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Iowa
Women’s
Music
Festival
IWMF, Sept. 16-18, adds three
musical powerhouses to lineup
Ryan Murphy and Glee star Chris Colfer at Comic-Con in July
Eat Gay Love
Ryan Murphy talks about
his new Julia Roberts film,
pushing the gay on Glee,
and doing the Wicked movie
By Chris Azzopardi
Glee is all Ryan Murphy must be feeling these days.
Already on fire from his gay-worshipped TV megahit, the
44-year-old director’s second feature, Eat Pray Love, adapted
from the wildly popular memoir and out Aug. 13, is soulsearching summer movie bait relishing in delicious dishes (not
just James Franco), picturesque landscapes and Julia Roberts.
The actress plays the book’s author, Elizabeth Gilbert, as she
leaves her frazzled life behind for a globetrotting jaunt, some
solitude and a good plate of pasta.
TTArticle on page 24
Julia Roberts:
Somebody to Love
The 17th Annual Iowa Women’s Music Festival, produced
by Prairie Voices Productions, announces that The Refugees
will replace Janis Ian as headliner of the September 16-18
festival in Iowa City, Iowa. Janis Ian regretfully cancelled
her September tour late in August due to a longer recovery
from a recent hand surgery than originally anticipated. Ian
hopes to be back on the road soon and has already booked
the 18th Annual Iowa Women’s Music Festival at a date to be
determined in September 2011.
The Refugees are comprised of accomplished solo
singers-songwriters Wendy Waldman, Deborah Holland
and Cindy Bullens. The three came together in 2007 as The
Refugees after individually logging more than three successful
decades in the music industry.
As solo artists, they have a combined nineteen solo
albums and multiple Grammy Award nominations to their
credit. As a trio, their musical styles are a perfect blend of
country, rock, folk and Americana featuring soaring harmonies, indelible musicianship and an unforgettably humorous
stage presence.
The Refugees debut CD, Unbound (Wabuho Records) was
released in January 2009 and shows off their multi-instrumental talent on guitars, dobro, bass, mandolin, harmonica,
accordion and percussion. Outside of their obvious talent,
music lovers may know the three performers from their
notable contributions to the music industry over the years.
The Campbell-Johnson Wedding
at Two Saints Winery 07/31/10
America’s Sweetheart on
filming ‘Eat Pray Love,’ her
relationship with Ryan Murphy
and pigging out on pizza
Photo by George Byron Griffiths - gbgphotography.com
Jonathan Wilson
Page 7
What’s Inside:
Section 1: News & Politics
Editor’s Note and a Chat with Janis Ian
Iowa News
US News
World News “Freedom of Religion…” by Jonathan Wilson
“The Limits of Capitalism…” by Tony Hansen
Creeps of the Week
Expert says stereotyping clouds gay marriage debate
“There Oughta Be a Law” by Jonathan Wilson
Section 2: Fun Guide
Entertainment Picks for September
Deep Inside Hollywood
Partying Hard: “It’s Too Hot…” by Joshua Dagon
Rehearsals Begin for Gay Men’s Chorus
The Quire: Open Call for Singers
Mr. Midwest Leather Contest
The Outfield
Recurring Events, Statewide
Imperial Court of Iowa, Coronation 18
Hear Me Out (Music Reviews)
The Gay Wedding Planner
Cocktail Chatter: The Sazarac / The Negroni
Eat Gay Love / Julia Roberts: Somebody to Love
Out of Town: Cruising and Touring Alaska
Book Marks: Inseparable: Desire Between Women…
Comics and Crossword Puzzle
Section 3: Community
By Chris Azzopardi
Julia Roberts could never be a carb-conscious gay man.
While filming Eat Pray Love, she ate starch like she was making
a fashion statement. Take after take of pizza-shoveling and
pasta-sucking left the lovable A-list actress almost 10 pounds
heavier, and rightfully burned out on Italian food.
Wendy Waldman, Deborah Holland, and Cindy Bullens are
THE REFUGEES. Photo by Lance Craig.
Iowa Choruses
Call for Singers
Page 13
Imperial Court
of Iowa
Page 15
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8
9
10
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13
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14
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15
16
18
23
24
25
26
26
Welcoming Congregation Workshop Series
29
“Standing on Higher Ground” events at UNI
29
First Friday Breakfast Club
29
Inside Out: “The Sting of Discrimination” by Ellen Krug 31
Wellness conference features Dan Buettner
32
Queeries: Lessons in LGBT etiquette
33
Business Directory
36-37
Welcoming
Congregations
Page 24
Business
Directory
Page 31
ACCESSline Page 2
SEPTEMBER 2010
SEPTEMBER 2010
Janis Ian, inspiration
PUBLICATION
INFORMATION
Copyright © 2010
ACCESS in Northeast Iowa
P.O. Box 2666
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-2666
(319) 550-0957
www.ACCESSlineIOWA.com
[email protected]
ACCESSline is a monthly publication by
ACCESS (A Concerned Community for Education, Safer-sex and Support) in Northeast
Iowa, a registered non-profit organization
in the State of Iowa and a federal non-profit
organization under Section 501(c)3 of the
IRS Code.
Arthur Breur, Editor in Chief
Q Syndicate
Rex Wockner News Service
Contributors:
Joshua Dagon; Beau Fodor;
Tony E. Hansen; Ellen Krug;
Jennifer Merriman;
Jonathan Wilson; Sandy Vopalka
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ACCESSline Page 3
From the Editor
Ah, Iowa, what an amazing place.
On the one hand we have inspiring
beacons of forward thinking like the Iowa
Supreme Court and its unanimous 2009
ruling saying that our committed relationships should be given the same rights as
anybody else’s.
Then on the other hand, we have people
bent on reinforcing people’s opinion that
Iowa is a benighted social backwater. This
includes folks like Bob Vander Plaats, Steve
King, Dave Leach, and now Jeremy Walters—
who managed to land in the nationally
syndicated (and always very entertaining and
enlightening) “Creep of the Week” column
this month because of those unfortunate
Facebook posts.
While my job as editor of the paper has
me exposed almost every day to the latter, I
try very hard to focus on the great, inspiring,
and impressive things about this state.
One of those things is the 17th annual
Iowa Women’s Music Festival, September
16-18 in Iowa City. The people who bring us
this cultural gem every year deserve every
bit as much applause as the amazing artists
they line up for the event.
Another item of inspiration—especially
to me—is that this publication, ACCESSline, is
about to start its 25th year. I feel both privileged and challenged with the responsibility
involved, but I am having the time of my life
meeting so many wonderful people, visiting
so many fantastic places, and doing so many
fun and entertaining things.
— Arthur Breur
ACCESSline Wants To Hear From You!
Send in photos and reports of your events... especially benefits and conferences.
Please send us information on any of the following:
• Corrections to articles
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• Letters to the editor
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• Engagement and wedding ceremony announcements or photos
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• Photos and writeups about shows, events, pageants, and fundraisers
Please email us at [email protected]. You may also contact us at our
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PO Box 2666
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ACCESSline reserves the right to print letters to the editor and other feedback at
the editor’s discretion.
Janis Ian is yet another cultural treasure.
As an openly out person, she is both a role
model and an inspiration,
A folk music icon, her songs are known
both for their simplicity of melody (think “At
Seventeen” or “Some People’s Lives”) and for
their intellectual and emotional depth (such
as “Society’s Child” which she wrote at age
the remarkable age of 13).
After coming out publicly in the early
1990s, she was a columnist for the gay news
magazine The Advocate. She has also written
numerous science fiction short stories.
While we will miss Janis Ian appearing
at the Iowa Women’s Music Festival—this
year—it was a true pleasure to have the
chance to interview her.
Your song Society’s Child was written
in 1964 (?) about interracial romance.
How do you feel today about the story
that song tells?
Well, it’s unfortunate that it’s still so
relevant. I wish it wasn’t, but I guess that’s
part of a good song, too, that it stays relevant.
I just kind of wish things had changed more
and faster.
What’s your favorite cover version of
one of your songs?
Ah, no, no. [Laughs.] I’d get in trouble
for that.
Do you have any particular favorites
among the cover versions of your songs?
You know, I really don’t. I think it’s just
such a huge compliment when somebody
like a Bette Middler cuts your song in the
first place because I know she goes through
hundreds and hundreds of songs looking
for them. So it’s hard to say that any one is a
favorite when I know how hard it is for people
to choose and what the odds are against
getting a cut.
Do you have any songs at the top of
your list as far as songs by other artists
right now?
Yeah, I’ve been listening a lot to an artist
name Lhasa de Sela, who unfortunately died
this past January, but her songwriting is pretty
amazing. She fluctuates between English
and French and Spanish, and since the only
one I speak is English, I’m having to depend
on the kindness of friends and translations.
Even translated she’s extraordinary. I like a
lot of the stuff Sarah Bettens is doing. I guess
I’m pretty eclectic. Right now I’m listening a
lot to Yo Yo Ma.
What are your main inspirations for
your songwriting?
Well, if I knew I would bottle it, and I
would sell it, you know, and make my fortune.
I really don’t know. It comes from anywhere.
You can be inspired just because you’re bored
that day, you can be inspired by something
you’ve heard that you want to do or you want
it better, you can be inspired by a lick or a title
that occurs to you or a concept. Like when
Angela Aki and I wrote “Every Woman’s Song”
I had been reading about a movement called
“Women-Church” led by a nun named Miriam
Therese Winter, and I was fascinated with the
idea. And I was telling Angela about it and we
kind of sprung the song off of that. So it really
could be one of a million different things. I
think I’m like most artists in that I don’t really
like to delve too deeply into it, let it stay a
mystery. Otherwise you might jinx it.
You’ve written a number of Science
Fiction stories. What appeals to you about
science fiction?
It’s outlaw work. It’s very much like folk
music. It always has a little Renaissance when
times are tough. It talks about possibilities,
which as an artist I really like. Really, we
deal in possibilities, we don’t deal in reality
most of the time. So I really like that part of
it. I think in the era that I grew up in, in the
sixties, science fiction was really one of the
few areas of prose that was as cutting edge
as what we were doing musically or trying to
do musically. So there’s all that too. There’s
just a lot of reasons for me to like it.
You came out as an adult in 1993. Tell
us about your experience with coming
out.
Well, everybody pretty much knew
already, so I don’t think it was any news to
anybody. NGLTF She felt it was important for
someone like me to be a role model. When
she put it that way and asked whether I’d
had any role models as a gay youth, it made
a lot of sense to do it as loudly and publicly
as possible. And then of course Melissa
Etheridge and K.D. Lang also came out right
around the same time, so it was like the three
of us. You know, it’s hard to tell if there’ve been
any repercussions because I wouldn’t really
know about them. I mean, there was a little
spattering of nut mail, but then again there’s a
spattering of nut mail every time I release an
album, so I can’t really count that as anything.
I think the times have changed so much that
it’s pretty much a big “so what?”
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ACCESSline Page 4
IOWA NEWS
GOP hopeful’s Facebook
posts cause stir
On August 17, 2010 the Iowa Independent reported that Jeremy Walters, GOP
candidate for state representative in Iowa
House District 67, had posted Facebook
comments indicating that he believed AIDS
was the biblical punishment for homosexuality:
Jeremy Walters homosexual “GAY” is
not of God!!!!! In the Bible it reads; Leviticus
20:13- King James Bible
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth
with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put
to death; their blood shall be upon them. So
the people that don’t have God in their life
or don’t belive in God they are a fool. Only
a Fool says there is no God.
August 12 at 9:33pm
Jeremy Walters The Holy Bible say if
your “GAY” homosexual they shall surely
be put to death; their blood shall be upon
them. This tells me a lot so should we kill
them NO. They Need to ask God to forgive
them of their sins and mean it turn away
from it. They also need to know that when
it says that their blood shall be upon them
that tells me it is AIDS. Thats how I feel.
August 12 at 9:45pm
In response to these posts, Carolyn
Jenison, the executive director of One Iowa,
called for the Iowa Republican Party to
“denounce Walter’s comments immediately. HIV/AIDS is an epidemic that does not
discriminate. It is a matter of life and death
for many Iowans.”
In a statement to The Iowa Independent,
the chairman of Iowa’s Republican Party, Matt
Strawn, responded by saying: “Mr. Walters’
comments are inappropriate and in no way
represent the beliefs of the Republican Party
of Iowa. HIV/AIDS does not discriminate and
our hearts and prayers go out to any Iowa
family facing this disease.”
Furthermore, Mr. Walters was apparently then uninvited to—or decided not
to—attend at the Iowa Republicans’ booth
at the Iowa State Fair.
Mr. Walters removed the posts despite
initially telling The Des Moines Register that
he would not, saying, “It’s offensive to them
because they know it’s the truth. Truth does
hurt.” On August 18, he formally apologized.
On August 19, Iowa Republican state
Senate candidate Dave Leach—who on
August 1 referred to Iowa State Senator Matt
McCoy as Iowa’s “chief sodomite”—said that
he felt the Republican Party was wrong to
disavow Mr. Walters’ statements.
“Everyone knows sodomites suffer [HIV/
AIDS] far more than the rest of the population, and that sodomy’s practices, which are
so embarrassingly unsanitary that you dare
not detail them in one of your articles, would
inevitably create such a disease if it did not
already exist.”
The same day, WHO-AM conservative
radio talk show host Jan Mickelson claimed
Mr. Walters was a victim of propaganda.
Christian radio host Steve Deace lamented
that the Iowa Republican Party did not protest
the Iowa Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage
decision as strongly as it did Mr. Walters’
comments.
One week after these comments, the
company that owns WHO-AM, Clear Channel
Communications, played a statement prior to
Mr. Mickelson’s radio show
“Jan Mickelson, an acknowledged
conservative commentator with strong
political views, is entitled to his opinions on
a wide range of current topics. However, his
comments on August 19 regarding HIV/AIDS
and public awareness campaigns regarding
this disease confused strong opinion with
medical fact, and contained factual errors
regarding HIV/AIDS, its spread and current
efforts to inform the public about this disease.
Mr. Mickelson’s comments do not reflect the
opinions of Clear Channel, nor do they reflect
the ongoing support Clear Channel provides
to public service campaigns, such as Greater
Than AIDS, that works to convey the message
that AIDS does not discriminate. We regret
any confusion about HIV/AIDS that may have
resulted from Mr. Mickelson’s remarks.”
Brandstad decries merit-based judiciary
Iowa Republican gubernatorial candidate Terry Branstad told WHO-AM radio host
Jan Mickelson that he believes Iowa’s meritbased judicial nominating system should
be replaced with the federal government’s
system of allowing the executive branch to
submit any candidate it wishes for approval
by the state senate.
Hate group funding
Vander Plaats’ judicial
recall ballot efforts
The website for “Iowa for Freedom”—
Bob Vander Plaats’ newly announced organization created to help oust the three justices
up for retention election this year—was paid
for by the Mississippi-based American Family
Association.
ThinkProgress.com points out (bit.ly/
dzVog3) that this same organization has “a
long history of hateful and delusional views
about gay people,” including: Hitler was
gay and “virtually all of the Stormtroopers,
the Brownshirts, were male homosexuals;”
lesbians should not be justices because “[w]e
cannot afford to have another sexually abnormal individual in a position of important civic
responsibility;” and gay people cause Biblicalstyle plagues (“In May, our elected officials
overturned a law of nature, and in its place
paid honor to evil and unnatural practices …
and then the rain began. How fitting that this
eclipse of human reason is mirrored by the
disappearance of the sun!”).
Steve King hard right
condemns Prop 8 Ruling
Steve King (R-IA), Michelle Bachman
(R-MN), Lamar Smith (R-TX), and John
Fleming (R-LA) announced on August 10 that
they had co-sponsored a resolution condemning Justice Walker’s ruling which invalidated
California’s Proposition 8, accusing Judge
Walker of overturning the proposition merely
because he is reportedly gay himself.
“When a judge takes the law into his
hands and seeks to establish a social policy
that is his preference without respect for the
Constitution, without respect for the Rule of
Law, then that decision needs to be rejected.”
King said.
SEPTEMBER 2010
Iowa-based LGBTQI Group Participates
in Historic National-Level Meeting
White House Staffers Brief Statewide
LGBT Leaders, Stress Advances
by Sandy Vopalka
WASHINGTON, DC– August 7, 2010—A
state equality group has done more than
most of Iowa’s D.C. lawmakers—who have
most often split down party lines to represent the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) population on a national level.
Beau Fodor and Sandy Vopalka
of Equality Iowa participated in a
far-ranging White House discussion
between members of the Obama administration and the Equality Federation, the
national umbrella organization for statewide LGBT advocacy groups.
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
and the Employment
Non-Discrimination Act
Tina Tchen, director of the White House
Office of Public Engagement, opened the
gathering by asserting that the administration fully expects the provisions of the
Defense Authorization Bill ending the Pentagon’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy
to win congressional approval by year’s
end. The U.S. House of Representatives has
already passed the legislation and the U.S.
Senate will soon consider the bill.
Tchen said that the administration was
prioritizing DADT over the Employment
Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) because
it could attach DADT to other legislation,
making it much easier to move through
Congress. By contrast, ENDA—which would
outlaw employment discrimination based
on sexual orientation or gender identity
and expression—is stand-alone legislation
that faces more congressional hurdles. In
the current political climate, securing a firm
commitment of 60 Senate votes to support
ENDA is proving far more difficult than the
administration anticipated. These obstacles
have not, Tchen claimed, diminished President Obama’s support for the legislation.
Acknowledging that some LGBT advocates are quite frustrated with the President’s progress on equality issues, Tchen
urged statewide leaders to let the White
House know when their constituents are
displeased. “When you are frustrated,”she
stated, “you should speak out and hold our
feet to the fire.”
LGBT Health
David Hansell, acting assistant secretary for children and families at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS),
provided an overview of the work currently
being done on LGBT health. Through a
coordinating group, the agency is including
LGBT concerns in decisions made by its 10
divisions.
Hansell outlined provisions of the
Affordable Care Act that will benefit
LGBT Americans including expanded
access to health coverage and abolition of insurance companies’ practices
barring those with preexisting conditions
and imposing lifetime caps on pay-outs.
As HHS adopts the thousands of forthcoming
mandates and policy statements needed to
implement federal health care reform, LGBT
health and family advocates will have extensive opportunities to shape outcomes.
Hansell then offered a status report on
President Obama’s April 2010 memorandum directing hospitals receiving Medicare
and Medicaid funding to allow patients to
decide who can visit them. The memo also
bars discrimination based on a variety of
characteristics including sexual orientation
and gender identity.
The public comment process on the
proposed visitation policy ends on August
27. A draft policy outlining HHS regulations
that would guarantee that hospitals honor
advanced directives will soon be posted for
180 days of public comment. The subsequent regulatory change will make much
clearer who is allowed to make decisions
on a patient’s care if he or she is unable
to do so.
In upcoming months, Hansell stressed,
there will be unprecedented opportunities
for LGBT advocates to offer recommendations on a number of concerns including
adoption, youth, homelessness, seniors,
and sex education. The federal government
TTDC continued page 5
SEPTEMBER 2010
US NEWS news analysis by Rex Wockner
California same-sex
marriages blocked for
several more months
Robin Tyler and Diane Olson,
photo by Rex Wockner
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on
Aug. 16 blocked any same-sex marriages from
taking place in California while proponents
of the state’s marriage ban appeal the Aug. 4
district-court ruling that found Proposition 8
in violation of the U.S. Constitution.
The appeals court said it will hear the
case the week of Dec. 6 and it set up an
expedited briefing schedule for the case’s
attorneys.
The court also ordered the proponents
of the ban to prove that they have “standing”
to appeal the decision made by District Judge
Vaughn Walker.
The actual defendants in the case,
including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and
Attorney General Jerry Brown, have refused
to defend Prop 8, and the Court of Appeals’
order seemed sympathetic to the idea that
proponents of the ban, as “defendant-intervenors,” are not properly situated to appeal
Walker’s ruling.
If they are not, that could end the case
and same-sex marriage would again be legal
in California under Walker’s ruling, though
a decision on standing could be appealed to
the U.S. Supreme Court.
The defendant-intervenors are the same
people who put Prop 8 on the ballot in 2008
to overturn the state’s legalization of samesex marriage.
“The 9th Circuit put the appeal on a fast
track and specifically directed the Prop 8
proponents to address ‘why the appeal should
not be dismissed for lack of Article III standing’ in their opening brief,” said the National
Center for Lesbian Rights. “That means the
court will consider whether the proponents
of Prop 8 have the right to file an appeal at
the same time that it is considering whether
Judge Walker’s decision that Prop 8 violates
the federal Constitution is legally correct.”
The proponents’ opening brief is due
Sept. 17, the plaintiffs’ opposing brief is due
Oct. 18 and the proponents’ reply brief is
due Nov. 1.
A decision that the proponents lack
standing could come in December. If the 9th
Circuit decides the proponents have standing
and goes on to consider the constitutionality
of Prop 8, it would not be expected to issue
a decision until sometime in early 2011.
Either decision could be appealed to the U.S.
Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the plaintiffs challenging
Prop 8 could appeal the 9th Circuit’s present
stay to the U.S. Supreme Court right now but
have given no indication they will do so.
Robin Tyler, whose marriage to Diane
Olson was the first same-sex marriage in
Southern California two years ago, said the
stay is deeply disappointing.
“We are tired of our emotions being
batted around like pingpong balls,” Tyler said.
“Gays and lesbians are human beings, and
there is not one legal reason to delay samesex marriages in California. … Martin Luther
King said, ‘Justice delayed is justice denied.’
He also said, ‘Wait means never.’ Once again,
our hopes have been dashed.”
NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell
said: “Every additional day that couples must
wait to marry again in California is painful,
but despite the terrible disappointment for
the many couples whose right to marry has
been delayed yet again, today’s ruling includes
another significant victory for our side. The
court did the right thing by putting the case
on a fast track and specifically ordering that
Prop 8 proponents show why they have a legal
right to appeal. This ruling brings us one step
closer to ending the nightmare of Prop 8 and
restoring full equality for all Californians.”
Lambda Legal called the stay “painful.”
“We are saddened by the 9th Circuit’s
decision to maintain the stay of Judge Walker’s
ruling that Prop 8 is unconstitutional,” said
Jennifer Pizer, director of the group’s Marriage
Project. “We very much hoped to see same-sex
couples again free to celebrate their love and
mutual devotion through marriage starting
later this week. We know this delay is painful
for couples in love, who have been denied
their basic rights for too long already.”
She also said the 9th Circuit failed to
apply “the standard test for when a stay
should be ordered.”
ACCESSline Page 5
SScontinued from page 5
DC
The test requires, among other things,
that an appellant prove a strong likelihood
of winning on appeal and that the appellant
would suffer an irreparable injury without
a stay. Judge Walker said the Prop 8 proponents failed to pass any part of the test. The
9th Circuit’s order did not explain its determination.
New York lawmakers
address gay divorce
The legislative history of a no-fault
divorce bill that passed New York’s Senate,
then the Assembly, includes an Assembly
memo that reaffirms New York’s recognition
of same-sex marriages from elsewhere and
says that married gay couples can divorce
in New York. Gov. David Paterson signed the
bill Aug. 15.
The memo says: “It is the intent of this
legislation to grant full recognition and respect
to valid marriages of same-sex couples to
obtain relief under New York State laws and
in New York’s courts. … Current New York
law, written to apply to ‘husband and wife,’
has been properly interpreted by New York
courts to allow relief for same-sex couples
with valid marriages. It is not the intent of this
legislation to alter the interpretations of this
case law … nor is it the intent of this legislation
to alter New York State’s policy to recognize
out-of-state same-sex marriages.”
New York is one of two states—the
other is Maryland—that recognize same-sex
marriages that take place elsewhere even
though gay couples cannot get married in New
York and Maryland. Same-marriage is legal
in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa,
Spain, Sweden, Mexico City, Connecticut, Iowa,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and
Washington, D.C.
59% support
same-sex marriage
in Rhode Island
Fifty-nine percent of Rhode Islanders
support legalization of same-sex marriage.
Rhode Island is the only New England
state without same-sex marriage, apart from
Maine, where, in 2009, the Legislature passed
and the governor signed a law legalizing gay
marriage, then saw voters “veto” it at the
ballot box.
The survey of 502 likely Rhode Island
voters was conducted by Greenberg Quinlan
Rosner Research on July 7-12. The margin of
error was 4.4 percent.
“This poll makes clear that there is no
reason why we can’t enact a marriage equality
law in Rhode Island within the next year,” said
Kathy Kushnir, executive director of Marriage
Equality Rhode Island. “Rhode Islanders are
ready to allow loving, committed same-sex
couples to gain the dignity and respect that
marriage brings.”
Nationally, a new poll by CNN and
Opinion Research Corporation found that
52 percent of Americans support same-sex
marriage. They said yes to the question, “Do
you think gays and lesbians should have a
constitutional right to get married and have
their marriage recognized by law as valid?”
Assistance: Bill Kelley
has not historically tracked data identifying the needs of LGBT youth or seniors,
Hansell asserted, but is now implementing processes to do so in order to ensure
that these vulnerable populations receive
adequate funding and services.
Hansell said the LGBT community can
best ensure that these new directives are
enforced by working with the local or state
office administering the specific program.
If that doesn’t resolve the problem, advocates should contact the HHS Office of Civil
Rights.
Hansell then fielded questions pertaining to transgender people. When the public
comment process determining what federal
benefits insurance companies must provide
begins, he called for the LGBT community
and health care advocates to vocalize the
need to include gender reassignment
surgery. Hansell claimed that HHS is already
determining how best to assist homeless
transgender youth.
Raphel Bostic, assistant secretary for
policy development and research for the
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), then detailed current administrative efforts to redress housing inequities
in the LGBT community. 2010 marks the
first time that HUD is including this issue
in its once-a-decade study on housing
discrimination. Because the Fair Housing
Act does not include sexual orientation or
gender identity, it is important to determine
how federal policies and practices must be
modified to ensure that all Americans are
treated fairly in the housing and mortgage
policies and funding.
DADT Repeal
Gauram Raghavan, deputy White
House liaison to the Department of Defense,
provided a status report on the repeal of the
DADT policy. He repeatedly stressed that
the core issue is not whether the policy will
be changed, only when and how DADT will
be ended. An interagency working group is
currently conducting forums and surveys
at numerous U.S military installations in
the United States and abroad. The group
will submit its final recommendations
to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates by
December 1st.
When Equality Federation representatives challenged Raghavan on the content
and methodology of the surveys being used
to gauge military attitudes on LGBT people,
Raghavan said that he understood why
LGBT service-members have taken offense
to some of the questions and have raised
concerns about whether confidentiality is
properly protected. He assured the audience
that the data will only be used to determine
how the Pentagon needs to structure its
post-DADT training programs to combat
stereotypes and fears about LGBT people.
After Mo Baxley, executive director of
New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition
questioned why LGBT soldiers continue to
be expelled during this process, Raghavan
responded that the law is still in effect and
therefore must be enforced. He claimed,
however, that Gates has taken steps to
ensure that the law is no longer abused.
For example, military officials are no longer
permitted to accept third-party testimony
TTDC continued page 6
ACCESSline Page 6
World News by Rex Wockner
Mexican Supreme Court Mexico City mayor sues
OKs gay adoption
Guadalajara bishop for
In a 9-2 vote Aug. 16, Mexico’s Supreme defamation
Court upheld the portion of Mexico City’s
same-sex marriage law that lets married
gay and lesbian couples adopt.
In two other August rulings, the court
had upheld the main part of the marriage
law and ruled that same-sex couples who
marry in Mexico City are validly married
everywhere in the nation, in all 31 states.
Human Rights Watch said the trio of
rulings confirmed “that the state cannot
withhold any legal rights on the grounds
of a person’s sexual orientation and gender
identity.”
“This decision will have resonance for
courts throughout the continent for protecting the basic human rights of LGBT people,”
said the group’s Juliana Cano Nieto.
Mexico City’s legalization of same-sex
marriage and adoption had been targeted
by the federal attorney general, whose office
said the moves undermined “family” and the
interests of children.
The court decided, however, that
married heterosexuals are just one kind of
“family” and that children’s interests are
served by having a loving family regardless
of their parents’ sex.
Same-sex marriage is legal in Argentina,
Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands,
Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, Mexico City, Connecticut, Iowa,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont
and Washington, D.C. Mexico City same-sex
marriages are recognized throughout the
nation. Two other U.S. states—New York
and Maryland—recognize, as full marriages,
same-sex marriages that were entered into
elsewhere. California recognizes both samesex marriages from elsewhere and same-sex
marriages that took place in California—if
the marriage in question occurred before the
November 2008 passage of Proposition 8.
Same-sex couples can adopt in Belgium,
Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain,
Sweden, the United Kingdom, Uruguay,
Mexico City and 16 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. In addition, a gay or lesbian
partner can adopt his or her partner’s child
in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway and
25 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.
The mayor of Mexico City, Marcelo
Ebrard, has sued the Roman Catholic bishop
of Guadalajara, Juan Sandoval Íñiguez, for
saying that the Mexican Supreme Court was
bribed by Ebrard and others to approve
Mexico City’s law that legalized gay marriage
and adoption. The court also ruled that
Mexico City same-sex marriages are valid
nationwide.
“I don’t think the judges would arrive
at such absurd conclusions, against the
sentiment of the Mexican public, without
there being very big motives, and the very
big motive may be the money that they are
given,” Sandoval said.
Ebrard filed a civil suit in the Supreme
Court claiming defamation. The archdiocese responded that it has proof to back up
Sandoval’s claim.
“When the cardinal was talking, he
didn’t do it just to hear himself speak,” said
a spokesman.
“Check their bank accounts,” Sandoval
himself said later.
In the original outburst, Sandoval
reportedly also called homosexuality an
aberration and said, “Would you want to be
adopted by a pair of faggots or lesbians?”
U.N. tells Cameroon
to legalize gays
The United Nations Human Rights
Committee has told Cameroon to decriminalize gay sex, end anti-LGBT prejudice and
stigmatization, and assure that HIV-positive
people receive adequate care.
The July 29 move followed a presentation to the committee by Human Rights
Watch and the LGBT group AlternativesCameroun.
“Since 2005, Alternatives-Cameroun,
Human Rights Watch and other Cameroonian and international organizations have
documented abuses and violence against
LGBT people in Cameroon,” Human Rights
Watch said in an Aug. 19 media release.
“Suspected homosexual men have been
arrested and beaten on their bodies, heads
SEPTEMBER 2010
DC
and even the soles of their feet while in
custody. Women suffer violence in their
families if they are suspected of being lesbians. In some cases, they have been forced
to leave their homes or their children have
been taken away from them.”
Alternatives-Cameroun head Steve
Nemande said that implementation of the UN
recommendations would result in Cameroon’s doing “the bare minimum to realize
the fundamental human rights enshrined
in its national constitution.”
German gay couples
get equal inheritance
rights
Gay couples in registered partnerships
have the same inheritance rights as married
couples, Germany’s Federal Constitutional
Court ruled Aug. 17.
The decision reduces the maximum
inheritance tax rate for a surviving gay
partner from 50 percent to 30 percent, and
lowers the minimum inheritance tax rate for
a surviving gay partner from 17 percent to
7 percent. It also equalizes the portion of an
estate that is free from inheritance tax.
Because the setup was unconstitutional,
the government must go back and recalculate inheritance taxes in registered gay
partnerships from the point that Germany
established same-sex partnerships in February 2001.
Discriminatory
Catholic adoption
service slapped down
in England
A Roman Catholic adoption service in
Leeds, England, was denied an exemption to
the United Kingdom’s ban on discrimination
against gay people Aug. 18.
In a final determination, the Charities
Commission said that Catholic Care has to
follow the law like everyone else.
The service had wanted to limit its
services to married straight people in order
to remain faithful to Roman Catholicism’s
heterosexist teachings.
Gay divorce up in
Britain
Dissolution of civil partnerships in
England, Scotland and Wales almost doubled
in 2009 compared with 2008, The Independent reported Aug. 20. The figure jumped
from 180 to 351.
At the same time, the number of
people entering same-sex civil partnerships
dropped, from 7,169 to 6,281.
Female couplings were less successful in 2009 than male unions. Sixty-three
percent of English and Welsh dissolutions
and 71 percent of Scottish dissolutions were
between women.
More than 40,000 couples have entered
civil partnerships since they became legal at
the end of 2005. The partnerships include
all the rights and obligations of marriage,
except use of the word “marriage.”
Assistance: Bill Kelley
against an accused soldier. In the past, the
use of such evidence created situations
where jilted lovers or disgruntled colleagues
could railroad or blackmail a comrade.
Bostic added that the Pentagon is
exploring how qualified soldiers who were
expelled under DADT could reenter the
armed services. When asked whether policy
changes that would permit transgender
citizens to serve are also being considered,
Bostic said that might be the case in the
future and asked for contact information
from advocates who can advise the Pentagon
on this issue.
Family and Medical
Leave, HIV/AIDS Policy
Jeremy Bishop, special assistant to
Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, explained
forthcoming changes to the Family and
Medical Leave Act that will benefit LGBT
families. Jeffrey Crowley, Director of the
Office of National AIDS Policy, followed with
an overview of the 2010 national strategy
on HIV and AIDS.
Marriage Equality
In the meeting’s closing stages, Brian
Bond, Deputy Director of the White House
Office of Public Engagement and liaison to
the LGBT community, took questions from
the audience.
Given recent statements reaffirming
President Obama’s opposition to same-gender marriage in the wake of a decision striking down California’s Proposition 8, Equality
Federation members pressed him on the
contradictions posed by the president’s call
for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage
Act (DOMA) and his support for civil unions
instead of full marriage equality.
Bond asserted, “There is still a lot of
work to do” before DOMA will be repealed.
“Look at the trouble we’re having with
ENDA.” he added. But Bond conceded that
there are inconsistencies in President
Obama’s positions.
In response, Morgan Meneses-Sheets,
executive director of Equality Maryland,
stated, “Respectfully, we need President
Obama to push for full inclusion of the LGBT
community on ENDA; on marriage– we need
the full get, not the lesser get. The highest
office in the land sets the tone for the whole
country.” Bond agreed, but expressed frustration at the often intense criticism levied,
particularly by bloggers, against an administration that is “99 percent supportive of
your issues.”
Following the briefing, Belmonte
asserted, “It was a remarkable and thoughtprovoking discussion. But while it is inspiring to see the many fronts on which the
Obama administration is working to help
LGBT Americans, it is disappointing to see
legislative obstructionism and political
calculations impeding the realization of full
LGBT equality.”
Equality Iowa works to achieve equality and to secure legal protection for lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and intersex Iowans through education,
advocacy, coalition building, and individual
empowerment in the political process.
SEPTEMBER 2010
ACCESSline Page 7
Freedom of Religion and a Mosque at Ground Zero by Jonathan Wilson
The most recent purported debate over
the meaning of our Constitutional guarantee
of religious freedom arises from the effort of
some Muslims to build or expand a mosque
near ground zero in New York. And, wouldn’t
you know it, those opposing the idea are
none other than those of a conservative
religious bent; folks who would be logically
expected to cherish and advocate for religious freedom. But religion and logic are
largely mutually exclusive concepts.
The President has said unequivocally
that he believes in religious freedom and
the unqualified right of those who want that
mosque to build it. He also said, unequivocally, that he doesn’t think they should. The
media, in an apparent attempt to milk the
issue, has feigned an inability to recognize
the distinction between the two statements
the President has made. The constitutional
right and its prudent exercise are decidedly different things. The President took
a legitimate, and not inconsistent, position
on both.
We enjoy constitutionally protected
religious freedom in this country. We are
also supposed to enjoy freedom from religion
as well. Freedom of and from religion has
little meaning if it’s never tested by statements and practices that are unpopular. If
it’s only recognized for popular expressions
and practices we’re on a straight road to
theocratic tyranny (pun intended), and
cheerleaders are the only ones who have
it. The infamous Fred Phelps has amply
demonstrated the principle. He has more
than once brought to central Iowa his
protests against gay people, and done so
with placards designed to shock. To the
credit of our community, he’s been permitted
to do so, has been afforded police protection
from those who don’t fully understand the
principle, and gone away—what?—leaving
behind him converts to our cause. The Lord
works in mysterious ways and, sometimes,
so does the Constitution. I firmly believe in
the right of fanatics like Phelps to do what
he’s done, and I think he shouldn’t have done
it. But, having done so and left town unmolested, he did help teach an important lesson
about our constitutionally guaranteed liberties of both religion and expression.
As an ongoing testament to the failure
of our public education system, we continue
to have a remarkable—and remarkably
vocal—number of fellow citizens who have
not mastered the tenets of our democratic
government taught beginning in about fifth
grade. They don’t get it when Phelps comes
to town, when Muslins want a new mosque,
or when the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously decides—drum roll please—that the
term “equal” when used in the Iowa Constitution means equal. They say things like,
“The right of same-gender couples to marry
is not mentioned in the Constitution.” And
they’re right, but “equal” is in there undeniably. They say things like, “It’s just their
opinion, and the Supreme Court Justices’
opinion doesn’t decide anything.” They’re
wrong. When it comes to the Iowa Constitution their opinion means everything—or the
Constitution has no meaning. And when a
federal judge rules that California’s Proposition 8 is unconstitutional under the United
States Constitution, it should make folly the
Vander Plaats initiative to amend the Iowa
Constitution. A conservative United States
Supreme Court struck down the anti-gay
Colorado Constitutional Amendment 2,
and there’s every reason to be optimistic
that when the Proposition 8 issue gets to
the Court, as it almost certainly will, the
freedom of and from religion will again be
recognized. When the government chose to
use the word “marriage” as shorthand for
access to a whole list of rights and privileges—fundamental rights and privileges—the
constitutional stage was set.
Perhaps it is time for a new mosque near
ground zero and the constitutional lesson it
brings with it. What a country!
Jonathan Wilson is an attorney at the
In recent debates and discussions there
has been a persistent suggestion that the
business and capital markets are inherently
better at serving the public than government. While capital markets and business
can provide some efficiency, they have
different objectives than government. At the
same time, government cannot provide some
services than private firms can.
There are some problems with the idea
that a private firm is always better equipped
to provide services: 1) profit motive, 2)
equitable delivery of services and 3) private
firms consist of imperfect people just like
the government does.
The assumption that capital markets
provide better services all of the time
assumes that business is serving with altruistic aims rather than accumulation of wealth.
The essential property of mercantilism is
trading, but trading is done with intention
of gaining more value than what is provided.
Further, capitalism aims to use the capital
of others in competitive game of wealth
accumulation at the lowest costs (especially
with regard to labor). Therefore, the idea of
capitalism is really to convince consumers
that they are receiving adequate value, while
enabling the seller to gather more personal
wealth rather than providing any sort of
social benefit. Add to that the complex ways
to charge interest on debts or savings that
have developed over the decades, and we
are well beyond any constraints of Weber’s
“Protestant ethic” to moderate capitalist
spirits. With interest-bearing accounts or
invented fees, capitalists are driven to search
for revenue channels based upon “what is in
it for me” over any presumed social goods
or to do anything simply because that is “the
right thing to do.”
Greed is not a virtue, but greed is an
effective motivator. Since capitalism is based
upon greed, we simply cannot expect ethical
or altruistic behaviors from people operating in that environment. Further, capitalism
assumes that there are always growth and
expansion opportunities rather than recognizing the law of conservation (or any laws
for that matter). If there is a restriction somewhere (e.g. government regulation, patent
protection, costs, ethics), the capitalist is
motivated to find a way around the restriction to create a market. The underlying greed
gets touted as “business savvy”.
The assumption that firms can provide
services to more people with more efficiency
than government presupposes the fiction
that profit-motivated firms are willing to
provide high costs services to people that
may or may not have the means to pay for
them at the same (or more affordable) price.
Equitable and affordable services are typical
characteristics of government services
provided to rural areas, the elderly or to
low-income areas. The question is whether
a private firm will provide the same level
of services to those service consumers at
the same price they do for more accessible
and, therefore, more profitable consumers.
Chances are, they will not.
The evidence of profit-motivated services and pricing is readily seen, for example,
in UPS operations and rate schedules. The
same is true with airlines; we see the price
and convenience differences from flying out
of Des Moines versus Atlanta. Additionally,
for-profit schools should be able to offer
degree programs at substantial savings from
public institutions, but they do not. With
private-run, profit-motivated services, we
can imagine multi-tiered service, and we
can assume that people with better means
(wealth) will make sure they get better
services at, ironically, lower costs. This
will assure a lack of equal opportunity and
increase social class hostilities.
The suggestion that people employed
in government do not know how to do
things, as some claim, conveniently ignores
the fact that private businesses are made
up of the same type of people that are in
government. A typical worker at a firm has
limitations, ambitions, company culture and
assigned duties just like one would have in
a government. Calling technical support for
a computer is little different than calling to
get a road repaired. Whether you pay for
the service directly or through taxes, you
get human-based delivery of services, and
you get a wide variety of quality regardless.
BP provides us with an example of “quality”
in business. As well, both are going to be
interested in service costs, but government has a duty to provide equal services
to citizens whereas a for-profit firm will
not have that expectation, unless you pay
the fees. Additionally, private firms are not
required to be as transparent about their
activities as government entities, and that
creates more difficulty with relying upon
or dealing with them.
Perpetuating myths and playing fears
about government work essentially makes
them the scapegoat for business’ lack of
innovation, poor training, resistance to taxes,
Davis Brown Law Firm in Des Moines, and
chairs the First Friday Breakfast Club (www.
ffbciowa.org), an educational, non-profit
corporation for gay men in Iowa who gather
on the first Friday of every month to provide
mutual support, to be educated on community
affairs, and to further educate community
opinion leaders with more positive images
of gay men. It is the largest breakfast club
in the state of Iowa. He can be contacted at
[email protected] or
515-288-2500.
The Limits of Capitalism and Government by Tony E. Hansen
and handling the problematic economy or
customers. Worse, the myths inhibit dealing
with the real problems.
The issue thus becomes, what should
government be responsible for providing
and what is expected of private firms. The
answer is dependent upon whether we
consider it important to have equal access
or equal opportunity, because once you give
responsibility over to private firms, there
is no equal access. An answer might be to
assign to government all public “domains”
(e.g. individual rights, roads, fire service,
education, health care, or recently Internet
neutrality). Private firms should not be
tasked to manage public “domains” because
they can inject their bias and motives into
those realms regardless of the social benefit
of doing so.
Further, the assumption—that government cannot do anything—blindly assumes
that private firms can and that capitalism
has the best interests of the public at heart,
which is just not true. Capitalism is good
for economic growth, but some things do
not belong in the market setting. As well,
we need an objective referee, such as
government, to keep over-zealous firms
from hurting or denying basic services to
the individual.
“I support marriage between one man and one woman. As Attorney
General I can tell you I support the marriage amendment as well as
to amend the Iowa Constitution so that the people will have a vote on
the marriage issue. And if it is ever challenged in court I will defend
our marriage amendment in court as your Attorney General.”
—Brenna Findley, Republican Candidate for Iowa Attorney
General, at the Wapello County Women’s Republicans Meeting,
8/25/2010
ACCESSline Page 8
SEPTEMBER 2010
Creep of the Week by D’Anne Witkowski
Jeremy Walters
Dear Internet Citizens: Facebook is not
private. I don’t care how many privacy-setting
loops you jump through. The more “friends”
you have, the more public your page. Facebook
is not a lockbox for your most private feelings
and random musings. Especially if you’re a
public figure.
Jeremy Walters, an Iowan Republican
running for Congress, learned this the hard
way when anti-gay posts he made on his Facebook wall were exposed. Not only do his posts
show that he has serious issues regarding gays,
also evident is a desperate cry for help in the
punctuation and grammar department.
At 9:33 p.m. Aug. 12 Walters wrote,
“Homosexual ‘GAY’ is not of God!!!! In the Bible
it reads; Leviticus 20:13 – King James Bible If
a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with
a woman, both of them have committed an
abomination: they shall surely be put to death;
their blood shall be upon them.”
OK, so he gives a little shout out to Leviticus on a Thursday night. So what?
Well, at 9:45 p.m., having thought things
over for a good 12 minutes, Walters posted,
“The Holy Bible say if your ‘GAY’ homosexual
they shall surely be put to death; their blood
shall be upon them. This tells me alot so
should we kill them NO. They Need to ask
God to forgive them of their sins and mean
it turn away from it. They also need to know
that when it says that their blood shall be
upon them that tells me it is AIDS. That’s
how I feel.”
First of all, Walters needs to decide: is it
“homosexual ‘GAY’” or “‘GAY’ homosexual?”
He uses them interchangeably, as if they’re
even close to the same thing.
Secondly, holy bat-s**t crazy AIDS blood,
Batman. So AIDS is God’s punishment for being
homosexual “GAYS” and/or “GAY” homosexuals. (But not, apparently, homo “GAY” sexuals.
Yet.) And although “this tells (him) alot”
(though apparently it doesn’t tell him that “a
lot” is two words, not one), he’s not planning a
gay killing spree (at least that’s how I interpret
“so should we kill them NO”). He’s just waiting
for AIDS to do the job for him.
Gay rights groups and the Iowa GOP
quickly denounced Walters.
“Mr. Walters’ comments are inappropriate and in no way represent the beliefs of the
Republican Party of Iowa,” Republican Party
of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn told the Iowa
Independent.
I think my favorite thing about Walters’
post is how he ends with, “That’s how I
feel,” as if it’s simply a response to one of his
friends posting, “Hey, Jeremy. How are you?”
on his wall.
Actually, according to Walters’ apology,
that’s pretty much what happened.
“I am not against people having a gay
lifestyle, and the statements made on Facebook have been taken the wrong way,” Walters
told The Iowa Independent. “The statement
regarding gay homosexuality was not meant
to be offensive and I deeply appologize. As
far as the quote from Bible; I was replying
to someone elses post. It should have been
posted as a comment on their page, not my
Facebook wall.”
As far as apologies go, it’s a little weak
(“I’m just bad at Facebook!”). It does, however,
strengthen the appearance that the man
running for Congress in Iowa on the GOP ticket
is not only a heart-on-his-sleeve bigot, but that
he is also functionally illiterate. I’m honestly
not sure which one is sadder.
Bill McCollum
I’ve never much cared for Florida. I mean,
sure, alligators are cool. It has nice weather in
the winter and is home to many kind grandmas,
not to mention Disney World. But it also is the
only state to completely ban gay people from
adopting children. And I can’t help but take that
a little personally.
Granted, Florida does allow gays to be
foster parents. And even that’s too much for
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, who
is turning up the anti-gay rhetoric as he vies for
the Republican nomination for governor.
McCollum, who defended Florida’s antigay adoption ban in court and who paid George
“Rentboy” Rekers $120,000 to act as his expert
anti-gay witness, doesn’t think gays should be
allowed to be foster parents, either.
“I really do not think that we should have
homosexuals guiding our children. I think that
it’s a lifestyle that I don’t agree with,” McCollum
told the Florida Baptist Witness. “It’s my personal
faith, religious faith, that I don’t believe that the
people who do this should be raising our children.
It’s not a natural thing. You need a mother and
a father. You need a man and a woman. That’s got to go.”
And then he was all, “Thanks, Gary. I
what God intended.”
Hmm. So no homos around the kids because totally follow you on Twitter. LOL.”
And my oh my is McCullough pleased
McCollum’s religious-based bigotry is more
important than kids without stability in their with himself, now that DeGeneres has left
lives. And gays simply can’t provide that because the show. “When it comes to the business
they are “people who do this … thing” that is relationship between ‘American Idol’ and
Ellen DeGeneres, to the
not “natural.” But what
of Pansy Hilton
is this thing? Being gay?
It’s strange to me that chagrin
and a multitude of homoHaving sex? Sorry to break
it to you, McCollum, those simply having Ellen on the fascist bloggers, I am on
things are natural.
show was, to McCullough, an I-told-you-so roll,” he
wrote in a July 30 opinion
What isn’t natural is
voluntarily becoming a promoting homosexuality. piece.
He then declares
foster parent in a state that Perhaps if the other judges
‘American Idol’ dead
has no shortage of kids in
had pelted her with stones and says it was all Ellen’s
need of a home. Becoming
a foster parent isn’t exactly and called her a bull dyke then fault for being a lesbian.
an innate trait. It takes a McCullough would have had Christians don’t want to
watch homos on TV, he
lot of consideration and
sacrifice to open your life no problem with her tenure says, because it burns
their eyes and makes
and your home to kids in there.
Jesus cry.
need. Are there terrible
“There is a moral
foster parents out there?
Oh, hell yes. And by automatically weeding out to the story of this DeGeneres-‘Idol’ saga.
the gay ones you simply shrink the pool, not There is a limit to what Christian viewers
make it safer.
will tolerate, and I am using ‘Christian’ in the
So if only a mother and a father will do, broadest of definitions,” McCullough writes.
then that not only rules out gay folks, it also “The revenue-generating ability of television
rules out single men and women, which Florida programming that promotes homosexuality
also allows to be foster parents. So I guess what has its limits.”
McCollum really wants is to make the shortage
The revenue-generating ability of televiof foster parents in Florida worse. You know, sion programming that promotes Christianity
for the kids.
also has its limits, which is why so much of it
“And this election is about … our children,” is on public access. But I digress.
he said. “It’s about the grandchildren and children
“The encouragement I take from the
of the people of Florida and making Florida a firing of DeGeneres (she actually resigned,
better place for them.”
but that doesn’t matter to McCullough) is that
As long as “better” in this instance actually someone in Hollywood understands what
means “crappier,” then McCollum is totally I have been saying; that the promotion of
correct.
homosexuality and the production of family
Not surprisingly, McCollum is also against entertainment do not mix.”
letting gays and lesbians marry.
It’s strange to me that simply having Ellen
“I believe that marriage should be between on the show was, to McCullough, promoting
a man and a woman,” he told the Florida Baptist homosexuality. Perhaps if the other judges
Witness. “I believe that a family should consist had pelted her with stones and called her a
of one man and one woman.”
bull dyke then McCullough would have had
Wait, so if they have kids then they’re not a no problem with her tenure there.
family anymore? Dude, you’re confusing me.
It’s true that ratings have slipped this
There’s really no confusion, however, about season. While still insanely popular, ‘American
the travesty McCollum would be as governor for Idol’ isn’t quite as popular as it was. I hate to
LGBT Floridians. “I don’t believe in involving burst McCullough’s bubble, but I think there
the government in enforcing or encouraging the might be some factors he’s not considering
lifestyle of gays and homosexuals. I just don’t here.
believe that,” he said.
First off, I don’t watch ‘American Idol,’ but
But I guess involving the government in from everything I’ve gathered, it seems like
discriminating against “gays and homosexu- Ellen was a pretty terrible judge. For whatals” (because there’s apparently a difference) ever reason she wasn’t very funny, nor was
is A-OK.
she very judg-y. Now, I’m not a TV executive,
but I reckon that this would pose a problem
for someone who’s been hired as the “funny
judge” to replace Paula Abdul. Ellen even noted
Ellen DeGeneres has got to be so pissed when she left, “It was hard for me to judge
at Gary McCullough right now. Everything people and sometimes hurt their feelings.”
was going so well for her on “American Idol”
Nor does McCullough take into account
and he had to go ruin everything by blabbing the fact that Ellen’s arrival coincided with the
to the world that she’s a homo. I mean, yes, departure of Simon “I’m A Jerk To Everybody
everyone already knew she was a homo but Yet This Is How I Wear My Hair On National
had kind of forgotten over the years because TV” Cowell. I mean, let’s face it: Part of the
she’s so harmless and lovable. You know, like appeal of the ‘Idol’ was seeing Cowell make
Elton John.
people cry.
But McCullough, director of Christian
Last but not least, ‘American Idol’ is kind
Communication Network, didn’t forget. And of a crappy show. Maybe, just maybe, people
when God got the news via His Christian are finally opening their eyes—and ears—and
Newswire iPhone app, He got up in Fox’s realizing that there are better ways to spend
face and was all, “Hey, ‘American Idol’ is a their time than watching marginally talented
family program through which I transmit my people do karaoke. Not to mention the fact
TTCREEPS continued page 10
message of hating gay people. The lesbo has
Gary McCullough
SEPTEMBER 2010
Expert Says Stereotyping
Clouds Gay Marriage Debate
Marymount Manhattan College — For
more than a decade, the issue of same-sex
marriage has been a flashpoint political
issue, and a California ruling seems to have
set the issue on a direct course for the
Supreme Court. Proponents say that the
institution is a unique expression of love and
commitment and that calling the unions of
same-sex couples anything else is a form of
second-class citizenship; they also point out
that many legal rights are tied to marriage.
Those opposed to same-sex marriage agree
that marriage is a fundamental bond with
ancient roots. But they draw the opposite
conclusion, saying that allowing same-sex
couples to marry would undermine the
institution of marriage itself.
Professor Anastacia Kurylo of Marymount Manhattan College, an expert on
stereotyping, says that opponents are using
the definition of marriage to fix an idea
that has always been in flux and doing so
for personal gain. “Opponents are anti-gay
marriage because they see a right being
taken away that makes their group special
and makes them feel better about themselves.”
According to Kurylo, the damage caused
by the gay marriage debate extends beyond
this one issue. “The anti-gay marriage debate
in the media, at the dinner table, and by
the water cooler has two indirect consequences. First, it legitimizes stereotypes of
gays by using stereotypes of homosexuals
as evidence. Second, by stereotyping heterosexuals as breeders, thereby tying heterosexuality with procreation and marriage,
opponents of gay marriage marginalize
heterosexual couples who have children and
are unwed who do not want to have children,
and who are unable to have children.”
Kurylo offers advice to proponents of
gay marriage and suggests that changing
the debate requires changing everyday
discussion about sexuality. Even something
as seemingly innocuous as asking “when are
you planning to have children?” feeds into
the assumptions of gay marriage opponents.
Becoming aware of how you inadvertently
communicate stereotypes about homosexuals and heterosexuals and choosing alternate
strategies to communicate can have a large
impact in the debate.
Professor Kurylo earned a Master’s
degree in Speech & Interpersonal Communication at New York University and a Doctorate
in Communication at Rutgers University. Prior
to joining Marymount Manhattan College,
she taught at the Borough of Manhattan
Community College, New York University, Pace
University, Rutgers University, and St. John’s
University. Her research interests include the
examination of stereotype use in interpersonal, intercultural, and organizational contexts.
Currently she is editing an intercultural
communication textbook with SAGE.
ACCESSline Page 9
Servicemembers United
Announces Fall “Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell” Lobby Day
First Ever Military
Partners Meeting Also
Planned in Conjunction
with Lobby Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Servicemembers
United, the nation’s largest organization
of gay and lesbian troops and veterans,
announced today that it will host another
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” lobby day for repeal
supporters on Thursday, September 16,
2010.
The fall lobby day, affectionately nicknamed “The Final Assault,” will come at a
critical time after the Senate reconvenes
but before the chamber is expected to take
up the repeal-inclusive defense authorization bill. Participants can register for the
September 16th “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
lobby day at www.ServicemembersUnited.
org.
“This lobby day will be the last major
opportunity for supporters of repeal to
come to Washington, make the case for
this amendment, and hold their senators
accountable on this vote,” said Alexander
Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United and a former U.S. Army
interrogator who was discharged under
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
“Lobbying for repeal is now a lot more
complicated than simply saying ‘support
repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ so we want to
be able to explain the nuances of the current
situation to repeal supporters and arm
them with the detailed information they
need to hold their Senators accountable.”
During the lobby day, Servicemembers
United will also host a first-ever meeting
in Washington for military partners from
around the country. Servicemembers
United’s Campaign for Military Partners
initiative was created in 2009 to connect
and support the partners of LGBT military personnel. Military partners who are
interested in attending this meeting can
register for this event at www.MilitaryPartners.org.
The issue of military partners was also
featured in the second web ad released by
the Servicemembers United Action Fund
today.
The ad, which features a former naval
intelligence officer and a Marine, also
features the partner of an airman who was
deployed to Iraq. The web and tv ads from
the Servicemembers United Action Fund can
be viewed at www.MilitaryReadiness.org.
ACCESSline is seeking non-exclusive
advertising sales reps in
Ames
jobs.ACCESSlineIOWA.com
Cedar Rapids
Council Bluffs/Omaha
THE JOB BOARD FOR
MEMBERS OF
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ACCESSline Page 10
CREEPS
that constant change of the judging guard is
super disruptive. Even for people who love
the show and never miss an episode, it’s not
really the same show. Swift change isn’t exactly
America’s strong point.
And when it comes to gays on TV, it’s not
McCullough’s either.
Gary Cass
With Prop. 8 being overturned in California, some folks are a little pissed. And the fact
that Vaughn R. Walker, the judge who ruled
that it’s not cool to deny gay and lesbian folks
the right to marry, is, in fact, a homo himself
hasn’t been lost on the anti-gay right.
In an August 5 diatribe on the Christian
Anti-Defamation Commission website, Gary
Cass explains that the only reason the Prop 8
case went in favor of homos is because Walker
is a big ol’ fag.
“Let’s not be shocked that Judge Walker
cannot comprehend the self-evident rational
basis for prohibiting homosexual marriage,
after all, he is a practicing homosexual,” writes
Cass. “The Bible plainly tells us that once a
person has seared his conscience to such
an extent that he can exchange his natural
sexual relationship with the opposite sex for
homosexuality, his ability to reason becomes
utterly compromised.”
So because Walker is gay, his mind is
essentially diseased. He’s a mental cripple, if
you will. Not to mention a total perv-o with
no conscience. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised
if the reason he couldn’t “comprehend the
self-evident rational basis” against “homo-
sexual marriage” was because he was watching Barbra Streisand movies on his iPhone
throughout the trial.
To Cass, Walker is the ultimate example
of an “activist judge.”
“Openly rebellious sinners who live in
hostility to the laws of nature and nature’s
God will attempt to impose their tyrannical,
arbitrary standards on us,” Cass writes.
Got that? If you are in favor of letting
same-sex couples get married then you’re a
“rebellious sinner” with “tyrannical, arbitrary
standards.” Never mind that Walker’s decision
is based firmly in the rule of law and that one
of the lawyers arguing the case against Prop.
8 was Ted Olson, George W. Bush’s Solicitor
General for goodness sake. Oh, and that homo
Walker? Also a Bush appointee.
Of course, logic and reason go out the
window when you believe that same-sex
couples getting married is a harbinger of
complete and total godless sexual mayhem.
“Scripture and history tells what’s next,”
Cass writes. “Sexual anarchists have already
announced what’s next; polygamy, group
marriage, incest and intergenerational sex (or
statutory rape as we now define it). They won’t
rest until, like in Sodom, they can surround
your house and demand you offer up your
children to be abused.”
Wait, what?! Gays are supposed to form
mobs, roaming neighborhoods and nabbing
children to have sex with? Um, I’d like to speak
to the head of the Gay Agenda Committee
because when I look at my summer to-do list
I see, “Power wash deck, clean out garage,
organize basement.” I don’t have time for any
Sodom and Gomorrah crap.
Of course, there is no Gay Agenda
Committee because the Gay Agenda, as folks
SEPTEMBER 2010
like Cass know it, doesn’t really exist. What
does exist is “The Homosexual Manifesto,”
published in a gay newsletter in 1987 as satire,
albeit poorly written, that is now held up as a
blueprint for the gay and lesbian rights movement by those opposed to equality. It begins,
“We shall sodomize your sons, emblems of
your feeble masculinity...” Oh, please.
But to Cass, “The Homosexual Manifesto”
is practically gospel, since it upholds everything he hates about homos.
“This example of the twisted mind of a
homosexual activist will break your heart,”
Cass writes. “Though written satirically,
it reveals the dark soul of a person whose
conscience is corrupted by a voracious hatred
and consumed with an insatiable lust.”
Call me crazy, but claiming that the overturning of Prop. 8 will lead to the forced homosexual gang-banging of children—that sounds
like the work of a “conscience ... corrupted
by a voracious hatred and consumed with an
insatiable lust.”
D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay
since 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet
(believe it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps
of the world she reviews rock ‘n’ roll shows in
Detroit with her twin sister.
I had an article appear in The Des
Moines Register not long ago. A friend read
it on-line and mentioned that it had generated
a large number of on-line reader comments
and considerable controversy. Believing the
article was, if I do say so myself, to the point
and quite compelling, I was curious about the
substance of the criticisms and controversy.
I went on line to see what cogent contrary
views might have been expressed.
I found scores of anonymous comments;
three or four were actually responsive to
my article, and all of the remainder were
between and among those writing comments
reacting to one another’s comments. They
were insulting to one another and, typically,
far afield from even the subject of my article,
let alone being responsive to the point I’d
made in it. The exchanges among them, quite
simply, were not only ill-informed but also less
than civil. The betrayed ignorance and utter
contempt shown for others did not approach
the level of discourse conducive to a vibrant
democracy. I was struck with the absurdity
of a stupid person calling another one stupid,
and with obvious self-righteous conviction.
On reflection, I decided that the anonymous feature of the comment forum was the
culprit. We all occasionally have less than
charitable thoughts about others. When our
expressions of whatever sentiments can be
attributed to us—because we’re face-to-face
or otherwise—we tend to moderate what
we say. We do this for two good reasons: (1)
we just might be wrong and an intemperate
remark can come back to haunt us, and (2)
if something untrue is said of another, it just
might be actionable as libel or slander. In
short, the potential for being held accountable
constrains us, as it should.
It ought to be illegal to publish
anonymous statements in political discourse.
It ought to be illegal to hide the identity of
those who fund public positions on political
topics. The law should encourage the exercise
of the right to free expression and to support
popular and unpopular political positions, but
it should require the courage of one’s convictions. It should not empower the cowardly
and the conniving. Lack of accountability is an
invitation to incivility and, worse, a prescription for tyranny.
There Oughta Be a Law by Jonathan Wilson
“That’s silly, I speak to a lot of groups and do not endorse them. I speak at Harvard
and I certainly don’t endorse their views. I’ve spoken to Democratic groups and liberal
Republican groups that loooove abortion. The main thing I do is speak on college
campuses, which is about the equivalent of speaking at an al-Qaida conference. I’m
sure I agree with GOProud more than I do with at least half of my college audiences.
But in any event, giving a speech is not an endorsement of every position held by the
people I’m speaking to. I was going to speak for you guys, I think you’re nuts on the
birther thing (though I like you otherwise!).”
— Ann Coulter to Joseph Farah, editor and chief executive officer of World Net Dailly,
after being dropped from the WND “Taking America Back National Conference”
because of her engagement to speak at GOProud’s “HOMOCON 2010”.
ACCESSline’s fun guide
Our Picks for September
9/10-10-3 Des Moines
Community Playhouse:
The Drowsy
Chaperone
9/11 Holland
Performing Arts
Center, Omaha, NE:
Anthony Bourdain
9/16, Gallager
Bluedorn, Cedar Falls,
IA: JUDY SHEPARD,
speaker
Nick Toussaint as Latin lothario, Aldolpho,
and Sue Tell as the Drowsy Chaperone.
Photo by Steve Gibbons.
IOWA WOMENS MUSIC FESTIVAL
9/16 Englert Theatre, Iowa City: Iowa
Women’s Music Fest Kick-Off!
Leslie & the LY’s, Bitch, and Caroline Smith
& the Goodnight Sleeps
9/17 The Blue Moose, Iowa City: Iowa Women
Rock! Showcase
6:45pm Kelly Carrell with Laurie Haag
7:00 Kim-Char Meredith
7:20 Lojo Russo with Natalie Brown
7:50 Armonia
8:20 The Vagabonds
9:00 Sarah Cram and the Derelicts
9/18 Upper City Park, Iowa City
Emcee: Kim-Char Meredith
12:05pmRae, Emily Louise, and Jenny Kohls
1:00 Mary McAdams
1:55 Desdamona with Carnage
2:50 Ruth King
3:50 Chris Pureka
4:50 THE REFUGEES
9/22 Englert Theatre, Iowa City: Michelle
Shocked
9/24 Riverside Casino, Riverside: Taj Mahal &
the Trio
9/25, Sondheim Center, Fairfield: Roy Eaton,
Quantum of Preludes
Deep Inside Hollywood by Romeo San Vicente
Stephen Collins goes gay
for Brothers & Sisters
Stephen Collins played a Protestant clergyman and family man on the long-running
7th Heaven, but he’s about to get his gay on
in the new season of Brothers & Sisters. The
63-year-old Collins plays Charlie, who’ll be
dating Uncle Saul (Ron Rifkin) and helping
Saul deal with the HIV-positive diagnosis
he received at the end of last season. The
Brothers & Sisters gig is part of a busy fall
TV season for Collins, who’s also got a recurring role on the new superhero show No
Ordinary Family. (The fact that gay producer
Greg Berlanti is involved with both shows
no doubt facilitated Collins’ multi-tasking.)
Collins’ character is slated for only a few
episodes of B&S, but if the characters have
chemistry—or if No Ordinary Family faces an
early demise—maybe he’ll get an extension.
TV primetime could use a good November/
December gay romance, after all.
Sondheim, played for
laughs
No one is officially saying that the
new HBO series, The Miraculous Year, is
specifically based on the life of legendary gay
Broadway composer and lyricist Stephen
Sondheim, but it’s hard to miss the resemblances. Sondheim suffered a heart attack
at age 49, and Year’s protagonist (played
by Tony-winning actor Norbert Leo Butz)
is a 44-year-old Broadway composer who
suffers an aneurysm. But whether it’s based
on real life, The Miraculous Year sounds
promising, with a cast that also features
fellow Tony winners Frank Langella, Patti
LuPone and Eddie Redmayne, plus Oscarwinners Susan Sarandon (acting) and
Kathryn Bigelow (directing the pilot, written
by gay Oscar-nominated screenwriter John
Logan). Audiences will have to wait until
the possibly miraculous year of 2011 to
catch what promises to be a dishy dive into
Broadway’s backstage drama.
Finally! Rooney Mara is The
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Much like the searches for Scarlett
O’Hara, James Bond, Lestat and Harry Potter,
everyone wondered who would play Lisbeth
Salander in the movies based on the popular
mysteries by Stieg Larsson. Big names
like Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson were tossed around, but it’s relative
newcomer Rooney Mara who’s landed the
coveted role of the badass bisexual hacker in
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and its two
sequels, which will be brought to the screen
by David Fincher. Rooney who-ney, you
ask? She popped up in Youth in Revolt and
the queer indie Dare, starred in this year’s
unspectacular remake of Nightmare on Elm
Street, and she’s the younger sister of Brokeback Mountain’s Kate Mara. She’ll soon be
seen in Fincher’s The Social Network—the
gig that got her the role as Salander—and
by the time Dragon Tattoo opens in 2011,
she’s bound to be a household name.
Dolly Parton and Queen
Latifah come to Jesus
Queen Latifah. Photo: New Line Cinema.
They’ve got two of the most speculatedabout private lives in show business, but
Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah got to that
place because of their talent. So there are
a lot of reasons to get excited about these
two titans teaming up for Joyful Noise, a
new movie about two fierce ladies banding
together to save their small-town gospel
choir from a budget cut shutdown. For one
thing, Parton plans to write some original
songs for the film (that’s never a bad thing)
and though Latifah got her start as a rapper,
she’s proven she can belt it out to the bleachers in Living Out Loud and Hairspray. The
cherry on top of this diva sundae is that
it’s being written and directed by gay filmmaker Todd Graff, who in the last few years
has given us two happily music-packed
films—the show-tune-teen crowd-pleaser
Camp and the underappreciated rocker-teen
comedy Bandslam. If you haven’t seen Graff’s
two previous directorial efforts, make sure
to check them out before Joyful Noise hits
theaters in 2011. You won’t be sorry.
Romeo San Vicente’s joyful noises have
gotten him evicted from at least three thinwalled apartments. He can be reached care of
this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@
qsyndicate.com.
I am not ultra-ultra-conservative
on every issue. I actually support
gay marriage. I think [the fact that
I support gay marriage] would definitely surprise people. I mean, for some
people, it will surprise them to the point
that they won’t want to hear it. “No,
that can’t be, I really want to have this
sort of idea of her in my head,” so I sort
of rain on their parade there.
— Elisabeth Hasselbeck in an interview with Fancast, August 17,
2010.
ACCESSline Page 12
the fun guide
SEPTEMBER 2010
Partying Hard: It’s Too Hot to Write This Column by Joshua Dagon
Here in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is
where I currently live, it was one hundred
and fifteen degrees yesterday afternoon, a
temperature that occurs when the orbit of
the earth comes closest to the sun, which
is about thirty-five feet above the roof of
the Wynn Hotel. We’re constantly being
placated here in the Mohave when it’s
explained that, yes, it’s hot, but it’s a dry
heat. That is of course true. This morning,
I toasted my Pop Tarts by setting them on
the balcony.
It’s at this time of year when navigating
the Las Vegas Strip is especially treacherous; automobiles are forced to make odd
maneuvers between lanes in order to avoid
tourists who have melted. A popular place
to spend time at the casinos is in their swimming pools, where all of the roulette tables
have been temporarily moved. The normal
street prostitution has also had to adapt,
the pimps now running their employees up
and down Las Vegas Boulevard in ice cream
trucks. Local officials have advised that, if
you must go to your mailbox, remember to
bring a camel. Many of the homeless have
been seen carrying signs reading, “Will
work for spit.”
With my particular job, I rarely need to
venture out into the actual atmosphere, but
when I do, I splurge a little bit for the sake
of personal comfort by paying some boys
to follow me around with chilled spritzer
bottles. Even in this extreme climate,
though, a normal social life needs to be
maintained. Tonight, I’ll be attending a
small rave, which will be held in the walk-in
freezer at P.F. Chang’s.
In truth, though, this is what some of
us gay-type guys live for. Uncomfortable as
it may at times be, this is why we go to the
gym all winter: so that we can wear as little
clothing as possible in public.
“Oh my, it is just so hot,” I recently heard
a very muscular friend say. “I think that I
shall take my shirt off.” After having done so,
however, one of the ushers stopped by and
asked if my friend could possibly wait until
after mass was over to apply his body oil.
Just kidding. I don’t normally attend
mass. We’d just gone into the church to ask
a priest to bless the water being used by my
spritzer boys.
Some people believe that the increased
globe-ular heat is caused by a depletion
in the ozone layer. The ozone layer is a
concentration of ozone molecules in the
stratosphere. The Stratosphere is a really
fun casino at the north end of the Las Vegas
Strip, just before the town gets really skanky. Evidently, ozone molecules stay in the
Stratosphere because they receive buffet
discounts there.
Ozone molecules are important
because they filter the sun’s ultraviolet
radiation, thereby preventing us from
becoming crispy on the outside and chewy
on the inside, like Hot Pockets with legs. According to the Organization of People
Who Have Nothing Better To Do, ozone
depletion occurs when chlorofluorocarbons
and hydrofluorocarbons accumulate in the
atmosphere and start beating up the ozone
molecules. Ozone molecules are, appar-
ently, really wussy. They like to listen to
Mylie Cyrus and play World of Warcraft all
day long, making them vulnerable to bully
molecules who are insecure about their
sexuality. Through efforts by the UN Environment Program and World Meteorological
Organization, the bully molecules are being
offered anger management opportunities
and various courses in social tolerance.
While many of us exploit the heat for
the purposes of exposing more skin, we must
be careful of overexposure. Overexposure
occurs when you get out of the pool too
quickly and are already at the bar when one
of the cabana boys informs you that your
trunks are still in the water.
Truly, though, when so many ozone
molecules are being put in the hospital
by ozonephobic molecules, it’s necessary
to protect your skin from the consequent
increase in UV radiation. Whenever I want
to lay out in nothing but a skimpy Speedo
and be ogled by a gang of sculpted men who
are similarly clad, my strategy for avoiding too much sun exposure is to organize
such events so that they take place in my
bedroom. When it comes to SPF, there
is no higher protection that a roof. If it
isn’t possible to keep all of the boys inside
the hotel, though, and time by the pool in
direct sunlight is unavoidable, then there
are products on the market that will help
protect sensitive skin cells from sun damage. One such product is called a “burka.” As
those garments, however, are antithetical
to our goal of showing off the progress
we’ve made at the gym, our options turn to
modern chemistry, such as tanning lotions
and Playdough.
When choosing a lotion for sun bathing,
it’s important to note the lotion’s “SPF,” or
“Sun Protection Factor,” which, I’ll admit,
Novelist Joshua Dagon is the author of
Into the Mouth of the Wolf, The Fallen,
and Demon Tears. For more information,
please go to www.joshuadagon.com.
To contact Mr. Dagon, please e-mail him at
[email protected].
does indicate that the sun is in some kind of
danger. However, I’ve learned, that’s not the
intention of the phrase. No, an SPF is a rating
that specifies the amount of time a person
can spend in the sun before skin damage
begins to occur. For example, a rating of SPF
30 would mean that, after applying the ointment, I can multiply by thirty the amount of
time I would normally be able to spend in the
sun, bringing up my total to approximately
four minutes and fifty seconds. Therefore,
the SPF I would need in order to enjoy any
significant time in the sun would have to be
provided by spray-on latex.
Personally, I still prefer the option of
remaining in my room, which I suppose
I’ll have to do at this point, at least until
the cabana boy comes upstairs with my
trunks.
The president strongly believes that marriage in this country ought
to be between a man and a woman. He also believes it is something that
ought to be decided by the people. He doesn’t believe that judges ought
to impose their will on the people. And because there have been a number
of judicial decisions, most recently in Nebraska, that have made that
decision for the people. He believes that a constitutional amendment
is appropriate so the people can weigh in. It’s something that’s before
the United States Senate. It’s one of their agenda items they intend to
move on this year, and I think we can expect to see them do that.
—Ken Mehlman, former Republican National Committee Chairman, who
recently came out as gay, in a “Meet the Press” interview with Tim
Russert on June 5, 2005, when asked, “Will [President Bush] continue
to push for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage?
I don’t know the answer to that question. I don’t think it matters to
the fundamental question here because at bottom, this president believes
in non-discrimination. He believes in equal treatment. He believes in
respect for all. He also believes, separate and apart from that question,
that the fundamental question of marriage ought to be defined in the
way it’s been defined for more than 200 years of our nation’s history,
which is by the people’s representative at the state legislatures.
—Ken Mehlman, former Republican National Committee Chairman,
who recently came out as gay, in a “Meet the Press” interview with
Tim Russert on June 5, 2005, after being asked, “Do you believe
homosexuality is a choice?”
SEPTEMBER 2010
Rehearsals Begin for
Des Moines Gay Men’s
Chorus Tenth Anniversary
Season
Under the direction of Dr Rebecca
Gruber, the Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus
will begin their Tenth Anniversary Season
in 2010-2011.
To join the chorus, just show up for
rehearsal. Rick Miller, membership chair
tells ACCESSline that DMGMC is not an
auditioned chorus—unless you want to
perform in the small group ensemble called
HarMENy (Men in Harmony).
Rehearsals are held every Monday
from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at Plymouth
Congregational Church (42nd and Ingersoll) in the third floor Recital Hall. The
new season begins rehearsals on Monday,
September 13 with 6:30 registration. New
members are always welcome and can
join immediately or audit the rehearsals
for a while.
Over 180 singers have performed
with the chorus in the nine years since it
was re-organized in 2001 under the direction of Dr. Randal Buikema. Gruber took
the baton in 2006. During that time the
chorus achieved state-wide and national
recognition at the GALA Festival in Miami
and two Iowa gubernatorial inaugurations.
DMGMC is one of the only GALA choruses
to get world-wide coverage when they
sang the Star-Spangled Banner on C-SPAN
during the Jefferson/ Jackson Dinner in
Des Moines where the Clintons and Barack
Obama gave speeches!
Last season was energized by the
12 new twenty-something members that
joined the chorus. This was an awesome
and dynamic season with more opportunities and venues than the year before. The
chorus joined the impeccable Des Moines
Vocal Arts Ensemble for a memorable
Winter Solstice concert at the Scottish Rite
Consistory. Some of the men dressed as
nuns to create non-singing version of the
Hallelujah Chorus!
This concert was followed by an
incredible cabaret performance in March
at the Des Moines Social Club. Singers
brought the house down with a campy
version of Oklahamlet—a farsical look at
Shakespeare with music from Rogers and
Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! The season was
completed with a Pride Concert in the heart
of the East Village during Pride week-end.
Singers enjoyed the largest crowds yet for
their performances!
Several members are from other GALA
choruses such as the Twin Cities Gay Men’s
Chorus, St Louis Gay Men’s Chorus, Houston
Gay Men’s Chorus, and Washington D.C.
Gay Men’s Chorus. Craig Otto, A DMGMC
bass singer says this about his chorus
experiences:
“Gentlemen, we can change lives with
our singing! We never know what may be
going on in an audience member’s life when
they come to hear one of our concerts. If we
can bring joy to someone in sorrow, hope to
someone in crisis or acceptance in a world
where many times there is none we have
been a success. This is “Why We Sing”.
DMGMC looks forward to seeing many
new and former members for its Tenth
Anniversary Season! Call 515-865-9557
or [email protected] for more information.
the fun guide
The Quire:
Open Call for Singers
It’s that time, everyone! Your favorite
chorus is about to begin singing again!
The Quire begins rehearsals on Sunday,
September 12 at Zion Lutheran Church, 310
N. Johnson St., Iowa City in preparation for a
winter concert to be held on December 4.
Rehearsals take place each Sunday
from 6:00-8:30pm. To join the choir,
attend rehearsals beginning September
12 or 19.
This year, Kurt Juhl rejoins our group as
Co-Director with Marlys Boote! The December program they have planned features
a classic English Christmas with music
by composers Britten, Walton, Howells,
Tavener, Tye, and Mathias. Also included
are favorites such as the tender Little Tree
and the lively Sleigh Ride, as well as a few
humorous pieces.
Membership is open to all LGBT folks
and allies who support the community.
There are no auditions; you need only
be willing to attend rehearsals regularly
and learn your music. Yearly dues are
$80 per singer, with scholarships available as needed. The Quire prepares two
full concerts each year, and occasionally
performs shorter programs at events in
the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area.
For more information, please contact
Director Marlys Boote at 319-337-6203
or Board Chair John Crosheck at 319-3213249.
If you are not able to sing in The
Quire but wish to financially support the
organization, send your tax-deductible
contribution to The Quire, P.O. Box 1101,
Iowa City, IA 52244.
Thank you for helping to promote
the visibility of our community through
The Quire.
“Vander Plaats froths at
the mouth about the Iowa
justices ‘amending’ the
Constitution; they were
actually doing the reverse.
The rulings are grounded in
the equal protection clause of
the Iowa Constitution, which
guarantees equal rights to
all Iowa citizens.
Whether you agree or
disagree with gay marriage,
the justices up for retention
deserve to keep their jobs
because they were just doing
what We the People dictated
they should do in our state
and national constitutions.”
- Lars Pearson, Des Moines,
in a letter to the Des
Moines Register, August
29, 2010
ACCESSline Page 13
The Mr. Midwest Leather Contest,
September 24-26, St. Louis Missouri
ST. LOUIS MO—The Mr. Midwest
Leather Contest is an annual event open
to men from 13 states across the Midwest.
The event is primarily for gay men, but is
open to males interested in competing for
the title, prizes and more involvement in
the Leather Community.
Traditionally title holders use their
titles in fundraising for worthy charities and promoting brotherhood in the
community. The contest will draw visitors
and competitors from across the Midwest
region.
This years’ event weekend is September 24 - 26, 2010, at Bad Dog Bar & Grill
in St. Louis, MO. The host hotel is the
Sheraton St. Louis City Center Hotel & Suite.
The Mr. Midwest Leather title covers 13
states: Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana,
Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, North
Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska,
and Kentucky.
The emcee and judges for this event
will be from across the Midwest region,
representing a spectrum of leather and
non-leather communities.
The winner of the contest will be
named Mr. Midwest Leather for 2010
and go on to compete at International Mr.
Leather on Memorial Day Weekend, 2011,
in Chicago, IL.
Friday night, September 24, is the meet
& greet event at Bad Dog Bar & Grill where
contestants will be introduced and meet
the judges. The contestants will also draw
their contest numbers.
Saturday night, Sept. 25, will be the
contest and Charlie Schoenherr, the current
titleholder, will be passing on the title to
the next Mr. Midwest Leather.
Sunday, September 25, will be the
victory brunch and the Victory Ball/Beer
Blast, hosted by The Gateway Sisters of
Perpetual Indulgence.at Bad Dog Bar &
Grill.
Despite what some people may think,
this is not a beauty contest (though a hot
body doesn’t hurt). Like other Leather
title events, points are given for attitude,
community involvement, knowledge of the
Leather Community, leadership qualities
and presentation.Contestants will face a
panel of judges for the interview portion
of the event before hitting the stage Saturday night.
For more information, visit the
website: www.MrMidwestLeather.com
ACCESSline Page 14
the fun guide
SEPTEMBER 2010
The Outfield by Dan Woog
GLAD All Over Sports
Howard Cosell once called sports “the
toy department of human life.” So why would
an LGBT legal organization—one whose
mission is challenging barriers in areas like
marriage, the military and the workplace—
worry about toys like softball, and toy chests
like gym class?
Because sports is “a social institution
writ large—one from which LGBT people
are still largely excluded.” That’s the view
of Ben Klein, and he should know. He’s an
attorney with Gay & Lesbian Advocates &
Defenders—a Boston-based legal rights
organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status,
and gender identity and expression.
Klein works with litigation assistant
Jamal Brown on GLAD’s Homophobia in
Sports project. Now in its initial fact-finding
phase, the project hopes to use the courts to
bring about equal rights for gay people—
just as it’s done in areas such as AIDS law,
immigration and education.
“GLAD works to ensure equal access
to a variety of institutions,” Klein says. “But
with the exception of the National Council for
Lesbian Rights, sports has not been given the
attention it needs. It’s the one area in which
it’s still largely acceptable to engage in antigay epithets and harassment.”
For the last 20 years, Klein says, LGBT
organizations—his and others—have
focused on “basic rights” like housing and
relationships. Sports “didn’t rise to the top
of the priority list,” he admits. “We weren’t
even thinking about them.”
Now they are.
“Athletes are being forced out of
sports, or kicked off teams, for being gay,”
Brown says. “And coaches are being fired,
or prevented from being hired, because of
their sexuality or gender identity.”
Taking a lawyerly approach, GLAD realized it needed to assess the situation before
rushing to court. Last fall, the organization developed a survey aimed at athletes,
coaches, sports-related employees and
casual recreation users. The goal was to
understand their experiences—positive and
negative—in athletics.
The most common finding, according to
Klein, was “the prevalence of homophobic
slurs.” Whether malicious or merely careless, the comments made in locker rooms
and on playing fields make LGBT people
uncomfortable, wary of coming out—even
causing them to leave teams.
But is an unwelcoming environment
actually illegal?
“If there is a clear-cut situation in an
educational setting—in a state with an
anti-discrimination law that includes sexual
orientation—we could bring a case,” Klein
replies.
In a state without a gay-rights statute,
a case could be filed charging sexual harassment—provided the comments or actions
were sexual in nature.
In the case of a coach, charges could
be brought under “hostile environment”
workplace laws.
Of course, none of this is a slam dunk.
“It’s hard to find people who are willing
to sue, and have a legitimate case,” Klein says.
“We can’t just snap our fingers and find the
right case.”
To bring a harassment claim, someone
must report it—for example, pervasive slurs
or bullying—to someone in a school or workplace. Then, school officials or employers
have to ignore it.
Such reporting is rare, Klein says.
“People don’t feel comfortable talking about
it; they don’t know who to report it to, or they
don’t think it will be addressed even if they
do say something.”
Part of GLAD’s mission, Klein says, is to
educate LGBT people, school officials and
employers that they must create an environment in which anti-gay harassment can be
reported—and publicize a process for doing
so. Lawsuits are a last resort.
The surveys have not yet reached a
broad spectrum of gays and lesbians. “It’s
hard to find people having the most significant problems,” Klein says. “They may be less
connected to groups we’re targeting, or they
feel isolated because of what’s happened to
them.” (Anyone wishing to fill out the survey
can find it at glad.org/sports.)
Klein calls sports one of homophobia’s
final frontiers. “In our efforts to address
various areas of society, the LGBT rights
movement in general has paid scant attention to athletics. Some of that may come from
a bit of ambivalence in our country about the
world of sports.”
Some comes from ignorance. “I came out
in 1979,” Klein says. “I didn’t think gay people
were athletes. But we can’t address barriers
in society without talking about sports.”
Despite varying levels of knowledge
about—and interest in—sports, GLAD
staffers have embraced Klein and Brown’s
efforts. “People here are really excited,”
says Klein. “They understand the principles
behind this.”
Brown brings special cachet to the
cause. A track star at Ivy League Dartmouth
College, Klein calls him “our resident athlete.
He has invaluable insights into the sports
world. Me—I’m just an aging recreational
athlete.”
But one with a law degree—and a
passion for equal rights, wherever injustice
lurks.
Hoosiers show their pride
Former Indiana University football
player Alex Perry is a confident young
man.
This past June he stepped out of his
comfort zone. One of four people—all
straight—representing his school’s athletic
department at Indianapolis’s Circle City
Pride festival, at first he felt uncomfortable
when gay men in flamboyant costumes asked
to have their pictures with him.
His apprehension was short-lived. By
midmorning Perry grinned broadly when a
drag queen sauntered over for a photo.
That was just one of many snapshots—
literal and figurative—from an empowering
day. IU Athletics learned a lot—and so did
the LGBT festival-goers who visited their
booth.
Once, that outcome might have
surprised Jon Kitto. But over the past year
the secretary of IU’s 1,200-member GLBT
Alumni Association has come to appreciate the athletic department’s outreach to
the gay community. At the same time, IU
Athletics has enjoyed the fruits of the blossoming relationship—and added hundreds
of new fans.
Kitto’s passion for Indiana University
began as a student in the 1970s. He was a
Hoosier football booster too—rare in the
LGBT community—so last year when a
new athletic facility was dedicated near the
stadium, he and his partner attended.
New athletic director Fred Glass spoke.
He described his goal of reaching out to
“new communities”—ones his department
had previously ignored. Afterward, Kitto—
who admits the GLBT Alumni Association
(GLBTAA) had not reached out to athletics,
either—decided to see if Glass meant what
he said.
“I was ready for a brush-off,” Kitto
recalls. “But he said, ‘Let’s get it on the calendar.’” Last December, the GLBTAA executive
board and Glass held a relaxed, friendly
hour-long meeting.
Near the end, Kitto asked the department to donate a few items for GLBTAA’s
annual silent auction. Sure, Glass said. Well,
what about a private tour of the new facility? No problem, Glass replied. Both were
enormous successes.
Kitto then asked if IU Athletics would
staff a booth at Circle City Pride. Again, he
expected to be brushed off. Again, he was
surprised by the department’s eagerness
to help.
The booth featured a mannequin dressed
in an IU basketball jersey. The department
handed out coasters, pompons, refrigerator
magnets and Hoosier schedules.
“It was one of the most moving days of
my life,” Kitto says. Two staff members and
two interns—including Perry, the former
football player now earning his masters in
sports management—staffed the booths.
“All day long they took everything in.
They loved being there,” Kitto reports.
The four straight IU Athletics volunteers
were impressed with the huge turnout—and
noted with surprise, “They’re people we see
every day.”
Thousands of festival-goers picked
up athletic department giveaways—and
thanked the representatives for being there.
That made an impression on the quartet.
So did comments like “I went to Michigan, but you’re my second favorite team now,”
and “I’m from Purdue. I’m supposed to hate
you—but I don’t.”
It was all part of Pat Kraft’s plan. The
assistant athletic director in charge of
marketing, he realized that Circle City Pride
was a perfect opportunity to introduce IU
Athletics to a new, lucrative and potentially
very enthusiastic audience.
“As markets mature, it’s difficult to
mine new customers,” Kitto says. “The GLBT
market is huge, and unmined.”
Gays and lesbians are a natural target
for Kraft—a concept that initially surprised
Kitto. “I’m 52 years old,” he says. “I didn’t
expect the greeting we got at Pride. Pat’s
around 30. My surprise was surprising
to him. He just saw it as a great business
opportunity.”
But IU Athletics’ outreach meant more
than marketing. During the day, four Indiana
athletes came to the booth and said they were
gay or lesbian.
“Having the department there was so
important,” Kitto says. “They realized, ‘I’m
comfortable with my school, with my athletic
department, and I want you to know how
much that means to me.’”
It meant a lot to the straight men at the
booth, too. The day after Pride, Perry thanked
Kitto for allowing him to participate.
“His goal is to be a high school athletic
director,” Kitto says of the grad student.
“Just imagine the effect something like this
will have on the kids at his school years
from now.”
IU Athletics had such a good time, they
plan to return next year—with a float and
varsity athletes.
So were there any negative encounters
at all?
Kitto laughs. “Yeah. One guy ran by
screaming ‘Boiler Up!’”—the popular Purdue
cheer.
“But that happens anywhere there are
Purdue fans,” he continues. “It had nothing to
do with being gay. I thought to myself, Here
we are at a gay event, and the traditional
IU-Purdue rivalry is so strong.
“What was so remarkable to me about
that was its utter unremarkableness.”
Dan Woog is a journalist, educator,
soccer coach, gay activist, and author of the
“Jocks” series of books on gay male athletes.
Visit his website at www.danwoog.com. He
can be reached care of this publication or at
[email protected].
the fun guide
SEPTEMBER 2010
ACCESSline’s STATEWIDE
Recurring Events List
The following list is provided by—and
corrected by—ACCESSline readers like you. If
you would like to add an event, or if you notice
a mistake in this list, please email editor@
ACCESSlineIOWA.com.
Interest Group Abbreviations:
L: Lesbian
G: Gay
B: Bisexual
T: Transgender
D: Drag
+: HIV-related
M: General Men’s Interest
W: General Women’s Interest
A: General Interest
K: Kids and Family
Sunday
1st and 3rd Sunday of the Month, TANGO
LESSONS AT CSPS, 3-6pm, at 1103 3rd St. SE,
Cedar Rapids. Cost is $5. Everyone welcome; no
partner or experience necessary. For more info,
call Elie at 319-363-1818 or e-mail [email protected].
[LGBTMWA]
Every Sunday, GLBT AA, 5-6pm, at First Baptist
Church at 500 N. Clinton St., Iowa City. For more
info about Intergroup and Alcoholics Anonymous
call the 24-Hour Answering Service at 319-3389111 or visit the AA-IC website: http://aa-ic.org/.
[LGBTMWA]
Every Sunday, L WORD LIVES: L NIGHT, 7PM,
at the Firewater Saloon, 347 South Gilbert St.,
Iowa City, 319-321-5895. The night will start with
Season 1, Episode 1 of the L Word... because a good
thing should never die. FoLLowing the L Word wiLL
be a Drag King show at 9:30pm No cover. Tel, 319321-5895. [ L B T W D ]
Every Sunday, THE QUIRE: EASTERN IOWA’S
GLBT CHORUS REHEARSALS, 6-8:30pm, at Zion
Lutheran Church, 310 N. Johnson St., Iowa City.
Membership is open to all GLBT folks, as well as
allies who support the community. There are no
auditions; you only need to be willing to attend
rehearsals regularly and learn your music. The
Quire prepares two full concerts each year in the
winter and spring, and occasionally performs
shorter programs at events in the Iowa City/Cedar
Rapids area. The Quire is a member of Gay and
Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA), and has
developed a reputation for excellence and variety
in its concert programs. For more info, visit http://
www.thequire.org/. [ L G B T M W A ]
Every Sunday, QUEER GUERRILLA BRUNCH,
Locations around Iowa City to be announced each
week. LGBTQIs & Allies gather for Sunday brunch
to celebrate community and create visibility. Sign
up for future brunches on Facebook at http://www.
facebook.com/group.php?gid=120517046371 [ L
GBTMWA]
Every Sunday, RAINBOW AND ALLIED
YOUTH, 8-11pm, The Center, 1300 Locust, Des
Moines, IA 50309. Social group for Queer youth
25 years and under [ L G B T ]
Monday
1st 2nd Monday of the Month, IOWA PFLAG
NORTH IOWA CHAPTER MEETING, 7pm, at First
Presbyterian Church, 100 S. Pierce St., Mason City.
Meetings are held the First and Second Monday
(alternating) of the month. For more info, call 641583-2848. [ L G B T M W A K ]
1st Monday of the Month, IOWA PFLAG QUAD
CITIES CHAPTER MEETING, 6:30pm, at Eldridge
United Methodist Church, 604 S. 2nd St., Eldridge.
For more info, call 563-285-4173. [ L G B T M W
AK]
4th Monday of the Month, IOWA PFLAG WAUKON/NORTHEAST CHAPTER MEETING, 7pm,
First Lutheran Church, 604 West Broadway Street
, Decorah, IA 52101. in the Fellowship Hall at First
Lutheran Church, Decorah. 604 West Broadway
Street. (563) 382-2638‎ [ L G B T M W A ]
Every Monday, DES MOINES GAY MEN’S
CHORUS REHEARSALS, 7-9:30pm, Plymouth
Congregational Church, 4126 Ingersoll Avenue, Des
Moines, IA . For more information about singing
with the Chorus, contact Rebecca Gruber at 515865-9557. The Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus does
not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.
[GMA]
Every Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Friday Saturday, HAMBURGER MARY’S WEEKLY
HAPPENINGS at 222 Glenbrook Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids, off of 1st Ave. Mondays – Charity Bingo at 8pm
with a special guest hostess; Tuesdays – Kid’s Night;
Wednesdays – Game Night; Thursdays – Mary-oke
with Nic from 9pm to 1am; Fridays – Drag Show at
9pm (all ages) and 11pm (21 and over); Saturdays
– Open Mic Night followed by Drag Show at 9pm
(all ages) and 11pm (21 and over). For more info, email [email protected] or visit www.
hamburgermaryscr.com. [ L G B T M W A K D ]
Every Monday Wednesday Thursday Saturday,
GLBT ONLY AA MEETINGS IN DES MOINES, 6pm
- SAT 5pm, at 945 19th St. (east side of building,
south door). [ L G B T M W A ]
Tuesday
2nd Tuesday of the Month, IOWA PFLAG AMES
CHAPTER MEETING, 7pm, Youth and Shelter Services Offices, 420 Kellogg Ave., 1st Floor, Ames, IA
50010. Meets in the Paul Room of Youth and Shelter
Services at 420 Kellogg Avenue, Ames. For more
info, call 515-291-3607. [ L G B T M W A K ]
2nd Tuesday of the Month, GLRC OF CEDAR
RAPIDS BOARD MEETING, 6:30-8pm, Cedar
Rapids, IA . at 6300 Rockwell Dr, Cedar Rapids.
Meetings are open to the general public. For more
info, call 319-366-2055 or visit: http://www.crglrc.
org/. [ L G B T M W A ]
2nd Tuesday of the Month, SPIRITUAL SEEKERS, 7-8:30pm, Iowa City, IA . at Trinity Episcopal
Church, 320 E. College St, Iowa City. Spiritual Seekers is a group for people of all faiths, or of little faith,
who wish to make deeper connections between
their sexual identities and the spiritual dimension
in their lives. Meetings include discussion of specialized topics, telling of pieces of our faith journeys,
and occasional prayer and meditation. (On the 4th
Tuesday of each month, the group gathers at a local
restaurant for food and fellowship.) For more info,
contact Tom Stevenson: [email protected]
or 319.354.1784. [ L G B T M W A ]
Every Tuesday, OUT (OUR UNITED TRUTH):
A GLBT SUPPORT GROUP, 7-8:30pm, Peoples
Church Unitarian Universalist, 600 3rd Avenue
Southeast, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401. For more info,
call 563-359-0816. [ L G B T M W A ]
Every Tuesday, ACE INCLUSIVE BALLROOM,
7-8:30pm, Old Brick, 26 East Market Street, Iowa
City, IA 52245. All skill levels are welcome. American social dance, Latin, a mix of dance from the last
100 years. For more info, contact Mark McCusker at
[email protected], 319-621-8530 or Nora
Garda at 319-400-4695, or visit http://iowadancefest.blogspot.com/. [ L G B T M W A ]
Every Tuesday, ARGENTINE TANGO, 7:30-9:30pm, Iowacity/Johnson Co Senior Center, 28
South Linn Street, Iowa City, IA 52240. Practice
and open dance. A donation of $1-2 per person is
requested for use of the Senior Center. For more
info, contact Karen Jackson at 319-447-1445 or email [email protected]. [ L G B T M W A ]
Every Tuesday, KARAOKE IDOL, 9pm, Studio
13, 13 South Linn Street, Iowa City, IA 52240.
Drink specials and great competition! Visit www.
sthirteen.com. [ L G B T M W A ]
Every Tuesday, ACE HAS FACE THE MUSIC &
DANCE, 7-9pm, 26 E Market St, Iowa City, IA 52245.
All skill levels are welcome. Tango, Waltz, Disco,
Country, American social dance, Latin, a mix from
the last 100 years. Join on Facebook at http://www.
facebook.com/group.php?gid=372454708295. For
more info, contact ACE experiment at 319-8538223. [ L G B T M W A ]
First and Third Tuesday, YOUTH FOR EQUALITY, 4-6pm, The CENTER, 1300 W Locust St, Des
Moines, IA 50309. A service and action group for
youth who identify as LGBTQI and their allies.
Open to all students in grades 5 through 12. [ L G
BTMWA]
Wednesday
1st Wednesday of the Month, CEDAR RAPIDS
CHARTER CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN BUSINESS WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION, For more info, visit
charter-chapter.tripod.com. [ L W ]
TTEVENTS continued page 28
ACCESSline Page 15
The Imperial Court of Iowa set to
Celebrate 18 years of Community
Service with Coronation 18
Des Moines, IA, Saturday, August 28,
2010—On September 25, 2010, the Imperial Court of Iowa will celebrate the reign of
Empress Brandi Marie Powers and Emperor
Jesse St. Trevino at the Holiday Inn Mercy
Campus in Des Moines, Iowa. The Imperial Court of Iowa, I.C.IA. Inc., is a 501(c)3
non-profit organization established to bring
members of a community together and to be
an outlet for the LGBT community as a whole.
The I.C.IA Inc. has over 85 members from all
around the state of Iowa. These individuals
help to coordinate social and fundraising
events in various locations around the State
of Iowa. Since its founding in 1992, the I.C.IA.
Inc. has risen well over $100,000 for various
community charities. The largest of these
social events is the Coronation of the new
Monarchs (the fundraising chairs for the
next year/reign).
Empress Brandi and Emperor Jessie
cordially invite one and all to come out and
see what the Imperial Court System and the
local chapter are all about. Coronation will
be held on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at
the Holiday Inn Mercy Campus in Des Moines,
Iowa. There is a cocktail reception at 5pm
and the event starts at 6pm. Admission is
$35 and includes the show, a post-event
dinner and a hospitality open bar. Formal
attire is optional, but casual attire is acceptable. We encourage guests to dress in theme,
“An Imperial Journey to Mt. Fuji.” For more
information on the weekend events, please
visit our website at ImperialCourtofIowa.org.
If you are interested in joining the Imperial
Court, we will be holding membership drives
on: Saturday, September 18th at the Blazing
Saddle in Des Moines from noon to 6pm;
Kings and Queens Tap in Waterloo from 8pm
to midnight; and Zaners Bar in Sioux City
from 8pm to midnight.
In 1965, Jose Sarria proclaimed herself
the Empress of San Francisco, and laid the
foundation for the formation of the Imperial
Court de San Francisco. Today, the International Court System (ICS) has over 65
chapters in the United States, Canada and
Mexico, making us the second largest LGBT
organization in the world. On June 5th, 2010
The International Court System will celebrate
its 45 Anniversary with a gala state dinner
in Lexington, KY.
The International Court Council
provides many services including a
comprehensive website, a quarterly online
newsletter “Communique”, and presents
the prestigious “Jose Honors” to recognize
court members for outstanding service. The
ICC took leadership role on international
LGBT issues such as “Get Out The Vote” voter
registration campaign in 2008; took a strong
stand on the repeal of the ban on entry to
the U.S. of persons living with HIV/AIDS;
endorse making Harvey Milk’s birthday
a state holiday in California; supported
the Employment Non-Discrimination ACT
(ENDA). In 2006, The ICC played a role
in the successful campaign when the city
of San Francisco named a portion of 16th
Street in the Castro as “Jose Sarria Court”,
with a permanent plaque funded by the
ICC. In 2009, the ICC presented “Stonewall
40 - Trans Heroes 40,” in commemoration of
the 40th Anniversary of Stonewall, honoring
forty transgender individuals and presented
a commemorative plaque to the historic
Stonewall Inn in New York City. We were
one of the first organizations to endorse the
2009 March on Washington, and thanks to
the Imperial Court of New York, hosted a
major event in Washington DC. Currently
we are taking a leadership role in the Harvey
Milk National Stamp Campaign, a have a
US commemorative stamp to honor a true
American champion of human rights.
The International Court Council is also
proud of its many international fundraising
campaigns. In 1994, many Member Courts
collectively raised over $14,000.00 for
the Tijuana AIDS Project, a tradition that
continues annually. We have also raised tens
of thousands of dollars for Women’s Breast
Cancer Campaign; became a major sponsor of
NGLTF’s Creating Change conference raising
over $15,000.00 in the past two years. But
perhaps our single crowning achievement
must be the coming together of courts in
the United States and Canada in 2009 to
raise over $90,000.00 for the Matthew
Shepard Foundation and like organization
TTCORONATION continued page 24
ACCESSline Page 16
the fun guide
SEPTEMBER 2010
Hear Me Out by Chris Azzopardi
Lady Gaga, The Remix
calling it a remix would wrongly suggest
that something was done to the song, is a
lost opportunity. “Telephone” is practically
insufferable with the “artistic” chipmunk
manipulation of Gaga’s voice, and ingenuity
is totally sucked dry near the tail end with the
“Alejandro”-meets-Kylie mix. Only a couple
re-cuts, including FrankMusik’s edgier “Eh,
Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)” and a choppy,
Marilyn Manson teaming on “LoveGame,” is
with merit, giving Gaga the guts we’ve come
to know.
Grade: C-
Margaret Cho,
Cho Dependent
Little Monsters, it was inevitable: A
bad Gaga album. With so many hands in
her post-debut projects – hey, that happens
when you’re a pop powerhouse – Gaga’s clubgeared collection is seriously slacking and
virtually risk-free throughout its 10 tunes.
It’s not all her fault, though – or maybe it is.
The remixes (missing many from the European edition), new versions of songs from
her first disc and follow-up EP The Fame
Monster, is partly such a lame cash-grab
because its foundations are such perfect
pop pleasures already. How do you better
“Bad Romance”? You don’t! And Starsmith’s
retro-trance reworking can’t compete with
its kid, never quite igniting like its cool daddy
does. When the songs do, it’s because they’re
basically mirror reflections of the originals
– and that’s why “Poker Face,” so literal that
Don’t worry about missing Margaret
mouth’s open for a different reason – to
sing. As crazy as that sounds, Cho calls on
all her musically savvy chums – from Tegan
and Sara to Fiona Apple and (holy lesbian!)
Ani DiFranco – to worship penis, hurl on a
jack-o’-lantern and beg for semen in a Scissor
Sisters-styled song. Cho’s sound respectively
resembles her collaborators’, resulting in a
schizo disc that’s more instantaneous than
replayable, even if Cho’s remarkably invested
in the music as much as the punchlines (most
of which work subtly into the melodies).
Jumping genres, from ’60s girl-group pop to
rap, she goes honky-tonk for the wonderfully
staged “Eat Shit and Die,” the unspoken lashout of every country star who doesn’t have
the balls, like Cho does, to say it in a song.
The straight-faced “Hey Big Dog” – a seriously good folk ditty co-written by genre-god
Patty Griffin – is oddly placed among novelty
numbers about surviving a lice infestation
and drug addiction. “Intervention,” featuring
an overdone mid-song skit, probes the latter
and concocts funny-or-not confusion: Should
we laugh? Get help? Lots of it’s offered on Cho
Dependent, a buddy-boosted collection that
more than lives up to its title.
Grade: B-
Also Out
Cho’s dirty mind on her music debut. Her
first CD rolls in all the bits of the brassy,
queer-revered comedian: Asian imitations,
foul anecdotes and sex jokes. But now her
Katie Melua, The House
Even with Madonna producer William
Orbit at the helm, the big-in-Britain musician’s stargazing fourth album is more
Kate Bush than Ray of Light. Her voice
lifts and floats on the hauntingly winsome
set-launcher “I’d Love to Kill You,” the first
of many ambient dreamers. The writing’s
spotty and a couple cuts are slip-ups, but
Melua proves, with songs like “Red Balloons”
and “Tiny Alien,” that she might one day hang
with the cool kids.
Little Big Town, The Reason Why
Contempo-country lovers, step up.
Without over-lacquering their organic
rockish sound, the vocal-swapping foursome
relate their own style into their Fleetwood
Mac trope. Via big, surging love ballads (the
pained plea “Shut Up Train” being the clear
winner) and boot-stomping boogies – the best
being “All the Way Down” and “Little White
Church,” the sassy call-for-commitment first
single – the band’s latest is everything Lady
Antebellum’s wasn’t.
School of Seven Bells, Disconnect from
Desire
The Brooklyn trio’s sophomore CD
would rather ride through a soaring dream
than bust out in wham-bam bursts. And
so, with songs rhythmically calibrated into
an ethereal machine-mixed sound, their’s
flows like an early ’90s mix tape that could
almost be mistaken for the Eurythmics.
“Windstorm,” the opening track, is a doozy of
pop-art delirium; “ILU” is gorgeously strutting nostalgia. With ecstasy this good, who
needs the real thing?
Chris Azzopardi can be reached at chris@
pridesource.com.
SEPTEMBER 2010
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SEPTEMBER 2010
The Gay Wedding Planner by Beau Fodor
The Campbell-Johnson
Wedding at Two Saints
Winery 07/31/10
“WOW,” is all I can really say… and,
“What a SPECTACULAR destination
wedding ceremony and reception.”
It was truly like something you would
see in a magazine! (Actually, it was: this
Twin Cities couple’s engagement story
was featured in the May issue of ACCESSline, and here’s the rest of the story in the
September issue!)
Kat and Gretchen’s day began quite
early, especially after a late-night rehearsal
dinner at Rube’s Steakhouse in Waukee.
Most of the guests had arrived late Friday
afternoon, and partied into the night.
The fabulous Mary-Kate Gales,
make-up artist extraordinaire, provided
beautiful make-up for the early afternoon
photos and GBG Photography was aweinspiring to say the very least.
Three buses from Majestic Limousine—with over 100 guests—arrived late
afternoon for the 7:30 nuptials at Two
Saints Winery in Saint Charles, Iowa. A
signature cocktail of blush mojito was
served upon arrival, and during the tour
of the vineyard for pictures.
The heat index was at 100 degrees
during the actual ceremony, but as the sun
settled over the Vineyard a faint breeze
picked up. The veranda and decks overlooking the entire property actually became
quite pleasant.
A hundred or so 24” tapered candles, in
centerpieces designed by our local stylist,
Jason Edge-Lord, provided the only lighting in the vineyard’s Grand Tasting Room,
creating a romantic glow and even more
romantic ambiance.
Taste to Go’s fabulous menu consisted
of five complete stations of made-toorder finger food—created especially for
the evening—including a grand buffet of
wine-inspired desserts. Rustic candelabra
were clustered high above tabletops that
were covered in rich purple and olivecolored silk.
After dinner the deck came alive with
the glow of copper and glass lanterns and
over-sized hurricane lamps that had been
lit at dusk, and flaming copper torches
were placed at the end of each of the rows
of grapes in the Vineyard.
As the guests danced and partied till
almost midnight, the owners of Two Saints
Beau Fodor is an Iowa wedding planner
who focuses specifically on weddings for
the LGBT community. He can be reached
through iowasgayweddingplanner.com or
gayweddingswithpanache.com.
Winery said it was the most fabulous
celebration they had ever hosted in the
Vineyard.
More photos of the event can be seen
at panachepoints.blogspot.com.
GBG Photography: gbgphotography.com
Majestic Limousine: majesticlimo.com
Mary-Kate Gales:
mkgales.com
Rube’s Steakhouse: rubessteaks.com
Taste 2 Go: tastetogo.net
Two Saints Winery:twosaintswinery.com
Photo by George Byron Griffiths - www.gbgphotography.com
Photo by George Byron Griffiths - www.gbgphotography.com
“We respect Ken Mehlman’s right to his personal life. Supporting gay marriage,
however, is a very different and very public matter. The fight over same-sex marriage
really isn’t about Mr. Mehlman’s personal life. Marriage, as a public legal status, is a
man and a woman for a reason: It is the only civil institution that brings together the
two halves of humanity to ensure the children they create have the best opportunity to
be raised by their own mother and father. We will fight all attempts to redefine marriage
to be something that it is not—a genderless, adult-centered sexual relationship centered
on the alleged rights of adults and not the needs of children. … NOM has already proven
in races from New York to California that it is a particularly bad idea for Republicans
to support gay marriage. … If Mr. Mehlman wishes to help us elect pro-marriage GOP
politicians, we welcome his support. If not, we welcome the victories that will come in
the battle that must necessarily ensue.”
— Maggie Gallagher’s August 29 statement to former Republican National Committee
Chairman, Ken Mehlman, who recently came out.
SEPTEMBER 2010
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Cocktail Chatter by Ed Sikov
A Yankee Sazerac
“This is like Jezebel,” I snarled as I
leafed through the cocktail books. Some
were mine, but most came with the house,
which was built by the guy who owned
Showers—a bar in Chelsea that features
guys in Speedos drenching, self-lovingly
soaping, and rinsing themselves onstage.
The old gang showers at the Columbia gym
were hotter.
Anyway, I was researching the Sazerac,
a cocktail from the Big Easy. Easy? That’s
a laugh! The recipes were so stuffy that
they reminded me of Bette Davis’s Jezebel,
in which Bette ruins her life by wearing
the wrong gown to a cotillion. As a direct
result, she loses her fiance (Henry Fonda)
to a dreadfully cheerful Yankee but gets
carted triumphantly away with Fonda to
Leper Island in the happy ending.
The Sazerac recipes were as impossibly stiff as Bette’s ruinous cotillion. “The
South should have seceded,” I muttered.
“These recipes are inane.”
“Then don’t make them,” Dan sighed.
“I’m sorry I brought it up. I had one at that
conference in Satan’s humid maw (New
Orleans), and I thought you’d like it. I
should have my head examined.”
“For what? Lice?”
Poor Dan. “Listen to this,” I said.
“‘Pack a 3.5-ounce glass with ice. (‘Not a
4-ounce glass, not a 3-ounce glass, but a
precious little 3.5-ounce glass.’) In another
3.5-ounce glass, moisten a sugar cube with
water, then crush it. (‘Oh sweet Mary!’)
Blend with rye and bitters. Add cubes of
ice and stir. Dump out the ice and pour in
the absinthe. Coat the inside of the glass
and pour out the excess. (‘No, idiot—drink
it!’) Strain the rye into the absinthe-coated
glass. Twist a lemon peel over the glass so
that the lemon oil cascades into the drink.
(‘Cascades! That’s Bette’s psycho asylum
in Now, Voyager!’) Then rub the peel over
the rim of the glass.’”
Then came the most idiotic sentence
ever written in a cocktail recipe: “As
Wilfred Frisby St. Bernard says, ‘Do not
commit the sacrilege of dropping the peel
into the drink.’”
“Ohhhh,” I intoned. “It’s a sacrilege.
Remind me to plop a whole lemon in.”’
Dan was getting sick of it. “I wish I—no,
you—had never been born. Why don’t you
drink Absolut and I’ll have Pernod and we’ll
give the absinthe away to a needy child.”
“No!” I shouted a bit too loud. (I’d been
sneaking hits of absinthe all afternoon.)
“I’ll make the damn Sazeracs. Only I’m
going to do it my way. Let New friggin’
Orleans declare war on me.”
By the third round of Sazeracs, which
are quite powerful, we’d done 180s: I was
extolling the virtues of antebellum gentility, while Dan was strategizing the next
Civil War.
The Sazerac: a Dan and Ed
Co-Production
• ¼-cup of rye
• 1-tsp “Really Simple Syrup”—put equal
parts sugar and water into a jar, tighten
the lid and shake until the sugar is dissolved
• 4 dashes of bitters (Snotty N’Awlanders
demand Peychaud’s, but use Angostura
on principle)
• Absinthe or Pernod—½-tsp in the original, but pour as much as you want
1.Dump all ingredients sloppily into any
size glass except a 3.5 ouncer.
2.Disregard the lemon.
3.Stir with your finger, lick the finger in
front of your guests, and serve.
Oh, Mary?
Meet My Family!
Some of us are so gay-centric that we
have no close straight friends and leave our
families in Anamoose, ND, or Chloride, AZ,
and never look back. But if you’re like me,
you love your friends, straight or gay, and
you love your family, too. Still, we tend not
to mix our friends with our families. We
prefer to lead double lives. Your straight
brother doesn’t know you’ve been licking
some guy’s balls for the last few weeks, and
the guy whose balls you’ve been licking
never, ever hears stories about when you
were five.
But inevitably comes the dreaded
day when our two worlds collide. Mine
came last weekend. There were extra
rooms in the beach house, so I invited my
big sister, Barbara, who for a brief period
in 1966 dropped the second “a” from
her name; my nephew, Luke, a 6-foot-5
former skateboarder who’s now 32 and
teaches elementary school science; my
niece, Laurel, who at the age of 12 drove
her friends around town in her mother’s
car and is now an executive at the world’s
most famous soup company; and Ken,
her hunky new husband, who at 18 was
a nationally-ranked diver and is now
a management consultant built like a
middleweight wrestler.
Our two housemates last weekend
are cut from decidedly different cloth.
Ian and Frankie each manage top-notch
restaurants in Manhattan. Ian is low key
and gentle. Frankie is a flaming whirl of
activity and talk, all performed as though
he was auditioning for a happy-ending
remake of The Boys in the Band.
“Oh, Mary!” Frankie says witheringly;
“Louise!” figures prominently, too. “Ladies!,”
Frankie says. “Forget making sandwiches.
The lunchmeat is poo-sniggles.” He’s a
hoot—to us. How Ken and Luke would
handle him was my concern. Then worry.
Then barf-quality terror.
As it turned out, my family was way
cooler than I imagined. Luke and Frankie
barbecued lamb together; Frankie’s
nickname for Luke (“Cuteness on Stilts”)
actually flattered the designee. Barbara
and I spent our time ripping some distant
relatives to shreds, while Dan, Laurel and
Ian baked cookies and made salads while
listening to Laurel’s iPod on the sound
system. (I caught Dan in the kitchen bouncing to the beat of Death Cab For Cutie.)
And le cocktail du weekend? I thought
Negronis would be nice. Well, duh? Luke
and Ken wanted beer, Dan his Pernod;
Barbara only drinks Scotch; Laurel brought
a six-pack of V8 and drank highly vegetabled Bloody Marys; and Ian and Frankie
had gin and tonics.
I made Negronis anyway—for me. “Oh,
Louise!,” Frankie sang out. “So much fuss!
(Look at her! She’s measuring!) Dollface!
Just dump it in a glass and come join us!
We’re playing ‘If you were a drag queen,
what would your name be?’ Ken wants to
be LaJolla Jacksonville. I’m Her Majesty
LaFrancine, the OxyQueen. Who the hell
are you?”
The Negroni (original recipe)
• 1-oz Beefeater gin
• 1-oz Campari
• 3/4-oz sweet vermouth
Mix the three liquors in a shaker filled
with ice. Shake, and then strain into a prechilled martini glass.
The Negroni (my way)
• 1-part Beefeater gin
• 1-part Campari
• a splash of sweet vermouth
Follow the same mixing instructions as
above. But I like to taste gin and Campari
more than sweet vermouth, so I drastically reduce the vermouth. Try the original
recipe first, then play around.
Ed Sikov is the author of Dark Victory;
The Life of Bette Davis and other books
about films and filmmakers.
ACCESSline Page 24
the fun guide
SEPTEMBER 2010
Eat Gay Love by Chris Azzopardi
Ryan Murphy talks about his new Julia Roberts film, pushing the gay on Glee and doing the Wicked movie
We did focus groups with women who
loved the book—many, many women. In a
book that’s become a classic and a bible to so
many women, you have an obligation to them,
so I had a list of like 10 parts of the book that
had to go in. And then Liz Gilbert (thought)
the scene where Julia cries on the bathroom
floor was the most important scene for her in
the movie, because she felt that in her travels
that’s the scene that women came up to her
the most to discuss.
You’ve left your gay mark on this
movie, too, by including references to
Cher and Liza and a nice, gratuitous
visual: a man’s hot ass.
Look, I love a good Liza joke. The Cher
thing is in the book. The ass shot: What can
I say?
How do you think gay people can
relate to Elizabeth’s self-searching
journey?
Gay men typically (go on) a lot of
Ryan Murphy and Glee star Chris Colfer,
searches—coming
out of the closet and then
who plays Kurt, at Comic-Con in July.
getting
a
partner.
I
never really had those
Photo: Fox
issues for myself because I always just was
Glee is all Ryan Murphy must be feeling what I was and dealt with it when I was 15.
these days. Already on fire from his gay- I do think gay men by and large are probably
worshipped TV megahit, the 44-year-old more tuned into their emotional feelings, and
director’s second feature, Eat Pray Love, the book really moved me because I went
adapted from the wildly popular memoir and through a horrible, horrible breakup. The
out Aug. 13, is soul-searching summer movie worst one I’ve ever had.
That idea for gay men of finding balance
bait relishing in delicious dishes (not just
James Franco), picturesque landscapes and is very, very important—and hard, because
Julia Roberts. The actress plays the book’s there’s no template for it. None of us have
author, Elizabeth Gilbert, as she leaves her any role models, really. When you’re a
frazzled life behind
heterosexual, you
for a globetrotting
That idea for gay men of finding have your parents,
jaunt, some solitude
have society.
balance is very, very important—and you
and a good plate of
When you’re gay,
hard, because there’s no template for you don’t. And so
pasta.
Go figure, then, it. None of us have any role models, you have to figure
that Murphy—
out as you go
really. When you’re a heterosexual, italong.
who made his film
That’s what
debut in 2006 with you have your parents, you have the book is about:
Running with Scis- society. When you’re gay, you don’t. Who do I want to
sors while cutting
become? And that’s
And so you have to figure it out as what
through TV, before
she learns.
he created Glee, you go along. That’s what the book I really related to
with Nip/Tuck—is is about: Who do I want to become? that.
nibbling on some
always
And that’s what she learns. I really haveDoayou
strawberries from
personal
somewhere just as related to that.
connection to your
exotic: the Bardesprojects?
sono hotel tucked away in the quaint Napa
I have to or I can’t do them. I really
Valley, Calif. There, during our one-on-one had a personal connection with Running
chat, he dishes on his connection to Eat with Scissors that I later found out was my
Pray Love, how other queer people might mother—the wrong reason to do a movie, by
relate to the movie and his plans for gaying the way. I had a really deep connection with
up Season 2 of Glee, regardless of what the Nip/Tuck; I just loved the themes of it—the
world thinks.
themes of self-loathing and physicality. And
There’s a running theme of self-dis- I really have a deep connection to Glee. I’ve
covery in all your projects, from Running sung my whole life, I acted, all that. That’s
with Scissors to Glee and now with Eat the optimistic side of my personality. The
Pray Love. Why do you gravitate toward best part of me is that show. And I really had
that subject?
a connection to this book. I loved it before I
I always figure that out when I’m coming even got the job offer.
out with something. I don’t know why. I think
Have you been offered the film adaphonestly because I’m from Indiana and I tation of Wicked, as it’s been said?
grew up with big dreams, and in my work I
No, no, no. They’re in no rush to make
do reinvent myself all the time and I try to that movie.
figure out my life with my work.
You’re in the prospective directors
With Eat Pray Love, the book covers a pool, though, right?
lot more history, spirituality and characSo I’m told. I find it very flattering. I just
ters than the film. What did you feel was read that, but I haven’t been contacted yet.
most important to take from the book I love Wicked and I’ve done songs from the
and adapt for the movie?
show on Glee. I love what it’s about. It’s about
female empowerment, and my work is about
empowerment. I’d be thrilled if I was offered
it. I would not expect it.
Speaking of Glee, it’s been said that
Kurt’s boyfriend has been pushed back.
Is he still getting one in Season 2?
He is—probably toward the end. I can only
speak from experience, but he’s in that mode
of wanting a boyfriend and when people do
that, it never happens. Only when you let go
does it come. He’s so desperate for it that the
more he pushes for it the more the universe will
deprive him of that—and that’s what happens
when you’re 16 years old. I want him to struggle
with it and finally give up. When he gives up is
when it’s going to happen. That’s always been
the way it is for me.
And the Brittany/Santana kiss that’s
been all the talk—will it involve tongue?
Oh yeah. Listen, I know on a show like
Modern Family that seems to be a big debate,
which I think is ridiculous. I don’t even understand why that’s even, in this day and age, a
discussion. I remember we were writing about
that 15 years ago when Roseanne was on the
air. Have we not progressed? It’s not a big
deal anymore! Why do you need a Facebook
campaign about two men kissing? That’s
hideous. I might just have them kiss in every
episode just to show people that the earth didn’t
stop moving. Maybe because I’m gay it’s my
job to be the person who does that.
Julia Roberts:
Somebody to Love by Chris Azzopardi
America’s Sweetheart on filming ‘Eat Pray Love,’ her relationship with Ryan Murphy and pigging out on pizza
Julia Roberts could never be a carbconscious gay man. While filming Eat Pray
Love, she ate starch like she was making a
fashion statement. Take after take of pizzashoveling and pasta-sucking left the lovable
A-list actress almost 10 pounds heavier, and
rightfully burned out on Italian food.
“The deliciousness of something wears
a tiny bit after piece seven,” says Roberts, 42,
who plays the memoir’s author, Elizabeth
Gilbert. “I sort of relished just wolfing it down
because I just felt like she was so excited to
be there. She was so excited to be eating
this pizza, and I would eat an entire slice in
a take. I don’t know why I thought that was
a great idea!”
No worries, though: “I loved every
pound,” she says proudly from a press
conference in Napa Valley, Calif., where she’s
deliciously charming as she unleashes her
bellowing laugh and luminous smile like
only Roberts can.
Food appropriately brought Roberts
and director Ryan Murphy, the creator of
Glee, together before they shot on-location
in Italy, India and Indonesia. The two met for
lunch, but the legendary actress, who hasn’t
truly anchored a film since Erin Brockovich
and Runaway Bride a decade ago, wasn’t sure
if being a mommy would allow her time for
Murphy’s project. She deliberated for weeks,
and finally agreed to take on the film.
That’s when their “love affair,” as Roberts
coins it, began: “I put a lot of eggs in his basket
and he never, for one second of five months
of traveling, let me down, never wasn’t there
to hold my hand, coax me into another bowl
of pasta or just give me that extra piece of
encouragement that I needed.”
Roberts was already familiar with
Murphy’s work, like Nip/Tuck, which she
watched when her hands weren’t guarding
her eyes from the gory surgeries. But working
CORONATION
in Canada.
After forty five years of noble deeds, the
International Court System has reasons to
Photo: Columbia Pictures
with the director for Eat Pray Love really left
a lasting impression on her (so much so that
the two are teaming for another Sony Pictures
feature, a romantic comedy)—especially
when temps were scorching and they were,
believe it or not, starving.
“He’d extract some prepositional phrase
(from the book), and it would make all the
difference,” Roberts recalls. “It would just
bloom; the whole idea of what we were trying
to accomplish over and over again would just
take flight at his helm. It’s his second movie.
How?! I don’t even know how it happened,
but then we leave as in love as we were the
first day, and that says a lot ... because we
went through a lot. We actually really are
interested in each other—still.”
That loving feeling was mutual, as
Murphy says: “One of the things that made
me love Julia so much (was) she thought one
of the reasons why the book was so successful
(was) because it gave women permission to
eat. Julia was so right when she said that, and
we tried to bring that spirit to the movie.”
Despite all the gluttonous chowing down
she did in Eat Pray Love—the six bowls of
pasta, the eight slices of pizza—Roberts is
still giving herself that permission. Just how
much?
“Tons,” she says, without hesitation. “It
can’t slow me down.”
feel proud. Today we remain a strong, viable
and important member of the LGBT communities. For beyond the glitters of our crown
and grand titles, we have made a difference
in many people’s lives and earned a place in
LGBT history.
SEPTEMBER 2010
the fun guide
ACCESSline Page 25
Out of Town: Cruising and Touring Alaska—A Primer on Gay
Travel in America’s Last Frontier by Andrew Collins
I recently returned from my second
trip to America’s largest and least populated (by density) state, Alaska. These facts
aren’t a big surprise to most people, but
sometimes it’s difficult to grasp the state’s
sheer dimensions—for example, Alaska is
about 15 times bigger than Pennsylvania,
but Pennsylvania has 17 times the number
of residents. Beyond coming up with startling (and geographically geeky) trivia facts
like these, it’s difficult to describe Alaska’s
terrain and scenery without resorting to
trite superlatives.
It’s truly a land you need to visit to
even begin to comprehend. The leading
highlights for most visitors are up-close
views of massive glaciers (dozens of them in
some areas), a fascinating array of wildlife,
and North America’s highest peak (20,320foot Mt. McKinley, in Denali National Park).
Alaska also offers some of the world’s most
exciting kayaking, fishing, rafting, hiking and
camping (not to mention dog-sledding). This
is a state rich in history—from indigenous
culture to tales of Russian trappers and U.S.
gold-fortune seekers. And the abundance of
delicious fresh seafood makes this a terrific
dining destination. Alaska is ideally suited to
outdoorsy travelers, but—thanks to cruise
ships and scenic railroads—it’s also relatively easy to enjoy the natural beauty from
a comfy and controlled environment.
Is There a Gay Scene in
Alaska?
Let’s put it this way: I wouldn’t recommend traveling to Alaska expressly to partake
of gay nightlife, or meeting other “family.”
Anchorage is a large, modern city with a
couple of gay bars, including the extremely
fun and friendly dance club Mad Myrna’s
(www.alaska.net/~madmyrna)—you’ll
also find some excellent museums and
many stellar restaurants in Anchorage. The
state’s second largest city, Fairbanks, has a
small but active LGBT scene, some of it tied
in Alaska’s oldest college, the University of
Alaska Fairbanks.
Juneau, with a population of about
30,000, is the state capital and is generally
considered the most progressive city in the
state—a fair number of gay folks live here,
and bars and restaurants are generally quite
friendly. Also noteworthy is tiny but funky
Talkeetna, midway between Anchorage and
Denali National Park. This cool little village
is a great base for exploring Denali and a
haven of free-spirits (it was the inspiration
for TV’s Northern Exposure). Throughout
Alaska, and especially around Anchorage,
you’ll find many gay-owned and gay-friendly
inns and B&Bs. There’s a good list of these at
PurpleRoofs.com (http://bit.ly/adKK7L).
An excellent general LGBT resource for
the state is BentAlaska.com, a website with
events, news, and organizations of interest
to the community, plus a list of gay-friendly
businesses.
Taking a Cruise in Alaska
Even if you’re not especially enamored of
cruise vacations, traveling by boat is without
question the best way to see southeastern
Alaska’s scenery, including areas like Glacier
Harvard Glacier is one of the highlights of a cruise through Alaska’s breathtaking College
Fjord. Photo by Andrew Collins
Bay National Park and College Fjord. Many
major cruise lines offer Alaska cruises, with
Holland America Line (hollandamerica.com)
and Princess Cruises (princess.com) offering
the greatest variety of itineraries, along with
the exceptional line of smaller, upscale ships,
Cruise West (cruisewest.com).
These are all extremely gay-friendly and
gay-popular cruise lines. Several LGBT-oriented tour operators, notably RSVP Vacations
(rsvpvacations.com), Olivia (olivia.com), and
Atlantis (atlantisevents.com) book all-gay
charter trips on some of the major lines that
ply Alaska waters, including Holland America
and Princess, as well as Carnival (carnival.
com), Celebrity (celebritycruises.com),
Norwegian (http://www2.ncl.com), and
Royal Caribbean (royalcaribbean.com). Also
note that such ultra-luxurious lines as Silversea (silverseaships.com) and Regent Seven
Seas (rssc.com) regularly visit Alaska.
Even on cruises booked to the general
public, you’ll nearly always find gay and
lesbian passengers (and certainly some
crew). And on these cruises, there’s usually
at least one and sometimes several LGBT
mixers or meet-ups onboard during the
week. If you’d like to find other gay travelers
booked on the same cruise, or read other
LGBT feedback related to cruise travel,
check out the gay/lesbian cruising forum at
Cruisemates.com (cruisemates.com/forum/
gay-lesbian-cruising).
I can speak very positively about
Alaska cruises based on my recent sailing
aboard Holland America’s exceptionally
well-outfitted Statendam. I traveled with
my family, seven of us altogether, and we
chose a particularly glacier-intensive itinerary, through the Inside Passage, with calls
at Ketchikan, Juneau (my favorite), and
Skagway, plus a day each sailing through
Glacier Bay and College Fjord. I’m not, for the
record, a general fan of cruise vacations—just
a personal preference, as I’m more partial
to the freedom of road-tripping, and traveling without a set itinerary. But this Holland
America cruise was a wonderful adventure
from start (out of Vancouver) to finish (in
Seward). And if you are planning a trip with
a few friends or relatives, a cruise can be
ideal in terms of logistics, value and the pure
fun of sharing countless memorable experiences together.
Alaska cruises range greatly in price,
starting for as little as $600 per person,
based on double-occupancy, with an inside
cabin on one of the less-fancy ships that visit
the region, such as the Carnival Spirit or
Norwegian Star—this is also assuming you
book during the shoulder months (May and
September). For a stateroom with balcony
on an upscale line like Holland America,
expect to pay $1,500 or more, depending on
the size of the cabin, the particular ship, and
the time of sailing (June through August are
high season). And if there were ever a great
time to splurge for a balcony cabin, it’s an
Alaska cruise, as a huge part of the experience is observing the magnificent scenery
from aboard the ship.
If you’re averse to organized-group
travel, would like to combine driving your
own car with traveling by ship, or simply
enjoy the excitement and relative affordability of ferry-boat transportation, consider
a do-it-yourself version of an Alaska cruise:
traveling the Alaska Maritime Highway
System (dot.state.ak.us/amhs/index.shtml).
You can get around via this extensive network
of state-operated ferries, just as many Alas-
kans get from town to town, either without
a car or—at considerably greater expense—
with one. This is an adventurous way to sail
through the Inside Passage, starting either
down in Bellingham, Washington, or much
closer to Alaska in the Canadian port city of
Prince Rupert. The ferry stops at all the major
towns in southeast Alaska.
You can also sail via the ferry system
through Prince William Sound and to Kodiak
Island (with stops in Valdez, Cordova, Whittier, Homer, and others), or through southwestern Alaska’s remote Aleutian Chain,
from Chignik all the way to Unalaska/Dutch
Harbor. Again, traveling with a car and sleeping onboard in cabins can make this a fairly
costly trip—figure on about $800 to $900
for two passengers, a car, and a cabin for a
one-way trip from Port Rupert to Skagway.
But you can choose an itinerary that allows
you to get on and off at a number of ports,
and it’s still cheaper and allows for greater
flexibility than a cruise.
Touring Alaska on Land
Whether you reach Alaska by cruise
ship, plane or car (the 2,300-mile drive from
Great Falls, Montana to Fairbanks on the
Alaska-Canada Highway is quite a memorable undertaking), it’s worth taking some
time to explore some parts of the state’s
rugged and largely unspoiled interior.
Many cruise lines offer one-way itineraries as opposed to “loop” itineraries (that
return you back to Vancouver, Seattle, or
wherever the cruise started). These begin or
end in Alaska, typically in a port that’s relatively close to Anchorage, such as Whittier
or Seward. This latter community, home to
the superb Alaska SeaLife Center aquarium
and Kenai Fjords National Park, is where my
recent Holland America cruise ended.
From here my family and I rented a
couple of cars and explored the area, continued on to Anchorage, and then spent two
nights up in Talkeetna. Other notable areas
within relatively easy driving distance of
Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula include
the charming little vacation town of Girdwood, which is home to upscale Alyeska
Resort; Homer, a popular fishing town; and
Whittier, which has kayaking and boating on
Prince William Sound plus access to several
TTOUT OF TOWN continued page 28
the fun guide
ACCESSline Page 26
SEPTEMBER 2010
Book Marks by Richard Labonte
Inseparable:
Desire Between
Women
in Literature
by Emma Donoghue
Alfred A. Knopf
271 pages
$27.95 hardcover.
There’s more to
lesbian lit than Radclyffe
Hall’s The Well of
Loneliness or Patricia
Highsmith’s The Price
of Salt—and novelist
Donoghue (Slammerkin
and the forthcoming Room) has done the
research to prove it. With completely accessible (and often witty) prose married to
rigorous academic research, this is a treasure trove focused on writing about girl-girl
Across
1 Auntie disestablishmentarian?
relationships from the
medieval to the modern.
Donoghue’s reach is
broad, encompassing
everything from Agatha
Christie to the Marquis
de Sade, H. Rider
Haggard to Henry James,
and Ovid to Ann Bannon,
invoking the faintest of
crushes as much as the
most intense of lesbian
gazes. Somewhat fancifully—though it does
provide colorful structure—the book breaks
lavender-hued prose
into what the author
calls “perennially popular” plots, including
Travesties (cross-dressing that leads to
accidental same-sex desire) and Monsters
(wicked women). A chronological listing of
book titles is useful for readers who want to
graze the centuries of prose that Donoghue
has uncovered, writing that ranges from
the heights of Shakespeare and Jane Eyre
to some truly horrific potboilers.
Yield
by Lee Houck, Kensington Books
288 pages, $15 paper
Simon, the moody yet affable narrator
of this engaging debut, shuffles dusty and
dated hospital records while augmenting
his income by selling blow-jobs, golden
showers and other sexual favors to an array
of clients – some more kinky than others.
Among his friends are Louis, a breathtakingly beautiful model who in the course of
the story is gay-bashed; Farmer, described
as “everything good about humanity rolled
into a squat, wrestler-like package”; Jaron,
an enigmatic and anorexic self-mutilator;
and, eventually, Aidan, a quirky client Simon
met in the neighborhood Laundromat
and with whom he gradually falls in love.
Q-PUZZLE: “Not Your Average Joe”
5 Sweet ___ (1998 film with a boy with AIDS)
9 Haul ass
13 Aid’s partner
14 Lot measurement
15 Holiday season
16 2004 film with a gay hustler
19 Newton, who got hit on the head by a fruit
20 Make up
21 Double curve in a pipe
22 Ed Wood Best Supporting Actor Martin
27 Eligible for soc. sec.
28 Shirley of Sweet Charity
30 2003 film with a Mormon homophobe
32 Singer Anita
34 Puts out
35 Allergic reaction
38 Baldwin and Frank
40 Brief tussle
41 Gaydar, for example
42 Beat up on
47 “Got a Rainbow” lyricist Gershwin
48 Opposite of swill
49 Marcos of the Philippines
50 “La Cage ___ Folles”
58 Do-overs for Amelie Mauresmo
51 Joseph, who played the parts in 5, 16, and
59 Series ender
30-Across
60 Drag queen in a men’s dorm?
54 Preceder of many words?
61 Highland dialect
55 Gay ___ Sutra
62 Lairs of bears
56 Nick’s time
63 Common connections
Down
1 She came between Bess and Jackie
2 Immeasurably vast hole
3 High places with flat tops
4 Jazz singer James
5 Canning container
Houck writes about these 20-something
queers with perfect emotional pitch as they
scramble to make their way in contemporary Manhattan, negotiating friendships
that nourish them, embracing activism in
reaction to the epidemic of gay-bashing that
felled Louis, and navigating uncertain years
of youthful drift. Houck’s novel, a brilliant
beyond-coming-out story, captures big-city
New York hustle with the values of smalltown heart.
“Where My Girls At?”
Women in Blacklight
1979-1985
edited by Sidney Brinkley, Blacklight
116 pages, $18.95 paper.
Brinkley, who edited the D.C.-based
magazine _Blacklight_ from 1979 to 1986,
culled his archives for this evocative history
of Black lesbians and feminists. It’s an
eclectic collection: fiction and poetry by
filmmaker Michelle Parkerson, poetry and
a coming-out account by Chiquita “Joe”
Bass, essays by S. Diane Bogus (on Black
lesbian invisibility) and Rev. Renee McCoy
(on the failure of the Black church), and two
interviews by Joseph Beam, editor of the
groundbreaking Black gay anthology _In
the Life_. The first is a “conversation” with
musician Linda Tillery, who shared stages
with the likes of Buddy Miles, Iron Butterfly
and Janis Joplin before launching her Olivia
Records career; the second—the only piece
TT
BOOK MARKS continued page 28
6 Sitcom actress Meyers
7 Keanu in The Matrix
8 What 50 million Frenchmen never drink
9 Part of SSS (abbr.)
10 Dinner at Eight director George
11 Garment with a flared bottom
12 Credo
17 Fame
18 Sweaty place
23 Beginning of Hairspray
24 NY Met or LA Dodger
25 Gloomy
26 As Is subject
28 Deli jarful
29 Charlotte Bronte’s heroine
30 Stereotypical hookers’ stations
31 Post-orgy state
32 Poems of Sappho
33 Todd Oldham, for one
36 Marched cockily
37 Trick
39 Word after he and she
40 Pole, for example
43 Like many types of tasty meat
44 Caesar’s milieu
45 Cher’s ex-husband Gregg
46 A sexually enlightened society, and more
52 Pink shade
53 Peru native
54 Suffix with duct
57 Wood and more
• SOLUTION ON PAGE 28
SEPTEMBER 2010
the fun guide
ACCESSline Page 27
PHOTOGRAPHER
QUAD CITIES: MASSAGE
IOWA CITY: INSURANCE
CEDAR RAPIDS: WINE & GIFTS
FREELANCE WRITER
the fun guide
ACCESSline Page 28
OUT OF TOWN
EVENTS
stunning glaciers. Farther afield and also
well-worth investigating are Denali National
Park (4 to 5 hours north of Anchorage), Fairbanks (2 hours farther north of Denali), and
Valdez (6 to 7 hours east of Anchorage).
One way to explore the interior without
a car, as far north as spectacular Denali
National Park and on up to Fairbanks, is via
the scenic Alaska Railroad (alaskarailroad.
com). Many Alaska cruises offer post- or
pre-trip options that includes several days
on the railroad, or you can book a your own
railroad package, which includes riding the
railroad’s gleaming railcars past incredible
scenery, tours at different stops, and overnight hotel accommodations. These packages
range from 5 to 12 nights and start around
$1,800 per person.
Shorter day trips are also available
on the Alaska Railroad—among the most
rewarding itineraries are the ride from
Anchorage to Denali (starting around $150),
and the Glacier Discovery Trains to Grandview (starting around $85).
Another great option is to book a trip
with a local outfitter. Based in Fairbanks,
Out in Alaska (outinalaska.com) is a highly
reputable, gay-owned tour operator that
offers exciting trips, both camping (starting
around $1,800 for six days) and hotel-based
(from $2,500 for seven days), to some of the
state’s most scenic areas. Out in Alaska trips
typically last a week to 10 days, have 5 to 10
participants, and include meals, transportation within the regions visited, activities,
and—in the case of camping—gear.
Some Out in Alaska trips are oriented
primarily toward sightseeing and might
cover major national parks (Denali, Kanai
Fjords, Wrangell-St. Elias) and the regions
around Fairbanks and Anchorage. The more
activity-driven trips—which can be themed
around glacier trekking, hiking, rafting, or
kayaking—venture into the state’s remote
wilderness, from the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge to the Yukon or Copper rivers. The
company also organizes small LGBT group
adventures on some of the mainstream
cruises offered through the Inside Passage.
However you explore this majestic land,
it’s absolutely worth the time and effort to
get yourself up here—and to plan on spending a minimum of seven days. When even
seasoned travelers talk about “trips of a
lifetime” and “most memorable travel experiences,” they’re often referring to adventures
they’ve undertaken in Alaska.
Andrew Collins covers gay travel for the
New York Times-owned website About.com
and is the author of Fodor’s Gay Guide to the
USA. He can be reached care of this publication
or at [email protected].
1st Wednesday of the Month, WOMEN’S
SACRED CIRCLE, 6:30-8pm, Prairiewoods
Franciscan Spirituality Center, 120 E. Boyson Rd,
Hiawatha, IA 52233. This group is for women
who are interested in gathering for spiritual
growth. The direction and activities of the group
are determined by participants. $5 per session.
For more info, visit www.prairiewoods.org. [
LW]
1st Wednesday of the Month, CONNECTIONS’ RAINBOW READING GROUP, 7pm,
Iowa City Public Library Meeting Room B, 123
South Linn Street, Iowa City, IA 52240. For more
info, contact Todd at: [email protected]. [ L
GBTMWA]
2nd Wednesday of the Month, STONEWALL
DEMOCRATS, THE GLBT CAUCUS OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY, 6:30-8pm, Hamburger
Mary’s CR, 222 Glenbrook Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids,
IA 52403. For more info, contact Harvey Ross at
[email protected] or call 319-389-0093.
[LGBTMWA]
2nd Wednesday of the Month, WOMEN
FOR PEACE KNITTERS, 7-9pm, Hiawatha,
IA . at Prairiewoods, 120 E. Boyson Rd., Hiawatha. Knitting, crocheting, and discussion. For
more info, call 319-377-3252 or go to www.
womenforpeace-iowa.org. All ages and levels
of needlework skills welcome. Come knit for
charities. [ L W ]
Every Wednesday, HOT MESS EXPRESS,
9:30pm, Des Moines Social Club, 1408 Locust
St., Des Moines, IA . The hottest most messiest
citizens of Des Moines providing a comedic
look at the hottest most messiest current events
around the world. Featuring: Paul Selberg, Rachel C. Johnson, Kelley Robinson & Tyler Reedy
[LGBTA]
Every Wednesday, TRANSFORMATIONS
IOWA, 7-9pm, The Center, 1300 Locust, Des
Moines, IA 50309. TransformationsIowa is a
Transgender support group. It is open to all
ranges of the gender spectrum, male to female,
female to male, cross dressers, drag queens,
gender queer, questioning, as well as friends,
significant others and allies. [ T D ]
Every Wednesday, U OF I GAY LESBIAN BISEXUAL TRANSGENDER AND ALLIES UNION
MEETINGS, 7-9pm, Iowa City, IA . at the Penn
State Room #337 of the Iowa Memorial Union,
U. of Iowa campus, Iowa City. For more info,
visit http://www.uiowa.edu/~glbtau/ or e-mail
[email protected]. These meetings are open to
the public. [ L G B T M W A ]
Second Wednesday, OUT NETWORKING,
5:30, Des Moines Social Club, 1408 Locust St,
Des Moines, IA 50309. A social, business, and
philanthropic networking organization for anyone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered,
questioning or supportive. The group presents
year-round events focused on business, culture,
community, and philanthropic subjects. [ L G
BTA]
Thursday
1st 3rd Thursday, EVENINGS FOR SPIRIT,
6:30-8:30pm, West Branch, IA . at SpiritHill Retreat, 604 Cedar Valley Road, West Branch. First,
third, and fifth Thursdays of each month. Women
gather at SpiritHill (or other locations) to share
our spiritual experiences, visions and longings.
The evenings include time for sharing and time
for silence. Laughter, tears and singing are often
shared as well. No specific spiritual practice is
followed. This event is always open to newcomers. For more info, call 319-643-2613, or e-mail
[email protected]. Calling in advance is
highly recommended to confirm the location for
the specific month of interest. [ L W ]
2nd Thursday of the Month, OPEN MIC
WITH MARY MCADAMS, 7-9pm, Des Moines,
IA. at Ritual Café, on 13th St. between Locust
and Grand, downtown Des Moines. Visit www.
ritualcafe.com. For more info, e-mail mary@
marymcadams.com. [ L G B T M W A ]
2nd Thursday of the Month, IOWA PFLAG
OMAHA/COUNCIL BLUFFS CHAPTER MEETING, 7pm (6:30pm social time), Omaha, IA . at
Mead Hall, First United Methodist Church, 7020
Cass St., Omaha. For more info, call 402-2916781. [ L G B T M W A K ]
3rd Thursday of the Month, OPEN MIC
HOSTED BY KIMBERLI, 7-10pm, Cedar Rapids,
IA . at the Blue Strawberry Coffee Company (now
open after the flood), 118 2nd St. SE, Downtown
Cedar Rapids. Signup at 6:30pm or by e-mailing
[email protected] the week prior to the
open mic. [ L G B T M W A ]
3rd Thursday of the Month, LGBTQI YOUTH
MOVIE NIGHT AT THE CENTER, 6:30-10pm,
The CENTER, 1300 Locust, Des Moines, IA . This
is part of the LGBTQI youth program, anyone 24
years old and younger is welcome. Come down
spend the evening with your friends and make
some new ones. 515-243-0313 [ L G B T + ]
3rd Thursday of the Month, IOWA PFLAG
DUBUQUE/TRI-STATE CHAPTER MEETING,
7pm, Dubuque, IA . at St. John’s Lutheran Church,
1276 White St., Dubuque. For more info, call
563-582-9388. [ L G B T M W A K ]
3rd Thursday of the Month, CONNECTIONS
GAME NIGHT, 7-9pm, Iowa City, IA . at Donnelly’s
Pub, 110 E. College St., in downtown Iowa City.
[LGBTMWA]
4th Thursday of the Month, PROFESSIONAL
WOMEN’S NETWORK (PWN), For more info,
visit www.pwn.org, e-mail [email protected], or call
Shelley Woods at 319-981-9887. [ L W ]
4th Thursday of the Month, THE GLBT
READING GROUP, 7:30pm, Cedar Rapids, IA
. Red Cross Building at 6300 Rockwell Dr. NE,
Cedar Rapids. The group is open to new members; contact [email protected]
for further info. [ L G B T M W A ]
Every Thursday and Friday, SHANNON JANSSEN, 6-10pm, Cedar Rapids, IA . Dawn’s Hide
and Bead Away, 220 E. Washington St., Iowa City.
Shannon performs a variety of music including
original songs on the Grand Piano in the hotel’s
beautiful atrium. No reservations required. [ L
GBTMWA]
Last Thursday of the Month, DRAG KING
SHOW, 9pm-2am, Studio 13, 13 S. Linn St, Iowa
City, IA 52240. The show starts EARLY at 9pm,
so all you fans under 21 (meaning 19 & 20)
can come for a jam packed hour of show! Your
kings will also have another photo signing with
awesome king swag! Plus, a SECOND mini show
after the signing!!! $3 Bomb shots, $2 Calls and
Domestics, and $1 Wells and shots! Cover is only
$3! [ L G B T D ]
Friday
1st Friday of the Month, FAIRFIELD ART
WALK, Fairfield, IA. For more info, visit www.
FairfieldArtWalk.com. [ L G B T M W A ]
1st Friday of the Month, GUERRILLA QUEER
BAR MEETUP!, Tired of the same old bars?
Crave the idea of bringing your queer and
straight friends together in a fun, new environment? We’re descending upon an unsuspecting
straight bar and turning it into a gay bar for
the night. To join in: join our Facebook group,
Google group or Twitter feed. You’ll receive an
email the morning of each event with the name
of a classically hetero bar and the meeting time.
Call your friends, have them call their friends,
show up at the bar and watch as it becomes the
new “it” gay bar for one night only. Visit http://
groups.google.com/group/iowa-city-guerrillaqueer-bar. [ L G B T M W A ]
1st Friday of the Month, FIRST FRIDAY
BREAKFAST CLUB, Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Avenue, Des Moines, IA 95030. The First
Friday Breakfast Club (FFBC) is an educational,
non-profit corporation for gay men who gather
on the first Friday of every month to provide
mutual support, to be educated on community
affairs, and to further educate community opinion leaders with more positive images of gay
men. It is the largest breakfast club in the state
of Iowa. Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland
Avenue, Des Moines, IA 95030. Contact Jonathan Wilson at (515) 288-2500 or email: info@
ffbciowa.org [ G B ]
1st Friday of the Month, DAWN’S COFFEE
HOUSE, 5-8pm, Iowa City, IA . Dawn’s Hide and
Bead Away, 220 E. Washington St., Iowa City.
First Friday of every month between February 6 and December 4. Music and light snacks
are provided. Proceeds from the door are split
between the non-profit of the month and the
store (to cover the cost of snacks). Any other
donations received go 100% to the non-profit.
$3 cover. For more info, phone 319-338-1566.
[LGBTMWA]
SEPTEMBER 2010
2nd and 4th Friday, DRUMMING CIRCLE,
7pm, Cedar Rapids, IA . Unity Center of Cedar
Rapids, 3791 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids.
Every 2nd and 4th Friday of the each month. For
more info, call 319-431-7550. [ G M ]
3rd Friday of the Month, OLD-TIME DANCE
FOR ALL, 8pm, Iowa City, IA . A Barn Dance 12
miles east of Iowa City at Scattergood Friends
School. A Barn Dance 12 miles east of Iowa City
at Scattergood Friends School. Admission is
$5.00 per person. Singles and couples, beginners
and veterans welcome. The music is live, and all
dances are taught and called (that is, prompted
while the music is playing). Note: (1) same-sex
couples are common at these dances, (2) they’re
no-alcohol, no-smoking events, (3) every dance
is taught, so beginners are welcome, and (4)
people can attend alone or with a partner. People
of a variety of ages show up, and the atmosphere
is friendly and inclusive. For more info, phone
319-643-7600 or e-mail [email protected].
[LGBTMWA]
Saturday
4th Saturday of the Month, LESBIAN BOOK
CLUB, 7pm, Davenport, IA . is reading books by
or about lesbians. Non-lesbians are welcome to
attend. All meetings are held at the Unitarian
Universalist Church, 3707 Eastern Ave., Davenport. For more info, call 563-359-0816. [ L ]
4th Saturday of the Month, TANGOVIA,
7:30pm, Iowa City, IA . join area tango dancers at the Wesley Center, 120 N. Dubuque St.,
Iowa City. Enjoy a candlelit evening of dance,
hors d’oeuvres, and conversation in a relaxed
atmosphere. Cost is $5. Partner not necessary.
Beginners welcome to come at 7pm for an
introductory lesson. For more info, call Gail at
319-325-9630, e-mail [email protected], or
visit www.tangovia.com. [ L G B T M W A D ]
Every Saturday, WOMEN FOR PEACE IOWA,
Noon to 1PM, Collins Rd NE & 1st Ave SE, Cedar
Rapids, IA 52402. hosting Weekly Street Corner
Vigils for peace, rain or shine. Meet at the corner
of 1st Ave. and Collins Rd. SE (in front of Granite
City Brewery), Cedar Rapids. Show your support for our troops by calling for their return
from Iraq. For more info, e-mail khall479@aol.
com. [ L G B T M W A K D ]
Every Saturday, BAILE LATINO: SALSA,
CHA-CHA, MERENGUE AND BACHATA LESSONS, 3:30-5:30pm, Cedar Rapids, IA . taught
by Gloria Zmolek, at CSPS, 1103 3rd St. SE, Cedar
Rapids. No experience or partner necessary.
All ages welcome. No sign-up required. $5 per
person requested. For more info, contact Gloria
at 319-365-9611 or visit www.crsalsa.org. [ L G
BTMWAKD]
Or as Mr. Lesbian says, “A
community that does not treasure its elders, does not deserve
their wisdom.” And that about
sums it up.
—From the article “In Praise of
Older Women” by Janis Ian,
The Advocate, January 6,
1997.
BOOK MARKS
that didn’t originally appear in the magazine,
though Brinkley notes he has no idea why
it wasn’t published – records an insightful
encounter with poet and essayist Audre
Lorde. Reports on Black lesbian conferences
in 1980 and 1981 are potent reminders that
the queer community gains of recent years
are the direct result of the early cultural and
political activism showcased here.
Richard Labonte has been reading,
editing, selling, and writing about queer
literature since the mid-‘70s. He can be
reached in care of this publication or at
[email protected].
ACCESSline Page 29
Welcoming Congregation
First Friday Breakfast Club:
Workshop Series At Peoples Church Life at Blank Park a Zoo
Unitarian Universalist
for CEO Vukovich
SEPTEMBER 2010
Homophobia, biphobia, transphobia,
and heterosexism. All of these and more
will be explored, along with individual
and collective attitudes and behaviors, in a
series of workshops to be facilitated by the
Marriage Equality Task Force of Peoples
Church Unitarian Universalist.
Peoples Church members are embarking on a journey to reaffirm and recertify
the congregation as a “Welcoming Congregation,” and to heighten awareness
of the issues facing gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender people. All interested
members of the community are invited to
participate, as well. The workshops will
meet on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to
10:45 am and will run from September
12 through October 31 at 600 3rd Ave.
SE, Cedar Rapids.. The series will include
such topics as:
•
•
•
•
•
•
How Homophobia Hurts Us All
Gender Socialization & Homophobia
Religion and Sexuality
Responding to the Radical Right
Bisexuality and Biphobia
Transgender Identity
The Welcoming Congregation workshop series is an introspective and interactive educational journey into the issues
surrounding the lives of bisexual, gay,
lesbian, and transgender members of our
church and community. The goal is to help
make the church and wider community a
more welcoming place for all.
We invite you to join us on this journey. All are Welcome. There is no charge
for the workshop. For more information,
please call the church at 362-9827 on
weekdays or visit the church’s website at
www.peoplesuu.org.
by Jennifer Merriman, One Iowa
In an effort to improve campus life for
students, staff and faculty, the University
of Northern Iowa is hosting a series of
events in September and October called
“Standing on Higher Ground: LGBT Dialogue & Reflection around Civility”. The
events include award-winning LGBTthemed movies, panel discussions and an
appearance by Judy Shepard.
action and established the Matthew
Shepard Foundation to carry on Matthew’s legacy. In her continuing role as
board president, she travels across the
nation speaking to audiences about what
they can do as individuals and communities to make this world a more accepting
place for everyone, regardless of race,
religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity
and expression, or sexual orientation.
Speaking from a mother’s perspective,
Judy also authored a 2009 memoir, “The
Meaning of Matthew.”
‘Standing on Higher Ground’
events at UNI
The Rainbow Reception
September 1, 7-9pm
The Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing
Arts Center (GBPAC) Lobby, UNI
The Rainbow Reception is an event to
welcome LGBT and ally students, faculty
and staff back to campus. Join us for an
evening of information sharing, networking, fellowship, and dessert.
Movie: The Laramie Project
September 13, 5-7pm
University Book & Supply, Cedar Falls
Moisés Kaufman and members of
New York’s Tectonic Theater Project went
to Laramie, Wyoming, after the murder of
Matthew Shepard.
This is a film version of the play they
wrote based on more than 200 interviews
they conducted in Laramie. It mixes real
news reports with actors portraying
friends, family, cops, killers, and other
Laramie residents in their own words. It
opened the 2002 Sundance Film Festival
and was nominated for four Emmys.
Lecture: Judy Shepard
September 16, 7:30pm
GBPAC, UNI
Free for UNI students
In October 1998, Judy and Dennis
Shepard lost their 21-year-old son Matthew to a murder motivated by anti-gay
hate. Determined to prevent others
from suffering their son’s fate, Judy and
Dennis decided to turn their grief into
Panel Discussion: The Politics of Gay
Marriage in Iowa
September 21, 7-8:30pm
Waterloo Center for the Arts
Join us for an evening of dialogue,
presented by One Iowa, with panelists
representing legal, religious, PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and
Gays) and same-sex couples.
Safety & Learning: Optimal School
Environments for LGBT Students,
moderated by Dr. Nick Pace
September 27, 4-5pm
Center for Multicultural Education,
UNI
Join a panel of educators and students
for sharing of experiences and suggestions on how we can collaboratively
ensure optimal learning environments
for LGBT students.
Life-Long University Course, with
Scott Cawelti
October 4-6, 10am-noon
Fee: $20; To register: call 319-2735141
This course is an analysis and discussion of the 2002 film “The Laramie
Project,” a 97-minute feature employing
53 actors, many of them well known
(Christina Ricci, Steve Buscemi, Laura
TTHIGHER GROUND continued page 35
Lured from a brief retirement, a former car dealer
exec finds reward in leading
the revitalization of Des
Moines’ wild kingdom
When Directors of the Blank Park Zoo
were able to coax Mark Vukovich out of
a short-lived retirement and accept their
offer to become the new CEO, none would
have predicted the wild adventure that
followed. Since becoming the new ‘zoo
guy’ just over six months ago, Vukovich
has orchestrated a transformation that is
quickly changing a perception long held
by many of this premier Iowa tourist attraction. In his opening remarks at the
Aug. 6, 2010, meeting of the FFBC, guest
speaker Vukovich shared a snippet from
a conversation with outgoing Zoo CEO,
Terry Rich, that was instrumental in his
decision to take on the new role.
“Terry just happened to mention
that among the many reasons he felt I
would likely find the job so rewarding
was because everyone who visits the zoo
is happy,” Vukovich said. “And he followed
that by telling me everybody who works
at the zoo is also happy. In my previous
life [as car dealership exec] I can assure
you this was certainly not the case! So far
it has been a joyous experience.”
Founded in 1964 by a coalition
of prominent Des Moines families and
philanthropic community enthusiasts,
the Des Moines Children’s Zoo (as originally named) endured a modest existence
for more than two decades. In the early
1980’s, the facility became endangered
by several external threats and was in a
struggle to survive. Unable to fend off the
mounting challenges on its own, officials
agreed to close the Zoo temporarily in
1986 on conditions specified in a proposed bond referendum led by then City
councilmember Tim Urban that would
resurrect the facility in three years as a
‘true’ zoo.
The referendum passed with overwhelming support and plans for revamping the zoo were underway. In 1989, after
receiving a generous donation from the
Blank family, it reopened as the Blank
Park Zoo, and it has been making a sustained comeback ever since. Today the
Zoo is operated by a private foundation
represented by many of the same supporters who first made it a reality over
40 years ago.
Long considered by most as little
more than a demure petting-zoo for young
children—with a few lions, tigers and
TTFFBC continued page 32
ACCESSline Page 30
SEPTEMBER 2010
SEPTEMBER 2010
ACCESSline Page 31
Inside Out: The Sting of Discrimination by Ellen Krug
The thing about discrimination is that
it can be random, sneaky, uncertain in timing, the kind of thing that appears when
you least expect it. I learned this several
years ago at a cultural camp in Cedar Falls
with other Caucasian parents who had
adopted Korean children. Our speaker
was a woman who had studied human
prejudice and discrimination behavior.
The idea was for us to get some idea of
what our children might experience as
they go forward in life.
Before this, I thought I knew all about
discrimination. I’m a lawyer after all, and
some of the most famous cases in history
involve righting the wrongs of racists. But
I was not prepared for what happened in
that room. I really had no clue about how
prejudice and discrimination affect the
discriminator’s target.
The instructor’s key point was that
discrimination can occur at any time. To
prove this, she lectured while walking
around the room, which was organized
in rows of chairs in which approximately
40 adults sat. As this woman walked up,
down, and in between rows, she would
occasionally slap someone on the back.
For twenty minutes, the sequence was the
instructor lecturing, then a “slap” sound,
followed by an “ouch” response, and then
more lecturing. It was completely random
whom she hit; some people got hit twice
or three times.
I know, all this sounds kind of silly.
But after a while, you got to dreading
this woman being in your presence, since
you didn’t know if she was going to slap
you or not. I just wanted this woman to
sit down.
She made her point. I was a white
person made uncomfortable by the irrational behavior of someone else. Lesson
learned.
This was equivalent to not knowing
whether someone is going to do or say
something to you because they dislike you
for who you are. It doesn’t matter if you are
Korean, or black or gay or transgendered.
Discrimination is discrimination, prejudice
is prejudice. And hatred is hatred.
In coming out as transgendered last
year, telling my clients and friends that “Ed”
would now be “Ellen,” I had thought things
might not go so well. Instead, I was greeted
by a plethora of phone calls, emails, and
letters congratulating me on finally being
ME. It was surprising, but welcomed.
I even had a set of clients, a husband
and wife, who believed in me so much they
let me try their case as a woman. I gave
them the option of me appearing as a man,
but they wanted me to be comfortable.
Hence, last summer I tried what I believe
was the first jury trial by a transgendered
lawyer in Iowa. I asked the jury not to hold
me, a transgendered person, against my
clients. Every juror promised they would
be fair. The jury was; after a four day trial,
the jury returned a verdict in favor of my
clients.
All of this made me think smooth sailing was ahead. Those Iowans, you know,
can be so damn progressive.
Then one day in August of last year, I
received a telephone call. An insurer in Boston wanted me to transfer two Iowa cases
to a Massachusetts lawyer, no explanation
as to why. This call came several weeks
after my coming out letter had gone to the
insurer, but the insurer assured me that the
letter had nothing to do with the transfer.
I boxed up six figures worth of work and
sent it out the door two days later.
This was followed by a telephone call
in November from my major client, a larger
business based in Iowa—a business for
which I had never lost a trial. “Effective
immediately, we are terminating your
services,” said the voice on the other end of
the telephone. When questioned why, I was
told there was some “slippage” in my work.
There had been no advance complaint of
this slippage.
I felt like my back had been slapped,
like I was in that room in Cedar Falls.
“The items were for my grandchildren, and they love their uncle Jake so much,
and Jake is gay, and they wouldn’t want to have things coming from a store that
contributes to a campaign that would have a governor candidate with the antigay
views that Tom Emmer has.”
—Ex-Target shopper, Randi Reitan, in a YouTube video in which she cuts up her
Target credit card in response to Target giving $150,000 to group backing antigay Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.
Then there was the time last summer
when I was flying to Boulder to see my
best friend, Thap, a guy I’ve known since
eighth grade and someone who has stuck
by me throughout the entire Ed-to-Ellen
process, no questions asked. Now there’s
a guy who can write a book about how to
conquer prejudice.
I entered the scanning area of the Cedar Rapids airport wearing a skirt, makeup, jewelry, and sporting nicely curled hair.
I had forgotten to remove my liquids, causing TSA to flag my luggage. As I stood there,
I remembered I needed something out of
the bag. I made the mistake of reaching into
the bag, which prompted the TSA person (a
big burly man) to shout, “take your hand
out of that bag SIR and back off.”
Boy, that hurt. Did he really need to
yell “sir” to make his point?
The latest discrimination occurred
in the form of a certified letter from Blue
Cross/Blue Shield of Minnesota. As a
male, I had sent Iowa BC/BS many tens of
thousands of dollars in premiums for not
much paid out in return. In moving north,
I secured health insurance with the Minnesota BC/BS cousin. That is, until late July
when they wrote advising they were cancelling my health insurance because I had
failed to disclose that I was transgendered
and that I was planning to have surgery (at
my own expense), something which they
called a “pre-existing condition.” I’m sorry,
their application had no questions about
whether I was transgendered or whether
I planned to have surgery.
A “pre-existing condition?” You have
to be kidding me. I never expected them
to pay for sex reassignment surgery, but as
I wrote to them afterwards, I’m a human
being. I’d like some protection against getting run over by a Mack truck. Or in case I
have a heart attack.
As I read that letter, I felt a slap on my
back. I am still feeling the sting.
Ellen Krug is a writer, lawyer, human.
She was a trial attorney for 28 years before
realizing there is more to life. She is now on
sabbatical to write a book, and if that does
not work out, to wait tables. She is parent
to two adult children and hoping for the
best, despite the odds. She can be reached
at [email protected].
ACCESSline Page 32
SEPTEMBER 2010
Wellness conference features Dan Buettner Young athlete rides for equality
‘Blue Zones’ author explores secrets to long, healthy life
DES MOINES – New York Times
best-selling author Dan Buettner will
explore the secrets to a long and healthy
life at The Wellness Council of Iowa’s
20th annual conference on workplace
wellness Thursday, September 23 at
the Hy-Vee Conference Center in West
Des Moines.
Buettner, author of The Blue Zones:
Lessons for Living Longer from the
People Who’ve Lived the Longest, uses
National Geographic photography to
tell the stories of five of the world’s
longest-lived cultures, which he has
named Blue Zones. (Additional information available at www.bluezones.com.)
In his opening keynote presentation,
sponsored by Wellmark and Healthways,
Buettner also will share how to get more
life from your years and more years
from your life.
Healthy Iowa Conference – Live
Longer. Live Better is a comprehensive
one-day conference and training opportunity for corporate wellness and
benefits leaders. The program features
presentations and round-table discussions led by local, regional and national
experts in workplace wellness. Topics
and speakers include:
• Stats 101: From Wellness Visionary to
Finance Guru – Tim O’Neil, Meredith
Corporation, Des Moines
• Multi-Year Participation Strategies –
Jeff Johnson, Johnson Machine Works,
Chariton
• Workers Compensation and Wellness
– Susie Roberts, LMC Insurance, Des
Moines
• Introducing Iowa’s Worksite Wellness
Toolkit – Amy Lechti, Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines
• Worksite Wellness: Inside Health Care
Reform – Susan Freed, Davis Brown
Law Firm, Des Moines
• Value-Based Insurance Designs for
Sustainable Health Improvement –
Cyndy Nayer, Center for Health Value
Innovation, Saint Louis, Mo.
• Harness the Power of Physical Activity to Change Employees’ Lives and
Transform Your Workplace – David
Hunnicutt, Wellness Councils of
America
Ben Leedle, CEO of Franklin, Tenn.based Healthways, Inc., will give a closing address discussing how companies
can adopt Blue Zones practices to improve employees’ health.
For more information, or to register, visit www.wellnessiowa.org.
Registration is $199, which includes
all presentation and conference materials, breakfast, lunch, healthy snacks,
and a chance to network with wellness
exhibitors. Registration discounts are
available for Wellness Council of Iowa
members.
Dear Friends,
In less than a month, we will
have the privilege of hosting Bill
Bishop, author of The Big Sort
as the guest speaker for our
next Better Together—Creating
Community through Civility
speaker series.
We had a great turnout for our event in June with Chairperson Jim Leach
with over 300 people attending. We hope you will help us get the word out
about the event with Bill Bishop so we can continue our conversation on civility
in all communities across Iowa.
Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines,
Character Counts In Iowa, and Drake University will host as keynote speaker
Bill Bishop, author of The Big Sort, on September 16 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at
Sheslow Auditorium on the Drake University campus in Des Moines. He will
discuss how Americans are sorting themselves into like-minded communities
making us so polarized that we can’t understand others, and he will offer hope
for overcoming these deep divisions.
In preparation for this event, we encourage our community to read The
Big Sort.
I hope you are able to join us, and I’d like to ask if you would pass this information along to your network to help us promote the event and the importance
of civility in our community. A flyer is attached for your convenience.
Those interested in attending should RSVP directly to www.BetterTogetherIowa.com.
Thanks for your help and support. I hope to see you on September 16.
With appreciation,
Connie Ryan Terrell
Executive Director
Interfaith Alliance of Iowa
(515) 279-8715
[email protected]
www.interfaithallianceiowa.org
www.faithfulvoices.org
Ride the Arc is a first-of-its kind,
multi-state bicycle ride for equality and
justice. Its mission to facilitate significant
change in discriminatory perceptions,
practices, and policies will lead ultimately to a culture characterized by stronger,
healthier, more impartial citizens. SpearSScontinued from page 29
FFBCC
giraffe thrown in for good measure—visitors of late are describing a much different
scenario of the Blank Park experience.
“The biggest misconception most
people have about the Zoo is that all we
do is focus on recreation,” Vukovich says.
“But we do so much more than just that.
A critical component of our mission involves the role we play in helping educate
kids—about the environment, species
survival, and how it all affects their lives
going forward.
As the only accredited Zoological
Park in Iowa, we feel it is our responsibility to help raise awareness about the
importance of nature in people’s lives,
and we have a unique opportunity to do
so by providing people of all ages a direct
experience with animals.”
Currently, the Zoo has five educators
on staff for the sole purpose of teaching
Iowa elementary-aged kids about environmental science using a State-approved
Board of Education curriculum. And if
the kids can’t get to the zoo, the zoo will
travel to them.
“Last year alone we were able to reach
more than 100,000 Iowa kids,” Vukovich
says, “about half through field trip visits
headed by athlete Danielle Girdano,
Ride the Arc intends to publicize the need
for equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual,
and transgender (GLBT) people, to raise
awareness about the high GLBT suicide
rate, and to promote places of welcome
TTRIDE THE ARC continued page 38
to the Zoo and the other 50,000 or so we
took the Zoo to them. Three of our five
dedicated teachers travel around the state
to set up an environmental sciences classroom. The cool part is that they take actual
zoo animals that are appropriate for the
subject matter along with them. This
methodology is very effective since kids
become more engaged having the ability
to interact directly with the animals.”
Vukovich’s dedication to upholding
the Zoo’s mission was apparent early in
his remarks as he shared several examples
of educational initiatives that have been
implemented to provide visitors the opportunity to connect with animals and
learn more about the environmental issues impacting their habitat and survival.
Additional programs emphasize the importance of wildlife habitat conservation
and creating a recreational environment
that engages visitors and enhances the
overall zoo experience.
“Mark has accomplished as much
in six months as most CEO’s are able to
realize in six years,” said FFBC President,
Jonathan Wilson, who also serves as a
director on the Blank Park Zoo Board. “He
has almost single-handedly championed
a resurgence of the Zoo with vision, energy, and determination. It has been a joy
serving on the Board to witness his most
capable leadership.”
SEPTEMBER 2010
ACCESSline Page 33
Queeries LGBT Etiquette by Steven Petrow
I’m not stalking him, but…
Q: I connected with this really
nice guy on Facebook and have been
perusing his profile ever since. We’re
actually going to meet for coffee—
as our first date. So am I allowed to
“know” as much as I do about him? I
don’t want to creep him out.
A: Unless your new friend has
signed up for an app that reveals who’s
been reading his page, ignorance is bliss.
But your instincts are
good: People don’t
always like the idea of
new friends or beaus
knowing all about
them. In fact, when
the two of you get together, try to pretend
you don’t know what
you do. Don’t bring
up out of the blue his
entire work history
(yes, that’s creepy)
and avoid comments like “So, I saw you
and Mike broke up on Facebook…” But
if you both love Lady Gaga or volunteer
at the local LGBT center, it’s fine—and
actually very helpful—to talk about what
you have in common to break the ice and
discover what else you may share.
Online relationships are just like
offline ones. Peeling back the layers of
someone’s life and personality should
happen in a gradual way, as you build up
trust. And hearing someone describe his
life in his own words is a great way to get
to know someone. It’s entirely possible
that your new friend would rather tell
you himself about his beloved pets and
what he wore for Halloween last year.
Dressing for success or
myself
Q: Usually when I’m applying for a
job I set aside the real me—the butch
dyke, if you will—
and dress up a little
feminine (different
hair, different suit,
everything). As I get
older, this makes
me feel less and
less comfortable, as
though I’m not being
the real me. How do
you suggest I dress
for interviews?
A: That’s a tough
question. Ideally, it’s essential not to
disguise yourself or to appear other than
who you are. Still, there’s something to
be said for having your “interview suit”—
and doing some extra grooming—especially because we all know how others’
prejudices can work against us.
Think of it this way: The idea is to
take appearances completely out of the
equation so that you can explain your
qualifications and sell yourself without
Online relationships
are just like offline ones.
Peeling back the layers of
someone’s life and personality should happen in a
gradual way, as you build
up trust.
distraction. Once you land the job, you
can be freer in how you dress. You’re not
selling out to adopt a more mainstream
look for the interviews; this is just another step to get you in the door.
In my experience, most people try
to pick up a company’s dress code once
they start work. But if you don’t think
you can do that—or want to dress butch
all the time—then go ahead and do it for
the interview. If the company can’t take it
then, you’re wasting your time considering this particular employer.
Too chicken to tell my ex
about my STD
Q: I need to tell my ex that I contracted a venereal disease and that I
may have passed it on to her, but I can’t
bear the idea of talking to her. Is it rude
to just email her about this?
A: One way or another, your ex needs
to have this information and you have an
obligation to get it to her. It’s about being
honest and respectful. While the medium
you use is less important, receiving such
news in a brief email message could be
pretty shocking. If you make the effort to
actually talk with your ex, you’re showing
a modicum of respect for her feelings and
saying that you’re taking the matter seriously. This route also gives her a chance
to ask questions, some of which you may
be able to answer on the spot.
Nevertheless, if your animus toward
your ex is too strong to pick up the phone,
then go ahead and email her. Ask her
to let you know that she received your
news—you wouldn’t want information
like this to wind up in a junk folder.
Another idea, although perhaps
more appropriate for those who’ve had
a casual sexual hook-up, is to send one
of the ecards available through inSpot.
org, an Internet service for sex partners
and tricks. This site will deliver messages
like “I got diagnosed with an STD and you
might have been exposed. Get checked
out.” You can either sign your ecard or
send it anonymously.
Okay, now you have no excuse.
Steven Petrow is a past president of
the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists
Association and writes for the Huffington
Post and The Advocate. He’s also the author of “The Essential Book of Gay Manners & Etiquette.” Learn more at www.
gaymanners.com
“Gay people are pilgrims.
They just want to live their lives
without being hassled. Let folks
live the way they want.”
–Iowa Libertarian gubernatorial
candidate, Eric Cooper, August
27, 2010, at the Council Bluffs
Public Library.
ACCESSline Page 34
SEPTEMBER 2010
SEPTEMBER 2010
HIGHER GROUND
Linney, Michael Emerson, Peter Fonda,
Janeane Garofalo, Dylan Baker, Joshua
Jackson, Amy Madigan, Camryn Manheim)
to play the parts of the investigators and
citizens of Laramie.
Essentially, they perform the stage
version on screen. Yet it’s not the same;
this class will focus on how it’s necessarily different, and how those differences
affect viewers’ perceptions. We will watch
the first half on Monday and the second
on Wednesday, discussing sequences
and their implications from the DVD
version.
Workshop: “That’s So Gay” in
partnership with Iowa Safe Schools
October 7, 4:45-7:15pm
AEA267, Cedar Falls
October 8, 10am and 1pm
UNI
That’s so gay, no homo, fag, and dyke
are heard countless times in our schools.
But how do you stop students from saying
these hurtful words and phrases? Bullying and harassment of LGBT students
can and must be stopped. This session is
designed to create awareness of bullying
and harassment facing LGBT students,
and offer proven solutions to ending
bullying and harassment.
Movie: Milk
October 9, 2pm
GBPAC, UNI
This is a powerful and inspiring story
of California’s first openly gay elected official Harvey Milk. In 1977, Milk was elected
to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors,
becoming the first openly gay man to be
voted into major public office in America.
His victory was not just a victory for gay
rights, he forged coalitions across the
political spectrum. From senior citizens
to union workers, Harvey Milk changed
the very nature of what it means to be
a fighter for human rights and became,
before his untimely death in 1978, a hero
for all Americans. Join us for a brief discussion afterward.
Movie: Out in the Silence
October 9, 7pm
GBPAC, UNI
Out in the Silence captures the remarkable chain of events that unfold
when the announcement of filmmaker
Joe Wilson’s wedding to another man
ignites a firestorm of controversy in his
small Pennsylvania hometown. Drawn
back by a plea for help from the mother
of a gay teen being tormented at school,
Wilson’s journey dramatically illustrates
the universal challenges of being an outsider in a conservative environment and
the transformation that is possible when
those who have long been constrained by
a traditional code of silence summon the
courage to break it.
Join us for a brief discussion
afterward.
Performance: The Laramie Project, by
Tectonic Theatre Project
October 13 and 14, 7:30pm
In October 1998, Matthew Shepard
was kidnapped, severely beaten and left
to die, tied to a fence on the outskirts of
Laramie, Wyoming.
Five weeks later, Moisés Kaufman and
fellow members of the Tectonic Theater
Project went to Laramie, and over the
course of the next year, conducted more
than 200 interviews with people of the
town. From these interviews they wrote
the play The Laramie Project, a chronicle
of the life of the town of Laramie in the
year after the murder.
The Epilogue was written ten years
later when the same company revisited
Laramie.
Talk Back & Interview with Tectonic
Theatre Project Company Members
October 15, 3-4pm
UNI
Join members of the company for post
performances discussion and learn about
the process of interviewing and how to
craft into a stage play. Come with questions
you’d like to ask Tectonic Theatre Project
Company members!
And look for these events
coming soon!
Workshops by the justice department. Workshops provided for area law
enforcement and our students considering careers in law enforcement. Part of a
Federal Department of Justice project, law
enforcement agencies are provided training on the new Hate Crimes Legislation
passed in Matthew’s memory and issues
of enforcement and diversity relating to
that enforcement.
ACCESSline Page 35
Bookclubs, Discussion and a Movie
showing at University Book and Supply.
Rose Lorenz and UBS are fully behind the
project and will be adding the play and Judy
Shepard’s book to their book club groups.
Additionally they will host a showing of the
Laramie project film and discussion lead
by emeritus faculty Scott Cawalti.
Participation by national Matthew Shepard foundation and
Iowa’s Eychaner Foundation.
Students on campus who have received the
Matthew Shepard scholarship and alumni
who also did talk in a moderated forum
about what it is and was like to be LGBT
at UNI/in Cedar Falls.
“I don't care whether he's taken pains
to disguise or advertise his orientation.
What we have here is a results-oriented
liberal judicial judge—not even a judge,
this is an activist—he has taken … 138
pages to write of his own outlook rather
than a fair and faithful reading of the
Constitution's text. This is a personal
political preference, a personal policy
preference of this judge —he's not the
first—that's now been codified into law.
This will be appealed.”
— Rush Limbaugh, August 5, 2010, on
the Prop 8 ruling by Chief Judge of
the United States District Court for the
Northern District of California, Vaughn
R. Walker—who was nominated to his
position first by Ronald Reagan and
then by George H. W. Bush.
ACCESSline Page 36
DIRECTORY NOTICE
The ACCESSline community
directory is updated each issue.
LISTINGS ARE FREE.
Information about new groups must
contain a phone number for publication and a contact (e-mail address,
land address, or website) for our
records. For more information or to
provide corrections, please contact
call (319) 550-0957.
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund
1705 De Sales St NW, Ste 500
Washington, DC, 20036
www.victoryfund.org.
202-VICTORY [842-8679]
Human Rights Campaign
National political organization, lobbies
congress for lesbian & gay issues, political
training state and local
www.hrc.org
1-800-777-HRCF[4723]
Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund
I I E. Adams, Suite 1008, Chicago, IL 60603
www.lambdalegal.org
312-663-4413 Fax: 312-663-4307
National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF)
1325 Massachusetts Ave NW,
Ste 600, Washington, DC, 20005
www.ngltf.org / taskforce.org
National Organization for Women (NOW)
733 15th ST NW, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20005
www.now.org 202-628-8669
PFLAG National Offices
1726 M St. NW Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036
[email protected] - www.pflag.org
202-467-8180
STATE ORGANIZATIONS
Equality Iowa
P.O. Box 18, Indianola, IA 50125
www.equalityiowa.org
515-537-3126
Faithful Voices
Interfaith Alliance of Iowa’s marriage equality
project. www.faithfulvoices.org
Imperial Court of Iowa
Non-profit fundraising & social, statewide
organization with members from across the
State of Iowa.
PO Box 1491, Des Moines, IA 50306-1491
www.imperialcourtofiowa.org
Iowa Chapter of the National Organization for
Women (NOW)
David Steward, President, IA NOW
1010 Charlotte Ave.
Davenport, IA 52803
Iowa PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of
Lesbians and Gay) State Council
PO Box 18, Indianola, IA 50125
www.equalityiowa.org/PFLAG
515-537-3126 or 641-583-2024
Lord of Life Lutheran
2126 Gable Lane, Ames 50014
Services Sundays at 9:00a.m.; Wed. 7:00pm.
515-233-2350
PFLAG Ames
Youth and Shelter Services Offices
420 Kellogg Ave 1st Floor.
2nd Tuesday, 7pm
www.pflagames.org
515-291-3607
Romantics Pleasure Palace
117 Kellogg Street, Ames, IA 50010-3315
http://www.romantixonline.com
515-232-7717
Stonewall Democrats of Ames
[email protected]
[email protected], or
Terry Lowman, 515-292-3279, or Mary Goodwin 515-292-0352
United Church of Christ-Congregational
6th & Kellogg
Ames, 50010
Sunday Continental Breakfast, 9:00am; Sunday School, 9:30am; Worship, 10:45am.
[email protected].
515-232-9323
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames
1015 Hyland Ave.
Services: 9am and 11am, Sunday
[email protected] 515-292-5960
Unity Church of Ames
226 9th St.
Sunday service and Sunday school 10:30am.
Wednesday mediation 6:30pm, class 7:15pm.
www.websyt/unity/ames Daily dial-a-blessing
515-233-1613
Arnolds Park, Okoboji,
Spencer, Spirit Lake
The Royal Wedding Chapel
504 Church Street, Royal, IA 51357
712-933-2223
www.TheRoyalWeddingChapel.com
Wilson Resource Center
An Iowa Great Lakes area gay-owned nonprofit community based organization.
PO Box 486
Arnolds Park IA 51331-0486
[email protected].
712-332-5043
BURLINGTON
Arrowhead Motel
2520 Mount Pleasant St
Burlington, IA 52601-2118
319-752-6353 www.arrowheadia.com
HIV/AIDS Screening @ Des Moines County
Health Department in Burlington
522 N 3rd
By appointment between 8:00am to 4:30
319-753-8217 Confidential
RISQUES IV (adult store)
421 Dry Creek Ave, West Burlington, IA 52601
(319) 753-5455
Sun - Wed 8am-Midnight
Thurs - Sat Open 24 Hours
www.LoversPlayground.com
Steve’s Place
852 Washington St, Burlington
319-752-9109
Iowa pridenetwork
3839 Merle Hay Rd, Ste. 285
Des Moines, IA 50310
www.iowapridenetwork.org
515-243-1110
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Services start at 10:30 am
625 N 6th St, Burlington, IA 52601-5032
(319) 753-1895 - www.uuburlington.org
LGBT Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force
PO Box 1997, Des Moines, 50306
515-243-1221
Adult Cinema
315 E 4th St
Waterloo, IA 50703-4703
(319) 234-7459
One Iowa
500 East Locust St, Ste 300
515-288-4019 Fax: 515-244-5846
www.OneIowa.org
Stonewall Democrats of Iowa
5 Creekside Ct Mason City, IA 50401
Contact: Harvey Ross
[email protected]
319-362-3099
Ames
First United Methodist Church
6th & Kellogg
Contemporary worship Sat. 5:30; Sun at 8:30
and 11:00am.
www.fumcames.org.
515-232-2750
Living with HIV Program
126 S. Kellogg, Suite 1
Ask for Janelle (Coordinator)
515-956-3312 ext 106 or
I -800-890-8230
ISU LGBTA Alliance
GLBT Support, Activism, Social Events,
Newsletter
East Student Office L, Memorial Union, ISU
Ames, IA. 50014
[email protected]
http://www.alliance.stuorg.iastate.edu
515-294-2104
Cedar Falls - Waterloo
Black Hawk Co. Health Department
Free HIV testing (donations accepted); MW,
1:00pm to 3:00pm; Thurs, 1:00pm to 4:45pm
1407 Independence Ave. (5th fl)
Waterloo 50703
319-291 -2413
Cedar AIDS Support System (CASS)
Service, support groups & trained volunteers
for persons with HIV/AIDS in Waterloo/CF
call Elizabeth or Karla,
319-272-AIDS(2437). [email protected]
Cedar Valley Counseling Services
Promoting personal growth and development
in a strengths-based environment
Joan E. Farstad, MA, Director.
319-240-4615
www.cvcounseling.com
[email protected].
Cedar Valley Episcopal Campus Ministry. In
Lutheran Center
2616 College St, Cedar Falls, IA
319-415-5747
[email protected]
www.episcopalcampus.org
All welcome!
Community AIDS Assistance Project (CAAP)
Funding for special personal needs, community projects, and small grants that are
AIDS related.
PO Box 36, Waterloo, IA 50704
LGBTA Support Group at
Hawkeye Community College
Call Carol at 319-296-4014 for time & location
of meeting
[email protected]
Iowa Legal Aid
Free civil legal service available to low income
persons who qualify under income/asset
guidelines.
607 Sycamore, #708, Waterloo, IA 50703
1-800-772-0039 or 319-235-7008
Linn County Stonewall Democrats
2nd Wednesday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m.
The LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party,
meets at Hamburger Mary’s, 222 Glenbrook
Dr. SE, behind 2nd Wind off of 1st Ave SE
in Cedar Rapids. For more info, contact
linnstonewall@ gmail.com
Rapid AIDS
Grant Wood Area Red Cross
3600 Rockwell Dr NE, Cedar Rapids, 52410
319-393-9579.
Kings & Queens Tap
304 W. 4th St, Waterloo, IA
www.//myspace.com/kingsandqueensspace
319-232-3001
People’s Church Unitarian Universalist
A welcoming congregation.
600 Third Avenue SE
11AM Sunday.
319-362-9827
Romantix Waterloo (Adult Emporium)
1507 La Porte Rd, Waterloo, IA 50702
319-234-9340
http://www.romantixonline.com/
Stonewall Democrats of Linn County
Contact Roy Porterfield
[email protected]
319-362-5281
Stellas Guesthouse
324 Summit Ave, Waterloo, IA
Private B&B, Overnight accommodations for
adults only.
319-232-2122
Tri-ess, Iota Kappa Phi Chapter
P.O. Box 8605, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52408
We are a transgendered organization supporting crossdressers, their families, and friends.
www.yahoo.com/group/Tri-essIotaKappaPhi
www.tri-ess.org, 319-390-6376
E-mail: Georgia [email protected]
E-mail: Judy [email protected]
St. Lukes Episcopal Church
2410 Melrose Dr, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
www.st-lukes-episcopal.org
Services: Sunday 8:00 & 10:15, Thurs 11:30
319-277-8520
Together For Youth
233 Vold Dr, Waterloo, IA 50703
www.TogetherForYouth.net
319-274-6768
UNI-LGBTA
Alliance-Student Organization
244A Bartlet Hall, University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls 50613
[email protected]
319-222-0003
United Church of Christ Cedar Falls
9204 University Avenue, Cedar Falls
319-266-9686
Unitarian Universalist Society of Black Hawk
County
3912 Cedar Heights Dr, Cedar Falls, IA
319-266-5640
Cedar Rapids/marion
Adult Shop
630 66th Ave SW, 319-362-4939
Adult Shop North
5539 Grain Lane, 319-294-5360
Club Basix
Open 5pm to 2am M-F, Sat & Sun 3pm-2am
3916 1st Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids
www.clubbasix.com 319-363-3194
Coe Alliance
Education, activism & fun for GLBTQ and
straight students, staff and people from the
community.
Coe College
1220 First Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
For information contact: [email protected]
or Erica Geers, faculty advisor at
319-861-6025
CSPS Legion Arts Contemporary Arts Center
1103 3rd St. SE
[email protected]
319-364-1580
Faith UMC
1000 30th Street NE, Cedar Rapids, 52402
Pastor Kathy Moore
Sunday services at 11:00am.
www.crfaithumc.org
319-363-8454
Foundation 2 Crisis Counseling
24-hour telephone crisis counseling.
www.f2online.org
1540 2nd Ave. SE
Cedar Rapids, IA
319-362-2174 or 800-332-4224
GLRC of Cedar Rapids
Support, social activities
[email protected]
www.crglrc.org or, write to
P.O. Box 1643
Cedar Rapids 52406-1643
Call and leave a message -- all calls will be
returned.
319-366-2055
Hamburger Mary’s
222 Glenbrook Dr., Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
319-378-4627
www.hamburgermaryscr.com
www.myspace.com/hamburgermaryscr
Krug Law Firm
6 Hawkeye Drive, Suite 103
North Liberty, IA 52317
319-626-2076
Linn County Public Health
501 13th NW
Free confidential HIV testing,
319-892-6000
CLINTON
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Clinton
309 30th Avenue North, Clinton, IA 52732
(563) 242-4972 - uuclinton.org
Sunday services at 10:30 (year-round)
Where YOUR spiritual and ethical journey is
welcome! Rev. Ruby Nancy, minister
Council Bluffs,
Omaha(Ne)
SEPTEMBER 2010
Romantix Council Bluffs (North)
(Adult Emporium)
3216 1st Ave.
Council Bluffs, IA 51501-3353
515-955-9756
Tri-ess Chapter, Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter
Omaha, NE 68107
We are a transgendered organization supporting crossdressers, their families, and friends.
www.tri-ess.org, 402-960-9696
E-mail: Judy [email protected]
Romantix Council Bluffs (South)
(Romantix After Dark)
50662 189th St, Council Bluffs, Ia 51503
712-366-1764
Youth Support Group for GLBT
Youth 13-21, meets twice monthly.
Omaha, NE
402-291- 6781.
Decorah
Decorah Human Rights Commission
Contact: City Clerk
400 Clairborne Dr, Decorah
563-382-3651
Meetings: First Tuesdays, 5:30pm
Luther College Student Congregation
Contact Office for College Ministry
700 College Dr, Decorah, IA 52101
563-387-1040.
PFLAG Northeast IA (Waukon/Decorah)
First Lutheran Church
604 W Broadway St, Decorah, IA
Meetings: 4th Mondays, 7pm-9pm
in the Fellowship Hall
Call Jean @ 563-535-7680
AIDS Interfaith Network
100 N. 62nd, Omaha, NE
Call Br. Wm. Woeger
402-558-3100
PRIDE Luther College Diversity Center,
700 College Dr, Decorah, IA 52101
Contact Chris at 563-387-2145 or Melanie at
563-387-1273
Citizens For Equal Protection
1105 Howard St, Suite #2, Omaha, NE 68102
www.cfep-ne.org
[email protected]
402-398-3027
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Meets alternating Sundays at 10:30am,
Decorah Senior Center
806 River St
Call Bill at 563-382-3458.
Council Bluffs NOW
Write PO Box 3325
Omaha, NE 68103-0325
DC’s Saloon
610 S. 14th St., Omaha, NE
Open everyday 2pm-1am, western/levi/leather.
402-344-3103
Diamond Bar
712 S. 16th St., Omaha, NE
10am - 1am, M-Sa, closed Sun
402-342-9595
Front Runners/Front Walkers
Walking/jogging club.
P.O. Box 4583, Omaha, NE 68104
402-496-3658.
Gilligan’s Pub and Grill
1407 Harney
Omaha, NE
Everyday 4pm-1am. Friday and Sat. After
hours 12-4am
402-449-9147
GLBT Rainbow Outreach Omaha
Serving GLBT community in eastern
Nebraska and western Iowa. Excellent message and info. Also office for Imperial court
of Nebraska.
1719 Leavenworth St, Omaha, NE
www.rocc.org
402-341-0330
Heartland Gay Rodeo Association (HGRA)
(Midwest Division of the International Gay
Rodeo Association)
PO Box 3354, Omaha, NE 68103
www.hgra.net - 402-203-4680
HGRA serves both Iowa and Nebraska
Imperial Court of Nebraska
402-556-9907
L.E.O. (Leather Engineers of Omaha)
Educational-social group for Gay Men with
interest in Leather Lifestyle. Meets 2nd Saturday at Gilligan’s Pub at 7:00pm.
L.E.O. PO Box 8101 Omaha, NE 68108.
The Max
1417 Jackson at 15th, Omaha, NE 68102
6 bars in 1 402-346-4110
MCC Omaha
819 South 22nd
Sun 9 & 11 am
Wednesday “ReCharge” Worship, Wed 7pm
402-345-2563
PFLAG Omaha
Mead Hall, First United Methodist Church
7020 Cass St. (Omaha)
2nd Thursday, 7, 6:30 Social time
402-291-6781
River City Mixed Chorus
Gay/lesbian chorus
PO Box 3267
Omaha, NE 68103
Call Stan Brown, marketing
402-341-7464.
Des Moines
AIDS Project of Central Iowa
Free HIV testing, prevention supplies, care
services, food pantry, information.
711 E. 2nd, Des Moines, IA 50309
515-284-0245
Blazing Saddle
416 E 5th St
www.theblazingsaddle.com
515-246-1299
Buddies Corral
418 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA
515-244-7140
The CENTER
1300 Locust;
The new LGBT and progressive place to be.
[email protected]
Church of the Holy Spirit-MCC
Pastor Pat Esperanza
Sunday service 10:30am at the
1st Christian Church
2500 University, Des Moines
[email protected]
515-287-9787.
Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus
515-953-1540
PO Box 12269, Des Moines, IA 50312
[email protected]
www.dmgmc.org.
Family Practice Center
Safe, supportive LGBT health care.
200 Army Post Road, Ste 26
www.ppgi.org
515-953-7560
First Friday Breakfast Club
Educational breakfast club for gay/bisexual
men. Meets first Friday of each month.
Contact Jonathan Wilson for meeting topic
and place.
[email protected]
515-288-2500
First Unitarian Church
1800 Bell Avenue
Services Sundays at 9:30 & 11am
515-244-8603
The Gallery (adult store)
1000 Cherry St
Des Moines, IA 50309-4227
(515) 244-2916 Open 24 Hours
www.LoversPlayground.com
The Garden
112 SE 4th Des Moines, IA
515-243-3965
Wed-Sun. 8pm-2am www.grdn.com
Gay & Lesbian AA & AI-Anonymous
Mon. 7 pm; Tues. - Thurs. 6 pm; Sat. 5:30
pm at Drake Ministries in Ed. Bldg. 28th &
University
Gay and Lesbian Issues Committee
4211 Grand Avenue, Level-3
515-277-1117
SEPTEMBER 2010
Iowa Affirmation
Lesbian/Gay United Methodist
Thoreau Center, 35th & Kingman Blvd. Write
Affirmation
PO Box 1726, Des Moines, IA 50309
Java Joe’s
Gay friendly
214 4th St.
515-288-5282
Lavender Victory Fund
Financial assistance for women in need for
medical emergencies.
700 Rose Ave, Des Moines, IA 50315
Contact Bonnie at 515-244-7946
Le Boi Bar
508 Indianola Rd, Des Moines, IA
Liberty Gifts
333 E. Grand Ave., Loft 105, Des Moines, IA
Gay owned specialty clothing, jewelry, home
decor.
Libertygiftsonline.com
515-508-0825
MINX Show Palace
1510 N.E. Broadway
Open 9am - 2am, M-Th; 9am - 4am, F-Sat.
10am -9pm Sun.
515-266-2744
Walnut Hills UMC
Join us at 8:30 or 10:30am for Sunday worship. Sunday classes and group studies are
at 9:30am.
12321 Hickman Rd.
Urbandale, IA 50323
515-270-9226.
Westminster Presbyterian Church
4114 Allison Ave.
www.westpres.org
Sunday services 8:45 and 11am. Of note is
their Gay Lesbian Straight Affirmation small
group ministry.
515-274-1534
Word of God Ministries
Join us at 3:30 for Sunday Worship at
3120 E. 24th St, Des Moines, IA
Mailing address:
PO Box 4396, Des Moines IA 50333
515-276-6614
Women’s Culture Collective (WCC)
A lesbian social group.
Des Moines, IA
www.iowawcc.org
Zanzibar’s Coffee Adventure
Open daily. Gay-friendly
2723 Ingersoll, Des Moines, IA
515-244-7694.
Dubuque
National Association of Social Workers (NOW)
(Nat’1 Organization of Women in Des Moines)
http://www.meetup.com/locale/us/ia/desmoines
Adult Warehouse
975 Jackson St., Dubuque, IA
563-588-9184.
North Star Gay Rodeo Association of IGRA,
Iowa Division of North Star NSGRA@
NSGRA.org or
612-82RODEO
The Q
920 Main Street, Dubuque, IA
Open Mon - Sun, 7pm to 2am.
www.myspace.com/qbar_dbq
563-557-7375
Rainbow Union, Drake University
Contact Sara Graham
[email protected]
PFLAG Des Moines
515-537-3126 or write
3520 Grand Ave #51, Des Moines, IA 50312
Plymouth Congregational UCC
Church and the Plymouth GLBT Community
4126 Ingersoll Ave.
515-255-3149
Services at 5:30pm Sat, 9am & I lam Sunday.
www.PlymouthGLBT.com
Polk County Health Department
Free STD, HIV, and Hepatitis B & C testing.
HIV. Rapid testing also offered.
1907 Carpenter, Des Moines, IA
515-286-3798.
Raccoon River Resort
Accommodations for men, women, or
mixed in campgrounds, lodge, Teepees or
Treehouses. Reservations: 515-996-2829 or
515-279-7312
Dubuque Friends Worship Group (Quakers)
Tired of being rejected by your church?
Tired of following church pronouncements
that smack of homophobia? Join us at an
unprogrammed meeting on Sunday at 10am.
Open and Affirming
St. Mark’s Community Center
1201 Locust Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001
563-556-3685 for info and directions
Dubuque Pride
Monthly social group, meeting for meal and
conversation.
www.dubuquepride.org
Dubuque Regional AIDS Coalition
Direct services, education. HIV+/AIDS support
group and family/friends support group. Contact Kay Auderer or Connie Sprimont, Mercy
Health Center. 563-589-9606.
PFLAG Dubuque
St. John’s Lutheran Church
1276 White St.
3rd Thursday, 7pm 563-582-9388
Ritual Café
On 13th between Grand and Locust.
[email protected]
Gay owned great music, awesome food and
coffee.
515-288-4872
Q Bar
920 Main St, Dubuque, IA, 52001
563-557-7375
The only gay owned & operated All Lifestyle
Bar and Dance Club in the Tri-State area
www.facebook.com/qbar.dubuque
Romantix North Des Moines Iowa (Bachelor’s
Library)
2020 E. Euclid Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317
www.romantixonline.com 515-266-7992
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Dubuque
1699 Iowa St., Dubuque, IA
“The uncommon denomination.” Adult religious education meets Sunday at 9am before
general services at 10am.
www.uuf-dbq.org. 563-583-9910
Romantix
1401 E. Army Post Rd.
Des Moines IA 50320-1809
http://www.romantixonline.com/
515-256-1102
SOFFA Iowa (Significant Others Family
Friends and Allies of people who fall under the
Gender Variant umbrella)
Monthly meetings held at
The CENTER, 1300 Locust
contact Jaye at: (515)779-5185
[email protected]
Spouses of Lesbians & Gays
Contact Ruth Schanke,
515-277-3700
St. John’s Lutheran Church
600 6th Ave
“A Church for All People.”
Services Sat 5pm, Sun 7:45, 8:45 & 11am.
See web page for other services.
515-243-7691
www.stjohnsdsm.org
TransformationsIOWA
Monthly meetings for the female to male,
male to female, transgender community,
cross dressers, gender queer, questioning,
and their significant others. For location
and info, email Jayden at
[email protected]
or call 515-779-5187
Trinity United Methodist Church
1548 Eighth Street
Services Sundays at 10a.m.
515-288-4056
Urbandale UCC
An open & affirming congregation.
3530 70th St., Urbandale, IA 50322
515-276-0625.
Fort Dodge
Romantix Fort Dodge (Mini Cinema)
15 N. 5th St, Fort Dodge, IA 50501-3801
Grinnell
Saints Ephrem & Macrina
Orthodox Mission. Welcoming worship in
the Eastern Christian liturgical tradition.
Sunday services at 10am. (Affiliated with the
Orthodox-Catholic Church of America.)
1226 Broad Street, Grinnell, IA
641-236-0936
Stonewall Resource Center
Open 4:30pm to 11:30pm, Sun through Thurs
and by Appointment.
Grinnell College
1210 Park Street
PO Box B-1, Grinnell, IA, 50112
[email protected]
641-269-3327
INDIANOLA
Crossroads United Church of Christ (UCC)
An Open & affirming congregation. Services:
Sunday 10:30am, Summer worship: June,
July, Aug, @ 9:30 am, worshiping in the
Lounge at Smith Chapel, Simpson College,
corner of Buxton and Clinton. Mailing address:
P.O. Box 811, Indianola, IA 50125
515-961-9370.
Iowa City
AA (GLBT)
Meetings Sundays 5 - 6pm at First Baptist
Church, 500 North Clinton Street. For more
info, call IC Intergroup Answering Service,
319-338-9111
Congregational Church UCC
An Open and Affirming Congregation
Sunday Worship 9:15am (July & August)
30 N. Clinton St. (across from Ul Pentacrest)
319-337-4301 - www.uiccic.org
Counseling Clinic
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender sensitive and supportive counseling for individuals,
couples, families and groups. Sliding Fee.
505 E Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240
319-354-6238.
Counseling and Health Center
Client-centered therapy.
Les-Bi-Gay-Trans always welcome.
616 Bloomington St, Iowa City, IA
319-337-6998.
Crisis Center
1121 Gilbert Court, Iowa City, 52240
319-351-0140.
Emma Goldman Clinic
227 N. Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52245
319-337-2111or 1-800-848-7684.
Faith United Church of Christ
1609 De Forest Street, Iowa City, IA
Services Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
319-338-5238
GLBTAU-U of l
Student support system and resource center,
info, activism, events, and other community
involvements.
203 IMU, University of IA
Iowa City, IA 52242-1317
[email protected]
319-335-3251 (voice mail)
Hope United Methodist Church
Worship Service at 9:30am.
2929 E. Court St., Iowa City, IA
Contact Rev. Sherry Lohman.
319-338-9865
ICARE Iowa Center for AIDS Resources &
Education
Practical & emotional support, youth programs,
information, referrals and support groups.
3211 E 1st Iowa City, IA 52240-4703
319-338-2135.
Iowa City Free Medical Clinic
Free & strictly confidential HIV Testing.
2440 Towncrest Dr Iowa City,
Call for appointment
319-337-4459
Iowa City NOW
PO Box 2944, Iowa City, IA 52244
for information & meeting times/places
Iowa Women’s Music Festival
P.O. Box 3411, Iowa City, IA 52244
319-335-1486
Krug Law Firm
6 Hawkeye Drive, Suite 103
North Liberty, IA 52317
319-626-2076
Men Supporting Men
HIV prevention program exploring issues that
gay/bisexual men deal with on a daily basis.
Discussion Groups, Educational Series, Safer
Sex Workshops, Book Club. Contact Andy
Weigel, email:
[email protected]
319-356-6038, Ext 2
New Song Episcopal Church
912 20th Ave, Coralville, IA
Sunday services at 1Oam.
Rev. Elizabeth Coulter, Pastor
Rev. John Harper, Associate.
319-351-3577
Pride Committee
WRAC
130 N. Madison, Iowa City, IA 52242
Bridget Malone - 319-338-0512
Charles Howes - 319-335-1486.
Romantix Iowa City
(Pleasure Palace I)
315 Kirkwood Ave, Iowa City, IA 52240-4722
319-351-9444
Studio 13
13 S. Linn St. (in the Alley)
Iowa City, IA
Open 7pm ‘til 2am, daily
319-338-7145
Thich Nhat Hanh based
“Mindfulness” meditation and study group
Iowa City Public Library, Sundays 1 to 2:30pm
Usually Room E
319-354-4065
U of I Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Staff & Faculty
Association
c/o WRAC
319-335-1486
Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City
Inclusive and free religious community
nurturing intellectual and spiritual growth and
fostering ethical and social responsibility.
10 S. Gilbert, Iowa City, IA
Sunday services: 9am & 10:45am.
www.uusic.org
319-337-3443
United Action for Youth (UAY)
A GLBTQA youth group providing support and
counseling for teenagers and young adults
processing sexual identity issues. Meets
Mondays 7-9pm at UAY
410 Iowa Ave. Iowa City, IA
319-338-7518 or Teen Line,
319-338-0559.
The Ursine Group
Bear Events in the Midwest.
PO Box 1143, Iowa City, IA 52244-1143
319-338-5810
Vortex Gifts
211 E. Washington, downtown Iowa City
319-337-3434
Women’s Resource Action Center (WRAC)
Leads & collaborates on projects that serve
Uofl & the greater community, offers social
& support services, including LGBT Coming
Out Group.
University of Iowa
319-335-1486
Malcom
Iowa Gay Rodeo Association (IAGRA)
921 Diagonal Rd, Malcom, IA 50157
[email protected]
641-990-1411
Marshalltown
Adult Odyssey (Adult Video Store)
907 Iowa Ave E - 641-752-6550
Domestic Violence Alternatives/
Sexual Assault Center, Inc.
24 hour Crisis Line: 641-753-3513 or (instate
only) 800-779-3512
MASON CITY
ACCESSline Page 37
MCC Quad Cities - Svcs Sat 5pm, Sun 11am
Bible study Wed 7pm
3019 N Harrison, Davenport, IA 52803
Call 563-324-8281.
Men’s Coming Out/Being Out Group
Meets 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 7pm.
[email protected]
309-786-2580
PFLAG Quad Cities
Eldridge United Methodist Church
604 S.2nd St., (Eldridge)
1st Monday, 6:30 pm
563-285-4173
Prism (Augustana College)
Augustana Gay-Straight Alliance
Augustana Library
639 38th St, Rock Island, IL
Contact Tom Bengston
309-794-7406.
Quad Citians Affirming Diversity (QCAD) Social & support groups for lesbian, bi, and gay
teens, adults, friends & families; newsletter.
309-786-2580
Community Center located at
1608 2nd Ave, Rock Island.
Quad Cities Pride Chorus.
At the MCC Church in D’port, 7pm Wed.
[email protected]
Call Don at 563-324-0215
Rainbow Gifts
www.rainbowgifts.net
309-764-0559
T.R. Video
Adult books & video
3727 Hickory Grove Rd, Davenport, IA
563-386-7914.
Cerro Gordo County Dept. of Public Health
22 N. Georgia Ave, Ste 300
Mason City, Iowa 50401.
Free confidential AIDS testing.
641-421-9306
Venus News (Adult)
902 w. 3rd St, Davenport, IA
563-322-7576
PFLAG North Iowa Chapter
1st Presbyterian Church
100 S. Pierce.
1st/ 2nd Monday (alternating), 7pm
641-583-2848
PFLAG Shenandoah
712-899-2743
Mount Vernon
Alliance Cornell College
810 Commons Cir # 2035
[email protected]
www.cornellcollege.edu/alliance
Contact person: Glynnis
319-895-5874
NEWTON
PFLAG Newton
UCC Church, 308 E 2nd St N
3rd Thursday, 7pm
641-521-7436
Pella
Common Ground (Central College)
Support group for GLBT students and allies.
Contact: Brandyn Woodard, Director of
Intercultural Life
[email protected]
641-628-5134
Quad Cities
AIDS Project Quad Cities
Info, education & support. Ste 360
1351 Central Park West
Davenport, IA 52804
563-421-4266.
Augie’s Tap
313 20th St, Rock Island (IL)
Noon - 3am daily.
309-788-7389
Black Hawk College Unity Alliance
Serving GLBT community at Black Hawk
College.
6600 34th Ave, Rock Island, IL
309-716-0542.
Connections Nightclub
822 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA 52802
Phone: (563) 322-1121
DeLaCerda House
Provides housing and supportive services,
advocacy and referrals for people living with
HIV/AIDS.
P.O. Box 4551, Rock Island, Il. 61201
309-786-7386.
The Hole-In-The-Wall
A Private Membership Men’s Club
Located 3 miles east of Galesburg, IL
just north of I-74 at Exit 51
309-289-2375
www.HoleInTheWallMensClub.org
Holy Spirit Catholic Faith Community
Meets one Sunday per month for Mass at
6:30pm at MCC-QC
3019 N. Harrison St, Davenport, IA
Mailing: PO Box 192 East Moline, IL 61244
For more info, call 309-278-3359
Mary’s On 2nd
832 W. 2nd St. Davenport, IA
563-884-8014.
SHENANDOAH
Sioux City
Am. Business & Professional Guild. Gay
Businessmen.
Meets last Sat. of the month; ABPG
P. O. BOX 72, Sioux City, 51102
[email protected]
Grace United Methodist Church
1735 Morningside Avenue
712-276-3452.
Jones Street Station (Bar)
412 Jones St.
Nightly 6:00pm to 2:00am.
712-258-6922
Mayflower Congregational Church.
1407 West 18th Street
Call 712-258-8278.
Morningside College Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual
Alliance
Contact Professor Gail Dooley, Advisor
Morningside College GSA
1501 Morningside Ave.
Sioux City, IA 51106-1717
[email protected]
712-274-5208
PFLAG Siouxland
PO Box 1311, Sioux City, IA 51102
[email protected]
Romantix Sioux City
(Adult Emporium)
511 Pearl St, Sioux City, IA 51101-1217
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Service Sun 10:30am
406 12th St, Waverly, IA
Rev Mary Christopher
712-258-0141
Western Iowa Tech. GSA
[email protected] for info.
Zaner’s Bar
3103 N Hwy 75, Sioux City, IA 51105
Monthly drag shows & events; hometown bar
for Imperial Court of Iowa’s Western Chapter
712-277-9575
Waverly
Cedar Valley Episcopal Campus Ministry.
717 W. Bremer, (St. Andrew’s Episcopal)
Waverly, IA
www.episcoplcampus.org
319-415-5747
Gay, Lesbian Bisexual Student Alliance
Wartburg College, Waverly, IA 50677
Contact Susan Vallem
319-352-8250
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
717 W. Bremer
We welcome all to worship with us on Sunday
at 10:30 am. Bible discussion Wed. 6:45pm
Rev. Maureen Doherty, Pastor
319-352-1489
ACCESSline Page 38
RIDE THE ARC
and refuge and affirming groups. The
Ride will partner with groups along the
route to create local events which will
help advance the movement miles closer
to equality.
Ride the Arc will commence in Minneapolis on Aug 9th and will end in Dallas
on September 18, the eve of Dallas’s GLBT
Pride Weekend. The distance of 1,300
miles between Minneapolis and Dallas
will be augmented by supplementary
miles ridden by Danielle and by group
rides in towns and cities along the route,
eventually comprising the total goal of
5,000 miles.
Although other individuals and
groups have traversed the United States
from east to west and from west to east,
this is the first documented ride by a
female athlete to cross the center of the
country from north to south. Significant
beyond its stated mission, the ride will
pay homage to the difficulty expressed
by Dr. King in that its riders will withstand headwinds for practically the
entire route.
Danielle’s passion is evident as she
describes the event. “I’m doing this ride
for every GLBT person who has ever
been harassed; who has ever borne the
brunt of slurs; who has been beaten,
threatened, or bashed; and who has
been denied a job, a home, or love. The
route and the ride mirror our struggle
as a people: It’s uphill, hard, long, and
requires a tremendous amount of prepa-
ration. Rather than a race, it’s a journey
of endurance. This ride will give hope
and raise awareness. I believe with all
my heart that we will enhance lives—and
even save them.”
Meet Danielle
Each grueling day in the gym, Danielle Girdano focuses on one goal—equal
rights for GLBT people everywhere. In
her unparalleled cycling event, Ride the
Arc, Danielle hopes to raise awareness
about the high GLBT suicide rate, promote places of refuge like Metropolitan
Community Churches (MCC) and other
affirming groups, and publicize the need
for equal rights for GLBT people. Her
1,000-mile race will be a first for a female cyclist.
Danielle is no stranger to activism. In
2000–2001, she lobbied Congress for the
right for in-home health care for elderly
residents. Her actions led to two bills
being introduced on Capitol Hill, resulting in Medicare covering the options of
in-home health care or a nursing home
facility. The bill, which became law in
Pennsylvania, was named after Danielle’s
grandmother, who died because of neglect in a nursing home.
In 2004, Danielle spearheaded the
Legend of Heroes Marine Memorial
Weekend to honor Marine Corps veterans
of the Iwo Jima battle in World War II.
The $140,000 project included in-kind
and cash donations by corporations, local businesses, and private donors. The
memorial had the faces of 10 marines
carved on it, including Danielle’s father,
Dan.
Danielle’s passion for
Ride the Arc is evident immediately when she describes
the event. “I’m doing this
ride for every GLBT person
who has been harassed, had
slurs thrown at them, been
beaten, threatened, denied a
job, house, or love. The route
and the ride is a mirror of our
struggle as a people. It’s uphill,
hard, long, and requires a tremendous amount of preparation. It’s not a race, but rather
a journey of endurance. This
ride will give hope and bring
awareness. I truly believe with all my
heart we will impact lives. I have faith
that we can save lives as well.”
Danielle’s faith guides and sustains
her as she trains for Ride the Arc. As
SEPTEMBER 2010
part of the Would Jesus Discriminate?
Campaign, Danielle will carry the message of love and inclusion every mile of
her ride. Join Danielle for the ride of her
life, and help change the world for GLBT
people everywhere.
“…the road ahead will not always be smooth. There will be still
rocky places of frustration and meandering points of bewilderment.
There will be inevitable setbacks here and there. There will be those
moments when the buoyancy of hope will be transformed into the
fatigue of despair. Our dreams will sometimes be shattered and our
ethereal hopes blasted. Difficult and painful as it is, we must walk
on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future. ... Let us
remember that there is a creative force in this universe, working to pull
down the gigantic mountains of evil, a power that is able to make a
way out of no way and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows. Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends
toward justice.”
—Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
SEPTEMBER 2010
ACCESSline Page 39

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