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An open letter to
Rep. Kim Pearson
by Stephanie Bell
Shear Sexy
Photo:
John Wright
Scissor Sisters’ frontman on his
second puberty, performing naked
and the band’s Lady Gaga love affair
By Chris Azzopardi
They’ve always been gorgeous, but it took a decade
before the Scissor Sisters, with their third album Night Work,
became full-on filthy. The romp-pop album, released last
year, is done up in cheeky softcore innuendo about “funking”
someone, the late-shift grind (literally) and “big” surprises.
Our chat with frontman Jake Shears had many of them—
from the conversation that united the band with Lady Gaga
for the megastar’s 2011 Monster Ball Tour to the favorite
gay icon he wants to meet (Tom Petty?). Shears also talked
about the, well, sheer amount of clothing he wears, his
wardrobe faux pas and how he defines himself—according
to the Urban Dictionary.
TTInterview page 20
Bleeding Heartland:
Ten dishonest talking points on the
marriage amendment in Iowa
by desmoinesdem of BleedingHeartland.com
Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 09:46:47 AM CST
A constitutional amendment to restrict marriage to
couples of the opposite sex advanced on January 24 in both
a subcommittee of the Iowa House Judiciary Committee
and the full committee.
House Joint Resolution 6 states, “Marriage between
one man and one woman shall be the only legal union valid
or recognized in this state.” Iowa Republicans have promised for months to approve a constitutional amendment
TTDISHONEST continued page 33
Page 8
Page 12
When I was in
middle school, I earned
spare money by babysitting for a lot of the
neighborhood kids.
One of the parents I
was employed by was
Kim Pearson, one of the
sponsors of the bill in the
Iowa House to amend
the Constitution to ban
not only gay marriage,
but also civil unions and
domestic partnerships.
This is an edited version
of my letter to her.
Dear Kim,
Reichen Lehmkuhl candidly talks
reality TV regrets, DADT, and ex
Lance Bass’ career copycats
TTInterview page 12
What’s Inside:
Section 1: News & Politics
Iowa State Representative
Kim Pearson, (R-Pleasant Hill)
This is your former neighbor, Stephanie Bell, writing
you from a long ways away—Oxford, England, to be specific.
I hope this letter finds you, and your husband and the girls
well. …
You may be wondering why, over a decade down the
road, I decided to contact you with what I’ve been up to and
my meditations on and pride in my home state of Iowa. Part
of it is to congratulate you on your election to the House, and
to thank you for serving our state. And the other part of it is
to make a plea, from one neighbor to another.
Kim, I’m gay. I figured it out in my senior year of high
TTKIM PEARSON continued page 38
“Amending the Iowa Constitution to exclude
gay couples will harm thousands of Iowa families.
Marriage says ‘we’re a family’ like nothing else and is
an important way we care for those we love. Writing
discrimination into the Constitution will only divide
us at a time when we need to work together to tackle
common concerns. Iowans expect their elected officials
to focus on issues that matter to everyone, like creating
jobs, providing educational opportunities, and improving healthcare. Going backward on equal rights sends
the wrong message.”
— Carolyn Jenison, Executive Director of One Iowa,
January 19, 2011, House Resolution 6
Page 15
From the Editor
Pain’s Peek-a-boo (original poetry by Mary M. Thome)
6th Annual Governors Conference on LGBTQ Youth
US News
World News Inside Out: “The Republic of Iowa” by Ellen Krug
Action Reaction: “The Gay Blue Period”
Creeps of the Week
Minor Details
Section 2: Fun Guide
Entertainment Picks for February
Deep Inside Hollywood
Reichen Lehmkuhl interview by Chris Azzopardi
Partying Hard: “Spartacus: Full-Frontal Television”
The Outfield
Recurring Events, Statewide
Hear Me Out (Music Reviews)
The Gay Wedding Planner: “Romancing the Chase”
Love Begins in the Kitchen this Valentine’s Day
Jake Shears interview by Chris Azzopardi
Cocktail Chatter
Out of Town: San Antonio, Texas
Book Worm Sez: Gay Bar
Comics and Crossword Puzzle
Section 3: Community
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PFLAG Linn County & Beyond
29
First Friday Breakfast Club: Rev. Elizabeth Dilley
29
Free Des Moines Tax Clinic
29
Queeries: LGBT Etiquette by Steven Petrow
30
Jonathan Wilson
31
Council Bluffs Community Alliance February events
32
CHAIN Day on the Hill (February 24, 2011)
32
Positive Iowans Taking Charge
35
Business Directory
36-37
Page 25
Page 26
ACCESSline Page 2
FEBRUARY 2011
FEBRUARY 2011
PUBLICATION
INFORMATION
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Q Syndicate
Rex Wockner News Service
Contributors:
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From the Editor
Chuck Hurley encourages giving “tokens of
Christian love” to
“homosexual activists”—
but NOT equal rights.
Chuck Hurley, president of the Iowa
Family Policy Center (now part of “The
FAMiLY Leader”), rallied anti-equality folks to
show up for the Iowa House sub-committee
meeting on the “straights only” marriage
amendment—he also encouraged bringing
“tokens of Christian love” to share with the
“homosexual activists”:
The first sub-committee meeting on
the Iowa Marriage Amendment (IMA)
will be held next Monday afternoon at 1
PM in Room 305 at the State Capitol. We
expect the room to be very crowded with
supporters, opponents, press, lobbyists
and lawmakers.
IMPORTANT REMINDER – Please
try to be at the Capitol on Monday to
show support for marriage at this subcommittee meeting. Concerned Women
for America will be holding a lunch and
prayer event that day, and you can show
support for them at the same time.
We will hold a prayer meeting in
Room 305 from 12 to 1 PM; I urge you
to join us. This will also allow you a
better chance to get a seat for the 1 PM
meeting. Several of us plan to bring
a token of Christian love (like a small
bag of cookies or other treats) to share
with homosexual activists who we’ll
be encountering Monday. It’s time we
dispel lies about Christians, by tangibly
showing love to people who struggle with
homosexuality.
Frankly, Chuck, please encourage your
posse to keep the cookies for a bake sale,
say, to raise funds for a local AIDS charity? That sounds more like Christian love to me,
rather than acting to take away equal legal
protection from same-sex couples.
And the LIES being told are being told
by… drum-roll please… Chuck Hurley and
the Iowa Family Policy Center—lies that can
be found debunked at the Southern Poverty
Law Center’s website, or using this easy link:
StopHatingStartDebating.com
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ACCESSline Page 3
Pain’s Peek-a-boo
a poem by Mary M. Thome
With a smile on my face
and a laugh and a joke,
I pick up my beer
and light up a smoke.
The people around me
only will see,
the part of myself
they think of as me.
The eyes that are dead
and showing no tears,
will hide all this pain
for many a years.
Few will notice
and no one will care,
because they’re afraid
of what I might share.
So the smiles and laughs
are what I will show,
those who look too hard
will surely know
the perception of life
as I look out at you,
isn’t the real me,
it’s pain’s peek-a-boo.
But those who do see it
will say nothing at all,
afraid they will see
all my barriers fall.
Once exposed,
it would crumble and fall,
and they would see nothing,
nothing at all.
Pain and hurt
will seep from my soul,
turning my life
as black as burnt coal.
Held in and growing
for all of this time,
yes it is painful,
yes it’s all mine.
The fear it would cause
others to see,
is pain’s peek-a-boo,
hidden deep within me.
How do you do that
to people who care?
This is my pain
and my cross to bear.
So I will not show it
nor allow its escape,
the emotion inside me
as it claws and it scrapes
to get in the open,
and into the air,
I would not let this happen,
it wouldn’t be fair.
So I laugh and I joke
with a smile left to hide
the pain in my soul
hidden deeply inside.
All that I hope
and all that I pray,
is that it won’t kill my soul
a little each day.
I had to have what
I knew it would take
to tell all these lies
with a smile so fake.
Destroying what was left
of the real me inside,
it was all I could do
to let it continue to hide.
So again:
I laugh and I joke
and light up a smoke,
I pick up my beer
and try not to choke
on the smile on my face
and the tears in my eyes:
it’s pain’s peek-a-boo
for my smile to disguise.
January 22, 2011
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ACCESSline Page 4
Bill seeks to end same-sex
marriage in Iowa
by Rex Wockner
A bill to authorize a public vote on
amending the state constitution to ban samesex marriage, domestic partnerships, civil
unions and all other recognition of same-sex
couples was introduced in the Iowa House of
Representatives Jan. 19.
A House committee approved the
measure 13-8 on Jan. 24, and it is expected
to pass the full House, where Republicans
hold 60 percent of the seats.
The measure would have to pass the
Legislature in two consecutive General
Assemblies, then could appear on the ballot
in 2014.
However, Senate Majority Leader
Michael Gronstal has vowed to block the
measure in the Senate.
“This bill intends to forever strip basic
protections from loving and committed gay
couples,” said One Iowa Executive Director
Carolyn Jenison. “Now is the time for Iowans
to come together and send a clear message
to their legislators that discrimination has
no place in Iowa’s Constitution.” (See tinyurl.
com/4sam5cf for more from One Iowa.)
Iowa is one of five states, plus the District
of Columbia, where same-sex marriage is
legal. Internationally, it is legal in Argentina,
Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands,
Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden and Mexico City.
Obama mentions gays in
State of the Union address
by Rex Wockner
President Barack Obama made one
reference to gay people during his Jan. 25
State of the Union address.
“Our troops come from every corner of
this country,” he said. “They’re black, white,
Latino, Asian, Native American. They are
Christian and Hindu, Jewish and Muslim. And,
yes, we know that some of them are gay. Starting this year, no American will be forbidden
from serving the country they love because
of who they love. And with that change, I call
on all our college campuses to open their
doors to our military recruiters and ROTC. It
is time to leave behind the
divisive battles of the past.
It is time to move forward
as one nation.”
Gay groups were
quick to react to Obama’s
words.
Human
R i gh t s
Campaign President Joe
Solmonese said: “(T)
onight’s announcement
is welcome news for all
Americans ready to close
the book on discrimination in the ranks. …
Tonight is the culmination
of a promise kept by this
president.”
Solmonese added,
however, that Obama also needs to commit to
“ending the unfair taxation of partner health
benefits, prohibiting workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and
gender identity, and ensuring that all married
couples have access to the same federal
benefits and protections for their families.”
GetEQUAL Director Robin McGehee
expressed disappointment over the
address.
“Tonight, President Obama missed an
opportunity to lay out an agenda and strategy
that continues progress made toward LGBT
equality—removing the burden of being
second-class citizens and acknowledging our
families,” she said. “Sadly, while national hero
Daniel Hernandez sat with the First Lady to
witness this historic speech, he did not have
the luxury of sitting there as an equal—for
that, our elected officials should be ashamed.
It is time for the president to put the power
of the White House behind the passage of
legislation that would give the right of full
federal equality to LGBT Americans.”
“We refuse to accept the political excuses
that ‘now is not the time’ for ‘difficult’ issues
like equality or that these issues are too
‘complicated’ or ‘controversial’ to take on
right now,” McGehee said. “Equality is never
convenient. Justice is never easy. Each day
that we wait until discrimination is ‘easier’ to
combat, another LGBT person dies unequal.
Each day that we wait, another couple is
pulled apart at the
border by American
immigration policies.
Each day that we wait,
another of our transgender neighbors are
left without a paycheck
under discriminatory
employment policies.”
National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force
Executive Director
Rea Carey said that “if
the president is truly
serious about job
creation and boosting
America’s economic
well-being, he must
provide leadership
and action in helping to pass employment
protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender people and ending the costly
and unjust federal marriage ban.”
“Fact is, the state of the union for (LGBT)
people remains largely one of inequality, as
we can still be fired from or denied employment in many parts of the country for nothing
other than bias, and marriage inequality
relegates our families to second-class status,”
she said.
The National Center for Transgender
Equality issued a statement pointing out that
the pending repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
ban on open gays in the military “still does
not allow transgender people to serve openly
or to join the military.”
For video of Obama’s gay reference, see
tinyurl.com/653pz4j.
Our troops come from
every corner of this country.
They’re black, white, Latino,
Asian, Native American. They
are Christian and Hindu,
Jewish and Muslim. And,
yes, we know that some of
them are gay. Starting this
year, no American will be
forbidden from serving the
country they love because of
who they love.
FEBRUARY 2011
6th Annual Iowa Governors
Conference on LGBTQ Youth
BUILDING A HEALTHY IOWA
February 24th, 2011 Drake University Olmsted Center
Registration 8am-9am
Conference 9am-4pm
Sponsored By
Iowa State Education Association,
Iowa Department of Education, GLSEN,
JEL-Iowa, Iowa Association of School
Boards, First Friday Breakfast Club.
Keynote by: Dr. Sarah Schulman
Dr. Schulman is an award winning playwright and novelist. Her published works
include The Mere Future, Ties that Bind:
Familial Homophobia and Its Consequences,
Enemies: A Love Story, Manic Flight Reaction,
People in Trouble, Rat Bohemia, and Stagestruck: Theater, AIDS, and the Marketing of
Gay America. Dr. Schulman appeared in the 2009 OUT
100, a list of the 100 most influential LGBT
leaders in the country. She was featured
on this list with major celebrities including
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother),
Wanda Sykes (Comedian), and Jesse Tyler
Ferguson (Modern Family). Dr. Schulman has won several awards
including the Guggenheim in Playwrighting, Fullbright in Judaic Studies, Revson
Fellowship for the Future of New York City
at Columbia University, Stonewall Award for
Contributions Improving the Lives of Lesbians and Gays in the United States, three NY
Foundation for the Arts Fellowships (Fiction
and Playwrighting), finalist for the Prix de
Rome in Fiction, Berilla Kerr Prize in Playwrighting, two American Library Association Book Awards (Fiction and Non-fiction),
Ferro-Grumley Award in Lesbian Fiction,
Kessler Prize for Sustained Contribution to
LGBT Studies.
She recently co-coordinated The ACT
UP Oral History Project, which is a collection of video interviews with surviving
members that premiered in the fall exhibition: ACT UP New York: Activism, Art,
and the AIDS Crisis. This exhibit featured
interviews with men and women of all
races and classes who have transformed
entrenched cultural ideas about homosexuality, sexuality, illness, health care, civil
rights, art, media, and the rights of patients.
They have achieved concrete changes in
medical and scientific research, insurance,
law, health care delivery, graphic design,
and introduced new and effective methods
for political organizing. These interviews
reveal what has motivated them to action
and how they have organized complex
endeavors.
The interviews can be viewed here: actuporalhistory.org/interviews/index.html
Workshop Topics Include: Sexual Assault Awareness · HIV 101 · Reproductive Health Advocacy · Ask the
Doctor: For Youth Only · Ending Bullying in
Schools Counseling Transgender Youth · Big
Tobacco & LGBT Community · Equality
Through the Courts · Ending Racism in LGBT
Community · Sexism/Gender · Immigration & LGBT Community · Substance Abuse
Prevention · LGBT Youth Suicide Risk
Prevention · HIV Advocacy
Registration (includes breakfast,
lunch, & access to all sessions)
$25 for Adults Before February 1st
$35 for Adults After February 1st $10 for Students Exhibitor Booths Available for Organizations, Colleges, Universities, and Corporations.
Conference Mission Statement
The mission of the Annual Iowa Governors Conference on LGBTQ Youth is to (a)
engage and educate students, educators,
parents, community leaders, youth-serving
professionals, policy-makers, and others
concerned about issues relevant to the
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT)
community, and (b) encourage networking
and activism to inspire our communities
to promote diversity, equality, and social
justice.
For more information go to
www.iowasafeschools.org and look under
the EVENTS tab.
FEBRUARY 2011
ACCESSline Page 5
US NEWS news analysis by Rex Wockner
Supremes squash
last-ditch effort to
undo D.C. marriage law
The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 18
refused to hear an appeal by anti-gays
hoping to force a voter referendum on the
law that legalized same-sex marriage in the
District of Columbia.
“For almost two years, the National
Organization for Marriage and the Alliance
Defense Fund, along with Bishop Harry
Jackson, have fought a losing battle to
shamelessly harm gay and lesbian couples
in D.C. who seek nothing more than to
share in the rights and responsibilities of
marriage,” said Human Rights Campaign
President Joe Solmonese. “The D.C. Council
and mayor courageously made marriage
equality a reality last year, and the courts
have since upheld the rights of D.C. residents
to govern ourselves and take the necessary
steps to eliminate discrimination in our
community.”
Elections, Superior Court, Court of Appeals
and now the U.S. Supreme Court have
rejected their meritless and tired arguments that they should be permitted to
impose a discriminatory ballot measure
on D.C. voters.”
Same-sex marriage became legal in D.C.
last March. It also is legal in Connecticut,
Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and
Vermont—and, internationally, in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden and Mexico City.
Hospitals now must
recognize gay couples
Federal regulations that protect samesex couples in hospital settings nationwide
took effect Jan. 18.
The rules, which apply to all hospitals
receiving Medicaid or Medicare funds—
nearly every hospital—require hospitals to
recognize same-sex couples under visitation
policies. They also prohibit discrimination
based on gender identity.
“Of all the discrimination and pressures
we face, not being able to see our partner or
spouse shouldn’t be one of them,” said Rea
Carey, executive director of the National
Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “We thank
the administration for taking this step, but
continue to urge for the removal of barriers
to full protections for our families, which
includes repealing DOMA.”
The rules cover about 6,200 hospitals
with more than 35 million admissions
yearly.
Joe Solmonese, Human Rights Campaign
President
The appeal challenged a ruling by the
D.C. Court of Appeals in which it upheld a D.C.
law that bans ballot measures proposing any
kind of discrimination already prohibited
by the D.C. Human Rights Act. The Court of
Appeals said putting the district’s same-sex
marriage law to a vote would discriminate
against D.C. gays and lesbians.
“With today’s decision from the
Supreme Court, marriage equality opponents have reached the end of their legal
wrangling,” said HRC. “The D.C. Board of
Carey noted that HUD “plays a major
role in low-income housing programs and
the private mortgage market.”
Connecticut men win
birth-certificate case
Brian Bond, deputy director of the White
House Office of Public Engagement
Americans and their families. The President
saw an injustice and felt very strongly about
correcting this. … This significant policy
change is due in no small part to the journeys
of two incredibly courageous and passionate women, Janice Langbehn and Charlene
Strong. Both lived through unimaginable
experiences with the loss of their wives
and life partners. … I want to thank them
for bringing us all into their lives and for
sharing themselves and their families with
us, and for using their voices to make lives
better for LGBT families.”
HUD to ban
LGBT discrimination
Rea Carey, executive director of the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Writing on the White House blog Jan.
18, Brian Bond, deputy director of the
White House Office of Public Engagement,
said: “This policy impacts millions of LGBT
The U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development proposed regulations
Jan. 20 to ensure that its programs do not
discriminate against LGBT people.
“This is a fundamental issue of fairness,”
said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “With
this proposed rule, we will make clear that
a person’s eligibility for federal housing
programs is, and should be, based on their
need and not on their sexual orientation or
gender identity.”
The proposals now move to a “public
comment” phase.
HUD also is conducting a first-ofits-kind national study of discrimination
against LGBT people in the rental and sale
of housing.
“These are critically important reforms
given that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people remain particularly vulnerable in seeking or retaining housing due to
widespread bias, discrimination and a lack
of housing protections,” said National Gay
and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director
Rea Carey. “These reforms will go a long
way toward ending an injustice that has had
such a profound and far-reaching negative
impact on people’s lives.”
The Connecticut Supreme Court on
Jan. 5 forced the state Department of Public
Health to list a gay male couple as parents on
the birth certificates of their twin boys who
were delivered by a gestational surrogate.
Shawn and Anthony Raftopol will
receive corrected birth certificates for
their kids.
“As a couple, we chose to create a
family,” said Anthony Raftopol. “We assumed
the responsibility for bringing them into
the world, with the understanding that
we would love, support and nurture them
in every way. In other words, to be what
parents are supposed to be.”
Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders
Senior Staff Attorney Karen Loewy said the
state Supreme Court’s “historic decision
honors the intentions of everyone involved
in bringing these children into the world,
and provides those children with the protection of having two legal parents from the
moment of their birth.”
“This ruling has special significance for
same-sex couples using assisted reproductive technologies like gestational surrogacy,
because there will always be one intended
parent who is not a genetic parent. It is
now clear that Connecticut law honors
and protects those intended families,” she
said.
Elton raises
$3 million for AFER
Elton John raised $3 million for the
American Foundation for Equal Rights on
Jan. 19 at a 90-minute private concert in
Beverly Hills.
About 500 people attended the soirée
in a tent at the estate of entrepreneur Ron
Burkle.
AFER will use the money to continue its
federal lawsuit against California’s Proposition 8, the state constitutional amendment
that re-banned same-sex marriage in 2008.
AFER won the case at the District Court level
and it now is on appeal at the 9th U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals in San Francisco.
Assistance: Bill Kelley
ACCESSline Page 6
FEBRUARY 2011
World News news analysis by Rex Wockner
Prominent Ugandan
activist killed
Newspaper and U.S. evangelicals
blamed
Prominent Ugandan gay activist David
Kato was killed in his home Jan. 26, just 23
days after winning a lawsuit against a tabloid
newspaper that published his picture and
pictures of other gays along with the headline
“Hang Them.”
Police said a robber entered Kato’s home
near Kampala early in the afternoon, struck
him in the head with a hammer, and left in a
vehicle. They later arrested Kato’s driver and
are looking for his handyman, who they said
is an ex-con. Kato died en route to a hospital,
according to Human Rights Watch.
“David Kato’s death is a tragic loss to the
human rights community,” said HRW’s senior
Africa researcher, Maria Burnett. “David had
faced the increased threats to Ugandan LGBT
people bravely and will be sorely missed.”
Kato was the advocacy officer for the
organization Sexual Minorities Uganda
(SMUG). He had been a leading voice in the
fight against the Anti-Homosexuality Bill,
which has been before Uganda’s parliament
since October 2009.
The legislation would imprison for life
anyone convicted of “the offense of homosexuality,” punish “aggravated homosexuality” (repeat offenses, or having gay sex while
being HIV-positive) with the death penalty,
forbid “promotion of homosexuality” and
incarcerate gay-rights defenders, and jail
individuals in positions of authority for up
to three years if they fail to report within 24
hours the existence of all LGBT people or
sympathizers known to them.
Kato was one of three plaintiffs in the
recent successful lawsuit against Uganda’s
Rolling Stone newspaper, which published
photos, names and addresses of numerous
gay people, including Kato, along with a
headline that said, “Hang Them.” Kato’s photo
was on the cover.
The Kampala High Court ruled that
the plaintiffs suffered violations of their
constitutional rights to life and to privacy
of the person and the home, and ordered
the newspaper, which has no relation to the
U.S. Rolling Stone, to pay each plaintiff $643
plus court costs.
“(P)ublishing the identities of the applicants and exposing their homes coupled with
the explicit call to hang them because ‘they
are after our kids,’ the respondents extracted
the applicants from the other members of the
community who are regarded as worthy, in
equal measure, of human dignity and who
ought to be treated as worthy of dignity and
respect,” the court said. “Clearly the call to
hang gays in dozens tends to tremendously
threaten their right to human dignity. … (T)he
exposure, of the identities of the persons and
homes of the applicants for the purposes of
fighting gayism and the activities of gays, as
can easily be seen from the general outlook of
the impugned publication, threaten the rights
of the applicants to privacy of the person and
their homes.”
The newspaper article said, in part: “The
mighty Rolling Stone is glad to reveal some
of the most horrible secrets in gay community, which is bent on recruiting at least one
million members by 2012. Dishearteningly,
gays are after young kids, who are easily
brainwashed towards bisexual orientation. … The leaked pictures of Uganda’s top
homosexuals and lesbians have renewed
calls for the strengthening of the war against
the rampage that threatens the future of our
generation by hanging gays. ‘Unless government takes a bold step by hanging dozens of
homosexuals, the vice will continue eating
up the moral fibre and culture of our great
nation,’ … said a radical church leader who
preferred anonymity.”
In a statement, SMUG said that Kato “has
been receiving death threats since his face
was put on the front page of Rolling Stone
magazine, which called for his death and the
death of all homosexuals.”
Val Kalenda, board chair of Freedom and
Roam Uganda, blamed Kato’s killing on “the
hatred planted in Uganda by (visiting) U.S.
evangelicals in 2009.”
“The Ugandan government and the
so-called U.S. evangelicals must take responsibility for David’s blood!” she said.
Some U.S. news reports and gay activists
have blamed the U.S. visitors for inspiring the
Anti-Homosexuality Bill during their visits
to the country.
“David was a true hero, a man who gave
his energy and finally his life for others’ freedoms,” said Scott Long, who headed HRW’s
LGBT Rights Division for several years. “The
foreign Christian leaders who have supported the spread of murderous homophobia in
Uganda … should search their consciences
today and beg forgiveness.”
According to Political Research Associates: “The targeting of Kato and other LGBT
Ugandans follows an intense demonization
campaign fostered by right-wing Christian
activists from the United States. A March
2009 conference in Kampala … featured
notorious American anti-gay campaigners,
who promoted the idea of a sinister global
homosexual conspiracy to corrupt Uganda.
Conference speakers advocated parliamentary action to thwart this ‘international gay
agenda’ (and) met with Ugandan lawmakers
and government officials, some of whom
drafted Parliament’s infamous Anti-Homosexuality Bill.”
In a statement, SMUG Executive Director Frank Mugisha vowed to carry on Kato’s
activism.
“No form of intimidation will stop our
cause,” he said. “The death of David will only
be honored when the struggle for justice and
equality is won. David is gone and many of
us will follow, but the struggle will be won.
David wanted to see a Uganda where all
people will be treated equally despite their
sexual orientation.”
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
issued a statement that said, in part: “David
Kato tirelessly devoted himself to improving
the lives of others. As an advocate for the
group Sexual Minorities Uganda, he worked
to defend the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender individuals. His efforts
resulted in groundbreaking recognition for
Uganda’s LGBT community, including the
Uganda Human Rights Commission’s October
2010 statement on the unconstitutionality of
Uganda’s draft ‘anti-homosexuality bill’ and
the Ugandan High Court’s January 3 ruling
safeguarding all Ugandans’ right to privacy
and the preservation of human dignity. His
tragic death underscores how critical it is
that both the government and the people of
Uganda, along with the international community, speak out against the discrimination,
harassment and intimidation of Uganda’s
LGBT community, and work together to
ensure that all individuals are accorded the
same rights and dignity to which each and
every person is entitled.”
President Barack Obama said: “I am
deeply saddened to learn of the murder
of David Kato. In Uganda, David showed
tremendous courage in speaking out against
hate. He was a powerful advocate for fairness
and freedom. The United States mourns
his murder, and we recommit ourselves to
David’s work. At home and around the world,
LGBT persons continue to be subjected to
unconscionable bullying, discrimination and
hate. In the weeks preceding David Kato’s
murder in Uganda, five members of the LGBT
community in Honduras were also murdered.
It is essential that the governments of Uganda
and Honduras investigate these killings and
hold the perpetrators accountable. LGBT
rights are not special rights; they are human
rights. My administration will continue to
strongly support human rights and assistance
work on behalf of LGBT persons abroad. We
do this because we recognize the threat faced
by leaders like David Kato, and we share their
commitment to advancing freedom, fairness
and equality for all.”
Russia appeals Euro
Court’s Pride ban ruling
On the last possible day, the Russian
government on Jan. 22 appealed a European Court of Human Rights ruling from last
October that struck down Moscow’s yearly
bans of public gay pride events.
The government asked the court’s Grand
Chamber to reconsider the ruling that had
been made by a smaller group of the court’s
judges.
Plaintiff Nikolai Alekseev, founder of
Moscow Pride, predicted the Grand Chamber
would deny the request for a rehearing within
two to three months, “which means the
verdict will come into force before the sixth
Moscow Pride on May 28,” he said.
In its decision, the court said that former
Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov’s routine
bans of gay pride violated guarantees of
the European Convention on Human Rights
and Fundamental Freedoms in the areas of
freedom of assembly and association, right
to an effective remedy and prohibition of
discrimination.
The court ordered payment to Alekseev
of 12,000 euros ($16,313) in damages and
17,510 euros in costs and expenses.
The judges rejected Moscow’s excuses
for the bans, which included the alleged need
to protect public order, health, morals and
the rights and freedoms of others -- as well
as the desire to prevent riots.
In reality, Luzhkov had vowed to never
allow a gay pride parade in Moscow no matter
what. He called gay parades “satanic” and
“weapons of mass destruction,” and called
gay people “faggots” (“gomiki”).
“(T)he main reason for the bans on
the gay marches had been the authorities’
disapproval of demonstrations which, they
considered, promoted homosexuality,” the
court’s registrar said in a summary of the
Nikolai Alekseev, courtesy GayRussia.ru
ruling. “In particular, the court could not
disregard the strong personal opinions
publicly expressed by the Moscow mayor
and the undeniable link between those
statements and the bans. Consequently, the
court found that, as the government had not
justified their bans in a way compatible with
the convention requirements, Mr. Alekseyev
had suffered discrimination because of his
sexual orientation.”
At the time, Alekseev said: “This decision
is a major victory for us because no judge, no
lawyer and no politician will any longer be
able to tell us that the bans of our events were
lawful. This decision is the first to recognize
that the Russian law on freedom of assembly
contradicts with the European Convention.
It is a gift to all democrats and human rights
activists in Russia.”
Small groups of LGBT activists defied
Luzhkov’s bans each of the past five years,
provoking him to send riot police to arrest
and sometimes beat them. The gatherings
also were routinely attacked by anti-gay
hooligans.
Philippines activists
request international
lobbying
ProGay Philippines leader Oscar Atadero.
Photo by Rex Wockner
Activists in the Philippines are seeking
international pressure to encourage a
committee vote in the House of Representatives on a bill to ban discrimination based on
sexual orientation and gender identity.
House Bill 1483, “An Act Defining
Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Providing
Penalties Therefor,” would protect gay and
trans people in employment, housing, public
accommodations, education, health care,
transportation, social services, civil service,
the military and other areas.
“Discriminationary acts against LGBT
citizens in the Philippines are rampant yet
are largely unreported and not provided
corrective measures,” said the activist group
ProGay Philippines. “Gay men are constantly
harassed by police officers, transgen-
TTWORLD NEWS continued page 16
FEBRUARY 2011
ACCESSline Page 7
Inside Out: The Republic of Iowa by Ellen Krug
Recently while driving back to Iowa, I
lost Minnesota Public Radio almost exactly
at the Iowa-Minnesota border. I turned the
dial to Iowa Public Radio, and I could have
sworn that I had just passed into a foreign
country. Although there were no border
guard shacks to mark the state line (at least
not yet), the airwaves told me that my old
home state had changed dramatically since
I moved north last year.
The radio reports first referenced
familiar news about the three Iowa Supreme
Court justices being voted off the Court
because of the Varnum case, the decision that
legalized gay marriage. (If you’re LGBT and
reading about either the Varnum decision
or booting of the Supreme Court justices for
the first time, um, you need to turn in your
pink triangle membership card.) IPR then
reported that the Republican controlled
Iowa Legislature planned to impeach the
remaining four Supreme Court justices.
And just to really make me crazy, I heard
Bob Vander Plaats—that warm and fuzzy
civil libertarian—call upon the four justices
to resign so that impeachment would not
be necessary. According to Sideshow Bob,
resigning was the “right thing to do.”
I also heard your governor (and trust
me, I’m so happy to say “your” instead of
“my”; the smart people to the north voted in
a Democrat governor), Terry Brandstad, say
he would not get involved in the decision on
whether to impeach the justices. Apparently,
his plate was too full and impeachment is
handled by some other department.
What the hell is happening in my good
old state of Iowa? I leave and the place seems
to have gone to LGBT hell.
The radio report continued. I heard that
there is a movement to
get rid of the current
procedure by which
judges are appointed
based on merit and
replace it with a system
where judges are elected
by popular vote. Huh?
Merit appointment is a
pretty good idea since
it ensures a degree of
quality in Iowa’s judges.
You may not care whether those judges are
any good now, but wait until you are hurt in
a car accident and need to sue, or god forbid,
one of your loved ones is harmed by another
person. It sure helps the progress of justice
if the judge hearing the case actually knows
what they are doing.
If the merit system for appointing judges
is replaced by an election process, quality
goes out the door. Any yahoo with a law
degree can get elected. And let me assure you,
there are a number of yahoos practicing law.
If an election based system becomes reality,
legal smarts and hard work will no longer
be qualifying credentials. Instead, religious
ferocity and who you know with money will
be the litmus tests for becoming a judge.
I really wish I was making all of this
up.
But it is actually far worse. In the last
couple of weeks I have learned that the
Extreme Right (read
The People Who Hate
Us) is now canvassing Iowa courthouses
to determine which
Iowa judges have been
performing same sex
marriages. Apparently,
after eliminating the
Supreme Court, those
judges are next. After
that, I assume the ax
will fall on judges who perform marriages of
atheists, or Buddhists, or anarchists. I mean,
really, where will it end?
One of my good friends received a
mailing entitled The FAMiLY LEADER from
the Iowa Family Center where Sideshow Bob
writes, “November 2, 2010 (when the three
Supreme Court Justices were voted out) was
just one moment in the grand scheme of a
vast political timeline… In order to have a
long term impact on the culture for the sake
of the Family and for the sake of Truth, we
need to turn moments into a movement.”
This mailing goes on to say that God “will
On November 2, 2010 31% of gay voters
showed up to the polls and voted Republican;
12% more than the previous year. While the
initial reaction is “Why?” the better question
is “How do we turn this into an advantage?”
What the GOP needs from the gay community
more than votes are candidates. Gay Republicans need to come out of the closet and run
for office. It is time to put to rest the idea that
the platform of the Republican Party has to
be anti-gay; has to be socially conservative;
has to be based in religious zealotry. In fact,
it may actually be the case that gays can save
the Republican Party.
Sarah Palin warned in her book Going
Rogue of a gay takeover of the GOP. Turning
that paranoid conspiracy into reality may
be exactly what the party and the country
needs—a GOP worth belonging to; one that
does not define itself by ignorance or bigotry
but by sound arguments of long-term stability
and of limited government. With the recent
ultra-conservative pullout from CPAC caused
by the participation of the gay Republican
organization GOPRoud, it is clear how possible this takeover is. There is power in visibility.
Presence and personal knowledge change
perception faster and more fundamentally
than policy. For that reason, gays need to
subvert the current paradigm of us versus
them that has pervaded the two-party system
and take back the GOP for the sake of itself and
for the sake of our national security.
The voting data is telling. The map
shows that where education prevails, so
does the Democratic Party. But, this doesn’t
have to be the case. Recently, the Republican
base has redefined itself as a political circle
in which education and articulation are not
valued traits. What kind of party, what kind
of nation, would we have if gay candidates
helped rebuild a GOP that rooted itself in
fiscal efficiency and reasonable principles
of governing, instead of social regulation
and religious piety?
Attacks on Republican strategy are
becoming more and more pointed and,
sad to say, more accurate. Example: opposing the president for the sake of opposing
him is not a long-term winning strategy
for the party or for our
country. In fact, such an
endeavor is perhaps the
most dangerous effort
in the history of our
national security. It is
time for gays to inject a
little more yes into “the
party of no.”
Regardless of how
it seems, the true
fundamental core of
the Republican Party
is a limited federal
government that is
more in balance with
the powers of the states.
Wanting to control the size of government
is not somehow impossible for gay brains
to comprehend. Gays are not genetically
required to affiliate with the Democratic
Party, but have instead been driven there by
the pervading GOP regime that has marginalized, suppressed, and disenfranchised
them. So, if you see a problem, be prepared
to fix it or don’t bother complaining. If the
problem is the regime, then the time has
come for a regime change.
As DADT dies, it’s time for the gays to take
up arms as part of the solution by assuming
an increased involvement in our national
defense, by bringing the fresh ideas that voters
have been waiting for. Gays need to step up to
the podium and restore balance, intelligence,
and pragmatism to the GOP. It has been said
that you should be the change you want to see
in the world. It’s time more conservative gay
thinkers to take this adage to heart instead
of running to anything blue simply because it
isn’t red. Rather, why not give today’s homely
GOP the makeover it needs?
As the need for
intervention becomes
more dire, the cracks
in the existing system
become more apparent.
We exalt our leaders
believing that they are
smarter, better connected, and better informed
than us. As those who
do not fit this educated
and informed archetype
continue to infiltrate
our governing system,
we will find this faith to
be further undermined.
Cultivating a base that is
increasingly ignorant and misinformed is a
long-term losing strategy for the reason that
you will inevitably inspire and facilitate those
same ignorant and misinformed patriots to
successfully pursue public office. Again gays
could be the perfect antidote to the languishing intellectual average of new Republican
candidates. Some might decry this idea as
elitist but we ultimately don’t really want
ordinary folks operating the machinery of
our government.
Due to the closed media circuit that has
encased Republican voters, reason has more
and more often been abandoned in exchange
for so-called “values.” The problem of policy
Where are the marches
in the streets? Where is
the uproar among the LGBT
community? Are you just
going to sit back and take
this craziness? Did you enjoy
the closet?
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].
use us to do his work.”
If you don’t already know, the implicit
“Truth” Sideshow Bob talks about is that
LGBT people are less human, less equal,
and less worthy of his God. Sideshow Bob’s
“grand scheme” is to have a religious-based
judiciary in Iowa. This is the kind of thing
that happens in some tin horn country in
another hemisphere, not the America that has
TTINSIDE OUT continued page 28
Action Reaction: The Gay Blue Period by Brett Edward Stout
Gays need to step up
to the podium and restore
balance, intelligence, and
pragmatism to the GOP. It’s
time more conservative gay
thinkers to take this adage
to heart instead of running to
anything blue simply because
it isn’t red. Rather, why not
give today’s homely GOP the
makeover it needs?
Writer, filmmaker, and photographer Brett
Edward Stout is a Cedar Rapids native and
recent graduate of the University of Iowa. He
spent five years in the US Marine Corps as a
Russian linguist. His first novel Sugar-baby
Bridge was published in 2008. He is currently
working on his second novel, entitled The Lives
Between. Photo: Adam Bouska
based on “values” is twofold: one, they are
exclusionary; and two, they are contrary to
the principles of small government. The GOP
needs a return to ideals over ideology, something that gays have an acute understanding
of. Gay Republicans need to assertively help
their party reject the distracting social issues
that expatriate the pool of forward thinking
leaders who would otherwise pursue a place
in its ranks.
The studious and open-minded
perspective of the gay community is the
exact remedy the ailing Republican Party
needs right now. It’s time for articulate gay
republicans who have stayed hidden in
the GOP’s closet to come out and onto the
ballots. Let’s face it; our chances of winning
only improve by playing both sides. Only by
participating, can we prevail.
ACCESSline Page 8
FEBRUARY 2011
Creep of the Week by D’Anne Witkowski
Gordon Klingenschmitt
Needless to say, Klingenschmitt doesn’t
like the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” one
You know what gay people need? Exor- bit. It’s going to destroy us, he says.
“It’s going to lead to a national draft. The
cisms. It’s the only way to get rid of the gaymaking demon lurking in the homosexual number of homosexuals coming in will never
eclipse the mass exodus of Christians leaving
soul.
And who better to do that exorcism than the military,” he told Pakman.
I wonder when Christians are planning
Gordon Klingenschmitt, an ex-Navy chaplain,
booted out of the military for insubordina- this mass exodus and where they plan on
tion? After all, he has a great track record, going. Because so far there’s no evidence of
Christian soldiers fleeing the demon-infested
according to himself.
“As a chaplain I prayed with a young homos that the DADT repeal will foist upon
lesbian sailor who came to me and said, the general public. If they are indeed leaving,
‘Chaplain I don’t like the way I’m feeling, can they seem to be going pretty quietly.
“Not only that, it’s
you help me with this?’
I’m sorry, what? You had going to cost the blessWe prayed with her,”
Klingenschmitt said on a wedding ceremony? So this ing of God upon our
Klingenschmitt
the David Pakman show
lesbian Navy lady married troops,”
continues. Everybody
Jan. 20. “She renounced
her sin. She invited Jesus? So does that mean Jesus knows that God loves
Jesus Christ to be the is officially off the market America best and helps
soldiers kill
first man in her life that
now? Or do a lot of ladies American
kill kill. But the tables
she trusted. We had a
wedding ceremony. She marry Jesus and, if so, isn’t that are turned, he argues.
“I’m concerned as
wept as Jesus moved polygamy?
a chaplain that America
into her heart and got
will no longer be able to fight and win wars
the devil out of her.”
I’m sorry, what? You had a wedding because now we’re fighting against almighty
ceremony? So this lesbian Navy lady married God, the government has declared war on
Jesus? So does that mean Jesus is officially off God and god will ultimately prevail in that
the market now? Or do a lot of ladies marry battle.”
Klingenschmitt claims that DADT was a
Jesus and, if so, isn’t that polygamy? How,
then, is this all-the-ladies-marry-one-dude good policy “in that it prevented people from
scenario not the culmination of so many lying about who they really are.” Because
slippery slope arguments against marriage homosexuals are, by Klingenschmitt’s definition, a bunch of dirty crooks who think
equality?
“When I looked into her eyes I said, ‘You nothing of waking up and declaring that
foul demon of lesbian homosexuality come they’re going to be someone else today.
out of this woman in Jesus’ name.’ She began Someone gay. Klingenschmitt said gay men
to weep and said she loved Jesus,” Klingen- need to “man up” and start being straight and
schmitt continued. “She started reading her stop acting like women.
And then, of course, for our complimenBible, she was the best evangelist in our
church. She got baptized and she started tary exorcism: “It’s the only spiritual solution
to a spiritual disease,” says Klingenschmitt.
dating boys.”
Anti-gay exorcism: It’s the gift that keeps
Okay, wait. After he exorcised the “foul
demon of lesbian homosexuality” out of her on giving. Order yours today.
she got baptized and started dating boys?
Presumably this woman was over 18 since
she was in the military and all. So I’d think that
boys are a little out of her league. And again,
For many years people have been trying
isn’t the anti-gay right always going on and to figure out what makes a person gay. Scienon about how gay people go after children? tists, psychologists, and theologists alike have
But it’s somehow okay with God when the been stumped.
adults going after children are ex-gay and
Of course, all they have to do is ask
married to Jesus?
Schenectady City Council member Joseph
I might be over-thinking this.
Allen. He knows what makes kids gay:
Joseph Allen
That’s where councilmember Joseph
Allen comes in. He agreed with both of the
people who spoke out against the billboards
and offered his own searing insight.
“Now, I don’t care if you’re gay, straight
or whatever, but I don’t think it’s necessary
to advertise for them,” Allen said according
to the Gazette. “This is not kosher, as far as
I’m concerned.”
It is not clear from the news story
advertising.
You see, in Schenectady, New York, an whether a rabbi was consulted, but Allen
LGBT advocacy group called In Our Own did worry about the impact of the billboards
Voices (“IOOV”), along with the state Depart- on kids.
“An adult, fine, you can do what you
ment of Health, began a billboard campaign
that’s part advocacy and part HIV prevention. want,” Allen continued. “But who’s going
to read these? Young
And let me tell you, the
What gay person doesn’t people, vulnerable kids.
billboards are scandalous.
remember seeing his or her first They don’t say, ‘Adult
only.’”
(You might want to
But they should.
shield your eyes before billboard and deciding right
Because Allen apparreading this next part then and there to be gay?
ently thinks that there’s
because just a mere
description of one of these billboards could something pornographic about the word
make you gay or, if you’re already gay, even “gay” paired with a photo of a gay man and
his family. And by claiming that “vulnerable”
gayer.)
One billboard has a photo of a young young people would read the billboards, he’s
African-American man surrounded by his perpetuating the completely false idea that
family. It looks like his mom and his dad gays somehow recruit kids.
The truly vulnerable young people
and maybe his brother. Or his boyfriend.
That part is not clear. Next to the photo it who read those billboards are, indeed, the
reads, “I AM GAY” and underneath says, “And LGBT kids who “have always been a part of
this is where I stay,” followed by, “We have this community.” And maybe the billboard
always been a part of this community.” The messages will have an impact on them. Not
billboard also contains IOOV’s website and to “make” them gay, but to make them think,
“Hey, maybe I do have a future here. Maybe I
phone number.
According to the Schenectady Daily don’t need to kill myself. Maybe I am okay.”
But in Allen’s Schenectady that’s apparGazette, the other two billboards in the
series include photos of gay black men in ently a negative message. Seeing as he “called
church and playing basketball. Each billboard for legislation that would require billboard
includes “I AM GAY” and the message about owners to get their messages approved by the
council” (which was quickly smacked down
community.
In any case, some folks in Schenectady per the whole freedom of speech thing), it’s
are super pissed about these billboards and frightening to think what he would deem
so they took their concerns before the City appropriate.
Council at their January 10 meeting.
According to the Gazette, Rev. Alfred
Thompkins, who likened gay people to
“thieves and liars,” told the council he was
“really bothered by the message these send”
to young people. “A 13-year-old looks at these
billboards and says, ‘That must be it, I must
be gay,’” Thompkins said. “That goes directly
against God’s purpose.”
Exactly. What gay person doesn’t
remember seeing his or her first billboard
and deciding right then and there to be gay?
Thompkins clearly understands how this
whole gay thing works.
Thanks to Fred Phelps and his Westboro
The Gazette also reported that a woman Baptist thugs, everybody knows that God
who provides daycare to a 2, 4, and 8-year-old hates fags. But you know what else God hates?
accused the billboards of
Birds and fish. Because
Jacobs says God killed the of the fags.
promoting “inappropriate sexual expression” birds and fish because God was
At least that’s what
and argued that they
Cindy Jacobs says in a
pissed off about gays, specifi- video she posted online
should be limited to
“adult business zones,” cally the repeal of “Don’t Ask, January 5.
which the Gazette Don’t Tell.”
Jacobs, along with
described as “industrial
her husband Mike, runs
areas at the outskirts of the city.” She said Generals International, a ministry “devoted
she didn’t want her daycare kids exposed to training in prayer and spiritual warfare.”
“to such content.”
She calls herself a prophet and claims that
And who can blame her? Gay men with people are always turning to her for insight
their families? Gay men in church? Sick. It’s when crazy s--t happens.
enough to make a child’s eyes explode into
Take, for instance, that whole alarming
pools of flamin’ hot blood.
incident with the thousands of blackbirds
You have to hope that the people on the falling dead out of the sky in Arkansas on
Schenectady City Council have some sense New Year’s Eve. Spooky. No one knows why it
even if some of their constituents don’t.
TTCREEPS continued page 10
Cindy Jacobs
FEBRUARY 2011
ACCESSline Page 9
When the Right-Wing Claims Their Words Don’t Matter by Bob Minor
When gay-bashers around the country
torture, torment, and kill lesbians, gay men,
transgender people, and those perceived to
be, they often are repeating words spoken
from pulpits.
While sitting on a panel of religious types,
that was the response I gave when asked if
I blamed anti-LGBT ministers for persecutions and deaths that take place around the
country—after I said: “Yes, I do.”
I added: “If you want to prove otherwise,
tell me how often you’ve joined a march or
rally, or spoken from the pulpit telling people
it’s a sin to treat LGBT as less than human.”
The response: silence, and acting as if
they were the victims of my words.
Anyone who’s studied these things
knows that words matter. The right-wing
talkers, including FOX News and Republican
Party operatives like Frank Luntz, know they
do because they craft their talking-points to
move people to action, to make their words
matter.
Religious leaders know that, too. Otherwise why even give a sermon, spend hours
crafting it, or even sanctify the words by
claiming the Holy Spirit is behind them and
their impact?
We’re a culture historically replete with
violent words. The recent political shootings
in Tucson momentarily raised the level of the
discussion of the mainstreaming of rhetoric of guns, killing, targeting, and “Second
Amendment solutions” by the political
right-wing against anyone who doesn’t toe
their line.
The response from the culprits was the
usual—using strategies that have worked
well to stifle critique and move an issue to a
back burner where it goes cold. They knew
mainstream media would move on quickly,
so they had merely to play a loud defense
until other issues distracted the so-called
“journalists” in our midst.
You know the drill. Even as someone on
the left, I could effectively use it.
First, act outraged that anyone would
draw the conclusion that their words had any
relationship to the Tucson massacre. Even in
the light of gun-sites on a map indicating the
exact victim, much less the violent words, act
as if you’re the ones being victimized—and
by “the radical left” again.
It always works. Liberal guilt will cause
them to retreat, apologize, turn on any liberal
who promotes the connection, and fight
among themselves, thereby confirming to
on-lookers that right-wingers are the true
victims of all this.
Second, get liberals to join the talk that
this is not a right-wing problem but that
there’s actually a right/left equality in all
this violent rhetoric. Act as if this is a fair
reading of the facts even when the evidence
is against you.
Talk as if liberals are openly carrying
guns to rallies too, liberal media is calling
for the deaths of conservative politicians,
and Democratic leaders are calling people to
“reload” and blast away at their opponents.
Don’t worry; liberals will even do your
research in this matter to resurrect examples
where this could be true.
Don’t let evidence to the contrary
interfere. Remember, if you repeat your
position often enough, it will be treated as
an equal opinion with those that are actually
supported by facts.
You don’t need facts to attain status
in our media market. And facts alone don’t
move as many people anyway; being on top
of framing an issue does.
Third, make sure every right-winger is
on the same talking points, and continue to
repeat them. Don’t worry; liberals won’t do
that because they’ll be caught up in discussion and debate.
They’ll try to be nice. Liberal guilt won’t
let them speak ill of anyone, even those who
do them ill.
Fourth, paint the shooter as a liberal—
even if he isn’t—before anyone else portrays
him otherwise. Liberals will be reluctant
to commit to saying that he was an antigovernment convert more in line with the
Tea Party folks even if he is.
Make liberals respond to your story, all
the time remembering that just saying he is
a liberal will ingrain that idea into popular
understanding. Liberals will be caught up
in the actual nuances of mental illness and
instability. Cable and network news will act
otherwise, but they really have no patience
for subtlety.
Fifth, take advantage of the moral principles of liberals. Know that they will decry
we/them politics, playing on emotions as
opposed to intellect, the volume of an argument, stereotyping of others, the use of their
power (liberals think power corrupts), the
using of people to achieve your ends, and
the fact that your claims do not fit with the
teachings of religious leaders you claim to
follow such as Jesus of Nazareth.
Their principles might be true, but
your goal is to win and protect political
and economic power. Your goal is to be the
arbitrator of a morality that arises out of and
confirms consumerism.
Sixth, don’t reach out to liberals in any
way that acts that what they say is worthwhile. Talk bipartisanship and fairness but
let them be the ones who compromise their
ideas to move closer to you.
Don’t worry; they’ll do it. One result will
be that those looking on will believe you were
right all along because liberals are willing to
move in your direction.
Seventh, when caught in a lie, never
apologize. Just ignore the accusation and
repeat the lie.
Let liberals do all the apologizing.
Robert N. Minor, Ph.D.,
Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at
the University of Kansas, is author of When
Religion Is an Addiction;
Scared Straight: Why It’s So Hard to
Accept Gay People and Why It’s So Hard
to Be Human and Gay & Healthy in a Sick
Society. Contact him at
www.FairnessProject.org.
People will remember their apology and
for what it apologizes more than they will
remember that it was a lie or mistake you
are repeating.
This is standard operating procedure.
If we were awake, we saw it play out again
this past month.
We cannot overlook it nor act as if this
isn’t going on. Over and over again we must
point it out, practice intervention when it
comes to this pattern.
We must firmly, kindly, and persistently
be willing, however, to be the alternative
voice in these matters that speaks clearly
and truthfully. Most importantly, speak of
how we personally see things as if we believe
it—assuming we really do.
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advertising sales reps in
jobs.ACCESSlineIOWA.com
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LGBT COMMUNITIES
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ACCESSline Page 10
SScontinued from page 8
CREEPS
happened, or why three days later hundreds
more blackbirds fell out of the sky in Louisiana. Or why a few days after that thousands
of dead fish washed up on an Arkansas shore.
But Jacobs has a good theory: the gays.
Not that the gays themselves killed the
birds and fish, but that God killed the birds
and fish because God was pissed off about
gays, specifically the repeal of “Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell.”
“According to biblical principles,
marriage is between a man and a woman,
so we have to say, ‘What happens when
a nation makes a decision that’s against
God’s principles?’” she asks while wearing a
purple leopard-print jacket. “Well, often what
happens is that nature itself will begin to talk
to us. And you know there are actually some
patterns that you can see where a nation will
make a decision that is contrary to the principles of God and after that there is some kind
of answer that God gives—being the God of
creation, the God who created nature.”
The problem, however, is that “we
don’t always understand what he’s saying.”
Which is where Jacobs comes in: to sort it all
out for us and come to the sanest possible
conclusion. Did I mention she calls herself
a prophet?
“Let’s talk about this Arkansas pattern
and say, could it be a pattern? We’re going
to watch and see,” she continues. “But the
blackbirds fell to the ground in Beebe, Arkansas. Well the Governor of Arkansas’ name is
Beebe. And also, there was something put out
of Arkansas called ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ by a
former Governor … Bill Clinton.”
She then asks if there could be a connec-
tion between the Hosea 4 in the Bible, where
God gets pissed at folks in Israel who are
killing and stealing and sleeping around
and declares that everyone there is going
to waste away and die along with all of the
animals, including “the birds of the air” and
“the fish of the sea.”
“And so,” Jacobs asks, “could there be a
connection between (Hosea 4) and now that
we’ve had the repeal of the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell,’ where people now legally in the United
States have broken restraints with the Scripture because the Scripture says in Romans 1
that homosexuality is not allowed?”
Huh, could there be? Hey, I don’t know,
lady. You’re the prophet.
“It could be because we have said it’s okay
for people who commit these kinds of acts
to be recognized in our military for the first
time in our history there is a potential that
there is something that actually happened
in the land where a hundred thousand drum
fish died and also where these birds just fell
out of the air,” she says.
Sure. Because it totally makes sense that
God would be all, “I don’t want homos in the
United States military! I am so pissed off I
could kill a few thousand birds and some
more thousand fish to teach those gays a
lesson.” And then school children could look
on in horror and vow to never become gay
soldiers. Amen.
Michael Medved
Happy New Year, everybody! And just
in case you wondered if 2011 would find the
anti-gay right as fixated on the complicated
genital equation of penis + penis/ vagina +
vagina <> penis + vagina, worry not. It will
always, deep in their hearts (or hearts and
FEBRUARY 2011
web browsing histories), come down to
crotch shots for these folks.
Case in point: Michael Medved, conservative radio talk show host and self-proclaimed
expert on the ins and outs of gay sex.
At the tail end of 2010, inspired by the
repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Medved
declared on his website, “The New Year
brings a new policy to America’s military
that mandates acceptance, and even endorsement, of open homosexual behavior.”
I think Medved might have the specifics
of the DADT policy confused with the XXX
“military training videos” he rents. He seems
to think DADT was the only thing keeping the
military from devolving into an orgy of public of these things just doesn’t belong.”
man-on-man and/or woman-on-woman sex.
He continues, “This distinction helps
Unless, of course, he means something more explain the oft-noted quirk in public attitudes
innocent by “open homosexual behavior,” like that sees stronger opposition and denunciahandholding and slow dancing. But I kind of tion, in the Old Testament and elsewhere, to
doubt that.
a physical relationship between two males
He goes on to claim that the DADT than intimacy between two females.”
repeal “denies the vast and crucial distincIn other words, this explains why two
tion between males and
chicks kissing in a bar
females—insisting that
So the United States are greeted with cheers
men and women are military is essentially blind and two guys kissing are
interchangeable when it
greeted with fists.
comes to forming a valid, to sex and gender now just
“A physical connecconstructive intimate because it’s no longer legal to tion between a female
relationship.”
kick gay and lesbian service couple, like a physical
Oh? So the United
connection between
States military is essen- members out? Sure, Medved. man and woman, is
tially blind to sex and That makes total sense.
based primarily on acts
gender now just because
of affection. The most
it’s no longer legal to kick gay and lesbian common sexual practice between two men
service members out? Sure, Medved. That involves an act of aggression—inflicting
makes total sense.
more pain than pleasure for at least one of
And despite Medved’s opinion to the the parties,” he writes.
contrary, it certainly takes more than slapUm, okay. So when it comes to homosex,
ping two people of the opposite sex together Medved prefers donut bumping to sword
to form a “constructive intimate relationship.” fighting because the first is sweet and soft
Goodness knows the military is no stranger and the other is hard and violent. Duh.
to damaged straight folks hooking up while
As far as anal sex “inflicting more pain
on duty (Lynndie England and Charles Graner than pleasure for at least one of the parties,”
Jr., anyone?).
that doesn’t explain anal sex’s popularity with
But, of course, for Medved it all comes folks from all over the orientation spectrum.
down to penises and vaginas.
In other words, a lot of heterosexual folks are
“If men and women are profoundly into butt sex. A commenter on his site said it
different—and both science and common best: “Michael: Read a book, buy some lube,
sense tell us they are—then an all-female and try some foreplay first.”
As Dan Savage points out on The
couple is even more different from an allmale couple than either homosexual bond Stranger blog, “So lesbian sex is okay—with
differs from a heterosexual union,” Medved Michael and with God—because lesbians
don’t have anuses.”
writes.
The Lord, as they say, works in anatomiIn other words, to quote Sesame Street,
“One of these things is not like the other, one cally mysterious ways.
ACCESSline’s fun guide
Our Picks for February
1/28-2/13 Des Moines Community Playhouse:
STILL LIFE
2/8 Holland Center, Kiewit Hall, Omaha, NE:
“MAVERICK VIOLIN VIRTUOSO” DAVID GARRETT
“David Garrett is already the stuff of legend.”
— BBC Music Magazine
2/10-2/20 Mason City Community Theatre:
A TRIBUTE TO THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW
2/11-2/20 Grand Opera House, Dubuque:
THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY
2/12 Coralville Marriott:
BEAUSOLEIL AVEC MICHAEL DOUCET
“The Best Cajun Band in the World”
OrchestraIowa.org
BeauSoleil Holiday, Orchestra Iowa Fundraiser
2/12 Holzworth Performing Arts Center,
North High School, Davenport:
BALLET QUAD CITIES “LOVE STORIES”
2/12 Sioux City Orpheum: SIOUX CITY SYMPHONYLOVE AND ALL THINGS GOOD
2/13 Gallagher Bluedorn, Cedar Falls:
CUARTETO CASALS WITH ANDREAS KLEIN
2/18-2/27 StageWest, Des Moines, Iowa:
THE BEEBO BRINKER CHRONICLES (see ad pg 20)
“The Beebo Brinker Chronicles pries open the closet
door and reveals the characters trapped behind it.”
— BackStage
2/18 Holland Center, Omaha, NE: STEP AFRIKA!
2/19 North Iowa Area Community College:
GUYS ON ICE: AN ICE FISHING MUSICAL COMEDY
2/20 LeClair Park, Davenport, 11a-2p:
QC PRIDE SPORTS WINTER FLAG FOOTBALL
2/26 7:30pm Sondheim Center for the Performing
Arts , Fairfield, Iowa: GRAND PIANO GALA, AN
EVENING OF MUSIC ON THE STEINWAY PIANO
2/27 Iowa State Center, Ames, Iowa:
CAPE TOWN PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
2/28 Sioux City Orpheum: THE WIZARD OF OZ
...and coming in March
3/3 Iowa State Center, Ames, Iowa:
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
3/4-3/26 Theatre Cedar Rapids: SWEENEY TODD
3/5 Civic Center of Greater Des Moines:
MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY
Deep Inside Hollywood by Romeo San Vicente
Dominic Cooper is
The Devil’s Double
Dominic Cooper. Photo:
Sony Pictures Classics.
Acclaimed New Zealand director Lee
Tamahori (Once Were Warriors, Die Another
Day) has been laying low for a while. Understandable given his prostitution arrest in
2006, which happened after he solicited an
undercover officer for sex while dressed as
a woman. And while, in a perfect world, that
incident would have merely cemented his
status as coolest filmmaker of the decade, it
probably didn’t help his career on a day-today basis. So it’s nice to report that Tamahori
is back, this time with a new movie called
The Devil’s Double, starring Dominic Cooper
(History Boys, Mamma Mia! ) and French
actress Ludivine Sagnier. Cooper plays an
Iraqi army lieutenant who was forced to act
as the body double for Uday Hussein – the
reprobate son of Saddam – or face the execution of his entire family. Due to premiere at
the Sundance Film Festival this month (no
red carpet ball gown jokes here, sorry), look
for it in theaters later this year.
Pee-Wee’s return to HBO
Did you make it to New York’s Stephen
Sondheim Theatre to see The Pee-Wee
Herman Show on Broadway during its brief
yet successful run? Well, you’re too late for
the live version now; it just closed. But don’t
despair. The master of witty comebacks like
“I know you are, but what am I?” is taking
his stage show back to television when HBO
airs a performance later this year. What that
means for Pee-Wee himself, of course, is that
he’s now come full circle. After all, before
the hit film Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure and
Saturday morning’s Pee-Wee’s Playhouse,
the man-child’s very first exposure to a mass
audience was on HBO’s special The Pee-Wee
Herman Show back in the early ’80s. So think
of it as a homecoming, one where there’s
always plenty of Mr. T Cereal waiting in the
kitchen.
Natalie Portman’s
ever-changing movie
It can be hard to keep up with the status
of a forthcoming movie when you’re never
sure what the title is. In its earliest stages,
the new film from director Don Roos (The
Opposite of Sex) was titled Love and Other
Impossible Pursuits (it’s based on the 2006
Ayelet Waldman novel of the same name) and
it was to star Jennifer Lopez. And then the
name changed to 17 Photos of Isabel for a little
while, Natalie Portman replaced Lopez and
the cast grew to include Lisa Kudrow, Lauren
Ambrose and Rent’s Anthony Rapp. Now, with
its February release coming very soon, the
comedy-drama about a newlywed woman
dealing with a precocious stepson, the death
of her infant daughter and the meddling of
her husband’s ex-wife is now called, simply,
The Other Woman. And don’t confuse it with
Portman’s other new movie opening in the
next couple weeks, No Strings Attached. Or
the 1988 Woody Allen film Another Woman.
Is everybody clear on that now? Good.
Hammer does Hoover
Armie Hammer. Photo: Columbia Pictures.
Now that everyone has seen The Social
Network, the talk has swung back and forth
between Oscars and the cool way director
David Fincher turned super-tall, superhandsome, baking soda heir Armie Hammer
(yes, he’s from that family) into twins. It
involved digitally grafting Hammer’s face
onto the body of an equally height-blessed
actor named Josh Pence, for the record. But
the face matters, and so Hammer is the man
just cast by Clint Eastwood in his biopic of
J. Edgar Hoover, J. Edgar, starring Leonardo
DiCaprio and Charlize Theron. Hammer
will play Clyde Tolson, Hoover’s right-hand
man and, if some historical records are to be
believed, also his secret lover. Will the Dustin
Lance Black-penned movie deal explore that
speculative aspect of their relationship?
Or will all gayness be downplayed? And if
so, then what’s the point? Find out late in
2012 when it’ll no doubt be presented as
Oscar bait.
Cynthia Nixon
signs on to Fail
Too Big to Fail sounds like what the
makers of Sex and the City 2 were thinking
before they saw the finished product, but
it’s actually the new HBO movie co-starring
Sex alum Cynthia Nixon. It’s from Academy
Award-winning filmmaker Curtis Hanson
(L.A. Confidential) and it’s about Wall Street’s
2008 financial crisis. Of course, that’s a
subject that was already dealt with in a
rage-inducing 2010 documentary Inside Job,
but this version gives it that sugary movie
star face that helps the medicine go down.
Rounding out the large ensemble indictment of big finance will be William Hurt, Ed
Asner, Billy Crudup, Paul Giamatti, Topher
Grace, Matthew Modine, Michael O’Keefe, Bill
Pullman, Tony Shalhoub, James Woods and
Nixon’s fellow Sex comrade Evan Handler.
TTHOLLYWOOD continued page 17
ACCESSline Page 12
the fun guide
FEBRUARY 2011
Life After A-List by Chris Azzopardi
Reichen Lehmkuhl candidly talks reality TV regrets,
DADT and ex Lance Bass’
career copycats
Some people had a hard time sitting
through The A-List: New York, Logo’s tawdry
teledoc about a gay gaggle that got eyeroll reactions from viewers who couldn’t
completely look away. Imagine starring in
it.
Reichen Lehmkuhl, who became the
show’s punching bag for nasty names, looks
back with regret that you didn’t see him like
you should have. But he’s learned to get on
with his life and focus his attention on the
future—one that includes a film based on his
first book (a follow-up to 2006’s Here’s What
We’ll Say: Growing Up, Coming Out, and the
U.S. Air Force is in the works) and exploring
other avenues of his bottomless ambition
as a political activist, model, musician, and
jeweler (seriously: he has his own line).
In a recent chat with Lehmkuhl, the
37-year-old got personal about his hurt feelings, how the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
affected him, his book-turned-movie, and his
take on ex-boyfriend Lance Bass seemingly
copying his career.
You were called lots of nasty names
for your behavior on The A-List: New York.
How do you feel about the way Logo cast
you?
It hurts. If it didn’t hurt, I think there’d
be something wrong with me. I see myself
differently. Clearly when I look at my life I
see myself being raised in a trailer park and
breaking into a successful military career,
serving my country and graduating from
the Air Force Academy.
After getting out and writing a book
that sticks up for our entire community
and cries out for help from everyone to get
rid of a policy that’s going to help a lot of
other anti-gay policies fall, to see anyone in
the community turn around and call me a
douche bag, it just makes me say, “Wow.” I
watch A-List with different eyes, I’m sure. I
guess if I were watching the show from those
people’s eyes, maybe I would think I was a
douche bag, too.
How is it balancing serious stances on
issues like DADT and then doing a reality
show like A-List?
(Laughs) It’s really hard, because with
a show like A-List the cameras are on us for
five months—3,600 hours over the summer
just of me—and you probably saw, over 10
episodes, maybe three hours. Imagine what
they can do.
I tell people, “Don’t talk to me about
editing until you’ve done a reality TV show,
because you don’t know what you’re talking
about.” Out of 3,600 hours, you take three
hours of that and you make a person whatever you want them to be. A show like A-List
doesn’t want to show anything that’s boring
and not what people are tuning in for. They
want the things that are sensationalized,
and we understand. We signed up for this
and we understand what they’re going to
do. I wish I could just tell people, “That’s not
the way it is.” But you look even more stupid
sticking up for yourself, so I’ve learned to
just let it go.
You said you’re surprised
by some of the reactions, but
you also said you knew what
you were getting into. Do you
have regrets about doing the
show? Would you do a second
season?
Umm… I don’t know. They
haven’t even said yet if there
will be a second season, so we
haven’t really thought about it
yet. I think that there are definitely some regrets. There are
moments when I think, “Wow, we
shouldn’t have even given them
that.” A show can make you look
like you’re hitting on someone
in a club, but the editing doesn’t
let you see that it’s your friend
of 13 years. (Laughs) Suddenly,
you’re hitting on someone in
the club because you’re having a
conversation and saying it’s too
bad someone’s leaving the next
day. That’s terrible, and it’s hard.
Even doing my song (“Up to the Sky,” a
DADT protest tune), A-List showed the one
moment where I really screwed up, and
anyone who’s a singer screws up. They took
that and ran it over and over and over, and it
ruined any credibility that I had to sing or to
have a song or to try to do something good.
You see the tragic part, and that’s it.
Had I known it was going to be so negative, I wouldn’t have done any of that on
camera. I would’ve kept it as a very private
part of my life and just released a song on my
own, because now a lot of people won’t even
download the song. They’re judging it based
on what they saw on the TV show.
Would you like to continue to pursue
music?
Um, yeah. I think I’d love to record more
songs. I play the guitar all the time. I’ve been
playing the guitar since I was seven, but the
show makes it look like I am seven. (Laughs)
If I did record more songs, I would never
ever do it on the show. It was a humiliating
experience for me when I set out for it to be
really great project from the heart and to
make a difference.
Do you look online for buzz about
you?
I used to. I used to care, and after a few
years you realize it doesn’t matter and that
it’s just a handful of people who are negative
that are actually drawn to those kinds of
blogs and websites. The majority of people
are normal.
As someone personally affected by
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” how did you feel
when you heard it was repealed?
There are no words to describe how I
felt. It was 3:30 on the East Coast on December 18, and I’ll never forget it: I had a few
friends over here, we were watching C-SPAN
like it was the Super Bowl.
The verdict really lit a new fire under
me for the integration of LGBTQ people in
the military, because now we have ground
to stand on to get this done, and I feel like
it’s just the beginning of integration. Now
it’s really up to our community to really
watch like hawks these people who are
integrating the military and to make sure
they do it correctly; if they do it too slowly,
if they do it right and if they don’t enforce
it the way it should be enforced, we need to
watch for that. We really need to be careful
not to say, “Oh, that’s all done,” and wash
our hands of it.
If this repeal had taken place while
you were serving in the military, how do
you think it would’ve affected you?
Oh man—at this point, if I were still in,
I would be so anxious about when I could
come out, and I think I would probably be
leading the barrage to get every servicemember who is gay to come out now. The
more people who come out, the bigger
problem they have with keeping us in.
There’s an estimated 60,000 to 70,000
LGBT troops serving right now, and that’s
just people who’ve admitted it on survey
forms. If all those people came out, it would
send really big waves through the squadrons
and it would just normalize everything. It
would say, “Hey, we’re here, everything’s
cool. I’m the same guy you’ve known, but if
you ask what I did this past weekend you’re
going to hear the truth rather than a lie.”
I really wish I could go back in right now.
I don’t know if it was a moment of insanity
or a moment of nostalgia, but I thought, “I
wonder if I could investigate what it would
be like for me to go back into the military and
serve again.” But then I thought I would be a
captain still, because I got out as a captain,
and I would be ten years older than all the
other captains. That might be a little weird,
but the thought’s crossed my mind.
Regarding Obama, you’ve said he’s
failed you. Does the repeal of DADT
restore your faith in him?
No, because he didn’t do anything to
make it happen. And the thing is, when
President Obama had his justice department
appeal the decision of the court ruling to end
the ban, which he was under no obligation
to do, he risked having this policy maybe
another two years, maybe another six years
if we didn’t get it passed just now.
If there wasn’t so much hype from
everybody who was screaming—from me
to all my friends on Twitter to all these huge
organizations that we’ve spent entirely too
much money to support because of this crap
and this horrible ban—and if that hadn’t
happened in the lame-duck session, we
TTREICHEN continued page 38
FEBRUARY 2011
the fun guide
ACCESSline Page 13
Partying Hard: “Spartacus: Full-Frontal Television” by Joshua Dagon
I don’t remember exactly—I was merely
a wee babe—but wasn’t the first physically
intimate, male-to-male relationship ever
to be broadcast on U.S. television featured
in the ABC series, Dynasty? Of course, that
relationship was only implied; on-screen, the
guys didn’t so much as kiss.
The first male-to-male television kiss in
the U.S. was, I believe, on the Today Show in
1999, followed a year later by its parody on
Will & Grace. And, finally, at the beginning of
the new millennium, on the stunning season
finale of Dawson’s Creek, actors Kerr Smith
and Adam Kauffman shared a smooch—one
that was a sincerely romantic, part-of-theactual-story, lip lock. Ah, they paved the
road, didn’t they? As a result, television audiences today
are being treated to a show that fully realizes
the liberating courage of the Dawson’s Creek
cast just over a decade ago. On the Starz
Original Series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand,
and Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, respectively, intense sexual relationships between
two—and sometimes more—nude and
gorgeous guys, all of whom apparently wax
every part of their body below their necks,
are being depicted on-screen. It’s like Queer
As Folk, but with swords.
Oh, and there’s some lesbian stuff on the
show, too. Most of it involves Lucy Lawless,
of Xena: Warrior Princess fame, so it’s really
not all that shocking. Lucy Lawless plays a
very loyal and supportive Roman wife who
offers wise advice to her husband while he’s
raping the slaves.
Who but the brave producers of this
most groundbreaking project, Spartacus:
Bare Balls and Boobies, could so tastefully
present full-frontal, muscle-dude nakedness,
not to mention the occasional boinking of a
boy in the butt? I’m sure that, in the spirit
of this revolutionary television show, ten
years from now, no one will even bat an eye
when Bert and Ernie finally throw down and
passionately pound the pillows.
The coolest thing about this new series,
besides its brazenly prurient content, is the
fact that it’s based on actual events, which
took place in 1960 and starred Kirk Douglas. Observably, this new show, Spartacus: Who
Needs Viagra?, takes some liberties with
history. It’s set in the ancient Roman city of
Capua, where there were, evidently, abundant and skilled orthodontists. The gladiator
slaves, however, are real men’s men. Every
week they punch each other in the face, over
and over, without ever breaking any noses
or even a fingernail. It would seem that,
in Capua, during the first century before the
common era, the gladiators never missed an
ab class and took remarkably good care of
their skin. The ordinary
citizens, too, appear to
be fairly well-fed and
groomed. All of the
women have perfectly
plucked eyebrows and
the men have neat
Caesar haircuts, which,
one would assume, was
the inspiration for Julius
Caesar himself.
The gladiators are
soldiers captured by the Romans in battle,
then sent to a ludas, where they are repeatedly injected with steroids. There is the
character of Varro, however, who sold himself
to the gladiator school to raise money when
his career in porn didn’t work out.
After several episodes at the ludas, where
they’re all trained by ninjas, the gladiators are
forced to fight in the arena, sometimes to the
death. The battles portrayed on the show
are truly graphic, obviously expressing a
fierce condemnation of the barbarism in the
ancient world, the sadistic voyeurism of the
mindless, depraved citizens who cheer at the
sight of extreme human suffering, a behavior
of which I strongly disapprove each week
while I’m watching it. Golly, it’s good to be
evolved, isn’t it?
I always thought that the folks of the
Roman Empire were smart. Yet, they seemed
to believe that enslaving gigantic, muscular
killers, and training them to more effectively
sever human limbs, was a good idea. Amazingly, the owner of the gladiators, the lanista,
even looked surprised when Spartacus cut his
throat. What incredible naiveté, considering
the guy supplied his slaves with so many
sharp metal objects. Personally, I would have
just provided the leather jock straps and sexy
neckwear and called it a day.
Nevertheless, one must admit that the
show’s script is somewhat creative and
entertaining, which effectively cuts down on
boredom between the steam room scenes. There could be more
orgies, though. I heard
that the Romans had
a lot of orgies. Sure,
at least a few of the
episodes have orgies
in them, which is more
than can be said for
Grey’s Anatomy.
Despite the obvious
inspiration from other
works, such as the HBO
series Rome and the film 300, this Starz
Original Series, Spartacus: Everything Except
Erections, manages to offer its own creative
innovations. Interesting facets of civilized
Roman living, such as pooping in public, are
illustrated. Social interaction is meticulously
rendered, weaving the dynamics of daily
life in ancient Capua, following the ups and
downs of the characters as they plot to have
each other killed.
The coolest thing about
this new series, besides its
brazenly prurient content,
is the fact that it’s based on
actual events, which took
place in 1960 and starred
Kirk Douglas. “Do you consider the eating of oysters to be moral
and the eating of snails to be immoral?”
—Marcus Licinius Crassus (played by Laurence Olivier)
to Antoninus (played by Tony Curtis) in Stanley
Kubrick’s 1960 film, Spartacus
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].
Certainly, more television programs
will follow this innovative path. The ancient
world, especially in Greece, offers a number
of amorous, same-sex-oriented story possibilities, the presentation of which having
been made possible by the pioneering cast
and producers of Dallas. In fact, rumors are
beginning to circulate about a new production of The Fall of Troy starring Adam Lambert
as Helen. Who knows? Maybe he’ll even kiss
another woman.
ACCESSline Page 14
the fun guide
FEBRUARY 2011
The Outfield by Dan Woog
Kye Allums is trans;
world does not end
Kye Allums. Photo:GW Sports Information.
The most newsworthy part of college
basketball player Kye Allums’ coming out
story as the first openly transgender man to
play on an NCCA Division I women’s basketball team may be how little attention the
news story drew.
Beyond brief, matter-of-fact articles
in the New York Times, Washington Post
and USA Today, and on websites like The
Huffington Post, reaction seemed muted—
if non-existent. Granted, Kye Allums is no
Tiger Woods, Reggie Bush or Michael Vick.
Still, you’d think the potent combination of
sex and college hoops would send the sports
world into a twitter.
Instead, Kye simply announced he
was no longer Kay-Kay. He said that after
20 years—as a junior playing for George
Washington University—he’d be the man
he’d always felt he was. He had not begun
hormone treatments or had reassignment
surgery, however, so he could continue to
play on the Colonials’ women’s team.
And he had the full support of his coach
and teammates.
It had been a long journey for the Minnesota native. While growing up, his mother
forced him to wear “girl clothes”—not the
sweats and basketball shorts he felt much
more comfortable in. So he changed into
them at school.
For a long time he thought he was a
lesbian. But, as Outsports.com reported, he
realized he didn’t share the feelings they felt.
Not until freshman year in college—when his
mother texted him, “Who do you think you
are, young lady?”—did he realize he was not
a young lady at all.
He began sharing his secret with teammates the next year. As he described the
enormous disconnect between his body and
his heart, they began to understand.
“Everybody’s pretty much accepting of
everyone on the team,” he told Outsports.
“Everybody is different. We’re teammates,
we’re like family. It’s a bunch of brothers and
sisters. Everybody brings their life and issues
to the family.”
Allums was gratified by the players’
response. But he feared telling head coach
Mike Bozeman, a religious man. Last June,
during a conversation that began on a
different topic, Allums broached the subject.
Bozeman asked Allums if God had made a
mistake.
It was a difficult moment, but Bozeman
soon offered support. He reminded Allums
he’d always “had your back.” He said he’d
continue to love Allums, the same way he
loved all his players.
Allums’ next concern was for his scholarship. Researching his options, he realized
he was protected by a Washington, D.C.
law that prohibits discrimination based on
gender identity. The NCAA seemed to clear
the way for his continued participation on
the women’s team as well, noting that gender
classification should be based on “state identification documents, such as driver’s licenses
and voter registration.”
Still, when the news broke in early
November that Kye—not Kay-Kay—Allums
would begin playing as a man on the women’s
team two weeks later (ironically in Minneapolis, half an hour south of where Allums grew
up)—he was not sure what would happen.
He needn’t have worried.
He told the Washington Post the next day,
“I’ve had numerous Facebook messages, text
messages, people calling me, people I don’t
even know, telling me how they’re proud of
me and how I’m a really brave person, and
it’s been really positive.”
From as far away as Germany, men and
women said “they wish more people were
like me, or more people would be able to
say something.”
But that was that. There was no feeding
frenzy in the media. The blogosphere did not
erupt. Radio sports call-in shows scarcely
mentioned the news.
Part of the reason may be Allums’
personality, and his forthright discussion
of what it means to be a transgender male.
According to USA Today, he spoke “openly and
with disarming nonchalance to an array of
local and national news media outlets.”
Part of the reason may be that the
NCAA did not turn this into a pitched battle.
George Washington University administrators consulted with the governing body
about Allums’ competitive status. The NCAA
affirmed that it follows conduct outlined in
an October report by the National Center for
Lesbian Rights. “On the Team: Equal Opportunity for Transgender Student Athletes”
emphasizes the importance of playing sports
free from discrimination. The report notes
that an environment unfriendly to trans
students can harm all members of a team.
And part of the reason may be that—as
Allums’ teammates and coach demonstrate—
coming out as a trans man is not as big a deal
as it once might have seemed.
When USA Today asked whether winning
games or inspiring others is most important,
Allums sounded like any athlete, male or
female: “Winning games.”
Of course, he added, “by winning games
I hope I do inspire people.”
The beautiful game heads
to anti-gay Qatar
When the World Cup kicks off in Qatar
in 2022 there will be no alcohol.
There will also be few gay people in the
stands, watching the most popular sports
event on the planet.
FIFA—soccer’s world governing body—
stunned the world late last year with the
announcement that the quadrennial tournament heads for the first time to the Middle
East. It was a coup for Sepp Blatter. FIFA’s
president already helped steer the 2010
World Cup to South Africa, a first for the
continent.
The same day he announced Qatar for
2022, he said that Russia would host the 2018
event. That too was a first. Some observers
thought Blatter, who wields great influence
over the politicized voting for host nations,
was angling for the Nobel Peace Prize.
But Blatter’s statement a few days later
torpedoed any hope for such an award.
Instead, it set off a human rights firestorm
that reached from Qatar to FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, to England
and the U.S.—anywhere on the globe where
soccer is played.
In other words, everywhere.
Immediately following Blatter’s
announcement about Qatar, questions arose.
How can games be played in heat that reaches
125 degrees? What will happen when harddrinking fans arrive in a country where public
consumption of alcohol is forbidden?
And how can LGBT fans travel to a nation
where homosexuality is strictly forbidden?
Asked at a news conference if he foresaw
any cultural problems, the 74-year-old
Blatter replied, “I’d say they (gay fans) should
refrain from any sexual activities.”
His tone was jocular. He then turned
serious, saying simply he was sure there
would be no problems.
A FIFA spokesman said there would be
no further comment.
Howls of indignation arose from gay
and straight organizations—sports-minded,
and not.
Former NBA basketball star John
Amaechi—raised in England, the birthplace
of soccer—was among the first to respond.
He said, “It’s absurd. It’s not about people
having sex in public and being sanctioned
for it; it’s the fact that Qatar was one of 79
countries to sanction executing gays at the
United Nations.
“FIFA has endorsed the marginalization
of LGBT people around the world. Anything
less than a full reversal of his position is
unacceptable… If sport cannot serve to
change society, even temporarily during the
duration of an event like the World Cup that
invites the world to participate, then it is little
more than grown men chasing a ball and we
should treat it as such.”
Amaechi did not limit his criticism
to Blatter. Referring to giggling by reporters when the gay question was asked, the
basketball player said, “It is the most childish
response I could imagine. This does make it
harder for footballers that are gay, but let’s not
limit this. This story is big enough, his influence is big enough, to impact young people in
school, people in workplaces, anybody who
is perceived to be gay or is gay.”
Blatter’s comments, Amaechi said,
underscore that “the seat of power, straight
white men” are “very, very clearly uncomfortable with this issue and certainly not
interested in taking it seriously.”
Kick It Out, an organization combating
racism in soccer, spoke out against Blatter’s
remarks too. Chairman Herman Ouseley
said, “It was all frivolity and laughter, but
it’s a serious business. People’s existence he
has ridiculed.
“We can’t have that from the top of the
world governing body. You’ve got to show
leadership because you’ve got to influence
the standards of behavior required and
then you’ve got to enforce it when there’s
a failure.”
Juriv Lavrikovs, communications director at the European branch of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and
Intersex Association, said simply, “This is
not a joke. This is a matter of life and death
to people.”
Qatar enforces its anti-sodomy laws
strictly. An American serving a six-month
sentence for homosexuality also received
90 lashes.
Gay Football Supporters Network chair
Chris Basiurski noted, “Many LGBT people
live in countries where they would face
execution or imprisonment if discovered.
These people deserve our help, our respect
and our support.”
“They, like the rest of us, do not deserve
to be laughed at… Mr. Blatter is naive to think
that by taking the beautiful game to Qatar,
it will bring an end to discrimination in the
Middle East.
“He says that football is ‘everything for
everyone,’ but he has not yet explained just
how FIFA is going to ensure that LGBT football players and supporters will be welcome
in Qatar.”
TTOUTFIELD continued page 16
the fun guide
FEBRUARY 2011
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
Every Sunday, GLBT AA, 5-6 PM, 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 or visit the AA-IC website: http://aa-ic.org/. [ L
GBTMWA]
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 9:30 p.m. No
cover. Tel, 319-321-5895. [ L B T W D ]
Every Sunday, THE QUIRE: EASTERN IOWA’S
GLBT CHORUS REHEARSALS, 6-8:30 PM, 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, 8:00pm-11:00pm, The Center, 1300
Locust, Des Moines, IA 50309. Social group for
Queer youth 25 years and under [ L G B T ]
Every Wednesday, LEZ TALK (LIVE TALK
SHOW), 9pm, Des Moines Social Club, 1408
Locust St, Des Moines, IA . New talk show in the
Capital City, Des Moines, IA. This show is hosted
by Lezzies and made for ALL people. We have
successfully secured a slot (we said slot) at the
DMSC Wednesdays 9pm! Talk about must see TV!
[LGBT+A]
Monday
1st 2nd Monday of the Month, IOWA PFLAG
NORTH IOWA CHAPTER MEETING, 7 PM, 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, 6:30 PM, 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, 7
PM, 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
WA]
Every Monday, DES MOINES GAY MEN’S
CHORUS REHEARSALS, 7pm-9:30pm, Plymouth
Congregational Church, 4126 Ingersoll Avenue,
Des Moines, IA . For more information about
singing with the Chorus, contact Rebecca Gruber
at 515-865-9557. The Des Moines Gay Men’s
Chorus does not discriminate on the basis of
sexual orientation. [ G M A ]
Every Monday Wednesday Thursday Saturday,
GLBT ONLY AA MEETINGS IN DES MOINES, 6 PM
- SAT 5 PM, at 945 19th St. (east side of building,
south door). [ L G B T M W A ]
Hear Me Out by Chris Azzopardi
George Michael, Faith
(Special Edition)
Tuesday
2nd Tuesday of the Month, IOWA PFLAG
AMES CHAPTER MEETING, 7 PM, 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
MWAK]
2nd Tuesday of the Month, CEDAR RAPIDS
UNITY BOARD MEETING, 6:30-8 PM, 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, 7-8:30 PM, 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, 7-8:30 PM, 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,
7-8:30 PM, 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], 319621-8530 or Nora Garda at 319-400-4695, or visit
http://iowadancefest.blogspot.com/. [ L G B T M
WA]
Every Tuesday, ARGENTINE TANGO, 7:309:30 PM, 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
e-mail [email protected]. [ L G B T M W A ]
Every Tuesday, KARAOKE IDOL, 9 PM, 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 319-853-8223. [ 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.
[LGBTMWA]
Second Tuesday of the Month, PITCH HIV+
PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT GROUP, 6-8pm, The
CENTER, 1300 Locust St, Des Moines, IA . Contact
John at 515.284.3358 with questions. [ + ]
Wednesday
1st Wednesday of the Month, CEDAR RAPIDS
CHARTER CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN
BUSINESS WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION, For more
TTEVENTS continued page 28
ACCESSline Page 15
When he wasn’t setting his own monkey
free, George Michael was singing about it.
The single “Monkey” was, and remains, one
of the weakest tracks on this classic—but on
a 10-song album full of diamonds, it’s like
getting a pearl. With the fantastic remaster
of Faith, the British pop star’s genesis from
boy band to sexually liberated solo act, the
rerelease of the 1987 watermark shows
an artist in bloom, boldly pushing buttons
(“I Want Your Sex” would still turn heads
today for its unapologetic straight talk) and
setting the stage for a legendary career. The
timeless hits—“Father Figure,” the title track
and one of the best ballads of all time, “One
More Try”—are all intact on one disc; the
other two, a DVD and another CD, include
corresponding music videos and rarities
packaged with a hard-bound book of interviews and photos. A very candid, in-depth
chat from the late ’80s is the highlight on
the DVD; another, “Music, Money, Love,
Faith,” is an interesting behind-the-music
making of. Both features add perspective to
a masterwork that remains not only an era
marker, but—even now, 24 years later—one
of immaculate pop prowess.
Grade: A
Crystal Bowersox,
Farmer’s Daughter
nations in roots music. She’s in her element
when she’s thrashing her bluesy wail across
charged wallops of drums and guitars on
“Holy Toledo,” a blasted ballad that casts her
as Melissa Etheridge in the making. Bowersox
is on her way with songs like the feisty “Kiss
Ya” and the particularly memorable title
track, where she breaks from her abusive
mother. But as invested as she is—her name’s
on 10 of 12 songwriting credits, helping to
accentuate her as an artist rather than simply
a reality TV spawn—there’s a sense that she’s
being stretched beyond her comfort zone:
“Lonely Won’t Come Around,” easily the most
radio-ready of the bunch with its ill-fitting KT
Tunstall chirp, is a prime example. Let Mama
Sox do her own thing, people.
Grade: B-
Also Out
Keri Hilson, No Boys Allowed
You know something’s up when a song
features an “anus/famous” rhyme. The sad
part is that said line, courtesy of a Nelly
cameo on “Lose Control,” will go down as
the most memorable moment of the siren’s
second album, a drab follow-up to 2009’s
In a Perfect World. So much of Hilson’s popsoul sophomore CD slips through the cracks
(sorry, couldn’t help it) that we’re left with
a middling album of hookless sonic slop
whose only triumphs are the ones with the
most attitude.
Regina Spektor, Live in London
No offense to Regina Spektor, who
impresses during her first live release, but
the DVD is a mess. Shot in 2009 with what
appears to be webcams, it does no justice to
this folk-bending talent who is completely
absorbing during her set, also available on
an accompanying CD. “Samson,” one of her
best, is sadder and sweeter live—and you
can’t help but love the buoyant bounce of
“Folding Chair”—but the real surprise is the
unreleased “Love, You’re a Whore,” a cheeky
country closer.
Corinne Bailey Rae, The Love EP
Let’s not kid ourselves: Image is everything on American Idol, the sing-off show
Crystal Bowersox graduated from last year
in second place with a degree in Showing
You What’s Up. Her talent overruled her
constantly ridiculed hippie mom look (no
wonder the nickname Mama Sox), something she embraces on her debut, Farmer’s
Daughter, which sounds more like the title of
an Emmylou Harris record than something
Idol birthed. But, though she’s from Ohio,
Bowersox is a Red Dirt Girl through and
through, cloaking all these rock ‘n’ roll rumi-
Didn’t see this one coming: the “Put Your
Records On” soulstress doing Prince? Yep,
Rae gets funky on the sexy “I Wanna be Your
Lover” as part of this digital-only release of
covers for Valentine’s Day. Her silky-smooth
voice works magically, and it’s cool to hear her
cut loose just after her very serious The Sea.
Other tracks on the EP include the haunting
rocker “Low Red Moon” and the sweet Paul
McCartney & Wings song “My Love.” Put this
record on, for sure.
Chris Azzopardi can be reached online at
[email protected].
ACCESSline Page 16
WORLD NEWS
dered women are not allowed to use their
preferred gender on identity papers, and
lesbians are paid lower wages. These are
the result of the lack of protective laws that
can punish discrimination and allow the
courts and government agencies to receive
complaints. … We need your help in getting
our honorable representatives in the House
of Representatives to pass this bill through
the Committee on Justice quickly so that the
entire House can vote this bill and send it to
the president for signing.”
To e-mail the Justice Committee, visit
tinyurl.com/philcoj. Address comments
to the committee chair, the Hon. Niel
Tupas Jr., and the committee secretary,
Narcisa Guevarra. For a sample letter, see
tinyurl.com/progayfil. For more information
on the bill, see tinyurl.com/filbill.
UN secretary-general
speaks up for gays
At a special session of the United
Nations’ Human Rights Council on Jan. 25
in Geneva, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
called for an end to human rights violations
based on sexual orientation and gender
identity.
It was believed to be the first time that
a secretary-general directly addressed an
official U.N. body specifically on issues of
sexual orientation and gender identity.
“We must reject persecution of people
because of their sexual orientation or gender
identity -- who may be arrested, detained
or executed for being lesbian, gay, bisexual
or transgender,” Ban said. “They may not
have popular or political support, but they
deserve our support in safeguarding their
fundamental human rights.”
“I understand that sexual orientation
and gender identity raise sensitive cultural
issues,” he added. “But cultural practice
cannot justify any violation of human rights.
Women’s treatment as second-class citizens
has been justified, at times, as a ‘cultural
practice.’ So has institutional racism and
other forms of inhuman punishment. But
that is merely an excuse. When our fellow
humans are persecuted because of their
sexual orientation or gender identity, we
must speak out. That is what I am doing
here, that is my consistent position. Human
rights are human rights everywhere, for
everyone.”
The council’s representative from
Nigeria, Ositadinma Anaedu, was surprised
by Ban’s statement.
“I must point out, Mr. Chair, that the
(Africa) Group did not expect that the
secretary-general would address these
issues concerning lesbians, gays, bigender
or indeed the issue of gender identity, as
these issues have not been universally
accepted,” Anaedu said. “While we strongly
support that no individual or group should
be discriminated against on the basis of their
sexual orientation, (this) should not be used
to impose on us or on the cultural ethos of
everyone that have it, especially for us in
Africa. It is also important to mention that
we all equally accept the relationship inherent in that orientation and that it is unique
and special, but it is not and will never be
accepted as marriage, which is between a
man and a woman.”
the fun guide
Brit gay couple win hotel
case, Christians must pay
damages
A British gay couple, Martyn Hall and
Steven Preddy, who are in a civil partnership,
will receive $2,872 each in damages from
Cornwall hotel owners Peter and Hazelmary
Bull, Christians who refused to rent them a
room with a double bed.
The ruling was handed down Jan. 18
by the Bristol County Court, which found
that the Christians violated the nation’s
ban on discrimination based on sexual
orientation.
In court, the couple claimed they hadn’t
discriminated based on sexual orientation
because they also refuse to rent such rooms
to unmarried heterosexual couples.
Gay leader Peter Tatchell commented:
“People of faith should not be permitted to
use religion as an excuse to discriminate
against other people. … If the court had
ruled that the Bulls were allowed to ban gay
couples from sleeping together in the same
room, it would have opened the floodgates
to a deluge of similar religious-motivated
claims for exemption from the equality
laws.”
The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement’s chief executive, the Rev. Sharon
Ferguson, added: “Peter and Hazel Bull
may well have sincere convictions about
the nature of marriage—this ruling does
not deny them these convictions. But if you
are running a business you must make your
services available to all without discrimination … and excluding people, especially when
our scriptures are full of exhortations to
welcome the stranger … is no way to defend
and uphold Christian values.”
Buenos Aires Bears
clubhouse attacked
Homophobes attacked the Buenos
Aires Bears clubhouse Jan. 15, shouting
anti-gay abuse, throwing rocks and bottles
at members, and burning a mattress and
garbage up against the entrance, local media
reported.
Several bears reportedly were injured
by projectiles when they ventured back
outside to put out the fire.
Police arrived and ended the attack but
made no arrests.
Representatives of the club filed a
complaint with the National Institute Against
Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism,
which vowed to help them pursue criminal
charges for property damage, personal
injury and attempted murder.
Euro MPs blast
Lithuanian bill
The European Parliament on Jan. 19
called on Lithuania’s Parliament to reject
a proposed law that would punish “public
promotion of homosexual relations” with a
fine of up to $3,900.
The Euro Parliament also called on
Lithuania to review existing laws that ban
gay information from any place where a
minor could possibly see it, censor mentions
of sexual orientation in advertising, and
exclude gay protections from the nation’s
TTWORLD NEWS continued page 38
OUTFIELD
Blatter later condemned discrimination
“against any human beings be it on this side
or that side, be it left, right or whatever.” He
did not mention anti-gay discrimination
specifically.
The powerful chairman still has his job.
And the World Cup is still headed to Qatar.
Keelin Godsey
has a hammer
As a high school student in Palmer, Colo.,
Keelin Godsey dabbled in track’s throwing
events. Shot put and discus were OK; soccer,
basketball and softball were much more
interesting.
Heading east to college, Keelin planned
to play basketball. But Maine’s Bates College
offered a strong track and field program,
and Keelin suddenly found enjoyment in
throwing.
Bates helped Keelin discover something
else: “My sexuality had always been undefined. I’d just felt wrong. I’d read about lesbian
history, but that was all I knew.” A freshman
seminar introduced Keelin to the concept of
“transgender.” Books by Leslie Feinberg and
Kate Bornstein helped Keelin figure out that
a binary definition of sexuality does not work
for everyone.
“I’d always been classified as a butch
lesbian,” says Keelin. “I hated that. I never
thought of myself that way.” It was harder
for Keelin to identify as lesbian than as
transgender.
“I am who I am,” Keelin says.
It was, surprisingly, very easy to identify as an athlete. Erica Rand, who teaches
courses on contemporary culture—with
particular attention to sexuality, race and
gender—helped Keelin talk to coaches and
athletic administrators. Keelin calls Rand’s
help “crucial to how smoothly everything
went.”
Track and field coach Jennifer “Jay”
Hartshorn was brand new to Bates, Keelin
notes, and had “every right to worry” about
a transgender athlete.
But, Keelin says, “she was awesome. She
asked all kinds of questions about how she
could support me. She made sure I didn’t
have to deal with any intrusions. She helped
me talk to the team, and always stood up
for me.”
And, Keelin adds, “she never messed up
my pronouns.”
Keelin began referring to himself as
“he” in the summer of 2005, prior to his
senior year at Bates. However, without going
through hormone treatment or gender reassignment surgery, Keelin is still biologically
female—and thus competes as a woman,
not a man.
Keelin attributes Hartshorn’s instinctive,
from-the-get-go support to the simple fact
that “that’s who she is: an open, understand-
FEBRUARY 2011
ing person.” And, Keelin laughs, “she got her
coaching degree at Smith.”
Opponents were not always so kind.
Keelin was occasionally called “she-male”
and “tranny girl.” Keelin shrugged them off,
saying, “People are afraid of what they don’t
know.” Generally, though, Bates made sure “I
didn’t hear about any drama.”
A track and field website posted something about the trans athlete. “They said I
was cheating and wanted to have everything.
People are entitled to their opinions. I just
tried to prove I’m a good competitor. Just had
to keep doing what I was doing.”
Keelin found it harder to come out in the
trans community than in the athletic world.
“This is my experience—I can’t speak for
anyone else—but because I didn’t plan on
transitioning, trans people didn’t understand
my choices. I just wanted to concentrate on
my sport. I focused my attention on athletics,
and I still do.”
It was a difficult decision. “I can’t look
the way I want to look,” Keelin says. “I can’t
do what I want to do.”
The focus on training paid off. Keelin is a
two-time NCAA national hammer champion,
and placed seventh at the 2008 Olympic trials.
Last year, at the USA Track & Field championship, Keelin took fifth.
Throwing the hammer takes tremendous patience (“like being trans,” Keelin
points out). It’s an extremely technical event.
Strength is important—and Keelin spends
hours in the weight room, working on speed
and explosiveness—but so is technique.
In the post-college track and field world,
Keelin’s sexuality is “rarely mentioned. I
assume a lot of people know. People think
I’m cheating and taking hormones, but I’m
not.”
Keelin wants one more shot at the Olympics. The next Games are set for 2012. Before
that, the world championships loom. Keelin
says, “I want to go as far as I can competitively.
It’s a hard choice not to transition. Once I stop
competing, we’ll see what happens.”
Training and competing is only part of
Keelin’s day. The rest is spent as a physical
therapist in the Berkshire Mountains of New
England. Keelin also helps coach hammer and
discus throwers.
Yet thoughts of sexuality—even of
physical therapy—are secondary. For now,
Keelin concentrates on track and field. The
structure of each day, the physical exertion
and the mental preparation provide an
important outlet.
But, sexuality aside, Keelin is no different from any elite-level athlete. Competition
is key.
“When I have a bad day at practice, I do
question why I’m doing this,” Keelin says. “But
after a good day, I know why.”
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].
“Never once have we heard anything homophobic or negative from Coach Fennelly.
He and his wife, Deb, have always been welcoming to us, as have the rest of the coaching staff. Had a former player not had her wedding on the same night as ours (July 17
of last year), we would have seen many people from the team and the coaching staff
at our ceremony. As it was, the Fennellys came back early to Ames from over an hour
away to spend time at our reception.”
— Matt Schuler and Robert Alden of Ames, Iowa, January 27, defending Iowa State women’s
basketball coach Bill Fennelly against accusations of homophobic recruiting practices.
FEBRUARY 2011
HOLLYWOOD
Now, will it make your retirement fund magically reappear when it debuts in May? No, but
it will remind you why you should continue
to never trust your bank.
Glee’s Groff gets indie
Who wouldn’t want Jonathan Groff’s
career right now? Broadway’s Spring Awakening star became one of Glee’s battalion of
young male heartthrobs and is now moving
back into film (previously he had a hilarious
turn as a mystical hippie concert promoter
in the little-seen Taking Woodstock) with
the indie drama Twelve Thirty. And in spite
of a silly Newsweek opinion columns to the
contrary which stated that openly gay actors
cannot convincingly play it straight, the
young actor is already earning praise in a
heterosexual role as a man who wreaks havoc
on an already troubled family. Also featuring
Karen Young and Mamie Gummer (the one
who looks just like her mom, Meryl Streep),
the movie’s making festival rounds and will
fill arthouses with that strange, dark, uncomfortable indie film glee later this year.
Jodie Foster, Matt Damon
join Blomkamp’s Elysium
The sleeper hit alien invasion allegory
District 9 was South African filmmaker Neill
Blomkamp’s calling card and Hollywood has
been eager to return his calls ever since. For
his next film, Elysium, he’s nabbed both Matt
Damon and Jodie Foster to star alongside
District 9 star Sharlto Copley. What’s it about?
the fun guide
That’s a mystery. Blomkamp’s not telling, but
it’s reportedly another journey into science
fiction. And what studio is handling it? Well,
that’s another mystery, but one of them will
pick it up soon enough. And maybe it will
erase the weirdness of her upcoming Mel
Gibson-and-a-puppet movie, The Beaver. For
her sake, at least, that would be nice. Now, let’s
talk outer space fashion options for Jodie…
Far From Heaven inches
closer to Broadway
The acclaimed, Oscar-nominated, Julianne Moore-starring Todd Haynes film Far
From Heaven dealt with issues surrounding
a housewife and her closeted gay husband in
the 1950s and it did so in the guise of that
era’s lush, weepy “women’s picture.” Now add
music to that period of both graceful comfort
and harsh repression and what do you have?
That’s right, a Broadway musical waiting
to happen. Tony Award winner Richard
Greenberg, Scott Frankel and Michael Korie
are collaborating on a musical stage version
of the movie that is expected to open late
in 2011. That’s good news for Broadway,
which has seen a large number of shows
close already this month; even better, subtly
gay-themed shows are, in general, easier to
sell to theater audiences than to moviegoers. For now there’s nothing else in the way
of information, no cast or theater or dates,
but stay tuned here for that. It’s coming.
Meanwhile, hummable songs about divorce
and “perversion” are on their way down the
pipeline too.
Romeo San Vicente’s idea of heaven involves
waffles. He can be reached care of this publication
or at [email protected].
ACCESSline Page 17
ACCESSline Page 18
the fun guide
FEBRUARY 2011
The Gay Wedding Planner: Romancing the Chase by Beau Fodor
Recently, thanks to Sales and Marketing Director, Tim Heim, I was afforded the
luxury of spending a romantic weekend at
the new Hotel Blackhawk in Davenport,
Iowa. The hotel will become my personal
favorite and recommended as the premiere
all-inclusive gay wedding destination in
our great state.
It made me think a lot about “romance”
and where, as a jaded and cynical gay
man, I needed to revisit my thoughts on
the subject…
My first love, as a senior in high school,
Matthew taught me all about romance.
We met at a varsity football game, spent
a year chasing each other, and by graduation decided to move to New York City
together. It was a very magical time for
both of us. We became models, traveled
the “gay Mecca” circuit; (P-town, Greenwich Village, Fort Lauderdale, Key West)
each season, and thought we’d get to live
happily-ever-after.
Then in the summer of 1982… well,
everything changed.
Matthew was one of the first men
to be diagnosed that June with “the Gay
Cancer” (what we first called it, and what
would become “AIDS”), that summer on
Fire Island. In 66 days from the point of
his infection, Matthew died.
And, by Labor Day weekend of
1982, sixteen of my other friends had died
Tim Heim, Sales and Marketing Director,
Hotel Blackhawk, Davenport, Iowa.
or were on their deathbeds. By 1990, I
had attended over a hundred funerals and
memorial services. It was like something
out of a horror movie.
I think something died inside of me
that summer of ‘82, as well. I gave up ona
“happily-ever-after”, and dating, and any
romantic notions of gay relationships.
AIDS had forever damaged my thoughts
on sex and intimacy—and my sense of
commitment, because of the losses and
grief-related issues had become overwhelming. Two decades of self-loathing,
chemical dependency, and living in fear
were to follow.
Then I moved to Iowa and got a farmhouse… and surprise… everything changed,
again. Whether it was the bean fields, or no
gay community in Fort Dodge, I had time
to learn about myself and what I wanted as
gay man—and to focus on what was ahead
for me here in the Midwest.
And then, like a true miracle—and
a second chance for that “happily-everafter”—came the unanimous ruling by the
state’s Supreme Court, which brought us
Marriage Equality in Iowa!!! These past two
years of fairytale weddings have renewed
my faith in True Love, Monogamy, and the
Pursuit of Happiness.
Which will bring me back to the
romantic Hotel Blackhawk in Davenport,
Iowa… OMG, one of the most fabulous, allinclusive, gay-friendly properties I’ve ever
stayed at! The Hotel Blackhawk is the ideal
setting for any type of event. The hotel
specializes in weddings, due to the specialized historic “Gold Room.” The hotel is the
ideal location for same-sex marriages. The ambiance of the hotel is second to
none, and rates as one to the historic top-ten
properties in the country. Hotel Blackhawk
is one of the only “TAG Approved” hotels
in Iowa. As a “TAG Approved” hotel, they
are gay-welcoming, and proud members
of IGLTA.
The hotel is truly the “Grande Dame” of
Eastern Iowa. Since it first opened in 1915,
the hotel has served a diverse demographic:
from movie stars to presidents; legendary
athletes to gays and lesbians alike! Now,
after a multi-million dollar restoration, this
majestic landmark reopens with grandeur
and a fresh focus on modern hospitality—
especially for your very romantic engage-
Beau Fodor (photo c. 1982) is an Iowa
wedding planner who focuses specifically
on weddings for the LGBT community. He
is also the host of the new docu-reality
show “BRIDES & GROOMS”, which is
co-produced by Pilgrim Films and Coolfire
Media, and will be premiering this winter
on cable television. Beau can be reached
through iowasgayweddingplanner.com or
gayweddingswithpanache.com.
ment or wedding!
With all-new elegant decor and every
imaginable amenity—focusing on a “something old, something new” mentality—this
property is truly the crown jewel of the
Quad Cities and Iowa.
NEED SPACE?
Consider THE CENTER
for your next EVENT!
The CENTER has versatile multi-purpose spaces, a
petite kitchen, and an excellent downtown location
for virtually any type of small, intimate event. Our new
Executive Director at the CENTER and newly formed
Board of Directors want to make the best use of this
multi-faceted space!
With breathtaking views of the Papa John
Sculpture Park and 801 Grand Tower, the
cosmopolitan and modern ambiance is amazing. From
Candle-lit seated dinners for fund-raising to your
individual group or organizations potlucks, we have
already played host to corporate trainings, weddings,
and business meetings.
And with the rental costs as affordable as they are, this
is definitely a place to consider the next time you are
in need of a fabulous LGBTQI-friendly space.
DOWNTOWN
MEETINGS/EVENTS/CELEBRATIONS/GROUPS
THE CENTER
1300 Locust Street Des Moines IA
515-243-0313
the fun guide
FEBRUARY 2011
ACCESSline Page 19
Love Begins in the Kitchen This Valentine’s Day
Chef Jacques Haeringer provides romantic recipes and tips for your special Valentine.
Great Falls, VA - - “Valentine’s Day
comes at the best time of year,” says Chef
Jacques Haeringer, owner and chef at the
legendary L’Auberge Chez François, outside
of Washington, D.C. “The darker, shorter
days, and colder temperatures cause us to
seek warmth, comfort, and light, many of the
same elements of love.” Chef Jacques feels
we should embrace this mid-winter holiday
with small treats to show the special people
in our lives how much they mean to us.
“Winter is also a great time to be in
kitchen.” Say Jacques. “No matter how
cold it gets outside it’s always warm by
the stove.”
But, you don’t have to labor over a hot
stove, or spend a lot of money to create
special treats this Valentine’s Day. Chef
Jacques has some fun suggestions that are
sure to create romantic sparks:
• Say “I Love You” with breakfast: If you
and your significant other are always
rushing out in the morning for work,
set the breakfast table before you go
to sleep with your best linens, flowers
in a vase, and best dishes for a surprise
breakfast treat. If your breakfast is only
a quick cup of coffee, add a few fresh
strawberries and whipped cream for a
quick “I love you” treat.
• There is power in chocolate: This
confection’s melting temperature is
just below body temperature of 98.6
degrees, which is why it melts in your
mouth. There is that brief moment
where chocolate transforms itself from
a solid to a luscious liquid. To many
people this sensation and taste is irresistible. Choose one or two single pieces
from a high quality candy vendor and
share them with your special someone.
If you want to treat the entire family,
purchase a high-quality cocoa mix. Mix
up a warm and aromatic batch and add
some fresh whipped cream. For an adult
twist a dash of your favorite liqueur
and it won’t matter how early the sun
sets outside.
• A Bit of the Bubbly: This year treat
yourself and a special someone with
the surprise of sparkling wine or champagne to celebrate your love. Drop a
single fresh raspberry or strawberry
into a stem of sparkling wine to heighten the flavor and appearance. The tiny
bubbles that melt in your mouth can
also melt a few hearts.
Make a Date: The perfect Valentine’s
meal may be one that you enjoy at a
future date. Slip an IOU into a Valentine
Card for a future meal and spend the
night at home.
To add a bit of spice to your Valentine’s
Day celebration, Chef Jacques recommends
these quick and easy recipes:
• 10-12 Bluepoint oysters
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon grated horseradish
• sea salt
• freshly ground pepper
1.Open the oysters and place the oysters
on the half shell in a plate to collect any
oyster liquor.
2.Combine the heavy cream and oyster
liquor in a small saucepan. Bring to a
boil over high flame and continue to boil
for 3-4 minutes to reduce volume by half. Whisk in the grated horseradish and bring
up to a boil again. Remove from heat and
season with salt, pepper, and more horseradish, if desired. Keep warm.
3.Preheat the broiler.
4.Place each oyster on the half shell on a
special oyster baking dish or on a bed
of rock salt to hold them level. Place the
oysters under the broiler for about 1
minute or until just warm, being careful
not to overcook. Coat each oyster with
approximately 1 teaspoon of the warm
sauce and serve immediately.
Variation: Use any fresh local oysters
such as Belon, Moonstone, Winter Point,
etc.
Oysters have a reputation for being
an aphrodisiac. Casanova, referring to
oysters in his memoirs, confessed that
to eat “so delicate a morsel must be a
sin in itself.” This recipe adds a dash of
heat to spice up your night.
CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
•
OYSTERS WITH
HORSERADISH SAUCE
For 6 – 8 servings, double the recipe
The combination of chocolate and love
is a double whammy. Chocolate contains caffeine-like substances which ex-
cite the system as well as the taste buds. There is nothing like whipped chocolate
for dessert!
• 5 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon rum
1.Whip the heavy cream in a chilled medium
mixing bowl and then refrigerate.
2.Place the chocolate in a small mixing
bowl and set over a pot of boiling water. Heat for 1-2 minutes until the chocolate
melts. Whisk thoroughly. Remove from
heat and add the vanilla extract and rum,
blending well.
3.Fold the chocolate mixture into the heavy
whipping cream with the aid of a rubber
spatula. 4.Pipe or spoon the mousse into ½ cup size
or larger stemware or dishes. Top the
mousse with a pinch of cocoa powder,
if desired.
© Chef Jacques Haeringer from Two
for Tonight, Bartleby Press; $26.95; ISBN:
0-910155-43-7
ABOUT CHEF JACQUES HAERINGER
Chef Jacques is one of America’s most
respected and innovative culinary personalities. Continuing in his father’s footsteps,
Jacques loves to create and serve contemporary French fare at his restaurant, L’Auberge
Chez François, in Great Falls, Virginia. His
menus feature reinterpreted Alsatian and
French cuisine for American palates. When he
isn’t in the kitchen, he can be found teaching
his popular gourmet cooking classes. Jacques
is often asked to author magazine articles,
cook up recipes at culinary events, and to be
a guest on television and radio shows across
the country.
Jacques is the author of Two for
Tonight,a collection of recipes that inspire
romance through food and togetherness,
and the Chez François Cookbook, the bible of
classic Alsatian cuisine featuring some of the
restaurant’s most popular recipes. He lives in
Northern Virginia and is currently working
on a new cookbook and television show.
For more information on L’Auberge
Chez François, Chef Jacques, and his
books and cooking classes, visit him
online at www.ChefJacques.com, on Facebook @JacquesHaeringer, and Twitter
@ChefJacquesH.
ACCESSline Page 20
Shear Sexy
Scissor Sisters’ frontman
on his second puberty,
performing naked and
the band’s Lady Gaga love
affair
By Chris Azzopardi
They’ve always been gorgeous, but it
took a decade before the Scissor Sisters,
with their third album Night Work, became
full-on filthy. The romp-pop album, released
last year, is done up in cheeky softcore innuendo about “funking” someone, the late-shift
grind (literally) and “big” surprises.
Our chat with frontman Jake Shears
had many of them—from the conversation
that united the band with Lady Gaga for the
megastar’s 2011 Monster Ball Tour to the
favorite gay icon he wants to meet (Tom
Petty?). Shears also talked about the, well,
sheer amount of clothing he wears, his wardrobe faux pas and how he defines himself—
according to the Urban Dictionary.
Your Twitter page says you’ve been in
the studio recently. Are the Scissor Sisters
recording some new music?
Yeah, I’m in the studio as we speak.
We’re writing new music. We’re back in New
York for a moment, so we just thought we’d
come in and play around and have fun. So
yeah, we’re writing, definitely.
The wait won’t be four years like it
was for Night Work then?
the fun guide
Well, it was just three and a half.
(Laughs) But it definitely won’t be that
long.
So, also in my Twitter finds, I came
across a photo of you in a jockstrap.
Oh, great!
Why are you always the naked one
in the group?
I… um… just get hot on stage. That’s
the main reason. (Laughs) I usually don’t
get naked onstage, but I get excitable and
usually it just feels better. The less I have on,
the more I can move around. It’s the reason
why Iggy Pop is always ripping his shirt off,
so he can move and do his thing.
You’re looking beefier than ever, too.
Lots of Muscle Milk, huh?
I’ve been drinking a lot of Muscle Milk.
I’m preparing for my future as an exercise
guru.
The music on Night Work is some of
the band’s most sexual. Is it true: Does
art imitate life?
The album is very much about our lives
that we lead and then our fantasy lives that
we lead—so a lot of it does imitate life. A
lot of it is just imitating the dreams going
on in my brain. But it’s a very sexy record,
and I think we were feeling sexy when we
were making it.
Your work, as far back as “Filthy/
Gorgeous,” has always had a sexy feel to
it. How do you explain those constant
themes of sexual exploration and liberation in your music?
I think that this is the first record where
we’ve really explicitly explored that. So
there’s a lot of celebratory stuff, but then
there’s a real dark side to it; we love seeing
two sides of the same coin. But it was just
time for us to take the fringe and the feathers away a bit.
The other thing is I felt like I sort of
crossed over the line from being a kid and
a boy, which I felt like I was going to be
forever, into being a grown man, which
has definitely changed the way that I think
about things, the way that I perform and
the things that I wear. It’s been like hitting
a second puberty.
When you look back at your career—
going from Brooklyn clubs, kind of
struggling to find an audience, and now
opening for the biggest superstar in the
world—how do you feel about how far
FEBRUARY 2011
you’ve come?
I really look back fondly at the last 10
years. This year, it’s going to be 10 years
since our first performance, so I feel very
proud—but, at the same time, I also feel
unfit. I feel like as a band we have a lot more
to say, and I just think this band is going to
constantly turn itself on its head.
Touring with Lady Gaga as her
opening act should offer you the exposure that you haven’t necessarily had in
the U.S. You’ve always connected better
outside of the States. In fact, some people
still think you’re a European band.
Totally—a lot of people do.
Why do you think you’ve been able to
FEBRUARY 2011
connect better outside of America?
It’s funny: This last tour we had through
America was probably the best American
tour we’ve ever done. There’s something
so exciting about touring America at this
moment for us. I don’t know what it was
about this record, but it seemed to make a
connection with a real core audience—even
more so than the last couple of records. With
our American audience, we really found kind
of a center and the shows, because of it, were
super exciting. They really were some of
the most exhilarating shows we’ve had in
a long time. I still get really excited about
playing in America. We’re so well received
in Europe and in all these other places, but
the fun guide
playing in America still feels uncharted and
super exciting.
Did Lady Gaga handpick you for this
tour or was it a record-label matchmaking?
Oh god, no, it wasn’t a label thing. It
came about in a conversation. We were
hanging out at Elton’s White Tie & Tiara
Ball (in 2010), and he sat us next to each
other ‘cause he knew we’d get along and
it was high time for us to meet. We were
talking about music and she was telling me
that she used to come see us play when she
was younger and was just really inspired
and loved our band a lot. I think she holds
us very close to her heart in a lot of ways.
ACCESSline Page 21
And she said, “This might sound really weird,
but I think that we’d do really well on tour
together.” I just said we’d do it in a heartbeat.
And it was a done deal in a week.
It’s going to be the gayest show of the
year, without question.
(Laughs) It’s also just really nice to
do something that comes from something
real rather than something set up by record
labels. This comes from a real love of one
another, and it’s going to be super exciting
because we’re going
to be playing for tons
of people who have no
idea who we are. It’s a
great platform for us.
Both you and
Gaga wear some
pretty flamboyant
clothes. Would you
be open to wearing a
meat anything?
It depends on
where it’s placed.
(Long pause) I don’t
know what that meant.
(Laughs) God knows
I’ve walked out on stage in some wonderful and horrendous and hideous things.
My husband was going through pictures
recently and we came across, god, this one
picture. You just look back on some shit that
you wear and it doesn’t seem that long ago,
but then you look at the picture and you’re
like, “Oh my god, I can’t believe that I wore
that horrible patchwork shirt with big bellbottom trousers.” But I’m not a vain person,
and I’m not afraid to look like a fool.
Aside from Lady Gaga, you’ve been
able to hang with some cool gay icons,
like Dolly Parton, Kylie Minogue and
even Jane Fonda. Who are some others
that you’d like to chill with?
I mean, since I was a kid Jane Fonda was
really somebody I fantasized about meeting
in person someday. But that’s a tough question, because I really just like so many—let
me ask (band member) Baby Daddy. (Turns
away from the phone and says, “Who’s
left that I haven’t met that I’m obsessed
with?” Baby Daddy:
“That you haven’t
met?” Shears: “Or that
I haven’t stalked?”) He
just called it: Tom Petty.
Tom Petty is one of my
fucking heroes. He’s not
as glamorous as Jane
Fonda, but –
Nor is he a gay
icon.
He’s not really a gay
icon, I guess. But he is
for me. I just grew up
listening to his music
and I’ve just always
been a massive fan. My tastes really run the
gamut; I’ve got real obsessions and influences and inspirations that I think people
couldn’t really predict.
You never liked when people would
refer to the Scissor Sisters as a “gay band.”
Do you feel like you’ve been able to shake
that label over the years?
With this last record we sort of shook it
in a way, and then figured out how to wear
it. I think it was always really frustrating for
I grew up always
feeling very puckish, like A
Midsummer Night’s Dream.
I always felt like kind of a
very energetic mischievous
elf, but I don’t know if that’s
really applicable anymore.
But that’s how I’d describe
myself.
TTSHEAR SEXY continued page 35
ACCESSline Page 22
the fun guide
FEBRUARY 2011
the fun guide
FEBRUARY 2011
Cocktail Chatter by Ed Sikov
Drink, Pay, Love:
Rum and Coke
News of my breakdown spread like an
aging star’s belly; soon unflattering photos
of me in Star would be on the horizon. I
knew I’d become a public whack-job when
some naked guy I didn’t know approached
me in the gym locker room:
“Hey, man—I’ve been through it.
The guy who stole my dreamboy wasn’t
obese—he just stank like a train station
tearoom. But it turned Jeremy on. I didn’t.
Solidarnosc, bud!” Then he strolled off to
the steam room.
Who was this guy? Had somebody put
my crackup on Reuters? I leapt back into
therapy. Gary was always sympathetic—I’d
seen him when my mother was dying—but
he was no cheerleader. When he thought I
was nutty he told me so, once even using
that exact word.
“So tell me,” Gary said as he leaned
back in his chair. And I did. Gary’s face
remained placid. “Does this remind you
of anything?”
“Yup,” I replied. “My dick, my mother
and my bank account.”
“What does the money represent to
you?” Gary asked earnestly.
“It ‘represents’ another transfer of
wealth from me to you,” I snarled. “Help
me get over this now or I walk.”
Gary looked stunned for a moment,
regained his composure and softly said,
“That’s such a cruddy thing to say that I
think you’re genuinely terrified.”
I burst into tears.
“Look,” Gary said. “We’ve all made fools
of ourselves at one time or another. This is
your time. Wallow in it. When you’re really
sick of yourself, we’ll talk about why you’re
acting this way.”
“Gary, please! I’m already sick of
myself.”
“If you were, you’d stop being so
nutty.”
“That word again!” I shouted. “Even
you hate me.”
Silence ensued for seven minutes.
Only when he said, “Time’s up,” did either
of us move.
I thought constantly about
my—what?—hysteria? One thing was
certain: I was, in Dan’s immortal phrase,
“an old-fashioned a--hole.” OK, I indulged in
a hell-as-comedy routine—the Three Dog
Night variation, “I’m just an old-fashioned
a--hole/one I’m sure that frightens you and
me”—but twice a week, with great effort,
I told Gary some of the secret shames I’d
withheld from him earlier.
Five weeks later, with Gary’s help, I
worked up the nerve to call Craig. I heard
Kyle in the background cleaning up after
dinner—probably rigatoni stuffed with
lard and covered in a cream-based triplefat-cheese sauce for Craig, a hard-boiled
egg for Kyle—and once again Craig was
forgiving.
“Sweetness,” he said, “We all know
you’re a mess. You’ve been a mess for years.
It’s not news. I’m Tubby the Whale, and
you’re Olivia de Havilland in The Snake Pit.
It’s who we are. Embrace it! You and Dan
come over to my place in an hour. I’ll make
some cocktails.”
“What?” I asked skeptically.
“Control freak,” Craig announced. Then
he hung up on me.
Rum and Coke
• Rum to taste—I like dark rum to go with
the dark cola. Craig used some store
brand; use what you like.
• Coca-Cola (in a nod to Kyle, Craig used
Coke Zero; I suppressed an instinctive “yeccchhhh” and downed it with humility.
1.Pour rum into a tall, ice-filled glass.
2.Add Coke slowly and stir gently; don’t
kill the fizz.
3.Stay up all night from the caffeine, get
fat from the sugar, stop worrying and
live for the moment.
The Pomegranate Cocktail
“I will! I will! I-I wi-ill!” I sang wildly
off-key in the shower, where only the
Korean family next door and the lesbian
phlebotomist with the Phyllis Diller wig
below us could hear me. Also Bruce, who
was making honking noises outside the
bathroom door. Didn’t bother me. In crisis
therapy, I accepted Craig and Kyle’s affair.
Therapist Gary and I aired the musty roots
of my breakdown, and eventually the stink
of emotional rot receded. I’d been half
right: My puke-green jealousy came from
my mother, my dick and my creationist-like
denial of aging. Having unearthed them,
I achieved enlightenment. “Om shanti
namaste”!
This Nirvana was admittedly eccentric.
I stopped swiping sleeping pills from Dan’s
supposedly secret stash. (Even cretins start
with the boyfriend’s jockstrap drawer for
the drugs, or the money, or that strumpet’s
phone number.) As for stewing over Craig
and jerking off to filthy thrilling images of
Kyle every day? I wiped my hands of them
(in Kyle’s case, literally).
Facts: I’m 53 and have a loving partner
and a fine life. No reason to ruin it over
some perfect-assed boy with the shoulders
of Apollo. My constant put-downs of Craig
had to stop. I ceased fishwife-screeching
at Dan. But how could I prove my shiny
new peace with my buddy Gargantua
screwing my tight-as-a-2(x)ist-sport-brief
dreamboy?
Solution: cocktails and dinner. Those
wretched margaritas Craig adores were
considered and rejected; shanti namaste
had its limits. Still, a fruity cocktail for Craig
would show off my fabulous new generosity
of spirit, which was entirely absent during
mein psychoticschen episode.
Cosmically, the very next day a cooking
blog featured a pomegranate cocktail. The
recipe was vile—more suitable for pomegranate Jujubes. Craig would love it. The
insane but inspiring recipe called not only
for making your own fresh pomegranate
juice (oh, squeeze my ass!) but for adding
pomegranate molasses. What? Waltz into
Costco and inquire as to the whereabouts
of the pomegranate molasses? I’d sooner
slap on an Elizabeth I wig and ask for the
mead department. I adapted the recipe for
those of us who are not deranged.
Lo: it worked! We all enjoyed a marvelous evening. The drinks were luscious—a
little tart, a little sweet and quite refreshing.
Craig had three. I had one. Dan was relieved.
Craig did a brief impersonation of Dolores
Del Rio, which even I found a bit rarified, but
Kyle beamed with pride, though Señorita
Del Rio’s identity escaped him.
We adjourned to a steak joint, where
Craig polished off a 24-oz. porterhouse, and
I made no jokes. This boy was back!
At which point Kyle piped up: “Um,
hey guys? Robbie can’t find a place for next
summer. Nobody else will put up with him.
Can he stay with us?”
Craig responded in the voice of Helen
Lawson: “So Satan’s come crawling back to
Broadway! Well, Broadway doesn’t take to
rudeness and fire-red treasure trails!” But
we needed the rent money, so I supposed
we’d have to.
Pomegranate Cocktail
• 2 parts Absolut
• 1/2 part Cointreau
• 3 parts bottled pomegranate juice*
• “Really” Simple Syrup (optional)
1.Pour Absolut and Cointreau into a
pitcher.
2.Add pomegranate juice. Stir. Taste.
3.Add 1/4 tsp. simple syrup if you like.
4.Pour over ice.
*Put equal parts sugar and water into
a jar, seal it tight and shake until the
sugar dissolves.
Ed Sikov is the author of Dark Victory:
The Life of Bette Davis and other books
about films and filmmakers.
ACCESSline Page 23
"...marriage, as currently
practiced by heterosexuals, is not
about making babies. A modern
marriage is whatever two straight
people want it to be. It can last a
lifetime, it can last an afternoon.
It can be sexually exclusive, it can
be open. It can be sacred (church,
family, priest), or it can be
profane (Vegas, strangers, Elvis).
The wife can "joyfully submit"
to the husband, as Southern
Baptist women are encouraged
to do, or the husband and wife
can be equals. (Or as in the case
of my friends Zac and Megan,
the husband can joyfully submit
to the wife.) And they can make
little smooshes of themselves, or
they can be childless. What makes
them married—in their own eyes,
and in the eyes of the state—is
their love and commitment to
each other, not their commitment
to growing the population."
—Dan Savage, Savage Love
question of the day, January
26, 2011
ACCESSline Page 24
the fun guide
FEBRUARY 2011
FEBRUARY 2011
the fun guide
ACCESSline Page 25
Out of Town: San Antonio, Texas by Andrew Collins
Although it draws more visitors than
any other city in Texas, San Antonio has
always been a little less pronounced as a gay
destination than Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
This is changing, however, as the city’s reputation for innovative arts, distinctive dining,
hip boutique hotels, gay-friendly B&Bs, and
friendly but lively LGBT nightlife has grown
tremendously over the past decade. The
tried-and-true, family-friendly classic attractions are still here: raucous theme parks, the
glittery River Walk, and—of course—the
Alamo. But now you’ll also find emerging
arts districts and chef-owned restaurants
specializing in everything from Belgian bistro
fare to haute Nuevo Latino cuisine.
The city has made a concerted effort
in recent years to reach out to gay visitors—note that the San Antonio tourism
office has an LGBT section on its website
(http://bit.ly/fogN3a).
Downtown San Antonio has been carefully protected by a zealous spirit of historic
preservation. At the turn of the century,
concerned local citizens fought developers
bent on converting the Alamo into a hotel.
Similar efforts led to the restoration of the
city’s other iconic landmark, the San Antonio
River, with its enchanting River Walk.
Only a fraction of the original Spanish
Colonial mission known popularly as the
Alamo stands today: the small chapel whose
facade has come to symbolize the pride and
independence of Texas, and one of the living
quarters. The buildings are set within a
tranquil walled plaza of lawns and gardens.
It’s one of five missions built along the San
Antonio River during the 18th century. The
other four, which are south of downtown
within six miles of one another, have been
preserved and are open to the public. Stop by
the San Antonio Missions National Historical
Park for details.
Steps from the Alamo you’ll find the
fabled River Walk, a network of cobbled and
flagstone paths hugging the San Antonio
River some 15 feet below street level. The
branches of cypress and willow trees droop
over the walk. During the day it makes for
a peaceful stroll, and river taxis offer tours
that provide an excellent sense of the architecture and greenery. Recently, the River
Walk has been extended to the historic Pearl
Brewing Complex, which has been converted
to a dashing mixed-use complex of condos,
studios, restaurants, shops, and branches of
Aveda Institute and the Culinary Institute of
America—there’s also a farmers market here
on Saturdays and Wednesdays.
Between downtown and the Pearl, you’ll
find the San Antonio Museum of Art, which
inhabits the former Lone Star brewery and
is famous for its Asian works and arguably
the nation’s premier collection of Latin
American art. If you have a car, it’s worth
continuing north to such notable attractions as the San Antonio Botanical Gardens,
the Japanese Tea Gardens, the San Antonio
Zoological Gardens and Aquarium, and the
McNay Art Museum (which doubled in size
following a sleek and eye-catching expansion
$50 million expansion in 2009). And on the
city’s true outskirts, there’s fun to be had at
Schlitterbahn Waterpark, Seaworld of Texas,
and Six Flags Fiesta Texas.
A few blocks south of downtown,
HemisFair Park contains the remnants of
the 1968 World’s Fair attractions, including
the 750-foot Tower of the Americas and
several museums. Be sure to check out La
Villita, a nearby complex of more than two
dozen arts and crafts shops, as well as downtown’s impressive new Briscoe Western Art
Museum. Continue south to reach the King
William Historic District, where many of San
Antonio’s early German immigrants settled
and built elaborate Victorian mansions (one
particular ornate one, the Edward Steves
Homestead, is open for tours). It’s adjacent
to the more modest but increasingly hip
Southtown area, which buzzes with funky
shops, galleries, and restaurants.
San Antonio emergence into a firstrate culinary destination has been rapid of
late. It’s still worth considering classics like
Paesanos (paesanosriverwalk.com), a festive
Northern Italian trattoria on the River Walk,
and elegant Biga on the Banks (biga.com),
one of the first restaurants in town to earn
praise for truly daring contemporary regional
cuisine.
In Southtown, Azuca (azuca.net) is an
airy space decorated with the colorful glass
art (blown next door at Garcia Glass studio)
and serving terrific Nuevo Latino fare, from
ceviche to plantain-crusted salmon with
olive-garlic butter. There’s live Latin music
and dancing many evenings. A few steps
away, La Frite (lafritesa.com) is known for
hearty but sophisticated Belgian bistro fare,
such as frisee salad with bacon lardons,
and mussels prepared in several different
ways. It’s a sophisticated storefront spot
with closely spaced tables and a fun vibe.
San Antonio’s famed (and gay-popular)
Liberty Bar (liberty-bar.com) moved to
Southtown in 2010 and remains a fine option
for crab cakes, salads, and excellent cheese
plates. Nearby in King William, Madhatters
(madhatterstea.com) draws a “who’s who”
of local characters for coffee, beer, wine,
conversation, and great food.
Southtown is also home to one of the
better Tex-Mex option in San Antonio, Rosario’s (rosariossa.com), a loud and spacious
joint with live music on weekends, and
such tasty dishes as chorizo quesadillas
and steak ranchera topped with poblano
peppers. Other reliably good bets for traditional Mexican food include La Fonda on
Main (lafondaonmain.com), which is close
to the gay nightlife district; El Milagrito
(elmilagritocafe.com), a colorful and affordable spot on the hip St. Mary’s Strip, and Mi
Tierra Cafe, in the touristy but fun Mercado,
where you can find vendors selling roasted
corn and shops carrying Mexican arts and
crafts. If nothing else, come to Mi Tierra
(mitierracafe.com) to admire the long case
of delicious colorful cookies and sweets—it’s
open 24/7.
Other restaurants of note around the
city include downtown’s romantic Fig Tree
(figtreerestaurant.com), which has outdoor
seating on a stepped terrace that descends
toward the River Walk, and the trendy
and lively Zinc Wine Bar (zincwine.com),
a downtown hot spot with great food and
vino. Il Sogno (pearlbrewery.com) is one
of the culinary draws at the Pearl Brewery
Complex, serving superb modern Italian fare.
Right around the corner, Josephine Street
Cafe (josephinestcafe.com) serves steaks and
fresh seafood in a historic storefront.
Other casual, affordable spots include
Luther’s (lutherscafe.com), which is right
Restaurants and bars line the festive River Walk in downtown San Antonio.
Photo by Andrew Collins
across from several gay bars and has ample
outdoor seating and tasty sandwiches,
burgers, and salads; and Lulu’s Bakery &
Cafe (luluscafeinsa.com), just south of the
gay bar district, in a retro space and serving
filling comfort food (hearty chicken-fried
steaks) and pies. A longtime staple of the
gay community, W. D. Deli (wddeli.com) is a
cheerful spot with the best chicken tortilla
soup around, and healthy sandwiches (try the
turkey-avocado wrap) and salads. Finally, just
north of downtown, Candlelight Coffeehouse
(candlelightsa.com) is the perfect blend of a
wine bar, cafe, and rainy-day hangout. In good
weather enjoy the lushly landscaped patio.
San Antonio has about a dozen gay bars
of note, one of which is downtown’s longrunning (and enormous) Bonham Exchange
(bonhamexchange.net), lovingly nicknamed
the “Bottom Exchange.” It’s a high-energy
club drawing a mostly gay bunch along
with quite a few straights for hot dancing.
Most of city’s other well-frequented bars
are clustered along North Main Avenue, less
than a 10-minute drive from downtown.
Here you’ll find the pulsing dance club Heat
(heatsa.com), which is jammed nightly with
buff-bodied revelers, and The Saint, known
for arguably the best drag shows in Texas.
Other North Main options include
Pegasus, a convivial video bar with a volleyball court and patio out back, and Sparky’s
Pub (sparkyspub.com), an English-style
tavern in the space formerly occupied by
Silver Dollar Saloon, a gay tejano and country
club that’s moved just a few blocks north to
an expansive new locale. Nearby, the Electric
Company is a friendly neighborhood spot
with a lesbian following, and the Annex is a
rugged, cruisy bar with a leather-and-Levi’s
following.
San Antonio has a wonderful mix of
accommodations, from quaint gay-friendly
B&Bs to chic “designer” hotels to historic
grande dames. Among gay-owned options,
the lovely Ayres Inn (1908ayresinn.com)
occupies a historic home with five smartly
furnished rooms with a mix of contemporary
and classic pieces, plus flat-screen TVs and
L’Occitane bath products. This gay-owned
property is one of the most romantic in
town.
A marvelous boutique hotel set inside a
1914 Mediterranean Revival former boarding school, the 28-room Havana Riverwalk
Inn (havanasanantonio.com) captures the
sophisticated sensibility of 1920s Paris along
with the romance of vintage Cuba. It’s on
one of the less noisy stretches of the River
Walk. The sleek and contemporary Westin
Riverwalk (starwoodhotels.com) is centrally
located, has spacious rooms (request one
with a River Walk view), and an excellent
TTSAN ANTONIO continued page 28
ACCESSline Page 26
the fun guide
FEBRUARY 2011
Book Worm Sez by Terri Schlichenmeyer
Gay Bar: The Fabulous, True
Story of a Daring Woman
and Her Boys in the 1950s
By Will Fellows & Helen P. Branson
©1957, 2010, University of Wisconsin Press
$26.95 / $27.25 Canada
166 pages
TGIF. Four little letters that, alone, have
different meanings. One is a drink. One, a
gentle expletive. One is a pronoun, and the
last is… well, it’s a letter.
Add them together, though, and they
bring smiles to the faces of weary workers
who’ve done their time for the week. Thank
God It’s Friday.
Across
1 Ellen and Vance, e.g.
5 Cut, as wool
10 On ___ with
14 Cross inscription
15 Utensil for giving Oliver “more”
16 Tubbies’ prefix
17 Plod through the mire
18 Phantom of the Opera’s instrument
19 Chi paper
20 She played Nic in The Kids Are All Right
23 “___ do anything better than you”
24 Country of Ft. Sumter
25 Middle name of “Viva Las Vegas” singer
26 Susan B. Anthony coin
28 Reduces to confetti
30 Looked for
32 She played Jules in The Kids Are All Right
38 Cape Cod catch
39 Sentence units
40 Path on top of a dike
42 Where Dick Button performs
44 Of Thee ___
45 Box again
48 Water under the bridge
50 Why Nic and Jules’ son said they should
stay together
52 Parts of a min.
54 Wry twist
55 Phallic fishes
58 Start of a Shakespearean title
59 Reproduction without sex
60 Dark greenish blue
61 Where to see Chris Colfer as Kurt
62 Open positions?
63 And so
But what if your options for Friday Night
Revelry were limited? What if you couldn’t
go out because you couldn’t come out? In
the new book “Gay Bar” by Will Fellows
and Helen P. Branson, you’ll read about a
woman who solved that problem back when
it was bold to do so.
For most of her adult life, Helen Pyle
Branson was interested in the occult and
what we would now call New Age subjects.
Straight, married, and a mother, Helen was
also a “woman ahead of her time”: she was
extremely interested in friendships, specifically with gay men.
Back in the 1950s, homosexuality was
considered an illness that could be “cured”
with intensive therapy and classes. Gays and
lesbians were “degenerates”
then, and “normal” people
shunned them with horror.
To be gay was to be an
outcast, often unemployed,
sometimes homeless. Some
even considered gayness
to be a threat similar to
Communism.
Helen didn’t care.
Her “boys” were
welcome in her establishment, as long as they behaved—and she
wasn’t afraid to oust anyone who didn’t. She
protected her boys from the police, roughnecks, haters, scammers, and themselves.
She fed them, gave them a safe place to
Q-PUZZLE: “The Kids Are All Right”
Down
1 Liza, to Lorna
2 Like mosaic stone
3 One well-hung and making big bucks
4 Traffic light
5 One-armed bandit’s opening
congregate, and became a
surrogate mother to them.
She studied them, and
encouraged their families
to love them, too.
Author Will Fellows
had seen the book that
Helen Branson wrote in the
mid-50s, and he thought the
memoir/social commentary
might make a good play.
Fascinated, he began to dig
into the life and thoughts of this progressive
straight woman who embraced gay men…
And if Fellows had just left well-enough
alone, if he had just let that book stand on
its own merits, this book might have been
better.
“Gay Bar”—the original version—had
its charms. It offered a unique and honest
vintage-1950s look at gay men’s lives from
the perspective of a woman who genuinely
loved them for who they were and who hated
their persecution. Author Helen P. Branson
had her (very un-PC) theories on gayness, and
she was obviously willing to discuss things
with anyone who would listen, as evidenced
by her friendship and correspondence with
a sympathetic psychiatrist who also studied
homosexuality.
But then Fellows steps in and puts
Branson’s words into today’s perspective.
I thought his ideas were intelligent and
well-considered (a definite good thing),
but—against Branson’s bygone-era charm
– they muddy the appeal of the original (a
not-so-good thing).
Can I recommend this book? Only
barely, and only if you remember that this is
more a gay history book than it is pleasure
reading. Truly, if you’re looking for something
fun and nowhere near academic, find another
book and leave “Gay Bar” for another day.
6 “The Bridge” poet
7 Rims
8 Like some white people’s skin?
9 Director Norman of Longtime Companion
10 Stuff in the closet
11 Licorice liqueur
12 Sets straight
13 Soldier under Stonewall Jackson
21 Big name in the land of Wan Yan Hai
22 Elaine ___ (“Taxi” role)
27 Out
29 They rise to show thighs
31 One-million link
32 Month of the Stonewall riots
33 One that isn’t bi
34 Game in which Canadians wave their
sticks
35 Dated, without a partner
36 Santa’s horny team
37 Seabird
38 Mountain top
41 British sports cars
43 Bonheur bathed in it
44 Parting words, old style
46 Quick cuts
47 Causing goosebumps
48 Had sex with
49 Things with strings
51 Weighty volume
52 Org. for Jodie Foster
53 Flightless wing
56 Get behind
57 ___-mo sexual (decelerated porn)?
• SOLUTION ON PAGE 28
FEBRUARY 2011
the fun guide
ACCESSline Page 27
HARPIST
INSURANCE
PHOTOGRAPHER
QUAD CITIES: MASSAGE
CEDAR RAPIDS: WINE & GIFTS
the fun guide
ACCESSline Page 28
SAN ANTONIO
EVENTS
restaurant, Zocca.
Hotel Contessa (thehotelcontessa.com)
draws raves for its palatial rooms with
floor-to-ceiling river views, 12-story atrium
lobby, and friendly staff. The Mokara Hotel
(mokarahotels.com), formerly known as
the Watermark, occupies a former saddlery
and has 99 of the snazziest rooms in the
state, as well as a state-of-the-art spa
and superb dining in its Ostra restaurant.
Finally, looking more West Hollywood than
Central Texas, the uber-hip Hotel Valencia
(valenciagroup.com) provides a strikingly
contemporary contrast to the historic downtown blocks that surround it. There may not
be a sexier room in the city than the Valencia’s
V Bar—definitely plan to toast your visit with
a cocktail in this vibrant lounge.
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]
info, visit charter-chapter.tripod.com. [ L W ]
Every
Wednesday
of
the
Month,
Transformations_IOWA, 7 p.m., with meetins also
the 2nd Saturday of each month, Transformations
is a group for Female to Male, Male to Female,
Gender Queer, Cross Dressing, Questioning,
Intersexed, Allies, and Significant Other in Iowa.
Contact [email protected],
1st Wednesday of the Month, WOMEN’S
SACRED CIRCLE, 6:30-8 PM, 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. [ L W
]
1st Wednesday of the Month, CONNECTIONS’
RAINBOW READING GROUP, 7 PM, Iowa City
Public Library Meeting Room B, 123 South Linn
Street, Iowa City, IA 52240. For more info, contact
Todd at: [email protected]. [ L G B T M W A ]
2nd Wednesday of the Month, STONEWALL
DEMOCRATS, THE GLBT CAUCUS OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY, 6:30-8 PM, For the
February 9 meeting we will be at Coffee Talk Cafe
on 37 Kirkwood Court Southwest, Cedar Rapids,
IA 52404. That’s next to Kirkwood Blvd just south
of Hwy 30 on the left. For more info, contact
Harvey Ross at [email protected] or call
319-389-0093. [ L G B T M W A ]
2nd Wednesday of the Month, WOMEN
FOR PEACE KNITTERS, 7-9 PM, Hiawatha, IA.
at Prairiewoods, 120 E. Boyson Rd., Hiawatha.
Knitting, crocheting, and discussion. For more info,
call 319-377-3252 or go to www.womenforpeaceiowa.org. All ages and levels of needlework skills
welcome. Come knit for charities. [ L W ]
Every Wednesday, HOT MESS EXPRESS,
8:00pm, 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 [ L G
BTA]
Every Wednesday, U OF I GAY LESBIAN
BISEXUAL TRANSGENDER AND ALLIES UNION
MEETINGS, 7-9 PM, 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 ]
First and Third Wednesday of the Month,
PITCH HIV+ PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT GROUP,
Friends and Children’s Council, 500 E 4th St, Ste
414, Waterloo, IA . RSVP to tamih@pitchiowa.
org (requested but not required). (First meeting
will be January 19, 2011 from 5:30-7:30pm at the
CASS office, 2101 Kimball Ave, Ste 401, Waterloo.)
[+]
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 B T A ]
INSIDE OUT
a Constitution guaranteeing everyone equal
protection under the law. I can’t even believe
I’m having to write about this.
Aren’t you Iowans angry about this?
Where are the marches in the streets? Where
is the uproar among the LGBT community?
Are you just going to sit back and take this
craziness? Did you enjoy the closet?
Don’t look to the existing Iowa judges to
do anything about this. All of them are scared
to death about losing their jobs. I’m being
presumptuous, but they’re only human and
after a while the fear has to wear on them.
What LGBT person (or attorney for that
matter) wants to be in front of a judge with
a bull’s-eye on his or her back? Blind justice?
I don’t know.
I don’t think the Iowa lawyers can do
much either. Some of the attorneys in the
state actually support The People Who Hate
Us. Other lawyers are worried that if they do
anything, they will simply be shuffling deck
chairs on the Titanic. No one wants to make
enemies in case the system changes.
In the end, it is really much easier to get
motivated to organize and win if you have a
common point of view. Here, for the extremists, the commonality is hatred. People don’t
go to the trouble of firing Supreme Court
justices simply because they think it’s a good
idea. They do it because they hate what the
Varnum decision represents and they hate
us for wanting what they have—legally
recognized marriages and families. How
dare we? Really?
Someone needs to step forward and say
“enough!” If he or she doesn’t, we have no one
to blame but ourselves.
Why does WHO Radio
almost never have any other
state representative as a
guest other than Steve King?
—52245 (from “Your 2 Cents'
Worth: Thursday, Jan. 20,
2011” at dmregister.com)
Thursday
1st 3rd Thursday, EVENINGS FOR SPIRIT,
6:30-8:30 PM, 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, 7-9 PM, 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 [email protected].
[LGBTMWA]
2nd Thursday of the Month, IOWA PFLAG
OMAHA/COUNCIL BLUFFS CHAPTER MEETING,
7 PM (6:30 PM social time), Omaha, IA . at Mead
Hall, First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass St.,
Omaha. For more info, call 402-291-6781. [ L G B
TMWAK]
3rd Thursday of the Month, OPEN MIC
HOSTED BY KIMBERLI, 7-10 PM, Cedar Rapids,
IA . at the Blue Strawberry Coffee Company (now
open after the flood), 118 2nd St. SE, Downtown
Cedar Rapids. Signup at 6:30 p.m. 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, 7
PM, Dubuque, IA . at St. John’s Lutheran Church,
1276 White St., Dubuque. For more info, call 563582-9388. [ L G B T M W A K ]
3rd Thursday of the Month, CONNECTIONS
GAME NIGHT, 7-9 PM, Iowa City, IA . at Donnelly’s
Pub, 110 E. College St., in downtown Iowa City. [ L
GBTMWA]
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, 7:30 PM, Cedar Rapids,
IA . Red Cross Building at 6300 Rockwell Dr.
NE, Cedar Rapids. The group is open to new
members; contact crglbtreadinggroup@yahoo.
com for further info. [ L G B T M W A ]
Every Thursday and Friday, SHANNON
JANSSEN, 6-10 PM, 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.
[LGBTMWA]
Last Thursday of the Month, DRAG KING
SHOW, 9:00pm-2pm, 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, 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-cityguerrilla-queer-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: [email protected] [ G B ]
1st Friday of the Month, DAWN’S COFFEE
HOUSE, 5-8 PM, Iowa City, IA . Dawn’s Hide and
FEBRUARY 2011
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 nonprofit 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. [ L G B T M W A ]
2nd and 4th Friday, DRUMMING CIRCLE,
7 PM, 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, 8 PM, 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]. [ L G B T M W A ]
Saturday
4th Saturday of the Month, LESBIAN BOOK
CLUB, 7 PM, 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, 7:30
PM, 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 7 p.m. for an introductory lesson.
For more info, call Gail at 319-325-9630, e-mail
[email protected], or visit www.tangovia.com.
[LGBTMWAD]
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 [email protected]. [ L G B
TMWAKD]
Every Saturday, BAILE LATINO: SALSA, CHACHA, MERENGUE AND BACHATA LESSONS,
3:30 PM to 5:30 PM, 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 319365-9611 or visit www.crsalsa.org. [ L G B T M W
AKD]
FEBRUARY 2011
ACCESSline Page 29
PFLAG Linn County & Beyond First Friday Breakfast Club:
Rev. Elizabeth Dilley by Bruce Carr
Join us! PFLAG Linn County & Beyond
(“PFLAG LC&B”). Spend an evening with
other supportive parents, family, and friends
to discuss, to think, and to learn about your
role and relationship with Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender family members
and friends.
PFLAG LC&B meets the fourth Thursday
night of every month (except November). The
February 2011 meeting will be February 24th
at Peoples Church UU (600 Third Avenue SE,
Cedar Rapids) at 6:30pm. (Meeting locations may change; please email or call at the
contact information below to confirm each
month’s location.)
Parents, Families and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays (“PFLAG”) is a national
non-profit organization with over 200,000
members and supporters and over 500 affiliates in the United States. This vast grassroots
network is cultivated, resourced and serviced
by the PFLAG National Office, in Washington
D.C. The locally organized PFLAG LC&B
chapter invites everyone to participate in its
monthly meeting and various activities.
Local PFLAG chapters serve as points
of human connection, and as sources of
information about resources and upcoming
activities in their communities.
“Our Vision. We, the parents, families
and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender persons, celebrate diversity and
envision a society that embraces everyone,
including those of diverse sexual orientations
and gender identities. Only with respect,
dignity and equality for all will we reach our
full potential as human beings, individually
and collectively. PFLAG welcomes the participation and support of all who share in, and
hope to realize this vision.”
“Our Mission. PFLAG promotes the
health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender persons, their families and
friends through: support, to cope with an
adverse society; education, to enlighten an
ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end
discrimination and to secure equal civil
rights. Parents, Families and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for
dialogue about sexual orientation and gender
identity, and acts to create a society that is
healthy and respectful of human diversity.”
For more information about PFLAG
LC&B, please contact:
• Chair: Diane Peterson [email protected] - 319-431-0673
• Vice-Chair: Dave Langston
[email protected]
More information about PFLAG is available at PFLAG.org.
Free Des Moines Tax Clinic
Saturday, March 12, 2011, 10am
Married in Iowa, but unsure how that
affects your and your spouse’s federal taxes?
Have questions about how to claim your children? Just have tax questions in general?
One Iowa blog contributor and tax
pro Jason Dinesen is holding a clinic for
same-sex couples and allies at the One Iowa
offices, 500 East Locust Street, Suite 300,
Des Moines, IA 50309.
Jason will give a presentation covering
filing status, state versus federal filing, and
dependent status, and then he’ll open the
floor for any questions participants have.
Since the decision, Jason’s been finding
out everything he can about the special
considerations same-sex couples have when
preparing taxes. The presentation is free,
and all individuals, couples and families
are welcome!
One-on-one tax preparation consultations are available after the presentation; to find out more about prices or
to make an appointment, email Jason at
[email protected]. Mention One Iowa
when Jason does your taxes, and he’ll donate
a portion of his proceeds to us!
You don’t have to attend the clinic to
take advantage of this special donation,
and with Jason’s secure web portal, you
don’t have to be in the area to work with
him. Check out dinesentax.com for more
information!
Our speaker on January 7 was the Rev.
Elizabeth Dilley, pastor of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Red Oak,
Iowa, who shared with us her progressive
and extremely welcome ideas on sexuality and spirituality. A long-time student of
smaller congregations, Dilley came to First
Congregational (already then an Open and
Affirming church!) seven years ago from
Berkeley, California. In addition to her church
work, she is a part-time health educator with
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, where
she works with people of all ages to promote
healthy life and sexual choices.
Dilley spoke with passion and humility—and humor: “I work both for Jesus
and for Planned Parenthood,” she noted.
She recounted her pleasure at encountering “Iowa nice” when she first came to the
Midwest: the local fundamentalist preacher
never fails to greet her peaceably at the
grocery store, to work with her effectively on
professional committees and projects—no
matter that he may think (and preach) that
she and her flock are blasphemers.
“The basic problem,” she said, “is that
we all grow up learning the message that
sex is dirty and wrong—so you should save
it for the one you love.” Her own message
is embodied in this prayer: “In Christ, our
bodies have been renewed in love and you, O
God, bless all that we do in love and compassion and mutuality. Sexuality is a good gift
that you call us to share—from the tender
Rev. Elizabeth Dilley, pastor of the
First Congregational United Church of Christ
in Red Oak, Iowa,
caress of a loving partner to the ecstasy
of orgasm which opens up new vistas of
passionate life. Help us to love extravagantly,
to live fully, and to embrace the bodies of
all your people upon the earth, that their
needs—arising from hunger to pleasure,
leading to loneliness and overstimulation,
the result of resistance and exploitation—
may be met in Christ and in the community
to which Christ calls us, the embodiment of
your love on earth. Amen.”
TTFFBC continued page 33
ACCESSline Page 30
FEBRUARY 2011
Queeries LGBT Etiquette by Steven Petrow
Outed on Facebook
your privacy settings, you can’t protect your
privacy 100 percent. Lastly, a special note
for your friend: Please don’t ask others to be
complicit in your secrets. It’s certainly your
right to stay closeted, but as you can see, it
gets mucked up when you’re asking friends
to be accomplices. (And a technical pointer:
Remember that you can always de-tag yourself from a photo.)
Q: Even though my good friend
Letisha lives with her girlfriend, she is
not out to her family. At least she wasn’t
until last week. Right after the holidays I
posted a lovey-dovey photo of the two of
them on my Facebook page, tagging both.
Then of course bam! The photo was automatically uploaded to Letisha’s Facebook
page and suddenly her whole family knew
she was gay. Now Letisha won’t speak to
me because she says I outed her. I say it’s
Q: I really need some advice. I think
her fault that she kept such a big secret my boyfriend is cheating on me and
from her family. Who’s right?
sleeping with other guys behind my back.
A: Every day I get more and more When we first got together we decided
questions about Facebook gone awry. It’s that we weren’t going to have an open
so easy to stumble on
relationship. Recently
some social faux pas
There’s a special respon- he said he would
that didn’t even exist
no problem if I
sibility in being someone’s have
before. However, from
wanted to sleep with
what you write, there’s “first.” I don’t know about you, other guys—as long
enough blame to go but I still remember my very as I told him first. That
around in this situame suspicious
first time—and let me just say made
tion. First off, here’s my
so I did something I
advice to you: No matter I was a nervous wreck.
probably shouldn’t
what, don’t tag people
have: I logged into his
without asking their permission. Maybe Facebook account and found an incrimiyou’re at the beach and unaware that your nating message. I know we need to talk
Facebook friend has called in sick from work. but I am really bad with confrontation.
Maybe you’re photographing someone who What should I do?
is underage and the photo has caught him
A: Very few of us like the idea of confrondrinking. Or maybe your friend isn’t out. On tation, but when it comes to questions about
the other hand, Letisha does need to wake monogamy and sexual health, you really have
up and face the fact that everything about no choice. This doesn’t mean you need to
Facebook is viral. No matter how you set come at him like a bat out of hell, but you do
CEDAR AIDS SUPPORT SYSTEM
Confronting a cheater
need to express your point of view and ask
the important questions. The ability to do so
is really important for your own self-respect.
Perhaps there’s a middle ground that you’d
be comfortable with? Many couples create
rules in situations like this: No tricking in
your own bed, for instance; it’s okay if one of
you is out of town; or the number of liaisons
is limited to prevent a romantic attachment.
On the other hand, you may have no interest
at all in anything but monogamy—as per your
original agreement. Either way, you need
to talk together and make some mutually
comfortable decisions. If you do agree to have
some new openness in your relationship, by
the way, remember that you’ll need to come
to some clear understanding of what each of
you considers safer sex; there are about as
many different definitions of that as there
are couples. As for your logging into your
boyfriend’s Facebook account: That’s a form
of cheating, too. Leveling with him about your
actions may help him to do the same.
He’s never had sex before
Q: I’ve been going out with a guy who’s
never had sex before with a man and is
more than a little apprehensive. We’re
really into each other, but to tell you the
truth I’m a little nervous myself at the
thought of initiating a virgin. I just want
to make sure to handle things right. Do
you have any advice for me?
A: There’s a special responsibility in
being someone’s “first.” I don’t know about
you, but I still remember my very first time—
and let me just say I was a nervous wreck.
Since you already know that your fella is
anxious, see if you can tease out what’s on
his mind. Often a first timer’s main concern
is that he’ll do something “wrong.” If you can
help your new lover realize that it’s not about
technical performance but rather emotional
connection, you’ll both benefit. Also, let him
know that he can determine the pace. Still,
there will likely be some teachable moments
as he tries new things on for size. I wouldn’t
make corrections or suggestions in the heat
of the moment, but instead maybe chat a bit
later on if you feel the need. One last thing:
Be sure to lead by example when it comes to
the topic of safer sex.
Steven Petrow is a regular contributor
to 365gay.com, GayWeddings.com and the
author of the forthcoming, “Steven Petrow’s
Complete Gay & Lesbian Manners” (www.
gaymanners.com). Send him your questions:
[email protected]
“The basic problem is that we all
grow up learning the message [from
our churches] that sex is dirty and
wrong—so you should save it for the
one you love.”
— Reverend Elizabeth Dilley, pastor
of First Congregational United
Church of Christ, Red Oak, Iowa.
Serving Northeast Iowa by:
- Offering confidential support services with
compassion and respect for the diversity of
those impacted by HIV or AIDS
- Increasing awareness and understanding in
communities
- Offering CASS services free of charge
319.272.2437 | 800.617.1972
www.cvhospice.org
CASS
A program of Cedar Valley Hospice
FEBRUARY 2011
ACCESSline Page 31
Remarkable by Jonathan Wilson
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy that was
put in place during
Bill Clinton’s time as
Commander-in-Chief
was inherently flawed
and was paraded out
as a supposed compromise.
It was no compromise in the sense
intended.
Instead,
it adopted as official
Pentagon policy what
had been going on
in the United States
military since its
inception: so long as gay soldiers stayed in
the closet and didn’t get caught, they were
welcome to serve their country, sacrificing
and even dying for the freedoms of others.
By making that the official policy, it
implicitly denigrated gay service members,
but worse, told the world that any suspected
gay soldier was unusually vulnerable to
blackmail. Whatever secret is necessary
to preserve a career—any career—makes
the keeper of the secret an easy target for
anyone who learns the secret. The policy,
therefore, and undeniably, was a compromise
all right—a compromise of our national
security.
There have always been gay members of
our military, serving—showering—side-byside with other soldiers. Coming out of the
closet doesn’t change that nor does it make
more likely that a gay soldier will hit on a
straight comrade.
The effort to repeal the policy, when
attached to the Pentagon’s proposed budget,
appeared to have died an agonizing death.
But, like Jesus, it rose from the dead on
its own and passed easily in both houses of
the lame-duck Congress and was signed by
the President.
Just like that. Remarkable.
It demonstrates that there will inevitably
be daily ups and downs in the civil rights
struggle, but the trend line and progress
are unmistakable and accelerating. In my
lifetime it will be a non-issue. In my lifetime
same gender marriage will be the law of
the land.
In many respects it’s all over but the
shouting. And the command structure of the
military will insure its success.
I can still hear my drill sergeant shouting orders in army Basic Training, requiring
trainees to do all sorts of things that ran
against the grain.
The philosophy
underlying the military command structure presupposes that
soldiers can be trained
to do whatever they’re
told—even to the point
of dying on a foreign
battlefield for some illdefined mission with a
tenuous connection to
our national defense.
That, in my mind,
makes the prospect of
getting gay and straight soldiers to share a
warm shower almost like child’s play.
There have always been
gay members of our military,
serving—showering—sideby-side with other soldiers.
Coming out of the closet
doesn’t change that nor does
it make more likely that a gay
soldier will hit on a straight
comrade.
Reflections on Christmas
The Biblical story is told that God
impregnated an unmarried girl, Mary, who
subsequently gave birth to Jesus. Jesus
grew in wisdom, in stature, and in favor
with God and man. He went into ministry
for about three years; traipsing around the
countryside and occasionally on water with
eleven good friends and one especially good
friend; preaching (with precious little hard
evidence) that God is loving and merciful,
and not vengeful as depicted in the Old Testament. He managed to get cross-wise with the
religious and governmental establishment
of the time, was crucified (to pay for sins
not yet committed by people not yet born),
died, and was buried, only to rise again from
the dead and ascend physically into Heaven.
There you have it in a nutshell. If one buys
into the beginning of the story, it’s as easy to
believe in all the rest.
With a belief in those particulars, selfless compassion has been shown around the
world, wonderful music has been written
and sung, and innocents have been slaughtered in countless numbers. To say that the
account of his birth, life, and death requires a
suspension of our life experience would be an
understatement. To say that the account and
human history since are filled with paradoxes
would likewise be an understatement. Today,
self-styled Christians who worship the Prince
of Peace are among the most ardent supporters of a strong military, perpetuation of war
in Iraq and Afghanistan, and forgiveness of
torture admittedly committed at Gitmo and
elsewhere in our name.
There are some elements of the story’s
beginning that are seldom discussed. For
example, the impregnation of Mary was by
all accounts non-consensual. Oh sure, after
the fact she was informed and graciously
accepted her fate, but she was not consulted
in advance. By today’s standards, that is an
assault if not rape. It gives full voice to the line
from an old hymn, “Time makes ancient good
uncouth.” That we can today celebrate the
event is, at least, paradoxical and at worst the
acceptance of an un-prosecutable felony.
It also stands for the perennial proposition that there is something lesser about the
way the rest of us came into the world. It
gives implicit expression to the admonition
that sex is dirty so save it for someone you
love and marry.
On the brighter side, especially for folks
in the gay/lesbian community, the impregnation of Mary and the birth of Jesus, represent one of the first recorded examples of a
surrogate arrangement. Use that on critics
when we pursue alternatives to marrying
unsuspecting straight people as a means to
become loving parents.
Jonathan Wilson is an attorney at the
Davis Brown Law Firm in Des Moines,
and chairs the First Friday Breakfast Club
(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 JonathanWilson@
DavisBrownLaw.com or 515-288-2500.
What a silly question. Anyone going to a small-town church knows that Adam
and Eve were white. And Jesus was a white guy, too, with light brown hair, despite
being Middle Eastern and Jewish. They must have spoken English, too, as that’s the
language of my Bible, the Word of God.
— posted by “Gimme that ol’ time religion” (from Your 2 Cents’ Worth: Friday,
January 21, 2011 at dmregister.com)
ACCESSline Page 32
FEBRUARY 2011
Council Bluffs
CHAIN Day on the Hill
Community Alliance events: February 24, 2011
BJ’s Get Togther
Broadway Joe’s, 3400 W Broadway, Council Bluffs
- Friday, February 18 · 5:00pm - 7:30pm
Please join old friends and new for a few drinks after work for some fun
and relaxation.
CBCA Monthly Membership Meeting
St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 22 Dillman, Council Bluffs
- Sunday, February 20 · 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Please join us for the next monthly meeting. Our guest speakers will be
from the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce. A pot luck will follow the
meeting. Please bring your favorite dish to serve at a pot luck dinner. And
please invite your friends to join as well. Thanks.
Council Bluff’s Legislative Coffees
Council Bluffs Public Library, 400 Willow Avenue
- Saturday, February 12 · 9:00am - 10:30am
- Saturday, February 26 · 9:00am - 10:30am
It is important that we show an LGBT presence in our Council Bluffs
Legislative Coffees. Our legislators (all republicans except Mike Gronstal)
need to see the LGBT community and its allies in action. These coffees
will happen every other weekend between now and sometime in April or
May. At the coffees we can ask legislators questions—I’m sure there will
be many questions involving marriage equality. Oh, and… there are free
donuts and coffee! Hope to see you there.
by Virginia Tonelli
CHAIN Advocacy Coordinator
Community HIV/Hepatitis Advocates
of Iowa Network (CHAIN) is a non partisan
organization that provides strategic leadership in the fight against HIV/Hepatitis
and strives to provide policymakers with
evidence based facts. CHAIN has approximately 150 active members throughout
the state of Iowa from a variety of different
groups including individuals living with HIV
and Hepatitis, health care professionals,
industry representatives, and academics.
In addition to a strong statewide
membership base, CHAIN has also established a good working relationship with
the Iowa Department of Public Health and
the AIDS Project of Central Iowa. Partnering
with these organizations provides CHAIN
with a greater opportunity to expand their
network and be more effective in their
advocacy efforts.
On February 24, 2011, CHAIN will hold
our annual Day on the Hill at the Iowa State
Capital. Advocacy training begins at 9am at
the Calvary Baptist Church located at 606
East 9th Street. The training is immediately
followed by a legislative luncheon at the
Capital. Advocates will have the opportunity to discuss important HIV and Hepatitis
related issues with their legislators.
In past years, priorities have covered
a wide range of areas including ADAP
Funding and the Criminal Transmission of
HIV. Advocates will be briefed on the 2011
legislative agenda during the morning training session.
For more information on CHAIN’s
Day on the Hill, contact Virginia Tonelli
at [email protected]. Log onto
CHAIN’s website for more information on
the organization: www.chain-iowa.org
“It’s clearer than ever that Republicans will stop at
nothing to take away the constitutional rights of Iowans.
I hope that Republicans will join our efforts and focus their
energy on helping Iowans recover from the worst national
recession since World War II.”
—Iowa Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal,
January 27, 2011
FEBRUARY 2011
FFBC
DISHONEST
Dilley earned a B.S. in Educational
Theatre from New York University and her
Master of Divinity from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley in 2003. She clearly thrives
on teaching: last summer she returned to her
alma mater to give a course she titled “Size
Always Matters: Spirituality, Leadership, and
Administration in the Smaller Membership
Church.” Ya gotta love her. Her husband, Paul
Richardson, obviously does, and they are
about to become parents later this year.
Like all good preachers, Dilley is also a
poet. Here’s another prayer, from her sermon
“Preaching and Praying about Sexuality”
published in the Clergy for Choice Newsletter last April:
overturning the Iowa Supreme Court’s
2009 decision striking down the state’s
Defense of Marriage Act. This amendment
goes further, barring any kind of legal union
apart from marriage and therefore any legal
recognition for same-sex relationships. After an emotionally charged subcommittee hearing with more than 200 observers present, Republicans Dwayne Alons
and Chris Hagenow voted to advance the
amendment, while Democrat Beth WesselKroeschell voted no. Later in the day, the
full House Judiciary Committee approved
the bill on a 13 to 8 vote. Democrat Kurt
Swaim joined all 12 Republicans in voting
yes, while the other Democrats on the
committee voted no. of House Judiciary
Committee members.
Reading the news coverage of yesterday’s debate, I was struck by how many
misleading talking points were used to
justify denying rights and privileges to
thousands of Iowans. A Prayer For Our Bodies
(feel free to use this in your own congregations
and communities of faith)
We thank you, God, for the gift of our
bodies and all that they can do.
Our hands reach out in love, caressing the
other with compassion
releasing our tight hold on possessions
touching the earth you have made
nurturing new life into being
Our lips press against the things of this
world,
kissing our beloved gently
tasting the food before us
offering up words of affirmation and love
Our hearts beat a rhythm of life into the
universe,
swelling in love and joy
propelling us to action
1. From State Representative
Dwayne Alons, the lead sponsor
of House Joint Resolution 6:
“This is the direction of the
people, by the people, for the
people and we should not lose
sight of that.”
The Iowa Constitution has never been
amended to restrict people’s rights. Making
minority rights contingent to a majority vote goes against what this country
stands for.
2. Alons also suggested that the
public needs to vote on an amendment because the Iowa Code still
contains language struck down by
the Supreme Court in Varnum v
Brien:
ACCESSline Page 33
sexuals don’t deserve the legal rights and
benefits that go along with marriage.
Chapman explained that the Iowa
Catholic Conference’s support for the
constitutional amendment “is based
on our answer to the question: what is
Despite the court’s decision, [Alons] marriage?” But the tenets of Chapman’s
said, the definition of marriage - between church shouldn’t give anyone veto power
one man and one woman - remains a part over civil marriage rights in Iowa. We all
of the Iowa Code, Alons said. The Legisla- have ethical or religious beliefs informing
ture had a chance to remove that last year our views on marriage. I may not approve
when Democrats controlled the House and of someone marrying for money, others
may not approve of
Senate as well as the
governor’s office.
By the way, Mr. Hurley, it’s my marrying someone
a different reli“Your side failed.
people like you who “struggle from
gion, but we don’t get
You didn’t want to touch
with homosexuality.” You’ve to deny heterosexual
it,” Alons said.
Ever since the made it part of your life’s couples a marriage
license because we
Varnum v Brien decision came down, some work to write your views on disapprove of their
Iowa conservatives homosexuality into the state relationships.
In any event,
have been making a
constitution. People who want hundreds
of Iowa
big deal about how the
support
Defense of Marriage to keep discrimination out of c l e r g y
Act remains part of the constitution aren’t strug- marriage equality and
officiated at gay
the Iowa Code. Iowa
gling with their orientation, have
and lesbian weddings
Supreme Court Chief
Justice Mark Cady whether it be heterosexual since April 2009.
Matt Mardis-LeCroy,
addressed a version or LGBT.
minister at Plymouth
of this argument in
his condition of the judiciary speech on Congregational Church in Des Moines,
January 13. Judicial review has been part told legislators yesterday, “Rabbis, imams,
of our country’s legal system for more than pastors, and priests have debated the
200 years. When courts strike down a law, meaning of marriage for thousands of
legislators are not required to take further years. With all due respect, this one is above
action to remove or correct the language your pay grade.”
The Varnum v Brien ruling made clear
at issue.
that churches would not be required to
3. Iowa House Judiciary Committee recognize same-sex marriages, nor would
Chairman Rich Anderson, explain- clergy be required to officiate at the ceremonies. Just as Iowa statutes relating to
ing why he will schedule a public
divorce have not forced the Catholic Church
hearing before the full House
votes on the constitutional amend- to change its doctrine on divorce, granting
civil marriage rights to all doesn’t restrict
ment:
“This is one of those really important anyone’s religious views on marriage.
issues that divide our country,” he said. “I
know that our tone and demeanor will be 5. Former legislator Danny Carroll
exemplary in helping the people of Iowa of the FAMiLY LEADER, the umbreland America see how Iowans and Ameri- la organization including the Iowa
cans can disagree in a context of respect Family Policy Center: “we reject
and honor.”
evangelical Christians being the
I love when Republicans congratulate brunt of name calling, being called
themselves for the very gracious way they bigots because they simply want
seek to revoke other people’s rights. Ander- the chance to vote on what the
son’s remarks reminded me of how onetime definition of marriage is and has
gubernatorial candidate Christian Fong been for the last 2,000 years.”
used to urge Republicans to talk about the
It’s clever for a self-appointed
marriage issue in a “respectful and honor- “marriage defender” to put in that qualiing way.” If you really respect and honor fier about 2,000 years. That way, Carroll
diversity of views and experiences, you avoids talking about the marriage rules
should understand that the state shouldn’t outlined in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old
be picking and choosing which Iowans get Testament): men taking several wives,
to marry their partners.
men being expected to sire a child by a
dead brother’s widow, men and women
instructed to marry only within their own
4. Tom Chapman of Iowa Catholic
tribal clan.
Conference, the first member of
The fact remains that Carroll and his
the public to speak at yesterday’s
allies
want to impose their religious views
subcommittee hearing:
on
the
whole state of Iowa. And this isn’t just
“We think that that it takes a man and
a woman to have a marriage. Marriage is about the definition of marriage, because
definitely about the emotional desires and House Joint Resolution 6 would also forbid
needs of adults, it’s about the love people civil unions, domestic partnerships or any
have for one another but we also believe legal recognition for same-sex couples.
on a very important element it’s about
the possibility of bringing children into 6. The fuller context of Carroll’s
the world.”
statement to the subcommittee
Come on. Thousands of heterosexual hearing deserves to be cited:
couples who get married have no chance or
“The people that we represent at the
intention to bring children into the world. Family Leader and the many hundreds and
The Iowa Catholic Conference would never thousands of Iowans who want a chance
suggest that childless married heteroTTDISHONEST continued page 34
ACCESSline Page 34
DISHONEST
to vote on this do so with no malice in
[their] hearts. In fact, many of those people
would be quick to offer an apology to the
homosexual community for the way they
have been treated over the decades. For the
ridicule and at least verbal if not physical
abuse that they have been subject to. We
reject that, Mr. Chair. Let me repeat: we
reject that just as much as we reject evangelical Christians being the brunt of name
calling, being called bigots because they
simply want the chance to vote on what
the definition of marriage is and has been
for the last 2,000 years.”
Carroll gets bonus points for acknowledging that gays and lesbians are a historically disfavored group, but I’m sure the
“homosexual community” would happily
forgo any apology if FAMiLY LEADER
supporters would just stop trying to take
people’s rights away.
On a related note, I can’t help including
this passage from an e-mail Iowa Family
Policy Center President Chuck Hurley sent
to supporters yesterday. Technically, it
wasn’t a talking point for public consumption, but it reflects sentiments like those
Carroll shared at the hearing:
Several of us plan to bring a token of
Christian love (like a small bag of cookies
or other treats) to share with homosexual activists who we’ll be encountering
Monday. It’s time we dispel lies about
Christians, by tangibly showing love to
people who struggle with homosexuality.
How generous of them. Here, have
a cookie on your way to the back of the
bus!
By the way, Mr. Hurley, it’s people like
you who “struggle with homosexuality.”
You’ve made it part of your life’s work to
write your views on homosexuality into
the state constitution. People who want to
keep discrimination out of the constitution
aren’t struggling with their orientation,
whether it be heterosexual or LGBT.
7. Carroll makes this list one
more time by telling lawmakers
yesterday: “We are not necessarily
asking you to take a position one
way or the other on the issue. We
are simply asking you to give the
people the right to vote.”
The wording of House Joint Resolution is clear:
“Marriage between one man and one
woman shall be the only legal union valid
or recognized in this state.”
Voting to advance that bill is not a
neutral statement about popular sovereignty. It’s a deliberate step to deny
marriage rights or any form of legal recognition to thousands of Iowans.
8. Democratic State Representative Swaim, explaining his vote for
the amendment:
“In my opinion we can trust the citizens
of Iowa to study and understand the issues,”
Swaim said in voting with Republicans.
“Iowans are fair, honest and smart. They are
up to it. And the bottom line is simply this:
The Iowa people are ultimately arbitrators
of their own constitution.”
FEBRUARY 2011
9. Look at how Representative
Hagenow answered a question
from Representative Wessel-Kroeschell during the subcommittee
hearing:
statewide debate.
“I don’t think that should stand in the
way of having the people of Iowa decide
this,” said Hagenow.
Liz George had testified to the committee about legal problems she encountered
following the death of her partner in 2007.
They had been a couple for 21 years, but her
partner’s family challenged the will. I cannot
imagine facing a legal nightmare while
coping with a devastating bereavement.
Hagenow’s an attorney, but he doesn’t seem
to grasp the concept of Iowans being equal
under the law. In his view, legal problems for
a few people like Liz George shouldn’t stop a
popular vote from deciding her fate.
Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell: Representative Alons and Hagenow, why do you
want to deny loving, committed couples
like Larry and David the right to visit one
another in a nursing home or hospital?
Hagenow: “I certainly don’t know of
any law in the state of Iowa that precludes
someone from visiting in the hospital.”
You have to be willfully ignorant not
to know that depriving couples of legal
recognition wouldn’t jeopardize their
future ability to visit each other in a
hospital or nursing home. Many couples
across the country have experienced this
pain. Research on hospital procedures has
shown this to be a widespread problem.
Later in the hearing, Hagenow offered
this amazing statement:
Rep. Chris Hagenow, R-Windsor
Heights, conceded the possibility of legal
snarls, and said that could be part of a
Although I didn’t hear anyone make
this argument yesterday, it pops up from
time to time. Governor Terry Branstad and
Iowa Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley, among others, have suggested that
allowing Iowans to vote on the definition
of marriage will restore the public’s trust
in the judicial system.
According to this line of analysis, the
campaign against retaining three Supreme
Court justices grew out of frustration that
statehouse Democrats were blocking a
vote on a marriage amendment. There’s
no basis for that revisionist history. Within
days of the Varnum v Brien decision, some
conservative groups vowed to target the
Supreme Court justices who would be on
the ballot in 2010.
I get that Swaim is in a tough spot politically. He won re-election in House district
94 by only 74 votes (less than 1 percent).
In his district’s three counties, the vote
against retaining the Iowa Supreme Court
justices was over 60 percent in Wayne and
Appanoose, and over 70 percent in Davis.
But whether or not Iowans are fair
or smart, we don’t put minority rights up
to a majority vote in this country. That’s
why we have a constitution with an equal
protection clause.
10. By approving a constitutional
amendment on marriage, legislators will reduce the political pressure on the judiciary.
FEBRUARY 2011
Positive Iowans Taking Charge (PITCH)
HIV positive people in Iowa can unite and assist other HIV positive people for better Health and Wellness issues
Peer-to-Peer led
support groups
PITCH has entered the next phase of
support. We hope to provide to the HIV/
AIDS community, peer-to-peer led support
groups. We are starting in four areas around
the state: Waterloo, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids,
and Des Moines. These cities were chosen
because Core Committee members live in or
near them and have made the commitment
to attend, lead, and organize the meetings.
We hope to expand to other areas around
the state.
Iowa City was the first place to host a
peer led support group on Tuesday, January
11th. Three people turned out for the event
despite the bad weather and road conditions
that evening. The next meeting has yet to
be decided by participants. Anyone in the
Iowa City area wanting to attend, please call
Cody Shafer at Johnson County Department
of Public Health at 319-688-5890 to find out
when the next support group will take place
or to let him know when you would be able
to attend a meeting.
PITCH hosted the first Waterloo peer-topeer support group January 19th at the Cedar
AIDS Support System offices; we had a very
successful event. Twelve people showed up
along with Karla and Elizabeth, two CASS case
managers. After introductions and eating a
delicious meal that Nick talked Hy-Vee into
donating for the evening, we had free flowing
discussion ranging from stigma and how to
handle situations and side effects for different medications. Participants shared things they would
like to see the support group provide the
community including: networking opportunities, meeting people and being able to talk
with people with similar struggles and who
they can relate too, provide more education
to the African American community. Others
stated that a support group would provide
closeness, help the community, and provide
a sense that we are not alone.
We hope to continue to build on this
group session with our next meeting. The
second Waterloo support group will be held
February 3rd at Family and Children Council,
500 E 4th Street, Suite 414, Waterloo, IA (4th
floor in the KWWL building). We will be
meeting the first and third Thursday of the
month from 6pm-8pm.
Cedar Rapids held their meeting on
January 25th at Peoples Church Unitarian
Universalist, 600 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids
from 7pm to 9pm. Refreshments were
provided at this first meeting. Jeff Moore
led the meeting and can be contacted at
[email protected].
John, Paul, Michael, and Larry will host
the support group in Des Moines on February 8th at The CENTER, 1300 Locust St, Des
Moines from 6pm to 8pm. Refreshments
will be provided. Please join them for the
group meeting. PITCH’s goal is to have the
participants help run the meetings, discussions, and activities. For more information
call John Chamberlain at 515-284-3358.
PITCH would like to thank Hy-Vee for
donating the meal in Waterloo, Cody Shafer,
CASS, Kris Davis, Tricia Kroll, Linn County
Aging and Disability Resource Center, The
CENTER, and The AIDS Project of Central
Iowa for your continued support, leadership,
and guidance.
Please check with PITCH’s web page to
find updates for the support groups at www.
pitchiowa.org.
“It’s really important for
people who are HIV positive to reach out to let other
people know that they can be
tested, they can find out they
can still live a life—a positive
life, a happy life, That’s the
message we need to get out
around the world.”
—Former first lady Laura
Bush, Monday January 16,
2006, in Abuja, Nigeria.
ACCESSline Page 35
SHEAR SEXY
me in a lot of ways just because I always felt
like being called a “gay band” was a categorization that put us in a second tier, like we
were a second-rate creation. But our songwriting and our performances can stand up
to anybody else’s, and can stand up next to
the best—and labeling it with our sexual
preference above all else is demeaning.
However, on the other hand, we are a
gay band and there are three gay men and
a woman, who might as well be a gay man,
and that’s shaped our aesthetic, it’s shaped
who we are, it’s part of what we sing about,
it’s part of the sexuality we express. There
are two sides to it, and I think that we are
less insecure about it.
In the Urban Dictionary, Jake Shears
is defined as the “hot lead singer of the
band Scissor Sisters… gay and fabulous…
known for taking his clothes off or having
them taken off… pretty and funny… his
abs are very lickable.”
Oh, that’s good. I like that definition.
If you wrote your own entry, what
would you write?
God. That’s a tough question. Rock
music fanatic. Horror lover—not “whore”
lover. Video gamer. Exuberant and sexual.
Former elf.
I grew up always feeling very puckish,
like A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I always
felt like kind of a very energetic mischievous
elf, but I don’t know if that’s really applicable
anymore. But that’s how I’d describe myself.
I love that I’m in the Urban Dictionary; that’s
exciting!
ACCESSline Page 36
DIRECTORY NOTICE
The ACCESSline community directory is updated each issue. LISTINGS
ARE FREE but are limited by space.
Free online listings are available at
www.ACCESSlineIOWA.com.
Information about new listings 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 [email protected] or
call (319) 550-0957.
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund
1133 15th Street NW, Suite 350,
Washington, DC 20005
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
www.now.org 202-628-8669
PFLAG National Offices
1133 15th Street NW, Suite 350,
[email protected] - www.pflag.org
202-467-8180
The Trevor Lifeline
The Trevor Project operates the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide
prevention lifeline for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender and questioning youth. Each
year, our lifeline fields more than 30,000 calls
from LGBTQ youth as well as their families,
friends and educators.
(866) 4-U-TREVOR - (866) 488-7386
Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
All calls are toll-free and confidential
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)
Janis Bowden, President, IA NOW
[email protected]
PO Box 41114, Des Moines, IA 503111
Iowa Gay Rodeo Association (IAGRA)
921 Diagonal Rd, Malcom, IA 50157
[email protected] 641-990-1411
Iowa PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of
Lesbians and Gay) State Council
PO Box 18, Indianola, IA 50125
http://community.pflag.org/Page.
aspx?pid=194&srcid=-2
515-537-3126 or 641-583-2024
Iowa Pride Network
777 Third Street, Suite 312,
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Pridenetwork.org
Executive Director: 515-471-8062
Outreach Coordinator: 515-471-8063
LGBT Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force
PO Box 1997, Des Moines, 50306
515-243-1221
One Iowa
500 East Locust St, Ste 300
Des Moines, IA 50309
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
516 Kellogg Ave, Ames, IA 50010
Contemporary worship Sat. 5:30;
Sun at 8:30 and 11:00am.
www.acswebnetworks.com/firstunitedmcames/
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
L East Student Office Space
2229 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50014-7163
[email protected]
http://www.alliance.stuorg.iastate.edu
515-344-4478
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
2328 Bristol Drive, Ames, IA 5001
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
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
www.uufames.org
Unity Church of Ames
226 9th St.
Sunday service and Sunday school 10:30am.
Wednesday mediation 6:30pm, .
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, 597 W. Okoboji Rd.,
Arnolds Park IA 51331-0486
[email protected].
www.wilsonresource.org
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
319-754-5868
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Services start at 10:30 am
625 N 6th St, Burlington, IA 52601-5032
(319) 753-1895 - www.uuburlington.org
Cedar Falls - Waterloo
Adult Cinema
315 E 4th St
Waterloo, IA 50703-4703
(319) 234-7459
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
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, #206, Waterloo, IA 50703
1-800-772-0039 or 319-235-7008
Kings & Queens Tap
304 W. 4th St, Waterloo, IA
www.//myspace.com/kingsandqueensspace
319-232-3001
Romantix Waterloo (Adult Emporium)
1507 La Porte Rd, Waterloo, IA 50702
319-234-9340
http://www.romantixonline.com/
Stellas Guesthouse
324 Summit Ave, Waterloo, IA
Private B&B, Overnight accommodations for
adults only.
319-232-2122
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
St. Timothys United Methodist Church 3220 Terrace Drive, Cedar Falls, 50613
sttims-umc.org, 319-266-0464, info@sttimsumc-org, Contact Rev. Linda Butler “...
welcome of all persons, including those of all
sexual orientations and gender identities.”
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
319-366-9686
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 Crane Lane, 319-294-5360
Cedar Rapids Unity
(Formerly GLRC of Cedar Rapids)
Support, social activities.
[email protected], cedarrapidsunity.org or write
to PO Box 1643 Cedar Rapids 52406-1643
Call and leave a message—all calls will be
returned. 319-366-2055
Christ Episcopal Church
“We have a place for you.”
220 40th Street NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
319-363-2029 www.ChristEpiscopal.org
Club Basix
Open 5pm to 2am M-F, Sat & Sun 3pm-2am
3916 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids
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
Community Health Free Clinic
947 14th Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
319-363-0416 www.communityhfc.org
Free Medical Services provided for the
uninsured and underserved patients of Cedar
Rapids, Marion and the surrounding areas in
Eastern Iowa.
CSPS Legion Arts Contemporary Arts Center
1103 3rd St. SE
[email protected]
319-364-1580
FEBRUARY 2011
Faith UMC
1000 30th Street NE, Cedar Rapids, 52402
Pastor Kathy Moore
Sunday services at 11:00am.
www.crfaithumc.org
319-363-8454
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
Foundation 2 Crisis Counseling
24-hour telephone crisis counseling.
[email protected] or
www.f2online.org
1540 2nd Ave. SE Cedar Rapids, IA
319-362-2174 or 800-332-4224
Imperial Court of Nebraska
P.O. Box 3772, Omaha, NE 68103
402-556-9907
Linn County Public Health
501 13th NW
Free confidential HIV testing,
319-892-6000
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.
People’s Church Unitarian Universalist
A welcoming congregation.
600 Third Avenue SE
11am Sunday. 319-362-9827
PFLAG CR, Linn Co and Beyond
Meets at People’s Church (in Cherry Room)
600 3rd ST, Cedar Rapids Iowa 52401
Contact Person: Diane Peterson
Phone: 319-362-9827
6:30pm on the 4th Thursdays except
months like November. (Email
[email protected] for alternate dates.)
Stonewall Democrats of Linn County
Contact Roy Porterfield, meet 2nd Wednesday of the Month, 6:30-8pm, For the February
9 meeting we will be at Coffee Talk Cafe on
37 Kirkwood Court Southwest, Cedar Rapids,
IA 52404. That’s next to Kirkwood Blvd just
south of Hwy 30 on the left.
[email protected], 319-362-5281
Toxic Nightclub
616 Second Ave SE, Cedar Rapids
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]
Unity Center of Cedar Rapids
“A center of positive, practical Christianity.”
3791 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
www.unitycr.org - (319) 393-5422
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)
AIDS Interfaith Network
100 N. 62nd, Omaha, NE
Call Br. Wm. Woeger
402-558-3100
Broadway Joe’s
3400 W Broadway, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
712-256-2243
Citizens For Equal Protection
1105 Howard St, Suite #2, Omaha, NE 68102
www.cfep-ne.org - [email protected]
402-398-3027
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, Omaha, NE 68103
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.
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
PRIDE Luther College Diversity Center,
700 College Dr, Decorah, IA 52101
Contact Chris at 563-387-2145 or Melanie at
563-387-1273
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Meets alternating Sundays at 10:30am,
Decorah Senior Center
806 River St
Call Bill at 563-382-3458.
Des Moines
Council Bluffs NOW
Write PO Box 3325, Omaha, NE 68103-0325
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
DC’s Saloon
610 S. 14th St., Omaha, NE
Open everyday 2pm-1am,
western/levi/leather.
402-344-3103
Blazing Saddle
416 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA - 515-246-1299
www.theblazingsaddle.com
Buddies Corral
418 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA - 515-244-7140
Diamond Bar
712 S. 16th St., Omaha, NE
10am - 1am, M-Sa, closed Sun
402-342-9595
The CENTER
1300 Locust
The new LGBT and progressive place to be.
[email protected]
Facebook: The CENTER & Equality Iowa
www.equalityiowa.org 515-243-0313
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
Church of the Holy Spirit-MCC
Pastor Pat Esperanza
Sunday service 10:30am at the
1st Christian Church
2500 University, Des Moines
Des Moines Diversity Chorus [A gay-friendly
mixed chorus] Rehearsals on Mondays at 7
p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church,
Beaver Ave. at Franklin St., Des Moines.
All are welcome, no auditions.
PO Box 65312, West Des moines, IA 50265
Julie Murphy, Artistic Director
[email protected], 515-255-3576,
desmoinesdiversitychorus.org
FEBRUARY 2011
Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus
515-953-1540
4126 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines
[email protected]
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. 515-288-2500
[email protected] www.ffbciowa.org
First Unitarian Church
1800 Bell Avenue
Services Sundays at 9:30 & 11am
515-244-8603, www.ucdsm.org
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
Des Moines, IA 50312
515-277-1117
Java Joe’s
Gay friendly
214 4th St. , 515-288-5282,
www.javajoescoffeehouse.com
Lavender Victory Fund
Financial assistance for women in need for
medical emergencies.
[email protected]
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. 515-508-0825
MINX Show Palace
1510 NE Broadway, Des Moines, IA 50313
Open m-th noon-2 a.m., f noon-3 am., sat 3
p.m.-e a.m.
515-266-2744
North Star Gay Rodeo Association of IGRA,
Iowa Division of North Star
[email protected] or 612-82-RODEO
Rainbow Union, Drake University
[email protected]
Ray Perry Law Firm
515-279-2244
Free Initial Consultation
PFLAG Des Moines
515-243-0313, 1300 Locust , Des Moines,
IA 50312
Plymouth Congregational UCC
Church and the Plymouth GLBT Community
4126 Ingersoll Ave. 515-255-3149
Services at 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.
Pride Alliance, AIB College of Business
Gay and straight students celebrating diversity
Contact: Mike Smith, Advisor
[email protected]
www.aib.edu/pride
Raccoon River Resort
Accommodations for men, women, or
mixed in campgrounds, lodge, Teepees or
Treehouses. Reservations: 515-996-2829 or
515-279-7312
Ritual Café
On 13th between Grand and Locust.
Gay owned great music, awesome food
and coffee. 515-288-4872
[email protected] - ritualcafe.com
Romantix North Des Moines Iowa
(Bachelor’s Library)
2020 E Euclid Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317
www.romantixonline.com 515-266-7992
Spouses of Lesbians & Gays
Support group for spouses of gays and
lesbians. 515-277-7754
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 at [email protected]
or call 515-979-6959
Trinity United Methodist Church
1548 Eighth Street - 515-288-4056
Services Sundays at 10am,
www.trinityumcdm.org
Urbandale UCC
An open & affirming congregation.
3530 70th St., Urbandale, IA 50322
515-276-0625, www.urbucc.org
Walnut Hills UMC
Join us at 8:30 or 10:45am for Sunday
worship. Sunday classes and group studies
are at 9:30am. 515-270-9226
12321 Hickman Rd, Urbandale, IA 50323
www.whumc.org
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. www.crossroadsucc.org
Iowa City
AA (GLBT) 319-338-9111
Meetings Sundays 5 - 6pm at First Baptist
Church, 500 North Clinton Street. For more
info, call IC Intergroup Answering Service,
Congregational Church UCC
An Open and Affirming Congregation
Sunday Worship 10:15 a.m.
30 N. Clinton St. (across from Ul Pentacrest)
319-337-4301 - www.uiccic.org
Westminster Presbyterian Church
4114 Allison Ave - www.WestPres.org
Sunday services 8:45 and 11am. Of note is
their GAY-LESBIAN-STRAIGHT AFFIRMATION GROUP, GLSA 515-274-1534
Counseling Clinic 319-354-6238
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
Women’s Culture Collective (WCC)
A lesbian social group.
Des Moines, IA - www.iowawcc.org
Counseling and Health Center 319-337-1679
Client-centered therapy.
Les-Bi-Gay-Trans always welcome.
616 Bloomington St, Iowa City, IA
Zanzibar’s Coffee Adventure
Open daily. Gay-friendly
2723 Ingersoll, Des Moines, IA
515-244-7694
Dubuque
Adult Warehouse
975 Jackson St., Dubuque, IA
563-588-9184.
Dubuque Friends Worship Group (Quakers)
Join us at an unprogrammed meeting on
Sunday at 10am. Open and Affirming
St. Mark’s Community Center
1201 Locust Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001
563-582-0220, www.smcdbq.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.1300 Main St, Dubuque,
IA 52001, 319-589-4181
Crisis Center 319-351-0140
1121 Gilbert Court, Iowa City, 52240
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 9:30am 319-338-5238
GLBTAU-U of lA
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
PFLAG Dubuque
St. John’s Lutheran Church
1276 White St.
3rd Thursday, 7pm 563-581-4606 or
563-503-5850
Human Rights Commission
(City of Iowa City Human Rights Commission)
319-356-5022; 391-356-5015; 319-356-5014
Fax 319-887-6213
[email protected]
Q Bar East
90 Sinsinawa Ave, The Strip,
East Dubuque, IL 61025
[email protected]
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
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Dubuque
1699 Iowa St., Dubuque, IA
“The uncommon denomination.”
general services at 10am.
www.uuf-dbq.org 563-583-9910
ELKADER
Bethany Church (ELCA)
307 3rd St NE, Elkader IA 52043
Pastor Jim Klosterboer 563-245-1856
www.alpinecom.net/~bethanychurch
[email protected]
Inclusive. Welcoming. Discover the Difference. Bethany is a Reconciling in Christ
congregation of LC/NA
Schera’s Restaurant and Bar
107 S Main St, Elkader, IA 52043
563-245-1992 Scheras.com
E-mail: [email protected]
Fine dining featuring Algerian & American
Cuisine. Voted Best Mediterranean Restaurant in Eastern Iowa on KCRG TV-9’s A*List.
Fort Dodge
Romantix Fort Dodge (Mini Cinema)
Sun-Thu 10am-12am, Fri & Sat 10am-2am
515-955-9756
15 N. 5th St, Fort Dodge, IA 50501-3801
RomantixOnline.com
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.)
Divine Liturgy is served Sundays during the
College academic year 1:30 p.m., Herrick
Chapel, Grinnell College Campus
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
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
Men Supporting Men 319-356-6038, Ext 2
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]
New Song Episcopal Church
912 20th Ave, Coralville, IA
Sunday services at 10am.
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
www.romantixonline.com 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, 130 N Madison, Iowa City, IA
52242, 19-335-1486
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: 9:30am & 11:15am.
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
U of l and the greater community, offers social
& support services, including LGBT Coming
Out Group.
University of Iowa
130 N Madison, Iowa City, IA 52242
319-335-1486
Marshalltown
Adult Odyssey (Adult Video Store)
907 Iowa Ave E - 641-752-6550
Domestic Violence Alternatives/
Sexual Assault Center, Inc., 132 W Main St.
24 hour Crisis Line: 641-753-3513 or (instate
only) 800-779-3512
MASON CITY
Cerro Gordo County Dept. of Public Health
22 N. Georgia Ave, Ste 300 Mason City, IA
50401. Free confidential AIDS testing.
641-421-9321
PFLAG North Iowa Chapter 641-583-2848,
[email protected], Carlos O’Kelly’s
Mexican Cafe @ 7 p.m. Wed.
Mount Vernon
Alliance Cornell College
810 Commons Cir # 2035
[email protected]
orgs.cornellcollege.edu/alliance/
Pella
Common Ground (Central College)
Support group for GLBT students and allies.
Contact: Brandyn Woodard,
Director of Intercultural Life
Quad Cities
AIDS Project Quad Cities
Info, education & support. Davenport, IA
52804, www.apqc4life.org 319-762-LIFE
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 563-322-1121
822 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA 52802
DeLaCerda House 309-786-7386
Provides housing & supportive services, advocacy and referrals for people living with HIV/
AIDS. P.O. Box 4551, Rock Island, Il. 61201
Good Samaritan Free Clinic
602 35th Avenue Moline, IL 309-797-4688
[email protected] - Provides free primary
medical care to patients age 16-64 who are
working but have no medical insurance. Patients are seen by volunteer physicians, nurss
practicioners, and physician assistants.
www.GoodSamaritanFreeClinic.org
The Hole-In-The-Wall 309-289-2375
A Private Membership Men’s Club
Located 3 miles east of Galesburg, IL
just north of I-74 at Exit 51
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 563-884-8014
832 W. 2nd St. Davenport, IA
MCC Quad Cities - Svcs Sat 5pm, Sun 11am
Bible study Wed 7pm 563-324-8281
3019 N Harrison, Davenport, IA 52803
Men’s Coming Out/Being Out Group
Meets 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 7pm.
[email protected]
309-786-2580
ACCESSline Page 37
PFLAG Quad Cities 563-285-4173
Eldridge United Methodist Church
604 S.2nd St., Eldridge 1st Monday, 6:30 pm
Prism (Augustana College) 309-794-7406
Augustana Gay-Straight Alliance
Augustana Library
639 38th St, Rock Island, IL
Contact Tom Bengston
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
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the
Quad Cities
Sunday Service 11am
3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport, IA 52807
563-359-0816
Venus News (Adult)
902 W 3rd St, Davenport, IA
563-322-7576
Red Oak
First Congregational United Church of Christ
608 E Reed St, Red Oak, IA 51566
(712) 623-2794 Rev. Elizabeth Dilley, Pastor
uccwebsites.net/firstcongredoakia.html
[email protected]
Open and affirming.
SHENANDOAH
PFLAG Shenandoah
712-899-2743
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) 712-258-6922
412 Jones St.
Nightly 6:00pm to 2:00am.
Mayflower Congregational Church.
1407 West 18th Street
Call 712-258-8278.
Morningside College
Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Alliance 712-274-5208
Contact Professor Gail Dooley, Advisor
Morningside College GSA
1501 Morningside Ave.
Sioux City, IA 51106-1717
[email protected]
PFLAG Siouxland
PO Box 1311, Sioux City, IA 51102
[email protected]
Romantix Sioux City 712-277-8566
(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 712-277-9575
3103 N Hwy 75, Sioux City, IA 51105
Monthly drag shows & events; hometown bar
for Imperial Court of Iowa’s Western Chapter
[email protected]
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 10:30am. Bible discussion Wed. 6:45pm
Rev. Maureen Doherty, Pastor 319-352-1489
ACCESSline Page 38
KIM PEARSON
school, and I stayed in the closet until I
graduated. I adored Valley, but I also knew it
wasn’t the most tolerant of places. My life was
running too smoothly to rock the boat, and I
was on friendly terms with nearly everyone
in my class. I was afraid all of that would end
if I came out. I told my mother before I left for
college, and I waited two years before telling
my dad because I was so worried about how
he would react. I don’t think you know my
parents well, but my dad is fiscally conservative and we rarely talked about social issues.
I’m pretty sure he’s voted Republican in
every election since the age of 18. I’d seen
friends of mine come out (or be forcibly
outed by others), and have their parents
reject them—refuse to pay for college, kick
them out of the house, tell them they were
worthless. While I knew my father would not
react as badly as that, I spent two years of
my life too scared to tell him. I stayed silent
to ensure that I didn’t destroy a relationship
with someone I deeply love and respect. I
shouldn’t have been so scared; both of my
parents have been incredibly supportive. I
was lucky, unlike so many gay youth across
our state and country.
Coming out to my parents was hardly
easy, but thankfully, they know what I know:
that I’m the same person I was before I
realized I was gay. I have the same sense
of humor, the same love for my family and
sense of responsibility toward them. My
relationships with my parents and sister are
stronger than they’ve ever been. The fact that
the one time in my short life I was in love, I
was in love with a woman has done nothing
to change my personality, or my belief in the
value of service that I know you and I share.
I remain the same good neighbor—to you,
and to the world—that I’ve always been. I
thought Iowa understood this too. April 3,
2009, when the Supreme Court unanimously
legalized gay marriage, was the day on which
I was proudest to be an Iowan. I recognize
that the way I lead my life makes some
people uncomfortable—just as the ways
others lead their lives sometimes make me
uncomfortable. But on that day, Iowa moved
past that discomfort, or so I thought. The
justices voted independently of their political opinions, because that’s what the law
demanded of them. That’s also what a true
sense of justice and equality demands: equal
civil rights for all.
When I was working after college, I lived
with my girlfriend, Cheryl. Cheryl is easily
one of the most compassionate and bravest
people I’ve ever met—someone I was proud
to introduce to my family. She works as a
special education teacher in one of the worst
performing and most violent districts in the
country. Her school draws from multiple
gang territories. Kids bring weapons to
school routinely, sometimes for aggression,
and sometimes for self-defense. One night
she came home and told me that a massive
riot had broken out that day in an assembly.
She was one of only three teachers present.
As you might imagine, Kim, it was chaos,
and a number of kids were injured. In addition to being so, so thankful that Cheryl and
her fellow teachers were all right, and that
nothing worse had happened to the students,
I was forced to think about the fact that if
anything had happened, I wouldn’t have been
able to visit her in the hospital—the State of
California didn’t recognize our relationship.
Lesbians and gays across the country are
literally putting themselves in the line of
fire for the rest of society, as schoolteachers
in gang territories, as police officers, as fire
fighters. Yet their partners lack the security of
knowing that if anything goes wrong, they’ll
be able to see them in the hospital, to reassure them that they’ll be all right, or, heaven
forbid, to see them alive one last time.
But what deeply worries and outrages
me is that I (and others like me) shouldn’t
have to justify having the same rights as the
rest of society on our attempts to be good
citizens. Like you, I serve because I think
it’s the right thing to do, not because I think
that’s how I’ll get equal rights. It shouldn’t be
relevant that the people we’re depriving of
their rights are police officers, fire fighters,
and teachers. No other group has to justify
their rights by pointing to all that they’ve
contributed to the world, something gays
are repeatedly challenged on. The rest of
society has the right to marry because they’re
part of society, period. The openly gay San
Francisco City Councilman, Harvey Milk, gave
the most moving speech on equal rights I’ve
ever heard, which opened with the idea that
a young person in Des Moines who recognizes that he or she is gay has two options:
to move to San Francisco, or to stay and fight
for a better tomorrow. I’ve done both. I was
living in San Francisco when Proposition 8
was passed to ban gay marriage in California, and when Iowa surprised the nation by
making a courageous move to defend the
civil rights of all its citizens. Over thirty years
after Milk was assassinated, I thought Iowa
had moved beyond pushing its LGBT youth
to live elsewhere when it recognized that
depriving gays of their right to marry was
fundamentally discriminatory and wrong.
It’s an offense to our understanding of
democracy and freedom to remove the rights
of some because they make others uncomfortable, or because others disagree with the
ways they lead their lives. It goes against the
Iowan values I was raised on, which were
founded on sensibility and respect. There’s
nothing sensible about legislating bigotry.
And nothing about it is neighborly.
Respectfully yours,
Stephanie Bell
“The big hot button is ‘We the People’ against the liberal collectivism agenda
espoused by Obama, Culver, Iowa House Leader Pat Murphy and his followers like
incumbent Geri Huser. House District 42 voters want: economic growth; enforcement of our immigration laws; stopping government run health care; and, the right
to vote on the definition of marriage. What we don’t want is: job killing government
debt and high taxes; welfare benefits for illegal aliens; government run health care;
and, liberal judges who ignore the constitution and think that they are better than
the people they serve.”
— Kim Pearson, in a pre-election interview with the conservative blog, Iowa
Defense Alliance, October 12, 2010
WORLD NEWS
educational equal-opportunity policy.
Ulrike Lunacek, co-president of the
European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT
Rights, said: “We need to educate people—
including children and youth—about the
different forms of sexuality that have always
existed in every culture, everywhere in
the world, including in Lithuania. Hiding
facts from young people generates fearful
attitudes, prejudice and hate, something
Europeans stand united against.”
U.S. Embassy seeks
investigation of
Honduran killings
The U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa has
urged the Honduran government to “vigorously investigate” five murders of LGBT
people that took place since Dec. 18.
The embassy expressed “great concern”
about the killings and said “the protection of
Honduran law extends to all citizens regardless of sexual orientation.”
The government must “take all necessary steps to protect LGBT persons, who are
among the most vulnerable to violence and
abuse in Honduras,” the U.S. officials said.
According to the International Gay and
Lesbian Human Rights Commission, there
have been at least 31 murders of Honduran
LGBT people since the nation’s coup d’état
in 2009.
IGLHRC worried for
Cameroon activists
The International Gay and Lesbian
Human Rights Commission says it is deeply
concerned over recent threats to LGBT rights
defenders in Cameroon.
The organization said that Alice Nkom,
chairperson of the Association for the
REICHEN
would be screwed.
So yeah, I still have no faith in him,
because he brought us to that point. I hear
all these excuses being made for him, but
I’m not going to apologize for him because
I’m a Democrat.
Your book’s being turned into a
film, and names like Chace Crawford
and Taylor Lautner are allegedly being
considered for the lead. Who would you
want to play you?
You know what, it’s not my call. I want
whomever the casting director says should
play me. Those are names that were on the
shortlist and that are on a list, and there are
a lot of other great names—
Like who?
Well, that’s the thing. That’s not something I’m going to talk about yet, because
it’s pointless. I’m not going to give names of
people who aren’t even going to be involved
in the project.
My vote’s for Taylor Lautner. He has
your abs.
(Laughs) It would be interesting. All the
people that casting has lined up are great
actors or up-and-coming actors who I would
love to see play a gay role.
Whoever plays you, it must just be
FEBRUARY 2011
Defense of Homosexuality, has been threatened with arrest by state officials and with
violence from segments of civil society.
Harassment of Nkom and the organization has mounted since Jan. 4 when local
media reported that the group will receive a
grant from the European Union for “support
and training for sexual minorities.”
The harassment has included a fatwa
from the Coalition of Cameroonian Youth,
televised denunciations of Nkom and the
group by representatives of the Communications Ministry and the Bar Association
of Cameroon, police cars parked outside
the group’s offices for hours on end, and
Minister of External Relations Henri Eyebe
Ayissi’s reportedly urging the EU to cancel
the grant.
Spain’s same-sex
marriage law could
face repeal effort
The head of Spain’s opposition Popular
Party has said he may work to repeal the
2005 law that legalized same-sex marriage if
the party wins the elections at the beginning
of 2012, which is a possibility.
“I don’t like (same-sex) marriage and
I believe it’s not constitutional,” Mariano
Rajoy said in a recent interview.
He said any legislative action would
come after a decision is issued in a long-delayed Constitutional Court case challenging
the law, and if the people of Spain support
repealing the law.
In an interview, veteran gay activist Jordi
Petit said he isn’t overly concerned about
Rajoy’s threat.
“It’s not a given that Rajoy will head
the PP in 2012,” Petit said. “And they said
the same thing years ago about the laws
on divorce and abortion, then when they
won the election, they didn’t do anything.
Beyond that, many important PP mayors
have married homosexual couples.”
Assistance: Bill Kelley
cool to have a movie made about your
life.
I don’t even think about it being made
about my life. The main character is not
named Reichen, it’s not like that. It’s a story
based on my life, and the lead of the movie
is going to represent what happened to
every gay cadet that was in the Air Force
Academy.
I’m wondering how you feel about
certain people also making movies about
their lives. And, you know, taking over a
role that was once yours in a play called
My Big Gay Italian Wedding.
(Coyly laughing) Um. You know, I don’t
even care. I just don’t care. I hear chatter,
and I wish Lance very well.
Will you see his movie when it comes
out?
(Laughs) Maybe if I’m invited I’ll go see
it. I mean, I’m not against it. I have no ill will
toward him.
But didn’t you at one point?
I think when people break up they break
up for a reason. Usually those reasons are
confined to personal space, and we were in
a more public situation—so things got out
and made it look like more than it was. Our
relationship was a couple of months, and
it was so long ago. A-List made it look like
we just dated; it’s ridiculous. That’s ancient
history.
FEBRUARY 2011
ACCESSline Page 39

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