July - First City Network
Transcription
July - First City Network
NETWORK NEWS V OL U M E 2 5 I S S U E 1 0 - J U LY 2 0 11 THE C O A S T A L E M P I R E LGBT C O M M U N I T Y N E W S A F I R S T CI T Y N E T W OR K P R O D U C T I O N FCN Board Elections Board Bio’s - p.6 - p.7-9 MIss USA 2011 Supports NOH8 - p.12 Going the Distance - p16 UN Gay Rights Protection - p.19 Three Major Designers in NYC - p.21 Transgender Veterans available for Hormones - p24 F**k it Gays Should Marry - p.25 First City Network invites and welcomes everyone without regard to ability, age, ancestry, beliefs, class, gender, race, sexual orientation or identity. NETWORK NEWS THE FINE PRINT First City Network, Inc. is a local, private, non-profit community service organization charted in 1985 by concerned citizens seeking a gay and lesbian positive community. First City Network serves as a forum to share strengths and ideas, stimulate personal growth and provide so cial activities. We provide national, state and local information and referral services for health care, counseling, education, advocacy and mutual support. We hope you share our pride in 22 years of publication of the Network News. Production costs are borne by subscribers, advertisers and donors. NETWORK NEWS - Production Staff Comments or opinions in the Network News may not reflect the policies of FCN, its members or board of directors. FCN policy safeguards the privacy and confidentiality of all members. Mailing lists and inquiry calls are always confidential. Editor-In-Chief Contributors Billing Ad Manager Distribution Photography Travis Sawyer The Community Hank Reineking Travis Sawyer Hank Reineking The Community FIRST CITY NETWORK - Board Officers Co-Chair Co-Chair Treasurer Secretary Nicole Oretsky Candace Hardnett Hank Reineking Travis Sawyer FCN BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bobby Jeffrey Marsha Ipsen Roger S. James Dowling Kevin Clark Chela Gutierrez Brittany Kaiser Will Bellais SATURDAY LESBIAN SOCIAL POTLUCK Hosted By: Creative Approach July 2nd 7:30 - 10:00 Cell - 912-308-7430 306 Jefferson St Downtown Savannah Hosted By: First City Network TBA for information visit our website for directions and up to date information. The Network News is a product of First City Network, which does not discriminate because of ability, age, ancestry, beliefs, class, gender, race or sexual orientation. All written material (excluding Gay Guide) will use only first names, unless members authorize in writing the use of full names. FCN endorses and supports the use of full names, but realizes that some members need to safeguard their privacy. FCN respects that right. Submissions to the Network News become the property of FCN. A writer’s name and telephone number must accompany submissions, but pseudonyms may be used if requested. FCN does not buy submitted material, and has no obligation to use or return submissions. Material accepted may be edited. You are welcome to copy all or part of this issue to share with others. We encourage other organizations and publications to reproduce articles of interest. Please credit Network News, Savannah, Georgia. FCN Network News P.O. Box 2442 Savannah, Georgia 31402-2442 [email protected] All submissions become the property of FCN and your name will NOT be printed unless we are given written permission. The editor reserves the right to decide what is suitable for publishing. Please note that the deadline for submission is the 20th of each month, Thank you. More information on Page 5 NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 3 the SAVANNAH GAY GUIDE SUPPORT GAY-FRIENDLY BUSINESS - TELL THEM YOU FOUND THEM IN THE FCN NETWORK NEWS ARCHITECT Daniel Snyder. Member A.I.A. 216 East Gaston St. (912) 238-0410 BOOKS & VIDEOS Home Run Video & News 4 East Liberty St (912) 236-5192 CEREMONIES Ceremonies Plus – Teri Joseph (912) 667-3119 [email protected] COLLEGE ORGANIZATIONS AASU Gay Straight Alliance Apple PH 706-910-6426 [email protected] Georgia Southern University Gay Straight Alliance Contact Person: Laura Cahill 912-531-8326 [email protected] Savannah College of Art & Design Queer & Allies (Q&A) (912) 525-6729 Krista Haberson (Faculty) [email protected] Colleen Mattis (VP of Q&A) [email protected] COUNSELING & PSYCHOTHERAPY Ellen Farrell LPC, EEMCP Holistic Psychotherapy 6203 Abercorn St. #108 (912) 247-4263, www.ellenfarrell.com Karen Abato ATR-BC, LCAT Art Pyschotherapist - 912-220-0071 Braswell Gamble, LPC 23 East 38th St. (912) 231-8429 Sarah Holmes, Ph.D. 23 East 38th St. (912) 233-7304 Duke Miles, LCSW Psychotherapy 23 E 38th St.. (912) 233-1312 Nancy Wallace, LCSW 23 East 38th St. (912) 447-0230 Martha Womack, PhD. Psychologist. 23 East 38th St. (912) 447-5660 / fax (912) 447-5661 FINANCIAL SERVICES Brouillette & Cowan 1 Oglethorpe Pro Bldg, Ste 102 (912) 354-2262 FUNERAL SERVICES Adams Funeral Services 510 Stephenson Ave. (912) 354-6260 (912) 354-6261 GOURMET FOOD & MORE Brighter Day Natural Foods Organic foods, books, herbs, health supplies, etc. 1102 Bull St., (912) 236-4703 Thrive Carryout Cafe 4700 Highway 80 E Whitemarsh (912) 898-2131 HAIR SALONS Designs 804 Salon. 210 East Park Ave. (912) 201-0070 Christopher’s Hair Salon 529 E Gordon St. (912) 234-7070 HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES Assisted Recovery Center of Ga. 7722 Waters Ave (912) 352-2425 or (888) 570-6391 My Brothaz Home Inc. HIV/AIDS support services for Everyone 2111 Price St. (912) 231-8727 / fax (912) 231-8730 Stand Out Youth Every Friday at 7 pm 307 East Harris St. (912) 657-1966 HIV Services. Chatham CARE Center 107 B Fahm St. (912) 651-2253 HOME REPAIR/CLEANING CONT. POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS INSURANCE AGENCY PRIDE ORGANIZATIONS Sparkling House Cleaning Asian Style (912) 257 6587 Bush Insurance Agency. 340 Eisenhower Dr. Bldg 300 Ste A or 1554 Hwy 80 in Pooler (912) 356-0266. INTERIOR DESIGN Brian Clyatt - Island Interiors 8114 Waters Avenue (912) 352-8005 Timothy Burkett Interiors (912) 236-6500 LEGAL SERVICES Robert W. Bush. P.O. Box 8432. (912) 651-2180 ~ (912) 231-9906. Georgia Legal Services Bill Broker 6602 Abercorn Street (912) 651-2180. LODGING Brunswick Manor 825 Egmont Street Brunswick, GA 31520 (912) 265-6889 NIGHTLIFE Blaine’s Backdoor Bar 13 E. Perry Ln. (912) 233-6765 Chuck’s Bar 301 West River St. (912) 232-1005. Club One Jefferson (Home of The Lady Chablis) 1 Jefferson St. (912) 232-0200 Hospice Savannah Inc. Homecare and Hospice House; grief support services. OUTDOORS 1352 Eisenhower Dr. Roys Hideaway (912) 355-2289 (912)225-3900 royshideaway.com Union Mission Phoenix Project. HIV housing and support. PET SERVICES 120 Fahm St. Save-A-Life (912) 231-0123 Julie - (912) 354-7357 HIV/AIDS LEGAL PROJECT Free legal services to HIV+ who meet income guides. 10 Whitaker St. (912)651-2180 HOME REPAIR/CLEANING TailsSpin 4501 Habersham St. (912) 691-8788 TailsSpin.com PHYSICAL THERAPY II Davy LLC Home Repair Service (912) 303-0363 Phoenix Holistic Center 1138 B East 72nd St. (912) 660-3031 Dawn Phaneuf (912) 398-2800 [email protected] I’m Fixin Too ! LLC (912) 398-2800 Free Estimates. Call Today! Skidaway Family Chiropractic Center. 5704 Skidaway Rd. (912) 356-5886. Mitchell Bush 340 Eisenhower Dr. 300 Ste A (912) 356-0266 ext. 106 Summit Pest Control Once a year Pest Control (912)351-0979 Small World Therapeutic Massage Brantley Moate NCTM, NMT, CMT, LMT Whitemarsh Island - next to Jalapenos (912) 897-7979 4 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net Georgia Equality Savannah Chapter 106 W. 38th St. (912) 944-0996 Savannah Pride Inc. savannahgapride.org PRINTING/DESIGN/PHOTO Creative Approach 306 Jefferson Street acreativeapproach.com (912)233-8300 CLASSIFIEDS and EVENTS G A Y G U I D E C O N T I N U E D . . . FREE - EMAIL [email protected] FOR PLACEMENT BEFORE THE 20TH OF EACH MONTH INTEGRITY AT ST. PAUL’S 7 PM, Third Tuesday of every month, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 34th & Abercorn (Contact: Richard Gourley, Phone - 912-713-5546) GAY MEN’S HEART CIRCLE 7 PM, Second Tuesday of every month, Los Robles, 101 East 34th Street (Contact: Richard Gourley, Phone - 912-713-5546) SATURDAY LESBIAN SOCIAL POTLUCK Hosted By: Creative Approach July 2nd 7:30 - 10:00 Cell - 912-308-7430 306 Jefferson St Downtown Savannah Advice Guys Web/Business Services (912) 228-3612 - adviceguys.us Corner of Jefferson and Liberty Streets. Directly across from the Savannah Civic Center. For more information please call or email Travis Sawyer. travis@ acreativeapproach.com - The theme is Fourth of July so burgers and hotdogs will be grilled in the parking lot. One Horse Photography Onehorsephotography.com REAL ESTATE & MORTGAGE Austin Hill Realty 7505 Waters Avenue, Suite B-7 912-354-2100 Coastal Real Estate Group Roy Hill & John Giles 315 E Liberty St. (912) 233-5900 Donald Callahan Keller Williams Realty (912) 441-4416 Ron Melander Keller Williams Realty (912) 441-7124 RESTAURANTS Wright Square Café 21 West York St. (912) 238-1150 LOCAL WEBSITES Gaysavannah.com [email protected] WORSHIP SERVICES Agape Empowerment Ministries 703D Louisville Road agapeempowerment.org Asbury Memorial UMC 1008 East Henry St. (912) 233-4351 St. Luke’s Lutheran Church 2716 Mechanics Ave. (912) 354-6815 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 34th and Abercorn - Savannah (912) 232-0274 Unitarian Universalist Church 313 E Harris St (912) 234-0980 Unity Church of Savannah 2320 Sunset Blvd. (912) 355-4704 Unitarian Universalist of Statesboro 609 East Grady Street (912) 489-8338 THE JUNE SOCIAL By Marsha Ipsen June’s social at Billy and Melvyn’s Coffee Pointe home was a real love affair. I don’t mean love like the prior year’s commitment social he hosted, but instead it really highlighted Billy’s passion for the greater Savannah LGBT community. The wonderful turnout of guys and gals also reflected the communities’ love for both Billy and Melvyn. It also goes without saying that Melvyn deserves enormous credit for all he does to hold things together while Billy is away on business. One thing I have learned over the last couple of years at these socials is every social has a different set of faces, so they’re not the same group just at a different location. To top it off, at Billy and Melvyn’s social there were three people attending a social for the first time. Bottom-line is FCN socials are a great place to catch up with old friends and meet new friends. I’m probably sounding like a broken record (remember those?) by talking about the incredible food that has been showing up at the socials this year. There was home cooked pulled pork, peach cobbler, sub sandwiches, lemon meringue pies, enough veggies to make a vegetarian O….oops, you know what I mean. But honestly, you can’t eat this well at any restaurant and the price is right, friendship. FIRST CITY NETWORK Hosted By: First City Network Board Meetings Open to the Public First Tuesday of Every Month 6:30pm 307 East Harris St. - Second Floor Come One Come All TBA STAND OUT YOUTH for information visit our website for directions and up to date information. The Board is currently discussing a New Schedule for Meetings. 307 East Harris St. - Second Floor SAVANNAH PRIDE Board Meetings Open to the Public Second Tuesday of the month 7:00 pm 307 E Harris St. - Second Floor Come One Come All GAY VOLLEYBALL We are playing Volleyball again for the Summer season. Sundays at Daffin Park near the Water St. side. ~ 2:00pm till 5:00 pm Everyone is welcome to play so please join us. FIRST CITY NETWORK MEMBERSHIP & SUBSCRIPTION Mail your completed form with payment to: First City Network PO Box 2442 Savannah, GA 31402-2442 $100 Corporate - $40 Family/Couple $25 Individual - $10 Student w/ ID You can also become a member online at: firstcitynetwork.net Thank you Billy and Melvyn for hosting another fine FCN social, and thank you for all you have done and continue to do for our community. NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 5 R O F E M I T S ’ IT N C FB O A R D In the u p coming months we will elect a new Board of Directors that will lead and guide Georgia’s oldest GLBT organization for next year. ELE S N O I T C FCN, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, has been run successfully by volunteers like you for more than 25 years! SERVICE TO THE GLBT COMMMUNITY IS EXCITING, REWARDING, AND FUN! ~ ONCE ON THE BOARD, THE REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE: attending the monthly board meeting on the first Tuesday night of each month - attending the monthly FCN Social volunteering on one of several committees - assistance with the newsletter - assistance with the annual oyster roast and other fund raising events - represent FCN with our partners, some of whom are: StandOut Youth, PRIDE, and Georgia Equality - possibly serve as one of four officers IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE UPCOMING ELECTION: Ballots will be mailed with the September newsletter. Only members in good standing are eligible to vote. Each member will receive one ballot. All returned ballots must be postmarked by September 20th. The new board will be installed at the board meeting on October 4th, 2010. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT IN ORDER TO RUN FOR THE BOARD YOU MUST BE A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING OF FCN. PLEASE ENJOY THE BIO’s IN THE FOLLOWING PAGES AND REMEMBER TO VOTE FOR WHO YOU WANT TO BE OUR NEXT BOARD OF DIRECTORS. FCN RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE MEMBERSHIP TO ANY PERSONS. 6 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net And the Candidates are... Pastor Candice Hardnett | Co-chair (incumbent) Candace E. Hardnett is a local pastor and activist. Candace served her country as a United States Marine directly following 9/11. The wisdom, experience, and discipline that she gained from the Corps carries forward into every facet of her life. She and her partner founded Agape Empowerment Ministries in 2009 and she serves as the Senior Pastor. Candace is a sought after orator and has helped to plan and organize several rallies and marches in Savannah. She and her partner Erika own their own online business, Me and HCG. Candace is an avid runner and health enthusiast. She holds a B.S. in Religion from Liberty University and is currently pursuing her MDiv from her Alma Mater. She currently serves as Co-chair of First City Network and looks forward to serving on the board again if re-elected. Nicole Oretsky | Co-chair (incumbent) Nicole is the current President of FCN, stepping into the role when former President Carolyn Bowden resigned and moved. She is delighted to seek a second term on the board and to again serve the FCN membership. She wants to continue making a contribution to the goals of our community. This service fits neatly within her assemblage of interests and work in community development and education. She moved to Savannah from New York City in 2008 to work as an Assistant Professor of Urban Studies and Planning at Savannah State University. She is grateful to all in the FCN community for welcoming her into the local LGBT family. Hank Reineking | Treasurer (incumbent) I grew up in a small town in Northern New Jersey. After college and a few jobs, then several years of operating and owning an Insurance Agency, I moved to Sleepy Hollow, NY after meeting and moving in with my partner of 31 years. I spent my life working in the insurance industry managing a large department. When we retired, Rich & I moved to Savannah in 2001, and found the Saturday night socials a great place to meet new people. Around 2005 we became involved with stuffing and mailing the FCN newsletter. With the 2009-2010 elections for the First city Network Board, I found myself voted on as a write-in. In May of 2010 I took over the job as Treasurer and have continued in that position. I was re-elected for the 20102011 term and look forward to serving the GLBT community again if reelected. Travis Sawyer | Secretary | Editor FCN Network News (incumbent) Born and raised in a small town in South Carolina he came to Savannah to pursue a degree in Graphic Design. Once here he fell in love with Savannah and the charm that this city had to offer as well as the GLBT Community. While in college Travis became an active Board Member for Savannah Pride from 2003-2007 he held many titles such as PR Marketing, Treasurer, Secretary, Fundraising and Sponsorships. Before graduating from SCAD he opened his own design and printing firm in Downtown Savannah called Creative Approach, which was recently voted, by the Readers of Savannah Morning News, one of the top Three Printers in Savannah. Currently he is the Editor and Chief of the FCN Network News and Secretary for FCN. He looks forward to working with other GLBT organizations and seeing the Savannah Unite Chapter grow. He also would like to personally invite you all to a Great Saturday Social at Creative Approach on July 2nd. NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 7 And the Candidates are... Brittany Kaiser | Board Member (incumbent) A 22-year-old Junior at SCAD and a proud and dedicated activist. She began her work towards LGBT equality young, serving as co-president of her High School Gay-Straight Alliance. She then worked as a fundraiser for the Human Rights Campaign on and off for three years in New York. After moving to Savannah in 2009, Brittany helped to organize the Queer Power March, Savannah’s first ever march for LGBT rights. She has participated in various other local events from the May 2010 City Hall rally to the recent actions against the Westboro Baptist Church. This was Brittany’s first year on the FCN board, and she hopes to continue serving in the year to come! Will Bellais | Board Member | Socials Organization (incumbent) Came to Savannah in 2001 and became an active participant in FCN affairs. From Washington, D.C., I was a 20-year member of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, an officer in the Gay and Married Men’s Association (GAMMA). Retired as a Professor of Theatre at Montgomery College, Rockville, MD, and an active member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. I have been trained as a Sacred Intimate at the Wildwood (Body Electric) program in California. Joined the FCN Board last year and was appointed chair of the Monthly Social Events. I believe that GLBT people must be heard by the “establishment” here in Savannah. I believe that gay men and lesbians have a mission in this society and that mission is to create a society that has a social conscience. Carl and I were married December 19, 2009 at the Unitarian Universalist church of Savannah. And the Candidates are... Marsha Ipsen | Board Member | FCN Newsletter Chair (incumbent) I am a current member of the FCN Board of Directors. I happen to be transgender and have been married to my wife Jollie for 33 years. I am the owner of a pest control company here in Savannah and have been in business on my own for 18 years. Every month I am learning more and more about the Savannah LGBT community and meeting new members of our community at the socials. FCN is an LGBT social organization and that is what I would like to work towards preserving and enhancing. There are many other fine LGBT organizations in our community doing good things, however, FCN is the social fabric that keeps us together; uniting us, celebrating relationships, maybe creating others, and above all, bringing us together on a regular basis and giving everyone the real feeling of being part of our community. Roger S. | Board Member (incumbent) I have lived my life in the Southeast United States and lived in Savannah since 2007. I currently serve on the FCN Board. Working on the Fund Raising Committee, Community Outreach Committee. The Oyster Roast and silent auction have been my biggest effort for FCN, this year. I am working to build ties with the other organizations of our Community. I have served on numerous Non-profits. I am a member of the Chatham County Democratic Committee. I previously served on the Board of a North Carolina based Credit Union and a Domestic Violence Tranisitional Program Non-Profit Board. I also served on the Disaster Preparedness Committee of Holden Beach, NC. My hope is that next year we will have greater success with the Oyester Roast and lay the Kevin Clark | Board Member (incumbent) Mr. Clark was elected to the Board of Directors of FCN in 1997. Elected Co-Chairman of FCN in 1998 until 2002. He was elected to the Board of Directors of Georgia Equality Project in 1998 and formed the Savannah Chapter of GEP. Bobby Jeffery | Board Member (incumbent) Originally from Syracuse NY, however I consider myself a southern since I’ve been in Savannah from a very young age. I was raised Catholic and come from a half Irish half Italian family. Coming out as a teenager was very challenging. Kevin opened “Under the Rainbow” inn after 3 1/2 years of extensive restoration. His home now serves as a meeting place for many local organizations. In my late 20’s, I co founded Savannah Pride (SP!) with Carol Riles, a former FCN Board member. With the blessing of First City Network, we form the Savannah Pride Committee in 2000. During my six years on SP! I held various positions including Executive Director for the majority of the time. Under my management Pride became the second largest pride in Georgia. In 2004 SP! was honored to host Interpride Region Four Conference called P.O.S.EPrides of the Southeast. The POSE conference to date is the largest LGBT conference ever held in Savannah. Acting in the capacity of FCN Co-Chair and Director of Georgia Equality Savannah, Mr. Clark led the efforts that convinced Savannah City Manager, Michael Brown, to include “sexual orientation” in Savannah’s non-distrimination law in 2002. Mr. Clark led lobbying efforts to persuade this new Council to unanimously approve an official Resolution opposing SR 595, Georgia’s proposed Constitutional Amendment banning samesex marriage on March 18, 2004. If the members of FCN so choose to re-elect me to the board, I promise to bring my abilities and knowledge to help foster a positive relationship between the LGBT community. Our community has splintered off in many directions and we all need to come together. Georgia Equality Savannah led the fight against hate and violence in Spring 2006 when a series of hate crimes occurred in Savannah. As a result, City Council unanimously adopted the “Equality Resolution” on January 4, 2007. New Police Chief Michael Berkow appointed Star Corporal Trace Walden as GLBT Liaison to the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police. Mr. Clark ran as a candidate for Georgia State Senate District 2 in the 2008 Democratic Primary election - the first openly gay candidate to seek a State Senate Seat in Georgia. Afterwards, he led lobbying efforts to persuade Savannah City Council to unanimously adopt Domestic Partner benefits for City employees on October 7, 2010. This first-ever pro-gay policy initiative made Savannah the 6th city in Georgia to offer these benefits. 8 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net Are you interested in being on the FCN Board... All that is required is for you to be a FCN Member in good Standing. Email your bio and picture to [email protected] and get published in next months issue before the voting commences... NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 9 Leslie Jordan’s ‘ONE MAN SHOW’ August 20th at 10PM I Could Have... Smokey Joe’s CafeThrough Aug. 6 By Ron Blake By The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina There was so much I could have done if I hadn’t gone running this morning. It took me 30 minutes to jet around town with my dirtspeckled blue and white running shoes; but oh the things I could have done had I just stayed home! Soak in the “malt shop” sounds of legendary songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller at “Smokey Joe’s Café,” the hottest joint in town! Winner of a Grammy in 1995 for original cast recording, it features 39 pop standards, including the biggest hits of rock ‘n roll and R&B – “Poison Ivy,” “Fools Fall in Love,” “Yakety Yak,” “Hound Dog,” “Love Potion No. 9,” “Spanish Harlem,” “Stand By Me” and many more. Recipient of five Tony Award nominations, Smokey Joe’s is a fast-paced trip through some of the biggest hits that will have you “dancing in the streets.” Tickets: $40-$45; kids: $29-$31 Tickets are $35 I could have enjoyed several games of solitaire on my smart phone. It’s quite a simple pleasure that can occupy me for hours if I allow it. That royal family of jacks, kings, and queens can pull me in like a fly to light. Tickets will go fast so get yours today! I could have continued watching TV in my underwear. There was not anything in particular that captivated me, but there was the constant thrill of uncovering that golden nugget on one of those higher channels. I could have continued my search for that ultimate show! Portion of proceeds to benefit Savannah Pride Tickets are available at www.clubone-online.com I could have rifled through those high school yearbooks that were calling to me from the nearby bookshelves. These tomes of nostalgia have been pressuring me to peruse their pages ever since I found Katey Hudsucker on Facebook recently. I couldn’t remember if she signed that Student Council photo page. I could have taken a nap. I was a little tired from all the excitement I had from the night before. My pillow looked so comfortable and my comforter was laundered just two days ago. It still smells so Downy fresh and is the perfect sleeping pill. I could have replaced the shoe laces on several of my shoes. My pair of casual shoes has that one lace on its last thread. It’s been in that precarious position for weeks now. Then there are the dirty shoe laces on my formal shoes. I never did get that au jus sauce off of them after the wedding reception from last month. I could have started my Star Wars movie marathon that I have been threatening to begin for months now. I haven’t seen any of the movies in their entirety for as long as I can recall. How cool would it be to see them all in the same day! I could have baked some peanut butter banana muffins. I usually don’t cook, but that’s never stopped me from trying things in the past. I saw this recipe on one of those food channels and it looked good and delicious. It also looked easy too and that is a big selling point for me in the kitchen. I could have watched some music videos on YouTube. There have been many great songs released in the last few weeks and I would have loved to see the videos too. Moreover, I could have even flashed back to my beloved 80s rock. With a class reunion on the horizon, it could have been an ideal time to get back to the big hair generation. I could have done a whole bunch of different things today instead of running, but I didn’t. Thank goodness for that! There’s a lot of nonsense out there waiting to pounce on your health and fitness aspirations. Stay focused on what’s important and leave that nonsense on the doormat. I’ll leave a light on for you! 10 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net ~ JULY EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ~ Character Development Through Improvisation: 2-4 p.m., July 7; Students will learn methods of developing natural characters through sometimes unnatural means! Focus will be places on employing improv, style, voice and movement to grow our knowledge of character development; Arts Center of Coastal Carolina; Ages: 11-15; $15; Instructor: Paige Klasing Musical Kazoocicles: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., July 13; Join Lowcountry artist Amos Hummell in this wacky workshop where we will be crafting a kazoosaphone, a one-of-a kind musical instrument from recycled materials; Arts Center of Coastal Carolina; Ages: 5-12; $15; Instructor: Amos Hummell Kids N’ Clay Camp: July 5-8 & 15 - Ages 6-12, Session 1 – 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Session 2 – 1-3 p.m.; Students will learn a variety of ceramic hand building techniques: including pinch, slab, coil, surface decoration, glazing and more; Arts Center of Coastal Carolina; $100; Instructor: Danielle Tobia Take the Stage! Performing Arts Camp: July 18-22, Ages 5-7 – 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Ages 8-12 – 1-3 p.m.; This week-long camp will expose children to a variety of performing arts methods such as dance, theater, and music; Arts Center of Coastal Carolina; $100; Instructors: Jay Apking and cast of “Smokey Joe’s Café” Mixed Up Masterpieces Visual Arts Camp: July 18-22, Ages 5-7 – 1-3 p.m., Ages 8-12 – 10 a.m.–12 p.m.; Students will experience working in mediums such as painting, sculpture, printmaking, found objects and more; Arts Center of Coastal Carolina; $100; Instructor: Margaret Hancock Theatre Camp Session 1 with Jay Apking: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., July 11-15; Make a cast of new friends during this fun-filled week! Campers will experience a mini-production and will not only be the cast, but will also be the production crew, learning how to write scripts, understand and develop character, create set design and props, and design costumes; Arts Center of Coastal Carolina; Ages 9-14; $150 Theatre Camp Session 2 with Harry Culpepper: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., July 25-29; Make a cast of new friends during this fun-filled week! Campers will experience a mini-production and will not only be the cast, but will also be the production crew, learning how to write scripts, understand and develop character, create set design and props, and design costumes; Arts Center of Coastal Carolina; Ages 9-14; $150 NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 11 Miss USA 2011 Supports NOH8! Gay Volunteer Day Courtesy of the NOH8 Campaign at Grace House of Union Mission Self-proclaimed geek Alyssa Campanella might have been known up to this point as Miss California 2011, but that all changed last night when Alyssa was announced as the winner of the 2011 Miss USA Pageant! Saturday July 16th 10 AM - Noon NOH8 Supporter and former Miss USA Shanna Moakler reached out to us a few weeks ago to make sure to connect us to Alyssa as soon as she took over crown responsibilities, and we’re so thankful for Shanna’s continued unwavering support of our campaign and her attempts to always involve new faces with our cause. Alyssa was eager to get involved with our campaign to make it clear where she stood. Fahm St @ Youmans St Downtown Savannah Behind Bus Station Volunteer projects - weeding, window washing, planting, pruning, laying pavers, mulchers The Miss USA 2011 Pageant was hosted by familiar NOH8 Supporters Andy Cohen and Giuliana Rancic. Donations are needed and greatly appreciated Plants, mulch, pavers, paper bags, squeegies, money, drinks and snacks for volunteers. We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that only two years later, a beauty queen in support of the NOH8 Campaign and its fight for equal rights has not only managed to secure the Miss California title - but won the Miss USA title as well! Previous Gay (GLBT & Queer) Volunteer days - Safe Shelter, Humane Society, Phoenix House Two years ago, former Miss California Carrie Prejean made headlines at the Miss USA Pageant when Celebrity Judge Perez Hilton (also a NOH8 Supporter) asked Prejean about her stance on same-sex marriage, where Prejean controversially answered she believed marriage to be between a man and a woman. Prejean only received First Runner Up in pursuit of the Miss USA Title. Find us on Facebook Georgia Equality Savannah Chapter Kevin Clark 912-547-6263 Last year, we were honored to have the support of Miss California 2010 Nicole Johnson, who was photographed in her white gown from the Miss USA 2010 Pageant. Nicole posed for her photo (featured right) with Inta Gems Designer Peter Young, who is responsible for crafting the beautiful crowns for all Miss California and Miss Teen California title winners. Nicole’s crown held special significance to Peter, who designed the crown to feature the Love, Unity, and Beauty of California in response to Carrie Prejean’s surprising attack on gay marriage. We wish Alyssa the best of luck with her position as Miss USA 2011 and hope she continues to be an example for young women all over the country.and Public Policy offered a new estimate of homosexual identification: concluding that 1.7% of Americans say they’re gay, and a slightly larger group (1.8%) identified as bisexual — by definition attracted to both genders and shaping their sexual behavior through some mixture of inclination and preference. Brad Sears of the Williams Institute defended the accuracy of these numbers, suggesting gay leaders “let go” of previous, unrealistic estimates of homosexual orientation. He told the 12 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net Associated Press that “with other populations of a similar size of 2% to 4%, we don’t question whether there are too many or too few.” For instance, no one suggests Jewish Americans should be treated with contempt or dismissed as irrelevant to the Christian majority because they number below 2% of the U.S. population. Nor would the news media shy away from reporting that in an age of religious conversion, choice plays a role in adding to and subtracting from the Jewish community. Religious identity arises from birth, upbringing, instinct, even destiny, but the fact that it almost always includes some element of choice doesn’t entitle the believer to less respect. By the same token, it’s no sign of hostility or homophobia to point to recent data suggesting that life experience and personal decisions play roles alongside inborn inclination in the complex, sometimes inconclusive, emergence of the gay and lesbian identity. A-A MEETS EVERY SUNDAY & WEDNESDAY FROM 7:30PM TO 8:30 PM 307 E Harris Street NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 13 “THIS BLAST FROM THE PAST IS A BABY BOOMER’S DELIGHT!” — New Jersey Star Ledger JUNE 21 - AUGUST 6, 2011 Leiber and Stoller virtu- ally invented rock ‘n’ roll, and now their songs provide the basis for an electrifying celebration of the golden age of American entertainment. “Poison Ivy,” “Fools Fall in Love,” “Yakety Yak,” “On Broadway,” “Love Potion No. 9,” “Spanish Harlem,” “Stand By Me” and many more – Smokey Joe’s Cafe isn’t just great pop music, it’s compelling musical theatre. August 10 & 11 What do John Belushi, Bill Murray, John Candy, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell have in common? They’re all alums of Second City, Chicago’s legendary theater and an American treasure for 50 years. This high-flying live comedy show from the troupe’s latest class of comics combines topical sketch comedy, unique, hilarious songs, and on-the-spot improvisation. Going the Distance: An Interview with Marsha Ann Ipsen society about other TG’s. Should someone choose to come out, they need to realize not everyone will share their enthusiasm. And should you decide to transition, you need to realize you are making everyone in your life transition with you without giving them a choice. By Meredith Newton “I am a 52 year old post-op MTF transsexual who remains married to my wonderful wife of 32 years. I have been fortunate to have the support of my family, friends and business customers. I am active in my community including being on the board of directors of a local LGBT organization along with being a trustee for my church.” How long have you known you were a girl? You hear some TG gals say they knew they were a girl when they were 3 or 4, and sometimes even younger. I think they are nuts. I don’t believe a child that young has a grasp of what the different genders really are. However I believe you can now look back at your life and recognize behavior in those younger years that maybe indicated gender incongruence. I can think of behaviors when I was 4, but honestly I think I was 11 or 12 when I first felt I was really a girl in a guy’s body. Meredith: When did you decide to start transitioning? Marsha: I first saw a psychiatrist and began HRT in early 2005 at the age of 46. Like many others I had struggled hiding my rightful gender identity to the point that I knew I had no choice but to pursue transition. What were some of the roadblocks you faced during this transitioning? Initially finding a gender therapist was difficult. I could not find one in my city and ended up driving about 2 hours to another city. Otherwise the roadblocks I faced were ones I created for myself like not telling my wife what I was doing. But once my transition was underway I don’t know if you could really say I had any roadblocks. The biggest issue was overcoming the fear of losing my wife, family and business. As time went on I realized most people were ok with me and I was able to build a circle of friends, including many from GS, giving me the support I needed to transition. When did you find out about the actual date of your surgery? On February 2, 2010 the United States Tax Court ruled SRS and HRT are treatments for the condition of gender identity disorder and therefore an acceptable medical care tax deduction. Because this ruling came at the time I was working on my taxes, I was able to see how it could be possible for me to have my surgery. On March 15, 2010 I wire transferred the deposit to secure my December 9, 2010 surgery date with Dr. Chettawut in Bangkok, Thailand. The surgery date was later moved up to December 8, 2010. Tell us about your surgeon. As I noted earlier, I chose Dr. Chettawut. He is an incredible surgeon, or maybe I should say skilled artist. The detail of his work is amazing. Probably the biggest thing I came away with after my surgery is Dr. Chettawut and his staff took care of me, and they also cared about me. At a Christmas party for his staff and us Chet girls at my hotel, he told me that because of my confidence in him that he was the best, he worked extra hard to give me the detail he was able to achieve. I love the guy, what more can I say. 16 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net How did you feel the morning of your surgery? How did you feel afterwards? I was so at peace with what was going on that I don’t believe I was anxious at all. The driver was scheduled to pick me up at the hotel at 1 p.m. so I took care of my hotel arrangements and patiently waited in the hotel lobby for the driver. After arriving, I changed into a gown and again had my vitals checked, then walked to the operating room and climbed up on the table. I don’t remember much beyond that. I was later told the surgery took a little more than 6 hours. I woke up in the recovery room around 3:00 in the morning. I remember Dr. Chettawut’s wife Tair who happens to be a nurse, telling me to go back to sleep, that it was too early. She told me the time and that the surgery was successful. I wake up from anesthesia really well so I was wide awake in the morning. The biggest question I get asked is did it hurt and the answer is no. You are aware something went on in that area; maybe call it an ache, but no pain. I was even able to Skype with my wife which really surprised her because she thought it would be a couple days before she would hear from me. I know at times the reality of it all hit me and I was of course excited, but I also felt at peace that I was now right. What advice do you have for the TG community as a whole? Overall acceptance of TG’s from society is rapidly changing. The younger TG’s are fearless and are the key to removing roadblocks such as discrimination and same sex marriage. So my advice is to be patient. If you plan on transitioning, don’t rush, but instead take your time and do it on firm footing. I believe society has opened its doors to us if we play by the rules. Some believe we should be able to do whatever we want and I disagree with that. There is a proper time and place for most behaviors. You don’t need to push it in other people’s faces. If there is anything else you’d like to add, feel free! I recently had a woman who I highly respect come up to me at church and tell me how proud she was of me. She went on to say it took a lot of courage to do what I have done. I answered with “No, it did not take courage. I did what I had to do.” I believe that is a hard point to convey to non TG individuals so they will actually understand what we go through. There are many gals who came before me that never had the opportunity to transition. I have been fortunate to live at a time when with support from family, friends, and doctors, it can be done. Was it easy? No, but I hope one day it will be easier for those who are struggling and hiding who they really are. What sort of challenges do you have ahead? I think life is a challenge for everyone and now I have to deal with it as a female. As far as transition I am probably done. I could be content just living life as it is now but I will likely add new challenges along the way. The biggest thing right now is learning more about the people in the LGBT community in my own area. Overall, what would you say about the entire transitioning period? I began my transition 6 years ago. Two years ago I would have never dreamt I would be where I am today. It goes to show that staying positive and believing in yourself can take you a long ways. My transition took longer than many; however I believe the outcome shows the gradual change method I took worked out well for me. Is there anything in particular you wish to describe about your SRS? My SRS in Bangkok, Thailand was more than just a surgery, it was an experience. I met others from around the world, I had an incredible doctor and staff, I had contact with friends and family back home including Wendy Larsen from GS who kept me company on Skype while everyone else was asleep, and I had my wife and a friend with me in Bangkok for support so I never felt alone.. Meredith: What advice do you have for those who are afraid to come out? Marsha: First off, I don’t think everyone needs to come out. If you have no intention of transitioning, then why bother. Although acceptance is rapidly improving for transsexuals to be out, I think it is the going back and forth that confuses NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 17 brouillette & cowan Wealth Managers Tax Professionals U.N. Gay Rights Protection Resolution Passes, Hailed As ‘Historic Moment’ Courtesy of The Huffington Post At Brouillette & Cowan, we help provide clarity, confidence and personalized financial solutions to the clients we serve, with the goal of creating and preserving wealth while maximizing tax savings. Marianne K. Brouillette, EA C. Jason Cowan, CPA ® Financial Advisors Want to contribute to the Network News... please email you articles or advertisements to [email protected]. Remember the deadline is the 20th of each month!! Telephone 912.354.2262 Fax 912.354.3165 GENEVA — The United Nations endorsed the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender people for the first time ever Friday, passing a resolution hailed as historic by the U.S. and other backers and decried by some African and Muslim countries. The declaration was cautiously worded, expressing “grave concern” about abuses because of sexual orientation and commissioning a global report on discrimination against gays. But activists called it an important shift on an issue that has divided the global body for decades, and they credited the Obama administration’s push for gay rights at home and abroad. “This represents a historic moment to highlight the human rights abuses and violations that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people face around the world based solely on who they are and whom they love,” U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in a statement. Securities www.BCSavannah.com Following tense negotiations, members of the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council narrowly voted in favor of the declaration put forward by South Africa, with 23 votes in favor and 19 against. Backers included the U.S., the European Union, Brazil and other Latin American countries. Those against included Russia, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Pakistan. China, Burkina Faso and Zambia abstained, Kyrgyzstan didn’t vote and Libya was suspended from the rights body earlier. The resolution expressed “grave concern at acts of violence and discrimination, in all regions of the world, committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.” More important, activists said, it also established a formal U.N. process to document human rights abuses against gays, including discriminatory laws and acts of violence. According to Amnesty International, consensual same-sex relations are illegal in 76 countries worldwide, while harassment and discrimination are common in many more. “Today’s resolution breaks the silence that has been maintained for far too long,” said John Fisher of the gay rights advocacy group ARC International. The White House in a statement strongly backed the declaration. “This marks a significant milestone in the long struggle for equality, and the beginning of a universal recognition that (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) persons are endowed with the same inalienable rights – and entitled to the same protections – as all human beings.” The resolution calls for a panel discussion next spring with “constructive, informed and transparent dialogue on the issue 18 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net of discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against” gays, lesbians and transgender people. The prospect of having their laws scrutinized in this way went too far for many of the council’s 47-member states. “We are seriously concerned at the attempt to introduce to the United Nations some notions that have no legal foundation,” said Zamir Akram, Pakistan’s envoy to the U.N. in Geneva, speaking on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Nigeria claimed the proposal went against the wishes of most Africans. A diplomat from the northwest African state of Mauritania called the resolution “an attempt to replace the natural rights of a human being with an unnatural right.” Boris Dittrich of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights program at Human Rights Watch said it was important for the U.S. and Western Europe to persuade South Africa to take the lead on the resolution so that other non-Western countries would be less able to claim the West was imposing its values. At the same time, he noted that the U.N. has no enforcement mechanism to back up the resolution. “It’s up to civil society to name and shame those governments that continue abuses,” Dittrich said. The Obama administration has been pushing for gay rights both domestically and internationally. In March, the U.S. issued a nonbinding declaration in favor of gay rights that gained the support of more than 80 countries at the U.N. In addition, Congress recently repealed the ban on gays openly serving in the military, and the Obama administration said it would no longer defend the constitutionality of the U.S. law that bars federal recognition of same-sex marriage. The vote in Geneva came at a momentous time for the gay rights debate in the U.S. Activists across the political spectrum were on edge Friday as New York legislators considered a bill that would make the state the sixth – and by far the biggest – to allow same-sex marriage. Asked what good the U.N. resolution would do for gays and lesbians in countries that opposed the resolution, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Daniel Baer said it was a signal “that there are many people in the international community who stand with them and who support them, and that change will come.” “It’s a historic method of tyranny to make you feel that you are alone,” he said. “One of the things that this resolution does for people everywhere, particularly LGBT people everywhere, is remind them that they are not alone.” NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 19 Three Major Designers Put New York Marriage Equality on Airman discharged Under DADT policy Display in New York City... By Joseph Neese Gay rights activists were recently surprised to learn a service member was discharged under the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, despite a repeal of the law appearing to be within weeks of certification. The airman, who was not identified by the Air Force, was officially separated from the military on April 29 - the only such separation this year. A spokeswoman for the Department of Defense, Eileen Lainez, confirmed the discharge Friday in an email. Repeal was approved by Congress on Dec. 18, 2010, but does not become law until 60 days after it is certified by the president, secretary of defense and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. An Oct. 21, 2010, policy states that all discharges under DADT must be approved by several ranks of the military, including the secretary of the branch of service in which the service member serves and Defense Department’s lawyers. “Until repeal occurs, the law commonly known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ remains in effect, and the Department of Defense will continue to apply the law as it is obligated to do so,” Lainez said. Major Joel Harper, an Air Force spokesman, said the individual was a male whose rank was airman first class. The airman admitted he was gay to his commander, Harper said, and before any action of separation was initiated, the airman went as far as writing the secretary of the Air Force, asking to be separated from duty because of his sexuality. GAY & STRAIGHT: TROOPS BURDENED BY LEGAL LIMBO In March, Naval Petty Second Class Officer Derak Morado, 26, faced military “boards” - a closed-door hearing before a three-person panel of enlisted and commissioned officers at Leemore Naval Air Station. Karen Voss, DC Clark Voss, DC Reiki certified The officer had to answer to an anonymous tip made in November 2009 in which the accuser said something on Morado’s MySpace page indicated he was gay. Reiki works with the flow of Universal Life Force Energy channeled into the body to balance the energy centers and to facilitate the healing process. Cronk called on President Barack Obama to sign a stop-loss order, barring such discharges. Nicholson said that while boards are “certainly a burden on and unfair to service members who are gay,” they are also a burden on the military itself. For the trials, officers must be taken off duty to sit in on the hearings, leaving their other duties behind. Three of the worlds biggest names in fashion, Kate Spade, Michael Kors and Levis, are unveiling store front window displays featuring HRC’s New Yorkers for Marriage Equality Campaign. With a vote coming in a matter of days, we are grateful that these influential and powerful businesses are putting equality and fairness on display. LOOKING AHEAD TO JUNE Reports indicate training for the new policy that will allow openly gay individuals to serve is going “well” and has seen “no hiccups,” according to Nicholson. A recent poll released by Siena Research Institute shows public opinion continues to trend toward marriage equality in New York State with a record high of 58 percent support and a record low of 36 percent opposition. “All signs are pointing to mid- to late-June,” for certification. The Navy expects training to be completed by the end of June, said Lt. Alana Garas, a Navy spokeswoman. Alex Nicholson, executive director of Servicemembers United, the nation’s largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans, indicated he was initially shocked at the action. But certification does not require every unit in the armed services to be trained, according to Lainez. The New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign is centered on video testimonials from New Yorkers who support the right of same-sex couples to marry. To date, HRC has released videos from Michael Strahan, Ben & Jerry, Broadway Actors, Vanessa Williams, Anna Wintour, Larry King, Sean Avery, Julianna Margulies, Bill T. Jones, Sam Waterston, Christopher Meloni, Mario Batali, David Chang, Tom Colicchio, Lucy Liu, Bill Bratton and Rikki Klieman, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Former New York City Mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkins, Russell Simmons, Mark and Sunrise Ruffalo, John Slattery, Joan Rivers, Barbara Bush, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Whoopi Goldberg, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon, Fran Drescher, Moby, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, Julianne Moore and Kenneth Cole – with more to follow in the coming weeks. “The Department of Defense has made it pretty clear that discharges are on hold,” he said. Nicholson said he believes with about 90 percent certainty that certification will occur before month’s end, at which time current Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, an advocate of the repeal, is set to leave office. Levi’s Windows: 3 locations Meatpacking: 414 West 14th Street Chelsea: 25 W. 14th Street Soho: 536 Broadway It would be imprudent to drag the repeal into the new administration, Nicholson said, which will see Gates replaced by current CIA Director Leon Panetta. Kate Spade: 1 location Soho: 454 Broome Street “After the separation action was initiated, the individual was informed of the current status of the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ and he reaffirmed to the Secretary of the Air Force that he desired his separation action by expeditiously processed,” Harper said. However, it is a known tactic of some service members to indicate they are gay - even though they may not be - in order to get out of their service obligation. “It sounds like he or she really had to go out of his way to force the Air Force to do this,” Nicholson said. 20 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net The Associated Press has reported that half of the armed services have been trained, including the bulk of Marine and Army forces. “It would be infinitely unwise for them to not do it in June,” he said. (912) 356-5886 Chiropractic works with the subtle energies of the body flowing through th e nervous system to stimulate the body’s own innate capacity to heal itself. Morado ultimately was not recommended for separation, but gay rights advocates say he is just one in a long line of service members who are still subject to “the threat of being harassed,” said GetEqual Managing Editor Heather Cronk. The Pentagon, however, is remaining quiet on the issue. When asked how many troops had so far been trained, Lainez said in an email that she had no information to share. A UNIQUE WAY TO FEEL MORE ENERGIZED... AND BE AS HEALTHY AS YOU CAN BE. Michael Kors: 2 locations West Village: 384 Bleecker Street Flatiron: 133 Fifth Avenue Skidaway Family Chiropractic Center 5704 Skidaway Road Savannah, GA 31406 ADOLESCENT AND ADULT PSYCHOTHERAPY INDIVIDUALS, COUPLES, GROUPS Specialties include: Addiction, Anxiety, Depression, GLBT/Gender Issues, Relationship Issues,Trauma Braswell Gamble, LPC 912-231-8429 Sarah W. Holmes, Ph.D. 912-233-7204 Duke Miles, LCSW 912-233-1312 Nancy Wallace, LCSW 912-447-0230 Martha B. Womack, Ph.D. 912-447-5660 23 E. 38TH STREET SAVANNAH, GA 31401 NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 21 firstcitynetwork.net - (912) 236-CITY FCN Advertising Contract Doctors to have Theclaim Classifieds “functional cure” for HIV Courtesy of CBS News Advertiser Thirty years ago from Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control issued the first report on the emerging AIDS epidemic. Now, after years of progress in holding back the disease, there is finally an apparent case of one successful cure. Address Phone Fax CBS News correspondent Hank Plante, with San Francisco affiliate KCBS, reports that 45-year-old Timothy Ray Brown, now living in the Bay Area, tested positive for HIV back in 1995, but now has entered the scientific journals as the first man in world history to have his HIV completely eliminated from his body. It’s what doctors call a “functional cure.” Email Ad Size Months to Run Amount Received Advertising Rates Pages are divided into eight segments, 3.5 inches wide by 2.25 inches high. Color Full Page $110.00 1/2 Page $66.00 1/4 Page $44.00 1/8 Page $28.00 Black and White He was living in Berlin, Germany, in 2007, dealing with HIV and leukemia, when scientists there gave him a bone marrow, stem cell transplant that had astounding results. Email your Free Non-Commercial Classified “I quit taking my HIV medication on the dayto: that I got the transplant and haven’t had to take any since,” Brown says, [email protected] adding that his diseases are effectively gone. In fact, his only medical problem these days is one involving his speech and motor skills because of neurological damage after the treatment, but that’s getting better. First City Network “The Berlin Patient,” as Brown is known, received stem cells Membership & Subscription from a donor who was immune to HIV. In fact, about one percent of Caucasians are immune to HIV. Some say it goes Full Page $72.00 1/2 Page $44.00 1/4 Page $33.00 1/8 Page $22.00 Advertiser __________________________________ Date __________________________________ FCN Ad Rep. __________________________________ All Articles and Ads must be in digital format and Print Ready. Contact [email protected] Pre Payment is required on all new ad’s. 22 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net Mail back your to completed form with payment to: the Great Plague; People who survived the plague now for several years I think of the virus, and that hasn’t happened before in our experience.” Timothy Brown’s radical procedure may not be applicable to many other people with HIV, because of the difficulty in doing stem cell transplants, and finding the right donor. But this one case does open the door to the field of “cure research,” which is now gaining more attention. “I’m cured of HIV,” Brown says. “I had HIV, but I don’t anymore.” Those are words that so many in the scientific community are now cautiously clinging to. developed an immunity, and that immunity was passed down First to City Network their heirs today. PO Box 2442 Brown says the first man to be cured of HIV makes him Savannah, GA being 31402-2442 very, very happy. $100 Corporate $40 Family/Couple $25 Individual Needless to say, Brown is now being monitored by doctors at San Francisco General Hospital and here at UCSF, where we sought out a medical opinion from one of the most respected AIDS researchers in the world, Dr. Jay Levy, who was one of the co-discoverers of the HIV virus. “If you’re able to take the white cells from someone and Name(s) manipulate them so they’re no longer infectable by HIV, and Address those white cells become the whole immune system of that individual, you’ve got essentially what we call a functional City/State/Zip cure,” Dr. Levy says. Email We also sought out a medical opinion from Dr. Paul Volberding, another pioneering AIDS expert, who has studied the disease for all of its 30 years. You can also sign up online! “One element of his treatment, and we don’t know which, A-A MEETS EVERY SUNDAY & WEDNESDAY FROM 7:30PM TO 8:30 PM 307 E Harris Street allowed apparently the virus to be purged from his body. So its going to be an interesting, I think, productive area to study,” Dr. Volderding says. “He hasn’t had any recurrence 30 NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 23 Transgender vets eligible for hormones Oh No, Fleas! SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Veterans Health Administration has informed its hospitals and clinics that transgender veterans are eligible for hormones, care before and after gender change surgery, and mental health counseling as part of their regular benefits. Pets love the outdoors. And so do fleas. They both also like the indoors too. Fleas can hitch a ride on our furry friends and make themselves unwelcomed house guests. It’s very important, especially in Savannah, to use regular monthly flea treatments to protect your pets from fleas and greatly reduce the likelihood of infestations. However, if these tiny pests have found their way inside, here are some steps you can take to get them OUT! Finally, for tough cases, you can purchase a “flea bomb” at your local pet store. These are sometimes referred to as “indoor foggers”, and are relatively inexpensive. Be certain to follow all package directions exactly, though - most flea bombs require that the home be thoroughly aired out after treatment, and you’ll need to wash any residue off of surfaces such as countertops and cupboards, and vacuum thoroughly once more. First, you will want to eliminate the fleas living on your cat or dog. Flea shampoos are effective when used properly. Start by getting the pet’s neck fully wet, down to the skin. (Water should be slightly warm, or even cool.) Apply flea shampoo and lather thoroughly around the neck. This prevents fleas from gathering at the ears, eyes, and face, where it is difficult to shampoo safely. Next, get the rest of the pet’s body wet, shampoo thoroughly, and let sit for a few minutes. Finally, rinse the pet very well. Note that flea shampoos do wash away any flea topical treatments, so you will need to re-apply the topical flea preventative the day after a bath when the pet’s natural oils have returned to the coat. With perseverance and prevention you can get rid of fleas and keep them away. Remember, these procedures are far less expensive than calling in a pest control service! Courtesy of The Monterey County Herald In a directive issued Thursday, the VA reiterated that its facilities are not permitted to perform genital or breast surgeries on veterans in the process of changing genders. But the agency confirmed that transgender patients are entitled to routine health care that takes their special needs into account and to transgender-specific treatments such as hormone therapy and “non-surgical, supportive care for complications of sex-reassignment surgery.” In accordance with what it termed “the respectful delivery of health care,” the VA also instructed medical personnel at its 950 health care centers to refer to transgender veterans in conversation and on medical records by the gender pronoun they prefer, regardless of whether they have undergone surgery. The policy also applies to veterans who appear to be one gender but whose sex chromosomes indicate they are another, a condition referred to as intersex. Transgender activists have been pressuring the VA for years to make such a statement. They maintain care of transgender veterans varies too much from facility to facility, with some easily accessing the full range of care and others being denied all services. 1102 Bull Street • Savannah, GA • 31401 (912) 236-4703 • Fax (912) 236-9026 “It doesn’t create anything new. It just says to treat these veterans like you treat all veterans, but for trans vets that’s really huge,” National Center for Transgender Equality executive director Mara Keisling said. The VA quietly posted the directive on a section of its website reserved for new directives, but has not commented on it. A telephone call and email to the Department of Veterans Affairs, which oversees the VA, were not returned Friday. Autumn Sandeen, a Navy veteran who lives in San Diego, has been happy with the treatment she has received through her local VA facility, but said she knows of other transgender veterans who were refused not only hormones and the psychological counseling that is a precondition for sex reassignment surgery, but regular checkups. “It’s going to be a huge boon to veterans who are not getting any care at all or are not getting appropriate care,” Sandeen said. “You have to be able to treat the whole person, and now the VA is telling them, you can’t separate out the transgender component and you can’t only give care that is not transspecific.” 24 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net By Jeff Manley of Tailspin Republican Senator: ‘F**k It,’ Gays Should Marry Courtesy of TMZ Want an option that does not require giving your pet a bath? Capstar is a pill that can be safely used to kill the fleas on a pet within 24 hours. It is very effective for flea outbreaks, but since it only lasts for 24 hours and only targets the adult stage of the flea’s life cycle, it should not be used for monthly flea prevention. The second thing you need to do is vacuum everything in your home - carpets, drapes, upholstery - everything: - Thoroughly vacuum all carpeting, upholstered furniture and floors, and the open areas under furniture and beds. - Dispose of the vacuum bag immediately and seal it in a plastic bag to ensure no fleas escape. - Repeat this procedure on a regular basis throughout the year to prevent flea populations from growing. Next, wash all of your bedding, as well as your pet’s bedding, in the hottest soapy water possible. This will kill off any fleas hiding there, as well as any eggs that may have been laid. Vacuum your mattress well while the bedding is in the laundry, just in case. For fleas that have escaped the pull of the vacuum or a soak in the washing machine, flea home sprays that kill fleas on contact are a great option. They are an effective way to “spot eliminate” fleas in their tiny tracks. While many do contain a small amount of residual insecticide, they can be safely sprayed directly on pets, bedding, furniture and floors – just make sure to follow the directions. Some newer “natural” sprays are also available that do not contain any insecticides. They are also effective but usually require more frequent application. Republican New York State Senator Roy McDonald has SHATTERED party lines in support of gay marriage -- telling reporters, “F**k it, I don’t care what you think. I’m trying to do the right thing.” The battle rages on in New York to legalize gay marriage -but McDonald threw his hat in the ring earlier this week ... with the greatest statement of all time, claiming, “You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn’t black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing.” “You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f**k it, I don’t care what you think. I’m trying to do the right thing.” “I’m tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I’m trying to do the right thing, and that’s where I’m going with this.” With McDonald’s support, the gay marriage bill is only ONE vote shy of being made into law -- which would make New York the sixth state to legalize gay marriage. NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 25 ACT OUT SAVANNAH! By Cody Patterson & Spencer Wulwick The Counter-Protest of Westboro Baptist Church – which initially had raised both questions and at least a few eyebrows – went off without a single hitch and has been lauded by many. For anyone who might still be harboring “second thoughts,” we invite you to read the article written by Lesley Conn of the Savannah Morning News, May 22nd 2011. Kathleen Osteen a member of the Act Out Savannah Planning Committee has a way of exciting a crowd and getting them “in the mood.” Perhaps the most rewarding comments came from a wife whose husband is serving in the military in Iraq. She could not thank us enough for having her “husband’s back” and informed us that the counter protest was the main topic of discussion among the soldiers stationed in Iraq. The weeks of planning paid off with an event that was flawlessly executed. After several weeks of living, breathing and sleeping the Counter Protest, hundreds of supporters rallied at Chippewa Square for the kickoff. And it didn’t stop there. At each of the protest locations (Christ Church at Johnson Square, First Baptist of Savannah at Chippewa Square, St. John’s Episcopal Church at Madison Square and St. John’s Cathedral at Lafayette Square) the crowd followed Westboro Baptist Church Protestors and other supporters joined in to fill out the crowd. Especially pleasing was the unique diversity of this particular GLBT event. There were people from Unitarian Universalist Church of Savannah who attended as a “Community Support Action.” There were wives of military personnel who trekked from Beaufort, South Carolina. There were representatives of the SE Freedom Fighters who came from Milledgeville, Georgia. Even the Guardian Angels took it on themselves to join in and offer support. The Bomber Girls (Savannah’s allfemale motorcycle club) were represented by Becky “Jerzey” Bradley. We wish to thank Pam Miller of the Savannah Gay & Lesbian Community Police Collaborative (SGLCPC) for taking the initiative to reach out to Act Out Savannah with helpful suggestions, which were implemented. Special thanks, too, to Sgt. David Gay and other members of the Police Department who met with our organization to carefully orchestrate everyone’s role in ensuring the safety of all participants and ensuring appropriate conduct on everyone’s part. We especially appreciated the efforts of Lieutenant John Best who served as a liaison between the officers on duty and Act Out Savannah. Job very well done, Chief Lovett!! 26 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net Thanks so much to Rachel’s 1190, Bay Street Blues and Chuck’s Bar who were our largest fund-raising supporters. Last, but not least, we wish to express heartfelt appreciate to the planning committee – who were instrumental in accomplishing this wonderful feat. Our committee is almost as diverse as the counter-protestors themselves, representing gay, lesbian, bisexual and, yes, the straight communities. You can learn about our activities by visiting our website actoutsavannah.org or by visiting Act Out Savannah on facebook. FCN does not support any political candidates suggested donation of 20-40 dollars silent auction | special entertainment | complimentary munchies | draft beer | wine 6pm til 9pm at Club One Jefferson 1 Jefferson Street Friday, July 29th 1BJEGPSCZ+Fõ'FMTFSGPS.BZPS+Fõ'FMTFS$IBJSNBO4BSBI++BDLTPO$1"5SFBTVSFS .":03 +Fõ'FMTFS -&54&-&$5
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