ,Estate Planning" on Tuesday, October 24th. All seminars will be at 7pro at the church located at 1623 No. Maplewood, just north and west of Sheridan and Pine. Bamard and MCC United provided the following statement from American Express Financial Advisors: "We want to make our commitment to Gay men and Lesbians clear. Just as we have ~ktended domestic partner benefits to our Lesbian and Gay employees worldwide, wearecommi tted to providing sound finan, cial advice that specifically addresses the unique finandal issues affecting our Lesbian and Gay clients." see MCC, p. 3 Women Try to Change Canada’s Marriage Law VICTORIA, CANADA (AP.)- Two women at the center of a constitutional court challenge exchanged vows inJuly as friends andrelatives witnessed the union ceremony. Judy Lightwater, 49, and Cynthia Callahan, 36, pledged to "cherish and sustain each other" for all of their days with "passion, honor, patience and laughter." Since Canadian law recognizes marriage only between aman and awoman, it was legally impossible for the Gay activism to get a marriage license. But the British Columbia government has asked the provincial Supreme Court on behalf of the couple to declare that same-sex marriages are legal. The court challenge is expected to reach the Supreme Court of Canada within about seven years. The provincial government issues marriage licenses but is boundby federal rules as to who qualifies. "When I see there are two people who are dearlyin love and want to make a commitment to each other and want to have the same access to laws that are available to others, as a human being I ask myself why should ~ose people not be able to make that commitment? said B.C. Attorney General Andrew Petter. "We’rein loveandwe want to tell everyone about it," ........... said Lightwater: "It"s not that complicated.~ More love in the world is something everyone supports." The other couple named in B.C.’s court petition are Murray Warren and Peter Cook, who filed a human rights complaint after they were. refused a marriage license 18 months ago. see Courts, p. 3 DIRECTORY P. 2 EDITORIAL P. 3 US & WORLD NEWS P. 4 HEALTH NEWS P, 6 ENTERTAINMENT P, 8 GAY STUDIES P. 10 Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans;Our.Families + Friends " Building AEVER A More Light Presb erMn Weekend ¯ TULSA - A local liberal protestant church, College Hill Presby- ¯ terian Church recently became a"More Light" church byjoining ¯ the More Light network, a group of Presbyterian affiliated ¯ organizations which are dedicated to welcoming Lesbians, Gay men, Bisexuals and Transgendered persons into the church in all roles, both as lay members and as ordained leaders and clergy. Now in August, on the 25, 26, and 27, the congregation will host a "More Light" event and organizer both to help educate local religious groups and individuals, and to recognize and ¯ celebrate College Hill’s joining the More Light group. The Session (the board of directors of the congregation) has invited Michael Adee, Ph.D., who is a full time organizer for More Light network, a weekend of workshops. ~ According to College Hill’s spokesperson, "these three days ¯ will be filled with opportunities for worship mad fellowship ¯ together, to learn more about ministry to and with Gay, Lesbian; Bisexual and Transgendered persons, and to inform and welcome ¯ others to this ministry of compassion, inclusion and justice." The opening event will be a lunch on Friday; August 25th, ¯ from noon to 1:30 in the Fellowship Hall of the church which is ¯ located at 712 So. Columbia Ave. The church is just west of the ¯¯ campus of theUniversityofTulsa and sinceTU has tomdown the old Kendall School to build a Tennis Center, the church can be seen from Delaware. The lunch presentation is called, "Building a Church for Everyone," and church professionals and elders from Presbyterian Churches in the area are invited to attend this luncheon. Adee will give a short presentation on the history and goals of More Light Presbyterians, followed by a question and answer session. The meal will be $5.00. On Saturday, August 26th, Adee will lead a workshop "Caring for All God’s People," from 8:30- 12:30 again in the Fellowship Hall. According to organizers; those attending this event will gain greater understanding of the pastoral care needs of GLBT people and their families, see Light, p. 3 ¯ Others May Follow Vermont’s Lead On Unions ¯ MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP)- Legislators in Rhode Island and New ¯ York are hoping their states follow Vermont’s lead in granting ¯ same-sex couples the benefits of marriage. "From New Hamp- ¯ shire to California, politicians are intrigued by the civil unions ¯ statute Vermont created to grant Gay and Lesbian couples rights ¯ and benefits without wandering into the politically volatile ¯ thicket ofmarriage. But most advocates say Vermont will remain ." a pioneer on the issue for the foreseeable future while the public ¯ becomes more comfortable with the idea. ¯ A state senator in New York is drafting a bill based on : Vermont’s statute and a Rhode Island state representative is ." pushingabill to expandhis state’s marriage laws toinclude same- ¯ sex couples. "I would not introduce anything but marriage;’ said : Rep: Michael Pisamro, a Democrat from Cranston, R.I. "I don’t : necessarily see something like civil unions or domestic partner- . ships as a stepping stone to marriage." Pisaturo earlier this year ; said Rhode Islanders are still uncomfortable with the idea of ¯ recognized partnerships between Gay people. That’s why heheld ~ . off on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage and will try next year. ¯ In the New York state Senate, Manhattan Democrat Tom : Duane is drafting a bill that his aide said would be "similar to" ." Vermont’s first-in-the-nation civil unions statute, although de- ." tails were still being worked out. "Our Legislature won’t be back , ’ until January., ~s~ it wouldn’t be until then,", said Scott Mdvin. ~ : Advocates also see opportunities in New Hampshire, Con- : nectient, New Jersey, Massachusetts and California for laws ¯ granting marriage benefits, either through marriage itself or ¯ through a civil unions compromise like Vermont, s. ¯ "I think the situation we’re in is Vermont will be there and will ." have to have the courage of its convictions for a while and then, ¯ I think, it will fall into place in a number of spots," said Beatrice ¯ Dohrn, a lawyer for the Lambda Legal Defense and Education : Fund, which led the legal fight in Hawaii for Gay marriage. ¯ Although most advocates insist that full inclusion in marriage ¯ statutes is the only way for Gay and Lesbian couples to achieve ; equality, some see the civil unions statute as a good way to begin ." moving toward that goal. ¯ "Using Vermontas a model, other legislatures wishing to enact ¯ equal benefits,~ see Unions, p. 2 ¯ Boy Scou.ts Target.ed For Ant -Gay B=as ¯ TULSA - In conjunction with a National Day of ¯ Protest ofthe Boy Scouts ofAmerica~ Kerry Lewis, ¯ spokesperson for Tulsa Oklahomans for Human ¯ Rights (TOHR), has announced that TOHR and : other local organizations will hold a protest at the ¯ local headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America on ¯ August 21st. The time of the event will be available ¯ by contacting TOHR at 743-4297. The protest is in response to a recent US Supreme Court decision which overturned a New Jersey court ruling that the Boy Scouts’ anti-Gay policies were illegal under New Jersey non-discrimination laws. According to Lewis, "the purpose of these protests is to provide a visible and rational response to their discriminatory and de-humanizing policies." The Indian Nations Council of the BSA is located at 3206 So. Peoria. Parking is limited at the site but is available on the street a few blocks away in the Brookside business area. Lewis noted also that there are also several other options for you to register your protest of the Boy Scout policy. One is to write a letters of complaint. Informational materials, including sample letters, are available by contacting TOHR. ¯ And in discussions with Tulsa Family News, ¯ Lewis acknowledged that another aspect of the ¯ Boy Scouts’ discriminatory policies was Tulsa ¯ AreaUnitedWay’s (TAUW) funding for the BSA. ¯ Lewis acknowledged that some in the community ¯ favor designating TAUW as the target of protests ¯ or demonstrations, but that those discussions were ~ ongoing. ¯ Lewis also said that the next meeting of Tulsa’s Diversity Council will beonTuesday, August 22nd ¯ at 7pm at the Center. : Further in the future is a visit to Tulsa by Dr. : Laura Schlessinger, radio talk show host known for her characterization of Gay people see BSA, p. 3 Barnes & Noble Boots ¯ TULSA-In amove thatis being decriedby smaller ¯ newspaper publishers across the US, Barnes & ¯ Noble has thrown out most community publica- ¯ dons out of its stores across the US. ¯ In Tulsa, Barnes & Noble representatives sent ¯ notice to TulSa Family News by letter in the last ¯ week of June of the new policy which went into : effect on July 1st. Newspaper reports from else- . where in the US note that Barnes & Noble sent the : letter to most publication in sometime in March. : Local representatives could giveno explanation for ¯ the several month delay before informing Tulsa : publications. ¯ Barnes & Noble stated in its letter that it was : removing the publications in order to use the space ¯ forit own merchandise but after TFN publisher : spoke with (the no~w former) manager of the 71st : St. store, it became clear that while minority pub- : lieatious were being removed, Barnes &Noble was ¯ creating a new space inside the store for two com- " ¯ mtmitypublications; TulsaPeopleand Urban Tulsa. ¯ These two were retaining distribution privileges ¯ because they have the largest volume of copies ¯ ¯ distributed. Both- Tulsa People (TP) and Urban : Tulsa (UT) are publications with histories of fail- " ing to serve Tulsa’s Gay &Lesbian communities or : of having anti-Gay policies (UT). Tulsa Family News publisher Tom Neal said, ¯~ "this policy inherently discriminates against mi- ¯ nority community publications. By virtue of being ¯ minority, we simply cannot compete on a highest ," volume basis." : Neal added that given a choice between making ¯ purchases at Barnes & Noble or at Borders, he ¯ encourages community members to buy at Borders ¯ which consistently has been more supportive of : Lesbians and Gay menin Tulsa. Neal also suggests ¯ that readers letMattMozzoni,manager of the 41st ¯ St. Barnes & Noble see Barnes & Noble, p. 3 Minority Newspapers Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial *Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine *Club Vortex, 2!82 S. Sheridan *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael"s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *The Star, 1565 Sheridan *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main *TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd "*The Yellow Brick Road Pub, 2630 E. 15th 712-2324 610-5323 583-2119 835-2376 749-4511 744-4280 745-9998 834-4234 585-3405 660-0856 584-1308 749-1563 Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 747-1508 *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665 Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272 *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313 *Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. 1 lth 295-5868 Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700 Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th - 749-3620 Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556 *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838,-8503 Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial 369-8555 *Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712-9379 Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main 592-0460 *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoffa- 744-9595 Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. 6!0-0880 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026 *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 742-1460 Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440 *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 *International ~[ours 341-6866 Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750 *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018 David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236 The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460 *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard. #210 747-5466 *Li~:ing A~tSpace, 308 South Kenosha 585-1234 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112 Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place ....~- 664-2951 Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626 *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297 Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, "74101 747-5932 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921,747-4746 Scribner’ s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301, Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558 Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563 Fred Welch, LCSW, Connseting 743-1733 *Wherehouse Music. 5150 S. Sheridan 665-2222 *Whittier News Stand. 1 N. Lew~s 592-0767 www.gaytulsa.org Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337.74101 579-9593 All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & ~Vhite, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 *]3 L/G/T Alliance. Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 5K3-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Horence *Church of the Restoration UU, 1314N.Greenwo°d 587-1314 *Commtmity ofHope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300 *CommunityUnitarian-Universalist Congregatmn 749-0595 Council Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888 *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 Free SpratWomen s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669 918.583.12.zhS, fax: 583.4615 POB 4140. Tulsa. OK 74159 e-mail: Tu!saNews@ earthhnk.:~et Publisher + Editor: Tom Seal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn. Karin Gregory, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche. Lamont Lindstrom. Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers. Hughston Walkinshaw Member of The Associated Press Issued on or before the ! st of each month, the entire contents -: of this publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by T~,u~ ~:€o~ Ndw~ and may not be reproduced either in " wholeorin part without written permission from the publisher. " Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s ,. sexual orientation. Correspondence is assmned to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & be- ". comes the sole property of rJ,4~ ~.’. Ncnu4~ Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each ediuon at distribution ¯ points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438 HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral PI. 748-3111 NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658 OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 *OSU-Tulsa PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 *Plalmed Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 *Red Rock Mental Center, !724 E 8 584-2325 O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincim~ati 425-7882 St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 *St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 Co~tfidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c,~o The Pride Center 743-4297 T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform~ Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *Tulsa Community College Campuses *TulsaGay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 BARTLESVILLE *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN Borders Books & Music, 3209 NW Expressway 405-848-2667 Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 TAHLEQUAH Stonewall League. c~J! for i~fformation: 9!8-456-7900 *Tahlequmh Uvjtarian-Uni vcrsalist Church 9182456-7900 Green Country A!DS Cozdition, POB !570 918-453-9360 NSU Schoo! of C,ptometry, 1001 N. Grand HIVtestln,, e’ve~v other T~es. 5:30-8:30. cal! for dates Autunm Breeze Restaurm~. L~w~.. 23 *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main DeVito’s Restaurant. 5 Center g t. Emerald Rainbow. 45 &l:2 Spring St. MCC of the Living Spring Geek to Go!, PC SpecialisL POB 429 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery Positive Idea Marketing Plans Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East White Light, 1 Center St. JOPLIN, MISSOURI *Spirit of Christ MCC. 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 501-253-7734 501-253-7457 501-253-6807 501-253-5445 501-253-9337 5~ 1-253-2776 50!-253-5332 501-624-6646 501-253-6001 501-253-4074 417-623-4696 * is where you can f’md TFN. Not all are Gay-owned but all are Gay-friendly. Tulsa Family News wishes to correct an error in our July issue. In an article about GayTulsa.o,:g, we mistakevJy indentified their Associate Webmaster, Scan, as Seth and as a "partner" in the r,on-profit organization, rather than by his correct title. TFN regrets any all,stress this caused to the staff and friends of GayTulsa.org. - TN equal status for Gay and, Lesbian people wi!l look at this," said David Smith ofthe !. Humau Rights Campaign, the nation’s the country that would look to this.’.’ Vermont’s law is parallel to mamage but ~s a separate legal creation. It has prompted a lot of debate around the country about granting benefits to couples who want legal recognition and protection for their long-term relationships. Vermont lawmakers have said repeatedly that their law could be a model for other states to emulate as they seek to steer clear of the emotional debate about marriage. Thirty-two states have adopted statutes specifically outlawing Gay marriage. Because civil unions aren’t marriage, though, the Vermont authors of the law say, they’re a way to take a step without getting bogged down in emotion, religion and morality. But to people like California Assemblywoman Rep. Carole Migden of San Francisco, that’s demeaning. ’.’Thepremise of civil union is still an insult, but nevertheless we’re pleased that the state of Vermont recognizes the quality of Lesbian and Gay equality in a less-than-dignified way," said Migden, whose state last year outlawed Gay marriage in a referendum. "We’re moving along. Each year we add to it, It’s a step-by-step buildingblock process." Some Gay civil rights advocates caudonthat experiences in Hawaii and Alaska, where courts said same-sex couples should be allowed to marry and then lawmakers and voters reversed them, should temper any predictions that the idea of civil unions will spread quickly beyond Vermont. "I think it’s important to bear in mind that Vermonti s aleader in notjust civil rations, but in terms of hate crimes, second parent adoption and nondiscrimination is sues for the Lesbian and Gay community," said Tim Sweeney, deputy executive director of New York state’s Fanpire State Pride Agenda. "I think that’s an important context to keep in mind." Political considerations appear to be far from the minds of many of the people entering into civil unions since they became thelaw on July !. Ofthe 115 that had been reported to the state vital records division through Monday~ more th;m tw othirds have b~eu between conples from outside Vermont. That’ s even though civil unions are not legally recognized anywhere else in the country. That "alone will make a difference in other states, though, advocates say, be~ cause it is generating debate in practically every state. "The whole mo~cement an Vermonthas createda tremendous amount of education and discussion about Lesbian and Gay relationships and the kind of discrimination we face," Sweeney said. "It’ s been an extremely positive discusstun and very helpful to humanize Lesbian and Gay relationships and our families ." by Tom Neal, editor/publisher How disappointing that Colin Powell would lend his credibility to the Republican scam of being a party of inclusion at the recentGOPconvention. Since the days of that deficit-creating monster Reagan, Republicans have represented the worst in American character: hate-mongering, religiously intolerant, and committed to undermining constitutional rights of those unlike themselves. In Philadelphia, we see Blacks, Latinos, women and the disabled trotted out but we still read the same attacks o~ Gay Americans. Gays can be soldiers ouly at the cost offree speech. Gayrelationships,by federal law, can only be end class. In Oklahoma, Democrats aren’t much better. Republicans talk nasty about Gay taxpayers. Democrats keep quiet but both abuse the authority of the State to attack Gay Oklahomans. God forbid we should get through a legislative session without a vote by the majority to remind us of the contempt in which we are held. Whenboth parties treat all fairly, when the accidents of birth: race, ability, ethnicity, sexual orientation and the choices of a free citizenry: political affiliation, religious "lifestyles" or "preferences", all are of no more importance than that of being left or fight-handed, then Americans, Republican and Democrat, can say we are thenation of fairness for all. The statement continues, "whether you’re single, in a committed relationship, or caring for children, yotir ?maerican Express financial advisor ca~’help you take control of your financial future. We can help you: Establish savings and investment plans. Protect your assets from unnecessary taxation. Avoid financial restrictions placed on unmarried couples. Avoid cosily delays in the receipt of life insurance proceeds." Bamard requests that those wishing to attend please telephone in advance to her at 748-8191, ext. 121. They have been in a relationship for 29 years. "The community support has been really important to me because I don’t have the support from my family," said Callahan, whose parents did not attend her union ceremony. as being "biological error[s]". TOHR is trying to work with other groups to design an effective protest for her visit this fall. On Tuesday, Aug. 8th, TOHR will hold its general membership meeting at the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center at 7:30pm. The regular business session (which is usually short) will be followed by a special program presented by the Credit Counsding Center of Tulsa, a Short presentation on financial responsibility, etc. Members and those interested in the community are invited and encouraged to attend. And on Sunday, Aug. 13th, the"Lesbian Connection," a program of TOHR, is inviting EVERYONE in the community to come out and have fun at Keystone lake. Burgers will beprovided - youbring the rest! Swimming, volleyball, fishing, boating, etc. will be available all day. Call the Center for directions. The initial planning meeting for "Diversity Celebration 2001" will be held at the Tulsa Gay Cominunity Services Center beginning at 1 lain on Saturday, Aug. 19th. know about their nnhappiness with the new policy. Mozzoni seemed to be sympathetic to the situation but has stated that since it comes down from corporate. headquarters, hehas litflechoice. Mozzoni canbe reached at 665-4580. National Gay Organizations Comment on Cheney WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) have issued comments on the record o’f Richard B. Cheney, George W. Bush’s Vice-presidential nominee, on Gay and AIDS issues. Cheney, a former defense secretary in the administration of Bush’s father, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1978-1989, has an extremely conservative record, HRC noted. Like Gov. Bush, however, Cheney seeks to package a conservative record with a moderate image, the organization said. "The choice of Secretary Cheney is in keeping with Governor Bush’s strategy of staking out conservative pos!,tions and wrapping them in a moderate package, said Wiunie Stachelberg, HRC’s political director. As a Wyoming congressman, Cheney opposed early efforts to address the HIV/AIDS crisis. Most notably, he was one of 13 House members who voted against the AIDS Federal Policy Act of 1988, the first major bill to provide funding for HIV/AIDS counseling and testing. Cheney also supported an effort to reduce funding for HIV/AIDS research. In addition, Cheney voted against the Hate Crimes Statistics Act of 1988 and supported an amendment that added anti-Gay language to the bill. As defense secretary, Cheney supported Pete Williams, the department’s chief spokesman, when The Advocate magazine revealed his homosexuality. "I have operated on the basi, s over the.years with respect tO my personal staff that I don’t ask them about their private lives," said Cheney. "As long as they perform their professional responsibilities in a responsible manner, their private lives are their business." Cheney opposed President Clinton’s effort to lift the ban on Gays serving openly in the military. Cheney told CNNin 1993,"I am one of those people who believes that people’s sexual preference and orientation are a private matter. It’s something that is a personal matter for them, and no one else’.s business. And that’s the way I ran the civilian side of the Pentagon... On the military side, though, you can’t pursue that policy." Later in the interview, Cheney ffaid: "I basically don’t believe in discrimination, but I did conclude, as secretary of defense, that the ban on Gays in uniform was appropri- Topics include: coming out, integration of sexuality and faith, responding to homophobia in the church and society, helping parents of GLBT children and children of GLBT parents. This group is open to all. ’ It will be especially helpful for GLBT people and their families, their friends, and fellow church members, elders, teachers and youth leaders. Continental breakfast and snacks will be served. Sunday morning, the Church School Mid-highs to Adults will.begin at 9:35 in the Chapel. This event is rifled "Bringing Body and Soul Together (Let’s Talk about Faith and Sexuality)" This Church School Class will feature’an interactive discussion on Christian sexual ethics. Those choosing to attend will share in an hour devoted to how Christians integrate faith and sexuality in living the Christian life. The focus will be what makes ’good relationships’ for all God’s people. Then on Sunday, August 27th, the regular worship service at 11amin the Sanctuary will feature a sermon by Michael Adee. The service entitled "Celebrating Diversity and Inclusiveness" will honor "Christ’s call to be inclusive." The chancel choir will offer special music for the occasion and communion will be celebrated. This is the formal event to mark College Hill’s declaration to be inclusive and work as part ofMore Light Presbyterians to bring the Presbyterian denomination to the inclusion of GLBT people in ordination as well as membership.. Finally on Sunday afternoon from 5:30- 7:30, aYouth Event, "On Being Gay & Being Christian" will be held. The College Hill youth fellowship will be hosting individuals and other youth groups for pizza and open, informal conversation about sexuality andfaithfor youth. Adee will be the facilitator on topics ranging from being GLBT and Christian, coming out, harassment at school and church, sexual sdf-esteem, dealing with family, and Gay/Straight friendships. This event hopes to help Gay and Straight youth underctand themselves and each other better. For more information about these events, contact " College Hill Presbyterian Church at 592-5800. : ate." ¯. HRC has endorsed Vice President A1 Gore for presi- ¯ dent. He has yet to name a running mate. Cheney is : currently the chief executive officer of the Halliburton : Co., a publicly traded company that supplies equipment ¯ to the oil industry. Halliburton does not have a non- . discrimination policy thiat includes sexual orientation nor : a domestic partner program for Gay employees. ¯ According to the NGLTF research, Cheney opposed : the Equal Rights Amendment, opposes reproductive ¯¯ choice and supports prayer in public schools. NGLTF notes like HRC that Cheney in 1993 opposed ¯ President Clinton’s effort to lift the military ban and ¯ openly Gay servicemembers. At the height of the debate, ¯ Cheney warned that defense cuts and the proposal to lift : the ban "have led to a decline in the quality of military ¯ recruits." ¯ He added that "the whole reduction in defense spend- : ing, the controversy over Gays in the military, has led to : an unwillingness to serve and low morale." ¯ NGLTF adds that Cheney has served as a trustee of the ¯ arch-conservative American Enterprise Institute, where ¯ he was a former senior fellow. The American Enterprise ¯ Institute is home to many right-wing thinkers, such as ¯ former Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork, former ¯ House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Charles Murray, ¯ author of "The Bell Curve," a book which suggests that ¯ differences inintelligence existbetweenblacks and whites ¯ and that these differences are genetic and immutable. ¯ American Enterprise Institute scholars have also been ~ outspoken in their opposition to equal rights for Gay, : Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people. : "George W. Bush has flubbed the most important ¯ decision in his presidential camp~gn," said Elizabeth ¯ Toledo, NGLTF executive director. "His compassionate ¯ conservatism holds out no compassion whatsoever for ¯ theGay, Lesbian,BisexualandTransgendercommunity. ¯ Furthermore, it sends a chilling signal to women, to ¯ people of colo~: and to those concerned with fairness and : equality that a major political party would offer up a candidate with such a background to the voters. This ¯ selection demonstrates that right-wing, religious extrem- ¯ ists are still a powerful force on the political landscape." ¯ Openly Gay Republican ¯ Featured at Convention . PHILADELPHIA -Rep: Jim Kolbe of Arizona made ¯ history when he became the first openly Gay member of ¯ Congress to address a Republican convention. The Ari- ¯ zona congressman had a prime-time speaking slot, ad- ¯ dressing the GOP on trade issues for three minutes. ¯ Kolbe, first elected in 1984, is the most senior openly ¯ Gay member of Congress andis the only openly Gay ¯ Republican in the House. Having Kolbe speak at the ¯ convention was an idea first raised by Washington city ¯ councilm_.an David Cataniain April, when the Log Cabin ] Republicans, themostprominent Gay GOPorganization, ." met with presidential candidate George W. Bush. ¯ Bushmetwith the group, a first for a candidate preparing to pick up the GOP presidential nomination, despite his opposition to many of the its issues, including Gay ." marriage. Log Cabin Republicans Pleased Members of ¯ the Log Cabin Republic,~ns are delighted by Kolbe’s : place.in the convention lineup - especially considering ¯ that he backed Bush’s rival, Sen. John McCain, during ¯ the primary season. ¯ According to the group, this is the first lime a wall- ¯ known openly Gay person has gone to the podium at the ¯ GOP national convention. In 1996, a little-known Log ¯ Cabin Republican member from California, Steve Fong, ¯ gave alow-prof’ile, one-mi nute speech amidlittle fanfare. [ But some socially conservative Republicans, who are ¯ opposed to civil rights for Gay people and have warned ¯ Bush about reaching out to the Gay community, were " unhappy with the prospect of having Kolbe speak, One leading conservative Republican told ABCNEWS he ¯ was "flabbergasted" by the decision, and called it a ~ "shock." "It is not going to be a happy time," said the ¯ Republican. "I think it is a really bad decision." : Kolbe is a founding member of the National Advisory ¯ Board of the Log Cabin Republicans; the nation’s most [ prominent Gay GOP group. In 1997, he gave the keynote ¯ address at the LOg Cabin Republicans convention. Kolbe ¯ was a strong proponent of the NorthAmerican Free Trade i Agreement. Pentagon Says Gay Policy Is Working WASHINGTON (AP) - The military’s much-criticized policy on Gays in uniform is working, but training must be improved to eliminate anti-Gay behavior like the abuse that led to a soldier’s murder in Kentucky last year, the Defense Department said. "We think we’ve got it right this time," Carol DiBattiste, the undersecretary of the Air Force, told a news conference Friday to publicize anew Pentagon program to re-emphasize in training that such behavior is unacceptable. Speaking at the same news conference, Bernard ¯ Rostker, the undersecretary of defense, said he disagreed with President Clinton’s statement last year, after the beating death of Pfc. Barry Winchell by a fellow soldier at Fort Campbell, Ky., that implementation of his policy on Gays was "out of whack." "I don’ t agree with that characterization. I think the policy is working reasonably wall to provide a degree of safety’.’ for Gays in uniform, Rostker said. "The days of witch hunts, the days of stakeouts, are really gone." Even so, Rostker said, more needs to be done to ensure that everyone in the military understands the policy. The Clinton administration’s policy on Gays in the military is derived from a law passed in 1993 after Clintonfailed topersuade Congress and the Pentagon to allow Gays to serve openly. ~.The policy, known as "don’t ask, don’t tell," holds that Gays can serve in uniform so long as they don’t reveal their sexual orientation. One problem, however, has been unwarranted investigations of people suspected of being homosexual. There also is a fear among discreetly Gay service members that if they ,qomplain about harassment, they will be discharged. ’" The announced plan to eliminate anti-Gay behavior was created by a panel of civilian and military officials led by DiBattiste of theAir Force. It was in response to a Pentagon inspector general’s report in March that found anti-Gay behavior was commonplace in the military. DiBattiste said the key to her panel’ s plan is adoption of an"overarching principle" meant to clarify to all in the military that unacceptable behavior includes not just abuse of Gays but also "inappropriate comments or gestures." "That’s the high road that we need to take," she Said. The DiBattiste panel’s 13-point "action plan" is largely reiteration of previous expressions of deterruination to stamp out anti-Gay behavior and to hold military commanders responsible for policy infractions. Last December, Rostker’s predecessor in the undersecretary’s post, Rudy de Leon, issued a statement that "harassment of service members for any reason, to include alleged or perceived homosexuality, will not be tolerated," and commanders must take prompt action against violators. Michelle Benecke, an executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund, an advocate for Gay rights in the military and a frequent critic of Pentagon policy; called the DiBattiste panel’s report "’thoughtful and considered." ’.’Today’s recommendations, if implemented, would be a very good start," Benecke said. The spark that caused- the Pentagon to take a closer look at the Gay policy’s implementation, and at the extent of anti-Gay behavior in the field, was the Winchell murder at Fort Campbell on July 5, 1999. Two of Winchell’ s fellow soldiers were convicted in the crime and are in prison. Gen. Eric Shinseki, the Army chief of staff, released the Army inspector general’s report Friday on circumstances surrounding the Winchell murder. The report concluded that some members ofDCompany, 2nd Battalion, 502rid Infantry Regiment, Winchell,’ s unit in the 101st Airborne Division, violated the military’s policy against anti-Gay behavior, but it exonerated all commanders at Fort Campbell. TheArmy report also concludedno general climate of homophobia existed at Fort Campbell. With some exceptions, "It was determined that the command climate at Fort Campbell before 5 July 1999 was a positive environment," the inspector general’s report said. It also said the chain of command at Fort Campbell "respondedappropriate1y"when confronted with situations that appeared to violate the "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy. " Rep. Mart,y,. Meehan, D-Mass., questioned these conduslons. ’Giving FortCampbdl arelatively dean bill of health doesn’t square with recent reports of prevalent anti-Gay harassment throughout the services," Meehan said. Vermont Papers Will Print Civil Union Notices RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) - Aunotmcements for civil unions are beginning to appear alongside wedding announcements on wedding pages in newspapers around the state. At many newspapers, editors said they will treat announcements of same-sex unions the same as traditional marriages, placing them in the same section of their newspapers and in the same format, although perhaps under a different heading. The decision "took about 30 seconds of deep thought," said Valley News editorJim Fox. "It wasn’t very difficult." "Of course we would treat them the same," said .amnette Sharon, managing editor of the Manchester Journal. "ff they want to make that announcement to their neighbors, the newspaper is the place for that to happen." Evennewspapers thathave editorialized against the law granting marriage-like benefits to same-sex couples appear likely to print civil union announcements. Mark Smith, publisher of The Caledonian- Record, said no one had.brought such a notice to his St. Johnsbury paper, but if someone did, he would probably publish it. "My personality is such that it will depend on the attitude of the person who comes through the door," he said. Smith said he would comply with a polite request but dig in his heels if he felt pressured. So far,the reqtlests have been few. In Brattleboro, where the first civil union was certified just after midnight on July 1, no announcements have been submitted to the local newspaper, the Reformer. In August, that will likely change, though, when John Calvi and Marshall Brewer of Putney, have a civil union ceremony, and submit an announcement. The couple- and the newspaperi- made national news more than a decade ago when the Reformer became the first mainstream newspaper in the United States to publish a Gay wedding announcement. Joseph Watson of Leicester, entered a civil union with his partner, Michael Warner, on July 7. Watson said he had no problem with sending out the notice, which has appeared in the Addison County Independent and was in the July 23 edition of the Sunday Rutland Herald and Times Argus. It will also be in a new "Milestones" section of the Gay newspaper "Out in the Mountains" and is expected to be published soon by The Burlington Free Press. Addison . County Independent publisher Angelo Lynn said his paper received only aletter of praise for its publication of Watson’s civil union notice. At the Newport Daily Express, however, managing editor Susan Davis doesn’t expect such a smooth reception. Davis said if she receives civil union notices, she will print them as long as her publisher approves. But she anticipates a backlash. "I don’t have a problem with it, but I know a lot of people do," she said. "’This is the Northeast Kingdom and everybody is running anti-civil unions (for the upcoming dections).. It’s a huge issue up here." Man Charged With Hate : Crime in Beating Death BARRON, Wis. (AP) - A man charged with helping murder a 22-year-old hearing-impaired, mentally dis - : abled man now also is accused of a hate crime in the : killing. Prosecutors contend Raymond C. Walton,33, ¯ of Barron, helped beat Michael J. Hatch to death with ¯ a tire :iron Oct. 20 because Walton thought Hatch was : Gay, according to court records. : Walton was charged with being party to first- ." degree intentional homicide and armed robbery in ¯ Hatch’s death. The hate-crime enhancer was added to ". the charges last week. ~ Barron County District Attorney James Babler dedined comment on the hate crime filing, which says United in God’s Love MCC-United Sunday Worship Reverend Cathy Elliot 11:00 am Pastor " 1623 N. 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Atlanta Place, 742-’7381 Saint Dunstan 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Trinity 501 S. Cincinnati, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church We Icomes You Walton intentionally selected the victim because of his belief or perception regaa’ding Hatch’s sexual orientation. Authorities say Walton a~d Corey L. Kralewski, 21, killed Hatch and left his body in a rural Barron County corufield. A criminal complaint said Kralewski, Walton and Mary Reed spend the evening of Oct. 19 at several Barron bars. Kralewski played pool with Hatch, whom he knew from high school. Later, the group left the pool hall and drove to a field near the Dunn County line. Reed told authorities she sat in her truck while Kralewski beat Hatch with a tire iron. Walton also hit Hatch several times, she said. In a written statement, Kralewski told authorities heknocked Hatch down with afew blows but that Walton did most of the beating. Walton showed authorities Hatch’s body. Kralewski pleaded innocent to a homicide charge and goes on trial Aug. 7. Reed, 34, pleaded guilty to aiding a feton and was sentenced to t~vo years in prison. Chicago Bishop Faces Ecclesiatical -Charges CHICAGO (AP) - A United Methodist lay member has filed a complaint with the church, accusing his Chicago-based bishop of using the office"as a public relations and news media channel for promoting homosexuality," among other things. John Juergensmeyer, an attorney and member of a United Methodist church inElgin, is calling for Bishop C. Joseph Sprague to resign or be removed. Sprague, formerly a United Methodist pastor in Columbus, Ohio, heads the church’s Northern Illinois Conference. He was one of several Methodists, including at least one other bishop, arrested while protesting anti-Gay measures adopted at the church’ s general conference in Cleveland in May Juergensmeyer said that Sprague’s arrest was a "triggering point" for his complaint. But he said Sprague’s overall political views have long troubled him and other conservative United Methodists. "He is reducing the church only to a political instrument rather than a spiritual force." said Juergensmeyer, rather than a spmtum io~c~, ~a~,., o~.~r,~,l.....av., who also ~s accusing Sprague of promotang writings about Jesus Christ that luergensmeyer says violate church doctrine. Earlier this month, Sprague told the United Methodist News Service that the letters of complaint seemed to be "part of an organized effort of a small, very vocal minority." He also said he made his views clear when he stood for election as bishop four years ago. Sprague was re-elected to his second four-year term at the church s North Central Jurisdictional Conference this month. Man Gets Two Life Sentences for Slaying BALTIMORE (AP) - A man who told police he attacked Gay men because he thought Gays were evil was given two life sentences for the slaying of a h.otel guest last June. Gary William Mick, 25, was gaven one life sentence for first-degree murder and a concurrent 20-year sentence for robbery for the attack on Christopher Williams Jones. He received a consecutive life sentence with all but 30 years suspended for first-degree attempted murder and a concurrent 20- year sentence for attempted robbery for a separate incident last September. Mick, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to the two attacks in May. Jones, 37, of Metuchen, N.J., was attending a pharmaceutical conference in Baltimore whenhewas found bludgeoned to death at the Admiral Fell Inn. "We loved our son and his partner in life as we love all our children and their lifemates. The emptiness we feel because of this loss is extreme," said Howard Jones, the father of one of the victims, in a family statement to the court. Prosecutors said Mick accompanied Jones to his hotel room after the two met. once.inside, Mick struck Jones nine times on the right side of the head with a claw hammer. He then stole Jones’ truck and credit cards, which he used to buy clothes, jewelry, food and a beard trimmer, prosecutors said. The second attack occurred in September. Prosecutors said Mick attacked another man he had met, but the victim was able to fight him off. Lesbian Recieves Headof- Household Status SACRAMENTO (AP) -The state Board of Equalizationhas voted to grant head-of-household tax status to a Lesbian who is supporting her partner and nonbiological child. The board voted 3-2 to allow the Los Angeles family to file with one of the women as the head-of-household, which will savethem about $2,500 a year in state and federal taxes. Helmi Hisserich and Tori Patterson of Los Angeles have been together 14 years and had a daughter in 1997. Patterson gave birth and has stayed home to raise the baby since then. When Hisserich filed a tax return for 1997, she checked the box for head of household and calculated accordingly. The Franchise Tax Board said she was not eligible, saying head of household status covered situations only where an unmarried person was paying more than half the expenses of an adoptive or foster child, or any blood relative. They said she owed $1,050, Hisserich said. Sbnnnon Minter, staff attorney for the National Center for Lesbian Rights in San Francisco, argued Hisserich’s case before the board June 30. "This is the first time they’ve addressed this issue," he said. "It recognizes the reality of our families and gives legal validation to the reality that our client is a parent regardless of the fact that she doesn’t have a biological relationship to the child." Hisserich said the board had to consider whether a heterosexual couple would be treated in the same manner. "But if we were a heterosexual couple, we would be mamed. We’ve been together 14 years, we’ve registered as domestic partners in our city, our county and the state. We’ ve done everything we can," she said. The Board of Equalization will vote again after its staff prepares a written decision, and will comment publicly on its reasoning when the vote is final, according to spokeswoman Cristina Herrera. That could take up to three mouths, she said. -- ~i~-n~)g~s~i~d tile vote was the logical extension of Califo~aua court rulingsin the past two years that had granted parental status to Gay men and Lesbian couples planning and having children. Because intent was the basis of his winning argument in the tax case, Minter said the decistonmostlikely woulon’t apply to situations where someone moved in with a partner who already had a child. The ruling affects only state tax status, but I-Iisserich said the Internal Revenue Service followed the state on head of household status. Jury Votes Death to Killer of Lesbian Couple PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -A Mnltnomah Countyjury sentenced to death a Portland man who killed a Lesbian couple in a karaoke bar. Eric Walter Running, 49, was fOund guilty of two counts of aggravated murder in the February 1998 shotgun slayings of Jaqueline J. A_ffderson, whom he had dated, and Barbara J. Gilpin. Running killed the women after Anderson, 29, a poet and writer, broke up with him and returned to her 10-year-relationship with Gilpin, 44, a landscaper. In an unusual split, the jury imposed the death sentence only for Anderson’s murder, giving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for Gilpin’.s death. Ten of the 12 jurors voted to give a deat~ sentence in Gilpin’s murder, but a unanimous verdict is needed. "’Barbara Gilpin deserved the same verdict as my daughter," said Jack Anderson. "But one death sentence is all that it takes. I don’t care if he dies tomorrow or never, I’m just glad he can’t be a threat to anyone anymore." Running smiled as the verdicts were read. Hewill become the 25thperson onOregon s Death Row at the state penitentiary in Salem. Almost 20 patrons at the Ambassador Restaurar.’-a and Lounge in Portland witnessed Running kill women Feb. 24, 1998. Rurming’s lawyers offered insanity defense. Se.n.a.te OK’s $600 ¯ $200 million interuational program to Million for AIDS batfleHIV/AIDS. Speaking ahead of the . " ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian WASHINGTON (AP)-Legislafioncom- " Nations) Regional Forum, Asia’s largest mitring up to $600 million in U.S. aid for " security conference, Downer noted prefighting HIV and AIDS in Africa and ¯ dictions that AIDS threatens to reduce or developing countries elsewhere was " even reverse Asia’s economic growth. "I passed at the end of July by the Senate. On don’t think the Asia-Pacific region can avoicevote, theSenateapprovedabillby turn,!ts back on this devastating prob- Sens. Bill Ffist and Jesse Helms, both lem, Downer told’anews conference. Republicans, authorizing $300 million in " Most of the $200 million will be tar- ¯ geted at countries in the Asia-Pacific re- " glen, Downer said, and Canberra expects ¯ to work dosdy with the Association of ¯ Southeast Asian Nations. ¯ Much of the funding remains uncom- ", mitted, but some will augment existing ¯. programs in Indonesia and Papua New ¯ Guinea, Australia’s immediate northeru ¯ neighbors. Relations Committee, said the bill requires that up to $220 million of all U.S. bilateral funding forHIV-AIDS programs over the next two years be spent on supporting orphans in Africa. T,he United Nations has predicted that the disease is expected to wipe out half the teen-age population in some poor countries in Africa. Similar legislation passed in the House, which voted earlier this month to fully fund President Clinton’s request for $2’44 million next year for combating and treating AIDS in poor counmes. each of the next two years for AIDS prevention and treatment and also for the care ofAIDS orphans in developing countries. Thebill directs the Treasury Department to establish a trust fund with the World Bankfor the prevention efforts and the treatment of orphans. Helms, chairman of the Senate Foreign HIV-Treatment Ctr. Targets Blacks ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - A treatment center for blacks who have AIDS or HIV is planned in a county where only a third ofblackAIDS patients gettreatment, compared to half of infected whites. Rochesterhas the second-highestnumber ofAIDS cases in Ne~v York state, after New York City. The number of local AIDS cases has leveled off among whites but is climbing among blacks, according to the Rochester Primary Care Network. Existing programs are not reaching t~ growing number ofblackmenanawom who are HIV-positive, Art Collier, prestdent of Primary Care Network, said. The rateamong MonroeCounty’residents who are black is over eight times the rate among white residents, he added. Before 1991, 64% of reported AIDS cases in Monroe County were among whites mad 27% were among blacks. The center expects to have an initial casdoad of about 150 patients. Besides medical care, services will include mental health counseling and treatment for substance abuse. TheNational Black Leadership Commisston onAIDS is helping plan the center and recruit ablack staff, Collier said. Coordinatbrs believe black patients will respond better to treatment by black medical personnel. Dr~Anson .,W;urapa.,~ black physician at strong Memon Hospital’s AIDS Center, said blacks tend Russia’s Infections Growing MOSCOW (AP) - The number of registered HIV cases in Russia has soared in the last six months and will continue to grow, but the government doesn’t have the money to fight the epidemic adequately, a top health official said. By tl~e middle of July, Russia had some 53,1~30 registered HIV cases, with almost half ofthemcomingin the last six months, said Vadim Pokrovsky, the head of the Federal AIDS Prevention Center. But he said that the actual number of Russians infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is probably more than 300,000, since only about 10% of the population. has been checked. "The regi,s,tered cases are only the tip of the iceberg, Pokrovsky said. "We must accept the fact that we are facing avery quickly spreading epidemic." Increaseddrug use andprostitution since the collapse of the Soviet Union have been two key reasons for the rise in HIV cases? Still, a low incidence in HIV-ca.ses in recent years as well as more pressing economicproblems m.ean ~.e~g~ov~eru~,~t, has been slow to combat AID~. in zu , only 46 million rubles ($1.65 million) was set aside to combat HIV and AIDS, Pokrovsky said. If Russia doesn’t take new measures to stop the spread of the virus, the country could have some 1.6 million HIV cases by 2015, he said..and those who are infected nrobablv won’tbeable to get the help they. the government’s manmty to pay. wm people probably shouldn t count on getting treatment," Pokrovsky said. . HIV is worst in the Moscow regto.n, where some 5% of young people are infected, Pokrovsky said. Rise in HIV Infections ih Gays College Hill Presbyterian Church announces a "More Light" Weekend with Michael Adee National Field Organizer, More Light Presbyterians August 25 - 27, 2000 Building A Church for Everyone Friday, August 25th, Luncheon: Noon - 1:30, Fellowship Hall History and goals of MoreLight Presbyterians, followedby a question and answer session. Cost: $5.00 for the meal Caring for All God’s People Saturday, August 26th, Workshop: 8:30 - 12:30, Fellowship Hall Pastoral care needs ofGLBT people and their families. Continental breakfast and snacks will be served. Bringing Body and Soul Together Sunday, August 27th, Church School Mid-highs to Adults, 9:35am, Chapel An interactive discussion on Christian sexual ethics. Celebrating Diversity and Inclusiveness Sunday, August 27th, Worship ll:00am, Sanctuary A special worship to celebrate our diversity and Christ’s call to be inclusive. Michael Adee will preach and we will share communion together. On Being Gay and Being Christian Sunday, August 27th, Youth Event 5:30 - 7:00pm The ColleggHill youth fellowship will be hosting individuals and other youth groups for pizza and informal conversation about sexuality and faith for youth. College Hill Presbyterian Church, 712 S. Col~bia Avenue, 592-5800 (One block west of Delaware and the Uni;~sity of Tulsa Campus) ’Financial Pla.nning With A Clear Comm,tment. ~t American Express Financial Advisors, we want to make our 3ommitment to gay men and lesbians clear. Just as we have extended domestic partner oenefits to our lesbian and gay employees worldwide, we are committed to providing sound financial advice that specifically addresses the unique financial issues affecting our lesbian and gay clients. Nhether you’re single, in a committed relationship, or caring for children, your Americar ~xpress financial advisor can help you take control of your financial future. We can help ~OU: Establish savings and investment plans Protect your assets from unnecessary taxation Av.oid financial restrictions placed on unmarried couples Avoid costly delays in the recei pt of life insurance proceeds series of Seminars given by "heresa Barnard, American Expeess Financial Advisor Where: MCC United When: 7:00 P.M. 1623 N Maplewood Ave ¯ TORONTO (AP) - Figures showing.a to mistrust the medical sys.te.m, a~.d w.~en , rise of HIV infections amongG~Y., menm everyone on the staff is whtte, tlae s~tua- " Ontario could be the fLrst sigu O~ mcreastion is worse. - " ~.... " ing HIV levds for Gay men in Cam.a.dar Natioo~!JY, one in .5~b,~abk.,m~,’~s,.m7 AIDS. activists note. A. recent prownce2 1. Create your Retirement Income fectedw~HIV,’,andAiDSis’theleaamg i wide study conducted by University ot [Tuesday; September 19th cause’of!~a,.~.~d~allblackAmerica~ Toronto and community gr6ups f°und an between:th~.~g~of 25:and44:Thbdis-~. increasing number of HIV infections [e Estate Planning ease i’s gr6wiiig fastest among -black among O~tario Gay men ~ter_ 19°~6,~ _ r [ Tuesday, October 24th women, who a~.ount for 56% of HIT ~ In 1992, the infection rate was ,.~ 1~ cases in women. " - " 100 people tested, the ~tudy found. The / ¯ number dr°pped t° 0"87J 1"00 in 1"996; d Australia a]or HIV Initiative-’" -" " risen to 2.07/100 people testea. llae stuaY mirrors recent results in San Francisco BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Australian " which showed that HIV infections among Foreign Minister Alexander Downer an- " Gay andBisexualmentherenearlytripled - nounced thelaunchrecenflY of asix-year’ over the past two years. -’inancial Strategies for Gay Men & Lesbians Tuesday, September 5th and Tuesday, October 10th Please R.S.V.P. RetirementExplore Your Options with Theres;~ at ...... " 918-748-8191 ext.121 Power Connect. Public Service Company of Oklahoma Customer Service Is Now Available 24 Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. These days, traditional 8-5 business hours aren’t always convenient. So PSO has made it easier than ever for you to contact us. Our Customer Service Center operates 24/7 - offering around-the-clock answers to your questions - and better access to service. Now it’s easier for you to inquire about your monthly electric bill, Or report a power outage. Or arrange to have your power turned on or off. Our professionally trained, friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives are standing by to serve you. All day, every day. To provide faster response to your needs, we have listed our toll-free numbers below. I I I "1 I I I I I I I I CALL 24 HOURS FOR TOLL-FREE SERVICE Customer Services: 1-888-216-3523 Billing Inquiries: 1-888-216.3490 Outage Reporting: 1-888-218-3919 m~€lip And Save I I I I I I I " Servicio a Clientes: 1-888-216-3505 .I Preguntas S0bre su Cuen~a: 1-888-216-3491 Public Service Company of Oklahoma I I I I I I D, I I I I I I I by Karin Gregory I just love Dr. Laura Schlessinger. Really, I do. I think she and I could be great buds. You know how some girls make plain girls their friends just to make themselves look prettier? Or how some pal around with fat girls just so they’ll look thinner? Well, Dr. Laura could be my girlfriend (eeeewwww, not that way!!!) because every stupid thing I’ve ever said in my life would sound intelligent next to the things she says. And she’ll be saying plenty, I’m sure, come October, when she rides in on her broomstick to Tulsa. Who is Dr. Laura, you ask? If you’re Gay, you’ve been in a cave. Laura Schlessinger, shock jock advice-giver of the radio circuit, has called Gays and Lesbians "biological errors", "sexual deviants", and my personal favorite, "pedophiles." She says she does this out of compassion for us, not out of hatred. Oh no, I don’t feel hated and maligned by those statements, do you? She spews her hatred and bile via the airwaves, with complete support from the Religious Right. You know them- that group that has the inside info on the "homosextml agenda"! As if her radio show weren’t bad enough, Schlessinger’s taking her "teach intolera-: ze" rantings to the TV screen in September, courtesy of that "giant" of great television programming, Paramount. "OK," you’re saying, "the Lesbian is once more raging about something, but what has that got to do with me? What’s one more ignorant person in a long line?" Funny you should ask. "Dr." Laura (she has a Ph.D in physiology, not psychology) has become svch a controversial figure (much like Am., Bryant in the late ’70s when she tried to inflate anti-Gay legislation) that the G/L/B/T commurnty has united to protest her television show. All over this country are planned protests to keep her off the TV screen. And debates have become so heated that major advertisers such as Proctor & Gamble, American Express and United Airlines have pulled out, saying that they don’t need any more controversy. And Geico InsuranceCompany (my insurance company!) tookits advertising away from her radio show at the beginning of July. The reason? The company could not, being supporters of diversity, condone the words and actions ofsomeone who clearly sees diversity as wrong. These are not their exact words, mind you, but .youmay find out more by going to www.stopdrlaura.com. Let’ s lookat this woman’s careerbriefly and find out just what led her to this homophobic phase in her life. Several years ago I.first heard her radio program, and I thought that she was telling people the truth, even if they didn’t want to hear it. Somehow I admired that, although I didn’t always agree with everything she said. She is a big proponent of parents taking control in the home and not blaming everyone else for how their’children behave. That part hooked me since Iwas a middle school teacher at the time and saw parents who didn’t think they hadan] responsibility for their child’s behavior. So far, so good. And I even read reports that she used to support theG/IJB/T community. Two years ago, however, she converted to Orthodox Judaism, adopting intolerance as her Bible. Now she says she can’t support the G/L/B/T community because of religious teachings. If you hate me, hate me. But don’t lie : about it, saying you’rejust~following the ¯ Old Testament. Hell, if we followed all the Old T0.~tament teachings we’d still be ¯ selling ot~ daughters into slavery; still ¯ buying s~ves from neighboring coma- " tries; and~ould be allowed to kill, with- " out impunity, anyone who worked on the ¯ Sabbath. Gee, I didn’tknow that the Jew- ¯ ish could also play pick and choose with ¯ religious teachings like some Christians. How much does she really believe in ¯ these religious texts? Who knows? She doesn’t even have a consistency when it ¯ comes to condemning homosexuality. ¯ Well, she does, but she tries to say that ¯ she’s not condemning anyone. The point ¯ is,shehas saidthingsinprintandonradio, ¯ takenthemback, backpedaled, madeother ¯ people speak for her so many times it’s ¯ ridiculous. Her stand is so ambivalent, so ¯ setin sand, thatno one canbelieve or trust ¯ anything that comes out ofher mouth. Her ¯ press agents said she apologized for her ¯ remarks about Gays being "errors", and ¯ ¯ then the next day she said she wasn’t apologizing. ¯ Dr. Laura has denounced the American ¯ Psychiatric Association and the National ¯ ¯ Education Association for their - oh, I suppose- compassk hate stance on equal ¯ rights for all, andinstead has sold her soul ¯ to Religious Right organizations like Fo- ¯ cus on the Family. She promotes, within ¯ her own radio show, an intolerance to- " ward Gay people on all levels, even to the ¯ point of denouncing hate crimes legisla- ¯ tion. ¯ I can see her leading cheers to teach children who’ve just come home from ¯ school how to actively hate homosexuals. "Gays are bad! Gays are fey! Let’s go ¯ bash ~ Gay today!" She says she is a ¯ moralist and has openly opposed the Ver¯ mont same-sex partners’ rights decision a few months ago. But again, she’s not ¯ hatingus. She’sjustcompassionate.Yeah, ¯ this is why she takes an attitude of "I’m right no matter what" on her radio show, ¯ and will also, I’m sure, on TV. But let’s ¯ see how that could work against her, shall ¯ we? Anyone who’s ever watched a few epi- : sodes of"Frasier" knows how easy it is to ¯ just hit a button and get rid of pesky caller ¯ #1. How does this work on TV, when ¯ you’re faced with the pesky caller in per- " son? Taping. has already begun on her : show, andfrom the reports, it doesn’ tlook ¯ likeasuccess. Dr. Lauradidn’tknow how ¯ to ask the proper questions, or even know ¯ some rudimentary technical televison ¯ knowledge i~her first tapings. ¯ There’s n~question that Dr. Laura is ¯ used to the ~d~o. But she also wants an ¯ audience like the one on radio - one she ¯ can rant to ,and not have to.see. Because ¯ ¯ for all her bravado and showmanship, she really DOESN’T WANT to help anyone. : She actually doesn’t seem to like people. ¯ You can bitch and moan to people all you : wantif you don’tsee their faces. She’s on : radio and~feels safe. i Guess What? Rea[peopie~ ! may had.e, more difneultyi~ing~p.le 0ff if she him to .fae~i. them, [f’.~votild be interesting to seehow b~y!hla~ di~S if ¯ she has to face questions about her views ¯ on homosexuality, but I know I won’t be ~ watching. I think she should just quietly ¯ go away, like Anita Bryant. A career ¯ shriveled by her own hatred. ¯ ¯ Gregory is a Texas based writer, who lives near Ft. Worth. Sheformerly taught ¯ school and also was a newspaper re- . porter. by Jim Christjohn, entertainment queen as ffelll He speaks atleast threelanguages o trammg. And to do this you need that of doing the constant prePs/media events, Happy summer, folks! Been a lot of fluently, and has a mischievous sense of o traimng. So it’s easy to injure your voice, being portrayed in press as living a life changes since the last column- went on a humor. Welose alotofcastmembers, whohaven’t that wasn’t close to reality and the rumors visit to Chicago where I discovered an Described as Versace on hyper speed, ¯ had the kind of vocal traimng that will based on the illusion. For instance, artist I’m eager to tell you about, and Braehetti changes costumes at lightning ¯ sustain you through a show like this. And, "There’d be a photo op at a party. I’d go closed the door on a ghost from the past; fast speed, transforming into more than " like I said, even if you have had it, there just long enough for the picture, then g~t started a new job and more. 80 characters and giving life to legions of ¯ are moments you forget. And you defi- home to a cup of tea and bed. DoingS8 First, local news: Cyndi Vetter directs personalities. His show is a multi-media o nitely feel it later. Even the trained folks shows a week plus recording an~ alb~ Heller Theatre’s first production of the extravaganza, combining comedy, mu- . lose voices as they get caught up in the didn’t leave much time for a Wild new season, "A Coupla White Chicks sic, magic, and emotions of the even if I’d wanted to live one. Thenthe~ Sitting Around Talking" by John Foi:d video in a unique show " I’d be, splashed across the C~adian Noonan. Starring local favorites Julie collage of acting, ". , .Deserll~ed as Versace on Jc: What el- equivalent of the National Inquirer, with Tattershall (an excellent actress) and storytelling, stunts layper speed, Braelaett] c]aan~es fect has doing this an article about what a party boy I was. Maude Mix, it is the story of two women and caricature. He show had in terms Please." who are complete opposites of each other, is thewinner ofthe costumes at li~latnin~ fast speed, of impacting your Feeling too tied to the show, he decided and the unlikdy bond they form. They 2000 Moliere life and/or views to start over and move to NYC, where discover that, together, they can over- Award(theFrench transformln~ into more tlaan 80 of the world? ironically, he ended up being recast in come anything. The production runs Au- Tony, which has el~araeters and ~ix,~n~ life to. MH: "As I Rent. He took a week or so off to record gust 3-6, at the Heller Theatre, 5328 S. never been one by said, I’ ve been vocals for the new album, which he pro- Wheeling Ave. Reservations are rectA- anyone outside of le~ions of personalities, through years of duced and played instrument~ for. mended at 746-5065. France), and a de- training, withsing- Heloves performing, dislikes pressjun- While in Chicago, I had the chance to lighffully impish His slaow is a multl-media ing, and acting, kets and meeting hordes of people. He meet some marvelous people, including fellow.Addalittle extravaganza, eomblnln~ and dancing. I’d made an exception to come to Tulsa, for TomMichael,whoIlaterlearnedisoneof Cirque De Soleil been so close to which the event was nice and relatively the top cabaret artists across the nation, too that mixture comedy, music, marie, and v’ldeo getting parts so low key, in his eyes. At th~ time of the consistently in the industr~’s top ten lists above, too. many times, only interview,hehadflownoutfromNYCity amongthecompanyofMichaelFeinstein, Brachetti ar- in a uniclue colla~e of acting, to lose them to 6:30pm the prior evening, didpress, upat Maureen McGovern, Betty Buckley, rivesinTulsaatthe peoplewhohadn’t 5:30am for more press, and was flying Michael McAssey (who hosted the PAC courtesy of storytelling, stunts and earlea- had any training. I back an’hour after I spoke with him. Ah, eveningatthepianobar-somethingTulsa Celebrity Attrac- was about to quit the glamorous life! ture. He is... a desperately needs), Sally Mayer, Donna tions August6-13. show busines s Chad was kind enough to give me a CD Murphy, and Amanda McBro(~fi. Tickets can be had deliChffully impish fellow, when the call came sampler of his new album, "No. 1 Fan," ~He’s been actively singing in the Chi- by calling 596- from the Rent and it’s very good. Nice melodic rock, cago nightclub scene for 12years, andhas 7111.Iwilltellyou Add a little Cirque De Soldl people. I’dbeenin and I love the first song -"Small Town also performed with the Boston Pops and now, the costumes too tlaat mixture above, too.., so many situations Girl;" atl.~,ode to not giving up on dreams Spokane symphonies. In 1995, he was that Brachetti de- where I’d been and p~venng with what life gives vou invited to participate in the national Caba- signedandcreated through al! this Ng~i~2i~ really nice beach-boys n{eets ret Symposium with such luminaries as rival any elaborate [and] training, and Fl’~i~,ood Mac kinda tune about break- MargaretWqfiting, Julie Wilson. and Ann Bette Midler workedreallvhard ~ mg-!:~p¢ or ~vantiug to, by the title .of Hampton Callaway. His album, "Sailing Cheridrag Queen onmy craft c~nly to ¯ "I~xmgton." After that is "Say Good-bye On," is the perfect music for romancing extravaganza. Di ...RENT opens August 99 see people with no : t~hip-hoppy kinda rappish song yournewguyorgal.TomMichael’svoice I mention he’s and runs tlarou~la September 8 experieuce get wi~eat pop hook, withsomejazz~a~,d wraps around you like a warm blanket on cute, designs a parts I was up for, rock bi-~:thrown in for good measure. It s a winter’s night, and draws you in. mean frock, in his for 8 performances, and had just be- about growing up, growing old, selling I was privileged to meet theman behind mid thirties (he’s come so disheart- out, doing what you’re told. "I know who the voice, and spend-an afternoon with cagey about his RENT is only ttae ened with the biz. I wanna be..." The next ~s a ham~ting him. He is as nice as the voice he sings age) and single? ~tla musical to win both Sothis,gethngthat ballad/rocker, an ode to loneliness of a those incredible love songs with. And RENT Opens call, really .rein- lostfriencFrelationshipanddrinkingalone. he’sboyishlyhandsome, withblondehair August 29 and tlae Pulltzer Prize and forced my faith in On each, his voice handles the material and incredibly intense eyes that dance runs through Sep- the business and and styles with aplomb, and he has a very with light ’ every so often. His smooth tember3for8per- several qony Awards..." renewed that appealing tone. It seems there will be " tenor voice and immaculate phrasing fin- formances. Tix go dream, something for everyone on the full CD, mediately gave me a new perspective on on sale June 12th Also, I’ve be- and it will be worth picking up. I hope ~t that style of voice, at 596 7111. RENT is only the fifth musi- come much more spiritual. I wasn’t spiri- gets radio play. My favorite cut is the title song, which cal to win both the Pulitzer Prize and tual at all when I took this part. But Mimi Jeffrey Seller, the show’s producer, I’ve heard done before, but not with such seve :al Tony ,Awards. Matinees are set is such a wonderful character and she’ s speaks of show with real enthusiasm, and feeling that you feel the song flowing for Sat & Sunday, and there will be a grounded in faith, and to play that, every his eyes light up when speaking of the around you. Beckie McKenzie, who un- special $25 per seat matinee on Wednes- night I have to believe it on stage. Since impacthe’s witnessedthe showhaveupon fortunately was out of town the.Sunday I day, August 30. doing the show and portraying a charac- its audience. He sees "Rent" as a transforsaw Tom perform, lent her voice and Presentatthepressconferenceannounc- ter, Mimi, who is very spiritual, I have mative experience. He hopes the show arranged the music for the album, and ing this special addition to Celebrity At- become more open to that aspect of life will reach the younger Gay teens and there’s not a tinker on it. When I asked tractions’ season were Marcy Harriell, where once I wasn’t, and I’ve heard from twenty-somethings and send a message my host "Which local artists’ CD should MIMI on Broadway, and Chad friends and fans about their own searches that "Yes, you can be gay and successful, take home with me as a souvemr. , the Richardson,ROGERonBroadway, flown for meaning, whichis one of the themes of that gay is more than OK and is cool. You immediateresponsewasTomMichael’s’, in for the day to perform a couple of the show. And that has inspired me to can live ~oodlife, a rich life," and hopes And he was right. Tom Michael’s "Sail- numbers from the show. They were both start searching. It’s so nice to bein a show they will be moved by the relevant expeing On" is available from Amazon.corn, dynamate, and had incredible voices, that’s inspiring instead of traumatizang." rienees the show represents. The message or Tower Records, Original Cast Records I was able to ask a few questions of Marcy Harriell has not done a CD yet, of inclusiveness is important to him for (1-888-627-3993), Borders, Barnes and them, which they were most ~acious in but hopes ~t is in her future. And I can the audience to ’get." Noble, Footlight Records, and answering. I spoke first with Ms Harriell, assure you, evenifshe sings the telephone Even today, he still has a passion for CDNOW.com: who was as gracious as she was beautiful, book, it would be well worth listening to. this show evident in his speech and the BrachettllS comang. No,~t s notaplece JC: This seems like an incredibly diffi- Chad Richardson is Canadian rock way his eyes light up. Having aecomof tOast with herbs and tomatoes on ~t, it’s cult show to do, especially in terms of the singer, and has had two albums produced, plished quite a bit for his 35 years, he ArturoBrachetti, the quick-change artist, vocals. His third is the upcoming "No. 1 Fan," chalks his success up to being a Think "Greater Tuna" meets Robin Will- MH: (laughing) "Oh yes! Well, I’m a due out in May. He’s a handsome man, workaholic. He never tires of seeing the Jams while doing David Copperfield’s classically trained singer - opera and so and he also has an incredible voice, much show s effect on audiences, its power to act. Greater Tuna had two guys doing on, so doing this show was really different easier to listen to in many ways than embrace and connect with all people, and quick changes to create the 22 characters in terms of it being arock show, basically. Anthony Rapp, the originator of the role. make them feel part of a family. of a small mythical town; Arturo is one It places totally different stresses on your He also has incredible presence and very Of course, that does kind of clash with man creating 88 characters during the vocalchords,andrequiresalotofstamina; piercing eyes. the show’s detractors, who feel that it course of an evening - from cowboys to because when you get caught up in the Chad was a member of the Canadian glamorizes drug use and unsafe sex, but geishas and barmaids to Royal Mounties, emotion of the show - which happens at cast ~f Rent, who reached rock-star fame you can’t please everyone. he is a very channing man and handsome some point every night - you forget the .o as a member of the show. He quickly tired by Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D. My sister just reported in from the annual family reunion. Earlier this month, the uncles, aunts, and cousins congregated in apark on the suburban slopes ofMt. Diablo, California. Safe here in Oklahoma, I’ve somehow managed to .miss the last decade ofthese family pic- But news filters back. This year my second cousin Michael reappeared, somehow on parole. I am surprised because it wasn’t too long ago thathe attacked an elderly couple in their car, pulled up at a gas station. He stabbed the oldwoman dead. A .Vietnam War flashback, Michael’s lawyer said, which could wall be true. My family doesn’t talk much. What facts I have derive from the Oakland Tribune lnternet newspaper archives. Orrather, the truth is that we happily gossip about each other when those others aren’t listening. Wejust don’t speak such things publicly. And there at the picnic also were my second cousins, once-removed, who are autistic. Our gossip wonders if this condition is their parents’ fault. The brothers, who are now in their 30s, somehow make a living repairing trails in Yosemite National Park. We all know something about them despite the fact that their autism is never spoken of at our reunions. My first cousin arson was at the picnic too. arson is 46, unmarried, does something with computers, and still lives with my aging aunt and uncle. It makes one think. It makes us gossip, too. Perhaps I have a Gay cousin: Or perhaps arson is just a happy solitary. Who knows? We never talk about it:Opeuly, that is. My family - likes yours, maybe - religiously follows our own policy of "Don’t ask, don’t tell." This peculiar sort of secrecy is the framewt,rk of the closet. The closet comes into being just because we have agreed not to notice what is obvious. arson’s sexual identity is an open secret. He knows what he is, and we know what he is too. But because we never admit what we know, not publicly anyway, we avoidhaving to deal withits consequences. If we did acknowledge that we know, we might have to do something. Dismiss the newly uncloseted Gay from the Army, for example. My family wouldn’t discharge Orson.(or me either,.for that matter) fromthe clan,butitwouldface having to revalue Gayness. It would lose the comfort of our open secret. This would demand considerable emotional and political transformationonall sides, It’s alot easier just to go along to eat the hotdogs and hamburgers and chat about kids and the weather. Eve Sedgwick, a literary critic and one of the founders of "queer theory," proposedin" TheEpistemology ofthe Closet" that open secrets are fundamental within modern American culture. Part of her argument can be restated simply. Homosexuality - which throughout much of the 20th century couldnot be recognized publicly - is nonetheless always present within contemporary no- My family doesn’t talk much. What f~ets I have derive from the Oakland Tribune Internet newspaper archives. Or rather, the truth is that we happily gossip about each other when those others aren’t listening. We just don’t speak such things publiely. ¯ tions of sexuality. Gayness exists in order : to maintain theboundaries of straightness. ¯ Wejust don’t admit it: ¯ Gayness has to exist as an open secret. It is a shadowy, inverted, and devalued reflection of straight. When it emerges from the closetand appears clearly in public, it threatens ¯straightness if it becomes a possible, alternative normal sexuality. Straight can’t exist withoutGay; butitperhaps also can’t exist-notin thesame way, anyway - when the open secret is revealed. Likemurder and autism in the family, the unspeakability of secret Gayness has maintainedits shame. We’ve heard the reaction: "Go ahead and be Gay. Butkeepit to yourself. Don’t thrust your lifestyle in my face. We don’t want to know about it. How dare you Gays flaunt k ? Can’t you keep it secret?" ¯ You can understand the worry. Flaunt- " ing destroys open secrets. Public recogni- ¯ ,tion of Gayness erodes the normality and "6ounds of straightness. Telling one’s se- ¯ crets unsettles the uncles and the aunts ¯¯ and their elemental notions about who ¯ and what they are. Who can blame them? Nowonderthey’dratherhappily smalltalk ¯ with arson abouthis job andhis car- and ¯ not about what he does when no one is ;" looking (or when they are pretending not ¯ to be looking). ¯ So my family dogs its job, keeping our ¯ open secrets. And it’s not just my timo- ¯ ¯ rous relatives. I have thirty-something Gay friends who avoid certain bars for ¯ fear they might run into family friends ¯ who’dtell thex" rmother. Li" kemomdoesn’t ¯ already know. But, sometimes, she really doesn’tknow- she honors the open secret ¯ by not admitting that she’s seen through ¯ her son years ago. ¯ One of these years I’m going to finally ¯ make it home to the family reunion. ¯ "Orson," maybe I’ll say,"So what do you ¯ think of those Back Street Boys?" ¯ Lamont Lindstrom teaches anthropology at the University of Tu,lsa. ¯ ¯ It takes courage to scrutinize yourdefense structures, belief system, values, self- " worth, self-doubt, behavioral patterns, and ¯ overall identity, and to shed the traits and ¯ beliefs thatno longer functionin your life. ¯ It takes uncommon courage and integrity ~ to implement the insights of that scrutiny, ¯ and to live honesty and authentically. ¯ Anyone who enters and completes this : process is a survivor, and deserves the ¯ rewards of liberation, identity autonomy, ¯ and happiness." : While much of this book is geared to- " ward use by straight therapists for their ¯ Lesbian and Gay clients, lay people will ¯ also find it valuable. It will help people to ¯ fully understand that the rituals they have ¯ gone through are not unusual and that : their goal shou!.d be a vibrant, happy and ¯ healthy life. ¯ Check for this title at your local library, ¯ or call Readers Services at 596-7966. Timothy .W. Daniel Attorney at Law | An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy I 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma ~sareavailable. Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American Support Group is here .for you! ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project rr IGTA member Call 341.6866 international Toursiormorein!ormation. e Therapy services Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #t34133 Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Ffi., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pro Tulsa ’sonly professional body-piercing American Theatre Company presents Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night Augus, 17- !9 August 24 - 26 Eight o’clock Eight dollars at. the gate Phil brook Museum 2727 South Rockford Road. by Ted Anthony, AP National Writer N~V YORK (AP) - 715ose eyes. ~tNose eyelashes. Those cheekbones. Those outfits. She Is m~ American original, this Tammy Faye Bakker - for better and for worse, an utterly umque vessel that conrains the strange stew of celebrity, spirituality and sin we have come to expect from our fallen 1cons in recent decades. Who better, then, to explore, to figure out, to focus in upon than the face that launched 1,000 quips? That’s the mission of a new documentary, and "Tile Eyes of Tammy Faye" doesn’t disappoint. For those of you living on Jupiter’s moons, Tammy Faye Bakker (now Tammy Faye Messner) was/is the excruciatingly mascaraed ex-wife of tdevangelist Jim Bakker and former costar of PTL, the North Carolina-based television ministry that imploded in a pit of accusations and recriminations in the late 1980s. He trysted with Jessica Hahn (who later paraded in Playboy) and went to jail. She got addicted to pills and ended up marrying his best friend. Jerry Falwell got involved. Things got nasty. Pop culture references were born. Mascara companies prospered. Now, more than a decade later, Tammy Fgye paces-the halls of her California gated-community house, trying to sti~lI together the swatches of her life and fin__ out what’s important to her. This proves to be a funny and tragic endeavor, and filmmakers Randy Barbato and Fenton Baily chronicle it as it unfolds. Narrated by RuPaul, of all people, it’s a festival of weirdness camed out on an impressively documentarian level, and it offers a deadon look at Tammy _ aye without ever poking fun at her. It lets her do all the work, and work she does. - She gives us a tour of her makeup case (the eyes come from L’Oreal Waterproof - She is praised by relatives in strange ways ("When she was born, she had perfecfly manicured fingernails:’ says an aunt). - She goes to a photographer to get new head shots and smpri ses the makeup artist by announcing that her lips, eyes and eyebrows are permanently lined. The film’s success, though, lies in assembling a portrait of Tammy Faye that transcends parody. She is an easy target for a hip, sarcastic documentary. Instead, we find out about a woman who was reaching out to Gays and AIDS patients long before anyone else in the Christian broadcasting community Welearn about awoman who endured cancer, thenjudged. the experience worthwhile because ~t brought her closer to her daughter. And we discover, though she never says it outfight, that she still respects Jim Bakker - and may well still love him xn some ways. Bakker, too, is interviewed here, watched balefully by his new wife as he talks - and sometimes reminisces fondly - about his time with Tammy Faye. In the end, you’re left with several questions aboutTammy Faye: What DID she and Bakker believe in? God? Ego? Money? Themselve,’ 9 And what does she really look like under all those layers? Whatever she ultimately is, Tammy Faye deserves some sympathy. She’ s been through alot that wasn’t her ownmaking. She’s going to church again, singing ~n a local choir and trying to figure out just who she is - an admirable trait in anyone, and something not to be lampooned, no matter what her past has held. "I don’t know of any woman in our time who has been so maligned," Pat Boone tells the camera. "And yet she just keeps going." And that trajectory makes for a fascinating documentary - whether you end up seeing it as a valid piece of journalism or an entertaining celebrity car wreck. Homosexual Rites of Passage: arises from lack of awareness that others A Road to Visibility & Validation by Marie Mohler, MA reviewed by Barry Hensley Tulsa Ciry-CounU Eibrary Like e~eryone else, Lesbians and Gay men go through a series of life events that shape their personalities, morals and ability to interact with other people. However, because of sexual orientation, there is often a different set of events and there are different hurdles to jump. This book analyzes these rites of passage to help Lesbians and Gay men understand themselves. Author ~ [thief approaches a variety of topics, each with, a sep~ate chapter, inciudi~. g ~,~nderstar,,ding Fear, Overcoming c.~- Coming Out, Con-a~fitment Rimai s ar,_d Aging Rites. Each topic builds o~ the prevtous one. Fern plays a big role for both straights and Ga)’s. For Gay people, fear serves as an obstacle to growth. For straightpeople, fear of Gays "’smt’aces in antiGay bashing, picketing, propaganda, hazing, attempts at converting homosexuals and discrimination in the workforce. Energy is tied up in keeping the Lesbian and Gay individual out of their world, consciousness, and own ide.nti.ty,.b.y attemp.ting t,o, keep homosexuahty mws~ble and stlent. Mohler suggests that straights fear Gays due to ignorance. "This ignorance often may differ from one’s sdf. There is often no motivation to learn about other cultures or sexual orientations. Thus, anything different from the self is considered abnormal." One thought provoking section in the chapter on aging deals with the death of a same sex life partner. A Gay or Lesbian individual’s "truest support system, emotionally, physically, sexually, and finandally, may be flflfilled by this one person. In light of’the fact that many heterosexual peers and families may not mfite understand the magnitude of homo~sexual fee!- rags _~md. Gay!Lesbi,~ conuni~mem to !ife parmers, ~t ma~ be devastating to not rec~’~c ~N’.: much-needed suppn<i: dmSng this a;~,::’~;v-g pefic,l. The heterosextml majci:~.~? ~m,,y be blind to exiuatiL~g the loss of one’s life partner to ’,he loss of a husband or wife. While this lack of support is a great tragedy, with great potenial for re- ~njuring and shaming homosexuals during a time of great mourning, it is thevery reason why Gay men and Lesbian women needto stand together as a community and validate the troth of their parmerships." The chapter on coming out summarizes the upbeat feel of the entire book: "(the coming out) process affects homosexuals physically, emotionally, and intellectuall) - see Passages, p. 10 Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core 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 [2000] Tulsa Family News, August 2000; Volume 7, Issue 8 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource August 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Karin Gregory Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Hughston Walkinshaw Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, July 2000; Volume 7, Issue 7 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 newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/603 2000 African Americans AIDS aMUSEments arts and entertainment Bars Boy Scouts businesses churches civil unions Colin Powell Dick Cheney gay bashing Gay marriage Gay Studies hate crimes HIV homophobia Jim Christjohn journalism Karin Gregory Lamont Lindstorm Marie Mohler marriage equality military inclusion Murder Native Americans performing arts Raging Lesbian Read All About It Republican Party restaurants support groups Tammy Faye Messner Tom Neal Tulsa Family News https://history.okeq.org/files/original/590625efbb63be8cb25d8b9dc93531aa.jpg b702d4d8f1ee914bff551b9101daf0e2 https://history.okeq.org/files/original/06ce247df8f6a426e68a567cee7a119b.pdf ed98d8ae2a578073440d4ea6e68c6db6 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. Text Any textual data included in the document High Court + Scouts: No Gays Need Apply by Laurie Asseo, Associated Press WASHINGTON - The Boy Scouts can bar Gays from serving as troop leaders, the Supreme Court said at the end of June in a 5-4 decision on "free-association rights." The decision may also let the-6.2-millionmember organization reject Gay boys as members. Forcing the Scouts to accept Gay troop leaders would violate the organization’ s right of"expressive association" under the Constitution’s First Amendment, the justices nded on the last day of their 1999-2000 term. "The Boy Scouts asserts that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the values it seeks to instill," Chief Justice William H. Relmquist wrote for the court. Requiring the organization to have a Gay scoutmaster would force it "to send a message, both~£o the youth members and the world, that the Boy Scouts accepts homosexual conduct as a legitimate form of behavior," the €,..hief justice said. "-.We’ re very pleased," said Scouts spokesman Gregg Shields. "It’ s going to allow us to continue our mission of providing character-building programs for youth." see Scouts._ tg. 9 uNPredicts: AIDS Will Kill One Half.of African Teens GENEVA (AP) - AIDS has killed 19 million people worldwide, but the worst is yet to come, the United Nations has just predicted: the disease is expected to wipe out half the teen-agers in some African nations, devastating economies and societies. ’q’here is a whole generation which is being taken outYsaid Peter Plot, head of the U.N. Joint Program on HIV/AIDS. He said vulnerable countries in Asia, Eastem Europe and the Caribbean risk a similar catastrophe unless they act now to control infection rates. In its 135-page report released at the end of June, UNAIDS estimates: -The virus has killed 19 million people worldwide, up fronr 16.3 million at the end of 1998. ~t has infected 34 million more, including 5.4 million last year alone. -More than 13 million children have been orphaned by AIDS. -In 16 sub-SaharanAfrican countries, more than onetenth of the population ages 15-49 carries the Human lmmunodeficiency Virus, or HIV. -In seven of those countries, at least one-fifth of the population is infected. One-of the countries where 20% of the population is infected is South Africa, which has 4.2 million people who are HIV positive- the largest single national total. The southern African nation of Botswana has the worst rate, with more than one in three adults infected. That is the equivalent of 90 million people out of the U.S. population of 270 million, see Africa, p. 9 DIRECTORY P. 2 PRIDE PHOTOS P. 3 US & WORLD NEWS P. 4 HEALTH NEWS P. 6 ENTERTAINMENT P. 8 GAY STUDIES P. 10 Serving Lesbian; Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends Pride 2000: Greg, Greta + ORU Too TULSA - While the Edsel ferrying Greg Louganis broke down and despite a steady but mild rain, Tulsa’s 2nd Pride Parade went off without a hitch. Beginning at the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center near 41st & Peoria, several hundreds gathered along with grand marshals, Olympic champion Greg Louganis and distinguished US Army veteran Greta Cammermeyer. The. parade featured churches, choirs, drag queens and female impersonators, leather "boys and daddies," bars and businessmen who spread out over more than a mile and ended up at Veteran’ s Park for the Pride Festival. This yearlikelast, a handful of protesters gathered at the beginning of the parade, and then scurried to the end to protest yet again. Incontrast with those who were protesting, the pastor and a couple of members of the CarbondaleAssembly of God passed out bottles of water without any message of condemnation as they did last year also. When asked about their effort, they said they just wanted to act with compassion and to avoid the nastiness - leaving judgement to the Almighty. see Pride, p. 6 Humanity Unites for Human Rights Oral Roberts University Alumni Gree Louganis at the Millennium Parade Sharon Toele with Greta Cammermever i" Vermont Judge Won’t Block- Unions, Officials Rebel + More ¯ MONTPELIER,Vt. (AP)-Opponents ofVermont’ s civil unions. ¯ made another legal bid to block thelaw from taking effect on July ¯ ¯ 1st. A day after a Superior Court judge refused to issue a ." ¯ preliminary injunction blocking the first civil unions ceremonies. ¯ from taking place, opponents filed a new request and added new ° plaintiffs. A Virginia lawyer representing Shdtra and the other plaintiffs ° said Superior Cpurt Judge Stephen Martin did not have enough ; information beftre him when the judge ruled that no irreparable ° harm would occur if the law went into effect. ¯ Lawyer Erik Stanley asked to add two new plaintiffs to the ; lawsuit: town clerks in Corinth and Fairfield, who say they would ° be harmed if forced to issue civil union licenses. ¯ "These town clerks object to doing that on moral and religious ° grounds and have asked the attorney general’ s office if they could " not issue these licenses," Stanley said. ’The attorney general ; responded in a letter to them that if they refuse to issue civil ¯ unions licenses, they could be faced with civil lawsuits from the " individuals to whom they refused to issue licenses." There also ¯ is the remote possibility of criminal fines or prison terms. ¯ Several town clerks say they object to homosexuality and do ¯ not want to be forced into providing licenses that will grant same- " sex couples nearly all the rights and benefits Of marriage. " " The clerks now have been added to 15 people who sued to -" overturn the law. Eleven of those plaintiffs are members of the ¯ Vermont House who opposed civil unions, including prominent" representatives such as Sheltra, Oreste Valsangiacomo, D-Barre, ° Robert Starr, D-Troy, and George Schiavone, R-Shelburne. ¯ They argue that an informal betting pool among 14 House " members who supported the bill should invalidate it. The 14" bettors each threw in a dollar to wager on the number of "yes" ¯ votes the bill would garner when it went before the House for ¯ preliminary approval in March. It passed by seven votes that day. " Opponents argued the pool should have disqualified those who " participated because it gave them an interest in the outcome of the ¯ vote. ¯ In a recent ruling, Martin said allowing Gay and Lesbian " couples to enter into civil unions beginning Saturday would pose : no harm to the initial 15 plaintiffs, see Vermont, p. 9. Coke Adds Benefits for Gay +-Lesbian Partners WASHINGTON The Human Rights Campaign, anational Gay civil rights organization, commended the Coea-Cola Co. today for announcing plans to extend health care benefits to same-sex domestic partners of its United States-based employees. "This is excellent news, and yet another sign that domestic partner benefits are becoming a standard component of benefits packages at forward-thinking companies," said Kim I. Mills, HRC’ s education director who oversees WorkNet, HRC’s workplac project. "With this announcement, Coke becomes the 99th member of the Fortune 500 to take this important step." The Human Rights Campaign and its Business Council have been working with Coea-Cola and KOLAGE, its Lesbian and Gay employee resource group, for many months on this issue, Mills said. HRC WorkNet (www.hrc.org/worknet) provided data, strategy and other advice as needed. The Coca-Cola Co. released a statement today announcing the benefits, which will begin Jan. 1, 2001. According to the statement, employees will be able to sign up during the fall benefits enrollment period. The company also said it is researching opportunities for implementing its policy on a global basis. "Our company is committed to attracting and retaining the most diverse workforce in the world," Coca-Cola said in the statement. "Our goal is to ensure that the Coea-Cola Company is the best place for all people to work. This extension ofbenefits is another step toward achieving that goal." "The Coea-Cola Company has provided worldclass leadership to the beverage industry, and to the business commtmity in Atlanta and all of Georgia by taking this historic action," said Harry Knox, executive director of the Georgia Equality Project, whichrepresents Georgia’ s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered citizens, see Coke, p. 2 Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’ s, 1737 S. Memorial *Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine *Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *The Star, 1565 Sheridan *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main *TNT’ s, 2114 S. Memorial *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd 712-2324 610-5323 583-2119 835-2376 749-4511 744-4280 745-9998 834-4234 585-3405 660-0856 584-1308 *The Yellow Brick Road Pub, 2630 E. 15th 749-1563 Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria *Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. 1 lth Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. ISth Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial *Ross Edward Salon Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main 747-1508 743-1000 250-5034 665-4580 712-1122 712-9955 494-2665 743-5272 746-0313 295-5868 581-0902, 743-4117 622-0700 749-3620 744-5556 838-8503 369-8555 584=0337, 712-9379 592-0460 " *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 744-9595 Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. 610-0880 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026 *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758.E. 21st 742-1460 Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440 *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 *International Tours 341-6866 Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750 *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018 David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236 The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460 *Kerfs Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466 *Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha 585-1234 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112 Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951 Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626 *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297 Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 747-5932 Richard’ s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921, 747-4746 Scribner’ s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301 Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558 Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563 Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling 743-1733 *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan 665-2222 *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767 www.gaytulsa.org Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593 All Sods Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 "13/UGFr Alliance, Univ. ofTulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence *ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314 *Community ofHopeUnited Me~o~li."~st, 2545 S:.Yale 747-6300 *Community Unitarian-Universanst tgongregauon 749-0595 Council Oak Men’ s Chorale 748-3888 *Ddaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 *Free SpiritWomen’ s Center, call forlocation &info: 587-4669 )18.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 o-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlinl~ net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn, Karin Gregory, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum. Mary Schepers, Hughston Walkinshaw Member of The Associated Press Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of this publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by T~€, lz:€~ h/~w~ and may not be reproduced ei.th.er in whole orin part withoutwrittenpermission from thepublisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’ s sexual orientation. Correspondence zs asslmaed to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property of TJ.~, F¢,~.’. No,w÷ ..Each..rea.der is entitled to 4 copies of each ediuon at distnbutton points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438 HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood . Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 ¯ *MCG United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 gAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111 NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658 OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 *OSU-Tulsa PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325 O’ RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults O’ RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth St. Aidan’ s ,Episcopal church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 St. Dunstan,s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 *St. Jerome s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 Confidential I-IIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *Tulsa Community College Campuses *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 B,ARTLESVILLE *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN ¯ Borders Books & Music, 3209NWExpressway 405-848::2667 : Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 : TAHLEQUAH : Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 ¯ *Tahlequah Unitarian-UniversalistChurch 918-456-7900 Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 NSU School of Optometry, 1001N. Grand HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS Autunm Bre~.,ze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 *Jim & Brent s Bistro, 173 S. Main DeVito’ s Restaurant, 5 Center St. Fmerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. MCC of the Living Spring Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery Positive Idea Marketing Plans Sparky’ s, Hwy. 62 East White Light, 1 Center St. 501-253-7734 501-253-7457 501-253-6807 501-253-5445 501-253-9337 501-253-2776 501-253~5332 501-624-6646 501-253-6001 501-253-4074 www.gaytulsa.org stirs controversy TULSA - gaytulsa.org, a non-profit continues to stir controversy about and in the Tulsa Lesbian, Gay, Bi and ~rans communities. Hosted by webmaster David and his : partner, Seth, a statement onthe sitenotes, ¯. " [that it is] an effort to chronicle the dme sl~ent out and about in the Tulsa gay scene ¯ mixed with a bit of news and ¯ information. We do not claim to be fair, objective, or even nice. This is 99% ¯ opinion. Whileyoumayormaynotagree, ¯ wecanpromise youwill be either amused, ¯ baffled, or (more commonly) pissed if ¯ ¯ youkeep visiting. We acceptgossip, slander, or anything else you want to submit ¯ we can post here." ¯ The awardwinning sitefeatures links to ¯ other web sites of interest and offers the observations of local writer, Dyke Di- ¯ vine. Also included are cordial descriptions of local and state pnnt media: Tulsa Family News, The Gayly Oklahoman and ¯ newcomer to Tulsa, the recently renamed Tulsa Triangle. ¯ On the net: www.gaytulsa.org JOPLIN, MISSOURI *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 41%623-4696 * is where youcan findTFN¯NotallareGaY"ownedbutallareGay"fri"endly" i The Georgia Equality Project also played ¯ a key role in working with the company : andKOLAGEto helpbring aboutthenew ¯ policy. ¯ GEP also unveiled a new initiadvg~to- ¯ day to persuade nine other Georgia COm- " panies to provide domestic partner ben- " efits to their Lesbian and Gay employees. ¯ These companies are: Home Depot, At- : lanta Gas Light Co., BellSouth, Georgia ¯ Pacific, DeltaAirlines, Wachovia, United ¯ parcel.Service, Shaw Industries and Gulf ¯ Stream Aerospace. ¯ "Some companies in Georgia are be- : hind the times in their treatment of their Lesbian and Gay employees, said Kno . "We are launching this initiative because our Gay daughters, sons, fathers, moth- . ers, aunts, uncles and cousins should re- . ceive benefits for their dependent family ¯ members just like everyone eis . ¯ Earlier this month, DaimlerChrysler : Corp., Ford Motor Co. and General Mo- ¯ tots Corp., along with the United Auto ¯ Workers umon, announced they would offer health care coverage to same-sex ¯ partners of all eligible U.S. employees. It ¯ was the first time an endre industry, along ¯ with its leading umon, announeed domes- ¯ - tic partner benefits simultaneously. More : than.3,400 private and public employers ¯ provide these benefits to their employees. ¯ So far this year, an average of five : employers a week are announcing these : benefits, according to HRC’ s WorkNet, : which tracks these trends. Many of ¯ America’ s leading companies offer these ¯ benefits including: IBM, Microsoft€Shell ~ Oil, Walt Disney, Fannie Mae, Cifgroup, ¯ Xerox, Time Warner and United and : American Airlines. Additionally, more ¯ thanhalfoftheFortune 500includesexual : orientation in their non-discrimination ¯ polities. : Letters Policy : TulsaFamilyNewswelcomes letters on ¯ issues which we’ve covered or on issues : you thinkneed to be considered. Youmay : request that your name be withheld but letters mustbe signed&have phonenum- ~ bers, or be hand ddivered. Anti-Gay Ads in Mexico "¯ past. of police was once so pervasive that hate crimes andsame-sex domestic violence went MEXICO CITY (AP) - The two leading candidates in Mexico’ s presidential campaign have raised eyebrows by casting doubts on each other’ s masculinity. But the real surprise to .many,,,I~__ple in tl~i."s land w~.ith a reputation for "machismo has been me negauve reaction to the tactic. Criticism led opposition candidate Vicente Fox to quickly drop a negative TV ad aimed at rival Fran= cisco Labastida, the candidate of the long-governing Institutional Revohition.ary. Party, or PRI. Using a ¯ Mexican slang termfbr s0iii~0ne Of madefined seXu2 ality, the ad showed Labastida hugging and lifting a ~ PRI colleague by the thighs: It also featured shots of male strippers at a’ campaign rally for another PRI candidate. " After canceling the ad, Fox’ s socially conservative National Action Party, known as PAN, ran an advertisement in newspapers defending itself tothe Gay community. The p~t,,y is "not against.the ,O,,ay community in any way,’ the ad said, adding: In a Fox admiulstration, there will befrcedOm for people to live without masks." Carlos Monsivais, an author and social critic, said the party’ s retreat was a milestone for Mexico, where there are no openly Gay politicians and homosexualtty has not been wtdely accepted..The most tm.po, t~( thing is that even Fox and the right had to oacK down and apologize to the Gay commumty,, h,e’ s.atd.." "It’ s incredible to hear the word ’homophobta oemg ~ used even by the right." Labastida’ s supporters have drawn their own criticism for taking shots at.Fox’ s masct!!.inity with allusions to his separation fromhis wife andhis being the father of four adopted children. Such attacks have seldombeenso directinMexicanpolitics, althoughin the previous presidential election six years ago, the PRI allegedly hired transvestites to attend an opposition campaign rallyin Veracruz state in an attempt to discredit it. This time, the attacks were started by Fox. Fo,x, called the PRI candidate a sissy and" La Vesttda, a pun on his rival’s name implying Labastida is a cross-dresser. But the atmosphere changed when a minor-party candidate, Gilberto Rincon Gallardo of the Social Democratic Party, stuck up for homosexuals, the handicapped, rape victims and Indians in a televised debate, the first time many of those groups. had been mentioned in the race. "In weak democracies like Mexico, legal protections are necessary to prevent a tyranny of the majority over minorities, so that people can decide on their own private lives withou,,t a majority imposing its moral or cultural views, Rincon Gallardo said. On June 17, the Gay community held what was by far the largest Gay-pride parade in Mexican history, with organizers estimating a turnout of 30,000. Just ¯ five years ago, SUCh parades drew an average of about 1,000 people. But Gays haven’ t had much success in their effort to make an issue of the banning of some Gay cultural events by PAN officials in towns they goBveemnj.amin Araujo of the Front for-People with AIDS-HIV said that "Gays are more tolerated than accacne~udteadte"iisnaMneimxipcoosasnibdiltihtyat. aTnhoepperenvl.yat..Ge,nacye,,p.oo.Il"~iatni.c,.ua.1-. Gayattitudes wasillnstratedbY areportoymet_,mzen) CommitteeAgainst Homophobic Hate Crimes: It estimates that 190 Gays were killed in Mexico bec1a9u9s9e. BofuttMheoirnss~evxautasl soereisenptraotgiorenssb.etWweeesnul1!h9a9v4ena"ndt reached the point of having an openly Gay candidate," he said. "But we are now at a point where there can no longer be an openly anti-Gay candidate." Denver Cops & Gays Work Together DENVER (AP) - Gays and Lesbians have formed an alliance with police to deal with late-night cruising, loud noise and sex in public around Cheesman Park. Police, Gay civil-rights activists and park neighbors have been handing out fliers to motorists for the past few weeks warning that police will crack do.wn on traffic, park curfew violations and inappropriate activity on surrounding streets. ¯ Thejoint effort wouldnot have been possible in the ¯ unreported, activists said. : "I think there was, clearly, some traditional stereo- . typing on both sides, but that has changed alot," said ¯ Lt. Jimmy Martinez, who leads a communi.ty-poli.c; ~ ing team in the Cheesman Park area: Marttnez sara ¯ acting Police Chief Gerry Whitman devised the strat- ~ - egy when he was captain of District 6 surrounding ~ Cheesman. Once the "Fort Apache" of city police ~ districts, District 6 is now a model for community- ~ policing programs. Cheesman is ~a .well:known gathering #ace for ~ -~ Gays and Lesbians,~and friction de~eloped between neighbors andparkusers¯ Marfinez~idpolicegot the~ -- Cheesman Park West Neighborhood Associationand Equality Colorado, a statewide Gay civil-rights orga- : nization, directly involved. ¯ Representatives on both sides said the strategy has . ~ worked. "For one thing, our work with the Denver :~ police has become a model for how an organization like ours can work with law enforcement," said Lori ¯ Girvan, directorofEquality Colomdo.DedeDePerein, ¯ who heads Equality’s Anti-Violence Project, sai.’d i cooperadun with police has "built bridges" over me ". Gay community’ s prevalent, persistent fear and misi trust of law enforcement. JoeBarrows of theChcesman ParkWestNeighborhoodAssociation saidheandhis neighbors frequently called oolice with complaints before the communitypolicing campatgn. Now compl.amt.s a~..e rare: Tl~.e result has been a positive changem tlae atsrupttons m the neighborhood. It’ s been a positive experience all the way around," he said. Mormans Attack Gay Relationships in Nevada CARSON C1TY (AP) - A Mormon church-endorsed ban on same-sex marriages cleared one hurdle recendy when the secretary of state’ s office said aballot ~etition contained enough signatures. The ruling by Deputy Secretary for Elections Susan Morandi advanced the constitutional referendum to its final step - a test sampling names on the petition for regist.ered voters. County clerks and voter registrars were given until July 7 toverify that registered voters signed the petition. Morandi’ s office said the Coalition for the Protection of Mamage got 120,558 people to sign its 15etitlon, which is almost three times the number of registered voters needed to put a question on the Nevada ballot: Under the measure, Nevada would recogmze mamages only of a re.an and woman. ,That already is part of state law, but advocates want to t~acK it up in the state constitution. Opponents say the initiative amounts to discriminadota and bigotry. The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada and about 20 other groups across the state formed the Coalition for Unity to campaign against the ballot measure. The Coalition for the Protection of Marriage is heavily supported by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members were central to anti-Gay marriage efforts in Hawaii and Alaska, and most recently, in California. However, the former Catholic bishop of Las Vegas, Daniel Walsh, asked priests and paris.ke_s to. support the ’~.aditi0nal f_~amily" but not to support Ziser’ s effort because it fosters ill-will toward Gays. Gay Pride in Tel Aviv " TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) - Celebrating Gay pride, thousands of Israelis in tank tops and shorts danced to ¯ deafening music and waved rainbow-colored flags at ¯ the end of June. The annual street party has become ¯ the latest venue in the culture war between secular ¯ Israelis and devoutJews who consider h°m°sexuality ¯ an abomination. ¯ "We promise to support your struggle against the ~ religious," legislator Tommy Lapid, leader of the ¯ secular rights party Shinui, told the cheering crowd. ~ In recent years, Gays and Lesbians in Israel have ¯ scored a string of successes in the courts, though not ¯ in parliament, where ultra-Orthodox religi°us Parties ¯ have considerable deut. Last month, the Supreme Court allowed a Lesbian spouse to be registered as the United in God’s Love MCC-United Sunday Worship Reverend Cathy Elliot ~ 1 1:00 am P~tor ..... 62~ N. Maplewood ; Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 254~ South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am .. Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm 1517 S. Memorial, 628-0802, Info: 224-4754 Sandra Hill Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive; Suite 215,745-1111 Red Rock Tulsa- O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network Outreach Program Thurs. Nights MeetOthers ina Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325 Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-444-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2"121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 -The Pride Storev 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor Tulsa Gay Community Services Center seeondparentofherpartner’sbiologicalson-in1994, ¯ Norway’ s only female bishop, RosmarieKohn, faced same sex unions were recognized for benefit pur- ¯ a revolt by nearly one-third of her own clergy when : she allowed openly Lesbian Siri Sunde to return to the poses. The court rulings have coincided with growing " pulpit. Sunde had been barred after she married her public ,acceptance of Gays. Just a few years ago, ". female companion. Gay marriages are legal in NorpublicdisplaysofGaypridewereunheardofinlsrael. ¯ way, with all the fights of heterosexual marriages By contrast, Gays were hugging and kissing in Tel : except church weddings and the right to adopt. Aviv’ s central Rabin Square in 1998 to celebrate the ¯ transsexual singer Dana international’ s victory in the : Germany Considers Eurovision Song Contest. ¯ 743-GAYS (743-4297) Over the last few years, the Gay pride parade has ¯ Couples Bill drawn more and more people. On Fri.day, .Rg,bin i Rp.r~iJN(AP~-Germanv’s~ovemingSocialDem°- - - Square was lined with Israeli flags and me rai.noo.w_ . ~r~s--a~d &reins have ag~eed~on the outhneof a draft. 6-9 l~m, Sunday..,-.:F~day ~’r~ (?0 ~ ba~erstof the Ga3~ prid~ moyeme.nt~ T~ech~,0 "12-~pm,~Sa.turd~y, ~t]l ~sales benefi~t t~h~ ,C.~e~t~tq~ ....1 ’ ~7 bl~ed from. lod~m_o._umed:on ~ : ; ) f’_ ~". ( .! !i:.!/’ .............. !. ~ !’. ~- ~ :[2~_ ~.~.’_. ’~_ L:_.t ~._ in ~he pa~ade~do.nne~. eta..0orate~ cos..m,rues, mm.ie .ore.-_ ,.: it~st bef6ieaweekend phrade b~9 G.a.ys and Lesmansm ~ .: ............~ ..... .............. " ................................. ~s~ wor’e shortS and T-shirts. FAthilles brouglat tlaelr ~edinwhereactivists~vanttohighhghtthecenter-left children, andsomeheterosexual couples walkedhand- government’s failure to make good on the promised Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public. Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 402~ South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 7;~i35 TOM NEAL .................... ILDING & GARDEN DESIGN 583-1248 Red Rock Tulsa Flee Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tuesdays, 5 -8 pm, Center, 1307 East 38th Wednesdays, 5-8 pm, Red Rock, 1724 East 8th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 KEVIN BURLESO N Keller Williams Realty 712-2252 Burleson~~k’w.com East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 ~,;o~, An Independent Member Broker 2651 OPENARMs,OPENMINDS,OPENHEARTS Saint Dunstan 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Trinity 501 S. Cincinnati. 582-4128 Saint Aidan 4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882 Saint John 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You in-hand. There were no religious protests. Tel Aviv is anoverwhelmingly secular city, and the parade was being heldjust before the onset oftheJewish Sabbath, during which observant Jews refrain from work and travel. Taking a break from the blazing heat, Kinneret G01an said the scene made her feel that Israel was no different from othercountries. "You only see pictures of Israel when rocks are being thrown. I’m proud that despite everything we can still do this," she said. Golan~ said that in the increasingly bitter culture war betwTeen Israel’ s secular majority and thedevout minority, the distrust is. so great that "each side defines itself as the opposite:of what the other is." Therefore, she said, many secular Israelis will sup- ]2~ort causes as long as they are denounced by the ’~:~’~r~igious community. Lapid, standard bearer of the secular fight against whathe calls religious coercion, said his party and the homosexual movement are natural partners. Next week, a bill proposing recognition of same-sex civil unions will be up for approval. However, Lapid said it will likely fail because of the influence of the religious parties. But some of those dancing in the parade said they paid little heed to politics. "Who cares what they do in the Knesset? Look at this celebration," saidAnat Schumaker, one of theparticipants. "We’ re here and they can’ t do anything to stop Gay Clergyman Shakes Up Norweigan Church OSLO, Norway (AP) - The selection of an openly Gay clergyman in defiance of state Lutheran church guidelines raised concerns Friday that the issue of homosexuality could split the church. The Church of Norway’ s highest body, its 85-member national congress, ruled in November 1997 that clergy who enter homosexual partnerships could not hold jobs that require ordination. However, the~Oslo Bishops’ Council of clergy and laity voted 4-3 on June 15 to appoint Jens Torstein Olsen as chaplain for the Majorstue Church. Olsen noted onhis application that he was living with a Gay partner. The council minority appealed the decision to Trend Giske, head of the churches and education ministry that formally employs state church clergy. He initially said he saw no reason to reverse the council majority’s decision, but will make a final~ decision next month. If hired, the 51-year-old Olsen would be Norway’ s first male minister who is openly living with a Gay partner. Oslo Bishop Gmmar Staalsett saidhe expects the. ministry to respect his council’ s majority, in keeping with usual practice. "Olsen is dearly the best qualified for the post," Staalsett said. But the move prompted Norway’s head bishop, Odd B0ndevik, to say he was calling an emergency meeting of the national bishops council on the matter probably in August. "The appointment.., can split the Church of Norway," he was quoted as telling the Norwegian news agency NTB.-"When we said the issue does not have to be a splitting factor, we assumed that each individual bishop would be loyal to the national church council’s resolutions and the church itself," Bondevik was quoted as saying. An anguished debate over Gay clergy has already led to bitter disputes within the church. Last year, reform. Half a million people were expected for the annual Christopher Street Day parade in the German capital. The bill, to be presented to parliament before t breaks for summer next month, would recognize registered Gay palTmerships as families, said Greens lawmaker Volker Beck. However, homosexual couples apparendy would not have the right to adopt children - a demand of the Greens rejected by the dominant Social Democrats. Gay partnerships wonld get legal rights similar to heterosexual couples on taxes, social security and ~mmigration law - an important point for Gay couples where one parmer is a foreigner. Beck said the proposals still require formal approval bythe parliamentary groups of the two governing parties. Opposition conservatives blasted the plahs and hinted they would try to stall the bill in th~ upper house of parliament, where the govemment,lack.s a majority. Thomas Goppel, aleader of Bavaria s rightist Christian Social Union party, called the proposals "absurd." Germany’ s Association ofGays and Lesbians welcomed the draft saying it did notmeet all of the group’ s demands but still were a great st p forward." Minnesota ’Sodomy’ Law Under Challenge ¯ ¯ MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A state law that makes oral and anal sex acrimeis unconstitutional and shouldbe ¯ thrown out, tim Minnesota Civil Liberties Union ¯ claimed in a lawsuit filed at the end of June. The i MCLU and the Lesbian and Gay Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union are challenging ¯ Minnesota’ s sodomy statute, saying the law violates the right of privacy guaranteed by the state constitui tion. Thelaw - which applies to all consenting adults, even married heterosexuals - makes violations pun- : ishable with a year in prison and up to $3,000 in tines. ¯ Theclass-actionlawsuit,filedinHennepinCountY, ¯ asks the court to declare the statute void and prevent ¯ the state from enforcing it. The plaintiffs include two : married heterosexuals who say they risk prosecution, : a Lesbian who fears eviction because her lease pro- " hibits illegal activity, a Gay law student who fears ¯ being disbarred, a divorced Gay manwhofears losing ¯ his right to visithis children, and a group of Lesbian, ¯ Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered lawyers and law ¯ students. ¯ According to the MCLU, 18 states still have sod- .: omy, statutes, down from all 50 in 1961. In five of ": ~ose s’tat~s, the law hpplies 0nly to Gays [editor’s ¯ note: Oldahoma is one of those with laws only di- ¯ rected at Gay people]’. Legislatures have repealed ¯ sodomy laws in 25 states, while courts have over- . turned them in others. In one of the most recent cases, an appeals court in Texas voided that state’ s sodomy ¯ law two weeks ago. ¯ Attorney General Mike Hatch was out of state and ¯ unavailable for comment on the lawsuit, said his ¯ spokeswoman, Leslie Sandberg. ¯ Tom Prichard, executive director of theMinnesota Family Council, which has helped fight off attempts ¯ to repeal the law at the Legislature, said the law should stay on the books, and he criticized theMCLU ¯ for filing the lawsuit. ’°They’ re trying to do an end run by getting the courts to strike it down instead of going through the appropriate channel, which is the Legis- ¯ lature," Prichard said. . ated offices to deal specifically with Gay alth Officials to health issues. Officials in Seattle have Focus Gay Needs :d velo#as iali d mpaigntovac- ¯ cinate Gay men for hepatitis. BOSTON (AP) - Boston public health officials have agreed to try to better meet the needs of the city’ s Gay community by collecting data onillnesses,raising awareness of health issues and seeking funding for new programs. Their decision follows the lead of other big U.S. cities, where officials have already taken action to address the health needs of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender residents. ’q’hereis clear datathat shows there are health differences between the Gay and larger communities," said Stephen Boswell, executive director oftheFenway Community Health Center, which serves a high percentage of Boston’ s Gay population. "If those problems are addressed, we can make a significant impact." At a conference held in Boston in May, officials from public health agencies around the country cited studies showing Gays are at risk for a range of health problems, including depression, breast cancer, and substance abuse. After years of focusing solely on HIV and AIDS, Boston’s public health officials decided soon after the conference to develop a more efficient way to deal with the community’s other pressing needs, said John Auerbach, executive director of me Boston Public Health Commission. q~nis.is the first time the he~Ith department has acknowledged it needs to specifically address the health needs of the Gay community," he said. "This is a significant step forward." Health departments in New York, Chicago and San Francisco have already c~e- While Louganis left immediatdy alter the parade to fly out of the city, Cammermeyer spoke briefly in the rain, noting that she really might have preferred not to come to Tulsa, thinking that it might not really be safe or wdcoming, but that probably she needed to come to Tulsa for precisdy that reason. Another group which received great atteiation was ORU.out.com, a new Lesbian and Gay alumni organization for Oral Roberts University (ORU). While Gay alumni groups exist around the country, ORU.out.com is unusual in thatORU has a policy of banning Gays as.students, faculty or staff. Regardless, ~e ~oup numbered about 20 and group orgamzer, Jeff McKissic notes that about 60 people have gotten involved. Orgamzers of the Parade and Festival, Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, Inc. estimated that some 3,000 participated or attended. More than !00,000 march in Paris Gay Pride parade PARIS (AP)- In a festive celebration of Gay pride; more than 100,000 people marched and danced on the last weekend in June through the streets of Paris behind a giantbanner with the slogan for this year’s parade: ,Homophobia - a social pl~gr~h------ Educatton Mimster Jack Lang and the Socialist Party’s mayoral candidate Bertrand Delanoe were among the politicians thatkicked offGay Pride 2000 behind dozens of motorcyclists from the Gay Bikers Club. Rainbow-colored flags waved under overcast skies as the parade wound from :: Feds to Fund AIDS ¯ Vaccine Search ¯ WASHINGTON (AP) - Four new part- " nerships were announced by a federal ¯ health agency Tuesday to provide fund- : ing to groups attempting to bring anAIDS ¯ vaccine to market. i Theseparme.rships, call,edHIV ~acone ¯ design and development teams, were ¯_ prompted by~ a. presidential dirertive to ¯ increase public-private cooperation in : developing vaccines to major diseases, : according to the National Institute of Ai- : lergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ¯ the section of the National Institutes of : Health that set up the deals. ¯ "Many vaccines in use today resulted i fr°mb°th g°verument-sp°., snL0r--~andpfi.- vate research," said Dr. Anthony S. Faucl, : director of NIAID. ¯ The awards are incentive-based, aimed ¯ at teams that have a vaccine in develop- : ment but have not yet reach_ed human ~ testing. The teams will receive funds as ¯ they achieve preset goals. ¯ Three U.S. companies - Advanced ~ BioScience Laboratories in Kensington, ¯ Md.; Chiron Corporataon in Emeryville, ¯ Calif.; and Wyeth Lederle Vaccines and ¯ Nutrition in Pearl River, N.Y. - as well as ~ a consortium of Australian universities ¯ led by the University ofNew SouthWales ¯ all have different tactics on how to create ¯ a serum that will protect humans from ; HIV infection, which causes AIDS. .district. Boolmng techno and 0asco music ¯ played as drag queens and other elabo- ¯ rately costumed men and women danced on colorful floats and along the sidelines of the parade Police estimated the crowd size at between 100,000 and 130,000 people, while organizers said that 250,000 people turned out for the event. Coinciding with the weekend of the parade, Social Affairs Minister Martine ¯ Aubry said the government planned to : introduce new laws oudawing discrimi- ¯ nadon against homosexuals. Aubry said : the new legislation would appear as an ¯ amendment tO a "social modernization" : bill currently going through Parliament. ¯ Denver Pride Draws 100,000 ¯ DENVER (AP) - More.than 100,000 at- " tended Denver PrideFest 2000. The festi- ~ val, organized by the Gay, Lesbian & : Bisexual Community Services Center, is ¯ inits 10th year. No violence was reported ~ dUring the parade betweenCheesmanPark : and Civic Center Park that featured 100 : floats. The festival also featured 230 ¯ booths and. a family zone with the signs: ~ "drug-~ alcohol-, hate-flee zone." ¯ Activists told a crowd at the Civic Cen- : ter that good people standing up to big- ~ otry, not legislation, will protect Gays, ¯ Lesbians and Bisexuals from violence. ¯ "In every case, a mass mobilization of ¯ people changed thepolitteal clunate, sm ¯ Leslie Feinberg, author of ’q’ransgender ¯ Warriors" and "Stone Butch Blues." Gay Pride Elsewhere ¯ SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A rollicking ; ,,Gay p,fi,de parade replete with dancing nuns, all-maleche.~rleading squads and ¯ drag queens in stilettos attracted a half ¯ million revelers as it made its way from Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weeke~qd and evening appointments are available. Just for laughs artur0 Italy’s quick chang Welcomed Directed b~/ Serge genoncourt /~rtistic Director Pierre Bernard -~ "Arturo Brachetti is remarkable" - Bob Fosse August 6-13 TICKETS 596-7111 1 {800) 364-7111 (Outside Tulsa) ¯ 20+ Groups, 477-SHOW Presented by CELEBRITY A~RACTIONS celebriWattractions.com " the waterfront to City Hall. As David Ellard watched the processouthern Paris to its destination at the ¯ sion see Pride, p. 8 Place de la Bastille, near the city’s Gay Power of Oklahoma Service .Is Now Available 24 Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. These days, traditional 8-5 business hours aren’t always convenient. So PSO has made it easier than ever for youto contact us. Our Customer Service Center operates 24/7 - offering around:the-dock answers to your questions - and better access to service. Now it’s easier for you to inquire about your monthly electric bill. Or report a power outage. Or arrange to have your power turned on or off. Our professionally trained, friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives are standing by to serve.you. All day, every day. To provide faster response to your needs, we have listed our toll-free numbers below. I I I I I I I I I I I mO..~ Clip And Save CALL 24 HOURS FOR TOLL-FREE SERVICE Customer Services: 1-888-216-3523 Billing Inquiries: 1-888-216-3490 Outage Reporting: 1-888-218-3919 I I I I I I I Serviei~ a Clientes: 1-888-216-3505 I I Preguntas Sobre su Cuenta: .1-888-216-3491 ! I I .i :-’ I Falta De Suministro: 1-888-218-3924 I I I I- I " ~I I , PublicServiceC0mpany,0fOklah0ma , by Karin Gregory COMING OUT. Even the words evoke an ominous, almost surreal scene, like the Great and Powerful Wizard, whose deep voice echoes throughout closets everywhere. In my case, my 44 yearold closetwas sot’ffled that I couldn’t hea~ the echo e~}en if I tried, i finaily Sprang out, machete inland, :r~dy to tell everyone that I’ma Lesbian! Well, two or three people, anyway. Because I didn’t know what was all involved in "coming out." I had no good role models to speak --of in that area. And don’ t tell me Melissa Etheridge and Ellen DeGeneres - because famous people will always be heard and don’ t have to repeat themselves. I, onthe otherhand, have to tell friends individually and hear such remarks as: "Oh, I always knew that"; "Yeah, I was wondering when you were going to tell me"; and the ever popular, "YES! We knew it! We win the bet!" Umm, friends, if you knew it for so long, how come I JUST found out? You could have let me in on it! (Best friend’ s ¯ note: I tried! You don’ t just sit someone down and tell them "Um, Karin, I think you’re Gay. Deal with it!" - Jim) Actually, I hav&known, all my life, but I never gave a name to it. And there were the various signs that threw me totally off track. Instead of telling you my. boring life, I’ 11 give you a sampling of it, interspersed with the steps I went through (and probably many of us go through) in realizing my true nature. ~ I know what you’ re saying. If I’mreading Tulsa Family News, I know I’m Gay and what could you possibly tell meabout it?" Nothing, but since I want you to read about my boring life anyway, I have to jazz itup somehow. Also, there may be a few of you who are reading your boyfriend’s copy of this newspaper. If you’re "curious" and your boyfriend is reading Tulsa Family News, then you’ re both Gay! Read on. I. "I’m What?" Sooner or later you have to start questioning. What kind of music do you listen to? Yep, if you answered Tori Amos, Ani DiFranco, Sophie B. Hawkins, !Indigo Girls, and Sarah McLachlan, then you need to examine your lifestyle. I haven’ t known a Gay personyet who doesn’ t love Sarah McLachlan. However, if you own five differentcopies ofMelissa Etheridge’ s Breakdown (and I do!), the questioning is over. ’ ~ ¯ II..Environment .I came into this world kicking and screaming, and when I found out, in my neighborhood full of boys,-that I was differentfromthem, Ikickedandscreamed again. I wanted to be a boy. lplayed just like ~the boys; doing everything they did exeep,tJ~,e,, standing up. And I was pissed I icouldn’t master that! Physically and ¢motionall);i Was a gifl~butI thought like a:boy. So when I would question myself - years later, I always wentback to the same thing: I HATED girls then. Well, most little boys do hate little girls at that age. If "It was hound to happen... Marolyn was i~autfful, with lees and weB, 7ou ~en yo~ mantra [or a smmer s~s no~ ~ST yo~ ~d;’ " they don’ t, they’ re usually Gay boys WhOr’i". .. feel more comfortable around girls play- " ing house, school, and Easy Bake Oven. ¯ By the .way, if you played with dolls when you werelittle, don’ t think that disqualifies you. Especially if you. had a Barbie doll and spentmany a day practicing undressing her. It was when I was 13 that things became, for want of a better word, sticky. III. Crushes She walked in beauty, like the night...OK, so they all did at one time or other, didn’t they? This particular she walked into my eighth grade English classroOm, and I immediately thought,"Wow, she’ s pretty." I never used that word to describe any gift before. All right, there was the time I whistled at Ann " Margret in the movie theatre when she came on " screen in "Viva Las Vegas." ¯ Some people don’t see signs that say " "Caution - Falling Rocks"; I don’t see ¯ signs that clearly scream, "Karin- you’ re. ¯ a Lesbian. Get over it. when my eighth ¯ grade crush continued into ninth grade, I ¯ went to her house for a sleepover. I’ll say this here and now - Jane Eyre ¯ shouldbeforbidden reading injunior high. " The protagonist as a little girl has a crush " on her best friend, which author Charlotte ¯ Bronte says ~s normal Besides the very ¯ obvious inference that Charlotte had her ¯ own Lesbian feelings, it did much to help ¯ me rationalize the rest of my life. If I felt ¯ something for a girl, then I invoked the ¯ name ofCharlotte Bronte, and things were ¯ "normal" again. So when I wanted to : watch my friend undress in front of me, ¯ that wasjust anormal straight girl feeling. ¯" When I fantasized about crawling in bed : naked withher, I still usedCharlotte Bronte : as a guide. Charlotte was talking about - "little" girls, mind you. ¯ When I was 30 I met a woman who, ". without touching me, did things to my ¯ southerly regions that no one had ever done before. When I’ d had enough frus- " tration, I had sex with a man, and truly ¯ believed there was something wrong with : me for not feeling what I thought I should ¯ feel. Whom did I call in as my counselor? " Yep, good old Charlotte. ¯ IV. In Love It was bound to happen, and this time a ¯ Lesbian became not only my crush, but ¯ probably the only person I’ ve ever fallen : in love with. Marolyn was beautiful, with ¯ great legs and a great pair of - well, you ¯ get it. When your mantra for a summer is ¯ "She’s just my friend, she’s just friend, ¯ she’ sjustmy friend", she’ s notJUST your ¯¯ friend. Have you ever had amoment of clarity? ¯ Amoment when suddenly the clouds part, ¯ the sky opens up, and you just KNOW -" what you want? Marolyn took me to my ¯ first Lesbian bar (we were "just friendg’:,, ¯ mind you), Sue Ellen’ s in Dallas. As we danced a slow _..d~,c~ together, my m~ .... -" merit of clarity hit. I d shoved down the~.;~ ~ ¯ feelings about Marolynfor so long that a!l,;!’~:: ¯ at once they came rushing at me and l ¯ conldn’ t deny any longer. I looked arotmd ¯ and just knew I had finally found some- " place to belong, see Lesbian, p. 11 by Jim Christjotm, entertainment editor Some of you might ask, "What’s he clucking about this time?" And well you might - run, don’t walk, to see Chicken Pun. Created by ’%Vallace and Gromit" impresario Hick Parks, this rollicking comedy about chickens dreaming of a better p!a~..~.~, ~far away fromthe ~neentra- ¯ tion c~ami3 Chlcken farm ttiey re in’fs a witty, int~-.ligentfi~~1m........ ¯ .~ I havehad my suspicions~’abtut Nicks~ familystatus given some subtle references in the Wallace&Gromit shorts (available on video, and well worth it), such as Gromit (a dog) knitting a rainbow striped sweater.~ The Wallace and Gromit shorts are guaranteed to cheer up the most depressed person in the world, and watch for the subtle touches he puts in, like the newspaper-headlines in thepapers the characters read. While the films are claymation, they are not children’s films. With Chicken Run, thereality ofwhathappens to chickies whodon’ tlay theft share ofeggs is brought home in an unflinchingly touching way. And yes, you wiII reIate to the characters - and never look at chicken pot pies the same way again. As for the aforementioned clues as to the Gay sensibility of the film, Cheek out the ratsi relationship. And when the birds are practicing flying, one ofthe best gags was when they fall, and the rat says "It’ s raining hens", which to those of us who re,c~l a certain song with a similar rifle, realize it’ s a pretty big tipoff as to the sensibility that inspired this film. The jokes are all extremely well done, and the sight gags, well, the film begs a second and third viewing to take everything in, and look at the backgrounds. There are gems hidden everywhere. It is ironicthatMel Gibson,homophobicadulterer that he is, lends his voice to the film in a really well done turn as a Rhode KD Lang ¯ KD Lang’s newCD is a delight. Re- : member those lazy weekends whenmom : (in some ease, you) Wouldpiit her favorite ¯ records on the changer in the late 60’ s : early70’s?BarbraStreisand’sStoneyEnd, ¯ and Sergio Mendes’ Brazil ’66 come to ¯i miipindadt.eWd ieiilil{,aK~D€fhioa~sslt~a.k~enmthait~sofu’n.d~_a~nv~d-,"~ ~ ¯ met fling that grows in to ab~t diore of a. "...While the films are claymation, they are not children’s films. With "Chicken Run," the reality of what happens to ehiekles who don’t lay their : share of eggs is brought home in an unflinehlngly touching way. And yes, you will relate to the characters- and never look at chicken pot pies the same way again...." serious thing. And it is the perfect album for a cloudy Sunday afternoon with your loved One, your. summertimefling., or even an imaginary lover. The -albuin’ S title is In~.. vindbte Summer, and La Lang has ne~er soundedbetter. Thealbumprogresses with the nervous, first €on~- tact ditty about a possibleloveinter-- est titled "The Consequences of Falling", and she captures the moment perfectly. Island Red cock named Rocky. One must think that someone planned that casting - and this is the place for an obvious joke, ¯ This segues into an up tempo number ¯ called"Summertime Fling" thateapsulizes ¯ that high, giddy feeling when itis discov- ¯ ered that indeed, the objet d’affection : returns the feeling. It is sure to bring a : smile to the mostjaded heart. Thememory ¯ may be buried deep, but it’ s in there some- " where! The albums builds to a quieter : climax than one might imagine, as the THE ART 0f PERFORMANCE For ~.ales, contact Rupy Robateau 280.5999 . or Marcus Winkler 280.6234 For Service, contact Danny Quigg 280.6828 JAGUAR 9607 S. Memorial Dr. : seriousness of the relationship deepens. Are You Gay or Bisexual? ¯ "Love’ s Great Ocw.an" is a winner, and - ~B~,~t Va~ll ~r’~[il/a~ &m~.e’|eltrm9 _ has a mysterious feel to it that gives the /’~1 ~ /OM II~.ilI~.~ a’~III~.~lI~.ll. album some weight. The rest are pretty~-- standard love songs, pleasantto~ " ............. n’ eat for a dinner o essin to- /ulsas iwo-~plrlteo inolan Me S ",eta \"~ : makeout album. The retro feel is great, Support Group ts here for you. ¯ andblends well into the music, capturing ¯" the feeling perfecdy ofsome ofmy favor- : ite songs remembered-from childhood : and beyond. Highly recommended. It’ s a ¯ great companion, piece to Melissa : Etheridge’s darker "Breakdown". With : Melissa, you cover the darker cynical : moments, with La 1 ang, the bright sun- : shiny day moments. ¯ I caught Arturo Brachetti on a guest ¯ appearaneeonDrewCarey, andyes,he’s : family, and yes,he’ s fantastic. Well worth ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing - which I will leave to your imaginations. ¯ seeing what he’ s gotup his sleeve! Check Think about it. (R~oc~y,.....Rhode, gg~.it? ;.,rpriorcol~f~r~t~.. ¯ : Right up there with Ginger Chickeh, ifi~ : .... And fi~t mbliffi, the’R~ilt ifiteiaiiews!’ heroine of the piece. Rosemary is the : Chicken that doesn’ t have babies. You’ll get it when :~you see.the, film.) All the actors are marvelous, and if you’ re a fan of any of the British comedies on PBS Sunday nights, you’ll recognize a few voices. If there’s one film you see this summer, make it this one. It’ 11 be well worth your time. I plan to see it several more times, and get the DVD when it comes out - just to scroll through the frames and catch what I missed the first ten times. And I think instead of chicken pot pies, I’ll stock up on the vegetarian ones instead. Andinstead of roast chicken sandwiches, the veggie chick burgers as well. Buh-bye, colonel! ¯" in the city’s 30th annual Lesbian Gay ¯ Bisexual Transgender Pride Parade, he ¯ said such events provide "a little light of : hope.., acceptance of Gay people is still ¯ the toughest issue out there," said Ellard, ¯ 35. "The religious right still thinks we’re ¯ a threat to family values. But when you ¯ look at the Gay families marching with : their children.., you see thatit’ s not true." ¯ What began in 1970 as a meager pro- : cessionfollowedby an unassuming"Gay- ¯ in" at Golden Gate Park has become one : of California’ s biggest events, ¯ see Pride, p. 9 For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project ’q’beprobability thatyoudiefromAIDS when you arc 15 today is over 50%in these countries," Plot told a press conference. "We arc going into societies where there arc more people in their 60’ s and 70’ s than there are in their 40’ s and30’ s," hc said. "This is unheard of." ¯ In Washington, the Peace Corps an- : nounced a worldwide campaign to push ¯ similar measures - training its 2,400 vol- : unteers inAffieain preventive tedmiques ¯ and forming a200-member"crisis corps" : tohelp educate commtmities. "There is no ¯ option for any organization working in : development other than to play a role in ¯ helping these countries confront the HIV- ¯ AIDS crisis," Peace Corps Director Mark With dwindling numbers of economi- i Schneider sai~. eally active adults left tosupport the re~ L .,~ .~o~~i~~~.~d~l~st rate of the .’.population, the. impact on ~.~tff~ot~:~i~A~i~t~i2~.;€%~ is cooving ¯ . ~!~ .....,~ ~,-~.o:,~. ~7~." ~~ ~7,~>.>-.~ : ~_.: Afficamnattous ts devastating. Agng,~ t.~ ~ai[.an*-~i~su~ssf.u~ ~..emBpatgn 0,f protural production in nations like Zim.~: ~ moting’¢Offdoni~us~. And’ Brazil" s policy bwe, wh,ere 2,000people die each w..~ee;;~ : of prevention coupled with locally pro- AIDS, is falling. Businesses are goi~i~g ¯ ducedaltemativestohigh,costanfi-AIDS bankrupt beeause of the deaths of skilled, : drugs has halved the number of deaths educated staff members. Hopes of better education are also in tatters. The number of new teachers trained in 7a~bia is just keeping pace with .the number felled by AIDS. Children are leaving school because they are orphaned or forced to work to support their families. Hospitals are overwhelmed by AIDS patients. Many have inadequate supplies of even basic antibiotics to fight the pneumonia, tuberculosis or mouth fungus that accompany AIDS, let alone the sophistieated drugs whichhave eased suffering in rich countries, the report said. Denial continues to be a problem. The report cited a 1999 survey of 72 minors orphaned by AIDS in a hard-hit Kenyan": commnIfity: Although all knew of the disease~one of them believed their parents had died of it. Most thought witchcraft or a curse was to blame. Piot Said one of the reasons for the explosion of cases in southern Africa is the legacy of apartheid~ which separated. men from their families in rural areas and forced them to work in towns, with only prostitutes for relief. But he said govern: ments were also to blame for ignoring the problem for too long. "What is happening in southern Africa should.be a lesson for countries today which don’t have a big problem yet," he said. "I’m thinking of Asia, I’m thinking of easte,,m, Europe, I’m thinking of the Caribbean. About $~ bill lionis needed annually forprevention and education programs to turn the tide, Plot said. He called for debt-relief programs for poor comitries.. Sandra Thurman, director of President Clinton’s White House Office on AIDS policy, said the report urgently underscores the need for goverm~ent l~aders to face the crisis head on. "It will take the engagement of all sectors of all societies ifwewantto winthebattle againstAIDS," Thurman said in a recent statement. Although Asiahas relatively low infec: tionrates overall, there arefears that could change because of the density of its population, gome 0.7% of the Indian po,,p~ation is ~IV-positive, or 3.7 milliof~ii~e overall:Thediseasehas so farbeenl~g~ly confined to drug addicts. Infections in the former Soviet blocare soaring because of drug addiction. Piot said the number of new HIV cases in Moscow last year far outstripped all previous years combined. And the disease is proliferating in Caribbean countries like Haiti and Barbados because people have multiple sexual partners from an early age. Despite the gloom of the report, Plot said there are signs of hope. Uganda, whichused to be the worst-affected country, has slowed new infections thanks to strong prevention campaigns and increased condom use. Zambia is following suit. : and led to huge savings in hospital bills, ," the report said. ¯ "In the West and in Europe, the impact :. of treatment has been spectaculars" Piot said. "Mortality has really collapsed..There isa longer and better life for people with AIDS."Onthe Net: http://www.uuaids.org In renewing his plea for suspending the law until the central issues go to trial, Stanley argued that there is realharm that could happen.’ The clerks’ rights to freed0m of religion under the Vermont Constitution would be violated, he said:, He also argued that taxmoney wouldbe spent through providing,rights and benefits to same-sex couples. Permitting umous to go forward that may in the future be ruled unconstitutional would cause irreparable harm, he said. In all, the ~ lawsuit_,claims.:that the.,civil unions_law_ violates five different articles of the state Consttitution, several state statutes and House rules. Many of those arguments were made when the i|~wsuit first was flied and the state’ s lawyer handling the ease said he did not believe any substantially new claims were made that would prompt the judge to change his mind. "I don’t think there’ s a ntl~ ttdt:~~ys~~u:can only ask once, butinpractical term~ someonewould put together their best case for a preliminary injunction," said Chief Assistant Attorney General William Griffin. "My view is they’ ve had their day in court and -the court made a decision. I.guess I’ d be a little surprised if we went around again." Varmont Official May.Dof~ LaW TOPSHAM, Vt. (AP) - The town clerk is considering defying the state by refusing to issue civil union licenses to Gay and Lesbian couples. Juanita Claflin describes the unions as "endorsed perversion." The law, whichis to gointo effectJuly 1, states that if a town clerk does not want to issue the licenses he or she must at least appoint someone else to do so. In a memo sent on town letterhead to every Topsham honsehold earlier this month, Claflin tells voters she will not issue the licenses and asks if they believe she should defy the law, resign or appoint a willing assistant to deal with the paperwork. Most of the responses so far have urged defiance of the law, but Claflin said she has not decided whether to risk lawsuits and penalties by following the townspeople’ s wishes. "I still have to make that absolute final decision," she said. After the townspeople respond, she will meet with the select board and possibly hold a public meeting to tell residents about the potential consequences of defying the law. "I made the commitment to the people that I would uphold what they said," she added. "If " they’ re still of that opinion (after being informed of the consequences), I’ll take : my licks." ¯ At least one other town clerk, in " Tunbridge, has resigned over the issue. In Waterbury, the town clerk and assistant town clerk also resigned recently, citing " unspecified personal reasons and an ef- , fective date of July 1. ¯ Claflin’ s opposition to civil unions has " ~no secret since She was elected in " summa.e,dCh. t~hWe hpe~n,,s~h.ee ,w,easxcsewp0trtonins,elslheciivni-l on licenses into her oath of office. At the time Claflin thought the bill, then being debated, would notpass, she says in her letter. "Well, I was wrong... The unthinkable did become law," she writes. "I stand firm and unwavering in my commitment to refuse to be a party to this endorsed perversion based on my constitutional rights and personal belief." But theNew Jersey assistant scoutmaster ousted when the organization learned he is Gay expressed dismay at the ruling. "I’mdef’mitely saddenedby thedecision," said James Dale. "People don’t join the Boy Scouts beeaus~ they’re anti-Gay. People join the Boy Scouts because they want acceptance, they want community." The ruling did not specifically give the Scouts permission to bar Gay youth from membership, but its language left room for that interpretation. "I think it suggests that they can" ban Gay boys from being Scouts, said Evan Wolfson, Dale’ s lawyer. "They won the.right to declare themselves an anti-Gay group." University of Southern California law professor Erwin Chemerinsky agreed, saying, "I don’ t see any basis for drawing a distinction between Scout leaders and Scouts." The Scouts organization, formed in the United States in 1910 and now boasting 6.2 million members and adult leaders, has a policy that "avowed homosexuals are not extended membership or leadership positions," Shields said. He would not say whether the organizationhas withdrawn membership from Gay youths. But Scott Cozza, an adult Scout leader in California and president of Scouting For All, which advocates letting homosexuals join, said: "They’ve kicked out Gay Scouts and now they’ll continue to do so because they’ ve been given the goahead by the Supreme Court to continue to discriminate." The justices reversed a New Jersey Supreme Court decision that said the Scouts wrongly ousted Dale, an Eagle Scout. The state court said the Scouts violated a New Jersey law banning discrimination in public accommodations. But Rehnquist wrote, ’q’he forced inclusion of an unwanted person in a group infringes the group’ s freedom of expressive association" if it harms the group’s ability to advocate its viewpoint. His opinion was joined by Justices Sandra Day O’ Connor, Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy and Clarence Thomas. Dissenting wereJustices John Paul Stevens, David H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer. Writing for the four, Stevens said the New Jersey law does notforce the Scouts "to communicate any message that it does not wish to endorse. New Jersey’s law, therefore, abridges no constitutional right of the Boy Scouts." Wolfson, Dale’ s lawyer, had cited Supreme Court decisions during the 1980s that let states force the Jaycees and Rotary International to admit women as full members. But Rehnquist said requiring such groups to accept women members would not interfere with the message they seek to express. Instead, the chief justice likened Dale’ s case to a 1995 Supreme Court ruling in which thejustices let the private sponsor of the Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade exclude a group ofGays andlesbi7 a~.s, s,,aying parades are a"form0fexpres~ slon. The American Center for Law and Jus~ tice, a conservative advocacy group that supported the Scouts’ appeal, said the ruling "will have a dramatic impact on all private organizations - including religious groups - to define their own mission and set their Own criteria for leadership." The. Human Rights Campaign, of the largest Lesbian and Gay civil rights organizatious, called the Supreme Court decision to allow the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to continue its ban on Gay scouts a travesty of justice that may allow large, open membership groups to be above the law and evade .state and local nondiscrimination laws. "We are gravely disappointed with a ruling thatgives theBoy Scouts ofAmerica the ability to discriminate withimpunity," said HRC Legal Director Tony Varona. "TMs is a hollow victory for the Boy Scouts of America - considering the wasted time, energy and money it has spent on maintaining its ability to .discriminateand attack young menwhohave served its organization with distinction. Is this any way to teach youth aboutfairness, honesty and justiceT’ Dale was 19 and an assistant scoutmaster of a Matawan, N.J., troop when in 1990 he was identified in a newspaper article as co-president of a campus Lesbian and Gay student group at Rutgers University. The Scouts’ MonmouthCouncil revoked Dale’ s registration as an adult leader, andhe sued, citing the New Jersey anti-discrimination law. The New Jersey court ruled that the BSA is not a private club, but a public accommodation given its size, open membership and extensive entanglement with government agencies. In its appeal to the Supreme Court, the Boy Scouts argued that New Jersey’ s antidiscrimination law infringed on its First Amendment right to association. )’In accepting the BSA’s arguments concerning expressive association, the Court inexplicably ignored the fact that theBSA’ s purposeandmessagehas never had anything to do with sexual orientation," added HRC’ s Varona. "To the contrary, the Boy ScOuts’ oath stresses public serviceandhonesty, andits Congressional charter and bylaws make clear that membership is open to ’any boy’." Dale now lives inNew York City and is advertising director for a magazine for people who are HIV-positive. On the Net: Supreme Court decision in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale: http:// supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/99- 699.ZS.html and one of the world’s best known celebrations of Gay pride. Numerous celebrities, including comedienne Margaret Cho, made appearances. Police said the parade had proceeded peacefully, and knew of no counter-demonstrations. Parades took place also in S~atfle. New York, Chicago and Atlanta. by Lamont Linds~rom. Ph.D. skins for very long. Early medical science Is it the unkixxdest cut? That’s what a ¯ of the late 19th century seized on the foreskin-challenged writer to Dear Abby " operation as a cure for excessive masturrecently claimed. He bitterly reproached ¯ bation and also to treat an odd collection his morn for letti~ag himbe circumcised - a condition he blamed for bis regrettable shortcomin~,~ inbed. Circtmacision is a body modificationritua~ ",hathas fascinated antLropologists. People everywhere redesign-their ~odies. Modification may be as simple as a haircut and a shave, or more invasive foot-binding, ear-piercing, - head-molding, ~attoomg, or scarification. Modifying the body carries social and personal meaning. Individuals may remake themselves -andhow they think about themselves - by altering their bodies. These alterations have social implications as well. We ustmlly know what to think when we see someone dieting, or sporting a new tattoo, or a tongue pierce, or a shaven head. Humans modify lots of body parts - elbows, fingers, chins, bellies - but it’ s no surprise that many societies have fixatedupon Cireumelslon is a body modlfleatlon ritual that has faselnated anthropologists. People everywhere redesign their bodies. Modifieatlon may be as simple as a halreut and a shave, or naore invaslve footblndln~, ear-piereln~, h d-mo!dln , tattooln~, or searlfleatlon. l~lbdlfyln~ the body earrles sodal and personal rneanlnff the foreskin. Like earlobes, foreskins are easily pierced, sliced, or cut away without much endangering human functiomng. Unilke earlobes, however, foreskins attach to the dhief organ of male pleasure and reproduction. Many cultures have elaborated the powerful symbolic uses of snipping off a piece of men’ s genitals. Circumcision is often the key component of male initiation rituals, as it is on Tanna, anislandin the SouthPacificwhere 1livedfor some years. TheTarmese gather up their sons between the ages of six and twelve and lead them away to a secret house in the forest to be snipped. Traditionally, boys were cutwithbambooknives - their foreskins sliced down the top - an superincision rather than a circumcision. Nowadays, island fathers anduncles might take the boys down to a local clinic for a full-blown Western circumcision. The loss of foreskin marks the boy’s journey into manlaood. Tannese kids tease boys who are yet to be circumcised. They call them a name that means something like "pulls back skin." A Presbyterian missionary from New Zealand lived on Tanna, in th~ 1980S wi,th his triple~ sons. My island friends were scandalized that these boys remained uncircumcised as they approached their teen years. Every time the boys wandered by, you knew localmenwere ponderingbambooknives. New Zealanders, like most people in the world, leave their foreskins alone. Circumcigion is uncommon in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and is disappearing in AustraJia and Canada. We Americans share the ritual mostly with sundry Pacific Islanders and Australian Aborigines, peoples of the Middle East (notably Jews and Arabs), and various northern and central African societies. Artistic depictions of circumcision in Egypt dated to 4500 years ago suggest that the ritual has a long history. But Americans haven’t been snipping foreof other conditions. Once circumcision became part of the modern medical toolkit, doctors were loath to giveitup. They invented a series of spurious rationales for the operation. The newes t defense of circumcision argues that uncut menare three to eight limes morelikely (different studies give differentnumbers) to.catch HIV. The vires - so says this hypothesis - attaches itselfmorereadily to cells thathave been kept tender underneath a foreskin. Whether or not this latest medical rationale for circumcision holds up, cutting has powerful social meanings that go far beyond the merely hygienic. Just why do we mess withforeskins? Is this a male attempt to appropriate natural female fertility: Menbleed their genitals to mimic menstruation? Or are men coneemed to drain away dangerous female blood from their sons, as do the Tannese, in order that these boys can fully mature? Or do men cut their sons - and in so doing potentially endanger the reproductive future of their family line - as a mark of loyalty to their tribe? Or do boys undergo symbolic castration as a-price they pay fatherg to join the men? Anthropologists have proposed all these explanations. It’s pretty clear that in 20th century America circumcision became a marker of class and status. Only people with money could afford doctors and genital surgery. And only trendy parents who supported mainstream beliefs about public hygiene would accept new scientific rationalizations for the operation. Circumcision rates were far higher among the urban and the wealthy than they were among poorer, rural, immigrant, or minority- group families. Middle-class white boys carried on their bodies the mark of their family’ s status claims. By the 1940’ s, the medical industry had captured control of childbirth. A majority of women went into hospital to give birth. And for the first time amajofity of Ameri- :canb0ys wer~eircumcised. Circumcision rates peaked at around 85% in the 1970’ s. Since that decade, these numbers have dropped - as an anthropologist would predict - down to 60% in the mid 1990’ s. When everyoneshares the same practice, that practice no longer serves to create distinctions of class and status among us. Thefact thatmanyHMOs nowadays force parents to.pay for the.operation also has spared many sons’ foreskins~ Still, being cut continues to symbolize "clear," "healthy," and "modem" across much of America. Until these meanings erode, it’ s likely that many of us will yet be able to hold our heads up high, should we happen to mninto any teasing Pacific island boys. Lamont Lindstrom teaches anthropology at the University of TUlsa. Council Oak Men’s Chorale presents Saturday, July 15, 2000 - 8pm ALL SOULS UNITARLdN CHURCH 2952 S. PEORIA TICKEZ~ $10 CALL 748-3888 THE COUNCIL OAK MEN’S CHORALE IS PROUD TO REPRESENT OKLAHOMA AT THE INTERNATIONAL GALA FESTIVAL LN SAN lOSE, CALIFORNIA IOTA member "1~ Call 341. 6866 Int rnational Toursfor more information. Massage Therapy Services ~agarger:O9. 1C8r-u8z8,9L-5M2.5T5. Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Country Club Barbering Custom.Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, ~at. 8-5pro Tulsa’s only professional body-piercing Poweful Images: Portrayals of Native America Gilcrease Museum 1400 Gilcrease Museum Road 5 9 6 2 7 0 0 by Jim Christjohn, entertainment editor Sam Harris returns to Tulsa as Josephin Theatre Arts’ productionofAndrew Lloyd Webber’s "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" heading up a cast of thousands of locals - well, ok, maybe not quite thousands, but it’ s aprettylong cast list. The cast includes John Orsulak and Patrick Hobbs, members of the Council Oak Men’s Chorale’ s (we really need agoodacronymhere!) and formerly Finales, along with David Hubbard, Kathy LaFortlme, Bradd Gillespie, Larry Gray, and Eric Cornell (an actor and singer to watch, as he’s got a lotta talent, and he’s dedicated to performing enough to go far). Directed by New York’s Jon Grodeski, the musical is a.,lively rethinking of the biblical tale of Joseph and his jealous brothers. Sam Harris, a Sand Springs native, left home at 15 to pursue the dream of performing on Broadway. Everyone knows about Star Search, and the recording career that followed. His latest endeavors have included the critically acclaimed "In the Life," a Broadway musical; Grease on Broadway; and his latest CD, "Revival", a return tohis pop and soul roots.. He also wrote the TBS sitcom "Down to Earth." He’s been a busy boy! And he still manages to look fabulous! . He recently completed work on the feature film "In the Weeds", with Eric Bogosian, Molly Ringwald, and Joshua Leonard. He recently premiered his new oneman show, "Revival", and is planning to tour the show after a New York Run. He’ 11 bemaking his Tulsa concert debut July 28 in "An Intimate Evening with SamHarris." There’s a joke in that, but I’m trying to maintain a more staid image. Actually, there’s about three jokes I could make. It’s kindalike resisting chocolate - you know it’s the right thing to do, but it’s just so tempting.., but no, I have eschewed that behavior. Performances run July 14th- 23rd, and the evening shows start atT:30 rather than the usual 8pm, so plan accordingly. Matinees are at 2pm. The venue is Tulsa Community College’s PACE theatre at their southeast campus at 81st and 169, so don’ t go downtown to thePACfor this one. For more info., call 595-7777. July 15th is "Sand Springs Night" in honor of Mr. Harris’ hometown roots. July 19th is "Youth Night" - if you don’t qualify for that one, you can at least pretend to be from Sand Springs. And I would like to welcome a couple of new writers to Tulsa Family News. Hughston Walkinshaw will be covering film and local theatre for us here. He’ll make his debut in our August issue. And while -I’m at it, some of you have read about my best friend Karin. Wall, who wouldhave thunkitbut she’ s finally’’come out" and this month, we will feature her thoughts, in a new column entitled"Raging Lesbian." Sam Harris More importantly, the woman with her arms around me was the woman I wanted to be with. My heart was telling me this was right, tree and just. Then the song ended, and that insidious thing called my brain took over. Years of living in the Bible Belt made me once again think too much, and I acted straight again. Which is fnnny since I obviously don’t know from straight. Too many missed opportunities later, and my unrequited love affair with Marolyn (I didn’t DARE think about this at the time!) endedwhen shemovedaway. V. Random Musings Don’t get me wrong. Three girls does not a Lesbian make. There have been many more I’ve felt "that way" about, including Ms. Black Hair, DeepBlueEyes with whom I worked; Ms. Nude Model whom I LOVED to draw in art class; the two English teachers at school where I taught; and the young P.E. teacher at the same school. Comeon, there’ sALWAYS a P.E. teacher! And when I was 25, there was the <ahem!> 16 year old I worked with! Hey, I can’t be arrested for my thoughts, not even in Tulsa! VI. Acceptance. I know acceptance doesn’ t come in six easy steps, but time and space being what they are, I’ ve cut to the chase. What made me finally accept myself as a Lesbian? Not any one thing. I guess years of chipping away at my libido, and the fact that everytime I had sex with a man, it coincided with some girl I had a crush on. Then there’ s the entertainment world. A friend got me interested in’qRte X-Files" years ago, but for the past few seasons my heart has skipped a few beats more and I’ ve thought,"Was DavidDuchovny even in that episode tonight?" If you listen exclusively to Melissa Etheridge for a year, it’ s not just her music you identify with. And even when you do identify with it- need I say more?- you’ re Gay! When you tape the ENTIRE Gay Rights Rally on CSPAN it’ s a pretty sure bet that, yes, you’ re Gay!When you seriously consider moving to the state capital (what do you call a city FULL of Lesbians? Austin!), then, you guessed it - you’ re Gay! When your best friend calls you long distance from Tulsa to tell you the new issue of Curve is out - with Gillian Anderson on thecover- and youhaul ass to the nearest Gay neighborhood to buy it within the hour, well, you’ vejust taken a ride on the Dyke Express! When you own copies of "Desert Hearts", "Bound", "Everything Relative", "Claire of the Moon", etc., and display them prominently on your shelf, then grrlfriend, you have swung those closet doors open for the last time. And it feels good, clean, and honest. | Want to get involved? Need to get tested for HIV or a Coming Out Support Group? Call 743-GAYS (4297) Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor ~ank of Oklahoma now offers"One-Stop Shopping" for all your Small Business financial needs with SmallBusinessXpress Plus Checking. This unique package can saveyou time & money by giving you access to all the~financial products and business discounts your small business may ever need. Including checking, savings,leasing as well as loans and li~es o~f c~edit~-En|~y majo~iscounts on business services you already use such as overnight delivery, car rental, office supplies and more. BOk also offers FreeO~Q~ne Banking for Small Businesses at www.bok.€om so you can bank on your schedule. Open your SmallBusinessXpress Plus Checking Account today. Stop by any of BOk’s 25 convenient locations including our supermarket locations. Or call our 24- Hour ExpressBank any time at 588-6010. Ask about our Free Personal Checking Account offer for Business Checking customers. Let BOk save you time and money with SmallBusinessXpress Plusi ANK Oi= solutions that fit your needs. OKI HOMA , . Member FDIC/Equal Opportunity Lender Some Restrictions Apply. Ask for Details. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, July 2000; Volume 7, Issue 7 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource July 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Karin Gregory Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Hughston Walkinshaw Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, June 2000; Volume 7, Issue 6 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 newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/602 2000 AIDS aMUSEments arts and entertainment Bars Boy Scouts businesses churches civil unions Diversity celebration Gay Studies health HIV Jim Christjohn Karin Gregory Lamont Lindstorm performing arts Pride Raging Lesbian Read All About It restaurants sodomy laws Tom Neal Tulsa Family News https://history.okeq.org/files/original/712578396993d523934aa25341e075bc.jpg c1b27a5396a4f0156c29c13e55faeb94 https://history.okeq.org/files/original/0e437c62fbb7e50af3b715f849e29a6d.pdf 63ebf7074a306816b93e5aae614b7fb0 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. Text Any textual data included in the document Methodist "community council" which did adopt the goal. Neal suggested to council co-ordinator Marly Newman that " TULSA-Inaneffortbothnerve-wrackingandtedious ." McDonald be asked to lead the effort because of the World’ s ¯ several Tulsans, SueKnanse, KentDoss,I~arenWeldon ." seeming preference to deal with representatives of non-Gay ¯ (and another who need to remain unnamed), were ¯ groups which advocate on behalf of Gay people rather than Gay arrested in Cleveland with the Reverend Mel White and : people themselves. ". 191 others in acts of peaceful civil disobedience at the " In a widely distributed June 1st e-mail about the change, recent United Methodist Church. Conference: ¯ McDonald wrote"how you will also remember that PFLAG had The acts of civil disobedience, blocking a car park " to be very creative in the design of our signature ad for the paper " exitfolloweddaysofnegotiationswithMethodistchnrch : as part of the PROJECT OPEN MIND Campaign"- areference ¯ leaders about the anti-Gay policies of the United Meth- " to how PFLAG under the former World policy could not use its ¯ odistChurch (UMC). The conference held in Cleveland ¯ own legal name because it included the banned words. ~. was attended by hundreds of UMC delegates. ¯ McDonald added, "... PFLAG submitted an ad and with The Methodist church like some other "mainline" ~ several revisions, it has been approved... The cost of the ad is " Christian denominations has adopted policies which " approximately $500 and [it is] to run on Sunday, June 4th, in the ¯ limit participation of Lesbian and Gay persons in that ¯ Living Section. It has Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians ¯ Will Allen, Emily Sizeraore & group. White stated, "the United Methodist Chruch has " and Gays, as well as some other statements, ’Is someone you care " Matthew Holloway are winners ahistory of social concern [butthey haye] anti-homo- " for gay orlesbian? Issomeoneyoulovegayorlesbian?Ifso, call ¯ ofCoraraunity Hero awards. sexual policies in place that lead to discrimination ¯ Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays’ and then it ¯ suffering, and even death." _. lists our Helpline number." The Tulsans joined other notable civil fights leaders. ¯ McDonald also wrote, "I have no idea what the response will " YolandaKing, theRey.Dr.JamesLawson, friendofDr. " be? I suspect some positive and some negative so theHELPLINE ¯ King, Congressman John Lewis of Georgia and others. " has been notified. If anyone is so moved to help thelocal Chapter ¯ see Arrest, p. 10 : with the cost of the ad, see World, p. 2 " Gays Better Educated,. ForJustices+Couples, Unions. Missouri Backwoods:A Lower Paid Than Straights " Require Creative Language ° Hotbed of Hate Groups WASHINGTON (AP) - Men who consider themselves "unmarried partners" of another man are better educated on average, but make less money than heterosexual men of the same age, according to a study that° claims to take the most comprehensive look ever into the lives of homosexuals in America. Women who have female "unmarried parmers" also tend to be more educated, but earn salaries comparable to those ofheterosexual womenin the same age bracket, according to the study in this month’s issue of "Demography," the journal of the Population Association of Americ& "An important point that is clearly articulated is that it illustrates the impact of anti-Gay discrimination .on income levels," said David Smith, spokesman for the organization Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy group for Gays and Lesbians. Advocates applauded what they said was the first comprehensive study of homosexuals but cautioned against drawing any t-nan conclusions until more research is done. "Demographically, this is a hard population to target and analyze. Data on sexual orientation is not as easily avai[dible as information on race~ gender and age," said Seth Sanders, a study author and .an economist at the University of Maryland. The study looked at statistics from the 1990 Census. ~the first,count to allow people to check offthatthey lived with:an .unmarried partner of the same sex. see Pay, p. 11 DIRECTORY P. 2 EDITORIAL P. 3 US & WORLD NEWS P. 4 HEALTH NEWS P. 6 ENTERTAINMENT P. 8 GAY STUDIES P. 10 by Ross Sneyd, Associated Press Writer MONTPELIER, Vt. -"And now, by the powers vested in me by the state of Vermont, I pronounce you.. ?’ What? Partners? Together as one? Joined as family? Unlike marriage, there’ s no common syntax for the new world of same-sex civil unions. Because the couples are twomen or two women, the old fried-and-true "man and woman" or "husband and wife" phrases don’ t quite make it. With no rulebook and few traditions-as wall as no other state sanctioning what willbe the equivalent of same-sex marriage and thereby offering some guideposts - Vermont’s justices of the peace and .couples entering civil unions are crafting their own conventions and rituals. There has been a lot of discussion, both lighthearted and serious, about how to conduct a ceremony. ’q’here’ s so much creativity in our community among Gay and Lesbian couples in how to create outward signs of their commitment," said Mary Hurlie, ajustice of the peace in Hinesburg who has been with her female partner for 13 years. "But we haven’ t gotten to that level of detail, yet." As marriages must be "solemnized" by judges, justices of the peace or members of the clergy, so, too, will civil unions have to be "certified." But there aren’t any rules. The civil unions law says only that they must be certified. There’ s no script ~,State statute that must be followed for a marriage, either. "Just like marriages, there aren’t any magic words," said Secretary of State Deb Markowitz. " ’We pronounce you man and wife, husband and wife,’ they’ rejustmade up. Youdon’ t find them in statute." Training sessions have been held for justices by the secretary of state’ s office in recentweeks becauseit is almost unquestioned that it will be to them that the primary responsibility for performing civil umons ceremonies falls. That’ s because there are few religious faiths that bless same-sex unions and so there won’ t be many clergy members willing or able to certify civil tmions on behalf of the state. Justices of the peace have a handful of responsibilities under state law. Most have to do with taxes and elections. A town’ s iusdces - there are as few as fiveinsmall towns see Unions,p.ll Humanity Unites For Human Rights Diversity Celebration 2000t "Diversity Celebration 2000!" is an eight-day celebration of the human rights movement with the goal ofuniting northeastern Oklahoma’ s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered (GLBT) and ¯ GLBT-friendly communities. Tulsa Oklahotnans for Human Rights, Inc., Oklahoma’s oldestr~rnreligious Gay community organization released it final schedule which follows: Friday,June 2nd Diversity Celebration 2000! will kick off at 7 pm with an Interfaith Service led by Rev. Mel White at the Williams Theatre in the Performing Arts Center (PAC). Special musical guests include Council Oak Men’s Chorale, Ernestine Holloway is notpictured. Dillard, Jessie Scott, and the Fourth Quarter gospel quartet. Participation by persons with a variety of faith traditions will be included in the program. Admission is free. An offering will be taken, see Pride, p. 7 by Doug Johnson, Associated Press Writer ¯ GAINESVILLE, Mo. - The remote and rugged ¯ Ozark hills blanketed with dogwoods and oaks are ¯ treasured by hunters, hikers and others wanting to ¯ get away from the bustle of urban life. ." The pastoral hills are also a haven for hate ¯ groups, authorities say. Southern Missouri has ¯ drawn more than its share of religious sects and ¯ white supremacists looking for a place to hide. ¯ Last week, police arrested the Rev. Gordon : Winrod- the leader of an anti-Semitic church ~ for : allegedly kidnapping six of his grandchildren and : concealing them for years at his farmhouse in the ¯ hills. The only explanation authorities offer for ¯ why the kids werekidnappedis thatWinrod thought : theirtwo fathers wereJewish. Sheriff SteveBartlett ¯ said the youngsters had been taught by their grand- -¯ father to distrust authorities. At one point, the sheriff said, the children shouted at deputies, "Get : your Jew hands off me." : Winrod, 73, and his followers gained a reputa- ¯ tioninOzark Countyformass mailings ofliterature : calling law enforcement officers and prosecutors ¯ "Jewdicials" - a play on the word judicial - and ¯ claiming-they cover up murders of whites. ¯ It’ s not uncommon to find that kind of sentiment ~ in some areas of the Ozarks, which straddles the : state line between Missouri and Arkansas. Experts ¯ say the region draws hate groups and people con- : nected to the white supremacist "Christian Iden- ¯ tity" movement. ¯. "We are richin these types of groups down in this ¯ part of the country for some reason," Highway : Patrol Sgt. Marty Elmore said. Southwest Missouri : is often characterized by a lack of adequate law ¯ enforcement in rural areas and lacks a tradition of : heavy-handed local government and gun control, ¯ said Robert Flanders, former director of the Center ¯ for Ozark Studies see Hate, p. 7 Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW" s, 1737 S. Memorial *Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine *Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *The Star, 1565 Sheridan *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main *TNT’ s, 2114 S. Memorial *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd *The Yellow Brick. Road Pub, 2630- E: 1-5th.....:- 712-2324 610-5323 583-2119 835-2376 749-4511 744-4280 745-9998 834-4234 585-3405 660-0856 584-1308 --749- 1563 Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 74% 1508 *Assoc. in Med, & Mental Health, 2325 S. HarYard 743-1000 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665 Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272 *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313 *Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. 1 lth 295-5868 Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700 Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620 Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556 *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838-8503 Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial 369-8555 *Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712-9379 Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main 592-0460 *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. P~eoria 744-9595 Four Stai: Imi~ort Automotive, 9906 E. 551h PI. 610-0880 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026 *Gloria Jean’ s Gourme( Coffee, 1758 E. 21 st 742-1460 Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440 *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 *International Tours 341-6866 Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750 *Jared’ s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018 David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236 The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460 *Kerfs Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466 *Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha 585-1234 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112 Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951 Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626 *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297 Rainbowz on the River B+B, PUB 696, 74101 747-5932 Richard’ s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921,747-4746 Scribner’ s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301 Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-78-29 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558 Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563 Fred Welch, LCSW, Counsding 743- !733 *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan 665-2222 *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767 Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, PUB 4337, 74101 579-9593 All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black& g~hite, l,nc,~,POB 1400!,Tulsa,7~4~5.9... 58%7314 Bless The Lord at All Tsmes Chnstian C~"nter, 2207 E. 6 J583-78’15 *B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. ofTulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 *C~hapman Student Ctr.,:University of Tulsa, 5th PI. & Florence Chureti oVth_~Rest~or~tionUU,1314N.~reeawt~od : 587-:13,14 *C~~°.U~’~’ari2UniVexsalist Congregafirn 749-0595 748 3888 ,Delilw~e~i~yilotise¢:iSilS "Dela~vare .- 712-15.11 *DemOcratiC Headquarters, 3930 E: 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, PUB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 *Free Spirit Women’ s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669 Friend For A Friend, PUB 52344, 74152 747-6827 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 PUB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 e-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink.net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers Member of The Associated Press Issued on or before the 1 st of each month, the entire contents of thig publication are protected by US copyright 1998 b) T~ /:~,~v.~ and may not be reprodu~.d (~th~r~i~a: whole orinpart W~th0utwrittenpermission from thepublish~. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’ s sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property ofT~ ~.’. N~- Eachreader is entitled to 4 copies of each editmn at distribution points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. " Friends in Unity Social Org., PUB 8542, 74101 582-0438 HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral PI. 748-3111 NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, PUB 14068;’74159 365-5658 OK Spokes Club (bicycling), PUB 9165, 74157 *OSU-Tulsa PFLAG, PUB 52800, 74152 749-4901 *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325 O’ RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults O’ RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth St. Aidan’ s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 *St. Jerome’ s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 *TNAAPP (Native American men). Indian Health Care 582-7225 Tulsa County Health Department, 46 16 E. 15 595-4105 Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniforn~’Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *Tulsa Community College Campuses *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown BARTLESVILLE Thanks be to you for that wonderful article, "Our Governor Foot-in-Mouth Keating"... wentto TulsaLibrary, picked up first copy of Tulsa Family News and began reading... Laughed out loud, and a long overdue laugh it was, over the comments of Mr. Keating and your"right-on analogies." The very ideathat there should have to be a public consensus to treat all people fairly! What hideous stereotyping by our governor... [I] regret that there is no place close to ¯ ,my ho,me, w,he,r,e !,.c,gn.get your. w.onderful ", i~per. The’littl~ ~egment ,~0 ~epoi’i hate ,, ~ sigee~h 0i: virleh~e~ Call i.he Gay communit~ cent~ris so r~assuring... Loved the ~ Quilt article, unfortunately got my paper ." too lateiio go. Extended thanks. ¯ - Gay-friendly in Depew. *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN Borders Books & Music, 3209NW Expressway 405-848-2667 Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 TAHLEQUAH Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 *Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456=7900 Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS Autuinn’Bre~ze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 *Jim & Brent’ s Bistro, 173 S. Main DeVito’ s Restaurant, 5 Center St. Emerald.R_ainbo~,4~ &l/2_Spfing,St. ~ ..... MCC of the Living Spring Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, PUB~ 429 OldJailhouse_ Lodging, 15 Montgomery Positive Idea Marketing Plans Sparky’ s~ Hwy. 62 :East White Light, 1 Center St. JOPLIN, MISSOURI *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 ¯ Announcements Policy ¯ Tulsa Family News will provide space ¯ for holy union ceremony, marriage -" ceremony, birth, adoption and death ~ announcements ona space availableb~sis. Photos are welcome, though we cannot promise placement or return them, so ¯ please send copies to Tulsa Family NewS, ; PUB 4140, Tulsa 74159. ¯ Letters Policy ¯ Tulsa-~amily News welcomes letters ¯ on issues which we’ve covered or ¯ issues you.think need to be consider~ed, ¯ You may request that your name be with- : held but letters must be signed & have ¯ phone numbers, or be hand ddivered. 200 ¯ word letters are preferred. Letters to o~¢r. publicat.ions will be re-printed as ks~ appropriate. ~.~ 501-253-7734 501-253,7457 : any donation wouldbe appreciated. Please send to PFLAG, PO Box 52800, Tulsa, ¯ OK 74152. I truly believe this will ope~ the door for PFLAG as well as o~ organizations to submit ads to theT~ World. Our thanks to Joe Worley ¯ assisting us with this policy change. He ~ was very, very helpful.’" : The World’ s anti-Gay policy is doen- ¯ mented back to the middle’80’ s when a : Lesbian owned card, gift and book store,. 743-4297 ¯ Two’s Company, located near 31st & 749-8833 ¯ Harvard was told the World would not ¯ accept advertising for the store because ¯ the owners wanted to let readers know the ¯ target audience, i.e. Lesbians and Gay ¯ men. The owners conducted a one day ¯ picket of the World but the policy re- . mained unchanged. ¯" In 1993, when Tulsa Family News pub¯ lisher Tom Neal, opened a gift and card ¯ shop "tomfoolery !" at the Silver Star, the World also refused to accept advertising, even though the store did not trade in eroti~ Or any other possible objectionable,~ fials, citing the same policy, . A~,~arslaterl PFLAG, TulSa Cliap5~ ter ran afrul of the same anti-Gay po|i~¢y 501-253-6807 ¯ when it tried to run a pro-Gay civi! .rights _t 501-25_3-~5 :.. signature ad. !ntetesgngly, the 501:253:9337 : la~editsbw~ipoli’cy~’~WW~eks]~e~r,-’~te.~’~a 501-253-27"/6~. : runninffthe censrr~’FLAGa~.~a...i~) 501-253-5332, : accept~l’~ an anti-G~i~,iid from a"~Jali~0I¢~U 501-624~’6~~ ¯ of weS~side Tulsa &i~ches 501-253-600I": one of:~banned~c~ds. . 501-253-4074 : Editor’s note: for a related editorial, ¯ see page 3. The editorial was written the 417-623-4696 " earlier in the day before the news broke ¯ about the World’ s newpolicy. Hats offto ¯ Nancy McDonaldfor her work in negoti* is where you can findTFN. Not all areGay-owned but all are Gay-friendly. ating this new policy. by Tom Neal, editor &publisher For being the proverbial 900 lb. gorilla of our local media, those folks over at The Tulsa Worm sure seem to be thin-skinned about criticism. One editor, whom I respect greatly, took particular umbrage atmy calling our daily, "a country-club newspaper." I suspect ,that a good part of his irritation is that he knows there s still truth in the charge. The Tulsa World has made great progress in providing better coverage of all of Tulsa, including our minority communities, - even Gay people. But like the town it serves, it carries with it. its parochial,.elitist and raciSt/anfi-minority phst~. And f6r every .step forward, there s~ems tb t~ffve tO be a least one step back. " :- Consider this charming carto0h"0y Simpson, reproduced here, with its somewhat sophisticated bigotry and stereotyping. The comment of "real girls only," implying that Gay men are somehow like women but yet are less than women, is full ofunexaminedmisogynism. It comes out of a hierarchy where straight men (and traditionally straight, white men) are superior, women are lesser creatures, and Gay men are even lower because we’re men "who want to be women." Lesbians, of course, exist only to populate the sexual fantasies of straight men. To put this cartoon in the proper historical context, we need only think back to early 20th century racist political cartoons in which Black Americans were represented ape-ishly and made to speak in "step’ n’ fetch it" dialogue - or other cartoons where orthodox Jews or Japanese- Americans were misrepresented as evil foreigners. Ironically, Simpsonjust gets it wrong. The GirlScouts of America are clearly on record as saying, they, unlike the Boy Scouts, do not discriminate on tile.,.basis of sexual orientation. The organization does use adult men as well as women in its programs in leadership and in training roles,: Therefore, not only would young women who are Lesbian be welcome, adult Lesbians and Gay men could also participate and no doubt have. And guess what, the Girl Scouts are doing just fine. But The Worm is not doing so well. For at least 15 years, our daily has maintained an anti-Gay .advertising policy which bans the words: Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual. Theyjustify this saying that they are a"family" newspaper. Note that this ban does not apply to content of news articles, editorials or, obviously, cartoons! In fact, The World literally could notdo the basic work of a newspaper, merely reporting the stories of our city, country and world, if they censored these words. ¯ How can anyone with a shred of reasoning think that these words ifplaced in an advertisement somehow have an adverse impact on any family, if dearly the same words placed in a news story right next to an ad are acceptable. What really is going on here is epitome of institutionalized prejudice. The policy doesn’ t make any sense, it is bigoted and discriminatory but no. one at The World has the courage to say that what they’re doing is just wrong. And in being silent, they, the reporters, editors, other : staff, both straight and Gay, become collaborators in ¯ societal oppression. In a society which seems to have to ¯ have an "other" againstwhich to define itself,Gay people currently occupy the place Blacks, Jews, Indians, Irish ¯ and others have had. ¯ Contrast this with an advertorial section in a recent "Out" magazine in which The New York Times bragged ¯ about its excellent coverage of Lesbian and Gay issues, : and its commitment to its Lesbian and Gay readers and ¯ staff. Can you seeThe World doing that? I hope to seejust that someday. Who knows maybe next year The World ¯ which is certainly profligate with its sponsorship of ¯ public events will even join Oklahoma’ s Gay press in ¯ being a sponsor of June’ s traditional Pride events. ¯ Don’tlaugh-itjustmighthappen.Andwhynot, thead ¯ policy’s now changed, why not even more progress? by Joe Andrew and Edward G. Rendell After theoverwhelming turnout at the MilleniumMarch and record participation in the recent presidential primaries, Gays and Lesbians across the country are more united than ever in their fight for equality and inclusion. The Democratic Party is proud to stand with them - to fight with them - as we all celebrate Gay and Lesbian Pride this month. Democrats have forged lasting relationships with the Gay and Lesbian community by supporting common sense issues related to basic fairness and non-discrimination for all Americans. Unlike discriminatory and divisive Republican figures like Pat Robertson, Gary Bauer, and presidential candidate George W. Bush, Democrats believe that our diversity is a source of great strength. While getting Bush to meet with Gays and Lesbians in his own party is like pulling teeth, A1 Gore has worked side-by-side with openly Gay and Lesbian advisors throughout his life. On specific policies that improve the lives of Gay Americans like hate crimes legislation, funding: ~or HIV/_AIDS¯ research, atii5~- :!he Empl9yment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA~;~.tli~re is no comparisonb~ tween the candidates. Gorehas supportedGays and Lesbians~time and time again. BUSHII~PPOSES HATE CRIMES BILLS ~ ~ ~ .t~, ,’~ ,. ¯ .. ~" . - A.c~,r,~ng to the.Le’~fJ~an/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas (L(~."~R~.~)~,~.m.~re than 2,~ hate crimes were reported to th~’Fe~Departmen~6fPublic safetybetween 1992 and 19971 ~i~(eefi percem~ere hate cfim~s motivated by the victim’s sexual orien~ation~ making Gays ’and Lesbians the second most-targeted group of hate crime victims in Texas. Given this fact, George W. Bush still opposed provisions in the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act that would have included protections for Gays.and Lesbians from hate crimes. The bill would have mandated stiffer penalties for cases in which victims of violence are targeted because of their race, gender, or sexual orientation. His spokesman said that Bush "does not support special ¯ rights based on sexual orientation." ¯ Special rights? Where is the leadership? Bush wants ¯ the world to believe that he is a compassionate, but ." apparently his compassion does not extend to all the citizens of Texas. ¯ "... We need leaders llke AI Gore : who will speak out against ¯ homophobla and prejudlee in a fight : to maintain elvll justice and equality. ¯ Through his aetlons and i the aetlons of hls party, it is clear that ¯ George W. Bush is not that leader... As we celebrate Gay and Lesbian Pride, : Democrats pledge our support and ¯ eontlnued work to promote ¯" requal opp~rtufilty and ndn-dlserimlnatlon ¯ for a strong and united America. As a Party, we embrace these ideals because we believe that no American should be left behind..." Democrats, on the other hand, have begun to wage an all-out campaign against hate crimes in America. We have also endorsed and fought for civil rights legislation that would protect Gay and Lesbian Americans from ¯ discrimination. A1 Gore has been a tireless advocate for passage of the : Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA), calling on Con- ." gress to come together in one voice on this issue. HCPA ¯ would expand the definition of hate crimes to include : those based on sexual orientation, gender or disability ¯ and allow for the prosecution of those crimes under federal law. ¯ Democratic leaders have walked the walk in the fight ¯ ; against hate in America. We are the party of inclusion ¯ because wehavejudgedandwill continue tojudgepeople ~ based on the content of their character. : BUSH: SILENT ON HIV/AIDS : Bush’s silence on HIV/AIDS as governor is simply ¯ deafening. Despite the fact that almost 10,000 Texans : have died ofAIDS under his watch, Bush has never taken ¯ a publicpolicy position on the epidemic. In fact, he never ¯ even publicly used the word"AIDS" in office.When the ¯ Children Uniting Nations Chairperson Daphna Ziman ¯ asked US governors for assistance regarding the AIDS ¯ epidemic in Africa, forty-nine governors responded to ¯ her urgent personal letter and only one governor ignored ¯ the plea: George W. Bush. In December 1999, Bush also : received a failing grade on Lambda Legal Defense and ¯ Education Fund’s (LLDEF) World AIDS Day Report ¯ Card. :. ,Since the beginning of the Adminislxaf!on, President Clinton and Vice President Gore have proven their com- -¯ mitment to fight for AIDS research again and again. During the last seven years, the Ryan White CARE Act ¯ ha~ seen funding ,increases of more than 292 percent in ° funds fo~ medicationsfserving low-inb.6_’me in~lividuals. ¯ Overall fundingforAIDS~relatedprograms has increased by more than 122 percent during thisAdministration. ¯ A1 Gore has been on the front lines of fighting the ¯ epidemic. Recently, he announced an Administration ¯ initiative to commit more than $100 million to fight the worldwide AIDS crisis and increased funding for re- " search, care andprevention. Weneed a leader that has put : a great deal of thought on this vital issue. : BUSH: AGAINST ENDA ." As governor, Bush opposed employment protection ¯ for Gays and Lesbians. He refused to adopt an Adminis- : tration non-discrimination policy that includes sexual ¯ orientation. see Demos, p. 7 Candian Supreme Co,,urt Holds for Pro-Gay Ruling OTTAWA (AP) -The Supreme Courthas rejected an Ontario government request to re’clew a landmark decision on Gay civil rights. The Attorney General for Ontario had asked for a rehearing of theM and H case, referring to a Lesbian couple whose breakeup almost a decade ago triggered a dispute over assets. The case began when one of the women in the case, known only as M, found she couldn’t sue her ex’- partnerHwhen their relationship ended. Mthen went to court to have the spouse law struck down. The high court ruled in an 8-1 decision that the definition of spouse in Ontario’s family law was unconstitutional because it discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation. Theruling last yearwas specific to Ontario, but legal experts said other provincial governments and Ottawa had few options but to amend their lawsor face having them struck down in similar battles. The House ofCommons passed legislation to bring federal legislationinto lineandOntario grudgingly amended its laws but still launched a bid for a rehearing before the Supreme Court. The two Toronto women, who had bought a home and started an ad agency together, settled the money dispute out of court long before their case wound its way to the country’ s highest court. Presbyterian Court Rulings Are Gay-friendly !AP)-The Presbyterian Church’ s highest court ruled ~n May that local congregations have the right to conduct religious ceremonies celebrating Gay unions that stop short of marriage. The d~ision by the 16- member court is binding unless the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) overrides it. The case, one of three on Gay issues argued before the tribunal, stemmed from a same-sex ceremony performed in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. The Northeast regional church court ruled that ceremonies of "holy union" for same-sex couples may be conducted ifit is made clear they are not marriages. The high conrt agreed, though it instructed regional church bodies to make a clearer distinction between marriages and "blessing services." A second case before the high court involved a homosexual candidate for the ministry who said he did not intend to remain celibate, even though church rules require clergy to observe either "fidelity in marriage" or"chastity in singleness." In that case~ the Northeast regional court decided that he could continue as a candidate, and that his "manner of life" could be evaluated prior to ordination. Again, the high church concurred. It said the denomination’s standards of fidelity and chastity are to be applied at the point that a person is azonsidered.for ordination, not during, candidacy~ Freda ~ar~dn,~r~ and Clifton Kirkpatrick, the two national leaders Of the 2.6 million-member denomination:~ headquartered in :Louisvil!,e, Ky., said in a ~ecent i~astoral letter that the 0aurt s decisions real- :firm. churchpolicy of disallowing Gay-marriages and the.ordinatiOn Of’s(xua~ly active Gays., Theseissues will Surface again when.the General Assembly.meets in Long Beach,:Calif., fromJune 24 to July 1. Among legislation to be considered: a proposal to ban samesex marriage. Utah High School Club For Gay Issues Meets SALT LAKECITY (AP) - Five years after the debate over Gay school clubs began in Utah, East High School students on Wednesday held the state’ s first school-sanctioned club meeting to discuss current events from a Gay and Lesbian perspective. The PRISM Club - People Respecting Important Social Movements - meeting featured Laura Gray, a Salt Lake City attorney involved in Gay-rights issues. .About45 students attended. Students said they talked about the historical, legal and religious significance of marriage and the current restrictions barring Gays and Lesbians from forming such unions. The district barred news media from the. meeting, claiming it was for students only. However, district personnel attended, along with an attorney for the Utah chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU is representing East High juniors Jessi Cohen and Margaret Hinckley, who in April filed a federal-court suit claiming the district violated their First Amendment rights to free speech by rejecting PRISM as an academic club. The district banned all nonacademic clubs in 1996, a year after East High students tried to form a Gay and Lesbian support group. U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell issued a temporary restraining order against the district last month, forcing it to temporarily acknowledgePRISM as a legitimate club pending the outcome of the students’ lawsuit. The meeting was "definitely a win," said East High senior Ivy Fox, whounsuccessfully sued the districtin 1998 over the ban. "It’ s such a good feding to see all your hard work pay off." Sophomore Evan Done attended the club meeting, but didn’ t think the discussion was appropriate. "It is an important step for the Gay community that needed to be taken," he said, but "I don’ t really think it has a place in school." PRISM advertised the meeting with fliers and during regular school announcements over the school intercom. Some of the fliers were destroyed and some students posted "straight pride" fliers, which showed two connecting male symbols and two connecting female symbols that were crossed out. Three Receive First Shepard Scholarships DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Three Gay and Lesbian high school students were awardedfull tuition to Iowa state universities under a new scholarship named for slain Gay student Matthew Shepard. The scholarships, worth approximately $25,000 each over four years, were presented Tuesday to Galen W. Newton, Jessica M. Brackett and Paul N Wharmel. The scholarships include tuition, books and fees at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University or University of Northern Iowa. The scholarship program was announced in March by Gov. Tom Vilsack and the mother of Matthew Shepard. theWyoming college student who was beaten to death by two men. Police said the attack was motivated in part because Shepard was Gay. The scholarships are awarded to Gay students based on academic achievement, financial need and community service, Vilsack said. Brackettcredited Vilsack for trying to provide greater civil rights to Gay Iowans. "He’ s really pushing for rights for everybody andI thinkhewill be ourmain strength during thenext four to six years," Brackett said. "I think he’s going to push for progress." Newton said he.plans to remain.active inGay rights .’. issues whilein college. He said the Scholarship is abig encouragement. "People are beingawarded for being courageou_s,".he s-aid. ¯ - Funding for the scholarships.~omes from a chari- .tablefoundation establishedbyprominentDes Moines businessman Rich F...y~.~haner..An’rpe~l.y Gay RepubS lican, Eychanermad~ an unsuccessi~ui bid for the U.S~. .House in 1984, but’lost :in the~. Vatican Increases Attack on World Pride ROME (AP) - A top Italian cardinal weighed in against a major Gay gathering scheduledin Rome in July, stepping up a campaignto move the event elsewhere. "What we are asking is not at this time and not in Rome," said Cardinal Camillo Ruini, president of the Italian Conference ofRoman Catholic Bishops. World Gay Pride Roma 2000 is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of Gay and Lesbian participants for a week starting July I. The Vatican has opposed the city’ s plans to host the gathering, saying it is out of keeping with the church’ s Holy Year that has been drawing millions of pilgrims to Rome. Some opponents fear the event will turn into a demonstration against Pope John Paul II, who has defended the Vatican’ s condemnation of homosexual acts. "I don’ t believe it is by chance that they selected Rome this year," Ruilfi said. United in God’s Love MCC-United Sunday Worship Reverend Cathy Elliot 11:00 am Pastor 1623 N. Maplewo0d 918/838-1715 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at 1 lam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm 3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon Sandra Hill Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111 Red Rock Tulsa - O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Envirorndnt Call for meeting times and .place: Mi.ng0 Valley Flowers. 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 9.18-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-44~-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 7411’4-3518 The Pride Store 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743:4297) ¯6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday fl2-9_ p~,~ Sat..u~~dq2, all sales b.eqefit the Center, Kelly KirbyrCPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 TOM NEAL BUILDING & GARDEN DESIGN 583-1248 Red Rock Tulsa : Free Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tuesdays, 5 -8 pm, Center, 1307 East 38th Wednesdays, 5-8 pm, Red Rock, 1724 East 8th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 KEVIN BURLESO N Keller Willidms Realty 2651 712-2252 Burlesor~@k~.corn East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An-~t~dependent Member Broker- OPENARMS,OPENMINDS,OPENHEAR’TS Saint Aidan Saint Dunstan 4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882 5635 East 71st. 492-7140 Saint John Trinity 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 501 S. Cincinnati 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You In another development, the Gay civil-lights group ArciGay called for the resignation ofPremier Giuliano Amatoforhi s remarks before parlianlent earlier in the week.. Amato said that "unfoftnnately" the Gay Pride week week must be allowed to be held because of constitutional protection for public gatherings. Gays Losing Supporter ST. PAUL (AP) - State Sen. Allan Spear, who is retiring after 28 years, will probably be remembered for work that took "probably less than 10% of my time" - his advocacy of rights and protections for Gays and Lesbians. "Nobody can get elected and adequatelyserve a constituency on Gay,~ssues alone,: Spear said..",But it’s important to have people for whom Gay i~su~s are a~hi.gh priority." . " Spear became the first openly Gay legislator in Mimlesota- and one of only two in the nation - when he acknowledged his homosexuality in 1974. His retirement at the end of this year will likely leave just one openly Gay legislator: Rep. Karen Clark, DFLMinneapolis. Scott Dibble, who is running for a House seat in Minneapolis, is also Gay, but there would be no openly Gay senators. Spear believes ~t is important for Gay people to have legislative representation. "It helps a lot to have someone come from the Gay community who can speak from the inside," said Spear, DFL-Minneapolis. "You need someone who can talk about what it’ s like growing up Gay, or coming out, or what it’ s like to deal with a partner who you feel is your spouse, but society won’ t recognize as your spouse. Other people can sp,,eak out on those issues, but it isn’ t quite the sanle, Ann DeGroot, executive director of the Gay political action group OutFront Minnesota, said part of Spear’s legacy will be other legislators who can. advocate for Gay rights, whether they’re Gay or not. "Of course we’ re going to miss Allan," she said. "We haven’t had a session without him yet. "But we’ve worked with other people so much, other leaders who are supporters, we know we can count on them.?’ Gay.& Lesbian Parents TroUbled by State Law LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Chris and Mike Croghan- Miller are like other parents, caring and proud. They videotaped their son’ s birth, took time off from work when he was born, and in the weeks before, had an announcement party, a baby shower, painted the "baby room" and spent days with a ~erious case of "the butterflies." But there is one difference some say makes them unfit parents - they’re Gay. Advocates argue that the bottom line is a good home for the child that meets the requirements set by the state. "We don’t care whether they’ re married, single or Gay," said Carolyn Amett, contract attorney "for Adoptions ofKentucky. "We don’ t discriminate." Kentucky Youth Advocates’ director Debra Miller said the concern should be "that any child is adopted by parents who have the emotional and social support necessary to be good parents. We don’t think that there’s anything constitutional that makes a Gay or Lesbian parent unable to do that. Noris there anything that guarantees that heterosexual folk can be good parents." The Croghan-Mil!er.family is part ofaboom~~t~e numbe~ Of Gays ~d Les~iafls ~fi~osin~’to’becSth~e parents, according to the San Diego-based Family Pride Coalition. Though state officials and private adoption agencies in Kentucky don’ t keep any estimates on how many Gay men or Lesbian~ have adopted here, the San Diego group claims 15,000 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered families as members, including dozens in Louisville. ¯ And across the nation, cases of adoption and custody issues involving Gays and Lesbians have become increasingly visible. Mostrecently, Mississippi joined Florida and Utah in banning adoptions by Gays, despite arguments that it is an unconstitutional violation of due process and privacy rights. The Cabinet for Families and Children has recently proposed changes that would "make our systemmore accepting to a broad variety of families," said Mike Jennings, a cabinet spokesman. But the change is not being made specifically out of consideration for Gay and Lesbian couples. Gay Teens Face Harassment & Isolation MILLERSVILLE, Pa. (AP) - During her junior and senior years in high school Lilith visited the hospital seven times for severe depression, self-mutilation and thoughts of suicide. She was trying to destroy hersdf, she said. Destroy the thing within her that was making her different from her classmates. Lilith is Gay and, during her early teen years, the thought of being a Lesbian "practically .disguste0,". her. ~he denied it, ran from it, ti-ied to erie it’f~om.!,i~ ~ soul!, but her affeeti0n for bilker ffomenw~ beCrn{i~ impossible to ignor~ Lilith ~ Who, f0( pi-i~acy #~aI- i sons, chose a fictitious name for this story - is now 20, a full-time college student and a self-assured Lesbian woman. But, she says, her high school years were rough. Like many Gay youth, Lilith suffered through harassment and lack of acceptance, feelings of isolation, and self-imposed silence. Gay teens are twice as likely as heterosexual youth to seriously consider suicide because they feel adrift in an unsupportive world. Overall, the nonheterosexual population (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered) is 5-10%, said Brad Becker, executive director of the Gay &Lesbian National Hotline. High school percentages are likely the same, but surveys are skewed because most teens are not comfortable answering gender-preference questions. In addition, many have yet to figure out their sexuality, he said. "They may not be identified as Gay,, said Becker. "They know something is different but have yet to pinpoint their sexuality.". "Teens begin feeling their sexuality around the age of 13," said Linnea Bailey, a Lancaster psychologist who specializes in Gay and Lesbian issues. "So much of being a teen is exploring sexuality. If they realize they are not part of the norm, it can be frightening. They know that those who are different get picked on." Gay and Lesbian youth commonly struggle with self-esteem issues and may withdraw from family and friends. They often skip school and may eventually drop out in search of an accepting peer group. If they do come out and continue in school, they risk being harassed or beaten by those with differing bdiefs. In an average school day, says the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, the typical Gay teen will hear 26 anti-Gay remarks. And, one in six Gay youths are beaten so badly they seek medical attention. "The last acceptable form of overt prejudice is against Gays," Bailey said. "It’s still extremely bad in the public school systems." Most Gay teens wait to come out until they are in college or the work world. There tends to be greater diversity and less peer pressure. "Often it’ s the first time they are away from home and family," said Anthony Lascoskie Jr., coordinator of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Allies at Franklin & Marshall Colleg_e and .treasurer of the Pink Triangle Coalition. "They can be Gay at school and straight at home." Boys typically come out at age 18; gifts, 23. Julian, a 19-year-old Millersville student, came out the summer before his junior year of high school by writing a letter to a trusted faculty member. During his junior year he began telling his friends. J~ian.said most of his friends were OK with his sexuality, but some faded away. And although there were no physical attacks, there were plenty of verbal attacks. - Bailey said~lack of- peer suPport is.the, one of the worst koadblbcks for ~ay teer~sl During a time When support is most important, there is typically very little. "Imagine dating as a Gay teen-ager," she said. "If you break up with a same-sex partner, there’ s no support. Who do you go to to talk about it? There is so much loneliness and isolation." Black Church To Fight AIDS Harder TUSKEGEE, Ala. (AP) - Black ~hurch leaders, trying to overcome policy differences in their efforts to combat AIDS~ have gathered in Tuskegee to try to put together a plan of action. More than 300 bishops, pastors, priests and laymen from across the nation and as far away as Africa tookpart the lastweek inMay in theAIDS Conference for Black Churches at Tuskegee University. Black churches have been Slow to take onAIDS because of the stigma associated with frank discussion of sex, drugs and homosexuality in church, church leaders said. There is also disagreement over issues such as the distribution of condoms and needle-exchange programs. "This hesitationis killing our people," U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher told the conference in a videotaped statement. Blacks accounted for 45% of all AIDS cases reported in the United States in 1998, according to federal data. Africa is home to 23.3 million of the world’ s 33.6 million infected people, said Dr. Helene Gayle, head of the AIDS center at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Within a decade, she said, there will be 40 million orphans in Africa because of the disease. Church leaders and AIDS experts said their efforts likely will focus ottxeaching teens and young adults. The Rev. Calvin Butts III, president of the Council of Churches of the City of New York, said churches must teach sex education. "Un~ less we learn to talk about it, we’re not going to solve the problem of AIDS," he said. "You can’t be hypocritical about this, because it’ s killing us." Other leaders said churches should boost outreach efforts in jails and prisons. Nearly one-fifth of people who are HIV-positive will be incarcerated at some point in their lives, according to CDC data. Pernessa Seele, founder ofThe Balm in Gilead Inc., the organization that sponsored the conference, said church leaders must provide better counseling and care to people with AIDS. "Church folk are Gay folk, they are.., straight folk. We’re all family," she said. "But some people justdon’ tgetit. We’ ve got to tear down all these barriers." AIDS Vaccine to Be Tested in Haiti NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Vanderbilt University Medical Center will work with the nation of Haiti to test a vaccine for AIDS. The research hospital is seeking 150 local volunteers for testing in Nashville this summer. Tests begin in Haiti in the fall. .’,~It’~s:important-for,the.science of vaccine development to embrace the developing world, where most of the AIDS burden is now," said Dr. Barney S. GrahamofVanderbilt~ s AIDS Vaccine Evaluation’Unit. "We’re veery excited about workilig with Haiti." Vanderbiltis 0neof five medical centerg in °be:United States testing a vaccine based on a virus which ca°mot reproduce in mammals - the canary pox virus. Scientist splice genes for inactive HIV proteins into the canary pox virus, and inject it into the volunteers. If it works, the vaccine will stimulate the body’ s immune defenses into action, including the production of a white Mood cell that can dispose of HIV-infected cells to prevent it from spreading inthe body. "It’ s not a perfect vaccine, but it is the best candidate we have now," said Dr. Peter F. Wright, also of Vanderbilt. Side affects of the vaccine can include mild fever and mnsde soreness. There is no chance of getting infected with HIV, Graham said. "We’ re not at all worried about safety," Graham said. Vanderbilt’ s research is supported by an annllal grant of $2 million from the .federal govemmentwhichis goodthrough 2005. If this year’s tests are successful, large-scale trials will be done in 2001. :Russia Too Poor to Fight AIDS CriSis MOSCOW (AP)- Registered HIV cases in Russia are snowballing and the cashstrapped government is too poor to confront the health crisis, a senior health official said in May. "That means people will simply die without treatment," said VadimPokrovsky, thehead ofthe Federal AIDS Prevention Center. Last year, 18,140 new cases of infection with HIV - the virus that causes ¯ MDS - were registered; that’s dose to half of all the HIV cases registered in Russia since 1987. Pokrovsky told anews conference that at least a two-fold increase is expected this year, and that the registered number of cases are likely only one-fifth to one-tenth of the real number. ’q’hat means that the real number of HIV cases may reach 300,000-400,000 by the ~.nd of this year. By 2005 we may have about 1 million cases, under an optimistic scenario," he said. Intravenous drug users aecountformost of the new HIV cases, but the virus is rapidly spreading through sexual contacts, Pokrovsky said. "In some regions around Moscow up to 5% of all young people have AIDS," he said. "According to other estimates, up to 15% of Moscow prostitutes are infected with HIV." The relatively small number of officially registered HIV cases has prompted a negligent attitude in the government, which has been slow to earmark funds for combatting the disease. Officials have sometimes hampered privately funded AIDS prevention efforts. TV ads and billboards promoting the use of condoms have disappeared after authorities complained they were harming public morals, ¯ Pokrovsky said. Currently, only therelatively rich Mos- ¯ cow city governmentcan fully pay the bill ¯ for treating AIDS patients, while other ¯ regions provide only a fracdon of funds ¯ needed to pay for expensive treatment. According to Pokrovsky, a modern ¯ course of treatment for AIDS comes only ¯ a fraction cheaper than in the West, be- ¯ causemostdrugs areimported. Suchtreat- ¯ ment costs about $10,000 per patient, he ’ ~aid,~ a hefty sum a’or ~the.economicalIy ¯ struggling nation. "The nmnber of pa- ¯ dents will be so high, that only few of ¯ them will get treatment," he said. "No ¯ more than 10% of the patients may count ¯ on receiving treatment." ¯ OK AIDS Network ADAP, the AIDS Drug Assistance Pro- . gram is working but is severely ¯ underfunded. OKAIDS Netis asking that ¯ the following legislators be asked to sup- , port more funding in the next session. Write: Senators Stratton Tayltr, Ben ¯ Robinson, Angela Monson, Cal Hobson, ¯ Enoch Kelly Haney and Representatives ¯ Loyd Benson, and Bob Weaver at State Capitol, 2300 No. Lincoln,OKC730105. Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appoinlmenls are available. Tulsa City County Library System is proud to support Humanity Unites for Human Ri£!hts Diversity Celebration 2000 and presents Not All Fruits are Oranges: the Roots, Branches & Produce of the Gay & Lesbian Literary Grove by Dr. T. Alan Culpepper, Ph.D. Visiting Assistant Professor.ofEnglish~ Rogers State University Tuesday, June 13, 7pm, Aaronson Auditorium, Central Library Look for the Library Booth at the Millenium Festival and check with Central Library for books and videos of interest to Gay & Lesbian readers, families and friends. when i dare to be powerful - to use my strength in the service of my vision, then itbe Qm tmpo ant whether i am afraid. ¯..audre Iorde please oin )Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights in welcoming / / Dr. Margarethe Cammermeyer and Mr. Greg Louganis as guest speakers ,--of.the "Humanity Unites for Human Rights" 0 "DIVERSITY CELEBRATION 20001" black-tie (optional) benefit dinner and silent auction Friday, June 9, 2000 The Summit Club 6th & Boulder Tulsa, Oklahoma (free parking in Bank of America tower) VIP Reception; 7:00 PM / $50 per person Reception: 7:00 PM Silent Auction: 7:00 -- 9:00 PM _ Dinner:,8:00 PM/,$75 per person $550 / table of eight - ~:~ $750 /.table of eight & VIP reception for ticket information, please see enclosure I at Southwest Missouri State University in Sptingfield. "When I think of Ozark County, I always think ofhow the sheriff did not have a car until 1937," he said. "The rivers weren’t bridged and there was no real road system developed." Outlaws looking for cover in the backwoods - including such notorious villains as Bonnie and Clyde and Jesse James - were drawn to the area for those reasons, Flanders said. Religious~based groups, typically those who shun the doctrines of mainstream churches, appreciate the quietandreserved nature of fellow Ozarkers. ’’There is a long tradition in the hills that you live and let live, no matterhow weird the beliefs of your neighbors might be," Flanders said. Both Springfield and Bransonhave seen national and regional supremacy conventions in the last year. In February, some 225 people gathered in Branson for the third annual convention of the Identity group Songs for His People. "You’ re tight in the middle of the Bible Belt, which plays an important role in the culture there," said Devin Burghart of the Chicag0-based Identity watchdog group, Center for New Commlmity. ’‘These guys come strolling along singing songs andholding Bibles, which allows them a certain degree of legitimacy in the area. But behind it all is still the same message of hate and intolerance," he said. Christian Identity espouses white Anglo-Saxon virtues and calls Jews, racial minorities and Gays enemies of God. S6memembers believe in death sentences for those who violate "’God’ s law." In August, Identity follower Buford Furrow Jr. allegedly killed a Filipino- American postal worker and wounded five others after opemng fire on a Jewish day-care center in Los Angeles. A month earlier, two brothers-also Identity adherents - allegedly killed a Gay couple in California and set fire to several synagogues. Through the 1980s, the Identity movement became associated with other extremist groups, including The Order, the Ku Klux Klan and The Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord, or CSA. Many residents here say they have felt intimidated by supremacist groups like CSA and Winrod’ s church. Most define to be interviewed or ask not to be identified for fear of retaliation. "These guys would wear fatigues and walkinto thepostoffice withguns swapped to their waists," said Tim Morgan, owner of a marina in Pontiac, a town of fewer than 300 not far from Gainesville. "They were intimidating because they were so military-looking." Winrod’ s church, called Our Savior’ s, consisted-mostly~ ofhi~ adult ehilO*en, their families and a few other followers. The sheriff said he began distributing his racist mailings to every county resident. "People Wouldcall and Complainabout it, but there is nothing we could do- he hadFirstAmendmenttights ," Bartlett said. "We could only keep an eye on him." Now, Winrod is accused along with two ofhis childrenofabducting his grandchildren from their North Dakota hometowns in 1994 and 1995. Their mothers are M.ready serving ptison terms for kidnapping. At ~ pretrial court, appearance Thursday, Wiurod said he did not have an attorney The court has givenhim until June 13 to either retain counsel or waive his tight to representation. A preliminary hearing on the case was set for June 21. Authorities fear the Wiurod case will attract attention from other affiliated groups. ’‘There are groups like this all over the country, peoplewhomaybearen’ t. closely affiliated with one another but who share similar beliefs, and they decide they want to come and get involved in these situations," Said Elmore, the highway patrol sergeant. "We don’ t want that to happen this time." On the Net: Southern Poverty Law Center: http://www.splcenter.org ~ Center for New Community: http://www.newcomm.org Yet again, he dismissed these basic protecdons as "special tights ." In addition, he has sided with the extreme wing of his Party and refused to endorse the Fmployment Non-Discrimination Act (F_aNDA). ENDA wouldput an end to discrimination against Gay men and Lesbians in the workplace - discrimination that is currenfly legal in 39 states. AI Gore and the Democratic Party have fought vigorously for ENDA because we believe in the tight of every American to bejudged on his or her merits and abilities, and to be allowed to contribute to society without facing discrimination on the basis of sexual ori_-_ entation. As President, AI Gore also would continue President Clinton’ s Executive Order prohibiting discrimination based on. sexual orientation in the federal civilian workforce. Facing aRepublican challenge to the Executive Order, Clinton and Gore worked with Representative Barney Frank and other fair-minded Members of Congress to defeat the Republicans’ and-Gay amendment with the support of over 90 percent of Congressional Democratsl We need leaders likeAl Gore who will speak out against homophobia and prejudice in afight to maintain civil justice and equality. Through his actions and the actions ofhis party,it is clear thatGeorgeW. Bush is not that leader. There is every indication that he would make no room forGays and Lesbians inhis WhiteHouse. As we celebrate Gay and Lesbian Pride, Democrats pledge our support and continued work to promote equal~opportunity and non-discrimination for a strong and umted America. As a Party, we embrace these ideals because we believe that no .aanetican should be left behind. An interpreter for the deaf will be provided. - The Rev. Mel.White heads, Soulforce, Inc., anon-profitorganization thatruns an ecumenical network of volunteers committed to the teachings and applying the principles of nonviolent civil .disobedience on behalf of sexual minorities. Rev. White has relendessly devoted his life to heal the wounds caused by: the anti-Gay rhetoric and to enter into dialogue with the faith organizations that perpetuate hatred and violence toward sexual minotifies. In the past year, Rev. White has led "direct actions" with Rev. Jerry Falwell, the trial of Rev. Jimmy Creech, and most recently, the General Assembly of the United Methodist Church. Shortly after visiting Tulsa, Rev. White will lead a delegation see Pride,p. 8~ Pr by Jim Christjohn, mac guru & more Brachetti is coming! No, it’ s not apiece of toast with herbs and tomatoes on it, it’ s Arturo Brachetti, the quick-change artist. Think "Greater Tuna" meets Robin Williams while doing David Copperfield’s act. GreaterTuna had two guys doing quick changes to create ,the ,22 characters of,a small mythi.cal town; Artur9 is one man crearii~g 88characters during the course of an evening ~-grom cowboys to geishas and barmaids to Royal Mounties, he is a very charmlng man - and handsome as well. He speaks at least three languages fluently, and has a mischievous sense of humor rivaling yours truly. Described as Versace on hyper speed, Brachetti changes costumes at lightning fast speed, transforming into more than 80 characters and giving life to le- "... Deserlbed as Versaee on hyper speed, Braehettl changes costumes at lightning fast speed, transforming into more than 80 characters and giving llfe to legions of personalities. His show is a multl-medla ~xtravaganza, eomblnlng comedy, tousle, magle, and video in a unique collage of aetlng, storytelling, stunts and earleature . . ." gions of personalities. His show is a multimedia extravaganza, combining comedy, music, magic, and video in a unique collage of acting, storytelling, stunts and caricature. He is the winner of the 2000 Moliere Award (the French "Tony" award), and a delightfully impish fellow. Add a little Cirque De Soleil t~ that mixture above, too. I had the chance to speak with him before one of his sold out shows in Paris, France. A U.S. tour is planned for 2001, buthis first stop for a very limited engagement, is here in Tulsa. Whenasked, "Why Tulsa?" he responded, "Well, you have to start somewhere!" He spoke of it being the "center of the United States" and as such, a good place to begin. tie spoke of the Italian art of"transformation" as not having been seen in thirty years. It had its origins in the 17th century as an offshoot of the commedia del’ artr. According to Brachetti, Giovanni Gabrielli was the originator of "transformarion," performing all the characters of the commedia del’ arte single-handedly, changing masks and characters all byhimself. I asked him what prompted him to create such a show-, and his response was that he was doing some add-on acts for a production of "Midsummer Night’s Dream" (French pr~oductions often thro,w_ extra scenes ifffor fun), which led to him creating a one man show in which he played all the parts, an embryonic version of his current two hour plus show, for an arts festival. A later version of the show, largely autobiographical, opened in June ’99 in Montreal. Selling outevery night, he eventually took the show to Paris. There was no advertising budget, and the first week, they had to find people just to sit in the audience. After that first week, however, word of mouth started and the show exploded. Brachetti would like audiences to leave the show different from when they entered. He said that the show speaks to the eight year old child witltin all of us. In the dip of the show, s beginning, shown at the press conference, it begins with a mysterious masked man removing his mask to reveal yet another mask underneath, continuing for some time. Just that brief dip spoke to me of the fact that we all wear so many masks from day to day, ,to the point where the real personbecomes buried over ume. It s.eems to me, that his show is about removing the masks of adulthood so that We can free the child trapped within, (but then agaifi, I’ m0 a psychology major, and can read deep insight into anything). I will say that sequence is very powerful, and can only imagine what therest ofthe show must be like. Brachetti hopes to restore the wonder of the world as seen from the eyes of kids. He alternated as he spoke, from well-educated adult to impish child. He’ll eventually play S_an Francisco (the costumes will go over big there) and New York, as well as Chicago. Brachetti arrives in Tulsa at thePAC courtesy ofCelebrity Attractions August 6-13 and to OKCat the Rose State Performing Arts Theater august 15-21. Tickets can be had by calling 596-7111. I don. t know if he’ s Gay, but I will tell you now, the costumes that Brachetti designed and created rival any elaborate Bette Midler/Cher/Drag Queen extravaganza. Did I mention he’ s cute, designs a meanfrock, inhis mid thirties (he’ s cagey about his age) and single? Me first, guys ! For’those Goddess worshipers out there, I am pleased to announce Goddess: Tulsa Artists’ Coalition Women’ s Show 2000, sponsored by TAC and The University of Tulsa School of Art. It features Goddessthemed artwork, and the exhibit goes up June 8 and runs through July 7th. The opening is from 5-8pm June 8, and the regular gallery .hours are 9am-4:30pm Mon. - Thurs. and 9am-noon Friday. The gallery is in TU’ s Alexander Hogue Gallery at 5th Street and College Avenue. Andfor those wondering, Stevie Nicks, new album "Trouble In Shangri-La" is on permanent delay, as usual Apparently, there are troublein the Shangri-La recording studio in which she’ s been working with a revolving doorful of producers .since ,!997. Have fun at the Diversity. Celebrations, ~_nd be safe! ’ ¯ We’ ve seen it before. The horror of the ship’ s sinking never quitemadeit onstage. You’ re more bothered by the horror of having paid to see this show. The songs, for the most part, are mawkishly written, stealing from everyone imaginable - Gilbert and Sullivan, Lloyd Webber, Sondheim. Few original ideas are in the music, which is a pity. This is portrayed as homage, but basically, it seems Yeston just couldn’t come up with anything on his own. Want something better? Wait for Rent later this summer. Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American? Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men s ~/k~ Support Group is here for you! ,-~/~.~/ ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project Call JOHN RAGAN, the friendly, caring real estate agent who understands your special needs! 918-583-2125 800-559-1558 wrvw.NewNest.com of Soulforce members on a direct action to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. as they debate the inclusion of Gays and Lesbians in that denomination. Organizational sponsors include: Soulforce in Oklahoma (presenting sponsor) TulsaOklahomans forHumanRights (presenting sponsor) Community ofHope Church,CommimityUnitarian/UniversalistCongregationDignity/ IntegrityofTulsa FellowshipCongregational Church, Green Country Society of Friends (Quakers), Metropolitan Community Church United (MCC), Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays in Tulsa (PFLAGTulsa), Parish Church of St. Jerome, Regional AIDS Interfaith Network of Oklahoma (RAIN-OK), and Volunteers in Action Committee of All Soul’s Unitarian Church as wall as others. Soulforce Workshop Saturday, June 3rd A SoulforceWorkshop led by Rev. Md White will be held at the Charles Norman Studio at the Performing Arts Center at 2 pro. Rev. White and his partner, Gary Nixon, will provide training in the principles of M.K. Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. as part of the non-violence justice movement. The workshop will last until 5 p.m. Admissionis free. TOHR Follies 2000 Saturday, June 3rd ¯he bawdy humor and sentimental songs of theTOHRFollies returns at 8 pm at the Doenges Theatre, PAC. Join a host of performers and singers celebrate your favorite show tunes from a "100 years of Broadway." Elaborate productions from the timeless works of Rodgers & Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Kern, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Charlie Smalls will entertain you. A Reception will follow in the Charles Norman Studio with catering provided by Curt & Marj’ s. Admission is $15 each. Tickets will be sold through the Performing Arts Center Ticket Office beginning around May 3rd. Call the PAC for ticket information at 596.7111 .or 800.364.7111 or buy your tickets online at www.tulsapac.com. Entertainers: Sedackeiry Taylor Alexander, Johnny Cronin, Domoniqne Daniels, Veronica De,core, Vivian MINI-MOVIE FESTIVAL Thursday, June 8th AMini-Movie Festival will run throughout the day on a 60" screen at the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center. The Community Center is located on the corner of 38th and Peoria (above Boulevards). Popcorn and refreshments will be available. Admission is free. Schedule: 1:00 pro, Lilies 3:00 pm, Beautiful Thing 5:00 pm, It’ s In The Water 7:00 pro, Broadway Damage 9:00 pm, Everything Relative Black Tie Benefit Friday, June 9th TOHR offers the opportunity to meet Margarethe Cammermeyer and Greg Louganis at a VIP Reception at7pmin the Grille Room at The Summit Club on the 31 st floor. The Summi t Club is located in the Bank of America Building at 15 West 6th Street. Free parking available in the building. Admission is $50. An Open Reception and Silent Auction will begin at 7 pm at The Summit Club on the 31st floor. All proceeds will benefit TOHR’ s fight for GLBT equality in this region. The Benefit Dinner begins at 8 pm at The Summit Club on the 30th floor. Guest speakers are Margarethe Cammermeyer and Greg Louganis. Please joinTOHR in presenting its wall-deserved "Community Hero" awards to three high school students who have shown extraordinary courage in dealing with their sexuality: Will Allen, Emily Sisemore, and Matthew Holloway. An interpreter for the deaf will be provided. Tickets are available for the VIP Reception and the Benefit Dinner by "calling 743.4297, or by mailing ticket requests to TOHR, P.O. Box 2687, Tulsa, OK74101, or by dropping by the Center on the corner of38th and Peoria between 6 pm and 9 pm Sundays through Friday and Noon to 9 pm on Saturday. Millennium Pride Parade Saturday, June 10th The Millennium Pride Parade will beffin at 11 am at the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center at 38th and Peoria. Grethe Cammermeyer and Greg Louganis will serve as Co-Grand Marshals. Organizers claim it will be bigger and more colorful than before. The Parade will follow the same route as last year from the Center to Veteran’ S Park at 18tk and Main. Deveroe ::.Fontaine, Green ~Country Drop-offpoints are set along the Parade ~Oogg,e.rs, DanHale, Miitthew Holloway, Routethis year. Buses!shuttles will begin ~H~’l.~a’..~s Horribles, KriS Kohl~.CeCe.. ~ ~mn’mg at 8!30 a;m, Please park your ¯~roi,x,~taRichards,Tabith9Tayl0r,--: veliid~ at Veteran s Park and catch ~e T~aT Neill, ’Victoria Turelie,:R~becea . bu~ofShtittleonthenorthsideofVeteran s U.ngermah,.ahd Komona Wannaliiya, -.’Park. --’There is no charge to ride the bus/ All events tke!d at the Performing Arts Center are fundedin part b~r a grant-from the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trnst. uNIi"ED - An Art Exhibit Tuesday, June 6th An Art Exhibit entitled "United" will have an opening reception at the Recep- !ion Hall of All Soul’ s Unitarian Church beginning at 6 pm. Wine and soft drinks ~vill be available. Hors d’ oeurves will be fPrereO.VAideldl bSyouTlsWUCnaittaerriinang.CAhdumrcihssiios nloiscated at 2952 South Peoria. Artists: Otto Decker, John Duvall, Jody Ellison, Dana Gilpin, P.S. Gordon David Halpern, Isaac Harper, Ken Johnston, Elizabeth Joyner, Kraig Kallenberger, C. LynnMallett, KathleenPendergrass, Mary Schepers; Kelley Vandiver, David Vamecky & others. shu..tt!e. FESTIVAL Saturday, June 10th The Millennium Pride Festival (formerly the Picnic) will begin at 11 am at Veteran’s Park. There will be dose to fifty booths, as well as food vendors, beer and soft drinks, and lots of activities. Margarethe Cammermeyer and Greg Louganis will give the opening remarks. TOHR’ s "Community Hero" awards will be given to three courageous local teenagers: Will Alien, Matthew Holloway, and Emily Sisemore. Entertainment go on all afternoon and into the evening. A sixteenteam volleyball tournament will run throughout the day on three volleyball courts. There is also a Celebrity Dunk Tank with Audra Sommers, Dyke Divine and David from gay.tulsa.org, Tom Neal ofTulsa Family News, Marty Newmanof the Human Rights Campaign, and more. by James Christjohn ~ ¯ I’m not sure which is the greater trag- " edy: the sinking of the ship and its aftermath - or the creation and execution of " this musical. Don’t get me wrong, the " performances were OK, for the most part, some were excellent, and there were afew songs thatmade the show somewhatworth the time it took to watch it. But it was a remarkable example of how easy it is to get Tony Awards these days. At the time this disaster (the musical) struck, it was the only original American musical offering on Broadway. Everything else was Lloyd Webber (i.e., English) or French. So, to get a Tony, you need to: 1. merely be American; 2. write a musical: 3. base it on something historical, but only superficially. Take known names and make up cartoonish characters to go with them; 5. even if what you write is unfocused and mediocre, if there are no other Americans writing musicals, you’ll get a Tony. If you’ re wanting a mildly entertaining evening with some really bad staging, scenery, and costumes that dwarf the set, and NO historical accuracy (other than the fact_the ship sank), by all means waste your money. The show itself is historically inaccurate to the point of sheer ridiculousness. That wouldn’ t be such a peeve with me if the marketing weren’ t hyping it as being historically accurate, claiming the "story is told truthfully" and that "historical accuracy of Titanic (the musical) makes it an ideal show for parents to share with school age children." Only if the parents wish to point out how inaccurate the marketing can be and musicals hyped as historically accurate aren’ t. And it wouldn’ t be so bad if the actual stories - as told in the transcripts of the inquiries, easily come by in paperback form - were as dramatic as you can get. The), didn’ t need to ~nake up half of what the,’,’ did. Thorn Sesma, who portrays Thomas Andrews, the Titanic’s Designer, sang like he had a mouthful of marbles. He seemed to have a speech impediment, making it hard to understand what he was saying. And youknow, if you’ re on stage, evenifyouaremic’ d,DON’TMUMBLE. This was.,rampant during the evening.... One man, whose Iin~s throdghout song ~ere "Not a ibit not .a aide ¯ repeated ad.~auseum, s~,t~a,.d..ed~!jke"Noti!’: : bitch, not a,iittl~ bitch. ~ I ldd.you noti.. Marcus ~:Ch.a,it, who" played, stoker ." Fredefiek.~.~tt,. ~d"a ,:bi~athless fali setto q0altty-that .s~ded:lik¢ .an ment ~betw.’.,e~n MiChael ~Ct~w.ford,aniti.~ Andy Gibb. Even though he Was nile d tO the hilt (as all were), y.oo, coul~l understand him at times, due to his breathless "Phantom of the Opera/Michael Crawford’~ style of singing. His vibrato was annoying as well, distracting from one of the most powerful songs in the show. When he whispers, you can’ t hear him, when he belts, he reveals a glorious voice, a wonderful tenor. Timothy A. Fitzgerald, as Fleet, the lookout spotting the iceberg, has the most wonderful voice, perfect for the song "No Moon", arguably the best song in the show, and the most haunting. Lyrically, it’s one of the better moments, and Fitzgeraldhandles it withgrace andbeauty, which he has plenty of in terms of stage presence. Pity the authors did away with the other lookout (one of those little inaccuracies); "No Moon" would have been awesome as a duet. The standout performances were the three Kates, immigrants in steerage revealing their dreams of a new life America. Meiissa Bell, Kristi Barber, Kate Jetmore were excellent in the" gest roles in the play. They had the successful song in the show in term revealing character and furtheriv story, revealing the hopes and dre: the immigrants of the time. TomGamblin, in my opinion the su c, gest male actor, was an excdlent foil and future husband as Jim Farrell, who Kate Murphy decides will be her husband. It is their story which is the most effective in a show that tries to tell the story from too many perspectives. It was their characters I actually cared for, and it was their moments that worked in an otherwise dismal script. Theragtime song,"Autumn," and afew other songs were memorable for their melodies. That’ s about all that can be said for them. The book, well, I say keep a couple of lines that were humorous, and start over. I was disappointed. It seemed like an inventive premise, and one which could havemade history entertaining. The staging was weak, particularl y when the iceberg was sighted by the one lookout. The set did tilt at the end (like we’ ve never seen that before), but the set was mosdy made up of very inaccurately drawn and painted drops that looked like something out of a high school production. After Jekyll and Hyde’s detailed lab, Beauty and the Beast’s castles and villages, Titanic’ s drop-heavy scenery was a bit of a letdown. On Broadway, the show had a three levd set, making several of the numbers quite different. Here we were treated to awkwardly stage numbers, wlfich basically left the cast walking in circles representing different levels and areas of the ship, which ended up quite muddled ~n terms of telling who was where on the ship. At one point, as characters were stepping in and out and around, it became quite ridiculous. The tableau, which was originally to have shown the ship striking the iceberg, was nothing more than a very small model of the ship, withlights, pulled across the stage - no ice in sight. The model boat, lit up :with Chxistmas lights, being pulled across the stage was quite humorous. And the promisedcollision tableau, hyped beforetheshow opened on Broadway, is still missing. . . I really liked the cheesy and totally hilarious flame effect of the boiler room furnaces. This little .bit of very Obvious whitedothbeing blownupwards by afan, not even dose to the scale of what the flames in those boilers must have been like. Now I’m quite willing to suspend disbelief, but this went far beyond what could be expected. It looked like these big burly men were shoveling coal onto bic lighters. Iwas rolling withlaughter. Yeston also says "themusic is the scenery." Well, ithas to be, since apparently they couldn’ t afford paint or artists from the look of it. The drops seemed to come in at the wrong scenes, particularly in the opening. I understand theatre is representational by nature, but here we’ re dealing with a very famous boat. The problem with the show is that it tries to tell too many stories, and because of that, it’ s hard to really care about any of the characters, who are portrayed as caricatures anyway. At the end, youjust don’ t care. OK, the set rises at one end on hydraulics, see Titanic, p. 8 by Lamont ]~indstrom, Ph.D. Vexillology. There’s an arcane word " for you. It means the "study of flags." : Thousands of rainbow flags are soon to ¯ wave as we enter the season of Gay Pride celebration. Gay flags, like Gay Pride, are fairly recent inventions. Gilbert Baker sewed up the first rainbow flag for the 1978 Gay Freedom Celebration in San Francisco. Over the past two decades, Freedom has made_ way for Pride and the rainbow flag has lost some stripes. Baker’s original creationboasted~eight colors, each of which represented a fine ideal: orange is healing; yellow the sun; green is nature and blue art: indigomeansharmony while violet stands for spirit: redis life and, last butnotleast,pink symbol- .1zes sex. Pink went first. A company Baker approached to produce his flag commerdally couldn’t locate any pink nylon. And the next year, when the San Francisco parade committee adopted the flag as a symbol, symmetry required yet another reduction. The parade decorator demanded that the route feature three colors on the left and another three colors on the right. Indigo disappeared. In its short lifetime, the rainbow flag has lost both sex and harmon.y. Something of a .parable, perhaps, of modem Gay life. Archaeologists have dug up flag-like symbols from civilizations in both Old World and New. Humans, from our beginmngs, have imagined a variety of symbolic objects to represent social groups. Anthropologists call a symbol that stands for a group a "totem." Today’ s flag clearly derives from these original totems..In many societies, animals are the preeminent totemic figure, andanimal totems surviveinto thepresent. Small town businesspersons divide up into coteries of Elks, Lions, and Moose. Andthink ofthe Britishlion, orthe American eagle, or the Canadian loon, or the California bear. And don’ t forget the Gay bear. These totems decorate our flags and our money. A variety of things besides animals symbolize groups. The rainbow is an archetypal totem that we share with Austra= lianAboriginal bands amongvarious other peoples around the world..Rainbows are syi~b01ic~dl~ p~tentl~0~ in nature and in a number of religious traditions. Some folks complain about aGay appropriation of the_rainbow., tote.m~ just ~as some old ftohgeieW~?ogrdri.p~ea~ythtohtmthee~y :’~mnerroy io6rfilgiveerluys,.,’e othdS,~i~, hav~ ebbed rainbows ineluding Jesse Jackson’s coalition, the Uuivei~ity 6f Hawai~i’s football team, and the US Army’ s 42nd Division. I acquired one of my rainbow flags from an innocent straight friend who bought it planning to display his.concerns for the environment. ~/tere is no end of social and psycho- - logical theory that attempts to explain why we dream up totems to represent our groups. A century ago, the pioneer soci- Because flags stand for group, Gays had no need for a flag until we conceived of ourselves ~1~ ~t eolleetlve --or a ¯ eommumty as some of us llke to say. Baker’s needlework in 1978 signified the transformation of homosexuality from a psyckologleal condition to a political identity. ologist Emile Durkheim remarked that totems are sacred just because they stand for the group. Our human societies exist before any one of us is born, and they will continue after we die. Society, thus, is "supernatural." We make into a god what has shaped us and what sustains us as individuals. But it’s hard to grasp concepts so abstract. Instead, wefocus our feelings and .affiliations upon the totem - the sacred being whosematerial formis the flag. We are good at creating solidarities - only human groups_ often define themselves largely by opposing themselves to some other. We pledge allegiance tO ourown totem as a symbol ofourselves. And we express distaste for our enemies by despoiling their flags, as Palestiuians, Israelis, and members of various high school bands are wont to do. It is pretty clear Durkheim was right about that sacredness. We have ¯ fervent Congressmen in Washington each ¯ year in a frenzy to outlaw sinful desecra- ¯ tions of the American flag. ¯ Perversely, some South Caroliniansjus- ¯ tifyofficial display oftherebel Confeder- ¯ ate flag as mere historical commemora- ¯ tion. But everyone knows that echoes of ¯ their antebellum religion are also at work ¯ here. Because flags stand for group, Gays ¯ had no need for a flag until we conceiv~l ¯ of ourselves as a collective - or a "com- " mlmity" as some of us like to say. Baker’ s ; needlework in 1978 signified the trans- . formation of homosexuality from a psychological condition to a political iden- Since this time, we have put into play various other symbols, including pink and black triangles borrowedfrom Nazi prison wear, theLambdacharacterfrom the Greek alphabet, and the red ribbon. Of these, the rainbow stretches the farthest. I have seen rainbow flags unfurled in Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Den-. mark, andbeyond. Theflag’ s global spread testifies to the rise of a transnational gay community. Think of this as flags parade b~this summer. Long may the rainbows wave on our totem poles. Lament Lindstrom teaches anthropology at the University oJ Tulsa. The protesters wre joined by the Rev. Bishop C. Joseph Sprague from No. Illinois. Local architect and activist Sue Knause noted that the police were "fabulous" with some officers stopping to have their photos taken with some of the more famous arrestees. And their jddge, she adds, said, "keep up the good work -I stand with you today." While the protests did not change the policies, organizers have promised that 1,000 arrestees at the next conference. A principal orgamzer of this action was Tulsan Karen Weldon. Info. contact Soulforce at the Gay Community Center. to benefit Saint Joseph Residence + Regional AIDS Interfaith Network Saturday, June 3rd, 10-5, +_ Sunday, June 4th, 1-5 $10 donation at the door or in advance. David Daniel, 1603 S. Carson Wiley Parsons, 1601 S. Carson Monty + Jane Butts, 240 E. Woodward Blvd. Brett + Maricarolyn Swab, 2112 So Norfolk Ave.. Dr. Robert & Dena Hudson, 2707 S. Rockford Rd. Tickets for this tour may be obtained at each home. For more information; call Charles Faudree, Inc: at 747-9706. METROPOLITAN TULSA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE salutes Humanity Unites for Human Ri$lhts Millennium Pride 2000 and honors Tulsa’s Lesbian and Gay .’.,. Chamber of Commerce members for their leadership on business, civil rights and health issues in the Tulsa community., To join MTCC, call 585-1201. IGTA member Call 341.6866 ]. X,otuerSr onrmaot ,i,no. on maol ,on. Massage Therapy Services Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 CountryClub Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E, 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm Tulsa’s only body-piercing Poweful Images: portrayals of Native America GilcreaseMuseum 1400 Gilcrease Museum Road 5 9 6 2 7 0 0 and as many as 15 in larger communities - sit as the board of civil authority to certify yoter checklists or to hear tax appeals. They also have the option of officiating atweddingceremonies. Beginning July 1, they’ll also have the authority to officiate at civil unions. The one catch is if they do one, they’ 11 have to doboth. That’ s enough to prompt some justices to quit the marriage business because they oppose the civil unions law. Experts, such as lawyer and former Deputy Secretary of State Paul Gillies, who have been guiding justices through thenew responsibilities, say that’ s fine, so long as they don’t discriminate. Under Vermont’s non-discrimination laws, if justices perform weddings for heterosexual couples, they may not refuse to perform civil unions ceremonies just because those couples are homosexuals. Some justices have put out the word that they’re happy to officiate at civil unions ceremonies. "I feel they deserve it," said Huntington justice Don Dresser, who has officiated at two weddings. "It’ s thelaw and I’mcomfortable with it. I have a lot of Gay friends... I’m going to treat everyone the same." Some Gays and Lesbians who happen to be justices say they’re excited that they’ll be able to officiate at civil unions ceremonies. ’Tmexcited. I’mso thrilled," Hurlie said. "This is really an honor to certify civil unions for folks." So, now, what’ s left is to determinejust what ceremonies should be. The short answer is that whatever is done for a Wedding would work for a civil union. "’The big question was, "What do .you sa.y at the end?’ ’I hereby .. what?’ "" Gillies said. "We suggested:’ I hereby certify this civil union.’" Markowitz said her office did not want to dictate the words, but she recognized they would carry emotional weight. "The justice has to say sonaething that shows the imprimatur of the state is making the union official, whether it’ s a marriage or a civil union," Markowitz said. "The most straightforward, kind of sticking to the law pronouncement would be: ’I now certify your civil union.’ Really, that’s what a person is doing." There are some traditions to follow, though. There have beena few religious faiths, for example, who bless same-sex relationships. The Unitarian Universalist Society is one. The Rev. Brendan Hadash of the St. Johnsbury Unitarian church, for example, estimates he’ s performed probably 20 opposite-sex marriages and about an equal number of same-sex commitment ceremonies over the years. He’ s developed a series of phrases and uses the one that the couple finds most comfortable. "I usually pronounce that use: "I recognizeyouas spirituallyunited," or "You are now joined as wife and wife, which I find a little odd. Others are "You arejoined as spouses, partuers, iovers~" or "I declare that you are now.united inlove, that you are duly wed." With the civil unions law, though, he’ 11 be adding one phrase to his blessings. "At the end of the service I used to always make a point of saying, ’By the power vested in me by my denomination, I declare you...’ "Hadash said. "Now I can say ’by.the power vested in me by the church - and the state.’ " It also culled data from two other academic studies that studied the Gay and Lesbian population: the National Health and Social Life Survey and the General Social Survey. Starting with the 1990 C~nsus, respondents living with a person of the same sex had the option ofchecking off "unmarried partner" in the section that asks for the relationship between people. Other options included "husband/wife," "roomer/ boarder," "housemate/roommate" or "other nonrelative." The study said that among men aged 25-34 living with amale parmer, 29% had at least a college degree, and 13% a graduate degree, compared with 13% and 4% for men with female parmers. However, within the same age group, men with a college degree and a female partner had mean earnings of $29,162 a year, compared with $28,618 for samesex unmarried partnered men with a college degree. For those with graduate de- ~4ees, the discrepancy grew to nearly ,000 - $36,072 to $32,465. Of men aged 35-44 with unmarried partners of the same sex, 32% graduated from college, and 24% had a graduate degree, compared with 13% and 7% for males with a female partner. Within the same age bracket, males with college degrees and same-sex partners had mean earnings of $36,054 per year, compared with $38,629 for those with female partners. The same discrepancies were not found among Lesbians, Sanders said. For instance, women aged 35-44 with college degrees and with a same-sex partner had mean earmngs of $28,387, while those with a male partner had mean earnings of $28,734; of those with graduate degrees in the same age range, the figures were $34,427 for women with same-sex partners, and $34,295 for those with male partners. Sanders shied away from saying it was definitive proof of discrimination against Gays. He instead suggested one reason may be that Gays tend to enter more fields that offer lower salaries. The study also found that 22% of Lesbian couples living together have children, compared to 5% of Gay couples living together. Sanders said that may show that Gay couples have less pressure to get higher-paying jobs. "This is the tip of the iceberg in terms of finding out who the Gay and Lesbian community is," said PaulaEttelbrick, family policy director ofthe National Gay and LesbianTaskForce. "Whatthey also point out it is the clear problem ofhow to define what it is to be Gay or Lesbian." OK Spoke Club TheOK Spoke Club is beginning its rides again. A long ride (20 miles plus) will begin, atZiegler Park at 7:30am’on June 3rd & 24th. Length and destination to be determined at the ride. Water and helmet ". are required. ¯ A short ride(5 miles) along the Katy ’: Bicydep~in Saii.d)SiJfings will beginat . 6:30pmonJuneT~atid21s’t. Wateriand ¯ helmet~ate ~tr0ngly r~mmelided...: ¯ : Af6:30plh, a short fide will begin at the Pride Cent~L 3749 S. Peoria, rea~ parking ¯ lotonJune24th. Waterandhelmetstrongly ¯ recommended. ¯ Info: POB 9165, Tulsa, Ok 74157, ¯ email: Okiebicycle@prodigy.net ] www.geocities.com/westhollywood/pa- ¯ rade/3301 Humanity Unites for Human R lhts Diversit Celebration 2000 Grand Marshalls for the Millennium Pride Parade Dr. Grethe Cammermever Oistin~luished Veteran of the United States Armed Forces Gre~! Lou~lanis US O!~mpie Champion Pride Week Events Interfaith Worship Service Performing Arts Center, Williams Theatre Speaker: the Reverend Dr. Mel White Friday, June 2, from 7pro (free) Interfaith Soulforce Workshop Performing Arts Center, Norman Studio Led by the Reverend Dr. Mel White Saturday, June 8, 2 - 5pro (free) Humanity Unites For Human Rights Black Tie Optional Dinner Speakers: Greg Louganis and Grethe Cammermeyer Summit Club, 7pro reception, Bpm dinner Friday, June 9th, $75 person Benefiting Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, the parent organization of the Gay Community Center TOHR Follies: 1OO Years of Broadway Performing Arts Center, Ooenges Theatre Saturday, June 8, 8pm, $15 United Art Exhibit, Opening Reception All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 So. Peoria Tuesday, June 6, 6 - 8pro Millennium Parade 2000 Saturday, JunelQ, llam From the Gay Community Center to Veterans Park at 18th and Boulder Pride Festival, Veterans Park, llam - 8pro Free shuttle from Veterans Park to Parade. Mini-Film Festival Tulsa Gay Community Services Center Thursday, June 8, z~ - till it’s over... For more information about these events, call 7~8-~297 (Gays). Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, June 2000; Volume 7, Issue 6 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, May 2000; Volume 7, Issue 5 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 newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/601 2000 African Americans AIDS AIDS drugs AIDS vaccine aMUSEments arts and entertainment Bars Boy Scouts bullying businesses churches civil unions Democratic party Diversity celebration Gay marriage gay parents Gay Studies hate groups HIV homophobia inequality Jim Christjohn Karin Gregory Lamont Lindstorm marriage equality Native Americans OK Spoke Club performing arts PFLAG Pride Raging Lesbian Read All About It restaurants Tom Neal Tulsa Family News Tulsa World Two-Spirited Indian Men's Support Group https://history.okeq.org/files/original/5c20e910de7ca592dd63588152eca356.jpg 5039f94c9a494f334604c83bb2e762fa https://history.okeq.org/files/original/913cc5281b957402396a10de0ebc77ca.pdf 402d385ff5bf2220bca8bdfefc9b523c 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. Text Any textual data included in the document Brief for Dale v. BOy Scouts by Tim Talley, Associated Press ~rite~ - OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Some state lawmakers demanded in mid-April that Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson withdraw from participating in a U:S. Supreme Court case on whether to allow Gay boys and men in the Boy Scouts of America. Resolutions were f’ded in the state House and~ Senate opposing a friend-of-the-court briefEdmondson filed supporting a New Jersey court decision that ordered the Boy Scouts to reinstate a homosexual scout leader. "I think it is a dark day for Oklahoma that we have taken this stand, by and through our attorney general, in favor of Gay rights and against the Boy Scouts," said Rep. Frank Davis, R-Guthrie, a former scout master whoseresolutionhas70co-authors.Aresolutionpassed by the Senate says Edmondson’s position "is in dramarie opposition to the moral ideals of.our state and is inappropriate in this case of first impression before the United State Supreme Court." In a statement, Edmondson saidhe respects the views of lawmakers who oppose his action. But the attorney general said the state’ s position see Attorney; p. 2 Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends : ,~. Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community PaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations ¯ Co!legeHill Presbyterian ::Church Welcomes Gays TULSA - This last Palm Sunday, the Session (the board of directors) of College Hill Presbyterian Church, one of Tulsa’ s older"mainline" congregations, voted 13 yes, zero no’ s with one abstention to become officially a member of"More Light Presbyterians." College Hill, located a block west of the University of Tulsa is the first Presbyterian congregation in Eastern Oklahoma (o. take the position of welcoming all to attend and serve the church regardless of sexual orientation. More Light Presbyterians is a national network of churches and individuals working for justice, love and the full embrace and inclusion of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered persons and their families. The name is taken from the words of the Rev. John Robinson (c. 1620),"we limit not the truth of God to our poor reach of mind - by notions of our day and sect - crude, partial and confined. No, let a new and better hope within our hearts be stirred, for Godhath yet more light and truth to break forth from the Word." The decision for College Hill came after more than 14 months ofprayer, study and discussion. Acongregational voteon several statements and positions, one affirming open inclusion, another reaffirming the mission statement of More Light Presbyterians, and for becoming a More Light congregation passed, 87%, 90% and 80% respectively. . Pastor Radford Rader noted, "College Hill has long been a congregation which has stood for jnstice issues and with groups of people who others ignore or exclude.., we cannot remain in the closet, but want to rejoice in who we are as a family of faith. ¯ .we are blessed by our Gay and Lesbian members." College Hill’ s history is one of s0cialjttstice, seeChurch,p.11 College Hill Presbyterian GI,s Mom Suing Arm i- Supreme Court Hears Gay Civil WASHINGTON(AP)-Them°ther°fas°ldiermur- " R|ghts Case: Dale vs. BSA dered in his barracks believes the Army’s attitude , toward Gays created the atmosphere that led to the killing. Patricia Kutteles of Kansas City, Mo., said she would file a claim with the Army, seeking roughly $1.8 million in damages for the death of her son, Pfc. Barry Wincbell,21. Shesaidfellow soldiers believed Winchell was Gay and harassed him for months before he was beaten to death while sleeping in his cot last July at Fort Campbell, Ky. The Army knew about the harassment but did nothing to stop it, she said. "We want theArmy to be held accountable," Kutteles said. Pvt. Calvin Glover, 19, of Sulphur, Okla., was convicted of premeditated murder and sentenced to life in prison for the attack. Another soldier was givena 12.5- year sentence for lying to investigators and obstructing justice. Thekillingprompted criticism ofthePentagon’ s policy onhomosexuals in the military. Under the policy known as "don’t ask, don’t teli.;’:~,Gay-members of the military can continue to serve.as Ibng as they keep their sexual orientation to themselves. Kutteles’ attorney,Adam Pachter, saidheplans to file under a federal law that allows people to seek reimbursement from the military for injury or death. The claim will be sent toMaj. Gen. Robert T. Clark, the commander of Fort Campbell, but Army Secretary Louis CaldemprobAbly’will make thef’mal decision on whether to pay, Pachter said. Kutteles’ claim also alleges Fort Campbell officials ignored underage drinking on the base and did not provide a way for soldiers to call 911 from the barracks.:Glover has said he had been drinking prior to theattack~ Maj. Pamela Hart, an Army spokeswoman, declined to comment on the claim but said soldiers cannow reach 911 from their barracks. She also said soldiers hadreceived additional training about the military’ s policy on Gays. Kutteles said her goal is to get the Army to admit wrongdoing and take corrective action. "I don’t think you~put aprice on your child’ s life,’.’ she said. "Your world is changed if you lose a child. Nothing caa ever rip3at it." ¯ WASHINGTON, D.C. - Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is not ¯ entitled to expel an exemplary member who is openly Gay from ¯ its ranks, the National Gay and LesbianTask Force said at the end ¯ ofApril as theU.S. SupremeCourtwas hearingargumentsinBoy Scouts of America v. Dale. The ruling on the case will likely be : issued before the term ends in early summer. : ’q’he Boy Scouts’ mission is to promote model citizenship and ¯ integrity," said Panla Ettdbrick, NGLTFFamily Policy Director. : "It is ridiculous and wrong to exclude a man whose outstanding ¯ personal character fulfills this mission simPlY because he is ¯ Gay." -" "The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case on appeal by the ¯ BSA after the August 1999 unanimous decision of the New ¯¯ Jersey,Supreme Court. The court found that the BSA falls under New Jersey’ s anti-discrimination law and cannot deny any per- " son "accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges" : because of sexual orientation. ¯ Because the Scouts do not organize for a specific anti-Gay ¯ message; the New Jersey Supreme Court also found that the ¯ inclusion of openly Gay assistant scoutmasterJames Dale would ¯ not violate the BSA’ s First Amendment rights offree association ¯ and free speech. ." ~€I’llis case represents a classic struggle in our country?s ever- " evolving democracy," said Ettelbrick, a veteran attorney and : national expertLon legal-issues facing.the Ga~y~ lesbian~ bisexual ¯ and transgender community. "It is the stragglebetween agroup’ s ¯ right to establish its own values and the government’ s obligation ¯ to ensure that the law does not give effect to those private biases when they are used to inhibit equality." .. . ~ : Ettelbrick praised the Lambda Legal Defense and Education ¯ Fund, which has served as lead counsel for James Dale and has ¯ assembled a broad collection of groups to sign friend-of-the- . court briefs. Those groups range from NGLTF and the National ¯ Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) : to the attorneys-general of 10 states, including Oklahoma Attor- : ney General Drew Edmondson (see related story this page). ¯ NGLTF’ S brief can be found online via I..ambda’ s website at : http:/Iwww.lldef.org/sectionslseetionsldalepresskit/ : amicusaclu.html. i Vermont Governor Signs Gay Union Bill by Ross Sneyd, Associated Press Writer ¯ MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Gov. Howard Dean ¯ signed into law on Wednesday, April 26, 2000, a ¯ bill making Vermont the first state to give Gay and ’ Lesbian couples all the rights and benefits of mar- ¯ riage - without legally declaring it a marriage. ¯ "I think the powerful message is that in Vermont, ¯ we tend to value people for who they are, not what ¯ they are," the Democratic governor said after the House gave the measure final approval Tuesday. ° The bill, which House members supported 79-68, ¯ arrived at the governor’ s deskjust before lunch and ¯ was signed quietly prior to a2pmnews confe~e,nce, ¯ Vermont lawmakers didn’t use the term mar- " riage to describe the official state sanction. Instead ¯ they set up aparallel track of"civil tmions," which ¯ would give Gay and Lesbian partners the property and other legal fights of spouses. Such unions ¯ would become legal July 1. No state has ever gone ¯ so far in recognizing the relationships that Gay and "- Lesbian couples form. ." Three couples and the lawyers who sued in 1997 ¯ when they were denied marriage licenses watched in the crowded Housechamber as the final roll was ¯ called and House representatives agreed to minor ." changes made by their colleagues in the Senate. ¯ Stacy Jolles and Nina Beck stood cradling their 5- ¯ month-old son, Seth. PeterHarrigan stood embracing Stan Baker, who held a small necklace from ¯ which his parents’ wedding rings dangled. And ¯ Holly Puterbaugh held hands as Lois Famham ¯ wiped tears fromher eyes. "This isn’ tmarriage, but it’ s ahuge and powerful bundle ofrights that we’ ve ¯ finally gotten," Baker said moments after the vote. ¯ After the vote, Rosana Vestuti, 41, of Montpelier, sat on a window seat as legislators, Gay and ." Lesbian couples and thepress milled about. "It’ s so ¯ nice. I have all this in my eyes," see Vermont, p. 7 ¯ OKC Gay Group Meets With Daily Oklahoman OKLAHOMACITY -Leaders in OklahomaCity’ s are hailing an early April meeting with Sue Hale, : the new executive editor of the Daily Oklahoman. ¯ The Daily Oklahoman which was characterized in ¯ the Columbia Journalism Review as "the worst : newspaper in America" has been known for its ¯ unfair treatment of Lesbian and Gay issues, not ¯ only on the editorial pages but in regular, "objec- ¯ five" newscoverage. ¯ Those who met with Hale are participants in a ¯ new speakers bureau. "Speakers for Gay and Les- ¯ bian Issues" was organized with the goal of reach- ¯ ing out to the straight commtmity to facilitate ¯ ¯ understanding of the realities of.being Gay and Lesbian. Karen Pars0ns,Nathaniel Batchelder, Paul ¯ Thompson, and Rob Abiera attended the meeting ¯ with Hale, a thirty-year veteran of the Daily Okla- " homan. ¯ Hale was chosen to be the successor to Stan ¯ Tiner, who left the Daily Oklahoman after several ¯ months of working to remold the paper into a more ¯ progressive, contemporary medium which would ¯ more accurately reflect the diversity of Oklahoma ." City. ¯ Halewas approached after reports.began to surface of her interest in "social justice" issues. And ¯ though homophobic diatribes continue to grace the editorial page - still under the firm control of ¯ Patrick McGuigan - the rest of the paper was ¯ showing signs of neutrality, if not being outright ; Gay-friendly. ¯ One place where the paper was showing signs of ¯ openness has been in the movie reviews. Kathryn ; Jenson White had come from the Oklahoma Ga- : zette (OKC’ s alternative weekly) and had always ¯ been of decidedly liberal persuasion. It did not take ¯" long after Tiner’ s departure to see that she would : continue to be so, and when two GLBT-themed : Oscar coatenders see Daily, p. 11 _; ! Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’ s, 1737 S. Memorial Full Moon Care, 1525 E. 15th *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Sqtmre *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *The Star, 1565 Sheridan *The Storm, 2182 S. Sheridan *Renegades/Rainb0w Room, 1649 S. Main *TNT’s, 2114’S: Memorial *Tool Box, 1338 E: 3rd 712-2324 610-5323 583-6666 749-4511 744-4280 745-9998 834-4234 835-2376 585-3405 660-0856 584-1308 *The Yellow-Bri~k-Road.Pub,~-2630,E...1$th, ........ ;749~1563 Tal~a~BtlstPiesse~Set~ices, &: Pcofe~s~o~als~.~.; : Advanced Wireleg~&::P~,S~ Di~ithl Cellulhi ~ ~ ~ i.tJ ~ q47:q508’ *Assdd ih~19I~d!&:M~fi¢~l ~da]ttl)2325 8’: H~ii~c~a~ 74g-’~i000’, Kent Balch &Assr(~htes, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506 *Barnes & N~bl~’ B66ksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034 *Barnes &N0bl~Broksellers, 5231 E. 41 Body Piefdfigby Nicole, 2722 E. 15 *Borders Books & MUsic, 2740 E. 21 *Borders BOoks’ &MUsic, 8015 S. Yale Brooksid~ J~w~lfy,4649 S. Peoria *CD War~hogs~,’3807c S. Peoria *Cheap Thrills~ 2640 E. 1 lth Cherry Stl Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 665-4580 712-q 122 712-’9955 494-2665 743~5272 746_0313~ 295-5868 581-0902, 743-4H7 Community Cleani~ag, Kerby Baker Tim Daniel, Attorney *Deco to Dfsco, 3212 E. 15th DoghouSe oti:Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria *Elite Books &Videos, 821 S. Sheridan *Ross Edward Salon ~"58420337, Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main ,., " ’-. *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th PI: Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med: Ctr. .Gay & Lesbian-Affordable Daycare *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st Learme M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning Mark T. Hamby, Attorney *Sandra’ J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly *International Tours Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th *Jared’ s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening *Kerfs Flowers, 1635 E. 15 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 *Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696,74101 Richard’ s Carpet Cleaning Teri Schutt Rex Realtors 834-7921, Scribner’ s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square Paul Tay, Car Salesman *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 622-~0700- 352:9504, 800-742-9468 74%3620 744~55~6 83828~03 712-9379 59"2-0460 744-9595 6t0-0880- 628-3709. 808-8026 742~1460 459-9349 744-7440 745-1111 341-6866 7.12-2750 582-3018 747-0236 582-8460 599-8070 747-5466 585-1234 584-3112 663-5934 664-2951 838-7626 743 -4297 747-5932 834-0617 747-4746 749-6301" 260-7829 481-0558 835-5563 743-1733 665-2222 592-0767 Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593 All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc.POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 -587-7314o Bless Ttl~ LO~d at~All Tirn~ -Chflstian Ce-n’tdr/2207 E. 6 58327815- *B/LiG/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence *Churchof:the RestorafionUU., t3t:4N:Greenwood 587-1314" *CommtmityofHopeUnitedMethodist,2545 S. Yale 747-6300 *Comrmmity Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 Council Oak Men’ s Chorale 748-3888 *DelawarePlayhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 *Free SpiritWomen’ s Center, call for location&info: 587-4669 Friend ForA Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlinlc net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers Member of The Associated Press Issued on or before the 1 st of each month, the enttre contents hi" this ubli t~on e protecte~l bv US copyright 1998 8y ~/~ ~ :ahd~may~hd~,be~ep~oduoed e~tlaer m ~ w,hol¢ort~p.a~_ ~’~l~OUt w~atte~a p~.r0~SSlQ~~ro~ ~publisheir. ~ Publication of a name or photo does not.indicate a person’ s sexual orientation. Corr~spbndeii~ i~assumed to be for. publication" unlessootherwis~noted,, must be signed & becomes. the ao_l¢ property ofr~ ~€’~.’. Nt,w4 Eachreader is entitled to 4 copiesof each editt0n at distribution pointsJ Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. : Interfaith AIDS Ministries : Dear friends, ¯ The present realities of HIV/AIDS and : decreased focus on and interest in HIV- : related issues have made providing HIV/ : AIDS servicesadifficnltifnotimpossible r task. This is true on a national as well as : local level, Late last fall Interfaith AIDS : Ministries (IAM) received a letter from : AIDS National InterfaithNetwork (ANIN) that itwas closing its doors," as a result of : financial difficulties which cumulatively ¯ .v". und" e,.r~l",nc.d ~I ’ ~ Vl"l~b,"l i " : reaht~l~s ~a~e~t ~n~pq~s~ble,. ~o ttmcgqq ¯ :..is With deep r~gret that I must announce : that the boardof Interfaith AIDS Minis- ¯" ’tries has’made the decision to discontinue : client services. : I have for srme time continued as the ¯ directorona.volunteerbasis at the board"g ¯ reques ; L’.am no longer able to d.o ¯ Work-~.~,~.~ and personal responslbl,~i,7 582-0~38 ties maKeit impossible forme to continue ¯ Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st. 481-1111 ¯ HOPEI HiV-.Outredch,Pi?~vefifibn:,Edt~cafion 834-8378 : .*H0us.e. O~ the Holy Spitff ~_~nstri¢s,.32!0~ s~~. ’Nb~wood ....... :::-iii~e~ ~iDS MJnislii~s/~ ...... 4381~437, 800-284-2437 ." :."¥~C~~ United~-i623 :N. Mapi~w00d~: " ~ 838-i715 ¯ NAMESPr0ject,.3507 E. Admiral- PlY . 748-3111 . ¯ NO.W, Nat’l Or.g for Womeri;"POBlZ!0.68174159 365-5658 ¯ OK Spokes Club (bic~clifig), POB 916~,-.74157 " . ¯ *OSU-TUiSa ’ " ’ ¯ ¯ ..PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 : ¯ *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 " ¯ Prime-Timer~P.O. Box 52118, 74152 " ¯ R.A.I:N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network~ ........ 749-4195 ¯ ¯Red Ro~k Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 ..... 584~2325 ¯ ; O’ RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth " St. Aidan’ s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 ¯ ¯ St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 ¯ *St. Jerome’ s Parish Church, 205 W. King .582-3088 " ¯" *Tulsa,~ea United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 ¯ ¯TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 ¯ ¯ Tulsa County HealthDepartment, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 : ¯ Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only " ¯ TulsaOkla. for HumanRights, c/o The PrideCenter 743:4297 ¯ T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform!Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule ¯ : *Tulsa Community College Campuses " ¯ *TulsaGay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297 ¯ ¯ Unity Church of Christianity,3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 ¯ Friead~,..in ~nity Social Org., i~i3 8~2~ 7..4 !.0. ! HIV~.~ente~2~i’38Chas’. Page Blvd. " -- 583-6611 : to do thejob rrsponsibly. It requires more ........ *Tulsa C.A.R:E.S., 3507 E. Admiral- 834-4i94~. time and energy than I am now able to BARTLESVILLE *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 ¯ OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN Borders Books & Music, 3209 NW Expressway 405-848-2667 Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 ¯¯ TAHLEQUAH Stonewall League, call for information: 918~456-7900 ¯ *Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900 ¯ Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 ¯ NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates : EUREKASI~;RINGS, ARKANSAS. "~ Auttmm’ Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 ¯ *Jim & Brent’ s Bistro, 173 S. Main DeVito’ s Restaurant, 5 Center St. Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St, : MCC:0f the Living Spring : Geek to Go!,TC Specialist, POB 429 ¯ Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery ¯ Positive Idea Marketing Plans Sparky’ s, Hwy. 62 East : White Light, 1 Center St. : JOPLIN, MISSOURI *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696 501-253-7734 " 501-253-7457 : 501-253-6807 " 501-253-5445 ¯ 501-253-9337 : 501-253-2776 " 501-253-5332 . 501-624-6646 " 501-253-6001 " 501-253-4074 ¯ * is where you can find TFN. Not allare Gay-owned but allare Gay-friendly. commiLAnd there is no one wilting and able to take my place. The bisard has made the decision t~ continue IAM’s existence, at this time. IAM’s board will continue to meet periodicallyand monitor the changing reali:° ties of HIV/AIDS, its effect on our community and any future role IAM may play inmeeting needs. It is the ministry’ s hope, of course, that the future will bring a cure.’. that some day gatherings will be in remembrance only. The board and I wish to express our deepest appreciation for you support of the work of this ministry over the many years of its existence. Without that support IAM would not have been able to serve the hundreds of individuals which it has assisted withpractical, emotional, and spiritual support. Thank you on behalf of thosewehave served for themany gifts of your time, your talents, and your support. I appreciate the opporttmity the ministry has provided me to serve those affected by HIV/AIDS and to get to know and work with all of you. It has been very hard for me to step away from this work knowing there is so much more to be done. However, I know I have reached that place where, even though there is alot more I would have liked to have done, I have done all I can do for now. I would ask that you continue your prayers of those living:~ith and affected by HIV/A~DS and fofthOse who minister to them, for a cure for this,devastating disease, and frr those who have served Interfaith AIDS Ministries. Thank you and God bless you. Faithfully, - Chaplain Diane Zike, Director "focused on the issue of state’s rights" and that the high court’, s ruling in the case. "will have no direct effect in Oklahoma." "Oklahoma does not have the same antidiscrimination law as New Jersey," Edmondson said. "For me and my office, this matter was soldy decided on the advancement of states’ rights." Theissue ofstates’ rights involves powers reserved to the states under the 10th Amendment and immunity from lawsuits under the 1 lth Amendment. Edmondson, a former Boy Scout and see Attorney, p.7 by Christopher Graft, Associated Press Writer On the day Unilever bought Slim-Fast for $2.3 billion and Ben & Jerry’s for $326 million, it was the smaller purchase that captured the headlines and attentionnationwide. TheNew York Times, The Washington Postand The Associated Press were among the major news organizations that focused on the purchase of the tiny ice cream company, mentioning the acquisition of the much-larger Slim-Fast only to savor the unusual pairing of the fatten, ing and dieting duo. ceutical industry or whoever is his enemy of the moment. It is remarkable, actually, that Vermont gets as much attention as it does - through Ben, Jerry, and Bernie, and through U.S. Sens. Pat Leahy and Jim Jeffords and Gov. Howard Dean, all of whom have images of straight talkers in a business full of bluster. I suspect the nation’ s high interest in things Vermont has something to do with "... More and more in recent years Vetmont has been out front in tackling tough Why? Why does a $326 million purchase gain more attcntionthatva$2.3~billionone?Qu~fle-simplybecauseno ¯ probl.ems. There is something about the one ldab~s 6r~ cares ~h6 !o~vns Shn~-Fast." ~ . , ~ ¯ . ¯ Butdle k~d~Be~duidflie ’ldid,& J " ~’" ""~ ~ ,.small ~s~ze of the state that allows exper~- ¯ ! y ,, ! , y.:,. . ’. erry. mlamey care . .... ¯ ¯ : ¯ who owns th~s’c0mpa@.~ h~;ce ~dffay~ b~fi ~ttnazed’l~ ~. :nlentat~i0ii. Aiad ther is something a~ well the wide interest in Ben & Jerry’ s. By the news media. And by peo_p,te in general. Because, to be blunt about it, Ben & Jerry s is a tiny company, with an insignificant share of the ice cream market. The appeal, though, stems from the fact there are two real guys at the heart of this company; two guys who want t6~do good. No faceless multinational ctlialj._"~,y with layers of bureau...cracy. This xs Ben and Je~’.~,~-stlll doing a little scooping here and there, and always keeping their eyes on social concerns. And that strikes a nerve with the publicl Twoguys who want to do good. Helping out the little guy by earmarking 7.5% of the pretax p.r.ofits for charity and running campaigns to help children and savethe family farm. Two guYS. Doing good. Bernie Sanders strikes that same nerve. This past week found him gushingly profiled in the New York Times and prominently featured in the Boston Globe, the National Journal.and on Nagonal Public Radio. H~ is just one of 435 members of the U.S. House - and ye’~ he reaps far more than his share of publicity - just like Ben and Jerry do. Why? Because he, too, strikes a nerve. Bernie is the fighter for the little guy, taking on the powerful pharma- " about the attitude of its polltieal leaders ¯ and people, an attitude that champions eivll i r~ghts and foeuse~ on the little guy. : As difficult as it seems for some people, the debate this year over extending i benefits to Gay and Le~hian couples is part of that tradition..." : theseindi~iduals, but it als0 has s0me~ng to do with the state, its people and its heritage. ¯ In a time when many people feel disconnected from ~ their communities, when they feel overwhelmed by the ¯ stresses and strains of everyday life, Vermont seems to ¯ offer an anchor and a hope. Vermont is small enough.to retain the seBs¢ of community lost elsewhere, and is ¯ unafraid to try the unconventional - to stand up for the ¯ litde guy. ¯ Ben, Jerry, Bernie and the others are not creating a new image for Vermont: They are simply building on what Editor’s note: the following are remarks made by new NGLTF Executive Director Elizabeth Toledo at the National Press Club at apress conference held on April.25. "Good morning. I am here this morning to discuss the state of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender movement (GLBT) for equality in the United States. As many state legislatures across the land wrap tip their work and adjourn, we are seeing a frenzied pace of legislative activity surrounding GLBT issues. For only the second year in our movement’ s history, we have seen bills favorable to our community outnumber unfavorable bills - and the ratio is rapidly increasing. So far this year, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has tracked 466 bills, of which 288 are favorable and 178 are unfavorable. By comparison, last year, we tracked 269 favorable bills and 205 unfavorable bills. A trend has emerged which shows that although the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender population remains under fierce attack, the movement toward civil rights for all is steadily gaining strength. Today the Vermont House of Representatives is poised to give final approval to a bill that would allow same-sex couples the right to enter into official civil unions sanctioned by the state. If approved and signed into law, the Vermont bill will do what no state has ever done before - it will pr0~ide same~s,¢x couples wi~ al! of the fights, benefits iitid ~i~0fi-iilsNties Of niarfiag~ thai a state can offer. Vermont has garnered a lot of attention, and rightfully so. But did_you know_ about Georgia? Indiana? Mai_ne? Alabama?’GeOrgia this Tear foi~ ,the firs:t!time ever: has passed and enacted a hate crimes law. Indiana has passed and enacted a hate crimes data collection law. While not a full-blown hate crimes law, it represents the first rime hidianalegislators have everreacted favorably to aGLBT issue. Maine has passed and forwarded to the voters a full-scale civil rights law that includes sexual orientation. In Alabama, the House has passed an historic bill adding .sexual orientation to the existing hate crimes law. Thebill is scheduled to come up for a heating in the Senate tomorrow. Five states - Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Wisconsin - have defeated attempts to either pass or strengthen anti-same-sex marriage laws. ¯ The pace of activity this year continues a trend we first ¯ noticed in 1999, a breakthrough year for the GLBT ; .- movement. Last year’ s legislative victories included his- " toric advances in such disparate states as California, : Kentucky, New Hampshire and Nevada. In California, legislators passed and the governor signed a trio of bills : "...Vermont has garnered a lot of : attention, and ghtf lly But did you know about Georgla.9 Indlana.~ Maine.9 Alabama? Georgia this year for the first time ever has passed and enacted a hate erlmes law. Indiana has passed and enacted a hate cr~mes data collection law..." that established a statewide registry for same-sex couples, added sexual orientation to thenondiscrimination clauses under the state Fair Employment and Housing Act and offered public school students some protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. In Kentucky, tWO cities..and two_ 9oun.ties ad~pted, pro- GLBT civil rights measures. In New Hampshire, a law ¯ preventing same-sex couples from adopting children was repealed. And Nevada became the 1 lth state to ban job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. ~While we hav~ l~geiy ~picked-ul~iii flJ~ ~e’a~’2000 - where we left off, the news is not all good. Two states - Utah and Mississippi -have passed bills preventing " same-sex couples from adopting children. Two state " legislatures - Colorado and West Virginia- passed laws preventing same-sex couples from marrying, and Call- " fornia voters approved a measure banning the state from " recognizing same-sex marriages in other states. The " number of states that have explicitly passed laws banning same-sexmamagewill reach 33 ifthe Colorado governor ,’. signs that statefs legislation. : Such activity reflects the unfortunate reality of our ," movement. There is a checkerboard quality to the legal ¯ and cultural victories for the LGBT movement, and too " ¯ was there. This state has always been seen as a bastion of ¯ common sense and a breeder of courageous people. Yes, Vermont’ s pastoral image is of a bygone era of ¯ village squares and hillside farms. But its political image, its heritage, in fact, is of courage, of caring, of going ¯ where others fear to tread. Ralph Flanders was about as conservative as they ~ come. But he had the courage to stand up in the U.S. ¯ Senate and call for an end to Joe McCarthy’ s red-baiting, ¯ taking a stand that for Flanders was steeled in the values ¯ in the Bill of Rights. And so it was for George Aiken, ¯ fighting against :the banks, the rai!roadS, and~ flae marble ¯ and:~~ani,t.~i,n~t.u.stries in the ’3Os~ and spegaki~g up yche,It ¯¯ - others,would not .about the~ ,folly’,.of,Vietnam. :, . . . .. More and mpre in. recent ~ears V,e.rmont:has been out ¯ front in tackling tough problems. There is something : about the small size of the state that allows experimenta- ¯ tion. And there is something as well about the attitude of ¯ its political leaders and people, an attitude that champions ¯ civil rights and focuses on the little guy. ¯ As difficult as it seems for somepeople, the debate this ¯ year over extending benefits to Gay and Lesbian couples ¯ .is part of that tradition. Again the eyes of the nation are on ~ the state. Certainly there is apprehension and even oppo- ¯ sition, but it is reassuring and pleasing to see how much : applause thereis. A South Carolinanewspaper writes that ¯ "Vermont has offered a sensible model for secular civil ¯ unions;" theArizonaDaily Star says "this is probably the ¯ ¯ best solution possible to an emotional, important debate that strains the bounds of Americans’ tolerance and ¯ respect for each other," and the Concord (N.H.) Monitor ; says Vermont has "passed what was a test of conscience." ¯ A tourist promotion campaigns a few decades back ¯ proclaimed that Vermont is what America was. It is more ¯ accurate today to say that Vermont is what America ¯ wants to be. often the difference between legitimacy and illegitimacy in the eyes of society may rest on something as arbitrary as a state boundary. Many residents of thiS country assume that the great strides of the civil rights movement have afforded broad protection against discrimination for " all. In fact the legal reality is that those of us in same sex relationships have notbeen fully protectedfrom discrimination in housing,jobs, family law, education - virtually every aspect of our lives is subject to discrimination and sadl y, hate violence or harassment remains a reality in every state in the nation. Too often the cultural strides that are made in the media, in places or worship, in schools and universities and in the workplace are misinterpreted as a sign that equality has been won. I’ll give you an example. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force frequently receives phone calls from same-sex couples asking for alist of states in which they can legally marry. These individuals see shows like Will and Grace or Dawson’ s Creek. They worship in churches or synagogues that welcome them. They are out in the workplace or at school. They just assume, like many heterosexual Americans, that the barriers of discrimination have been eradicated. The reality, of course, is quite different¯ Not a single state allows same.sex mamage. 39 states allow Gay, "Lesbian, Bisexual:and Transgender employees.to be fired from ourjobs. 28 states lack hate crimes law s that include sexual orientation. 18 states criminalize loving, same-sex relationships. .~ " T~day the GLBT movement i~ at a crossroads We.are under open assault by those who would deny us basic .human rights., and at the same time the nation.is witnessing a surge in support for our cause. Ourtives, our liberty, our pursuit of happiness depend upon our ability to build strong political infrastructure and organize on the state and local level. Local orgamzing has always been the trademark of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Fortunately, we are not alone. Today, the state and local political infrastructure of the GLBT movement in the United States is stronger than it has ever been before. In 1996, NGLTFhelped found the Federation of Statewide LGBT Political Organizations. see NGLTF, p. 11 College Course to Focus On Net Hate Groups BOSTON (AP) - One shows an image of a slain Gay man burning in hell Another claims the FBI has declared war on white Christians. A third pretends to pay homage to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., then suggests the civil rights leader was a sex fiend, a communist and a "plastic god." They ~e radical, hate-driven Internet sites and they are increasing rapidly. This fall, they also will be the basis for a communications class at Emerson College called Hate.com. Robert Hilliard, an Emerson communications prof~e,ssor, vlans to use ,the sites to examine how radical gxpups use fi!e Internet to recrmt new members. " " Hilliard became interested in extremists~ when.he’ stumbled across a far-right talk radio show, and later wrote abookonthe topic withBoston College professor Michael Keith. "We began to listen and we said, ’Here we were, communications professionals and we didn" t know about these people,’" Hilliard said. "People have got to know what these people are saying." Their book, "Waves of Rancor: Tuning in the Radical RighC’ was well-received and ended up onPresident Clinton’ s summerreading list. Hilliard’ s says his class will .examine how the groups target xmpressionable youth, how they multiply and how they foment rage¯ More than 300 extremistWeb sites are on the Internet today, ranging from neo-Nazi alliances to Gay and Lesbian haters to Holocaust denials sites, according to the watchdog Southern Poverty Law Center¯ In 1998, the group counted 254 such Web sites, up from 163 in 1997. Experts say extremists are careful’not to urea away viewers with upfront, inflammatory statements or epithets. Instead, rock music and games draw in new members gradually. OneNeo-Nazi site features bands like RaHoWar, which stands for Racial Holy War. "Others attract viewers with seemingly mainstream articles, but the articles can lead to racist and conspiratorial theories bolstered with passages from the Bible and alternative historians. Hilliard plans toinvite some hate site creators to the class, giving them a chance to defend their work. One rote creator satdhe s open to such challenges. I thi the media is extremely biased against my point of view and I want to provide an alternative to their news," said Don Black, creator of Stormfront, one of o.. the Web’ s oldest white nationalist sites. Hilliard and others emphasize that extremist sites are fully protectedby the First Amendment and stress they are not calling for their removal. However, Hilliardmakes no bones abouthis hopes that students work to combat them. ’q?hese are people saying’We must arm ourselves for a holy war to rid the world of those who are not white, Aryan Christians or those who disagree with our points of view,’" he said. Idaho Public TV Faces Program Challenges IDAHO FALLS, Idaho. (AP) :-Adding adisclaimer to .controversial programming on Idaho Public Television may pacify prograrnm~ug restrictions from the .Legislature while allowing the stationto keep federal funding. Idaho Board Of Education member Curtis ’Eaton ¯ proposed.Friday the board require PublieTelevision tO air a disclaimer stating the station does not sanction acts or events depicted in programming. In a letter dated,April 13, Eaton asked.the ¯board to consider the option-as a way torectncile what he describes aft contradictory statements in recent.legislation that require theboard to regulateprogramming deemed to promote acts illegal in Idaho. The controversy over programming began last. spring, when Idaho Public Television General Manager Peter Morrill decided to air"It’ s Elementary," an hour-long documentary abouthow five public school districts across the country dealt with teaching kids about homosexuality. Christian conservatives lobbied the board to veto the program, but in June 1999 the board voted unanimously not to interfere with Morrill’ s programming decision. But the Legislature got involved this spring by including restrictions in a funding package for the network that reouire the board to monitor and reject programming that "promotes, supports or encourages the violation of Idaho criminal statutes." Because sodomy is illegal in Idaho, the bill could be interpreted tomeanprograms like"It’ s Elementary" should be cut. Or, because robbery is an Idaho felony, documentaries about legendary thieves Bonme and Clyde mightbebarred. ButboardmemberHarold Davis said he agreed with the restrictions and felt "It’ s Elementary’ crossed the line iiito promoting "the Gay lifestyle." Heopposed Eaton’ s proposal, saying itwas not sufficient to meet Legislative demands for new policy. Methodists Callings,For:+ Investigation of Bishop SACRAMENTO (AP) - Some parishioners want religious leaders to investigate the United Methodist Church bishop who decided not to charge 68 ministers who attended and endorsed a Lesbian wedding. The western region of the United Methodist Church’ s College of ~3ishops received two letters from parishioners, asking for aninvestigationinto whether Bishop Melvin Talbert disregarded church laws, including one banning same-sex unions. Bishop Elias Galvan of Seattle, a member of the religious body, said the o letters would be reviewed to see if they merit complaint status. John Stumbo, a Fort Valley, Ga., lawyer and member of the Coalition for United Methbdist Accountability, said the complaints centered around comments Talbert made when he announced that there was no basis f01~ a trial. At the time, Talbert said it was more important for the church to be all-inclusive than to puuish someone for blessing a union not officially sanctioned by the churcJa; But Stumbo said Talbert and the church’ s investigative committee disregarded a church law against homosexual, marriage in reaching their decision, If the-College of Bishops finds grounds for complaint, a separate committee wouldinvestigate whether Talbert should be tried in a church court, which would have the power to impose a number of penalties, including expulsion. Talbert’ s secretary said thebishop was travding and could not be reached for comment. The Rev. Don Fado of St..Mark’ s United Methodist Church in Sacramento performed the January 1999 ceremony for churchmembers Ellie Charlton, 64,and. Jeanne BametL 69. He and 67 other ministers offiCiated en masse at the ceremony. University Denial of Benefits Ruled Legal P1TTSBU-RGH (AP) - The University of Pittsburgh has-legally denied health benefits to same-sex partners of employees, an AlleghenyCounty judge ruled. Judge Robert Gallo said that Pitt’ s policy is neutral because health benefits are offered to all employees regardless of sexual orientation, and Pitt also denies benefits to unmarried partners of heterosexual employees. "This ruling dearly iupholds what has been the university’ s .position, thr0~ghout these proem,dings - namely that the universityhealth benefits plan is legal and nondiscriminatory," Pitt spokesman Ken Service said. But. Deborah Henso~, ia’former Pittinstn~ctorWho-’ sued when the university denied benefits to her Le~.- bian partner, said she’would appeal to Common~ wealth Court. ’~Fhis is.important in terms of fairness.,, and equality," Hens,on s~d.."pitt has .l~e~¯ ~gh~ng tooih and nail, inmy opiuion,tojus,tff,y~ disenmina~tton against Gay and Lesbi~in persons. Henson and six others were plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging that Pitt violated a city ordinance banning discrimination against Gay~ and Lesbians. I-Ienson’ s attorneys had wanted the case to be heard by the Pittsburgh CommissiononHumanRelations, whichhears complaints about violations of the city ordinance. Ga!lo said the commission has nojurisdiction over Pitt. In November, Gov. Tom Ridge signed a law exempting state universities and colleges from being forced by city anti-discrimination laws to provide same-sex benefits. Pitt is a state-affiliated institution. United in God’s Love ¯ MCC-Un=ted Sunday WOrship 11:00 am 1623 N. Maplewood Reverend Cathy Elliot Pastor 918/838-1715 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 .... A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm 3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon - Sandra Hill Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E: Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111 Red Rock Tulsa- O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-58.4=2325 Mingo Valley Flowers ~9413 E. 31St St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-444-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Ghild, Family, Individual & Gouplo Psychothorapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 The Pride Store 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) .. i . 6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday ’12-9 pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the cOnter Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 TOM NEAL BUILDING & GARDEN DESIGN 583-,1248 Red Rock Tulsa,. Free Confidential,:HIV,Testing Walk-in Clihics ........ Tuesdays, 5-8 pm, Center, 1307 East38tti ...... Wednesdays, 5-8 pm, R¢0.~ock, 1724_~_s.L8~h Daytime appointments availal~le. Call for more information; 918-584 2325 KEVIN ESON Keller Will,ms -712;2 252 ..~ Bur]es~n@kw.com 26D I East 21st Street, gte. 100, Tulsa 7~’1~ , ~ An Ind@endg~t Member ~roher SaintAidan ~ ~ SaintDunstan 4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Saint John Trinity 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 501 S. Cincinnati, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You "Recognizing that Pitt’ s health care contract on its face prohibits Pitt from providing benefits to both same sex and heterosexual unmarried couples, making n~ distinction between the two, it is dear that the commi ssion would be precluded from finding that an unlawful practice hadbeen committedbyPitt," Gallo’ s written ruling said. Other universities in Pennsylvania that offer samesex benefit~ include the University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College and DickinsfnCollege. C.amegie MdlonUniversity.faculty earlier this monthaccepted a recommendation-that the:,.university ,provide samesex benefits as wall..CMU’ s board of trustees must approve the recommendation as well before samesex benefits will be extended, according to university spokesman Don Hale. BOSh on Vermont Civil Unions ¯ Clark delivered opening and dosing arguments ¯ while Richard Van Wagoner, another Salt Lake City ¯ lawyer, grilled Seidel on her decision to disqualify ¯ PRISM but sanction the Polynesian Club and the ¯ Odyssey of the Mind Club. ’Seidel also nixed a ¯ women’ s literature club, saying she had suggested a ¯ genderless literature club instead. Campbell seemed ¯ particularly interested in that decision a~d asked for ¯ district records on it. ~ ".... ." The judge frequently turned oia Dan: Larsen, an ¯ assistant Utah state attorney general d~fending the ¯ school district, attacking his argiamentsand declaring school administrators were not hb~v~:the law. Dis- - trict Superintendent Darlene Roblds: who was in the ¯ courtroom but did not testify, S~iid tti~ school board ¯ "wasla:t tr~_’0g to violate studen[s" ~F,ifst Amendment ¯ ~nghk~ and welcomed any ~]anfi~ohC ~ ll~ear~ "bring on, the m~tte~r~ , TEMPLE,Texas (AP)-Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush refused to be drawn into comment on Vermont’s civil unions, which would grant to same~sex couples some 300 state benefits of marriage, including medical decision-making, tax breaks and inheritance. Bush has opposed recognizing same-sex unions in Texas. "They have a right to pass a law," Bush said. "It’ s the right of the state to .make that decision just like it’s the right of the state of South Carolina to make the decision on the flag." Bush also met with a group ofGay Republicans last week in Austin and said he was "a better person" for heating their stories but still disagreed with them on Gay marriage. The Texas governor answered questions after making an elementary school appearance to_~,r.omote "character education" on the anni .v.ersary of the Columbine shootings. School District InC0urt Fi0r Rejecting Gay Club SALT Li~KE CITY (AP) - A fede~r,al judge recently shai~ly questioned a’s~hoor distiict s refuSai.to’sanctibia’ "d" ’ ~~d:¢rff ~ dub ’ that would-focus:,on:Gay "~-: IJYe:sbjan~ssu¢si"’~ust (~ecaus~ yo~gof6"safi’6ol’d~i m~y~.~0!~ -th~ii,~’~iis~ Aiii~iidifiefi{iights; U..S," Di~ft Jildg~ Teiah’ chmp~~tttold’.a lawyer for’the S~,t-~ .city’s~tiool ~’~&:Campbell made.no d~Li~ionlasr m’or~,...B.~t.~:.i.s e.x_pected’t0 nile ~60n o..n~a’reqye~ by stud~,nt org~:z~r~’i6b~c~ia~lVadnfiil: is~t6r~ find .~_~ "PRrSM~’Peoi~l~ R~spectingIm~ pdrt~t s~iAl Mov-&ia~nt~= ter@o:rary school privileges. Campbell will then’decide the crux of the case: w3aether schoql 9ffici~s violated the First Amendmeat or their own-policy in sh~bb~ag., PRISM:Tot-? merly the Gay-Straight Alliaiice and_now, reconsti-. ttitM M’ii~i" aii ac~id’6G~i~ ib~ar to satisfy new district: c[abrules, - _ .Cynthia ~¢i_.dd i. the_Oi,S_tri’~? s._as~istani,~upe~nten-: ¯ dent, struggled on the stand Tliurs~y.~0¢xplaii~ why., PRISM didn’ t.qualify as, an academic_club;.contend: ing,it represents a~ narrow..viewpoi~ o.n ~.~.erican hist6ry and sociology In 1996, the school districi el.i_nu,’na,ted all nonacademicdubs’i:aiher.than idlow Qay .dubat East RighS&ooL ambve.that ,was in~federat court..... .....",.. ~ .... ~, , ,. ,,7i?ne,G~y,~cltlb ~, 0n!y .n~et ~t’e~ ,h~ ~s qo~.l~.u~:~.g,rpup. thin, must ~efi( siJa~e aiii£.~hy insurance~ Th~~i~a’l~ ;sn ’t~16~l t6 liand ~tU~t t’l,y..¢~ oL c~uh ~ha~e.t0~ay.fQr~ :,es si Coh~:saia’.’C6iien ~’d: i~qrpos; ,oLtll.e .cfii~ is tbi~i~ss history"f~bifi:the pcrsp.e.,,~tive~ of’G~y~ a~a)’?!;~in~."Seida ti~Z them ~O~i~ :Uec~U~ ~e’d0ii~t t~ch c,,urri~ulum from the viewpini:dfGays and Legblans. ’. . Stephen.Clark, l¢.gal director for the American Civil ,Liberties, U,ni"on of Utah, argued that the denial was a straighff0.r~v)ffd First Amendment v,iolation. Clark also contends the district manipulated its own club policy and sealed its decision against PRISM with a new, still unwritten rule disqualifying clubs advocating an "exclusive viewpoint" of subjects. Lesbian Housing Rights NEW YORK (AP) - A lawyer for a Lesbian medical student asked a state appeals court to order Yeshiva University to let the woman and her domestic partner live together in school-subsidized housing. James Esseks told a five-judge panel of the New York State Supreme Court’ s Appellate Division that Yeshiva’ s policy discriminates on the basis of marital status and sexual orientation in violation of city and state law. Esseks said the university pern-ts married students to live in school housing only with spouses and children. Because Gay couples cannot legally marry, the policy has a disparate, discriminatory impact on them, he said. Esseks represents Sara Levin, 28, of San Francisco, a fourth-year student at Yeshiva’ s Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Yeshiva University is the oldest andlargest institution of higher education under Jewish auspices in the United States. University Members Protest Anti-GaY Slurs GORHAM, "{~/Iaine (AP) - Abou(.125.~t_udent~, staff and administrators attended ameeting following three incidents o£ anti-Gay bias at the University of Southern Maine. One student and two others were arrested _ by GorhamandUSMpolicein connection with one of " the three_’in.cidents, all of which took place during a ¯ one-week period earlier this spring. President Rich- - : ard Pattenande assured participants.at Wednesday’ s :Tmeeting that anti-Gay acts will not be tolerated. :’ "USM stands unflinchingly for equality~. -. homophobid has.no place at USM," Pattenande said.. The incidents began on the weekend of April 8-9 when anti.Gay graffiti was foundin Woodward Hall. The graffiti referred to a resideatadvisor. The next incidenthappened on April 13 when the same Woodward resident advisor and anotheradvisor intervenedin an out-of-control party. Both were taunted ~ with violent, anti-Gay threats. Last Saturday, another ¯ dormitory.staff workerfoundawritten-anti-Gay death threat had been slipped under her’dtbr~" ....... ’ Alhb:ama Hate:i::Cii :i:mes Law Revision In:Trouble MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - At:i~n-danc~..at. a Senate comfifittee meeting could determine the fate Of lcgist~tif~;to ~;po,laxkA!.~b._a~a,~’.A~h~.qrim,es !~w to indud~NXnald~r~e~a~:.ti...on.!.7~.e.t)i:!$ pa~red~R~ 49-39:on.April 6..George, Olssom Mbntgomery .area coordinator for-the Gay and Le~ian,Al!iartc,e .of Alabama~,s~d ’.~e ,J~c!~ci_ary _Co~t.t~~: sharply which commi.B~me,_~a~bcrs shoN,upat tlag~tiil~eting. Committee, cL~irman.:Rodger,:,Smi,ih~ianan, a supporter Of the bill, agreed thdco~tteeii spfit 50- 50 and,attendance,could determine t!~.outcome. Alabama law already mandates, mini.mm:n prison terms that felons must serve for crimes motiyated by race, color, religion, national origin, :ethnicity or physical or mental disability. For instance,, if a person committed a crime that is normally punishable by one to 10 years in prison, the hate crimes law mandates the person must serve at least two years in prison. TB Spreading In Transgender Group ATLANTA (AP) - A tuberculosis outbreak in the Transgender commtulities of Baltimore and New York City may be spreading to 0ther:cities, the government said recently. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 26 active cases and 37 dormant cases of tuberculosis, most of them connected to members of the transgender community inthe two cities. The’ CD~,, ~s~ th~t~m~ig~asgender to: encbn~Ss~"cro~-~dr~ss~dr~,~ those who haveig~.,derg0~eI and indi~id~Jai~ ~tio ~re’plafining to un~ dergo sex-change operations. All of the cases in Baltimore were men except for fourwomenwho w’ere eitherfamilymembers of the men or health care workers who treated them. Many had a strain of TB treated with common antibiotics. The government said 62% of the tuberculosis patients tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. People with HIV are susceptible to tuberculosis and could die if not treated. Transgenders often travd to many cities frequenting social clubs and participaring in fashion and dance competitions. "Frequent travel and social network links identified among the Baltimore andNYC cases have raised concern that thi~ strain ¯ . may be circulating in other’~ities among young, mobile transgender persons withHIV infection," theCDCsaid in a report¯ The CDC is checking for additional cases linked to the same strain in Atlanta, "Baltimore, Boston,NewYorkCity, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Actor Bruce Willis Donating to Charity LOS ANGELES (AP) - There’ s more to theBruceWillis appearances on"Friends" than a potential ratings boost. The actor, who agreed to be a guest star on NBC’ s "Friends" for three episodes during the May ratings "sweeps," is donating earnings from the show to five charities. The amount of money wasn’ t disclosed. The American Foundation for AIDS Research, AIDS Project Los Angeles, the Elizabeth Glaser PediatricAIDS Foundation, the Rape Treatment Center and UCLAUnicamp for underprivileged children will share the money, Willis publicist Paul Bloch said. On "Friends," Willis plays the widowedfather ofRoss’ new girlfriend. Willis became friendly with "Friends" actor Matthew Perry when they both starred in the movie "The Whole Nine Yards." Study on Prison Sex in Kentucky MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) - A Morehead State University professor is conducting a study on prison sexuality, a topic he says has been shrouded in silence but must be dealt with. The information could be used to combat the spread of AIDS and improve prison safety. Christopher Hensley, a sociology professor who directs Morehead’s Institute for Correctional Research and Training, said the survey is the first of its kind in Kentucky. Hensley studied prison sex in Oklahoma and found that nearly one in four male prisoners had engaged in sexual activities with fellow inmates. Overall. 13.8% of all prisoners said they had been : "threatened sextmlly" by other inmates : and 1.1% said they had been raped. ". If they have AIDS or another sex~mlly ¯ transmitted disease, they’ll be spreading : it to their partners, he said. "These people : are g,oing to be getting out of prison and ¯¯ they re going to be having sex with their wives or husbands," Hemley said. : The sweeping 46-question survey .,asks ¯ about jailhouse consensual sex, : autoeroticism and rape. About 3,600 of : Kentucky’ s 15.300 prisoners have been ¯ asked to participate. The survey is volun- !, ~tary and_anonymouL Funded in part b~ a .: ~$1,600 ~ant from ’Morehe~id~State,! the ":~i ~ques~i~res have~n ~ent to i.m~tes ¯ ’. dt three Of the state’ s .12 male prisons and : toinmatesatthestate’sonlyfemaleprison. ¯ Results will be released this fall. Hensley’ s research has "extraordinary value," said Cindy Stmckman-Johuson, a professor of psychology at the University of South Dakota. But~topic is so taboo that few scholars focus on it, she said. "We should have hundreds of people studying it," Struckman-Johnson said. "Sex inprisonis amajor cause ofviolence ... of upset and turmoil, a major cause of disease." Prisoners’ rights advocates also say the sexuality data could be useful. "Prison is a very violent place and ff (officials) can get a better idea about the reality ofprison rape and what’ s going on, hopefully they caTu be more prepared to deal with that issue," said Kara Gotsch, a public policy coordinator with the Washington, D.C.- based National Prison Project of the American Civil Liberties Union. Struckman-Jotmson said some prison administrators try to quash these kinds of studies out of concern about negativepublicity. But Morehead State administrators and Kentucky prison officials approved Hensley’ s study. Hensley also has co-written an article on conjugal visitation in Mississippi, and his study on consensual homosexual activity in male prisons in Oklahoma is scheduled for publication in December in a prison-related academic journal. Russian Prison For HIV+ Inmates MOSCOW (AP) - Authorities in a Siberian region plan to open a separate prison for inmates infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, a news report said last month. About 600 HIV-positive convicts are serving time in prisons of the Irkutsk region, and another 300 infected people are held in pre-trial detention, said Boris Gronik, chief of the regional Justice Ministry branch in charge of prison administration. Gronik said afflicted inmates present a danger to other prisoners, and need to be removed; the ITAR=Tass news agency reported. "Unless they are all gathered in one place, the situationmayget out of control," Gronik was quoted as saying. Russia already has one special prison for HIV-positive convicts, ITAR-Tass said. The jail is located in the Baltic Sea enclave of Kaliningrad, which has one of the highest concentrations of AIDS cases in Russia. In a separate development, authorities in the southern Siberian republic of Buryafia, next door to lrkutsk, said 101 HIV cases have been registered in the republic, up from 24 at the start of the year, ITAR-Tass reported. HIV has been spreading fast in Russia and more than 30,000 registered cases March. Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. Medical Excellence And Compass.ionate Care Since 1926. ¯ ¯ ST. JOHN MEDICAL CENTER Medical Excellence ¯ Compassionate Care ~ Tulsa’s only~o/essional " - , bodyp!ercing Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American? Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men’s Support Group is here for you! ¯ E~ening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project Call JOHN RAGAN, the friend!y, caring real estate agent who understands your special needs! 918-583-2125 800-559-1558 ~.NewNest.com reviewed by Barry Hensley . In the mid 1960’ s, Garlandstarted re- Tulsa City-County Library ¯ cording her memories and feelings on a Judy Garland’ s fascinating and tumul- " reel to reel tape recorder. Theoretically, it tuous.life has become the subject of yet ¯ was to be a verbal, and hopefully moneyanothercontroversialbiography, thistime " making autobiography, butinreality,forby Gerald Clarke, author tifiedbyherfavoritewine, of "Capote." Goddess of "Extraordinarily Blue Nun, it became a ti- Gay men of a certain age, . oor, at~ ehoosln , . ~ade.ag~in~t~pe°p!eand Judy died inlJun~iof. 196~,~ ¯-P. .... ~,~ :- ¯ ~ .; cbmpafli~s~ "who"~ had a week. before’thei tone.-" .... hn,s t~ d.s",,,:the ""~ ’.wronged her. C~arlde wall rio.t in York, her 77 ..... "s. ems especially proud which started the modem that he had access to these Gay rights, movement. From Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz," through a series of film successes, to someembarrassing television performances, and, fin. ally., to aging songstress staging substandard tunes written by her lover, Judy Garland’s career was a rollercoaster ride unparalleled in showbiz history. . .Through thenewspapers, radio and television, the public eagerly watched her career rise and fall many times over a thirty year period. Each triumphant performance was soon followedby some sort of disaster. Extraordinarily poor at choosing husbands, the public followed her volatile personal life as well, although they were probably unaware of a few Lesbian encounters that are mentioned in Get Happy. Cycling down to an untimely an-d-litigation filled end, Judy’s stormy life finally exhausted and frustrated her friends, fans and family. Her story is one of the greatest indictments against the excessive use of drugs and alcohol that American popular culture has produced. After ten years of interviews and meticulous investigation, Clarke has written ahuge tome, second only to GeroldFrank’ s 700 page biography, "Judy," in 1975. Clarke had access to the personal diary of Dottle Ponedel, Judy’ s longfime makeup woman, who apparently found that Judy was the most interesting thing in her life. Clarke also interviewed many of Judy’ s costars, friends, directors and conductors, including Arfie Shaw, Lena Home, and Judy’ s mostinfluential husband, SidLuft. she said, wiping the tears and gesturing at the joyous chaos on the House floor. Their jubilahon was matched by anger among opponents, who have complained that lawmakers weren’ t listening to their concerns. "The people of the state of Vermont will be back in November and this legislation will be repealed," said John Nelson, a 70-year-old retired salesman. The state Supreme Court unammously ruled in December that the couples were being unconstitutionally denied therights and benefits of mamage. The legislature decided to establish a parallel system for Gays rather than broaden marriage statues to include Gays and Lesbians. The civil unions essentially duplicate marriage, but are not recognized under federal law denying Gay couples benefits such as Social Security andirmnigrafion. Under the law, Gay ~ouples will be able to go to their town clerks and have their unions certified by a judge or by a member of the clergy. Breakups will be handled in Family Court. volatile personal life as wall, although they were probably naware d a few Lesbian encounters that are mentioned in ~et Happy’..." tapes, although at leastone other Garland biography has utilized them. Thecontent of the tapes is very interesting, although painfully sad, as she lashes out at the people who .made millions off of her name but left her penniless. With the exception of some films and her celebrated Carnegie Hall concert, Clarkelargely ignores Garland’ s professional life, preferring to give us lurid gossip and personal problems instead of analyzing her varied career. In fact, of the almost 500 pages in this book, only four are dedicated to’q’heJudy GarlandShow," the 1963 CBS series that was the last, sustained effort of her career (and which is currently available on DVD.) Reviewers and fans seem intensely polarized about their opinions of this book. (Check out the Amazon.corn reviews!) While listing over 50 pages of notes and acknowledgements, Clarke often relies on unverifiable comments, some of them quite ugly. He also seems obsessed with Judy’s sex life, a topic well covered in Judy Garland: The SecretLife ofanAmerican Legend, by David Shipman. However, his decade ofresearch pays off occasionally, with someinteresting stories and comments, although we must be aware that what we are reading is quite probably as much a juicy novel as it is a serious biography. Either way, it’ s an intriguing read. Check out Get Happy, as well as many of Garland’ s films or music at any branch Library, or call Central at 596-7977. the parent of a former Boy Scout, said there have been 255 requests for the state to join friend-of-the-court briefs since he became attorney general in 1995. The state has signed on to 111 of them, 68 dealing with states’ rights. "In making those decisions, we have always tried to focus on the legal issues rather than the political ones," he said. But lawmakers said Edmondson’s action makes ~*. appear the state opposes the right of the Boy Scouts to choose their own leaders. "’Drew Edmondson has put Oklahoma on record in the highest court in the land as being in favor ofthe homosexual movement against the Boy Scouts," said Rep. Bill Graves, R-OKC,-an outspoken opponent of civil rights for Gay people. "I thought the decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court was an outrage," Graves said. Editor’s note: the switchboardfor the Oklahoma House of Representatives is 800-522-8502. Editor’s lugte: due to gremh’nesqueglitches tn the e-mail, our regular "Amusements" column byJim Christjohn never got to the editorial desk. Unfortunately this came to light at first::lighr’the mormng before going to’.press, andbeing brave, but northat brave, :I dtdt no:t invoke the wrath of the dembn~ by Waking him at 5:30am. Future issues.~willfeature interviews by Christjohn: with members of the cast of cal, will be at the Tulsa Performing Arts Centerbeginning May 30 thro’ June 4th. As the promoters, the Tnlsa-based Celebrity Attractions, note interest in the ill-fated ship has been _ ~om Sesma great, resulting in televisionprograms, a"major motion picture," novels and "even a cookbook." Indeed. The show was written by Peter StOne, known for other shows: 1776, T~e Will Rogers Follies, My One & Orii~, and music and lyrics are by Maury Yeston .. (Nine, Grand Hotel). Titanic wonmultiple’q’ony" awards~in 1997 and New York Observer critic, Rex Reed claims, " you will never see anyder of wonders, to TULSA! This Pulitzer and Tony award winning work by the late Jonathan Larson-was introduced to Tulsa theatre and media, folk at a.recent PAC reception. Coordinated by the ever gracious and lovely Tracey Norvell, fed a grea~ llmch by the Polo GrilF s Tal.madge Powell, and wowed by perfomances by two .current Broadway casrmembers flown into Tulsa forithe; ~vent.,~’sa~_~ hear,~d.: the veff~ .era ergetie,(~md:cute-)-p~.~l~!ce~, Jeffre~ ~€!1€~ deseribethe off-off Broadway .and shaky origins of Rent, as well as the tragic death of an aeortic aneurysm of composer/ writer Jonathan Larson on the very eve of the show’s successful opening. Larson drew inspiration for Rent from Puccini’s La Boheme but set his work in New York’ s East Village and with people living with HIV (rather than TB), Lesbian lawyers, drag queens instead of Parisian poets and painters. The music draws on!the traditions of American gospel and in the words of.the Houston Chronicle~ "Rent .is that rare. musical whose content and style areo£the present rather than the past.. words of pro.d.ucer Jeffr,y Sellers~ tradithing this impressive anywhere elser on’ tional :upt wn . t_h_eatre;,t.e..Broadway, Broadway." Certainly,Titanic seems cer~ .... was not-:~’our.characters ;,our stories, our tain t0 pl~hse the target audience ofCelebi; "" music, i. 2;.S~1~8 addecL that ,The.New rity Attractions and to bring in any nlmi: "~ York Ti~oa~.s,:q,a~:.,ed ;~e~t~Ya, shimm~ ber ofcharter buses full of traditional ~ea~ ¯ choonpceufrowr-i~ffei h~iAm.mmeri~_d.c’w~n.-ith th~Pe~q~ng theatr~igoers. ~ .... Theatre Tulsa Goes Gay!?!_,-. ~ Arts Center’s..director~-.33lm~e~i~ iii~t .......for T~s.a.;:R.¢.n.tj~!O~ag0~erdue! Tulsa Family News is delighted to re.:., Rent 9Li.t.lbe ip:Tulsa, f,om Augusi 29Rt ceive notice that TheatreZul~a’ S final seasonproductionis theTerrence McNallyhit,Lips Together, Teeih Apart." It Will run April 28, 29, and May3- 6 at8,l~.~,; ~e~e_w.ill be a:~ma~lee all PAC Jolm~H. ............Io tP+~9..Pt., 3rd :~ith -I ev.~i~n.g and marl: nee,performances. Tickets, range, be:.. $25 to.$55 ,a~..dgQ:on ~.ale on June 12. Call 596- 7111,800-364- ~731I. or go to Willidins :Tkeatre.’ ..... : Veto S~fanic~directs this "adult sitmi:" tion" drama:~dae elegant beach house " on Fi~I~taii~i:~;brother and sister and their i(d~tig~e~pouses attempt to cel-: ebrat~i=tll~-~t~6~li:0f July. Surrounded 6if: bo.th s[d~Tb,~]~e~ii~ve h~ses~Ga~.~i~ieff:~ " me" two sfi~:~i~t ~codpqeg’exi~Xa* own!ives ~[li~it;sorrow, and agnawmgup.,,~ t~my~!~es their‘ affluen! hab’-’ it~ hfid]SeR~ pi~jii~li~s ~i~zle~n the:sum:~ ,"~l)~:" ~" ?’Q *~ "~ .... - ;.... ~’;" ~i’¢ " ~ " Tl~eT~fl:aa 1§’one~,~(e!,ty-~Ndest arts ,0.~g. a~!..~a,tlons ..and -ael~owle~t~mg Gay~i~ ,th~"th~iff~ is ’a big step, n~ot t6 ¯ me~tidff~cNali~ is one Of temporary pla~fights so check this production out, W~:don’t get that many ¯ chances trsee theatre in Tulsa which acknowledges-the eXistence ofGaypeople: " 525,600 Minutes : Having said that, the extraordinary new Ameficanmusical, Rent, is coming, won- " ;~ Do, you got:Hope? ~ Fran~_.~,C.~thy Kc~ting’, sfavodte~ulsa designer_ ,~gd..H!.V/AtDS .. fund.raise-~,~ Charles-Faudree,-once again has, o~ga; nized theHopeCafid~eli.~ht~0urforea~!y, June. TI~.,"~,eve~t not,rnly,heips i~aise f~d~i groups;p~c~yide~car~, toW-opl,e liv~:ii~ see some6fTulsa s mostbeau~i~f~@~, rated, homes.- ......... -,.:~.... The pub!ic:tour on SituMay, i~; 3rd and Sunday~ Jun¢.4th i%~tures fiv~ l~0mes for a donation ofonly $10. Ticke,ts fi3r tliis tour may be obtainld a~ each..home ¯ There is also a donor tourfeaturing four more homes on Iune 1 for those who donate $125. And patrons (donations of more than $450) will gather at Doug & Susan Pielsticker on June 10th. For more information, call Charles Faudree, Inc. at 747-9706. I to benefit Saint Joseph Residence + Regional AIDS Interfaith.Network Saturday, June 3rd, 10-5, + Sunday, June 4th, 1-5 $10 donation at the door or in advance. David Daniel, 1603 S. Carson Wiley Parsons, 1601 S. Carson Monty + Jane Butts, 240 E. Woodward Blvd. Brett + Maricarolyn Swab, 2112 S. Norfolk Ave. Dr. Robert & Dena Hudson, 2707 S. Rockford Rd. Tickets for this~,t~Jr may be obtaL"gd at each home. For more intormation, call Charles Faudree, Inc, at 747-9706. THE MUSEUM SHOP AT PHILBROOK 748.5304 April 29, May 5 & 7, 2000 Prices Start. at Just $15! Act Now! Call 587-4811 December MonthlyElectric Bills. At PS0, we kn0w ihat,changing .... "same each month, because ifs basedweather condi~qp~:throughout~e year can cause~m0nthlye~ bills to rise and fall dramatically. Which can make it hard to plan your householdlmdget~That’s,why~ our Average Monflxly Payment plan, could be your budgeting solution. With~youpay about the .on your previous 12 months umge. ~ :~make~ budgeting a breeze. Andbest of all, ifs free. AMP!sjust one of several flem’ble payment options PSOoffersyou. For more information, we’re available 24 hours adag Or S’tgn up for AMP on our website at vccc,v.csw.corm PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY. OF OKLAHOMA A Central and South West Company by Busaba Sivasoboom BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - They giggled like girls and limp-wristed their high-fives, but when these players spiked a volleyball, opponents knew they were facing some of the meanest men on a Thai Bacldin 1996, a transvestite volleyball team with a woman coach overcame an anti-homosexual campaign to keep them out and competed!ha meffs national club volleyball championship They wonboth the tournamentandthehearts.of the crowd. Now; their tale has been turned into a movie titled "Satree-lek," or "Iron Ladies," and it’ s quickly turning into one of the biggest box office hits in Thai history - while spotlighting the country’s ambiguous feelings about transvestites and homosexuality. DirectorYongyootThongkongtoon said that on the surface, Thai society is open and tolerant of transvestites and homosexuality. The two are often equated in the popular mind, though not all transvestites are homosexuals, or vice versa. Transvestite cabarets are popular with tourists and several television shows feature transvestites-prompting an edict last year by the government to broadcasters to tone it down. The order, however, has widely been ignored. ButYongyoottoldTheAssociatedPress that transvestism was a lifestyle far removed from that led by most Thais, and his debut film takes a look at how other people : react to having transvestites as neighbors, rivals and colleagues. In the movie, the team was insulted by words and gestures at the beginning of the tournament. However, when they showed they could play as well, and better- than their rivals, they gradually gained respect from fans and other players. "I chose to present it as a comedy, because I thought a drama might be boring," said Yongyoot, who formerly directed TV commercials. "An audience is more easily attracted by a comedy film." When the movie began showing nationwide in March, it became an instant hit and pulled in more thaii 100 million baht ($2.7 million) in thefirst month, 10 times what it cost to make. That already makes it second Thai film in all-rime box office receipts behind the A walk-through butterfly exhibit at the Tulsa Zoo and Living Mus~umwil! open onMay 6 and will continue through October 8. The exhibit is open from 10am - 5pmand visitors canexperiencehundreds ofnative butterflies up-el0seand in flight. Nearly 30 species of North American butt.efflies.and ~ few s,p~..’es ofmoths will be represented itl an enel6~&l garden setring, near the Animal Kingdom Building and features a variety offlowering plants. This exlfibit is free wi~ the ~regular Zoo admission. Wings ofWonderis set withina30x 96’ greenhouse covered with a light mesh to contain the animals. The exhibit features a "chrysalis house" where visitors can watch as each butterfly emerges from its chrysalis or pupa and prepares for flight. Winding stone pathways, a water feature, benches, andeducational exhibits enhance the exhibit area. Wings of Wonder is dedicated to increasing visitor knowledge and appreciation of butterflies which are signature 150 million baht (dlrs 4 million) earned by "Nang Nak," last year’ s arty retelling of an old ghost legend that is credited with giving a new breath of life to the moribund Thai film industry. Pakorn Pimton, a transvestite and coordinator of the Gays Against AIDS group, said he was unsurprised by the success of the movie and he hoped it would open useful debate. Gays are accepted as entertainers, Pakom said, because Thais d(, see movie stars and television program hosts as serious. ,~ - "Howe~,ifthey go beyond’that line to be a doct~,~polifiCi~, banker Or top~nfili,~ tary official - I guess the answer is no, Pakorn said. "We still use a two-tier measure for members of our society." Violence against homosexuals is rare in Thailand, Pakorn said, but many barriers remain against open homosexuals. The Gay rights movement is weak. His group regularly receives calls fromhomosexuals who -fear coming out of the closet because they risk their jobs or status. Kitikorn Meesapya, senior psychologist at the Department of Mental Health’ s, said that Thais can accept homosexuals that keep a low profile. Homosexuals in Parliament and the military are well treated until their lifestyles are publicly exposed - a fairly rare occurence. "But then they will fac~ harsh criticism from society," Kitikorn said, expressing hope that "Satree-lek" might encourage more tolerance and help some people to express themselves as homosexuals. For Kongrith Singnukote, one of the 1996 champion players, the film’ s strongest pointis that it’*talks about peacefully living together in society by accepting the differences of each person." Kongrith works as a bank teller. He goes to work in men’s clothes, but wears makeup and ¯" speaks in a girlie voice. All his colleagues ¯ know he is a transvestite. Kongrith says : he gets teased a bit, but no one has ever ¯ shown violence toward him. He says he is : grateful that his family accepts him as he : is. : Being the subject of a hit movie hash~ t ¯ raised.his celebrity ambitions,however, and he doesn’t see a career for himself : beyondretail service. "I know that thereis ¯¯ a barrier for us," he says. "For now, I’m satisfied at being what I am." ¯ species for conservation. By fostering a greaterunderstanding of theneeds and the ¯ life,cycle of butterflies we can hdp con- " serve these delicate creatures. -" In addition tothe butterfly enclosure, : knownas"Butterfly Landing," the grounds ¯ aroundtheexhibithavebeen planted with : butterfly-attracting plants to encourage : v~s~tataon by someof our natt,~e butterfly residents. Thebutterflies exhibited inside ¯ Butterfly Landing have not been taken ~ from:the wild but are procured through ¯ certified butterfly suppliers. ¯ ¯ Exhibits describing the lifecycle of the butterfly, the differences between moths ¯ and butterflies, common butterflies of ¯ Oklahoma, chrysalis and butterfly !dent!- : fication, and about attracting butterflies ¯ to yards will be included in the exhibit. ¯ Also planned for this summer is a vision ¯ exhibit that will enable visitors to see like : a butterfly. The Animal Kingdom Build- . ing will also house agift cart specializing ¯ in butterfly-related books, souvenirs, and gifts. Info: 669-6600 orwww.tulsazoo.org r by Lament.. Lindstrom, Ph.D. What do you call a dead Blond in a closet? - a 1964 hide and seek champion! The recent flush of Blendjokes is an interesting cultural phenomenon. Jokes are more than just funny. They are also dangerous because they are polilical. Overthepastfew decad~s~: change~ iri Amefi’~t"~ ~olitib~[ arena have affectedboth the content and practice Ofjoking. Itis alittleless easy than it used to be to joke about ethnic and religious groups, handicap, gender, or gender-orientation. Blonds have emerged as a safe target in politically conscious, if not always politically correct, America. Andmanyjokes that previously featured Jews- or Blacks or Gays have been reworked into Blond jokes. This is not to say that offensive joking has disappeared. Rather, it is just a little less public. American politeness conventions demand that I should not tell a joke whose "butt" is in my audience, unless I, too, am in the targeted category, or unless I already have a close relationship’~vith those I potentially offend. But I can joke all I want as long as the butt can’ t hear me, or if I do indeed intend to offend. Thewebsite, www.whitepride.com, for example, offers along list of by now very stale Jewish, Black, and "faggot" jokes. Here’ s a sample groaner from the"white pride" boys: Why was the faggot fired from his job at the sperm back? - for drinking on the job! Jokesters sometimes complain about the "political correctness" that has narrowed the contexts in which they can safely perform. "Come on, it’s only a joke!" But of course jokes aren’t just jokes. They are also assertions about the world, or at least one particular view of the world. The lines that jokes ckaw between the funny and the unfunny reflect local understandings of normality. Jokes are potent oral texts that, retold over and over again, maintain certain ways ofthinking about people and behavior. Why do brides wear white? - so they will match the other domestic appliances! .Even ironic jokes, such as this, refresh established ways of thinking about men, women, and the gendered division of labor. In particular, the swarm of jrke~ flying constantly around a community protects existing systems of inequality. People joke "downwards" more than they do upwards.~ :People joke far more often about the powerless than they about the powerful. There are far more jokes about women than there are about men. "More jokes about ethnic and religious minorities thanthe white-bread Protestant mainstream. More jokes about the handicapped than about the able. More jokes about the old than the young. More jokes about Oklahoma than about California. Do you know what an Oklahoma divorce and a Texas tornado have in common? - in both cases ¯ somebody is gonna ¯ lose a trailer house! And there are many more jokes about being Gay than about being Straight. We usually "~V’hy is it so hard abide by the politeness constraints ofjoke-telli~, for women to find in fact, because we realize that jokes (even "just-amen that are jok~sT’) have this political " weight. ,Th..o~sewhofeel tSe sensitive, earing,, ~ ’ Sfing~hidd~n ’within the .a.n..d ’geed-look"m - because those guys already have ho rlends!?’ laughter sometimes protest when etiquette breaks down. GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, for example, has attempted to police the telling ofcertainGayjokes in the m~ss media, notably on a number of morning radio shows whose sleazy hosts are keen to boost their market share. Such policing, of course, if successful merely shrinks the arenas in which Faggot jokes are safely told. They still circulate freely in less public Spaces. Each time I teach Cultural Anthropology, I have my students as a group collect jokes from their friends. I figure that these joke archives provide good evidence about which of the joints of American society currently ache the most. Last week, the students broughtin about 150 jokes. For the first time in years, none ofthese was a"faggot"joke. And the only ethnic joke was turned in by a clueless Japanese woman, happily ignorant of the American politics of public joking. Instead, nearly half the collection consisted of Blond jokes. Blonds, poor things, are nowadays the butt of choice when American jokesters are nervous and unsure of our audience. What do Blonds put behind their ears to attract boyfriends? - their ankles! Our collection also included several "counter-jokes" whose butt is strategically reversed. There are, for example, Brunette jokes - the futile ripostes of oppressed Blonds. There are also "stupid men jokes" - invented jokes that attempt to counteract the dominant targeting of women within the’universe of American jokes. Why did God create man? - because a vibrator can’t mow the lawn! While these attempts to resist inequality by shifting a joke’s target upwards may have only limitie~." politigal,fimpact, it sfillfecls"goodtolaflgh.: ~:: ~ -~’~ Why is it so hard for women to find men that are sensitive, caring, and go~dqo~king? -~ because those guys _~ already have boyfriends! LamontLindstrom teaches anthopology at the University of Tulsa. Romantic W ekend Package.-- Accommodations Frida3, Saturday or Sunday night. Bottle ofwine, souvenir keepsake millennium corkscrew ¯ Souvenir etched glasses ¯ Specialq chocolate tklights ¯ Deluxe continental breakfast ¯ Late checkout ¯ Specialq rooms $I80 ¯ Deluxe rooms $160 ¯ Valid weekends in February. Does not include taxes Tulsa’s Premier Boutique Hotel 14t~ & Main ¯ Tulsa ¯ 587.8200 Member: Historic Howls ofAmerica Featuring The Chalkboard Restauram, a dining landmark IGTA Calmlem3b4er1.6866i’!~ International ToUrsformore information. Massage Therapy Services Voice Mai!~:918-697:9282 Lic. #C4133 Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pro "All About MyMother" and"Boys Don’ t Meet Local Guys for Hot Ti @Odgi Cry" - actually showed up in OKC, she madeit abundantly clear that shehad been completely won overby them and was not about to be shy about saying so in print. Sympathy towards GLBT issues might be expected from someone like White, but it was definitely a surprise to see the much nibre conservative reviewer, Jerry Shottefi~irk, being taken in by the Ma- .donna:Rupert Everett"Next BgstThing." ¯ election - and what could be the most ¯ importantelectionofourgeneration. The : GLBT voting bloc has proven to be one of ¯¯ the most powerful constituencies in the country in recent election cycles. If our ¯ voters are motivated to the polls and elect ¯ supportive leaders, we could have the ¯ opportunity to shape groundbrealdng le- : gal protection. If the nation elects leaders ¯ who are hostile to all that NGLTF stands ¯ for, we could witness a serious backlash ¯ to our h~rd-won gains. ¯ Dr. Martin Luther King. once said the ¯ moral arc of the universeis long but bends Surprises were cropping up in the rest .: toward justice. Dr. King was right - but !~f th~ p,gper ~. W~I!, indu~g the busi- ¯ with our continued o!;gahi~gg g~ad motif ~es .,~..; o ~ .w~i~ g~ ~)le on .~_~o ~,~ ~jzatmn, we~make ~at,ii~.~;0’~,.~ :~est~c p~mership~ p,6ilc~es..a~.ong OkI’fi- ¯ much more qmckly fioma compames- mcludiffg qu,otes from: $~,,-.~oundectir~1973, ttie ~Lucent’s I~aren Par~ons w~o is involved : Lesbian Tbsk Force W~’l?s to~iiniinate inLuqent~sLesbianandGayemployees’ ¯ prejudice, uiolence andiwustice against ;brgani’zafion, EQUAL!. :- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexualgtn~l T~ransgen- : Striking, 5wey r, was.a group of :. &red people at the local, state dnd naarticles; oii 1~hate crimes in the Sun- ¯ tional level. As part ofdbrOaddr ~Ocial iday, March 20 issue. Mostof these ar- : justicemovementforfreOdom;]usticeand titles appeared in ~€ Community see- : equality, NGLTF is creattYg d Worm that fion, Milch w’as’d~_i’ilh~lPdedia.the late : ~respects and celebrates_ ttie’diversity of ~F,dition ’on Stmday’. The~e, in b!a~k and .’. ’human expression and identity where all White, was the opeii as~ertidii.’.tiia~ Okla- i .people mayfully participate in society. h°ma City"s Human Rights CASmmlssi°n i I ] .Was abolished by(the City Council bemuse they iesent&!havingt.6 deal with the issue. 0fiG@’Ri~h?s, cbml~iete, with ~uote by c.ottt~,¢ilmenqbi~r~Je@ Fo~hee: " During WWII, the church Sheltered.Japa- .-.; "The councilis tiredof.th6is~ue’hlways ; nese-American students who were given being b~ought forward, and flae vehicle the opportunity to study atTU ratherth~a,n,,, that is alWays brin~g.i’.t forward is the " beincarceratedinAmerican"internment human rights comm, ss~on...~ If the vehicle is bringing you dompany that you don’ t want ... then you do away with the vehicle." In meeting with Hale, Speakers for Gay and Lesbian Issues hoped that they would open a dialog between the Daily Oklahoman and the Gay and Lesbian community of Oklahoma City. According to Speakers, Hale provided them with many opportunities by asking many questions about Gay and Lesbian issues. Speakers for Gay and Lesbian Issues noted the positive trend in the paper’ s coverage of Gay issues. Hale revealed that those changes had come at a price: while the articles on hate crimes had generated both positive and negative responses fromreaders, some of the negative responses had been vicious and involved actual threats. But, Hale also said she was not going to let that stop her from continuing to cover controversial issues. She said that when a story generates strong reactions on both sides, she knows she’ s doing her job right. This federation consists ofpolitical groups that fight for equality. In just four years’ time, the Federation has grown to represent members in every state in the union, gro,wthinsuch ashort period of time. With the Federation’s help, last year NGLTF was able to produce the largest :~ grassroots mob~fion:inputmoyem~ntfs history. We helped organize some 350 rallies and other events in all 50 state capitols, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico, during a one-week period. Our campaign - called Equality Begins at Home- and the work of the Federation paved the way for the wonderful successes we have seen in the past year. Now many state legislatures are wrapping up their business and adjourning. Attention will soon shift to the November camps. Later the church was involved in the "Sanctuary" movement which offered relocation of Central American political refugees, both documented and-undocumented. Aletter issued tomembers ofthe church, signed by Rader and Clerk of the Session, Kathy Evanson, notes, "None of these actions changes who we are as a congregation; but, they declare who we area and what we want to be in our relationships with one another. We are still a loyal, supporting congregation of the Presbyterian Church,U.S.A. We have done nothing improper according to our denomination’ s constitution. We are not changing any signage, letterhead, preaching or program. We are declaring inclusion and affirmation of all our members and our openness to a group of people long rejected and stigmatized by society, and within the Christian commtmity... College Hill is a majority "straight" church but with visible and welcome Lesbian and Gay families. Editor’s note: Tulsa Family Newspublisher and editor, Tom Neal is a member of College Hill Presbyterian Church. An Evening With The Quilt On Thursday evening, May 25, the NAMES Project Tulsa Area Chapter of the AIDS Memorial Quilt will sponsor an evening of meditation and remembrance at Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 So. Harvard in Tulsa, from 7-9 pm. You. are invited to drop in anytime during this time period to meditate, pray, or simply view the Quilt. Feel free to stay just afew minutes, or as long as you wish. The NAMES Project Tulsa Area Chapter invites everyonewhohas been touchedby the AIDS pandemic to take a moment from their evening to remember and reflect. For more information, please contact the NAMES Project Tulsa at (918) 748-3111 or TulsaQnilt@usa.net Humanity Unites f’or Hu’man Rights Diversity .Celebration 2000 Grand Marshalls for the Millennium Parade Dr. Grethe Cammermeyer Distinguished Veteran of the United States Armed Forces Gre£! Lou~lanis US Olympic Champion Pride Week Events, .Interfaith Worship Service The Tulsa Performin£l Arts Center Speaker: the Reverend Dr. Mel W.hite, author and activist Friday, June 2, from 7pro (free) TOHR Folbes. 1OO Years of Broadway Saturday, June 8, 8pm, $15 PAC Doenges Theatre Black Tie Optional Dinner ~i:Featuri~ 6re~q Louganis The Summit Club Friday, June 9th, $75 person VIP reception at $50 person. Benefitin~l Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Ri/thts, the parent or~Ianization of the Gay Community Center Millennium Pa~de 2000 Saturday, June IO, llam Beginning at the Gay Community Center at 87th and Peoria and endin~i at Veterans Park at 18th and BouIder The Pride Festival Veterans Park, llam 8pro For more information about these events, caIl 748-4297 (gays). Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, May 2000; Volume 7, Issue 5 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, April 2000; Volume 7, Issue 4 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 newspaper Periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/600 2000 AIDS AIDS Quilt aMUSEments arts and entertainment Barry Hensley Bars Boy Scouts businesses churches civil unions Daily Oklahoman Diversity celebration Elizabeth Toledo Gay marriage Gay Studies George W. Bush harassment hate groups HIV HIV prevention homophobia housing Idaho Public Television Jim Christjohn Karin Gregory Lamont Lindstorm marriage equality military inclusion Murder NAMES Project National Gay and Lesbian Task Force NGLTF Partner Benefits performing arts Pride prison Raging Lesbian Read All About It restaurants slurs Supreme Court Tom Neal tuberculosis Tulsa Family News Tulsa Zoo United Methodist Church universities University of Pitsburgh https://history.okeq.org/files/original/fe478eb503346b76d111ec713654575c.jpg ff08337cc5191cc189c5ab43992f499b https://history.okeq.org/files/original/09b2986511645c17d24e2596c65e850a.pdf c8ca09acf9a97df515cf3a1f54ee1045 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. Text Any textual data included in the document Berlin Exhibit Looks at Gay Victims of Nazis by Paul Geitner, Associated Press Writer BERLIN (AP) - Focusing attention on along-neglected group of Nazi victims, a two-part exhibition about Gays persecuted under the Nazis opened Sunday at museums m Berlin and in a former concentration camp where many of the victims were killed. The exhibits of documents, photos, drawings and other objects collected during 10 years ofresearchis the largest on the subject ever mountedinGermany, project organizers said. It documents the fate of700individuals who suffered under the Nazis’ draconian anti-Gay laws and tells 60 personal stories. "We want to return to the Gay victims of the Nazis theirnames and to show their lives, as far as possible, so as to.at, least symbolically liberate them.from the dehumamzmg barbarity of the Nazis,’" said Andreas Stemweiler, project director at the Gay Museum in Berlin, where part of the exhibit is being shown. The other half opened at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, where many Gay men - labded with a .pink triangle- ended up because of the camp’s proxim- ,ty to the capital, see Nazis, p.3 Be Counted: Effort to Include Gays in Census SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - A national campaign to include Gays and Lesbians in Census 2000 is urging same-sex couples to check offtheboxindicating they’re unmarried partners. Using e-mail, ads in Gay publications and word-ofmouth, thecampaign is an un0fficial way to get a partial indication of the nation’s Gay and Lesbian population, the San Jose Mercury News reported recently. "We want to make the point that there is such a thing as a Gay or Lesbianfamily,’" said PaulaEttelbrick, family policy director for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. The federal government added the unmarried partners category to the census in 1990, to recognize heterosexual couples who live together without being married. That year, 150,000 same-sex households were identified. "It was a vast undercount,’" said Ann Northrop, board member for the Institute for Gay and Lesbian Strategic Studies. Those involved in the so-called "Out the Census’" campaign say that even though individual Gays and Lesbians won’t be counted, the number of couples will provide a partial account. And additional information included on U.S. Census forms could provide a valuable snapshot of the community, including income levels, ethnicity and the number of same-sex couples raising children. While the campaign is getting nationwide attention, some Gays and Lesbians are wary ofrevealing toomuch information. Rikki Westerschulte, who is raising a daughterwith herparmer, says sheknows many couples who are nervous about declaring their sexual orientation on an official government form. The recent passage of Proposition 22, which recognizes only marriage between a man and a woman in California, adds to the suspicion. "You walk down the hall at work and wonder, ’Who is it I think I can trust, who really feels I’m immoral?’ "Westerschnlte asked. Other couples are angry they cannot declare themselves as married, see Census, p. 11 Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community PaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations Camme,rmeyer .To Join Lougan s at Pr de 2000 TULSA - Last month, the organizers of Diversity Festival 2000 announced that US Olympic champion, Greg Louganis, would serve as Grand Marshall for the° Millennium Pride Parade this June. This month, organizers confirmed that Dr. Grethe Cammermeyer, distiguished veteran of the United States Armed Forces, will join Louganis as grand marshall. Cammermeyer challenged US anti-Gay/Lesbian policies which forced her out of her nursing positionin the United States Reserve forces. Her lifestory was madeinto a television film produced by Barbra Streisand, starring Glenn Close. Cammermeyerhas come to Tulsa before. She spoke at the Universi ty of Tulsa in the spring of 1995 to an audience of about 300 Tulsa Family New~ writer Lauri Cooper shown in the photo at right interviewed Cammermeyer. The week of Pride events begins with an interfaith worship service to be held at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. The Reverend Dr. Mel White, author and civil rights activist, will be the principle speaker at this event. White will lead a workshop also to be held at the PAC on Saturday, June 3, from 2-5pm (free) on the principles of non-violent social change. Lougams will speak at a black tie optional dinner to be held at the prestigious Summi t Club on Friday, June 9th. Tickets for the event are $75/person and there will be a VIP reception at $50/ person. These events will benefit Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, the parent organization of the Gay Community Center and Oklahoma’ s oldest Lesbian and Gay non-religious organization. Organizers anticipate that the parade will follow the sameroute as last year, Cooper & Cammermeyer SoulForee in Oklahoma Members of Soulforce in Oklahoma Marched at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade in January. TULSA- Oklahoma’s oldest Gay and Lesbian organizataon is a religious one, the congregation now know as MCC United, the Metropolitan Community Church United. So perhaps it is fitting that one of Oklahoma’s newest community organizations also has religious roots. "Soulforce in Oklahoma" is part of an effort begun by the Rev. Mel White and his spouse Gary Nixon. Soulforce is an ecumenical network of volunteers committed to teaching and applying the principles ofnon-violence on behalf ofsexnal minorities. Thename derives from the workofMohandas Karamchand Gandhi, a leader of India’s independence movement. Soulforce or truth force is a translation of "satyagraha" a concept Gandhi began developing as a young lawyer fighting for racial justice in South Africa. Gandhi’s thinking greatly influenced the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his work for civil rights for Black Americans. The goals of Soulforce are to end the suffering ofLesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered persons, to change the minds and hearts of religious leaders whose anti-Gay campaigns lead directly and indirectly to that suffering, to be guided by the principles of "relentless non-violent resistance, and through this, try to bring hope and healing to society. In Tulsa, Soulforce was organized by individuals involved in MCC United and the group has been holding regular meetings at the Gay Community Services Center. see Soul, p. 7 ¯ Tulsan Chosen For HRC Board ¯ Fundraiser Audra Sommers : To Join Marty Newman in DC ¯ TULSA - Audra Sommers, who is planning an ¯¯ AIDS benefit in Tulsa next month, has gained national recognition ¯ forher humanrights - efforts. Sommers ¯ has been named to the Board of Gover- ¯ nors of the Human ¯ Rights Campaign, a ¯ 300,000-member national organlza- ¯ tion that batdes dis- -¯ crimination against sexual minorities. ¯ As a board mere- ¯ ber, Audra will be ¯ responsible for re- . cmiting, promoting ¯ awareness ofhuman rights issues in Oklahoma and ¯ serving as a liaison between Oklahoma and the ¯ national organization in Washington, DC, where ¯ she will be heading for orientation this month. "I’m ¯ really, really happy that I was appointed, to the : Board of Governors," she said. ¯ Sommers joins Tulsan Marty Newman on the ¯ Board of Governors. Newman expressed delight : with Sommers selection. "Audra has a ~roven .. history of work on behalf of the commumty, and ¯ she has an enormous number of people wholook to ¯ her leadership," noted Newman. He added that ." HRC is concentrating its effolas on Tulsa at this ¯ time and he feels Sommers will add immeasurably ¯ to HRC’s strengths. see Audra, p.3 Audra Sommers Pentagon Admits Hate Speech is Widespread by Robert Burns, AP Military Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - Anti-Gay speech and harassment is commonplace in the U.S. military, especially among young enlisted troops, according to a Pentagon inspector general’s survey. 85% of those surveyed said they believed that anti-Gay comments are tolerated on their base or aboard their ship, and 37% said they had personally witnessed or been the target of harassment - such as hostile gestures, graffiti or physical assault- based on perceived homosexuality. The survey released last month also found a widespread belief among troops that the Clinton administration’s so-called "don’t ask, don’t tell’" policy on Gays in the military - which Vice President A1 Gore says he would eliminate if he were elected president-is not working. President Clinton himself has said the policy, forged in 1993, is now "’out of whack.’" Defense Secretary William Cohen, responding to theinspector general’ s survey results, announced he was creating a committee of military and civilian officials to draft a plan for measures to improve the policy’s implementation. Cohen put the onus on military chiefs to fix the problem. "The report shows that military leaders must do more to make it clear that harassment based on sexual orientation violates military values,’" Cohen said in a memo to the military chiefs and service secretaries. The administration’s policy, set in law by Congress in 1993 after a heated political battle, says Gays and Lesbians may serve in the military so long as they keep their sexual orientation to themselves. Dubbed "don’t ask, don’t tell,’" the policy still bars openly homosexual people from serving in uniform. Although the policy was designed to make it easier for Gays to serve, an increasing number have been discharged in recent years. see Pentagon, p..10 Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 712-2324 *CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial 610-5323 Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th 583-6666 *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria 749-4511 Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square 744-4280 *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st 745-9998 *The Star, 1565 Sheridan 834-4234 *The Storm, 2182:S. Sheridan 835-2376 *Renegi~des/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main 585-3405 *TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial 660-0856 *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd 584-1308 *The Yellow ~rick Road Pub, 2630 E. 15th , 749-15.63 Ailyanced:Wi~el~Ss 8~:PCS; Digital Cellular ~: ’~ 74%1~08) *Assoc.. in- Med. &M~ntal Health, 2325 S I Harvard 743- t000 Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034 Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 4I 665-4580 ¯ Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122 -" *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955 : *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665 ," Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272 ¯ *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313 : 581-0902,743-4117 ; Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700 ¯ Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 ¯ ¯Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620 " ¯Devena’s Gallery, 13Brady 587-2611 " Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556 : ¯Elite Books & Videos, 821 S Sheridan 838-8503 ¯ ¯Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712-9379 " Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main 592-0460 " ¯Floral Design Studio, 3404 S,~eoria 744-9595 ¯ Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. 610-0880 ¯ Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709 ¯ Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026 ¯ ¯Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 742-1460 ¯ Learme M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349 " Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440 " ¯Sandra J. Hi~.’.ll, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 "_ ¯International Touts ~ 341-6866 Jacox AnimaiClinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750 ] ¯Jared’~ Antiques,~]602 E. 15th ~ " ~582-30i8 : David Kauskey,. Country Club Barbering 747-0236 : The Keepers, Housekeeping &Gardening 582-8460 ¯ ¯Ken’s Flowers; 1635 E. 15 599-8070 ," Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 :S. Harvard, #210 747:5466 ", ¯Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha 585-1234 ¯ ¯Midtown Theater, 319E. 3rd 584-3112 ¯ Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934 " ¯Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951 ¯ Puppy Pause II, t060 S. Mingo 838-7626 ¯ ¯Thh Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297 ", Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 747-5932 " Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617 " Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921, 747-4746 Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301 ¯ Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829 ¯ ¯Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558 Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563 Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling " 743-1733 " ¯Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan 665-2222 " ¯Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767 " Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities " AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579,9593 All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 Bless The Lord at All Times ~tiristian Cdn’t~r, 2207 E~ ~5 ....583-78"15 ¯B/IAG/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 ¯Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 ¯Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. &Florence ¯Churchof the RestorationUU~ !3 l~N.Greenwood 587-1314 ¯Comm’~ty ofHope United Methotttst, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300 ¯Communi~ Uniti{rian-Universalist~ongregati0n 749-0595 ,Council Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888 ¯Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 ¯Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tnlsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & .... Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 ¯Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 ¯Free Spirit Women’s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669 Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 POB 41413, Tulsa, OK 74159 e-mail: TulsaNews@ ear~hlinlc net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: James Chfistjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers Member of The Associated Press Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of.-.thi’s publ~cati6n are protected byUS copyright 1~98 by i~r~ ~4~ /~1~u4 and may not be reprodu~.d either in whole orin pm:twithout written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property of T~,~t F¢~.’. N~÷ Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each editaon at distribution points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438 HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81 st 481.1111 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438~2437, 800-284-2437 *MCt~ United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111 NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658 OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 *OSU-Tulsa PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 Prime-Timers, P.O. Box52118, 74152 R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325 O’RYAN, support group:[<~r t8-24 LGBT young adults O’RYAN, Jr. support.group for 14-17 LGBT youth S.t.Aidan. s Eptseop Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425~7882 St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492:7140 *St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 Tulsa County Health Deparunent, 4616 E. 15 5954105 Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on.Thursdays only 743-4297 298-0827 Tulsa Okla. for HumanRights, c/o The Pride Center T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *Tulsa Community College Campuses *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 Unity Church ofChristianity, 3355 S. Jamestown BARTLESVILLE 743-4297 749-8833 *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN Bdtders Books & Music, 3209 NWExpressway 405-848-2667 Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 TAHLEQUAH Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 *Tatdequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900 Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates : EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS ":- 32utunui Bi~ceze- ~dstaurant, Hwy. 23 ¯ *1ira & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. ¯ Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. ; MCC of the Living Spnng ¯ Geek to Go!, PC. Specialist, POB 429 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery ; Positive Idea Marketing Plans ; Sparky’s,Hwy. 62 East ¯ White Light, 1 Center St. JOPLIN, MISSOURI ¯ *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 501-253-7734 501-253-7457 501-253-6807 501-253-5445 501-253-9337 501-253-2776 501-253-5332 501-624-6646 501-253-6001 501-253-4074 417-623-4696 * is where you can f’md TFN. Not all are Gay-owned but all are Gay"friendly. Some 600 homosexuals were killed there between 1939 and mid-1943 alone, according to the researchers. The Nazi anti-Gay law,knownas "Paragraph 175,’" was directly solely against Gay men, since the Nazis were mainly concerned with perceived threats to their ideal of Aryan manhood. Lesbians were generally ignored, although some were arrested as "asocials’" or "prostitutes.’" Few surviving victims ever came forward after World War II because of continning stigmaassociated withhomosexualkty, whicl~remained illegal in West Germfiny ~mder the sam~ Nazi law until 1969: Tens of thousands of men were prosecuted in those postwar years. Historians also generally ignored the Nazi per.s..e~..u;~n of homosexuals until the 1980s, meaning many survivors had’ already passedaway, organizers said. Only a handful are known to still be alive; their stories are told in a U.S.-made documentary," Paragraph 175,’" whichwon awards at film festivals in Berlin and at Sundance this year. Germany’s center-left government introduced a bill last week - 55 years after the end of the war - that would require parliament to officially recognize and apologize to Gay victims. It also calls on the government to study whether a blanket annulment should be issued for convictions under the Nazi anti-Gay law, under which even a glance between men could be cause for prosecution. - Guenter Morsch, director of tli’~ Sachsenhansen memorial, noted that protests erupted after the first plaque dedicated to Gay victims of the Nazis was hung at the Dachau concentration camp outside Munich in the 1980s. Last year, Germany’s national Holocaust memorial day commemorated Gay victims for the first time with .a ceremony at S~lchsenhansen. Events like that and the ¯ new exhibit are important, he said, be- ; cause all groups - not just those that are ¯ "politically correct’" - must be remem- -"- bered if tolerance is to be promoted. : About 200,000 people were interred at Sachsenhausen between 1936 and 1945; : including Jews, Roma, communists ",rod ¯ other political prisoners. More than 1,400 Jews were killed there, thousands more sent off to be killed in Auschwitz. Others were forced to work in adjacent factories. You mayfind the Gay Museum at www.schwulesmuseum.de Audra, who is also a volunteer fund- ¯ raiser, is currently producing her largest ¯ event to date, a three-hourAIDS benefit at Tulsa’s Performing Arts Center that wi’ll ~ feature Thrifty president Don Himelfarb : as keynote speaker. ¯ ThePAC show,"Connecting the Hearts ¯ ofTulsa,"is scheduledforApri120 atTpm ¯ and will benefit Tulsa C.A.R.E.S. Fea- ¯ tured performers include Debbie ¯ Campbell, Rebecca Ungerman and ¯ children’s musical groups from All Souls ¯ Unitarian Church. ¯ The John H. Williams Theater seats 429, andAudrahopes to sellit0ut. Tickets ¯ are $10 general admission, $20 VIP seat.- ," ing, and $5 students. ¯ For more information or tickets, call ~ 832-7919. see Audra, p. 3 by Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D. : "Unmarried Partner." That’s the U.S. ¯ Census 2000 official term for boyfriends ; and girlfriends. It’s either that or else you " check Husband/Wife, Roomer/Boarder, ¯ Housemate/Roommate, or Other " Nonrelative. ¯ How should I label my live-in? I can’t ¯ call him Husband or Wife. He’s not a : Boarder. He’s much more than a RoOm- " mate. (TheCen~uginfbmas us tha~ Room- ¯ mates "share living quarters primarily to : share expenses.") AndOther Nonrelative; : although correct, is hopelessly inadequate. So, for lack of better alternative, the boyfriend must be an Unmarried Partner. I am pleased to see the Census Bureau demands, rather romantically, that the Unmarried Partnerhave"aclose personal relationship with Person 1" (that is, with me). I know some Unmarried Partners ° whose onetime close personal relations : have aged into an icy and tight-lipped co- ¯ erastence. " The Census, as a condensed.form of " Ameri~anculturalpresumption, thinks that : people really ought tO be related to their - roommates either by blood or by marriage. Anthropologists call such presumptions "residencerules"- expectation about who should live with whom. There are patrilocal and matrilocal societies where children live with either father’s or mother’~ people. In avunculocal situations -the tropical Trobriand Islands - hildren move an with mother s brothers. Where virilocal rules arefollowed, women reside with their new husbands. Or there is theuxorilocal opposite: traditional Hopi Indian grooms, for example, move’ their belongings into their bride’g house. And there isthe "neolocal" U.S. where all couples should establish new, independent households. All these patterns describe the co-residency of kin, and the American situation is no different. Most of us live with relafives as we grow up: "mothers, fathers, sis{~s, and brothers. And most of us live with even more relatives after we marry: husbands, wives, sons, and daughters. There are just two anomalous periods in mostAmericanlife cycles when wemight find ourselves living with non-kin (with "Other Nonrelatives," according to Census language). The first consists of the few years between leaving morn and dad behind and marriage. This typically is the time of higher educalionwhen young twenty-somethings pile up in dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and shared apartments. The second comes with old age. We agomze over the mor~ity of farming mom out to some nursing home ward full of strangers. The experience of life with non-kin and strangers is fraught with aggravations and difficulties. The common bathrooms, those dirty dishes, the housemate’s woeful taste in music. Life with mere friends or roommates is rocky and unstable. My nervous students busy themselves with inventing "fictive kinship" labels for one another. They pretend that the co-residents in their sororities or fraternities are "just like" their sisters and brothers. And they watch a lot of "Friends," relying on Hollywood to romanticize and make fun of the peculiar experience of sharing their toilet seats with the "Other Nonrelated." Weare broughtup to live with relatives. Sbared residence withkin is easier for two reasons. We are morally obliged to forgive the exasperations of our revolting brothers that we would never stand from a friend. And we ablemore easily to take our revenge on our irksome siblings, spouses, orchildren, unconstrainedby the politeness conventions that govern our relations with non-kin. Wash those dishes or you are grounded! Pick up your filthy socks, slob! Gays and Lesbians are in something of a residential quandary: many of us never mo~e beyondthis stageof life with nonkin. Straights leave behind theirfew years of shared apartments and dormitories to ¯ return to new households composed of :. kin. But since Gays and Lesbians cannot ¯ marry, officially at least, we live out our lives with roommates, other nonrelatives, ¯ and unmarried partners. ¯ This perhaps explains some of the fra- ¯ gility ofGay households. "It’sMyWay or the Highway!" is easier to demand when you aren’t shouting at relatives. Many of us havemetguys whowereperfectcouples before they made the fatal mistake of moving m together. And we have other friends who are resigned to living solo. No spare toothbrushes in theirbathrooms. They’ve relied too often on the unkind= hess of strangers. Soyou snoopingFedenumerators, come along and count me. I’m checking the Unmarried Partner box. At the moment at least, I’m happily living with the UP. I realize, given American cultural patterns, that the non-kin structure of our household is anomalous. It will require extra effort and forgiveness to keep it going. Forget or forgive those badly squeezed .toothpaste tubes. TheUPis neitherbrother nor spouse but t still want him arodttfl"to be counted in 2010: ,-:~: LamontLindstrorn teaches anttfOl~lbgy at the University of Tulsa. Among the. survey’s key findings: - 80% of the 71,500 members of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps surveyed said they had heard offensive speech or jokes or derogatory names or remarks about Gays in the past year. The service members were not asked if they had. participated in such behavior. -33% said they heard it often. It was reported most frequently in the Marine Corps and least in the Air Force. Such behavior was reported to be most common among junior enlisted troops. --Of the offensive behaviors or actions reported as directed against Gays, offensive speech was the most common. It was mentioned by 89% of those who reported witnessing or experiencing some form of harassment. Hostile gestures were reported by 35%; threats or intimidation by 20%; graffiti by 15%, vandalism of personal property by 7% and physical assault by 9%. The survey was done on 38 U.S. military bases and aboard 10 Navy ships and one submarine from Jan. 24 to Feb. 11. The spark that caused the Pentagon to take a closer look at how the Gay policy is being implemented - and the extent of anti-Gay behavior in the field - was the bludgeoning death lastJuly ofaGay Army private, Barry Winchell, at FortCampbell, Kentucky. His killer, a fellow Army private, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Medical *Excellence And Compass.ionate ’ Care S nce 1926. ’* ¯ ST. JOHN MEDICAL CENTER q P Medical Excellence ¯ Compassionate Care IGTA member Call 341. 6866 International ToutS formore inyormation. Massage Therapy Services ~!~~gar O. Cruz, L.M.T. ¯ ¯ Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Country Club. Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pro Mississippi House Bans Adoptions by Gays JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi may become the second state with a law banning homosexual couples from adopting children, althoughlawmakers embracing the idea say they are unaware of any cases ofGay adoptive parents. The House approved theban with no debate late in March, nearly a week after a similar proposal died for lack of action. The adoption ban was revived after an orchestrated phone call campaign by supporters. Only Florida has a law forbidding Gay adoptions, but other stateshave policies that keep homosexuals from seeking adoptions. Bill opponents and supporters said they were unaware of adoptions in Mississippi involving Gay couples or any couples hoping to adopt. Mississippi Baptists and the Tupelo-based American Family Association had lined up in support of the proposal. On the other side were the American Civil Liberties Union, which has threatened alawsuit, and homosexual groups. "It’s ridiculous,’" said Eddie Sandifer of Jackson, director of the Mississippi Gay and Lesbian Alliance. "This is going to be in court. It’s just a waste of taxpayers’ money. They know there’s going to be a lawsuit and they’ll lose eventually.’" House Public Health Commi ttee Chairman Bobby Moody, D-Louisville, said, "ff it’s the right thing to do, it doesn’t matter to me if it leads to a lawsuit or not.’" "What constitutes a family is not a homosexual couple,’" s~iid Moody. The bill was approved 107-8. There could be an attempt for a second vote. "That bill is of the assumption that anybody who’s Gay wilt,abuse children. That’ s not a good ~rgument. I can’tjudge one’ s moral turpitude. I’m not qualified to do that,’" said Rep. David Green, D-Gloster. This is the second time in three years that Mississippi lawmakers have gotten involved in Gay issues. In 1997, they banned homosexual marriages. The adoption ban was added to a bill dealing with nurse practitioners. That proposal lets the practitioners prepare paperwork about the physical or mental condi- - tion of a child being put up for adoption. Now doctors must do the paperwork. Moody said the House vote came in response to a public outcry. "There’s been a lot of publicity created around the state. It gave the false impression to some religious groups that it was happening or there was a possibility it could happen,’" he said of adoptions by Gay couples. Rep. Mary Coleman, D-Jackson, said lawmakers "’were infringing on people’s private lives.’" David Ingebretsen, director of theACLU in Mississippi, has said his group may sue on behalf of aGay couple if the bill becomes law. Other states have been sued over their adoption policies. The bill does not ban a Gay individiml from trying to adopt a child. It goes back to the Senate for more consideration. PlanetOut Website and Advocate/Out to Merge SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - PlanetOut, which caters to Gays and Lesbians, has announced plans to acquire Liberation Publications, the largest publisher of Gay and Lesbian periodicals and books in the country. Liberatiofi Publications Inc. produces the Advocate newsmagazine and will soon own Out magazine. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The companies describe the deal as a merger, but the Interact company will be the dominant partner; allowing the magazines "tO continue publishing under their own brand names. "You can characterize it as the AOL-Time Warner in the Gay space,’" said Megan J. Smith,.chief executive of PlanetOut. Her five-year-old company operates the Web site www.planetout.com, along with an online radio and film service and PlanetOut TV, which airs on the site and on Canadian television. In 1996, the San Francisco-based site became the first Gay-oriented enterprise to secure venture capital funding. The company has since established parmerships with AOL, Netscape, Yahoo! and other major Web companies as well as made advertising agreements with Arista Records, Virgin Adantic Airways and Johnson & Johnson. Liberation Publications is based in Los Angeles. It announced Feb. 21 that it. would acquire New Yorkbased Out Publishing Inc., the publisher of Out and HIV+ magazines. The Advocate, a 33-year-old bi-weekly with a circulation of about 88,000, concentrates on news, politics, business and medical information. Out~ a monthly launchedin 1992, has a circulation of 115,000 and focuses on culture, entertainment, fitness and other topics. The Gay marketis considered a prime for Intemet players because a high percentage of Gays and Lesbians use the Internet and because the Intemet )rovides.a level Of anonymity. Dr. Schlessinger’s TV Show Draws Protesters LOS ANGELES (AP) - Paramount Television says it is committed to putting tough-talking Dr. Laura Schlessinger on TV, the tough-talking protests of hundreds of angry Dr. Laura demonstrators notwithstanding. "Shame, shame, shame,’" more than 200 Gay civil rights protesters shouted outside Paramount Pictures, where they demanded the studio drop plans to put the controversial radio host on television this fall. Schlessinger, known to her listeners as Dr. Laura, dispenses relationship advice onher enormously popular radio show. She has called homosexuality a"biological error’" and "deviant.’" "When Paramount bought Laura Schlessinger’s show, they bought abattle withtheGay community,’" said Joan Garry, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. "We’re going to do whatever it takes’" to get the ParamOunt Television Group to abandon the syndicated show, Garry said. So far Paramount has stood firm. and none of the stations signed on to air Schlessinger’s show have backed out. In arecent statement, the studio §aidit was committed to presenting moral and ethi’~fl issues without "creating or contributing to an en~cfroimaent of hurt, hate or intolerance.’" One of the signs carried by the demonstrators read "No More Matthew Shepards.’" a reference to the Gay student killed in Wyoming in 1998. Also fueling the protest is anger over the passage last month of Proposition 22, which bans same-sex marriage in California. "We will do whatever it takes to keep the pressure on. The strategies will be about advertisers and the affiliates,’" Garry said, declining to specify whether that meant station or sponsor boycotts. Countering the demonstrators were about 75 Schlessinger supporters organized by Campaign for California Families, a conservauve, nonprofit organization. "We’re the majority Of people who pay to see Paramount films and who tune in to Paramount television shows. We are in support of Dr. Laura being on the air,’" Said Cherri Gardner, a spokeswoman for the group. Conservatives Sue City Over Partners Benefits BOSTON (AP) -A conservativelaw firm is suing the city of Cambridge, claiming that the ordinance that allows homosexual couples to register as domestic partners is illegal and unconstitutionhl. "The ordinance isboth legally and morally wrong. .. This legal action is necessary to defend marriage and the family,’" Vincent P. McCarthy, Northeast counsel for the Virginia-based American Center for Law and Justice, said Tuesday in a statement. In July, the state Suprem,e Judicial Court struck down an executive order issued by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino that was intended to give health insurance coverage to Gay partners of Boston city workers. The ACLJ assisted the Catholic Action League in that case and predicted another legal victory against Cambridge. It also said it planned to file a suit against United in God’s Love MCC-United Sunday Worship Reverend Cathy Elliot 11:00 am Pastor 1623 N. Maplewood 918/838-1715 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm 3210b S, Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon Sandra Hill M.s. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111 Red Rock Tulsa - O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325 Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-444=5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) "743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 The Pride Store 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) 6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday 12-9 pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the Center OKLAHOMA COMMUNICATIONS Local- Long Distance Cellular- Paging 747-1508 Free Car Adaptor & Leather Case with .New Cell Phone TOM NEAL BUILDING & GARDEN DESIGN 583- 1248 Red Rock Tulsa -Free Confidential HIV.Testing Walk-in Clinics Tuesdays, 5 -8 pm, Center, 1307 East 38th Wednesdays, 5-8 pm, Red Rock, 1724 East 8th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 KEVIN BURLESO N Keller Williams Realty 712-2252 Burleson@kw.com 2651 Ea~t 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114:" .~An lndep(ndent Member Broker OPENARMS,OPENMINDS,OPENHEARTS Saint Aidan 4045 N. Cincinnati. 425-7882 Saint John 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 Saint Dunstan 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Trinity 501 S. Cincinnati. 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You the city of Springfield. The Catholic Action Leagueis also involved in the Cambridge case. Under the Cambridge ordinance passed in 1992, Gay couples go to City Hall and register as domestic partners. Once registered, partners of a city or school worker are entitled to the same health benefits as spouses of city and school workers. Michael Gardner, Cambridge’s personnel director, who administers the be~lefits, said he felt the ordinance was both legal and constitutional. "It was our view that we should continue to follow the ordinance passed by our legislative body,’" he said. The law firm, which brought the suit onbehalfof 12 Cambridge residents, attacked the ordinance on a number of legal fronts, but one argument was the one that succeeded in the Supreme Judicial Conrt last year. The SJC had rifled that the" Boston executive order was "inconsistent’" with a decades-old state law that granted cities the authority to provide health insurance to workers, their spouses and dependents. Gary Buseck, executive director of Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, said he would be happy if Cambridge fought the case vigorously. But he also called on the Legislature to pass a bill designed to grant cities and towns the power to extend the benefits if they chose. The bill has passed the Senate but is pending in the House, he said. "The Legislature can put an end to all of this and ~make sure cities and towns have an option of extending health insurance to all their employees,’" Buseck said. Georgia Hate Crimes Bill Gets Final Passage ATLA~’qTA (AP) - The Georgia Senate gave final passage to a bill allowing stiffer penalties for hate crimes. Gov. Roy Barnes will have to sign off on it before it can become law. ~ The. origii~ Version of the bill specified which types ofbigo.try warranted a hate crime, but the House amended the: measure to be more vague. It now mentions only.crimes motivated by "bias or preju- Sen. Vincent D. Fort, D-Atlanta, said he would have preferred the.originalianguage but was willing to accept the ctian~e~. .A jury would, declare defendants guilty of a hate crime after they were convicted ofanother crime such as vandalism, arson, assault or murder. The initial bill would have allowed the judge to make that decision. That changeprompted Sen. Clay Land, R-Columbus, to reverse his original vote and support the measure. ~At that time,.I felt the legislation was unconstitutional because it did not provide the accused with a ¯ jury trial,’" he said. Under the bill, sentences and fines for misdemeanors would be increased by half, up to the maximum allowed, for hate crimes. Felony prison sentences ¯ would be increased byfive years up to the maximum sentence. Defendants convicted ofhate crimes would have to serve at least 90 percent of their sentences. Women Lawmakers Key To Civil Unions Win MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - A greater percentage of women than menin the Vermont House of Representatives voted in favor of the civil unions bill that passed in the House last week. Female representatives approved by a wide margin granting same-sex couples tile benefits of marriage through civil unions while their male counterparts turned it down. The women voted for the bill 35-9 while the men voted against it 60-41. All but one of 32 female Democrats voted in favor of the bill, while four of 12 Republican women voted for it. Although women make up relatively smaller proportions of each caucus, more than half of the Democrats voting yes were women, and more than a quarter of the Republicans voting yes were women. Rep. Anne Pugh, D-South Burlington, said female constituents in general asked her to support the bill, while men asked her [o oppose it. "It may have m do with the fact that women traditionally focus on family, and nurturing and relationships - that women’s identity comes from connecting,’" Pugh said. Rep. Michael Vinton, D-C01chester, a retired state trooper who has been outspoken in his criticisms of anti-Gay arguments, said he bdieved women felt less threatened by homosexuality. "For whatever reason, I feel there’s more fear among the male gender,’" Vinton said. "Men seem to be more crfical of people -it’s just our species, probably."" The trend reflects women’s greater receptiveness to homosexuals across the country, according to national policy experts. "Women overwhelnfingly support Gay aud Lesbian civil rights more than ~nen, generally speaking,’" said Paula Ettelbrick, director ofthe National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute. "’Women identify more because, like Gays and Lesbians, they have not been part of the system as a group, and theymaderstand the need and desire to be a full citizen,’" she said. However, she said the fact that the Vermont House had passed a civil unions bill at all "shows that mendike everybody else have the capacity to change on issues involving their own communities.’" The bill passed on a final margin of76 to 69. Voting yes were 57 Democrats, 14 Republicans, four Progressives mad one Independent. Voting no were 50 Republicans, 18 Democrats, and one Independent. N.M. Christian Coalition Files Phone Co. Benefits ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - The New Mexico branch of the Christian Coalition is accusing U S West of abusing public trust by providing employee benefits to homosexuals and other umnarried workers. In a document filed with the state Public RegulationCommission, theNew Mexico Christian Coalition says the policy is "offensive to decent, moral subscribers who want phone service.’" Edward Lopez Jr., U S West’s vice president in New Mexico, said he is disgusted to "see-this kind of hate and intolerance’" in a state as diverse as New Mexico. Lopez says. the policy is good business. "We believe our work force mirrors that of our. custom- : ers,’" he said. "We’ve better able to understand .our. customers needs and respond to.them.’" ¯ In its one-page filing, theChristian group contends U S West’s benefits policy promotes the spread of ¯ AIDS and other sexually transmitteddiseases. "We’re ¯ saying there’s a moral issue of unmarried people that ¯ donot deserve benefits. If there is any way to prevent ¯ that from happening, we’ll do that,’" said Mark Bur- " ton, executive director of the Albuquerque-based ¯ group. The group, affiliated with Pat Robertson’s Christian Coalition of America, also contends in the ¯ filing that homosexuals are prone to violence and ¯ child molestation. ¯ Linda Siegle, alobbyist for theCoalition forEquality, called the group’s statements "ludicrous and ¯ absurd, based on every lie and stereotype perpetrated ¯ on people who are Gay.’" About 2,500 private corporations, universities and other organizations across the nation provide domes- " tic partnership benefits, she said. ¯ In its Mar~h i0 filing,’ the New Mexico Christian ¯ Coalition requested the PRC investigate "the social ¯ implications of this heinous U S West policy.’" "The partners of homosexuals .shouldn’t have the right to ¯ get benefits fromamonopoly when I have no other choice (for servic£),’" Burton said. " " The Public Regulation Commission currently as investigating U S West’s customer rates. Commission chairman Bill Pope said he couldn’t comment on anything contained in the filing because the panel has yet to hear the rate case. South African Gays May Give Blood JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) - Gay men have a constitutional right to donate blood, the South African Human Rights Commission has ruled. The commission said it was no longer Gays who were most at risk for HIV in South Africa, but people in their early 20s. The commi ssiondemandedthat ablood bank in Western Cape change its practice of not accepting blood from homosexual men. Western Cape Blood Transfusion Service director Arthur Bird on Friday said he disagreed with the decision and was seeking legal advice. The case came about after Andrew Barnes, a public relations manager, responded to an urgent plea for new donors in the midst of a severe blood shortage last year. A nurse at Western Cape Blood Transfusion Service declined Barnes’ blood afterhemarked "yes’" ontheform’ s question of whether he had had sex with a man. Barnes had been in a r~lationship with anothermanformore than two years. The commission said the decision to reject Barnes’ blood was ’~discrimination in terms of the Constitution." It said it would take the blood bank to court unless it explains what changes it will make to avoid breaching people’s constitutional right to equality before April 3. Teacher With AIDS LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - HIV/AIDS activist Cathy Robinson was a teacher in 1991, living a storybook life with her husband, pregnant with their second child. She and her husband, Dan, went to the doctor for what was supposed to be a routine physical for life insurance and learned theunimaginable: They both Were infected with the virus that causes AIDS. Three years later, she developed AIDS. "My first instinct was, ’I know where I’ve been. Where have you been?’ " Robinson said. Then headlines flashed through her head declaring Belle Glade - where she had worked with children- the AIDS capital of the state. She wondered if she had contracted the deadly virus there. Buttwomonths later, Robinson, 34, found out she had contracted HIV from a man who died from AIDS complications in prison while doing time for raping her July 4, 1984, at a Tallalaassee convenience store where she worked. Privacy laws prohibited the prison from disclosing to Robinson that he had AIDS. She went seven years without finding out she had HIV. She gave it to her husband during that time, but her children, Garrett and Lyndsy, are HIV-free. There is only about a 20% chance a pregnant mother will pass onHIV to her baby. With medicine, the chances drop to 4%. Robinson, who also wasdiagnosed with breast cancer two year~s ago, is coping with her own mortality by spending the time she has left to promote safe sex and persuade people to get tested. Her efforts includ~lhe NAMES Project AIDS Memoria~: Quilt display, which is being displayed this month in the Hollis Wellness Center at Florida Southern College. Robinson. travels throughout Florida talking with students, sheriffs’ deputies and commumty groups about HIV and AIDS, defying stereotypes of the "typical’" AIDS victim, as a mamed, white, middle-class mother of two. Laws about HIV status disclosure vary by state. In Florida, it takes a court order to have someone convicted of sexual assault tested. "We don’t as a state mandate testing, and emergency rooms don’t have time to doit,’" Robinson said. "They (tell) victims of sexual as sault, ’In afew weeks, you should get tested.’ " Assistant State Attorney Sherri Scarborough, who handles many of the criminal sexual assault cases in Polk County, said state statutes allow the court to order HIV tests of anyone accused of a crime where bodily fluids are exchanged. But the victim has to request the tests and ask that the health department notify them of the results. Scarborough said she only remembered two cases in the past six years when a victim wanted to have his or her attacker tested. One whs aT0-year-old woman. The other was a college student. Robinson was a student at Florida State University when she was raped. Two of her attackers were convicted, but a third man never was arrested. She testified in the two trials but did not ask that her attacker be tested because there was no HIV test at the time. "In 1985, there was a test. I called right away, but they said, ~Cathy, you don’t need to worry. The only people who get HIV are Gays and drug users,’ " she said. Meanwhile, her attacker was being treated for AIDS in prison. WhenRobinson foundout she was HIVpositive, she said she didn’t tell anyone for amonth. Thev. two months passed, and she was about to give bir~ to her son, Garrett, now 8. "Three nurses refused to give us care. One, not knowing anything about me, assumed we decided to have children even though we had AIDS. She called (the Department of Children and Families) to try to get them to take our kids away,’" Robinson said. ThenRobinsonmadea choice she could never take back. She decided to talk about her story in schools and churches to raise public awareness. "By going public, there was no way I could ever teach again, which was fine,’" she said. "Then they wiped my husband’s job out of his company. We paid tbr groceries with credit cards for a while... Thenwerealized they were going to turn our lights out. We moved in with my parents in Clewiston." Cathy and Dan since have moved to Fort Myers with her best friend, a nurse. But they decided five years ago to have Garrett and Lyndsy, 9, continue to live with her parents, to ease the transition on the day the~ know will come. The Robinsons see their childrenon weekends and holidays. They write in journals and make tapes to record memories they want the kids to remember. "We knew ultimately we were going to die,’" Cathy said. "We thought it was importantfor them to transilion. Wenever thought we’d still be transitioning five years later. Our biggest fear was dying before Lyndsy and Garr’ett were old enough to remember us.’" Bill Gregory, an advertising professor at Florida Southern, fellow AIDS activist and friend, said Cathy hves to spread the message. But radiation therapy has made it more difficult in recent months. Cathy travels to Miami for radiation treatments because she can get them free in exchange for leading educational programs. She puts about 1,500 miles a week on her leased Ford Explorer traveling throughout the state for AIDS education, stressing safer sex and HIV testing. "You have to be tested,’" she said. "No. 1, you don’t want others to get infected. No. 2, they can treat you. If you are negative, you have a chance to rethink your activities that got you there.’" Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. January April July October December Even Out Your Monthly Electric Bills. At WoO, we know that changing weather conditions throughout the year can cause your monthly electric bills to rise and fall dramatically. Which can make it tmrd to plan your household budget. That’s why~ our Average Monthly Payment plan, could be your budgeting solution. With~you pay about the same each month, because ifs based on your previous 12 months usage. That makes budgeting a breeze. And best of all, ifs free. AMPis}ust one of several flemq~le payment options PSO offers you. For more information, we’re available 24 hours a da~. Or s’tgn up forAMP on our website at www.csw.corm PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA A Central and South Weat Company Kelly Kirby,. CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation Lesbians and Gay men face many special tax situations whether single or as couples. Electronic filing is’available for faster refunds. 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American?../,= Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men s Support Group is here for you~. ¯ E~ening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project beginning at the Gay Community Center ¯ at 37th and Peoria and ending at Veterans Park at 18th and Boulder. The parade will begin at llam The Pride Festival will also begin at Veterans Park at 1 lain and will continue till about7 or8pm, finishing off the week’s events. TOHR organizers include Kerry Lewis as chairperson of the overall effort. "Humanity United for Haman Rights -Diversity Celebration 2000," Greg Gatewood, TOI-IR president and festival chair,Audra Sommers,parade chair, Lynn Moesteller, sponsor chair, Mitchell Savage, media chair, Ktis Kohl, festival entertainmentchair andNedBruha, incharge of festival booths and beverages. On June 3, Saturday, That evening also at the PAC Doenges Theatre, the TOHR Follies, not seen for a namber of years, will reprise, 100 Years of Broadway with tickets available through the PAC. Tuesday, June 6th, an art exhibit, "United" will open and on Thursday, June 8th, there will be a film night. Locations and times will be announced later. For more information about these events, call the Gay Community Services Center at 743-4297 (Gays). And while the organization has not been in Tulsa for long, already it’s become active and visible. Soulforce members along withTOHR, Tul sa Oklahomans for Haman Rights, marched in the M.L.King, Jr. Day parade, marking the first time openly Gay people and groups have partidipated. And for the kick-off for this year’s Gay Pride events, Diversity Celebration 2000, Soulforceis bringing Mel WhiteandGary Nixonback to Tulsafor aninterfaith workshop and to lead a Soulforce workshop. White and Nixon were in Tulsa several years ago for a regional conference of i~FLAG, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, held at All Souls Unitarian Church. Also on May 6-12, in Cleveland, Ohio, at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Soulforce will hold Soulforce University (SFU) SFU is arare, one-week opportunity for people offaith to learn and apply the principles of nonviolence. SFU is being held in conjunction with the world congress of the United Methodist denomination of Chris-. tianity, General Conference 2000 which will also be in Cleveland, on May 2-12. Historically, Methodists have cared about the poor, the homeless, and the outcast. Soulforce organizers state, "sadly, decisions made by their [United Methodist] General Conferences over the past three decades have ended that tradition of caring and made outcasts of God’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered children. We hope to help end those unjust and discriminatory policies. For thirty-t~vo years United Methodist leaders have debated the issue of homosexuality. Too many of" their delegates have ignored the historic, scientific, psychological, pastoral and even biblical evidence thathomosexuality is neither a sickness nor a sin. As a result, with almost every General Conference the U.M.C. has hardened its anti-homosexual position. That position leads to discrimination, snffeting, and death.’" Several Tulsans involved in Soulforce will participate in the Cleveland events. HEAR the Quilt The NAMES Project Tulsa Area Chapter is proud to announce the return of the Quilt to Tulsa for a major display at the Maxwell Convention Center December1 through 3, 2000. The success of a major Quilt display is dependent on volunteers from our community. To develop interest and support for this major World AIDS Day event, the Tulsa Area Chapter will host a reception on Thursday evening, April 27 at 7: 00pm at Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 South Harvard, Tulsa. Please join us as we bring together the community in preparation for "HEAR the Quilt." We’ll have sections of the Quilt on display and lots of information about upcoming events Refreshments will be served and it will be a great opportunity to renew old friendships andmake new ones. For more information you can contact us at (918) 748-.~1 ll or at TulsaQuilt@go.com OK Spoke Club The OK Spoke Club is begimfing its tides again. A long ride (20 miles plus) will begin at Ziegler Park at 7:30am on April 8th & 15th. Water and helmet are required. A short tide (5 miles) along the Katy Bicycle path in Sand Springs will begin at 6:30 pm on April 19th. Water and helmet are strongly reconnnended. At 9am, a long ride will begin at the Pride Center, 3749 S. Peoria, rear parking lot on April 22th. Water and helmet are required. A short ride will leave from there at 6:30 pm on April 26th. Water and helmet are strongly recommended. For more information, contact the club at POB 9165, Tulsa, Ok 74157, or emaii to: Okiebicycle@prodigy.net Texas Lesbian Conference For 13 years now, Texas Lesbians have presented one of the best conferences in the US. This year’ s event, to be held at the Renaissance Hotel, Greenway Plaza on May 19-21 in Houston. The conference will feature Urvashi Vaid, former executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, cartoonist/cormnentator, Alison Bechdal, creator of"Dykes to WatchOut For," poet and author Ntozake Shange and Lesbian comic Marga Gomez. Andifthese were not enough of a draw, TLC offers a variety of workshops on legal, financial, spiritual and other issues. TLC is awoman only event for which you must be 18 to attend. For more information, write POB 66012, Houston 77266. Or "call 713-460-3435 for a registration form. . Living ArtSpace New Show Tul’sa’s contemporary art gall~ery~: Living Ai~tSpace, now located at 308 South Kenosha will present exhibition opening & gallery talk by artist, John Hitchcoek, on Thursday, April 6, 5:30-8pm. Hitchcock invites the viewer tobecome a participant in his installation by encouraging them to "play games" and receive a silk screened pnnt or an object. Using games derived from Native American traditions, the artist challenges the participant to make the comparison between traditional culture and the artwork. Once upon a time, there was a teenager named, for lack of a better moniker, Jim. He was teased most of his school life for being gay, name calling and threats of physical violencebeing the chief tactics deployed by most of the other kids -the mainstays of which were the dreaded "jocks." He had few friends, but one of the few he considered a friend happened to be Shaun. Shatm was in choir and on the football team, and Jim had known him for a few years, since Jr High. What Jim repressed and suppressed was his physical and emotional attraction for Shann. Shaun wasn’t classically handsome, but something about him was incredibly attractive to Jim. Maybe it was just that, unlike the other jocks, who singled Jim out for particular torment, Shaun always had treated him with kindness " ~roadway Damage’ is another little sleeper, low budget movie that is actually quite wonderful... The film is a ~ood old-fashloned romantle eornedy, kind of llke the old screwballs eomedles of the 30’s... It’s a well-wrltten, well-fihned, well-acted " story that is sure to brin~ a smile to anyone’s face..." and yes, even friendline,ss. This was !lJghly unusual. Jim and Shaun s friendship~ew, and they hung out a bit together. Jim continued suppressing, and just enjoyed Shaun’s company, basking in the glow of their friendship. At one point, they went to a film together. Shaun sat with legs spread wide, his leg touching Jim’ s. Wall, all Jim could focus on throughout the film was the sensfition of Shaun s leg against his; the bea~from the other boy’s body flowing in~d~s, the fact that he was really uncomfortable due to the fact that certain feelingSwere rising., feelings he’d been hiding from everyone, including himself. 0~things w~re rising too, and he had no!~deahow tohandle this. He wasn’t sure ifShaun was doing this deliberately or by accident. In ~_ospect, it had to be on purpose. Shfiuns leg never left contact wi~Jim’s tmtil the film was over. Jim wasi:terrified.~Did he dare move, and cut off~ie contact which he really so desperatdy Wanted?Or should he re~pond?Was thi~ ~test? Surely Shaun was aware of the comments and teasing; he’d seen it happen, To this day, Jim has no memory of that film or what it was. Just the sensation of Shaun’s leg and the accompanying delight/fear. Jim’s fervent yet deeply hidden desire was for Shaun and he to bein love. Yet, of course this could never be. Shaun was straight-Jim thought. Andhe was ever so aware of the fragility of friendship- he’d ~aot had many, ai~d would do nothing to jeopardize this one. One time, Shaun asked Jim to join he and some friends for a swim. When Jim got to Shaun’s house, he discovere~...that the friends.~were other members of the football team - the ones who so delighted inmakinglife aliving hell for Jim. "Well", he thought,"This should be ablast. NOT!" To his surprise, they all got along. Jim did feel incredibly out of place and utterly self-conscious the whole time they were around. Had to be careful not to slip up and steal a glance at the wrong moment, not that he could see anything without his coke-bottle glasses anyway. During the swim day, Shann told an interesting story: He had entered a bar on a certain street in. Arlington, Texas, and thought it was a real cool place - until he began to notice all the other patrons were men - and looking at him. Then he left in a hurry. You can imagine thecomments this brought on from the jocksters. It was all Jim could do not to ask WHERE. In fact, Jim did devote a considerable amount of time to thoughts onhow to get the desired information without giving myself away, but never could figure out a foolproofmethod. Some years later, Jim did go in search of the aforementioned place - and discovered it was in a shopping center with no sign age or indications of any sort that there was anything in the shopping center. You had to know where and what it was to get there and find the place. Interesting... Later that day, Shaun and I found ourselves alone in his parent’s house. He excused himself to take a shower, and was in there along time. A really long time. Jim began to wonder if he should just go home, Shaun was in there so long. Then, out he popped, completely nude - and Jim with no glasses on! (He was near blind without them.) It took a lot of control not to look down, whichhe recalls doing anyway, for a split second. Shaun probably caught it. He paused, saying, "Sorry, forgot to take my clothes i.n with me." Then went into his room. Jim was nonplused. Here Shaun is, withakidheknew was teased for being Gay, exposing himself. He spent along time inhis room, too,by the way Jimwas certain this was all atest, and the slightest wrong move would end the friendship - after all, Shaun was a good Southern Baptist boy, going to a church that literally preached coercion to get new members. Yes, Jim knows better now. There were signals being sent, Jimjust misinterpreted them. Jim wished he hadn’t, even though that would have ted to heartbreak. Jim really was in love with Shaun. Last Jim heard, Shaun was married, with kids. Sad thing is, that all Jim had to go on were negative images of Gayness. That’s all that was out there in the world then. There was no "Will and Grace", no positive movie role models. And All he knew was that one wrong step could end a friendship, Or even get him beaten - or, in one case he read about, killed. Whichleads me to aDVD review:_"Get Real". The story is pretty much the same as above, withnerdy schoNboyfallingfor upperclassmanjock. Except in the case of "Get Real", the relationship is consummated when schoolboy finds out that the jockster is indeed, homoerotically inclined. Of course, Mr. Jock is severely suppressing, and holding on to his straight identity with every’ fiber of his being. The film played Tulsa for about a week in ’96 or ’97. I’m sure not everyone got to see it, so I won’t spoil the ending. Let’s just say schoolboy .comes out publicly and discovers his inner strength. He’s accompanied by a female friend, who remindedme ofmyfriend Karin, who is now a Lesbian! More on that later, see Amuse, p. 9 GILCREASE MUSEUM April 29, May 5 & 7, 2000 Call 587-4811 Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist 11 am, Sunday, 1314 North Greenwood, 587-1314 EUREKASPRINGS DIVERSITYCELEBRATION -Friday, April 7 - 8:30pm to 12:30am,Dancing in the Ozark Room at the Basin Park Hotel (12 Spring Street) with DJ Jon Caswell. Sponsored by theMCC of the Living Spring. Cover: $5 per person. Cash Bar. Must be 21. - 9pm to 12:30am, Karaoke at Shaw’s Tavern (37 Spring Street) - 10pm to 2am, Breakfast at thenew Eureka House of Blues (in the basement of the x’~ :w Orleans hotel at 63 Spring Street) or, - 1 lpm to 2am, Breakfast at the Eureka Food Court (37 Spring Street) Saturday, April 8 10am to Noon, Canoe float on the White River. $25 per canoe. Singles welcome- r reservations and info, call theBeaver Dam Store at 501-253-6154. 10:30am. to Noon, Learn a littl6 of Eureka S prings’ history on a guided walking to, the Historic District. Meet at Sweet Spnngs next to Rogue’s Manor on upper !: Street. For further information, call 501-253-0070 or e-mail walking@nwaft.com. - Noon to 3:30pm "Go Fly a Kite!" Weather permitting, bring your kites and your cameras.at the beautiful Pond Mountain Lodge and Resort (two miles south on HighWay 23). For more information, contact Judy Jones at 800-583-8043. - lpm to 2:30pro Head out to Lake Leatherwood Park (off Highway 62 West) for an informative, guided trail hike. Get there a few minutes early and bring some water; some walking sticks will be provided. You can also hike on your own on one of the various trails in Eureka Springs’ "City Park". To obtain a trail map or for further information about the park, please e-mail lthrwood@ipa.net. For further information about the hike, call Steve at 501-253-9380 or 9384 or e-mail gands@ipa.net. - Please visit the unique shops and restaurants in the Eureka Springs Diversity Cooperative. Let them know you’re here for Diversity Weekend! - 3:30pm to 9pm,Check outThe Holein the Wall (191/2 Spring Street) forKaraokewith Lita! Lunch and dinner will also be served. For further information, call 501-253-8361. - 9pm to lain; Dance to the high,energy club ttmes of DJ Jon Caswdl at Center Stage (37 Spring Street). Must be 21. Cover: $5 per person. Sponsored by The Emerald Rainbow, Mark E. Cook Properties and Center Street Bar & Grill. - 9pmto 12:30am, Belt out your favorite tunes as Shaw’s Tavern (37 Spring Street) once again hosts a Karaoke night for "family" and friends. - 10pm to 2am, Brealffast at thenew Eureka House of Blues (in the basement of the New Orleans hotel at 63 Spring Street) or, - 1 lpm to 2am, Breakfast at the Eureka Food Court (37 Spring Street) Sunday, April 9 - 2pm to 6pm, Join us again at Center Stage (37 Spring Street) for a tea dance and drag show, with performances by the "girls from Tulsa" and music by DJ Jon Caswell. Must be 21. Cover: $5 per person. Sponsored by The Emerald Rainbow, Ermilio’s Restaurant and Center Street Bar & Grill. - 7pm, MCC of the Living Spring (17 Elk Street) will hold a service. Call 501-253-9337 for information. All are welcome! For a listing of businesses supporting this and similar events, check out the Eureka Springs Diversity Cooperative website at www.shimaka.coln/eureka/diversity or drop by The Emerald Rainbow at 45 1/2 Spring Street for a printed copy. Oklahoma Repertory Theatre Opens TULS A-Theatreleaders from twoTulsa : and the Boys" by So. African playwright organizations, Tulsa Repertory Theatre and Wayward Theatre Co. have joined together to create the Oklahoma Repertory Theatre (also known as OK REP). Catherine Adkins, Skip suraci. Christopher Ferguson-Long and Nathan Huntley will serve as executive artistic director, advisor, associate founding artistic director and associate artistic director, respectively. OKREP,like the companies out of which it grows is committed to "unique, professional theatre, children’s theatre, arts in education and community outreach." OK REP will open its season with the Pulitzer Prize winning, "Master Harold The film translates well to DVD, maintaining the widescreen image, and with excellent rarity. Sadly, there’s no extra features so prevalent now in DVD releases, such as director’s commentary, behind the scenes documentaries, etc. It would have been .nice to have the actor’s recollections of the making of the film and the affect it had on them. However, that does not detract from the fact it’s a well-written film with an excellent.cast and beautiful cinematography. The only thing that bothered one of my friends at the .initial showing was that jock boy Athol Fugard. The production will mn May 11-14 and May 18-20 at Tulsa’s Performing Arts Center Liddy Doenges ~[]aeatre at 8pm and Sundays at 2pro, and is supported in part by grants from the Oklahoma Arts Council and the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Tn~st. The play, directed by Nathan Huntley, is that of a young man growing up and growxng aware in 1950’s South Africa apartheid. Tulsa actors Greg Herman, Bill Thomas and Christopher Ferguson-Long perform the roles. Tickets are available at the PAC box office, 596-7111, for $12/ adults and $9/students/seniors. For more information, call OK REP at 592-6310. seems to come from a well-heeled family, yet has a working class accent. I noticed after he pointed it out, but that did not detract from the otherwise excellent performanees given by Ben Silverstone as the cuteschoolboy Steven Carter, Charlotte Britain as his friend who faints on command, and the hunky Brad Gorton as thejock upon anyone Wouldbe daft not to develop a crush. Available from Wolfe Video (www.wolfevideo.com). Along the same lines, sort of... well, not really, but there’s a well-done scene that exemplifies the kind of dynamic I wrote of regarding seeing that tmnamed film with Shaun, is "Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss." see Amuse, p. 11 by Tom Neal, editor & publisher Some Oklahomapolitical observers have noted that the one good thing for this state about a win by Republican presidential candidate, George W. Bush, is that we’d get to send the Honorable Frank Keating, Governor of Oklahoma packing back off to DC, though others have said Oklahoma’.s gain might be to the nation’s detriment. "... ff it were not enough to invoke this bigoted image ofGay people -preying on the young, he foflowed it with a comment about how Gay people are among the wealthiest Amerleans. I had to wonder if next he’d betalklng about how ’all Black people have rhythm’ or ’the international Jewish banking eonsplraey.’..." This February, t took my’father to lunch at the Press Club to see Keating do his song and dance. I imagine that Keating expected a rather friendly reception- these days the Press Club membership hardly includesany reporters but rather mostly public relations types - good enough people but hardly known for hard hitting .journalism. They’re there to put a nice spin on tttings, not to get at the truth, typically. Andyou can count on The Tulsa Worldto report only selectively on comments made there. Then there was Dad and me sitting right up front. And dear Mr. "I am not descended from a Baboon" Keating* likely did not know what he was in for. Mr. Keating waxed eloquently about how ifwe only re-made government to be like"’business," and not just coincidentally turned it all over to the Republiczins, all would be great with our state. I could nothave a~kedfor a better setup for my question to the Governor since in Oklahoma, it’s business leading the way in treating Lesbian and Gay citizens, well, like equal citizens. The question put to the Gov. was this: Oklahoma’s leading businesses,American Airlines, the state’ s largest private employer, K.imberly-Clark, Dollar-Thrifty Auto Group whose CEO, Joseph Cappy was just appointed to the State Board of Regents for Higher Education, all of these corporations promise not to discriminate on sexual orientation. Since "business" shows us the way, Keating * ina recent controversy about teaching evolution in public schools, Keating claimed he was not descended from a baboon. The Tulsa World contested that claim. Operat=on Montreal,. To ¯ was asked why state government was not following their lead. Frank’s answer was an embarrassment to the state of Oklahoma. He said there was not a public consensus to support treating all people fairly and had he stopped at this, I could hardly have argued withhim. But he went on to invoke the most shameful of stereotypes, saying that the state government of Oklahoma could not promise to treat Gay and Lesbian Oklahomans fairly because "a homosexual schoolteacher might try to ’promote’ his ’lifestyle’ to elementary school students and then the state could not discipline the teacher..." Andif it were not enough to invoke this bigoted image of Gay people preying on the young, he followed it with acomment abouthow Gay people are among the wealthiest Americans. I had to wonder if next he’d be talking about how "all Black people have rhythm" and "the international Jewish banking conspiracy." I did have the opportunity to say.his allegation about Gay "wealth" was false but not to question his premises about promising to treat public employees fairly. And this, of course, ignores the fact that it is almost unimaginable that any Gay teacher would engage in inappropriate discussions - they’re all too scared because : they know they’ll be harassed or fired in any school district in the state. Any inappropriate conversation by a ¯ teacher with students, whether heterosexual or homo- " sexual, already has avenues for remedy. I agree with Keating, Oklahoma can learn from the : example of "business." First and foremost, Frank needs ¯ to figure out that discrimination is bad for business and ¯ badforOklahoma. "Business" has figured this out. Ameri- " can and Dollar-Thrifty don’t go beyond the minimum ¯ federallaw r.eqmresjust because they regreatfolks. Th y ¯¯ do it because they can’t afford to lose good workers and ¯ some of those good workers ar’-e Gay. It really shouldn’t be that hardfor Frank Keating. All ¯ he needs to do is to reframe the questionin terms to which ¯ he can relate: shall we not include Catholics in our non- - discnmmattonlawsbecausewecouldn tfiretbemlfthey mdocmnated our children with the Cathohclifestyle m schools? Keating shouldknow that itwash’ t thatlong ago : that precisely those stereotypes were common in thisstate. After all, Keating claims to be a Christian. And as : such, he is commanded to "treat others as he would be ¯ treated." That?s pretty straightforward. I’d bet even a ¯ "lower" primate, maybe even a baboonmight be able to ¯ figure that out. The question is can our governor? by Dave Fleischer Senior Fellow, Policy Institute National Gay andLesbian Task Force Have you ever met ahomophobe? Of course you have, which is why you might not immediately be eager to campaign door-to-door using the "G" word when we need to win an election. You might be thinking: Holy Roller, don’t a lot of people go into rant mode the minute we say the Word "Gay?’" Actually, they don’t. Everywhere I’ve gone door-todoor with teams of volunteers,- once we explain in plalnlanguage the issue voters will be facing, the overwhelming majority are on .our side. Most of the rest are undecided. This has been true in Anchorage, Houston, and Fayetteville, Arkansas; in San Francisco, suburban Westchester County,.in Miami (nope, not just in South Beach) and in both Democratic and Republican parts of Spokane, Washington. And that’s just the places in 1998-and 1999 that we’ve gone door-to-door in. Sure, we start in neighborhoods wherewe believe we’ll find many supporters. But even when we broaden to a - diverse set of neighborhoods, 60 to 90% of the time, voters are surprised to learn that the basic rights, of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered (GLBT) people are under attack. "... I don’t want to tell you about my%exllfe - but ff I’m doing a job at my job, should my boss be able to fire me just because I’m Gay?" [long pause, she says uncertainly] "I’ve never thought about that..." "Well, I’m Gay, and this may surprise youbut it wasn’t a choice for me. And if I’m doing a goodjob at work, do you think my boss should be. able to fire mejust because I’m Gay?" "I don’t want to hear about your sex life." "I don’t want to tell you about my sex life--but if I’m ~ doing a goodjob atmyjob, shouldmy boss be able to fire me just because I’m Gay?" . [Long pause] [She says uncertainly] "I’ve never thought about that." "Well, that’s what you’ll, be voting on. Here’s the wording that will be on the ballot. Takealookatit. [Pausewhile she reads] What do you think?" I didn’t make this voter a supporter. But I did move her from leaning against us to someone who might be undecided. Theconversation took abouttwominutes. Then I was on to the next door. If we’ve trained our-volunteer team well, we communicate our key message within the limits of the voter’s attention span. Then we ask what they think. And they tell us. Soinetimes their answer isn’t easy to hear (I didn’t love Ms. Informed’s ?Gays can change"). Butifwe listen with genuine interest, and offer a clear, honest exchange, they return the favor. We usually-leave the door either knowing we’ve found someone leaning toward us, or someone who is now open to hearing more. A...J--~"~’~A~.~,~’A,,’~ (;.... ~Vhenthe~ydo, they say somethinglike. OfcourseI Benefit uur= i i i i i i~i~..,,..; :=~-agai~i’s’t--d~sc~aination, against anybody. I like/don’t care Localentrepreneurandmouth-about-townactivistNed about/dort’flike Gay people, but discriminationis always Bruha will present "Operation Montreal" at The Silver Star, 1565 So. Sheridan, at 10pm on Friday May 5th. Brnha notes, "’this night of rare comedy and mad-cap entertainment will aid Audra MarieSommers, an individual among us who has selflessly impleme.nted her .talents to l~tter the Tulsa areafor the past decade,,She has raised money for the poor and the sick." , Themoney raised the evening of thi~ event wiR,be ~used to help Payfor medications, travel and down-time trom both of lie) jobs for the transgendered Sommers as she recoups from surgery which will bring her physiology into correspondence with her gender identity. This event is called Operation Montreal because after many years of research, Sommers has chosen worldrenowned surgeons in Montreal. Any funds raised will not be used for the surgery. Sommers has underwrittem the surgery by taking a mortgage on her home. For more information about this event, call 585-1644, or write, "Operation Montreal" c/o Ned Bruha, P.O. Box 471282, Tulsa, OK. 74147-1282, or send e-mail to partygram@webzone.net wrong." So the experience of going door-to-door is enormously encouraging. It’s both productive for the campaign, and also personally affirming. This doesn’t mean that every voter is immediately happy to see us. But as a reality check, here’s the toughest door I’ve had so far. Scene: a sweaty August ’98 morning in Fayetteville, Arkansas; a white senior answers the door ..’...’.Hi, Ms. Informed?" Yes "Hi, Ms..Informed, my name is Dave Fleischer, and I’m with the Campaign for Human Dignity. A human rights resolution is on the ballot - it says that here in Fayetteville we won’t tolerate discrimination on thejob, whether you’re a man or women, black or white, Gay or non-Gay. What do you think about that?" "Well, I think that if Gay people would just go to church, they would realize it’s a choice, they don’t have to be that way". [She went on in this vein for a minute. I listened.] Nobody says this work is easy. But, contrary to our worst fears, it isn’t confrontational. It’s more like the ordinary experience of one tiuman being talking to another human being. And there’s an unexpected personal benefit. If we reopen our hearts, we are liberatedfrom a piece of internalized self-hate and our own stereotypical thinking about the public. It turns out that most of them are human, too - and more open than we give them credit for being. Most importantly, voteridentification works. SAVE Dade in Miami has built a list of.more than 15,000 Gay - and pro-Gay voters by having dbnversations just like these, by going door~to-door and by talking to voters when.they go to vote. Basic Rights Oregon beat back their last two state-wide anti-Gay ballot measures by doing voter idenlification on a large scale, and has a list of 125,000 voters statewide. Sure there are closed-minded homophobes out there. But they are far fewer and less grumpy than you’d guess -a mere needle in a Gaystack. If we’re going to win elections, we need to talk with everyone to find our supporters. Factis, voters are ready tolistentous,ifwe’re willing to listen to them. Are we? Meet Local Guys for Hot ~Odgin. 18+. Additional features fron ads guys you like The number of Gays and Lesbians in the United States is not known because of largely unreliable studies. Advocacy groups often claim 10% of the population is homosexual, basedon surveys ofsexual behavior conducted by researcher Alfred Kinsey taken in the 1940s. Other surveys put the number between 4% and 6%. Amore direct census question concerning sexual orientation isn’t likely by the lime the2010 census roils around. Itwould take afederal legislation to require collection of the data. And, advocates say, it’s a tricky ’question. "Is sexual orientation defined by feelings of attraction, exclusivity or praetors?’" Norfllrop asked. Best known for launching the career of "Willand Grace’ s" "Jack", Sean P. Hayes, that’s about the best thing about this film. It’s got some good moments, but never quite congeals into a satisfying film. Brad Rowe, Meredith Scott Lynn, and Hayes mmin good performances, but the rest of the cast falls flat, as do many of the jokes. Hayes stars as Billy, a starving artist photographer who is the other man in an unsatisfying relationship he settles for because (as he. tells everyone repeatedly in this film until youjust wantto slap him) he CAN’T FIND A MAN. He stumbles upon Gabriel (the immensely appealing Brad Rowe), and instantdysfunctional crushdevelops, in spite of the fact (?) that Gabriel is straight. Hilarity ensues (yawn). There’s the prerequisite drag queen comicrelief trio, that should never have .entered this film, because they are rather pointless to.the plot, content, and are really so bad they detract from the film..Obvibusly, theyare ~aeant to be bad, but all the ~vay t~ough the opening.sequence~ and at se{~eral points ~(way too many) through the film, they -..seem to just be inserted for no reason. If they were doing something that was plot~orthyand actually funny, itmight be a good thing. They’re not, and basically just fill time when the director can’t pull his head out long enoughto actually make a film. This DVD comes with a commentary, and even that - usually a high point and asset - is utterly boring. Yes, Sean’s a wonderful actor -now. OK, Brad was uncomfortable with thefilm and part starting out. (Why is never detailed, and that was what might have been actually interesting.) OK yes, there are lots ofhomages to old films, most of which are obvious, especially with the dream/musical sequences. Overall, Billy’s a fine addition to an avid collector ofGay film, for archival purposes. It’s amusing once through. But it’s a definite rental, not a keeper. Also available from Wolfe Video. An excellent film to have on DVD for repeated viewings and the extras, is"Gods and Monsters." It is a most moving and affecting film, and the disc has lots of goodies, along with a commentary that actually IS interesting, adocumentary with Clive Barker as host, interviews with the actors, and lots oflovely details. The film, based on Christopher Brain’s book, is a look .at what might have happened in the days leading to James Whale’s mysterious death. Whale, the director best known for the films "Frankenstein" and "Bride of Frankenstein" in the ’30’s, was found floating ¯ in his pool fully clothed. No answers ever ¯ came out of the investigation. Sir Inn ¯ McKellan, in abravuraperformance, plays ~ Whale, the absolutely dynamic Lynn ¯¯ Redgrave plays his housekeeper and caregiver Hannah, and the absolutely brilliantandbreathtakingly gorgeous Br~ndan Fraser plays a yard man that Whale be- " friends. : This didplay the major theatres,butjust ¯ in case, I won’t give away any more of the ." ending than I have. The performances ¯ were all top notch, with nary a misstep. ¯ The cinematography is beautiful, and the ¯ detail in sets, costumes, and styleis dead- " on.~(No pun intended.) As an. actor, it’s ~ ~really hard.f,0rme to see a film that makes ¯¯ ~m~fo~etI m~watehing~a film. This one did. I was surprised, as the end credits ¯ were rolling, to find I had tears runmng : down my face. The film so engrossed me ¯ that Iwasn’t even aware when that began. ¯ It’s an interesting film on many levels, ¯ the most superficial being Whale as dirty ." old man spying on the yard man; and~the ¯ deepest being the comments on aging, ¯ and the families we surround ourselves ¯ with as that happens. The interplay of ¯ straight andGay, andfear. The betrayal of ¯ ¯ the body.and time, the interplay between youth and age, the reasons we make the ¯ choices in life that we do make., all are ." explored on many levels. ¯ It’s definitely worth viewing several ¯ times, if for nothing more than seeing the ¯ details you missed first time around. The ¯ commentary, as opposed to the useless ¯ blathering on Billy’s HSK, is insightful, ¯ informative, and frequentlylamusing. ." There’s enough mix in details of how the ¯ film was made, how attention to details : was as important as performance, behind ¯ the scenes stories of what went on during ¯ filming, what it was like to deal with this ¯ or that to keep one quite amused. ." ~ And after watching the film go by wlth " the commentary, especially re~ardihg the ." director’s intentions, it’s kind of a fun ¯ game to play to seehowmuch youpieked ’’up on. ~klso, some historica~ facts_ are ." thrown in, not in a dry, witless manner, ¯ but which augment the viewing Of the : film. So, for me, it gets a definite. BUY ¯ THIS! Even if you only get the video ~ version (which may or may not have the documentary), it’s worth it. Available at ; Wolfe Video. "Broadway Damage" is another little sleeper, low budget movie that is actually quite wonderful. A romantic comedy that actually is, as~ opposed to Billy, it stars some very talented unknowns in a film that is well written and leaves you feeling good. "Nerdy Guy’~ and "Beautiful Boy" in New York looking for"Mr. RightY BB is always finding people bad for him, and pursues one that is really bad news. NB is seeking Mr Right and has a crush on BB Enter BB’s roommate Quirk~y~rl. QG is trying to make it inNYCon hiSrtwn, even though daddy’s rich. He wants her to get a job, something she’s never had to do. She and the boys form a fun trio, and have merry adventures in NYC. The film is a good old-’fashioned romantic comedy, kind oflike the old screwballs comedies of the 30’s upon which it is patterned. The ending’s predictable, but the g~tting there is fun, as with most journeys. Even if you know where you’re going,, the trip is never the same twice, right? It’s a well-written, well-filmed, well-acted story that is sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face. It should have received wider release w~h,en it played the film houses, but is a gem I m sharing with you. Yep, available at Wolfe Video on VHS and DVD. presents .... an eclectic mix of choral literature ranging from Baroque to Broadway, from pop classics of the ’50s and ’60s to a bawdy sea chantey an~J.an American Folk song featuring the Green Country Cloggers. ,Friday and Saturday, April 7 & 8, 2000 at 8pm Williams Theatre, Tulsa Performing Arts Center (reception following) Tickets: PAC box office, 596-7111 in Tulsa, 1-800-364-7111 or online at www.tulsapac.com COUNCIL oak a fellowship of gay men dedicated to musical excellence in the performance of choral literature, providing a source of pride, unity, and support, while presenting a positive image for ourselves, our community, and society as a whole. FOR MORE INFORMATION about the COUNCIL oak meN~S c~or~aLe and its parent organization, the non-profit Vocal Pride Foundation, visit our award-winning website at www.eouneiloak.org. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, April 2000; Volume 7, Issue 4 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource April 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Barry Hensley J.P. Legranbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, March 2000; Volume 7, Issue 3 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 newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/599 "Operation Montreal" 2000 adoption AIDS AIDS Quilt aMUSEments arts and entertainment Audra Sommers Bars Blood Donation businesses Census Christian Coalition churches civil unions Council Oak Men's Chorale Diversity celebration Dr. Grethe Cammermeyer Dr. Laura Gay marriage Gay Studies Greg Louganis Harmonic Diversity hate crime bill HIV holocaust homophobia Human Rights Campaign Jim Christjohn Karin Gregory Lamont Lindstorm Liberation Publications Living ArtSpace marriage equality military inclusion NAMES Project National Gay and Lesbian Task Force OK Spoke Club Partner Benefits performing arts PlanetOut Inc Pride Raging Lesbian Read All About It restaurants Soulforce Texas Lesbian Conference Tom Neal Tulsa Family News Tulsa Repertory Theatre https://history.okeq.org/files/original/93475d8d38486cac1bf21651db9cf1f9.jpg 9a8cdac77a1db86a7dcf018f522954b7 https://history.okeq.org/files/original/bb1a106e509015a738522d97002b6592.pdf cf15973a5275e8195487a21b5d7d7507 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. Text Any textual data included in the document Bomber of London Gay Pub Pleads Guilty LONDON (AP) - A man accused of setting off~in~bs i Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulaans, Our Families + Friends : Tulsa’s Largest Circulation CommunityPaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations Louganis to Lead Pride 2000 ¯ Olympic Champion Will Be Parade Grand ¯ Marsha|l and Black Tie Dinner Speaker The Rev. Mel Whiteto Begin Week’s Events TULSA - Some Gay community observers might have thought Rights, the parent apparently targetedatracial minorities andGays pleaded " guilty to three counts of manslaughter late in February " and admitted causing three explosions thatinjuredmore than a hundred people. David Copeland, 23, admitted " planting the bomb that killed three people on April 30,- " at the Admiral Duncan, a Gay pub in central London. " Prosecutors did not immediately accept the ¯ manslaughter pleas, and a further hearing was set for " sometime in March. Copeland also admitted ¯ responsibility for explosions .on April 17 in Brixton, a : south London neighborhood with a large black ¯ population; and April 24in Brick Lane, an east London " neighborhood with a large Banglades.~ population. " NY State’s 1st Gay Mayor " PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (AP)-. Dan Stewart, New York’s first openly Gay mayor, is intimately acquainted ." with Gay-bashing bigots..AYter all he used to beone.." "When I was in high school, two boys went to court over . the right to go to the prom together," Stewart said. "I ¯ spoke out loudly against them on TV, on the steps of the RhodeIsland Supreme Court. Imade amockery ofthem - because I knew who I was, and I was scared ~to. death people would find me out." ¯ Two decades later, Stewart has no such fears. He was " open about his homosexuality when he ran for mayor of ¯ this lakeside city near the Canadian border last fall. "I told the people,’Iam what ! am- Takeme or leaveme,"’ : Stewart said."Itold them, ’Ifyouchooseto takeme, I’m " going to do one hell of ajob for you. But if you choose ¯ not tO take me because I’m Gay, I understand. I used to : be prejudiced too." : Asittumedout, his sexualitywasn’tanissue. Perhaps ¯ it would have been, had hebronght a male partner to a : political event during his,six years on the City Council. ¯ But Stewart keeps his personal life out of the public eye : ~- mostly 60 miles away in Montreal, where his partner ¯ lives. It also helped that his opponent, the five-term " Democratieincumbent, was knOWn for supporting Gay ." and Lesbian issues such as nondiscrimination statutes, ¯ and had long enjoyed the endorsement of Gay lobby ." groups. "The.race was on community issues," Stewart " said. "My opponent never used the words ’sexual ¯ orientation. ’" ¯ Buoyed by endorsements from Republican Gov. ¯ George Pataki and the city police union, the former Air ° Force sergeant and long-haul trucker won by a narrow ¯ margin, becoming one of five openly Gay city mayors ¯ in the country. " In some ways, Stewart has taken more heat for being " GOP than for being Gay. The Empire State Pride : Agenda didn’t endorse him until the llth hour - and then, he insisted that part of the Gay lobby group’s " $1,000 campaign donation go to the Republican Party. : "I always get thesame thing (from Gays) wherever I go: How canyon be Gay and be a Repubhcan. What as wrong with you?Are you insane?,’"- said Stewart, a tall, " dapper man with an enthusiastic manner and a dimpled : grin. "But there’s a change going on. In exit polls over ¯ the past 10 years, consistently ~a third of people who ¯ identified themselves as Gay have said they voted " Republican." : In a recent interview in his second-floor City Hall ¯ office, see Mayor, p. 7 " that the annual pride festival organizers would be hard pressed to top their accomplishments of 1999 withUS Congressman Barney Frank, Democrat from Massachnsetts, serving as grand marshall of Tulsa’s first Gay Pride Parade. However, event organizers fromTulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, have, at the very least, matched the stature of last year’s speaker with US Olympic champion, Greg Louganis, to se’ive as Grand Mhrshall for the Millennium Pride Parade this June. Louganis’ appearance will cap a week of Pride events which will begin with aninterfaithworship service featuring the Reverend Dr. MelWhite. White is known as an author, forhis autobiography, "’Stranger at the Gate," and formerly as a ghostwriter for right wing religious leaders like Jerry Falwell. White more recently has been leading a social change organization, Soul Force, modeled on the ideas of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mohatmas Ghandi. Like White, Louganis is also an anthor and an actor as wall as an athlete. His autobiography, "Breaking the Surface" topped the New York Times bestseller list, and as a lecturer, he has spoken about his chall~nges with a difficult childhood, his struggles in coming out and with dyslexia, his experience with domestic violence and with being HIV positive. Louganis wonhis first Olympicmedal, a silver, at age 16 in the 1976 Games. In 1984, at age 24, he won two gold medals, one for the platform and one for the springboard - the first man in 56 years to accomplish this feat. In 1986, he again won awards the same events in the World Championships, and then in 1988, won double gold medals for diving in two consecutive Olympics. Louganis will speak at a black fie optional dinner to be held at the prestigious Summit Club on Friday, June 9th. Tickets for th,e, event are $75/person and there will be a VIP reception at $50~ person. These events will benefit Tulsa Oklahomans for Human : Vermont:Married or Partners? MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Lawmakers debated last ~nonth whether to limit aproposed domesticpartnership system to stonesex couples or to allow opposite-sex and blood-relative couples to qualify, also. There are some in the Legislature who believe that broadening the proposal might make it more politically palatable to a greaternumber ofpeople, improving its d~ances of passing. But others argue that such a revision would diminish the central aimofthelegislation beingdraftedby theHouse Judiciary Committee: providing therights andprotections ofeivil marriage to Gay and Lesbian couples. As the Judiciary Committee prepares to finish its work on the bill,that debate is coming into sharper relief. Members of the committee faced the issue, along with the potential political implications. "Iunderstand that there are people who see expanding this ... enhances the attractiveness of the legislation," said Committee Chairman Thomas Little, R-Shelburue. "’But I’m not sure we have the time to expl.ore all that stuff." "I support that in prineiple, but it’s a significant diversion from what we’ve been working on," said Rep. Steve Hintgen, P-Burlington. "q hope it doesn’t drive this to a halt." "ff you don’t do it you might drive it to a halt," said Rep. Michael Vinton, D-Colchester. In sum, that’s what the comunttee faces. In recognition of that, Little has been trying to develop a companion to the domestic partnership systemknown as reciprocal benefits, that falls short of the marriage-like benefits that would be provided to Gay and Lesbiancouples. Thereciprocal benefits,.however, might include workers’ compensation benefits that could flow to a reciprocal benefits partner, certain inheritance and real estate and other property benefits. Althouglino votes have been taken,noconsensus has developed in the Judiciary Committee that opposite-sex couple should be included in the domestic partnership system, which the panel has taken to calling "civil domestic unions." There also has not been a lot of discussion in the committee about permitting blood relatives- such as two brothers, two sisters, a brother and a sister, or a daughter and her elderly mother - to become domestic partnerships. ¯ But such expansions have been discussed down th~hall in the Ways and Means Committee, the tax-writing panel that will have to review the tax implications of the bill Rep. Albert Perry, DRichford, see Vermont, p. 5 orgamzation of the Gay Community Center and Oklahoma’s oldest Lesbian and Gay non-religious organization. Organizers anticipate that the Greg Lougams parade will follow the stone route as last year, beginning at the Ga~’ Community Center.at 37th and Peoria and ending. at Veterans Park at 18th and Boulder. The parade will begin at llam. The Pride Festival will also begin at Veterans Park at 1 lain and will continue till about 7 or 8pro, finishing off the week’s events. TOI-IR organizers include Kerry Lewis as chairperson of the overall effort, "Htunanity United for Human Rights - Diversity Celebration 2000," Greg Gatewood,TOHR presidentandfestival chair. Audra Sommers, parade chair, Lynn Moesteller, sponsor chair, Mitchell Savage, media chair, Kris Kohl, festival entertainment chair and Ned Bruha, in charge of festival booths and beverages. Other Pride events include a Soul Force workshop, led by the Rev. Mel White, to be held in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) LowerLevelTheatre onJune3, Saturday,from 2-5pro (free). That evening also at thePACDoenges Theatre,theTOHRFollies, not seen for a number of years, will reprise, 100 Years of Broadway with tickets available through the PAC. see Pride, p. 11 : Gordmans recently invited diva Audra Sommers to try shopping with them again after shefirst receivedpoor treatment atthe Yale Ave. store. Sommers praised the Corporate and store managementfor their.responsiveness, Gay Men’s Chorale to ¯ Hold Spring Concert ¯ TULSA- Council Oak Men’s Chorale will present ¯ two concerts on Friday and Saturday, April 7 & 8 ¯¯ at 8pm in the John Williams Theatre of Tulsa’s ¯ Performing Arts Center. The concerts, entitled "’Harmonic Diversity" will feature music from ~ Broadway tunes, 5O’s & 60’s pop songs, "sea ¯ chanteys," a Welsh lullaby, and a baroque piece. -" The Green Country Cloggers will perform a cameo ¯ number. : The Council Oak Men’s Chorale is a fellowship of Gay men dedicated to musical excellence who : seek to provide a source ofpride, unity and support ," and to present a positive image for themselves, the ¯ Gay community and to society, as a whole. The ¯ group is a chapter of the Tulsa-baSed Vocal Pride Foundation, and a member of GALA: the Gay and " Lesbian Association of Choruses. Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial *Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria *The Mix, 2630 E. 15th *Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan *The Storm, 2182 S. Sheridan *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main *TNT’s, 21145. Memorial *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd 712-2324 610-5323 583~6666 749-4511 749-1563 744-4280 745-9998 83~ ~234 835-2376 585-3405 660-0856 584-1308 Tulsa,Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 523 1 E. 41 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 *.Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria *CD Warehouse, 3807e S. Peoria Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 74%1508 743-1000 747-9506 250-5034 665-4580 712-1122 712-9955 494-2665 743-5272 746-0313 581-0902, 743-4117 622-0700 749-3620 58%2611 744-5556 838-8503 712-9379 592-0460 744-9595 610-0880 628-3709 808-8026 742-1460 459-9349 744-7440 745-1111 341-6866 712-2750 582-3018 747-0236 582-8460 599-8070 747-5466 585-1234 584-3112 663-5934 664-2951 838-7626 743-4297 747-5932 834-0617 ,747-4746 ’749-6301 260-7829 481-0558 835-5563 743- 1733 665-2222 592-0767 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th *Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan *Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main ""- *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E 55th H. Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st Leanne M. Gross, Insurance &financial planning Mark T. Hamby, Attorney *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly *International Tours Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 *Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brady *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd Mingo Valley Howers, 9720c E. 31 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2rid floor Rainbowzon the River B+B, PUB 696, 74101 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921 *Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square Paul Fay, Car Salesman *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard Fred Welch, LCSW, Counsding *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, PUB 4337, 74101 579-9593 All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc. PUB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center. 2207 E. 6 583-7815 *B/L!G/T Alliance, Univ. ofTulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th PI. & Florence *ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314 *CommunityofHope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300 *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 Council Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888 *Ddaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, PUB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 *Free Spirit Women’s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669 Friend For A Friend, PUB 52344, 74152 747-6827 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 PUB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 o-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink.net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: ~- James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers Member of The Associated Press Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of this publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by Td~ /:~.,,.z~ N~, and may not be reproduced either in wholeorin partwithout writtenpermissionfromthepublisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property of T~€~ ~:~ Ntau¢, Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. Friends in Unity Social Org., PUB 8542, 74101 582-0438 *HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 *Tulsa C.A:R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 *Holland Hall _School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 *House of the H01y Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral H.. 748-3111 NOW, Nat’l Org. forWomen, PUB 14068,74159 365-5658 OK Spokes Club (bicycling), PUB 9165, 74157 *OSU-Tulsa PFLAG, PUB 52800, 74152 749-4901 *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 *R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325 O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 St. Dtmstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 *St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 *TNAAPP (Native American men). Indian Health Care 582-7225 Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only Tulsa Okla. forHuman Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 T.U.LS.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *Tulsa Community College Campuses *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38,74105 743-4297 UnityChurch ofChristianity,3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 BARTLESVILLE *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN *Borders Books&Music, 3209NWExpressway 405-848-2667 *Borders Books & Music. 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 TAHLEQUAH *Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 *Tablequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900 *Green Country AIDS Coalition, PUB 1570 918-453-9360 NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. Emerald Rainbow, 45 &1/2 Spring St. MCC of the Living Spring Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery Positive Idea Marketing Plans Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East White Light, 1 Center St. JOPLIN, MISSOURI *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U 134 501-253-7734 501-253-7457 501-253-6807 501-253-5445 501-253-9337 501-253-2776 501-253-5332 501-624-6646 501-253-6001 501-253-4074 417-623-4696 * is where you can lind TFN. Notall areGay-owned but all are Gay-friendly. by Michael Kuchwara DENVER (AP) -The audience is greeted by a bare, black brick wall, a single light and a row of wooden chairs and desks. Later, a few video screens and film clips are added. ¯ Still, nothing else is reallyneeded to tell ¯ the story of Matthew Shepard and the effect his-murder had on the town-of ¯ Laramie, Wyo. It is a spartan, yet ¯ appropn,’,ate setting for "The Laramie Project, astirring, emotional tale, almost ¯ epicinscaleas itswirls through thedetails of this young gay man’s brutal death and ¯ how the residents ofLaramiedealtwithit. The-play, which had its world premiere ¯ in February at the DenverTheater Center, ¯ presents a cavalcade of characters ¯ portrayedby eightactors from theTectonic TheaterProject, aNewYork-based troupe. ¯ They even play themselves. "TheLaramie Project," writtenby these ¯ actors as well as otherTectonicmembers including founder Moises Kaufman, was drawn from their interviews with more than 200 people. Yet it is more than just ,docudrama. It is a story of feeling as well ¯ as fact. Each gets its fair share of stage ¯ time, grounding the evening in reality ¯ without sacrificing the emotional intensity of people trying to deal with their hopes, ¯ fears and prejudices. ¯ What makes "The Laramie Project" so ¯ intriguing are its shades of gray. Nothing is simple. There are no easy answers in coming to terms with Shepard’s death. ¯ Kaufmanandctmpanypresenta variety ¯ of memorable portraits culled from their taped interviews. There’s Reggie Fluty, ¯ thepolicewomanwhountied Shepardfrom ¯ the fence post. As vividly portrayed by ¯ Mercedes Herrero, Fluty is a vibrant ¯ woman, confronted with something so ¯ horrific that she says, at one point, "They ¯ show showed me a picture.., days later I saw a picture of Matthew... I would ¯ have never recognized him." ¯ Equally unnerving are comments from Rulon Stacey, spokesman at the hospital where Shepard died. In Greg Pierotti’s intense performance, Stacey breaks down, ¯ watclfingthecourageofShepard’sparents ¯ as they confront their son’s death. Pierotti also gives weightandan emotional honesty : to the commonsense statements from a ¯ priest, Father Roger, who decides to get ¯ involved in leading a vigil for Shepard. What ties the townspeople together are ¯ their efforts to understand. As the doctor ¯ who first treated Shepard when he was ¯ broughtintoaLaramiehospital emergency ¯ room says,"This is something thatoffends us. I used that word a little earlier and I ¯ think that’s a good word. It offends us!" Stephen Belber excels at two of the ¯ showier roles in the play - particularly a ¯ tough-talking taxicab driver who ¯ epitomizes the "live and let live" ¯ .philosophy that threads its way through ." the speeches of many of the many of ¯ people interviewed. ¯ Right now, "The Laramie Project" is ¯ still undergoing changes. Thirty minutes ; were cut from the play after the .first ¯ preview. Even now at two hours and 45 minutes, it could use more of a trim. : Shepard himself is not a character in ¯ "The Laramie Project," but his presence ¯ haunts the play. It hovers sweetly yet sadly over the entire proceedings, as well ¯ as the town he loved so much. That is only appropriate. As one of the residents says at the end of the evening, ’¢I’he last thing Matthew Shepard saw on ¯ this Earth were the sparkling lights of Laramie, Wyo." Lesbian Survey Results In the past two years, you may have seen an amlouncement about a study on how "Lesbians and thei? sisters are similar or different." This mmouncement appeared in 200 Lesbian mad Gay/Lesbian periodicals (including Tulsa Family News). It was also sent to 614 Lesbian/Gay religious orgamzations; 105 Lesbian bars: 54 women’s bookstores; 346 cmnpus Lesbian/Gay Bisexual/Transgender groups; and 83 groups listed as "’etlltlicimttlticul tural." Tiffs research was conducted by Esther Rothblum, a liprofessor of psychology at the University of Ver-mont, who studies Lesbi~m igsue~. She was interested~in how Lesbians mid their heterosexual sisters differ on demographic factors. For exanlple, manv studies about Lesbimas have found them to be highly educated, not very religi,ous, and livi~’lg in l:u’ge cities. Obviou_’~ly, this does not describe all Lcsbia~, but there mav be reasons why Lesbimls are differeut flom women iu the general U.S. population. .... eontrlbutes to [Lesbian] demoSraphle factors? ¯ .. }-][ere are some speeulatlons: - Hi her education may result in beeomln Lesbian . . Y For example, Lesbians may move to large cities to find other Lesbians, to moveaw@froth their parents and their politically conservative home town, or to be more anonwnous. Similarly, Lesbians nmy have high levels of education bccanse they didn’t get married innnediately after lugh school, or didn’t have clfildren at a you age. In this study, Rothblunt conipared Lesbians’~vith thei?~ sisters. Unlike members of other minority groups (e.g., African-Americans, Jews, inunigrants), Lesbians (mad Gay men) differ m one importm~ respect in that their sibhngs me generally members ofthe domimmt gr0tq~ (hctcrosexnalsL In the case of biological sisters, thex would share the stone race m~d etlmicitv, and have had th~ s~une parents. The\ mav also bc close in age. So tiffs method would allo~, vou’to exmnine the lives of Lesbimls side by side with sistel.s who m-e not Lesbian. A total of 1,2(~- questiotmmres were requested bx email, telephouc, or mail. mad 762 of these were retullmd. Ilcrc are the results of the 184 sister pairs iu which one was Lesbim] mid the other \vas heterosexual: - Lvsbians arc older thm] their heterosexual sisters. - Lesbiaus are also more likely to be first-bores when looking at ages of all l)rother’s mad sisters. (This is interesting, because research on Gay men has sho~vn thcnt to be younger sons.) - Lesbians have higher levels of education th,’m do diet r heterog~’,~Ual sisters. - Heterosexual women are more likely to be homemakers than their Lesbian sisters. There ,are no differences in other types of employment status, or on occupational level. - Because Lesbians have higher educationM levels, they would be expected to have a higher individual income. Still, Lesbians mad dleir heterosexual sisters had similar individual mid fanlily incomes. - Heterosexual women were part of formal religions iu adulthood, whd’~as L~lSfan~ Were mtte likely to endorse altenmtive spiritual beliefs. - Lesbians were more likely to be living with a female partner or living alone. Heterosexual sisters were more likely to be married, li vh~g with:a,~ale p.,?r,mer, m~d living with children - For those wonlen . in a relationslfip with a partner (121 Lesbians ,and 149 heterosexual women), heterosexual women have been in this relationsltip for a longer time period ( 11.4 years) than Lesbians (6.87 years). - Lesbians were more likely to be"]iving in a large city than their heterosexual sisters. - There is no sig~fificant difference in how many years sister pairs have been living in their current location. - But Lesbians live further from their previous location than do heterosexual sisters. ¯ by Dave Fleischer : Senior Fellow, Policy Institute ¯ National Gay and Lesbian Task Force ¯ As ourcommunity faces anew wave of Millennial anti- " Gay ballot measures, it would be easy to be fearful about ¯ our prospects. After all, eight out of twelve votes on ¯ homophobic referenda went against us in 1998 and 1999 ¯ alone. Yet the shocking thing about our cotmnumty ¯ losing so many elections is that we actually "know how to ¯ win them. What effective strategy ¯ persuades voters to stand :-, with-us? After six years ¯ training Gay, lesbian, ¯ bisexual and transgender ¯ (GLBT) leaders around the ¯ country to run for office and ¯ manage campaigns, I know ¯ it’ s when we "come out mad ¯ talk" - engage voters one- ¯ on-one and ask them what ¯ they think. ¯ Vehen we do, the fuzz)’, unflattering image of us as ¯ oddities from an X-Files episode dissolvcs._ Voters ¯ reconsider who we are and are much less likely m fall ¯ for propaganda that makes us out to be something we’re ¯ not. Just as importantly, what proven strategy identifies ¯ voters who are already supportive? The very stone ¯ conversation. Because when we do "voter I.D.’" -askiug ¯ each voter "Can we count on your vote’?" - we build a ¯ reliable list of Gay and pro-Gay voters to whom ~ve can ¯ return, to turn out our vote, election after election. Since ¯ many of our strongest supporters often miss clectious, ~vc _. lose without this kind of follow-up. Making a voter I.D. list isn’ t glamorous, but it makes or ¯" breaks our campaigns across the country. Maine offers a useful case study. In February 1998, fineGLBTconmlunit3 ¯ lost Maine’s state-wide law bmnung discrinlination ou the basis Of sexual onentation. It had taken Maine leaders ten years to pass the law: die Christian.C.oalition erased it ten months after it passed, despite a vali-anl battle bv our How did we lose? The New York Times post-electiou analysis was ~ shockingly clear. It quoted a Bowdoin .: College professor with 25 years, of Maine polling ¯ experience, who said, "Maine is no more mtolcrmn than ¯ other states, and given a well-lq_ln "gay;-rights- c&mpatgn, would likely split into tw.o canlps, with 55%. supporting ’Gay rights’ mad 45% against." A well-rim cmnpaign is built on turmng out its base. The low turnont of pro-Gay voters cost us the election. How did the Christian Coalition tuna out ~ ts supporters. ¯ when we couldn’t? They prepared for the election by starting tQ identify their voters well m ad\m~ce. Eigl~t months before electiol~ day, the Cln’istian Coalitiou gathered 58,000 petition si~latures to call the February 1998 election. They began the cmnpaign With the name, address and phone number of 58.000 voters who they could turn out to vote. Pro-Gay activists started withno sitnilar list. We cotfld have- m November 1995. voters across Maine defeated ml m~ti-Gay measttre. But the "95 cmnpaign didn’t talk with voters oue-on-ouc to idenlify our supporter,s. Of the 221.562 people who voted with us, our comnmnity eudcd "... eight out of twelve votes on homophoble re~erencla went-a.~M~nst us in 1998 and 1999 alone. Yet the shoekin$ thln$ about our eommunlty losln$ so many eleetlons is that we actually hnow how to win them . . 7’ the canlpaign -l~aowing the nmnc. address and phone number of fewer than 3000 Gav.and pro.Gay,voters. - -. X\~ began the" 98 cmnpmgn with 30(~) on our list..versus 58,000 on theirs. Whc~ e]ectiou day ’98 crone, wc lost by 7.299 votes, bccansc 83,409 who voted wiOa us in "95 didn’t ttma out to vote again in "98. We lost Ihal election, but we shouldnt lose [le~’l - so long as lcmn from theexpencucc. For cxmnple, wc will likely fnce an anti-’Gay repeal vote just like Maine’s m *’liami-Dade Couutx The upconm~g cmnpmgl~ is hatmtcd bx the one wc losl [111977 It Anita Brvaut"s "’Save timChildren" cauapai~n Fortunatel y, key leaders in SA VI ~ Dade, the local lmlnan rights group, Jorge Murstfli. Shcila O’Fmlell, Gcore Kctclholm. mid Griscl R~xlrigncz, have begun to bnihl their list. By lcachiug lcssous flom other canq)aigus, thcx have motivated their vohmtccrs to talk face-to-face VOleI’S. On July 29. SAVI~ l)adc had its biggest voter I success v~t. In twelve hours. 300 volunteers had facc-tofacc couversations with 4.909 voters. SAVE Dadc has ~dreadv built its list to iududc 15.000 Gay and pro-(~a vol~rs. Ofcourse. 15.0(~) i s not cu~)n~ h. ’l’bc Chfis finn ( ~o~ d i u will begiu their cmnpmgn with a lisl of 33,000 SUpl)ortcr~ of their own. Ihe number ol l)ClH~on ~igllaturc~ Ihc~ to put lhc issue on lhc ballot Butdm SAVE l)adc strategy to invite our fi’icnds to Ihi election ~s a winning one. On July 29, as they realized what they had done and bcguu, Shcila O’ Farrell c-nmilcd me: "’Well. Dave. you szfid 6.000 and I laughed. You ~aid 30 phonc bm~k~ with 10+ vohmtccrs m~d I rolled m~ c~ And tomght we exceeded any expectations I ever had do you kuow what? 1 guess that trap we teach rcall’ woi:ks~ I think 1 had quit bclicvmg thal Thanks cliallenging mc " In tough elections, there is uo SmUt Claus. XVc have ~lOW who our friends ;u’c if we xv~uit to win:’]’o klloXv xx they ~u-c, wc have lo ask. onc-oll-OllC. Then wc C~l~ thai List mid check il twice - and win the Iougla election. that lic almad - Lesbimls live flirther from their lnother :rod from thcilfather than do their heterosexual sisters - l~sbim~s have moved to fl]cir CUlTent locatiou because of their oxvn cducatiou. I [ctm’oscxtud women have movcd to their cu~ent location because of their partuer’s job. - Lesbians have higher self-esteem titan do their beterosexuM sisters -There are at differences bet~veen sister pmrs ou any measure of mentM health (such as depression, m~xietv. etc,) z Lesbians and their hEterosexnalsigters ~e 6x~ctlx the san~e average height (5 feet 5 inches) but Lesbians w~igh more (161 lbs on average) than do hctcroscxn~d sisters (143 lbs). -Lcsbimis are more likel~ to have been in l)sychotherapy than their heterosextu~ sisters. - Both sisters tend to have heMth insurance, but heterosexual sisters are more likely to have health insurance through their parmer, and to have dental lnstlr~lce, hnplications: HeterosexuM women ~e more like census data of U.S women than are Lesbians on: m~age, living wifl~ rome pm’tner Ctfildren Religion ~ucation Population density Convelfience smnples of~sbim~ flint fiud that I ~sbim~s live in l~ge cities, ~e lfighly educated, have a lo~v income relative to education, and may not be religious, may~morerepresentative ofthe ~sbians who p~ficipate m Lesbian communily organizatious ~md c\cnt.s What is it about being a Lesbian that contributes to dcmoglaphic factors? llcrc arc some speculations: 13cing older and firsl boru may result in Increased education. - Not bciug mmTied or havi~ tg children at a yotmg age, living Mone and/or not beiug in a long-term rclationslfip umv. result iu highcr education and geographic mobility. tli~hcr education may result iu becoming I.csbimi - Liging in l~ge cities nmy expose women to l.esbian " d0nmlfinifies. ............ Wlmt is it abont being a Lesbian that contribntcs mental health and other factors’? Ilelc arc some specu.lati ous: - Do l.esbians reln~fin<~m~l:byedin order to mmff}ain hcMth insurance whereas liet:~ro~eXnM lnm’ried can become homenmkers due to their husbands’ 6cncfits? - Are Lesbiaus less focused ou weight and appearance? Or do heavier young women become ~sbians m~d!or increase edncadon becanse of fewer dating or relatiouship options? - Does Lesbians" greater use of psychotherapy account for dmlack ofmentM hemth differences between ~sbians (a stiglnatized group) and their heterosexnM sisters? - Does belonging to a supportive conmm~fity account for Lesbians’ higher self-esteem A Newspapers Refuse to Print PFLAG .Listing LOS ANGELES (AP) - A family of weekly newspapers distributed free to 126,000 Central Coast households and businesses has created an outcry over its refusal to publish news deemed favorable to Gay orpro-choice viewpoints. More than adozeneditorial employees of tWO of ~he papers have quit since the policy came to ,light last week. The papers, which circulate in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles andAtascadero, have beenhit with about 400 cancellation-requests. Earlier this week, about 100 people protested outside the County courthouse in San Luis Obispo, some carrying signs that read, "No Bigotry. in My ~owa,’: : The c~rttro~er~y:ste:r0s from:a ¢:ommuuity calendar listing; for~ Parents, Friends and ~Eamily~0f Lesbians ahd ~ays~ Bisexuals .and Transgendered Persons, which ran in the’Atascadero Gazette from Nov. 25 until Feb..17.~’=That’ s whe,n the paper’s editor, Ron Bast, wa~ ioid tlie chain S owner had 6rdered the listing pulled.Bast-said he was told there were to be no storie~ tli~ ~lit~ed Gays or abortioninafavorable light. He has since quit, saying he believes the paper has failed in its mission to provide unbiased coverage of the community. Civil rights acavists, meanwhile, said theywere appalled at the action ofcompany owners Mary and DavidWeyrich."Hehas th~ fight todothi~ofcourse, ¯ incorporating as a nonprofit organization, outlining : possible programs and figuring outhow to pay for the ¯ gathering place. : Travis Blackwell, 33, co-chairman of the planning ~ committee, said he hoped the center would be a place ¯¯ for anyone to getin touch with the Gay community. "And I hope it will raise asvareness, understanding : and tolerance for the lesbian, Gay, bisexual and transgender community," Blackwell said. "That’s. one aspect. Theotheris actually having a central place. where we cau all be safe and meet and take part in programming and workshops and things that better each of us as well as our community as a whole.’" Gay centers across the country offer everything from soccer leagnes to medical services, counseling -and day.care. Although cities nationwide of about the same size as-Charlotte have had. them.for years, no other North Carolina city has a center, qocai ;Gay leaders ,said. In 1996, Mecklenburg County commissioners cut arts funding after a local production of the Pulitzer prize-winning play "Angels in America," because of its homosexual content. And last year, Samantha Gellar won a contest for young playwrights in 1999 with her story of two women who meet on a bus, fall in love and share a kiss. The contest sponsors would not allow it to be performed, saying its subject matter was not appropriate for the festival’ s middle and high school audience. . United in God’s Love MCC-United Sunday Worship Reverend Cathy Elliot 11=00 am Pastor 623 N. Maplewood 9181838-1715 " ~ i" f"~ ......... Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2~Lg South Yale, Sundays at llam, "/49-0595 A Welcoming Congregation hnttheparttliatupsetmepers°nallyisthathehadaI MiSSiSsippi Lawmakers representing this as atmecommuuity .newspap~," Move to Bar Adopbons said Robyn Murphy, past president ~of.the central, i Coast Gay and.L~bian Alliance. . .... i , , . . ; JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi lawmakers The vtfeytichs m-owned billlioard giant Martin.i moved, to bar Gay couples from adbpting children Mediabefoxe thecompany wassold fo~$610 mi’llion, with a Tuesday debate about morality and the fea~ of great deal of support starting out because he was HOUSE OFTHE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am t... ,~,~,~ ~,,. :rt..,~..,, u~,~. ~ \Ve~,~,~ : e~ag homosexuality. The executive director Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm Wim,~v Tlu~_v mtMi~ho~l a ~lat~mt~.nt ~,i Ihe~r ° Of~Misst$$1[~!. ~list Cofl¥1~aUon Boald teld a p.mt.os.op.n.~.tn..re.ce.nt.e.m.uoUS.. .t.n..c. issu~c ~nas ¯. ~Hou.s~e su.b..c-m.n.:m.m.ee..th.at.e.h¯iidr©n rinsed ~,:~z,’~n~’~’~ ~1~ U~ith ;nt,~orilW mtt4 ~ih0 tnd~ Wifl~ - ¯ Ilomosexuals 0~i10,1~ more mt~v to ue troy. .... ~:~..~.~ .... ............. ¯....-, ..... ~ ...... Opponentssmdtheyfeareddieadoptionbanwould ’ ~ " [ ....=~,, v~v,,-- " ¯ ’ ** * " ..... " ...... v....................... Licensed Professional & National Certified ~ ~ .... ° " ....¯ "- -;: = ;’d -~ ; onentauon =s irrele ant m adopttons; .... ...... uast ann omer mrmer stm;ers Sma mey m not , ¯ ,~,~-~; t,^^,,_:,,= ~:=,~:..... editorial content of the publicattons when theylbegan ¯ . _~ :_ ,t.~. r... u..... ~. a:.~. - m.~t.rj.ous, xnep,a~e,rs,ue~g~o:p~p~nexntgmt~t~.um ~r,: Barber said he eame to the Capitol on behalf of a Aft~l"Hours AppointmerltsAvailabl~ wire iwo more scneameo . . . , , . ................. s saidthe : Gaycoupletrymgtoadoptachild ‘They re upstanding 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 21.5, 745-1111 Wevrichs ar~ notdictatino content. iuSt our ¯. etuzens~ ~neynappentouenomosexna~ -notrelevant. philosophy, which has ~. d~ from day one." "The staff onboard has a dear understanding of the Weyrichfamilyandtheirvalues," he said. "Inpublisher meetings throughout the pastmonths,wehave covered these topics in depth." He said-the Gazette papers, which promote themselves with the slogan "Hometown Journalism at its Best" on the bottom of each front page, also refuse advertisin,g from nightclubs and tobacco companies. ~’We ve picked.up 13 new advertisers because of this," Hansen said. "We’ve received 400 e-mails this week that arejustpo,sitive mid supportive. Pemple resiXct,,us for’what ~ve ve Said ~and that we stand up for it. One observer says the debaie has at least one upside - forcing residents to discuss the meaning of the First Amendment. ’YI’he idea that free speech and a free press is being discussed is extremely healthy,!’ said Randall Murray,a California Polytechnic,,U,niversity,. San Luis Obispo, journalism professor¯ While not embracing~Weydchor..his,views, ~ereali~.Lhat he is peffecdy secure to set editorial policy. Rather than impose on him ,o,ur editorial policing, the remedy is coUnter-speech. " i ’ ~: " Charlotte Gays Plan Community Center CHARLOTTE (AP) - Charlotte, the city that has drawn national attention in recent years for its anti- Gay atmbsphere, could have its first-ever community center for Gays as early as 2002. The Community Center Planning Committee will spend the next six months scouting for a location, ¯ They would make good parents," Barber said. " The Rev. Jim Futral, the Baptist leader, said by ~ allowing Gays to adop,t., the state would encourage ¯ homosexual lifestyles. These kids will be influenced ¯" in a way wedon’ t want them tO beinfluenced," he said : during the hour-long meeting. Rep. John Reeves, RJac. kson, the subcommittee chairman, said the bill was not meant to punish Gay people but was "trying to do what’s right by the children." Rep.. Gary Chism, R-Columbus, said legislators should be concerned about children and "we shouldn’t place them. in a lifestyle that’s unnatural." "It gives an indication to thatchild that this is aproperrelationship," Chism said. Mississippi is among five states this year debating legislation over adoptions, by Gays, according to Hector Vargas,’a lawyer for the Washington-based National Gay and Lesbian TaskForce~o,The others.are . Hawaii, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah: vargas said judges’ rtmin consideration "should be whether or not the parents are a loving couple and can provide for the child." " The bill also says that the state will not recognize ¯ adoptions by Gay couples in other states. That : provision could be unconstitutional, Vargas ~id. "_ Several states have been sued over policies banning ¯ Gays from adopting.. Only Horida statutorily bars " Gay couples from adopting. ~ Robin Lemer, staff attorney for the American Civil ¯ Liberties Union in Mississippi, said state lawmakers : shouldbe worried about crime committed by children ¯ who grow up without families. ’‘The greater issue is " how can we best raise children to be good adults," she said. Red Rock Tulsa. O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting limes and place: 918-584-2325 Mingo Valley Flowers .... . 9413E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 ¯ 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-A.A..A-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows,.LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 The Pride StoreV 1307 E. 38th, 2nd.floor Tulsa Gay Cornmfini.ty Services Center 743.GAY S (743-4297) 6-D prn; Sunday ~ Friday 12-D pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the Center .OKLAHOMA COMMUNICATIONS Local- Long Distance Cellular- Paging 747’ 1508 Free Car.~klaptor &,. Leather. Case with New Cell Phone TOM NEAL: Red Rock Tulsa- Free. Confidential HIV Testing- Walk-ln Clinics - ..... Tuesdays, 5 -8 pm, Center, 1307 East 38th Wednesdays; 5-8 pm,-R~d Rock, 1724 East 8th Daytime appointments available. Call for more ilffonnation: 918-584-2325 KEVIN Keller Williams Realty .712-225,2 Burles0n@kwlcom BU,RLESO-,N.... 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An~~e.tn~er Bwker " OP~~S,OPBN~S,OPEN~S SaintAidan 4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882 Saint John 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 Saint Dunstan 5635 East 71 st. 492-7140 Trinity 501 S. Cincinnati. 582-4128’ The Episcopal Church Welcomes You Georgia Hate Crimes Bill ATLANTA (AP)- Several hours after Palm Sunday seryices ended at Red Oak United Methodist Church, parishioners found themsdves watching from the cemetery outside as the ehnrch was Consumed by fire set by monists. "I stood there in the graveyard with mymembers, singing while it burned down," saidthe .Rev. John W: Pace, pastor of the black church in Stoekbridge. ’ It was hopeless. We could not stop the fire." Pace says his congregation was victimized by a hate crime. And he wasn’t alone in asking the Hons~ ~ J~.di~ary C0mmitte,elo appr~ove stiffer penalties.for cn.mes .~lotivated by race, religion, gender or sexnal onentataon. Committeemembers also hear~~rom arabbi whose -synagogue was vandalized and a Gay mm~ who was assaulted with a knife at his throat. "Terrorism has an impact both on the victims and an .impact on the community at !arge," said Sen. Vincent Fort, DAtlanta, ~e bill s author. "Hate crimds are terrorism because of that fear." Barron Segar,.a professional fund-raiser, told the committeehow he was~surrounded by eight menafter -leaving aGay nightclub in Atlanta:in 1992. One ofthe men grabbed Segar from behind and helda knife to ¯ But Rep. Dan Grossman, D-Denver, and other : oppo.nents said the Vermont Legislature appears to be ¯¯ moving towardrecognitionof ’~domesticparmerships’’ rather,than same-sex marriages. The final vote came ¯ after opponents argued it was a simple attack on ¯ homosexuals. "Thebillis nothingmore than something : based on fear and I think it is an irrational fear,’" : Grossman said. "What horrible thing would happen : to us. It s gratmtous and mearisspirited:’" ~, - : ¯ Supporters denied that. "It’s based oh the ¯ accumulated wisdom and experience of cultures for ¯ 7,000 years," said Rep. Shawn Mitchell, RBroomfield. "We alwayshave i:ecognfized as-self- !eviklent that marriage i~s~joinih~dfopt~site m~mbers :~ .,o~ the human species." Pas~hail !said ~h~ Offered the measnre as a reiriforcement OP’gootl publicpolicy." Gay Teens Ask. ,Peers For Tolerance MIDDLETON, Wis. (AP) - Cal!ing.for an end to harassment and narrow-mindedeess, a group of Gay and Lesbian teen-agers and their friends,is trying to ¯ persuade a majority of teachersand students to sign a p edge ..calling for tolerance_ 9.f ~students of all hi.s .thro.at. "This is what we do to (Gays)," the man i b~k.:grounds and persuasions..! .... : - . . . ,:v, s;xtut.d~,:~uxs~i;n~g:;.a~n.~,=e.~.p,i.,t.~h.e=t..f~o.r~~=h2o~~.a,:,;o,_s~.e:.x-~u..a.l.s....~~:.e.~a.~l’,t.~~k.e.r...¯ , ~ndse,y.Clough., one of t.he s.~,d.e.nts o~g.amzang the - ~.,.~.~.~;mto ~g~uuuu mau-m¢ men scattere~; u o pma- ge0~,o~ nve.~ stud _s_he. ~dent.do.;~~ es-w...i.m... the GaY hves-w~th;’me~erV day: tstilt~liaTe=iti!~h~es,’’ ¯ coun~.l!mty m. part tw.eause a €~e friend of her ;Sdgari~"dt~B~ifhly~~ttaek~dis d0h; ( Tli~se~’~r~ed tw~ : family lost a partner to AIDS.. 8hedeS..eti’bed, her " W~eks mtail ...... ..... " ,, ~. childhood as extremely difficiilt~ .r and said she has :: :;~ Rabbi;,TS.= ¯Robert Iehay of ~-Coni~te~ati~ix:,or: found. ,Goys and.lesbians to be’,~’0_~e.~0f the most : VeShalrmre~lled:h0w ~e synagog~e.~ ~D~I~alb. ¯ und..d.~smnd.ingpe°ple I’ve met in.~y~|ifei:r . "- C0tmtv ~ag vandalizex~1~4,e~;ffi-th~ag~iV",~ai~t’~ " ] ne stug~nt ~oup says its goalis to get most of the ¯d .. - , .r..’~ ¯ M ~1-~ ¯ " ,-~ " ¯ ::Nl~ri:sw~ligas~dthewords~bloodsuek~r~~ ot~b~t~ " : school s 1,600 students and 200. teachers.to s~gn a ,~Sihee’thetL~I~l~ysaid,:the c0n~i~galion ~~-had:a ."-pled~e’.~f!~lerance andinthe.p~to~e~at the police.om~atev~’serv~ce~unetion=indMing_ i s¢.h~l a~qepts a!l students..... weddings .iWe~sleepat¯ni~ht;’;hesaid::"Bat~livavs ~. :rng~schoolisoftenaprimepla~efor~a.ystudents " t~i.tll;an.e~ie :6~,, .in case~°omea,~,;; k~,,,~a,,~ ,,,-: -~ : ¯ to be dbused, accordimz to a reoort last. Year bv the " Fort~s bill ¯passed -the Senate,bv~jttst’two~rtes ~ Gay,...L~,~fib!an and Strmght Educatto.n Network. The -. ~arlier thi’s m~nth, Thebi!t~,a!lr~S.~n~es to ii~se -. gr°up~,~9_Yed teens in32 states imd f~un~ that 91 percent of Gay and lesbian teens reported up to five years in cases Where.~ey determine the : "homo.phobic" remarks at school and 69perccnt said victims were chosen because of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, ei’hnicity, gendei, disiibility or s~xiial 0dentationl ...... . COlorado -Ban-on Gay Marriage Advances DENVER, (AP) - A marriage.between, one man and one woman would be the 0uly uniOn r~cogni2ed as .legally validby the state under a’bill approved by House lawmakers. The House,-which approved the .measureon a 36-29 vote; sent it to-the-Senate, where -it- probabl.y wDuld :pass,.,according to Sen. Mark Hillman, R-Burliugton. Senators approved a shnilar proposal earlier this inonth. Gov. Bill Owens has said he.would sign the bill if approved by the I eegislature. In its original version, House Bill 1249 would have authorized courts to enforcenbnee0n0~nic provigions of prenuptial ¯contracts Spousoring Rep; "Mark Paschall, R-Arvada, succeeded Monday in.stfippi.ng all language from the bill-and substituting it with provisions to ban same-sex.marriages and to ensiire the state, would not recognize S,’une-sex marriages ,pefformedJoutside~tsbordet~: :=:~ ,:, ~,, As it did Moilday, the Hbuse on :ruesda) .rejected a motiOn ,to~ send the bill to- the:House~:Jddiciary Committeeforapublic hearing. Moderate~Republieans _. on.. that, com~ttee.lastl v~ab joined.~t~b~rats in kiliing a-’.similar;bill2 Coni~nitteemeinb~sargued~hat they should be allowed.to, giv~ ~the-bill a(public~ hearing; but Paschall and other supporte,,r.s~ said¯ the~ -concept l~as :had extensive public input. obvious, transparent attempt to kill the bill, said House Majority Leader Doug Dean; R-Colorado Springs. He and other supporters said the measure is necess.ary to avoid forcing Colorado to officially re¢ogmze same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. Supporters said a recent ruling by the Vermont Supreme.Court called for legislative action on samesex mamages, and that action could mean official recognition of such unions. ¯ theyexperieneedsomeformofharassmentorviolence. " Patrick Kelly, an openly Gay freshman, said that while Middleton tends to be more accepting of Gay : students,thanmany otherhigh schools, there is always ¯ room forJmprovement. ¯ "’ LisaAarli, a teacher who advises the student group, says she has seen great enthnsiasm over the pledge ¯ event. "It’ s given a lot of kids someflfiug to Nab onto for a lot of different reasons," she,said. :’The kids on ¯ the margins ,are being pulled into something big m~d ¯ prayerful in tke school." . .... ¯ said he beieved the l~gislature sliotfld be.as.inclusive ¯ as possible in the bill nmv, rather th,-m have to face ~ such questio~m agMn some other, time. "My persom~ ¯ opimon is I don?t wm~t to have to.go t~ough ins for " another reason. I don’ t want another ~gislature to go " tl~ough ~s," he said. Little wo~d prefer to keep tfie_~co~.e:.’of the bill focused on the Gay and ~sbi~conples who sued for " the fight tomTy in the fi~st place..~at’s ~vhy the qivii d0m~l[¢.u~on bill~so~eloselyznfi~ors~age ¯ statutes. ?We haven’t seen ~y, eviOence that people ¯ that ~e.bro~ers and sisters, bro~ers ~d ’bro~ers, " sisters: ~d sisters seek to eslablishthe:s~e,.Nnd of " : inti~m~ -~i!~~:ha~e~felt~th~ discfi~fio~~their efforts toestablis~$~ly : u~," ~tfle sMd. ’~e desi~ of the ~iIl, we hope, is " to ereate~ a NNo~on" ~vherN~e~ ~ n6-~:~ateriM ¯ ~ ~, 7 " -~ ~’ ¯ ~:,..~ =~ .: ~:.~;,~ ~,,,~ : ~. ~:~.~ . ¯ff~en~ between ~fir~age-~fl domeshc"umons) ~d t-herefore no consti~utionM differe-n~’~between " ~€ tWO." . However at a r~ent Repub]i~ S~te Co--tree : meet~g, Ve~ont Republic.s rejected, at least ¯ tempos]y, a push by the p~ty’s state chM~, " Pa~ck G~, for a ConsdmdonM ~en~ent " supporting opposite-gender m~fiage o~y, The ¯ pro~sM stated ~atbemuse ~e state Supreme Court’ s : derision in B~er v. State open~ ~e door for s~e- . gender m~age, ~e OenerM Assembly shoedbe~ ¯e pro~ss of ~en~ng ~e constitution. ’4, JeSSeJackson Get H!Y Test WASHINGTON (AP) - The Rev. Jesse : Jackson stuck a cotton swab between his ." cheek and gums Thursday to demonstrate : how easy it is to take an oral test for the ¯ virus that causes AIDS and to encourage ." other black Americans to be tested. " ’q’he crisis has not left. It is no longer " fron.t-page. It’s not gunfire. It’s not ." cocame, crack or heroine. It:s not gang ¯ warfare," said the civil rights leader, " speaking at the Max Robinson Center of " the Whitman-Walker Clinic, in one of the ¯ capital’s poorest neighborhoods. "But nobody is safe," Jackson said. "I want to " send amessage to everyAfrican-American : that does not know his or her HIV/AIDS ¯ status to get tested." ." Jackson, who said he had taken a blood " test for the virus years ago, took the newe~ ] oral test to draw attention to the issue as ¯ hundreds of people gathered in ¯ Washington for the Johns Hopkins " University 2000 National Conference on African-Americans and AIDS¯ ¯ Theresults ofJackson’s testate expected " to be ready Saturday but, as is common : practice, they will remain confidential. It ¯ was-not immediately clear if Jackson " would release results of his test. " Blacks make up 13% of the U.S. ; population, but they account for 57% of ¯ all new HIV infections detected and nearly’,.: half of all cases of full-blown AIDS, " according to the Centers for Disease ; Control and Prevention. Additionally, ¯ more treatments have become available, ¯ but AIDS deaths among blacks increased ¯ 45% between 1991 and 1996, even as ¯ mortalityamongwhites decreasedby24%, " statistics show. " Jackson .called on the president, first :~ lady and leading presidential candidates to set an example by submitting to testing, noting, "The first issue is to remove the taboo and reststance to testing." Patent Could Block AIDS Research LOS ANGELES (AP) - A feud between two groups of researchers over who owns the rights to a gene helpful inAIDS therapy threatens to slow the development ofnew drugs and treatment, The Los Angeles Times has reported. Maryland-based HumanGenomeSciences securedapatent earlier in February ~hat gives it a 17-year claim on a gene that apparently controls how AIDS begins infecting its victims. However, thebiotechfirm only isolated and decoded the gene. Company officials acknowledge they had no knowledge of its use when they applied.for a patent in June 1995. Agroup ofacademic scientists say they were the ones who proved the gene could be used tO explain why. some people repeatedly exposed t6 HIV never develop the disease. Meantime, the patent, gives Human Genome Sciences control over who can use the gene in commercial,devel’0p~ient of new AIDS drugs, potentially limiting the practical use ofthe academic research. The ownership decisionby the U.S. Patent andTrademark Office outraged the group ofacademic scientists whosay thebiotech firm co-opted their discovery. "If the patent office awards a patent to someone who clones a gene, even though they have no notion of its function and no real idea of its use, that would be like saying, ’I found a fungus, therefore I should get credit for penicillin,"’ said the University of Maryland’s Dr. Robert :Gallo, Whoheaded the group,of academic researeher~ studying HIV infection. That group and several other independent researchers learned in late 1995 that the gene is a so-called "viral receptor" that the HtV virus attaches to. They also discovered that defective versions of the gene generate a protein that suppresses infection by preventing HIV from attaching to cells. "The likelihood is that this is the molecule that needs to be used for the virus to go from one person to another," said New York University’s Dr. Dan Littman, who also contributed to the academic study. William Haseltine, chairman and CEO of Human Genome Sciences, maintains companyresearchers did extensive work isolatingthe gene that justifies the firm’s ownership of the patent. Haseltine said thepatentwill notimpede outsid~ research, adding that the company is making the gene available to academic researchers at no cost. He said the patent will only stem the unauthorized use of the gene for commercial purposes. AIDSactivists havereacted withvenom toward the company, which they accused of capitalizing on the suffering of others. "’These guys are the robber barons of the geneticage," saidGreggGonsalves, policy director of the Treatment Action Group, a New York-based AIDS lobbying organization. ’q’his is not about making progress on AIDS; its about making money.’" Meantime, the U.S. patent office plans to enforce new guidelines in March that would require applicants to better demonstrate the function and usefulness of discoveries. Officials at the National Institutes of Health, however, complain that the new regulations fail to go far enough. i Clinton Plan May ¯ Benefit HIV Postive ¯¯ WASHINGTON (AP)- In an experiment that could significantly, expand federal ¯ benefits to patients with the AIDS virus, ~ the Clinton administration is allowing .. Maine to provide Medicaid payments to ¯ people are HIV-positive but do not yet ¯ have AIDS. Previously, patients could ; notqualifyuntil theyhadfull-blownAIDS. ¯ Health Secretary Donna Shalala said ¯ Thursday that Maine would be the first ¯ state to offer such a plaff,"whichcan give ." more people living with HIV access to ¯ promising therapies.’" Several other states : are looking at offering a similar plan, ¯ officials said. "Betterresearch, prevention ¯ and treatment is helping people with this ¯ ¯ disease livelonger, healthier lives, even as.we continue our search fora cure," said ~ Shalala at a conference on black people ¯ with AIDS. ¯: Recentstudies have showfl that the early use of.AIDS-fighting drugs can slow the ." disease and increase life expectancy. However, many people with HIV ¯ _generally do not qualify for Medicaid, ¯ which provides health insurance to low- " income Americans, until they have ¯ symptoms and are considered disabled." ¯ Without the plan, "the Medicaid ¯ program was in the untenable position of ¯ having to wait until someone grew so sick ¯ with AIDS that they became disabled" ¯ before treatment and drugs conld be made ¯ available, said Francis Finnegan, Maine’s ¯ Medicaid director. ¯ ¯ The state’s five-year demonstration projectbeginsinSeptember.Tobeeligible, ¯ a participant must be HIV-positive and ¯ haveanincomeofless thanabout $25,000, ¯Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway,-Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. January April July October DecOnber Even Out Your Monthly Electric Bills. At PSO, we know that changing weather conditions ,throughout the year can cause your monthly electric bills to rise and fall dramatically. Which can make it hard to plan your household budget. That’s why~ ourAverage Monthly Payment phn, could be your budgeting solution. W’~da~you pay about the same each month, because ifs based on yowprevious 12 months us~e.. That makes budgeting a breeze. AnO best ofall, ifs free. AMPis just on~ of several fiem’ble payment options PSO offers_you. For more informatibn,.We’re a~filable 24 hours a day. Or.~’~p forAMP on our website at ~vw.csw.com. PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA A Central and South West Company Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation. Lesbians and Gay men face many special tax situations whether single or as couples. Electronic filing is available for faster refunds. 747-5466 4021 South Harvard-Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 Are You Gay or .Bisexual? Are You Native American? Tulsa s Two-Spirited Indian Men’s Support Group is here-for you! ~_~’/,~ ’ Evening sup~ group meetings ¯ , ¯ Sho~ trips, outings and retreats ¯ [ Free HIV testing ~or informat~n call Tul~ Native American AIDS Prevention Proj~t ~’:~whlch is three times the federal poverty ,: level. Before the plan, only children, .: pregnant women and the elderly or disabled with incomes below the poverty ! the 37-year-old mayor mused:about level were eligible for assistance. The surprising twists and turns in his life. "It’s benefitpackage will indudedrugtherapy, office visits, lab services, case management, hospitalizations, mental health and substance abuse services. About 1,300 Maine residents are infected with HIV and 350 have AIDS, according to the Maine Bureau of Health. The new waiver will allow the state to offer treatment to about 300 people who couldn’ t otherwise afford it. Officials said the early intervention is expected to reduce the need for costly hospitalization and prevent addi tional infections. Nationally, about 900,000 people are infected with HIV, a third of those with full-blown AIDS, said Kathryn Bina, a spokeswoman for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A third of those whose HIV hasn’t progressed into AIDS, about 200,000 people, don’t know they have the disease, she said. Claudia French, acting executive director ofAIDS Action, a national AIDS support group, said more states need to ad’o~t suchaplan. ’~roday’s announcement will prolong the lives of low-income Mainers with HIV, but we want all HIVpositiveAmericans tohave access to drugs that could keep them from developing full-blown AIDS," said French. ’Shooting Gallery’: to Open in Sydney ¯ SYDNEY, Australia (AP)- This nation’s : first experimental heroin "shooting ¯ gallery" will open later this year in a " former pinball parlor in Sydney, the Uniting Church, which will run the 18- " month government-approved trial, " announced at the end of February. " The Site in Kings Cross, a suburb : notorious for drug use and prostitution, " has been approved by New South Wales : police and the state’s health department. : It will be run by an expert on AIDS and ¯ aim to provide a clean, safe environment : for addicts to take their drugs. "Our primary aim in operating the medically supervisedinjecting centeris to save lives," said Uniting Church spokesman Rev. Harry Herbert." New South Wales state premier Bob Carr said he understood concerns of local residents who have fought to prevent the gallery being opened, but said it would help improve public health. "We think it mayhelp save lives and get the problems out of the streets of Kings. Cross into a medically-supervisedlocation,’? Cartsaid. Thecenter’ s medical director Dr. Ingrid van Beck said about 200 addicts would ¯ use the center to shoot up when it opens, : possibly as early as July,, just weeks " before Sydney hosts the 2000 Olympic Games. . United Nations drugs experts this week " condemned "shooting galleries" but authorities in Sydney and two other cities have said they will forge ahead with plans to open them. Want to get involved? Need to get tested for HIV or a Coming Out Support Group? Call 743-GAYS (4297) Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor the : ~a strangejourney," he said,, shaking ¯ his head. "I started drugand alcohol abuse : when I was around 10," he said. ¯ The drug and alcohol abuse worsened when h_e was a teen-ager having conflicts with his policeman stepfather and struggling with the emer~ng realization that .he was Gay. "I joined the military when I was 18 to escape a lotof things, and because I wanted ~o be somebody," Stewart said. "And, I onestly thought that in the military, I d go straight. It didn’t quite work out that way. I found more Gay people in the military than I’d ever known." His eight years in the Air Force brought him to this city of 21,000 on the shore of Lake Champlain. When his tour of duty ended, he started driving a tractor trailer. Then came a drug and alcohol relapse. "I fell flat on my face," Stewart said. With the help of a network of friends, Stewart struggled to overcome his addictions. "I sobered up on Dec. 14, 1988, and I’ve been clean and sober ever since." It was the recovery process that led Stewart out of the closet. "I was 26 years old, sitting in the basement of a church at a recovery meeting at 1 a.m. on New Year’s Day. I said, ’I can’t stav sober !,f, I .keep hiding the truth,"’ Stewart said. It lifted a huge burden. When you live a lie, you suffer the consequences." Backin the eabofabigrig, he considered his furore. "I wanted a sense of inclusion in the system, having a positive role," Stewart said. He got involved with the AIDS activist group, ACT UP, handing out condoms on the street. His activism ultimately led him into mainstream politics. Of roughly 500,000 elected officials at the local and national level across the country: about 180 are openly Gayand the vast majority are Democrats, according to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a .Washington-based group flint seeks to ¯ increase the number of Gay and lesbian ¯ public officials. "It’s hard to overstate the . value of having outstanding opeul3,,’ Gay ~ and lesbian people in public office, said ¯ Sloan Wiesen, a spokesman for the Gay & : Lesbian Victory Fund. "When Gay and straight legislators are working together : on less contentious issues, like education, ; health care, or fixing roads, people are ¯ more inclined to stand up f0rfairness ¯ when a nondiscrimination issue comes : up," Wiesen said. Stewart hopes the national attention he " ¯ en.j,,o,ys,by .virtue 0f,,b~,ing aGayRepublican Will neip the city. I m invited to all these events - the State of the State address, the State of the Union. It gives me the opportunity to get the message out that Plattsburgh exists, and we need" things here. A lot of people around the country want to help, because they want to see me succeed." Stewart does have some regrets. 0~e is that he never worked up the courage:to talk to his mother about the fact that he’s Gay before she died in a car acdident four years ago. "I was making visits to the White House on Gay issues, but I was afraid to talk to my own mother about it. It shouldn’ t have been that way," Stewart said, his voice trailing off. Another regret was that he taunted the boys who wanted to go to the prom at Cumberland High School. see Mayor, p. I1 TWO REVIEWS AND A MUSE! [love John ~Villiams’ film scores. I really do; they are sweeping, grand things, alwaySsuitable for driving to, especially the S~.Wars and Indiana Jones scores¯ Hedidagreatjob.on 1979’s Draciihi, d~ea~iiig, an o~atie score that soared andswooped al,ong with Dr~c~ffd~tly..It s my all= score.- too :bad it h~Snot been reissued comp!etdy as some of his others have¯ What happened was, way backwh~,scores were not released in the version heardin the film. Williams was 7::..notorious for rerecording .chopped up bits~iof, his: sc0~ds, edited t6gethdri .....ahogether diffe~gntly ~ft0ffa~the film, aadrdea~edas the ori mdtifnpicture s’dundtrack qt is a nice thing to wish for peace ~ndha~mony amm~.~p~oipl~ I wonder if it will ’ever kappen. ~ One can, only hope that. Deganawida will come along and help create a world that engenders with .a just-too~tight cardboard Slip case covenng the CD case mid the thick liner notes abit too tightly, so that getting die blasted tiring out is enough to prejudice your listeafing experience (childproofCD cases?).If you’re a purist and a Williams collector., .this is for you. If not, well, rent the film. ~ .Jomme~he~mndoahhas a uewirelease out,and it is well worth seeking out mid buying. A member of the Wolf Clan of the Oneida (Iroquois) Indians in New York, Joaame has put out a :number of bestselling, award-wi~ufing CDS that arejustincredible tolisten to (Orenda, ~Matriarch, Lifeblood)¯ She_has a lovely, clear,: bell-like voice that .Ires an intimate quality to it that can’t, be :beat. Sheap,,l~ffed in Peter Whnt~.y0a ggt Wasnot the laarmony anaong Buffet.t" S y Spirit,:- A s0u.fidi~,.a~(.~,er~annoying d-f€- ¯ ~,, " 1 ’~.- .- Jotmley in,Dance, Drum, to~p.ufiS.~!, b.uLa reerea.ted ~re~ng~ peop,es_~. : ~ .-m!d:,~oug",,:-and opened .~rms.~...ash:..o[~,hat rmght ’ : :.. " :~ :;. ’- ~Wo.odstock ~94. :She:~has ha~g:~n~n!h9 soundtrack at somepoint~ ;. been€ailed~-aa!~i-ve Ameii.can:yersion of In!re.a~..~ ca~_e~.,, this was disap~ointing, ~; Enya,:.a.1,.lhough; L.~eall~-!-hiak.,that’s This,~beguntochange,firstwithpufists ,~ ,c,ompari~g:,oa.pl~e~.:,~,d,+,oranges. rais~g~:S~jhenwithrecordcompanie,s : Pea~gmai~er,_SJoameyr:i:sanenchanting ,a,ct~[yt,iste~nipg. The score to Williams - r ~lbmn:, wi~h beautiful~melodies. Iti~ sung Close-Eae0unters of the 3rd Kind".was ~ in her~nativg~Oneida Jaaguage, and- the one::of .the. first to be remastered and ~ liner;aotes~.~conta_;n the :story. :and a rel~:witli all cues (music bits) int.act.. ¯ trans!afioa:~into:English of:/he lyrics: It is ~di]s:reallygreat~sincemuchofw.hat , the.p~effeet:~bumt~li-ght~some,oandles, mad~ the sou~dtrack~so great were ~CU! : and relax -~ith, with-its genre :melodies ¯ ."~" ~. " ’: : "- ’.~ ’ ~ ’6 --~ ....~z ~-~ ~ ,:~-~-~,~,~-,. ,~;’,’::-, ,~:’L~"~’J-~ . ~nta~t. ~twas also great. Then the S-.~y~ i,. mumc,-ofLtl~ ~f~ri~:~ of,~.lroqums V~$i ~l~gy was. released with:.,t..b.€~;~: Co~f~%~li~x~i~ihg,~t6~er-~ter sou~atra_~ks"intact. That was beyond"~:~ many.:cemu~eS-ofW-~;-~-tli~M61iav~k, wonderful. Now, Rhino records has ~ ~Onei~;.Onoiidaga, Cayuga; Seneca; and released, something score purists have " TuscaroralndianNations.~’Peacemaker’s desired since-the film came out: The "Superman". soundtrack, complete, and, no pun intended, uncut. Great in that the quality of sound is incredible for a score recorded in 1978, great that the record companies are releasing complete sets ofsoundtrack CDs. Notso.hot after a listen and the realization that Williams copying Williams is not really worth a 2" CD set, because almost every cue on the two CDs (despite what the liner notes claim) is almost lifted note - for.~ note/from Star Wars. Oh a few sequences are rearranged, but "Luke Skywa~ker!s~" i.Theme" is clearly recognizable in one cue, and the original openingnotesfrom"StarTrek" are audible in another; in.what one might surmise to beatributes,Williams borrowing ofthemes is nothing new;’,many classical references abound in Star Wars; but to blatantly borrow so much from oneself is just lazi~s~’~ ~:of.. li.ke~a~in~;i’~Well, I don~f~[lik¢i~ri~ti~t,g~~,,w.hat can r.borrow from the .~,~gltv~l,~ear~ S~n~.~ays,~eco~zes. T0,~,fair, m~be~h~J~.t d~dd’"~h~,~e-lmucl~ tim.e .~d that. w~- tiieifio~t practic~i, s01ution~- ai~d maybe-theirwas why a fully complete score was never released. Still, it’ S a pleasant listen, especially if you recall the thrill of Christopher Reeve in blue tights and hotpants fondly, as I do. Who paid attention to the score? I must say that Rhino has done a fine job on the remastering; the sound quality is, as I said, incredible. The packaging is odd, : Journey isdedicated-to children ¯" everywhere and to th0se striving forpeace ¯¯" betweenpeople andharmonyfor all living things. ¯ Peacemaker’ sJourney tells the storyof ¯ Deganawida and Hiawatha, who smv the tribes warring ambngst themselVes, and : sought to bring peace and harmony to the ¯ people~ -Relationships ~etween the tribes ¯" had deteriorated into constant war, blood : feuds~and revenge killings. In danger of : self-destruction; the Iroquois were saved ¯ by the sudden appearance ofa Huron h01y ¯" man known as the "Peacemaker." : Deganawida (Two RiverCurrents Flowing ; TogetheO re.ce~yeda vision from the ¯ Creator of peace’and cooperation among ". all Iroquois.Apparently he was hindered 2 by either.a language or speech difficulty, :... but :~ganaw,ida~ ~eaxttialty,, w:o~ ~the ¯ support of Hiawatha (.Mionwatha - He ¯ Makes Rivers), an Onondaga who had ~ beeo~n~..~:;Mg~aw.~:~ar~ ~i,ef. With :: t.h~irfighiiii~Mdjoin i6~th~inale~i~ue. : ~~end tdiS~fii Degan~widablotted 3ut : thesun"t;6:~dh~,~il~:tfieS:’,elucima~t;’~,i~oi~r ¯ eclipse, visible ’ih(upstate New York ." occurred in 1451 suggesting another ~ possible¯ d~t~ for these events. The ¯ formalion ofthe League ended the warfare : between itsmembers bri~ging the Iroquois : a period of unprecedented peace and ¯ prosperity. It also brought political unity ¯ and military power. : "Peacemaker’s Journey" will be ~ releasedMarchT, 2000. seeAmuse, p. 11 The University of Tulsa The Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay & Trans Alliance presents ANiOKLAHOMO PROMO 2000 2-’~ightSi.~~di’,~y ~f:C£11~loid Scintillation B+~n+i’:~,+++~m+~:~+~*~@+~;~;Chi.~olls, and Out of Se~on Friday, Ma~h 24, 7- I2:0~ midnight .GOd Shave (he Queen,Watermelon Woman Indecent Acts: O~car Wilde, Cynam, P~t~ in Motion, and C~sh Sunday, March~ 26, 2-7pm Different for Girls, All Over Me, Under Heal, and Our Mom’s a Dyke ,.+ Chapman Hall Theater, 2835 East Fifth Street : -. :’- ~.: (not~the+:Alleri~Chapman~Activity Center) Eas{ of Delaware Avenue on the University of Tulsa campus. Please look lL~r rainbow flags to lead you in off Delaxvare Avenue. ¯ Thi+ ex;+fit is offered in +6iijunction withomyn,~& Hentage-Month. Actlvtt~es. P!.eg.s,e=,<+c~+ntact,..~g. J~6~s~+~at’ 63.1~:~3 i:!5 to make arrangements for accessibility, accommodations. A Jurnpin ", Singin " . Movin" and Groovin" Good Time! Warren Vach4 and the NEW YORK CITY ALL,STAR BIG BAND and direct from London! THE JIVIN’ LINDY HOPPERS Sunday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m. Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Chapman Music Hall, 3rd &.Cincinnati Tickets: $15,-$20, $2S, *Includes post-performance swing dance ’ Discounts a~aihble ~or~gr6h’p~ and’ ~tudents Call: 596-7111 or Outside Tulsa:~1-800-364-71il "Online:.’Rrano.tulsapac.com Tulsa PerformmgSA~s Center Trust Holland Hall SCHOOL MIDDLE & UPPER SCf-IOOL TESTING (GRADES4 - ll) PRIMARY SCHOOL TOUR (AC~ 3 - GRADE 3) PRIMARY SCHOOLTESTING ~qDERGARTEN- GRADE 1) To reserve your place, please call the i Admlssi~n Ot~ce at .,t81-1111, exte~i~n 25 t. 5666 E. 8 Ist Stre~J~.~ Bet~eea~le.& Sheridan ~ Tulsa ~ www.hollandhalLorg HSllatid Hall admits q~lifid’~studm~i ivfit~ ~egard to rat6 sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, or physical disability. Church,of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist 11 am, Sunday, 1314 North Greenwood, 587-1314 by Mary Schepers, Do-lt-Yourself-Dyke There was your DIYD, on her knees, aching, throbl~ing~-on the verge of tears - wondering why her mouth says "yes" when her brain screams "No, no, no!" No, gentle readers, we are not revie~ving the DIYD’s-latest forays into courtship, but ~rather her most recent Volunteereffort to help out a friend in need. As you accumulate handy skills ..~and .-become geuerally perceived as arather useful indiv:idual, expect to be asked to help out others. This is quite fair; after all, most ofus, your DIYD included, have accumulated skills and learned lessons (someti~nes not positive ones) from those who:have helped us on our ownprojects: Quidpro qu,o is a conunon currency tn the world of home improvement; the student evolving into the teacher is an apt, and expected, metaphor. - " In short,_darlings;give backwhat has so generously been shared.withyou~Orbegin ficcumulating favors(that can be repaid later in yourown moments Ofdire need:It is common proffer; it is cxpected,~and it’ is honorable, and as sly as your DIYD may seem, she is absolutely honorable.. Therein lies the.theme; the exemplar. and the moral of our m0nthlytale. Listen’ closely and ieani from yore DiYD.-And remember that this is a. cautionary story; not a vehicle for blame,unlessR is your poorDIYD’S~ whodidn°taskforsufficient "There was your DIYD, on her knees, aehln~., thr0bhi O;on the ver~e o~ tears - wonderln$ why her mouth says ’yes" when her : infomiation before promising her vast ¯. array ofskills, tools and energy to a friend : The particulars of die story ,’ire not ~ important. What matters is that a favor ¯¯ was asked of the DIYD - to help lay tile. ¯ Rule number one: if the task at hand is one that you are not only good at, but have a particular vanity over, watch out! You m’e very susceptible! Alld the DIYD is the tile and grout di~’a. Having refitedevery c6nv~i~tionatstiffaeeinher liouse, she finds herself wonderizi~,7 Liii unguarded moments, whether the garage or the front porch could, benefit from the tasteful application of ceramic tile. She was, m fact, ripe for the phscking. She graciously agreed. Wlfich brings us to rule nmnber two: agree on and set all the parameters around the proposed ! project befom.taldng it On: For those o,,f you.whoshudderat theword "bom~dafies," ¯" find a word thai works, b~t doi t~ al!ddo it : thoroughly. This not only protec.ts you ~ from unpleasant surPrises, but the party to i whom you are lending assistance aswelE Nothing can sour a friendship like an : ~tmisin4¢rpretedand goneaw.ry. ’ : Both sid~ should knowwhat is expected, ¯ ’ what wil! actually occur, ~hat amount of ¯ dme is involved, how~.much work is : inv61vht, hoW much each person is. : responsible for, and~ whatthe fairexchange will, be. Any changes should be E comm,tmi.¢ated u~ front:..,., ." _’ .’," " 50 New-Books at the Library by Barry Hensley Tulsa City-County Library Over the last few momhs, .the Tulsa City-Cotmty Libraryhas acquired dozens of recent tides of interest to the gay community. Cheek your local branch library for these dries, or call the Readers Services department at 596-7966. LESBIAN FICTION Shy Girl by Elizabeth Stark Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters Hers 3: Brilliant New Fiction by Lesbian Writers 6th Sense: A Cassidy James Mystery by Kate Calloway Bogeywoman: A Novel by Jaimy Gordon Lost Daughters by J. M. Redmann November Ever After by Laura Tones The Other Woman by Ann OiLeary The Vintage.BookoflnternatiomdLesbian Fiction GAY MALE FICTION Breakfast with Scot by Michae! Downing Comfort and Joy by Jim Grimsley Justice at Risk: A Benjamin Justice ~iYnkStSelriypbbyyJoRhintaMCiorregsain,Wilson Surrender.Dorothy by Meg Wolitzer Minions of the Moon by Richard Bowes Capital Queers by Fred Hunter EveryManfor Himselfby OrlandOudand His 3: Brilliant New Fiction by Gay Writers LESBIAN NONFICTION The Queen of Whale Cay by Kate Surmnerscale TheWhole Truth:A Case ofMurderon the Appalachian Trail by H. L. Pohlman Monologues and Scenes for Lesbian Actors by CarolynGage- Janet, My Mother; and Me: A Menloir of Growing Up by William Murray Baby Precious Always Shines: Selected Love Notes by Gertrude Stein Lesbian Health: Current Assessment and Directions My Lesbian Husband: ALandscape ofa Marriage by Barrie Borich Hunting the Witch byEllen Hart ApplesandOranges:MyJourney Through Sexual Identity I~y Jan Clausen RestrictedAccess: LeSbians on Disability To Believe in Womem ’What, Lesbians Have Done for America by’ Lillian Faderman GA~ MALE NONFICTION How to Survive Your Own Gay L~e by Pet~ Brass " . VulgarFavors:Andrew Cunanan,G’ianni " Versace, and the Largest FailedManhunt in U S. History by Maureen Orth Crisis ofDesire by Robin Hardy Love in A Different Climate by Jeremy Seabrook Finding the Boyfriend Within by Brad Gooch When It’s Time to Leave Your Lover by Neil Kaminsky see Read, p. 1: by Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D. "Faggots !" I was sitting inmy car talking to my friend Errol when I heard the word. One of ErroF s cantankerous neighborsno pal, obviously - had barked at us as he marched past the car. I didn’t know whether tO feel outraged or amused. It had been a long time since anyone "called me a name, at least publicly. Sticks mad stones, I thought. And did I really mind being a faggot anyway? Still, the hairon my neck Stood up. Rude slurs are good e~idence of the power of words. Even-if 0nly symbolic, words have an ~mpact. Some words ,are deeds. Linguists study "’speech acts" that shape or change the world. Utterances like "I promise, "I apologize," "I resign," or "[I name you] faggot!" have serious consequences (as anyone knows who has been "pronounced" man or wife). Language can’carry either a positive or a negative charge. Both sacred speech and profane speech are dangerous. In many religions, no one knows the name of god. Or even where onedo..,e.s; the deity’ s name is never uttered aloud, Magical words can change the world. The secret word "sesame" opens the cave. Abracadabra pulls the rabbit from the hat. Uttering a sacred name can have unintended consequences. You might wake sleeping gods. It’s safer to steer clear of charged labels. A similar sort of ritualized avoidance of naming characterizes many kinship systems around the word. Son-in-laws never pronounce the personal names oftheir wives’ parents, and .vice versa. In other societies, brothers and sisters avoid ¯ in public? Who can use which word, and ¯¯ in which context? "Gay" and "Lesbian" have recently become broadly accepted ¯ terms for homosexuality. Some have also ¯ attempted to revaluate "queer." Revaluation succeeds when the labeled ¯ themselves embrace a slur as their own, defusing its negative charge. Thus,"Queer Theory" is currently being taught in ¯ Ameficau umversities. Then there’s "faggot." Faggot, as a negative homos’exual label dates back ¯ onlyto 1910, although it was used as early ¯ as the late 16th century to slur women. In ¯ fact, a number of today’s Gay slurs - ¯ including the term "Gay" itself- were ¯ first applied to women. A "Gay" woman ¯ in 1650 Faagland was a prostitute. Robert ¯ Scott’s Gay Slang Dictionary (online at http:/!~vww.hurricane.net/.~vizard/ 19.htnfl) lists 156 synonyms for"fag" mad ¯ more appear else~vhere in the dictionary. (Scott also has 37 terms for "Lesbian.") These include Spmfish-derived’~maricon" ~ and "’pato," French "tapette" (although ¯ pede ~srmss~n~),~dd~sh fe~,ele, and ¯ British/Australian "poofter." Then there are the more obscure "’cot betty," ¯ "daffodilly," "fu," "whoopsie boy," and "uffimay" - "muffie’" in Pig Latin. ~’Faggot,’" unlike "Gay". or "Queer," ~ still remains impolite. The ~vord is ¯ dangerously profane.. Not many of my ¯ academic colleagues are willing to teach ¯ courses ~in "Faggot Theory." But the profane is always close to the sacred. ." Because of its charge, "faggot" is more ¯ hurtful but also thusmore useful indefining ¯ who and what we are. When we name ¯ each other by the word, we make a strong, each other’, s names like hot potatoes. ~ pt~blic claim to belong to a shared world Anthropology suggests" that such ¯ .~oFfaggotry. So, still sitting in ~ny 4,’if; I "avoidance relations" smooth over areas of potential social conflict. Negativel5 charged words are equally powerful. The profane also carries a wallop. A curse c,’m kill. The villagers I lived with in Vanuatu were always fearful when someone spoke evil of thegn. Even if someone swore without thinking, in the heat of an angry moment, the ancestr~fl ghosts ufight hear and punish the person who cursed, or the person who ~vas cursed. or both. Sociologists of the 1970s formulated what tlaey called "labeling theory?" They analyzed the ways in which lal~els, like faggot, impact both society and the individual. Socially. an arsenal ofnegative labels maintains power inequalities. Those on the bottom of the social ladder shoulder the brunt of these terms. Individually, such slurs unavoidably tinge our sense of who we are. Like muttered curses, they can harm. Even if we are of the strong, "words may never hurt us" sort, we still have to take into account their social currency:We must respond tO slurs ifonly to deny their validity and power over us. Labeling theory in the 1970s particularly noticed ethnic slurs the N word, the H word, and all those othe~ lfibels ,that~e today t66 impolite to say. Dhrin~"~iE last generation, American speech etiquette (what socio-linguists call "pragmatics") has shifted to make use of these labels hazardous. More recently, the same has occurred with words like faggot. In a way, however, new politeness rules give these words even more power than they once had, as Errol’ s neighbormay have realized. There is a politics of labeling here. Whose words will become the standard labels - the one everyone safely may use jnst gave that !@#S% the evil-eye. But in 1996, at a Gay pride parade in Providence, R.I., he took the opportunity to make ,’unends, "’I stood tip in t¥ont of 3,000 people mad lnade a public apology to the Gay couununity aud the two gentlemen who went to that prom together," Ste~vart said. "It was very emotional." " Stewart 1]as been criticized bv some iu the Gay connnumty for not being more out froht with his personal relationslfips. He bristles at that. "’My personal life is extremely private," he said. "People have a lot of gall to impose their opinions on someone who’ s trying to make a difference - to tell me that because I’ ve reached a certain stature, I have to promote some Gay agenda." ’~¥qaen it comes to being a role model, Stewart believes it’ s more important to be a greatmayor than to spotlight his personal life. "Having-openly Gay elected people gives us our place at the table mad proves that we are just as capable as anybody else," Stewart said. "And it helps change people’s minds abont how to consider Gay people in their daily lives. It’s all about being positive in what you do." IGTA member Call341.6866 International Toursformoreinformation. Massage Therapy Services ~EdgarO. Cruz, L.M.T. ¯ Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm @SprinL Sprint PCS" The Clear Alternative to Cellular. Sprint PCS" Select Retailer ;99.95 New Sprint PCS Phone :25.00 Less instore rebate $74.95 Net cost Buyany SprintPCS Phone and get $25 off! Everyone is approved! ~LSpriot~PCS service plans inc!ude.’- " ¯ F~ee Voicemail ¯ Fr~e Caller ID ¯ Free Call W~g"oFr~3 way €~illing ¯ Noa~~f~;~5;~tract required ¯ 100% ~pr nt: PCS Nat[~i~ide Network. Tulsa Locatioi~s~ - " 2001 S. Garnett, 437-2~.~.~. 3733 S. Memori.,~ 6600344 1216 S. Harvard, 587-1778 Sapulpa Location: 109 N. Mission, 227-2322 Meet Local Guys for Hot the other personal ads ) guys you like @Origin. 18+. Additional features from 67 !n April of this year the "Warrior in Two Worlds" documentary will air nationally on PBS. Keep an eye open for the exact time and date in your area. This is a compelling story of Eli Parker, a Seneca Chief and a Union general in the Civil War. Joanne wrote the sound track. It is a nice thing to wish for peace and harmony among peoples; I wonder if it will ever happen. One can only hope thal _ Deganawida will come alo~ag and help create a word that engenders harmony among differing peoples. Maybe then there will be no more Gay bashing, lynching, genocide... Sometimes, with news of another Matthew Shepard-like case -coming along once a week, it’s hard to believe any change is occurring. Yet, I watch TV, and see Will and Grace, and many other shows that have or feature Gay/Lesbian characters, I see films that are about Gay folk even showing here in the crotch of the bible belt (Beautiful Thing, for instance) and can see a difference. Because when I grew up, the onlyimage I had ofGay folk were the man mentioned in the book on birds and bees my parents gave me at 14 - published in 1945 - that stated homosexuals were men who hung around playgrounds in trench coats offering you candy. I remember thinking - in a rare moment when I wasn’t busy suppressing, repressing and denying - that that was what I had to look forward to? That’s what I was? Ick. And the news at the time, if Gay folk were mentioned at all, "was nothing but images of the most whacked out, far out people on the planet. Lovely. Now, kids have it much easier. Is it paradise? No. Obviously not, and there are people who are very much fighting to prevent growth and understanding, and raising monsters all around us. As Melissa Etheridge wrote in her song "Scarecrow" on the albttm "Breakdown": "’We all gasp ’this can’t happen here’, we’re all much too civilized, where can these monsters hide?’" She answers: "But they are knocking on our front door, They’re rocking in our cradles, They" re preadfing in our churches, And eating at our tables." And she’s absolutely right; that’s exactly where they are. The boogeymen are out there; and occasionally they do get you. In another song on the same album, she writes: "There is no marc, There are no secrets, We all begin this race at the start, But I have come this farWith a truth of the heart. Deep down inside I think we’re all the same. Try not to judge someone And never shame. I do bdieve that people are good. They just want hope and respect And to be understood. Sometimes it hard sometimes it’s strange But the truth of the heart is people can change" And this is true; I’ve seen it happen. Far too infrequently, but it can happen. And that’s the hope that can feed the fire of change, andkeepus going whenit gets too much. And it does feel that way, sometimes. I had gotten to that point, after seeing the internal strife within the communities, as well as from outside. How can we hope to change the world when we can’t even agree amongst ourselves? I’ d certainly decided it wasn’ t worth an effort. Butmy best friend Karin, aftermany years ofcomplainingabout the world, has finally taken steps. To at least make an attempt. And her doing so has reignited a flame within me. And if that spark might ignite another, then perhaps the tamers of the world can unite. And thus is hope reborn, like a phoenix frown the ashes. And the world has changed; it is so much easier tocome out earlier. There’ s less a chance ofsomeone being afraid that they’re the only one - like I did, There were no role models. There were no out Gay folk that I could talk to. There were few resources available even at.the library, unless it was reinforcement of the writing in that booklet morn and dad gave me. Thanks to the folks who were willing to come together and fight and be,,,~ocal ~md out when it was much more dangerous to do so, the younger Gay folk do have options we older folk didn~ t have. For thai reason alone, the fight must continue. So get involved, even if it’s coming out to someone youhaven’ t yet. The only way to dispel the lies and misi~ffonnation of the radically wgong is to present ourselves as we are - hmnan beings. That h~s done more to change folks around me tha_u all the marching and worn out footwear in the world. And what is it that we all seek, really? Not sex; and people who think that’s what it’s all about are just plain wrong. Tell them so. It’ s about the right to love without being discriminated against. And if they give you guff about that, just tell them what author Lynn Flewelling told me: Love is love. Tuesday, June 6th, an art exhibit, "United" will openandonThursday, June 8th, there will be a film night. Locations and times will be announced later. For more information about these events, call the Gay Community Services Center at 743-4297 (Gays). Groups who want to enter a float in the parade are encouraged to attend the float clinic on March 11 from 1-4pro at the Center. Gay Men’s Friendships: Invincible Cotnmunities by Peter Nardi The Elusive Embrace: Desire and the Riddle ofldentity by Daniel Mendelsolm Prayer Warriors by Stuart Howell Miller Widescreen Dreaths : Growing Up Gay at the Movies by Patrick Horrigan Victory Deferred: How AIDS Changed Gay Life in America ¯ by Johi~-Manual Andriote ; OF INTEREST TO EVERYONE ¯ Gay Parents/Straight Schools: Building ¯ Comnfftnication attd Trust by Virginia Casper ¯ Witness to Revolution: The Advocate ¯ Reports on Gay and Lesbian Politics ¯¯ 4 Steps to Financial Securityfor Gay attd Lesbian Couples ¯ by Harold Lustig Multicultural Detective Fiction: Murder ¯ from the Other Side Outon Stage: Lesbian andGay Theatre in ". the Twentieth Century ¯ by Alan Sin.field ¯ TheQueerSixties by PatriciaJuliana Smith ¯ Gaylaw: Challenging the Apartheid of ¯ the Closet ¯ by William Eskridge : To Be Continued, Take Two i by Michele Karlsberg Disidentifications: Queers of Color and ¯ the Performance ofPolitics ¯ by Jose Munoz "- SomethingInside: Conversations with Gay ¯ Fiction Writers CouNCiL oak meN’S c or<aLe presents an~eclectic mix.of.choral.literature ranging from Baroque to Broadway, from pop classics of the ’50s and ’60s to a bawdy sea chantey aod an American Folk song featuring the Green Country Cloggers. Friday and Saturday, April 7 & 8, 2000 at 8pm Williams Theatre, Tulsa Performing Arts Center (reception following) Tickets: PAC box office, 596-7111 in Tulsa, 1,800-364-7111 or online at www,tulsapac.com council oak a fellowship of gay men dedicated to musical excellence in the performnnce of choral literature:, providing a source ot" pride, unity, and support, w;h{]e presenting a positive image for ourselves, our community, and society as a whole. FOR MORE INFORMATION about the council oak me~’s Cl~oI~aLe and its parent organization, the non-profit Vocal Pride Foundation,visit our award-winning website at www.counciloak.org. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, March 2000; Volume 7, Issue 3 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Barry Hens;ey J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, February 2000; Volume 7, Issue 2 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 newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/598 adoption AIDS AIDS research aMUSEments arts and entertainment Barry Hensley Bars Bill Clinton businesses churches civil unions Community Center Council Oak Men's Chorale Dave Fleischer Diversity celebration Do-It-Yourself-Dyke domestic partners Gay marriage gay politicians Gay Studies Greg Louganis Harmonic Diversity hate crimes bill HIV HIV testing homophobia injection site Jesse Jackson Jim Christjohn Karin Gregory Lamont Lindstorm lesbian survey marriage equality Mary Schepers National Gay and Lesbian Task Force performing arts PFLAG Pride Raging Lesbian Read All About It restaurants The Laramie Project Tom Neal Tulsa Family News violence youth https://history.okeq.org/files/original/c6222a5ded02f6f03ba212ed6ec4712f.jpg e72951848df73d29ab1eb4dff6fd5184 https://history.okeq.org/files/original/f307d0179742161b0a827222493d3bcd.pdf 01594456d3ed79d709782087b7762b39 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. Text Any textual data included in the document Bishop.Spong Retires TEANECK, N.J. (AP) - Bishop John Spong, an outspoken supporter of the ordination of Gays and women, and blessings of same-sex unions in the Episcopal church, retired in January as head of the Diocese of Newark. Spong, 68, celebrated one of his final services as bishop at the Glenpointe Marriott ballroom before hundreds of guests. His successor will be John Croneberger. Since his elevation to bishop in 1976, Spong has raised eyebrows and blood pressures for his beliefs_ ranging from women becoming priests to supporting same-sex marriages to the ordination of openly Gay ministers. ButSpong, a native of Charlotte, N.C. who speaks with the slightest ac~ut, left the diocese with few words of controversy. "It’sjust the next stage ofmy life," said Spong. .’,. "Basically, I’ve been a bishop, but also an author and lecturer," he said. "But in all ofmy ordained life, it was participating in movements of people who’ve been diminished in society, like people of color and Gays, that the church has diminished where I’ve worked." Among those present at Friday’s 126th annual convention of the Diocese of Newark were the Rev. Richard HollowayofEdinburgh; ~.-~- - See Spong~.p.lO Southwest Air Adds, Non- Discrimination Policies DALLAS - Southwest Airlines has amended its nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policies to include sexual orientation, according to Chief Executive Herb Kelleher. The move, announced Jan. 24, came after a spate of alleged anti-Gay harassment at the airline, which led some Southwest employees to raise safety concerns. The tensions boiled over when Southwest Airlines’ Pilots’ Associationpublished ahomophobicletterfrom one of its members in its December newsletter. The letter, by Capt. Gary S. Ward, urged Kelleher to reject calls for the airline to provide domestic partner benefits saying, ’Will therebeaneedto hireadepartment to check on who is shackin..e, t~p with whom?" The newsletterinstructedpilots to write theirownlettersand deliverthemto their SWAPArepresentativefordeftvcry to Kelleher. Dean Hervochon, vice president of the Transport Workers Union Local 556 representing Southwest’s flight attendants, said the publication "institutionalized homophobia" and created a hostile work environment that "could jeopardize the safety of all persons on the aircraft." "If the front doesn’t talk to the back of the airplane, you’ve got a problem," Hervochon told WorkAlert. Kelleher and leaders of sWAPA and TWU met Jan. 17 to discuss how to respond.TWUrepresentatives also pressed Kelleher to add sexual orientation to the antiharassment andnon-discriminationpolicies. Meanwhile, the vice presidents for flight operations and in-flight services along with SWAPA and TWU officials sent a letter Jan. 20 to flight attendants and pilots attempting to defusethe situation. Howcver, Gayemployees criticized the letter as inadequate and for using objectionable language, such as "lifestyle choices." Then Kelleher announced the change in company policy in a letter to all Southwest Airlines employees. "Forsomeyears, I have explidfly declined toamendour anti-harassment and see SWAir, p. 10 " Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families .+ Friends Tulsa’s Largest Circulation CommunityP~perA~vailable In More Than 75. City Locations !Teachers Credit Union: No :-Loan for Lesbians as Couple : Credit Union AskedAuto Dealer If They Were Gay ¯ TULSA- WhenTheresaandJoanWrightwenttoTulsaTeachers " Credit Union, they just wanted a car loan. The women are : expecting their second child and had found a van.at a local auto : collection. And since they have shared checking and savings accounts at Tulsa Teachers Credit Union, and good credit, they : naturally went there, expecting that getting a loan would be : relafivd~ painless. " .i.~ ~Wlmt they experienced they say, however, was hurtful and ~; dUenmioenan(riInTgC. U,A)c, cnoortdoinnlgytroeftuhseedWtoriegvhatlsu,aTteutlhsaemTeaascahceoruspCler,eid.ei.t : basing alOan!on their combined income but someone from the : creditunion evencalled theauto dealershipaskingifthedealership : staff"knew they were Gay?" ¯ And the Wrights characterized the behavior of their loan officer, Sandy Roth as very rude, particularly about the issue of : evaluating their joint income for loan purpose. Roth refused to ¯ look at their joint income saying it was because they are not ". married. In contrast to Tulsa Teachers Credit Union, a loan officer at i Tulsa Municipal Employees Credit Union stated that they accept ¯ unmarried couples withcombinedhouseholds as loan applicants, : noting that she’d assisted at least two Lesbian and two Gay : couples with loans. ¯ Bank of Oklahoma stated that they had not always accepted : couples whose relationships were not legally recognized but that : they now do so. And a senior officer at Spirit Bank encouraged ¯ Lesbian.and Gay couples to apply with her bank, noting that : Spirit Bank would not tolerate anti-Lesbian or Gay bias. ." Theresa Wright noted that Ms. Roth refused even to look her : in the eye when she went in to sign the loan papers. The Wrights : noted that the dealership, in contrast to the credit union, was very ¯ nice, and that irwas the manager assisting them in purchasing ¯ their new vehicle, who said, "I’m just going to say something. : Your bank called and wanted to know the nature of .your : re!ationship-are they Gay?" Heassuredthemthathis organization ¯¯ welcomed everyone and also had Gay people working for it. Ms. Rpth’s su_l~’visor-at TI’CU, David Snyder refused to comm~h~ and ref~ed’~ to Chuck Reed, ~ see Credit,p. 10 ¯ TulsaPFLAG & TOHRmembersmarchedfor thefirst time in the ¯ Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Parade in January. TOHR Receives a. $10k Grant i TULSA-Inmid-December, TulsaOklahomasforHumanRights ¯ (TOHR) received a $10,000 grant from the Colin Higgius : Foundation. Thegrantis for the Tnlsa Gay Community Services : Center programming, marketing and development expansion ¯ project. Specific goals of the project include the production and : distribution of a €ommttnity referral guide, the enhancement of _" Lesbian Connection- a program that encourages increased : involvementfromthewomenofourcommunity, and anexpanded ¯¯ Pride 2000 Festival. The marketing and development aspects of the project will focus on enhanced communication and media inaterial as well as ¯ increased membership and volunteer involvement. : The Colin Higgins Foundation is based in San Francisco, : California. Colin Higgins,screenwriter, director and producer, : established the Foundation in 1986. Mr. Higgins is remembered ¯ for his remarkable human comedies, including Harold and : Maude, Silverstreak, Foul Play and Nine To Five. : He created the Foundation in order to further his humanitarian : goals. OneoftheFoundation’smainprioritiesistoempowerGay menand Lesbiansby supporting community-based organizations : that combat homophobia and foster leadership. : TOHRdirectors indicated thatitis honored to receive thegrant : and that they have ambitious goals for 2000 and beyond. New Pastor Leads at Tulsa’s MCC-United ¯ TULSA - After a number of months with an ¯ interim pastor, Oklahoma’s oldest extant Lesbian ¯ andGayorganization, theMetropolitanCommunity ¯ Church United (MCCU), has a new pastor, the ¯ ReverendCathy l~liott, whojoinedthecongregation ¯ at theend of 1’999. ¯ Elliott,grewupin themidwest, butcame toTulsa ¯ from Florida where she was invoIved with two : Metropolitan Community Churches in the MCC Fellowship. However, prior to working in Florida, ¯ she served a Congregation in-Rochester, New York ¯ and some years ago, was associated with the MCC ¯ in Little Rock. Like many MCC pastors, Elliott came to the ¯ MCC Fellowship through a winding path, having ¯ become more serious about her faith while at university. There, she joined a church that was ¯ theologically evangelical, but after a fe~v years, as ¯ sheacknowledgedbring Lesbian, she foundherself ¯ becoming involved in an MCC that was about 40 miles away. Anditwas fromthis initial association, : that her calling to the ministry came. ¯ In a recent interview with TFN, Elliott praised ¯ theworkhernew congregationhaddoneinmerging ¯ the formerly two separate churches, MCC-Greater ¯ Tulsa and Family of Faith MCC. As she and they ¯ havebeguntobecomeacquainled, thecongregation ¯ is looking at how they will grow, spiritually and otherwise. ¯ Some members of the congregation .have also ¯ become involved in a serious social action ¯ organization, called Soul Force. The group was ¯ founded by MCC pastor and writer, the Reverend ¯ Mel White. White, who once wrote for anti-Gay ¯ evangelical such as Jerry. Falwell, modeled Soul ¯ Force on the theories of non-violent confrontation " for social .change of Martin Luther King, Jr. and ¯ MahatmaoGhandi. see Elliott, p. 11. ¯ Marriage Is Civil-Rights "Issue Says Vermonter : MONTPELIER,Vt. (AP)-One ofthemostpainful : things about figuring out he was Gay as a teen-ager ¯ was coming to the realization that he would never : get married and have a family. Ed Flanagan came ¯ from an Irish-Catholic family, one of five kids, : "four straight and one Gay," he says. His fatherhad : an alcohol problem and"the end resnlt was that we ¯ childrenwerevery, very closein terms ofsupporting : each other to get through that environment." His : relationships with his brother and three sisters : "have been very crucial in terms of all of the five of : us surviving and flourishing," Flanagan said. "It’s ¯ a very strong presence that we all feel with one : another and a source of important emotional ¯ support." Trying to find a place within the Gay comrmmity : ofthe 1960s and ’70s wasn’t easy for someone with : such strong family ties. "That culture back then did ¯ not accommodate the id_ea,,o,f family," he said in an interview this past week. In the midst of the Gay : culture I felt Very alien, for that reason and others." : Now that culture is changing, it’s "becoming more ¯ family-oriented, and longer-term relationships are ¯" becoming more prevalent," Flanagan said. And ¯ state law appears to be changing, too. ¯ Today, Flanagan sees a future in which getting married, perhaps even being aparent, may become : options forhimandotherGaysandLesbians. There ." may be an oasis on the horizon for people who have ¯ wandered much of their lives in an emotional : desert. And as the first and still only openly Gay ¯ man in the country to hold a statewide elective : office, Flanagan believes he might be in the right ¯ time- the dawn of a new millennium - and place - ". Vermont - to help bring that future about. ’~l’his is : the course ofhistory inVermont. Here it is andhere : I am," he said. Fromthe windows oftheoffice 6fstate auditorof : accounts, see Ed, p. 11 Tulaa Cluba & Reataumnta *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CTg’s, 1737S. Memorial *Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria -*The Mix, 2630 E. 15th 712-2324 : 610-5323 : 583-6666. 749-4511 :. 749-1563 ~ *Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square 744-4280 ¯ *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st- 745-9998 *Silver Star. Saloon, 1565 Sheridan 834-4234 ~The Storm, 21,82S, Sheridan 835-2376 *Renegades/iRainbowRoom, 1649 S: Main- 585-3405 .~Tdrl-’ BOX, 1338~13.>3ra ~° : :: : :: :’"~84~ l~3"0g " ~ ~ ’:r ,TUl~a BUsinesses, Services, & Professionals ~: Advanced WireleSs & PCS, Digital Cellular- .. 74%1508 *Assoc. in Med. &Mental Health, 2325 S.Harvard 743-1000 Kent Balch & Associates, Health& Life Insurance 747-9506 *Barnes &Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250~5034 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 523 1 E. 41 665-4580 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 . 712=1122. *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale - 494-2665 Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria . Cherry St Psy_cho~eralff, 1,51~5 S,. Lew*s .581-trot Community Cleamng, heruy tsager ;,~....., onK-~-~ Tim Daniel, Attorney 33z-~tr*, ~....-~ *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th *Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady 749-3620 587-2611 744-5556 838:8503 584-0337, 7i2-9379 592-O460 Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria *Elite Books & Videos; 821 S. Sheridan *Ross Edward Salon Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th PI. Cathy Fmlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st I_eanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning Mark T. Hamby, Attorney *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy~ 2865 E. Skelly *International Toms ¯ Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 151h *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 Kdly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 *Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brady *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2rid floor Rainbowz on the River B+B,POB 696,74101 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 744-9595 ¯ 610-0880 - 628-3709 : 8O8-8O26 742-1460 459-9349 744-7440 745-1111 341-6866 712-2750 582-3018 747-0236 582-8460 599-8070 747-5466 585-1234 584-3112 663-5934 664-2951 838-7626 743-4297 747-5932 834-0617 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors *Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square Paul Tay, Car Salesman *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard ~ Fred Welch, LCSW, Counsding *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 834-7921,747-4746 749-6301 260-7829 481-0558 835-5563 743-1733 665-2222 592-0767 Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593 All Sods Unitarian Chmch~ 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 " 587-7314’ Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 *B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 ~Chapman Student:Ctr.; University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence *Church of the Resto~ationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314 ,C.-ommunity ofHopeUnitedMethodist, 2545 S" Yale 747-6300 ,CommunityUnitafian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 Council Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888 *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congre,g. _Church, info" 58%4669 *Free SpiritWomen s Center, cm " 747-6827 Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 POB 4140, Tulsa, OK74159 e-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink.net Publisher + Editor: " " Tom Neal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn, Barry H~nsley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, .Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers ~.. Member of The Associated Press : Issued on or before’the 1st~af,cach~m0nth,-the enUre~contents.; of this publication: ar6 ptrt~t&l?l~tda:~yrightl~~ T~€( F~,~ N~€~ ~fid may ~6t~ ~q~oducetl’,~ ~: wholeorin partwithoutwritten~Ssionfromth~publisli&:. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. Correspondence is, assumed to be. for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed& becomes the sole property of T~J.~~Nc~u÷ ~acli reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edidon at ,distribution points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. " Gay Pro Lifers March On ¯ Onjanuary24,2000,about20members :of the Pro-Life Alliance of Gays .and : Leshi.ans. (PLAGAL). did an am.P_y~ng :,~ at the annual Marcia ior Lit-e protesung :. the Roe vs. Wade decision on its i nnniversary despite being .tl~¯cate_n.e.d .: March told PLAGAL that they~.~uta no_ ¯ march, s~n,,c~_, they. ,,w,ere Gay.-Now, if :. PLAGAL closet’ed themsd~ andjust ....~9A%~e’Righ.t to t~te MarCH, an oth groups,_w, eaUow t0.ma@be,. hind ~: b:~nners- refl~tingtheir various eiamcnes, : organizations or states but if.PLAGA~ ¯ m~mbers carried its banner, they woma ". be arrested and thrown in jail. ¯¯ This being known at the annual PLAGALmeefngontheeveofthemarch, " members decided to risk being arrested. "_ After all, they reasoned it would be hypocritical ffPLAGALhid at the March ,FHufiieVndEsRinCUennitteyr,S4o1c3ia8lCOhrags.,.PPaOgBeB85lv4~2a, 174101 - -558832--60641318 .:~ .fhoarrdLtiofebewinhcelnudfoerdoypeearnslytihnepyrifdoeuegvhetnstos :Tulsa C.A.R:E.S., 3507 E. Admi 834Z4194 : ~-indparadeswithinitsowncommunity.in Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st " 481-1111 ." addition, if PLAGAL bowed to the HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention,.E~_u__ca~on _ 83~8378 : 0ressmesimposedbytheorganizers, they *House of the Holy Spirit Miustries, 3?~l,0e,,S,~%Nff~rw~oo~ 2437 .. : ~do the Gay ~)mmunity no, g.oqd.. lnt,~fslth IDSMinistries ’ ~..~6-/~-I,DI, OUU-~.~’I-z¢’~, ... By.not marching, they would be ~’l~"~mA’ted,i623 N, Maplewood - .: g ~8-~~ ~ ac~nowiedging that is was fight t~o hate I~AMES Project,3507 E. Ad_mi,ml_ ~PI,: ..... ~, ~,~a~_~.~ ¯ and this would be a backward step. NOW, Nat’lOrg. forWomen~POB lqotas, t,H3y :)to-o,, :. PLAGAL members do not want to be OK Spokes Club ~cyding), FOB 9i65, 74157 . excluded from the Gay community just *OSU-Tulsa . " PFLAG, FOB 52800, 74152 749-4901 - *Harmed parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 58%7674 : Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 *R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network ~ 749-4195 *Red Rock Mental.Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325 ." .O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults : O’RYAN, ~r. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth " St. Aid,art’s Episcopal Chinch, 4045N. Cincinnati 425-7882 S,, r~,,-~tan’s EniScoval, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 " ~t.Jer~--~me’s P~arish ~hurch, 205 W. King 582-3088 " *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 ?ulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thmsdays only Tulsa Olda. for HumanRights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *Tulsa Community College Campuses *~ulsa Gay Comn;unity Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297 Unity Churchof Christianity,3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 BARTLESVILLE *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN *Borders Books &Music, 3209NWExpressway 405-848-2667 *Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 TAHLEQUAH *Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 *Tahlequah Unitarian-UniversalistChinch 918-456-7900 *Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 NSU School of Optometry, 1001N. Grand HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates EUREKA SPRINGS,~ARKANSAS " - Autumn Breeze Restamant, Hwy. 23 *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main DeVito’s Restamant, 5 Center St. Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. MCC of the Living Spring Geek to Go!,~ PC Specialist, FOB 429 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery Positive Idea Marketing Plans Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East White Light, 1 Center St. JOPLIN, MISSOURI *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 501-253-7734 " 501-253-7457 " 501-253-6807 ¯ 501-253-5445 501-253-9337 ¯ 501-253-2776 " 501-253~5332 501-624-6646 ¯ 501-253-6001 " 501-253-4074 " 417-623-4696 * is where you can find TFN. Notall are Gay-owned butallare Gay-frlendly. becameoftheirpro-lifebeliefs andvalues, ~okmewise, they do want to be excluded the pro-life communityjustbecause they are Lesbian and Gay. Therefore, despite the threats, PLAGALappegr,ex]_at themarch,andwhenthepolicebamcaneu . them. PLAGAL .members maneuvered. around the police and entered the parade further up the street marching under their banner with the word "censored" taped across so everyone would know what the vords were underneath. Their decision to ignorethearrestthreatsfromtheorganizers was noted in The Washington Post, The Washington Times, and several others news publications throughoutthe counlry. Themajority ofGays and Lesbians may not share the briefs ofPLAGAL,but the~ shouldbeproud ofthis small group within its community. PLAGAL’s presence was a step toward bridging the gap between those individuals and the Gay community as a whole. At the end of the march, members of FemtmstforLife , Colleg~ates for Life , Catholic priests and bishops, and others from all walks of life and religions congratulated and thanked PLAGAL. see Letters, p.8 An nouncements Policy Tulsa Family News will provide space for holy union ceremony, marriage ceremony, birth, adoption~ .and death announcements ona space availablebasis. Photos are welcome, though we cannot promise placement o~r ,re~ttEn ~e~, so please send copies to I utsa ~ amtty ~vews, POB 4140, Tulsa 74159. ~ ¯ ~. Letters Policy :~’ i" Tulk~’Fam@ News welcomes letters 0~ issfi~:,which we’ve covered or~on issues you think need to be considered. You may request that your name be withheld but letters must be signed & have phonenumbers, or be hand ddivered. 200 word letters are preferred. Letters to other publications will be re-printed as is appropriate. byChristoptterGraff " ~ Solawmakers arefaced withadivision thatis widening ¯ !dONTPF.l.lP.R, Vt,(AP)-DonnaLescoeofStarksb°r° ¯ atatime they are looking for .~...useus~s_;ReP.- T~o~. Little, : had a simple message for legislators when she testified the chairman of the.HouseJudidary COmm;ttee, ls aman ,,onGaymmriage."Beheroes~" ~ who has a keen ability to fmd commonground and to lawmakers tohavethe courage toextendi¯ stitch together=. divisions, He Js -a Repubfican who : the nmrriage laws tOincludeGays¯ and Lesbians. , commandS’.re.speCt.from-b.oth par.fies~:~But he seetmhaend ,r :, -~ ,,,~h, SO simule It is hard to be a hero , frustrated this past. week by the w~demng rather bv Tom Neal, puoltflg,r & eaztor .... . u ~t ~,~,. ,~ v _:.. ..... ¯ ¯ . ohab y most non-Gry O @Oma : i .".es,the o ti=.rew.lawmakers they had no Lesbian orGcoa:ynstfl.uents.. wmlesomeoi *_..m°nmemlle’mmma-,em. vm,.~°~-nsare.s°ucmP."......... _,. mp ..-...~ . " w~’lling to casts: vote that them aresimply bigots, many of them know that they- . looked _li~..e .anything bu.~....... . €ouldbothdrlast.Nomatter oughtto:~be mpportive of basic.civil fights for Gay "- heroe~ folio.wt~.g a re~,,.m " ’~f’k,, ~-~..!. f~ogn6 lavcmaker~ ~. - l~nw stron~ the evidence that ........ " " " ¯ Ilk UUIIC aaa,o ..~.~ .~--~- .~ ~aUzens.’But they are scared that,treating Gay people Tuesday__ mg P, . _ _ ¯ ,. " . ¯ " ’, , . " " ¯ " .. " * " ~..,faidy. ..w..a.l.l so, mc,e,nse. othvegr te:rs~.. that they., are=oft.m__:..., _h-.~,g~!tgo~-a.~a-~.t ....... not ea@-. It ~s nothln~ less dmiedthdr dviln~ghts;~t~s ~.~lhdistta~ttishfibt~ fr0in Oldalaoma R~publicans. ,,-~ ~ ~ ....shell’sn,°q~cm-a~Y-~ ~ : ~ ./ !* ..../ ....L .... - t...a f~ra leoislator to cast a ¯will be~ deaded 0n TU~da.y;Match 14th. Some 0f,the " them9bPere:!lapfs noeverr e. o[ Freedomand Unlt-~. firestormot races are dfeetivdy settled (Brady Pringledoes~have a i have .1..~0,l~.!e att_~dyd Democratic oppon~eatbut in thai~ heavily Republican . a pum~c nearing at me " How to ~ve Gays and Lesbians :polls in November. district, it likely doesn’t matter), but others ~ar~.. still : Statehouse.Andthenumber unsettled. " - ~ ¯ ~ " : ¯ would have been thousands Of particular interestto TulSa’s Lesbian and Gay - moreifasnowstormhadnot commlmities is Cound! District 4 .for which former ~ kept many away. .~ Yes, eye.one who spoke And even if lawmakers tl~elr ~xlom an~l yet preserve tl~e craft a package extending to unity at the state~ Gays and Lesbians benefits such as having a say in the It is the stm~ heroes are madeo[." medical decisions of, their incumbent Gary W~tts ischallengingcurrentincumbent parmers;theyknow therewill Anna Falling. While _.Gay and ~tiian households a~ - wascivil.Butthecivilitydid foundthroughont thedty~-thisdistri¢t,mosflyMidtown, ; not mask the passion: Or the division. The tremors in " be a vote on the.floor on same-sex marriage - and that is. easily the most. heavily Gaylone.of the..dt~ For_ ~ people’s voices, a mixture of nerves .and emotion, spoke - tally, no matter what the outcome, will beused in .the fall examp!e,jnstonornextttlny_v~;shortbloek~thereare " volumes about-the depths of feeling.~ What became " elections. " Following .the hearing it seemed m the at least six Gay families2 . i-.~~ ~. - ,.. -. :. apparent’at theheming is thatthe two sides are moving : Statehouse timt lawmakers would like to f’md a way to . One could argue, of course, that- Ms~ Fallingrs very -- fresher aparL - avoidany voteonthis issue this year.Theideaofcreating nubile lan.qe., in oood iudoment onnon-Gav issues (win ~-" WhentheSupr_em~eC.o.urtissuedi~.~be.r.idec.i.’s.ion :.a special com~!ssio.n .to .craft. a solu~o~n ,~an~d .rgel~O~ht;o~ r..::-:~.,r.:-- ,, < .,r-~-.,. ..... : ~. nsband~s~ -_ sa g Gays and Lesbians are eg.~fled tP the rights,. ". law.n~Kersnex[yearmt~mgatscus.ssa.tmt _P~r.napsua~ her recycling program pu.bfic or private, her h ...... ym ¯ ¯ ¯ - - ...... . o t the ¯ n,mmdfi~oroaniTatlon arml~n~f0~nUbficfundson.which ¯ bendits and protecuons gtvenroamedcouples, e_veryone ¯ ~sjustamo.m~entar~. ,.a.nd, ex.p.ected hesitancy foil w ng ~.~’~l"~.---e7------rr:~--~, r , i . - . ,~ " .t,d--.A ~,~,~teww P,,-a~e and I ~=~h~rt~ ~.q e coul"t -" na~sion80t tile DUDIIC lleallnl~. ¯ . .snewastovote),areenoughtopersuaaeLesmananatJay - ’-~..’2p~. ""~"*,?." ""~ .’~"..~"~’.’.’-:...l.~a~s.ed the.. . ~_~__,= _r.t.~_.,~,,t,.nm,~tttiiiX~endnnhowthedebateis _ " ~.F2.-............¯,.;~.l,~.t~.i .r~v.r,~--..,~.t.~.n.f.~..e.-~_e.x. mam__aaoge al80 rimmed ¯ frmned m the comm~_ weeks. Opponents ll,ge me. m. p ,L. arg.en.t a.n.dl.na.ol.e .sul.tra.-e.xtr.em.e.re.ng.to.-po.n.u.co.s,.a.no..-..~,¯ .t.~, b~" ause the court di¯d not stri¯ke down the state,s .¯ are seeki"ng to" portray the Supreme Court deeimon as her rtosuu[y Io OUr t’I1oe evenls, it s Cl~ar Inat amlost . ,a,.~..j . . . . . . . ,,~....,,1,1 h~ ~,~tt,~ ¯ mamage laws~ Bishop Kenneth Angell calle~_, the court . some_ra.di.’.ca.l, andug,com.ttm.~fio.na).mo.ye ,F~Ve.nnon.t.ers, ~:................ - ruling aadecisivevictoryfor.tradifionalmamage." ¯ thoughdtlshardtotmagrnet~meIJusuceJenreyAmestoY, Thatbringsus toGaryWatts. Gary,likesomeOklahoma - Democrats is not particularly prejudiced. Like those : R seemed at that moment that legislation creating same Democrats, he’s not shown much leadership, He : dthormouegshti.cBpuatritnnetrhsehmiposnftohrsGinacyestahneddeLceissbioianntshewtowuolds.l~ose~s and they don’t haleus - theyjust don’.t want to deal with - our issues. have’ staked out positions worlds aparL ,But sOi~eone"s got to.start, kno@ing that.we’ll lose the first or five engagements but that.each time our issues, like a city non-discrimination ordinance, or equal compensation (full benefits for our familiesas well as equal wages)for Gay cityemployees, or a city domestic partners registry, are debated,the public learns. I believe that-Oklahomans are basically fair and eventually will respond to a reasoned argument. And in the meantime, a fair-minded city councilor could push for administrative changes, like getting the "diversity" training forourpolice departmentto deal with more than just race. After all, it’s our city too. : Bishop An,g,ell recently-condemned domestic : partnerships as steponetowardfullacceptanceofsame- " ¯ sex marriage" and has evenchallenged ~evalidity ofthe ¯ Supreme C,o.~_~ ruling itseLf, saying ~.his~t.o ,arms,to . Catholics, q~ere are many sound legm minus WhO . ¯ question the Supreme Court’s authority to even issue " ¯ such mandates to the legislature.’" : At the same time, Gays and Lesbians are saying a ¯ system of domestic partnerships is insufficient to meet " the spiritofthe Supreme Courtrtding. Adomesticpartner " sounds like someone who cleans the house, Jonathan Radigan told lawmakers. : amuchbeloved andeminentlyrespectedpersonwhois as : moderate and generally as cautious as they come, doing ¯ something radical or unconstitutional. It was Amestoy : who wrote the court rnling. : Andthe hearingdidmuchtoeducatenotju~tlawmnkers, but also the public at large. ~Vermont Public Radio did a great service by broadcasting the hearing statewide. Vermonters of all political and social back_groun.ds .got a chance to hear the scripture readings, the pasmon, the division. They also got to hearfrom the real.people whose lives will be most affected by the legislative action. The task facing lawmakers is noteasy. It is nothing less than living up to the state’s motto of "’Freedom and Unity." How to giveGays andLesbians theirfreedomand yet preserve the unity of the state? It is the stuff heroes are made of. by Dave Fleischer, Senior Fellow Policy Institute National Gay and Lesbian Task Force We love coming out - except when we hate it. Welovereminiscing onand celebrating ourpast acts of daring. Comingoutishow wediscoveredbothcommunity and freedom. It’s how we found both love and a life. But it’s hard to snmmon the energy and courage to come out 24/7 - to ask, tell, and pursue on a daily basis. That’s why campaigns sidestep the "G" word. When we say~ person-to-person, "What do you think ,a,b~,ut tl~."s anti-Gay ballot measure?", we are also asking, "What do you think about me? Do you see me as a human being, although I’m Gay and you probably aren’tT’ ’. Most campaigns avoid coming out, way out_ They rarely engage voters .perso.n-to-person, and of,te~, av~oid mentioning sexual on~mtataon. Recent research oy ls.en ~eager (himself an openly-~ay candidate for office) ~uggests that57% of candidate’~ who think of themselves as "openly Gay" don’t actually disclose their sexual orientation to voters before the election. Likewise, many campaigns to defeat anti-Gay ballot measures twist themselves into p~etzels to avoid the words "Gay", "Lesbian", or that new scare word (rarely so clearly): ifax Thd challengeofbeing outhas turned us inward before. : Look around our community. Most of our organizations : are refuges -"safe space"- safe from meaningful ¯ encounters with straight people. We draw 200,000 to a : pride parade to celebrate, yet only a relative handful to ¯ political campaigns to safeguard our fights. ¯ But relying onrefuges is a risky strategy. It suggests to : our opponents that the rest of the world is theirs, and it ¯ leaves us vulnerable topolitical attack. Soplease consider ¯ afew specificcoming-outactionsthatbuildourcollective ¯ power and don’t unduly disrupt your everyday life. ¯ 1. Join acampaign where you get to ask voters one-on- : one, preferably face-to-face, if we can count-on their ¯ votes. ¯ In 2000, California, Miami-Dade County, Florida, ¯ Maine, and possibly Oregon face ballot measures that ¯ affect your rights. If you live in one of these places, join ¯ your local campaign. ¯ If you used to live in one, make a list of everyone you ; know in your old hometown. Dig out your old address book or high school yearbook. Ask your siblings or ¯ parents to jog your memory. I’ll bet you know at least 50 ¯ people you can call. Whea you reach them, explain the and ask if we can count on : "Hometown Project", because it builds on the power of ¯ our relationships with family and friends, even when ; we’ve been out of touch. : If you have never lived in the hot-spots du jour, don’t ¯ feel neglected. Make a list of everyone you know who ¯ does live in one. You must know 20 people. Send them ¯ this colnmn. Follow uponthephone.Weneedevery vote, ¯ and you will help create a new habit of doing the one-on- " one ask. ~ 2. Host a house party to raise money for one of the communities under attack. Invite 120 friends and ." acquaintances to your home to hear about this new wave ¯ of ballot measures. Call all 120 personally and ask each ¯ to come. You will bring together 40 people, raise a ¯ minimum of $1000, and f’md at, least six new volunteers. ¯ 3. Get training. If face-to-face voter contact sounds : intimidating, seek out training, At the¯National Gay & ¯ Lesbian Task Force Creating Change conference ¯ November 10-14, we taught the nuts and bolts, went ¯ door-to-door talking with Oakland voters about the anti- -¯ Gay-marriage Knight Initiative. In one evening, we will identified hundreds of our supporters, and educated undecided, voters. ,. rput up the periscooI~..~::~t~sgreat that our community - but reality In some cases, the registry document can provide further legal proof of a relationship, Roche said. It could come into play, for exhmple, when a Gay couple with jointly owned assets separates. The registry stirred relatively little opposition in Ashland, where it was approvea by a 4-1 vote of the City Council, Roche said. Nationally, registries have spurred voter initiatives and lawsuits. Courts validated Atlanta’s registry but overturned a registry in Minneapolis, according to the Lmnbda Legal Defense and Education Fund. The registries can be designed !o ~PP!~ ~ both Gays and t~f~rosextml~i~,as Seattle s i~,i[~i~ ~bepurely ;~.~ml~6iic o{’~iV~ sp~i~...d tl~e-~ ’~ :: ~ :": " ~. -" ’ .~ i .Reform :Same-Gender Rituals NEW YORK (AP).=-Two years after they postponed a contentious showdown over same-sex blessing rituals, the rabbis ofJudaism"S liberal Reform branch will face a decision on the issue at this year’s convention. Leaders of the 200-member Women’s Rabbinic Network have agreed to force the issue by submitting a resolution sanctioning such ceremonies to the Central Conference OfAmerican Rabbis, which holds-*its national convention, March 26-29 in Greensboro, North Carolina. The coqeaders of the women’s network, Rabbis Shira Stem and Susan-Stone, said the resolution agreed" to’recently will differ only slightly from a proposed text the same group published in January. " That text said: "The relationship of a Jewish, samegender couple is worthy ofaffirmation through appropriate Jewish ritual and. :-: .each rabbi should decide ab0ut-0l’ficiafio-n- a~,Ysfdin-g-t6 hig/her"own rabbinic conscience." The conference’s top two officials had signed a January declaration urging all American tdig~ons to normalize same-sex couples. And a conference Sexuality study committee in 1998 .. endorSed recognition rituals for such couples. The women’s net~brk cffes the sexuality i C~mtifittee’s view that Judaism’s historic opposition ¯ to homosexual behavior no longer applies. But there is division within Reform rabbinic ranks. : The conference’s "responsa comnuttee,’,whose ¯¯ rulings guide the practices of Reformrabbis, opposed thechangeinaT-2decision.Amemberoftheresponsa committee majority, .Rabbi .:Jeffrey Salkin of Port Washington,NewYork, saidReformrabbis arealready free to conduct same-sex rituals if they want. But Salkin fears that officially approving the practice would"tearrdati,onships apart" amongReformrabbis, and hurt Reform s relations ~ith otl~[r branches and its hopes-.~fot full a-cce~tance.in {g~el?-Whatevet happens, Salkin said; ~’We:are looking at something that will ha¢e massive historical iml~pr~ce." ~ "- ¯ Me,mawhile, the Episcopal’Churchig~s to release a proposal on same-same rituals within a weekortwo Conventions ofthe Presb~[6ri~m Ch~Ch (U,S.~.) an~ United Methodist Church will also deb~!le the issue this year. .:. ~- " ~ Gay Club Embraced at Catholic College United in God’s Love MCC-United Reverend Cathg.E~liot Pastor ~) Sunday Worship 11:00 am 1623 N. Maplewood 918/838~715 ~.~,~ ~ "7.- Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am .................. Wgd_._Bible- Study, ~7 pm 3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon Sandra Hill M.s. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly DriSe, Suite 215,745-1111 Red Rock Tulsa- O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Y0hng Adult Network i~’ Outreach Prografn Thurs: Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment ~. .: Call for.mee.ting tinies ~ind place: ~ 918-584:2325 Mingo Valley Flowers II Court UpholdsPortl and Civil Rights Ordinance SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Gay rights advocates have won a round as the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld a Portland ordinance against discrimination based on sexual orientation. The court, in a 9-1 ruling reversing a lower court, said the city had the power to give citizens the right to go to state courts to enforce the anti-discrimination ordinance. Even some,of,the appealsjudges in the.majority, tho~.igtr, ~orried-@ati tl~e~c0~ ~.i,,hav~ V~iatut~d roofs, toward giving private partigs new..avenues sUeiffSeateeo.ur~s overlocaHa~sx.The rightto sue-was tthet~yi~su~-,N~bod~:oIai,m~4ltmt!hecity1aek~ ~he ~weri lx~:iid0pt~:~e-ordinanee.in~t991., that bars disNNmati~n, i~ eniployment, housing, and public accommodations.. ,S~te.taws against employment discrimination don’t include sexual orientation. The city ordinance also outlaws discrimination based on sources of income, which is aimed at protecting welfare recipients. "This is a great day for civil rights in Oregon,P said PortlandMayor Vera¯ Katz..Port.land ~.s once.agatn a leaderin efforts to protecttherights ofall our citizens." The case decided involved employment. A MultuomahCounty temporaryjudge, MonteBricker, ~n .1.997 ruled against David Sims, who claimed he was fired as a cook at Besaw’s Cafe in .Portland because he is Gay. Owners of the business denied the accusations and have not made a decision-on whether to appeal to the oregon Supreme Court. Bricker said the city couldn’t givepeopleapathway to state courts to seek enforcement of rights under a local law. But the appeals court said the city didn’t exceedits authority, giving Sims the chance to continue ............with hislav~sttitin_which he.~6"nght either damages or Basic Rights Oregon, a leading Gay civil rights advocacy organization, also praised the decision. "We’re very pleased to hear that the court has upheld employees’ access to fight discrimination at the state courtle el, : stud spokeswoman Maura Roche. More than one appealsjudge hadmixed feelingson thecase, which had been before the~cottrt since fall of 1998. Only Judge Walter Edmonds Jr. dissented entirely. But four others, including Chief Judge Mary Deits, said while they agreed with the outcome, the court went further than necessary. The decision "sweeps too broadly" in deciding that cities can broaden the "duties and liabilities of private parties," Judge Virginia Linder wrote in a separate concurring opinion. Edmonds said the decision violated the concept of state sovereignty over local governments. Oregon City/Count,y May Try-Partners R gistry RTL N , Or . eit: of t’ortland and Multnomah County are ~nsiderir~ theadopdon of a domesdcpartuefship registry as away~’prGay couples t6 Officially iog thdr ~;~i~onships, A jOint ~registry wotfld be ihe second ,~.::~gon ,ag_.d~ong three dozen nationwide. In Oc~be~AsKihhd approved a registry for s/tree-sex couples 18:or older. So did California. Seattle has had one since 1994. And New Orleans, Boston, New York and Iowa City, Iowa also have them. The registries stop far short of conferring marriage s-tatus- on- Gay -couples= "~Bul~, it’s~ ,still-. an acknowledgment of. a relationship that two people who are committed to one another have," said Maura Roche, spokeswoman for Basic Rights Oregon. "And it’~ s away~to aeknoWiedge i-t in:a pt~bli~.forum~ which hopefally Wi~,leadito. ~g~puh!ie: understanding ¯~at~drmi~icaneedi:BotmJ~T~] cxec~ti:ve director Of She.-said the~Ialks are;.~.~st~p)i’~-thffright direction becaus,e a registry represent§ a chatNejn family. That s oae o~ the mNn..eoiicerns of Lou Bores exec~utive ~r...e.rgtor ~:;ffae:C~eg0ii chapter of the :.~)::: :~ais in Po~ilanO;and the na~9~’~, heL~aid:Beres added that he would try to organize h:pmtegt~a~ainst Katz and Naito if registries were e~(tended io homosexual PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - When Dan Neuville started classes as a freshman at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish last year~ the Gay man felt very lonely. Considering the church’s stance on homosexuality, Neuville wasn’t suq:rrised that there was no Lesbian- ¯ Gay studentorganizationlike.~ose at-secular colleges. "Tl~ere was-novd~ere form~to go.on,campus," Neuville said........... Now Newzille has creati~d ~dmewhere to go.,~qaough Catholic ze~cNag bars ~homosex~mt¢ from tam’Gage and sexual activity, &e State’[ only Roman Cail~olic college has:f0~-med a stude~tdub where heterosexual and homosesua! smdcms The Gay/St~ight stat~ff "as s~uden~ dozen Jennifer B@iiton;pres~d~nt~of: the student.senate; 9413 K 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-444-5934 Family Owned& Operated - - - - -- ~" ~- --7--- - - - 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor Tulsa Gay Commtmity Sen,ices Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) 6=~pm, Sunday - Friday.. "12-9~m, Saturday; all sales.benefit’the Center/~-.i. Local - --KEVIN BURLESON Keller ~Willgams Rea!ty 712-2252 Burleson@kw.com 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An Independent Member Broker OPENARMS,OPENMINDS-,OPENHEAKq’S Saint Aidan ,<. .Saint Dunstan 4045 N. Cincinnali,i~7882 .ii~~East 71st 492~7140 Saint John :......Td~ty - " 4200 S. Atlanta Pla~.~/42-7381 .,501: $.: Cincinnati, 582-4128 Welcomes You. said the ~cp.llege’s administrators, staff and students have received the new group well. "On our campus, iwe’re open to all issues, and as students we’re encouraged to discuss issues in society. Gay issues are one of those," she said. Thealliancehasmoreheterosexual than homosexual members and is not intended to compel anyone to endorse homosexuality, Neuville said. "We’re not a .. ~ mili~antgroup. We’renotprotesting,pickefn,g, saying, "Damn it, we want you to accept us,"" he said. club Gay on .to talk andleam tissues andbias against l to make Of troths .Saint Straight For the problematic sexual ¯ whether homosexuality is a choice or biological is ." irrelevant. "Gay and Lesbian people are not treated ." equally in many respects,’" sa~d Jane Marquardt, an ¯ attorney who donated to the Shepard scholarship ." fund. The scholarship is meant "to help a particular ." Gay student develop leadership skills, than people ¯ can realize Gay people are no different than anyone ." else," Marquardt said. :: Gay Student Sues School RENO. Nev._ (AP) - A former Washoe County high i School studentclaimsWashoeCounty school officials : failed t0 stopverbal andphysica!harassmentinflicted i-liy classmates becaus~ h~,is.Gay... In afederal lawsuit :. fded recendy, Derek Henkle ailcges school officials 1 : denied him~i:~te~:~.~.elofhls sexual .. ofientation:~d ,d~died,’:.~ fr~:, ~li:rigllts by; ’: allegedly urging him tohide being ~ay. Tl~_e suit als0~ .. maizes claimsofnegfigenceandinfliclionofemolional. ¯" distress. " ’" ...... :’=. ..... : I-Ienkle:~suit is .being h~ndled.~by me:Lamb~a : Legal Defense and Eduction Fund, a New York- ¯ : : based Gay rights.o~ganiza~on, it seeks unspecified t .::damages, Namedas defendan.ts are prindpals;a vice : prin~pal, a.teache~, and ~pus poSce officers. : School district offi~:ials had no iimnediate comment. ¯ "we haven’t been served with anythin$ yet and unSl " wedo,obvionsly we~m’tcommenton thespedfi~," district Spokesman~Steve Mulvenon said. Jon ,a~Gay .~"It’s not a conditiOn who is But the Catholics, : shouidbe~ Catholic ,Derek thandled I and at:the-hands .of said. call: :.Henkle clearly what :the stated -.Gay Scho|ershi including students ~and faculty at University have raised more than $50 ~e. Matthew Shepard Scholarship enaowment wil!.pro~ide $2,000 a year Bisexual ortransg~ grade point average,.= "I think it makes":us a, Hinds,. a Weber: State staff member who : a highway~ " administrators ~ At Washoe ! relatedlY : students to said his complaints to lot while two campus Davidson said the p_ri’ncipal pcople hewas Gay. students who tell Lesbians and Gay closet," Davidson said. ¯Gay Pride to. Happen pite vatican --~, Wyo., ROME (AP) - A Gay Pride week that comes smack .: college studentwho was Severely pistol ’ i iirnktehdetmheidVdalteicoafnt,hbeuRt Roommane,CsmatahyoolircinHsoislytedYtehaarththaes. left to die. The - ¯ " laws across the nation. : ."_.-i .Scho!arshiplapplieants must be a sophQ~ or :: aelvoenngtwwiiltlhbethalelo.Gw,,ae~ydptoritdaekeepvleancte,."bYutoiutmwioguhltdnobtegoa : higher level, t~king 12 credit hours per s~es~er. A : mistake to ban it, Mayor Francesco Rutelli said. 500 to 750 word essay, the World Pride Roma 2000 is expected to bring needs, academicperformance .: hundredsofthonsandsofGaysandLeshianstoRome with or service to the pay, Lesbian, Organizers are working to finalize scholarship endowment with the there are no applications. "There are sexnal m~inorifies.Andthis is "there’s a scliolarship here,"’ said President But said Weber State student Niki with culture ¯ at the same fire,the eityis overflowing with religions : pilgrims eomingto th~Jubileemillenniumcelebrations : calledby PopeJ0hnPaul II."Romehas amillenninm- : old code of welcome~.and respect that won’t change in ¯ 2000." RutelEtold a city council meeting on Holy : Year issues:,~:The. ~Vatican, which condemns : homosexual acts but.not homosexuality itself, had no official comment ~the July 1-9 event. Vatican Officials denied~.~.~ that the Holy See had tried to ÷:: cgoent diitticoanncoelfe~a.-,.n~iio;~[n~,~~ti_.,thae lsooffaiccikanlso,wwlehdogeSdptohkaet tohne Vafica was irritate, by the fact that the gathering t~mes ~:J~ee yeax. seeNews,p. 10 rZ Better.Drugs i Oral Sex Not As Equal Fewer Pills i Safe As Thought SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Powerful new ¯ AIDS drugs in development should help relieve one of the biggest problems of treatment - the pill burden. Over the past four years, new treatment combinations have revolutionized AIDS care, changing HIV infection from a death sentence to a disease that is treatable, if not curable. However,patientsmustadhereto atedious and exacting sehedule of downing pills, .often more than 20 a day. Now, drugmakers are working on new drugs that require m~ch smaller doses as wall as better versions of the old standbys that can be taken less frequently. Experts say that if all goes well, overthe next two or so years it may be possible to reduce the .pill burden to just four tablets taken once a day. "Most drugs are dosed twice or three times a day for a reason. Once a day is not enough. The Holy Grail would be to take all your medicines once aday with as few capsules as possible. We are not so far from that, maybe in the next couple of years," said Dr. Eugene Sun, head of antiviral drug research at Abbott Laboratories. About half of all patients who initially respond to treatment eventually find their virus levels rebounding, and the most common reason for this is failure to stick to apill schedule. Thepill-taking schedule is more than just a nuisance. 71~ose who miss even a few doses risk losing control overtheir virus. Withoutenoughmedicine in the bloodstream, HIV comes roaring back, often generating mutant versions that are resistant to the drugs. Akeyingredient of mostdrug regimens is a class of medicines called protease inhibitors. They are often combined with two or three older kinds of drugs, such as ddI and AZT. At last month’s 7th Conference on Retroviruses andOpportunistic Infections in SanFrancisco, doctors describedresults of testing with new varieties of prot.ease inhihibors. Some of these medicines are 10 times more powerful than the ones that transformed AIDS treatment. Protease inhibitors are by far the biggest lump in the pill burden. Typically patients must take three of them three times a day - a total of nine pills -often on an empty stomach. In the works areproteaseinhibitors that doctors hope will need to be taken twice or even just once a day. One of these is Bristol-Myers Squibb’s drugcode-named BMS-232632. In preliminary testing directed by Sanne, it appears that one or two ofthese pills once aday is as effective at suppressing HIV as the standard dose of nelfinavir, an older protease inhibitor. Abbottpresentedpromising results with its experimental protease inhibitor ABT- 378, showing it Seems to work against strains of virus that are already resistant to SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Many Gay men consider oral sex a safer alternative to intercourse, but a new study finds it carries a real risk of spreading AIDS. Even without condoms, oral sex is widelyregardedtobe safe sex, eventhough : health agencies have never officially : conceded that. A new study conducted in i San Francisco shows that frequent unprotected oral sex can also be risky, ." though certainly not as much as anal sex. : "The message is not that everyone will ¯ get infected through oral sex," said Dr. -" FrederickHechtofSanFrancisco General ." Hospital, a coauthor of the study. In fact, ¯ analintercoursecouldbe 100timesriskier. ¯ Because of declines in unprotected anal : intercourse, therehas beenabigreduction ." in high-risk exposure, I-Iecht said. But ~ -~._~ere is still plenty of low-risk exposure ¯ tl~ough oral sex without condoms, "and ." that low risk adds up." His study found : that oral sex was probably the cause of8% ¯¯ of recent HIV infections among a group of homosexual men examined in S~m ~ Francisco. ¯ In the past, there have been occasional ¯ reports ofpeopleapparently catching HIV orally. But health investigators have had ¯ difficulty being certain, since Gay men ¯ who have do oral sex also may engage in ¯ ¯ other, riskier sex practices, such as anal intercourse. ¯ Now diagnostic tests allow doctors to ¯ narrow downthe timing ofHIV infections. ¯ They were used in the latest study, ." described as the most definitive on the subject to date. The work, conducted with ¯ the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and ¯ Prevention, was presented in San ¯ Francisco at the 7th Conference on ¯ Retrovirases and Opporttmistic Infectious. ¯ "’Wlfile oral sex may still be safer than ." anal intercourse or vaginal intercourse, it ¯ is not without risk and perhaps has higher ¯ risk than we would have expected ¯ otherwise," said Dr. Helene Gayle, the CDC’s AIDS chief. " The researchers sought to learn the ¯ meaus ofinfectionin 102 GayandBisexual ¯ men who had recently caught HIV. When ¯ all other possible means of infection were ¯ ruled out, oral sex turnedout to be the only ¯ risk behavior in eight of these men. Most 0 said they thought- oral sex had little or no ° risk. ° Because o~ the strict criteria used, the : real number of cases resulting from oral ° sex may actually have been higher. For ° instance, two men said they had oral sex -" but not anal sex. But they also said they o had blacked out once and could not be ° sure what had happened, so they were ¯ excluded from the total. . All of the men apparently caught the ¯ virus by giving oral sex, rather than receiving it, and none used condoms. ¯ "We know that the only safe sex is total other drugs. The drug will be combined 0 abstinence or sex with a mutually smaller doses~ wel!..... ~ ~ .~’ Ufie~p~.cteff~ide et~l~b.cts can quickly derail deq~loptuent of these drugs -MerCk Research Laboratories was scheduled to presentresultS ofits new protease inhibitor at the meeting. But two weeks ago, it suspended human testing of the drug after rat experiments turnedup possible kidney damage. Themedicine, called MK-944A, is acombination ofanew protease inhibitor and an older one, called indinavir, into a single pill that would be taken once or Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. January April July October December Even OutYour Monthly Electric Bills. withritonavir, another protease inhibitor, o monogamous,non-HIV-infectedparmer," into pills that willbo-taken three at a time, : ’~ Gayle said. "Everything else has some twic~:~a day. The comp.,.a~y?~.s working on ° degree of risk. The sense that oral sex is safe sex may have been an unfortunate message." Gayle said she a~sumes that the risk of oral sex when properly using a condom is close to zero. She also .said that if oral sex alone has played a large role in the spread ofAIDS, that wouldalready havebecome obvious during the 20 years. Dr. Anthony Fauci, head ofthe National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, noted that some Gaymenturned to frequent unprotected oral sex after At PSO, we knowthat changing weather conditions throughout the year can cause your monthly electric bills to_riseand fall dramatically. Which can make it hard to plan your household budget. That’s whyAME~ our Average Monthly Payment plan, could be your budgeting solutior~ With AME, you pay about the same each month, because it’s based on your previous 12 months usage. That makes budgeling a breeze. And best of all, it’s free. AMP is just one of several ttemq~le payment optionSPSO offers yot~.F0r more information, we’re@ble 24 hours a day. Or S’lgn-:~~.~on our website at ~.csw,com. PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA A Central and South West Company twice a day. Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation Lesbians and Gay men face many special tax situations whether single or as couples. Electronic filing is ~yailable for faster refunds. 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 Are You-Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American? Tulsa s Two-Spirited Indian Mona _ / ~\~"~ Support Group is here for. you! .~i=-J.~Y LX~ ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project at 582-7225 Ext. 208 or 218, giving up anal intercourse. "A lot of us in the public health field havebeen saying all along to be careful of ~akrottehceteridskfieslllaotwio,,"buhtewshaaitd.s l"oPwe?o"ple AIDS Virus First Emerged in 1930 SANFRANCISCO (AP)-Theworldwide AIDS pandemic has beentraced to asingle viral ancestor who emerged perhaps around 1930. Earlier research had ¯ suggested that the ol~tbreak began in the ¯ first half of the 20th century, but the latest : analysis, doneat the Los Alamos National ." Lab in New Mexico, appears to be the ¯ most definitive so far. -" Bette Korber, who keeps a’database of HIV genetic, information at the lab, calculatedHIV’s family treebylooking at the rate the virus mutates over time. She assumed these genetic changes happen at a constant rate and used a supercomputer to clock the mutations back through time tO a common ancestor. Korber estimates that the current pandemic goes back to one or a small group of infected humans around 1930, though this ancestor virus could have emerged as early-as 1910 or as late as 1950. From this single source, she suggests, came the virus that now infects roughly 40 million people all over the .world. ’This offers a small piece in a larger puzzle concermng the origins of HIV," she said. Experts believe that HIV’s ancestor is a virus that ordinarily infects chimpanzees. Somehow it spread to people - .perhaps thirough abite or hunting mishap -~n west equatorial Africa. Justwhenthis happened, though, is .still a mystery, Korber Said. The leap from chimp to man could have beenaround 1930. Oritmayhaveoccurred much earlier and the virus stayed within a small group of humans. Theworkchallenges atheory thatAIDs actually began in the 1950s, when HIV was accidentally mixed with the polio vaccine. In last year’s book ’¢Fhe River," Edward Hopper theorizes that HIV contaminated batches of the vaccine that were grown in chimp dssue. This then spread when the vaccine was tested in the Belgian Congo. Korber said this is highly unlikely, since it would require the introduction of at least 10 genetically separate strains ofthe virus into the vaccine from different chimps. Dr. Steven Wolinsky of Northwestern University called Korber’s project "a computational tour de force." Korber based her work on the genetic codes of 160 different copies of the AIDS virus. She analyzed them on a Los Alamos supercomputer, called Nirvana, that can perform l trillion computations per second. The earliest existing sample of HIV was found in a blood specimen obtained in Leopoldville - now Kinshasa - in 1959. Virus Testing Helps AIDS Treatments SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Doctors say they can improve the chance of successfully treating AIDS by measuring how each patient’s virus stands up to the drugs intended to kill HIV. Through evolution, HIV can grow resistant to any of the standard AIDS drugs, andoftenitis invulnerable to several at once. The specific combination of viral resistance varies from patient to patient. In theory, doctors can brew up the most potent AIDS drug cocktails for their patients if they know the strengths and vulnerabilities of the viruses they carry. In the past, doctors have attempted to dothisbychecking the virus forthegenefc mutations that make it impervious to various drugs. However, complex mixes of mutations are sometimes hard to translate into drug treatment plans.’ In a new approach called phenotypic resistance tesdng, doctors can check the virus against all of the standard drugs to see which ones can kill it, then .use~the results to tailor their strategy. "With this information, you can make better decisions," said Dr. Calvin Cohen. Understanding virus resistance is especiallyimportantwhenputting together new drug combinations after the initial drug cocktail fails to wipe out all visible signs of the virus. Doctors have 15 AIDS drugs to pick from, and the choice often amounts to an educated guess. Cohen and colleagues studied phenotypic testing at the Community Research Initiative of New England, an independent AIDS research organization in Brookline, Mass. He described the results Monday, in San Francisco at the 7th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. . The test was developed by Virco N.M., a European biotechnology company that financed the study with Glaxo Wellcome Inc., the pharmaceutical company. Doctors say anadvantage ofp,henotypic testing is the simplicity of ~lle results. "The person’s virus is grown in a culture and then ,put into a test tube with each antiviral drug," Cohen said. "We monitor to seehow wellitgrows. Ifitstops growing, .that drug works. It’s that simple." The new test costs $800 per patient. Screening the geneticmutations inHIV to figure outdrug resistance has beenaround longer and cOsts about $400 to $500 per patient. Doctors say that trying to understand how well drugs will work by analyzing viral genes can be daunting when the virus is resistant to several drugs. Sometimes resistance to one pill can help the virus withstand another, even though it does not specifically have resistance to that medicine. "Phenotypic resistance testing will be attractive because it is so mucheasier to interpret," said Dr. Douglas D. Richmanofthe University ofCalifornia at San Diego. To check the test’s value, Cohen’s team studied 274 patients who had failed to respond to an initial round ofAIDS drugs. Half were randomly assigned to receive phenotypic testing, while the rest got standard care without testing. After 16 weeks, 58% of the patients getting phenotypic-testing had responded so well to their new combination of drugs that the virus hadfallentoolow tomeasure. By comparison, 37% of those without testing did this wall. "Until this study, all of this was reasonable but unproven," Cohen said. "Now we can prove it." ~:~":Wa~ to get involved? Need to.get tested for HI~ or a Coming Out Support Group? Call 743-GAYS (4297) Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor ~ J. Christjohn Happy Imbolc, Groundhog’s Time for initsfirstt for some~ the ,~cultural list of events and. relevance. ~ At thispoint, I or film and, : On with the ." good month for staying in and riding out ¯ winter storms. Orgiving into spring fever y ." when possible. when ¯ Now for those thirty-somethings that : recall growing up to the sounds of the Partridge Family. with "As you may fondness, David ~sidy hasaCDoutentitled:"Old notice, I’ve’-~: Dog, .Ne~ T~ck." S~inging ~no is so. it’s ok, is else, an and the Of -interest ,dosed music v URL: it 13th. 18th pretty of the~ show that fisten on tS~ Partrid childhood favorites in col~. Back to.the present.. VALENTINE’S DAYis 9oming!~Gift idea?i,.The ever handso.m~,<~piani~t’.:Jim Bric~provide~ lovely~usic p~ect for,~elight dinners, an~ohn T,rones croo~,the perfect ballads t6~t]hem0od for ..~gh romance on [h~ir-~CDs, restively. ThelIX~rfect m~ic.to ~t the moodfor a romanticev~.... Ok,themomentyou :reall-~n atting for. TheStevie Nicks mentioa.She’s back ¯" in the Studio working onthe~W CDafter ". the performing break i~’Vegas and i Cafifomia. SherylCrow isagamproducing - no mention of what happened to Mr. ." Hip-Hop producer. Thank G~oddess! , m,~chers ¯ wereGay or straight, what mattered was i the sl~ed.belief of those ~ching that day. ~dnow those Right to’Life March org~fi have Somethingto. think h!~out ¯ for n~t ye,ar, : o~~. . .::~. .Ch~,..’.rman-oMfPicLhAaGelAFLeP~A¢.nCs : : -~lie ~4~li~al Action Committ~for ~.- i~: " .~.=~Lffe Lesbians and~ays . . :.::~. Long b~fom multi:million-dollar book deals were the fashion~Alexandre Dumas’ son (yes, the "The Three Musketeers" author) converted his tonidLtomedqerminal love affair into a best sel~.~lhe~, composer Guisep.,pe Ve~: ~dpted. ~8r story for o~ra (hello, ka Travi~), Toda~ choreoorapher Val Canipamli flni~edthe job of turning. "La Traviata" into dance. Usino drama,. not melodrama. For understatement underscored. A full-lenoth Iovestory. FRIDAY 8 PI~:EBRUARY 11 SATURDAY 8 PMFI:RRUARY1~ SUNDAY 3 PMFEDRUARY 1~ SEASO~ SPON~: Irish Dance Company -The-original and the best.t Chapman Music Hall 3rd & Cincinnati.... ¯. Tickets: $12, 16 & 20 Call:-596-7111 Order on line: www~,tulsapac.com Tulsa Performing ~rfs Center Trust World Treasures S~ason: Celtic Gems. ¯-Si~0ns~rs: O.klah~ma Arts ~:.:ur~i~,..Urban T.u!sa JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL EVENIN~ ON THE SET OFMANON WINE AND HORS D’OEUVRES. ENTERT]~INMENT ...... ooooo o~60~oo o oo oo~.~_O~O oo~o o o o oo out o-o’o o~ooo o FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 5:30 - 8:00 PM ON THE STAGE OF THE .......~UtLSA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER $35 PER PERSON $75 PARTY AND :. ~ SUNDAYS ~Ble~qs the Lord At All Times Christian Center, Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 5837815 Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service - 6pm, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation S~rvice - i 1am, 2~5~.~5 &Yale, 749-05~ (WeicQ~ing) - : " " Church of theRestoration Unitarian Universaiist ropo ommumty C House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America) Mass - 1 lain, 205 W. King (east of N. Denver), Info: 582-3088 Unity Church of Christianity ServiceS: 9:15 & 11:00 am, 3355 S. Jamestown, 749-8833 University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance ~6:30 pm, Meets at the United Minis,try Cir., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780 I~" MONDAYS lilY Testing Clinic, Fr~ & anonTmous testing. No appoinl~¢n[ r~zluired. Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (~st o~ Hazard) HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Ceater 7:30pro, 220"7 E. 6th, 583-78t5 PFLAG, Parents., Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays 2nd Mo~/~ach too. 6:30pro,Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard Women/Children & AB)S Committee, call ~or meeting date, aoon, 585-5551 Council Oak Meu’s Chorale, rehearsals - ca]! for times, imfo: 748-3888. ~ TUESDAYS AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call, ~or ne×t.m~ting date. 1430 S. BouJder, 585-5551 ~!~e=~d Let Liye, CommlmitT o~ ~0pe ~nitedMethodist, 7:~, 2,~5 S. ~ale IYlultieultural ~I])S Coalitiou, call for ne×t m~ting date. ~rban L~ague, 240 E~st Apache, 584;0001 PrimeTimers, meus group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/IIOPE) Tuesdays, 6 pro, Pride Genter, 1307 E: 38th, irffo: 743-4297 I~" WEDNESDAYS Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pm, 3210b~o. Norwood Tulsa-Native American Mens Support Group, more informatidJL. ~call 582-7225 TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call fo_r..info: 595-7632. Lambda A-A, 7 pro, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft. - -. ...... I~’THURSDAYS , H~PE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Edu~(ion "~:;~)~": _ Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing:,~ ~ 8:313pm 834-83.-7~ 3507’E. Ad~niral " ~ O~lahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’.RYAN) " - Support/social group for 18-24’s, call Red Rock Mental Health a~ 584-2325 .... Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, [nfo: 834-4194 I~" FRIDAYS Safe Haven,~iotm~AduJts Sc;ci~d Group, l st Eft/each ~no. 8pro, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th ~" SATURDAYS out-of their h0mes~ ! can’t i~..gin~e throwing my Child out of;the hbu~e: ; TheS~~mby Holloway, ~as ¯S~tan,wh0:cam¢.~s’s am~’Who ’ had been r6b~andiron on the road. In the story, the priest, afraid of being deemed unclean, passes by. But the Samaritan stoppedtocarefortheunknown mall. "The point of the parable is that good refiglon, following, traditions in these Scotland, dozeus of prints, and Spong’s -" anti-discrimination policies, to. include second:wife; ChriSti~i~. ’When In~arried ," specifically :sexual- orienta’tion::~ Why?: Jack, I knew. what was ahead," said Christ.i.ne.,.w.,h..o..m..a..m..e.A. Spong. m..19.9.0......nc.e.xl.ed. Kelleher wrote ’Perha " was ’When ~ou:-~up. (forGays)~,you~r¢~ =/Wrong going to ge~:hit. ?You cannot know Gay ." _ think so, at least with restart to theVast imd Lesbian people without wanting to .. maioriW of oar nconle." kelleher addrd hugthcm.Someofthcmhavebeenthr~wn ." he was modifying the pohcy to include ¯.. o~rsmagnex;iewthyatmcivgehrtuhncaevretaeixnits~t,e-dam-boingutihtiys ." score." _" ’WVhat happened at. Southwdst is an ¯ example -" well-mcnningexecutives simplyto donor _" give sexual orientation issues in the workplace the consideration they deserve, stud Kim I. Mills, HRC s ." education director. "We applaud ." Southwest Airlines for taking this_stcp developed systems, can now get in the toward creating an inclusive work .,w.a.y. ofus g~tting t,o~:~ saidI~oll0way..~ environmont~ for ih~ OayandLesbian e~. of us arc, w_all~g on the road to i amployees., While Southwest has added Jericho,andwem~tIookf~Himbecause along the s~d¢ of the road...... .’. offer dom=sticParm~r~:healthbenefits. priestandmothcr,stoodnexttoSpongas policies and e~pects a sign language interpreter. "He will be :: announc=ment nO later the,, June. " sord~ missed,." saidDeats, whowas first ,." _ _ " ............. ago.~Imayn0tagreewithevcrythingh¢ ! [~]l=-Ie.ll -....- I says; but I truly minfi..~’re and respect him . . for stan,.d~n.gup,f0r~hat he believ~ in." ._. vice president orlon"di.ng, andI_~s Rector, Deats said she believed in more ." president, neither of.whom had returned traditional routines of-prayer. "It can be ¯ calls by press time. Dr. Jerry. Carr611, boring, I know. And I’m not saying the -" chairperson of the TTCU board of bisho~ does.n’t pray, bu~ I believe ~-nore ." directors,andpr0vostatOSU-Oldahoma .stronglyin themystical practices ofprayer in the ~hurch," said De~ts. Croneberger was rector of the Church of the Atonement in Tenafiy for i8 years, and a priest for more thsn 34 years. Croneberger~60,was oneofsix candidates - all ofwhomfavor ordaining noncelibate Gays and blessing same-sex unions - in a field that included the Rev. Canon Gene RobinsonofNewHampshire,whomissed becoming the first openly Gay Episcopal bishop in the nation by several votes. Asfor Spong, he willlecture at Harvard University starting next month, buthas no plans to move from Morris County. His latest book, "Here I Stand," was published this year. Spong, father of three daughters, said he found talking to students a great pleasure, Last week, Spong lectured at Lewis & Clark University in Portland, Ore.- "I love the minds of 18- to 23-yearolds," Spong said. "Nothing is sacred and they asked all kinds of questions." There were no,,questions asked here duringthe service, buttherewas amomen! of fear when the Rev. Dana Rose slipped off the back of the riser as Spong and others wereblessing breadandwine. Rose was helped to his feeti and Spong quickly gave him the sign of the cross. Rose, a Gay priest who’s also black, was ordainedfirstas adeaconby Spongin May 1998. "People say, ’You’re a priest and you’re GayT" said l~ose, who works for the Gay and Lesbian ministry in the diocesez "Now, there are ;many, priests who are Gay, but black? I believe in inclusion of all people, like me, into .the church, just like the bishop." City, did callback andsaid he thought theremustbe"amajormisunderstanding" and that the "professional loan officers would not do that [make inquiri~,into. loan applica=s sex~.orientation]~. .- as saying that the Vatican "expects from the premier a gesture ofcommon sense," anapparentcallforthe Italiangovernment to intervene to cancel the Gay event. Sodano also was quoted as saying the controversy "puts into question" the concordat, adocumentregulalingrelafions . between Rome and the Vatican that was first signed in 1929 and was revised in the 1980s. A pro-Vatican member of parliament, Mario Baccini, called the mayor’s decision’a "moral and material slap" in the face of the Holy See. Vatican officials said theHoly See was displeased by the city’s cooperation with the organizers, including allocation of $180,000 to cover municipal costs like security. Rutdli has been a big Jubilee booster, shepherding the city through major constructionprojects-includingaVatican garage-to spruce itupforan estimated30 million pilgrims. Gays have criticized the pope’s teachings on homosexuality, but Italian Gay leaders denied any disrespect is intended by holding World Pride during theJubilee. "It’s not an anti-Jubilee event nor an event against the pope," said Francesco Falsetta, an official oftheMario Mieli Homosexual Cultural Association, one of the organizing groups. World Pride’s main event will be a July 8 march through the city. Organizers say it will also feature conferences, sporting events and parties.. Massage Therapy Services ¯ Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women DavidKauskey 33i0 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm -~Spri~t. Sprint PCS" :25.00 $7435 Net cost The Clear A~terna’dve to Cellular Spdnt PCS" Select Retailer New Sprint PCS Phone Less instore rebate Buy any Sprint PCS Phone and get $25 off!* Everyone is approved! All Sprint PCS service plans include.;" ¯ Free Voicemail o Free Caller ID .... ¯ Free Call Waiting ¯ Free 3 way calling o. ¯ No activat~oalfee ¯ N~contract required~ 100 ~o Sprin(P~sN~nwide Network." Tulsa Loeation~ ~-: ..... 2001 S. GarneR, 43%2~.~.~. 3733 S. Memorial, 6600344 1216 S. Harvard, 587-1778 Sapulpa Location: 109 N. 22 Meet ,Local ~X3rigin. 18+. Additional features from 67 ~guys you like " be," he added. "’It’s been this norm that .: they grew up with: Andin so many. ways, : pamcularlym~nt, we vebeen, ery Do something that brings yoUlhto serio~s°. sensitized to~~ity,humannghts, conversation with people who-aren’t just : but.there’.s~i~sg~.,a~i,’ng,.darke,,xception likeyou. : tot~tw~thGaY~i:~Lesbiaus._ .. For some of you, this will feel like a : ~ Whenlegis~,’~kFl.a~gan wl~.t.he leap of faith-l~rhaps in God, orat least ; thinks.ofa~ys~d!domest=cparm..ershi.ps in other people. ",- ..... . as an alternafi~t0same-sex mamage, ne ¯ Maybe this runs counter’ to all the : tells them "it~a~t tap into all of the cultural conditioning you’ve received ¯ wonde_r,,ful, ~fic and em~o.tion.al about self-sufficiencyi abouthow wrong ! impacts that~conveys. ~nenlze itistoaskforhelp.MaybethiSchaHeages . asksaqu~..fio.n~."~~:t~te, isabl~.°ffi~ally prized coph~g m~l~nisms ~t Ser~_e you : t.o rec0~ila..~i’~,s,e,.p~nng re,a, well whenexcepti-o~d individualeffortis , domesf!_c-p~.e~!:aw;.-wny men wgmu enough..... " ;-y0ufeelgt~fig~ed:t.0makeit’diff~emtrom ¯Bu~aoindividualwinsanelection;alone i ~ theCivil m~a~e’ 6flexed to ~ght If!we don’t engage oth~r humanb~ings, ; VermonterS?" ~ " ¯ ~. we remain tempting targets to-the :bullies : Hanagan said :he believes there’s an ontheright:IfwewanttoendGay-baiting " analogy to be drawn from the experience in public life, we have ~o use what we know: the power of one h,man being talkln£ to another human berg about what matters. We need to be outward bound, despite the discomfort. Because, in elections, the greatest thing wehave to fearis fearitself. Hanagan can see diagonally across-State Street to the Statehouse, where the Vermont Legislature this year is crafting a response to ahistofic decision from the .stat~-~ i :~Supreme " ~ i ,:.~.Court. That decision said i~"~iola~d the VermontConstitution todeny~tted Gay-and Lesbian couples the~i~health of other benefits heterosexuaV~ed couples take for granted. .=.!i!:."ii( Hanagan, 49, is in his fourthi~year term as ~mditor and long has beea.,kn~_w,.n_ to harbor loftier potitical ambiO~,He s ~md~,ttaking 0ae long-expected:~i~tfo_r higher office this year, and has.raised morethan$400,000" alotforachallenger inVermont- so farinhis campaignfor the Democratic U.S.. Senate nomination. He’s been able to raise money around the country from supporters of Gay men and Lesbians, but even more so from former Harvard Law School classmates who have found themselves in lucrative careers and can afford to be generous. Flanagan took a risk five years ago when he acknowledged for the first time publicly that he was Gay, and he’s taking arisk now in being such a strong advocate for same-sex marriage. "I assume any professional political consultant would advise against it," he said. "But some issues are so compelling and so pure that political considerations becometrivialand inappropriate. This is at the core of my beliefs. I’mnot going to equivocate in the slightest and I hope Vermonters will respectmycommitmentto prmcipl,,e, even if they may not thoroughly agree. More often than the campaign trail, Flanagan is drawn these days to the Statehouse, because he senses history in the making, because he relishes and is fascinated by legislative deliberation and because he knows that, for many lawmakers, he can put ahumanface on an abstract set of issues. As he’s walked the Statehousehalls lately, Flanagan sm.’dhe’ s noticed "people tend to move ~n my direction more often than normal. I’m a person they know and most often like quite a bi~ and relate to. I’m real. I have a real personality that they’re familiar with, so there isn’t that fear component of something foreign. "I don’t think often people are as homophobic as they think they should "For me, some time tc mamage stress come when many Gays and’ Lesbians had coming to grips with themselves 20 or 30 years ago, to the straggle many straight people are having now When thinking about somethinglike same-’sexmarriage. "When you foste~ real bigotry againast iso.mdeonoef he said. "That’s-the of bigotry.. It weighs years, but and "one’s private life will be put back into its private place." Flanagan, who said he has "a great capacity tolove," also offered a glimpse into whatapersonal heavenonearthmight look like. "I would love to be a dad. I’ve always cherished the idea of being a dad and I think I would be a good dad?’ Locally, members ofMCCUnited have created a chapter of Soul Force and at least one member joined White and 200 other Gay and Lesbian (or friendly) Christians in a meeting with FalWell. Elliott has as a personal goal, the development of the Community of the church, not the building or the number of members as much as the network of support for the members - much like the model of the earliest Christian communities. However, Elliott and other congregational leaders do discuss the possibilities of physical change for the group. Acknowledging the s~ ,newhat isolated location of the church build~ z (off major streets in a ver) q~ neighborhOod)~, they consider that t tufty-sell this building and find a more visible .and central location. But Elliott emphasizesthat these things are ouly just possibilities and are not anything which will happen soon. The spiritual life comes first and the rest will follow as the Spirit calls MCC-United to be. For more information about the Metropolitan Community Church United or about the Soul Force efforts, call 838- !715. The Eight Annual 2000 Saturday, March 4 Cocktails, 7pm, Dinner, 8:15 Myriad Convention Center, Grand Ballroom Auction & Dancing, Blacl( or Red Tie to benefit the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund 1999 Beneficiaries: AIDS Support Program, Inc. American Red Cross, Oklahoma County Chapter CarePoint, Inc. Cimarron Alliance Foundation LegalAi6ofWestem Oklahoma, Inc. Northern Lights Altematives Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund, Individual Assistance Fund Oklahoma Hemophilia Foundation Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Oklahoma Mental Health Council - RedRockBehavioral Health Service Other Options, Inc. Planned Parenthood of Central Oklahoma Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN) Tulsa CommunityAIDS Partnership Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical 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 [2000] Tulsa Family News, February 2000; Volume 7, Issue 2 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, January 2000; Volume 7, Issue 6 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 newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/597 AIDS AIDS drugs AIDS research aMUSEments arts and entertainment Bars businesses Chatholic Church churches civil rights Colin Higgins Foundation community Dave Fleischer Episcopal Church Gary Watts Gay marriage HIV homophobia Jim Christjohn Judaism Karin Gregory lawsuits marriage equality Metro Communtiy Church Unted National Gay and Lesbian Task Force non-discrimination policies Partner Benefits partners registry performing arts Pro-Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians Raging Lesbian Read All About It restaurants Saint Joseph's College scholarships Soulforce Southwest Airlines Tom Neal Tulsa Family News Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Tulsa Teacher's Credit Union Vatican https://history.okeq.org/files/original/720496a377bccd13c6fb428da9276de3.jpg 6e3a2c10512312879ac3bf406c137ebd https://history.okeq.org/files/original/e3a834ef864d1accd5ea57b69700278e.pdf 4764679f2a18d394d6c619b8615600cc 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. Text Any textual data included in the document Friends RallyAround Accused Musician District Attorney Suspected of Bias by Tom Neal, editor &publisher Around Tulsa’ s Gay community, the reaction is one of dismay and disbelief at the allegations of indecent exposure made against musician and chorale leader, Rick Fortner. According to a Dec. 3rd Tulsa Worm story, a 16 year old man has accused Former of masturbating in front of him in a sauna of All-American Fitness Center in Broken Arrow. A spokesperson for the Broken Arrow p01icenoted that themanand Former were the only ones in the sauna. Friends and acquaintances notethat F,grmermaintains his innocence, and have stated their suplJort for Former. Mitchell Savage, spokesperson for the Council Oak Mens Chorale (COMC) for which Former is music director, said that the board of directors of the organization has voted to express its support for Former and their belief that his innocence will be established. - TheCOMCboardposition was endorsedby the group’ s general membership also. Savage added that he has been acquainted for 15 years see Fortner, p. 10 Anti-Gay Harassment Alleged in Public Schools Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community PaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations V rmont Marriage Victory SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - By the time Nina Beck and " previously said he would support Gay mamage, ¯ Stacy Jolles got the news, it seemed like everyone already knew: ¯¯ The Vermont Supreme Court had issued its long-awaited ruling on Gay marriage. They had won. ¯ The court ruled unanimously that Gay and Lesbian couples in ¯ Vermont should enjoy all benefits and privileges afforded to ¯ heterosexual couples who can legally marry. It is the first court : in the nation to make such a sweeping ruling on the question. ’ But the justices split on whether it should amount to marriage. ¯ Onejustice splitfrom themajority’ s view that the state Legislature ¯ should decide whether Gays and’Lesbians should actually be ¯ allbwed to marry or shouldbe given domesticpartnership benefits ¯ equivalent to heterosexual marriage. The split was of no immediate concern to Beck and Jolles and ¯ the other two couples who sued in 1997 when their town clerks denied them marriage licenses. "It’s just fantastic this decision ¯" could come following his birth," Beck said as Jolles stood ¯ alongside her holding their month-old son Seth. The issue now will be the subject of debate before the : Legislature, which convenes on Janl 4. "I think the court has ¯ broken all barriers by dearly riding that we have a class of ¯ individuals in Vermont who are being denied their rights and I thinkit is the Legislature’ s responsibility to correct that injustice ," ¯ said Peter Shumlin, Senate president pro tern. ¯ But the question will be how. Should Vermont statutes be ¯ amended to permit two men or two women to marry? Should a ¯ domestic partners registry be established for Gay couples to ¯ record their relationships and therefore qualify for the benefits ¯ now accorded heterosexual mamed couples? ¯ "I think it’ s going to take a couple ofweeks, anyway, forpeople ¯ tounderstand what this means," said Rep. Thomas Little, chairman ¯ of the House Judiciary Committee. "Everyone wants to have a : virtually immediate informed reaction to it, but I think it takes ¯ longer than.that." : Gov. Howard Dean said same-sex marriage "makes me ¯ uncomfortable, the same as anybody else." He predicted the ¯ Legislature would comply with the court decision by enacting a ¯ domestic partners law rather than making marriage legal for : same-sex couples. House Speaker~Michael Obuchowski, who ¯ Evergreen Awards Recognize i Beal, Campbell, and Others TULSA -Allegations of anti-Gay harassment have risen at two Tulsa high schools. On two campuses, teachers contend that they and some students have been singled out for inappropriate attention. While Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) does have a nondiscrimination policywhich TPS’s attorney interprets as protecting Gay teachers, staff and students from discrimination, that policy does not explicitly ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. It "The Board is committed-to-the concept of nondiscrimination in relation to race, religion, sex, age national origin, handicap and other human differences. This policy will prevail in al matter concermng staff, students and the public." However, in the interests of protecting these teachers from possible further harassment, their names are being withheld. One teacher, who is active in a local Gay mens’ singing group, was called into his principal’ s oftrme and was shown a copy of the group’ s concert program. His participation in the group was highlighted with a - comment, -*’is -this~ legal .w’ Another teacherwhohelps, With a support group for Gay kids. had a self-identified "Christian" fundamentalist teack-zr attending support group meetings andthe teacher whodoes notidentify as Gay but as Gay-friendly felt there was an intent to identify her as Gay and therefore to threaten her job. Andatonecampus;twoyoungwomenwere suspended for a public display of affectkm. A Gay teacher and other students whb were familiar with the incident claim that the two women were not behaving with any less discretion than heterosexual students use in the same circumstances, They do claim that the administration response w~:much more harsh than for heterosexuals. However,~ TPS spokesperson, Tiffany. Bruton responded to TFN inquiries, saying that the students’ conduct was well beyond socially acceptable behavior even for heterosexuals. The students involved did not respond to TFN requests for an interview. TULSA - The 1999 Evergreen Awards recognized the work of a number of Tulsans involved in HIV/AIDS issues. Prominent among these were Dr. Jeffrey Beal and his parmer Ted Campbell for their years of service as Tulsa’s principal physician treating HIV and AIDS related illness and for Campbell’s mental health practice around those issues. The lunch ceremony was held at the offices of the Community Service Council (CSC) on Dec. 7th, and opened with a remarks Ted Campbell & Dr. Jeffrey Beal by ~chael Conley of Tulsa CARF~, Melanie Speetor of Tulsa ’County Health Dept. and John Hawk Cocke of Indian Health Services. Presenters and the recipients of the awards included many of Tulsa’ s most prominent activist/workers around HIV/AIDS care and prevention. Sharon Thoele, exeentive director of Tulsa CARES, Erie Ramirez of Planned Parenthood, Kathy Bird of RegionalAIDS Interfaith Network, Tulsa officewere afew of the presenters andrecipients included videographerAllisonCosslett, Wendy Weisberg, Audra Sommers for her fundraising work, Kay Rollins for NAMES PROJEC~ leadership, and Jeremy Simmons for prevention education. The Evergreen Awards are presented by the Tulsa AIDS Coalition which was introduced at this event by Tim Gillean and represented by CSC staffer, Janice Nicklas. : said politics might prevent that. "What I’m hearing ¯ from my colleagues is that they’re saying that ¯ domestic partnership is amorepolitically attainable situation and I think I’d have to agree with that ¯ analysis,"saidObuchowski,aDemocratlikeDean. ¯ Thoughthey were ecstatic, the three couples who sued will hold off on their celebrations until they ¯ get an opportunity actually to say their vows in a ¯ wedding ceremony. "I think the acttml celebration ¯ will be when we get married," said Stan Baker, standing withhis armaround partner Peter Harrigan. Winnie Stachelberg, Political Director with the ¯ Human Rights Campaign, one national Gay ¯ organization noted,"we are thrilled that the Vermont ¯ Supreme Court had the wisdom and courage to hand down this historic, landmark decision. There ¯ has never been a logical or justifiable reason to exclude same-sex couples from marrying, and ¯ decision validates the unfairness of exclusion. This ¯ is a tremendous victory forGay and Lesbian couples ¯ in Vermont who are now one-step closer to being ¯ considered equal in the eyes of the law." ¯ Paula Ettelbrick, attorney and Family Policy Director at the National Gay and Lesbian Task ¯: Force Policy Institute said, "the court’s decision is unique in that it commands that the state give samesex couples every benefit and protection that : currently provides to married couples." ¯ "However, bystopping short offully recognizing : the freedom to marry, the court has opened the door ¯ to complete equality but has not constitutionally ¯ guaranteed it. Now the batde progresses to the : Vermont Legislature," Ettelbrick continued. "We ¯ have the opportunity as a community to convince lawmakers to provide the full badge of citizenship ¯ by recognizing the freedom to marry." ¯ Ettelbrick noted that Vermont is a logical state to ¯ become the first see Vermont, p. 12 New Leather Contest TULSA- Ric Poston, Oklahoma Mr Leather 1999 and his partner James Murray _Mr Tulsa Leather 1997 have announced they are producing a new leather contest, Mr. Sooner State Leather. The contest will be a preliminary event to the StateTitle of "Oklahoma Mr Leather" and is open to any Oklahoma resident. This first event will be held in Oklahoma City on the weekend of April 21 - 23, 2000 and any profits from the contest will benefit the Leather Archives and Museum in Chicago.. The event will provide education and information about the community, "demonstrations," opportunities for brotherhood, a brunchonSunday,andthe contestitselfon Saturday night April 22, 2000. Judges for the contest .will be Dave Rhodes, owner and editor of The Leather Journal, Terrell Brown, Oklahoma Mr Leather 2000, Oklahoma Drummer2000 (to be announcedin February 2000), and Michael Vrooman, the current International Miss Gay Rodeo and a former International Mr ~sayRodeo,MarkMalonInternational Mr. Leather, tRunnerUp-t997;and alternatejudge, Ed Smith who is an avid supportor of local and nadonal Leather and Drummer events. The contest will be held at the Habana Inn, Oklahoma’s all Gay hotel and bar complex. For reservations (be sure to mention the contest for special rates), contact the Habana Inn, 2200 Northwest39thExpressway, OklahomaCity,73112 1-800-988-2221, www.habanainn.com. For any furtherinformation about the contest, applications, and weekend packages contact: ms.oonerstatelthr@aol.com. Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial *Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria *The Mix, 2630 E. 15th *Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s .Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan *The Storm, 2182 S. Sheridan *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main 712-2324 610-5323 583-6666 749-4511 749-1563 744-4280 745-9998 834-4234 835-2376 585-3405 *TNT’s, 2114S..Memorial 660-0856 *Tool Box,. 1338. E, .3rd o 584-1308 Tulsa Businesses, Services, &:Pr~fe~si6nais Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 747-1508 *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 *Barnes &Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41. Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 743-1000 : 747:9506 : 250-5034-," 665-4580 ¯ 712-1122 " 712-9955" 2 494-2665 ~ 743-5272 ¯ 746,0313 : Cherry St: Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 Community Cleaning, Kerby..Baker 622-0700 Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620 *Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan *Ross Edward Salon ,~,: 584-0337, Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st Learme M: Gross, Insurance & financial planning Mark T: Hamby,.At.tomey ¯ .. *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E Skelly *International Tours Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th_ *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th David Kanskey, Country Club Barbering The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 *Living Al"tSpace, 19 E. Brady *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 587-2611 744-5556 838-8503 - 712-9379 592-0460 744-9595 610-0880 628-3709 808-8026 742-1460 459-9349 744-7440 745-1111 341-6866 712-2750 582-3018 747-0236 582-8460 599-8070 747-5466 585-1234 584-3112 663-5934 664-2951 838-7626 743-4297 747-5932 834-0617 834-7921,747-4746 749-6301 260-7829 481-0558 835-5563 743- 1733 665-2222 592-0767 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors *Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square Paul Tay, Car Salesman *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis Tulsa Agencies~ Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 741-0L .... 579-9593 All Sods Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 *B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616-S. Boston 585-1201 *Chapman. Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th PI. & Florence *ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314 *Community ofHope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300 *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 Council Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888 *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 *Democratic Headquarters,3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74!70-1475 355-3 t40 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 *Free SpiritWomen’ s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669 Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 " . " Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal " " Writers + contributors: ¯ James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lament " Lindstrom, Bob Rounsavell, Esther Rothblum. Mary Schepers ~dember o! The AssociatedPress ........... Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents -" :of this publication are protected by :US copyright 1998 by Nta,€ and may not be repr-oduced either.in : whole orinpar~withoutwrittenpermission from thepublisher. Publicationof a name or photo does not indicate a pers0n’s . .sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for : publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed’& be: " comes:the ~ole property ofT,J Eachreaaer " ~s entitled :to 4 copies of each editton at distribution ", points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542,74101 582-0438 ¯ ¯HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 ¯Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 " ¯Holland Hall School,5666 E. 81st 481-1111 : HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 ¯ ¯House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood : Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438=2437, 800-284-2437 " ¯MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 ." NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral PI. 748-3111 ¯ NOW, Nat’lOrg. for Women; POB 14068,74159 365-5658 " OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 ¯OSU-TUlsa ° PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 ¯ ¯Planned Parenthood~ 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 ’ Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 .*R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 ¯Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 " 584,2325 O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults : O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth St. Aidan’ s Episcopal Church, 4045 N.Cincinnati 425-7882 St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 " ¯St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 " ¯Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583=7171 ¯TNAAPP (Native AmeriCan men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 " Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 : Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only : TulsaOkla.forHumanRights,c/oThePrideCenter 743-4297 : T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 ¯ ¯Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule ¯Tulsa Community College Campuses ," ¯TulsaGay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 BARTLESVILLE ¯ ¯Bardesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337=5353 ¯ OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN ." ¯Borders Books &Music, 3209 NWExpressway 405-848-2667 -" ¯Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 ¯ TAHLEQUAH " ¯Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456=7900 " ¯Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900 : ¯Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 : ¯ NS.U School of Optometry, 1001.N, Grand.........: HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates " ¯¯ EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 ¯ *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main ¯ DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. ¯ ¯ Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. MCC of the Living Spring : Geekto Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 ¯ Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery ¯ ¯ Positive Idea Marketing Plans Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East : White Light, 1 Center St. ." JOPLIN, MISSOURI ¯ *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 * is where you can find TFN. Not all are Gay-owned butall are Gay-friendly. 501-253-7734 ," 501-253-7457 ¯ 501-253-6807 ¯ 501-253-5445 " 501-253-9337 " 501-253-2776 " 501-253-5332 ¯ 501-624-6646 " 501-253-6001 -’. 501-253-4074 " 417-623-4696 " It’s Elementary + more... December 22, 1999 On the heels of a tremendously successful campaign togetIt "sElementary aired on public television, we are thrilled~ to announce our new media series for kids. We are writing to you today to tell you a little about the project and to ask for yo~help: .W.e.hopeyo.u’!l eonside.rm.~king a year-end contribution toward its completion and distribution. We’ve been asked repeatedly by It’s Elementaryfans, "When are you going to make sombthing we can show to kids?"" .Finally wehave an answer -- THAT’S A. FAMILY! -- a video for elementary school children about family diversity. To learn more about THAT’S A FAMILY! and to make a donation to ensure its successful completion, please read the rest of this email, or go to: http:.//www.womedia.org/support.html on the internet. THAT’S A FAMILY! is the first video in our. long-awaited media series for children, "Respect for All." THAT’S A FAMILY! introduces children to different kinds of families, while the second and third videos~in the series center on dispelling Gay and Lesbian stereotypes and confronting anti-Gay name-calling. In THAT’S.A FAMILY! you’ll meet children’ who were adopted; are multiracial; haveparents whoare divorced; are being raised by step-parents, single morns or dads, or by grandparents and guardians. There also are children with Gay dads or Lesbian morns, and their stories are intertwined with those of the other families. THAT’S A FAMILY! is scheduled for release in the spring of 2000. It has the potential to reach hundreds of thousands of children, giving elementary schools a truly inclusive, respectful teaching tool that children will love to watch. Wehave no doubt that the long-term impact of this project will be tremendous. Giving elementary school students the opportunity to hear the words "Gay" and "Lesbian" described in a matter-of-fact way by their peers, and experience Gay and Lesbian families inthe contextofsuchanincredibly diverse group of other families, could have a profound effect on their values and behavior for the rest of their lives. To kick off this ambitious media series for children, we need your help. We need to raise additional funds to finishTHAT’S A FAMILY! this winter and to launch its distribution. Our work is not commissioned- instead we independently produceand distribute ourmediaprojects. see It’s... p. 14 Announcements Policy Tulsa Family Newswitl provide-space for holy union ceremony, marriage ceremony, birth, adoption and death announcements onaspace availablebasis. Photos are welcome, though we cannot promise placement or return them, so please send copies to Tulsa Family News, POB 4140, Tulsa 74159. Letters Policy Tulsa Family News welcomes letters on issues which we’ve covered or on issues you think need to be considered. You may request that your name be withheld but letters must be signed & have phonenumbers, or behand delivered. 200 word letters are preferred. Letters to other publications will be re-printed as is appropriate. by Tom Neal, editor & publisher January is National Volunteer BloodDonor Month and most newspapers in the city have received press releases exhorting Tulsans to donate blood. According to Tulsa’s chapter of the American Red Cross’ communications manager, Maggie Jewell, "the winter time is a crucial time for blood donations and that many new donors are needed to help meet patient needs in local hospitals...many donors who regularly give find that they cannot during the winter months because of a cold or the flu.., the nation’ sblood supply... [is] just a few hours aheadofdemand. Asit stands today, ifeveryone stopped donating blood, our nation’s supply would disappear within only two days..." So you’d think that the Red Cross would welcome all donors. In the Red Cross" press releases, they state, "to donate, one must be 17 years or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be feeling wall the day of the donation..." What they don’t say is that ffyou are Gay, you don’ t lie about it, and you give blood, they throw your blood away - even though ALL blood is tested for HIV antibodies anyway! Anyone who’s had sex with someone of the samegender since,ifmemory serves me, 1984, is banned. To reframe a 19th century prejudice: "Irish need not apply" becomes "Faggots need not apply." The local Red Cross shrugs off responsibility, saying it’s a national policy. The national Red Cross places the blame on the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). They all know that thisis bad science. " Once one might have presumed-a tight correlation between sexual orientation/behavior and HIV status. Today, those exposed to the HIV virus can just as easily be heterosexual. Infact, one of the parts ofour population whichhas disproportionately highinfectionrates is young Mrican-Americans. Does anyone think we’d see the Red Cross or FDA saying, "Young Blacks need not apply"? The reality is that this discrimination is socially wrong as well as bad public health policy. TulsaArea Red Cross can’ t:change it by itsdf but its Board of Directors can go on record to call for a change in the policy (it wouldn’t hurt if they added a non-discrimination pohcy too). And it can stop trying to sweep this prejudice under the rug. Until it and the FDA change their policies, its press releases should read, "to donate, one must be 17 years or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be feeling well the day of the donation.., andnot be aGay or Bisexual man." by Tom Neal, editor/publisher Early on the morning of Dec. 3rd, like many others, I was shocked to see the face of a friend, someone whom. I respectandlike, inTheWorld accused ofa vcry unlikely act. Reading the article and knowing the man, my first reaction was to wonder that the charges had been brought at all. It is a classic, "he said, she said" recast as "the straight ’boy’ said, the Gay man said." According to comments made to the Tulsa World by Broken Arrow police, the only persons present at the allegedactwere RickFortner and themanwhohas accused him of lewd behavior (I say man who accused because at 16 if he were a murderer, he’d be considered an adult and 16maynotbevery wise, but it’s hardly a child in this day and age). I then wondered at possible motivations for his accuser. Was this the sick behavior of a young man struggling with his own homosexuality andprojecting his self-hatred onto another target? Or is he yet another young American man warped into mindless hatred Of men who love other men by a society whose need for some hated "other’ dates back to before the Republic was founded (let me see: we Americans havehated Indians in the East, we’ ve hated Blacks, we’ve hated Jews, we’ve hated Germans, we especially hated the Irish, we’ve hated Catholics, and Poles, and again Indians in the West, and Asians: Chinese, Japanese, Fast Indians, we’ve hated Commumsts, Socialists, Unionists, women who dared to vote -or merely not be endless baby-factories, hell, we’ ve even hated some Republicans - I personally have thought that Ronnie Reagan was one of the most profoundly and blandly evil men of our time but I digress). Former says he is innocent and I believe him as do his friends and colleagues at his work, All Souls Unitarian ChurchandinCouncil Oaks Mens Chorale whichFortner founded and leads, and I hear his family, thank God. But even when his innocence is proven, and these charges likely are shown to be shameless political opportunism by Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris, Fortuer remains victimized by the accusation. His reputation has been called into question and defending " Fortner says he is innocent and I believe him... But even when his innocence is proven, and these charges likely are shown to be shameless politlea! opportunism by Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris, Fortner remains victimized by the accusation...." himself can 0nly be costly even if the charges are without merit. So why is this haptmning? Political and other observers have known for some dme that Tulsa District Attorney Tim Harris is closely associated with right wing political extremists who call themselves "Christian." Tulsa’s DA’s earlier demonstrated their willingness to abuse the powers of the office to promote a ultra rightwing agenda when they failed to prosecute seriously the brutal hate assault against Tony Orr and Tim Beauchamp until after prim media had written about the DA’s bias, failing even to get them victim’s compensation for their medical injuries as the DA’s office does for other crime victims. Local attorney and TOHRboard member Kerry Lewis suggests that Harris is shamelessly using this accusation to appeal to the part ofhis electoratewho are rabidly prejudiced, to appear as though Hams is "fighting crime" andjust incidentally destroying Rick Fortner’s lifein the process. We can likely anticipate that much of our District Attorney’ s strategy, if they have the nerve to push such a seemingly meritless case so far, is going to be to engage in blatant legal "Gay-bashing." It will be suggested that, ipso facto, Rick’s a"homo" and therefore capable of any evil, and that any accusation by a red-blooded, all- American boy is, of course, God’s own Truth! But what’s really on trial here, is American justice itself. As has played out generation after generation, with minority after minority, the reality has been that our justice, at its best- is uneven, and more often than not is wildly unfair, favoring wealth, whiteness and heteromaleness. And all the problem is not in the DA’s office. Some Tulsa police, year after year, engage in varieties of anti- Gay bias, including breaking the very law, with no restriction nor anti-bias training from Chief Palmer nor the elected official to whom he answers, Mayor Savage. But right now, what matter is that Rick Former is treated fairly. I don’ tknow if he’ s got alegal defense fund set up but he may need it. I’d suggest that any help readers might give, be sent to the Rev. Suzanne Meyers at All Souls Unitarian Church. They’re in the book. by Dave Fleischer National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Ask voters a question - then listen to their answers - and you get what Lily Tomlin calls a "goosebump experience." Why the adrenaline rush? Because you challenge not only your cherished ideas about the voters, but also what you believe about yourself. I was reminded of this while campaigning in Carol City, an African-American, working-class Miami neighborhood. I was with a team of volunteers from SAVE Dade, the group preparing to defend their county Human Rights Ordinance. Scene: short, bald, Jewish me at.the door, talking to a voter: "The Ordinance protects all of us from discrimination, whether we’~re aman or woman, black or white, Gay or non-Gay. The newest part of the law is the part that includes Gay people. Some people want to take the law .apart and remove Gay people from it. But we think that s wrong-wethink everyone ought to be treated with dignity and respect. What do you think?" ,,W,_ith barely a pause, the voter began "My church says. ¯. Oy ray. I figured I knew where we were headed, and it wasn’t the promised land. "My church says--Jesus loves everybody. Diseriminadon is always wrong." She and I had a brief, affirming discussion. I went to door #2, said my piece, and the voter immediately began,"My church says..." I listened. "My church says homosexuality is a sin. It’s wrong. Read your Bible, and you’ll see the Lord has a plan for a better life for you." As he amplified his point of view, I was : trying to decide how quickly to exit. When he stopped : talking, we paused and looked at each other. Then I said, "Well, I’m Gay. I likemylife, and if IYm doing a goodjob ¯ at myjob, do you think my boss should be able to fire me ¯ just because I’m Gay?" ¯¯ The voter looked astonished: "Wall of course, no one should fire you for that." That started a back-and-forth ¯ that surprised both of us. Wedisagreed about why people are Gay. We agreed that discrimination against G.ays is ¯ unacceptable. After a fewminutes, as hewas prepanng to ¯ read tomefrom the Bible, I called ahalt, thanked him, and ¯ moved to the next door. : What I learned about myself was how hard itis to ask : a question and hear the answer. Both times, it only took : three words before I thought I knew what was coming. ¯ Both times, I was Wrong but I realized why asking ~¯ questions is uncomfortable.Whenwe ask a question, and really wait to hear the answer, we are not Controlling the ¯ situation. We are sharing control with the other person. American culture teaches us all to like control. To ¯ celebrate our individuality - to believe that one pe.rson ¯ can make a difference - to have it our way--is as ¯ American as a.microwaved Mcwhopper. But growing up Gay raises the stakes. Many of us realize early on that we’ re different, subject to ridicule or ¯ hurt. So we crave control as a way to protect ourselves, ¯ and to survive. We pump up our talent for isolated ¯ individual achievement, sometimes neglecting team- " building and our curiosity about others. : Our life becomes a search for refuge. To protect ¯ ourselves, we build communities and organizations ¯ designed to shelter us. Butwe thenmiss genuine, reciprocal ¯ connectionwithotherpeople, especially thosewho aren’ t just like us. Werarely ask them what they think ofus. We ¯ assume we know. ¯ When we don’ t ask real questions - like "What do you think?"- we rely on Our past experience. No wonder that ¯ we hold onto ahigh level of paranoia. We can’ t forget the ¯ feelings we knew when we were young. We can’t miss ¯ the hostility expressed by right-wing extremists now. that ¯ we are older. ¯ But, guess what? Neither has much to do with where ¯ most Americans stand today. When we lack confidence ¯ in other people, it is no wonderwe struggle in campaigns. ¯ Ourlifeis a niche, but in elections we need50% + 1 of the ¯ participating voters on our side. ¯ It is understandably scary to put aside our past hurts to test the possibilities in the present. It’s easier to avoid person-to-person campaigning; it’s tempting instead to ¯ rely on every other possible form of communication, all of which have at least some value. But what price do we [ pay for our lack of curiosity, our unwillingness to risk : authentic exchange? Are we, without meaning to, buying ¯ intothelargerculture’stoleranceofstereotypicalthinking? ~ Who is most imperiled when it’ s a deviant act to ask a ¯ question - or to question a stereotype? Let’s rescue ¯ ourselves. Goosebumps are ours, for the asking. Dave Fleischer is a seniorfellow at the Policy Institute ofthe National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Nationwide Insurance : Allen said. Allen said much of the group’s time is Adds Partners’ Benefits:¯ teachers can ha,,v.e a tough time discussing even with COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Nationwide Insurance those~who don t have a disability. Company has just begun to offer employees a new : The Arc, formerly known as th.e .Associatio~ benefits package that will recognize same-sex : Retarded Citizens, adopt,e~,.. a posmon paper mr d0mestic partners. The plan also .will cover relatives " " year~ ago affirmin_g that. indiv]~du,~.s with m~enn~ _ including extended family members~uch as : retardationarepe°plew~tlasexualIeel.mgs’~nhee~n~} ’grandparents - roommates and unmarriedpartners ~vho live w,ith the .employees, Donna. James; [ the 7:2 million people with,,mental retardation in the Nationwide s senior vice president :of ihuman ¯ United States, s~ys people have fundamental ri,g,h,ts resources, told The Outlook, an iaiiependent [ as individuals to have privacy, love and be loved. ¯ eater Columbus Ga,c community. ~ Sfill,. Gay people with mental disabilities are often newsPaper°f,thegr.: - . . .,’.= ~,-~-’--,=-1= ¯ o,;~,~: "zed somefimesb arents,orcaretakers-the Those co,v:_cream.u..~si tt~. a:.e.,p-enaoe.n..t.o. nm. e~’~auP~..’u~ . o~,~att_ ,, em lo eeforsupp0rtorsnarelmanclalrespOn~t°mq¢ v~"v *~ a r " P Y. ........... .... . .... ’ r-All of Nationwide s 28,000 . ¯ . ¯ _ . .’. .--. ¯ wem~pthlotyheeewsaorere.klig.eib..!.e..f0rth-,ep~ lan.Byear: ly~’mber"’ ¯ ’. " W : ~lrglfllfl CoHrt to lalevle A recentForbesMagazine sur~ey, mo!€area: unmarried parmers .are €ovyr~..byh~e’~l~9.ben,efitS ~ :: ’ ROANOKE, Va. (AP)-A Virginia.appe~s court,has 10% of .the businesses with :at least zoo em~toy~.. : agreed"to review the constitutionality oI a state taw Companies that.pr0vide.same-sex P.-aFtner~e3Its .: tl~t ~nalizes oral sex between consenting adults. indtide:Lotus!.De~vd0pment Corp.,MicrosoRtsorp:, .. The.Virginia Court of Appeals agreed to ~ear. the -IBM, Walt Disney Co.,Honeywell and Xerox. ¯ ~i~s ~)f nine men convicted of soliciting sodomy ¯ " " e : from undercover police posing as Gay me~... . McCam, Forbes:Endors : The case will test alaw that some autho~taes say ~ a legitimate way to deter public sex acts. opponen ’Don’t Ask, DOn’t-Tell’- ": 0fthelawarguethatit’sanarchaicinvasionofprivacy .... .........si .that targets homosexu~,,s. The law, referred to as WASHINGTON(AP)-TheClintona~stxatto.n polieybarfing0penh0mosex.ual~sfro,m,..military~e_ ; ,crimes against nature, applies to all consenting ~vorksandshouldbepreserYed,Kepumtcancanoauate~ ’" adults, homosexual and heterosexual, who engagem " oral sex in public or private. Violating the law is a Sen. JohnMcCainanffSteveForbes s~din Decem~ber; ¯ McCain~ a former naval officer and prisoner oI war felony, plmishable ,by up to five years in prison. inVietnam, Saiahewo,~dhave sen.1.°r o,f.fieer,s,re,v]ew Those who say it s time for Virginia to join the list the p0ffcy, but ad,d,ed, I support me poncy, i oeueve of states that have abolished their alifi-sodgmy laws that it;s working. ’ ,, , " i are. encouraged that the appeals court has agr.e.e,d to On"Fox Ne~s Sunday, Forbes said: ’The military ¯ hear the case. The sodomy law also was invokedmthe is not an institution for socialengineering. It has. a ¯ case of Sharon Bottoms, a Richmond-area woman ~:ery real,role of protectingus. It... operates in very " who lost custody of her son in 1993 when ajudge said speJzial circumstance§, and theref0reapresident must " she was an linfit mother because she and her female take heed of leaders such as Gen. Powell and G.en. ¯ lo~er engaged in oral sex. Scfiwarzkopf Who s,a,y that you cannot have open inhispetitiontothe.appealscourt, Garrison said,,,the Gays in the military.. The Repu.bh,ca~,~ fro,nt-ru~n~ar~ ’ : case is not just a Gay issue, but one that affects me ri ht to 4 5 million adult Virginians to be Texas Gov George W.-Bush, also nas. enaorseu Clinton policy. " , The position of Vice President A1 Gore, a,Viemam they have a reasonable expectataon to privacy, t ne veterat~, and.his Democratic Opponent Bill Bradle~ is appeal attacks the law from several angles: that it that people who.can be firefighters, police officers ¯ violates privacy rights guaranteed by both state and andmembe~s,ofColigress shouldhaVeopenaccess to federal Constitutions; that it is based on religious .military service as wall. Gay civilrights activists who ¯ met with Clinton ¯last week said the president¯ told " them the ~’don’.t ask, dOn~t.tell’’ policy was a failure.. R.., ,rded-Gays and ¯ Lesb"ia"ns" "Find Support. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP)- For decades, the ¯ sexuality of people with mental, dis~abi!i_ti_e_s,^W_~e]~ ¯ taboo a subject that parents ann prolesslonm~ ,o~ ~ acknowledged its ..ex~stence. The disabl.ed were o~ften ¯ treatedas if they Were eternal children; immune irom desire. Bu,t as people with mental disabilities come of : age in a more accepting’atmosphere, they are’: grounds and thus violates the separation ofchurch and state; and that its potential five-year prison sentence subjects defendants to cruel find unusual punishment. Eighteen men were charged under the law-in the Roanoke Police Depfirtment;s sting. The biggest challenge for those appealing .their convictions may be convincing the appealS.court that they have legal standing to overturn a’law that affects not just them, but all adult Virgimans. In 1979 - the-last’ time a higtier state court heard a challenge of the sodomy_. law, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that a man arrested in Richmond had no such standing2 ’ Since then, several states have recoglfized that defendants arrested for alleg.ed public ~.ex acts are entitled to fight the law not just as it was applied to them, but as it potentially co~d be applied to bthers.i formerly Family of Faith & Greater Tulsa MCC Joined as one body of believers. Come celebrate with us. Sunday Services, 11 am ~aplewood, 8~18-1715 Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 S. Harvard, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIq Sun. Worship, ~0:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 prn 3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon Sandra Hill M.S. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Cel:tifled Hypnotherapist .,Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745~111 Community Unitarian UniversalL’ Congregation at Community ofHo~p~ South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0S9! A Welcoming.Congregation experiencing an open discussion abom relationships ¯ Mingo Valley Flowers an~’s~x ~and for Some, acknowledging that .they may Thirty years ago, all 50 states had laws that forbade be homosexual.. " f eo le witl~ " consensual oral sex. Today, Virginia is one of. 17 For the past.year, a small group’o P P : statesthat’stillhassu~halaw- ’ mental disabilities has be~n ga~hexqng ~- transported ¯ ¯ - 9413 E, 31st St., Tulsa 74145 from group home~ and independentl~ving facilities ". 918-663-5934, fax: 663:583~,1800-444-592 .byth~ircareta~ers+-to,djs~us~the~-r¢-d[c~’ue~nt°fn°~t~ : Court Bars Child o~y beingmenta~iy ~a~d~ea~i~ed, but being Gay ~or ¯ Visitation, Rights milr On a monthly basis, ~ey meet a~ a group with a : CHICAGO (AP) ~ Shelived withher Lesbian parme,r- . . advocates for:the disabled say:more’ " n . ,-., . ~nva"cy¯ .-.~.-~.-.~..,~..ri.~.r.ti.i .".~.a.t.e.l.us; .t.no.t.c.o.ve.r.e.d.u.nd.e.r.a. state law-governing Visitaaon rights. ~ne oec,slon NewHaven group:~d the meetings are niSt a dating ": service. Ratl~er;the sessions’are an opporttmity for a~. upjhue~ud.~j:~a~il~r CH’~u~ntaCn:~l~ul.~gg:eopinionii~t~d ¯segment of the populati°n that is d°ubl:y ils°)ated.t°, : th~illin0islaw.~pecifi~i~]iame~i~i~?eS.’~.~e~ : l,li-,~ , 12~21’.S~uttlCo~umbialSuRe420 ,~ ~lk oper~y about feelings, ,pressures,~ana" socm~ ¯ situations. Left.unaddressed; ~exu~iiy in.,a person :’ as.fotmerspous~sandgran.dparen ~,. -~ i ~i. ~;.’ 1~q~4-351.8 With a m~nL~i :disability can ,manifeSt itself in : to Visitation rights with children. If.is silent fin me ~’’~ inappropriate, and...s0metimes,, ,s~lf-destructive. ,ways; : issue of former same-sex p.armer~,: Child.i Family, IndividualA.,Couple Psychother~ " 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 TulSa Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) .6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday 12-9 prn~ Saturday, all sales benefit the Center OKLAHOMA COMMUNICATIONS Local - Long Distance Cellular -Paging 747.1508 Free Car Adaptor & Leather Case with New Cell Phone Help Celebrate A Great American Hero Join TOHR . PFLAG and Soul Force for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade Monday, danuary 17 From Pine & Greenwood to the Greenwood Cultural Center Gather at9 am, Parade at 11 am KEVIN BURLESO N Keller Williams Realty 712-2252 Burleson@kw.com 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An Independent Member Broker OPENARMS,OPENMINDS,OPENHF_AKrs i Saint Aidan 4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882 Saint John 4200 S; Atlanta Place, 742-7381 Saint Dunstan 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Tdnity 501 S. Cincinnati-, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You Amanda met her partner, "Helen," in 1984 when they were living in Georgia. Helen was artificially inseminated in 1993 and gave birth to a daughter that December. Amanda was involved in the preparations for the birth and helped take care of the little girl for a year and a half. The relationship ended in 1995. The next year, Helenmoved to Chicago with her daughter and has refused to allow Amanda any contact with the child since 1997, the court said. Amanda’s suitargued that even though she was not married to Helen, She Should have the same rights parents have under common law. Sawyer, an attorney for the Eainbda Legal Foundation, said a decision would be made later on. whether to appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. Helen’s attorney, Leon Finkel, noted that Illinois does not recognize common law in such cases’~ He said boyfriends, aunts and uncles and in some cases even stepparents are among those whoare not entitled to visitation rights under Illinois law. Finkel also said limiting the list was a good idea. because parents should only m special instances be forced to give up the power to determine who is allowed to visit their children. He added that while Illinois doesn’t recognize same-sex marriages, it does recognize same-sex adoptions. Had Amanda legally adopted the girl, she would have had visitation rights and the dispute would never have taken place, he said. Study Says Marriage Ban Would Hurt Children SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - At least 40,000 children living with Gay couples and 100,000 more with Gay single parents would be affected by a proposed state ban on same-sex marriages, according to a new study. Those children could feel ostracized by. society if their parents’ Unions were considered invalid, concludes the review by Michael Wald, a Stanford University law professor who specializes in public policy’s effect on children. Proposition 22 would let California recognize only marriages performed between a man and a woman. It will be voted on in March. ’q’his alleged study, which promotes homosexual marriages, is nothing more than a bogus political campaign hit piece against Proposition 22 and the institution of marriage," said Robert Glazier, a spokesman for the Yes on Proposition 22 campaign. Wald’s review used findings by the American Psychological Association and several research studies on same-sex parents. "By all reports, these families are doing very wall," Wald said. "It is different, obviously, growingup in afamily with two parents of the same sex, but children adjust to it." Studies have shown that the children of Gay parents are welladjusted and do wall in school, but often face intolerance, he said. The report drew criticism from David Orgon Coolidge, director of the Marriage Law Project atThe Catholic University ofAmerica inWashington, D.C., who called it "an attempt to mislead voters." "prop 22 is not about same-sex couples," Coolidge said in a written statement. "Prop 22 is about whether Californians will be allowed to decide for themselves how marriage will be defined in this state." Colorado Anti-Marriage Amendment Progresses DENVER (AP) - A proposed constitutional amendmentto restrict same-sexmarriages in Colorado has been approved by the .secretary of state’s office and now advances to a 30-day challenge period, ifapproved by voters, the measure would recognize only marriages between, a man and a woman and would make same-sex marriages performed in other states invalid in Colorado. Themeasure, which cleared the secretary of state’s ritle-setting board in December, will face opposition. "As a statewide agency,we are eommitted to fighting this every step of the way," said LoriAnn Girvan, executive director of Equality Colorado. "We feel that the taxpayers of Colorado don’t need another anti-Gay ballotinitiative that will re-ignite our state’s reputation as a place of intolerance." Candace McCune, an Englewood lawyer representing proponents of the measure who formed the group Coloradans for Traditional Marriage, said the measure would close a loophole in the state Constitution. The Legislaturelast year rejected an attempt by Sen. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Fort Morgan, to pass a statute similar to the proposed amendment. Opponents oftheinitiativehave 30 days to challenge it. Ifit survives, signatures ofnearly 64,000 registered voters. W~ould have to be collected tO.l~m the ~easure off ~1i~ ~6all0t. Coloradatis- for Tradiu6nal" Marriage also withdrew a proposal to ban same-sex marriages. Hank Aaron Slams Pitcher’s Comments ATLANTA (AP)- Hall of Famer Hank Aaronjoined thebarrage ofcriticism against AtlantaBraves pitcher Johp_ Rocker, despite his apology for making derogatory comments about Gays and minorities. Aaron said he was "very sick and disgusted about the whole situation" and questioned how Rocker could continue in baseball. "I have no place in my heart for peoplewhofeel that way," the all-time home run king, who is the Braves’ senior vice president, told syndicated radio host Jay Mariotti. About 15 activists protested outside Turner Field, urging the Braves to fire Rocker for the comments, which were published i~n a recent Sports Illustrated. "There may be some room for redemption, but not as anAtlantaBrave," said Michael Langford, president of the United Youth-Adult Conference. "We encourage him to enter his resignation right now and go into an early retirement." Rocker told Sports Illustrated he would never play for a New York team because he didn’t want to ride a subway train "next to some queer with AIDS." He also bashed immigrants, saying, "I’m not a very big fan of foreigners... How the hell did they get in this country?" While driving in Atlanta during the interview, Rocker criticized Asian women: Look. Look at this idiot," he said of another driver. "I guarantee you she’s a Japanese woman. How bad are Asianwomenatdriving?" Healso calledan overweighl black teammate "a fat monkey." Rocker apologized in a ffritten statement, saying he was carried away by his "competitive zeal" against New York Mets fans. He said heis not a racist mad the comments do not reflect his true feelings. Civic groups and a member of the Atlanta city Council delivered aletter to Braves owner TedTurner and general manager John Schuerholz demanding Rocker’s immediate firing. "We would have hoped there would havebeen amore scathing condemnation of these comments," said Councilman Derrick Boazman. "This was more thanjust rhetoric. This was hate." There was no answer at Turner’ s office, and his publicist did pot return a telephone call. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig called Rocker’s remarks "inappropriate and offensive." He said baseball is reviewing the matter and would take "appropriate action." There is precedent: Former Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott was suspended from baseball for the 1993 season for her use of racial and ethnic slurs. ¯ Pentagon .Seeks Tougher : Stand Aga,nst Harassers ¯ WASH!NGTON(AP)-The U.S. Defense Department ¯ is piessing armed services leaders to re-emphasize to ¯¯ commanders that harassment of troops based on their sexual orientation will notbe tolerated. The Pentagon : has drawn fire recently for its "don’t ask, don’t tell" : policy. Critics say an increasing number ofGay and Lesbian servicemembers arebeingharassed, contrary : to the stated policy ofpermitting them to serve so long : as they do not declare their sexual orientation. : The criticism sharpened after a court-martial in ¯ which anArmyprivate was convicted of murdering a ¯ Gay ,soldier harassed with the knowledge of his ¯ superiors. PresidentBill Clinton said earlier lastmonth ¯ that the Pentagon’s policy on Gays was "out of ¯ whack." ". see Briefs, p. 14 Older Americans With HIV Increasing HOUSTON (AP) - An aging population, life-extending treatments, and a misperception that AIDS is a disease of the young have fostered an increase in AIDS infections among older Americans, the Houston Chronicle reported recently. Nationally, about 11% of reported AIDS : cases are in people 50 or older, the newspaper reported. Seniors are the age group with the fastest-growing AIDS rates - up 22% between 1991 and 1996, compared with a 9% increase among people age 13-49, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. However, health officials warned that the increases seem dramatic because the numbers are small. A 106% increase in the number of older women infected through sex, for example, is based on an increase from 340 eases to 700 eases. "’At this point, the numbers are so small that they really have notbeen perceived as a problem," said Dr. Rose Brownridge, acting bureau chief of the Texas Department:of Health division that deals with AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. She added, however, that the issue needs further study. About 72,000 .americans age 50 and over and about 4,50(3 Texans have been. diagnosedwithAIDS. N~gneknows how many seniors are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, because not all states require HIV reporting and because older people arethought to be tested far less often than their younger counterparts. According to the CDC, slightly more than one-third of older people with AIDS are Gay or Bisexual men. About one of five was infected by using a dirty needle to inject drugs. While popular attention has been focusedon declining infection rotes among children, AIDS among seniors has been virtually ignored. That must change, said Marcia try, chief of social science research on aging at the National Institute onAging. "The pointis that society cannot ignore AIDS in that pediatric population, in the young adult population or the older population," Ms. try said. "For people living longer or getting infected at_ an older age, these people are incredibly isolated, and they may not getthe treatment they need." That is likely to change with the onslaught of baby boomers nearing retirement age, said Kathy Nokes, a New Yorknursewho works withinfected older patients and editor of a book on seniors with AIDS. "Baby boomers talk about everything, try everything, demand everything," she said. "To a 60- or 70- year-old, that’s not polite." Ironically, the drug Viagra that has allowedmanyoldermento revive dormant sex lives also has heightened concern aboutthe spread ofAIDS. "They are pretty AIDS-unaware as they venture out into the world of sexual activity," said Sara Selber, executive director of AIDS Foundation Houston. "AIDS wasn’ treally on their screen at the time they were (previously) sextmlly active." Fish Gene Key to Immune System TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A gene discovered in puffer fish - which have immune systems similar to humans - may hold secrets to learning more about diseases that affect the human immune system, such as AIDS, medical researchers say. ~esearchers doing work at St. Petersburg’s All Children’s Hospital published their findings in this week’s Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, an academic journal. Despite the finding, researchers do not know what the newly found gene does, said Gary Litman, the University of South qoridaimmunologistwholedthe research effort. However, they do know the gene plays amajor role in theimmune systembecause of its complex structure. In addition to the puffer fish, the ~mportant gene is found in other bony fish, including zebra fish and sharks. "The hunt is on for this gene in man," said Litman, who is working with eight other researchers in Florida and in California and Massachusetts. "Now we know where to look." Researchers are using computers .to search human DNA for the identical or similar sequence of 114,000 amino acids found in the fish DNA. There are about 3 million amino acids in the human body. Discoveries about the immune system can affectnew developments in treatments for diseases ranging from common allergies to cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Litman said thenew gene mightprovide clues to an additional type of immunity that doctors might not have realized. AIDS Most Important Story HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP)- The discovery of and ongoing efforts to treat and find a cure for AIDS was the top story of the century, according to a survey of a group ofhigh school history students. The students surveyed by The Hutchinson News otherwise generally agreed with adult readers surveyed by the newspaper, but, adults gave AIDS barely a mention. ’ It had such a high impact on what they thought about their own mortality," said Susan Smith, a teacher atHutchinsonHigh School. "They didn’t think they could die, and they certainly didn’t think having sex could make them die." Lindsey Derr, 16, saidnews aboutAIDS is evenmoreimportantnow that the disease is generally understood by experts and millions of people have been identified as AIDS,positive. Jacqui Faber, 16, said a lot of people still don’t know enough about where and how to get tested. Some issues identified by students as mostimportant occurred long before their lifetimes, such as womengaining theright to vote in America. Other issues that are again xn the news, such as the Scopes "Monkey" trial pitting evolutionary theory against creationism, weren’t seen as important. Other stories that were big during their lifetimes, such as the explosion of the space shuttle Challengerandthemeltdown ¯of the Russian nuclear power plant at Cheruobyl, were neat the bottom of the high-school list. Thebombing ofPearl Harbor that led to U.S. entry into World War II, top of the general readership’ s list,was infifthplace among the students. A high-ranking story on the students’ list that ranked low among the gener~ readership was the "I Have a Dream speech given by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Talesha Brassield, a 16-year-old junior, said King’s speech was still a reminder that Americans have a lot to learn about respecting each other. "There The Second Annual Progressive Alliance Summit The State Capitol Oklahoma City Saturday Januar 15th, 2000 Join activists from many different progressive movements from across the state for skills and coalition building. Keynote Speaker: Frosty Troy The Oklahoma Observer For more information or for reservations contact Planned Parenthood in Tulsa at 918-587-7674 or Keith Smith at The Smith Group: 405-840-2219 Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American? Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men’s Support Group is here for you! ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project at 582-7225 Ext. 208 or 218 Dial-Up Accounts Dedicated ISDN Con nections Virtual Hosting Visit our web page wwwag~sweb.net (918) 622-4965 Internet Marketing E-Commerce Web Page Design On-Site Setu p Avail able Medical Excellence And Compassionate Since 1926. ST. JOHN.MEDICAL CENTER THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOUNDATION PRESENTS Equality Rocks Saturday, April 29, 2000 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, DC Hear Our Voices Our Vision For the New Millennium IsAWorld Where Peopl.e Can Live With Hope, Equality and Safety. Join Melissa Etheridge, Ellen Degeneres, Anne Heche and a Host of other Stars as They Rock. the New Millennium and Take a Stand for a Safer, BetterWorld for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People Everywhere. Tickets on Sale at 800..551.SEAT or www.ticketmaster.com are still people that believe people have to think the same, look the same and believe the same things," Talesha said. Thais Protest US Drug Monopoly BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Some 120 Thai activists and HIV-AIDS patients camped Wednesday outside the Health Ministry demanding an end to a U.S. pharmaceutical monopoly thatmakes antiviral drugs too expensive for most in Thailand. They want theThai government to enforce a patent act to legalize local manufacture of Didanosine or DDI, a medicine that suppresses the deadly HIV virus in a patient’s blood, delaying the onset of AIDS. Few. of the more than 1 million HIV postive individuals in Thailand, a country of 62 million people, can afford drugs such as DDI and AZT, imported to Thailandfromoverseas,mainlyfromU.S. manufacturers. DDI,manufacturedby U.S. ftrmBristol- Myers Squibb, is sold at50 baht ($1.25) a tablet in Thai hospitals. Patients need at least fourtablets aday, costingin all about 6,000 baht-10,000 baht ($160-250) a month. A Thai office worker earns about 4,400 baht($110) amonth. Thedrugprice would be halved if Thailand produce it locally. Last month, Medecins Sans Frontieres, the Nobel Peace Prize-winnlngemergency healthcare group, said U.S. trade pressure has made proper health care for H!V/ AIDS patients nnaffordable in Thailand and other less developed countries. Activists said access to DDI, used by around 5% of people living with HIV in 1997, declined over the past two years due to Thailand’s economic recession. Since theHIV epidemicbeganin the early 1990s, more than 260,000 Thais have contracted full-blown AIDS. ’q’he government has full legislation to enforce the act butit fears the U.S. will be angry andit mightlead to trade sanctions," said Paisal Tan-ud, spokesmanoftheThai Network For People Living With HIVAIDS. The activists plan to camp outside the ministly in Bangkok until they get an answer from the government. Earlier this year, campaigners succeeded in demanding local manufacture of Diflu.can, a drug used to treat cryptococcat memngitis, a fungal infection of the brain which occurs in HIV-AIDS patients. The government has allowed two local pharmaceutical compames to produce the drug, originally manufactured by the U.S. drug company Pfizer. Girl + Grandmother Tell Their Story WOODBRIDGE, Va. - When Annisha Wilbum was 4 years old, she went to live with her grandmother, Valerie Reeder- Bey, who is HIV-positive. Reeder-Bey knew she had to talk about her condition with her granddaughter. The hard part was finding a way to do it without frightening her or delving into uncomfortable details. "I was living in fear that anything could happen," said Reeder-Bey,46,wholives inWoodbridge. "I wanted to tell her. I just really had to find the way without being graphic." She started by jotting down things that Annisha shouldn’tworry about: "It’ s okay to hug," she wrote. "It’s okay to hold hands." As the girl got older, she started making her own contributions to the list. ¯ Talking on the telephone with her : grandmother was OK, Annisha pointed ¯ out, or going rollerblading together. ¯ Thus was born "My Grandma Has : AIDS: Annisha’s Story," a 14-page ¯ illustrated children’s book that was ¯ published this year by a pharmaceutical " ¯ company and distributed at the U.S. Conference on AIDS in Denver and a World AIDS Day commemoration in ¯ Boston. "- Annisha and her grandmotherare both ¯ listed as authors, but thebookis writtenin ¯¯ Annisha’s voice. "Hi. My name is Annisha. This is a story about my grandma," the book begins. "She is real : special to me. Mygrandmaisjustlikeany ¯ other grandma. My grandma has AIDS." The book goes on to describe the various things they do together. "I know that ifmy friendhas AIDS, I cannotcatch itbybeing ~ their friend," Annisha says in the book. ~ Reeder-Bey, who also lives with her ¯ husband, Tommy, is excited about the : book’s distributionandhopes parents will ¯" use it to introduce the subject of AIDS to i¯ tHheeairvcehniilndrVenie.wS,haeniosnaplrsoofitthtehafotpurnodveirdeosf : health counseling and support groups for ¯ people living with AIDS. "I would love ¯ forit to be in ev,,e~y household. That’s ~e ultimate dream,’ she said. "Even if it s ¯ not in every household, I want everyone ~ to know about it." : The road to "My Grandma Has-AIDS: ¯ Annisha’s Story"was along one. It began ¯ ¯ whenReeder-Beywent toherownmother, looking for solace after she learned she ¯" was HIV-positive. Reeder-Bey said she ¯ spent 22 years as an alcoholic and drug ¯ addict. Her mother could not accept the : diagnosis and sent her daughter away, she : said: "I forgive my mother now, but then, ¯ I couldn’t take it," she recalled. ¯ Six years later, Reeder-Beywas alcohol- . and drug-free andembarking onanew life ¯ as an AIDS activist and drug counselor. ¯ Then her daughter, who has had her own : struggles with addiction, asked her to take in Annisha. "Wehad already spent a lot of ." time together," Reeder-Bey said of ¯ Annisha. "She just became a part of my : life." When Annisha was 6, Reeder-Bey ¯ thought the two of them had a book worth ¯ sharing. She went to several well-known : children’s book publishers, who told her ¯ that the subject matter was inappropriate ¯ or didn’t fit their needs. ¯ Butthebookdidcatch the eye ofofficials ." at Agouron Pharmaceuticals, a La Jolla, ." Calif.-based company that makes the ." AIDS drug Viracept, and Agouron ¯ published it. Agouron has an active : outreachprogramthatfocuses particularly ¯" on minority communities, and the book ¯ worked well with that program, said Joy ¯ Schmitt, a company spokeswoman. : Reeder-Bey also made sure that Prince ¯ WilliamCounty school administrators got : a copy of"Annisha’s Story." Annishais a ¯ third-grader at Featherstone Elementary. ¯ Agouron said it plans to distribute the ~ book at otherAIDS conferences, with the ¯ authors’ permission. In the meantime, ¯ Reeder-Bey is a one-woman distribution ¯ machine, bringing books to her doctor’s ¯ office, to work, to wherever she thinks ¯ someone would pick one up. "I want : people to open up and start talking to kids : about it. Kids want you to be open with : them," Reeder-Bey said. ¯ And Annisha said she plans to keep ¯ writing. She has advice for other would- ~ be authors: "I think they should write ¯ what’s in their imagination, and write : what’sin their heart." Happy New Year and Century to " hit Broadway, running for 2 years. This everyone! "If you’re with me, next year : ground breaking drama about 9 Gay men willbe... The perfect year!" Sorry, Petula ¯ gathering for a birthday party with catty, left a little Norma Desmond behind. (The ¯ emotionally trying results spawned a film line is from a song that features ~ -by William Friedldn (who went on to prominentlyinthemusical, direct "the Exorcist", and "Sunset Boulevard".) Actually, there were afew days I couldn’ t tell the two apart. What, me catty? I don’t know what you mean. . . (Eyes bat iunocenfly. Well, as close as I can get... Shaddup! Stop snickering amongst yoursdves!) January at the PAC: Ben E. King performs with the Tulsa philharmonic the 7 &8. The armchair traveler goes to France on the 10; and the All State Music Festival happens onthe 15. "Gaelic Storm," the Irish band that played in the 3rd class steerage section of the Titanic appears at the PACJanuary 19 &20. Leo danced a jig to their tunes in the film. Latin music is played by Scarles, Allen and River on the 22, and a concurrent concert hapl~L’ns with Janina Fialkowska at the piano. On the 23, Das Puppenspeil (I love that name!) puppet theatre performs with the Philharmonic, and the month closes with "Buddy," the Buddy Holly musical from the 25 through the 30. "Crossing Delancy" opens on the 28. More info on these artists to come. If ~ou lust can’t wait, you can always call e f~iendly folks at the PAC ticket office at 596-7111. Forthose abitmoreventuresome, Dallas seems to be the place of interest in upcoming months. GeorgeWinstonplays Majestic Theatre Jan 7; and for those who recall a rather large member of the Rocky Horror Picture Show cast, Meat Loaf performs at McFarlin Auditorium Jan 16. My, they’re really bringing in the class acts now, aren’t they? For the more modem crown, Counting Crows plays the Bronco bowl Jan 25, and Beck plays there Jail 26. Kids in the Hall, the all male cross dressing comedy troupe of some fame in the mid-90’s plays the Bronco bowl Feb 3. The Pretenders, with opening act "Gay Dad", perform at the Bronco Bowl Feb 6. The Chieftains, for those who like their Irish music Irish, are at the Fort Worth Bass Performance Hall Feb 6. Back in Dallas, Diana Krall plays the Majestic Theatre Feb 18. And for those into boy bands, Backstreet Boys (almost has-beenS) are at Reunion Arena March3-4. For themorefolksy set, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young are playing Reunion Arena March 7th. For thosepining for somedecent theatre - and I know many of you are, even if you don’t attend it- Mort Crowley’ s seminal work, "The Boys in the Band", runs through January 29 at the Fort Worth Theatre (817-921-5300). It rated a full page storyin theFortWorthStarTelegram. Apparently, Fort Worth has become a progressive town, in that one of its oldest and mostprestigious theatres has started a series of Gay plays called the "Labor of Love" series. They have sold out. Hello, Theatre Tulsa! "Boys" opened in April 1968, and was one of’the first, if not the first, Gay play to "Sorcerer") and nnhinged the closet door that held Gay theater locked inside and blew it down the hallway. . FortWorthTheatrehas already produced two shows this season thathad to do with some aspect of homosexuality: "Seducing Sally" and "The SantalandDiaries". Folks, this is a city nicknamed "Cowtown". Hello? It’ s about the size of Tulsa. They have 3 theatres there that are unafraid to try something new -CircleTheatre, Stage West, and now, the most staid of the Fort Worth Theatres. We have Heller, and : sometimes TU, and the quality of theatre ¯ in this town is very hit and miss. I know : that’ll tick some folks off, but it’s true. ¯ And more often than not, it’s missing. : Let’s work on that, shall we? I mean, ¯ Cowtown, really! Tickets are $10 - $12 dollars, and a ¯ percentage of ticket sales goes to AIDS ~ Resources of Rural Texas. And from the : pics of the cast, it looks like it would be a ¯ handsome evening, indeed. Thanks to : Mark Lowry of the Fort Worth Star Telegram for some of the info used in this : tern. Usually, when I write of an album wherein the songs, music and lyrics, tend to eerily reflect events in my own time space, it’ s a safe bet that I’m writing about Stevie Nicks. Shejust does thht sort thing. I got walloped this last week by an album my best friend Karin (who’ s straight, by the way) mademelisten to. She started off by saying some of the songs reminded her of me and one of my last major romantic entanglements. Then she started playing it, and I was just about knocked out of the car. The album is by an artist I never gave much ~hought to, except to wish that I’ d never hear the phrase "I Wanna Come Over" again. Yes, I was ~,valloped by a Lesbian MdissaEtheridge slat~stalbum, "Breakdown" (an ironic rifle, given the album’ s previously stated significance) is a treasure trove of powerful lyrics and dynamite music. The song "Stronger Than Me" is one of the ones my best friend Karin related to : my experience from her viewpoint. The ~ lyrics are dark and intense, and the music ; echoes their intent. "I don’t know how : you can take it / invest your heart and then ¯ youbreakit / I don’ tknow how youcan set : it free / you must be stronger than me" : certainly sums up my somewhat ¯ overoptimistic romantic enthusiasms according to Karin. "Breakdown" is a power ballad about a ~ love gone so wrong one has left, but the ¯ other p~rson keeps pulling you back like ~ a pit of quicksand. "I’m coming to your ~ breakdowntonight.""Enough ofMe" was ¯ another sock to the stomach in its eerie : capturing of what the last year of my last ; majorrelationship was like. see Jirn,p. 14 The Tulsa Phiharmonicpresents pianist Janina Fialkowska the third concert in the, Masterworks Series Saturday, January 22, 8pm Tulsa Performing-Arts Center Debussy, Prelude a l’apres midi d’une faune Grieg, Piano Concerto in A minor, op. 16 Wagner, selections from Der Ring des Nibelungen Tickets: 747-PHIL or 596-7111 earles, Allen & Rive.ra URBANTULSA THE KERR FOUNDATION, INC. FOUNDERS AND ASSOCIATES, INC. "cO IJ/IELLIAS cao~oea~v:VAL CANIPAROLIw~€:FREOEIIIC CHOPIN Long before multi-million dollar book deals - were the fashion, Alexandre Dumas’ son (yes, the "The Three Musketeers" author) converted his torrid:turned-terminal love affair into a best seller. From there, composer Guiseppe Verdi adapted the story for opera (hello, "La Traviata"). Today, choreographer Val Canipamli finished the iob of turning "La Traviata" into dance. Using drama, not melodrama. For understatement underscored. A full-length love story. "You don’t have to knew ballet to love ballet. You just have to try it." -- MARCE£LO ARGELJNI ARTISTIC DIRECTOI~ " FRIDAY 8 PI~EBRUARY 11 SATURDAY B PMFEBRUARY 12 SUNDAY 3 PMFEBRUARY 13 SEASON SPONSORS: ABC Music Order tickets by calling The Tulsa BaJlet Ticket Offica: 749-600| 4512 S. Peoria Ava. , Tulsa, OK 74105-4563 ¯ VisH GILCREASE MUSE I~" SUNDAYS Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service - 6pm, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation Service - 11am, 2545 S. Yale, 749-0595 (Welcoming) Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist Service - 1 lain, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-1314 Metropolitan Community Church United Service, llam, 1623 North Maplew00d, Info! 838-1715 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America) Mass - 1lain, 205 W. King (east of N. Denver), Info: 582-3088 Unity. Church of Christianity Services: 9:15 & 11:00 am, 3355 S. Jamestown,749-8833 University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gayfrransgendercd Alliance 6:30 pm, Meets at the United Ministry Ctr., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780 ~’ MONDAYS HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required. Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378)3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard) HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center 7:30pro, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays 2rid Mon/each mo. 6:30pm, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551 Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals - call for times, info: 748-3888. I~" TUESDAYSAIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call for next meeting date. 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551 Live And Let Live, Community of Hope United Methodist, 7:30pro, 2545 S. Yale Multienltural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date. Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001 PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center. 1307 E. 38th Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE) Tuesdays, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, info: 743-4297 ~ WEDNESDAYS Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pm, 3210b So. Norwood Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more information, call 582-7225 TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for info: 595-7632. Lambda A-A, 7 pm, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft. ~" THURSDAYS HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pm 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN) Support/social group for 18-24’ s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-2325 Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, Info: 834-4194 ~ FRIDAYS SafeHaven, Young Adults Social Group, 1 st Fri/each mo. 8pm, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th I~" SATURDAYS Narcotics Anonymous, 11 pm, Community of Hope,1703 E. 2nd, Info: 585-1800 Lambda A-A, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft. t~= OTHER GROUPS T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info: 298-0827 Gal-A-Vanting, Womens Social & Cultural Group Call for info: Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-6825. OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization. Long rides & short rides from Zeigler Park. Long & short tides from Tulsa Gay Community Center. Write for info: POB 9165, Tulsa, OK 74157 Mixed Volleyball, non-active in winter, call Shawn at 243-5190 for spring activities. Ifyour organization is not listed, please let us know. Call 583-1248 orfax 583-4615. reviewed by Barry Hensley Tulsa City-County Library Here are a couple of new books at the library that you shouldn’t miss! A few years ago, author Rik Isensee wrote an eulighteningbookforGay men, rifled "Reclaiming Your Life: The Gay Man’s Guide to Love, Self-Acceptance and Trust." He’s back with a new winner for those of us in our, ahem, late thirties (and on up), "Are You Ready?" The time has come for the community to understand that Gay life doesn’t end simply because you remember Watergilte. This book helps you learn to celebraie i the positive things about aging (flexibility, " greater "One d Isensee’s primary tasks is to help Gay males reach closure with a youtlt~l identity¯ The key to this is learning to stop living for the moment¯ For a ¯ reclaim youthful ambitions. This tendency : can be compared to the stage of ¯¯ ’bargaining’ in grief reactions. If only I’d just work harder, exercise more, go to ¯ bars, get a facelift, get a tattoo- I’ll be all ¯ right." One of the suggested steps toward stabilizing your life is to get in a long term relationship. Just because it didn’t work whenyouwereyoungand foolish doesn’t mean it won’t work now! There is a good section that provides some basic guidance toward finding a rdationship, including "what are you looking for?," "distinguish _between desirables.and necessary qualities," and variety of reasons, "be open to men who " don’tfityouinsual type." we are living longer. _There are alsosomegood tolerances, self ann " 1- .... ¯.... " ~ d nav" ate neell to remmn acceptance) an lgate~_____-~_~. the negatives (dis-eti~ vital and involved. over physical aging, d i s i 11Usi onm e n t,--It Is very Important examples of how depressio,and lethargy). One of Isensee’s to-not waste time primary tasks is to help re]ivln6 - Gay males reach closure with a youthful identity, the past.. The key to this is learning to stoplivingfor themoment. Fora variety of re~ons~ we are living long~-and need to remain vital and involved. It is very important to not waste time reliving the past. As Isensee explains, "During this uncertain time, when we’ ve lost our way, there may be a sense of not having accomplished anything. Itmay be difficult to remember earlier goals or to ascribe any significance to them. It’s also hard to imagine what else we would like to do. Rather than tolerating the anxiety of not knowing, some men are tempted to make up for lost time - through some radical change for its own sake, or a mad dash to with Former and does not believe the accusation to be credible. Attorney Kerry Lewis, who is also a board member of Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights suggested that anti-Gay bias and political opportunism on the part of Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris and his staff may be behind this accusation. Lewis noted that such a case would have appeal for Republican Harris whose voter bast is tied to religious extremist elements in the Republican Party. Lewis also said that given the level of anti-Gay prejudice in the area’s jury pool; Harris maybecalculating thatheneednotactually prove Former guilty, that is that merely being a Gay man accused by a younger man will be taken as proof of guilt in a legal system. that is hostile to minority citizens. DrumwrightattorneyTimDaniel whose practice~has’included defending Gaymen relationships change over the years. No, thesethi~gs are not easy, but the hard work will pay off in. the end! Another new book is, ’q’he Book of Gay and Lesbian Quotations." This is a fun compilation of quotes by Gays and ¯ Lesbians; and Gay-friendly peopleas well, ¯ from ancient times to the present. It is a ." simple reference book broken down into ¯ broad subjects: solitude, morality, hope, ¯ etc. : Some of the better quotes are: "a waist ¯ is terrible thing to mind," "anyone who ¯ says that softball is a boring game to . watch isn’t looking at the right things!," : and "the only way of getting dd of temptation is to yield to it." This is a super : book for one liners. : Check for these and other fun books at ¯ your local branch library, or call the ¯ Readers ServicesdepartmentattheCentral : Library at 596-7966. : who say they were entrapped by Tulsa ¯ Police, believes that the Tulsa County ¯ DistrictAttorney uses anti-Gay bias in the legal system to plea bargain cases, : knowing that accused Gay men, even if ¯ they are not guilty, or even if the police ¯ engaged in illegal conduct themselves in ¯ order to make an arrest, will accept a ~ "deal" rather than risk having a hostile ¯ jury and even more serious charges and ¯ punishment. : Anti-Gay hate crime victims, Tony Orr ¯ &TimBeauchamp, also have pointed out ¯ that Hams’ office failed to assist them in : getting normal compensation for their : medical expenses due to the assault on ¯ them, and that the DA’s office did not ¯ even prosecute seriously their assailants ¯ until after The Tulsa World wrote a story : about the DA’s inaction. ¯ Fortner did return a call to TulsaFami!y : Newsbutonadviceofhis attorney declined ; to comment onthe allegations. Calls to : Former’s attorney were not returned. January April July October December Even Out Your Monthly Electric Bills. At PSO, we know that changing weather conditions throughout the year can cause your monthly electric bills to rise and fall dramafieally. Which can make it hard to tflan your ¯household budget. That’s why~ ~ourAverage Monthly Payment plan, could be your_budgeting solution. Wata~you imy about the same each month, because it’s based on your gnevious 12 months.usage. That makes budgeting a breeze. And best of all ifs free. AMPis just one of several ttem~ole payment o~ons PSO offers you. For more a day. Or sign up forAMPon our P- 9 PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA A Central and South West Company Holland Hall SCHOOL PRIMARY SCHOOL TOURS (AGE 3- GRADE 3) MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL TOURS (GRADES 4- I I) MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL TESTING (GRADES 4- II) PRIMARY SCHOOL TESTING (KINDERGARTEN- GRADE I) To reserve your place, please Call the Admission Office at 481=111.1; extension 251. 5666 E. 81st Street ~ Between Yale & Sheridan ~ Tulsa ~ www.hollandhall.org Holland Hall admits qualified students without regard to race, sex. religion, national or ethnic omgm, or p~.sical disabili~.. 800-559-1558 ~.NewNest.com The new Patti Johnsqq Wilson YWCA wi, be opening February 2000 Fitness Center Aerobics Aquatic Programs Licensed Child Care Our Proffress Le s! by Mary Schepers . - I will respect electrical energy and will TFNdo-it-yourself-dyke extraordinaire ¯ notwireanyfixture, outletorswitch’hot." The holidays are over, the mistletoe " - I resolve to keep saw blades sharp and delightfullynsed, abusedandrefused.The ¯ clean. I will unplug power saws before long nights and short days of winter seem ¯ removing the blade. to stretch on forever. It is - I resolve to use trendy the time to dreamoffuture projects that will not be started until spring time comes. And it is time for making all of those godawful New Year’s resolutions that endurebutfor a mere matter of days. Why not combine home projects with good intentions andmake some resolutions you’ll actually keep? Inall modesty, and with absolutely no sense of overstepping boundaries, your DIYD gently offers her own suggestions for your approval and implementatzon. Considerityourblueprint for a millennium of satisfying home projects. Or consider it your DIYD telling you what to do - again. And always. Why should this century be any different than the. last? You love it, ducklings, you know you do! Now, repeat after me - I resolve to always work safely! I will read and follow direction~ and will not by-pass guards or safety devices. I will use personal protection (safety glasses, earplugs, etc.), and ask for help if I need it. -I will measure twice (minimum!) and cut once. Woodis expensive and screwing up makesmecranky and unbearable. Let’ s avoid that this year. -I will not swear to the extent and/or noise level that the dog or cat needs deep therapy. -I will always involve my partner (if applicable) inhome repair and decoration decisions. Even if they say they "don’t care" - trust me, cupcake, theydo! - I resolve to take good care of my tools. I will keep them clean, organized and in good repair. I will thereby not waste precious project time obsessing about the mystery location of the screwdriver or paint roller. - I resolve not to treat any ofmy partner’ s questions as stupid - no matter how glaringly obvious the answer or solution. - Iwill not loan out tools I care about to people who abuse them or do not return them, I will acknowledge my emotional/ psychological bond with my tools, especially thoserequiring apower supply, - I will buy that leather tool bdtas soon as I can. And I will use it (silk boxers optional). - I resolve to always set my ladder up on a stable, even surface and to havesomeone watching out for me nearby. That especially applies if I am on the roof. The dog does not count as my ’safety buddy.’ -I resolve to overcome my fear and loathing of spiders and slugs long enough to enter the crawl space and make that minorplumbingrepair to thebathtub drain. Other-wise, I will overcome my aversion to paying a plumber to do the same. "In all modesty, and with absolutely no sense of overstepping boundaries, your DIYD gently offers her suggestions for your approval . . . Consider it your blueprint for a millennium of satisfying home projects. Or consider it your DIYD telling you what to do - again. And always. Why should this century be any different than the last?" colors and designs in my home sparingly, remembering fullyhow appalled I was by the ’50’s Peptopink bathroom walls, tile and tub. I am leaving a legacy! (this does not apply if you wish vengeance on your heirs) - I will always get three quotes for any contract labor, as well as references. - I resolve to be more respectful for the people wor.king atmylocal home repatr palace, even thal patronizing boob in plumbing. Fantasize about replumbing his fixtures, butdon’tactually threaten to do it this time. -I resolve to buy very good paint brushes and keep them clean and properly stored for a lifetime of painting pleasure. -I will not tell friends, family or relative strangers how they screwed up their latest project and what I wouldhavedonebetter. Do give them a stack ofDIYD columns as a form of gentle guidance. - I resolve to do one project this year, no matter how small, to improve the aesthetics, efficiency or value ofmyhome. - I resolve tomakemy DIYD that cocktail - a Manhattan with two cherries - as a small token of the gratitude I bear her for enlightening my life and improving my home! And your DIYD resolves to be back next month to help you make good on some of these intentions. PS: Your DIYD doesn’ t waste precious energy tying cherry stems into knots with her tongue when it is better applied to practical projects! ¯ By the time ~this song played, I was ¯ becoming a fan. So much so, I bought the CD If ’ , : you ve been depressed, and couldn t ¯ explain how debilitating a state it really ¯ can be, "Into The Dark" is one of those ¯¯ songs you play for people to make them understand what the dark night of the soul ¯ is all about. One ofthemore powerful and dark songs on thi~ album, it leaves you ." haunted. It’ s a ditty about going "into the ¯ soullinto the heart/into the dark", and : realizing that one’s been spinning one’s wheels keeping a dead relationship alive, ¯ not that Iwouldknowanythingabout that. "There was tire/therewas death/there was ¯ lyingonyourbreath/Itumedaway/Iwould ¯ pretend/but the fire never ends/I’ve been ¯ here sleeping all these years. " _" Lest you think it’s all doom a~ad gloom, : JulieCypher, Melissa’s longtimepartner, ¯ requested a more upbeat song for fear her to recognize same-sex civil marriage. It was thefirst state to offer domesticpartner benefits to state workers, one of the first states to recognize second-parent adoptions and one ofthe first states to ban. discriminationbasedonsexual orientation. -The Mormon church, which has campaigned.-against Gay marriage in Vermont, Hawaii and California, issued a brief statement repeating its position and ¯ saying,"As the legislative process moves forward, The ChUrch of Jesus Cqh-’ist of Latter-day Saints urges the citizens of Vermont and their elected representatives to protect the uniqueness and sanctity of traditional marriage and to preserve the family ~ the basic unit of society." Next Door In New Hampshire A statelawmakeris trying to make sure Gay New Hampshire couples do riot take advantage of the Vermont ruling. Rep. Gary Torressen, R-Center Harbor, says he was disappointed by the decision that Gay couples are entitled to the same benefits and protections as husbands and wives. Torressen said he filed., his bill, which would prevent New Hampshire from recognizing same-sex marriages contracted out of state, in anticipation of the Vermont court’s decision. The Legislature repealed a ban on Gay foster parents and Gay adoptions. The state also has a law that protects Gays and Lesbiansfrom discrimination in housing, employmentand access topublicfacilities. State Sen. Rick Trombly, a Boscawen Democrat who is Gay, said New Hampshire shouldgo further and set upits own domestic partnership system. Rep. Martha Fuller Clark, D-Portsmouth, has filed a bill that would extend medical benefits to domestic partners, andrecently, trustees for the state university system approved domestic partner benefits for employees. But Gays and Lesbians still lackfull acess to the samehealthinsurance, disability benefits, tax breaks and inheritance protections that married couples enjoy. Trombly believes New Hampshire lawmakers would support a domestic partnership system as a fundamental affirmation of equal rights. But he does not believe they would support Gay marriage, because many believe heterosexual marriage has a religious significance. State Sen. Pat Krueger, a conservative Republican from Manchester, said Tuesday she had Gay friends whose lives were complicated by their lack of legal protections, and she would consider supporting domestic partnerships. A spokeswoman for Gov. Jeanne Shaheen said the governorremains opposed to Gay marriage. Spokeswoman Pamela Walsh declined:comment on Shaheen’ s .view of domesticpartnership.legislation, sayingit was premature. Excerpts from the Supreme Court decision on marriages: Maythe stateofVermontexclude samesex couples from the benefits and protections that its laws provide to opposite-sex married couples? That is the fundamental question we address in this appeal, aquestionthatthecourtwellknows arouses deeply-felt religious, moral, and political beliefs. Our constitutional responsibility to consider the legal merits of issues properly before us provides no exception for the controversial case. The issue before the court, moreover, does not turnon the religious-or moral debate over ¯ inlimate same-sex relationships, butrather ¯ on the statutory and constitutionai basis for the exclusion of same-sex couples : from the secular benefits and protections : offered married couples. ¯ We conclude that under the Common Benefits Clause of the Vermont Constitution, which, in pertinent part, e,ads, that government ~s, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, ¯¯ protection, and security of the people,. ¯ nation, or community, and not for the particular emolument or advantage ofany i single person, family, or set of persons, ¯ who are a part only of that community," plaintiffs may not be deprived of the : statutory benefits andprotections afforded ¯ persons of the opposite sex who choose to ~ marry. We hold that the state is ¯ constitutionally required to extend to ¯ same-sex couples the common benefits : and protections that flow from marriage under Vermont law. ". (and) ¯ While the laws relating to marriage ¯ have undergone many changes during the ¯ last century, largely toward the goal of ¯ equalizing the status of husbands and ¯ wives, the benefits of marriage have not ¯ diminished in value. On the contrary, the ¯ =benefits and protections incident to a : marriagelicense under Vermontlaw have : never been greater. ¯ (andfrom Justice Denise Johnson) ¯ This case is undoubtedly one of the ¯ most controversial ever to come before ¯ this court. Newspaper, radio andtelevision ¯ media have disclosed widespread public ¯ interest in its outcome, as well as the full ¯ spectrum of opinion as to what that ¯ outcome should be and what its ¯ ramifications may be for our society as a ¯ whole. ¯ .One line of opinion contends that this is ¯ an issue that ought to be decided only by ¯ the most broadly democratic of our ¯ governmental institutions, theLegislature; ¯ and thatthe small group ofmenandwomen : comprising this court has no business deciding an issue of such enormous ¯ moment. : For better or worse, however, this is ¯ simply not So. This case came before us ¯ because citizens of the state invoked their ¯ ¯ constitutional right to seekredress through the judicial process of a perceived ¯ deprivation under state law. The Vermont ¯ Constitution does not permit the courts to decline to adjudicate a matter because its ¯ subject is controverslal, or because the ¯ outcome may be deeply offense to the Strongly held beliefs of many of our ¯ citizens. ¯ We do not have, as does the Supreme ¯ Court of the United States, certiorari -’ jurisdiction, which allows thatcourt, inits ¯ sole discretion, to decline to hear almost ¯ any case. To the contrary, if a case has ¯ been brought before us, and if the ¯ established procedures have been ¯ followed, as they were here, we must hear ¯ and decide it. : Moreover, we must decide the case on ¯ legal grounds. However much history, : sociology, religious belief, personal ¯ experienceor other considerations may ¯ inform our individual or collective : deliberations, we must decide this case, ¯ and all cases, on the basis of our ¯ understanding of the law, and the law ¯ alone. ¯" Thismustbethe trueandconstant effort ¯ of every member of the judiciary. That ¯ effort, needless to say, is not a guarantee ¯ of infallibility, nor even an assurance of ¯ wisdom. It is, however, the fulfillment of .. our pledge of office. Red Rock Tulsa Free Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tuesday Testing, 5 -8 pm Pride Center, 1307 East 38th Wednesday Testing, 5-8 pm Red Rock, 1724 East 8th Daytime.appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 Church of the RestoratiOn Unitarian Universalist 11 am, Sunday 1314 North Greenwood 587-1314 We knowyou’re going to love this[ Restaurant & Cabaret 310,East First Street Massage Therapy Services ¯ / Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T.| Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Want to get involved? Need to get tested for HIV? Need a Coming Out Support Group? Call 743-GAYS (4297) Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 1307 E. 38th at Peoria, 2nd floor Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236 Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pro IGTA member Call 341, 6866 International Toursformoreinformation. A UTHENTIC FRESH 1TALIAN RAINBOW CUSINE TROUT OfEureka Springs ,Voted Number One in Arkansas! (SOD 253-6807 Closed Wednesday Center Street, Eureka Springs, AR 72632 Red Rock Tulsa O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow ¯ Young Adult Network . Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325. TOM NEAL BUILDING & GARDEN DESIGN 58:3- 1248 by Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D. ¯ into gender patterns as soon as they are One of my students owns 189 pairs of ~ born, wrapping them in blue or pink athletic shoes. Not quite Imelda Marcos, ~ blankets. Walk into any toy store and you butgettingthere.Anthonyisjust20years ¯ knowwhenyou’veenteredthegirls’aisle. old and already he is a sophisticated ¯ Everything suddenly has turned pink. collector. Collecting things is oddly ¯ Several of my friends with young sons importantformany ofus. I have other friends who accumulate Native American artifacts. And books. And jazz vinyl recordings. And Cacti. And uniforms. Most of us collect some-thing evenif this is only string or a draw full Of condoms. Our houses are museums. One ofmy professors saved sheets of toilet paper from bathrooms around the world. Me, I have.a stupendous collection of refrigerator magnets. We buy stuff; we give it away; we receive it; andwe curateit: Think of all those shoeboxes lined UP in Anthony’s bedroom. Things, clearly,are important for reasons beyond the utilitarian. Evenwearing themevery second until the day he dies, Anthony will never use up all his Shoes. He buys themto ownandnot particularly to wear. They helpmake sense ofwhom he is - or at least who he thinks he wants to be. Because ofthiS, ormaybe it’s their smell(they give him a buzz. Having just survived the holiday season, we know the pleasures and pains of stuff. Did you get what you want for the holidays? Did you make a list? Did you check it twice? Everyone grumbles about the materialism of a onetime religious celebration. But complain away, I sure had a lot of desperate company last month when I went foraging for things in the bleak shopping expanses of Walmart. "We slot our ehildren into gender patterns as soon as they are born, wrapping them in blue or pink blankets. Walk into any toy store and you know when you’ve entered the girls’ aisle... Several of my friends w~th young sons complain that it is difficult to find gender-neutral toys. ’One two-year old boy loves to play with brooms and vacuunl cleaners. His morn, of course, has to go to the girlS’ side to find toy household eleanlng equipment. And, worse, the kid likes to play with dolls. His father nervously protests his son’s babydoll games. " Je~z! Can’t you buy the boy atru~k?" This connection Of stuff and identity is characteristically American. We learn early on to~ define ourselves in terms of things, We_+play a:game with children called "favorites." Weinsist that kids tell us their favorite"color~ music, television show, make of car,.or ice-cream. Evenif complain that it is difficult to find gender-neutral toys: One two-ye~ old boy loves to play with. brooms and vacuum cleaners. His ~m0m+ of course, has to go to the girls’ side to find toy household cleaning equipment. And, worse, the kid likes to play with dolls. His father nervously protests his son’s. babydoll games. Jeez! Can’t you buy the boy a truck? This paternal nervousness signals the symbolic strength of the connections we draw between things and identity, ff doll equals girl, thenboy-whoplays -with-doll equals girlish, perhaps even Gay. Our use of particular things sends messages, accurate or not, aboutwho. we might be. We know that both men and women need to.practice nurturing. Butthe doll-loving boy, like the toy gun-toting girl, violates the cultural code of consumption that attributes gender to things. And, who knows? Maybe the Kid really just likes dolls. Or maybe he has already figured out our consumption code and he likes dolls on purpose in order to Send dad a message. My daughters, too’old for dolls, and also,too old for Pokemon, this year wrote Gameboy camera on their Christmas lists. They didn’ t seem worried about the name. Why Gameboy and not Gamegirl? In hierarchical systems, it is easier to "ups,h,ift" than "dowm Shifi. Gifts wear pants. Not .too many boys wear ¯ dresses. Women become d0ctors; not too ¯ many mendreamaboutbecominganurse. " Except, perhaps+ some of those sweet, ¯ doff-loving boys of course ~When I was a kid, Barbie dolls didn’t :~ last long in my neighborhood. We’ d steal ¯ themfromour sisters .and use thbm cruelly. we aetuallyhave,nofavorites-~ this question ¯ They,w~ould.’be J..gan of Arc atthe stake, puslies~s tomeasureandsztuateoursel~es: . andWor~.~ If ~eh~d any ~ense, w~ W~~d svi_thin the w0dd of goods.. So goes .,".ha’ve,ca~-~f~illyst6i?&l them away intheig American.inff!~iduality:;~and.so..goe~rour..: ." boxes to’become’rich by selling them to _economy:as well....... ~ , - ....... " ........ ., today’s fanatic Barbie ¢_ollectors: I can Favorites make less senseintta.ditional~ ~ recommend a great website with-pictures societies where individuality is ,muted~ ." of.Ken, from 1961 to 2000: Check out and where the range of goods is.litfiited. ¯ www.manbehindthedoll.com. This guy But even in ¯simpler societies,¯ things: ." ~ really likes,his boy dol|s.J’m suggesting differentiate gender.. Women wear : to Anthony thathe build a similar Shrine differentarticles of clothing than do men~ : to his boy shoes :’ . z They oftent~s~different tO~Is~ The)~ may .~ Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.’D,~ ~teaChes noteatihesamefoods~.W,eslotourchi.’l.dren. "- anthropology, at .t:he.~University of Tulsa, We dedicate an enormous mount of resources to outreach, networking, building allies and forging ties with advocacy, educational and religious organizations. Even when distribution goes well, though, it hardly covers our costs. To do this kind of media work, we rely on outside support from our friends who share our goals and understand the unique role films like IT’ S ELEMENTARY and THAT’S A FAMILY!canplayinprevenfingprejudice and violence. Pleasehelp us keep thehugemomentum IT’S ELEMENTARY generated going strong. Help us welcome the millennium by getting THAT’S A FAMILY! out of our editing room and into elementary school classrooms all across the country. Please send your tax-deductible donations toWomen’ s Educational Media, 2180 Bryant Street, Suite 203, San Francisco,CA94110. Orgo to this interuet address to makea secure on-line donation with your visa or mastercard: http://www.womedia.org/support.html Donations of any size will be of great help. With warm regards and deep appreciation for your generous support, - Debra Chasnoffand Helen S. Cohen Producers P.S. We are honored to let you know that IT’S ELEMENTARY just won the 1999 Multicultural Education Media Award,givenby th6National Association for Multicultural Education (N.A.M.E.). Weknow this award -- the first N.A.M.E. has ever given to anything Gay-related will help us build even better alliances with educators who are committed to addressing diversity !ssues. Please help ustoday to get THAT S A FAMILY! out where it can be put to good use. Women’s Educational Media 2180 Bryant Sreet Suite 203 San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 641-4616, (415) 641-4632 fax Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon said thatRudyde Leon, the under secretary of defense for personnel, and Douglas Dw0rkin, the acting general counsel,raised the matter in a Dec. 18 memorandum to service leaders. "It is important that the leadership of each of the services issue a strong statement to the field that harassment~of service members for any reason, to include alleged or perceived homosexuality, will not be tolerated," according to thememo,releasedThursday by the Defense Department. Bacon said it had not been made sufficiently clear to commanders that a service member’ s complaint about being harassed for alleged homosexuality is not grotmds forinvestigating the complainant. Instead it should be the basis for investigating the harassers, he said. image would be one see Jim, p. 14 of a liorrible drago,n,, given the tone of the oth~"rdationship songs. Melissa asked her~f,"How much do I love Juiie? I love her~uchthat I would want to die in her ar~ Quite a wonderful thing to say aboi~.’ anyone’s lover, male or female. "S!O~p" was the answer to the question, a lovely song about getting away from the noise ofthe world and snuggling into your ¯¯ lover’s arms and listening to him/her breathing, and feeling trusting and ¯ comfortable enough with another person : to be able to sleep. It’s a lovely song of ¯ quiet comfort. ¯ And then there’s issues of equality. : "Truth of the Heart"is a wonderful ballad ¯ to the truth that "We all begin this race at : the start" and about how "deep down : inside we’re all the same / try not tojudge ¯ someone / and never shame." Partnered ¯ for almost 11 years now, the two have two ¯ children of their own. Melissa wrote this ¯ song to explain to their children about ¯ how to deal with life. Words to live by. In : "MamaI’m Strange", thejoys of growing ¯ up Gay - or just different - is artfully : explored, with just the fight amountof ¯ angst to remind us where we came from ¯ and how hard the struggle could be at ¯ times~ ¯ The single most striking song is called : "S~carecrow", and it’s about Matthew ¯ Sheppard. She said she hadlots of trouble ," w~riting that because here she was also ¯ writing ’’Truth of the Heart" as well and ¯ felt she couldn’t be writing about people : being good in one song and denounce ¯ them in another. So the end of the song is ". her way of forgiving (but not forgetting) ¯ the second attacker (I think he was going ¯ to trial or prison at that time). It has to be : heard to be experienced. If you aren’t ¯ crying and angry after hearing it, you’re ¯ dead. ¯ There are two versions of this CD, one ¯ of which is already hard to find. It has ¯ three extra songs, "Touch and Go", : "Cherry Avenue" (where she mentions the name of one-of the Lesbian bars in ¯ which she sang for about 4 years before being discovered -Que Sera), and "My ¯ Beloved", and is released in a cardboard ¯" case. The regular version has 11 songs in theusual plasticjewel box; Whichincludes : the lovely ode tounrequitedlove, ’"’Angels ¯ Will Fall". That’ s the one most folks are ¯ going to be familiar with at this point. ¯ For you men out there: I know that in ¯ some-minds, there’s a big chasm between ¯ Gay men and Lesbians, and this extends ¯ to performer preferences. I’ve heard the ¯ nasty comments - from both sides. All I ¯ can say is, get over your prejudices, and ¯ get this CD. It’s well worth it, and ¯ incredible in its beauty and reflection of ¯ life. And, Melissa, you have a new fan. Thank you Karin, for your contributions ¯ to widening my musical horizons and the infolmation contained in the above article ¯ about the backgrbund of the songs. Seems ¯ ironic that I’ mbeing tutoredinGay culture ¯ and musical icons by a straight woman, ¯ but suchis life. I feel like I shouldknow all ¯ this alrcady! ." There’s a few things Karin said that I ¯ think bear repeating, for both Melissa ¯ fans, and more importandy, for us all: "I ¯ am so happy that I could bring a singer ¯ into your life who writes and sings from ¯ ¯ the heart. VH1 is rertmmng her "Behind the Music" next week, and I’m going to tape it for you You’ll like it. It’ s the only ¯ oneI veseenwheretheartmtlsn thit~hing ¯ about something. Someofthemjustwhine ¯ endlessly. ’I love Shania Twain, but her ¯ BTM special was one endless bitch and ¯ whine. ¯ Stevie Nicks doesn’t bitch, but she’s : had such lousy things happen, to her, by : her own hand, that it just sounds so ¯ depressing. You know Melissa has been ¯ depressed, butthere’s somuchshedoesn’t ¯ say. I saw John Mellencamp’s BTM ¯ (Behind the Music), I’ve sc~en Cherts ¯ dozens of times, along with Madonna’ s, and Melissa’ s just seems so upbeat that Timothy Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fightfor justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. SprinL Sprint PCS" The C ear Alternative to Cellular Sprint PCS" Select Retailer $99.95 New Sprint PCS Phone -25.00 Less instore rebate $74.95 Net cost Buy any Sprint PCS Phone and get $25 off!’ Everyone is approved! All Sprint PCS service plans include.~ ¯ Free Voicemail, Free Caller ID ¯ Free Call Waiting ¯ Free 3 way calling , No activation fee ¯ No contract required ¯ 100% Sprint PCS Nationwide Neb,vork. Tulsa Locations: 2001 S. Garnett, 437-2dd~. 3733S. Memorial, 66003zl4 1216 S. Harvard, 587-1778 Sapulpa Location: ,109 N. Mission, 227-2322 Meet Local .Guys for Hot Ti @Origin. 18+. Additional features from personal ads see Jim, p. 15 she seems to have had a great life. Like I said before, growing up Gay anywhere, I know from you, is awful, but growing up Gay in Leavenworth, Kaus~ must be the pits. She doesn’t make much of anything depressing. I was veryimpressed. Thanks for the remark to the Gay men to listen to Lesbians. I think they shodd each take heed of that. And remember, she’s the only one I know of getting the word out to the .mainstream crowd. P,e~,,ple like her so much that they tend to. forget" (or tryto ...forget) that she’s Gay. She doesn’t let them. ("Someone’s spitting blood/face downinthe dirt/someone’ s thinking about ~ a gun/to try and stop the hurt/someone drew conclusious/on the wail of destiny/ someone’s getting louder/and that someone would be me.") That should be importanttous ail."- Miss KarinGregory. And I agree. Janis Ianis performing Saturday March 4 in Dallas, TX at a club called Uncle Caivin’s with Buddy Mondlock. And ladies, as aiways, if you have something to contribute or would like to see in this column, please let me know care ofTFN, or email me at tfnentritr@aol.com. I wouldn’ twantto disappointthe diehard readers of this column, so now it’s time for... The Stevie Nicks mention. She has a featured track on the new Sheryl Crow and FriendsCDand video. The song is the venerable Gold Dust Woman, and she’s never sounded better! The CD’ s out now, video to follow. Sarah. McLachlan, Chrissie Hynde, the Dixie Chicks and others aiso sing with Sheryl. And Stevie still has a few shows left to do in Las Vegas at the house of Blues this month. Hernew album, first duein October oflast year, now set for sometime this year, maybe, is being produced by one of the better known producers of hip hop and rap. I’d mention the name, but I caff t rememberit. Shery! Crow was producing, which wouldhavemadefor an interesting aibum - she did the excellent jobs of producing the Stevie songs forthe Practical Magic soundtrack. Stevie and rap... That will be interesting as well, aithough I fear for different ~easous. We shall see.., or hear. The ever handsome pianist Jim Brickman performed at the PAC on December 10, 1999, along with the very talented John Trones and the beautiful Anne Cochran. The show was lovely, an eveningofromance and seasonal favorites, and as Mr. Brickman described the evening, much like a gathering of friends round the piano. Okay, if the friends had areally large living room, and reaily good - moodlighting. Andamplifiers. Thegroup .i did a swell job ofmaking a cavern into an intimate cabaret. Mx. Brickman has a charming sense ofhumor and intelligence .to complementhis goodlooks. (Evenbetter m person and up close. I love my job...) He seemed very relaxed, and it was like meeting an old friend for the first dine. His playing can certainly set amood, from exuberant to melancholy and romantic all at the same time; and has a warmth to it thatis reminiscentof spending the evening with a loved one by a fire. Or, if you’ re .single, as I am, curledup in a comforter with a good book and cup, of cocoa. Now that weknow how I spendmy evenings... What? Have I said too much? Mr. Brickman is a prolific songwriter as well, setting words to music that is lovely : to hear and unabashedly sentimental in feeling. : Anne Cochran, who met Mr. Brickman ¯ inhigh school, where they formed aband, : has one of the most incredible voices I’ve : heard. And her phrasing with a song is : immaculate. Shecaptured thewarmthand joy of the compositions she performed withexpertease, andhas alovely, energetic yet relaxed stage presence that also added to the ambiance of the evening. She has a new CD out called "Lucky Girl’_’, which I would highly recommend for a gift based on whatI heard that evening. Iwould have one in my hot little hands right now had they not been sold out. She isa name you might be familiar with, she has had a top ¯ 5 hit with Jim Bfickman on the song : -"After All These Years" which has been : reed by skater Rosalyun:Summers, both : live and recorded. It was also the song ¯ used on the final episode of "Home : Improvement", andshe will be featured in :- the Lifetime television speciai"A Golden Moment". Definitely worth checking out. You can order her CD at www.AnneCochran.com. John Trones (pronounced ~tro-ness’), who is as nice and gorgeous as he is .talented (what a voice! whata smile! what a chest! what a pleasant man!), was a delight to listen to as well. With a million dollar smile that shines like a searchlight, and a voice that has incrediblerange and expressiOn,hejoined Anne on several numbers and had some lovely solos. His singing soared through the Chapman theatre and could melt the most hardened heart. He has an aibum of standards and ballads out called "Forward", which I was able to snag and most definitely would make a great Valentine’s girlie for the special man on your list. He can melt the ice off the fiorth Pole with that voice, and his phrasing and reading of the standards is right on target. A pity he’s in Minneapolis, I would love to see more of him. He does Cabaret there at Blanche’s, and has performed in a number of Gay plays, listed on his web site, www.JohnTrones.com, which is worth a look. You can also order his CD there. After listening to several review CDs of dubious quality sent to TFN, put out by Gay artists of dubious talent, attempting to sing standards and not succeeding very well at anything other than murdering the music, I am glad to say that his would be the one I would, and did, purchase. They were joined by Tracy Silverman on electric violin, and he did quite an interesting variationonthe Beade’ s"Here Comes The Sun". His playing added an interesting embellishment to Mr. Brickman’s piano. I will say he had the most lovely and LONG hair I’ ve seen on aman in along time. He has an album out on Windham Hill records. If you get the chance to catch any or all of these artists should they make a return appearance, DO SO! You won’t regret it. Just make sure you have a date, and one that won’t stand you up. I was looking forward to Peter Buffett’ s "Spirit: A Journey in Dance, Drum, and Song"aunique blend of Native American and contemporary music, dance, and storytelling, to have been held January 3 and 4th, 2000 at the Brady Theatre. According to the latest info, ail spring dates have been put onhold. According to my sources, a late spring tour is in the plans. James Christjohn serves as TFN Entertainment editor with emphasis on the performing arts. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core 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 [2000] Tulsa Family News, January 2000; Volume 7, Issue 1 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource January 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Bob Rounsavell Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, December 1999; Volume 6, Issue 12 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 newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/596 2000 AIDS AIDS drugs AIDS research aMUSEments arts and entertainment Bars Blood Donation bullying businesses children churches Department of Defense Do-It-Yourself Dyke Domestic Partner Benefits Don't Ask Don't Tell Dr. Jeffrey Beal Evergreen Awards Gay marriage Gay Studies HIV homophobia homphobia It's Elementary Jim Christjohn John McCain Karin Gregory Lamont Lindstorm Leather marriage equality Mary Schepers mental disabilities military military inclusion Mr. Sooner State Leather NAMES Project Nationwide Insurance Oklahoma Mr. Leather performing arts Raging Lesbian Read All About It Red Cross restaurants Ric Poston Rick Fortner Rik Isensee sexual assault sodomy laws Steve Forbes Ted Campbell That's A Family Tom Neal Tulsa Family News Tulsa Public Schools Vemont Vermont visitation rights https://history.okeq.org/files/original/5a7f6fbca17e7fa0df87d3e3cdda0f55.jpg 0e7511b0b72731c11cce0aad31be669d https://history.okeq.org/files/original/22c757ccbca213631769c1604c4ab941.pdf db25bf09d6c0e879203f02da1b23e3ed 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. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [1999] Tulsa Family News, December 1999; Volume 6, Issue 12 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 1999 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Bob Rounsvell Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, November 1999; Volume 6, Issue 11 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online Image Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/594 'All About My Mother' 1999 ACT-UP adoption AIDS aMUSEments anti-gay legislation arts and entertainment Audra Sommers Bars Boy Scouts businesses California China churches couple recognition Dave Fleischer divorce Don't Ask Don't Tell Dr. Jeffrey Beal Dr. McCutchen Dyke Psyche E. Annie Prouix Entertainment Notes Ernestine Dillard Esther Rothblum Gay marriage Gay Studies Germany hate crimes hate crimes bill Hillary Clinton HIV homophobia James Christjohn Jim Christjohn Lamont Lindstorm marriage Matthew Shephard military military inclusion Mount Zion Baptist Church National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Partner Benefits performing arts Quentin Crisp Read All About It restaurants South Africa Southern Baptist Church Susan Savage Tom Neal Tulsa Family News United Methodist Church Vermont World AIDS day https://history.okeq.org/files/original/cad0a227df418d824c0a725b9ad6eeb7.jpg 8fe36b0f2e6d0aaeb169422a1fe38536 https://history.okeq.org/files/original/61bd2074c80e5a411c0e996a547aadaa.pdf ac7abe1d33b993bca233b903f8e5848d 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. Text Any textual data included in the document THE NAMES PROJECT Quilt Tours Black Colleges Coretta Scott King Slams Homophobia ATLANTA (AP) - During the AIDS Quilt tour of historically Black colleges and universities, Coretta Scott King told those viewing the memorial that homophobiahas prolonged and worsened the epidemic within the Black community. "It is particularly sad tome when I hear Black people, includiug some in leadership positions, making homophobic comments and attacking t.he humm] rights of Gay and Lesbian people," the widow of die Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. said Monday during the tour’s opening ceremonies at Clark Atlanta University, Regardless of sexual orientation or gender, Blacks have a signiticantly higher risk of becoming infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Stati-stics show ntost new HIV infections occur among people 25 and younger. The Black community has been hit particularly hard. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Blacks account for about half the new HIV infections, AIDS cases and AIDS deaths, though they represent only 13% of the U.S. population, "With the stigma on homosexual behavior mthe African-American coxmnunit~¢, ¯ see Ki.,t~, ~9.: 15 Matthew Shepard Murder Trial Update LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) - Gay college student Matthew Shepardwas pumaneled to deathby Aaron McKirmey in a drunken, drug-induced rage after Shepard made a pass at him, McKirmey’s attorney Said as: his trial began. "’Did Matthew Shepard deserve to die? No, that’s ridiculous-. No manslaughter victim deserved to die," Jason Tangeman said in opening statements. "That’s what Aaron McKirmey is guilty of, manslaughter." The roofer’s judgment that night Vas affected bv alcohol, methamphetamines and "~ome sexuall} traumatic and confusing events in his life," Tangeman told jurors. Prosecutor Cal Rerncha said his case against McKinney will not deal with Shepard’s Gayness. "It will simply be about the pain, suffering and death of Matthew Shepard at the hands of the defendant, Aaron James:McKimaey," he said." The Human Rights Campaign, a national Gay civil rights organization strongly condenmed the use of the.’’blame the victim" defense in the trial. Shepard, McKinney and Henderson met in a Laramie bar about a year ago, where Shepard asked McKinney for a ride home, humiliating him in front of friends because McKinney believed Shepard was Gay, Tangeman contended. Tangeman said McKinney, 22, was confused by three homosexual encounters that occurred when he was 7, 15 and 20: In one case, McKinney was forced into an oral sex act with a neighborhood bully, Tangeman said. Rerucha said McKirmey and Henderson drove Shepard, 21, to a remote area, where they robbed, lashed him to.the fence and pistol-whippinghim into a coma. Opening statements were made after ajury of 10 men and:six women, including four alternates, was seated in McKinney’s trial on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping androbbery. Thejury includes three students at the University of Wyoming, where Shepard was a freshman. McKinney could receive the.death penalty. Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community PaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations World AIDS Day Memorial Service at Historic Mt. Zion Baptist Church Dedicated to the Memory of HIV/AIDS Activist Phil Wiley TULSA - The 10th annual World AIDS Day Candlelight March and Memorial Service will be held at one of Tulsa’s most historical traditionally African-American churches, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, led b~ the Rev. Calvin McCutcheon. The march will begin gathering at 6:30 near St. Monica’s Churchjust south of Carver School east of Greenwood Avenue This is just south of Pine. The march will begin about 7pm and will continue about a mile south on Greenwood to John ttope Franklin Bottlevard which travels west through the Oklahoma State University at Tulsa campus to Elgin. Mt. Zion is on FJ~n just across the OSU-Tulsa parking lots near 1-244. The theme for the march and memorial is "Fa~d the Silence" and the service will feature the music of Ernestine Dillard, the Council Oak Mens Chorale and the Mr. Zion church choir. Tiffs Tulsa service is dedicated to the memory of 1o"cal ttIV AIDS and Gay civil rights activist Phil Wiley who died of kidney failure last summer. Orgamzers note that all tilnes are approximate aud that lhey will provide candles and matches but encourage marchers to bring banners and bells to nng on the march. For more information, call Interfaith ..\ IDS Mira stries at 438- 2437. Also on World AIDS Day, an organization called "\Vc The Peopl.e Li.ving .with AIDS/HIV’" will join with thousm~ds of other orgmuzatlons m remembering, fiercel3, those the~ lmvc !ost to the AIDS epidemic. They will do this through the posting of the manes of their members, friends and loved ones lost to ,A IDS on the. \ IDS \Vatch webpage, which will display the .,aan]es of tens of thousands of people who have died from :kIDS. one at a mnc in the 48 honrs before and after December ist. They request that readers consider adding the uames of those whom they have lost to AIDS to the list. The page is localed m http:/iwww.aidswatch.org. Click on "’Add a name "’ to include the name, of~v°ur loved one, friend or colleague to the li st. Community Center News All Community Meeting, Nov. 16, 6:30pm TOHR Meeting, 11/9: Carol Petersen, Author, Poet + Gay Man in Hitler’s Navy TULSA - The third all community meeting will be held at the Communiiy Center on Tues., Nov. 16th at 6:30pm. About 35 individuals attended the last meeting in Sept. and the representatives of a number of organizations, churches and businesses decided to convene a community council with TOHR, Tulsa Oldahomans for Human Rights, the parent organization of the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center, coordinating the exchange of information. Local attorney and original meeting co-convener Dennis Neill will present a draft contract to clarify the relationship between the various groups. For more information about the next conmaunitv meeting, call the Community Center at 743-4297. On Tues. Nov. 9th at 7:30pro, TOHR will hold its montlflv membership meeting. The meeting, which is open to the publiC, will feature remarks by Carol Petersen, a Romanian born poet, biographer and educator. Petersen, a Gay man.~ even found lfimself serving in the German Navy during the N~i government of Adolf Hitler. Petersen has-published works on Albert Camus, Andre Gide, John Steinbeck, Goethe, Spanish poet Lorca, Thomas Mann as wall as works of poetry. He has taught French and German literature and awarded one of the highest honors in France, the Chevalier de L’oi’dre des Palmiers Academique de France. Other News: House of the Holy Spirit Calls Pastor House of the Holy Spirit Ministries announces that they have selected a new full-time pastor, Chuck Breckenridge. Breckenridge served in a pastoral capacity in a Wichita congregation where he formerly resided. Breckenridge is also known for having published and edited The Parachute, a now defunct regional publication. He also started The Triangle Of which he has recently served as general manager. Breckenridge was installed as pastor on October 17th. Troy McGoveran, spokesman for House of the Holy Spirit notes, "the entire congregation is very excited about the movement going on in our church.., we.. welcome Pastor Breckemidge to our church.. ?’ Falwell MeetsWith Gays LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP)-The Rev. Jerry Falwell, who has denounced homosexuals for years, held an .unprecedentedmeeting with GayChristians recently m an attempt to reduce violent acts against Gays and Christians. Both sides said the gathering was productive. Dozens of anti-Gay protesters denmnstrated outside, yelling at Gay supporters as they entered the church parking lot. The Rex’. Fred Phelps of Topeka, Kan.. whose congregafiou also taunted Gays at the funeral of slain Gay college studcm Matthew Shepard. said Falwdl is a hypocrite for ineeting with the Rev. Mel White, a Gay minister and his followers. "Falwell used to teach the Bible word for word. now he’s going off and meeting with these fags and going against everything he’s ever taught," Phelp,~ said. "He always says ’hate the sin. bnt love the simmr,’ but it’s ~mpossible to separate the t~o Does ajudge send the crime or the crintinal tojail’?" Falwell. who has long believed lha~ homosexuality is a sin, insists he will not change Iris views, but has agreed to tone down tfis anti language that Gay civil rights activists encourages hatred and violence towar~t homosexuals. "’We are here because ihnocent people ol vari~ faiths, racial and ethnic groups and sexual preferences have increasingly had their live~ abruptly mid violently ended by people ~vilh opposing vie~\s.’" Fah~ell told th~ group of 4 delegates in ~velcomiug then] to the anti "~ml,,ncc fortun Saturday afternoou x~q]itc brought 200 Gays mid Lesbians l’rom 3~* slates to p~ticil)atc in the forum. They were ]t)]ncd by 2~)evm~gelic~d Chnsfians who supjmrt Fid~ cEstmacc "q hi s is the first step iu ourjoume3 tm~ auct~ reconciliation." s~d White, who held a pra3 e~ ~ ~gil Ffida3 mght for 20 Gay men or gm~sgcndcred people killed because of their sexu~ oneutation. see Fahvell, p. 10 France OK’s Gay and Non-Gay Partnerships The British Broadcasting System (BBC) reported in October that the French Parlimnent has approved a controversial bill that gives Gay couples mare of the rights enjoyed by married people. The NatiOnal Assmnbly passed the Civil Solidarity Pact (PACS) by 315 votes to 249. The PACS allows unmarried couples to register their umon and enjoy some of the tax, legal and social welfare benefits associated with marriage. It is intended to allow Gay and heterosexual couples who are not married to "’organise their common life". Partners who want to separate will be able to do so via a letter of separation. According to Justice Minister Elisabeth Guigou, the bill will improve the lives of more than five million people. Conservative opponents immediately said they would ask the Constitutional Council to role whether the law was unconstitutional. Religious leaders have strongly denounced the law, saying it enables a form of homosexual marriage. The PACS wasintroduced by the riding socialists and the government’s majority made approval virtually certain. It has been one of themostbitterlycontested pieces of social legislation for years, opposed by conservatives and by leaders of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths in France. see France, p. 15 LI~ DIRECTORY P. 2 EDITORIAL P. 3 ~I~ US & WORLD NEWS P. 4 . HEALTH NEWS P. 6 ~ ENTERTAINMENT P. 8 COMMUNITY CALENDAR P. 9 READ ALL ABOUT IT P. 10 Z DO-IT-YOUR-SELF DYKE P. 11 DYKE PSYCHE P. 12 mmm GAY STUDIES P. 13 Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Bamboo Lounge, 7204 E. Pine *Boston Willy’s Diner, 1742 S. Boston *Empire Bar, 1516 S: Peoria *Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th *Gold Coast Coffee House; 3509 S. Peoria *Jason’s Deli, 15th & Peoria *The Mix, 2630 E. 15th *Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main *TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd 832-1269 592-2143 599-9512 583-6666 749-4511 59%7777 749-1563 744-4280 745-9998 834-4234 585-3405 660-0856 584-1308 Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 747-1508 *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000 Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665 Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272 *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313 Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700 L:m Daniel. Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 " ~_~eco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620 *Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady 587-2611 Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S Peoria 744-5556 *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838-8503 *Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712,-9379 Events Unlimited, 507 S. Mai~’ 592-0460 *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 744-9595 Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. 610-0880 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026 *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E 21st 742-1460 Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440 *Sandra J. Hill, MS. Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skellv 745-1111 *International Tours 341-6866 Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750 *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018 David Kanskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236 The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460 *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-~-!-66 *Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brad3,’ 585-1234 *Midtown Theater. 319 E. 3rd 584-3112 Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951 Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626 *Peace Of Mind Bookstore, 1401 E. 15 583-1090 The Pride Store. 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297 Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 747-5932 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921, 747-4746 *Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301 Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 48t-0558 *Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563 Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling 743-1733 *W~hittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767 Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593 All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 *B/L/G/T Alliance. Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence *Church ofthe Restoration UU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314 *Community ofHope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300 *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 Coundl Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888 *Dela}vare Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 7!2-t511 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity!Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 *Free Spirit Women’s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 e-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink.net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Bob Rounsavell, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers Member of The Associated Press Issued on Or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of this publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by To],~ ~:~ Now4 and may not be reproduced either in whole orin partwithoutwritten permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientataon. Correspondence is assumed to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property of Tofl-~ .~€,~.’. N~- Eachreader is entitled to 4 copies of each edit!on at distribution points. Additional cop~es are available by calling 583-1248. Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438 *HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 *Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111 NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658 OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 *OSU-TUlsa PFI~AG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 *R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325 O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincim~ati 425-7882 St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 *St. Jerome’s Parish Church. 205 W. King 582-3088 *Tulsa Area United Wa3,, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 *TNAAPP (Native American men), [udiat~ Health C0a’_¢- _582-7225 Tulsa County Health Department. 4616 E. 15 595-4105 Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, cio The Pride Center 743-4297 T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *Tulsa Community College Campuses *Tulsa Gay Community Center. 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 BARTLESVILLE *Barflesville Public Library, 600 S. Johi~stone 918-337-5353 OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN *Borders Books &Music, 3209NWExpressway 405-848-2667 *Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 TAHLEQUAH *Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 *Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900 *Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS Autunm Breeze Restaurant, Hwv. 23 *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Ma]n DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. MCC of the Living Spring Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery Positive Idea Marketing Plans Sparky’s, Hwy; 62 East White Light, 1 Center St. JOPLIN, MISSOURI *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 501-253-7734 501~253-7457 501-253-6807 501-253-5445 501-253-9337 501-253-2776 501-253-5332 501-624-6646 501-253-6001 501-253-4074 417-623-4696 * is where you can find TFN. Not all are Gay-owned but all are Gay-friendly. Audra Sommers: To All .My Friends Tiff s ruessage brings to youinformation about my up-coming benefit called ’~onnecting The Hearts of Tulsa" Friday November 5th, at 10:30 p.m. at the Silver Star. This eventfocuses onthe Prescription Assistance Program which as youknow is very, very important to many. As a community of caring individuals I ask all ofyou once again to come together as compassionate and sympathetic members of our community and show your support. Without fai! every year, you pull out all the stops and arrive in droves. My heart shines with delight to see all of your faces as we raise the much needed money to keep those who can’t afford the necessary medications alive and well. Come, meet new people and see some new faces. Uniting together_we make the difference. Please join all my guests: Miss Gay America - Catia Lee Love Miss Gay Oklahoma America - Bridgett Lee Miss Gay Oklahoma USofA - Kris Kohl Miss Fish-Lake Nevada - Slutisha Swamppussy Miss Midwestern Plains USofA - Victoria Turrell Miss Tulsa USofA 1998 - Jasmine Turrell Miss Gay University Of Tulsa Homecoming Queen 1999 - Audriana Sommers The Green Country Cloggers Miss Silver Star USofA 1996 - Tera "T" Neil Miss Gay Oklahoma At Large USofA 96 - Domonique Daniel’s Miss Feticia Winters Miss Ebony Hall Miss Tabatha Taylor Miss Gain A Pound Miss Miranda McMillian Miss Tore McMillian Miss Audra Sommers and her special "Grab Bag Segment" Mr. Steve Sludder And Mr. Brock Masters - video star along with many, maaay others. I look forward to seeing everyone at the StarFriday NovemberSthat 10:30p.m. It is going to be the best show ever! With love and respect, - Audra Marie Sommers Announcements Policy Tulsa Family News will provide space for holy union ceremony, marriage ceremony, birth, adoption and death announcements on a space available basis. Photos are welcome, though we cannot promise placement or return them, so please send copies to Tulsa Family News, POB 4140, Tulsa 74159. Letters Policy Tulsa Family Newswelcomes letters on issues which we’ve covered or on issues you think need to be considered. You may request that your name be withheld but letters must be signed & have phone numbers, or behand delivered. 200 word letters are preferred. Letters to other publications will be re-printed as is appropriate. Editorial: Singing Those Millennium March Blues To March or Not March? That is the question - ok, ok, yes that’s tired and perhaps, even trite but I couldn’t help it. The millennium does indeed approach and with it, the next great Gay march scheduled for next April. Called by Robin Tyler, Lesbian event organizer par excellence, taken up by the Gay community’s organizational 800 pound gorillas, the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) and the Human Rights Campaign(HRC), the Millennium Marchhas beenfraught with controversy from its beginning. No one doubts that these events are tremendously ehapowering for those ofus who attend. I can attest to that from my experience.at the last march. My long-suffering ex (just ask him ;-) and I organized a group mostly of students and others on limited incomes from Texas to travel bybus to DC. Since this was a budget trip we stayed about 12 to a room, 3 or 4 to a bed with some on the floor of a hotel in the Virginia suburbs. But the moment ofmy epiphany was when weboarded the Metro (subway) at the 2nd to the last stop that far out into the suburbs, and everyone waiting, and everyone on the train but for perhaps one or two per car, w,as Gay, or Lesbian, or Bi, ornon-Gays whomwe’ddearly welcomed into our tribe. For once tobe safe, for once to be inOUR space is a rare and precious thing. There we could hold hands in the street without the fear that we Were taking our !ives literally in our hands. For once, we could say that we don’t mind "straights" as long as they "behave" themselves. Formany this was alife transforming experience¯ From it, they came back and became active in the organizations of their hometowns. This clearly is go6~l: And yet, some questions remain. First of these i.s whether, this march will even come off at all. Because MCC and HRC proclaimed that a march was going to happened before they consulted the many other organizations which make up the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered civil fights and cultural movement, the March was immediately caught up in controversy. This "movement" is-tremendously diverse and building consensus is long hard work. Prior march organizers did do so through long and sometimes painful (I write this Do you know where a number of Tulsans have been during the last 18 months? Buried in trash. We studied different curbside recycling programs from around the state and from across the country. About 100 cities were looked atby theTAREboard’ s subcommittee onrecycling. Ourmost important discovery: each community is unique in its requirements for recycling. In Tulsa, most of the trash we generate is incinerated at the trash-to-energy plant. The burning process results in waste by-products that can mad do pollute our air. For example, some substances like plastic can be harmful when burned. Recycling will take them out of the trash collection burned at the Walker Hall recovery plant. The more Tulsa recycles, the more we improve Tulsa’s air quality for our young, our elderly, and most significantly, our chronically ill. And let us not forget that we are breathing the same air. Recycling does not ouly helpinmaking the environment cleaner and healflfier; it also has economic benefits other than quality of life. Once Tulsa citizens recycle enough items that can be reused, a recycling industry will be created an become a viable part of the economy with added job opportunities, In the beginning, Tulsans, will be able to recycle four types of items. Newspapers, includin°g the slick advertisement sections, compose the first recycling category. Now you cannotrecyclemagazines and business forms; these are another category which may be added at a later date. However, you can still take them to MET recycling centers. The second category acceptable for recycling in Tulsa will be aluminum. Drop all aluminum beverage cans inj the recycling container; however, you cannot recycle other forms of aluminum. Please rinse them immediately after use. Remember that recycling pick up is every other : from serving as a representative) meetings. ¯ And according to the Nov. 9th i°ssue of The Advocate, ¯ control of the event has _been shifted from Robin Tyler to ~ Malcolm Lazin, interim executive director. Kerry Lobel, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), earlier resigned from an oversight board for the March because of concerns about event "...the moment of my epiphany was when we boarded the Metro (subway) at the gnd to the last stop that far out into the suburbs, and everyone waltln~, and everyone on the train but for perhaps one or two per ear, was Gay, or Lesl~ian, or Bi, or non-Gays whom we’d el rly we6om l into our tdl . " organization and raised the question of whether the event would need to be rescheduled or dropped. But another question to ask is this: is this the best use ofour communities’ resources? NGLTFhas been arguing that we, as a movement, should be putting more of our energies into local and state efforts at change. This doesn’tmean abandoning federal level efforts but working harder locally. In Oklahoma, we’ve started to see some results from just such efforts; the Cimarron Alliance has substantially changed somelegislative attitudes in theOklahomaHouse. FundingforHIV/AIDS care andprevenfionhas benefited from lobbying by Tulsan Steve Eberle. These things would not have happened unless some Oklahomans decided to invest in local efforts. According to Kelly Kirby, former Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights (TOHR) president, longtime activist and current Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) board member, at least 40-50 Tulsans stopped by a reception Marty Newman gave at the last march. And likely there were some from the city who did not attend. So I have to ask, as another former TOHR president who begged for money for that organization and for the community center, what would happen if some of those week. Besides, you will make it so much easier for those separating our recyclables. Plastic is one of the most important things to recycle. As petroleum-based products, these items release toxins when burned. You can recycle all plastic beverage bottles including mostpop, milk, and water containers, as well as soap and detergent bottles. Rinse our the container to prepare these items for recycling and dispose of the lids. It is easy to remember which plastic items are acceptable. Look for the number "1 "or "2" inside the little triangle on the bottom of the container. .The final or fotu:th category for Tulsa’s new recycling program is glass. Both clear and colored glass bottles and jars will be accepted. Nounbroken glass will be taken, nor will the program accept other housewares or plate glass from windows. Since the glass before putting out for collection and discard the lid. Because of the once-everytwo- weeks collection, you may want to rinse after use, if it contains food. Curbside recycling is a great addition to Tulsa’s solid waste disposal program. Now it is up to us to make it succeed. Begin sign up for this new service. Just call the Mayor’s Action Center at 596-2100 and tell them that you wish to sign up for curbside recycling. It is scheduled to start on Nov. 1st. The cost is only $2/month; it will be added to your city utility bill. Recycled items will be collected twice a month on an every other week basis. Before the program begins, you will be informed about your curbside pickup days. You can also sign up by clicking on www cityoftulsa.org/recycle or www.tulsarecycles.com. Remember this program can succeed only ifenough ofus participate. So sign on now! Bob D. Rounsavell is a freelance Tulsa writer who specializes in environmental education. dollars did stay here in Oklahomainstead of adding to the profits of American Airlines, or United, or Marriott or Hilton? Let’s guess that many of those 50 attending spent about $500 to $1000 for their visit. A few who traveled as I did with my student group perhaps spent as little as $200- 300¯ One might argue that an average expenditure might be about $600 for a total of $30,000. But on the other hand, $30k would pay the current rent on the Community Center for almost two years ! Now that other TOHR ex-president argues that while many in our community are willing to spend that money on whatis in essence an extraQueer vacation, he feels that few would be willing to mm around and invest that amount into our community if there’s no immediate gain for themselves. And sadly, I would like to argue with him but as a community organizer, I can’t - because I’ve seen that what he claims is mostly true. What if we did value our rights and invested in our communities as much as we did our fabulous vacations, great clothes, stylish homes and cars?Whatcould we accomplish then? After all, ifwe don’t take care of ourselves, who is going to? "Straight" people? - Tom Neal PS: those of you who’ve already got this message, thanks! Keep up the good work and drag a friend along. Tom Neal, publisher & editor ofTulsa Family News, helped tofound and direct the Coalition of Lesbian/Gay Student Groups and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Dallas Chapter andhelped iofoundGLAAD National. He also served as co-chair ofthe University of Oklahoma Gay & Lesbian Association, and helped to found the Rice University Gay Alumni group as well as serving on Tulsa’s Pride committeefor several years. On Nov. 9th, Tulsans will have the opportunity to vote on a $109 million bond package to invest in the needs of Tulsa Public Schools and the children of the district. The Citizens Bond Development Committee has identified more than $600 million in building, facilities, teaching materials and transportation needs for the District in a comprehensive, strategic plan that covers 20 years. The bond issue to be presented to voters on Nov. 9th will be m~ important step in adequately addressing the need of the District and in creating a District ofunparalleled excellence in the state... - Sincerely, Ruth Ann Fate President, Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education Chair, Citizens for Better Education 2121 So, Columbia, Suite 103, Tulsa : by Tom Neal, editor/publisher ¯ Some Gay readers will likely look at the excerpted ¯ letter above and respond: "yeah right, why should I care ~ - I don’t have kids"and"TPS is ahomophobic institution ¯ which doesn’t deserve my support." Some non-Gay ~ readers will likely read this and also wonder why Gay people should care about education issues. But the reality is that many Gay people (using the term broadly to include LGB and T folk) do have children, some by marriages to non-Gay folk before coming out, and some by adoption, and some creative Lesbians and Gay men are having our own children. Even those of us who do not have children directly of our own, like me, have no fewer than eight nephews and nieces about half of whom were educated in Tulsa Public Schools. And we have friends with children too. .My pointis that despite the an.ti-Gay stereotypes which paint Lesbians and Gay men as anti-family, we have a strong interest in providing a good educational system to the children of our community. We also have some selfinterest in that there tends to be a correlation between education and the lessening of anti-Gay prejudice. And if we insist that TPS, an educational system which we help fund, seek to teach the values of respect and tolerance for all citizens, to teach that the diversity of our city makes us stronger, then we, Gay and Lesbian citizens, regardless of whether we have children who directly benefit from TPS, will gain. Therefore, on Nov. 9th, please consider voting yes: do it for kids. Friends Mourn Murdered Gay Pastor SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Calling him a "an oversized angel inhumanform,"mourners andfriendsof a slain pastor and Gay civil rights activist led tributes to him. The Rev. Edward R. Sherriff, 68, an associate pastor at the Cathedral of Promise MetropolitanCommtmity Churchin Sacramento was found stabbed to death in his home Oct. 20 in what police believe was a robbery. More than 300 friends andfzraily crowded into the church where Sherriff served as co-pastor for 11 years. Later in the day, mourners filled the sidew~ilks to "celebrate the home~zoing" of the slain activist. A t~ndf-ul.of local religious leaders paid tribute to Sherriff, including Sister Catherine Connell, director of the Catholic Wellspring women’s center, and the Rev. Isaiah Muhammad of the Nation of Islam. Sherriff’s daughters were als0 among the crowds. "It’s amazing to me the people who love him, who truly love him," said Scharlene Sheriff. Sherriff’s other daughter Marsha Lanier said she does notbelieve her father’s murder was ahate crime. Helikely died because he went out ofhis way to help, Lanier said. ’That’s one thing he would have been proud of," she said. Court to Reconsider Religious Bias Ruling SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The federal appeals court that allowed religious landlords to deny rentals to unmarried couples agreed to reconsider recently at therequest of states, cities andcivil rights groups. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said an 11-judge panel will decide whether property owners with religious objections to certain types of tenants are entitled to exemptions from housing discrimination laws. The case involves state and local laws in Anchorage prohibiting housing discrimination based on marital status. The ruling would also al’fect discrimination based on sexual orientation, where barred by law, and possibly other categories covered by laws in the nine states of the nation’s largest federal circuit. A panel of the court ruled 2-1 in January that enforcement of the discriminationlaws would violate the rdigious freedom of two Anchorage landlords who had religious objections to providing homes for unmarried couples. With no compelling state interest at Stake, the landlords could not be forced to choose between their businesses and their religious beliefs, the courtmajority said. The court said a majority ofits 21 activejudges had voted to set the January decision aside and order a new hearing before the 11-judge panel, at a date not yet scheduled. Requests by Alaska and Anchorage for a reheating were supported by national civil liberties and Gay civil-rights orgamzations, cities including Los_Angeles and San Francisco, and the states of California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Hawaii. California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, who enlisted his counterparts in the other states, said discrimination laws would be affected in every state. "q’here’s no inherent conflict between state antidiscrimination laws and the private religious view s of a landlord," he said. "Fhe issue is whether they can discriminate in their commercial and business activities." Kevin G. Clarkson, lawyer for the Anchorage landlords, said he wasn’t surprised by the rehearing, but argued that his clients’ ’interests were more important than those of the state or would-be tenants. ’%Vhat’s at stake is the First Amendment right of property owners to manage their property consistent with their religious beliefs," Clarkson said. He said there was no evidence that unmarried couples in any state have had trouble finding housing because of the religious objections of a small number of landlords. Conservative religious organizations such as Focus on the Family and the American Center for Law and Justice, as well as the more liberal National Council of Churches, have filed arguments supporting the landlords. The Supreme Courts of Alaska and Californiahave upheld their state discrimination laws against challenges .by religious landlords. But if the federal appeals court sides with thelandlords, property owners throughout the circuitcould sidestep statecourtrulings and go into federal court for religious exemptions. The suit was filedby KevinThomas and Joyce Baker, who each own several rental properties in Anchorage and said they had consistently refused to rent to unmarried cohabitants because of their Christian beliefs. They have not been accused of violating the state or local laws but asked the court to bar" their enforcement. In the January ruling, Judge Diarmuid O’Scannlain said the law not only placed an unconstitutional burden on landlords’ religious practices but also violated freedom of speech, by prohibiting owners from asking about a tenant’s marital status, States can imposesuchrestrictions onbusinesses for compelling reasons, such as preventing discrimination based on race or sex, O’Scannlain said. But he said discrimination on the basis of marital status isn’t banned by the Constitution, federal law or the laws of many states, and no compelling interest has. been shown for its elimination. The case is Thomas vs. Anchorage Equal Rights Commission, 97-35220. Methodists Attack Boy Scouts’ Anti-Gay Policy tIACKENSACK, N.J. (AP) - The Boy Scouts of America could lose an important ally as it prepares to appeal a New Jersey Supreme Court ruling that the group couldnotremove aNew Jersey manbecausehe is Gay. The United Methodist Church, which sponsors about 15% of the 3.3 million Scouts in the United States, has scolded the group and is threatening to halt its sponsorship if things don’t change. Although the church "would like to enthusiastically affirm and encourage this continuing partnership of the church and Scouting, we cannot due to the Boy Scouts of America s discnmanat~on agmnstGays; the Gener Board of Church and Society said earlier this month. The board is a top policy-making body of the Methodists. It also encouraged the Boy Scouts to stop the policy barring homosexuals. ’"We further, for the sake of our continmng partnership, call upon the Boy Scouts of America to discontinue this exclusion of Gays," the board concluded in the Oct. 10 statement. The Methodists earlier had said the church wanted to triple the number of Scouts it sponsors. But the Boy Scouts say the threat won’t dissuade themfrom appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court. Greg Shields, a spokesman for the Boy Scouts, said the organization hopes the case will be heard before next year’s summer recess. Shields also said he believes the Boy Scouts’ longtime relationship with the Methodists will endure. "We feel like we have a ¯ strong base of support within the congregations," ¯ Shields told The Record of Hackensack. ¯ The appeal plan follows aunanimous Augustruling : by the state Supreme Court that says the policy of keeping out homosex~mls violates the state’s anti- " discrimination law. The court said the Boy Scouts ¯ organization constitutes a "place of public accommodation" because it has a broad-based membership and forms partnerships with public ¯ entities such as police and fire departments. ¯ James Dale, 29, ofMatawan inMomnouth County, ¯ was an assistant scoutmaster whe was kicked out of the Boy Scouts nine years ago whenleaders found out ¯ he is Gay. He sued., seeking reinstatement. Dale ¯ earned 30 merit badges, seven achievement honors ¯ and other awards, and became an Eagle Scout during ¯ his 12 years in the organization. He was expelled by ¯ theMoumouthCouncilin 1990 after the group leamed from a newspaper article that he was Gay. The Irving, ¯ Texas-based organization has said if forced to accept ¯ Gays, the organization would not be able to build ¯ moral character in boys. The New Jersey ruling contrasted with a March ¯ 1998 decision by the California Supreme Court inthe ¯ Boy Scouts’ favor. In that ruling, alsounammous, the ¯ court said the organization was not abusiness and was : therefore free to exclude Gays, as well as atheists and ¯ agnostics. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an : appeal of that decision. Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 S. Harvard, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 MCC-United formerly Family of Faith & Greater Tulsa MCC Joined as one body of believers. Come celebrate with us, Sunday Services, 11 am 1623 North Maplewood, 838-1715 HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm 3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon Sandra Hill M.s. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments AvailabIe 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Communi~. ofHope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800rdA.4-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Ghild, Family, Individual & Gouplo Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 Cathy Fur g, Ph.D. Licensed Psychologist 1980 Utica Square Medical Center Tulsa, Oklahbma 74114 voice: 628-3709, fax: 712-9854 Adults, Children, Couples, and Families OK~HOMA COMMUNICATIONS Local- Long Distance Cellular- Paging 747-1508 Free Car Adaptor & Leather Case with New Cell Phone The Pride Store 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor ¯in Tulsa’s Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) 6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday 12-9 pm, Saturday, all’ales benefit the Center KEVIN BURLESO N Keller Williams Realty 712-2252 Burleson@kw.com 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An Independent Member Broker Housekeeping & Gardening Service Contact Paul on: (918) 582 8460 POB 3150, Tulsa, OK, 74101 OPENARMS,OPENMINDS,OPENHEARTS ] Saint Aidan 4045 N. Cincinnati. 425-7882 Saint John 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 Saint Dunstan 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Trinity 501 S. Cincinnati, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You Boeing ExtendsBenefits to Same-Sex Partners SEATTLE (AP) - The Boeing Co., citing the need to maintain a quality work force and the benefits of diversity, plans-to extend health-care benefits next year to same-sex domestic partners of salaried nonumon employees. The decision, announced to company managers by electronic mail, was praised by Gay civil rights advocatesl It was criticized by unionleaders, however, for leaving outtheirmembers and nnmarried heterosexual partners. Company officials did not say how many employees would be affected. RoughlyhalfofBoeing’s 202,000 employees worldwide are salaried and non-union. A recent Forbes Magazine survey indicated unmarried partners are covered by health benefits in 10% of the businesses with at least 200 employees. Companies that provide same-sex-partner benefits include Lotus Development Corp., Microsoft Corp., IBM, Walt Disney Co., U S West, Honeywell and Xerox. In the e-mail, James B. Dagnon, Boeing’s senior vice president for personnel, said the move was made for two reasons: ’~First to attract and retain talented employees, and second to walk the talk on diversity. "Diversity, with a capital D, means acknowledging employees have different backgrounds, preferences and interests." A task force of personnd managers and minority employees w.asformedto study theissue last year, bu.t consii~eration of an initial proposal was stalled until the company’s financial performance improved in recent months, Boeing spokesman Peter Conte said. The decision is long overdue, said Charles Fay, chairman of Hands-Off Washington in Snohomish County€ and Dennis Rybicki, a spokesman for the SnohomishCountyElections Committee., which,r~an~__. s political candidates on Gay and Lesbian xssues, q’his should send a signal to other employers, large and small, that it’s goodbusiness to recognize the value of all families," Fay said. Charles Bofferding, executive directorof the Society ofProfesSional Engineering Employees inA.erospa.~, said the move seemed to be designed to sabotage ,his group’s contract-negotiations, which begin soon. SPF.EA, formerly the Seattle Professional Engineering Employees Association, is the second-largest imion at Boeing, representing 23,000 scientists, engineers, manual writers and technical workers. SPEEA negotiators will seek the benefit but don’t want to sacrifice other potential contract gains to obtain it, Bofferding said. ’This attitude, that management knows best and employees will take whatever is dished, out, this is outrageous ,"he said. "Is the Boeing Co. going to discriminate againstheterosexuals now?" Conte said health-care benefits will not be offered tO unmarried heterosexual partners because they can get married, an option from which same-sex parmers are barred by law. Tim Flynn, a spokesman for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which r~ep~resents hourly producuon workers and is Boeings largest union, said Machinist leaders may discuss same-sex benefits before expiration of the three-year contract that was ratified in September. Annetta Small, director of the West Coast office of Kerusso Ministries, which seeks to persuade Gays and Lesbians to become heterosexual through Chrsfianity, said she opposes any extension ofbenefits to non-married partners. "We are giving benefits to a behavior that I believe is wrong and that I believe is immoral," she said. "I don’t believe that we should extend these benefits to people who are not married." Hate Letters Sent to Rhode Island Politicos PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Threatening letters with anti-Gay sentiments have been sent to the Providence mayor, the city’s liaison to the Gay community and two men who were recently assaulted in a Gaybashing attack. One letter, which Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. received, described Providence as a ’Tag lovin’ city". Leaflets that said "Fake Action Against Queer’s, ¯ were also scattered downtown and placed on cars. ¯¯ City and police officials said they are taking the threats very seriously because they appear to be part ¯ ofan organized effort. Inresponse, thepolice assigned ¯ extra officers downtown. "In this day and age, this ’- should not be. We’re not going to tolerate it," Cianci ~ told The Providence Journal. ¯ W. Fitzgerald Himmelsbach, the city’s liaison to the Gay and Lesbian community, also received a " death threat over the telephone. He received a call at ¯ his business from aman who said, "Die, you fagg.ot . ~ All the letters said ’~omosexuality is a sin against ¯ humankind and God," and all were signed "The ¯ Trench Coat Mafia" - the name used by a group of "- students at Columbine High School, in I.ittleton, ¯ Colo., that .included the two gnmmen who killed 13 ¯ people there last spring. - Himmelsbach saidletters receivedby the twoassault ". victims threatened that they would"endup inhell like [ Matthew Shepard," the Wyoming college student ¯ who was beaten to deathlast fall because he was Gay. ¯ The letters were sent to Ed Webb, 34, and Noah ] Schwartz, 41, both of Providence. On Sept. 19 in : downtownProvidence, themensaid about20college- " aged men yelled "faggots" and then five of the men ¯ beat them up. ¯ Both Himmelsbaeh, who has been the liaison for ~ two years,and Cianci saidreceiving threats is nothing ¯ new but both are worried that this is part of an ~ organized effort. ’~Eianci vowedto fred the "cowards" .. who are the perpetrators and then prosecute them for . hate crimes. Police do not have any suspects yet. : Denver Considers :: Couples Registry ¯ DENVER (AP) - City Council members are : considering a proposal that would create a registry to ~ record the relationships of Gay and Lesbian partners and other committed but unmarried couples. The ¯ proposal, heard by the city council, would allow Denverites to officially record their partnerships to ¯ qualify for insurance benefits some companies offer ¯ to the "domestic partners" of their workers. And, for ¯ same-sex couples, it would allow their unions to be : acknowledg?,.d,, if only nominally, by local " government. It sfinallytimeforthecitytorecognize ." committed relationships," said Councilman Ed ¯ Thomas, who, along with Councilwoman Cathy ¯ Reynolds, has beenplanning such aregistry for several ¯ years. . ¯ To qualify, both members of a couple would have ¯ to be unmarried, 18 years or older and sharing the ¯ ¯ same household with a partner who is not a blood relative. A filing fee at the city’s clerk and recorder’s ¯ office is expected to be about $20. Couples would be ¯ ¯ required to notify that office if their relationships dissolve. The plan had tentative approval by most members ofthe city s Safety and Personnel Commatt ¯ except council member Ted Hackworth, who said it ¯ "doesn’t make sense." ¯ Itis slated for further discussionby council members ¯ in the coming weeks. Advocates hope to have the registry in place by Valentin~ s Day. If approved, ¯ filing with the registry wouldn t constitute amarriage or common-law marriage, nor would it affect ¯ inheritance rights. ¯ Still, advocates say itwouldprovide documentation ¯ ¯ for couples seeking benefits from United Airlines, Coors, Denver city government and other employers ¯ who insure domestic partners of workers. Proponents ¯ also hope it would help advance rights whenit comes ¯ to visiting partners in the hospital ormaking medical ¯ decisions on their behalf. Theregistry would similarly ¯ benefit seniorcouples who choosenot to marry because ¯ they would lose Social Security or other benefits. ~ Boulder has a similar registry program, as do the state ¯ of California and 35 cities in 25 states nationwide. ¯ Irish Jury Convicts Writer’s Assailants : PHILADELPHIA (AP)- Ajury in Irdand convicted ¯ two men in the near-fatal beating of a well-known ¯ Philadelphia writer of Gay-themed books who was ¯ overseas researching a novel see News, p. 13 Magic Johnson Plays in Sweden BORAS, Sweden (AP) - Magic Johnson entertained a sellout crowdTuesday night with some of the trademark skills he used to help the Los Angeles Lakers win five NBA rifles. The 40-year-old star, 10 years older than the second oldest player on the court, had 14 points and 11 rebounds as Magic M7 beat Sallen 84-60 in.the Swedish basketball league. "The first half was a little tough, but the second was easier.,"Johnson told the 3,319 spectators after,the game, his first nonexlfihition contest since leaving the NBA for good in 1996. Johnson missed some easy layup attempts. "That’s easy when the atmosphere was as charged and the euphoria as high as it was tonight," he said. After a standing ovation before the game, Johnson drew further cheers when he promised to return to play more games for Magic MT. MT, which missed the playoffs last season, is 7-0 this season,.with Johnson’s appearance generating great interest in the sport in Boras, a city of 110,000 in western Sweden. Johnson, who led Michigan State to the 1979 U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association rifle, learned he had tested positive for the HIV virus that can cause AIDS in 1991. He retired for the first rime justbefore the startof the 1991-92 season. After returning to play on the U.S. Dream Team that won the gold medal in the 1992 Olympics, he made a brief comeback before the !992-93 season, but quit again after several players expressed concerns about playing against him. In January 1996, he returned to the Lakers and played the remaining half of the season, retiring again, at age 37, after the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs. Louganis in Nun-Drag? HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) - Greg Louganis has picked up a new habit. The Olympxc gold medal-winning diver is starring in the musical comedy, ’~lunsense A-Men," which runs through Dec. 5 at the Hollywood Playhouse. Lougams, who wonfour gold medals in two Olympics and later disclosed he was Gayand HIV-positive, will pull on a habit six rimes a week for his role as Sister Robert Ann, a streetwise nun who always wanted to be a star. All the nuns in this production are men. The former diver, author and motivational speaker says he likes working in an ensemble cast. "There’s always someone there to hold your hand," said I_ouganis, 39. "It feels more supportive, I guess.’" Thou.gh Louganis now has AIDS, he looks and feels healthy. He says he does not think aboutbeing arole model. "We’re all haman. We all make mistakes," he said "Role model, in my mind, is perfection and one can’t be that. I try to encourage young people to be their own heroes and their own role models." AIDS & So. Africa JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) - After the end of apartheid, South Africa pushed to get patients out of overcroWded hospitals and into preventive care clinics. But as fast as the country has built 700 ¯ new clinics since 1994, traditional state ¯¯ hospitalshavefilledupwithAIDS patients who occupy up to 60% of the beds, South : African Health Minister Manto ¯ Tshabalala-Msimang said recently. ¯ ’’We expected the demand for hospital ¯ caretodrop,"shesaidatanews conference ; at theheadquarters oftheAfrican National ¯ Congress. "But the HIV and AIDS ¯ epidemic has increased the burden." The ¯ briefingwas one ofa series by theANCon ¯ its progress in ruling the country. ¯ Tshabalala-Msimang chairs the party’s ¯ health committee. -" Some 3.6 million South Africans are ¯ infected with AIDS, roughly one in eight ." adults, and the government says 1,500 ¯ new :infections occur every day in one of ." the world’s fastest rates of infection. A ¯ narionalAIDS councilwillbefunctioning : by year’s end, Tshabalala-Msimang said. ¯ ’’We should have had the council in place : already," she said. : Controversial proposals, such treating : pregnant women with HIV with a drug ¯ therapy to prevent transmission of the ¯ virus to infants, will be discussed next ¯ month at a meeting of regional health ¯ ministers, she said. The government so far : has rejected the proposal as too expensive : and possibly even dangerous in terms of ¯ long-term side effects. ¯ The healthministers fromthe Southern ¯ African Development Community will ¯ also discuss blood safety anddevelopment ¯ of an HIV vaccine. : AIDS Threatens Asia’s Prosperity KUALALUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -The AIDS epidemic in Asia could erase the region’s economic gains over the last two decades unless governments maintain funding for social programs, aWorldBank expert warned late last month. In Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam and Southern China, AIDS had gained a "strong foothold," even before the economiccrisis struckin 1997, saidMartha Ainsworth, a senior World Bank economist. The dreaded virus "threatens to slowly unravel the progress in improving the human condition.and to diminate if not reverse the benefits of the economic miracle,’’ Ainsworth told the 5th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific. The region’s two-year economic crisis may have further hurt Asia’s fight against AIDS, said Ainsworth. Cash-strapped governments wereforced to slash budgets and lower wages. The crisis also pushed thousands of families into poverty and many women into prostitution. "’Even before the crisis, political commitment to AIDS prevention in the region was weak," said Ainsworth. "Many policy makers are still in denial." Development policies before the crisis channeled funds into education and health ¯ care budgets, resulting in higher life expectancies and reduced poverty: ¯ "The full impact of the crisis on HIV : depends critically on how well ~ governments and households succeeded ¯ .in maintaining socialsafety nets," said : AJnsworth, an expert on the effect of ¯ AIDS on households. Ainsworth said : AIDS hadalready subtracted several years ¯ offtheaveragelifeexpectancies ofcertain ¯ countries. A U.N report released at the four-day ¯ conference esrimates that by 2010, the ¯ overall death rate will be 20% higher in OECE~% WorldAIDS Day 1999 Candlelight March & Memorial Service sponsored by Interfaith AIDS Ministries Wednesday, December 1st End the Silence Mount Zion Baptist Church 419 North Elgin (next to OSU-Tulsa) Gather 6:30 at St. Monica’s, Marshall Place at Greenwood (just south of Pine), March at 7pm, Service at 7:30, all times approximate! Bring banners & bells; candles provided. Info: 438-2437. Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American~.~ Tulsa s Two-Spirited Indian Men s ¯ Support Group ~s here for you! ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native.American AIDS Prevention Project at 582-7225 Ext, 208 or 218 Dial-Up Accounts Dedicated ISDN Connections Virtual Hosting Visit our web page "www.igisweb.net" (918) 622-4965 Internet Marketing E-Commerce Web Page Design On-Site Setup Available Oklahoma NARAL cordially invites you to a chocOlate and champagne fete in support of abortion and reproductive rights in Oklahoma. Celebrating 26 Yedrs.of Choice Sunday, November 7, 1999, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. to be held at Resonance 1608 S. Elwood, Tulsa, Oklahoma Champagne, Coffee, Chocolates $25 per individual Please R.S.V.P. to the NARAL Office: 494-9585 Stay Healthy Naturally Wellness Rejuvenation Longevity Dr. Terrance L. Sullivan Doctor ofNaturopathy Certified Colonic Hygenist Certified Reflexologist Certified Herbalist Certified Accupressurist provides consultations by appointment Iridology- Hair Analysis - Herbal Supplements Pain Control - Nutritional Analysis 4520 So. Peoria, Brookside, 712-1400 Myanmar due to AIDS fatalities. In Cambodia and Thailand, it may rise 15% because of AIDS. The United Nations estimates that 7 million people in Asia are infected with the HIV virus or AIDS. Speakers at the conference, which ends Wednesday, have urged Asia to act fast to curb the epidemic or risk the devastation now facedby Africa, which has 21 million AIDS-related cases. Experts areparticularlyconcemedabout the effects of AIDS on Indonesia, the world’s fourth largest country, where the regional economiccrisis was compounded by political upheaval. It diverted attention and funding from the AIDS epidemic, Aiusworth said. ’~olitical turmoil nodoubt increased risky behavior for the spread of HIV," Ainsworth said. She said countries such as Thailand one of the high-risk areas in Asia, had proved that maintaining commitment to AIDS -prevention programs paid dividends. HIV cases dropped among prostitutes,menwith sexually-transmitted diseases and blood donors in Thailand despite the economic crisis, she said. "Many governments in this region have a window of opportunity to act early and prevent an epidemic," Ainsworth said. Children at Risk in South Africa JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) - Seeking to help young children deal with a soanng number of sexual assaults, national health and education officials are considering an education program for primary students to teach about rape and HIV infections, a newspaper reported Sunday. A pilot program was tested in the Nor~ern and F~ee State provinces, where about 700 children received the lessons, the Sunday Times of Johannesburg reported. About 14,000 children are sexually violated every year, police reports say, but a large number of rapes go unreported, anti-rape activists say. About 8% of the adult population is HIV positive. One factor that experts belie,ve has contributed to child rape is the persxstent myth that sex with a virgin can cure the disease. Abraham Seckle, an Education Department official, was quoted assaying the program would "empower learners to protect themselves." A consultantinvolved in the project, Darleen Edwards, said that children are taught to "run, yell and tell" in the program. PLWA to Race in Iditarod Next Year MESA, Ariz. (AP)-The first Arizonan to enter Alaska’s most grueling sled dog race faces two major obstacles before he even steps to the starting line. Chuck Kin.g, 39, of Tempe, has no experience racang. He has only 100 miles actually riding a dog sled. And King is. HIV positive. Every day, he takes fisffuls of anti-viral pills just to stay alive. But he doesn’t see this as a setback. He views his illness and the March 4 Iditarod sled-dog race as a chance to prove that people with AIDS don’t have to concentrate on survival alone. "In the last seven years, I was supposed to have died three times and I made it through all of that," King said in a telephone interview from Wasilla, Alaska. The Iditarod this year will stretch 1,152 miles fromWasilla to Nome, takingracers " at least 10 days to complete. And that’s : only if the expected 80 participants keep up a good pace. The snow layers the trail ¯ in multiple feet, not mere inches. ¯" Temperatures dip deep into thenegatives, numbing hands and lungs. At night; ¯ Sections of the woods-darkened course ." are lit only by the aurora borealis, which ¯ crackle and cast shadows in the trees and : snow. Switchbacks get so steep in some ¯ areasthatdrivers can’tseetheleadoftheir ¯¯ 16-dogpack.A driver unlucky enough to fall off gets left in a cloud of snow and ¯ regret. ’q~here ain’t no waitin’ in this ." race," said Raymond "Raymie" ¯ Redington, King’s sled-dog trainer. ’q’he ¯" huskies are bred to go. They’ll bolt off the ." starting line even if you say halt." ." Redington should know. The 54-year- . old Alaska native’s father founded the ¯ racein 1973. He has been in 111ditarods; : his highest placing was seventh. Since : September, Redington has trained King ¯ on a four-wheeler that simulates a sled- : dog team. King will work with the dogs as ¯ the snow starts to fall. ¯ King began training last year, gaining ¯ ¯ about 100 miles of mushing experience. Oddly, being a native Arizonan could give him a boost: King was trained as a bo.y to handle amule drawn wagon, which ¯ ~mrrors mushing techniques, Redington ¯ said. King will have to be up to speed by : Jan. 1, whenthelditarod’sfirstqualifying race, the Knik 200, takes place. The 2nd ~ qualifier is a week later. ¯ Only after the 500 miles of racing will ’ Redington know whether King is ready : for the Iditarod. "I don’t know how he’s ¯" going to do when it gets real freezing," ¯ said Redington, who remembers the 38- below zero wind chill he endured in the ¯ 1974Iditarod. "Buthelooks healthynow. "" ¯ That hasn’t always been the case for ¯ King. Six years ago, the 6-foot man had ¯ wastedto 118pounds. Doctors gav,eKing, ¯ a former respiratory physician, 90 days to live after diagnosing him with multidrug ¯ resistant tuberculosis. At one point, his Tcell count, a measure of the body’s ¯ resistance to disease, bottomed out at 40; ~ a virus-free, healthy person’s T-cell coun! usually reaches 1,000. Kinghad one wish: to see Alaska before ¯ he died. Two years ago he took a cruise ." there, and he caught another bug. This time, it was mushing. "That’s all he could ¯ talk about," said his father, Dick King. ¯ "He was suicidal, depressed at times. BUt this brought him out." Science lent a hand, too. Strong anti¯ viral drugs called protease inhibitors became available. King was soon on a ¯ five-drug ’.’cocktail"prescribed to him by Scottsdale’s Dr. Thanes Vanig. He began ¯ popping about 26 pills a day. He said he ¯ has to smoke marijuana to beat down the ¯ nausea caused by themedieation. He also ,- has to take percocet, and even morphine, ¯ to numb the neurological pain to his lower ¯ legs that was caused by the tuberculosis ¯ and AIDS drugs. His T-cell count has ¯ jumped to 560, the lower side of normal. ¯ He’s also gained 44 pounds, thanks in ¯ large part to injections of human growth : hormone, a $4,000-a-month drug that he ; said was donated by a pharmaceutical ¯ company. ¯ WhenKingrecentlyreturned to Alaska, ¯ his spirits were high, His po~c,k,etbook is ¯ - the opposite. King is feveris!!) lining up ¯ sponsors, such as Tempe Mayor Neil ¯ Giuliano, to make it through the race and ¯ bring AIDS awareness to a new level, ¯ "It’s not just for people with AIDS," he ¯ s.aid. ’q~hemessageis for everyone: Don’t ¯ g~ve up. Don’t ever give up." L by James Christjohn Upon viewing the PBS production of "Spirit: A Journey in Dance, Drum, and Song" on PBS, I contacted Peter Buffett, the composer and creator. Upon learning that there would be a National Tour with a stop in Tulsa at the Brady Theatre on January 3, 2000; I had the opportunity to askafew questions. You can get the video of the production that originally aired on PBS, as well as theCDat areamusic/video stores. It’s powerful in those mediums (reviewed previously), and one can only imagine the impact of the piece live. JC: Hello, Peter! PB: Hello! Well... finally I’m answering your questions. I was frantically finishing a record for a friend. It had to be done by yesterday (which it was) so I can go to New York today to start all the mechanics it’s going to take to get the "Spirit" showon the road by the Fall. At somepoint, you’11 have to get the’’making of" part of the video. I think you’ll really enjoy it. "(Note: The "Making of..." is included on the retail vide~’Of the show.) JC: It’s such an amazing piece that works on so many diffdrent levels, l was wondering whatinspired the idea to bring together the different elements - dance. song, etc. - to create the show? PB: I wanted to bring all the elements together for two main reasons. One, "A hundred years ago people sang the Ghost Dance songs in the hopes that the world would return to the way it once was, Now, the choir in some of the Spirit songs are singing those very same words in hopes that the world can become what it could be. "" - Peter Buffett because in Native cultures, song anddance are usually linked. You can’t have one without the other. They both contribute to the telling ofthe story. Andthe projections help bring the natural (or unnatural.., or supernatural) worldinto the theatre. That’s the "art" reason. The "commerce" reasonis that I knew my show would be competing with larger and larger events. Not only theatrical, but lmaxmovies,hugebudget movies and all sorts of entertainment that tugs at the consumer. I wanted to try and create something thatpeople could honestly say they hadn’ t seenbefore (no small feat). So this was my attempt.. JC: Well,judgingfrom the response at the taping from the audience, and the incredible response I’ve seen to the video, l’d say you achieved your goal. PB: It’s important to note that I’m not in the "bigger is better" : camp (as it may sound) but people want and deserve their money’s worth. Andit’s getting harder to "outdo" the last thing ~n [ terms ofp0werful soundandimagery. My [ hope is that the message of the show has as much effect on people as anything else. JC: I can only speak from my own ¯. experience, and that oflistening to others ¯ who have seen the video, to say that it was very powerful in that regard, and ¯ communicated its message wonderfully. see Buffett, p. 14 couNciL Is proud to present gie Hall veteran soprano, Floxane La Combe. nature "COMC Sound" has attracted sold out audiences. Order your tickets in advance. November 19 & 20 JOHN WILLIAMS THEATRE TULSA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Call 596-7111 for tickets www.counciloak.org ~’~#Made possible in part oy a grant from the Tulsa Pedorming Arts Center Trust. by That Entertainment Guy Livin La Vida Loca Tour, the Divine king, Ricky Martin appears in Dallas al Reunion Arena, Dallas, Thursday, Nov 4, 1999, at 8:00PM. Now this would be the concert to take binocnlars to - and the telephoto mini-camera. Ticket prices for the Prince ofPop: $35.00- $75.00 Charge- By-Phone #: 214-373-8000. The Divine Queen of All Things is also performing in Dallas in November. No, not Stevie, although she is the otherQueen of All T’nings Divine; but the Divine Ms. Millennium Tour: Bette Midler in Concert, A Beaver Production takes place Sunday, Nov128,1999 at8:00prn at ReunionArena. As she said in one early concert tour, ’qTais ain’t no cheap meat you’re lookin’ at!": Ticket prices run $50.50 - $150.50, Charge-By-Phone at 214-373-8000. Peter Buffett’s "Spirit - A Journey in Dance, Drums and Song" is a music, dance and percussion spectacle that combines the power of contemporary music with the songs, chants and dances of Native American culture. The release of the CD coincides with the PBS Broadcast ofthe live show of Spirit, which features over 80 performers - including twenty dancers with both modem and traditional training, an orchestra withboth modem and ancient tribal instruments, a flits choir and percussionists pounding outheart-stopping rhythms on a variety of drums. The show runs in Tulsa, January 4-9, at the Brady Theatre; and if you miss that, then you can catch "Spirit" in Dallas, March 7-12 at the Majestic Theatre. You really didn’t think I’d let you get away without the obligatory mention of Stevie Nicks herself, did you? Yes, La Diva nicks is performing three shows: Two in California’s HOuse of Biues in December, and one in Las Vegas HOB on New Year’s eve. Tickets went for an outrageous $127 (balcony seating) and $227 (Orchestra - STANDING!). There only a few floor spaces left for the New Year’s show.. All others sold out. Believe it or not. Anyone wishing to contribute to the "Send the obsessed reviewer to see S tevie and not come back fund" can send contributions to TFN. Just make sure my name’s in big letters on the envelope, or I’ll never see the money. It’ll end up in the "buy the publisher new household gimmicks" fund. The Divine Ms. Nick’s new album should be out the 1st of the year, if not sooner. And hopefully, with a more affordable tour. Apparently the cost of chiffon has risen - a lot. Fight Clubis.amovie that under ordinary circumstances, I would have never gone to see. However, I was not under ordinary circumstances, and was swept along to see it. I thought I’d hate it. After seeing it, I think everyone should see it. The acting is dynamic, the pace is breathless, and the intellect behind it is tremendous. The violence is not that bad, one scene aside, and the points the movie makes are well worth the viewing. The humor is well done, and the homoeroticism between Ed Norton and Brad Pittmakes it worthwhile. see Fight, p. 15 .Parade of Ligh! s. Come celebrate the spirit of the holiday season at the PSO Christmas Parade of Lights. Saturday, December 11, Downtown Tulsa at 6 p.m. View parade floats up close, Friday, December 10, at the HolidayFest (Brady Arts Distriot) fl om 6-9 p.m. Pubfic Service Company of Oklahoma A Central and South West Company I B B (I T Z "emotionally and visually rich ..." -Performing Arts Review, Taiwan "unforgettable scenes of disparate beauty" -Davar "intense in feeling ... deep in intellectual content" -The Plain Dealer "bold, flLnging athleticism" -The Kansas City Star November 16 at 8 p.m. Chapman Music Hall Tulsa Performing Arts Center 3rd & Cincinnati Tickets: $15, $22, $25 Call: (918) 596-7111 Outside Tulsa: 1-800-364-7111 Online: www.tulsapac.com Presenting by Rami Be’er Co-presented bj,: Oklahoma Israel Exchange "Dazzling," "Pounding," "Unsettling," "Erotic" "The dancing--real, vital dancing--of these 18 people becomes a dyfiamo for transforming experience and recharging the spirit." The Village Voice Sponsored in part by: "You don’t have to know ballet to love ballet. You just have to try it." -- MARCELLO ANGELINI ART ST C D RECTOR :Mixed Repertory includes two Oklahoma premieres FRIDAY 8 PM NOVEMBER 5 SATURDAY 8 PM " NOVEMBER 6 SUNDAY 3 PM NOVEMBER 7 Be one of the first anywhere to witness Tulsa Ballet’s first commissioned piece. Tailored to the strengths of the Company by an international genius. Classical ’roots, contemporary movements A prime-time performance of2Oth-century choreography. The way people dance today. Andwili tom0rrow: " Tickets start at $8. THE 199.9 - 2000 SEASON IS SPONSORED IN PART BY: Order tickets,by calling The Tulsa Ballet Ticket Office at 749-6006, PAC at 596-7111 or Carson Attractions at 584~2000 * 4512 S. Peoria Ave. ¯ Tulsa, OK 74105-4563 Visit our web site at www.webtek.€omitulsaballet ~ SUNDAYS Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service - 6pro, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation Service - 1 lain, 2545 S. Yale, 749-0595 (Welcoming) Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist Service - 1 lam, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-1314 Metropolitan Community Church United Service, 1 lain, 1623 North Maplewood, Info: 838-1715 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangdical Anglican Church in America) Mass - 1 lam, 205 W. King (east of N. Denver), Info: 582-3088 Unity Church of Christianity Services: 9:15 & 11:00 am, 3355 S. Jamestown, 749-8833 University of Tulsa Bisexuai/Lesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance 6:30 pm, Meets at the United Ministry Cir., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780 ~ MONDAYS Mixed Volleyball, Helmerich Park, 71st & Riverside, 6pm, call Shawn at 243-5190. HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required. Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard) HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center 7:30pm, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays 2nd Mordeach mo. 6:30pro, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551 Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals - call for thnes, info: 748-3888. ~ TUESDAYS AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call, for next meeting date. 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551 Live And Let Live, Community of Hope U~fited Methodist, 7:30pm, 2545 S. Yale Multicultural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date. Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001 PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE) Tuesdays, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E 38th, info: 743-4297 ~ WEDNESDAYS Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries,. Inc. Service - Vpm, 3210b So. Norwood Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more information, call 582-7225 TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for info: 595-7632. Lambda A-A, 7 pm, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft. ~ THURSDAYS HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pm 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN) Support/social group for 18-24’s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-2325 Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, Info: 834-4194 ~ FRIDAYS SafeHaven, Young Adults Social Group, l st Fri/each mo. 8pm, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th ~ SATURDAYS Narcotics Anonymous, I 1 pm, Community o!~ Hope, 1703 E. 2nd, Info: 585;-1800 Lambda A-A, 6.pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd fl. ~ OTHER GROUPS T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info: 298-0827 Gal-A-Vanting, Womens Social & Cultural Group Call for info: Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-6825. OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization. Long rides & short rides from Zcigler Park. Long & short rides from Tulsa Gay Community Center. Write for info: POB 9165, Tulsa, OK 74157 Ifyour organization is not listed, please let us know. Call 583-1248 orfax 583-4615. reviewed by Barry Hensley : substanceabuse and, now, a sympathetic Tulsa City-County Library : wife with a decidedly un-Christian like Whathappens whena"radical Lesbian" ¯ penchant for screaming and yelling. The goes undercover to infiltrate the " author’s interaction with this member of organizations of the religious Focus on the Family is most right? She writes a book, of course! Fortunately, this isn’t "jnstaanotherChristianbashing book, as Minkowitz is able to see past her obvious disagreements with these groups and find some real, human common ground. Life is full ofgray area, as this book shows. Ferocious Romance is a humorous but serious lookinto religious fight organizations, such as Promise Keepers and Focus on the Family. Minkowitz dons a fake monstachc and lowers her voice to attend a Promise Keepers weekend that really opens her eyes. In addition to experiencing the fully expected propaganda of men itaking charge of the familyi and making women submissive, she al~o witnesses burly mencrying,hugging each other andexpressing words offorgiveness. She enjoys discussing this absurdity of the feminization of the Christian Men’s movement~ Her discussions with James Dobson’s Focus on the Family are of more concern. She has long conversations with a cute voung man named Bobby, who is an ~tthappy "ex-Gay." It becomes evident that Bobby’ s life is in a shambles due to the cumulative effects ofchildhood abuse, "The a.thor’s interaetion with this member of Focus on the Family is most ;nsi~htful. She also meets with several high level exeeutlves in the or~anlzatlon whose arguments t~t they are not homophone are astoundln~ in their h~oe~sy." insightful. Shealso meets with several high level executives in the organization whose arguments that they are not homophobicareastoundingin their hypocrisy. After these encounters with the religious right, the author inexplicably dives into an account ofthe International S/ M Leather Fetish Celebration that she attended inNew York City to-celebrate the twentyfifth anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. We really learn more than we ever wanted to know about her involvement in S/M. This topic surfaces occasionally throughout the book and her comparison of conservative Christians and S/M practitioners is humorously ¯¯ enlightening. As the 2000 elections approach, the : religions right will undoubtedly take center .. stage to promote their candidates and , agenda. It is in everyone’s best interest to : understand what these groups have in ¯ store for the country, should their ¯ candidates be elected. This book gives a : bit ofinsightinto what’ s going onin these ¯ organizations. Check out Ferocious Romance at your local branch library or ¯ call the Reader’s Services department at : Central library, at 596-7966. Members of each group were paired together at the tables and encouraged to gettoknow each other. Before the meeting, the groups agreed to disagree on whether Gays can be Christians and to focus on ways to deter violence against Gays and Christians, Falwell cited the September shootings at a Texas church and recent school shootings inwhichChristians were targeted. At a news conference following the meeting, Falwell andWhite apologized to each other for harsh words they have said about the other’s groups over the years. "I’ve been a preacher for 47 years, a preacher of the gospel.., but in the end homosexuality is. wrong," Falwell said. ’’It is my hope that evangelicals might build a bridge of friendship -to Gays and Lesbians as we have to alcoholics and unwed mothers." White, an author and minister with the Metropolitan Community Churches, was the ghost writerofFalwell’s autobiography before White acknowledged being Gay. Delegates from both groups thought the meeting was good. The same weekend, many of Mel White’s groups listened to Falwell’s Sunday sermon. Falwell, 66, began the serviceby welcoming White andhis guests and briefing his congregation on the antiviolence forum conducted at the church the day before. At that meeting, both sides apologized for harsh words said over the years and discussed ways to reduce vio~lence against homosexualS. ¯" ’His sermon was amazang, said David ¯ Chandler, 36, a Gay man from San : Francisco and one of the more than 4,000 : worshippers who jammed into Thomas ¯ Roads BaptistChurch. "Hesentamessage : to parents to love their children no matter ." what.... I admire and respect Falwell for ¯ taking that stand." In his sermon, Falwell ¯ stressed that he will hot change his belief ¯ that homosexuality is a sin. But he added, ¯ "That has nothing to do with the love : factor involved. We are to be lovers of all menand women."Falwell’ s sermon came ¯" from Proverbs 13, which offers advice on ¯ successful living in the eyes of God. He ¯ spoke on the importance of working hard, ¯ living with integrity and not focusing on ¯ material things. He also talked at length : about the importance of parents loving : their children unconditionally. ¯ "For him to invite these fags here and ¯ into his church is an abomination,"Phelps : said outside the church. "Now, Jerry ¯ Falwell is just as much a sinner as Mel ¯ White and both will bum in hell." : Theservice endedwiththe congregation, ." singing the hymn "Only Trust Him. ¯ Falwell interrupted the song to reiterate to : worshippers that what he or anyone else : thought of them did not matter, but what ¯ was important is their relationship with ¯ God. White said it was "a shame" that : protesters like Phelps brought hostility to ¯ aplace of worship. "What we have hereis ¯ a great moment for our country, Gays and ¯ Falwell worshipping together," White ¯ said. "It’s a small start, but it’s a start." The Gift of Pride In Honor of... Or In Memory of... Someone Special to You. For a small gift of $25.00, you can donate a beautiful Christmas poinsettia to a local AIDS hospice. Your gifts will adorn the stage at" "A Council Oak Christmas," November 19-20. Call Today for COMC Carolers at Your Holiday Party! To Order: Call COMC at (918) 748-3888 Medical Excellence And Compassionate Care Since 1926. ¯ ST. JOHN MEDICAL CENTER WJj Medical Excdlence ’ Compassionate Care Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal La w & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. RESTAURANT AT PHILBROOK TUES-SUN, I I-2 $13.95 ¯ Sunday, II to2 ¯ Reservations, 748-5367 TOHR Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Home Holiday Tour Saturday, December 11,noon- five o’clock Several homes in historic Tulsa. Reception at the Center tofollow. More info. after Dec. 1st. 743-4297 by Mary Schepers, Do-It- Yourself-Dyke Hey, baby, it’ s coldoutside. Andbefore you start heating it up in front of the fireplace, take some precautions. Notjust theustml ones, ducklings! Thehouseneeds some love and attention, too. And by attending to a few simple details, not only will your house o’ love be snug, but safer, too. You know what a raving bitch your DIYD is about safety, but she does it out of a place of love. Which place, she demurs to answer.. The first order of business is to keep the winter winds and drafts outdoors where they belong. Inthe oftrepeated words of the Oracle, ’We don’t have a heating contract with the great outdoors,’ although you may feel that way when you get the first heating bill for the winter. And the side benefit is that if you can keep the house warm, you won’t have to bundle up, and neither will your schnookie, unless,ofcourse, youfred the layers of sweats and sweaters an erotic challenge. From thereon, you’re on your own! Try to take care of your outside heat sinks (places you lose heat) before the weather dips to 45 degrees during the day. Mostofthematerials you will useperform better when it’s warm - that’s a life philosophy worth adopting! Checkaround windows and doors for loose or cracked caulking and replace where needed. Around pipes or conduits that enter the house, use an expanding foam product like Good Stuff or better yet, Daptex, which can be tooled, painted and cleaned up with water, It costs a little more but is worth it. Use this also to seal any gaps between your foundation and the siding of your house. It’ s like mousse with attitude. Work it, girl[ If you’re really hard core, make a trip under the house and seM up around the pipes coming up into your house, and the same from the garage. This also discourages unwanted visits from mice, who use pipe and conduit holes like a superhighway to the supermarket. And darlings, there’s no way to make trapping mice attractive. Think about it. It is also a good idea to insulate behind switch and wall outlet plates. Special foam. cutouts can be bought at your local home repair store, so that all you have to do is unscrew the plate, fit the cutout in and replace the plate. It is amazing how much cold air leaks in that way, especially in older houses. Occasionally, thefitbetween the plate is too tight, but not often. The foam cutouts are cheap and it takes little time to do this. Before firing up the furnace for the first time, it is advisable to have a contractor come and give it a gogd cleaning and inspection - the older your unit, the more important this step is. Most heating and cooling contractors will do a combined winterandsummerservice forareasonable sum, resulting in increased efficiency and ¯ reduced chance of injury. Heater ¯ malfunctions can result in explosions or ¯ fires, and sweeties, we have worked so ¯¯ hard to make your house into a fabulous home.- It’s worth your peace of mind and personal safety. If you have a fireplace, 6all a licensed sweep to clean thechimneyandto inspect and repair the firebox and flue: Your DIYD prefers to do this in the spring, when scheduling is less hectic for the sweep, and then the fireplace is ready togo as soonas inspiration and a little cool weather hits. This should be an annual event for masonry fireplaces, and every two years if you have a metal flue. If you’re the intrepid sort who doesn’t mind scampering out on the roof like a rabid squirrel, get a good extension ladder and do some maintenance and cleaning on the roof..Be sure that the ladder has firm, steady footing and is not placed near any powerlines. Get a hose with a power nozzle or a blower and blast those gutters clean, especially at the downspouts. Clean any ; leaves, sticks or debris offthe valleys and ¯ gables of the roof, and look for any loose ¯ shingles. Use an appropriate kind of roof ¯ goo or caulking to repair, and use this also ¯ around any flueflashings thatmightbenefit ¯ from some extra sealant. This is a good ¯ time to evaluate if you will need to repair ¯ or replace your roof in the spring. Be : careful up there, and never crawl around ¯ on the roof without having someone at ¯ home in case you need help or get hurt. Make sure she or he is not glued to a ball ¯ game or otherwise out of contact. At a ¯ time like that, you deserve the extra ¯ attention, pookie! ~" This is a good time of year for a lube ¯ job, or perhaps several. No, we’re not back in front of the fireplace with Baby ¯ justyet-patience,my impetuous darlings ! ¯ Borrow Dorothy’ s oil can and put a drop on door hinges and garage door chain ¯ drives to keep things smoothly operating ¯ and silent in the winter, when the metal ¯ ¯ contracts and squeaks. You know your DIYD considers the aesthetics as well as ¯ the practical matters. If you have storm windows, give them ¯ a good cleaning to let in as much winter ¯ sunlight as possible, and check for any necessary repairs. Ifyoudon’ t haveenergy ¯ efficient windows,consider getting ~torms ¯ or even using the heat shrink film to ¯ provide some dead air spacq on your ¯ windows and to keep your house toastier. 0 : Now that the DIYD has planned your : social life for the next couple of weekends, ¯ you can get busy making your nest cozy ¯. and snuggly for the winter: And if you’re ¯ very lucky, perhaps you will get yourjust ¯ reward- and we’re not only talking about ." a lower bill! Why don’t you go get a ; couple pairs of silk boxer shorts,just to be ¯ prepared? Be hot, not frigid, this winter! ¯ Ciao, ducklings! "This is a good tlme of year for a lube job, or perhaps several. No, we’re not back in front of the fireplace with Baby just yet - patience, my impetuous darlings! Borrow Dorothy’s oll can and put a drop on door hinges and garage door ehaln drives to keep things smoothly operating and silent in the wlnter, when the metal contracts and squeaks. You know your DIYD eonslders " the aesthetles as well as the practleal matters." by Esther Rothblum, Ph.D. Coming out as a Lesbian is difficult enough, but is even more stressful when the woman is an immigrant and is struggling to come out in anew countryand using a new language. For several years now, Dr. Oliva Espin, a professor of women’s studies at SanDiego State University, has been studying the lives of immigrant and refugee Lesbians. The topic had to do with her own life experience as an., immigrant and with the imm.!granteli.ents she was seeing m her psychotherapy practice for over twenty years. "I saw that there were some experiences that .were common to immigrant women," Dr: Espin .told me. "A major theme I found most interestingwashow often the woman would be talking to me in Spanish~ for example, and then switch to English when she began talking about being a Lesbian. There seemed to be something about using a second language that helped distance Lesbians from whatever they had been told was bad in their i also think that women who have come outas Lesbians when they were still children, may have more disruptions about theirownidentity," Dr. Espin said. ’q’hey ask ’who am I?’ or ’What is wrong with me?’ For .them, coming out so young gets mixedup with other issues ofidentity. For girls who also fecl that they are not ’rexd Americans,’ or who as immigrants are different in color or in language or in cultural traditions - being Lesbian is one more thing that strains their relationship with their parents." Furthermore, the parents may feel that their daughter’s Lesbianism is something she has "caught from those Americans." When immigrant Lesbians come out as adults, they have a stronger sense of identity and coming outdoes not getmixed up with the turmoil of adolescence although it may get mixed up with the turmoil of migration if they are recent immigrants. Dr. Espin has been conducting research and interviewing immigrant women. She found two types of immigration experiences. Some women were Lesbian before the migration, or else where somewhatdissatisfied with what they were even if they had no language for this. ’~2oming to anew countrymadeitpossible for them to come out. This is true for women from all countries, not just those from traditional cultures. Being awayfrom the familiar environment gave them permission to come out; being I_~sbian Dr. Espln has been.., interviewing immigrant women... "Coming to a new country made it possible [or them to come out. This is true for women from all countries, not just those from traditional cultures. Being away from the familiar environment gave them permission to come out; being Lesbian was very freeing in this way. I’ve even spohen with Lesbians born in the U.S. who have told me that they had to move all the way across the country in order to come out." was very freeing in this way. I’ve even spoken with Lesbians born in the U.S. who have told me that they had to move all the way across the country in order to come out." The other group of women Dr. Espin interviewed was actively Lesbian in their home country, immigrated to the U.S., and found that the U.S. Lesbian culture was different and had to adjust their way of being to the new culture. That was sometimes very difficult. "Some women who were used to playing roles very actively," Dr. Espin continued, "if they were used to being ’the man,’, they couldn’t understand why their partner did not want to cook their meals, for example. Or, vice versa, women who lived lives that were ve~ closeted in their home countries, foundit terribly offensive when I would use the word ’Lesbian’ and were threatened by not having a cover-up." In general, Dr. Espin has found that immigrant communities focus very much on the "decency" and "purit.y" of the women in their community. "Because the communities are experiencing difficulty adjusting to the U.S., they want to prove that they are good people. It is the behavior of women that describes the family. So : when you have a Lesbian daughter, how ¯ are you going to explain that to yourself : andto your community? They may think : , that this is what happens to all women ¯ when they come to America." Dr. Espin has also found that Lesbian : daughters tend to be more educated than : their parents or their heterosexual sisters. ¯ As a result, the Lesbian daughters tend to : bemaking more money andin many cases : runmng the community centers and ¯ activities. "So coming out is also difficult : for the Lesbian immigrant in terms of the : community losing their mast in her. The community doesn’t have the language skills, the education, and the access to the dominant culture that she does." Dr. Espin has written about her experiences intwo recent books. Formore information, see Women Crossing Bbundaries: The Psychology of Immigration and the Transformation of Sexuality (Routledge, 1999) and Latina Realities: Essays on Healing Migration and Sexualities (Westview, 1997). Esther Rothblum is Professor of Psychology at the University of Vermont and Editor of the Journal of Lesbian Studies. She can be reached at Dewey Hall, Univ. of Vermont, Burlington, VT, email: esther.rothblum@uvm.edu. Red Rock Tulsa Free Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tuesday Testing, 5 -8 pm Pride Center, 1307 East 38th Wednesday Testing, 5-8 pm Red Rock, 1724 East 8th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist 11 am, Sunday 1314 North Greenwood 587-1314 We knowyou’re going to love this[ Restaurant & Cabaret 3 i 0 East First Street 918-599-9949 Massage Therapy Services Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Want to get involved? Need to get tested for HIV? Need a Coming Out Support Group? Call 743-GAYS (4297) Tulsa Gay Community Services Center i307 E. 38th at Peoria, 2nd floor Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236 Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm IGTA member Call 341.6866 International Toursformoreinformation. Red Rock Tulsa O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network Outreach Program Thurs. Nights ’ Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325 AUTHENTIC FRESH 1TALIAN RAJNBOW CUSINE TROUT ofEureka Springs. Voted Number One in Arkansas! (501) 253-6807, Closed Wednesday 5 Center Street, Eureka Springs, AR 72632 TOM NEAL BUILDING & GARDEN DESIGN 583- 1248 eeze FRESH CLAMS VEI;IE STIR FRY COtaUILE ST. JAI;IUES MAHI-MAHI RACKOF LAMB CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE Compatibility reports for you and your friends or lovers. 59%0717 Gay Owned, Operated & Rainbow Proud Gay Mecca of the Ozarks Beautiful Eureka Springs, Arkansas at the time of the assault. A Circuit Court jury in northwestIreland deliberated about two hours before finding 20-year-old Ian Monaghan and 21-year-old Glen Mahon, both ofSligo, guilty of "recklessly causing serious harm" in the Jan. 31 attack on Robert Drake, at his apartment. The defendants were convicP,xlofIrishcharges equivalent to aggravated assault in the U.S. Barely conscious, Drake lay for more than 12 hours in a pool of blood before a friend, Ciaran Slevin, discovered him. A police officerwhorecordedDrake’s words as he lay motionless inhis blood-spattered kitchen with a severe head injury told the jury that he believed he was recording Drake’s "dying declaration." Thedefensecontended thatDrakemade acrudehomosexual pass atone ofthemen and that the other then struck Drake in the face to make him stop. Doctors had to open a hole in his windpipe to ease his breathing; he also experienced pneumonia, kidney failure and other complications. Drake returned to Philadelphia by medical transport in March to undergo five months of rehabilitation to learn to walk and speak again. Though he was released from the hospital two weeks ago, his speech and mobility remain seriously impaired. He uses a wheelchair to get around, and a letter board to assist in communicating. Drake was in the middle of a speechtherapy session at his Center City apartment when word of the verdict reached him. Through a friend, he said that he was pleased with the verdict, ’"out not surprised." Monaghan and Mahon are free on bail awaiting sentencing Jan. 10, when they could get up to 10 years in jail. "It speaks volumes that Robert, eight months after ¯ theincident, needs round-the-clock care," said Slevin, an Irish physician now living with Drake in philadelphia. "I hope the severity of the punishment meets the severity of the crime." Brattleboro Offers Partners Benefits BRATI’LEBORO, Vt. (AP) - Selectmen have voted to extend health benefits to same-sex domestic partners of town employees. TownAttorney Robert Fisher said the decision to extend the privileges to same-sex parmers, but not unmarried partners of the opposite sex, followed the trend of law in Vermont and other states. The University of Vermont extends benefits to same-sex couples, Fisher said. The city of Winooski is planning to as well after an employee filed a complaint with the Vermont Labor Relations Board. "Winooski hasn’t come out with a policy just yet," Fisher added. "They’re still researching insurance issues. But if they don’t follow the arbitrator’s decision, they’ll likely wind up back in court." He said Burlington, Vermont’s largest city, extends health benefits to all the domestic partners of city employees, whether the rdationship is same-sex or opposite sex. The town of Middlebury also offers benefits to same-sex couples, said Steve Jeffrey, the executive director of- the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. TheVermontSupremeCourtis deciding whether to legalize same-sex marriages in Vermont. If it does, the towns’ policies : will be irrelevant, Fisher said. The policy : passed tmanimously. The issue wasn’t ¯¯ controversial, Fisher said. "It’s one of these things where they’re wiseenough to ¯ realize that if there were a grievance with ¯ respect to this sort of an issue, that based : on the case law both around the country ¯ -and the Labor Relations Board here in ¯ Vermont, that they would be fighting an : uphill legal battle," Fisher said of the : select board. "I think they look at it as an ¯ opportunity to perhaps steer clear of ¯ possible legal pitfalls in the future." " Blue Cross-Blue Shidd of Vermont, : which supplies health insurance to most Vermont municipalities through the ¯ VermontLeagueofCities andTowns,has : offered domestic partner benefits to large ¯ groups for a few years now, said Leigh Tofferi, a company spokesman. Those benefits were available to same-sex and different-sex partners. Lesbian & Gay Seniors Sought : BOSTON (AP) - Targeting an older : generation open about its sexuality and ¯ thinking about its golden years, some developer~ are looking to build Gay- " friendly retirement communities. : "We want to create something that ¯ mirrors the life they’re living now," said ¯ BoSton real estate agent John Goode, part ¯ of9gr°up planning .an urban homosexual ¯ reUrement commumty in Boston. ~ In generations past, societal pressures ¯ forced many Gays and Lesbians to keep ¯ their sexual orientations under wraps. : Today,developers think those who helped ¯ pave the wayfor vibrantGay communities ¯ will want to continue living in Gay ¯ communities after retirement. ¯ "In the mainstream aging community, there is the assumption that everyone is ¯ straight," said Terry Kaelber, executive ¯ director of the New York-based Seniors Active in a Gay Environment. ’’We have : a place that does not assume that. In fact, ¯ it assumes that old people can be attracted : to old people of the same gender." ¯ Kaelber’s group is working with a real estate development company to locate a ¯ site and investors for a 100-unit, mixed- : income assisted living facility. Current options for Gay- and Lesbian-themed ¯ retirement housing consist primarily of a ¯ handful of mobile home parks and small ¯ resorts in Florida and Arizona. Goode’s group of seven partners wants ¯ to build a 75- to 100-unit retirement community somewhere in Boston. The project, called Stonewall Communities, ¯ is named after aGay bar inNew York City ¯ where a 1969 police raid sparked what many say is the begimfing of the modem ¯ Gay civil rights movement. ¯ Other entrepreneurs across the country ¯ also have begun thinking about how the ¯ Gay and Lesbian baby boomers pushing ¯ into their 50s will want to spend their ¯ retirement years. "I’m looking for the ¯ active retirement market," said Peter Lundberg of San Francisco, who is trying to round up capital to build a Gay ¯ retirement community in California. ¯ Gay retirement housing options will : likelyincreasedramaticallyinthecoming ¯ years, said Laura Connolly, who chairs ¯ theLesbianandGayAgingIssues Network ¯ for the San Francisco-based American ¯ Society on Aging. "I think it will grow ¯ over the years," slie said. "They will be in ¯ a variety ofconfigurations, from the more : affordable trailer park options on upto the ¯ more upscale and expensive models." How did the story develop? PB: Many years ago whilereading "Son of the Morning Start’ I was struck by what we all may have lost by the greed and ego of relatively few men. I wasn’t so much taken by Native history as I was the belief system behind the firstpeople of.this land. JC: One of the things that struck me while viewing the show was that this was much more than a show, this was a ritual, what theatre started out as. And ritual that worked successfully to bridge past andpresent. PB: I alsoknew thatmostpeople (myself included) thought of Indian history asjust that.., history, museum pieces etc. So it was important to do a couple of things. Bring the culture into the present and future tense. And incorporate a mythical story about aman"sjourney tofindhimself. By understanding his past - better understanding his role in this life. I was hoping to bridge worlds for people on both sides. Wemight be able to accept, as _ opposed to feel guilty or angry. And if we can get to acceptance, we can progress to learning. JC: I like that philosophy PB: A hundred years ago people sang the Ghost Dance songs in the hopes that the world would return to the way it once was. Now, the choir in some of the Spirit songs are singing those very same words in hopes that the world can become, what it could be. JC: What a lovely vtsion. PB: Pretty lofty goals., but hey, somebody’s got to try. JC: !’d say, from what l’ve seen and heard, you’ve succeeded admirably. Before I wear out my welcome, one last question: What inspired you to utilize Native American music in 3,our works ? PB: To me, almost all Native tribes on may land have the true connection and understanding of that land. Here, not only can we learn things about how we fit into the fabric of the physical world through Native American culture. But we can also learn a thing or two about the spiritual world. PB: I’m really glad that you hear the music staying true to the ancient as well as the modem. The show (and the music) can’t work any other way. It’s where the two worlds combine that the magic happens. JC: That is so true. in more ways than one. It’s a dzfficult balance, and rarely have I heard it done so well. PB: If you liked the video, I’m sure you’ll love the live version! JC: Having seen the video and the impact it had on people, 1 can barely begin to imagine the effect ofseeing it live. I can’t wait. Thank you, Mr. Buffett. © 1999J. Christjohn, all fights reserved A unique opportunity to view and purchase art works and hand crafts from local women artists occurs Nov. 5 - 6. Hosted by local artists Kathleen Pendergrass andMary Schepers, the show and sale will also highlight works by Susan Norris, Robin Dunn, Donna Richardson, Cara Liggett, Nicolasa Kuster, Gayla Norman and others. "We want to showcase the incredible talent that we have in the Tulsa area," Schepers said. "There ’are a lot of very talented artisans here who are not represented in galleries or who are just starting their careers. We’re having the show at my house and studio to keep the whole setting fun and relaxed, as well as making these exciting works accessible to a broad audience. ’~lt’s a good time to consider buying a special gift for the significant people in ~our life, or for adding an original piece of art to your own home, or even for buying something practical likehath salts, candles, display cases or smudges. Prices are reasonable, especially compared to the premiums paid for works shown in galleries or higher priced venues such as Eureka Springs. We’ll have clayworks and sculptures, paintings, etchings, and many other fun items." The preview for the show is Friday, Nov. 5 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The show and sale continues Saturday Nov. 6 . from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 pro. The address is2727E. 56thSt. (51sttoColumbiaAve, South on Columbia to 56th St) in Tulsa. For details or directions, please call Mary at 743-6740. The Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, an Israeli arts group will present ....Aide Memoire"," a full-length contemporary dance by renowned choreographer and KCDC Artistic Director Rami Be’er at the at Tulsa Performing Arts Center’ s Chapman Music Hall on November 16 at 8 pm. Tickets are $15, $22, and $25 with discoants for groups of 10 ormore and student discounts at the door (call (918) 596-711 lot order online: www.tulsapac.com). Choreographer Rami Be’er states that ....Aide Memoire.... is not about the Holocaust nor does it describe the Holocaust; it deals neither with documentation nor a historical account. Rather, "Aide Memoire" introduces the maaner in which the remembrance of the Holocaust can be approfiched and expressed in an inspired, artistic medimn. The subject of Holocaust remembrance is relevant to present-day life and reality as it lurks in the background of mundane existence, penetrates deep subconsciousness, and dwells forever in personal and collective memories. "’Aide Memoire" presents the audience with a sequence of scenes moving about the stage just like a cinematic flashback. Theproduction conveys afleeting glimpse of images which.the audience must face in a lfighly personal manner. The audience has ne alternative but to use its senses to impart meaning to the images. "Aide Memoire" has no central narrative, nor do two opposing sides face each other. Cruel stormtroopers are absent, yet there exists a reminder of the struggle by those who were there and experienced those atrocities firsthand. Within this conflict, we observe their efforts to continue the fabric of human relationships, whether as : individuals, couples or xn groups, and to express the fundamental right of every ¯ person to continue to dream. Be’er joined Kibbutz Contemporary : Dance Company in 1981 as a dancer and ¯ choreographer. His works have won ¯ several international awards and have ~-become the trademark of KCDC’s : repertoire. He became the company’s Artistic Director in 1996. ¯ The Kibbutz Contemporary Dance : Company was founded in 1970 by _" Holocaust survivor Yehudit Arnon. : Although based in Kibbutz Ga’aton near ¯ the Lebanese border, see Dance, p. 15 use code 393 ~eqaDhone does noI presereen sal[ers & assumes rio liability for personal meetings. 24hr Customer Service. 18+ only. © 1999 PC Sprint PCS" The Glear Alternative to Cellular Serint PC$" Select Retailer ;9935 :25.oo $74.95 New Sprint PCS Phone Less instore rebate " Net cost Buy any Sprint PCS Phone and get S25 off!* Everyone is approved! :~,.o~,,,,,: ,~.,,,~.;.,.~,.:,oc,.,,,¢., All Sprint PCS service plans include: ¯ Free Voicemail ¯ Free Caller ID phonesistartingat. ¯ Free. Call Waiting¯ Free 3 way calling ................ ¯ No activation, fee o No contract required ¯ 100% Sprint PCS Nationwide Network. Tulsa Locations: 2001 S. Garnett, 437-2444 3733 S. Memorial, 6600344 1216 S. Harvard, 587-1778 Sapuipa Location: 109 N. Mission, 227-2322 They’re ready and waiting...a// you have to do is pick up the phone! Use Free Code 5555 -5995 @Origin. 18+. Additional features from 55c/rain. Call 800-440-8050. Call to meet local guys tonight!. ecord & Lis n it’s not surprising that this is the case," said Dr. Helene Gayle, director of the CDC’s National CenterforHIV, STDand TB Prevention. AIDS experts say injection drug use is commonly perceived as a major factor in the spread ofAIDS among Blacks, but sex is the primary method of transmission. They say bisexual behavior among Gay Black men who feel pressured to have sex with women accounts for a significant number of the infections among heterosexuals. Black preachers and politicians have been criticized for letting the problem go unaddressed. "Black communities have been so overburdened that the idea of adopting another burden is not appealing," said Cornelius Baker, executive director of the National Association of People with AIDS. Slowly, leaders say, more attention is being focused on the issue. Earlier this month, Black churches in Atlantagathered for the first National Black Church HIV/ AIDS Institute. Thegathering was an effort to help pastors learn how to deal with the disease. Last Thursday, faith leaders, policy makers, commumty activists and AIDS researchers met in Atlanta to discuss combating AIDS among Blacks. On the same day, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, announced a series of educational films aimed at raising HIV awareness. The CDC has also awarded $39 million in federal funds to 100 national, state and local organizations to help prevent HIV infections in minority communities. "We must mount prevention and treatment strategies that deal with people where they are now, not where we want them to be or where we imagine them to be," said Phill Wilson, director of the AIDS Social Policy Archive. Nonetheless, the statistics continue to upset AIDS activist Denise Stokes, who has been HIV-positive fo~ 17 years. "One day, this is ultimately where I’m going to end up," she said pointing to the quilt. "I’m going to be a panel on some wall in some library. "I just hope the library isn’t full of people with AIDS." A lot of straight folk are going to go into this thinking it’s aboutbeating otherpeople up, and come out thinking about a lot of things. Some of you, due to the timing of the paper will have seen it - don’t ruin the ending for those that haven’t. And if you haven’t seen it because you don’t think it"s your kind of movie, go see it. You’ll be surprised. Brad Pitt’s bod is well worth seeing. Amd since I work in a football sized building filled with cubicles, I could relate well to Ed Norton’s plight in the beginning of the film- living life to support things he’s bought, working in a mindless dronin.gnumbness of cubicality. Anyway, go see It. Oh yeah, Helena Bonham Carter turns in a magnificent performance as well. I kept wondering why her character was sleeping with guys, though. In the interest of a public service announcement, I will pass this along: Warrior Way Martial Arts is offering a 3 hour class on selfdefense againstpunches, kicks, and grab attacks; knife and gun attacks; and club attacks. This takes place on Saturday, November 13 from 12 - 3 PM at Warrior Way martial Arts, 2717 S. Memorial. The cost is $25 in advance; $35 after Nov. 6. Call to register at 664- 9100. These guys are serious and know their stuff, and with the violence against Gay folk on the rise, I think everyone should make an investment in something like this. Knowledge is power, and in this case could mean the difference between life and death. Literally. Learn, and practice what you learn, and stay safe. And my final words for this column: life is notabout surviving orjobs orl’mding love, although it’s nice if it happens. It’s about facing fears and making dreams come true, struggling against yourselfand others to find your strength and make things happen. Being ready, and in the right place and time for opportunity to strike is important. Butifyou’re notready, or are afraid, it will pass youby before you know it, and that’s when regret sets in, which leads to bitterness. So try all the things you can, and do all the things you wanted to do - and it’s never too late. - James Christjohn its members come from settlements all over Israel. The dancers rehearse five days a week at Ga’aton Studio, but on weekends return home to work on their various kibbutzim. Not only is KCDCone of Israel’s foremost companies, it has also earned an international reputation of renown and is invited to perform at numerous festivals worldwide. Kibbutz Contemporary Dance is copresented by the Oklahoma Israel Exchange. Sponsors for this event include the Oklahoma Arts Council, Heartland Arts Fund. The National Endowment for the Arts, Schustennan Family Foundation, KCFM 94.1 and ONEOK Foundation. Opponents fear it will eventually lead to Gay couples being able to adopt children, although the government has opposed any such move. Last November, parliament rejected a conservative bid to sink the controversial bill. At the time, left-wingers said PACS was needed to adapt outdated laws to the evolution of French society, where marriage is on the decline. Classifieds - how to work them: First 30 words are $10. Each additional word is 25 cents. Options for your ad: Bold headline - $1, ali capital letters - $1, all bold & capital letters - $2. ad in box - $2, Ad reversed - $3. tear sheet mailed - $2 Blind P.O. Box - $5 Please type or print your ad. Count the words - word is a group of letters or numbers separated by a space. TFN reserves the fight to edit or refuse any ad. No refunds. Send ad & payment to POB 4140, Tulsa. OK 74159 with your name, address, telephone. Ads will run in the next issue after receipt. ¯ For Good Home Friendly, honest, & very experienced 7 42 year young realtor seeks sincere &motivated ." buyers &sellers. Into MLS. You won’t be ¯ disappointed. 712-2252 or 745-2245 ~ John Kirk. Keller Williams Realty u’ll glad Closing Costs on Home ity loans! www.t:~mk, ~t;, ~kl~l:, rata.c,. :m. I t:s easy apply Apply At Any Branch Or Call Us 24 Hours A Day At 588-6010 Or Apply Online At www.bankofoklahoma.com BANK .OF OKI~HONIA~.~. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [1999] Tulsa Family News, November 1999; Volume 6, Issue 11 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 1999 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Bob Rounsavell Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, October 1999; Volume 6, Issue 10 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 newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/593 1999 AIDS aMUSEments arts and entertainment Asia Bars Boy Scouts businesses children churches civil union Colorado Community Center couples registry Dave Fleischer Denver Do-It-Yourself Dyke Domestic Partnership Dyke Psyche Esther Rothblum Ferocious Romance France gay bashing Greg Louganis hate mail Historically Black Colleges and Universities HIV homophobia James ChrstJohn Jerry Falwell Jim Christjohn Kathleen Pendergrass Magic Johnson marriage marriage equality Mary Shepers Matthew Shephard Millenium March Mount Zion Baptist Church Murder NAMES Project National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Native Americans partner and marriage rights Partner Benefits People Living With AIDS performing arts Peter Buffet Read All About It Recycling religion restaurants seniors South Africa That Entertainment Guy Tom Neal Tulsa Family News Tulsa Public Schools Two-Spirited Indian Men's Support Group World AIDS day https://history.okeq.org/files/original/bf79af6b84e00fd2b299e201b839ce14.jpg 534ffd87e87a6bd96d210aecdd2d2496 https://history.okeq.org/files/original/80661bea1acf675d982ef151d47f1265.pdf a818bee559ed4118ded478b1b097010c 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. Text Any textual data included in the document European Union to British Army: No More Gay Ban STRASBOURG, France (AP) - The European Court of HumanRights ruled latein September that Britain’ sban on homosexuals in the armed forces is a breach of humanrights. The court found in favor ofthreemenand a woman who were discharged from the British armed forces in line with its absolute ban on homosexual personnel after they admitted their sexual orientation. The court said the British policyyciolated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights which defends the right to respect for private and family life. "The Court considered the investigations, and in particular the interviews Of the applicants, to have been exceptionally intrusive," thc European court said in a statement. "The investigations conducted into the applicants’ sexual orientation together with their discharge from the armed forces constituted especially grave interferences with their private lives," it said. The verdict cannot force a-change of law, but the applicants considered it a step towards ending discriminationin thearmedforces. Defense Sec. George Robertson said other existing cases involving Gays in the British armed forces will be put on hold while the government studies the implications of:the ruling. Gay Demos Organize TULSA- Local. Democratic Party activists will hold an organizational meeting for a Tulsa chapter of the the National Stonewall Democratic Federation on Sunday, October 24th, at 4pro at the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center (the Pride Center), at 1307 East 38th Street, 2nd floor.. Stonewall Democrats, acaucus within the Democratic Party works to secure the rights ofall people, regardless ’of sexual orientation or gender identity and serves as a voicewithin the DemocraticParty for Lesbians andGay men. Organizers noted in their press release that the Oklahoma,Democratic party is rather conservative with regard to civil rights for Gays and Lesbians and seek to educate state party leadership about Lesbian and Gay issues. They list the following specific goals of the National Stonewall Democratic Federation as: (1) mobilizing voters through a national grassroots network of Gay and Lesbian Democratic clubs and individuals to advance the fight for Gay and Lesbian civil rights; (2) improving the record of the Democratic party by - pressing it further inthe direction of full recognition of the rightsofGay men, Lesbiansand Bisexuals to befree from prejudice; (3) educating voters on the vast difference that exists between the two major parties on our issues, and the importance of voting Democxatic as the most effective way to achieve our goals; (4) fighting the anti-Gay rhetoric of the Republican conservative-wing, which has increasingly become the instrument of those d~dicated to denying us our rights. The organizers are encouraging those who share these values to come to the October 24 meeting which will feature membersfromthenewlyformedOklahoma City Stonewall Democrats chapter. Paul Barby,whoran as an openly Gay candidate for US Congress in Oklahon~a’s 6th district will speak. For more information, telephone Start Simpson at 582-6557. ~ :.Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsane, Our Families + Friends ¯ Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community PaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations i Tulsa Area United. W .y Fun.ds Support Anti-Gay D,scr, minat,on : TULSA (TFN) - In a recent promotional piece printed and ¯ inserted in The Tulsa Worm for free, Tulsa Area United Way ¯ (TAUW) touted its strong points. TAUWclaims to be thelargest ¯ non-governmental funder of health and human services.in the ¯¯ Tulsa area, funding some 231 programs at 68 member agencies. TAUW also claims to have a lower than 10% overhead as ¯ compared to overhead of up to 40% declared acceptable by the ¯ National Charity Information Bureau. ¯ Joe Cappy, chairman/CEO and president of Dollar/Thrifty Automotive Group, in the Tulsa World insert, claimed, ’q’ulsa ¯ Area United Way gives each of us a sensible, cost-effective ¯ approach to helping the people in our community who need it ¯ most..." ¯ But there are those who take issuewith some aspects of United Way s funding,, partacularly that of the Indian NaUons Council of ¯ the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The BSA is one of the earliest ¯ organizations funded in Tulsa by the predecessors to the current : United Way but the Scouting organization has been under fire ¯ nationally for its anti-Gay policies. The BSA claims the Scout ¯ pledge to be "morally straight" refers to being heterosexual and ¯ .therefore bans Gay youth from being Scouts or Gay men from ¯ being Scoutmasters on the grounds that to be Gay is intrinsically ¯ to be "morally non-straight." ¯ Recently, the BSA lost a legal challenge to thi s anti-Gay policy ¯ brought under New Jersey state law. Former Eagle scout James Dale won his lawsuit but in response to questions from The Tulsa ¯ World,aspokespersonfortheTulsa-basedIndianNafionCouncil of the BSA r~affirmed the ban in this area. ¯ And when TAUW kicked off its 75th anmversary campaign, ¯ running from Sept. 10th to Nov. 1 lth with a goal of raising $21,497,725.00, some of these individuals said no to helping ¯ United Way because of the funding for an organization which blatantly discriminates. ¯ Most ofthe individuals who spoke asked to remain anonymous ¯ citing fears ofretaliationfromTAUWor risk to their employment ¯ by public.ly speaking ~bout Lesbian and Gay issues in’h city with fewprote~tious again~wolkplace discriminationbasedon sexual ¯ orientation. ¯ One Gay couple, both of whom are public ¯ employees, had slightly different reactions to the issue of funding for the Boy Scouts.-One noted that ¯ "we’re so used to it, thatwedon’ t think about it"but ¯ he added that it’s "time when United Way needs to start analyzing what they’re doing." : However, his parmer noted that the organizations ¯ his employer was set to help for United Way’s Day ¯ of Caring were the Boy Scouts and the Salvation Army, both organizations which he claims ¯ discriminate against Gay people. He notified his ¯ employer that he would not participate in the Day ¯ ofCaring because of those organization’ s anti-Gay ¯ policies. ¯ Another couple, Lesbian, said that it was a"tough ¯ question." One women, again who requested ¯ anonymity because of her job (she is a teacher), ¯ characterized the Boy Scouts’ policy as ¯ reprehensible but noted too that United Way funds ¯ the YWCA, an organization which has a non- " discrimination policy which includes "sexual ¯ orientation." Her partner added that TAUW also ¯ funds Youth Services of Tulsa (YST) which has ¯ programs that benefit Lesbians and Gay men but ¯ she also acknowledged that YST hadkept those ¯ programs "closeted,"i.e. not publicized because of ¯ fears that UnitedWay fundingmight be withdrawn, despite the fact that the failure to publicize the ¯ program significantly limitedYST’s ability toreach ¯ those whom the program was intended to help. : Tulsa Area United Way’s marketing representative, Beth Kuehnert was asked to explain ¯ TAUW’s continued funding for the BSA and ¯ initially, in a cordial and civil conversation, Ms. Kuehnert said she was not aware of the Boy Scouts’ position nor see TA UW, p. 12 ¯ Community Center News Eureka Springs Holds Community Meeting 111 6. Diversity Celebration ¯ TULSA - Organizers of the First Annual Community Center ¯ EUREKA SPRINGS - Fall is around the comer, ¯ Film Festival to be held on Oct. 7-9, Tulsa’s Gay Commtmity : andintheOzarks,it’salmosttimefor thebi-annual ¯ Center andits parent organization, TulsaOklahomaus forHuman " Diversity Celebration Weekend in Eureka Springs, : Rights (TOHR) will show both Lesbian and Gay films, both : Ark. ! Organizers say this event, scheduled forNov. ’. feature length and shorts beginningat 5:30 onThurs, and Fri. and " 5-7, will be bigger and better than ever! : from 2pm on Sat. and Sun. ¯ Metropolitan Community Church’s Friday night ¯ In addition, theCenterwillhostTOHR’sfirstComingOutFair " dance and camival will kick off the weekend at the : "Discovering Yourself" from noon to 6pro on Sat. Oct. 9th. A " top of the Basin Park Hotel. On Saturday morning, ." record number of community organizations have committed to " strollthestreetsofEurekaonahistoric(andcolorful) ¯ particil~ating in the Coming Out Fair. . walking tour, canoe on the White River, or hike in ¯ GregGatewood,TOHRboardpresident,noted that at the Sept. ." Lake Leatherwood Park. ¯ .14th commlmity wide meeting held at the Center about 35 " Intheearlyaftemoon,bringthekidstoa"family" ihdividuals attended and the representatives decided through a family picnic at Harmon Park, sing like you’re in i largely consensus process to convene a commlmity council of the shower at karaoke, or listen to the sounds of ¯ organizations, churches and businesses. The group also decided : localandvisitmgGay/Lesbianmusiciansatseveral toaskTOHRto co-ordinate theproposedbi-monthlymeetings to " different venues around town. And please be sure : exchange information and ideas. . to visit all the wonderfully unique shops, and ¯ Marty Newman, a Human Rights Campaign board member, : support the Diversity Cooperative businesses of ¯ who along with TOHR co-founder Dennis Neill, called the first " Eureka Springs. : meeting this summer, expressed his satisfaction with the Sept. " Then, after a delightful dinner (it’s Eureka - ". meeting and the general progress of the process. Newman-noted ¯ Spri.ngs’ Food and Wine Festival this weekend, ¯ thatTulsaPFLAG chapter co-founder,Nancy McDonaldattended ¯ too),work offthosecaloriesattwofantasticdances. ¯ the meeting and that Mrs. McDonald recalled that TOHRs by- : AtCenterStage, DJ Jonwillraisetheroofwithhigh ." laws had at one time had a provision for a community advisory ¯ energy club music. And the Basin Park Hotel ¯ council. Meeting co-convener Dennis Neill, an attorney, was ¯ Ballroom will come alive with electrifying i given the task of drafting a contract to clarify the relationship " performances by "Barnes", a dynamic GLAMA- ¯ betweenthevariousgroups.Formoreinformationaboutthenext ~ winningsinger/songwriter seeEureka, p. 14 ¯ community meeting, call the Community Center at 743-4297. ." : Also, the CommunityCenter will be the site ofanall-community ¯ ¯ Halloween Costume Ball to be held on Saturday, Ocotober 30th, : ¯ 8pm at 1307 East 38 Street, 2nd floor. The event will be BYOL " ¯ but soft drinks and ice will be provided. : : Organizers suggest that while this is a costume party, a loud ¯ ¯ shirt and simple mask will-do. Guests should not feel compelled : : to spend a lot of money, just to use a little imagination. The : : sponsors, Prime Timers of Tulsa, stated that the purpose of the : _" party is for all groups connected with the Pride Center to have an ¯ opportunitytogettoknowonemlother, andhelpbuildcommunity, i Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Bamboo Lounge, 7204 E. Pine *Boston Willy’s Diner, 1742 S. Boston Burger Sisters Restaurant, 1545 S. Sheridan *Empire Bar, 1516 S. Peoria *Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria *Jason’s Deli, 15th & Peoria *Lola’s, 2630 E. 15th *Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st 832-1269 592-2143 835-1207 599-9512 583-6666 749-4511 599-7777 749-1563 744-4280 745-9998 *Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan ........ 834-4234 "*Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main 585-3405 *TNTrs, 2114 S. Memorial 660-0856 *Tool, :Box, 1338 E. 3rd 584-1308 Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital CelIular 74%1508 *Affinity News, 8120 E; 21 610-8510 *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000 Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034 *Barnes & Noble Booksdlers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665 Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272 *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313 Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-13902, 743-4117 Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700 Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620 *Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady 587-2611 Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556 *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sher~llan 838-8503 *Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712-9379 *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 744-9595 Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1 610-0880 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026 *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 742-1460 Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440 *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 *International Tours 341-6866 Jadox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750 *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018 David Kauskey,’ Country Club Barbering 747-0236 The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460 *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466 *Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brady 585-1234 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112 Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951 David A. Paddock, CPA, 4308 S. Peoria, Ste. 633 747-7672 Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626 *Peace of Mind Bookstore, 1401 E. 15 583-1090 The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2rid floor 743-4297 Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 747-5932 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921,747-4746 *Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301 Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829 *Tickled Pink, 3340 S. Peoria 697-0017 *Tulsa Book Exchange, 3749 S. Peoria 742-2007 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558 *Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835~5563 Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling 743-1733 *WhittierNews Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767 Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593 *All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center. 2207 E. 6 583-7815 *B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa Canterbury Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th PI. & Florence *ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314 *CommunityofHopeUnitedMethodist,2545 S.Yale 747-6300 *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 *CouncilOak Men’s Chorale 748-3888 *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlink, net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers Member of The Associated Press Issued on or before the 1 st of each month, the entire contents of this ~blicaatnidonmaaryenportobteecrteedprboyduUcSedcoepityhreirgihntW19h9o8leboyrTin~part without written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for publication unless ot.herwjse no,ted,,~must be signed & becomes the sole property of T~ Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution lYoints. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. *Free SpiritWomen’s Center, call for location& info: 587-4669 Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438 *HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 *HIV Resource Consortium, 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 *Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111 NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658 OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 *OSU-Tulsa (formerly UCT, formerly Rogers U. whoever...) *Our House, t 114 S. Quaker 584-7960 PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 +Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 *R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 Rainbow Business Guild, POB 4106, 74159 665-5174 *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325 O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 *St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430S. Boulder 583-7171 TNAAPP(Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 Tul sa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only 743-4297 298-0827 Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *Tulsa Commumty College Campuses *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown BARTLESVILLE 743-4297 749-8833 *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN *Borders Books &Music, 3209NWExpressway 405-848-2667 *Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 TAHLEQUAH *Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 *Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900 *Green Cotmtry AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS *Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. *Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. MCC of the Living Spring Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery Positive Idea Marketing Plans Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East *White Light, 1 Center St. FA YETTEVI LLE, ARKANSAS5 *Edna’s, 9 S. School Ave. JOPLIN, MISSOURI *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 501-253-7734 501-253-7457 501-253-6807 501-253-5445 501-253-9337 501-253-2776 501-253-5332 501-624-6646 501-253-6001 501-253-4074 501-442-2845 417-623-4696 * is where you can ftndTFN. Notall areGay-ownedbutallare Gay-friendly. Holy Union Ceremony Alan Williams and Gregory Casillas celebrated a Holy Union Ceremony on Friday, September 24, 1999, in Eureka Springs, AR. Presiding over the intimate union was Reverend Vivian Juett. The commitment ceremony was witnessed by Zoe Dearing and Nancy Ermding. After traveling to Dallas, TX, San Francisco, CA and Nashville, TN to celebrate with friends and family, the couple will reside for’a short period in Tulsa. Obiturary Dr. W. Malcolm Jacox, a veterinarian well known in the community for his kindness and gentleness with both his animal patients and their caregive~s, died Sept. 22. Services were held at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens Mausoleum on Sept. 25. He will be greatly missed by many both in and out of the Gay He is survived by his family and his longtime companion. Those who wish to honor his memory are encouraged to support a charity of their choice. Condolences may be sent care of Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 East 15th, Tulsa 74104. Mr. Tulsa ¯ Leather 2000 The Mr. Tulsa Leather 2000 contest was held September 10, 1999, at the Silver Star Saloon in Tulsa, Oklahoma.The evening included a benefit for Miss Gay Mid America, Catia Lee Love. Love will participate in the Miss Gay America contest. Four contestants participated in the contest: Jay Fleming, Kelly Kirby, Dayvid Montross, and Tony Hall, all of Tulsa Oklahoma. Themencompeted in Personal Interview, Street Wear, Swimwear/ Physique, and Full Leather Image events. The judging panel consisted of: Ron Greenwood, Mike Ryan, Ed Smith, John McCuistian, Don Lawrence, all also from Tulsa. The tally master was James Murray, Mr. Tulsa Leather 1997. The winner of the contest was Jay Fleming of Tulsa. Jay is a past "Mr Gay. Leather Long Beach 1987" and the 20th Elected Emperor, Greater California Empire. Fleming will compete for the Oklahoma Mr. Leather 2000 title on October 22-24, 1999. Heis an event promoter for such events in Tulsa as Mayfest, Gatesway Balloon Festival and chairmanof Street Party 2000; benefiting Street School and Tulsa at risk youth. Contestproducer, Ric Poston,MrTulsa Leather 1999 and the Oklahoma Mr Leather 1999, said of Fleming, "he is an outstanding citizen and will be a great representative for the Tulsa Leather Community." The first runner up was Kelly Kirby and the 2nd runner up was Dayvid Montross. For more information on OML2000, check the T.U.L.S.A. website at WWW.TULSALEATHER.com Editorial: Un!ted Our Way by Tom Neal, editor andpublisher This year is the 75th anniversary of a program of charitable giving in Tulsa which has become known as Tulsa Area United Way (TAUW). Tulsa’s United Way supports some 231 programs offered by 68 member agencies and hopes to raise over $21 million and help perhaps 250,000individuals this year. Obviously, all this is worthy. For example, oneof the I’d suggest that agencies which TAUW supports is Tulsa instead of letting "C.A.R.E.S., formerly and" TAU~V’ sllee its tare moreaccuratelyknown as the HIV Resource Consortium. Tulsa Area UnitedWayalso funds the Community Service Council that manages the Tulsa Community AIDS Project, one of the most effective funding sources for fighting HIV infection and for providing care for. individuals with HIV relatedillnesses. These are worthy organizations - as are many, many others which TAUW funds. However, along withthe many good organizations which TAUW funds is another. Thatis the Indian Nations Council of the Boy Scouts ofAmerica. It off the top, glve your dolhrs dlreetly to Tulsa C.A.R.E.S. or other or~an{zatlons in our eommunlty... groups that really do give a damn about us. Let’s stop using our dollars and those of our families and friends to support United Way’s prejudlee and eowardlee. Let us be unlt,~ our way. is the official policy of the Boy Scouts, both locally and nationally, to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. They’ve been rather explicit about this. The last time the Indian Nations Council of the Boy Scouts of America voiced this policy locally was in August when James Dale, a former Scout in New Jersey, successfully challenged the BSA’s apartheid policies under New Jersey state law and won. A local BSA representative however reiterated-its support for BSA prejudice. Now as a former Boy Scout, I’m hardly hostile to the true values of the organization. But I do not believe that thephrase, "morally straight," ori_ginating around th_etum of the century, ever, ever could be thought to refer to heterosexuality, using an interpretation of the word "straight" whichnever existed until at leas t some 60 years later. However I recognize that it is the prerogative under current federal, state and local law, of the BSA to engage in invidious discrimination if it chooses to do so. It is reprehensible behavior but it is quite legal. However, even if this bigoted conduct is legal, there is no justification for Tulsa Area United Way to use the funds it receives from the community as a whole to subsidize the systematic discrimination of the Indian Nations Council of the Boy Scouts of America. After all, if we were to substitute "no Jews allowed" or "no Blacks allowed" lot"no fags allowed," I would hardy have to be writing this essay. Part of why TAUW still funds this apartheid organization is an accident of history. The Boy Scouts have been funded for most of TUAW’s existence. Back in thoseearly days theBSA was one ofafew organizations that did address youth issues. That is no longer so. Andin contrast with the BSA, the Girl Scouts, for example, have explicitly said that sexual orientation is not relevant to participation in their organization and they have a nondiscrimination policy. Now if Tulsa Area United Way had a comprehensive non-discrimination policy, they might have some greater degree of credibilityas an organization committed to fair treatment of all. But they don’t. Infact, Ms. "duck’n’cover" KathleenJ. Coan, president and chief professional officer, is so gun-shy of the issue she’s managed not to returnphone calls to this newspaper for nearly four years -now that’s what I call real professional conduct (though in fairness, Ms. Coan did take aphone call once whenTFN was calling on deadline and her p.r. person was unavailable) But it does call into question, Ms. Coan and TAUW’s commitment to all of Tulsa’s communities when she seems primarily willing to talk to non-minority news orggnizations, for example, ." The Tulsa World- not frequently known for challenging ¯ the Tulsapower establishment, often inseparable from it. ." And what is more troubling about the unexamined ¯ decision to continue to fund the Indian Nations Council ¯ of the Boy Scouts of America by TAUW is the lack of ¯ leadership from TAUW’s board of directors. ¯ A number of TAUW board members come from ¯ corporations that claim that they do not discriminate on ." sexual orientation. Foremost among these are Public ~ Service Company of Oklahoma, Dollar Thrifty ¯: Automotive Group, Inc. and Bank of America, and yet, somehow, not one of these very highly paid and : presumably ratberintelligent men seem to havemade the _" connection between their own corporate policies ¯ emphasizingfairness andTAUW’s supportfor ablatantly ¯ bigoted program. Or perhaps they’vejust not"counected ." the dots." Or perhaps, they’re hoping thatnoone will ever ¯ hold them responsible. ¯ Regardless, until Tulsa Area United Way see fit to : begin to treat Lesbian and Gay Tulsans as equal human : beings by adding sexual orientation to its non- ,. discrimination policies and chooses not to fund ¯ organizations which discriminate, the best bet is for us to ¯ not to contribute to Tulsa Area United Way but to take ." those same dollars and to give them directly to worthy ¯ organizations. ¯ I’d suggest that instead of letting TAUW slice its take ¯ off the top, give your dollars directly to Tulsa C.A.R.E.S. ¯. or other organizations in our community, like the ¯ community center, or the Cimarron Alliance or PFLAG, ¯ groups that really do give a danm about us. Let’s stop ¯ using Our dollars and those of our families and friends to ¯ support UnitedWay’s prejudice and cowardice. Let us be ¯ united our way. ¯ TulsaFamily News editorandpublisherTomNealhas ¯ volunteeredonaUnitedWayfundsdistributioncommittee ¯ on services for semor citizens tn the Tulsa area. ¯ Unfortunately, hefound thatTulsaArea UnitedWay staff went out of their way to censor and suppress questions ¯ about how well member agencies were serving Lesbian ¯ and Gay seniors, even when the agencies were willing to ¯ answer the questions and despite TAUW claims that ¯ their evaluationprocess is "volunteer driven." Neal also ¯ has asked to serve on the funds distribution committee ¯ which looks at the funding for the Boy Scouts Indian ¯ Nations Council but, for some reason, keeps getting ¯ reassigned to senior services - imagine that. First and foremost, let me put your mind at rest about ¯ two of our regular columnists, our fabulous Do-It- " Yourself-Dyke, Mary Schepers and Tulsa City-County ¯ Library book reviewer, Barry Hensley. Both columns ¯ will resume next month. ¯ An,other upcoming event is the annual World AIDS ¯ Day Memorial Service. This year’s event will be at ¯ Mount Zion Baptist Church under the auspices of the ¯ Rev. Calvin McCutchen, Sr., one of Tulsa’s most ¯ distinguished religious leaders. The date, as always will ¯ be Dec. 1st which is a Wednesday but the details of the ~ march and precise time of the service will be announced. ¯ It is expected that Council Oak Mens Chorale who had ¯ their first ever performance at a World AIDS Day ¯ Memorial Service will again lend their talents. The event . is being co-ordinated by Diane Zike, former executive ¯ directorof Interfaith AIDS Ministries andBeverlyDenton ¯ Galbreith. For more information, call 438-2437. - TN An nouncements Policy Tulsa Family News will provide space for holy union ¯ ceremony, mamage ceremony, birth, adoption and death " announcements on a space available basis. Photos are ~ wdcome, though we cannot promise placement or return ¯ them, so please send copies to TFN, POB 4140, Tulsa ¯ 74159. ¯ Letters Policy ¯ Tulsa Family News¯ welcomes letters on issues which ¯ we’ve covered or on issues you think need to be considered. You may request that your name be withheld but ¯ letters must be signed &h.ave phone numbers, or be hand ~- delivered. 200 word letters are preferred. Letters to other ~ publications will be printed as is appropriate. Drug-resistant Strains of AIDS Virus Rising CHICAGO (AP) - Highly drug-resistant strains of the AIDS virus are on the rise, showingupin as many as 4.5% ofnewlyinfectedpatients in twonew studies. "Resistance is slowly increasing," said Dr. Roger J. Pomerantz, an expert not involved with either study, "If you were looking at this five years ago, you would see zero." The studies - published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) - involve mostly Gay white men. Resistance, however, may be more prevalent in other groups, such as drug users and their sex partners, researchers-said. About 40,000 new HIV infections occur yearly in the United States. In recent years, powerful drug cocktails have subdued the virus to undetectable levels in many patients. But studies have found the virus persists or comes roaring back in 10% to 50%. The complicated drug regimen has proved difficult to adhere to, and many patients who missed doses or quit taking theirmedicines developed drug-resistantinfections that are now being passed’along to others. "I wasn’t that surprised. This is what happens in infectious disease," said Pomerantz, director of the Center for Human Virology at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. HIV is still so new that scientists disagree even about how to define resistance. And since both studies used laboratory tests, no one really knows how the definitions will translate into patient care. Giving high doses of a drug may be enough to overwhelm a virus’ resistance, Pomerantz said. In one study, researchers at the University ofCalifornia at San Diego defined resistance as a 10-fold increase in HIV’s ability to withstand a drug when compared with a laboratory strain. That study, led by Dr. Susan J. Little. tested 141 patients - in San Diego, Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver and Boston- and found that three (2%) had HIV with at least 10-fold greater resistance to one or more drugs. An additional 36 patients (26%) had HIV that was 2.5 to 10 times more resistant. In the other study, researchers at Rockefeller University in New York defined resistance as a threefold increase in HIV’s ability to withstand a drug. That study, led by Dr. Daniel Boden of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, tested 80 subjects in New York and Los Angeles. Of 67 in whom resistance could be tested, three (4.5%) had HIV that was highly resistant- fivefold resistant- to multiple drugs. The subjects were among 18 (26.8%) with HIV that was at least threefold resistant to at least one drug. Testing every newly infected patientfor drugresistance would be impractical because the tests cost several thousand dollars and are difficult to interpret, Pomerantz said. But if a patient takes a drug cocktail faithfully and it isn’t working, testing should be considered to see how the combination of medicines might be reformulated, he said. Don’t Go to Sleep Yet For a while, it seemed that there mightbe a light at the end of the tuunel of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. And for many ¯ things are better than they used to be: to become HIV ¯ positive is not immediatdy to know that your death was likely six months away like it was in the 80s. But the news report above from The Associated Press ¯ should slam home the message that we cannot be ¯ complacent; we must continue to educate ourselves and ¯ our children about protecting themselves against HIV ¯ infection, through all appropriate means: safer sex with ¯ its reduced risk, no sex, i.e. abstinence where appropriate ¯ and through the strengthening of longterm relationships ¯ through their legal recognition not only for heterosexuals ¯ but for Gay men and Lesbians. ¯ The best way to deal with AIDS is to prevent further ¯ infections but also to insist on adequate funding for ¯ proper care for those who are already infected and more ¯ funding for more successful treatments for AIDS. ¯ Please, please be safe, hdp those still in need and ¯ remember those whom we have lost. -Tom Neal Accused Killer of Gay Soldier To Stand Trial FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) - An Army private charged with premeditated murder in the. beating death ofafellow FortCampbell soldierwill stand trial at a general court-martial, the Army said Sept. 24th. Thecharge against Pvt. CalvinN. Gloverwas referred to court-martial by Maj. Gen. Robert T. Clark, Fort Campbell’ s commanding gelleral. Clark reviewed an iiiv~tigative hearing he~’d in August for Glovet and rexx:ived recommendations from the investigating officer, brigade commander and staffjudge advocate. The hearing was similar to a civilian grand jury investigation. Glover, of Sulphur, Okla.,is charged in the death of Pfc. Ban-y L. ,Winchell, of Kansas City, Me. No date has been set for G10ver’s courtmartial, which will be open to the public. The courtmartial is scheduled to be at Fort Campbell. According to Army investigators, the 21-year-old Winchellwas beaten with abaseball batinhis barracks on July 5 and died the following day at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. Gay civil-rights advocates say anti-Gay sentiment m,ay have been behind, or at least contributed to, me ldlling. Winehell was perceived as Gay by some soldiers in his mlit and friends contend he was beginning to explore his homosexuality when he Another investigative hearing was held several weeks ago for Spec. Justin R. Fisher, who is accused of being an accomplice in Winchell’s death. Fisher, of Lincoln, Neb., is accused of .encouraging Glover in the attack and lying to Army ii~qestigators about his iiavolvement. No decision has been made yet on whether Fisher’s case should proceed to a courtmartial, an Army official added. Both Glover and Fisher are being held at Fort Knox. Gay Priest Resigns NEWARK,N.J. (Ap)-AGaypriestwhoseordination divided the Episcopal church has left theparish where he ministered for six years, blaming the controversy that surroundedhim. Rev. Barry Stopfel said the furor strained his relationship withhis partner, andpreached his last sermon at St. George’ s Church in Maplewood at the end of September. "My ministry has not been a typical one," Stopfel toldThe Star-Ledger ofNewark, N.J. in a story published recently. "It has been deeply gratifying but very stressful, and ithas taken its toll on me and our marriage." When Stopfel was ordained as a deacon in 1990, conservative Episcopal bishops filed heresy charges against Newark Bishop Walter Righter. Righter’s trial was averted, but a church court in 1996 ruled that church doctrine does not explicitly bar the ordination of practicing homosexuals. The division, however, remained between the church’s conservative and liberal factions. Stopfel, 51, andhis partner aremoving to a 25-acre farm in an Amish area of Pennsylvania, where he said he will write a book. Methodist Minister Faces 2nd Church Trial OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -The Rev. Jimmy Creech, who faces another church trial for performing a Gay union ceremony, said the churchlaw against suchceremonies amounts to institutional bigotry againstGayChristians. Reached at his Raleigh, N.C., home, Creech said he was disappointed but not surprised with.a church committee’s deci~i0n ordering him to stand trial. Nebraska United Methodist Church Bishop Joel Martinezannouncedthfit theformerNebraskaminister will stand trial for Officiating a Chapel Hill, N.C. ceremony fortwo meninApril.AMarch 1998 church trial cleared Creech of violating church law for a similar 1997 ceremony involving two women. At least two complaints were filed as aresult of the April ceremony. Atissuein Creech’s 1998 trial was whether thechurch’s ban on same-sex unionswas a pastoral guideline or church law. The church has since established the ban is church law. Creech said the trial will be "a detriment to the church." "It’s a waste of time and money. The trial is an actofviolence againstLesbians, Gays andbisexual people," Creech said. While Creech said he admits he violated the churchlaw byperforming the Chapel Hill ceremony, the immorality of this law makes him innocent of violating the order.and discipline of his denomination, ofwhichheis accused. "I think thelaw itself is a violation of the highest ethical standards of the United Methodist Church," Creech said. Creech said thechurch’ s positiononGayunions is comparable to racism. "How can such an encumbered church witness to the grace bf God?" he asked. Martinez’s assistant, Rev. Mel Luetchens, said Martinez will .appoint another bishop as presiding authority for the case. A jury of 13 ministers will [ecide Creech"s fate. Ministers will lead the defense and theprosecution.Thetrial likely will beinNebraska in the next couple of months,-Luetchens said. If convicted Creech faces a wide range of possible )unishments, including dismissal from the United Methodist clergy. Creech is on voluntary leave of absence after. Martinezdeclined toreappointhim pastorofOmah.a’s First United Methodist Church after the earher controversy. He remains part of the Nebraska conference and is answerable to Martinez. Vermont JudgeJudged By His Wife’s Vote MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - A group opposed to same-sex marriage; "Take it to the People," says a VermontSupremeCourtjusticemightnotbeimpartial as he reviews a pending case. "Take it to the People" says the wife ofJusticeJohn Dooley voted in June as a member of the Governor’s Commission on Women to give an award to the three same-sex couples who are challengxn.g Vermont marriage law. Sandra Dooley’s vote raises questions about whether the justice is impartial in the case now before the Vermont Supreme Court, said Ruth Charlesworth of Burlington, a member of the antimarriage group. "I think it is outrageous that the wife of the Supreme Courtjusdce should come out (with a public stand) when this issue isn’t yet decided," Charlesworth said. ’‘This isn’t fair to the citizens of Vermont." Thecourtis considering alawsuit seeking to overtmal the state’s refusal to issue marriage licenses to samesex couples. Despite its concerns, ’’Take it to the People" hasn’tformally requested thatJustice Dooley disqualify himself from the case. Judith Sutphen, executive director ofthe Governor’ s Commission on Women, said Sandra Dooley has been on the commission for 15 years. Theorganization has supported allowing same-sex couples to marry since. 1996 - before the lawsuit brought by two Gay men and four Lesbian women was appealed_ to the Supreme Court, Sutphen said. Commissioners have the right to take independent votes on issues, Sutphen said. "A wife has a right to vote as she chooses, as does a husband," she said. "The votes of one spouse don’t necessarily reflect the . judgment or opinion of the other spouse." "Take it to the People" argues that rules of judicial ¯ conduct sayjudges should disqualify themselves when their spouses have interests that could be substantially : affected by the proceeding. The lawyers at the office ." of the attorney general who are defending the state’s mamage lawweren’t available to comment. -" Beth Robinson, an attorney representing the three : couples in the Supreme Court appeal, said she felt confident the deliberations would be fair. "We have : no reason to question Jusdce Dooley’s ability to ~ impartially judge this case on its legal merits," : Robinson said. "Justice Dooley and his wife are two ¯ different people with two different jobs to do." ¯ Judge Dismisses Same- Sex Marriage Lawsuit ¯ ANCHORAGE (AP) - A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filedby twoAnchoragemenwho claimed that : the state’s marriage laws discriminated against them. ¯ Judge Peter Michalski took the action late in ¯ September, nearly a year after Alaska voters ¯ overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment ¯ limiting marriage to a union of one man and one Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 402i S.Ha~vard, sifite 2.10~-T~llsa 74135 MCC-United forme.rly Family of Faith & Greater Tulsa MCC .Joined as one body of believers. Come celebrate with us. Sunday Services, 11 am 1623 North Maplewood, 838-1715 HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm 3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon Sandra Hill M.s. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663 -5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-~, A. d -5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW; ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 Unity Church of Christianity Loving, Inclusive Christian Spirituality Sunda~, Worship Services 9:15 and 11:00 a.m. www.openmindopenheart.org/Tulsa/Unity 3355 S. Jamestown Avenue (918) 749-8833 Rev. Steve Colladay, Minister Hpine of the Daily Word OKLAHOMA COMMUNICATIONS Local- Long Distance Cellular- Paging 747-1508 Free Car Adaptor & Leather Case with New Cell Phone The Pride Store 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor in Tulsa’s Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) 6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday 12-9pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the Center KEVIN BURLESO N Keller Williams Realty 712-2252 Burleson@kw.com 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An Independent Member Broker Housekeeping & Gardening Service Contact Patti on: (918) 582 8460 POB 3150, Tulsa, OK; 74101 OPENARMS,OPENMINDS,OPENHEARTS Saint Aidan 4045 N. Cincinnati. 425-7882 Saint John 4200 S. Atlanta Place. 742-7381 Saint Dunstan 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Trinity 501 S. Cincinnati. 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You Jay Brause and Gene Dugan had claimed in their lawsuit that it was discriminatory to not allow samesex couples the same health insurance and other benefits that married and unmarried heterosexual couples enjoy. It was their lawsuit that spurred the pbtition drive that put the same-sex marriage amendment before voters last November. Bob Wagstaff, the lawyer representing the two men, says the case will be appealed to the state Supreme Court. Wagstaff says his clients’ lawsuit is at its heart an equal-rights case, not a Gay marriage Town Considering Partners Registry ASHLAND, Ore: (AP) - Same-sex couples can’t get married in Oregon, but in this town, they may soon be able to get registered. The City Council is likely to consider settingupsucharegistry for domesticpartners at its upcoming meeting Oct. 5. City Attorney Patti Nolte said he is unaware of a similar registry in Oregon. The registry would allow domestic partners - two unmarried people age 18 or older who live togetherto document that relationship. Gay couples cannot marry under Oregon law, which recognizes marriage as the union of a manand a woman. "I believe it is appropriate that AglJland, as a caring community, should lead the way," said Neil Sechan, speaking for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Political Caucus of Southern Oregon. The local chapter of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays are also backing the proposed registry. Mayor Cathy Shaw said she believes a registry would have limited effect on unmarried couples, whether heterosexual or same-sex. "I would be incredibly proud to be mayor of a community that provides this service," she said recendy. "I am a great believer in the institution of marriage... I understand why this community is asking us to do this -.how importantit.is to be able to celebrate in an official way your commitment to another person.’" Rosemary Dunn Dalton, also speaking for the caucus, said a registry would let unmarried couples establishrelationships for purposes ofvisitation rights in hospitals and other institutions. She said a registry would provide proof of partnership for businesses offering benefits to domestic partners. The Oregon Court ofAppeals decided last year that if local governments offer benefits to domestic partners, they cannot deny benefits to same-sex couples because of the constitutional guarantee of equal protection. The court did not nile on Oregon’s legal definition of marriage. Ashland is among the local governments that have extended benefits to same-sex couples to comply with the ruling. A proposed ballot measure, to write the definition of marriage into the state constitution and bar benefits to unmarried couples, died in the 1999 Legislature. Albuquerque To Vote On Discrimination Ban ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - Lillian Mueller says she Gays in Albuquerque have lost their jobs and been denied housing because of their sexual orientation. Mueller, the mother of a Gay son and president of the local chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, has formed a new group called TheCampaignforHumanRights. The group’s purpose is to mobilize support for a proposed amendment to the Albuquerque city charter that would add sexual orientation and mental disability to the antidiscrimination section. The issue will be on the Oct. 5 municipal election ballot. The charter now bans discrimination based on race, religion, sex and national origin. "It’s not a question of special rights," she said. "It’s a question of equal rights.’" Butthe Christian Coalition ofNew Mexico strongly opposes the charter amendment because it believes "the Gay lifestyle" is wrong. Mark Burton, Christian Coalition executive director, said his group will alert people in voters guides that go to about 300 churches. "It’s not a behavior that we want to have a nondiscrimination policy for," he said. "It’s a health haTard. It spreads AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, so there’s no reason to endorse a behavior that’s dangerous and hazardous." Albuquerque added a human rights section to its charter in the early 1970s. The state Legislature in March rejected a bill that would have outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation. It was the "third time such a measure was killedin the House. The bill would have expanded the state’s Human Rights Act to cover sexual orientation, malting it il!egal’to discriminate on that basis in matters of empld’yment, housing, credit, public-accommodations and’union membership. Eleven states and more than 170 local governments include sexual orientation in their nondiscrimination statutes, supporters Of the bill say. The cify of Albuquerque bars Such discrimination against its employees and when providing public services. Alleged Killers of Gay Men Must Stand Trial REDDING, Calif. (AP) - Two brothers accused of murdering a Gay couplemust stand trial and may face the deathpenalty ifconvicted, ShastaCounty Superior Court Judge James Ruggiero has ruled. Benjamin M. Williams, 31, and James T. Williams, 29, will each be tried on two counts of murder and related charges. The brothers are accused of killing Gary Matson, 50, and Winfield Scott Mowder, 40, in July. They are also suspects in June arson fires that caused more than $1 million in damage to three Sacramento-area synagogues. Matson and Mowder were found shot to death in their bed July 1 in rural Happy Valley, about 165 miles north of Sacramento. The Williams brothers, being held without bail, have pleaded innocent to first-degreemurder and four robbery, burglary and auto theft charges. The judge ruled that prosecutors can seek the death penalty, a decision that hasn’t been made. Prep School Attacker Free Until Trial GREENFIELD, Mass. (AP) - A Tennessee youth accused of using a knife to cut anti-Gay slur into the back of a fellow prep school student can continue college classes while awaiting trial, a judge said. Matthew Rogers, 20, of Franklin, Tenn., pleaded to charges of assault with a dangerous weapon. Franklin Superior Court Judge Lawrence Wemick continued bail at $10,000 cash or $50,000 bond on condition Rogers live with his parents or at the University of Mississippi where he is taking classes. Before his arrest, Rogers had held an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. Rogers and another student at the Northfield Mount Hermon School, Jonathan Shapiro, 18, of Keene, N.H., were initially charged in Greenfield District Court following the May 27 incident. The two are accused of slashing the word "HOMO" in shallow cuts on the back of a 17-year-old student during a dispute over music. Authorities said no one actually believed the victim was Gay. The argument arose over the rock band Queen and the characterization of its music as "Gay." Promoters of Community Center To Respond ELK CITY, Idaho (AP) - Promoters of a community education and performing~center expect to respond to charges by critics of the ~roposed c~nter who fear it could be used by homosexuals and become a place where teen-age girls get abortions. Plans to build the center have created division in the town of about 400 in remote Idaho County. Objections to the center range from locating it on school property to the fear homosexuals will use it to stage performances and teen-age girls getting abortions there. Critics have said since the center would be on public land there could not be restrictions placed on who uses it. New AIDS Drug SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A medicine developed in North Carolina that blocks the AIDS virus from getting inside cells is showing promise among patients whofail to respond to standard AIDS drugs. The medicine, code-named T-20, is still in early-stage testing, but researchers said it could offer a reprieve for those who have run out of options. "It looks quite good," said Dr. Michael Saag of the University of Alabama. "We are looking at something with a.totally different method of. action. It is an important, potent new option." T~20 was discovered at Duke University. It is being developed by Hoffmatm-La Roche Inc. and Trimeris Inc., a small biotech company in Durham, N.C. Thedrug is the furthest along of a new class of AIDS medicines called fusion inhibitors. They work by thwarting the virus’s ability to fuse with blood cells and insert their genetic material into them. However, the treatment has one large drawback compared with other AIDS drugs: Instead of being a pill, it must be injected twice daily. Nev~rtbeless, Saag said patients in advanced stages of AIDS are willing to give themselves shots, and they seem to tolerate the drug well. The results were reported by Dr. Jay Lalezari of Quest Clinical Research in SanFrancisco atameeting ofthe.,Aga,erican Society for Microbiology. Other AIDS drugs work principally by thwarting the virus’s ability to stitch its genetic material into cells it has invaded orbyblocking its ability to dispersemature copies of itself. Doctors gave T-20 to 55 people who had high levels of the AIDS virus despite trying many different combinations of AIDS medicines. While these standard drugs have proved to be life savers for many with AIDS, they do not work for all patients. Doctors administered T-20 in combinationwith other drugs, eventhough the patients’ HIV was resistant to the older medicines. After four months of treatment, virus levels fell significantly in 33 of the volunteers. In 20 of them, the virus fell to levels too low to bemeasured. Saag cautioned that the treatment is unlikely to work forever. But he said doctors hope it will dday rebound of the virus for perhaps-a year. T-20 is part of the protein thatmakes up the AIDS virus’ outer coat. Ordinarily it comes into play with another peptide- T- 21 - as the AIDS vinm grabs onto blood cells andprepares to enter them. Scientists found that flooding the body with extra copies of T-20 gums up this attachment process, Another AIDS study released at the meeting found that treatment very early in the course of an AIDS infection does not wipe out the virus entirely, as some had hoped. Dr. Martin Markowitz of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in New York City reported on four patients who started treatment within seyen to 90 days of catching HIV. All signs of their virus disappeared, andthey chose to stop therapy after three years: Thevirus reappeared within two to three weeks, One patient went back on treatment, but the three others stayed off. After shooting up, their virus levds fell again to low butdetectable levds. Researchers said the results raise the possibility that in such situations, the ¯ body’s immune system may be able to ¯ k~p I-HV in check without completely eliminating it. Are You Gay or Bisexual? : Satcher Looks at Are You Native American? :¯ Kids’ Health , . , Tulsa s Two-Sp,r,ted ,nd,an Mens : ROBINSVILLE, Miss. (AP) - U.S. ¯ SurgeonGeneralDavidSatcherhasissued Support Group is here for you! ¯ a warning about the health of America’s ¯ children. Satcher, speaking to a health ¯ Evening support group meetings : association recently in Tunica County, ¯ said children are growing fatter, lazier, ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ more sexually active and increasingly ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ addicted to toxic substances. ¯ Free HIV testing ¯ Satcher, former president of Meharry ¯ Medical College in Nashville, .Tenn., -spoke tO 400 public health care workers ¯ and advocates at the annual meeting of the ¯ Mississippi Public Health Association. ¯ Regarding the disparity in health care, ¯ Satcher said that in the last 10 years minorities, women and children have : fallen behind in many areas. ¯ Satcher said progress has been made in ¯ dealing with infectious diseases and there ¯ has been a decrease in the number of ¯ cancer cases, injury-related deaths and ¯ adult smokers. However, the munber of : teen-age smokers has risen_rapidly, Satcher ¯ said. Obesity has become a virtual epidemic ¯ among both adults and children, Satcher said. The current generation of children ¯ and teen-agers is the most inactive the ¯ country has ever had. One of the results of that inactivity has ¯ been an increase in Type 2 diabetes in ¯ children. In the past, physicians were told never to look for Type 2 in individuals ¯ - under40 years old, Satcher said. Now, the disease is occurring in children under the age of 10. Emphasis must be placed on physical activity and on diet, Satcher said. The American diet consists mainiy offats and sugars, he said. In one year, the average American will consume 156 pounds of added sugar. Weneedto promotehealthy lifestyles, Satcher said. "We need to promote physical activities. We need to promote nutrition and avoidance of toxins like tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs. We need to promote responsible sexual behavior." 40% of college students and 30% of high school students are binge dri.nking, Satcher said. That has contributed to an increase m automobile accidents and irresponsible ~exual behavior. "Weneed to talkmorewith ourchildren aboutwhatit means tobesexually active," Satcher said. "When we don’ t teach sex in ¯ the schools, at home and in the churches, ¯ but they do teach it out on the streets or ¯ after school when there are no adults ¯ around, our children aren’t going to ¯ become responsible, sexual adults." ¯ His warning was directed not just to teen-agers, but to all people. Every day, 16,000 peoplebecomeinfected with HIV, ¯ the virus that causes AIDS. In the years : since the disease’s discovery, HIV has ¯ infected 50 million people and resultedin 14 million AIDS-related deaths. ¯ "In my opinion AIDS is the worst : epidemic since the plague of the 14th : century or maybe the influenza epidemic ," of 1918," Satcher said. "AIDS is : increasingly a disease o,,f people of color, ¯ women and the young. : African Americans account for almost : 50% of new cases; Hispanics, 20%; and ¯ women, 25%. Not enough is being done ¯ to prevent the disease, Satcher said, even though people know how to stop the ¯ spread. For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project at 582-7225 Ext. 208 or 218 Dial-Up Accounts Dedicated ISDN Connections Vi rtual Hosting Visit our web page "www.igisweb.net" (918) 622-4965 Internet Marketing E-Commerce Web Page Design On-Site Setup Available ~ Medical Excellence And Compass.ionate Care S nce 1926. ¯ ¯ ST. JOHN MEDICAL CENTER q P Medical Excellence-Compassionate Care Stay Healthy Naturally Wellness Rejuvenat "on Longevity Dr. Terrance L. Sullivan Doctor ofNaturopathy Certified Colonic Hygenist Certified Reflexologist Certified Herbalist Certified Accupressurist provides consultations by appointment Iridology Hair Analysis Herbal Supplements Pain Control Nutritional Analysis 4520 So. Peoria, Brookside 712-1400 AIDS Czar at Detroit AIDS Walk DETROIT (AP) - Federal AIDS czar SandyThurmanandMayorDennis Archer led thousands of walkers in a fund-raising event for programs that help treat people infected with the deadly disease. The Detroit event was one of 12 statewide sponsored by AIDS Walk Michigan. "Walk on walkers!" Thurman shouted to cheering participants at Hart Haza, where the3.1-milewalkbeganandca_rex!.. Many held helium balloons and signs with messages such as "AIDS has many faces." Despite the cheery atmosphere and warm sunshine,Thurman broughta chilly message about the disease, which she said will have infected 100 million people worldwide by 2005. "We’re at the beginning of an epidemic, not the end of an epidemic, with no vaccine, no cure," she told reporters before the walk began. "It’s not going to be over next week. It’s not going to be over in 10 years. It’s probably not going to be over in my lifetime.’" A sign of hope is the success of anti- AIDS drugs that are keeping thousands of people infected with the HIV virus free from symptoms. ButinmanyThirdWorld natxon~, including much of AIDSdecimated Africa, the medicines remain unaffordable and the publichealth system inadequate, she said. This is the second year of a coordinated AIDS WalkMichigan. Lastyear, 10 walks statewide raised $2~0,000, This year, walks also tookplace Sunday inAnnArbor, BerrienCounty, Flint,Grand Rapids, Holland-Saugatuck, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Muskegon, Port Huron, Saginaw-Midland-Bay City and Traverse City. But organizers sdid/he ~)etro’it event was particularly important because of the high rate of AIDS in the city. With about 10% of the state’s population, Detroit has nearly half of the reported AIDS cases, they said. "It’s the No. 1 killer of young African- American males and the No. 2 killer of young black females," said Detroit Episcopal Bishop R. Stewart Wood Jr. as he set out on the walk. Wood’s diocese, which has 35,000 members from Lansing to the Ohio line, has not been immune from the effects of AIDS. "Every one of our congregations has been touched by AIDS - members or loved-ones who have the disease. We’ve lost two of our clergy to AIDS," he said. Teresa and Bill Snell came in from Wayne County’s Redford Township to walk in this year’s walk, taking turns pushing 15-month-olddaughter Courtney in a three-wheeled jogger’s stroller. They raised a total of $49, most in pledges of $2 to $3, for their part in the walk. The 20 walkers from Mrs. Shell’s agency, the Detroit Hispanic Development Corp., raised $1,500 for. the fight, against AIDS. "It affects so many people and families around you," she said. "I don’t know anyone who has died,.of AIDS, but I do know that it is something that affects all kinds of people," her husband said. "It’s something that’s got to be stopped." Award Given to African Groups NEW YORK (AP) - The world’s largest humanitarian prize - $1 million - was awarded to an organization whose accomplishments include bringing health care to the Maasai and Turkana, two of Africa’s nomadic tribes. The Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, awarded to the African Medical and Research Foundation, will give the organization funds it needs for additional work in AIDS and malaria prevention. It will also helppay to trainmore health care workers. ’q’his million will go along way and it will allow us tokeepmanyprojects afloat," saidJohn R. Batten, director ofthe Nairobi, Kenya-based AMREF, who accepted the prize at a ceremony in New York on Tuesday. Startedin 1957as aprogram thathelped needy Africans get specialized medical care- particularly reconstructive surgery - AMREF now provides health care services to 21 African countries. Programs are run from offices in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa. This year’s budget was $19 million. Over the years, AMREF built a twoway radio network that boosted hospital communications in East Africa, spearheaded the use ofinsecticide-treated mosquito nets to reduce childhoodmalaria deaths and performed more than 40,000 operations. It also has trained thousands of health care workers and specialists and brought services to the most remote corners of Africa, including to tribes that roam the continent. What sets AMREF apart from most international non-governmental organizations is that more than 95% of its employees are Africans. ’q’he approach we use in tackling all of theseproblems is community-based," said Peter Muchiri Ngatia, director for AMREF’s Uganda office. "Some prdl~lems "in A~r~ca, such as AIDS and HIV, areaggravatedby cultural practices." Much of the prize, which will be spent over three years, will be directed at two of Africa’s biggest killers - AIDS and malaria. "AMREF’s success in building an African-led and African-run health care system that is accessible to all provides a strong model for aid agencies around the world," said Barron Hilton, chairman of Hilton Hotels Corp. and a board member of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. AMREF was selected out of 225 nominations made by members of the international community, including diplomats, foundation leaders and academics. Once nominations are made, the Hilton foundation researches the organization and performs On-site visits. After that, selections go to an independent international jury. Last year, Medecins Sans Frontieres, or Doctors Without Borders - the largest independent international medical aid organization - won the prize. ¯ Feds Pushingf0r : Name"Reporting ¯ FRANKFORT, Ky~ (AP):-, The General ¯ Assembly could be asked to require : doctors treating people infected with the : virus that causes AIDS to report them by ¯ name. It is the only way to ensure that : federal money for AIDS treatment and " program keeps flowing, a task force’s ~ reasoning goes. : "The practicality is this," Dr. Anna ¯ Huang, see Health, p. 11 byJames Christjohn, entertainmentQueen By the time you read this, the film will be gone (thanks toWoodlandHills Cinema for bringing it to us!), but as it will be a great stocking stuffer - no catty remarks, please - I will review it for your reading pleasure anyway. And since I’ve never worried about timeliness before, why start now? "Get Real" was a wonderful film about a 16 year old Gay boy in England, and the process of "coming out" - he runs into an older boy at his school, and they find themselves in "love", or what seems to be love. Only one problem: The older boy is ashamed of his Gayness, and wants everything kept "hushhush." Needless to say, many poignant moments ensue, all of which rang true for me and the other person viewing the film with me. Much was true to life, although much of it was kind of "what if I had come out at 16 instead of 21" speculation for me. I was a late bloomer, what can I say? Speaks a lot for "the environment. At any rate, I found the film absorbing and realistic, in many aspects. As my friendpointed out, "Yes, but there were so many’cinematicmoments.’ "Myresponse was, "yes -and ? - life is made of ’cinematic moments.’ Sometimes we’re lucky enough to havelots of them." I pointed out several ’cinematic moments’ that we shared that he’d forgotten, and he conceded the point. He also took umbrage with the ending, whichwas realistic. (Warning: Don’tread beyond this point to the next paragraph if you haven’t seen it and don’t want it spoiled) He wanted a more romantic ending ¯ (ironic, given his criticism only moments before of the "cinematic moments"). The ¯¯ boys split, our hero deciding against a futurebased on deceptionand hiding with : one so.uncomfortable with himself. ¯ To me, that was a happy ending - he : was strong enough to standup for whathe believed, both in a public And of course, no column written by yours truly would be complete without a mention of "You Know Who." And if you don’t know, then you’ve not been reading this seetion regularly, now have you? and personal sense, and wasn’t willing to "settle" for less. Yes, the sappy ending myfriendproposedwould have been ok, and his rationalewas that so many mowes with Gay characters end up with depressing endings that he’d have liked to have seen an alternate ending where both come out and live happily ever after. Yeah, maybe it. would have been nice, but I applaud the author and producer’s strength to stick with this ending. And to me, it was a happy ending of sorts. All ¯ depends on perspective, I suppose. At any ¯ rate, The activg was top-notch, the ¯ characters were real, and it is definitely a ¯ film destined to be at the top of my DVD ¯ wish list." : "Beauty and the Beast" ended its run on ¯ aninterestingnot.e.Abeautifulproduction, ¯ albeit with sometechnieal difficulties (the. : first week’s shows were in reality : "previews", in which technical errors are : more or less expected and worked out) ¯ such as bad timing on the lighting, ¯ ° reveahngcharacter’ s "di° sappearances"to ¯ beactors running inand out oflights when ¯ it should bedark, beasts transforming into : princes and getting stuck in mid- ’ transformation by malfunctioning ¯ "magic" ("this spell canceled due to ¯ technical difficulties") and mysterious ¯ illnesses taking out cast members. ". see Beast, p. 14 by the Helmerich Foundation October 16, 22 & 24 Tulsa Perf:oming Arts Act Now! 587-4811 596-7111 for tickets. OKLAHOMA T 0 H R by John Curran ATLANTIC CITY - The flowers and dime-store crown were real. Nearly everything else was fake, from the eyelashes to thecleavage tothetip-synched songs. WelcometoAtlantic City’ s otherbeauty pageant, the one for men dressed in drag. Seven blocks and a world away from the stage where Miss America 2000 was crowned, the Miss’d America Pageant lampooned its famous older sister with a raucous, gender-bending spoof funny enough to bust a girdle. Held annually on the night after Miss America’s crowning, Miss’d America provides a sarcastic antidote to the applepie sincerity of the real pageant. The swimsuit competition? A display of chunky thighs and muscular arms. The musical production numbers? Over-thetop atrocious. The evening wear contest? Outright hysterical. The only serious thing Sunday was the cause: Theeventraisedmorethan $15,000 for support programs run by the South Jersey AIDS Alliance. "It’s the wildest show this side of the Boardwalk," said Bill Mattel, the alliance’s former chief executive. Wild, indeed. There was Miss Sallotta ¯ Tea, who squeezed 240 pounds into a : sequined black cocktail dress and opera- " length black gloves. Down the runway ¯ wentMissTea, pushing acartloadedwith ¯ goodies and warbling a versionofthe title : song from the musical "Cabaret." "Life is ¯ abigb,uf,fet, myfriend. Socometothebig buffet, sang Miss Tea. ¯ Then there was Miss Tenee, a 6-foot-3 : inch, 205-pounder, who began a talent ¯ segment in a purple Afro wig and brown ¯ velour dress. That soon disappeared, : revealing a silk chemise. Miss Tenee won : the crown, was given a dozen roses and ¯ headeddown the bulb-adornedrunway as ¯ the crowd sang a reworked version of ". "There She Is," the Miss Americastandard. ¯ The capacity 600-person crowd was a ¯ mix of Gay and straight, casino workers and local politicians, Miss America ¯ Pageant hairstylists and female ¯ impersonators. , Not that there wasn t some authenticity ¯ to the proceedings. Miss America 1998 : Kate Shindle, who spent her reign ¯ promoting AIDS advocacy and needle : exchanges, sang "My Man" during the : show. "As far as I’m concerned, what’s : any pageant without a former Miss ¯ Whatever singing StreisandT’ she said. M E TI"VAL OCTOBER 7, 8, 99 9 9 9 Professional Business "You don’t have to know ballet to love ballet. You just have to try it." AR11Sl1[: :Mixed Repertory includes two Oklahoma premieres Exposition ~SUNDAYS Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service - 6pm, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation Service - 1 lain, 2545 S. Yale, 749-0595 (Welcoming) Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist Service - 1 lain, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-1314 Metropolitan Community Church United Service, l lain, 1623 North Maplewood, Info: 838-1715 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America) Mass - 1 lain, 205 W. King (east of N. Denver), Info: 582-3088 Unity Church of Christianity Services: 9:15 & 11:00 am, 3355 S. Jamestown, 749-8833 University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance 6:30 pm, Meets at the Canterbury Ctr., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780 ~ MONDAYS Mixed Volleyball, Helmerich Park, 71st & Riverside, 6pm, call Shawn at 243-5190. HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required. Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard) HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center 7:30pro, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays 2rid Mon/each mo. 6:30pro, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551 Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals - call for times, info: 748-3888. I~"TUESDAYS AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call for next meeting date. 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551 Live And Let Live, Commuuity of Hope United Methodist, 7:30pm, 2545 S. Yale Multicultural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date. Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001 PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE) Tuesdays, 6 pro, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, info: 743-4297 I~ WEDNESDAYS Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pm,’3210b So. Norwood Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more information, call 582-7225 TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for info: 595-7632. Lambda A-A, 7 pm, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft. ~THURSDAYS HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pm 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN) Support/social group for 18-24’s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-2325 Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, Info: 834-4194 I~" FRIDAYS SafeHaven, Young Adults Social Group, I st Fri/eachmo. 8pro, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th ~" SATURDAYS Narcotics Anonymous, 11 pm, Commmlity of Hope, 1703 E. 2nd, Info: 585-1800 Lambda A-A, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd t, ~i~ _ I~’ OTHER GROUPS ...... T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info:298-0827 Gal-A-Vanting, Women~ Social & Cultural Group Call for info: Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-6825. OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization. Long rides & short ddes from Zeigler Park. Long & short rides from Tulsa Gay Commtmity Center. Write for info: PUB 9165. Tulsa, OK 74157 Ifyour organization is not listed, please let us know. Call 583-1248 orfax 583-4615. by George Bria POUND RIDGE, N.Y. (AP) - Gardening ~njoys suchaserenereputation thatgetting njure~ at it seems almost laughable: Yet anoverzealous greenthumbcanalsomean a sore elbow. Thecasualtyhsts are. swelled, ofcourse, by the power eqmpment ix~juries oaten stiffered through ¯ in’attention or failure to wear ,:protective gear~ But.whatwe’re talking about here is soreness, strains and sprains. A common ailment is tendonitis. You can get tennis elbow just pulling weeds, the repetitive squeezing motion inciting inflzmmation. Back muscle spasm is another trauma that threatens the wheelbarrow lifter or the person who bends abruptly or improperly to perform some taskinflowerbed or vegetable patch. Sometimes it just happens without an easily pinpointed cause. Having suffered both these : abdominal muscles," Pearlman says. "In ¯ essence, thesemuscles act as"guy wires," ¯ to keep your baekmhne. She prescn a series of abdominal strengthening : exercises and also exercises to condition ¯ other muscles related to the back. : If, in spite of all this, back spasm suddenly strikes, Pearlman says stop your garden work immediately, head for the house and lie down on an ice pack for 20 minutes. That’s just a beginner. Then do some exercises and maybe take a pain reliever. Repeat the sequence four or five tames during the first day. In two or three days you should be better, she says, and if not, think of going to a doctor. Pearlman prescribes a variety of push-ups and weight-lifting exercises to -strengthen arms. One. way to strengthen hands, she says, is repetitive squeezing of a semisoft rubber ball.. Aside from strengthening exercises, "Lets get down to earth and be real;’ Pearlman says, "gardening is an active, contact "sport." "When is the last time you sat still in your garden?" - Barbara Pearlman ailments from my gardening, I can testify : they’re just as painful as if you got them " on the tennis court, as I did, or from some ° other sport or at work. To add to potential miseries, a bad elbow you got in tennis might heal only to flare up again in the garden. Tendonitis can hit the shoulder, too,andoften does. There are conditioning exercises youcan do, andprobably should do, to prevent injuries, but in my experience inflanu~tory ailments like tendonitis sometimes seem to happen willy-nilly. One day you’re fine after w.eedigg an,d. anotherday you develop pain tlaat doesn t go away. The same thing happens to a pitcher or a hard-serving teums player despite conditioning. Proven therapies, involving drugs, exercises or even surgery, exist to heal such injuries but preventing them from happening in the first place is something else. Nevertheless, suggestions exist, and a good book has just come out aimed at conditioning youto minimize the chances of getting hurt while gardening. "Gardener"s Fitness" by Barbara Pearlman (Taylor Publishing Co., $12.95, paperback), a Manhattan fitness expert and a gardener, prescribes exercises, proper posture and attire and relaxation teclmiques. The 151-page book contains easy-to-follow instructions and helpful illustrations. "Lets get down to earth and be real," Pearlman says, "gardening is an active, contact "sport." "When is the last time you sat still in your garden?" she asks, "If you’re not hauling heavy rocks, you’re pushing a wheelbarrow, toting tools, dragging the hose, or whacking weeds. You’re in perpetual motion, unless of course your idea of gardening is planting :apot of~etunias orp~msies onyourpaso?’ Pearlman identifies tlie body parts mat workhardestinthe garden as arms,: ,,l~ees, hands "and, abov,~ all, your back,. Back pain,"shesays,~s the gardener sbugaboo. Unless your back is made of steel (in which case, youprobably can’.t g.etinto ,al,1 the contorted positions gardemng cans for) at some point during the season, your back is bound to protest." ’The very best defense against back painis agoodoffense, whichmeans strong knee fitness involves proper squatting in the garden, Pearlman says. This means keeping your heels flat, otherwise far : much pressure is placed on your knees." : "Knowing how to bend over andhow to ¯¯ lift an object (or yourself) the correctway is crucial to gardening," Pearlman says. : ’The chance of straining your back is far : greater if youneglect tobendyourknees." ¯ When carrying things, she says, "you ¯ should use the strongest and largestjoints and muscles (those in your arms) for the ." job to avoid direct pressure on your ¯ smallestjointsandweakestmuscles (those : in your hands and fingers.)" ¯ "There is a right way and a wrong way ¯ to move when you garden and malting th,e, ¯ right moves makes good garden sense,’ ". Pearlman says. "It’s as simple as that." :: :DonationsRejected ¯ JOHANNESBURG, South Mrica (AP)- ¯ A provincial blood donor service has ¯ started turning away black blood donors ¯ between 18 and 35 years because of the : high risk of infection from AIDS and ¯ other diseases, E-TV reported in : September. ¯ Eric Saunderson, head of the Natal BloodTransfusion Service, confirmedthat the agency is importing blood from Hollandand theWestern Cape, a province with a lower rate of HIV infections. ¯ "Ourresponsibility is to thepatient, and ¯ it’s the right of every patient to have the ¯ safest blood possible," Saund~rson said ¯ in the television interview. ¯ Ronald Louw, a spokesman from the ¯ Gay and Lesbian Coalition, denounced the practice of apartheidblood collection. ¯ ’q’his is discrimination," he said. ¯ About 8% 0f all South Africans are ¯ HIV positive,~a rate that reaches up to ¯ 25% in some communities in KwaZulu- ¯ Natal, where the Natal service is located, ¯ and elsewhere in the country. But a racial : breakdown of the infection rate was not ¯ known. Black Blood The MoreThings Average New Car Price 1985 $ 9,011 1998 $20,000 Minimum Wage 1985 $3.35 1998 $5.15 Postage Stamp 1985 22¢ 1998 32~ The More Things Average Price of Electrici~ Per Stay The Same. Residential kWh 1985 6.,$¢ Alot has changed since 1985. Prices for many 1998 5.7¢ consumer goods have more than doubled. But one thing has stayed the same. Our rates. They’ve remained virtually unchanged for almost fifteen years. Top value for P~9 your energytdollar. The most reliable service possible. And better choices than Public Service Company of Oklahoma ever before. You can count on it. A Central and South West Comoany Give The Gift of Pride In Honor of~, Or In Memory of... Someone Special to You. For a small gift of $25.00, you can donate a beautiful Christmas poinsettia to a local AIDS hospice. Your gifts will adorn the stage at "A Council Oak Christmas," November 19-20. Call Today for COMC Carolers at Your Holiday Party! To Order: Call COMC at (918) 748-3888 Timothy .W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays &.Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. Holland Hall SCHOO’L PRIMARY SCHOOL TOUR (aGE 3- GRADE 3) ALL CAMPUS OPEN HOUSE To reserve your place; please call the Admission Office at 481-1111, extension 251. 5666 E 8 Ist Street ~ Between Yale & Sheridan ~ Tulsa www.hollandhall.org Holland Hall admits qualified students without regard to race, sex, reugton, national or ethmc ortgm, or p~.’sical disabiliF. by Anthony Breznican Associated Press Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) - The aggressive roles of men in sports, movies and television can cause boys to equate violence with masculinity, according to a report released today byachildren’s advocacy group. A survey of 1,200 boys, ranging from 10- to 17-yearsold, revealed their favorite entertainment often depicts brutality as a heroic way to solve~problems, said Harvard psychologistWilliam Pollack, who helped analyze the study for ChildrenNow. "It’s gender straight-jacketing," Pollack said. ’q~hese boys believe that in order to be a real man- like the ones in the media - they have to be violent and aggressive."About74%ofthe characters and sports figures viewed by the participants committed brutal or defiant acts or demonstrated antisocial behavior such as ridiculing or lying, Pollack said. The study was released at the start ofthe group’ s anntml conferencein Los Angeles. Children Now, an independent advocacy group for children in Oakland, plans to use the findings to call on entertainment executives to promote a more compassionate image of men, said Lois Salisbury, president of the organization. According to Ms. Salisbury, the kickboxing crimefighter on "Walker, Texas Ranger" on CBS and the sensationalized crashes and arrests on Fox’s "World’s Wildest Police Videos" were among the worst for reinforcing negative stereotypes ofauthoritativemen. "Theyjust glorify heavy-handed tactics," she said. She also speculated that professional wrestling’s blend of scantily dad women a University ofLouisville assistantmedical professor, said: without federal money, only people with insurance will have access to the relatively few doctors with experience in AIDS treatment. "I think we’re at a point the legislation needs tobe considered,"Huangsaidduring a public hearing by the legislature’s Task "It’s gender straightjacketing," Pollack said. "These boys believe that in order to be a real man - llke the ones in the media - they have to be violent and aggressive." - William Pollack : and muscle-bound fighters could cause ¯ relationship problems for adolescent boys "_ who might imitate the behaviors they see ¯ acted out by the wrestlers when trying to : woo women. ’The image is that men are meant to be defined by anger and violence and power and sex," Ms. Salisbury said. ’There is very little roomfor a range of behaviors such as compassion and compromise." She points to ABC’s ’¢Fhe Drew Carey Show" as an example ofaprogram that has very little violence and draws itshumorfrom the crew-cutted comedian’s portrayal of schlepping throughamundane job. "He’s stuck in ajob that’s going nowhere and the whole basis (of the show) is that he is ¯ . . a loser," Ms. Salisbury said. "That tells boys that the only place to be is at the top. Otherwise, you’re to be laughed at." Michael J. Gerson, a psychologist and lecturer at Loyola Marymount University, criticized Children Now for ¯¯ drawing what he characterized as an elementary conclusion about the effects ¯ of media violence on young people. ¯ "Researchers canunderestimate the ability of children to make distinctions between ¯ fantasy andreality,"Gerson said.’~A child ¯ may s~oot his fingers like a gun, but he doesn t have to develop a killer mentality ¯ or wish to be destructive." i-iowever, ¯ Gerson saidChildren Now was correct in ¯ proposing that the blending of sex and ¯ violence can confuse adolescents who ¯ should instead associate gentleness with ¯ intimacy. "I do object to movies where the ¯ girl and the guy get into the back seat of ¯ the car and a Miler pops out and cuts them ¯ in half with a chain saw," Gerson said. ¯ "That can cause problems." Force on HIV/AIDS Prevention, Services " and Financing. " Thirty-three states require people ! infected with HIV, the human ¯ immundeficiency virus, to be reported by " name. The federal government is : pressuring all other states, including ¯ Kentucky, to follow suit. Those that balk ¯ could lose federal funding for AIDS, the " task force says in a report. ." The recommendation brought a fierce ¯ response aboutprivacy-evenamong task " force members - at the public hearing. "I " call it blackmail," said Barry .Norris, a ," task force member from Louisville. But, ¯ Norris asked, what choice does Kentucky " have. Do we just not take themoney9... ° ¯ Do we make a principled stand?" Jeff ." Vessels, executive director of the ¯ American Civil Liberties Union in " Kentucky, said states should challenge the federal agencies. "It’s a terrible thing that we have to sacrifice so much privacy in the name of money," Vessels said. An AIDS patient said the stigma of the disease would drive many people underground. "For the fear of reporting their names, they simply will not go get tested," Michael Seidler of Louisville testified. Thestate keepsrecords ofAIDS patients by name, but not of people infected with ttIV..For that reason, the state’ s reports of HIV infection are considered suspect by federal record keepers at the Centers for Disease Control. Mollie’Adkins, of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, said name reporting is the most reliable way yet found to ensure cases are not duplicated and statistics are not inflated. Names would he maintained, in a state database, not passed along to the CDC. The task force also says the legislature should restrict access to the information and enact stiff penalties for breaches. Seidler, the AIDS patient, said that was wishful thinking. Computer hackers got into Florida’s HIV-test database, he said. "Ifyoucan guarantee somethinglike that’ s not going to happen..." Seidler said, "by all means go outand get tested yourselves." by Esther Rothblum, Ph.D. Do Lesbians drink more alcohol than heterosexual women? In the not-toodistant past, the Lesbian bar was one of the only places " ~ome d the where Lesbians could go to early studies meet other women. On the otherhand,many Lesbianbars su~,rested that h~iVe Closed down, indicating Pdr.einrhkainpgs lt~hsast aLndeshbaivaensot-haerer- upd-toLoensblei~atnhlsrdplaces to socialize, To find out more about Lesbians and alcohol-use, I interviewedDr. TondaHughe~ in the Department of Nursing at the University of Illinois at Chicago. ,Some of the early studies suggested that up .to one third of Lesbians were serious alcohol abusers," she said, "but often these researchers collected their data from Lesbians in bars. So itis not surprising that this method found a large number of Lesbians who were heavy drinkers. I think that that is why we have the bdief that Lesbians are atriskfor alcohol abuse." Nevertheless, Dr. Hughes believes that Lesbians drank more than heterosexual women in the 1960s and 70s. "Lower rates of drinking among Lesbians now is partly due to changes in drinking in the whole population, to more health consciousness, and to the AIDS crisis, which has alertedus to the risks ofalcohol and drug use," she said. She also felt that Lesbians used to drink more during the coming out process, in order to deal with social anxiety and stigma involved in meeting other women and coming to terms with being a Lesbian. In a study conducted in Chicago, New York City, and Minneapolis/St. Paul in the mid-1980s with more than Lesbians, Lesbians overall were no more likely to reportalcohol-relatedproblems than we.re ° heterosexual women. Only Lesbians in the 50-60 year old age range reported ¯ more alcohol problems than did their " heterosexualcounterparts. Dr. Hughes has ¯ conductedaseries of studies withLesbians " and heterosextml women that focus on ° various mental health factors, including ¯ alcohol use and abuse. Her results indicate that Lesbians these " days are no more likely to drink heavily " than are heterosexual women. In fact,-- Lesbians were more likely to report ¯ abstaining from alcohol altogether for the " past year than were heterosexual women.." Most of the Lesbian and-heterosexual ¯ womeninher sample drank alcohol at low " levels. White Lesbians, however, drank " morethandid AfricanAmericanor Latina ¯ Lesbians. "Interestingly, there are more Lesbians ." who report that they are in recovery, " though" she added. Only 2% of." heterosexual womenhadbeenin treatment for alcohol or in 12-step programs, compared with 17% of Lesbians--a large " difference. This may be the result of prior ¯ heavy drinking among Lesbians. Or it " may be thht Lesbians are more aware of " were serious alcohol abusers~~ she said, ’but often these researchers co||ected tbelr data [rom Lesblans ;n bars. So it’s not surprlslng that this method [ound o[ Lesbians who were heavy drinkers. I think that that is why we bare the belld that Lesbians are at r~sk [or alcohol abuse.’" ~ substanceuse issues than areheterosexual ¯ women. Oneofthe questionsinthesurvey is "Have you ever wondered if you had a drinking problem," and 47% of Lesbians answered "yes" to this item compared with only 14% of the heterosexual women. This finding again hints at heavy alcohol use in thepastonthepartofLesbians. Finally, there was a trend for older Lesbians to report more drinking, and these are the Lesbians who were adults during earlier times when drinking was more part of the Lesbian commurtities. Dr. Hughes is interested in exploring patterns of drinking across various age groups of Lesbians. Specifically, she is interested in whether older Lesbian~ who were adults during earlier times when drinking was more part of the Lesbian cotumunities are continuing to drink heavily. She is also interested in the question of how Lesbians and their partners moderate each others drinking, because research on heterosexuals shows that partners’ drinking is a major factor in how much people drink. We still know very little about all Ihe factors that increase or decrease Lesbians’ risk for alcohol abuse or alcohol-related problems. Esther Rothblum is Professor of Psychology at the University of Vermont and Editor of the Journal of Lesbian Studies. She can be reached at Dewey Hall, Univ. of Vermont, Burlington, VT, ¯ emaih esther.rothblum@uvm.edu. of The Tulsa Worldnews story about the New Jersey ruling. Ms. Kue.lmertpromised to check into the issue and to telephone back the next day. TAUWenjoys significant supportfrom some of Tulsa’s most well known corporations. Debbie Graham ofQuikTrip Corporation said that her organization had supported UnitedWayformany years because it helps a vast variety of agencies but-that QuikTrip doesn’t get involved in "the politics of individual agencies." And while Ms. Graham could not confirm that Quik Trip has a nondiscrimination policy which explicitly includes "sexual orientation," she noted that it is their practice not to discriminate. Quik Trip had provided promotion of the United Way campaign in the form of a printed solicitation for support on Quik Trip paper bags. Emily Gill of Dollar Car Rental did confirm that her company and its parent group, Dollar/Thrifty Automotive Group (DTAG) which Mr. Cappy chairs, does have an explicitnon-discrimination policy butMs. Gill wasunable to address whether any one atDTAG saw any conflictbetween their internal non-discrimination policy and see TA UW, p. 13 Red Rock Tulsa Free Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tuesday Testing, 5 -8 pm Pride Center, 1307 East 38th Wednesday Tdsting, 5-8 pm Red Rock, 1724 East 8th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist 11 am, Sunday 1314 North Greenwood 587-1314 We knowyou’re going to love this..r Restaurant & Cabaret ltxst~~ tla~ ~’f~rO~ ¯. 310 East First Streel 918-599-9949 Massage Therapy Services Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Want to get involved? Need to get tested for HIV? Need a Coming Out Support Group? Call 743-GAYS (4297) Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 1307 E. 38th at Peoria, 2nd floor Country Club Barbering Custom Styling ¯ for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236 Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm ¯ IGTA member Call 341. 6866 International Tours/ormoreinformation. Red Rock Tulsa O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325 ERESH ITALIAN RAINBOW CUSINE TROUT ofEureka Springs Voted Number One in Arkansas! (501) 253-680Z Closed Wednesday 5 Cen~er Street, Eureka Springs, AR 72632 TOM NEAL BUILDING & GARDEN DESIGN 583- 1248 Compatibility reports . for you and your friends or lovers. 599-0717 Gay Owned, Operated & Rainbow Proud Gay Mecca of the Ozarks Beautiful Eureka Springs, Arkansas by Lamont Lindstrom, Phdg. Last snmmer I wentto afriend’ s fiftieth birthday p~arty.,] I think actually it was at least his tbir or even fourth fiftieth birthday. He is de_t,_e~_.ined.n_o,t to get any older. Freezingone s agent50ts somewhat more mature than those of us who fixate on 30, or even 25. Another birthday boy I know is at 28 and holding. Andmy friend Steve- who is 33 and gorgeous - always shaves five or six years off his age on those tempting messages he leaves on telephone dating, lines. Welcome to America. Growing up around here is good. But growing old can be a problem. We all know about the bittersweetness of birthdays. Next time you are in a card store, have a look at those nasty if cruelly funny. cards that we are encourag to giveanyoneunlueky enough to have turned 40. Women complain that the onusof age falls most heavily on them. Men, as they wrinkle, gray; and sag, at least might bope.~o grow to be distinguished. Women, on the other hand, age into grannies and crones. My sly friends who have recycled or lost a few of their blrdadays, however, don~t seem to be waiting eagerly for distinguished, silver-haired maturity. They, too~ would rather stay young and juicy. Theexplosion of men’s hair dye, plastic surgery, and youthful herbal supplement commercials flashing daily on my television screen suggest an increasingly desperate age-panic among all of us, no matter our gender. When I was 24, I lived on Tanna, an isolated South Pacific island. Everyone there is related to everyone. Newcomers - quickly receive "fictive kin" identities in order better to fit into village life. Soon after I arrived, all the kids began calling me kaha - "grandpa." I was taken aback by this. Why, back then, I had hardly any gray hair after all! OnTanna, though, as in most places on earth, ageis pr_estigio.us.. Those kids were doing me abig favor wttla that grandpa thing. Myislandfriend Nariu, who was hardly older than me, within a few years had started referring to himself (and me) as "’we old men." Nariu was ambitious and since old men ran his society, he was determined to become a senior citizen as soon as he could. American fears of aging clearly have much to do with how years connect up with power and prestige. I sometimes ask my university students when they think adulthood begins. When do you truly become an adult? They tend to place this somewherein the20s-afew years bey.ond their own age. Most Americans associate adulthood with economic independence: having one’s own job, paying 0n.e’s.o.wn bills. We see some 35-year-old still hvlng with mother as sadly still a little juvenile. I also askmy youthful students for their, defimtmns of nnddle-aged and old. Answers here are more variable. (Some startmiddleage-at30.) Generally, though, true oldness connects with retirement. Once we leave the workplace for good, we lose salary, power, prestige, and any final fleeting claims to youth. People throughoutmost of the world can’t wait to get old. The older they are, the more ¯ authority and influence they have within their fzmilies and societies. Here, if you : want to be president at age 69, like Ronald ¯ Reagan you’d better pour on that black ¯ hair dye. . Gay menmay bemore panickedby age : than most Americans. We have all heard : bitter complaints about our agi_sm ~ a~,d lookism- and such gripes are often samy : justifiedbypersonal experience. (Lesbian ¯¯ society is,l~___ha,p_s kinder to it_s wrin.kl,ed sisters ) It s fun to read the age limitalmns in classified personal ads. "Gay men may Most of the lovelorn are ISO sweet-youngthings. Notmany be more want to date those of well-. panicked by age than most Americans. We have all heard bitter complaints a~out our agism -- and lookism - and such gripes are often sadly justified by personal experience." aged .and mature vintage. Many ads have upper age cutoffs - commonly 30 or 35 or, morerarely, 40. Some seekers are willing to date over a decade’s span-five years younger to five years older than themselves. Many 40- somethings speei-ficaldl’y request none but the 20- something... Good luck... More gray hair on the way for you, I think. Or there is the daddy niche: Sugardaddies,leatherdaddies, bears and cubs. A few yonngish personal advertisers won’ t touch anyone underneath 45 or 50. They want~eir daddy. At.leastthere remarns, here m .agist American, one specialized market opporUmity for mental, ,facial,,and financial maturity. So you can atways ouy a youth if you can’t have youth yourself Then there are the age-blind. They "go bv~t_he s,n_i_r_i t. "Thev_o_romisetodateanyone 18 to 88, or so they say. I logged onto a 61- vear-old’s personal page on the Internet. "Ageis only a state of mind,"it said. Yeah right. Are you from Tanna or America? Check out your mirror. But I’m taking notes. Those birthdays keep rolling. And next year the cake might set off the smoke Lamont Lindstrom. Ph.D. teaches anthropology at ~he University of Tulsa? the discriminatory policies of the BSA and United Way’s failure to pledge not to discriminate. Ms. Gill promised aresponse after consulting with others in her organizationbutfailed to respondby press time. Likewise, Jean Johnson, Bank of America’s southwestern press spokesperson, pointed out that the bank, with its origins in San Francisco, has some of themostprogressive policies, not only pledging not to discriminate but also ¯ prowiding domestic partner benefits to ¯ their employees. She added that Bank of ] America is one of United Way’s largest ~ supporters on a national level. Roger ¯ Whaley ofBank of America serves on the ~ board of directors of TAUW. : The Tulsa Area United Way campaign ¯ enjoys further promotional sup.port fr,.om Tulsa area television stations. Accoromg ’. to the staffperson at KOTV, Channel 6, : the stations which represent the major ~ networks and Fox all agree to do public ¯ service announcements. " Pat Baldwin of KTUL, Cbannel 8 who ¯ is a member see TAUW, p. 14 The regular Belle’s father was hospitalized during the run, and at the last matinee, folks in the audience neverknew of the backstage drama going on. The Beast became ill at the end of the first act (where he flings himself across a balcony In despair of ever being loved, and the curtain falls). When the backstage crew revolved the set to help him down, they found the actor playing the Beast hanging over the balcony - passed out cold. They revived him, and he decided to go on with the show: However, you could never tell from the audience that anything was wrong. After the performance, he was whisked to the hospital as soon as the curtain fell. It appears he may have been suffering from a bleeding ulcer. The understudy went on that evening, and I hear he did well, despite misgivings on the part of some of the crew and other castmembers-not tomentionhehimself! I was sorry to see the troupe leave - they were such nice folk. October events at the Performing Arts Center (596-7111 for tix) include Tulsa Ballet’ s "AnnaKarenina", Oct 1-3; Sabella Oct 2; The Celtic Series with Natalie McMaster, Oct 8-9; Tulsa Opera’s "Carmen, Oct 16-24; ATC’s Titanic mystery, "Scotland Road", Ok 22-30; and The Phil’s pops concert, "Sound and Sorcery" Oct 29-30. I look forward to the arrival of Petula Clark as Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard." However, I still think Carol Bumett should tour with the show; that would bea .fresh interpretation in many respects. The reviews I’ve read and heard from friends thus far have reassured me we are in for an excellent show. The magicin themaking will arriveNovember 23 -28. And of course, no column written by yours truly would be complete without a mention of"YouKnow Who."Andifyou don’tknow, then you’ve not been reading this section regularly, now have you? Shame on you! The ever-ethereal Stevie Nicks made a stumling appearance on the top-rated Sheryl Crow and Friends concert on the ,Fox network, and it was interesting to note that she garneredthemostenthusiastic audience response of the eminently talented bunch. "Gold Dust Woman" never sounded better, and according to the rumor mill, her new CD’s in the can, awaiting release. Sheryl Crow produced theCDin between tours. Also, Lesbian Icon, Melissa Etheridge, if you follow the Tulsa World columns, is rumored to be scheduling a Tulsa appearance. We’ll be awaiting word on that situation. And "heart-and-other-body-partsthrob" Ricky Martin will be in Dallas November 4th. Ay cammba! of the board of directors of Tulsa Area UnitedWay, failed to respond to the voice mail asking him to call. In contrast, Bud Brown, new general manager ofKOTV, Channel 6, noted he’d only been in Tulsa for 3 weeks, and had not seen the Tulsa World article in which the Boy Scouts reaffirmed their anti-Gay stance but he noted that his corporation, The Belo Corporation which owns the Dallas Morning News, WFAA in Dallas and a number of other television_ stations, : is "very clear...very firm" on their ¯ corporatenon-discriminationpolicy which ¯ includes "sexual orientation." : Greg Gatewood, president of Tulsa ¯ Oklahomans for Human Rights (TOHR), ¯ was one .Gay person willing to have his : name used though he emphasized that he ¯ was speaking as an individual not for ¯ TOHR. Gatewood saidhefeltUnitedWay : did a lot of good, funding for example, ¯ TulsaC.A.R.E.S.andotherorganizations, ¯ and that he’d given to United Way in the : past. However, he added that he did not ¯¯ agreewith theBoy Scouts’ policy and that he’d like to see United Way open a : discussionwith theGay community about ¯ the Boy Scouts, trying to f’md common ¯ ground. He added thathe’dlike to include ¯ the Boy Scouts in that dialogue also. ¯ He suggested that instead of asking ¯ Tulsa Area United Way to stop funding ¯ the Boy Scouts that TAUW should be : asked to fund an organization which : provides services to Tulsa’s Lesbian and : .Gay communities. Gatewood emphati- ¯ tally agreed thatTAUW shouldamendits : ownnon-discrimination policy to include ¯ "sexual orientation." : A prominent member of Tulsa’s Gay ¯ community, Vernon Jones, partner of the ¯ late Phil Wiley and civil rights and HIV/ ¯ AIDS issues activist, recalled that Tulsa ¯ Area United Way also has a history of : racial discrimination. He remembers ¯ newspaper articles from his youth ¯ reporting on how TAUW refused to fund ¯ agencies which served Tulsa’s Black ¯ commtmity. Jones,likeothers appreciated ¯ TAUW’s support for HIV/AIDS services ¯ " but thought United Way should not fund. the BSA. Beth Kuehnert, Tulsa Area United Way’s marketing representative, did not call back as she promised. When asked about this by telephone, she accused Tulsa Family News of calling and harassing United Way supporters, naming one in particular. Ms. Kuehnert was informed that a news story required speaking with more than just her and that all contacts with United Way supporters had been through their designated press representatives and clearly identified as news inquiries and had been quite cordial. And despite earlier promises to try to answer questions about United Way’s decision to fund .the Boy Scouts, Ms. Kuehnert now stated that "I’m not going to ask this question in the middle of the campaign.., the decision [to fund the Boy Scouts] was made in the spring [last spring]." When TulsaFamilyNews contacted the UnitedWay corporate supporter who had allegedly been the subject of TFN harassment,TFN was told that they’d said nothing of the sort but only that they’d called Tulsa Area United Way president ¯ and chief professional officer, Kathleen ¯ Coon, to say that the issue of funding the : Boy Scouts had been raised. ¯ This corporate spokesperson ¯ characterized the conversation with TFN ¯ as very civil and cordial. At press dine, Tulsa Family News had ¯ made either three or four phone calls over : at least a four year period to Tulsa Area ~ United Way president Kathleen Coan ¯ requesting the courtesy of a return phone ¯ call. ¯ To date, Ms. Coon, despite an apparent ¯ ready accessibility to The Tulsa World ¯ and other non-minority news orgam- ." zations, has refused to return any calls. ¯ For a related editorial, please see ; United Our Way, p. 3. A way FREE 100% LOCALake the use code 393 Megaphone does not prescreen callers & assumes no lJabilJly tot personal meetings. 24hr Customer Service. 18+ only. © 1999 PC - SprinL Sprint PCS" The Clear ~temative to Cellular Sprint PCP Select Retailer ;99.95 New,Sprint PCS Phone :25.00 Less instore rebate $74.95 Net cost Buy any Sprint PCS Phone and get $25 of!!* Everyone is approved! All Sprint PCS service plans include~ ¯ Free Voicemail ¯ Free Caller ID ¯ Free Call Waiting ¯ Free 3 way calling ¯ No activation,fee ¯ No contract required ¯ 100% Sprint PCS Nationwide Network. Tulsa Locations: 2001 S. GarneR, 437-2~.~.~. 3733 S. Memorial, 6600344 1216 S. Harvard, 587-1778 Sapulpa Location: 109 N. Mission, 227-2322 They’re ready and waiting...all you have to do is pick up the phone! ©Origin. 18+. Additional features from 55¢/min.’-Cal1800-440-8050. (and former lead singer of "lnae Nylons), whose sound is an eclectic hybrid of electronicpop witharock ’n’ roll swagger, and the fabulous "Doris Daze", an allwomen’s pop/rock band that is currently making a big splash in Dallas. (Check out these websites, www.mp3.com/dorisdaze and www.loudboybarnes.com, to get a taste of their music.) And it’s not over yet! Don’t dare miss the dance and drag show on Sunday afternoon at Center Stage. Besides the always exciting, always surprising performances of Domonique Daniels, .Carla Renee, Miss Helga, Tara T’Neil, and Tabitha Taylor of Tulsa, Okla., and our ever-popular DJ, Jon Caswell, "Barnes" will make a guest appearance! So call your friends, select your wardrobe, and make your lodging reservations now!! You won’t want to miss this weekend!!! Call The Emerald Rainbow at (501) 253-5445 or visit www.shimaka.com!eureka/diversity to get a full schedule of activities. DIVERSITY CELEBRATION SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES " bRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5 2:30 pm - 5:00 pin"Family" musicians perform at Mud St. Espresso Cafe on Main St. 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm More entertainment at the Kaffeehaus Aroma in Basin Park Hotel. 8:00 pm - 12:30 am M.CC. of the Living Spring hosts Carnival Under the Rainbow - Dance and Game Night. Game booths- will raise funds for local projects and organizations while Jon Caswell spins an eclectic mix of dance music. A great way to kick off the weekend! Basin Park Hotel Ballroom. Cover: $4.50 per person, $7.50 per couple. Must be 21. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6 10:00 am - Noon Catch the end of the fall colors canoeing down the beautiful White River. Call the Dam Store at (501) 253-6154 for details. $22!canoe. 10:30 am - Noon Enjoy a "colorful" historic walking tour wi~ Bill. Meet at Sweet Springs on upper Spring St. next to Rogue’s Manor. No charge. 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Bring the kids to a "family" family picnic at Harmon Park. Food and games. Call Samuel Strickland for details (501) 253-7837. Children of all ages welcome. No charge. Be sure to check out the unique shops andrestaurants listed in the Eureka Springs Diversity Cooperative. Let them know you’re here for Diversity Weekend! 1:00 pm - 4:00 pro, Did you bring your singing voice? Give Karaoke a whirl with Lita at the Hole in. the Wall off Center St. No cover. 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Give your feet a break, and listen to some great musicians at Mud St. Espresso Cafe and Kaffeehaus Aroma. Tips appreciated. 9:00 pro- 1:00 am Party, party, party!! Dance, dance, dance!! Come on out to Center Stage, and dance like you mean it to Jon’ s high energy club tunes;ORShake your booties at the Basin Park Hotel Ballroom to the live performances of dynamic GLAMA-winning L.A. Singer/ songwriter Barnes, and the fantastic pop/ rock Dallas-based women’s band Doris Daze. (Both will have their CDs available for sale.) Must be 21! Cover charges: Center Stage only - $5 per person. Basin Park only - $10 per person. Both venues - $13 per person. What a nightt ! SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7 2:00 pm - 6:00pmYou can’t leave yet!! Meet us again at Center Stage for our tea dance and drag show. Those girls from Tulsa, those talented, and always fantabulous entertainers, Domonique Daniels, Carla Renee, Miss Helga, Tara T’Neil and Tabitha Taylor will knock your socks off with their dazzling performances, while Jon graces us with his DJ magic once again. AND, to add to the excitement, Barnes will be there to sharehis terrificvoice andpowerful music in a Special guest set. Must be 21! Cover: $5 per person. 7:00 Inn M.C.C. of the Living Spring Service at 17 Elk St. Call (501) 253-9337 for information. All are welcome! OTHER HAPPENINGS * Friday night from 10 p.m. ’til close, Clary and K.J. will havelive entertainment and dancing at Center Stage. * If you’re feeling adventurous (and a little brave), you may want to check out the Ghost Tours at the Crescent Hotel. They start at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and last for approximately anhour andfifteenminutes. Discounted price of $8 per person to anyone wearing a purple"Eureka Springs Celebrating Diversity" button (available for half a buck at The Emerald Rainbow). Call (501) 253-8030 or 2428 for details. * In keeping with both themes this weekend, Judy at Pond Mountain Lodge, is hosting a "family" wine tasting, with hors d’oeuvres, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is a favorite boftle of wine from your state or $10 per person. Pond Mountain is on Hwy 23S about two miles from its intersection in town with Hwy 62. Call (800) 583-8043 for reservations. * After the dances on Friday and Saturday nights, Basin Block Cafe (across from Basin Park Hotel) will be open for breakfast from midnight ’til 3 a.m. * This weekend is also Eureka Springs’ Food and Wine Festival, and many of the town’s fine restaurants are offering special menus, from light fare to exquisite multicourse dinners. If you’re interested, call theChamberofCommerceformoredetails at (501) 253-8737. Be sure to stop byThe EmeraldRainbow to pick up your Diversity Cooperative booklet and discount coupons from some of the Coop’s businesses! And please join us at our next Eureka Springs Diversity Celebration Weekend on April 7, 8 &9, 2000 ! ! ! Keep an eye on www.shimaka.com/eureka~diversity for details. The Eureka Springs Diversity Celebrationweekendis producedby Linda Williams and M.C. Delahanty and sponsored by The Emerald Rainbow and the businesses of The Eureka Springs Diversity Cooperative, Classifieds - how to work them: First 30 words are 5;10. Each additional word is 25 cents. Options for your ad: Bold headline - $1, all capital letters - $1, all bold & capital letters - $2, ad in box - $2, Ad reversed - $3, tear sheet mailed - $2 Blind P.O. Box - $5 Please type or print your ad. Count the words - word is a group of letters or numbers separated by a space. TFNreserves the right to edit or refuse any ad. No refunds. Send ad& payment to POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 with your name, address, telephone. Ads will run in the next issue after receipt. For Good Home Friendly, honest, & very experienced 42 year youngrealtor seeks sincere&motivated buyers &sellers. Into MLS. You won’t be disappointed. 712-2252 or 745-2245 John Kirk, Keller Williams, Realty III Ill Closing Costs o.n Home Equit’ /Loans! Tlaat\s.right. |"|ome Equity Loans at Bank of Okl~oma now come with no clming c¢~ts, ~)you cm ~’e hundreds of dollar. Um your home’s equi~ to k~ow fi)r just ak)ut ~xything -- home impmve.men~, bill co~lidation, college ~ition, or bwi~ acar. &d ~k h~ ~eat mt~t ~d m~t home equiwI~let you d~uct ~e intermt ~myour ~x~.* Applying iseasier than ever. You can come into any of our 24 conOenient’lhlsa area :locations, including 9.Albertsons-locations open 7 days a week. You can a’lso call our 24-hour ExpressDank at 5884~10 to apply any timg .... we’re never closed. And now you can apply online at www.bankofokl":~oma.com. It’s ease/and fast. *.~l~his offer a~ail~l~ on k~~@i~~will ApplyAt .Any Branch Or Call Us 24 Hours A Day At 588-6010 Or Apply Online At Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [1999] Tulsa Family News, October 1999; Volume 6, Issue 10 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource October 1999 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, September 1999; Volume 6, Issue 9 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 newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/592 Africa African Medical and Research Foundation AIDS AIDS drugs AIDS reporting AIDS research aMUSEments Arkansas arts and entertainment Associated Press Atlantic City Bars Britain businesses churches Community Center Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize Dave Fleischer David Satcher Detroit discrimination ban Dyke Psyche Episcopal Church Esther Rothblum Eureka Springs European Union Garden Notes gay bashing Gay Studies George Bria HIV homophobia James Christjohn Jim Christjohn Jimmy Creech John Curran Lamont Lindstorm lawsuit Maasai masculinity media military inclusion Mr. Tulsa Leather Murder National Gay and Lesbian Task Force National Stonewall Democratic Federation partners registry performing arts Pride Center Read All About It restaurants Sandy Thurman South Africa Surgeon General Tom Neal toxic masculinity Tulsa Area United Way Tulsa Family News Tulsa Gay Community Services Center Turkana violence https://history.okeq.org/files/original/c3f577b1e64b96c294e649520865a49c.jpg 01ac67d300b49a6f29c23f0ed9e22670 https://history.okeq.org/files/original/5df7343d2ef171690467ddc16be5804d.pdf e98f20f52aa510572e017796bd6c6bf5 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. Text Any textual data included in the document United +AmericanAirlines To Offer Partners’ Benefits WASHINGTON - In a bold move with global ramifications for Gay and Lesbian workplace equality, United Airlines - the world’s largest airline - became the first major U.S. airline to offerfull domestic partner benefits, according to a press release from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). United Airlines announced the decision on July 30. ’q’his enormous victory will have a global impact in helping to create fair and equitable workplaces for Gay and Lesbian people," noted HRC Executive Director Elizabeth Birch in a statement released early in August. "We congratulate Unitedforjoining therapidly growing legion of compames who realize that treating all employees with dignity andrespect is goodfor business. United has definitely earned their wings. This is a noble challenge to other carriers to now align their benefits packages to reflect fairness and equality for every employee." As a result of United’s action, Equal Benefits Advocates, a San Francisco-based group, declared an end to the educational boycott of United. That organization called the.boycott in Febrtmry to .raise public awareness of United’s lawsuit, see United, p. 2 Arizona Legislator Takes On "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" by Melanie Carroll, Associated Press Writer NEW YORK - "Don’t ask, don’t tell?" Doesn’t work. ¯ That’s the word from an openly Gay Arizona legislator " and Army Reserve officer being investigated for : dischargeby the military. State Rep. Steve May,inNew ¯ York recently for a meeting of the Log Cabin Republicans, a Gay political group, called for an end to . the military’s policy on Gays. "A.t a time when recruiting and retentionis becoming ¯ a serious problem, and some members of Congress are . discussing a reinstatement of the draft, how much " longer will we degrade our military readiness by ¯ discharging competent, qualified, trained men and ¯ women?... This policymustcome to an end,"May said. " A spokesman for the Army Reserve confirmed an " investigation of May is under way; it started Aug. 7. ¯ ’¢foday I am facing discharge proceedings because I ¯ have refused to lie about who I am," May said. While never discussing his sexual orientation with military ¯ officials, he was open about it when seeking election ¯ last year. May, who still serves in the Army Reserve once a month, saidhe willlikely be discharged when the " Army’s investigation is complete. - ¯ Sen. John McCain, a former POWl said thereis room : in the GOP for openly Gay _r,ep,r.,e.sen,t~tives, but,add,~e~,’ " that besupports [he fiiiiitary s ’dOn t ask~ don t tell’ " policy. "We should in our party refrain from ¯ discrimination in any form,.M.cC.aan.satd. As-forMay, : "he’s a fine man," McCain added. "I have the greatest respect for him?’ Yet, as a member of the:mili~,May is subject to constraints growing out of the natur~ ~t~the military service, McCain said. Hesaid that sincesoIdiers ¯ must live in place and with people not of their own . : choosing, the policy regarding a soldierrs Sexual _" orientation makes sense. Stacey Sobel, a senior attorney with the Washingtonbased Service Members Legal Defense Network, is representing May against the Army Reserve. see Officer, p. 2 Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tuleans, Our Families + Friends Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community PaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations Congressi,onal Committee Hears Tulsans On Hate Crimes WASHINGTON-TheHuman Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest national Lesbian and Gay political organization, with members throughout the country, brought Tulsa hate crime victims Tony Orr and his partner Tim Beaucamp to Washington in early August to testify?before the hearing ot the House Judiciary committee on the .faced for a stonger federal response to hate crimes, specifically asking the House of Representatives to pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA). InSeptember 1997, Orr and Beaucamp were standing at an ATM at State Bank in the Brookside neighborhood when three men approached them. They called the two men "faggots" and proceeded to brutally beat them. Orr suffered a concussion and received stitches for the many gashes onhis head. Bcauchampreceivedpermanentnerve damage after the orbital bone around his eye was broken. Speaking at a press conference before the Congxessional hearing, HRCexecutive director Elizabeth Birch introduced Orr, saying, "we urge Congress to listen to the courageous men and women who came forward today to speak ofthe unspeakable hate cr~mes that irreversibly changed their lives.., it is clear that hate crimes are a national problem and now is the time for Congress to embrace real solutions. The House should follow the Senate’s lead and pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA)." To demonstrate the reai-life impact of these crimes, Birch introduced "A Decade of Violence: Hate Crimes Based on Sexual Orientation," a newly published report by the Human Rights Campaign and the Southern Poverty Law Center. The report details the rise in hate crimes and the impact it has on its victims and society. Tulsan Orr noted, "people like us in communities all across this country need some place to turn seeCongress,p.lO Tony Orr & Tim Beauchamp ¯ ’Jenny Jones’ Murderer Guilty ¯ PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) - A jury rejected a claim that Jonathan ¯ Schmitz was driven to kill a Gay.acquaintance because of his unrelenting and unwanted advances, starting by revealing a crush on a talk show. "If he was Gay and a woman had approached him that way, would it have been right for him to kill her because she put anote and a flashing light in his door?" askedjuror Kimberley Manney. Schmitzwas convicted inlate August of second-degree murder in the death of Scott Amedure,who had appeared with him on ’q’he Jenny Jones Show." It marked the second time that a jury hadfoundhim guilty of that charge. The first conviction was later overturned"We wanted to send a message that it’s not all right to act this way," juror Ted Hight said. Schmitz’s second trial avoided the debate over the role played by Ms. Jones’ show, which was amajor part of acivil trial against the-show and Schmitz’s first murder trial. Instead, the jury debated Schmitz’s state of mind. As the verdict was read, Schmltz, 29, hung his head, stared down and clasped his hands under his chin. Schmitz’s first conviction for second-degree murder in 1996 resulted in a sentence of 25 to 50 years in prison; the Verdict was thrown out on appeal due to an error in jury selection. Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Donna Pend~rgast Raid ~he Would ask for the same penalty when Schmitz is sentenced Sept. 14. "I always knew if thejury followed the law it would come back with this verdict," she said Schmi tz’s attorney, Jerome Sabbota, sought a le~s~r verdict Of manslaughter, saying that Amedure continued to pursue Schmitz to the point Schmitz "lost all reason." The segment never aired. He said Amedure lied to Schmi tz about the show, entitled "Same- Sex Secret Crushes," and set Schmitz off byleaving a suggestive note and blinking construction lightonhis door. Amedure "never let up and he never backed off. He created a situation when any reasonable person would have snapped," Sabbota said. The facts in the case were not disputed in the four-day trial. On ¯ March 6,1995,Amedure revealed his crush on’q’heJenny Jones Show," along with a sexual fantasy. Schmitz told him he was ." heterosexual. The two flew back to Detroit together and stayed ." out late drinking with a mutual friend, Donna Riley. : Onthe morning of March 9, 1995, see Jones, p. 15 ¯ Community Center News ¯ TULSA - Tulsa’s Gay Community Center and its parent organization, Tulsa Oldahomans for Human ¯ Rights (TOHR) have announced a full schedule of ¯ events for the next several months. On Sept. 11, ¯ TOHRandParents, Families &Friends ofLesbians &Gays (PFLAG) will hold aGarage Sale to benefit ¯ both groups. The sale will run from 7am to 4pm at ¯ 5303 E. 27th Place atDarlington. Donations of sale ¯ items may be left at the Center up to Sept. 8. Later, on Sept. 25, TOHR along with many ¯ others will host a Feast for Friends dinner which ¯ supports THENAMES PROJECT, theAIDS Quilt ; organization. TOHR’s dinner at the "Double T ; Ranch" will begin at 5pro and a $15 donation is ¯ requested. Those who cannot attend a dinner can ¯ join the dessert finale at the Southern Hills Marriott ; at 8:30. Into: TOHR, 743-4297 or THE NAMES ; PROJECT, 748-3111. ¯ Along with the First Annual Film Festival on Oct: 7-9 (see TFN’s Entertainment column which begins on page 8for more details as well as the Film Festival ad on page 8), the Center will host ¯ TOHR’s first Coming Out Fair "Discovering ¯ Yourself" from noon to 6pro on Sat. Oct. 9th. ; TOHR is also kicking off a new project, the CommUnity Pages, which is a Gay & Lesbian ; "yellow" or "pink" pages, or directory to Gay and ¯ Gay-friendly businesses and organizations. ; Tulsa formerly had such a directory called "Gay Tulsa" which was published by former resident, Kharma Amos. Amos, however, moved to the ; Northwest to attend seminary and for a number of ; years, no directory has been published. (Editor’s ¯ note:TulsaFamilyNewsalsoprovidesfreelistings ¯ in its directory to those who request them.) ¯ TOHR volunteers will be soliciting advertisers ¯ this fall and hope to publish a community directory ; early next year. Those interested in being listed or ¯ advertising should contact TOHR board member, ¯ Kerry Lewis, at POB 2687, Tulsa 74101 or by email at pride_center@yahoo.corn ¯ Wichita: No GaysAIIowed Tulsa Big Bros: No Prob. ¯ WICHITA/TULSA (AP/TFN) When the ¯ Sedgwick County Big Brothers Big Sisters went ¯ asking for mentors for a new program, everyone ¯ was invited to participate. Everyone exceptmembers ¯ of Ten Percent, a campus Gay and Lesbian group. ¯ Big Brother Big Sisters of Sedgwick County ¯ began its search for mentors by sending letters to ¯ Wichita State University student organizations. ¯ Thoughit wasn’t supposed to,Ten Percentreceived ¯ a letter soliciting volunteers. The letter said Big : Brothers Big Sisters clients were "waiting for a ¯ mentor like you." However, Ten Percent, which describes itself as : a"campus organization for Lesbian, Bisexual,.Gay : and Transgendered university students and their ¯ friends and allies," didn’t fit Big Brothers Big ¯ Sisters’ policy. The youth group does not allow ¯ Gay men or Lesbians to serve as mentors. ¯ Casey Ritchie, spokesman for Big Brothers Big : Sisters, said theletter was part of a mass mailing to ¯ all Wichita State University groups. "We simply ¯ feel it’s not in the best interest of the youths we : serve to put them in the middle of any potential ¯ controversy," Ritchie said. The letter was addressed to Chris Taylor, vice ¯ president of the 50-member group, whose name is ¯ based on studies that suggest that 10% of the : nation’s population is Gay. see 10%,p. 3 DIRECTORY P. 2 EDITORIAL p. $ US & WORLD NEWS P. 4 HEALTH NEWS P. 6 ENTERTAINMENT P. 8 COMMUNITY CALENDAR P. 9 D-I-Y-D P. 11 DYKE PSYCHE P. 12 GAY STUDIES P. 1:3 Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Bamboo Lounge, 7204 E. Pine *Boston Willy’s Diner, !742 S. Boston Burger Sisters Restaurant, !545 S. Sheridan *Empire Bar, 1516 S. Peoria *Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th *Gold Coast Coffee House. 3509 S. Peoria *Jason’s Deli, 15th & Peoria *Lola’s, 2630 E. 15th *Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main *TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial . ~ *Tool~Box, t338 Ei 3rd ’:~ ~ ~ ~ - 832-1269 592-2143 835-1207 599-9512 583 -6666 749-4511 599-7777 749-1563 744-4280 745-9998 834-4234 585-3405 656804--018350682~ Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Celhdar 74%1508 *Affinity News, 8120 E. 21 610-8510 *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000 Kent Balch & Associates, Health& Life Insurance 747-9506 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955 *Borders Books &Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665 Brookside Jewdrv, 4649 S. Peoria- 743-5272 *CD Warehouse,’3807c S. Peoria 746-0313 Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700 Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 *Dec¯ to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620 *Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady 587-2611 Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556 *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838-8503 *Ross Edward Salon ~’- 584-0337, 712-9379 *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 744-9595 Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. 610-0880 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026 *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 742-1460 Leaune M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440 *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 *International Tours 341-6866 Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750 *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018 David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236 The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460 *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070 Kdly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466 *Living ArtSpace, 19 E Brady 585-1234 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112 Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951 David A. Paddock, CPA, 4308 S. Peoria, Ste. 633 747-7672 Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626 *Peace of Mind Bookstore, 1401 E.. 15 583-1090 The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2rid floor 743-4297 Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 747-593.2 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921, 747-4746 *Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301 Patti Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829 *Tickled Pink, 3340 S. Peoria 697-0017 *Tulsa Book Exchange, 3749 S. Peoria 742-2007 *Tulsa Comedy Club; 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558 *Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563 Fred Wdch, LCSW, Counseling 743-1733 *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767 Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593 *All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 *B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa Canterbury Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence *ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314 *Community ofHope United Meth~tist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300 *Conmmnity Unitarian-UniversalistCongregation 749-0595 *Council Oak Men’s Chorale 585-COMC (2662) *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 . 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & G.ay Catholics & Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlinlcnet Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn, Barry Hensley; J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers Member of The Associated Press I ssued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of this ,publication are protectedby US copyright 1998 by rJ,~ {:_~/’L@.. ¯~~tnd ma’y: fiot~b~ r~l~rtc[ub~d e~th~ in~hoq~b’r in part vc~flioiit ~ written permi~si0n ~om ~th~ publisher:" l~bfi~a~ion of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s sekual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property of T~-4~ {:~ N=u4. Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at disfribution points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. *Free Spirit Women’ s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669 Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438 *HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 *HIV Resource Consortium, 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 *Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. NorWood Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111 NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658 OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 *OSU-Tulsa (formerly UCT, formerly Rogers U. whoever...) *Our House, 1114 S. Quaker 584-7960 PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 *R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 Rainbow Business Guild, POB 4106, 74159 665:5174 *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325 O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 *St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only 743-4297 838-1222 Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform]Leather Seekers Assoc. *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *Tulsa Community College Campuses *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown BARTLESVILLE 743-4297 749-8833 *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Jolmstone 918-337-5353 OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN *Borders Books &Music, 3209NWExpressway 405-848-2667 *Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 TAHLEQUAH *Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 *Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900 *Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand ¯ ~ HINtesting~every other Tues, 5:30,8:30, call ~for dates.... EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS *Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253-7734 *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main 501-253-7457 DeVito~s Restaurant, 5 Center St. 501-253-6807 *Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. 501-253-5445 MCC of the Living Spnng 501-253-9337 Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POE 429 501-253-2776 Old Jailhouse Lod~ng, 15 Montgomery 501-253-5332 Positive Idea Marketing Plans 501-624-6646 Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 50!-2531-6001 *White Light, 1 Center St. _ 501-253t4074 FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS5 *Edi~a’s, 9 S. School Ave. 50i-~42-2845 JOPLIN, MISSOURI *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 ~5.. 32, Ste. U134 417 6’2Lq-4696 * is where you can find TFN. Not allare Gay-owned bu~ll are Gay-friendly. "It’ s ironic that his qualities ofintegrity and honesty got him elected in Arizona. ¯ Now thosequalitiesaregettinghimkicked ¯ out of the Army Reserve," Sobel said. ¯ Sobel added that since the implementation of"don’t ask, don’t tell," ¯ in 1994 the number of people discharged ¯ from the armed services has increased. ¯" "This demonstrates that the policy is not ¯ working," Sobel said. Lastyear the Army ¯ discharged 1,149 members of the armed ¯ fo.r..ccs ~or being G.ay~,ua.der. ’~do!~t. ask,. ~" don’Lt~ll." In 1~97, idi~lhw f6i~ 997 ~: ~eopte-0ut of die miii~_y. In 1994; 6i7 :,’. ~eople were dismissed. May, a lieutenant trained in nuclear, chemical and biological warfare defense, also is qualified as a paratrooper. He is second-in-command of the 348th Transportation Company. "The boycott was a success and now it’s over,;’ Jeff Sheehy, founder of Equal Benefits Advocates, told HRC. "We are grateful thatHRC supported this action;it really made a difference. Together, we liave sent amessage to corporateAmerica that this issue is important to our commlmity." "Wehave changed the world, and given that United is providing worldwide benefits, that is not hyperbole," said San Francisco Supervisor Mark Leno. "I want to commend and recognize HRC’s early and immediate support upon our request to honor the Equal Benefits Advocates in their designing of the boycott. Theboycott certainly played arole in the outcome, as did the courts." United’s domestic partner benefits package will offer a full range ofcoverage toGayandLesbian couples. Thesebenefits include medical and dental benefits, life insurance, pension survivor rights, bereavement and medical leave and flight discounts. Heterosexual domesticpartners will only receive non-economic benefits such as bereavement or medical leave and flight discounts. The decision will affect 97,000 United employees worldwide. According to the SanFrancisco Chronicle, the airline said their domestic partnership program will not go into effect until May. United came under heat from Gay and Lesbian advocates this year for.joining in a lawsuit to stop San Francisco from making them comply with a local ordinance that said they must offer domestic partner benefits in order to do business in the city. United argued that they did not have to comply with the ordinance because they were a national company that only had to follow federal government mandates. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilkin recently ruled that the airlines had to provide "soft benefits" such as bereavement or medical leave. However, they did not have to offer employees economic benefits, such as pensions or health insurance. Theairlines, represented by the Air Transport Association, are appealing the ruling. Letters Policy Tulsa Family News welcomes letters on issues which we’ve covered or on ~ssues you think need to be considered. You may request that your name be withheld but letters must be signed & have phone numbers, or be hand delivered. 200 wordletters are preferred. Letters to other publications will be printed as is appropriate. Guest Editorial: Keeping Gay Kids Safe Too l~y Kerry Lobel, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force More than 50 million young people in grades K~ 12 trek back to school this month. They bring with them the concerns of their parents and their communities over the issue of school safety. Seeing the flood of back-to-school stories on the local news, I sense that something - or someone - is missing from this picture. Specifically, five million someones. That’s thenumber ofestimatednumberofGLBTQ (Gay, -Lesbian, Bisexual, transgendered or questioning) students in "our public schools. For them, safetyis aneveryday concern. Let’s consider some statistics: - 28% Of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual youth drop out of school because of harassment and verbal attacks, according to a study conducted by the U.S. DepartmentofHealth and Human services. - 22% ofboys and29% of girls perceived as Gay or Lesbian have reported physical attacks by students, according to another study by the same agency. -80% of Gay and Lesbian teens report feelings of severe social isolation at school, What can you do? Demand that your school dlStrlet adopt pollees that protect students and teachers from harassment and discrimination; p~-ovlde staff with workshops and training; support eurrio~la that includes information about the llv~s and contributions of GLBT people; and allow for the formation of Gay-Stralght Ai~’~anees. , . according to statistics provided by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network. Right now, our nation is having a public discussion overwhat to do about violence in the schools. President Clinton held a summit. Columbine, Colorado officials put in place a policy of "zero tolerance" for harassment and taunting. Many are pointing fingers at the entertainment industry or the gunindustry or the Interact. Republicans and Democrats, in typical fashion, are pointing fingers at each other. But once again, our voices are left out of the debate. Our voices are enriched by painful experience, for who among us can forget the frequency with which epithets like "fag" and "dyke" are casually tossed around on the playground, in the school cafeteria, inthe locker room, Nevertheless, airlineindustry experts expect Other airlines to follow United s lead~ ¯ even in the school classroom. ¯¯ What can be done? The good news is progress can- and is - being made to ¯ protect our schoolchildren. In the state of New York, for ." example, legislators this summer filed (but have not yet ¯ passed) the Dignity for All Students Act, which would ¯" direct schools to adopt policies to create a safe school environment for all students. The proposal would revise : state curriculum requirements to include human relations ¯ education. This curriculum Would enable students to ¯" :foster an appreciation- of people of different sexmd ¯ orientations as well as different racial or religious backgrounds. In the state of California, legislators defeated similar legislation by one vote. That was disappointing, but the bill progressed further than ever before, and I amhopeful California and New York will join Connecticut, Massachusetts and Wisconsinin protecting their students. Across the country, hundreds of school districts have examined ways to keep young people safe. Perhaps some ofyoureading this columnhavejoined in this effort. I like to say that equality begins at home- and there’s no better place to join the battle for GLBT equality thzn at your local school district.Groups such as the National Youth Advocacy Coalition (www.nyacyouth.org) and the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (www.glsen.org) are already working across the country to improve the lives of GLBTQ youth. What can you do? Demand that your school district adopt polices that protect students and teachers from harassment and-discrimination; provide staff with workshops and training; support curricula that includes information about the lives and contributions of GLBT people; and allow for the formation of Gay-Straight alliances and other clubs that address homophobia and heterosexism in school. As the award-wiuning documentary producer Debra Chasnoff ("It’s Elementary") taught us, children are not bornwith bigotry andintolerance- they learn it. Wouldn’t it be wonderful, if we used back-to-school season as a platform to address safety for our children? Five million children are waiting for us to act. Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force works to eliminateprejudice, violenceandinjustice against Gay, Lesbian, Bisexualandtransgenderedpeople at the local, state and national level. Aspart ofa broader socialjustice movementforfreedom,justice andequality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity ofhuman expression and identity Where all people mayfully.participate in society. According to the Chronicle, a spokesman for the Air Transport Association said that although none of the group’s members except United is offering the benefits, they probably will, even as they press for appeal Just a few days after United Airlines announced ~ts decision, AmericanAirlines officials informed theHuman Rights Campaign that they would become the second major U.S airline to offer domestic partner benefits to Gay and Lesbian employee~ worldwide. -.HI~ ~ s Birch~said of,American Airlines’ decision, "W~ are witnessing history and the beginning of a new era of fairness for Gay and Lesbian airline workers. United’s landmark decision has clearly had a domino effect, where walls.of discrimination-.are:falling each day." And Birch added, "American Airlines is HRC’s official airline and we ate enormously proud that they have taken this important step." American’s domestic partner benefits package will offer a full range of coverage to the partners of Gay and Lesbian workers. These benefits include medical and dental insurance, life insurance, pension survivor fights, bereavement and medical leave and flight discounts. The decision will affect more than 100,000 American and American Eagle employees worldwide. American and United Airlines join a greater trend in corporate America where employers are increasingly offering domestic partner benefits to Gay and Lesbian employees. Overall more than 2,800 U.S. employers currently offer domestic partner benefits, according to HRC’s WorkNetprojectwhich tracks this trend. Currently 70 Fortune 500 companies offer these benefits, including AT&T, Chase Manhattan Bank Corp., General Mills, IBM, Mobil Oil,TimeWarner, and Walt DisneyCompany. In addition, more than 99 colleges and universities, 73 state and local governments and hundreds of non-profit organizations and trade umons are currently offering domestic partner benefits, according to HRC’s WorkNet. I-IRC’ s WorkNet project, which also assists companies in implementing domestic partner benefits and with other workplace issues, worked closely with GLEAM, the Gay employee group atAMRCorporation, the parentcompany, of American Airlines in formulating the policy. Taylor said the group would use the incident to try to get Big Brothers Big Sisters’ policy changed. However, in contrast to the Wichita group, Tulsa’s Big Brothers Big Sisters has no "’across the board" ban on Lesbians or Gay men acting as mentors. The group’s spokesperson, Martha Desmond, Community Relations Director, did note that the issue probably would come up in the screening interview and would be shared with the child’s parent. She said she was not aware of the issue having arisen before. According to executive director, John Jacobs, the agency’s overriding concern had to be the best interest of the child, especially since most of the children served by the program may already have challenges which they face. Also, Jacobs stated that while a parent might veto a potential mentor because he or she is Gay, a parent, for obvious reasons, may also chose to take into consideration matching race, or religion or a nnmber of Other factors as well. ¯ Call me foolish or [ naive if you llke, but I ¯ still hope {or an Oklahoma that ¯ could stand up to any ¯ other state in our nation in justice, in equal opportunity, in : decent education. I ¯ believe our people are ¯ up to it. I just wish we ¯ had leaders who were. by Tom Neal, editor & publisher A few years ago, my father and I prevailed upon Sen. Don Nickles to meet with us about Gay &Lesbian issues, and we trekked over to Oklahoma City one warm winter day. We figured with one conservative Republ,ican and one progressive Democrat, one straightman and one Gay one, we were presenting a bipartisan view on civil rights issues. We were scheduled for 15 minutes and gotnearly -30.......... When all was said and done, Oklahoma’s senior senator, hardly surprisingly had not changed his mindone little iota, though he was quite civil. All we got out of the meeting was the c~mpliment that "you are a good spokesman for your cause." Gee thanks. So it’s not as though I really thought any constituent comment made to his office would make a difference, but periodically I like to try to bdieve in our American democracy: that if you have faith and speak the truth, that eventually right will prevail, despite the ample evidence ofmostofourhistory whereminority Americans are involved, be we Black, Indian, Female or Gay, or any combination thereof. But after reading one or another bits of tripe from the senator about the recess uomination by Pres. Clinton of openly Gay ambassador James Hormel, I figured I should at least not let Mr. Nickles believe that all Oklahomans agreed with him. I called. I left a~ message. I didn’t think much more about it. That was until I got a form letter from our senator saying how he agreed withmy position and in which letter proceeded to trash Hormel. Obviously that was not my position. Now mind you, this sort of inverse idiocy ~s just the sort of thing we’ve come to expect from Oklalaoma’s jtmior senator, Jim Inhofe, of pornographic office computer fame. Sen. Inhofe, who sings the praises of private enterprise although he’s lived off the public dole most of his ilfe, ts reputed by thosein this town who should know. not to be particularly bright. And I can say from first hand experience, that he’s rude to constituents. So the simple incomp.etence of getting a constituent’ s~position enurely wrong is somewhat expected from his office. But from Nickles, we should be able to expect a bit more. But then again, I also still believe in democracy. So of course, I called again to ask if it’s possible for Nickles’ office to do better. Because surely, surely no matter how much evil been done in this state in one way or another, nothing could have been so bad that we deserve two Inhofes! Nickles" staff did begrudgingly ad~nit that maybe they should have gotten it right. But they made the claim that they really don’t have to represent all the c~tizens of Oklahoma, that all Nic.kles has to .do is ,to represent whatever he said in his campaign that gothim elected and that was enough. So forget about whatever you may have believed about representative democracy, about the need for elected officials to find solutio~as for all their constituents, it’s winner take all and the rest be damned. I can’t believe that this approach is in our state or nation’s best ~nterests. I believe that Americans and Oklahomans in particular, are fair-minded people who would respond to leaders who sought compromise and consideration for all instead of the "leaders" wehave who wallow in prejudice and bigotry to fill their campaign coffers and get elected (mind you, I’m not picking just on Republicans, too many Oklahoma Democrats are just as bad, the only difference is Democrats just don’t talk as dirty about you when they’re stabbing you in the back). Call me foolish or naive if you like, but I hope for an Oklahoma that could stand up to any other state in our nation injustice, in equal opportunity, in decent education. I believe our people are up to it. I just wish we had leaders who were. Colorado Springs Holds¯ Gay Pride Parade & Rally COLORADO SPRINGS, Cold¯ (AP)-Two-year-old : Kyle wore a T-shirt that said "I love my Gay ¯ mommies," and knows 25-year-old Jennifer " Porterfield as "mommy" and 32-year-old Becky " Lewton as "mama." Each year Porterfield gets a card ¯ on Mother’ s Day and Lewton gets breakfast in bed on "Becky’s Day." "We’re no different than a straight " family," Lewton says. "We argue about the same " stuff. Believe me." . " They were among.those p.articipating .in the. m,n,th " annual Colorado Spnngs PrideFest parade and ratly, " held on the last Sunday in August. At the end of the ¯ parade, police estimated between 3,500 and 4,500 ¯ people filled Acacia Park for a celebration sponsored " by the Pikes Peak Gay &Lesbian Community Center. " "We’reteachers. We’relawyers. We’reprofessional " pa,,,,,l~" Lewton said. "(The oarade) is certainly not ¯ s’~xV’t~l thing, and thats"- wha’t people think it is." About a dozen protesters, some holding placards i and a couple of them carrying crosses; stood at one ¯ street comer as the parade passed. Police reported no ¯ problems. The .rally capped a week that brought Gay.iss..ues into the headlines in Colorado Springs, including those triggeredby ameeting oftheNational Religious Focus on the Family Christian ministry xor aueg y "inflammatory" rhetoric about homosexuality. Focus respondedonSundayin~tfull-pagenewspaper ad that said its staff members who attended the conference had hopes of establ}shing dialogue but were blind-sided by the accusataon. Focus, and the Christian Coalition of Colorado, also had criticized Colorado Springs Mayor Mary ~Lou Makepeace for sigmng a proclamation recognizing Gay-Pride week. ButCity Councilman Richard Skorman marchedin the parade and told the crowd at the park the mayor would have faced controversy regardless of her response to PrideFest organizers’ request for the proclamation. The banners in the parade heralded civil,rights groups, support groups, Gay pageant winners and Gay-friendly churches, includingFirstCongregational Church, All Souls Unitarian Church and Pikes Peak Metropolitan Community Church. The handful of protesters staked out the no,rthw.e,st comer of Platte Avenue and Tejon Street wlaere me six-block parade terminated. Parade participants occasionally taunted and blew kisses to the protesters who called for the marchers to "’repent." Missoula Gets First Gay Community CenterAgain MISSOULA (AP) - Wanting to show they’re "just next-door people," volunteers will open a downtown Gay and Lesbian community center here Wednesday¯ Founders of the Wes tern MontanaGay and Lesbian Community Center have Seen raising money for the project since last fall and now have about $19,000 from 50 paid members. But finding an affordable rent in Missoula’ s visible down~own axea wa.s ~ bigger challenge than raising the money, supporters said. With a rent budget of $800 a month and their goal focused on downtown, themembers havebeencombing thereal-estate market formonths:: ...... -, ’ -: - -’ ’-~. ":. What they ended up with is a two-room office state wi~ hardly=the room for a dance or even a public lectfire. But it’s a start, said Cat Carrel, one of the lcadera~pf the effort. ’qlais is a start-up space," she,, said,"and itrsa good first start-up. Wecan get goln~. Missoula last had a Gay and ,L~,,sbian commumty ~enter during the first half of the 80s, when the nowdefunct organization."Out in Montana" hadoffices in the Wilma Building in downtown Missoula. After 15 years without asocial and service-oriented center; the town’ s Gays and Lesbians wanted aplace to meet that was not a bar, said Randy Chancy, executive director of the Missoula AIDS Council. The center’s fledgling efforts had a wide variety of allies, from student groups at the Uni~iersity of Montana to several area churches. Early in the effort, the center got a $1,000 grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The money will go toward a Healthy Lifestyles Program, which .will include health and mental health support serwces, stress reduction and education about sexually transmitted infections. The Gay Outdoors group, Gays and Straights Together, and other organizations will also use the community center as their headquarters. ’°I’he idea is to have our space available for other groups, and to use our office for as a resource to bring other groups together," said volunteer Casey Charles. The group has also drawn a $5,000 grant from Broadway Cares, a fund of ~the actors’ equity organization inNew York. It willhelp starta speakers’ bureau and foster work on HIV prevention. The center will have security measures in place, but its members stress they’ve had no trouble with opposition to the center. OtherMontanacities have services forGay, Lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, but the. closest community centers are in Spokane and Boise. The group is working on bylaws and hopes to have a board of directors in place by the end of the year. Utah Bans Unmarried Foster Parents OGDEN, Utah (AP) -The s tate Division of Child and Fnmily Services has adopted apolicy to bannnmarried couples from providing state-sponsored foster care. The new policy, adopted Friday, August 27th, by a5- 2 vote by the DCFS board, defies standards set by the Child Welfare League of America, a professional association representing more than 1,000 voluntary and public agencies. Board chairman Scott Clark, the drivingforcebehind the decision, said unmarried, unrelated adults living together abuse children more often than married men and women. "I read in the newspaperjust last night of two cases in which boyfriends abused the children in their girlfriends’ homes," Clark said. In the past, Clark has also referred to Gay couples - who, because they cannot m.ar~,,_, w!ll be b~ar~,e~,, from fostercare-as contributing to gendercontusion of children in their care. Only twoboardmembers, Regnal GarffandVirgrnia Higbee, opposed Clark’s recommendations. They argued the new rule would narrow the field of foster parents, who are already outnumbered nearly 2-to- 1 by children in state custody who need homes. Garff, a retired juvenile court judge, also criticized Clark’s example because neither of the cases sited involved foster children. "I am relterating my opposiuon to this whole thing.., that example is poorly conceived and poorly argued," he said. The changebrings matches similar state restncuons ¯ passed earlier this year for adoptive parents. But groups like the Child Welfare League of ¯ America, the American Bar Association and the ¯ American Civil Liberties Union have opposed such policies. Opponents say too many quesuons are left ¯ unanswered by the policy. For example, there is no ¯ provision for common-law marriages, which go into ¯¯ effect after seven 3,ears. And it is unclear if the rules apply when an unrelated adult rents living space from ¯ a foster or adoptive paxent. ¯ The Child Welfare League is so staunch ih its ¯ opposition that the association recently sent DCFS Director Ken Patterson aletter asking its end°rsement ¯ be removed from the agency’s po!icy manual...Th,e ¯ board gwiftly a~ounrt0datedthat reituestb~removing ¯ thephrase that refers toDCFS policy as "in accordance with the standards of the Child Welfare League of ¯ America." ¯ Gay Pastor’s Church : Work Continues in Ames ¯ ¯ AMES, Iowa (AP) -Though technically an outcast in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Steve ¯ Sabin’s ministry continues at Lord of Life Lutheran Church. The ELCA has removed Sabin from its roster of ] ministers because he has a Gay parmer. The church Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 S. Harvard, Suite 2.1_0,.Tulsa 74135 MCC-United formerly Family of Faith & Greater Tulsa MCC Joined as one body of believers¯ Come celebrate with us. Sunday Services, 11 am 1623 North Maplewood, 838-1715 HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm 3210b S. Norwood, Irdo: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon Sandra Hill Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community o]Hope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-4~A.-5934 Family :Owned & ,Operated .... Trinna L. W. Bui’i ows, LSW, ACSW Ghild, Family, Individual & Gouplo Psychothorapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 Unity Church of Christianity Loving, Inclusive Christian Spirituality SundaF Worship Services 9:15 and 11:00 a.m. www.openmindopenheart.org/Tulsa/Unity 3355 S. Jamestown Avenue (918) 749-8833 Rev. Steve Colladay, Minister Home of the Daily Word OKLAHOMA COMMUNICATIONS Local- Long Distance Cellular- Paging 747-1508 Free Car Adaptor & Leather Case with New Cell Phone The Pride Store -1307 E. 38th, 2rid floor in Tulsa’s Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) 6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday 12-9 pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the Center KEVIN BURLESO N Keller Williams Realty 7.12-2252 Burleson@kw.com 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An Independent Member Broker Housekeeping & Gardening Service Contact Paul on: (918) 582 8460 POB 3150, Tulsa, OK, 74101 OPENARMS,OPENMINDS,OPENHEARTS Saint Aidan 4045 N. Cincinnati. 425-7882 Saint John 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 Saint Dunstan 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Trinity 501 S. Cincinriati, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You earlier this month voted to keep its ride requiring homosexual ministers to remain celibate. "My call right now is ministry at Lord of Life," Sabin said. "I’m going to stop holdingmy breath for the ELCA to come along." When Sabin was.removed from the church’s list of ordained ministers last year, the 150-member congregation supported him. By keeping him as their pastor, the congregation risks .expulsion from the While Bishop Philip Hougen of the Southeastern Iowa Synod said he is "uncomfortable" with Sabin as Lord of Life’s minister, he has not asked the Synod Council to expel the congregation. ’To remove them in,order tomakesome sort ofpoint about purity seems t0be~to benot worth the effort," Hougen said. "I don’t want to cause any more pain." At the Churchwide Assembly earlier this month in Denver, ELCA leaders passed a resolution that reaffirmed previous assembly statements that committed the church to continuing discussion of the issue of ordination of Gays and Lesbians. "How long do you have to keep studying it?". Sabin asked last week. Sabin, who has two daughters, was ordained as a minister in 1985 andbecame pastor at the Lord of Life Church inAmes later that year. He was married at the time, but the 10-year marriage ended i.n 1990. Sabin began living with Karl von Uhi abont four years ago. Former Lesbian Couple Must Share Custody GOLDEN, Colo. (AP) - A district judge has ordered a former Lesbian couple to share custody of a 10- year-old girl they raised, but ruled the youngster must live in New York with her biological mother during the school year. Jefferson County DistrictJudge Christopher Munch said he based the decision on what he considered the best interests of the child. The youngster will spend summers and school vacations in Colorado. He noted she will be able to make friends and attend a neighborhood school in Albany, but if she remains in Colorado, she will have to commute daily from Aurora to Jefferson County, rougtfly a ’40-mile round trip, Munch said. "(Gift M) will be living in a race middle-class, rural to suburban home with her morn and stepdad," Munch said. Thejudge emphasized that he did not consider the past rdationship of the two women or their sexual orientation when he made the decision. Identifiedin court papers as "Gift M," the youngster was raised by Leaune Bueker, her "psychological" mother, and Kelly Cunningham, her bio1ogicat mother, until the two women separated two years ago. The womenwere awardedjoint custody in February 1998, but the arrangement became complicated when Ms. Cunninghammarried Michael Naylor andmoved to Albany. Ms. Bueker remains single. Mrs. Naylor "was pleased with the decision. "The judge gave appropriate (onsiderat~on to the facts and came up with a. decision that was difficult to make," said attorney Ron Litvak. Ms. Bucker declined comment. Sen. Hatch Apologizes to Blacks But Not To Gays SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Sen. Orrin Hatch said Wednesday hehad been "inarticulate" and apologized to NAACP officials for a statement in which he compared Gay civil rights with black issues. . The Utah Republican, who is a GOP presidential candidate, came under fire earlier this month for saying,"People of color can’t do anything about their color." Hatch continued: "I do believe Gay people have a choice to live within the legal rules or not. That’s why we have civil-rights laws to protect African-Americans from discrimination." JeanettaWilliams, presidentof the SaltLakebranch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, called Hatch’s remark "a poor articulation of what he was trying to say." Heather Barney, a Hatchspokeswoman, said Hatch "apologized for being inarticulate." "He did note that he was coming from a strictly legal perspective, that there is judicial precedent that the courts have treated race as distinct from sexual orientation, which is the point h~ was making," Barney said. Darin Hobbs of the Gay and Lesbian Political Action Committee in Salt Lake said Hatch did the right thing by apologizing to the NAACP. Next, he saidHatch shouldapologize to Utah’s Gaycommunity. "The senatoris unable to recognize the commonalities between homophobiaandracism," Hobbs said. "Both are bigotries rooted in fear and ignorance." Williams and Edward J. Lewis, president of the NAACP tri-state conference for Utah, Nevada and Idaho, said they felt Hatch’s’apology was sincere. They were scheduled to meet with Hatch at 1 p.m. but di’dn’t arrive at his Salt~Lake office until-an hour later. Hatch pushed back other meetings and talked with them for 45 minutes. "The importance of this meeting was we established a need to sit down and have a dialogue with him," Lewis said. Williams said she also discussed concerns about Hatch’s voting record on civil-rights issues. She said Hatch made no promises but agreed to consider the NAACP’s views. Hatch and Sen. Bob Bennett, RUtah, received F’s in the NAACP’s latest congressional report cards. Also, Bennett apologized to theNAACPfor saying Texas Gov. George W. Bush would win the GOP presidential nomination unless "some woman comes forward, let’s say some black woman ~omes forward, with an illegitimate child that he fathered." Comparing the remarks by the two senators, Lewis’ said: "On,e, was more severe, but they were both in the same pie. Williams and Lewis said Hatch and his wife, Elaine, are lifelong NAACPmembers. Hatch co-sponsored a bill to award civil-rights pioneer Rosa Parks the Congressional Gold Medal, whichis Congress’ highest honor. Barney said Hatch has enjoyed a good relationship with the NAACP. "His door has always been open to Jeanetta and the NAACP," she said. "They meet regularly and he is proud of some of the things he has been able to accomplish which benefit minority communities in Utah." Hatch has previously raised the ire of Gay civilrights groups. In 1988, he called the Democratic Party "’the party of homosexuals; they are the party of abortion." InJune, he told delegates to the Republican state convention they could be proud because "we don’t have the Gays and Lesbians with us." Gay Couple Murdered After Recording Message REDDING, California (AP) - Two brothers killed a Gay couple after forcing them to record an answering machine message saying they had suddenly become ill and were leaving town for medical help, authorities say. Benjamin Williams, 31, and James Willianas, 29, could face the death penalty ifconvicted of murdering Gary Matson, 50, and Winfield Mowder, 40. The men were found shot to death in their bed July 1. in rural Happy Valley near Redding, northeast of San Francisco. The suspects have pleaded innocent. According to the court documents, sheriff’s deputies went to the victirrisr home after Matson’s relatives thought the answering machine message sounded forced and odd, and may have been someone else’s voice. The message said the. victims were headed to San Francisco to see "a specialist friend"for medical help and would return "in about a week." "Off the message, it’s evident that the person who recorded themessageis under distress andwas possibly forced to make the recording," officers said. In the background, another voice can be heard saying, "just calm down." Based on information from Matson’s father and brother, investigators said the message was recorded "very dose" to the time of the slayings. Thedocuments were unsealed following a legal challenge by several news organizations. Evidence in the brothers’ homes also allegedly links themto the arson ofthree California synagogues. Those fires caused more than $1 million in damages. Authorities also found handouts from the World Church of the Creator, a white supremacist group, which preaches extreme racial and religious views. AIDS Deaths Decline ATLANTA (AP) - Two years after powerful new drugs brought a sharp drop in AIDS deaths nationwide, new government figures released today show the declinein AIDS deaths slowed sharply a year later. AIDS killed 17,047 people in the United States last year - a decline of 20% from 1997. From 1996 to 1997, the drop in deaths was a much more dramatic 42%, which health officials attributed to the effectiveness of new drugs. "As we anticipated, we are now seeing the first signs ofa slowing in this trend,’" said Dr. Helene Gayle, director of HIV prevention for-the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said during the National HIV Prevention Conference. "In a period of only two years, new combination therapies cut the annual level of death in half," she said. "But for the time being, it appears that much of the benefit of these new therapies has beenrealized." In 1995, 49,351 people died from AIDS in the United States. By 1996, that dropped to 36,792, and the number was down to 21,222 in 1997. TheCDClisted several possible causes for the slowdown in reductions of AIDS deaths. Most people who know they have HIV are already being treated, Gayle said. Drug resistance among some AIDS patients causes the treatment to fail, and other patients fail to keep up with, the complicatedjuggling of pills they,have to take for the drugs to be effective. New HIV infections in 1998 were estimated at roughly 40,000 - a number that’ s held steady for the past decade. The CDC said AIDS continues to kill blacks in higher numbers than other racial groups. Blacks, who make up about 13% of the population, accounted for 49% of AIDS deaths in 1998. Thirty-two% of deaths were among whites and Hispamcs made up 18%. "In many ways, the story of how well we do in HIV and AIDS will be told by how well we do with the African- American population," Gayle said. The three-day conference, organized by theCDCand 17 other agencies, features 2,000 scientists, doctors, researchers and advocates addressing efforts to monitor and prevent the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Gayle and others opened the conference by warning against complacency. "It’s becoming increasingly difficult to get people to pay attenuon to HIV prevention and that in and of itsdf is a primary reason for this conference," she said. Since the 1980s, more than 300,000 have died of AIDS. The recent success of some treatments have made some people complacent about the disease. "Despite a growing complacency about the need for HIV prevention, HIV remains a serious disease that is still very much with us and there is a greater need for HIV prevention today more than ever," she said. Black Churches To Step Up AIDS Fight BOSTON (AP) - Local black religious leaders plan tomeetwith state Department of Public Health officials and members of the AIDS Action Committee to discuss ways to better educate their congregations about the disease. The meeting, involving 26 black leaders, signals a change in the black church’s approach to AIDS, religious scholars and activists told the Boston Globe. They said the conservative theological views about homosexuality, intravenous drug use and premarital sex held by many black religious leaders have led them to shy away from the issue. But leaders are now seeing they must pay attention to the disease because of their obligation to help people in need, according to Pemissa Seele, founder of the New York-based Balm in Gilead ministry. The ministry raises AIDS and HIV awareness among black congregations nationwide. "Their responsibility to save lives has nothing to do with their theology on homosexuality or sex outside marriage," Seele said. "We’re talking about two different apples." In the Boston area, only about 90 of450 black churches promote HIV awareness, the Globe reported. Meanwhile, blacks account for 26% of all AIDS cases in Massachusetts, though they make up only 6% of the population. Nationally, AIDS is the leading cause of death for black men and women ages 25 to 44. Rev. Conley Hughes, pastor ofConcord Baptist Church in Boston’s South End, said thechurchcanbe apowerful influence in the fight against AIDS because it has historically been an institution blacks could count on. Many blacks consider the church society’ s most credible source of authority, Hughes said. Experts-Discuss Vaccine Progress BALTIMORE (AP) - Doctors and scientists from 20 countries gathered in Baltimore las t month for a conference to . discuss progress made in the effort to find an AIDS vaccine. The annual meeting, which began years ago as an informal gathering of Dr. Robert C. Gallo, codiscoverer of the AIDS virus, and his colleagues, has grown into one of the largest AIDS conferences in the w6rld. More-than 1,000 physicians, scientists and others are expected to attend the conference, hosted by Gallo and the University of Maryland’s Institute of Humafi Virology, which he directs. "It is possible that the components for a reasonably successful vaccine are almost there, in our hands, but we don’ t know it yet," Gallo told The(Baltimore) Sun. ’Tm much more positively inclined than a year or two ago." However, it could be years before a vaccine is developed. At the conference, Gallo expected one of the more significant discussions to deal withTat, or transactivating protein, which is made by HIV. Researchers have found that Tat plays akey role inHIV spreading. "You can regard it as one of the missiles from HIV infection that leads to the problems in the immune system and facilitates the virus’ spread," said Gallo, who has done some of the work. Researchers have -shown that vaccinating monkeys against Tat lowers the amount of the virus and lessens the immune system’s impairment. Gallo and his collaborators have tested Tat in humans for safety, both as a preventive vaccine and as a therapeutic one. He said his group’ s strategy will be to create a sort of vaccine cocktail, by combining aninactivatedTatprotein with another vaccine approach. Over the past 10 years, more than 40 preventive AIDS vaccines have been tested worldwide involving about 10,000 volunteers. Only oneAIDS vaccine, made by the California company VaxGen, is headed for the-testing stage that will determine if it prevents HIV. Medical Excellence And Compassionate Care Since 1926. ¯ ¯ ST. JOHN MEDICAL CENTE_R q P Medical Excellence. Compassionate Care Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American?/ Vulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men’s Support Group is here for you! ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native Amencan AiDS Prevention Project at 582-7225 Ext. 208 or 218 Dial-Up Accounts Dedicated ISDN Connections Virtual Hosting Visit our web page "www.igisweb.net" (918) 622-4965 I nternet Marketing E-Commerce Web Page Design On-Sit~ Setup Available Stay Healthy Naturally Wellness Rejuvenation Longevity Dr. Terrance L. Sullivan Doctor ofNaturopathy Certified Colonic Hygenist Certified Reflexologist Certified Herbalist CertifiedAccupressurist provides consultations by appointment Iridology Hair Analysis Herbal Supplements Pain Control Nutritional Analysis 4520 SO. Peoria, Brookside 712-1400 ¯Transplants for HIV Patients Possible PITF~BURGH (AP) - Only a handful of medical centers around the world are willing to transplant organs in HIVpositive patients - a- controversial procedure both in terms ofmedical success and societal acceptance. But surgeons at an international liver transplantation conference saidmuch ofthat could change as aggressive new therapies like the socalled AIDS "cocktail" allow people infected with HIV to live longer. "As far as I’m concerned, they’re all patients," said transplant surgeon Dr. Nigel Heaton of King’s College Hospital in London, where four HIV patients have been given transplants. "I don’t believe in social reasons for exclusion." What he does want is data - hard numbers that will prove or disprove the theory that transplants can help people infected with HIV. Key toHIV transplants i s finding patients who are healthy enough to qualify and are willing to take care of their new organs once they get them. Another key is controlling hepatitis C, which is often found in HIV patients and invariably reinfects the new liver once i~ has been transplanted. At this point, there is very little data on transplantation for patients infected with HIV, the virus which causes AIDS, and no papers have been published, experts said. Only recently have a select few surgeons performed the procedure knowingly, although there is some historical data from before patients were checked for HIV infections. "’People think we’re crazy for doing it," said Dr. John Fung, head’of the Um~ersity ofPittsburgh Medical Center’ s transplant center. But early indications show that liver transplantation is effective in reversing the complications of end-stage organ failure m some HIV-positive patients, Fung said. He presented findings at the conference on four HIV patients who underwent the procedure between September 1997 and March 1999. In all the cases, the liver transplants reversed the distinguishing characteristics of chronic liver failure, including fluid retention, muscle wasting, fatigue and jaundice. HIV traces remained undetectable with patients who continued the drug combination with protease inhibitor and none developedopportunistic infections, Fung said. Medical experts often question Fung and others about the.use of scarce resources - in this case, healthy human organs- and the safety of surgeons operating on HIV Calif. A! ow Needle Exchange SACRAMENTO,Calif. (AP)- Tryi:n~ to slow the spread of AIDS, the Legislature sent Gov. Gray Davis a,bill that would let cities and counties setup n~dle-exchange pro~s for ~g addicts. Cmwent state law b~s such progrmns butfour CNifo~a cities - Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Fr~cisco and Santa Cruz - ~d M~n County have adopted emergency ordi~s ~lowing needle exchm~ges. Davis’ office said the Democratic governor has not taken a position on the Nll, wNch passed the state Senate. At le~t 15 o~er states have authorized ne~e-exch~gepro~s,~ough~ere ~e exch~ge progr~s operating in more th~ twi~ that m~y states, according to AssemNy~vomanKe~ M~zoni’s office~ Supporters of her proposN sNd studies have shown exchange progrmns redu~ the spread of the A IDS vires. There lmve been atleast six o~erneedleexch~ ge bills intr~uced in ~ifo~a since 1993. They either died in the Legislature or were vetoed by then- Repubti~ Gov. Pete Wilson. infected patients in a procedure that Chemist Gets $7 m. For AIDS Research NEW BRUNSWICK,’N.J. (AP) - A Rutgers University chemist who helped researchers study the most lethal part of the AIDS virns will get nearly $7 million in federal fnnds to continue his work. Dr. Edward Arnold has won an award from the National Institutes of Health that will double federal suppor~ of his research. The prize, called MERIT for Method ~o Extend Research in Time, will extend his funding from a five-year grant for $3.4 million to a grant spanning 10 years and providing nearly $7 million. His work is aimed at developing longerlasting drugs to fight the deadly AIDS virus. "The whole philosophy of research is the more you know, the better chavce you have to fight something," Arnold told the East Brunswick Home News Tribune. The new funding will aid his study of a protein called reverse transcriptase, or RT. The protein plays a key role in the virus’ early life cycle, giving itinsm~ctions to duplicate its deadly properties. It is the involves a lot of blood . . molecule targeted by anti-AIDS drugs S0cietallv sorn0 ~o,,~,i,~ ,~;.J ~,.,, ¯ includingAZT, DDI, Nevirapineand3TC. whether org~a~s sho~d~’tiao~’~ : The virus colnmonly mutates so quickly lifestyle choices may have led to their " that it becomes irmnune to drugs. Arnold infection, said the doctors, who prefer that medical reasons determine who gets a transplant. Recently, the University of California in San Francisco received a $1 million grant to perform transplants on HIV patients. The state money will fund transplants for 10 people, and doctors hope the information will help build a database to determine if the operation can be a medical success in HIV patients. "I think there is a great deal of trepidation in the medical community, and I don’ t think it’s ill-founded at all," said Peter Stock, associate professor of surgery at UCSF. "We have to be very cautious." While some insurance companies in the ." is trying to devise a way to see what drug resistance looks like. Heis mapping three- . dimensional pictures of the RT protein, _" getting a look at its detailed atomic " structure. Such views can help researchers ¯ see how the virus interacts with" drugs. ". "We need to understand how drugs can ¯ fail," Arnold said. "If we can do that, we - can be more aware of how to design them .* - how to avoid those hurdles." ¯ His work first gained prominence in 1992 when he and others created a threedimensional computer model of the RT protein. Arnold’ s workis also focusing on the design and development of an AIDS vaccine, something that has eluded researchers thus far. J by James Christjohn TFN entertainment writer Hey there, hi there; ho there! Whereho? There ho? Who you callin’ a ho? Sorry, just had to. Something about Disney inspires that kind of mania, especially after having lived with a Beast for so long. (editor’s note: aren ’tlucky the Beast is occasionally quitefor-bearing?) Speaking of beasts, Beauty and the Beast is here! They’ve been building sets, chopping sets, recreating and creating costumes for a month now, working 15 hour days[ And it looks to be faaaabulous ! Especially those moving pillars., I LOVE those moving pillars t There’s just something so intrinsically... phallic about moving pillars ! I want somefor my. house! Really the- magic begins September 7 and runs through the 19. And the conductorand assistant conductor, James and Brent, are very handsome and char~i,"ng men, so say hi if you can when they re out on ~e town! Call 596-7111 for tix. Lynn Flewdling has written one of the best series of Gay fantasy novels to come along since Mercedes Lackey’s "Last Herald Mage" trilogy. "Luck in the Shadows", which I’ve written of before; "Stalking Darkness", and the just out "Traitor’s Moon" follows the trail of intrigue and romance of Seregil and Alec, the main protagonists. I recommendthe books highly to anyone ¯ with or without an interest in the genre. They have everything: magic, intrigue, romance, murder, and just about everything else you can think of, in a artistically perfect package. The events and characters are such that you hate the book to end, and the characters stay with I wondered ff the average fantas~ r~.a+der would follow that far - they have, and ¢ladly for the most part. I eet letters from straiCht Curs sayln~ essentially "I shouldn’t be ok with t~s, but I amP’... Others ~ve sald it made it ~sler to talk ~th Gay relatives. youlong after the lastpage is turned. ~Lynn was gracious enoughto spare some time for some questions while working on the new book, "The Bone Doll’s Twin:" JC: I have enjoyed the Nightrunner series. Your characters are so welldrawn, that theyseem real enough to wonder what they’re up to long after the book isfinished. LF: I’m so glad to hear that the story and the characters work for you. That’s high praise indeed. That’s how I feel about my favorite books. JC: What inspired you to write these characters as "Gay" men (Seregil & Alec, the protagohists) ? LF: Well, as I recall, I wanted to create "a hero that challenged the stereotypical molds set by Eddings. or Jordan (well known fantasy writers). Hence his profession and methods. The Gay part - not: sure. Partly the mold breaking, bu~ mostly just how he wanted to be. Perhaps he’s my animus? Whatever the case, the characterjust cameout that way and I love him. Alec was more ofa conscious choice. I could see where it was all headed, see Fantasy, p. 14 by.TFN staff As we move into the fall, Oklahoma’s arts calendar is increasingly busy. On Sept. 11, at 8pm at Holland Hall’ s Branch Theatre, Richard Gere Productions, the Loseling Institute and Unity Church of Christianity and Unity Center of Tulsa present "The Mystical Arts of Tibet" featuring the Drepung Loseling Monks. This group ofmonks have performed with composer Phillip Glass, and performers such as Paul Simon, Natalie Merchant, the Beastie Boys and others. For tickets, call 582-6624 or 749-8833. Already open at Gilcrease is an exhibit of Inuit artwhich will be shownuntil Nov. 7th. The .works, which include sculpture, prints and tapestries, draw on a private collection which has never before been publicly exhibited. Pieces from Gilcrease’s-collection will complement the exhibit. Gilcrease anthropology curator, Jason Jackson, suggested that these works will appeal to those who appreciate traditional Native American art as well as those who like modem art coming outofwestern Europeantmditions. hffo: 596-2700. Local youth activist Emily Sizemore is one of the organizers of Arts for AIDS, an event scheduled for Sept. 25th. They are looking for singers, other musicians, writers, actors, visual artists, etc. If interestedinparlicipating, please call 361- 1000. That same evening, the Tulsa Philharmonic will open see Arts, p. 14 "It’s Elementary" Tolerance Film Provokes Debate CHICAGO/TULSA (AP/TFN) - Thirdgraders in New York debate the idea of Gay mamage. Storytime for first- and second-graders ata school in Cambridge, Mass., includes the book "Asha’ s Mums" about a little girl who has two Lesbian mothers. Eighth-graders in San Francisco fire questions at a Gay man and Lesbian who visit their classroom. All areexcerpts from a controversial documentary, "It’s Elementary: Talking About Gay Issues In School," which first caused a stir when several public television stations decided to air it this summer. Now it’s being used by many schrol districts nationwide as a training tool for teachers, most recently in Chicago - unifying what some say is a growing move to incorporate Gay and Lesbian issues into curriculum, from elementary to high school. Critics say talkabout suchissues belongs at home. But others say it’s a matter of dealing with issues that students already see every day innewspapers,ontelevision, in movies - and maybe even in their own communities or classrooms. "Both schools and families have to address the issue somehow because it’s there - and it’s not going back into the closet," says Tony D’Augelli, a psychologist at Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development who studies Gay youth ~sues. see Elem.,p.15 T Call today to receive a 1999-2000 season brochure Season subscriptions, starting at $44for adults, are now on SALE! FOR 1999-2000 SEASON BROCHURES CALL TULSA~PERA 1999-2000 SEASON MEET THREE WOMEN To.DIE FOR CARMEN MANON TOSCA Season tickets on sale now! Save 25% off single ticket prices! Season tickets start at just $36 for three operas! FOR 1999-2000 SEASON BROCHURES CALL TULSA PHILHARMONIC HoT THE SEASON! ¯ Mas~Ywol"~s " . Classics usic on . "toe RocRs" No ! FOR 1999-2000 T~CKaT INFORMATION CALL 1999-2000 Celtic Series SAVE $10 by purchasing the entire series! Natalie MacMaster An Irish Christmas October 8t~ & 9~ ¯ 8pro November 21,~ ¯ 3pro Gaelic Storm (Celtic BonusO The ’Party Band’ from the blockbuster movie 17tanic January 19m & 20za ° 8pro Trinity Irish Dance Company Anam February 20= ¯ 3pro March 3,1 & ~c~~h~d Gere Productions & the Loseling Institute present The Mystical Arts of Tibet Sacred Music Sacred Dance for World Healing with the famed Multiphonic Singers of Drepung Loseling Monastery September 11, 8 pm Branch Theatre, Holland Hall School 5666 East 81 st Street Jointly sponsored by Unity Church of Christianity and Unity Center of Tulsa Call 749-8833 for tickets. T 0 H R L M E TI-VAL BER ~ SUNDAYS Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service ~ 6pro, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation Service - 1 lam, 2545 S. Yale, 749-0595 (Welcoming) Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist Sbiviee - t 1am, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-13 I4 Metropolitan Community Church United Service, llam, 1623 North Maplewood, Info: 838-1715 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc~ Sunday School - 9.’45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America) Mass --11am, 205 W. King (east of N. Denver), Info: 582-3088 Unity Church of Christianity Services: 9:15 & 11:00 am, 3355 S. Jamestown, 749-8833 University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance 6:30 pm, Meets at the Canterbury Ctr., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780 ~ MONDAYS Mixed Volleyball, Helmerich Park, 71st & .Riverside, 6pm, call Shawn at 243-5190. HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required. Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard) HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center 7:30pm. 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays 2nd Mon]each mo. 6:30pm, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551 Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals - call for times, info: 585-COMC (2662) ~ TUESDAYS AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call for next meeting date. 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551 Live And Let Live, Community of Hope United Methodist, 7:30pm, 2545 S. Yale Multicultural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date. Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001 PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE) Tuesdays, 6 pro, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, info: 743-4297 ~ WEDNESDAYS Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pm, 3210b So. Norwood Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more information, call 582-7225 TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for info: 595-7632. Lambda A-A, 7 pro, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft. ~" THURSDAYS HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pro 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN) ¯ Support/social group for 18-24’s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-232.5 Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, Info: 834-4194 ~" FRIDAYS SafeHaven, Young Adul{s Social Group, 1 st Fri/each mo. 8pm, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th ~" SATURDAYS Narcotics Anonymous, 11 pm, Community of Hope,1703 E. 2nd, Info: .585-1800 Lambda A-A, 6 pro, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft. I~" OTHER GROUPS T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info: 298-0827 Gal-A-Vanting, Womens Social & Cultural Group Call for info: Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-6825. OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization. Long rides & short rides from Zeigler Park. Long & ~hort rides from Tulsa Gay Community Center. Write for info: POB 9165, Tulsa, OK 74157 Ifyour organization is not listed, please let us know. Call 583-1248 orfax 583-4615. Associated Press - Your lawn crunches ¯ like potato chips.when you walk on it.. Even your older trees are showing stress. : Although you mightbe tempted to coddle _" your plants, you can kill them with too ¯ muchkindness, say experts inPenn State’ s : College of Agricultural Sciences. *- "Pruning, fertilizing and watering can fool plants.into thinking it’s springtime and trigger new growth," said Robert Nuss, professor of ornamental horticulture. "New growth won’t have time to mature before the frost. Not only will you kill it, but you’ll use up next year’s buds." "If you have a landscape contractor or arborist do your work, there’s only so much they’ll want to do during a drought," said Rick Johnson, associate extension agent in Delaware County. "Since normal plant care practices might be harmful under drought conditions, under- "Focus your water~ng-efforts on plants you ~n do some~blng about, llke ornamentals," ke added. "With lawns, it’s just a waiting game until the rMn and cool w~ther return." stand that these contractors may advise against them." Nuss and others offer some specific suggestions. "Grasses gO into a semidormant state and become vulnerable when it’s dry," said Peter Landschoot, associate professor of turfgrass science. "Now that the water’s been turned off, you should limit activities and traffic on lawns as much as .possible. Come September (October in Oklahoma) - if we get rain and cooler weather- you can fertilize and overseedto getsomerecovery. Ifwe don’t get enough rain in September, wait tmtil next spring to oversee&’" "Focns your watering efforts on plants you can do something about, like ornaments," he added¯ "With lawns, it’s just a waiting game until the rain and cool weather return.’" "Pruning’s a gamble," said Nuss. "If you’re sure the parts are dead - if they’re brittle and dry - go ahead and cut back to the live tissue. This will promote some healing and help the plants aesthetically. Butremember, ffweget somerain,proning can trigger growth in the buds." "Fertilizers are salts - even organic materials such as manure -and salts can bum roots," Nuss said. "If you want to give plants nutrients, wait until October (late November or December here) when they’re fully dormant." "Watering is key for woody plants," Nuss said. "When the top 1-11/2 inches of soil are dry, water down to 8-10 inches - to the root zone," he said. "You can accompllsh~ this by dire~t, slow watering. Trickle water on very slowly so it soaks into the soil, with no rtmoff. Also, when you water at night, you lose less to evapOration." But watering has its dangers. "If you overwater in areas with heavy soil or slow drainage, you can saturate the root zone and force out the air," Nuss says. "This can suffocate the roots and kill them." Whenroots die, you’ll _see top wilting in ¯ the plant, Nnss says. "Mostpeopleinterpret this as a lack of water, add even more and aggravate the problem. After watering, most plants should recover overnight. But if the plant remains wilted, you may have root damage from overwatering." For new plantings, Nuss recommends keeping the initial root ball moist. "Water bevond the planting hole, not just at the base of the plant," he said. "That way, you don’t drown the roots, and new roots have moist soil to move ~nto." Mulching is the next best solution to watering, Nuss says. "But be sure to water under mulch, not on top of it. It takes at least an inch ofrain to get through organic mulch." In extreme conditions, Nuss said covering the soil surface with black plastic will retain extra moisture. "You.can hide the plastic with organic mulch," he says. To supplement watering, use gray water (from such uses as cooking and the laundry rinse cycle) on ornamentals, Nuss said. "But move from tree to tree soyoudilute it. Also, don’t use water that contains chlorine bleaches or laundry softeners. For health reasons, don’t use gray water on leafy vegetables or root vegetables. "With a drought this serious, I’d focus watering on highvalue plants and shrubs," Nuss ¯ said. "Savefresh waterforyour vegetables, ¯ use gray water on the ornamentals, and ¯ don’t water your flowers. Flowers are ¯ going to die with the. first frost anyway." "Droughts have a negative effect on ¯ most insect and mite pests that attack : landscape plants," says Greg Hoover, extension entomologist. "Because of last year’ s drought, forinstanee, wehavefewer adult Japanese beetles this year, and probably will see even fewer next year." But hot, dry weatherfavors two different groups of insect and mite pests. "Woodboring insects successfully attack trees and shrubs that are stressed," Hoover said. "If you don’t have water restrictions, the bes~ thing you can do for woody plants is water them. Supplement watering with rainfall collected in buckets or barrels, or water from dehumidifiers." "The two-spotted spider~mite, acommon pest on garden and landscape plants, also thrives in hot, dry weather," Hoover said. "The winged euonymus - what some people call ’burning bush’ -is particularly vulnerable. When indicated, use an appropriate miticide on infested plants." Hooverrecorfimends using wetpowder insecticide formulations. ’q’hey’re less likely to damage plant tissues during hot, dry Weather when used according to label directions." whenjustice is not served. We need to be able to appeal to a higher authority’when localities and states do not-for whatever reason- fully investigate and prosecute a hate crime. On behalf of hate crimes victims everywhere, I urge Congress to pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act." On" added, "we were targeted because of who we are, not for any other reason... they were trying to send a message that "our kind’ are not welcome in Tulsa and deserve to be beaten or die. It is time to send a message that what is not welcome are hate crimes." Under current law, a hate crime can be federally prosecuted only if the victim is targeted on the basis of race, religion, color or national origin, while on federal property or while exercising a federally protectedright, such as vodng or attending school: see Congress, p. 11 Change... ~- Minimum:Wage 1985 $3.35 Average 1998 $5.15 New Car Price Postage Stamp 1985 22¢ 1998 1985 $ 9,011 1998 $20,0OO q- e More Stay The m ee. Average Price of Electricity Per Residential kWh A lot has changed since 1985. Prices for many 1985 6.4¢ consumer goods have more than doubled. But one 1998 5.7¢ thing has stayed the same. Our rates. They’ve remained virtually unchanged for almost fifteen years. Top value for p~~ your energy dollar. The most reliable service possible. And better choices than Public Service Company of Oklahoma ever before. You can count on it. A Central and South West Company For Sale: Retro Wagon 1968 Mercury Colony Park Completely rebuilt 1995, all new interior, stripped to bare metal and repainted red. Everythihg rebuilt or replaced. 390 cu. in. engine, auto, air, power steering, disc brakes, windows, seat, and rear window. Clock was quartzed. Speakers and shoulder straps for the power seats were big ~eal in 1968. We’ve driven it 40K since rebuilding it and have all the receipts and pictures of the restoration. If you’re interested in having this "one of a kind" car, call 494-2055 for Cheryl or Jack. Priced at $4900 OBO. It would look great in next year’s Pride Parade! Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic"Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-946’8 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointmenls are available. 3,600 Honda & Acura Owners Believe in Our... Integrity, Workmanship & Guaranty Exclusively Honda & Acura 9906 E. 55th Place (I block east .of Mingo on 55th Place) 25 Years of Honda & Acura Experience Full Maintenance and (Repair. 610-0880 Please call for an appointment - Our G~[’t, 70 You s25 OFF Mechanical Labor of $25 or More 610-0880 ¯ By appointment only. One Coupon Per Cu51o111€1", Complete Detail Package $10 O FF 610-0880 ¯ By appointment only. Exlerior Wash * Engine Bay Wash ¯ Wax* Inlerior Vacuum ¯ Carpet & Upholstery Shampoo ¯Paint Condition May Affect Outcome Four Star Import Automotive Ltd. by Mary Schepers, Do-It-Yourself-Dyke :. Sometime, a lot.of surface rust and less Thelazy, unbearably hot days of summer ¯ paint is actually a blessing. You have arewaning, andwiththemuchanticipated ~ options at this point: either follow your coolness returns the inclination to sit DIYD’s safety procedures and use an outside, to see and be seen. And wouldn’t ," abrasive wheel on your drill to work off you like to be seen as hip and beyond cool in your authentic, retro and increasingly collectiblelawnfurniture? Ofcourse you would. It’s a great complement to your authentic Hawaiian shirt and kicky cocktail or iced tea glasses. Be fabulous to the hilt, darlings, or stay at home! Fortunately, not everyone has tumbled onto the fact that those steel lawn chairs that, until ten years ago, decorated many a grandma’s porch or front lawn are highly collectible. And they comfortable and easy t~o maintain. Garage sales andthe more junky variety of antique stores can still offer a bargain; where you might pick up a rocker or glider for as little as five to fifteen dollars. Otherwise, prepare to pay upwards of thirty dollars. Your DIYD know what she’ll choose! Economize on the chairs and tempt a sweet lady with a lovely cocktail and still have change. Yours is a most practical, yet romantic, DIYD! .Check some of the basics out when buying a chair. Water and rust tend to congregate in certain places. Checkriveted areas as well as the runners that contact the ground for excessive rust. Stay away from anything that is too rotten or any spots that look like the metal has started to buckle and pinch. There’s a proper time and place for buckles and pinches, but it’s not on your lawn furniture. Or perhaps it will be... Minor rust holes on the runners are not unusual as long as the runner is still relatively strong. Find that welder and have a new half round piece welded on for about fivedollars, unless you know ofone who can sit with you on your soon-to-beseductive glider. Quid pro quo can be so entertaining. Paint removal can be a real chore. the rust and paint (trust your ¯.. The palntln~ DIYD on this one: it isn’t anything like a big vibrator. is where you e.an Jollies are definitely limited); really express or take it down to the friendly yourselves with Dip ’n Strip furniture refinisher and pay a modest color, color, color! stun to have it done for you. Go wild with The DIYD strongly recommends the latter, if only for those hold colors the reason that people tendeo - it pays to fo paint these chairs with leadbased paints, and inhaling the advertise! dust is quite dangerous. Or irritate l~he Got most of that loose paint and rust off now? Oh, you’re neighbors with a doing so well! As you may hot pink that remember from painting our kitchenproject,weleftarather matches your enthusiastic dyke vigorously lawn ~larnln~oes. shaking her can of Rust-OLeum Well, girlfriend, it is The possibilities your time to shine! are endless! Put your stripling chair on newspaper and put on the coat ¯ of spray primer. Darlings, I know you’re : coIor conscious, but it doesn’t matter if ¯¯ you use the red or the gray primer. It really doesn’t. Please follow the directions on ¯ the can. Keep the can about 10 inches ¯ away from yourwork, use a slow side to : sidemotion, andrememberthatthreelight ¯ coats are better than one heavy one that ¯ willrun and trailandjust ruin your look of ¯ urban sophistication. Put an extra coat on ¯ curces and any other rust:prone areas. ¯ Use a minimum of three color coats to ¯ finish the project. ¯ The painting is where you can really ¯ express yourselves with color, color, color ! ¯ Go wild with those bold colors -it pays to : advertise! Or irritate the neighbors with a ¯ hot pink that matches your lawn ¯ flamingoes. The possibilities are endless ! ¯ And if you don’t like the color, paint over it. It’s a tradition with this sort offurniture. ¯ Consider it your cultural contribution ¯ to the neighborhood, and fix your DIYD a ¯ cocktail when you are done. She prefers ¯ Manhattans ! ¯ Two cherries, of course. Ciao, Bella! The Hate Crimes Prevention Act would address these limitations by allowing federal involvement when necessary and thereby helping to forge and strengthen a lasting partnership between state and federal law enforcement officials m fighting hate crimes. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act limits the federal governrnent’ sjurisdiction to only themost serious violent .crimes directed at persons, not property crimes. Lead House sponsors ofthe Hate Crimes Prevention Act are Reps.. John Conyers, D-Mich; Mictiael Forbes, D-N.Y.; Connie Morella, R-Md;TammyBaldwin, D-Wis.; and House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act was passed by the Senate this summer as an amendment to the Commerce, State, Justice Appropriations Bill. President Clinton has-promised to sign HCPA into law if it is passed by ¯ ¯ Congress. This bill would allow states with inadequate resources to take advantage of ¯ Department of Justice resources and personnel in limited cases that have been ¯ authorized by the Attorney General. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act has broad ¯ bipartisan backing and support from notable law enforcement agencies and state and local leaders, including 22 state ¯ attorneys general, the National Sheriff’s ¯ Association, President Bush’s former Attorney General Dick Thoruburgh, the Police Foundation and the U.S. ¯ Conference of Mayors. ¯ Hate.crimes basedon sexual orientation were up 8% in 1997, according to the ¯ latest FBI statistics. Sexual orientation ," was the third highest category of hate ¯ crimes behind race and religion and ¯ represented 14% of all hate crimes ¯ reported. Currently, hate crimes ¯ monitoring and enforcement consists of a ¯ patchwork of laws that offer citizens ¯ varying see Congress, p. 12 by Esther Rothblum, Ph.D. get cervical cancer." Two women even Dr. Sue Wilkinson is currently reported that they were considered conducting the first national survey of "virgins" by the medical profession Lesbian health in the United Kingdom because they had had sex withwomen but with doctoral student Julie Fish. The" not with men! survey managed to contact Lesbians in But the pap smear is not a comfoitable almost every postal district of the United procedure for many women, and may be Kingdom, from the southern particularly painful, uncomtip of England to the islands Cervical cancer fortable, unusual or trauoff northern Scotland. Over. appears to l~e matizing for Lesbians. 38% of 1,000 Lesbians answered the Lesbians in the U.K. study questionnaire, which focused .connected. with reported .that they. had never on breast cancer, mammo- sexual activity, had a cervical smear for this grams, breast self-exam, particularly reason. One Lesbian reported cervical cancer, and pap that she viewed a speculum as staears, penetrative sex "a huge metal crocodile." I recently spoke with Sue wlt]~men. Tl~is Othershadheardhorrorstories about the early results of this . from friends and partners that studY, Which focus oncervica1 Is why Lesi~ians the procedure was aversive, screemng. Unlike many lmve traditionally humiliating, or painful. cancers, cervical cancer has ]~een vlewed as Finally,, Lesbians raised an early warning stage, with questions about havingamale abnormal cells present. This is at low rls]~ for health provider "pokingwhy women are told to have cervical cancer, around in my body," regular pap smears (or cervical specifically, in the vagina. Or smears, as they’re called in the. But Lesglans they were concerned that the U.K.). may lmve ]~ad health care provider con- SueandJuliefoundthat 12% sex with men ducting the procedure would of Lesbians eligible for result in questions about their cervical screening had previously, and/ sexual activity or would NEVERhadapap:mear.This or t]aey may ]~e assume they were heterois higher than comparable U.S. sexual. figures of 5% found by the ha’~cln~ sex with This important study raises National Lesbian Health Care men evenw]a~le some questions about cervical smears. DoLesbians whohave However,Surveiynthisthefiguremid-19lo80w’Se.isr eallln~ t]aemselves neverhadintercourseneedpap than that of 17% for women in Lesl~ans. smears at all, or need pap the general U.K. population Cervical cancer smears less often? How can who report never having had a cervical smear. What is is not well pap smears be performed in a matter that is more positive surprising about these low understood, so for Lesbians? figures for womenin the U.K. ineludin~ is that the U.K. has national Fish can be contacted at the women, Sue Wilkinson and Julie health service. Pap smears are Lesl~ians, may l~e Department of Social free, and women receive a at rls]~ for other Sciences, Loughborough reminder letter every five years,withtwoorthreefollow- reasons unrelated University, Loughborough LE11 3TU United Kingdom. uplettersiftheydon’tcomein tosexualaetlvity. - Esther Rothblum is for the pap sinear, Professor ofPsychology at the When Sue andJulieexaminedLesbians’ ¯ University of Vermont and Editor of the written comments about cervical Journal of Lesbian Studies. She can be screening, they found that one reason for " reached at John Dewey Hall, University non-attendance was lack of time. "But " of Vermont, Burlington, VT. E-maih apart from that, it looks as though the two ¯ esther.rothblum@uvm.edu. main categories of response are-that " Lesbians feel they don’t need a smear and ° secondly, negative aspects of the ¯ procedure," said Sue, "they imagine the " procedurewillbepainful,orembarrassing, ° levels of legal protection depending on or thatthey will encounterheterosexism." where they live. Twenty-two states and Cervicalcancerappearstobeconnected " the District of Columbia have hate crimes with sexual activity, particularly " laws that include sexual orientation. penetrative sex with men. This is why ¯ Twentystateshavelawsthatdonotinclude Lesbians have traditionally been viewed- ¯ sexual orientation. Eight states have no as at low risk for cervical cancer. But " hate crimes laws at all. Lesbians may have had sex with men ¯ SpeakingwithTFN, Orr&Beauchamp previously, and/or they may be having ¯ expressed their disappointment with how sex with men even while calling Tulsa district attorney staff members themselves Lesbians. " handled theprosecution of their attackers. Cervical cancer is not wall understood, ° They indicated that had Orr not had so women, including Lesbians, may be at ¯ .professional experience as a journalist, risk for other reasons unrelated to sexual : specifically covering crime stories, they activity, In the U.K. study, about 40% of : likely would have given up in frustration Lesbians felt they did not need a cervical : while trying to get information abouthow screen because they had never had ¯ the case was going. Their perception intercourse. Many Lesbians wrote that : remains that Tulsa DA considered the they had specifically been told this by a " assault to unimportant because they are doctor or nurse. Examples of this were: : Gay men. ’¢I’he doctor has decided that I do not ¯ Orr noted that finally they contacted require one as I am a Lesbian and have " Susan Ellerbach, managing editor of The never had a sexual relationship with a : T.ulsaWorld, andthatoulyafterTheWorM man," or "the nurse informed methat it : wrote about their experience, and having was virtually unheard of for a Lesbian to to out himself see Congress, p. 13 Red Rock Tulsa Free Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tuesday Testing, 5 -8 pm Pride Center, 1307 East 38th Wednesday Testing, 5-8 pm Red Rock, 1724 East 8th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist 11 am, Sunday ’1314 North Greenwood 587-1314 We knowyou’re going to love this[ Restaurant & Cabaret East First Street 18-599-9949 Massage Therapy Services ¯ Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 News Better Than ..Ever, Pride Merchandise, Magazines & More 610-8510 8120 East 21 st (21 st+Memorial, next to Boot City) We buy back good used adult magazines. CoUntry Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236 Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm [GTA m~mb~r Call 341.6866 International Red Rock Tulsa O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325 AUTHENTIC FRESH 1TALIAN RAINBOW CUSINE TROUT ofEureka Springs Voted Number One in Arkansas! (501) 253-6807, Clo4ed Wednesday 5 Center Street, Eureka Springs, AR 72632 TOM NEAL BUILDING & GARDEN DESIGN 583- 1248 COCONUT BEER BATTERED SHRIMP PRIME RIB FRESH CLAMS VEGIE STIR FRY COG~UILE ST. JA~IUES MAHI-MAHI RACKOF LAMB CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE Compatibility reportv for you and"- your frieTids or lovers¯ 599-0717 Gay Owned, Operated & R~xbow Proud Gay Mecca of the Ozarks Beautiful Eureka Springs, Arkansas by Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D. . My lawn is wilting. So are a lot of my friends’ relationships. Maybe it’s the wicked summer heat that makes people touchy and irritable. Recent casual gossip ¯ nearly broke up my friend Shawn and his ". lover. The boyfriend walked when he ¯ heard stories of Shawn’s previous exploits. ¯ Emotionally, he couldn’t handle knowledgeofhis lover’s onetimerelations with : other guys. We’ve got a name for that emotion: ¯ sexual jealousy. Shawn’s tmhappiness prompted me to think about the green emotion. Jealous feelings, and their sorry consequences, are an endlessly fascinating motif in popular novel and film. Besides, most of us have experienced jealously in person. We’ve learned to use the word to label a peculiar mental state and aching body sensation sparked by our love interests. The word has been around for years. English speakers of the 12th century borrowed ’jealousy’ from Old French. And those speakers on the continent previously had adopteditfrom the Latinzelus, derived from the even more ancient Greek zelos, that originally m,,eant something like ardor or "fervor." Jealousy andzeal-andjealous and zealot - are linguistic cousins, all derived from the samerootconceptofemotional upheaval and intensity. Jealousy’ s deep cultural and linguistic roots indicate the popularreachofboth emotion andconcept. We use a language of jealousy to understand why Shawn’s boyfriend dumped him. Whose lips were kissing Shawn before his? Whose arms had already held that waist? Yet, anthropologists debate the facts ofhuman emotion. Can we say that there are emotions that we all feel because we are human? If so, which ones? Love, hate, happiness, sadness, fear, anger? Are there other emotions that people in one culture cultivate and learn to feel thatareunknown or less important m other societies? Just how normal - and how universal - are feelings such as sexual jealousy? Those anthropologists of the sociobiological persuasion often figure that jealousy ~s indeed a human universal ¯ with an adaptive function. Men are never completely sure that the baby a woman carries is theirs. Jealousy works = so goes the story - to motivatemen to police their women in order to better the odds that the.y have fathered her babies. An), easygoing man withdut Some yet~to-beidentified gene for.jealousy would have contributed less to thehuman gene pool in that he may not have fathered the children he thought he did. Butwhatof women?They always know that they are the mothers of their children, so what should they care if the guys mess around elsewhere? Andwhat of Shawn? It’s unlikely thathis boyfriendwas jealous because of evoluationary womes that a rival would make him pregnant. We could argue that our bodies have an inbnilt heritage of emotions, includln. jealously, nomatterwho arelovers happen to be. Still, other anthropologists argue that our body feelings are only half the story. The other half - perhaps the more important half - is the way we have of labeling, understanding, and talking about those feelings. We sense a rush of chemicals through our brains and body, butwe can’tknow what is happening to us until we put these feelings into words. Anddifficult cultures have different ways of.classifying and interpreting those same chemical flushes. anthropologists debate the facts ofhuman emotion. Can we say that emotions that we all feel because we are human? If so, whleh ones? Love, bate, bappiness, sadness, f~r, anger? Are there other emotions that people in one culture eultlvate and learn to feel that are unknown or less important in other soeieties? You may have heard of the German emotion schadenfreude - which is pleasurefelt atsomeoneelse’ s misfortune. Many of us also take pleasure from other’s misfortunes, but English has nowordthat specifically labds this twisted enjoyment. Does this lin,g,nistic gap mean that wedon t sense this pleasure as deeply as do Germans? And even if jealousy is a human universal, it may be that some ofus experience the feeling more intensely. Gore Vidal reports in his autobiography Palimpsestthat he and his lover never have sex. This he finds this on the street. His "lover," instead, provides breakfast conversation and other forms of sexless companionship. Clearly, many couples have created similar "open" relationships inwhich they are able to at least mute any feelings of sexual jealousy, Some occasionally have campaigned to open up all relationships. During the 1960s, many : preached and sometimes practiced "free love."They hopedto stifle sexualjealousy ¯ in order to rework the economy of ¯ relationships. No one was meant to own ¯ anyone else. No one ought get jealous. Sex was healthy recreation, freedom, even ¯¯ spiritual; jealousy was wrongly possessive, limiting, and neurotic. ¯ It was no dice, though. For most of us, ¯ jealousy remains the flip side of love- or of love American-style anyway. The ¯ babyboomers failed to stamp outjealousy ¯ because they could not remake the ¯ associated emotion of love. It remains ¯ ¯ might) hard to love and not get jealous. If you don’t feel jealous, can you really be in love? It is plausible that humans in other ¯ places and at other times have experienced ¯ and understood the body flashes that we ] call jealousy in various ways. But around ¯ here, don’t let me catch you messing ¯ around! Lamont Lindstrom teaches anthro- ¯ pology at the University of Tulsai: ¯ profesgionally, did local law enford~ment; ¯ take the casemore seriously. SpecifiCally, ¯ two of their assailants had not been made : to perform their sentences whichinduded community service and a fine to the court. ¯ Orr and Beauchamp also stated that it is ¯ typical in assaults of this type for the ~ victims to receive compensation for their ¯ losses due to the assault, and that they ¯ specifically requested compensationfrom ¯ theDistrictAttomeys, see Congress, p.14 butwonderedifthe averagefantasy reader would follow that far - they have, and gladly for the most part. I get letters from straight guys saying essentially "I shouldn’t be ok with this, but I am!" even if it makes them a little uncomfortable any-way. Others have said it made it easier to talk with Gay relatives. Ifmy stories have anysocial value, perhaps it’s .that. Mostly, I just follow my muse where~she leads and hope it works. JC: Andhow haveyou managed to do it so well? LF: Love is love. JC:Andhow doyou keep trackofall the .intrigues? My head is spinningfrom what l’ve gotten through in "Traitor’s Moon!" LF: Copious notes and charts on the wall. I see that Bantam (though they cut my glossary, now available on.my web page) left a blank page at the ends. I hope people will use it for notes, like I did reading "Trainspotting." The next book, ’‘The Bone Doll’s Twin" goes back in history to one of the. Skalan queens, but there will bemoreNightnmners, too. A&S are already prowling restlessly about my brain, hungry for more work. JC: 1 understand you’re appearing at Gaylaxicon, a sci-fi convention for Gay and Lesbian fans of the genre in Alexandria, Virginia. LF: Gaylaxicon promises to be a lot of fun. I’ve had a lot of contact with the organizers and they are simply the best I’ve ever dealt with. Hope to teach a writing workshop forthemwhile I’m there. JC." Have you heard of Loreena McKennitt? Her music and appearance reminds me ofsome ofyour "aurenfaie" characters. LF: Aurenfaie? I’ll claim her. "Mask and Mirror" is my personal favorite of all her disks. My husband is a great fan of female vocalists and has amassed quite a collection, which I dip into. (My tastes seem torunmore to GeorgeThoroughgood and Melissa Etheridge a lot of the time, along with someLeonardCohen and Rufus Wainwright, a new discovery.) JC: Andon thatmusical note, l ’d like to say thank you to Lynnfor sharing some of her inspirations, writings, and - methods behind the madness’ with us. !ts 51 st season wiihpianist John Browning m a program featuring Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Berlioz. Prior to the concert at 7pm, long time radio man and the voice of the OK Mozart Festival (Simon Estes - he’s the bestest!) Edward Dumit will lead "Musical Moments" a pre-concert discussion. For more information, call the Phil at 747-7445. Also at the end of Sept. Heller Theatre, one of Tulsa’s theatre companies that actually interested in newer works (as opposed-to recycling the same old stuff, again and again and again), are presenting "Dallas to LaGuardia R.T." on Sept. 23- 25 and Sept.. 30-OcL 2, a play about a couple that misses a flight and winds up invited to stay .over with complete strangers. Later in Oct. Heller will present "Fortinbras" revisiting Hamlet in a contemporary political context. Early in Oct. the Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers presents its Celebration of Books on Oct. 1-2 at OSU-Tulsa with a remarkable assemblage of artists, even including some Gay ones. Some names include Michael Wallis, William ¯¯ Bernhardt,GuyLogsdgn,CliftonTaulbert, Eddie Faye Gates, C.J. Cherryh, Rich ¯ Fisher and folksinger Michael Martin ." Murphey. Info: 594-8215. ¯ Alsoin Oct. the Performing Arts Center Trust presents Sabella, featuring"global" ¯ music on Oct. 2 and on Oct. 8th & 9th, ¯ TPACT’s Celtic series (now so popular that they’ve added 2nd performances, and alas, forgotten their friends who helped ¯ them before the Celtic series got so ¯ popular) will start with Natalie ¯ MacMaster,fiddler extraordinaire. I don’t think any of the Celtic series artists I’ve ¯ seen have ever been bad, so check it out. ." And on that same busy weekend, both ¯ Tulsa’s and Oklahoma City’s Gay ¯ communities are presenting arts events in ¯ honor of National Coming Out Day. ¯ OUTART’99inOKCwillfeature 10new ." release films, two plays, a music special ¯ and visual artists. The Gala opening, A ¯ Black Tie Dinner and A Movie, Friday, ¯ Oct. 8th will present the southwest : premiere of the film"Edge of Seventeen" ¯ as well as a buffet dinner and wine bar. ¯ For more information or tickets, see the ¯ advertisement on page 16, or call 405- ¯ 752-2762 or 800-722-8866. ¯ That same busy weekend, TOHR and ¯ the Gay Community Center will hold ¯ TOHR’s first film festival at the Center. ¯ The first film will be shown at 7:30pro on Thursday~ Oct. 7 with films also being ¯ shown on Fri. evening and on Sat. ¯ afternoon and evening. Call 743-4297 for ¯ more information. : It also appears that local presentation of ¯ Gay and Lesbian films may show back up on a big screen. AMC Southroads 20 will ¯ present a Lesbian themed film, "Better ¯ Than Chocolate" on Sept. 10, and a Gay ¯ film, "Trick" on Oct. 1st. The key to ¯ getting theseon aregular basis is to support the theatre that takes the risk. S o vote with your dollars ! None was ever received. In fact,-this ¯ became an issue in Orr’s Congressional testimony. Rep. Mary Bonn, widow of the ¯ late Sonny Bonn, attacked err and ¯ Beauchamp saying that the Tulsa District ¯ Attorneys office claimed that they had ¯ been uncooperative with th DA and had ¯ notfilled out the forms necessary toreceive ¯ compensation..Orr and Beauchamp ¯ counter that not only-did they not receive ¯ the forms, thry did not even know of their existance until Bonn raised the issue. ¯ Commenting to TFN, Human Rights ¯ Campaign Political Director Winnie Stachelberg said, "I urge "the Gay and ¯ Lesbian community ofTulsa to act now in ¯ support of this bill (HCPA), so that incidents like these are prevented.... i~t is ¯ important that the; Gay and LeSbian ¯ community of Oklahoma is protected at a federal if not at a state level.’" Want to get involved? Need to get tested for HIV? Need a Coming Out Support Group? Call 743-GAYS (4297) Tulsa Gay Community Services Center " 1307 E. 38th at Peoria, 2rid floor ¯ ¯ For Good Home Friendly, honest, & very experienced ¯ 42 year young realtor seeks sincere &motivated buyers &sellers. Into MLS. You won’t be. ¯ disappointed. 712-2252 or 745-2245 John Kirk,-Keller Williams. Realty . FRE 100% LOCAL Per o a M use code 393 Megaplnone aoes not prescreen callers & assumes no ]JabJlit~ for personal meetings. 24hr Customer Service. 18+ :~nly. © lggg Pe -- SprinL Sprint PCS" The Clear Alternative to Cellular Sprint PCS" Select Retailer New Sprint PCS Phone Less instore rebate Net cost Buy any Sprint PCS Phone and get $25 of!!* Everyone/s approved! All Sprint PCS service plans include: ¯ Free Voicemail ¯ Free Call ar ID ¯ Free Call Waiting ¯ Free 3 way calling ¯ No activation fee ¯ No contract reouired ¯ 100% Sprint PCS Nationwide Network. Tulsa Locations: 2001 S Garnett, 437-2444 3733 S. Memorial, 6600344 1216 S. 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Call 1-800-326-MEET SMALL TOWN G!RL 36-year:old BF, looking for a F, to have a good time with and maybe more. "~16927 TULSA NATIVE 30- year-old WF seeking friendship and possible relationship with another Woman, 25-45. If you’re feminine and enjoy the company of a sensitive soft butch who enjoys nature, poetry, animals° and music, then .give me a call. (Tulsa) "z~10130 HOW DOES THIS SOUND TO YOU? 20- year-old WF, 5’3", brown/blue, likes playing soft music, dancing and having fun. Looking for a nonjudgmental, feminine Woman with similar interests, for dating and maybe more. (Tulsa) "~21008 To respond, browse or check your messages, call 1-900-786-4865 $1.99/Min. 18+ Discreet ° Confidential ¯ Easy ¯ their own training - they do haw ay : about curriculum. Ifnothing .else, ~ ays : parents can ask to have their , v~.:~ Chicago school officials- who stress ¯ excused from a lesson the-: find that "It’s Elementary" will not be shown . objecttonable: SaysP~,~shall, Mywarm g to students -are atadskittishabouttalking to parents would be: Beware.’ " about, their plan. They confirm that the In Oklahoma, there’s been no public district’s 589principals will view thefilm " outcry about "It’s Elementary" because beginning in September and receive a " the Oklahoma Educational Television copy of the Video for their schools - a plan ¯ Associationhas chosen not to air thepiece. funded by Lesbian tennis star Billie Jean " Malcomn Wall, executive director of King.But several teacherswho vealready " OEFA, claimed that OETA’s decision viewed the film on their-own declined to : not toair theprogram was not based onthe be interviewed out of feat of criticism, content, i.e. Gay & Lesbian issues but A city official who helped get the film " rather that OETA is offered far more - in part due to backing from chicago " programs thaJa it can ,possibly. air. He Mayor Richard Daley ~ .into the dis~t characterized it as.a routine passing over. was more forthcoming. She says the " However, Wallis relatively new at OETA decision was aimed at fostering tolera9,ce ¯ and the association has had a history of and, in turn, preventing violepce ag..mns,t " mostly refusing to air programs with Gayand Lesbian students. "It’s pmcttcm. Lesbian and Gay content. One notable Itmakes good sense. It’s about safety_, for " exception was the airing of an award children.Idon’tthinkanybody,regardless winning program, "Breaking the Code" of their religious background, can argue ¯ about the Gay man who broke the Nazi with that," says Mary Morten, Daley’s ¯ messagecodeinWorldWarlI. However, liaison on Gay and Lesbian issues. " OETA first refused to air this program School officials in San Francisco, who ] and did so only after being pressured by are also using "It’s Elementary" have ¯ Oklahoma City’s Gayly Oklaho_.man gone as far as imposing a ban on anti-Gay newspaper and Tulsa Family News. "they slurs. "Go stand on a playground. I " also waited to air the program later in the guarantee you that you will hear within " summer of 1998 after the Oklahoma Ru.n.ut.es..ra.os..~a.yin~",,,’Oh, that’s so Gay¯ ¯ Legislature was out of session, instead of What at(you a fag? says KevinGogin, airing in May or June like many PBS director of support services for sexual : affiliates did. minority youth for the San Francisco ." Unified School District who regularly ¯ speaks to teachers and principals nationwide. ¯ Moves to address Gay and Lesbian " Schmitzarrivedhometofindthenoteand issues in the classroom are not, however, " light in his doorway from Amedure. without opponents, among them tough- Schmitz withdrew money from his bank, talking radio talk show host Dr. Laura " bought shells and a shotgun and drove to Schlessinger and several religious groups " Amedure’s mobile home. Schmitz went who have made "It’s E"lementary" a "¯ inside to see if Amedure was home, then went back to his car, got the gun and shot priority target. Patti Johnson - a member of the " ~maedure twice in the chest- all while Colorado Board of Education who has wearingthegreenbowtieandwhitemxedo spoken out against use of the filmin her shirt from his job as a waiter. state - says she agrees with having a no- Pendergast told jurors that Schmitz slur policy but says some teachers are " werreactedtomereembarrassment."The going too far. "I don’t thinkyou have to go ouly reason that murder is an issue is that into bl , deep explanattons, especlall.y Scott Amedurewas Gay and (Schmitz’s) when kids are little, Johnson says. It s manhood, so to speak, was insulted on kind of like when you want to stop a 2- national TV," she said. "Wall, you know year-old fromrunninginto the street. T.hey what? Get over it." Jurors said while some don’t always understand death or dying, agreed with. Sabbota at first, they But they understand a quick swat on the eventually decided that Schmitzacted too slowly for the crime to be an actofpassion. butt." One official at the Washington-based "There was just way too much time Family Research Council, calls the film involved for a reasonable person to make ,,anindoctrinationtool-plainandsimple." some choices," said juror Bruce Sole. Sabbota said he would appealthe "Whyareyoucreating aresource to create abei~htened sensitivity.., on a behavior verdict, saying Oakland County Circuit choice that is cons!,,dered problematic to a Judge Wendy Potts should ,have letjurors whole lot of folks? ’ asks JanetParshall, a hear about Schmitz’s history of mental former teacher and spokeswoman for the illness andalcoholism. Hehadbeentreate~t. nonprofit organization which is known " for manic depression and tried to comnnt for its anti-Gay policy positions. , suicide four times in the years before the Filmmaker Debra Chasnoff says she s killing. "We knew it was an uphill battle simply providing resources to teachers from the start," Sabbota said. whoalready have to deal with such issues Ms. Jones and the producers of the in the classroom. "It just doesn’t work to show were not called to testify, as they say, ’We’re ,going to all be race to one hadbeenintheprevioustrials.Thejuryin another; don t use those words here.’ I the civil case awarded Amedure’s family thinkyouneed to explain who those words $25million; that verdictis being appealed. are hurtful to," says Chasnoff, director Jurors said the show played a role in the and co-producer of "It’s Elementary. kilhng,butwas not the sole cause. I think The debate is not likdy to end soon. most of us felt it Was a whole series of Thisfall,Chasnoff’s SanFrancisco-based events, H~,ht sal . media center also will begin distributing a After seven jurors spoke to the media, curriculum guide for.elementary teachers Amedure’s father, Frank Amedure St., that includes lessons they can incorporate shook hands with each one. "ijust want to into discussions about Gay and Lesbian thank the jury. God bless you," he said. Schrmtz’s father, Allw~ Sc~unitz, said 1ssues. " Such moves frustrate Parshall, who he didn’t ka~ow what to think about the notes that - w~le parents don’t ha;’e verdict. "T~crc’s no wwcaer~, or losers much control over what teachers use lot here," he said. "’Everybody loses." Oklahoma Cit~ Oklahoma nteen. , ~m &Hallways, Out ¯ Ramr Bkde Smile ¯ Likei~ "BroadwayDam~e .Theatre Productiom~ Talesf?om the Closet .Drama Queens etro Mens Chorus Women’s ChO~u, "Plus=Over 20 Aru)ts various mediums on disflay.and sale For More Information Visit our web site at: www.gayokc.com/outart99 or call 405-752-2762 Steamroller Blues - 18th & Boston - presents a Blues Evening a -benefit to support HIV & AIDS services featuring Tulsa Bands Wed., Sept. 29 7:30- midnight 7th Annual Walkathon for AIDS Services Saturday, October 2 Veterans Park 18th & Boulder 9am, registration 9:45 step off voicemail: 579-9593 Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [1999] Tulsa Family News, September 1999; Volume 6, Issue 9 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource September 1999 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, August 1999; Volume 6, Issue 8 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 newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/591 'It's Elementary' 1999 African Americans AIDS AIDS drugs AIDS research AIDs Walk American Airlines arts and entertainment attorneys Bars Big Brothers Big Sisters businesses children churches Colorado Community Center Dave Fleischer divorce Do-It-Yourself Dyke Don't Ask Don't Tell Dyke Psyche Entertainment Notes Esther Rothblum Garden Notes Gay Studies hate crimes homophobia Human Rights Campaign James Christjohn Jenny Jones Kerry Lobel Lamont Lindstorm Mary Schepers Missoula Murder National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Native Americans needle exchange Orrin Hatch Partner Benefits performing arts Pride Read All About It restaurants Tim Beauchamp Tom Neal Tony Orr Tulsa Tulsa Family News Tulsa Two-Spirited Indian Men's Support Group United Utah Wichita https://history.okeq.org/files/original/e92cbe9f6e47f9c4effc4fb0bb52afd2.jpg ec05d0b04955b1eb5cf8a95026fa105a https://history.okeq.org/files/original/a491daca8506c6dda15fc3c8e89d9ab3.pdf d6c2386d3138ff49ce5369754007ff63 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 newspaper periodical Text Any textual data included in the document Gay Couple Murdered In California; Senate Passes TwoAnti-Hate Crimes Bills HAPPY VALLEY, Calif. (AP) - In this tiny, largely conservative farming community, Gary Matson and Winfield Mowder were accepted. It didn’t matter that they were Gay. They gained respect through their community Work. They helped create alocal children’s museum, and Matson helped establish the 20-year-old Redding Farmer’s Market. Now tWO brothers who Eave been linked to a series of arson fires at Sacramento synagogues are accused of killing the couple, police said. Authorities said one of the alleged gunmen, Benjamin Matthew Williams, sometimes sold vegetables andherbs atM~son’s ~narket. "It’s beyond words that the farmers market may be the connectionbetween the victims and thekillers," said Margaret Jensen, who tends a market stall stocked with squash and onions. "If they burned the synagogues, too, that takes it to a level that is just staggering from someplace we think of as a small community." The bodies of Matson, 50, and Mowder, 40, were discovered July I at theirhomeinHappy Valley, a small community just outside of Redding in northern California. They had been shot in their bed. Afew days later, after one of the victims’ credit cards was used, police staked out aYuba City business where the creditcardpurchasewas to be delivered, andarrested the Williams brothers. The brothers were both armed and one was wearing a bulletproof vest, police said. Yuba City is about 120 miles southeast of Redding. see Hate, p. 10 Council Oak Mens Chorale Presents August Concert Other UpcomingEvents: Feast + AIDS Walk TULSA-TheCouncil Oak Men’sChorale, Tulsa’s Gay men’s singing organization will present a concert, Brothers Forever on August 27 & 28 at 8pro in the John Williams Theatre at Tulsa’s Performing Arts-Center. COMC will be joined in concert by Positive Voices of Dallas, Texas. Areception willfollow theperformances and tickets, $12, are available through the Performing Arts Center box office at 596-7111 or 800-364-7111 (outside of Tulsa). Also, coming up is the annual Feast for Friends, a ftmdraiser .for-THE NAM-ES~ PROJECT-,. the. AIDS Memorial .Quilt. In the event, organizations and individuals join each other for private dinners at which theattendees donate to supportTHENAMES PROJECT and then all of the various dinner groupS’ come together for entertainment’and dessert at 8:30pro at the Southern Hills Marriott. For more information, call 748-3111. Later in October, the annual AIDS Walk will be held on October 2nd. For more information, call 579-9593. DIRECTORY/LETTERS P. 2 EDITORIAL P. 3 US & WORLD NEWS P. 4 HEALTH NEWS P. 6 ENTERTAINMENT . P. 8 COMMUNITY CALENDAR P. 9 READ ALL ABOUT IT P. 11 DYKE PSYCHE P. 12 GAY STUDIES P. 13 " Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered TuIsans, Our Families + Friends " Tuisa’s Largest Circulation CommunityPaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations ° TOHR Center News: President "Resigns; $5k Grant Received TOHR&Community CenterformerpresidentSteve Horn (right) and with hisfriend Phil at Pride ’99. TULSA - Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, Inc. (TOHR), Oklahoma’s oldest non-religions Gay and parentorganization of the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center has experienced a change in leadership. Board president Steve Horn resigned in July in order to take anew job in Dallas. Horn had been employed with CFS. Upon his resignation, TOHR vice president, Greg Gatewood became president. Gatewood praised Horn for his leadership and noted that the change in leadership would not affect any of the programs that TOHRand the Center had planned. He noted that for August, the ¯ organization had calle~,,a work day at the,,C.enter on 8/8 at noon, a planning meeting for MilleniumPride, the Parade and Picuic Next Gay Community ’ for 2000 on 8112 at 7:30 and acommunity potluck with a"Cajun" " theme for 8/21at Tpm. Meeting Called for 9/14 Other significant news for the Center was the receipt of a " $5,000 grant for general operating expenses from the Gill TULSA -. With about 40 people attending, ° Foundation. Center volunteer of the year, Tim Gillean, was representing most of Tulsa Lesbian and Gay, and ¯ responsible for writing the grant application~ New president HIV related groups, the first community wide ¯ Gatewood emphasized that while the grant would help the Center meeting in several years brought together young :. develop a small emergency reserve, see TOHR, p. 14 and not so young, Gay and non-Gay, political and non-partisan groups. Therepresentattves spent over two hours discussing their group’s goals and what ¯ NGLTF Starts Family Program common ground they may have. : VeteranAttorney Paula Ettelbrick to Lead Initiative WashingtonHigh School’sGay-StraightAlliance and TU’s BLGT Alliance were there along with ¯ JULY 26, 1999--The Policy Institute of the National Gay and most of the Gay-friendly religaons groups in the ¯ Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) today announced creation of a city. Cimarron Alliance and Tulsa Oklahomans for ° Family Policy program to secure inclusive definitions of family Human Rights also attended with RAIN, the ¯ in national, state and local policy contexts. The Family Policy Regional AIDS Interfaith Network, and HOPE, ¯ Program will engage in research, policy analysis, coalition HIV Outreach, Prevention and Education as well. building, strategy development and collaborative work with a Under the facilitation of Marty Newman and ¯ wide range of family-focused organizations to ensure that the DennisNeill(who’dissuedthecallforthemeeting) ¯ needsofGay, Lesbian~BisexualandTransgender(GLBT)families a number of possible community goals were ¯ are considered and protected, identified: to replace the Tulsa Community AIDS "We are in the midst of a revolution in family creation within Partnership funding (which is due to end soon), ¯ GLBT communities, but ironically, and inaccurately, our relocate the Community Center when its lease ¯ movement is characterized as being anti-family," said NGLTF ends, ~o-ordinatecommtmity fundraisingandeven:s : Executive Director Kerr3, Lobel. "This Program at NGLTF’s to better support various organizations, and where Policy Institute takes aim at the myths that persist about our appropriate, do political and civil fights related families and will formulate a genuinel y pro-family public policy work. see Aleetin~, ~. 1] agenda from the vantage point of GLBT people’s lives." TheFamilyPolicyprogramatthePolicyInstituteisfundedby Saint Jerome to Host major gifts from several parents., including Seattle City Councilwoman and philanthropist Tina Podlodowski, and Ordination Ceremony California-based donors Jennifer and Kathy Levinson through a TULSA - The Parish Church of Saint Jerome will gift from the Lesbian Equity Foundation of Silicon Valley. welcome clergy and lay leaders of the Evangelical Urvashi Vaid, director of the Policy Institute announced that AnglicanChurchinAmericafromacross thenation nationally known Lesbian attorney and family advocate, Paula for the denomination’s annual ordination Ettelbrick, has been hired to direct the Family Policy Program. ceremonies. The RightReverendCraig Bettendoff, Ettelbrickha~ worked onlocal, state and national family policy presiding bishop will ordai~ or receive candidates issues for the past 13 years. She is former legal director of duringtheregularworshipservicesofSaintJerome Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund, where she developed on Sunday, August 8th at llam. The weekend the group’s.emphasis on family advocacy and founded the eventsbeginatlpmonSaturday,August7thandan Family RelatioushipslProject. She served as publicpolicy director Evensong service will be held that day at 6pro with for the National Center for Lesbian Rights. dinner to follow. Since 1994, Ettelbrick has been legislative counsel for the Candidatesfortbediaconatewillbepresentfrom Fan.pire State Pride Agenda, where she is credited with helping North Carolina, Arkansas, Illinois, and Oklahoma. wm passage of New York City’s comprehensive domestic BishopBettendorfwillalsoordaintothe presbytery, . partnership policy and drafting innovative municipal and state ¯ pro-GLBT family laws. candidates fromNew Mexico,New York, Colorado, ¯ California and Florida. ¯ Ettelbrick and her partner, Suzanne Goldberg, have a two-year All events are open to the public. For more ¯ old son and are expecting another child in September. She has information, call Father Rick Hollingsworth at the ¯ taught law for 10 years and currently teaches a course on Parish Church of Saint Jerome, 582-3088. ." sexua!i~ty and the_law atNewYorkUni versity Law School and the ¯ UniversityofMichiganLawSchool.Earlierthisyear, Ettelbrick ¯ Served as the National Coordinator of the highly successful Tulsa C.A.R.E.S Gets ""EqualityBegiusatHome"campaigu, spousoredbyNGLTFand Phili.p Morris Grant ¯ tbe Federation ofStatewideLGBTPolitical Orgamzations, which : encompassed 350 rallies and other events in all 50 states plus : TULSA -Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., Tulsa’s Center for : Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia last March. ¯ AIDS Resources, Education and Support, formerly and observed that Ettelbnck s experase will be invaluable to known as the HIV Resource Consortium, has : .thenational GLBTmovement’s efforts to organizearoundfamily : received a grant of $15,000 to its food pantry from ¯ issues. She pointed out that as of June of 1999, almost 50 anti- : the Philip Morris Companies, Inc. : GLBTfamilybillshadbeenfiledinstatelegislaturesthroughout ¯ Stephen C. Parrish, senior vice president for : the country. "This nationwide mobilization against our families : corporate affairs came toTulsathelastweekofJuly ¯ comes directly from the anti-Gay religious fight and its think " to announce the award to the Tulsa Area United ¯ tanks," Vaid said. "It is an effective strategy because the GLBT : Way agency. According to comments reported by ¯ political movement at the state level remains understaffed and ¯ The TulsaWorM,executivedirector, SharonThoele, ¯ underfunded." " indicated that the grant word be matched by The NGLTF Family Policy program will pursue three major " $15,000 from another philanthropic organization " objectives: first, to provide the data and arguments that can " and wonldhelp purchase afreezer and refrigerator. ¯ enable activists to secure inclusive definitions of family in ¯ The award was oneof38 given to organizations in - national, state and local policy frameworks see NGLTF, p. 3 " 24 states, and the only Oklahoma award. Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Bamboo Lounge, 7204 E. Pine *Boston Willy’s Diner, 1742 S. Boston Burger Sisters Restaurant, 1545 S; Sheridan *Empire Bar, 1516 S. Peoria *Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria *Jason’s Deli, 15th & Peoria *Lola’s, 2630 E. 15th *Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St.~ Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S Main *TNT’s,. 2114 S. Memorial *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd 832-1269 592-2143 835-1207 599-9512 583-6666 749-4511 599-7777 749-1563 744-4280 745-9998 834-4234 585-3405 660-0856 584-1308 Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 747-1508 *Affinity News, 8120 E. 21 610-8510 *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000 Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665 Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272 *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313 Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S.Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 Community Cleaning, Ke~by Baker 622-0700 Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620 *Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady 587-2611 Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556 *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838-8503 *Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712-9379 Four Star Import Automotive, 9~06 E. 55th P1. 610-0880 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr~ 628-3709 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026 *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 742-1460 Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440 *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 *International Tours 341-6866 Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712~2750 *Jared’.s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018 David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236 The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460 *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 -599-8070 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466 *Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brady 585-1234 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112 Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951 David A. Paddock, CPA, 4308 S. Peoria, Ste. 633 747-7672 Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626 *Peace of Mind Bookstore, 1401 E. 15 583-1090 The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297 Rainbowz on the River B+B,’POB 696, 74101 747-5932 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921, 747-4746 *Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301 Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829 *Tickled Pink, 3340 S. Peoria 697-0017 *Tulsa Book Exchange, 3749 S..Peoria 742-2007 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558 *Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563 Fred Welch, LCSW, Counsding 743-1733 *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767 Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593 *All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 *B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa Canterbury Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence *Churchofthe RestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314 *Community ofHope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300 *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 *Council Oak Men’s Chorale 585-COMC (2662) *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 POB 4140. Tulsa, OK 74159 e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlinlc net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Sehepers Member of The Associated Press I ssued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of this ¯ ~Lblication are protected by US copyright 199,8 byT~/:~. ¯ ¯ and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part Without: written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. Correspon- -" dence is assumed to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must . be signed & becomes the sole property of TJ.~.~N,~,~. . Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution ¯ points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. ¯ ¯Free Spirit Women’ s Center, callforlocation&info: 58%4669 " Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438 ¯HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 ¯ ¯HIV Resource Consortium, 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 : ¯Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111o¯ HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 . ¯House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood ¯ Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 " ¯MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 ." NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111 NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658 " OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 " ¯OSU-Tulsa (formerly UCT, formerly Rogers U. whoever...) PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 ¯Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 " Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 ¯R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 ¯ Rainbow Business Guild, POB 4106, 74159 665-5174 " ¯Red Rock MentaI Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325 O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults ." O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth ¯ St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 : St. Dtmstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 " ¯ St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 ¯Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 ¯ TNAAPP(Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 " Tulsa County Health Department, 46i6 E. 15 595-4105 ." Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only ¯ Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center " 743-4297 ¯ T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 838-1222 ¯ ¯Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule ¯ ¯Tulsa Community College Campuses ¯ ¯Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297 ¯ Unity Church ofChristianity, 3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 " BARTLESVILLE " ¯Bartlesville Public Library,600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 " OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN ¯Borders Books &Music, 3209NWExpressway 405-848-2667 ’ ¯Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573~4907 ¯ TAHLEQUAH ¯Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 ¯ ¯Tahlequah Unitarian-UniversalistChurch 918-456-7900 ¯ ¯Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 " NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates . EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS : ¯Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253~7734 ¯Jim & Bren.t’s Bistro, 173 S. Main 501-253-7457 ¯ DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. 501-253-6807 ¯ ¯Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. 501-253-5445 " MCC of the Living Spring 501:253-9337." Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 501-253-2776 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-253-5332 : Positive Idea Marketing Plans 501-624-6646 : Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 501-253-6001 : ¯White Light, 1 Center St. 501~253-4074 ¯ FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS5 ¯ ¯Edna’s, 9 S. School Ave. 501-442-2845 ¯ JOPLIN, MISSOURI ¯ Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U 134 417-623-4696 ¯ ¯ is where you can find TFN. Notall are Gay-owned butall are Gay-friendly. Zoning Concerns On the eve of the August 10 bond election for street improvements, I find myself in the awkward position of being asked to vote ’yes’ while some of my basic property rights are under the threat of seizure. Againstmy very vocal protests, the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (TMAPC) recently voted to ’downzone’ myhomefrom amulti-family to a single-family category. I purchased my house with the intention of adding a rental .unit in the future for supplemental income, and I wish to retain the existing zoning designation. Currently, I have theright to build eleven apartments on my property. If the zoning is changed, I will have the right to one single-family dwelling. This constitutes an obvious taking of my development rights without fair compensation, and I resent the TMAPCIs insistence on rezoning without my consent. Doesn’t theTMAPChave enough to do without tinkering with the privateproperty of a taxpayer who is satisfied with the existing zoning? The ’planners’ should attend to their business of more efficient metropolitan planning by allowing residential infill development in the downtownneighborhoods. Then,perhaps we would not be faced with multi-million dollar bond elections to support hundreds of miles of streets and utilities sprawling across such a sparsely populated city. -Sincerely, Paul Uttinger, Tulsa TITLE VII. Earlier this month, another Eastern Districtjudgehadrejected aclaim that harassment aimed at gays is covered under the federal anti-discrimination statute, Title VII ofthe Civil Rights Act of 1964. In rejecting the suit of a Gay postal worker who claimed he was subjected to a hostile work environment, Judge Leonard B. Wexler ruled in Simonton v. Runyon, that discrimination based t~pon sexual orientation did not fall within Title VII’s ban of "sex" discrimination. However, Judge Spatt ruled in Qninnv.~ Nassau County Police Department, No. 97-3310, that there is no such similar limitation upon a claim framed.directly upon the Equal Protection clause in the U.S. Constitution. Title VH specifically enumerates five types of discrimination that it bans, and the list does not include discrimination basedupon sexual orientation, Judge Spatt pointed out. In contrast, he wrote~-the Supreme Court in Romer recognized that homosexuals are directly protected trader the Equal Protection Clause from "invidious and irrational discriminationbased on sexual orientation." Chris P. Termini, of McCabe, Collins, McGeogh & Fowler, represented Nassau County. Two individual defendants were separately represented by Ronald J. Morelli, of Mulholland, Minion & Roe, and Alan J. Reardon. Susan Fitzgerald;of Leeds & Morelli, also represented Mr. Letters Policy Tulsa Family News welcomes letters on issues which we’ve covered or on issues you think need to be considered. You may request that your name be withheld but letters must be signed & have phone numbers, or be hand delivered. 200 wordletters are preferred. Letters to other publications will be printed as js appropriate. In many parts of the United States, Gay, lesbian, " running for any office in this party." While I had good bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) persons have achieved an equal status in the communities in whichthey live. But not in Oklahoma. Not yet. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) recognizes GLBT persons. But not the Oklahoma Democratic Party (ODP). Not yet. In 1998 the DNC adopted a policy requiring each state to nameGLBT delegates to the National Democratic Conventions. The DNC has recognized that the majority of GLBT persons, like the majority of straight persons, are caring and responsible citizens entitled to an equal, not special but equal, presence in the DNC. The ODP, once moving towards inclusion of GLBT persons, now under new party leadership, rejects or ignores that DNC policy. Much has been accomplished in Oklahoma for which GLBT persons should all be proud. Moving a hate crimes bill from a legislative committee to the House floor for debateis somewhatmiraculous, considering the prevailing Oklahoma attitudes only a few years ago when the Oklahoma City Council rejected and terminated the HumanRights Commission. Whathas been accomplished can be attributed to the efforts of GLBT and affiliated political organizations such as OGLPC (Oklahoma Gay & Lesbian Political Committee), The Cimarron Alliance Group, TOHR (Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights), PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) with the support of the NAACP and various labor and faith organizations. Although these organizations are the heroes in the efforts to date, they are not adequate for what is yet to be accomplished. These organizations focus on issues and review candidates from a non-partisan perspective. What is missing in Oklahoma is the partisan participation of GLBT persons, open partisan participation within the major parties, not unlike the women’s organizations and other caucuses. Straights raise families; GLBT persons care for the community in which those families live. Just look at who we are. We are present in every profession and job category as wall as present or have been present in every elected office level, whether we admit it publicly or.not. Throughout recorded history GLBT persons have often been the movers and shakers for communities, the caregivers, the compassionate, the artists, even leaders of historical fame. Themajority ofus as GLBT persons have the same expectations and dedication to our communities as the majority of straights among whom we live and work with side by side. But you would not know that if youJistened to partisan leaders in both major Oklahoma parties. As a congressional candidate for Congress from Oklahoma’s Sixth District in 1996 and again in 1998, I made many friends with Democrats. I know and have good contacts with Democrat. leaders in each of the 24 counties comprising the Sixth District. That is an asset that I believe valuable as a party worker. I let it be known that I wanted to serve as the District Secretary when the incumbent indicated the day before the convention that he would not run for re-election. Without detailing the series of events leading up to the conclusion of my attempt to place my name in line for District Secretary, the man who became District Chair at that April conventionblockedmefromrunning for office. During a fifteen-minute conversation with him prior to the Convention, hemade it clear that he and other elected officials in the Sixth District did not want me to run for any office. He would not say it was because I am Gay but his remarks left me with only that justification for his statement, "I am running for chair to keep you from ~ support among delegates I had contacted in that 24-hour ¯ period leading up to convention, I knew that it would be ." difficult to fnnction as a team. I did not seek the nomination ¯ during the convention. There was no caucus to turn to for ¯ support. A quotation from the May 25 Daily Oklahoman interview with the newly elected ODP Chair, Mike Mass, speaks to my concern as a Gay person: "Mass said he thinks the party under Hall has eottoned too much to what he calls splinter groups¯ He and Hall were both at a funetlon, and a Gay and lesbian advocate asked Mass what he was going to do to help the Gay eommunlty. ’Nothing,’ Mass replied. Mass thinks the party has tended to make a big deal about such groups." Even amore glaring concern for GLBT persons is the election of a new state chair for the ODP during its May 15 convention. Representative Mike Mass, a very vocal opponent ofthe hate crimes bill in the legislature, was elected by a two-vote margin in an election fraught with fraud. (I am leading a challenge of that election for the purpose of restoring integrity to the ODP. A petition calling for a new election was signed by more than ¯¯ 200 co-signors and filed with the DNC ou June 9.) ~ quotation from the May 25 Daily Oklahoman interview with the newly elected ODP Chair, Mike Mass, speaks to ¯ my concern as a Gay person: ¯ "Mass said he thinks the party under Hall has cottoned ¯ too much to what he calls splinter groups. He and Hall ¯ were both at a function, and a Gay and lesbian advocate ¯ asked Mass what he was going to do to help the Gay ¯ community. ’Nothing,’ Mass replied. Mass thinks the ¯ party has tended to make a big deal about such groups." ¯ If therewas apartisan presenceofGLBTpersons in the ¯ ODP, or at least the acknowledgment of the DNC’s ¯ directive to include GLBT persons as delegates, this ¯ archaic attitude would be a relic of the past instead of ¯ facing us for the future in the ODP. ¯ There are national part~san organizations for both the Democratic and Republican parties - The Log Cabin ¯ Republicans and the National Stonewall Democratic ¯ Federation (NSDF). GLBT persons in Oklahoma need that partisan identification so that they can have a"seat at ¯ the table" when partisan political decisions are made. : The NSDF was organized at Kansas City in May 1998 ¯ for the purpose of mobilizing GLBT persons through a ¯ national grassroots network of GLBT Democratic clubs. ¯ There are GLBT Democratic clubs that are joined with ¯ their state Democratic party. Colorado and Michigan ¯ both have a federated GLBT Democratic dub within ¯ their State Democratic parties. GLBT Oklahomans need ¯ that presence in our state party. An Oklahoma Stonewall ¯ Democratic Club must be organized. I am a recently ¯ ¯ electedregional director for theNSDFandurgeinterested persons to check out the website at www.stonewalldemocrats.org or contact me by e-mail, paulb@pldi.net. The mere thought of a public GLBT presence in the Oklahoma Republican Party (ORP) is breath-taldng. But itcan midmustbe Created. WhenthoseGLBTRepnhlicafs who have been supporting their party in the background with contributions and party activismmake their presence known to the ORP, then there is an opportunity for inclusion in ORP policy making. Republican Oklahoma GLBT persons should connect with the National Log Cabin Republicans and establish an OklahomaLog Cabin Republican Club. Wemust do this. Wemust orgamze a partisan presence of GLBT persons in each of Oklahoma’s major parties. That is the Gay agenda that I am aware of- to be treated as an equal in civic life as we continue to hold ourselves to the same standards of responsibility and caring as expected of straights. Wemust ask for a place at the table. Editor’s note: I agree with Paul Barby but Would even speak more strongly. We must demand our place at the table and must challeng~ bigots like Mike Mass. We might also question some of our "friends"like Tulsa Democrat Sally Frasier who helpedgetMass "elected." by Tom Neal, editor andpublisher By now, Steve Hornis probably getting settled down in his new home in Dallas. Steve, until his recentjob related move, was in the middle of his second term as president of the board ofTulsaOklahomans for Human Rights, Inc. (TOHR) - the parent organization of Tulsa’s Gay community center (the awkwardly renamed Tulsa Gay Community Services Center). Tulsa has been fortunate in havln~ a number of dedleated volunteers to our Lesbian and Gay eommunltles (and BI and Transgendered) over many years. Unfortunately, we haven’t really done a very ~ood job of reeognlzlng or thanklng them for their work. Tulsa has been fortunate in having a number of dedicated ~,olunteers to our Lesbian and Gay communities (and Bi and Transgendered) over many years. Unfortunately, we haven’t really done a very good job of recognizing or thanking them for their work. We use themandthen ignore them when we’re not actually vilifying them. There are, of course, a few exceptions, individuals who repeatedly receive recognition but many more don’t. So I’d like to be one to clearly thank Steve Horn for his dedication to TOHR. Steve became president just after I served, inheriting the same big mess with TOHR’s HIV testing programs that I and several previous TOHR presidents had inherited. And while he and I would still disagree profoundly about how those issues were resolved, i.e. the separation of the testing clinic into a stand-alone organization, his work as a whole was great. He continued and expanded onalegacy ofvolunteerism andleadership that’s continued for nearly 20 years with TOHR. see Horn, p. ]4 Legal Win: Bias Against Gays Unconstitutional Editor’s note: the ruling noted below has greatpotential for judicial remedies for anti-Gay bias in the United States. Traditionally, many civil rights advances in this country have come through court decisions and this shows promise for fair treatment for Lesbian and Gay citizens.- TN by Daniel Wise, New York Law Journal, July 6, 1999 In a ruling believed to be one of first impression, a federal judge in Uniondale has found discrimination against homosexuals in an employment context to be actionable as an Equal Protection violation. Eastern District Judge Arthur D. Spatt issued the ruling in upholding a $380,000 verdict that ajury awarded two weeks ago to a former Nassau County police officer who claimed he had been hounded out of his job by his fellow officers and supervisors after they learned he was Gay. The officer, James M. Quinn, resigned after enduring nine years of taunts that included the prominent posting in his stationhouse of cartoons labeling him a child molester, a transvestite and a sadomasochist. " "Judge Spatt is the first judge to explicitly recognize that. discrimination based- upon, sexual- orientation .can give rise to a hostile work environment claim under the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution," said Mr. Quima’s lawyer, Frederic Ostrove, ofLeeds &Morelli in Carle Place. In concluding that harassment based upon an animus against homosexuals was actionable lmder the Equal Protection clause, Judge Spatt relied heavily upon a 1996 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620. Thatruling struck down an amendment to ColOrado’s constitution that prohibited Gays and Lesbians from obtaining any legal protections -legislative orjudicial - from discrimination. The Supreme Courtin Romerconcluded that the statute withdrawing legal protection from homosexuals could not stand because it was motivated by "irrational fear and prejudice," Judge Spatt pointed out. Similaxly, thejudge reasoned, thehatecampaignagainst Mr. Quinn had been motivated "by irrational fear and prejudice towards homosexuals." see Ruling, p. 2 Gay Conversion Group Holds Convention WHEATON, Ill. (AP) - Exodus International, a : Seattle-based organization that claims homosexuals can be converted to change their sexual behavior, openedits annual conference as protesters sang gospels softly nearby. "A whole new chapter has opened up," said Bob Davies, executive director of Exodus. "For the first time in our 23 year history, the body of Christ has gotten behind this ministry." About 1,200 people attended the rally, the biggest attendance, since the group began in 1976. Leaders attributed the large turnout to a nationwide ad campaignpromoting conversionfromhomosexuality, As the group clapped inside, the Rev. Bradley Mickelson of the Metropolitan Community Church of the Incarnation in Oak Park, Ill., led a quiet march of 50 people outside. "We need to be a voice for people who think they’re living in sin, to tell them how to be liberated and free," said Mickelson, whose Chicago-area church is open to homosexuals. Exodus International burst.into public notice a year ago with full-page ads m major newspapers proclaiming its belief that Gays and Lesbians can change. Conservative groups such as the Christian Coalitionhelped pay for the.campaign. Exodus teaches that"freedomfromhomosexuality is possible through -. repentance and faith in Jesus Christ" and seeks to provide hdp for "men and women who desire to overcome their homosexuality." The conference, a mixture of training workshops and inspirational rallies, is meeting at Wheaten College, a prominent Evangelical Protestant school, but is not sponsored by the college. Cynthia Marquardt, member of the Oak Park congregation, said sexual conversion is impossible and that Exodus’ message contributes to -violence against Gays and Lesbians. "Exodus has a right to their message, and we will continue to proclaim that God loves us just as we are," she said, Exodus is afederation of 131 independentministries located in 38 states and the District of Columbia, plus several overseas affiliates. Theorganizationis staffed by people from a var~,ety of Christian denominations. Manyofthegroup sleaders saytheyusedtobeGay or Lesbian and merely offer options to people that want them. Exodus is closely aligned with Homosexuals Anonymous, a twelve-step movement patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous, and with the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality,madeup ofpsychological counselors who work for change through "reparative therapy." Both the American Psychiatric Association and American Psychological Associationhave denounced Christian-based reparative therapy, saying it doesn’t work and can cause psychological damage. Phelps to Protest in Vermont MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP)- Members of a church that organized a picket outside the funeral of a murdered University of Wyoming student last year plan a protest on the lawn of the Vermont Statehouse next week. The Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kans., plans to have a dozen people in Montpelier on Aug. 3 to picket against Gay marriage, said Shirley Phelps- Roper, a church a!!orney and dangh,ter of founder the Rev.FredPhelps. Whenthenation smilitant, activist fags brag about a place - watch out!" said an announcement distributed by the church. "Well, they’re bragging about Vermont from sea to shining sea. They think Vermont will soon allow filthy fag beasts to marry each other." The Vermont Supreme Court is considering a lawsuit seeking to overturn the state’ s refusal to issue mamage licenses to same-sex couples. Some legal experts have predicted that Vermont could become the first state to legalize such marriages. Phelps-Roper said a dozen members of her church would spend the weekend in Ottawa and Montreal, protesting a decision on domestic partnership by the Canada Supreme Court and then picketing the Montreal Gay pride parade. The group then will travel to Vermont, slie said. The church is virulently anti-Gay and pickets frequently. In October, it picketed-outside the funeral ~fMatthew Shepard, who authorities say was killed in part because he was Gay. Oregon Anti-Gay Marriage Bill Dies SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A watered-down proposal that began as a ban on Gay marriages failed in the Senate last month. The proposed ballot measure would have asked voters only whether the Legis!~ture sh.ould have the power to define What cbiastitutes a marnage. As passedby the House, the proposal definedmarriage as atmionbetweenmanand woman. Sen. Neil Bryant, R-Bend, said the measure as reworked by the Senate set a middle ground in the dispute, but foes argued the revised measure would accomplish nothing. The proposal stemmed from an Oregon Court of Appeals ruling that employers cannot discriminate against homosexuals and must provide benefits to same-sex partners ofgovernmentworkers. Supporters of the anti-Gay mamage measure contended that the court decision opened the door for legalization of Gay marriages. Alabama Passes Gay-Friendly Law MONTGOMERY, AIa. (AP) - The Alabama Legislature is drawing praise from the National Gay and LesbianTaskForcefor passing domestic violence legislation that could make Alabama the first state to cover homosexual couples. In its legislative update July 16, the task force listed the Alabama domestic violence legislation as one of the "highlights" of legislative sessmns nationwide. Butthe sponsor of thelegislation, state Rep. Yvo,,n~e Kennedy, D-Mobile, said, "That’s way off base. At issue is a bill passed on the Legislature’s final day June 9, when dozens of bills were flying through the House and Senate with little or no discussion. Gov. Don Siegelman signed the bill imo law June 19. Ms. Kennedy and Carol Gundlach, executive director of the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said the purpose of the legislation was raise the cost of a marriage license by $15 to provide more funding for shelters for domestic abuse victims and to broaden domestic abuse laws to cover more than spouses. The legislation expands domestic abuselaws to cover violence "occurring amongfamily, household, dating, or engagement relationships.’" The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, a Washington-based group that works to eliminate prejudice and violence againstGaypersons, is focusing eta the word "household" in the new Alabama law. "You couldhave two peoplein a same-sex relationship and that’s a household," said David Elliott, communications director for the task force. The task force’s legislative report said Alabama "’became the first state to enact a bill expanding the state’s definition of domestic violence to potentially includeGay, Lesbian, bisexual and transsexual people under Alabama’ s domestic violence law." But Elliott concededit will probably take acourt case to determine whether the task force’s view is correct. Ms. Kennedy, who sponsored the bill for the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said the new law is silent about sexual orientation. But she said homosexual couples were never mentioned in any of the legislative debate on the bill. Ms. Gundlach said the language was copied from Alabama’s 1989 warrantless arrest law. That law allows police to make assault arrests without an arrest warrant when an assault occurs between two people living together. She said she has heard of cases where police used the law to make arrests involving homosexual relationships that turned violent. ’q’hat’ s just common sense. People in homosexual relationships can and do assault each other and the victim needs protection," she said. But she said the xndusion of"household" in the 1989taw and the 1999 law does not legitimize homosexual rdationships trader state law. Jerry Bassett, director of the Legislative Reference Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 4021 747-5466 S. Harvard, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 MCC-United formerly Family of Faith & Greater Tulsa MCC Joined as one body of believers. Come celebrate with us. Sunday Services, 11 am 1623 North Maplewood, 838-1715 HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm 3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon Sandra Hill M.s. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community of Hope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-444-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 Faux Finishing, AMY STARKWEATHER, Designer Custom Painting, and Paper Hanging 834-3956 OKLAHOMA COMMUNICATIONS Local- Long Distance Cellular- Paging 747-1508 Free Car Adaptor & Leather Case with New Cell Phone The Pride Store,,. 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor in Tulsa’s Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) 6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday 12-9 pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the Center KEVIN BURLESO N Keller Williams Realty 712-2252 Burleson@kw.com 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An Independent Member Broker Housekeeping & Gardening Service Contact Paul on: (918) 582 8460 POB 3150, Tulsa, OK, 74101 OPENARMS,OPENMINDS,OPENHEARTS Saint Aidan 4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882 Saint John 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 Saint Dunstan 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Trinity 501 S. Cincinnati, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You Service and chief bill-writer for the Legislature, said the new law was supposed to apply to couples who could get married, but chose not to. "Whether you could extend that to people who couldn’t get married if they wanted to, I don’t know," he said. He agreed with the task force’s spokesman that it would take a court case to find out. While the legislative update from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force complimented Alabama on the domestic violence legislation, the state Legislature camein forcriticismfor refusing to expandAlabama’ s hate crimes law to cover sexual orientation despite the Feb. 19 beating death of Billy Jack Gaither of Sylacauga. ButAlabama was not alone. Twenty other state legislatures turned back similar ~.egislation, the task force noted. Gay Couple Appeals Adoption Ruling ERIE, Pa. (AP) -Twomenhope an appeals court will allow them to become adoptive parents and help defineparental rights forGay couples in Pennsylvania. The couple has asked the state Superior Court to overturn a decision by Erie County Judge Shad Connelly, who nded las t month that state law dictates that only one man can be the legal parent of the two children. Lower court judges have differed on the issue, and appeals courts have not made a definitive decision. Connelly said the Legislature should specifically sanction Gay marriages before judges can allow Gay couples to adopt. The children, an 8-year-old boy and a 7-year-old gift, were adopted by one of the men and raised since infancy by the couple. The man who does not have legal custody said he wants to be officially named a parent in case his partner dies. "The children have been and will continue to live with their family regardless of the court’s action," said Karen Engro, a la~vyer for the couple. "ff the adoption is granted, everyone wins. Bydenying it, everyone loses." The men, who are 43 and 42 years old, have been together for 18 years and are identified only by their initials in court records. They have asked reporters not to use theirnames to protect the children’s privacy. Another lawyer for the couple, Chris Biancheria, said other Common Pleas Court judges in the state have granted "second parent" adoptions for Gay couples. She said a Superior Court ruling in favor of the adoption could help establish guidelines for lower courts. "It would mean that these type of adoptions would have to be granted in every county," she said. She said Connelly, in ruling against the adoption, ignored the Legislature’s stipulation that all adoptions be consideredin light of "the children’ s best interests." In his ruling, Counelly wrote that the "best interest" issue was irrelevant because the request was illegal to begin with. "Because the Legislature has not seen fit to specifically sanction such adoptions-as this, this court is not empowered to grant the petitaon for adoption," he wrote. High School Gay-Straight Alliance Recognized MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) - West High School on Thursday formally recognized a support group for Gay and Lesbian pupils. The action, in a formal letter, gives theWestHighGay/Straight Alliance recognition retroactive to April 1. The letter follows the school board’s narrow margin approval ofthe dublast week, 10 weeks after several current and former pupils filed suit over Principal Robert Baines’ decision not to recognize the group without school board approval. Jennifer Levi, a lawyer from Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, a Boston nonprofit representing thepupils, said Thursday the recognition "is a great day for the students at Manchester High School West." The lawsuit charged the principal discriminatedagainstthe group under the Equal Access Act because no other student association has been required to get school board approval to use school facilities. Supporters of the Gay Straight Alliance say it offers support and acceptance to pupils ~ho are Gay, Lesbian or bisexual in an often hostile environment. Italso helps educate others abouto~fensive stereotypes and acceptance of differences. Court Rejects Ex’s Visitation Appeal SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Despite pleas by Gay civil-rights groups, the state SupremeCourthas turaed down an appeal by an Alameda County woman who sought the right to visit two children she helped raise with her Lesbian partner. An appellate court ruled in April that the woman, Kathleen C., had no parental rights because she was not the biological mother, and because there was no evidence that the children were being harmed by living with their biological mother. The state’s high court denied review of the case in July. Only lustices Stanley Mosk and Janice Rogers Brown voted to grant a hearing, two short of the needed majority. The appellate ruling is now binding on trial courts statewide. The case was closely watched by Gay civil-rights groups, who wanted California to follow a handful of court rul!ngs in other states that have granted parental rights to former members of same-sex couples. Kathleen and her partner, Lisa W., started living together in February 1985, when Lisa’s daughter was almost 3. They had a child together by artificial insemination in 1987 and separated in 1990. Kathleen was allowed to visit the children onalternateweekend until November 1994, when Lisa cut off visitation. Kathleen argued that she should be considered the children’s "de facto parent," one who develops a parent-like relationship by providing daily care, affection and concern over a long period. An appellate court in New Jersey ruled this March that a woman who had helped her .Lesbian partner raise two children was a "psychological parent" entitled to visitation. Courts in Wisconsin and Pennsylvaniahave also granted limited parental rights to former members of Lesbian couples. ButAlamedaCounty Superior CourtJudge Roderic Duncan ruled against Kathleen C. and was upheld by the 1st District Court of Appeal. Kathleen had shown the characteristics of a "de facto parent," but there is no legal authority to grant a non-parent visitation rights "’over the objection of the biological parent and in the absence ofany showing of detrimentto the child," said the opinionby Presiding Justice Daniel Hanlon. The ruling means Kathleen cannot see the children until they turn 18. They are now 17 and 12. The state Supreme Court appeal drew support from the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the Youth La~v Center, the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups. The appdlate ntling "leaves the two children... locked in the embrace of but one of their mothers, denied by her - and by the courts of this state - any contact with the other woman they call ’Morn,’ "said E. Elizabeth Summers, alawyer for Kathleen, in court papers. She acknowledged that a Lesbian partner can get parental rights by adopting the child with her partner, but said not all California counties, or judges in the same county, allow adoptions by same-sex couples. Mormans Lose Members Over Anti-Gay Stance SALT LAKECITY (AP) - The Mormon church says it regrets a protest by dozens of dissident members trying to quit the church because of its campaign in California against Gay. marriages. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement saying it was defending the "traditional family" by pushing for a California ballot initiative that seeks to preempt legalized same-gender marriages. The dissidents say the church crossed a line from religion to politics by asking its 740,000 California members to "do all you can" to assure passage of the initiative. Church spokesman Dale Bills said, "we regret that any member would ask to have his or her name removed from our records because the church has joined a coalition in California to oppose samegender marriage." New Test Catches HIV Quicker RICHMOND,Va. (AP)-Theagency that collects most blood donations in central Virginiais still usingtwo standard tests to screen blood for the AIDS virus, four months afterfederal healthofficials urged blood baul~ to use a new test. The new test, called Nucleic Acid Testing; was recommended by the Food and Drug Administration on March 3. NAT may significantly reduce the time thatHIV can avoid detection in current blood tests. ¯ reaching," MethodistHealth Care System ¯ president Peter Butler said. : Science Advances, i Prejudice Remains ¯ OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - T.J. ¯ contracted the virus that causes AIDS 18 : years ago. He says nothing’s changed. ¯ "Wall, almost nothing," "he said. "A lot : has changed in medicine, but very little : has changed in stigma and prejudice." So ¯ little that he feels obliged to use T.J. ¯ instead of his real name. TheFl’)A’sreq°mmendati°n~et"w°° i ,,~’li~eitl arural’~rea~ w~s~.~f_5,re ~iPetet~b~gman; William good iqtca, (o use my name, he said. T.J. C C~ippy ¥6tmg~" tmderwent:V~seular~ ~ hdped form the Long Term ~Survivors surgeryat~MedicalColleg~ofVirginia : Group for people living with AIDS in Hospitals in Richmond..Young said he : Oklahoma. It has about 200 members. contracted HIV from a blood transfusion he received during the surgery. Virginia Blood Services, the regional blood bank., last week acknowledged that a unit of blood it sent toMCV may have been tainted with HIV. The unidentified donor tested negative when theblood was given but later tested posluve. The NAT procedure is not yet required because it is experimental and there are questions abouL how to implement it nationwide But FDA spo,k,eswoman Len0re Gelb said the test will’ help close the window" when. HIV cannot, be detected. Virginia Blood Services has used the test for another virus, hepatitis C~"since April 15 as part of a study, said spokeswoman Laura Cameron. She said the procedure would be used to test blood when it is licensed by the FDA, which is awaiting results .of NAT experiments around the country. Atthe timeYoung contendshe received the taintedblood, only afew blood centers had the technology to implement the ne.w test for AIDS, said Dr; Celso Bianco, the president of America s Blood Centers¯ "Even if the (NAT) test worked, it would not have benefited this recipient," Bianco said. The new test detects HIV at very small concentrations even before the body produces antibodies to the virus. Blood banks now use a test that spots antibodies to HIV and another that finds a protein attached to the virus. In a study published this month in the medical journal Transfusion, scientists studying an HIV-infected chimpanzee discovered that the new test narrowed the detection window by three weeks. They also found that blood from the HIVinfected chimp did not infect another animal until the virus concentration was detectable using the new test. New Medical Center HOUSTON (AP) - A new cell and gene research center here could revolutionize therapy for many illnesses, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and AIDS, say doctors. Formation of the International Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, a collaboration by Baylo,r College of Medicine, Texas Children s Hospital andTheMethodist Hospital, was announced this morning. Officials said the center will be the first in the world to combine basic science mid clinical research with pediatric and adult celland- gene-therapy transplant facilities. Creation ofthe center was prompted by new understanding of the molecular basis ofdisease and theneedfornovel strategies for cell and gene therapy.-"We realize the medical possibilities are endless and the potential impact on patients is far- : "We’ve had members burned out of their ¯ home and run out of town," he said. "One ¯ family just recently moved to the city ¯ (from a natal community) because they ¯ couldn’t take it anymore. The mother has AIDS." T.J. said the quality and length of life for people living with AIDS has ¯ improved because of medical advances, ¯ but there is still a long way to go. "People ~ have started believing thatit’s over. It’s a ¯ long way from being over," he said. Pam Cross, director of the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network, agreed that the ¯ much of the general public remains ¯ ignorant of the disease. "People have ¯ ¯ become quite complacent. They’ve taken good news from headlines and TV about ¯ medical advances," she said. "They think it’ s a cure for HIV and there’ s not. "We’re ~ not seeing a drop. Nationwide, we still have 40,000 people a y,e,ar becoming ¯ infected with this disease. T.J., who got AIDS from a Gay ; relationship, fits into the Centers for ~ Disease Co~,trol and Prevention"Pre- 1987 : Definition. That definition refers .to the, Original list of"oppormnistic infect|ons. In other words,he got the virus that causes AIDS before AIDS had a name. In Oklahoma, there have been 5,441 reported HIV/AIDS cases, according to theOklahomaState Departmentof Health, which began tracking the disease in 1982. Figures show no confirmed heterosexual ¯ cases were recorded the first four years records were kept, but in the past four ¯ years about 10% of overall cases have ¯ been heterosexual. ¯ ’t ¯ Ms. Cross said documented cases don ¯ fully represent the amount of people who ¯ have the disease. "If they’re anonymous, ¯ ¯ there’s noway oftellinghowmany people have it. I’ve heard estimates that cases ¯ could be as many as 10 times higher (than ¯ what is documented)," Ms. Cross said. ¯ ’qqaere are alot of people that don’t know ~ theDyorne"iJnofhecntseodn,, ashe19s-myea. r survivor of ¯ AIDS, said he thinks the biggest reason ¯ ¯ for increase in heterosexual cases is ignorance andalackofAIDS educationin ¯ Oklahoma. "There’s still a lot of that ’It ~ can’ thappenhere’ attitude.I don’ t see the ¯ education taking place that I see in ~ California," saidJohnson,41, whois G.ay. ¯ "The schools there have a curriculum that ¯ involves HIV prevention. There is not the ¯ samecommumtyawarenesshere, hesaid. ¯ Shelly Hickman, spokeswoman f.o,r .,file i state Department of Education, sam m.e ¯ state requires that schools have a certain : amount of AIDS education curriculum, ¯ but much of it is left up to the schools¯ ¯ ’‘There is some discretion on how it is ~ taughtandwhenitis taught," Ms. Hickman ¯ said."Weareinfavoroflocal communities ~ that they use what’s best for them." ¯ Peggy, who would not use her real Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. Are You Gay or Bisex.uaI? Are You Native Amer can Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men’s ~%~-7~ Support Group is here for you! "~/ ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project at 582-7225 Ext. 208 or 218 est Dial-Up Accounts Dedicated ISDN Connections Virtual Hosting Visit our web page "www.igisweb.net" 1918) 622-4965 Internet Marketing E-Commerce Web Page Design On-Site Setup Available Brought to you.. by: :~ ~." ~TRATEG1E5 IN TECHNOLOGY Stay Healthy Naturally Wellness Rejuvenation Longevity. Dr. Terrance L. Sullivan Doctor ofNaturopathy Certified Colonic Hygenist Certified Refle×ologist Certified Herbalist Certified Accupressurist provides consultations.by appointment Iridology Hair Analysis Herbal Supplements Pain Control Nutritional Analysis 4520 So. Peoria, Brookside, 712-1400 name, said the state doesn’t do enough to protect future generations from getting .AIDS. "People think this diseaseis starting to go away," she said. "This is afact oflife - we have to protect our future and give them the information they need to protect themselves. How can we do that if we have to be careful about what words we say or don’t say in this state? "This generation is not like generations in the past. We can’t treat our youth like we did three or four generations ago. They’re having sex younger and younger." Peggy said she got HIV from her late husband when’he got it from a blood transfusion in the mid-80’s. She said she and herhusband hid their disease from the community toprotecttheir children. "Until society accepts this disease and is able to talk about it, it will go on and on," she said. "Heterosexual people are afraid to ¯¯ country can import lower-cost drugs without infringing on patents. ¯ The issue of African access to AIDS ¯ drugs has taken on a political dimension ¯ recently. Gore has been caught in a fight ¯ between AIDS activists seeking cheap ¯ generic drugs for South African AIDS ¯ victims of the disease and U.S. laws : intended to protect drug companies from ¯ having theirpatents violated abroad. Gore : has saidhedoesnotopposeSouthAfrica’s ¯ attempts to produce or obtain generic ¯ AIDS medicines as long as those efforts ¯ donot violate laws protecting patents. ¯ A 1997 South African law granted the ¯ government unspecified power to obtain ¯ cheaper AIDS drugs. About 40 ¯ pharmaceuticalcompanies worldwide are : challenging the law in South African : courts, fearing itmay beusedin a way that ¯ violates patent rights. be tested because they’re afraid they’ll be : labeled as Gay. So then they go and ~x;e : it to someone else and the cycle goes on.r’ ¯ Congress Hears ¯African Appeal WASHINGTON (AP)-AnAIDS patient from Malawi asked Congress for help in settling trade-disputes that could deprive poor African countries such as her own of vital drugs. Chatinkah Nkhoma, 37, believes she would be dead now had she stayed in Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital, where the drugs she needs either are tmavailable or cost too much. Millions of other Africans are not as lucky, said Nkhoma, who came to the United States as a graduate student. ~’I’m their voice. I’m here to cry for help," Nkhoma testified tearfully before the HouseGovernmentReform subcommittee oncriminaljustice, drug policy andhuman resources. The government did act in response: Vice President Gore on Monday announced a new $100 million proposal to help Africa stop the spread of AIDS. Nkhoma also appealed to lawmakers to ¯ reject arguments that the drags may cause more harm than good in poor nations unable to ensure AIDS patients adhere to strict drug regimens. Experts have said that people who do not take the drugs as prescribed actually may become sicker or devdop drug-resistant strains of theAIDS virus. AIDS deaths in the United States have declinedbecause ofadvances in treatment, but they remain on the increase in Africa, where it is the leading cause of death. Trade disputes have developed over some countries’ efforts to reduce the cost ofimporting AIDS drugs, withsomeblame directed at pharmaceutical companies. "What happens to countries who.., do not purchase their AIDS drugs from drug companies, instead looking to. buy them through cheaper sellers, often times other countries? Under direct pressure from the pharmaceuticalindustry, they arepunished bythe UnitedStates," Rep. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said in a written statement. He said thesecountries couldlose theirpreferential tariff treatment "all because the pharmaceutical companies do not wish to lose any of their tremendous profits." Joe Papovich, an assistant U.S. trade representative, said the Clinton administration believe it can resolve the disputes, which involve drug companies’ efforts to protect their patents and help recoup research costs. He said the administration is working with South Africa, where 45% of the military is infected with the AIDS virus, so that More Die From : AIDSThan War : NAIROBI, Kenya(AP)-AIDS killed 1:4 : million people in eastern .and southern ," Africa last year, overtaking armed ¯ conflicts as the No. 1 killer in the region, ," the U.N~ Children’s Fund said recently. : Theepidemic, whichhas hit this portion ¯ of the African continent harder than : anywhere else in the world, has left 6 : million children orphaned in eastern aud ¯ southern Africa, amounting to70% of the ¯ world’s AIDS orphans, said UNICEF ¯ DeputyExecutiveDirectorStephenLewis. ¯ 48% of the world’s AIDS cases are in this ¯ region, Lewis said during the release of ¯ UNICEF’s annual report on AIDS. It ¯ called for emergency action to curb the ¯ spread of AIDS in Africa. ¯ "Fundamentally,AIDS is spreading and ¯ stifling the economic and social " infrastructure of the entire continent. It is ¯ killing the most productive age group," ¯ Lewis said. "It is doubling and tripling ¯ infant mortality rates. It is returning life -" .expectancy to the levels of 1960s." "It is : the modern incarnationof the Dante’s ¯ Inferno," Lewis said. "Neaier has Africa ¯ faced such a plague." ~ Worldwide, some 16,000 people daily " are infected.by HIV, the virus that causes ¯ AIDS, and there are 8.2 million AIDS : orphans, most in sub-Saharan Africa, the " report said. The report warned that AIDS : could increase infant mortality in eastem ¯ and southern Africa by 75% and double : the death rate of children under fivein the ¯ region in the next decade. "Thenumber of : orphans in Africa constitute nothing less ¯ thananemergencyrequiring an emergency : response," the report said. ¯ In Uganda, some 1.1 million children ¯ under 15 - or 11% of the country’s child ¯ population-have lost one or both parents ¯ to AIDS, the highest number of AIDS ¯ orphans in the world. In the developed ¯ wodd, that figure is at 1%. ¯ Especially important was educating ¯ people on prevention and on building ¯ tolerance in the region, where AIDS ¯ victims arefrequently shamedinto silence. ¯" Men, more than women, were intolerant ¯ of the disease, often refusing to be tested : or to support wives stricken with AIDS, ¯ Lewis said. : Lewis attacked Western nations for not : financing the fight against the scourge in ¯ Africa. "It is morally indefensible," Lewis ~ said, "That the West is prepared to spend : upwards of $40 billion to fight war in the ¯ Balkans then to engage in the economic ¯ restoration ofKosovo, andless than 1% of : that to save the lives of tens of millions of ¯ women, children and men in .adriea." by James Christjohn Well, Just saw the new Muppets in Space (MIS). It only served to make me nostalgic for the days when Jim Henson was at the helm of Muppetland. His son, Brian, strives to follow in his footsteps and for the most parts does a pretty good job, but for whatever reasons, the muppets justseem to be puppets now, not beings with personalities. In MIS, the plot focuses on Gonzo, who doesn’t know what he is. Neither does anyone else. Turns out, he’s an "alien from outer space that.got left behind on a mzsslon many years ago, and now his family is looking for him. This could have been the setup for a really tinny "Pigs in Space" type romp, taking on all the big space films, like Star Wars, Close Encounters, Star Trek, etc. And, while it has a few cute moments, it fizzles like booster rockets with a furl leak. I was really hoping it wout~d be good, so it is with heavy heart I ~rite this. Missing are the cameos that populated the first three muppet films to such success, the rapid fire jokes, and the witty commentary on society that was the secret weapon of the muppet minds. This is not to say that you won’t find a few chuckles in the film, which is worth seeing at the dollar movie. Especially relevant - and attention getting - are the bits where Gonzo is telling the gang that"I didn’ t choose to be this way, I was’born this way." There are other moments like that as well, which indicates more of an overt Gay sensibility to the film that one might suspect. These moments are what makes the film worth seeing.The pacing is-off on most of the jokes - many of which absolutely depend on the perfect timing to be funny rather than misfires. The ending leaves one wishing formore - morebuildup,more climax, betterjokes. It is kind ofperfunctory, and at no time do the muppets sing any of the songs except for one perfunctory number, and it’s an oldie everyone will recognize, mainly because it was overplayed in the 80’ s way toe much. It was obviously thrown in at the last minute, probably as a result of a production meeting wherein someone said, "But we HAVEto have a muppet musical number! It’s expected!", and someone else said,"Well... OK. I guess so. What’ll we do?" "How about some old song from the 80’s that everyone knows? That way we won’t have to pay for songwriters?" That, too, was disappointing, for one who remembers the Muppet Movie for the music as wall as the dream of one little green frog to "make millions of people happy." Switching hats here, I thought I’d cross over into TFN Book reviewer Barry Hensley’s territory and make a recommendation for "Queer Astrology for Men" by Jill Dearman. Ms. Dearman writes in a humorous style, which can seem light until you read - really read - whatshe’ s writing. (Shemustbea"sadge" - Saggitarian) It makes the more ~ challenging aspects of the signs a little ¯ easier to take, and makes one aware of ¯ them without alienating or antagonizing, ¯ except in a good natured, "just kidding" " kinda way. She’s been writing ¯ professionally aboutastrology for 9 years, and has studied astrology since childhood, and she does seem to One of my favorite numbers was the "Jadhouse Tango", wherein a bunch of murderesses explain why "they done it". I think anyone who’s been in a relationship could probably identify with many of the reasons. know her stuff. As an astrologer (Gemini MoonAstrological Services, see ad within these pages), I am always on the lookout for new and informative information on astrology, especially pertaining to Gay and Lesbian folk This book fits the bill quite nicely and accurately, Informally written, it is an overview of the sun sign..(themost basic part of one’s personality. Of course, for a really accuratepicture, afull interpretation or birthchart is necessary; since the other planets can mitigate/ amplify the sun sign’s qualities in any given person.) As such, it is scarily on the target. As a Sagittarius, I found that section (sometimes unfortunately) to be dead-on: And having spent more than my share of time around Leas, I read that section as an objective "test" of the accuracy of the writing, and again, it was quite right. So, if you’re looking for a quick overview of someone’s personality, and what makes them tick, tiffs would be one of the better book. For a more complete picture, if you know the person’s moon sign and rising sign, I would recommend reading those sections as well. Sun: basic ego quirks and personality; rising sign or ascendant: how they appear to others (Which explains why a sun sign appears to be something else entirely, emphasis on the "seems".); and moon sign: emotions and the subconscious - the way someone filters/ expresses emotional tendencies. Or, in the case of one Leo I know, not. It’ s a worthy addition to thebookshelves of anyone curions about what makes people tick, psychology, or mateshopping. And, as a former total skeptic and a psychology major, I can say give it arty; you’llbe surprised. Forget the overly general newspaper tidbits (especially the Tulsa World -"Sagittarius: Today you’ll have a day" just doesn’t cut it with me), and go for the real stuff. This is a good start, If you can, check out "Chicago", at the PAC throughAugust 1 st. The Kander and Ebb musical starring Sandy Duncan is worth seeing. The men and women are all gorgeous, and the staging is perfect. The story of the "sensationalization" of two murders for publicity’s sake is certainly timely. Ms. Duncan is gorgeous and turns in a great performance, and the dancing alone is worth seeing. One of my favorite numbers was the "Jailhouse Tango", wherein a bunch of murderesses explain why "they done it", I thinkanyonewho’s beenin arelationship could probably identify with many of the reasons. see Arts, p. 11 present... of Dallas, Texas~ Reception Following Performance JO]’ll~ YdlLLIAMS THEATEll AUG. 2"/~: 28 - 8 PM ~Made possible, in part, by a grant from the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust. Tickets $12 Tulsa Performing Arts Center 596-7111 800-364-7111 (Outside Tulsa) 3,600 Honda & Acura Owners Believe in Our .. Integrity, Workmanship & Guaranty Exclusively Honda & Acura 9906 E. 55th Place (1 block east of Mingo on 55th Place) 25 Years of Honda & Acura Experience Full Maintenance and Repair. 610-0880 Please call for an appointment - Our G~/’t To You $25 OFF Mechanical Labor ol $25 or More 610-0880 ¯ By appointment only. ~ One Coupon Per Customel [our Silt’ Impert ~g~ Aatumetlve. fla. Expires 12/5/98 Not To Be Combined With Any Other O/ll’er Complete Detail Package $1 0 OFF 610-0880 ¯ By appointment only. Exterior Wash ¯ Engine Bay Wash ¯ Wax* Interior Vacu~m ° Carpel & Uphols!e~ Shampoo ¯Paln~ Condition May Affect O~como On~ Cou~n ~er~.~er. Four Star Import ,Automotive i’OR Call today to receive a 1999-2000 season brochure TULSA~~OPERA Season subscriptions, starting at $44f~r adults, are now on SALE! FOR 1 999-2000 SEASON BROCHURES 1999-2000~SEASON MEET THREE WOMEN TO DIE FOR CARMEN MANON TOSCA Season tickets on sale now/ Save 25% off shtgle ticket prices/ Season tickets start at just $36for three operas! FOR 1999-2000 SEASON BROCHURES CALL TULSA PHILHARMONIC SEVEN HOT SERms rOlt S _SON-7 ¯ Masterworks .. ¯ eops. . ~o~ee. C~m~er Clas’~ics Classics ; . M~sic 0n . t#e R0cEs " Exhibit " ¯ Lollipops. plus Specia/Events! S~N~~o~S~~ow! 1999-2000 T~cKEr INFORMA330N~1 1999-2000 I Celtic Series ¯ SAVE $10 by purchasing the entire series! Natalie MacMaster kn Irish Christmas October 8t~ & 9~ - 8pro November 21~t ¯ 3pro Gaelic Storm (Celtic Bonus!) The ’Party Baud’ from the blockbuster movie titanic Trinity Irish Dance Company Anam February 2Q?.;. ~3pm March 3~a & 41~ ¯ 8pro ~ SUNDAYS Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service - 6pm, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation Service - 1 lam, 2545 S. Yale, 749-0595 (Welcoming) Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist Service - 1 lam, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-1314 Metropolitan Community Church United Service, l lain, 1623 North Maplewood, Info: 838:1715 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Sunday School - 9:45am, Service.- 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America) Mass - 1 lam, 205 W. King (east 0f N. Denver), hffo: 582-3088 Unity Church of Christianity Services: 9:15 & 11:00 am, 3355 S. Jamestown, 749-8833 University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance 6:30 pm, Meets at the Canterbury Ctr., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780 ~ MONDAYS Mixed Volleyball, Helmerich Park, 71st & Riverside, 6pm, call Shawn at 243-5190. HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required. Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard) HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center 7:30pro, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays 2nd MonJeach mo. 6:30pm, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551 Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals - call for times, info: 585-COMC (2662) ~TUESDAYS AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call for next meeting date. 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551 Live And Let Live. Community of Hope United Methodi st, 7:30pm, 2545 S. Yale Multicultural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date. Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001 PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE) Tuesdays, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, info: 743-4297 ~ WEDNESDAYS Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pm, 3210b So: Norwood Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more information, call 582-7225 TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for inib: 595-7632. Lambda A-A, 7 pm, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft. ~" THURSDAYS HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pm 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN) Support/social group for 18-24’s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-2325 Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV AIDS, Info: 834-4194 ~ FRIDAYS SafeHaven, Young Adults Social Group, 1 st Fri/each mo. 8pm, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th ~" SATURDAYS Narcotics Anonymous, 11 pm, Community of Hope,1703 E. 2nd, Info: 585-1800 Lambda A-A, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, 2rid ft. ~ OTHER GROUPS T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info: 838-1222 Gal-A-Vanting, Womens Social & Cultural Group Call for info: Mary at 743-6740, Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-68251..i OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization. Long rides, 7am on 8~ & 8/ 21. Short ride, 6:30pm on 8/5, 6pm on 8/18 from Zeigler Park. Short ride, 6:30pro, 8/ 25 from Tulsa Gay Community Center. Write for info: PUB 9165, Tulsa. OK74157 lfyour organization is not listed, please let us know. Call 583-I248 orfax 583-4615. READ ALL ABOUT IT reviewed by Barry Hensley Tulsa City-Couniy Library For a short time, in 1997, the worldwas mesmerized’by the odd and frightening story of Andrew Cnnanart, as he went on a killing spree across several states, ending.with themurder Indiana’s of fashion designer Gianni ¯ ". ~ " Versace in Miami. This ¯recounting of Cunanan’s interesting life and horrifying death makes fascinating, ff difficult, reading. Growing up in a lower middle class family,Cunanan learned early in life to embellish tte truth to make him seem more important. He studied the.finer things in life beginning as a child, and by - high school, dazzled his teachers with his knowledge andtaste, andwonrespectfrom other students with his sharp wit, easy’ demeanor and exceedingly good looks. As he eased into gay life in " sentence at California, Cnnanan learned thathe couldeasilymanipulate ~’- 39~0 words! otherpeopleinto situations that were advantageous to him. He had a few seim-serious relationships and even had a sugar daddy at one point. The two people he was serious about, David Madson and JeffTrail, each soonrealized thatCunanan was a fraud. To get away from him, they each left the state, ironically both ending up in Minnesota. As Cunanan’s friends deserted him, with no job and low on funds, he went to Minnesota, hoping one of his old boyfriends wouldinvitehim to stay awhile - untilhe wasbackonhis feet. BothMadson and Trail, who barely knew each other, were simply hoping that he wouldstay for acoupleofdays andleave. Whenitbecame gravcst sin, and the thing that makes the book so hard to read, is his highly approach to sentence structure. I do kd The brothers were being held in lieu of $150,000 bail on charges of receiving stolen property after authorities said they found awallet, credit card, driver’s license and Social Security card belonging to Matson. Federal and local authorities said the brothers also were being investigated in connection with the Sacramento synagogue fires onJune 18 that caused $1 million in damage.. TheWilliams brothers livedinamodest, wood-frame house in Redding, where investigators said they found material espousing white supremacist beliefs. Amongthematerial foundwas literature from the Illinois-based World Church of the Creator, according to news reports. A former member of the church, Benjamin Smith, killed himself last week after a two-state shooting spree targeting minorities inTndianaand ~linois thatkill~.~ two men and wonnded nine others. Also found in the house was alist of32 prominent Jewish and civic leaders in Sacramento, and FBI special agent James Maddock said protection was ordered for those individuals. Officials also urged Reddin~’s only Jewish congregation, Temple Beth Israel, to increase secun y. ii evident that no offers were forthcoming, Cunanan tttmed bitter and surly. After a minor betrayal by Jeff Trail, Cunanan snapped, bludgeoning Trail to death with a hammer. And so began his killing spree which also included Madson, an elderly friend in Chicago, an unlucky cemetery worker whose truck Cunanan needed, and finally, Versace. Author Gary Indiana did a lotofresearch butmuch of the book revolves around what Cunanan was thinking, how he formulated his plans, and conversations between Cunanan and his victims. Since all of the participants are dead, Indiana is simply making up. a good story,, With events that may ormay not be true.But, Indiana’s gravestsin, and the thing that makes the book so hard to read, is his highly unusual approach to sentence structure. I clocked one sentence at 320 words! Frustrations aside, this is an interesting story, and there are some fairly good photographs to help put faces ¯ with names. There is an unseemly photo ." Of Ctmanan’s bloody corpse, after his ¯ suicide, which is better suited to a tabloid ~ thanarespectablebook. Ctmananwas ful! ¯ of contradictions; smart but doing stupid ¯" things, sweet yet mean to those around him, and;mostofall,complex yetshallow. ¯ His is a warning to materialistic social ". climbers that there is more to life than superficial appearances, and if you take ¯ things too seriously, you can wind up : hurting yourself and those you love. ¯ Check for Three Month Fever at your : local branch library, or call the Readers : Services departmentatthe Central Library, ¯ at 596-7966. i Anti-Hate Crimes Legislation : Advances in Senate ¯ WASHINGTON - The Senate has taken i a ,strong stand against the rising tide of hate violence in America by adding the ¯ Hate Crimds Prevention Act to the ¯ Commerce, Justice and State appro- ¯ priations bill, both the Human Rights "_ Campaiguandthe National Gay&Lesbian ¯ Task Force asserted recently. ¯ "The Senate took a dramatic step ¯ forward in making this nation a safer ¯ place for all Americans," HRC Executive : Director Elizabeth Birch said a day after ¯ the Senate added hate crimes language to ¯ the appropriationsmeasure. "We appla.ud ¯ this responsibleeffort to stem the growing : trend of hate crimes in our country." ¯ ’q’his is the first concrete action taken ¯ by either chamber since America buried ¯" Matthew Shepard, James Byrd Jr., Billy ~ .Jack Gaither, and many transgendered : people whose names and faces do not make the newspapers," said Kerry Lobel, ¯ executive director of the National Gay ¯ and Lesbian Task Force. _" "It is a good first step. But we have a ¯ long way to go and we must now mm to ¯ the House and tell our representatives : how critically important this legislation ¯ is. In short, we must keep up the heat." ¯ Theamendmentapprovedby the Senate : see Hate, p, 14 Red Rock Tulsa Free Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tuesday Testing, 5 -8 pm Pride Center, 1307 East 38th Wednesday Testing, 5-8 pm ¯ Red Rock, 1724 East 8th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist 11 am, Sunday 1314 North Greenwood 587-1314 We knowyou’re going to love this! Restaurant & Cabaret a~Ol,rt tD~ ~ ~- 3 i 0 East First Street 918-599-9949 Massage Therapy Services Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #(34133 News Better Than ..... ’Ever; "Pride Merchandise, -Magazines & More 610-8510 8120 East 21st (21st+Memorial, next to Boot City) We buy back good used adult magazines. Country Club Barbering. Custom Styling for Men.& Women David Kauskey,, 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236 Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm @SprinL Sprint PCS The Clear Alternative to Cellular Sprint P~’S~lect Retailer $99.95 New Sprint PCS Phone ~ :25;:oo. Less instore rebate $74.95 Net cost Buy any Sprint PCS Phone and get $25 of!!* Everyone is approved! All Sprint PCS service plans include:- . Free Voicemail ¯ Free Caller ID ¯ Free Call Waiting ¯ Free 3 way calling ¯ No activation fee ¯ No contract required ¯ 100% Sprint PCS Nationwide Network. Tulsa Locations: 2001 S. Garnett, 437-2444 3733 S. Memorial, 6600344 1216 S. Harvard, 587-177~ Sapulpa Location: 109 N. Mission, 227-2322 And if you haven’t heard Sarah Mclachlan’s "Mirrorball" CD, I would recommend that yougo get itnow. As one of the few artists I’ve heard that sounds as good live as She does on her studio recordings, this is a standout collection of live performances that showcase her talents to a tee. A DVD/videotape is to be released soon of-the performances captured on this CD, with extra songs. If you didn’t get to see her inOKC, I can tell you that this is the next best thing. Also, for those who have missed the regular "Stevie" updates, Ms. Nicks’ album is nearly completed, with an October release date, The most concrete action taken, however, was acommitmenttomeetagain as a group on Sept. 14, at the TulSa Gay Community Services Center (the Pride Center) at 1307 E. 38th St. probably at 6pro. For more information, call Marty Newman at 582-4673. Want to get involved? Need to get tested for HIV? Need a Coming Out Support Group? Call 743-GAYS Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 1307 E. 38th at Peoria, 2nd floor HUman Rights Campaign Fears Religious Liberty Bill May Threaten Civil Rights WASHINGTON - The House passed the ¯ discriminate on the basis of sext~A ~::i.: Religi~us Liberty ProtectionAct (RLPA) : orientation. last month and defeated a substitute bill that would have closed a dangerous loophole in RLPA that could threaten civil fights ff not remedied in the Senate, according to theHaman Rights Campaign. "In its current form, this bill poses a grave threat to civil rights laws throughout thecountry," saidHRCExecutive Director Elizabeth Birch "In an unconscionable vote~.the U.S. House of Repre.sentatives has indicated its willingness, to trample onthb civil rigllts ofwomen, people of color,. people with disabilities and Gay and Lesbian Americans." "While we support the intentions of the Religious Liberties Protection Act, it is shameful that the House rejected an alternative bill that would have protected civil rights," said HRC Political Director Winnie Stachelberg. A substitute bill sponsored by Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., was defeated in theHouse 190 to 234 after an hour-long debate. The Nadler bill would have clarified RLPAby preventing an individual from using religious beliefs to undermine local or state civil rights statutes. Without the Nadlerbill, which was necessary forHRC support, the Rep. Charles Canady0 R-Fla., sponsored Religious Liberty Protection Act-a bill designed to safeguard religious expression- passed the House306 to 118. RLPA would prohibit any state or local law from placing a "substantial burden" on a "person’s religious exercise" even if. the rule is not designed to infringe on a person’s religious beliefs. The problem is; the bill currently does not clarify whether state andlocal anti-discrirhination laws can be ignored by a person who claims that these laws violate his or her religious beliefs. "We cannot support legislation that might threatenanti:discrimination statutes thatprotect Gay andlesbianAmericans in 11 states and 101 municipalities," said Stachelberg. Thefollowing is an excerpt of a letter that was sent by HRC executive director Elizabeth Birch to our allies who are supporting the RLPA without civil rights protection. The- Human Rights Campaign is proud to have the support of a broad-based coalition ofreligious organizations in the struggle for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual equality. However, in light of the position many such organizations took on last week’s House vote in support of the Religious Liberty ProtectionAct(RLPA), I wouldlike to share withyou our thoughts on RLPA. First, we believe the intent of this legislation is a worthy one - religious freedom is an important righL But, as currently drafted, this bill is flawed. We strongly believe support for this legislation, as currently drafted, is not consistent with support for Gay and Lesbian rights.... Like you, the Human Rights Campaign strongly supports the principle of protecting the free exercise of one’s personal religious beliefs that serve as the foundation for RLPA. Just as strongly, we believe that Lesbian, Gay and bisexual Americans shouldnotface discrimination at work, at home or in their communities because of their sexual orientation. It is clear from statements made by members of the coalition supporting RLPA that they believe individual landlords and employers should be allowed to ’_ Unfortunately, the question ¯ answered during last week’s debate <~n : RLPA is, in my mind, the most import~zt : one: what religious liberty fights wo~.! d ¯ be lost or weakened by the inclusion of a : civilrights provision?Formembers of the ¯ coalition supporting this bill who profc.qs ¯ a desire to resolve this impasse in good : faith, I find the rejection of this provision ¯ completely bafflin.g....: ¯" " Our ~ concern! ls:.com~pou,n,ded by statements made by (he bill’.s chief: ¯ sponsor, Congressman Charles Canady, ~ and one of the leading members of your ¯ coalition, Steve McFartand, of the ¯ ¯ Christian Legal Society. During Saturday’s broadcast of the CSPAN " program Washington Journal, Canady ¯ said"I believe there are contexts in which : this bill could result in a claimant who is ¯ defending agmnst the application of a ¯ local Gay rights ordinance to raise a claim that would be successful - I think this law would trump the Gay rights ordinance." ¯ Mr. McFarland also acknowledged this ." intended use of RLPA in response to a ¯ question fromCongressman Jerry Nadler ¯ during his congressional testimony on ¯ RLPA before the House Judiciary ¯ Committee.’s Subcommittee on the ¯ Constitution on May 12, 1999. I am sure ¯ you can understand why such statements ¯ do little to dispel the very real fear that ¯ some intend to use RLPA as a sword to ¯ strike down the civil rights of others in the ¯ name of religious liberty. Whether it is ; your intent or not, opposition to a civil ¯ rights exemption ts support for ¯ discriminationbased onsexual orientation " - a position in direct opposition to the ¯ principles that are the foundation of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. : We are particularly passionate about : the need for a civil rights provision in ¯ RLPA because of the lack of any federal laws prohibiting employment ." discrimination on the basis of sexual ; orientation. The eleven state laws and ¯ nearly 200local laws are the few and very : hard fought civil rights protections ] availableforGay and Lesbian Americans. : Many of those laws took fifteen years or ¯ more of struggle by the local community ¯ to pass.... The Religious Liberty Protection Act, .~ as currently drafted, will put more ¯ Americans at risk of discrimination, not ¯ fewer. Enacting this legislation without : stating clearly in the bill that RLPA does ¯ not provide a defense to non-compliance ¯ with stateor local anti-discriminationlaws ¯ undercuts those laws .... ¯ To allow RLPA as a defense against : discrimination is to defend religious ¯ practices that do real and definable harm ¯ to others. From our perspective, your ¯ opposition to the civil rights provision ." means you are defending the right of a ¯ religious individual, who chooses to be a : landlord or employer, to impose their ¯ religious beliefs on a Gay or Lesbian ¯ American by denying them a job or a : place to live because of their sexual : orientation. To find ourselves in this : disagreement with you, our long-time ¯ allies, deeply saddens and angers us... ¯ We ask you to join with us as this bill ." moves forward to strongly encourage the : Senate to include a civil rights provision ¯ and enact areligious liberty protection act : for all Americans. ¯ - Elizabeth Birch, Executive Director byEsther Rothblum, Ph.D. Giventhenumberandrange ofresearch projects about Lesbians in recent years, it is easy to forget how challenging it was to survey Lesbians even a decade ago. In the 1980’ s, Caitlin Ryan and Judy Bradford conducted @hat became the National Lesbian Health Care Survey. This study eventually resulted in 1,925 completed questionnaires from Lesbians in all 50 U.S. states. It figured prominently in the recent Institute of Medicine Report of the National Academy of Sciences. Even today, there are Lesbians (including me!) who remember completing a questionnaire for this study 15 years ago. I recently asked Caiflin and Judy to describe the "herstory" and process of conducting the National Lesbian Health Care Survey in the mid- 1980s. In the late 1970s, Caitlin suggested forminganational organization thatwould be multi-disciplinary, focus on Lesbian - and Gay health issues, and sponsor research and education. She began to talk with other Lesbians about the need for a survey. There was no av~i~lable information on how Lesbians conceptualize Lesbian health. She was also interested in how stigma affected health, mental health, self care, and access to care. Sheapplied for agrant though thenewly formed National Lesbian and Gay Health Foundation and hired a research consultant, Dot Parkel, who was a sociologist and survey researcher. Dot’s role was to help design the study and to develop drafts of the questionnaire, using the input Caitlin had received from many Lesbians. Caitlin told me: "I remember talking with a researcher who was herself a closeted Lesbian, who sat down with me and basically told me that I could not possibly do a study like this. She just felt that it was not feasible. And, of course, therewas no such thing as arepresentadve sample. I saw this womanrecently and we laughed about her earlier skepticism. She said, ’I told you that you couldn’t do and you went out and did it.’ " Judy got started by attending the Intemational Lesbian and Gay Health and AIDS Conference atNew YorkUniversity with a good friend, a man who was in her class in graduate school. They were both interested in AIDS research, which was just getting started then. EverywhereJudy looked- and she went to a lot of sessions at the conference - there were mostly men. Then she noticed in the Conference program a scheduled time for a women’ s group meeting. It turned out to be an orgamzing meeting for the National Lesbian Health Care Survey, and Caitlin was facilitating the group. When Judy said she was a graduate student and described a little of what she was doing, she suddenly became co-investigator and was responsible for data analysis and preparing the survey report. One of the things Caitlin had been very concerned about was inclusion. So many of the early studies, and even those conducted today, have shown very highly educated samples of Lesbians. Shewanted ¯ . . it is easy to forget how challenging it was to survey Lesbians even a decade ago. : to include women of color and women of ¯ diffeient economic backgrounds and not ¯ have language be a barrier. So she talked with people about how to ask clinical ¯ questions in a non-clinical way. Caitlin ¯ said: "I talked with women bus drivers, day laborers, women who had been ¯ recently diagnosed withcancer, about their ¯ experiences and how we should ask these ¯ questions. All of that helped frame how ¯ we would shape a questionnaire." She elicited suggestions about language in a series of focus groups that took place in several different parts ofthe country. They pre-tested the questxonna]re at several Lesbian and Gay conferences and with individuals around the country. They would ask the womenin the focus group to fill out the questionnaire, and ¯ then they would sit around and talk about ¯ it alittlebit, and hearwhat people thought ¯ of it to make it more accessible. After " several go-arounds using that process, : they finalized the questionnaire. ¯ SinceCaitlinhaddone the early Lesbian ¯ andGayhealth organizing, shehad alarge ¯ address baseofpeopleall overthecountry who were willing to help distribute the ¯ quesdounaires. They set up a distribution ¯ plan that was kind of an unusual approach ¯ tO snowball sampling. The methodology ¯ was intended to get the questionnaires out ¯ as broadly as possible to people all over the country, including Alaska; They were concernedwithgetting the survey to underrepresented populations that hadn’t been sampled before, so they made a commitment to getting it to Lesbians in the military, Lesbians living on Indian reservations, and Lesbians in prison. They also. tried reaching non-English speaking women and they tried to reach Lesbians of color in a variety of ways, including having Lesbians of color give it out to their networks around the country. The National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays sent a mailing about the survey and how important it was and how to participate. The Wisconsin Governor’s Task Force sent out mailings that went all over the state of Wisconsin. The National Organization of Women sent out information abeut the survey, and information about it was published in a variety of Lesbian and Gay newsletters. The survey went out in the fall of 1984 and by early 1985 they had received surveys back from 1,925 Lesbians from every U.S. state. It was a wonderful experience for them,hearing from somany Lesbians across the country, and had the sense of a national movement. There was an electric energy - everyone had a great sense of how important the survey was. Of course, a major issue was how to obtain money to fund data entry and data analysis. The early 1980s was not a time for funding Lesbian projects. Once the struggles for funding were over (though the study was funded on a shoestring), Judy sent the questionnaires out to the Virginia State Prison, where all the lab’s data entry was done at that time. She told ¯ me: "The questionnaires did not arrive ¯ back. When our project manager called ¯ about this, seePsyche, p. 13 IGTA member Call 341.6866 International Toursformoreinformation. AUTHENTI~ FRESH 1TALIAN RAINBOW CUSINE TROUT ofEureka Springs Voted Number One in Arkansas! 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(Tulsa) "~10130 HOW DOES THIS SOUND TO YOU? 20- year-old WF, 5’3", brown/blue, likes playing soft, dancing and having fun. Looking for a nonjudgmental, feminine Woman with similar interests, for dating and maybe more. (Tulsa) "~’21008 To respond, browse or check your messages, call 1-900-786-4865 $1.99/MIn. 18+ Discreet ¯ Confidential ¯ Easy by Lamont Lindstrom For years and years I used to gethaircuts athome. Mona, spouse, roommates,lovers - whoever was handy with scissors - had a whack at my head. The result varied but the price was right. So I was a latecomer to theworld of barbers, professional haircutters, hairdressers, and stylists. Thefirst time I paid someone for a haircut I was nervous. I was 40 years old but had never been inside a salon. That chair, the sink, those weird tools - it all reminded me of the dentist. However, I soon learned to appreciate hairdressers’ skills and also the pleasure of a shampoo and an occasional head massage. But I was still worried when I moved to Japan for seven months. My hair grew faster than I could learn Japanese. I riffled desperately throughmyratty oldJapanese "useful phrases for tourists" looking for haircut vocabulary. I had the book in my pocket when I picked a shop at random from the scores of salons in downtown Kagoshima. Lucky for me, the stylist and owner had trained with Vidal Sassoon in London. And he remembered enough English to understand roughly how I wanted my hair. He had an army of assistants, too, who shampooed me and got me ready for the cut. (They would drape a cloth over my eyes while working on me - I wasn’t sure if this was to keep out the suds, or spare me the rude view of their nostril hair.) The shampoo always finished with a beautifully relaxing head massage - a standard service in Japanese salons. I have just finished reading an analysis of hair styling written by anthropologist Grant McCracken: Big Hair: A Journey into the Transformation of Self. McCracken interviewed both stylists and customers about the transforming powers of hair. He suggests that we Americans get new hairstyles in order to recreate and change ourselves. When we reach a point in life where we need a change, we redo our hair. Or when the boyfriend dumps you, a new buzz cut and goatee can help relieve the pain. A few years ago there was a weird outbreak of ponytails among my 40- something straight-guy friends Something about hitting the Big 40 made these aging friends cultivate their long, graying locks. Perhaps they figured this was the last chance before it all fell off anyway. Psychologists from Freudondownhave commented on the sexual meaning of hair. Delilah cuts away Samson’s hewas told ,they wouldn’ t code the surveys. I got another company to.do it and the same thing happened. Finally when it came to the third company I was told that the data entry staff were afraid to touch the questionnaires for fear of getting AIDS !" Over the years, wherever Judy and Caitlin are, they continue to nm into Lesbians who participated in the survey, and who want to talk about the impact that it had on them. Many women wrote pages of material in addition to the answers they gave to the items on the questiormaire. For published results of the National Lesbian Health Care Survey, see: 1. Bradford, J.B., & Ryan, C. (1991). Who we are: Health concerns ofmiddle- ¯ manhood by fleecing his curls. Though ¯ nowadays- thanks to Michael Jordan and ¯¯ others - the bald knob is equally sexy. Whether one goes for flowing ponytail or ¯ smooth, shiny scalp, the pointis that when ¯ life gets messy or gloomy, we run to our ¯ barber. ¯ In Kagoshima, someof themoreelegant ¯ salon assistants had dyed their black ¯ Japanese hair blond and I wondered if ¯ they were Gay. But then I felt guilty for ¯ thinking stereotypically. All hair stylists, ¯" of course, are not Gay. Warren Beatty in Shampoo.testified to that. Still, Gay men ¯ have, been deeply involved in the ¯ emergence of today’s hair industry. ¯ McCracken reviews some of the giants of ¯ 20th century hair styling: Ernest Adler, ¯ Alexandre, and Antoine - the 1950s forerunners of Sassoon - and many of ¯ these men dearly were Gay. ¯ Furthermore, theAmerican marketplace ¯ feeds off cultural creativity generated ~ within local, often otherwise unap¯ preciated communities. It steals hiphop stylefromurbanstreets;itborrows stylistic ¯ developments in language, dress, and hair from Gay men and women. The long hair ¯ of the 1960s and the cropped hair of the ¯ 1990s both largely originated in Gay circles. The combination ofhomosexuality and ¯ personal service is not unusual across the ¯ world. Many of the small town beauty ¯ salons springing up in the Philippines and elsewhere, for example, are established ¯ by Gay men. ¯o It may be that culturally ambiguous ¯ homosexuality-whichstands bothoutside and between the categorical opposition betw.eenmal,e andfemale-makes personal service easier. If the server is somehow outside the arena ofordinary heterosexual gender competition and dalliance, then his touch is easier to bear. It is not news that. map.y Gay men provide personal service m restaurants, hotels, hospitals, rest homes, as well as in hair salons. Next time you need a new you, do something about that hair. It may be that developments in genetics and cloning one day will replace plastic surgery to allow us effortlessly to remake ourselves: Perhaps change our skin color, orbuy new orange eyeballs, or a bigger set ofpecs, or trade in our ears or more personal body parts. But until that day comes, we’ve got our hair. You can redo with a new do. Which renfinds me. It’s about time for a haircut. Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D. teaches anthropology at the University of Tulsa. agedLesbians. In B. Sang, J. Warshow, & A.J. Smith (Eds.) Lesbians atmidlife: The creative transition (pp. 147-163). San Fransisco, CA: Spinsters Book Company. 2. Bradford, J.B., Ryan, C.,&Rothblum, E.D. (1994). National Lesbian Health Care Survey: Implications for mental health care. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 228-242. 3. Ryan, C., & Bradford, J. (1993). The NationalLesbian Health Care Survey: An Overview. In D. Garnets & D.C. Kimmel (Eds.) Psychological perspectives on Lesbian and Gay male experiences. New York: Columbia University Press. Esther Rothblum is Professor of Psychology at the University of Vermont and Editor of the Journal of Lesbian Studies. She can be reached atJohn Dewey Hail, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT. E-mail: esther.rothblum@uvm.edu. and to effectively refute the anti-family policies of the right-wing; second, to actively build an effective and collaborative national pro-GLBT family network among GLBT and mainstream organizations working on family issues; and third, to educate the general public about the value and values of GLBT families. Ettelbrick will assist NGLTF in articulating a voice in policy debates that have a great impact on GLBT families, including debates on adoption, coparenting, foster Care, alternative insemination and recognition of "broader family support networks. In addition, NGLTF will raise GLBT perspectives in debates that have traditionally excluded consideration of GLBT perspectiyes. Examples include definitions of family in Social Security reform proposals~ the Older Americans Act and immigration policy. Noted Vaid, "A number of legal and advocacy groups do excellent work in the arena of family issues, but no group currently coordinates the efforts of our movement in this area so that collaboratively we can muster the resources weneedto changefamily policy. In addition, there is no national research center for policy development and policy analysis ~n family issues. With GLBT families facing attack on so maiiy fronts, the need for a coordinated national approach has never been greater." Announcement of the Family Policy Programis partofalong-term commitmenl on the part of the NGLTF Policy Institute toGLBTFamilies. Beginning in the 1980s, NGLTFhousedthefirstnational Families Project. Throughout the 1990"s, the Task Force worked actively on a number of family issues. Last year, NGLTF organized "Celebrating Our Families," a 15-city national tour to raise the visibility of GLBT family issues and to organize against attacks by right wing groups. In 1999, the Policy Institute published The Domestic Partnership Organizing Manual to help employees and citizens around the country mobilize to obtain important benefits for their families. Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force works to elimiinateprejudice, violence andinjustice against Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual andTransgenderedpeople at thelocal, state and national level. As part of abroader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF iscreating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity ofhumanexpression andidentity where all people may fully participate in society. For example, if anyone had suggested that in the third year after weheld the first Pride March (all 65 brave souls - likely more non-Gay than Gay) that we would have hnndreds at the Pride Parade and Picnic of this year with no less than Congressman Barney Frank as grand marshal. While the principal credit for that goes to Mitchell Savage and Ric Martin and many others, it was nndcr Steve’s leadership that these people came together. Andjustkeeping theCommunityCenter afloat is no little task. While the Center continues to serve many. groups and members of the community, it still needs broader support. Air conditioning has to be paid for (air conditioning repairs have to be paid for) as well as rent and other expenses. I would suggest that the greatest way in which we can honor Steve Horn - and those who served before him as well - is to continue to support the work he did: to help keep our community center open, to improve it; maybe one day, even to help build our own building - imagine. would expand federal authority to prosecute hate crimes. Currently, federal officials canouly intervene if a victim is engaged in a federally protected act such as attempting to vote, go to school or serve onajury. Federal officials catmotintervene at all in hate crimes based on disability, sexual orientation or gender. The Senate also passed a watered-down amendmentby Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, that does not cover sexual orientation, disability or genderand wouldonly expand federal jurisdiction to hate crimes committed after the crossing of state lines. "The Hatch amendment fails to recognize that no one should be a target for bias-motivated violence," Lobd said. "Hate crimes legislation that doesn’t cover sexual orientation, disability and gender is a farce." The Hate Crimes Prevention Act has been a top. legislative priority of both organizations and passage of the amendment culminates months of work."With strong administrationbacking and bipartisan support in both houses of Congress, we expect to be in a strong position in the conference committee to ensure final passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act," Winnie Stachelberg, HRC’s political director, said today. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act has strong supportfrom President Clinton and the administration has made passage a priority. Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., has scheduled a hearing on the measure in the House Judiciary Committee on Aug. 4. HCPA currently has morethan 180House cosponsors from both parties. theneed for individuals in the community ¯ to support the Center remained. According to Tracey Conaty, "- spokespersonfor the Gill Foundation,Tim , Gill, software developer of Quark, established the Fmmdation in 1994 as a : catalyst for and’to provide resources for : communities in pursuit of justice and ¯" equality. The foundation also seeks to buildawareness ofthe contributions which : Gay men and Lesbians make to American ¯ society. Since its inception, Tim Gill and ¯ the Gill Foundation have provided nearly $13 million to hundreds of community ¯ organizations. Gatewoodalso mentioned several other ¯" events at the Center. On Sept. 25th, the ¯ Centerwill host aFeast for Friends dinner in support of THE NAMES PROJECT. ¯ And in Oct. the Center will present a ¯ National Coming Out Day Festival and ¯ ¯ Fair. This event will include a mini film festival as well beginning on Oct. 8th. : More information will be available as the ¯ event approaches. For Good Home Friendly,~ honest~ & very experienced 42 year young realtor seeks sincere &motivated buyers &sellers. Into MLS. You won’t be disappointed. 712-2252 or 745-2245 John Kirk, Keller Williams, Realty Use Free Code 717 Free Code 7000 A|ways 1 8-663-270 Oklahoma 5-524- Megaphone does not prescreen callers and assumes no liability for personal meetings. 24 hour customer service (800) 289-1489. 18+ ( Closing Costs on. Home Equity Loans! Oklahoma now come wi.fl~ no closing cost:s, so you can save hundreds of dollars. Use your home~ equity to borrow R:)r just about anything -- home i.m.provements, bill consdidation, college cu{tion, o~ buying a can And BOk has ~eat rates! And nu~st home equity loans let you deduct themt~.-re.."st" from. your taxes.* Applying is easier than ever. ~l~:)u can come into anyc)f our 24 cong’enient Tulsa area t(~’at.ions, includmg 9 A.Iberts0m/c~:.ati.ons open 7 days a week. You can aim caR. Our 24.-hour ExpressBank at 588.-6010 to apply any time-~- we’re never closed. And now you can apply online at ~,~vx~:hankofoklahoma,com. l t~ easy and fast. Save ume and at~. p. t.y t~..y.. ~" a BOk home. equity we App~ At Any Branch Or Call Us 24 Hours A Day At 588-6010 Or-Apply Online At www.bankofoklahoma.com OBANK Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [1999] Tulsa Family News, August 1999; Volume 6, issue 8 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource August 1999 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjoh Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, Volume 6, Issue 7 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 newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/590 adoption AIDS deaths AIDS testing AIDs Walk Anti-hate crime legislation arts and entertainment attorneys Barry Hensley Bars businesses Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints churches civil rights Civil Rights Act Community Center conversion therapy Council Oak Men's Chorale Dave Fleischer discrimination divorce Dyke Psyche Entertainment Notes Esther Rothblum Exodus International Feast with Friends Fred Phelps Gary Indiana gay bashing Gay marriage Gay Studies Gay-Straight Alliance Greg Gatewood HIV/AIDs HIV/AIDS research homophobia Human Rights Campaign James Christjohn Lamont Lindstorm lawsuits Malawi marriage marriage equality Murder National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Native Americans Parish Church of Saint Jerome Paul M. Barby Paula Ettelbrick performing arts Phillip Morris Read All About It religious liberty restaurants Steve Horn Three Month Fever Tom Neal Tulsa CARES Tulsa Family News Tulsa Metropolitan Ara Planning Commission Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Tulsa Two-Spirited Indian Men's Support Group Westboro Baptist Church https://history.okeq.org/files/original/8364ca28f14ee69668e3392df65c2625.jpg a4e504a8c536d25ebf9ba224318dcf15 https://history.okeq.org/files/original/8ec2fd79262c89bf7fcc1eaa9368386c.pdf ca6cf97abbffe0a153cbfd0cca1e2111 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 newspaper periodical Text Any textual data included in the document First Gay Ambassador, James Hormel, Sworn In WASHINGTON (AP) - Sedate events are the norm in the gilded confines of the State Department’s eighth floor reception room but there can be exceptions. The atmosphere was downright raucous on Tuesday, June 29 over a seemingly routine happening.." the swearing in of a new ambassador. James Hormel, who is Gay, took the oath as ambassador to Luxembourg in the presence ofhundreds offriends whohad siipported Hormel’ s ofttroubled nomination since it was first announced 20 months ago. Hormel’s supporters cheered loudly as he was sworn in as America’s first openly Gay ambassador. "What an inered!ible privilege it is to be standing before you today,’ said Hormel, an heir to the Audiin, Minn.-based Hormel Foods Corp. fortune.Secretary of State Madeleine .Albiight was there, along with Sens. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. Television cameras lined the rear of the majestic State Department hall. Normal procedure on such occasions is to bar the press altogether. Uncertainty had shrouded Hormel’s appointment almost from the day he was nominated because of opposition from a few senators, see Hormel, p. 12 30 Years After Riot, Gays & Lesbians Take Stock NEW YORK (AP) -~,years ago, police raids on Gay bars were a fact oflife~ You took themfor granted the way you took being hated for granted," says Joan Nestle, a writer and activist who started going to, Greenwich Village bars as a tean-ager in the 1950s~ Volunteers carried a 120footRainbowflagfrom the Community Center to Veterans Park where Congressman Frank spoke. 2000 Attend 1st Tulsa Parade TULSA-Tulsa’ s firstGayPrideParade was declared a sweeping success by its organizers and by almost all who attended. -According to The Tulsa World, more than 2000 attended the event which featured US Congressman Barney Frank, Democrat from MassaChusetts as grand marshall and which had more than 35 entries. Frank spoke at the traditional picnic which followed the parade and again at a dinner that evening at the Greenwood Cultural Center. At both events, Frank suggested that straight Americans are not essentially bigoted but rather bdieve that they are expected to be anti-Gay. He strongly encouraged Gay & Lesbian citizens to become politically active. Sponsors of the events indued Mark & Mike, Cimarron Alliance, the Parish Church of Saint Jerome, MCC United, Council Oak Mens Chorale, PFLAG, Bud Light, Pepsi-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co. of Tulsa, Jason Reed, The Storm, Jack Wallace, T.W.’s A.F.A.B. Catering, Tulsa Family News and some others. Photos of the parade andpicnicfollow on page 3. Cath, of St. John the Divine Hosts Stonewall 30 Service NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, speaking on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Stonewall riot, urged Gays and lesbians Saturday to bring their fight for equal fights to the ballot box. The congressman, who was greeted with a standing ovation ata Manhattan celebration of the 1969 incident, told the crowd So when the patrons of a bar called the Stonewall Inn ¯ fonghtbackJune 27,1969-attackingpolice with rocks, .bottles and fists that stmtling act of defiance became an . instantwatershed event. Gayactivists considerit akin to the .Montgomery bus boycott or the lunch-counter sitins that galvanized the civil rights movement. This lastmonth~parades andralfiesinNew York, San Franciscoanddozens ofcities worldwidecommemorate the Stonewall riotandmarkthreedecades ofremarkable change. While Gay pcople are not universally accepted - a Time/CNN Foil last fall found that 48% of Americans believe homosexuality is morally wrong-Lesbians and Gay men are becoming increasingly integrated into American society. "We’ve made a sea change in notjust public opinion but public policy as well:~ says Kerry Lobel, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, a lobbying groupbasedin Washington, D.C."We see that ." in areas like civil rights, hate crimes; family issues and ¯ sodomy repeal, we have more possibility of legislative : change than ever before." Lobel cited Nevada, whose Legislature recendy ." banned job discrimination see 30 Years, p. 14 . DIRECTORWt.E’I’rERS P. 2 : EDITORIAL P. 2 ; US & WORLD NEWS P. 4 " HEALTH NEWS P. 6 " ENTERTAINMENT P. 8 . COMMUNITY CALENDAR P. 9 . DO-IT-YOURSELF-DYKE P. 11 ." DYKE PSYCHE P. 12 . GAY STUDIES P. 15 ~.that the gains made by the Gay comm_u~,’,ty were substantial. But ¯ ne s~sed.~that the.struggle continues. °We have fought on our .terms, said Frank, D-Mass., one of only three Gay members of ". Congress. ,ButI urge you to take the next step. Use our political . ¯ power..You have to vote. Your friends have to vote." Frank-was one of about two dozen speakers, performers and activis~ appearing at "Stonewall 30: A Sacred Celebration." Some. 1,500 Gays and lesbians turned out at.the Cathedral of St. John the Divi~e for the event, which commemorated the start of the Gay rights movement. OnMonday,June28,the Christopher Street siteofthe Stonewall Inn will .be Added to the National Register of Historic Places. Angry Gays fought with police who had rousted them from the Stonewall on June 27, 1969. : Frank, whotookpot shots at closeted Gays in Congress and the : -Rev. Jerry .Falwell, said that there should be no complacency : among Gay civil rights activists. "No one should ask us to be ¯ grateful because there’s less bigotry," Frank said to rousing cheers. "It never should have been there at all." Therest of the ceremony,was by turns solemn andcomical. The New York City Gay Men s Chorus sang a requiem for the late Matthew Shepard, the Wyoming youth killed by Gay-bashers, and a group called Lavender Light performed "We Shall Overcome." But actor Jay Goede did a hilarious reading of a 1969 Daily News article on the Stonewall riot, opening with its homophobic headline: "Homo nest raided. Queen bees are stinging mad." Later, drag performer Miss Coco Peru - in red wig, matching lipstick and sequined purple dr~s - stood in the pulpit with Gay police Sgt. Edward Rodriguez. As a Gay boy growing up in the Bronx," Miss Peru said, "I never dreamed I’d be in the world’s largest Gothic cathedral, in the pulpit, in full drag." She smiled, and the audience applauded. Longtime activist Jimmy Flowers stands before Parade Grand Marshall US Rep. Barney Frank. Community Leadership Meeting Called for 6/20 TULSA - Established community leaders, Marty NewmanandDennis Neill, have called acommumty leadership meeting for 6pro on Tuesday, July 20. According to the letter that went out under Newman’s and Neill’s names, the intent of the meeting is to capitalize on the "renewed sense of excitement and energy" that’s resulted from the recent Pride weekend events: Tulsa’s first parade, the annual picnic and the dinner featuring US Congressman Barney Frank from Massachusetts. The letter went to nearly 50 businesses and organizations, from bars to churches inviting each to send one representative to present their priorities, fo seek ways better to work together, and to "work towards building a more cohesive Gay & Lesbian community." see Meeting, p.11 From one religibus extreme to another at the Parade, Rev, LesliePenroseto anti-Gayprotesters, Rev. PenroseAccepted in UCC; l her Religi .us i Groups Also Welcomzng ¯" TULSA- TheReverend Leslie Penrose, pastor of : Community of Hope Base Shalom Congregation ¯ has had her request for transfer of her.ordination : accepted by the Ecclesiastical Council of the ¯ Oklahoma Association of the United Church of : ChrisL Penrose, _had received her ordination within : the United Methodist Church but had been : experiencing harassment within that denomination ¯ by anti-Gay activists because she had performed : religious ceremonies that blessed same-gender ¯ relationships, i.e. "holy unions." : Pem’ose, writing in Community of Hope’s newsletter, noted that the process of being nszderedfor transfeXincludedpreachingasermon : and presenting several papers and then waiting for : the vote by the council. But she also said that upon ¯ arrival, she’d been greeted with a comment from : the Rev. Russell Bennett saying, "your name’s ," already on the cakeF’ And indeed after the "yes" ¯¯ vote, Peurose was .welcomed at a reception where there was a cake that said,"Welcome, Leslie, to the ¯ United Church of Christ!" : But the UCC is not the only Christian group : trying to welcome Lesbians and see Leslie, p. 14 Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Bamboo Lounge, 7204 E. Pine 832-1269 *Boston Willy’ s Diner, 1742 S. Boston 592-2143 Burger Sisters Restaurant, 1545 S. Sheridan 835-1207 *Empire Bar, 1516 S. Peoria 599-9512 *Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th 583-6666 *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria 749-4511 *Jason’ s Dell, 15th & Peoria 599-7777 *Lola’s, 2630 E. 15th 749-1563 *Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square 744-4280 *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st 745-9998 *Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan 834-4234 ¯ *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main 585-3405 *TNT’ s, 2114 S. Memorial 660-0856 *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd 584-1308 Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 747-1508 *Affinity News, 8120 E. 21 610-8510 *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000 Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E 15 712-1122 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665 Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272 *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313 Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700 Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 ~Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620 *Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady 587-2611 Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556 *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838-8503 *Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712-9379 *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 744-9595 Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E: 55th P1 610-0880 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026 *Gloria Jean’ s Gourmet Coffee~ 1758 E. 21 st 742-1460 Leaune M. Gross, Insurance &financial planning 459-9349 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440 *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 *International Tours 341-6866 Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750 *Jared’ s Antiques, 1602.E. 15th 582-3018 David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236 The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582:8460 *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466 *Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brady 585-1234 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112 Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951 David A. Paddock, CPA, 4308 S. Peoria, Ste. 633 747-7672 Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626 *Peace of Mind Bookstore, 1401 E. 15 583-1090 The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2rid floor 743-4297 Rainbowz on the River B÷B, POB 696, 74101 747-5932 Richard’ s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617 Ted Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921, 747-4746 *Scribner’ s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749~-6301 Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829 *Tickled Pink, 3340 S. Peoria 697-0017 ~,Tulsa Book Exchange, 3749 S. Peoria 742-2007 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481,-0558 *Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563 Fred Welch, LCSW, Couusding 743~1733 *Whittier News Stand, 1 N; Lewis 592-0767 Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593 *All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-731~4 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 *B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa Canterbury Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th PL & Florence *Church oftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314 *Community ofHope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300 *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 *Council Oak Men’ s Chorale 585-COMC (2662) *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615, POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 o-mail: TtlLsaNews@earthlinlc net t~8~:+l~.~9[Jsers.aol.com/TulsaNews/ l~om Neal ~/riters + contributors: lean-Claude de Flambeauchaud Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandboucbe, Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers, Adam West Member of The Associated Press Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of this ~abul~ication are protected by US copyright 1998 by rJ.4~ ~:..,~ and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part witt~out written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orentafion. Correspondence is assumed to be for publication unles~,ot,herwjse nqted,,r~ust be signed & becomes the sole property of !~ t’,~.’. N~w~. Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. : *Free Spirit Women’ s Center, call for location &into: 587-4669 ¯ Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438 -" *HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 ¯ *HIV Resource Consortium, 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 ¯ *Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111 HOPE, HI~ Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 : *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood ¯ Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438~2437, 800-284-2437 ¯ *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 ¯ . NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111 : NOW, Nat’lOrg.forWomen, POB 14068,74159 365-5658 ¯ OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 ¯ *Our House, 1114 S. Quaker 584-7960 ¯ PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 ¯ *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 ¯ Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 : *R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 ¯ Rainbow Business Guild, POB 4106, 74159 665-5174 ¯ *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E 8 ~ 584-2325 ," O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults ¯ O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth St. Aidan’ s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 : St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 ¯ .*St. Jerome’ s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 :. *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 ¯ TNAAPP(Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 ¯ Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 ¯ Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only ¯ TnlsaOkla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 : T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform]Leather Seekers Assoc. 838-1222 ~ *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule ¯ *Tulsa Community College Campuses : *Tulsa Gay Commuaity Center, 1307E.38,74105 743-4297 ¯ *OSU-Tulsa (formerly UCT, formerly Rogers U. whoever...) ." BARTLESVILLE ; *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. JohnstOne 918-337-5353 ! OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN ¯ *Borders Books &Music,. 3209 NWExpres~way 405-848-2667 : *Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 : TAHLEQUAH : *Stonewall League; Call for information:~. ’ 918-456-7900 : *Tahlequah unltarian-UniversalistChurch " 918-456-7900 ¯ *Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB t570- 918-453-9360 ¯" NSU School of Optome.t~’y, 1001 N. Grand : HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates : EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS : *Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253-7734 : *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main 501-253-7457 ¯ DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. 501-253-6807 ¯ *Emerald Rainbow,45 &l/2 Spring St. 501-253-5445 ," MCC of the Living Spring 501-253-9337 : Geek to Go!, PC Specialist; POB 429 501-253-2776 ¯ Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-253-5332 ¯ Positive Idea Marketing Plans 501-624-6646 ¯ Sparky’s, Hwy..62 East 501-253-6001 ¯ *White Light, t Center St. 501-253-4074 ¯ FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS5 ¯ *Edna’s, 9 S. School Ave. 501-442-2845 JOPLIN, MISSOURI ¯ : *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696 ¯ * iswhereyoucanflndTF~.NotallareGay-owaedbutallareGay-friendly. by Tom Neal, editor &publisher For this month, I’m going to try just to ¯ say something nice. It’ s not what comes ¯ naturally now. After almost 6 years of ¯ journalism and more than 10 years of all but full-time, unpaid activism for civil ¯ rights for Lesbian and Gay Americans, ¯ I’ ve grown cynical. It’ s hardnotto become ¯ thatwayworkinginOklahoma andTexas ¯ - dearly not Gay-friendly environs. :- But this last month’ s success of Pride ¯ ’99 helps to bolster that wee bit of hope " that’s not entirely faded. And Pride ’99 : organizers deserve to behonored for their ¯ work.Severalnamesneedtobementioned ¯ particularly: Rick Martin who chaired the ¯ picnic for his second year, and Mitchell Savage who chaired the Barney Frank ¯ dinner. Others also merit recognition: ¯ Steve Horn as TOHR president, Kerry ¯ ¯ Lewis aspro-bonolegal counsd, andTim Gillean who was honored as TOHR ," volunteer of the year, Robin Leach, and ¯ the rock, in the sense said by the Christ to ¯ Saint Peter (and graphic designer par ¯ excellence)ofthecommunitycenter,Greg ," Gatewood. There are others, no doubt, ¯ who should also be named, a host of ¯ additional volunteers, and I wish to honor ¯ -them as well. ¯ Congressman Frank was a joy to hear, ¯ an inspiration, a gentle goad to us as a ¯ commumty toovercomeourcomplacency. : Especially in a state where Gay and ¯ Lesbian citizens effectively have no ¯ ¯ politicalrepresentation,itseems ourvoices are heard in our own government at least : through this Congressman from ¯ Massachusetts. My hope is that his message willbe taken to heart and that our ¯ people will get politically involved - we : can change this state. It’ s already happening, thanks in huge : measure to the Cimarron Alliance’ s work ¯ at the Oklahoma Capitol, and as I have ¯ said before, in particular to Keith Smith’ s ¯ and Nancy McDonald’ s work there (yep, ¯" you did read that -nice words even for ", those with whom I’ve occasionally, or : even frequently, disagreed). ¯ Now post-Pride, we must build on this ¯ success. There are signs this is happening. ~ Two of our most respected community ¯ leaders have called a leadership meeting ~ to see what common ground we can : establish. This is great. It’s been tried : before but the time wash’ t right and these ~ two have the stature to bring together ¯ those who might not otherwise meet. ¯ However, I’ll suggest that the goal of : such organizing should not be "unity." ¯ We are a widely diverse group with class, : race, gender, educational, age, and health ~ status differences, and recreational ¯ preferences. Unity in such a diversity is ¯ impossible, andinourpast,nationally and locally, has frequently been "achieved" : through a kind of Gay fascism, where : those with dissenting views were told to ¯ conform or pay the price usually by an : economic, gender and racial elite, i.e. ¯ rich, white guys. : However, building consensus, through ¯¯ long hard work, by really listening to.the diversity ofourcommunity(communities) ¯ is possible, see Pride, p~ 10 ¯ Letters Policy Tulsa Family News welcomes letters on ~ssues ~ which we’ve covered or on issues you think ¯ need to be considered. You may request that ," your name be withheld but letters must be ," signed & have phone numbers, or be hand ¯ delivered. 200 wordletters are preferred. Letters : to other publications will be printed as is ~ appropriate. A giantRainbowflag ends theparade at Veteran’s Park. Cimarron Alliance may have had the most artistic float, Al & David had the coolest bikes in the paradel The University ofTulsa’s Bi/Lesbian/Gay/Trans Alliance Gay-j~iendly straight supporters also marched. Paul Barby behind Marthd Hardwick & her kazoo band.. Greg Gatewood, US Cong. Barney Frank, & BJ Medley T.U.L.S.A. - butch guys with sweet smiles. PFLAG’s McDonald Hilary Kitz & son. CSC"s Janice Nicklas Father Walt Rockabrand " Fabulousdiva&fundraiserAudraSommersandfriends. Counci!OakMens ’. Chorale alsoperformed atthepicnic. The cross ofHouse of the Holy Spirit stood in witness. Theparadecoveredmore than a mile, Peoria to Riverside. Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation Miss Gay Black Oklahoma America 1999 The University ofOklahoma’s Gay/Lesbian/Bi Alliance ¯ ,. FrustratedHousewivesplayedanexcellentsetattheend. Lawmakers Fight Anti- ¯ agenda." - Supporters said it is a long-overdue Gay Discrimination WASHINGTON - Democratic and~Republican lawmakers from New England revived efforts last month to pass a federal law prohibiting job discrimination against Gays. To boost the measure’s chance of passage, lawmakers have rewritten it to explicitly prohibit preferential treatment of Gays, such as hiring to meet quotas or designing affLrmative action standards to make. up for past discrimination. Opponents of the Employment Non- Discrimination Act, known as ENDA, have successfully fgught it in three previous Congresses on the grounds that it would extend special protections to Gays. "ENDA will achieve equal rights - not special .flights- for gays and lesbians," said Sen. James J~fords, R-Vt., who plans to pass the bill out of his Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee andthen try to force considerailon.by the full.Senate. In 1996, the Senate defeated a similar bill by one vote. Vice President A1 Gore, campaigning in Los Angeles at a Gay and Lesbian center, voiced support for the legislation. "It does not confer any special rights, but it does outlaw the kind of discrimination that has become all too common in our society," he Said. The bill was introduced by Jeffords and Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Joseph LielJerman, D-Conn., and in the House by Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Christopher Shays, R=Conn. "If they’re able to get it out of the Senate, that would create tremendous pressure on the House," said Shays, an influential moderate. Shays and other ENDA supporters argue that the bill would pass the House - if conservative Republican 1eaders allow it to comeupfor debate -becauseit is backedby amajority ofAmericans. ENDA would extend basic civil rights protections in the area of employment to cover sexual orientation. Such protections are already afforded to people on the basis of race, religion, gender, national origin, age and disability. Eleven states --California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey; Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, New Hampshire and Nevada - already prohibit job discrimination against gays. ENDA would prohibit employers of 15 or more, employment agencies and labor unions from using an individual’ s sexual orientation as the basis for employment decisions, such as hiring, firing, promotion or compensation. The bill would exempt the .military and religious organizations. It would not require benefits for workers’ same-sex partners. Oooonents aren’t buying the argument that the bill- ~v~n’ t confer special-rights. RobertH. Knight of the conservative Family Research Council said sexual orientation shouldn’t be a category that receives federal protection from job discrimination because it involves behavior. Other specially protected categories, such as race, gender and disability, do not. "What if that person was representing a company and it became known that that person had wild and bizarre sexual tastes?" he asked. "That reflects on his employer. An employer should have the right to say,’I don’t want to have that kind of person working for me." " : statement in support of equality, since same-sex ¯ couples cannot marry. ¯ The list would be similar to those in about 50 : cities across the country, including Atlanta, ~ Boston and Madison. Under the measure, same- " sex couples could pay $30 to have their names ¯" placed on the registry. They would have to be 18 ." or older, live together and show some form of : financial unity, such as a joint bank account or ~ joint ownership of a vehicle. ¯ Two years ago, the council rejected by a vote ~ of 14-3 an effort to give health and funeral leave ~ benefits to unmarriedpartners ofcity employees. ¯ However, the currentmeasureis less controversial ¯ becauselittle,ifany, taxpayermoney is involved= Still, about 130 people came to the meelang o! ~ the council’s Judiciary and Legislation ¯ Committee. T,,h,er~ewereapplause,hisses,mut.ters ~ and "Amens during testimony for and against ~ theproposal. CaseyLepianka, whocalledhimself ~ anevangelist, told the committeethattheproposal ¯ condones Sinful behavior and would help send same-sex couples to "the fires of hell." ¯ Bill Attewell of Milwaukee said the.registry would make it easier for himto get benefits from ¯" his partner’s employer. "It angers me that simply : by living my life with my partner, it becomes a ~ politicalissue," Attewell said. If approved July 13 by the council and signed Milwaukee May Register Gay Couples MILWAUKEE (AP) - A Common C6~incil committee has approved the creation of a voluntary city-run registry that would allow Gay couples to formally declare their relationships. Tile measure, which passed 3-1 over the loud objections of Bible-quoting critics, goes to the full council next month. Opponents said the registry is the first step toward carrying out a destructive "Gay-fights Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 S. Harvard, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 MCC-United formerly Family of Faith & Greater Tulsa MCC Joined as one body of believers¯ Come celebrate with us. Sunday Services, 11 am 1623 North Maplewood, 838-1715 ". by Mayor John O. Norquist, the registry would ¯ take effect in September. Gore Visit.s LA Gay CommunltyCenter ,de .N.M ! od LOS ANGELES (AP) - Vice President AI Gore, seeking to bolster his credentials as a unifier, ¯ " fo"rgi ~n_d_ _A~d~l-llt~ offered a forceful defense of affirmative action. I MeG ted 6_2_3 71.e? and paid tribute to aGay andLesbian.€ommunity center. He faced a skeptical audience at the Gay i. 1 center, where Javier Garcia :asked, !’I want to know exactly why you’rehere."Garcia saidlater Io July 26-30th, 6-8pm each night hewas"suspicious" thatGore’sappearance was [ I 838-1715 C~ll Soon tO Enroll. purdy political. I Gore’s tour of the center came exactly one weekafter his rival for the Democraticpresidential nomination, formerNew Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley, visited it. "I’m here to learn and to pay honor to this ~lace," Gore said, adding the Gay and Lesbian Center of Los Angeles was helping to chang, attitudes and abolish some .. irrationa~ discrimination thetis all toocommon."Hegranted his only interview of the day to the Advocate, a national Gay and Lesbian news magazine. "Thevicepresidenthas alongtimecommitment to bringing our country together," said Gore spokesman Chris Lehane. "He strongly believes that we’re much stronger as a country when all aspects of our community work together and come together." Gore said he supports federal legislation that would outlaw discrimination against homosexuals at the workplace, and bills criminalizing certain hate crimes. Michelle Byler, 22, said she didnrt find Gore convincing. "He didn’t really speak to me or say anything to impress me," said l~yler, who said she left the Army after acknowledging her~ homosexuality. She added that she had reef. Bradley aweekearlier andfoundBmdleyequally. tmimpressive. Arkansas Sodomy ¯ Challenge Continues : LITTLE ROCK (AP) - A group challenging the ¯ constitutionality ofArkansas’ law against s°d°my ; can continue with itscourt acdon against the ; state, the Arkansas Supreme Court-ruled. In its ¯ June 24th opinion, the court ruled against a ¯ request that the law be thrown offthe books. ¯ The court overturned a chancellor s refus to ~ grant a motion by the state attorney general’s ¯ office and the Pulaski County prosecutor to Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St. Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934 fax: 663-5834 800-44A.-5934 ¯ ~amily Owned ~&Operated ~ HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 prn ¯ note our new address 3210b S. Norwood :Info., call 224-4754, Chris & Sharon Sandra Hill M.S. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive Suite 215, 745-1111 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale Sundays at 11am Info: 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation GLAD Lesbian Affordable Daycare) Joan & Teresa Wright P.O. BOX 54281 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74155 (918) 808-8026 OKLAHOMA COMMUNICATIONS Local - Long Distance Cellular - Paging 747-1508 Free Car Adaptor & Leather Case withNew Cell Phone -Cathy Ph.D. Licensed 1980 Utica Square Medical Center Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114 voice: 628-3709, fax: 712-9854 Adults, Children, Couples, and Families KEVIN BURLESO N Keller Williams Realty 712-2252 Burleson@kw.com 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An Independent Member Broker ¯ specificconsensual actsbetweenpersonsofthe same sex. ¯ discrimination, although the ordinance in The court agreed with the attorney general and " Lonisvilleonlyaddressesemployment.’‘Thereis ¯ prosecutor that a chancery court lackedjurisdiction in the " a perception that all Gay and Lesbian people flee small towns to live in big cities, and that’s not ¯ matter. However, the courtdisagreed with their argu.m,en.ts, that a constitutional challenge must be.postponed until ¯ true," said Guess, of Zion United Church of someoneisarrestedandchargedwithviolatingthesod°my ". Christandco_ch"aWirmeansohfothuelHdenndoertsohnFavaiernetSoScfalmeepaiogunr. ¯ statute. The justices ordered that the case be transferred to ¯ communities of choice becauselegal protections : ccoirncsutiittuticoonaulritty, owf ictrhimjiunarlisldawicst.ioAnny tsouchdedcecidlaerattihoen ": areino1f9fe9r4ed,Hinenbdigergseorncrietiveiss.e"ditspersonndpolicy ¯ so that it doesn’t discriminate against employe~.s could be appealed to the Supreme Court. . ¯ The suit that seven homosexual men and women filed on the basis of sexual ofientation. However, It ¯ " applies only to people working or seeking ¯ in Pulaski County.Chantry ~?.~,,t. ~,k.,e~l., ,Ch.:an~.d~ ~; e~ployment in;cit’y governmehL " CollinsKilg°re~°ldeclarethes°dOmyiawunc°nsttmu°n ¯ Guess said Fairness Campaign officials have ¯ and to bar enforcementof the statute. . : . ¯ ¯ TheLambdaLegalDefenseand,FxlucationF.lm,d.hafltsedee . met with the four city commissioners and the mayor to share stories of people being denied the decision ,,Welookforwardtotlaenextstepln,tmsca:s, ¯ apartments or being turned down for.jobs. ~dade] ¯ ---the chanc~ to show that the.sodomy,law, .violate,s,,tlae . Fairness Campaign plans to present a mo ¯ p.riv.a.cy.an.d ~e,qi,u~aIlnpmrohtdeactionflraiwghvtesroStuzLaensemBanGaonldtb~eargy ¯ ordinance to the commission in August .or ¯ ArKansans......staf. - ¯ ¯ " September. Opponents are promising to defeat it Shehad argued the case since it was filedln January 1998. The suit said members of the group had performed and saying thelaw would guarantee special rights ant ¯ would perform in the future,sexual ac.t.s bar~ed, by~ me_ that homosexuality is morally wrong and against statute, and that they feared prosecuuon. ~oaomy l~ " Biblical teachings. . , misdemeanor under thelaw, ptmishableby up to a year in " City Commissioner Robby Mills opposes, me ordinance but admits it has a chance ot passing. jail and a $1,000 fine. The suit says the law violates their ruingdhetsr ttohperliavwacsyi,nacsewthelel asstatthueteirdfiogehstsntootepqruoahlipbriot taeccttsioonf ¯" HlitetlesatyoswtnhleikdeeHbaetnediesrspooninbdeelosso.k"iWnghayt tshhisouislsduea ¯ tha~evenourstateandfederalofficeh°lders cannot sodomy between heterosexuals. , : CoOunntyapPperoals,ecthuetoarttLoarnrreyy Jgeegnleeyrala’srgoufefdic,eaamnodngPuolathskeir ¯ dspeceinddemony?t"imhee wsaoidrrylaisntgwaebeoku.t"wI hwaot usltdreleitksewtoe things, thattheirofficeswereimmunefromlawsuits, that " are going to pav,e, next and what sewer project we : the chancery court was not the proper place to file the are going to d& ¯ lawsuit and that the law should be challenged only in ". Guess said the measure has the support of several area congregations and church leaders, : defense of a prosecution. " from Catholic priests to Presbyterian ministers. : Gay Couples Covered by : Lon Oliver, senior minister at First Christian ¯ . Church, said he has been shocked by the tone of ¯ Domestic Violence Law someopponents,whohavesaidthattheordinance " would lead to teaching homosexuality in schools ¯ TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A circuit judge has ruled Florida’s : and that Henderson would become a haven for ¯ domestic violence law covers Gay couples¯ "To hold Gays . ,’The harslmess of the rhetoric and the fear ¯ otherwise would undermine the efforts to safeguard, " has surprised us all," he said. ¯ regardless of gender, the rights of victims of domestic ¯ The Green Valley Baptist Association, which ¯ violence," Judge Ronald N. Ficarrotta wrote in his rifling, represents 30 churches andabout 14,000members " " The ruling came in the case of David Baker who was . _themajorityoftheminHendersonCounty~has ¯ charged with violating a domestic violence restraining " adopted a resolution denouncing the ordinance. ¯ order taken out by his former partner, David Lozier, 39. ¯ Mills, the city commissioner, said that ¯ Public defenders asked the judge last week to dismiss " Henderson citizens generally do not accept the ¯ the case against Baker, saying the injunction was invalid. " homosexuallifestyle¯"Our community is apolite ¯ They maintained the judge who signed the injunction commumty that will not g. .I~O,,P,....... ’ " et in le’s face and ¯ ,,w.rongly recognized ahomosexual relationship a~ family. " say, ’You shouldn’tbe doing that, lae sam. . The court, in issuing, this, injuncu~on,, r,eco.~g~i~zed. a ¯ when this is brought forward, you’ll see a huge ¯ homosexual relationship as a family, which vlotates me " amountofpeoplewanting to voice their opinion." ¯ longstanding policy of ~e Flori,da, Constitution, s~tut.e~s_, ¯ The debate could go statewide. State Rep. Kathy Legislature and courts, Baker s lawyers wrote, rmnoa - Stein,D_Lexington,hasproposedabillthatwould ¯ doesnotrecog~.’.zemarriagesbe.twee,ns,a,.m..e-,s.exp~,ar,m_~oS~ ¯ protect homosexuals, from discrimination.,s The ¯ FicarrottasaldBakerandLozter, wnouvextt°gemert . measurecouldbediscussedatnextyear General .. seven years, sharing ahousehold andjointbank accounts, ¯ Assembly session. ¯ didlive together as family. Legislators who expanded the ¯ domestic violence law in 1991 intendedit to protect all " Namibian Court Rules ¯ meLmobzieerrshoafdaahcocuusseedhohlids,ohneetsiamideipnahrtinseorr°dfers.-trhkinghim for Lesbian Couple andlaterharassing him wlth threatemngphone calls. I m . WINDHOEK, Namibia - Namibia’s high court ¯ very happy with the decision," he said. ¯ ¯ Hillsborough County Public Defender Julinnne Holt has ruled that Gay and Lesbian couples have ¯ saidherofficewillr,e,viewthejudge’sorderbef°redeciding " exactly-the same fights in the country as ¯ whether to appeal. Webelieve that it’s not dear that (the " heterosexual couples. The Namibian newspaper " "d ..... if " said the ruling was a rebuke to often hom°ph°bic ’ " law) covers same-sex couples, she sal . the term, as ~ afnmily,"isnotdefinedinFloridala~v andthereapparently ¯ government that had sought to deny a German are no previous cases on the issue, according to court ¯ woman a residence permit because of her ¯ " relationship with her Namibian parmer. ¯ records. In theruling, Judge Harold Levy also ruled the ¯ Small Kentucky Town May of Home Affairs must supply reasons ¯ for refusing an application for permanent : Ban Anti-Gay Bias ¯ residence.Thejudgerejectedministryatguments ¯ that the nature of the rdationship betw~m Liz ¯ HENDERSON,Ky.(AP)-WhentheLonisvilleB°ard°f " Frank, a German, and Elizabeth Khaxas, a ¯ Aldermen voted earlier this year to ban discrimination ~ Namibian, had no bearing on the application. ~ against homosexuals in the workplace, the Rev. Ben ¯ The couple has been living together for several Guess was at city hall to celebrate. Now, Guess finds years and are ratsmg a son. Not only is thi ¯ himself involved in a similar debate in his own city of relationship recognized, but the respondents ¯ Henderson¯ A group of citizens is urging M_ayor Joan ¯ (HomeAffairs)shouldha,v,.etakenit~toa.ccx).unt,." Hoffman and the City Commission to make it-illegal to ¯ Levy said in his ruling. I have no hesitation is ¯ discriminate in employment, housing and public saying that the long-term relationship between ¯ accommodations based on aperson’s sexual orientation. ¯ the applicants in so far as it is a universal ¯ If approved, Henderson would become the second partnership, xs recogmzeo t~y ia , wrote Levy. MARK T. HAMBY Attorney Bankruptcy & Civil Matters Call for More Information 1500 Nations Bank, 15 West Sixth Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119 744-744~ Fax 744-9358 OPENARMS,OPENMtNDS,OPEN Saint Aidan 4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882 Saint John 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 Saint Dunstan 5635 East 71st. 492-7140 Trinity 501 S. Cincinnati, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You Anonymous HIV Tests Droppin ATLANTA (AP) - Fewer Americans are choosing to remain anonymous when tested for HIV at federally funded clinics, hospitals and prisons, according to a government report¯ In most states, people can get tested for the AIDS virus without giving their names. But the number of federally fundedanonymous tests declined nearly 27% between 1995 and 1997, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported recently. "One of the reasons perhaps is that people are beginning to see HIV as more of a treatable condition and perhaps less of a stigmatizing disease," RobertJanssen, deputy director of HIV and AIDS prevention at the CDC, said. The decline coincides with theemergence of powerful drugs that have allowed HIV patients to live longer, more normal lives. Also, new laws and regulations have been designed to protect the confidentiality of people who give their names when tested. The study period alsoincludes the arrival of the home AIDS test, which went on the market in 1996 and gav.e people another option for checking their HIV status anonymously. The CDC looked at 6.3 million HIV tests conducted at health clinics,hospitals, drug treatment centers and prisons.~Those sites conduct about 15% of H~.V tests in the United States. Federally funded HIV tests declined8% overall,from2.5 million tests in 1995 to 2.3 million in 1997. The drop could reflect the wider options available for testing and a growing population thathasbeen tested anddoesn’t feel the need to do it again, Janssen said. Joycelyn Elders at AIDSWalk Michigan DETROIT (AP) - Former Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders advocated the use of condoms, commumty involvement and needle exchange programs in Michigan’s fight against AIDS. Elders kicked offAIDS Walk Michigan - Detroit, a September fund-raising event coordinated by the Michigan Women and AIDS Committee. The walk’s organizers, who helped bring Elders here, said they hope to raise community awareness of AIDS and HIV, especially among minorities. In 1997, AIDS was the leading cause of death among blacks ages 24 to 44, despite falling AIDS death rates for the general population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was the second leading cause of death among Hispanics in that age group in 1996. But Denise Stokes, a member of President Clinton’s AIDS Advisory Council and a speaker at aregional AIDS/ HIV conference here this week, said HIV and AIDS do not strike limited ¯ communities. "The only requirement to get HIV is to be human," said Ms. Stokes, who has lived with HIV for 17 years. Elders saidthegovernment is harming society bynbtmaking more clean needles a~ailable to. drug users. ~’I consider that absolutdy abuse," Eiders: said during a Detroitnew~ conference. Some Michigan cities have privately funded needle exchange programs. Elders also highlighted the experiences of families with mothers with AIDS. She said thatin thepast, criteriafor diagnosing AIDS were based on men, not women. Thus,womenoftenreceivedlate diagnoses and didnotreceive treatmentIn time. "We have almost 100,000 children who have been orphaned because of the death of their mothers,", she said. She urged churches and communities to talk with young people about HIV and AIDS, but said telling them to abstain from sex isn’t enough. Instead, she would make condoms available to students, many of whom are sexually active already, she said. "Weknow abslinence works, heaven knows it works," Elders said. "But we are sexual beings, and the vows of abstinence break far more easily than do latex condoms." Arab World Needs More AIDS Info ABHA, Saudi Arabia (AP) - AIDS specialists, health workers and government officials wound up a threeday conference with the ~onsensus that information onthe deadly disease must be more vigorously disseminated throughout the Arab world. Cases ofAIDS and HIV - the virus that causes AIDS - remain relatively low in the Middle East and North Africa region - 19,000 adults and children in the region were infected with the human immunodeficiency virus in 1998, compared with44,000 infectious in North America and 30,000 in Western Europe. But the disease is slowly spreading; and nearly 500 people gathered in this mountain resort some 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) south of Riyadh this week to hear the latest on how to combat the epidemic. "The stumbling block is that thefigures (onHIV-AIDS infections) may not be accurate," said Dr. Fahad A1- Rabiah, a specialist oninfecfious diseases at King Faisal Hospital in Riyadh, the capital. The conference, the third such gathering held every five years, was organized by the King Faisal Hospital and Research Center, the World Health Organization and the Saudi Health Ministry. Strict social and moral codes that prohibit premarital sex, adultery, homosexuality and drug abuse are effective in slowing the spread of HIV infections in Arab and Islamic countries, the speakers noted. But these same codes consider discussing sex and sex education taboo, limiting the flow of information about the disease. WHO estimates that there were 210,000 adults and children with HIV or fully developed AIDS in the Middle F_~st and North Africa region in 1998. The conference speakers pointed out that the number of cases will continue to rise as more young people experiment with sex and drugs without knowledge of safe sex methods and other precautions. MostHIV cases in the region are attributed to heterosexual transmission and shared drug needles. Adding to the growing concern, many Arab governments are not willing to treat AIDS as athreatening epidemic, so testing for HIV and medicine supplies are inadequate. According to ,1998WHOfigures, there e~are~. 373 AIDS patients" in Saudi Arabia, ¯ considered the most socially and religiously strictcountryin theArabworld. "The figures are low, but that should not make us become lazy (in combating AIDS)," Dr. A1-Rabiah said. "The most important way to fight the disease in the kingdom now is to make people aware of it and admit that it exists." Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointmenls are available. Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American? Tulsals Two-Spirited Indian Men’~ Support Group is here for you! ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIVtesting For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project at 582-7225 Ext, 208 or 218 Jot, goddesses HairHappyHour Tuesday& Thursday 3pm to~pm 835-5563 1247 S. Harvard, Tulsa, NearTO He. Stay Healthy Naturally ¯ .Wellness Rejuvenation Longevity Dr, Terrance L. Sullivan Doctor ofNaturopathy Certified Colonic Hygenist Certified Reflexologist Certified Herbalist Certified Accupressurist provides consultations by appointment Iridology Hair Analysis Herbal Supplements Pain Control Nutritional Analysis 4520 So, Peoria, Brookside 712-1.400 Some Less Likely to Get HIV/AIDS Care WASHINGTON (AP) - Minorities, the poor and people who contracted AIDS through drug use are less likely to get needed care, including revolutionary new drugs that have prolonged life for thousands ofpeople, according to the first national study of AIDS treatment. The disparities were particularly acute in 1996, when the study began, and have improved somewhat over two years. But the gap persisted for many groups, including women, who are most likely to get HIV through sex with a drug user and are also less likely to be in treatment. Future research will focus on the cause of the disparities: Are certain patients failing to seek care? Or are the attitudes and practices of doctors and hospitals making it harder for these patients to get it? "At least on an unconscious level, some providers may have more aggressively tried to provide these treatments to certain patients," said Dr. Martin F. Shapiro of the University of California at Los Angeles, lead author of the study being published today in the Joumal.-of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Shapiro also noted that the differences in care based on insurance type and race persisted, evenwhenresearchers took into account such factors as how the person contracted the virus. This, he and others said, reflects larger disparities in the health system that go well beyond AIDS. "The voices of the poor are not heard well in this country," Shapiro said. ’-’In the case of HIV, the consequences of that can be quite profound." Overall, care improved from 1996 to 1998. At first, just 29% of ~all patients were receiving care that met all six standards. Thatjumped to47% two years later. But the care differed widely among groups. In 1998, for instance, 88% of whites were receiving powerful protease inhibitors, but just 80% Of blacks were. Similarly, 87% of men infected through sex with other men were taking these drugs in 1998, compared with 81% of those infected through drug use. Some of the gap had narrowed, but researchers found that tread had slowed, meaning further improvements were not likely. While disparities in access to health care are widespread, unlike other diseases, mostpeople with theAIDS virus can trace their infection to one of two sources: homosexual men or intravenous drug USerS. Part of the explanation is simple economics. People infected through intravenous drug use, or sex with a drug user, generally have less money, less education and more life problems - all of which keep them from getting effective care. Someone who can’t pay the rent or buy groceries or who is addicted to drugs may find getting medical.care a low priority. "That tends to be much more of adown-and-outpopulationinevery way,, said Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint, who studies racial disparities in health at Harvard Medical School. At the same time, the Gay commLlnity has mobilized around the disease, educating its members about treatment options and the importance of getting care. But while the AIDS epidemic hit homosexnal men first, black~ are the fimting growing group of victims, now accounting for nearly half of all new infections, making the disparities in care even more alarming to public health officials. There are many AIDS clinics in. the Gay community but few that are targeted to drug users, said Peter Lurie of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group. "The injection drug users are a relatively forgotten part of this epidemic," he said. The new research comes from the HIV Cost and Utilization Study, the first national data on care for people with HIV and AIDS. Researchers identified about 231,400 American adults with HIV.who were receiving at least some medical care outside the militaiy or prison, in all states except Alaska and Hawaii. From this group, a random sample of more than 2,000 patients was chosen for interviews beginning in early 1996 and againin early 1998. Researchers measured six components of care- three relating to use of medication and three related to use of doctors and hospitals. Morgues Stay Open Longer DuetoAIDS HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - State morgues are extending their hours to cope with Zimbabwe’s soaring death rate, mostly as a result ofAIDS, the main state- . controlled newspaper reported in June. An estimated 3,000 people now die every week in the southern African country, nearly 70% of them from AIDS-related illnesses, The Herald reported. Harare’s main hospital will now staff its morgue around the clock and other hospital mortuary facilities will extend closing time by four hours to 8 p.m., health authorities said, according to the newspaper. Families ofthe dead also were being asked to remove corpses within 24 hours of death to reduce overcrowding in morgues, the paper said. The National AIDS Coordination Program estimaies that more than 80,000 Zimbabweans will diefromAIDS-related illnesses this year. The World Health Organization says some 25% of Zimbabwe’s 12.5 million people are infected with the virus that causes AIDS. Churches Helping Support PLWAs RALEIGH (AP) - Churches and secular groups in one area of North Carolina are consolidating to work together on what they call a holistic approach for AIDS patients. A coalition of faith-based congregations Will consolidate with two secular AIDS service agencies to create the largest Triangle organization helping people cope with the virus. Triangle is the ¯ name for the central geographical area of North Carolina. : Thenew entity, which still has no name ¯" or central location, will help people with HIV or AIDS secure federal funding for " housing, track Social Security benefits : andfind supportgroups. Anditwillmatch ¯. clients who want spiritual help with a chaplain or a congregation ready to help i them. "It’s one thing to give lip service t,o, compassion; it’s another thing to do it, "_ said Stacy Smith, who chairs the Triangle ¯ AIDS Interfaith Network’s board of ¯ directors. "For congregations, the : consolidation points to a way they can : walk the walk- not just talk the talk." ¯ BeforeAIDS advocates agreedto allow : churches to work with them, they insisted : on two conditions: All clients would be i treated equally no matter how they were infected, see Health, p. ~4 by TFN Entertainment Editor Can youbelieve that it’s nearly the year 2000? And that 1999-2000 is Broken Arrow Playhouse’s 20th ~nniversary season? 13APC is celebrating this milestone with six productions: You’re a GoodMan, CharlieBrown, Murderonthe Nile, Greater. Tuna, Arsenic & Old Lace, Steel Magnolias, and The Sound of Music. While none of these productions are strict-. ly Gay plays, this is a company doing good work that’s always been Gay-friendly. Yes, it is ajourney out of mid-town to the wilds of Broken Arrow (except for those of you who live out there anyway) but the productions merit the journey. Speaking of good works, Saint Louis Bread, and .local franchise owners, Jim and Gaynell Magers havebeen great about supporting local charities. So when they opened their fourth _and fifth Tulsa locations, it ~should be little surprise that they gave 100% (100%! ! ! !) ofthe proceeds of their opening "dry runs" to charity. When the Woodland Hills ,location opened, the proceeds benefit~l Tulsa CARES (formerly the HIV Resource Consortium) and the Girl Scouts. The opening ofthelocationnear Bishop Kelley benefited Bishop Kelley. So when you dine next at St. Louis Bread, thank them for their community spirit - they don’t ¯ have to do it and it really helps. St. LouisBreadBenefitfor TulsaCARES and the Girl Scouts: co-owners Jim & Gaynell Magers, Tulsa CARES presidentJoeINorvetl, &J.A. Hankins, Bishop Kelley Director ofDevelopment : And if you’re thinking of taking in a ¯ meal at The Polo Grill, consider dining ¯ thereonJuly 6th, whenthose two fabulous ¯¯ Gay guys, financial guru,SteveD,Wright and his buddy, Taimadge Poweil will be : the Polo Grill’s guest chefs. It should be great menu - you can get a preview on KJRH’s morning show on July 5th. Make your reservation now ! Don’t forget that Gilcrease has the exceptional show, Taos Artis ts and their Patrons, 1898-1950 up through July 18th. And opening in August is their show featuring extra- . ordinary masks from Northwest Native ¯ American tribes. ¯ At theendofSeptember,THENAMES ¯ PROJECT will hold its annual Feast for ¯ Friends on 9/25 at the Tulsa Marriott ¯ Sou-them Hills. If you don’t recall, this is ¯ theeventwhereyoudine withyourfriends, ¯ casually or formally and then join all the : other Feast supporters for dessert. The ¯ event raises funds for HIV/AIDS ¯ education and specifically to present : portions of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. ¯ The next local presentation of part of the ¯ quilt is planned for World AIDS Day, ¯ Dec. 1, 2000. Into: 748-3111. Also, ¯ Council Oak Mens Chorale has a " performance planned for August. We’ll : bring you more about that. Stay posted. by the Rev. Mel White, Soulforce, Inc. On June 26, the Huntington Library in Pasadena, California, announced the first publicexhibitionof the Nurembergpapers. Signed by Adolf Hitler himself, the original documents havebeenonfile since they were donated by General George Patton in 1945. Hitler decreed these brief laws to guarantee the"racial purity" ofhis Third Reich. They redefined the role of Jews in Germany and opened the doors to holocaust. "I felt like I was viewing the first draft of the death warrant that led to the demise of one-third of world Jewry," said Dr. Uri Herscher. "Once deportation began" added UCLA professor Saul Friedlander, "these laws determined who would live and who would die." The four primary paragraphs were pnblishedin the Los Angeles Times. I was stunned by their familiarity. The minute .they are on display, Gary and I will be there to see them. IhopeI won’tembarrass him with involuntary tears. We should publish them in every GLBT paper in the country With the warning: It could happen again! Paragraph 1: Ended theright of Jews to marry freely. Sounds like a reason to work even harder to defeat the "Antigay Marriage" laws. Paragraph 2: Ended the right of Jews to have sexual intercourse freely. Sounds like a reason to continue our efforts to rescind the "Sodomy’’ laws. Paragraph3. Ended the right of Jews tO employee or be employed freely. Sounds like a reason to support ENDA, the Employment Nondiscrimination Act. . paragraph 4. Ended the right of Jews to ¯ display/serve the nation’s flag freely. ¯ Sounds like areason to seek thatpromised ¯ executive order from President Clinton to ¯" end the ban on gays in the military at last. ; While we’re celebrating all our hard- " earned victories (and we deserve the time ¯ to celebrate), we need to remember that ¯ Berlin in the 1930s was the most gayfriendly city in the world. How quickly ¯ life as cabaret became a nightmare of suffering and death. ¯ Too many of us believe our adversaries ¯ are ~fools who are only using us to raise funds and mobilize volunteers. In fact ¯ they are sincere believers, determined to ¯ end our rights. Too many of us think that it is NOT important for us to contribute time and ¯ money to help continue our struggle for ¯ equal rights. Infactany one ofour primary adversaries raises more money every ¯ month in part to end th.ose fi.ghts than our entire commumty raises in a year to ¯ preserve and protect them. ¯ Too many of us think the danger is passed and that time is on the side of ¯ justice. In fact Dr. King madeit very clear. ¯ "Time is on the side of injustice." ¯ Even if Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwdl, ¯ James Dobson and the others look to you ¯ likefools who arelosingpower, their antihomosexual rhetoric is reaching critical mass in thehomes and churches of our childhood. Let these documents remind us that it could happen again. Our ¯ "Nuremberg Laws" are in place or on the ¯ ballot. All it would take is for you or for ¯ me to do nothing. 3,600 Honda & Acura Owners Believe in Our... Integrity, Workmanship & Guaranty Exclusively Honda & Acura 9906 E. 55th Place (1 block east of Mingo on 55th Place) 25 Years of Honda & Acura Experience Full Maintenance and Repair. 610-0880 Please call for an appointment - s25 OFF Mechanical Labor of $25 or More 610-0880 ¯ By appointnzefft only. FOUr S r Iill 0rl Not To Be Combined With Any Other Otfer. ~.~" Automotive, Lid. " " Complete Detail Package $1 0 OFF 610-0880 ¯ By appointment only. Exterior Wash ¯ Engine Bay Wash ¯ Wax* Interior Vacuum ¯ Carpet & Upholstery Shampoo "Paint Condition May Affect Outcome On~ CoupOn Per Customer. "~ FOUl Star Impol~ Not To Be Combined With P~t~ Other Oft’~r. Autolnotlv|, Ltd. Expin:s t 2/5/08 Four Star Import Automotive Ltd. Call today to receive a 1999-2000 season brochure Season subscriptions, starting at $44ftr adults, are now on SALE! FOR 1999-2000 SEASON BROCHURES CALL TULSA~Of ERA 1999-2000 SEASON MEETTHR WOMEN TO Dm CARMEN MANON TOSCA Season tickets on sale now! Save 25% off single ticket prices/ Season tickets start at just $36for three operas! FOR 1999-2000 SEASON. BROCHURES CALL TULSA PHILHARMONIC THE bEASONI FOR 1999-2000 TICKET INFORMATION CALL 1999-2000 Celtic Series SAVE $10 by purchasing the entire series! Natalie MacMaster An irish Christmas October 8t~ & 9r’ ° 8pro November21=t * 3pro Gaelic Storm (Celtic Bonus!) The ’Party Band’ from the blockbuster movie titanic January 19~h & 20~h ¯ 8pro Trinity Irish Dance Company Anam February 20*~ ¯ 31)r~ March 3,d & 4~ ¯ 8pro ~" SUNDAYS Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service - 6pm, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation Service - 1 lain, 2545 S. Yale, 74%0595 Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist Service - 1 lain, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-1314 Metropolitan Community Church United Service, 1 lain, 1623 North Maplewood, Info: 838-1715 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America) Mass - 1 lain, 205 W. King (east of No. Denver), Info: 582-3088 University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance 6:30 pm, Meets at the Canterbury Ctr., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780 ~ MONDAYS Mixed Volleyball, Helmerich Park, 71st & Riverside, 6pm, call Shawn at 243-5190. HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required. Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard). HIV RapSessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center 7:30pm, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays 2nd Mon/each mo. 6:30pm, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551 Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals - call for times, info: 585-COMC (2662) ~" TUESDAYS AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call for next meeting date. 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551 Live And Let Live, Community of Hope United Methodist, 7:30pro, 2545 S. Yale Multicultural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date. Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001 Rainbow Business Guild, Business & prof. networking group. Info: 743-4297 PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE) Tuesdays, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, info: 743-4297 ~" WEDNESDAYS Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pro, 3210b So. Norwood Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more information, call 582-7225 TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for info: 595-7632. Lambda A-A, 7 pro, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft. ~= THURSDAYS HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pm 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN) Support/social group for 18-24’s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-2325 Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, Info: 834-4194 ~" FRIDAYS Safe Haven, Young Adults Social Group, 1 st Fri/each ino. 8pm, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th ~ SATURDAYS Narcotics Anonymous, 11 pm, Community of Hope,1703 E. 2nd, Info: 585-1800 Lambda A-A, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft. ~’= OTHER GROUPS T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info: 838-1222 Gal-A-Vanting, Womens Social & Cultural Group Call for info: Mary at 743-6740, Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-6825. OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization. Long rides and short rides from Zeigler Park. Long rides and short rides from Tulsa Gay Community Center. Write for info: POB 9165, Tulsa, OK 74157 !fyour organization is not listed, please let us know, Call 583-1248 orfax 583-4615. Reviewed by Barry Hensley Tulsa City-County Library One of the biggest controversies surrounding the Gay civil rights movement today is the act known as outing- one person publicly identifying another, closeted person as homosexual, against their wishes. Although this trend seems to be winding down, there are still many people, young and old, who are unable to .identify themselves as Losblian or Gay. Because they ar~ not prepared to,acknowledge their orientation, they lead double lives to disguisethe truthfromfriends, families and eoworkers. "Outing Yourself," by Michelangelo Signorile, recognizes the difficulty of these situations andprovides a step-by-step program for making the .journey from "Identifying Yourself" to"Not Thinking About It at All." Signorileoutlines 14 steps, under six general parts which include "Outing Yourself to Yourself," "Outing Yourself to Other Gay People," "Outing Yourself to Your Straight Friends," "Outing Yourself to Your Family," "Outing Yourself to Your C0workers," and, finally, "Coming Out Every Day," which includes ways to help others undertake the same journey. Signorile examines the most difficult steps in the first chapter, where he presents the thoughts of other authors, including film historian Vito Russo, who said, "The truth will set you free, but first it will be a pain in the neck," and Mark Thompson, who commented, "Basically, coming out is a death and rebirthexperience. To come out, something has to diewhateveritwasyouthought your were...In asense, you’rekiiling aformer constructed identity and creating anew one." Also in this chapter are exercises to do whichmay seem simplistic to some, but helpful to others, depending on how comfortable one is with the coming-out process. We can create a list of shared goals, particularly here in Oklahoma where we have so far yet to go. i’11 be so bold as to list afew I hope will make the cut: continuing the work to pass improved hate crimes protections in the Oklahoma Legislature, asking for nondiscrimination policies in private and public corporations and agencies; replacement .of elected officials who support prejudice against Lesbians, Gay men, Bisexuals and Transgendered persons. Some of this canbe the work ofjust one individua. Rogers University, now OSUTulsa, added~€term "sexual orientation" to its non-discrimination policy because one.person asked them to do so. That was me. Now had that request not been heard by social progressives ontheRogersboard like Nancy Feldman, Dorothy Dewitty and SharonKing Davis, it wouldnothave passed. But they wouldn’t have run with that ff someone hadn’t asked. Each of us canbring this reform effort to someaspect of our lives.- A. number of significant Tulsa ¯ As the journey continues, the author ¯¯ documents true experiences which reveal the common frustrations related to- " homophobia and the act of : "deprogramming yoursdf" from stereo- . types and the myths that cause lesbians : and gays to feel out of place in a straight S;~norlh... presents the thoughts of other authors, ineludlng film hlstorlan Vito Russo, who s~;d, ’~Fhe truth will set you free, but first it will be society. In "Meeting Other -Gay People," the reader is reminded that today, with gay community centers, organizations, newspapers and computer bulletin boards, the gay bar is no longer the primary gathering place. There is a list of related books, many of which arein thelibrary, which should be consulted to further explain the sometimes complex and contradictory feelings that many people experience. In "That First Talk," Signorile prepares readers for the inevitable questions and concerns that arise when having thatimportant chatwith parents or other family members. He acknowledges that it is not always wise to come out to parents immediately. Timing is everything, and it may be best topostpone yourconversation. As you get near the end of the book, which deals with coming out at work and helping others to come out, it is apparent that a common thread has been woven through chapter after chapter: maintaining a positive approach. Regardless of who is being addressed, people coming out are urged to ignore negative comments and concentrate on having a truth-" ful, uplifting and educational conversation. ¯ Signorile has also authored "Queer in ¯ America" and numerous columnsfor na- ¯ tional periodicals.Afew years ago,hehad : a notorious reputation for outing public " figures, but he has mellowed consider- " ably and this book is a patient and under- . standing guide, free from harsh judge- ~ ments or urgings to sacrifice oneself for "the cause." ." institutions have already made the pledge ¯ to treatGaypeoplefairlyin theworkplace: ~ our largest employer, American Airlines, ¯ Public ServiceCompany, Kimberly-Clark _. and others. Wenee~l, to build alocal public ¯ awareness campatgn about their good work and encturage others to follow that : lead (like TU, for example and Home ¯ Depot to mentionanother). : I have one last agenda item. We’ve got : a great community center but as many ¯ know it’s got a lease that will not be ¯ renewed. Now is the time to plan for tke : next center, one that is bigger and : preferably owned by us. It’s certainly ¯ feasibleifalotofus withmodest incomes : join withfew of our community members : with not so modest resources to find a i buil~ng and to endowit. One community wag s saidthatifafew of’ourcommunity’s : wealthiest merely redirected a portion of : their interior decorating budgets, we’d : have a buildingpaid off and its annual operating costs covered. I, ofcourse, don’ t know if that’s true butwehave to ere.ate a : vision of a better future. And while we’re : atit, how about a Gay neighborhood too? ¯ Not just a midtown where we’re part of : the fabric but one where we really can : even hold hands, without fear. Imagine. Red Rock Tulsa Free Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tuesday Testing, 5-8 pm Pride Center, 1307 East 38th Wednesday Testing, 5-8 pm Red Rock, 1724 East 8th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist 11 am, Sunday 1314 North Greenwood 587-1314 We,knowyou’re going to love this[ Restaurant& Cabaret 310 East First Street 918-599-9949 Massage Therapy Services ¯ ~~I~Ed’gar O. Cruz, L.M.T. ¯ Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 News Better Than Ever, Pride Merchandise, Magazines & More 610-8510 8120 East 21 st (21 st+Memorial, next to Boot City) We buy back good used adult magazines. Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236 Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30~ Sat. 8-Spin -25.o0 $74.95 Net cost Sprint PCS" The Clear AJternative to Cellular Spdnt PC~’ Select Retailer New Sprint PCS Phone Less instore rebate Buy any Sprint PCS Phone and get $25 off!* Everyone is approved! All Sprint PCS service plans include:- ¯ Free Voicemail ¯ Free Caller ID ¯ Free Call Waiting ¯ Free 3 way calling , No activation fee, No contract required ¯ 100% Sorint PCS Nationwide Network. Tulsa Locations: 2001 S. Garnett, 437-244,,4 3733 S. Memorial, 6600344 1216 S. Harvard, 587-1778 Sapulpa Location: 109 N. Mission, 227-2322 Dial,U p Accounts Dedicated,,ISDN CQ8nections ?" Vir{~al Hosting Visit our web page Www.igisweb.net (918) 622-4965 Internet Marketing E-Commerce Web Page Design On-Site Setup Available Brought to you by: ~. ,::.. ,.~TRATFGIE5 IN TECHNOL~Y by Mary Schepers . Your DIYD found herself in a : compromising situation recently. She was hot. She was sweaty. She was close to her work. Polishing. Grinding. And then it occurred to her - "Am I being safe?" The answer, unfortunately, was "No." Removing rest with power equipment requires a minimum of personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep you safe. Rest assured, Muffins, that your DIYD promptly set her work aside, had a cool drink of water, put on her safety glasses, a pair of leather gloves, a dust mask and some earplugs. Then she returned to her work, whioh she brought to a very satisfactory, and safe, conclfision. All too often, the important element of working safely at home eludes us. It’ s awkward. It’s uncomfortable. The job will only take a few moments, so who needs it? Or, more often, wejustdon’t think about it. So this month, your DIYD happily dons her Safety Cop uniform to coax you ~nto submitting to safer work practices in your fabulous home. Surrender, Dorothy! First, read instructions. The law requires s afety notices and admonitions onmost products fi .power tools, adhesives, pmnts, and lawn chemicals. Follow the safety instructions fully. It’s a good idea to have some PPE handy around the house for when you need it. Make a kit and keep it sealed and stored in a clean, dry place where you’ll remember it. Suggested items: Dust and mist tuasks (don’t reuse these, Rockefeller!); latex or vinyl gloves; earplugs (clean the reusable type after every use. Don’t reuse disposable ones); safety glasses and/orgoggles; work gloves that fit. Lawn and Garden Work: For mowing, weed eating, grass blowing and edging, preserve and protect them. Too many of us think the danger is passed and that time is on the side of justice. Infact Dr. Kingmadeit very clear. "Time is on the side of injustice." Even if Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, James Dobson and the others look to you like fools who arelosing power, their antihomosexual rhetoric is reaching critical mass in the homes andchurches of our childhood. Let these documents remind us that it could happen again. Our "Nuremberg Laws" are in place or on the ballot. All it would take is for you or for me to do nothing. "" o In 1997, the Rev. Dr. Mel White received the ACLU’s National Civil Liberties Award for applying the ’soul force’ principles of Gandhi and King to the liberation 9fsexual minorit~’es. He ts a cofounder of Soulforce, Inc.and the author 0fStranger at the Gate: To Be Gay and Christian in America. wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from foreign objects, earplugs for your hearing, and a dust mask if ~AII too often, tke important element d workln~ safely at home eludes as. It’s awkward. It’s uncomfortable. Thejob will only take a few moments, so who needs ~t.~ Or, more Often, we just don’t think about it, So thls month, your DIYD happily dons her Safety Cop uniform to coax you into submittln~ to safer work praetlees in your fabulous home. you are allergy prone or asthmatic. Drinklots ofliquids and work early if it’ s hot. Lawn Chemicals: If using liquids, wear long sleeves and pants, work upwind, spray 0nly on calm days, wear latex or vinyl gloves and safety glasses. Most chemicals can be absorbed through skin and mucous membranes, andduckling, if it will kill weeds or ticks, think about what it can do to you! For dry chemicals, wear gloves, a dust mask and safety glasses. Shop Work: Wear your earplugs and safety glasses. Never disarm guards m~ant to protect you. Don’t use worn out blades, bits or other components. Use a dust mask and keep the area well ventilated. Using a table saw? Then use push sticks when cutting your stock. Saw kickbacks are truly ugly. Refinishing and painting: Do it outside, if at all possible. Wear gloves, safety glasses and possibly arespirator. Look at less harmful options. There are several products for stripping and refinishing that are more environmentally - and human - friendly. Do not use strippers, Solvents or solvent based stains and : finishes near flame sources, such as gas ¯ water heaters, oven pilot lights and ¯ furnaces. We do not want you to go Sha- ¯¯ boom, sha-boo~n. Na-na-na-na-na, etc. Sorry. Having a retro moment. ¯ This is just an overview to get youin the ¯ habit of looking at the safety precautions your home projects may require. Be safe, ¯ be healthy and be back for next month’ s : column. Your DIYD wants to tell you what to do.for a long, long time. : meeting is to gather, learn and find ways ¯ several "possible outcomes:" : - a commitment to regroup every six ¯ months; - a review of our calendars for events ¯ where we might work together; ¯" - discussion of combining mailing lists with provision for privacy of each ¯ organization’s original list; : - discussion of a community wide fundraising event, similar to Dallas’ Black Tie dinner to benefit all organizations ¯ instead of competing for thee,same dollars; ¯ - consideration of aft ~fimbrell~ co¯ ordinating organization ~or these eff0~ts. Those receiving the letter were ¯ encouraged tO alert the Organizers ~J any ¯ group not listed who should be invited. ¯ However, the contact number listed on ¯ the letter rings to a disconnected message ¯ but Newman’s no. is 582-4673. : Editor’s note: this month’s editorial, ¯ Say Something Nice: Praise for Pride ’99, also comments on this meeting and some ¯ possible community goals. The letter suggests that the point of the better to work together but also identifies by Esther Rothblum : recommend the book Eden Built by Eyes: What’s the first thing that comes to , TheCultureofWomen’sMusicFestivals, mind when we think about women’s ¯ by Bonnie Morris (Alyson Press, 1999) music.’? Many Lesbians will recall Alix Dobkin’s album Lavender Jane Loves ¯ Women. I r~eq,ently spoke with Alix and asked how she first became a Lesbian musician. "I was writing aboutmy own life," she recalled, "so music waspartofmyconsciousness raising." Alix had been a professional folk singer for many-years. "I was at the right place, at the right time, with the right background, doing the right thing," she told me. She produced a number of albums of women’s music: Lavender Jane Loves Women (1973), Living WithLesbians (1976), XXAlix (1980), These Women (I986), YahooAustralia (1990), andLoveandPolitics ( 1992, acompilation album). .., Living with Lavender Jane (1998) wa~ a re-release ontoCDofthefirsttwoalbums. In addition, Alix Dobkin’s Adventures in Women’s Music (Not Just a Songbook) was published in 1978. I asked Alix what other music was around for Lesbians when she first began performing. The answer: notmuch. Robin Tyler had produced Maxine Feldman in 1972; a 45-rpm record with two songs. There was the Chicago Women’s LiberationRockBandand theNew Haven Women’s Liberation Rock Band Double Album. And in New York, Lesbian Feminist Liberation conducted a talent show and recorded it - the record was called A Few Loving Women: Lavender Jane Loves Women was the first album of women’s music that was distributed internationally. "Those days were tremendously exciting," Alix said. "First of all, I was writing about myself AS A LESBIAN. I was writing the kinds of songs in which you could not change a pronoun and have it still make sense. In other words, you could not change my music into heterosexual songs. They were clearly and openly songs about women loving women. I realized that as long as I was writing songs like that, I was writing umque material. No one had ever written that before, and even the women depending on Lesbian audiences almost never write about Lesbians - in fact; they rarely mention womenF’ Even today, Alix feels that there is a great need for Lesbians to be writing about their lives. She has sensed at times that women’s music has received a bad rap, when in fact it is precisely because of the foremothers in .women’s music that performers like theIndigo Gifts havebeen successful. "There is this belief that women’s music is confined to folk music, which it never was," said Alix. "The negative reaction coming from many young Lesbians is due largely to the backlash against feminis~a. Our communities very much reflect what is going on in the world generally and feminism has been dismissed, even by women in our own communities. I would "There is this belief that women s music is confined to folk music, which it never was," said Alix. "The negative reaction coming from many .young Lesbians is due largely to the backlash ag.ai.nst emlnlSm. for an excellent overview and more details. Women’s music is about raising consciousness, and most people don’t even know ~vhat ttiat is anym0re. Furthermore, due to budget cuts in education, we’vealso lost a generation that was schooled to appreciate music" Nevertheless, Alix is excited by the fact that many of her performances these days are atuniversities, so that she does have an impact on young women. After a lifetime in New York, Alix is now living in California. She stillperforms around the country, and is involved with a club that features concerts by women and holds and furthers our chlture. The Director, Barbara Price, used to co- ¯ produce the Michigan Womyn’s Music ¯ Festival. Alix is writing a column for : Chicago Outlines and working on a book ¯ of her memoirs. ¯ Visit Alix Dobkin’s webpage at : www.ladyslipper.org/vendors/ ¯ ladyslipper/alix_dobkin.xtml To order ." Alix Dobldn’s music and music by other ¯¯ women and Lesbian musicians, contact Ladyslipper Music, P.O. Box 3124, ¯ Durham, NC 27715, tel. 1-800-634-6044 ¯ or 919-383-8773. ¯ Esther Rothblum is Prof. ofPsychology ", at the Univ. ofVermont and Editor of the : Journal of Lesbian Studies. She can be ¯ reatz-hedatDeweyHall, Univ.ofVermont, : Burlington, VT, email: ¯ esther.rothblum@uvm.edu. : President Clinton broke the impasse three ¯ weeks agowhenhemadeHormel a"recess : appointment"-amethodthatcircumvents : the normal Senate confirmation process. ," The State Department generally shies ¯ away from partisanship, but the whiff of politics was in the air as Albright joined ¯ Hormel, a longtime Democratic donor ¯ and activist, for the festivities and spoke ¯ on his behalf. Civil rights for Gays and ¯ Lesbians have been a high-profile theme ¯ for the Democrats as campaigning for : next year’s election picks up steam. Vice ¯ President A1 Gorevisited aGayandlesbian ¯ centerduringacampaignvisittoCalffornia : last week. ¯ The Traditional Values Coalition, a ¯ churchlobby thatopposedthenomination, ¯ said in a statement that the swearing in of ¯ Hormel marks "the beginning of the Gore ¯ campaign’s efforts to woo thehomosexual : vote." Coalition members demonstrated ~ in protest outside the State Department as ¯ the ceremony was taking place. : ’"Unis is one of those glorious days : when thenice guy finishes first," Albright ¯, told the gathering. "Neitherrace, norcreed, ¯ nor gender nor sexual orientation should ¯ berelevant to the selection ofambassadors ; for the United States. ¯ . Said Kennedy: see Hormel, p. 13 IGTA member Call 341.6866 International TOUrs !ormorein ormation. AUTHENTIC FRESH 1TALIAN RAINBOW CUSINE TROUT ofEureka Springs Voted Number One in Arkansas! 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Hula, like Hawaiian language, surfing, slack key guitars, kalua pork and lomilomi salmon, and similar cultural symbols, represents "Hawaiianness." Hula dancers celebrate their Hawaiian identity and tla~ir links to ancestral tradition. There.~e twohula styles: ’auana,which often is tourist-trash hula which shakes to the beat of guitar andukulele, and kahiko, where dancers bodies move When ,]ames Cook’s ships llM at the Island of Hawai’i in 1789, the En~llsh were hor~f;ed to d~seover that l ding Hawai~n ehlefs bo g n& in addition to to accompany traditional chants. You might guess that our stodgy academic seminar was treated to the more formal, higher status huta kahiko. But I prefer kahiko style--I must confess--in that the guys d~ce shiftless in skimpy malo; orloindoths. It is certainly easier to appreciate dance when the performer wears little on his body. Traditionally, only men danced hula. ¯ Although no doubt always entertaining, hula was principally a religious ritual meant to communicate with gods and ancestors. Dances took place at temples and shrines that were taboo to women. Nowadays, hula is mostly-women’s business though there are several popular men’s troops that perform and compete in regular hula festivals. Many male hula dancers are gay as have been some noted kumu hula (dance school teachers and leaders). Drivenundergroundby Christian missionary opposition in the early 19th century, the hularetumed as a legitimate art form in the 1880S under the patronage of King Kalakaua. Gay dancers have long cultivated and daborated hula and today, a century later, huladoes very wall as both tourist spectacle and marker of Hawaiian cultural authenticity. Nowadays the local words for "gay man" that one hears most often are mahu and "muffy," these often indicating some degree of effemininl~y. Traditionally, islanders also .spoke of:aikane - a word that appears to have meant "male lover" though today people use the word for any dose friend. When James Cook’s ships called at the Big Island ofHawai’i in 1789, the English were horrified to discover that leading Hawaiianchiefs hadboyfriends in addition to wives. Charles Clerke, second in command of the expedition, wrote: every chief "according to his rank keeps so many women and so many young men ([aikane] as they call them) for the amusement of his leisure hours; they talk of this infernal practice with all"~’ indifference in the world, not do I suppose they imagine any degree of infamy init." Kamehameha, who would unify Hawai’i and.become the archipelago’s first king, also had a boyfriend. David Samwell, ship’s surgeon, met the future king’s lover when Kamehameha visited us, as we have had opportunities before of being acquainted with a detestable part of his Character which he is not in the least anxious to The Hawaiians - shrewd observers no doubt - asked the English if some of the ship’s boys and young sailors on board were the aikane of the ship’s officers. One might guess that a trim ship’s boy might begin to look rather attractive, even to the most heterosexist officer, on an extended two-year voyage around the world in the dose quarters of a small leaky ship. Still, the English were offended by the Hawaiians’ pointed questions. I suspect they mostly were mortified and embarrassed that the Hawaiians, unlike the English, were not anxious to conceal their homosexual relations, nor "imagine any degree of infamy" in them. Any officer who might havebeenmessing witha ships’ boy would have been desperate to keep this on the down low. Today, as Hawaiians ofall sorts continue to argue the possibilities of homosexual marriage, the aikane serves in this debate. Some suggest that the State of HawaJ~i should legalize gay marriage as a way of respecting and celebrating the past and these islands’ onetime traditions. The "English" view of boyfriends remains dominant, however, and aikane are still partially in hiding. Where once Hawaiian homosexuality was indifferent and therefore normal, today it has become different and thus dangerous to admit. There are popular statues and images of the great King Kamehameha on view in many public places here but in none of these does the King have his boyfriend at his side. Nonethdess, the past lives on in hula. As I watched the sinuous hula dancers in their malo I could see back into a time and place where men saw no reason to conceal their honorable affairs with their boyfriends. "There was never any honorable question abouthis qualifications tobe ambassador." The opposition to Hormel was ¯ "irresponsibleandunacceptable," he said. ¯ Feinstein, noting that Hormel’s ¯ appointment teared the SenateForeign ~ Rdations Committee by 16-2, said he ¯ would have been approved by an ¯ overwhelming majority had the Senate ¯ voted as a whole. By tr~idition, even one ¯ senator can preventa Vote on anomination ¯ because of a personal grievance. In Hormel’s case, his appointment was ¯ blockedby Oklahoma senator, Jim Inhofe, who formerly represented in Oklahoma’s ¯ (mostly Tulsa) First District in the US House. Inhofe has received national attention for his anti-Gay views. "In Jim’s [Hormd] appointment, I think ¯ we open a door," Feinstein said. ..) and-AIDS education wouldcontinue, even if it meant handing out condoms at Gay bars. "We wanted to make sure we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past," said Jacquelyn Clymore, director of client. services for AIDS Service Agency of North Carolina. The consolidation, which will become official in December, will unite the AIDS ServiceAgency of NorthCarolina, serving Wake, Durham and Orange counties, the AIDS Service Agency of Orange County and theTriangleAIDS Interfaith Network, a coalition of 60 churches and one synagogue. The secular agencies will get help from a crew of about 500 committed church volunteers, many of whom feel called to help people with AIDS. In the early days of AIDS, Gay men with the virus were unwelcome in many churches, while those who had contracted AIDS from heterosexual contact or blood infusions were called "innocent victims." But in recent years, many Christians and Jews have quietly begun reaching out to people with AIDS, acting on scriptural commandments to love thy neighbor. Today, HIV infection rates are- highest among low-income African-American men and women, many of whom ¯ contracted the virus througli heterosexual contact or sharing needles. It took four years of talking for the consolidation to move forward because this time, it was the AIDS advocates who harbored stereotypes of religious groups. Some feared they would bejudgmental, if not sanctimonious. "We asked ourselves: ’What’s in the best interest of the client?’ "said Bill Brent, executive director of the AIDS Service Agency of North Carolina and director of the new agency. The three groups, withbranches across the Triangle, will consolidate their staff, apply for grants and raise money as one. Man3" church volunteers say they are happy to avoid the politics of AIDS. They don’t ask about sexual orientation or past drug use. "We don’t even talk about that. It’s the relationship here and now that’s important," said Earl Wiggins, who leads the care team at Greater St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Durham. "Love is the key component." againstGays, andNew Hampshire, where lawmakers repealed a 1987 law thatbarred Gays fromadopting children or serving as foster parents. "You can sort of pick the state and measure progress in every state on the legislative front," she said. Unimaginablein 1969was the visibility of-Gay people today in politics, entertainment and everyday news coverage. Think Ellen DeGeneres, k.d. lang; Melissa Etheridge, Flton John, Ian McKellan, Rupert Everett. Three current members of Congress are openly Gay - Democrats Barney Frank ofMassachusetts and’Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Republican Jim K01h¢Of Arizona- as are scores~of other.deeted officials around ’, theS(ountry. ’:.The love that dare not speak its name now ~on’t shut up," says TomAmmiano, president of San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors. In 1%9, Ammiano was a27- year,old,, sp,,ec~_’al education teacher and no~e,t, ’out as, a Gay man, although, he salt. ’it wash t hard to surmise - the wrists and everything." He subsequently b~e a stand-up comic and a member of die Board of Supervisors;,where three of 11 members are openly Gay. President of the board since November, he’s considered a likely challenger to San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown Jr. The progress made by Lesbians and Gay men has been accompanied by setbacks as well. Eighteen states still have sodomy laws ontheirbooks, five of which single outhomosexual sodomy, Efforts to include Gays in federal civil rights and hate-crime laws have stalled. Current law prohibits crimes based on race, color, religion or national origin. Recent murders of Gay men- Matthew Shepard, a University ofWyoming student who was beaten and tied to a fence last October, and Billy Jack Gaither, an Alabama textile worker who was beaten with an ax handle mad set on fire - raised awareness of the persistence of anti-Gay violence. AIDS has decimated ageneration of Gay men, and nearly 20 years into the epidemic there is no cure. Still, few could dispute that Lesbians and Gay men in 1999 enjoy rights undreamed of in 1969. Karl Rusterholtziives in Mission Viejo, Calif., with his partner and their twofoster sons. They are active in their church, where Rusterholtz and his partner celebrated their union with a commitment ceremony. "l would say that we’re just pretty average," says Rusterholtz, 36, a microbiologist. "We’ve gone to pride marches and stuff, but it’s not our cup of tea." Rusterholtz says he "would like to see federal protection, that Gays and Lesbians would not worry about losing their jobs or losing their homes -or losing their children." But his own experience negotiating the foster care system inconservative Orange County has been "nothing but fabulous." Margaret Blankenbiller, 21, works in a florist’s shop inProvo, Utah. "I’d like to be able to hold my girlfriend’s hand when we go out to dinner and not worry about someone slashing our tires," she says. Still, her family is supportive and her coworkers - many of them members of the conservative Mormon church - treat her Lesbianism "like it’ s pretty normal." Nestle, who founded the Lesbian Her’story Archives and is now 59, remembers when being a Lesbian was anything but normal. At one bar she frequented, Nestle and her friends had to line up to use the bathroom one at a time "because we couldn’t be trusted" not to misbehave inside together. Toilet paper was doled out shut by sheet. "Something in me was moving from knowing I was a freak to saying that someday I will refuse this moment of humiliation;’ she says. Nestle has ;been chosen one of two grand marshals for Sunday’s Gay pride parade in New York. "It’ll be a very special moment," she says. "I see it as the largest grassroots demonstration in the world." Gay men into its worship life. Unity Church of Christianity at 3355 So. Jamestown has welcomed a new pastor, Steve Colliday, who happens to be an openly Gay -man. The Unity tradition has ¯ been welcoming of Lesbians and Gay ~meri for some time. And College Hill Presbyterian Church (CHPC) is considering becoming a"More Light" congregati.on which is the Presbyterian version of bein.g a "welcoming" congregation. College Hill close by the University of Tulsa, has a tradition of being involved in progressive causes.Avote is expected in afew months. to ads...FRF.E! Use Free Code 717 SEX... ;e Free Code 7000 9699 Tolsa 18-6 Oklahoma Megaphone does not prescreen callers and assumes no liability for personal meetings. 24 hour customer service (800) 289-1489. 18+ ~ ~) ] 998 PC u’ll g Closing on Horr Equity Loans! hat~ right. Home Equity Loans at Bank of Oklahoma now come with no closing costs, so y()u can save hundreds of dollars. Use your home’s equit:y to bom:)w t~:~r just a[x)ut anything .-~ home im.provenmnts, bill consolidation, college tuition, or buying a car. And ~k. h:~ g~eat rates t And minthome equiw.loans let you deduct the inmrest from-your taxes.* -. Applying is easier than ever. You can come into any ofour 24 conOenient qhk~ area locations,- including 9 Alberta~)ns Ic~:ations o[.~n 7 days a week..You can also call our 24;-h.our ExpressBank at 588-6010 m apply any time ~-we’re. never closed.. And now you can apply online at ~wv.bankofokl.ahoma.com. It’s easy and fast. Save time andmcmey apply-today f~ a BOk we ApplyAt Any Branch Or Call Us 24 Hou~ A Day At 588"6010 Or Apply Online At www.bankofoklahoma.eom Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [1999] Tulsa Family News, July 1999; Volume 6, Issue 7 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource July 1999 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jean-Claude de Flambeauchaud Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Adam West Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, June 1999; Volume 6, Issue 6 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 newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/589 'One Fool' 1999 African Americans AIDS/HIV AIDS/HIV research Arkansas arts and entertainment attorneys Barney Frank Barry Hensley Bars Burger Sisters businesses Catholic Church churches Concessions Council Oak Men's Chorale Dave Fleischer denial of service Dick Armey Do-It-Yourself Dyke Dyke Psyche Entertainment Notes Esther Rothblum Eureka Springs Gay and Lesbian Affordable Daycare gay bashing Gay Finances in a Straight World Gay Studies Gregory Diggins hate crime bill hate crimes HIV/AIDS bias homophobia James Christjohn Kenya Lamont Lindstorm Maine Mary Schepers medical abuse Millenium March National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Native Americans New Haven performing arts Peter Berkery Jr. Pride Read All About It Red Ribbon Gala restaurants South Africa Swan Awards Thailand Tim Bliley Tom Coburn Tom Neal Tulsa Family News Tulsa Two-Spirited Indian Men's Support Group University of Tulsa violence Women and AIDS Regional Conference https://history.okeq.org/files/original/cbfde3288cb087be030a1b75afc3b255.jpg 5a21046e27fa391a8b441138db683e8b https://history.okeq.org/files/original/ccbf63be68b25a97502dc5427dec1df7.pdf ca6cf97abbffe0a153cbfd0cca1e2111 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 newspaper periodical Text Any textual data included in the document American MedicaiAssociatiOn: Gay TeensAt Higher Suicide Risk National Organizations Fight Television War WASHINGTON - Gay and lesbian youths are at high risk for attempting suicide, according to anew study by Dr. Robert Garofalo ofthe Children’s Hospital, Boston. The study, published in April in the American Medical Association’s Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, found that students who are Gay, lesbian, bisexual or not sure of their sexual orientation are 3.41 times more likely to report a suicide attempL Data for the study came from the Massachusetts 1995 Centers forDiseaseControl(CDC)YouthRiskBehaviorSurvey, which included questions about sexual orientation. The study said that factors which may exacerbate this problem, are "psychological stresses such as marginalization, isolation, and rejections" "These statistics underscore that anti-Gay prejudice is a life-threatening problem confronting this country;’ said David M. Smith, Commtntieations Director of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC0, the largest national Lesbian and Gay political organization, with members throughout the country. "Suicides, and violence against Gay people will continue as long as extreme fightwing groups continue to dehumanize GayAmericans see Gay Teens;p.10 London Gay Pub Bombed Hampshire Man Arrested LONDON - Three people died and more than 70 were injured, many seriously, in a nail bomb explosion at a crowded Gay barin London’s Soho area. The device wentoff at 6:37pmwithout any apparent warning in the Admiral Duncan pub inOldCompton Street. It blew out windows, sending glass anddebris flyinginto the street. Hundreds ofpeoplewereevactuatedandeyewimesses reported seeing injured bodies lying on the pavement. Many suffered severe injuries and at least two people had limbs blown off. A 22-year-old engineer, David Copeland, from Hampshire appeared in a west London court a week later facing three counts of murder and three counts of causing explosions with intent to endanger life in three separate nail bomb attacks in London. However, Copeland does not have any ties to the Nazi groups Combat 18 and the White Wolves that had been claiming responsibility for the bombings which have killed three people and injured more than 100. Police believe he had been working on his own. They said that he wasnotresponsible for the hate mail sent to ethnic community ldaders and minority groups since the firstbomb was detonated in aBrixton street on April 17, injuring 39 people. A second bomb, in the midst of the Bengali community in Brick Lane, Fast London, exploded a week later. The attack on the Admiral Duncan, aimed at hurling the Gay community which thrives in the streets around Soho square, see Pub Bombing, p. 11 |1| DIRECTORY/LEI"I’ERS P. 2 EDITORIAL P. 3 mmm US & WORLD NEWS P. 4 ~IEALTH NEWS P. 6 ~ i~NTERTAINMENT P. 8 (~OMMUNITY CALENDAR P. 9 DO-IT-YOURSELF-DYKE P. 11 DYKE PSYCHE P. 12 "" GAY STUDIES P. 13 Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community PaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations Gay Parade PermitApproved TulsaActivist Dies TULSA, Okla. (AP/T~N) - The parade will go on. After twice delaying consideration of a permit for the Gay pride parade, the City Council unanimously approved the permit May 20th. Four citizens testified against granting the permit and three in favor. Those opposing the permit made references to "unhealthy lifestyles" and implied connections between the school shooting in Littleton, Colorado and allowing the parade permit. However, City Councilor Art Justiss had directed all speakers to limit their remarks only to those concerning the parade and that anyremarks about "lifestyles" would be ruled out of order. Progressive Alliance co-chair and longtime environmental activist, B.J. Medley spoke in support of the parade, citing Barney Frank as one of her heroes. Not one but two Libertarian party activists spoke in favor. One noted that if the parade were ofsci-fi fans,thecontroversywouldnotbetakingplace. Libertarian Scott Pearson noted he and his wife and child would march with the parade because of their respect for freedom and tolerance for those who are different. West Tulsa City Councilor Darla Hall sniped that Gays will have to answer to Godfor their "lifestyle" andhoped that they are as prepared to met GOd as they are for their parade. "We cannot single out a group and limit them in ways that we do not limit other groups," Councilor Brady Pringle said. He said the parade permit was not a moral issue, but a legal one. Pringle noted that the average street dosing for parades was two hours (this permit requested 2 1/2 hours). Councilors acknowledged that they wererequired tobe content neutral and merely to assure that all administrative standards had been met. However, Pringle stated that the bad news for callers objecting to granting the parade permit was that the city had been "too consistent" in granting permits to any and all, and that now not to grant the permit would dearly be based on content. Pringle also stated that granting the permit did not constitute "an endorsement ofthe Gay and Lesbian lifestyle" and suggested that putting off granting the permit just called more attention to a divisive issue. Pfingle also added that it served "to further a cause that none of the councilors wish to advance." Parade organizers had threatened to sue if the permit, which allows the dosing of streets for theparade, was denied. Organizers noted i~.~.a press release that the permit application was "lost" twice by city staff over a several month period, see Parade, p.3 Arkansas PFLAG Mom Praises Court Decision FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Carolyn Wagner, a PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) Regional Director and resident of Fayetteville, Arkansas praised last month’s U.S. Supreme Court decision which says schools may be liable in student-on-studentharassment. Wagnerhad successfully pressed federal officials to recognize and intervene against sexual harassment directed at Gay and Lesbian students. The 5-4 ruling reversed a federal appeals court decision that said Title IX, a federal law, never applies to student-on-student harassment. Abuse ofGay and Lesbian students can often involve sexual harassment, as well as other types of violence. "This" landmark decision by the highest court in our land reinforces that federally-funded schools must address and stop student-on-student harassment that interferes with their access to education," said Wagner. "This is a critical tool for all youth and their parents to help secure a hostile-free learning environment for all students," said Wagner, who with her husband, Bill, has worked closely with PFLAG since 1996 to meet with, and to be heard by, federal officials on the issue. "We are relieved to hear that the Supreme Court is making it crystal dear to schools that they have an obligation to protect all of our children," PFLAG Executive Director Kirsten Kingdon noted. The Supreme Court ruling that peer-on-peer sexual harassment was included under Tide IX strengthened the main tool currently available to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered students. The Wagners helped secure a historic agreement last year-between federal education officials and Fayetteville Public Schools which says that the Arkansas school district must take specific steps to handle various forms of sexual harassment, including sexual harassment directed at Gay and Lesbian students. The agreementcamein response to a complaint brought by their son, Willi, who charged that the local school system did not act after he was harassed repeatedly and beatenup by a gang of students. The Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund represented him in the complaint. The decision last June was the first time new Tide IX guidelines, issued in 1997, have been applied to sexual harassment directed at Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered students. Phil Wiley Worked on Gay & HIV Issues by Tom Neal, editor &publisher TULSA - Phil’s gone but not forgotten. In a near northside Black Baptist church, we gathered to mourn, to praise, to laugh and to cry for the loss of one of Tulsa’s most remarkable men. Survived by his longtime companion of 28 years, Vernon L. Jones, his morn and dad, Ester Mac Stanley Wiley, Willard Robert Wiley, Sr., brothers, a sister, aunts, uncles, cousins,nephews, niecesand step-daughter Lenita, Phillip Amett Wiley’s passing was noted bynoless thanfive pastors, the Reverends Maxwdl, Davis, Bailey, LaCour and the Reverend Leslie Penrose who gave the eulogy. Phil was nearly 45. He was born June 16, 1954 and died at Saint John Hospital on May 16, 1999. He’d been living with kidney disease, diabetes and with being HIV positive. And while it was kidney disease that took him ultimately, see Phil, p. 3 HIV/AIDS Events Red Ribbon Run & Regional Women + AIDS Conference TULSA - Saturday, June 12, the second annual Red Ribbon Run will open registration at 7am with the mens run to start at 8am and the womens at 8:30am. The event includes a 5 kilometer run, race walk and casual walk, all at LaFortune Park. Registration will be held at the southeast shelter with parking at the south parking lot. The event is $12 pre-registered or $8 without a t-shirt,,and $15 and $10 that day. This is aUSATFsanctioned eventandall proceeds benefit InterfaithAIDS Ministries and the Regional. AIDS Interfaith Network. All contributions are welcome even from non-runners. For more information, call 438-2437. Then on Monday, June 14, the Second Regional Conference on Women and AIDS will be held on The University of Tulsa campus, in the Chapman Activity Center, at 440 South Gary Avenue. .The comprehensive, one-day program hopes to raase awareness, promote discussion and provide opportunities fornew directions inHIVprevention, care and treatment for women. "In the Arms of the Angels," a documentary produced by the National AIDS Fund Americorps Team Tulsa, will open the conference at 8:30 a.m. with a look at women and AIDS. Patty Lather, author of "Troubling the Angels," will give the keynote address at 8:45 a.m. In addition to a series of workshops, the conference will feature a panel of HIV positive women who will share their stories. Judith Billings of the President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS will give the luncheon address. Sandra McDonald, the founder of Outreach, Inc., will present the dosing address on"WhatWe Can Do to Be a Force for Change." Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Bamboo Lounge, 7204 E. Pine *Boston Willy’s Diner, 1742 S. Boston Burger Sisters Restaurant, 1545 S. Sheridan *Empire Bar, 1516 S. Peoria *Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria *Jason’s Dell, 15th & Peoria *Lola’s, 2630 E. 15th *Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main *TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd 832-1269 592-2143 835-1207 599-9512 583-6666 749-4511 599-7777 749-1563 744-4280 745-9998 834-4234 585-3405 660-0856 584-1308 Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cdlular 747-1508 *Affinity News, 8120 E. 21 610-8510 *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000 Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955 *Borders Books &,Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665 Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272 *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313 Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700 Tim Danid, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620 *Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady 587-2611 Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. P,e,o,ria 744-5556 *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838-8503 *Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712-9379 *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 744-9595 Four Star.Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th PI. 610-0880 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026 *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 742-1460 Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440 *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 *International Tours 341-6866 Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750 *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018 David Kanskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236 The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460 *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 74%5466 *Living ArtSpace, 19E. Brady 585-1234 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112 Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Hace 664-2951 David A. Paddock, CPA, 4308 S. Peoria, Ste. 633 747-7672 Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626 *Peace Of Mind Bookstore, 1401 E. 15 583-1090 The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297 Rainbowz on the River B+B, PUB 696, 74101 747-5932 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921,747-4746 *Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301 Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829 *Tickled Pink, 3340 S. Peoria 697-0017 *Tulsa Book Exchange, 3749 S. Peoria 742-2007 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558 *Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563 Fred Welch,LCSW, Counseling 743-1733 *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767 Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, PUB 4337, 74101 579-9593 *All Souls UnitarianChurch, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc. PUB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 *B/IJGFr Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa Canterbury Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th H. & Florence *Church ofthe RestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314 *Commtmity ofHopeUnited Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300 *Commtmity Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 *Council Oak Men’s Chorale 585-COMC (2662) *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware .712-1511 *Demoeratie Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, PUB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615, POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlink.net website: http://users.aol.com/TulsaNews/ Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn, Jean-Claude de Flambeauchaud Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers, Adam West Member of The Associated Press issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of this ~uow,~balincadtiomn aaryenportobteectreedprboyduUcSedcoepityhreirgihntw19h9o8leboyr in part without written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for publication unless otherwise ~ted,_rnust be signed & becomes the sole property of TJ.€~ Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. ¯ *Free SpiritWomen’s Center, call for location &info: 58%4669 ¯ Friend For A Friend, PUB 52344, 74152 747-6827 ¯ Friends in Unity Social Org., PUB 8542, 74101 582-0438 ¯ ¯ *HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 *HIV Resource Consortium, 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 ¯ *Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111 ¯ HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 ¯ ¯ *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 ~ *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 ¯ NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral Pl. 748-3111 ¯ NOW, Nat’l Org for Women, PUB 14068, 74159 365-5658 ~ OK Spokes Club (bicycling), PUB 9165, 74157 : *Our House, 1114 S. Quaker 584-7960 ¯ PFLAG, PUB 52800, 74152 749-4901 ¯ *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 : Prime-Timers, P.O. BOX 52118, 74152 ". *R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 ¯ Rainbow Business Guild, PUB 4106, 74159 665-5174 *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325 ¯ O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults ¯ O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth ¯ St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 ¯ St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 ¯ *St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 ¯ TNAAPP(Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 : Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 : Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only ¯ TulsaOkla. for Human Rights, c/o The PrideCenter 743-4297 ¯ T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 838-1222 ¯ *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule ". *Tulsa Community College Campuses ¯ *Tulsa Gay Commumty Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297 ~ *OSU-Tulsa (formerly UCT, formerly Rogers U. whoever...) ": BARTLESVILLE : *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 ¯ OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN ¯ *Borders Books &Music, 3209NWExpressway 405-848-2667 : *Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 ¯ TAHLEQUAH ¯ *Stonewall League, call for information: 918456-7900 : *Tahleq,mh Unitarian-UniversalistChurch 918-456-7900 ¯ *Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand ¯ HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates ¯ EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS : *Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253-7734 ¯ *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main 501-253-7457 ¯ DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. 501-253-6807 ¯ *Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. 501-253-5445 ¯ MCC of the Living Spring 501-253-9337 "_ Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, PUB 429 501-253-2776 ¯ Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-253-5332 ." Positive Idea Marketing Plans 501-624-6646 : Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 501-253-6001 ¯ *White Light, 1 Center St. 501-253-4074 ¯ FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS5 *Edna’s, 9 S. School Ave. 501-442-2845 : JOPLIN, MISSOURI ¯ *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-6234696 ¯ * is where you can findTFN. Notall are Gay-owned butall are Gay-friendly. ¯ To: Dr. Dean P. VanTrease, President .¯ Tulsa Community College Original Letter Date: February 3, 1998 ¯ A few months ago, I read your TCC ¯ Strategic Vision with great interest, ¯ particularly Section VII. This part states ¯ that TCC will reflect the pluralistic ¯ community they se.rveandthattheCollege ¯ will conduct workshops on diversity. I ¯ have some concerns about this based on ¯ negative experiences with other Tulsa : institutions which have defined diversity ¯ narrowly, usually just as racial issues. ¯ . However, Lesbians and Gay men also are ¯ part of the diversity of our city, and in ¯ particular, I would suggest that TCC has - greatly benefited from our cxmtribudon~ as students, staff and faculty. I hope that ¯ your workshops also will address issues ¯ of sexual orientation. ¯ ¯ I am also concerned about TCC’s lack of a comprehensive non-discrimination ¯ policy (on page 57 of your fall class ¯ schedule).While I suspect that in practice TCCmostly does not discriminateagainst ¯ Lesbians, Gay men or Heterosexuals on ¯ the basis of sexualorientation, the lack of : an explicitnon-discriminationpolicy puts ¯ Lesbians and Gay men at risk - never ¯ knowing whether or not we may be the : target of discrimination and clearly ¯ knowing that there exists no recourse if ¯ such occurs. Heterosexuals haveonly very ¯ rarely been persecuted because of their °¯ heterosexuality, and therefore, the issue ¯ weighs less heavily on them. While federal and state laws do not ." mandate the inclusion of "sexual ¯ orientation" in non-discrimination ¯ ¯ statements, these laws do not prevent private or public institutions from adding ¯ thelanguage- federal law sets aminimum ¯ standard for non-discrimination, nora ¯ maximum. Public and private institutions ¯ likeThe Universities ofTexas, Michigan, ~ Wisconsin,California, as well as Harvard, ¯ Yale, Stanford have long had these ~ policies. You may have noted also that ; Rogers University (ed. ’s note: now OSU- ¯ Tulsa) recently adopted this language. ¯ I hope to hear from you that TCC will ¯ update its non-discrimination policy. : Thank you. - Tom Neal, publisher/editor In response to your inquiries concerning : TCC’s Affirmative Action policy, we would like to inform you that one of the goals ofTCCas statedin theTCCStrategic Vision is that "employees will accurately reflect the pluralistic community they serve." TCC is fully compliant with both Federal and State guidelines with respect to Affirmative Action. The College also seeks to promote diversity among its student body through many recruitment programs, student organizations, and several academic advisement/counseling services. Thank you for your interest in TCC. - Dean P. VanTrease, Ph.D. Editor: Makes you wonder why it took 14 months and calls to two powerful state senators to get even this lame response - it’s not as though he bothered to answer what he was asked. But the refusal to answersuggests bias is aproblem atTCC. Letters Policy Tulsa Family News welcomes letters on issues which we’ve covered or on issues you think need to be considered. You may request that your name be withheld but letters must be signed & have phone numbers, or be hand delivered. 200 wordletters are preferred. Letters to other publications will be printed as is appropriate. by Tom Neal, editor &publisher It doesn’t happen very often, but it’s certainly welcome to hear that others agreed with Tulsa Family News’ assessment of Chastity Bono’s lame performance at the Red Ribbon Gala. Some of these other critics include include a number of the event’s orgamzers. They were quick to let us know that only a tiny amount of funds from the event went to Ms. Bono. In fact, it appears that only a couple of hundred went to pay her hotel bill. All other costs associated with her visit are the responsibility ofevent co-sponsor, the Tulsa Chapter ofPFLAGandtheir"anonymous donor" thoughyouprobably won’t need three guesses to know who that is. Unfortunately, PFLAG, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays has been less forthcoming in correcung its factual error crediting PFLAG volunteer, Tim Chilean as the single person responsible for Tulsa’s Gay community center. This is what they published in their newsletter, even after they weremade aware of their error at the Red Ribbon Gala: "It was his idea for [a] Community Center and his dream is now a reality, a place for persons to come together to talk, to meet, to dream. A Safe place for young people to gather, a library, a store... " Of course, the editor of the PFLAG newsletter is none other than Chilean. This misattributionofcreditwas madewhilePFLAGgave Chilean a Swan Award for community service. As PFLAG was told, Chilean’s other work merits recognition on its own without giving him all the credit for shared efforts. Chilean was part of the team that created the Center but it was not his dream, idea or work exclusively. And he was voted out as TOHR president because of questions about whether a community center under his leadership would genuinely represent the broader community’s interests or that of Tulsa’~Gay ruling class. Come on, PFLAG, you’re credibility is on the line. Check your facts - it’s really easy, get it right and say you’re sorry. still HIV played a role because of the nearly total .ban on organ transplants for people who are HIV positive. The service was fairly long filled with music, and testimonials from friends and family. Jessie Scott broke our hearts with an exgmsite version of "God Is" backed by the choir of Paradise Baptist Church. Regina Tyler and Sandra McClellan sang with equal joy and sorrow. Testimonials were given by his dear friend, Diane Zike of InterfaithAIDS Ministries, Hilary Kitz of the Office of the Mayor of Tulsa, Janice Nicklas of the Community Service Council, Midge Elliott, longtime HIV/AIDS specialist, and Sharon Thoele of Tulsa CARES and members of hisTamily. ManY "Phil stories" were told. Janice Nicklas told of going on wild car tides out to meet then Vice-president Dan Quayle. Others told of hearing him speak about HIV and AIDS. He would say,"I’m your worst nightmare: I’m Black. I’m Gay. And I have AIDS. Now that that is out of the way, let’s talk." Phil devoted himself to making the world better. His friends cannot have been surptised that even after death, his activist spirit was at work. In its June 1st edition, The Tulsa World featured a lengthy story on Phil Wiley, and the issues involved in organ transplants for people who are HIV positive. The story was frank mad fair t(~ Phit, to Vernort, to Phil’s morn and dad. Phil would have liked it. Editor’s note: this article is a personal reflection more than a newstory. Phi! was a39iend and o.hero, a source of encouragement and bdvice as has been Vernon Jones. My life is richer for having know them and 1. was honored to count Phil as afriend, and to continue to count Vernon as one. - Tom Neal. Tulsa Oklah~mans fox~ Human Rights, Inc. contrasted their expe~tiencc:with that of Nelson’s Buffeteria, which received a street closing inless than24hours withouteven completing the multi-step application process. The June 12 parade will be the first for the local Gay community,, though several marches have been held. US Congressman, the Honorable Barney Frank, Democratfrom Massachusetts will serve as grand marshal and will speak at a dinner the eveuing ofthe parade at tli~ Greenwood Cultural Center and at a prayer breakfast at .7:30 am at Fellowship Congregation Church, 29th and Harvard, Sunday, June 13. :- Lastmonth, I wrote about ¯ ¯ .The Tulsa WorldhighYlghtmg some of the progress : the newspaperhas madeand ¯ also some areas where improvement is needed. ¯ And ironically, this last ¯ month, I’veheardfrom two ¯ unconnected individuals about how Roxanna and : Bob Lorton, the principal ¯ ownersofTheTulsaWorM, ¯ are not only not prejudiced ¯ but are even rather Gay- " friendly. Indeed. ¯ I suppose the mani- ¯ .festation ofthis goodregard ¯ ~s The World’s blatantly bigoted, specifically anti- ¯. Gaypolicies.Afterall, since the paper is privately ¯ owned, those who create ." and enforce those preju- ¯ diced policies answer ¯ directly and only to the ¯ Lortons. And since those ¯ policies have received ¯ significant negative publicity in the past years, their ¯ deliberate, continued exis- ¯ tence can only indicate ¯ some sort of ongoing approval. : Perhaps, another area that Some ofmy best friends are jews. Some ofmy best friends are black. Some ofrny bestfriends are faggots. Some ofmy bestfriends are dykes. - Yeah, right. ¯ indicates theirwarmregard ¯ for us Gay people is the ¯ failure for more than five years of the University of " ¯ Tulsa, on whose board they sit and on which they have " ¯ significant influence as major fundraisers, to a~lopt a ¯ ¯ non-discriminationpolicy pledging minimal fairness to ¯ Lesbians and Gay men, not to mention Bisexuals and " ¯ Transgendered individuals. ~ Let us not forget also their complicity in the hiring of ¯ the allegedly reformed homophobe, TU president, Bob ¯ ¯ Lawless. Does anyone think it was accidental that of all " ~ the newspapers in the Southwest The Tulsa World was " ¯ the only one NOT to report on Lawless’ scandal at ¯ Texas Tech about his anti-Gay attitudes? Even the " ¯ wretched Daily Oklahoman covered that nasty history. " ¯ Let:sgetreal. TheTulsaWorldandtlfisfanfily, which ¯ ¯ ¯ has become, by most people’s standards, enormously ¯ wealthy through the inflated profits which mainstream : ¯ newspapers have reaped over the years, have great " ¯ influence in this provincial litde city. ¯ Andthe reality is that these people, and the others like : : them wh~make up what flatulently claim to be"Tulsa " ¯ society" do say that "some" of their "best friends" are " ¯ Gay - they hire us to do their flowers, decorate their ¯ : houses, paint their portraits, cater their parties, and plan ." ¯ their wedi:ling§,and girl! - dotheir hair ± all While they " ." call us faggots behi.nd our backs, and give money to " people-like Jim Inhofe ,and Don Nickles and Steve ¯ ,:. Largent-~politicianswho dlikelyputnsinconcentration. ; : ,. camps, if they thought they could get away with it. : ¯ But let me be clear, I don’t really want to pickjust on ¯ ¯ theLortons. They are hardly alone among the guilty, but ¯ they do occupy a position of singular responsibility. " They really, really couldprovide theleadership for civil " ¯ rights that this town so desperately needs. And it would ¯ hardly imperil their fortune or daily print monopoly. ¯ : However, so they won’t feel alone as named among : the guilty, let us single out in shame some others: " ¯ First and foremost, in the list for rank and unreformed ¯ hypocrisy is, of course, the National Conference for ¯ Community and Justice, which claims ~t cares about ¯ civil rights while it’s running as fast as it can in the " : .opposite direction. The organization is tremendously ¯ ¯ successfulinits Southern Hills Country Club fundraisers ,_ When it’s aft said and done, you either are part of the solution or you are the problem. And the message to the Lortons, to Mayor Susan Savage, Rabbi Sherman, NCCJ’s Nancy Day, to the so-tailed Democratic leadership, is that you must take as stand: either you support fundamental human rights - even for Gay people, or, if you choose to do nothing, if you choose only to cover your ass or to sit on it, then you don’t even have as much as integrity as the Klan. They, no matter how repulsive, at least are morafly consistent. What they talk, they walk. : (isn’tit convenient forNCCJ that Southern Hills finally ¯ decided a few years ago to let afew Jews, Catholics and Blacks in?) and in making Tulsa’s elite feel like it is less racist and bigoted than it really, really is but NCCJ has steadfastly refused to include Lesbians and Gay men within its work for justice despite repeated r.equests. And at least m one documented case, it’s deliberately discriminated against Tulsa’s Gay community. Some of the fault for this lies at the feet of NCCA leader Rabbi Charles Sherman, who is openly discussed in Tulsa’s tiny but vocal Gay Jewish community as "having aproblem with us." So it should hardly comeas a surprise thatNCCJ gave its award for "human rights promoter" of the year, last year to, guess who? - BobLorton! whosebusiness engages in disctiminatory practices. I’ve come to the conclusion that I’d rather deal with groups like the Westside Ministerial Alliance and the Klu Klux Klan than groups like the National Conference for "Commtmity and Juslice" because with the Klan and the evangelical Biblebased hate mongers, at least there’s no doubt where you stand. Better the evil on which you can depend, than those who talk and talk the talk but who never walk it. Who else should be called out for our hall of shame? How about Oklahoma’s Democrat Party? Is the best thing that we can say about Oklahoma Democrats is that Oklahoma Republicans are worse? Now in fairness, the Tulsa County Party has been welcoming of Lesbians and Gay men but how do you explain the support for noted anti-Gay bigot, Mike Mass as S tate Democratic party chair by Sally Frasier, a non- Gay member of Oklahoma’s Lesbian and Gay political action committee, the Cimarron Alliance? It suggests that Ms. Frasier’s involvement in Cimarron’s may be more about trying to control the direction ofGay dollars into Democratic coffers rather thanany real commitment to civil tights. She sure managed to get some big bucks for Tulsa Mayor Susan Savage despite Savage’s wretched track record on issues that concern Lesbian andGayTulsans, like diversi ty tmiuing forTulsapolice, or voluntarily tracking of hate crimes. After all it’s important to remember that no matter how many horrible things Oklahoma Republicans have been saying about us for all these years, it’s been Democratic majorities in both houses, combined with not that long ago, Democratic governors, who’ve had the votes and whohave failed to pass hate crime reform, ci’~fl andfamilyrights protections forOkl~0maLesbiahs and Gay men. Republicans make talk nasty about us; Democrats just do us dirty. . And isn’t interesting ~ at hov¢ the. pro-civil, rights Democratic party planks adopted at local levels mysteriously did not appear in state, level documents until Gay party activists (credit on this, I’m told, goes to Tim Chilean) noted, the omission? When it’s all said and done, you either are part of the solution or you are the problem. And the message to the Lortons, to Mayor Susan Savage, Rabbi Sherman, NCCJ’s Nancy Day, to the so-called Democratic leadership, is that you must take as stand: either you supportfundamentalhumanrights - evenforGaypeople, or, if you choose to do nothing, if you ch,oose only to cover your ass or to sit on it, then’you don t even have as much as integrity as the Klan. They, no matter how r~epulsive, at l~t are morally consistent. What they talk, they walk. - Tom Neal, editor & publisher Florida Adoption Ban Challenged MIAMI (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Unionhas filed a class-action lawsuit to overturn Florida’s law against Gay adoptions, the only such statewide ban in the nation. TheACLU was also joined by a child advocacy group in the lawsuit filed Wednesday in Key WeSt. "They trustGays and Lesbians to befoster care parents but not adoptive parents," said Howard Simon, executive directorof theACLUin Florida. ."What we want is to remove that blanket prohibition.., so that they wouldbe evaluated-as to their fitness and suitability to be adoptive parents just like everybody else,’~ Simon said. George Waas of state Attorney General Bob Butterworth’s office declined to comment. Florida is the only state with a law that bans homosexuals from adopting children. Lastmonth, New Hampshire repealed its ban on Gay adoptions. At least two states - Arkansas and Utah - have state agency rules preventing adoption by Gay people. The lead plaintiff in the Florida suit is Steve Lofton, a 41-year-old registered nurse. He and his partner of 15 years, also a registered nurse, have raised three foster children ages 8 to 11 from birth. Two are HIV-positive; the third, born positive, no longer tests positive for the virus that causes AIDS. The family recently moved to Oregon° NY State Gay Senator Makes Issues Personal ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Somewhat sheepishly, state Sen. Tom Duane rose to his feet in the Senate one day this month and apologized to a colleague fbr not having complained about a provision in his bill sooner. The measure would provide for state. reimbursement for counsding to the spouse, child or stepchild of a crime victim. Duane asked the sponsor, Sen. Michael Nozzolio of Seneca County, if domestic partners - the unmarried partners of heterosexuals and homosexuals alike - were eligible under the legislation. They are not, Nozzolio said. If Duane’s own domestic partner is murdered, would Duane be’eligible for counseling? No was the eventual answer from Nozzolio. Duane pleaded with Nozzolio to amend the bill. Nozzolio refused. Duane conceded that he should have noticed the omission earlier, arid was not springing"some kind ofa surprise attack" on Nozzolio by only now complaining about it on the floor of the Senate. "You might find this hard to believe," Duane said. "I have been Gay for longer than I have not been Gay, but it’s not the first thing I think about in the morning." Still, Duane’s sexual orientation is an undeniable aspect of his personality, never far from the surface in both how he goes about his job as legislator and how others regard him. That and the fact he is infected with HIV, the virus which causes AIDS. Duane and the state Senate, dominated as it is by conservative Republicans from suburban and upstate New York, would seemlike an awkward fit. Butnearly five months into his first term in Albany, the Democrat from Manhattan says he has been treated well by his new colleagues and he believes his presence has had an effectinnndgingforward abill toughening penalties for hate crimes and another providing more civil rights for Gays and Lesbians. "Neither all of the other senators nor I knew exactly what to expect," Duane, 44, said. "But I think that time together and familiarity has in some ways lessened the mystery about each other." Twice so far on the floor of the Senate when hate-crime related bills were being discussed, Duane has spoken at length about the three times he was assaulted by people spouting anti-Gay epithets. "I’m not even going to talk about all the times I’ve been verbally harassed," he said each time. ] Matt Foreman of the Gay advocacy group ,’ Empire State Pride Agenda said having a sitting ¯ senator offering suchpowerful testimony cannot i help but have an effect on softening attitudes, ¯ even in the Senate, which Foreman derides as ¯ "one of the last bastions ofignorance andbigotry gamst Gay people. It is a whole new dynmmc i for us to have up here a senator who can go peer- . to-peer and talk to people about our issues," ¯ Foreman said. ¯ Senators and spectators alike listened with ¯ "rapt attention" when Duane talked about Gay- : bashing incidents he was involved in, according ¯ to Foreman. "It becomes real," Foreman said. ¯ "HIV issues become real, and living with AIDS ¯ becomes real when a colleague is facing those : issues himself. My sense is people thought he ¯" was going to be a radical... If anything, Tom can ¯ be one of the most charming and funny people in the w0rld." Duane said he may be impassioned, but he is still not all that comfortable discussing his homosexuality or HIV-positive status. That is despite spending seven years on the New York City Council as an advocate for Gays and people living with AIDS before being elected to the Senate last November. "When I decide to raise the issues, I have to take a somewhat deeper breath than I do when I am going to speak on other issues because it is so personal and it has come with along-term personal struggle with the whole issue of being out," Duane said. "It still doesn’ t come naturally," he added. "I have to put together my inner forces to be able to get up and speak on Lesbian-Gay issues and AIDS issues with the self-assurance and spirit that I think it needs to move my colleagues." One issue where Duane has had no effect is on changing the state Senate’ s policy ofnotextending benefits to the domesticphrtners ofits employees. The Democrat-controlled state Assembly does so, and so does the executive branch of government under orders of Republican Gov. George Pataki. But the Senate does not. Its majority leader, Joseph Bruno, once referred to homosexuality as an "abnormal lifestyle." "It sends a signal that discrimination is tolerated," Duane said of the policy. "It provides a disincentive to people not to be more out front.. ¯ It is blatant discrimination." Family benefits are designed for married couples and their children and there are no plans to change the policy, Bruno spokesman John McArdle said. Methodist Anti-Gay Witchhunt Continues DENVER (AP) - A Methodist layman has accused a Denver-areabishop ofbreaking church law by al.lowing a minister to officiate at samesex tmions. Mel Brown of Johnstown filed the complaint against Bishop Mary Ann Swenson with the denomination’s College of Bishops. The charge centers on the activities of the Rev. Toni Cook, pastor of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church on Capitol Hill, who acknowledges she has officiated at same-sex unions for"committed, ¯ lo.v’.mg couples." Brown said church law bars ¯ mlmsters from officiating at same-sex unions. ¯ He claimed Ms. Swenson is guilty "of ¯ disobedience to the order and discipline." The ¯ church’s Book of Discipline, says bishops are to ¯ "teach and uphold the theological traditions of ¯ the United Methodist Church." The church’s ¯ highest court, the Judicial Council, ruled earlier ¯ this year a person could face church charges for ¯ officiating at same-sex unions. Any church court : proceeding would be lengthy. If Ms. Swensonis ¯ found guilty of disobeying church law, she may : be removed from her position. : Ms. Swenson said she has felt "Mel Brown’s : rage" for several years. The filing of charges is ." just another step in his efforts to force-her ¯ resiguadon, she claimed. Ms. Swenson said she : is "not aware of actualities or specifics" about ¯ Ms. Cook’s ministry, but added that "there’s ¯ been no criticism of her work by the Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 4021 7_47-5466 S. Harvard, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 MCC-United formerly Family of Faith & Greater Tulsa MCC Joined as one body of believers. Come celebrate with us. Sunday Services, 11 am 1623 North Maplewood, 838-1715 GLAD (~ay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare) Joan & Teresa Wright P.O. BOX 54281 Tulsa. Oklahoma 74155 (918) 808-8026 Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St. Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934 fax: 663-5834 800-44d-5934 Family Owned & Operated Sandra Hill M.S. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appvoainiltambelents 2865 E. Skelly Drive Suite 215, 745-1111 HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm note our new address 3210b S. Norwood Info., call 224-4754, Chris & Sharon Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale Sundays at 11am Info: 749-0595 A Voicefor Freedom & Tolerance superintendent or her congregation." "It’s not my job to be a policeman," Ms. Swenson said. Ms. Cooksaid sheis "dumbfounded"about the charges. "I believe my job as pastor is to offer the same pastoral support, sacraments and rituals to all members and that includes Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgendered people.Wedon’thave second-class citizens at St. Paul’s," she said. St. Paul’s declared several years ago thatitis open to all people, .includingGays. Brown’s chargeswereforwarded to Bishop William Dew of Phoenix, who said that no bishop has ever faced charges for allowing a minister to officiate at same-sex unions. In the past several years, a minister in Chicago and one in Nebraska were tried in church courts forperforming such unions. One was found guilty andonewas foundinnocent. "To chargea supervisor (bishop) after the fact may not go directly to the issue (of same-sex union)," Dew said. Church law requires Dew to ask the parties to meet to resolve their differences. If that fails, a three-member committee is named which will meetwith the two parties. If that committee decides the charges are grave, an investigative committee will meet to decide whether a church trial is warranted. "In all my 63 years I’ve never seen a bishop on trial," said Dew. "A person should be absolutely clear and serious about charges against a bishop." Brown, a semi-retired farm supply dealer, said he filed the charges against Ms. Swenson rather than Ms. Cook"to getmorenational attention. Mary AnnSwensun should resign." Hepreviously calledforherresignationin 1996 because she, along with 14 other Methodist bishops, publicly supported the right ofpracticingGays to be ordained. The 15, who made the dissent statement during the church’s national convention in Denver, said they would follow church law that bans such ordinations. Over the years Brown has written letters to Ms. Swensbn to complain about her salary, how she spends vacation time and how she votes on church issues. Massachusetts Gay Bashers Sentenced NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) - Three men have been sentenced to jail for a Main Street attack on a Gay man a year ago. Jameson Conz, 19, of Northampton; Zachary Keefe, 20, ofNorthampton, andJoshuaPhelps, 22,pleaded guilty in Hampshire Superior Court to assault and battery with intent to intimidate a person because of his sexual orientation. Conz, who had gone to high school with the 19-year-old victim, and Keefe were ordered to serve 18 months of a 21/2-year jail sentence. Phelps was ordered to serve six months of a 2 1/2-year sentence. After shouting anti-Gay slurs, the three beat and kicked the victim on May 24, 1998, according to prosecutor Renee Steese. "The incident was an unprovoked act of violence against an individual simply walking back to his truck after work," Steese told thejudge. "Ithad a very traumatic effect on the victim." Oregon House Considers Anti-Gay Marriage Bill SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A key state lawmaker has warned that a court decision giving Gay public employees the same benefits as married workers could dear the way for same-sex marriages in Oregon. Rep. Kevin Mannix, R-Salem, has proposed an amendment to the state constitution to define marriage as only the union between amanand a woman. The measure would also bar the courts from requiring that unmarried partners be entitled to domesticbenefits. Mannix said that the measure is aimed an Oregon Court of Appeals ruling last year that banned discrimination against homosexuals in the workplace and required governments to provide insurance benefits to same-sex domestic partners of government employees. ThedecisionwasbasedonaPorflandnursingprofessor’ s case against Oregon Health Sciences University, where she has worked for 12 years. Christine Tanner, a mother Of two who in a long-term.relationship with another woman, told the House Judiciary-Civil Committee that Mannix’s proposal would erase that ruling. "Please, pleasedonotsendamessagetomychildren that, somehow, their family is less-than equal in the eyes of the state," she said. ¯ Jean Harris of Basic Rights Oregon, a group that fights ¯ anti-Gay measures, saidtheproposal was a thinly disguised ’ ¯ attempt at discriminating against homosexuals. "We : already can’t get married - so why push this out?" she : asked. "It’s about keeping us from having benefits." ¯ Mannix said the appeals court ruling leaves room for : others who are barred from marriage - like first cousins ¯ - to also ask for rights that have been reserved for ¯ heterosexual married couples. Hecalled the appeals court ¯ ruling "perverse reasoning," and said most Oregonians -" would support a constitutional amendment, which the : courts could not change. "What we are doing is taking a : position of neutrality," he .said. "But we are drawing a ¯ firmlineinprotecting a traditional family unit: marriage." Others said barring same-sex marriages would protect : children from being raised outside of the "secure ¯ environment ofaheterosexual umon. Weare not taking ¯ the institution of marriage as seriously as we ought to," : said Jerry Propst, a Baptist minister from Hillsboro. "The ¯ institution of marriage is a sacred trust." ." Dave Fidanque, director of Oregon American Civil ¯ Liberties Union, argued that the proposal would ¯ discriminate against Gay Oregouians - and that it has : taken years to remove other discriminatory provisions ¯ from the state constitution. ’q’his proposal would permit ¯ discrimination against a class of citizens in our state,"he : said. "It would be as much of a mistake as past ¯ discrimination." The measure is HJR29. Bank Closeto Opening ¯ PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) - G&L Bank has entered the ¯ final phase of the federal approval process and is looking ~ toward a possible fall opening as the nation’s first bank : designed primarily for homosexual customers. ¯ Thebank, whoseinitials stand forGay and Lesbian, has : received a "deemed complete" letter on its application ." with the Office ofThrift Supervision, saidG&Lpresident : St_even Dunlap. That means the federal agency has 60 ¯ days to approve or deny the bank’s request to operate. ." "We have no reason to believe we won’t get an up sign," ¯" said bank president G. Kay Griffith. G&Lofficers earlier ¯ had hoped for a spring opening, but the approval process : has taken longer than anticipated. : In addition to focusing on homosexuals, G&L would ¯" beamongoulyafewbanksoperatingnationallyprimarily ¯ on the Internet and the first to offer consumer loans via e- : commerce, saidGriffith, aformer NationsBankexecutive : and bank consultant. The downtown bank plans to hold ¯ an open house over the Memorial Day weekend, when : thousands of Gays and Lesbians traditionally flock to i Pensacola area beaches. A similar open house last year attracted 1,400 visitors from 21 states, Dunlap said. G&L ¯ also is getting interest from Blacks and unmarried heterosexual couples who are looking for"a bank which : doesn’tdiscriminate agaiustanybody,"Dunlap said. Many ¯ .banks refuse to consider dual incomes when unmarried ~ .couples apply for loans or mortgages, he said. ¯ Black Gay Church Thrives : CHICAGO (AP) - For Black homosexuals, many .of ~ whom say they feel misunderstood by other Blacks as ¯ well as the white Gay commtmity, one church offers a ¯ haven where they can worship without fear of discrimination. : Men with men, women with women, their children and ! parents are all welcome at the Church of the Open Door, say its founders, the Rev. Alma Faith Crawford and her . : partner, the Rev. Karen Hurt. The two pastors started the church, whichis affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist ¯ Association, three years ago as a Bible study group in their apartment. Since then, the congregation has grown to 275 and has : settled into its own red brick house of worship in the : Chicago Lawn neighborhood on the city’s southwest : side. At a time when many faiths are divided over the inclusion of Gays and Lesbians and the ramifications of ¯ same-sex marriages, Open Door is the only place of : worship in Chicago founded specifically for those who i are both Gay and Black. Members say they joined Open Door after feeling :¯ unwelcome in other churches. "They will takemymoney - but they won’t let me into heaven," said Lloyd Kelly, 38. ¯ Kelly said he eventually grew fired of pastors and priests ¯ : elsewhere saying that homosexuals will bum in hell. ¯ Among the Open Door congregation are also members : who previously attended churches that were open to Gays and Lesbians but were predominantly white and not always culturally sensitive. "It’s not that the Gay white church letme down; the difference is that here my culture as an African-American is celebrated," said Elandria Henderson, 50, who drives across the city to attend Sunday services at Open Door. The church’s two flagsa rainbow banner of Gay pride and the red, Black and green African-American heritage- are symbolic of most of its congregation. But Open Door’s founders say they also want others in the diverse working class neighborhood who have felt the sting of discrimination to feel welcome. "We want to cross those bridges that divide us as African-Americans, as immigrants, as peopledue to class, education or sexual orientation," Crawford said. To that end, the church offers English as a second language and computer training in its annex. Church leaders also have worked with neighbors to rid the area of drug dealers and to start a block club. It is the church’s commuuity involvement, police say, that has likely prevented any protests over what many might consider a controversial congregation. "They want to be good neighbors,"said police Sgt. John Andrews. "Sofar they’re been proactive and productive." Virginia "Sodomy" Law Challenged ROANOKE, Va. (AP) - A Gay activist invited four of Roanoke’s top law enforcement officials to join him in a private act of sodomy, arguing if they don’t prosecutehim for soliciting sex, then they cannot prosecute 18 men charged with allegedly seeking Gay sex in a city park. Franklin Kameny, 74, a longtime Washington, D.C., Gay activist sent letters last week to Circuit Judges Richard Pattisall and Robert Doherty, Assistant Commonwealth’sAttorney Alice Ekirchand Police Chief Arias "Joe" Gaskins. The goal of the letters, he said in a telephone interview, is to bring attention to "these antiquated sodomy laws in Virginia... which malc.e felons of virtually every adult member of the populous of the state." "It raises the question that if they’ve been solicited and they don’t respond, how can they charge otherpeople for solicitin~?" he said. The four letter recipients have either ruled in’he park sex cases or been involved in prosecuting the men. Ms. Ekirch said she received the letter, which she believes does violate the law against solicitation. She declined to comment further, citing the ongoing cases. The other recipients also have declined to comment. Kameny was notprosecuted afterhe wentonan Alexandria Gay issues radio show in December and solicited the entire state of Virginia for sodomy. For years, Roanoke police have brought misdemeanor charges against "cruisers" who sought anonymous Gay sex in the park and other public places. Police said complaints from citizens about blatant sexual activity in WasenaPark led them to seek felony sodomy indictments against the men in the latest cases. In his letter, Kameny invited the f.our officials "to engage withmein an act or acts of sodbmy of your choice and as defined by Section 18.2-361 of the Virginia Code, in some indisputably private place in the state ofVirginia, at a time of our mutual convenience.’" Kameny wrote that the letter would be "published and publicized, with intent to embarrass each of you individually and by name, and to bring you into public contempt and ridicule nationally, as well as to make a contemptible laughingstock of your benighted, barbaric, backward state." Theletter is similar to one Kameny wrote to Washington officials in 1972 as part of a three-decade movement to have the district’s sodomy law repealed. It finally was repealed in 1993, with Kameny writing the statute. Kameny said he "would be absolutely delighted" to be arrested because it would afford him the opportunity to make a media circus of a probable extradition hearing in Washington, and each subsequent hearing in the case. In open court, he said, he would solicit the judge for sex, forcing him to disqualify himsdf from the case, and continue soliciting everyjudge broughtin to hear the case until no state judges remained eligible. Kameny also has posted e-mails on the Internet urging others to solicit law enforcement personnel in Roanoke. "You push whenever you have the opportunity and hope something comes of it," he said. Florida Adoption Ban Challenged MIAMI (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a class-action lawsuit to overturn Florida’s law against Gay adoptions, the only such statewide ban in the nation. TheACLU was also joined by a child advocacy ~roup in the lawsuit filed Wednesday in Key WeSt. "They mastGays and Lesbians to be foster care parents but not adoptive parents," said Howard Simon, executive directoroftheACLUin Florida. ."What we want is to remove that blanket prohibition.., so that they wouldbe evaluatedas to their fitness and suitability to be adoptive parents just like everybody else,’Y Simon said. George .Waas of state Attorney General Bob Butterworth’s office declined to comment. Florida is the only state with a law that bans homosexuals from adopting children: Lastmonth, New Hampshire repealed its ban on Gay adoptions. At least two states - Arkansas and Utah - have state agency rides preventing adoption by Gay people~ The lead plaintiff in the Florida suit is Steve Lofton, a 41-year-old registered nurse. He and his partner of 15 years, also a registered nurse, have raised three foster children ages 8 to 11 from birth. Two are HIV-positive; the third, born positive, no longer tests positive for the virus that causes AIDS. The family recently moved to Oregon. NY State Gay Senator Makes Issues Personal ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Somewhat sheepishly, state Sen. Tom Duane rose to his feet in the Senate one day this month and apologized to a colleague for not having complained about a provision in his bill sooner. The measure would provide for state. reimbursement for counsding to the spouse, child or stepchild of a crime victim. Duane asked the sponsor, Sen. Michael Nozzolio of Seneca County, if domestic partners - the unmarried partners of heterosexuals and homosexuals alike - were eligible under the legislation. They are not, Nozzolio said. If Duane’s own domestic partner is murdered, would Duane be’eligible for counsding? No was the eventual answer from Nozzolio. Duane pleaded with Nozzolio to amend the bill. Nozzolio refused. Duane conceded that he should have noticed the omission earlier, and was not springing "somekind ofa surprise attack" on Nozzolio by only now complaining about it on the floor of the Senate. "You might find this hard to believe," Duane said. "I have been Gay for longer than I have not been Gay, but it’s not the first thinS I think about in the morning." Still, Duane’s sexual orientation is an undeniable aspect of his personality, never far from the surface in both how he goes about his job as legislator and how others regard him. That and the fact he is infected with HIV, the virus which causes AIDS. Duane and the state Senate, dominated as it is by conservative Republicans from suburban and upstate New York, would seemlike an awkward fit. Butnearly five months into his first term in Albany, the Democrat from Manhattan says he has been treated wall by his new colleagues and he believes his presence has had an effectinnudging forward abill toughening penalties for hate crimes and another providing more civil rights for Gays and Lesbians. "Neither all of the other senators nor I knew exactly what to expect," Duane, 44, said. "But I think that time together and familiarity has in some ways lessened the mystery about each other." Twice so far on the floor of the Senate when hate-crime related bills were being discussed, Duane has spoken at length about the three times he was assaulted by people spouting anti-Gay epithets. "I’m not even going to talk about all the times I’ve been verbally harassed," he said each time. -" Matt Foreman of the Gay advocacy group ¯ Empire State Pride Agenda said having a sitting ¯ senator offering such powerful testimony cannot ¯ hdp but have an effect on softening attitudes, ¯ even in the Senate, which Foreman derides as ¯ "one of the las t bastions ofignorance andbigotry gamst Gay people. It is a whole new dynaunc i for us to have up here a senator who can go peer- . to-peer and talk to people about our issues," ¯ Foreman said. ¯ Senators and spectators alike listened with ¯ "rapt attention" when Duane talked about Gay- " bashing incidents he was involved in, according : to Foreman. "It becomes real," Foreman said. ¯ "HIV issues become real, and living with AIDS ¯ becomes real when a colleague is facing those : issues himself. My sense is people thought he ¯ was going to be a radical... If anything, Tom can : be one of the most charming and funny people in ¯ the w0rld." ¯ Duane said he may be impassioned, but he is ¯ still not all that comfortable discussing his ¯ homosexuality or HIV-positive status. That is despite spending seven years on the New York ¯ City Council as an advocate for Gays and people ¯ living with AIDS before being elected to the ¯ Senate last November. "When I decide to raise ¯ the issues, I have to take a somewhat deeper ¯ breath than I do when I am going to speak on : other issues because it is so personal and it has ¯ come withalong-termpersonal struggle with the ¯ whole issue of being out," Duane said. "It still ¯" doesn’t come naturally," he added. "I have to put together my inner forces to be able to get up and ¯ speak on Lesbian-Gay issues and AIDS issues ¯ with the self-assurance and spirit that I think it ¯" needs to move my colleagues." ¯ One issue where Duane has had no effect is on changing the state Senate’s policy ofnotextending ¯ benefits to the domesticpartners ofits employees. ~ The Democrat-controlled state Assembly does ¯ so, and so does the executive branch of ~ government under orders of Republican Gov. ¯ George Pataki. But the Senate does not. Its ¯ majority leader, Joseph Bruno, once referred to ¯ homosexuality as an "abnormal lifestyle." "It ¯ sends a signal that discrimination is tolerated," : Duane said of the policy. "It provides a ¯ disincentive to people not to be more out front.. ¯ . It is blatant discrimination." Family benefits are ¯ designed for married couples and their children ~ and there are no plans to change the policy, ¯ Bruno spokesman John McArdle said. ¯ Methodist Anti-Gay " Witchhunt Continues ¯ DENVER (AP) - A Methodist layman has ¯ accused a Denver-areabishop ofbreaking church ." law by.al,lowing a minister to officiate at same- . sex umons. Mel Brown of Johnstown filed the : complaint against Bishop Mary Ann Swenson ¯ with the denomination’s College of Bishops. ¯ The charge centers on the activities of the Rev. ¯ Toni Cook, pastor of St. Paul’s United Methodist ¯ Church on Capitol Hill, who acknowledges she ¯ has officiated at same-sex unions for"commiRed, ¯ loving couples." Brown said church law bars ¯ ministers from officiating at same-sex unions. ¯ He claimed Ms. Swenson is guilty "of ¯ disobedience to the order and discipline." The ¯ church’s Book of Discipline, says bishops are to ¯ "teach and uphold the theological traditions of " the United Methodist Church." The church’s ." highest court, the Judicial Council, ruled earlier ¯ this year a person could face church charges for ¯ officiating at same-sex unions. Any church court : proceeding would be lengthy, ff Ms. Swenson is ¯ found guilty of disobeying church law, she may ¯" be removed from her position. ¯ Ms. Swenson said she has felt "Mel Brown’s ¯ rage" for several years. The filing of charges is : just another step in his efforts to force, her ¯ resignation, she claimed. Ms. Swenson said she : is "not aware of actualities or specifics" about ¯ Ms. Cook’s ministry, but added that "there’s ¯ been no criticism of her work by the Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 4021 7 47-5466 S. Harvard, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 MCC-United formerly Family of Faith & Greater Tulsa MCC Joined as one body of believers¯ Come celebrate with us. Sunday Services, 11 am 1623 North Maplewood, 838-1715 GLAD (~ay & Lesbian Affordable Oaycare) Joan & Teresa Wright P.O. BOX 54281 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74155 (918) 808-8026 Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St. Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934 fax: 663-5834 800-~.4-5934 Family Owned & Operated Sandra Hill M.S. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appvoainiltambelents 2865 E. Skelly Drive Suite 215, 745-1111 HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm note our new address 3210b S. Norwood Info., call 224-4754, Chris & Sharon Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale Sundays at llam Info: 749-0595 A Voicefor Freedom & Tolerance superintendent or her congregation." "It’s not my job to " be a policeman," Ms. Swenson said. Ms.Cooksaidsheis"dumbfounded,’aboutthecharges. ¯ "I believe my job as pastor is to offer the same pastoral " support, sacraments and rituals to all members and that includes Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgendered ¯ people.Wedon’thave second:class citizens at St. Paul’ s," she said. " St. Paul’s declared several years ago thatitis open to all " people, including Gays. Brown’s charges wereforwarded ¯ to Bishop William Dew of Phoenix, who said that no bishop has ever faced charges for allowing a minister to officiate at same-sex unions. In the past several years, a mi.’nister in Chicago and one in Nebraska were tried in church courts forperforming such unions. One was found guilty andone was foundinnocent. "To chargea supervisor (bishop) after the fact may not go directly to the issue (of same-sex union)," Dew said. Church law requires Dew to ask the parties to meet to resolve their differences. If that fails, a three-member committeeis named which will meet with the twoparties. If that committee decides the charges are grave, an investigative committee will meet to decide whether a church trial is warranted "In all my 63 years I’ve never : seen a bishop on trial," said Dew. "A person should be ¯ absolutely dear and serious about charges against a -" bishop." Brown, a semi-retired farm supply dealer, said he filed the charges against Ms. Swenson rather than Ms. Cook"to getmorenational attention. Mary AnnSwenson should resign." Hepreviously calledforherresignationin 1996 because she, along with 14 other Methodist bishops, publicly supported the right ofpracticingGays to be ordained. The 15, who made the dissent statement during the church’s national convention in Denver, said th,e~( would follow church law that bans such ordinations. Over the years Brown has written letters to Ms. Swenson to complain about her salary, how she spends vacation time and how she votes on church issues. Massachusetts Gay Bashers Sentenced NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) - Three men have been sentenced to jail for a Main Street attack on a Gay man a year ago. Jameson Conz, 19, of Northampton; Zachary Keefe, 20, ofNor~harapton, andJoshuaPhelps, 22,pleaded guilty in Hampshire Superior Court to assault and battery with intent to intimidate a person because of his sexual orientation. Conz, who had gone to high school with the 19-year-old victim, and Keefe were ordered to serve 18 months of a 21/2-yearjail sentence. Phelps was ordered to serve six months of a 2 1/2-year sentence. After shouting anti-Gay slurs, the three beat and kicked the victim on May 24, 1998, according to prosecutor Renee Steese. "The incident was an unprovoked act of violence against an individual simply walking back to his truck after work," Steese told thejudge. "It had a very traumatic effect on the victim." Oregon House Considers Anti-Gay Marriage Bill SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A key state lawmaker has warned that a court decision giving Gay public employees the same benefits as married workers could dear the way for same-sex marriages in Oregon. Rep. Kevin Mannix, R-Salem, has proposed an amendment to the state constitution to define marriage as only the union between amanand a woman. The measure would also bar the courts from requiring that unmarried partners be entitled to domesticbenefits. Matmix said that the measure is aimed an Oregon Court of Appeals ruling !ast year that banned discrimination against homosexuals in the workplace and required governments to provide insurance benefits to same-sex domestic partners of government employees. Thedecisionwas basedonaPortlandnursingprofessor’s case against Oregon Health Sciences University, where she has worked for 12 years. Christine Tanner, a mother of two who in a long-term relationship with another woman, told the House Judiciary-Civil Committee that Mannix’s proposal would erase that ruling. "Please, please donot sendamessage tomychildren that, somehow, their family is less than equal in the eyes of the state," she said. Jean Harris of Basic Rights oregon, a group that fights anti-Gay meusttres, said theproposal was a thinly disgnised attempt at discriminating against homosexuals. "We already can’t get married - so why push this out?" she asked. "It’s about keeping us from having benefits." Mannix said the appeals court ruling leaves room for others who are barred from marriage - like first cousins - to also ask for rights that have been reserved for heterosexual married couples. Hecalled the appeals court ruling "perverse reasoning," and said most Oregonians would support a constitutional amendment, which the ¯ courts could not change. "What we are doing is taking a : position of neutrality," he .said. "But we are drawing a ¯ firmlineinprotectingatraditionalfamilytmit: marriage." : Others said barring same-sex marriages would protect ¯ children from being raised outside of the "secure : environment"ofaheterosexual union. "We are not taking ¯ the institution of marriage as seriously as we ought to," : said Jerry Propst, aBaptistminister from Hillsboro. "The : institution of marriage is a sacred trust." _" Dave Fidanque, director of oregon American Civil ¯¯ Liberties-Union, argued that the proposal would discriminate against Gay Oregonians - and that it has taken years to remove other discriminatory provisions from the state constitution. "This proposal would permit discrimination against a class of citizens in our state," he said. "It would be as much of a mistake as past ¯ discrimination." The measure is HJR29. ",Gay Bank Closeto Opening ¯ PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) - G&L Bank has entered the : final phase of the federal approval process and is looking : toward a possible fall opening as the nation’s first bank _" designed primarily for homosexual customers. ¯ Thebank,whose initials standforGay andLesbian,has ¯ received a "deemed complete" letter on its application ," with the Office ofThrift Supervision, saidG&Lpresident ¯ Steven Dunlap. That means the federal agency has 60 ¯ days to approve or deny the bank’s request to operate. ¯ "We have no reason to believe we Won’t get an up sign," ¯" said bank president G. Kay Griffith. G&Lofficers earlier , had hoped for a spring opening, but the approval process i has taken longer than anticipated. ¯ In addition to focusing on homosexuals, G&L would : beamong only afew banks operating nationallyprimarily ¯ on the Intemet and the first to offer consumer loans via e- ¯" commerce, said Griffith, aformer NationsBank executive : and bank consultant. The downtown bank plans to hold ¯ an open house over the Memorial Day weekend, when : thousands of Gays and Lesbians traditionally flock to ~ Pensacola area beaches. A similar open house last year ." attracted 1,400 visitors from 21 states, Dunlap said. G&L ¯ also is getting interest from Blacks and unmarried ¯" heterosexual couples who are looking for "a bank which : doesn’tdiscriminate againstanybody,"Dunlap said. Many ~ banks refuse to consider dual incomes when unmarried : .. couples apply for loans or mortgages, he said. ¯ Black Gay Church Thrives CHICAGO (AP) - For Black homosexuals, many of whom say they feel misunderstood by other Blacks as ¯ well as the white Gay community, one church offers a ¯ haven where they can worship without fear of ¯ discrimination. Men with men, women with women, their children and : parents are all welcome at the Church of the Open Door, ¯ say its founders, the Rev. Alma Faith Crawford and her : partner, the Rev. Karen Hurt. The two pastors started the ¯ church, whichis affiliated with the Unitarian Universalis! ¯ Association, three years ago as a Bible study group ~n their apartment. ¯ Since then, the congregation has grown to 275 and has : settled into its own red brick house of worship in the ¯ Chicago Lawn neighborhood on the city’s southwest side. At a time when many faiths are divided over the inclusion of Gays and Lesbians and the ramifications of : same-sex marriages, Open Door is the only place of ¯ worship in Chicago founded specifically for those who ¯ are both Gay and Black. ¯ Members say they joined Open Door after feeling ¯ unwelcome in other churches. "They will takemymoney ¯ but they won’t let me into heaven," said Lloyd Kelly, 38. Kelly said he eventually grew tired of pastors and priests : elsewhere saying that homosexuals will burn in hell. Among the Open Door congregation are also members : who previously attended churches that were open to Gays and Lesbians but were predominantly white and not always culturally sensitive. "It’s not that the Gay white church letme down; the difference is that here my culture as an African-American is celebrated," said Elandria Henderson, 50, who drives across the city to attend Sunday services at Open Door. The church’s two flagsa rainbow banner of Gay pride and the red, Black and green African-American heritage- are symbolic of most of its congregation. But Open Door’s founders say they also want others in the diverse working class neighborhood who have felt the sting of discrimination to feel welcome. "We want to cross those bridges that divide us as African-Americans, as immigrants, as peopledue to class, education or sexual orientation," Crawford said. To that end, the church offers English as a second language and computer training in its annex. Church leaders also have worked with neighbors to rid the area of drug dealers and to start a block club. It is the church’s community involvement, police say, that has likely prevented any protests over what many might consider a controversial congregation. "They want to be good neighbors," said police Sgt. JohnAndrews."Sofar they’ve been proactive and productive." Virginia "Sodomy" Law Challenged ROANOKE, Va. (AP) - A Gay activist invited four of Roanoke’s top law enforcement officials to join him in a private act of sodomy, arguing if they don’ t prosecutehim for soliciting sex, then they cannot prosecute 18 men charged with allegedly seeking Gay sex in a city park. Franklin Kameny, 74, a longtime Washington, D.C., Gay activist sent letters last week to Circuit Judges Richard Pattisall and Robert Doherty, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Alice Ekirchand Police Chief Arias "Joe" Gaskins. The goal of the letters, he said in a telephone interview, is to bring attent~" on to "these anta" quated sodomy laws m¯ Virginia.. which make felons of virtually every adult member of the populous of the state." "It raises the question that if they’ve been solicited and they don’t respond,how can they charge other peoplefor soliciting?" he said. The four letter recipients have either ruled in the park sex cases or been involved in prosecuting the men. Ms. Ekirch said she received the letter, which she believes does violate the law against solicitation. She declined to comment further, citing the ongoing cases. The other recipients also have declined to comment. Kamenywas notprosecuted afterhewentonan Alexandria Gay issues radio show in December and solicited the entire state of Virginia for sodomy. For years, Roanoke police have brought misdemeanor charges against "cruisers" who sought anonymous Gay sex in the park and other public places. Police said complaints from citizens about blatant sexual activity in Wasena Park led them to seek felony sodomy indictments against the men in the latest eases. In his letter, Kameny invited the f,our officials "to, engage withmein an act or acts of sodbmy of your choice and as defined by S ection 18.2-361 of the Virginia Code, in some indisputably private place in the state ofVirginia, at a time of our mutual-convenience.’" Kameny wrote that the letter would be "published and publicized, with intent to embarrass each of you individually and by name, and to bring you into public contempt and ridicule nationally, as well as to make a contemptible laughingstock of your benighted, barbaric, backward state." Theletter is similar to one Kameny wrote to Washington officials in 1972 as part of a three-decade movement to have the district’s sodomy law repealed. It finally was repealed in 1993, with Kameny writing the statute. Kameny said he "would be absolutely delighted" to be arrested because it would afford him the opportunity to make a media circus of a probable extradition hearing in Washington, and each subsequent hearing in the case. In open court, he said, he would solicit the judge for sex, forcing him to disqualify himself from the case, and continue soliciting everyjudge broughtin to hear the case until no state judges remained digible. Kameny also has posted e-mails on the Internet urging others to solicit law enforcement personnel in Roanoke. "You push whenever you have the opportunity and hope something comes of it," he said. superintendent or her congregation." "It’s not my job to be a policeman," Ms. Swenson said. Ms. Cooksaid sheis"dumbfounded"aboutthe charges. "I believe my job as pastor is to offer the same pastoral support, sacraments and rituals to all members and that includes Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgendered people.Wedon’thave second-class citizens at St. Patti’s," she said. St. Paul’s declared several years ago thatitis open to all people, including Gays. Brown’s charges wereforwarded to Bishop William Dew of Phoenix, who said that no bishop has ever faced charges for allowing a minister to officiate at same-sex unions. In the past several years, a minister in Chicago and one in Nebraska were tried in church courts forperforming such unions. One was found guilty andonewas foundinnocent. ’~To charge a supervisor (bishop) after the fact may not go directly to the issue (of same-sex union)," Dew said. Church law requires Dew to ask the parties to meet to resolve their differences. If that fails, a three-member committeeis named which will meetwith the two parties. If that committee decides the charges are grave, an investigative committee will meet to decide whether a church trial is warranted. "In all my 63 years I’ve never seen a bishop on trial," said Dew. "A person should be absolutely clear and serious about charges against a bishop." Brown, a semi-retired farm supply dealer, said he filed the charges against Ms. Swenson rather than Ms. Cook"to getmorenational attention. Mary AnnSwenson should resign." Hepreviously calledforherresignationin 1996because she, along with 14 other Methodist bishops, publicly supported theright of practicing Gays to be ordained. The 15, who made the dissent statement during the church’s national convention in Denver, said they would follow church law that bans such ordinations. Over the years Brown has written letters to Ms. Swe~on to complain about her salary, how she spends vacation time and how she votes on church issues. Massachusetts Gay Bashers Sentenced NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) - Three men have been sentenced to jail for a Main Street attack on a Gay man a year ago. Jameson Conz, 19, of Northampton; Zachary Keefe, 20, ofNorthampton, andJoshnaPhelps, 22, pleaded guilty in Hampshire Superior Court to assault and battery with intent to intimidate a person because of his sexual orientation. Conz, who had gone to high school with the 19-year-old victim, and Keefe were ordered to serve 18 months of a 21/2-year jail sentence. Phelps was ordered to serve six months of a 2 1/2-year sentence. After shouting anti-Gay slurs, the three beat and kicked the victim on May 24, 1998, according to prosecutor Renee Steese. "The incident was an unprovoked act of violence against an individual simply walking back to his truck after work," Steese told thejudge. "Ithad a very traumatic effect on the victim." Oregon House Considers Anti-Gay Marriage Bill SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A key state lawmaker has warned that a court decision giving Gay public employees the same benefits as mamed workers could clear the way for same-sex marriages in Oregon. Rep. Kevin Mannix, R-Salem, has proposed an amendment to the state constitution to define marriage as only the union between aman and a woman. The measure would also bar the courts from requiring that unmarried partners be entitled to domesticbenefits. Mannix said that the measure is aimed an Oregon Court of Appeals ruling last year that banned discrimination against homosexuals in the workplace and required governments to provide insurance benefits to same-sex domestic partners of government employees. Thedecisionwas basedonaPortlandnursingprofessor’ s ease against Oregon Health Sciences University, where she has worked for 12 years. Christine Tanner, a mother Of two who in a long-term relationship with another woman, told the House Judiciary-Civil Committee that Mannix’s proposal would erase that ruling. "Please, pleasedonot sendamessage tomychildren that, somehow, their family is less than equal in the eyes of the state," she said. - Jean Harris of Basic Rights Oregon, a group that fights anti-Gay measures, said the proposal was a thinly disguised attempt at discriminating against homosexuals. "We already can’t get married - so why push this out?" she asked. "It’s about keeping us from having benefits." Mannix said the appeals court ruling leaves room for others who are barred from marriage - like first cousins - to also ask for rights that have been reserved for heterosexual married couples. Hecalled the appeals court ruling "perverse reasoning," and said most Oregonians would support a constitutional amendment, which the courts could not change. "What we are doing is taking a position of neutrality," he said. "But we are drawing a firmlineinprotecting atraditional family unit: marriage." Others said barfing same-sex marriages would protect children from being raised outside of the "secure environment"ofaheterosexual union. "We are not taking he institution of marriage as seriously as we ought to," said Jerry Propst, a Baptist minister from Hillsboro. ’q’he nstitution of marriage is a sacred trust." Dave Fidanque, director of Oregon American Civil Liberties .Union, argued that the proposal would discriminate against Gay Oregonians - and that it has taken years to remove other discriminatory provisions from the state constitution. ’q’his proposal would permit discrimination against a class of citizens in our state," he said. "It would be as much of a mistake as past discrimination." The measure is HJR29. Gay Bank Closeto Opening PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) - G&L Bank has entered the final phase of the federal approval process and is looking toward a possible fall opemng as the nation’s first bank designed primarily for homosexual cnstomers. Thebank, whoseinitials stand forGay and Lesbian, has received a "deemed complete" letter on its application withthe Office ofThrift Supervision, saidG&Lpresident Steven Dunlap. That means the federal agency has 60 days to approve or deny the bank’s request to operate. "We have no reason to believe we won’t get an up sign, said bank president G. Kay Griffith. G&Lofficers earlier had hoped for a spring opening, but the approval process has taken longer than anticipated. In addition to focusing on homosexuals, G&L would beamong only afew banks operating nationally primarily on the Internet and the first to offer consumer loans via ecommerce, saidGriffith, aformer NationsBank executive and bank consultant. The downtown bank plans to hold an open house over the Memorial Day weekend, when thousands of Gays and Lesbians traditionally flock to Pensacola area beaches. A similar open house last year attracted 1,400 visitors from 21 states, Dunlap said. G&L also is getting interest from Blacks and unmarried heterosexual couples who are looking for "a bank which doesn’tdiscriminate againstanybody,"Dunlap said. Many banks refuse to consider dual incomes when unmarried couples apply for loans or mortgages, he said. Black Gay Church Thrives CHICAGO (AP) - For Black homosexuals, many of whom say they feel misunderstood by other Blacks as well as the white Gay community, one church offers a haven where they can worship without fear of discrimination. Men with men, women with women, their children and parents are all welcome at the Church of the Open Door, say its founders, the Rev. Alma Faith Crawford and her partner, the Rev. Karen Hutt. The two pastors started the church, whichis affiliated with the Unitarian Universali.st Association, three years ago as a Bible study group m their apartment. ¯ Since then, the congregation has grown to 275 and has ¯¯ settled into its own red brick house of worship in the ¯ Chicago Lawn neighborhood on the city’s southwest side. At a time when many faiths are divided over the ¯ inclusion of Gays and Lesbians and the ramifications of ¯ same-sex marriages, Open Door is the only place of ¯ worship in Chicago founded specifically for those who ." are both Gay and Black. Members say they joined Open Door after feeling unwelcome in other churches. "They will takemy money : but they won’t let me into heaven," said Lloyd Kelly, 38. : Kelly said he eventtmlly grew tired of pastors and priests : elsewhere saying that homosexuals will bum in hell. ¯ Among theOpen Door congregation are alsomembers ¯ who previously attended churches that were open to Gays and Lesbians but were predominantly white and not always culturally sensitive. "It’s not that the Gay white church letme down; the difference is that heremy culture as an African-American is celebrated," said Elandria Henderson, 50, who drives across the city to attend Sunday services at Open Door. The church’s two flagsa rainbow banner of Gay pride and the red, Black and green African-American heritage- are symbolic of most of its congregation. But Open Door’s founders say they also want others in the diverse working class neighborhood who have felt the sting of discrimination to feel welcome. "We want to cross those bridges that divide us as African-Americans, as immigrants, as people due to clas s, education or sexual orientation," Crawford said. To that end, the church offers English as a second languageand computer training in its annex. Church leaders also have worked with neighbors to rid the area of drug dealers and to start a block club. It is the church’s comrmmity involvement, police say, that has likely prevented any protests over what many might consider a controversial congregation. "They want to be good neighbors,"saidpolice Sgt. JohnAndrews."Sofar they’ve been proactive and productive." Virginia "Sodomy" Law Challenged ROANOKE, Va. (AP) - A Gay activist invited four of Roanoke’s top law enforcement officials to join him in a private act ofsodomy, arguing if they don’ t prosecutehim for soliciting sex, then they cannot prosecute 18 men charged with allegedly seeking Gay sex in a city park. Franklin Kameny, 74, a longtime Washington, D.C., Gay activist sent letters last week to Circuit Judges Richard Pattisall and Robert Doherty, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Alice Ekirchand Police Chief Atlas "Joe" Gaskins. The goal of the letters, he said in a telephone interview, is to bring attention to"these antiquated sodomy laws in Virginia... which make felons of virtually every adult member of the populous of the state." "It raises the question that if they’ve been solicited and they don’t respond,how can they charge other people for soliciting?" he said. The four letter recipients have either rnled in the park sex cases or been involved in prosecuting the men. Ms. Ekirch said she received the letter, which she believes does violate the law against solicitation. She declined to comment further, citing the ongoing cases. The other recipients also have declined to comment. Kamenywas notprosecuted afterhewentonan Alexandria Gay issues radio show in December and solicited the entire state of Virginia for sodomy. For years, Roanoke police have brought misdemeanor charges against "cruisers" who sought anonymous Gay sex in the park and other public places. Police said complaints from citizens about blatant sexual activity in WasenaPark led them to seek felony sodomy indictments against the men in the latest eases. In hi.s letter., Kame.ny invi.ted the.four of.ficials "to engage withmein an act or acts of sodb~ny of your choice and as defined by Section 18.2-361 of the Virginia Code, in some indisputably private place in the state of Virginia, at a time of our mutual convenience." Kameny wrote that the letter would be "published and publicized, with intent to embarrass each of you individually and by name, and to bring you into public contempt and ridicule nationally, as well as to make a contemptible laughingstock of your benighted, barbaric, backward state." Theletter is si rail ar to one Kameny wrote to Washington officials in 1972 as part of a three-decade movement to have the district’s sodomy law repealed. It finally was repealed in 1993, with Kameny writing the statute. Kameny said he "would be absolutely delighted" to be arrested because it would afford him the opportunity to make a media circus of a probable extradition heating in Washington, and each subsequent hearing in the case. In open court, he said, he would solicit the judge for sex, forcing him to disqualify himself from the case, and continue soliciting everyjudge brought in to hear the case until no state judges remained eligible. Kameny also has posted e-mails on the Intemet urging others to solicit law enforcement personnd in Roanoke. "You push whenever you have the opportunity and hope something comes of it," he said. Thymus Gland May : Offer AIDS Hope LOS ANGELES (AP) - An immune ¯ system gland once thought to be inactive ". in adults actually continues to function : late in life, according to research that ¯ couldlead tonew waysofreactivating the : natural defenses of AIDS and cancer ] patients. " The thymus, a pinkish-gray organ near the heart, is the primary source of germ- : fighting T cells. It was believed to be ] active only during fetal development and childhood before slowly turning into fat : in adults. The research reported in the ] journal Immunity suggests that although ~ the gland’s productivity slows with age, it ¯ remains active nonetheless. "It gives us hope thai if we can find ways to boostup the activity ofthe thymus, we could speed up the replacement of T cells"lost to the AIDS virus, stud Beth D. Jamieson, a biologist at the University of California, Los Angeles AIDS Institute who led the study. "There’s still a source available forT cells, which wasnotthought to be the case previously.’" Drugs also could be developed for" cancer patients whose immune systems have been destroyed by chemotherapy. But tests ofpossible treatments are at least two years away, Jamieson said. David Schwartz, professor of mol.ecular microbiology-immunology at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, said the study offers important information that will be "very useful for understanding how we can generate new immune responses as we get older." "It means we don’t have to rely on T cells that are produced in the first decade of our lives," he said. Previous studies showed that new T cells were being producedby AIDS patients who had been taking potentcombinations ofAIDS drugs. But it was not known where in the body those cells were being created. The research found that the thymus continues to turn stem cells produced .by bone marrow into T cells that recogmze the body’s foreign invaders and eider attackthemdirectly orproduce antibodies to finish them off. The UCLA researchers studied more than a dozen thymuses from organdonors andpeoplewhohad sections of their glands removed during heart surgery. Although agi.’ng does not appear to decrease the effecttveness of the new T cells,it does lead to areductionin quantity. The oldest subject in the testing was 56. for75% of HIV eases among Mississippi women. Blacks make up 12% of the U.S. population and 45% of new AIDS cases, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control Prevention. State statistics show "the trend for African Americanwomenhas beenonaconsistent rise and that is disturbing," Thompson said. "AfricanAmericanwomenconslatute the fastest and only increase in population in terms of morbidity with HIV disease," he said. Cultural mores about the medical community, a lack of medical care and money to pay forit and thenumber ofmen who are having sex with both men and women are among the reasons HIV is growing amongBlackwomen,Thompso.n said. But the state health department is ¯ committed to working toward reversing ¯ the trend. "We’re trying to funnel federal ¯ prevention funds into community based ¯ organizations that work very dosdy with ¯ African American women to detect what ¯ places them at the greatest risk and what ¯ can be done to prevent that risk," ¯ Thompson said. ¯ Fivemillion dollars in state and federal ¯ funds are also available to assist HIV and AIDS patients receive medicine, he said. ¯ Data shows education is critical to ¯ decreasing the transmission of the HIV virus, Thompson said. "It’s encouraging ¯ to look at the trend over time and look at ¯ where the money has been placed," he ¯ said. "African ,amaerican women are a ¯ number onepriority for f.unding so maybe ¯ in the next several years we will see these ¯ . numbers will go down." Women also need tobecome advocates ¯ mddemandbetterfunding and educational programs, said Tylene Harrell, resource coordinator for the National Black Women’s Health Project in Washington, . D.C. It is critical to address cultural and economic issues that affect the Black ¯ women because social issues affect their behavior and their behavior can put them at risk, Thompson said. "Poverty, sexual abuse, family planning, virtually every thing that happens in the state affects people’s behavior," he said. Modifying behavior and examining relationships are essential to preventing the spread of HIV, said Jackyie Coleman, director of assistance with the National Minority AIDS Council in Washington D.C. "We must discuss the meaning sex, the roles of men and women and trust issues, Coleman said. Jordan agrees. "Love cankill," she said. "It was somebody that I thought I loved and cared for thathad done this to me. But I got over that. I amnot the victimbecause I didn’t do what I should have done. We ¯ need to start investigating partners before we get involved with them." Arming ¯ people with information and knowledge ¯ is apart of Jordan’s life mission now that ¯ ¯ she has contracted the virus. "I want to egapower boys, girls, men and women to ¯ know what’s out there." she said. "ff you ¯ don’t take charge of your life you give ¯ ¯ somebody else charge to destroy your life." BlackWomen Need Info. to Fight AIDS JACKSON, Miss. (AP)-Seven years ago when Betty Jordan was told she had contracted the HIV virus she was devastated anduninformed. "WhenI found out I had HIV I didn’t even know what HIV and AIDS was," she said Friday at the Women with a Mission AIDS forum for Black women sponsored by State Department of Health. "When they told me what it was I said ’youjusthanded me adeath sentence that I don’tknow anything about,’ "Jordan said. Jordan, a 47-year-old AIDS educator from Hattiesburg, is one of the many Black women in the state who live with HIV and AIDS. Black women make up 21% of Mississippi’s population living with the virus, that causes AIDS, said Craig Thompson, director of the STD/ HIV division of the state health department. Thompson said Black women account ¯ High Court Lets HIV PrOtections Stand : WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme ¯ Court rejected an appeal Monday by a ¯ Maine dentist who was sued for refusing ¯ t’o treat a woman in his office because she ¯ had the virus that causes AIDS. The court ¯ turnedawaywithoutcommentDr. Randon ¯ Bragdon’s contention that filling a cavity ¯ in Sidney Abbott’s tooth at his office Power Do Good. Supporting Local Community Events Is Something Everyone Can Do. PSO has served the electrical needs of our customers here for almost 80 years now. But we also serve broader needs. By contributing to the education of our By supporting cultural events in communities. And by working h.andin- hand with business and government to strengthen our economy. Because at PSO, we believe one of the best things about being your power company...is having the power to do good. Public Service Company of Oklahoma A Central and South West Company www.csw.com Medical Excellence And ¯ Compass. onate Care Since 1926. a ¯ ST. JOHN. MEDICAL CENTER !~ Medical Excellence-Compassionate Care would have posed a "direct threat" to his health and safety. Lower courts rejected the claim and ruled for Abbott without even holding trials on her claims of discrimination. Although the action was not a ruling and set no national precedent, it was praised by Gay civil-rights advocates. "This is the final chapter in a long history of this case, which established that health-care providers cannot refuse critical services to patients with HIV based upon unscientific beliefs about HIV transmission," said Bennett Klein of the Boston-based Gay & Lesbian Advocates &Defenders. He servedas one ofAbbott’s lawyers. Bragdon, who did not return a message left at his Bangor, Maine, office, had urged the nation’s highest court to use the case to clarify when disabled people can be treated differently under a federal antiprejudice law, the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA protects the disabled against discrimination in jobs, housing andpublicacenmmodations. The same Maine dispute was the subject of a major Supreme Court decision just last June, whenthejustices saidpeopleinfected with HIV can sue under that 1990 law. That decision was the court’s first ever involving the human immunodeficiency virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome. It was praised by Gay civil-rights activists. In returning the Maine case to a federal appeals court~be justices said then that a health-care provider’s actions should be judged according to "the objectivereasonableness of the views of health-care professionals without deferring to their individual judgments." Public health authorities say ilieNis no documented case ofa dentist contracting theAIDS virus from apatient. Bragdon contended he should be allowed to use his ownjudgment on how to safely treat suchpatients. Hehad offered to fill Abbott’s cavity at ahospital near his office, but the procedure would have cost more there. When the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals restudied the case, it ruled in December that Abbott’s legal victory in the discrimination case should stand andthat no tlial was necessary. She had won a judgment saying Bragdon should stop discriminating but received no monetary award. High Schooler May Help Cure AIDS AMES, Iowa (AP) -Ahigh school junior who moved to the United States just six years ago is winning someofthe country’s top scholarships and conducting research his teachers say could help win the fight againstAIDS. When Feng Zhang came to Iowa six years ago with his mother, he spoke no English, but was eager to learn the language - and more. "I didn’t know how big this thing was I was getting into," he says. "I just felt fortunate to have the oppormnity."Today, Feng is a 17-year-old junior at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines. In tile past three years he has won $54,000 in cash and scholarships. The highlight came in Philadelphia earlier this month, when he captured the $40,000 first-place award in an international science fair sponsored by Intel Corp. That makes him one of the top student scientists in the world. Experts say Feng’s research offers clues about stoppmg theAIDS virus. "This has an applicationth;at could truly be revolutionary," says Dr. Robert Donato, Are You Gay. or Bisex.ual? Are You Nat,ve Amer,can? Suppo~ Group is here for you! ¯ Evening sup~ group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Sho~ trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project at 582-7225 Ext. 208 or 218 ,I WORKING CLASS HEROES.IMAGES FROM THE POPULAR CULTURE ,it Fred Jones Jr, Museum of Art 410 W, Royal TSe University of Oklahoma one of thejudges. Feng says he has always known his mission. ’q?he purpose was to get a good education and to do what I can for the people around me," he says. He learned that early, in the Chinese city of Shijiazhuang, a sister city of Des Moines, in the province of Hebei, a sister state of I0wa. His parents are chemical engineers, his mother a computer expert as wall. His father also is a university administrator. Feng remembers what they told him, day after day: "Do the best you can do. Be the best you can be. And do something for humanity." "Definitely. That’s the meaning of being alive," be said. Feng’s mother, ShujunZhou, says she noticedhis uncanny ability to memorize names as a toddler. In 1989, as a visiting scholar at the University of Dubuque, she decided the United States offered more advanced educational and technological opporttmities for her bright son. She accepted ajob in Des Moines and brought Feng, her only child, with her. The boy’s father remained in China. Marilyn Ritz, who teaches English as a second language at Callahan Middle School, was in her office when Feng, his mother and a sponsor arrived. "What’s your name?" she asked him. No response. "He hadno cluewhatI was talking about," she says. The school had a part-time teacher who spoke some Chinese. The rest was up to Feng. He listened for key words, thenlooked themupin his Chinese- American dictionary. "I wanted to learn to commumcate as soon as possible so I could learn other things," he says. Says Ritz: "Before long, he was getting everything." But while Feng is a serious student, "he also has a nonsenous side to him," says Sean Stanek, 17, a classmate who also won an award in the Intcl competition. "He’s not like one of those Type-A personalities." Feng will tell you he’s not perfect. He plays no musical instrument, has no hook shot, and enjoys Saturday morning cartoons, particularly Bugs Bunny. But Stanek expects big things fromhi s friend."He’ s the future,"he says. "He’s bound to discover something profound." Maybe he already has. Two years ago Feng began studying at the Human Gene Therapy Research Institutein Des Moines. For his science fair project this year, Feng chose to study a retrovirus similar to HIV, the AIDS virus. While AZT and protease inhibitors try to prevent the duplication of the AIDS virus, Feng wondered if it was possible to genetically interfere with the creation ofthe virus andrenderitharmless. The results are promising. Can Feng’s work lead to an AIDS cure? "I’m not sure," he says. "I’d have to be very lucky to do that." John Levy, a staff scientist at the institute, plans to have Feng’s research published in a scientific paper. "This could have enormous implications," he says. Feng’s not sure what to do next or where to attend college. He would like to combine his interests in biology and computers and see where that leads him. U.Pittsburgh Leads HIV Research PITTSBURGH (AP) - To the Gay men they sought for blood samples, the University ofPittsburgh researchers were known as the "vampires," people who lurked in the basements and back rooms of bars with needles at the ready. They worked in cooperation with bar owners ¯¯ who plied subjects with free beer. They enlisted the help of popular barflies who ¯ goaded other patrons into participating. ¯ They became the lifeblood of a ¯ pioneering researchproject, now 15 years ¯ old, that has changed treatment for HIV ¯ and offered a definitive glimpse of its : history. ’qqae study raised the awareness ; level,"Gay bar owner Chuck Home said. ¯ "Just being involved in the study and ; goingevery sixmonths andkeeping (HIV) ¯ prominent in your mind, there was a ¯ tendency to lean to safe sex. "I fear to ¯ ¯ think how many other people we would have lost if we hadn’t had the study." ; Pitt’s researchers began looking for ~ study participants in 1982, two years ¯ beforeHIV-the virus that causes AIDS - ¯ was identified, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ¯ reported in Sunday’s edition. That initial. ¯ effort won them the opportunity to take : part in the national Multicenter AIDS ¯ Cohort Study, also known as MACS, in : 1983. The study officially began the ¯ following year in Pittsburgh,LosAngeles, ¯ Chicago and Baltimore. At the end of ¯ 1982, only three AIDS cases had been : identified in Allegheny County, far fewer ¯ than in other cities. But the National ¯ Institutes of Health, which awarded four- " year grants toMACS sites,was impressed ¯ with the Pitt team’s ability to find study ¯ volunteers and wanted a low-incidence city for comparison. Researchers were ¯ helped by Gay bar owners, who promote ¯ the studyin their businesses and paid their ¯ staff to attend AIDS education classes so ¯ they could educate customers. The bar ¯ owners also helped set up recruitment ¯ tents atholiday picnics that attractedmore than 3,000 Gay men. ¯ Honse, co-owner of Images and the ¯ Holiday Bar, both in Pittsburgh, recalled ¯ a Gay Philadelphia bar owner who asked ¯ him why he would want to chase, away ¯ business by reminding people about the ¯ virus. "When people die, they don’t buy ¯ any drinks at all. They’re not ever coming ¯ back," Honse remembered telling him. : Nationwide, more than 5,600 Gay men ¯ have participated in the MACS study, ¯ including 1,242 from the Pittsburgh area. ¯ Of those involved in MACS, 1,685 ." volunteers have died, 214 from the ¯ Pittsburgharea. The studycontinues today. ¯ ¯ Twice ayear, participants give samples of blood, semen, urine, feces and throat ¯ secretions, and can participate in other ." studies about psychological aspects of ¯ HIV infection. New data is used to learn : about the role ofgenedcs andimmunology ¯ in the disease’s progression. MACS data ¯ set the standard formeasuring when HIV ¯ develops into full-blown AIDS and ¯ focused attention on the role of T-cells. : Dr. John Mellors, director ofPitt’s HIV/ ¯ AIDS program, tested the idea that viral ¯ levels in the blood reflect disease : progression, as opposed to measuring its ¯ progress solely with T-cells. His findings : led to a review of stored blood samples ¯ from more than 1,600 MACS volunteers, ¯ and life-saving drug regimens now are ¯ based on viral load as well as T-cell count. ¯ "pittsburgh has been right there at the : center of MACS, provi,,ding leadership : and active participation,’ said Dr. Sten ¯ Vermund of the University ofAlabamain : Birmingham. He watched over the study : for the NIH from 1988to 1994. This year, ¯ Pittsburgh was chosen as a testing site for : AIDSvax, an AIDS-prevention vaccine. Wemaybemovinginto snmmerbutthe ¯ arts are as busy as ever. One of Tnlsa’s : great traditions is snmmer films on the ¯ lawn at Philbrook. Gates open at 7pm for : .picnicking and the films begin at dusk, ". usually about 9pro. It’s only $5 ($3 if ". you’re a member). The first film is "The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek," a 1944 comedy by Preston Sturges. Early in July (7/2), Shirley MacLaine stars with John Forsythe in Hitch-cock’s ’q’he Trouble with Harry." Down at Tbe Performing Arts Center, Theatre No_rib presents the gospel musical, Gospel at Colonus based on Sophocles’ Oedipus at Colodus,f~omJune 24-27in the Doenges Theatre. Theatre Tulsa is doing something but as usual, that organization continues its several year policy of discriminating against Tulsa’s Lesbian and Gay press, and therefore, Gay theatre-goers, and still only provides information to some media. You’dthinkby now they’d get it. 33 cents, I guess is too much extra to spend for some free press. However, our thanks go to American Theatre Companywho’vebeengreat to work with in the last few months. ATC will be presenting Shakespeare in the Park with the greatbard’ s "As You Like It" rnnning June 10-12 and June 17-19 at Manion Park,3003 East56th Street, direcdy behind Nimitz Middle and Grimes Elementary Schools. This is anotherpicmcopportumty and tickets are only $6. Slxmsors are the Oklahoma Arts Council, Fox 23, KCFM and Z104 and one of those other aewspapers out there. ATC will also present a musical premiere, "Big Blondes" on July 9-24 at thePAC’s WilliamsTheatre. BigBlondes featuresMaeWest, Marlene Dietrich,and Marilyn Monroe and is directed by, of course, Jim Queen. Imagine that. The d-the p~t l~ve ml,htr "white," it’s ~ee to ~a little sn~~ there. N~ ff ~*~ i~*t do ,o~tM~O a~ut the eomp~sory heter~xuality -oh wait, we fo~t, hom~ls of any ~to~l si~n~ and even ~ tkere we~, here O~ho~ w~re not ~gto a~ut them. fo~t Dr. Davy Goble ~ve us ym~ of hom~fr~ Tul~ ~story. Definitely one not to miss. Early this month, theArts &Humanities Council will be presenting Chautauqua, Voices ofRagtime, Visions ofour Future Past at OSU-Tulsa, 700 No. Greenwood. Interestingly, these free presentations which feature amateur recreations of historical figures have added this year, a Black historical figure, Madame Walker, a selfmade millionaire entrepreneur. The Chautauqua’s of the past have been mighty "white," so it’s nice to see a little diversity sneaking in there. Now if we could just do something about the compulsory heterosexuality -oh wait, we forgot, there werenohomosexuals ofany historical siguifieance and even ff there were, here in Oklahoma, we’re not going to talk about them. Don’t forgetDr. DnnnyGablegave us 100 years of homo~free Tulsa history. And while we’re picking on the Arts & Humanities Council, any one want to bet that this year’s "Wedding Sampler in the Tradition of Harwelden" remains as oblivious to the emergence of I_~sbian and Gay Unions as the first one? Not that the issue hasn’t been brought to their attention both by this newspaper and by one of theirreally, really cool board members. We’ll see. Also, the big arts organization have announced their upcoming seasons. The Opera’s going traditional with, alas, no Mozartthis year. TulsaBallet will provide the Oklahoma premiere "Lady of the Camellias" based on the novel by AlexandreDumas. This storywas also the inspiration for Garbo’s Camille and Verdi’s La Traviata. Tulsa Ballet will open its season early in October with Anna Karenina and will close the season with Carmina Buranain April 2000. - TFN entertainment editor TOHR & Cimarron Alliance present A Black Tie Optional Dinner with US Congressman Barney Frank 4th District, Massachusetts Saturday, June 12, 1999 Greenwood Cultural Center 322 North Greenwood Dinner and cash bar cocktails: $50 Dinner and cocktails with the Congressman: $125 Information: 743-4297 & goddesses tlairtIappTtlour Tuesday Thursday 3pmtoSpm 835-5563 1247 S. Harvard,Tulsa, NearTO TheShefaFund, aPhiladelphiafoundation has started a new initiative to move the Jewish community beyond mere acceptance a~dinclusionofGay,Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Jews toa stance ofwelcoming and celebration. The Pooled Fund for Jewish Community Activism on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Issues is now seeking proposals in its t-h-St year of grantmaking. The Shefa Fund anticipates granting $40,000 in 1999, with grants in the range of $5-20,000. "The Jewish community has made strides toward more inclmive policies regardingGay andLesbianJews andtheir families;’said Sue Hoffman, Shefa Fund Associate Director and manager of the grantmakingprogram."Buttheexperience of young teem and families with Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual members indicates that the Jewish community still does not o welcome- let alone celebrate- our lives :¯ and leadership potential." Acenrding tothe ShefaFmadpresident, : Jeffrey Dekro, "the point is that Gay, ¯ Lesbian and Bisexual oppression is a : mainstream Jewish issue. The expansion ¯ of rituals that we seek would expand the ¯ -range of ritmal for dl Jews; the visibility ¯ that we seek would increase visibility for : a/t Jews in their communities; the anti- " violence activism that we seek would ; increase the safety of a/l Jews. This is about expanding possibilities and ¯ inmgrating identities." ¯ Priority will be given to projects that ¯ promote social change, rather than ; providing community SerVlCe~. ¯ Formoreinfo. contact: TheShefaFund, ¯ 805 E Willow Grove Ave., Wyndmoor, ¯ PA 19038, tel: 215-247-9704, fax: 215- ¯ 247-1015 or by e-mail: : shefafnd@libertynet.org Housekeeping& Gardening Service Contact Paul on: (918) 582 846O POB 3150 Tulsa, OK, 74101 Want to get involved? Need to get tested for HIV? Need a Coming Out Support Group? Call 743-GAYS Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 1307 E. 38th at Peoria, 2nd floor PRIDE ’99 "PRIDEFUL PAST... POWERFUL FUTURE! TULSA’S FIRST ANNUAL 1PARADE W/GRAND MARSHALL REP. BARNEY FRANK (D) BEGINS @ 10:00 AM @ 38th& PEORIA ENDING AT VETERANS PARK TULSA’S EI.GHTEENTH ANNUAL PICNIC VETERANS PARK: NOON-- 5:00 JUNE 12th PRESENTED BY: TULSA OKLAHOMANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS SPONSORED BY: BUD LIGHT & MCC UNITED FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 918-743-4297 Internet I;~ccess /~t its I~est Dial-Up Accounts Dedicated ISDN Connections Virtual Hosting Visit our web page "www.igisweb.net" (918) 622-4965 Internet Marketing E-Commerce Web Page Design On-Site Setup Available 9th Annual Candlelight Tour June 5th & 6th, 10- 5pm, 1 - 5pm 1685 E. 37th St. 2929 S. Rockford 1396 E. 25th St. 2704 S. Victor Tickets SlO at homes or at M.A. Doran, Chas. Faudree, or Jared’s ~" SUNDAYS Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center Sunday School ~ 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E, 6th, 583-7815 Community of Hope (Welcoming), S¢~dce - 6pm, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800 Community Unitarian Univemalist Congregation Service - 11am, 2545 S. Yale, 749-0595 Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist Service - 1 lam, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-1314 Metropolitan Community Church United Service, 1 lam, 1623 North Maplewood, Info: 838-1715 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America) Mass - 1lain, 205 W. King (east of No. Denver), Info: 582-3088 University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gayfrransgendered Alliance 6:30 pro, Meets at the Canterbury Cir., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780 Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals at 5pro, Info: 585-COMC (2662) ~ MONDAYS Mixed Volleyball, Helmefich Park, 71st & Riverside, 6pm, call Shawn at 243-5190. HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required. Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard) HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center 7:30pro, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays 2nd Mon/each too. 6:30pm, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551 ~TUESDAYS AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call for next meeting date. 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551 Live And Let Live, Community of Hope United Methodist, 7:30pro, 2545 S. Yale Multicultural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date¯ Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001 Rainbow Business Guild, Business & prof. networking group. Info: 743-4297 PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE) Tuesdays, 6 pro, Pride Center, 1307 F~ 38th, info: 743-4297 ~ WEDNESDAYS Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pm, 3210b So. Norwood Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more information, call 582-7225 TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for info: 595-7632 Lambda A-A, 7 pro, 1307 F~ 38th, 2nd ft. I~ THURSDAYS HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education ~ Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing:. 7 - 8:30pm 834-8378, 3507 F~ Admiral Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN) Support/social group for 18-24"s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-2325 Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, Into: 83~. "!. 194 i~- FRIDAYS SafeHaven, Young Adults Social Group, 1st Fri/eachmo. 8pm,PrideCtr., 1307 E. 38th ~’~ SATURDAYS Narcotics Anonymous, 11 pro, Community of Hope,1703 ~ 2nd, Info: 585-1800 Lambda A-A, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 F~ 38th, 2rid fl~ ..... : ~OTHER GROUPS , ~ T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info: 838-1222 Gal-A-Vantiag, Womem Social &Cultural Group Call for info: Mary at 743-6740, Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-6825. OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organizalio~ Long tides: 7am, 6/5 & 6/19 and short ride: 6:30pm, 6/9 from Zeigler Park. Long ride: 9am, 6/26 and short ride: 6:30pm, 6/23 from Tulsa Gay Community Center. Write for info: POB 9165, Tulsa, OK74157 lfyour organization is not listed, please let us know. Call 583-1248 orfax 583-4615. by Barry Hensley Tulsa City County Library System One group often overlooked in the Gay community is Gay and Lesbian Aftican- Ameticans. There is finally beginning to be somerecognitionofthis ignoredgroup, and Keith Boykin’ sbookfills animportant need. "One More River to Cross" is divided into chapters on various topics, includingBlack Homophobia, Gay Racism, Faith in the Lives of Black Americans, andAreBlacksand Gays the Same? In discussing Black homophobia, Boykin review how some Black leaders, including Eldtidge Cleaver, Frances Welsling andMinister Louis Farrakhan, who have associatedhomosexuality with the decline of the Black community. In one of the more improbable examples,Boykin quotes controversial walter ShahrazadAli (author of’q’he Blackwoman’s Guide to Understanding the Black Man’) as she claims that all movement Black male homosexuals "’... cook, sew and bake and are emerges as the determined to be a better woman than all the women they know." Many interesting topics are citedhere, including homophobia in rap music and instances of Black magazines and parade organizers rejecting participation by Black, Gay groups. In the chapter on Gay racism, Boykin points to several national Gay organizations, such as the Human Rights Campaignandthe National Gay&Lesbian Task Force, and is astounded that , although they claim to stand for equality for all, they have very few Black employees. The Gay media, also, is a target: "like its heterosexual counterpart, the white Gay media usually projects Eurocentric images of beauty that transmit messages inferiority to Black and others who do not Boykln cites several other instances where the terms "Black" and "Gay" are interehan~ah]e. eorre]ation between the Black eivll rightsmovement and the Gay elvll rights and anti-Gay harassment flourishes uncheckedin ournation’s schools." Smith added that despite the evidence in the AMA report that stigmatization can have devastating consequences for Gay youth, the"extremetightcontinuedtheir ongoing attacks this week by unveiling an anti- Gay television ad in Washington." - HRC has singled out a television ad, which aired on UPN’s Washington affiliate. The ad whichHRCcharacterizes as "anti-Gay" is an extension of last summer’s $500,000 "Truth In Love" newspaper campaign. The ad shows a son thanking his mother for telling him what she regards as the truth about homosexuality, and that he could change through the help of an "ex-Gay" ministry. "My son found out the trdth, he could walk away from homosexuality. But he found outtoo late. Hehas AIDS," says the actor pla~ing the ad’s "morn." TheHumanRights Campaigncountered the "truth In Love" ad with their own advertisement. The 45-second HRC ad titled "Baby" urges parents to teach their most intriguing argument in this book. ¯ " fit the white stereotype. ¯ "Are Blacks and Gays the Same?" : includes an interesting quote from former ¯. Texas senator John Tower, commenting ¯ on the 1964 Civil Rights Act: "[it would] ¯ deny to millions of employers and : employees any freedom to speak or act on the basis of their religious convictions or their deeprooted preferences for associating or not associating with certain classifications of people." Boykin’s comment: ’q’he complaints rings loudly-today against homosexuals as they did yesterday against Aftican- AmeticallS." The argument that was used in the "Gays in the military" controversy ofafew years ago, first emerged as integration of the US Armed Forces in the 1940’s was discussed. In 1948, opponents of integration said, "The presence of Black soldiers in the Army would create disharmony and drive away whites." In the 1990’s version, "hiding behind the amorphous, catchall ,phrase, of ’unit cohesion, supporters of the Gay ban argue that Lesbians and Gay men serving openly wouldmake other soldiers feel uncomfortable." Boykin cites. several other instances where the terms "Black" and "Gay" ¯ are interchangeable. ¯ The correlation between the Black civil rights movement and the Gay civil rights ¯ movement emerges as themostintriguing ¯ argument in this book. While the other ¯ chapters peak the reader’s curiosity and ¯ interest, they pale in comparison to the ¯ sections on these similar movements for ¯ equality. ." Check for "One More River to Cross" ¯ at your local branch library or at the ¯ Readers’ Services department, 596-7966 at the Central Library. : This review first ran in Tulsa Family ¯ News, vol. 4, no. 3, February 1997. ¯ kids tolerance and to not discriminate. ¯ Produced l~y TBWA/Chiat/Day, it ¯ featured an infant with a narrator asking ¯ who will teach the baby the important ¯ joys and lessons of life. "Behold wonder. ¯ Who will teach him to tie his shoes? To ¯ ride abicycle?To find faces in the clouds? ¯ Who will teach him to love and respect ¯ people for who they are.., unless they’re ¯ Gay? Who will teach him that? Will ¯ you?" ¯ ¯ HRC’s Smith added, "these suicide statistics show that it is imperative to ¯ reach Gay andlesbian youthwith positive ¯ images to counter the barrage of anti-Gay : material put forth by the far tight...We ¯ hope our ad and other similar efforts ¯ contribute toward creating a societywhere the next generation of Gay and Lesbian : youth can live relatively free of the : indignities and violence that many of : today’s youth face." ¯ HRC’s ad ends with a line saying : "choose tolerance," and an imagereading ¯" "In memory of Matthew Shepard, 1976- ~ 1998." Neither the "Truth In Love" ¯ campaign nor HRC have announced any "- plans to air these commercials outside the : Washington, D. C. area. Red Rock Tulsa Free Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tuesday Testing, 5 -8 pm Pride Center, 1307 East 38th Wednesday Testing, 5-8 pm Red Rock, 1724 East 8th Daytime appointments available. 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Well, save that for later; right now we need to concentrate on finding the square footage ofyourkitchen floor, then we’ll discuss your options for flooring materials in our last installment on freshening up your kitchen on a shoestring - well, maybe two shoestrings. To determine your square footage, multiply length times width. That’s easy enough if your floor is a plain square or rectangle, but if you have an "el" shape or something more funky, you’ll have to break it up into areas and add the numbers. I always add a few extra square feet to the sum just to be on the safe side. You will find, as you look around for flooring, that the costis usually figuredi9, square feet; even carpeting Is beginning to go this way. It’s about time. Your DIYD like uniformity - preferably on someone else. But we digress again. We will look at your options only on the vinyl flooring, since anything more ambitious, such as tile or Petgo, really belongs in your real kitchen rehab; it is too cost-prohibitive for this project. But if you insist on it, darling, your DIYD’s admonitions are for naught. Thatleaves us with sheet vinyl [one piece] or peel and stick squares. The peel and sticks have several advantages - they’re relatively inexpensive and easy to install, there are lots of .cglors and styles, and they are readily available. You will need to start from a spot in the center of the room and work outward, as you do in file. Also, lay it out "dry" and make any adjustments that will keep youfromcutting httle bits ofsquares. You will want to start down the middle of has instead brought it closer together withinitself, and also with the rest ofSoho community, according to Nick Laurence, of the American Retro store in Old Compton Slreet. He said the spiritin Soho over the weekend had been one of "high resilience." Mr Laurence said: "One of the real positive things to come out of this is that people’s initial reaction has been one of humanity." A service of remembrance was held in the gardens of Soho’ s St Anne’s church, and began at 6:40pro - the time the bomb went off. Clare Herbert, the rector of St Anne’s, said: "In that act of proud reflection we very much hope the people of Soho, of this community which offers a welcome to so many people and which has been so badly shocked will come ¯ an aisle and work outwards if that is a : consideration. Think of where the eye ¯ falls in looking down an aisle- thelength. ¯ You don’t want to stray off, and this is very critical if the aisle connects two ¯ rectangles. ¯ You’ll want toremoveany quarterround Your DIYD leh you on your knees languishing at her feet last month - oh, don’t move yet! I’m not finished with you. I want to see what you can do with your tape measure. Are you thinking naughty thoughts? ~rell, save that for later; right now we need to concentrate on finding the square [ootage of your kitchen floor, then we’ll discuss your options for flooring materials... and thenreplace itwhen you’re finished; you’ll probably have to put in new, since it doesn’t rip off gracefully, it will also help hold your vinyl tiles in place. This is a good time for a warning about vinyl tiles - they have a bad habit of"floating", so keep the following tips in mind: buy the thickest, sturdiest ones you can find and can afford; keep everything fight - where you join them, where they butt the wall, and so on; and don’t try to cheat by not putting any under the fridge or the stove. ff the existing flooring is in good shape, with no tears, ridges orbumps, youcan apply the tiles right over the top. Make sure the floor is Joan Crawford immaculate. Use a square and a board and utility knife to cut your edge files, and remember - snug!!! For sheet flooring, Armstrong makes some that you can do yourself. It comes with a kit so that you can make a template of your floor, cut it out, then glue it down. There is a video that gives you the particulars. This is arewarding project for anyone who has somebasic skills, fearlessness and good anal retentiveness. For those of you who are less intrepid or who have a more challenging kitchen layout, haveit installed. Itdoesn’t take long and the cost increase is relatively minimal. Take time to shop around; some of the discount flooring houses can ¯ be a good value, but be careful andbe sure ¯ to ask for references and then call them. ¯ Sonow yourkitchen has been repainted, ¯ the new counter tops are gleaming, and the floor looks so lovely - it’s time to show : it off. Have a nice dinner. Invite your ¯ DIYD. She’ll be so proud of you. ¯ together with the other community that ¯ has been shocked and injured, the Gay ¯ community." ¯ In Sohd Square, people from across ¯ London have come to lay flowers for ¯ those killed and injured. On the Sunday ¯¯ justafter thebombing, thousands ofpet.pie packedinto Soho Squarenear thebombed ¯ pub to mourn those hurt. Angela Mason, ¯ a director of the Gay and Lesbian lobby ¯ group, Stonewall, told the’crowd of 2,000 : people: "Nobody, butnobody, is going to ¯ bomb us back into the closet." The chairman of the Commission for : Racial Equality, Sir Herman Ouseley, ¯ warned in a TV interview that ethnic ¯ commumties could rise up against"racial : terrorism." "I think you have got to ¯ understand the way in which some ¯ communities have been under siege for a ¯ longperiod oftime- it’s notjust areaction : to the bombing," he said. by Esther Rothblum : is aperception thatroleplays are somewhat Lesbians, like other women, face : fake, butinfacttheyeanbeverypowerful." challenges finding affordable andquality ¯ I asked Dr. White what some good -health care. But are there particular " opening questions are for doctors who difficulties being a Lesbian patient in the : want to be sensitive to Lesbian patients. health care system? I "Youcanstartbyasking’are interviewed Dr. Jocelyn White, a physician who has .conducted research on Lesbians’ access to health care. "Lesbians face all the typical issues such~having health insurance, traveling somedistanceforhealthcare, finding child care while they visit a health care provider, or being able to take time off from work," she said. "In addition there is a specific domestic partner, issue that Lesbians have, because unlike heterosexual women who are legally married, few Lesbians can be insured under their parmer’s policY. But the real issue is providers’ inability to communicate sensitively and .effectively with their patients. Also, providers often have a lack of knowledge about the health issues of Lesbians." Dr. White has found that many providers would like ito have Lesbian patients but don’t have theknowledge or experience to be good providers. She and her "It’s very interesting for the heterosexual doctors and nurses to have to play the ¯role of a Lesbian," said Dr. White, "because they have to start trying to identify with what it feels like to be a Lesbian patient who has d’doctor say something to them that is insensitive. colleagues have traveled around the country educating health care providers in how to communicate effectively with Lesbian patients and increase their .knowledge base of Lesbian health care Issues. She says "inmy workshops I give a talk on the primary care of Lesbian patients. Wetalk aboutparenting, comingout, HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, cancer risk and screening, depression, substance abuse, domestic violence, hate crime violence, and social issues. Many of the doctors who come to these workshops will go on to teach these issues to their students and medical residents, so it’s important for me to teach communication skills." In one of Dr. White’s role-plays, a workshop leader will play a Mexican- American data entry technologist who comes in wanting to talk about parenting options. "The task of a workshop participant is to determine her sexual orientation and discuss options such as insemination, consider appropriate referrals, and deal with these issues sensitively," Dr. White said, "The person playing therole ofthe patientis scripted to present somechallenges."Otherworkshop participants are asked to be observers and comment on what they saw andfelt during the role play. InanOther role play, the worksh0pleader plays thepart ofapatient who has breast cancer, and tells the doctor that her partner no longer wants to have sex with her. "It’s very interesting for the heterosexual doctors and nurses to have to play the role ofa Lesbian," said Dr. White, "because they have to start trying to identify with what it feels like to be a Lesbian patient who has a doctor say something to them thatis insensitive. There you partnered, married, single, or divorced?’ rather than launching right in with such questions as’whatkind of birth control do you use?’ she answered. "You can ask ’do you have a significant other?’ or ’who is in your family?’ in order to demonstrate that you are open to hearing about broader definitions of relationships and families. She added, "You want to learn aboutthe social history of the patient and it’s also important to be comfortable taking a sexual history if necessary. Few doctors are comfortable taking a sexual history, even if they do it every day, because we don’t talk much about sex in our culture. Sexual questions by doctors need tomakeit clear to the patient that an), response is possible." Dr. White has surveyed Lesbians about advice they wouldgive doctors. "Almost to a person they all said ’don’t assume I’m heterosexual’ so we need to ¯ workonbreakingdown thoseassumptions : of heterosexuality," she said. LesbiAn : respondents also told ofnegahveincidents : with their doctors. Dr. White described ¯ one of these anecdotes: "One woman had severe vaginal hemmoraghing and went to the. emergency room. The doctor, assuming she was heterosexual, asked about birth control and pregnancy. When she told the doctor she was a Lesbian, he flushed, got embarrassed, terminated the interview, left the cubicle, andnevercame back. A different woman came back and completed the pelvic exam. The Lesbian patient was horrified and felt humiliated. She immediately sought out a Lesbian doctor." Another anecdote: "A Lesbian was in a motorcycle accidentin which she collided head on with a bus. She told the doctor she was a Lesbian, and he putin 100 sutures in her leg without novocaine. He didn’t xray her skull, even though she had lost consciousness during the accident, and missed a skull fracture. So this doctor committed assault and battery as well as malpractice and now he is being investigated." In sum, Dr. White’s mission is to hdp doctors provide better care for Lesbian patients and help Lesbians feel goodabout themselves so that they know their fights in the doctor’s office. She encourages Lesbians to keep looking foragooddoctor and. keep moving on until they find a doctor they can be happy with. She tells Lesbians to talk with their friends about doctors who are trusted in their community, or else go to talks given by doctors and ask questions about affirmative doctors. "We deserve a good doctor..It’s our right and we should not tolerate poor health care. We should just walk out if the doctor is homophobic, and IGTA member Call 341.6866 International ToHrsformoreinformation. AUTHENTIC FRESH 1TALIAN RAINBOW CUSINE TROUT ofEureka Springs Voted Number One in Arkansas! (501) 253-6807, Closed Wednesday 5 Center Street, Eureka Springs, AR 72632 Red Rock Tulsa O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a SaJe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325 The Pride Store 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor in the Pride Center, 743-4297 6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday 12-9pro, Saturday all sales benefit the Pride Center COCONUT BEER BATTERED SHRIMP PRIME RiB FRESH CLAMS VEGIE STIR FRY COQUILE ST. J#~IUES MAH|IMAH| RACKOF LAMB CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE HWY ~7 S. Eureka Sp~i~cbs 2;01-22;Y-77~4 Compatibility reports for you and your friends or lovers. 599-0717 ~SprinL Sprint PCS= The Clear Alternative to 3ellular Sprint PCS" Select Retailer $99.95 New Sprint PCS Phone .25.oo Less instore rebate $74.95 Net cost Buy any Sprint PCS Phone and get $25 off!* Everyone is approved! All Sprint PCS service plans include: ¯ Free Voicemail ¯ Free Caller ID ¯ Free Call Waiting o Free 3 way calling ¯ No activation fee o No contract required ¯ 100% Sprint PCS Nationwide Network. Tulsa Locations: 2001 S. Garnett, 437-2a.~.~, 3733 S. Memori!l, 6600344 1216 S. Harvard, 587-1778 Sapulpa Location: 109 N. Mission, 227-2322 Free & Anonymous Finger Stick Method By &for, but not exclusive to the Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Communities. Mon. & Thurs., 6-8 pm, Daytime testing: Mon-Thurs. by appt. H 0 P E HIV Outreach, Prevention & Education 834-TEST(8378), 3501 E.Admiral Place by Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D. Sunday, I sat on the curb of Long Beach’s OceanAvenueto watch the city’s annual Gay pride parade. Noisy bar floats, too.thy politicians ridinginnew BMW’ers, various "Miss Things" and "Mr. Thats," drill teams, baton twirlers, bands, community service organi-zation members, church choirs singing on flatbed trucks, and family of all sorts passedonbymarching down the avenue. A few feet up the street, huddled together in a vacant lot, a clutch ofprotesters from one of the more apocryphal Christian sects heckled the paraders. They howled out occasional threats of damnation and hellfire. They waggled their signs and bellowed hoarse abuse’ at passing muscle boys inmuscle cars whb, in turn,honked their horns to drown out the chatter of these volunteer Jeremiahs. The emergence y space and the assertion - by parading - of rights to this territory are even newer... These battles continue over equal rights to publle space... One symbolic curbside barricade, and one bored, roly-poly cop, separated the hecklers from the heckled. This sole whi te woodenbarricade made me think about the social meanings of space. Anthropologists are interested in the ways in which people spatially organize their societies. Anthropologist Edward Hall c.alled this study Of the meaning and use of space "proxemics." He investigated how we communicate nonverbally by arranging ourselves and our possessions in various spatial poses. Parades, for example, are fascinating ritual events. People’s organized movement through space sends important messages. It is no surprise that governments get nervous at parades and do their best to regulate and control these. Parades reveal the existence of communities with at least enough unity andpurpose tomarch together. Andgroup unity-and purpose may threaten powersthat- be. Marches across a landscape also assert fights to that territory. Parades, although symbolic, are serious political events in that they display claims to place. In Northern Ireland, competing Catholics and Protestants parade through each other’s neighborhoods sparking violence and death. Closer to home, the circumnavigation of the University of Oklahoma’s football field by that Sooner Schooner after every touchdown is a similar sort of ritual claim to place. Like small town Fourth of July parades everywhere, this movement symbolically displays people’s rights to occupy territory - land claims that, in Oklahoma, are still a little uneasy in that they are often less than a century old. The emergence of "Gay space" and the assertion ~- by parading- of rights to this territory are even newer. Until recently, few Gay spaces existed. And where they did - Gay bars, bookstores, beaches, and the like - people still had continually to protect themfrom invasionandregulation by saaightpolitical authority. These battles continue overequal rights to public space, or room on library shelves, or signage on Peoria Avenue in Tulsa. That white barricade on Long Beach’s Ocean Avenue separated two territories and two claims. In the street, Gays and Lesbians asserted theirunified community and their claims to occupy Long Beach. Behind the barricade in the vacant lot, the heterosexual hecklers contested theseGay claims, struggling to reassert their own control over the territory. Although the barricade kept their bodies out of the Gay street, they ydled and preached - casting their voices up into the air above the avenue to compete with those of the marchers. Straight attempts to regain control by limiting and regulating Gay space, for the moment at least, have weakened. Gay space is expanding. ".Gay ghettos"l~.ve grown up rn every major Americancity. Publishers such as Damronand Spartacus make money by providing guidebooks to Gay spaces around the world. Gay pride marches down city streets are increasingly visible ritual events. These parades show off the Gay community and assert its ; rights to occupy local territory. The tables : even, here and there, have turned. Some ¯ denizens ofSanFrancisco’s Castro District ; now complain that their neighborhood is ," attracting too many straight residents and : businesses. Theydemand that cityplanners ¯ pass regulations to keep troublesome heterosexuals out of the Gay ghetto. :/ Some paraders marched along the : avenueholding hands, as didmany couples also on the green near downtown Long : Beach where the pride celebration was : headquartered. ¯ Hand-holding is another powerful : proxemic message about sexual identity : and love. My friend Devre observed that : he had once felt uncomfortable holding ¯ men’s hands in public. Now he demands -" more Gay space. He wants to live in a ; place where he can hold his partner’s : hand. ¯ The"gaying"ofpublic space, however, : can bring violent response from those : desperate to protect heterosexual control of the landscape. But a passing parade at !easttemporarily Gays’ space. I hold hands mpart of the city where otherwise I might have second thoughts. I look across that barricade to another place which is no longer mine. On my side, though, I am holding a boyfriend’s hand. : of The Journal Of The Gay And Lesbian ¯ MedicalAssociationandco-editorofThe ¯ Lesbian Health Book. She teaches at Legacy Portland Hospital and is amember ; of the Lesbian Health Research Institute. : Esther Rothblum is Professor of ¯ Psychology at the University of Vermont ." and Editor of The Journal of Lesbian ¯ Studies. She can bereachedatJohn Dewey ¯ Hall, University of Vermont, Burlington, ¯ VT, email: esther.rothblum@uvm.edu. .we should report these doctors to the insurance company or the HMO." Dr. Whitehas found that Lesbians happy with their health care tend to have high oelfesteem and a sense that quality health care is their right. She hopes to teach other Lesbians that this is their right as well. Dr. JocelynWhitepractices as ageneral internist in Portland, Oregon. Sheis editor | | Use Free. 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If you’re that ~Lady and you’re looking for a monogamous relationship, then call me. (Tulsa) .’~’223!8 To respond, brows~br check your messagdS, call 1-90~786-4865 .... $~.~/Min. 18~- ......... ¯ Dl~creet~ ;~;C ..0-1~f!dentlal A|wayS~ 1 8-663-270 Oklahoma ~~ 5-524- 3 Megaphone does not prescreen callers and assumesno liability for personal meetings. 24 hour customer service (800) 289-1489.18+ ~] 998 PC As part of its ongoing commitment to the Gay & Lesbian Adult Communities, Coors Brewing Company of Oklahoma applauds Tulsa Pride 99 Prideful Past... Powerful Future! and welcomes Grand Marshall United States Congressman Barney Frank Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [1999] Tulsa Family News, June 1999; Volume 6, Issue 6 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 1999 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Jean-Claude de Flambeauchaud Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Adam West Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, May 1999; Volume 6, Issue 5 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 newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/588