12 20 666 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/d81268b4532043d3033810b59185b509.jpg 38272b932f20257bad24e3c5a837710a https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/e5e34eb01c62b0a420aaebcb503252f0.pdf 9955487f200d97828a32dec15c570b0b PDF Text Text ��������������������������������� Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document 'VilJJJtines Day. February 14th 'Hiitot¥ of St;Valentines Day ,... · · · page~11 fierfifer .GLBT Magazine." ,:,/>\'::,~·:, ,, '\,\,\,'.", ', ,, ,·<·' ' , lenp wets Earl Wheeler 43 7 E. 141st Street Glenpool, OK 74033 918.291.EARL {3275) Serving the Tulsa Metro Area for over 21 Years with PRIDE! CUSTOM DECORATING * HOLIDAY SPECIALS rs by 12noon guaranteed same day delivery. Your order is treated with the upmost confidentiality. NOW OPEN y - Sunday 12noon Closed Monday's alent Sho by Page E ed.10:30 ur ran a e - - lS n on cale IW£S cott c raw .row, anagi• ng roKer avisson · tewart, Realtors • • 1 Langley, Oklahoma ScottCrow.mcgrawok.com 918.782.3211 •'"-,:. FEBRUARY, 20 □ 6 ©Copyright 2006 Publisher Star Media, Ltd. The STAR 5103 S. Sheridan,# 153 Tulsa, OK 74145-7627 ozarksstar@sbcglobal.net www.ozarksstar.com Editor in Chief C. D. Ward Contributing Writers: Greg Steele, josh Aterovis John Patrick, Matt Brooks. Paul Wortman, Carlotta Carlisle Columnist: Libby Post, Paula Martinac, Andrew Collins, Donald Pile, Ray Williams, Michael Hinzman, Jack Fertig, Liz Highleyman, Andrew Hicks Photography: byChaz Advertising: Tulsa Office - - - • • • • • -918-835-7887 or Email: ozarksstar@sbcgloba!.net National Advertising Representative Rlvendel! Media (212) 242-6863 · .. ·. Deadline for all advertising, articles and payment is the 20th of · · each month for the next months issue. Subscriptions 12 issues $26.95 / singles $3.00 Check or Money Order The Ozarks Star or the Star is p;;biished & distributed monthly as a community · Ltd. of Joplin, Missouri. Publication of the name, photograph business or organization in this publication is not to be conall'Oed. as any indication of sexual orientatlcn or preferences of such person, bul!fM:113 or organization. Opj,nloos expressed by columnists, advertisers or Letters to the Editor are not nooe~sarily the opinion of The Ozarks Star, its staff. the publisher or it's advertisers. C~o~nt of advertisements and articles are the sole responsibi'.iiy of the advertiser and /Qr;aiilhor. The Publisher of the Ozarks Star or Star reserves the right to refuse advertising material for any reason what so ever. The Ozarks Star or Star and ail likenesses there of are sole properties of Sta, Madia, Ltd. Al! material ii; copyright 2008 the Ozarks S(a;. Daily Specials ? s a week 6 •. ~yA the STAR, Okiahoma's Premier GLBT Magazine. Page4 2005 A RECORD YEAR FOR GA LESBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER STATE LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES 'The road has potholes but equality is on the horizon,' said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. WASHINGTON - Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans scored big wins in 2005, according to a new report from the Human Rights Campaign. The report "Equality from State to State: GLBT Americans and State Legislation 2005" details record-setting and historic state legislation affecting the GLBT community over the past year. "The road has potholes but equality is on the horizon," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "This report proves that as the national conversation over equality continues, Americans come down on the side of fairness." More state anti-discrimination bills passed in 2005 than in any other year. Eleven bills were passed in state legislatures that established or strengthened statewide anti-discrimination protections for the GLBT community. While last year, 13 states amended their constitutions to ban the protections and responsibilities of marriage for same-sex couples, this year 15 states defeated attempts to write discrimination into their state constitutions. Another two states are likely to defeat marriage amendments before the year ends. "Last year saw same-sex couples and their families disgracefully used as a political wedge issue," said Solmonese. "When the fog of divisive politics recedes, the real stories emerge of hard-working GLBT Americans seeking equality and fairness wins." California b.ecame the first state ever to pass a bill to extend the freedom to marry to same-sex couples this year. Unfortunately Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed this important legislation. Another historic milestone occurred in Connecticut as well, where the instituted civil unions to provide statelevel rights and responsibilities to long-term, committed same-sex couples. The bill was signed by the state's Republican governor, Jodi Rell. Maryland and Colorado became the ninth and 10th states to include gender identity and expression, and the 30th and 31st states to include sexual orientation in their hate crimes laws. Again, both bills became law under the states' Republican governors. "The tremendous progress we've seen crosses party lines and proves fairness need not have partisan boundaries," said Solmonese. HRC partners with statewide GLBT advocacy groups across the country to advance pro-equality legislation and beat back attacks on our families. In 2005, HRC provided more than $820,000 directly to state organizations, ballot campaigns and other work in the states in addition to drafting bills, testifying in statehouses, activating our members and providing strategic assistance. "Until every state treats its gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens with dignity, respect and equality under the law, our work as a community will not be done," added Solmonese. FEBRUARY 2006 by Andrew Collins n oming Back to Louisiana Just months after Hurricane Katrina wroughc severe damage upon New Orie.ans, many of the city's neighborhoods have sprung back to life, including Uptown 's Magazine Street. (Photo by Andrew Collins) azed out the plane window on the final approach into Louis Armstron New Orleans lnterna I Airport, the suburb er, and I immediate d thousands roofs. Kenner lies several miles west of New Orleans, and it was largely spared the full brunt of ust's devastating H cane Katrina. But even this far west, roug 100 days after the rm, protective blue tarps covered the roofs of thousands of homes beneath me. Still, I also saw neon restaurant signs, cars speeding al Veterans Boulevard, airport hotels with full ing lots, and plenty of ene of America's most dynamic, and gay ities. New Orleans looked w atso very much alive. I had flown in for a quick four-day visit, because I'm about to update and revise my guidebook Moon Handbooks New Oileans, which actually covers all of southern Louisiana. I pianned one night in St Tammany Parish (aka New Orleans North Shore, because of its iocation on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain), which sustained major Katrina damage especialiy in the easternmost town of Slide!i. Then I set aside a night to visit Lake Charles, at the opposite end of the state, which was pummeled by Hurricane Rita just 25 days after Katrina. And finally, I saved my last two nights for New Orleans. Before ! get into the specifics, let me assure anyone who ioves visiting Louisiana: Hurricane Katrina may have itself.forever altered the appearance and even personality of New Orleans, but the city's tourism-driven neighborhoods - the French Quarter, Faubourg Marigny, Uptown, the Garden Distiict, and the Central Business District - have already bounced back with admirable, in some cases amazing, vigor. The city is absolutely ready for visitors - hundreds of hotels and B&Bs, restaurants, shops, bars, and even quite a few attractions are up and running, and dozens reopen each day. And if you're interested in the rest of southern Louisiana, Baton Rouge and Lafayette were spared by the storms, Lake Charies has almost fully rebounded, and St. Tammany Parish is also making rapid headway. Now for the specifics, as of December 2005: Hurricane Katrina leveled the greatest wind and storm damage upon eastern New Orleans, and as I drove east devastation is unbelievable. from Faubourg Marigny into the adjacent (and historic) Bywater neighborhood, I noticed a dramatic difference in the severity of damage. The floods that resulted from levee breaks caused untold damage to all of eastern New Orleans, but flooding also destroyed huge swaths of the city north of 1-10. I spent a full afternoon driving through the worst of the flooddamaged areas, and the magnitude of The perception seems to be that New Orleans' poorest neighborhoods received the heaviest damage, and the upscale ones were mostly spared, but this is a vast oversimplification. In reality, the parts of the city that have been decimated are largely residential, but they include lower-income, middle-class, and upscaie areas, and they encompass ali races. What this means for visitors is that, indeed, the parts of New Orleans you're probably most familiar with are the parts now in the best shape" i sti!I noticed plenty of moderate to miid hurricane damage in the French Quarter, Uptown, and other prominent tourist-oriented areas, but most of the worst messes had been cleaned up. indeed, the citv has even olanned a scaled-down but stiil ambitious Mardi Gras celebration for the last week of February (Mardi Gras Tuesday falls on the 28th). For details on this event log on to www.mardigrasneworieans.com, an exceilent resource . ., .... continued nex page Advertising in the STAR is just good business cents. Out of Town Understandably, plenty of visitors to the city are curious to learn about Katrina's wiath, and in December, Grny Line New Orleans began offering a "Hurricane Katrina - America's Worst Catastrophe" bus tour. This is not some ghoulish romp exploiting the misery of others. Many Gray Line employees lost their homes to the hurricane, and the company is taking a sensitive approach to these tours, which aim to educate visitors about the storm, and the region's vanishing coastline, controversial levee system, and oil and gas pipelines. As for the city's fabled gay scene, most bars are up and running, drawing plenty of big crowds. Famed bars like Bourbon Pub, Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Oz, and Good Friends are packed with revelers these days, and the lovably raffish Clover Grill diner, long a fixture in the gay community, had resumed 8 a.m.-to-mldnight hours as of this writing. Other great gay-popular restaurants, such as Marigny Brasserie, Peristyle, Bayona, and Elizabeth's are serving up the same tantalizing New Orleans fare they weie before Katrina. And Rue de la Course coffeehouse is still a favOiite spot for a cup of java. Finding a place to stay in town is becoming increasingly easier, as more hoteis reopen, and fewer properties are booked solid with relief workers. Gaypopular mainstream hotels such as Hotel Monteleone, International House, the Royal Sonesta, and the Renaissance Arts Hotel (to name a few) have resumed operations and have widespread room availability. Another excellent option is to book a room at one of the city's many gay-friendly B&Bs and inns. During my two nights, I stayed at the delightful Elysian Fields Inn. Owners Leigh and Jim Crawford bought the inn in summer 2005, and despite missing revenue during a nearly threemonth closure and losing their beautiful sundeck to a fallen tree, these folks have done a commendable job reopening the inn and welcoming guests. Leigh and Jim are gradually filling this handsome inn with music memorabilia and local artwork. Other great gay-friendly lodging choices include the historic Rathbone Inn, the cozy Arts B&B, and the funky Fourteen Fifteen Creole Gardens. The North Shore of New Orleans, which consists largely of St. Tammany Parish, has made a valiant comeback, although parts of the town of Slidell will have to be entirely rebuiit. The artsy community of Covington, with its downtown of galleries, cafes, and cool shops, looks better than ever. in nearby Abita Springs, Longbranch had been slated to open the day after Katrina hit and still managed a heroic September 16th opening. It's quickly developed a reputation as one of the state's hottest culinary venues, thanks to young star chefs Slade and Allison Vines-Rushing. Most of the state's Plantation Country (along the Mississippi River) and Cajun Country were spared severe storm damage and are going strong, including the bustling city of Lafayette. Lake Charles, although it sustained plenty of wind and water damage from Hurricane Rita, looks good. The city did iose one of its top casinos, Harrah's, indefinitely. But the L'Auberge du Lac casino resort. which opened to much fanfare in 2005, has set a new standard for gaming properties in the Gulf. This Vegas-style stunner overlooks Lake Chailes, has severai excellent restaurants, and draws plenty of top-name entertainers. And although Lake Charles doesn't have a tremendous reputation as a gay destination, the city does have several "family"-owned businesses. You can dance and mingle at the gay disco, Crystal's. And you can enjoy a gi0at dinner at gay-popular Pujo Street Cafe & Market, whose owners also operate Aunt Ruby's B&B, a charming bed-andbreakfast. Lake Charles is very much a city on the up, and as it sits right along 1-10 between New Orleans and Houston, it makes a great stopovei on any road trip through southem Louisiana. What does the future hold for New Orleans and other storm-damaged parts of the state? Right now, if you ask 100 locals, you'll probably get 100 different answers. Many speculate that New Orleans will never be quite the convention destination and business powerhouse it was before the storm, nor will the population mturn in fu!I. But as a leisure destination, and one of the nation's fabled gay getaways, the city's future looks good. There will be obstacles to be sure, but New Orleans' inimitable spirit and its tolerance of the unusual and the unexpected will sureiy make it a wonderful vacation destination for decades to come. In ef ense of Broke back f; ounta1n By Josh Aterovis You might find it strange that I would be defending a movie that has been almost universally lauded by mainstream critics and has been a surprising box office smash, even in rural areas. The film has been called "groundbreaking", "landmark", and "unforgettable", and it's raking in the awards - including the Golden Globe for Best Picture. It's on the fast track to bring home a few Oscars as well. So why does Brokeback Mountain need defending? I've noticed a phenomenon over the years that you may have noticed as well. Some people just don't want to like something everyone else likes. They have to be different. They like to feel they are somehow superior to the general public. I've seen people who once championed an underground band suddenly lose interest when the band becomes successful. "They sold out," is the usual lame excuse. Then there are those who love a TV show until it climbs into the top ten in the Nielson ratings, ihen suddenly, all they can do is find fault with it. It seems they only want to root for the underdog. If something becomes too popular, you can almost guarantee a backlash. That backlash has begun for Brokeback Mountain, but surprisingly, it's not coming from the mainstream press. The most virulent criticism isn't even coming from the Christian press. It's coming from the very people who would have been crying from the rooftops if this movie hadn't been well-received - the LGBT press. In recent weeks, I've seen a raft of negative reviews surfacing, almost all of them from gay movie critics. So what's their beef? Some have griped that they're tired of hearing the movie and its actors described as brave. Let's be honest here. It was brave. No matter what we wish the world was like, we're in a BushCo controlled America right now, currently featuring a walloping good anti-gay backlash. It was brave for these two young heterosexual leading men to make a movie about gay love. It would be wonderful if we were living in a world where Ennis Del Mar was just another role, but realistically, we're not. It was brave o(Heath Ledger to take the'role and devote himself so wholly to the character. He deserves all the awards that come his way. There have been a host of other complaints - everything from the slow pace to the perceived lack of chemistry between the leads - but from what I can gather, it all boils down to the fact that the movie doesn't have a happy ending. Have they read the book? The movie is based on a short story written by Annie Proulx and first pubiished in The New Yorker. The story is set in the herding country of Wyoming and opens in 1963, a time before the word gay was even used in the mainstream and cowboys certainly weren't supposed to love other cowboys. The filmmaker. director Ang Lee, could not be true to the story he was telling and have a happy ending. It's a tragedy, and while it isn't a true story, it certainiy reflects many people's real experiences. Soon after the movie opened, I heard from a dear friend of ours who has lived in Texas -and in the closet- all his life. He grew up on a ranch during the decades in which Brokeback Mountain is set. He had been to see the movie and it had affected him deeply. It was a haunting reminder of his youth, or as he put it "the pre-Stonewall era when so many of us [like the characters] were forced to build our closets during a period when hate crime laws were not even thought about." You know what? I think most of the criticism stems from a lack of understanding about that period, the preStonewall era. Recently, on a discussion list for LGBT authors, someone posted one of these negative reviews. A lively debate sprung up, and eventually the discussion came around to the fact that far too many gay people know nothing of the struggle gays faced in the 60s and ?Os. Author Lori L. Lake stated it best when she wrote, "It seems a sad fact that once a battle has been won or changes made, the descendants of those who made sacrifices and fought so hard do not always know of the cost or the facts. Often the historical repercussions are completely lost on a new generation. Some young women nowadays have no clue about the struggle for rights that women had to go ihrough for most of the 20th century. Young blacks are often amazingly unaware of much of the civil rights movement. And both gays and lesbians have been known to look at me and say things like, 'Yeah, that Stonewall stuff ... everyone talks about it, but I really don't get what happened.' In defense of those in 'minority' groups who do not know their own history, I would have to say that it's all made more complicated by the fact that it's not like the mainstream does much to promote the knowledge. It's left to us to try to find out about the past and make sure we don't have to repeat it." And that's where I think Brokeback Mountain can be invaluable. This film simultaneously shows us how far we've come as a society ... and how far we still have left to go. Yes, in most areas of the U.S., gay and lesbian couples can live openly, but there are still many areas where homophobia rules supreme - and I'm not just talking about geographic areas. Think about professional sports or the military. Many states have already passed or are in the process of passing same-sex marriage bans, and even our president advocates a Federal ban on gay marriage. What I think Brokeback Mountain portrays very clearly is the to!I homophobia takes on gay men and women. We can use this film as a teaching tool to help people understand our past and ensure our future. You have to be a very cold person to waik out of the theater after seeing this movie and not feel affected. It has the potential to change hearts and minds, but we can't just sit back and hope it accomplishes this on its own. We need to get out there and talk about how homophobia has affected our lives. We've all had our Brokeb·ack Mountains in our lives. Some of us have overcome them - we climbed to the top and we've seen the Promised Land - and some have been dashed against the rocky slopes. Each and every one of these stories is important. They make up the grand and beautifui quilt that is the LGBT community and, for that matter, America In the end, what one thinks about Brokeback Mountain, !ike any movie or book or television show, is nothing more continued page-17 CREATING YOUR OWN BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN With all the wonderful "hype" about the new movie, Brokeback Mountain, perhaps it's time to head for the .hills and mountains and do some "cowboying". Perhaps you too can find your "Jack or Ennis" except not have it finish as it did in the movie! Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Arizona, New Mexico and even Texas would be great places to begin. Most of the major cities in these States have western/cowboy bars and on weekends they are a "hopin and a dancin". As we all know there are two types of cowboys ... the drug store type and the real type. The real types can be found at rodeos and on the ranches far from the city life. A great place to start would be to go to the Cheyenne, Wyoming Frontier Days Rodeo which is billed as the "Grandaddy of them all". We were there several years ago and they do have hundreds of real cowboys that attend the event. Cheyenne is a rather small city so you either need to book a room far in advanced or camp out at one of the local campgrounds. This year it will be held July 21 thru the 30th. It all began in 1897 and just keeps getting bigger year after year. You can check for information at: http:// www.cfdrodeo.com/. Wyoming is one of the very few States that does not have any gay bars but during the big rodeo days, everything and anything goes! The International Gay Rodeo Association, ( http://www.igra.com/) is a great website to start looking for individual State rodeos. Gay Rodeo had its beginnings in 1976 at the National Reno Gay Rodeo in Nevada. Over the next eight years local rodeo associations were formed in Colorado, Texas, California, and Arizona. In 1985, these four Gay Rodeo Associations along with Oklahoma founded the IGRA. From these beginnings, the IGRA has spread the Rodeo spirit across the United States and into Canada. Through a Convention of its Member Associations, the IGRA has evolved a code of fellowship and good sportsmanship including the provision of standardized rules and resources for the production of rodeo events. IGRA-sanctloned rodeos are hosted by local associations each year and culminate in an IGRA Finals Rodeo where the top 20 contestants in each event compete for the title of IGRA International Champion. The IGRA has expanded its enrichment activities to include social Country & Western activities. Throughout the year, the regional associations sponsor dance competitions in preparation for the IGRA's annual International Dance Competition featuring the best men and women dancers from across the country, The Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association, http://www.okgayrodeo.com/ just completed their 20th Annual Great Piains Rodeo last May and they are the 3rd largest rodeo with the IGRA association. Congratulations to them! The Texas Gay Rodeo Association (http:// www.texasgayrodeo.org/) will have their Cowtown Rodeo March 3 thru the 5th. For Colorado check out their website at: http://www.cgra.net/ For New Mexico, check out www.nmgra.com/. For Arizona go to: http:// www.agra-phx.com/ and for Nevada go to: http:// www.ngra.com/. And the Missouri Gay Rodeo's website is: http://mgra.us/ Here are some dates for the different gay rodeos coming up for 2006. Road Runner Region,,! Rodeo Phoenix, Arizona -January 13 - l 5, IGR:\ University L:,s V cgas - February 1:' 19, Cowtown Rode(> Fort \'(/orrh, Texas - !vfarch 3 5, Sunshine Stampede Fort Lauderdale, Florida April 7 - 9, Rodeo in The Rock Little Rock, Arkansas - J\prii 28 30, Greatc:r San Diego Rodeo Lakeside, C\ :\pril 28 30, Gate,vay Regional Rodeo St. Louis, Missouri May 5 - 7, Heartland Rodeo Omaha, Nebraska - May 20 - 21, Great Plains Rodeo - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma May 26 28. Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo - Dem·er, Colorado Julv 7 9, Zia Regional Rodeo • Albuquerque, l\;;\1 - ,i\ugust 18 • 20, MGRA Show i\ic Stare Rodeo l'.ama, City, September l 3, Bay Arca Ga\' Rode<> San Frnnci,co, Cf\ - September IS • I - , Bighorn Rodeo - LJs Vegas. -"c,:ada - ()ctobcr 6 - 8, So, whether you like to participate or just watch this might be something new to do this year. And, you just might meet your new Jack or Ennis! And always check out www.purpleroofs.com to find the finest and best in gay owned and gay-friendly accommodations, Always have fun when traveling and for any questions on travel, email Donald and Ray at gaytravelers@aol.com or visit their webpage at: http:/www,hometown.ao!.com/ gaytrave!ers the STAR Oklahoma's Premie" GLBT Magazine Page ~o The History of Saint Valentine's Day Valentine's Day started in the time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honour Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.The lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, one of the customs of the young people was name drawing. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl's name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the childrnn lasted an entire year, and often.they would fall in love and wouid I a t e r marry.Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius the Cruel was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that roman men did not want to leave their ioves or families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. · The good Saint Valentine was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius II. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about the year 270. At that time it was the custom in Rome, a very ancient custom, indeed, to celebrate in the month of February the Lupercalia, feasts in honour of a heathen god. On these occasions, amidst a variety of pagan ceremonies, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed.The pastors of the early Christian Church in Rome endeavoured to do away with the pagan eiement in these feasts by substituting the names of saints for those of maidens. And as the Lupercalia began about the middle of February; the pastors appear to have chosen Saint Valentine's Day for the celebration of this new feast. · So it seems that the custom of young men choosing maidens for valentines, or saints as patrons for the coming year, arose in this way. co,nin I To Eurella Sprin~s. Arllansas s GET ROMANTIC! ,6 COUPLES/ Surprise your true lovel SINGLES! Find your true love?! $SPEED-DATING'PARTYI 1MIMOSA BRUNCH'/ VALENTINE'S DINNER & DANCE At local favorite CAR/BE' Restaurante y Cantina DINE WITH YOUR COMMUNITY BEFORE THE DANCEi 8PM DANCE ~ 'Golden Oldies' to Today's Hits/ I Diversity Weekend April 7-9, 2006 ! At our historic Auditorium A hysterical comedy troupe, born from "Second City" members in Chicago/ They are determined to raise our spirits and shake the Ozarks hills with laughter and gayetyl For details & other DIVERSITY info: EurekaPride.com and DiversityPr' RSVP Vacations Introduces RSViP, the First Rewards and Loyal Program Exclusively for Gay and Lesbian Travelers. Minneapolis, MN,_RSVP Vacations, the leading presenter of gay and lesbian travel events, proudly announces the first frequent traveler program designed for LGBT travelers. RSViP rewards guests with points based both on the dollar value of their travel packages as well as the number of RSVP cruises, land tours and resort vacations they have taken. Guests redeem points for upgrades and free cabins on future sailings. Most revolutionary is the RSViP program's Refer-a-Friend feature. Frequent travelers who refer a first-time guest to RSVP Vacations earn the same number of points as their referral. The full RSViP program launched on November 15, 2005. Membership levels are based on the number of vacations a guest has taken with RSVP since January 2002. Exciting member benefits range from priority notice of new events at the Bronze level to celebrity cocktail parties, concierge service. and members-only travel opportunities at the Platinum level. Fu!I details of the program can be found at www.rsvpvacations.com, where 500 free bonus points are available for signing up for your RSViP number. "The RSViP program is unprecedented," said Thomas Roth, President of Community Marketing, Inc., a San Francisco-based gay market research and communications firm. "I commend RSVP, the original gay vacation specialists, for retaining the competitive edge in this increasingly competitive marketplace." Roth also applauded the research that shaped this new program. "RSVP asked and listened to their customers, and RSViP is the result. Earning loyalty is perhaps the single most important element in successful LGBT marketing, and this new RSViP program takes the industry to a whole new level." "RSVP has consistently been an innovator in the field of gay and lesbian travel," said Paul Figlmiller, RSVP's President. "RSViP is designed to recognize the thousands of loyal guests who travel with us year after year and reward them when they bring their friends along. I hope it inspires new guests to discover the unique camaraderie and exceptional service of an RSVP event." About RSVP Vacations - Established in 1985, RSVP was the originator of the gay and lesbian cruise concept, and offers distinctive travel packages designed for gay and lesbian travelers. More than 80,000 men and women have participated in RSVP's big and small ship cruises, riverboat cruises, land tours, and resort vacations. Destinations in 2006 will include the Caribbean, Central America, the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, Ireland, Mexico, Tahiti, Peru, and Thailand. RSVP has offices in Minneapolis, MN and London and is available through travel agencies. ay at the Legis ahoma ure Sponsored by PFLAG Oklahoma by Greg Steele Tulsa, OK_After several date changes, Nancy McDonald has announced a new date of May 9th, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. "The Capitol has been reserved for our Day at the Legislature", McDonald said in a recent communique. Tweive tables have been reserved and GLBT groups, yout groups. HIV/AIDS groups are encouraged to attend and bring materiai. Council Oaks Mens Chorale is expected to entertain, food and drink will be available. Estimated cost is $20 - $25 per Chapter. The purpose of the lobby is to give legislators and opportunity to learn more about the GLBT community. Group leaders wili aiso be meeting with state senators and representatives. For more information contact Nancy at: Nancymcdo@aol.com Tu!sa PFLAG meets every 2nd Monday of each month at Feiiowship Congregational Church. located at 29th and Harvard. on the street just south of Bra urn's. Program time is 7:30pm, social time 6:45pm. More information is available on their website: www.pflagtulsa.org Iha STAR, Oklahoma's Pmmier GLBT Magazine. Get Your Best Easter Bonnet Out and Go To Washington! WASHINGTON_ Outrageous bonnets and dresses may not be ail that gets attention this Easter, when thousands of children including those with same-sex parents wil! gather on the White House lawn for the annual Easter Egg Roll. A group of gay rights organizations is urging gay and lesbian parents to join the Aprii 17 event, to highlight the similarities between themselves and heterosexual families. While the event is months away, the potential participation of gay famiiies has already garnered White House attention. Sponsored by The Family Prlde Coalition. rial: ew pill bests standa I regimen From PlanetOut Net\vork: A new once-a-day HIV antiretroviral pill does a better job of suppressing the virus, restoring immune function and preserving body shape than the common treatment of Sustiva plus Combivir, according to findings published in the jan.19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers found the new pil!, which combines Viread, Emtriva and Sustiva, did a better job in a three-year study of HIV-infected subiects in reducing their viral load and increasing CD4 celi counts without being as toxic to patients as the combination of Sustiva and Combivir. The finding is the first to show that one combination regimen is superior to the other for initial HIV infection treatment. Gilead, which produces Viread and Emtriva, funded the study. rne 0zsr1<ss.i1AR sinc:e 2003 · 10 eys to by Deepak Chopra, M.D. Provided by: Chopra Blog app1• ness Physical well being is inseparable from emotional well being. Happy people are healthy people. The wisdom traditions of the world tell us that happiness does not depend on what you have, but on who you are. As we begin the new year, it may be worthwhile to reflect on what really creates happiness in us. The following ten keys, gleaned from the wisdom traditions, may give us some insight. Listen to your body's wisdom, which expresses itself through signals of comfort and discomfort. When choosing a certain behavior, ask your body, "How do you feel about this?" If your body sends a signal of physical or emotional distress, watch out. If your body sends a signal of comfort and eagerness, proceed. Live in the present, for it is the only moment you have. Keep your attention on what is here and now; look for the fullness in every moment. Accept what comes to you totally and completely so that you can appreciate it, learn from it, and then let it go. The present is as it should be. It reflects infinite laws of Nature that have brought you this exact thought, this exact physical response. This moment is as it is because the universe is as it is. Don't struggle against the infinite scheme of things; instead, be at one with it. Take time to be silent, to meditate, to quiet the internal dialogue. In moments of silence, realize that you are recontacting your source of pure awareness. Pay attention to your inner life so that you can be guided by intuition rather than externally imposed interpretations of what is or isn't good for you. Relinquish your need for external approval. You alone are the judge of your worth, and your goa! is to discover infinite worth in vourself, no matter what anyone else thinks. There is great freedom in this realization. When you find yourself reacting with anger or opposition to any person or circumstance, realize that you are only struggling with yourself. Putting up resistance is the response of defenses created by old hurts. When you relinquish this anger, you wi!I be healing yourself and cooperating with the flow of the universe. Know that the world "out there" reflects your reality "in here." The people you react to most strongly, whether with love or hate, are projections of your inner world. What you most hate is what you most deny in yourself. What you most love is what you most wish for in yourself. Use the mirror of relationships to guide your evolution. The goal is total self-knowledge. When you achieve that, what you most want will automatically be there, and what you most dislike will disappear. Shed the burden of judgment - you will feel much lighter. Judgment imposes right and wrong on situations that just are. Everything can be understood and forgiven, but when you judge, you cut off understanding and shut down the process of learning to love. In judging others, you reflect your lack of self-acceptance. Remember that every person you forgive adds to your self-love. Don't contaminate your body with toxins, either through food, drink, or toxic emotions. Your body is more than a life-support system. It is the vehicle that will carry you on the journey of your evolution. The heaith of every cell directly contributes to your state of well being, because every cell is a point of awareness within the field of awareness that is you. Replace fear-motivated behavior with love-motivated behavior. Fear is the product of memory, which dwells in the past. Remembering what hurt us before, we direct our energies toward making certain that an oid hurt will not repeat itself. But trying to impose the past on the present will never wipe out the threat of being hurt. That happens only when you find the security of your own being, which is love. Motivated by the truth inside you, you can face any threat because your inner strength is invulnerable to fear. Understand that the physical world is just a mirror of a deeper intelligence. Intelligence is the invisible organizer of all matter and energy, and since a portion of this intelligence resides in you, you share in the organizing power of the cosmos. Because you are inseparably linked to everything, you cannot afford to foul the planet's air and water. But at a deeper level, you cannot afford to live with a toxic mind, because every thought makes an impression on the whole field of intelligence. Living in balance and purity is the highest good for you and the Earth. THE L WORD: THE THIRD SEASON SOUNDTRACK Silver Labelffommy Boy Entertainmeni Release Date: January 24, 2006 Ecleciic, Exclusive New Songs Enrich Show's Third Season Soundtrack Just as "The L Word" lights up over 6 million screens weekly with its cast of vibrant. vivacious and vital characters, so. do the show's soundtrack albums fire up the iPods and CD players of loyal fans. Working closely with Tommy Boy Entertainment executive and Silver Lab~I co-founder, Rosie Lopez, the show's creator Ilene Chaiken delivers yet another smart, sensuous and soulful soundtrack, 'The L Word: The Third Season." The two-CD set - which includes a sixteen page booklet - embraces twenty-foUi songs by a cherry-picked roster of stellar lesbian and lesbifriendly artists, deftly incorporating a refreshing variety of genres: folk, electro, country, soul, pop. classical. NOTE: "The L Word: The Third Season" premiers January 8 and airs through the end of March! TULSA TIME AT THE BOO! by Paul Wortman TULSA, OK_Matthew Heath-Fitzgerald took the stage Friday night December 16th at the Bamboo Lounge Tulsa with a show opener of "Living on Tulsa Time". He was fantastic as always and the crowed agreed with roaring applause. Oklahoma's cowboy crooner filled the house with his country music and exceptional good looks. This was his first performance at the Boo, but has performed at Tulsa's Club Mavericks, Renegades and Club Majestic. You can catch his show in Oklahoma City at Club Rox and the Boom Room. He performed three sets with such hits as "All Jacked Up'', "Who's your Daddy" and brought down the house with "Live Like You Were Dying" Matthew also did a melody of Cher hits and was fabulous. Also performing their hearts out were his special guests, Kris Kohl (our own Tulsa diva) bringing in the holiday season with "Silver Bells" and Tiffany Adams from Oklahoma City, who was hilarious with his costume's. Both were in full holiday spirit and made the evening very festive. All three made for a wonderful night of entertainment. Matthew resides in Krebs, Oklahoma with his partner Jason. He has entertained the gay community for many years and recorded three CD's. They can be purchased from his website, www.matthewheath-fitzgeraid.com. Is there a Shelter agent WO for you? Call today to learn more about our services. www.shelterinsurance.com Inc Serving the community in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa and Indiana. Greg W. Tainter, LUTCF Tel: (866)208-9480 gtainte shelterinsurance.com Auto - Home - Life - Business Seek Shelter T odai 0 hyburn Sales Associate ION DOLLAR PRODUCER" e: (918) 496-2252 625-6377 fax (918)491-6351 5555 E. 71st St, Suite 9102 Tulsa, OK 74136 n Independent Member Broker tliti'ST,/{R is',just good business cents. , -I I To .Eurel2a Sprinqs. Arbansas $ GET ROMANTIC! COUPLES! SINGLESf 'SPEED-DAT/NG'PARTY! 'MIMOSA BRUNCH'! VALENTINE'S DINNER 81 DANCE At local favorite CAR/BE' Restaurante y Cantina DINE WITH YOUR COMMUNITY BEFORE THE DANCEi 8PM DANCE ,. 1Golden Oldies' to Today's Hits/ p I Diversity Weekend April 7-9, 2006 ! At our historic Auditorium A hysterical comedy troupe, born from "Second City" members in Chicago/ They are determined to raise our spirits and shake the Ozarks hills with laughter and gayetyl For details & other DiVERSITY info: EurekaPride.com and Divers Brokeback Mountain: than personal opinion. I left the theater deeply moved. I felt almost overwhelmed with sadness for the !ives of the two men portrayed on screen. but I also felt a sense of thankfulness and hope. i was thankful for how far we've come, that I am ab!e to openly live my life with partner Jon, and i was hopeful that we might one day even be able to get married legally. As i write this column, e-mails are streaming into my inbox with news about a Maryland Judge striking down the State's gay marriage ban. in her decision, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Brooke Murdock wrote that "while tradition and societal va!ues are important," they're not enough to justify a discriminatory iaw. Whiie the appeals process will last for at least a year, and I'm sure there will be a renewed call fo, a constitutional amendment and cries of activist judges, it stili gives me a sense of hope that we are progressing. Maybe one day, we'll iook back at Brokeback !vfcuntain and wonder what all the fuss was about. Battle of the Sexes Men are from Mars, women are from Venus. We've all heard this little gem, implying that men and women are just inherently different, and that difference extends beyond mere plumbing. It's almost like we're from different planets. Gay men have often bridged that gap io form close relationships with straight women, but that gulf still tends to exist between gay men and lesbians. Why is that? Why can't we all just get along? I think it was worse in past generations. The women had their hangouts and organizations, the men had theirs, and rarely did the twain meet. I do see improvements, especially in the younger generations, but I still see separation as well. That division bothers me. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware is a gay-friendly beach resort not far from where Jon and I live. We go there quite often, especially during the summer. The last few times we've gone to bars there, though, I couldn't help but notice they targeted very specific groups. We went to see a good friend's band, Red Letter Day, play at the Frogg Pond a couple months ago. The Frogg Pond tends to be somewhat of a mixed crowd, but it's known as a lesbian bar and that was the primary clientele. Our last trip to Rehoboth, we went to see a friend perform in a drag pageant at Cloud 9. We saw a lot more dresses there, but they were all on men. The boys far outnumbered the few women present. Lesbians have been a big part of our life. In fact, we've always had more lesbian friends than gay male friends. I even wrote a tongue-in-cheek column once about why lesbians make better friends than gay men. That's why it bothers me that there are few places we can go as a group and none of us feel at least a little out of place. These days, our circle of friends tends to be very diverse. As I was.Jooking at pictures from our New Year's Eve party, it ieally struck me what a varied bunch we are. We had gay men, lesbians, and straight people; couples and singletons; young and old - all mixing and mingiing and having a ball. Jon and I value this diversity; each and every person brings something unique to our lives. ! can't imagine it any other way. This is maybe why I can't understand the tendency for people to separate themseives into neat, homogenized segments, where everyone in their immediate circle looks and thinks just like them. I get it that some people like to be around others who are like them - birds of a feather and all that - but I think sometimes, we carry it too far. Over and over, I notice that, at least in the area in which we live, our diverse group is pretty unique. Most of the cliques and circles I see others form tend to be almost all-male or all-female. This separatist attitude is even affecting the way we talk and write. I recently read an article about the increasing use of the phrase "gays and lesbians" in the media. It used to be that the word "gay" was an umbrella term that included both gay men and women. Some women, however, felt that "gay" had come to be more associated with men and felt that "lesbian" needed to be included as well. Why? Do we really need more divisions within our community? Why are we so divided? To discover one possible reason behind our separatism, we may have to look back at oui LGBT history. According to an article on glbtq.com, which bills itself as an encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer culture, lesbian feminists decided to create spaces over which they themselves had autonomy after encountering misogynistic attitudes and practices in the gay liberation movement and antilesbian discrimination in the women's liberation movement. These lesbian separatists subscribed to a "radical feminist" philosophy that views gender difference in terms of essentialism. Unlike the liberal feminisfs of the mainstream women's movement, who argued that gender was a social construction, lesbian separatists contended that the differences between men and women are rooted in nature. Thus, women naturally possessed a female energy characterized by its warmth, nurturing, and pacifist qualities. On the other hand, due to their male energy, men were hard-wired to be aggressive, competitive, and destructive. Because men could not, or would not, ever change their ways, lesbian separatists believed that it was necessary for women to exclude them from their lives. Could these beliefs and attitudes still linger today? I'm sure they do, at least in some circles. I suspect, however, that today's separatism is less about deliberate exclusion based on sex and more about maintaining the status quo. This is the way we've done things for decades and no one wants to rock the boat. Well, i say it's time to iock the boat. It's time gay men and women come together as one. Now, more than ever, we need to be united. Our opponents are working together to ensure we do not receive equal rights. Even the most disparate groups have joined forces to keep us from enjoying equal protection under the !aw, marriage rights, Oi even something as simple as the right to visit our sick or dying partners in the hospital. Surely, we have much more in common than these fundamentai, conservative religious groups. We certainly have more to lose. We will never win equality unless we learn how to work together toward our common goal. Continued next page HEART TO HEART It's not just about gays and lesbians, either. We also need to embrace and accept our bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters. LGBT needs to be more than just a ubiquitous acronym. We need to stand together against our common enemy - bigotry and hatred. Yes, obviously men and women are different. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that. But I think it's high time we stop obsessing over our differences and focus on our commonalities instead. The first step will be to end the separatism. Who will take the first step? How about you? Don't wait for someone else. What about me, you ask? I'm thinking about calling up some of my lesbian friends this weekend and heading out to the Frogg Pond and Cloud 9. It's time to break down some barriers. The views expressed in this column are my opinions only. You don't have to agree with them. I just ask that you read them with an open heart and mind. By Marc Shoffman PinkNews.co.uk The Los Angeles Police Department has become the first law enforcement group to sponsor the Gay Games after announcing its support for next summer's competition in Chicago. At least 12 officers have signed up to compete in the 2006 Gay Games VII and plan on wearing their police uniforms during the opening ceremony, scheduled for July 15. The LAPD wili also be using the games as a recruitment drive. Officer Michael Jolicoeur, who oversees the department's gay and lesbian recruitment said: 'There are two messages, we are hiring and they can be whoever they are, no matter what that is." Events wili include tennis, squash, racquetbail, diving, water polo and wrestling. Meanwhile the games, which aie open to anyone, have already started courting controversy with gmups threatening to boycott sponsors. The 2006 Gay Games VII in Chicago is expected to bring more than 100,000 people and millions of dollars in tourist revenue to the city. Federation of Gay Games co-president Robert Mantaci said: "Progress in Chicago is on track with more sponsors, thousands of athletes already registered, and. for the first time, television coverage of a Gay Games." Want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $26.95 will be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or moneyorder to: Ozarks STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd .. #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 (Single Copies $3.00 per issue) NAi.v1E: _______________ _ Address: _______________ _ City: ________ St: ___ Zip: ___ _ Phone: ________ _ Check enclosed Money Order Start Date: ______ _ FREE HIV TESTING, NO NEEDLES! SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC SPONSORS Tes ting the last Sunday of each month betwee:1 5PM and 6P1L 2902 E. 20th St., PO Box 41 11 Joplin, Mo 64803 Sundav Serv1ce 6PI\1 four Invited to_ our Conymunit:;. Dinner Every .Wed. 6pm ;ust $4.u0. No one is turned away. The;Otatks S:TAR.sinca 2003 Page 19 . ' Lesbian Notions i by Libby Post ! 1 FEBRUARY 2006 "My Generation, Your Generation" ... lillilillililailoiliiiiliiioi.._ ..... _____ _ I had my first LGBT generation gap encounter about 20 years ago. I was at a lesbian bar in New York City. I looked around and didn't see anyone who looked like me. No longer were jeans, button-down shirts, and vests the lesbian fashion statement. These younger dykes were in stiletto heels, designer clothes, and makeup. "Lipstick lesbians," I thought, shook my head, and tried to make the best of it. I dismissed them as apolitical, only interested in being social, live-for-the-next-dance-party gay girls. What can I say? I was young. But they were younger. As I've gotten older and hopefully a little wiser, I've come to appreciate lipstick lesbians - who, by the way, aren't always younger lesbians. Thirteen years older than me, my partner, Lynn, wears makeup; I have to admit it's one of the things that drew me to her. But beyond that, her almost never leaving the house without at least a little lipstick and powder has helped me to appreciate the diversity of the lesbian community - young, middle-aged, and senior, we all have something to bring to the table. Recognizing we all have something of value as members of the LGBT community regardless of our age is at the crux of the very real generation gap our community is experiencing today. On one hand, an LGBT generation gap is one more indicator that we really aren't any different than our straight counterparts. Just as there has been a gulf in understanding between straight generations, there is one between and among our various generations. On the other hand, an LGBT generation gap speaks to much more pressing issues than what today's LGBT fashion trends. The Institute for Gay and Lesbian Strategic Studies (IGLSS), based at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Oust a stone's thmw from Lesbianville, a!so known as Northampton), says we must overcome specific communication challenges in order for all of us in the LGBT community - across the spectrum of age - to work together for positive change. In the December 2005 edition of _Angles_, the lnstitute's policy journal, Glenda M Russell, Ph.D., and Janis S. Bohan, Ph.D., detailed their findings in an article entitled "The Gay Generation Gap: Communicating Across the LGBT Generational Divide." Not surprisingly, they found that LGBT adults tend to project their own experiences and beliefs onto our youth, and that our youth think they've got all the answers. The researchers singled out gay proms as one of the ways us aider folks have projected our wants and desires on our youth. These events, they say, seem to be designed to meet the needs of the adult organizers who missed their own proms, rather than the needs of today's LGBT youth. One event was billed as 'The Night You Never Had,'' and when a group of teens was asked about their same-sex prom, one teen said the highlight of the evening was seeing a newly out lesbian teacher dancing with her life partner. One of the other things we adults tend to do is to presume that LGBT youth have been victimized. This is not to say there isn't a lot of harassment of LGBT students in our schools, but all you've got to do is read the story of Kerry Pacer, the Advocate's Person of the Year, to see how things have changed for our youth. Here's a lesbian teen who took on her small, rural hometown of Cleveland. Ga., and won. · The gay-straight alliance (GSA) Kerry started has since been disbanded because the school board suspended all extracurricular activity - presumably because of the GSA - but Kerry has gotten her whole rural community talking about LGBT issues. Kerry became a very real face of the LGBT youth in her town, where everyone knows everyone. Her organizing brought Fred Phelps to town. After his hate-filled visit, the local church leaders were forced to rethink their abject homophobia, and her classmates their own prejudices. Her sense of purpose and drive is summed up in the Advocate article when she says, "I have to do this for the people that come behind me and the people that can't do it.'' Kerry has set an example for her LGBT generation and those that follow. She has also shown us veterans of LGBT activism that our youth can stand up to the bullies and the homophobes in a way that creates positive change for all ofus. The IGLSS study also detailed LGBT youth's role in our community's generation gap. Kerry's actions show us how our youth, who have grown up with a different LGBT reality (_Will and Grace, Queer Eye, same-sex marriage debate, civil unions - you get the picture), can bring a fresh perspective to the challenges the community faces. They may be less bound by what we think works, but they also don't necessarily have the historical perspective, relevant experience, and access to resources that LGBT adults have. Of course, they think, as all youth do, that the world started when they became conscious of their surroundings and that older people meddle. When LGBT aduits and youth work together. talk together, and move forward together while valuing each other's experiences and opinions, a true bridae can be built. What this study shows, what Kerry's achievements show, and what the work of anyone who has done organizing in the LGBT community shows is that ciear, respectful, inclusive communication is the key to breaking down this generation gap and moving our community forward. Page20 ... year event organizers wiil welcome g .. play ball and dance the night away. . •· .bas.eball ouffit and come to play h.ard . fec1tur~s.prizei;, food and fun. Tiokets · aHheTulsa GLBT Community Center around the city $15 Advance and $20 Altf.i€f the Sleeping Beauty is an enchanting choreographed by Russian Marius Petipa, who worked · Tchail<pvi5,ky:. Tchail<ovsky he compg~ed the bctllet hi , his benefactress; Mme. poetic, s~ in~pir~tidn~I to c ..... ··by .it.# w'ijen it was. finisfiecfin. 3,000 rubles and a bonus of 2 .. -_ ,:·.. . /··- ·-- ,. such an excellent ut b ,. ) Liz Highleyman FEBRUARY 2006 Summary : Past Out is a retrospective of key moments, personalities, and subjects in LGBT history. Each installment brings the past to life by exploring the diversity of the gay past and its impact on the queer present. What was Germany's Paragraph 175? In eff~ct to~ ~or~ than a century, Germany's Paragraph 175, which cnminahzed homosexual activity between men, sent thousands to their deaths and ruined the lives of countless others. In 1871. King Wilhelm I instituted a new penal code after unifying several kingdoms to create the country of Germany. Taken from the old 1794 Prussian code. Paragraph 175 made "unnatural fornication between persons of the male sex or by humans with animals" punishable by imprisonment; the law never applied to women. Paragraph 175 was repeatedly debated by legislators and opposed by early gay rights pioneers such as Karl Heinrich Ulrichs and Magnus Hirschfeld. Arguing that homosexuals should not be punished for their innate nat~re, Hirschfeld gathered 6,000 petition signatures against the law. In early 1898, Social Democratic Party leader August Babel introduced a repeal measure before the Reichstag, but it failed by a large margin. During the Weimar Republic era, a burgeoning queer subculture developed in Berlin and other German cities. Yet even during the "roaring '20s," some 1,000 men were arrested under Paragraph 175 each year. In 1929. a Reichstag judiciary. committee recommended liberalizaton of the iaw, but the changes were still pending when Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor in January 1933. Espousing traditional values and exploiting the oub!ic's existing prejudices and fear of social change, Hitler soon ?onsolidated his poiitica! control. According to the Nazi ideology of ~ationalism and racial superiority, homosexuality was a symptom of decadence and a danger to the state because it did not lead to procreation. But the Nazis' homosociai cult of masculinity attracted considera~!e su~picion. A?cusations of homosexuality were empioyed in turf batties between various Nazi factions, and were used by political opponents to discredit the regime. Hitler banned homosexual organizations, ordered the closure of nig~tclubs that catered to gay men, 1esbians. and transvestites, and haited the sale of publications with h?_mophile or sexual content. The regime encouraged c1t1zens to denounce suspected homosexuals, cultivated a network of informants, and forced arrested men to name others. An untold number of queer men and women went into hi?ing, entered sham marriages, emigrated to safer countries, or committed suicide. In June 1935, the Nazis imposed a stricter version of Paragraph 175, subjecting any man who "commits lewd and lascivious acts with another male," or "permits himself to be abused" for such acts, to 10 years of penal servitude. In section 175a, the revised law defined forced sex sex with a dependent or subordinate, sex with a youth ~nder age 21, and prostitution as "severe lewdness " while sect!_on 175b prohibited bestiality. Previously,' "unnatural acts· had usually been interpreted as anal or oral intercourse, but the revision prohibited any type of homoerotic interaction. In the ensuing years, convictions for homosexuality increased ten-fold, reaching a peak of more t~an 8,500 in 1938, and an estimated 100,000 during the entire Nazi era. . While m~st men convicted of homosexuality were held m regular prisons, others - especially repeat offenders - were remanded to "preventive custody." Some received reduced sentences if they agreed to undeigo castration. B one estimate, between 5,000 and 15,000 men accused of h?mosexuali_ty were sent to concentration camps,.where about two-thirds died. In the camps, these men were marked with the letter "A," a bla?k dot, the number "175," or a pink triangle. They were subJected to harsh conditions, including forced labor in quarries and munitions factories. Former inmate Heinz H~ger iater_told how he was made to watch a young gay prisoner being tortured by drunken SS guards. who sodomized him with a broomstick. Pierre Seei' saw his lover Jo ripped to shreds by dogs. Some "175ers" were used in medical experiments, including infection with typhus fever and implantation of testosterone capsules to "reverse hormonal polarity." In April 1945, Allied forces defeated the Nazi regime, but the ordeal was not over for men charged with homosexuality. The Allied Military Government sent some to regular prisons, while others were freed and later rearrested. In 1950, East Germany reverted back to the pre- 1935 version of Paragraph 175, and the law was eliminated in 1988. West Germany retained the Nazi version untii 1969; the law was revised in 1973 to criminalize only sex with minors under age 18. Paragraph 175 was voided entirely on March 10, 1994, when East an West German laws were reconci_led following reunification. For many years following World War 11, homosexual ~urvivors of the Nazi regime remained invisible, largely oecause homosexuality was still iliegal. Not only weie thev d~nied reparations, but many found it difficult to obtain jobs with Paragraph 175 convictions on their record. With the success of the gay rights movement in the 1980s and 1990s, however, some survivors began to speak out and demand justice. On May 17, 2002, the German parliament pardon~d all men convicted under Paragraph 175 during the Nazi era - of whom only a handful were still alive - but ieft intact an equal number of convictions imposed betwee; 1946 and 1969. .... continued rio:xt page. The Ozarks STAR since 2003 Past Out: "I suspect that some people prefer to remain silent forever, afraid to stir up the hideous memories," Pierre Seel said a few years before his death in November 2005 at age 82. "As for myself, after decades of silence, I have made up my mind to speak, to accuse, to bear witness." For further information: Epstein, Rob, and Jeffrey Friedman. 2000 (documentary). _Paragraph 175_ (Telling Pictures). Heger, Heinz. 1980, 1994. _ The Men with the Pink Triangle: The True, Life-and-Death Story of Homosexuals in the Nazi Death Camps_ (Alyson). Grau, Gunter, and Claudia Schoppmann (eds). 1995. _Hidden Holocaust?: Gay and Lesbian Persecution in Germany, 1933-1945_ (Cassell). United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. "Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals, 1933-1945." Online exhibit at www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/hsx. , '<< •" ' As Valentine's Day approaches we begin to plan that special surprise for that special someone (or to find that special someone). This months recipe is perfect for a quite romantic evening. It worked well on my fifth husband and I have · the bling to prove it! It's pink, festive and a bit tropical, a perfect seduction specimen for a fun evening with that heart throb. Try popping an old classic movie into the .... DVD and sipping this love potion with some tasty snacks.! You may be amazed at the results. · VALENTINE COLADA 1 1./2 oz. dark rum 1 oz. cream of coconut 2 oz. pineapple juice 1 oz. cranberry juice • 1. Fill mixing glass with ice . .. 2. Add rum, cream of coconut, pineapple and cranberry ewell. r into a highball glass filled with ice and garnish • with a cheny. Fort.he virgin version, simply leave out the rum. But .· ·don't expect the same results. · Love and cheers to all. Have a very successfui and happy Valentine's Day. Photo's by Chaz Advice Column! February 2006 Salutations Kittens Once more too Unc!e Mikey's take on all things Queer. February here again, bringing us another chance at being a twinkle in that someone's special eye, this Valentines Day. While some believe in saying it with roses, Uncle has aiways been fond of unconventional tokens of affection. A bouquet of flavored lubes and massage oils always brought a iittle warmth my way. Yes, however you choose to say I love you, or what was your name again, whatever the case may be, Tis the month of lovin'. Let's see what others have on their mind this chilly February. Dear Uncle Mikey. I am seriously thinking of asking the man I have been with for a year now to marry me. I know a lot of guys do not think even a commitment ceremony means much since we lack the rights as those in the straight world; however. I truly am in love with this man. He has brought so much into my life, and I am ready to settle down and spend my life with him alone. How should I pop the question? Ready to Pop Dearest Jiffy, Kitten, have you come to the right place. You know you just would not believe how many times I have used that line. The key to a successful proposal is romance. This is a serious question in which you want to convey the intense love and commitment you hold for this person. Personalize the moment with an activity you two share, making it an unforgettable moment in time, one the two of you will always share. Most of all do convey the love you have in your heart for him. Ali other matters will fall into place. Smooches_ Uncle Mikey Uncles third husband popped at the bathhouse. Imagine my surprise in the shower room, when he handed me that shiny steel ring. That was a night, I will never forget. I asked the gentleman I was entertaining in that moment to hold the ring while I rewarded that man of mine. It was a night the three of us never did forget. I swear I get all misty just thinking of it. Uncle Mikey, I am twenty-four years old and an avid fan of the rodeo. I want to work the circuit one day. However, none of my friends shares my lust for the pastime and they give me a hard time for it. I do not care for club hoping or the typical gay lifestyle. How can I show them the pride and adventure of this lifestyle? Rodeo boy Dear Rodeo Boy, Kitten, the rodeo is an adventuresome good time.-You cannot allow others to dictate your likes and dislikes. Sometimes a man must stand-alone for what he desires or believes in. If you want them to except your choices, than you must have a solid conviction, which will magnify your confidence through inner self. Uncle has loved many a cowboy in his time, and yes, Virginia the south will rise again! Saddle up young one its rodeo time. Smooches Uncle Mikey Uncle Mikey, I feei like no one in the gay world understands me. I am looking for someone to share my life. I want someone who can find contentment in loving only one. I have been hurt so many times, and so many men have walked over me using me as their doormat. I do not think there are truly any monogamous men left in the world, no wonder the straight world sees us the way they do. We bring it on ourselves. Am I the only one seeing this? Tired of being gay Dear Zinfandel, Darling, may I offer you some serious to go with that Wine? Sweetheart and I say this with all of the love in Uncles heart, (taxes and fees not included. Excluded in some states), you have to stop sounding like such a victim if you truly want people to stop treating you as though.! mean just by the time I finished your words; I was ready to sleep with your best friend and steal your escalade. Sometimes we must heip ourselves before we can look or expect others to see us for who we really are beneath the emotional mess we have allowed ourselves to become. Of course, uncle means you by us. as I am too fabulous to aliow victimization here. It sounds as if you seriously need a makeover. Also, one last matter. Kitten, we are not being gay. We are gay, don't allow . ... comim,ed next page. The Ozarks STAR since 2003 Page26 Ask Uncle Mikey: self-loathing to become the next cross you carry. Smooches- Uncle Mikey Well Kittens, I fear I have just exhausted myself. i must refresh, maybe have a twinky or two. You know, I am a manabectic. It is important prescribed by my personal physician of love, that I keep my romantic strength up. Yea, that is it. Proving my love for Queerdom one man at a time-Next! Smooches Uncle Mikey and Tiddles too! Want more of Mikey? Visit Mikey's corner at www.askunclemikey.com. Freelance writer Michael Hinzman, joining communities throughout Queerdom. .. 1 / 1 2TH PAGE CLASSIFIED AD SPACE NOW AVAILABLE IN City Life: THE STAR CALL FOR RATES 9 1 B.B3 S.7B87 or email: m:arksstar(cvsbcglobal.nct Delivering Quality, Value, Integrity and Trust in Affordable Advertising Service. To Be Or Not To Be Oklahoma City Theater company presents Shakespear's twisted comedy A Midsummer Nights Dream running through Fe_bruary 19th• Catch performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday's at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm. Shakespeare's comedy about two couples in love with the wrong partners, and how they are finally brought together rightly, thanks in part to the bungiing work of Puck, Shakespeare's famous mischievous fairy. Chaos abounds in this most famous of Shakespeare plays. For more information and ticket prices check out http://www.okctheatrecompany.org/ Valentine Dinner for Two "Shrimp Pilaf Florentine" 1 tablespoon olive oil. 1 small red bell pepper chopped. 3 green onions chopped. 2 cloves of garlic chopped 1 1 /2 cups ORZO 2 teaspoons fresh dill weed. 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel. 1/2 teaspoon salt. 1 can chicken broth. 1 cup water. 2 cups shredded spinach. 10 oz frozen cooked shrimp, thaw and remove tails. 1i4 cup fresh grated Romano cheese. Heat oil over medium heat, add bell peppers, onions and garlic until ·vegetables are tender. Stir in past, dill weed, lemon pee! chicken i::imti~ and water. Heat to boiling, :·educe heat. cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes unti\ pasta :s tender. Stir in sr::inacl1 and snrinm. Cook 2-3 rn;nutes :i,ore Plate it 2nd spri,·1<:!e 'ii!th Romano cheese. Serve with ;.i\vocado r1alves. Tf,e Ozarks STAR .since Q Scopes by Jack Fertig FEBRUARY 2006 ''Trust your instincts, Aries!" The Jupiter-Neptune square of late January continues until April 6. That opens us to philosophical mysteries and intuitive knowledge. It also invites ill-considered experiments with drugs, and codependent excess. This week, the Sun and Mercury conjoin Neptune, offering some clarity on how you can make these next few months more positive. ARIES (March 20 - April 19): Are friends taking advantage of you - or vice versa? There is a difference between "benefits" and exploitation! In a generally confusing period, this is the time to trust your instincts. Difficult actions should be taken right now. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Relationships with colleagues are going to be tricky for a while, and you may easily be taken advantage of. Now is your time to be clear about what you want and what you can rightfully expect. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): You can't win any arguments now, but you can heed the arguments of others to see where your own reasoning could stand improvement. Ideals need not be rational, but how you spell them out must be. CANCER (June 21 - July 22): The stars promise fantasy sex - but is it your dreams coming true, or just all in your dreams? Being openly playful with your partner is easy - up to a point - but you need to articulate your secret desires if you want them to be fulfilled! LEO (July 23 - August 22): The next few months are generally confusing with regard to your relationships. Family traditions offer insights, but there will be more confusion along the way. What you learn right now in this moment of clarity can help you through the upcoming muddle. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): The rest of this winter sees you being very vulnerable to infections - anything from sniffles on up. Be careful whom you play with and how! Now is the time to see where your weak spots are and how to care for yourself better. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Can you afford your amusements? This is the time to get creative and figure out more economicai pieasures. Harness your talents, and your fun need not seem extravagant. it could even prove lucrative. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21 ): Family problems loom large. First question: Who (or what) really is your "family"? Second question: Why? Those aren·t easy to answer, but this week offers clear insights to start working from. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): A door to the Twilight Zone has opened in your brain, and will be around until April. If you need help coping, ask a Pisces friend. Now is the time to articulate things that wil! at other times be very hard to express. CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): This is the time to clear through any financial muddle. The next few months are going to be a monetary maze, so get what insights you can right now. They will help you get through the rest of it. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Who are you? What are you? You're used to others wondering, but now _you're_ in a season of quandary. New insights and answers this week will open up more questions, but they'll be better questions than the ones you're struggling with now. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Inside your head is a dangerous place for you to be, even at the best of times. Now there's a light in that darkness. What you figure out now may be key to solving the next few months of relative confusion. You can find copies of the STAR at these 4 states business & organizations. ARKANSAS KANSAS OKLAHOMA Arkansas, Eureka Springs Diversity Pride EYem - - www.diversitypride.com A Byrd's fa·e View- - 36 N. Main- -479-253-02(10 CaribeRestaurante- -309 \X' VanBuren-- 253-8102 Henri's- -19 1 /2 Spring St - 4-;9.253.5795 Lumberyard Bar&Grill-105 E VanBuren- -253-0400 MCC Lidng Spring - - 870-253-9337 Arkansas, Fayetteville (479) Condom Sense - -418 \'C Dickson- -479-444-6228 Curry's Video 612 N. College :\ve- 479-521-0009 Pass~ges 930 N. College Ave- - - - - - 479-442-5845 Arkansas, Fort Smith (479) Kinke2ds- 1004 1/2 Garrison A,·e- 479-783-9988 Red Rock Citv 917 K "A'" St. 479-242-2489 Arkansas, Hot Springs (501) _Jesters Lounge 1010 E. Grand :\vc -501-624-5455 Arkansas, Little Rock (501) Back Street -lll21 Jessie Rd- Diatnond Srntc Roden As.soc.Discovery- - i021 Jessie Rd- - - -5( 11-664-2744 \·n\~,v.dsra.org - -50 i -666-6900 Sidetracks - 415 ~lam St -k LR.- Slll-244-0444 The Factory -'112 Louisiana St.- -501-372-3070 Kansas, Pittsburg (620) PSU-QSA.- - 1701 S. Bro3dway- - Kansas, Wichita (316) Club Glacier 2828 E. 31st Sc,mh 316-612-9331 J's Lounge - 513 E. Central 316-262-1363 Our Fantas;·- - - - 3201 S, Hillside- - -316-682-5-,94 The Otherside- -447 N. St Francis- - 316-262-7825 Sharai 4000 S. Broacl\1.:ay- - .316-522--2028 Sidcstreet I\lens Bar -1106 S. Pattie- - -316-267-0324 South 4(1 - 3201 S. Hillside -'16-682-5494 Trends Bar - -15(17 S. Pawnee- - - ::' I 6-262-<l53C Missouri, Ava CanJs C,!:1yon Catnpgrc,und Missouri, Joplin (417) Ree's- 716S.i\iain Missouri, Kansas Ci~ (816} Missouri, Lampe K( )K( ):,.1() C::,mpJ!rnund # .. MISSOURI Missouri, Springfield (417) The Edge- -424 Boom·ille A,·e- - --417-831-4700 GLO Comm. Ctr- -518 E. Commerical- -869-3978 Liquors & Kickers- -1109 E. Commercial-8-:'3-2225 il!arrha's Vineyard- 219 \X" Olh-e - 417-864-4572 Priscilla's - - 1918 S. Glenstone 417-881-8444 Oz Bar - 504 E. Commercial - - - - 417-831-9001 Ronisuz Place- - --821 College- - - - - - -417-864-0036 Rumors - --1109 E. Commercial- - - 417-873-2225 Oklahoma, McAlester J\!cPride- - POBox 1515, McAlester, OK 74502 Oklahoma, Oklahoma City (405) Boom Room- 2807 NW 36th St- - - - -405-601-7200 Club Rox- -3535 N\X" 39th Expwy - 405-947-2351 Cristies Toy Box- 3126 N. May Ave - 405-946-4438 Finish Linc -2200 N\X' 39th Expwy- - 405-525-0730 G,1shcrs Restaurant-2200 N\X' 39Exp405-525-0730 HolkwoodHotel- 3535 t'I\X' 39th Ex- 405-947-2351 Habana Inn - 2200 !'l\\" 39th Exp- - 405-528-2221 Hi-Lo Club - 122! N\X' SOrh- -405-843-1722 Juni!k Red$ - - - 2200 NW" Expwy- 405-524-5733 P.:rrncrs- - -2805 N\X" 36th St 405-942-2199 Priscilb's- 615 E. Memorial -405-755-8600 Red Rock North-2240 N\X'39th St- - -405-525-5165 Sisters- - 2120 N\'\' 39th St - - - - -405-521-9533 The Rockies- - -32!11 N. May Ave - - - 405-947-9361 Top.mg.1 Grill & Bar- 3535 NW 39th-- 405-947-2351 Oklahoma, Tulsa (918) Bamboo Lounge- 7204 E. Pine - - -- 918-836-8700 Club :\lajc<tic- 124 N. Boston 918-584-9494 Club Ma,·crick- 822 $. Sheridan - -918-835-3301 Dreamland Bks - 8807 E. Admiral Pl -834-1051 Eii1e Bookstore --814 S. Sheridan- - 918-838-8503 GLBT Comn1. Ctr- -5545 E. 41st- - I lidn.,·ay Lounge-11730 E. 11th- \lidtov;n- 319 E. 3rd- N1te Spot - -3(,l)7 E. Admirnl Pi Pnscilla·, -,925 E. 41st 5634 \X Skdh· P:tiscilla's - -11344 F·:. ti th 918-743-4297 -918-'137-0449 918-584-3112 918-834-30()7 -9 i 8-627-4884 - - -918-446-63<1, -9 l 8--!38-422'1 -9 18--199-1661 1649 S. \lain - - - - 9i8-585-3405 Ti.l!',a EagkT::'..: T\ i~3B F. 3rd 21 ;.j S. ~lc,n::rial- - - J18-"J2-l !B8 -918-660-0856 918-829-0824 918-203-0304 Business or Organizations wishing to distribute FREE copies of the STAR, contact us at 918.835.7887 9am to 4pm mon - fri or email: ozarksstar@sbcglobal.net Page29 ti"FS . . ·Qrhood STEVE'S HIDEAWAY 11730 E. 11th· Tulsa, OK 918.437.0449 now 12noon to 2am d Monday. ••••••,wa•-,... ~a•f e 7240 East Pine - TULSA, OK 918.836.9777 open 6am to 2pm mon - sat. Breakfast & Lunch ~y OU~ DAILY 'b'P€:.C.IN...'b 9re.at home.st1\e. food. I E 3007 E. ADMIRAL PLACE. TULSA, OK ~da!t. Check out our POOL TOURNAMENT TUESDAYS@7pm OPEN ON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY! 918.834.3007 Open Monday-Saturday 11 am EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY .AOVERTISIN13. !!!SALES REPRESENTATIVE . ;~R wlc:;..1TA, ,;, ',;·' ,,,, 01"-LAHOMA.' Cl:i"Y, TULSA, ... ,esb&JR, o; ARKANSAS . •. · quilificatlons to cnarksstar@sbcglobal.net or mail to: 5103 S. Sheridan, #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 * Full Body, Sports, Hot Stone * Hand.and Foot Sc~bs * ln,.House Clinic * Dc3ys, Evenings and Weekends · Ca/I.for an appointment and rates. 918-857-2805 CHECK OUT UNIQUE EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS www.diversitypride.com and www.eurekapride.com 1 /1 2TH PAGE CLASSIFIED 1 /l 2TH PAG.E.CLASBIF'IEb AD SPACE NOW AVAILABLE A. D SPACE •i,.i1:1~ AVAILABLE '' ' ' ' ,,: ,,, .,, ''' "·,',,•' . ,, IN THE IN THE: STAR STAR CALL FOR RATES C:Al.!,:: f,~¢,lfi'·'.~T,!;S: 91 B.B35.78B7 or email: ozarksstar@sbcglobal.net Delivering Quality, Value, Integrity and Trust in Affordable Advertising Service . • 1/1:i,f.J;:l;P~~E:: CLASSIFIED AD 11,::.;Jei Jaw AVAILABLE ·• .::•t~THE · •,sfAR CALL. F.EJR ,RATES ~- -~ ,_ .'',' i '_,' ' :- ',,_-\} :_\' ;·, ·,'' ' .91 s.J33S:7as7 or email: ozatksstar@sbcglobaI.net Delivering Qua!ILY, Value, Integrity and Trust in Affordable Advertising Service. Get results with STAR Classifieds! EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVE FOR WICHiTA, OKLAHOMA C!TY, TULSA, MISSOURI OR ARKANSAS qualirications to ozarksstar@sbcglobal.net or mail co: 5103 S. Sheridan, #153 Tub, OK 74145 Page PAGE 32 THE STAR FEBRUARY 2006 dve ising Sales epresentatives Successful andidates will be: * Self motivated * * ut going anized Part-time and full-time positions available. Applicants should have reliable transportation Candidates should forward their resume to: ozarksstar@sbcglobal.net or 5103 S. Sheridan Rd, #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 T H E Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2006] The Star Magazine, February 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 2 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 01, 2006 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Star Magazine’s first issue began February of 2005. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004) and The Ozark Star (2004). Follows is The Metro Star (2008). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Online text PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwest Missouri Western Arkansas Southeast Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource C.D. Ward Greg Steele Josh Asterovis John Patrick Matt Brooks Paul Wortman Carlotta Carlisle Libby Post Paula Martinac Andrew Collins Donald Pile Ray Williams Michael Hinzman Jack Fertig Liz Highleyman Andrew Hicks Chaz Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Star Magazine, January 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 1 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/227 The Star Magazine, March 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 3 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/239 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/226 10 keys to happiness A Couple of Guys Bamboo Lounge Battle of the Sexes Bitter Girl Brokeback Mountain Business and organizations Cartoon Christopher Meloni classifieds Club Majestic Gay Games Heart to Heart HIV regimen HIV/AIDs Jake Gyllenhaal Lesbian Notions Past Out Q Scope Shrimp Pilaf Florentine Star Scene Uncle Mikey vacation Valentine Colada Valentine's Day https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/df46b0b6350819e0539ea3d9b4718e1f.jpg 409eb6e6fa72b2d593d6aca46efd01f7 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/64a224f15f6b4b4ac4ed428f8666b2dc.pdf db29791b0f530020f1b86a8bf4d4d91f PDF Text Text ��������������������������������� Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document 4 CONGRATULATIONS To Our Tulsa Pride Festival Give-A-Way WINNERS! TULSA, OK_ \Xlhat a rantastic turn out for Tulsa Pride held June 10, 2006. In spite of the sweltering heat thouFands turned out to celebrate Tulsa's "Pride Not Prejudice" Festival. Thanks to th& hundreds who stopped by the STAR booth to say hello and to those who entered our Pride Give-A-Way drawing. The $40.00 Gift Certificate donated by Earl Wheeler of Glenpool Flowers and Gifts in Glenpool, OK who has served the Tulsa Metro area for 22 years went to Tom Votaw of Tulsa. A 540.00 Gift Certificate from St. Michael's Alley Restaurant, a wonderful dining experience located at 3324L E. 31st Street in Tulsa was won by Da\·id Bryan of Tulsa. The RCA DVD Player contribution from Michael Leach and the STAR went ro Aaron Christensen of Tulsa. Thank you 1ficnael for all your help and contributions. Ralph Smith's name was drawn for the free 1 year subscription ;:o the STAR. * ( 1 ) - 6 l2roudly serving 1UJsa & OKCls (Jl.,B''f communities since 198 Arkansas & Oklahoma's Most Read GLBT Magazine. Stonwall Responds to lnhofe · "No Gay" Claims (\'.\'edm.:sday,June -::, 200:j) "As you see here, and I think this is maybe the most important prop we'll have during the entire debate, my wife and I have been married 47 years. We have 20 kids and grandkids. I'm really proud to say that in the recorded history of our family, we've never had a divorce or any kind of homosexual relationship." -United States Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) "Championing family values means more than repeating rhetoric. It means that we must value ail members of the American family," said Jo Wyrick, NSD Interim Executive Director. "I remember being taught by scripture that love is kind, it does not boast. Unfortunately, the Senator's words were nor kind and through his boasting, Senator Inhofe has further demonstrated that Republicans are choosing to only offer political rhetoric designed to appease campaign donors rather than serve to actually secure the stability of the family." Senator Inhofe made his statements late yesterday on the floor of the United States Senate as pan of a Republican effort to lobby public opinion on the issue of the Marriage Protection Amendment (MPA) which the Senate will vote on today. The measure is expected to fail, and is opposed by the majority of Americans according to recent opinion polls. Tnis is not the first time tha~ Senator Inhofe i:tas issued aggressive anti-gay srarements from the Senate. In 2004, the Republican from Oklahoma made it clear to reporters that he ·.,ouid never hire an openly-gay Republican. Responding to allegations rhat a member of his staff was g:w, Senator Inhofe toid the C:iicagc Trib~.ne that the allegations were fab:e since he wouldn'~ hire a gay applicant .a due to the possibility of a conflict of agenda.'' J\i2ny prornioent Republicans have been noted t(J include openly-gay members of their imn1ediate family including 1/ice and Alan Keyes. the STAR 5 What Does Pride Mean to You? Every June, the debate begins: Is Gay Pride still imponant? Do we need the parades and festivals? Is a month to celebrate homosexualitv really necessary? Many claim that these public dispiays of all thi~gs ga)· do more· harm than good. Yet, in these times of widespread, government-sanctioned homophobia, pride events are more popular rhan ever. What gives? The simple answer may be that pride is empowering. Many gays and lesbians feel isolated in a heterosexual world, bur pride eYents remind rhem that the\· are far from alone. Being surrounded by thousands of other p~ople like them is an affirming feeling. The answer really isn't that simple, rhough. The truth is pride means different thine:s ro different people. Pride doesn't last for only one monrh a vear ~and it isn't always about waYing a rainbow flag. \'l~'ith this in mind, I decided to inte~iew four young, openly gay men. The conversarions were informal and far from scientific, but I discovered some interesting similarities in their answer~. Ley came out between the ages of 13 and 14, Brandon at 14, Matt at 15, andJonarhan at 17. All four boys reported that thefd always ;ust know rhev were gav from their earliest memories. "I ngured J • V 0 something was different around fifth grade," Ley explained, "but didn't put a word ro it umil sixth or sevenrh grade, and didn'! accept that it really applied to me unril eighth grade.'' Their experiences are far from unique. According to Caitlin Ryan, director of adolescent health initiative~ at San Francisco State Universirv, who is conducting a long-term study of gay, lesbian, and bisexual youths and their families, the average age for coming out is dropping at a rapid rate. For many years, most gay men came out between the ages of 19 and 23. Some srndics report that age has dropped ro 14, and it's getting younger ail tl>e time. A recent Time Magazine article offered more insight. Forty vears ago, most gay males said they knew :hey were gay at age 14. Mal? teens today say they've known since they were at least 10 years old. What bro ugh~ about tJ::iis drastic drop? Experts disagrez on_ t~e details, but most agree it's a resuit of incrca5ed exposure. K;cts are aware of what it means to be gay much car:ier today ti1an m d:e past. That means, as Ley described, they are able to put a name to their feelings of being differe<J~ at rou!1ger ages. :\fatt said he had labeled himself ··gav'' by the time he was 10. Still, e"',rcn in his case "lvherc he had no quahns about gay, it rook him five vcars to come out \'\fhy th<: delay? E,\'en though kids are ccnning to terms '\.Vith their sexuality a.t n1uch :~,:~~~: :::~, (:~,:~:;: t::!~onside/~h: 1 ;i!:::;~:~e,:/f it's s~;;:n~:r and fan1ily., thlnk ho\\' rnuch harder it is for a young teen. ,..rhc prospect of getting kicked our of your horne ar t".vel .. \,~t· or thirteen i~:. rnuch more young "! was just sick of holding the secret in;' Matt told me. "It felt like a giant weight on my shoulders that was constantly forcing me to lie and cheat the people I loved. I finally cold myself that people's opinion of me might change, but only for the better. The friends that I might iose (which happened ro be none, rhankfully), would nor be missed because they obviously did not love me in the way that I loved them.'' Jonathan, who brags he was almost kicked out of first ~ade for kissing a boy, came out for similar reasons he wanted to be honest with his friends about who he was dating. "I didn't want to be someone who couldn't be happy about a date and giggle with my friends because I wasn't out. I wamed rhem to cheer me on, and tell me that it ,vas gonna be fun, and ask me questions about the guy." Brandon boiled it all down to a simple: "It just felt right." The key to each of these boys coming out at such an early age was pride. They were confident enough in who they were to share that with those around them. W1rnt I found most interesting, however, was the way pride :neant something slightly different to each of them. To Ley, it meant not being scared ro be who you are. for Brandon, being proud meant standing up for a worthy cause. To him. pride was more about celebrating our accomplishments and looking forward to where we want w be. Jonathan took a more personal approach. "Pride means living life - with all its obstacles and hardship and stereotypes and still have the abil.itv to look in the mirror and tell yourself that you're still here. No· matter who vou love or what brand of clothing you use to define yourself, nothi~g can change you. You are you -- and if I can say that to myself, that's pride." Matt's response perhaps best sums up the changing attitudes about pride. "Pride, for me, is a very important thing. No matter what asoect it is, you have ro be proud of who you are. If they had an' "Americ~n Mutt" Pride Month, or a "Brown Hair and Brown Eves" Pride Month, I'd be out waving my flag. Gay Pride Month i/no different. It's ;us;: another aspect of myself, a tiny portion of ·Nhat makes me unique. r\ lot of peopie don't see the necessiry of gav pri~11 e b ecausc 1· r t,s e1' rh er too out t h ere (.t o o queeny, •, oo " g ay " , wi1atever), or it's not necessary because throwing a rainbow flag around doern't accomplish anything. Bu~ being proud of who you a:e is1,'t nccessarilv about proactively accorr:plishing something. h's about letting the public know that you are happy with yourself aad cvernl:ing about \"<>u. But it's not reaiiy about other peop:e I'm 1Jro,~d of ·:,,.+10 I a~. reg-ardless oi h<Jw others feel. Cnfortunatdy, I\·~ become ·-:en· mud; rer:10.-ed from a lot of the "traditioaal'' gay pnde. l no longer attend the meetings of the Pride 1\lliance at my ... nor d\) I 1;articioate in the Pride Parades. lt's not that Pm no longer proud -- l;elt I'~ here and I'rn queer, baby! Ifs much more ab(;{Jt the fiicr that rm at a po1nt in 1ny life .., vhere rm trying to ~:~);:~:;n other ~::~:.~c;:~~:dl~;:s;:~·r!:Y:~:~ll:,!;}~t;~~;v~~~~ ::~ ;;~~ ,.. 0 Advettising in the STAR is just good business cents. Heart to Heart Pride means many things to different people. The parades and festivals are still meaningful to many, while others prefer a more personal approach. \Vhatever it means to you, find a way to celebrate it! * Tulsa Rough Riders Fundraise For AIDS. TULSA, OK_Tulsa Rough Riders through various fund-raising events during ;:he month of June raised $236.00 for charity. The events proceeds will be given to St. Joseph Residence organization of Tulsa. St. Joseph Residence is an assisted living cemer for low income people living with AIDS. The group presented the proceeds to the Director of St. Joseph Residence during Pride Month 2006. Tulsa Rough Riders recently presented "colors" to the Tulsa Eagle, making it the "HOME" bar for the club. \'fay to go RoughRiders!!!! "Homophobia is a crime," An estimated 2.4 miliion peopie took to the streets of Sao Paulo (wer :he weeicenci to celebra:e the Brazilian city's 10th annua] Gay Pride paracie, the Associated Pres~ reported. l~he thetne for this year's event \Vas ''J:iomophobia i~ a ,. to highiight propo,ed anti-discrin1ination la~.vs. Discritnination is still widespread across Brazil. Eighty-enc Brazilians '\Vere ki!led 1a~t ';:,7ear because of their sexual orientation} activ'"ists say, Proposed la,;;vs vlou]d aHo\v san1e-sex civil uni~ns throughout Brazil; are nu\1,~ permitted ortly in the southernmost state of Rio CJrande do Sul. Salt Lake City Police Set Up Recruiting Booth at Gay Pride Event. by Tonya Papanikolas SALT LAKE CI1Y, UT_From baton-like performers to floats that encouraged wlerance, the Gay Pride parade was a colorful affair. "The parade is a chance for people to get up and express who they are in a very public way." Law enforcement agencies were there not tO keep the crowd under control, rather they used the festival as a recruiting wol. For severai years now, police officers and gay community members have joined together to work on a public safety committee that addresses issues of understanding between the two groups, but this is the first time police agencies have formally recruited at a Gay Pride event. Police officers told us they've traditionally been weak in recruiting from the gay and lesbian community and they want this community w feel comfortable with law enforcement. To do that, they say gay, lesbian, bisexual and cransgender people need to be represented. The Gav Pride Festival ar the Citv and County ·building boasted music, food and a lot of different vendors. This year, police officers wanted a booth. Capt. Kyle Jones, Salt Lake Police Department: "The iirsr purpose is to let the gay and lesbian communitV know that police departmen~ s in this valley are gay-friendly. Our :,econci purpose is to do some recruiting." Seven different police departments and dispatch centers sent representatives to give out information and talk t0 people about iobs manv in the g·;r,1 and lesbian community have traditionaliy·;b\ed av.-:-ay from or feit ~ locked out of. Brian Reeder: ''The police force, it's gener~ lly somethi?g y::;u don~t _fe~l is frien~ly rt) the gay< and 1esb1an populanon. But tney seern to be. S<J that7s a Capt.. Kyie Jones: "I think t'.1ere's an impression that police officers are homophobic. Years ago that may have been the case, but it's not tl1e case now.'' The booth drew a lot of people curious to see what police were doing there. Todd Crane: "I think it's awesome. I think we need to have more community im-olvement with the police." Others were truiy interested in law enforcement jobs. Terry Reid: "I'd apply. I'd apply for a dispatcher." Brian Reeder: "Now that I know they're willing to openly accept gay and lesbian people, it's definitely a career option I wouldn't rule out." Terry Reid: "I applaud them. That's great. That is great. I think we need to break down these walls and get diversity" The police departments say the more gay and lesbian officers they have working for them, the more the gay community will feel its issues are represented. Police want ro send a clear message. Capt.. Kyle Jones: "We don't care about who you are or who your partner is. We care about, can you do good police work?" The festival coordinator said that the Gay Pride movement began in New York in 1969 when gay people got fed up with police harassment in bars and started rioting and fighting back. So, he said to haYe officers here at the Festival this year sho-ws how far the reiationship has come. * Quotable Quotes In ]\iash-,-ille, 16 billboards went up \Vtth this quote: '-(Jay and lesbian people have families, and their families should haYe protections, v.rhether by marriage or civil union. :\ constitmionai amendment banning sarne~sex marriages is a forrn of g;.1y bashing, and it '\Vou}d do ar all ro ntotect traditional marriages."' ...... . Coretta Scott King 2004 theSTAR 7 Con atulation to andy Cayne, MISS OKLAHOMi\ CONTINENTAL 2006-20070 by Greg Steele Photo's by Chaz ; .::::::/ ,:, 0;.f)6ti~·}J~ . TULSA, OK_Held at Club Majestic in Tulsa, OK, this years · · Miss Oklahoma Continental pagaent wasn't just another · drag show. With the Eiffel Tower as a back drop, the show . had a definite Gay Parisian theme. The opening number · displayed more feathered ladies than the Moulin Rouge. .. It was quite spectacular! The five contestants competed · in four categories. Talent, Swimwear, Evening Gown and Question-Answer. Kandy . · Cayne, a native Tulsan residing in Dallas, TX swept three of · the four catego- . ries with Mendigan !man Star winning a well deserved talent · trophy. Mendigan Iman Star from Arkan- . sas won First Alternate. Second Alternate winner was Mya Mokha · Iman from Oklahoma. A special award was given to Tulsa's own Miss G~y Oklahoma America 2006, Tabitha Tayior for the best show production, an episode of Twisted Theatre. · Billed as the most fascinating pageant in Oklahoma, the Miss Oklahoma Continental Pageant is open to contestants from all states to compete. Contestants in this years show hailed from Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. The pageant is a franchise of JF Enterprises of Chicago Illinois and is in it's 27th year. Oklahoma Continental is owned and operated by promoters James and Monica Freeman of Tulsa. If you missed this years show it will be avaiiable on DVD soon. The 2004 and 2005 pageants are currently available on DVD and can be purchased through the website listed below, Previous years Oklahoma Continental winners were: Miss & Mr. Oklahoma Continental 2005 - 2006 Ebony Hall - Daniel Xavier Miss Oklahoma Continental P!us 2004-2005 Domonique Daniels, For more information visit the Miss Oklahoma Continental website at: www.okcontinental.etechsolution.ca Ph,;t;J L.·fL w Right. ;'\[iss Oklahoma r:cntmental 2005 !fall, ~\f1,, ( lldai1om:, Conrinentii 2006 "Kandy Cavne'·, ,'\,f1s, Continentai 0i2.::ionaL 21;!1!, "Dunani(pe Shappelle" NE DI SPRING FIE ION FOR MO. PRIDE. By Kay Massey Springfield Pride Block Party, Photo by Teresa Goodrich. BENTONVIILE, AR~The Northwest Arkansas (N\X'A) GLBT Community Center, a newly formed community outreach organization in Bentonville/Rogers, decorated their van for the drive from Rogers, AR to Springfield, MO on June 18th to prove their community pride, as ,;veil as to advertise Springfie!d1s Pride Festival tl1at ended pride week "'Nith a bang . .l\. Block Par~y was staged on Commercial street which is also the location of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of the Ozarks (GLO). The event was well attended by over 2,000 people. There were drag Icing and queen shows all day long. Some of the speakers addressing the crowd were the Mayor of Springfield Thomas J.. Carlson and Midge Potts, a transsexual running for US Congressional seat in Missouri's 7th district against Roy Blunt, as well as many others. 'While all of the action was going on in the street, inside the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of the Ozarks (GLO) a silent auction was being held to financially support the Center. Another fund raiser earlier in the week for the GLO Center, by Queen City Cab3:tet. Queen City Cabaret brought in $8,000 for the community center. The money will be used for the organization's operating expenses. The GLO Center took over the Annual Pride festival recentiy after ShoMeMoPride, the previous organizer, went defunct and turned the Festival over to the GLO Center. The GLO Center and Springfield MO Pride coordinated efforts to put on one heck of a show this year in support of Springfieid Pride. NWA GLBT Community center had a large banner for e,eryone in attendance to sign as a pledge of suppor: to t,'Je GLO Center for the nexr 12 months. The banner was filled ',virh signatures by attendees throughout the day and \Vas presented to the centers nev.r Director Bill Harmon by Kay Mas$ey and CaroI Ri,;crs, Co-Directors of the NWA GLBT Commi.:.nity Center, at the end of the event. The banner ~~vill hang inside of the GLl) (:enter until next :fear's Pride Event as a reminder of Pride 1n Springfield, and as a pledge of support tcJ the GL() CenteL Be seen with the SIAR, Advertise with us! 9 Lesbian Notions by Libby Post JULY 2006 TWO Is Better Than, "Won"! If Wayne Besen has his way, the "ex-gay" myth will be no more. The author of Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth_ launched a new organization recently, Truth Wins Out (f\X'O), at the National Press Club in \'vashington, D.C Named as a direct challenge to the Love Won Out conferences sponsored by Focus on the Family, 1WO's mission is to expose the lies and deceit of the "ex-gay" movement and to strip the Radical Christian Right of its "love the sinner, hate the sin" facade. "The ex-gay ministry is the heart and the Achilles heel of the Christian Right," Besen told me in a recent interview. "They use these ministries - like Exodus International to shield their hate. By [TWO] showing the ex-gay movement for what it really is, the Christian Right wiil have to return to fire and brimstone. We want Americans to know this is a hoax like selling swampland to senior citizens in Florida. Right now it's a monologue, and they're doing all the talking. We're going to make our ,·oices heard to the American people loud and clear." With the White House in the pocket of the Radical Christian Right, the rhetoric of "ex-gayness" has become a GOP political truth. \'vhen Bush held his press conference in early June to push for the Marriage Protection Amendment, which would codifv discrimination into the U.S. Constitution, Alan Chambers, Exoclus' president, and Randy Thomas, its director of membership, stood by his side. Their presence increased and solidified the political capital of their lies and deception. In a press release issued after being invited to the Wnite House but before tl1e oress evem;,Chamoers said, "The lives of thousands of former homosexuals, like me, verifv that homosexualitv is not an immutable trait, therefore marriag; is not a civii right r~ be casuaily granted to any group who demands it. Nor is it a rdationai right of passage w Ix: awarded to those demonstrating a comrnitted, emotionai bond. t;bmatdy. tbs debate is about nothing !es, than tile preservation of future gcnerations.H ~' 01;1~one needs' :. ~o 1l et ('' • . • • 'd' r .. ~nam.bers 1n o~ a secret - \Ve~ve: bec~1 a~ 1ng to tuture generations tor qu1te some nme no\V :and haYe r:.1.1sed son1e ~:,;:71~ek:1:s·s:~:;:>;;~~;l:::e:;,;;~~:~\ 1~J1 ;(:~ !'.:;;~~:~:t:l~:~d that deny gays and lesbian$ \vho are out and proud the abiJity to \Valk do,vn the aisle? Belie\'(' rnc., I7rn for him Ch·1rnber~; i:.:: one of those folks \vhosc I,,(;J~T re;.-okc iong ag<;, 10 the STAR card I'd h,ri.'c liked to But it seems to me that Chambers is realh- it!St a cioseted bisexual clearly, he can do it with men and wom~:1, - and that's his prerogacive, But by telling gay men and lesbians that we can enjoy "freedom from homosexuality through the puv.rer of Jesus Cl:rist:' and bv making a political crusade our of it, he has crossed ~t proYerbia: line in the sand and needs to be met '.vith equal ferocity. TWO and Besen are definitely up w that task. "I think we need to get a lot more aggressive in tl1e movement,'' said Besen. "\Ve hai.e a tendency to ignore the attacks under the premise of raking tl1e high road. I think our community is fed up with being swift-boated [a referen,ce to how John Kerry's campaign was sabotaged bv Republican operatives who claimed to be Viet Nam vets and undermined the senator's war record]. "TWO is the group that will fight back. We'll make sure our community cannot be collectively character-assassinated," said Besen. "\Ve wam to be rhe war room for our movement to resnond to the Radical Right." • Right now, TWO is just Besen and some volunteers \vho soend their rime researching and gathering the information they ~vill need to continue to debunk rhe fallacy of ex-gayness. He intends to move the operation to Washington, D.C., bur keep his-present Miami office so he can maintain what he calls "the Florida turnpike connection" between T\"(10 and Exodus' headquarters in Orlando. Not wanting to become an LGBT organizational behemoth, 1WO still needs to be supported by rhe community go to www.truthwinsout. org, watch some of the unbelievable video clips of "ex-gay," born-again therapist Richard Cohen, and then click on "contribute" and do the right thing. "Truth Wins Out will put a laser-like focus on this issue things will happen because we cause them to." Spoken like a man who believes in the poy;er of the LGBT community a power that still has not been fully realized, but with Besen's help will stop the insanity of people nati!1g themselves because of whom they love. When tl:at happem, then love and truth reallv do win! · * OKLAHOMA JULY 25TH DIVERSITY EEKEND Eureka Springs, Arkansas Aug 4-6, 2006 Swiss, Holiday Resort No Surprises Staying with , , , Rodeway Inn Ozarks Family Owned! Great Sunday - Thursday Rates • Visitors center and area attraction ticket center • jacuzzi king rooms for two • On-site weddings and wedding packages ® Close to restaurants and attractions • Small pets allowed • Family reunions • Ozark Mountain Motorcycle Tours of popular area destinations • Picnic and barbecue area • Group rates and package plans • Church group packages available • Friendliest atmosphere in Eureka Springs • Family owned and operated• Trolley stop• Free tanning bed for guests • Continental breakfast • Meeting room to hold 80 with full kitchen • On-site massage therapy center • Guest laundry • Center of all attractions Call for toil free reservations: 1-8 - 4 P.O. Box 430 • Eureka Springs, Arkansas 72632 479-253-9501 www.eurekaspringsresort.com the STAR 11 th" ampa~ n New Epidemic NEW YORK, NY_On rhe discovery of AIDS 25th anniversary in June, the gay community is grappling with a new epidemic a dramatic increase in the use of what many consider to be the most dangerous drug in the United Stares Crystal Meth. In an effort to combat abuse of this highly addictive drug, New York City's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (the Center) announced the launch · of a new ad campaign with the message: "Silence= Meth." The phrase "Silence=Meth'' is a slightly modified but equally haunting reinterpretation of ACT UP's famous "Silence=Death" campaign during the 1980s AIDS crisis, when posters bearing the words "Silence=Death'' were plastered throughout New York City. The posters became a wakeup call to action for those most vulnerable to AIDS - gay and bisexual men. "Twenty-five years ago our community refused to be siiem about AIDS," said Richard Burns, Executive Director of r;1e Center. 'Just as the ACT UP caippa;gn a;erted tl1e gav community to AIDS in the 1980s and ✓ ✓ 90s, the Ce;:iter's 'Silence=Meth' campaign will focus attention on the danger of Crystal Meth and what the entire community mt.st do to he'.p prevent abuse and addiction to ,his drug." 1\ffecting all races, age~ and sexual onent:.1~ cions, <:rystal IV1eth is a po\\.·erful rnood •alteriag stimulant that has been ~weeping through com1nunitics across the United States" In Niarch 2006, (~ongrcss passed the (~ombat r"letharnphctamine 1\ct, ,..vhich restricts the sale nf nver--the-courner coJd and cant pseu<loephcdrinc~ an 12 the STAR med to illegally manufacture Crysta! Meth. Although seizures of "Moonshine Metn" labs ha,-e slowed slightly under the new law, the drug still holds a right grip on many commwtities across the country including New York's community of gay and bisexual men. "The ACT UP ads put our government on notice that the gay and lesbia!1 communir:,· would no longer tolerate its silence on the devastation of AIDS. Today, we need to keep talking within our community about hm01 co address rhc impact of meth use and we also need to hold government accountable for giving us the necessary resources to effectively implement meth prevention and ,reatment," said Barbara Warren, the Center's Director for Organizarional Development, Planning and Research. "Crvstal fvieth nor only affects the user, but eve;vone in the user's iife friends, family, cow~rkers, community and society. No one can afford to be sile:1t about Me:h." "The 25-year separation of rbe t\vo campai<' ns is panic;.;.larlv relevant because the epidemic; are so ci~>sely connected;· Burns said. ''The relationship between Crysta! ;\!eth and HIV/AIDS has become clearer o;·er the past fevv years with studies showing that Crvstal Meth u~ers are :11ore likely w engage· in unsafe sex and that f1 IV-:___positive n,1:.::n are 1nore likely to use: c:rystaJ ,~..,,feth." In a 2006 survey of gay and bisexual 1ncn in approxitnatcly one in four indicated the use of C:rystal ~feth in the period of srx r11onth$ pnor to tlie assessn-1(~nt In a "~.,, •. ,n,• 0 In addition to its counseling services, the Center has addressed the Crystal Meth crisis through its community forums, education campaigns, public polic~ advocacy efforts, and independent research. Congress demonstrated in 2005 its support of tr..e Center by allocating federal funds for the expansion and enhancement of the Center's Crystal J\Ieth prevention and counseling programs. The announcement of the "Silence=Jvfeili" campaign came just before June's National Gay Pride Month - an event marked by the annual parade through New York City on the last Sunday of the month. * New Nutrient-Based Approach Shows Promise Against Deadly Bird Flu Symptoms Clinician and Researcher Dr. Tim Guilford is investigating a promising new treatment for bird flu, which has potential for substantially reducing the mortality rate associated with H5N1 infections. Dr. Guilford explains his strategy in layman's terms during interview with Dr. Shoshana Zimmennan of Bird Flu Beacon. Los Altos, CA (PRWEB) June 6, 2006 -One of the main causes of concern about HSNl Avian Influenza (bird flu) is that approximately 1/2 of the confirmed cases have died. Experts attribute this mortality rate to an unfortunate immune response called a "cytokine storm." This ofte:1 fatai side-effect is triggered when a virus gets past ~he frontline defenses and rhe immune system over-reacts. Dr. Guilford iikei;s this occurrence to urban v,1arfare, in \Vhich the ,veapon:.-; used to take our the enemy also inflict hca·v}~ civilian casualties. •~"Without instructions tc back <Jff, the immune system not only destroys the virus but the tissues around the virus, causing such acute respiratory distress (/tR~DS) that the i1ninunc sysrcrn can readily kill the infected indi\tidual as ..._-,,.~eJi as the ,-irus.'~ the process in sorne\vhat more ciinlcai tern1s, l)L (;uilford says~ '~In pan- Continued next page . .. Your Health: TNF (tumor necrosis factor) from immune and epithelial cells to help kill the virus. However, the virus produces a protein that causes the energy producing mitochondria of the cell, located in the cell's nucleus, to become suddenly sensitized to TNF. This causes the mitochondria to break down and release substances that trigger rapid cellular death. While fighting a virus, excessive TNF can simultaneously attack cellular membranes and inrercellular biochemical machinery. When enough of these mechanisms are compromised in the lungs, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) occurs, and it is ARDS that can lead to death from bird flu." Dr. Guilford notes the need to both strengthen the body's frontline defenses and to inhibit the damaging effects of a largescale release of cytokines. He points out, "There is accumulating e,--idence indicating TNF is modulated by antioxidants in normal tissues, especially the antioxidant called reduced glutathione. People \¥1.th acute respiratorv distress svndrome have been test~d to be low in reduced Rlutathione in lung fluid.'' ~ These findings have put Dr. Guilford onto the trail of a potentially effective treatmem for the disastrous effects of HSN1 infection. He is currently investigating the use of liposomal encapsulated reduced glutath.ione to maintain normal glutathione levels. He says, "Medical research w date has previously focused primarily on stopping replication and proliferation. However, if glucathione can be shown in clinical studies ro modulate the cytokine storm, it will prove to be an effective and inexpemive approach to dealing with virai infect.ions. Currently we have ver: few medical tools for the cvt;kine storm. , and tbs approach appears promising." · * Photos Needed for World AIDS D Remembrance Service OKLAHOMA CITY, OK_\Y/o:dd AIDS l)ay P~men1brance Service v1iU be held Thursda); 1'1overnber 30, 2006 at l\1avflo'..ver Congregational Church 3901 N\:\' 6.3rd Street, Oldahoma City, OK 73116. There ,;viU be a reception foUo,.,-ving the service. or colleague of yours has died of AIDS, please send a photograph(s) of this special person in a jpeg or TIF format to the following e-mail address to be added to this presentation: patta1@cox.net For more information about this presentation, please e-mail Pat Hernandez at patta1@cox.net. Startling statistics- - Nearly 5,000 Oklal1omans are currently living witl1 HIV/ AIDS. This number d~es not include those individuals who are infected but unaware of their infection. - 15- to 24-year olds make up the largest number of HIV infect.ions in the world. - African Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV: thev account for 33% of total AIDS cases in the U.S., while comprising only 11 % of the U.S. population. Approximately 40 million people worldwide are living with HIV/ AIDS. - More tnan 25 mill.ion people ,vith HIV/ AIDS have died since the first AIDS cases were identified in 1981. - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevent.ion (CDC) estimate that more than one mill.ion people in the U.S. are living with HIV infect.ion, one-quarter of whom are una,vare of heir infection. Join our efforts for a healthier Oklahoma. For more information about World AIDS Day and how you can become involved, go to ,vww.aidswalkokc.org. * MISSOURI AUGUSTBTH COMMENTARY by Michael Dee '.'Different strokes for different folks'' is· the old .saying that my grandmother used to teli me sometimes. This is.altfine and dandy but if you do want to be all that diff ercnt then you have to stiffer. the consequences. You can wear any kind of hairstyle that you want but if you can't find a decent job due to your hairstyle then perhaps you need. to re-evaluate your self The same thing about clothing .What employer wants to hire · somebody who doesn't fit into .their idea of what they Wa.D;t t:hen: company to· represent. The same widigoing out to din!"lei: or to a · bar. . t:hing to weai: to a' Jot Of QUVS • ·.· . and gals:wea~gWetnto H:te··oars: ~r one . . . :r for. mpubμci us: ·most , . . . yrhor~~;!;~~tt l:Ioestb dress shabbv. . . . . ·• · . . . ~~. · t'waiit 'to fort·to. thetitselves lbl)kS~er. ' ... ·.. ... ) .. ,;'.: I doti't care if vour · dragor"dr~ir' · .best. As a ma in ieath(ll' and E~~r notice • · feans? It nsed ~e .t~ :go to th gr<:at I ~~;..is· o noticed that . ~ndlooks HOT!' Wh, .. in the Mid:w:est? · ,', ,,', ' ;,'' ::>, ', ,;',~i' ,,,,':',:< ,,: »;'};to wnnts to go t.o a hru: and see a burich of ~!eazy q..~ssedpeople withbasebill d:ps on (and sometipies bac'.kwa!i:ls) . .Guess .. thattlicy ~e ttving · · ·. , · · Well, th~y are ~otl enough reputation the .,,.ray it is without us · contributfo£ to it more. Be nroua of who , ',' ':' '. i: ..-. 'j:. '1./", ,,,'~y ,,', ''.',',,"t:" :>>,;' ';::., ' you are anct maxe tne Dest out of lite.. Arkansas & Oklahoma's most read GLBT Magazine * 13 ast Out by Liz Highleyman JULY 2006 Summary : Past Out is a retrospective of key moments, personalities, and subjects in LGBT history. Each installment brings the past to life by exploring the diversity of the gay pasr and its impact on the queer ptesent. How queer was the Weimar era in Germany? The era of ti1e \X'eimar Republic (1918-1933) ,vitnessed a flourishing of the arts, liberalization of sociai attitudes, and the emergence of a vibrant queer culture in Berlir. and other German cities. But a conservative backlash, economic depression, and the rise of the Nazi regime reYersed this progress after little more than a decade. Like much of Earope, Germany was devastated by \X'orld \Var I. Hungry for peace and cager for change, the country ousred the monarchy of Kaiser \Vilhelm II in November 1918 and instituted a parliamcman· democracy led b:i the Socialists. The following year, the legislature drafted a ne,v comtiturion granting gender and class equality, prirncy rights, and indi\·idual liberries such as freedom of speech and assembiy. Thus beg;m an era of rcmarirnble artistic and intellec.:ual ferment. The realms of literature, drama, music, architecture, and ,he new medium of iilm expioded. Philosophy and political theory enjoyed a renaissance as weil. and medicine and science flourished, with new advances in fields ranging from psychology to physics. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, a:1d transgender people were in the thick of these de,·eiopme!lts. By this rime, G~rn{any already had the strongest gay righ,s mm·emcnt in the worid. In 1897, Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld and ethers had founded the Scientific ffomanitaria!1 Commit:ec the first:-c\·er i10me,sexrn,; rights group devoted to ~eform of Paragraph 1 the (;cnnan ]a\v criminalizing sex ben.veen men. In 1919, Hirschfeld opened the imtirnte for Sexual Science in Ber~i:1, which h(,used i library, rnuseu;n, .1:1d c;inic. The mcvemc!·:t \Vas even large (~nough t<, have internal schis1ns: 1\dolf Brand's Gemeinsc!uft dcr Eigenrn (Comm;;nitv •.if Seif-( hvners), tot;ndcd in 1903, cckbratcd :~;;sculmc culture a~d rejected Hi;·schfdd'~ medicaiizcd Yicrr of hon1osexuality. c;ay social life fiouri~~hcd dunng the 1920~. \X>'hilc there v;ere hubs of activity in cities such as :\.lunich, and (:olognc'.} Berlin ",.l?as \Virhout doubt rbc center of cp.1ecr culture. ;\nracted by the heady attnosphere ,c1nd a ">;~vcak currency that n1ade li\~ing relatively cheap, gay::: and lesbians flocked to the capital frorn across (;ennany and around the \vorld. one --•en""''''' there ~~\~ere 35!\000 gay men 14 the STAR pher Isherwood's Goodi)yc to Berlin (1 ?39\ \vhich inspired the play and film _Cabaret_. Berlin boasted dozens of g:1y, lesbian, and transvestite nightclubs, leading Hieschfc1l'd to note thar "Cranians [his term for homosexuals] }ia;-e been $Ceo arri,·ing frcm the depths o: the provinces weeping rears of JG,· ,,t the sight nf rhis spectacle." Manv sue!: Yenues ·.,ere concentrateci in the Schoneberl! and Nollend~ rfpiatz neighborhoods, which ,emain centers elf g,~y lire today. One of these, the Eldorado :~ightc!ub on :;\fotzstrn,se, sported large signs over the entrance announcing "\·ou've ;:()und it1" and "It's OK Herc!'' In addition, there were numer<ms cafes, bathhouses, fetish clubs, bookstores, theaters, anci hotels rn,,m- op::::ated D\' gay entrepreneurs as well as an c:stimateci 2,00() male, pr~1srimtcs. · Lesbian and bisexual '.':omen ,,·ere acfr,c in mixed-gender homosexual organizatiom such as the League for H .. 1man Rights, ac' well as in the burgeoning \,·omen's mo\·ement, '.wirkicg for cduca!ional reform and the right to employment o .. :tside the l;<!me. B:; one estimate, there were some 50 lesbian \Tm1es and organizations in Berlin, including bars often frequented by burch/ t'em:ne couples - salons, bowling clubs, and li-,-ing collecti-,es. Se0:cn'il well-kn,rwn lesbian literary figures called t!:e city home, 1Ecluding w:iter Christa \'('insloe (author of the noYei that .._,:as r.he basis of the Elm \fa[dchen in Cniform) and American joumaiist Don rhy Thompson. The new press fo:edorn enc<ll!ragec rhe cstablishn:em of some 3(1 queer iiternry and political publicatioGs, ,d1ich were sold Oj)enly on newsstands and boasted a combiced circulation in the millions. Among these \.Vere Branci\, Der Eigene (One's Own1 thought to be the first-eYer gay mag .. zinc - Die freundsd:aft (Fncmisbr:), Die Insel (fbe Island), Frnucnliebe ,.1.Xomen's LmT), a,1d Garconne. But many Germans, disturbed b,· the era's cuh,ral chan(.'.es and economic h;rciships. yearned for a ;eturn t,J uad:tiona! -.-ah;cs. Religious conservatives decried si1ifting gender roles and pcrcei-.:.:d \ ices ,uch as homosexuality, pornography, and abortion. "'T'hc nation's problems were blamed on Communists, f c·x,, feminists, and hcmosexuals. · · Adolf Hitler exploited these fears and preiudices to consolidate his political power, aided by factionalism on ,he left. He was appointed chance!lor in January 1933, a:1d the staged Retch~tag tire the folkr, ving momh pro;·1ded a pretext for su,pcndin,',': ci·:•il hbcrtlcs. Ir: Iv1ay, the Inscitute for Sexuai Science was ,ackcd ard its :rnnerials burned bv right-wing: youth. Homosexual pabhcations ,,ere banned and venues \Vere shurtert:d; the F~ldorado ~,.vas conYcrted into a Kazi propaganda ccn:er. In l 935~ Paragraph 175 \vas strcngtl1\.~ned. An cstin1atcd 5J)00 to ~5,(~(!0 a~cu:ed ho1n,?~cxual r:1cn ,·vcre sent tn conccntrauon carnps. /\mid this ciltnate ot tear and an untt)ld nun1.ber of gutcr grated to safer ccn.uurirst or con-H11ittcd suicide. Yanishcd into a srili greater s Brief s Possible" HAIR SUIT EXHIBIT by Steve of Oklahoma. ELECTION REMINDERS Bv Victor Gorin In order to vote in the upcoming July 25 Oklahoma Primary election, you must be registered to vote bv JL,ne 30. If you are registering by mail your card must be postmarked that day or sooner. Oklahoma has a closed primary system, so Democrats can only vote for the Democratic candidates, and Republicans may only vote for Republican candidates in that election to choose their respective nominees for the General Election. Within Oklahoma County there are 2 GLBT candidates running for office in the Primary Election on the Democratic side, Rhonda Rudd for State Senate District 46 and Al McAffrey for State House District 88. If there are runoff elections, they will happen August 22. In order to vote in tha:: election you must be registered by July 28. In order to vote in the November 7 General Election you must be registered by October 13. Remember that you can register at any county election board or tag agency in Oklahoma, and other locations as well. Registration has never been easier, and after registration you \\'ill receive your voting card in the mail which will have your polling place on it.. If you have been convicted of a felony you can still register ro vote if you are not serving time either in lockup, probation or parole (off paper). Other than that, you only need to be a US citizen ,vho has attained 18 years of age or will turn 18 before the next election. If you are already registered, you don't need to register again unless you have moved or haven't voted for 4 years. If you have moved since you last voted and registration is still open you may register for your new address, or you can vote in your last polling place and register for your new address at thi1t time. Remember that within the same county voting system you cannot change your party affiiiacion bet'.veen June l and August 31. Also be aware that if y.:,u register Independent, you belong to no party and will not be abie w v(ne in primary elections. If in doubt caJJ your county elec-• rion board :and can confirm your status. /tiso remen1ber that even if registration is closed before an election, you may rnaiJ or n..1rn in a voter application card and -...-ote in elections foHow~ing the one \'{lith each state\v-ide tJt co1nes before those elections you may Yote at your Election Board H a.n1. until 6 p.1r1. 1 the next day Saturday from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. and the following Monday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Polls are open on election days for 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Other assistance is available in the form o!' absentee voting and other forms of speciai assistance if that is needed. Your participation is vital, especially ,vith the current political climate in America. Please exercise your right and duty to vote. * Creating Community for People living with HIV/AIDS Non Profit (}rganization Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for peop!e who are HIV+ and or living 'Nlth AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry fur those who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS 'Nho cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone V✓ho wouid iike to voiunteer or provide fi .. nancial assistance to piease contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail hanismmjr@yahoo.com. the STAR 15 / By Greg Steeie Micah Barnes JULY2006 Singer, Musician, \/'✓ riter Micah Barnes to headline "Summer Diversity Weekend" in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. EUREKA SPRINGS, AR_lf you missed the Spring Diversity Festival in Eureka Springs with the GAYCO show, this is another great opportunity to get out of town and enjoy some fantastic entertainment, good food or just relax for a very fun weekend. The Summer Diversity Weekend kicks off August 4th and runs through the 6th. Micah Barnes will headline the weekend with a performance at the Old Auditorium in downtown Eureka Springs, Sat. August 5th. The LA Weekly said Barnes is ·'Bowie meets Brecht in a dark alley". The Bay Area Reporter rote "Barnes' vocals combine the dramatics Freddie Mercury, the passion of Eddie Vedder, the mournfulness of Morrissey with the sweetness of Micheal Stipe". "Micah Barnes eludes all the musical cliches. His lyrics, often dryly comic, are a product of his quick intelligence, a mischievous sense of humour, and a bubbling show biz savvy." - The Globe and Mail. For more information and updates on Diversity Weekend go to: www.diversitypride.com or www.eurekapride.com Tulsa's "PRIDE NOT PREJUDICE" GLBT Festival, A Musical Success! TULSA, OK_What a line up of entertainment at Tulsa's Pride Festival or: June 10th. The talent was awesome. exceeding rnost performances that I've paid to see! Th;s years entertainers will be a hard act to follow for next years troops. Tulsa·s Tabitha Tayior (photo at right) 'tv1iss Gay Okiahoma Ame~ica' is a sor:gstress we ca:i a!i be proud of. A tremendous entertainer· Fro,n r'oon to five o ciock they sang and p!ayed in unbearable heat ~rhe Council Oaks VVornens Chorale. Council Oaks lv1ens c:11t>· cale, !v1ary King1 iviark [)odson and rnany CJthers ,,11; io 1.:;11~ei tairh-jc'. a:12 crovvci ~ ~ ANCHORAGE,ALASKA by Donald Pile & Ray Williams ay men's resorts seem to be everywhere and it is often very hard to find a resort that is strictly for Lesbians. We have found two really great ones and they are located on both ends of the country. For Lesbians wanting to get a way from it all and travel we highly suggest these two places. PEARL'S RAINBOW, the Distinctive Resort for Women in Key West, Florida, offers the perfect escape from the everyday world for lesbians and gay-friendly women. Just two blocks from the southernmost point in the continental United States, they offer guesthouse ambience, bed & breakfast chann, and resort amenities in a collection of historic, renovated buildings set amid tropical landscaping . . . ... . . . . . .. . . . Continued page-18 Out on Vacation "LESBIAN RESORTS" Photo: Pearl's Rainbow Lesbian Resort And their superb staff will make vour vacation unforge~table. The,' offer 38.rooms and suites in their 5 historic buildings. They have 2 heated swimming pools and 2 outdoor hot ~ubs. The extensive sunny and shady decks. The Strand Restaurant serves breakfast daiiy with Brunch on Sunday and Chef Lisa's Dinner in the Strand on weekend e,0enings. Tl:ev also ha,·e Pearl's Patio which is :heir outside poois1de bar and grili. Their :ooms range from the simple re the debxe, 2E v.,ith features you'd expect in any hotel. Thick, thirst;towe,~ and quality tropical t(Jiictries pamper ycu. 1\ C()mplirr1entary light continental breakfast starts yuur tnorning, and fuli cooked breakfasts are al~~o a"',.,~ailable daily. J\ .. poolside bar 18 pools rejuvenate you. Hot cubs melt your cares away. Chef Lisa Haas prepares breakfast in The Strand restaurant, and dinner on Friday and Saturday e·.,enings featuring her eclectic island cuisine. All in a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere just for women. They are located at 525 United Scree;: Key West, Florida 33040. Their toll free ;;umber is (800) 749-6696 and their website is: V>'WW. pearlsrainbo\\,com. To get to Key \X,'est, iris best to fly into Ft. Lauderdale (rather than rvliami) and then rent an amo and take off for a fabulous scenic (and scarv) drive thru all the Keys until you finallv K~v West. After arriving in Key \'{fest, park you~ auto and you can walk anywhere in town. On the West Coast, try the Casitas Laquita in Palm Springs. Owned by Denise Roberson and Joanna Funaro, this ~vomen's resort is wonderful. Once you enter the gate you are in a different world of peace and tranquility. It is located on 12 acres of private spiritual grounds. The mountain views are truly breathtaking'. They have several choices of accommodations including casitas or one and two bedroom suites. Photo: Casitas Laquita in Palm Springs the SIAR, TRAVEL SECTION Ail accommodations comes with T\~ phone, a Full kitchen and data ports so vou can check your email or surf the web. The rooms are decorated with tribal arcifacts and each room is different and it would reallv be hard to decide which to s!ay in. Everything here is spotlesslv clean. They have a total of 15 ditlerent ;ccommodations m choose from. Our favorite was the one bedroom suite with its own prirnte backyard for your own personal use or for your guests. Doreen is the manager when the owners are out of tO\vn and she is EXCEPTIONAL! She is a real dear! For more informacion about Casitas Laquitas, check out their website at:www.casitaslaquirn.com. Their toll free number is 877-203-3410. And when in Palm Springs, BE SURE and dine at ~feb:yn's Restaurant located in the Ingeleside Inn just west of downtown. The owner, Mel Haber and his srnff are extremely gayilesbian friendlv. For all of our Lesbians sisters, we HIGHLY recommend these tv,ro resort~ where vou will feel VERY comfortable and retu;n home with memories forever! The staff of both of these resorts will be more than happy to give you any and all information O!l what is happening in the towns. For any questions about gay traveling, email Donald and Ray at gaytravelers@ aol.con1 or 'l .. ~isit their \1,rebpage at: http:// \V\l/Vv: hometown.aol. com/ gaytravelers 0 ~ 1m ill©oo~~ by Donald Pile and Ray Williams "Dania Beach, Florida" Visit the "New and Exciting" Dania Beach, Florida ,vhich is a GREAT alternative to Ft. Lauderdale and South Beach and just minu~es from either. Reiax and party in Dania Beach and enjoy their small town atmosphere. Dania Beach is fast becoming THE place to stav in Southea~t Florida and for gays the LIBERIT SUITES is the ONLY place ~o stay! Dania Beach locateci right on the Atlantic Ocean is a wonderful geta- way for people living in the Midwest. It is just a close drive ~o Ft. Lauderdale or to South Beacn but much iess expensive than either. The city of only 28,000 is extremely gay friendly and filled with lots of antiques and gift shops. With its ideal location, warm and sunny climate and wide range of ameniries and attracrions, the Greater Dania Beach area has something for evervone. Situated between' Ft. Lauderdale and Hollywood, Dania Beach is minutes from class arc museums, con- certs, plays, festivals, and other cultura'. events. Professional sports ranging from football to hockey to rodeo are also readily avail;ble. DaniJ Beach itself hosts a Jai Alai fronton, a local perfor~,i~g arts theater, a natural hisron· museum and rhe IGFi'>.Fishing Hallo~· fame. Dania Beach is int:ernationaJJv kno,vn for its marine industrr l\1annas, · reoair and storage facifaics, prominent shipbuilding compan,::s. a!1d d;ckage for crnioe lines and other vessels are found all o·:er Dania Beach'$ numerom waterways and canal~. Port Everglade~. which spans over 2100 acres and occupic, part of Hoih'wood, Dania Beach and Ft. Lauderdale, i~ (;!H: ,he 11;1.tio:1's ;:cp ,eaport:0, ~:t:~e~~:(~:·!~~:a~~~~:-T.~~~:::t;i\::~:~~~~;~:(:~~?:/~:~;;:,;:~;l~;~t( lfl I)an1a Beach area plays ho~t to the largc~t nautlcal SY,iap shop, the Dania ?vfarine Flea \'iarket. ~TRAVEL Thanks to Joseph Van Eron and Jack Zimmerman who own the Libert\· Apartments & Garden Suites, it h:as even gotten more gayfriendiv. These two e-entle!rcen ha-;e literally turned the enrire cir, a:ound in it's th.inki;;g a, far as a gay tourist center. The Libert, Suites is locared at 1501 and across the street at 1500 S. \v'. Seco~d Avenue w~1ich is just one block \'fest of :he main rughway thru the center_ of to':vn. It is the pe~frct p~ace for gays ,in the Midwest to go to relax and haYe a great nme. \X-e get so urea of "simple rooms" when ,ve travel. But at the Liberty Suites, all rooms are aparcmen:s complete with kitchens, full size refrigerators, ovens, microwave, dishwasher, coffee maker, cooking utensils and complete with desk, linens, china, housewares and anything eise oossible that vou wo'.l!d need. The bedrooms are huge and so are tlle living ro~rns and they are decorated beautifully. Just fly or drive dm.vn and you can move right in for a week, a month or e. Your suitcase l of bathing suits is all you need. Every apartment mes with your wn private teiene and Cable VCR. For than wl:at t accommoons charge a simple mat the u can get a huge apartment for less than that! Grocery and liquor stores are within walking distance. We always go to the fresh produce market~ and buy the freshest grapefruits and ora:1ges. Since almost e:erybody in Florida loves to walk, 1t ts about a mile from che beach and what .1 ;vonderful walk it is. And most important, the Liberty Suites is pet friendiy so bring your pets wifi~ you. Did we mention about their off street parking?_Dici ~ve mentio,. their on-site laundry facilitiesr _l(,e and Jack r:.ave cione C\'ervthin_g perfect S() that you \Vill ha~,,rc a \-ery relaxed and carefree stay. \X'e baYe staved at the Liberty Suite5 fo~ i:he past fe,,.' years and it iust keq)$ e;~mng better :;ni lx:tter The grea;:est thing is that you ;;~,~~;1;~:~~~;;7~1::::: ;::~;'ri:r.::::::~~ii::'.l!.'.:i'.:~~::: ~c~";-;/>t:~:·a I2: ~~'.:i~~:~;i~,~~~,:~:;~ ~~'. ~;,~~~;~a~e;~e;,l~::1 :~:~/:~:;:.~::at~ ~;~e ti~:.i~:~~~~r~~:~~ ~1~~!~~;~:·~~;,~~,~~;,::,:;_<,_~,:;:t: ,ibm~-1 ;:::::e;e!~:~7s i\1 pL1cc to lire 1.vher; ;nv:1y fron1 hornc'·. Joe and Jack ..... ,. .... C(J~·rr1·--~l:r1:I) page 22 Arkansas & Oklahoma s most read GLBT Magazine 19 Photo below; A view of one of the several glaciers you'E see while traveling on the Alaska Railroad's Glacier Discovery Train. (Photo by Andrew Collins) July 2006 by Andrew Collins Anchorage, Alaska Although it's a bit less than a century old, Anchorage has deveioped into Alaska's largest city, with a population of about 260,000. It's also an excellent jumping-off point for countless adventures into the surrounding wilderness, from sea kavaking in Prince William Sound to hiking at Denali National Park to skiing at i\lveska Prince Resort in nearby Girdwood. But don't overlook the city itself, a lively cultural hub v.'ith great shopping and dining and immediate access to tl1e great outdoors. It's also the heart of the state's relativelv nascent but increasingly Yisibie gay scene. Summer is the most popular time to come, ·.vhen Anchorage abounds with flowers in private and public gardens as well as in wi!1dow boxes and hanging baskets on porches. The sun ri~e~ around 4:30 in the morning and doesn't set again umil almost midnignt, allowing for ample time eacl: day to ~ec the sight~. But snowsports Eans and bargain-seekers migh1 wane to consider 2 winter ,·isit, when hotel rates drop precipitouslv along ,.vid1 temperatures (expecr January highs tif about 2G to 25 degr::c:s, Ycrsu,; 60- to 65- degree high~ in July). J\.nchoragc -...von't likely dazzle you~ dcAvnto\vn '\Vas largely destroyed aunng a mar:sive 1964 ca:thquake, and much c,f the reconstru~ tion leaves a lot to be desired aesthetically. But it's nonctheiess ;h~u~:;~~;::~ ~;:t::::t~~~~~~ t~,:;ed:~t~:;~:tj !\la~ka ~~~~~;1!or J\nchoragc Syrnphony ()rchestra~ 1\nchoragc ()pcra, and J\laska Chamber Singer~ 'The A.nchorage Ivfuscurn of }1istory and J\rt is a \vorld-class facil\ Vith an extensive tro,te of art and artifacts th~n trace the of the region perform2nces. UF '""hrcugh th<~ rr-c,rl:•rr- ·1,;n. ·\n,J the /\.. hi.ska you can learn abcjut rbc state's csbii)ir·,s rki-:;.:r•.: v;d .::en11n:lf"-. and Anchorage has long drawn outdoorsy types, as there are plenty of ways to get your blood pounding ,vithin city limits, and you're also ,vithin driving distance of many great destinations for recreation and nature-watching. You can hike miles of trails at Chugach Staie Park, which fringes the city and extends for some 60 miles into rhe wilderness to the south, offering climbs to numerous peaks with elevations as high as 8,000 feet. Another grea~ venue is Eagle River Narure Center, which offers hikes, naturalist programs, and bird-watching outings among many o~her activities that showcase the region's abundant flora and fauna. And that's just scratching the surface don't overlook the Alaska Zoo (an excellent place to see black bears up close) and the Alaska Botanical Gardens. From a culinary standpoint, Anchorage has truly blossomed of late. There are certain foods that appear routinely on area menus, parricularly reindeer (often in the form of sausage), eik, and other area game along with plenty of local seafood, from wild salmon to raw ovsters to fresh berries. Kincaid Grill has been a pioneer in creatIYe r~gional dining, as chef Al Levinsohn is constantly coming up with excitine: new takes on Alaskan cuisine, from Kodiak scallops sen-ed with a;; Asian ponzu sauce and stir-fried veggies to roasted balibut Nicoise with olive tapenade. Another top choice is Sack's, a slick contemporary dining room filled ,vith modern art and ser-·ing such inno·,ative creations as pan-seared New Zealand rack of lamb ·.vith blueberry-port demig!ace. Grab a table along the sidewalk in good weather. You'll find sophisticated contemporary cuisine at Mick's at the Inlet, including a knockout elk chop ,vith goat cheese brioche pudding, Bearnaise sauce, and a berry relish, and roasted skatefish wing with blood oranges, fennel, chives, and olive oil. Drop by Cafe Savannah, a cool little capas restaurant and wine bar with authentic Spanish cooking, for the likes of Portobello mushrooms stuffed with chorizo and Manchego cheese, and calamari with lemon-garlic aioli. For a light meal and great people-watching and mingling, check our Glacier Brewhouse, which is known as much for its delicious house-brewed oatmeal stout and red-currant Iambic beer as for tastv comfort food, such as seared ahi runa and Thai chicken pizza. Ga-;-friendlv Sassafras Coffeehouse is a fine spot for a ligh! meal, coffee. and ·free wireless Internet - it's right across the street from Nord;trom's, by downtown's 5th Avenue Ma!L Try the rurkey-bacon- avocado wrap. ;\Jso a block from the mail, Cyrano's Theatre Company cc)mprises a performance space, arty bookstore, and pctic cafe (calied Twig's) ,;vhere you can grab a chicken-pecan salad or a ci.;p ()f seafood chowder. The ,.heater p:oduces ,;.,ell-acted piavs throughou: the y;car and has a strong gay following. The queer nightlife scene 1s limired ~~f ~~;;,:Eif £~:v!~i~!;~;::i::~:::::~'.:'.:,:~:~:;.1.~, male-oriented and cruisy Raven~ ,vh.ich is JUST arc,uncl the corner. I"herc arc several accomrnodations here that 1narkct to gay n,:1wr~, among 1hem the i\laskan Leopard B&~~-;:;,1,:.::;t~~)i~:~sc: crepes and sourdough \t,~affies arc a1r1ong the and delicious breakfasts for \1/hich the inn bas a 20 Arkansas & Oklahoma ·s mo.st read GLBT Magazine loyal following, and the owners can also organize a wide range of wildlife tours throughout the surrounding area. Just on the edge of downtov;n, the gay-owned \X'ildflower Inn contains three guest rooms wit!:: sophisticated but comfy furnishings, including a beautiful J\ifission-style bed in one and TV /VCRs in all of them (plus Wi-Fi throughout r.he house). It's a great choice if you want to be within wa!bng distance of museums, restaurants, and nightlife. Another highly popular gay-owned property downtown is the Copper \X'hale Inn, an urbane late-1930s house (a rare survivor of the '64 quake) with 15 rooms, most of them affording panoramic vistas of the surrounding mountains and Cook Inlet. Of larger mainstream properties, one of the most luxurious is the Marriott i\.nchorage Downtown. This airy, contemporary high-rise offers dramatic views of the distant wilderness but also affords easy access to local sights and restaurants. You can make a number of excellent day trips or short overnights from Anchorage. One of tne best full-service resorts in Alaska is the luxurious ,'\lyeska Prince Resort, in the small village of Girdwood, a 45-minute drive south of the city. In winter, it's the state's top venue for downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, snow-tubing, and sledding. You can also take the aerial tram up to ;\ft. Alyeska, ·.vhich has a restaurant at the top. In summer, you can book a tandem paragliding ride off the rop of the mountain. Anorher option is the two-and-a-half-hour drive m Seward, a slightly gritty old fishing town on the Kenai Peninsula. It's gradually developed into a popu.iar cruise port and leisure destination, thanks to its proximity to aarure and also the Alaska Sealife Center, a marine-life research facility where visitors can observe the habitats of 2,000-pound Sre!lar sea lions, diving puffins, and dancing King crabs, among other creatures native to this region. Just outside of Seward, you can visit Exit Glacier - in facr, you can practically drive your car right up to the edge, as it's the most accessible glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park, which encompasses more than 900 sguare miles. From the parking area it's a flat 15- minute hike to the foot of the glacier. where you can get some great up<lose pnotograph~ of this hulking, slowly retreating mass of ice. Downtown Se,;rnrd has a handful of restaurants and som·e1ur shops, mostly aiong 3rd and ~th .JTem,es. anci the community also has plenty of tour oper,,tors offe:ing kayaking trips, fligh::seeing excursions, and sailing ad\'cntures. Perhaps the n1ost dramatic ,,vay to get ar<)und the region, especially if you're a fan of "Vintage trains1 is to book {:>ne of the popular sightseeing runs on the Alaska Railroad. There are extensive wurs lasting frotn t\VO to 10 days through the J)eoali National Park's backcountry and up into the /\.retie Cjrcic, as \veU as easy day trips that depart ,Anchorage :ind take you through rugged Chugach Forest, past soar .. ing glaciers and 3cross \vildHo,ver-stre~v.;n meado\vs. f'vfany of these trains ha~.re giass-dome alloYving incredible photo ops. These coiorfu1 jaunts n;1rratcd by experienced naturalists offer the perfect chance to Arkansas & Okiahoma 's most ;ead GLBT Magazine 21 GAY TRAVELERS: are true gay icons in the community and they deserve e~·ery bi~ of recognition that they get. They have both worked extremely hard ar building up Dania Beach and the whole communiq-, both gay and straight, are so proud of them. So the next time you are ready to take off for a week or more, check out the Liberty Suites at: http:/ f,,vww.LibertySuites.com. Their toll free telephone number is 877-927-0090 and their fax number is 954-342-8944 or you can email them at: JJ@LibertySuites. com * Want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $26.95 will be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or moneyorder to: Ozarks STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 (Single Copies $3.00 per issue) Check e!'ldosed Money Order Start Date: 22 the STAR Travel Plans by Dougias Glenn As much as I like ;:o talk to a real person it just doesn't pay anymore to do so. Take booking flight for instance. When I callee! my favorite airlines recently to book a flignt I was told rhat if I booked on line there would be no charge but if I did book over the phone that there \Vould be a $10.00 charge. And this was the airline company I was talking with! Talk about a rip-off! They want me to fly with them, give them my hard earned money but then they \Vant ro charge me for calling them and purchasing a ticke~! Well, needless to say, I DID go on-line and book the flight and saved myself S10.00. However it really irritated me to no end to ha\·e to do that. \'\'hen I did go on line I was amazed at the different prices for different times of the day. First and last flights of the day \\:ere iess expensive and flying in the middle of the week (Tuesday, \\'.'ednesday and Thursday) had cheaper rates also. Saturdays seerns ~o have cheaper rates also. But forget about flying out :\1onday morrijng or Friday afternoons as that is \vhen ail tbe businessmen do there traveling. I have found to always book directly \vith the airlines rather than going thru a second source such 2.s a booking site. linles~ you read the small print you wind up paying services charges that completely wipes any savings tha, you think that you arc getting. When I was going traveling overseas I sometimes use a m,vcl agency but they also charge anymore. \Vhat happen.ed t0 sen-ice? A good \veb• site to check out for best air fares and that is: http:/ iairconsumer. ost.dot.gov / publications /bestfare.htm It used to be that flying was so much fun but now it is such a hassle, with parents and their children screaming and yelling and shoving and pushing and well, guess you kinda get mv drift. Now it is a total nightmare to just get a seat. But, since other than d,+,ing that is the only alter:1afr1e I just ha,,e to grin and bear it. I alwa;·:, taKe a good book or a couple of good magazines to read because you never know when there might oe a delay. (Jood luck v1ith your flight'. * Earl Wheeler 437 E. 141st Street Glenpool, OK 74033 918.291.EARL (3275) Serving the Tu!sa Metro Area for over 21 Years with PRIDE! CUSTOM DECORATING* HOLIDAY SPECIALS ~rders by 12noon guaranteed same day delivery. F'R!!:E HOM!!: OEt.lVERY 5 Mi!e Service Area 918.734.6847 11mail lrrol>ol:8aol.t0m Your order is treated with the upmost confidentiality. nd 111lxed. and 6a,~ed. JVLld 6ltzdseed ite:,:1-.00 73:j,f~ · TheSTAR 23 Salutations Kittens--Uncle Mikey here fresh from the pages of yet another fabulous pride season, and what a season it is. Ende Mikey is hurriedly gathering his second wind in time for the fourth. I would like to rhank the many men who made this season so enjoyable, and will be sending out thank vou notes accordingly. To all those tasty treats ready for the independence celebration- heyyy! Dear Uncle Mikey, My boyfriend and I attended pride as a couple this year for the first time. We agreed that we were building a monogamous relationship which went straight out the window two hours into it. He acted as if I were keeping him from having a good time and then we got into a fight in the middle of the after pride events. I feel as though this is a sign and that he is not that serious about me after all. He ended up in our suite with another man, and asked me to join as if there was nothing going on. What's the deal, am I wrong to think he crossed a line? Pride drama Dearest Pride-drama, Kitten, Uncle feels your pain but aliow me a moment to giYe you another POV Even the ~ost -.veil intentio!l men in the world can fall Drey to the OYer abundant bou:;r,c at a oride event. Fact: He oro~ght his game home to shire wi:h his beloved, which oi:rvious!:, suppor~s a lack of coRJmi.:nicacion here. \'fhat man is going ,o bring home a trick- Unle~s he i$ simply a drama seeker, this action tells r:1e tnere needs to be more cohc~iYe communication. Kitten, I couid nor help but catch that mu didn't teE the nory o+ rejecting this blunder, feeEng that it was a night tc remember for all., not thac 1 am judging. I \Vouid rnost assuredly address this J~sue ho,;_1f·e·\"er, if it \Vere me~ 1 \Vould haYe taken pictures for our anniversary a]bu1n, Smooches- t :. Mikey Dear l]ncle l\1ikey~ ~v~t~;::;l~~::;~t:e!~;;i;:1 1:~.~;~}~;~s:~L:::c;/;~;:~,c;~~~:i1r!:,.-:~~'.1 :nforgettable places. f-le \1.ras passionate, attentive, grv'ing, intense sexy and sc; romantic he absolutely rook 1ny breath. L.ooking into hi5 eye:::. 1 feit alive. ;lnd :as if \VC \\~ere S(•tne h.o\v C(:.innected. J feH 26 the STAR name, and do not know where to 6nd him. I don't'k.now ,vhat to do? My friends think I am making it up, but this man took me mind body and soul. What can I do? Lookjng for Gabe Dearest Looking, Kitten, you have fallen pray ro '.vhat Cncle c,;lls, rhe goiden-boot1·call. The hottest, sweatiest, most passion you have ever felt before as in your fe,·erish adolescem dreams. Hown·cr, this was a one time shot-~ao pun intended. You have to except this and move on holding this night as cherished moment in time. Kitten, I have known this occurrence before. Uncle had a friend we will call Steve, well Steve hGoked up with a one name woeder who rook him w such pas$ionate heights he acruaHy cried recalling the night t0 me. He became obsessed wicl1 finding this trick in the night while losing site cf realty. He neglected his job, his friends, his entire existence became a search for this man of many orgasms. It was so sad, we tried e~;crything including an intervention, when we realized ,ve lost him to this unknown sende~ of passions embrace. \'?ell, iong story short, be lost nis jobs, ignored his friends, his apartment! Kitten, it was rent comrolleci., I swear it brings a tear to my eye still yet. 3'foral: Kitten, if this man is meant to be than he shall return, i10we\ ·er do not get hung up no matter ho\;• nung he was. I ,et it go while moving forward chalking the nig!:t up for what it was, a wonderfu: Golden-booty-call, you shali tell generations to come Queerdom. Kitten, it is better to ha,-e hit that than to neYer ha,:e known it at all! Smooches-U. Ivlikey Uncle :,Iikey, Is a threeso~e with your brother-in-law and boyfriend wrong? Seriously considering it. Dearest considering, Not with the right lighting and mocivation. Bon appetite! Ki~tens- A quick noteworthy mome::11:. Look ~o the right of Uncles corner here. Al! I can say is yummy! Hey john and Paul...A delicious recipe for a tasty meal, a sweet drink to wash it down and !wo cute d , h - . . d 11 csserts, ,v at a recipe 1n eea: Kittens, Uncle mus, once mo:-e take m,· leave, (1uicker than a trick dot,:n the fire escape. I have to send n1y faithful house-boy to get Cacies buli-; deln-er•, of Gatorade. [ swear sm~1mer heat has such an effect <)11 lJncle. S01ne say sununcr furt~ I say summer ioYe. lJncle \\~ant~ to remir1d one and aH to piay safe during the stunmer sizzic. Remember to iove yourself, and luve one another; se':~:-cral times a day if you ~. .v ;,inr to get really gc,od! I-iappy fourth (}uccrdorn--1 salure yc,u, in more \vays than one. Sn1ooches l]ncle :vljkey and 'Tiddics too. * 10 Large Potatoes. 1 cup chopped Celery. 1 cup chopped red onion. 1/2 cup chopped sweet pickles. 4 Boiled Eggs. 1/2 cup Real Mayonnaise. 1/2 cup Ha!f & Half cream. 1 Tablespoon Season Salt. 1/2 Tablespoon White Pepper. In a large pot boil potatoes until tender. Rinse with cold water, peel potatoes and cut into cubes. In a large bowl add potatoes, seasoning, mayonnaise and cream. Mix very weil, then add celery, onions, pickles, Mix together boiled eggs then add to bowl. Chill for about 2 hours and serve. "HAVE A GREAT 4TH of JULY" This months recipe is a delicious martini. Serve these up some evening for a nice cocktail hour (or 2 or 3). Jazz r music goes very well with martinis so I suggest a little Diana Krall on the stereo and you'll have a great and enjoyable LEMON DROP MARTINI (6 parts) Absolute Citron Vodka (2 dashes) Dry Vermouth Fresh Lemon Granulated Sugar 1 Rim a chilled martini glass with sugar. 2. Combine Vodka, Vermouth and fresh squeeze of !emon with ice in shaker and shake well. 3. Strain into martini glass and garnish with a !emon twist 4. EN,JOY !!! HAVE A SAFE JULY 4TH CELEBRATION! Oklahoma's most read GLBT Magazine 27 Scopes by Jack Fertig JULY 2006 "Be ready for adventure, Cancer!" Mars opposing Neptune makes chemical overindulgence easy and dangerous, especially when you're showing off. Venus in Gemini encourages flirtations, but she's square Uranus in Pisces, so confused signals can build false expectations. Or maybe you reaily do want more than you admit. ARIES (March 20 -April 19): You can't win in games or investments now, but you can have lots of fun with the former if you aim for idealistic benefits rather than mere victory. Idealism in community service will make you a winner in ways no game can match. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Trying to look good at work will backfire. Just do your job and let accomplishment speak for itself. Calling in o!d debts could yield some happy surprises. It's also a great time for new pen pals or oniine contacts. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): You're suddenly looking awfully good, and you can use that for promotions or raises. Take pride in your listening skills and flexibility, and stay out of arguments! Anything you say will be held against you. CANCER (June 21 00 July 22): No insurance or real estate deais for you this week! Sex mixed with booze or drngs is a dangerous combo - isn't it better when you're really all there? Be ready for adventure in both flesh and spirit. The world is opening to you in new ways. LEO (July 23 $ August 22): Your adoration of the limelight is annoying your co-star and aggravating misunderstandings. Humility is your best feature, when you can manage it. Discretion and social service wiil prove surprisingly beneficial to your-sex life. V!RGO (August 23 - September 22): Calm down, meditate, and re!ax your fraglle nerves. Work is going better than it seems. and you're sure to get noticed with some support from your colleagues. Even if you're having some awful snafus, others will understand and forgive. LIBRA (September 23 00 October 22): You're ready for adventure, but it could easily be a misadventure, and that's a drag. Focus that urge for innovation at work where it's more likely to make you shine. ~ SCORPIO (October 23 00 November 21): Past or present issues with your parents seem especially complex now and can creep into dealings with authority figures. Sexual role play can shed some iight on those dynamics. Otherwise, the boss isn't your mommy or daddy, and vice versa. Stay present in the moment. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 $ December 20): You're especially prone to exaggerate now and overwhelm people with stories. Keep the truth clean and simple, but freely regale your friends with wild yarns and jokes. Your spin on legends and folk tales can be surprisingly seductive. CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Your sexual charm is strong, but has to be played carefully. Knowing the right time and place for it is the trick. Your current attack of klutziness may actually help a bit, giving you an endearing, vulnerable quality. AQUARIUS (January 20 $ February 18): Your partner's wishes are much clearer than yours. That's making you feel put down, but you just need to articulate. Sing out, Louise! Pleasures that seem indulgently expensive are really accessible if you budget and plan. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Be careful of hubris. Fall back on your usual modesty at work. Fun and games at home are where you now excel and can crow shamelessly. Surprise some friends with new recipes and afterdinner entertainments. ., < SPIRIT OF CHRIST JOPLIN, MO FREE HIV TESTING, NO NEEDLES SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC SPONSORS Testing the last Sunday of each month between SP},f and 6PM. 2902 E. 20th St., PO Box 4'11 Jc)plin, :\.fo 64803 Sunday Sernce 6P\1 Wed. 28 Advertising in the STAR is Just good business cents. Arkansas, Bentonville (479) NWA GLBT Ctr - - - - www.nwaglbtcc.org- - - - - - --479-586-1062 Arkansas, Eureka Springs Diversity Pride Event - - - - - - - - - - - - - -www. ersitypride.com A Byrd's Eye View- - - - - 36 N. Main- - - - - - - - - -479-253-0200 Caribe Restaurante- - - - 309 W VanBuren- - - - -479-253-8102 Henri's - - - - - - -19 1/2 Spring St - - - - - - - - - - - -479-253-5795 Lumberyard Bar&Grill- - - 105 E VanBuren- - - - - -479-253-0400 MCC Living Spring - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -870-253-9337 Swiss Holiday Resort- Hwy 62 at Hwy 23 So.- - - 888-582-8464 Spexton- - - - - - - - 17B Spring Street - - - - - - - - -918-829-0824 Tiki Torch- - - - - - - - 75 S. Main Street- - - - - - - - -479-253-2305 Tradewinds Lodge -141 W. YanBuren- - - - - - - - - 800-242-1615 Arkansas, Fayetteville (479) Common Ground Restaurant- - - 412 W. Dixon - -479-442-3515 Condom Sense - - - - - - - - 418 W. Dickson- - - - - -4 79-444-6228 Curry's Video - - - 612 N. College Ave- - - - - - - - - -479-521-0009 Passages - - - - - -930 N. College Ave- - - - - - - - - -479-442-5845 Pride Street Live- - 523 W. Poplar St-- - - - - - - - - - 479-587-0557 Tangerine Club - -21 N. Block Ave-- - - - - - - - - - -479-587-9512 Arkansas, Fort Smith (479) Kinkeads- - - - - - -1004 1i2 Garrison Ave- - - - - - - 479-783-9988 Red Rock City - - -917 N. "A" St. - - - - - - - - - - - - 479-242-2489 Arkansas, Hot Springs (501) Jesters Lounge - - - - 1010 E. Grand Ave - - - - - - - 501-624-5455 Arkansas, Little Rock (501) Back Street - - - -1021 Jessie Rd- - - - - - - - - - - - -501-6642744 Diamond State Rodeo Assoc.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - www.dsra.org Discovery- - - - -1021 Jessie Rd- -- - - - - - - - - - -501-666-6900 Sidetracks - - - 415 Main St - -North L.R.- - - - - - - -501-244-0444 The Factory- - - - - - 412 Louisiana St.- - - - - - - - - 501-372-3070 Kansas, Junction City (785) Xcalibur Club- - - - - 384 Grant Ave. - - - - - - - - -785-762-2050 Kansas, Pittsburg (620) PSU-QSA.- - 1701 S. Broadway- - - - - - - - - - - - -620-231-0938 River of Life Church.- - 1709 N. Walnut- - - - - - - -Service 11AM Kansas, Wichita (316) Our Fantasy/South40- - - - - 3201 S. Hillside- - - - - 316-682-5494 Priscilla's- - - - - 6143 W Ke!iogg Dr- - - - - - - - - - - 316-942-1244 Club Glacier- - - - - - - - - 2828 E. 31st South- - - - - 316-612-9331 Missouri, Ava (417) Catus Canyon Campground - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 417-683-9199 Missouri, Joplin (417) Ree's- - - - - - - 716 S. Main - - - - - - - - - - - - - -417-627-9035 MCC Spirit of Christ- - -2902 E 20th, - - - - - - - - - - - -- - Sun-6pm Missouri, Kansas City (816} 40th Street Inn- - - -www.40thstreetinn.com- - - - - -816-561-7575 Concourse Park B&B - - 300 Benton Blvd -- - - - -816-231-1196 Hydes KC Gym & Guest Hs - 1.-N.w.hydeskc.com - 816-56H010 Missie B's- - - -805 W 39th St- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -816-561-0625 Missouri, Lampe (417) KOKOMO Campground - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 417-779-5084 Missouri, Springfield (417) The Edge- - - - 424 Boonv!HeAve- - - - - - - - - - -417-83i-4700 GLO Comm. Ctr- - -518 E. Commerical- - - - - - - -417-869-3978 Martha's Vineyard- - - 219 W Oiive .. - -- - - - - - - - - 417-864-4572 Missouri, Springfield (417) Priscilla's - - - - 1918-S Glenstone - - - - - - - - - - - -417-881-8444 Ronisuz Place- - --821 College- - - - - - - - - - - - - -417-864-0036 Rumors - --1109 E. Commercial- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 417-873-2225 Oklahoma, Enid (580) Hastings Books- - - -104 Sunset - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 580-242-6838 Prisciiia's- - - - - - - - -4810-A West Garriott- - - - - - - 580-233-5511 Oklahoma, Lawton (580) Triangies- - - - - - - - - - -29 SW "D" Ave - - - - - - - - 580-351-0620 ingrids Bookstore- - - - - 1124 NW Cache Rd- - - - - -580-353-1488 Oklahoma, McAlester McPride- - - - - - - - - - - POBox 1515, - - - - - McAlester, OK 74502 Oklahoma, Oklahoma City (405) American Crossroads B&B - POBox 270642- - - - - -405-495-1111 Boom Room- - - - - - - 2807 NW 36th St- -- - - - - - - -405-601-7200 Border's Books- - - - - 3209 NW Expressway- -- - - 405-848-2667 Club Rox- - - - - - -3535 NW 39th Expwy- - - - - - - - -405-947-2351 Christie's Toy Box- - - -3126 N. May Ave - - - - - - -405-946-4438 Eastern Ave Video- - -1105 S Eastern Ave- - - - - - - -405-672-6459 Fat Cat Bingo- - - - - - 3130 N. May Ave - - - - - - - - -405-942-8875 Hollywood Hotel- - - - 3535 NW 39th Exp - - - - -405-947-2351 Hi-Lo Club - - - - - - - 1221 NW 50th- - - - - - - - - 405-843-1722 Partners- - - - - - - - - 2805 NW 36th St - - - - - - - - -405-942-2199 Pec's- - - - - - - - - - -3535 NW 39th Expw - - - - - - -405-942-2199 Priscilla's- - - - - - - - 615 E. Memorial- - - - - - - - - - - 405-755-8600 Red Rock North- - - 2240 NW39th St- - - - - - - - - - - 405-525-5165 Rudy's P!ace-- - - - -3535 NW39th Expw- - - - - - - - -405-947-2351 Phoenix Rising - - - - 2120 NW 39th St- - - - -- - - - -405-601-3711 The Park- - - - - - - - 2125 NW 39th St - - - - - - - - - -405-528-4690 The Rockies- - - - - - 3201 N. May Ave - - - - - - - - - 405-947-9361 Topanga Grill & Bar- - - 3535 NW 39th-- - - - - - - - -405-947-2351 Tramps- - - - - - - - - - - -2201 NW 39th-- - - - - - - - - -405-521-9888 Oklahoma, Tulsa (918) Bamboo Lounge- - - -7204 E. Pine - - -- - - - - - - - -918-836-8700 Border's Book Store- - 2740 E. 21st- - - - - - - - - - 918-712-9955 Border's Book Store - - - 8015 S. Yale - - - - - - - - - - 918-494-2665 Club 209 - - - - - - - 209 N. Boulder - - - - - - - - - - - - 918-584-9494 Club Majestic- - - - - - - 124 N. Boston - - - - - - - - 918-58'i-9494 Ciub Maverick- - - - - 822 S. Sheridan - - - - - - - - -918-835-3301 Dreamland Bks -- - - 8807 E. Admiral Pl - - - - - - -918-834-1051 Elite Bookstore - - - - -814 S. Sheridan- - - - - - - - - 918-838-8503 GLBT Comm. Ctr- - - - 5545 E. 41 st- - - - - - - - - - - 918-743-4297 Hideaway Lounge- - - - - 11730 E. 11th- - - - - - - - - -918-437-0449 HOPE Clinic- - - - - - - 3540 E. 31st- - - - - - - - - - - - 918-749-8378 Jazz·s Lounge- - - - - - 426 S. Memorial - - - - - - - - - 918-836-8544 Midtown- - - - - - - - - - 319 E. 3rd- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 918-584-3112 Nite Spot - -- - - - - -3007 E. Admiral Pl - - - -- - - - - - 918-834-3007 Our House, Too - - - -203 N Nogales Ave- - - -- - - - -918-585-9552 Prisci!la's - - - - - - - -7925 E. 41st- - - - - - - - - - - - -918-627-4884 Priscilla's - - - - ·· - - 5634 W. Skelly- - - - - - - - - - 918-446-6336 Priscilla's - - - - - - - 11344 E. 11th - - - - -- - - - - - - -918-438-4224 Priscilla's - - - - - - - - - 2333 E. ?1st- - - - - -- - - - - - -918-499-1661 Renegades- - - - - - - - 1649 S. Main - - - - - - - - - - - 918-585-3405 Rob's Records- - -2909 S. Sheridan Rd- - - - - - - 918-627-1505 Sterling & Co. Saion- - -1606 E.15th St- - - - - - - - - 918-742-9999 Tulsa CARES- - - - 3507 E. Admiral Pi.- - - - - - - - - - 9"18-834-4194 Tuisa Eagie- - - - -1338 E 3rd - - - - - - - - - - - - -918-592-1188 TNT's - - - - - - - 2114 S. Memoriai- - - - - - - 918-660-0856 Whittier News Stand- - 1 N. Lewis- - - - - - •· - - - - 918-592-0767 ~le!iO\\f-Brick-Rd- - - - - - - 2630 E. 15th~ - - - - - - ~ ~ 918-293-0304 ute FREE copies of the ST:.A,.R. -.· email: oxarksstar@sbcglobal.net 30 •v 6f.Et.t HAN;!.Ofll ·~" AU.AN N6UWiltTH NATHAN WAITS TO ME:E:T i<ICHARO FOi< A SATUl<DAY t..UNCH DATE: ... 't)l:'-AR PA-<'f?ot-15, ,MJo1"1-\CR' Yic..TiM oF Ri,,;i NG Ff,oM"'r',s:, C.AFi O L-AY HAS C:..tOS~P i-rs PooR'S'' -(tlAMt<S f'oR Yo'-'FZ, ,,, BuSiN~$. rH.t'F, 15 >'OVR FAVt.V.'." Y ARE: TURNING OUR GAY UPPER WE:ST 910 OSHKOSH' OU Be Seen VVith The Star OH, NH!i-E, YOU ANO RUBEN WE:R!: AWAY HAViNG TONS OF GROVP SEX ON THAT M!:01- T!:RRAN!:AN CRUISi:: Night club for sale Aprox 3000 sq. ft. occupancy around 200 has storage building and small hou,e on the property. S210.000 Great entertaining home on 15th street by fair Grounds 4 bedroom 1.5 baths Large Su:uoom with 10 person Hot Tub Hard wood floors crown moiding L'1-rge Master Bedroom Aprox. 2050 sq. 5:. House is like new. $159.500 3 Bedroom 2 Bath 2 Edng 2 Car To~ally Up· dated in South Tulsa 58,b Sheridan area For Sale or Lease $145.000 or $1,200 per month Rental. 3 Bedroom 2 Bath 2 Livi,ig 2 Car with Pool 58th Place and Sheridan aprox 1850 sq. ft. $140.500 Condo"s for rem 66th and Peoria area 1 Bedroom I Bath with small Dea $500.00 Fireplace cover parking month plus eclectic. Condo"s for rent 66th and Peoria area 2 Bedroom 2 Bath Fireplace co,·ercd parking S550.00 plus eiectric. Tracy Whyburn Keller Williams Realtors 496-2252 Cell 625-6377 NWA GLBT CENTER The Northwest Arkansas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Community Center is a group of !Ike-minded individuals who have come together to create a nonprofit GLBT Community Center in Northwest Arkansas. www.nwaglbtcc.org 11730 E. 11th - Tulsa, OK 918.437.0449 Wed. Showtime with Bobby e, Miss Tulsa of America Special Guest 10:30PM Open Tues-Sun 2pm-2am Closed on Monday's OPPORTUNITY ADVERTISINl3 SALES REPRESENTATIVE F'OR WICHITA, MISSOURI OR ARKANSAS qualifications to ozarksstar@sbcglobal.net or mail to: 5103 S. Sheridan, #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 Get results with STAR Classifieds! ,',',', ','' ,,,'" ,.,. ports, Hot Stone oqtScrubs liriic ·· ... ··. ings an,:f We:~kends Oklahoma City business owner and beloved community friend Gil Ray passed away peacefully on Friday June 16th at 3:42 AM after a long illness. He had requested cremation. 31 , , , , ,, " ~, ,..,..,.,~_,,_,._~,,~'fi'i,•i("•'ff•..-.-•H ...... ,.._,,.,,,11•"ll'~lo•"""""•'••.,..,.,◄~·-.1 __ ,, •• ,,,.._,..,_ • ..,-• .,.~ ......... .: • ..,.~ ... ._...,¥,.,,..,._,...,_,~,,,.,..,_..,..,___..~ ... I JEXPllit:S:) ~OHOLIC BEVERAGE LAWS ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION) ~ 1■ 111 I I 111111 11111 ■111111 ( UCENSli NO. C :id 4 j2 ".,rj i ·1 ! I I I 11 II I I I I EFFECTIVE Oo/ 11./2006 j. } I I I I I I I i \ LICENSEFEE ;4,riO.Q.; 4 I I 111111 I 1111 I I I 1 I I I I Ill I I Ill I I I l I Ii I I I • • • lJ I II I I I I Ii DIii 11111 Ill ■ID 111111 11111 I i ,,--ISSIIED TO: J PRl:MISE: 1 riULLV'..JOGO HUHL AND SUllt:S .S535 NOirft!WtST 39nt ull~HJMA ~ITV, JK 751!2 ' MAll.lN<i: J5J:J .Wl<TiHJESi ~;'}fH OKL,'.\HtJHi\ C HV,_;,;_ . tJK /Sll2 ____________ LEWI:i 1:WR,.;ICK GROUP I NC • 1 11 ( ) STA1E crOOAtOMA. • Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2006] The Star Magazine, July 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 7 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource July 01, 2006 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Star Magazine’s first issue began February of 2005. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004) and The Ozark Star (2004). Follows is The Metro Star (2008). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource C.D. Ward Greg Steele Josh Aterovis Douglas Glenn John Patrick Micheal Dee Kay Massey Paul Wortman Carlotta Carlisle Libby Post Andrew Collins Donald Pile Ray Williams Micheal Hinzman Jack Fertig Liz Highleyman Chaz Ward Victor Gorin Teresa Goodrich Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Online text PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwest Missouri Western Arkansas Southeast Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Star Magazine, June 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 6 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/229 The Star Magazine, August 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 8 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/224 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/228 Advice Column AIDS Avian Influenza Bamboo Lounge Bitter Girl Chelsea Boys Comic Strips Crystal Meth Happy Family health Heart to Heart HIV/AIDs homophobia Kandy Cayne Lemon Drop Martini Lesbian Notions Miss Oklahoma Continental Momma's Summer Potato Salad One Big Past Out Pride Not Prejudice Festival Primary Election Q Scope Quotable Quotes star classified Star Distributors Star entertainment Star travel The Star Scene Tulsa Pride Festival Uncle Mikey vacation World AIDS day https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/adfb94be1aa7b9e0db819a46456d1bd2.jpg 6adb773497756f46669e86cce7ccca20 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/4bfcb0d1b43a2abfc0b17c449e79825f.pdf 4e78cd608e7c1960940d0e9eae47a0d1 PDF Text Text ��������������������������������� Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document Little Rock, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Fayetteville, Sprmgfield, Conway au, • • • • ~ct!} CCfufil@ STA.R Tra, Familv Pride Spaghetti Dinner Friday, June 2 @ 6 PM Fellowship Congregational Church UCC Gav Dav@the zoo Saturday, June 3@ 11 AM - 3 PM Tulsa Zoo & Living Museum wcocancert Saturday, June 3 @ 8 PM Fellowship Congregational Church UCC Interfaith Senice Sunday, June 4 @ 4 PM All Souls Unitarian Church Fish Can't Flv Monday, June 5 @ 7:30 PM Circle Theatre East Village Art Show -Tuesday, June 6 @ 5 - 9 PM Tulsa GLBT Community Center Dressed to a T Wednesday, June 7 @ 7 PM OpenArms Youth Project Singing with Pride Thursday, June 8 @ 7 PM Tuisa Central Library Diversitv Gala 2006 Friday, June 9 @ 6 PM Gilcrease Museum Tulsa GLBT Pride Parade Saturday, June 10@ 11 AM Cherry St. to Main St. to Veterans Park Tulsa GLBT Pride Saturday, June 10@ 12 PM Veterans Park 187 5 S Boulder Advertising in the STAR is just good business cents. 3 l I I I I I II ii I Iff,l ( 1 ) -5 6 Proudly serving Tulsa & OKC's GLBT cornmu,1ir;cs since 1982 4 Arkansas & Oklahoma's Most Read GLBT Magazine. Deadly Silence We've all heard it before, but have you e-ver really stopped to think how true it is? In so many cases, silence can be literally lethal. Think about unreported abuse, an o-,erlooked cry for help, an ignored genocide. In the Darfur region of Sudan, a human tragedy is taking place and there has been precious little said or done about it. So far, that silence has taken 400,000 lives. How did it get to this point? In 2003, warfare broke out in the African nation when two loosely allied rebel groups attacked militarv installations. \X'hile these atta~ks were quickly followed by peace ag~eements, brokered by the Cnited States, the government funded militia groups called the "Janjaweed" to eliminate those considered disloyal to the S!.!danese government. Over the next three years, the rest of the world has largely ignored the atrocities committeci by the government-sanctioned Janjaweec:. Thus far, according to reports by the World Food Program, the United Nations, and the Coalition for International Justice, 3.5 million people are now hungry, 2.5 million have been displaced due to violence, and 400,000 people have died in Darfur. Rape has become one of the most common ,vavs to artack the women ar,d children of Darfur, once they have be;n driven from their homes. Now, the threat of famine is dosing in or, the already desperate people of Darfur. Meanwhile, the government of Sudan does nothing ~o stop the genocide. Many Janjaweed have been integrated into the army and police. No one has been charged with any crime, and their actions are not being challenged. There remains a state of total impunity. In 2005, the United Nations finaEy took action ag~.inst Sudan, referring the situation to the International Criminal Court. Howe-;er, nothing more has happened since chat m!!e, and tb:: US nas ~raved scraogeiy siient for a country tha;: daims to stand against :yrarn{y and injustice. Our media has said very litt:e about th.c conflict, :md it hasn't bee:1 a high priority for our go;,ernmem, although Ccmgre,s is considering humanitarian and peacekeeoing funcling. The silence has indeed been deadly. ,. ' · " That silence wiU be ending on Sundav, 1\pril 30~ ho~:.le\~er. /\ R.alh: to Stop Genoc:de is planr{eJ for 2 4:30 pm on rhe National J\.J:;il between 3rd and 4th Streets in front of the I.JS (~apttoL S01nc of the speakers scheduled to appear at the rally jnclude Barack ()barna, Nancy Pelosi, (;eorge (]ooncy, Russell Si1nn1ons~ l(\\a~si ~lfume, and many more. Il1e e,.7ent is intended ro dnr,.\' attention to the critical ~iri1arion in I)arfut- ()rganiz•.::rs are expecting hundreds of thousands to ;1ttend, after ()prah \"'Cinfrey rhe raUy on her talk sho\1--. This bre~king o~ the silence is only the !1rst step, however. We must continue to pmh President Bush and ::he internati(mai community to take the steps necessary to end the genocide and builci a lasting peace. What does ali this ha,·e to do ,,·ith gay issues? Personally, I believe the LGBT community should be acti,·e in this battle. After all, who knows more abour the poisonous effects of silence tl1an us? \Y/e\·e been forced into silence for centuries, and the results have often been fatal. \\?e'l'. never know how m~ny gay and iesbian people chose to end ti1eir lives rather tnan continue living in the dark silence of tl:e closet. How many more haYe been killed directly because of their refusal to stay quiet? · I1:_ fact, we kno\J: so much about tl1e subject, ~en years ago a group ot college students started :he National Day of Silence to protest rhe silence most gav students and teachers are forced into, and the ignored history and contributions of LGBT people. The students refused to speak for an entire ciay. The evem quickly grew from year to year. On Wednesday, April 26, 2006, ten vears after the Dav of Silence began, an estimated 500.000 students.at 4000 colleges · and high schools participated. Ir has become the largest student-led protest in historv. How does it work) Participants usually wear red shirrs, often stickers identifying ,hem as participants, :me! always hand our papers called speaking cards, which explain why they are not speaking. The card~ read: "Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Dav of Silence, a national vouth movement protesting the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexu~l and transgender peopie and their allies. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by harassment, prejudice, and discrimination. I believe that ending the silence is the first step to\vard fighring these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing todav. What are you going to do to end the silence?" ·· · Whiic things have certainly improved for LGBT teens, even in the ten years since the Nationai Da\· of Silence srarted, we still cannot afford to be silent. The co~servaci\·e antigay forces are hard at work to drive us back into ~ne closer. In fact, last year, they began a program called the Day of Truth. lJnjike the National Dav of Silence, the Christian organizers of the Day of Truth encour~ge their par:icipants to speak out -- against the gay and lesbian students and their aiiies. Their goal is to "coumer the promotion of the homosexuai agenda anci express an opposing viewpoint from a Christian perspecfr;c." Strate611cally, the Day of Truth i$ heid the daY after the Dav of Silence and, as of this year. has become an a,nnual e\"ent. Their participants arc also encouraged to \Vear t-shirts and pass out cards. 'rheirs reads: HJ arn speaking the 'Truth to break the silence. Silence ~;~~::e~;::":,-r:::~1ac::;;::;.~~:~-~~t::::i:~t,::>~~::i:i:~::;~~~By proclaiming the 1'ruth in hurts \Vill be halted~ hearts ,vill be healed~ and hves ....-viH be s~P'lccL'~ ironic that that silence is not freedo1n .. but a constraJnr -- an the missed the point of the Day of Silence. tbc in their nJsh tr) R V Advertising in the SIAR is just good busine,.5s cents. Heart to Heart The good news is, as the Day of Silence continues to grow, I firmly believe our opposition ,vill fail. Sometimes it takes a ·while for justice and equality to take hold, bm: in the end, it alrr,ost always does. It can only happen when enough people refuse to remain silem. One voice crying in the \vilderness is easily overlooked. Many yoices raised together are much harder to ignore. Speak up. Speak out. Silence is deadly. * This is an official Reportable Health Information and Notification in Oklahoma (RHINO) Health Alert Network Advisory ercen ge O ~asesTnlYfSIDnTuTsa'" Reaches 91% The Oklahoma State Departmeni of Health (OSDH), HIV/STD Service, continues to identify an Increased number of syphilis cases in Tulsa County among men who have sex with men (MSM). From January 1 to March 10, 2006, 11 early syphilis cases were identified in Tulsa County. Of those cases, 10 (91 %) occurred in MSM. In addition, Tulsa Couniy likely will see an increase In the annual number of Syphilis cases for the second vear in a row. In 2005, Tulsa County reported 14 cases of which 8 (57%) were In MSM and in 2004, 13 cases of which 7 (54%) were In MSM. 65% of cases diagnosed with syphilis were co-infected with HIV. This increased activity in the MSM population of Tulsa County continues to be a significant concern for public health officials and suggests a continued demographic shift in the populations most at risk for developing syphilis in Oklahoma. Early detection and treatment prevents further damage syphilis may cause to the body and may also reduce the risk for HIV transmission. Consequently, persons at high risk need to be aware and seek testing. Risk factors Include having multiple sexual partners, using intravenous drugs, having sex without barrier protection, and being infected with HIV. Health care providers should consider expandIng their screening and prevention efforts particularly among the MSM population. Prompt reporting by providers to the Oklahoma State Department of Health is essential in preventing further spread of syphilis. Since January 1, 2006, six of the eleven (55%) new early syphilis cases have been identified through OSDH's contact investigation. Early syphilis cases can be treated with single doses of Benz:athine penicillin, which is avaiiable at the Tulsa Health Deoartmeni. Health care providers may contact.the OSDH HIV/STD Service at (405) 271-4636. Quotable Quotes Tom Reilly a Democratic candidate for Massachusetts governor, initialiy opposed gay marriage, but later became a supporter. saying he has seen that the samesex unions have not hurt the State More than 7,000 gay couples have wed in Massachusetts since same-sex marriages 1Nere aliowed beginning in May 2004. TheSTAR 7 8 Sanctioned Events "Pride First Night" Monday, June 19th Featuring the comedy of Danny McWilliams, Doors open at 6pm, Dinner at 7, show at 8 at the Copa - $35 with Silent Auction - Proceeds go to OKC Pride. Sponsored by Oklahoma Leather Guard. Leather Pride Night Friday, june 23 Phoenix Rising Sponsored by NLA-OKC -, Herland Sisters Picnic Saturday, June 24 5 pm at Herland standout Pride Festival Saturday, June 24, noon - 10 pm 25 Featured Band - Betsy and The Edge, 8 pm Sunday, June 25, noon - 5 pm Large Children's Play Area, Two Stages of Live Entertainment, PRIDE IDOL Contest on Saturday, Dog Contest Sunday, Great Food, Refreshing Beverages, a Host of Pride Items! Parade Step-Off Sunday, 5 pm www.OKCPride.com Sponsors as of May 10 ~' A!! rights reserved. OKC Pride, !nc copyright 2006 Advertising in the ST,4R is just good business cents. ooloun Be seen with the STAR. Advertise with us! 9 Lesbian Notions by Libby Post JUNE 2006 "Do The Paoerwork" The man who sat across from me was good-looking and in his mid-30s a corporate type who was crying as he ate his bagel. Almost six momhs after losing his 41-year-old partner, Rich Janulis, to a bad heart, Jim Salengo's pain is paipable. I couldn't keep from welling up myseif. They had been together for 13 years. They owned a house together. Rich, who worked at the New York State AIDS Institute, listed Jim as his domestic partner so that the latter could o-et health insurance from the state while between jobs. . b Thev, had built a life that was full of friends, family, , and fabulous times together. Thev had even taken the steps necessary to protect each other in the event one of them would die. Thev took the steps but never completed the journey. The day Ri~h died, none of the paperw-ork the v.rills, the power~ of attorney, the medical proxies had been signed. In the eyes of the law,Jim didn't exist as Rich's partner. Through Jim's tears came the anger he has felt for the past six months. He's not angry with Ri.ch for dying; he's angry because, despite 13 years together, their relationship wasn't valued by anyone or anything "official." Because Rich died at home, the police had to be called. "They asked me if I was his roommate," Jim told me. "I told them, 'No, we're partners.' \Vhen I read the police report, it said roommate." Jim's tear_;,; fl.owed. Then it was dme to determine who was Rich's next of kin - because the legal paperwork bad never been completed, the designation went to Rich's mocher, who told Jim not to ,vorn;, she would make sure he got what he deserved. If 't-v1om thought Jim dc'>er,cd hcarta~hc, pain, guilt, confusion, and frustration,, ";v/cll, she made good <)11 her word. Instead of ::;~r:;;~J;,::~ ~tl:~~s~l;n;):~~1~:;~;);~J:~o:c;i~~:~ti~~~~ back pay and unpaid vacation. She also just left him tv/isting 1n the \Vlnd crnot1onally. has been clearheaded She 10 the STAR Comptroller's office whicl~ would be distributing what the state owed Rich would be a sympathetic ear. ,-1is resourceful as a \voman on a mission can be, Jackie worked the svstem, and those funds went to the ~state and not to the m;ther. Since Jackie was appointed by the court as the estate's co-executor, there's some hope Jim will get what he reallv deserves - the same benefits and respect rhat ;,, heter-osexuai'survivor would have gotten in a similar scenario. ~ Much more complex and internecine than there's space for in rhis column, the story comes back to Jim, who continues to wipe his eyes in between bites. He tells me of their best friends from Massachusetts two gay men who \Vere planning a big wedding with Rich and Jim as their best men. They called it off. It just wouldn't be the wedding they had hoped for \Vithout both Rich and Jim to share in the special day. He looked at me and asked why. \X'hy has it been so difficuit for him to be seen as Rich's legal partner? \X'hy have he and Jackie had to jump through hoops? \X'hy aren't our relationships valued? We all know the answers to those questions, and so did he. He wanted to know what he could -do with his anger. I rold him he could be a poster child for the same-~ex marriage fight. "Maybe it's time to get involved," i1e said. Jim's story is the story of so many in the lesbian and gay community. Together for years, we never take the rime to put our affairs in order. We think "nothing is going to happen," and we figure we can cake care or it next month, after we get back from vacation, after Christmas, when we find a supportive attorney, when we have the time. \'fell I sav there's no rime like the present. If vou love each othe~ ancr'are in it for the long haul, do yours;lf a favor - get the paperv..-ork done. As the community continues to grow and we get older, having all the iega! and estate-planning work compiet~ is essential if we are going to protect each other. If you own a home together, make sure both cf your names arc on the deed. Luckily for Jim, both his and Rich's names were. Othcnvise, he could have los: the house Sit down with your partner and have the discussion -· \vho gets what in the event either of you die. :\fak:: sure part::1crs ~xc listed as beneficiaries on pensions and !ifc insurance poiicies, Do the research needed in your state to rnakc sure ~rrangen1cnts are iron-clad. Candidates: Jim Roth Candidate for Oklahoma County Commission Jim Roth is running for re-election for the position of Oklahoma County Commissioner for the 1st District, for which he was first elected in 2002. He was the first openly gay candidate to be elected to public office ir, Oklahoma Coumy,Jim has served as the President of the National Association of Civil County Attorneys, and is the only person in Oklahoma County hisrory to serve as a board member of the Nati~nal Association of Counties. He is also a member of several other professional and civic organizations including the Oklahoma, Kansas and American Bar Associations, Kiwanis Club, Rotary International, and the Chamber of Commerce in Choctaw, 1\fidwest Citv and the Capitol area. · \X'hile in office Jim has had many accomplishments. Jim, along with other members of county government, implemented a nondiscrimination policy for Oklahoma Coumy employees tha.: incl~des gays and lesbians. · Jim is also fighting to prevent Oklahoma County Public Libraries from deleting gay themed books from their shelves. He co-chaired a committee that brought the United States Holocaust 1-fuseum's traveling exhibit, The Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals, to O~Jahoma City. In addition he also sanctioned a five year road and bridge construction program that ,vill repair infrastructure ,vithin his discric:, and while his predecessor only got one direction District One has built 8. Looking to the future, Jim has begun an initiative program, CURE (County Urban Rivitilization Effort) which \vill heip increase home o,vnership by first time home buyers. Jim has also ·worked tirelessly to assist our senior citizens and ensure their golden years. Jim's reputation as a person of integrity, honesty, trustworthiness and professionalism has garnered support from his constituents. His positi,·e attitude and deep-rooted values add to his success as a commissioner. The Victory Fund is proud to support Jim in his re-election effort. Help Jim continue his effective and positiYe fight for equality and a better Oklahoma County. Individuals interested in helping Jim Roth win in 2006 may contact the Campaign at: roth4commissioner@cox.net or go online at ·wwV1.roth4commissioner.com * Oncourse f ark & reakfast jOO ]Seni:on f)lvd. Kansas City, Mo 6+12+ 816-2Jl-1196 health outreach prevention educationr Inc. 1-800-535 IDS (2437) Oklahoma's HIV/STD Hotline . ·• .PROJtCT YOURSELF .·. AAOTECTYQU~.F'ARTNER(S) ,,,' IV testing, including the 20 · screening at t'1e GtBi Community sda -from (j.1fuw. . . . ··•· .¥8 VF'· · Jt.o . .,~e. Testing Glinic llef'JS Oetrec1cll 'Program · In Tulsa at {918) 812-7845 concoursepa1rkbb@ 1 al.net Grand Victoria Historic No Check Us Qut! & I{egister- f~~ Starlif?;ht Theatre tickets lust t\/4inutes -- K'r- . ~ roudly accept the f~) Call for rates, weekend specials, or extended stay arrangements VvWV·✓-CONCOUK5LFAR.i(5AND5-COM the STAR 11 WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign's fight against the Federal Marriage Amendment hit full swing this week as the date for the Senate vote approaches. With a vote scheduled the week of June 5, HRC launched an ad campaign in press targeting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans, urged more than 250,000 fair-minded Americans to act against the amendment, released an online video aimed at encouraging action by highlighting the radical right's discriminatory campaign and continues to lead the Coalition Against Discrimination in the Constitution, a coalition of more than 120 groups in fighting the amendment. "This June the right wing will attempt w make GLBT people second-class citizens forever. Fight the Federal Marriage },mendment. Scheduled Vote June 5." With ads set to run as soon as this week, the campaign features ads in ar least 26 publica- The e-mail Action Alert, titled ''Countdown Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco), San Francisco Bay Times, Seattle Gay News, Washington Blade. to the Vote," begins: "In five weeks, the United States Senate will decide whether or not to make gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans second-class citizens in our nation's Constitution. Where do your senators stand? "One month and counting until the Senate wastes more time on singling out a group of Americans for discrimination. The time to act is now and every day to the vote," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "Our ads and posteard campaign are just pieces of the puzzle M1..;, .. .1utiite-,-..~ ... -.,;it•oe--..OIML lllo\lUIIA/ila-tNll•NT.--'--"90 THE RIGHT WING "As early as June 5, d-1e Senate will vote on the discriminatory Federal Marriage Amendment in an attempt to write discrimination into the Constitution. The Human Righrs Campaign has launched an aggressive campaign to stop them. Click here to take action now .... ...iw_oW_w.J ___ t,;p,,b WILL ATTEMPT TO MAKE --•-~.rt.~\l!Qt•ia~btiliof•tbt bl•....._, GLBT PE PLE "Despite the fact that the American people want Congress to focus on skyrocketing gas prices, the war in Iraq, and health care, -,,,. H_, R,g•i, Cor.pojg• • ~ ""c.-. Hli and -.c:rca tbe~ln l'IQltff 1w ~Mir• _l _ ,,..111-IIIINIIIIOH••:ht SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS v.a. Ctai,1(1:~ 8t.c ..,_ Qlllll' do 11 .-.:-. ,ott. tt U)QON Jo~ t.)W'JO'M....,,.,_i:i,ta#ld "Pf--t.,..~u..,..,__..,..,......,, •ntmpC to PA Olll;ftlllil'.-,10., lrJtio .,.._~IQll'l. 2)AI.I.RT~ tri.fllldltMdflp,ly'1o N ~ •Ad• !h•mloWIMl~a....a, 311'110111 rr IN°" - 1\,ad,J"1 E-~-i'>"' t~ QC of,_. to ~,-.r IIVH ~-...,_WI Cot,gt._ W.-:iiot ye# oppci,allio,, ¥ 20l/2:2 .. 4!21, 'IOIJR.V-Ill Cllrnc.1.1 HUMAN RIGHTS . right-wing leaders in in motivating fairminded Americans to take action against the amendment. While we're on Capitol Hill day in and day out lobbying against any www.hrc.org SCHEDULED VOTE JUNE 5 ; Congress continue t0 pursue a discriminatory anti-GLBT agenda. Prompted by anti-gay Senator Rick Samorum. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist announced his intention t0 force a vote on the so-called Federal !vfar:iage Amendment during the week of hme effort to put discriminatibn in our Constitution, it's vitai that oack home aH fair-mincied Americans are doing their part to make their voices heard." The online video features clips of anti-gay rhemric from President Bush. Sens. Ri~k · Samorum and John Cornyn, the Rev. Pat Robertson anci Bill O'Reillv. among 'Ot~1er~. in reference to the amendmern and a:;ks viewers to go to HRCs website to fight back. View tne video. The print ad includes a of Sens. !lick Santorum and l~iU Frist \dth the foHo\ving text: 12 the STAR rions in two dozen cities acro~s the nation, including: Tne Advocate (nationwide). Southern Voice (Atlanta), Bay Window~ (New England), Q Notes ;,Charlotte, N.C.), Windy City Times (Chicago), Outl•Jok News (Columbus), Dalias Voice, ()uc Front (Denver), Bct\'vcen the lines (Detroit) .. Houston \ 7oice, Frontiers (Los Angeles), Lavender :Viagazine (Minneapolis/ St. Paul), Gay i'-~c\vs (1'-..Je .. \,v York), Ne,,; York Blade, Orange County Blade, \J?a.tennark (()rlando)~ Bottom t,inc (Palm Springs), Philadelphia c;ay ~~e\VS, J::cho {)?hoenix/Tucson)~Just Chn land), Q Salt Lake, Pillar & L,esb1an l~inics 5. _-'\moag the grassroots efforts :n which the e-maii asks s;,ipporters w participate is a campai1:-,rn asking indi0:iduals to sig,1 pr>stcards that. the Human Rights Campaign will hand-deb·er to senators and representati.-es asking then1 to vote no on the Federai lVfar·~ riage :\mcndment. The Human Right, Campaign a;so continues to lead the efforts of the (:oalirion Discrimination 11.1 the a coalition (Jf rr1orc tl1an 120 civil crvi! 1iberties; labor and nrganizations d1at are to defeat the a1nen<.1rrn.:.nt. * ast Out by Liz Highle:1nan JUNE 2006 Summary : Pasr Out is a retrospective of key moments, personalities, and subjects in LGBT history. Each installment brings the past to life by exploring the diversity of the gay past and its impact on the queer present. Who was Aileen Wuornos? Despite her grisly crimes, Aileen Wuornos branded bv the media as a lesbian serial killer garnered sympathy from som~ due to her tragic life and her futile quest for love. I 11 1989, \X'uornos found a new ,vay to ob:ain money killing and robbing middle-aged men who pickd ner up for sex along highway I-75. She first mardered eiectronics-shop owner Richard Mallorv in December, shooting him multiple ti~es ,vith a .22-caliber pis~o~. O;·er several months in 1990, she killed at least nve more men, including a sausage salesman, a police officer, and a missionary. On July 4, \vuornos and ~vfoore ran off the road in a stolen car oelonging co one of the dead men; they flea on foot, but were identified by witnesses. Police traced the women through motel receipts, a bloody handprint on the abandoned car, and thumbprints Wuornos lefr on file when selling victims' belongings at pawnshops. Two detectives cornered \'vuornos on Jan. 9, 1991, at a Port Orange biker bar called the Last Resort and arrested her on an outstanding warrant. The next day, authorities located Moore, who was visiting her sister in Pennsylvania. She agreed to coopera.:e, persuading \X'uornos to confess to the murders during taped telephone conversations. r-Ioore never contacted \X!uornos in prison, and ~he las;: rime they saw each other was when Ivfoore testified against ',Y,Iu ornos l. !l court. \'<7uornos' arrest set off a media circus. Within two weeks, she and her first attorney had sold movie rights co her storv, while three leading investigators in the case were also negotiating with Hollywood. After hearing about Wuornos on the news, a born-again Christian woman, Arlene Pralle, said Jesus told her to contact Wuornos in prison. Praile appeared on talk shows pleading on Wuornos' behalf, and eventually legaily adopted her. Wuornos was born Feb. 29, 1956, in Rochester, Mich. Her father, whom she never knew, was a convicted child molester who hung himself in prison. Her teenage mother abandoned Wuornos and her older brother, leaving them in the care of their maternal grandparents. Subject to emotional and physical abuse, W'uornos beca!De sexually. active at an early age, trad- ..----------------------- Wuomos initially claimed ail the killings ·.vere ing sex for money, cigarettes, and done in self-defense. In particular, she said drugs. At age 14, she gave birth to Mallory had raped, sodomized, and tortured a baby whom she was forced to put her. A.x her January 1992 trial, however, her up for adoption. Her grandmother testimony was inconsistent and prosecudied soon after, and Wuornos tors cast doubt on her credibility. She was dropped out of school, left home, found guilty and sentenced to death, despite and began eking out a living as a expert testimony that she was mentallv ill. In prostitute. the months ahead, she pleaded guilty ;)r no comest to five other murders. It was nor until the following November that an investigative reporter reYealecl that Mallorv had served time for vioieat ~cxual assault. \'i/uornos was arrested repeatedly for violations such as drunk driving, assault, and theft, once holding up a convenience store clad only in a bikini. When her brother died of cancer in 1976, Wuornos received a $10,000 life insurance payment, which she soon squandered. She was married briefly to a wealthy elderly man, but h~ had the m;rriage annulled due to her abusive behavior. By age 20, she had settled in Florida, ,vherc si·,c crmtinuec! to commi:: increasin.e:lv serious crimes under a varierv of :iliases. In the sun11ner of 1986, \\i/uornos - kncAvn a~ I~ee - 1net Moore at a Daytona gay bar. !vfoore, then 24, had left her hon1~ town 111 Ohio due w friction with he;- iamih· on:r her sexuality_ 'Though \X'\1ornos did not consider herseif ~ lesbian, the tv?o ~vorn- :;,:;:~Jt:~,::;;J~~i 1~:t ,~:~a;:;1~::·;~5c~!~~:::i:a~1::~i;;~:;~:~::1 ' fiv~ years: W:.:ornos regarded ~1oorc a, her wift~ ~nd ~..-., ".,.,,,, her as best she could \Vith earnjngs frcnn prostitution. biographer~ue Russell~ wil1c real driYtng force in L,ee}s life \:vasn't 14 the STAR Afrcr nearly a decade on death roVJ, Wuo;:nos sought to end her appeals. She dropped her earlier clairns of sc:f-defense, writing :n a 2001 :ettcr tc, the Florida Supreme C,;ur::""I'm oac \ 1/ho seriously hates hurnan life and ,.vould kill ;!gain.'' She died bv icthal injection 0:1 Ocr. 9, 2002. ·n:,Jut~u;.~:~;;t~::t~~~:!:~i,:/;~~ ;~;:~1~;~B~1 ;:;~:~~~~) 1 ;:: 1:Yr~:1~~~~r. of rjme 11~~:~~:::' :i;:~1~.~~;·~ti):2~~~:t::~1:~:~:~:~ ;~:~;;,:~ ~:~;~;~l though 1nost r1f ht:r had been ~,J/ith rncn. Some defcnd·- cr~ n1aintaln that '(fuornos \1 .. +:1s a Ylctirn r)f her abusiv-c chHdhood, predator}- ,.,-~,-,,,, __ ,, rnedia~ and an uniust legal system. ()rhher 1.~ain search for lo-,,.~c. Phom: Cast of the Bobby Page Sho,,, Steve's Hideaway, Tulsa Bene£tSJlo'Ys;;!5ag~an;,J~und-rai$er's,,thcs~·gitls w6rlc their 1:footie · · · · · · .. · · · · · · · bt:.t the , r·,\\"' six Iser «.. ~ .. beautiful with each rl.i· ,, ,',, ,',' ',' •/'</:',., ' 'i'p' ,:: ,,,, :,,:, \\:~:-'",;",:~ Wener~ 111 Okiahoma·~t2Ull}~' fabulous divli's. So okk yorirlocai Girl muJio~ist. cOmmunity.· Orleans, .. ·· thebrag For the past fo,.Jr years. and support td tb support our 'fi'''" ~. "' •-1 .,, .. ,,,.. ,;:,, ',,,•' N ",·:·,•.,',',l,>",,/h' '"·1 l·,:i 1 ~ '~/~ .!~~~~ fO~p~~ .tP~ ~9il?Ffll~-~~~~.·.~.e; ;~B~~~-· s1:1p,vs.1n O~at,o·nj~. :(:ity~ ·~lS~t a~.~·: f}a~~ .·9}1~.~~~>"'p¢?t~~r~~tee · ~Lie aCcurat.j. dUc 'ti,. t~~trurri~.I?v-e gOr..a:.1)~2<!iChe ':t.Ji1 ·.dori~f have a BAMBOO LOUNGE: Kriss Kohl and friends the 3rd Sunday of each month at 8pm. CLUB MAJESTIC: Caria Lee Lo\·e on Sunday's 10pm. .\liss Oklahoma Continental Pageant June 2nd 9pm. STEVE'S HIDEAWAY: The Bobby Page Open Talent Show \'\;ednesday's 10:30pm RENEGADES: Tabitha TaylC>r, Caria Lee Lcwe, Liberty Leigh check wiri1 Ciub Renegades for dates and times. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK BOOM ROOM: J\lis~ Ginger Lamar, Sunday's 10:30 PM. CLUB ROX: The ;\lison Scott Sho,;,; 2nd Saturday each momh, 9:30 P:vl, Shantei MandDclay Show follows. !\Iiss Arnold Lee l)resents, !st and 3rc! Sunday's each month, 7:30 PivL Hilo CLUB: The Tony Sinclair Drai! Show, EYery Frida\· 10:30 PM. LAWTON, OK TRIANGLES: Vicki('. Dillard, Isabe!ia V,,:1eartier, l\Iici1a Eriks and Kia Paige, Every Friciay and Saturday 11:30 PM drag time. Be y Smi le Forms ew Band pc:·?:·crn1cd hLr ia3t ,1.-ith the grc•up ar (Jub :rvia ... ,~ericks 'fuisa on ?viay 19th. liets\~\ nc\v band \\.·iH be ·'"13ets\- and 'The -rh~ hand 1ncff;bcrs are~ of course. Bcrsy on •.. - ocals and bas::- guitilr~ for \\\nonn;1) on Yoc2!'.'1 .c1nd nounccd. 'The frJnncd Juth.' uf fun and the STAR 15 AUG 4, 5 & 6 2006 FRI SAT SUN DIVERSITY WEEKEND " Eureka Springs, AR Calling All DORIS DAY & ROCK HUDSON LOOK-A-LIKES! cash prizes! • MK . tl>'.A. Jtf£! . . Ya/I Gotta Wear somtJ PINK on SAT Night! ea . w. S uctions! and Annual Pool Party • BBQ aea'r-cuii:or1ii1y CONTEST S d nee & social o d! Donna Summer! Hd fr,a co••11a#ty PILLOW FIGHT/ DJ's JANE & MARY KING & Guest SINGERSt PLUS MORE EVENTS TBA! & DiversityPride Tulsa's Diversity Gala 2006 TULSA OK IMAGINE the most elegnnt party, set in the 1920's in the beautiful Osage Hiils of Tulsa. for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) celebritries from around the world. Well, that is what Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights (TOHR) will be hosting Friday, June 9, 2006 at the Gilcrease Museum. The evening will in part serve to recognize State Senator Bernest Cain for his lifelong commitment to protecting the human rights of ail peop! of Oklahoma. Senator Cain will be receiving TOHR's Lifetime Achievement Award, a special honor for those wt-io have provided ongoing leadership and support in the GtBT & allied community. Lynn Jones, retired Major with the Tuisa Pol!ce, as thi~ . year's event chair and Nancy and Or. Joseph_ Mc£?ona,a ~s Honorary chairs, would love to welcome you to this grana evening. The evening benefits the community programs and services of Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights. Twenty-six years ago. a smali group of individuals started an organization seeking equality for gays and lesbians. Thanks to you and others, TOHR has grown into the largest and oldest GLBT organization in the state of Oklahoma. Thls year. 2006, will find us in the permanent TOHR-owned Tulsa Glenpool Flowe~ GP Gifts Earl Wheeler 437 E. 141st Street Glenpool, OK 74033 918.291.EARL {3275) Floral Arrangements For .•\I! Occasions & Hoiidays Serving the Tulsa Metro Area for over 21 Years with PRIDE! CUSTOM DECORATING * HOLIDAY SPECIALS prders by 12noon guaranteed same day delivery. Your order is treated with the upmost confidentiaiity. GLBT Community Center, an 18,000 square foot facility at 4th & Kenosha in Tulsa's East Village, within walking distance to downtown and the Brady Arts District - all vibrant urban spaces. TOHR will provide even more community-oriented services in the new Tulsa GLBT Community Center. Director Greg Gatewood, Oklahoma's only full-time GLBT advocate, with the help of an ever-increasing number of volunteers, supervises over 20 programs i~cluding the Tu_lsa G_LBT Community Center (the Center). The Center 1s on track to welcome over 10,000 individuals this year. The Tulsa GLBT Information Line fields over 3,000 calls annually while the Nancy McDonald Rainbow Library now has over 4,000 GLBT titles on the shelves. The David Bohnett CyberCenter, with 10 on-line computers, provides free internet access and computer use to over 250 people per month. The expanded Center wiil allow for additional programs and iarger events to serve not only the GLBT & allied c~mmunitv, but the entire Tulsa metro area. The expandea Center will include leased retail space, creating the potentiai for a GLBT neighborhood - something our community has been seeking for years. •'imaaine." You can reserve a table for your friends and family or business associates. as weil as indi~~dual se~ts here. Please feei free to cail 918.743.4297 With questions or for more information, 16 ~4dverlising in the ST4R is just good business cents. CHICAGO: HOST GAY GAMES New Asian Gay and Lesbian Travel Guide - page 22 The Caribbean, Homo-Phobia In Paradise! By Douglas Glenn With e,·eryone traveling these days one would think chat most everyplace would be very gay-friendly ..... or at least one would think that would be the case. Most small foreign countries have travel as their main source of revenue. They like to fill up their hotels, bars, restaurants and shops with American tourists. Did anyone read the Time magazine article a few weeks ago calling Jamaica the "most homophobic place on Earth"? According to Rebecca Schiefer of the United States based Human Right Watch, ''.Jamaica is the worst any of us has ever seen". Not only is Jamaica homophobic but nearby Islands of St. Maarten and the Bahamas have had their fair share of gay bashing. If this were just an isolated event we might look upon it differently but it seems as though the governments of these Islands are absolutely doing nothing about it. 0~ April 6, two CBS Nev,'!) employees were attacked and severely beate2. by a group of men on the Cario::)ean island of St. Maarten where they were vac:,tioning in what is described at as homophobic attack. WFOR television in I',fiami reports tbat Richard Jefferson, a senior prod~ccr for che CBS Nightly News and his friend R::an Smith a prociucer-researcher for 48 Hours were attacked as they left a pcpular bar after an altercation with the men earlier that night inside the dub. The :mackc:rs allegedly hurled homophobic insults at the two and they were beaten ,vith a tire iron. Both n1en were rns?ed to a iocai ho:piraL ~eff:r_S')D susta.1.qect severe cuts on the baci( ot hts head and his lov~1er back. Smith suffered a 18 fractured skull and possible neurological damage. Io Jamaica, Jamaican Aids activists, Steve Harvey, an openly gay man was abductive from his home and police reported his body was found miles away in a wooded area with gun shots ro his head and back. In ~hssau, Bahamas the Bahamian government banned Brokeback Moutain from showing in theaters. The Rainbow Alliance, a gay rights group, called the ban a "farce," and said most Bahamians reject the idea that a "small group of appointed individuals ? can provide the moral compass for the entire country.'' All Americans need to be protected when traveling, not only gays a;;d lesbians but everyone. ·'\/./e have a right to travel in a safe environment, after all this is the 21st centu::y! Life is too • short te> take a chance on going somewhere vour not wanted. Gays and lesbians simply need to take their travel doHars elsewhere. There are reallv pientr of places ri211t here in the !Jni:ed St;tes t~> tra~·d wher~: we can enjoy ourselves without being haras$ed. If you really need to go to an Island, then Ha· :~~:5~v~:::~;1~~t:~;,::~~!e;~/,~~c;·~~!~J~;;;n bars~ restaurancs as \vell a$ gay and lesbh1n accomn1odations including several Bed and Breakfasts. Gays cerrainly don)t haYe to to go on vacation 1:his year but it the STAR, TRAVEL SECTION won't be Jamaica or St. Maartens or the Bahamas! I want to have a stress-free travel vacation and don't ,vant to !rn,·e to worrY about anything! · * Which islands are gay-friendly Planet OUT TtaYel Columnist Kenneth Kiesnoski reporrs, while a chain of gayfriendly island destinations encircles tl1e globe, there has traditionailv been one missing link any Caribbean isie. That is, until now. Despite a welJ-deser·,:ed reputation for entrenched homophobia, frequent discrimination against gay citizens, and even open hostility to gay and lesbian travelers, there are signs that at least a handful of Caribbean destinations are changing their tunes. Gay-friendly-isn Caribbean: Whether prompted by economic consider· ations or internal or external pressures -- or, in some cases, ail three -- island nations such as St. Lucia, the Netherlands Antilles and the Cayman Islands arc, if not openlv courting gay travelers, at least chalie~ging reputations for rampant homopi1obia. The U.S. Territories of Puerto Rico, St. Croix and the GS Virgin Islands still offer the closest approximations of gay life in the Caribbean. Caribbean travel veteran Alan Chastanet, o-wner of S,. Lucia's Coco Resorts and vice president of the island's hotel and tourist board, said that as far as he and his hospita;ity colleagues are concerned. homosexualitv is a "non-issue." But even in hospitable Ca~ ribbcan island destinations. gay-specific or gay-exciusive resorts and nightiife tend tu be thin on the grcund, save perhaps in Puerto Rican metropolis San Juan. f-fere are a fe\1/ of the report card grades from Ed Sah·ato and Ke'r,neth Kie~noski Caribbean travel ,,Titer. St. Barts: /\- St. Kitts/Ncv1s: B-· Puerto Rico: 137 Cayn1an Islands: c: + Curac,:ao: B+ S~. L:cia: C + (;uadcloupc: B Lvlartinique: J) ~\rnh~~· FL Br~ti~~h c;rcnada: C ~ llil ffi:©[&Y~~ by Donald Pile and Ray Williams "CAMPING IT UP" "Camping it up" got a whole new meaning after we discovered the CAlvIPIT OUTDOOR RESORT in Fennville, Michigan, just 7 miles south of Saugatuck/Douglas, Michigan. It is about a 2 hour drive from Chicago and is just a couple miles from Lake Michigan. Campit is the :tvfidwest's largest and nicest gay and l outdoor resort. Campit was establis 40 years ago and bec;me a gay and lesbian campground 27 years ago. The currem owners, Sally Howard and :Michael O'Connor purchased rhe campground in 2000. To clarify things, :tvfichael ;s a wonderful gay man and his business partner Sally is a wonderful lesbian. They are excellent hands-on owners. The owners KNOW how to treat their guests and that is the reason their guests keep coming back year afi:er year after year. The owners are constantly making new and exciting changes including remodeling to the Outdoor Resort. They added a privacy fence all around and another 3 dozen camping sires ha-:;e been aclded. A couple of years ago they added a large swimming pool, bath house and recreation hall. Campit Campground is completely secluded from the rest of the world and you could easily stay there for days without ever leaving che grounds. But if you wish to, the gay villages of Saugatuck and Douglas, Michigan are just 7 miles north where there are numerous gay businesses including antiques shops, gift ships, gay bars, a fitness cemer and gay restaurants. Campit Campground is composed of RV and tent sites. In addition to tl1e Bunkhouse Bed and Breakfast you can rent a log cabin or a traiier. There are total of over 50 "seasonal" RV, trailer and tent sites. The Band B has 5 rooms, air-conditioning and serves a contintntal breakfast. Guests choosing to stay in the Bunkhouse B and B have ful] use of the campground facilities. In addition there is a iog cabin that is available f~; renting. There are more than 23 acres of wooded and open areas, a bath house with toilets and showers. ~rails and a piayground. They have an "adult's only" policy except on "Family Pride \\:'eek". They are special tenting areas for nudists, women. leather, etc. They have a camp store with snacks, beer, firewood, ice and propane. The Campit is PERFECfL Y SPOTLESS! You won't find any trash, bottles or beer cans thrown around the grnunds. AU of a:he guests ::hink of this as r:heir second home. Can yeu possibly think rJi a better way to have a great vacation than ro g'l to :m all gay and lesbian campground resort? Getting back ,o nature? Buiklmg a campfire, roasting marsh mellow~? Snug- Yvith yGnr lo·ver in a tent under the stars? Isn't that romantic? TRAVEL Taking a hike in the woods? Swimming at their huge pooi or sun~ bathing? Even it you were not really into camping this would make an ideal alternative for your next trip. \X'hen we toured the campground it was unbelievable how many people were there. Hundreds! Everyone was so Eriendiy. There is truly a camaraderie going on there between all the guests. Many of them are "seasonal" guests that park their RV's and trailers all year long and come only on weekends from miles away and many of their guests comes from Detroit, Chicago and Indiana as well as ocher States. They have special theme weeks each summer including Summer \X:'omen's Weekend, Bears in the Woods, Commitment Ceremony, Leather weekend, Seasonal Gardening/ Landscaping, Family pride week and of course their famous Christmas in Juiy weekend. The summers on Lake :Michigan are exo:emely cool and at night you will neeci a blanket. Since this is a private resort, membershio is mandatorv. However memberships can be purchased fo~ as little as ${0.00 a year. The~ have over 3200 members! Sally and Michael have put the emphasis on their guests, making them feel like a family. The guests are what it's all about. How many .times have you stayed at a resort or ho:el only to be treated like a number? Not here! le is like a close-knit fum:ly. It is the friendliest place that we've ever been. All of the guests enjoy being around other people. It is certainly not a bar-like atmosphere where everyone just stands around looking at each other. Everyone here TALKS wich everyone and interacts. The personality of the owners and staff of course play a large pan in all of this. As most of our readers know, we are NOT "campers in the ·woods" however the next time we go co Saugatuck/Douglas, }\fichigan in the summer we will certainiy stay ar thei:: Bunkhouse B and B or in one of their log cabins. The Campit is open from mid-April chru October. Their roll free telephone number is: 877-CAlvfPIT 1. Check om their website at: ,v,vw.campitresort.com or email ::hem at reservacions@campitresort. com. On a personal note, we recommend the CAi\IPIT very highly. Everything is done the ngn.t way there. The owners arc extremely professional and conduct tl1eir busmesf in the righ, '-CW. Arkansas & Oklahoma's most read GLBT Magazine 19 b:-he Gay Games are expected to draw more than 11,000 participants land countless more spectators to the vibrant city of Chicago in July. Chicago: Host of ames II. ay For one week beginning on July i 5, Chicago will host what has become rme of the most prominent gay and lesbian gatherings in the worid, the Gay Games, which are expected to draw more than 1 1.,000 participants and countless more specta.:ors. America's i:hirdlarges: city. Chicago has become one of rhe top gay destinations in the country, known for its cxception,cl museums, restaurants, hotels, arcnitecture, and performing ar.:s. Even i[ you're in to·.\·n primariiy to play in or '.v:itch tl:e Games, try to sec aside at least an afternoon to visit a fe,v il:ey attracrions in the Loop, :he central business district ,hat ccmains Chic,gc's most notev.ortny mu~et1:ns and archtectural mauels, including the k~•.•iathan ;\farshaii Field & Co. department store, the Chicago Architecture Foundaticn Shop and Tim;- Center (which gives ex.cellcnt waikmg tours). and Grant Park. Don't miss the superb Art Imrjn:,:: of <:hicago, \vhosc a~tonishingly cotnprehensive collection spans ~~~;c~::::1t;~ :~;~it;::::_ ;~1~):.:;~~:~i: ii:\1~(,;s:)~1:E~:;::r~~1:1i~i~!~;~.;;· {)ther (;rant Park tnusts include the John (1. Shedd 1\quariurn and the sirniiariy hurnongous Field Ivluscutn f)f T'.Jatural 1-listory. I~orth of the J.,OOf\ you'll find a collcctit.n1 of lively and eclectic neighborhood~ - sorne nch •:.,:ith_ and others kncnvn for shopp1ng and fancy ;ipartmtnts and hotels In R.i•.Tr f,Jc.,rth~ l\1icb1~an ATenuc rhe ?v1agnificent i\1i1c) cornparcs \Vith the finest ~-\1ncrica.n ;ind I:uropr:~;.u1 shopping districts. Still f:1rthcr north hnci 1 l~!OO-acre Lin.cn]n P::u:k, \vbich ha~ St:\-cn;J n1t1scu. 1ns ;;~ \vcH as the sn1all but arts and ofthcat ane1 Chicago's gayest neighborhoods, Lake·.'iew and 1\ndersonville, lie '.vell north of dowmown and pulse with hip shops, see-anci-beseen restaurants, and chic iounges and clubs. In hopping Lakeview, J\Iatsuya sen-es excellent sushi and Japanese fare, includine- such knock~out ,tarrers as deep-fried chicken ,vings a~d whitefi~h with smelt roe. Although many imitators have opened nearby, \Iia Francesca remains the best place in the neighborhood for sophisticated but simple Northern Italian fare. HB is a cozy spot that features the crearive dowr~home cookin' of the Food Network's much-loved "Hearty Boys," Steve McDonagh and Dan Smith. X/0 is a s,vanky newcomer that serves up a tantalizing three-course champagne brunch, plus such innova.:ive crearions as grilled short ribs with Vietnamese cabbage salad, and seared sea scallops with pumpkin dumplings. ~!oxie is a trendy place for tasty tapas, designer cocktails, and great people-watching it draws a mix of the neighborhood's gay and straight folks. You could survive solely on the flaky, freshiy baked cinnamon rolls tnat accompany every meal at the haliowed Swedish diner Ann Sather, which ha~ several gay-popular locations. Athietes seeking healthy food should head for the Chicago Diner, which specializes in creative vegan and vegetarian fare and serves delicious baked goods. An attracti;-e little Thai restauram where the rice and noodie dishes are delicious and cheap,Joy's Noodles serves a terrific ginger chicken with a iragram bean sauce. If you're a jaya junkie, keep in mi!1d that the cozy Lai;:cvie,\· outpost of the Caribou Coffee chain is known ioca!iy as "Cari-bo," and "Queeribou" tlia, snould cell you all you :1eed to know about the crowd. Boys' Town is the heart of the city's gay-male nightlife scene. The guppie bar Roscoe's is practically a Chicago institution, fun for dancing and cruising any night of the week. A 6:iuy 5'Uzzling Bud longnecks and another sipping cosmos can feel right at home cogether at Cocktail, an intimate storefront bar where friends often meet up before heading out to larger clubs. Chicago's classic standand- model ,.cideo bar, SideTrack has plenty of rooms for mingling. Hydrate is one of the hippest gay bars in town, great for after-work ccc;.,_taiis or late-night dancing and cruising. A swank, smoke-free lounge k:10'.\'n :or its colorful cocktails and slick crowd, ivtinibar orened in fall 2005 and has become a favorite after-work spot. A circuit-bov fr.,orite on \Veekends, Circuit pulses with a feverish late-nigh~ dance crmni c•:en at midweek, ·.vhen ! ,atin nights are a hit. T1~~ srdish Berlin disco draws a decidedlr fonkic:- a;d mor..: altcrnati·n::- cro\vd than most of the preppy haunts in J,,ake-vie\\ ... ~carby Spin is an eclectic gay ciub \vith an aU-Jges crO\\,.d and fun oance rnus1c C:hadic':--: brings 1n fan5 c>f cou:ntry-\vcstcrn n1usic, \,vhilc the Gent:r\' ;~:r IIaJ~,ed is ,, B(::s~~~~;~-~~l~:~~;;1:1~fS~~::·:~:~v:r,~~i:~:~k!~~~o Con1tTiodities Exchange~ check out the ab(>Ut this -I ~C:\-l's types cruise the C:cH Block. l'~orth of Boys' 'To\1/n friendliest and rnost diverse bars, 20 Arkansas & Oklahoma's most read GLBT Magazine restaurant, Tweet, which is known for its festive brunch and for tasty organic fare. Another fun Uptown hangout is the Crew Bar, which draws sports fans (there are 16 televisions airing big games) and serves delicious food, too One of the granddaddies of Chicago clubs, the Jeffrey Pub anchors the South Shore African-American gay community. In the artsy, alternative Bucktown and Wicker Park neighborhoods, virtually all of the area's smoky, hipster-infested bars draw a share of the lavender set, especially the Rainbo Club, a favorite of art students, rockers, and slackers. Cafe Absinthe draws a grunge-y bunch but ranks among Chicago's most esteemed neighborhood eateries. Francophiles swear that Le Bouchon cooks up tl1e most authentic French bistro fare this side of the Atlantic. For delicious Cuban and Latin American food, book a table at kicky and gay-popular Cafe Bolero. And head to hip del Toro for tasty, relatively affordable Spanish tapas in an snazzy space v,;:ith Art Nouveau-inspired decor. Funky Andersonville is the heart of the lesbian scene as well as just being an all-around-cool neighborhood with a fast-emerging dining repurarion. A lively and atmospheric bistro with a decidedly queer following, Tomboy serves tempting fare like pan-seared duck with crimini mushrooms and a port glaze. T's is a friendly, gay-popular restaurant and bar - its Retro '80s Women's Night on Tuesdays is a hit. You could spend the whole night at Star Gaze, the neighborhood's top lesbian club, which serves dinner and also has DJs on weekends, lesbian comedy and live-music nights, and a convivial beer garden. And there's Atmosphere, a lively Andersonville dance bar and lounge with a mixed gay male and lesbian crowd. The neighborhood also has a few men's (mostly hard-core) leather bars, such as the Chicago Eagle, which is attached to a bathhouse and decorated like a motorcycle garage. If you have a place in your heart for fitted jocks and Tom of Finland drawings, don't miss the city's Leather Archives and Museum, which is packed \I.1th erotica, fashion, and fascinating memorabilia from various international leather contests. Until recently, standard chain hotels dominated the lodging landscape in Chicago, but quite a few hip hoteis have opened in the past several years, including three run by the gay-friendly Kimpton group: the French deco-inspired Hotel Monaco, the stylish and musically themed Hotel Allegro, and the swell-elegant Hotel Burnham, which is sec in the histodc 1894 cast-iron Reliance Building. The superb Atwood Cafe occupies the ground floor. Another option that offers style and luxury plus a fun attirude is the Hard Rock Hotel, which is se~ inside the landmark 4(Lsrory Carbide and Carbon Building, a fashionable property that's also home to the popular China Griil. lip near Boys' ·ro\l/11 there are fev:cr lodging options., but an excellent resource 1s the gay-friendly ':'~eighborhood Inns group, which runs a trio of boutique hotels ~wid1 charming roo1ns and great locariom, City Suites sits along busy Belmom Avenue, closest to the dming and club action, ~vhHe the more ron1anric f,1a1estic and ~ 7illo\-vs hotels are set along peaceful resldential streets a fe\\~ blocks from the accion. The city also has a handful of great inns and B&Bs, including the gay~o,;vned Flemish f1ousc of Chicago, :.i restored 1890s ro\v house with fiye handsomelv furnished bedrooms in the tony r:old ('1:v1~: 1· ne1g11!),xJ-,o,:x1 Ultimately, the Gay Games will provide a wonderful opportunity for Chicago to show off its world-class attractions, and for travelers to get w know - or become reacquainted with - the great "City by the Lake." * Arkansas & Okiahoma's most read GLBT A4agazine 21 I 1· ! New Gay and Lesbian Travel Guide To Singapore, Malaysia & Indonesia. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia_The l.'topia Guide to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, launched in late April, is the first such guide for the three countries, said Utopia Guides editor John Goss. 'We are simply shining a light on an aspect of society that exists in every country around the globe, but one that has been mostlv in the shadows here in Asia," Goss told The Associated Press via e-mail from the Thai capital, Bangkok, where l'topia Guides is based. The first e,:er travel guide to gay and lesbian life in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Listings include organizations, bars, discos, accommodations, spas, restaurants, and more. A speciai seccion of the book highlights groups, clubs, and businesses that are especially welcoming for women. Enjoy hundreds of san·y comments and recommendacions from local Utopians and gay travelers alike. The Utopia Guide to Singapore, I'vfaiaysia & Indonesia offers a landmark first iook at Southeast Asia's vibrant gay and lesbian scene. Although there are many unigue a!tracttons for the gay and lesbian travel in Asia, the following travel advisory is listed on Utopia Guide's web-site. Advisory: Gay life in Malaysia, as in other Asian countries, is blossoming despite conservative religion-based discrimination and outdated colonial-era laws. Former Deputy Prime :Minister, Aff,var Ibrahim, was famously removed from office by a ~rumped-up sodomy conviction that was reversed by Malaysia's high court in 2004. Muslims, both locai and visitors, are also subiecr to religious law which may (though rarely does) punish gay or lesbian sexual activity with flogging and male trans,·estism with imprisonment. Even though religious law does not apply to non-.Muslims, Isiam is the state religion under Malaysia's constitution and thas homosexuai citizens face official discrimination. Police may arrest any person (Muslim or not) for sex in a pubiic place .;i.e. cruise spots), so visirors are well-advised to respect Malaysian law and customs while they are guests in the count:y. Having said that, police generall;· have not de:ained forfigners ciuring raids on :ocal gay businesses, focusing instead on ethnic Maiay customers, almost 1 orJ\ n of ·.vhom are considered :t,foslim a: birth by :a,,·. For more information go to: ,vww .. utopia~asia.com * 22 the STAR rs akrast )OO 5enton . ansas C,t.9, Mo 6+ l 2 + 816-231-! 196 concoursepark.bb@ bal.net Grand Victorian s1:9le in KC's Historic · NorthE_ast ~ & egister for S Theatre tickets fZiverdance 6/)o Dr. Doolittle 7/1+ c;rease 7/28 Rent 8/18 Hairspra~ 9/22. Ga_y owned and we proudi_y accept the DECAKD Call for rates, weekend specials, or extended stay arrangements WWW.CONCOUR.SE.F AR.K5AND5.COM In Kansas City HYDES K Gym & Guesthouse 816.561.1010 www.hydeskc.com www.40thstreetinn.com The STAR since 2003 FREE HOME DELIVERY 5 Mile Service Area 918. 734.6847 tmai\ lrrol>o~aol.c.om COMING SOON! ,,,i{d 6l'ldseed 23 .y urn Sales Associate ION DOLLAR PRODUCER" ce: (918) 496-2252 625-6377 fax (918)491-6351 5555 E. 71st SL, Sldk 9102 Tlllu,, OK 74136 b,dq,e,,daa.Member Brolter_ Have a great birthday on June 4th from Stan, Terry, Loren, Chaz and ail your friends at the BOO! Salutations ... Kittensl Uncle Mikey here with the Queer Yiew. Summer is upon us. It is time once again for a more meaningful social season. The ·white parties, raves, and galas, ,vhat wil1 I wear kittens? I hope that my imported baby gamr swimsuit is ready in time. I know what vou are thinicing, but he gaye his life willingly. Now for the mailbag'. Dear Uncie i\likey, I ha,·e been seeing this guy for some time now and though 1 really like him, I do not see a future for us. He wants to settle down and I do not want to settle for anything less than fabulous, fast and flirty. I have asked him to join me in rhe party know!l as my life, but he wm not even try. I think that men were meant to single their earthly pleasures. Should I just drop him, or continue to sway him my ,vav? Hopeless Sex Da·wg Dearest Pooch,· Unlcasheci, Kitten it sounds as if the two of you are oil and water. You should respect yourself as weil your man and tell him, your true imentions, so that he will realize he is not going to change you, as he obviously must fee!. This will a1lo·.\· him to search for a meaningful relationship, whilst you concur your next boo:y-cal:. Smooches, U:1cle Mikey HeyBigM, I think \'OU are :,o fonny \vith you:- advice. Howe\·er, you seem to ride the· fence \Vith mu;· advic~, Sometimes ,·::)U sav it is ok to play and then other tin1es you act as though you are for the monogamy thang. What gi\·es) \X'here do nm stand on this i~:::ue, Just curious Dearest Cufrms, How did v(•u knov.c thn called i,. err l 1~1ca!l me. Big \.i? An.:: ,;ou a ~t~~~ i:::· ~~~!';tb:~:at7:,t:~~~~~~:~;~~r~;~~;: t~i~~c;_ ~~;;_'.~~a;ti;ecs Queerdon1 ,,,.hen you ,vcrc but a men.:: drip on your daddy'~ leg. lincle lives his life his O\V!l rules and an~:.:;,1,rers t() no one, Tn oti1er· ,vords .. until B1g !vfikey inv·ites vou rn-erJ the ;Joor. ·\X'c'H caH SmotJches. T.Jncie 26 the STAR Dear Cncle, My friends are giving me crap because I have dropped out of college. I ,vas tired of school and don't see why I should even iirijsh ,vhen I am making a killing as a bar entertainer/stripper. When I'm in my g-scring, th; older ~en just fling their money ar me. I don't feel that college is for e,uybody and :hink my time is better in the field rather than studying abo:it it. \'<'hat do you ~hink? • The Tv,inkstcr Dear Twinkstcr, Kitten, you might ·want to come from under that disco ball to hear this. \•?hilst the reward of youth mighr be favoring you now, realize this to shall pass. The skin does wrinkle; the •;ouch does fade, and ves - young 1)layer, time will trump your spade! Falling back on tha~ college degree does not sound so bad when you think about it. I mean I suppose even rhe retirement gay villas need some form of entertainment, rhough I fear the dollars v.1.ll siow, and ~he change ·,,,jll jingle the bails. I would suggest tha;: you give some serious thought to this matter, whilst you are shaking that monev-maker. Smooches, Uncle Mikey Dear Uncle, \\'.'hat do vou think about Gav cruises? Are :hey really •,vorti1 it=' I am thinki~g abou;: going on ~ne, our am re!ucram to spend chat kind of money, only .:o have a bad time. What do you think? Man on a cruise Dearest Kitten, All aboard! Kinen, Uncle has seen his si1are of sunsets over the horizon through the waves of the watery front. I can honestly say I ne,;er had a bad one yet. I ha\·c had my share of loved shipmates; hell, I have even had a fe\v seamen. I would suggest that if you have never been, you go prepared, and ready ro party dl the ships whore blows ashore1 Smooches Uncle Dear .i\fikev, Can you h~ve too much pride? I have a friend who is a walking rainbow parade. They see him coming from a mile away: l iusc don't see why someone neecis to make everything a gay issue. I mean that oniy gives the straight v.:-orki ammunition at our community. Righti;POV Dear lligh:y, There is a reas,m whr rigbty is :ighcy and lefty i:, looser One can ne,;cr !,ave enm:gh pride. As far as gi,0:ng ammunition, this ;s a ~~:i;;:ti/J;~~i<~:>~ fc::l~,}j:;~js~~~i;:;,~ tl~c;!~;~ ~;::;~!!:~ t!:~;l;:se (;then;~ icss you rake their Yery funda1nental freed()m 4'";.vay. In other \'•.:ords tighty, and let the sun shine on those pasty of vours. 1 tis sun1n1er - t\Yinks for l 1ncle \X'cH kitt::ns thai .• ,~Jout\;:f~1pb t,p ~:.~~~ :._f:.sicn v, :.,h \UL11 {~uee·n- J(itr-en~\ loYt one another, and rer:nernber in bulk. Grilled Rosemary Chicken w/ Drunken Mushrooms. 1 Whole fryer chicken. 6 large portabello mushrooms. 3/4 cup white wine. 1 /2 stick of butter. 1 teaspoon rosemary (Prefer Fresh) 1 /2 teaspoon lemon pepper. Fire up the grill, split chicken in half, melt butter in saucepan, baste chicken with butter. Mix spices together and season the chicken. Take a strip of foil and make a packet, chop mushrooms into quarters, place into packet and pour wine over mushrooms, set on the grill. Cook chicken for about 25 minutes or when temp ieaches 165 degrees. Remove chicken and mushrooms. In a large plate, plate both chicken halves, pour mushrooms and wine on top and serve. "CELEBRATE GAY PRIDE 2006" We have worked hard & we're not going back! How about a drink recipe this month that is light and refreshing. Made with chardonnay this goes very well with poultry and pastas. You can mix up a whole Pitcher for get togethers and be all set for Enjoy this one for laid back evenings at home with good friends. WHITE WINE COOLER (4 oz) Chardonnay (4 oz) 7-Up (1/2 oz) Pineapple juice (1/2 oz) Grapefruit juice (1/2 oz) Lime juice 1, Mix all of the above and stir well with ice 2. Pour into a highball glass. 3. Garnish with a fresh lime wheel. SUPER SIZE YOUR PRIDE CELEBRATION THIS JUNE ! Oklahoma's most read GLBT Magazine 27 Q Scopes by Jack Fertig JUNE 2006 "Review your budget, Pisces!" Venus just entered Taurus, drawing our attention to sensuality and comfort. Soft and comfy is in, and shock value is out - or so says Venus. But the Sun is in Gemini aspecting Jupiter in Scorpio, drawing out secrets and offering titillation. Ideally, it's time to invite some friends over for a cozy evening with an early John Waters movie. ARIES (March 20 -April 19): Trying new looks on impulse is fun, but now shop for quality you can count on. Your wit is turning quite wicked, sure to get you into a steamy situation or just hot water. A time and a place for everything, love! TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Thrift shops serving charities hold hidden treasures for you. Economy is good, and may be difficult to discuss with your partner, but the two of you need to sort out financial issues. Just outline the situation now, and answers will come later. GEMINI (May 21- June 20): Bringing treats or favors to a meeting is obviously manipulative, but it works, especially now. Don't bother being coy or discreet. Joke about it and put your aims up front. Honest manipulation works better than subterfuge. CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Your reputation is strong, but it wouldn't hurt to focus on appearances. Charity work opens opportunities for pleasure. That doesn't mean mercy sex! People who share your passions for improving the world can share ottier passions as wel!. LEO (Juiy 23 ® August 22): You are very persuasive now, more through gentle charm than the force or logic of your arguments. New friends can shake up your perceptions of who is "family." Be flexibie and open to that lesson! VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Your erotic sensuality, usually underrated, comes to the foie now and could become quite a topic of discussion! SUil, it's not what you want to hear about over the water cooler. Pay attention. and keep the talk at work focused to your advantage. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Little arguments or critiques easily get under your skin and dig up very deep issues. Accept the chalienge to deal with them constructively. Now is the time to iron out any problems in your relationship and/or strengthen any commitments. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Good health habits and exercise regimens started now will be easier to maintain. Results come in time, although slowly. Good safe-sex habits will come in handy! Erotic adventures will offer interesting challenges, so don't be shy. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): Listen for hidden motives, but be careful you don't go over the edge into paranoia. A romantic retreat or an artistic, constructive outlet will help you stay grounded and keep perspectiye. CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Your instincts for teamwork are unusually sharp now. Trust your intuition, but be very flexible and accommodating in the actual task at hand. Reward your efforts with cozy comforts and homey treats. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Playful impulses at work should be sublimated to creative labors. You're being watched more than you know, and your actions can be easily misinterpreted. Don't explain your efforts unless asked, but allow every opportunity to be asked! PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Your ethnic roots are showing. Affecting the accent of your forebears could be very seductive or lead you into an interesting exchange of ideas. Review your budget and financial plans. 28 Advertising in the STAR is just good business cents. Arkansas, Bentonville (479) NWA GLBT Ctr - PO Box 1161 Bentonville-72712--479-586-1062 Arkansas, Eureka Springs 9) Diversity Pride Event - - - - - - - - - - - -www.d ersitypride.com A Byrd's Eye View- - - - - 36 N. Main- - - - - - - - - -479-253-0200 Caribe Restaurante- - - - 309 W VanBuren- - - - -479-253-8102 Henri's - - - - - - 19 1/2 Spring St - - - - - - - - - - -479-253-5795 Lumberyard Bar&Grill- - - 105 E VanBuren- - - - - -479-253-0400 MCC Living Spring - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -870-253-9337 Swiss Holiday Resort- Hwy 62 at Hwy 23 So.- - - - 888-582-8464 Spexton- - - - - - - 17B Spring Street - - - - - - - -918-829-0824 Tiki Torch- - - - - - - - 75 S. Main Street- - - - - - - - -479-253-2305 Tradewinds Lodge -141 W. VanBuren- - - - - - - 800-243-1615 Arkansas, Fayetteville (479) Common Ground Restaurant- - - 412 W. Dixon - - 479-442-3515 Condom Sense - - - - - - - 418 W. Dickson- - - - - -479-444-6228 Curry's Video - - - 612 N. College Ave- - - - - - - - - -479-521-0009 Passages - - - - - -930 N. College Ave- - - - - - - - -479-442-5845 Pride Street Live- - 523 W. Poplar St-- - - - - - - - - - 4 79-587 -0557 Tangerine Club - -21 N. Block Ave-- - - - - - - - - - -4 79-587-9512 • Arkansas, Fort Smith (479j Kinkeads- - - - - - -1004 1 /2 Garrison Ave- - - - - - - 4 79-783-9988 Red Rock City - - -917 N. "A" St. - - - - - - - - - - - - - 479-242-2489 Arkansas, Hot Springs (501) Jesters Lounge - - - 1010 E. Grand Ave - - - - - - - 501-624-5455 Arkansas, Little Rock (501) Back Street - - - -1021 Jessie Rd- -- - - - - - - - - - - -501-6642744 Diamond State Rodeo Assoc.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - www.dsra.org Discovery- - - - - 1021 Jessie Rd- -- - - - - - - - - - - -501-666-6900 Sidetrncks - - - 415 Main St - -North LR- - - - - - - -501-244-0444 The Factory - - - - - - 412 Louisiana St.- - - - - - - - - 501-372-3070 Kansas, Junction City (785) Xcalibur Club- - - - - - 384 Grant Ave. - - - - - - - - -785-762-2050 Kansas, Pittsburg (620) PSU-QSA.- - 1701 S. Broadway- - - - - - - - - - - - -620-231-0938 River of Life Church.- - 1709 N. Walnut- - - - - - - - -Service 11 AM Kansas, Wichita (316) Our FantasyiSouth40- - - - - 3201 S. Hillside- - - - - 316-682-5494 Priscilla's- - - - - 6143 W Kellogg Dr- - - - - - - - - - - 316-942-1244 Club Glaciei- - - - - - - - 2828 E. 31st South- - - - - 316-612-9331 Missouri, Ava (417) Catus Canyon Campground - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 417-683-9199 Missouri, Joplin (417) Ree's- - - - - - - 716 S. Main - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -417-627-9035 MCC Spirit of Christ- - -2902 E 20th, - - - - - - - - - - - -- - Sun-6pm Missouri, Kansas City (816) 40th Street Inn- - - -www.40thstreetinn.com- - - - - -816-561-7575 Concourse Park B&B - - 300 Benton Blvd -- - - - - -816-231-1196 Hydes KC Gym & Guest Hs -www.hydeskc.com - 816-561-1010 Missie B's- - - -805 W. 39th St- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -816-561-0625 Missouri; Lampe (417) KOKOMO Campground - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 417-779-5084 Missouri, Springfield (417) The Edge- - - - 424 Boonville Ave- - - - - -- - - - - - 417-831-4 700 GLO Comm. Ctr- - -518 E. Commerical- - - -417-869-3978 Martha's Vineyard- - - 219 'N Olive - - - - - - - - 417-864-4572 Missouri, Springfield (417) Priscilia's - - - - 1918-S Glenstone - - - - - - - - - - -417-881-8444 Ronisuz P!ace- - --821 College- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -417-864-0036 Rumors - --1109 E. Commercial- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 417-873-2225 Oklahoma, Enid (580) Hastings Books- - - -104 Sunset - - - - - - - - - - - - - 580-242-6838 Priscilla's- - - - - - - - -4810-A West Garriott- - - - - - - 580-233-5511 Oklahoma, Lawton (580) Triangles- - - - - - - - - -29 SW "D" Ave - - - - - - - - - 580-351-0620 lngrids Bookstoie- - - - - 1124 NW Cache Rd- - - - - -580-353-1488 Oklahoma, McAlester McPride- - - - - - - - - - - POBox 1515, - - - - McAlester, OK 74502 Oklahoma, Oklahoma City (405) American Crossroads B&B - POBox 270642- - - - - -405-495-1111 Boom Room- - - - - 2807 NW 36th St- -- - - - - - - -405-601-7200 Border's Books- - - - 3209 NW Expressway- -- - - 405-848-2667 Club Rox- - - - - - -3535 NW 39th Expwy- - - - - - - - -405-947-2351 Christie's Toy Box- - - - -3126 N. May Ave - - - - - - - 405-946-4438 Eastern Ave Video- - -1105 S Eastern Ave- - - - - - - -405-672-6459 Fat Cat Bingo- - - - - - 3130 N. May Ave - - - - - - - - -405-942-8875 Hollywood Hotel- - - - 3535 NW 39th Exp - - - - - - - -405-947-2351 Hi-Lo Club - - - - - - - 1221 NW 50th- - - - - - - - - - - - 405-843-1722 Partners- - - - - - - - - 2805 NW 36th St - - - - - - - - - -405-942-2199 Pec's- - - - - - - - - - -3535 NW 39th Expw - - - - - - - -405-942-2199 Priscilla's- - - - - - - - 615 E. Memorial- - - - - - - - - - - 405-755-8600 Red Rock North- - - 2240 NW39th St- - - - - - - - - - - 405-525-5165 Rudy's Place-- - - - -3535 NW39th Expw- - - - - - - - -405-947-2351 Phoenix Rising - - - - 2120 NW 39th St- - - - -- - - - - -405-601-3711 The Park- - - - - - - - 2125 NW 39th St - - - - - - - - - -405-528-4690 The Rockies- - - - - 3201 N. May Ave - - - - - - - - 405-947-9361 Topanga Grill & Bar- - 3535 NW 39th-- - - - - - - - -405-947-2351 Tramps- - - - - - - - - - -2201 NW 39th-- - - - - - - - -405-521-9888 Oklahoma, Tulsa (918) · Bamboo Lounge- - -7204 E. Pine - - -- - - - - - - - - -918-836-8700 Border's Book Store- - - 2740 E. 21st- - - - - - - - - - - 918-712-9955 Borde;'s Book Store - - - 8015 S. Yale - - - - - - - - - - 918-494-2665 Club 209 - - - - - - 209 N. Boulder - - - - - - - - - - - 918-584-9494 Club Majestic- - - - - - - 124 N. Boston - - - - - - - - - - 918-584-9494 Club Maverick- - - - - 822 S. Sheridan - - - - - - - - - -918-835-3301 Dreamland Bks -- - - 8807 E. Admiral P! - - - - - - - - -918-83.1.-1051 Elite Bookstore - - - - -814 S. Sheridan- - - - - - - - - - 918-838-8503 GLBT Comm. Ctr- - - - 5545 E. 41st- - - - - - - - - - - - 918-743-4297 Hideaway Lounge- - - - - 11730 E. 11th- - - - - - - - - -918-437-0449 HOPE Clinic- - - - - - - 3540 E. 31st - - - - - - - - - - - - 918-749-8378 Jazz's Lounge- - - - - - 426 S. Memorial - - - - - - - 918-836-8544 Midtown- - - - - - - - - - 319 E. 3rd- - - - - - - - - - - - - 918-584-3112 Nite Spot - -- - - - - -3007 E. Admiral Pl - - - -- - - - - - 918-834-3007 Priscma·s - . - - - - - - -7925 E. 41st- - - - - - - - - - - -918-627-4884 Prisci!ia·s - - - - - - - - 5634 W. Skeiiy - - - - - - - - 918-446-6336 Prisci!ia s - - - - - - - -11344 E. 11th - - - - -- - - - - -918-438-4224 Pr:sciJla's - - - - - - - - - 2333 E. 71st- - - - -- - - - - - -918-499-1667 Renegades- - - - - - 1649 S. Main - - - - - - - - - 918-585-3405 Rob1s Records- - -2909 S; Sheridan Rd- - ,. ,. - - - - - 918-627-~1505 Tulsa CARES- - - - 3507 E Admiral Pl- - - - - - - 918-834-4194 Tulsa Eagle- - - - -1338 E. 3rd - - - - TNTs •· - •· - - - 2114 S. Memorial- \Vhittier News Stand- - , N. lewis- - - - •· •· - - •· Yellow-Brick-Rd- - - - 2630 E 15th- - - ·· - - -- - 918-660-0856 - - - 918-592-0767 - 918-293-0304 ,9~~~tl~~S ~van~gt~ 'd.iSttibute ,~'~, toP,i~~. Of th~ ~Ti,,R, 1~,~~5;7887 9am to 4pm n1on - fri-or email: ozar-ksstar@sbcg!obal.11et 29 30 BABY, AH COUI-DN'T BE:1-IENE: WE:1-1-, OF COUl-tSE: I WANNA SUPPORT SKY. AND I THINK 11"5 A PE:RFE:CT JOB FOR HIM! AS WE: 80TH KNOW, HE:'S NE:VE'R HAD ANY PROBI-E:M ~y GI.EN HANSON and ALLAN NEUWiR'fl-t IT v.'HE:N YOU AGRE: TO SKY'S NI.IOI: SKY, I KNOW YOU'RE: GONNA BE: A ;:'ABllf.OllS INST!-tUCiOR! YOU JUST HAVE' TO SE:ND OUT THAT NATUAAI-, WONDE:RFUIE: NE:RGY OF YOURS, KE:SP BRE:ATHING, AND DON', WORRY--111-1- BE: RIGHT HE'RE: THROUGH THE: v.'1-1O!.-!: Cl-ASS. DOING YOGA IN NL/DE. Be Seen With The Star I i'OOK MY 5110!?6 o;,F. I ME:AN, l'M PA YING FOR THIS Cl-ASS ... IT'S MY CHOICE TO Night club for sale Aprox 3000 sq. fr. occupancy around 200 has storage building and small house on the propenv. $210.000 Great entertaining home on 15th street by fair Grounds 4 bedroom 1.5 baths Large Sunroom with !0 person Hot Tub Hard wood floors crown molding Large ~aster Bedroom Aprox. 2050 sq. ft. House is li:.e :1ew. $159.500 3 Bedtoom 2 Bath 2 Living 2 Car Totally Updated in South Tuisa 58th Sheridan area For Sale or Lease $145.000 or $1,200 per month Rental. 3 Bedroom 2 Bath 2 L:ving 2 Car with Pool 58th Place and Sheridan aprox 1850 sq. ft. $140.500 Conclo"s for rent 66th and Peoria area ! Bedroom 1 Bath with small Den SS00.00 Fireplace cover parking montn pius eclectic. Condo'·s for rent 66th and Peona area 2 Bedroom 2 Bath Fireplace covered parking $550.00 plus eicGric. Tracy Whyburn Keller Williams Realtors 496-2252 Cell 625-6377 12th page classified CALL FOR RATES 91 B.B3S.78B7 11730 E. 11th - Tulsa, OK 918.437.0449 OPEN AUDITIONS FOR 1'L'\LE DANCERS EVERY \X'ED. 10:30PM Congratulations to our own Bobby 1st runner up in Miss T of America. Open Tues-Sun 2pm-2am Closed on Monday' S OPPORTUNITY ADVERTISING BALES REPRESENTATIVE F'OR WICHITA, MISSOURI OR ARKANSAS qualifications to ozarksstar@sbcgiobal.net or mail to: 5103 S. Sheridan, #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 Get results with STAR Classifieds! by David Evenings & Weekends In Studio or Out Calls Credit Cards Accepted ( 405) 830-3679 ssified CALL FOR RATES 91 B .. B35.7B87 31 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2006] The Star Magazine, June 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 6 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 01, 2006 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Online text PDF Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Star Magazine’s first issue began February of 2005. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004) and The Ozark Star (2004). Follows is The Metro Star (2008). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Greg Steele Josh Aterovis Douglas Glenn Bunky Walters John Patrick Michael Dee Paul Wortman Carlotta Carlisle, Libby Post Andrew Collins Donald Pile Ray Williams Michael Hinzman Jack Fertig Liz Highleyman Chaz Victor Gorin Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwest Missouri Western Arkansas Southeast Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Star Magazine, May 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 5 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/240 The Star Magazine, July 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 7 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/228 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/229 Advice Column Betsy Smittle Caribbean Club Majestic Comic Strips Diversity celebration Diversity Gala Federal Marriage Amendment Gay and Lesbian travel Gay Games Grilled Rosemary Chicken w/ Drunken Mushrooms H.O.P.E Heart to Heart homophobia Island Hospital-ity Jim Roth Lesbian Notions Night clubs Past Out Q Scopes Quotable Quotes Star business center star classified Star Distributors Star entertainment Star Scene Star travel syphilis Tulsa Pride Uncle Mikey vacation White Wine Cooler https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/4c8319e0447c1ec74875b926bf62cdef.jpg 91d5b89d12182a6e579f2bb58991f1c1 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/11fd65a0e77b5d0dff4bbc3746c85e58.pdf 4319c8af04e54ca91707cf4faa90fc62 PDF Text Text �������������������������������� Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document ,Ur • LS .. n ona ale Scott · row,· Man.:aging Broker Mc raw Davisson ew:art, R.ealtors • 1 Langley, Oklahoma s:cottCrow.mcgr,awok.com 918.782.3211 the STAR, Oklahoma's Premier GLBT Magazine. The most important direct-action you can do is vote. Local and state elections are this r, with many close ttles to be fought by our strongest allies. In rtnership with the nal Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Community Centers, the Tulsa GLBT Community Center annouces Promote the Vote. This program seeks to enhance the advocacy and organizing capacity of GLBT community centers by creating a visible, vocal and voting constituency. More importantly, it gives voice and power to the members of the GLBT community who are often made to feel invisible and powerless. Primaries are fast-approaching with local and state supporters of the GLBT community in close contests. If you aren't registered to vote - do it today. You can get registered to vote at the Tulsa GLBT Community Center, 5545 E 41 st Street in Highland Plaza. It's simple to do, the form is very short and we'll even send it in for you. Stop by today and r ter to vote in one easy step - then vote in every e action. It's important for you and future generations. ACLU ASK FOR DISMISSAL OF REV. LONNIE LATHAM'S CASE February 1, 2006 The American Civil Liberties Union filed a friend-of-the-court brief toda}'. urging an Oklahoma court to dismiss charges against a Soulhern · minister who was arrestea for soliciting private sex another male. 'The Supreme Court has made it crystal clear that, when it comes to their sex lives, ults are free to do whatever the 8 Bell, Executive Director of th klahoma. "Accordin to the police report, Rev. Latham did nothing more tha e another man to his hotel room for consensual sex. It is not a crime merely to invite someone to have completely lawful sex. If it were otherwise, every bar in the state may as well shut its doors." The Reverend Dr. Lonnie Latham was arrested on January ~. 2006,_ on the misdemeanor cha of "Off!:3ring to Engage m an Act of ice ne a ma! ted r back to otel room for oral sex. It is not alleged that Latham offered money in exchange for the sex act. The brief filed toda in the District Court of Oklahoma Coun argues , arges should be dismissed against because non-commercial sex between consentate is a constitutional! ACLU it is a violation s free speech guarantee for the state to criminal that is mereiy an invitation to engage in lawful Latham's arrest. which generated a s· of media attention, forced him to resig as a board member of the Baptist Generai Okiahoma. ut of To~n MARCH 2006 by Andrew Collins lbuquerque, New exico Q,Jt<::, Mexico's largest city, set dramatically at the base of the soaring Sandia Mountains, makes a great - and affordable - base for exploring the rest of the Land of Enchantment. Albuquerque lies just 60 miles south of Santa Fe and within an afternoon's drive of countless Indian pueblos, beautiful hiking and biking spots, and challenging ski areas. The "Duke City" (named for the city's founder, the Duke of Alburquerque - the first "r" was later dropped) enjoys a sunny, mild climate, and it's home to New Mexico's only gay bars as well as a handful of gay-owned B&Bs and restaurants. And thr9.ughout 2006, Albuquerque celebrates its tricentennial with dozens of performances, events, and museum instaliations that trace its rich and vibrant history. Albuquerque's once dull downtown has undergone an ambitious revitalization in recent years, with loads of new shops, restaurants, and bars along or near the main drag, Central Avenue between 2nd and 8th streets, and also along parallel Gold Avenue. From here, it's a five-minute drive to historic Old Town, which was laid out in 1706 and contains Albuquerque's earliest buiiding, the San Felipe de Neri Church, which fronts the serene, tree-shaded Plaza. The wares for sale at the more than 200 crafts and art galleries and boutiques in the area run the gamut from fine to kitschy, and a few very good restaurants are nearby. For an offbeat experience, step inside the small but venomous American International Rattlesnake Museum, which contains the world's largest assemblage of live rattlers. Within a short stroll of Old Town you'll find a handful of the city's most prominent attractions, including the recently expanded Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, which houses an astounding collection of Spanish Colonial artifacts, plus traditional and contemporary regional art. Exhibits on geology, volcanoes, and dinosaurs await you across the street at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. Also check out the Albuquerque Aquarium, Rio Grande Zoo, and Rio Grande Botanic Garden. It's just a short drive from Old Town to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center as well as the National Hispanic Cultural Center of New Mexico, both of which have exhibits, cafes, and performances related to their respective cultures. Much of Albuquerque's gay scene is focused in the retro-hip Nob Hill neighborhood, a short drive east of downtown along Historic Route 66 (Central Avenue), which glows with the neon signs of coffeehouses. bars, greasyspoon diners, galleries, and boutiques selling everything from cool home-furnishings to campy giftsCentral Avenue fringes the southern edge of the University of New Mexico (UNM), whose noteworthy attractions include the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology and the University Art Maseum. The city sprawls a bit, and you need a car to venture out to some of the worthwhile outlying attractions. On the west side of town, visit Petroglyph National Monument to view some 25,000 rock drawings inscribed as far back as a thousand years ago along the 17-mile-long West Mesa escarpment. Drive east across town into the city's lofty foothills for a chance to ride the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway to the crest of the 10,600-foot Sandia Mountains. The 2.7-mile ride is the longest aerial tramway in the world. At the top are observation decks, hiking trails, a visitor's center. and the High Finance Restaurant. On the north side of Albuquerque, you'll find the giamorous new Sandia Casino resort, which in addition to extensive gaming areas contains one of the city's best restaurants (Bien Shur, on the resort's rooftop), a brandnew luxury hotel and spa, and a golf course of considerable acclaim. The casino is close to Bailoon Fiesta Park, home to New Mexico's most famous festival, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. This colorful hot-air balloon gathering - the world"s largest - takes place the first two weeks in October. At any time of year you can visit the park's AndersonAbruzzo international Balloon Museum, which opened in fall 2005. There are also a number of outfitters throughout Albuquerque offering hot-air balloon rides year-round; one of the most reliable is Rainbow Ryders. Albuquerque's already very good dining scene has improved dramatically just in the past few years. in the downtown area, don't miss gay-popu!ar Artichoke Cafe for first-rate Continental cooking in a romantic yet casual ambience. Thai Crystal is one of the city's top Asian restaurants, while the cozy Goid Street Gaffe serves up some of the ........ Continued next page. . Atw:efflsingin lfi~ STAIR/sjustgood business cents. Page6 Out of Town best breakfasts around, plus iight lunch and dinner fare, designer coffees, and delicious desserts. When in Old Town, book a table at elegant Ambrozia Cafe & Wine Bar, known for its quirky and inventive dishes, such as duck meatloaf with truffted cream corn, and lobster corn dogs with chipotle ketchup. In Nob Hill, the swanky Zinc Wine Bar and Bis~ro serves a memorable Sunday jazz brunch and terrific French-inspired dinner fare - try the crisp uck-confit egg rolls or mango creme brulee. Next door, y Fish serves tasty proof that it's possible to find super-fresh and creatively rendered sushi right in the heart of the des~rt. Talented chef Jennifer James is one of the leading new culinary stars of the Southwest, and you can sample her deftly prepared food at Graze, which specializes in affordable tapas-style small plates (she also owns the more formal Restaurant Jennifer James, a few miles north). Across the street, the upscale Gruet Steak House is run by the city's acclaimed Gruet Winery, which produces S?me ?f the nation's most respected champagne-style sparkling wines as well as commendable pinot noirs and chardonnays. Pre-clubbing gays and straights mix it ~ sophisticate~ Martini Grille which is lauded as much its tasty Amencan fare as fbr the fancy drinks served up in the schnazzy cocktail bar. Hang out among UNM students and other local hipsters at II Vicino, which serves out-of-this-world wood-fired pizzas and filling calzones, plus a nice array of leafy dinner- size salads. Try El Patio for some of the most authentic (and fiery) New Mexican cooking in town - be sure to sit on the tree-shaded The no-frills Frontier Restaurant is a 24/7 institution for its breakfast burritos and heavenly cinnamon buns - it's a real scene after the clubs close. Another must-do in Albuquerque is coffee and dessert at Flying Star, a bakery, restaurant, coffeehouse, and wine bar all rolled into one, with five locations around town, the gavest and coolest in Nob Hill and downtown. Among Albuquerque's six gay nightspots, Pulse draws th gest and wildest bunch for cruising and dancing stive patio and compact but fierce dance floor. Fans of line-dancing and two-stepping head to sprawling Sidewinders Ranch, which is owned by the same folks as Sidewinders in Palm Springs. Low-keyed Exhale (formerly Renea's} is the only lesbian bar in the state, although it pulls in of guys, too. The expansive Albuquerque Mining ers to a diverse crowd with its several bars, small dance area, and full volleyball court. The Albuquerque Social Ciub, a garden-variety video bar across the street from Pulse, attracts a fairly local following; guests are pennitted in this private club but must purchase a "membership" ( one year). The parking lot at Foxes ith beat-up pickup trucks, hints rish, and horny guys inside. main entertainment ue's lodging landscape is domin hotels, you'll find some distinctive historic properties and art-filled B&Bs, too. the latter, the beautifully restored Mauger Esta sits within easy walkin distance of downtown and Old Town. Anne Victorian has an ornate exterior, period antiques, wallpapers, and fabrics. Another property is Hacienda Antigua, a f ,ldadc>be hacienda northwest of downtown, filled with claw-foot tubs, wood carvings and Indian art, and beehive-shape kiva-style fireplaces. the historic La p grand dame, opened in 1939 by Conrad Hilton (who honeymooned here with Zsa Zsa Gabor). It's a stunning 10-story hotel in the heart of downtown. A few blocks west, the art deco Hotel Biue has simple but affordable rooms and a great location, making it one of the city's best bargains. Of the city's chain properties, the 17-story Albuquerque Marriott is a commendable, upscale choice with great views of the mountains. It's close to two shopping malls and a short drive from gay nightlife. And a 20-minute drive north of Albuauerque in the town of Bernalillo, the posh Hyatt Regency Tamaya offers the most lavish accommodations in the region. Amenities at this 500-acre resort on the. ~anta Ana Pueblo include a world-class spa, horseback riding, tennis, golf, superb restaurants, and ca_sino gaming. If you're looking for sumptuous Palm Springs-style glamour in the laid-back Duke City, look no further than this stunning resort, the perfect place to celebrate an ultra-romantic Southwest getaway. The Little Black Book Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (www.balloonfiesta. com). Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau (505-842-9918 or 800-284-2282, www.itsatrip.org; www.albuquerque300. or deta que Tncentennial events). Al uerque 1 Louisiana Blvd. NE, 505-881- 6800 or 800-334-208 , www.marriott.com). uerque Mining Co. (7209 Central Ave. NE, 505-255- que Social Club (4021 Central Ave. NE, 505-255- Cafe & Wine Bar (108 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, 560). (424 Central Ave. 5-243-0200). 5 Central Ave., N 232-3474). arvard St. SE, 50 ' Flying tar 2 Centr;3I Ave. S 633; also downtown at 723 Silver Ave. SW 99). Foxes Lounge (8521 Central Av 5-3060). Graze (3128 Central Ave. SE, 50 . Frontier Restaurant (Cornell Dr. SE and Cen al Ave. SE, 505-266-0550). Gold Street Gaffe (218 Gold Ave. SW, 505-765-1633). Gruet Steak House (3201 Central Ave. NE, 505-256- WINE). Hacienda Antigua (6708 Tierra Dr. NW, 505-345- 5399 or 800/201-2986, www.hac~ier1da;ar ua). Hotel Blue (717 Central Ave. NW, 505-9 2400 or 877- 878-4868 www.thehotelblue.com). 9462). · Bernalillo, 505- att.com ). also 11225 t. NW. 505-242- 05 . , - __ 755 or -725-2477, WWW. . NW, 505-343-1554). 1-25 at Tramway Blvd., 505-796-7500 or .sandiacasino.com J. nch (8900 Central Ave. :::;E, 505-275-1616). 09 Gold Ave. SW. 505-244- and Bistro (3009 Central A . . 505-254- Dive April WE DO IT DIFFERENT in Eureka Springs, Arkansas! At our hlatoric Auditorium • For GLBT• & their Stra Pals to I (ov•r .,. to ral•• our •plrlt• an e th• Ozarlc• hlll• with lau11hter and GAYETYI TICKETS ONLINE - LIMITED SEATING/ Plus more events TBAI For DIVERSITY info & Diversity health outreach prevention education, Inc. 1-800-535-AI DS (2437) Oklahoma's HIV/STD Hotline YOURSELF PROTECT YOl.:IR.PARTNER(S) * Free nonjudgmental HIV testing,· including the 20 minute OraQuick Test. * Free Sypht1/is screening at .the GLBT Community Centeron Tuesdaysf'roin 6-8pm H~O.P.E. :resting Clinic ; Mens·Outreach'P ..... In Tulsa at (918) . PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA or gays wanting to travel in the United States there are main gay cities, Palm Spri , California and Ft. le, Florida. Both cities ve a huge gay populah are extremely gay friendly. Both have at least f dozen gay resorts to stay and plenty of gay restaurants, bars and shops. n this column we will tell you about Palm Springs, Caliomia. It is located about 120 miles East of Los Angeles. hen flying in from the f:Aidwest or_ East you _can ei~her . y directly into Palm Springs or fly into Ontario, California hich is less expensive and is only about 50 miles \J\'est_ f Palm Springs. Since you will need to rent an auto It will ve you money to fly to Ontario. weather in Palm ngs is beautiful all r around except if you 't like weather over 100 grees then it is best not July and August. we love the dry heat we love going there in he summer when it is hot. ecember thru April it is very pleasant there. e dozens of gay stay however our is the TERORT (www.ter) and located st of downtown Palm Canyon toll free phone is: 1-866-837-7996. and hosts, Tom nd Doug Sems are of the best -'<'hen it to knowing how to their guests. he Terrazzo Resort has 12 guest rooms surrounding heated swimming pool, (clothing optional) of course, · · and tropical gardens. The resort has s that includes the finest of linens, dial phones, Lar TV, DVD, VCR CD player, indiclimate control, speed Internet access, pre- Judith Jackson bath amenities and wonderful soft oiquet robes for their guests. All rooms comes with a · , refrigerator, wet bar, hair dryer, iron and ironing rd. Don't have your lap top with you? Don't worry. you check your emails in their guest services room. Comentary breakfast is served each momin_g outside at _the . A complimentary gourmet lunch Is served daily lside. Complimentary beverages and snacks are available throughout the day. In addition to their Resort they also have a condoiapartment just a few blocks from the Resort which can rented on a monthly basis. Guests renting that can take full advantage of the Resort amenities including pool, etc. This is truly a fabulous resort for the gay traveler. It is the only gay resort in Palm Springs that we recommend. As we travel around the country we have noticed that many owners hire managers and that in itself can be a major problem. Tom and Doug are the owners AND managers and they control everything themselves to insure that each guest gets full attention. And full attention to every detail is what you at the Terrazzo. They have received many award and citations for their hi ality of service and accommodations. Tom and Doug ve their work and what they are doing and it shows! Be sure to check out their web site. Downtown is just a few short blocks from the Terrazz<? and is filled with major shopping, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and even an Indian Casino. They have about a doz bars in Palm Springs and they run the range from piano bars, disco bars and just about any type of bar you are looking for. The one great thing about staying in a major gay city is that the bars are always busy! And we do mean ALWAYS! So even if you are kinda shy you won't have any problems meeti someo~e in Springs. o left Melvyn' aurant) There is so much to see and do in Palm Springs. Lots of museums to visit, great restaurants and tons of ·ng to do. UST SEE is the FABULOUS PALM SPRINGS FOLLIES located downtown at 128 So. Palm Canyon Drive. It is a Las Vegas type show with singing, dancing and plenty of laughter. What makes the show so fabulous is that all the performers are over 55 and they are GREAT! There are numemus performing arts centers around the city and plenty of concerts to go to. There are dozens and dozens of restaurants in Palm Springs. After many years of going there our very favorite 1s still Melvyn's Restaurant located in the Ingleside Inn just a couple b!ocks West of downtown at 200 W. Ramon. It is just like stepping back to "Old Hollvwood". The food, the service and the atmosphere is PERF CT! Mel Haber, the owner knows how to keep h:s guests coming back year after year. According to Life Styles of the. Ric. and Famous it is rated one of the 10 best and we certainly agree! Continued next page: the STAR, Oklahoma's Premier GLBT Magazine. Page 10 GAY TRAVELERS: The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the largest vertical cable in the country and the view from the top is magnificent. Take your lunch with you and dine right in the mountains. Other options for Palm Spri are hiking, tennis or sightseeing in the Joshua National , the Living Desert or visiting the local Indian grounds. But of course the main reason to go to Palm Springs is for the people! And what a FABULOUS collection of friends we have made there over the years. Our best to Stefan, Millie, Jerry, Jim, Tyke and Wayne! Check out www.palmspringsgay.com before making your travel plans. For more information about traveling, email Donald and Ray at gaytravelers@aol.com or visit their webpage at: http://www.hometown.aol.com/gaytravelers. Willie Nelson Releases New Gay Cowboy Song. NASHVILLE, TN_Willie Nelson released his new song titled "Cowboys Are Secretly, Frequently (Fond Of Each Other)" on Valentines Day February 14th 2006. Are Secretly, Frequently (Fond Of Each Other)" wa in 1981 by Texas-born, NYC resident musician/ songwriter Ned Sublette, long before gay cowboys were the current topic of conversation. Nelson recorded the song last ar during an iTunes Originals session at his Perdernales, io. This is the first time Nelson's version has been released. Dolly Parton did a song for "Transamerica," Emmylou Harris cut a track for "Brokeback Mountain" and Willie Nelson released a gay Valentine's song. Is country the new gay genre? HIV positive participants, spectators to be welcomed into United States during the 2006 Chicago Gay Games 'Designated Event Status· clears U.S. entrance restrictions SAN FRANCISCO A U.S. federal blanket waiver has been approved allowing non-U.S. citizens living with HIV/ AIDS to travel to the United States to participate in or attend the Gay Games 2006. The Federation of Gay Games (FGG), an~ Chicago Ga~es, Inc. (CGI), announced today that the waiver comes with federal approval of Designated Event Status for Gay Games VII Sports & Cultural Festival set for 15-22 July 2006 in Chicago, Illinois. "Many people with HIV/AIDS and other life-affecting health issues have competed and set Masters-division records at past Gay Games, and we are happy that all participants from outside the United States once again will be able to travel freely to attend the Gay Games this summer," said Kathleen Webster, co-president of the international Federation of Gay Games. HIV positive p · · nts and attendees of Gay Games VII can now a a sin B-2 travel visa from their local U.S. consulate. isa, valid 8-28 July 2006, will be issued on a special form instead of being placed permanently in the person·s passport. "Achieving Designated Event Status demonstrates our dedication to the Gay Games principles of Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best™ and to our mission adfor full acceptance and recognition of all LGBT said Brian McGuinness, Gay Games Chicago Executive Director. "We are grateful to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (DIL) and the many CGI and FGG board, staff, volunteers and allies for helping us meet this important commitment to the HIV community." Information regarding procedures on how to apply for the B-2 visa at U.S. consulates in different countries will be available shortly on the FGG Web site at \~":N';N-~aygames. com) and the Chicago Gay Games eb site (www. gaygameschicago . .erg). For additionai information, lease contact Aimee Pine at the ~hi Ga~es, Inc. o,ffic:esat (773) 907-2006 or by email at mee.pme@gaygameschicago.org. Grand Opening ai Fort Smith's Newest Night Club. RED ROCK CITY By Bunky Walters The pizza delivery guy walked in just after 8 p.m. amid droningeleictnic drills, a symphony of cell phones and frenetic atter. But like an episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," everything was hammered, painted and plu in by midnight for the grand opening of Red Rock C Fort Smith's newest party venue, at 917 N. A St. · At 10 p.m., music was already blasting in beat to the din of finishing touches being made inside the historic two-story building with a red stone walls - hence the name of the club. It's attractive yet calm exterior was in sharp contrast, though, to the play pin being created inside. Leading the whip-quick renovation was owner Andv Osburn, who stayed cool as Crystal throughout the evening. Osburn, by the way, also owns Kinkead's, just a couple blocks away at 1004 ½ Garrison Ave. When he wasn't lending a hand or answering his cell phone, Osburn paused occasionally in the VIP lounge near the cool metal grate-floored DJ booth, ave the dance floor. By 11 p.m., some of his friend s and Kansas City had arrived, and they made themselves at home in the lounge, which was decorated with leather chairs and ottomans situated around a large, wide-screen TV. Roses and orchids were another elegant touch to the room. Out the lounge door several steps away was the upstairs bar area, which has a dance floor, as well. It was packed with le by 11 :30 p.m., slinging back beer and sipping them up alongside buttery nipple and cocksucker shots were bartenders in black dress shirts, with the word "Rockers'; spelled out in red on each one. Not long after midnight, a voice on the mic invited folks to "shake their tail feathers." They promptly obliged, spilling down the confetti-carpetted stairs to the new dance floor. The anced to everything from Salt 'n' Pepa to Depeche ,de, s1~oc1tina b,oots and scuttling about to the rhythm of the pounding bass. Every now and then, there were quick whooshes from the fog machine, blanketing the crowded dance floor. And it mig~t hav~ been chilly outside,. but it didn't keep a obv1ol!s gym _memberships from whipping o d shaking their bottoms under the dazzling disco lights of the club's exposed rafters. Not that but I had a ball and a half that night OK, two. te the nail-biting push of the midnight deadline, the club threw a flawless party. And I have no doubt they'!i continue to send folks in Fort Smith · and sweating to awesome beats and fabulous for many, many weekends to come. Speaking of coming, you should. Red Rock City is open 9 p.m.-5 a.m. Thursday-Saturday and 6 p.m.-midnight Sunday. · , either call (479) 242-CITY or visit _GLBT Magazine. . Page 1.2 .. NINTH ANNUAL RED RIBBON GALA, SET FOR TULSA MARCH 11, 2006. Above left to right: Kim Wood -Chairperson RRG, Shane Carter - Channel 2 Meteorologist and Master of Ceremonies, Pat Chernicky- President Tulsa C.A.R.E.S. TULSA, OK_Aa in the past, a sea of red wili encompass distinguished guests and friends of Tulsa C.A.R.E.'s RRG, as they arrive at one of Tulsa's most elegant and worthwhile affairs. Again this year, the event will be held at Southern Hills Country Club on Saturday, March 11th. Set in an atmosphere that only Southern Hills can create, the room will be ablaze with fabulous flower arrangements created by board member Toni Garner. Kim Wood, Gala Chairperson and Peter Walter, realtor extraordinaire, Gala Honorary Chairperson wiil welcome guests to a feast for the senses that will include the finest cuisine by Southern Hills Chef Devin Levine, complimented by fine wines. A portion of the festivities wili include both a silent and live auction offering stellar iist of antiques, furniture, original artwork, masterfully created jewelry, private dinner parties, special inteiest classes to name a few. A new feature this year, a special raffle of fine jewelry created by Tulsa C.A.R.E.S. board member Susan Sadler, wi!I be held during the event. Ali attending are encouraged to "just wear red" ... the color of AIDS awareness and a symbol of compassion for those affected by the disease. The Red Ribbon Gala is the largest fundraising activity for Tulsa C.A.R.E.S (Center for AIDS Resources, Education and Support). Ani:i, this year the event has received a tremendous "kick off'' for 2006 with the generous grant from the George Kaiser Famiiy Foundation and Bank of Oklahoma Foundation as Presenting Sponsor. A United Way agency, Tuisa C.A.R.E.S has been in existence since 1991. Executive Director , Sharon Thoeie, credits the generosity of the board members and donors of the difference they make for some of the community's most needy members. She states: "the best part of the Red Ribbon Gala is that it supports the ongoing efforts of Tulsa C.A.R.E.S. to provide a safe haven for low-income men, women and children with HIV/AIDS throughout northeastern Oklahoma. 2 marks the 15th anniversary of providing support services to the individuals no one wanted to serve. Without the proceeds from the Red Ribbon Gala our ability to provide these crucial services would cease." Board President, Patricia Chernickv, adds: "the RRG is not only a fabulous evening of food, fun and friends, but the money raised from the event provides the organization with the financial resources to serve over 450 individuals. HIV does not affect o up of people, it affects us all." RRG Chairperson, Kim also contributes: "A tremendous op · is provided through the RRG to provide support to Isa CARES so that the organization can continue to provide the services for those patients and families affected by the devastating disease." The Red Ribbon Gala begins at 6:30 p.m. with flowing red cocktails, stimulating conversation and a Ii silent auction and raffle. Dinner foilows at 7:30 p.m. w live auction commencing around 9:00 p.m. Dancing to music provided by "The Hero Factor" will begin at 9:45 p.m. Tickets are $150.00 per person. Sponsorship packages and reservations for priority seating are available. For more information, contact Bruce Lewis at (918) 834-4194. PRESIDENT'S BUDGET PRESENTS MIXED BAG ON HIV/AIDS WASHINGTON - President Bush's budget proposal, released yesterday, presents a mixed bag on HIV/AIDS, with modest funding increases in care and treatment programs, additional cuts in Medicaid and a dangerous increase in abstinence-only programs that keep thorough, scientific information out of the hands of those who need it most. "For the sake of hundreds of thousands of Americans living with HIV and AIDS, we can and we must do more," said Human Rights Campaign President joe Solmonese. "We welcome the president's attention to the critical needs facing HIV/AIDS programs, yet the new funding does not make up for the years of shortcomings and huge proposed cuts that may harm beneficiaries in other areas." The largest proposed HIV/AIDS increase is for the president's $188 million domestic AIDS initiative, with money split between the Ryan White CARE Act and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We need a comprehensive and targeted strategy to combat this virus - particularly in at-risk communities and among people of color," said Soimonese. "Attention to this continually growing trend is long overdue." There are more African Americans among new AIDS cases, people estimated to be living with AIDS and H!V-reiated deaths than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States. Continued .. Aids Budget-page 23 IN RESPONSE 1'0 YOUR. PERSONAL AD LOOKING FOR. SOMEONE WMO CAN11' S1"AND GAYS AND LES&IANS. I L Fl E - ' Oklahoma City ur 5th Anniversary 3 Days of Quality Workshops, Vendors, Great Piains Olympus Contests, Cigar Smoker, Saints and Sinners Costume Contest, Many Free Prizes, Play Parties, other Social Activities, NLA-1 AGM and as always, a surprise or two! Only $125 if registered by April 21 ! Group Discounts for 6 or more! Vendor Market is FREE and Open to the Public www. ibalfire .com the STAR, Oklahoma's Premier GLBT Magazine. Page 14 I & THE BOYS Pack'em In At Club Maverick! by Greg Steele TULSA, OK_ Mary, Schellye, Brenda, Paula, & Valerie known as Tulsa's Moodswing Band certainly have the art of entertaining down pat. With st guitarist Betsy Smittle and the Boys, Brad in, Mark Dodson, Eric Daughtery, and Mike Busby, entertained a standing room only crowd at Tulsa's Club Maverick on January 27th. Just another example of the talent we in Oklahoma are fortunate enough to have in our GLBTA community. A five piece all female band, Moodswing has been together for two years. They have played at many events including Tulsa Pride Picnic, OKC Pride Picnic, Tulsa's Mayfest, The Women's Music Festival in Dripping Springs, Texas, the Sooner State Rodeo in Tulsa and Diversity Pride · Fall Festivai in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. And continue to draw big crowds at Oklahoma City and Tulsa nightclubs. They are currently working on their 2nd CD and hope to release it this summer. Their 1st CD "Moodswing" was cut two years ago. The boys were fantastic! Si · a variety of songs, delighted the crowd with their ta ent dUiing the band intermission. A very professional group and a wonderfully entertaining evening. Is there a Shelter agent for you? Call today to learn more about our services. Serving the community in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa and Indiana. Greg W. Tainter, LUTCF Tel: (866)208-9480 gtainte helterinsurance.com Auto - Home - Life - Business Crystal Meth.u The Satanic Brew Crippling the Gay Communi By jimmy pa!mieri Crystal Meth ... The Satanic Brew Crippling the Gay Community Meth, Tina, speed, chalk, ice, rock, glass are all street names for the dnJa meth amphetamine. This noxious recipe of chemica s, that may include, but are not limited to. ephedrine, crystai drain cieaner, bleach, battery acid and nail poiish remover, among others, has the capability of destroying lives more quickly than any iilicit drug currently availabie. It is so addicting to some, that after the first try, so strong is the craving to use again, that all else becomes secondary. Seek Shelter Today! • urn Sales Associate ION DOLL.AR PRODUCER" 8)49~2252 .3Tl tc,1 (918,)491-~?t ' '.,.· ", •, ', ,·',' , Crystal meth has taken a strong hold on the gay and iesbian community, with a particular ven ance on gay males for a variety of reasons. The of meth make the user less inhibited, and more euphoric in mindset. This is particularly enticing to gay men, who may have been admonished by their families, not accepted by their peers at school, or have not fit into what even their own community deems acceptable. Society has continually isolated s and lesbians, leaving many with the desire or need into some type of adopted crowd or fa1 Meth is sadly, the common thread among many of the enfranchised. Meth a!so has the distinct capability of making men more libidinous, thereby making their feelings of inhibitions ali the more exaggerated. This has created a devastating paralle! between meth addiction, and HIV infection. www.Tulullaverlck.co111 9111 a Sllarldan, Tulsa, OK 918.aaL3301 THE T ith Sp iai Gu t E CEE John Pendal lnternatio I r. Leather 2003 Fri, Sat, & Sun March :I. 7th - :I.9th Fri - 10pm Meat & Greet @ Club Maverick Sat - 1.0pm Contest @ Club Maverick Sun - :1:l:30am Victory Brunch@ Metro Diner A History of Violence Anti-gay violence is on the rise -- not just in the U.S., but all over the world. !"- Swt:dish we~site lists 129 well-known gay individuals, 1~cluding pr(!minent actors, musicians, broadcasters, politicians and priests, and calls for their death. Despite having one of the world's toughest laws against the promotion of hate, Sweden's _chief prosecutor says he is powerless to shut down the site because it frames its death threats in the form of Biblical quotes. Britain is in the midst of a homophobic crime wave that has esc~lated to the PC?int that police have urged the LGBT ?ommurnty to u~e _caution when going out. A young man m Londonderry 1s rn danger of losing his eye after a recent attack, and it wasn't the first time he'd been assaulted. A g~y couf?le_ near London almost lost their home, and pos~ 1bly th_eir life, w~en they discovered someone had pushed 1nc~nd1ary maten~I through their mail slot, starting a fire in their hallw~y. Fortunately, they were able to extinguish the nre before 1t spread. In another incident a lesbian couple was pelted with snowballs that had sto~es and broken glass embedded in them. Police say they believe there have been dozens of other cases throughout the country that have gone unreported. Officials believe that the number of homophobic attacks on has increased with the publicity over civil partnerships, ich became legal in December. In_ New Bedford, Massachusetts, a community about 50 miles south of Boston, a violent attack rocked a lar gay club. A young man, 18 year old Jacot1 RcJbic struck a customer in the head with a hatchet before shoo two others. As I'm writing this, Robida is still on the run ile his victims remain in the hospital -- one in critical condition. When police searched Robida's room, they discovered Nazi a. The teen is being sought on charges of attempt murder, assault and civil-rights violations. What is behi~d this.increase in homophobic violence? Almost certainly, as the British officials stated it's due to increased publicity as gay rights issues have taken center stage in countries all over the worid. It's nothi new. Mankind h_~s a hist?ry of violence. especially concerns ~ trad1t1~:mally do~ntr?~d~n group trying to claim equality. During the 60 s c1v1I nghts movement it was violence ag~in~t blacks. '.he ignorant always resort to violence when their status quo 1s threatened. When the people the bigot has always demeaned and reviled suddenlv dare to stand up for themselves and demand rights, the bigot will lash out. It's no surprise th~ big~ts are worked up right now. Gay are one of tne biggest issues in the world right now. ng almost every state and country around the globe. Almost every political race is influenced by gay rights, and barely a day goes by when you don't see some LGBT-related story in the media. !n Canada_'s recent e_lec~ion, gay marriage was a crucial issue. Dun_ng campaigning, qonservative leader Stephen Harper claimed that overturning Canada's equal marriage law would be one of his first priorities. The Tory Party did win the election, but the results were less about rights than a country unwilling to trust a scandal-ridde ral ;. Fortunately, with a minority government even smaller he Liberals before them, the Conservatives will most likely be unable to change the marriage law. Continuing his homophobic policies, President Bush renewed his attack on gay families in his recent State of the Union Address. Addres · a joint session of Congress the p~esident said that "ma ericans, especially parents, still have deep concerns about the direction of our culture and the health of our most basic institutions. They are ' concerned about unethical conduct by public officials. and discouraged by activist courts that try to redefine marriage." "Trying to draw comparisons between the reprehensible ~cts of ~nethic~I politicians with fair and independent Judges 1s both ridiculous and wrong," said Joe Solmonese. president of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). · Not is it ridiculous, but by continually demonizing gay and ian families, President Bush and other outspoken ns fan the flames of hatred. if someone like Jacob a already believes that gays are evil sinners then hearing the president make antigay statements only confirms that belief in his mind. The crusading Religious t, with their fire and brimstone wailing, will I fL1rtt1er rce those feelings. If he is already unbalan or prone to violence, it's just a matter of time before that hate will build to the point that it erupts into violence. What can we do to stem the tide of violence? There's an old proverb that says something along the lines of "in order to avoid repeating history, we have to learn from the past." If there's anything we can learn from the Black civil rights movement, it's that we have to keep fighting for equality. We can't let fear defeat us. We have to stand up against the bigots and hatemongers and demand our rights. So how do we do that? Vote! One of the easiest we can do to make a difference is elect fair-minded, p ressive officials. The only way to stop the homophobic cians is to get them out of office. Support gay-positive legislation and defeat antigay measur~ s. Many st~~E:~ are brin9i gay i~sues to the polls. We caf'! t afford to sit 1dly oy while ant1gay forces muster !heir troops with military precision. State after state is passmg same-sex marriage bans while other states struggle to P'.3Ss.antidiscrimination laws. Our opponents are well-organized and we!i-funded, so that makes it all the more important that we pay attention, spread the word. and vote Also don't be afraid to contact your representatives and let the~ ~now your feelings_ o~ important issu~s. As HRC president Joe _Solmones_e sa1_? rn,.reterence to the ~tt~cks at the gay bar rn MassacnuseLts, When a man walKs rnto a bar, asks Continued next page HEART TO HEART if it's a gay bar and starts shooting, there couldn't be any more glaringly obvious and enraging example that we need uniform hate crimes law and that Congress has stubbornly failed to act." Come out and speak up! This is perhaps the hardest, yet most important thing we can do as gay men and women. Coming out is a powerful statement that has been proven to change hearts and minds again and again. If you're already out, speak up. If your friends, family, and coworkers don't understand how these issues affect you, then how can they care? The mor o know and understand how homophobia adversely s their loved ones, the more allies we'll have on our side. I don't believe we are doomed to repeat history -- not if we can learn from the past and work together to create a better future. In 1964, Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love." That message is as true today as it was then. Let's learn from our history and move forward in love. The views expressed in this column are my opinions only. You don't have to agree with them. I just ask that you read them \vith an open heart and mind. Isa's ouncil ak en's horale oncert eason 2006 "A Musical Feast" Thursday, May 11 Friday, May 12@ 8 PM Saturday, May 13 @ 8 PM "Summer in the City" Friday, August 25 @ 8 PM Saturday, August 26 @ 8 PM Williams Theater Tulsa Performing Arts Center For more information and ticket sa!es cai! (918) 748-3888 or go to: www.counciloak.org Want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $26.95 v.rill be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or moneyorder to: , Ozarks STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 (Single Copies $3.00 per issue) NAME: _____________ _ ,~,ddress: ________________ _ City: ________ St: __ .Zip: ____ _ Phone: _________ _ Check enclosed Money Order Start Date: ______ _ FREE HIV TESTING, NO NEEDLES SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC SPONSORS Testing the last Sunday of each month b::tween 5PM and 6PM. 2902 E. 20th St., PO Box 4711 Joplin, Mo 64803 Sundav Service 6PM Your Invited to our Communitv Dinner Everv \'(Ted. 0 ,.,. _\ ..._,. t _ d -· 6-pm Just ~4.0li. No one 1s curne awav. . Lesbian Notions by Libby Post MARCH 2006 "STRANGE BEDFELLOWS" The Bush administration's homophobia has gone international. At the United Nations recently, the United States joined with some of the most repressive governments to deny two international LGBT gro vernmental organization (NGO) observer status it comes to marginalizing the LGBT community, this administration will cozy up with anyone. Administration buddies like the American Family Association and Focus on the Family have been joined on the international scene by countries such as China, Zimbabwe, and Iran. Yes, you read that right - Iran. We may demonize that country publicly, but when it comes to privacy issues, George is a political whore. He'll become political bedfellows with anyone - an individual, an organization, or, in this case, a country he considers our sworn enemy - to further his radical°Christian right crusade against the LGBT community. Who would have been hurt if the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) and the Danish Association of Gays and Lesbians (LBL) were allowed to speak for the LGBT community at the United Natio.ns' Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which advises the international organization on economic and social issues? After all, there are 634 NGOs affiliated with ECOSOC. We're talking about groups like the Humane Society, the American Jewish Congress, and Greenpeace. But we're also talking ab like Focus on the Family, Feminists for Life of ica, the National Right to Life Education Trust Fund, and the Alliance for Marriage. I think it would only be fair tq balance out some of the homophobic political perspectives inherent in some of these organizations with a few LGBT voices But instead of a fair hearing - which ali othei NGOs who have requested representation have gotten - ILGA's and LBL's requests were summarily dismissed without any discussion. The dismissal, which was done by the ECOSOC NGO committee, happened after ILGA and LBL went through the rather exhausting process that got them to the point where they could even ask for a hearing. All of this was preceded by the behind-the-scenes maneuvering of Egypt and the Organization of Islamic Conferences to exclude the two groups. Rosanna Flamer Caldera, co-secretary general of ILGA, which ents a worldwide network of more than 400 LGBT zations, considers the exclusion "a clear violation of due process and an attempt to discriminate against LGBT NGOs on procedural grounds." Some may shrug their shoulders at the U.S. actions. But as 40 LGBT and LGBT-allied organizations pointed out to Secietary of State Condoleezza Rice in a Jan. 25 letter, the United States voted yes when the entire ECOSOC body voted in 2002 to include ILGA as an NGO. The groups, including the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Human Rights Watch, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the National Black Justice Coalition, asked Rice if it was now our country's policy to "oppose consultative status for all organizations working to promote the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people." If it is, this flies in the face of the State Department's own reporting on severe human rights violations based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. The department's 2004 report on Iran chronicled the executions of men. Its report on Zimbabwe noted that President Ro Mugabe has consistently denounced gays and lesbians, blaming them for "Africa's ills." So the question begs to be answered - how can the United States recognize human rights atrocities against LGBT people in other countries, yet refuse to give those who are repressed a voice in bringing that repression to light? We were more than happy to give voice to the Chinese students in Tiananmen Square who bristled against the yoke of that country's communist regime. Today, we're all about building democracy in Iraq. But let LGB stand up and speak for themselves? Never. And how make sure LGBT people won't be heard? We get into bed with our political enemies. If ever there was a situation that shows how morally bankrupt this administration is, this is it. I don't think Condi's written a response yet. But this year, there will be two great opportunities for the international LGBT community to respond for ourselves and shed light on the United States' complicity. ILGA's next world conference will be in Geneva from March 27-April 3, the same time the U.N. Commission on Human Rights will be in that city, and where the Commission's on-going discussion about sexual orientation and human rights is sure to continue. Later, in the summer, some 2,000 LGBT activists from around the globe will converge in Montreal from July 26-29 for the International Conference on LGBT Human Rights, which is sponsored by OutGames, an international LGBT sporting event that takes place right after the conference. "Our ultimate goal with this conference is to adopt what we're calling the 'Montreal Declaration,' an unequivocal affirmation that LGBT right are human rights," said Louise Roy, CEO of the conference and OutGames. "Once passed, we will do everything in our power to bring that resolution to the United Nations." It may be easy for our administration to ignore the events in Geneva. But when thousands of LGBT folks g miles north of our border, it wili be a bit more d turn a blind eye to the injustices we face each and every day and our collective resolve to stop them. Or, at least, it should be. EDITOR'S NOTE: One of Libby Post's firms, OutMarketing. biz, has been retained by Outgames Montreal 2006 to coordinate the event's United States' public relations activities. This column expresses her opinion and not that of her clients. The 0zar1<s STAR since 2003 ast Out by Liz Highleyman MARCH 2006 Summary : Past Our is a retrospective of key moments, personalities, and subjects in LGBT historv. Each , ' installment brings the past to life by exploring the diversity of the gay past and its impact on the queer present. February 1976 (30 years ago this month): British figure kater John Curry wins an Olympic gold medal. y is figure skating s As the most artisti etic events, figure skating is ely believed to be teeming with gay men - and, indeed, of the most renowned elite male skaters have been ·sexual. But the sport's fey reputation is I to the perceived gender nonconformity ants. It is impossible to know now whether early champion ater~ such as Jackson Haines, a ballet dancer by training o pioneered the modern artistic form of figure skating in 1860s, were queer. Lorrie Kim, creator of the Rainbow website, has compiled a list of 20 elite gay male skatrs, but only a few publicly revealed their sexuality while ey were champion contenders. American Ronnie Robertson, the 1956 Olympic silver edalist, was exposed as his former coach Mi- Kirby, in a memoir the of Robertson's (2000). The "Nureyev of the Ice, reat Britain's John reportedly made a little-noticed announcement that e was press conference shortly before winning e 19 c gold medal. The bronze medalist that r, Toller ston of Canada. mentioned affairs with men and women in his two- · :ihi,es; during 1973 World Championships, , he was se- Czech skater Ondrej Nepela, who went on to best red Cranston and win the title. In 1992, another was next after Cu come out during his competitive career; Hali ikely holds re skater to appear Fallen ngtime nadian champion Brian Orser was out when ex-boyfriend filed a palimony lawsuit. The best-known queer figure skater, Rudy Galindo - who "an openly gay trailer-trash ached the highest levels of pairs skating then-partner, Kristi Yamaguchi, when she decided on singles competition. After several years of , ances, a bout with alcohol and drug and the loss of his brother and two coaches to alindo went on to win the 1996 U.S. Nationals. his own HIV diagnosis and the cement of both Galindo has reoeatedlv challe, conservative rid - for example: performing to "Somewhere ainbov( and a medley of Village People songs, ueer ehte male skaters have included U.S. naRobert Wagenhoffer (who had long-term mmantic relationships with former junior champion Billy Lawe and professional show skater Sylvain Beauregard) champion ice dancer and choreographer Rob McCall, ' 1978-80 Canadian national champion Brian Pockar and former Dutch n~tional champion Edward van Campen; all but Beauregara and van Campen died of AIDS. Galindo once estimated that 98 percent of elite male skaters are ~traight. But "in the real trenches of show skating," according to openly gay skater Christopher Nolan, "guys are out all over the place." Many male figure skaters have described the harassment they received for pursing a sport considered to be queer. In reaction, skaters such as Kurt Browning, Philippe Candeloro, and Elvis Stojko emphasized a macho image and athletic .style !n the 199~s; others, including three-time U.S. champion Michael Weiss, regularly show off their wives and children. Current U.S. national champion and top Olympic contender Johnny Weir has tripped the gaydar of many with his flamboyant outfits and effeminate mannerisms, though he has yet to explicitly state his sexual orientation. Despite its queer reputation, the skating establishment has long mandated strict gender roles. Although things have come a long way since officials at the 1920 Olympics scolded Theresa Weld for performing an "uni ke" jump some judges still look askance at male skate o do too' many spins and spirals. So strict are the gender conventions that pie gold and bronze medalists Katarin mas provoked shock by performing in nontraditional costumes such as knee breeches and full-length leotards, p~ompting t~e spo.rt's st governing body, the International Skating Union (I to institute a rule that female competitors must wear skirts that cover their derrieres. While male skaters are often assumed to be gay, the sport's requisite femini renders queer women invisible. There are no openly le or bisexual women skaters among the elite ranks, though some of today's female champion contenders are so young that it may be premature to speculate about their sexuality. But a number of queer women participate in nonelite adult competition. including International Gay Figure Skating Union cofounder Laura Moore, who started skating at age 32 after divorcing her husband and coming out as a lesbian. Ironically, no sport emphasizes the appearance of hete~osexuality more tha~ competitive pair skating and ice dancing. The ISU regulation that teams must consist of "a man and a lady" has caused grief for elite skaters who wish to perform with same-sex partners. The ISU does not sanction events that do not adhere to its rules, but the inter nati?nal_ Ice Skating Institute and son:ie national governing ~odIes, _includ I S1:ateis Figure Skating Associat; on and offer sanctions or waivers for the Gay Games and similar events. "[T]he thrili of seeing a, op,enly gay pair team h_as nothi do with triple jumps," said Moore, who won tne 1994 y Games ice dance competition with her partner, Linda Carney. For further reading: Brennan, Christine. 1996, _Inside Edge: A Revealing Journey into the Secret World of Figure Skating_ (Anchor), Galindo, Rudy, and Eric Marcus. 1997. Icebreaker: The Autobiography of Rudy Galindo_ (Pocket Books). Rainbow Ice - http://www.plover.com/rainbowice/ Page22 CITY LIFE: 1930s and 1940s and their successors with 68 works by artists Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro S ros as well as related works by Luis Nishizawa and Gu r Gerzso. Mexican Masters expresses the hopes, desires, idealism, and culture of early twentieth-century Mexico through its artists. From the Mexican Revolution and Spanish Civil War to the Second World War, violent revolution and dramatic social change-both nationally and internationally-shaped the ideals of Mexico and its people. The Carrillo Gil Collection was molded by these principles, and the works it includes portray not only the artists' reactions to revolution, depression, and industrialization, as well as the impact of religion and need for social reform, but also the collector's. Mexican Masters pays humble recognition to Mexico's violence, war, and suffering, the United States Depression, and the artists' subsequent impression of inhumanity in an industrialized nation. For more information visit okcmoa.com. AIDS BUDGET: Among the president's proposals: Medicaid - our nation's largest provider of HIV/AIDS treatment and care - would face cuts of $5 billion over five years and $12 billion over 10 years, forcing those trimmed from Medicaid rolls to seek care through programs that are already overextended and under-funded. also pro cutting $15 million Nationa Institutes of Health and increases abstinence-only education funding by $28 million. State AIDS Drug Assistance Programs would receive $70 million under the president's plan to ease the waiting lists IDS program would receive a welcomed increase of $14 million et this is short of what is necessary to meet s needs. rge Congress to edicaid instead of weaken it, and put sound science over ideology in educational programs," added Solmonese. 1/12TH PAGE CLASSIFIED AD SPACE NOW AVAILABLE in the CALL FOR RATES 91 B.B35.7B87 or email: ozarksstar@sbcglobal.net Delivering Quality, Value, Integrity and Trust in Affordable Advertising Service. Advice Column! Kittens, as the whirlwind month of love has once more blown its course, Let us wipe the proverbial love awav from our chin, and move forward. Uncle spent most of the mont~ exhausted\y entertaining. A man briefly touched me; so briefly, uncle did not realize he had already reached the climatic point in the relationship. Alas Uncle finding himself once more on the hunt while looking for a aood man. Leaving me asking the uestion, how can someone be so bootylecious and such ty at the same time? Hmm I have to ponder that for a while. After seeing the much taiked about "Brokeback", Uncle f?und himself_ inspired to take riding lessons. After a positively productive week at the horse farm, while working with the trainer, Uncle has joined country riders everywhere. It took sweat, and teacs. One must be dedicated while working to achiev:3 ~ goal. ! have decided that next month, I may graduate to ndmg a horse. You know what they say Rome was not built in a day, baby steps! ' This mon~h Uncle has received several letters asking abo~t ~e~mg revenge on a lover's betrayal. Well, Kittens, Uncie Is Just shocked. A ay man, after revenge; it is just n?.t donea€l Snicker s · Kittens, taking the higher road w1il always allow you to mature into a well rounded. wonderfully developed, lo · responsible adult. Uncle ·encourages g~od karma, as w spiritual and personal growth. That said, karma helps those who help themselves. This month i dedicate my words of wisdom to a!I those ~ho h?ve found tha~ strange strap under the bed, hidden ooots m the closet, text message from the blonde Twink in the gym, who despite his physically delicious self, cant not seem to manage a sentence stiUcture. Since Uncle has given you pearls, let's get to the good stuff. The following is an actual list of carefully planned out exercises in revenge which uncle has used over the years. I am sure the men who each were carefully inspired by, will have a mo~ent of ~ecall whi!e reading a bit of their own history here m Uncles corner m Queerdom. Each one primed for specific levels of revenge. Kittens, a side dish served best when cold, I believe I feel a bitte; wind blowing in as we speak, bundle up kittens, it is going to be a rather frosty month of march. 12) Sleep with his best friends. Expected, yet sucker punch in the gut. 11) Take your self-shopping with his credit cards buying yourself that well deserved, while also delicious, little outfit you have always wanted. You have earned it. I mean the time on your knees alone warrants it. 10) Delivering a message to his co-workers that the clinic calla~ '.3nd you ~eed to speak to him _urgently, allowing all gossIpmg hags m ear shot to hear this, will defiantly deliver a certain message. 9) Informing the mother out of concern, of a horrible drug problem. Of course, this being the reason you have to leave him. • 8) Did I mention sleep with his closets and dearest friends? Oh, come now don't look at me that way. You have been eyeing them all along anyway. 7) Donate the bulk of his wardrobe to a nearby good will. Charity begins at home. 6) During conversations of the extreme vibe of hostility he is receiving from you, serve him a delicious cup of ex-lax cappuccino. This will allow for a few moments of him-time he so truly needs. 5) Go on Jerry and tell it all, going for the Emmy , for betrayed love interest. 4) Enter local hook up site under his name, hooking up with t~e _troll of all trolls,_ inviting h!m over unexpected by said vIctIm of course. Kitten, helping others is important. 3) Ciean the oven with his favorite label, leavina it in a pot on the stove. Cleanliness is next to cherliness. ~ 2) Announce to all of your friends, your inability of coping with on more night of his constant weeping after sex. ~) Deliver his t~ings, in a. box to his job with a note saymg good-bye, makmg sure his favorite sex toys are leaking onto the reception desk! Well there, it is in a nutshell. All is fair in love and revenae Kittens, I would wear a cup, this could be a full contact ~ sport d~pendinQ on the players involved. Those of you ?etermmed against bette~ advice, to foll~w this vengeful Journey, now have your flight plan. Sock !t and rock it, until the cockcrows, or feels your wrath, whichever one comes first. Until next time, smooches from your favorite guru, and Tlddles too! The Ozarks $TAR'slnce 20f)3 ·. Do Gays Have a Choice? Whether homosexuality is a genetic redisposition or a product of environmental factors haE; be,en hotly debated for the past several decades. The heart of the matter is: Does a person have a choice about his or her sexuality? Science att~mpts to answer this compelling question in the feature article "Do Gays Have a Choice?" in the February/March issue of Scientific American Mind. New York, NY (PRWEB) - Whether homosexuality is a genetic predisposition or a product of environmental factors has been hotly debated for the past several decades. The he~rt of the matter is: Does a person have a choice about his or her sexuality? Science atte answer this com · g question in the feature article ays Have a Cho . " in the February/March issue of Scientific American Mind. In addition to learning the science behind the matter, one may take the test and find out "How Gay Are You?" on Scientific American Mind's Web site (www.sciammind. com). According to the article's author, Robert Epstein, a Harvard- trained PhD, sexual orientation is not a black or white matter; rather, he concludes that sexuality falls on a continuum with heterosexuality and homosexuality at opposite ends. People may be attracted to members of both sexes b · determined by both genetics and their environment. n explains that genes determine wh~re '!"~ start but society exerts tremendous pressure on the md1v1dual to conform. Because the majority of people are "straight," most of us become heterosexual. The article also discusses the possibility of an individual changi sexual orientation. Whereas some people have as,serted that genes alone determine sexual orientation and that changing from gay to straight is not possible, others ha ued that homosexuality is a learned behavior and th 10ic:e.Epi;tein V11r,tes that changing orientation is possible for people whose sexuality lies toward the middle of the Sexual Orientation Continuum, but for most gay people such a switch would be very difficult if not impossible. "Do Gays Have a Choice?" presents a new school of thought that an individual's sexual orientation is not black or white, straight or gay. Instead an individual's sexual orientation falls along a continuum. To take the sexual orientation quiz visit http://www.sciammind. com, which will be available on Feb. 2, 2006 1 / 1 2TH PAGE CLASSiF"IED AD SPACE NOW AVAILABLE IN THE STAR CALL F'□ R RATES 9 1 B.S35.78B7 or email: ozarksstar@sbcgiobaLnet Irish Soda Bread 1 cup curants 2 cups unbleached flour 2 cups whole wheat flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 2 teaspoons baking soda 3/4 teaspoon caraway seed 1 /4 teaspoon salt 1 cup nonfat yogurt 1 cup nonfat milk Heat oven to 375 degrees, soak curants in hot water for about 5 minutes and drain. In a large mixing bowl, mix both flours, baking soda, baking powder, caraway seed, salt and curants, mix well. In a separate bowl mix yogurt plus milk until smooth, slowly add wet ingredients to the dry mixture until we\l blended. Flour hands and divide dough into 2 !oafs, slightly flatten dou onto a non stick baki sheet a~out 8 inches. across. a X on top of each , bake for about 30-35 minutes or untii you can tap on it and it sounds hollow, and serve warm. lip: Serve with French Onion Soup, it's great! HAPPY SAINT PATRICKS DAY! Q Scopes by Jack Fertig MARCH 2006 "Pay your debts, Aquarius!" Mercury turning retrograde in Pisces spreads confusion, and he's squaring Pluto. This makes people dig in their heels, insisting they are right (which is usually wrong), or it challenges cooler heads to do research. Venus in Capricorn eases the stress; do your best to be mature and serene. ARIES (March 20 -April 19): Avoid silly arguments by focusing on your own problems and cleaning out your baggage. The right balance of humility and confidence and support from a woman in charge will help you get ahead. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Dares, challenges, and temptations from friends should be considered very carefully, if at all. Better to rely on your usual common sense. If you're hu for a new experience, check out local museums or a fore film. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): If you must make any public presentations, double-check every detail, and be prepared to handle any screw-ups with good humor. If you come under attack, look for underlying motives. You could charm an apparent enemy into becoming a very good friend. CANCER (June 21 - July 22): You're better off listening to disputes than participating in them - unless you really want intense criticism. Still, arguments could be educational, and being very open-minded will make you look mighty attractive. LEO (July 23 -August 22): Refresh yourself on safe-sex information and techniques. Make sure to get the info first! Other fun and games are especially risky now. Be very careful of any sort of sporting injury. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Don't argue with your partner about probl~ms around the home. Take a creative approach and suggest constructive solutions, even if they're only only a temporary fix. Or agree to start analyzing problems so they can be solved later. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Most accidents happen around the house, but home looks more like your safety zone now. Still, be careful, and even more so out on the streets. Stay focused when you drive. Don't let problems distract you! SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21 ): A creative biock could have · e repercussions. Write a letter to a sister or aunt - or no·t yc,u have one, and even if you don't maii. it. The exercise o writing wili help you to focus on whatever is hanging you up right now. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): Your natural reaction to problems at home is to stand firm and counterattack. Resist that impulse. Shopping, preferably with housemates, actually helps! Think ahead about what you need, and take your time looking for it. CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Although small disasters abound, do your best to maintain a calm, mature demeanor. Every problem has a solution. Track each one to its roots; consult with whomever you must. The clean-up process will uncover new strengths, and annoyances may then prove blessings in disguise. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Dig up receipts and records, but let any real work on your taxes wait until late March. Trying to collect on debts from friends can be even more contentious than usual. Let that wait, too! Paying your own debts will save a lot of trouble. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Be careful of what you say and where you say it. Your mouth could get you into trouble with the boss or other authorities. Letting off steam and preparing important arguments with friends will help. But avoid those arguments unless they are absolutely necessary! You cm :find. oopk-5 c-f ti:...:: S 'J'A Ji :i r rh er.e -1 .mm:!li AR"'AN:'" .... ~ ICA.N!'tA;t Arkansas, Eureka Springs Diversity Pride EYem - www.diversitypride.com A Byrd's Eye Vie..- 36 N. Main- -479-253-0200 CaribeRcstaurante- -309 W VanBuren-- 253-8102 Henri's- - -19 1 /2 Spring St - - - 479-253-5795 Lumberyard Bar&Grill-105 E VanBuren- -253-0400 MCC Linng Spring - - 870-253-9337 Arkansas, Fayetteville (479) Condom Sense - -418 W. Dickson- -479-444-6228 Curry's Video 612 N. College Ave- 479-521-0009 Passages 930 N. College Ave- - 479-442-5845 Tangerine Club - -21 S. Block Ave- -479-444-6100 Arkansas, Fort Smith (479) Kinkeads- 1004 1/2 Garrison Ave- - 479-783-9988 Red Rock City - - 917 N. "N' St. 479-242-2489 Arkansas, Hot Springs (501) Jesrers Lounge 1010 E. Grand Ave -501-624-5455 Arkansas, Little Rock (501) Back Street - - -1021 Jessie Rd- - -501-664-2744 Diamond Stare Rodeo Assoc.- - • v.-v.-w.dsra.org Discovery- 1021 Jessie Rd- -- - - • - -501-666-6900 Sidetracks - 415 Main St - -N. L.R.- 501-244-0444 The Factory -412 Louisiana St.- - - - - -501-372-3070 Kansas,•Pittsburg (620) PSu-QSA.- - 1701 S. Broadway- 620-231-0938 Kansas, Wichita (316) Our FantaS\'- 3201 S. Hiliside- -316-682-5494 Missouri, Ava Catus Canyon Campground - 417-683-9199 Missouri, Joplin (417) Ree's- 716 S. Main - - - - . 417-62'7-9035 MCC Spirit of Chris,-2902 E 20th, - -Sun-6pm Missouri, Kansas City (816) Missie B's- -805 W 39th St- - 816-561-0625 Missouri, Lampe KOKQ]'.fO Campg~ound- - - • - - - 417-779-5084 Missouri, Springfield (417) The Edge- -424 Boonvilie P•.ve- - - • - --417-83;-4?!)') GLO Comm. Ctr- - -5i8 E. Commerical- 369-3978 Liquors & Kid,ers- -i i09 E. Commerciai- 873-2225 Martha's Vineyard- 2'.9 W Olive -417 -864-4572 Priscilla's - - -1918 S. Gkcstone .. 417-881-8444 Oz Bar - 504 E. Commercial - Ronisuz Place- --821 College- 4F-831-900l Oklahoma, Lawton riangles- - 29 SW "D" Ave- - 580-351-0620 Oklahoma, McAlester fcPride- - - - POBox 1515, McAlester, OK 74502 Oklahoma, Oklahoma City (405) merican Crossroads B¾B - POBox 270642-495-1111 om Room- 2807 NW 36th Sr- - 405-601-7200 lub Rox- - - -3535 NW 39th Expwy - 405-947-2351 risties Toy Box- 3126 N. May Ave - - 4 05-946-4438 stern Ave Video- 1105 S Eastern Ave- 405-672-6459 inish Line -2200 NW 39th fapwy- - 405-525-0730 ushers Restaurant-2200 NW 39Exp - -4 05-525-0730 ollywoodHotel- 3535 NW 39th Ex- - - 405-947-2351 abana Inn - 2200 NW 39th Exp- -405-528-2221 1221 NW SOth- - - - 405-843-1722 2200 NW Expwy- - - -405-524-5733 armers- - -2805 NW 36th St - - - 405-942-2199 riscilla's- 615 E. Memorial - - - - - -405-755-8600 d Rock North-2240 NW39th St- - - -405-525-5165 - - 2120 NW' 39th St --405-521-9533 405-528-4690 e Rockies-• -3201 N. May Ave - - - 403-947-9361 Oklahoma, Tulsa (918) amboo Lounge- 7204 E. Pine -918-836-8700 order's Book Store-2740 E. 21st- - 918-712-9955 order's Book Store -8015 S. Yale -918-494-2665 lub Majestic- - 124 N. Boston - - - - - 918-584-9494 lub 1faverick- 822 S. Sheridan -918-835-3301 - 8807 E. Admiral Pl - - 834-1051 ire Bookstore --814 S. Sheridan- - 918-838-85113 ,z's Lounge- - 426 S. Memorial- 319 E. 3rd- : -3007 E. Admi:al Pl ;iscilla's - - - 7925 E. 41 st - - · scilla's - 5634 \X'. Skc:Jy - risdla's - --1134 E. 11th - 918-743-4297 - -918-437-0449 -918-7 49-8378 -918-836-8544 - 918-584-3112 -- 918-834-3007 - - 918-627 -4884 -918-446-6336 918-438-4224 riscilla'~ 2333 E. 71 st - - - - -- -918-499-166 i negades- - - - 1649 S. Main 918-585-3405 b's Records- - -2909 S. Sheridan Rd- 918-627 -1505 ;,,Isa CARE~- -3507 E. Admiral Pl- 918-834-4194 c1isa Eag:e- - - - - i 338 E. 3rd - - - 918-592-1188 : 1T\ - . - - 2i14 S Memoriai- - - - - 918-660-0856 Jexton Jcwdrv - - -15 E. Brady 918-829-0824 trier Ne\VS Stand- 1 N, Le,vis- ~ -918-592-0767 'ellow-Bricic-Rd- -2630 E. 15,h- - 918-293-031'.i Yellow Brick Road 2630 E. 15th St, Tulsa, OK 918-293-0304 Yes Munchkins, Kevie is back as Manager! Po.ol Tournament- Mondays Dart Tournament- Thursdays Now Servitig Chimay Ale 5.00 LEASE ft.1 bed room Elect. 66th and Aprox 1800 sq ft 2 replace Sheridan Area sales price $128.000 Possible lease purchase. · Night Club for saleAprox 2500 sq ft. plus small house and large•storage building 11th mingo area Tracy 918-625"6377 Keller Williams I p 3007 E. ADMIRAL PLACE. TULSA, OK ~~- Llve Music March 17th, King Fish Band, NO COVER 50 cent. pool tables. Shuffle Board. 918.834.3007 Open Sunday @ 12:00 Noon Open Monday-Saturday 11 am HIDEAWAY 11730 E. 11th Tulsa, OK 918.437.0449 now 12noon to 2am ed Monday. MAGICAL MASSAGE Located in NW Oklahoma City Full body deep tissue massage. Call Mark 405-949-1991 Experience Total Relaxation EMPLOYMENT □ PP □ RTUNITY ADVERT,BINC3 BALES REPRESENTATIVE FOR WICHITA, OKLAHOMA CITY, MISSOURI OR ARKANSAS guaiifications to ozarksstar@sbcglobal.net or mail to: 5103 S. Sheridan, #153 Tulsa, OK 74i45 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2006] The Star Magazine, May 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 5 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 01, 2006 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Online text PDF Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Star Magazine’s first issue began February of 2005. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004) and The Ozark Star (2004). Follows is The Metro Star (2008). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Greg Steele Josh Aterovis Douglas Glenn Bunkey Walters John Patrick Michael Dee Paul Wortman Carlott Carlisle Libby Post Andrew Collins Donald Pile Ray Williams Michael Hinzman Jack Fertig Liz Highleyman Chaz Ward Vicor Gorin Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwest Missouri Western Arkansas Southeast Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Star Magazine, April 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 4 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/223 The Star Magazine, June 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 6 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/229 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/240 A Day at the Legislature A Night Out Advice Column Alabama Lemonade Bamboo Lounge Bar BQ Pork Loin Bitter Girl Chelsea Boys Christopher Cabaldon classifieds Club Majestic Comic Strips Gay and Lesbian travelers Gayco Show Great Plains Rodeo Heart to Heart HIV testing HOPE Lesbian Notions Past Out Q Scopes Red Ribbon Star business center Star Distributors Star entertainment Star Scene travel Tulsa Rough Riders Uncle Mikey https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/b9c9a6279512a7a10048d90d650483d2.jpg ccf67a476d394d378caa36f5bfb2fc4a https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/1ac048af6377978fa39ed58c5c85b213.pdf 2262c39edbaef673db3eeb5b909bc695 PDF Text Text ��������������������������������� Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document =========. The STAR is published by Star Media, Ltd. 5103 S. Sheridan,# 153 Tuisa, OK 74145-7627 ozarksstar@sbcglobal.net www.ozarksstar.com Editor in Chiei, C. D. Ward Contributing Writers: Greg Steele, Josh Aterovis, Douglas Glenn, John Patrick, Michael Dee, Kay Massey, Paul Wortman, Carlotta Carlisle, Victor Gorin, Greg Gatewood Columnist: Libby Post, Andrew Collins, Donald Pile, Ray Williams. Michael Hinzman. Jack Fertig, Liz Highleyman Photography: Chaz Ward, Victor Gorin, Advertising: Tulsa Office - - - - - - - -918-835-7887 or Email: ozarksstar@sbcglobal.net (Tulsa Metro) Michael Leach- - - - - 918-640-2049 (Oklahoma City Metro) Victor Gorin 405-947-2048 (Northwest Arkansas) Kay Massey- 479-273-2808 National Advertising Representative Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Deadline for all advertising, articles and payment is the 18th of each month for the next months issue. Subscriptions 12 issues $26.95 / singles $3.00 Check or Money Order '!he Oz.irks Sr.tr or the Star is published & dimibutcd monthly as a communitY ser;ice bv Star Medil, Ltd .. Publication of the name, pho~ogclph o; iikcnc.':>s of any p~rson. business or organization in this publica:t~on i:; no:· co be conscru~d a.~ any indication of sexual oricnration or preferences of 5uch person, bu1,jncss or org-ani1atioe. Opinions cxpres5cJ by culumnis:.s, ~idvcrri~crs or Lener,,,: ro rhc Editor arc nor necc5s,1rily the opiniun of 'fhr Ozarks Star. frs staff, rhi.! publisher nr it's Jdvariscrs. Content of .1dverriscmcnrs and ~uticlcs .1rt the suic r<:spunsibiiity of chc advertiser 3.nd /or author. '1ht: Pubii5hrr of t!{c ()n.rk.\ ·s~ar or Srar reserve:~ rhc right ro refuse a<lvcnising nutl..'.rlai f~_~ir ,1!1;' rta.1,on v,·hat so ever. 'Ih<..· ()z.3.rks Sur or Star ~nd all !ikc:ltS:)<:s ~h{:rt of arc sole oropt"rtics of Star hicd!,1. Lrd. All m:Hrr!~tl (<) copyrigh~ 2006 chc ()zarb S:ar. Designed Hith Pride, Printed in Oklahoma, l'SA N THE COVER Jud Shepard, Mother of Matthew 0 0 JUDY SHEPARD SPEAKS '·If vou don't vote, you can't bitch.' TI1a~'s what my son: Matthew, used to sav. Afrer he t~1rned 18, one of the first th.ings he did when he moved to :! ntw location was register to vore. Of) OUT In ARKANSAS New! Lots of news from the Arkansas GLBT Community. First Openly GLBT Srnte Official. FALL Diversity Weekend, EUREKA! 00 PAST OUT A rctrosoectivc ofLGBT Historv. \'v'ho was Da,phne du Maurier? . 0.z.7 CIAO TRAVEL G ay '1r. rave1I ers "(a'a nta I·'c , N1' vI, " Out of Town "Cosu Rica·· f)(3 ASK UNCLE MIKEY Can you n.:aliy get an STD ju~t h\ _:.:,1·. - ing ~on1eonc head? \\'r,rried Can rou re::l]y a,;k th:'t quc,u,,n \\·itl1 ~t head? INDEX 3,000 Walk For Aids .... Judy Shepard Speaks .. OUT in Arkansas ... Past Out. ..... Tulsa GLBT Center Ne"Ns Ciao Tra,;e!. .. Lesb;an Notiors. Oklahoma·s Adoption i __ ;:iv 1 Star S:::ene. Uncle Mikey inspiring Fitness :-ioroscopes Distr:buto:·s Cartoc:.ns C!asslfleds In the la~t i:-isuc chc article on the Rvan 'X'hitl· lkndit Shih\,\\<: inadn: ncntl-.- :bn! the· 11:lill': Bn·,11: \\!hit,. :\11 "hvio,,,, rrnr 1 ha1 v:c on-rlookcd. 6 12 14 -----,.. Gold Castle "At Centwy 21 Gold Castle our BEST propei1ies are our PEOPLE' 4301 NW 63rd, Suite 100 Oklahoma City, OK 73116 405.840.2106 .c21 goldcastle.com (iay !lle/1 and le<·/,fc:ns (:ice many special tax ,·ifuutions. ,1·hcrher single nr as u,upies. Let us help! (918) 7 6 Phew;by Joe KirK 3,000 Walk for Awareness and Funds at AIDS Walk of Oklahoma Ci , Proceeds Total $50,000 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK_.\n unprecedented .\000 peop;c wa!k<:d on Sunday, Ocwber !sr fil!· a hcald1icr Oklahoma in the 2006 AIDS \X'alk of Okkhc;•na Cir-. Parricip:rnt, from greater ()klahon1a C:iry and hcyonJ \valkc<.f ro raise ;nvarcnc:-:s a1~d funds for d1e treatment and pn:n:ntion of j,-jj\,'i AiDS. '.'rocceJs toulcd S"i0,000, which included spomorsi1ip, and doi::u;on\ b!·ought rn the AIDS Walk. ·111(: fdDS \X'aik of Okbhoma City will c!isrribure these funds in the (o;-m of grants on \X'orld AIDS Day, December 1st, t(> qualifrin;2. local HIV/ A! I )S non-prnfit organizations. To download a gram ap;)!icati'ln, go to \\Ww.aidswalkokc.org. Funds arc still criticallr n-:cdcd and 0;1 he :1,adc ,ml inc ::t www. aidswalkokc.org. For more inforna,ion en donarins w the AIDS Walk of Oklahoma Ci,y, pica,-: comact Board Prcs'dcnr Linda Larason at ,HJ'i/5~0-•i83"i. Startling statistics- - 1iAOIJ Oldaho1:1an, a:c rnrrunlr living ·.vi:h HIV/,.;I:)S. his :rn:nbc:r doc, IhH inckdc incli·:iduaL ,die ;,re inkucd bm ,:n;:\\'.ll'<.'. of their inb:.:tion. - I":- ,o 2-,-vc;:r .,\\, rn,1kv up the larg,··,! numk·•· o,· ! I I\' in(ccc inn, in (he \\'<Hid. Tl s Tl Because every one deserves a chance Placing retired racing Greyhounds into loving homes throughout Oklahoma, NW Arkansas, SW Missouri and North Central Texas ,r' fo1111/Greyhound riur)"t· , S. ~ ,lon \· ~11· ·✓ 0q Foster - Adopt - Support - Teach 401 N. FbrkSlreet-Serrrde, a< 74868-(405) 303- VNNY.fasthound.org Visit our website or contact us for more information Jessica Lantagne President 405-623-8390 Nikki Ortman Vice President 405-833-5455 Paul Oratowski Treasurer 405-205-79 35 jessica@fasthound.org Nikki@fasthound.org paul@fasthound.org w, Do It Dlffsrsnt In Eunk1 Springs, Ark1n1s1/ CffAltlTY 'Poll:1rR11n' 'Show 'n Shin&' in DIVERSITY WEEKEND the Nov 3.5, 200a Ozarks! A BOBALOO! 71Jt go1I of the 011w An11u11 Dlver,ity Arts & Crafts Fest/vii Is to lr.1pirc1, 111pport 1ad promote 1rt tll1t SPECIFICALLY REFLECTS tht $8nsibiiitl,s ind uptritnce, of G1ys, Lesbl1nt; Binxuaf,, Tr,ns & lntersu and their 1triight friends and famlliu. We wish to 1mcour1gt artl1ts of ALL 1ex111I orient,tions and ger.dtr Identities to pruent their perspective of of our 11111/tl-cult11ra!, rac/11 and ethnic div,rsity, through their art. As th/1 fettlv,1 gmw, over the years, w11 hope to m,ke evall,bie ,rt, & cr,fts th1t wt/I ,peak to and about our community ind to educ.ts and celebr,te th• t!11t dl'lt11it, of our live,i Gai!ttifl li'ld/or thou /;, need of exhibit 1p1ct, ple,,e s,nd ,n em1fl to info@dlver,ltypriduom {EXH!Bff in the subject line} or caii 479-253,2555 ASAP! www.ozarksstar.com health outreach prevention education, Inc. 1-800-535-AIDS (2437) Oklahoma's HIV/STD Hotline H.O.P.E. Test Meris outreti In Tulsa at {91 the STAR 9 Oklahoma Greyhound Ad tion Group Expands Service To Arkansas, Missouri & Texas. SEi\!I?'-~OLE, OK_ Fasthound Greyhound Adoption is pleased to announce their expanded service area. In addition to piacing Retired Racing Greyhounds throughout Oklahoma our service area now includes North·,vcsr Arkansas, Southwest Missouri and North Cemra! Texas. Severai years ago when my liic partner Ed befriended a coworker we met her Greyhound Dance who was s0.vcet, gentle, calm and affect'.onate. When ~e decided rhar a Greyhound ":'a~ right for_ us, Dance'; mom suggestea tnat we might want to put through CHJr application for adoption under {)nly one of our narncs as the president of the group ,;vas unlikely to approve the application if \VC put it under both our natnes. i"-~aturally \1.:-e and adopted our group ln .\ustin~ ,.r~{. \Xie then dtcidt'd to start our (A\"T1 ': 1<""• 11R1' a service \\~here the everyone 10 the STAR Photo: "Monty", is adoprable. adopt one of these wonderful, loving canine companions as a family unit without prejudice. We have had great success in Oklahoma and want to bring this same service to our neighbors in Arkansas, Missouri and Texas. The Fasthound board members Jessica Lantagne, Nikki Ortman and myself Paui Oratowski have more than 15 years combined experience in the foster and adoption placement of retired Racing Greyhounds. Visit our website at www.fasthound.org w see our available greyhounds and learn more abom us and our adoption process. * UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST KANSASiOKLAHO: tv1A CONFERENCE VO l ES TO AFFIR..i\1 MARRIAGE EQUALIIT by Victor Gorin OKIAHOt,1A CITY, OK_In keeping with their longtime stand of support of equalitv for GLBT people, the delegates of the National Svnod of the United Church of Christ Cor~ference in 2005 voted to pass a resolution .stating that the UCC Church supports marriag~ e9ua!ity induding same sex n1arriage, and advocates for governnH~nts to do so as well. While this policy Ivas widely supported through uc:c:~ it did generarc son1c controversyl and \vhen the Kansas/Oklahoma Regional Conference vvas held in \X/ichira the follov..ring September a stnaH rural l}(=C C~hurch from Litdc l\.iver, Kansas introduced a resolution that the i(a11sas/()klahonia ,.,...,,,.~,,._ the national poiicy of tJ(~(~ approving sarnc- sex ma.rriagc. -]11is had been tabled f0r further consideraric~n, but v1ouid l)e voted on at th.e Meanwhile rhe controversv imensified, and the Little River UCC,sent ietters to all the Kansas and Oklahoma l:CC churches, urging them to withhold money from the national lJCC as a form of economic pressure to make them change their policy. In response to this, affirming churches in Okiaho~ a and Kansas made special fundraising efforrs ro not only maintain their level of support for the national UCC, but actually to increase rheir offering. In Oklahoma City a joint fundraiser concert involving UCC's Church of the Open Arms, Cathedral of Hope and Mayflower Congregational Church raised over $8000, and together with the other affirming churches of Oklahoma and Kansas over $18,000 of additional money was brough.: ro the Kansas/ Oklahoma UCC Conference as a show of suppon for the national UCC stand. When the vote was called at the Regional Conference as to whether they would support the national policy of UCC, it was affirmed by a vote over 75% in favor. UCC has an impressive history of supporting GLBT equaiity, and was the first mainstream congregarion to ordain an openly gay minister, Bill Johnson, in 1972. He was present at rhe 2006 Kansas/Oklahoma UCC Conference as a srrong show of his support. .A.s pastor of the Church of rhe Open Arms UCC of Okiahoma City Kathy McCallie commented,"UCC has a long history of being in rhe forefront of the gay righrs movement which includes marriage equality, and UCC also advocates change for marriage equality from government as wdl, so this was an affirming event for this region." * Spirit of Christ MCC Joplin Celebrate's Ninth Anniversary. JOPU~-.i, MO~"As we cdebme our Ninth Anniversarl in a ciP..- v,rhcre we were told nine years ;go that ;,ve could not and would not survive, yet nine years later here we are." Said Pastor Urie. ~pirit of Christ i\1CC serves the greater Joplin; lv·f() area and surrounding com~ r ~ • • cl' ,1 r> ~ i'..1 r· 1nun1ucs sprea 1ng rne \J00d 1"lews or Jesus (:hrist not only in vvord but in service, taHcing the talk and ,valking the waik. Over the la;t nine years Spirit of C::hrist fv!CC has no~"l{l been rhe longest surviving (;JL/B/ 'J/S organization in JopHn . Cln;tinuetl fh1ge-23 www.ozarKsstar.com ur By Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard and b:erntive Director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation "If you don't vote, you can't bitch." That's what my son, Matthew, used w say. After he turned 18, one of the first things he did when he moved to a new location was register to vote. He understood that the righr to vote was also a privilege, a responsibility and a chance to be heard. \Y/hen Matthew was beaten to death in 1998, anti-gay hate stole Matthew's right to vote. Today, the Matthew Shepard Foundation and I arc asking you to vote with him in mind this November. In the eight years since Matthew was murdered, l have traveled around rhe coumry speaking to millions of people including over a million college sttidents - about rhe importance of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights issues ,md hare-crimes 1e gis 1a tion. 0 ne tvu mg t.h at ha s struc.k me aga·m and aga·m 1·s tn' e 1a cr1:: of political involvement within the community. Polis suggesr that numbers for voter registration and voter participation within the LGBT community are shockingiy low. The Matthew Shepard Foundation is undertaking an aggressive ''Get-Out-the-Vote" campaign this year to bring attention ro this issue and to promore an increase in voter participation by LGBT people and aliies. But what I really wanr to ask those in rhe community who are not registered or v;ho have not voted recendy is: what rhe heck are you thinking?! At a time when the stakes have never been higher and LGBT issues arc once again - in the fOrefront of the n1cdja and being rr1anipulated to have a potentially negative impact on our co1nn1unity. this lack of in'i.rolvetnenr is totally unacceptable. "~ primarily· politicai tactic utilized throughout the nation by people •.vho oppose L(;B~r civii rights .,Nas tapping into ho1nophobic fears and directly targeting ;~l~::~,~;;:::.~::.'til~J!~~~t:i?i~i:;;;:;:{;:;:., ·wake up, people: ;.ve arc under arrack! ln the current election and the elections that sure that r:hc voice of the LGB'T' ;jnd allied wwvv.ozarksstar.com - in all of its about the issues and t!!e candidates a:,d reach out to oar friencis and families and l:!et them involved as well. We need to i10ld each other accountable ~hen it coJnes to voting and, of cou;:se, we also need to hold those who are elected accoumable. If we al!ov, ourselves and each other to remain immobilized by apathy or pessimism, what we are really doing is colluding wi:h those who oppose us. Friends don't let friends not vo!e. -There is an old maxim that goes, "If you're not part of the soiution, then you're pan of the problem." From my perspective, if you don't vote, you become in you~ passivity a part of the hate. So what do you need to do to become pan: of the solution? There are five tasks that vou can do that -.vi!l make a differe11ce: one, REGISTER to vote; CV:,o, LEARN the issues - find out what candidates wam to do for you-and to you; three, PASS IT ON, educare your family, friends and business associa,es about the issues affecting rhe LGBT community today and encourage them to use their vote; four, actually VOTE in the election; and five, no ma.:rer who is elected, STAY INVOLVED and hold your elected officials accountable. You can go to our website ww-.v.MatthewShepard.org/Vote for more information and to PLEDGE to vote this November 7 ,h. Matthew's wallet always contained his voter registration card. He took his responsibility seriously. I,fa,thew will neve~ vote again. Today, I am asking you to vore for him. Use your voice. Iv1ake a difference for this generation and the: next. * RESEARCH REFUTES ~1YTH OF GAY THREAT TO CHILDREN A study released today (http:/ /\w;w.i:1ternariom.lordcr.org/scandal_ response.html) refutes charges made by the religious right in response to the Congressm:m Fo'.ey scandal that homosexuals are significantly more inclined to moiest chiiciren than heterosexuals. According to author Mark E. Pietrzyk, a number of conservative religious groups have issued papers claiming that gay mc1:_ pose - a highly disproportionate thrc,H to child:·en, citing a number or scientific studies t<J support their claims. However, when one examines the studies cited in these p;;pers, one finds that the religious right has engaged in a serim:s. distor:(<m of the work~ 01: od1ers. 1he sdentis;:s ,d10 authored the studies made co suci1 clam, about homosexuais posing a grearer threat to children, and in f3.ct in 1nany cases argued the opposite. !n addidon, n1anv in rhe l,(h ....: ~~;;,~,t~f ~:~i ~~:~~al~r:;,1~:l~r~!l~;~:g!~~~ ;~~~);!;1~11~'.~y crodi~;:11 traditional norn1s of sexual behavior. !-Io\vever, out rhat the ,;slippery slopt.t is basec! on the false p•rernis<.: that the I)rotection of children is a long-standing part of the recently cornc un- ~ier assault as a re~u!t of the approved of • t • • tn aiJuit-rnu1or the STAR 11 I i I Arkansas Elects First Openly GLBT State Official. by Joe Lafountaine --------------' LITTLE ROCK, AR_History was made in the May 23rd primary victory for Kathy Webb in the race for Arkansas State Representative District 37 (Little Rock). Unopposed in the general election, Kathy will be sworn in on January 8, 2007 as the first openly GLBT elected official in Arkansas. Kathy has served as president of the Stonewall Democratic Club of Arkansas, as a board member of the Arkansas Hospitality Association and as an active volunteer for the Arkansas Foodbank Network. She has also been national secretary for the National Organization for Women (NOW') and founding president of the Chicago Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. . Kathy received endorsements from The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, The Stonewail Democrats, l11c Victory Fund, ACORN, SEIU, AFL-CIO, Arkansas Realtors PAC, AR Business and Professional Women PAC and many local civic and business ieaders. As a smallbusiness owner (Lilly's Dim Sum, Then Some Restaurant) and volunteer, Kathy \Y/ebb is a proven leader who works tirelessly and effectively for the good of her community. Her experience, her commitment to solving problems, and her passion for improving the quality oflife for all Arkansans will serve District 37 well. ~~aulu1gittht1J ffir.crtinyn 12 the STAR * 'lbe STAR staff wishes you a safe and happy 1banksgiving TT ! • I .-io11aay. Fort Smith Readies For New Night Club. by Greg Steele FORT SMITH, AR_Diana },filler and Leann Caugnman weil known in the Fort Smith club scene, are anxiousi:v waiting on their club license for the new Kiub XLR8. Diana said in an interview, "We decided to go ahead and open Klub XLR8 with all the regular events, performers, dances, DJ's, ·etc ... everything but the alcohol. We are acmally classified as a "juice bar and grill" for now, hoping shortly ro be able to classify ourselves as a 'private club.' Ajd10ugh We are opening without alcohol, we wiil continue ro remain a 21 and above business, due to smoking being allowed inside.'' "Loca,ed in the old Ciub 1022 buiiding at i022 Dodson Ave., the faci!i;:ies have been complerelv renovated in$ide and out with a lot of heart and soul placed int~ the building. We have plans for several fund-raisers for different organizations/charities. dqg shows, in-house pageants, live dj's, theme dance/parties, dance comests, live bands, Karaoke, pool wurnamcnts, and holida;,' dinners. The buiiding h .. s great sound, and a 32 foot projection screen that will run during opening hours playing dance videos ,~nd graphic animations." Said Miller. For more information contan Diana at 479-7 82-9578 or visi~ ,he website: wv.w.klubXLR8.com * LittleRockPride.Com Celebrates 1 Year Online. LITTLE ROCK, AR_LinieRockPridc.com celebrated its one vear anniversary Oc;:ober 14, 2006. · u! v,ras told by several people t.vhen I sran:ed the \Y/eb~irc that nobod.y had been able to succeed v.1ith this idea for Dion: than ont year,10 , saic! Barb Kampbc;l, founder and owner of Li:tieRockPridc.com. "I was not a,vare ~f other efforts \Vhen I had rhc idea and ran \vith it despite some negativity about pasr failures from others. \VC've rr1ade it a year and are sti11 going strong!'' l,usiness in this state \Vill have a listing in the choicc1 ynu choose tc~ support thern fir:;t. vvv;w.ozarksstar.com F· DIVERS! END NOV 3-5, 2006 Eureka Springs EUREKA SPRINGS, AR_This Fall is going to be a little different in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. TI1ere are some new and intriguing evems. Al'U'S IN THE OZARKS WITH SABRINA MATTHEWS?! During FALL Diversity Weekend will be the first 'LOL!' Diversity Comedy Concert starring ANT and SABRINA MATTHEWS at the historic 'AUD' IN Eureka Springs, Arkansas. One performance only, on Saturday night Nov 4th at 7:30pm. Doors open at 6:30pm Hyper, irreverent, and downright fabulous, ANT has steadily climbed the comedy hill to become one of America's most successful comedians of our time. A regular guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and 1he Tyra Banks show, ANT is the oniy comedian w appear on all four seasons ofNBC's hit series Last Comic Standing. Ct:rrentlv he is the host ofVH I's juggernaut Celebrity Fit Club and stars in rhc LOGO series, "U.S. of ANT." See his hit stand-up DVD, '~-\~T: America's Ready" and comedy CD "Follow my asi' Sabrina Matthews ( vhoto left) is an openly i~bian cor:1ic who relares the absurd in everyday life 11: a witry anecdotal. style. "Sabr:na's brand of comedy is infectious, says afi:erel~ len.co1nj and she Hregularly dra\vs out big laughs fron1 both gay and straight audiences." Her hi!arlou~ half~hotir comedv special~ ~~Con1edy Centr~l Presents Sabrina Jvfatthe\vs'· \Vas a hit and catch her nn the L()(;() C:f:il\Nl'-JEL. She is a star of WW't✓.ozarksstar.com the 2006 hit documentary, "Laughing Matters More!" and made her television acting debut in ''America's .!'v1ost Wanted". (Yes, reaily.) By presenting ANT and SABRINA, Diversity Pride Events once again hopes to both entertain and unite our community. DPE is very excited to have drawn such taiemed and uplifting performers to the Ozarks region. Tickets are available online at DiversityPride.com until Sunday 10-29-06, and then only at the door one hour before show time. BOBALOO IS BACK! 'Early Dinner Show' Los Angeles comic Bobaloo, originally a mid-west boy, wowed the Diversity Bears and their friends this past Summer Diversity Weekend, and he also fell in love with the Eureka Springs community. So, Diversity Pride Events has brought him back to "jolly things up around Eureka". He ·will perform in a new 'Early Dinner Show' at the Lumberyard on Saturday at 5pm to 6pm, but suggest you come early because 4pm diners get preferential seating for his Show! $5 cover DIVERSITY BIKERS Charitv 'POKER RUN' & 'SHOWN' SHINE' A portion of the pro~eeds to benefit Children of Deployed Service Members. The Diversitv Bikers 'Show N' Shine' will start at 12:30 PM at Roadway Inn. Bikes will be judged in two categories, Best in Show and Best 'Pride Dressed'. There will be a First Place and Runner-up in each category. Then there will be the first Diversity Bikers Charity 'Poker Run'. Entry fee is $10, pius at least one stuffed animal.. · · · " * AAA~.nsas pplauds ational Coming ut Dav., '' Concert By Teresa Qag) Goodrich SPRINGDALE, AR_There are rwo kind of musicians in the world, those that plav music and those that make music. \'ve had the joy of hearing. rw'o such makers of music at the Jones Center for Families in Springdaie Arkansas on October 1 l rh, National Coming Our Day. The concert, organized by the N\VA GLBT Community Center brought Colleen Jameson down from Iowa as pan of her Midwest 1our. A cotnbination of angeiic voice, delightful acoustic guitar and outspoken comn1entary made for a socially upiifting perfonnance. She has also expressed a ·wish to \~isit the area again. Northvvest Arkansas1 ovvT1, Jonathan Stiers derful voice along ,vith truly vers:1tiie playing. ()ne concert attendee ·\vas heard to con11ncrn: th;,n scerned as if rhc:- muslc just came flo~Ning out of his finger$."' !-Je possesses a true fOr the piano. -.~·here vvas hope e:pressed for rnorc events of this type the concert attendees, the STAR '!3 Summan· : Past Out is a retrospective of key mo1~ems, personalities, and subjects in LGBT historv. Each installment brings the past to life b}; exploring the diversity of the gay past and irs impact on the queer present. stander, when she was still a teenager. Her first novei, 1he Loving Spirit, appeared in 1931; this was followed by Jamaica Inn. in 1936, which brought he, criticai acclaim and financial success. In rhe summer of 1932, du Maurier married Frederick "Bov" Browning, a rnilitarv officer 11 ·years her senior who h;d sought her out after admiring her work. Du Maurier was ill-suited to the life of a traditional military wife, howe,-er, and she hired a nanny to care for the couple's son and two daughters. After several years, ,he family moved to Cornwall, living in a l 7th-ce1:tury mansion that served as a mociel for Manderley, the setting of her bes:known novel, Rebecca (1938). Photo: Tttdith An!Urson as Afrs. Danvers and Joan Fontaine as the sec;nd Afo. de Winter in rh~ film adaptation o_f Daphne du Du Maurier and Browning spent considerable time apart as he rose to the rank of iiemenant general and commanded the Bii,ish First Airborne Division during Worid Who was Daphne du Maurier? Bisexual author Daphne du i\.faurier, best known today through film adaptations of her work, helped define the gotbic romance genre of literature. \V'hile other writers of her era were dealing wirh subjects such as alienation, religion, Marxism, and World War Ii, du Maurier, wrote professor Richard Kelly, "produced 'old-fashioned' novels wid: straightforward narratives that appealed to a popular audience·s love of fantasy, ad·,,enture, sexuality. and mysrery." Du Maurier was born May 13, 1907. man artistic family in Loncion. Her morher was an actress. h~r father. Gerald. was a theater manage~ and famous actor, and her grandfather, George, was a wc!1'-known au:hor and cartoonist for Punch magazine. Du Maurier and her two sists:rs haci a-privileged and permissive upbringing, educated privately at hon1e and at schools in London and Paris. An avid reader, she enjoyed creating in1aginary worlds, often featuring a rnale alter-ego she dubbed Hthc boy in the box.'' Her farnily\ hoiiday home in Cornw2.ll ;vouid later becornc the setting for n1uch of her best worlc short stories in his 14 the STAR War II. 1he couple remained married t:ntil Browning died in i 965. Although she reportedly had a crush on a female teacher while studying in Paris, ciu 1\1aurier's sapphic tendencies - which she !·efcrred to as "Venetian" - came to the fore in midlife. In the late i 9405, she became infatuated with Ellen Doubleday, the wife of her Americ:,n publisher, who did not reciprocate her affections. ·'I glory in my Ve1{ke, when I am in a Ve!lice mood, and foro-et it when I am not,'' ciu l',1aurier wrote in : letter to Doubleday. "'111e only chip is the dreary knowicdgc that there can never be Venic~ with you." Soon thereafter, du Maur:e embarked on a relationship with stage and film ac~re;;s , (~errrude L~nvrcncc, who had co-starred 1u10 h,1d -,p affair vvirh her father ·vcar::; eadier; i~;r ;:i:tionship with La•,vren'~e continued ~:7;~~r:~; c0~~::c:~:;~\1i::;;:;::•"~~i~~~rD,, . , b , d. t , J: >,~ :1nd r;::~:;;~ d~:~ :~: /:::t~~:~:.~·-:Hmti2G!Vc \vord that begins \Vith 'L :, [)u fvlaurier pioneered the often f;aturing fi:rnale and eictnents of the ,:_pvpJ.:: f•an:v,ri her she is best knosvr1 ro n1odern Judicncc~; n;frtd Hit ..... hi:.,o.:(k', .. n:r adaptations of Jamaica Inn, Rebecca, and her'short ,wry: "1h: Birds" (from her 1952 coEection, The Appie Tree). "foough some critics have intcrnreted rhe relationship ber-' teen Reoecca -the dead former wife of the narrator's wealtl1y older husband - a1°d !:er i~oi:sekeepe,, Mr.s. Danve,s, as lesbian, biog;- apher Nica lrnerbach claims that Rebecca's "gre-a trespass 1. s r:ot lo v.m g women Io ut laughing at men.'' Over ,he course of her five-decade career, ciu Maurier wrote more than 25 books, among them fa~1iiv hismries and biographies (including on; of her father). Her story about Ganymede. the beautiful adolescent lover or the god Zeus, ,!ppears in an American anthology of gay short fiction (In Another Parr of the Forest, 1994). Her memoir. Growiag Pains, published when she was 70, chronicl~d oniv the vears ieading up to her marriage. She decliu'eci to pen a fo!low-up, tdling an interviewe;, "All I can s.ty is t:1at I had a very happy macied life and have a delightful family .. .! dor;°r iike books which are fuil of name-dropping." Even as her fame grew, du Mamier - who in 1969 was named a Dame of the British Empire in recognition of her iiterary achievements - became more reclusive, ,hough she maintained contact w:th her two sisters, both lesbians, and their fomaie parrners. She spent h. er fi na1 y ears 1.1 1 ,,-~-, orn~val"l a,I one. save for her dogs. "Here was the treedom I desired, iong sought-for, nor yet known," she wrote in V,mishing Cornwall (1967). "Freedom to vi,ite, ~o ,;alk, to wander, freedom to climb :1il!s, to pull a boat, to be alone.'' She diec! :here in Apri: 1989, a month shy of her 82nd birthday, and h::r ashes wen;'. ,,cattered c,ver ,he cliffs near h,:r home. Forf!trther readingi Auerbach, Nina. 1999. Daphne Du '.vlaurkr: Hau;::cci Heiress_ 1993. l)aphne du of Vl\/VVv.ozarksstar.corn Photo: The new community center coming soon. BE THE CHANGE with YOUR VOTE My vote doesn'r count. Voting is too hard. I work all day. I don't have rime. I don't know anything about the candidates. I don't know where to vote. It's out of the way. These are ail excases - and, not to criticize anyone, but pretty bad excuses. Why? • In the last ciection, two Tulsa-area Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender (GLBT) friendly candidates both won their respecth ·e races with a margin ofless than 25 votes. Your vote cioes count - especially for our allies hoping to make a difference. • A.ccording to statistics, the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual electorate (Transgender vo,ers are not yet measured in exit polling) constitute as much as 9%1 of v~oters in large citiesi nearly 4'}o in the suburbs and 2.3% in rural .1.reas. Those numbers indicate rhe GLBT & allied coinrnunity can be a serious force to contend with in local, state and national clection.s. ~ In Okb.bon1a~ you vote by dra,ving a Hnc. Just con1picte the !ittle arro11.v. Paper and prn provided. Polis are open fron.1 7:00 ;'\}l! to 7:00 PlvL '{ou can vot~ on rhe 'l:.vay to lVork} during a break or afrer vvork on the - if you do ·1.vork from 7 to you time-off to \\'V,.r\v. ozarksstar. com Your vote can be the beginning of change for the GLBT & allied community. You can be part of that serious force to be ~eckoned with when you make an informed vote. How can you do that? How can you get informed of the candidates and issues? It's simple - just go to www.tohr.org. You and your family and friends can log onto www. tohr.org, go to the Advocacy Page and get linked to the candidates and learn what they stand for and what they might possibly do if in office (stay calm, it's not all bad). You'll also be able link to sites to learn where you vote and much more ... simply log onto www.tohr.org, get informed, and be part of the change for GLBT equality when you GO VOTE! The TOHR Workout Over 150 community volunteers, donating 5,000 hours of volunteer work, have helped improve the new Tulsa Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. Tne TOHR Workout, aka Weekend Workdays, with pulse-pounding drilling and calorieroasting hammering, has certainly paid off for volunteers, and the results are obvious at the new Tulsa GLBT Community Center. On Saturday and Sunday, November 4th & 5th, beginning at 10:00 AM each day, you have rhe opporruniry to join the masses shaking their booties, enjoy free brunch/ lunch and drinks, and help finish the occupancy- related renovarions for the permanent Tulsa GLBT Community Center. The new Tulsa Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender (GLBT) Communiry Cenrer is nearing compietion of the first phase of renovations and improvements. Located ii~ the growing East End at 621 E 4th Street in dmvntown Tulsa, rhe new Center now ha~ an operational fire-suppression syscem and accessibie restrooms, whiie rhe new elevawr and chair-lift will soon be complered. Ductwork has been reconfigured, ~Id flooring has been removed, new walls have been constructed and others have been taken down thanks to the work of con1n1.unity ·volunteers. '\Ve'd Hke to thank AH Souls Unitarian Church, the Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay &. Transgender Association (BLGTA.) of the l)niversity of'Tulsa, Ekklesia the c;ather,ing, Sexual ()rientation f)iversity i\ssocia•tion (SODA) of Oklahoma State Univer5i£":';l, Sooner Srate Rodeo /tssociation Tulsa Area Primetimers (TAPT), Tulsa Dungeon Society (TDS), and Young Professionals (YP) for their time and talents to help improve the new Tulsa GLBT Community Center. Thank you - and we hope to see you on Saturday and Sunday, November 4th and 5th at the new Tulsa GLBT Community Center, 621 E 4th Stree;: for the TOHR Workout. YOUR ODDS ARE GOOD TO WIN $10,000 Your odds of winning big at a casino? Slim. Your odds of winning the lottery? Even slimmer. Your odds of winning $10,000 with The Great Divide? l in 1,000. What would you do with $10,000? Take a vacation? Pay off bills? Surprise someone with a romantic get-a-way? Support the community? Just imagine what $10,000 could do for you. ]be Great Divide is just that - a great divide of $20,000 - split between the winner and Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Righcs (TOHR). Proceeds support the communityoriented programs ofTOHR, including the Tulsa GLBT Community Cemer, the Tulsa GLBT Information Line (918.743.GAYS), the Community Resource Kiosk ... in ail, over 20 programs for rhe GLBT & allied community. Only 1,000 tickets have been printed, so your odds are 1 in 1,000 ... greater if you buy 2 or more ticke,s ... and ar only $20.00 a ticker, you can't afford to pass t:p these odds to win S!0,000. Simply srop by the folsa GLBT Community Center, 5545 E 41 st Street in Highland Plaza to purchase your tickets. ]be Ti.1lsa GLBT CommunitY Center b oocn 3:00 PM ' ' to 9:00 PM Monday through Saturday. For more information on 1he Grear Divide, the 'Tlllsa GLB1 ... Cornn1unity (:enter and aH the c:ommunity~oriented progran1s of.Tulsa Oklahoinans for f--Iurnan Rights CTOHRL please visit 1~vv.. r vv.tohr.org or call ~) 18.743. (·~, A, re 14.., ')'7\ - "-.J,1 .IJ ~\ L-:, I}, the STAR 15 Hate stole my right to vote 8 years ago. Don't waste your right to vote on November 7th. H)l AL!TY 1 6 the STAR Pledge to Vote on Matthew's behalf at www.MatthewShepard.orgNote REGISTER! LEARN! PASS IT ON! VOTE!!' STAY INVOLVED! www.ozarksstar.com @ ~~ ~ - , > ,I" -~'.. ~ ~ !" yo,u hav -·""' F ,, . , NOW ! ,. ther~clriivihg back horn • ,. ' • '1,.,....· flying, fly into Alb -· drive 55•miles necessacy;iit sea.,level and > ••• ,. ,.,,,_ ~ 1;2,oqo feeL~~ '. i •• · .Jlotels;_ri:iotels, -a .t· restaurants and a · - ther 5;690 r - . ' t :fUR0UOIS ~ ~ .. ,' . " ... _. ... , has .:.1,0 01ff .. .., 1'lt' .nute walk to t former estate ,. itter Bynr:ier ( 1881-1968 obert Huritwho lived the ii his death. if you are not ngs of Bynner, then ase some of hi ~ TRAVEL by Donald Pile and Ray Williams "SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO" Each morning they serYe an expanded continental breakfast in the dining room including fresh baked pastry and bread from their ovens. A complimentary evening social hour brings al! the guests together for a lively chat. 'l11is B and B is extremely srraight-friendiy and we met a lot of very interesting people during our stay. Neil and Francine from San Jose, California were particularly "delightful" to talk with. 1he Inn of the Turquoise Bear is located at 342 E. Buena Vista Street. Their toll free number is: 800-396-4104. Check out their website ac: www.rnrauoisebear.com and their email is: bluebear@ newmexico.com ·rh~ hom are ful! of knowledge on where to dine, where to shop and where to go for short d,!y trips. With their hospitality, this is the O:t\"LY place to stay when visiting Sama Fe. From the moment you step into the Inn of the Turquoise Bear you will immediately fall in lm·e with Santa Fe and rhe surrounding area. 'Il1c Inn and the owners will mesmerize you into a worid far away from what you are used to. You can have complete peace and solitude, reading ,! book. photographing or chatting with the other guests. We have been visiting Sama Fe fr)r 25 :-:ears :md can't wait to return each time. 'lhc gay bar scene seems to change almost yearly there. We always ..-:njoy rhe har at the Inn of the Anasazi which is located right on rhc Plaza. "Iherc have ;;.!ways been several iocal gays there. "There arc several places that arc on the "must see" list when visiting S:,nca Fe. rir;t there is the "Plaza" which is the downtown area. Daring from the city's founding in 1610, rhe Plaza has always been the social and cul rural heart of the city. Old churches dating back ro 350 years with their architecture is;;. must see. Dozens of art museums including t:1c newly built George O'K:._:effe Museum can take days to ·1isit. From fin<: dining to open-air casual. the city is a hub of creative chefs an<l innovative cuisint. \Y/e ;tlways rake ·':_i-9· trips·· when visiting S,mra h: wnic:1 rakes about 3 to ij bou:·.,. \\'c·s: on the: Jen,ez ;\founraii: Ti-aii where you \Vili see rhc ruins of an ~!ncient c!vilization, Indian pueblos and the collapsed crater of a long.-donnanr voic:u10. i'~ordnve.st to (~corgia O'Keeffe cou!Hrv you will ~cc where she lived :he 1acrer par! of her life. A. trip up >~onh to 'E1os ,vh~r~· you t.tkc the "high') road to gt't there and return nn the '"in-.\·· Jp~cr,t,llc highw,!y :·en:ming to Santa Fe. ·!he ·'high')road takc5- vou duu rhc tin,· Yiliagcs of (~hirnayo, 'Trucha.s. J.,as ·1·rarn 1t1a\ anc! Pcnasco. If vcn; onh: have one da1.,: to go , • ,' ,! ; ._ sighr-,eciag. he SURE and take' chi, uip. '!hc mnumair:s. v,,J[,::,,, ai:d the uude ·,illagcs an: cx[r<:•ncly imcrcs;i:,g. 'ihcre arc zJ,o day trip~ to the Fa.<.t ~1~ \VCI! a, thr.: trip South !)11 the "Ilirquoisc 'rrail. 18 the STAR Besides operating the Inn, Robert and Ralph are extremely busy. 1hey also own the Santa Fe Soap Company. All of their bath products contain namra] :ngredients derived from native plants that grow in the deserts and mountains of the American Southwest They make wonderful holiday gifts. Check our their website at: WV;W. samafesoap.com Check out the )Jew Mexico website at: www.newmexico.org and the Sama Fe website at: \VWW.santafe.org. Always remember to have fun when traveiing, meet new peopie and talk ro everyone! The Inn of the Turquoise Bear, Sama Fe, New Mexico The Inn of the Turquoise Bear, Santa Fe, New Mexico www.ozarksstar.com "TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS WORLD'' "Good Bye (Gay) Key West, Florida" By Donald Pile and Ray Williams e hate to be the bearer of bad news, but gay Key \Vest is no more. For oYer 60 years Key \'fest was one of the major gay meccas in the United States. Thousands and thousands of gays and lesbians trekked down to Key West every year, many of them several times a year. 1here were dozens of gay resorts and gay B and B's. The wi:ole town was either gay or extremely gay-friendly. Drag queens, leather guys and gals, wanna be cowboys and cowgiris could walk down the streets hanci ii~ hand and did! 1here were always lots gay bars ooen till ali hours of the n;orning. Gay artists, writers, composers and entertainers purchased second homes there. It was always just a fun place to get away_ to, where people could just be themselves without having to ever look over their shoulder. \'•le have been there several times and it was aiways a very fun and exciting expe~ience. Bur, alas, the parry is over. First the cruise ships began landing there with hundred, and hundreds of straight families and ,heir children coming in for the dar Souvenir shops were plentiful as well as ordinary dining piaccs inc!udi1:g fast food restaurants, and they kepr co~1ing and kept coming. 'Then some of rhe straight tourists decided to spend th~ nigbt or several nights. 1l1e mega hotels saw the light rather quickly and began buying up prof!en:y. \:vithin the past nvo or ~hree vcars rhev have purchased over a third of the small g_ay B and B s m l( ev \"res;. A11d rh;:,v arp buvinP' up n1ore and rnore! ....(. :ondos are be- _._.,_ ,; . ~• ~ ~ -~ ..., / . -... . ,, . 0 ' ... • ' I J ing built where rhe,e gua:nt lmk B and B s ,.vere 10careo. vvww.ozarksstar.com ~TRAVEL gone and gone forever: The local people, boti1 gay ~nd straight were really eccentric and fun ~o ,,vatch. Now it is almost Eke Disneyland with dozens and dozens of peopie lined up at the iocal \'v'endy's downtown and people waiting in line to see the Ripley's Believe It o: Not museum. We realiy never thought that :bis would ever happen to Key West. We thought rha.: it would forever be the gay mecca in the United States, but at ieasr we wiil still have Palm Springs, Ft. Lauderdale, San Francisco and P-town. But, beware of what is also happening in If vou have never been to Key \X1est, we STRONGLY urge you to o-o ,either this year or next year because it is changing so quickly 0 h I . ·1• I 1 that if vou wait too muc onger !t w1 1 on y oe a remnant o,C w h. at it was. ·It WAS Wonderful!, Exciting!, Different! and FUN! To get to Key West from the Midwest the easiest way is to fly directiy into t. Laudert than iami and Iv 30 miles r~her Nor.:h. .expensive in orida, and rive down Key West ich will e spccracur. Your cross ver dozens fbridges n your way Key West d there are p ency of stopping places to rake phorographs. Now, at Kev West you will have ro put up with a iot more straight tourists but it will still be worth the trip to taste the flavor and enjoy the sigh~s and sounds of Key \Vest. For questions about gay traveiing, email Donald and Ray at: gaytravelers@aol.com or Yisir tbeir webpage at: htrp:v,,vw.hometown. aol.com/ gayrraveiers. \i( HE F( )R US' NOVEMBER -:'TH the STAR 19 The hor springs at luxurious Tabacon Grand Spa & Thermal Resort are a relaxing pl.ace ro whil.e away an afternoon. (Photo b_y Andrew Collins November 2006 by Andre\v Collins 10 DAYS IN COSTA RICA Verdant, moumainous, and unspeakabiy beautiful, Costa Rica might just be the gay-friendliest nation in Latin America. In fact, Cosra Ricans are resoluteiy cheerfui and helpful toward all visirors. This small tropical country, which lies about 1,300 miles due south of the Florida panhandle, makes for a diverting vacation locale - it's close enough to the United States for a long weekend visit, but has enough to see and do to keep travelers entertained for a couple of weeks. Accommodations that enthusiastically welcome gays and lesbians abound in Costa Rica's most appealing destinations, and there are active gay scenes in the capital city of San Jose and the resort rnwn of Quepos, which hugs the central Pacific $horeiine. As you plan a trip here, factor in how you intend to get around (renting a car, flying, or taking buses). and whether you're seeking rest and relaxation, outdoorsy adventures, gay nightclubs and r::sorts, or somt combination. Or better yet, ase the following l 0-day itinerary of Costa Rica's must-s::'.e areas. Spend your first couple of nights right in San lose, which is 20-miI;tlte drive fro~1 the airport, V✓here you ~an rent a car. flica~s capital city has a handflli of attractions, plus sornc excellent restaurant~ and lively gay nightclubs, such as La .:\vispa and La Iv1et~ ro. It~s also hornc to se .., /eral gay-oriented accom1nodations. includ~· ing the outstanding C:oiours R.esort. 'shich is in a saf~, residcnt:ia] neighborhood on rhe ,vest side of the and bcautifui Sab,1na Park. 'This handsomely furnished 20 the STAR Coionial-style prooerty has rooms in many sizes and configurations, fro!11 cozy standards to lavish suites complete with full kitchens and private terraces. Guests enjoy e2sy 2ccess to a pool, secluded garden hor mb, and inviting bar and lounge where 2 foll breaHast is served each morning. The professional staff goes out or its way to ensure everybody's comfort anci can suggest plemy of things to see and do around town. O,her worthy, gay-friendly oprions in Sanjose include Hotel Kekoldi (which also has an outpost in Quepos) and the Canyon House, and there's a perfectly nice and handy Hampton Inn right by the airport. Days 3, 4, and 5: Arena! From San Jose, it can rake anywhere from three to six hours to drive to the Arena! region. The most scenic bm longest route entails a zigzagging drive through the viliages of Grecia, Sarchi (known for its many stores seliing hand-crafted furnirure), Naranjo, Zarcero, and Ciudad Quesada. The terrain along here is alpine in places, reminiscent of Switzerlanci, and on many days you'li drive litera!ly through the clouds. Anchoring rhe region is Mr. Arcnal, a live volcano that mosr nights puts on an amazing show as its spits fiery rivers of giowing lava down its flanks. Countless hotels, lodges, and inns line the main road ,hat curYes beneath rhe volcano - the most luxurious lodging is Tabacon Grand Spa & 1bermal Resort. Here you'll find beautifu! iy decorated rooms, most of which afford views of the volcano. And guests receive unlimited use of the hot springs, which consist of myriad natural soaking pools, a full-service spa offering heavenly treatments, a pool and swim-up bar, and a restaurant overlooking all rhe action. Even if you don'r stav at Tabacon, consider spending a day soaking in the hot springs. Other good lodging options in the Arena! region include Hotel La Mansio;1 Inn and Arena! Lodge. Be sure to spend one e.-ening in the nearest large town, La Fortun2, ~\·hich is home to some fun (straight) bars and enjoyable restaurants, including Vagabondo, an excdlent pizzeria, and Restau~ante Luigi, an annospheric restauram that serves delicious filer mignon flambecd tableside. Arena! makes a great base for all ki:1ds of outdoorsy activities, from guided hikes near the base of rhe voicano to ;:ip-line canopy tours high abo\'C the ucc tops (on these votfre strapp,:d into a !1arne;s that ·'zips" along a series ef lines connec:ing tree :o tree). You can also visit the ncarbv ivionteverdc (:loud For~st Biological Ileserve. [,Jiuncrous outfittc~s in the area offer just about every kind of excur,. sion and. activirv. I)ays 6, ---; . and 8: (-2_uepos and tv1anud 1\ntonio l.P"PYP j\f[T1 '.fl iu::i,f:qg ,v,~st rl1r~ r:y~,-i rl"I•'>$" frin,--,-e-· ~.--•, •- ,~-; ••••- _,: azure Lake .A.renal and eventuaUy :.... . ~,,~ :- "-"-',1'',"-,,'c 0.... .1 .. ··,:•:;.f~/-, !.:., -h~::~-~-- <,d ,,._,. ..a ~,.~-.-.·,.,l,,,,1-L.:~.(-".-:-. of'fiLaran. ]hen he1d south rcnvard 1hc coast to the funky village of q 1!:rJ• :_: rh•- lv1anucl /1.ntonin l'Jational V.f\lil\v.ozarksstar.com Along the narrow, highland road that twists for a few miles between Quepos and the national park, you'll find a slew of attractive inns and restaurants, many of them with panoramic ocean views. One short stretch contains severai gay-popular accommodations, the most inviting of which is Big Ruby's La Plantacion (the owners also have resorts in Key West, Paris, and southern France). Here at this luxuriant, clothing-optional resort, you'll find stunningly furnished rooms with tile floors and large bathrooms, cable TV with DVD players, and breathtaking grounds laced with gardens and streams. There's also a full three-bedroom house with its own pool and ocean views. The other gay accommodations nearby, all of them highly recommended, are Hotel Villa Roca (which underwent a major renovation in early fali 2006), Hotel Casa Blanca, and Hotel Kekoldi, but virtually e;ery properry in town is gay-friendly. At Manuel Antonio National Park and the adjacent beach, there's great nature-watching - you'il sometimes spy playful white-faced monkeys cavorting in the trees just behind the sand. There's also a secrion of beach that's particularly popular with gay sun-bunnies - it's a little hard to find this section, which becomes inaccessible for a couple of hours at high tide each day, but any local can give you directions. You'li usualiy find plenty of gay folks along the main beach, too. There are a handful of excellent restaurants along the main road, most wirhin walking distance of the gay hotels. These include Barba Roja and Bambujam, which both serve creative and contemporary seafood, and Aqua Azul, a casual, open-air bar and cafe with great burgers and mahimahi sandwiches. After dining, plan to have drinks and watch the sunser ar the rooftop Tutu bar, which draws a largely gay crowd. Or for serious dancing, head down the road into the town of Quepos, where the Arco Iris disco pulses into the wee hours and attracts a mixed, although mostly hetero, bunch. Days 9 and 10: Central Highlands On your ninth day, drive back up the coast from Quepos and ascend the winding but scenic highway into the Central Highlands region, just west of San Jose. Here the air is crisper and cooler than down along the coast, as the attractive hill towns west of San Jose rise ro elevations of 3,000 to 4,000 feet. Amactions include Zoo Ave (a ,.vonderful animal preserve where injured or abandoned animals are rehabiiitated), La Guacima Bmterfly Farm, Irazu Voicano crater lake, and Poas Volcano. /1.n excellent place ::o spend your final nigh1: (or even two nights) is Vista del Valle, a luxurious small im, perched awesomely on the edge of spectacular Rio Grande Canyon. Mainstream but gayfriendly, "Vista del \lalle has econo1ny-111inded roorns in the n1ain house as ,veil as a series of fitncier? self--contained cottages set along a network of 1neandering - rnost have private decks overiooking the canyon. In evening~ the inn serves a cotnmendable :::1;h:i:~;t;,tt~:1::~yon. dining room, which is cantiievered l;~:0'~,~~~~~~~:~t i~~11i!!:horo~:;~ ;~t;~i~!,altern;::t~,~ of a 1 0-n1inute drive ffon1 the airport. 'This rel~xing tOrmer has St:'{er.1 furnished roo1ns and sits amid '-NVVW.ozarksstar.corn fragrant gardens; several larger units have kitchens, fireplaces, and patios. 1he owners are tremendously helpful and offer excellent advice on touring nearby attractions. Both of these are such loveiy properties that you may feel inspired to postpone your return Bight home and hang around for a few more days, soaking up the fresh air and endearing personality of this charmed country. Photo: White-faced (capuchin) monkeys frequently cavort in the trees behind the beach in Costa Rica's Manuel Antonio National Park. (Photo by Andrew Collins) the STAR 21 Ii !I Ii NOVEMBER 2006 "HEALING THE WORLD" to start a world relief agency based in the LGBT communir1- It was a good thing he listened. In rhe p:m two years, the o::ganization has raised ove!' $1 million for huma:1itarian aid and medical £~fft' supplies in this country and abroad, from mostly $: 00 and $200 contribu.:ions. In 2005, R\Y/F raised $390,000 for Katrina re!ief and sent $250,000 to the victims of che mmami that hit Indonesia. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans last September, my partner Lynn and I were transfixed by the images on television - the death and destruction, the despair and heartbreak. We knew we wanted to send money, bur didn't want to use the uadirional relief route of the American Red Cross - we still had questions abom how they managed the massive amount of money they raised after 9/11. Then I received an e-maii from the Human Rights Campaign about helping. There was a link to a group called the Rainbow World Fund (v-rww.rainbowfund.org). I clicked through and, to my surprise, I found the website for the LGBT community's oniy world relief agencv. We were all too happv m make our $250 comribution th;ough RWE Right up from: they told us the money would go to America's Second 'Harvest to provide food for the foiks in the Crescent City who lost everything. Luckiiy for us, we could go on with our lives. A few '.V:c:eks later, W,c received a hand-written thank-you note from Jeff Cotter, the fellow who thought up R';QF. I was impressed with roday's technology and fast pace, hand-written thank-you notes from nor-for-profits have gone by the 'Nayside, except when they1re to major donors. i\nd one $250 gift does nor a major donor make. So, I dcc;ded to check out the RWF and have a chat with Cottec 1\ social " 1orker f0r about ! 5 years, Cotter said he just v.rasn\ fulfilled professionally. ''I wanted to do something I had never dor1t before. I 1..vantcd to have a positive in1pact on the planet and people/ the San Prancisco~based c:ortcr told me in a phone interview. ;;I put those ideas out to the universe and let then-1 go."' l\ f~;•.1v rpont-hs iatff, C'o ... rpr S'11<1, 1,_j,: ,yrpn i""1f1Pf voitP f'r)i(i Pim 22 the STAR Coner just returned from a relief trip to Gu:.ltemaia Viith 15 KWF volunteers plus two American nuns who served as their guides. The group broughr $250,000 worth of medical supplies HIV, hea•r, and diabetes medications; antibiotics; antifungal cream; hypodermic needles; and other goods - to villages throughout the coumry. In addition to 1,650 lbs. of supplies, RWF aiso brought benveen 500 and 600 stuffed animals to brighten the lives of children, and it made direcr cash grants to an orphan«ge, a school, a medical clinic, and OASIS, the coumry's only LGBT organizatio:1. "We gave OASIS $5,000, and we also brought down 2,000 condoms," said Cotter. "This was our third humanitarian trip to Guatemaia - it's differem from other Central Amer:can countries oecause 50 percem of the population is indigenous, and it encapsuiates the developing world." Through its work, R\X'F is also pre<enting ~he LGBT communi:v to the world. "Our first priority is to heir those who need it, but a by-product is changing how people se; rhe LGBT community," said Cotter. "]be Fund is a way of putting our highest vaiues - love, kindness, and compassion - to wo:·k, and of providing a platform fo~ our concern and caring rn be seen and he.ud around :he world." Cotter told me that when he approached /unerica's Second Harvest, the group was thrilied to coliaborate. According ro Cotter, America's Second Harvesr has quire a few gays :md lesbians working a, irs Chicago headquarters. lbe same can't be ,aid for some of R\'VFs other "s;;aight" philanthropic partners. Cotter said those other organizations understand thar R\'VF helps them in more than one way. ''Making them more conscious, helpi1:g th<?m explo;·c LGBT issues, :m area they haven', rhought abom before wciL rhat's also pan of their mission in helping to heal the worid,'' said Corn:r. "And now, the organizations \\re "\/Vork with are out about \Vorking ,vith the L(~B1 .. comtnunity, v.rith us - rhey don 1: n1akc a secret about it in any \V~1y.)1 (~otter is still \Vorking as a psychiatric social -..vorkcr thrct days ,veck - he docsn\ dra'\.v a salary frorn the llainbo,v \Xlcirld Fund. "\Xie want to give LC BT dollars the speak.'' a iot nf people~ '-Vbilc at the san1e rirne to the LC; lfr (~.otter and real differeno.: in the lives of 'lV'NVv.ozarksstar.c:orn MCCJoplin &om page-IO The church is active in all Metropolitan Community Church's ministries taking a Social Justice stand on issues that affect our community including ethical and equal medical care for all people, antidiscrimination, AJDS awareness, prevention and treatment, and equality in marriage. Sharing a progressive Christianity by creating an open and welcoming community of faith where people from all faith walks can join in praise and worship. Providing a witness of God's love to all people and following the scriptures in providing for the love of God, the love of self and the love of neighbor as the core of our being. The pastor, Rev. Steve T. Urie was ordained by Metropolitan Community Churches on Juiy 20, 2005 after completing his MCC Intensives in 2002 at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkley , CA . He was one of the founding members of the church and has continued to be an acdve communiry leader. The church celebrared with a Pot-Luck attended bv Rev. Carolvn Moblev currendv serving in Tulsa, OK ,'members,ofUniry ~f Joplin, members from MCC of the Living Spring in Eureka Springs , AR. It received numerous accoiades from throughout the country and around the world from MCC leadership and sister churches. * klahoma's ntigay doption Invalidation Law 'It's dangerous and appa · thm: state of ficials seek to jeopardize t safet;1 and well being of children in Oklahoma. ' DENVER, CO October 17, 2006_ In papers filed in court today, Lambda Legal argued that the U. S. Con~t of Appeais should affirm a lower court rniing that Oklahoma's amigay Adopricm Invalidation Law is unconstitutional. "It's dangerous and appalling that state of. ficials seek to jeopardize the safety and well being of children in (Jklahoma," said Ken Upton~ Senior Sraff ..A .ttorney in Latnbda Legal1s South (:entrai Regional ()ffice and lead attorney on the case. qiht Adoption www.ozarksstar.com Invalidation Law threatens the welfare of children and their parents because it forbids agents of the State such as police, heaith officials, and child welfare officials from recognizing these families, and it doesn't even consider who would protect these children if the State severs the ties between parent and child." U.S. Districr Judge Robin Cauthron wrote in her decision released in May that, "The very fact that the adoptions h~ve occurred is evidence that a court of law has found the adoptions to be in the best interests of the children ... To now attempt to strip a child of one of his or her parents seems far removed from the statute's purpose and therefore from Defendants'asserted important government objective." The Adoption Invalidation Law, hastily passed at the end of the 2004 Oklahoma legislative session, said that Oklahoma "shall not recognize an adoption by more than one individual of the same sex from any other srate or foreign jurisdiction." Lambda Legal argued rhat the law was unconstitutional based on the United States Constitution's guarantees of equal protection, due process and righr to travel, as well as rhe mandates of the Full Faith and Credit Clause. The lower court found that the statute indeed violated che United States Constitution by singling out a specific group for discrimination and upheld all of Lambda Legal's ocher claims, except the right to travel. T11e Court dismissed the ciaims of Lambda Legal clients Ed Swaya and Greg Hampel, because the Court found that the statute did not harm them since the State of Oklahoma granted the couple a birth certificate for their adopted daughter listing the two men as her parents prior ro the passage of the law ;,nd they did nor face immediate harm. Orai argumrnts in rhe case v,ill be heard in rhe Unired States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in Denver on Jvfonday, :--fovember U. Ken Upton, Senio:· Sratf At~orney in Lambda Legai's South Central Regionai Office in f?allas is Lambda Le?al's lead at~orney ~;: the case. He is JOtned by Lambda Legal Sta.ff Attorney, Brian Chase. and cooperating attorney Sandy lngrahan1 of Ingraham & Associates. PL.L.(:. in l\1cLoud. Oklaho1na. -rhe c:asc is Finstuen et al V. Edmondson et (2 OZ) SKY VODKA (1 OZ) GODIVA LIQUOR (1 OZ) CRANBERRY (1 TSP) C (1/2 OZ) CHILL 1 . Chi!! a martini glasses with ice and water. 2. Add all ingredients (except Champagne) with ice in shaker and iet stand a fuli minute. 3. Shake for a fuli minute. 4. Strain into the chilled martini glasses. 5. Top the glasses with Champagne. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU l TheSTAR 23 Salutations and welcome to a blustery November addition of Uncle Mikey, man of meat! Uncle prepares for a winter feast. Break out the minks. and let's be on our way. This month uncle received the most intriguing of letters, a straight man confused, while a gay man cant seem to stop obsessing over his stylist. Mmmm it sound like a full moon kittens. Dear Uncle Mikey, I have one for you. ~"1}' friend came to my job-site as a referral, looking for a new job. I felt good about getting him a job, and being able to help. Now, I am in shock as to the realization who this man really is. He was flirting with the trainer, who is a screaming queen. I thought well ok play your cards, I feel ya so far. However, this £lining became a past time, as I watched this man allow himself to be seduced, and basically had an affair with the trainer to ensure he not only was hired, but goc a promotion into a new program. I am telling you I was flabbergasted, and shocked. This man is straight, what is worse he has a girlfriend at home. Am I the only man lefr who believes morals count for something? Needless to say, he dumped this man iike a bad habit, and is in my opinion trying to convince himself that it never happened? Should I call him on his iack of character, or is this the new trend, sex for hire? Dazed by his blaze Dearest Daze, After reading your letter, my faithful houseboy had to help me off the floor, as I attempted to restrain myself from the sheer force of humor. I found here. Kitten, men have been seducing secretaries since :he first piece of wpod s;;t at a desk. It is almost refreshing that now, a)Jparendy, the straight world is even shifting to those Queens in power. I guess he found our that vou really do have to kneel before a queen, eh1 You think that is rough kitten, you should have seen my interviewing process, my boys cara their positions while learning a few new ones. Smooches-i'vlikev I)ear Uncle, I am so over size queens. Just because I don't have a 12 inch monster in my pants docs nnt make me a b;;d !over, why arc men so crazed about size? Kitten., I assure: "!,T;u not all of us arc size queens, as 1 have $aid before. S()n1er.in1cs s1zc can be a roadblock in the tunnel of kn"c. 26 the STAR allowing ali to score here. Length, girth, endurance, originality, determination and of course-presemation. I assure you, I am an equal opportunfry lover. I ha~·e e,·en acted as a reference if it was a performance to remember, Oh believe me we talk, and ,..-e talk a lot. Do not gee down about your tool; u~e it to create a masterpiece. Smooches-1'fikev Dear Uncle, I have been friends with my best friend for ten years. He and I have enjoyed many pursuits together while chasing men. Now, he has been secretly chasing a female, and what is ,vorse he is pulling away from me. He told me just the other day that he thinks he is tired of the whole gay scene? Squeeze me? Now. we are a scene, and not a lifestyle, and God gi,·en birthright to chase the cock? I don't know what is going on with him, but I am not about to let him go wondering off into the straight world, just because it would be easier. \'•/hat should I do? Chasing-( Dearest chasing, Kitten, first of aii you ha,·e to realize that your friend is a mature adult and can make his own choice. If he wams to leave behind his life, (as you so delicately put i,) cock chasing, than my darling this is his and his alone to make. I mean, seriously is there a full moon or something. Now we ha,·e a gay man coming out of the closet as straight. I a;k you what will be next, straight men giving us fashion advicd (Oh look -Delicious I made a funnv!. Darling, it sounds like you ~eed to find some C of your own {c; take your mind of vou; friends' confusion, and allo~v him time to fi!!d himself. I understand going from flannel to silk, but the reverse, ooh my nervd Smooches-~Iikey Dear Uncle Mikey, Can you really get an STD iust by giving someone head? Worried Can you realiy ask that question with a head? *Warning- This 1\vink does not come with accessories. j\[ay be hazardous to vour healtn. If you hear the sound of Congo upoc the unzipping of said T\vink- Run Bitch Run 1 \X .. ow, I need a cirink after that' ~:fjkev, I sa,\: }-our Ficturc in last month's issue Gn yoci; y<u are .~ handsome guy, and funny'. ;\re you ever going to be out our \Vay? I '\VOuld krvc to n1ccr you in pcrson- Mikcyfan :viikcyfan, Srnooches- \Xlw.r\, a Gur1 to do'. I~ rhat an official inYite? You are not rciarion of s-v:irn-fan arc snicker ~njckcr that is about a1J the rjrnt 1 ha;,-e. Re1ncn1bcr this, it i:not the s1zc of the tO\VtT~ nor the circun1ferenc<: r,f the panunereri . . , H J~ not ClTn n1c of the . " . . .- H 1s about styic, pertorn1ancc, anct * \.'VWw.ozarksstar.com use it, to help us However, most o this non-frothy such drinks as t of these other azing, and to wash , clean citv, and co c;iifomia lease shouid healthy. t enough oi instead choose and beer. Ali great as iong as f the water. TI1e 1t 8 glasses of wave shown as many ans are at least mildly n reasons of fatigue during the that expb:ns some of why we gh time a, work. 'That and a little ~v1ondays. Only a 2% drop in r can create hazy shore-term meme with simple math, and difficuicy on the comourer screen or a That makes ~ense considering man brain is 95% water, biood er, the iu:1gs arc 90% ·water, and muscles are 75~{:i water. \X,'ater is a great mineral which helps prevent many conditions. What condition might that oe Fitness Guy Ron? Well I'm glad you asked! \"later can help prevent kidney stones and it can also help lesson the chance for devdopbg bladder, kidney, and u~inarv :race infections. ·rhere has also been a six year study of 20,000 hea!thy men and women ages 38-100 from the May l, 2002 American Journal of Epider::iology. This study found that women who drank more than five giasses _of .., vatcr \Vere 41 '}0 iess likeiy to die frorn a heart attack during the study than these who drank k:ss than nvo glasses. The prorcctivc effects of drinking water ,vere even rnorc profi)und and n1uch better in rnen. ,;Xlhat does this tel1 you? WATER IS GOOD FOR YOC. -n1ere are nu1nerous fiictors that affect your ,vater needs. You 1.vi!! need to n1odify )tour fluid intake based on the f(.,li<)v1ing fi1ctors: exercise, environn1ent, illnesses; and health conditions, -Exercise: jf you exercise or engage in an:1/ physical then you \viH need wwvv.ozarksstar.com During exe. such as ever replenishing not Ief rhirst alreadv be deh thirsty~ If your sweating then: spores drink to electrolytes. drink more water. you doing reading drinking your that time to ask glass of water. just zaps your Oftentimes, we water we lose th summer. Do heat'. Higher incrcasc;d uri ingwhich loss ✓ -Illness and Hea!ch Conditions: Certain signs and symptoms of illnesses such as vomiting, fever, and diarrhea can cause your body to lose extra fluids. Even that pesky miid dehydration can make you more susceptible ro viruses. Water can be quite a powerful weapon in the battle against colds a1:d other maladies. \Xiarer can also act as a natural appetite suopressanc so developing good wate~· drinki~g habits c:.m pay tremendous dividends in yom healthy weight main~enance. Water can help the body digest and absorb vitamins and :rnrrients in addition to aiding the kidneys and liver by carrying av1ay \Vaste frorn tb.~"v, h<c, o,\,f. v/ a Wat"\..,-~: r- an ."_V' ."_f ~ help. Jre,.n vou ~ .... "-'r ✓ regulac Oh God! Novv I'm going to sound like the conversation at my grandmmher's pinochle tab]c. But water does trulv help prevent constipation by adding bulk to, swo!s ,,nd more fluid to the colon. Tne "end" result is sofrer and easier bowel mon:ments. 1\.nd \vho doesn\ vvant that? ore thing before I give you some s. You don't need to drink bottled an drink the tap water. If you cold me 20 years ago that water ? .00 per glass I would have 'mon peopie, it's water! There erous studies that have water is every bit as good er. It's these corporations and Avenue marketing schemes ded our thinking on this. era! years ago, I drank m Budapest bathrooms and g fine (despite what my friends Line: Drink water and it's okay ater. Just drink water! he first thing in the morning. f slumber equals dehydration. ntainer on hand throughur desk, in the car, at e. Bring out the fine crystal erously pour che water. ing is a iot more fun to drink with · cy glassware. -Grab some fruits and veggies. Most of these are aimost all water content. 'lliis can give you some variety. -And as always- HAVE FUN! Let me know your questions, comments, and ideas ac blake.fitness@yahoo.com. FACT: In the 2004 presidential eiection 71 million eligible voters did not vote. Shame on us. the STAR 27 "Use your charm wisely, Aries!" The Sun is aligned with Venus in Scorpio, turning up everyone's seductive charm and susceptibility. Both planets are trine to Uranus, opening amazing possibilities. Cleverly used, this magnetism can lead to opportunities and insights that could change your life. ARIES (March 20 -April 19): Your seductive charm is working far better than you expect. Use it sparingly and wisely; it could land you into situations you hadn't gambled on. Secrets that come to light may include long-hidden talents. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Getting out into a new and different milieu - preferably someplace with a spiritual and/ or political focus - and making new friends offers a chance to meet a wonderful new partner, or to revitalize an existing relationship. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): If looking sexy is part of your work, you're bound to succeed. If it's not, you may have to work extra hard to behave yourself and stay focused on the task at hand. Of course, this, too, is a sure route to success. CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Playful efforts to tease out ideas can lead to profound discussions, perhaps even arguments. Keep it friendly and principled and you can learn - and teach - a lot more than you expected to. You'll need a very open mind to take it all in! LEO (July 23 -August 22): Fix an aphrodisiac supper for the one you desire. The setting counts more than menu, although some classic stand-bys like oysters will signai your intentions. Make sure your boudoir is as eiegantly prepared as the table! VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Risque limericks, weli-honed epigrams, or other outre witticisms will shock others into taking notice of you. Your partnei - or your favorite candidate for thatposition - will be properly impressed, and you wiil be happily. "improperly·· rewarded. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Take care '?f finances now - next week wouid be disastrous! You·re more resourcefu! than usual now, making this the time not only to evaluate material assets. but to develop useful skills for doing so. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Your sexy charm is now at its height, opening doors for a!I kinds of fun and games. You're irresistible, and not just sexually. Engage people at other levels. Be creatively flirtatious, and see what opportunities that generates for you. 28 the STAR SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): Carve out a special place in your home for meditation. It would seem that the point is to get grounded - but not quite. The space will open energy for you in a way that will be centering - freeing you from roots, not attaching you to them. CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Any time spent with friends will unlock secrets, either yours or theirs, and that will be necessary for social or political success. Have some secrets that you can reveal safely to protect those you want to keep hidden. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): When tempted to confront an authority figure, try instead to engage that person diplomatically and find ways to co-operate. More than you would imagine, your charm wil! get you ahead and open doors to resources. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Explore any new, exotic art or beauty. The more you can identify with it and fee! it as a part of you, the more it - or he or she? - can show you parts of yourself you never knew existed. · SPIRIT OF CHRIST JOPLIN, MO FREE HIV TESTING, NO NEEDLES SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC SPONSORS 2902 20th PO Box 4711 Joplin. i\[o 648!)3 S~KftTRI)1\Y Scr\--ice 9:3()/\.\'l ..Y. TcJus ln:vited to our C:on11nur1it\' l)inner 61)rr1 1ust S4.00. T'~<J ()rH: ls turned vvWW.ozarksstar.com 30 the STAR HE:'S 91::E:N L-iVIN1 N 'THIS BU!L-O!NG INC!': 'THE: 195015. t'L-L- SE:1' HE: 001::SN'TPAY MOi:lE: THAN 1./00 81./CKS A MONT'H '.vww.joanhi!tynet I Vv'vvvv.ozarksstar.com 1st Annual Gala Celebration "Linking Together as One" Friday, December 15th, 2006 7:00 P.M. Clarion Inn - Fayetteville 1255 So. Shiloh, Fayetteville, AR 72701 For more information: WV.'\XZN~✓AGLBTCC.ORG www.ozarksstar.com Luxury Townhouses FOR RENT, Pine & E.72nd St Area, TULSA 2 bed/1.5 baths/washerdryer/ hookup/prvt patio/2 car garage, no pets. $525/month + Deposit Call: Patty (918)724-6475 or Mark (918)724-1960 CHECK our QNIQUE EUREKA: SJ?:R:INGS, -',, ' ARrfANSA$ . www.diversifypride~com and · . ww.w.eurekapride.com * Full Body, Sports, Hot Stone * Hand and Foot Scrubs * In-House Clinic * Days, Evenings and Weekends Call for an appointment and rates. 918-857-2805 Mike Lewis AKA "Morgan" A iongtime Bartender at the Finishline in Oklahoma City passed away on the morning of October 6, 2006. Morgan was very well know and loved by the GLBT community. the STJ\R 31 B N A R & RILL Sunday Champaqne Brunch All you can eat soup and salad bar 11 am-2pm $8.99 Monday & Tuesday Well Martinis $2.50 4pm-7pm Best Prime Rib in Town: Friday & Saturday Nights Bar favorites. restaurant favorites and man:, new items for your enjoyment pleasure NEW WINTER RATES - $45• * Plus tax, excludes suites I r .... - :~~;~,~~ p 'S A LEATHER/LEVI BAR CLOSED MO:'IDAYS Sun 7pm - 2am. Tues-Thur:. 7pm-9prn wear your h::Hhcr and get your wd! drink:- fc,r :<?.50 Sun Thur. 7pm-2am R Fri and Sat. 4pm-2am DY'S PL CE PIANO BAR Rudy ·s Place is a non-smukin!_:'. e~tablisthmcnt Early for cocktails. latc- t'or a night cap CL BR X CLOSED MONDAY SIZZLIN' SUNDAYS With Whitney Paige VIXENS Saturday i--;ighh \\ ith Silan1ci \landala) at I Op1n J\USON SCOTT SHOW MISS HOLLYWOOD US Of A Sunday Nowrnher 12. 20!)h I si Prize: .'i, 1.000.00 PLLiS 5500.flO crcdn tcn\·ard" haync Original Gown i .at•st~~~ r, J' P1. • Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2006] The Star Magazine, November 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 11 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 01. 2006 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Online text PDF Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Star Magazine’s first issue began February of 2005. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004) and The Ozark Star (2004). Follows is The Metro Star (2008). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource C.D. Ward Greg Steele Josh Aterovis Douglas Glenn John Patrick Michael Dee Kay Massey Paul Wortman Carlotta Carlisle Victor Gorin Greg Gatewood Libby Post Andrew Collins Donald Pile Ray Williams Michael Hinzman Jack Fertig Liz Highleyman Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwest Missouri Western Arkansas Southeast Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Star Magazine, October 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 10 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/242 The Star Magazine, December 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 12 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/225 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/241 3000 walk for AIDs Advice Column cartoons classifieds Distributers fitness horoscopes Judy Shepard Kathy Webb Lesbian Notions marriage equality MCC church molestation molestation myth National Coming Out Day Oklahoma Adoption law OUT in Arkansas Past Out Q Scopes Star Scene travel Tulsa GLBT center news Uncle Mikey https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/3606d446a128edc1e22445fb1018fdb3.jpg ade86e8efdac34dbfc792e048a4b85a7 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/794df62bcf7175f9e841fabe5ca9d90f.pdf cad8e29777e52185f3d966f17f06ee8c PDF Text Text ��������������������������������� Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document 2 the STAR C) .. -rohcr 2oncthe STAR (Jcrohc-r 2006 3 The STAR is published by Star Media, Ltd. 5103 S. Sheridan,# 153 Tulsa, OK 74145-7627 ozarksstar@sbcglobal.net www.ozarksstar.com Editor in Chief, C. D. Ward Contributing Writers: Greg Steele, Josh Aterovis, Douglas Glenn, John Patrick, Michael Dee, Kay Massey, Paul Wortman, Carlotta Carlisle, Victor Gorin, Greg Gatewood Columnist: Libby Post, Andrew Collins, Donald Pile, Ray Williams, Michael Hinzman, Jack Fertig, Liz Highleyman Photography: Chaz Ward, Victor Gorin. Advertising: Tulsa Office - - - - - - - - -918-835-7887 or Email: ozarksstar@sbcglobal.net (Tulsa Metro) Michael Leach- - - - - 918-640-2049 (Oklahoma City Metro) Vicior Gorin 405-947-2048 (Northwest Arkansas) Kay Massey- 4 79-586-1062 National Advertising Representative Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Deadline for ali advertising, articles and payment is the 18th of each month for the next months issue. Subscriptions 12 issues $26.95 / singles $3.00 Check or Money Order The Ozarks Star or the Star is published & distrii:nucd mm1thiy as a c0Jlu11unity service by Star !vfrdi.1, Ltd .. Publica.tion of the name-: photograph or likcnc,;s of any pcr,on, husint·s,; or org~nization in this publication is not rn be construed as .1ny indication of sexual orieotarion or prefcrtncc., <.:f 5uc:h per!-0:-1, businc~s or organi1ation. - t)pinions expressed by cnlumni-,t.'i, J.dn.:rtiscr:. or Lt:ttt:r:.t 10 the Editor arc n,·H nece~,;,~riiy rh{.'. opinion of'Ihc ()z~Hks Sue ir.-. staff. th~ puhlisher \Jr ir's advertiser~- Content of :1Jn~ni~crncnt-" and anid~s arc tb.: soi~ rcspvnsibi!iry of dtc s1dnTti~cr ,1nd /n: author. The P1iillish~r o( thL ();;.1rk.-. Sur or ~c~r rc~~rvc:; d1t riJ;ht to refuse advertising nuteriai fr>r .u;y rc:,!~on ;vh,at .so c:cc 'ihc ();;arks Sur or ~t.tr anJ all lik;_·no::.s.;-c-;. '11<.:rc of :u,.: .sol 1• 0f Srar l\kdi.1, Lt.d. :\H rn:Ht:ri::l CU}')Tig,h~ 2006 S:,r. Designed with Pride, Prinkd in Ok!ahom:1, l'',A JON THE COVER J1r:: Verraros, Americar :do! 1 00 LESBIAN NOTIONS Banning Books by Intelligent Design: ''in the filrn. I-Titler Youth re,:dcd in ra~sacking the school ~1nd thought nothing of throv;ing ac1dc111k frccdo1n into th~ fire·' Of) OUT In ARKANSAS New! Lots of news from the Adzansas GLBT Communitv. BOO BASH for Capitol Pride at Sidetracks. Summer OiV(:rsitT \Y/eekend. EUREKA' 00 PAST OUT A rttrnspecrive of LG BT History. 1728: .Notorious transvestite Chevalier d'Eo11 is bom in Burgundy, Fmnce. OD CIAO TRAVEL Gav Travelers '·\'{'dcomc to Arizona'' Otit of Town "Vmcotffer, BC" £)(3 ASK UNCLE MIKEY !\1ikc\' rcco\·crs frorn a Ion: afE1ir of epic prop~nion~. I n1c,ff1 ,vhc\V, that tna;1 \v.is juq too n1uch. It ,,·~1s likl' being at the l)(~ and trying lO take th~n extra dip, knn\v!ng your body, just ,n)uldn't h~u:dic it. INDEX T.O.H.R. in The News Lesbian Notions ... People OUT in lvkansas .. Past Out Tulsa GLBT Ce:·ite:- !\Jews. Dining In Star Scene Uncie ... 6 .10 II . 15 r' Gold Castle "At Century 21 Gold Castle our BEST properties are our PEOPLE" 4301 NW 63rd, Suite 100 Oklahoma City, OK 73116 405.840.2106 c21 goldcastle.com Let us he '• ( 18) 7 -5 Proud~y serving 1Ulsa &:: ()1<(:'s GL.B1~ C!.Jrnmunities since 1982 6 the STAR. Isa Mayor Kathy ylor pond es . H. R. ncerns. TULSA, OK_ Laura Belmonte, President, Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights rook the initiative in expressing tne concerns of the GLBT communities exclusion of civil rights protections in Tulsa. The following is Dr. Belmonte's letter to Mayor Taylor and :he Mayor's response. Dear Mayor Taylor: I am writing in regard to your call for Tulsans to extol the virtues of our city in an effort to generate national interest in our amenities and opportunities. While ! agree entirely with your faith in Tulsa, I would also like to discuss a much-deserved negative aspect of Tulsa's reputation. Many thoughtful citizens think our city is doomed if it does not take steps to protect and celebrate its diversity. This is particularly true in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community. By some indices, Oklahoma ranks 45th in the nation in terms of inclusion and civil rights protections for gay people. While Manford and Oklahoma County have amended their non-discrimination ordinances to encompass sexual orientation, Tulsa has not taken this vital step despite the fact that the city's Human Rights Commission first began recommending such a change in 1975. As you undoubtedly know. GLBT people are an integral element of this city. We own dozens of businesses and employ thousands of people. We are doctors. lawyers, teachers, firefighters, poiice officers, and every other occupation under the sun. Eighty-six percent of Fortune 500 companies now explicitly protect their GLBT employees. Despite widespread and iegitimate concern for the city's economic future, Tulsa has refused to join over 300 cites across the United States including Cincinnati and Salt Lake City who have expanded their non-discrimination policies to ensure that sexual minorities are judged solely on their merits as employees, tenants, and customers. in my capacity as a piOfessoi at Okiahoma State University, I have seen dozens of extremely promising gay people flee our state or refuse job offers mainly because of the region's reputation as a stronghold of intolerance. These individuals include a Rhodes Scholar nominee, two Goldwater Fellows, and Ph.D.s from universities including Harvard, Yale, and Stanford. These are precisely the type of professionais we must keep in and draw to Tulsa if we are to buiid the city to which we aspire. You have broad support in the GLBT community and we very much hope you ,vii! rectify this giaring flaw in fabric of our city . Sincereiy, Laura .A... Belmonte. Ph.D President. Tu!sa Oklahomans for Human Rights Chair. Say No to Hate Coa!ition respo;Jsf.' SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI AIDS WALK. 9:00 arn Photo: Al McAffrey and Kayne Gillaspie by Victor Gorin OKLAHOMA STONEWALL DEMOCRATS FUNDRAISER OKI.AHO!v1A CITY, OK_ September 7, a verv successful fundraiser for the Okiahoma Sto~cwall Democrats \Vas held at the home Al l,fcAffrey, who was recently elected as a State Representative for State House District 88. Mr. McAJfrey 's election made history as he is tl1e first openly gay person to be elected to the Oklahoma Legislature. Pictured witl1 Al is celebrity guest Kayne Gillaspie, who also did our state proud on Bravo's reality TV show Project Runway. * HERLAND ANNOUNCES FALL RETREAT OKLAHO1v1A CITY, OK_1he womyn of Herland have scheduled cheir Fall Retreat for the weekend of October 27, 28 and 29. This year it will be held at Eufala State Park and .;,iii feature a costume contest, sports activities, a potluck dinner and a concert featuring O~hi, a special drummer from Washington srate. Heriand's Spring and Fall Retreats have been held since 1985,and that function of Herland is their only activity that is for women only. For over 20 years women have enjoyed this celebration of empowerment and feilowship. One can register for the Retreat on!ine at v,v.-v,.herlandsisters.org or caii (405l 521 9696. * Photo by: Scott Asi1ton Jim Verraros, Actor, Recording Artist Scheduled To Attend OUT-OK-5 Film Festival. TULSA, OK_Jim Verraros, American Idol Finalist, recording artist of the hit recording "Rol!ercoaster" and star of the award winning movie, "Eating Out" is scheduled to appear in Tulsa and Oklahoma City for the Out OK Film Festival. One of the featured. fiims to show is the sequei to Eating Out, called Sloppy Seconds. Jim was cast to return as Kyle in a leading role. Jim ,von the hearts all across America as a featured performer on the 2002 American Idols Live Tour, but his popularity really soared after he came "out" in The Advocare in January 2003. Jim's young fans, both gay and straight, nor only embraced the disclosure, bm verily celebrated it, p~oudly signaling the broader acceptance of gays among the next generation. In addition to "Eat\ng Out-2: Sioppy Seconds'' The Oklahoma GLBT International Film Festival opens with Srewart Wade's deiightfui!v romamic comedv of errors, ·'ro· r::--Fii f)ATL''' 'W; h ·1· ·{,_,; " peri'o•· .. -.,..,, .a. t' -.. ,, ... , _,_ ~ .L . .1.Ld ll~J...-.,.OuS .tJ. ~'• rnances from -\Xlilson Cruz So-(~alled Lif.~, J'-.Joah:-s lire), ()scar-norninatcd Sally Kirkland, Jonathan Silvt.~nnan, ninede's recn singing sensation I)cborah C;ibson, and Jonathan Bray. -n1e l::estival runs ()ctnbcr] 1-15~ 22 (l-i1ls:1) and C)ctober 19-~21 (()klahon1a also be in "'"'"""''" the STAR 7 Tulsa's Kris Kohl Host's Bryan hite Benefit Show. by Greg Steele Photo: "Cowboy Crooner" Matthew Heath Fitzgerald. TULSA, OK_On September 17th, Kris Kohl brought out his top guns to the Bamboo Lounge Tulsa and raised dose to $500 for the Bryan White AIDS Fund. Special Guest Entertainers induded Marthevf I-ieath Fit-zgerald n Oklahoma's Cov1boy c.:roonern, ~frudy Tyler '' The First Miss Gay Oklahoma Emeritus". Mona Lon .Miss 8 the STAR Bamboo 2006", Singer's Sam and Lester, Clog Dancer Jay Whiteside and many other great performers. All donated their time and talent to this very worthy charity. The OSU Internal Medicine Speciality Services Department in Tulsa is one of five State non-profit organizations that administer the Bryan White Aids fund. They cover 37 Counties in Oklahoma. With 150 new patients lase year, administraror Midge Elliot told che STAR in an interview that they are expecting many more for this year. "45% are minority and 35% are from rural area's. We help with medical, medicine, dental, transportation and other necessities as funds wiil allow." she said. " Our mission is to ensure rhac persons living with HIViAIDS in Eastern Oklahoma have access to high quality, comprehensive primary medical care, specialty care, and care coordination services delivered through OSU-COM's uniquely meaningful, compassionate and state-of-;:he-art programs and providers in one accessibie location". The Federal Health Resources Adminiscration manages the Ryan White Aids Fund and distributes to Oklahoma, who in turn allocates the money to the state's five approved organizations based on the number of patients in their care. Both the Health Resources Adminiscration and the State of Oklahoma's grants have been reduced drasticaliv since che Bush Administration cut funds to Brvan White Fund. "Our funds are flat and we are depending on the fund raising effom of organizations and individuals to keep our door's open," Elliot told us. For more information er how to give a tax deductible contribution direcc!y to OSU Internal Medicine Speciality Services contact Midge Eiiiot at 918-382-3507. The clinic is located at 635 West 11th street, east of the Tulsa ]legional Hospitai in Tulsa. }yfore 1--:JhotoS_frorn the Ben~:fir Shou1 in ST..4.R Scene-page 24-25 \Vlvw.ozarksstar.com by Libby Post OCTOBER 2006 Banning Books Intelligent Design One of the movies I rented when I got my first VCR (actually, it was a SONY Beta recorder - remember those?) was Julia. The story was based on a chapter from Lillian Hellman's memoir Pentimento. 1l1e title character was a childhood friend of Hellman's who became a leader in the resistance to Hitler's reign of persecution, censorship, and murder. The scene that has srayed with me all these years is the massive bonfire in the courtyard of a European university. Not a typical coilege celebratory bonfire, this conflagration was composed of books and papers from the school's library and the offices of its academics. In the film, Hitler Youth reveled in ransacking the school and thought nothing of throwing academic freedom into the fire. \'v'hen one of the professors tried to get in their way, he was thrown over a railing and killed. Today we have our own version of Hitler's reign of terror on academic freedom and thought. It's the radical Christian right's persistent crusade to ban books from public and school libraries, and its unfathomable drive to integrate "intelligent design" into our children's classrooms. The list of examples is endless. just check out the ,,\merican Librar, Association's website (www.aia.;>rg), the section about their annual "Banned Books Weck" (Sept. 23-30), to get an incredible sampling of the stupidity going on in today's schools and libraries. In Tacoma, Wash., the school district banned _The Geography Club_, a gay-themed book about high school bullying and tolerance, because paren-.:s complained that the protagonist, a gay teen, hooked up with another <1ueer student oniine and that they e,;enrnally met face to face. Tacom;; Schoel Supcrintendcn: Patti Banks wici rl1e two p:.rcms '.d10 rec1uested the borJk be removed from the school library, "\X'c ·:rnnt to send a strong, cor:sistem message to all our studcn':s that meet:Jmr ii:di\0 iduals :ia the Imcrnet ;s e~tremelv :ugh-risk behaY:or. To the ~xtent that this book might contradict cha:: ~essage, I ha,T determined it should not be jn our libraries, in spite of other positivc aspecrs a strong :anriharassmcnt thcrne).'' Gee thanks, Patti. \"ou'H buckle to the concerns of t\.VO parents \vhilc dcpri.,,_--ing hundreds of srudcnts of the book1s real message ~· that bullying and harassing L(;B'T' students isn't acceptable. Jn response; the book\, author~ Brent f'~larringcr, ~~vho hails fron1 T'acon1a~ said, ~•1·hc reason gay teen~ arc dra,vn to the Internet is that's a safe place u; explore their identity \Vithout harassed or builicd. lt\ ironic n1y boc,k_ 1.1.-ould be pulled for this reason~ cuntrib uung to rh1s 10 ttle STAR Parents Protecting the Minds of Chiidren. "Il1is Fayetteville, Ark.based site explains that it doesn't want to pull books from ,he shelves, just give parents control over what their kids can read. While these folks have a problem with any book that deals openly with sexuality, hetero or homo, all you have to do is click through the site and you'll see just how obsessed they are with books that paint a positive picture of LG BT lives. The bottom line for them is rather succinct. In big bold letters, the site deciares, "For those who didn't already know, now you know what Diversity Means!!! The promotion ;f the homosexual agenda!!:" If banning books wasn't enough for radical Christian righr parents, they also want to integrate intelligent design (ID) imo biology curricula al! over the country. No, inteliigent design isn't a new show on HGT\~ It's the push to bring creationism back to our schools - teaching that the world started with Adam and Eve (cenainiy not Adam and Steve) and that Darwin's Theory of Evolution is a theory and never proven. 'The drive for intelligent design lost some steam when, after the Dover, Pa., school board instituted it, a U.S. District Court judge threw it our. In handing down his decision, U.S. District Judge John E. Jones Iii wrote that "overwhelming evidence at rriai established that ID is a religious view, a mere re-labeling of creationism, and not a scientific theory." Jones found intelligent design failed as a scientific theory because it can't be tested. Lucky for Dover's students, their parents found that the school board failed as citizen educators and voted all the members who supported ID out of office last year. Despite the ruling and the rout, bills to mandate ID as part of a state's biology curricula continue to be introduced. In Ol<lahoma, a bill has passed the state Assembly and now heads to the state Senate. A leading radical Christian right wing nut, New York State Assemblyman Dan Hooker (who thankfolly is not running for re-election - instead he's serving his country in Iraq) is the soie sponsor of an ID bill. Since the state Assembly is controlled by the Democrats, the bill will go absolutely nowhere. If only that were true for the rest of Hooker's compatriots across the coun;ry, who have found our library sheh·es ;md our school rooms to be 2-venues for their unique brand of censorship. Like ~he Hitler Youth who burned those books in Julia, the radical Chriscian right also thinks ii: has God on its sicie. * Berland Fall Womya.'s Retreat Eufaula State Park Fri.-Sun .. , October 27-29, 2006 Visit v;•.vw.heriandsisters.org fur cornp!ete de~ils· and a registration form. For m~e retreat info, ca!! Laura at (405) 602-1538. Berland Si•ter Resource" 2312 NIN 39th St., OKC, OK 73112 Open Saturdays trom 1~Spm (405) 521-9696 \'V\V\v.ozarksstar.corn MICHAEL HINZMAN, aka "UNCLE MIKEY" Michael Hinzman, author, columnist, and student oflife, joined rhe Ozarks STAR family in November 2004. This issue makes his 24th 'Ask Uncle Mikev" column published in the STAR. Uncle ~Aikey is our longest consecutive running non-syndicated column. As one of rhe most popular with our readers, we thought vou would eniov meeting the man behinci rhe big hat. ' , Michael hails from the middle-beit of Ohio, where Michael continues his efforts to bring humor and comic relief to ,he community. Michael's goal and passion. second only w his career in medidne. is :hat of being a celebrated author. His goal became a reality in May of 2005 with the publication of his first novel ''l)rago1nir,'~ available at n1ost rnajor book retailers. 1v1ichael pushes to succeed in the ,vodd of \\Titers. Published through several -venues, Iv1ichael's ~.. .v orks arc in onlinc publications as -.,veil as in print. ::!~~=:jii~~~:::~~e~:~!~11::.!;1 !D SCYCta! ;;~:rs lifestyle. Lv1ichacl ha:;; been as he continues his ""\JJ;,,.}~f•rg VJO!~cL; to(• rain his reader:-: ,virh an''","'"-'"'"''.,, following. " I love to make others laugh, think, and in general look at life through a different perspective." Michael is continuing his education in the Psychology and Nursing fields. Michael is a current member of the Alpha Beta Gamma's National Honor Society. It is Michael's experience and twisted view of life's issues ;:hat enables Michael to laugh at life's trials faced by those in rhe GLBT community. Michael supports the community throughout manv ch,uitable oudets. An active sponsor ~f the Life Share Program, \'!ichad has volunteered his time in order to promore the much-needed demand for blood donations. 1vfichael also works with various charities such as local food banks, Aids events: youth n1.cntoring, and the specific field deaiing "vith disabled n1en1ber~ of the memallv retarded poouiadon. .Michael has worked 'with the me~ta!iy ii! since 199 J , as 'Nell the medically fragile and rnentally retarded. }.,:fichael encourages others to back to the con1n1unity bringing .._:t:s._, ~A ;1il.._ lJre.:1.king U.cJ\-01. When Michael has down time, he joins his loving partner Daryl, currently celebrating their sixth year together. Michael is the proud father of five beautiful children from his brief, yet productive, time in the heterosexual community. Family time is spent camping, boating; as well enjoying many, other family oriented activities. Full time fathers raising their three eldest children, Mikayla, Michael and Jacob, while the exwife raises the two youngest; proving that amilies of diversity can and do succeed. oined in their extended family circle by Vicky, AKA-Namn, inspired by her endless contribution and inspirational intelligence. Michael continues to demonstrate that life does not end with the dreaded passing of the Twinky- T wenties. Michael, a 34 year old, enjoys the pursuits of happiness in all aspects oflife. Michael's firm belief; that ones only limit is ones own will and imagination, as seen in his continuous uest. Finding life better in the second half after surviving his own 20 something drama affliction, common• ly known as the dubbers. Michael also utiiizes his character, Uncle Mikev, in charitv events withil~ the comdiunity, in order to bring awareness to gay issues; equal rights, aids benefits, and the staggering homeless popuiation within the gay yomh of America. 'The editor of the S'l;\R congratuiates ]\1ichaci on his 24th issue of 'Ask Uncle M:kel and extends a huge ''Thank You for your unwavering support.'' Feedback can be sent to f.!ichael at \vordsbyr~ i~e(~>ao).c~m,: tv1i~hael \\:elcorne! :ny and :tll feedback Jrorn his readers ana to!kr, vers and critics alike. the STAR 11 NW Arkansas GLBT Communi Center Granted Non Profit Status. BENTONVILLE, AR_On August 9th, 2006, the Northwest Arkansas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trangendered Community Center, Inc. in Bentonville, Arkansas was granted 501/c)3 Non Profir tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue service. This action was retroactive to May 16, 2006. 1he NWA GLBT Community Center recognizes rhe need in Northwest Arkansas to: CONNECT: Unite and organize a GLBT community that is fragmemed and often times disconnected. SUPPORT: Cultivate a healthy and thriving community for NWA GLBTs. PROTECT: Ensure the safety, civil righrs and liberties of all NWA GLBTs. EDUCATE: Bring awareness and education to al! NWA community members. INVOLVE: Create fun and exciting community events and activities for NWA GLBTs. CENTRALIZE: Establish a brick and mortar GLBT Community Center in NW A. The website for the NWA GLBT Communiry Center can be viewed at: www.nwaglbtcc.org Tax deductible donations may be sent to the N\VA GLBT Community Center at: PO Box 1161 Bentonviile, Ar 72712-116L om1" ng once ut" and JONATHAN STIERS, COLLEEN JAMESON SPIUNGDALE, AR~ Coleen comes from Massachusetts to Arkansas on her Midwest Tour. She is a voice for social justice. and has a soundtrack for social'activism. You'li be cmem.:n~d bv her skillful biend of up-beat rhythm guitar and thought-provoki1.lg Her music brings poiitical issues to light in an accessible and poetic way. !vfore than jmr another acoustic crooner. Colleen jameson :s the real deal: the p<;crry of life's sorrcJ\VS set against the 1nelody of litC's joys. Colleen not only sings about social justice, she has n1ade it her profession. Working in snelters and with ur,dcr-sen·ed popuhtiom. C:oHeen writes about real issues our of her O\"-'f1 ,,,,,,,.,,,.,,,-.·• Jonathan is a t~orth,vest A.rkansas entertainer that has been :~:!c01~~; f~: :~:1~~~11:~:~:1;; ::~lomplished j ;,::;itl~;1;;,\J;~;d, (:I)~ w1-hc Player & The Pawn" V./3.S part of the official c;L:\.l\.1) "VIP bag that each attendee received, 'The event v,,ras held on 10th in San Francisco: f'~cver having an)''" fc;rrnal plays car and sdll docs nor: read sheet nn1sic, ]t 12 the STAR. when jonathan bought an old, beaten-up, wooden up,ight, that he started to compose music and lyrics of his own. Jonathan was fearnred in the August issue of Celebrate Arkansas magazine. Enjoy an Exciting Revue of Artistic Talem for National COMING OUT Dav suggested donation is $5.00 ar the door All proceeds benefit the N\Y/A GLBT Communiry Center PO Box 1161 Bentonville, AR 72712 W\,w.rrwaglbtcc.org Concert is \Y/ednesday October 11, 200.6 6:00 pm Jones Center Auditorium &Chapel, 922 East Emma, Springdale, Arkansas. nsas aveA By Jeremy Pena ew iters ome October is going to be the start of something spectacuiar for GLBT writers in Arkansas. A new group for GLBT writers is forming rnd aH writers from all genres are welcome ro join in. We wcicome all wrirers, published and non-published. From fiction writers to poets, songwriters to writers iooking for ideas of where to begin. 'TI1e focus of the group is for socializing with other writers and discussing various genres and writing styles, to support \'.Titer; in the GLBT community with any necessary information needed with regards to pubiishing their works, and sharing our works wirh each other. Each month there will be a focus on a specific genre ranging from fiction to poetry. We will be focusing on novel writing in October to prepare for a month-long event in November. Nation,;! Novel Writing 1Vlonth will begin No\·ember l and end at midnight November 31. Check out rhe websitewww.NaNo\VriMo.org for more dernils and updates. Sign-ups for the event begin in October. You will also find writing prompts each month focusing on our ~opic for i:hc month on our group sire. 'The first writing prompr is on the site to ge, re,;dy for our first gathering. We wili also be focusing 0!1 writing for various publications in the area and possibly raking on some addition.al n::sponsibiiitic:- to the ( :ommunity Center newsletter in the future. A.nyonc interested can find more inforn1arion and join the group on our yahoo groups site at http:/ /groups.yahoo.con1/groups/AJlGl. BTWRITES. --I11cn: .. .,,;ill be two n1eetings in ()ctober and ,veekiy n1ecrings in Novernber to support rhc participants in this noYel c·\t<.:nt. lv1ectrin1t.:: s and h.1cations -..viil he posted on calendar on rhe group sire and rcn1indcrs ~Nill be sent via c-rnail to group 1nern.bers. ·\:,:te look f(>r\vard to v.., nrL< you at our and your Capitol Pride Boo Bash Halloween Fund-Raiser LITTLE ROCK, AR_Sidetracks bar will host Boo Bash, a Halloween- themed fund-raising event to benefit Little Rock Capital Pride on October 28th. Festivities will include prize drawings, costume contesrs, drink specials and a silent auction of items donated by many area businesses and groups. According to Kamrin Dodd, fund-raising chair for LRCP, "Sidetracks is well-known for its ghost sightings and other-worldly occurrences which makes it the perfect location for our Halloween event. We look forward to a fun evening that will help support Capital Pride." NWA Ghost Connection which recently investigated Sidetracks states, "the building was originally the home of two businesses; a dirt-floored bar and a brothel. The bar was so dangerous and rough, it was off limits to the military. The brothel, run by a woman named Miss Birdie, was a popular night spot due to the building's location near the railroads. Early in the l 920's, rhe brothel became the site of an unfortunate murder. A patron from the bar next door had fallen in love with one of Miss Birdie's "employees," a 13-year-old girl named Anastasia. When another man told the love-srruck patron that he had just "been with" Anastasia, he stormed Birdie's ·establishment and searched out Anastasia. Upon finding her, he slit her throat, tossed her body over the baicony, and escaped out the window. 1his murder was the demise of Birdie's, causing the establishmem to close. In 1923, the building became the home of a mortuary. The undertaker used the building's basement for all of his embalming procedures. According ro legend, when the mortuary closed, the undertaker left all his equipment, ?.nd who knows what else in the basement. During prohibition, the building housed a "newspaper stand"; a cover for selling illegal liquors and beer. In an ironic turn of events, rhe love struck patron who killed Anastasia years earlier was murdered at the same location. He had his throat slit after getting into an argumem with another man. According to Phiilip. the O\V!ler of Sidetracks, there have been several noted paranormal occurrences since he took over. They have wic1cssed anyd1ing from water running, lights flickering: and objects moving arot1:id the bar. On one occasion, a glass shelf containing crystal stemware feil :o the floor, shattering the crystal. The 5hdf however. did no: break. Witnesses have seen the break.er box opening and closing repeai:ediy, and occasionally the computer turns itself on, typing aE som of icners and figures on the screen. Phillip believes the ghosts of 1\nastasia and her love-stricken murderer stiii haunr Sidetracks to this day.n Little }lock (:apit:a.l Pride (http:/ h.vv.,.,vJirderockcapitalpride.org/ ) is a 501 3 non-profit organization ,nhose rnission is ro host events that honor the history a~d diversity of Gav. Lesbian) Bisexual and Tfansgender · individuals i;1 the s;~;te of .A.rkansas and sur! Oun<l~.ug J.t.~a:, 1Jud. r...r,.,,~ttc wirhi:1 the GLB'l" commun~ty :u,d its allies by providing sociaJ support and enhancing ;nvareness of the past an~1~:~~,~~:::, :J~~t~!,~;:~~::~~ i~~~!i!~' ;~~~;,~::~l~;~;;~!~ri~~rnl; rkansas & Oklahoma~s tnost read GLBT Magazine FALL DIVERSITY WEEKEND NOV 3-5, 2006. "THE FIRST DIVERSITY ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL" This Fall is going to be a little different in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. There are some new and intriguing events. DIVERSITY COMEDY SHOW at the historic AUDITORIUM By presenting a lesbian and gay man comic, once again Diversity Pride Events hopes to entertain and unite our community. We can't release the names yet, but DPE is very excited to have drawn such talented and uplifting performers to the Ozarks region. Tickets will soon be available online at DiversityPride.com FIRST 'Ti-Talk' "Everything you wanted to know about... the 'T' & T in GLBTI (Transgender, Transsexual and lntersex)., ... but _ were afraid to ask!" All glbti and pflag welcome. This is the first of an ongoing series of "Talks" to educate and socialize within our community. Plans for future talks will be fur, and about, Bisexuals, Lesbians, Gay men. ''It's amazing how much we really don't know about each other, savs Diversitv Pride Events, Deborah Rose. We are fortunate to hav~ some wo;1derful people who have volunteered to guide these talks and to foster a greater understanding of the true diversity and size of our community. God was far more creative than peopie ~ealize!" · DIVERSITY BIKERS Charity 'POKER RUN' & 'SHOWN' SHINE' 1he Diversity Bikers 'Show N' Shine' will start at 12:30 PM at Roadway Inn. Bikes will be judged in two categories, Best in Show and Best 'Pride Dressed'. 1l1ere will be a First Place and Run- ' ner-up in each category. This will be the first Diversity Bikers Charity 'Poker Run', A portion of the proceeds, along with stuffed animals andior cash donations will be sent for Toys for Kids of deployed service members to heip out with the holidays. BEAR COMIC BOBALOO: COMING BACK Bobaloo wowed the Diversity Bears this past Summer Diversity 'X'eekend and fell in love with the Eureka Sp;:ings communit'/. So, Diversity Pride Events has brought him back ro "jolly things up around Eureka" and MC the 'GO-GO GUY & GA[ Dance Comest at the 'Golden Oldies' Dance & Cabaret at Caribc\ on Saturday Nighr afrer rhc shov: at the AUD. And by the v...;ay~ you~H see son1e red cans around to\\-'H to collect donations for those Kids of deployed service rnembers. I"\Jo n1atter v:here you stand poiiticaHy, re1~,e~ber it's for rhe kids. So, dig into your pocket and get rid of rhat loose change for a s•Neet cause (and loose bills are weico::nc Sho,v rhen1 our con1,munity has a big heart! COt-~TA{~]~ Ii'•JF(): [)I'✓ E!tsrr·~y PRJI)E EVEt,rrs Deborah Rose 479-253-2555 dcbor1i:1@:divcrsitypride.corn tile STAR Summary : Past Out is a retrospect:i,·e of key moments, personalities, and subjects in LGBT hiswry. Each installment brings the past to life by exploring rhe diversity of the gay past and its impact on the queer present. 1728: Notorious transvestite Chevalier d'Eon is born in Burgundy, France. Who was Chevalier d'Eon? Chevalier d'Eon, an 18th-century spy and diplomat who inspired sexologist Havelock Ellis to coin the term "eonism" for crossdressing, was the subject of much spernlation about his gender both during his lifetime and in the decades since his death. Charles Eon de Beaumont was born in the Burgundy region of France in October 1728, the child of an attornev and a noblewoman. In a ghostwritten l 779 autobiogrnphy, d'Eon claimed he was born a girl, but was passed off as a boy in order to ~suage his father's grici over a son who !1ad dieci. and to c!a;m an inhe~.tancc de,ignated for a male heir. -'Mv father wanted m~ to become a bad boy and my mother wanted me rn becom:: a good girl,'. he wrote. Later researchers say he was born male. but his mother often dressed hi.rn as a girl. An excellent student, d'Eon graduated in 17 49 from (~c•Hege J\1azarin in Paris} where :::~~!i::j :::;~;':~:c:(~(;;~:~~~::::~~~~;:::: !:; rhc city's fiscal deparrrnent and a.s a royal censor. 'I hough slender and sorr1e\vhat delicate in appearance, there is Hrdc indication that d'Eon \Vas regarded as particularly 14 the STAR effeminate as a young aduh. D'Eon joined a secret network of spies working for King Louis XV, and in~ i 7 56, the king sent him on a mission to re-esrablish an alliance with Empress Elisabeth of Russia against the rival Hapsburg monarchy. It was widely rumored that d'Eon disguised himself as a woman to win the empress's confidence (according to one version, the king hit upon the idea after mistaking a cross-dressed d'Eon for a !adv at a masquerade ball); there is little c~ntemporary evidence, however, ro support this tale. In the early i 760s, d'Eon returned to France and became a captain of the dragoons, a light cavalry regiment. After he was wounded in battle toward the end of the Seven Years' War, he was awarded the Cross of Saint-Louis and given the rank of Chevalier. D'Eon then wem: to London, where he worked as a diplomatic minister. During this time. he enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, amassed a large librar:\ and cemented his connections bestowing gifts from his family's vineyards. Scandal ensued a few years later when d'Eon, fearing that he w;;s about to be rcn1oved frotn his position by a new an1bassad. or; clain1ed in a letter to the king that the ambassador had atten1ptcd dn1n an<J kidnaD hirn: he :1is~}' published :.t book. of secret diplon1aric correspondence, \vhich led ro his exile in England. bv ✓ large sums that d'Eon was really a woman, or. alternarivelv, undoubtedlv a man; still others though; he was a hen~aphrodite. In 1777, an English court entered the fray to settle a bet, ruling that d'Eon was a woman; rhe judge, disgusted at having to deal with such a case, said he wished he cot.id m,ike both parties lose. More recently, biographer Gary Kates posited :hat d'Eon rebvemeci himself as a woman afcer he had made political enemies in high places and gotten himself deeply in debt. For his part. d'Eon seemed to relish the confusion, sometimes claiming to have been bori: male, sometimes female. After iiving with his mother for a time at the family estate in Tonnerre, d'Eon returned to England in 1785. He embraced Cnristianit: y and, according to Kates, seemed to regard living as a woman as a for:n of "moral purification." D'Eon never married. and there is no record or· any sexuai relations11ips wirh either women or men. Alt;.,<'ugh d'E;n continued to dress as a woman, Iflos: reoorts suggest he did not pass vcrv convind112.iv. lv1ember of Parliament Ho~ace \Yia!pol~, nored that "her hands and arms see;11 not to have participated oc the change of sexes, but are fitter to carry.~ chair than a fun."' Added nobiem;;.n James Boswell, "She appeared rn me a man in woman's clothes." In 1796. d'Eon w2s seriously wounded in a fencing match. Aithough an amopsy after his death in }vfa\· 1810 revealed ihat d'Eon was a bi~logically normal maie, he has ncverthdess rce1ained a subject of considerabic fascination: Was d'Eon a uansgender woman who spent half her life as a man. or a ~an who 5JY.:nt half his life as a \.vorn.an? For further reading: [fEon de Bcaun1onr~ c:haries (2001). 'Jhc fv1aiden of 'fonncrrc: 'Ihc \/icissitudcs of rhe (~hevalicr and ;.,,. the c:hcvalien: I-<:atcs, (;ary. 1995, 200]. a "'•~?on1an: /\. ~Ede of Political ::ll1(1 Photo: The new community center coming soon. October National GLBT History Month Each June, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) and allied community ceiebrares our pride and diversity. It is a time for parades and parties to celebrate ourseives, our accomplishments and the adv«nccs towards GLBT cquaiity. Each October, we again cdebrate our communitv · bur from a historical perspective. Octobe; is recognized as GLBT History Month. In 1979, the first National Marci1 on \Vashington for Lesbian & Gay Rights rook place. Tens of thousands of G LBT individuals and families crov:ded the nation's front yard, the National Mail, to demand equality: In 1987, another March on \'vashingwn occurred on October l i th. The day is now recognized as Nation .. ! Corning Out Day. 'Jhesc arc the m;.in reasons whv Oc~ober was chosen as GLBT History i,1omh. . ()kL1horna bas a rich and varied historv of the GLBT & ;;,llied community. In 1980, :1 sn1ail group of people concerned about human rights and equaiitv for (;LB~r ()klahornans found~d ()klal1ornans for ~:~~f :m~~::::.i1Ii·~~:~;(f EI 1:,:if In the 1980's~ll)li.R. advent of HIV/AIDS, TOHR sent a medical professional to health conferences to remrn and advise the community on the transmission of the virus. TOHR then opened Northeast Oklahoma's first anonymous HIV Testing Clinic, becoming a state leader in HIV/AIDS testing and education. In 1998, H.O.P.E. (Health Outreach, Prevention and Education) became a separate organization, allowing both H.O.P.E. and TOHR to focus on their respective areas. The new millennium broualu rapid arowth t> t> for TO HR. Individual support expanded programming and communitv involvement. TOHR began its capitctl campaign, "The Pyramid Project" in late 2000 while being honored as ~n "OutGiving InCommunity" host site for 200 l. "OutGiving" allowed continued growth in education and outreach as TOHR hosted the Denver-based Gill Foundation's resource and community building program. In 2001, TOHR was · selected as a "FastTrack" program, setting a foundation for further growth to take the community to the next level. TOHR opened the first Tulsa GLBT Community Center in October 1996. 1he Center quickly became a community gathedng spot with social and support groups, the PRIDE Store, the Nancy McDonald Rainbow Library, TV lounges and more. Two locations later, the Tulsa GLBT Communitv Center is now located at 5545 E 41st Stree( in Highland Plaza. Open Monday through Saturday from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM, the Center is growing in nearly every direction and will welcome visitor number 10,000 for the year by December. The Tulsa GLBT Communitv Center is also home to the Tulsa GLBT Hi;wry Project. Begun in 2002, the Tulsa GLBT Hiswrv Projecr uncovers, preserves and presents, the rich contributions of Gav, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendcr peopie ~,ithin the state of Oklahoma. As we continue to fight for a future society that more opcniy accepts diversity and extends equal rights to all, the sacrifices., contributions and dedication of the GLBT community and its many SUD· porters can be understood and apo;ccia;:ed thr?ugh a:1 i?'portant source ofi~spiration a n<t kno,v!edge. ·ro celebrate (;I.Jrr I-Iistorv J\.,1onth, T'C)HR and the 'Ih!sa GLBI' Hist;ry Project are ~~;;;c:;~~! ~;~~;;~ f~1~:rj;;J::~~:~:~~ !il~- "Center C:inen1a" 1he ()ctober c:~ruer <:inetna line up of fi!nls includes fi!rn:i covering the historical momems, places and people of the GLBT & allied community. First up is "The Times of Harvev Miik" ~n Friday, October 6th at 7:00 Plvf. The film highiights the life and tragic death of the "Mayor of Castro'' - Harvey Milk, the first openly gay member of San Francisco's Board of Supervisors who was assassinated by Dan White. Next up on the list is "Stonewall" on Friday, October 13th at 7:00 PM. "Stonewall" chronicles the events leading up the famous riots commonly referred to as the beginning of the modern GLBT rights movement. 1he history of Fire Island is documented next on Frid;y, October 20th with "When Ocean Meets Skv." 1he film traces the history of the gay e1{clave and how it became the social hotspot of the Northeast. Last, but cerrainlv not least, is the classic "Rocky Horror Picture Show." The cult-classic shows at 7:00 PM on Friday, October 27th - just in time for the unofficial national gay holiday of Halloween. AIDS Walk 2006 Tulsa The history of the GLBT & allied community has b~en greatly affected by HIV/AIDS. Each year, the community comes together to remember those lost while continuina h . t> t e struggle to end this terrible disease. All in the area who want to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and help meet the needs for HIV prevention and care, are encouraged to participate in AIDS Walk Tulsa 2006 on Saturday, October 7 th. The festivities begin at 9:00 AM at Veterans Park, 1875 S Boulder, with the walk stepping off at 9:45 Alv1. Refreshments and awards will be presented to rhe top individuals and teams following the 2-miie walk. Tulsa's 14th annual walk raises funds to supporr direct HIV/ AIDS services in Tulsa and receives matching funds from a National AIDS Challenge Grant. The Tbisa AIDS Walk is a pro{~cc of the Community Service Co~:nci! or rv'r eater ~1· i .l ls a, :,'-l-l 1v' er sponsors are th. e Gay & Lesbian Fund forTuisa and Starbucks Coffee. Bronze sponsors arc (:iao, Baby!~ Evan Tayior Photography, MAC AlDS {und, 1'viiss Jackson's Nenvork-I. Ti1lsa PFLA..C; andTul.sa Oklahomans for Human Right~ CTC)HR). Please visit 1.v\V\'l.aids\vaiktul~a. :i:! 1 ;~'./~~;information ;.nd to sign up for OUT OK 5 Film Festival ,:.:untiu.,ul page-16 the STAR 15 (20Z)GREY (1 OZ) .... ·.. . . .• . . .· .. (1 OZ) CHAMBORG LIQUOR (1/2 OZ) HALFc$ HAL;F . FRESH RASPBERRIES 1. Chill a martini glass with ice· and water. 2. Combin.e ali ingredients.with lee in shaker and shake Y~ry .well. · · · 3. · Strai.n int<> martini gla~s and g~rnisti with a fresti raspberiy. . YUMMY! l 6 the STAR OUT OK FILM FESTIVAL OUT OK, the longest-running GLBT film festivai in Oklahoma returns for another outrageous year of celluloid fun. From October 11-22, OUT OK unleashes firstrun, independem, gay movies in Tulsa and Oklahoma CitY. In addition to the verv popuiar ABSOLUT RUBY RED Cock.tail Parties, OUT OK is proud to announce CLUB 209's "In Concert with FUNNY KINDA GUY", following the screening of the riveting Scottish documentary of the same name. Direct from Scotland, Simon, a post-op trans person will serenade us with his tender, jazz /folk -inspired tunes, which have captured the Glasgow music and dub scene by storm. With more tears and more tears of joy, OUT OK is evolving, growing, and expanding. There are more screening days, more movies, and more beautiful actors and ralented filmmakers. OUT OK opens with Stewart Wade's delightfuily romantic comedy of errors, COFFEE DATE. As a practicai joke, gorgeous straigh~ man, Todd, is sent on a biind date with hard and hot gay man, Kelly. With hilarious performances from Wilson Cruz (Mv So-Called Life, Noah's Arc), Oscar-nomi~ated Sallv Kirkland (Anna, Bruce Almighty), Jona~han Silverman (Weekend at Bernie's, Death Becomes Her), nineties teen singing sensation Deborah Gibson, and Jonathan Bray (King of Queens, The Practice), dating will never be the same. Director and actors will be in attendance. Arguably the first gay sequel, writer/director Q.Allan Brocka returns with EATING OUT 2: SLOPPY SECONDS. Direcror Phillip J. Bartell re-introduces Brocka's zany cast of hot sex kittens, Gwen and Tiffani, man-whore Marc, awkward gay boy Kyle Oim Verraros -American Idol I). and a hot bubbling menu of All-American beef and succulem slabs of Grade-A man. To win the bulging hearr ofTroy (Marco Dapper), the new hunk in town, Kyle pretends ro be straight, only to find himself joining the campus ex-gay support group and landing a vivacious girlfriend. Kyle's ex-boyfriend, ~-..farc (Brett Chukerman) is horrified at the plan and decides to pursue Troy with his own tactics. Ivfore raucous. More raunchy. More mouth-watering fun. Fine-dining at· its dirtiest-best! Actors will be in attendance. For more information on OUT OK. please visit wv,rw.out-ok.com or contact Phiiip Au at 9 l 8.682A654, ext. 3 or pau@ out-ok.com * www. □ ZARKSSTAR.C □ M ~TRAVEL @~ ~[ti)@J!ill~~ by Donald Pile and Ray Williams "WELCOME TO ARIZONA" A colorful tapestry of culrures - from Hispanic and Native American to the legendary Wild West - is woven throughout southern Arizona, a land that thrived under the flags ofboch Spain and Mexico before becoming part of the U.S. South of Flagstaff in the beautiful Verde Valley area of north central Arizona, Sedona including Jerome and Prescott is red rock country. Many gay men and lesbians - once they experience the friendly atmosphere and small town charm of Sedona - decide to relocate here permanently. Women will find numerous lesbian-owned accommodations. Although Arizona is a landlocked state, its desert dwellers cool off in the warm waters of the state's many iakes. In fact, Arizona boasts one of the highest rates of boat ownership in che nation. Home to che world-famous London Bridge, Lake Havasu is both a water lover's paradise and a desert lover's dream. More than 400 miles of stunning coasdine offers exceptional water sports, including fishing and skiing, kayaking, jet-skiing and houseboating. 1he western region of the Seate can be amazing. Northern Arizona is the Southwest at its best. It is a photographer's paradise, a shopper's delight, a hiker's exploration, a history buff's treasure trove of cultures and a boater's bonanza. Although only a matter of hours from Phoenix deserts. Northern Ariz~ma can be a world away in dimace. With elevations up to n:ore than 12.000 feet. If vou have never visited the Grand Canvon. ir trulv is one cf the wo:iders of America. Stay at the historic f] ·i~n·ar c.,;c nii::lu. 'lh, sccnic beauty is beyond description. If you ,ire h:mh0 cno~:gh to ukc the mule excursion to the bottom. then bv all !1H.:ans de ,o. Or!1- erwise jus~ stay at rhe hotel and have a drink. look 0L.r t11c wi!1d0".\' and ~-icw rhe scenery_ \'(le have been to ali five areas and alw«y; l:aH a ;·::n: ime. AE auto is an absolute :VfUST when visitini:: ;\;-i:wn,i :tr.d he: St;RE a1:d keep plenty of gas in ,·ot:r ,ankl h I, t:!11:c: le·, abk I'()\" n'an•, 0-"V owned· Band B's ~lv-r,• -r,· ;11 4ri"()Jl'.' nl,., d-,:-· 01, ! ~ • •>} b<.t,/ ~ ~A ,al.,.,,..., ,1_...., ! _a•'• ,_{ t ~-·• -~,.....,~ • that arc cxtrcrneiy gay-friendly. Even in the ~tnaH 1cv.-n~, gJ~- iifr· i:cvenn,, vherc. Among our favorite places to stay in Arizona arc: LUNA VISTA B And B in Rimrock (just South of Sedona) Kala and Frank are two of the most wonderful people in the wori<l .. http:/ /www.iunavistabandb. com/ An utterly "beyond FABULOUS experience s~aying there. The ROYAL ELIZABETH B and B in Tucson is wonderful. Jeff and Chuck know how to keep their guests returning year after vear. http:/ /www.royalelizabeth.com/ and "The Casa de San Pedro in Hereford is great: Karl and Patrick have done a wonderful job. http:/ /www.bedandbirds.com/ In Phoenix, there are literaliy dozens uf gay bars to choose from so just check out your bar guides before going. Whatever yom into, there is perfect bar just for you: There is a very strong gay community in Arizona and some of the resources can be found by going ro these: http:/ /v1'ww.azpride.orgi. http:/ /www. prescottpridecenter.com/ , http:/ /www, cochise-pride.net/ , http:/ /www.flagstaffpride. org/ and http:/ /wwv,. tucsonpride. com/ Their local gay newspaper is a great source for information: http:/ hvww, echomag.com/, Always remember to haYe a good time when traveling and TALK TO EVERYBODY ! And, "don't cry because it's over, SMILE because it happened and you were a part of it! * "ESSENTIAL INFORMATION WHEN TRAVELING" by Donald Pile and R:;y Williams ~lfavcling is incant to be fi.111. exciting and interesting, and if you do vour homework ahead ,)f tl:nc it can keep :;Pu ;~,)m gett;:1g into ,rouble in so many vvays. Flyins has ,l~v,ays :1ecn a prob\tm and it of course has gotrcn rnuch ,vorse since 9/11. If you are Hying sornc\ t·hcrc you just rI.i\VI--: to reaiize th~u you arc ill the rncrcr of the airiin,:: '~?herhe, c:d,m:d. car:cc;ed o~ whatever d·,crc is i;CTl-iTNC ti1.1~ vou can do about i! 'Jhen:forc. take 1 bouk . .:;·,,s,·.vnrd puzzlc. 1nag<l.zine, playing card~ or vlhatcver and ju.st ;,go \-Vith rhc flo\v,- ~....jo nt:ed to get upset o,:cr !->On1cthing d1~1t ~;ou have ab:-,oiurely no cnrurol ov::1a-Yd!ing and and get ring up.,cz i:-- jusr not :1n option_ /iirpurt food i~ v~:r;--- expensive and not ~dl rhat goqd :-,n tJkc ,dong .-;na1..:k~ or even a ~.u1d\vich ti) l'~U. For n1on: requeq 18 the STAR Arkansa:,; 8. Ok!21;oma's most read GLST lv/agazine Gay Travelers: an emergency aisle seat. Don't sit in rhe front of the emergency aisle or in front of the bulkhead where seai:s may nor recline. If your luggage gets lost or your flight is canceled, then complain RIGHT AWAY! Don't wait a couple of days afterwards to complain. Know how you are going to get into a city before arriving at the airport. Mose ~ities ha\·e wonderful bus service into their downtown area but some don't. So be sure to find out BEFORE you get there. Otherwise a taxi ride an be terribly expensive. Of course anorher aiternative is ro rem an auto. If you are renting an auto for your trip, be sure and book it online as there is a tremendous savings by booking on line rather than calling their 800 number. Always double check to see if your auto insurance covers your rental auto. If not, almost all Gold and Platinum Visa and Master Cards cover the insurance. Always opt om for filling your own gas thank when returning the auto to the rental office. And if at all possible, NEVER rent an auto at the airport. You will get stuck ~ith extra taxes that is imposed there. If you are driving check with your auto club, (AAA, Costco, American Express or whatever) and they will send you free maps and coupons for your travels. Needless to say, if you are driving. NEVER have liquor in your auto. Lock it in the trunk! A~ we have mentioned in previous columns, NEVER let a botcl/ motel/ resort make a copy o!.' your ciriver's license when you check in. NEVER! Be happy to show them your l.D. bur never let them make a copy of it. With that copy of your driver's license and your credit card information any employee has ;:he means and in• formation to pass along to anyone who wants to steal your identity. This i5 ger:ting to be a real problem with hotels and motels. Just ask to speak to the manage: on dt1ty and explain why you will be bppy co show them your I.D. Howeve:, you will not iet them make a copy r· 0. It. If you ,vane to go to bars, find our where they are located before vou rake off on vour travels. Find the exact locations and hours for :he bars. The mo;e pre-planning you do the better things will work for you: trip. \'X,'hether you're going :o be in a city for iust one day or a week or more, plan ahead and make a scheduie before you lem:c home. :\luseums, galleries ;md shops are closed different days or the week. Always purchase :i local newspaper \vhen you get into a city. They wii: usually have a full foting of things m do and e,·en sp{.'.cials at local restaurants Spc:iking of restamai1ts, it 1s always much less expensive re dine late in che afrernoon ,!r l::mch menu prices rat.hc:r than a couple of hoc.rs late: at dinf!er time. Alwavs remember the "special of the dav'' no ione:-er rncans th~t the ,Price is lo'-;;¥cr. i\hvays ask ho\v tnxi.Ch iris .. It's Y()'i_rR money ~'.1 don't frci embarrassed about asking the pnce. \\/e _r\.LSfA :{S pal· for on our trips \vith a credit card. 'Then \vhcn ~.rour l;ill,comes in, Pl/\·- -rI-fE r:tJLL ,:\1vI()L7NT l By :;,;;~:~c\::: l: ;r~;l:~;~;~~c~;;::~ ct:;;: }::~~.f;r:t:1:::t ~:: ~-~::o~;;,\; \1j1en a busi~1cs~ charges 50 cents or eve:n a dolbr to use your credit card. cannot leiJlly do this ::nd •~vhen this docs happen~ call your credit card ct ,rnpany irrnncdiatcly and rhcY ~. ., :iH rcin1bur:-e you and fik ~TRAVEL One time our bill showed oniy a total when we got our receipt. When we go: home and checked our credit card account on !ine, we found thev had made a mistake and h,,d overcharged an even $1,000.00 to.our bill. With a phone call to our credit card company it was taken care of immediatelv. h was just an honest mistake but it was a mistake. It is very wise co' take cw~ different credit cards with you when traveling. Alwavs have fun when rraveiing, meet new people, see new things an'd taste new food so that when you rerurn home you can honestly say that you had a great time. Otherwise it is just money wasted. Whether rraveling across rhe country or merely a few miles away, traveling can be fun and exciting. Just don\ go imo the city with the attitude of"Here I am. What do you have for me?" Everything about your cravels is not going co be perfect so don't dweil on it. There weather, the bars or the restal!rants might not be what you expected so go to another bar or another resrauran:. Lite is too short to stay someplace not to your liking. For informadon about traveling e,nail Donaid and Ray at gayrravclers@ aol.com or visit their webpage at: hn:p:/ lwww.::ometown.ao1. com/ gayrravelers. Gold Castle "At Century 21 Gold Castle our BEST properties are our PEOPLE" 4301 NW 63rd, Suite 100 Oklahoma City, OK 73116 405.840.2106 .c21 goldcastle.com the STAt~ 10 j ,_; One of the most beautiful cities in lvonh America, Vancouver is a progressive, dynamic, and gay-popular vacation destination. (Photo by john Sinai, courtesy of Tourism Vancouver) October 2006 by Andrew Collins Vancouver, British Columbia In V,noo""'• one of tl,, wodd', mos, smnning does, yon an kayak in English Bay in rhe morning before skiing down Grouse Mountain later that afternoon - indeed, few cities offer better access to the great outdoors. The city's glimmering. postmodern city center anchors a peninsula jutting into the rippling Strait of Georgia, irs shoreline sculp,ed by bays and inlets. From just about anywhere on this peninsula, you're within walking distance of two beaches, leafy Stanley Park, the ultra-gay Davie Village district, and several similariy diverring neighborhoods. It's for ail these reasons that VancouYer - whid: is aiso in a country that has legaiized same-sex marriage - has emerged as one'{)f ~he most wonderful gay destinations in the world. For Americans, visiting Vancouver :s quite easy. 'The city is just a three-hour drive north of Seattle, and it aiso has direct flights from nutnerous U.S. cities. just keep in Inind that in a couple of years; you ,vill be required to show a valid passport Vi;hen crossing the border (right !HW,, technically. you can get by with a driver·, license but if you don't have a passport. you're likely to be pulh:d aside and questioned thoroughly). Pi.lso keep in rnind that the lJ.S. dollar has becon1e increasingly ,veak agajnst the C:anadian doilar in recent years {US$ I equaled CAi'~$ l. l l as of mid-Septcmb(:f 2!106). ~o iravding to Vancouver isn't quite the bargain it ~1.vas a couple of years ago. StHL overalL it's less expensive than New "'Yorkl S;Jn Franc1scoJ London: and many other place::- of .,,.,a,,w,~ popularity. Vancouver is a highly progressive place - feminists, lesbians, and gays piay a prominent role in local politics, have helped rejuvenate several flagging neighborhoods, and support a compact but potent restauram and club scene. The West End, which abuts Downtown and was a prostitution-ridden eyesore in ;:he 1980s, is ;:he city's main gay commercial and residential sector. You'll find most of the gay nightlife and social scene along a roughly eight-block stretch of Davie Street known as Davie Village. Farther north, Davie intersects with another lively strip of cool shops and restaurants, Denman Street. At this intersection, you're just steps from sparkling English Bay Beach, a fine spot to catch a few rays on a warm afternoon. Davie Viliage is a terrific neighborhood for eating and bar-hopping. Bin 941 exemplifies the growing popularity of tapas-styie restaurants in Vancouver. Try the mussels steamed ,vith habanero chi!es. kafir-lime leaf, and cypress-honey lager, and enjoy a local vimage from the fabulous wine list. The campy and affordable Cafe Luxy serves humongous portions of pasta, and nearby Hamburger 1v1ary's is a fun, !ate-night bet for burgers, fries, and diner fare. Near where Davie meets Denman, you can sample inventive Pacific Northwestern cuisine at the Raincit'/ Grill, where dishes like grilled bison strip loin wirh lentil-and-braised-rib ragout await you. Grab an espresso nearby at gay-popuiar Delany's or up the street at Melriches, which is just around the corner from the acclaimed queer book and gift shop, Little Sisters. Later in the evening, check out Davie Street's gay bars, the most popular being Celebrities and the Odyssey, which both draw young, stylish crowds. Both spots pull their share oflesbians, but Celebrities is the more diverse of the two. 'The Odvssey has a festive patio and a great little dance floor. Other fun drinki~g spots along.Davie include Oasis (an attractively decorated piano cabaret and resrnurant), Pumpjack (a neighborhood pub with a leather-and-Levi's vibe), 1181 (an ultra-chichi martini lounge drawing a well-coiffed crowd), Fountainhead Pub (a fun sports bar with a great patio), and Numbers (a lovably dive-y cruise bar with three levels). If you're looking for action, drop by one of the city's popular bathhouses. F212 Steam or M2M Playspace. 1hc latter is part of the saucy (but quite affordable) Fahrenheit Hotel, a men's sex-plex with privare rooms and a steamy vibe (there are rooms on one floor that are geared more toward guests who want to keep their clothes on and get a good night's sleep). 1here are severai gay-friendiy bed-and-breakfasts and ho,ds in the neighborhood, the upscale West End Guest House being among the best, wii:h its beautifullv decorated Edwardian rooms. Another luxurious B&B that's highly appealing is O'Canada House, whose rooms have spacious tile b:.,fa and TVs with VCRs. A bit less prlcey but ,till with ample charm, handsome furnishings, friendiy hosts, and a great location near Davie Village, Ndson House has six inviting guest rooms. You'll find 195 spJci<Hs. contemporary s:.:ites with full kitchens and moderate rates at the Sandman Suites, a popuhr fuliseriice hotd right in the heart of Davie Village ame:iirie, include the popular Moxie's Grill restama:u, a spa, and a fitness cenrer. If v(n/rc on a budget~ the Inn at False C:reck Qualitr Hotel is a repu~ :-,;1~·1·,.~ d,.... ... ,,i alI()'d'1·0· 1',c• ---n' ai1·, ,')pt;O-P n,-, the ,,r-l.,.e (~.F-D-;:~,,',r> 1/ii1'•1cr{"' ~ t,(,.u" ,_...,, ,_!Ji l (,. ._ ~ ~ . > ~i ... ~ ~/ .. ,._ ... us~- , .... ·~ .,_ ~~ ,;._b_, Just steps fron1 the ~WC-st End discover the beautiful, rugged Stanley Park, \.vhich occupies a peninsula of 1T101T than 1,000 un~ spoiicd acres of lush greenery, fi)rcsts of cedar ~1nd [)oug!as fir. sandy beaches, and panorarnic n1aritfrne vistas. 20 Arkansas & Oklahoma's most read GLBT A1agazme From here it's a short drive to North Vancouver, home to Grouse Mountain ski area. For a great photo-op, stop by the nearby 450- foot-long Capilano Suspension Bridge, which swings gently (for the most part) 230 feet above the river below it. Back in the city center, you'll find some of the city's best upscale shopping along Robson Street, and you can enjoy a more historic aspect of Vancouver by wandering through Gastown, the site of Canada's transcontinental railroad terminus. The neighborhood boomed throughout the late 1800s, foundered by the middle of this century, and became a model for urban restoration in the '60s and '70s. Today you can stroll along Gastown's main cobbled thoroughfare, Water Street, past dozens of somewhat touristy shops and restaurants. Just a few blocks from Davie Village you'll find Yaletown, where Vancouver's fine-arts-and-fashion elite have converted dozens of early 20th-century warehouses into chic restaurants, galleries, and shops (including the stellar gourmet food market, Urban Fare, an excellent place to pick up picnic supplies). This hip district is also home to the city's coolest hotel, the Opus, which also happens to be one of North America's most gay-friendly addresses. 1his swank yet unpretentious property with 96 rooms and suites is a favorite haunt of visiting celebrities, who appreciate the super-efficient staff: boldly designed rooms, and cool lobby lounge. Don't miss the hotel's sensibly chic restaurant, Elixir, a postmodern vision of a Parisian bistro noted for its brunches (try the duck hash with poached eggs and sourdough bread) and superb contemporary cuisine, including a knockout pan-roasted halibut with wild mushrooms and trufflemarjoram sauce. Another cool Yalctown address for sophisticated chow and memorable people-watching is Blue Water Cafe, whose speciaities include a sampler of f0tir ceviches with salmon, halibut, rnna, and scallops, and a wonderful entree of local sablefish caramelized with soy and sake. A block away, slick Glowbal Grill & Satay Bar can be forgiven for its slightly pretentious and gimmicky ambience, because this plays turns out delicious food, including tequila lamb satay with lime-mint glaze, and spaghetti with truffles and Kobe meatballs. From Yaletown, you can catch a water taxi to Granville Island, once the shipping and processing center for the city's logging industry, and now yer another successful urban renovation with a mammoth public market and many galleries and artisrs' studios. It's a 15-minm:e drive east of the citv cemer to Commercial Drive, a neighborhood thai:'s been reborn in i:he past decade as the cit/s lesbian hub. Here you'll find several v,roman-owned shops, including \X!omyn's 'Ware, the definite source: for women's sex coys, lube, and fetish ',Near. Most afternoons anci evening:,;, you'll see cute dvkes passing time at the neighborhood's several shabby-chic coffeeho'uses. lhis is aiso a great area for affordable, he;,Jthfui cuisine. Exceilent options indude globallv inspired Stella's Tap & Tapas Bar and Havana, a grea, source for' deli~ious Larin-inf;sed far~. Finally, if you're looking for some outside fun on a sunny day? rnake i:he 20-minute drive to \\'est Vancouver to 'Wreck Beach, which is right by the campus of the l}niversity of British Colun1bia. l'-lot especia!iy sandy or accessible (you must hike down a steep l 00-foot trail), it's the cit}'~'s only more-or-less sanctioned nude beach (at ieast the illegalig.r of Jetting it all hang out is overlooked by authorities). -n1c south end of""Wreck Beach (to get there ~Yilol.,v the for trail vvww. ozarksstar: com number 6) is predominantly gay, and depending on your vantage point, the views from this secluded swath of sand can be amazing, whether you're admiring nature - or naturists. * health ouu-eaoh pmvention educaflon7 Inc. 1-800-535-AIDS (2437) Oklahoma's HIV/STD Hotline ' '>, >>: ' ' ' ,_,. ', ✓ * Free nonjudgmenhlf HlVtesting, inclt1ding the 20 rniJiule OraQwg)( fest.. . . • Free SyphiHis screening at thi:J GLBT Center on Tuesdays from tJ.;Bpm H.O.P~E. Te-1ing Clinic MensOutreach Program In Tulsa at (918) s1i..;7045 the STAR 21 he reamhelmet ould Emily Post pprove? -- Recently, the CBS News \Vebsite posed the following hypothetical scenario and question: "Strangers on a Plane: The stranger sitting next ro you on a plane ieans over to reads your magazine, takes off his shoes and socks, or keeps chatting when all you want to do is nap. The guy in front of you cranks his seat all the way back, while th: k!~ behind you kicks your seat. What's a polite passenger to do'. ... (PRWEB) September 12, 2006 -- Recent!v, the CBS News Website posed the f<:!lowing hypothetical scenario.and question: "Strangers on a Plane: l11e stranger sitting next to you on a plane leans over ro reads your magazine, takes off his shoes and socks, or keeps chat~ i'.1g when all you want to do is nap. The guy in front of you cranks n1s seat all the way back. while the kid behind you kicks vour seat. What"s a polite passenger to do? ... " · Reporter Tracy Smith, aided by travel journalist Val D'Elia of TravelWlth Val.com, offered some solutions on the Qune 24, 2006) Sawrday Early Show. Val, who has endured her share of annoying strangers on a plane, suggested that one solution to che problem was ~o make use of the Dreamhclmet. Want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $26.95 will be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or moneyorcler to: Ozarks S1.l\R 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 (Single Copies $3.00 per issue) 22 the STAR Although the report suggested no specific reasons, it appears that average air travelers of today are less likely to resemble Beaver Cleaver and_family or Mr. Rogers, and more closely fit the profile of soccer hooligans and players, or rapper wannabes and entourage. The upshot is tha::, chances are, your fellow air passengers wi!l exhibit less manners and grosser social graces than those of an eadier epoch, when people sought the advice of Emily Post. A changed view of air travel, from being something awesome and novel, like going on a grear adventure, to being commonplace, like riding the bus, may be partly to blame fur more hang-ioose social behavior aboard. It also may be true that che average American really does exhibit less well-mannered behavior, in any situation, than his parents did. On an airplane, you are a sort of captive participam. Situations can occur at any time from which you might wish to make a gracefui exit. So how can a Dreamhelmet save you from this kind of uncomfortable social dilemma? , The Dreamhelmer is a combination sleep-mask pillow that blocks !ighr and mufHes sound. It has sound-blocking foam sewed into the pilk,w portion which covers the ears. The Drcamhelmer allows its user to iean against the plane window or seatback (or uave!incr companion's shoulder) and fa!] asleep. The pillow portion offer; s:rne neck support. Secrer pockets located near the temple hide money, valuables, foidable reading glasses, soft foam earpl~1gs (provided), or an alarm watch so as not to oversleep. Putting on your Dreamhelmet is like hanging out a ''Do Not Disturb" sign. It is a polite, but effective, wav to let others know you have retreated into your own space, no longer want to communicate, and do want peace and quiet. It is not necessarv to do or sav anything rude to anyone. It not only works for Val, b~r we think i; is also what Emily Post would have done. Dre:1mhelmet lets you sleep by blocking light with a generous sleep mask and cradling your head in a soft cotton sound-blocking pillow. Many amactive fabrics please all tastes. Dreamhelmets cost $29.95 plus $4.95 posrage The direct 24 hour telephone order number is (888i918-5630. More OUT in Arkansas A gay reading group forms, "LITERARY PRIDE" by Amos Lassen LITTLE ROCK, AR_Two years ago a group of gay men met and organized "The Oscar Wilde Reading Group" which had several sessions and then became defunct. When I moved to Little Rock after Katrina, I tried to find a sense of communitv and whiie at Wordsworth and Company Books, I noticed the ;nnouncement about the reading group. I called and went to the next meeting. Little did I know then, that this meeting was to be the last of the Oscar Wilde group. I was determined that this was not going to happen. After rwo unsuccessful attempts to get a group together, I finally decided to hit the bars, the coffee shops and the bookstores and posted an announcement of a new group to be formed. We finally met in June--only 2 members of "Oscar Wilde' and a bevy of new faces set up our organizational framework. Our first two meetings saw us outgrow our meeting place at Sufficient Grounds in Hillcrest. So we established the name "Literary Pride" and for our third meeting we moved into one of the member's homes. 'We began our reading with "Grief" by Andrew Hollerana book that explains that by grieving we are keeping alive the memory of those we have loved and lost. Our second book was ".My Lives" An Autobiography by Edmund White, a tell ali no hoies barred life story of the pre-eminent gay writer alive today as he took us on a whirlwind tour of his life as an out gay man. Each member has the opportunity to choose a book and the choice simply alternates from person to person. Reviews of new books appear regularly at littlerockpride.com. 1be beauty of Literary Pride is that the group is completely independent of everything else and aside from enjoying reading, we also enjoy getting together and just talking. Friendships have been made and the excitement that each meeting generates is exciting. The books we read are mainiy just a jumping off point to rhe discussions of matters that affect gay life today. It is such a wonderful feeling for us to come toged1er with the sole purpose being our enjoyment of being together. This year Literary Pride will participate in the Arkansas Literary Festival. For the first time, gay literature will be part of the festival and we are presently working to bring authors imo Arkansas for the festival. We have just received word that one of the finest gay authors writing today will honor us by attending the Festival. ANDREW HOLLERAN, author of the gay classic "Dancer from the Dance'' as well as "Nights in Aruba" and "'The Beauty of Men". lhe group is open to anyone ( regardless of sex:uaI orientation and gender) who wishes to participate. The only expense you may have is the price of the book and members get a discount at a iocal bookstore. 'Xie are looking forward w a greac year of activity. More information can be gained by dropping me a line at alassenamos@ yahoo.com. Membershio is alwavs ooen and we look forward to ~vekoming a!L • , ' * "San Francisco searcher Discovers atment ImmuneS Infected roundbre ng Stren hen terns in HIVt1. ents " Study Featured in Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes August issue and Presented at 16th International Worid AIDS Congress TORONTO, CANADA_Micronutrient supplementation increases CD4 count in HIV-infected individuals on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HA.ART), according to a study published in the August 15th issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. These results were presented at the 2006 World AIDS Conference in Toronto on August 14th. The study, authored by Jon D. Kaiser, M.D., demonstrates tl1at the patients adding a micronuuient supplement while taking HA.ART are able to increase their CD4 cell count by 24%, compared to no change in the placebo group. CD4 cells act ro protect the body against viral, fungal, and protozoal infections. When an individual is HIV-infected, the virus continually kills CD4 cells. Over time, the body is unable to replace the lost cells and their number declines, making the body more susceptible to infections. With twenty years of HIV treatment experience, Dr. Kaiser has investigated many antioxidant combinations. "There have been several recent clinical trials which show HIV-infected patients who begin to take micronutrient supplements have improved clinical outcomes,'' said Dr. Kaiser. "This most recem study proves to the medical community that micronutrient supplementation holds significant promise as a vital part of standard medical creatment for people with HIV/AIDS." Success of antiviral therapy ro date has been limited by a wide range of debilitating side effects. The micronutrient supplement tested was also shown to decrease one of the common side effects of antiviral therapy, peripheral neuropathy, by 42% compared to a 33°10 decline in the placebo group. "!he abiiity of this micronutrient formula ro strengthen the immune systems of people wirh HIV/AIDS - at substantiallv lower cost than tl1at of anti'...,iral medication could potentially stabilize the health of millions of people in the developing world until access to antiretroviral medications improves. Co-authors indude Adriana M. Campa, Ph.D., Joseph P. Ondercin, PA-C, Gifford S. Leoung, I,1.D., Richard F. Piess. Ph.D., and Jvfarianna K. Baum. Ph.D. The scudv was funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb. TheSTAR 23 Salutation kittens and loyal love slaves! This mooch Uncle Mikey recovers from a love affair of epic proportions. I mean whew, that man was just too much. It was iike being at the DQ and trying to take that extra dip, knowing your body, just wouldn't handle it. I mean; it just was not right. While appealing, some mountains just are not meant to be climbed. Sadly, I had to cut chat stallion ioose, sending him back into the wild. I hope he does not do any damage; ralk about putting your eye out. I bet the censors arc just on the edge of their seats. I guess, I do sound a little like a prom date gone bad. That man of substantial lovin' made more of an impression than I realized. Kitcens, I tried, really I did. You just cannot gee a twelve in a size ten; I don'c care how you work it. Uncle Mikey here once more to spread his wisdom, thought provoking views, and midnight iove to those who qualify. Yes, like a true timeless treasure, Uncle is on the scene looking out for those in Queerdom. Let's get to it as my eighth husband wouid say, the romantically challenged to say the lease, But I digress. Dear Uncle },1ikey, I am an older gay man with 2 children. Because, I take care of myself, most people do not realize my children are in college. At my oldesr son's lase cdllege break, he brought home one of his frat brothers. His friend was a Greek god and I could not stop acting iike a high school girl around him. I chink he was enjoying the attention and was flirting with me by the end of the first day. Because I was so bothered by this beautiful young man, I could not sleep. Around 2:00 AM in the morning. I recreated to the kitchen to try to drown my sexual frustration in some orange sherbec. 'When I turned around from the freezer, there was my soP:s friend in nothing but his birthday suit. I was so shocked; (dropped the sherbet on the floor. He chuckled and told me that it was all right that my son had told him all about me and that's why he was there. he wanted to be with an older man that looked as good as I did. I couid no longer concroi mvseif and p!ay·ed out mv ~ildesr famasv ,t A / ,- right there in the kitchent with my son asleep upstairs! 26 theSTAR I have never done anything like this before and am feeling tremendously guilty for my lack of seif-control. I am also flattered because of having a 23 year old come onto me. I am feeling like a troll! Unde Mikey help! How do I handle this flood of emotions? Scarcer Troll Dearest ST: Darling, troll, I think not. Greek Gods would not mingie; I see the start of a player extraordinaire. As for the sleeping lamb. this is not an issue; all were consenting, and aware. I imagine some more than others however, that is just the icing the way I see it. Enjoy and cherish the memory of your fling in the night, it shall keep you warm on those blustery winter eves. Smooches-Mikey · Honey, Uncle can tell you from personal experience, a Twink in the twilight can keep those batteries charged for a forcnighr. Oh my nerves, I must have another drink before we go on. I hope chat houseboy of mine has those batteries charged by now. Dear Uncle Mikey, Mv bovfriend has friends who like to partv. He has asked me what I ~ould think about attending a sex p;rty., where we would not intermingle; simply perform rhe act in front of each other .. He thinks this would be hoc, while I think I would be too self-conscious to enjoy it. Should I do it, as he says it is my duty? Sexually confused Dearest confused, Confused, about what to wear? Kitten, some are bold and risk takers. The proposal could have been worse, however the decision remains solely yours. You must decide what you are comfortable with, making it know you are not going to participate in something you do nor want. Often couples will find themselves at the road, where the desires divide the mind. It is important to find a common ground, where both desires addressed respectfully, allow personal growth and majority. Dear Uncle Mikey, Do you know of any really good sex positions? Young-one Dear Young one, Do you know of any bad ones? Smooches-Mikey \'veil Kittens, I must take my ieave hmvever before I do remember chis; Uncle's law in the sexu;l behavior- Harm none do what ye wiii, do it well and thee wiil gee rhy fill. Safety comes before the deed; wrap that meat before pumping chat steed. Smooches-Uncle Mikey and Tiddles too! Write to 1Jncic !vHkey at uncien1ikey4you@ao!.co1n \¥ith those quandaries you dare not ask anyone else, take it to the gay guru! * "The Laramie Project" A Play About The Affect of Mathew Shepard's Death. INDEPENDENCE, KS_"The Laramie Project," rhe ground-breaking drama by Mo'ises Kaufman and the Tectonic Theatre Project, will be performed by the William Ing~ Center for the Arts Theatre Department at Independence Community College, Independence, Kansas. Featuring an all-student cast, "The Laramie Project" runs 1hursday through Saturday Oct. 12-14 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday Oct. 15 at 2:30 p.m. at the William Inge 'Theatre at ICC. The Inge TI1eatre and the ICC is campus is located south of the town of Independence. From Main and I 0th Streets, proceed on South I 0th Street for two miles and turn right on Road 58. The thearre and campus is on the right. Scats mav be reserved by calling (620) 332-5492 and tickets will be hdd at the box office for patrons until 20 minutes prior to curtain, after which they are released for general sale, Seating is general admission. Tickets are $6 general admission. "The Laramie Project'' premiered in 2000 and is the moving drama about the residents of Laramie, Wyoming, and what rhey went through following the 1998 murder of Mathew Shepard, a gay college student. Director is Perer Ellenstein, artistic director of the Wiiliam Inge Cencer for the Arts. Independence, Kansas, is located at the iunction of Highways 75 and 160 in south~ ast Kansas. It is located 90 miles north of Tulsa, 90 miles west of Joplin, 120 miies south of Kansas City, and 120 miles southeast of""Wichita. The 2006-07 Mainstage seawn li1:: ICC ' · · ! 0 piays COfitlOUe Wlt 1 t1h._ e L•• 0 .n....1 C-d jv .. ..f 1u1 °~· - Servant of Two \fasrers" Dec 7 - i 0 :md the , 1 HT mus1ca1 r f appy E--;,d ,· • on ertola_ no re':-'.-.l:-"• and Kurt Weill, March 15-18, 20<F. lhc I(:C theater dcpartn1cnt b noted as one of the outstanding r,;vo-year college thean:r p·~ograms in th~ tvtid,vest. Spring 2006 ~ ... ,,dua:rPs were accepted for transfer to lb~ Bo;to~ Conser:,axory, E1n.crson c:ol- ,''° g---· '•.. ""•p-hens c·O 1b1t •.g•c~. •..: tn r..1... .11.~ ,.. e r... t...,;,.1,a. ...., a. . 5, i..j, ,S-ch~;;i:;f th~ Arts~ Fo~ rnore inforn1ation: ,v,.:ii1,v.ingecenter.org * Gay & Lesbian History Month celebrated at Missouri State University SPRINGFIELD, MO_Dudng October, Gay & Lesbian History Month wiil ~e . celebrated on the Missouri State Umvermy Springfield campus. Events are planned for the celebration, including a reception honoring the second birrhdav of OLGA (Ozarks Lesbian & Gav Ar~hives), a discussion of health issues aff~cti~g gay men ~nd le~bians, an ~~plor~tion or how the M1ssoun State pub11e affaus mission with its emphasis on communiry building encourages or discourages mino~iry inclusion, and an "out on campus" in wl11ch students, staff, and faculty discuss life at Missouri State for openly gay people. With the inauguration of a new administradon at Missouri State, gay people are hopeful that this year's program will be supported campus wide. Holly B:ggett, History Professor and President ot Lambda Alliance, one of the co-sponsoring organizadons, said that she hopes 1',1issouri State will adopc a new attitude toward gay peopl_e. "1here is a sense for many reasons havmg to do with diversiry, hiring and accreditation. mainstreaming the University, and just common sense, that the Administration is now encourai:dng gay men and lesbians to be visible and\o play an active role on campus." In addition to rhe Lambda Alliance which advocates fair treatment for gay and lesbian neoole ar MSU, Gay & Lesbian History }.fo~th is sponsored by the MSU History Departmem, and the MSU College of Humanities and P:1biic Affairs. ·r·h•·o«o·l, r:"}' & I "Sbi;,n History Month, .l -~ ....._!-,._1 •-_,~,, ~>,- r •• r rhe U1;iversicv is folfiliing irs goai of seiking ;; produce civil and educated citizens in a metropolitan co1n1nunity. I=or rnore infr1nnation contact Holly Pn.:sidcnt. Oifce; 417-836-5206 Arkansas & Oklahoma's most read GLBT ,i.,fagazine Phone Home campaign! WASHINGTON. DC_h's a campaign to mobiiize fair-minded people everywhere in the fight against the anti-~_GBT co~stitutional amendments that will be on tl1e November ballot in eight states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and \'?isconsin. If vou come from or know anyone in any of th;se states and surely you do then you can take action today. Just go to the campaign \Y/eb site, ww~w. PhoneHome2006.org, where you'll find all the tools you need to quickly and easily contact vour relatives, friends, classmates and for~er co-workers in these states and cell them vou need them to do the right thing on N~v. 7. You can also donate to the state campaigns through this site. * Creating Community for Peopie living with HIV/AIDS ()ur House. Too offers a variety of activities for people v:ho are HI\/+ and or living 'Nith A.IDS to heip combat the social isolation that rnany of our dE;f ~;~~}if ~::~1=ti:~;e ~~;~~- and or Hving v.tith ,A.JDS "Nho cannot afford to ourchase these iteff:s for thernseh1~s. VVe invite anyone ;,vho •Nould !Ike to voiunteer or provicit? fi~. nanciai assistance to piease contact us by phone 918--585-9552 or harrisrnmjrt@yahoo.corn Q Scopes by Jack Fertig OCTOBER 2006 "Don't argue, Leo - entertain!" Mars is already a bit weakened and lacking focus in Libra, although normally that sign makes him a better team player. As he trines Neptune in Aquarius, hedonistic indulgences come easily, but directed, productive activity is harder. Yoga, martial arts, or other activities tied to balancing spirit will help. ARIES (March 20 - April 19): Your partner wants to spend more time alone with you, but you're feeling more openly social. There's time for both; be considerate of your partner. If you're single and looking. try a sporting event. Having some friends along could help the search. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Lately, you've been uncertain about what you want to be when you grow up. You can take some satisfaction that your current job - and especially your ability to work with others - will eventually help you find your way to the top. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Try out new and different entertainments. Iranian movies? Dervish performances? Kinky experiments you haven't gotten around to yet? Something with a spiritual twist will be most interesting. Be very open to new possibilities as they offer themselves. CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Never mind the bedroom - take the fun to the kitchen! There you can imagine brilliant new uses foi some of the utensils, and find great ingredients for fun. If you don't have privacy there, pack a picnic basket! LEO (July 23 -August 22): The more forcefully you express your points. the more illogical they seem to others. If you can argue effectively a!ong emotional lines, using a dramatic style, your lack of logic may not matter. Better yet, don't argue. Just entertain! VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Watch out for nervous tension over any problem, especially money. Nothing will be solved now. but you can get a sense of how to be more effective working with others, which wiil he!p in the long run. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): You're unusually energetic and playfui these days. Be cautious: know your own !imits and those of your playmates. You're sure to stumble over them anyway, so just be careful that nobody gets hurt and that necessary apologies are madei SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Either as a longterm project or just for a few hours. make your bathroom into a place of elegant pleasure where you can enjoy a long, hot, relaxing soak. That's always a healing divertissement, and now it's an absolute necessity! SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): You have a sudden burst of energy for either social activity or politics; stick with the social. !n politics you'll oniy wreak confusion now. But at other occasions, your whimsical touch should prove a huge asset! CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): You need reassurance about where you're going in life and why. A little confusion is good if it opens you to deeper understanding. Talk with your boss - or a professional - about your goals and your purpose. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): You're craving adventure, but what kind? Let it be an adventure in trust. Try to give up being a control queen long enough to let a friend iead you somewhere entirely new. That doesn't necessarily mean sex, but don't rule it out! PISCES (February 19 - March 19): One fish is swimming toward mad !ust, the other toward quiet retreat. Invite your sexiest friend(s) to an erotic retreat where you car.i alternate games of strip Twister with meditation, massage, and shared baths. SPIRIT OF CHRIST JOPLIN, MO FREE HIV TESTING, NO NEEDLES SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC SPONSORS Testing appointmcm 4 '. 7-529-8480. 2902 E. 20th St., PO Box 4711 jopbn, fvio 64803 '...." .. \[1. .•.r,.T.l_ :: ·RD.,-1..!:. \.. . ·vi · 1,~,,_·,~· ,.1..'. JCe,. _.9 ·h ")(,\j ,r,\ d7. .. ''l 28 Advet1ising in the STAR is just good business cents. Arkansas, Bentonville/Rogers (479) NWA GLBT Ctr - - - www.nwaglbtcc.org- - - - - --479-586-1062 Barnes & Noble Bks - - 261 N. 46th St., Rogers- - -479-636-2002 Arkansas, Eureka Springs (479} Diversity Pride Event - - - - - - - - - - - - -www.diversitypride.com A Byrd's Eye View- - - - 36 N. Main- - - - - - - - - -479-253-0200 Caribe Restaurante- - - - 309 W Van Buren- - - - - -479-253-8102 Henri's - - - - - - - 19 1i2 Spring St - - - - - - - - - - - -479-253-5795 Lumberyard Bar&Grill- - - 105 E VanBuren- - - - - -479-253-0400 MCC Living Spring - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -870-253-9337 Swiss Holiday Resort- Hwy 62 at Hwy 23 So.- - - - 888-582-8464 Spexton- - - - - - - - 178 Spring Street - - - - - - - - -479-981-6060 Tiki Torch- - - - - - - - 75 S. Main Street- - - - - - - -479-253-2305 Tradewinds Lodge -141 W. VanBuren- - - - - - - - - 800-242-1615 Arkansas, Fayetteville (479) Common Ground Restaurant- - - 412 W. Dixon - 479-442-3515 Condom Sense - - - - - - - - 418 W. Dickson- - - - - -4 79-444-6228 Curry's Video - - - 612 N. College Ave- - - - - - - - - -479-521-0009 Passages - - - - -930 N. College Ave- - - - - - - - - -479-442-5845 Pride Street Live- - 523 W. Poplar St-- - - - - - - - - - 4 79-587-0557 Tangerine Club - -21 N. Block Ave-- - - - - - - - - - - -479-587-9512 Arkansas, Fort Smith (479) Kinkeads- - - - - - -1004 1 /2 Garrison Ave- - - - - - - 4 79-783-9988 Red Rock City - - -917 N. "A" St. - - - - - - - - - - - - 479-242-2489 Arkansas, Hot Springs (501) Jesters Lounge - - - - 1010 E. Grand Ave - - - - - - - 501-624-5455 Arkansas, Little Rock (501) Back Street - - - -1021 Jessie Rd- -- - - - - - - - - - -501-6642744 Diamond State Rodeo Assoc.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - www.dsra.org Discovery- - - - - 1021 Jessie Rd- -- - - - - - - - - - -501-666-6900 Sidetracks - - - 415 Main St- -North LR.- - - - - - - -501-244-0444 The Factory - : - - - - 412 Louisiana St.- - - - - - - - 501-372-3070 Kansas, Junction City (785) Xcalibur Club- - - - - - 384 Grant Ave. - - - - - - - - -785-762-2050 Kansas, Pittsburg (620) PSU-QSA.- -1701 S. Broadway- - - - - - - - - - - - - -620-231-0938 River of Life Church.- -1709 N. Walnut- - - - - - - - -Service 11AM Kansas, Wichita (316) Our Fantasy/South40- - - - - 3201 S. Hillside- - - - - 316-682-5494 Priscilla's- - - - - 6143 W Kellogg Dr- - - - - - - - - 316-942-1244 Ciub Giacier- - - - - - - - - 2828 E. 31st South- - - - - 316-612-9331 Missouri, Ava (417) Catus Canyon Campground - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 417-683-9199 Missouri, Joplin (417) MCC Spirit of Christ- - -2902 E 20th, - - - - - -Sat Service-9:30AM Missouri, Kansas City (816) 40th Street Inn- - -www.40thstreetinn.com- - - - - -816-561-7575 Concourse Park B&B - - 300 Benton Blvd - - - - - -816-231-1196 Hydes KC Gym & Guest Hs - \A.'\Nw.hydeskc.com - 816-561-1010 Missie B's- - - -805 W. 39th St- - - - - - - - - - - - - -816-561-0625 Missouri, Lampe (417) KOKOMO Campground - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 417-779-5084 Missouri, Springfield (417) The Edge- - - - - 424 Boonville Ave- - - - - -- - - - - - 417-831-4700 GLO Comm. Ctr- - -518 E. Commerical- - - - - - - - -417-869-3978 Martha's Vineyard- - 219 W Olive - - - - - - - - - - - 417-864-4572 Missouri, Springfield (417) Ronisuz Place- - --821 College- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -417-864-0036 Rumors - --1109 E. Commercial- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 417-873-2225 Oklahoma, Enid (580) Hastings Books- - - -104 Sunset - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 580-242-6838 Priscilla's- - - - - - - - -4810-A West Garriott- - - - - - - 580-233-5511 Oklahoma, Lawton (580) lngrids Bookstore- - - - -1124 NW Cache Rd- - - - - -580-353-1488 Oklahoma, McAlester McPride- - - - - - - - - - - POBox 1515, - - - - - McAlester, OK 74502 Oklahoma, Oklahoma City (405) American Crossroads B&B - POBox 270642- - - - - -405-495-1111 Blue Dog Liquor- - - - - - -4015 N. Penn - - - - - - - - -405-606-7000 Boom Room- - - - - - - 2807 NW 36th St- -- - - - - - - -405-601-7200 Border's Books- - - - - - 3209 NW Expressway- -- - - 405-848-2667 CD Warehouse- - - - - - 4001 N. Penn - - - - - - - - - - 405-525-7766 Club Rox- - - - - -3535 NW 39th Expwy- - - - - - - - -405-947-2351 Christie's Toy Box- - - - -3126 N. May Ave - - - - - - - 405-946-4438 Eastern Ave Video- - -1105 S Eastern Ave- - - - - - -405-672-6459 Hollywood Hotel- - - - 3535 NW 39th Exp - - - - - - -405-947-2351 Hi-Lo Club - - - - - - -1221 NW 50th- - - - - - - - - - - -405-843-1722 Naughty But Nice - - - - 3121 SW 29th St- - - - - - - -405-681-5044 Partners- - - - - - - - - 2805 NW 36th St - - - - - - - - - -405-942-2199 Pec's- - - - - - - - - - -3535 NW 39th Expw - - - - - - - -405-942-2199 Red Rock North- - - 2240 NW39th St- - - - - - - - - - - 405-525-5165 Rudy's Place-- - - - -3535 NW39th Expw- - - - - - - - -405-947-2351 Phoenix Rising - - - - 2120 NW 39th St- - - - -- - - - - -405-601-3711 The Park- - - - - - - - 2125 NW 39th St - - - - - - - - - -405-528-4690 The Rockies- - - - - - 3201 N. May Ave - - - - - - - - - 405-947-9361 Topanga Grill & Bar- - - 3535 NW 39th-- - - - - - - - - -405-947-2351 Tramps- - - - - - - - - - - -2201 NW 39th-- - - - - - - - - -405-521-9888 Ziggy's- - - - - - - - - - - - 4005 N. Penn- - - - - - - - - - -405-521-9999 Oklahoma, Tulsa (918) Bamboo Lounge- - - -7204 E. Pine - - -- - - - - - - - - -918-836-8700 Border's Book Store- - - 2740 E. 21st- - - - - - - - - - - 918-712-9955 Border's Book Store - - - 8015 S, Ya!e - - - - - - - - - - 918-494-2665 Club 209 - - - - - - - 209 N. Boulder - - - - - - - - - - - 918-584-9494 Club Majestic- - - - - - - 124 N. Boston - - - - - - - - - - 918-584-9494 Club Maverick- - - - - 822 S. Sheridan - - - - - - - - - -9i8-835-3301 Dreamland Bks -- - - 8807 E. Admiral Pl - - - - - - - - -918-834-1051 GLBT Comm. Ctr- - - - 5545 E. 41st- - - - - - - - - - 918-743-4297 Hideaway Lounge- - - 11730 E. 11th- - - - - - - - - -918-437-0449 HOPE Clinic- - - - - - - 3540 E. 31st- - - - - - - - - - - - 918-749-8378 Jazz's Lounge- - - - - - 426 S. Memorial - - - - - - - - - 918-836-8544 Midtown- - - - - - - - - - 319 E. 3rd- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 918-584-3112 Nite Spot - -- - - - - -3007 E. Admiral Pl - - - -- - - - - - 918-834-3007 Openarms Youth Projt- - - 2015 S. Lakewood- - - - -918-838-7104 Our House, Too - - - -203 N Nogaies Ave- - - -- - - - -918-585-9552 Priscma·s - - - - - - - - -7925 E 41st- - - - - - - - - - - - -918-627-4884 Priscii!a's - - - - - - - - 5634 W. Ske!iy- - - - - - - - - - - 918-446-6336 Priscilla's - - - - - - - 1134,1 E. 11th - - - - -918-438-4224 Priscii!a's - - - - - - - - - 2333 E. ?1st- - - - -- - - - - ~918-499-1661 Renegades- - - - - - - 1649 S. Main - - - - - - - - - - 918-585-3405 Rob's Records- - -2909 S. Sheridan Rd- - - - - - - 918-627-1505 St Michaels Aliev- - - - - -3324-L E 31st- - - - - - - 918-7 45-9998 Sterling & Co. Sa!on- - -1606 E.15t!l St.-· - - - - - - 918-742-9999 Titan's Lounge - - 6373-C E 31st St- - - - - - 9rn-836-0299 Tulsa CARES· - - - 3507 E. Admira! Pl- - • - - - - - 918-834-4194 Tulsa Central Library•• - - 400 Civic Center• - - 918-596-7977 Tulsa Eagle· - • - -1338 E. 3rd • - •· - • - - - • - - - -918-592-1188 TNT's - - - - - - • 2114 S. Memcriai- - • - - •· - • - 918-660-0856 YeHow-Brick-Rd- - 2630 E. 15th- - - - - - c, - 918-293-0304 \\~~;~i#~~~:,?~:'.f?;~~¥#~,~?~~ .~i~~~~g,t~?:,~listdbutt\ ~1r~.E ~1:>pJes of ,d:t .~Ti~R, .. contact us at 91 itS35;7887 9anito 4pm mon - fri or email: ozaiksstar@sbcglobaLnet 29 GA•~•t>a 'I'itlsa's GAIBSTNdghborhood' New and Historic Homes forS~le and Rent. GREAT HISTORIC APARTiMENTS & FLATS TOOi. . . Walk to Brady Arts District, Shovis, Restaurants, Parks, Glubs}Ba:rs .. Shops. On the Edge of D:Ovintowri. For more info Go to: www.gaybtadyheightstiJlsa.com 1st Annual Gala Celebration "Linking Togei:her as One" Friday, Deceinber 15th, 2006 7:00 P.1'.1. Clarion Inn Favettevi!le 1255 So. Shiloh, Fayetteville AR 72701 , ' For more informacion: w-~"w'.NWAGLBTCC.ORG Nj55 lorch Tulsa USofA October 27th, 2006 Openarms Youth Project Calling all Contestants Entry fee $50.00 Official Prelim. to Miss Oklahoma USofA info@openarmsproject.org CHECK OUT UNIQUE EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS www.diversitypride.com and www.eurekapride.com ,',,' ' ' ~ Full Boqy, Sport;, .f-lot .Stone ** Hand .c. u. rd F... Q..o tiScr.·.u .b s ,arid·Weekends ' : ' " '::·,'. ', :: '. ,,,;'" ,,. ', . Call for an:app<intment and rates. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVE FOR OKLAHOMA, KANSAS MISSOURI OR ARKANSAS qualifications ro ozarksstar@sbcglobal.net or mail to: 5103 S. Sheridan, #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 CONGRA-rOLA'flONS! 1-r•s GAY! Get results with STAR Classifieds! NGA BAR.&GRILL Sunday Champaqne Brunch All you can eat soup and salad bar l lam-2pm $8.99 Monday & Tuesday Well Martinis $2.50 4pm-7pm Best Prime Rib in Town' Friday & Saturday Nights Bar favorites, restaurant favorites and many new items for your enjoyment pleasure NEW WINTER RATES - $45• * Plus tax, excludes suites ,.; - ' \ 1 PEC'S A LEATHER/LEVI BAR CLOSED MONDAYS Sun 7pm - 2am, Tues-Thurs 7pm-9pm wear your leather and get your well drinks for $2.50 Sun Thur, 7pm-2am Fri and Sat, 4pm-2am RUDY'S PLACE PIANO BAR Rudy's Place is a non-smoking establisthment Early for cocktails. late for a night cap CLUB ROX CLOSED MONDAY SIZZLIN' SUNDAYS With Whitney Paige HOLLYWOOD IDOL Wednesday Nights with Taylor Brayns Sign up at 9:30pm, Starts at 10pm Finals Audience Votes (the more people you bring the more votes you get) VIXENS Saturday Nights with Shantel Mandalay at l 0pm ALISON SCOTT SHOW Friday. Oct. I >th & 27th at 9:30pm MISS HOLLYWOOD US OF A Sunday Novei11ber J 2. 2006 I st Prize: $1,000.00 PLUS $500.00 credit towards Kayne Original Gown Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2006] The Star Magazine, October 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 10 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource October 01, 2006 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Online text PDF Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Star Magazine’s first issue began February of 2005. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004) and The Ozark Star (2004). Follows is The Metro Star (2008). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource C.D. Ward Greg Steele Josh Aterovis Douglas Glenn John Patrick Michael Dee Kay Massey Paul Wortman Carlotta Carlisle Victor Gorin Greg Gatewood Libby Post Andrew Collins Donald Pile Ray Williams Michael Hinsman Jack Fertig Liz Highleyman Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwest Missouri Western Arkansas Southeast Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Star Magazine, September 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 9 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/243 The Star Magazine, November 1, 20006; Volume 3, Issue 11 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/241 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/242 Advice Bitter Girl Bryan White AIDs Fund Chelsea Boys Comic Strips Gay and Lesbian History Month Herland HIV research HIV/AIDs testing Jim Verraros Kathy Taylor Kris Kohl Lesbian Notions Literary Pride MCC McWillie Chambers Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats OUT in Arkansas OUT of the Womb Out OK Film Festival Past Out Q Scopes star classified Star Distributors Star Scene The Laramie Project travel Tulsa Community Center Uncle Mikey https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/2bff2a76c797c03b97759a28d4de8741.jpg 3f5f432ac56a627693978eb103ddf68a https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/c9fd578a4bc89e0a1e36c5b23554be24.pdf ba59ebfa3ba5042e99b1f72143c36cc0 PDF Text Text ��������������������������������� Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document 4 the STAR M HEART TO HEART Acting Straight! The way gay men have a tendency to worship the heterosexual image. In white culture, it's the whole Abercrombie model obsession. In the African-American culture, thev call them homothugs. · •• LESBIAN NOTIONS Social Change Calling: "Part of what you do as a member of a community is rake care of others," Carey, 39, told me." A retrospective ofLGBT History. Last month "August 25, 1984 (22 years ago this week): Author Truman Capote dies in Los Angeles. Gay Travelers "East Coast or Wesr Coast?" & "West Hollywood" Out of Town "Houston, Texas" .. ASK UNCLE MIKEY DEAR UNCLE: I caught my boyfriend at a local park with another man. I had my suspensions, and followed him to find him doing a trick in the bathroom. I was so appalled, INDEX Heart to Heart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 6 Lesbian Notions ................................. 10 Inspiring Fitness. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... 12 Entertainment. .................... . Past Out. .............................. . Tulsa GLBT Center News. . ...... . Star Scene ............ . Uncie Mikey ........... . The Bistro .............. . C!assifieds .. STAR DiSTRiBUTION: 15 . ..... .26 . ...... 27 ... 28 29 .......... 30 .31 OKLAriOMA C1TY •TULSA• LAvVTON • MCALESTER ' !:NiD ' LITTLE ROCK * FAYETTEVILLE FT SMITH • EUREKA SPRINGS • HOT SPRiNGS • BENTONVILLE ' ROGERS * K.ANSAS C!W SPRINGFIELD• jQPL!N" BRANSON AREA.* WiCHffA • PITTSBURG • JUNCTION CTr' TULSA GAY COUPLE IS ALLOWED EXCISE TAX EXEMPTION BY OKLAHOMA TAX COMMISSION. By Greg Steele TULSA, 0 K__Memoriai Day weekend 2006 Matt Brumley and Michael Oaks traveled to Barnstable, Massachusetts from Tulsa and were legally married as a same sex couple under the laws of the state of Massachusetts. Of course we all know same sex mariiage is banned in the state of Oklahoma. In last months (August 2006) issue of the STAR we reported on Matt and Michaels marriage and their quest to transfer an automobile title from Matt to Michael. The state iaw allows married couples to transfer or add a spouse to a title without paying excise tax. In this case the tax was $244. TI1e couple decided to take the Tax Commission to task and presented their legal marriage license to a tag agency at 17th and Harvard. The agency employee told them the State of Oklahoma did not recognize gay marriage and they would have to pay the excise tax. A friend then advise them to try another agency. An agency employee at 91st and Sheridan checked with the tax commission and the titled was issued. The couple was determined by the tax commission w be family and the excise tax was waived. As the STAR went w press last month Michael and Matt were anxiously waiting for the original tide to arrive in the mail. Hoping the state had not disailowed the family exemption. The next day Mact called and told us rhey had received the certificate of tide from the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The foll.owing is the tax Jaw regarding exemptions. Article 710:60-7 - 2. HExcise tax is levied on e--,.:ery transfer of legal O'\vnership unless a specific tax exemption applies. ()nly transfers made "'V?ithout consideration bet\Veen husband and wife or parent and child or vice versa, are exempt. A Fam.ily i\ffidavit (Forn-1 794) tnust be included \vith the other supporting documentation and is to be attached to the nde document." :i\.fatt and ~vfichael did fiie the 1\Jfida">J,.-it and presented a copy of their n!farriage I..icense as a supporting document. * ( 1 Gold Castle "At Centu,y 21 Gold Castle our BEST properties are our PEOPLE' )7 4301 NW 63rd, Suite 100 lahoma City, OK 73116 405.840.2106 -5 Proudly serving ]Ulsa & ()I(.C1s (;t,B'l'"' co1nmunities since '198 the STAR 5 "Acting Straight" I recently watched rhe first season of the hit Logo series Noah's Arc on DVD. Whiie I doubt there are any Emmy nominations in the show's near future, it's really sweet and entertaining. I coum myself among its fans now. One of che things that most impressed me was the way it didn't shy away from tackling tough subjects with unflinching honesty. One of the mpics raised was the way gay men have a tendency to worship the heterosexual image. In whire culture, it's the whole Abercrombie model obsession. In the AfricanAmerican culture, they cali them homothugs. That got me thinking about how ofi:en I used to date a guy who could easily have been described as straight acting. By his nature, he was very masculine: liked guns and cars, played in a death-metai band, and always dressed in a sloppy-casual style that was as far from the typical "gay styie" as you co~id get. He had a sweet, sensitive side, but he viewed it as more of a weakness than anything. On more than one occasion, I heard him make extremely homophobic remarks. It alwavs bothered me, but I was still struggling with finding my own ide"utity at the time, so I never made an issue of it. After we broke up, I remember him telling me about a time when he was om with a group of his straight friends, none of whom knew he was gay, and they started assaulting a couple of obviously oay • . t,. guys. He couidn't understand why I found the situation so disturbing. Eventua!iy, I came to realize that he was extremely self-hating. Going into the military and having to crawl even deeper into the closet certainly didn't help. Today, he's dating a woman even though he's rold me he still considers himself gay. He's taking acting straight to a whole new level. I think a big part of his issue is chat he'!i never fit societv's idea of what it means to be gay. He could never be somebody's.girlfriend. Of course, you and I know thac not every gay man has to fit the stereotype, but his fear was that if people knew he was gay, they would assume he did. He was always afraid people would judge him as someching he wasn't. Obviousiv, we can't biame all his issues on societv. He's responsible for his ov:;n actions, and the general pubiic is ch~nging as quickly as it can. These things take time. However, the gay community has to share in the blame. We've accepted the idea that rhere's a specific code of conduce that makes one gay or straight. So many gay people are caughr up in negative image ideas. Some feel they have to act a certain way in order I hear someone gay use the expression "straight-acting" co describe another gay man. The more I thought about it, the more offensive it became. I'm sure I've been guilty of using it in ,he past, but more recently, I've come to realize iust how damaging th~ term can be both ~vithin and outside the LGBT community. By continuing to embrace phrases like to be gay -- you have to worship lvfadonna, call all your guy friends "girlfriend," and sleep around as much as possibie. Hey, if that's who vou reallv are,then great! You stra· -acting, we're be you. 'Th~ proble1~ is, I've seen so manv young gay guys just coming out embrace these rraits simply because they've been led to believe that's what being gay means. How does one even act straight? Is there ., • ' i - .... pe, -,,_,,,uating the idea that there is a proper way to act gay. On the flip side, I've also seen many gay guvs who are so busv trving to emulate he~erosexuals rhat tl~ey ;tart rn resem ,heir one prescnoect way to oe necerosexuai; And why wouid a gay person eve,1 wane ro act straight' Possibly because the flip side of acting sc:·aighc w·ouid be acting gay. Ask your average foe on the street v,hat it means to act crav and you~re likely to ge~ a laundry list of gay stereotypes: !irn; ~rist, lispJ obsession with appearance1 Aan1boyant. and efferninate. rnavbc v:ith r H • in , . ,.. ,. , ,. ... ., , _, a rev.r you goj gins thro\vn 1n tor good 1neasure. lJo I know any gay peoph: who fit rhat description" Sure. But l knov, even more w1' 10 d on) L 111 1e trutuh ,1 s th, ere are as n1any ,;,rays re act gay as tn' cre arc to act straight. It's the stereotypes rhat scare son1e people, though. more flamboyant brothers. I hate ro hear a gay man say something iike, ·'I can't stand £Jamey guys:' That's just as homophobic as Fred Phelps picketing a gay funeral with a "God Hates Fags .. sign. Again} I want to stress that jf you~re naturally inclined to be fi~n1i~ ain::: or, masculine, then rur; ,.~ith i(! I don't believe there's anything rnore treeing than accepting \Vho you reaHy are. I have a close friend v,;ho foughc for years against his desire to be a drag queen. 'X'hen -r>/ve first n1et him, he ... vas struggling to tone do\vn his fiarnboyant nature for the sake of his straight friends. C)ver the course of the. last fi~\\' years, he stopped trying to be something he V/asn't and c::nntinued next page 6 Advertising in the STAR is just good business cents Heart to Heart simoly allowed the real him to shine thr~ugh. Today, he's happier than ever, and he didn't lose a single friend in the process. In fact, all his friends have been 100 percent supportive. The idea that there is only one way to be gay is extremely damaging, not just for those of us already free from the closet, but for those who haven't come out as well. Here's the catch-22: The more non-stereotypical gay people who come out, the more the stereotypes will be debunked, but the very ones V:I{o need to come out in order to do this mav be afraid to come out because they don't fe~l they fit the stereotypes. By continuing to embrace phrases like straight-acting, we're perpetuating the idea that there is a proper way to act gay. The truth is you can't act gay or straight. The words only describe what gender you're attracted to, and how do you act as if you're attracted to the opposite sex? So let's get rid of the mindset that there is a particular way to be gay or straight. If we want society to accept us as we are, we have to accept each other first. We have to realize thar v:e come in ail shapes and sizes, colors and creeds. We range from magnificently masculine to fabulously feminine, and everything in-between: There is no one way to "act gay," so let's celebrate all of the many colors that make up our rainbow flag. We need to stop acting like anything, and just be who we -are. Quotable Quotes 'Tm not even aware that I'm famous until people remind me. I wake up every single day and I have my life, and it's pretty normal. I drhie myself to work. I don't get driven rn w-ork; I don't have a chef that makes me breakfast in the morning. I don't think that I'm fu.mous until I come hen:: and it's like, 'Oh, that's right.' Even then, this is my job.'' Ellen DeGen.cres to The Advocate:, Photo by Victor Gorin; Left to right Jennifer Seal Democrat running for State House District 85, Al McAffery, Linda Gray Murphy and Krith Smith. Oklahoma to get first openly gay legislator Third "red state" to elect its first openly gay lawmaker this year. by Denis Dison Washington DC - Al McAffrey is poised to become the first openly gay member of the Oklahoma state legislature after winning his Democratic primary Tuesday night to represent District 88 in the Oklahoma Srare House. He faces no Republican opposirion in the general election in November. ]he win in Oklahoma comes on the heels of significant milestones for rhe LGBT community in red states this year, including the election of Patricia Todd to the state house in Alabama, and the election of Karhy Webb to the state house in Arkansas. Both Victory Fund-endorsed candidates won their Democratic primaries and are unopposed in . ,. ..... . d 'b ... rhe general election. 1odd an Web w11! becon1e their states' first-ever openly gay elected officials. ''Ars ... .vin is more proof that what fair-tninded Americans car~ about most are issues that directly affect their lives/' said Chuck Wolfe, President and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. "2006 is shaping up to be a breakthrough year for the Victory Fund. Smart, qualified LGBT candidates, backed by our national network of donors, are proving that we can add voices for equality everywhere," Wolfe added. McAffrey, 58, is a member of the Choctaw Nation, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, a formec policeman, a father and a grandfather. He was endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which helped raise thousands of dollars to fund his campaign. Victory endorsee Jim Roth, an incumbent who sits on the Oklahoma Counrv Commission, was unopposed in his prim~ry race. Rhonda Rudd:a Victory candidate seeking the Democratic nomination to represent Discrict 46 in the Oklahoma State Senate, lost her race to a Democratic Party insider. The Gav & Lesbian Victory Fund provides strategi~, technical and fin~cial support w openly LGBT candidates and officials. It's the only narional organization soldy committed to increasing the number of openiy LGBT public officiais at federal, state and local levels of government. Victory is the nation's largest LGBT political action committee. In 15 years, Victory has helped the number of openly LGBT officials in the U.S. grow from 49 to more than 300. For more information, visit w"'..vw.victoryfund. org. * theSTAR 7 20tli}1.nniv 8 theSTAR IVERSITY FESTIVAL FOR us and ABOUT us! Con,e 1J1t•Y, shop and p,ay In HISTORIC ~ureka Springs, Ark•n••s, Voted one or •THE 100 Bl!ST SMALL ART TOWNS*I Find them something truly UNZQUE1'or the holidays! PLUS •••• dance•, concen,,, and ot:her pride •n,antal Lesbian Notions by Libby Post SEPTEMBER 2006 Social Change lling A poker player. A mom. A dedicated LGBT activist. A top-notch not-for-profit executive. · These are just a few of the ways you can describe Rea Carey, the deputy executive director at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. From Carey's peispective, how she defines herself is quite clear. "Part of what you do as a member of a community is take care of others," Carey, 39, told me. "In many ways, I can't imagine whar else I'd be doing other than work that somehow makes change." Creating change - while also the name of the Task Force's annual confab of LGBT activists - is Carey's calling. It is what fuels her commitment to LGBT issues and the work she does at the Task Force. It all started at home in Denver, Colo. She was influenced earlv on by her politically active parents and the politicos who would find their way into her living room - people like Pat Schroeder and Gary Hart, who, at the time, Carey thought, were about 20 years old. "They were actually older. They were young Democrats getting elected," she said. "It lefc an imprint on me that people can get elected and do good for their community." Coming out at 16, at the very beginning of the HIV/ AIDS epidemic, jump-started Carey's activism. "I was affecred by HIV in a very personal way - a numbei of my friends were getting infected. But politically and intellectually, I was impacted by the broader group of thinkers who were writing for Gay Community Ne~ (GCN) and Outlook," said Carey. Published out of Boston, GCN was one of the country's first gay papers and was national in iis scope. Outlook was a quarterly journal that began publishing shortly after the 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. While neither is still around, they are both heralded in LGBT journalism circles for their ground-breaking work Not finding a "definabie community" in l 980s Denver, Carey went to college where she was guaranteed one - Smith College in Northampton, Mass. Northampton has, in the oast, been calied Lesbianville in various mainstr;am media. ' After graduation, Carey ended up in the nation's caoitaL "I had frie~ds i? D.C. I 'Nas j;st going ~o sray a few years. '1 ended up never leaving. 10 the STAR After 17 years of working with a host of advocacy and not-for-profit organizations - with a brief hiatus to get a Master's in public administration from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government - Carev found herself as a consultant for ~he Task Force. - , "I have always loved rhe Task Force. I just love the values, the work, and the longevity. I was consulting with them, Matt [Foreman, the group's executive director] came on board, and I truly enjoyed working with him," she explained. "After a whiie, we both agreed it would be great if I came on as deputy executive director." That happened in February of 2004, and Carey couldn't be happier. She and Foreman work hand-in-hand running the Task Force. "He's a New Yorker, but we're both from the West," she said. "We work in partnership - Matt is the more public face, but I really enjoy the internally focused and strategic work." Carey has overseen some tremendous growth at the Task Force in her two-year tenure. "If what we wanted to do was heip create political power for the community from the ground up, we needed two new program departments," she explained. In addition to rhe Policy Institute, which serves as an LGBT think tank, and the Organizing and Training department, the Task Force's two new departments are Public Policy & Government Affuirs and Movement Building. The public policy department is not just about monitoring legislation, but about getting federal resources and funds flowing to locai LGBT organizations, she explained. Along with that work, the movement building initiative brings the Task Force's expertise to the local level. "\Xle've always been focused on the grassroots, and now we're able to provide resources and give attention to the state and local organizations and ro the infrastructure of the movement." To start, the Task Force is working with five statewide groups in Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Washington, and Kentucky. "Over time, we'll hone the model to benefit other srare organizations." Carey may seem to be married to her work, but in reality she's in a committed relationship with Margaret Conway, a DOB Worldwide executive who creates advocacy campaigns. They met at a lesbian poker game 12 years ago, have been together for six, and are raising a daughter. 'Tm both proud and lucky to have been at the right place at the right time to be able to participate in one of this country's key social justice movements," she said. "The ability to actually live the values that I grew up with, that I got from my parents and my community, is what I certainly hope we pass along to our daughter.' If her daughter is anything like her, I'm sure Carey has a budding activist on her hands. Mica Barnes Headlines 1st Summer Diversi Pride in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. By Carlotta Carlisle Photo: Mica Barnes by Nancy Wood EUREKA SPRlNGS, AR_The first Eureka Springs Summer Diversity Weekend was held August 3rd-5th. With ;;he Summer event, Eureka Springs now boast four diversity weekends a year. The Valentines Dance in February, Spring and Fall Diversity celebrations are heid in April and November. Diversity Pride Events produced Micah Barnes from Toronto, Canada, vocalisdrecording artist/composer, for a concert at the historic Auditorium. And made the Diversity Bears happy with comic Bobaloo, from Los _Angeles. Other v,rcekend activities included n1en's and women1s pool parties, Yards & 13.rds of:{ard Sales:- the first annual City-Wide Silent Auction, Diversity Camp ()ut, an lJgliest Dresser c:ontest Golden ()ldie.s and other dances, and other events geared tov1ard the gibt con1munity and their straight ailies. * OKLAHOMA CITY TO HOST INTERNATIONAL GAY BOWLING· ORGANIZTION TOURNAMENT AND CONVENTION. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - The OKCiassic Bowling Association is pleased to announce that Oklahoma Citv will be the host citv for the International Gay Bowling Organi~tion's (IGBO) 2007 Mid-Year Tournament and Convention. The event will be held November 7-12, 2007. Members of the OKClassic Bowling Association committee traveled to Calgary, Alberta, Canada in November of 2005 to presem its bid to host this annual event. The committee hosted a well-received hospitality suite on Timrsday night. Early Friday afternoon, the commirtee presented a singing slideshow bid presentation to the governing board ofIGBO. The presentation was greeted with rousing applause and an immediate vote to accept the bid as presented. IGBO is the world's largest GLBT sports organization with over 170 member leagues and over 60 member tournaments. OKClassic has hosted one ofIGBO's largest and most-respected tournaments for over 16 years and has donated over $100,000 to local charities in the process. Oklahoma City hosted IGBO's 1994 Annual Tournament and Convention. The com!nittee has begun the extensh·e preparations required to host this event. I: is expected that 600-800 people from all over the world will attend this even:. in addition to the bowling events, the committee will host 4 days of IGBO i:msiness meetings, many hospitaiit} and social eYents, and a display of panels of ~he AIDS quilt. Tl:e event culminate:~ :n an elaborate awa:ds banquet on Sunday eYening. ~fhe theme for the tournan1ent and con,. vention is "fr:erything's Going MY \X'ay''. Host hotel for the event will be The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites at 63rd & Robm~on. l{ost bo"-.vling centers ,vill be 1-ieritagc L.anes at 122nd & Penn and 'X7indsor L,ancs at 23rd & J\1eridiarl. ·rne banquet ~rte \Vill be 1•h,;, e:-rkc R - m ... RP•'Y'li-- ttr:n 1) ~·1~ 1. ......... Jll .... 00.a.,.. .. at ..... ~ .. ._ ... ...11~.u'.~. l 3Jt\. ivlore 1nfor1nation about the tournarncnt * Creating Community for ,, Peopie living HI \Vith IQ('\ I \) A ;01 r ,,J,,'1 "Nor: Prorr1t r1 .. g.0 111· "a-uion ...... V .,- ...... \ i .L' .1... -- ~ .. V-1. (t L· Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to heip combat the social isolation that manv of our I people live through each and everydav. We provide a Toiletrv and House- , J hold Pantry for those who are HlV+ and or iiving with AIDS vvho cannot afford to purchase these items for themseives. We invite anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us bv ohone 918-585-9552 or e.. maii / l • harr1c:mmirt,:;,v~hon t'Drn I• • lV,, ,, f •;! ~J ""'-'. V, -..,i~ , t l, the STAR 11 s I sit here listening to the Pet Shop Boys Go West, I contemplate the proper way to begin this inaugural fitness column for the STAR. It should begin with an introduction of mvsel£ Mv name is Ron Blake and I am a personal fitness trainer/ow~er for Blake Fitness in Phoenix, Arizona~ I have been training individuals for ten years in Indiana, Illinois, California, and now the Grand Canyon State. My favorite color is blue, my favorite movie is Rear Window. and mv favorite beer is Stella Artois. OK, so enough with the form~lities. Go to my website at www.blakefitness. com and I'm sure I can bore you with more minutia. Now that I have your atrention, let's get on with it. So how do I NOW begin? The same way that I've always done it with everything in life and especially my fitness training. le starts with levity and fun. The key to life is to enjoy that very thing .. .life. How to do that? Fun. Fun with moderate doses of responsibility. As a fimess trainer, my job is to encourage you to take responsibility for your life. Maybe not quire to the degree of your friendly neighborhood preacher who pounds the pulpit and proclaims all homosexuals doomed to kiss the conflagration of hell because of their evil and irresponsible ways. i'm a kinder, gentler more compassionate kind of fitness trainer. At least that's what they taught me whe;1 I was still a straight boy in college. 1hen I saw the light when I ran into this self-absorbed fitness enthusiast who converted me into a rainbow flag-waving, Prada dressing exi:rovert and taught me that I too could earn a free waster ifl could just convert three breeder boys to the dark side. No more tangent ;:houghts or digressions. }bis is a fitness column and I've got.a save you heathens from your licentiou$ and hedonistic lifes,yies. So as I was saying ... any fimess program you embrace shouid iirvolve fun. Yeah, 1.-vorking out does involve hard work and dedication. We aii know that. It shouid also be something you look forward to and get excited about. Otherwise, why do it. Bur yes there is hard work involved and I v,ould be remiss ifI didn't mention that. .After all I come from a corn-fed lvfichvestern bac!r~round that is engrained with a great -μ1ork ethic. 'Why else do you think fcllo\v ·12 the STAR Hoosiers like David Letterman, Orville Redenbacher, Kurt Vonnegut, and Michael Jackson would be so successful. During my ten years of training clients and coaching high school athietes, I have stressed one thing and that is for them to simply enjoy the ride as each day passes. In many ways I feel like an entertainer who tries to regale my clients with the lighter side of life. Fitness training should be a method of escaping the harsh realities of the daily grind. It makes a perfect opportunity to channel any frustrations or aggressions in an appropriate manner. I have informed my clients that they mighr not have control over what goes ◊n in iife but that they certainly have the power to control what goes on in their lives. This control should be used when deciding the who and where of your workout. First who will you workout with. Choose someone who will motivate vou, make you laugh, and validate the quality person that you are. Choose so~eone who is reliable, trustworthy, and goal-oriented. Choose someone who will help you change your life for the better. Then where will you work out? Choose someplace that has pretty curtains, Tiffany lamps, and leather recumbent sofas. What? I'm just being a smanass. It's not really my cup o' tea but hey if it works for you then do it! You need to choose a piace that fits your scyle and personality and a place that will allow you to have fun during your workout sessions. Find that place where vou can adjust the radio to any station and any volume: Find that place where you can take off your shirt and walk around flexing in front of the mirrors like you would at your favorite gay haunt on a Saturday night. Find someplace that is relaxed and understanding. We ail want results when we begin a fitness routine. It just doesn't need to be approached as a dreaded task. You have the power. You have the control. You can have fun. Two of my favorite motivational sayings that I give to my clients are from Victor Borge and Mary Pettibone Poole respectively: "Laughter is the shortest distance between rwo people" and "He who laughs, lasts." * I've pia gay ors also they sta wouldr· McGee· 'Yelvet September 16th 2006:.,. aid Llve'atTHE ~~ · riieOeBarge & Kr.i's September 17th 2006: (Tulsa, O!dahonia) Sep;eniber 23rd 2006: (MaA!ester, Oklahom ©ctobcr 6th 2006:. (Oklalicima City) 13 ast Out by Liz Highleyman SEPTEMBER 2006 Summary : Past Out is a retrospective of key moments, personalities, and subjects in LGBT history. Each installment brings the past to life by exploring the diversity of the gay past and its impact on the queer present. Who was Truman Capote? Author Truman Capote, who popularized the genre of creative nonfiction, was as well-known for his open homosexuaiity and his extravagant social life as he was for his writing. Truman Streckfus Persons was born September 30. 1924, in t,Jew Orleans. As a young boy, he was sent to live with his mother's relatives in rural Monroeville, Ala., while his parents divorced. He moved to New York City at about age 10 to llve with his mother and her new husband, Cuban businessman Joseph Capote. 'Though highly intelligem, Capote despised school and dropped out at age 17 ro take a job as a copy boy at the New Yorker. He never attended college, believing that "either one was or wasn't a writer, and no combination of professors could influence the outcome." Capote's first major published work, the short story "Miriam," which appeared in _lvfademoise!!e_ in 1945, won an 0. Henry Award and led to a book contract with Random House. By chis time, he had already adopted a flamboyant style - _New Yorker_ colleague Brendan Gill recalled him "sweeping through the corridors of the magazine in a black opera cape, his long golden hair falling to his shoulders" - and a penchant for social climbing. Capote's first book, _ Other Voices, Other Rooms (1948), was a semi-autobiographical novel about his chi!dhood in Alabama. 'Though controversia! ~or its dep:ctions of ,ape, transvestism, and homosexuality, the boqk was a smash hit. Equally sensational was the photograph on che book jacket, ·,vhich showed the handsome young author reclining in a ianguorons pose with a come-hither expression. Capote's work rcflecrc<l a mix of Somhern whimsy and New York Citv. so1•h:··ti,"1t:or rrc">'hg wl•a, ,..,:,,,.1bom~, Dulre, _. ,I .. -' J.:')~ ~~~ . .l »} - ,a.!. J. , ,tl .,. .._.1._~l.r . u.,. .,\.. ~ characterized as "the quintessential hon1osexual v,riting style of the 1950s and 1960s." Many people were rahn with Capote's boyish charm, including several high~socicr;,r n1atrons v.:ho acted as benefactors . .:In those days 'Trun1an vvas about the best con1panion you could ,vant." recalled feUtPN author I'cnnessee \Villiams. HI-le bad not turned n1aliciousiy birchy.'1 Capote had one of his firsr serious: a professor of literature :-H Srnith 14 the STAR met Jack Dunphy, a working-class writer. 'Jhe two men shared a nonexclusive partnership for neariy 40 years, living togerhe:· in Sicily in the l 950s, and later residing in two separate houses on the same property in the Hamptons on Long Island. After returning from Europe, Capote puolishec one of his bestknown worl.-_s, Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958), ·.vhich reiated :he adventures of free-spirited Holiy Golightly. He was not happy with the 196 i film adaptation, starring i\ucirey Hepbur:1, which toned down the language and made the male lead heterosexual. In 1959, Capote began work on In Coici Blood, a story about the murder of a rural Kansas farm family. which he researched with the help of his childhood friend, author Harper Lee. 'Though the work - serialized in the New Yorker in 1965 and published as;; book the following year - was hugely popular, some critics charged that Capote became too emotionaliy involved with the alleged killers, yet failed to adequately aid their defense because he required their execution as a dramatic denouemem ro his tale. In Cold Biood brought Capote even more fame and considerable fortune. To celebrate, he hosted a Black and White Ball at New York's Plaza Hotel in November 1966, which many considered to be the social event of the era. Despite his success, Capote began drinking heavily and asing drugs in rhe late l 960s. A fixture on the television talk-show circuit, he established himself as a catty queen spreading scandalous gossip about old friends and benefactors. During these years. he began work on what he hoped wouid be his Proustian magnum opus, A . nswcred Prayers. The book was never completed, but a few inscaliments appeared in Esquire in the mid-l 970s. His mean-spirited portrayals of the rich and famous earned him rhe nick;;ame "the Tinv Terror,'' and he was shunned by his former high-society friencis. ' W'ith the waning of his youthful good looks, Capo:e became a caricarure of his former self. During a falling out with Dunphy in the 1970s, he began frequenting New York City bathhouses, picking up working-ciass men many years his junior. Ioward the end of the decade, however, he entered drug and alcohol rehabilitation and reconciled with Dunphy. Adopted into Andy Warhol's circle, Capote became a habitue at Studio 54 and revived his career by writing for Warhoi's Interview magazine. His last collection of short stories, Music for Chameleons (1980), was again a bestsdler. In his final years, Capote becan-:.e increasingiy jealous and paranoid, accusing fellow authors of appropriating his sr1ie ai;.d compiaining bitterly aoout what he viewed as inadeqt,ate recogni,ion of his work. He conrir.ued to drink and use drugs, his health cic,eriorated, and he grew increasing!:,' reclusive. r-ie died of liver disease ;ma drug intoxication on August 25, l 984. Despite his downfali, Capote largely fulfilied his dr,~am,. "l \.Vas not ineant to vvork in an office/' he said in a 1978 intcrviclv. ,;I ahvays knew that I ,.vanted to be a \-vritcr and that J vlan1.ed to he rich and fan1ous." For further reading: Clarke, Gerald. 1988. __ Capme: A Biography_ Davis. Deborah. 2006. Parn· of the (~enturv: 'The Fabulous ofTruman (:apote J.nd His Biack•~an.d-\{7hitt' Ball_ Piin1pton, George. 1997 _·rrurnan In \~(!hich \!ariou~ FricndsJ I~nernies .. Acquaintance;;, and lent (Doub!eday). Photo: The new community center coming soon. Sign of the Times: A Decade of Growth at the Tulsa GLBT Community Center The sign wasn't flashv - it was vinvl. No lights,~no neon, no iv screens .. '. just vinyl with rhe words Gav Communitv Center printed on it. Ti:affic,came to a cr~nching hair. Some drivers honked in support. Crcarive individuals voiced loud opinions some good, some not so good. Others took a different approach. Eviction. A simple vinyl sign that caused the Tulsa Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual & Transgender (GLBT) Community Center to move 3 rimes in its firsr decade, also broughr a community togcrher to realize a dream for rhe second time. The fast dream had come true ia October 1996, vvhcn Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights (TOHR) opened the original ''Pride Center'' at 38th & Peoria. 'Ihe 2nd-floor space in an unassuming building quickly became crowded with of~ ferings for all in rhc comn1unity. Ihe ne,v rni1lenniun1, and the fight over that vinyl sign, brought a n1ove to 21st and Memorial, and a ne,v nanu: the 'Ihisa Gay Comrnunit:{ Services Center. J\ sign •,1;ent up, but only the initial~ GLBT were permine<l by the landlord despite agreeing eariier to aliow the vvords Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender. n Four years of an abbreviated still the no".v narned TUlsa Community Center moved to an improved space ac 5545 E 41st Street in Highland Plaza - with plans to light up a sign. Those pians yet again came to a halt as a third landlord in ten years, despite rental agreements, refused to approve even the initials GLBT on an exterior sign. Ihese objections were a sign of the times that showed discrimination was still alive. But, the unintended consequence was a community more focused and galvanized than ever before. The sign that caused cars to crash also set into motion a community determined to take a dream to the next level - an owned Tulsa Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual & Transgender Community Cemer with a sign that proudly said so. That first vinyl sign will have a permanent home in the soon-to-open Tulsa Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual & Transgender Community Center at 621 E 4th Street in downtown Tulsa. A new sign thac will light up the East Village will also be a beacon to the entire region. 'Die sign of this time will proudly announce the GLBT & allied communitv has fully arrived, has a permanent home ;nd will keep a permanent presence. A Growing Community A Big Home 1he Tulsa GLBT Community Center, 5545 E 41st Street, is filled with what the sign (inside the window) says community. The Community Resource Kiosk, the PRIDE Store, the Family Room, che Commons, Health Testing, the Nancy McDonald Rainbow Librarv a11d the David Bohnett CvberCenter ar~ some of communiry-orie~ ted programs inside the Center. Now in just over 3,000 square feet, the new downtown Center, at 18,000 square feet, will allow growth for a!l in the community. the over 20 TOHR programs and most importantly - provide growth for you, your friends & family and for all of Oklahoma and surrounding states. In its l 0th Anniversarv year of 2006, the Tulsa GLBT Commu~icy Center has seen a 317% growth in traffic. The move to the 6th largest GLBT Community Center in the nation comes none too soon as visitor number l 0,000 - for just this year, will soon walk through the doors. The growing list of community groups utilizing the: Center will soon find an extra 15,000 squaxe feet to serve ~~~:gr~=i~;:~::1 ~~::;1~~:i~e~~:grams ar~ of the lifespan of GLBT persons and their families. The GLBT & allied community will enjoy bigger and better facilities available for social events, seminars, weddings, meetings, private events ... the list is nearly endless. While the Tulsa GLBT Community Center prepares to move this Fall, the current Center at 5545 E 41st Street remains active and open Monday through Saturday, 3:00-9:00 PM. The David Bohnett CyberCenter, with 10 flat-screen computer stations, welcomes over 300 people a month. HIV Testing, Tuesdays from 6 PM to 8 PM and Saturdays from 4 PM to 7 PM, is the only place in the area to get a free 20-minute result HIV test. The PRIDE Store, with the area's largest selection of rainbow merchandise, has the best values in town. The Tulsa GLBT Information Line at 918.743.GAYS (4297), your source for nightclub locations, business information and medical, legai, counseling, etc. referrals, has experienced a 503% increase in calls over the past year. The social activities through the Center also hit a high note this Fall. Two big events, Out on the Town & the TO HR Annual Meeting, highlight the month of September. Out on the Town with Dinner & DIVAS You don't always get it this good. Start the evening in downtown Tulsa at Tsunami Sushi. The famed entrees and intriguing interior of the trend-setting downtown restaurant begins a night Out on the Town with Dinner & DNAS on Sarurday, September 9, 2006. After dinner, rhe expected SRO crowd will walk down the block to enjoy rhe DIVAS 2006 concerr ar the Tuisa Performing Arts Center (PAC). This year's concert is produced by local talent Rebecca Ungerman and promises ro be a nighr to remember. 'Ihe evening will include an a!I-srar line-up, showcasing Rebecca Ungermann, Cindy Cain, John Sawyer, Pam Van Dyke-Crosby, Christy Hanewinkel, .Annie Ellicott, lvfary Cogan, Heather RichettoRumly, Debbie Zanerhaft ,md Meredith '~eger. Tulsa World fashion columnist Jason Ashley \Xrighr and Fox 23 anchor Chera Kirniko will co~host the evening ,vith heart fi.lied humor. DIVAS 2006 benefits H.O.P.E. (Health Outreach, Prevention and Education) and provides necessary resou.rces to.co~,:~~u~ the fight against HJV/i\J[)S and other ::i 1 D's. the STAR 15 Lesbian poised to become Missouri's first openly gay state Senator. by Denis Dison Washington DC -August 9, 2006 - Jolie Justus will likely become the first openly gay state senator in Missouri history after winning her Democratic primary Tuesday night. Justus will face a Republican opponent in November, but the district is considered a safe one for Democrats. "In Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma and now Missouri, excellent candidates are winning historic races. Jolie's win is a testament to her courage, commitment and skill, but it also confirms that fairminded voters everywhere care more about good government than they do about whether their representatives are gay or lesbian," said Chuck Wolfe, President and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which raised money for Justus' campaign from its national donor network. Other breakthrough Victory Fund-supported candidates this year include: Patricia Todd-The first openly gay elected official in Alabama history Kathy Webb-The first openly gay elected official in Arkansas history Al McAffrey-The first openly gay state legislator in Oklahoma history Jolie would join Victory endorsee Jeanette Mott-Oxford, who won easiiy won her primary to retain her seat in the Missouri Srate House. In other election news last night, Allen Thornell, who was vying for a seat in the Georgia State House, narrowly lost his runoff election for the Democratic primary. The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly LGBT candidates and officials. It's the only national organization solely committed to increasing the number of openly LGBT public officials at federal, state and local levels of government. Victory is the nation's largest LGBT poiitical aciion committee and one of the nation's largest non-connected PACs. In 15 years, Victory has helped the number of openly LGBT officials grow from 49 to more than 300. So far in 2006 the Victory Fund has endorsed 64 candidates. * REGISTER NOW! Registration Deadline for the November 7th General Election is October 13. 1 6 the STAR www. □ ZARKSSTAR.C □ M ~ by Donald Pile & Ray Williams est Hollywood (nicknamed WEHO) is proud to be the hip and happening center of gay and lesbian life in Los Angeles. Since its incorporation in 1984, the City of West Hollywood has continued to be recognized as a leading community in gay and lesbian rights. Visitors are assured of welcoming restaurants and bars, interesting special events and comfortable hotel stays. And the zip code for West Hollywood is 90069 ! AU of West Hollywood's hotels are open and inviting to gay and lesbian travelers. San Vicente Inn/Resort.is an exclusive all-gay property with private. clothing optional, tropical .Rama.de.Plaza West Hollywood We have stayed at the Ramada Plaza seve~ I times and it is in the center of everything. Just park your auto there all-suit Le Montrose Suite. Hotel, Pare Suite Hotel are within ce of "The Boulevard.• Out very favorite place to stay was tlie SECRET GARDEN Bed and Break.fast, just a sl:H:>rt block Noi:th of Sunset Boulevard at the foofof the Hollywood Hills. The owner, Bilbao! is one of the nicest, most d giving people that we have ever ':'.:.,.: .......... Continued page-19 ~~0?~~ &:irfl ~~.· ~ TRAVEL by Donald Pile and Ray Williams "East Coast or West Coast?" Ir seems as though most of the gays and lesbians living in the Midwest have a definite opinion on which coast they prefer. Borh coasts have so much to offer. \Xie enjoy both coasts and get to both regularly ..... Florida for January, Califrirnia for April and September and New York and New England .,ometimc in between. California of courn: takes up most of the West Coast except for \'iiashingron and Oregon which has their own gay agenda and it i, :!bsolurcly beaucifol there. All three Scares on the West coast arc cxm: mcly gay-friendly. And there i, such a div<.:r,ity of things to do on che West coast whether your into huscle-busrie of the big cirie, iike San Diego, Los Angele-, and San Fran..:i,co or enjoy the quicrness and rhe beaury of Palm l,prings as well a, the Sunes of \'11/ashington and Oregon. '!he weather in Southern California i, of course always great and even up the coast as far as San Francisco, the winters are extremclv mild. We have spent the Holidays in San Francisco and it is quit<.: warm. Further North into Washington and Oregon it is much cooler in tht Wint<.'.r. One of rhese davs we want w take a three week trip driving all the way from Scarrie. Washington down w San Diego which is nearly J 300 mib. One time we did drii:c from San hanciscn to Los Angeb which is only a 400 mile drive and hy the time we stopped and vi~ited even-thing it took w, "i days! hut wcli worth it. Driving i; the ONLY W,1)" to travel if vou h:ne the time. Driving dow1, from San rL1nci\co you first ,·isir th<: hisroric tO\V!l of !\:lont.crcy, Pchbil' Beach, ( :~~n1h:l and do;vn diru the Ltbulous ( .a .. ;rk·, S~t!: Sin1con to S.u1t~! Barbar~~ and then on to ;\Ldibu, Los ~\ng<..:1:>. L,iguna ~uH.1 Pn l(l ~~!ll J )icgo .. J he :11:iior h1ghvv·a~:~· v,-hi,_h !~, jght Oil the (P<l:--! i:-, hrc·ath-tak!nf, 'Ih,_T,__' ::EC ;0!1s t)f tiH .. ' \V;t\ Hut ilLn -~•Jl!ll' pr:.•i,.:r r 1'.cl'>I o;r•,t \V~~r_•:h ... ·: it j,. Il::·id~i. the liddL.- :\rLPr >-~L'\',' i\frcr leaving Florida, drive ro .S;::.v~!nn~d1, (;eorgia frH a grand tin1c as it is ~uch ::1 historical tO\Vn and the seuing f<.>r the book and n1ovic, .\1idnigh, In 1 he Carden Of C,iud And h·il. For rho,r s(> inclined, then Iv!yrdc Beach, .\(1u1h c:arolina is ~~nother good pi~tcc to Yisir. Be sure 10 visit sornc of the oid c:~\'il \\:'~1r 1nt!\cun1s \vhilc your driving up the coasr:. \firgini~~ Beach is ahYavs fun. -r~kc ,1bnur 3 dav~ ro visit \vashington D.C:. One of rh~ hc~c i.hing, c1bom that citr is ·chat :1lmost cv~rnhing i:, FREE1 The mt,,eum~, arr n!leri<:,. ,1;1d hiswricai sigl1ts arc -~lil frc--~. 0 "lhen hit ~ew York Ci!\". but park vour .mw in one of the surrounding cirie, about 60 miics' ;W.'a;, at one of the parking int, and then take the commuter train into the Cir,-. Aim of churchc, that is close to 1hr commuter train, have gat<.:d. ixukinv lots during '- ~ 0 the wc,·k very inexpensive. New York Cit)" is NOT a place w be driving your auto. After Yl'll !ca1-c New York City then drive thru the scenic wonckrs of the New Engbnd State,. Everything in New England i, extremely gay friendly and ,·er,- historical. You crn so easily get wrapped up in American history. Either end your journev in P-Town or Ogunquit- Maine. Both wwm arc cnn:mcly gar and pl('.11r:,.· o( gay acconirllodation:-; arc found 1h~T,:, So ·.vhcthcr your .w l·.ast ( :oast pcr,on ,,r" \X:nt ( :oa,t perrnn, rake ofr thi~ )UJ11!11er and experience ne,v adventures, make nnv friends and come back lO !he i\lidwcst with a HL'\V pcr:-.pccriv<: on life. \Ve find it tot;1)h amuini; how many people we mecr from the Midwest when tr,1vcling to either coast. Sadh· to say hur borh coasts arc ;nuch · more gay-friencllr tbn here in the Midwest. ,\nd of course several Stares on both coasr~ arc now t<l[aily smoke free. California, Florida, Maine and many pans of New York have ~in ()rdinance against s1noking in JI1)' public place iucluding bars. And the great thins is that the bars arc more popular no\v than the;· ever \Vere. SLClll'.-i ~1~ though p:.:oplc h:1d '.\topped going to th.: bars for only one reason and rh~~t i:; .so tht:.\~ \von!d Jh)! have to ()U! ~:p .,,:i1h rhe \Jl10~~ ... - in the h:1L\. ><P\V. ain:o·< Jil of the l~:lr> ari: ! ,;Jc:-.'->\\·(: I:ccd t;:kc tl [l,_-,_-,o:i fr( 1rn hdtL ,~·n~t:-:t_;.,_ GAY TRAVELERS West Hollywood: !twas like living in "Old Hollywood" whenever we stayed there. However Raymond has now semi-rerired and now resides in PalmSprings. We wish him well. The heart of the gay and iesbian communiry is Sama Monica Boulevard. "The Boulevard" is a pedestrian-friendly street, lined with cafes, shops and clubs. Traveiers wiil meet friendly people and experience an ever-present fun, party-like atmosphere. Arriving in West Hollywood is arriving in the epicenter of the trends that define LA. Of course, the definition of trends in the ciry is never complete without the hot restaurant scene in hip West Hollywood. With LA's greatest and most celebrity-frequented hotspots, restaurants like Mortons, Ago, Lucques and Katana anchor an impressive number of fine and casual din[ng establishments. Experience the tastes celebrities and the rich and famous have known for years. In 1.9 square-miles, West Hollywood opens the doors to kitchens from ail over the world. From quick 'n' casual drive-ups, to some of' the hippest restaurants in LA: West Hollywood's 120+ restaura:ns guarantee chat you'il never go co bed h1;ngry. Party as the partiers do and the "real" party is always in West Hollywood. 'X'hether on weeknights and always on weekends, a steady flow of hipsters and party people flood into the hippest, most fun-spiriced dry around. famous hotspots like Skybar and Standard Lounge, !1ot to mention LAs iive music scene on the Sunset Strip welcome the night right. On Santa Ivfonica Boulevard the party gets red-hot at legendary clubs like Rage, Mickey's and Here Lounge. Shopping is a sport in West Hollywood and with some of the "hautc-esr" comure and sryiish pickings in interior design and art, you are in for a mighty fine "work-our''. From Hermes to Valentino. Anna Sui to Halston, to the rock star garb at Maxfield and Royal Order, this city drops the pretense and shows you ro che latest trends you could only expect from the most stylish place in LA. Nowhere is looking and feeling good more important than in West Hoilywood, where Holiywood's leading men, models, actors and stressed industry types flock to che endiess selection of health dubs and spas for pampering and conditioning. Famous spots like Lulur, Ole Henri;c.sen FaceiBody, and Kinara provide some of the best known spa treatments in the world, while a:nlctic facilities iike Equinox and Angel City Gym provide the '.ares, and greatest in physical conditionlng. Check in a,1d cl~eck out the re'.axa:ion rhat awaits you. And for Art and Cuicure there is the 1k,ors Circle ·n1eacrc. Archirecrure & Design i\fosetun, Coast Playhouse, Globe Playhoi:se, Lee Strasbcrg Thea'.re Mu<cun,, MAK Center for Arr and ?-,rchirccturc and rhe Pacific De~ign Center. And of course don·r miss rhe Getty Museum just a frw miles \Xfes, of\X,'est Holivwcod anci the: \viesemhal j\fu,et:m of":i)Jlernnce ,·mici; h,.:s a ;pecia] section jusr for gays/lesbians. ~TRAVEL You Bv direct!v into lAX lnternacionai Airpon, take a shutr!~ to West I-J:oilv,..,,C:od and vou don't ever have r~ bother with an auto. EVERYTHI:.-~G is right there. They cio have wonderful pu6iic transportation if you wam to venture out for the day but everything is right there! Ir is a place that we certainly would nor wane to b·e bur is a fantastic place to visit. We always have a great time whenever we go there. And of course the Movie Studios offers great tours, Beverly Hilis and the fabulous shopping centers are a must do. It is just FUN and 1:ABULOUS! There are simply way to many bars and restaurants for us to suggest you try. Just walk up and down Sama Monica Boulevard and look for yourself. There are dozens of weekly gay newspapers on the street corners with ads for all the businesses inciuc!ing daiiy specials at bars and restaurants. Always have a great time when traveling, meet new and exciting people and TALK TO EVERYONE! For more information on traveling email Donald and Ray at gaytraveiers@ aol.com or visit their webpage ar: http:/ /www.hometown. aoi.com/gaycravelers. heaith outreach prevention education, inc. 1-800-535 IDS (2437) Oklahoma's HIV/STD Hotline PROTECT YOURSELF PROTECT YOUR PARTNER(S) .. Free nonjudgmental HIV testing, inciuding the 20 minute OraQuick Test. KNOW YOUR STATUS * Free Syphiilis screening at the GLBT Community Center on Tuesdays from 6-Bpm H.O.P.E. Testing Clinic Mens Outreach Program In Tulsa at (918) 812-7045 Arkansas & Oklahoma's most read GLBT Magazine i9 America's fourth-largest city, Housron has developed into a worldclass center of culture, dining, and style. (Photo by Andrew Collins) by Andrew Collins Houston, Texas cosmopolitan city that biends Western and Southern heritage and style, Houston has been one of America's great boomtowns of the past decade. Its once staid, business- oriented downtown has become a trendy district of restaurants, dubs, shops, condos, and hip hotels, along with an architecturally stunning baseball stadium. Other central Houston neighborhoods, inciuding gay-popular Montrose and up-and-coming Midtown, have also seen big changes fur the better, helping to turn the nation's fourth-largest city into a lively and downright stylish getaway. Houston acts as a cultural capital bridging the South and Southwest, with some of the best museums in the country. Cultural highlights include the Men)! Collection, wid: wor~ by Warhol, Leger, and Picasso in a space designed in 1987 by Renze Piano. Within walking distance are the Menil Collection's Cy Twombly Gallery, plus rwo independent faci!ides: the Rothko Chapel, which contains 14 large-scale Mark Rothko paintings commissioned for the chapel and a peacefui reflecting pool and plaza; and the Byzantine Fresco Chapel, which showcases nvo 13th-century frescoes re$cued from ,var-torn Cyprus. Many of the city's engaging attracdons iie in the Museum District. south of downtown, anchored by lush Hermann Park. Don't miss the Museum of Fine Arts, with its concentration of Impressionist, as well as Itaiian and Spanish R.enaissance, pieces. The Contc1nporary Arts Museum hosts reputable temporary exhibitions. And the ciry·s I:--Ioiocaust Museun1 has changing exhibits (v,1hich sometiines touch on the persecution of gays and lesbians) as we!i as a permanent display that includes artifacts and personal effects recovered from a Polish concentration camp. At the northern tip of Hermann Park iies the Houston Museum of Natural Science, one of the nation's most-visited museums. Check out the Burke Baker Planetarium, which has a 25,000-square-foot tropical rain forest complete with butterflies. (No joke: Spray Calvin Klein's Obsession on your shoulder and the butterflies won't leave you alone!) Houston's gay scene is centered in Montrose, an artractive neighborhood a couple of miles southwest of downtown, with a mix of early 20th-century homes and conages and several newer pockets of condos and apartments. At the epicenter, where Westheimer Road crosses Montrose Boulevard, you're within walking distance of countless gay bars and gay-friendly restaurants. As you head farther west along \Vestheimer, you'll pass a number of antiques shops and funky boutiques. Consider taking a break from shopping with a meal at the homey Empire Cafe, which is set inside a converted vintage service station and offers splendid pizzas, hearty frittatas, and such breakfast ueats as hot polenta with honey-cream and toasted almonds. Anorher exce!lent nearby option is Diedrich Coffeehouse, a spacious cafe with sunny seating areas and a shaded patio. Montrose has dozens of other great eateries. Acclaimed chef l,1onica Pope, one of the Southwest's culinary stars, brings great cooking to the masses at T' afia, a sleek space on the eastern edge of the neighborhood, where you might feast on such creative, globally inspired fare as yellowfin tuna with coconut chutney, or buffalo rib-eye steak with a tamarind glaze. With an ebullient, festive atmosphere but a serious menu, La Strada serves fine, upscale Italian fare at dinner, including a signature Italian paella. R~ggles Gri!le is highly popular with the queer community, famous for its Sunday brunches and delicious Southwestern-meets-Mediterranean food. Mark's is an upscale hot spot in a deconsecrated church, serving appropriately nonconformist fare like bourbon-glazed pork tenderloin wirh moiasses, glazed yams, and ginger-apple compote. Mo Mong, a spare-looking haunt known for great Vietnamese food, happens also to be a favorite spot for cocktails (especially sake martinis on Wednesdays) among queers in the know. For stellar, upscale regional Mexican cuisine, book a table at the hip and high-ceilinged restaurant, Hugo's. Steps from the Montrose bar strip, Baba Yegas sprawls with sunny dining rooms and shaded decks, which are constantly abuzz wirh charter and gossip. Decent burgers, many veggie items, and other light dishes are served. Barnaby's is a ctC\vn-home diner with a tn:s gay following and consistently good, filling fare. And Katz's Deli serves astonishingly large sandwiches, savory soups, and heavenly cheesecakes in a handsome dining room that's open 'round the dock. \:vhile Momrose has pienty of gn:at gay-popular eateries, downtown Houston is where a nurnber of top chefs are operating these days. Among the neighborhood's most acclaimed din;ng options, Solero serves delicious tap~ts in a sexy environment; and Bank (at the Hotel IC~Ot',.~) presents the iefined~ ethereai, Asian-tinted French cuislne of fan1ed chefJean,-Georges 'v:':}ngerichten. Berrveen do\vrno1.vn and JY1ontrose~ the city~s lviidto·..vn neighborhood ha.s one of the hottest 20 Arkansas & Oklahoma ·s most read GLBT Magazine real-estate markets in the country, as this once virtually deserted area booms with new condos and town homes. Cool restaurants are popping up, too, such as Farrago, a dapper bistro serving creative pizzas, affordable pastas and burgers, and wonderful weekend brunch fu.re. A more upscale but stiil moderately priced option is Gravitas. 1his slick, beautifully designed space is known for its terrific wine list and tantalizing American bistro cuisine - rhe roasted Texas quail with sweet corn and applewoodsmoked bacon is heavenly. Houston has a tremendous number of gay bars and clubs. Here are some of the more popular options: Extremely friendly and therefore a great place to go if you're new in town, Brazos River Bottom (BRB) is a good-sized country-western bar with two-stepping and line-dancing some nights. Chances is one of the city's more lesbianoriented hangouts, with dancing (both to pop and country-western music) and a super-friendly, low-keyed crowd. J.R.'s - like its sister bars in Dallas and Denver - is a quintessential stand-and-mode! bar with attractive Southwestern-inspired decor and a fabulous patio. Nearly next door, Blur Bar is a large new space with a packed dance floor and a big pario. The Montrose Mining Co. draws a mix of bears, Levi's-and-leather guys, and regular Joes into its dark and cruisy confines. And Sourh Beach is the favorite warehouse-style dance club in the heart of Montrose, with dancing and music into the wee hours. Also pulsing nearly all night long, Rich's is an industrial- looking downtown dance club. The hip video lounge I,1eteor has extremely popular happy hours and fun karaoke Sundays. Guava Lamp has live entertainment some nights, great martinis, an array of video screens, and music at decibels that allow conversation (and, of course, cruising). Regulars at Club 1415, a !aid-back dance bar, love to mingle on the spacious patio. A popular neighborhood bar among the city's over-35 gay folks, Decades is also one of the friendlier hangouts in town. The more hard-core of the city's leather bars, Ripcord is a fairly typical such hangout, with the traditional black decor and dim lighting. Houston's hotel scene has truly blossomed in recent years. Right in the heart of !vfomrose, you'll find a rerrific, affordable, first-class accommodation, the Lovett Inn, which draws a mostly gay and lesbian crowd. 'There are 12 rooms and suites, some in the historic main house - the former residence of a one-time Houston mayor - and others in separate ombuildings set abour the attractive grounds (which include a pool and hoc tub). A longtime favorite is in the Houstonian Hotel, an opulent old-world property in the upscale Post Oak section of the city. Om toward the ritzy Galleria Mall, the trendy Hotel Derek is a super-sleek propeny done in bold colors with dramatic contemporary furniture. Among dov,'lltown properties,. the swanky Hotel ICON occupies the historic Union Nationai Bank Building. 111e stunning rooms in this boutique property have rhe ambience of a decadent Parisian flat, wirh vibrant red drapes, plush bedding, and high-end toHerries. Although it's not especially gay, the restauram·s nber-cool ':V11iskey Bar is a favorite downtown spot for cocktails - e".\,ren if you~re not staying at the hotet consider • ' •. I • I d ' . . . ~av1ng 1nart1.?1s 1ierer as you observe tne ramanc renaissance that 1s downtown Houston Houston, Texas the nations 4t.11 largest city. Arkansas & Oklahoma's most read GLBT Magazine 21 CENTER NEWS: Out on the Town with Dinner & DIVAS begins at 6:00 PM at Tsunami Sushi, 309 East 2nd, followed bv DIVAS 2006 at 8:00 PM at the Tulsa PAC. Please call TOHR at 918.743. GAYS by September 6th to reserve your spot for a night Out on rhe Town. TOHR Annual Meeting It's been an exciting and busy year for Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights (TOHR). A building, the permanent home for the Tulsa GLBT Community Center, has been bought, is being renovated and will open in October. TOHR has partnered with Tulsa PFLAG & OYP to plan and make "Diversity Celebration - Tulsa PRIDE!" bigger and better - your input and ideas can help take it to the next level. The Center has visited Tuisa PRIDE and OKC Pride and will soon bring the rainbow to Southeastern Oklahoma during McPride on September 23rd, 11 AM to 5 PM in Chadick Park in McAlesrer, OK (log onto mcpride.org for more information). We're also implementing a strategic plan and a marketing initiative that will change Tulsa and Oklahoma for the better. You can help make it happen with your support and attending the TOHRAnnual Meeting. The TO HR Annual Meeting is Thursday, September 28, 2006 at 7:00 PM in the Tulsa GLBT Community Center, 5545 E 41st Street. The State of the Organization, the Year in Review report and Board of Director elections are planned, as well as celebratory drinks and refreshments marking the last official TOHR function in a leased location. As always, it's FREE. Join us Thursday, September 28th, 7:00 PM at the Tulsa GLBT Community Center at 5545 E 41st Street in Highland Plaza Want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $26.95 will be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or moneyorder to: Ozarks STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 (Slngle Copies $3.00 per issue) City: ________ St: ___ Zip: _ _ Check enclosed--~ Money Order Start Date:-------~ 22 the STAR Li le Rock Capi Elects Its Boa I Pride For 2007 LITTLE ROCK, AR~ Link Rock Capital Pride (formerly known as Little Rock Gay and Lesbian Pride) electeci its new Board for the 2007 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2006 anci ending june 30, 2007. The new officers for 2006/2007 are: President - David W Quinn Vice Presidem - Barb Kampbe!l. Treasurer Chad Allen Secrerarv Toe Lafountaine Board Me~bers-Janis Walters and Joy Evans Little Rock Capital Pride was founded in 2005 by omgoing Board President and Founder, John House, The success ofLirde Rock Capital Pride has been through the hard work of the "All Volumed' working membership, community support and its Board. \X'e iook forward to seeing you at our 3rd Annual Little Rock Capital Pride Celebration June 3, 2007. The board is also pleased to announce that Capital Pride 200: will be held June 3rd at rhe River Market Amphitheatre from 3 p.m. - 10 p.m. Capital Pride has been heid for the past two years ar .AJisop Park and the new venue ,'✓as selected to accommodate the growth in attendance the evenr has enjoyed. Little Rock Capital Pride Board President, David W. Quinn stated, "We are very excited to host our third annual Capital Pride at the River lv1arket. We feel the new venue will allow us-rn continue to grow the event, attract more ~ponsors, garner more vendors and provide better entertainment. Little Rock Capital Pride is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization whose mission is to hosr events that honor the history and diversity of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) individuals in the State of Arkansas and surrounding areas and create unity within the GLBT community and its allies by providing sociai support and enhancing awareness of the past and present contributions of GLBT individuals through community activities and services, induding an annual Pride event. * Northwest Arkansas GLBT Commu- Center Receive's First Corporate Donation. BENTOI'~VILLE, AR _ ·'We received a donation check from Wal Man this week. !tis our "Fim" corporate donation. It wiil go ~t~:::'.-1\::;;~~1~:r~:,~~:~:~~~~~~::::1: ~~:,~(1~:;_munity Tne l'1ortir'\<vest Arkansas <,.;ay} Lesbian, Bisexu~11 and 'Thtnsgendered c:ommunit;r' (:enter is a group of like-n1inded individuals '\Vho have come toger.her to create a nonprofit (;LBl- ,.,.,,.,""''"'"' Center of 1"Jorthwest .Arkansas. For n1ore inforn1ation go to: Congratulations K'rli Adams Miss Gay Oklahoma America Salutations Kittens, a weltered Uncle corning to you straight from the summer best describe as, hotter than a Twink painted in body glitter wearing only a thong! Take my word for it Kictens, he was as hot as they come, no pun intended. My goodness this heat has been enough to drive a queen mad, not that it would be a far haul mind you. As we sail into hopefully a cooling off period in che monrh of September, let us see what intrigues the minds of my faithful Queers this month, besides yours rruly. Dearest Uncle Mikey, I have a friend at school that i wrote to you abour. I have had this amazing crush on him for a while, and until now thought that he was a great guy. He aliowed me a momentary pleasure after which he quit talking to me altogethei. I mean he made me fed just cheap and used. Am I a slut? Kissing and telling Dearest Teliing, Kitten, I got steamier details our of Clinton's memoirs. What a let down; now I need a drink. If you are going to dish, make sure you include the steamy details of your campus copulation. To your question, was ic done in taste? I mean one can give twenty blowjobs, but if done with styie, and taste, one is simply a giver, nor a slut. TI1is is my story and I am sticking to it! Smooches- Mikey Dearest Uncle Mikey, • .. My partner gets mad at me when I indulge myself in satisf1ing myself through masturbation. He feels I am taking away from our lovemaking when I am not always in the mood. I never used to really enjoy i:, now I enjoy doing it seYeral times a week. I even tried on day at work b a stall, but that is a different storv. Is it a bad thing_whe~ you are in a relationship? , Mambo or one Dearest Mambo, Ah, masrnrbadon, Americas second pasi: time event. Kitten, it is nor a bad ace as long as you are not attempting co buy cards and flov,-ers for Mr. Righcy. You can even incorporate this little past rime into your lovemaking. Allow your partner to watch, whiie you pu t ~n a steamy s>n ow rr or mI • m. ~1 am sure you w1•1 1 n,~ nct• th• ;.s qm•t e satisfying as him. Fantasy is a ma,ior role in most n1en~s sexual 26 theSTAR drive. Reassure him that this is not about something lacking, simply adding to. More importantly, you skip the work story and leave me hanging like a low rider? Have I taught you all nothing? I swear, I am going to need a warm shower after this momh's selection. Dear Mikey: I am a twenty two year oid lesbian living in a community where homosexuals are not accepted. I am unable to meet any females living my iifestyle, leaving me very lonely, what should I do? Uno-les Kitten, Sister soldier, welcome to life in the mid-west. I would suggest that you look for the Martha jailbird's tour, which I hear is done by lesbians Inc, but you know how rumors get started. You must surround yourselfbv others in vour life scyle. Easier said than done-mavbe worth the' effort- defi~ntly. Fou~ out of five lesbians currentl/livi;1g in the Midwest agree. Mind you darling those are the same proud members of the secret fingei society heard about in lesbian campouts everywhere! Smooches-Uncle Dearest Mikey, Did you find Tiddles? Curious kitty lover Dearest Curious, Kitten, you do care. Yes, I found that cranked up ungrateful kitty hoped up on catnip, hooking up with the neighbor hood pussies. I mean really, all I ask is a note, is that so much! Tiddles the o-reat mv . t, ; ass, more like Tidd.Jes the Josey goosey. (Stern looks at Tiddles) Dear uncle Mikey, I caught my boyfriend at a local park with another man. I had my suspensions, and followed him to find him doing a trick in the bathroom. I was so appalled, yet froze unable to formulate words. Now, I do not know weather I should break it off or accept his apology. W'hat do )'OU think? Looking at loneliness' Dearest Looking: Indulge me fur a moment. I hope you do!1't find chis question brazen however, could your frozen state maybe been caused by a sudden lack ofblooci flow possibly. I mean honestly Kitten; we ail have been there. ! mea!l I am simply looking ac causation in your search for truth. Some of my greatest moments have been porn out of what I like to :efer to as, Dear :nches moments. Kitten, we live what we allow ourselves to live. You and on;y you can decide if ,his bathroom iover is ;ight fo~ vou. Personallv, I sav e~iov the little tart while you get read:y to BBD '.bi~er better deal) his ;orry ;tali iovin' v.rays. Safely of course, you don't \Vant to take away any critter.st not on a leash: Smooches-Uncle , , Well Kittens, like a trick in the night, I n1ust make a run for it. ?\iv fi1ithful pool boy is due shortly and I have not vet waxed. What we do to i~ok good for our men. Until next tirne kittens remember this, Uve HtC as if y(}U a~c the hottest trick at the bathhouse, rnake then1 V/ork for it! Got a question for ljncie? Write to hin1 at unciemikey4you({paol.corn Smooches'. lJncle }Aikey and (tired) 'fiddles too * JOIN US FOR McPride's 2nd Annual Family Picnic Saturday September 23rd 11 AM to 5PM Chadick Park 6th and Delware, McAlester Oklahoma. Organizations Resen,e your display table now. Contact paul@mcpride.org Food and Drink vendors Contact Elizabeth @ 918- 423-7015 www.mcpride.org Marinated Pork Loin with Wild 3-4Ib pork lion 1 cup orange juice 1 cup pineapple juice 1/2 cup brown sugar marinate pork overnight 4cups wild rice 1 cup chopped oranges/pineapples/ raisins 1 cup orange marmalade Grill pork lion on hot grill for about 1 hour or internal temp reaches165. In a large sauce pan cook wild rice, after cooked and chopped fruit in a small pan heat marmaiade over low heat. Place 1 cup of rice on plate. Slice pork lion at a angle place about 4 slices on top of rice and drizzle with orange marmalade. A delicious Pomegranate Martini will go very well with this main course. Comments or suggestions email Chef John at: chefjohnp@cox .net Here is a martini recipe that goes well with pork, chicken, salads, etc ... or just fun alone I Serve these to your guests in fun martini glasses that are properly chilled and you will impress them all. Remember when entertaining to have fun with it and your gathering will go very well and everyone wiii have a great time. Enjoy I POMEGRANATE MARTINI (2 OZ) ABSOLUTE CITRON VODKA (2 OZ) POMEGRANATE JUICE (1 OZ) CONTREAU LIQUOR SPLASH OF 7-UP FRESH SQUEEZE OF LEMON 1 . Chill a martini glass with ice and water. 2. Combine al! ingredients '..Vith ice in shaker (except 7-up) and shake well. 3. Strain into martini glass and add splash of 7-up, garnish with a fresh lemon twist. CELEBRATE September With A Cool Drink! Arkansas & Oklahoma's most read GLBT Magazine 27 Q Scopes by Jack Fertig SEPTEMBER 2006 "Patience, Aries!" That dreary Neptune-Saturn uμ~;u;:,ition is getting activated again, this time by ercury in Virgo, offering hope that the muddle and mystery will come into critical focus. Then Mercury squares Pluto, brin · any new ideas or rationalizations into the spotlig t to be challenged or enshrined. ARIES (March 20 -April 19): Pessimism is weighing on you heavily, and friends' assurances seem to backfire. The future is what you make of it, so take care of your health and keep your mind on your work. Patience, love! Every little step forward counts. TAURUS (April 20 ~ May 20): With a sense of uncertainty at work, you're inclined to retreat into your nest, but mere cocooning offers little satisfaction. Creative projects at home can make you more generaliy confident of challenges at work - and eager for challenges in bed! GEMINI (May 21 M June 20): Messages from Mama or anyone back home can help resolve the problems you're struggling with. Shutting up and listening can help, too. Don't let ideals get in the way of reality, but let reality clarify those ideals! CANCER. (June 21 00 July 22): Organizing bills and accounts and/or baiancing your checkbook will hone your mind toward a better understanding of your priorities, both material and otherwise. That clarity couid improve your sex life! Still, be careful to avoid accidents and needless arguments. LEO (July 23 * August 22): Arguments over money come out of your rigidity and your partner's uncertainty. Even so, financial discussions can push you to loosen up a bit and give your baby a little more security. Gambling and investments now are sure losses. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Worrying too much about guarding a secret can be the surest way to reveal it. Put your mind elsewhere, especially on health matters. A checkup now can nip something serious in the bud. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Efforts to ioosen up some of your more conservative associates are sure to backfire. Try instead to be sensitive to and meet their wishes, even if you take them in an entirely new direction. SCORPIO (October 23 m November 21}: Friends - and especially colleagues - can help you work through the longrunning muddle at home and stress at work that feed into each other. If their suggestions seem a bit off, use them as a starting point for new and better ideas. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 00 December 20): Arguments are coming toward you and out of you more easily than usual, and you had a head start! Accept advice from someone whose authority you respect, and keep your rebellious streak focused on productive battles. CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Clever suggestions from an unlikely source can help you improve your sex life. But they may also challenge some of your erotic values and ideals - perhaps even open unpleasant memories and hidden fears, and through those, untapped strength. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): To pep up your sex life, move it to the bathroom. The shower may be the best place to start. There are other possibilities, but once you're near the piumbing, it's up to you and your partner! PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Worries about your health may drive you to a doctor, and a timely checkup is always worthwhile. But a day at a spa with your partner may be just as good. Any health advice from your baby is especially valuable now, too! SPIRIT OF CHRIST JOPLIN, MO FREE HIV TESTING, NO NEEDLES SPIRIT OF CHRIST .MCC SPONSORS Testing appointment 417-529-8480. 2902 E. 20th St., PO Box 4711 Joplin, Mo 64803 SA.TCRDAY Service 9:30.:\l\.J Yot1r I11vited to our (~on1munitr Din11er E.,.rerv \XTed. 6prn just $4.00. No one is turned away: 28 Advertising in the STAR is just good business cents. Arkansas, Bentonville/Rogers (4 NWA GLBT Ctr - - - www.nwaglbtcc.org- - - - - - 9-586-1062 Barnes & Noble Bks - - 261 N. 46th St., Rogers- - -479-636-2002 Arkansas, Eureka Springs (479) Diversity Pride Event - - - - - - - - - - - - - -www.diversitypride.com A Byrd's Eye View- - - - - 36 N. Main- - - - - - - - -479-253-0200 Caribe Restaurante- - - 309 W VanBuren- - - - -479-253-8102 Henri's - - - - - - - 19 1/2 Spring St - - - - - - - - - - - -479-253-5795 Lumberyard Bar&Grill- - - 105 E VanBuren- - - - - -479-253-0400 MCC Living Spring - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -870-253-9337 Swiss Holiday Resort- Hwy 62 at Hwy 23 So.- - - - 888-582-8464 Spexton- - - - - - - 17B Spring Street - - - - - - - - -479-981-6060 Tiki Torch- - - - - - - - 75 S. Main Street- - - - - - - - -479-253-2305 Tradewinds Lodge 141 W. VanBuren- - - - - - - - - 800-242-1615 Arkansas, Fayetteville (479) Common Ground Restaurant- - - 412 W. Dixon - 479-442-3515 Condom Sense - - - - - - - 418 W. Dickson- - - - - -4 79-444-6228 Curry's Video - - - 612 N. College Ave- - - - - - - - - -479-521-0009 Passages - - - - - -930 N. College Ave- - - - - - - - - -479-442-5845 Pride Street Live- - 523 W. Poplar St-- - - - - - - - - - 479-587-0557 Tangerine Club - -21 N. Block Ave-- - - - - - - - - - - -479-587-9512 Arkansas, Fort Smith (479) Kinkeads- - - - - - -1004 1 /2 Garrison Ave- - - - - - - 4 79-783-9988 Red Rock City- - -917 N. "A" St. - - - - - - - - - - - - - 479-242-2489 Arkansas, Hot Springs (501) Jesters Lounge - - - - 1010 E. Grand Ave - - - - - - - 501-624-5455 Arkansas, Little Rock (501) Back Street - - - -1021 Jessie Rd- -- - - - - - - - - - - -501-66427 44 Diamond State Rodeo Assoc.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - www.dsra.org Discovery- - - - - 1 021 Jessie Rd- -- - - - - - - - - - -501-666-6900 Sidetracks - - - 415 Main St- -North LR.- - - - - - - -501-244-0444 The Factory - : - - - 412 Louisiana St.- - - - - - - - - 501-372-3070 Kansas, Junction City (785) Xcalibur Club- - - - - - 384 Grant Ave. - - - - - -785-762-2050 Kansas, Pittsburg (620) PSU-QSA.- 1701 S. Broadway- - - - - - - - - - - -620-231-0938 River of Life Church.- - 1709 N. Walnut- - - - - - - - -Service 11 AM Kansas, Wichita (316) Our Fantasy/South40- - - 3201 S. Hillside- - - - - 316-682-5494 Priscilla's- - - - - 6143 W Kellogg Dr- - - - - - - - - - 316-942-1244 Club Glacier- - - - - - - - - 2828 E. 31st South- - - - 31.6-612-9331 Missouri, Ava (417) Catus Canyon Campground - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 417-683-9199 Missouri, Joplin (417) MCC Spirit of Christ- - -2902 E. 20th. - - - - - -Sat Service-9:30AM Missouri, Kansas City (816) 40th Street inn- - - -www.40thstreetinn.com- - - - - -816-561-7575 Concourse Park B&B - - 300 Benton Blvd -- - - - - -816-231-1196 Hydes KC Gym & Guest Hs www.hydeskc.com - 816-561-1010 Missie B's- - - -805 W. 39th St- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -816-561-0625 Missouri, Lampe (417) KOKOMO Campground - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -417-779-5084 Missouri, Springfield (417} The Edge- - - - - 424 Boonville Ave- - - - - - - - - - - 417-831-4700 GLO Comm. Ctr- - -518 E. Commerical- - - - •· - - - -417-869-3978 Martha's Vineyard- - - 219 VV Olive - - - - - - - • - - 417-864-4572 Missouri, Springfield (417) Priscilla's - - - 19HI S Glenstone - - - - - - - - - -417-881-8444 Ronisuz Place- - -821 College- - - - - - - - - - - -417-864-0036 Rumors - --1109 E. Commercial- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 417-873-2225 Oklahoma, Enid (580) Hastings Books- - - -104 Sunset - - - - - - - - - - - - 580-242-6838 Priscilla's- - - - - - - - -4810-A West Garriott- - - - - - - 580-233-5511 Oklahoma, Lawton (580) lngrids Bookstore- - - - -1124 NW Cache Rd- - - - -580-353-1488 Oklahoma, McAlester McPride- - - - - - - - - - POBox 1515, - - - - - McAlester, OK 74502 Oklahoma, Oklahoma City (405) American Crossroads B&B - POBox 270642- - - - - -405-495-1111 Boom Room- - - - - - 2807 NW 36th St- -- - - - - - - -405-601-7200 Border's Books- - - - - - 3209 NW Expressway- -- - - 405-848-2667 Club Rox- - - - - - -3535 NW 39th Expwy- - - - - - -405-947-2351 Christie's Toy Box- - - - -3126 N. May Ave - - - - - - 405-946-4438 Eastern Ave Video- - -1105 S Eastern Ave- - - - - - - -405-672-6459 Hollywood Hotel- - - 3535 NW 39th Exp - - - - - - -405-947-2351 Hi-Lo Club - - - - - - - 1221 NW 50th- - - - - - - - - - - - 405-843-1722 Partners- - - - - - 2805 NW 36th St - - - - - - - - - -405-942-2199 Pec's- - - - - - - - - - -3535 NW 39th Expw - - - - - - - -405-942-2199 Priscilla's- - - - - - - - 615 E. Memorial- - - - - - - - - - - 405-755-8600 Red Rock North- - - 2240 NW39th St- - - - - - - - - - 405-525-5165 Rudy's Place-- - - - -3535 NW39th Expw- - - - - - - - -405-947-2351 Phoenix Rising - - - - 2120 NW 39th St- - - - -- - - -405-601-3711 The Park- - - - - - - - 2125 NW 39th St - - - - - - - - -405-528-4690 The Rockies- - - 3201 N. May Ave - - - - - - - - - 405-947-9361 Topanga Grill & Bar- - - 3535 NW 39th-- - - - - - - - - -405-947-2351 Tramps- - - - - - - - - - - -2201 NW 39th-- - - - - - - - - -405-521-9888 Oklahoma, Tulsa (918) Bamboo Lounge- - - -7204 E. Pine - -- - - - - - - - - -918-836-8700 Border's Book Store- - - 2740 E. 21st- - - - - - - - - - - 918-712-9955 Border's Book Store - - - 8015 S. Yale - - - - - - - - - - 918-494-2665 Club 209 - - - - - - - 209 N. Boulder - - - - - - - - - - - - 918-584-9494 Club Majestic- - - - - 124 N. Boston - - - - - - 918-584-9494 Club Maverick- - 822 S. Sheridan - - - - - - -918-835-3301 Dreamland Bks -- - - 8807 E. Admiral Pl - - - - - - - - -918-834-1051 GLBT Comm. Ctr- - - - 5545 E. 41st- - - - - - - - - - 918-743-4297 Hideaway Lounge- - - - - 11730 E. 11th- - - - - - - - -918-437-0449 HOPE Clinic- - - - - - - 3540 E. 31st- - - - - - - - - - - 918-749-8378 Jazz's Lounge- - - - - - 426 S. Memorial - - - - - - - - - 918-836-8544 Midtown- - - - - - - - - - 319 E. 3rd- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 918-584-3112 Nite Spot - -- - - - - -3007 E. Admiral Pl - - - -- - - - - - 918-834-3007 Our House, Too - - - -203 N Nogales Ave- - - -- - - - -918-585-9552 Prisciila's - - - - - - - - -7925 E. 41st- - - - - - - - - - - - -918-627-4884 Priscilla's - - - - - - - 5634 W. Skelly - - - - - - - - - - - 918-446-6336 Priscilla's - - - - - - - 11344 E 11th - - - - -- - - - - - - -918-438-4224 Priscilla's - - - - - - - - - 2333 E. ?1st- - - - - -- - - - - - -918-499-1661 Renegades- - - - - - - - 1649 S. Main - - - - - - - - - - - 918-585-3405 Rob's Records- - -2909 S. Sheridan Rd- - - - - - - - 918-627-1505 St. Michaels Aliey- - - - - -3324-L E 31st- - - - - - - 918-7 45-9998 Sterling & Co. Salon- - -1606 E.15th St.- - - - - - - 918-742-9999 Tulsa CARES- - - - 3507 E. Admiral Pi- - - - - - - - - - 918-834-4194 Tulsa Eagle- - - - -1338 E. 3rd - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -918-592-1188 TNTs - - - - - - - - - 21i4 S. Memorial- - - - - - - - - - 918-660-0856 Yeliow-Brick-Rd- - - - - - - 2630 E. 15ih- - - - - - - - - - 918-293-0304 · :&osfuiss of Orgaoizitldtrl1'1irttrrtgJo p.istl'Jll!ite FREE e;opies of the STAR; contact us at 918;8J5:its&7,9aiifto4' - ®ll -'•fii 'br eiμail; 9i.a,."icsstar@sbc lobaLnet DIVERSITY COALITION Seeks Pff event coordinator for annual festival and parade 918-587-7222 eberlon.734@gmail.com 12th page classified CALL FOR RATES 91 B.B3S.78B7 11730 E. 11th - Tulsa, OK 918.437.0449 Wed. Talent Show with Bobby Page, 11PM Open Tues-Sun 2pm-2am Check out our new Patio! OPPORTUNITY ADVERTIS,NG BALES REPRESENTATIVE F'OR WICHITA, MISSOURI OR ARKANSAS gualificarions to ozarksstar@sbcglobal.net or mail to: 5103 S. Sheridan, #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 Get results with STAR Classifieds! 1 bed apts-remodeled $495/month $300 Security Deposite 1 FREE MONTH Metro Properties 405-232-1236 405-627 -8087 ** OPEN AUDITIONS FOR MALE DANCERS.** Saturday's 5pm. Must be available to dance Sunday's. Compensation plus tips for successful candidates. 31 PANGA BAR&GRILL Sunday Champagne Brunch All you can eat soup and salad bar llam-2pm Monday & Tuesday Well Martinis $2.50 4pm-7pm Dinner new menu items from 4pm - 11 pm Friday & Saturday After Hours Dining 12am-3am New menu starting on September I. 2006. Bar favorites, restaurant favorites and many new items for vour enjoyment pleasure. - --F'~•:';''+<~~'~ ;::- ~- ""' ~· ,,,.,., , ,.,,,, ,.,,,,,, \ PEC'S A LEATHER/LEVI BAR Mon Thur, 7pm-9pm wear your leather and get your well drinks for $2.50 Sun -Thur, 7pm-2am Fri and Sat, 4pm-2am RUDY'S PLACE PIANO BAR Rudy's Place is a non-smoking establisthment Eariy for cocktails, late for a night cap. Live entertainment Wed, Fri and Sat. CLUB ROX HOLLYWOOD IDOL Wednesday Nights with Taylor Brayns Sign up at 9:30pm, Starts at 10pm VIXENS Saturday Nights with Shantel Mandalay atl0pm ALISON SCOTT SHOW Friday, Sept 8 at 9:30pm BARBIE'S BOOTS AND BRIEFS Every Thursday. Signup at 10:00 P.M. and Show at 11:00 P.M. $50.00 First Price and $25.00 Second Prize in CASH. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2006] The Star Magazine, September 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 9 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource September 01, 2006 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Online text PDF Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Star Magazine’s first issue began February of 2005. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004) and The Ozark Star (2004). Follows is The Metro Star (2008). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource C.D. Ward Greg Steele Josh Aterovis Douglas Glenn John Patrick Michael Dee Kay Massey Paul Wortman Carlotta Carlisle Victor Gorin Greg Gatewood Libby Post Andrew Collins Donald Pile Ray Williams Michael Hinzman Jack Fertig Liz Highleyman Ronald Blake Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwest Missouri Western Arkansas Southeast Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Star Magazine, August 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 8 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/224 The Star Magazine, October 1, 2006; Volume 3, Issue 10 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/242 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/243 Advice Column Al McAffrey Bamboo Lounge Bitter Girls Chelsea Boys Club Majestic Comic Strips Diversity Pride Ewan McGregor fitness Heart to Heart HIV/AIDs HOPE International Gay Bowling Organization Jolie Justus K'rli Adams Lesbian Notions Little Rock Capital Pride Mica Barnes Miss Gay Oklahoma Oklahoma Tax Commission Our House Past Out Pomegranate Martini Q Scopes Quotable Quotes recipes Snakes on a Train Star business center star classified Star Distributors Star entertainment Star Scene Star travel The Night Listener Too Truman Capote Tulsa Community Center Uncle Mikey Walmart https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/2fb2209e3e1cae984a20e51ed8c45792.jpg 36dffe1a710d2521ca5d924dc3681179 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/c84cc81c2ec9b7199eb8c883804f7ce3.pdf 412eb87f38d447b23c5bec3947ad6a67 PDF Text Text ESTABLISHED 2003 www.ozarksstar.com "The homosexual agenda is destroying this nation." "1 honestly think it’s the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam. They have infiltrated City Councils. They are after your 2 year olds for indoctrination." State Representative, District 84, Sally Kern. Compiled by Star staff Photo: Rally at Memorial Park Oklahoma City. ¯hese sentiments expressed by State Representative Sally Kern were taped at a Republican gathering who had invited her to speak on what some term the homosexual agenda. The tape was given to the Victory Fund, a national gay & lesbian political activist group and placed on ¥outube, where it has now been heard by over 1,000,000 people. It has garnered international attention with responses that have overwhelmed Youtube, and to say that the lines of communication with Ms. Kern were jammed would be a classic understatement. Ellen Degeneres was not surprised when she tried to contact Sally Kern after playing the youtube video on her show and couldn’t even leave a message. Although the audience was obviously not in agreement with Sally, Ellen appealed to Miss Kern on the air, stating that she wanted to talk to her, that she obviously had some misinformation. Although some responses received by Ms Kern were supportive, the vast majority were not, and many were threatening and are being investigated by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. At a Press Conference at the Church of the Open Arms March 11, Cimarron Alliance President Richard Ogden, among many others, denounced Ms. Kern’s remarks and stated that she should apologize or be censured by the Oklahoma House of Representatives. As he put it, "These are hateful words that can result in hateful actions, This is about accountability, not freedom of expression." It was pointed out that only 3 months APRIL 2008 earlier, Stephen Domer of Oklahoma City was murdered because he was gay. So far Ms. Kern has refused to apologize and the Speaker of the House, Republican Chris Benge of Tulsa, has stated he will not call for Ms. Kern to be censured. However Governor Brad Henry stated that he advised her to "Think before you speak. Oklahomans have love and tolerance for all people. I don’t think this rhetoric represents Oklahoma." P-Flag of Oklahoma has asked for a meeting with her, but has gotten no response. Her statement that the gay community was a bigger threat than terrorism or Islam drew fire from both military personnel and Oklahoma’s Muslim community. At the Church press conference Richard Ogden pointed out that one of the four people on United Airlines Flight 93 who overpowered the hijackers who were heading the airliner to the White House, Mark Bingham, was gay. Another speaker at the conference, Jerre B. Fine, a Air Force veteran, stated that she was honored to serve her country and that Sally Kern’s comments that gays were a bigger threat than terrorism or Islam, and were a cancer in the toe of society were very hurtful on a personal level. She pointed out that "I served my country dutifully and honorably for 6 years of my life. We need protection not only from outside forces trying to destroy America, but also we need protection from within from people like Sally Kern." On March 14 there was a rally at Memorial Park featuring signs along Classen Boulevard encouraging rush hour travelers to honk to show opposition to Representative Kern’s remarks. The event got extensive television coverage, and featured many community leaders. Most important of all was that the responses from OKC’s commuters were overwhelmingly supportive. In a recent Tulsa World poll, the question was: Would you sign the petition to have Sally Kern removed from office? .............. Continued PAGE 5 ��®MISS GAY TULSA PAGEANT April 25th 10prn. Featuring - Miss Gay Tulsa America - Melody Micheals and Miss Gay Oklahoma Lindsey Paige. for more information email: information@downtownplazatulsa.com 2 the STAR vwvw.ozarksstar.com �1 DS (2437) Recognized by Keller Williams For outstanding achievement 2005 and 2006 R~ALTY Chuck Breckenridge 918-706-1887 REALTOI~ Whether buying or selling I’ll work hardforyo~ Get the STAR delivered to your home or office. 12 issues only $33.95. Send Check or Money Order to: The STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 Seepage 29for order blank. ,J www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 3 �APRIL, State News continues on page 6, 9, 11 and 23 LGBT History looks at the life of Tallulah Bankahead, Actress Movies, TV, Stage and Radio World Briefs By Rex Wockner Wockner News Service ~ DEEP ~INSIDE HOLLYWOOD Deep Inside Hollywood, reports on new projects for George Clooney and Simon ~ WiNE Devre Jackson reviews wines of Northem Italy. Beer-Battered Onion Rings from Bob & Jim’s Care, Greycliff, Montana. Gay Travelers: Bus Trips & Tours Out of Town: Chicago STAR SCENE Snapshots from around the State. Paparazzi on page 25 FITNESS Introspection can lead you to better understand yourself and ultimately to achieve greater happiness. ON THE COVER: Photo byVictor Gorin 4 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com �Embrace the Passior o£ the Prom. Pride Prom 2008 makes comeback to PAC By Joey De TULSA, OK__ When the sun sets April 19, the Tulsa Performing Arts Center will heat up with the passion of Spain as the University of Tulsa’s Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay and Transgender alliance present Pride Prom 2008, "Bailamos!" The event, which has called the PAC home for three years, offers BLGT youth and their friends the opportunity to celebrate the prom season with their chosen date. ’~A lot of BLGT youth can’t take the prom date of their choice (to their high school’s prom), this is an opportunity to express themselves freely," says Steven Hulford, one of the organization’s leaders. For the TU-BLGTA, Pride Prom is a way to give back to the community and make memories for BLGTA youth, regardless of if they are TU students or not. "We are in or eighth year of doing this event," says Hulford. "Each year it has grown from being in the Great Hall of the Allen Chapman Activity Center (a building on campus), to what it is now." According to Hulford, this year’s Spanish theme was picked from a long list of ideas. "We wanted to do something completely different from what we had done in the past," he says noting previous themes of Hollywood and water. "We’re calling it ’Bailamos’ because the literal translation is ’we dance’." At the event, Hulford says youth can expect all the food, music and fun of a traditional high school prom. In addition, attendees will have access to a "Resource Row," that will feature organizations who provide quality services to BLGT youth. Beginning at 7:30, the event runs until 11:00 and does not require formal dress. "The only things we don’t allow are torn jeans and shorts, other than that people are welcome to dress how they feel comfortable. www.ozarksstar.com People have come in formal prom attire and have come in polo shirts and slacks," explains Mr. Hulford. Tickets for Pride Prom 2008 are $10 in advance at www.myticketoffice.com and $12 at the door. For information on sponsorship and branding opportunities, contact the group’s advisor, Nancy Eggen at 918.744.9182. SOONER STATE SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION HOLDS OKLAHOMA CITY TOURNAMENT Leroy Cobb & Laurie Proole MC’s at Angles Furndraiser for Sooner State Softball 26 teams ( 21 men’s, 5 women’s) came together at Boomtown Field and the Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City March 15-16 to enjoy the comraderie of softball competition. Now in its 5th year, the Sooner State Softball Association offers the GLBT community the opportunity to show off their skills or learn the game among friends. According to SSSA Commissioner Leroy Comp, it also provides a way "to see some great softball." The SSSA is part of the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance, a confederation of GLBT athletic teams in both the United States and Canada. New players are always welcome, so if you’d like to try your hand, call Mr.Comp and (405) 408 2533 or e-mail him at cutupok@aol.com. FRONT PAGE CONTINUED: Yes: 129 No: 86 I don’t know: 6 The results of this question represent the opinions of 221 people with the following demographic profile: Oklahomans: 80.5 % Male: 127 Female: 94 In response to Kern’s statement that Eureka Springs City Council was controlled by gays. A press statement was issued by the Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce and the straight Mayor, Dani Joy: "Since its founding in 1879, Eureka Springs has been and remains welcoming to all visitors and residents without regard to their race, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin. It is our hope that all people would aspire to this ideal. Because of the timeless beauty of our architecture and landscape, the friendliness of our citizens and our welcoming attitude toward all visitors, we remain a destination for people from all walks of life. Eureka Springs will remain a city eager to provide all visitors a fulfilling vacation experience." Mayor Dani Joy" Oklahomans have spoken out, we’ve demonstrated, protested, sent letters and email to our elected officials, and have gained international attention. Media from around the world has covered the embarrassing tirade of Rep. Kern. This international spodight may be to our advantage. Our activist groups have experienced an influx of out of state contributions since the stoW broke. We’ve gotten the attention of national and international advocacy organizations. We have discovered many new main stream allies in Oklahoma. The House and Senate leadership may allow the five hate crimes bills currently before them to receive full consideratioia. There is a positive side to this degrading display of (Shame on Sally) Most importantly we have the right to vote, and Sally was voted into office. Come November and in future elections know your candidate before you mark that spot on the ballot. It could make an important difference in our future. the STAR 5 �editor Dear Editor, When is enough, really enough? We have been reading and watching the national news about Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, saying "gay agenda is a greater threat to America than terrorism." Although we do not live in Oldahoma, we have been visiting your great state for over 30 years. We are extremely concerned when a public official such as an elected State Representative makes such remarks. ¯his is really nothing short of a "hate crime" in itselfl It is one thing for a regular citizen of the country to make remarks such as this but when a public official says it, then it is obviously crossing the line. As gay and lesbian citizens of the United States, we have as much right as anybody else to expect full citizenship. When people such as Ms. Kern spews her hatred to the people of Oklahoma it is WRONG ! It propels hatred in schools, churches and throughout the entire community. Many years ago we took on Anita Bryant for her anti-homosexual drive and we won! So, our dear brothers and sisters in Oklahoma ............. have you had enough? Gays and Lesbians throughout the country are fighting for their rights and each and every individual gay and lesbian person in each state must do their part. We cannot suggest an action to take against Ms. Kern however we feel very strongly that action MUST BE TAKEN in whatever form necessary. Whether a full stage sit-in, a recall of her government seat in your State House or whatever. ..... something NEEDS TO BE DONE AND NOW~ Many years have passed since we just stood on the sidelines and took whatever was handed to us, and we never, want to return to those days. We are extremely proud of the progress that gays and lesbians have made. Both Oklahoma City and Tulsa have a very vibrant gay and lesbian community, much more so than most cities around the country their size. So instead of just bitching and moaning and groaning about Mrs. Kern, we wish all the gays and lesbians in Oklahoma the best success with this matter. Cordially, Donald Pile and Ray Williams 6 the STAR OkEq Den,o.unces Rep. Sally Kem’s Ant oGay Tirade TULSA, OK (PR) __Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) deplores the sentiments expressed by Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern (R-Oklahoma City) in a YouTube video now generating a firestorm. National and local media outlets are closely covering the controversy sparked by Kern’s claim that homosexuality is "the biggest threat that our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam." In a triple play of intolerance, Rep. Kern offends lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans, thousands of women and men defending the United States from terrorist attacks, and Muslims worldwide. Yet, she remains completely unapologetic, citing her right to freedom of speech and claiming, "I have never endorsed or supported any hateful action targeting individuals on the other side of this debate and never will." Rep. Kern’s legislative track record belies her remarks. In 2006, Rep. Kern sponsored legislation that xvould have denied funding to public libraries that refused to segregate books addressing LGBT themes. Rep. Kern has repeatedly used her public office to demonize LGBT Oklahomans and to attempt to deny them the exact same civil liberties she now defends so passionately. This is the height of hypocrisy. "OkEq firmly supports Rep. Kern’s constitutional tight to express her viexvs, but vociferously objects to the actions she takes to prevent LGBT Oklahomans from attaining justice and equality. When elected officials use their power to defame entire categories of people, they abuse the freedom of speech embedded in the First Amendment and violate their responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of their constituents," asserts Justice Waidner, OkEq Executive Director. OkEq calls upon the many fair-minded members of the Oklahoma legislature to condemn Rep. Kern’s comments and to pass immediately a state hate crimes law that encompasses sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. We ask for the House and Senate leadership to allow the five hate crimes bills currently before them to receive full consideration on the floor. www.ozarksstar.com �www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 7 �4815 S. Harvard Gay men and lesbians face many special tax situations, whether single or as couples. Proudly serving Tulsa & OKC’s GLBT communities since 1982 8 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com �TULSA, OK (PR) __ Health Outreach Prevention Education, Inc. (H.O.P.E.) celebrated its 10th anniversar~ Xgrednesday, March 12, 2008. Invited guests and honorees celebrated at the Dennis R. Nell Fxtuality Center, a long-time community partner where H.O.P.E.’s services began in 1996. The evening included hors d’ oeuvres and recognized key individuals who have been instrumental in the growth and success of the organization. "H.O.P.E. provides a vita! service in the fight against HIV by testing those at risk and also educating the community on safer sex practices. By virtue of their HIV testing being free and anonymous, people at risk can more easily know their status and help stop the transmission of HIV," stated Stephen Eberle, advisory board and 10th Anniversary committee member. In recognition of H.O.P.E.’s 10th Anniversary, the following people and organizations received recognition for the significant impact they have had on the agency since its inception: Ms. Kristi Frisbie, Mr. Jeremy Simmons, the Oklahoma State Department of Health HIWSTD Division, Ms. Janie Nicklas and the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership Grants Committee, Tulsa CARES, Community of Hope Church, Ms. Debi Sanditen, Dr. Damon Baker, and Oklahomans for Equality. Health Outreach Prevention Education (H.O.P.E.) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that has served Tulsa and surrounding communities since 1998. H.O.P.E. is proud to be recognized as one of the largest and most comprehensive health promotion facilities in Oklahoma, and is the only free, anonymous HIV testing site in a 23-county area. H.O.P.E. also operates the statewide HIWsexually transmitted disease (STD) resource hotline and conducts a variety of targeted outreach efforts focusing on men, women, and under served populations. H.O.P.E. also offers free and low-cost Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C testing and education services. H.O.P.E. provides a comfortable place for people to learn their health status and can connect clients to a variety of medical and social support services. H.O.EE. is supported in part by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, as well as various private foundations, including the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund, the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership, the MAC AIDS Fund, and the George B. Kaiser Family Foundation. Raising awareness of HIV/AIDS remains vitally important, as the infection rate remains steady every year in the United States. Young people and minorities are disproportionately affected, but HIV does not discriminate. By knowing your status, you are better able to protect yourself and others. Prevention education and testing are keys to decreasing the stigma and infection rate of HIV. For more information about HIV or sexually transmitted infections, call the Oklahoma HIWSTD Resource Hotline, 1-800-535-MDS (2437). www.ozarksstar.com RESERVE YOUR SPAOE HOW Deadline Thursday IViay t 5th Serving the Oklahoma GLBT community since 2003. the STAR 9 �by Liz Highteyman Past Out, which looks at the life 0fTallulah Bankhead, Actress Movies, TV;, Stage and Radio, Breakthrough acting success eluded Banld~ead in New York, and in 1923 she moved to London on the advice of an astrologer. There, she quickly achieved fame, especially among young working-class women. Over the next eight years she appeared in two dozen \VC-est End plays, which were wildly popular with fans, if not always acclaimed by critics. Documents declassified in 2000 revealed that the British intelligence service investigated her - groundlessly, it turned out - for allegedly seducing a group of Eton schoolboys. Bankhead earned considerable income, but spent profligately; by the end of the decade, she was broke and accepted a contract offer from Paramount Studios. In Hollywood, she hosted parties at her mansion that were said to have "no boundaries," and she attended shindigs at lesbian actress Alia Nazimova’s lavish Garden of Allah estate. An emergency hysterectomy due to advanced gonorrhea did little to curb her omnivorous sexual appetite. "My daddy warned me about men and booze," she famously quipped, "but he never mentioned a word about women and cocaine." Bankhead had flings with Gary Cooper and - allegedly - with Marlene Dieterich, but Greta Garbo apparently spurned her advances. Upon meeting Joan Crawford, who was then married to Douglas Fairbanks Jr., she remarked, "I’ve had an affair with your husband. You’ll be next." Though Bankhead often bragged about her sexual conquests, many believed she exaggerated for the sake of publicity. Indeed, her comments suggested that she did not particularly enjoy sex. "The conventional position makes me claustrophobic," she once said, "and the others give me a stiff neck or lockjaw." Regarding Bankhead’s orientation, long-time companion Patsy Kelly - one of the first actresses to come out as a lesbian - said it "mostly it depended on Tallulah’s mood...When she’d get caught up with a man, she’d go quite hetero on us." Who was Tallu]lah Bankhead ? cades after her heyday in the 1920s and 1930s, self-described "ambisextrous" stage and screen star Tallulah Bankhead is as famous for her bad-girl antics as for her acting talent. e ~ Bankhead was born to a prominent political family in Huntsville, Ala., on January 31, probably in !903 (the year is subject to debate); her mother died shortly thereafter from childbirth complications. Seeking to keep his two unruly daughters out of trouble, her father, a U.S. Congressman, sent them to convent schools, but these proved conducive venues for Bankhead’s first sexual experiences with other girls. Though plump and plain as a child, Bankhead blossomed as an adolescent; at age 15, she won a movie magazine beauty contest with a prize of a small film role. Chaperoned by an aunt, she took up residence at the Mgonquin Hotel in New York City, a favored haunt of the Broadway elite. There, Bankhead was seduced by renowned actress Eva Le Gallienne and met Estelle Winwood, an older English actress who would become a life-long friend and sometime lover. Bankhead also counted among her liaisons British student Napier Alington and jazz great Billie Holiday, but she turned down a casting couch invitation from John Barrymore. 10 the STAR Bankhead married once, to actor John Emery in 1937, but they divorced four years later with no children. She then bought an estate in West&ester County, where she lived for extended periods with Winwood and with Kelly. She also surrounded herself with numerous pets and her "caddies" - young men who mixed her drinks, lit her constant cigarettes, and sometimes provided sexual services. Follmving in her father’s footsteps, she became increasing involved in politics, campaigning for Democratic candidates and supporting both anti-Nazi and anti-Communist causes. Bankhead disliked movie acting, and her larger-than-life style ~vas better suited to the stage than the screen. After making several unsuccessful Hollywood films, she returned to acting on Broadway and with national touring companies, receiving critical acclaim for her performances in The Little Foxes (1939) and The Skin of Our Teeth (1942). Though bitterly disappointed at being passed over for the role ofScarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind, she still took on occasional movie projects, including her most famous role as a shipwrecked journalist in Alfred Hitchcock’s Lifeboat (1944). In the early 1950s, Bantdxead emceed The Big Show, a popular variety program on NBC Radio; when radio gave way to television, she appeared as a guest on shows such as The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. She also starred in a one-woman Las Vegas nightclub act and wrote a best-selling autobiography. But as Bankhead aged, her www.ozarksstar.com �years of hard drinking and drug use caught up with her, and she became a caricature of her former self. Many of her gay male fans failed to take her efforts seriously, laughing through her performance as Blanche DuBois in a 1956 revival of A Streetcar Named Desire. Before her death from pneumonia in 1968, Bankhead’s final roles were intentionally absurd, induding turns as a demented mother in the British horror flick Fanatic (1965) - retitled Die! Die! My Darling! in the United States - and as the Black Widow on the Batman television series. When producer William Dozier explained his vision for the latter role, she reportedly replied, "Don’t talk to me about camp, dahling, I invented it!" For further reading: Bret, David. 1997. Tallulah Bankhead: A Scandalous Life (Robson Books). Lobenthal, Joe. 2004. Tallulah! The Life and Times of a Leading Lady (HarperCollins). McLellan, Diana. 2000. The Girls: Sappho Goes to Hollywood (Robson Books). OK Mozart Festvai Announces 24th Season, June 13=21 TULSA, OK (PR) __ Tourism is a growing industry in Oklahoma, and the OK Mozart International Festival continues to enhance dais growth by attracting visitors to Bartlesville each June for one of the state’s most renowned cultural events. From June 13-21, the Festival’s 24th season promises to delight audiences from across the state and country with an outstanding array of concert artists and world-class musicians and performances, ranging from classical concerts to Jazz and everything in between. The line-up of renowned guest artists includes Mark O’Connor, Barry Douglas, Anne-Marie McDermott, Frederica yon Stade, Branford Marsalis, Peter Nero, and Ben Vereen. Plus, the New York Theatre Ballet is performing Sleeping Beauty. www.ozarksstar.com Amici New York, the Festival’s beloved orchestra-in-residence, returns as it has each year since the Festival’s founding in 1985. These musicians are soloists in their own right and perform in many of the most prestigious ensembles throughout the year. Paul Neubauer, music director, returns with his All-Star Chamber Ensemble featuring members of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. This year’s Festival will celebrate four great American composers: George Gershwin, Elliott Carter, Charles Wuorinen and Joan Tower, according to Neubauer. 3rd. To order, call 918.336.9800, visit www. okmozart.com or in person at 500A South Dewey, Bartlesville. The Festival is made possible in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council and many corporate and individual patrons. The OK Mozart Festival is a member of Green Country Marketing Assn., one of 11 multi-county organizations working with the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, the Oklahoma Travel Industry Assn. and the other 10 multi-county associations to promote the state tourism industry. "We will also have Mozart,Tchalkovsky and Jimi Hendrix. Please join us for an exhilarating OK Mozart Festival." According to Scott Black, executive director, the 2008 festival offers some positive changes, including three series of entertainment options for the major concerts, money-saving ticket packages and many new and free Showcase events. These events, usually during non-concert hours, offer tours, historical talks, childreffs activities, luncheons and performances. "The 2008 Festival marks our 24th season of offering an internationally recognized event that puts Northeast Oklahoma on the map alongside larger cities that host similar summer festivals--San Francisco, New York, Chicago and Aspen," Black said. Most concerts take place in the Bartlesville Community Center concert hall, acdaimed for its near-perfect acoustics. Inside the Community Hall, the Moz-Art Gallery and OKM Gift Shop provide shopping pleasure for visitors. An exquisite on-site restaurant, Cafd Mozart, offers delicious three-course dinners and delightful lunches. The all-time favorite Woolaroc Outdoor Concert, taking place on June 20 at the Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve, features Amici New York with conductor’ Michael Krajewski. Nestled on the shores of a tranquil lake, this concert under the stars provides a relaxing, fun way to enjoy beautiful music. When darkness falls, a spectacular finale of fireworks lights the sky, signaling an end to the unforgettable evening. Season tickets and packages are available now with general sales beginning March Creating Community for People iving with H ViA DS 50t c (3) Non Profit Orgauization Our House, Too offers a vadety of activities for people who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail harrismmjr@yahoo.com. the STAR 11 �Gay arid Gray r g: Cor cerr s SAN FRANCISCO, CA__ More than 70% of lesbian and gay and respondents over age 40 reported concerns about losing the ability to care for themselves in a recent study conducted by Community Marketing, Inc. The majority also feared becoming sick or disabled, being dependent on others, and outliving their savings. When asked which resources they would rely on for long-term financial and social care as they age, less than 8% of respondents said they would place significant reliance on long-term care insurance, leaving us to wonder how prepared lesbians and gay men are for the kinds of health issues that often come with old age. Respondents placed the most emphasis on: Health care insurance: 22% Medicare: 20% Personal savings: 19% Social Security: 16% 65% of respondents expect for provide care to a partner sometime in the future, 44% for a parent, and 34% for a friend. However, respondents were less certain of who would care for them - 59% said a partner would be there to help care for them, 29% a friend, and 20% no one. Research Shows Growing Old a Concern for Many Lesbians and Gay Mot A significant 20% of gay male and 38% of lesbian respondents over age 40 have children Oust 4% of gay men and 12% of lesbians reported the children to be under age 18). Sometimes it is easy forget how many gay-boomers had children before they came out, and some gays and lesbians will be able to rely on their children for care. The majority of respondents have completed a Living Will and the majority have a Power of Attorney, but less than 50% have completed an Estate Will or set up a Living Trust. (Hospitals often require a visiting partner to present a living ~ in order to enter his or her partner’s hospital room.) 49% of respondents said they are at least fairly confident that they would be treated with dignity and respect by medical personnel, but 19% expressed concerns that they have little confidence in this being the case. Some views of retirement and old age are much more positive. Respondents look forward to: traveling (79%), having more time for personal interests (74°/0), and peace and relaxation (60%). In addition, lesbians were more likely to report looking forward to spending more time with friends and family than gay men. 12 the STAR DEMOGRAPHICS of this "over 40" study: The median age is 52. 69% of respondents are male, 30% female, and 1% transgen der. More than 96% of respondents identified as gay or lesbian. The remainder identified their sexual orientation as bisexual, queer or questioning. 53% of respondents reported that they are completely out. However, 15% are somewhat or not very out. The median respondent in all age categories reported plans to retire at age 62. The vast majority of respondents over age 62 have already retired. 73% of respondents have a college degree. 33% of female respondents and 46% of male respondents are single or do not live with a significant other. Lesbians are more likely to be partnered than gay men. The majority own single family homes. www.ozarksstar.com �By’ Rex Wockner Wockner News Service iranian fears e×ecution if sent home Mehdi Kazemi fears he’l! be executed if the United Kingdom forces him to return to Iran. Kazemi went to London to study in 2005 and Iranian officials later arrested his boyfriend, Parham, charged him with sodomy and executed him, according to Kazemi’s father. Kazemi then sought asylum in Britain but was rejected. In 2006, he then fled to the Netherlands, which detained him and is nmv preparing to return him to the UK. The UK had been planning to send Kazemi back to Iran ~vhen he returned to British soil but, on March 13, following extensive media coverage and political pressure, the Home Office agreed to review his case one more time before forcing him to go home. "The Iranian authorities have found out that I am a homosexual and they are looking for me," Kazemi said in a recent letter to UK Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. tn a statement given to activist groups, Kazemi elaborated: "Around [the] end of April 2006, my uncle called me again and informed me that my father had informed him that the authorities had executed Parham and that I must not return to Iran as the authorities would do the same to me .... Parham was charged with the crime of being homosexual and was executed." According to Kazemi’s father, Parham named Mehdi as his lover prior to his execution. Leading British gay activist Peter Tatchell commented: "The Home Office decision to deport Mehdi back to Iran is shameful and reckless .... Gay men in Iran are hanged from public cranes using the barbari method of slow strangulation." Tatchell said the UK government is "callous and more interested in cutting asylum w~w.ozarksstar.com numbers than in ensuring a fair, just and compassionate asylum system." Britain’s Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association also has taken up Kazemi’s cause, saying that "deporting gay and lesbian people to Iran is akin to deporting Jews back to Nazi Germany." Meanwhile, The Independent reported March 7 that an Iranian lesbian who fled to Britain after her girlfriend was arrested and sentenced to death by stoning also is at risk of being sent home. Pegaah Emambakhsh, 40, issued a statement March 6 saying: "I will never, never go back. If I do I know I will die." Emambakhsh’s asylum claim was rebuffed by the Court of Appeal in February. She now plans to ask the High Court to review the case. Iran is known to have executed several teens and men accused of engaging in sodomy, although in nearly all the cases that have been publicized in recent years the individuals were accused of other crimes as well, such as rape. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission has said it suspects that other charges often are tacked onto sodomy cases to prevent the public outrage that would accompany executions carried out solely for the crime of consensual adult gay sex. The group also has said it believes executions solely for gay sex are taking place .out of the public eye. "Our suspicions [are] that their current practice really is to rid society of lesbians and gay men," the organization said last year. Human Rights Watch, on the other hand, has said it cannot fully document any executions in Iran in recent years carried out solely for the crime of consensual adult gay sex. Last September, during a speech at Columbia University in New York City, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was asked about the nation’s treatment of gay people. He responded: "We in Iran -- we in Iran, firstly, we don’t have hamjensbaz [a derogatory term for homosexuals meaning people with loose morals who chase people of the same gender for sexual pleasure] like you have in your country. In our country, there is no such a thing. In Iran, such a thing does not -- in Iran, in Iran, absolutely such a thing doe not exist as a phenomenon. I don’t know who told you otherwise." ILGA conference canceled The International Lesbian and Gay Association has canceled its 24th World Conference which was to take place in Quebec City, Canada, May 14 to 18. "A recent site visit] confirmed the impressions of the current lack of preparedness at this late date and the lack of funding necessary for the conference to take place," ILGA’s board co-chairs said in a statement. The primary lo.cal organizer was the Coalition gale et lesbienne du Qudbec. ILGA did not reschedule the conference but did put out "a formal call for new proposals from ILGA member organizations for hosting the world conference later this year." It gave interested parties less than a month to submit proposals. The board said any local organizer must take on partial responsibility for paying for the gathering. "ILGA does not have the capacity to fully fund the conference," the co-chairs said. "The local hosts have in the past fundraised for resources, especially to bring scholars from the Global South." ILGA is a 30-year-old federation of more than 600 GLBT organizations and associated members, such as city governments, from 90 countries. ............ Continued PAGE 27 the STAR 13 �Until he crossed over to the PG-13 Law and Order SVU, Chris Metoni was most notorious for gay sex scenes ~uad full- frontal nudity Deep ~nside Hol!~,wooeL repora¢ on new projeHrsjbr George Cloon~ and Simon Callow. Clooney Is Fantastic Mr. Fox 2?~hat’s the connection bevween the Coen Brothers’ dark, violent No Country for Old Men and the upcoming animated family feature Xhe Fantastic Mr. Fox? Besides Coen collaborator George Ctooney in the starring voice role, that would be gay superproducer Scott Rudin, the man whose recent Oscar acceptance speech included a loving thank you to his ~artner (which was then s~rangely excised from the A~demyk o~cial transcript). Rudin tends to go where the hits are, ~d this ~es Anderson-directed, Ctooney and Care Blanchett-voiced feature, abou~ a quick-witted fox and three unpleasant f~rmers t~,in~ to do him in, looks like a sure!re holiday hit..~d in this instance, hohday means Christmas of 2009. But not to worD~ C!ooney has Burn ~ter Read in~ {the next one from the Coens) arriv ing during the interim. OZ. And now Meloni is set,t,’o become even more family-friendl): He 1! star in Gym Teacher: Th~ Movie ~o{ Nickelodeon £s a down’on’his-luck coaCh wing dinated thi., be a ment - art teacher Mr. sircom, will a obsessive ~he movie Black about a with~ the film and this time with (slightly) ~,. u,.ll, a dark drama about a woman with a compulsive need to pull out her own hair one strand at k tirile (sounds like Todd Haynes’ Safei but Creepier), ~vill star not 0nly the legendary ~ren Black (Nashvillei but also musician Rickie Lee Jones. No word yet on when the movie will be, ready for an audience, but ifArcher~ firs~ f?ature is any indication, ir will be one ~at audiences wofft soon forget. American audiences remember him best as the joy~ttlly ~a.)[ heat attack victim who put the "funerN in Four XWeddings and a Funeral. BUt now gay" Brit character actor Simon Callow gets his own wedding, , even if it is something of an odd one. Hes starring in the recen@ wrapped Chemical We~lding, about a shy p;cofessor who manages to bring legendary occult figure Aleister Crowl~ back to life. And if that plot weren’t oddball enough, there’s the ~lm’s linefig. e" it was co-written by Bruce Dickinson, a name metal fans will know as the teader of the hugely successful rockers Iron Maiden. ~e sure-to-be-destined-for-cult-status film is due for release later this year. No ~v,ord yet on whether Or not Iron Maidens songs will hog the soundtrack spotlight. George Clooney www.ozarksstar.com �Reds Moccagatta Barbaresco 1999, 2000 Produttori Del Barbaresco 1999, 2000 Poderi Colla Pinot Noir 2006 A few years backl I had the opportunity to visit friends in northern Italy. We spent our time in the Piedmont region in a small town called Alba. Piedmont, in Italian, means at the foot of the mountain, he main grape grown there is the distinished Nebbiolo, which is the base for the med Barolo, Barbaresco and Gattinara (Barbera and Dolcetto) among others. Also popular is Barbera from Alba & Asti. Barolos are dch, rose-scented wines, robust and tannic, capable of (and often requiring) long aging. Ur~fortunat~ly they are often prohibitively expensive. Barbaresco, made to be drunk earlier than Barolos, can be the more affordable choice, ~u Another Piedmont creation that achieved worldwide fame is the Vermouth, which was first created by Benedetto Carpano in his wine shop n~ar the Tudn Stock Exchange. The classic American Martini cocktail takes its name from the most known Italian producer of dry vermouth, Martini & Rossi. Piedmont was one of the first Italian regions to embrace the industrial revolution and in 1899 the automotive giant Fiat (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino) was established there, I thought rd shed some light on the wines from this part of the wodd. You can always dig deeper by checking out my reference links. Piemonte is also known fol~ its Gorgonzola, Castelmagn0, (a local blue Cheese), zabaione, vinegar, d~e and ri¢otto dishes; wild game, and braised meat dishes, such as Bollito Mist0, a sf[ew of four to five different meats. Milan, the large the namesake ~ dip food, usualt beaten eggS, tl Saut~ it in butte known for its ri( sauces~ post rn saffron~ pumpki asparag;Js~ ~au panett(~ne. city of Lombardia, is ~ilanese; meaning tO -iin pieces of meat, into br~adcrumbs, and then .ombardiais also well ~nd dsotto dishes, cream c~eese course, Use of aVi01i, (tortelli di zucca), ge,freshwater fish and Farnese Montepulciano 2006 Whites Bongiovanni Arneis 2006 Masi/Masianco Pino Grigio/Verduzzo 2006 Marchetti Verdicchio 2006 And as always, I say go to your favorite wine shop, ask questions and purchase a bottle or two. Share some food & wine with friends and check this out for yourself. The Veneto is atso an important w ne region, highlighted by So&re, Bardolino; Pr~secco, (sparkling wine), Valpolioella and the flagship Ar~rone. Veneto~ being on the ~aSt, naturally braces deligl~ts from the sea. All kinds of seafood ar~ relished here. But the Veneto is quite diverse culinadly speaking. It is also renowned for its v~getables~ grains and meat as welt. Risot{o, especially from Vialone Nano rice, and polenta are staples. ¯ Common Vegetables include winter squash, radicchio, asparagus, beans, and other legumes. Friuli, the north-eastern most region of Italy is hallmarked by Austrian; Hungarian, Slovenian and Croatian influences. These include but are not limited to Viennese. ._~tww.ozark~star.co_ ~..................... Mr. D also hosts wine & food events known in town as the Wine Enthusiasts of Tulsa. References include: WineSpectator.com FoodandWine.com Wikipedia.org WineCountry.it Masi.it Farnese-vini.com allrecipes.com/Howto/Italian-Wine-CountryPiedmont ��Cozume| Join our gay and lesbian group aboard Carnival Conquest~ as we set sail from Galveston and call on the beautiful ports in Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. There is no better way to celebrate Halloween than aboard a funship with Gayribbean Cruises. We offer: Our fantastic Halloween Costume Party, Nightly Mixers and SO MUCH MORE ! Book eedy and save. Ask how to receive $75 shipboard credit! call for complete details. Ratea aad =valhbiRty axe ~ubjec¢ to change without noti e. "Ihis is not an alLgay cruise. Ship ~try: Panama For information & Reservations www.GayribbeanCruises.com NCarnrval. �by Donald Pile and Ray Williams Actually a bus trip isn’t all that bad, especially when you are traveling with other fun people. Although ,ve have never taken a bus trip across the country (and dofft think that we ever would) we have a lot of friends who have and enjoyed it greatly. We have taken several "day bus trips" from San Francisco, Las Vegas and on the east coast and all of them were quite interesting. From Las Vegas we took the bus trip to Hoover Dam and to the smaller casino cities of Laughlin. These bus trips were extremely inexpensive in that they drop you offat a couple of casinos and assume that you will gamble a lot. Most of them even throw in flee lunch and dinner and drinks. Sometimes they even thro~v in an afternoon show. Most all of the people that go to Las Vegas are truly a different breed and aren’t interested in taking bus tours and we have found that the ones who do are more enjoyable and interesting to talk with. In San Francisco it is just so much easier taking a bus trip to either the Wine Country or down to Carmel and Monterey and Pebble Beach. They drop you off right in the center of town and pick you up at the same location a couple of hours later. You certainly don’t have any parking problems as when you drive there, and a bus trip to the Wine Country gives you a much better opportunity to taste all the different wines without having to worry about a DUI while drive back to San Francisco. On the east coast we have taken "day bus trips" in Boston, New York City, Washington, D. C. and Philadelphia. Being such histori- 18 th÷$TAR cal cities this is a great way to really get to see everything. Parking in large cities is such a challenge and the buses seem to always have their own parking areas close to whatever attraction you are going. Even smaller cities like Savannah, Georgia offers extremely interesting bus tours around the city. But if you’re really up to it, then take a bus tour all across the country. They stop every evening at the designation lodging facility and you’re on your own until the next morning. You don’t have to dine or socialize with anybody other than your own choosing. Check out your local Sunday newspapers in the travel section and they usually have ads for these bus tours. Small towns that have casino gambling are always having specials. We have seen ads where you pay $50.00 up front for a 5 day bus tour which includes your traveling, hotels, food and drinks and shows! Plus, you get the $50.00 back in gaming money at the casino. You can’t stay at home that cheap! Some people enjoy taking bus trips down to Mexico which certainly saves the hassle of driving your own automobile across the border and you certainly are in a position to feel safer. Most bus companies are regulated rather stringently, and especially when driving to Mexico you need to feel safe. ..................... Continued page 27 www.ozarksstar.com �INTERNATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN TRAVEL ASSOCIATION and FUNMAPS, COM By Donald Pile and Kay Williams IGLTA is the world’s leading travel trade association committed to gro,ving and enhancing its member’s gay and lesbian tourism business through education, promotion and networking. You can search, contact and utilize their members around the world for all your travel needs. Whether you are looking for a gay travel business in your local city/town or a tour around the world, their members understand your travel needs. By going to their website, www.iglta.com you can search through their entire database of gay and straight IGLTA members to find just what you are looking for. Founded in 1983 with 25 founding members, the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) is today a 1000 plus member strong and growing organization of gay, lesbian and community friendly travel professionals. IGLTA members represent both retailers and suppliers as well as travel columnists like ourselves. They represent travel agencies, tour operators, resorts, hotels, motels, Bed and Breakfasts, airlines, cruise lines, car rental companies, local tourist offices, regional and national tourist boards and the travel media. John Tanze!l is the Executive Director and their international headquarters is located at 915 Middle River Drive, Suite #306, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. Their toll-free telephone number is: 1-800-448-8550. In May 2008, IGLTA will take Sin City by storm! From April 30 until May 4, 2008, Las Vegas will host the Annual Convention of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association. The host hotel is the Flamingo. That website is: http://www.iglta.orglconvention/and that website is your one stop shop. Here is where you will find updates, registration information, hotel and air information as well as anything else you could possibly want to learn about this one of a kind event. Among the many workshops that will be taking place are: Vegas Adventures, How to Buy/Sell Unique Destinations, How to Access the Gay and Lesbian www.ozarksstar.corn Market, Internet Marketing, L World - Why Lesbians may be your best customers, Gay Comfort Hotel Programs, Marketing Strategies for Staying Competitive in the Gay & Lesbian Tourism Market, Unique destinations for Gay & Lesbian Travel, Teaming Up with Gay and Lesbian Events, Guerilla Marketing and Hotel/Bed and Breakfast trends. Legendary author Armistead Maupin will be our keynote speaker for the event. There will also be a National Trade Show in conjunction with the Convention. Anxong the many National sponsors of the IGLTA are:Airlines, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Center, MGM-MIRAGE, Canada Tourism Commission, Wyndam Hotels and Resorts, HARRAH’S, AIG Travel Insurance, Alamo Car Rentals, National Car Rentals, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Macy’s Department Stores, Ottawa Tourism Center, Marriott Hotels and Resorts and this is only a portion of the national sponsors. If you go to their website you can check out their list of activities and the calendar of events. They list over a dozen every month all around the ~vorld. OutWest Global Adventures is one of our favorites. Check out their website at www.outwestadventures. com. or email them at: info@outwestadventures.corn and their phone number is 800-743-0458. They schedules all over the world. feature a "places to see" page and great maps of each city so that you can find your way around easily. They have brochures on the following cities: Asbury Park, Atlanta, Atlantic City, Austin, Baltimore, Banff/Jasper, Boston, Brooklyn, Calgary, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Edmonton, Fire Island, Ft. Lauderdale, Halifax, Houston, Jacksonville, Key West, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, Long Island, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Miami and Miami Beach, Minneapolis, Montreal, Myrtle Beach, Napa Valley, New Hope, New Orleans, New York City, Niagara, Okanagan Valley, Orange County, Orlando, Palm Springs, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, Provincetown, Quebec City, Rehoboth Beach, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Saskatoon, Seattle, Sonoma County/Russian River, South Dakota, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Washington D.C., Whistler and Wilton Manors. Hopefully in the near future they will come out with a funmap brochure for Missouri featuring Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbia, Springfield and Joplin. Funmap brochures can be picked up free at hundreds of bars around the country and you can also check them out on line at www.funmaps.com. Their maps are the most circulated gay publication in the world, with 3.5 million users every year. FUNMAPS.com is the leading authority for gays and lesbians visiting anywhere in the United States and Canada. They have yearly "funmap brochures" on all of the major cites in the country. They have been publishing their brochures for over 25 years. Alan Beck is the publisher and lives in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. We were fortunate to be his guests at his lovely estate there. His life-partner Nick is a wonderful person and they had a house guest, Norma from the Northeast who was a delight. Alan is one of the most charming gentlemen that we have ever met. The brochures feature accommodations, restaurants/cafes, night life and shopping. Their funmaps brochures also ~heSTAR t9 �Matsuya serves excellent sushi and Japanese fare, including such knock-’out starters as deep-fried chicl~en wings and whitefish with smelt roe. Although many imitators have opened nearby, Mia Francesca remains the best place in the neighborhood for sophisticated but simple Northern Italian fare. You could survive solely- on the flaky, freshly baked cinnanmn rolls that accompany every" meat at the hallowed Swedish diner Ann Sather, which has several gay-popular locations. Chicago Diner, and serves that �A swank, smoke-free lounge known for its colorful cocktails and slick crowd, Minibar opened somewhat recently and has become a favorite affer~work spot. A circuit-boy favorite on weekends, Circuit pulses with a feverish tate-ni~t dance crowd even at midweek, when Latin nights are a hit. °l~ne stylish Berlin disco draws a decidedly fiankier and more alternative crowd than most of the preppy haunts in Lakeview. Nearby Spin is an eclectic gay club with an alla~es crowd and fun dance music. Charlie’s brinas in fans ofcountry~ffestern music, while the Gentry on Halsted is ~ Boystown branch of downtowffsppo ular piano bar, favored for happy hour and later for live cabaret. Leather-and-Levi’s types cruise the Cell Block. Steamworks Chicago is a popular, clean, well-run sauna - it’s one of the nicest such facilities in the country. cheese, and a ranow-smoky sauce. One of the most talked-ab0ut new eateries in the area, Anteprima turns out superb modern Italian fare and has a wan’. dining room with pressed-tin ceilings and a s~.~ded patio in back. Don’t pass up the grilled quail marinated in honey with balsan~ic vinegar and pancetta. A lively and atmospheric bistro with a decidedly queer following, Tomboy serves tempting fare like pan-seared duck with crimini mushrooms mid a port glaze, T’S is a friendly, gay-popular restaurant and bar - it s a favorite lesbian date spot, known for healthful American food. ~hste of Heaven Baker), is a great pick for delectable breakfasts and lunches, plus iCresh-baked snacks throughout the day - the flied-egg sandwiches and peaches-and-cream French toast are favorites in the morning. Ano~er wonderful spot to satisfy your sugar fix is Sweet Occasions, which serves some of the thickest and richest ice cream in the city, plus fantast,c cupcakes, cherry cobbler, and homemade fudge. It’s hard not to love this old-fashioned parlor with ice-cream sundaes named for the seven deadly sins. The "Lust" (a chipotle brownie topped with cinnamon ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, and red hots) may leave you lusting t~br another trip to these two charming Chicago neighborhoods ..... www.ozarksstar.com {5eSTAR 21 �our entire lives! "17hey were crispy, tender and extremely delicious. We naturally had to get their recipe to share with our readers. After lunch we had some of their home-made apple pie which was great, but not as great as the onion rings. If you’re ever in that part of the country, be sure and stop by and dine there. They have no phone, no address with just a small sign in front but you can’t miss it as it is the only restaurant in town. We asked our waitress who owned the restaurant and she said, "Bob & Jim’. She had ,vorked there for over 3 years and had never met them. Rather strange, but as long as they make extraordinary onion rings, we don’t care. BOB & IIM’S CAFE So, when you’r traveling, you never know what you might find. Sometimes it turns out good and sometimes it turns out bad, but just keep on "truckin". Greydiff, Montana We love to dine at fine restaurants around the country but sometimes we hit upon a little diner that looks as though it is just the "perfect" place to stop. Last fall on our driving trip back from Seattle, Washington we were driving thru Montana around noonish and we were both getting hungry so we decided to pull into the next to~vn and get something to eat. Lo and behold the next town in Montana was Greycliff, a town of about 450 people (if you count the two of us). Really not much there except it is right on the Interstate. When we walked into the only restaurant in town, they KNEW that we were not from their fair town, or even that we were from Montana! All eyes were upon us. The last time that anyone in the restaurant had ever seen that many diamond rings was when they went to their local Walmart! We were the only ones there that didn’t wear cowboy hats, blue jeans, cowboy boots or bib overalls. We really thought about turning right around and walking back to our auto, but decided to stay. Our waitress was rather like Flo from the TV series, ALICE with a rather shrieking voice but pleasant. We had been dining for the past two weeks on west coast seafood so decided to try something a little more middle American so we ordered a chicken flied steak lunch. Our waitress, whose real name was Minnie May suggested that we also order the onion rings which she said were the best in the entire State of Montana. We almost didn’t order them but she kept insisting so ~ve did. To our pleasant surprise, they were some of the finest onion rings that we have ever had in 22 th~STAR Let us promote your business in a UNIQUE & DIVERSE market. Call STAR ADVERTISING today. www.ozarksstar.com �XANDER, CAPTURES MR GAY US ofA MI 2008 TITLE AT ANGLES By Victor Gorin OkJahomans for Equa] ity opens new exhibit featuring artist Amie Montedoro at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center art gallery will host its monthly First Thursday meet-theartist reception from 6-9pm, Thursday, April 3, 2008, for the opening of it’s April exhibit, paintings by Amie Montedoro. Winners Xander & 1 st runnerup Owen McCord OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ A new facet of pageantry was introduced to Oklahoma when the first contest for male impersonation was held in Oklahoma City March 12-15. q-he national competition for this new division of the US of A system, Mr Gay US of A, concluded at Angles with the crowning of Xander of Tennessee with 1st alternate Owen McCord of Atlanta, Georgia. This new contest is owned by the first Mr. Gay US ofA MI, the famous Gage Gatlin and his partner Brenda Quayle. Mr.Gatlin wowed the audience with a style that even made some gay men swoon, talent garnered from years of experience beginning in Jacksonville, Florida. Gage and Brenda have made their home in Tulsa, having begun this contest in August of this year. Mr.Gatlin has gone into retirement, however he will still perform for large charity events. They are looking forward to next year’s contest, which will feature contestants winning preliminary or regional contests, of which there are already 10 planned. ~wvw.ozarksstar.com Montedoro’s art is a refreshing look at the beauty of women who have taken charge of their own sexuality. The feminine form, as the perfect balance between the sacred and the profane, embodies the duplicity that is woman; as Madonna, as Whore. The eldest daughter of accomplished architect and educator Richard Montedoro (Norman, Ok.), Amie has been taught from a young age the importance of self expression. A tactile artist, Amie prefers to create her art not with brushes or tools; rather she uses her fingers to apply all but the most intricate of details and finishing touches. From concept to creation, Amie uses traditional techniques along with the relationship garnered from having her hands actually create the form and emotion of women who are sexually comfortable, capable, and liberated. The exhibit will remain up through the month of April, and can be viewed Monday thru Saturday from 3-gpm. The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th St., in downtown Ttflsa. More info can be found on the web at okeq.org. This monthly event is hosted by Oklahoman’s for Equality (OkEq). OkEq seeks equal rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) individuals and families through advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. Kern Responds to Activist Criticisms OKI~A_HOMA CITY, OK (PR) __State Rep. Sally Kern (R-Oklahoma City) issued the following statement in response to the criticisms of homosexual activists who have objected to a recent speech she gave on their efforts to promote their agenda at both the federal and state level. "To put this simply, as a Christian I believe homosexuality is not moral. Obviously, you have the right as an American to choose that lifestyle, but I also have the right to express my views and my fellow Oklahomans have the right to debate these issues. "In recent years homosexual activists have begun to aggressively promote their agenda through the political process, often providing substantial financing to candidates who agree with their views, including many running for state legislative races. National publications such as Time, The Atlantic and USA Today have noted that trend. That is their right, just as it is my right to voice opposition to their agenda, which I have been asked to do at several public forums in recent months. That’s what democracy is all about. It appears some homosexual activists believe only one group is allowed a voice in this debate. I disagree. ’~k vigorous debate on an issue is not ’hate speech’ - it’s free speech. I have made clear my opposition to the agenda of homosexual activists, but I have never endorsed or supported any hateful action targeting individuals on the other side of this debate and never will. The fact that many gay rights activists claim anyone opposing their agenda is engaging in ’hate speech’ says more about them than me. "Most Oklahomans are socially conservative and believe marriage is a sacred institution, the union of one man and one woman, and that the traditional family is worth protecting and preserving. When I campaigned for office, I promised my constituents to stand up for those values, and I do not apologize for keeping my word." theSTAR 23 ���By Ronald Blake By the time you read this, the Academy Awards gadabouts will be looking forward to next year’s red carpet faux pas. You will likely have listened ad nauseam to the incessant prattling of that sham fashion critic Joan Rivers. You will probably be joining the droves of lemmings to rent the Oscar winning movies at the corner Blockbuster. I will now beseech your participation for my health version of the body’s Academy Awards. I promise to shut up when the music starts to play. The winner for best editing goes to the reticular activating system, or the RAS as it is known to the medical snobs, q-his system was responsible for filtering all the unnecessary dreck that made its way to your brain during the past year. It decided what was important for you to pay attention to. It concluded that 99% of the sensory input that approached your cerebral cortex was to be ignored. Without this RAS, you would likely have been bombarded with an overload of drab detail all around you. The kind of overload you would experience while on the drug LSD, which does temporarily disable the RAS. The winner for best supporting role goes to the diaphragm. This veteran provided enough action and drama for five hysterical queens. It was capable of providing sufficient pressure change in your thoracic cavity to send blood soaring happily back to the heart on many an occasion. It has so ardently allowed you to give that much needed extra push while grunting and groaning on the toilet. It was even so 26 theSTAR chivalrous to accompany you to the health club and save you from muscle tears during your heavy lifting exercises. The best makeup award is presented to the circulatory system for its presentation of the numerous bruises that you displayed to the world. These hematomas are more than just clotted blood masses and it is long overdue that the Academy finally recognizes these purveyors of black and blue marks. They maintained their iridescent beauty until the body naturally reabsorbed the escaped blood that clotted just beneath the skin’s surface. There were many nonainees for great body parts and their exciting roles. With all due respect to the aforementioned winners, the body does function as a whole and winning team. Keep learning about your anatomy and physiology. This knowledge is what will keep you healthy and prepare you for the recipient of the lifetime achievement award. This column is brought to you by that guy who frequendy and sophomorically ordered Whopper sandwiches while in the McDonald’s drive-throughs in his carefree youth. That guy is Ron Blake and he can be castigated at www.goblakefimess.com. The best leading role goes to the lungs. This organ is usually secondary to the perennial favorites such as the heart, brain, or the stomach. This year the voters spoke and showed the world that nobody puts the lungs in a corner. This tour de force has provided the heart with all its oxygen which in turn has provided the properly conditioned blood for your brain’s processing of your impure thoughts and the stomach’s digesting of those roast beef sandwiches ladled with horsey sauce. The best director goes to the adrenaline. This litde behemoth was responsible for preparing all your body parts for that fight or flight reaction when you came face to face with that curmudgeonly pit bull in the park. Audience members cheered furiously when you chose the flight version and outpaced the Hound of the Baskervilles and then leapt that six foot brick wall to the safety of those hydrangea bushes on the other side. Only a capable director could cajole you out of your slothful ways to negotiate that feat. www.ozarksstar.com �GAY TRAVELERS: Almost al! the bus tours allow their passengers to take their own food with them and if you are careful and not out in the open about it, you can take your own liquor for a 5 o’clock drink or two. We know several people who have taken a bus tour from California to Alaska and they all say that it was splendid. Buses nowadays are not like yesterday. They are all extremely comfortable with air-cushioned suspension. They of course all have restrooms on board and they make frequent stops for dining and shopping. On the longer tours they usually have a host/hostess traveling with you to answer any and all questions. Sometimes in one’s life it just makes more sense to take a bus tour rather than driving your own automobile. If this is something that might be in your future plans we highly suggest that perhaps you might start offwith just a day trip and see how you like it and then progress to a longer one. There are a lot of single people taking these bus tours so for the single people out there, you don’t need to feel alone when traveling. We have made good acquaintances on our day tours that we took several years ago and still keep in touch with them. Bus tours are not for everybody but perhaps it might be something to look into for your future travel plans. And speaking of Las Vegas, "Gay Days & Nights Las Vegas" is coming up July 3rd thru the 6th. This wil! be their 2nd year of presenting the Gay Days & Nights. Presenting sponsor Cirque du Soleil will be featuring special events and discounts throughout the Gay Days & Nights July 3-6, to showcase their Las Vegas productions. Attendees of Gay Days & Nights Las Vegas will have an opportunity to see any or all of the shows combined with invitationonly special events, drawings and incentives planned for each night including LOVE at Mirage, KA at MGM Grand, ZUMANITY at New-York Hote! & Casino and Mystere at Treasure Island. PARIS Hotel & Casino is the host accommodations and you can check them out at Parislasvegas.com. For more information check their website at http://www.gaydaysandnights.com/. Also when going to Las Vegas be sure and check out http://www.lasvegaspride.org/. Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! ~,wvw.ozarksstar.com British gays f~ght b{ood ban A new British group called Bloodban is seeking to overturn the nation’s ban on blood donation by non-celibate gay men, the BBC reported March 7. Organizers are circulating a petition that they plan to deliver to Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The National Blood Service believes gay men are too high-risk because of the short gap between one’s getting infected with HIV and when the virus can be detected by a blood test. Bloodban says people should be excluded based on their lifestyle, not because of their membership in a particular social group. ~e activists propose that gay men be banned as donors only if they have had unprotected sex in the past 18 months. israeli bashers sent to prison Four Jerusalem gay-bashers were sent to prison for two to eight years March 6 by the Tel Aviv District Court, Ynetnews reported. Typically, the bashers used a decoy cruiser to pick up men seeking sex with men at Tel Aviv’s old central bus station. Once in the victim’s car, the decoy would direct him to another location where the other bashers joined in beating, stripping and robbing the victim. Two other men have been indicted for nearly identical crimes at Jerusalem’s central bus station. In one case, one of the bashers bit off a portion of one victim’s ear, Ynet said. Netherlands plans legalization of park sex People having sex in the park xvill be expected to do so only after dark and out of public viexv. They also must not leave condoms lying about. Meanxvhile, the police institute’s National Diversity Expertise Center is advising other cities to follow Amsterdam’s lead. It said legalizing park sex would help protect gay men from queer-bashers. The Amsterdam branch of the Dutch national gay group COC (now knoxvn only by its formal initials) xvelcomed the nexvs. "Cruising is something belonging to all times and banning it does not work anyway," said chairman Dennis Boutkan. "They do it surreptitiously and mostly without others being annoyed by it. By agreeing on rules of behavior, safety can be increased." Spanish gay-marriage PIVt wins reelection Spanish voters re-elected Prime Minister Josd Luis Rodrlguez Zapatero on March 9, apparently unperturbed that he made Spain one of only six nations that grant gay couples access to full marriage. Zapatero’s Socialist party took 43.7 percent of the vote, besting the conservative Popular Party, which grabbed 40.1 percent. Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa and the U.S. state of Massachusetts also have opened up ordinary marriage to same-sex couples. SGYrdneff. GLBT Mardi as Picks Gayest Song Ever. S~qDNEY, AU __ ABBA’s Dancing Queen, which has been ranked by visitors to Australia’s SameSame.com.au website as the gayest song of all time in a list compiled to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. It will no longer be illegal to have sex in Amsterdam’s Vondel Park under regulations set to take effect later this year, De Telegraaf reported March 7. The Village People’s YMCA came in second, followed by Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive. "Why should we try to maintain something that is actually impossible to maintain, which also causes little bother for others and, for a certain group, actually signifies much pleasure?" asked Oud-Zuid district Alderman Paul van Grieken. "The list was compi]ed in the lead-up to the 30th Anniversary of Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras to look back on the catalogue of popular music to decide which of them are truly worthy to be labelled a camp classic," SameSame.com.au said. th÷STAR 27 �by Jack Fertig April 2008 "Recharge your batteries, Taurus!" Venus entering Aries provides a challenging spark to the profound re-evaluations of responsibility being raised by Pluto and Saturn. Be patient, take the long view, and rise to the challenge of seeing how your impulses can be harnessed to deep and necessary changes. ARIES (March 20 -April 19): Venus is in your sign, and it’s a great time for a makeover. Looking good professionally is more important than just looking gorgeous, so freshen up your work as well as your appearance. Looking good in lieu of accomplishment will fool no one. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Allow yourself time to be alone. Recharge your batteries; take time to think about important issues, to organize hobbies or crafts, or to look more critically at some of your creative efforts. When you need fresh air, do some volunteer work. GEMINi (May 21 - June.20): Throwing yourself into some community efforts will bdng you to unanticipated challenges. You can overcome them, but will have to re-evaluate how you network with others, and how you support and use community structures. SAG~TTAR~US (November 22 o December 20): You could accomplish a great deal, earning fame and fortune. The creative impulse that should feed such progress is more likely to be a distraction. Harnessing that power productively is challenging. Don’t give in to impulse. Structure and discipline are now your best bet. CAPRICORN (December 21 -January 19): Suddenly focusing on what you value about your home and tribe, you can become very assertive and defensive. Try to take a longer view, asserting the value of your clan as part of a larger community or humanity, not distinct from it. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): To become even more comfortable with your deepest, most private feelings about sex and/or death, you need to challenge yourself to examine these most irrational mysteries with some logic. Find someone with whom you can discuss your secret feelings. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): The fault is probably not with your partner and friends, but in what you imagine - wrongly - to be their chief assets. Try to see what they offer and what you offer to them in a new light, one that will improve all your relationships. CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Making useful connections may feel cynical. The truth is, you tend to be a little too romantic and shouldn’t be shy about basing relationships on something practical. Focus your urge to edit on yourself; others rarely appreciate it. LEO (July 23 .- August 22): You’re suddenly impatient to make your mark in a new territory. Stop and think. Rather than wasting this energy in some egoistic indulgence, you can apply your skills to present your most valued ideas and talents. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Be bold and daring. Traits you’ve experienced as liabilities can prove very advantageous if you try playing with them - perhaps in dark, subversive ways. Erotic role play can unlock power where you thought you were weak. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Nice people can argue nicely. Assert your points respectfully and hear your partner - or your opponent - out. Be open to new perspectives on cherished traditions. Some long-accepted history als0 needs a fresh look. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): You’re itching to make some much-needed innovations at work. As good as. your ideas are, be sure to discuss any plans with colleagues, and not just for diplomacy’s sake. You can learn from their ideas and improve upon your own improvements. METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve 3". Urie Spirit of Christ MCC 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Saturdays at 10:00 AM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC of the Living Spring 17 Elk Street Eureka Spdngs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! 28 theSTAR www.ozarksstar.com �tis÷ s Support those who support us, DOWNTOWN PLAZA of TULSA 17 \Vest 7th Street Tulsa, OK 918-585-5898 www.downtownplazatulsa.com DIVERSITY CHRISTIAN CNTR 211 S. Garnett Tulsa, OK 74128 v~vw.realacceptance.com HABANA INN 2200 bD,v4 39TH F~XPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 www.habanainn.com OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant SUSAN HARTMAN Independent Broker Oklahoma and Arkansas 918-698-2977 susanlhartman@gmail.com ANGLES 2117 NW 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK x~vw.anglesclub.com BkaMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 www.bambooloungetulsa.com CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 www.clubmajestictulsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESS\VgAy Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 v~vw.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com www.ozarksstar.com HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline GUSHER’S RESTAURMNT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn GAYRIBBEAN CRUISES www.gayribbeancruises.com 877-560-8318 SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM MCC of the HVING SPRING 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pm OPENARMS YOUTH PROJECT 2015 -B S. Lakewood Tulsa, OK 74112 918-838-7104 www. openarmsproject.org JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphoms@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 www.c2 lgoldcastle.com Want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $33.95 will be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or moneyorder to: ¯he STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 (Single Copies $3.00 per issue) NAlVlE: Address: CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com St: Zip: Phone: Check enclosed Money Order Start Date: th÷STAR 29 �Keller Williams Realty Whether buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. ,REALACCEPTANCE,COM mdaekfinitio,n..; the cos,int [Re f,gr m,,ost to..... e a amerence llves of.u...s, oT (~Lt~l Teens in Oklahoma.) You can help our teens. Support Open Arms Youth Project. For more Info: www. openarmsproject.org 30 t5eSTAR www.ozarksstar.com ��drugs +, HIL.~ Learn ~t~he Link �� Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document ESTABLISHED 2003 www.ozarksstar.com APRIL 2008 "The homosexual agenda is destroying this nation." "1 honestly think it’s the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam. They have infiltrated City Councils. They are after your 2 year olds for indoctrination." State Representative, District 84, Sally Kern. Compiled by Star staff Photo: Rally at Memorial Park Oklahoma City. ¯hese sentiments expressed by State Representative Sally Kern were taped at a Republican gathering who had invited her to speak on what some term the homosexual agenda. The tape was given to the Victory Fund, a national gay & lesbian political activist group and placed on ¥outube, where it has now been heard by over 1,000,000 people. It has garnered international attention with responses that have overwhelmed Youtube, and to say that the lines of communication with Ms. Kern were jammed would be a classic understatement. Ellen Degeneres was not surprised when she tried to contact Sally Kern after playing the youtube video on her show and couldn’t even leave a message. Although the audience was obviously not in agreement with Sally, Ellen appealed to Miss Kern on the air, stating that she wanted to talk to her, that she obviously had some misinformation. Although some responses received by Ms Kern were supportive, the vast majority were not, and many were threatening and are being investigated by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. At a Press Conference at the Church of the Open Arms March 11, Cimarron Alliance President Richard Ogden, among many others, denounced Ms. Kern’s remarks and stated that she should apologize or be censured by the Oklahoma House of Representatives. As he put it, "These are hateful words that can result in hateful actions, This is about accountability, not freedom of expression." It was pointed out that only 3 months earlier, Stephen Domer of Oklahoma City was murdered because he was gay. So far Ms. Kern has refused to apologize and the Speaker of the House, Republican Chris Benge ofTulsa, has stated he will not call for Ms. Kern to be censured. However Governor Brad Henry stated that he advised her to "Think before you speak. Oklahomans have love and tolerance for all people. I don’t think this rhetoric represents Oklahoma." P-Flag of Oklahoma has asked for a meeting with her, but has gotten no response. Her statement that the gay community was a bigger threat than terrorism or Islam drew fire from both military personnel and Oklahoma’s Muslim community. At the Church press conference Richard Ogden pointed out that one of the four people on United Airlines Flight 93 who overpowered the hijackers who were heading the airliner to the White House, Mark Bingham, was gay. Another speaker at the conference, Jerre B. Fine, a Air Force veteran, stated that she was honored to serve her country and that Sally Kern’s comments that gays were a bigger threat than terrorism or Islam, and were a cancer in the toe of society were very hurtful on a personal level. She pointed out that "I served my country dutifully and honorably for 6 years of my life. We need protection not only from outside forces trying to destroy America, but also we need protection from within from people like Sally Kern." On March 14 there was a rally at Memorial Park featuring signs along Classen Boulevard encouraging rush hour travelers to honk to show opposition to Representative Kern’s remarks. The event got extensive television coverage, and featured many community leaders. Most important of all was that the responses from OKC’s commuters were overwhelmingly supportive. In a recent Tulsa World poll, the question was: Would you sign the petition to have Sally Kern removed from office? ..............Continued PAGE 5 ®MISS GAY TULSA PAGEANT April 25th 10prn. Featuring - Miss Gay Tulsa America - Melody Micheals and Miss Gay Oklahoma Lindsey Paige. for more information email: information@downtownplazatulsa.com 2 the STAR vwvw.ozarksstar.com 1 DS (2437) Recognized by Keller Williams For outstanding achievement 2005 and 2006 R~ALTY Chuck Breckenridge 918-706-1887 REALTOI~ Whether buying or selling I’ll work hardforyo~ Get the STAR delivered to your home or office. 12 issues only $33.95. Send Check or Money Order to: The STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 Seepage 29for order blank. ,J www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 3 APRIL, State News continues on page 6, 9, 11 and 23 LGBT History looks at the life ofTallulah Bankahead, Actress Movies, TV, Stage and Radio World Briefs By Rex Wockner - Wockner News Service ~DEEP ~INSIDE HOLLYWOOD Deep Inside Hollywood, reports on new projects for George Clooney and Simon ~WiNE Devre Jackson reviews wines of Northem Italy. Beer-Battered Onion Rings from Bob & Jim’s Care, Greycliff, Montana. Gay Travelers: Bus Trips & Tours Out of Town: Chicago STAR SCENE Snapshots from around the State. Paparazzi on page 25 FITNESS Introspection can lead you to better understand yourself and ultimately to achieve greater happiness. ON THE COVER: Photo byVictor Gorin 4 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com Embrace the Passior o£ the Prom. Pride Prom 2008 makes comeback to PAC By Joey De TULSA, OK__ When the sun sets April 19, the Tulsa Performing Arts Center will heat up with the passion of Spain as the University ofTulsa’s Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay and Transgender alliance present Pride Prom 2008, "Bailamos!" The event, which has called the PAC home for three years, offers BLGT youth and their friends the opportunity to celebrate the prom season with their chosen date. ’~A lot of BLGT youth can’t take the prom date of their choice (to their high school’s prom), this is an opportunity to express themselves freely," says Steven Hulford, one of the organization’s leaders. For the TU-BLGTA, Pride Prom is a way to give back to the community and make memories for BLGTA youth, regardless of if they are TU students or not. "We are in or eighth year of doing this event," says Hulford. "Each year it has grown from being in the Great Hall of the Allen Chapman Activity Center (a building on campus), to what it is now." According to Hulford, this year’s Spanish theme was picked from a long list of ideas. "We wanted to do something completely different from what we had done in the past," he says noting previous themes of Hollywood and water. "We’re calling it ’Bailamos’ because the literal translation is ’we dance’." At the event, Hulford says youth can expect all the food, music and fun of a traditional high school prom. In addition, attendees will have access to a "Resource Row," that will feature organizations who provide quality services to BLGT youth. Beginning at 7:30, the event runs until 11:00 and does not require formal dress. "The only things we don’t allow are torn jeans and shorts, other than that people are welcome to dress how they feel comfortable. People have come in formal prom attire and have come in polo shirts and slacks," explains Mr. Hulford. Tickets for Pride Prom 2008 are $10 in advance at www.myticketoffice.com and $12 at the door. For information on sponsorship and branding opportunities, contact the group’s advisor, Nancy Eggen at 918.744.9182. SOONER STATE SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION HOLDS OKLAHOMA CITY TOURNAMENT Leroy Cobb & Laurie Proole MC’s at Angles Furndraiser for Sooner State Softball 26 teams ( 21 men’s, 5 women’s) came together at Boomtown Field and the Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City March 15-16 to enjoy the comraderie of softball competition. Now in its 5th year, the Sooner State Softball Association offers the GLBT community the opportunity to show off their skills or learn the game among friends. According to SSSA Commissioner Leroy Comp, it also provides a way "to see some great softball." The SSSA is part of the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance, a confederation of GLBT athletic teams in both the United States and Canada. New players are always welcome, so if you’d like to try your hand, call Mr.Comp and (405) 408 2533 or e-mail him at cutupok@aol.com. FRONT PAGE CONTINUED: Yes: 129 No: 86 I don’t know: 6 The results of this question represent the opinions of 221 people with the following demographic profile: Oklahomans: 80.5 % Male: 127 Female: 94 In response to Kern’s statement that Eureka Springs City Council was controlled by gays. A press statement was issued by the Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce and the straight Mayor, Dani Joy: "Since its founding in 1879, Eureka Springs has been and remains welcoming to all visitors and residents without regard to their race, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin. It is our hope that all people would aspire to this ideal. Because of the timeless beauty of our architecture and landscape, the friendliness of our citizens and our welcoming attitude toward all visitors, we remain a destination for people from all walks of life. Eureka Springs will remain a city eager to provide all visitors a fulfilling vacation experience." Mayor Dani Joy" Oklahomans have spoken out, we’ve demonstrated, protested, sent letters and email to our elected officials, and have gained international attention. Media from around the world has covered the embarrassing tirade of Rep. Kern. This international spodight may be to our advantage. Our activist groups have experienced an influx of out of state contributions since the stoW broke. We’ve gotten the attention of national and international advocacy organizations. We have discovered many new main stream allies in Oklahoma. The House and Senate leadership may allow the five hate crimes bills currently before them to receive full consideratioia. There is a positive side to this degrading display of (Shame on Sally) Most importantly we have the right to vote, and Sally was voted into office. Come November and in future elections know your candidate before you mark that spot on the ballot. It could make an important difference in our future. www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 5 editor Dear Editor, When is enough, really enough? We have been reading and watching the national news about Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, saying "gay agenda is a greater threat to America than terrorism." Although we do not live in Oldahoma, we have been visiting your great state for over 30 years. We are extremely concerned when a public official such as an elected State Representative makes such remarks. ¯his is really nothing short of a "hate crime" in itselfl It is one thing for a regular citizen of the country to make remarks such as this but when a public official says it, then it is obviously crossing the line. As gay and lesbian citizens of the United States, we have as much right as anybody else to expect full citizenship. When people such as Ms. Kern spews her hatred to the people of Oklahoma it is WRONG ! It propels hatred in schools, churches and throughout the entire community. Many years ago we took on Anita Bryant for her anti-homosexual drive and we won! So, our dear brothers and sisters in Oklahoma............. have you had enough? Gays and Lesbians throughout the country are fighting for their rights and each and every individual gay and lesbian person in each state must do their part. We cannot suggest an action to take against Ms. Kern however we feel very strongly that action MUST BE TAKEN in whatever form necessary. Whether a full stage sit-in, a recall of her government seat in your State House or whatever. ..... something NEEDS TO BE DONE AND NOW~ Many years have passed since we just stood on the sidelines and took whatever was handed to us, and we never, want to return to those days. We are extremely proud of the progress that gays and lesbians have made. Both Oklahoma City and Tulsa have a very vibrant gay and lesbian community, much more so than most cities around the country their size. OkEq Den,o.unces Rep. Sally Kem’s Ant oGay Tirade TULSA, OK (PR) __Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) deplores the sentiments expressed by Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern (R-Oklahoma City) in a YouTube video now generating a firestorm. National and local media outlets are closely covering the controversy sparked by Kern’s claim that homosexuality is "the biggest threat that our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam." In a triple play of intolerance, Rep. Kern offends lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans, thousands of women and men defending the United States from terrorist attacks, and Muslims worldwide. Yet, she remains completely unapologetic, citing her right to freedom of speech and claiming, "I have never endorsed or supported any hateful action targeting individuals on the other side of this debate and never will." Rep. Kern’s legislative track record belies her remarks. In 2006, Rep. Kern sponsored legislation that xvould have denied funding to public libraries that refused to segregate books addressing LGBT themes. Rep. Kern has repeatedly used her public office to demonize LGBT Oklahomans and to attempt to deny them the exact same civil liberties she now defends so passionately. This is the height of hypocrisy. "OkEq firmly supports Rep. Kern’s constitutional tight to express her viexvs, but vociferously objects to the actions she takes to prevent LGBT Oklahomans from attaining justice and equality. When elected officials use their power to defame entire categories of people, they abuse the freedom of speech embedded in the First Amendment and violate their responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of their constituents," asserts Justice Waidner, OkEq Executive Director. So instead of just bitching and moaning and groaning about Mrs. Kern, we wish all the gays and lesbians in Oklahoma the best success with this matter. Cordially, Donald Pile and Ray Williams OkEq calls upon the many fair-minded members of the Oklahoma legislature to condemn Rep. Kern’s comments and to pass immediately a state hate crimes law that encompasses sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. We ask for the House and Senate leadership to allow the five hate crimes bills currently before them to receive full consideration on the floor. 6 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 7 4815 S. Harvard Gay men and lesbiansface many special tax situations, whether single or as couples. Proudly serving Tulsa & OKC’s GLBT communities since 1982 8 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com TULSA, OK (PR) __ Health Outreach Prevention Education, Inc. (H.O.P.E.) celebrated its 10th anniversar~ Xgrednesday, March 12, 2008. Invited guests and honorees celebrated at the Dennis R. Nell Fxtuality Center, a long-time community partner where H.O.P.E.’s services began in 1996. The evening included hors d’ oeuvres and recognized key individuals who have been instrumental in the growth and success of the organization. "H.O.P.E. provides a vita! service in the fight against HIV by testing those at risk and also educating the community on safer sex practices. By virtue of their HIV testing being free and anonymous, people at risk can more easily know their status and help stop the transmission of HIV," stated Stephen Eberle, advisory board and 10th Anniversary committee member. In recognition of H.O.P.E.’s 10th Anniversary, the following people and organizations received recognition for the significant impact they have had on the agency since its inception: Ms. Kristi Frisbie, Mr. Jeremy Simmons, the Oklahoma State Department of Health HIWSTD Division, Ms. Janie Nicklas and the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership Grants Committee, Tulsa CARES, Community of Hope Church, Ms. Debi Sanditen, Dr. Damon Baker, and Oklahomans for Equality. Health Outreach Prevention Education (H.O.P.E.) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that has served Tulsa and surrounding communities since 1998. H.O.P.E. is proud to be recognized as one of the largest and most comprehensive health promotion facilities in Oklahoma, and is the only free, anonymous HIV testing site in a 23-county area. H.O.P.E. also operates the statewide HIWsexually transmitted disease (STD) resource hotline and conducts a variety of targeted outreach efforts focusing on men, women, and under served populations. H.O.P.E. also offers free and low-cost Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C testing and education services. H.O.P.E. provides a comfortable place for people to learn their health status and can connect clients to a variety of medical and social support services. H.O.EE. is supported in part by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, as well as various private foundations, including the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund, the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership, the MAC AIDS Fund, and the George B. Kaiser Family Foundation. Raising awareness of HIV/AIDS remains vitally important, as the infection rate remains steady every year in the United States. Young people and minorities are disproportionately affected, but HIV does not discriminate. By knowing your status, you are better able to protect yourself and others. Prevention education and testing are keys to decreasing the stigma and infection rate of HIV. For more information about HIV or sexually transmitted infections, call the Oklahoma HIWSTD Resource Hotline, 1-800-535-MDS (2437). RESERVE YOUR SPAOE HOW Deadline Thursday IViay t 5th Serving the Oklahoma GLBT community since 2003. www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 9 by Liz Highteyman Past Out, which looks at the life 0fTallulah Bankhead, Actress Movies, TV;, Stage and Radio, Who was Tallu]lah Bankhead? ~ecades after her heyday in the 1920s and 1930s, self-described "ambisextrous" stage and screen star Tallulah Bankhead is as famous for her bad-girl antics as for her acting talent. Bankhead was born to a prominent political family in Huntsville, Ala., on January 31, probably in !903 (the year is subject to debate); her mother died shortly thereafter from childbirth complications. Seeking to keep his two unruly daughters out of trouble, her father, a U.S. Congressman, sent them to convent schools, but these proved conducive venues for Bankhead’s first sexual experiences with other girls. Though plump and plain as a child, Bankhead blossomed as an adolescent; at age 15, she won a movie magazine beauty contest with a prize of a small film role. Chaperoned by an aunt, she took up residence at the Mgonquin Hotel in New York City, a favored haunt of the Broadway elite. There, Bankhead was seduced by renowned actress Eva Le Gallienne and met Estelle Winwood, an older English actress who would become a life-long friend and sometime lover. Bankhead also counted among her liaisons British student Napier Alington and jazz great Billie Holiday, but she turned down a casting couch invitation from John Barrymore. Breakthrough acting success eluded Banld~ead in New York, and in 1923 she moved to London on the advice of an astrologer. There, she quickly achieved fame, especially among young working-class women. Over the next eight years she appeared in two dozen \VC-est End plays, which were wildly popular with fans, if not always acclaimed by critics. Documents declassified in 2000 revealed that the British intelligence service investigated her - groundlessly, it turned out - for allegedly seducing a group of Eton schoolboys. Bankhead earned considerable income, but spent profligately; by the end of the decade, she was broke and accepted a contract offer from Paramount Studios. In Hollywood, she hosted parties at her mansion that were said to have "no boundaries," and she attended shindigs at lesbian actress Alia Nazimova’s lavish Garden ofAllah estate. An emergency hysterectomy due to advanced gonorrhea did little to curb her omnivorous sexual appetite. "My daddy warned me about men and booze," she famously quipped, "but he never mentioned a word about women and cocaine." Bankhead had flings with Gary Cooper and - allegedly - with Marlene Dieterich, but Greta Garbo apparently spurned her advances. Upon meeting Joan Crawford, who was then married to Douglas Fairbanks Jr., she remarked, "I’ve had an affair with your husband. You’ll be next." Though Bankhead often bragged about her sexual conquests, many believed she exaggerated for the sake of publicity. Indeed, her comments suggested that she did not particularly enjoy sex. "The conventional position makes me claustrophobic," she once said, "and the others give me a stiff neck or lockjaw." Regarding Bankhead’s orientation, long-time companion Patsy Kelly - one of the first actresses to come out as a lesbian - said it "mostly it depended on Tallulah’s mood...When she’d get caught up with a man, she’d go quite hetero on us." Bankhead married once, to actor John Emery in 1937, but they divorced four years later with no children. She then bought an estate in West&ester County, where she lived for extended periods with Winwood and with Kelly. She also surrounded herself with numerous pets and her "caddies" - young men who mixed her drinks, lit her constant cigarettes, and sometimes provided sexual services. Follmving in her father’s footsteps, she became increasing involved in politics, campaigning for Democratic candidates and supporting both anti-Nazi and anti-Communist causes. Bankhead disliked movie acting, and her larger-than-life style ~vas better suited to the stage than the screen. After making several unsuccessful Hollywood films, she returned to acting on Broadway and with national touring companies, receiving critical acclaim for her performances in The Little Foxes (1939) and The Skin of Our Teeth (1942). Though bitterly disappointed at being passed over for the role ofScarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind, she still took on occasional movie projects, including her most famous role as a shipwrecked journalist in Alfred Hitchcock’s Lifeboat (1944). In the early 1950s, Bantdxead emceed The Big Show, a popular variety program on NBC Radio; when radio gave way to television, she appeared as a guest on shows such as The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. She also starred in a one-woman Las Vegas nightclub act and wrote a best-selling autobiography. But as Bankhead aged, her 10 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com years of hard drinking and drug use caught up with her, and she became a caricature of her former self. Many of her gay male fans failed to take her efforts seriously, laughing through her performance as Blanche Du- Bois in a 1956 revival ofA Streetcar Named Desire. Before her death from pneumonia in 1968, Bankhead’s final roles were intentionally absurd, induding turns as a demented mother in the British horror flick Fanatic (1965) - retitled Die! Die! My Darling! in the United States - and as the Black Widow on the Batman television series. When producer William Dozier explained his vision for the latter role, she reportedly replied, "Don’t talk to me about camp, dahling, I invented it!" For further reading: Bret, David. 1997. Tallulah Bankhead: A Scandalous Life (Robson Books). Lobenthal, Joe. 2004. Tallulah! The Life and Times of a Leading Lady (HarperCollins). McLellan, Diana. 2000. The Girls: Sappho Goes to Hollywood (Robson Books). OK Mozart Festvai Announces 24th Season, June 13=21 TULSA, OK (PR) __ Tourism is a growing industry in Oklahoma, and the OK Mozart International Festival continues to enhance dais growth by attracting visitors to Bartlesville each June for one of the state’s most renowned cultural events. From June 13-21, the Festival’s 24th season promises to delight audiences from across the state and country with an outstanding array of concert artists and world-class musicians and performances, ranging from classical concerts to Jazz and everything in between. The line-up of renowned guest artists includes Mark O’Connor, Barry Douglas, Anne-Marie McDermott, Frederica yon Stade, Branford Marsalis, Peter Nero, and Ben Vereen. Plus, the New York Theatre Ballet is performing Sleeping Beauty. Amici New York, the Festival’s beloved orchestra-in-residence, returns as it has each year since the Festival’s founding in 1985. These musicians are soloists in their own right and perform in many of the most prestigious ensembles throughout the year. Paul Neubauer, music director, returns with his All-Star Chamber Ensemble featuring members ofThe Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. This year’s Festival will celebrate four great American composers: George Gershwin, Elliott Carter, Charles Wuorinen and Joan Tower, according to Neubauer. "We will also have Mozart,Tchalkovsky and Jimi Hendrix. Please join us for an exhilarating OK Mozart Festival." According to Scott Black, executive director, the 2008 festival offers some positive changes, including three series of entertainment options for the major concerts, money-saving ticket packages and many new and free Showcase events. These events, usually during non-concert hours, offer tours, historical talks, childreffs activities, luncheons and performances. "The 2008 Festival marks our 24th season of offering an internationally recognized event that puts Northeast Oklahoma on the map alongside larger cities that host similar summer festivals--San Francisco, New York, Chicago and Aspen," Black said. Most concerts take place in the Bartlesville Community Center concert hall, acdaimed for its near-perfect acoustics. Inside the Community Hall, the Moz-Art Gallery and OKM Gift Shop provide shopping pleasure for visitors. An exquisite on-site restaurant, Cafd Mozart, offers delicious three-course dinners and delightful lunches. The all-time favorite Woolaroc Outdoor Concert, taking place on June 20 at the Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve, features Amici New York with conductor’ Michael Krajewski. Nestled on the shores of a tranquil lake, this concert under the stars provides a relaxing, fun way to enjoy beautiful music. When darkness falls, a spectacular finale of fireworks lights the sky, signaling an end to the unforgettable evening. Season tickets and packages are available now with general sales beginning March 3rd. To order, call 918.336.9800, visit www. okmozart.com or in person at 500A South Dewey, Bartlesville. The Festival is made possible in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council and many corporate and individual patrons. The OK Mozart Festival is a member of Green Country Marketing Assn., one of 11 multi-county organizations working with the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, the Oklahoma Travel Industry Assn. and the other 10 multi-county associations to promote the state tourism industry. Creating Community for People iving with H ViA DS 50t c (3) Non Profit Orgauization Our House, Too offers a vadety of activities for people who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail harrismmjr@yahoo.com. www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 11 Gay arid Gray r g: Cor cerr s SAN FRANCISCO, CA__ More than 70% of lesbian and gay and respondents over age 40 reported concerns about losing the ability to care for themselves in a recent study conducted by Community Marketing, Inc. The majority also feared becoming sick or disabled, being dependent on others, and outliving their savings. When asked which resources they would rely on for long-term financial and social care as they age, less than 8% of respondents said they would place significant reliance on long-term care insurance, leaving us to wonder how prepared lesbians and gay men are for the kinds of health issues that often come with old age. Respondents placed the most emphasis on: Health care insurance: 22% Medicare: 20% Personal savings: 19% Social Security: 16% 65% of respondents expect for provide care to a partner sometime in the future, 44% for a parent, and 34% for a friend. However, respondents were less certain ofwho would care for them - 59% said a partner would be there to help care for them, 29% a friend, and 20% no one. Research Shows Growing Old a Concernfor Many Lesbians and Gay Mot A significant 20% of gay male and 38% of lesbian respondents over age 40 have children Oust 4% of gay men and 12% of lesbians reported the children to be under age 18). Sometimes it is easy forget how many gay-boomers had children before they came out, and some gays and lesbians will be able to rely on their children for care. The majority of respondents have completed a Living Will and the majority have a Power of Attorney, but less than 50% have completed an Estate Will or set up a Living Trust. (Hospitals often require a visiting partner to present a living~in order to enter his or her partner’s hospital room.) 49% of respondents said they are at least fairly confident that they would be treated with dignity and respect by medical personnel, but 19% expressed concerns that they have little confidence in this being the case. Some views of retirement and old age are much more positive. Respondents look forward to: traveling (79%), having more time for personal interests (74°/0), and peace and relaxation (60%). In addition, lesbians were more likely to report looking forward to spending more time with friends and family than gay men. DEMOGRAPHICS of this "over 40" study: The median age is 52. 69% of respondents are male, 30% female, and 1% transgen der. More than 96% of respondents identified as gay or lesbian. The remainder identified their sexual orientation as bisexual, queer or questioning. 53% of respondents reported that they are completely out. However, 15% are somewhat or not very out. The median respondent in all age categories reported plans to retire at age 62. The vast majority of respondents over age 62 have already retired. 73% of respondents have a college degree. 33% of female respondents and 46% of male respondents are single or do not live with a significant other. Lesbians are more likely to be partnered than gay men. The majority own single family homes. 12 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com By’ Rex Wockner Wockner News Service iranian fears e×ecution if sent home Mehdi Kazemi fears he’l! be executed if the United Kingdom forces him to return to Iran. Kazemi went to London to study in 2005 and Iranian officials later arrested his boyfriend, Parham, charged him with sodomy and executed him, according to Kazemi’s father. Kazemi then sought asylum in Britain but was rejected. In 2006, he then fled to the Netherlands, which detained him and is nmv preparing to return him to the UK. The UK had been planning to send Kazemi back to Iran ~vhen he returned to British soil but, on March 13, following extensive media coverage and political pressure, the Home Office agreed to review his case one more time before forcing him to go home. "The Iranian authorities have found out that I am a homosexual and they are looking for me," Kazemi said in a recent letter to UK Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. tn a statement given to activist groups, Kazemi elaborated: "Around [the] end of April 2006, my uncle called me again and informed me that my father had informed him that the authorities had executed Parham and that I must not return to Iran as the authorities would do the same to me.... Parham was charged with the crime of being homosexual and was executed." According to Kazemi’s father, Parham named Mehdi as his lover prior to his execution. Leading British gay activist Peter Tatchell commented: "The Home Office decision to deport Mehdi back to Iran is shameful and reckless.... Gay men in Iran are hanged from public cranes using the barbari method of slow strangulation." Tatchell said the UK government is "callous and more interested in cutting asylum numbers than in ensuring a fair, just and compassionate asylum system." Britain’s Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association also has taken up Kazemi’s cause, saying that "deporting gay and lesbian people to Iran is akin to deporting Jews back to Nazi Germany." Meanwhile, The Independent reported March 7 that an Iranian lesbian who fled to Britain after her girlfriend was arrested and sentenced to death by stoning also is at risk of being sent home. Pegaah Emambakhsh, 40, issued a statement March 6 saying: "I will never, never go back. If I do I know I will die." Emambakhsh’s asylum claim was rebuffed by the Court ofAppeal in February. She now plans to ask the High Court to review the case. Iran is known to have executed several teens and men accused of engaging in sodomy, although in nearly all the cases that have been publicized in recent years the individuals were accused of other crimes as well, such as rape. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission has said it suspects that other charges often are tacked onto sodomy cases to prevent the public outrage that would accompany executions carried out solely for the crime of consensual adult gay sex. The group also has said it believes executions solely for gay sex are taking place .out of the public eye. "Our suspicions [are] that their current practice really is to rid society of lesbians and gay men," the organization said last year. Human Rights Watch, on the other hand, has said it cannot fully document any executions in Iran in recent years carried out solely for the crime of consensual adult gay sex. Last September, during a speech at Columbia University in New York City, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was asked about the nation’s treatment of gay people. He responded: "We in Iran -- we in Iran, firstly, we don’t have hamjensbaz [a derogatory term for homosexuals meaning people with loose morals who chase people of the same gender for sexual pleasure] like you have in your country. In our country, there is no such a thing. In Iran, such a thing does not -- in Iran, in Iran, absolutely such a thing doe not exist as a phenomenon. I don’t know who told you otherwise." ILGA conference canceled The International Lesbian and Gay Association has canceled its 24th World Conference which was to take place in Quebec City, Canada, May 14 to 18. "A recent site visit] confirmed the impressions of the current lack of preparedness at this late date and the lack of funding necessary for the conference to take place," ILGA’s board co-chairs said in a statement. The primary lo.cal organizer was the Coalition gale et lesbienne du Qudbec. ILGA did not reschedule the conference but did put out "a formal call for new proposals from ILGA member organizations for hosting the world conference later this year." It gave interested parties less than a month to submit proposals. The board said any local organizer must take on partial responsibility for paying for the gathering. "ILGA does not have the capacity to fully fund the conference," the co-chairs said. "The local hosts have in the past fundraised for resources, especially to bring scholars from the Global South." ILGA is a 30-year-old federation of more than 600 GLBT organizations and associated members, such as city governments, from 90 countries. ............Continued PAGE 27 w~w.ozarksstar.com the STAR 13 Deep ~nside Hol!~,wooeL repora¢ on newprojeHrsjbr George Cloon~ and Simon Callow. Until he crossed over to the PG-13 Law and Order SVU, Chris Metoni was most notorious for gay sex scenes ~uad fullfrontal nudity OZ. And now Meloni is set,t,’o become even more family-friendl): He 1! star in Gym Teacher: Th~ Movie ~o{ Nickelodeon £s a down’on’his-luck coaCh wing Clooney Is Fantastic Mr. Fox 2?~hat’s the connection bevween the Coen Brothers’ ment - dark, violent No Country for Old Men and the upcoming animated family feature Xhe Fantastic Mr. Fox? Besides Coen collaborator George Ctooney in the starring voice role, that would be gay superproducer Scott Rudin, the man whose recent Oscar acceptance speech included a loving thank you to his ~artner (which was then s~rangely excised from the A~demyk o~cial transcript). Rudin tends to go where the hits are, ~d this ~es Anderson-directed, Ctooney and Care Blanchett-voiced feature, abou~ a quick-witted fox and three unpleasant f~rmers t~,in~ to do him in, looks like a sure!re holiday hit..~d in this instance, hohday means Christmas of 2009. But not to worD~ C!ooney has Burn ~ter Read in~ {the next one from the Coens) arriv ing during the interim. dinated thi., be a art teacher Mr. sircom, will a obsessive ~he movie Black about a with~ the film and this time with (slightly) ~,.u,.ll, a dark drama about a woman with a compulsive need to pull out her own hair one strand at k tirile (sounds like Todd Haynes’ Safei but Creepier), ~vill star not 0nly the legendary ~ren Black (Nashvillei but also musician Rickie Lee Jones. No word yet on when the movie will be, ready for an audience, but ifArcher~ firs~ f?ature is any indication, ir will be one ~at audiences wofft soon forget. American audiences remember him best as the joy~ttlly ~a.)[ heat attack victim who put the "funerN in Four XWeddings and a Funeral. BUt now gay" Brit character actor Simon Callow gets his own wedding, , even if it is something of an odd one. Hes starring in the recen@ wrapped Chemical We~lding, about a shy p;cofessor who manages to bring legendary occult figure Aleister Crowl~ back to life. And if that plot weren’t oddball enough, there’s the ~lm’s line e" it was co-written by Bruce fig. Dickinson, a name metal fans will know as the teader of the hugely successful rockers Iron Maiden. ~e sure-to-be-destined- for-cult-status film is due for release later this year. No ~v,ord yet on whether Or not Iron Maidens songs will hog the soundtrack spotlight. George Clooney www.ozarksstar.com A few years backl I had the opportunity to Piemonte is also known fol~ its Gorgonvisit friends in northern Italy. We spent our zola, Castelmagn0, (a local blue Cheese), time in the Piedmont region in a small town zabaione, vinegar, d~e and ri¢otto dishes; called Alba. Piedmont, in Italian, means at wild game, and braised meat dishes, such the foot of the mountain, as Bollito Mist0, a sf[ew of four to five different meats. ~uhe main grape grown there is the distinished Nebbiolo, which is the base for the Milan, the large city of Lombardia, is med Barolo, Barbaresco and Gattinara the namesake ~ ~ilanese; meaning tO (Barbera and Dolcetto) among others. Also dip food, usualt -iin pieces of meat, into popular is Barbera from Alba & Asti. Baro- beaten eggS, tl br~adcrumbs, and then los are dch, rose-scented wines, robust Saut~ it in butte .ombardiais also well and tannic, capable of (and often requiring) known for its ri( ~nd dsotto dishes, cream long aging. Ur~fortunat~ly they are often sauces~ post rn c~eese course, Use of prohibitively expensive. Barbaresco, made saffron~ pumpki aVi01i, (tortelli di zucca), to be drunk earlier than Barolos, can be asparag;Js~ ~au ge,freshwater fish and the more affordable choice, panett(~ne. Another Piedmont creation that achieved The Veneto is atso an important w ne worldwide fame is the Vermouth, which region, highlighted by So&re, Bardolino; was first created by Benedetto Carpano Pr~secco, (sparkling wine), Valpolioella in his wine shop n~ar the Tudn Stock and the flagship Ar~rone. Exchange. The classic American Martini cocktail takes its name from the most Veneto~ being on the ~aSt, naturally known Italian producer of dry vermouth, braces deligl~ts from the sea. All kinds of Martini & Rossi. seafood ar~ relished here. But the Veneto is quite diverse culinadly speaking. It is Piedmont was one of the first Italian also renowned for its v~getables~ grains regions to embrace the industrial revolu- and meat as welt. Risot{o, especially from tion and in 1899 the automotive giant Fiat Vialone Nano rice, and polenta are staples. (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino) was Common Vegetables include winter ¯ established there, squash, radicchio, asparagus, beans, and other legumes. I thought rd shed some light on the wines from this part of the wodd. You can always Friuli, the north-eastern most region of dig deeper by checking out my reference Italy is hallmarked by Austrian; Hungarian, links. Slovenian and Croatian influences. These include but are not limited to Viennese. Reds Moccagatta Barbaresco 1999, 2000 Produttori Del Barbaresco 1999, 2000 Poderi Colla Pinot Noir 2006 Farnese Montepulciano 2006 Whites Bongiovanni Arneis 2006 Masi/Masianco Pino Grigio/Verduzzo 2006 Marchetti Verdicchio 2006 And as always, I say go to your favorite wine shop, ask questions and purchase a bottle or two. Share some food & wine with friends and check this out for yourself. Mr. D also hosts wine & food events known in town as the Wine Enthusiasts of Tulsa. References include: WineSpectator.com FoodandWine.com Wikipedia.org WineCountry.it Masi.it Farnese-vini.com allrecipes.com/Howto/Italian-Wine-Country- Piedmont ._~tww.ozark~star.co_~..................... Cozume| Join our gay and lesbian group aboard Carnival Conquest~ as we set sail from Galveston and call on the beautiful ports in Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. There is no better way to celebrate Halloween than aboard a funship with Gayribbean Cruises. We offer: Our fantastic Halloween Costume Party, Nightly Mixers and SO MUCH MORE ! Book eedy and save. Ask how to receive $75 shipboard credit! call for complete details. Ratea aad =valhbiRty axe ~ubjec¢ to change without noti€e. "Ihis is not an alLgay cruise. Ship ~try: Panama For information & Reservations www.GayribbeanCruises.com NCarnrval. by Donald Pile and Ray Williams Actually a bus trip isn’t all that bad, especially when you are traveling with other fun people. Although ,ve have never taken a bus trip across the country (and dofft think that we ever would) we have a lot of friends who have and enjoyed it greatly. We have taken several "day bus trips" from San Francisco, Las Vegas and on the east coast and all of them were quite interesting. From Las Vegas we took the bus trip to Hoover Dam and to the smaller casino cities of Laughlin. These bus trips were extremely inexpensive in that they drop you offat a couple of casinos and assume that you will gamble a lot. Most of them even throw in flee lunch and dinner and drinks. Sometimes they even thro~v in an afternoon show. Most all of the people that go to Las Vegas are truly a different breed and aren’t interested in taking bus tours and we have found that the ones who do are more enjoyable and interesting to talk with. In San Francisco it is just so much easier taking a bus trip to either the Wine Country or down to Carmel and Monterey and Pebble Beach. They drop you off right in the center of town and pick you up at the same location a couple of hours later. You certainly don’t have any parking problems as when you drive there, and a bus trip to the Wine Country gives you a much better opportunity to taste all the different wines without having to worry about a DUI while drive back to San Francisco. On the east coast we have taken "day bus trips" in Boston, New York City, Washington, D. C. and Philadelphia. Being such historical cities this is a great way to really get to see everything. Parking in large cities is such a challenge and the buses seem to always have their own parking areas close to whatever attraction you are going. Even smaller cities like Savannah, Georgia offers extremely interesting bus tours around the city. But if you’re really up to it, then take a bus tour all across the country. They stop every evening at the designation lodging facility and you’re on your own until the next morning. You don’t have to dine or socialize with anybody other than your own choosing. Check out your local Sunday newspapers in the travel section and they usually have ads for these bus tours. Small towns that have casino gambling are always having specials. We have seen ads where you pay $50.00 up front for a 5 day bus tour which includes your traveling, hotels, food and drinks and shows! Plus, you get the $50.00 back in gaming money at the casino. You can’t stay at home that cheap! Some people enjoy taking bus trips down to Mexico which certainly saves the hassle of driving your own automobile across the border and you certainly are in a position to feel safer. Most bus companies are regulated rather stringently, and especially when driving to Mexico you need to feel safe. .....................Continued page 27 18 th÷$TAR www.ozarksstar.com INTERNATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN TRAVEL ASSOCIATION and FUNMAPS, COM By Donald Pile and Kay Williams IGLTA is the world’s leading travel trade association committed to gro,ving and enhancing its member’s gay and lesbian tourism business through education, promotion and networking. You can search, contact and utilize their members around the world for all your travel needs. Whether you are looking for a gay travel business in your local city/town or a tour around the world, their members understand your travel needs. By going to their website, www.iglta.com you can search through their entire database of gay and straight IGLTA members to find just what you are looking for. Founded in 1983 with 25 founding members, the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) is today a 1000 plus member strong and growing organization of gay, lesbian and community friendly travel professionals. IGLTA members represent both retailers and suppliers as well as travel columnists like ourselves. They represent travel agencies, tour operators, resorts, hotels, motels, Bed and Breakfasts, airlines, cruise lines, car rental companies, local tourist offices, regional and national tourist boards and the travel media. John Tanze!l is the Executive Director and their international headquarters is located at 915 Middle River Drive, Suite #306, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. Their toll-free telephone number is: 1-800-448-8550. In May 2008, IGLTA will take Sin City by storm! From April 30 until May 4, 2008, Las Vegas will host the Annual Convention of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association. The host hotel is the Flamingo. That website is: http://www.iglta.orglconvention/ and that website is your one stop shop. Here is where you will find updates, registration information, hotel and air information as well as anything else you could possibly want to learn about this one of a kind event. Among the many workshops that will be taking place are: Vegas Adventures, How to Buy/Sell Unique Destinations, How to Access the Gay and Lesbian Market, Internet Marketing, L World - Why Lesbians may be your best customers, Gay Comfort Hotel Programs, Marketing Strategies for Staying Competitive in the Gay & Lesbian Tourism Market, Unique destinations for Gay & Lesbian Travel, Teaming Up with Gay and Lesbian Events, Guerilla Marketing and Hotel/Bed and Breakfast trends. Legendary author Armistead Maupin will be our keynote speaker for the event. There will also be a National Trade Show in conjunction with the Convention. Anxong the many National sponsors of the IGLTA are:Airlines, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Center, MGM-MIRAGE, Canada Tourism Commission, Wyndam Hotels and Resorts, HARRAH’S, AIG Travel Insurance, Alamo Car Rentals, National Car Rentals, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Macy’s Department Stores, Ottawa Tourism Center, Marriott Hotels and Resorts and this is only a portion of the national sponsors. If you go to their website you can check out their list of activities and the calendar of events. They list over a dozen every month all around the ~vorld. OutWest Global Adventures is one of our favorites. Check out their website at www.outwestadventures. com. or email them at: info@outwestadventures. corn and their phone number is 800-743-0458. They schedules all over the world. FUNMAPS.com is the leading authority for gays and lesbians visiting anywhere in the United States and Canada. They have yearly "funmap brochures" on all of the major cites in the country. They have been publishing their brochures for over 25 years. Alan Beck is the publisher and lives in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. We were fortunate to be his guests at his lovely estate there. His life-partner Nick is a wonderful person and they had a house guest, Norma from the Northeast who was a delight. Alan is one of the most charming gentlemen that we have ever met. The brochures feature accommodations, restaurants/cafes, night life and shopping. Their funmaps brochures also feature a "places to see" page and great maps of each city so that you can find your way around easily. They have brochures on the following cities: Asbury Park, Atlanta, Atlantic City, Austin, Baltimore, Banff/Jasper, Boston, Brooklyn, Calgary, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Edmonton, Fire Island, Ft. Lauderdale, Halifax, Houston, Jacksonville, Key West, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, Long Island, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Miami and Miami Beach, Minneapolis, Montreal, Myrtle Beach, Napa Valley, New Hope, New Orleans, New York City, Niagara, Okanagan Valley, Orange County, Orlando, Palm Springs, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, Provincetown, Quebec City, Rehoboth Beach, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Saskatoon, Seattle, Sonoma County/Russian River, South Dakota, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Washington D.C., Whistler and Wilton Manors. Hopefully in the near future they will come out with a funmap brochure for Missouri featuring Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbia, Springfield and Joplin. Funmap brochures can be picked up free at hundreds of bars around the country and you can also check them out on line at www.funmaps.com. Their maps are the most circulated gay publication in the world, with 3.5 million users every year. www.ozarksstar.corn ~heSTAR t9 Matsuya serves excellent sushi and Japanese fare, including such knock-’out starters as deep-fried chicl~en wings and whitefish with smelt roe. Although many imitators have opened nearby, Mia Francesca remains the best place in the neighborhood for sophisticated but simple Northern Italian fare. You could survive solely- on the flaky, freshly baked cinnanmn rolls that accompany every" meat at the hallowed Swedish diner Ann Sather, which has several gay-popular locations. Chicago Diner, and serves that A swank, smoke-free lounge known for its colorful cocktails and slick crowd, Minibar opened somewhat recently and has become a favorite affer~work spot. A circuit-boy favorite on weekends, Circuit pulses with a feverish tate-ni~t dance crowd even at midweek, when Latin nights are a hit. °l~ne stylish Berlin disco draws a decidedly fiankier and more alternative crowd than most of the preppy haunts in Lakeview. Nearby Spin is an eclectic gay club with an alla~ es crowd and fun dance music. Charlie’s brinas in fans ofcountry- ~ffestern music, while the Gentry on Halsted is ~ Boystown branch ofdowntowffsppoular piano bar, favored for happy hour and later for live cabaret. Leather-and-Levi’s types cruise the Cell Block. Steamworks Chicago is a popular, clean, well-run sauna - it’s one of the nicest such facilities in the country. cheese, and a ranow-smoky sauce. One of the most talked-ab0ut new eateries in the area, Anteprima turns out superb modern Italian fare and has a wan’. dining room with pressed-tin ceilings and a s~.~ded patio in back. Don’t pass up the grilled quail marinated in honey with balsan~ic vinegar and pancetta. A lively and atmospheric bistro with a decidedly queer following, Tomboy serves tempting fare like pan-seared duck with crimini mushrooms mid a port glaze, T’S is a friendly, gay-popular restaurant and bar - it s a favorite lesbian date spot, known for healthful American food. ~hste of Heaven Baker), is a great pick for delectable breakfasts and lunches, plus iCresh-baked snacks throughout the day - the flied-egg sandwiches and peaches-and-cream French toast are favorites in the morning. Ano~er wonderful spot to satisfy your sugar fix is Sweet Occasions, which serves some of the thickest and richest ice cream in the city, plus fantast,c cupcakes, cherry cobbler, and homemade fudge. It’s hard not to love this old-fashioned parlor with ice-cream sundaes named for the seven deadly sins. The "Lust" (a chipotle brownie topped with cinnamon ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, and red hots) may leave you lusting t~br another trip to these two charming Chicago neighborhoods..... www.ozarksstar.com {5eSTAR 21 our entire lives! "17hey were crispy, tender and extremely delicious. We naturally had to get their recipe to share with our readers. After lunch we had some of their home-made apple pie which was great, but not as great as the onion rings. If you’re ever in that part of the country, be sure and stop by and dine there. They have no phone, no address with just a small sign in front but you can’t miss it as it is the only restaurant in town. We asked our waitress who owned the restaurant and she said, "Bob & Jim’. She had ,vorked there for over 3 years and had never met them. Rather strange, but as long as they make extraordinary onion rings, we don’t care. BOB &IIM’S CAFE Greydiff, Montana So, when you’r traveling, you never know what you might find. Sometimes it turns out good and sometimes it turns out bad, but just keep on "truckin". We love to dine at fine restaurants around the country but sometimes we hit upon a little diner that looks as though it is just the "perfect" place to stop. Last fall on our driving trip back from Seattle, Washington we were driving thru Montana around noonish and we were both getting hungry so we decided to pull into the next to~vn and get something to eat. Lo and behold the next town in Montana was Greycliff, a town of about 450 people (if you count the two of us). Really not much there except it is right on the Interstate. When we walked into the only restaurant in town, they KNEW that we were not from their fair town, or even that we were from Montana! All eyes were upon us. The last time that anyone in the restaurant had ever seen that many diamond rings was when they went to their local Walmart! We were the only ones there that didn’t wear cowboy hats, blue jeans, cowboy boots or bib overalls. We really thought about turning right around and walking back to our auto, but decided to stay. Our waitress was rather like Flo from the TV series, ALICE with a rather shrieking voice but pleasant. We had been dining for the past two weeks on west coast seafood so decided to try something a little more middle American so we ordered a chicken flied steak lunch. Our waitress, whose real name was Minnie May suggested that we also order the onion rings which she said were the best in the entire State of Montana. We almost didn’t order them but she kept insisting so ~ve did. To our pleasant surprise, they were some of the finest onion rings that we have ever had in Let us promote your business in a UNIQUE & DIVERSE market. Call STAR ADVERTISING today. 22 th~STAR www.ozarksstar.com XANDER, CAPTURES MR GAY US ofA MI 2008 TITLE AT ANGLES By Victor Gorin Winners Xander & 1 st runnerup Owen McCord OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ A new facet of pageantry was introduced to Oklahoma when the first contest for male impersonation was held in Oklahoma City March 12-15. q-he national competition for this new division of the US ofA system, Mr Gay US ofA, concluded at Angles with the crowning ofXander ofTennessee with 1st alternate Owen McCord ofAtlanta, Georgia. This new contest is owned by the first Mr. Gay US ofA MI, the famous Gage Gatlin and his partner Brenda Quayle. Mr.Gatlin wowed the audience with a style that even made some gay men swoon, talent garnered from years of experience beginning in Jacksonville, Florida. Gage and Brenda have made their home in Tulsa, having begun this contest in August of this year. Mr.Gatlin has gone into retirement, however he will still perform for large charity events. They are looking forward to next year’s contest, which will feature contestants winning preliminary or regional contests, of which there are already 10 planned. OkJahomans for Equa] - ity opens new exhibit featuring artist Amie Montedoro at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center art gallery will host its monthly First Thursday meet-theartist reception from 6-9pm, Thursday, April 3, 2008, for the opening of it’s April exhibit, paintings by Amie Montedoro. Montedoro’s art is a refreshing look at the beauty ofwomen who have taken charge of their own sexuality. The feminine form, as the perfect balance between the sacred and the profane, embodies the duplicity that is woman; as Madonna, as Whore. The eldest daughter of accomplished architect and educator Richard Montedoro (Norman, Ok.), Amie has been taught from a young age the importance of self expression. A tactile artist, Amie prefers to create her art not with brushes or tools; rather she uses her fingers to apply all but the most intricate of details and finishing touches. From concept to creation, Amie uses traditional techniques along with the relationship garnered from having her hands actually create the form and emotion of women who are sexually comfortable, capable, and liberated. The exhibit will remain up through the month ofApril, and can be viewed Monday thru Saturday from 3-gpm. The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th St., in downtown Ttflsa. More info can be found on the web at okeq.org. This monthly event is hosted by Oklahoman’s for Equality (OkEq). OkEq seeks equal rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) individuals and families through advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. Kern Responds to Activist Criticisms OKI~A_HOMA CITY, OK (PR) __State Rep. Sally Kern (R-Oklahoma City) issued the following statement in response to the criticisms of homosexual activists who have objected to a recent speech she gave on their efforts to promote their agenda at both the federal and state level. "To put this simply, as a Christian I believe homosexuality is not moral. Obviously, you have the right as an American to choose that lifestyle, but I also have the right to express my views and my fellow Oklahomans have the right to debate these issues. "In recent years homosexual activists have begun to aggressively promote their agenda through the political process, often providing substantial financing to candidates who agree with their views, including many running for state legislative races. National publications such as Time, The Atlantic and USA Today have noted that trend. That is their right, just as it is my right to voice opposition to their agenda, which I have been asked to do at several public forums in recent months. That’s what democracy is all about. It appears some homosexual activists believe only one group is allowed a voice in this debate. I disagree. ’~k vigorous debate on an issue is not ’hate speech’ - it’s free speech. I have made clear my opposition to the agenda of homosexual activists, but I have never endorsed or supported any hateful action targeting individuals on the other side of this debate and never will. The fact that many gay rights activists claim anyone opposing their agenda is engaging in ’hate speech’ says more about them than me. "Most Oklahomans are socially conservative and believe marriage is a sacred institution, the union of one man and one woman, and that the traditional family is worth protecting and preserving. When I campaigned for office, I promised my constituents to stand up for those values, and I do not apologize for keeping my word." ~wvw.ozarksstar.com theSTAR 23 By Ronald Blake Bythe time you read this, the Academy Awards gadabouts will be looking forward to next year’s red carpet faux pas. You will likely have listened ad nauseam to the incessant prattling of that sham fashion critic Joan Rivers. You will probably be joining the droves of lemmings to rent the Oscar winning movies at the corner Blockbuster. I will now beseech your participation for my health version of the body’s Academy Awards. I promise to shut up when the music starts to play. The winner for best editing goes to the reticular activating system, or the RAS as it is known to the medical snobs, q-his system was responsible for filtering all the unnecessary dreck that made its way to your brain during the past year. It decided what was important for you to pay attention to. It concluded that 99% of the sensory input that approached your cerebral cortex was to be ignored. Without this RAS, you would likely have been bombarded with an overload of drab detail all around you. The kind of overload you would experience while on the drug LSD, which does temporarily disable the RAS. The winner for best supporting role goes to the diaphragm. This veteran provided enough action and drama for five hysterical queens. It was capable of providing sufficient pressure change in your thoracic cavity to send blood soaring happily back to the heart on many an occasion. It has so ardently allowed you to give that much needed extra push while grunting and groaning on the toilet. It was even so chivalrous to accompany you to the health club and save you from muscle tears during your heavy lifting exercises. The best makeup award is presented to the circulatory system for its presentation of the numerous bruises that you displayed to the world. These hematomas are more than just clotted blood masses and it is long overdue that the Academy finally recognizes these purveyors of black and blue marks. They maintained their iridescent beauty until the body naturally reabsorbed the escaped blood that clotted just beneath the skin’s surface. The best leading role goes to the lungs. This organ is usually secondary to the perennial favorites such as the heart, brain, or the stomach. This year the voters spoke and showed the world that nobody puts the lungs in a corner. This tour de force has provided the heart with all its oxygen which in turn has provided the properly conditioned blood for your brain’s processing of your impure thoughts and the stomach’s digesting of those roast beef sandwiches ladled with horsey sauce. The best director goes to the adrenaline. This litde behemoth was responsible for preparing all your body parts for that fight or flight reaction when you came face to face with that curmudgeonly pit bull in the park. Audience members cheered furiously when you chose the flight version and outpaced the Hound of the Baskervilles and then leapt that six foot brick wall to the safety of those hydrangea bushes on the other side. Only a capable director could cajole you out of your slothful ways to negotiate that feat. There were many nonainees for great body parts and their exciting roles. With all due respect to the aforementioned winners, the body does function as a whole and winning team. Keep learning about your anatomy and physiology. This knowledge is what will keep you healthy and prepare you for the recipient of the lifetime achievement award. This column is brought to you by that guy who frequendy and sophomorically ordered Whopper sandwiches while in the McDonald’s drive-throughs in his carefree youth. That guy is Ron Blake and he can be castigated at www.goblakefimess.com. 26 theSTAR www.ozarksstar.com GAY TRAVELERS: Almost al! the bus tours allow their passengers to take their own food with them and ifyou are careful and not out in the open about it, you can take your own liquor for a 5 o’clock drink or two. We know several people who have taken a bus tour from California to Alaska and they all say that it was splendid. Buses nowadays are not like yesterday. They are all extremely comfortable with air-cushioned suspension. They of course all have restrooms on board and they make frequent stops for dining and shopping. On the longer tours they usually have a host/hostess traveling with you to answer any and all questions. Sometimes in one’s life it just makes more sense to take a bus tour rather than driving your own automobile. If this is something that might be in your future plans we highly suggest that perhaps you might start offwith just a day trip and see how you like it and then progress to a longer one. There are a lot of single people taking these bus tours so for the single people out there, you don’t need to feel alone when traveling. We have made good acquaintances on our day tours that we took several years ago and still keep in touch with them. Bus tours are not for everybody but perhaps it might be something to look into for your future travel plans. And speaking of Las Vegas, "Gay Days & Nights Las Vegas" is coming up July 3rd thru the 6th. This wil! be their 2nd year of presenting the Gay Days & Nights. Presenting sponsor Cirque du Soleil will be featuring special events and discounts throughout the Gay Days & Nights July 3-6, to showcase their Las Vegas productions. Attendees of Gay Days & Nights Las Vegas will have an opportunity to see any or all of the shows combined with invitationonly special events, drawings and incentives planned for each night including LOVE at Mirage, KA at MGM Grand, ZUMANITY at New-York Hote! & Casino and Mystere at Treasure Island. PARIS Hotel & Casino is the host accommodations and you can check them out at Parislasvegas.com. For more information check their website at http://www.gaydaysandnights.com/. Also when going to Las Vegas be sure and check out http://www.lasvegaspride.org/. Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! British gays f~ght b{ood ban A new British group called Bloodban is seeking to overturn the nation’s ban on blood donation by non-celibate gay men, the BBC reported March 7. Organizers are circulating a petition that they plan to deliver to Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The National Blood Service believes gay men are too high-risk because of the short gap between one’s getting infected with HIV and when the virus can be detected by a blood test. Bloodban says people should be excluded based on their lifestyle, not because of their membership in a particular social group. ~e activists propose that gay men be banned as donors only if they have had unprotected sex in the past 18 months. israeli bashers sent to prison Four Jerusalem gay-bashers were sent to prison for two to eight years March 6 by the Tel Aviv District Court, Ynetnews reported. Typically, the bashers used a decoy cruiser to pick up men seeking sex with men at Tel Aviv’s old central bus station. Once in the victim’s car, the decoy would direct him to another location where the other bashers joined in beating, stripping and robbing the victim. Two other men have been indicted for nearly identical crimes at Jerusalem’s central bus station. In one case, one of the bashers bit off a portion of one victim’s ear, Ynet said. Netherlands plans legalization of park sex It will no longer be illegal to have sex in Amsterdam’s Vondel Park under regulations set to take effect later this year, De Telegraaf reported March 7. "Why should we try to maintain something that is actually impossible to maintain, which also causes little bother for others and, for a certain group, actually signifies much pleasure?" asked Oud-Zuid district Alderman Paul van Grieken. People having sex in the park xvill be expected to do so only after dark and out of public viexv. They also must not leave condoms lying about. Meanxvhile, the police institute’s National Diversity Expertise Center is advising other cities to follow Amsterdam’s lead. It said legalizing park sex would help protect gay men from queer-bashers. The Amsterdam branch of the Dutch national gay group COC (now knoxvn only by its formal initials) xvelcomed the nexvs. "Cruising is something belonging to all times and banning it does not work anyway," said chairman Dennis Boutkan. "They do it surreptitiously and mostly without others being annoyed by it. By agreeing on rules of behavior, safety can be increased." Spanish gay-marriage PIVt wins reelection Spanish voters re-elected Prime Minister Josd Luis Rodrlguez Zapatero on March 9, apparently unperturbed that he made Spain one of only six nations that grant gay couples access to full marriage. Zapatero’s Socialist party took 43.7 percent of the vote, besting the conservative Popular Party, which grabbed 40.1 percent. Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa and the U.S. state of Massachusetts also have opened up ordinary marriage to same-sex couples. SGYrdneff. GLBT Mardi as Picks Gayest Song Ever. S~qDNEY, AU __ ABBA’s Dancing Queen, which has been ranked by visitors to Australia’s SameSame.com.au website as the gayest song of all time in a list compiled to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. The Village People’s YMCA came in second, followed by Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive. "The list was compi]ed in the lead-up to the 30th Anniversary of Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras to look back on the catalogue of popular music to decide which of them are truly worthy to be labelled a camp classic," SameSame.com.au said. ~,wvw.ozarksstar.com th÷STAR 27 by Jack Fertig April 2008 "Recharge your batteries, Taurus!" Venus entering Aries provides a challenging spark to the profound re-evaluations of responsibility being raised by Pluto and Saturn. Be patient, take the long view, and rise to the challenge of seeing how your impulses can be harnessed to deep and necessary changes. ARIES (March 20 -April 19): Venus is in your sign, and it’s a great time for a makeover. Looking good professionally is more important than just looking gorgeous, so freshen up your work as well as your appearance. Looking good in lieu of accomplishment will fool no one. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Allow yourself time to be alone. Recharge your batteries; take time to think about important issues, to organize hobbies or crafts, or to look more critically at some of your creative efforts. When you need fresh air, do some volunteer work. GEMINi (May 21 - June.20): Throwing yourself into some community efforts will bdng you to unanticipated challenges. You can overcome them, but will have to re-evaluate how you network with others, and how you support and use community structures. CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Making useful connections may feel cynical. The truth is, you tend to be a little too romantic and shouldn’t be shy about basing relationships on something practical. Focus your urge to edit on yourself; others rarely appreciate it. LEO (July 23 .- August 22): You’re suddenly impatient to make your mark in a new territory. Stop and think. Rather than wasting this energy in some egoistic indulgence, you can apply your skills to present your most valued ideas and talents. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Be bold and daring. Traits you’ve experienced as liabilities can prove very advantageous if you try playing with them - perhaps in dark, subversive ways. Erotic role play can unlock power where you thought you were weak. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Nice people can argue nicely. Assert your points respectfully and hear your partner - or your opponent - out. Be open to new perspectives on cherished traditions. Some long-accepted history als0 needs a fresh look. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): You’re itching to make some much-needed innovations at work. As good as. your ideas are, be sure to discuss any plans with colleagues, and not just for diplomacy’s sake. You can learn from their ideas and improve upon your own improvements. 28 theSTAR SAG~TTAR~US (November 22 o December 20): You could accomplish a great deal, earning fame and fortune. The creative impulse that should feed such progress is more likely to be a distraction. Harnessing that power productively is challenging. Don’t give in to impulse. Structure and discipline are now your best bet. CAPRICORN (December 21 -January 19): Suddenly focusing on what you value about your home and tribe, you can become very assertive and defensive. Try to take a longer view, asserting the value of your clan as part of a larger community or humanity, not distinct from it. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): To become even more comfortable with your deepest, most private feelings about sex and/or death, you need to challenge yourself to examine these most irrational mysteries with some logic. Find someone with whom you can discuss your secret feelings. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): The fault is probably not with your partner and friends, but in what you imagine - wrongly - to be their chief assets. Try to see what they offer and what you offer to them in a new light, one that will improve all your relationships. METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve 3". Urie Spirit of Christ MCC 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Saturdays at 10:00 AM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC of the Living Spring 17 Elk Street Eureka Spdngs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! www.ozarksstar.com tis÷ s Support those who support us, DOWNTOWN PLAZA ofTULSA 17 \Vest 7th Street Tulsa, OK 918-585-5898 www.downtownplazatulsa.com HABANA INN 2200 bD,v4 39TH F~XPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 www.habanainn.com KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant SUSAN HARTMAN Independent Broker Oklahoma and Arkansas 918-698-2977 susanlhartman@gmail.com ANGLES 2117 NW 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK x~vw.anglesclub.com BkaMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 www.bambooloungetulsa.com CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 www.clubmajestictulsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESS\VgAy Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 v~vw.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com DIVERSITY CHRISTIAN CNTR 211 S. Garnett Tulsa, OK 74128 v~vw.realacceptance.com OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM MCC of the HVING SPRING 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pm OPENARMS YOUTH PROJECT 2015 -B S. Lakewood Tulsa, OK 74112 918-838-7104 www. openarmsproject.org JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphoms@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 www.c2 lgoldcastle.com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com GUSHER’S RESTAURMNT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn GAYRIBBEAN CRUISES www.gayribbeancruises.com 877-560-8318 Want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $33.95 will be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or moneyorder to: ¯he STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 (Single Copies $3.00 per issue) NAlVlE: Address: St: Zip: Phone: Check enclosed Money Order Start Date: www.ozarksstar.com th÷STAR 29 Keller Williams Realty Whether buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. ,REALACCEPTANCE,COM mdaekfinitio,n..; the cos,t f,gr m,,ost of.u...s, to..... e a amerence in [Re llves oT (~Lt~l Teens in Oklahoma.) You can help our teens. Support Open Arms Youth Project. For more Info: www. openarmsproject.org 30 t5eSTAR www.ozarksstar.com drugs +, HIL.~ Learn ~t~he Link Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2008] The Star Magazine, April 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 4 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource April 01, 2008 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Online text PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwestern Missouri Western Arkansas Southeastern Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Star Magazine’s first issue began February of 2005. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004) and The Ozark Star (2004). Follows is The Metro Star (2008). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Charles (Chaz) Ward Victor Gorin Greg Steele James Nimmo Joey D. Victor Gorin Romeo San Vicente Andrew Collins Donald Pile Ronald Blake Ray Williams Jack Fertig Li Highleyman Devre Jackson Judy G. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Star Magazine, March 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 3 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/249 The Star Magazine, May 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 5 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/250 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/244 After Dark Amie Montedoro Bailamos Bars Deep Inside Hollywood demographics fitness health HIV/AIDs testing HOPE HOPE 10 year anniversary horoscopes Iran-execution LGBT history Mardi Gras mixology Mozart Festival Night clubs Our House paparazzi Past Out Q Scopes Sally Kern Star Advertisers Star classifieds Star Scene Too travel https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/aab490c2335f60d2d1e55a19c2e4595e.jpg 2780adbe6231a9bb9684aba76e8a4a9e https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/c64f38e4af7372c2f5ec5dff5ea8afc9.pdf 0c00542c1bd30dfacdc734d945b231d6 PDF Text Text �Let us promote your business in a UNIQUE & D~VERSE market. Cal~ STAR ADVERTiSiNG today. (918}835o7887 2 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com �OKLAHOMA PR£SIDENTIAL PRIMARY FEBRUARY 5 MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT By Victor Gorin Photo: ~ctor Gorin registering Thomas Bishop to vote in OKC If you are registered as a Republican or Democrat in Oklahoma, soon it will be time to cast your vote to select your party favorite for our next president. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and your polling place is on your voter card. You may vote early from 8 a.m. unti! 6 p.m. Friday February 1 and Monday February 4, and from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday February 2. Call your local election board for your early voting site. If you have lost your voter card, you may still vote if you are registered, and this you can find out by calling your local election board, who can also provide your polling place. In Oklahoma County that number is 713-1515, Tulsa County 596 5787. Although they appear on the Democratic ballot, 2 candidates have dropped from the race, Bill Richardson and Christopher Dodd. On the Republican ballot, Tom Tancredo appears on the ballot even though he has dropped from the race. Independent voters cannot vote for a presidential candidate in this Oklahoma election. However, you may have school board races that you can vote for, so be sure to check that out. Vote February 5 and make our voice heard. www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 3 �SAINT VA~N~’~ The origin and history of Saint Valentine’s A Night in the Palace of Versailles, Barony of all Oklahoma crowns 1st Czar & Czarina. Dennis R. Neill Equality Center presents art by Jessica Newman. ~ DEEP ~S~D~: HOLL~OOD NEW: Deep Inside Hollywood, reports on new projects for Paul Rudd and Nathan Lane. Through his dedication and courage, black gay anti-apartheid activist Simon Tseko Nkoli played a key role in the fight for GLBT liberation and human rights for people with HIV/AIDS. Devre Jackson reviews Cabernet Sauvignon. ~ ~ C~AO TRAVEL Gay Travelers: Oklahoma City Out of Town: Savannah, GA Dining In or OUT Introspection can lead you to better understand yourself and ultimately to achieve greater happiness. ON THE COVER: Czar I Philtip Parker & Czarina I Kris Cherri Kohl 4 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com �JoNin Gay & Lesbian Center To Ho d VNentines Fundraiser Valentine’s Day started in the time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honour Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.The lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, one of the customs of the young people was name drawing. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl’s name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry. Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius the Cruel’was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that Roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. The good Saint Valentine (photo above) was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius I1. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, around the year 270. At that time it was the custom in Rome, a very ancient custom indeed, to celebrate in the month of February the Lupercalia, feasts in honour of a heathen god. On these occasions, amidst a variety of pagan ceremonies, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed.The pastors of the early Christian Church in Rome endeavoured to do away with the pagan element in these feasts by substituting the names of saints for those of maidens. And as the Lupercalia began about the middle of February, the pastors appear to have chosen Saint Valentine’s Day for the celebration of this new feast. So it seems that the custom of young men choosing maidens for valentines, or saints as patrons for the com~ year, arose in this way. www.ozarksstar.com ... JOPLIN, MO (P/R) __ In support of equal civil marriage for gays and lesbians and "Freedom To Marry Week", the Joplin Gay and Lesbian Center invites the GLBT community to a Valentines reception and dance February 14th, 2008 7:00 pm to 1:30 am. The event will be held at Groove Lounge, 2331 East 7th Street in Joplin. Dance to the music of the house DJ, enjoy a Wedding Cake and cash bar. A $5.00 donation per person at the door will go to support the Joplin Gay and Lesbian Center. For more information contact Director Lee McDaniel 417-622-7821 or email gaylesbiancenter@gmail.com Website www.mYspace.com/gaylesbiancenter Recognized by Keller Williams ,- For outstanding achievement 2005 and 2006 Chuck Breckenridge 918-706-1887 REALIOr~ V/hether buying or selling I’ll work hardforyou. ~, the STAR 5 �Acceptance o£GAYS and LESBIANS In addition to loosing weight is he getting a homo-friendly face-lift? OKLAHO/vlA CITY, OK __ Oklahoma City Mayor Cornett proclaims an official day for Ellen DeGeneres’s birthday and this is coming from a man who previously never meet a gay man or woman he liked. Well, I have a bridge in Brooklyn, too. \Vhen it’s Cornett’s political agenda being advanced then he’s comfortable ~vith appearing on the famous lesbian Ellen DeGeneres’s TV show as he did on January !7th. Could his self-serving appearance also have anything to do with the National Conference of Mayors having their 2010 annual meeting in OKC? Is he trying to get a homo-friendly face-lift as well as lose weight in order to make himself more attractive for re-election? Did his failed attempt at running for Congress show him the error of his ways or just point him to another snake-oil strategy? Now, in order to show that Mayor Cornett is exercising all his Christian sincerity of turning the other cheek, will he propose a human rights commission with legal force that can be approved by the City Council so that cases of gay/lesbian harassment and discrimination can be handled with respect and the intention of making life better for all of OKC’s taxpaying citizens? I’m not a Christian and I’ve turned both of my cheeks, upper and lower, for the last time to self-serving politicians who use gay people for their own ends and then dispose of them like a fast food clam shell. Just How Vulgar W- ll a Desperate Candidate Get? OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ Not wanting to get too explicit about basic human sexual techniques, I can’t help notice that so much of human disagreement at a low level of public conversation comes down to either analogous or physical illustrations of body penetration in a sexual context. We’ve seen with Mike Huckabee, a man who wants to lead one of the most powerful countries in the world, that he’s willing to stoop to a tow level of vernacular public language in order to attract the flat-earth variety of voter who believes in a geo-centric 6,000 year-old earth. His remarks about putting a flag pole where the sun doesn’t shine regarding the South Carolina Confederate flag controversy is one example. The instance of Huckabee’s rallying mantras is a perfect example that he, suffused with the self-reflecting love of his self-constructed Jay-sus, is not immune, rather he uses it ki~owingly to inflame his redneck followers to greater heights of cooperation in their own submission to the destructive force of religion. Yes, human power can operate at the lowest level of human respect for those ,vho disagree with us and the fastest way to connect with many people is to graphically use the example of rape towards the perceived enemy. A frustrated Vice-president Dick Cheney used the same tactic in referring to Senator Patrick Leahy with a vulgar act of self-stimulation in the Senate chamber. Just as violent rape of women by men is described as an attempt at power, with nothing to do with lust, so is the use of sexual penetration by antagonists used to inculcate their ideas of power and superiority at the basest level of human society. A thinking voter should reject such a candidate immediately. 6 the STAR ~wv.ozarksstar.com �Ask About Our Suites WV~N.ozarksstar.com the STAR 7 �ince 1982 Ms. Kris Kohl in the "Painted Ladies" Show Friday, February’ 15th & 29th, @lOpm. Cover charge $5.00 single, $8.00 per Couple. Mention this ad and receive 1 FREE drink coupon per room. t 7 West 7th Street 8 the STAR & Boulder Ave) ® Tulsa, Ok 74119 e plazatulsa. om www.ozarksstar.com �byJoeyDe TULSA, OK __ Playing dress up may be child’s play, but for the Royal Green Country Barony of All of Oklahoma, it is a welcomed break to hours of hard work. A member of the International Imperial Court System, the RGCBAO is a philanthropic organization with a government system and titles inspired by Victorian alty. In an Adornment Ceremony at the Holiday Inn Select in Tulsa on Jan. 12, the RGCBAO crowned their first Czar and Czarina, Phillip Parker and Kris Cherri Kohl (respectively). A non-partisan organization, the Royal Green Country Barony of All Oklahoma seeks to further the mission of the International Court System by uniting not only the gay community, but the entire community of Oklahoma, gay and straight, regardless of ethnicity or other discriminating factors. ~he barony works to raise funds for charitable causes and work for equality within the realm it covers. Photo Above: Czar I Phillip Parker & Czarina I Kris Cherri Kohl Lynn Whitley. Additionally was the Crown Grand Marquis Roger Francis and Crown Grand Marquesa Dominique La Rue. Also acclaimed as a key founder was Christian Cherri O’Donely Vaughn LaFleur Dior. Entertainment for the evening was provided by entertainers from across Oklahoma and beyond, q-his included the cast of "Twisted Theatre," Tim Conroy, Catia Lee Love, Empress The Lovely Suzanne, Empress Syren Vaughn, Empress Victoria Weston, Matthew Heath Fitzgerald, Tabitha Taylor, Rebbeca Tucker and Leonard Jenkins. To begin the evening, Nicole the Great, Queen Mother of the Americas, welcomed Oklahoma into the international family and described what they had "gotten themselves into." "You see all this (pageantry) and wonder about it, remember it’s all in camp. We may call each other Barons and Baronesses, but we are all equals," began the matriarch, who explained the organization’s preStonewall San Francisco founding. She described the court system as one of the oldest and largest organizations in GLBT history. "When a gay man, Jose, declared that he wanted to be called an ’Empress’ after being crowned the queen of the Tavern Guild’s drag ball, he didn’t know what he started at the time." w~v.ozarksstar.com Through out the course of the evening, many other individuals who contributed to the founding of the RGCBAO were recognized, as well as those who have assumed leadership positions in the organization. This included the Privy Counsel (Board of Directors) comprised of Deb Starnes, Jim Ray, Scot Brown, Marc Acuff, and Through all the dresses and crowns, the evening assumed a sense of decorum, but through the words of those on stage, it maintained a level of fun and frivolity that turned it into a true celebration. By the end of the evening, the Royal Green Country Barony of Oklahoma had demonstrated that they knew how to have a good time, but had made it clear they were ready to begin the hard work of providing leadership to and creating unity among the citizens of their relm. the STAR 9 �By Donald Pile and Pray Williams q-his is a "must read" for gay men all over the country. You will laugh at nearly every page! Robert knows exacdy what his readers want to hear and he writes in such a great way. He writes openly what many of us say behind our backs. One of our favorite parts of the book is when he talks about "prespeaking", as in, "Dinner. That is where we should go" and "Glad for you! That is what I am." Days after reading this, we are still catching ourselves "prespeaking". Hopefully we and our friends will get tired of it eventually but it is fun for a while. We don’t know if his family and friends are still speaking to him or not but they should be happy that he loves them so much that he can be so open and flank about them. He would indeed be a good friend of have. Hopefully we will get to meet him sometime in the near future. He left some extra copies of his book at the Grand Resort for guests to read and everyone can’t wait to get their hands on his book. We promise that you will laugh your head off:page after page after page. " Surrounded by Insanity" by Robert A. Hofmann We have just read a new book, "Surrounded by Insanity" by Robert A. Hofmann and it is one of those books that once you begin reading it, you won’t want to put it down until you have completely finished. It is absolutely hilarious! It is a biographical story of the author’s experiences thru his life with his early childhood and growing up with friends and family. Robert grew up in New Jersey and what a wild and crazy and wonderful life he has had. Between his family and his friends, he guides the reader thru many exciting episodes of his life. It is wickedly bitchy and hilarious! Everyone in Robert’s life so far is a participant in this wonderfully funny and provocative story of his life. It begins with his birth and goes thru two years ago when he was staying at the wonderful Grand Resort in Ft. Lauderdale when Hurricane Wilma hit in 2006 leaving everybody without power for several days. 10 the STAR "Surrounded by Insanity" is published by Publish America and may be purchased through all major bookstores (if they don’t have it in stock, they’ll order it for you) or from www.amazon.com or www.publishamerica.com. We didn’t ~vant the book to end but thankfully, Robert is already in the process of coming out with his second book. As Robert says, " I live in fabulous, flaming, freakin" New Jersey. Woo-hoo. I am an attorney by day, writer by evening, superhero in the bedroom." Just keep up the great writing Robert! CLUB MAJESTIC TULSA TO HOST MR. OKLAHOMA CONTINENTAL 2008 PAGEANT By Greg Steele TULSA, OK __ Hot bodies and great talent will be the main course at Club Majestic Friday February 15th at 9pro. The show will feature an all male contest with guest entertainment from across the country. The feature entertainer will be Rasean Montrese Mr. Continental Nationals 2007 and hosted by Danielle Hunter Miss Continental Elite Nationals 2007. In addition to the contestant line up an impressive array of talent will be on stage to make your Friday Night at Club Majestic an evening to remember. Mr. Oklahoma 2007 Sevion Simpson, Mr. 2006 Nationals Simba Hall, Miss Oklahoma Continental 2007 Adrianna and introducing Mr. 2005 Nationals Tony DeSario. Club Majestic is located at 124 N. Boston in the Brady Arts District. 2-he latest on Britney Spears is that she is in training to become a high profile lesbian, being coached by famous lesbian convert Ellen DeGeneres. DeGeneres told the website www.thespoof.com "Britney is making great progress. I have every confidence she will make an excellent lesbian in time" www.ozarksstar, com �essica Newman art e hibit at Dennis R. Neill Equality Center (TULSA, OK (P/R) __ "~e Dennis R. Neill Equality Center art gallery will host its monthly First Tnursday meet-the-artist reception from 6-9pm, "lhursday, February 7, 2008, for the opening of it’s February exhibit, featuring oil paintings and fine drawings by artist Jessica Newman. Newman, born in California in 1985, has been a resident of Tulsa since the age of 10. Jessica started drawing at a very young age, and really became involved in art during high school, when she took her first art class in the ninth grade. ~his is where she was introduced to a variety of art supplies, and began experimenting with different media. Since graduating high school in 2003, she has continued studying art in college, and plans on graduating as an art major. Jessica has always been fascinated by the human body, which is the theme of most of her work. She currently works with pencil, watercolors, and oil paints, but charcoal is her medium of choice. Her art has been shown at the Mayfest Youth Gallery, as well as at the Blue Dome Arts Festival. The exhibit will remain up through the month of February, and can be viewed Monday thru Saturday from 3-gpm. The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th St., in downtown Tulsa. More info can be found on the web at okeq.org. This monthly event is hosted by Oklahoman’s for Equality (OkEq). OkEq seeks equal rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) individuals and families through advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Cente~ www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 11 �SIDE De~ Inside ;~otlywoo4 rqo~ on n~w projects for Paul Rudd and Nathan ~ane. Nathan Lane Casts Swing Vote Hds acting up a storm on Broa&vay right now with Laurie Met~f in the new D~vid Mamet play, November, but stage fixture Nathan Me will be back on the big screen this new year, too, with a role in the ensemble comedy Swing ~v~te. Starring Kevin Cosmer ~ a low-achieving, apolitic~l American citizen, tl~ movie concerns a presidentia! election that hinges entirely on Cosmer’s not-entirelywelMnformed vote and the n~tional ch~os that results from it. L~ne will co-star, along with Definis Hopper, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, George Lopez, Mare Winningham, *~Vi!lie Nelson, and politiCal comment~)or A~ianna Hut~ngton ~s herse!£ Already wrapp~[, the film - if audiences vote for it v~ith their ticket dollars - could find itselfincieasing poll turnoutsSBut not likely, Paul Rudd You, Man ~rotagonists express- signal the beginning t of heterosexual male intimacy? movie, I love by Judd Apatow (v¢hose willingness to "go in films like The Obiect of " " well documented), the best he considers close enough to fill. as the poor spring, here’s t Larry: Like ransamerican Love ready for Transamerican Love a 36-year-old ~ with an Girl). Addams will ~ of men competing to date her formerly male body. Contrast About Miriam, on which told about Miriam’s transgender a bold step for the reality televicomic Alec Mapa wilt host the show by gay cable channel Logo. The in 2008. 12 the STAR www.ozarksstar, corn �DEEP INSXDE HOLLYWOOD Choosing America’s Prom Q een Lesbian Musician Julie Schurr to Perform in Eureka Springs, Fayetteville and New Orleans. For further evidence that pop culture is now dominated by entertainment designed for the High School Musical demographic, !ook no further than Americas Pro Queen. ABC Family has given the go-ahead for the new series that will pit a group of high school-aged young women against each other in the quest to be the fairest prom queen of them all. The contestants will reside in a mansion and compete in challenges that will show if they’ve got what it takes to wear a tiara in public and vcave at less popular people; then they’ll stay or go based on viewer votes. But Romeo has one complaint: in an era when young men are routinely making the news after being voted prom queen at their school, why no boys allowed? Romeo San Vicente - while in high school, mind you - wa~" very popular with his share ofpmm kings. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com. Regional MCC CMr&es Perform An Act ©fKin&ess In Tulsa JOPLIN, MO G/R) __ MCC United in Tulsa, OK was visited by Diva’s xvith Chain Saws as members of MCC of the Living Springs, Eureka Sprh~gs, AR and Spirit of Christ MCC; Joplin, MO arrived Saturday morning the 12th of January ready to work. MCC United has been dealing with damage on their property since an early, December ice storm devastated the area. There were still damaged trees that needed to be reduced to manageable size and trees that were potentially dangerous if not removed. Together with members of MCC United and their Pastor, Rev Carolyn Mobley the three churches xvere able to make short work of the remaining damage control and clean-up. Spirit of Christ MCC literally closed their doors and moved their worship to a program Rev Steve ca~s: "Faith in Action." "We are an oddity in MCC Churches in that we xvorship on Saturday mornings. As it is, we are ~knoxvn to replace worsNp with taking on Acts of Random Kindness to show what we believe is primary for us. As Christ served all people in need.., so should xve." Rev. Urie also pastors MCC of the Living Spring in Eureka Springs, AR and when he shared the needs he immediately received e-mails saying xve are going with you." We were totally blessed inasmuch as we had four chain saxvs in action, limbs fal~ng and people picking up the grounds with no injuries and everyone home safely. The group was blessed with a xvonderful lunch provided by MCC United and a musical Thank You provided in song by Rev. Carolyn. Across Regional boundaries and State Lines xve can all work together serving God by serving each other. www.ozarksstar.com EUREKA SPRINGS, AR __ Growing up, Julie Schurr never heard music that might have made life a little bit easier for a lesbian girl being raised in the strictly-proscribed constraints of a religiously conservative community and home. In fact, she wasn’t supposed to be listening to music at all. She wasn’t supposed to know what a lesbian was. Let alone BE one. An original creation, Julie Schurr’s fusion of musical styling and technique is all her own: Indierockbitchfolk. She’s been showcasing it to her fans in St. Imuis and Detroit, winning loyal converts. Now that she’s finished her degree & produced a full-length album, she just can’t imagine any other career path. So it’s a good thing that album sales are steadily rising and venues keep opening their doors. Julie will be out on tour and finishing up her 2nd album, which is planned for release in early 2008. Julie Schurr has headlined Pride and Coming Out day celebrations around the country and has been featured on Curvemag.com and in the Advocate. Her two hour performance will include acoustic music from her current album as well as her unique style of audience participation and comedy. Show tour locations listed below. Eureka Springs, Arkansas Feb 9 2008 10:00P Lumberyard Bar and Grille Baton Rouge, Louisiana Feb 15 2008 8:00P Hound Dog’s - Time TBA Fayetteville, Arkansas Feb 10 2008 8:30P Common Grounds New Orleans, Louisiana Feb 16 2008 9:30P Station 8801 More information on Julie can be found online at: www.julieschurr. corn or www.myspace.com/julieschurr. the STAR 13 �by Liz Highleyraan Past Out, which 100"ks at the life of South l frican gay activist Simon Nk01i, W-ho was Simon Nko li ? Soweto student uprising in the summer of 1976, he joined the Congress of South African Students (COSAS), the ~AaCrican National Congress (ANC), and the United Democratic Front (UDF). Fellow COSAS members debated removing him from his position of regional secretary when his sexual orientation became known, but a large majority ultimately voted in his favor. Long a~vare of his same-sex attractions, Nkoli began his first serious relationship at age 19, with a white bus driver. After Nkoli revealed this to his mother, she sent him to a series of local healers, a Christian priest, and finally a psychologist, who turned out to be gay himself and advised the lovers to live together - even if Nkoli had to pose as his partner’s servant to evade racial segregation laws. In his early 20s, after coming out in an interview with a black newspaper, Nkoli joined the newly formed Gay Association of South Africa (GASA), which consisted mostly of middle-class white men. Resolutely apolitical, the group resisted Nkoli’s requests to hold social events at nonsegregated venues, leading him to form the Saturday Group, the country’s first black gay organization, in 1984. Around the same time, amid growing racial discord, Nkoli stepped up his anti-apartheid activism, helping organize a tenant rent strike in the town of Delmas. Charged with killing a man by throwing a rock during a protest, Nkoli was arrested, tortured, and imprisoned. Along with 21 other black activist leaders, he was tried in 1986 for the capital crimes of subversion, conspiracy, and treason. hrough his dedication and courage, black gay antiapartheid activist Simon Tseko Nkoli played a key role in the fight for GLBT liberation and human rights for people with HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Nkoli was born in Soweto in November 1957. He spent part of his childhood living with his grandparents, tenant farmers on a white estate, before moving to Sebokeng township to join his mother and stepfather. Nkoli became an anti-apartheid activist at a young age. After multiple arrests for civil disobedience, including participation in the 14 the STAR While in prison awaiting trial, Nkoli revealed his homosexuality to his co-defendants - ANC and UDF members who would later hold high-level positions in the post-apartheid government - and they came to respect and support him as a gay man. "This country wilt never protect the rights of its gay and lesbian citizens unless we stand up and fight - even when it makes us unpopular with our own comrades," he later wrote. Nkoli came out more publicly during the trial, when he used his attendance at a GASA meeting as an alibi to counter claims that he had been present at a clandestine political meeting. In 1988, the charges against him were dropped and he was released. During his imprisonment, Nkoli became a cause celebre for gay rights activists around the world, but he received minimal support from the accomodationist GASA. This stance led the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) to suspend GASA for its failure to condemn apartheid, and the latter group soon collapsed. After his release, Nkoli co-founded the Gay and Lesbian Organization of the \vgitwatersrand - the country’s first genuinely integrated GLBT organization - and later the National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality (now the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project). "I am black and I am gay," he proclaimed at the first South African Pride march in 1990. "I cannot separate the two parts of me into secondary or primary struggle. They will be all one struggle." Nkoli traveled widely speaking about the situation in his country, served as an ILGA board member representing Africa, and earned numerous honors for his work. Nkoli’s anti-apartheid activism and ties with movement leaders proved instrumental in winning the ANC’s support for gay rights. In 1994, he met with Nelson Mandela, whose election as president marked the end of the apartheid era. As the newly integrated country crafted its constitution, Nkoli lobbied for sexual orientation to be included in its anti-discrimination provisions, and also argued for repeal of sodomy laws. In 1996, South Africa became the first country to include explicit constitutional protection for GLBT people. A decade later, in fulfillment of a court mandate based on the constitution, the South African parliament legalized same-sex marriage. Yet even as the gay movement gained strength and the apartheid regime crumbled, the AIDS epidemic reached crisis proportions in the 1990s, reintensifying racism and homophobia. Having been diagnosed with HIV himself (likely contracted in prison), Nkoli turned his focus to AIDS activism, co-founding groups including the Positive African Men’s Project and the Township AIDS Project. As the decade wore on, Nkoli experienced increasing bouts of ill health; he died of an AiDS-related infection on November 30, 1998, in the company of his long-time partner, Roderick Sharp. Though Nkoli himself was not able to benefit from effective new HIV drugs, his work for universal treatment access inspired fellow gay and anti-apartheid activist Zackie Achmat to form the Treatment Action Campaign, which today is widely regarded as the strongest AIDS activist group in the world. www.ozarksstar.com �DNC ELECTS R£CORD NUMBER OF LGBT MEMBERS TO 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CON NTION STANDING COMMITTEES Appointments Reflect Strength, Diversity and Energy of Democratic Party DENVER, CO (P/R) __ The Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) unanimously elected DNC Chairman Howard Dean’s nominations for the Chairs and members of the 2008 Democratic National Convention Standing Committees, including a record number of openly LGBT members. Dean’s LGBT appointments include Dr. Marjorie Hill of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis organization in New York, Diego Sanchez from AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, State Representative Patricia Todd of Alabama, and Ingrid Duran of Virginia to serve on the Platform Committee, along with Claire Lucas and Evan Low of California to the Rules Committee and Bob Rogan of Vermont to the Credentials Committee. In addition to appointing a record number of LGBT standing committee members, Dean was also the first DNC chair to appoint a member of the transgender community to a Convention committee. The Standing Committees of the Convention are responsible for reviewing Convention business and formulating recommendations for consideration by Convention delegates. The Executive Committee’s vote took place during the panel’s recent meeting in Denver, site of the four-day Convention in August. "The record turnout and enthusiasm we’ve seen for our Democratic candidates is a clear sign that Americans trust Democrats to bring much needed change to our country," said Governor Dean. "These outstanding leaders reflect the great strength, diversity and energy of the Democratic Party, and I’m confident their efforts will ensure our Convention in Denver is reflective of our shared values and our nominee’s vision for America." The elections included the Chairs and 25 Party Leader and Elected Official (PLEO) www.ozarksstar.com members of the three Convention Standing Committees: Credentials, Platform and Rules. Each committee has a total of 186 members. An additional 161 members elected by each of the states’ and territories’ Convention delegations wil! join Governor Dean’s appointments to the committees later this spring. For a full list of and biographical information on the Chairs and PLEO members from each Standing Committee, visit http:llwww.demconvention.comlalstandingcommittees.pdf. Credentials Committee The Credentials Committee is charged with coordinating issues around the selection of delegates and alternates to the Convention and will likely meet in the summer. The committee will issue a report that is the first official item of business at the Convention. Platform Committee The Platform Committee is responsible for drafting and recommending a proposed National Platform for approval at the Convention. After conducting hearings and forums to collect testimony on issues and policies to potentially include in the platform, the committee is likely to meet sometime in July. Rttles Committee The Rules Committee is responsible for proposing the Permanent Rules for the Convention, adopting the proposed Convention agenda and making recommendations for permanent Convention officers - all addressed as the second official item of business at the Convention. The committee will meet sometime in August, prior to the Convention. Huckabee ir ks gay sex to bestiality, abortion to slavery WASHINGTON (AFP) -- Republican presidential hopeful and former Baptist pastor Mike Huckabee linked gay sex to bestiality and abortion to slavery in an interview Thursday, explaining why, if elected, he would try to amend the constitution. "Marriage has ... as long as there’s been human history, meant a man and a woman in a relationship for life. Once we change that definition, then where does it go from there?" he asked in an interview with online "Beliefnet" magazine. "Well, I don’t think that’s a radical view, to say we’re going to affirm marriage. I think the radical view is to say that we’re going to change the definition of marriage so that it can mean two men, two women, a man and three women, a man and a child, a man and animal," he added. "The Bible was not written to be amended. The Constitution was," he said, announcing his intention to amend the document if he were to be elected president in November to ban abortion and establish that life begins at the moment of conception. Leaving it up to individual states to outlaw abortion within their own borders is not enough, he said. "That’s again the logic of the Civil War -- that slavery could be okay in Georgia but not okay in Massachusetts. Obviously we’d today say, ’Well, that’s nonsense. Slavery is wrong, period. It can’t be right somewhere and wrong somewhere else.’ Same with abortion," Huckabee said. Huckabee won the Iowa Republican caucuses earlier this month, the first contest in the race for each party’s nomination to run for the White House. He is in second place behind Arizona Senator John McCain in opinion polls for Saturday’s primaries in South Carolina. the STAR 15 �Brief history Cabernet Sauvignon, like all noble wine grape varieties, is of the species VitiS ~inifera, and genetic studies in 1997 indicated it is the result of a cross between Cabemet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. Cabernet Sauvignon is most directly associated with the wines of Bdrdeaux~ and especially those of its Left Ba~k, which ncludes the top tier appellations of St.-Estephe, Pauillac, St.-Julien; and Margaux, among others. It makes Up the majority portion of the blends of all of the Grand Cru wines of the 1855 classification. In Bordeaux, blending is comm0n With ! !e other allowable varietals: Merlot, cabe~ et Franc, Pettlt Verdot, and Malbec. Cabal ~et Sauvignon is also cultivated in other ~i~i as in France, notably LanguedocTRousillor and has great acclaim the wodd Over. .... pe-t attack brain ce Is an .... p. des , , which ...... u, ~.~ par[ or wna[ causes Alzne~mer s. in snort wewine enthusiasts can enjoy drinking to our good health. ........... var e a ol s nc on Cabemet Sauvignon has a well defined ~rnrn~a In Old ~J~rld wine~ n~rficularlv those made n Bordeaux th s s charac¯ tensed by a smel I of blackcurrant, cedar and spice. New Wodd wines of this grape are more often dominated by aromas of ~ oak, pepper and earth. smell of m wines made in most characterrm-climate examples is of t wine. ~ne. Cabs ~eese5 s ton, " ’ the lower Yakima Valley. In late 2006, the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology published the result of studies conducted at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine that showed the beneficial relationship of Cabernet Sauvignon in reducing the dsk factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The stud trol, a compound found reduce levels of amyloid beta the BTAR Magnificen~Wine COmpany House Wine Columbia ~/alley 05 wwwlMagnificentVVine,com Cabemet Sauvignon 54% Medot 30% Syrah 11Yo, Mabec3% Franc2~{~ Grea"~ ble naana - - for~nepnce -" "" ~ d t -eat . ’ [’snar oD Cono Sur Cab/Carmenere Chile ’06 v~zw.ConoSur.com This organic wine offers a robust, fruit- filled nose of raspberry & plum The palate reveals a flaVorfu nutty taste and has a long finish. Dadoush Duet Napa ’04 ~.dadoush.com rings California is after BOrdeaux as the wodd’s largest grower of Cabemet Sauvignon. This grape is found mostly in the Napa Valley and Sonoma County. In Calif6mi~, the area of Cabemet Sauvignon planting doubled in the 1990s. As in Bordeaux, it is often blended with Franc to produce wo At heady $10 a bottlel ddnks like a cab twice the coSL Thi~ Cabernet presents itse f with a nose Of bourbon-soake~ Cherries with a finish of chbcotate and Cedar. A blend of Cabemet and Shiraz Enticing aromas of blackberry with a coffee bean and a finish Of nutmeg & white pepper best descdbe this wine, Irony Cabernet Napa ’03 w~w.lronyWine. om This is a b0ld and complex wine, which reflects the melding Of ~nique ~haractedstics from pdme vineyards in Sever&l different Napa appellations. Tobacco Cocoa and bright red berry characters make this a red wine to ~njoy. And as always, I say go to your favodte wine shop, ask qdestion~ and p~rchase a bottle or two. Share Some food & wine with friends and check it out for yourself. Complex aromas from hazelnut finish. cassis clove/ Mr. D als0 hosts wine & food events as the Wine Enthusiasts of Tulsa, :~ww.ozarksstar.com ��by Donald Pile and Ray CITyo In our travels to both the East Coast and the West Coast everyone alwa:ys asks the same question to us. V?here ro par .ry in the Midwest? we a!ways tell them the best two places to part? areTuAsa and Oklahoma City. It is hard for most people on both coast to believe, but unless you have been there you certainly wit! not believe that in the Bible belt of OHahoma is this fabulous gay mecca. month we told you about Tulsa and this month we ~2e telling you about Oklahon~a City. We have been going to Oklahoma City to party for over 25 veals. "Ihe HABAN~ INN Resort has been a gay resort for over 25 years. It is the Midwest’s largest at! gay resort. A two story complex with ov& 175 rooms, most of which tS_ce one of the two swimming pools. The rooms are spacious and vmT inexpensive. It is a totally gay resort. Lush tropical plants and trees surround the poo! areas. Gays fron-t all over the midwest as well as both coasts have been going there for years, and it is busy 7 days a week, not juston weekends. Lounge around the pool area and you are sure ~o meet that "someone specia!". They are located 2200 NW 39rh Expressway and their toll free number is 1.800.988.2221. Within the resort complex they have a wonderful restaurant ...... Gushers whmh has a great ambiance and serves dehc i ous fioo d , and is reasonable priced. "Itae restaurant overlooks one of the pod areas so you cim enjoy the bovs frolicking in the pool as you are dining. They also offe~ sandwich~s, soups, salads, pastas and appetizers, add a breakfast menu is available on weekends. There are three bars in the Habana Inn complex which are completely different. COPA is a dance, disco and drag bar. WeeNy they have male dancers, drag shows and comedians. FINISHLtNE is a c0untrylwestern bar with plenty of countiT dancing. ~t~is is the place to se~ the real cowboys and cowgirls in action. THE LEDO is ~ quiet piano bar. All the bartenders are super friendly and they all kn~w h~w to make out of towners feel right at home. The owner of the bars and restaurant is to be commended for his outstanding job ¯ . i [ ,~ ! ’ ! i, , Within a block of the Habana Inn resort you wilt find about 4 more gay bars c~tering to different tastes. A major grocery store is just one block away as are several other restaurants. A cab ride from the akport costs less than $20.00. The HABANA INN resort is located one blo& west of the intersection of Penn and interstate 1-44 and is easy to find. Plus. there are a lot of siOits to see in Oklahoma City, The Cowboy Hail of Fame has artifacts !otsofoil the west is do things like this. Just a couple doors away from the Habana Inn is ANGLES ar 21 t7 N.\V. 39th St.. Their website is: w~,~w.anglesclub. corn Also in the resort is J UNGLE RED, an adult gift shop with magazines, videos, cards, gifts, leather, Pride items plus a lot of decorative items for the home. 18 the STAR For more ~ habanainn.com and ma’s Gay Website: ww~.ozarksstar.com ?dways remember to have fun when ratk to everyone! �ju~st simply pe~ection t00% of pecial "TI~KS" ’!egance in dining. by Donald Pile and Ray Williams dodt skimp on gets around and emails from our readers asking if ONLY sto ALWAYS have a about~ m be one that we have ever seen! ’gqth ~a Wetl as travelers all time however. A ger-a-way~ check i~ out the Inn at 410, w~:410.com have the most um~sua! and exciting, and B. ~eit rooms world! the closest gay" t this a used condom under the The Vi!lag~ St. and you just cannot Steve owns the Gaslight a long broken And in Palm 4 they also seem to be some Metwn’s Restaurant, ~vw.inglesideinn.com www.ozarkssiar.com .... Con~ued page 23 the STAR 19 �Downtown Savannah) historic district is abundant with fine shops and restaurants, including the innovative Sapphire Grill, one of the city’s top eateries. (P,6oto by Andrew Collins) of gay-friendly shops and restaurants. Downtown Savannah’s shopping scene continues to evolve from traditional to fashion-forward - a Marc by Marc Jacobs flagship store opened here in April 2007, and many contemporary boutiques and art galleries now line the city’s oak-shaded streets. Near City Market, you’ll find the gay disco, Club One, which is the performing home of The Lady Chablis, who figured so prominently in The Book, as Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is commonly referred to by locals. Plenty of folks come to Savannah to seek out the sites that were brought to life in this mesmerizing tale (although it is nonfiction, The Book reads like a delicious novel). Of partictflar note is the privately owned Mercer House, in which Midnight’s central figure, antiques dealer Jim Williams, shot and killed his young lover, Danny Hansford, in 1981 (the question of whether Williams fired in self-defense or as a calculated act of murder is debated to this day). Georgi After years of lagging behind nearby Charleston in popularity, historic Savannah soared to new heights in the ’90s and remains one of the nation’s hottest destinations. Much of the city’s renaissance had do to with the staggering popularity of John Berendt’s best-seller, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, whose droll yet salacious account of Savannah society propelled the city into a gay hotspot almost overnight. The jewel of Georgia’s lazily enchanting seacoast, Savannah was founded in 1733 by British General James Oglethorpe, who designed the perfect grid of streets and grassy tree-shaded squares for which this city of 130,000 is still famous. Savannah prospered as a silk exporter during its first century, before developing into one of the world’s major cotton suppliers. Much of downtown consists of elaborate brick and stucco Victorian buildings built following an 1820 fire that destroyed many of the city’s beautiful wood-frame Colonial homes. Had General Sherman not spared Savannah during his notorious and destructive "March to the Sea," most of these Victorian structures would also have been burned. Begin your explorations of the city inside the restored 1860s rail terminal that houses both the Savannah Visitor Information Center and the Savannah History Museum. This complex is at the southwestern edge of historic downtown. From here it’s a short walk north to City Market, a three-block pedestrian mall with a handful 20 the STAR Its literary fame - or notoriety - notwithstanding, Savannah still rivals any Southern destination for its bedazzled and meticulously restored house museums. If you have time for only one, visit the Owens-Thomas House, a splendid 1819 Regency mansion built by renowned British architect William Jay. Nearby is the Isaiah Davenport House, an 1815 Federal beauty. To see a fine collection of classical sculpture and Impressionist painting, visit the Telfair Mansion and Art Museum, a memorable 1818 structure in its own right. In 2006, the museum expanded with the construction of the striking newJepson Center for the Arts, which added more galleries and exhibition space. At the north end of the historic district, the city’s riverfront is lined with a stately row of restored cotton warehouses - now containing a slew of touristy businesses - and a cobbled lane that’s sits a full flight of steps below the rest of the city. The best time to appreciate it and the views of the bridge and freighters chugging along the Savannah River is in the morning, when you’ll encounter few crowds. One great way to explore downtown and get some advice on the local gay scene is to take a guided walk with knowledgeable local Jonathan Stalcup, who runs Architectural Tours of Savannah. For dining, avoid most of the mediocre eateries by the river and stick to one of the several local favorites, virtually all of them gayfriendly. One of the most famous restaurants in the South, Elizabeth on 37th specializes in subtly sublime regional cooking, www.ozarksstar.com �such as sesame-almond-crusted grouper with peanut sauce; and grilled rack of lamb with corn pudding, stewed okra, and tomatoes. Sexy and sophisticated Sapphire Grill serves some exciting and innovative contemporary American fare - consider the jumbo lump crab cake ,vith lemon curd, green-zebra tomatoes, and red chard. A bit more affordable, chic It Pasticcio presents contempora~7 Northern Italian cuisine - try the grilled gorgonzola-crusted filet mignon with a potato-pancetta gratin. Olde Pink House is one of those Savannah traditions that everybody should experience at least once - fine Continental fare with regional twists, like black grouper stuffed xvith blue crab and a Vidalia onion sauce, is served. Garibaldi’s, in an 1870s firehouse, prepares simple but very good Italian fare, such as pesto shrimp with angel hair pasta. For either lunch or dinner, the trendy City Market Cafe is a dependable choice, serving delicious wild mushroom, blue cheese, and prosciutto salad, as well as terrific thin-crust pizzas. The only GLBT-exclusive B&B in Savannah, 912 Barnard is also one of the least expensive. This dramatic yellow turn-of-the-century house has been handsomely restored to its original splendor, with antiques and authentic colors that convey the ambience of the city. A fully restored 1889 sea captain’s house that once belonged to one of Savannah’s wealthiest merchants, the Azalea Inn is quite gay-friendly. All rooms are configured and decorated differently; and each has a gas fireplace; two have whirlpool tubs, and two have balconies. For the most memorable accommodations, however, look to the gay-friendly Mansion on Forsyth Park, which offers some of finest digs in town. This stylish mini-resort beside verdant Forsyth Park contains 126 rooms with smart, contemporary furnishings, plus a top-notch spa, a cooking school, two cool bars, an art gallery, and the highly regarded 700 Drayton Restaurant. Opened in 2005, the hotel offers further evidence of Savannah’s gradual shift from a bastion of Old South gentility to a beacon of New South panache and It’s touristy, but fans of Food Network TV star Paula Deen won’t want to pass up a chance to dine at her downtown Savannah restaurant, ~lhe Lady & Sons, known for its down-home Southern cuisine. An elegant basement space with a youthful, see-and-be-seen following, Jazz’d Tapas Bar is perfect for late-night snacking - recommended fare include potato-leek frittata with fig chutney, and citrus-ginger-glazed shrimp-and-scallops skewers. ~he lesbian-owned Firefly Cafe serves affordable American fare, including plenty of fresh veggie dishes. ~l-his dapper spot overlooks Troup Square and is especially popular for brunch (try the Savannah eggs Benedict topped with fresh crab meat). For post-club noshing, check out Sushi Zen, a hip and gay-popular Asian restaurant with a convivial vibe. ~he bar staff and regulars in Savannah’s bars are friendly and forward. Although some locals shun the touristy and cavernous Club One, it’s one of the most impressive clubs in the Southeast, and it can be fun when ~lhe Lady Chablis is performing. Other options include Chuck’s, a friendly locals joint near the river that draws a mixed bunch; and Blaine’s Back Door Bar, a casual cruise and dance lounge that also has a dell serving pretty tasty sandwiches and pizza. Not gay per se, Venus de Milo is a sexy and sophisticated wine bar with a welcoming, bohemian vibe - it’s just west of City Market. Down along the riverfront, gay-friendly Kevin Barry’s Irish Pub is popular early in the evening for Irish music, food, and drink. With the recent rise in gay tourism, Savannah’s grand old hotels have become increasingly hospitable to visiting same-sex couples. Among the city’s many classic luxury inns, the Ballastone Inn is renowned for its gracious hospitality and over-the-top, lavish rooms. The four-story 1838 mansion sits along one of the prettiest streets in the city. A mid-19th-century inn with an expansive landscaped courtyard, the Eliza Thompson House and its grand guest rooms look much as you might imagine they did when cotton was king of Savannah. Original heart-pine floors and period antiques impart a romantic ambience, and yet rooms have comfortable, modern amenities, especially the bathrooms. Rooms at the Foley House Inn contain antiques and Oriental rugs; many overlook Chippewa Square and have massive two-person Jacuzzis. Of affordable chain properties, the Comfort Suites Historic District is clean, pleasantly furnished, and a short walk from City Market. www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 21 �TA-BOO’ RESTAURANT Palm Beach, Florida .[Ldocated on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, Florida, TA-BOO’ is a real treat! Stretching four fabulous blocks from South Ocean Blvd. to Cocoanut Row on Palm Beach island, Worth Avenue is one of the world’s most exclusive shopping districts. q-he Avenue boasts a sumptuous mix of more than 200 world-famous specialty shops, posh department stores, gourmet restaurants and art galleries. It is like the Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California. A coat and tie (or ascot) is of course necessary even at lunch time. TA-BOO’ has been in business for over 60 years. It has the classic ambiance of a private gentlemen’s club brightened by Palm Beach’s smart set, it atmosphere is both comfortable and busding all at the same time. Slowly spinning ceiling fans, tropical fishtail palms and leafy dangling porthos vines frame a mural of an ocean vita, complete with Miznetresque terra-cotta rooftops in the foreground. Down a terra-cotta pathway, the long bar is an Avenue tradition for a variety of patrons - from the burger and beer set to those with an affinity for a rack of lamb and a little Veuve Clicquot! A soothing marine 22 the STAR aquarium illuminates the bar’s neighboring bistro. Their menu covers the basics, from comfort food to top-notch cuisine. If you’re dining for lunch, start with the sushi-quality carpaccio of tuna or try the ever-popular warm grilled chicken and pears salad. Dinner is all about Maine Lobster, white Dover sole meuniere, crispy roast mahogany duck and linguine with lump crab. Dessert is a MUST, partictflarly the signature "Ta-boo’ lust", a sinful concoction of coconut cream filling and whipped cream atop a walnut cookie crust. \re always dine there at least once when we are in Florida and it does just keep getting better everytime! Owners Franklyn DeMarco and Nancy Sharigan are regular hosts. You never know what famous celebrities you will be dining with. We particularly enjoy their Swordfish. strai= glass. Serve. Lunch is served from 11:30 AM to 5 PM and dinner is served from 5 PM to 10 PM weekdays and from 5 PM to 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. Sunday Brunch is served till 3 PM. They are located at 221 Worth Avenue and for reservations call: (561) 835-3500. www.ozarksstar.com �GAY TR_&VELERS: having a lot of financial problems as they at first were going to open mid-summer, then in the fall and now they don’t know if they will open or not. We booked an accommodation and in Denver a couple of years ago and when we got to the destination, we found that it was simply a condo unit with two bedrooms and the guy rented out one of the bedrooms! In South Dakota, we booked a reservation and when arriving, the owner gave up HIS bedroom for us and then he slept on the sofa! Sometimes restaurants can also be a complete disaster. From being dirty, to rude servers, to bad food and service, it can always be interesting to say the least. But if you are not happy with a restaurant ..... LEAVE ! We have ~valked out of dozens of restaurants. If there is one problem, then usually a second problem develops and before you know it you are in a mess up to your ears, so why not just leave before it gets worse? The worst thing we hate to hear from a server, is "Don’t give me a hard time, I had a bad night last night". Who cares if the server had a bad night? They are there to "SERVE YOU" with a smile and with a professional attitude. We have at times paged the manager and requested that another server wait on us and we explain fully why. There are a lot of excellent servers in restaurants but we just simply won’t accept bad service. If the food you ordered is not good nor cooked properly, quietly and gently tell your server the problem. Bartenders can really be a pain in the ass sometimes. One bartender in Seattle doesn’t like to wait on people sitting at the bar. Rather, you have to go to his station, order and get your drinks and then return to your bar stoo!. How crazy is that? We have had bartenders that didn’t even know how to make a screwdriver! Most likely they didn’t know how to make a Bourbon and 7 either! Other bartenders are eating or smoking while trying to wait on you. We simply tell them that ~vhen they are thru eating or thru with their smoke break, then they can take our order. If a bartender is behind the bar and smoking and serving us, we explain exactly why we are not leaving a tip! Fortunately more and more states are becoming non-smoking and that takes care of the problems. Having said this, we have found that most bartenders are friendly, fun, wonderful and professional and our hats off to all of them! They enjoy what they are doing and make great tips. Websites can often be deceiving and indeed sometimes they are! \Vhenever possible and especially when booking accommodations, it is smart to check around to see if you kmow anybody that has actually stayed there. As far as restaurants or bars, it is easier to just walk out if there is a problem. You pay good money and you expect your money’s worth. Most accommodations, restaurants and bars are run very professional. Their staff is professional and courteous and friendly. Don’t you just love it when your traveling At least one overnight stay by a non-resident Rank Destination Percent who visited in the last 12 months 1 New York City, NY 16.0% 2 Las Vegas, NV 14.3% 3 San Francisco, CA 12.9% 4 Los Angeles/\Vest Hollywood, CA 11.9% 5 Ft. Lauderdale/Wilton Manors, FL 10.5% 6 Palm Springs, CA 10.1% 7 Chicago, IL 9.2% 8 San Diego, CA 8.8% 9 Washington, DC 8.6% 10 Miami/South Beach, FL (tie) 8.2% 10 Orlando, FL (tie) 8.2% "Community Marketing’s studies are unique in the tourism industry," McHugh said. "Other studies try to rank gay friendliness or popularity, but this study actually quantifies the bottom line: Where did gay and lesbian consumers go and spend their money?" Most-Visited International DestinationsRank Destination Percent who visited in the last 12 months 1 London 8.4% 2 Puerto Vallarta 7.6% 3 Paris 6.2% 4 Vancouver 6.1% 5 Montreal 5.9% 6 Toronto 5.6% 7 US Virgin Islands 5.1% 8 Cancun 5.0% 9 Puerto Rico 4.8% 10 Rome 4.7% Respondents indicated that they chose leisure destinations because friends recommended them, they offer unique attractions, and are known for their gay-friendliness. "Clearl),, when destinations show gay and lesbian visitors a good time, that is the best advertising investment they can make," said McHugh. "Word of mouth marketing is very powerful among the gay and lesbian community. It’s not enough to slap a rainbow on an ad and call it a day. The most successful destinations ~vork with their tourism and hospitality partners to earn that kind of loyalty and referral. This is accomplished through education, training, and offering a genuinely gay-welcoming social and political atmosphere." and everything goes smoothly? But once in a while it doesn’t and you have a choice to make ........... either accept it or do something about it. And it is YOUR choice! Life is to short to settle on anything less than fabulous! Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from Coast to Coast. Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at: gaytravelers@aol.com or visit their webpage at: http://www.hometown.aol. com/gaytravelers www.ozarksstar.com Ouotab e Quotes "Gayest Democratic convention ever? A record 16 percent of delegates to the Democratic National Committee’s platform committee for the Denver convention are LGBT", says Howard Dean. The STAR 23 ���By Ronald Blake Exercise can make you bigger, stronger, and faster. These are the obvious results from a fertile regimen of physical activity. There are other benefits from exercise that are sure to have the neighbors stand up and take notice. Exercise can stimulate new growth of neurons and even help you to keep the neurons that you possess. Neurons are those little things in your body that transport messages throughout your legs, arms, torso, and head. They are good to have around if you yearn to communicate and learn. This comes as good news to those of you who destroyed countless neurons in your previous existence as an irresponsible college student ~vith that degree in undecided. There is hope for you debaucherous mongrels and physical activity is certainly one answer. Faster reaction times can be attributed to exercise. You will be able to hit baseballs thrown at ninety-five miles per hour. You will be able to dodge bullets from Tony Soprano’s goombahs. You will be able to more effectively bob and weave through the one-two combination of Oscar DeLaHoya. You might even be able to negotiate better in traffic on the 666 Freeway on your route to work on Mondays. Can I get an "amen" to more effective reaction times due to running, walking, and double-dutching? Mental challenges become mere child’s play in response to the dashing good looks of Mr. Exercise. Yes, exercise has been known to unravel the mysteries of the universe. Even Albert Einstein was spotted riding bicycles and frolicking along the ocean during his sojourn on this planet. These physical exertions were rumored to have led to his great theories on relativity. You might just settle for solving the complexities of a Rubik’s cube or that set of instructions on putting your barbecue grill together. 26 the STAR Your memory can behold the effects of a good physical fitness program. There is a site in your brain called the hippo campus that can enlarge in mass and reap the goodness of jumping jacks and other means of physical activities. This enlargement of the hippo campus translates into better memory and possibly the ability to treat Alzheimer’s patients. ~aink of all the time you waste trying to recall where you placed your cell phone, keys, black socks, or W2 form from work. Start using that wasted time on exercise that will jump start that short-term memory compartment. Your mood can be positively impacted by the release of neurotrophins. These chemicals are released when you decide to participate in an active lifestyle. They rush into your system and make you feel happy and vivacious. Consider reaching for your roller blades instead of that sleeve of Girl Scout mints to turn that frown upside down the next time you are grumpy. Sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows everywhere will be your reward. If we all reconvene in another five years, it is quite likely that ongoing research will show even more benefits of the brain and exercise combination. Keep sweating to the oldies with Richard Simmons and know that good things will always follow. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. This column is brought to you by that guy who prefers to frame a collage of one dollar bills instead of framing that replica of"Starry Night" from Michaels. That guy is Ron Blake and he can be reached www. goblakefitness.com. �erupts in Auso Jesus 9 ay SYDNEY (AFP) -- Australian church leaders have condemned a play shortly to open in Sydney depicting Jesus as a gay man who is seduced by Judas, a report said Sunday. INTE ATIONAL GAY SC ENPLAY CONTEST- 10th ANNIVERSARY Apart from the relations between Jesus and Judas, the play also features Jesus conducting a gay marriage between two apostles. HOLLYWOOD, CA (PR) __ The ONE IN TEN SCREENPLAY CONTEST, a screenplay contest dedicated to the positive portrayal of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, trangender and queer individuals in film, celebrates it’s 10th anniversary in 2008. Entries are nmv being accepted online and are limited to the first 300 for 2008. Executive Director, David Jensen, "We are excited to celebrate our 10th anniversary and are looking at a record number of entries this year. We are continually amazed with the quality of talent that comes through the door year after year." Jensen continues, "\Ve receive entries from around the globe and Hollywood is taking notice in a very big way. Many of our past winners are now hard working screenwriters" The play’s director Leigh Rowney, who claims to be a Christian, accepted the play would offend some Christians but said he was keen to provoke debate about Christianity. The ONE IN TEN SCREENPLAY CONTEST has gained respect and notoriety from Hollywood studios, agents and producers. Entries for 2008 are being accepted online at: www.OnelnTenScreenplayContest.com "I wanted this play in the hands of a Christian person like myself to give it dignity but still open it up to answering questions about Christianity as a faith system," Rowney was quoted saying. Prizes for 2008 include cash, industry exposure and merchandise. The 2008 One In Ten Screenplay Contest is sponsored by: Cherub Productions, Final Draft Inc., scr(i)pt magazine, www.inktip.com, www. TopFilmFestivals.com, www.ScreenplayContests.com and Jungle Software. Xhe play, named Corpus Christi, is due to open next month as part of the city’s annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Sydney’s SunHerald newspaper reported. A senior Sydney churchman called the play "historical nonsense". "It is deliberately, not innocently, offensive and they’re obviously having a laugh about it," Robert Forsyth, Anglican bishop of South Sydney, was quoted saying. Playwright Terrence McNally, who is gay, received death threats when the work was performed in the United States, the newspaper said. The submission deadline for 2008 ONE IN TEN SCREENPLAY CONTEST is September 1, 2008. Entry forms are available online through the contest website: www.OnelnTenScreenplayContest.com. Entry forms may also be obtained through the mail by sending a self addressed stamped envelope to: CHERUB PRODUCTIONS One In Ten Screenplay Contest Post Office Box 540 Boulder, Colorado 80306 (303) 629-3072 www.screenplaycontests.com E-mai!: Cherubfilm@aol.com www.ozarksstar.com Community for People living with 50! c (~) Non P~ofi[ Orga~ation Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are HtV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail hardsmmjr@yahoo.com. Quotable Quotes More than 90 percent of gays and lesbians vote in U.S. presidential elections, compared to 64 percent of straight citizens. Queer folk are twice as likely as straight folk to vote in midterm elections. Community Marketing, Inc. (CMI), a leading LGBT market research company. the STAR 27 �As Mercury lines up with the Sun in Aquarius, everyone is a bit more know-it-all and too damn clever for his or her own good. Try to be adaptive, open-minded, and a good listener, and you will be much smarter - however discreetly - than the people voicing their grand ideas. ARIES (March 20 -April 19): Friends who seem relentless in urging you on are actually doing you a favor. You’re capable of more than you realize. Going it alone would weaken you. Let them help you, and you’ll go far! TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Question authority, but pay attention to what those in power say. Expert advice needs some expansion and clarification, and asking for that will prove advantageous. Asking questions doesn’t make you look foolish, but not asking them when you should will! SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): Insisting that you’re right only exposes more glaringly where you’re wrong. Try to keep an open mind, and remember what basic principles are really important. Adapt with new conditions and new ideas to keep up! CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Adaptability is not only an enduring value, it is one of your sign’s best attributes. New ideas that seem to be an affront to your sensibilities can prove very helpful, and will eventually affirm the values they seem to attack. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): You’re getting a birthday bolt of fabulosity in which anything could happen, and you’ll make sure it will. Thrive on the attention, but take a little time out to charge your batteries. Let yourself be surprised. Really surprised. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Working behind the scenes, especially in a charitable effort, will be to your advantage. The political connections will be obvious, but there will be more surprising benefit!! GEMINI (May 21 - Jun~ 20): You’re itching for a power struggle. Playing it out in the bedroom can release that energy so your uppity impulses don’t make trouble for you at work. Or focus and harness that energy more deliberately at work, if you can! CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Your mouth is running way ahead of your brain and your good sense. Try to stick to places where a lack of inhibition and tasteful restraint can work to your favor. Anywhere else, slow down and think about what you’re saying. LEO (July 23 - August 22): Your partner - in life or in the moment - will offer some kinky new possibilities, expanding your erotic horizons. If your sweetie is drawing a blank in that department, start talking about tattoos and body art. Just discussing it should stimulate the imagination. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): New approaches at work can make your job more productive and enjoyable. You have some great ideas, but don’t be so insistent on doing things your own way. Colleagues will offer surprising inspiration. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): A new approach to your favorite sport or hobby can make it a lot more fun and/or creative. Ask yourself how Morn or Granny would approach it, whether you choose to follow that example or take a diametrically opposite approach. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): If you can manage to have some fun with your family, you’ll be amazed at what secrets will be revealed in the process. Stand your ground gently in arguments, agreeing to disagree, and even more will come out! MC METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve T. Urie Spirit of Christ MCC 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Saturdays at 10:00 AM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC of the Living Spring 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! 28 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com �DOWNTOWN PLAZA of TULSA 17 West 7th Street Tulsa, OK 918-585-5898 x~wv.downtownplazatulsa.com HABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 www.habanainn.com KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant SUSAN HARTMAN Independent Broker Oklahoma and Arkansas 918-698-2977 susanlhar tman@gmail.com JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW EXPRESS\grAy Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 vcww.c21 goldcastle.com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn ANGLES 2117 NW 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK www.anglesclub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 www.bambooloungetulsa.com www.ozarksstar.corn CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 www.clubmajestictutsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 NW" 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com DIVERSITY CHRISTIAN CNTR 211 S. Garnett Tulsa, OK 74128 www.realacceptance.com OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM Want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $33.95 will be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1 st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or moneyorder to: The STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 MCC of the LIVING SPRING 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pro NW ARKANSAS GLBT CENTER Bentonville/Rogers 888-391-9222 WWW..NWAGLBTCC.ORG (Single Copies $3.00 per issue) NAME: Address: City:. St: Zip: Phone: Check enclosed Money Order Start Date: 29 �\Vc’hether buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. ~.~kansas GLBT Community Center "Linking Together as One" For more information: 888-391-9222 WWW.NWAGLBTCC. ORG 30 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com �:hart \~;’.lLam ShakcsFea~;:. ,she ,~. www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 31 �°Aid � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document Let us promote your business in a UNIQUE & D~VERSE market. Cal~ STAR ADVERTiSiNG today. (918}835o7887 2 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com OKLAHOMA PR£SIDENTIAL PRIMARY FEBRUARY 5 MAKE YOURVOTE COUNT By Victor Gorin Photo: ~ctor Gorin registering Thomas Bishop to vote in OKC Ifyou are registered as a Republican or Democrat in Oklahoma, soon it will be time to cast your vote to select your party favorite for our next president. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and your polling place is on your voter card. You may vote early from 8 a.m. unti! 6 p.m. Friday February 1 and Monday February 4, and from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday February 2. Call your local election board for your early voting site. Ifyou have lost your voter card, you may still vote if you are registered, and this you can find out by calling your local election board, who can also provide your polling place. In Oklahoma County that number is 713-1515, Tulsa County 596 5787. Although they appear on the Democratic ballot, 2 candidates have dropped from the race, Bill Richardson and Christopher Dodd. On the Republican ballot, Tom Tancredo appears on the ballot even though he has dropped from the race. Independent voters cannot vote for a presidential candidate in this Oklahoma election. However, you may have school board races that you can vote for, so be sure to check that out. Vote February 5 and make our voice heard. www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 3 SAINT VA~N~’~ The origin and history ofSaint Valentine’s A Night in the Palace ofVersailles, Barony of all Oklahoma crowns 1st Czar & Czarina. Dennis R. Neill Equality Center presents art by Jessica Newman. ~ DEEP ~S~D~: HOLL~OOD NEW: Deep Inside Hollywood, reports on new projects for Paul Rudd and Nathan Lane. Through his dedication and courage, black gay anti-apartheid activist Simon Tseko Nkoli played a key role in the fight for GLBT liberation and human rights for people with HIV/AIDS. Devre Jackson reviews Cabernet Sauvignon. ~~ C~AO TRAVEL Gay Travelers: Oklahoma City Out of Town: Savannah, GA Dining In or OUT Introspection can lead you to better understand yourself and ultimately to achieve greater happiness. ON THE COVER: Czar I Philtip Parker & Czarina I Kris Cherri Kohl 4 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com Valentine’s Day started in the time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honour Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.The lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, one of the customs of the young people was name drawing. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl’s name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry. Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius the Cruel’was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that Roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. The good Saint Valentine (photo above) was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius I1. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, around the year 270. At that time it was the custom in Rome, a very ancient custom indeed, to celebrate in the month of February the Lupercalia, feasts in honour of a heathen god. On these occasions, amidst a variety of pagan ceremonies, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed.The pastors of the early Christian Church in Rome endeavoured to do away with the pagan element in these feasts by substituting the names of saints for those of maidens. And as the Lupercalia began about the middle of February, the pastors appear to have chosen Saint Valentine’s Day for the celebration of this new feast. So it seems that the custom of young men choosing maidens for valentines, or saints as patrons for the com- ~year, arose in this way. ..... ~, www.ozarksstar.com JoNin Gay & Lesbian Center To Ho d VNentines Fundraiser JOPLIN, MO (P/R) __ In support of equal civil marriage for gays and lesbians and "Freedom To Marry Week", the Joplin Gay and Lesbian Center invites the GLBT community to a Valentines reception and dance February 14th, 2008 7:00 pm to 1:30 am. The event will be held at Groove Lounge, 2331 East 7th Street in Joplin. Dance to the music of the house DJ, enjoy a Wedding Cake and cash bar. A $5.00 donation per person at the door will go to support the Joplin Gay and Lesbian Center. For more information contact Director Lee McDaniel 417-622-7821 or email gaylesbiancenter@gmail.com Website www.mYspace.com/gaylesbiancenter Recognized by Keller Williams ,- For outstanding achievement 2005 and 2006 Chuck Breckenridge 918-706-1887 REALIOr~ V/hether buying or selling I’ll work hardforyou. the STAR 5 Acceptance o£GAYS and LESBIANS In addition to loosing weight is he getting a homo-friendly face-lift? OKLAHO/vlA CITY, OK __ Oklahoma City Mayor Cornett proclaims an official day for Ellen DeGeneres’s birthday and this is coming from a man who previously never meet a gay man or woman he liked. Well, I have a bridge in Brooklyn, too. \Vhen it’s Cornett’s political agenda being advanced then he’s comfortable ~vith appearing on the famous lesbian Ellen DeGeneres’s TV show as he did on January !7th. Could his self-serving appearance also have anything to do with the National Conference of Mayors having their 2010 annual meeting in OKC? Is he trying to get a homo-friendly face-lift as well as lose weight in order to make himself more attractive for re-election? Did his failed attempt at running for Congress show him the error of his ways or just point him to another snake-oil strategy? Now, in order to show that Mayor Cornett is exercising all his Christian sincerity of turning the other cheek, will he propose a human rights commission with legal force that can be approved by the City Council so that cases of gay/lesbian harassment and discrimination can be handled with respect and the intention of making life better for all of OKC’s taxpaying citizens? I’m not a Christian and I’ve turned both of my cheeks, upper and lower, for the last time to self-serving politicians who use gay people for their own ends and then dispose of them like a fast food clam shell. Just How Vulgar W- ll a Desperate Candidate Get? OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ Not wanting to get too explicit about basic human sexual techniques, I can’t help notice that so much of human disagreement at a low level of public conversation comes down to either analogous or physical illustrations of body penetration in a sexual context. We’ve seen with Mike Huckabee, a man who wants to lead one of the most powerful countries in the world, that he’s willing to stoop to a tow level of vernacular public language in order to attract the flat-earth variety of voter who believes in a geo-centric 6,000 year-old earth. His remarks about putting a flag pole where the sun doesn’t shine regarding the South Carolina Confederate flag controversy is one example. The instance of Huckabee’s rallying mantras is a perfect example that he, suffused with the self-reflecting love of his self-constructed Jay-sus, is not immune, rather he uses it ki~owingly to inflame his redneck followers to greater heights of cooperation in their own submission to the destructive force of religion. Yes, human power can operate at the lowest level of human respect for those ,vho disagree with us and the fastest way to connect with many people is to graphically use the example of rape towards the perceived enemy. A frustrated Vice-president Dick Cheney used the same tactic in referring to Senator Patrick Leahy with a vulgar act of self-stimulation in the Senate chamber. Just as violent rape ofwomen by men is described as an attempt at power, with nothing to do with lust, so is the use of sexual penetration by antagonists used to inculcate their ideas of power and superiority at the basest level of human society. A thinking voter should reject such a candidate immediately. 6 the STAR ~wv.ozarksstar.com AskAbout Our Suites WV~N.ozarksstar.com the STAR 7 ince 1982 Ms. Kris Kohl in the "Painted Ladies" Show Friday, February’ 15th & 29th, @lOpm. Cover charge $5.00 single, $8.00 per Couple. Mention this ad and receive 1 FREE drink coupon per room. t 7 West 7th Street 8 the STAR & Boulder Ave) ® Tulsa, Ok 74119 e plazatulsa.€om www.ozarksstar.com byJoeyDe TULSA, OK __ Playing dress up may be child’s play, but for the Royal Green Country Barony ofAll of Oklahoma, it is a welcomed break to hours of hard work. A member of the International Imperial Court System, the RGCBAO is a philanthropic organization with a government system and titles inspired by Victorian alty. In an Adornment Ceremony at the Holiday Inn Select in Tulsa on Jan. 12, the RGCBAO crowned their first Czar and Czarina, Phillip Parker and Kris Cherri Kohl (respectively). A non-partisan organization, the Royal Green Country Barony of All Oklahoma seeks to further the mission of the International Court System by uniting not only the gay community, but the entire community of Oklahoma, gay and straight, regardless of ethnicity or other discriminating factors. ~he barony works to raise funds for charitable causes and work for equality within the realm it covers. To begin the evening, Nicole the Great, Queen Mother of the Americas, welcomed Oklahoma into the international family and described what they had "gotten themselves into." "You see all this (pageantry) and wonder about it, remember it’s all in camp. We may call each other Barons and Baronesses, but we are all equals," began the matriarch, who explained the organization’s pre- Stonewall San Francisco founding. She described the court system as one of the oldest and largest organizations in GLBT history. "When a gay man, Jose, declared that he wanted to be called an ’Empress’ after being crowned the queen of the Tavern Guild’s drag ball, he didn’t know what he started at the time." Through out the course of the evening, many other individuals who contributed to the founding of the RGCBAO were recognized, as well as those who have assumed leadership positions in the organization. This included the Privy Counsel (Board of Directors) comprised of Deb Starnes, Jim Ray, Scot Brown, Marc Acuff, and Photo Above: Czar IPhillip Parker & Czarina I Kris Cherri Kohl Lynn Whitley. Additionally was the Crown Grand Marquis Roger Francis and Crown Grand Marquesa Dominique La Rue. Also acclaimed as a key founder was Christian Cherri O’Donely Vaughn LaFleur Dior. Entertainment for the evening was provided by entertainers from across Oklahoma and beyond, q-his included the cast of "Twisted Theatre," Tim Conroy, Catia Lee Love, Empress The Lovely Suzanne, Empress Syren Vaughn, Empress Victoria Weston, Matthew Heath Fitzgerald, Tabitha Taylor, Rebbeca Tucker and Leonard Jenkins. Through all the dresses and crowns, the evening assumed a sense of decorum, but through the words of those on stage, it maintained a level of fun and frivolity that turned it into a true celebration. By the end of the evening, the Royal Green Country Barony of Oklahoma had demonstrated that they knew how to have a good time, but had made it clear they were ready to begin the hard work of providing leadership to and creating unity among the citizens of their relm. w~v.ozarksstar.com the STAR 9 By Donald Pile and Pray Williams " Surrounded by Insanity" by Robert A. Hofmann We have just read a new book, "Surrounded by Insanity" by Robert A. Hofmann and it is one of those books that once you begin reading it, you won’t want to put it down until you have completely finished. It is absolutely hilarious! It is a biographical story of the author’s experiences thru his life with his early childhood and growing up with friends and family. Robert grew up in New Jersey and what a wild and crazy and wonderful life he has had. Between his family and his friends, he guides the reader thru many exciting episodes of his life. It is wickedly bitchy and hilarious! Everyone in Robert’s life so far is a participant in this wonderfully funny and provocative story of his life. It begins with his birth and goes thru two years ago when he was staying at the wonderful Grand Resort in Ft. Lauderdale when Hurricane Wilma hit in 2006 leaving everybody without power for several days. q-his is a "must read" for gay men all over the country. You will laugh at nearly every page! Robert knows exacdy what his readers want to hear and he writes in such a great way. He writes openly what many of us say behind our backs. One of our favorite parts of the book is when he talks about "prespeaking", as in, "Dinner. That is where we should go" and "Glad for you! That is what I am." Days after reading this, we are still catching ourselves "prespeaking". Hopefully we and our friends will get tired of it eventually but it is fun for a while. We don’t know if his family and friends are still speaking to him or not but they should be happy that he loves them so much that he can be so open and flank about them. He would indeed be a good friend of have. Hopefully we will get to meet him sometime in the near future. He left some extra copies of his book at the Grand Resort for guests to read and everyone can’t wait to get their hands on his book. We promise that you will laugh your head off:page after page after page. "Surrounded by Insanity" is published by Publish America and may be purchased through all major bookstores (if they don’t have it in stock, they’ll order it for you) or from www.amazon.com or www.publishamerica. com. We didn’t ~vant the book to end but thankfully, Robert is already in the process of coming out with his second book. As Robert says, " I live in fabulous, flaming, freakin" New Jersey. Woo-hoo. I am an attorney by day, writer by evening, superhero in the bedroom." Just keep up the great writing Robert! CLUB MAJESTIC TULSA TO HOST MR. OKLAHOMA CONTINENTAL 2008 PAGEANT By Greg Steele TULSA, OK __ Hot bodies and great talent will be the main course at Club Majestic Friday February 15th at 9pro. The show will feature an all male contest with guest entertainment from across the country. The feature entertainer will be Rasean Montrese Mr. Continental Nationals 2007 and hosted by Danielle Hunter Miss Continental Elite Nationals 2007. In addition to the contestant line up an impressive array of talent will be on stage to make your Friday Night at Club Majestic an evening to remember. Mr. Oklahoma 2007 Sevion Simpson, Mr. 2006 Nationals Simba Hall, Miss Oklahoma Continental 2007 Adrianna and introducing Mr. 2005 Nationals Tony DeSario. Club Majestic is located at 124 N. Boston in the Brady Arts District. 2-he latest on Britney Spears is that she is in training to become a high profile lesbian, being coached by famous lesbian convert Ellen DeGeneres. DeGeneres told the website www.thespoof.com "Britney is making great progress. I have every confidence she will make an excellent lesbian in time" 10 the STAR www.ozarksstar,com essica Newman art e hibit at Dennis R. Neill Equality Center (TULSA, OK (P/R) __ "~e Dennis R. Neill Equality Center art gallery will host its monthly First Tnursday meet-the-artist reception from 6-9pm, "lhursday, February 7, 2008, for the opening of it’s February exhibit, featuring oil paintings and fine drawings by artist Jessica Newman. Newman, born in California in 1985, has been a resident ofTulsa since the age of 10. Jessica started drawing at a very young age, and really became involved in art during high school, when she took her first art class in the ninth grade. ~his is where she was introduced to a variety of art supplies, and began experimenting with different media. Since graduating high school in 2003, she has continued studying art in college, and plans on graduating as an art major. Jessica has always been fascinated by the human body, which is the theme of most of her work. She currently works with pencil, watercolors, and oil paints, but charcoal is her medium of choice. Her art has been shown at the Mayfest Youth Gallery, as well as at the Blue Dome Arts Festival. The exhibit will remain up through the month of February, and can be viewed Monday thru Saturday from 3-gpm. The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th St., in downtown Tulsa. More info can be found on the web at okeq.org. This monthly event is hosted by Oklahoman’s for Equality (OkEq). OkEq seeks equal rightsfor Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) individuals and families through advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Cente~ www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 11 SIDE De~ Inside ;~otlywoo4 rqo~ on n~wprojectsfor PaulRuddand Nathan ~ane. Nathan Lane Casts Swing Vote Hds acting up a storm on Broa&vay right now with Laurie Met~f in the new D~vid Mamet play, November, but stage fixture Nathan Mewill be back on the big screen this new year, too, with a role in the ensemble comedy Swing ~v~te. Starring Kevin Cosmer ~ a low-achieving, apolitic~l American citizen, tl~ movie concerns a presidentia! election that hinges entirely on Cosmer’s not-entirelywelMnformed vote and the n~tional ch~os that results from it. L~ne will co-star, along with Definis Hopper, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, George Lopez, Mare Winningham, *~Vi!lie Nelson, and politiCal comment~)or A~ianna Hut~ngton ~s herse!£ Already wrapp~[, the film - if audiences vote for it v~ith their ticket dollars - could find itselfincieasing poll turnoutsSBut not likely, Paul Rudd You, Man ~rotagonists express- - signal the beginning t ofheterosexual male intimacy? movie, I love by Judd Apatow (v¢hose willingness to "go in films like The Obiect of " " well documented), the best he considers close enough to fill. as the poor spring, here’s t Larry: Like ransamerican Love ready for Transamerican Love a 36-year-old ~ with an Girl). Addams will ~ of men competing to date her formerly male body. Contrast About Miriam, on which told about Miriam’s transgender a bold step for the reality televicomic Alec Mapa wilt host the show by gay cable channel Logo. The in 2008. 12 the STAR www.ozarksstar, corn DEEP INSXDE HOLLYWOOD Choosing America’s Prom Q een For further evidence that pop culture is now dominated by entertainment designed for the High School Musical demographic, !ook no further than Americas Pro Queen. ABC Family has given the go-ahead for the new series that will pit a group of high school-aged young women against each other in the quest to be the fairest prom queen of them all. The contestants will reside in a mansion and compete in challenges that will show if they’ve got what it takes to wear a tiara in public and vcave at less popular people; then they’ll stay or go based on viewer votes. But Romeo has one complaint: in an era when young men are routinely making the news after being voted prom queen at their school, why no boys allowed? Lesbian Musician Julie Schurr to Perform in Eureka Springs, Fayetteville and New Orleans. Romeo San Vicente - while in high school, mindyou - wa~" very popular with his share ofpmm kings. He can be reached care ofthis publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com. Regional MCC CMr&es Perform An Act ©fKin&ess In Tulsa JOPLIN, MO G/R) __ MCC United in Tulsa, OK was visited by Diva’s xvith Chain Saws as members of MCC of the Living Springs, Eureka Sprh~gs, AR and Spirit of Christ MCC; Joplin, MO arrived Saturday morning the 12th of January ready to work. MCC United has been dealing with damage on their property since an early, December ice storm devastated the area. There were still damaged trees that needed to be reduced to manageable size and trees that were potentially dangerous if not removed. Together with members of MCC United and their Pastor, Rev Carolyn Mobley the three churches xvere able to make short work of the remaining damage control and clean-up. Spirit of Christ MCC literally closed their doors and moved their worship to a program Rev Steve ca~s: "Faith in Action." "We are an oddity in MCC Churches in that we xvorship on Saturday mornings. As it is, we are ~knoxvn to replace worsNp with taking on Acts of Random Kindness to show what we believe is primary for us. As Christ served all people in need.., so should xve." Rev. Urie also pastors MCC of the Living Spring in Eureka Springs, AR and when he shared the needs he immediately received e-mails saying xve are going with you." We were totally blessed inasmuch as we had four chain saxvs in action, limbs fal~ng and people picking up the grounds with no injuries and everyone home safely. The group was blessed with a xvonderful lunch provided by MCC United and a musical Thank You provided in song by Rev. Carolyn. Across Regional boundaries and State Lines xve can all work together serving God by serving each other. EUREKA SPRINGS, AR __ Growing up, Julie Schurr never heard music that might have made life a little bit easier for a lesbian girl being raised in the strictly-proscribed constraints of a religiously conservative community and home. In fact, she wasn’t supposed to be listening to music at all. She wasn’t supposed to know what a lesbian was. Let alone BE one. An original creation, Julie Schurr’s fusion of musical styling and technique is all her own: Indierockbitchfolk. She’s been showcasing it to her fans in St. Imuis and Detroit, winning loyal converts. Now that she’s finished her degree & produced a full-length album, she just can’t imagine any other career path. So it’s a good thing that album sales are steadily rising and venues keep opening their doors. Julie will be out on tour and finishing up her 2nd album, which is planned for release in early 2008. Julie Schurr has headlined Pride and Coming Out day celebrations around the country and has been featured on Curvemag.com and in the Advocate. Her two hour performance will include acoustic music from her current album as well as her unique style of audience participation and comedy. Show tour locations listed below. Eureka Springs, Arkansas Baton Rouge, Louisiana Feb 9 2008 10:00P Feb 15 2008 8:00P Lumberyard Bar and Grille Hound Dog’s - Time TBA Fayetteville, Arkansas Feb 10 2008 8:30P Common Grounds New Orleans, Louisiana Feb 16 2008 9:30P Station 8801 More information on Julie can be found online at: www.julieschurr. corn or www.myspace.com/julieschurr. www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 13 by Liz Highleyraan Past Out, which 100"ks at the life of South l frican gay activist Simon Nk01i, W-ho was Simon Nko li ? Soweto student uprising in the summer of 1976, he joined the Congress of South African Students (COSAS), the ~AaCrican National Congress (ANC), and the United Democratic Front (UDF). Fellow COSAS members debated removing him from his position of regional secretary when his sexual orientation became known, but a large majority ultimately voted in his favor. Long a~vare of his same-sex attractions, Nkoli began his first serious relationship at age 19, with a white bus driver. After Nkoli revealed this to his mother, she sent him to a series of local healers, a Christian priest, and finally a psychologist, who turned out to be gay himself and advised the lovers to live together - even if Nkoli had to pose as his partner’s servant to evade racial segregation laws. stance led the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) to suspend GASA for its failure to condemn apartheid, and the latter group soon collapsed. After his release, Nkoli co-founded the Gay and Lesbian Organization of the \vgitwatersrand - the country’s first genuinely integrated GLBT organization - and later the National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality (now the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project). "I am black and I am gay," he proclaimed at the first South African Pride march in 1990. "I cannot separate the two parts ofme into secondary or primary struggle. They will be all one struggle." Nkoli traveled widely speaking about the situation in his country, served as an ILGA board member representing Africa, and earned numerous honors for his work. hrough his dedication and courage, black gay antiapartheid activist Simon Tseko Nkoli played a key role in the fight for GLBT liberation and human rights for people with HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Nkoli was born in Soweto in November 1957. He spent part of his childhood living with his grandparents, tenant farmers on a white estate, before moving to Sebokeng township to join his mother and stepfather. Nkoli became an anti-apartheid activist at a young age. After multiple arrests for civil disobedience, including participation in the 14 the STAR In his early 20s, after coming out in an interview with a black newspaper, Nkoli joined the newly formed Gay Association of South Africa (GASA), which consisted mostly of middle-class white men. Resolutely apolitical, the group resisted Nkoli’s requests to hold social events at nonsegregated venues, leading him to form the Saturday Group, the country’s first black gay organization, in 1984. Around the same time, amid growing racial discord, Nkoli stepped up his anti-apartheid activism, helping organize a tenant rent strike in the town of Delmas. Charged with killing a man by throwing a rock during a protest, Nkoli was arrested, tortured, and imprisoned. Along with 21 other black activist leaders, he was tried in 1986 for the capital crimes of subversion, conspiracy, and treason. While in prison awaiting trial, Nkoli revealed his homosexuality to his co-defendants - ANC and UDF members who would later hold high-level positions in the post-apartheid government - and they came to respect and support him as a gay man. "This country wilt never protect the rights of its gay and lesbian citizens unless we stand up and fight - even when it makes us unpopular with our own comrades," he later wrote. Nkoli came out more publicly during the trial, when he used his attendance at a GASA meeting as an alibi to counter claims that he had been present at a clandestine political meeting. In 1988, the charges against him were dropped and he was released. During his imprisonment, Nkoli became a cause celebre for gay rights activists around the world, but he received minimal support from the accomodationist GASA. This Nkoli’s anti-apartheid activism and ties with movement leaders proved instrumental in winning the ANC’s support for gay rights. In 1994, he met with Nelson Mandela, whose election as president marked the end of the apartheid era. As the newly integrated country crafted its constitution, Nkoli lobbied for sexual orientation to be included in its anti-discrimination provisions, and also argued for repeal of sodomy laws. In 1996, South Africa became the first country to include explicit constitutional protection for GLBT people. A decade later, in fulfillment of a court mandate based on the constitution, the South African parliament legalized same-sex marriage. Yet even as the gay movement gained strength and the apartheid regime crumbled, the AIDS epidemic reached crisis proportions in the 1990s, reintensifying racism and homophobia. Having been diagnosed with HIV himself (likely contracted in prison), Nkoli turned his focus to AIDS activism, co-founding groups including the Positive African Men’s Project and the Township AIDS Project. As the decade wore on, Nkoli experienced increasing bouts of ill health; he died of an AiDS-related infection on November 30, 1998, in the company of his long-time partner, Roderick Sharp. Though Nkoli himself was not able to benefit from effective new HIV drugs, his work for universal treatment access inspired fellow gay and anti-apartheid activist Zackie Achmat to form the Treatment Action Campaign, which today is widely regarded as the strongest AIDS activist group in the world. www.ozarksstar.com DNC ELECTS R£CORD NUMBER OF LGBT MEMBERS TO 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CON NTION STANDING COMMITTEES Appointments Reflect Strength, Diversity and Energy ofDemocratic Party DENVER, CO (P/R) __ The Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) unanimously elected DNC Chairman Howard Dean’s nominations for the Chairs and members of the 2008 Democratic National Convention Standing Committees, including a record number of openly LGBT members. Dean’s LGBT appointments include Dr. Marjorie Hill of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis organization in New York, Diego Sanchez from AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, State Representative Patricia Todd ofAlabama, and Ingrid Duran ofVirginia to serve on the Platform Committee, along with Claire Lucas and Evan Low of California to the Rules Committee and Bob Rogan of Vermont to the Credentials Committee. In addition to appointing a record number of LGBT standing committee members, Dean was also the first DNC chair to appoint a member of the transgender community to a Convention committee. The Standing Committees of the Convention are responsible for reviewing Convention business and formulating recommendations for consideration by Convention delegates. The Executive Committee’s vote took place during the panel’s recent meeting in Denver, site of the four-day Convention in August. "The record turnout and enthusiasm we’ve seen for our Democratic candidates is a clear sign that Americans trust Democrats to bring much needed change to our country," said Governor Dean. "These outstanding leaders reflect the great strength, diversity and energy of the Democratic Party, and I’m confident their efforts will ensure our Convention in Denver is reflective of our shared values and our nominee’s vision for America." The elections included the Chairs and 25 Party Leader and Elected Official (PLEO) members of the three Convention Standing Committees: Credentials, Platform and Rules. Each committee has a total of 186 members. An additional 161 members elected by each of the states’ and territories’ Convention delegations wil! join Governor Dean’s appointments to the committees later this spring. For a full list of and biographical information on the Chairs and PLEO members from each Standing Committee, visit http:llwww.demconvention.comlalstandingcommittees. pdf. Credentials Committee The Credentials Committee is charged with coordinating issues around the selection of delegates and alternates to the Convention and will likely meet in the summer. The committee will issue a report that is the first official item of business at the Convention. Platform Committee The Platform Committee is responsible for drafting and recommending a proposed National Platform for approval at the Convention. After conducting hearings and forums to collect testimony on issues and policies to potentially include in the platform, the committee is likely to meet sometime in July. Rttles Committee The Rules Committee is responsible for proposing the Permanent Rules for the Convention, adopting the proposed Convention agenda and making recommendations for permanent Convention officers - all addressed as the second official item of business at the Convention. The committee will meet sometime in August, prior to the Convention. Huckabee ir ks gay sex to bestiality, abortion to slavery WASHINGTON (AFP) -- Republican presidential hopeful and former Baptist pastor Mike Huckabee linked gay sex to bestiality and abortion to slavery in an interview Thursday, explaining why, if elected, he would try to amend the constitution. "Marriage has ... as long as there’s been human history, meant a man and a woman in a relationship for life. Once we change that definition, then where does it go from there?" he asked in an interview with online "Beliefnet" magazine. "Well, I don’t think that’s a radical view, to say we’re going to affirm marriage. I think the radical view is to say that we’re going to change the definition of marriage so that it can mean two men, two women, a man and three women, a man and a child, a man and animal," he added. "The Bible was not written to be amended. The Constitution was," he said, announcing his intention to amend the document if he were to be elected president in November to ban abortion and establish that life begins at the moment of conception. Leaving it up to individual states to outlaw abortion within their own borders is not enough, he said. "That’s again the logic of the Civil War -- that slavery could be okay in Georgia but not okay in Massachusetts. Obviously we’d today say, ’Well, that’s nonsense. Slavery is wrong, period. It can’t be right somewhere and wrong somewhere else.’ Same with abortion," Huckabee said. Huckabee won the Iowa Republican caucuses earlier this month, the first contest in the race for each party’s nomination to run for the White House. He is in second place behind Arizona Senator John McCain in opinion polls for Saturday’s primaries in South Carolina. www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 15 Brief history Cabernet Sauvignon, like all noble wine grape varieties, is of the species VitiS ~inifera, and genetic studies in 1997 indicated it is the result of a cross between Cabemet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. Cabernet Sauvignon is most directly associated with the wines of Bdrdeaux~ and especially those of its Left Ba~k, which ncludes the top tier appellations of St.-Estephe, Pauillac, St.-Julien; and Margaux, among others. It makes Up the majority portion of the blends of all of the Grand Cru wines of the 1855 classification. In Bordeaux, blending is comm0n With ! !e other allowable varietals: Merlot, cabe~ et Franc, Pettlt Verdot, and Malbec. Cabal ~et Sauvignon is also cultivated in other ~i~i as in France, notably LanguedocTRousillor and has great acclaim the wodd Over. .... California is after BOrdeaux as the wodd’s largest grower of Cabemet Sauvignon. This grape is found mostly in the Napa Valley and Sonoma County. In Calif6mi~, the area of Cabemet Sauvignon planting doubled in the 1990s. As in Bordeaux, it is often blended with Franc to produce wo ton, " ’ the lower Yakima Valley. In late 2006, the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology published the result of studies conducted at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine that showed the beneficial relationship of Cabernet Sauvignon in reducing the dsk factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The stud trol, a compound found reduce levels of amyloid beta pe-t des which attack brain ce Is an.... At heady $10 a bottlel ddnks like a cab twice p. , ,, ...... u, ~.~ the coSL Thi~ Cabernet presents itse f with a par[ or wna[ causes Alzne~mer s. in snort nose Of bourbon-soake~ Cherries with a finish of wewine enthusiasts can enjoy drinking to chbcotate and Cedar. our good health. ........... Magnificen~Wine COmpany House Wine Columvar e a ol s nc on bia ~/alley 05 wwwlMagnificentVVine,com Cabemet Sauvignon has a well defined ~rnrn~a In Old ~J~rld wine~ n~rficularlv Cabemet Sauvignon 54% Medot 30% Syrah those made n Bordeaux th s s charac- 11Yo, Mabec3% Franc2~{~ ¯ Grea" ble - - f -- " "" ~ d t -eat I ~ naana or~nepnce [’snar oD . tensed by a smel of blackcurrant, cedar ’ and spice. New Wodd wines of this grape Cono Sur Cab/Carmenere Chile ’06 are more often dominated by aromas of v~zw.ConoSur.com ~ oak, pepper and earth. smell of This organic wine offers a robust, fruit- filled m wines made in nose of raspberry & plum most character- The palate reveals a flaVorfu nutty taste and rm-climate examples is has a long finish. rings of t wine. ~ne. Cabs ~eese5 s Dadoush Duet Napa ’04 ~.dadoush.com A blend of Cabemet and Shiraz Enticing aromas of blackberry with a coffee bean and a finish Of nutmeg & white pepper best descdbe this wine, Irony Cabernet Napa ’03 w~w.lronyWine.€om This is a b0ld and complex wine, which reflects the melding Of ~nique ~haractedstics from pdme vineyards in Sever&l different Napa appellations. Tobacco Cocoa and bright red berry characters make this a red wine to ~njoy. And as always, I say go to your favodte wine shop, ask qdestion~ and p~rchase a bottle or two. Share Some food & wine with friends and check it out for yourself. Complex aromas from hazelnut finish. cassis clove/ Mr. D als0 hosts wine & food events as the Wine Enthusiasts of Tulsa, the BTAR :~ww.ozarksstar.com by Donald Pile and Ray CITyo In our travels to both the East Coast and the West Coast everyone alwa:ys asks the same question to us. V?here ro par.ry in the Midwest? we a!ways tell them the best two places to part? areTuAsa and Oklahoma City. It is hard for most people on both coast to believe, but unless you have been there you certainly wit! not believe that in the Bible belt ofOHahoma is this fabulous gay mecca. month we told you about Tulsa and this month we ~2e telling you about Oklahon~a City. We have been going to Oklahoma City to party for over 25 veals. "Ihe HABAN~ INN Resort has been a gay resort for over 25 years. It is the Midwest’s largest at! gay resort. A two story complex with ov& 175 rooms, most ofwhich tS_ce one of the two swimming pools. The rooms are spacious and vmT inexpensive. It is a totally gay resort. Lush tropical plants and trees surround the poo! areas. Gays fron-t all over the midwest as well as both coasts have been going there for years, and it is busy 7 days a week, not juston weekends. Lounge around the pool area and you are sure ~o meet that "someone specia!". They are located 2200 NW 39rh Expressway and their toll free number is 1.800.988.2221. Within a block of the Habana Inn resort you wilt find about 4 more gay bars c~tering to different tastes. A major grocery store is just one block away as are several other restaurants. A cab ride from the akport costs less one blo& west of the intersection of Penn and interstate 1-44 and is easy to find. Within the resort complex they have a wonderful restaurant than $20.00. The ......i fi d HABANA INN Gushers whmh has a great ambiance and serves dehc ous oo , and is reasonable priced. "Itae restaurant overlooks one of the pod resort is located areas so you cim enjoy the bovs frolicking in the pool as you are dining. They also offe~ sandwich~s, soups, salads, pastas and appetizers, add a breakfast menu is available on weekends. There are three bars in the Habana Inn complex which are completely different. COPA is a dance, disco and drag bar. WeeNy they have male dancers, drag shows and comedians. FINISHLtNE Plus. there are is a c0untrylwestern bar with plenty of countiT dancing. ~t~is is the a lot of siOits to place to se~ the real cowboys and cowgirls in action. THE LEDO is see in Oklahoma ~ quiet piano bar. All the bartenders are super friendly and they all City, The Cowboy kn~w h~w to make out of towners feel right at home. The owner of Hail of Fame has the bars and restaurant is to be commended for his outstanding job artifacts ,~ ! ’ ! , i, i [ ¯ . !otsofoil the west is do things like this. Just a couple doors away from the Habana Inn is ANGLES ar 21 t7 N.\V. 39th St.. Their website is: w~,~w.anglesclub. For more ~ corn habanainn.com and Also in the resort is J UNGLE RED, an adult gift shop with magazines, videos, cards, gifts, leather, Pride items plus a lot of decorative items for the home. ma’s Gay Website: ww~.ozarksstar.com ?dways remember to have fun when ratk to everyone! 18 the STAR by Donald Pile and Ray Williams ONLY sto ger-a-way~ check i~ out the Inn at 410, w~:410.com have the most um~sua! and exciting, and B. ~eit rooms world! The Vi!lag~ St. and you just cannot Steve owns the Gaslight a long And in Palm Metwn’s Restaurant, ~vw.inglesideinn.com www.ozarkssiar.com some ju~st simply pe~ection t00% of pecial "TI~KS" ’!egance in dining. dodt skimp on gets around and emails from our readers asking if ALWAYS have a about~ m be one that we have ever seen! ’gqth ~a Wetl as travelers all time however. A the closest gay" t this a used condom under the ....Con~ued page 23 broken 4 they also seem to be the STAR 19 Downtown Savannah) historic district is abundant withfine shops and restaurants, including the innovative Sapphire Grill, one ofthe city’s top eateries. (P,6oto by Andrew Collins) Georgi After years of lagging behind nearby Charleston in popularity, historic Savannah soared to new heights in the ’90s and remains one of the nation’s hottest destinations. Much of the city’s renaissance had do to with the staggering popularity ofJohn Berendt’s best-seller, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, whose droll yet salacious account of Savannah society propelled the city into a gay hotspot almost overnight. The jewel of Georgia’s lazily enchanting seacoast, Savannah was founded in 1733 by British General James Oglethorpe, who designed the perfect grid of streets and grassy tree-shaded squares for which this city of 130,000 is still famous. Savannah prospered as a silk exporter during its first century, before developing into one of the world’s major cotton suppliers. Much of downtown consists of elaborate brick and stucco Victorian buildings built following an 1820 fire that destroyed many of the city’s beautiful wood-frame Colonial homes. Had General Sherman not spared Savannah during his notorious and destructive "March to the Sea," most of these Victorian structures would also have been burned. Begin your explorations of the city inside the restored 1860s rail terminal that houses both the Savannah Visitor Information Center and the Savannah History Museum. This complex is at the southwestern edge of historic downtown. From here it’s a short walk north to City Market, a three-block pedestrian mall with a handful of gay-friendly shops and restaurants. Downtown Savannah’s shopping scene continues to evolve from traditional to fashion-forward - a Marc by Marc Jacobs flagship store opened here in April 2007, and many contemporary boutiques and art galleries now line the city’s oak-shaded streets. Near City Market, you’ll find the gay disco, Club One, which is the performing home ofThe Lady Chablis, who figured so prominently in The Book, as Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is commonly referred to by locals. Plenty of folks come to Savannah to seek out the sites that were brought to life in this mesmerizing tale (although it is nonfiction, The Book reads like a delicious novel). Ofpartictflar note is the privately owned Mercer House, in which Midnight’s central figure, antiques dealer Jim Williams, shot and killed his young lover, Danny Hansford, in 1981 (the question of whether Williams fired in self-defense or as a calculated act of murder is debated to this day). Its literary fame - or notoriety - notwithstanding, Savannah still rivals any Southern destination for its bedazzled and meticulously restored house museums. Ifyou have time for only one, visit the Owens-Thomas House, a splendid 1819 Regency mansion built by renowned British architect William Jay. Nearby is the Isaiah Davenport House, an 1815 Federal beauty. To see a fine collection of classical sculpture and Impressionist painting, visit the Telfair Mansion and Art Museum, a memorable 1818 structure in its own right. In 2006, the museum expanded with the construction of the striking newJepson Center for the Arts, which added more galleries and exhibition space. At the north end of the historic district, the city’s riverfront is lined with a stately row of restored cotton warehouses - now containing a slew of touristy businesses - and a cobbled lane that’s sits a full flight of steps below the rest of the city. The best time to appreciate it and the views of the bridge and freighters chugging along the Savannah River is in the morning, when you’ll encounter few crowds. One great way to explore downtown and get some advice on the local gay scene is to take a guided walk with knowledgeable local Jonathan Stalcup, who runs Architectural Tours of Savannah. For dining, avoid most of the mediocre eateries by the river and stick to one of the several local favorites, virtually all of them gayfriendly. One of the most famous restaurants in the South, Elizabeth on 37th specializes in subtly sublime regional cooking, 20 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com such as sesame-almond-crusted grouper with peanut sauce; and grilled rack of lamb with corn pudding, stewed okra, and tomatoes. Sexy and sophisticated Sapphire Grill serves some exciting and innovative contemporary American fare - consider the jumbo lump crab cake ,vith lemon curd, green-zebra tomatoes, and red chard. A bit more affordable, chic It Pasticcio presents contempora~7 Northern Italian cuisine - try the grilled gorgonzola-crusted filet mignon with a potato-pancetta gratin. Olde Pink House is one of those Savannah traditions that everybody should experience at least once - fine Continental fare with regional twists, like black grouper stuffed xvith blue crab and a Vidalia onion sauce, is served. Garibaldi’s, in an 1870s firehouse, prepares simple but very good Italian fare, such as pesto shrimp with angel hair pasta. For either lunch or dinner, the trendy City Market Cafe is a dependable choice, serving delicious wild mushroom, blue cheese, and prosciutto salad, as well as terrific thin-crust pizzas. It’s touristy, but fans of Food Network TV star Paula Deen won’t want to pass up a chance to dine at her downtown Savannah restaurant, ~lhe Lady & Sons, known for its down-home Southern cuisine. An elegant basement space with a youthful, see-and-be-seen following, Jazz’d Tapas Bar is perfect for late-night snacking - recommended fare include potato-leek frittata with fig chutney, and citrus-ginger- glazed shrimp-and-scallops skewers. ~he lesbian-owned Firefly Cafe serves affordable American fare, including plenty of fresh veggie dishes. ~l-his dapper spot overlooks Troup Square and is especially popular for brunch (try the Savannah eggs Benedict topped with fresh crab meat). For post-club noshing, check out Sushi Zen, a hip and gay-popular Asian restaurant with a convivial vibe. ~he bar staff and regulars in Savannah’s bars are friendly and forward. Although some locals shun the touristy and cavernous Club One, it’s one of the most impressive clubs in the Southeast, and it can be fun when ~lhe Lady Chablis is performing. Other options include Chuck’s, a friendly locals joint near the river that draws a mixed bunch; and Blaine’s Back Door Bar, a casual cruise and dance lounge that also has a dell serving pretty tasty sandwiches and pizza. Not gay per se, Venus de Milo is a sexy and sophisticated wine bar with a welcoming, bohemian vibe - it’s just west of City Market. Down along the riverfront, gay-friendly Kevin Barry’s Irish Pub is popular early in the evening for Irish music, food, and drink. With the recent rise in gay tourism, Savannah’s grand old hotels have become increasingly hospitable to visiting same-sex couples. Among the city’s many classic luxury inns, the Ballastone Inn is renowned for its gracious hospitality and over-the-top, lavish rooms. The four-story 1838 mansion sits along one of the prettiest streets in the city. A mid-19th-century inn with an expansive landscaped courtyard, the Eliza Thompson House and its grand guest rooms look much as you might imagine they did when cotton was king of Savannah. Original heart-pine floors and period antiques impart a romantic ambience, and yet rooms have comfortable, modern amenities, especially the bathrooms. Rooms at the Foley House Inn contain antiques and Oriental rugs; many overlook Chippewa Square and have massive two-person Jacuzzis. Of affordable chain properties, the Comfort Suites Historic District is clean, pleasantly furnished, and a short walk from City Market. The only GLBT-exclusive B&B in Savannah, 912 Barnard is also one of the least expensive. This dramatic yellow turn-of-the-century house has been handsomely restored to its original splendor, with antiques and authentic colors that convey the ambience of the city. A fully restored 1889 sea captain’s house that once belonged to one of Savannah’s wealthiest merchants, the Azalea Inn is quite gay-friendly. All rooms are configured and decorated differently; and each has a gas fireplace; two have whirlpool tubs, and two have balconies. For the most memorable accommodations, however, look to the gay-friendly Mansion on Forsyth Park, which offers some of finest digs in town. This stylish mini-resort beside verdant Forsyth Park contains 126 rooms with smart, contemporary furnishings, plus a top-notch spa, a cooking school, two cool bars, an art gallery, and the highly regarded 700 Drayton Restaurant. Opened in 2005, the hotel offers further evidence of Savannah’s gradual shift from a bastion of Old South gentility to a beacon ofNew South panache and www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 21 TA-BOO’ RESTAURANT Palm Beach, Florida .[Ldocated on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, Florida, TA-BOO’ is a real treat! Stretching four fabulous blocks from South Ocean Blvd. to Cocoanut Row on Palm Beach island, Worth Avenue is one of the world’s most exclusive shopping districts. q-he Avenue boasts a sumptuous mix of more than 200 world-famous specialty shops, posh department stores, gourmet restaurants and art galleries. It is like the Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California. A coat and tie (or ascot) is of course necessary even at lunch time. TA-BOO’ has been in business for over 60 years. It has the classic ambiance of a private gentlemen’s club brightened by Palm Beach’s smart set, it atmosphere is both comfortable and busding all at the same time. Slowly spinning ceiling fans, tropical fishtail palms and leafy dangling porthos vines frame a mural of an ocean vita, complete with Miznetresque terra-cotta rooftops in the foreground. Down a terra-cotta pathway, the long bar is an Avenue tradition for a variety of patrons - from the burger and beer set to those with an affinity for a rack of lamb and a little Veuve Clicquot! A soothing marine aquarium illuminates the bar’s neighboring bistro. Their menu covers the basics, from comfort food to top-notch cuisine. If you’re dining for lunch, start with the sushi-quality carpaccio of tuna or try the ever-popular warm grilled chicken and pears salad. Dinner is all about Maine Lobster, white Dover sole meuniere, crispy roast mahogany duck and linguine with lump crab. Dessert is a MUST, partictflarly the signature "Ta-boo’ lust", a sinful concoction of coconut cream filling and whipped cream atop a walnut cookie crust. \re always dine there at least once when we are in Florida and it does just keep getting better everytime! Owners Franklyn DeMarco and Nancy Sharigan are regular hosts. You never know what famous celebrities you will be dining with. We particularly enjoy their Swordfish. Lunch is served from 11:30 AM to 5 PM and dinner is served from 5 PM to 10 PM weekdays and from 5 PM to 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. Sunday Brunch is served till 3 PM. They are located at 221 Worth Avenue and for reservations call: (561) 835-3500. strai= glass. Serve. 22 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com GAY TR_&VELERS: having a lot of financial problems as they at first were going to open mid-summer, then in the fall and now they don’t know if they will open or not. We booked an accommodation and in Denver a couple of years ago and when we got to the destination, we found that it was simply a condo unit with two bedrooms and the guy rented out one of the bedrooms! In South Dakota, we booked a reservation and when arriving, the owner gave up HIS bedroom for us and then he slept on the sofa! Sometimes restaurants can also be a complete disaster. From being dirty, to rude servers, to bad food and service, it can always be interesting to say the least. But ifyou are not happy with a restaurant..... LEAVE ! We have ~valked out of dozens of restaurants. If there is one problem, then usually a second problem develops and before you know it you are in a mess up to your ears, so why not just leave before it gets worse? The worst thing we hate to hear from a server, is "Don’t give me a hard time, I had a bad night last night". Who cares if the server had a bad night? They are there to "SERVE YOU" with a smile and with a professional attitude. We have at times paged the manager and requested that another server wait on us and we explain fully why. There are a lot of excellent servers in restaurants but we just simply won’t accept bad service. If the food you ordered is not good nor cooked properly, quietly and gently tell your server the problem. Bartenders can really be a pain in the ass sometimes. One bartender in Seattle doesn’t like to wait on people sitting at the bar. Rather, you have to go to his station, order and get your drinks and then return to your bar stoo!. How crazy is that? We have had bartenders that didn’t even know how to make a screwdriver! Most likely they didn’t know how to make a Bourbon and 7 either! Other bartenders are eating or smoking while trying to wait on you. We simply tell them that ~vhen they are thru eating or thru with their smoke break, then they can take our order. If a bartender is behind the bar and smoking and serving us, we explain exactly why we are not leaving a tip! Fortunately more and more states are becoming non-smoking and that takes care of the problems. Having said this, we have found that most bartenders are friendly, fun, wonderful and professional and our hats off to all of them! They enjoy what they are doing and make great tips. Websites can often be deceiving and indeed sometimes they are! \Vhenever possible and especially when booking accommodations, it is smart to check around to see ifyou kmow anybody that has actually stayed there. As far as restaurants or bars, it is easier to just walk out if there is a problem. You pay good money and you expect your money’s worth. Most accommodations, restaurants and bars are run very professional. Their staff is professional and courteous and friendly. Don’t you just love it when your traveling and everything goes smoothly? But once in a while it doesn’t and you have a choice to make........... either accept it or do something about it. And it is YOUR choice! Life is to short to settle on anything less than fabulous! Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from Coast to Coast. Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at: gaytravelers@aol.com or visit their webpage at: http://www.hometown.aol. com/gaytravelers At least one overnight stay by a non-resident Rank Destination Percent who visited in the last 12 months 1 New York City, NY 16.0% 2 Las Vegas, NV 14.3% 3 San Francisco, CA 12.9% 4 Los Angeles/\Vest Hollywood, CA 11.9% 5 Ft. Lauderdale/Wilton Manors, FL 10.5% 6 Palm Springs, CA 10.1% 7 Chicago, IL 9.2% 8 San Diego, CA 8.8% 9 Washington, DC 8.6% 10 Miami/South Beach, FL (tie) 8.2% 10 Orlando, FL (tie) 8.2% "Community Marketing’s studies are unique in the tourism industry," McHugh said. "Other studies try to rank gay friendliness or popularity, but this study actually quantifies the bottom line: Where did gay and lesbian consumers go and spend their money?" Most-Visited International DestinationsRank Destination Percent who visited in the last 12 months 1 London 8.4% 2 Puerto Vallarta 7.6% 3 Paris 6.2% 4 Vancouver 6.1% 5 Montreal 5.9% 6 Toronto 5.6% 7 US Virgin Islands 5.1% 8 Cancun 5.0% 9 Puerto Rico 4.8% 10 Rome 4.7% Respondents indicated that they chose leisure destinations because friends recommended them, they offer unique attractions, and are known for their gay-friendliness. "Clearl),, when destinations show gay and lesbian visitors a good time, that is the best advertising investment they can make," said McHugh. "Word of mouth marketing is very powerful among the gay and lesbian community. It’s not enough to slap a rainbow on an ad and call it a day. The most successful destinations ~vork with their tourism and hospitality partners to earn that kind of loyalty and referral. This is accomplished through education, training, and offering a genuinely gay-welcoming social and political atmosphere." Ouotab e Quotes "Gayest Democratic convention ever? A record 16 percent of delegates to the Democratic National Committee’s platform committee for the Denver convention are LGBT", says Howard Dean. www.ozarksstar.com The STAR 23 By Ronald Blake Exercise can make you bigger, stronger, and faster. These are the obvious results from a fertile regimen of physical activity. There are other benefits from exercise that are sure to have the neighbors stand up and take notice. Exercise can stimulate new growth of neurons and even help you to keep the neurons that you possess. Neurons are those little things in your body that transport messages throughout your legs, arms, torso, and head. They are good to have around if you yearn to communicate and learn. This comes as good news to those of you who destroyed countless neurons in your previous existence as an irresponsible college student ~vith that degree in undecided. There is hope for you debaucherous mongrels and physical activity is certainly one answer. Faster reaction times can be attributed to exercise. You will be able to hit baseballs thrown at ninety-five miles per hour. You will be able to dodge bullets from Tony Soprano’s goombahs. You will be able to more effectively bob and weave through the one-two combination of Oscar DeLaHoya. You might even be able to negotiate better in traffic on the 666 Freeway on your route to work on Mondays. Can I get an "amen" to more effective reaction times due to running, walking, and double-dutching? Mental challenges become mere child’s play in response to the dashing good looks of Mr. Exercise. Yes, exercise has been known to unravel the mysteries of the universe. Even Albert Einstein was spotted riding bicycles and frolicking along the ocean during his sojourn on this planet. These physical exertions were rumored to have led to his great theories on relativity. You might just settle for solving the complexities of a Rubik’s cube or that set of instructions on putting your barbecue grill together. 26 the STAR Your memory can behold the effects of a good physical fitness program. There is a site in your brain called the hippo campus that can enlarge in mass and reap the goodness of jumping jacks and other means of physical activities. This enlargement of the hippo campus translates into better memory and possibly the ability to treat Alzheimer’s patients. ~aink of all the time you waste trying to recall where you placed your cell phone, keys, black socks, or W2 form from work. Start using that wasted time on exercise that will jump start that short-term memory compartment. Your mood can be positively impacted by the release of neurotrophins. These chemicals are released when you decide to participate in an active lifestyle. They rush into your system and make you feel happy and vivacious. Consider reaching for your roller blades instead of that sleeve of Girl Scout mints to turn that frown upside down the next time you are grumpy. Sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows everywhere will be your reward. Ifwe all reconvene in another five years, it is quite likely that ongoing research will show even more benefits of the brain and exercise combination. Keep sweating to the oldies with Richard Simmons and know that good things will always follow. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. This column is brought to you by that guy who prefers to frame a collage of one dollar bills instead of framing that replica of"Starry Night" from Michaels. That guy is Ron Blake and he can be reached www. goblakefitness.com. erupts in Auso Jesus 9 ay SYDNEY (AFP) -- Australian church leaders have condemned a play shortly to open in Sydney depicting Jesus as a gay man who is seduced by Judas, a report said Sunday. Xhe play, named Corpus Christi, is due to open next month as part of the city’s annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Sydney’s Sun- Herald newspaper reported. A senior Sydney churchman called the play "historical nonsense". "It is deliberately, not innocently, offensive and they’re obviously having a laugh about it," Robert Forsyth, Anglican bishop of South Sydney, was quoted saying. Apart from the relations between Jesus and Judas, the play also features Jesus conducting a gay marriage between two apostles. The play’s director Leigh Rowney, who claims to be a Christian, accepted the play would offend some Christians but said he was keen to provoke debate about Christianity. "I wanted this play in the hands of a Christian person like myself to give it dignity but still open it up to answering questions about Christianity as a faith system," Rowney was quoted saying. Playwright Terrence McNally, who is gay, received death threats when the work was performed in the United States, the newspaper said. INTE ATIONAL GAY SC ENPLAY CONTEST- 10th ANNIVERSARY HOLLYWOOD, CA (PR) __ The ONE IN TEN SCREENPLAY CONTEST, a screenplay contest dedicated to the positive portrayal of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, trangender and queer individuals in film, celebrates it’s 10th anniversary in 2008. Entries are nmv being accepted online and are limited to the first 300 for 2008. Executive Director, David Jensen, "We are excited to celebrate our 10th anniversary and are looking at a record number of entries this year. We are continually amazed with the quality of talent that comes through the door year after year." Jensen continues, "\Ve receive entries from around the globe and Hollywood is taking notice in a very big way. Many of our past winners are now hard working screenwriters" The ONE IN TEN SCREENPLAY CONTEST has gained respect and notoriety from Hollywood studios, agents and producers. Entries for 2008 are being accepted online at: www.OnelnTenScreenplayContest.com Prizes for 2008 include cash, industry exposure and merchandise. The 2008 One In Ten Screenplay Contest is sponsored by: Cherub Productions, Final Draft Inc., scr(i)pt magazine, www.inktip.com, www. TopFilmFestivals.com, www.Screenplay- Contests.com and Jungle Software. The submission deadline for 2008 ONE IN TEN SCREENPLAY CONTEST is September 1, 2008. Entry forms are available online through the contest website: www.OnelnTenScreenplayContest.com. Entry forms may also be obtained through the mail by sending a self addressed stamped envelope to: CHERUB PRODUCTIONS One In Ten Screenplay Contest Post Office Box 540 Boulder, Colorado 80306 (303) 629-3072 www.screenplaycontests.com E-mai!: Cherubfilm@aol.com Community for People living with 50! c (~) Non P~ofi[ Orga~ation Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are HtV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail hardsmmjr@yahoo.com. Quotable Quotes More than 90 percent of gays and lesbians vote in U.S. presidential elections, compared to 64 percent of straight citizens. Queer folk are twice as likely as straight folk to vote in midterm elections. Community Marketing, Inc. (CMI), a leading LGBT market research company. www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 27 As Mercury lines up with the Sun in Aquarius, everyone is a bit more know-it-all and too damn clever for his or her own good. Try to be adaptive, open-minded, and a good listener, and you will be much smarter - however discreetly - than the people voicing their grand ideas. ARIES (March 20 -April 19): Friends who seem relentless in urging you on are actually doing you a favor. You’re capable of more than you realize. Going it alone would weaken you. Let them help you, and you’ll go far! TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Question authority, but pay attention to what those in power say. Expert advice needs some expansion and clarification, and asking for that will prove advantageous. Asking questions doesn’t make you look foolish, but not asking them when you should will! GEMINI (May 21 - Jun~ 20): You’re itching for a power struggle. Playing it out in the bedroom can release that energy so your uppity impulses don’t make trouble for you at work. Or focus and harness that energy more deliberately at work, if you can! CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Your mouth is running way ahead of your brain and your good sense. Try to stick to places where a lack of inhibition and tasteful restraint can work to your favor. Anywhere else, slow down and think about what you’re saying. LEO (July 23 - August 22): Your partner - in life or in the moment - will offer some kinky new possibilities, expanding your erotic horizons. If your sweetie is drawing a blank in that department, start talking about tattoos and body art. Just discussing it should stimulate the imagination. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): New approaches at work can make your job more productive and enjoyable. You have some great ideas, but don’t be so insistent on doing things your own way. Colleagues will offer surprising inspiration. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): A new approach to your favorite sport or hobby can make it a lot more fun and/or creative. Ask yourself how Morn or Granny would approach it, whether you choose to follow that example or take a diametrically opposite approach. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): If you can manage to have some fun with your family, you’ll be amazed at what secrets will be revealed in the process. Stand your ground gently in arguments, agreeing to disagree, and even more will come out! 28 the STAR SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): Insisting that you’re right only exposes more glaringly where you’re wrong. Try to keep an open mind, and remember what basic principles are really important. Adapt with new conditions and new ideas to keep up! CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Adaptability is not only an enduring value, it is one of your sign’s best attributes. New ideas that seem to be an affront to your sensibilities can prove very helpful, and will eventually affirm the values they seem to attack. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): You’re getting a birthday bolt of fabulosity in which anything could happen, and you’ll make sure it will. Thrive on the attention, but take a little time out to charge your batteries. Let yourself be surprised. Really surprised. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Working behind the scenes, especially in a charitable effort, will be to your advantage. The political connections will be obvious, but there will be more surprising benefit!! MC METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve T. Urie Spirit of Christ MCC 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Saturdays at 10:00 AM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC of the Living Spring 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! www.ozarksstar.com DOWNTOWN PLAZA ofTULSA 17 West 7th Street Tulsa, OK 918-585-5898 x~wv.downtownplazatulsa.com HABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 www.habanainn.com KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant SUSAN HARTMAN Independent Broker Oklahoma and Arkansas 918-698-2977 susanlhartman@gmail.com JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW EXPRESS\grAy Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 vcww.c21 goldcastle.com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 www.clubmajestictutsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 NW" 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NW39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com DIVERSITY CHRISTIAN CNTR 211 S. Garnett Tulsa, OK 74128 www.realacceptance.com OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM MCC of the LIVING SPRING 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pro NWARKANSAS GLBT CENTER Bentonville/Rogers 888-391-9222 WWW..NWAGLBTCC.ORG ANGLES 2117 NW 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK www.anglesclub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 www.bambooloungetulsa.com Want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $33.95 will be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1 st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or moneyorder to: The STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 (Single Copies $3.00 per issue) NAME: Address: City:. St: Zip: Phone: Check enclosed Money Order Start Date: www.ozarksstar.corn 29 \Vc’hether buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. ~.~kansas GLBT Community Center "Linking Together as One" For more information: 888-391-9222 WWW.NWAGLBTCC.ORG 30 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com :hart \~;’.lLam ShakcsFea~;:. ,she ,~. www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 31 °Aid Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2008] The Star Magazine, February 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 2 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 01, 2008 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Online text PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwestern Missouri Western Arkansas Southeastern Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Star Magazine’s first issue began February of 2005. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004) and The Ozark Star (2004). Follows is The Metro Star (2008). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Charles Ward Victor Gorin Greg Steele Paul Wortman James Nimmo Joey D. Victor Gorin Romeo san Vicente Andrew Collins Donald Pile Ronald Blake Ray Williams Jack Fertig Liz Highleyman Devre Jackson Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Star Magazine, January 1, 2008; Volume 5 Issue 1 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/246 The Star Magazine, March 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 3 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/249 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/245 art Book review Club Majestic Cornett Deep Inside Hollywood fitness Gay Screenplay contest health HIV/AIDs testing horoscopes Jessica Newman Joplin Gay & Lesbian center MCC church Mike Huckabee mixology Ms. Oklahoma Continental Our House Past Out Q Scopes Quotable Quotes Star Advertisers star classified Surrounded by Insanity Too travel Valentine's Day Virginia Woolf https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/be0ae56e7062acd8c024758acee9e450.jpg 45f01a058dc724e3b2f96696dfc13337 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/106bd8d97ee140cad2981c547d629591.pdf 8f8be49a6dcbded09162ea9d9b5d96d5 PDF Text Text l!li!ll!lllllllllilillllll IIII!lllllllllllllllllll I!illillilllli!illllilill IIiiIIIIIIIIIIlillllllll il!l,ll!llllillllillllllill III!1111111!11111111111111 iI!llll!lllllilillllllll lit~ II r ~ I �Royal GreCnCountrg Barony o~: dll Oklahoma pr~ent~s 2 the STAR www.ozarksstar.cor~ �www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 3 �¯he Colors of Living", featuring giclee prints of the digital art of Tulsa artist Dennis R. Scott. ~O ONL~HOMA HATE CRII~flE Gay community outraged over Steven Domer slaying. NEW: Deep Inside Hollywood, reports on new projects for Sarah Jessica Parker and Dan Butler. November 21,1999 fine last grand Queen) Flamboyant author Quentin Crisp dies in Manchester, England. Tulsa’s Downtown Plaza Hotel openly welcomes GLBT. Gay Travelers: 6,000 Mile Trip Out of Town: Key West Dining In or OUT FIITHESS Introspection can lead you to better understand yourself and ultimately to achieve greater happiness. ON THE COVER: 4 the STAR Downtown Tulsa www.ozarksstar.com �"If you are elected President, what concrete steps would you take to overturn ’Don’t As~, Don’t Tell ?’" Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY): I strongly believe that anyone who has the courage, strength, and valor to serve our country should be able to do so. We are at war and our top generals are warning that America’s military is stretched to the breaking point, yet we have a policy that dismisses good people from our ranks. Even service members with critical skills such as Arabic language skills are being discharged because they are gay. Senior retired military officials who can speak freely say this law does not serve our national security interests. These same military leaders are confident that repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell won’t lessen standards of behavior or lower morale. As President, I will work with high-profile military leaders, such as former Joint Chiefs chairman John M. Shalikashviii and Retired Lieutenant General Claffdia Kennedy, the first woman to achieve the rank of three-star general in the Army, who have called for repeal of the law. I will stand with soldiers like retired Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, the first American soldier to be seriously wounded in Iraq, and retired Army Sgt. Jose Zuniga, former Army Soldier of the Year, who are shining examples of why this law no longer makes sense. Over the last seven years in the Senate, and as a member of the Armed Services Committee, I have built relationships with members of Congress and senior military officials through my work on the Armed Services Committee. When I am President, I will bring this strength and experience to bear to end this outdated and outmoded policy. w~,-w.ozarksstar.com the STAR 5 �Denounces TULSA, OK (P/R) __ Oklahomans for Equality expresses its outrage at the recent murder of Steven Domer. "gge extend condolences to his family and friends. This senseless tragedy highlights the urgent need for federal and state hate crimes legislation protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LBGT) people. On October 26th, Steven Domer, a 62-yearold gay man, was abducted from NW 39th Street near Pennsylvania Avenue in Oklahoma City. On November 4th, his body was found in rura! McClain County. His hands were tied with duct tape and a wire hanger was wrapped around his neck. The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner concluded that Domer died of asphyxiation and ruled his death a homicide. On November 28, Darrell Madden, a self-prodaimed white supremacist, was charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in relation to Domer’s death. Prosecutors believe that Madden targeted Domer as part of an initiation rite of the Aryan Brotherhood. Inorder to secure a "patch," the white supremacist group demands that its members commit an act of violence against an African American, Jew, homosexual, or any other person declared "an enemy." Although Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater and other law enforcement officials believe that anti-gay bias was a motivating factor in Domer’s murder, they cannot prosecute Madden under Oklahoma’s hate crimes law because the statute does not cover sexual orientation. Oklahoma is one of only 17 states whose hate crimes laws do not protect LGBT citizens. Most state hate crime laws enhance the penalties for bias-motivated crimes. On December 4, Representative Al McAf’frey (D-Oklahoma City) announced his intention to introduce a bill expanding the state’s hate crime law to include sexual orientation and gender. In May, the U.S. House of Representatives passed The Local Law Enforcement Hate 6 the STAR Crimes Prevention Act/Matthew Shepard Act giving the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence by providing the department with jurisdiction over crimes of violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. This bill will soon be voted upon in the U.S. Senate. As legislators consider passage of these historic state and national laws, Oklahomans for Equality will be working with its allies in the LGBT and allied community in educational and advocaW efforts. Hate Crimes Amendment Removed rom Dept o£De£ense Con erence Report WASHINGTON, DC (P/R DEC 6TH) __ ~Ibday, House-Senate conferees confirmed that the Matthew Shepard Act, which had passed the Senate as an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill, would be removed from the final version of the bill. This announcement was made after House Leadership’s whipping the vote count on the conference report concluded there were not enough votes for passage of the bill if it included the hate crimes provision. "Today’s decision is deeply disappointing, especially given the historic passage of hate crimes legislation through both Houses of Congress this year. After more than ten years and several successful bipartisan votes, it is heartbreaking to fall short this dose to the finish line," said Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign. "However, we are not giving up on efforts to find another legislative vehicle, in the second half of this Congress, to move the Matthew Shepard Act." The Human Rights Campaign has been a chief advocate of hate crimes legislation for over a decade. On November 14th, HRC sent an e-mail to all Capitol Hill offices urging the retention of hate crimes legislation in the Department of Defense Authorization conference report. Additionally, HRC organized and signed onto a coalition letter www.ozarksstar.com �www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 7 �"At Century 21 Gold Cas#e our BEST properties are our PEOPL~ Gny men and le~btans fac~ many special ta~ situations, whether single or a~ 3627 NW Expressway Oklahoma City, OK 73112 Let us help with your TAX Prep! (918) 747-5466 405.840.2t06 www.c21 goldcastie.com Pmu~l~t ~¢r~lng Tulm ~ OKC’s GLBT comm~mitl~ ~lnc~ 1982 Chuck Bmckenddge 918-706~1887 Let us promote your business in a UNIQUE & DIVERSE market. Call STAR ADVERTISING today. (918)835-7887 8 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com �eyes ofm~ artist driven to create impressions of the beauty which sttcrounds him. "’l-he Colors of Living’ a digital art exhibit at Dennis R. Neill Equality Center The exhibit w’dl remain up through the month of January and can be viewed Monday thru Saturday from 3-gpm. The Dermis R. Nedl Equality Center is located at 621 E. dth St., in downtown Tulsa. More info c~a be found on the web at okeq.org. ’Ihis monthly event is hosted by Okiahoman’s for Equality (OkEq). OkEq seeks equal rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexmal & Tra~sgender (LGBT) individuals and f~mihes through advoca~, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis IL Neig Equality Center. Tulsa artist Dennis IL Scotx TULSA, OK~ The Dennis IL Neili Equality Center ar~ gallery wi[[ host its monthly First Thursday meet-the-artist reception from 6-gpm, ~aursday, January 3, 2008, for the opening oflts January exhibit "The Colors of Living", featu ~mg giclee prints of the digital ~trt of Tulsa ~tist Dermis IL Scott. Scott has been creating his digital art for the list three years. His work is unlike most digital or computer art. His style is unique. His arc is totally his own..., his ovca~ way of seelng life, his own way of depicOng that which he sees. Whether one might call Scott’s art abstract, impressionistic, or surreal is of little concern to Scott. Through his art he invites the viewer, the art lover or even the mere observer, to take a chance, as he has in creating his art. Taking a chance is what ~rtists do. Vie~,Cm g Scott’s art is seeing his subjects as he sees them, through the Art byTulsa artist Dennis IL Scott the STAR 9 �THE ALUES ES SLAY By Victor Gorin recently released convicts, Madden having served time at Jess Dunn Correctional Center for impersonating a police officer and obtaining money by false pretense. Quails had been released from the Dick Conner Correctional facility in Hominy for a 2001 burglary conviction. It was speculated that Mr. Domer’s murder may have been a gang rite of passage. The murder has garnered national attention, somewhat reminiscent of the murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming in !998.A press conference was held at Church of the Open Arms December 4, followed by a candlelight vigil in the parking lot of Angles that evening. The press conference and vigil were Photo: Steven Domer OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ The Oklahoma gay community and their allies have been outraged and saddened by the murder of Steven Domer, a 62 },ear old Oklahoma City man believed to have been targeted primarily because he was gay. On October 26, he had driven a friend home from the N.W. 39th street gay bar district, then returned to the area, and was last seen at the car wash there, an area well known for male prostitution. He was seen by a witness to be talking to two young men. His body and burned out car were found near 1-35 and Ladd road north of Purcell November 4. Oklahoma County prosecutors have charged Darrell Madden with Domer’s murder. Madden, a white supremacist who was arrested in McLain County for an attempted carjacking, is also charged in McLain County with the murder of the Brad Qualls, the other man believed to be seen talking with Steven Domer the night he disappeared. Quails was found shot to death November 8 at an Ardmore apartment complex. Madden & Qua.lls have been identified as members of the United Aryan Brotherhood, a xvhite supremacist group which recruits many of their members in prisons. Both were 10 the STAR attended by the Reverend Harry Knox, the Faith Community Director of the Human Rights Campaign, a national GLBT rights political group. As he puts it," Oklahoma is one of only 17 states that do not protect GLBT citizens through hate crimes legislation." Objections to hate crimes legislation have come from religious fundamentalist groups who claim they would not be able to preach against homosexual behavior should this legislation become law. Harry Knox clarified that this type of speech is protected the 1st Amendment of the US. Constitution, and to say otherwise is " to tell a lie unworthy of ministers of the gospe! of Jesus Christ." He pointed out that "people are dying in Oklahoma, and GLBT people are wondering when their pastors will speak out for justice. Steven Domer’s voice cries out for justice, asking pastors for whom do they work, the people or for God?" Richard Ogden, an attorney who chairs the Cimarron Alliance Foundation also spoke, stating that" In Oklahoma and across our nation there is a climate of intolerance, and a tolerance of intolerance. This has to stop. When we in Oklahoma have passed laws that basically say that gays and lesbians are second class citizens, we create an environment that licenses this type of behavior. " Although this was a brutal murder that was obviously motivated because the victim was gay, Darrell Madden could not be charged with a hate crime because Federal and Oklahoma hate crimes laws do not cover sexual orientation. Legislation was introduced this year in Congress to amend Federal Hate Crimes laws to include sexual orientation by Senator Edward Kennedy D-Massachusetts, but was dropped when it became dear that it would not pass the House. On the state level State Representative Al McA_ffrey, Oklahoma’s first and only openly gay legislator, has stated that he will introduce legislation to amend Oklahoma Hate Crimes laws to include sexual orientation and gender. This is supported by both Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater, and Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson. Mr. McAffrey did state that he realized he will probably be facing an uphill battle in the legislature. Clarifying the point that some conservatives make, that Hate Crimes laws elevate gay people to a special status, he affirmed that ifa group of gay men attacked a straight man ,vith baseball bats, targeting him for his sexual orientation, they would also be guilty of a hate crime under this legislation. Reverend Dr. Kathy McCallie, pastor of Church of the Open Arms-United Church of Christ, pointed out that this crime was not an isolated incident, stating that "there xvill be a day when GLBT persons can freely be themselves and enjoy the safety equality and respect that’s due to every member of the human family, but today is not that day. On October 26 when Steve Domer was brutally murdered, we were each violated. " ~w.ozarksstar.com �on the loose Wiads House Providing A Sa£e P lace For 20 By Greg Steele By Victor Gorin Photo Left to Right:Jennifer Bates, Asley Ozan, Linda Duke Miranda Ray will be performing in the Kris Kohl Show New Years Eve At the Jones’n Club Downtown Plasza Hotel. Doxvntoxvn Plaza Hotel Tulsa General Managers Jay Wilks and Debbie McCraw. Miss Gay Tulsa America, Melody Michaels at the BOO. OKLAHO!VIA CITY, OK __ Thanks to a caring community, Winds House of Oklahoma City was able to raise over $2500 at a gala fundraiser December 7th. For over 20 years the Winds have provided a safe place to stay for those living with HIV and their families, serving as transitional housing until they are able to re-enter the general community. The home provides referrals and assistance for disability income, food stamps, Section 8 housing etc. Donatons are always needed and can be sent to \Vinds House OKC, P.O. Box 12185 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73157. Miss Gay Oklahoma US of A 2008, Samantha West at the Copa .... Acid-tongued talk-show host and out lesbian Rosie O’Donnell, who famously dashed with Elisabeth Hasselbeck on "The View," and the big clash with Donald Trump announced on her bloc that talks to give her a prime-time show on MSNBC had fallen apart. New York Songstress Rachael Sage and an adoring fan in Tulsa. www.ozarksstar.com Attorney Richard Ogden, Chair of Cimarron Alliance Foundation, the Reverend Harry KnoxFaith Community Director of the Human Rights Campaign, and the Reverend Loyce Newton-Ed,#cards at Hate Crimes press conference in OKC. the STAR 11 ��DEEP INSIDE HOLLYVc’OOD SAMANTHA CAPTU ,S MISS GAY OKLAHOMA US OF A TITLE Loaves and Fishes Bar uet a Huge By Victor Gorin By Victor Gorin Photo Left to Right: Former Miss Gay Oklahoma Kitty Bob Aimes, Matthew Heath Fitzgerald, Sonja Martinez, John Beebe & Debbie Davie Shades of Rex Lee As Lloyd, Jeremy Piven’s assistant on Entourage, gay actor Rex Lee has carved out a hilarious niche for himself. His character stuck around and gained a higher profile thanks to Lee’s wicked comic timing and popularity with fans. Soon, though, he’ll jump from the small to the big screen, appearing in the independent feature Shades of Ray. A seriocomic romance, Shades stars Chuck main man ZachatT Levi as Ray, a mixedrace, American-born son of a Pakistani father and Caucasian mother. As his parents separate and his father moves in with him, Ray must deal with his own romantic and racial issues. Sounds heartfelt and sincere, but Romeo’s guessing that Lee’s job will be to pop up from time to time with just the right punchline for an awkward moment. As HBO audiences know, he’s an expert at that. Romeo San Vicente is still waiting patiently for the all-musical edition of "The McLaughlin Group. "He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood @qsyndicate.com. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ It was a festive evening at the Habana Inn December 9th xvhen the title for the nexv Miss Gay Oklahoma US of A was passed on to Samantha West, a 26 ),ear old Tulsan among the performers at Nexv Age Renegades, The 1st alternate xvas Londenn Raine, xvith 2nd alternate Jozlyn Welch. The xvinner and I st alternate are eligible to compete in the national competition which will be held in Dallas May 20-23 of next year. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ On December 3-4 the 17th annual Loaves and Fishes Banquet came together at the Copa for a fabulous evening of fundraising for a good cause. Featuring entertainers John Beebe, Sonja Martinez,Debbie Davie, Matthew Heath-Fitzgerald and former Miss Gay Oklahoma Kitty Bob Aimes, the event raised over $7200. Loaves and Fishes, a program of Catholic Charities, provides meals to homebound people living with HIV. Directed by Ms Judy Reilly, once again the community came together for a proud tradition of caring. Passing on the fide was Alexis Nicole Whitney, who made history with the pageant not just with her doe, but living proof that nothing can stand in the xvay of talent and determination. As she puts it, "People should see my blindness the same I do. I don’t see it as a handicap, but as an obstacle I have overcome." That she did, not only capturing the Oklahoma title but also was one of the top 12 finalists at the national competition. Our girls do us proud! Please Join Us Feb. 10, 2008, 10:00 p.m. @ 39th and Penn OKC, OK. For information call Nikki Start @ 580 216 2715 or 1 866 906 1133 www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 13 �by Liz I-Iighleyman November 21, 1999 (%e last grand Queen): Flamboyant author Quentin Crisp dies in Manchester, England. himself with various jobs, induding graphic artist, xvindow dresser, tap-dance instructor, and hustler. He adopted a new moniker and a flamboyant, effeminate style that included flowing scarves, platform shoes, dyed hair, and makeup. He was "not merely a self-confessed homosexual, but a self-evident one," he would later say, describing himself as "a blithe spirit reveling in androgynous anarchy." The death of author and raconteur Quentin Crisp at the end of the 20th century represented the passing of one of the last grand queens of a bygone era. Crisp, originally named Denis Charles Pratt, xvas born on Christmas Day in 1908 in the London suburb of Sutton, the youngest child of a "middle-class, middle-brow" family. Always considered a sissy, he later said he could never remember not being tormented by his father, siblings, and schoolmates. Crisp studied journalism and art in London, and in his early 20s began hanging out with hip young gay men in Soho, supporting 14 the STAR Openly gay and gender-variant at a time when homosexuality was highly stigmatized and sex between men was illegal, Crisp was frequently attacked by strangers in the streets and harassed by police. During World War II, he was exempted from military service due to his homosexuality, and instead embarked upon a career as a nude model at a government-funded art school. Crisp did not gain widespread notoriety until his 60s, with the publication of his autobiography, The Naked Civil Servant (1968), one of the first unapologetic contemporary accounts of gay life. Although the book was well-received, it was the 1975 television movie version starring John Hurt that brought Crisp instant fame. Crisp began appearing on talk shows and created a successful one-man theatrical performance. He took his show to Ne~v York City in 1978, fell in love with America, and decided to immigrate a few years later, settling into a notoriously sloppy one-room apartment in a seedy neighborhood on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Crisp became a fixture of the city’s celebrity scene, growing increasingly famous just for being himself. "If I have a talent for anything," he said, "it is not for doing but for being." He wrote a column for the New York Native newspaper and film criticism for Christopher Street magazine, and published several more books, including How to Become a Virgin (1981) and Manners from Heaven: A Divine Guide to Good Behavior (1984). He also appeared in a number of movies and documentaries, most notably as Queen Elizabeth I in Orlando (1993). Though he socialized in queer social circles, Crisp was unsympathetic to the gay rights movement and held attitudes many younger activists regarded as homophobic. "I don’t think you can really be proud of being gay because it isn’t something you’ve done," he once said. "You can only be proud of not being ashamed." He eschewed identity politics and queer separatism, and thought loud demands only led to backlash. Crisp persisted in referring to homosexuality as an illness, and he caused a furor when he told the London Times in 1997 that he thought it would be acceptable for a woman to abort a fetus carrying a hypothetical gay gene. "You could have children who are naturally suited to society," he later explained. "They would be happy." He also once opined that the gay community’s obsession with AIDS was a fad, and advised, "If you want to be sure you won’t have AIDS, don’t have sex with anyone." .................... Continued page 27 vwvw.ozarksstar.com �The nose can intrigue you or turn off about a wine. Smell is the wine taster. Much is taste comes through you don’t believe it, t or a meal - the next head cold. Aging the wine in oak es of vanilla, almonds. Extended lend a toasty scents as variable as leather to roses The aroma of ~ ! and the closely related Mergrape~for e×ampie, often reminds of cedar wood and pine needles led with a ood fruit smell reminis- 2005 miner call to France: www.wunsch-mann.fr Many grapes aromas: Zinfandel often Pinot Noir, the fine may recall ~ may Chenin and, smell www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 15 �TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS WORLD By Donald Pile and Ray Williams gaytravelers@aol.com Now everything IS okay in Oklahoma! The gay community and gay travelers to Tulsa now have a place where they are made to feel VERY WELCOME! We stayed there a couple of weeks ago and it was wonderfull. "l-he rooms are spacious and the staff is extremely friendly and professional. ~-he renovations are not finished yet, however we know that when it is completed that it will be the finest hotel in Tulsa. We stayed in the Premier Suite which was on a scale of one to ten, a 15 ! It featured a living room with pull out queen sleeper sofa, a 36 inch TV and DVD Player. Ceiling to floor (and wall to wall windows) for a spectacular view of the city. A large King bedroom with extra pillows, a 25 inch TV in the bedroom and dub chair and ottoman. Two full bathrooms and a kitchenette/dining area with coffee maker, fridge/microwave and a snack basket, microwave popcorn and cookies with bottled water. ~he Downtown Plaza Hotel of Tulsa was built in 1966 as the first downtown hotel in Tulsa to offer modern conveniences. Shortly afterwards it was a Holiday Inn, then a Ramada Inn, then as the Great Western Hotel. In July, 2007 it was sold to the Chisholm Properties, Ltd. and they renamed it back to it’s original name, "Downtown Plaza Hotel of Tulsa". The Chisholm Properties Ltd. the STAR owns other fine hotels in Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas. It is located at 17 West 7th Street in the heart of the beautiful historica] financial and entertainment district of Tulsa. They are directly adjacent to the world famous Petroleum Club. It rises 14 stories above the City and is currendy undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation. A VERY extensive renovation is now underway however they do have at this time, over 70 rooms for their guests. Their plan is for the renovations to be completed by May, 2008 and have over 200 rooms when completed. The new look for the hotel is based on modern boutique style hotels that are now found across the country and Europe. Queen, Deluxe King, Executive King, Executive King Junior Suite or the Premier King Suite. Each suite has a Fridge/Micro in the kitchenette. Their prices are extremely down to earth and much less than the other dmvntown hotels. The hotel is within a short walking distance to Tulsa’s Convention Center, the New The PAC (Performing Center, Tulsa Tech and many buildings and landmarks. ; the many amenities are: floors, business weddings & receptions, air~ort shuttle free Cherokee Casino [ wireless Internet, covered parking, guest laundry ~n site), fax & copy service. Their service includes 43 channels, 3 4 ESPN channels, i Nick, Food Network and r more. The Downtown Plaza equipped with a Fitness Center their guests, including strength and cardio equipment. Lounge around their outdoor pool and catch some rays, secluded by the urban environment of Tulsa’s rooftops. Just inside the poolside seating area is The Jones’N Club, a full bar with a pool table and live music. Conference, meeting and banquet rooms are available to accommodate groups of 10 to 250 guests. .............. Continued page 27 The hotel has a variety of rooms and suites to choose, from a Deluxe Double w~w~,.ozarksstar.com �More on Camp La Casa Sena - Santa Fe, New Mexico see page 22. ���From the upper sundeck at the Oasis men’s resort, guests enjoy panoramic views ofKey West’s Historic District. (Photo by Andrew Collins) For a seasonal tourist town, Key West has plenty to offer when it comes to dining and nightlife. Few places draw more raves for outstanding food than Alice’s Key West, where chef Alice Weingarten serves some of the most inventive food in town, including delicious smoked-salmon Benedict at breakfast. A departure from Key West’s predominant laid-back tropical look, Square One is a sophisticated restaurant with white table linen and fine china. The regionally inspired Continental cuisine includes escargot baked in a crepe with fresh spinach, garlic, feta, and a tomato beurre blanc. It’s a top choice for a romar~.tic evening. One of the better Italian restaurants in town, and also one of the gayest, La Trattoria has two dining rooms - the smaller one romantic and intimate, the larger better for groups of friends. The straightforward cooking draws high praise for such tasty creations as local shrimp sauteed with garlic, fresh tomatoes, and herbes de Provence in a white wine, lemon, and butter sauce. One of Dural Street’s true places to be seen, Mangoes brims with colorful sorts. The composed salads, pastas, and grills - all with nouvelle Florida touches - are commendable. Consider rib eye steak Caribe (pan-charred with tamarind steak sauce and yucca). Seven Fish, which occupies an old luncheonette and has a sleek, sophisticated interior, serves seafood-oriented bistro fare, such as crab and shiitake mushroom ravioli. The slogan at Mangia Mangia is "pasta to the people," a philosophy reflected by the many varieties of heavenly homemade pasta, all fairly priced. The painstakingly preserved building has a lovely, quiet garden and redbrick patio in back. You’ll need luck and persistence most nights to get a seat at Camille’s, a small storefront bistro, but the friendly vibe and downhome comfort food are worth the trouble. Expect good salads and sandwiches, such as Philly cheese steak, and delicious pancakes for breakfast. Key West: Where To Play, Eat, and Stay famous gay resort towns, Key West has always stood out for its sheer embrace of total relaxation. This laid-back tropical island in the Caribbean, closer to Cuba than to mainland Florida, is without pretensions. People rarely worry about what time it is, dress is casual and colorful, and the party scene is friendly and easygoing. Key West is neither fancy nor especially urbane - it’s just a great place to laze in a deck chair on a bougainvillea-choked lanai, browse for beachwear and souvenirs along the main drag, Duval Street, or relax on a restaurant patio noshing on raw oysters and sipping mango iced tea or mojitos. 20 the STAR For arguably the best sandwiches and wraps on the island, try Lobo’s - the oyster roll with cheddar, bacon, and basil tartar sauce is a stand-out. H Siboney is a zero-atmosphere eatery - _the_ place in town for humble, stick-to-your-ribs Cuban fare. Rickety tables are set with plastic tablecloths and paper napkins. Try such Havana specialties as conch chowder, garlic chicken, stuffed shrimp and crabs, platanos (plantains), and a sweet flan to top it off. As for traditional Cuban sandwiches, tiny 5 Brothers Grocery - on a side street in the historic district - serves the best around. Much of the gay social activity in Key West takes place at resorts, some of which provide refreshments and snacks to guests during the afternoon and early evening. A handful of properties have bars open to the public, among them Pearl’s Rainbow, the town’s only guest house exclusively for women, and the ultra-cruisy, all-male Island House, which also has an excellent restaurant. Most the town’s gay bars are along Duval Street. Here, the La-Te-Da guest house has a poolside bar, an intimate piano bar, and the Treetop Cabaret Lounge upstairs. Down a few blocks, the New Orleansinspired Bourbon Street Pub is a cheery place with a small bar up front with cocktail tables, a larger outdoor bar in back (along with a lively pool area and hot tub), and video screens galore. Many nights you can catch awful (but still entertaining) drag shows on the stage in back. The same owners run the lovably raffish 801 Bar, Key www.ozarksstar.com �West’s definitive neighborhood hangout since the 1970s. There’s almost always a crowd of gossipy locals around the bar. The adjacent One Saloon caters mostly to leather-and-Levi’s types and is reached through 801’s back door. Aqua Nightclub is best lmown for its raucous drag shows, which are headlined by the in-house drag troupe, the Aquanettes. This lively place also has strippers some nights, an impressive dance floor with high-tech laser-and-sound shows,’ and a cozy video bar. Key West has a number of inns that cater either exclusively or predominandy to the gay market. One of the best is Alexander’s, a long-popular gay resort with the relatively unusual policy of being both clothing-optional and welcoming to both women and men. This makes Alexander’s ideal for gay guys traveling with lesbian friends, or for any queer vacationers who enjoy a mixed-gender atmosphere. The effect is that the mood around the pool and hot mb tends to be less cruisy than at single-gender resorts. Aromatic tropical flowers, sundecks, rattan and wicker furnishings, and sparkling tiled bathrooms impart Alexander’s with a classy but casual look. Also welcoming of both women and men but drawing a predominantly male crowd, Big Ruby’s is less than a block from Dural Street, hidden behind high walls from noise and street traffic. The grounds feature towering palm trees and fragrant flowers, and an abundance of sundecks. Rooms are warm, contemporary, spotless, and full of light - all have TVIVCRs, mini-refrigerators, A/C, and ceiling fans. A complimentary full breakfast is included. As for the staff, you won’t find a more professional bunch of guys in Key West. all-male property with a somewhat cruisy vibe is the New Orleans Guest House, an attractive compound that’s above the Bourbon Street Pub, right in the center of the Dural Street action. Rooms are well-outfitted and attractively decorated, and rates moderately priced. Known as the Rainbow House until new owners took over a several years ago, the 38-room Pearl’s Rainbow is Key \Vest’s only resort that’s exclusive to women. Rooms are nicely done, with rattan and wicker furniture, pastel-hued walls, large TVs, and refrigerators. Many different configurations are available, from simple budget-oriented units set away from the noise of the pools and decks, to more spacious rooms doser to the action, some with kitchenettes or separate sitting areas. The resort encompasses several buildings, including some cute cottages that once provided housing for the workers of a cigar factory that formerly occupied the main building. There are two heated pools, spacious sundecks, and lots of opportunity to chat with other guests. This is a wonderful hideaway, whether you’re looking to make new friends or enjoy a litde peace and quiet with your honey. Most of the town’s men’s resorts are along Fleming Street, the Historic District’s main drag. Here you’ll find Equator, which has plush rooms with contemporary Caribbean-influenced furniture. Designer fabrics, feather pillows with comforters, Mediterranean-tile floors, large closets, and excellent sound insulation add to the comfort of each unit. The tradeoff is that the Equator’s grounds, although nicely landscaped, are smaller than at some of its competitors; there’s a compact pool and an oversize Jacuzzi tub. For years the sprawling Island House - a former cigar factory on the eastern edge of the Historic District - was synonymous with sex, sleaze, and shabbiness. It’s still synonymous with sex. But, happily, new owners have completely rebuilt the place, hired friendly and competent staff, and created lovely rooms with high-quality furnishings (all have VCR/TVs, refrigerators, safes, and plttsh linens). If you’re seeking a steamy ambience but also first-rate accommodations and a safe, friendly environment, the Island House is your dream come true. Amenities, all of them available 24 hours, include heated pool, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis, gym, sauna, steam room, and erotic-male-video lounge. The largest gay resort in town comprises three distinct properties - the Oasis, Coral Tree Inn, and Coconut Grove - operated by the same management. This highly social, all-male compound has rooms available in a variety of configurations and prices. The Coconut Grove is the fanciest of the three, having been completely gutted and redone following a fire in 2006 - it now has some of the cushiest accommodations in town. Next door, the Oasis has less pricey but still attractive rooms and beautiful grounds. Across the street, the Coral Tree has simpler but more affordable rooms. Guests are free to enjoy the grounds of all three properties. Another www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 21 �by Donald Pile & Ray Williams Featuring Cuisine From Coast to Coast La Casa Sena - Santa Fe, New Mexico W’e have been dining at La Casa Sena in Santa Fe for over 25 years and it just keeps getting better. Located right downtown, it is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed restaurants in the Southwest. Not only is the food some of the most delicious you’ll ever taste, the wine list is among the finest in the country. Whether dining inside or out on the patio, you are in for a real treat! "l-he ambiance, the food, the setting ...... everything is fabulous! La Casa Sena occupies a fine old haciendastyle adobe complex and means "the Sena House." q-he Sena family was one of the oldest and most notable in Santa Fe. q-he founder of the family, Bernadino de Sena, was an orphan from Mexico City who traveled to Santa Fe in 1693. In the early 1980% the ravages of rime finally began to take a toll on the hacienda. Art dealer, Gerald Peters purchased the historic building and extensively renovated it without making any architectural changes. The restoration succeeded in keeping the historic ambiance and integrity of the Sena Plaza intact. 22 the STAR Th-he Southwestern cuisine served at La Casa Sena draws on the rich history of the region. Th-heir distinctive red chile is grown for the restaurant near Dixon, on the Rio Grande in northern New Mexico. The harsh weather there means that this local product is not plentifi~ and, because the restaurant purchases virtually the entire crop, it is unlikely that this chile will be tasted anywhere else in the world. They are located right off the Plaza in downtown Santa Fe at 125 East Palace. q-heir dinner hours are Sunday thru Thursday: 5:30 - 10:00 PM and Friday & Saturday: 5:30 - 10:00 PM. Lunch: 11:30 _A!vl - 3:00 PM Monday thru Saturday and 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM on Sundays www.ozarksstar.com �People Wi h A D$ City Resident Ray Prewitt aooept New I ovie SANTA FE, NM (P/R) __ Oklahoma City resident, Ray Prewitt, will take on the role of"Owen" in the Jim Sheridan helmed "Brothers" for Relativity Media. The film stars Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Tobey Macguire. LITTLE ROCK, ARK __ Republican Presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee once advocated isolating AIDS patients from the general public, opposed increased federal funding in the search for a cure and said homosexuality could "pose a dangerous public health risk." As a candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in 1992, Huckabee answered 229 questions submitted to him by The Associated Press. Besides a quarantine, Huckabee suggested that Hollywood celebrities fund AIDS research from their own pockets, rather than federal health agencies. "If the federal government is truly serious about doing something with the AIDS virus, we need to take steps that would isolate the carriers of this plague," Huckabee wrote. Shooting began last week on this remake of Susanne Bier’s Danish-language war drama which centers on a man, (Maguire) who is sent to fight in Afghanistan while his black-sheep brother (Gyllenhaal) cares for his wife (Portman) and child. Prewitt, who recently appeared in Carpenter Square’s "Sordid Lives", is best known as the producer of "Call Us Crazy: The Anne Heche Monologues" which achieved theatrical cult status in Los Angeles featuring stars like Edie McClurg, Alex Borstein, Megyn Price, and Scott Thompson. This is Prewitt’s second time to share the screen with Portman since " 2000. "Where the Heart Is" .in "I think the government’s role should not be involved in personal habits. When you defend freedom, you defend freedom of choice, and you can’t be picking and choosing how people use those freedoms...whether it’s personal behavior or economic behavior, I want people to have freedom of choice," Paul asserted. He believes the constitution says such issues should be left to the states to decide, and ira state chooses to legalize marijuana, cocaine, heroin and/or prostitution, so be it. Presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul, R-Tex www.ozarksstar.com The STAR 23 �Chaz & Victor ��Twenty-eight retired generals and admirals released a letter Friday urging Congress to overturn the ban on gays serving openly in the military, according to "l-he New York Times. The letter cites information showing that 65,000 gay men and lesbians are currently serving in the military and that there are more than 1 million gay and lesbian veterans who have "served our nation honorably." By Ronald Blake ~have been indulging myself lately with the finer aspects of food and beverage. I have acquiesced with my body’s cravings for rectangular chocolate delights that are known to the masses as Snickers, Three Musketeers, and Whatchamacallits. I have given in to the luscious temptations of the all-powerful supreme pizza with its smothering array of toppings and guilt. I have even fallen prey to the hypnotic sexual commercial suggestions of the beer and booze barons of this fair land. Yes, I have been greedily imbibing the works of the great fermentation experts such as Adolph Coors and August Busch. How can I possibly engage in such extreme epicurean behavior and still manage to put on my jeans without a forced smile? Of course I will disclose the many and varied means by which I make this feasible. Each day I lace up my sneakers and head out on a seven mile romp through my neighborhood streets and enjoy the festively adorned homes. This provides me the opportunity to dear my mind and breathe in all those particulates from city living. It also affords me the chance to count the expanse of calories I burn off: in the process. I usually get credit for 800 calories each day from this physical activity mode. I am that guy who finds the parking space on the periphery of the mall parking lot. ~llais is not a forced choice in response to all the holiday shoppers. I actively seek out the spot that is closer to the frontage road than the stores’ entrances. This gives me the excellent opportunity to partake in the lost art of walking somewhere. Chalk up another couple hundred calories burned in a week’s time. Every other day I don my favorite ripped Guns N Roses T-shirt and my faded periwinkle Russell Athletic shorts and ease into 26 the STAR my workout roudne. I set my bicep, quadriceps, and triceps muscles into a sweet synergistic syncopation. I dedicate thirty minutes for every session and I am proudly able to record several hundred singed calories for that day’s effort. Some of my other calorie consuming moments has involved the firm scolding of my car and leaving him alone in the garage while I set out down the block to get the mail. I have often abandoned the comforts of my plush settee and even ignored the puppy dog eyes from my cuddly ottoman so that I could walk around the living room while discoursing with the likes of my Aunt Chilada on the telephone. Friends have even chided me for spending disproportionate time with the steps and hand railings of building stairwells than with the numbered buttons and "The Girl from Ipanema" music from elevators. Thankfully for me, these mundane activities afford me a cornucopia of numerous extra burned calories. I am able to consume more of the Food Network creations than the average Punch and Judy because of my lifestyle. My gourmand way of life would soon dissipate if I would slink into the slothful practices of most of my fellow brethren. Free will gives you that chance to change it all starting today. I could certainly use some company on those lonely stairwells! This health and fitness column is brought to you by that guy who likes to count the times people say the phrase "you know" in their conversations. That gny is Ron Blake and he can be unwrapped at www.goblakefitness.com Creating Community for People living with H V/A1DS A 501 c (3) Non Profit Organization Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HtV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail hardsmmjr@yahoo.com. ~wtw.ozarksstar.com �Q~UENTIN CRISP DOWn, TOWN PLAZA DERAILED HATE CRIMES Indeed, Crisp was celibate for the latter half of his life. When sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer asked him what he thought about sex, he said he thought it was a mistake. He was also cynical about love, saying he didfft really understand it, and he never had an enduring romantic relationship. ~e hotel is the ONLY Tulsa hotel that is openly caters to everybody! The Lounge at the Downtown Plaza will start in January hosting Ms. Kris Kohl and will present a drag show every other Friday. They will also be hosting a Broadway touring company during the summer of 2008. Chisholm Properties, Ltd. has a complete non-discrimination policy to cover, Age, Religion, Nationality, Race, SF~VUAL ORIENTATION, Disability, Veteran Status and other individuals as protected by Federal, State and Locals Laws. sent to the Chairman and Ranking Members of the Armed Services Committees urging them to retain the Hate Crimes amendment as part of the conference report. Timed to correspond with Members returning from the Thanksgiving recess, on November 28th, HRC launched a nationwide action alert to all of its members urging immediate grassroots action to Members of Congress. Had he lived in a different era, Crisp might have identified as transgender rather than gay. "I believe I was born unfit for the world not because of anything to do with sex, but because of gender," he told one interviewer. "I have always felt like a woman born into a man’s body. Had I the money or the opportunity early in life, I would certainly have had a sex change." Though his work brought in a fair amount of money, Crisp lived a spartan existence, subsisting on hors d’oeuvres and champagne at parties. With a "lust for small talk," he held court at a local diner and devoted time to answering phone calls, letters, and e-mails from friends and strangers alike. He loved being the center of attention, and rarely turned down an opportunity to be interviewed or photographed. In his final years, though beset by health problems, he nevertheless continued to travel and perform. Crisp died of a heart attack in Manchester, England, in November 1999, just a month shy of his 91st birthday. The General Manager, Jay Wilks is a former flight attendant instructor and former owner of a small specialized aircraft charter tour company, award winning fit and art shop and an upscale gay magazine that was distributed in 7 States in the Southeast. The Assistant General Manager, Debbie McCraw is a former schoolteacher, Texas ranch foreman, homemaker and mother. With all of their combined hidden talents we KNOW that they will make a success in this new venture. Both Jay and Debbie are two of the nicest, friendliest and professional people that you would ever want to meet. They truly care about their guests and want them to have a very pleasant time while staying at the hotel. The front desk staff as well as the housekeeping staff are very friendly and professional. While some may find his flamboyant style and effeminate mannerisms embarrassingly stereotypical today, Crisp is remembered for being himself- and paying the price - at a time when few others dared to do so. Though he avoided organized LGBT activism, his entire life was a demonstration of gay and transgender empowerment. Next time you are going to be in Tulsa be sure to check out their website at www. downtownplazatulsa.com or give them a call at 800.585.5101 for reservations. Their local number is 918.585.5898. Or for those people living in Tulsa who are wanting to rent a conference or party site, give them a call. For further reading: Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! Bailey, Paul, ed. 2000. The Stately Homo: A Celebration of the Life of Quentin Crisp (Bantam). Crisp, Quentin. 1996. Resident Alien: The New York Diaries (HarperCollins). www, ozarksstar.corn TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from Coast to Coast. Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at: gaytravelers@aol.com or visit their webpage at: http://www.hometown.aol.com/gaytravelers The House of Representatives passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (H.R. 1592) in May with a strong bipartisan vote of 237-180. The Senate approved the nearly identical Matthew Shepard Act (S. 1105) as an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill on a voice vote after a 60-39 cloture vote. Inclusion of the hate crimes provision in the final version of the bill fell victim in the House to challenges from opponents of hate crimes as well as unrelated concerns regarding Iraq-related provisions of the bill. The hate crimes veto threat issued by the White House and organized opposition by House Republican Leadership cost significant numbers of votes on the right. Iraq-related provisions that many progressive Democrats opposed cost votes on the left. Moderate Democrats, many of whom voted for the hate crimes bill in May, did not want to test the President’s veto threat and risk a delay in increased pay for military personnel. ’All of these factors resulted in insufficient votes to secure passage of the bill with the hate crimes provision. 2~he Matthew Shepard Act gives the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias motivated violence by providing the Department with jurisdiction over crimes of violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. The legislation also provides the Justice Department ,vith the ability to aid state and local jurisdictions either by lending assistance or, where local authorities are unwilling or unable, by taking the lead in investigations and prosecutions of violent crime resulting in death or serious bodily injury that were motivated by bias. The Act also makes grants available to state and local communities to combat violent crimes committed by juveniles, train law enforcement officers, or to assist in state and !ocal investigations and prosecutions of bias motivated crimes. the STAR 27 �Just as the sun spends a month of every year in each sign, Jupiter, in his 12-year cycle, spends about a full year in each sign. Fresh into Capricorn, he will help to build up organizations and bureaucracy. The coming year will be a big one for the mature look, leather, and bondage. This week’s horoscope will be valid through the year! ARIES (March 20 -April 19): Socialize with important folks. Those doors are wide open to you. Looking respectable and conservative will help you get ahead. Even in the most buttoned-up crowd, people know the power of appearance. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): If you have unfinished school business or want to go for a degree, sign up for those classes! Otherwise, delve into ancient philosophies or go traveling to historical, even archaeological places on your own initiative. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Not that you need the help, but your sexual magnetism is charging up. Trying to look young will not help. Maturity, experience, and authority all work in your favor. If you’ve been wanting to explore leather and kink, this is the time for it! SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): This should be a very lucky year for you for money - investments, lottery tickets, new businesses - but, it’s also "easy come, easy go." A conservative attitude and long-range perspective will prove most profitable. Consult an astrologer with your full birth chart before taking any big chances! CAPRICORN (December 21 o January 19): You’re in for a spell of good luck. Just be yourself and you’re sure to get ahead. There’s no point in being shy. Go for any opportunity that feels right. Further education and travel can serve you especially well. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Blessings will come to you in disguise. If life gets hard, the troubles can easily be made into a springboard to tremendous luck. Volunteer work with venerable charities will prove advantageous in the meantime. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Social opportunities will open up for you more easily if you "work the system" and follow conservative, conventional methods. Hobnob with "important people," but what’s "important" is subjective. Of course, those who don’t look or think like you can be important, too! CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Look toward formalizing an existing relationship or refining your criteria for one. Not only can you afford to be picky, but holding out for what you really want in your partnership will help you get it. C® LEO (July 23 - August 22): Any skin growths or bone or joint inflammations should be checked quickly, but in general your health should be good. Luck at work should improve. Look forward to promotions and be willing to take a risk to get them. METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Spirit of Chdst MCC VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Some people think creativity is about mad inspiration. You know it’s about hard work. Your hard work can pay off big - probably more in terms of personal growth, but there could be money, toot LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Researching your roots, taking time with older relatives, or spending time with community elders will give you a better sense not only of your background and foundations, but also of where you’re going. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Your mind needs stimulation and novelty, and you’re a bit more loquacious than usual. Be careful with that! Developing new skills, perhaps learning a new language, will open doors and help keep you focused and out of trouble. 28 the STAR 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Saturdays at 10:00 AM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC of the Living Spring 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! www.ozarksstar.com �DOWNTOWN PLAZ,~_ of TULSA 17 West 7th Street Tulsa, OK 918-585-5898 www.downtownplazatulsa.com HABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESS\VAY Oldahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 www.habanainn.corn KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant DREXEL ONTHE PARKAPTS. 3041NW41ST Oklahoma City, OK 405-946-0588 SUSAN HARTMAN Independent Broker Oklahoma and Arkansas 918-698-2977 CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 www.dubmajestictulsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com DIVERSITY CHRISTIAN CNTR 211 S. Garnett Tulsa, OK 74128 www.realacceptance.com OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 3627 NW EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 www.c2 lgoldcastle.com HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM GAY BRADY HHGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gayb radyheightstulsa.com MCC of the LIVING SPRING 17 Hk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 Want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $33.95 will be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or moneyorder to: STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 (Single Copies $3.00 per issue) 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pm GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn ANGLES 2117NW39thSt. Oklahoma City, OK www.anglesdub.com NA!vlE: NW ARKANSAS GLBT CENTER Bentonville/Rogers 888-391-9222 WWW.NWAGLBTCC.ORG City: 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 www.bambooloungetulsa.com www.ozarksstar.com St: __Zip: Phone: GLENPOOL FLOWERS 437 E. 141st Street Glenpool, OK www.glenpoolflowers.com BAMBOO LOUNGE Address: Check enclosed Money Order Start Date: 29 �Keller Williams Realty Chuck Breckenridge Whether buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. N~X/Arkansas GLBT Communiv! Center "Linking Together as One" For more information: 888-391-9222 WWW.NWAGLBTCC.ORG e-mail: EditorialCartoon@c 30 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com �YOU [] ~f one were to make a list of even after he became ~vorld-famous. the world’s favorite composers, Setbacks like these could have despite his relatively recent vintage finished a lesser man. Instead, they Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky would inibrmed his work, which remains be on it. After all, he composed some of the best loved in history. Swan Lake, which is perhaps the Yet kids still confuse Tchaikovsky with a nasal spasm. most famous ballet Why? Because the arts are slowly of all time. And but surely being eliminated from there can’t be more than a handful of some Peter llyich Tchaikot,sky endured many setbacks, not the l~st of which was a blind barber today’s schools, even though a F,g. 1 Pollen hke Tcha&o~sky’s compo~mon Romeo and Juhet ballet companies that don’t perform majority of parents The Nutcracker every Christmas. music and drama and dance and Indeed, this great Romantic composer should be so immortalized. As a young man, he pursued a career in art make their kids believe better students and better people. ’Rrm~nc music at enormous personal risk and against h~s To help reverse this disturbing father’s advice. His mild temperament combined with trend, or for more information his tendency to work too hard left him with inmmnia, about the benefits of arts education, visit us at debilitating headaches and hallucinations. On top of that, AmericansForTheArts.org. Or else Tchaikovsky could Tchaikovsky’s composition teacher never liked his work, seem like just another casualty of allergy season. www.ozarksstar.com recomrarwd~d daily allouur~ce of art, the STAR 31 �Reservations: 918.585.5898 ÷ 800.585.5101 Where you can be YOU" pee" ~oo~l ~oo~ ~ow=n f / 17 West 7th Street (corner 7th & Boulder Ave) e Tulsa, Ok 74119 ¢ www.downtownplazatulsa.com / �� Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document Royal GreCnCountrg Barony o~: dll Oklahoma pr~ent~s 2 the STAR www.ozarksstar.cor~ www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 3 ¯he Colors of Living", featuring giclee prints of the digital art ofTulsa artist Dennis R. Scott. ~O ONL~HOMA HATE CRII~flE Gay community outraged over Steven Domer slaying. NEW: Deep Inside Hollywood, reports on new projects for Sarah Jessica Parker and Dan Butler. November 21,1999 fine last grand Queen) Flamboyant author Quentin Crisp dies in Manchester, England. Tulsa’s Downtown Plaza Hotel openly welcomes GLBT. Gay Travelers: 6,000 Mile Trip Out of Town: Key West Dining In or OUT FIITHESS Introspection can lead you to better understand yourself and ultimately to achieve greater happiness. ON THE COVER: 4 the STAR Downtown Tulsa www.ozarksstar.com "Ifyou are elected President, what concrete steps would you take to overturn ’Don’t As~, Don’t Tell ?’" Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY): I strongly believe that anyone who has the courage, strength, and valor to serve our country should be able to do so. We are at war and our top generals are warning that America’s military is stretched to the breaking point, yet we have a policy that dismisses good people from our ranks. Even service members with critical skills such as Arabic language skills are being discharged because they are gay. Senior retired military officials who can speak freely say this law does not serve our national security interests. These same military leaders are confident that repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell won’t lessen standards of behavior or lower morale. As President, I will work with high-profile military leaders, such as former Joint Chiefs chairman John M. Shalikashviii and Retired Lieutenant General Claffdia Kennedy, the first woman to achieve the rank of three-star general in the Army, who have called for repeal of the law. I will stand with soldiers like retired Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, the first American soldier to be seriously wounded in Iraq, and retired Army Sgt. Jose Zuniga, former Army Soldier of the Year, who are shining examples of why this law no longer makes sense. Over the last seven years in the Senate, and as a member of the Armed Services Committee, I have built relationships with members of Congress and senior military officials through my work on the Armed Services Committee. When I am President, I will bring this strength and experience to bear to end this outdated and outmoded policy. w~,-w.ozarksstar.com the STAR 5 Denounces TULSA, OK (P/R) __ Oklahomans for Equality expresses its outrage at the recent murder of Steven Domer. "gge extend condolences to his family and friends. This senseless tragedy highlights the urgent need for federal and state hate crimes legislation protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LBGT) people. On October 26th, Steven Domer, a 62-yearold gay man, was abducted from NW 39th Street near Pennsylvania Avenue in Oklahoma City. On November 4th, his body was found in rura! McClain County. His hands were tied with duct tape and a wire hanger was wrapped around his neck. The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner concluded that Domer died of asphyxiation and ruled his death a homicide. On November 28, Darrell Madden, a self-prodaimed white supremacist, was charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in relation to Domer’s death. Prosecutors believe that Madden targeted Domer as part of an initiation rite of the Aryan Brotherhood. Inorder to secure a "patch," the white supremacist group demands that its members commit an act of violence against an African American, Jew, homosexual, or any other person declared "an enemy." Although Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater and other law enforcement officials believe that anti-gay bias was a motivating factor in Domer’s murder, they cannot prosecute Madden under Oklahoma’s hate crimes law because the statute does not cover sexual orientation. Oklahoma is one of only 17 states whose hate crimes laws do not protect LGBT citizens. Most state hate crime laws enhance the penalties for bias-motivated crimes. On December 4, Representative Al McAf’- frey (D-Oklahoma City) announced his intention to introduce a bill expanding the state’s hate crime law to include sexual orientation and gender. In May, the U.S. House of Representatives passed The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act/Matthew Shepard Act giving the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence by providing the department with jurisdiction over crimes of violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. This bill will soon be voted upon in the U.S. Senate. As legislators consider passage of these historic state and national laws, Oklahomans for Equality will be working with its allies in the LGBT and allied community in educational and advocaW efforts. Hate Crimes Amendment Removed rom Dept o£De£ense Con erence Report WASHINGTON, DC (P/R DEC 6TH) __ ~Ibday, House-Senate conferees confirmed that the Matthew Shepard Act, which had passed the Senate as an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill, would be removed from the final version of the bill. This announcement was made after House Leadership’s whipping the vote count on the conference report concluded there were not enough votes for passage of the bill if it included the hate crimes provision. "Today’s decision is deeply disappointing, especially given the historic passage of hate crimes legislation through both Houses of Congress this year. After more than ten years and several successful bipartisan votes, it is heartbreaking to fall short this dose to the finish line," said Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign. "However, we are not giving up on efforts to find another legislative vehicle, in the second half of this Congress, to move the Matthew Shepard Act." The Human Rights Campaign has been a chief advocate of hate crimes legislation for over a decade. On November 14th, HRC sent an e-mail to all Capitol Hill offices urging the retention of hate crimes legislation in the Department of Defense Authorization conference report. Additionally, HRC organized and signed onto a coalition letter 6 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 7 Gny men and le~btansfac~ many special ta~ situations, whether single or a~ Let us help with yourTAX Prep! (918) 747-5466 Pmu~l~t ~¢r~lng Tulm ~ OKC’s GLBT comm~mitl~ ~lnc~ 1982 Chuck Bmckenddge 918-706~1887 "At Century 21 Gold Cas#e our BEST properties are ourPEOPL~ 3627 NW Expressway Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405.840.2t06 www.c21 goldcastie.com Let us promote your business in a UNIQUE & DIVERSE market. Call STAR ADVERTISING today. (918)835-7887 8 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com "’l-he Colors ofLiving’ a digital art exhibit at Dennis R. Neill Equality Center Tulsa artist Dennis IL Scotx eyes ofm~ artist driven to create impressions of the beauty which sttcrounds him. The exhibit w’dl remain up through the month ofJanuary and can be viewed Monday thru Saturday from 3-gpm. The Dermis R. Nedl Equality Center is located at 621 E. dth St., in downtown Tulsa. More info c~a be found on the web at okeq.org. ’Ihis monthly event is hosted by Okiahoman’s for Equality (OkEq). OkEq seeks equal rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexmal & Tra~sgender (LGBT) individuals and f~mihes through advoca~, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis IL Neig Equality Center. TULSA, OK~The Dennis IL Neili Equality Center ar~ gallery wi[[ host its monthly First Thursday meet-the-artist reception from 6-gpm, ~aursday, January 3, 2008, for the opening oflts January exhibit "The Colors of Living", featu~mg giclee prints of the digital ~trt ofTulsa ~tist Dermis IL Scott. Scott has been creating his digital art for the list three years. His work is unlike most digital or computer art. His style is unique. His arc is totally his own..., his ovca~ way of seelng life, his own way of depicOng that which he sees. Whether one might call Scott’s art abstract, impressionistic, or surreal is of little concern to Scott. Through his art he invites the viewer, the art lover or even the mere observer, to take a chance, as he has in creating his art. Taking a chance is what ~rtists do. Vie~,Cmg Scott’s art is seeing his subjects as he sees them, through the Art byTulsa artist Dennis IL Scott the STAR 9 ES SLAY By Victor Gorin recently released convicts, Madden having served time at Jess Dunn Correctional Center for impersonating a police officer and obtaining money by false pretense. Quails had been released from the Dick Conner Correctional facility in Hominy for a 2001 burglary conviction. It was speculated that Mr. Domer’s murder may have been a gang rite of passage. The murder has garnered national attention, somewhat reminiscent of the murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming in !998.A press conference was held at Church of the Open Arms December 4, followed by a candlelight vigil in the parking lot ofAngles that evening. The press conference and vigil were Photo: Steven Domer OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ The Oklahoma gay community and their allies have been outraged and saddened by the murder of Steven Domer, a 62 },ear old Oklahoma City man believed to have been targeted primarily because he was gay. On October 26, he had driven a friend home from the N.W. 39th street gay bar district, then returned to the area, and was last seen at the car wash there, an area well known for male prostitution. He was seen by a witness to be talking to two young men. His body and burned out car were found near 1-35 and Ladd road north of Purcell November 4. Oklahoma County prosecutors have charged Darrell Madden with Domer’s murder. Madden, a white supremacist who was arrested in McLain County for an attempted carjacking, is also charged in McLain County with the murder of the Brad Qualls, the other man believed to be seen talking with Steven Domer the night he disappeared. Quails was found shot to death November 8 at an Ardmore apartment complex. Madden & Qua.lls have been identified as members of the United Aryan Brotherhood, a xvhite supremacist group which recruits many of their members in prisons. Both were 10 the STAR attended by the Reverend Harry Knox, the Faith Community Director of the Human Rights Campaign, a national GLBT rights political group. As he puts it," Oklahoma is one of only 17 states that do not protect GLBT citizens through hate crimes legislation." Objections to hate crimes legislation have come from religious fundamentalist groups who claim they would not be able to preach against homosexual behavior should this legislation become law. Harry Knox clarified that this type of speech is protected the 1st Amendment of the US. Constitution, and to say otherwise is " to tell a lie unworthy of ministers of the gospe! ofJesus Christ." He THE ALUES pointed out that "people are dying in Oklahoma, and GLBT people are wondering when their pastors will speak out for justice. Steven Domer’s voice cries out for justice, asking pastors for whom do they work, the people or for God?" Richard Ogden, an attorney who chairs the Cimarron Alliance Foundation also spoke, stating that" In Oklahoma and across our nation there is a climate of intolerance, and a tolerance of intolerance. This has to stop. When we in Oklahoma have passed laws that basically say that gays and lesbians are second class citizens, we create an environment that licenses this type of behavior. " Although this was a brutal murder that was obviously motivated because the victim was gay, Darrell Madden could not be charged with a hate crime because Federal and Oklahoma hate crimes laws do not cover sexual orientation. Legislation was introduced this year in Congress to amend Federal Hate Crimes laws to include sexual orientation by Senator Edward Kennedy D-Massachusetts, but was dropped when it became dear that it would not pass the House. On the state level State Representative Al McA_ffrey, Oklahoma’s first and only openly gay legislator, has stated that he will introduce legislation to amend Oklahoma Hate Crimes laws to include sexual orientation and gender. This is supported by both Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater, and Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson. Mr. McAffrey did state that he realized he will probably be facing an uphill battle in the legislature. Clarifying the point that some conservatives make, that Hate Crimes laws elevate gay people to a special status, he affirmed that ifa group of gay men attacked a straight man ,vith baseball bats, targeting him for his sexual orientation, they would also be guilty of a hate crime under this legislation. Reverend Dr. Kathy McCallie, pastor of Church of the Open Arms-United Church of Christ, pointed out that this crime was not an isolated incident, stating that "there xvill be a day when GLBT persons can freely be themselves and enjoy the safety equality and respect that’s due to every member of the human family, but today is not that day. On October 26 when Steve Domer was brutally murdered, we were each violated. " ~w.ozarksstar.com By Greg Steele on the loose Wiads House ProvidingA Sa£e P lace For 20 By Victor Gorin Miranda Ray will be performing in the Kris Kohl Show New Years Eve At the Jones’n Club Downtown Plasza Hotel. Doxvntoxvn Plaza Hotel Tulsa General Managers Jay Wilks and Debbie Mc- Craw. Miss Gay Tulsa America, Melody Michaels at the BOO. Miss Gay Oklahoma US ofA 2008, Samantha West at the Copa.... Photo Left to Right:Jennifer Bates, Asley Ozan, Linda Duke OKLAHO!VIA CITY, OK __ Thanks to a caring community, Winds House of Oklahoma City was able to raise over $2500 at a gala fundraiser December 7th. For over 20 years the Winds have provided a safe place to stay for those living with HIV and their families, serving as transitional housing until they are able to re-enter the general community. The home provides referrals and assistance for disability income, food stamps, Section 8 housing etc. Donatons are always needed and can be sent to \Vinds House OKC, P.O. Box 12185 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73157. Acid-tongued talk-show host and out lesbian Rosie O’Donnell, who famously dashed with Elisabeth Hasselbeck on "The View," and the big clash with Donald Trump announced on her bloc that talks to give her a prime-time show on MSNBC had fallen apart. New York Songstress Rachael Sage and an adoring fan in Tulsa. www.ozarksstar.com Attorney Richard Ogden, Chair of Cimarron Alliance Foundation, the Reverend Harry Knox- Faith Community Director of the Human Rights Campaign, and the Reverend Loyce Newton-Ed- ,#cards at Hate Crimes press conference in OKC. the STAR 11 DEEP INSIDE HOLLYVc’OOD Shades of Rex Lee As Lloyd, Jeremy Piven’s assistant on Entourage, gay actor Rex Lee has carved out a hilarious niche for himself. His character stuck around and gained a higher profile thanks to Lee’s wicked comic timing and popularity with fans. Soon, though, he’ll jump from the small to the big screen, appearing in the independent feature Shades of Ray. A seriocomic romance, Shades stars Chuck main man ZachatT Levi as Ray, a mixedrace, American-born son of a Pakistani father and Caucasian mother. As his parents separate and his father moves in with him, Ray must deal with his own romantic and racial issues. Sounds heartfelt and sincere, but Romeo’s guessing that Lee’s job will be to pop up from time to time with just the right punchline for an awkward moment. As HBO audiences know, he’s an expert at that. Romeo San Vicente is still waitingpatientlyfor the all-musical edition of "The McLaughlin Group. "He can be reached care ofthispublication or at DeepInsideHollywood @qsyndicate.com. www.ozarksstar.com SAMANTHA CAPTU ,S MISS GAY OKLAHOMA US OF A TITLE By Victor Gorin Loaves and Fishes Bar uet a Huge By Victor Gorin Photo Left to Right: Former Miss Gay Oklahoma Kitty Bob Aimes, Matthew Heath Fitzgerald, Sonja Martinez, John Beebe & Debbie Davie OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ It was a festive evening at the Habana Inn December 9th xvhen the title for the nexv Miss Gay Oklahoma US of A was passed on to Samantha West, a 26 ),ear old Tulsan among the performers at Nexv Age Renegades, The 1st alternate xvas Londenn Raine, xvith 2nd alternate Jozlyn Welch. The xvinner and I st alternate are eligible to compete in the national competition which will be held in Dallas May 20-23 of next year. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ On December 3-4 the 17th annual Loaves and Fishes Banquet came together at the Copa for a fabulous evening of fundraising for a good cause. Featuring entertainers John Beebe, Sonja Martinez,Debbie Davie, Matthew Heath-Fitzgerald and former Miss Gay Oklahoma Kitty Bob Aimes, the event raised over $7200. Loaves and Fishes, a program of Catholic Charities, provides meals to homebound people living with HIV. Directed by Ms Judy Reilly, once again the community came together for a proud tradition of caring. Passing on the fide was Alexis Nicole Whitney, who made history with the pageant not just with her doe, but living proof that nothing can stand in the xvay of talent and determination. As she puts it, "People should see my blindness the same I do. I don’t see it as a handicap, but as an obstacle I have overcome." That she did, not only capturing the Oklahoma title but also was one of the top 12 finalists at the national competition. Our girls do us proud! Please Join Us Feb. 10, 2008, 10:00 p.m. @ 39th and Penn OKC, OK. For information call Nikki Start @ 580 216 2715 or 1 866 906 1133 the STAR 13 by Liz I-Iighleyman November 21, 1999 (%e last grand Queen): Flamboyant author Quentin Crisp dies in Manchester, England. The death of author and raconteur Quentin Crisp at the end of the 20th century represented the passing of one of the last grand queens of a bygone era. Crisp, originally named Denis Charles Pratt, xvas born on Christmas Day in 1908 in the London suburb of Sutton, the youngest child of a "middle-class, middle-brow" family. Always considered a sissy, he later said he could never remember not being tormented by his father, siblings, and schoolmates. Crisp studied journalism and art in London, and in his early 20s began hanging out with hip young gay men in Soho, supporting himself with various jobs, induding graphic artist, xvindow dresser, tap-dance instructor, and hustler. He adopted a new moniker and a flamboyant, effeminate style that included flowing scarves, platform shoes, dyed hair, and makeup. He was "not merely a self-confessed homosexual, but a self-evident one," he would later say, describing himself as "a blithe spirit reveling in androgynous anarchy." Openly gay and gender-variant at a time when homosexuality was highly stigmatized and sex between men was illegal, Crisp was frequently attacked by strangers in the streets and harassed by police. During World War II, he was exempted from military service due to his homosexuality, and instead embarked upon a career as a nude model at a government-funded art school. Crisp did not gain widespread notoriety until his 60s, with the publication of his autobiography, The Naked Civil Servant (1968), one of the first unapologetic contemporary accounts of gay life. Although the book was well-received, it was the 1975 television movie version starring John Hurt that brought Crisp instant fame. Crisp began appearing on talk shows and created a successful one-man theatrical performance. He took his show to Ne~v York City in 1978, fell in love with America, and decided to immigrate a few years later, settling into a notoriously sloppy one-room apartment in a seedy neighborhood on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Crisp became a fixture of the city’s celebrity scene, growing increasingly famous just for being himself. "If I have a talent for anything," he said, "it is not for doing but for being." He wrote a column for the New York Native newspaper and film criticism for Christopher Street magazine, and published several more books, including How to Become a Virgin (1981) and Manners from Heaven: A Divine Guide to Good Behavior (1984). He also appeared in a number of movies and documentaries, most notably as Queen Elizabeth I in Orlando (1993). Though he socialized in queer social circles, Crisp was unsympathetic to the gay rights movement and held attitudes many younger activists regarded as homophobic. "I don’t think you can really be proud of being gay because it isn’t something you’ve done," he once said. "You can only be proud of not being ashamed." He eschewed identity politics and queer separatism, and thought loud demands only led to backlash. Crisp persisted in referring to homosexuality as an illness, and he caused a furor when he told the London Times in 1997 that he thought it would be acceptable for a woman to abort a fetus carrying a hypothetical gay gene. "You could have children who are naturally suited to society," he later explained. "They would be happy." He also once opined that the gay community’s obsession with AIDS was a fad, and advised, "Ifyou want to be sure you won’t have AIDS, don’t have sex with anyone." ....................Continued page 27 14 the STAR vwvw.ozarksstar.com The nose can intrigue you or turn off about a wine. Smell is the wine taster. Much is taste comes through you don’t believe it, t or a meal - the next head cold. Aging the wine in oak es of vanilla, almonds. Extended lend a toasty scents as variable as leather to roses Many grapes aromas: Zinfandel often Pinot Noir, the fine may recall ~ may Chenin and, smell The aroma of ~ ! and the closely related Mergrape~ for e×ampie, often reminds of cedar wood and pine needles led with a ood fruit smell reminiscall to miner France: www.wunsch-mann.fr 2005 www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 15 TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS WORLD By Donald Pile and Ray Williams gaytravelers@aol.com Now everything IS okay in Oklahoma! The gay community and gay travelers to Tulsa now have a place where they are made to feel VERY WELCOME! We stayed there a couple of weeks ago and it was wonderfull. "l-he rooms are spacious and the staff is extremely friendly and professional. ~-he renovations are not finished yet, however we know that when it is completed that it will be the finest hotel in Tulsa. We stayed in the Premier Suite which was on a scale of one to ten, a 15 ! It featured a living room with pull out queen sleeper sofa, a 36 inch TV and DVD Player. Ceiling to floor (and wall to wall windows) for a spectacular view of the city. A large King bedroom with extra pillows, a 25 inch TV in the bedroom and dub chair and ottoman. Two full bathrooms and a kitchenette/dining area with coffee maker, fridge/microwave and a snack basket, microwave popcorn and cookies with bottled water. ~he Downtown Plaza Hotel ofTulsa was built in 1966 as the first downtown hotel in Tulsa to offer modern conveniences. Shortly afterwards it was a Holiday Inn, then a Ramada Inn, then as the Great Western Hotel. In July, 2007 it was sold to the Chisholm Properties, Ltd. and they renamed it back to it’s original name, "Downtown Plaza Hotel ofTulsa". The Chisholm Properties Ltd. the STAR owns other fine hotels in Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas. It is located at 17 West 7th Street in the heart of the beautiful historica] financial and entertainment district ofTulsa. They are directly adjacent to the world famous Petroleum Club. It rises 14 stories above the City and is currendy undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation. A VERY extensive renovation is now underway however they do have at this time, over 70 rooms for their guests. Their plan is for the renovations to be completed by May, 2008 and have over 200 rooms when completed. The new look for the hotel is based on modern boutique style hotels that are now found across the country and Europe. The hotel has a variety of rooms and suites to choose, from a Deluxe Double Queen, Deluxe King, Executive King, Executive King Junior Suite or the Premier King Suite. Each suite has a Fridge/Micro in the kitchenette. Their prices are extremely down to earth and much less than the other dmvntown hotels. The hotel is within a short walking distance to Tulsa’s Convention Center, the New The PAC (Performing Center, Tulsa Tech and many buildings and landmarks. ; the many amenities are: floors, business weddings & receptions, air- ~ort shuttle free Cherokee Casino [ wireless Internet, covered parking, guest laundry ~n site), fax & copy service. Their service includes 43 channels, 3 4 ESPN channels, i Nick, Food Network and r more. The Downtown Plaza equipped with a Fitness Center their guests, including strength and cardio equipment. Lounge around their outdoor pool and catch some rays, secluded by the urban environment ofTulsa’s rooftops. Just inside the poolside seating area is The Jones’N Club, a full bar with a pool table and live music. Conference, meeting and banquet rooms are available to accommodate groups of 10 to 250 guests. ..............Continued page 27 w~w~,.ozarksstar.com More on Camp La Casa Sena - Santa Fe, New Mexico see page 22. From the upper sundeck at the Oasis men’s resort, guests enjoypanoramic views ofKey West’s Historic District. (Photo by Andrew Collins) Key West: Where To Play, Eat, and Stay famous gay resort towns, Key West has always stood out for its sheer embrace of total relaxation. This laid-back tropical island in the Caribbean, closer to Cuba than to mainland Florida, is without pretensions. People rarely worry about what time it is, dress is casual and colorful, and the party scene is friendly and easygoing. Key West is neither fancy nor especially urbane - it’s just a great place to laze in a deck chair on a bougainvillea-choked lanai, browse for beachwear and souvenirs along the main drag, Duval Street, or relax on a restaurant patio noshing on raw oysters and sipping mango iced tea or mojitos. For a seasonal tourist town, Key West has plenty to offer when it comes to dining and nightlife. Few places draw more raves for outstanding food than Alice’s Key West, where chefAlice Weingarten serves some of the most inventive food in town, including delicious smoked-salmon Benedict at breakfast. A departure from Key West’s predominant laid-back tropical look, Square One is a sophisticated restaurant with white table linen and fine china. The regionally inspired Continental cuisine includes escargot baked in a crepe with fresh spinach, garlic, feta, and a tomato beurre blanc. It’s a top choice for a romar~.tic evening. One of the better Italian restaurants in town, and also one of the gayest, La Trattoria has two dining rooms - the smaller one romantic and intimate, the larger better for groups of friends. The straightforward cooking draws high praise for such tasty creations as local shrimp sauteed with garlic, fresh tomatoes, and herbes de Provence in a white wine, lemon, and butter sauce. One of Dural Street’s true places to be seen, Mangoes brims with colorful sorts. The composed salads, pastas, and grills - all with nouvelle Florida touches - are commendable. Consider rib eye steak Caribe (pan-charred with tamarind steak sauce and yucca). Seven Fish, which occupies an old luncheonette and has a sleek, sophisticated interior, serves seafood-oriented bistro fare, such as crab and shiitake mushroom ravioli. The slogan at Mangia Mangia is "pasta to the people," a philosophy reflected by the many varieties of heavenly homemade pasta, all fairly priced. The painstakingly preserved building has a lovely, quiet garden and redbrick patio in back. You’ll need luck and persistence most nights to get a seat at Camille’s, a small storefront bistro, but the friendly vibe and downhome comfort food are worth the trouble. Expect good salads and sandwiches, such as Philly cheese steak, and delicious pancakes for breakfast. For arguably the best sandwiches and wraps on the island, try Lobo’s - the oyster roll with cheddar, bacon, and basil tartar sauce is a stand-out. H Siboney is a zero-atmosphere eatery - _the_ place in town for humble, stick-to-your-ribs Cuban fare. Rickety tables are set with plastic tablecloths and paper napkins. Try such Havana specialties as conch chowder, garlic chicken, stuffed shrimp and crabs, platanos (plantains), and a sweet flan to top it off. As for traditional Cuban sandwiches, tiny 5 Brothers Grocery - on a side street in the historic district - serves the best around. Much of the gay social activity in Key West takes place at resorts, some ofwhich provide refreshments and snacks to guests during the afternoon and early evening. A handful of properties have bars open to the public, among them Pearl’s Rainbow, the town’s only guest house exclusively for women, and the ultra-cruisy, all-male Island House, which also has an excellent restaurant. Most the town’s gay bars are along Duval Street. Here, the La-Te-Da guest house has a poolside bar, an intimate piano bar, and the Treetop Cabaret Lounge upstairs. Down a few blocks, the New Orleansinspired Bourbon Street Pub is a cheery place with a small bar up front with cocktail tables, a larger outdoor bar in back (along with a lively pool area and hot tub), and video screens galore. Many nights you can catch awful (but still entertaining) drag shows on the stage in back. The same owners run the lovably raffish 801 Bar, Key 20 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com West’s definitive neighborhood hangout since the 1970s. There’s almost always a crowd of gossipy locals around the bar. The adjacent One Saloon caters mostly to leather-and-Levi’s types and is reached through 801’s back door. Aqua Nightclub is best lmown for its raucous drag shows, which are headlined by the in-house drag troupe, the Aquanettes. This lively place also has strippers some nights, an impressive dance floor with high-tech laser-and-sound shows,’ and a cozy video bar. Key West has a number of inns that cater either exclusively or predominandy to the gay market. One of the best is Alexander’s, a long-popular gay resort with the relatively unusual policy of being both clothing-optional and welcoming to both women and men. This makes Alexander’s ideal for gay guys traveling with lesbian friends, or for any queer vacationers who enjoy a mixed-gender atmosphere. The effect is that the mood around the pool and hot mb tends to be less cruisy than at single-gender resorts. Aromatic tropical flowers, sundecks, rattan and wicker furnishings, and sparkling tiled bathrooms impart Alexander’s with a classy but casual look. Also welcoming of both women and men but drawing a predominantly male crowd, Big Ruby’s is less than a block from Dural Street, hidden behind high walls from noise and street traffic. The grounds feature towering palm trees and fragrant flowers, and an abundance of sundecks. Rooms are warm, contemporary, spotless, and full of light - all have TVIVCRs, mini-refrigerators, A/C, and ceiling fans. A complimentary full breakfast is included. As for the staff, you won’t find a more professional bunch of guys in Key West. Most of the town’s men’s resorts are along Fleming Street, the Historic District’s main drag. Here you’ll find Equator, which has plush rooms with contemporary Caribbean-influenced furniture. Designer fabrics, feather pillows with comforters, Mediterranean-tile floors, large closets, and excellent sound insulation add to the comfort of each unit. The tradeoff is that the Equator’s grounds, although nicely landscaped, are smaller than at some of its competitors; there’s a compact pool and an oversize Jacuzzi tub. For years the sprawling Island House - a former cigar factory on the eastern edge of the Historic District - was synonymous with sex, sleaze, and shabbiness. It’s still synonymous with sex. But, happily, new owners have completely rebuilt the place, hired friendly and competent staff, and created lovely rooms with high-quality furnishings (all have VCR/TVs, refrigerators, safes, and plttsh linens). If you’re seeking a steamy ambience but also first-rate accommodations and a safe, friendly environment, the Island House is your dream come true. Amenities, all of them available 24 hours, include heated pool, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis, gym, sauna, steam room, and erotic-male-video lounge. The largest gay resort in town comprises three distinct properties - the Oasis, Coral Tree Inn, and Coconut Grove - operated by the same management. This highly social, all-male compound has rooms available in a variety of configurations and prices. The Coconut Grove is the fanciest of the three, having been completely gutted and redone following a fire in 2006 - it now has some of the cushiest accommodations in town. Next door, the Oasis has less pricey but still attractive rooms and beautiful grounds. Across the street, the Coral Tree has simpler but more affordable rooms. Guests are free to enjoy the grounds of all three properties. Another all-male property with a somewhat cruisy vibe is the New Orleans Guest House, an attractive compound that’s above the Bourbon Street Pub, right in the center of the Dural Street action. Rooms are well-outfitted and attractively decorated, and rates moderately priced. Known as the Rainbow House until new owners took over a several years ago, the 38-room Pearl’s Rainbow is Key \Vest’s only resort that’s exclusive to women. Rooms are nicely done, with rattan and wicker furniture, pastel-hued walls, large TVs, and refrigerators. Many different configurations are available, from simple budget-oriented units set away from the noise of the pools and decks, to more spacious rooms doser to the action, some with kitchenettes or separate sitting areas. The resort encompasses several buildings, including some cute cottages that once provided housing for the workers of a cigar factory that formerly occupied the main building. There are two heated pools, spacious sundecks, and lots of opportunity to chat with other guests. This is a wonderful hideaway, whether you’re looking to make new friends or enjoy a litde peace and quiet with your honey. www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 21 by Donald Pile & Ray Williams Featuring Cuisine From Coast to Coast La Casa Sena - Santa Fe, New Mexico W’e have been dining at La Casa Sena in Santa Fe for over 25 years and it just keeps getting better. Located right downtown, it is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed restaurants in the Southwest. Not only is the food some of the most delicious you’ll ever taste, the wine list is among the finest in the country. Whether dining inside or out on the patio, you are in for a real treat! "l-he ambiance, the food, the setting...... everything is fabulous! La Casa Sena occupies a fine old haciendastyle adobe complex and means "the Sena House." q-he Sena family was one of the oldest and most notable in Santa Fe. q-he founder of the family, Bernadino de Sena, was an orphan from Mexico City who traveled to Santa Fe in 1693. In the early 1980% the ravages of rime finally began to take a toll on the hacienda. Art dealer, Gerald Peters purchased the historic building and extensively renovated it without making any architectural changes. The restoration succeeded in keeping the historic ambiance and integrity of the Sena Plaza intact. Th-he Southwestern cuisine served at La Casa Sena draws on the rich history of the region. Th-heir distinctive red chile is grown for the restaurant near Dixon, on the Rio Grande in northern New Mexico. The harsh weather there means that this local product is not plentifi~ and, because the restaurant purchases virtually the entire crop, it is unlikely that this chile will be tasted anywhere else in the world. They are located right off the Plaza in downtown Santa Fe at 125 East Palace. q-heir dinner hours are Sunday thru Thursday: 5:30 - 10:00 PM and Friday & Saturday: 5:30 - 10:00 PM. Lunch: 11:30 _A!vl - 3:00 PM Monday thru Saturday and 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM on Sundays 22 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com People Wi h A D$ LITTLE ROCK, ARK __ Republican Presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee once advocated isolating AIDS patients from the general public, opposed increased federal funding in the search for a cure and said homosexuality could "pose a dangerous public health risk." As a candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in 1992, Huckabee answered 229 questions submitted to him by The Associated Press. Besides a quarantine, Huckabee suggested that Hollywood celebrities fund AIDS research from their own pockets, rather than federal health agencies. "If the federal government is truly serious about doing something with the AIDS virus, we need to take steps that would isolate the carriers of this plague," Huckabee wrote. City Resident Ray Prewitt aooept New I ovie SANTA FE, NM (P/R) __ Oklahoma City resident, Ray Prewitt, will take on the role of"Owen" in the Jim Sheridan helmed "Brothers" for Relativity Media. The film stars Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Tobey Macguire. Shooting began last week on this remake of Susanne Bier’s Danish-language war drama which centers on a man, (Maguire) who is sent to fight in Afghanistan while his black-sheep brother (Gyllenhaal) cares for his wife (Portman) and child. Prewitt, who recently appeared in Carpenter Square’s "Sordid Lives", is best known as the producer of "Call Us Crazy: The Anne Heche Monologues" which achieved theatrical cult status in Los Angeles featuring stars like Edie McClurg, Alex Borstein, Megyn Price, and Scott Thompson. This is Prewitt’s second time to share the screen with Portman since "Where the Heart Is" .i"n 2000. "I think the government’s role should not be involved in personal habits. When you defend freedom, you defend freedom of choice, and you can’t be picking and choosing how people use those freedoms...whether it’s personal behavior or economic behavior, I want people to have freedom of choice," Paul asserted. He believes the constitution says such issues should be left to the states to decide, and ira state chooses to legalize marijuana, cocaine, heroin and/or prostitution, so be it. Presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul, R-Tex www.ozarksstar.com The STAR 23 Chaz & Victor By Ronald Blake Twenty-eight retired generals and admirals released a letter Friday urging Congress to overturn the ban on gays serving openly in the military, according to "l-he New York Times. The letter cites information showing that 65,000 gay men and lesbians are currently serving in the military and that there are more than 1 million gay and lesbian veterans who have "served our nation honorably." ~have been indulging myself lately with the finer aspects of food and beverage. I have acquiesced with my body’s cravings for rectangular chocolate delights that are known to the masses as Snickers, Three Musketeers, and Whatchamacallits. I have given in to the luscious temptations of the all-powerful supreme pizza with its smothering array of toppings and guilt. I have even fallen prey to the hypnotic sexual commercial suggestions of the beer and booze barons of this fair land. Yes, I have been greedily imbibing the works of the great fermentation experts such as Adolph Coors and August Busch. How can I possibly engage in such extreme epicurean behavior and still manage to put on my jeans without a forced smile? Ofcourse I will disclose the many and varied means by which I make this feasible. Each day I lace up my sneakers and head out on a seven mile romp through my neighborhood streets and enjoy the festively adorned homes. This provides me the opportunity to dear my mind and breathe in all those particulates from city living. It also affords me the chance to count the expanse of calories I burn off: in the process. I usually get credit for 800 calories each day from this physical activity mode. I am that guy who finds the parking space on the periphery of the mall parking lot. ~llais is not a forced choice in response to all the holiday shoppers. I actively seek out the spot that is closer to the frontage road than the stores’ entrances. This gives me the excellent opportunity to partake in the lost art ofwalking somewhere. Chalk up another couple hundred calories burned in a week’s time. Every other day I don my favorite ripped Guns N Roses T-shirt and my faded periwinkle Russell Athletic shorts and ease into 26 the STAR my workout roudne. I set my bicep, quadriceps, and triceps muscles into a sweet synergistic syncopation. I dedicate thirty minutes for every session and I am proudly able to record several hundred singed calories for that day’s effort. Some ofmy other calorie consuming moments has involved the firm scolding of my car and leaving him alone in the garage while I set out down the block to get the mail. I have often abandoned the comforts ofmy plush settee and even ignored the puppy dog eyes from my cuddly ottoman so that I could walk around the living room while discoursing with the likes ofmy Aunt Chilada on the telephone. Friends have even chided me for spending disproportionate time with the steps and hand railings of building stairwells than with the numbered buttons and "The Girl from Ipanema" music from elevators. Thankfully for me, these mundane activities afford me a cornucopia of numerous extra burned calories. I am able to consume more of the Food Network creations than the average Punch and Judy because of my lifestyle. My gourmand way of life would soon dissipate if I would slink into the slothful practices of most ofmy fellow brethren. Free will gives you that chance to change it all starting today. I could certainly use some company on those lonely stairwells! This health and fitness column is brought to you by that guy who likes to count the times people say the phrase "you know" in their conversations. That gny is Ron Blake and he can be unwrapped at www.goblakefitness. com Creating Community for People living with H V/A1DS A 501 c (3) Non Profit Organization Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HtV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail hardsmmjr@yahoo.com. ~wtw.ozarksstar.com Q~UENTIN CRISP DOWn,TOWN PLAZA DERAILED HATE CRIMES Indeed, Crisp was celibate for the latter half of his life. When sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer asked him what he thought about sex, he said he thought it was a mistake. He was also cynical about love, saying he didfft really understand it, and he never had an enduring romantic relationship. Had he lived in a different era, Crisp might have identified as transgender rather than gay. "I believe I was born unfit for the world not because of anything to do with sex, but because of gender," he told one interviewer. "I have always felt like a woman born into a man’s body. Had I the money or the opportunity early in life, I would certainly have had a sex change." Though his work brought in a fair amount of money, Crisp lived a spartan existence, subsisting on hors d’oeuvres and champagne at parties. With a "lust for small talk," he held court at a local diner and devoted time to answering phone calls, letters, and e-mails from friends and strangers alike. He loved being the center of attention, and rarely turned down an opportunity to be interviewed or photographed. In his final years, though beset by health problems, he nevertheless continued to travel and perform. Crisp died of a heart attack in Manchester, England, in November 1999, just a month shy of his 91st birthday. While some may find his flamboyant style and effeminate mannerisms embarrassingly stereotypical today, Crisp is remembered for being himself- and paying the price - at a time when few others dared to do so. Though he avoided organized LGBT activism, his entire life was a demonstration of gay and transgender empowerment. For further reading: Bailey, Paul, ed. 2000. The Stately Homo: A Celebration of the Life of Quentin Crisp (Bantam). Crisp, Quentin. 1996. Resident Alien: The New York Diaries (HarperCollins). ~e hotel is the ONLY Tulsa hotel that is openly caters to everybody! The Lounge at the Downtown Plaza will start in January hosting Ms. Kris Kohl and will present a drag show every other Friday. They will also be hosting a Broadway touring company during the summer of 2008. Chisholm Properties, Ltd. has a complete non-discrimination policy to cover, Age, Religion, Nationality, Race, SF~VUAL ORIENTATION, Disability, Veteran Status and other individuals as protected by Federal, State and Locals Laws. The General Manager, Jay Wilks is a former flight attendant instructor and former owner of a small specialized aircraft charter tour company, award winning fit and art shop and an upscale gay magazine that was distributed in 7 States in the Southeast. The Assistant General Manager, Debbie McCraw is a former schoolteacher, Texas ranch foreman, homemaker and mother. With all of their combined hidden talents we KNOW that they will make a success in this new venture. Both Jay and Debbie are two of the nicest, friendliest and professional people that you would ever want to meet. They truly care about their guests and want them to have a very pleasant time while staying at the hotel. The front desk staff as well as the housekeeping staff are very friendly and professional. Next time you are going to be in Tulsa be sure to check out their website at www. downtownplazatulsa.com or give them a call at 800.585.5101 for reservations. Their local number is 918.585.5898. Or for those people living in Tulsa who are wanting to rent a conference or party site, give them a call. Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from Coast to Coast. Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at: gaytravelers@ aol.com or visit their webpage at: http://www.hometown.aol.com/gaytravelers sent to the Chairman and Ranking Members of the Armed Services Committees urging them to retain the Hate Crimes amendment as part of the conference report. Timed to correspond with Members returning from the Thanksgiving recess, on November 28th, HRC launched a nationwide action alert to all of its members urging immediate grassroots action to Members of Congress. The House of Representatives passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (H.R. 1592) in May with a strong bipartisan vote of 237-180. The Senate approved the nearly identical Matthew Shepard Act (S. 1105) as an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill on a voice vote after a 60-39 cloture vote. Inclusion of the hate crimes provision in the final version of the bill fell victim in the House to challenges from opponents of hate crimes as well as unrelated concerns regarding Iraq-related provisions of the bill. The hate crimes veto threat issued by the White House and organized opposition by House Republican Leadership cost significant numbers of votes on the right. Iraq-related provisions that many progressive Democrats opposed cost votes on the left. Moderate Democrats, many ofwhom voted for the hate crimes bill in May, did not want to test the President’s veto threat and risk a delay in increased pay for military personnel. ’All of these factors resulted in insufficient votes to secure passage of the bill with the hate crimes provision. 2~he Matthew Shepard Act gives the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias motivated violence by providing the Department with jurisdiction over crimes of violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. The legislation also provides the Justice Department ,vith the ability to aid state and local jurisdictions either by lending assistance or, where local authorities are unwilling or unable, by taking the lead in investigations and prosecutions of violent crime resulting in death or serious bodily injury that were motivated by bias. The Act also makes grants available to state and local communities to combat violent crimes committed by juveniles, train law enforcement officers, or to assist in state and !ocal investigations and prosecutions of bias motivated crimes. www,ozarksstar.corn the STAR 27 Just as the sun spends a month of every year in each sign, Jupiter, in his 12-year cycle, spends about a full year in each sign. Fresh into Capricorn, he will help to build up organizations and bureaucracy. The coming year will be a big one for the mature look, leather, and bondage. This week’s horoscope will be valid through the year! ARIES (March 20 -April 19): Socialize with important folks. Those doors are wide open to you. Looking respectable and conservative will help you get ahead. Even in the most buttoned-up crowd, people know the power of appearance. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): If you have unfinished school business or want to go for a degree, sign up for those classes! Otherwise, delve into ancient philosophies or go traveling to historical, even archaeological places on your own initiative. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Not that you need the help, but your sexual magnetism is charging up. Trying to look young will not help. Maturity, experience, and authority all work in your favor. If you’ve been wanting to explore leather and kink, this is the time for it! CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Look toward formalizing an existing relationship or refining your criteria for one. Not only can you afford to be picky, but holding out for what you really want in your partnership will help you get it. LEO (July 23 - August 22): Any skin growths or bone or joint inflammations should be checked quickly, but in general your health should be good. Luck at work should improve. Look forward to promotions and be willing to take a risk to get them. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Some people think creativity is about mad inspiration. You know it’s about hard work. Your hard work can pay off big - probably more in terms of personal growth, but there could be money, toot LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Researching your roots, taking time with older relatives, or spending time with community elders will give you a better sense not only of your background and foundations, but also of where you’re going. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Your mind needs stimulation and novelty, and you’re a bit more loquacious than usual. Be careful with that! Developing new skills, perhaps learning a new language, will open doors and help keep you focused and out of trouble. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): This should be a very lucky year for you for money - investments, lottery tickets, new businesses - but, it’s also "easy come, easy go." A conservative attitude and long-range perspective will prove most profitable. Consult an astrologer with your full birth chart before taking any big chances! CAPRICORN (December 21 o January 19): You’re in for a spell of good luck. Just be yourself and you’re sure to get ahead. There’s no point in being shy. Go for any opportunity that feels right. Further education and travel can serve you especially well. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Blessings will come to you in disguise. If life gets hard, the troubles can easily be made into a springboard to tremendous luck. Volunteer work with venerable charities will prove advantageous in the meantime. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Social opportunities will open up for you more easily if you "work the system" and follow conservative, conventional methods. Hobnob with "important people," but what’s "important" is subjective. Of course, those who don’t look or think like you can be important, too! C® METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Spirit of Chdst MCC 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Saturdays at 10:00 AM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC of the Living Spring 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! 28 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com DOWNTOWN PLAZ,~_ ofTULSA 17 West 7th Street Tulsa, OK 918-585-5898 www.downtownplazatulsa.com HABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESS\VAY Oldahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 www.habanainn.corn KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant DREXEL ONTHE PARKAPTS. 3041NW41ST Oklahoma City, OK 405-946-0588 SUSAN HARTMAN Independent Broker Oklahoma and Arkansas 918-698-2977 CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NWEXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 www.c2 lgoldcastle.com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY BRADY HHGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn ANGLES 2117NW39thSt. Oklahoma City, OK www.anglesdub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 www.bambooloungetulsa.com www.ozarksstar.com CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 www.dubmajestictulsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 NW39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com DIVERSITY CHRISTIAN CNTR 211 S. Garnett Tulsa, OK 74128 www.realacceptance.com OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM MCC of the LIVING SPRING 17 Hk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pm NWARKANSAS GLBT CENTER Bentonville/Rogers 888-391-9222 WWW.NWAGLBTCC.ORG GLENPOOL FLOWERS 437 E. 141st Street Glenpool, OK www.glenpoolflowers.com Want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $33.95 will be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or moneyorder to: STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 (Single Copies $3.00 per issue) NA!vlE: Address: City: St:__Zip: Phone: Check enclosed Money Order Start Date: 29 Keller Williams Realty Chuck Breckenridge Whether buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. N~X/Arkansas GLBT Communiv! Center "Linking Together as One" For more information: 888-391-9222 WWW.NWAGLBTCC.ORG e-mail: EditorialCartoon@c 30 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com YOU [] F,g. 1 Pollen hke Tcha&o~sky’s compo~mon Romeo and Juhet ~f one were to make a list of the world’s favorite composers, despite his relatively recent vintage Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky would be on it. After all, he composed Swan Lake, which is perhaps the most famous ballet of all time. And there can’t be more than a handful of ballet companies that don’t perform The Nutcracker every Christmas. Indeed, this great Romantic composer should be so immortalized. As a young man, he pursued a career in music at enormous personal risk and against h~s father’s advice. His mild temperament combined with his tendency to work too hard left him with inmmnia, debilitating headaches and hallucinations. On top of that, Tchaikovsky’s composition teacher never liked his work, Peter llyich Tchaikot,sky endured many setbacks, not the l~st of which was a blind barber even after he became ~vorld-famous. Setbacks like these could have finished a lesser man. Instead, they inibrmed his work, which remains some of the best loved in history. Yet some kids still confuse Tchaikovsky with a nasal spasm. Why? Because the arts are slowly but surely being eliminated from today’s schools, even though a majority of parents believe music and drama and dance and art make their kids better students and better people. To help reverse this disturbing ’Rrm~nc trend, or for more information recomrarwd~d daily allouur~ce of art, about the benefits of arts education, visit us at AmericansForTheArts.org. Or else Tchaikovsky could seem like just another casualty of allergy season. www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 31 Reservations: 918.585.5898 ÷ 800.585.5101 Where you can be YOU" pee" ~oo~l ~oo~ ~ow=n f 17 West 7th Street (corner 7th & Boulder Ave) e Tulsa, Ok 74119 ¢ www.downtownplazatulsa.com Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2008] The Star Magazine, January 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 1 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource January 01, 2008 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Online text PDF Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Star Magazine’s first issue began February of 2005. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004) and The Ozark Star (2004). Follows is The Metro Star (2008). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Type The nature or genre of the resource magaine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwestern Missouri Western Arkansas Southeastern Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Greg Steele Paul Wortman James Ninmo Joey D. Victor Gorin Romeo San Vicente Andrew Collins Donald Pile Ronald Blak Ray Williams Jack Fertig Liz Highleyman Devre Jackson Chaz Ward Victor Gorin Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Star Magazine, December 1, 2007; Volume 4, Issue 12 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/204 The Star Magazine, February 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 2 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/245 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/246 AIDS anti-gay violence art cartoons classifieds crime denouncement Deep Inside Hollywood Dennis R. Scott Don't Ask Don't Tell Downtown Plaza Hotel-Tulsa fitness hate crime health Hillary Clinton HIV/AIDs horoscopes Loeves and Fishes Melody Michaels Mike Huckabee Miranda Ray Miss Gay Oklahoma New Year Our House Past Out Q Scopes Quentin Crisp Quotable Quotes Ray Prewitt Samantha West Star Advertisers Star Scene Steven Domer Syphilis testing Tchaiovsky The Colors of Living Too travel Winds House https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/a918105ab6adf69713364d2fce7d8fe6.jpg 897cdc4b95d5e02e0ab111a32bc1d143 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/820049079019edbbc4699ae60584c413.pdf a000a4191d62824a2816c51d7099c84b PDF Text Text 2008 A new " for Pride By Joey De By Joey De If you have lived in Tulsa for more than twenty minutes, you knmv that there is an impenetrable force-field separating the city. Most Tulsans call it Forty-First Street. Enter the Downtown Plaza Hotel, on 7th & Boulder, who for the first time in recent memory provided Tulsa Pride an official "host" hotel. Photo: Equality Festival at Tulsa’s New Centennial Park Sometimes change can be difficult, however, despite months of complaints and apocalyptic predictions about the many "firsts" at Tulsa Pride 2008, it seems that the only people who had difficulties were the protesters. For the first time in the celebration’s history, the protesters were present for only a minimal time during the Pride Parade and completely absent from the Diversity picnic. "2008 was a },ear of dramatic change," says Nate Black, one of the event’s cochairs. "However thanks to the dedication of a strong group of volunteers, all the changes to this year’s events were possible. It would not have been possible without each and every person who helped." Black especially credited his co-chairs Kristi Freeman and Toby Jenkins with making the pieces fit together. "Kristi has an incredible ability to assess and foresee needs and coordinate logistics. The fact that everything worked smoothly to host thousands of people at our events xvas a testament to her abilities." "The fact that ~hlsa Pride is able to remain free to the public is proof of Toby’s dedication to these events, which on the low end cost over $30,000. Under his leadership, we were able to, for the first time, secure the majority of our sponsorships long before the events even took place," says Black. .......... Continued page-5 Staying at a hotel room for your own city’s Pride ,nay seem a little excessive, but for a South-Tulsan, it made perfect sense. Having a place downtown to call "home" for the weekend saved time and even money on the celebration’s two largest weekends. Anyone who has ever been to a Pride observance knows that three things are true. It will be hot. You will be sweaty. You xvill be drinking. All three of those can combine to impede a "proper" Pride celebration, but with the convenience of the Downtown Plaza Hotel’s location, neither was an issue. Through taking advantage of the special Pride Rate offered by the hotel, it was effortless to enjoy the day (or early evenings) festivities, .......... Continued page-5 ��1- 80 0o535 oAI DS (2437) Ok ahoraa s H~VIST~ 2 the STAR ww~v.ozarksstar.com �Dear Editor: I thought I would add something to the political cartoon in the June 2008 Star. Presently I live in Oklahoma City, and much to my surprise have done so for the last 14 years. Originally from Boston I make an annual trip home each Christmas to see family and friends and make a quick pilgrimage to the haunts I was familiar with before leaving Boston in the mid 80’s. This pilgrimage consists of walking the city to see what is still around that I was familiar with, and perhaps who is still around that I can remember. On my most recent trip I was a little saddened to see many places that meant a lot to me are no longer around, or have been so renovated for so different a use that they are unrecognizable. As is my custom, on this outing I stopped in at every gay bar I could remember, or find, and had drinks and conversations with the bartenders. Most of the old bars are gone, as are the people. Politics begins in the bars in Boston, and gay politics was no exception. The civil rights fought for and won began with many bar patrons and owners, and in the process of getting what they were after, the bar owners found that with acceptance came a lesser need for the safety of an exclusively gay bar with the occasional straight patron. In conjunction with this the price of living in the city has made any gay ghetto prohibitive, making it necessary for what vcould have been the denizens of such an area to move into the suburbs for affordable housing with the side effect of showing the majority of the state that Gay people were pretty normal, and not the screaming stereotypes that isolation seemed to promote. Gay people were seen as responsible people and not the party animals who spent most of their lives going to bars to dance the night away and returning home each night with a different sex partner. They turned out to be people so normal that marriage did not seem to be such an improbable thing. The ultimate goal of gay gights is equality, and that means normalcy for most. Just as straights have their outlets out of the mainstream, so do gay people. But both do have their mainstreams. The gay bars still around are nostalgia for us older gentlemen who want some of the past preserved for our visits back, or who may feel more comfortable in one because life had not been all that kind to us, with just a bit of the specialty shop aura to them. Most have become very mixed, while some have become the corner bar, the lodge for men and women of like minds to talk freely among their own, but doing it willingly as opposed to necessarily. The lesser the need for exclusively gay bars, the more success can be claimed by the gay community. Joe Quigley Oklahoma City www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 3 �4 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com �DOWNTOWN PLAZA HOTEL cont. TULSA PRIDE continued then quickly retreat to air-conditioning and a cold shower. This was especially useful following the parade and block party, According to estimates provided by the Tulsa Police Department, this year’s Pride Parade and Block Party have become the largest events of their kind in Downtown Tulsa. Police estimate that there were a combined 18,000 people between the two events. just before visiting the bar,s. Adding to the convenience was the hotel s on-call shuttle. With less then a ten minute wait each time it was needed, the shuttle allowed guests to leave their cars and avoid parking headaches, expensive gas and more importantly, DUIs. Many parade-goers were excited about the new evening-format, celebrating with glow sticks and sparklers. Some of the floats even stepped into the spirit embracing christmas lights and disco balls. Most route walkers were simply excited over the fact that they no longer had the sun beating down on them and that the trek was much flatter. The hotel is currently undergoing a complete restoration, with every room being completely renovated to sport an almost TUqnspired blue and gold color scheme. Furnished with antique-style pieces, the rooms of the Downtown Plaza Hotel are uncluttered, yet comfortable and quaint. Pride guests noticed a little construction "dust" in the form of the occasional minor malfunction and missing carpet outside the elevator, however found their problems fixed quickly and courteously with a simple call to the front desk. Following the parade, the block party centered around the Equality Center came into its own, maintaining a crowd until the scheduled end at midnight. Following the event, most of the area bars reported record capacity crowds as the party continued through the evening. The following weekend at Centennial Park, the only thing to be missed was the heat and mud at the former location. For many pride-goers, this event was the first time they had visited the new Tulsa centerpiece. Most fell in love with its picturesque setting and more importantly abundant shade. According to TPD estimates, 12,000 people visited the Diversity Picnic, which according to organizers was represented by a steady flow of people through out the day. The forty-plus booths at this year’s picnic xvere the most diverse in memory, representing non-profit service organizations such as HOPE Testing Clinic, Fortune 500 companies such as Best Buy and the traditional array of Rainbow Retailers. Picnickers enjoyed the live entertainment that took the stage off and on through out the day, while kids entertained themselves on the inflatable games and climbing wall. Okay, the kids weren’t the only ones enjoying the inflatable games. The handsdown hit of the picnic was the water slide that both kids and adults rode repeatedly. w~,~N.ozarksstar.com Perhaps the most enjoyed aspect of While the three major pride attractions could be considered a successful spl!t, many attendees expressed a desire for the events to be recombined onto one weekend. A common complaint: "I didn’t know what weekend to tell my friends to come. They couldn’t take off work both weekends or afford the gas to come twice." Black reacts to such criticism openly. "There were a lot of changes this year. Some things went very well; some things didn’t go as well as we had hoped. We are going to take what we learned, listen to the feed back we receive and then will make the appropriate changes for next year." As for now, Black and the rest of the Tulsa Pride Committee are happy to place Tulsa Pride 2008 in the history books as a success, with a rejuvenated event positioned to grow in the years to come. Downtown Plaza Lobby the Downtown Plaza Hotel by some pride guests was their retreat to the New York City-eque second story outdoor pool. Tucked quietly between the rooftops of dmvntown Tulsa, the pool was quiet, clean, and theperfect place to prepare for, or recover from the festivities. Staying at the Downtown Plaza Hotel gives celebrating Tulsa Pride a new feel. For those from Tulsa, it creates an enjoyable mini-vacation, while those who travel enjoy its close proximity to the Pride events and Downtown night life. Either way, whether from in or out of town, it always feels good to stay where "family" is welcome. the STAR 5 �The Phantom Standard Joey De For Marni Raab, playing the role of Christine in the legendary musical "The Phantom of the Opera," is the fulfillment of a long time dream. "I started ~vith this show as an understudy in 2001," recalls Raab, ~vho has played the role for the past seven years internationally. "I was then promoted to performing two shmvs a week, and then when on tour six." Although it may seem odd to plan alternating actresses to play a role, Raab explains it as "just good business sense." "The show is long and Christine is onstage for almost all of it," says Raab, who notes that there is only one scene in the almost three hour show in which her character doesn’t appear. "The people they hire to play Christine are ingdnues," says Raab, who continues "They put big, heavy costumes on them, and then thrmv them around. I wind up falling and running then falling again, a lot. It’s just better to schedule somebody as a second principal then to never kno~ving when your lead will be out." "The Phantom of the Opera," is Andrew Lloyd Webbers’ hit musical about Raab’s character, Christine, and her admirer/kidnapper, ~ll~e Phantom. "He’s a maniac, a monster, disfigured and he’s a murderer," describes Raab, "but he is also a poet, an architect and a brilliant composer." Diversity Business Association of Tulsa 6 the STAR Christine on the other hand, is a young lady on the verge of adulthood, says Raab. "She was been raised by her violinist father, educated and probably traveled the world, which was rare then." Raab explains that her character is lonely and looking for a way in life when the brilliant, yet creepy Phantom enters her life as a mentor. Unfortunately, Christine’s’ childhood acquaintance Raoul re-enters her life at the same time, completing a love triangle that entangles the three. "She must choose between the passionate genius who has a horrible disfigurement and has been led down the wrong path, and the nice guy." When asked how the show has endured, Raab believes that "The Phantom," offers something for everyone to react to. "I have done the show across Canada, the US and Asia, and every audience reacts differently. There are lavish sets, pyrotechnics and elaborate costumes. It’s ornate, it’s majestic and at the heart it’s a love story." Helping to ensure the quality of "The Phantom" experience, Raab says that every production of the show must meet the highest standards. "Audiences demand a certain standard," says Raab," but the producers insist on it. If you xvant to produce the show, you must have the seal of approval from Andrew Lloyd Webber, Hal Prince and al! of the people associated with the original. This way the show you see (in Tulsa) is the same as what people in New York and on the West End are seeing." Raab says that there is also a standard the performers in the show must live up to. "It is humbling and an honor to be in this show, and I know I have big shoes to fill. It has been around for so long, audiences feel a sense of ownership in it, making it even more important to see it done right. You (the performers) have a responsibility to keep the show in shape and do it justice." According to Raab, the performers have help from standard’s directors, who guide their performances to prevent serious character infractions. "We dodt have the luxury of’finding’ our characters," the actress explains. "It takes a different skill set to step into a role that has been established and place our marks on it as artists." If you have not yet experienced "The Phantom," the show will be at the Tulsa PAC through July 13. Visit www.myticketoffice.corn for ticketing information. Quotable Quotes Scientists at the Karolinska Institute studied brain scans of 90 gay and straight men and women, and found that the size of the two symmetrical halves of the brains of gay men more closely resembled those of straight women than they did straight men, while the brains of homosexual women were asymmetrical like those of straight men. www.ozarksstar.com �Open Daily = High Noon www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 7 �17 West 7th Street (corner 7~ & Boulder Ave) Tulsa, Ok 74119 R~tions: 918~5~98 e 800~5,5101 www.downtown plazatulsa:com 8 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com �JULY 2008 the STAR 9 �Oklahoma City Museum o£Art Presents Roman Art £rom the Louvre perfume bottles, and cosmetics are examined within the greater context of the role of women in the Roman Empire. Other topics addressed include the art of Roman portraiture; the Boscoreale treasure; and Hadrian’s Villa at Tivoli and the Maritime Theater. Final U.S. venue for rare ancient works from the Louvre’s esteemed collection OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ The Otdahoma City Museum of Art wil! be the final North American venue for Roman Art from the Louvre, June 19 through October 12, 2008. Tile seventeen-~veek exhibition, so large it will occupy the Museum’s ground floor special exhibition gallery and the eight second floor galleries of the Museum, will feature 184 works, some weighing more than 6,000 pounds. An unprecedented exhibition of ancient masterworks, drawn from the Louvre’s unparalleled collection, it provides a rare and historic opportunity for Oklahoma audiences to view these magnificent works, many of which have not been seen by the public in decades and most of which have never traveled to the United States. Furthermore, many of the objects in the exhibition have recently been restored, bringing to light their original beauty and strength of expression. The portrait busts of anonymous men, women, and children featured in "The Roman Citizen" reveal the styles and fashions popular during the Roman Empire. Clothing, hairstyles, jewelry and other accessories, 10 the STAR Voter registration applications may be submitted at any time. However, a valid application must be received at a motor license agency or a designated voter registration agency, or postmarked (if submitted by mail), more than 24 days prior to an election in order for the applicant to participate in that election. Deadlines for submitting valid voter registration applications prior to the 2008 statewide elections are as follows: Primary Hection Friday, July 4 - Registration Deadline Tuesday, July 29 - Election Runoff Primary Election Friday, August 1 - Registration Deadline Tuesday, August 26 - Hection General Election Frida); October 10 - Registration Deadline Tuesday, November 4 - Election CHANGES IN POLITICAL AFFILIATION Changes in political affiliation may not be made during the period from June ! through August 31, inclusive, in any even-numbered year. The last day on which a change in political affiliation can be made before the closed period is May 31; the first day on which a change in political affiliation can be made after the closed period is September 1. "The Louvre, thanks to Napoleon’s megalomaniac interest in the glories of Ancient Rome, has one of the finest collections of Roman art outside of Italy," said Hardy George, Ph.D., chief curator at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. "The exhibition of sculpture, jewelry, mosaics, and frescos will be scrupulously arranged in a thematic manner that will certainly be visually and aesthetically pleasing as well as historically informative." The exhibition examines the manifestations of Roman public and private life through an exploration of several themes, including religion, urbanism, war, imperial expansion, funerary practices, intellectual life, and family. Roman Art from the Louvre shows the full range of Roman artistry and taste, juxtaposing "official" art with more modest, private works. VOTER REGISTRATION Roman Art from the Louvre was organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Musde du Louvre. The exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities. American Federation of Arts: The AFA is a nonprofit institution that organizes art exhibitions for presentation in museums around the ~vorld, publishes exhibition catalogues, and develops educational materials and programs. For more information on the AFA, please visit www.afaweb.org. OTHER IMPORTANT DATES Last day to request absentee ballot for July 29 Primary Election \Vednesday, July 23 Vote early at your County Hection Board office Friday, July 25, 8 AM - 6 PM Saturda); July 26, 8 AM - 1 PM Monday, July 28, 8 AiVl - 6 PM Candidate Filing for federal, state, legislative and county offices June 2 - 4 vavw.ok, gov/-elections/index.html www.ozarksstar.com �Congressman Frank: Why John McCain Is \Vdrong for the LGBT Community WASHINGTON, DC __ In the May edition of the Democratic National Committee’s LGBT newsletter, Democratic Congressman Barney Frank makes the case for why electing John McCain would be a step backward for the LGBT community. Frank, a member of Congress representing Massachusetts since 1981, has long been an outspoken civil rights advocate and a vocal member of the LGBT community. While McCain has tried to portray himself as a "maverick" and a "moderate," Congress: man Frank makes it clear that on LGBT rights, like so many issues, McCain offers a third Bush term. ~-he following are excerpts of Congressman Frank’s article: "With one exception, the relevance of which Senator McCain himself is rapidly diminishing, John McCain’s record is completely opposed to our efforts to combat prejudice and gain legal equality... "He has of course made it clear that he will support constitutional Amendments banning marriage at the state level, including in his mvn state of Arizona, and he regretted the fact that Arizona rejected such an amendment... "In every other area, McCain has a consistent voting record against our efforts. In 1996, the only time the Senate voted on the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, McCain was one of those who voted no. He has also consistently voted against extending hate crimes protection to gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender individuals... "This apparently reflects the prejudiced view that he expressed in 1993 when he was helping block President Clinton’s effort when he said on February 4th, as recorded in the Congressional Record, "The issue of allowing open gay lifestyles in the military is completely different from the kind of www.ozarksstar.com changes taking place in civil life ... Homosexuality is a behavioral trait, unlike skin color... "In addition to strongly opposing same-sex marriage, suggesting that he could modify his opposition to a federal constitutional amendment banning states like Massachusetts from adopting same-sex marriage, voting against ENDA, consistently opposing hate crimes coverage for us, and being recorded against every other effort in the Senate to give us fair treatment, Senator McCain also promised if he becomes president to reduce those protections we have been able to achieve at the Supreme Court level. He has noted his admiration for those justices who have consistently voted against any efforts by GLBT people to establish any right to legal equality, for example Chief Justice Rehnquist, a dissenter in the Lawrence v. Texas case, in which the sodomy laws against gay and lesbian people were stricken. "Given the alignment of Supreme Court Justices, and their ages, it is virtually certain that if John McCain is president, he will appoint justices who will overturn the Lawrence decision and the leading Supreme Court opponent of fair treatment for gay and lesbian people, Antonin Scalia ~vill gain alhes from McCmns appolntme ts. Community Peopte living 50t c (3) b~on Profit ()rganization Our House, Too offers a vadety of activities for PeoPle who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HIM+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail hardsmmjr@yahoo.com. the STAR 1t �~W By Donald Pile and Ray Williams MY TRIP DOWN THE PINK CARPET for Will & Grace in 2006, but Leslie also is a gifted writer and playwright. He wrote and starred in the autobiographical play, LOST IN THE PERSHING POIINT HOTEL, which was also made into a motion picture. He has appeared in dozens of TV shows including The Fall Guy, Murphy Brown, Newhart, Ski Patrol, Lois & Clark "The New Adventures of Superman", Reba, Wings, The Pretender, Dharma and Gregg, Ellen, Caroline and the City, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Nash Bridges, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Judging Amy, George Lopez, Boston Legal, Ugly Betty and Hidden Palms to name just a few. Leslie Jordan, the wonderful talented actor, comedian, writer and playwright has just come out with his new book, MY TRIP DOWN THE PINK CARPET which is a fabulously funny and interesting biography of Leslie’s life, so far. We are fortunate that we met Leslie a few years ago and saw his opening performance of"Like A Dog On Linoleum" in West Hollywood. He played to sell out audiences every night, and now in his new book, he brings his life to readers throughout the nation to peruse. What began as a smal! boy growing up in Tennessee and thru his different trials and tribulations he now is one of the top actors/entertainers in the country. Leslie has written a brutally honest story of his life and tells about all of it, warts and all, from his alcoholism, addiction to drugs, street hustlers and everything in between. The greatest thing is that he has been able to overcome most all of his demons (he has now been sober for over 10 years). Most people who write biographies like to kinda forget the bad times and only tell about the good times. Not Leslie! He deals with every aspect of his life and takes the readers through everything. Yes, Leslie Jordan does have a ministry and that ministry is to be fun, funny, exciting and to bring happiness to the world. There is enough grief and misery in the world as it is. He brings a breath of fresh air wherever he goes. It is so nice reading a real biography where the author tells it just as it was and is and lets the readers get to know him personally. This should be a "must read" for all high school students, both gay and straight. It is an honest and compelling story of one person’s struggle with himself and the world around him, and he won! Leslie Jordan certainly deserves all the awards and accolades that he receives. MY TRIP DOWN THE PINK CARPET is one of the funniest yet heart-felt books that we have ever read. Leslie Jordan is real ! and in today’s world that is really something to say! Leslie Jordan is not like Paul Lynde, he is not like Truman Capote, he is not like anybody else. He is simply himself and that is what makes him so great. After reading this book we can understand why his one man performances are sell outs! We can’t wait for the sequel to this book! We URGE all of our readers to rush out and purchase a copy of this book. Leslie Jordan is taking his "act" on the road again and will be coming to a city near you with an exciting one man performance and to sign his book. Check out his website, www. thelesliejordan.com for updates. "Love, light to you, Leslie and the very best!" Donald Pile and Ray Williarm, Award-winning Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from Coast to Coast. Proud members ofthe IGLTA. You can Most people only know of Leslie either from the movie, Sordid Lives or from his guest appearances on Will & Grace. He was nominated and won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series 12 the STAR email them at: gaytravelers@aol.com or visit their webpage at: http://www, hometown.aol.com/gaytravelers ~vw.ozarksstar.com �Wockner News Service Two California counties Massachusetts governots ’d aughter comes rebel against marriage out ruling County clerks in California’s Kern and Butte counties have stopped performing all marriages so as not to have to marry gay couples. Katherine Patrick, daughter of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, came out publicly as a lesbian June 12 in an interview with the Boston gay newspaper Bay Windows. In Kern County, where Bakersfield is located, Clerk Ann Barnett announced her decision after county lawyers told her she could not marry straight couples but refuse to marry gay couples. Officially, she said the move stemmed from a lack ofstaffand space to meet the anticipated demand for weddings. "We... wanted people to know that it’s not only something that we accept, but it’s something that we’re very proud of," Katherine, 18, said. But in an e-mail sent to the conservative legal group Alliance Defense Fund and obtained by the Bakersfield Californian newspaper, Barnett’s office wrote: "Our question is, now that the Supreme Court has refused to stay its decision, will Alliance Defense Fund defend the County Clerk if she ceases performing all marriage ceremonies .... We fully expect to be sued and our own counsel is not being of help.’" "It was the easiest coming out experience that anyone could possibly have," Katherine said. In Butte County, north of Sacramento, County Clerk Candace Grubbs cited money problems in announcing her decision. ~:he county’s largest city is Chico, population 87,OO0. But the president of the California Association of Clerks and Elected Officials, Contra Costa County Clerk Steve Weir, said the money excuse makes no sense. He told the San Francisco Chronicle that counties make money from selling marriage licenses and performing weddings. Kern and Butte counties still have to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but counties are not required to also offer wedding ceremonies, though most do as a courtesy and because it brings in income. She said she came out to her parents in July 2007, just before a picnic by the pool at their home in the Berkshires. First lady Diane Patrick called that event "a nonevent in the sense that there wasn’t any tension." "I was just happy for her that she knew who she was and that she was comfortable with who she was," she said. Gov. Patrick told Bay Windows, "I think when Katherine started to memorize all the episodes of The L Word, there was some hint that maybe she was sending us." Big gay gro,ups: Do marry; don t sue Leading national gay organizations have issued a strongly worded advisory al! but demanding that same-sex couples who visit California to get married not file any lawsuits seeking recognition of their marriages in their home states. The document also strongly urges married same-sex couples not to sue for federal recognition of their marriages. The lengthy document was issued June 10 by Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Human Rights Campaign, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, the National Center for Lesbian www.ozarksstar.com Rights, Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, Equality Federation, Freedom To Marry, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "Don’t go suing right away," the groups said. "Most lawsuits will likely set us all back." "One thing couples shouldn’t do is just sue the federal government or, if they are from other states, go sue their home state or their employer to recognize their marriage or open up the health plan," the advisory continued. "Pushing the federal government before we have a critical mass of states recognizing same-sex relationships or suing in states where the courts aren’t ready is likely to get us bad rulings. Bad rulings will make it much more difficult for us to win marriage, and will certainly make it take much longer." The full document can be accessed on the ACLU’s Web site at tinyurl.com/66z8kq. N.Y. governor sued over gay-marriage decision Five state lawmakers and the right-wing legal group Alliance Defense Fund sued New York Gov. David Paterson on June 3, hoping to block his order that state agencies must recognize same-sex marriages entered into in places where they are legal. The suit claims that only the Legislature can redefine marriage and seeks an injunction halting implementation of the order. Paterson has said he merely complied with a recent court decision that found that a community college could not deny benefits to the wife of a female employee -- the couple married in Canada -- because New York policy recognizes marriages performed outside the state. Same-sex marriage is allowed in Belgium, California, Canada, Denmark, Massachusetts, the Netherlands, South Africa and Spain. ........ More U. S. News page 23 the STAR 13 �~e~LInside Hol~ood, reports on new Reese Witherspoon and Ben Stiller Get Secretive ~hen if you dofft get to know what it is. movie proiecr, and the reason for all the hush ator, Cameron Crowe. Crowe is known t tong as he cm~, and this one is no exception. Witherspoon and Ben Stiller, and it’s a romantic bytes, the presence of seem like the most promising. ~they mean that as Etizabethtown. So the rum re is tentatively bright. For now, Dan Butler to Karl Rove: I Love You What happens when political strategist? 7he consequences of such a strange ~ comedy from writer-director Dan Butler, _Kad Rove: I Love as Bulldog on Frasier, Butler stars in this seifa depressed careerist actor in 2004, creating a one man show about President Bush’s to goal? The win-win scenario of both swaying the above the tide for once. The Hollywood/D.( producer, screenwri ~er, director, and star, and audiences can makes the tihn-festivai circuit rounds, starting tight about now. 14 the STAR �The fellewing ,case EarthQ~ke Zin ’05 Chards & must try. Zinfandel, Petit Sirah & Carignanel the 2006 Ner~ Mi~o (Italian for "mixed black") is deep filackish-burgundy colored with a nose o~ dried herbs, pepper and leather. This deii~ious "field blend" styled wine has flavors 6f pomegranate, black fruits and figs with a hint medium to full of spice, bodied firm tannins, a long, lush finish/ Italian food, spicy Orin Swift Cedars The the It’s rare and : pepper and tobacco wild berry, with some flavors. A hint suggests that will This see it, The Phillips brothers pride th~mselves farming on quality. Their efforts competitions. with lots zing and flavor. Earthq brands under wine ’Heavenly rig~ht now, though critics say it next 5 - 7 ),ears. to find so if you of the better values, to be a vastly superior fbr Zinfandel. This wine, some Petite Sirak, Merlot, and Grenache blended in/exhibits ruby color. There is a sweet nose of peppery black cherry and raspberry, liqueur intermixed with spring flowers earth. The wine is medium to full-bodied. Wine critic Robert Parker gave this one Points. Petite Sirah, Charbono and St offering is best from 2009 through 20 Ravenswood Napa Zin ’05 97% Zinfandel, 3% Carignane. Heasing bright, ripe plum flavors with a fine tannin structure. This xvine has a lingering finish tha’ tastes of raspberries, doves and vanilla. Opolo Mountain Zin ’05 If you are one of those who believe bigger is better, read on. Appropriately named for its bountiful bouquet of fruit as well as where the grapes are grown, this full-bodied Zinfandd has plenty of ripe black cherry, plum and spice and is framed by soft tannins and balanced acidity. i Mr. D also hosts wine & food events known in town as the Wine Enthusiasts Tulsa. References include: the ABC’s of wine by James Laube/www.WineSpectator.com ’,,~##¢.Fooda ndWine.com www.Wikipedia.org Z A P www.zinfandel.org �Members from ever) VOTE For Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth & Co. 16 t~$TAR 25 club flag SSIL~’s HOT Cowboys, Let’s Rodeo! www.ozarksstar.¢om �downtown Tulsa. JULY 2008 Author Clara Nipper 0fTulga-Her new book, Femme Noir, has received num~ro~ rave reviews and was nominated for 2 Lambda Lite~ rds~ Her story backdrop is in Tulsa a~ the time 6f~h~ i921 rac~ riots, about a lesbian murder mystery featuring a hardcore black woman named Nora who finds h~rself ii~,estigating her friend’s murder, the STAR t 7 �by Donald Pile and Ray Williams WEST HOLL OOD, CALIFOrnIA 90069 Special praise needs to be given to Steve Nycklemoe who is the Director of Operations. He has done an outstanding job in putting this exhibit together. Actually it is one of the finest exhibits that we have seen in our travels. We strongly urge all of our readers to visit this museum. Be sure to visit at least one of the major movie studios while you are in West Hollywood. Steve Nycklemoe & Ray \Villiams Well, the zip code just about explains almost everything about West Hollywood! What else can be said except that it is fun and exciting and ? There is so much to see and do and not enough time. For those of you who have never been there, \Hest Hollywood which is known as "WEHO" is located between Los Angeles and Beverly Hills and the main street is Santa Monica Blvd. which is filled with gay flags, restaurants, bars and shops. At night time it is filled with thousands of people partying. The HOLLYWOOD MUSEUM is located in the historic Max Factor building at 1660 North Highland Avenue just a few blocks east of the Kodak Center in downtown Hollywood. They have over 10,000 showbiz treasures. When we were there, they had a special exhibit of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia including many of the dresses that she wore in her movies. You can see the chair where Hizabeth Taylor sat in the movie Cleopatra, view Cary Grant’s vintage Rolls Royce, Elvis Presley’s favorite bathrobe, Rocky’s boxing gloves and Indiana Jones’ whip. As you enter the beautiful Art Deco building you walk directly in to the exquisite lobby with it’s original art deco lighting fixtures, show cases and architectural moldings. There are displays of original Max Factor cosmetics and ads. Browse the different make up rooms where each has a different color mode It is truly like stepping back into old Hollywood when it was at it’s peak. There are several floors of exciting exhibits to see. Actually one could spend a whole day there and not see everything. Downstairs they have the original prison setting of Hannibal in Silence of the Lambs. They have really worked at making this one of the finest museums in the country. Anybody and everybody who is even remotely interested in movies should visit this museum. Their hours are 10 AM to 5 PM, Thursday thru Sunday. Be sure to check out their website at: www.thehollywoodmuseum.com. 18 th÷$TAR We attended the world premier play, BOISE USA by the extremely talented playwright, Gene Franklin Smith and masterly directed by Arturo Castillo. BOISE USA is a character-driven drama about gay persecution in Boise, Idaho in the 1950’s. The writing is superb! The casting is perfect! Every actor is sensational. The audience is mesmerized by all of this. Hopefully it will go to Broadway in the near future as everybody needs to experience this splendid drama. We had the good fortune of meeting Gene Franklin Smith and he is an incredibly talented playwright. We can only hope that he continues writing for many years to come. It has been playing to rave reviews. It is presently showing at the Matrix Theater at 7657 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. There are of course dozens and dozens of museums and galleries to visit in greater Los Angeles. As always is the case when we travel ..... too many things to see and do, and not enough time. We did have "lunch with Holly Woodlawff’ one afternoon. She was one of the Andy Warhol actresses who now lives in West Hollywood and we visited with the Countess Alexis who is one of the great Divas of all times who was also associated with Andy Warhol in New York City and was in several movies. One day we visited the new Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing. This is an incredible high-rise apartment housing project for "seasoned" gays and lesbian on a fixed income. Complete ~vith a swimming pool, library room, gym room and a social room this facility offers a safe and secure place for "seasoned" gays and lesbians to live. There are literally hundreds of restaurants in the greater Los Angles Area. Our favorites was the ABBEY which is a huge restaurant and bar right in downtown West HoltFwcood. The TASTE restaurant is also a great place that we would strongly recommend. Excellent food and service as well as ambiance at these bars. For breakfast or lunch we enjoy the French Market restaurant. There are dozens and dozens of bars in West Hollywood and on weekends there are usually long lines waiting to get in. Drink prices at most of these bars are astronomical! For our readers in the Midwest, be ready for a shock. It is nothing to pay $10 to $15 for a drink and we mean just for a regular bourbon and coke or screwdriver. We are not talking call drinks either! With gas hovering around $5.00 a gallon and drinks priced that high and with the cost of housing, it does take lots of money to have a good time. ~.ozarksstar.com �Due to a variety of social stigmas statistically they have a higher risk profile than their heterosexual counterparts. Realizing this, Tulsa Project Woman will hold an educational seminar during the Breast Impressions art show, to further promote breast cancer awareness through the communit): Opening Night of the Gallery showing will be July 3, 2008 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th Street, in downtown Tulsa. Refreshments will be provided by Panera Bread, Godiva Chocolate, and Escargot’s. Many of the artists and breast cancer survivor models will be in attendance to meet those who visit. The show will continue through July until the 28th, Monday through Saturday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tulsa Project Woman will also host a dessert reception and private showing of the Breast Impressions Exhibit and then a Breast Health Education seminar on Thursday, July 17 at 7:00pm. This seminar will include information on Breast Cancer Prevention, How to do a Self Breast Exam and the Tulsa Project Woman. The Abbey Restaurant and Bar We stayed at the San Vicente Inn which is just 1/2 block from Santa Monica Blvd. It is a totally gay resort that has recently been sold and is now in the process of being completely remodeled. It is the most convenient place to stay since you can walk almost everywhere, and if you want to go anywhere else you catch the bus. The staffis one of the friendliest around. You can contact Judi Grove, founder of Breast Impressions at 918691-3874 for more information about the Equality Center gallery showing, or the upcoming Gala and Auction for the benefit of Tulsa Project Woman. NOTE: Seepage 22for 7he Abbey’s Tn~ffte Macaroni & Cheese recipe. Oklahomans for Equality and Breast Impressions of Tulsa team up to raise breast cancer awareness. Breast Impressions "Beauty beyond Breast Cancer" Art on Display TULSA, OK (PR) __ For the second year Breast Impressions breast cast art will be on display at the Oklahomans for Equality Dennis R. Nell! Equality Center gallery through the month of July. Only breast cancer survivors have been cast in plaster this year, and local artists have turned the castings into stunning examples of each survivor’s incredible journey through breast cancer¯ The art displayed will be auctioned at the Breast Impressions Annual Gala for the benefit of Tulsa Project Woman, Inc. on October 3, 2008. But the Equality Center "Beauty beyond Breast Cancer" show allows Oklahomans to see and experience he inspiration through each survivor s story. Breast Impressions is honored to display the work at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center gallery because of the higher risk for developing breast cancer among lesbians and bisexual women. www.ozarksstar.corn theSTAR 19 �of Town By Andrew Collins Nashville, Tennessee :was �good idea). The s~ae �THE ABBEY FOOD &B£ By Donald Pile & Ray \vq’illiams The Abbey Food and Bar is located at 692 North Robertson just 1/2 block south of Santa Monica Blvd. It has been around quite a few years and it is one of the wonderful restaurants/bars that just keeps getting better year after year after year. David Cooley is the master at the art of work and play. Over the past 15+ years, his creation, The Abbey Food and Bar, has grown from a small, West Hollywood coffeehouse to one of the most popular hotspots in the country. Locals, tourists and celebrities alike all flock to The Abbey for its infamous Martinis as well as its stunning, open-air ambiance and truly relaxed elegance. In May 2006, Cooley and The Abbey entered an entirely new and exciting phase in its partnership with the Los Angeles-based SBE, which has fast become one of the pivotal players in the Los Angeles nightlife and restaurant scene. Armed with the expertise, infrastructure and corporate reach of SBE, The Abbey is beginning its biggest expansion to date - reproducing the signature Abbey experience in selected cities nationwide. While no specific locations have been finalized for national expansion, Cooley and SBE are exploring locations where The Abbey’s open-air concept would work best, including Miami’s South Beach, Atlanta, San Francisco, Dallas, Las Vegas and Phoenix. So now you have the background on the Abbey but you MUST dine and drink there. It is where it is all happening in West Hollywood and everyone who is anyone goes there. Hizabeth Taylor made a rare appearance there last month to a cheering crowd. When we dined there, everything was great...the service, the ambiance and the food was spectacular! We had the finest pork chops that we have ever had! The mac and cheese with truffles were to die for! There are dozens and dozens of restaurants to dine at in West Hollywood and this is certainly one of the finest. Check out their exciting menu on line at their website, http://www.abbeyfoodandbar.com/ 22 tbeSTAR w~wv.ozarksstar.com �Ca iforni s will vote on same-sex marriage They’re gonna vote on whether you are a full American. Anti-gay activists have succeeded in qualifying an initiative for the Nov. 4 ballot to amend the California Constitution to undo the state Supreme Court’s recent ruling that opened marriage to same-sex couples. The ruling takes effect, and the weddings begin, on June 16 at 5 p.m. The activists had to submit 694,354 valid petition signatures to qualify the initiative for a vote. They submitted 1,120,801 and, on June 2, Secretary of State Debra Bowen said a spot-check of 3 percent of the signatures found that a high enough percentage of them ,vere valid to extrapolate that the threshold would be met if all t. 1 million were checked. Tne amendment will state: "Only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." The latest poll on the issue, a respected California Field Poll released May 28, found that 51 percent of registered California voters support same-sex marriage, 42 percent oppose it and 7 percent have no opinion. The poll found that 54 percent oppose amending the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage, 40 percent favor an amendment and 6 percent have no opinion. The biggest support for same-sex marriage came from younger voters, Democrats, liberals, nonreligious people and residents of the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County. The strongest opposition came from older people, Republicans, conservatives, bornagain Christians, Protestants and residents of the Central Valley and Southern California counties apart from L.A. County. Observers predict that the battle may be won or lost in the populous Southern California counties of Orange and San Diego. Women (53 percent) polled more supportive than men (48 percent) with 8 percent www.ozarksstar.corn of each having no opinion and the rest opposed. A majority of respondents up to age 49 favored sane-sex marriage, while a majority of people over age 50 opposed it. Kansas CoupJe Does IDO. By Greg Steele The poll questioned 1,052 voters and had a margin of error of 3.2 percentage points. Obama cdebrates gay pride Presidential candidate Barack Obama said June 6 that his campaign is actively participating in more than 60 gay pride events this summer, as detailed at pride.barackobama. com/pridemonth. "I am proud to join with our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered brothers and sisters in celebrating the accomplishments, the lives, and the families of all LGBT people during this Pride season," Obama said in a statement. "It’s time to live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect. Let’s enact federal civil rights legislation to outlaw hate crimes and protect workers against discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Let’s repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and demonstrate that the most effective and professional military in the world is open to all Americans who are ready and willing to serve our country. Let’s treat the relationships and the families of LGBT Americans with full equality under the law. "Generations of LGBT Americans, at once ordinary and extraordinary, have made possible this moment in our history. With leadership and hard work, we can fulfill the promise of equality for all," Obama said. Quotable Quotes Obama told reporters "the Republicans helped to engineer the distraction of the war in Iraq at a time when we could have pinned down the people who actually committed 9-11." He said Osama bin Laden is still at large in part because of their failed strategies. Photo: Donald Pile, Larry IVard, Riverside County, (Palm Springs) CA County Clerk and oj~ciating the wedding and Ray Williams. PALM SPRINGS, CA __ Donald Pile and Ray Williams long time friends and columnists for The Star exchanged legal vows in Palm Springs, CA on June 17, 2008. The couple drove from West Hollywood, where they were vacationing, to Palm Springs for the ceremony. The Star talked with them about the historic occasion. "We stopped by Palm Springs early this morning and were married", Donald told us. "Mel Haber, owner of the famous Melwn’S Restaurant in Palm Springs was a witness. He is a dear straight friend of ours. The other witness was our good friend, Stefan Hemming who owns the Liberace Estate. We were very cool about the whole thing until the Clerk said, "In as much as Donald and Raymond have thus consented together in marriage, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the State of California as a Commissioner of Civil Marriage for the County of Riverside (Palm Springs, CA), I now pronounce you to be united in marriage". "It was a small wedding as we didn’t have much time. When we walked out the front door of the county court house, we were crying and shouting". After 37 years we have never been more in love with each other. We are just sad for the gays and lesbians in other parts of the country who do not have the opportunity to get married". th÷STAR 23 ....... �Photo’s by Victor G. & Judy G. @ The Ledo, Oklahoma City @Club Majestic, Tulsa 24 @ Angles, Oklahoma City @ The Copa, Oklahoma City @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa @ Steve’s Hideaway, Tulsa @ Finishline, Oklahoma City �June 6, O~n~ YoUth Center conducted the r annua F~hi~ ~: ,Th~ ~h~ was hosted by 106.9 s Chase and OK:: There were different artists in Pride Prade These ad es are hay ng tooooo~ ~bh fun www.ozarksstar.com �CaIJaway CD Romanticizes Man to Man AL RE-ELECTED D STRICT 88 By Victor Gorin Keith Taggart congratulates State Representative AI McAflgrey at a fundraiser for Jim Roth at the "You Ain’t Woman Enough’To Take My Man", a gay man is telling a woman, drag queen or possible a transvestite, that she isn’t woman enough to take his boyfriend. The title song "darn it, Baby, That’s Love" highlights the collection. Clay and his partner, Ty Lewis sing it as a duet with passion and love. Other song selections that will get you in the mood include "I’ve Grown Ac:customed To Your Face", "All ~e Man That I Need", "Never Loved A Man Before", and "Come In From The Rain" In the past 20 years Callaway managed to find love, work somewhat in the shadows of "the industry" (as in, behind the scenes) in Los Angeles, New York, Sweden, Dominican Republic and all points in between, boomeranged through Nashville and came to live in Hilo, Hawaii. It was here that the muse again came to him. "Hawaii is so full of music and incredible voices that I found my self facing this love I have to sing out loud and once again I felt in love with the audience, and they seemed to like me too", Clay says. "I moved to LA at 19 to finish college at ¯ LMU, that was pretty much it for singing and performing aside from high school chores and the occasional opportunity to dress up in a chicken suit. (But that’s another story.) LA was a big eye-opener, as it would be for anyone let alone a young gay guy from south Arkansas. I began to write songs and performing at lots of fun places on the Sunset Strip and beyond. Carlos & 26 th÷STAR Charlie’s, often hosted by Joan Rivers, The Rose Tatoo, the Palomino Club and other "interesting" places. All the while making a living working in television production as a production assistant and slowly moving up that food chain. Life was good, met a few cute guys along the way and a few hot messes as well. It came a time in my early 20% I was taking voice lessons with Bob Garrett and we ended up writing a couple of songs together. On my web site, I have included a demo of one of those songs from over 20 years ago for a sneak peek at one that will be resurrected for my next album. I can’t sing that high anymore, but it’s a look back to a day tong past." "Then a fire in my apartment building left me homeless and sent me back to stay with my family in Arkansas for the summer to regroup. In some ways I felt defeated, but got chosen to direct the summer musical at the community theater, the South Arkansas Arts Center, and while in my home town, met the love of my life, Ty. He had been there most of his and my life, but we had never met." Gay Chicago Magazine says "On his debut album, Callaway takes love songs many written by men and popularized by women then turns them on end by singing them in his distinctive vocal style to other men. It’s a creative approach that can make for some rather interesting word play. " You can purchase the CD online at: www. cdbaby.com/cd/daycallaway residence of Mike McLain & Richard Ogden. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ Oklahoma’s first openly gay legislator, Al McAffrey was re-elected to represent District 88 of central Oklahoma City. He was first elected in 2006. At the close of the filing period June 4 there was only one opponent, 27 year old Dominique Block, who was running as an Independent. His candidacy was challenged by the McAffrey campaign on the grounds that he had not been registered as an Independent for 6 months prior to the filing period, and the Oklahoma State Election Board determined he was not eligible. As there was no other opposition, Al McAffrey was automatically re-elected to of~ce. Al welcomes this opportunity stating," It’s a great feeling to know my constituents have faith in me, and by their support I’ll be able to serve them for two more years." Quotable Quotes The Tonight Show host, Jay Leno decided to make an appearance in support of the recent legalization of gay marriage by California’s Supreme Court. "He said that he is from Massachusetts and that the sky did not fall in their state when marriage equality became the law of the land there," a rep for the event said. www.ozarksstar.com �NATIONAL NEWS Task Force Action Ftmd applauds New York Assembly £or historic vote on transgender rights WASHINGTON, DC (PR) __ The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund applauds the New York Assembly’s passage today of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA). The bill, which passed by a 102-33 vote, now moves to the state Senate. The measure seeks to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression in housing, employment, credit and public accommodations and would add gender identity or expression to the state’s hate crimes law. New York extended protections on the basis of sexual orientation in 2002 and the Task Force has worked with the Empire State Pride Agenda, legislators and community activists since then to amend the law to add gender identity or expression protections, including by helping draft GENDA. Among the other contributions the Task Force made to this effort was a convening of transgender and allied activists in 2006 at a training in Albany to provide leaders with skills for how to build coalitions in support of this bill, and a Power Summit training on Long Island in December 2007 that attracted more than 100 activists who were taught how to lobby their legislators and build grassroots support for the bill. If the bill passes the Senate, Gov. David Paterson is expected to sign it and New York would become the 13th state to explicitly ban discrimination based on gender identity or expression. Currently, 39 percent of the country’s population is covered by such a local or state law. Statement by Rea Carey, Acting Executive Director National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund "This is a very exciting victory for the people of New York, particularly transgender people. Legislation of this sort is not only responsible public policy, it also shows the nation that New York is unafraid to join the ranks of states that value all of their citizens, including those who are transgender or who express their gender in ways that reflect the broad and beautiful spectrum of humanity. www.ozarksstar.com "We congratulate the leadership of Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, the many transgender leaders and allies in New York, and our partner, Empire State Pride Agenda, for this important victory. We now call on the leaders of the New York Senate to bring this bill to the floor so that protections fbr transgender people and others in New York are not delayed another day." Libertarian Party selects Bob Barr.as 2008 presidential Noway adopts gaymarriage law OSLO (AFP) -- Norway’s parliament on Wednesday adopted a new marriage law that allows homosexuals to marry and adopt children and permits lesbians to be artificially inseminated. After a heated debate, the members of parliament adopted the text by a vote of 84 to 41. nominee Former Congressman plans to take the White House as Libertarian candidate The three centre-left coalition parties in power and two opposition parties, the Conservatives and the Liberals, voted largely in favour of the law, while the Christian Democrats and the far-right Progress Party voted against it. Norway thus became the sixth country in the world to grant homosexuals the right to marry on an equal footing with heterosexuals, according to Norwegian television TV2. "This decision is of an importance comparable to universal suffrage and our law on parity," Labour Party rapporteur Gunn Karin Gjul said during the debate. DENVER, CO (PR) __ The Libertarian Party has nominated former Congressman Bob Barr as its candidate for president for the 2008 election. "I’m sure we will emerge here with the strongest ticket in the history of the Libertarian Party," Barr stated in his victory speech shortly after being selected as the Party’s nominee. "I want everybody to remember that we only have 163 days to win this election. We cannot waste one single day." More than 650 Libertarian delegates met in Denver from May 22 tilt the 26 for the 2008 Libertarian National Convention. After six rounds of voting Sunday afternoon, Barr was selected as the Party’s presidential nominee. The Libertarian Party is America’s third largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting www.LP.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom. The most controversial part of the law is that which gives lesbians the right to be artificially inseminated. The sperm donor must be identified so that the child can seek out his or her biological father at the age of 18. Outside the parliament, a handful of opponents protested with posters reading "Have fathers become superfluous?" and "Parliament has no mandate to change the laws of nature." Among other things, the new legislation replaces a so-called "partnership law" adopted in 1993 xvhich gave Norwegian homosexuals the right to civil unions. Health care workers who do not want to perform artificial inseminations on lesbians because of their personal convictions will not be under any obligation to carry out the procedure. The new law is expected to enter into force at the end of this year or eatly next year. Homosexuality was illegal until 1972 in Norway, a country which has since become one of the most liberal in the world in the field. ~÷STAR 27 �by Jack Fertig July 2008 "Nalke like a tourist, Pisces!" With Mercury, Venus, Uranus, and Eris all in mutual aspect, efforts at wit and charm are subverted by excessive impulses and eagerness to take offense. Still, it’s a good time to hash out friendly disagreements or to take up arts or crafts projects. ¯ ARIES (March 20 -April 19): Before speaking up, try to remember some bit of wisdom from a wise old woman, probably your grandmother or a teacher from early childhood. Her insight could smooth out the rough edges, turning your initial ideas from disastrous to helpful. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): You may be overly invested in a set goal that isn’t as realistic as it originally seemed. We all need to revise plans now and then. Be practical, not stubborn! Discuss it with friends, and take time alone to reconsider priorities. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): You may be trying too hard to get ahead and to organize people you see as "your team." Stand back, think about what’s really important, and listen carefully to your friends and their aims. Communication is the key to cooperation. SAG~TTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): Disruptions at home can make you cranky and argumentative. Looking for sex to blow off steam may prove more frustrating than helpful. Competitive games - especially those that test communications skills (Scrabble, Charades, Pictionary) - are probably better for releasing tension. CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Keep your focus right in front of your nose. Accidents are just waiting to happen; being overloaded and distracted only encourages them! Teamwork is helpful, if you can resist the urge to get drawn into turf battles. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February t8): The cost of fun can be a lot higher than expected. Be inventive (you can manage that!), and have a great time on the cheap. Debates over aesthetics may seem more heated than they should be, but welcome the arguments for potential inspiration. PISCES (February t9 - March 19): Feeling like a stranger at home isn’t fun, but it can fuel the creative juices. Get playful, make like a tourist, and let someone take you to places you’d never go on your own. Take a more objective, outsider’s stance in community politics. CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Arguments that seem to come out of nowhere are really about your hidden doubts and fears. Expert opinions can help set your mind at ease. Try exploring some artistic medium or musical style that wouldn’t normally interest you. LEO (July 23 - August 22): Your own ideas of sexual politics could shake up your corner of the GLBT community, which can stimulate new thinking. Discussion points that come from the heart will go over better than battle cries that sound like P.C. cliches. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Flirtations and sexual politics can complicate relations with bosses and colleagues. Acknowledging sexual tension may help to dispel it, but that doesn’t always work. Think deeply and far ahead before trying it. Discuss any problems at your job with friends who work elsewhere. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Cooperation is usually more productive in the long run than competition is. Both have their place, but your eager ambitions may blind you to better opportunities. Careful listening can turn rivals into allies. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Sexual experimentation is fine in principle; just be careful that you don’t land in a bad situation. Think ahead and be cautious! Be clear about health risks, discuss at length what you really want, and look before you leap. MCC METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES IRev Steve "IF. Urie Spirit of Christ MCC 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, IVlO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Saturdays at 10:00 AM Community Mieal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC of the Living Spring t7 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays at 6:00 PMi Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! 28 theSTAR www.ozarksstar.com �Support those who support us. DOWNTOWN PLAZ__A of TULSA 17 West 7th Street Tulsa, OK 918-585-5898 www.downtownplazatulsa.com HABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 www.habanainn.com EXPRESSIONS Comm Fellowship 311 S Klein Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73108 405-761-1878 www.myspace.com/expressionsokc CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 www.c2 lgoldcastle.com HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIWSTD Hotline CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant ANGLES 2117 NW 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK www.anglesdub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 www.bambooloungetulsa.com GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: wv~v.gaybradyheightstulsa.com MCC of the LMNG SPRING 17 Hk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pm GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn OPENAR/vlS YOUTH PROJECT 2015 -B S. Lakewood Tulsa, OK 74112 918-838-7104 www. openarmsproject.org DALLAS CVB Dallas, TX www.winatrip.glbtdallas.com Want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $33.95 will be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or moneyorder to: FINISHLINE 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com The STAR PO Box 581718 Tulsa, OK 74158-1718 (Single Copies $3.00 per issue) STEVES HIDEAWAY LOUNGE 11730 E. llTH Tulsa, OK 918-437-0449 Open Sun- Sat 2pm to 2am 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com www.ozarksstar.com Knformation OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 www.dubmajestictulsa.com THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK For { vertisin NAME: Address: City:. KING OF MASSAGE In or Out Calls Oklahoma City, OK 405-314-3898 JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 9!8-743-8636 St: Zip:, Phone: Check enclosed Money Order Start Date: theSTAR �Keller Williams Realty Chuck Breckenridge Vghether buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. KING OF MASSAGE Great Touch Man to Man Futl Bodj Massage 2 hands or 4 hands available (405) 3{4o3898 Now Hiring Male & Female 30 t~eSTAR www.ozarksstar.com ��We believe that homosexuality is not a genetic trait but a chosen lifestyle. We oppose the portrayal of homosexual or promiscuous behavior in a positive light in our public schools. We oppose the erosion of our military readiness through openly_ practicing homosexuals serving in the military We oppose the promotion of homosexuality, the elimination of laws against sodomy, and the granting of minority protection or special status to any person based upon sexual preference or lifestyle choice. If the Republican message of hate and division doesn’t represent you, then join us and vote Democrati’c in support of what we stand for: LIBERTY, EQUALITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, PROUDLY INCLUDING THE GLBT COMMUNITY. I~’ol~V~ln ~o~e$~ Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair I~ Asbe~’ry~ Oklahoma Democratic Party Vice Chair Undu Sru~’ ~’~ Oklahoma State Democratic Party Treasurer ¢~’~o g~’d~ Oklahoma State Field Director Democratic National Commiffee, Fifth District Chair 3~ ~o~’~ Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner A~ ~{~’e~ Oklahoma State Representative District 88 gob ~.e~o~ our friend who’s straight but not narrow Taken from current platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties of Oklahoma. �� Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document By Joey De 2008 A new " for Pride By Joey De Ifyou have lived in Tulsa for more than twenty minutes, you knmv that there is an impenetrable force-field separating the city. Most Tulsans call it Forty-First Street. Photo: Equality Festival at Tulsa’s New Centennial Park Sometimes change can be difficult, however, despite months of complaints and apocalyptic predictions about the many "firsts" at Tulsa Pride 2008, it seems that the only people who had difficulties were the protesters. For the first time in the celebration’s history, the protesters were present for only a minimal time during the Pride Parade and completely absent from the Diversity picnic. "2008 was a },ear of dramatic change," says Nate Black, one of the event’s cochairs. "However thanks to the dedication of a strong group of volunteers, all the changes to this year’s events were possible. It would not have been possible without each and every person who helped." Black especially credited his co-chairs Kristi Freeman and Toby Jenkins with making the pieces fit together. "Kristi has an incredible ability to assess and foresee needs and coordinate logistics. The fact that everything worked smoothly to host thousands of people at our events xvas a testament to her abilities." "The fact that ~hlsa Pride is able to remain free to the public is proof of Toby’s dedication to these events, which on the low end cost over $30,000. Under his leadership, we were able to, for the first time, secure the majority of our sponsorships long before the events even took place," says Black. .......... Continued page-5 Enter the Downtown Plaza Hotel, on 7th & Boulder, who for the first time in recent memory provided Tulsa Pride an official "host" hotel. Staying at a hotel room for your own city’s Pride ,nay seem a little excessive, but for a South-Tulsan, it made perfect sense. Having a place downtown to call "home" for the weekend saved time and even money on the celebration’s two largest weekends. Anyone who has ever been to a Pride observance knows that three things are true. It will be hot. You will be sweaty. You xvill be drinking. All three of those can combine to impede a "proper" Pride celebration, but with the convenience of the Downtown Plaza Hotel’s location, neither was an issue. Through taking advantage of the special Pride Rate offered by the hotel, it was effortless to enjoy the day (or early evenings) festivities, ..........Continued page-5 1-800o535oAIDS (2437) Ok ahoraa s H~VIST~ 2 the STAR ww~v.ozarksstar.com Dear Editor: I thought I would add something to the political cartoon in the June 2008 Star. Presently I live in Oklahoma City, and much to my surprise have done so for the last 14 years. Originally from Boston I make an annual trip home each Christmas to see family and friends and make a quick pilgrimage to the haunts I was familiar with before leaving Boston in the mid 80’s. This pilgrimage consists ofwalking the city to see what is still around that I was familiar with, and perhaps who is still around that I can remember. On my most recent trip I was a little saddened to see many places that meant a lot to me are no longer around, or have been so renovated for so different a use that they are unrecognizable. As is my custom, on this outing I stopped in at every gay bar I could remember, or find, and had drinks and conversations with the bartenders. Most of the old bars are gone, as are the people. Politics begins in the bars in Boston, and gay politics was no exception. The civil rights fought for and won began with many bar patrons and owners, and in the process of getting what they were after, the bar owners found that with acceptance came a lesser need for the safety of an exclusively gay bar with the occasional straight patron. In conjunction with this the price of living in the city has made any gay ghetto prohibitive, making it necessary for what vcould have been the denizens of such an area to move into the suburbs for affordable housing with the side effect of showing the majority of the state that Gay people were pretty normal, and not the screaming stereotypes that isolation seemed to promote. Gay people were seen as responsible people and not the party animals who spent most of their lives going to bars to dance the night away and returning home each night with a different sex partner. They turned out to be people so normal that marriage did not seem to be such an improbable thing. The ultimate goal of gay gights is equality, and that means normalcy for most. Just as straights have their outlets out of the mainstream, so do gay people. But both do have their mainstreams. The gay bars still around are nostalgia for us older gentlemen who want some of the past preserved for our visits back, or who may feel more comfortable in one because life had not been all that kind to us, with just a bit of the specialty shop aura to them. Most have become very mixed, while some have become the corner bar, the lodge for men and women of like minds to talk freely among their own, but doing it willingly as opposed to necessarily. The lesser the need for exclusively gay bars, the more success can be claimed by the gay community. Joe Quigley Oklahoma City www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 3 4 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com TULSA PRIDE continued According to estimates provided by the Tulsa Police Department, this year’s Pride Parade and Block Party have become the largest events of their kind in Downtown Tulsa. Police estimate that there were a combined 18,000 people between the two events. Many parade-goers were excited about the new evening-format, celebrating with glow sticks and sparklers. Some of the floats even stepped into the spirit embracing christmas lights and disco balls. Most route walkers were simply excited over the fact that they no longer had the sun beating down on them and that the trek was much flatter. Following the parade, the block party centered around the Equality Center came into its own, maintaining a crowd until the scheduled end at midnight. Following the event, most of the area bars reported record capacity crowds as the party continued through the evening. The following weekend at Centennial Park, the only thing to be missed was the heat and mud at the former location. For many pride-goers, this event was the first time they had visited the new Tulsa centerpiece. Most fell in love with its picturesque setting and more importantly abundant shade. According to TPD estimates, 12,000 people visited the Diversity Picnic, which according to organizers was represented by a steady flow of people through out the day. The forty-plus booths at this year’s picnic xvere the most diverse in memory, representing non-profit service organizations such as HOPE Testing Clinic, Fortune 500 companies such as Best Buy and the traditional array of Rainbow Retailers. Picnickers enjoyed the live entertainment that took the stage off and on through out the day, while kids entertained themselves on the inflatable games and climbing wall. Okay, the kids weren’t the only ones enjoying the inflatable games. The handsdown hit of the picnic was the water slide that both kids and adults rode repeatedly. While the three major pride attractions could be considered a successful spl!t, many attendees expressed a desire for the events to be recombined onto one weekend. A common complaint: "I didn’t know what weekend to tell my friends to come. They couldn’t take off work both weekends or afford the gas to come twice." Black reacts to such criticism openly. "There were a lot of changes this year. Some things went very well; some things didn’t go as well as we had hoped. We are going to take what we learned, listen to the feed back we receive and then will make the appropriate changes for next year." As for now, Black and the rest of the Tulsa Pride Committee are happy to place Tulsa Pride 2008 in the history books as a success, with a rejuvenated event positioned to grow in the years to come. DOWNTOWN PLAZA HOTEL cont. then quickly retreat to air-conditioning and a cold shower. This was especially useful following the parade and block party, just before visiting the bar,s. Adding to the convenience was the hotel s on-call shuttle. With less then a ten minute wait each time it was needed, the shuttle allowed guests to leave their cars and avoid parking headaches, expensive gas and more importantly, DUIs. The hotel is currently undergoing a complete restoration, with every room being completely renovated to sport an almost TUqnspired blue and gold color scheme. Furnished with antique-style pieces, the rooms of the Downtown Plaza Hotel are uncluttered, yet comfortable and quaint. Pride guests noticed a little construction "dust" in the form of the occasional minor malfunction and missing carpet outside the elevator, however found their problems fixed quickly and courteously with a simple call to the front desk. Perhaps the most enjoyed aspect of Downtown Plaza Lobby the Downtown Plaza Hotel by some pride guests was their retreat to the New York City-eque second story outdoor pool. Tucked quietly between the rooftops of dmvntown Tulsa, the pool was quiet, clean, and theperfect place to prepare for, or recover from the festivities. Staying at the Downtown Plaza Hotel gives celebrating Tulsa Pride a new feel. For those from Tulsa, it creates an enjoyable mini-vacation, while those who travel enjoy its close proximity to the Pride events and Downtown night life. Either way, whether from in or out of town, it always feels good to stay where "family" is welcome. w~,~N.ozarksstar.com the STAR 5 Diversity Business Association of Tulsa The Phantom Standard Joey De For Marni Raab, playing the role of Christine in the legendary musical "The Phantom of the Opera," is the fulfillment of a long time dream. "I started ~vith this show as an understudy in 2001," recalls Raab, ~vho has played the role for the past seven years internationally. "I was then promoted to performing two shmvs a week, and then when on tour six." Although it may seem odd to plan alternating actresses to play a role, Raab explains it as "just good business sense." "The show is long and Christine is onstage for almost all of it," says Raab, who notes that there is only one scene in the almost three hour show in which her character doesn’t appear. "The people they hire to play Christine are ingdnues," says Raab, who continues "They put big, heavy costumes on them, and then thrmv them around. I wind up falling and running then falling again, a lot. It’s just better to schedule somebody as a second principal then to never kno~ving when your lead will be out." "The Phantom of the Opera," is Andrew Lloyd Webbers’ hit musical about Raab’s character, Christine, and her admirer/kidnapper, ~ll~e Phantom. "He’s a maniac, a monster, disfigured and he’s a murderer," describes Raab, "but he is also a poet, an architect and a brilliant composer." Christine on the other hand, is a young lady on the verge of adulthood, says Raab. "She was been raised by her violinist father, educated and probably traveled the world, which was rare then." Raab explains that her character is lonely and looking for a way in life when the brilliant, yet creepy Phantom enters her life as a mentor. Unfortunately, Christine’s’ childhood acquaintance Raoul re-enters her life at the same time, completing a love triangle that entangles the three. "She must choose between the passionate genius who has a horrible disfigurement and has been led down the wrong path, and the nice guy." When asked how the show has endured, Raab believes that "The Phantom," offers something for everyone to react to. "I have done the show across Canada, the US and Asia, and every audience reacts differently. There are lavish sets, pyrotechnics and elaborate costumes. It’s ornate, it’s majestic and at the heart it’s a love story." Helping to ensure the quality of "The Phantom" experience, Raab says that every production of the show must meet the highest standards. "Audiences demand a certain standard," says Raab," but the producers insist on it. If you xvant to produce the show, you must have the seal of approval from Andrew Lloyd Webber, Hal Prince and al! of the people associated with the original. This way the show you see (in Tulsa) is the same as what people in New York and on the West End are seeing." Raab says that there is also a standard the performers in the show must live up to. "It is humbling and an honor to be in this show, and I know I have big shoes to fill. It has been around for so long, audiences feel a sense of ownership in it, making it even more important to see it done right. You (the performers) have a responsibility to keep the show in shape and do it justice." According to Raab, the performers have help from standard’s directors, who guide their performances to prevent serious character infractions. "We dodt have the luxury of’finding’ our characters," the actress explains. "It takes a different skill set to step into a role that has been established and place our marks on it as artists." If you have not yet experienced "The Phantom," the show will be at the Tulsa PAC through July 13. Visit www.myticketoffice. corn for ticketing information. Quotable Quotes Scientists at the Karolinska Institute studied brain scans of 90 gay and straight men and women, and found that the size of the two symmetrical halves of the brains of gay men more closely resembled those of straight women than they did straight men, while the brains of homosexual women were asymmetrical like those of straight men. 6 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com Open Daily = High Noon www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 7 17 West 7th Street (corner 7~ & Boulder Ave) Tulsa, Ok 74119 R~tions: 918~5~98 e 800~5,5101 www.downtownplazatulsa:com 8 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com JULY 2008 the STAR 9 Oklahoma City Museum o£Art Presents Roman Art £rom the Louvre Final U.S. venue for rare ancient works from the Louvre’s esteemed collection OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ The Otdahoma City Museum ofArt wil! be the final North American venue for Roman Art from the Louvre, June 19 through October 12, 2008. Tile seventeen-~veek exhibition, so large it will occupy the Museum’s ground floor special exhibition gallery and the eight second floor galleries of the Museum, will feature 184 works, some weighing more than 6,000 pounds. An unprecedented exhibition of ancient masterworks, drawn from the Louvre’s unparalleled collection, it provides a rare and historic opportunity for Oklahoma audiences to view these magnificent works, many of which have not been seen by the public in decades and most of which have never traveled to the United States. Furthermore, many of the objects in the exhibition have recently been restored, bringing to light their original beauty and strength of expression. "The Louvre, thanks to Napoleon’s megalomaniac interest in the glories ofAncient Rome, has one of the finest collections of Roman art outside of Italy," said Hardy George, Ph.D., chief curator at the Oklahoma City Museum ofArt. "The exhibition of sculpture, jewelry, mosaics, and frescos will be scrupulously arranged in a thematic manner that will certainly be visually and aesthetically pleasing as well as historically informative." The exhibition examines the manifestations of Roman public and private life through an exploration of several themes, including religion, urbanism, war, imperial expansion, funerary practices, intellectual life, and family. Roman Art from the Louvre shows the full range of Roman artistry and taste, juxtaposing "official" art with more modest, private works. The portrait busts of anonymous men, women, and children featured in "The Roman Citizen" reveal the styles and fashions popular during the Roman Empire. Clothing, hairstyles, jewelry and other accessories, perfume bottles, and cosmetics are examined within the greater context of the role of women in the Roman Empire. Other topics addressed include the art of Roman portraiture; the Boscoreale treasure; and Hadrian’s Villa at Tivoli and the Maritime Theater. Roman Art from the Louvre was organized by the American Federation ofArts and the Musde du Louvre. The exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities. American Federation ofArts: The AFA is a nonprofit institution that organizes art exhibitions for presentation in museums around the ~vorld, publishes exhibition catalogues, and develops educational materials and programs. For more information on the AFA, please visit www.afaweb.org. VOTER REGISTRATION Voter registration applications may be submitted at any time. However, a valid application must be received at a motor license agency or a designated voter registration agency, or postmarked (if submitted by mail), more than 24 days prior to an election in order for the applicant to participate in that election. Deadlines for submitting valid voter registration applications prior to the 2008 statewide elections are as follows: Primary Hection Friday, July 4 - Registration Deadline Tuesday, July 29 - Election Runoff Primary Election Friday, August 1 - Registration Deadline Tuesday, August 26 - Hection General Election Frida); October 10 - Registration Deadline Tuesday, November 4 - Election CHANGES IN POLITICAL AFFILIATION Changes in political affiliation may not be made during the period from June ! through August 31, inclusive, in any even-numbered year. The last day on which a change in political affiliation can be made before the closed period is May 31; the first day on which a change in political affiliation can be made after the closed period is September 1. OTHER IMPORTANT DATES Last day to request absentee ballot for July 29 Primary Election \Vednesday, July 23 Vote early at your County Hection Board office Friday, July 25, 8 AM - 6 PM Saturda); July 26, 8 AM - 1 PM Monday, July 28, 8 AiVl - 6 PM Candidate Filing for federal, state, legislative and county offices June 2 - 4 vavw.ok, gov/-elections/index.html 10 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com Congressman Frank: WhyJohn McCain Is \Vdrong for the LGBT Community WASHINGTON, DC __ In the May edition of the Democratic National Committee’s LGBT newsletter, Democratic Congressman Barney Frank makes the case for why electing John McCain would be a step backward for the LGBT community. Frank, a member of Congress representing Massachusetts since 1981, has long been an outspoken civil rights advocate and a vocal member of the LGBT community. While McCain has tried to portray himself as a "maverick" and a "moderate," Congress: man Frank makes it clear that on LGBT rights, like so many issues, McCain offers a third Bush term. ~-he following are excerpts of Congressman Frank’s article: changes taking place in civil life ... Homosexuality is a behavioral trait, unlike skin color... "With one exception, the relevance of which Senator McCain himself is rapidly diminishing, John McCain’s record is completely opposed to our efforts to combat prejudice and gain legal equality... "He has of course made it clear that he will support constitutional Amendments banning marriage at the state level, including in his mvn state ofArizona, and he regretted the fact that Arizona rejected such an amendment... "In every other area, McCain has a consistent voting record against our efforts. In 1996, the only time the Senate voted on the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, McCain was one of those who voted no. He has also consistently voted against extending hate crimes protection to gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender individuals... "This apparently reflects the prejudiced view that he expressed in 1993 when he was helping block President Clinton’s effort when he said on February 4th, as recorded in the Congressional Record, "The issue of allowing open gay lifestyles in the military is completely different from the kind of "In addition to strongly opposing same-sex marriage, suggesting that he could modify his opposition to a federal constitutional amendment banning states like Massachusetts from adopting same-sex marriage, voting against ENDA, consistently opposing hate crimes coverage for us, and being recorded against every other effort in the Senate to give us fair treatment, Senator McCain also promised if he becomes president to reduce those protections we have been able to achieve at the Supreme Court level. He has noted his admiration for those justices who have consistently voted against any efforts by GLBT people to establish any right to legal equality, for example ChiefJustice Rehnquist, a dissenter in the Lawrence v. Texas case, in which the sodomy laws against gay and lesbian people were stricken. "Given the alignment of Supreme Court Justices, and their ages, it is virtually certain that ifJohn McCain is president, he will appoint justices who will overturn the Lawrence decision and the leading Supreme Court opponent of fair treatment for gay and lesbian people, Antonin Scalia ~vill gain alhes from McCmns appolntme ts. Community Peopte living 50t c (3) b~on Profit ()rganization Our House, Too offers a vadety of activities for PeoPle who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HIM+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail hardsmmjr@yahoo.com. www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 1t ~W By Donald Pile and Ray Williams MY TRIP DOWN THE PINK CARPET for Will & Grace in 2006, but Leslie also is a gifted writer and playwright. He wrote and starred in the autobiographical play, LOST IN THE PERSHING POIINT HOTEL, which was also made into a motion picture. He has appeared in dozens ofTV shows including The Fall Guy, Murphy Brown, Newhart, Ski Patrol, Lois & Clark "The New Adventures of Superman", Reba, Wings, The Pretender, Dharma and Gregg, Ellen, Caroline and the City, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Nash Bridges, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Judging Amy, George Lopez, Boston Legal, Ugly Betty and Hidden Palms to name just a few. Leslie Jordan, the wonderful talented actor, comedian, writer and playwright has just come out with his new book, MYTRIP DOWN THE PINK CARPET which is a fabulously funny and interesting biography of Leslie’s life, so far. We are fortunate that we met Leslie a few years ago and saw his opening performance of"Like A Dog On Linoleum" in West Hollywood. He played to sell out audiences every night, and now in his new book, he brings his life to readers throughout the nation to peruse. What began as a smal! boy growing up in Tennessee and thru his different trials and tribulations he now is one of the top actors/entertainers in the country. Leslie has written a brutally honest story of his life and tells about all of it, warts and all, from his alcoholism, addiction to drugs, street hustlers and everything in between. The greatest thing is that he has been able to overcome most all of his demons (he has now been sober for over 10 years). Most people who write biographies like to kinda forget the bad times and only tell about the good times. Not Leslie! He deals with every aspect of his life and takes the readers through everything. Most people only know of Leslie either from the movie, Sordid Lives or from his guest appearances on Will & Grace. He was nominated and won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Yes, Leslie Jordan does have a ministry and that ministry is to be fun, funny, exciting and to bring happiness to the world. There is enough grief and misery in the world as it is. He brings a breath of fresh air wherever he goes. It is so nice reading a real biography where the author tells it just as it was and is and lets the readers get to know him personally. This should be a "must read" for all high school students, both gay and straight. It is an honest and compelling story of one person’s struggle with himself and the world around him, and he won! Leslie Jordan certainly deserves all the awards and accolades that he receives. MYTRIP DOWN THE PINK CARPET is one of the funniest yet heart-felt books that we have ever read. Leslie Jordan is real ! and in today’s world that is really something to say! Leslie Jordan is not like Paul Lynde, he is not like Truman Capote, he is not like anybody else. He is simply himself and that is what makes him so great. After reading this book we can understand why his one man performances are sell outs! We can’t wait for the sequel to this book! We URGE all of our readers to rush out and purchase a copy of this book. Leslie Jordan is taking his "act" on the road again and will be coming to a city near you with an exciting one man performance and to sign his book. Check out his website, www. thelesliejordan.com for updates. "Love, light to you, Leslie and the very best!" Donald Pile and Ray Williarm, Award-winning Celebrity travel columnists who writefor gaypublicationsfrom Coast to Coast. Proud members ofthe IGLTA. You can email them at: gaytravelers@aol.com or visit their webpage at: http://www,hometown.aol.com/gaytravelers 12 the STAR ~vw.ozarksstar.com Wockner News Service Two California counties rebel against marriage ruling County clerks in California’s Kern and Butte counties have stopped performing all marriages so as not to have to marry gay couples. In Kern County, where Bakersfield is located, Clerk Ann Barnett announced her decision after county lawyers told her she could not marry straight couples but refuse to marry gay couples. Officially, she said the move stemmed from a lack ofstaffand space to meet the anticipated demand for weddings. But in an e-mail sent to the conservative legal group Alliance Defense Fund and obtained by the Bakersfield Californian newspaper, Barnett’s office wrote: "Our question is, now that the Supreme Court has refused to stay its decision, will Alliance Defense Fund defend the County Clerk if she ceases performing all marriage ceremonies.... We fully expect to be sued and our own counsel is not being of help.’" In Butte County, north of Sacramento, County Clerk Candace Grubbs cited money problems in announcing her decision. ~:he county’s largest city is Chico, population 87,OO0. But the president of the California Association of Clerks and Elected Officials, Contra Costa County Clerk Steve Weir, said the money excuse makes no sense. He told the San Francisco Chronicle that counties make money from selling marriage licenses and performing weddings. Kern and Butte counties still have to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but counties are not required to also offer wedding ceremonies, though most do as a courtesy and because it brings in income. Massachusetts governot’sdaughter comes out Katherine Patrick, daughter of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, came out publicly as a lesbian June 12 in an interview with the Boston gay newspaper Bay Windows. "We... wanted people to know that it’s not only something that we accept, but it’s something that we’re very proud of," Katherine, 18, said. She said she came out to her parents in July 2007, just before a picnic by the pool at their home in the Berkshires. "It was the easiest coming out experience that anyone could possibly have," Katherine said. First lady Diane Patrick called that event "a nonevent in the sense that there wasn’t any tension." "I was just happy for her that she knew who she was and that she was comfortable with who she was," she said. Gov. Patrick told Bay Windows, "I think when Katherine started to memorize all the episodes ofThe L Word, there was some hint that maybe she was sending us." Big gay gro,ups: Do marry; dont sue Leading national gay organizations have issued a strongly worded advisory al! but demanding that same-sex couples who visit California to get married not file any lawsuits seeking recognition of their marriages in their home states. The document also strongly urges married same-sex couples not to sue for federal recognition of their marriages. The lengthy document was issued June 10 by Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Human Rights Campaign, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, Equality Federation, Freedom To Marry, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "Don’t go suing right away," the groups said. "Most lawsuits will likely set us all back." "One thing couples shouldn’t do is just sue the federal government or, if they are from other states, go sue their home state or their employer to recognize their marriage or open up the health plan," the advisory continued. "Pushing the federal government before we have a critical mass of states recognizing same-sex relationships or suing in states where the courts aren’t ready is likely to get us bad rulings. Bad rulings will make it much more difficult for us to win marriage, and will certainly make it take much longer." The full document can be accessed on the ACLU’s Web site at tinyurl.com/66z8kq. N.Y. governor sued over gay-marriage decision Five state lawmakers and the right-wing legal group Alliance Defense Fund sued New York Gov. David Paterson on June 3, hoping to block his order that state agencies must recognize same-sex marriages entered into in places where they are legal. The suit claims that only the Legislature can redefine marriage and seeks an injunction halting implementation of the order. Paterson has said he merely complied with a recent court decision that found that a community college could not deny benefits to the wife of a female employee -- the couple married in Canada -- because New York policy recognizes marriages performed outside the state. Same-sex marriage is allowed in Belgium, California, Canada, Denmark, Massachusetts, the Netherlands, South Africa and Spain. ........More U. S. News page 23 www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 13 ~e~LInside Hol~ood, reports on new Reese Witherspoon and Ben Stiller Get Secretive ~hen ifyou dofft get to know what it is. movie proiecr, and the reason for all the hush ator, Cameron Crowe. Crowe is known t tong as he cm~, and this one is no exception. Witherspoon and Ben Stiller, and it’s a romantic bytes, the presence of seem like the most promising. ~they mean that as Etizabethtown. So the rum re is tentatively bright. For now, Dan Butler to Karl Rove: I Love You What happens when political strategist? 7he consequences of such a strange ~ comedy from writer-director Dan Butler, _Kad Rove: I Love as Bulldog on Frasier, Butler stars in this seifa depressed careerist actor in 2004, creating a one man show about President Bush’s to goal? The win-win scenario of both swaying the above the tide for once. The Hollywood/D.( producer, screenwri ~er, director, and star, and audiences can makes the tihn-festivai circuit rounds, starting tight about now. 14 the STAR The fellewing EarthQ~ke Zin ’05 The Phillips brothers pride th~mselves farming on quality. Their efforts competitions. with lots zing and flavor. Earthq brands under Chards & must try. Orin Swift Cedars The wine ’Heavenly It’s rare and : pepper and tobacco wild berry, with some flavors. Ahint suggests that Petite Sirah, Charbono and St offering is best from 2009 through 20 Ravenswood Napa Zin ’05 97% Zinfandel, 3% Carignane. Heasing bright, ripe plum flavors with a fine tannin structure. This xvine has a lingering finish tha’ tastes ofraspberries, doves and vanilla. Opolo Mountain Zin ’05 Ifyou are one of those who believe bigger is better, read on. Appropriately named for its bountiful bouquet offruit as well as where the grapes are grown, this full-bodied Zinfandd has plenty ofripe black cherry, plum and spice and is framed by soft tannins and balanced acidity. ,case Zinfandel, Petit Sirah & Carignanel the 2006 Ner~ Mi~o (Italian for "mixed black") is deep filackish-burgundy colored with a nose o~ dried herbs, pepper and leather. This deii~ious "field blend" styled wine has flavors 6f pomegranate, black fruits and figs with a hint of spice, medium to full bodied firm tannins, a long, lush finish/ Italian food, spicy the rig~ht now, though critics say it will next 5 - 7 ),ears. This to find so if you see it, of the better values, to be a vastly superior fbr Zinfandel. This wine, some Petite Sirak, Merlot, and Grenache blended in/exhibits ruby color. There is a sweet nose of peppery black cherry and raspberry, liqueur intermixed with spring flowers earth. The wine is medium to full-bodied. Wine critic Robert Parker gave this one Points. Mr. D also hosts wine & food events i known in town as the Wine Enthusiasts Tulsa. References include: the ABC’s of wine by James Laube/www.WineSpectator.com ’,,~##¢.FoodandWine.com www.Wikipedia.org Z A P www.zinfandel.org Members from ever) 25 club flag VOTE For Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth & Co. 16 t~$TAR SSIL~’s HOT Cowboys, Let’s Rodeo! www.ozarksstar.¢om JULY 2008 downtown Tulsa. Author Clara Nipper 0fTulga-Her new book, Femme Noir, has received num~ro~ rave reviews and was nominated for 2 Lambda Lite~ rds~ Her story backdrop is in Tulsa a~ the time 6f~h~ i921 rac~ riots, about a lesbian murder mystery featuring a hardcore black woman named Nora who finds h~rself ii~,estigating her friend’s murder, the STAR t 7 by Donald Pile and Ray Williams WEST HOLL OOD, CALIFOrnIA 90069 Special praise needs to be given to Steve Nycklemoe who is the Director of Operations. He has done an outstanding job in putting this exhibit together. Actually it is one of the finest exhibits that we have seen in our travels. We strongly urge all of our readers to visit this museum. Steve Nycklemoe & Ray \Villiams Well, the zip code just about explains almost everything about West Hollywood! What else can be said except that it is fun and exciting and ? There is so much to see and do and not enough time. For those of you who have never been there, \Hest Hollywood which is known as "WEHO" is located between Los Angeles and Beverly Hills and the main street is Santa Monica Blvd. which is filled with gay flags, restaurants, bars and shops. At night time it is filled with thousands of people partying. The HOLLYWOOD MUSEUM is located in the historic Max Factor building at 1660 North Highland Avenue just a few blocks east of the Kodak Center in downtown Hollywood. They have over 10,000 showbiz treasures. When we were there, they had a special exhibit of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia including many of the dresses that she wore in her movies. You can see the chair where Hizabeth Taylor sat in the movie Cleopatra, view Cary Grant’s vintage Rolls Royce, Elvis Presley’s favorite bathrobe, Rocky’s boxing gloves and Indiana Jones’ whip. As you enter the beautiful Art Deco building you walk directly in to the exquisite lobby with it’s original art deco lighting fixtures, show cases and architectural moldings. There are displays of original Max Factor cosmetics and ads. Browse the different make up rooms where each has a different color mode It is truly like stepping back into old Hollywood when it was at it’s peak. There are several floors of exciting exhibits to see. Actually one could spend a whole day there and not see everything. Downstairs they have the original prison setting of Hannibal in Silence of the Lambs. They have really worked at making this one of the finest museums in the country. Anybody and everybody who is even remotely interested in movies should visit this museum. Their hours are 10 AM to 5 PM, Thursday thru Sunday. Be sure to check out their website at: www.thehollywoodmuseum.com. Be sure to visit at least one of the major movie studios while you are in West Hollywood. We attended the world premier play, BOISE USA by the extremely talented playwright, Gene Franklin Smith and masterly directed by Arturo Castillo. BOISE USA is a character-driven drama about gay persecution in Boise, Idaho in the 1950’s. The writing is superb! The casting is perfect! Every actor is sensational. The audience is mesmerized by all of this. Hopefully it will go to Broadway in the near future as everybody needs to experience this splendid drama. We had the good fortune of meeting Gene Franklin Smith and he is an incredibly talented playwright. We can only hope that he continues writing for many years to come. It has been playing to rave reviews. It is presently showing at the Matrix Theater at 7657 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. There are of course dozens and dozens of museums and galleries to visit in greater Los Angeles. As always is the case when we travel..... too many things to see and do, and not enough time. We did have "lunch with Holly Woodlawff’ one afternoon. She was one of the Andy Warhol actresses who now lives in West Hollywood and we visited with the Countess Alexis who is one of the great Divas of all times who was also associated with Andy Warhol in New York City and was in several movies. One day we visited the new Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing. This is an incredible high-rise apartment housing project for "seasoned" gays and lesbian on a fixed income. Complete ~vith a swimming pool, library room, gym room and a social room this facility offers a safe and secure place for "seasoned" gays and lesbians to live. There are literally hundreds of restaurants in the greater Los Angles Area. Our favorites was the ABBEY which is a huge restaurant and bar right in downtown West HoltFwcood. The TASTE restaurant is also a great place that we would strongly recommend. Excellent food and service as well as ambiance at these bars. For breakfast or lunch we enjoy the French Market restaurant. There are dozens and dozens of bars in West Hollywood and on weekends there are usually long lines waiting to get in. Drink prices at most of these bars are astronomical! For our readers in the Midwest, be ready for a shock. It is nothing to pay $10 to $15 for a drink and we mean just for a regular bourbon and coke or screwdriver. We are not talking call drinks either! With gas hovering around $5.00 a gallon and drinks priced that high and with the cost of housing, it does take lots of money to have a good time. 18 th÷$TAR ~.ozarksstar.com The Abbey Restaurant and Bar We stayed at the San Vicente Inn which is just 1/2 block from Santa Monica Blvd. It is a totally gay resort that has recently been sold and is now in the process of being completely remodeled. It is the most convenient place to stay since you can walk almost everywhere, and if you want to go anywhere else you catch the bus. The staffis one of the friendliest around. NOTE: Seepage 22for 7he Abbey’s Tn~ffte Macaroni & Cheese recipe. Oklahomans for Equality and Breast Impressions ofTulsa team up to raise breast cancer awareness. Breast Impressions "Beauty beyond Breast Cancer" Art on Display TULSA, OK (PR) __ For the second year Breast Impressions breast cast art will be on display at the Oklahomans for Equality Dennis R. Nell! Equality Center gallery through the month ofJuly. Only breast cancer survivors have been cast in plaster this year, and local artists have turned the castings into stunning examples of each survivor’s incredible journey through breast cancer¯ The art displayed will be auctioned at the Breast Impressions Annual Gala for the benefit ofTulsa Project Woman, Inc. on October 3, 2008. But the Equality Center "Beauty beyond Breast Cancer" show allows Oklahomans to see and experience he inspiration through each survivor s story. Breast Impressions is honored to display the work at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center gallery because of the higher risk for developing breast cancer among lesbians and bisexual women. www.ozarksstar.corn Due to a variety of social stigmas statistically they have a higher risk profile than their heterosexual counterparts. Realizing this, Tulsa Project Woman will hold an educational seminar during the Breast Impressions art show, to further promote breast cancer awareness through the communit): Opening Night of the Gallery showing will be July 3, 2008 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th Street, in downtown Tulsa. Refreshments will be provided by Panera Bread, Godiva Chocolate, and Escargot’s. Many of the artists and breast cancer survivor models will be in attendance to meet those who visit. The show will continue through July until the 28th, Monday through Saturday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tulsa Project Woman will also host a dessert reception and private showing of the Breast Impressions Exhibit and then a Breast Health Education seminar on Thursday, July 17 at 7:00pm. This seminar will include information on Breast Cancer Prevention, How to do a Self Breast Exam and the Tulsa Project Woman. You can contact Judi Grove, founder of Breast Impressions at 918- 691-3874 for more information about the Equality Center gallery showing, or the upcoming Gala and Auction for the benefit ofTulsa Project Woman. theSTAR 19 of Town By Andrew Collins Nashville, Tennessee :was good idea). The s~ae THEABBEY FOOD &B£ By Donald Pile & Ray \vq’illiams The Abbey Food and Bar is located at 692 North Robertson just 1/2 block south of Santa Monica Blvd. It has been around quite a few years and it is one of the wonderful restaurants/bars that just keeps getting better year after year after year. David Cooley is the master at the art ofwork and play. Over the past 15+ years, his creation, The Abbey Food and Bar, has grown from a small, West Hollywood coffeehouse to one of the most popular hotspots in the country. Locals, tourists and celebrities alike all flock to The Abbey for its infamous Martinis as well as its stunning, open-air ambiance and truly relaxed elegance. In May 2006, Cooley and The Abbey entered an entirely new and exciting phase in its partnership with the Los Angeles-based SBE, which has fast become one of the pivotal players in the Los Angeles nightlife and restaurant scene. Armed with the expertise, infrastructure and corporate reach of SBE, The Abbey is beginning its biggest expansion to date - reproducing the signature Abbey experience in selected cities nationwide. While no specific locations have been finalized for national expansion, Cooley and SBE are exploring locations where The Abbey’s open-air concept would work best, including Miami’s South Beach, Atlanta, San Francisco, Dallas, Las Vegas and Phoenix. So now you have the background on the Abbey but you MUST dine and drink there. It is where it is all happening in West Hollywood and everyone who is anyone goes there. Hizabeth Taylor made a rare appearance there last month to a cheering crowd. When we dined there, everything was great...the service, the ambiance and the food was spectacular! We had the finest pork chops that we have ever had! The mac and cheese with truffles were to die for! There are dozens and dozens of restaurants to dine at in West Hollywood and this is certainly one of the finest. Check out their exciting menu on line at their website, http://www.abbeyfoodandbar.com/ 22 tbeSTAR w~wv.ozarksstar.com Ca iforni s will vote on same-sex marriage They’re gonna vote on whether you are a full American. Anti-gay activists have succeeded in qualifying an initiative for the Nov. 4 ballot to amend the California Constitution to undo the state Supreme Court’s recent ruling that opened marriage to same-sex couples. The ruling takes effect, and the weddings begin, on June 16 at 5 p.m. The activists had to submit 694,354 valid petition signatures to qualify the initiative for a vote. They submitted 1,120,801 and, on June 2, Secretary of State Debra Bowen said a spot-check of 3 percent of the signatures found that a high enough percentage of them ,vere valid to extrapolate that the threshold would be met if all t. 1 million were checked. Tne amendment will state: "Only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." The latest poll on the issue, a respected California Field Poll released May 28, found that 51 percent of registered California voters support same-sex marriage, 42 percent oppose it and 7 percent have no opinion. The poll found that 54 percent oppose amending the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage, 40 percent favor an amendment and 6 percent have no opinion. The biggest support for same-sex marriage came from younger voters, Democrats, liberals, nonreligious people and residents of the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County. The strongest opposition came from older people, Republicans, conservatives, bornagain Christians, Protestants and residents of the Central Valley and Southern California counties apart from L.A. County. Observers predict that the battle may be won or lost in the populous Southern California counties of Orange and San Diego. Women (53 percent) polled more supportive than men (48 percent) with 8 percent of each having no opinion and the rest opposed. A majority of respondents up to age 49 favored sane-sex marriage, while a majority of people over age 50 opposed it. The poll questioned 1,052 voters and had a margin of error of 3.2 percentage points. Obama cdebrates gay pride Presidential candidate Barack Obama said June 6 that his campaign is actively participating in more than 60 gay pride events this summer, as detailed at pride.barackobama. com/pridemonth. "I am proud to join with our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered brothers and sisters in celebrating the accomplishments, the lives, and the families of all LGBT people during this Pride season," Obama said in a statement. "It’s time to live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect. Let’s enact federal civil rights legislation to outlaw hate crimes and protect workers against discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Let’s repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and demonstrate that the most effective and professional military in the world is open to all Americans who are ready and willing to serve our country. Let’s treat the relationships and the families ofLGBT Americans with full equality under the law. "Generations ofLGBT Americans, at once ordinary and extraordinary, have made possible this moment in our history. With leadership and hard work, we can fulfill the promise of equality for all," Obama said. Quotable Quotes Obama told reporters "the Republicans helped to engineer the distraction of the war in Iraq at a time when we could have pinned down the people who actually committed 9-11." He said Osama bin Laden is still at large in part because of their failed strategies. Kansas CoupJe Does IDO. By Greg Steele Photo: Donald Pile, Larry IVard, Riverside County, (Palm Springs) CA County Clerk and oj~ciating the wedding and Ray Williams. PALM SPRINGS, CA __ Donald Pile and Ray Williams long time friends and columnists for The Star exchanged legal vows in Palm Springs, CA on June 17, 2008. The couple drove from West Hollywood, where they were vacationing, to Palm Springs for the ceremony. The Star talked with them about the historic occasion. "We stopped by Palm Springs early this morning and were married", Donald told us. "Mel Haber, owner of the famous Melwn’S Restaurant in Palm Springs was a witness. He is a dear straight friend of ours. The other witness was our good friend, Stefan Hemming who owns the Liberace Estate. We were very cool about the whole thing until the Clerk said, "In as much as ....... Donald and Raymond have thus consented together in marriage, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the State of California as a Commissioner of Civil Marriage for the County of Riverside (Palm Springs, CA), I now pronounce you to be united in marriage". "It was a small wedding as we didn’t have much time. When we walked out the front door of the county court house, we were crying and shouting". After 37 years we have never been more in love with each other. We are just sad for the gays and lesbians in other parts of the country who do not have the opportunity to get married". www.ozarksstar.corn th÷STAR 23 Photo’s by Victor G. & Judy G. @ The Ledo, Oklahoma City @Club Majestic, Tulsa @ The Copa, Oklahoma City @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa @ Steve’s Hideaway, Tulsa 24 @Angles, Oklahoma City @ Finishline, Oklahoma City June 6, O~n~YoUth Center conducted the r annua F~hi~~: ,Th~ ~h~ was hosted by 106.9 s Chase and OK:: There were different artists in Pride Prade These ad es are hay ng tooooo~ ~bh fun www.ozarksstar.com CaIJaway CD Romanticizes Man to Man AL RE-ELECTED D STRICT 88 "You Ain’t Woman Enough’To Take My Man", a gay man is telling a woman, drag queen or possible a transvestite, that she isn’t woman enough to take his boyfriend. The title song "darn it, Baby, That’s Love" highlights the collection. Clay and his partner, Ty Lewis sing it as a duet with passion and love. Other song selections that will get you in the mood include "I’ve Grown Ac- :customed To Your Face", "All ~e Man That I Need", "Never Loved A Man Before", and "Come In From The Rain" In the past 20 years Callaway managed to find love, work somewhat in the shadows of "the industry" (as in, behind the scenes) in Los Angeles, New York, Sweden, Dominican Republic and all points in between, boomeranged through Nashville and came to live in Hilo, Hawaii. It was here that the muse again came to him. "Hawaii is so full of music and incredible voices that I found my self facing this love I have to sing out loud and once again I felt in love with the audience, and they seemed to like me too", Clay says. Charlie’s, often hosted by Joan Rivers, The Rose Tatoo, the Palomino Club and other "interesting" places. All the while making a living working in television production as a production assistant and slowly moving up that food chain. Life was good, met a few cute guys along the way and a few hot messes as well. It came a time in my early 20% I was taking voice lessons with Bob Garrett and we ended up writing a couple of songs together. On my web site, I have included a demo of one of those songs from over 20 years ago for a sneak peek at one that will be resurrected for my next album. I can’t sing that high anymore, but it’s a look back to a day tong past." "Then a fire in my apartment building left me homeless and sent me back to stay with my family in Arkansas for the summer to regroup. In some ways I felt defeated, but got chosen to direct the summer musical at the community theater, the South Arkansas Arts Center, and while in my home town, met the love of my life, Ty. He had been there most of his and my life, but we had never met." "I moved to LA at 19 to finish college at ¯ LMU, that was pretty much it for singing and performing aside from high school chores and the occasional opportunity to dress up in a chicken suit. (But that’s another story.) LA was a big eye-opener, as it would be for anyone let alone a young gay guy from south Arkansas. I began to write songs and performing at lots of fun places on the Sunset Strip and beyond. Carlos & Gay Chicago Magazine says "On his debut album, Callaway takes love songs many written by men and popularized by women then turns them on end by singing them in his distinctive vocal style to other men. It’s a creative approach that can make for some rather interesting word play. " You can purchase the CD online at: www. cdbaby.com/cd/daycallaway By Victor Gorin Keith Taggart congratulates State Representative AI McAflgrey at a fundraiser for Jim Roth at the residence of Mike McLain & Richard Ogden. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ Oklahoma’s first openly gay legislator, Al McAffrey was re-elected to represent District 88 of central Oklahoma City. He was first elected in 2006. At the close of the filing period June 4 there was only one opponent, 27 year old Dominique Block, who was running as an Independent. His candidacy was challenged by the McAffrey campaign on the grounds that he had not been registered as an Independent for 6 months prior to the filing period, and the Oklahoma State Election Board determined he was not eligible. As there was no other opposition, Al McAffrey was automatically re-elected to of~ce. Al welcomes this opportunity stating," It’s a great feeling to know my constituents have faith in me, and by their support I’ll be able to serve them for two more years." Quotable Quotes The Tonight Show host, Jay Leno decided to make an appearance in support of the recent legalization of gay marriage by California’s Supreme Court. "He said that he is from Massachusetts and that the sky did not fall in their state when marriage equality became the law of the land there," a rep for the event said. 26 th÷STAR www.ozarksstar.com NATIONAL NEWS Task Force Action Ftmd applauds New York Assembly £or historic vote on transgender rights "We congratulate the leadership ofAssemblyman Richard Gottfried, the many transgender leaders and allies in New York, and our partner, Empire State Pride Agenda, for this important victory. We now call on the leaders of the New York Senate to bring this bill to the floor so that protections fbr transgender people and others in New York are not delayed another day." Noway adopts gaymarriage law OSLO (AFP) -- Norway’s parliament on Wednesday adopted a new marriage law that allows homosexuals to marry and adopt children and permits lesbians to be artificially inseminated. WASHINGTON, DC (PR) __ The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund applauds the New York Assembly’s passage today of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA). The bill, which passed by a 102-33 vote, now moves to the state Senate. The measure seeks to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression in housing, employment, credit and public accommodations and would add gender identity or expression to the state’s hate crimes law. New York extended protections on the basis of sexual orientation in 2002 and the Task Force has worked with the Empire State Pride Agenda, legislators and community activists since then to amend the law to add gender identity or expression protections, including by helping draft GENDA. Among the other contributions the Task Force made to this effort was a convening of transgender and allied activists in 2006 at a training in Albany to provide leaders with skills for how to build coalitions in support of this bill, and a Power Summit training on Long Island in December 2007 that attracted more than 100 activists who were taught how to lobby their legislators and build grassroots support for the bill. If the bill passes the Senate, Gov. David Paterson is expected to sign it and New York would become the 13th state to explicitly ban discrimination based on gender identity or expression. Currently, 39 percent of the country’s population is covered by such a local or state law. Statement by Rea Carey, Acting Executive Director National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund "This is a very exciting victory for the people ofNew York, particularly transgender people. Legislation of this sort is not only responsible public policy, it also shows the nation that New York is unafraid to join the ranks of states that value all of their citizens, including those who are transgender or who express their gender in ways that reflect the broad and beautiful spectrum of humanity. www.ozarksstar.com Libertarian Party selects Bob Barr.as 2008 presidential nominee Former Congressman plans to take the White House as Libertarian candidate DENVER, CO (PR) __ The Libertarian Party has nominated former Congressman Bob Barr as its candidate for president for the 2008 election. "I’m sure we will emerge here with the strongest ticket in the history of the Libertarian Party," Barr stated in his victory speech shortly after being selected as the Party’s nominee. "I want everybody to remember that we only have 163 days to win this election. We cannot waste one single day." More than 650 Libertarian delegates met in Denver from May 22 tilt the 26 for the 2008 Libertarian National Convention. After six rounds of voting Sunday afternoon, Barr was selected as the Party’s presidential nominee. The Libertarian Party is America’s third largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting www.LP.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom. After a heated debate, the members of parliament adopted the text by a vote of 84 to 41. The three centre-left coalition parties in power and two opposition parties, the Conservatives and the Liberals, voted largely in favour of the law, while the Christian Democrats and the far-right Progress Party voted against it. Norway thus became the sixth country in the world to grant homosexuals the right to marry on an equal footing with heterosexuals, according to Norwegian television TV2. "This decision is of an importance comparable to universal suffrage and our law on parity," Labour Party rapporteur Gunn Karin Gjul said during the debate. The most controversial part of the law is that which gives lesbians the right to be artificially inseminated. The sperm donor must be identified so that the child can seek out his or her biological father at the age of 18. Outside the parliament, a handful of opponents protested with posters reading "Have fathers become superfluous?" and "Parliament has no mandate to change the laws of nature." Among other things, the new legislation replaces a so-called "partnership law" adopted in 1993 xvhich gave Norwegian homosexuals the right to civil unions. Health care workers who do not want to perform artificial inseminations on lesbians because of their personal convictions will not be under any obligation to carry out the procedure. The new law is expected to enter into force at the end of this year or eatly next year. Homosexuality was illegal until 1972 in Norway, a country which has since become one of the most liberal in the world in the field. ~÷STAR 27 by Jack Fertig July 2008 "Nalke like a tourist, Pisces!" With Mercury, Venus, Uranus, and Eris all in mutual aspect, efforts at wit and charm are subverted by excessive impulses and eagerness to take offense. Still, it’s a good time to hash out friendly disagreements or to take up arts or crafts projects. ¯ARIES (March 20 -April 19): Before speaking up, try to remember some bit of wisdom from a wise old woman, probably your grandmother or a teacher from early childhood. Her insight could smooth out the rough edges, turning your initial ideas from disastrous to helpful. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): You may be overly invested in a set goal that isn’t as realistic as it originally seemed. We all need to revise plans now and then. Be practical, not stubborn! Discuss it with friends, and take time alone to reconsider priorities. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): You may be trying too hard to get ahead and to organize people you see as "your team." Stand back, think about what’s really important, and listen carefully to your friends and their aims. Communication is the key to cooperation. CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Arguments that seem to come out of nowhere are really about your hidden doubts and fears. Expert opinions can help set your mind at ease. Try exploring some artistic medium or musical style that wouldn’t normally interest you. LEO (July 23 - August 22): Your own ideas of sexual politics could shake up your corner of the GLBT community, which can stimulate new thinking. Discussion points that come from the heart will go over better than battle cries that sound like P.C. cliches. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Flirtations and sexual politics can complicate relations with bosses and colleagues. Acknowledging sexual tension may help to dispel it, but that doesn’t always work. Think deeply and far ahead before trying it. Discuss any problems at your job with friends who work elsewhere. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Cooperation is usually more productive in the long run than competition is. Both have their place, but your eager ambitions may blind you to better opportunities. Careful listening can turn rivals into allies. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Sexual experimentation is fine in principle; just be careful that you don’t land in a bad situation. Think ahead and be cautious! Be clear about health risks, discuss at length what you really want, and look before you leap. 28 theSTAR SAG~TTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): Disruptions at home can make you cranky and argumentative. Looking for sex to blow off steam may prove more frustrating than helpful. Competitive games - especially those that test communications skills (Scrabble, Charades, Pictionary) - are probably better for releasing tension. CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Keep your focus right in front of your nose. Accidents are just waiting to happen; being overloaded and distracted only encourages them! Teamwork is helpful, if you can resist the urge to get drawn into turf battles. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February t8): The cost of fun can be a lot higher than expected. Be inventive (you can manage that!), and have a great time on the cheap. Debates over aesthetics may seem more heated than they should be, but welcome the arguments for potential inspiration. PISCES (February t9 - March 19): Feeling like a stranger at home isn’t fun, but it can fuel the creative juices. Get playful, make like a tourist, and let someone take you to places you’d never go on your own. Take a more objective, outsider’s stance in community politics. MCC METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES IRev Steve "IF. Urie Spirit of Christ MCC 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, IVlO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Saturdays at 10:00 AM Community Mieal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC of the Living Spring t7 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays at 6:00 PMi Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! www.ozarksstar.com Support those who support us. DOWNTOWN PLAZ__A ofTULSA 17 West 7th Street Tulsa, OK 918-585-5898 www.downtownplazatulsa.com HABANA INN 2200 NW39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 www.habanainn.com KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant ANGLES 2117 NW39th St. Oklahoma City, OK www.anglesdub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 www.bambooloungetulsa.com CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 www.dubmajestictulsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com STEVES HIDEAWAY LOUNGE 11730 E. llTH Tulsa, OK 918-437-0449 Open Sun- Sat 2pm to 2am THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com EXPRESSIONS Comm Fellowship 311 S Klein Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73108 405-761-1878 www.myspace.com/expressionsokc HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIWSTD Hotline SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM MCC of the LMNG SPRING 17 Hk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pm OPENAR/vlS YOUTH PROJECT 2015 -B S. Lakewood Tulsa, OK 74112 918-838-7104 www. openarmsproject.org OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 KING OF MASSAGE In or Out Calls Oklahoma City, OK 405-314-3898 JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 9!8-743-8636 CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NWEXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 www.c2 lgoldcastle.com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: wv~v.gaybradyheightstulsa.com GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn For { vertisin Knformation DALLAS CVB Dallas, TX www.winatrip.glbtdallas.com Want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $33.95 will be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or moneyorder to: NAME: Address: City:. Phone: The STAR PO Box 581718 Tulsa, OK 74158-1718 (Single Copies $3.00 per issue) St: Zip:, Check enclosed Money Order Start Date: www.ozarksstar.com theSTAR Keller Williams Realty Chuck Breckenridge Vghether buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. KING OF MASSAGE Great Touch Man to Man Futl Bodj Massage 2 hands or 4 hands available (405) 3{4o3898 Now Hiring Male & Female 30 t~eSTAR www.ozarksstar.com We believe that homosexuality is not a genetic trait but a chosen lifestyle. We oppose the portrayal of homosexual or promiscuous behavior in a positive light in our public schools. We oppose the erosion of our military readiness through openly_ practicing homosexuals serving in the military We oppose the promotion of homosexuality, the elimination of laws against sodomy, and the granting of minority protection or special status to any person based upon sexual preference or lifestyle choice. If the Republican message of hate and division doesn’t represent you, then join us and vote Democrati’c in support of what we stand for: LIBERTY, EQUALITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, PROUDLY INCLUDING THE GLBT COMMUNITY. I~’ol~V~ln ~o~e$~ Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair I~ Asbe~’ry~ Oklahoma Democratic Party Vice Chair Undu Sru~’ ~’~ Oklahoma State Democratic Party Treasurer ¢~’~o g~’d~ Oklahoma State Field Director Democratic National Commiffee, Fifth District Chair 3~ ~o~’~ Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner A~ ~{~’e~ Oklahoma State Representative District 88 gob ~.e~o~ our friend who’s straight but not narrow Taken from current platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties of Oklahoma. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2008] The Star Magazine, July 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 7 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource July 01, 2008 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Online text PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwestern Missouri Western Arkansas Southeastern Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Star Magazine’s first issue began February of 2005. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004) and The Ozark Star (2004). Follows is The Metro Star (2008). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Charles (Chaz) Ward Victor Gorin Greg Steele James Nimmo Joey D. Victor Gorin Romeo San Vicente Andrew Collins Donald Pile Ronald Blake Ray Williams Jack Fertig Liz Highleyman Devre Jackson Judy G. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Star Magazine, June 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 6 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/248 Metro Star. August 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 8 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/198 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/247 After Dark Al McAffrey Bob Bar Deval Patrick horoscopes Katherine Patrick Leslie Jordan marriage equality mixology Night club Obama Oklahoma City Museum of Art Our House Paparazzi on the Prowl pride Parade project runway Quotable Quotes recipes Star Advertisers star classified Star Scene The National Gay and Task Force The Phantom of the Opera Too travel wine https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/733b2f2153340c0152c8ddfe54b6ed5d.jpg 06b85fa3864a1cd9fb22b85f79874359 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/f877c3716f55d1351dd0b5dc72bdb505.pdf cbaefc1fc50913638b9cd20f6f15b445 PDF Text Text ~nty one years ago was a world that many young people never k~ew or could comprehend. No openly gay person had been elected to public office in Oklahoma. Organizations advocating equality for GLBT Oklahomans were few and far less influential. Only 3 years earlier our Oklahoma Legislature had passed legislation (later ruled unconstitutional by the Federal court system) that would prohibit a public school teacher from even making a positive statement about the GLBT community in a classroom. Equality for GLBT people was hardly discussed, and gay marriage even more remote. Politicians could (and did) make hateful statements about our community without any fear that someone would challenge their remarks. (sorry Sally, you came along too late) ~ganizers of this year’s Tulsa Pride Celebration are promising the public that this year’s events will be anything but boring. Nate Black, one of the co-chairs says the changes are intended to breathe a new sense of excitement into the Pride observance and to help promote the revitalization of downtown. It may not look the same, but organizers promise that Tulsa Pride 2008 will be just as incredible of a celebration as ever. Spanning over two weeks, with an event almost every evening, Tulsa Pride 2008 has something for everyone. "There will be some differences, but the spirit of the celebration is the same. It is still going to be a joyful, invigorating experience that xvill spark the same sense of pride and freedom in our community," ride Tutso PI IDE ?008 ��2 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com �walk or drag yourself to Tulsa Pride 2008 By Joey De It may not look the same, but organizers promise that Tulsa Pride 2008 is a series of events you won’t want to miss. "We have our three anchor events: the gala, the parade and block party, and the picnic," explains Pride co-chair Nate Black. "There ~vill be some differences from the past, but the spirit of Tulsa Pride is as vibrant as ever." Here is a brief look at the events of Tulsa Pride 2008. For a complete listing, maps and details, visit www.tulsapride.org May 30 - "Sisters in Song" concert at All Souls Unitarian Church. May 31- Wear your rainbow attire and enjoy a day at America’s favorite zoo with your friends and family. Tnat night, join the Equality Gala and celebrate the GLBT community at Cain’s Ballroom. Jun. 1 - Rev. Barney McLaughlin and members of Tulsa’s faith community will be hosting "Spiritual Equality," an interfaith service at Bethany Christian Church. Jun. 2 - Join PFLAG at the Circle Cinema for a free screening of "Anyone and Everyone," a film about families struggling to accept their GLBT youth. Jun. 4 - Cheer the Drillers to victory and enjoy an old-fashioned ballpark picnic. Tickets must be bought in advance. That evening, Lochran Theatre’s "He&vig and the Angry Inch," opens. The show will play at various locations through the 15th. Jun. 5 - Enjoy the works of 60 artists at "More Color," a one-night ex~hibition at the Equality Center. Jun. 6 - Open Arms Youth Project Fashion Show. Jun. 7 - Dine at the OkEq Family Taco Dinner benefiting PFLAG, then join the Pride Parade and Block Party, with two stages of entertainment. Youth Services of Tulsa will be hosting a concert in their Coffee House for those under 21 and child care will be available for those under 12 at the Equality Center. Jun. 8 - Texas Hold’era at the Equality Center. Jun. 10 - Leather and Fetish fashion show at the Equality Center. Jun. 11 - Join the "Gender Avengers" for an evening of monologues and plays addressing transgender issues. Jun. 12 - Learn about raising kids in a diverse world at the Downtown Library. Speakers will be available and books attacked for their "inappropriate" messages will be displayed. Jun. 13 - Screen "The ~A’ Word," a film with no audio or subtitles, about 10 deaf lesbians. Jun. 14 - Walce up early for the YST fun run before the Equality Festival at Centennial Park on 6th and Peoria! www.ozarksstar.corn the STAR 3 ��OKC P DE EEKEND AN EVENT TRULY ’COMING OF AGE" By Victor Gorin OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ It can be hard to fathom, but OKC Pride is now 21. Had the event been a child born 21 years ago, that person would now be ready to legally enjoy the bars. Instead a spirit of human determination was born in rocky Oklahoma soil, with the joyful trappings that come with living in the Bible Belt’s buckle, q-his beginning came to Oklahoma through the brave organization of about a dozen people. As Paul Thompson recAls, "We didfft know if there wotdd be 10 people marching or a hundred." The Ku Klux Klan had promised to meet the marchers when they came over the N.W. 39th Street hill with hostile confrontation. When around 400 marchers came over the hill, the Klansmen waiting in Safeway’s (now Homeland) parking lot promptly left the scene, and a proud tradition began. It was a world that many young people never knew or could comprehend. No openly gay person had been elected to public office in Oklahoma. Organizations advocating equality for GLBT Oklahomans were few and far less influential. Only 3 years earlier our Oklahoma Legislature had passed legislation (later ruled unconstitutional by the Federal court system) that would prohibit a public school teacher from even making a positive statement about the GLBT community in a classroom. Equality for GLBT people was hardly discussed, and gay marriage even more remote. Politicians could (and did) make hateful statements about our community without any fear that someone would challenge their remarks. (sorry Sally, you came along too late) Today the Pride Festival and Parade truly showcases the theme by showing how far we’ve come. Festival booths not only feature openly gay public office holders (now even on the State level with the appointment of Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth), but also gay political organizations of Democrats and Republicans, as well as straight politicians & parties who are proud to speak out for us and seek our vote. Social organizations (from rodeo to softball), and religious www.ozarksstar.com groups bring us all together in glamorous diversity. There are countless more business organizations proud to seek out the gay community to make a buck. Last but not least, nothing compares to the mosaic of the GLBT community and their friends, people from all walks of life together in Pride. EVENTS: June 14 Saturday OKC Pride at the Zoo 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. For the first time there will be a gay day at the Oklahoma City Zoo. It will be a great way to begin the week’s festivities with family and/or friends. There is information about a special reduced rate inside every OKC Pride Participation Packet, so come out, enjoy the day and wish the animals a good week too! June 15 Sunday OKC Pride Day of Worship Cathedral of Hope & Church of the Open Arms ( both UCC) will be planning special worship celebrations to commemorate Pride Week. If you have felt left out or excluded from worship, these churches are ready to welcome you just as you are. June 20- OKC Pride Parade Now moved to Friday evening stepping off at 7 p.m. the route is unchanged. Beginning at Memorial Park ( N.W. 36th & Classen) it proceeds north on Classen two blocks north ofN.W. 39th Street, turns around on Classen and then proceeds west on N.W. 39th. Our Grand Marshall will be Joe Salmonese, the chair of the national Human Rights Campaign. Preceding the Parade will be a Strip Show ( signifying the N.W. 39th Street Strip) featuring some of our wildest and finest entertainers. Then the crowd cheers on as the parade’s first arrivals enjoy the finest climax ever enjoyed at any event. As the Parade concludes those in the mood will be ready to party, giving new meaning to a wild weekend while remembering how Pride brings us together. Still at Oklahoma Cit)?s Memorial Park at N.W. "36th & Classen, the Festival will run from noon until 10 p.m. Saturday June 21, and from noon until 5 p.m. June 22 Sunday. There will be many booths featuring organizations you can learn from or even consider joining, as well as endless types of merchandise. There will be entertainment as well Following the Festival conclusion at 5 p.m. Sunday, Church of the Open Arms has their Annual Pride Ice Cream Social, which will featuring the Therapy Sisters in concert. There’s no better way to cool off, enjoy the fun & music and recap the xveekend. This is an event you don’t want to miss, it’s there for all of us. For more infornaation pick up a Pride Guide at your favorite clubs, " or check out the website at wwv.okcpride. com DBAT Celebrates Pride by Hosting a Diversity Job Fair TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Diversity Business Association of Tulsa (DBAT), a program of Oklahomans for Equality, is hosting a Diversity Job Fair on June 13th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. The event, being held at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center in Downtown Tulsa, will bring together lgbt job seekers and lgbt-friendly employers in a safe and comfortable environment, allowing for open dialogue and alleviating fears of discrimination. The Diversity Job Fair offers a unique opportunity for diversity-conscious employers to access the wealth of skilled and talented members of the lgbt community. Additionally, job seekers are given an unprecedented connection to companies that are lgbtfriendly. F~r more information or if your company is interested in participating in the job fair, contact Susan Hartman at dbat@okeq.org or call 918-698-2977. June 21- 22 OKC Pride Festival the STAR 5 �By David Benkof Should gay-rights advances be put on hold until all LGBT people can be included? On this question, the position held by the most prominent voices in the gay community is so inconsistent it borders on incoherent. Last year, most leading gay-rights organizations rejected the advice of congressional experts including Rep. Barney Frank (DMass.) and pushed for an unlikely-to-pass version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that included gender identity. \Vc~hen the broader bill was replaced with an ENDA that covered only sexual orientation, hundreds of gay and lesbian groups lobbied Congress to vote "no" on what was the most important piece of gayrights legislation in a decade. Indeed, seven Democrats who had previously been reliable votes for pro-gay bills opposed ENDA because it did not include protections for transgender people. LGBT activists defended this stance in a variety of ways, but the basic argument xvas that no part of the community should gain civil rights at the expense of other parts. Of course, had that been the approach of voting-rights activists after the Civil War, African-Americans would have forfeited the vote until women gained suffrage a halfcentury later - and they, in turn, may have been asked to wait for the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 before gaining the right to vote. In any event, supporters of what became known as "United ENDA" characterized their position as a principled one, believing that LGB rights without T rights were worse than no rights at all, and that (Evita show tune be damned) politics is not "the art of the possible." This pose is simply unsustainable, as an examination of transgender military inclusion shows. The Web sites of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; the Human Rights Campaign; Parents, Friends, and Families of Lesbians and Gays; and many other groups 6 the STAR advocate for an ENDA that includes gender identity, but the T is glaringly missing when it comes to military issues. ~nese organizations push for gays, lesbians, and bisexuals to serve openly in the armed forces, but don’t lobby on behalf of transgender people who want to serve their country. They certainly don’t insist that any repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" (DADT) be linked to equality for transgender servicemembers. There are only three ways LGBT organizations can react to this imbalance with any sort of integrity: One, they could refuse to support the repeal of DADT unless it is accompanied by a new policy that prohibits the military from discriminating on the basis of gender identity. Two, they could admit that their ENDA strategy was wrong and agree to accept an LGB-only workplace bill until such time as the votes are there to pass a more inclusive ENDA. Three, they could articulate pub!icly and precisely why discrimination against transgender people in the military is more legitimate than private-sector discrimination against them - and why it is more legitimate than discrimination against lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals in the military. I would certainly prefer the second solution, but I could respect the other two approaches. My hunch, though, is that none of these stances will be adopted. The status quo is strong evidence that the "United ENDA" stance is not primarily about political principles. It’s about the internal power dynamics in the LGBT community, which have caused gay leaders to draw the line at an inclusive ENDA. No such mobilization has taken place over transgender people in the military, so there has been no perceived need for an ultimatum on that issue. Yet. David Benkof was a longtime gay columnist, historian, and entrepreneur (as David Bianco). He is openly bisexual, but as an Orthodox Jew he is guided by Jewish law in the areas ofsexvtality andfamily life. He can be reached at DavidBenkof@aol.com. www.ozarksstar.com �F~E BEER & HOT DO~ For a Family’s Dinner brought by the neighbors after the Death of Bettsie. Be sure to look on the bottom of the dish to see what neighbor brought it! Original Mo~,ie will be shown @ 7 pm dUl-h’~g dim-let. Ist Eplsede of Series will be shown immediately fo!!o~d.ug $10 D~nat~n to OG~,A inc]ludes ~nner ~$1GNING www.ozarksstar.com Meet and Greet Leslie Jordan - From Sordid Lives, Will & Grace My Trip Down The :PINK CARPET the STAR 7 �@ Coming of e ~ulsa PRIDE ar~ 2008 ONE NIGHT ONLY ThuP~day, June 5, 2008, 5:G0prn to 9:0~m atthe Dennis R. Nell Equali~ C~nt~r, Corner of 4th and Keno~, dov~ov,~ Tuls~ the STAR www.ozarksstar.com �Directed by David Gatigan Oklahoma City June 8, 2008 at 8pro wv~v.ozarksstar.com the 8TAP, 9 �interview Interview by Victor Gorin eslie Jordan arrived in this world during 1955 in the Heartland of the Bible Belt, born and grown up in Chattanooga,Tennessee.. AI[ho@ ~rowing up was ~ostly nor easy, he made le~nonade o[it of lemons and marie his experiences work for him, taking a bus to HoIly~vood and never looking back. His credits are coundess, with app~ces on TV shows too numerous m men- tion them but in~ih&ag Reba and Will and Grace(which garnered him an E . Re is an accomplished playwright with his first success Like a Dog on Linoleum" followed by Hysterical B redness and other Southern Tragedies. Among his film successes i~’thd camp} dassic ’Sordid I[ives" (where he portrayed the drag que~ Brother Boy), which will be a n~w ~ series o£ LOGO ~ning July 23. His new book, "My, Trip down the P~ ~t:’ is 7h~ Slory of his life with his @s dd downs, tragedies, ~ es and tri~phs, and the story o~a flamboyant ~ who has ~y found hirrisel£ He is portr~iying his life ~lSo in a one man play of the same title in Olda~oma ~it~ June 8, for this is a must re~d and a must see. He shares his thoug~is with ~E LESHE: Well I v,~as the Pips Printing guy, and t also was the elevator operator that took people to Ha~bu}ger Hell in a Taco Bel! co~ercial, i was the ~h~ck Full of Nuts coit~e boy, a]l kinds of commercials. ~ ~ ~ 10 the,STAR www.ozarksstar.com �ma$~e that possible. ~CTOR~ g,q~.en does your new book COme *utJune 3~ and Iamso which is Ga~ ~cOholigm and RddiC’ : are some gay" activists wh6 feei that fl~bSya~t gay characters in the ueenS hinder the s{~u~le answer to Ilow iS tr~sggn: : and see me, I promise the STAR tl �Dracula of Free Speech, Kirk Humphreys, Pdses From the Po litica Grave by James Nimmo OKLAHOMA CITY) Just as the mythic Dracula of Transylvania came back from the dead to spread horror among the peasants, so has the flesh-and-blood Kirk Humphreys come back from the politically dead to fling his homophobic horror in the hall~ of Oklahoma City’s public schools. In 1997, a fundamentalist censorship group ponied up with an Oklahoma County judge willing to make an informal ruling that the "Tin Drum" was child pornography and that copies of it could be seized in Oklahoma County wherever it could be found whether in private homes or public libraries. Reborn in the blood of his religion and bred in the desiccated dessert of intolerance, Kirk Humphreys was recently appointed by the Oklahoma City School Board to fill the position of chair until an election is held in February, 2009. Despite the facts that the film had been released in 1979, received major film awards, and not anyone prior to Humphreys had made a legal claim of obscenity against the film, Humphreys again smelled blood and was hot on the trail of what he thought would surely be a victory for fundamentalist decency. ~hinking that the cross of his religion would trump all blasphemers and dissolve the First and Fourth Amendments he encouraged the court case to proceed. Coming above ground with his first public election to the Putnam City school Board in 1987, he rose to bigger things as mayor of OKC in 1998. He resigned during his second term to run for U. S. Senate which he lost to Dr. Tom Coburn, 25% to 61%. Settling back into his businessman’s grave of multiple real estate dealings, one would have thought that we had heard the last of Mr. Humphreys. So why the concern regarding his reappearance? During his time as Mayor of OKC, he was the driving force behind the 2001 attempt to prevent Cimarron Alliance, a GLBT advocacy group, from exercising their First Amendment right to free speech with the display of banners promoting gay/lesbian equality. However, the shining light of Federal District Court Judge Robin Cauthron, exorcised the demon of Humphreys and as she ruled in favor of Cimarron Alliance and enjoined the City Council from interfering with Cimarron’s banner display on the utility poles. Hitherto the sacred utility poles had been the exclusive marketplace for hetero organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, rodeos, and other civic clubs. Did I mention the earlier "Tin Drum" video law suit? 12 the STAR Federal District Court Judge Ralph ~hompson, however, found that the film is not child pornography, and went on to criticize that the County Judge, Richard Freeman, had made a serious error in judgment pertaining to what constitutes pornography and allowing the OKC police, carte blanche, to search homes and businesses without a warrant. Both of the lost lawsuits backed by Kirk Humphreys cost hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars in expenses and attorney fees which resulted in higher property taxes. ¯hough the "Tin Drum" adventure was publicly lead by former District Attorney Bob Macy, as mayor and the boss of the OKC police chief, I feel that Humphreys was certainly in the loop and should have had more sense and better advise in calling off the figurative police dogs. If the past is prologue, I think we can expect some more Humphreys hauntings at the expense of the Oklahoma City taxpayers. It’s been shown that the Constitution, its Bill of Rights, and especially the First Amendment, if applied in time, can counter the poisonous vapors that waft from Humphreys. �Wockner News Service Congress’ highest-ranking vet calls f.or DADT repeal Carly Simon: ’I don’t consider myself" to be not gay WASHINGTON, DC __ U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa., whose military rank was the highest of any veteran now in Congress, has urged fellow lawmakers to join him in repealing the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy that bars open gays from the military. Sestak’s comments came at the Equality Forum, an annual GLBT conference and festival in Philadelphia. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1246), which would repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and allow GLB personnel to serve openly, has 142 co-sponsors in total. "Veterans like Adm. Sestak, who have dedicated their lives to serving this country, are leading the movement in Congress to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell," said Aubrey Sarvis of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. "These lawmakers agree with senior military officers, including former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:John Shalikashvili and retired Army Maj. Gen. Vance Coleman, that when it comes to defusing IEDs, tending to injured troops, deciphering enemy codes and flying reconnaissance missions -- sexual orientation is irrelevant. Seventy-nine percent of the American people agree with them and it is time that Congress finally repeal this law." A version of the measure, known as ENDA, that protects sexual orientation but not gender identity has passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is pending in the Senate. In an interview published May 1 in the San Francisco gay weeldy Bay Area Reporter, ’70s pop-music legend Carly Simon said, "I don’t consider myself to be not gay." The double-negative quasi-coming-out occurred when interviewer Gregg Shapiro inquired: "After speaking with you this morning, I’m going to be interviewing Cyndi Lauper regarding her True Colors tour, which features gay and straight artists performing to raise money for the Human Rights Campaign and other LGBT organizations. I’m wondering if Cyndi called you and asked you to be a part of the True Colors tour, might you get involved?" Simon replied: "Well, the part that I could be involved in is the gay and lesbian part. The part that would be hard for me is to commit to a tour because I’m not very comfortable being onstage. But the part that would be easiest for me would be singing on behalf of all of us. I don’t consider myself to be not gay." Shapiro responded: "Wow! Well, it’s great to have you as part of the family." "Thank you!" Simon said. "I mean, I’ve enlarged all of my possibilities. There are a lot of extremely personal stories to tell about that, but we won’t go into that right now. Let’s just say that it just depends upon who I’m with." www.ozarksstar.com Frank: Transgender people were terrible lobbyists Openly gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, DMass., says transgender people did a terrible job of lobbying for inclusion in the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Sestak, a three-star admiral who spent 31 years in the Navy, is one of 17 congressional veterans co-sponsoring the repeal bill. "It is easy for me to see why Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell should be repealed," Sestak said May 3. "Once you have served in war and faced danger with a gay service member, how can you come home and say gay people should not enjoy equal rights?" Attempts to contact Simon through her publicist, record label and MySpace page were unsuccessful as of press time. "I’ve never seen a worse job of lobbying done by the transgender community," Frank told the Oregon gay newspaper Just Out in its May 2 issue. "They seem to think that all they had to do was to get the gay and lesbian community to say ’OK.’ I think they thought that this was a train, and that they were a car on the train." "I said to them, ’You’ve got to work this, you’ve got to lobby people.’ They did a terrible job of lobbying, and so we didn’t have the votes," Frank said. First ot3enlv legislator dle Illinois Larry McKeon, Illinois’ first openly gay and first openly HIV-positive state legislator, died May 13 of a severe stroke. He was 63. McKeon represented a district of Chicago’s North Side in the state House of Representatives from 1997 to 2007. An Army veteran and former cop, McKeon also served as Mayor Richard M. Daley’s liaison to the GLBT community prior to his election to public office. McKeon retired last year, citing health issues related to HIV and cancer. ........ More U. S. News page 27 the STAR 13 �recently confessed to the fact that she attracts gays like a moth to a light, hall the men that like me are gay, k’~ ~e. I have a really strong gaydar. I do love gay men though,~ Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres are planning to marD: Ellen has said she is "thrilled" at the r~ing by the California supreme court to overturn the state’s ban on gay marri~e. True Co .ors pP g Alexander Payne "Hung" Up at HBO Oscar-winning screenwriter Alexander Payne (for Sideways, not his litde-usedbut-stilbcredit-getting screer~ptay for I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry) has a new pro’ect9 up his ste~we. And it~ about what’s in one man’s pants. Hung, a comedy pilot on track at HBO, will be Payne’s [IW-directing debut, from a script by Dmitry Lip~n. creator of%e Riches. ~md the subiect matter? What happens when a~l average, middle-aged basketbal! coach learns how to put his exceptionally large’~- penis to better ~e. NO actor has signed on yet to play the gifted guy, but casting is scheduled m begi n soon. If picked up for series, it will be, a; the very least, the first show" of its k5nd. But wi!I there be a Boogie Nights-style revea! shot? Or will it remain a mysteiT? Either way, expect a big deal to made about this one. STAR Cyndi LaUper~ colors are brighter than ever. F~li~Wing [tie Success of last year’s landmark tofir, Latimer is back to help the Human Ri~ts Campaign, theS~ue Colors Fund of StOnewall C~r~i-nuni~? Foundation, PFLa~G and the Centertink Network of BLGT community cemers. Holb~voodactress edl3 ship only the closet. of Foster, 45, is believed to have called offher relationship with movie producer Cydney Bernard after a series of arguments. The couple were together for 14 years and have two children ~x;~om Fosrer g~ve birth to and Bernard adopted, according to the British Daily Mail tabloid. Famous for just wanting to have fun, Lau per will be bringing her tour to the Zoo Amphitheater in Oklahoma City on Jun. 23. Joining Cyndi wilt be The B-52s, joan J~tr ~d The Blackhearts, ~mdy Belt of Erasure. Margaret Cho and Girl tn A Coma. *~ ....... with host Cars on rvresslev, for ticket" tmormarion or a full list ofto[,r dates, visit ~"~,.~,,, truecolorstour corn " " www.ozarksstar.com �Pt~oto by: Bill Gaddis The fo owing is getting hot out. Tulsa’s wonderful sprir~g ,h, as played out. Here are a coupl~ tips I d like {o pass along that may add to your summer enjoyment of vino..F,irstly, for white win~S, you know/get ern ~ld! And as the~e Wines warm up in your glass, the fruit flavors open Up to~. I really like this gradual experience. Many times, we finish a bottle so fast when sharing with friends that we don’t even notice. For red wines, put a chill on ’era as well. NOT too c.o, ld but just cool enough so that you’re not drinking warm glug. Remember, room temperatu~’e can mean a whole different thing during the summer. Proper stem ware can also make a big difference this time of year. Riedel glasses are among the best althougt~ not recommended poolside. Here are some wines for both red & white lovers. Calistoga Cellars Chardonnay 2006 This vintage was just released in ket. If you liked the ’05, this will really hit the mark. It’s li beautifully balanced mix of ripe pear and the wine is medium bodied soft finish. A favodte of l visit McGilrs on 21rst St. Vincent Pouilly-Fuisse in several This Pouilly-Fuisse areas belonging to th~ oak barrels The wine is created by Jean-Jac( owner of the Made-Antoicelebrated Chateau "). nette Vincent make a He blends the White flowwell balanced ers are on t finish. I first discovered s wine over at 1740/wine bar on Boston n~ear 18th. This Chardonnay from France i~ quite good. Michel Picard Vouvray This is Chenin Blanc from the Loi of France. Fresh aromas of apricot & on the nose and the finish is fruity and~~ slightly off dry. Enjoy this from with me,is that include shellfish to desserts like apple pies with vanilla ice cream. Ochoa Garnacha Rose 2006 This Rose wine is made entirely from Grenache grapes. The color of is a result of the short maceration period that helps to maintain the fragrant aromas and fresh flavors. A well structured Spanish wine with plenty of well-rounded fruit and balanced acidity. Food pairings include pasta, salads and vegetables. Produtorri del Barbaresco 2004 I had a chance to visit this winery when I was northern Italy. The grape is Nebbiolo and it’s one of the most important wine grape varieties of Italy’s Piedmont region. Flavors of violets, tar, cherries, truffles, tobacco & prunes come to mind. Although ~ ut the tannins, these producers make their wines more their youth. This bottle is also affordable and has received high acclaim from wine critics. Serious meat oriented pastas would go well with this wine. Toad 2006 This ;I, comes ~ where Zinf~ long h offering i~ ~ Sirah. It~!a really great Cacophony Zinfandel Hollow Zinfandel ppellation les thdve upon the nights. This new 20% Petit & jammy wine that’s a :e~.for barbecued meats. :i~va/Sparkling wine NV. Th~ rfclude; 50% Macabeo, 15% Xarelolo. This iJwhat you may be used ne or U S sparkling :he Spanish create a : old world version from wine is quite affordable pleasantly surprise you. ~s ~s a good wine to fall back on as you ;lebrate the summer months. ~ And as always, I say go to your favorite wine shop, ask questions and purchase a bottle or two. Share some food & wine with friends and check this out for yourself. Mr. D also hosts wine & food events known in town as the Wine Tulsa. References include: the ABC’s of wine by James Laube/wv,rw.WineS pec~ator.co m www.FoodandWine.com www.Wikipedia.org is.~grape can take years to age and www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 15 �9t8.585,5898 ® 800.585,5101 West 7th Street (corner 7th & Boulder Ave) ® Tulsa, Ok 74t 19 16 theSTAR e www.q plazatulsa.com June 2008 �TW’s-AFAB Catering �by Donald Pile and Ray Williams LUNA VISTA B & B aJmost knocked us over. At night we saw more stars in the sky than we ever see here in the Midwest. "Morltezuma’s Castle" There are fabulous places to visit and there are "beyond Fabulous" places to visit. Luna Vista in Rimrock, Arizona is such a place. Driving out to California on a recent trip we were guests of Kala (pronounced Calla is in Calla Lily) and her husband Frank at their "beyond Fabulous" Luna Vista Bed and Breakfast. Located just about 20 miles southeast of Sedona and just about 3 miles offthe Interstate, this has to be one of the finest and most unusual places that we have been. However to get there you get off the pavement and drive about three miles around curvy hilly, rocky and treacherous gravel and dirt roads to make your arrival. But after arriving, it is ~vorth the trip. After making the last turn you are aghast when you see this place. It is like you have arrived at the Ponderosa! Kala and Frank were residents of the East Coast and after 9111 they decided that it was time for a major move. They purchased the property in Rimrock, remodeled, repaired, built on, put in a swimming pool, Jacuzzi and many more additions and finally opened their new B and B in February, 2004 and it has been an instant success ever since. We stayed in the Don Diego (Zorro) suite. Our bathroom was 18 feet by 20 feet and included our own Jacuzzi. Our shower was 6 feet by 8 feet and included a steam room and a double vanity, bidet and every kind of amenity that you would possibly want. Our linens were 400-threat count Egyptian cotton and of course they were ironed before putting them on the beds! Oh! Did we mention that they have heated towel racks in the bathroom? Each room came with a DVDITFIVHS, CD player, etc. A bottle of wine is in every room for the guests. The grounds are fabulous. They are very pet-friendly and even have a dog run and a horse run should you care to bring your horse. Not into driving? Then use their helicopter pad and fly right in! They serve a full-course breakfast every day and on Sundays’ a full brunch. And we are not talking a muffin and coffee, but a full sit-down breakfast with wanes, breakfast steak, eggs, potatoes, etc. Nothing is left out. Guests have the full run of the house and property including an office where you can check your e-mails and work online if need be. But the most important thing about Luna Vista are the owners, KALA AND FRANK. Nxey genuinely care about their guests and cater to their every need. Tney love life and it shows. In all of our travels, they are the most sincere, heartwarming and friendly people that we have ever met. On our last night there, Kala and Frank hosted a party in our honor and invited severn of their neighbors and area antiques dealers. They fixed enough food for an entire army. Everyone was so interesting in their own way. The woman The moment that Kala opened the door to welcome us in, we I~IEW that we were going in for a big treat and we were! She is dive, animated, professional, entertaining and a great hostess. Frank ALWAYS has a smile on his face and is very excited about everything. Together they make a great team and we know that they will be in the bed and breakfast business for many years. They can’t help it if they were born straight! It happens in the best of families. Everyone is welcome at Luna Vista and we do mean everybody! We stayed there for three days and didn’t even want to go anywhere else. However one day we did drive over to Montezuma’s Castle and on to Montezumgs Lake which was extremely interesting. But the red enjoyment was taking advantage of the Luna Vista B and B and the many amenities it has to offer. It is located on 16 acres and you can take a long hike through the woods and river area. The flowers were blooming everywhere. The sights and aromas 18 theSTAR Luna Vista Bed and Breakfast www.ozarksstar.com �Les residents want Wockner News Wire Nxree residents of the Greek island of Lesbos have filed suit in an attempt to reclaim the word "lesbian" and stop the group Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece (OLKE) from using it. Gay women are believed to have adopted the word in memory of Sappho, a poet who lived on the island in the sixth century B.C. and wrote about love between women. Luna Vista Bed and Breakfast next door to them bakes fantastic desserts and another neighbor is a spiritual advisor and yet another creams beautiful "cactus" lamps and objects. She presented us xvith one of her creations. The next time you really xvant to get away from everything and truly have a memorable experience, book yoursdf a xveek at the "beyond fabulous" Luna Vista. Their website is: wxvxv.lunavistabandb.com or call 800-611-4788. They have been featured in many travel publications from coast to coast. To get to Rimrock either fly into Flags{aff or Phoenix, rent an auto and drive. That is unless you’re already driving, then just drive on Interstate 17 and take the 293 Exit. The plaintiffs claim the alleged theft of "lesbian" from the island’s residents amounts to "psychological and moral rape." An OLKE spokeswoman called the case "ridiculous" but an Athens court will hear the matter on June 10. Quotable Quotes Cuba’s parliament is studying proposals to legalize same-sex unions and give gay couples the benefits that people in traditional marriages enjoy. "The freedom of sexual choice and gender identity are exercises in equality and social justice," said Mariela Castro, daughter of President Raul Castro,. We stayed xvith them on a return trip from California and our "beyond fabnlous" experiences continued while staying there. We don’t make many promises, but trust us on this one, we promise that you will have one of the finest and most enjoyable weeks of your life xvith Kala and Frank. Alxvays remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! Get the STAR delivered to your home or office. 12 issues only $33.95. Send Check or Money Order to: The STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 Seepage 29for order blank. www.ozarksstar.corn ~}~eSTAR t9 �of Town B~ A~&’~w Colli~ W-eekend Getaways from Portland, Oregon with a marionberry vinaigreue. For more sophisticated fare, book a table at the Gower Street Bistro, which presents creative regional dishes, such as pan-seared sea scallops with roaste&cre~ corn, eNgplant, and tJancetta. You might spend the mornings in Cannon Beach strolling along the sand, admiring the many geological formations just Offshore, such as the famous, 237-~bot-tall Haystack Rocla Do as locals do and grab a cup of delicious java at Sleepy Mgnk C~ff?e Roasters (alofig with £ ~hick sli~e ofch0~latechip pumpkin bread)before you Set Out[ %nture south of Cannori Beach and youll pass throt~ Oswald West S~te Park, which is laced with hiking trails that weave through 01d-gro~f0rest; leading down tO the ~ch. End your day in fianky itS, with its quirlg, cafes and galleri~i perhaps enjoying a glass of Oregon wine at Vino, a snaz~ little Wine bar that also ser~e~ plate~ of delici0u] chkrcuterie and cheeSe. Between Manzanita and CannOn Beach in tiny Arch Cape, the gay-owned Ocean Point Inn comprises three oceanfront suites with chic, contempo~ furnishings, fiatscreen TVs, and gas fireplaces. Guests can enjoy a ~de range of treatments at the inn’s spa. It’s one of the most romantic accommodations along the coast. I-5} Within 30 miles of Portland, in Oregon’s verdant Willamette Valley; you’ll find some of the leading wineries in ~e United States - the area ha~ become Oregon’s Gannon Beach o~rs some ofthe best sunset-viewing on the West Coast. (Photo by Andrew Collins) Hip and cosmopolitan Portland continues to emerge as a popular urban vacation destination for gay" and lesbian travelers, thanks in part to its stellar restaurant scene, liberal social climate, and artsy personalit~: But another major draw of this charmed city is its proxmaity to so many breathtakingly beautiful places that make perfect two- to three-day getaways. In an afternoon’s drive, you can explore the rugged Oregon Coast, tile lush Willamette Valley wine country, or the high desert outdoor recreation mecca of Bend. Here’s a look at three ideal weekend getaways from the Portland area, all of them centered on communities with an increasing number of gay-owned or gay-friendly accommodations and restaurants. especially renowned for iris pinot noirs. If you have only a day to tour the region, focus your efforts a~ound the rural, hilly Yamhill area, home to such esteemed vineyards as Willakenzie, Penner,Ash, and Adelsheim. Just a short drive south, in the Dundee Hills. standouts include Archery Summit, Sokot Blosser, and Domaine Serene. ~ese are among dozens of wineries with tasting rooms open m the public. ~Ihis part of the valley abounds with excellent restaurants, too. An intimate spot serving relatively affordable French fare, Cuvee sits along the quiet main drag of tiny Carlton and is a fine place to end a day ofwine-t~asting. Among the several stellar restauvamts in Dundee, check out Tina’s, a bustling bistro that features creative American fare emphasizing ingredients from r delicious dish is the seared halibut local cheeks with diced "Ihere tic and rooms, each with a As vou Camaon Beach and Manzanita (a 90-minute drive via U.S. 26) From downtown Pordand, U.S. 26 leads west over the dramatic Coast Mountains to northern Oregon’s spectacular and relatively macrowded coast, a highlight of which is dapper Cannon Beach, a low-keyed munity set along a striking stretch of beach. Quite a few gays and lesbians (including Pordand-based filmmaker Gus Van Zant) own or rent summer homes here or in nearby beach towns, such as funk)" Manzauita and upscale Gearhart. The quieter south end of Cannon Beach. known as Tolovana Park. has a slightly more artsy feel. Here you might spend the night at the delightful Inn at Cannon Beach, a tasteful complex of contemporar5 two-srory cottages that open around a central courtyard with fragrant flower gardens and Adirondack chairs. Itk steps from the beach, and next door to’the Warren House Pub. a casual, gay-friendly spot that brews its own excellent beer and serves tast7 comfort food, such as grilled pankocrusted oysters, and house-smoked-salmon salad 20 f~eSTAR gene. Here scene of any Oregon city with parks ~nd ri~:e vci~ opportunities for recreation. A attraction is the Owen Ros~ Garden, where more than d Nearb); a former chicken-processing plant houses the Fifth Street Market, now a complex of fascinati~ shops and enticing restaurants, mclu&ng one of the regions best dining choices, Marche. Here you can ry such memorable fare as 0yen-roasted local mussels with a saffron-cream, and smoked pork chops with rhubarb chum~ From April through De~emher, check out the neaiby Saturday Market, Where ente~iners pei~form and close to 200 artisans, farmers, and cooks sell their wares. www.ozarksstar.com �OAXACA RESTAURANT Sed0na, Arizona Pronounced (Wa-ha&a) this Mexican restaurant in Sedona offers exciting food. With breath-taking scenery and beautiful views from their rooftop cantina, Oaxaca has earned it’s title "Local Secret/Big Find" by Travelocity.com. Tnis old world stTle Mexican restaurant is located in Uptown Sedona and offers casual dining with an extensive menu with a taste of every palate. Carl Butler, the owner and a registered dietitian has created a delicious menu with a healthy approach. Oaxaca serves up heart healthy, reduced fat and low cholesterol recipes which are full of flavo!! Oaxaca serves a wide range of Mexican, Southwest, American and Vegetarian dishes with authentic favorites Such as fajitas and chile rellenos. It is no wonder why people have been dining there for years and years and many people drive out of their way when traveling, just to dine there! You certainly will have a wonderful dining experience, enjoying the exciting flavors of their food and looking at the fabulous mountain scenery. q-hey are open daily: 10:30 AM to 9 PM. Happy hour: 3 PM to 6 PM. Breakfast buffet: Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 AiM to 10:30 AM. q-hey are located at 321 North Highway 89A in Sedona, Arizona. .............................. CHILE RELLENOS Next Page theSTAR 21 �di i g° New art exhibit feat rOkEq Cdebrates ing artist Dennis Olson Ca i£ornia Ru ing £or at the Dennis Ro Neill Marriage Equa ity Equality Center TULSA, OK (PR) - May 15, 2008 __ Today, in a 4-3 decision, the California State Supreme Court ruled in favor of full marriage equality for same-sex couples. The decision follows lawsuits by fifteen couples who challenged the constitutionality of the state’s marriage ban. TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center art gallery will host its monthly First Thursday meet-the-artist reception from 5-9pm, Thursday, June 5, 2008, for the opening of their June exhibit, paintings by Oklahoma City resident Dennis Olson. This event will correlate with the onenight-only Tulsa Pride "More Color" art show featuring works by sixty artists. Dennis Olson’s exhibit will remain up through the month of June, and can be viewed Monday thru Saturday from 3-gpm. The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th St., in downtown Tulsa. More info can be found on the web at okeq.org. This monthly event is hosted by Oklahoman’s for Equality (OkEq). OkEq seeks equal rights for Imsbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) individuals and families through advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. Quotable Quotes "I respect the Court’s decision and as Governor, I will uphold its ruling. Also, as I have said in the past, I will not support an amendment to the constitution that would overturn this state Supreme Court ruling." California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger: 22 theSTAR "This historic decision is a victory for fairness and opportunity for hundreds of thousands of loving, committed couples and their families in California," said Justice Waidner, Oklahomans for Equality Executive Director. "We continue to work and hope for the day when families in every state have the basic protections that come with marriage." A growing number of states provide recognition of same-sex relationships. Including California, eight states plus the District of Columbia allow couples to marry or confer rights and benefits similar to marriage. However, the Defense of Marriage Act still prohibits the Federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages approved in individual states. In November, Californians vote on a ballot initiative to amend the state constitution by defining marriage as between one man and one woman. If passed, this constitutional amendment would overturn the California Supreme Court’s ruling. "Many Americans believe that marriage equality will be a reality in their lifetimes," noted Waidner. "Organizations in every corner of this country are working hard to achieve the kanerican dream of equality and justice for all. We are all inspired by the California marriage decision and look forward to the day when every American in every state and territory will have the opportunity to realize their hopes and dreams by marrying the person they love." w~v.ozarksstar.com �Sound of Music Headlines Lyric’s 2008 Stammer Season OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) __ Tickets for Lyric Theatre’s 2008 summer season of musicals are now on sale. Lyric "Iheatre, Oklahoma’s premiere professional theatre company, proudly continues its 46-year tradition of producing stellar Broadway-style shows for the people of Oklahoma. Lyric’s four summer season productions will be held at the Civic Center Music Hall in downtown Oklahoma City. From June 24th through 28th, Lyric will open the season with The Sound of Music, presented for the first time on the Civic Center stage. This timeless Rodgers & Hammerstein family classic tells the story of Maria, a young, spirited, would-be nun who is appointed as governess for the seven children of a widowed sea captain. Lyric’s next production, Swing!, will run from July 8th through 12th. Swing! is a celebration of the music and dance phenomenon that swept the nation in the ’30s and ’40s. This all-singing, all-dancing evening of music features over thirty incredible numbers guaranteed to put audiences "in the mood!" Lyric will bring a beloved movie musical to the stage from July 22nd through 26th. Set in Oregon in 1850, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers is the fresh, wholesome tale of Adam Pontipee and his unkempt, burly brothers who kidnap six townswomen for the winter in hopes of finding love and companionship. Their well-meaning, but hilarious shenanigans of courtship are played out in boisterous song and dance. Seven Brides For Seven Brothers will feature Broadway performers Elisa Van Duyne as Milly and Jim Sorensen as Adam. (rated G) Concluding Lyric’s 2008 summer season is a modern musical hit, Urinetown, the Musical, fresh off the Broadway stage. The title might give off the impression that the play is about nothing more than a town that indulges itself in bathroom related humor. In reality, Urinetown, the Musical, written by Greg Kotis, a New York playwright who specializes in socially relevant comedies, is a hilarious melodrama about a town plagued by drought. In a mad attempt to regulate ,#cater consumption, the government forces www.ozarksstar.com its citizens to use pay-per-use amenities, monopolized by the Urine Good Company. Urinetown satirizes corporate and political greed, the idealism of rebellion, and also spoofs on the art of musical theatre itself, all set to a score bursting with a big Broadway sound. "Urinetown ~von the 2002 Tony Award for Best Original Score and is lauded on Broadway as one of the smartest, most comical musicals of this century;" explains Nick Demos, Lyric’s Artistic Director. There is nothing offensive about it, other than an unattractive title!" Urinetown plays from August 5th through 9th, and guarantees a unique night of unprecedented laughter. (rated PG) Single tickets to all Civic Center productions start at $27. Four-Show Season Ticket packages are also still available and start at just $80, as are the Three-Show Family Packages which include The Sound of Music, Swing!, and Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. For more info visit www.lyrictheatreokc.com or call (405) 524-9312. TOM KOVACH MAKES HISTORY WINNING A SEAT ON NOR_MAN’S CITY COUNCIL By Victor Gorin NORMAN, OK__ Tom Kovach, an out gay Democrat was elected to the Norman City Council representing Ward 2 in a runoff against political consultant Chebon Marshall. The race began running against 2 opponents, Mr. Marshall and Michael McKee. Although Chebon Marshall got the most votes, he did not get a majority of the total votes. Mr. Kovach was in second place, so as per Oklahoma election law, this resulted in a runoff election. Although vastly outspent, Mr. Kovach made up for this with hard work and determination, and making known his stands on issues to make the city better. As he puts it, " Throughout the campaign we stuck mainly to the issues, which were mainly public safety and storm water." His efforts won the endorsement of both the Sierra Club and the Norman Homeowner’s Alliance. Photo: Tom Kovach by Victor Gorin designed to turn conservative voters against him close to the election named him as endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats ( explaining for those who didn’t know that it was a gay rights organization within the Democratic Party), and a member of the American Civil Liberties Union (both true). Despite this distraction from the issues, his sincerity and practical message carried him to victory. He has lived in Norman over 40 years, much of that in Ward 2. His partner of over 10 years, Will Weir, is also an activist volunteer with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, P-Flag, GLSEN, and helping people with disabilities. Mr. Weir won Norman’s Human Pdghts Award in 2007. Tom made history being Oklahoma’s 3rd openly gay elected public official The last 2 were Oklahoma State Representative A1 McAffrey (Democrat District 88, elected 2006) and Oklahoma County Commissioner Jim Roth (Democrat District 1, first elected 2002). The first was Dr. David also elected to the Norman City Council in 2001, who Tom remembers as "Someone who stood up for many issues which are now being considered by a more progressive city council, and we owe a lot to him" As for his future he is optimistic, stating that" I have been active in the city, spe~ng before the city council many times. N~ey know me well, and I think we have a good working relationship. I look forward to working with the seasoned members of the council, and look forward to working with Mayor (Cindy) Rosenthal." There was rumor mongering about his sexual orientation, and a literature drop {:h®$TAR 23 �Photo’s by Victor G. & Jud / G. @ The Ledo, Oklahoma City @Club Majestic, Tulsa 24 @ Angles, Oklahoma City @ Steve’s Hideawa t, Tulsa @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa @ The Copa, Oklahoma City @ Finishline, Oklahoma City �By Greg Steele Club Rachael n downtown Jade Esteban portraying his one man play Inns III, The Gay and Lesbian History of the Wodd at OKC’s Indiv dual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery Laura Belmonte, President Oklahomans for Equality and OKC Pride Publicity Coordinator Michael Cich at the 2008 LGBT Leadership Summit hosted by Cimarron Alliance Oklahoma ( Reverend Lo rce his friend Alex with their friends at May P-Flag Meeting. www.ozarksstar.com Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Male Co-Chair Paul Thompson Gay ’Star Trek’ actor George Takei is to marry his partner Brad Altman in California congratulates Reverend Loyce Newton-Edwards on her ordination as a UCC minister at Church of the Open Arms. ~ �Swimsuit C01tect 0n Men From Mensuas _Mensuas announces their 2008 Swimsuit Collection for Men fiaturing swimwear by Bask#, Mensuas, IV2N Bodywear and Timoteo. Jvat in time for sumrne~ these new swimsuits are great for t,6e beach or laying by the i)ool. TAMPA, FL 0)RWEB) __ Mensuas announces their 2008 Swimsuit Collection for Men featuring swimsuits by Baskit, Mensuas, N2N Bodyxvear and Timoteo. Just in time for summer, these nexv sxvimsuits are great for the beach or laying by the pool Timeoteo Swim Bikini Mensuas has carried N2N Bod),wear swimsuits for several years. The N2N Bodywear 2008 Sxvimsuits include the Catalina Competitor, Corona Competitor, Cosmo Competitor and the X-Poser. The new and daring designs xvill sure to get you noticed at the beach. Mensuas has team up xvith Tulio to create the exciting nexv Mensua~ Swim Bikini in four new styles for 2008. Modeled by Levi Poulter, these unique swimsuit designs represent a bold and exciting trend in mens sxvimxvear. Mensuas new operations center is located in the suburbs of Tampa, F1. The new operations center allows customers orders to be processed faster and alloxv the Baskit Orange Lucky 7 3.5" Swim Bikini California Muscle Capri Blue Swim Teaser q-hong availability of more future products at their website. Our customer’s satisfaction with the products they order and the amount of time it takes to receive their order is number one priority at Menuas. Mensuas wants to become number one shopping source for customers to order their underwear and sxvimwear for themselves or for the man in their life. ages. All packages shipped discreetly to our customers to ensure privacy. Mensuas is offering their customers a 10% discount on their next order, please enter promotion code undies08 at checkout and receive the 10% discount on your order total excluding shipping charges. Website: www.mensuas.com Mensuas always offer free shipping on all orders totaling $25.00 or more for US and Canada customers. We offer great international shipping rates. All orders received by 3:00 PM EST are shipped the same business day by USPS regular mail. All items shipped from Mensuas are tracked from the Post Office to ensure customers packages can be traced in case of lost or mishandled pack Mensuas Swim Bikini Timeoteo Swim Bikini 26 t~~eSTAR California Muscle Dolce Swim Brief www.ozarksstar.com �Judy Shepard, executive director of the Foundation, said, "Wearing the Erase Hate pendant is a great way for people to express how they feel and promote the values of understanding, compassion and acceptance that were so important to Matthew," Adding, "It has been ten years since the death of my son. Although we can not replace Matthew, we can join together to help spread the message of erasing hate." K ight will i;i M tthew hepard Foundation ~ h~i~ kick off National GayPride month with a symbolic dusk commitment ceremony at the faamed West Hollywood hotspot, The Abbey. At 8pm, couples from aroufid the nation will "tie the knot" in an event officiated by the Mayor of West Holly~vood and witnessed by Judy Shepard. Couples will be wearing the Matthew Shepard Erase Hate pendant courtesy of Love and Pride jewehy designer, Udi Behr. Love and Pride is the first online jewelry destination for people who believe in equality, diversity and tolerance for all. www.!oveandpride.com Behr created the Erase Hate pendant for Judy Shepard, in memory of her son, Matthew Shepard, who was the victim of a brutal anti-gay hate crime in rural Wyoming ten years ago. His murder brought national attention to the issue of hate crime legislation and was a watershed moment in the fight for gay civil rights. Behr remarks, "A public commitment ceremony is a great way to join together and strengthen our two messages; ’Celebrating Love’ and ’Erasing Hate.’" 100% of net proceeds from sales of the pendant assist the Matthew Shepard Foundation. v~’~v.ozarkssta r.com The parade lineup will start at 10 AM on Meadow Street, next to the Arvest Bank. Parade will start promptly at 12 Noon. A brief Pride rally will be held at the end of the parade in the V/alton Arts Center Parking Lot. Mayor Jeffrey Prang comments, "The City of West Hollywood supports marriage equality and continues to work hard for changes in California law." Adding, "We will not stop fighting for our rights as no government can prevent us from loving whom we choose." For more details, float and or speaker applications, please go to NWA Pride’s web site at www.nwapride.org. Volunteers still needed! World renowned recording artist Steve Oliver will perform the classic ceremonial march Pachelbel Canon in D major. "A Star Studded Night" Gala in Fayettevillle CEREMONY REGISTRATION FORM: www.MatthewShepard.org/GetMarried WEST HOLL,,~Y~VO,OD, CA (,P,R) __ On June 4, 2008i !G)~atomy star T.R. bicycles, vehicles and especially this election year, proudly wave rainbow and American flags. PRIDE PARADE OF NW" ARKANSAS FAYETTEVILLE AR (PR) __ NWA PRIDE announces the 2nd Annual NWA PRIDE PARADE, A Celebration of Diversity and Community, will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2008 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Parade organizers invite GLBTs aald Straight allies to come together in solidarity in support of equal rights for all. It is NWA Pride’s great pleasure to honor Chris Harmon as this year’s Grand Marshal. Chris has been an unsung hero as founder of the NWA POSITIVE LINKS BUDDY PROGRAM and is currently a board member of the NWA GLBT Community Center. The Buddy Program provides information and much needed peer-to-peer support for people living with HIV and AIDS. Chris and Program volunteers maintain a food bank, make personal visits, help with chores, transportation and provide many other resources for 1Mng a positive life. Parade participants and spectators are encouraged to be artistic, have fun and show your pride. (Kid friendly and appropriate for public locations) Paint your face, wear costumes, dress up your pets, horses, FAYETTEVILLE, AR (PR) __ The NXX/A GLBT Community Center will host their 2nd Annual Fund Raising Gala "A Star Studded Night" on Friday, June 27 at the Clarion Inn located at 1255 S. Shiloh Drive in Fayetteville. The Ball Room ~vill be delightfully decorated resembling the glitz and glamor of a Hollywood party. Gala Guests’ will enjoy the fun and excitement of a "night among the stars" as guests become our Celebrities in an evening filled with great food, dancing and music provided by Dance Enhance Entertainment. The evening will begin with a lavish Prime Rib, Chicken or Vegetarian Buffet entree as well as silent auctions and special speakers which include the Rev. Lowell Grisham of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Shawn Coker the Chairperson of The NWA Diversity Council and Vice President of Diversity Business Practices of Tyson Foods. Throughout the evening guests’ will be casting their vote for the "Star of the Night" Award which will be given to the person who raises the most money through a $1 ballot. Advance tickets for the event are $50 each or $400 per table of 8 and may be purchased on-line at http:/Avww.nwaglbtcc.org or by calling 1-888-361-9222 or in person at Tymythy’s Hair Salon located at 130 E. Poplar St. Suite B in Fayetteville. Tickets will not be available at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m. and a Cash Cocktail bar will be open throughout the night. Formal Attire or Celebrity Costumes are recommended. th÷STAR 27 �by Jack Fertig June 2008 "Take bo~d risks, Aquarius!" Everyone is being just a bit too fabulous for words! Mercury is retrograde, so his alignment with Venus and the Sun is a bit more like a collision of verbosity and overaffected efforts at charm. Mars in Leo is feeding the frenzy. Remember Lucy and Ethel at charm school? It’s that kind of week! ARIES (Narch 20 -April 19): Baby wants to play, but you are atypically given more to talk than action now. Chatty word games and rambling are not usually your style, but go with it for now. Don’t be afraid to look silly. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Buying or tossing out household items could easily be a mistake. Instead try rearranging things and seeing them in a new light. This is a great time to locate problems in domestic finances, but solving them should wait a few weeks. GEMINI (May 2t - Jun.e 20): You’re going to trip over your tongue no matter what you’re talking about. Best to keep it light, nonconfrontational, and all in good humor so you can laugh with your friends over your own malapropisms and faux pas. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 o December 21}): Misunderstandings with your partner actually open new doors that could improve your relationship. Explore new pleasures and possibilities together. If anything seems disappointing, you might want to try again a few weeks later. CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Anyone playing around should make regular visits to the clinic. When was your last time? If you have a clean bill of health, you can have a great time practicing any erotic techniques you’d like to develop. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Be creative! Be daring! Take bold risks and be willing to fall down and look utterly ridiculous. A good pratfall can be endearing, helping to improve your partnership orto find a good candidate for one. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): You have the housecleaning energy and lack of focus typical of a speed freak. Try to concentrate on one specific task or goal at a time. You’ll soon be dissatisfied with the results, but that’s OK. Housework always needs redoing! CANCER (June 21- Ju~y 22): Hide the plastic, and keep the cash out of reach. Any urge to display your good taste is best done as tasteful restraint - and no, that doesn’t mean buying handcuffs that match the bedposts! Take time out with someone you value most. LEO (July 23 - August 22): Everyone says you look fabulous - and you do! You’re all cranked up, looking and thinking three steps ahead, but are you really three steps ahead going in the right direction? Check with friends who care about more than looking fabulous. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Someone behind the scenes offers to help you up the ladder. Some secrets may be revealed in the process, but that can also work in your favor. Everyone’s screwing up some these days, but your mistakes - and the way you handle them - look good! LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): You could charm anyone into believing your stories and arguments, even if they contain mistakes. Leave room for later revisions! Better just to radiate charm and energy; save the important facts for later. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Seems everybody wants a taste of what you’ve got! If you do play around, none of it will be secret. You could get a reputation as a great lover, but what would your boss and your partner say? METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve T. Urie Spirit of Christ MCC 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Saturdays at 10:00 AM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC of the Living Spring 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! 28 theSTAR www.ozarksstar.com �Support those who support us. DOWNTOWN PLAZA of TULSA 17 West 7th Street Tulsa, OK 918-585-5898 www.downtownplazatulsa.com HABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESS\VAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 www.habanainn.com DIVERSITY PRIDE EVENTS P. O. BOX 3158 Eure "ka Springs, AR 72631 479-253-2555 www.diversitypride.com EXPRESSIONS Comm Fellowshi 311 S Klein Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73108 405-761-1878 www.myspace.com/expressionsokc HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747~5466 Certified Public Accountant ANGLES 2117 NW 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK www.anglesclub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 www.bambooloungetulsa.com CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 www.ctubmajestictulsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com STEVES HIDEAWAY LOUNGE 11730 E. 11TH Tulsa, OK 918-437-0449 Open Sun- Sat 2pm to 2am THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com www.ozarksstar.com SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM MCC of the LIVING SPRING 17 Hk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pm CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 ~’xw,wv.c21 goldcastle.com OK JAZZ HALL OF FAME 111E. lstSt Tulsa, OK 918-596-1001 www.okjazz.org CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 TOLBERT THEATER 400 W. Sheridan Oklahoma City, OK 405-297-2264 www.tickets.com GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn 9 8-835-?887 DALLAS CVB Dallas, TX www.winatrip.glbtdallas.com OKC PRIDE, INC PO BOX 60296 Oklahoma City, OK 73146 www.okcpride.org OKLAHOMANS for EQUALITY 621 E 4th Street Tulsa, OK 74120 918-743-4297 www.okeq.org Want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $33.95 will be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or rnoneyorder to: OPENARMS YOUTH PROJECT 2015 -B S. Lakewood Tulsa, OK 74112 918-838-7104 www. openarmsproject.org OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 The STAR PO Box 581718 Tulsa, OK 74158-1718 (Single Copies $3.00 per issue) NAME: Address: City:. KING OF MASSAGE In or Out Calls Oklahoma City, OK 405-314-3898 JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 St: Zip:. Phone: Check enclosed Money Order Start Date: theSTAR �Chuck Breckenridge ~ether buying or selling I’)). work hard for your[ 30 tB÷STAR ................... www.ozarksstar.com ��We oppose the portrayal of homosexual or promiscuous behavior in a positive light in our public schools. We oppose the erosion of our military readiness through openly practicing hornosexuals serving in the military We oppose the promotion of homosexuality, the elimination of laws against sodomy, and the granting of minority protection or special status to any person based upon sexua~ preference or llfestyb choice. We are committed to equal treatment of all service members and believe all patriotic Americans should be allowed to serve our country without discrimination, persecution or violence. We support legislation barring workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. We support the full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal responsibilities, benefits and protections for these families. Taken from current platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties of Oklahoma. �� Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document ~nty one years ago was a world that many young people never k~ew or could comprehend. No openly gay person had been elected to public office in Oklahoma. Organizations advocating equality for GLBT Oklahomans were few and far less influential. Only 3 years earlier our Oklahoma Legislature had passed legislation (later ruled unconstitutional by the Federal court system) that would prohibit a public school teacher from even making a positive statement about the GLBT community in a classroom. Equality for GLBT people was hardly discussed, and gay marriage even more remote. Politicians could (and did) make hateful statements about our community without any fear that someone would challenge their remarks. (sorry Sally, you came along too late) ride ~ganizers of this year’s Tulsa Pride Celebration are promising the public that this year’s events will be anything but boring. Nate Black, one of the co-chairs says the changes are intended to breathe a new sense of excitement into the Pride observance and to help promote the revitalization of downtown. It may not look the same, but organizers promise that Tulsa Pride 2008 will be just as incredible of a celebration as ever. Spanning over two weeks, with an event almost every evening, Tulsa Pride 2008 has something for everyone. "There will be some differences, but the spirit of the celebration is the same. It is still going to be a joyful, invigorating experience that xvill spark the same sense of pride and freedom in our community," Tutso PI IDE ?008 2 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com walk or drag yourselfto Tulsa Pride 2008 By Joey De It may not look the same, but organizers promise that Tulsa Pride 2008 is a series of events you won’t want to miss. "We have our three anchor events: the gala, the parade and block party, and the picnic," explains Pride co-chair Nate Black. "There ~vill be some differences from the past, but the spirit ofTulsa Pride is as vibrant as ever." Here is a brief look at the events ofTulsa Pride 2008. For a complete listing, maps and details, visit www.tulsapride.org May 30 - "Sisters in Song" concert at All Souls Unitarian Church. May 31- Wear your rainbow attire and enjoy a day at America’s favorite zoo with your friends and family. Tnat night, join the Equality Gala and celebrate the GLBT community at Cain’s Ballroom. Jun. 1 - Rev. Barney McLaughlin and members ofTulsa’s faith community will be hosting "Spiritual Equality," an interfaith service at Bethany Christian Church. Jun. 2 - Join PFLAG at the Circle Cinema for a free screening of "Anyone and Everyone," a film about families struggling to accept their GLBT youth. Jun. 4 - Cheer the Drillers to victory and enjoy an old-fashioned ballpark picnic. Tickets must be bought in advance. That evening, Lochran Theatre’s "He&vig and the Angry Inch," opens. The show will play at various locations through the 15th. Jun. 5 - Enjoy the works of 60 artists at "More Color," a one-night ex~hibition at the Equality Center. Jun. 6 - Open Arms Youth Project Fashion Show. Jun. 7 - Dine at the OkEq Family Taco Dinner benefiting PFLAG, then join the Pride Parade and Block Party, with two stages of entertainment. Youth Services ofTulsa will be hosting a concert in their Coffee House for those under 21 and child care will be available for those under 12 at the Equality Center. Jun. 8 - Texas Hold’era at the Equality Center. Jun. 10 - Leather and Fetish fashion show at the Equality Center. Jun. 11 - Join the "Gender Avengers" for an evening of monologues and plays addressing transgender issues. Jun. 12 - Learn about raising kids in a diverse world at the Downtown Library. Speakers will be available and books attacked for their "inappropriate" messages will be displayed. Jun. 13 - Screen "The ~A’ Word," a film with no audio or subtitles, about 10 deaf lesbians. Jun. 14 - Walce up early for the YST fun run before the Equality Festival at Centennial Park on 6th and Peoria! www.ozarksstar.corn the STAR 3 OKC P DE EEKEND AN EVENT TRULY ’COMING OF AGE" By Victor Gorin OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ It can be hard to fathom, but OKC Pride is now 21. Had the event been a child born 21 years ago, that person would now be ready to legally enjoy the bars. Instead a spirit of human determination was born in rocky Oklahoma soil, with the joyful trappings that come with living in the Bible Belt’s buckle, q-his beginning came to Oklahoma through the brave organization of about a dozen people. As Paul Thompson recAls, "We didfft know if there wotdd be 10 people marching or a hundred." The Ku Klux Klan had promised to meet the marchers when they came over the N.W. 39th Street hill with hostile confrontation. When around 400 marchers came over the hill, the Klansmen waiting in Safeway’s (now Homeland) parking lot promptly left the scene, and a proud tradition began. It was a world that many young people never knew or could comprehend. No openly gay person had been elected to public office in Oklahoma. Organizations advocating equality for GLBT Oklahomans were few and far less influential. Only 3 years earlier our Oklahoma Legislature had passed legislation (later ruled unconstitutional by the Federal court system) that would prohibit a public school teacher from even making a positive statement about the GLBT community in a classroom. Equality for GLBT people was hardly discussed, and gay marriage even more remote. Politicians could (and did) make hateful statements about our community without any fear that someone would challenge their remarks. (sorry Sally, you came along too late) Today the Pride Festival and Parade truly showcases the theme by showing how far we’ve come. Festival booths not only feature openly gay public office holders (now even on the State level with the appointment of Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth), but also gay political organizations of Democrats and Republicans, as well as straight politicians & parties who are proud to speak out for us and seek our vote. Social organizations (from rodeo to softball), and religious groups bring us all together in glamorous diversity. There are countless more business organizations proud to seek out the gay community to make a buck. Last but not least, nothing compares to the mosaic of the GLBT community and their friends, people from all walks of life together in Pride. EVENTS: June 14 Saturday OKC Pride at the Zoo 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. For the first time there will be a gay day at the Oklahoma City Zoo. It will be a great way to begin the week’s festivities with family and/or friends. There is information about a special reduced rate inside every OKC Pride Participation Packet, so come out, enjoy the day and wish the animals a good week too! June 15 Sunday OKC Pride Day ofWorship Cathedral of Hope & Church of the Open Arms ( both UCC) will be planning special worship celebrations to commemorate Pride Week. Ifyou have felt left out or excluded from worship, these churches are ready to welcome you just as you are. June 20- OKC Pride Parade Now moved to Friday evening stepping off at 7 p.m. the route is unchanged. Beginning at Memorial Park ( N.W. 36th & Classen) it proceeds north on Classen two blocks north ofN.W. 39th Street, turns around on Classen and then proceeds west on N.W. 39th. Our Grand Marshall will be Joe Salmonese, the chair of the national Human Rights Campaign. Preceding the Parade will be a Strip Show ( signifying the N.W. 39th Street Strip) featuring some of our wildest and finest entertainers. Then the crowd cheers on as the parade’s first arrivals enjoy the finest climax ever enjoyed at any event. As the Parade concludes those in the mood will be ready to party, giving new meaning to a wild weekend while remembering how Pride brings us together. June 21- 22 OKC Pride Festival Still at Oklahoma Cit)?s Memorial Park at N.W. "36th & Classen, the Festival will run from noon until 10 p.m. Saturday June 21, and from noon until 5 p.m. June 22 Sunday. There will be many booths featuring organizations you can learn from or even consider joining, as well as endless types of merchandise. There will be entertainment as well Following the Festival conclusion at 5 p.m. Sunday, Church of the Open Arms has their Annual Pride Ice Cream Social, which will featuring the Therapy Sisters in concert. There’s no better way to cool off, enjoy the fun & music and recap the xveekend. This is an event you don’t want to miss, it’s there for all of us. For more infornaation pick up a Pride Guide at your favorite clubs, " or check out the website at wwv.okcpride. com DBAT Celebrates Pride by Hosting a Diversity Job Fair TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Diversity Business Association ofTulsa (DBAT), a program of Oklahomans for Equality, is hosting a Diversity Job Fair on June 13th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. The event, being held at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center in Downtown Tulsa, will bring together lgbt job seekers and lgbt-friendly employers in a safe and comfortable environment, allowing for open dialogue and alleviating fears of discrimination. The Diversity Job Fair offers a unique opportunity for diversity-conscious employers to access the wealth of skilled and talented members of the lgbt community. Additionally, job seekers are given an unprecedented connection to companies that are lgbtfriendly. F~r more information or if your company is interested in participating in the job fair, contact Susan Hartman at dbat@okeq.org or call 918-698-2977. www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 5 By David Benkof Should gay-rights advances be put on hold until all LGBT people can be included? On this question, the position held by the most prominent voices in the gay community is so inconsistent it borders on incoherent. Last year, most leading gay-rights organizations rejected the advice of congressional experts including Rep. Barney Frank (DMass.) and pushed for an unlikely-to-pass version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that included gender identity. \Vc~hen the broader bill was replaced with an ENDA that covered only sexual orientation, hundreds of gay and lesbian groups lobbied Congress to vote "no" on what was the most important piece of gayrights legislation in a decade. Indeed, seven Democrats who had previously been reliable votes for pro-gay bills opposed ENDA because it did not include protections for transgender people. LGBT activists defended this stance in a variety of ways, but the basic argument xvas that no part of the community should gain civil rights at the expense of other parts. Of course, had that been the approach of voting-rights activists after the Civil War, African-Americans would have forfeited the vote until women gained suffrage a halfcentury later - and they, in turn, may have been asked to wait for the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 before gaining the right to vote. In any event, supporters ofwhat became known as "United ENDA" characterized their position as a principled one, believing that LGB rights without T rights were worse than no rights at all, and that (Evita show tune be damned) politics is not "the art of the possible." This pose is simply unsustainable, as an examination of transgender military inclusion shows. The Web sites of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; the Human Rights Campaign; Parents, Friends, and Families of Lesbians and Gays; and many other groups advocate for an ENDA that includes gender identity, but the T is glaringly missing when it comes to military issues. ~nese organizations push for gays, lesbians, and bisexuals to serve openly in the armed forces, but don’t lobby on behalf of transgender people who want to serve their country. They certainly don’t insist that any repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" (DADT) be linked to equality for transgender servicemembers. There are only three ways LGBT organizations can react to this imbalance with any sort of integrity: One, they could refuse to support the repeal ofDADT unless it is accompanied by a new policy that prohibits the military from discriminating on the basis of gender identity. Two, they could admit that their ENDA strategy was wrong and agree to accept an LGB-only workplace bill until such time as the votes are there to pass a more inclusive ENDA. Three, they could articulate pub!icly and precisely why discrimination against transgender people in the military is more legitimate than private-sector discrimination against them - and why it is more legitimate than discrimination against lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals in the military. I would certainly prefer the second solution, but I could respect the other two approaches. My hunch, though, is that none of these stances will be adopted. The status quo is strong evidence that the "United ENDA" stance is not primarily about political principles. It’s about the internal power dynamics in the LGBT community, which have caused gay leaders to draw the line at an inclusive ENDA. No such mobilization has taken place over transgender people in the military, so there has been no perceived need for an ultimatum on that issue. Yet. David Benkofwas a longtime gay columnist, historian, and entrepreneur (as David Bianco). He is openly bisexual, but as an OrthodoxJew he is guided byJewish law in the areas ofsexvtality andfamily life. He can be reached at DavidBenkof@aol.com. 6 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com F~E BEER & HOT DO~ For a Family’s Dinner brought by the neighbors after the Death of Bettsie. Be sure to look on the bottom ofthe dish to see what neighbor brought it! Original Mo~,ie will be shown @ 7 pm dUl-h’~g dim-let. Ist Eplsede of Series will be shown immediately fo!!o~d.ug $10 D~nat~n to OG~,A inc]ludes ~nner ~$1GNING Meet and Greet Leslie Jordan - From Sordid Lives, Will & Grace My Trip Down The :PINK CARPET www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 7 @ Coming of e ~ulsa PRIDE ar~ 2008 ONE NIGHT ONLY ThuP~day, June 5, 2008, 5:G0prn to 9:0~m atthe Dennis R. Nell Equali~ C~nt~r, Corner of 4th and Keno~, dov~ov,~ Tuls~ the STAR www.ozarksstar.com Directed by David Gatigan Oklahoma City June 8, 2008 at 8pro wv~v.ozarksstar.com the 8TAP, 9 interview Interview by Victor Gorin eslie Jordan arrived in this world during 1955 in the Heartland of the Bible Belt, born and grown up in Chattanooga,Tennessee.. AI- [ho@ ~rowing up was ~ostly nor easy, he made le~nonade o[it of lemons and marie his experiences work for him, taking a bus to HoIly~ vood and never looking back. His credits are coundess, with app~ces on TV shows too numerous m mention them but in~ih&ag Reba and Will and Grace(which garnered him an E . Re is an accomplished playwright with his first success Like a Dog on Linoleum" followed by Hysterical B redness and other Southern Tragedies. Among his film successes i~’thd camp} dassic ’Sordid I[ives" (where he portrayed the drag que~ Brother Boy), which will be a n~w~series o£ LOGO ~ningJuly 23. His new book, "My, Trip down the P~~t:’ is 7h~ Slory of his life with his @s dd downs, tragedies, ~ es and tri~phs, and the story o~a flamboyant ~who has ~yfound hirrisel£ He is portr~iying his life ~lSo in a one man play of the same title in Olda~oma ~it~ June 8, for this is a must re~d and a must see. He shares his thoug~is with~E LESHE: Well I v,~as the Pips Printing guy, and t also was the elevator operator that took people to Ha~bu}ger Hell in a Taco Bel! co~ercial, i was the ~h~ck Full of Nuts coit~e boy, a]l kinds of commercials. ~ ~ ~ 10 the,STAR www.ozarksstar.com ma$~e that possible. ~CTOR~ g,q~.en does your new book COme *utJune 3~ and Iamso which is Ga~ ~cOholigm and RddiC’ : are some gay" activists wh6 feei that fl~bSya~t gay characters in the ueenS hinder the s{~u~le answer to Ilow iS tr~sggn: : and see me, I promise the STAR tl Dracula ofFree Speech, Kirk Humphreys, Pdses From the Po litica Grave by James Nimmo OKLAHOMA CITY) Just as the mythic Dracula ofTransylvania came back from the dead to spread horror among the peasants, so has the flesh-and-blood Kirk Humphreys come back from the politically dead to fling his homophobic horror in the hall~ of Oklahoma City’s public schools. Reborn in the blood of his religion and bred in the desiccated dessert of intolerance, Kirk Humphreys was recently appointed by the Oklahoma City School Board to fill the position of chair until an election is held in February, 2009. Coming above ground with his first public election to the Putnam City school Board in 1987, he rose to bigger things as mayor ofOKC in 1998. He resigned during his second term to run for U. S. Senate which he lost to Dr. Tom Coburn, 25% to 61%. Settling back into his businessman’s grave of multiple real estate dealings, one would have thought that we had heard the last of Mr. Humphreys. So why the concern regarding his reappearance? During his time as Mayor of OKC, he was the driving force behind the 2001 attempt to prevent Cimarron Alliance, a GLBT advocacy group, from exercising their First Amendment right to free speech with the display of banners promoting gay/lesbian equality. However, the shining light of Federal District Court Judge Robin Cauthron, exorcised the demon of Humphreys and as she ruled in favor of Cimarron Alliance and enjoined the City Council from interfering with Cimarron’s banner display on the utility poles. Hitherto the sacred utility poles had been the exclusive marketplace for hetero organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, rodeos, and other civic clubs. Did I mention the earlier "Tin Drum" video law suit? 12 the STAR In 1997, a fundamentalist censorship group ponied up with an Oklahoma County judge willing to make an informal ruling that the "Tin Drum" was child pornography and that copies of it could be seized in Oklahoma County wherever it could be found whether in private homes or public libraries. Despite the facts that the film had been released in 1979, received major film awards, and not anyone prior to Humphreys had made a legal claim of obscenity against the film, Humphreys again smelled blood and was hot on the trail ofwhat he thought would surely be a victory for fundamentalist decency. ~hinking that the cross of his religion would trump all blasphemers and dissolve the First and Fourth Amendments he encouraged the court case to proceed. Federal District Court Judge Ralph ~hompson, however, found that the film is not child pornography, and went on to criticize that the County Judge, Richard Freeman, had made a serious error in judgment pertaining to what constitutes pornography and allowing the OKC police, carte blanche, to search homes and businesses without a warrant. Both of the lost lawsuits backed by Kirk Humphreys cost hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars in expenses and attorney fees which resulted in higher property taxes. ¯hough the "Tin Drum" adventure was publicly lead by former District Attorney Bob Macy, as mayor and the boss of the OKC police chief, I feel that Humphreys was certainly in the loop and should have had more sense and better advise in calling off the figurative police dogs. If the past is prologue, I think we can expect some more Humphreys hauntings at the expense of the Oklahoma City taxpayers. It’s been shown that the Constitution, its Bill of Rights, and especially the First Amendment, if applied in time, can counter the poisonous vapors that waft from Humphreys. Wockner News Service Congress’ highest-ranking vet calls f.or DADT repeal WASHINGTON, DC __ U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa., whose military rank was the highest of any veteran now in Congress, has urged fellow lawmakers to join him in repealing the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy that bars open gays from the military. Sestak, a three-star admiral who spent 31 years in the Navy, is one of 17 congressional veterans co-sponsoring the repeal bill. "It is easy for me to see why Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell should be repealed," Sestak said May 3. "Once you have served in war and faced danger with a gay service member, how can you come home and say gay people should not enjoy equal rights?" Sestak’s comments came at the Equality Forum, an annual GLBT conference and festival in Philadelphia. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1246), which would repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and allow GLB personnel to serve openly, has 142 co-sponsors in total. "Veterans like Adm. Sestak, who have dedicated their lives to serving this country, are leading the movement in Congress to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell," said Aubrey Sarvis of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. "These lawmakers agree with senior military officers, including former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:John Shalikashvili and retired Army Maj. Gen. Vance Coleman, that when it comes to defusing IEDs, tending to injured troops, deciphering enemy codes and flying reconnaissance missions -- sexual orientation is irrelevant. Seventy-nine percent of the American people agree with them and it is time that Congress finally repeal this law." Carly Simon: ’I don’t consider myself"to be not gay In an interview published May 1 in the San Francisco gay weeldy Bay Area Reporter, ’70s pop-music legend Carly Simon said, "I don’t consider myself to be not gay." The double-negative quasi-coming-out occurred when interviewer Gregg Shapiro inquired: "After speaking with you this morning, I’m going to be interviewing Cyndi Lauper regarding her True Colors tour, which features gay and straight artists performing to raise money for the Human Rights Campaign and other LGBT organizations. I’m wondering if Cyndi called you and asked you to be a part of the True Colors tour, might you get involved?" Simon replied: "Well, the part that I could be involved in is the gay and lesbian part. The part that would be hard for me is to commit to a tour because I’m not very comfortable being onstage. But the part that would be easiest for me would be singing on behalf of all of us. I don’t consider myself to be not gay." Shapiro responded: "Wow! Well, it’s great to have you as part of the family." "Thank you!" Simon said. "I mean, I’ve enlarged all of my possibilities. There are a lot of extremely personal stories to tell about that, but we won’t go into that right now. Let’s just say that it just depends upon who I’m with." Attempts to contact Simon through her publicist, record label and MySpace page were unsuccessful as of press time. Frank: Transgender people were terrible lobbyists Openly gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, DMass., says transgender people did a terrible job of lobbying for inclusion in the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act. A version of the measure, known as ENDA, that protects sexual orientation but not gender identity has passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is pending in the Senate. "I’ve never seen a worse job of lobbying done by the transgender community," Frank told the Oregon gay newspaper Just Out in its May 2 issue. "They seem to think that all they had to do was to get the gay and lesbian community to say ’OK.’ I think they thought that this was a train, and that they were a car on the train." "I said to them, ’You’ve got to work this, you’ve got to lobby people.’ They did a terrible job of lobbying, and so we didn’t have the votes," Frank said. First ot3enlv Illinois legislator dle Larry McKeon, Illinois’ first openly gay and first openly HIV-positive state legislator, died May 13 of a severe stroke. He was 63. McKeon represented a district of Chicago’s North Side in the state House of Representatives from 1997 to 2007. An Army veteran and former cop, McKeon also served as Mayor Richard M. Daley’s liaison to the GLBT community prior to his election to public office. McKeon retired last year, citing health issues related to HIV and cancer. ........More U. S. News page 27 www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 13 recently confessed to the fact that she attracts gays like a moth to a light, hall the men that like me are gay, k’~ ~e. I have a really strong gaydar. I do love gay men though,~ Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres are planning to marD: Ellen has said she is "thrilled" at the r~ing by the California supreme court to overturn the state’s ban on gay marri~e. Alexander Payne "Hung" Up at HBO Oscar-winning screenwriter Alexander Payne (for Sideways, not his litde-usedbut- stilbcredit-getting screer~ptay for I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry) has a new pro’ect9 up his ste~we. And it~ about what’s in one man’s pants. Hung, a comedy pilot on track at HBO, will be Payne’s [IW-directing debut, from a script by Dmitry Lip~n. creator of%e Riches. ~md the subiect matter? What happens when a~l average, middle-aged basketbal! coach learns how to put his exceptionally large’~- penis to better ~e. NO actor has signed on yet to play the gifted guy, but casting is scheduled m begi n soon. If picked up for series, it will be, a; the very least, the first show" of its k5nd. But wi!I there be a Boogie Nights-style revea! shot? Or will it remain a mysteiT? Either way, expect a big deal to made about this one. Holb~voodactress edl3 ship only the closet. of True Co .ors pP g Cyndi LaUper~ colors are brighter than ever. F~li~Wing [tie Success of last year’s landmark tofir, Latimer is back to help the Human Ri~ts Campaign, theS~ue Colors Fund of StOnewall C~r~i-nuni~? Foundation, PFLa~G and the Centertink Network ofBLGT community cemers. Famous for just wanting to have fun, Lau per will be bringing her tour to the Zoo Amphitheater in Oklahoma City on Jun. 23. Joining Cyndi wilt be The B-52s, joan J~tr ~d The Blackhearts, ~mdy Belt of STAR www.ozarksstar.com Foster, 45, is believed to have called offher Erasure. Margaret Cho and Girl tn A Coma. relationship with movie producer Cydney with host Carson r*v~ ressl.ev,.f.or.tic.ket." t.mor- Bernard after a series of arguments. The marion or a full list ofto[,r dates, visit ~~",.~,,, couple were together for 14 years and have truecolorstour corn two children ~x;~om Fosrer g~ve birth to and " " Bernard adopted, according to the British Daily Mail tabloid. Pt~oto by: Bill Gaddis getting hot out. Tulsa’s wonderful sprir~g ,h,as played out. Here are a coupl~ tips I d like {o pass along that may add to your summer enjoyment of vino..F,irstly, for white win~S, you know/get ern ~ld! And as the~e Wines warm up in your glass, the fruit flavors open Up to~. I really like this gradual experience. Many times, we finish a bottle so fast when sharing with friends that we don’t even notice. For red wines, put a chill on ’era as well. NOT too c.o,ld but just cool enough so that you’re not drinking warm glug. Remember, room temperatu~’ e can mean a whole different thing during the summer. Proper stem ware can also make a big difference this time of year. Riedel glasses are among the best althougt~ not recommended poolside. Here are some wines for both red & white lovers. www.ozarksstar.com The fo owing is Calistoga Cellars Chardonnay 2006 This vintage was just released in ket. If you liked the ’05, this will really hit the mark. It’s li beautifully balanced mix of ripe pear and the wine is medium bodied soft finish. A favodte of l visit McGilrs on 21rst St. Vincent Pouilly-Fuisse This Pouilly-Fuisse in several areas belonging to th~ The wine is created by Jean-Jac( celebrated Chateau nette Vincent He blends the well balanced ers are on t finish. I first discovered s wine over at 1740/wine bar on Boston n~ear 18th. This Chardonnay from France i~ quite good. Michel Picard Vouvray This is Chenin Blanc from the Loi of France. Fresh aromas of apricot & on the nose and the finish is fruity and~~ slightly off dry. Enjoy this from with me,is that include shellfish to desserts like apple pies with vanilla ice cream. oak barrels owner of the Made-Antoi- "). make a White flow- Ochoa Garnacha Rose 2006 This Rose wine is made entirely from Grenache grapes. The color of is a result of the short maceration period that helps to maintain the fragrant aromas and fresh flavors. A well structured Spanish wine with plenty of well-rounded fruit and balanced acidity. Food pairings include pasta, salads and vegetables. ut the tannins, these producers make their wines more their youth. This bottle is also affordable and has received high acclaim from wine critics. Serious meat oriented pastas would go well with this wine. Toad Cacophony Zinfandel 2006 This ;I, Hollow Zinfandel comes ~ ppellation where Zinf~ les thdve upon the long h nights. This new offering i~ ~ 20% Petit Sirah. It~!a really great & jammy wine that’s a :e~.for barbecued meats. :i~va/Sparkling wine NV. Th~ rfclude; 50% Macabeo, ~ 15% Xarelolo. This iJwhat you may be used ne or U S sparkling :he Spanish create a : old world version from wine is quite affordable pleasantly surprise you. ~s ~s a good wine to fall back on as you ;lebrate the summer months. And as always, I say go to your favorite wine shop, ask questions and purchase a bottle or two. Share some food & wine with friends and check this out for yourself. Produtorri del Barbaresco 2004 I had a chance to visit this winery when I was northern Italy. The grape is Nebbiolo and it’s one of the most important wine grape varieties of Italy’s Piedmont region. Flavors of violets, tar, cherries, truffles, tobacco & prunes come to mind. Although ~is.~grape can take years to age and Mr. D also hosts wine & food events known in town as the Wine Tulsa. References include: the ABC’s of wine by James Laube/wv,rw.WineSpec~ator.com www.FoodandWine.com www.Wikipedia.org the STAR 15 9t8.585,5898 ® 800.585,5101 West 7th Street (corner 7th & Boulder Ave) ® Tulsa, Ok 74t 19 e www.q plazatulsa.com 16 theSTAR June 2008 TW’s-AFAB Catering by Donald Pile and Ray Williams LUNA VISTA B & B "Morltezuma’s Castle" aJmost knocked us over. At night we saw more stars in the sky than we ever see here in the Midwest. There are fabulous places to visit and there are "beyond Fabulous" places to visit. Luna Vista in Rimrock, Arizona is such a place. Driving out to California on a recent trip we were guests of Kala (pronounced Calla is in Calla Lily) and her husband Frank at their "beyond Fabulous" Luna Vista Bed and Breakfast. Located just about 20 miles southeast of Sedona and just about 3 miles offthe Interstate, this has to be one of the finest and most unusual places that we have been. However to get there you get off the pavement and drive about three miles around curvy hilly, rocky and treacherous gravel and dirt roads to make your arrival. But after arriving, it is ~vorth the trip. After making the last turn you are aghast when you see this place. It is like you have arrived at the Ponderosa! Kala and Frank were residents of the East Coast and after 9111 they decided that it was time for a major move. They purchased the property in Rimrock, remodeled, repaired, built on, put in a swimming pool, Jacuzzi and many more additions and finally opened their new B and B in February, 2004 and it has been an instant success ever since. We stayed in the Don Diego (Zorro) suite. Our bathroom was 18 feet by 20 feet and included our own Jacuzzi. Our shower was 6 feet by 8 feet and included a steam room and a double vanity, bidet and every kind of amenity that you would possibly want. Our linens were 400-threat count Egyptian cotton and of course they were ironed before putting them on the beds! Oh! Did we mention that they have heated towel racks in the bathroom? Each room came with a DVDITFIVHS, CD player, etc. A bottle of wine is in every room for the guests. The grounds are fabulous. They are very pet-friendly and even have a dog run and a horse run should you care to bring your horse. Not into driving? Then use their helicopter pad and fly right in! They serve a full-course breakfast every day and on Sundays’ a full brunch. And we are not talking a muffin and coffee, but a full sit-down breakfast with wanes, breakfast steak, eggs, potatoes, etc. Nothing is left out. Guests have the full run of the house and property including an office where you can check your e-mails and work online if need be. But the most important thing about Luna Vista are the owners, KALA AND FRANK. Nxey genuinely care about their guests and cater to their every need. Tney love life and it shows. In all of our travels, they are the most sincere, heartwarming and friendly people that we have ever met. On our last night there, Kala and Frank hosted a party in our honor and invited severn of their neighbors and area antiques dealers. They fixed enough food for an entire army. Everyone was so interesting in their own way. The woman The moment that Kala opened the door to welcome us in, we I~IEW that we were going in for a big treat and we were! She is dive, animated, professional, entertaining and a great hostess. Frank ALWAYS has a smile on his face and is very excited about everything. Together they make a great team and we know that they will be in the bed and breakfast business for many years. They can’t help it if they were born straight! It happens in the best of families. Everyone is welcome at Luna Vista and we do mean everybody! We stayed there for three days and didn’t even want to go anywhere else. However one day we did drive over to Montezuma’s Castle and on to Montezumgs Lake which was extremely interesting. But the red enjoyment was taking advantage of the Luna Vista B and B and the many amenities it has to offer. It is located on 16 acres and you can take a long hike through the woods and river area. The flowers were blooming everywhere. The sights and aromas Luna Vista Bed and Breakfast 18 theSTAR www.ozarksstar.com Luna Vista Bed and Breakfast next door to them bakes fantastic desserts and another neighbor is a spiritual advisor and yet another creams beautiful "cactus" lamps and objects. She presented us xvith one of her creations. The next time you really xvant to get away from everything and truly have a memorable experience, book yoursdf a xveek at the "beyond fabulous" Luna Vista. Their website is: wxvxv.lunavistabandb.com or call 800-611-4788. They have been featured in many travel publications from coast to coast. To get to Rimrock either fly into Flags{aff or Phoenix, rent an auto and drive. That is unless you’re already driving, then just drive on Interstate 17 and take the 293 Exit. We stayed xvith them on a return trip from California and our "beyond fabnlous" experiences continued while staying there. We don’t make many promises, but trust us on this one, we promise that you will have one of the finest and most enjoyable weeks of your life xvith Kala and Frank. Alxvays remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! Get the STAR delivered to your home or office. 12 issues only $33.95. Send Check or Money Order to: The STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 Seepage 29for order blank. Les residents want Wockner News Wire Nxree residents of the Greek island of Lesbos have filed suit in an attempt to reclaim the word "lesbian" and stop the group Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece (OLKE) from using it. Gay women are believed to have adopted the word in memory of Sappho, a poet who lived on the island in the sixth century B.C. and wrote about love between women. The plaintiffs claim the alleged theft of "lesbian" from the island’s residents amounts to "psychological and moral rape." An OLKE spokeswoman called the case "ridiculous" but an Athens court will hear the matter on June 10. Quotable Quotes Cuba’s parliament is studying proposals to legalize same-sex unions and give gay couples the benefits that people in traditional marriages enjoy. "The freedom of sexual choice and gender identity are exercises in equality and social justice," said Mariela Castro, daughter of President Raul Castro,. www.ozarksstar.corn ~}~eSTAR t9 of Town B~ A~&’~w Colli~ W-eekend Getaways from Portland, Oregon Oregon’s Gannon Beach o~rs some ofthe best sunset-viewing on the West Coast. (Photo by Andrew Collins) with a marionberry vinaigreue. For more sophisticated fare, book a table at the Gower Street Bistro, which presents creative regional dishes, such as pan-seared sea scallops with roaste&cre~ corn, eNgplant, and tJancetta. You might spend the mornings in Cannon Beach strolling along the sand, admiring the many geological formations just Offshore, such as the famous, 237-~bot-tall Haystack Rocla Do as locals do and grab a cup ofdelicious java at Sleepy Mgnk C~ff?e Roasters (alofig with £ ~hick sli~e ofch0~latechip pumpkin bread)before you Set Out[ %nture south of Cannori Beach and youll pass throt~ Oswald West S~te Park, which is laced with hiking trails that weave through 01d-gro~f0rest; leading down tO the ~ch. End your day in fianky itS, with its quirlg, cafes and galleri~i perhaps enjoying a glass of Oregon wine at Vino, a snaz~ little Wine bar that also ser~e~ plate~ of delici0u] chkrcuterie and cheeSe. Between Manzanita and CannOn Beach in tiny Arch Cape, the gay-owned Ocean Point Inn comprises three oceanfront suites with chic, contempo~ furnishings, fiatscreen TVs, and gas fireplaces. Guests can enjoy a ~de range oftreatments at the inn’s spa. It’s one of the most romantic accommodations along the coast. I-5} Within 30 miles of Portland, in Oregon’s verdant Willamette Valley; you’ll find some ofthe leading wineries in ~e United States - the area ha~ become especially renowned for iris pinot noirs. Ifyou have only a day to tour the region, focus your efforts a~ound the rural, hilly Yamhill area, home to such esteemed vineyards as Willakenzie, Penner,Ash, and Adelsheim. Just a short drive south, in the Dundee Hills. standouts include Archery Summit, Sokot Blosser, and Domaine Serene. ~ese are among dozens ofwineries with tasting rooms open m the public. Hip and cosmopolitan Portland continues to emerge as a popular urban vacation destination for gay" and lesbian travelers, thanks in part to its stellar restaurant scene, liberal social climate, and artsy personalit~: But another major draw of this charmed city is its proxmaity to so many breathtakingly beautiful places that make perfect two- to three-day getaways. In an afternoon’s drive, you can explore the rugged Oregon Coast, tile lush Willamette Valley wine country, or the high desert outdoor recreation mecca of Bend. Here’s a look at three ideal weekend getaways from the Portland area, all of them centered on communities with an increasing number of gay-owned or gay-friendly accommodations and restaurants. Camaon Beach and Manzanita (a 90-minute drive via U.S. 26) ~Ihis part of the valley abounds with excellent restaurants, too. An intimate spot serving relatively affordable French fare, Cuvee sits along the quiet main drag oftiny Carlton and is a fine place to end a day ofwine-t~asting. Among the several stellar restauvamts in Dundee, check out Tina’s, a bustling bistro that features creative American fare emphasizing ingredients from local r delicious dish is the seared halibut cheeks with diced "Ihere tic and rooms, each with a As vou From downtown Pordand, U.S. 26 leads west over the dramatic Coast Mountains to northern Oregon’s spectacular and relatively macrowded coast, a highlight ofwhich is dapper Cannon Beach, a low-keyed munity set along a striking stretch of beach. Quite a few gays and lesbians (including Pordand-based filmmaker Gus Van Zant) own or rent summer homes here or in nearby beach towns, such as funk)" Manzauita and upscale Gearhart. The quieter south end of Cannon Beach. known as Tolovana Park. has a slightly more artsy feel. Here you might spend the night at the delightful Inn at Cannon Beach, a tasteful complex of contemporar5 two-srory cottages that open around a central courtyard with fragrant flower gardens and Adirondack chairs. Itk steps from the beach, and next door to’the Warren House Pub. a casual, gay-friendly spot that brews its own excellent beer and serves tast7 comfort food, such as grilled pankocrusted oysters, and house-smoked-salmon salad gene. Here scene of any Oregon city with parks ~nd ri~:e vci~ opportunities for recreation. A attraction is the Owen Ros~ Garden, where more than d Nearb); a former chicken-processing plant houses the Fifth Street Market, now a complex of fascinati~ shops and enticing restaurants, mclu&ng one of the regions best dining choices, Marche. Here you can ry such memorable fare as 0yen-roasted local mussels with a saffron-cream, and smoked pork chops with rhubarb chum~ From April through De~emher, check out the neaiby Saturday Market, Where ente~iners pei~form and close to 200 artisans, farmers, and cooks sell their wares. 20 f~eSTAR www.ozarksstar.com OAXACA RESTAURANT Sed0na, Arizona Pronounced (Wa-ha&a) this Mexican restaurant in Sedona offers exciting food. With breath-taking scenery and beautiful views from their rooftop cantina, Oaxaca has earned it’s title "Local Secret/Big Find" by Travelocity.com. Tnis old world stTle Mexican restaurant is located in Uptown Sedona and offers casual dining with an extensive menu with a taste of every palate. Carl Butler, the owner and a registered dietitian has created a delicious menu with a healthy approach. Oaxaca serves up heart healthy, reduced fat and low cholesterol recipes which are full of flavo!! Oaxaca serves a wide range of Mexican, Southwest, American and Vegetarian dishes with authentic favorites Such as fajitas and chile rellenos. It is no wonder why people have been dining there for years and years and many people drive out of their way when traveling, just to dine there! You certainly will have a wonderful dining experience, enjoying the exciting flavors of their food and looking at the fabulous mountain scenery. q-hey are open daily: 10:30 AM to 9 PM. Happy hour: 3 PM to 6 PM. Breakfast buffet: Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 AiM to 10:30 AM. q-hey are located at 321 North Highway 89A in Sedona, Arizona. .............................. CHILE RELLENOS Next Page theSTAR 21 di i g° New art exhibit feat ring artist Dennis Olson at the Dennis Ro Neill Equality Center TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center art gallery will host its monthly First Thursday meet-the-artist reception from 5-9pm, Thursday, June 5, 2008, for the opening of their June exhibit, paintings by Oklahoma City resident Dennis Olson. This event will correlate with the onenight- only Tulsa Pride "More Color" art show featuring works by sixty artists. Dennis Olson’s exhibit will remain up through the month ofJune, and can be viewed Monday thru Saturday from 3-gpm. The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th St., in downtown Tulsa. More info can be found on the web at okeq.org. This monthly event is hosted by Oklahoman’s for Equality (OkEq). OkEq seeks equal rights for Imsbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) individuals and families through advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. Quotable Quotes "I respect the Court’s decision and as Governor, I will uphold its ruling. Also, as I have said in the past, I will not support an amendment to the constitution that would overturn this state Supreme Court ruling." California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger: OkEq Cdebrates Ca i£ornia Ru ing £or Marriage Equa ity TULSA, OK (PR) - May 15, 2008 __ Today, in a 4-3 decision, the California State Supreme Court ruled in favor of full marriage equality for same-sex couples. The decision follows lawsuits by fifteen couples who challenged the constitutionality of the state’s marriage ban. "This historic decision is a victory for fairness and opportunity for hundreds of thousands of loving, committed couples and their families in California," said Justice Waidner, Oklahomans for Equality Executive Director. "We continue to work and hope for the day when families in every state have the basic protections that come with marriage." A growing number of states provide recognition of same-sex relationships. Including California, eight states plus the District of Columbia allow couples to marry or confer rights and benefits similar to marriage. However, the Defense of Marriage Act still prohibits the Federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages approved in individual states. In November, Californians vote on a ballot initiative to amend the state constitution by defining marriage as between one man and one woman. If passed, this constitutional amendment would overturn the California Supreme Court’s ruling. "Many Americans believe that marriage equality will be a reality in their lifetimes," noted Waidner. "Organizations in every corner of this country are working hard to achieve the kanerican dream of equality and justice for all. We are all inspired by the California marriage decision and look forward to the day when every American in every state and territory will have the opportunity to realize their hopes and dreams by marrying the person they love." 22 theSTAR w~v.ozarksstar.com Sound ofMusic Headlines Lyric’s 2008 Stammer Season OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) __ Tickets for Lyric Theatre’s 2008 summer season of musicals are now on sale. Lyric "Iheatre, Oklahoma’s premiere professional theatre company, proudly continues its 46-year tradition of producing stellar Broadway-style shows for the people of Oklahoma. Lyric’s four summer season productions will be held at the Civic Center Music Hall in downtown Oklahoma City. From June 24th through 28th, Lyric will open the season with The Sound of Music, presented for the first time on the Civic Center stage. This timeless Rodgers & Hammerstein family classic tells the story of Maria, a young, spirited, would-be nun who is appointed as governess for the seven children of a widowed sea captain. Lyric’s next production, Swing!, will run from July 8th through 12th. Swing! is a celebration of the music and dance phenomenon that swept the nation in the ’30s and ’40s. This all-singing, all-dancing evening of music features over thirty incredible numbers guaranteed to put audiences "in the mood!" Lyric will bring a beloved movie musical to the stage from July 22nd through 26th. Set in Oregon in 1850, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers is the fresh, wholesome tale ofAdam Pontipee and his unkempt, burly brothers who kidnap six townswomen for the winter in hopes of finding love and companionship. Their well-meaning, but hilarious shenanigans of courtship are played out in boisterous song and dance. Seven Brides For Seven Brothers will feature Broadway performers Elisa Van Duyne as Milly and Jim Sorensen as Adam. (rated G) Concluding Lyric’s 2008 summer season is a modern musical hit, Urinetown, the Musical, fresh off the Broadway stage. The title might give off the impression that the play is about nothing more than a town that indulges itself in bathroom related humor. In reality, Urinetown, the Musical, written by Greg Kotis, a New York playwright who specializes in socially relevant comedies, is a hilarious melodrama about a town plagued by drought. In a mad attempt to regulate ,#cater consumption, the government forces its citizens to use pay-per-use amenities, monopolized by the Urine Good Company. Urinetown satirizes corporate and political greed, the idealism of rebellion, and also spoofs on the art of musical theatre itself, all set to a score bursting with a big Broadway sound. "Urinetown ~von the 2002 Tony Award for Best Original Score and is lauded on Broadway as one of the smartest, most comical musicals of this century;" explains Nick Demos, Lyric’s Artistic Director. There is nothing offensive about it, other than an unattractive title!" Urinetown plays from August 5th through 9th, and guarantees a unique night of unprecedented laughter. (rated PG) Single tickets to all Civic Center productions start at $27. Four-Show Season Ticket packages are also still available and start at just $80, as are the Three-Show Family Packages which include The Sound of Music, Swing!, and Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. For more info visit www.lyrictheatreokc. com or call (405) 524-9312. TOM KOVACH MAKES HISTORY WINNING A SEAT ON NOR_MAN’S CITY COUNCIL By Victor Gorin NORMAN, OK__ Tom Kovach, an out gay Democrat was elected to the Norman City Council representing Ward 2 in a runoff against political consultant Chebon Marshall. The race began running against 2 opponents, Mr. Marshall and Michael McKee. Although Chebon Marshall got the most votes, he did not get a majority of the total votes. Mr. Kovach was in second place, so as per Oklahoma election law, this resulted in a runoff election. Although vastly outspent, Mr. Kovach made up for this with hard work and determination, and making known his stands on issues to make the city better. As he puts it, " Throughout the campaign we stuck mainly to the issues, which were mainly public safety and storm water." His efforts won the endorsement of both the Sierra Club and the Norman Homeowner’s Alliance. There was rumor mongering about his sexual orientation, and a literature drop Photo: Tom Kovach by Victor Gorin designed to turn conservative voters against him close to the election named him as endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats ( explaining for those who didn’t know that it was a gay rights organization within the Democratic Party), and a member of the American Civil Liberties Union (both true). Despite this distraction from the issues, his sincerity and practical message carried him to victory. He has lived in Norman over 40 years, much of that in Ward 2. His partner of over 10 years, Will Weir, is also an activist volunteer with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, P-Flag, GLSEN, and helping people with disabilities. Mr. Weir won Norman’s Human Pdghts Award in 2007. Tom made history being Oklahoma’s 3rd openly gay elected public official The last 2 were Oklahoma State Representative A1 McAffrey (Democrat District 88, elected 2006) and Oklahoma County Commissioner Jim Roth (Democrat District 1, first elected 2002). The first was Dr. David also elected to the Norman City Council in 2001, who Tom remembers as "Someone who stood up for many issues which are now being considered by a more progressive city council, and we owe a lot to him" As for his future he is optimistic, stating that" I have been active in the city, spe~ng before the city council many times. N~ey know me well, and I think we have a good working relationship. I look forward to working with the seasoned members of the council, and look forward to working with Mayor (Cindy) Rosenthal." www.ozarksstar.com {:h®$TAR 23 Photo’s by Victor G. & Jud / G. @ The Ledo, Oklahoma City @Club Majestic, Tulsa @ Steve’s Hideawa t, Tulsa @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa @ The Copa, Oklahoma City 24 @Angles, Oklahoma City @ Finishline, Oklahoma City By Greg Steele Club Rachael n downtown Jade Esteban portraying his one man play Inns III, The Gay and Lesbian History of the Wodd at OKC’s Indiv dual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery Laura Belmonte, President Oklahomans for Equality and OKC Pride Publicity Coordinator Michael Cich at the 2008 LGBT Leadership Summit hosted by Cimarron Alliance Oklahoma ( Reverend Lo rce his friend Alex with their friends at May P-Flag Meeting. Gay ’Star Trek’ actor George Takei is to marry his partner Brad Altman in California Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Male Co-Chair Paul Thompson congratulates Reverend Loyce Newton-Edwards on her ordination as a UCC minister at Church of the Open Arms. www.ozarksstar.com ~ Swimsuit C01tect 0n Men From Mensuas _Mensuas announces their 2008 Swimsuit Collectionfor Menfiaturing swimwear by Bask#, Mensuas, IV2N Bodywear and Timoteo. Jvat in timefor sumrne~ these new swimsuits are great for t,6e beach or laying by the i)ool. TAMPA, FL 0)RWEB) __ Mensuas announces their 2008 Swimsuit Collection for Men featuring swimsuits by Baskit, Mensuas, N2N Bodyxvear and Timoteo. Just in time for summer, these nexv sxvimsuits are great for the beach or laying by the pool Timeoteo Swim Bikini Mensuas has carried N2N Bod),wear swimsuits for several years. The N2N Bodywear 2008 Sxvimsuits include the Catalina Competitor, Corona Competitor, Cosmo Competitor and the X-Poser. The new and daring designs xvill sure to get you noticed at the beach. Mensuas has team up xvith Tulio to create the exciting nexv Mensua~ Swim Bikini in four new styles for 2008. Modeled by Levi Poulter, these unique swimsuit designs represent a bold and exciting trend in mens sxvimxvear. Mensuas new operations center is located in the suburbs of Tampa, F1. The new operations center allows customers orders to be processed faster and alloxv the California Muscle Capri Blue Swim Teaser q-hong availability of more future products at their website. Our customer’s satisfaction with the products they order and the amount of time it takes to receive their order is number one priority at Menuas. Mensuas wants to become number one shopping source for customers to order their underwear and sxvimwear for themselves or for the man in their life. Mensuas always offer free shipping on all orders totaling $25.00 or more for US and Canada customers. We offer great international shipping rates. All orders received by 3:00 PM EST are shipped the same business day by USPS regular mail. All items shipped from Mensuas are tracked from the Post Office to ensure customers packages can be traced in case of lost or mishandled pack Baskit Orange Lucky 7 3.5" Swim Bikini ages. All packages shipped discreetly to our customers to ensure privacy. Mensuas is offering their customers a 10% discount on their next order, please enter promotion code undies08 at checkout and receive the 10% discount on your order total excluding shipping charges. Website: www.mensuas.com Mensuas Swim Bikini Timeoteo Swim Bikini California Muscle Dolce Swim Brief 26 t~~eSTAR www.ozarksstar.com WEST HOLL,,~Y~VO,OD, CA (,P,R) __ On June 4, 2008i !G)~atomy star T.R. K ight will i;i M tthew hepard Foundation ~ h~i~ kick off National Gay- Pride month with a symbolic dusk commitment ceremony at the faamed West Hollywood hotspot, The Abbey. At 8pm, couples from aroufid the nation will "tie the knot" in an event officiated by the Mayor ofWest Holly~vood and witnessed by Judy Shepard. Couples will be wearing the Matthew Shepard Erase Hate pendant courtesy of Love and Pride jewehy designer, Udi Behr. Love and Pride is the first online jewelry destination for people who believe in equality, diversity and tolerance for all. www.!oveandpride.com Behr created the Erase Hate pendant for Judy Shepard, in memory of her son, Matthew Shepard, who was the victim of a brutal anti-gay hate crime in rural Wyoming ten years ago. His murder brought national attention to the issue of hate crime legislation and was a watershed moment in the fight for gay civil rights. Behr remarks, "A public commitment ceremony is a great way to join together and strengthen our two messages; ’Celebrating Love’ and ’Erasing Hate.’" 100% of net proceeds from sales of the pendant assist the Matthew Shepard Foundation. v~’~v.ozarksstar.com Judy Shepard, executive director of the Foundation, said, "Wearing the Erase Hate pendant is a great way for people to express how they feel and promote the values of understanding, compassion and acceptance that were so important to Matthew," Adding, "It has been ten years since the death of my son. Although we can not replace Matthew, we can join together to help spread the message of erasing hate." Mayor Jeffrey Prang comments, "The City of West Hollywood supports marriage equality and continues to work hard for changes in California law." Adding, "We will not stop fighting for our rights as no government can prevent us from loving whom we choose." World renowned recording artist Steve Oliver will perform the classic ceremonial march Pachelbel Canon in D major. CEREMONY REGISTRATION FORM: www.MatthewShepard.org/GetMarried PRIDE PARADE OF NW"ARKANSAS FAYETTEVILLE AR (PR) __ NWA PRIDE announces the 2nd Annual NWA PRIDE PARADE, A Celebration of Diversity and Community, will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2008 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Parade organizers invite GLBTs aald Straight allies to come together in solidarity in support of equal rights for all. It is NWA Pride’s great pleasure to honor Chris Harmon as this year’s Grand Marshal. Chris has been an unsung hero as founder of the NWA POSITIVE LINKS BUDDY PROGRAM and is currently a board member of the NWA GLBT Community Center. The Buddy Program provides information and much needed peer-to-peer support for people living with HIV and AIDS. Chris and Program volunteers maintain a food bank, make personal visits, help with chores, transportation and provide many other resources for 1Mng a positive life. Parade participants and spectators are encouraged to be artistic, have fun and show your pride. (Kid friendly and appropriate for public locations) Paint your face, wear costumes, dress up your pets, horses, bicycles, vehicles and especially this election year, proudly wave rainbow and American flags. The parade lineup will start at 10 AM on Meadow Street, next to the Arvest Bank. Parade will start promptly at 12 Noon. A brief Pride rally will be held at the end of the parade in the V/alton Arts Center Parking Lot. For more details, float and or speaker applications, please go to NWA Pride’s web site at www.nwapride.org. Volunteers still needed! "A Star Studded Night" Gala in Fayettevillle FAYETTEVILLE, AR (PR) __ The NXX/A GLBT Community Center will host their 2nd Annual Fund Raising Gala "A Star Studded Night" on Friday, June 27 at the Clarion Inn located at 1255 S. Shiloh Drive in Fayetteville. The Ball Room ~vill be delightfully decorated resembling the glitz and glamor of a Hollywood party. Gala Guests’ will enjoy the fun and excitement of a "night among the stars" as guests become our Celebrities in an evening filled with great food, dancing and music provided by Dance Enhance Entertainment. The evening will begin with a lavish Prime Rib, Chicken or Vegetarian Buffet entree as well as silent auctions and special speakers which include the Rev. Lowell Grisham of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Shawn Coker the Chairperson ofThe NWA Diversity Council and Vice President of Diversity Business Practices ofTyson Foods. Throughout the evening guests’ will be casting their vote for the "Star of the Night" Award which will be given to the person who raises the most money through a $1 ballot. Advance tickets for the event are $50 each or $400 per table of 8 and may be purchased on-line at http:/Avww.nwaglbtcc.org or by calling 1-888-361-9222 or in person at Tymythy’s Hair Salon located at 130 E. Poplar St. Suite B in Fayetteville. Tickets will not be available at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m. and a Cash Cocktail bar will be open throughout the night. Formal Attire or Celebrity Costumes are recommended. th÷STAR 27 by Jack Fertig June 2008 "Take bo~d risks, Aquarius!" Everyone is being just a bit too fabulous for words! Mercury is retrograde, so his alignment with Venus and the Sun is a bit more like a collision of verbosity and overaffected efforts at charm. Mars in Leo is feeding the frenzy. Remember Lucy and Ethel at charm school? It’s that kind of week! ARIES (Narch 20 -April 19): Baby wants to play, but you are atypically given more to talk than action now. Chatty word games and rambling are not usually your style, but go with it for now. Don’t be afraid to look silly. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Buying or tossing out household items could easily be a mistake. Instead try rearranging things and seeing them in a new light. This is a great time to locate problems in domestic finances, but solving them should wait a few weeks. GEMINI (May 2t - Jun.e 20): You’re going to trip over your tongue no matter what you’re talking about. Best to keep it light, nonconfrontational, and all in good humor so you can laugh with your friends over your own malapropisms and faux pas. CANCER (June 21- Ju~y 22): Hide the plastic, and keep the cash out of reach. Any urge to display your good taste is best done as tasteful restraint - and no, that doesn’t mean buying handcuffs that match the bedposts! Take time out with someone you value most. LEO (July 23 - August 22): Everyone says you look fabulous - and you do! You’re all cranked up, looking and thinking three steps ahead, but are you really three steps ahead going in the right direction? Check with friends who care about more than looking fabulous. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Someone behind the scenes offers to help you up the ladder. Some secrets may be revealed in the process, but that can also work in your favor. Everyone’s screwing up some these days, but your mistakes - and the way you handle them - look good! LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): You could charm anyone into believing your stories and arguments, even if they contain mistakes. Leave room for later revisions! Better just to radiate charm and energy; save the important facts for later. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Seems everybody wants a taste of what you’ve got! If you do play around, none of it will be secret. You could get a reputation as a great lover, but what would your boss and your partner say? SAGITTARIUS (November 22 o December 21}): Misunderstandings with your partner actually open new doors that could improve your relationship. Explore new pleasures and possibilities together. If anything seems disappointing, you might want to try again a few weeks later. CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Anyone playing around should make regular visits to the clinic. When was your last time? If you have a clean bill of health, you can have a great time practicing any erotic techniques you’d like to develop. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Be creative! Be daring! Take bold risks and be willing to fall down and look utterly ridiculous. A good pratfall can be endearing, helping to improve your partnership orto find a good candidate for one. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): You have the housecleaning energy and lack of focus typical of a speed freak. Try to concentrate on one specific task or goal at a time. You’ll soon be dissatisfied with the results, but that’s OK. Housework always needs redoing! METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve T. Urie Spirit of Christ MCC 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Saturdays at 10:00 AM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC of the Living Spring 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! 28 theSTAR www.ozarksstar.com DOWNTOWN PLAZA ofTULSA 17 West 7th Street Tulsa, OK 918-585-5898 www.downtownplazatulsa.com HABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESS\VAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 www.habanainn.com KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747~5466 Certified Public Accountant ANGLES 2117 NW 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK www.anglesclub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 www.bambooloungetulsa.com CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 www.ctubmajestictulsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com STEVES HIDEAWAY LOUNGE 11730 E. 11TH Tulsa, OK 918-437-0449 Open Sun- Sat 2pm to 2am THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com Support those who support us. DIVERSITY PRIDE EVENTS P. O. BOX 3158 Eure"ka Springs, AR 72631 479-253-2555 www.diversitypride.com EXPRESSIONS Comm Fellowshi 311 S Klein Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73108 405-761-1878 www.myspace.com/expressionsokc HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM MCC of the LIVING SPRING 17 Hk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pm CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 ~’xw,wv.c21 goldcastle.com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com OKJAZZ HALL OF FAME 111E. lstSt Tulsa, OK 918-596-1001 www.okjazz.org TOLBERT THEATER 400 W. Sheridan Oklahoma City, OK 405-297-2264 www.tickets.com GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn DALLAS CVB Dallas, TX www.winatrip.glbtdallas.com 9 8-835-?887 OKC PRIDE, INC PO BOX 60296 Oklahoma City, OK 73146 www.okcpride.org OKLAHOMANS for EQUALITY 621 E 4th Street Tulsa, OK 74120 918-743-4297 www.okeq.org OPENARMS YOUTH PROJECT 2015 -B S. Lakewood Tulsa, OK 74112 918-838-7104 www. openarmsproject.org OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 KING OF MASSAGE In or Out Calls Oklahoma City, OK 405-314-3898 JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 Want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $33.95 will be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or rnoneyorder to: NAME: Address: City:. Phone: The STAR PO Box 581718 Tulsa, OK 74158-1718 (Single Copies $3.00 per issue) St: Zip:. Check enclosed Money Order Start Date: www.ozarksstar.com theSTAR Chuck Breckenridge ~ether buying or selling I’)). work hard for your[ ................... 30 tB÷STAR www.ozarksstar.com We oppose the portrayal of homosexual or promiscuous behavior in a positive light in our public schools. We oppose the erosion of our military readiness through openly practicing hornosexuals serving in the military We oppose the promotion of homosexuality, the elimination of laws against sodomy, and the granting of minority protection or special status to any person based upon sexua~ preference or llfestyb choice. We are committed to equal treatment of all service members and believe all patriotic Americans should be allowed to serve our country without discrimination, persecution or violence. We support legislation barring workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. We support the full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal responsibilities, benefits and protections for these families. Taken from current platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties of Oklahoma. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2008] The Star Magazine, June 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 6 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 01, 2008 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Online text PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwestern Missouri Western Arkansas Southeastern Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Star Magazine’s first issue began February of 2005. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004) and The Ozark Star (2004). Follows is The Metro Star (2008). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Charles (Chaz) Ward Victor Gorin Greg Steele James Nimmo Joey D. Romeo San Vicente Andrew Collins Donald Pile Ronald Blake Ray Williams Jack Fertig Liz Highleyman Devre Jackson Judy G. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Star Magazine, May 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 5 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/250 The Star Magazine, July 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 7 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/247 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/248 After Dark Barney Frank Bars Carly Simon DADT Repeal Dennis Olson dining Don't Ask Don't Tell ENDA horoscope Joe Sestak Larry McKeon Lesbos Leslie Jordan Lyric Theatre marriage equality MCC church military inclusion Night club Paparazzi on the Prowl pride Parade Qscopes Quotable Quotes Star Advertisers Star Scene starclassifieds swimsuits Tom Kovach TR Knight travel wine https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/154f2f2fcee03752682bfb546e5c68e8.jpg 2275d17c80c91478905eae575cff8c9a https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/bc2b1a7c707215dc99984815b45065a8.pdf b531b2d6733aa47abafe0147ac7624ea PDF Text Text ��2 the STAR wwvv.ozarksstar.com �By Victor Gorin Photo: Nate Borofiky, Doris Muramatsu, Blue Door owner Greg Johnson, & Ty Greenstein OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ The Valentine’s Day crowd at the Blue Door was trttly treated by the extraordinary innovation and harmonies of Girlyman, a gay band of 3 musicians, Nate Borofsky, Doris Muramatsu and Ty Greenstein, who wowed the house with their awesome harmonies & creative style. As Nate put it, their music has been influenced by "the Indigo Girls, Simon & Garfunkel, the Mamas and Papas, and Bach." Their style, if it could be labeled, is a blend of folk, pop and bluegrass best described by Ty as "alt folk" The full house audience consisted mostly of the Blue Door’s regular folk & innovative music fans, but also featured many "Blue Door virgins", and they were not disappointed. This trio, which has previously graced Oklahoma, once opened for the Indigo Girls here in 2004, and was ready to please a capacity crowd even though they admitted they didn’t know what to expect. Masterminded by their soundperson/tour manager Heather "Turtle" Brooks, they blend their talents and insight in a way that has to be heard to be believed. So far they have recorded 3 CD’s, the latest entitled "Joyful Signs." As for their clever name, it was not inspired by the famous California Governor Schwarzenegger who in fact made that "girlyman" expression famous 2 years after the band was formed, although they do welcome the publicity. As Muramutsu puts it, "It’s playful and fun. The name Girlyman puts that all out there and lets us play with it." That they did, and they’ll win over even more new fans xvhen they play Oklahoma again. www.ozarksstar.corn the STAR 3 �Art Show by Shawn Wilson.and Merry Schepers. Michael Buble’ in OKC; "It is the ideal portrayal of America," says Jed Resnick, who plays Mark in the touring production. ~ DEE[P INSIDE HO~-t-~OOD Deep Inside Hollywood, reports on new projects for Madonna and Ian Ziering. GLBT History, Past Out looks at the life of FTM pioneer Lou Sullivan. Devre Jackson reviews Australian Shiraz Bayou Crawfish Etouffee a feature at Pascal’s Manale, New Orleans ~ C~AO "~’R~VS~. Gay Travelers: Entertainers Out of Town: Chelsea, Manhattan Pascal’s Manale, New Orleans lvlen from all over the world converge on Palm Springs for spring break. Surprise performances happening all weekend long! F~T~ESS Introspection can lead you to better understand yourself and ultimately to achieve greater happiness. ON THE COVER: Cast of "RENT" 4 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com �LGBT Votes Sway Towards Hi11 Clinton Farrell to be best man £or brother’s gay wedding It was announced during the Sundance Film Festival that the Edward Norton/Colin Farrell cop drama "Pride and Glory" has been pushed back till 2009, even though it has been complete since last November. Farrell commented on this during the press junket for "In Bruges," trying to convince everyone that the delay has nothing to do with the quality of the movie. [via HollywoodElsewhere] All Gore Endorses Gay Marriage Photo by: David Gabber LOS ANGELES, CA __Not only is the Democratic presidential primary ticket a historic celebration of diversity, but exit polls from Super Tuesday celebrated history as well. Polling orga,xizations from around the country asked three questions never before found on exit poll surveys: Did voters pick a xvoman? Did voters pick a black man? Did voters identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender? We are part of histor): Resoundingly, voters answered two of the three questions similarly, picking Hillary Clinton as their candidate and identifying as LGBT. In California, of the gay voters (4% of total), 63% voted for Clinton, 29% for Obama and 1% stayed around for E&vards. In New York, 7% of voters identified as LGBT, and out of them 59% voted for Clinton, 36% for Obama and 3% for Edwards. In a recent survey conducted by Community Marketing, Inc. (CMI), a leading LGBT market research compan); **tore than 90percent ofgays and lesbians vote in U.S. presidential elections, compared to 64percent ofstraight citizens. Queer folk are twice as likely as s~,’aightfolk to vote in midterm elections. DUBLIN, IRELAND __ Hollywood star Colin Farrell is preparing for his next big role - best man at his brother’s gay wedding. The actor will stand beside his sibling Eamonn when he marries long-term partner Steven Mannion in Provincetown, Massachusetts this spring. Farrell is dose to his brother and helped chose Mannion’s diamond and sapphire engagement ring, when Eamonn proposed last year. A family friend tells the National Enquirer: "Colin is a firm believer in gay rights and he is proud of his brother. "He took Eamonn shopping for rings and intends to pick up the tab for the wedding." "I think that gay men and women ought to have the same rights as heterosexual men and women, to make contracts, to have hospital visiting rights, to join together in marriage," Gore said. ’~d I don’t understand why it is considered by some people to be a threat to heterosexual marriage to allow it by gays and lesbians. Shouldn’t we be promoting that kind of faithfulness and loyalty to one’s partner regardless of sexual orientation? Gore hinted that he would come around to support same-sex marriage as early as 2006, when speaking to a group of gay-rights activists, but his latest comments represent Gore’s first formal endorsement of equal marriage rights. Recognized by Keller Williams gor out~anding achievement 2005 and 2006 RE&LTY Chuck Breckenridge 918-706-1887 REALTOi~ WbetherbuyingorsellingI’llworkhardfbryou, W~NW.ozarksstar.corn the STAR �Can Larry Craig be Found Guilty in the Court o£Public Opinion? OKI~AHOMA CITY, OK __ On the facts as argued by the ACLU in a friend of the court filing, and outlined in this story from ~wccw.Bloomberg.com ( http://tinyurl. com/2b7hew ), to me it looks as if the wily and cunning coyote, Larry Craig, will get off again, pardon the pun, by thumbing his nose at the decency he pretends to legislate from the floor of the United States Senate. Just in case you’ve been living under a rock since late last summer, Senator Larry Craig of Idaho, now in his last session of Congress since he’s promised to resign, but will change his mind if enough people beg him to stay was charged with disruptive behavior in the Minneapolis airport when observed by an undercover policeman engaging in what the cop says was sexual solicitation. ¯here is a 1970 precedent in Minnesota that private solicitation of sexual activity in a private place can not be found illegal, as spying by police in a public restroom is an unreasonable search and therefore unconstitutional. The Court has yet to rule on Craig’s appeal of his guilty plea to the charge. Craig has since stated that his guilty plea was entered into in haste and without legal advice as he wanted to keep the charge out of public notice. Craig’s peculiar pantomime with his hands and feet, though laughable, is not illegal which is a good thing for him since his coitus ~vas interrupted by a too-eager cop wanting to score another statistic. Diversity Business Association of Tulsa 6 the STAR Though there was no exposure of body parts or verbal utterances, it’s clear to me that Craig was after an airport quickie, and whether or not his appeal is accepted or rejected his action in the restroom stall refutes his claim that he isn’t gay. - .. Don’t get me wrong: there’s nothing wro9sg~ with being gay but there is something wrong with using your Senate vote to de~rive honest men and women their equality under the law even as they work to contribute to a decent American society. If you listened to the taped interview of the Idaho Senator and the cop you must have noticed that Craig certainly had his battle hardened defense at ful! bore, strengthened as if he had done a few practice runs before. Just how self-assured would YOU be in this situation if you were claiming innocence of the charges and the sign language described? However, in the public court of reasonable opinion, I think Larry Craig would be found guilty with forethought and conspiracy of multiple counts to commit hypocrisy. Unfortunately, this crime is not punished by any jail sentence or fine. Craig’s punishment will have to be the resignation of his office and a return to, can I say, private life as a civilian where he will no doubt write a book describing the pain he’s endured from the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and his hounding from office by the Puritans of public decency, the very constituency he claimed to represent? SF~UALITY~VD SPIRITUALITY CONFERENCE ~mosexuality is Neither ness nor Sin ~ ~ Friday March 7, urday March 8 ersity of Central Oklahoma, Edmond Register online at www.PFLAGOKC.org or call Church of the Open Arms (405) 525 9555 www.ozarksstar.com �www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 7 �Proudly serving ~Asa & OKC’s GLBT communities since 1982 8 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com �Crooner Comes ByJoey De ~~e’s blonde, he’s beautiful and his new style of classic crooning will be coming to the stage of the Oklahoma City Ford Center Mar. 4. Michael Bubld, the international superstar who has earned himself a place in music history with such hits as "Feelin’ Good," is coming to Oklahoma City as part of his third major US concert tour. All of the shows on the first leg of his 2007-2008 tour sold out in record time. Buble’ brings an irrepressible spirit, engaging humor, and confident charisma to the concert stage, and will perform hits from his current CD "Call me Irresistible and many other classics. 621 E. 4th S~reet Tulsa, OK 74120 OI~NING RECEPTION THURSDAY, iV~RCH 6 6-9PM i%n-Sal 3-gpm through March 29 TULSA, OK__ The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center art gallery will host its monthly First Thursday meet-the-artist reception from 6-9pm, Thursday, March 6, 2008, for the opening of it’s March exhibit "Now and Zen", featuring local artists Shawn Wilson and Merry Schepers. Shawn Wilson has been a professional artist for 25 years. A native Oklahoman, she moved to New York at 18 years old and within a short time was regularly selling her pen and -ink drawings to New Yorker magazine. She studied sculpture at New York’s famed Art Students’ League, and over the years has shown sculpture in galleries in New York, San Francisco and Atlanta. Shawn also paints-oil on canvas-and most notably, ’sumi-~’, 0apanese inkbrush painting). She studied this ancient art form with one of the few bona fide masters here in the U.S., Koho Yamamoto of NYC. Sumi-6 suits Shawn’s artistic abilities to a ’t’, as her work in all mediums concentrates on the essence of the subject rather than the details. Bubl& new CD, which he calls "my remark on the state of love," contains feeling that ,vill surprise and delight fans and impress those new to his music. "Irresponsible" contains more of Bubl& buoyant, modern interpretations and songs by such greats as Leonard Cohen, Eric Clapton and Cy Coleman. Michael won his first Grammy Award this year. The Grammy is for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for "Call Me Irresponsible", which shot to #1, topping the charts around the world. The album included the #1 hit single "Everything", and was the fastest trip to #1 in three years on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. To purchase concert tickets go to www.ticketmaster. corn or visit the Ford Center box office. Visit www. michaelbuble.com for concert schedule. .................. Continued page 27 www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 9 �By Joey De what can be said about "f~nt" that hasfft (and sometimes infamous) rock-opera that changed Br6adway forever ,,,ill be closing its doors on the great ~q~ite Way in Jtm~ but before it dora, the national tour will be making several stops in th~ Midwest. "Rent" is the story, of a colorful collectiot~ of frien& in Manhattan’s East End around the tiim end of the eighties. Surrounded by" povert.>; the onset of the MDS epi&mic and the rise of corporate commercialism, this group of artists defies the norm and redefines the boundaries of love. " says Jed Resnick, who plays Mark in promise ofAmerica is a country of tolerance harmony. just doesn’t l~appen in rea! life, there is so much hatred utopian and unreal ~ bom~daries." ’°Rent" are persona!. "This show was the first shame and that Resnick says he connected with privately as a him want was a major 998, the summer when I first characters rand connected. It became a dream m be in the sho~; and people joked with me in High School about it because I’m so close to Mark." According to the performer, taking on the role of the show’s filmmaking n~xrator was not too much of a srxetch. "Mark and Jed are both slightly neurotic, Jewish N ew Yorkers." he laughs. "I latched on to our surface similarities and then was able to discover this~gs I didn’t realize about b~n. Things like his passion for art and fl~e ~ower it has to affect change." Photo: Jed Resnick �Cathedral of Hope Donates Scarves to Wilson Schoo OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) __ For the fourth year in a row members of the Cathedral of Hope made scarves for Wilson Elementary School; In 2004 the church "adopted" Wilson for a number of service projects, since Wilson was their neighborhood school and included children from homeless shelters and section eight housing. Annual projects include collecting schoo! supplies, donating tissues during cold season, and sewing scarves every winter. This year members worked over two nights creating over 60 scarves. One couple also donated gloves and hats. On Tuesday, February 5, church members delivered the goodies to the school. According to pastor, the Rev. Dr. Scott Jones, "The assistant principal told us that every year the kids look forward to the day the scarves are handed out and that they wear them every day a~er that." Nancy Sanders, who has helped with the project every year said, "It’s always a lot of fun for the kids and fun for us too." the STAR �Love on tb~e Nile Deep b~4de HolI)~ood, reports on n~projects for Madonna and Ian Zierine~ Madonna khad to happen. Madonna mous disdain fbr her acting the camera. The finished product is recently premiered at the Berli~ mttsement. It stars the band Gogol Bordello) in a loose, in common with Madonna’s with her later it a refreshing new path uphill cred mountain to climb, but almost a lock that distribution reinvention will be as an aut~ur. Ian Ziering Move~ from Stretch marks, bloated ankles, ous. At least, that’s xvhat the makers given the success of other new comedy stars as a mar (The Constant Gardener) looks like eyeliner - a good to be starring in a romance set jandro ~Am~ena bar (The will direct the film, about a slave (Oscar in love with his mistress at the dawn of the Christian era, Paradise Now) co-stars as a zea!her statuette for The Constant variety of roles in movies like ~nd Definitel> Maybe, and this a~s-yetStarts shooting this month - promises to eclectic. a!most unani- )..ueer Cinema" in the early of a small miracle when a gay indie movie rea! theaters outside Trevor is one of those movies. Goodman, of unknowns, about queer the suddenly deep waters of adult life, appreciation that the recent "new naturalist" films of upstart directors like Andrew getting from critics and when the fihn gets released in May. © STAR www.ozarksstar.com �Ragged Blade Cor cer City February 29 h Oklahoma Photo by Mike W/site: Ashley Saphian, Isaac Cherry, Jerry Rabushka, Zach Jett ST LOUIS, MO (P/R) __ They are faster! louder! more blues! and more country! Ragged Blade has made four theatrical excursions to the IAO in Oklahoma City and now they’re on tap for a concert of Music worth waiting for. An evening of original pop, country, blues, and ballads by songwriter & playwright Jerry Rabushka. You’ll hear songs from some of the plays that have come to the IAO last year, and some newly hatched music with Rabushka’s trademark deep emotion and beautiful harmonies. Hang out with us for co01 country songs. No Luck At Home, the bluesy and sexually charged, Wrong Side Of Town, and Jerry’s lonely ballad Diner 4 AM. The band: Zach Jett (vocals) has toured with Ragged Blade for over a year and has been to the IAO for Woofl. The Road Show and Love of Last Resort. Ashley Saphian (vocals) has performed in several RB plays and concerts. Isaac Cherry (drums) has toured nationally as a solo drummer and with such bands as Animal 13 on the east coast and the Malibu Minstrels on the west. Jerry Rabushka (keyboard and vocals) has written & produced several musicals, was nominated for a national award for outstanding Instrumental Recording by New York based Outmusic in 2003, and received an award from the St. Louis Arts For Life Foundations for his original score to the musical, The Soviet Tango. IAO Gallery, 811 N. Broadway Oklahoma City 405-232-6060 8:00 EM. $5.00 cover At that price you can bring LOTS of friends!! For more info please visit www.raggedblade.com or www.iaogallery. org March 2008 the STAR 13 �by Liz Highleyman~~ Past Out, which looks at the life 0fFTM pioneer L0u Sullivan. Who was Lou Sullivan ? ouis Graydon Sullivan was a pioneer of the transgender movement - not just as an organizer, but as perhaps the first female-to-male (FTM) transsexual to identify publicly as a gay man. Born in June 1951 and named Sheila Jean, Sullivan grew up in a working-class family in a suburb of Milwaukee, \Vgis. He was educated at Catholic schools and took a secretarial job at the University of Wisconsin after graduating from high school. Though Sullivan later recalled that he had enjoyed "playing boys" as a child, his issues around gender and sexuality came to the fore when he was a teenager. "I look in the mirror and say to myself, ’That’s you, Sheila. That girl over there is you.’ It seems so funny," he wrote in his diary at age 14. Before long he started wearing men’s-style white shirts and ties, eventually adding men’s slacks, shoes, and hairstyle. By the early 1970s, Sullivan self-identified as a "heterosexual female transvestite who was sexually attracted to gay men," and had embarked on a long-term relationship with an effeminate man. Sullivan was active in the nascent gay liberation movement, which embraced gender-bending and favored the androgynous aesthetic of the broader counterculture. He was involved with Milwaukee’s first gay rights group, the Gay People’s Union (GPU), and helped produce its newsletter. Jumping into the controversy over drag within the women’s movement, he wrote "A Transvestite Answers a Feminist" 14 the STAR for GPU News in 1973, followed a year later by "Looking Towards Transvestite Liberation," which was widely reprinted in other gay and lesbian publications. Over the next few years, Sullivan’s gender identity shifted from transvestite to transsexual. In 1975, he and his boyfriend moved to San Francisco; as a parting gift, his supportive family gave him a good suit and an heirloom pocket watch engraved "Go West Young Man." But even amid the city’s queer milieu, Sullivan had difficulty finding others like himselfi "I want to look like what I am," he once wrote, "but don’t know what someone like me looks like." Though still presenting as a woman in his job as a secretary for the Wilson Sporting Goods company, most of the rest of the time Sullivan fully cross-dressed and lived as a gay man, hanging out in gay bars and enjoying an adventurous sex life. Sullivan sought sex-reassignment surgery in the late 1970s, but was repeatedly denied because he openly identified as ~y at a time when people undergoing the procedure were expected to adopt stereotypical heterosexual opposite-sex gender roles. "They were invested in taking sissy gay boys and transforming them into straight women, and taking tomboy women who were socially unacceptable and changing them into straight men," according to fellow FTM Shadow Morton. Sullivan recalled that one gender clinic told him he could not possibly live as a gay man, since gay men were primarily interested in large penises. Sullivan’s frustration led him to campaign for the removal of homosexuality as a contraindication for sex reassignment - an effort that finally succeeded in the late 1980s. At a time when most gender services focused on male-to-female transsexuals, he volunteered as the first FTM peer counselor with San Francisco’s Janus Information Facility (a clearinghouse for information about transsexuality) and wrote the earliest informational booldet for transmen, _Information for the Female to Male Cross-Dresser and Transsexual_ (1980). He later authored a biography of early 20th-century "passing woman" Jack Bee Garland. Sullivan was a co-founder of the Gay and Lesbian Historical Society of Northern California (now the GLBT Historical Society), helping to ensure that it was inclusive of transgender lives. In 1979, after several refusals from established university-based gender dinics, Sullivan found sympathetic therapists and doctors and began taking testosterone. He had a double mastectomy and started a new technician job where co-workers had never known him as a woman. He finally underwent genital surgery in 1986, but experienced complications and never fully recovered; that same year, he was diagnosed as HIV positive. "I took a certain pleasure," he wrote, "in informing the gender clinic that even though their program told me I could not live as a gay man, it looks like I’m going to die like one." Sullivan devoted his final years to building the network of FTM contacts he had acquired over a decade into an organization, and eventually a visible movement. In 1986, he began holding peer-support get-togethers for people on the male transgender spectrum, which evolved into the present-day FTM International - today the largest and longest-running organization of its kind. Yet he continued to take the time to answer the many letters he received from transmen around the world, hoping to dispel the sense of isolation he had felt. Sullivan died of an AIDS-related illness in March 1991, after malting plans to ensure that the organization he created would continue. "Lou Sullivan left behind a mailing list of about 230 names, a roll of stamps, the model of inclusion in his support group, and the ethic of service to a community he hoped would someday exist," said de facto successor Jamison Green. "Now it almost does. In life and since his death, he has been an inspiration for many transmen, both gay and straight." w~,wv.ozarksstar.corn �1) Langmeil Three Gardens Barossa Valley ’05- Shiraz, Grenache and Mourv~dre. Smooth and round, with raspberry & plum most prominent/lean finish. 2) Yellow Tail Reserve Shiraz ’06- Ripe and aromatic. The past 2 vintages have scored some high points with national wine critics/ worth checking out. 3) Yalumba Y Series Shiraz-Viognier 2006Spicy, but the mix of Viognier makes a presence of lychee and peach. 4) Molly Dooker The Boxer 2006 - Ripe and smoky. A mouthful of raspberry with white pepper. A state allocated wine/very hard to find bottle here in town so if ya see it, get it! 5) Marquis Phillips Sarah’s Blend 2005Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot. Check out the Roogle on the label. It’s cross between an Eagle and a Kangaroo and signifies the friendship between the US and Australia. Great taste/recommended. 6) Lindemans Padthaway Reserve 2005Generous cherry and raspberry flavors. From the Hunter Valley about and hour and a half from Sydney. Also gets rave reviews. And as always, I say go to your favorite wine shop, ask questions and purchase a bottle or two. Share some food & wine with friends and check this out for yourself. Mr. D also hosts wine & food events known in town as the Wine Enthusiasts of Tulsa. References include: the ABC’s of wine by James Laube/www.WineSpectator.com www.FoodandWine.com www.Wikipedia.org �By Joey De An Italian-Creole restaurant in New Orleans. Photo: David Barlo,~ a,~d A,,~a,~da Ba/on Copyright Joa*¢ Marcus 2007 TULSA, OK __ One of America’s most beloved musicals, "Annie" is celebrating its 30th anniversary tour, and giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic about never giving up hope. The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie is coming to the Tulsa PAC March 4-9. With music by Charles Strouse and book by Thomas Meeban, ’%nhie" is again directed by lyricist Martin Charnin, who directed the original 1977 Broadxvay production. After xvinning seven Tony Axvards in 1977, including Best blusica!, Book and Score the shoxv ran for 2,377 performances and is one of the top 20 longest running shows in Broadxvay history. With one of Broadxvay’s most memorable scores, including t~ the Hard-Knock Life" and ’"~ tomorrow,""" ~(~n ni e, "is the feel-good shoxv to bring a smile to any, face. Tickets may be purchased at 596-7111, via the internet at wwxv. MyTicketOffice.com or by visiting the PAC box oft{ce. Get the STAR delivered to your home or office. 12 issues only $33.95. Send Check or Money Order to: The STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 Seepage 29for o,’der blank. the ~TA~ Bayou Crawfish Etouffee 1/4 pound butter 4 cups chopped onions 2 cups chopped green peppers 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh chopped garlic 4 cups sliced mushrooms 1 1/2 teaspoons flour Salt and pepper to taste 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper 4 dashes Tabasco sauce 1 tablespoon garlic powder 2 cups whipping cream 1 cup half-and-half 1 3/4 cups tomato sauce Melt butter in large heavy-duty pot. Add onions, peppers, garlic and all seasonings. Saute, stirring occasionally until onions are translucent (15 minutes). Add mushrooms and saute for 5 minutes. Add flour and mix thoroughly for 1 minute, stirring often. Add whipping cream and half-and-half. Cook until cream thickens but does not boil, stirring often. Add tomato sauce and cook for 15 minutes. Add desired meat, seafood or crawfish. Stirring often, cook until meat or vegetables are done. The longer you let the sauce cook, the more flavorful it becomes. More on PASCAL’S MANALE Restaurant see page 22 www.ozarksstar.com �c ONOUES T Join our gay and Imbian group aboard Carnival Cow, quest© ~ we set sail from Galvesm~ and call o~ the beaurifhi ports in Monrego Ba); Grand Cayman and Cx~zumel. There is no better way to celebrate Halloween than aboard a funship with Gayribbean Cruises, We offer: Our fr~ntasdc Halloweml Costume Part),, Nighdy Mixers and SO MUCH MORE ! Book early and save. Ask how m receive $75 shipboard cre<~t! For information & Reservations www.GaydbbeanCruisesocom �by Donald Pile and Ray Williams One of the manygreat things about travelin~ .... is, besides meeting interestin,~,p eople and visitin g beautiful places, sometimes you also get to see FABULOUS ENTERTAINERS. The past few- )mars We were fortunate to be able to see these entertainers in action. They ernb0dy all that is good in a true entertainer. ...... fun, funny; sometimes elegant and they all put on a great show. THE COUNT.S, B&EXIS DEL LAGO of Paris, New York and HollDvood. one of the most remarkable, amazing and elegant pers0nalilties that we have,ever met in our travels. She was the most elegant drag queen ofthe 80 s New York City, she then moved to \Vest Hollywooa and 6pened a wonderful antiques b(~utique shop. She WAS Marlene Dietrich, afI day and every day[ Sh£ is the cla~;iest add best &essed of them all. She *~,-~as (~nd stil! is) a r~al star when everyone else was just pretending. She performed on stage, movies and tete~2ision. She was a bi~ hit at the famous Pyramid Club in New York and with the Andy Wathol group. Her latest "Countess Alexis with Ray Williams" Lypsinka Frank Marino 18 the STAR moade, SUPERSTAR IN A HOUSEDRESS, only proves how classy,she still iS. And always hers,d£ She believed in herself as most people don t. MOst people either dont have the, courage to be themselve~s,o,~ are s,o unsure about wh~ they are that they cant. As the Countess stares, It wasrft that I was so fabulous, it is just that the others were so stupid. \Ve have never seen her when she &dnt look hke a milhon dollars. She ALWAYS makes a grain entrance where ever she goes. And why not? She ~s N~e Countess : Check out http:lt~wv.youtube.com/watch?v=lG2DATQ_dlA to see a fabulous sm,en minute fihn clip. LYPSINKA, whose real name is John Epperson lives in New York City. We caught his act at the AI~ Theatre in San Francisco. His production is entitled "LYPSINKM THE BOX.ED SET" He is one of the most intelligent performers around. He does Gisele MacKenzie, Frances Faye, Conme Franos, Llbby Morns, Dorothy Sqmres and the 50 s musical ,con Delores Gray. He performs all over the United States and gets standing ovations where,)er he performs. It is remarkable the staging and entertaini~ag this entertainer does. You will be dazed by his performance. Unlike marli, performers he stretches the boundaries. ~e H~llDvood Reporter says L smka ~s hke nothing you ve seen before. Theamcat art,stry that ne er seems to slow down" The New York ~mes says "I.ypsinka is a fascinating, ftmny and disturbing spectacle." From the opening scene ro the finale this performer never lets down the audience. He is absolute dynamite. Audiences go back year after year to see him perform. And on top of everything else l~}m just happens to be a very nice person. For a listing of his performances and other information about him go to ww~:lypsinka.corn. FRANK MARINO, who performs at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas , is another performer who puts on a great show. He does his "_Joan River’s’ routine and has been wowing audiences for years and years in I.as Vegas. The straights in the audience really get into his show and why not? He and his cast and crmv put on a class act show. He emcees the’show and introduces the different performers who do Chef. Shirley MacLaine, Tina, and many others. Tlaeir show is sold out almost every night. It is basically a musicallcomedy revie~v with gorgeous gowns, feathers, glitter, etc. Frank changes cosrurnes between every set which gives a grear dimension to the show. When going to Las Vegas next time, be sure and catch the show. His web site is ~x~;frankmarino.com ............................. Continued next page v~w.ozarksstar.com �Creating Community for People ~ivin9 with H~V/AIDS .A 50~. c (3) Non P~ofit O~ganization Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HIM+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistanoe to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail harrism mjr@yahoo.oom. �)ff~rs little in the way of attractions, unless, of course, you count shopping as a form of sightseeing. If you wander along West 20th through West 27th streets in the block west of 10th Avenue, you’ll find storefront after storefront of cutting-edge art galleries - check out www.chelseaartga~leries.com for details on upcoming shows. Fans of dance should note two important neighborhood institutions: the art deco Joyce Theater, which hosts high-quality dance companies throughout the year, and the dramatic Dance Theater Workshop, around the corner, which also presents acclaimed concerts throughout the year. The neighborhood draws plenty of foodies to its Chelsea Market, a bustling concourse of gourmet food stalls in which you’ll find tantalizing Thai food, savory soups, fine wines, heavenly baked goods, and lots more. Neighborhood s recently as the mid-1990s, relatively few visitors spent time in Chelsea, the neighborhood on Manhattan’s west side between Midtown and Greenwich Village. Today, however, Chelsea abounds with gay bars, coo! restaurants, diverting shops, avant-garde galleries, and an increasing number of hotels. It’s become arguably the city’s hottest destination for gay visitors, and a wonderful neighborhood to spend a weekend or short vacation. This part of the city was developed in the 1830s by clergyman Clement Clark Moore, author of"A Visit from St. Nicholas" ("~B~vas the night before Christmas..."), whose family owned most of the area. Well into the mid-20th century, Chelsea was a drab, lower-income neighborhood where workers at nearby garment factories and river docks lived in cheap boardinghouses and rickety, airless tenements. But as gays began moving here in the ’70s and ’80s, gentrification gradually took hold. And in recent years, the neighborhood has developed cachet among both residents and visitors as one of the trendiest areas in the city as well as one of the nation’s most dynamic gay communities. Chelsea comprises roughly the blocks between 5th Avenue and the Hudson River, with 14th Street forming the neighborhood’s southern boundary. Most locals consider 23rd Street to be its northern edge, but others argue the border extends as far north as 28th or even 32nd Street. For all practical purposes - particularly in terms of retail, dining, and clubbing - you’ll find the most intriguing businesses between 14th and 23rd streets. And where gay-popular establishments are concerned, the main drag is 8th Avenue, with 7th Avenue a close runner-up. Additionally, 9th and 10th avenues have witnessed the tide of gentrification in recent years, particularly as top galleries have moved into the western reaches of Chelsea. 20 the STAR In fact, restaurants have become one of the neighborhood’s leading draws. There are the obvious bastions of gay social life, such as Viceroy and Food Bar for rather standard American chow, and campy VYNL, which is known for its eclectic Asian and international dishes, plus outstanding martinis. Gym buffs on high-protein diets favor Better Burger, with its menu of lean, char-grilled burgers and fresh-squeezed juices. Other hot spots include the funky Thai restaurant Room Service, known for such ldcky creations as Thai-spicy tuna salad and chile-rubbed salmon; and Suenos, which serves some of the most innovative regional Mexican fare in the city - be sure to try the duck-confit quesadillas with poached pears and ancho chileso For weekend brunch, don’t miss East of Eighth, which turns out first-rate contemporary American food and offers lively cabaret in the evenings. Few spots are more popular at lunchtime than Dish, a glorified diner of sorts, which is also known for its relaxing Saturday and Sunday brunch. Snackers and noshers will find plenty of toothsome options, including F&B Gudtfood for gourmet hot dogs and European-style street food, Murray’s for some of the city’s finest bagels, and Pinkberry, for the mysterious yogurt-esque frozen-dessert snacks that have taken the city by storm. On the west side of the neighborhood, you can count on the Red Cat for a terrific meal of creative American fare, such as a fantastic paprika-roasted cod with spicy escarole and an anchovy-almond sauce. At cozy Tia Pol, choose from a long list of outstanding Spanish tapas, while the much-hyped Craftsteak is your go-to for superb cuts of beef- it’s part of Tom Colicchio’s (ofTV’s Top Chef) growing restaurant empire. Chelsea has become the epicenter of gay nightlife in New York City (although it’s fair to say that the Hells Kitchen and East Village neighborhoods provide plenty of competition). There are the trendy spots, such as G Lounge, a sea of coiffed and smartly dressed men hobnobbing around a central bar or relaxing in mod lounge chairs; and the long-running Splash, a two-floor temple of chic gay clubbing known for its go-go dancers and throbbing music. Quirky Barracuda cultivates a mixed arty and cruisy bunch, while the bilevel Eagle caters to the usual set of bears, leather men, and ardent porn enthusiasts (old-fashioned blue movies play on the video screens). www.ozarksstar.com �Rawhide is an old-school neighborhood bar with an age-diverse following, and the friendly Gym Sportbar has become the darling of the post-workout crowd. Locals hangouts like View Bar and XES can seem empty or bustling depending on the night, and a couple of pulsing warehouse discos, Rush and Stereo, round out the scene. Chelsea has relatively few hotel rooms compared with other key Manhattan neighborhoods, but it’s a 10- to 20-minute walk (or a short cab or subway ride) from the scads of hotels in Midtown. What you will find in Chelsea, however, are several properties with reasonable rates, most catering heavily to the gay market. A favorite of history buffs is the raffish Hotel Chelsea, the city’s tallest building when it was built in the 1880s. This bohemian hostelry has been the home of all sorts of fascinating characters, from William Burroughs to Jasper Johns to Allen Ginsberg: Just up the street, the modern and rather basic Chelsea Savoy Hotel has a terrific location at the corner of West 23rd Street and 7th Avenue, and rooms here can run as low as $99 nightly. Among the big chains, there’s a Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan Chelsea on West 25th Street, and the Hampton Inn Chelsea on West 24th Street. Both of these are clean, well-managed, and affordable. This hip neighborhood is rapidly developing, though, and within a few years you’ll find a number of additional hotels to choose from. For instance, the trendy hotel brand Indigo is planning a 122-room property for 127 West 28th Street, to open in early 2009. And, just a short walk east of Chelsea in a similarly vibrant area, you might consider the uber-cool W New York Union Square, a swank stunner that occupies the 1911 beaux-arts Guardian Life building and contains Todd English’s bustling Olives restaurant and Rande Gerber’s see-and-be-seen Underbar. Or check into Ian Schrager’s luxuriously re-imagined Gramercy Park Hotel, a glam boutique hotel overlooking the elegant park of the same name. Among smaller, gay-oriented properties, a reliable pick is the Chelsea Pines Inn, which occupies a charming 1850s town house in the heart of the neighborhood. Rooms with semiprivate bath (sink and shower are in your room, but the toilet is shared with several other rooms on same floor) start at $140, while rooms with private baths begin at $175. An even better value, with rates beginning around $130 for shared-bath units, the Chelsea Lodge is set along handsome West 22nd Street and contains 22 cozy, clean, and pleasantly furnished rooms. When you consider that generic, bland chain properties in Midtown can charge well over $400 per night, these two intimate and friendly Chelsea hideaways are a real bargain. And you can use the money you save to dine well in the neighborhood’s dozens of inviting eateries. 1- 800 - 535-AI DS (2437) Okllahoma’s H V/STD Hot ine PRO TECT YO F PROTECT YOUR PA ° F,¢ee. me~ HIV testify, t~ 20 H.O.P;~. Tes~:~ng C~inic ~ens Oetreach Pr~ram www.ozarksstar.com the STAR :)1 �~ 6, 2008 ItMian’Creole restaurant in New Orleans Fotmded in 1913, this family-run, ItaJian, Creole restaurant is 8) i New Orle~s at baxbecued shrimp. N~is . from the se~,ice to the decor. oyster bar ~nd on ~e hflf shel! and fll ~es of cocktails. We offer Sp~cialfies and delicio~ stea~, ~ i in traddtion; ir ~ s and ~hes it out daily in ~e ~tO lmltate~ !tiNe;Andwhenyou! We&esday thru Friday : thru Saturda); 5 PM to closing ~d cloSed 0h �WHITE PARTY SPRING BREAK 2008 PRESENTS THREE DAYS AND FOUR NIGHTS OF THE BEST PARTIES ON THE PLANET !’~"~ Men from all over the world converge on Palm Springs : April 17.21, 2008. Surprise performances happening aft weekend long! PALM SPRINGS, CA (PR) This is the event that attracts men from all over the world to the desert oasis of Palm Springs, CA ! Jeffrey Sanker’s White Party Spring Break happens at new date in 2008--April 17-21, with an action-packed weekend of non-stop parties, superstar performances and the hottest men from all over the globe. Totally new for 2008: the sexy Boxers and Briefs Underwear Party, happening Friday, will let it all hang out. Saturday’s main event: White Party - Boogie Fever celebrates 30 years of dance music. Not to mention Sunday’s Extreme T Dance, an over-the-top dance event taking the action farther than it’s ever been before. Weekend passes are on sale now at www.CircuitTicket.com. Express Weekend Passes ($350 until Feb. 15) include: Absolute priority access to all weekend events; Access to VIP lounge at the Saturday White Party and Sunday T Dance; Official White Party Spring Break Gift Bag and Unlimited complimentary bottled water at White Party and T Dance. Weekend Passes ($250 until Feb. 15) include: Express Entrance to White Party, T Dance & Closing Party; complementary admission to Thursday Welcome Party, plus a $25 add-on for admission to Boxers and Briefs Underwear Party. For additional information or to purchase passes in advance online, visit: www.jeffreysanker.com or vcww.circuiticket.com. For more information, call (310) 360-6100. The host hotel for White Party 2008 is the fabulous Wyndham Palm Springs, the center of all the poolside action, home to nighttime events and location of the official welcome center. For reservations, call: (760) 322-6000. Mention WP when making reservations to receive a special rate. Back by popular demand: The ultimate VIP treatment lets you experience White Party in the lap of luxury with a range of personalized services right at your fingertips. Again in 2008, White Party Spring Break offers a limited number of luxurious VIP packages to make your weekend truly unforgettable. Packages include a range of options such as premium accommodations, lavish amenities including a personal concierge, private cabanas, security escorts and special upgrades. All packages feature exclusive VIP bottle service at Saturday night’s White Party and the Sunday T Dance. Visit: www. jeffreysanker.com for more details. March 2008 The STAR 23 ��and the �By Ronald Blake esterday was my thirty-ninth birthday. I chose to wake with the roosters and run a five kilometer race to begin my fete of this event. I ruminated on my choice of a celebratory method be.fore, during, and after this competition. I discovered many reasons ~vhy I dragged my partner and our little canine companion along with me to this athletic spectacle. There is not much traffic on an early Saturday morning when you are headed to a physical challenge. I was able to really notice the mountains when I wasn’t beset by droves of angry, chafed, rush-hour motorists. I realized that the mountains were even more majestic with their verdant hue given the recent rains here in the desert. The rising sun added its paintbrush to this mountain landscape with its spangling of yellows and oranges. A good reason to get up and run. We drove past the Phoenix International Raceway on our journey to the starting line. I have lived in the Valley of the Sun for over three years and had never seen this imposing NASCAR edifice. It was quietly assuming its regnant place alongside its panoply of mountains. We also had never been to the location of this gala running affair. It too was nestled next to the mountains and was a magnificent oasis in the ribald desert landscape. I felt a contemporary thrill of a Louis and Clark moment as I gazed upon virgin ground. A good reason to get up and run. There were other people at the race site when I arrived. These people also had running shoes and were stretching. These people also brought friends, family members, and their little dogs too. These people also ran the course, sweated, and finished completely exhausted. I wasn’t the only one early to bed and early to rise. We shared camaraderie and a commonality that morning. A good reason to get up and run. I received a T-shirt, bananas, a medal, an olio of donated sundries, and some friendly discourse through out my experience. It did cost me twentyfive dollars to participate but I am not offering any regrets. I could just as easily have spent that money on a well-earned hangover but I already have plenty of those notched in my craw! of fame. I am pleased with my assortment of newly acquired memorabilia. A good reason to get up and run. There was live music after the race. It was provided by your quintessential three men and a lady cover band. The backdrop was a cupola adorned, ornate clubhouse and a lake begirded with palm trees. I would have settled for anything at that time. I had just felt the intrinsic satisfaction of completing an arduous task and the extrinsic reward of a salvo of cheers for my fait accompli. A very good reason to get up and run. I am thirty-nine today and I wil! be forty next year. I have no control over the passage of time. I will continue to enjoy my flight through the ages and I will continue to augment my reasoning for getting up and running...until the flight ends. ~sis health andfitness column is brought to you by that gvgy who noticed that sex act is followed by sexagenarian in the dictionary. ~at connect the dots guy is Ron Blake and he can be vivified at www.goblakefimess. co~n, www.ozarksstar.com �ART SHOW: Between sumi-d, drawings, oil paintings and sculpture, Shawn’s work has been shown and sold in dozens of one-woman and group showings and through commissioned work. Merry Schepers is also a native Otdahoman whose works in porcelain, clay and multimedia embrace a broad stylistic spectrum from flying porcelain vessels to shamanic, archetypal masks to functional stoneware. She earned her BA from Montclair State University (N.J.) and has worked in clay for over thirteen years. As a member of the Alternative Outsider artists, she participates in that group’s annual show. She also shows in galleries in Tulsa, Ok. and Fayetteville, AR. and participates in Tulsa’s Blue Dome Arts Festival. The exhibit will remain up through the month of March, and can be viewed Monday thru Saturday from 3-9pm. Nae Dennis R. Neill Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th St., in downtown Tulsa. More info can be found on the web at okeq.org. 7his monthly event is hosted by Oklahoman’s for A1 McAffrey To Speak At OK County Democrats Medallion Dinner OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __M is the Representative for House District 88 and will be the Master of Ceremonies for our Medallion Dinner. The Oklahoma County Democrats Medallion Dinner, with Jim Roth and Al McAffrey, will be taking place on March 8, 2008 at the Regal Room (Ned’s Catering), 625 NW Grand Blvd, OKC, 73118. Visit the website for updated information, sponsor & ticket prices, and easy online ticket purchasing. www.okcountydemocrats.org Oklahoma Governor say’s NO to National Real ID Equality (OkEq). OkEq seeks equal rights for Lesbian, Ga); Bisexual & Tram’gender (LGBT) individuals andfamilies through advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equali~y Center. Oklahoma City mayor challenges citizens to loose 1 million pounds OKLAHOMA CITY - With a button-popping spread of cornbread, sausage and gravy, chicken fried steak and pecan pie designated as Oklahoma’s official state meal, it’s no surprise that Oklahoma City’s mayor wants to put the city on a diet. Mick Cornett has challenged the city to shed 1 million pounds as its New Year’s resolution. (PR) The federal effort to create a national identity card, called the Real ID card, would take us one step closer to a surveillance society, erode our right to privacy and put our personal information at risk. Luckily, governors in five states, including Oklahoma, courageously rejected this invasive law. Now we need these governors to stand their ground so that Congress will be forced to repeal this horrifying program! Real ID would force all states to connect their DMV databases to one single interlinked system -- facilitating government tracking of ordinary Americans. It would also expose our most sensitive personal information to criminal identity theft. Thanks to your Governor, this invasive law -- and the dramatic tax increases required to pay its massive price tag -- was courageously rejected in Oklahoma. Help make sure that no American is forced to use the costly "Big Brother" Real ID card. The national Real ID card will take away our privacy and treat all Americans like enemies of the state! www.ozarksstar.corn "The nature of the questions LGBT human rights defenders were asked, repeatedly trying to link homosexuality and pedophilia, simply shows how far our stubborn opposition is ready to go to put obstacles before LGBT groups on their way to recognition as members of civil society," the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) said in a statement. Just two of many reasons the right wing hates McCain. 1. Same-sex marriage. McCain refuses to support a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. 2. Stem-cell research. McCain would relax restrictions on federal dollars for embryonic stem cell research, which critics consider tantamount to abortion. BERLIN (AP) __ A new Berlin memorial to the Nazis’ gay victims should be ready within months, officials said Thursday. The $890,000 memorial to gay victims will be located in Berlin’s Tiergarten Park, across from the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Culture Minister Bernd Neumann said. Homosexuality was banned under the Nazis. Tens of thousands of people, primarily men, were arrested, and many were sent to concentration camps. BEIJING (AFP) Chinas Ministry of Health is set to implement its first ever national programme to curb the spread of HIV/ AIDS among gay men. "The programme aims to strengthen measures to prevent and control the deadly disease among the homosexual community," the China Daily quoted Wang \greizhen, a senior official with the ministry’s HIWAIDS prevention department, as saying. "By learning more about gay people, we can better protect them against this incurable disease. Studies are under way in several cities to collect information on gay men, such as their.., behavioural patterns." The programme will also deliver special funding and technical support to gay men, Wang said, without giving further details. There are over 700 thousand gay men with HIV/AIDS in China. the STAR 27 �"Be cor~servative with money, Gemini!" As Mars enters Cancer, productive efforts are easily clouded by moods and misunderstandings. While he opposes Pluto, frustrations can gain exaggerated importance. You may feel like you need an oar to propel your craft forward, but what you may really need is a shovel to dig to the root of existing challenges. ARIES (March 20 -Apri~ 19): Yours is the sign of the lone wolf, but you are now aiming for the role of head of the household. The responsibilities and obligations really don’t suit you. Try for the position of "elder statesperson" or dowager instead. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Little domestic arguments can explode way too easily. Are you just being stubborn? How important are those details, anyway? Your arguments may be more aesthetic than logical, but they should still be explainable in a calm, friendly manner. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): Your sexual appetite is surging, but so is your deeper desire for commitment. One is so much more easily satisfied than the other that you might find any effort frustrating. Try seeing the glass as half full. CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Is your partner being too aggressive, or are you just being stubborn? You can do something about the latter. Fights come easily, but so does passion. You really need a struggle. Be nice, and you could get a good one! AQUARIUS (January 20 - February t8): Wanting too much can be a great spur to action, but acting impulsively on excessive desire is a sure path to accidents and illness. Meditate, think ahead, and confide in a friend with a cooler head before acting. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Acting on your playful urges will have far-reaching ramifications. Focus those desires responsibly and creatively. Infuriating people is not a mark of success per se, but be bold enough to risk pissing off the right people for the right reasons. GEMINI (May 21 - Jun~ 20): Be very careful and conservative with your money. Household and proper~ investments or any renegotiation of debt should be checked out very thoroughly. Sexual urges may take an emotional cost, challenging you to think more about your deeper needs. CANCER (June 21 -July 22): Acting on impulse can transform your relationship, and probably not for the better. Channel that energy into thinking ahead and talking about what you want, what your partner wants, and how you can deepen your connection. LEO (July 23 - August 22): Worrying about your health or work only makes problems - real or imagined - worse. Take positive steps, and check out anything that bears watching. Remember the difference between focus and obsession, and stick to the task at hand. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Your political aims are coming from somewhere deep in your gut, which is fine. But sensible strategy should come from your brilliant-butnow-vacationing brain. Artistic, creative expressions will give you the outlet you need. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Courtesy is usually your strongest conviction. Now other deep beliefs provoke you to speak up against authority. Think carefully about mouthing off to the police or your boss. If you want to raise hell, find a public demonstration that suits your politics. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Your urge for arguments seems to be coming out of nowhere. Try to focus that energy toward digging into topics that interest you. Take up a good challenge to keep your mind busy and your mouth out of trouble! 28 the STAR METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve T. UrJe Spirit of Chdst MCC 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Saturdays at 10:00 AM CommUnity Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC of the Living Spring 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a God filled and Blessed Day! www.ozarksstar.com �DO\VNTOWN PLAZA of TULSA 17 West 7th Street Tulsa, OK 918-585-5898 wvw.downtownplazatulsa.com HABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma Cig; OK 405-528-2221 wwv.habanainn.com KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant RENT the Musical Tulsa PAC 918-596-7111 www.myticketoffice.com SUSAN HARTMAN Independent Broker Oklahoma and Arkansas 918-698-2977 susanlhartman@gmail.com ANGLES 2117 NW 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK w~:anglesclub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 w~vw.bambooloungetulsa.com CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 www.clubmajestictulsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklaboma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Tulsa, OK j udygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 DIVERSITY CHRISTIAN CNTR 211 S. Garnett Tulsa, OK 74128 www.realacceptance.com CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 www.c21 goldcastle.com OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREE~I; Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn GAYRIBBEAN CRUISES www.gayribbeancruises.com 877-560-8318 www.ozarksstar.com want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $33.95 will be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or moneyorder to: ~he STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 (Single Copies $3.00 per issue) NAME: Address: MCC of the LIVING SPRING 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pm City:. OPENARMS YOUTH PROJECT 2015 -B S. Lakewood Tulsa, OK 74112 918-838-7104 www. openarmsproject.org Check enclosed Money Order Start Date: St: Zip: Phone: 29 �Keller Williams Realty \Vihether buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. (ng~finitiqn easy) - growing up GAY in OK is You can help our teens. Support Open Arms Youth Project. For more Info: WWW. openarmsproject.org 30 the STAR www.ozarksstar, com ��drugs �� Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document 2 the STAR wwvv.ozarksstar.com By Victor Gorin Photo: Nate Borofiky, Doris Muramatsu,Blue Door owner Greg Johnson, & Ty Greenstein OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ The Valentine’s Day crowd at the Blue Door was trttly treated by the extraordinary innovation and harmonies of Girlyman, a gay band of 3 musicians, Nate Borofsky, Doris Muramatsu and Ty Greenstein, who wowed the house with their awesome harmonies & creative style. As Nate put it, their music has been influenced by "the Indigo Girls, Simon & Garfunkel, the Mamas and Papas, and Bach." Their style, if it could be labeled, is a blend of folk, pop and bluegrass best described by Ty as "alt folk" The full house audience consisted mostly of the Blue Door’s regular folk & innovative music fans, but also featured many "Blue Door virgins", and they were not disappointed. This trio, which has previously graced Oklahoma, once opened for the Indigo Girls here in 2004, and was ready to please a capacity crowd even though they admitted they didn’t know what to expect. Masterminded by their soundperson/tour manager Heather "Turtle" Brooks, they blend their talents and insight in a way that has to be heard to be believed. So far they have recorded 3 CD’s, the latest entitled "Joyful Signs." As for their clever name, it was not inspired by the famous California Governor Schwarzenegger who in fact made that "girlyman" expression famous 2 years after the band was formed, although they do welcome the publicity. As Muramutsu puts it, "It’s playful and fun. The name Girlyman puts that all out there and lets us play with it." That they did, and they’ll win over even more new fans xvhen they play Oklahoma again. www.ozarksstar.corn the STAR 3 Art Show by Shawn Wilson.and Merry Schepers. Michael Buble’ in OKC; "It is the ideal portrayal ofAmerica," says Jed Resnick, who plays Mark in the touring production. ~ DEE[P INSIDE HO~-t-~OOD Deep Inside Hollywood, reports on new projects for Madonna and Ian Ziering. GLBT History, Past Out looks at the life ofFTM pioneer Lou Sullivan. Devre Jackson reviews Australian Shiraz Bayou Crawfish Etouffee a feature at Pascal’s Manale, New Orleans ~C~AO "~’R~VS~. Gay Travelers: Entertainers Out of Town: Chelsea, Manhattan Pascal’s Manale, New Orleans lvlen from all over the world converge on Palm Springs for spring break. Surprise performances happening all weekend long! F~T~ESS Introspection can lead you to better understand yourself and ultimately to achieve greater happiness. ON THE COVER: Cast of "RENT" 4 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com LGBT Votes Sway Towards Hi11 Clinton LOS ANGELES, CA __Not only is the Democratic presidential primary ticket a historic celebration of diversity, but exit polls from Super Tuesday celebrated history as well. Polling orga,xizations from around the country asked three questions never before found on exit poll surveys: Did voters pick a xvoman? Did voters pick a black man? Did voters identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender? We are part of histor): Resoundingly, voters answered two of the three questions similarly, picking Hillary Clinton as their candidate and identifying as LGBT. In California, of the gay voters (4% of total), 63% voted for Clinton, 29% for Obama and 1% stayed around for E&vards. In New York, 7% of voters identified as LGBT, and out of them 59% voted for Clinton, 36% for Obama and 3% for Edwards. In a recent survey conducted by Community Marketing, Inc. (CMI), a leading LGBTmarket research compan); **tore than 90percent ofgays and lesbians vote in U.S. presidential elections, compared to 64percent ofstraight citizens. Queerfolk are twice as likely as s~,’aightfolk to vote in midterm elections. Farrell to be best man £or brother’s gay wedding DUBLIN, IRELAND __ Hollywood star Colin Farrell is preparing for his next big role - best man at his brother’s gay wedding. The actor will stand beside his sibling Eamonn when he marries long-term partner Steven Mannion in Provincetown, Massachusetts this spring. Farrell is dose to his brother and helped chose Mannion’s diamond and sapphire engagement ring, when Eamonn proposed last year. A family friend tells the National Enquirer: "Colin is a firm believer in gay rights and he is proud of his brother. "He took Eamonn shopping for rings and intends to pick up the tab for the wedding." It was announced during the Sundance Film Festival that the Edward Norton/Colin Farrell cop drama "Pride and Glory" has been pushed back till 2009, even though it has been complete since last November. Farrell commented on this during the press junket for "In Bruges," trying to convince everyone that the delay has nothing to do with the quality of the movie. [via HollywoodElsewhere] All Gore Endorses Gay Marriage Photo by: David Gabber "I think that gay men and women ought to have the same rights as heterosexual men and women, to make contracts, to have hospital visiting rights, to join together in marriage," Gore said. ’~d I don’t understand why it is considered by some people to be a threat to heterosexual marriage to allow it by gays and lesbians. Shouldn’t we be promoting that kind of faithfulness and loyalty to one’s partner regardless of sexual orientation? Gore hinted that he would come around to support same-sex marriage as early as 2006, when speaking to a group of gay-rights activists, but his latest comments represent Gore’s first formal endorsement of equal marriage rights. Recognized by Keller Williams gor out~anding achievement 2005 and 2006 RE&LTY Chuck Breckenridge 918-706-1887 REALTOi~ WbetherbuyingorsellingI’llworkhardfbryou, W~NW.ozarksstar.corn the STAR 6 the STAR Diversity Business Association of Tulsa Can Larry Craig be Found Guilty in the Court o£Public Opinion? OKI~AHOMA CITY, OK __ On the facts as argued by the ACLU in a friend of the court filing, and outlined in this story from ~wccw.Bloomberg.com ( http://tinyurl. com/2b7hew ), to me it looks as if the wily and cunning coyote, Larry Craig, will get off again, pardon the pun, by thumbing his nose at the decency he pretends to legislate from the floor of the United States Senate. Just in case you’ve been living under a rock since late last summer, Senator Larry Craig of Idaho, now in his last session of Congress since he’s promised to resign, but will change his mind if enough people beg him to stay was charged with disruptive behavior in the Minneapolis airport when observed by an undercover policeman engaging in what the cop says was sexual solicitation. ¯here is a 1970 precedent in Minnesota that private solicitation of sexual activity in a private place can not be found illegal, as spying by police in a public restroom is an unreasonable search and therefore unconstitutional. The Court has yet to rule on Craig’s appeal of his guilty plea to the charge. Craig has since stated that his guilty plea was entered into in haste and without legal advice as he wanted to keep the charge out of public notice. Craig’s peculiar pantomime with his hands and feet, though laughable, is not illegal which is a good thing for him since his coitus ~vas interrupted by a too-eager cop wanting to score another statistic. Though there was no exposure of body parts or verbal utterances, it’s clear to me that Craig was after an airport quickie, and whether or not his appeal is accepted or rejected his action in the restroom stall refutes his claim that he isn’t gay. - .. Don’t get me wrong: there’s nothing wro9sg~ with being gay but there is something wrong with using your Senate vote to de~rive honest men and women their equality under the law even as they work to contribute to a decent American society. Ifyou listened to the taped interview of the Idaho Senator and the cop you must have noticed that Craig certainly had his battle hardened defense at ful! bore, strengthened as if he had done a few practice runs before. Just how self-assured would YOU be in this situation if you were claiming innocence of the charges and the sign language described? However, in the public court of reasonable opinion, I think Larry Craig would be found guilty with forethought and conspiracy of multiple counts to commit hypocrisy. Unfortunately, this crime is not punished by any jail sentence or fine. Craig’s punishment will have to be the resignation of his office and a return to, can I say, private life as a civilian where he will no doubt write a book describing the pain he’s endured from the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and his hounding from office by the Puritans of public decency, the very constituency he claimed to represent? SF~UALITY~VD SPIRITUALITY CONFERENCE ~mosexuality is Neither ~ness nor Sin ~ Friday March 7, urday March 8 ersity of Central Oklahoma, Edmond Register online at www.PFLAGOKC.org or call Church of the Open Arms (405) 525 9555 www.ozarksstar.com www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 7 Proudly serving ~Asa & OKC’s GLBT communities since 1982 8 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com 621 E. 4th S~reet Tulsa, OK 74120 OI~NING RECEPTION THURSDAY, iV~RCH 6 6-9PM i%n-Sal 3-gpm through March 29 TULSA, OK__ The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center art gallery will host its monthly First Thursday meet-the-artist reception from 6-9pm, Thursday, March 6, 2008, for the opening of it’s March exhibit "Now and Zen", featuring local artists Shawn Wilson and Merry Schepers. Shawn Wilson has been a professional artist for 25 years. A native Oklahoman, she moved to New York at 18 years old and within a short time was regularly selling her pen and -ink drawings to New Yorker magazine. She studied sculpture at New York’s famed Art Students’ League, and over the years has shown sculpture in galleries in New York, San Francisco and Atlanta. Shawn also paints-oil on canvas-and most notably, ’sumi-~’, 0apanese inkbrush painting). She studied this ancient art form with one of the few bona fide masters here in the U.S., Koho Yamamoto of NYC. Sumi-6 suits Shawn’s artistic abilities to a ’t’, as her work in all mediums concentrates on the essence of the subject rather than the details. ..................Continued page 27 Crooner Comes ByJoey De ~~e’s blonde, he’s beautiful and his new style of classic crooning will be coming to the stage of the Oklahoma City Ford Center Mar. 4. Michael Bubld, the international superstar who has earned himself a place in music history with such hits as "Feelin’ Good," is coming to Oklahoma City as part of his third major US concert tour. All of the shows on the first leg of his 2007-2008 tour sold out in record time. Buble’ brings an irrepressible spirit, engaging humor, and confident charisma to the concert stage, and will perform hits from his current CD "Call me Irresistible and many other classics. Bubl& new CD, which he calls "my remark on the state of love," contains feeling that ,vill surprise and delight fans and impress those new to his music. "Irresponsible" contains more of Bubl& buoyant, modern interpretations and songs by such greats as Leonard Cohen, Eric Clapton and Cy Coleman. Michael won his first Grammy Award this year. The Grammy is for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for "Call Me Irresponsible", which shot to #1, topping the charts around the world. The album included the #1 hit single "Everything", and was the fastest trip to #1 in three years on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. To purchase concert tickets go to www.ticketmaster. corn or visit the Ford Center box office. Visit www. michaelbuble.com for concert schedule. www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 9 By Joey De what can be said about "f~nt" that hasfft (and sometimes infamous) rock-opera that changed Br6adway forever ,,,ill be closing its doors on the great ~q~ite Way in Jtm~ but before it dora, the national tour will be making several stops in th~ Midwest. "Rent" is the story, of a colorful collectiot~ of frien& in Manhattan’s East End around the tiim end of the eighties. Surrounded by" povert.>; the onset of the MDS epi&mic and the rise of corporate commercialism, this group of artists defies the norm and redefines the boundaries oflove. " says Jed Resnick, who plays Mark in promise ofAmerica is a country of tolerance harmony. just doesn’t l~appen in rea! life, there is so much hatred utopian and unreal ~ bom~daries." ’°Rent" are persona!. "This show was the first shame and that Resnick says he connected with privately as a him want was a major 998, the summer when I first characters rand connected. It became a dream m be in the sho~; and people joked with me in High School about it because I’m so close to Mark." According to the performer, taking on the role of the show’s filmmaking n~xrator was not too much of a srxetch. "Mark and Jed are both slightly neurotic, Jewish N ew Yorkers." he laughs. "I latched on to our surface similarities and then was able to discover this~gs I didn’t realize about b~n. Things like his passion for art and fl~e ~ower it has to affect change." Photo: Jed Resnick Cathedral ofHope Donates Scarves to Wilson Schoo OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) __ For the fourth year in a row members of the Cathedral of Hope made scarves for Wilson Elementary School; In 2004 the church "adopted" Wilson for a number of service projects, since Wilson was their neighborhood school and included children from homeless shelters and section eight housing. Annual projects include collecting schoo! supplies, donating tissues during cold season, and sewing scarves every winter. This year members worked over two nights creating over 60 scarves. One couple also donated gloves and hats. On Tuesday, February 5, church members delivered the goodies to the school. According to pastor, the Rev. Dr. Scott Jones, "The assistant principal told us that every year the kids look forward to the day the scarves are handed out and that they wear them every day a~er that." Nancy Sanders, who has helped with the project every year said, "It’s always a lot of fun for the kids and fun for us too." the STAR Deep b~4de HolI)~ood, reports on n~projectsfor Madonna and Ian Zierine~ Madonna khad to happen. Madonna mous disdain fbr her acting the camera. The finished product is recently premiered at the Berli~ mttsement. It stars the band Gogol Bordello) in a loose, in common with Madonna’s with her later it a refreshing new path uphill cred mountain to climb, but almost a lock that distribution reinvention will be as an aut~ur. a!most unani- Ian Ziering Move~ from Stretch marks, bloated ankles, ous. At least, that’s xvhat the makers given the success of other new comedy stars as a mar STAR Love on tb~e Nile (The Constant Gardener) looks like eyeliner - a good to be starring in a romance set jandro ~Am~ena bar (The will direct the film, about a slave (Oscar in love with his mistress at the dawn of the Christian era, Paradise Now) co-stars as a zea!- her statuette for The Constant variety of roles in movies like ~nd Definitel> Maybe, and this a~s-yet- Starts shooting this month - promises to eclectic. )..ueer Cinema" in the early ofa small miracle when a gay indie movie rea! theaters outside Trevor is one of those movies. Goodman, of unknowns, about queer the suddenly deep waters of adult life, appreciation that the recent "new naturalist" films of upstart directors like Andrew getting from critics and when the fihn gets released in May. © www.ozarksstar.com Ragged Blade Cor cer Oklahoma City February 29 h Photo by Mike W/site: Ashley Saphian, Isaac Cherry, Jerry Rabushka, ZachJett ST LOUIS, MO (P/R) __ They are faster! louder! more blues! and more country! Ragged Blade has made four theatrical excursions to the IAO in Oklahoma City and now they’re on tap for a concert of Music worth waiting for. An evening of original pop, country, blues, and ballads by songwriter & playwright Jerry Rabushka. You’ll hear songs from some of the plays that have come to the IAO last year, and some newly hatched music with Rabushka’s trademark deep emotion and beautiful harmonies. Hang out with us for co01 country songs. No Luck At Home, the bluesy and sexually charged, Wrong Side OfTown, and Jerry’s lonely ballad Diner 4 AM. The band: Zach Jett (vocals) has toured with Ragged Blade for over a year and has been to the IAO for Woofl. The Road Show and Love of Last Resort. Ashley Saphian (vocals) has performed in several RB plays and concerts. Isaac Cherry (drums) has toured nationally as a solo drummer and with such bands as Animal 13 on the east coast and the Malibu Minstrels on the west. Jerry Rabushka (keyboard and vocals) has written & produced several musicals, was nominated for a national award for outstanding Instrumental Recording by New York based Outmusic in 2003, and received an award from the St. Louis Arts For Life Foundations for his original score to the musical, The Soviet Tango. IAO Gallery, 811 N. Broadway Oklahoma City 405-232-6060 8:00 EM. $5.00 cover At that price you can bring LOTS of friends!! For more info please visit www.raggedblade.com or www.iaogallery. org March 2008 the STAR 13 by Liz Highleyman~~ Past Out, which looks at the life 0fFTM pioneer L0u Sullivan. Who was Lou Sullivan ? ouis Graydon Sullivan was a pioneer of the transgender movement - not just as an organizer, but as perhaps the first female-to-male (FTM) transsexual to identify publicly as a gay man. Born in June 1951 and named Sheila Jean, Sullivan grew up in a working-class family in a suburb of Milwaukee, \Vgis. He was educated at Catholic schools and took a secretarial job at the University ofWisconsin after graduating from high school. Though Sullivan later recalled that he had enjoyed "playing boys" as a child, his issues around gender and sexuality came to the fore when he was a teenager. "I look in the mirror and say to myself, ’That’s you, Sheila. That girl over there is you.’ It seems so funny," he wrote in his diary at age 14. Before long he started wearing men’s-style white shirts and ties, eventually adding men’s slacks, shoes, and hairstyle. By the early 1970s, Sullivan self-identified as a "heterosexual female transvestite who was sexually attracted to gay men," and had embarked on a long-term relationship with an effeminate man. Sullivan was active in the nascent gay liberation movement, which embraced gender-bending and favored the androgynous aesthetic of the broader counterculture. He was involved with Milwaukee’s first gay rights group, the Gay People’s Union (GPU), and helped produce its newsletter. Jumping into the controversy over drag within the women’s movement, he wrote "A Transvestite Answers a Feminist" 14 the STAR for GPU News in 1973, followed a year later by "Looking Towards Transvestite Liberation," which was widely reprinted in other gay and lesbian publications. Over the next few years, Sullivan’s gender identity shifted from transvestite to transsexual. In 1975, he and his boyfriend moved to San Francisco; as a parting gift, his supportive family gave him a good suit and an heirloom pocket watch engraved "Go West Young Man." But even amid the city’s queer milieu, Sullivan had difficulty finding others like himselfi "I want to look like what I am," he once wrote, "but don’t know what someone like me looks like." Though still presenting as a woman in his job as a secretary for the Wilson Sporting Goods company, most of the rest of the time Sullivan fully cross-dressed and lived as a gay man, hanging out in gay bars and enjoying an adventurous sex life. Sullivan sought sex-reassignment surgery in the late 1970s, but was repeatedly denied because he openly identified as ~y at a time when people undergoing the procedure were expected to adopt stereotypical heterosexual opposite-sex gender roles. "They were invested in taking sissy gay boys and transforming them into straight women, and taking tomboy women who were socially unacceptable and changing them into straight men," according to fellow FTM Shadow Morton. Sullivan recalled that one gender clinic told him he could not possibly live as a gay man, since gay men were primarily interested in large penises. Sullivan’s frustration led him to campaign for the removal of homosexuality as a contraindication for sex reassignment - an effort that finally succeeded in the late 1980s. At a time when most gender services focused on male-to-female transsexuals, he volunteered as the first FTM peer counselor with San Francisco’s Janus Information Facility (a clearinghouse for information about transsexuality) and wrote the earliest informational booldet for transmen, _Information for the Female to Male Cross-Dresser and Transsexual_ (1980). He later authored a biography of early 20th-century "passing woman" Jack Bee Garland. Sullivan was a co-founder of the Gay and Lesbian Historical Society of Northern California (now the GLBT Historical Society), helping to ensure that it was inclusive of transgender lives. In 1979, after several refusals from established university-based gender dinics, Sullivan found sympathetic therapists and doctors and began taking testosterone. He had a double mastectomy and started a new technician job where co-workers had never known him as a woman. He finally underwent genital surgery in 1986, but experienced complications and never fully recovered; that same year, he was diagnosed as HIV positive. "I took a certain pleasure," he wrote, "in informing the gender clinic that even though their program told me I could not live as a gay man, it looks like I’m going to die like one." Sullivan devoted his final years to building the network ofFTM contacts he had acquired over a decade into an organization, and eventually a visible movement. In 1986, he began holding peer-support get-togethers for people on the male transgender spectrum, which evolved into the present-day FTM International - today the largest and longest-running organization of its kind. Yet he continued to take the time to answer the many letters he received from transmen around the world, hoping to dispel the sense of isolation he had felt. Sullivan died of an AIDS-related illness in March 1991, after malting plans to ensure that the organization he created would continue. "Lou Sullivan left behind a mailing list of about 230 names, a roll of stamps, the model of inclusion in his support group, and the ethic of service to a community he hoped would someday exist," said de facto successor Jamison Green. "Now it almost does. In life and since his death, he has been an inspiration for many transmen, both gay and straight." w~,wv.ozarksstar.corn 1) Langmeil Three Gardens Barossa Valley ’05- Shiraz, Grenache and Mourv~dre. Smooth and round, with raspberry & plum most prominent/lean finish. 2) Yellow Tail Reserve Shiraz ’06- Ripe and aromatic. The past 2 vintages have scored some high points with national wine critics/ worth checking out. 3) Yalumba Y Series Shiraz-Viognier 2006- Spicy, but the mix of Viognier makes a presence of lychee and peach. 4) Molly Dooker The Boxer 2006 - Ripe and smoky. A mouthful of raspberry with white pepper. A state allocated wine/very hard to find bottle here in town so if ya see it, get it! 5) Marquis Phillips Sarah’s Blend 2005- Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot. Check out the Roogle on the label. It’s cross between an Eagle and a Kangaroo and signifies the friendship between the US and Australia. Great taste/recommended. 6) Lindemans Padthaway Reserve 2005- Generous cherry and raspberry flavors. From the Hunter Valley about and hour and a half from Sydney. Also gets rave reviews. And as always, I say go to your favorite wine shop, ask questions and purchase a bottle or two. Share some food & wine with friends and check this out for yourself. Mr. D also hosts wine & food events known in town as the Wine Enthusiasts of Tulsa. References include: the ABC’s of wine by James Laube/www.WineSpectator.com www.FoodandWine.com www.Wikipedia.org By Joey De Photo: David Barlo,~ a,~d A,,~a,~da Ba/on CopyrightJoa*¢ Marcus 2007 TULSA, OK __ One of America’s most beloved musicals, "Annie" is celebrating its 30th anniversary tour, and giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic about never giving up hope. The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie is coming to the Tulsa PAC March 4-9. With music by Charles Strouse and book by Thomas Meeban, ’%nhie" is again directed by lyricist Martin Charnin, who directed the original 1977 Broadxvay production. After xvinning seven Tony Axvards in 1977, including Best blusica!, Book and Score the shoxv ran for 2,377 performances and is one of the top 20 longest running shows in Broadxvay history. With one of Broadxvay’s most memorable scores, including t~ the Hard-Knock Life" and ’"~tomorrow,""~"(~nnie,"is the feel-good shoxv to bring a smile to any, face. Tickets may be purchased at 596-7111, via the internet at wwxv. MyTicketOffice.com or by visiting the PAC box oft{ce. Get the STAR delivered to your home or office. 12 issues only $33.95. Send Check or Money Order to: The STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 the ~TA~ Seepage 29for o,’der blank. An Italian-Creole restaurant in New Orleans. Bayou Crawfish Etouffee 1/4 pound butter 4 cups chopped onions 2 cups chopped green peppers 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh chopped garlic 4 cups sliced mushrooms 1 1/2 teaspoons flour Salt and pepper to taste 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper 4 dashes Tabasco sauce 1 tablespoon garlic powder 2 cups whipping cream 1 cup half-and-half 1 3/4 cups tomato sauce Melt butter in large heavy-duty pot. Add onions, peppers, garlic and all seasonings. Saute, stirring occasionally until onions are translucent (15 minutes). Add mushrooms and saute for 5 minutes. Add flour and mix thoroughly for 1 minute, stirring often. Add whipping cream and half-and-half. Cook until cream thickens but does not boil, stirring often. Add tomato sauce and cook for 15 minutes. Add desired meat, seafood or crawfish. Stirring often, cook until meat or vegetables are done. The longer you let the sauce cook, the more flavorful it becomes. More on PASCAL’S MANALE Restaurant see page 22 www.ozarksstar.com cONOUES T Join our gay and Imbian group aboard Carnival Cow,quest© ~ we set sail from Galvesm~ and call o~ the beaurifhi ports in Monrego Ba); Grand Cayman and Cx~zumel. There is no better way to celebrate Halloween than aboard a funship with Gayribbean Cruises, We offer: Our fr~ntasdc Halloweml Costume Part),, Nighdy Mixers and SO MUCH MORE ! Book early and save. Ask how m receive $75 shipboard cre<~t! For information & Reservations www.GaydbbeanCruisesocom by Donald Pile and Ray Williams "Countess Alexis with Ray Williams" Lypsinka Frank Marino One of the manygreat things about travel.in~ is,.besid.es me.eting interestin,~,people and visiting beautiful places, sometimes you also get to see FABULOUS ENTERTAINERS. The past few- )mars We were fortunate to be able to see these entertainers in action. They ernb0dy all that is good in a true entertainer. ...... fun, funny; sometimes elegant and they all put on a great show. THE COUNT.S, B&EXIS DEL LAGO of Paris, New York and HollDvood. one of the most remarkable, amazing and elegant pers0nalilties that we have,ever met in our travels. She was the most elegant drag queen ofthe 80 s New York City, she then moved to \Vest Hollywooa and 6pened a wonderful antiques b(~utique shop. She WAS Marlene Dietrich, afI day and every day[ Sh£ is the cla~;iest add best &essed of them all. She *~,-~as (~nd stil! is) a r~al star when everyone else was just pretending. She performed on stage, movies and tete~2ision. She was a bi~ hit at the famous Pyramid Club in New York and with the Andy Wathol group. Her latest moade, SUPERSTAR IN A HOUSEDRESS, only proves how classy,she still iS. And always hers,d£ She believed in herself as most people don t. MOst people either dont have the, courage to be themselve~s,o,~ are s,o unsure about wh~ they are that they cant. As the Countess stares, It wasrft that I was so fabulous, it is just that the others were so stupid. \Ve have never seen her when she &dnt look hke a milhon dollars. She ALWAYS makes a grain entrance where ever she goes. And why not? She ~s N~e Countess : Check out http:lt~wv.youtube.com/watch?v=lG2DATQ_dlA to see a fabulous sm,en minute fihn clip. LYPSINKA, whose real name is John Epperson lives in New York City. We caught his act at theAI~ Theatre in San Francisco. His production is entitled "LYPSINKM THE BOX.ED SET" He is one of the most intelligent performers around. He does Gisele MacKenzie, Frances Faye, Conme Franos, Llbby Morns, Dorothy Sqmres and the 50 s musical ,con Delores Gray. He performs all over the United States and gets standing ovations where,)er he performs. It is remarkable the staging and entertaini~ag this entertainer does. You will be dazed by his performance. Unlike marli, performers he stretches the boundaries. ~e H~llDvood Reporter says L smka ~s hke nothing you ve seen before. Theamcat art,stry that ne er seems to slow down" The New York~mes says "I.ypsinka is a fascinating, ftmny and disturbing spectacle." From the opening scene ro the finale this performer never lets down the audience. He is absolute dynamite. Audiences go back year after year to see him perform. And on top of everything else l~}m just happens to be a very nice person. For a listing of his performances and other information about him go to ww~:lypsinka.corn. FRANK MARINO, who performs at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas , is another performer who puts on a great show. He does his "_Joan River’s’ routine and has been wowing audiences for years and years in I.as Vegas. The straights in the audience really get into his show and why not? He and his cast and crmv put on a class act show. He emcees the’show and introduces the different performers who do Chef. Shirley MacLaine, Tina, and many others. Tlaeir show is sold out almost every night. It is basically a musicallcomedy revie~v with gorgeous gowns, feathers, glitter, etc. Frank changes cosrurnes between every set which gives a grear dimension to the show. When going to Las Vegas next time, be sure and catch the show. His web site is ~x~;frankmarino.com .............................Continued next page 18 the STAR v~w.ozarksstar.com Creating Community for People ~ivin9 with H~V/AIDS .A 50~. c (3) Non P~ofit O~ganization Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HIM+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistanoe to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail harrismmjr@yahoo.oom. Neighborhood s recently as the mid-1990s, relatively few visitors spent time in Chelsea, the neighborhood on Manhattan’s west side between Midtown and Greenwich Village. Today, however, Chelsea abounds with gay bars, coo! restaurants, diverting shops, avant-garde galleries, and an increasing number of hotels. It’s become arguably the city’s hottest destination for gay visitors, and a wonderful neighborhood to spend a weekend or short vacation. This part of the city was developed in the 1830s by clergyman Clement Clark Moore, author of"A Visit from St. Nicholas" ("~B~vas the night before Christmas..."), whose family owned most of the area. Well into the mid-20th century, Chelsea was a drab, lower-income neighborhood where workers at nearby garment factories and river docks lived in cheap boardinghouses and rickety, airless tenements. But as gays began moving here in the ’70s and ’80s, gentrification gradually took hold. And in recent years, the neighborhood has developed cachet among both residents and visitors as one of the trendiest areas in the city as well as one of the nation’s most dynamic gay communities. Chelsea comprises roughly the blocks between 5th Avenue and the Hudson River, with 14th Street forming the neighborhood’s southern boundary. Most locals consider 23rd Street to be its northern edge, but others argue the border extends as far north as 28th or even 32nd Street. For all practical purposes - particularly in terms of retail, dining, and clubbing - you’ll find the most intriguing businesses between 14th and 23rd streets. And where gay-popular establishments are concerned, the main drag is 8th Avenue, with 7th Avenue a close runner-up. Additionally, 9th and 10th avenues have witnessed the tide of gentrification in recent years, particularly as top galleries have moved into the western reaches of Chelsea. 20 the STAR )ff~rs little in the way of attractions, unless, of course, you count shopping as a form of sightseeing. If you wander along West 20th through West 27th streets in the block west of 10th Avenue, you’ll find storefront after storefront of cutting-edge art galleries - check out www.chelseaartga~leries.com for details on upcoming shows. Fans of dance should note two important neighborhood institutions: the art deco Joyce Theater, which hosts high-quality dance companies throughout the year, and the dramatic Dance Theater Workshop, around the corner, which also presents acclaimed concerts throughout the year. The neighborhood draws plenty of foodies to its Chelsea Market, a bustling concourse of gourmet food stalls in which you’ll find tantalizing Thai food, savory soups, fine wines, heavenly baked goods, and lots more. In fact, restaurants have become one of the neighborhood’s leading draws. There are the obvious bastions of gay social life, such as Viceroy and Food Bar for rather standard American chow, and campy VYNL, which is known for its eclectic Asian and international dishes, plus outstanding martinis. Gym buffs on high-protein diets favor Better Burger, with its menu of lean, char-grilled burgers and fresh-squeezed juices. Other hot spots include the funky Thai restaurant Room Service, known for such ldcky creations as Thai-spicy tuna salad and chile-rubbed salmon; and Suenos, which serves some of the most innovative regional Mexican fare in the city - be sure to try the duck-confit quesadillas with poached pears and ancho chileso For weekend brunch, don’t miss East of Eighth, which turns out first-rate contemporary American food and offers lively cabaret in the evenings. Few spots are more popular at lunchtime than Dish, a glorified diner of sorts, which is also known for its relaxing Saturday and Sunday brunch. Snackers and noshers will find plenty of toothsome options, including F&B Gudtfood for gourmet hot dogs and European-style street food, Murray’s for some of the city’s finest bagels, and Pinkberry, for the mysterious yogurt-esque frozen-dessert snacks that have taken the city by storm. On the west side of the neighborhood, you can count on the Red Cat for a terrific meal of creative American fare, such as a fantastic paprika-roasted cod with spicy escarole and an anchovy-almond sauce. At cozy Tia Pol, choose from a long list of outstanding Spanish tapas, while the much-hyped Craftsteak is your go-to for superb cuts of beef- it’s part ofTom Colicchio’s (ofTV’s Top Chef) growing restaurant empire. Chelsea has become the epicenter of gay nightlife in New York City (although it’s fair to say that the Hells Kitchen and East Village neighborhoods provide plenty of competition). There are the trendy spots, such as G Lounge, a sea of coiffed and smartly dressed men hobnobbing around a central bar or relaxing in mod lounge chairs; and the long-running Splash, a two-floor temple of chic gay clubbing known for its go-go dancers and throbbing music. Quirky Barracuda cultivates a mixed arty and cruisy bunch, while the bilevel Eagle caters to the usual set of bears, leather men, and ardent porn enthusiasts (old-fashioned blue movies play on the video screens). www.ozarksstar.com Rawhide is an old-school neighborhood bar with an age-diverse following, and the friendly Gym Sportbar has become the darling of the post-workout crowd. Locals hangouts like View Bar and XES can seem empty or bustling depending on the night, and a couple of pulsing warehouse discos, Rush and Stereo, round out the scene. Chelsea has relatively few hotel rooms compared with other key Manhattan neighborhoods, but it’s a 10- to 20-minute walk (or a short cab or subway ride) from the scads of hotels in Midtown. What you will find in Chelsea, however, are several properties with reasonable rates, most catering heavily to the gay market. A favorite of history buffs is the raffish Hotel Chelsea, the city’s tallest building when it was built in the 1880s. This bohemian hostelry has been the home of all sorts of fascinating characters, from William Burroughs to Jasper Johns to Allen Ginsberg: Just up the street, the modern and rather basic Chelsea Savoy Hotel has a terrific location at the corner ofWest 23rd Street and 7th Avenue, and rooms here can run as low as $99 nightly. Among the big chains, there’s a Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan Chelsea on West 25th Street, and the Hampton Inn Chelsea on West 24th Street. Both of these are clean, well-managed, and affordable. This hip neighborhood is rapidly developing, though, and within a few years you’ll find a number of additional hotels to choose from. For instance, the trendy hotel brand Indigo is planning a 122-room property for 127 West 28th Street, to open in early 2009. And, just a short walk east of Chelsea in a similarly vibrant area, you might consider the uber-coolWNew York Union Square, a swank stunner that occupies the 1911 beaux-arts Guardian Life building and contains Todd English’s bustling Olives restaurant and Rande Gerber’s see-and-be-seen Underbar. Or check into Ian Schrager’s luxuriously re-imagined Gramercy Park Hotel, a glam boutique hotel overlooking the elegant park of the same name. Among smaller, gay-oriented properties, a reliable pick is the Chelsea Pines Inn, which occupies a charming 1850s town house in the heart of the neighborhood. Rooms with semiprivate bath (sink and shower are in your room, but the toilet is shared with several other rooms on same floor) start at $140, while rooms with private baths begin at $175. An even better value, with rates beginning around $130 for shared-bath units, the Chelsea Lodge is set along handsome West 22nd Street and contains 22 cozy, clean, and pleasantly furnished rooms. When you consider that generic, bland chain properties in Midtown can charge well over $400 per night, these two intimate and friendly Chelsea hideaways are a real bargain. And you can use the money you save to dine well in the neighborhood’s dozens of inviting eateries. 1-800-535-AIDS (2437) Okllahoma’s H V/STD Hot ine PROTECT YO F PROTECT YOUR PA ° F,¢ee. me~HIV testify, t~ 20 H.O.P;~. Tes~:~ng C~inic ~ens Oetreach Pr~ram www.ozarksstar.com the STAR :)1 ~ 6, 2008 ItMian’Creole restaurant in New Orleans Fotmded in 1913, this family-run, ItaJian,Creole restaurant is 8) i New Orle~s at baxbecued shrimp. N~is . from the se~,ice to the decor. oyster bar ~nd on ~e hflf shel! and fll ~es of cocktails. We offer Sp~cialfies and delicio~ stea~, ~ i in traddtion; ir ~ s and ~hes it out daily in ~e ~tO lmltate~ !tiNe;Andwhenyou! We&esday thru Friday : thru Saturda); 5 PM to closing ~d cloSed 0h March 2008 WHITE PARTY SPRING BREAK 2008 PRESENTS THREE DAYS AND FOUR NIGHTS OF THE BEST PARTIES ON THE PLANET !’~"~ Men from all over the world converge on Palm Springs : April 17.21, 2008. Surprise performances happening aft weekend long! PALM SPRINGS, CA (PR) This is the event that attracts men from all over the world to the desert oasis of Palm Springs, CA ! Jeffrey Sanker’s White Party Spring Break happens at new date in 2008--April 17-21, with an action-packed weekend of non-stop parties, superstar performances and the hottest men from all over the globe. Totally new for 2008: the sexy Boxers and Briefs Underwear Party, happening Friday, will let it all hang out. Saturday’s main event: White Party - Boogie Fever celebrates 30 years of dance music. Not to mention Sunday’s Extreme T Dance, an over-the-top dance event taking the action farther than it’s ever been before. Weekend passes are on sale now at www.CircuitTicket.com. Express Weekend Passes ($350 until Feb. 15) include: Absolute priority access to all weekend events; Access to VIP lounge at the Saturday White Party and Sunday T Dance; Official White Party Spring Break Gift Bag and Unlimited complimentary bottled water at White Party and T Dance. Weekend Passes ($250 until Feb. 15) include: Express Entrance to White Party, T Dance & Closing Party; complementary admission to Thursday Welcome Party, plus a $25 add-on for admission to Boxers and Briefs Underwear Party. For additional information or to purchase passes in advance online, visit: www.jeffreysanker.com or vcww.circuiticket.com. For more information, call (310) 360-6100. The host hotel for White Party 2008 is the fabulous Wyndham Palm Springs, the center of all the poolside action, home to nighttime events and location of the official welcome center. For reservations, call: (760) 322-6000. Mention WP when making reservations to receive a special rate. Back by popular demand: The ultimate VIP treatment lets you experience White Party in the lap of luxury with a range of personalized services right at your fingertips. Again in 2008, White Party Spring Break offers a limited number of luxurious VIP packages to make your weekend truly unforgettable. Packages include a range of options such as premium accommodations, lavish amenities including a personal concierge, private cabanas, security escorts and special upgrades. All packages feature exclusive VIP bottle service at Saturday night’s White Party and the SundayT Dance. Visit: www. jeffreysanker.com for more details. The STAR 23 and the By Ronald Blake esterday was my thirty-ninth birthday. I chose to wake with the roosters and run a five kilometer race to begin my fete of this event. I ruminated on my choice of a celebratory method be.fore, during, and after this competition. I discovered many reasons ~vhy I dragged my partner and our little canine companion along with me to this athletic spectacle. There is not much traffic on an early Saturday morning when you are headed to a physical challenge. I was able to really notice the mountains when I wasn’t beset by droves of angry, chafed, rush-hour motorists. I realized that the mountains were even more majestic with their verdant hue given the recent rains here in the desert. The rising sun added its paintbrush to this mountain landscape with its spangling of yellows and oranges. A good reason to get up and run. We drove past the Phoenix International Raceway on our journey to the starting line. I have lived in the Valley of the Sun for over three years and had never seen this imposing NASCAR edifice. It was quietly assuming its regnant place alongside its panoply of mountains. We also had never been to the location of this gala running affair. It too was nestled next to the mountains and was a magnificent oasis in the ribald desert landscape. I felt a contemporary thrill of a Louis and Clark moment as I gazed upon virgin ground. A good reason to get up and run. There were other people at the race site when I arrived. These people also had running shoes and were stretching. These people also brought friends, family members, and their little dogs too. These people also ran the course, sweated, and finished completely exhausted. I wasn’t the only one early to bed and early to rise. We shared camaraderie and a commonality that morning. A good reason to get up and run. I received a T-shirt, bananas, a medal, an olio of donated sundries, and some friendly discourse through out my experience. It did cost me twentyfive dollars to participate but I am not offering any regrets. I could just as easily have spent that money on a well-earned hangover but I already have plenty of those notched in my craw! of fame. I am pleased with my assortment of newly acquired memorabilia. A good reason to get up and run. There was live music after the race. It was provided by your quintessential three men and a lady cover band. The backdrop was a cupola adorned, ornate clubhouse and a lake begirded with palm trees. I would have settled for anything at that time. I had just felt the intrinsic satisfaction of completing an arduous task and the extrinsic reward of a salvo of cheers for my fait accompli. A very good reason to get up and run. I am thirty-nine today and I wil! be forty next year. I have no control over the passage of time. I will continue to enjoy my flight through the ages and I will continue to augment my reasoning for getting up and running...until the flight ends. ~sis health andfitness column is brought to you by that gvgy who noticed that sex act is followed by sexagenarian in the dictionary. ~at connect the dots guy is Ron Blake and he can be vivified at www.goblakefimess. co~n, www.ozarksstar.com ART SHOW: Between sumi-d, drawings, oil paintings and sculpture, Shawn’s work has been shown and sold in dozens of one-woman and group showings and through commissioned work. Merry Schepers is also a native Otdahoman whose works in porcelain, clay and multimedia embrace a broad stylistic spectrum from flying porcelain vessels to shamanic, archetypal masks to functional stoneware. She earned her BA from Montclair State University (N.J.) and has worked in clay for over thirteen years. As a member of the Alternative Outsider artists, she participates in that group’s annual show. She also shows in galleries in Tulsa, Ok. and Fayetteville, AR. and participates in Tulsa’s Blue Dome Arts Festival. The exhibit will remain up through the month of March, and can be viewed Monday thru Saturday from 3-9pm. Nae Dennis R. Neill Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th St., in downtown Tulsa. More info can be found on the web at okeq.org. 7his monthly event is hosted by Oklahoman’sfor Equality (OkEq). OkEq seeks equal rightsfor Lesbian, Ga); Bisexual & Tram’gender (LGBT) individuals andfamilies through advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation ofthe Dennis R. Neill Equali~y Center. Oklahoma City mayor challenges citizens to loose 1 million pounds OKLAHOMA CITY - With a button-popping spread of cornbread, sausage and gravy, chicken fried steak and pecan pie designated as Oklahoma’s official state meal, it’s no surprise that Oklahoma City’s mayor wants to put the city on a diet. Mick Cornett has challenged the city to shed 1 million pounds as its New Year’s resolution. A1 McAffrey To Speak At OK County Democrats Medallion Dinner OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __M is the Representative for House District 88 and will be the Master of Ceremonies for our Medallion Dinner. The Oklahoma County Democrats Medallion Dinner, with Jim Roth and Al McAffrey, will be taking place on March 8, 2008 at the Regal Room (Ned’s Catering), 625 NW Grand Blvd, OKC, 73118. Visit the website for updated information, sponsor & ticket prices, and easy online ticket purchasing. www.okcountydemocrats.org Oklahoma Governor say’s NO to National Real ID (PR) The federal effort to create a national identity card, called the Real ID card, would take us one step closer to a surveillance society, erode our right to privacy and put our personal information at risk. Luckily, governors in five states, including Oklahoma, courageously rejected this invasive law. Now we need these governors to stand their ground so that Congress will be forced to repeal this horrifying program! Real ID would force all states to connect their DMV databases to one single interlinked system -- facilitating government tracking of ordinary Americans. It would also expose our most sensitive personal information to criminal identity theft. Thanks to your Governor, this invasive law -- and the dramatic tax increases required to pay its massive price tag -- was courageously rejected in Oklahoma. Help make sure that no American is forced to use the costly "Big Brother" Real ID card. The national Real ID card will take away our privacy and treat all Americans like enemies of the state! "The nature of the questions LGBT human rights defenders were asked, repeatedly trying to link homosexuality and pedophilia, simply shows how far our stubborn opposition is ready to go to put obstacles before LGBT groups on their way to recognition as members of civil society," the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) said in a statement. Just two of many reasons the right wing hates McCain. 1. Same-sex marriage. McCain refuses to support a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. 2. Stem-cell research. McCain would relax restrictions on federal dollars for embryonic stem cell research, which critics consider tantamount to abortion. BERLIN (AP) __ A new Berlin memorial to the Nazis’ gay victims should be ready within months, officials said Thursday. The $890,000 memorial to gay victims will be located in Berlin’s Tiergarten Park, across from the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Culture Minister Bernd Neumann said. Homosexuality was banned under the Nazis. Tens of thousands of people, primarily men, were arrested, and many were sent to concentration camps. BEIJING (AFP) Chinas Ministry of Health is set to implement its first ever national programme to curb the spread of HIV/ AIDS among gay men. "The programme aims to strengthen measures to prevent and control the deadly disease among the homosexual community," the China Daily quoted Wang \greizhen, a senior official with the ministry’s HIWAIDS prevention department, as saying. "By learning more about gay people, we can better protect them against this incurable disease. Studies are under way in several cities to collect information on gay men, such as their.., behavioural patterns." The programme will also deliver special funding and technical support to gay men, Wang said, without giving further details. There are over 700 thousand gay men with HIV/AIDS in China. www.ozarksstar.corn the STAR 27 "Be cor~servative with money, Gemini!" As Mars enters Cancer, productive efforts are easily clouded by moods and misunderstandings. While he opposes Pluto, frustrations can gain exaggerated importance. You may feel like you need an oar to propel your craft forward, but what you may really need is a shovel to dig to the root of existing challenges. ARIES (March 20 -Apri~ 19): Yours is the sign of the lone wolf, but you are now aiming for the role of head of the household. The responsibilities and obligations really don’t suit you. Try for the position of "elder statesperson" or dowager instead. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Little domestic arguments can explode way too easily. Are you just being stubborn? How important are those details, anyway? Your arguments may be more aesthetic than logical, but they should still be explainable in a calm, friendly manner. GEMINI (May 21 - Jun~ 20): Be very careful and conservative with your money. Household and proper~ investments or any renegotiation of debt should be checked out very thoroughly. Sexual urges may take an emotional cost, challenging you to think more about your deeper needs. CANCER (June 21 -July 22): Acting on impulse can transform your relationship, and probably not for the better. Channel that energy into thinking ahead and talking about what you want, what your partner wants, and how you can deepen your connection. LEO (July 23 - August 22): Worrying about your health or work only makes problems - real or imagined - worse. Take positive steps, and check out anything that bears watching. Remember the difference between focus and obsession, and stick to the task at hand. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Your political aims are coming from somewhere deep in your gut, which is fine. But sensible strategy should come from your brilliant-butnow- vacationing brain. Artistic, creative expressions will give you the outlet you need. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Courtesy is usually your strongest conviction. Now other deep beliefs provoke you to speak up against authority. Think carefully about mouthing off to the police or your boss. If you want to raise hell, find a public demonstration that suits your politics. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Your urge for arguments seems to be coming out of nowhere. Try to focus that energy toward digging into topics that interest you. Take up a good challenge to keep your mind busy and your mouth out of trouble! SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): Your sexual appetite is surging, but so is your deeper desire for commitment. One is so much more easily satisfied than the other that you might find any effort frustrating. Try seeing the glass as half full. CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Is your partner being too aggressive, or are you just being stubborn? You can do something about the latter. Fights come easily, but so does passion. You really need a struggle. Be nice, and you could get a good one! AQUARIUS (January 20 - February t8): Wanting too much can be a great spur to action, but acting impulsively on excessive desire is a sure path to accidents and illness. Meditate, think ahead, and confide in a friend with a cooler head before acting. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Acting on your playful urges will have far-reaching ramifications. Focus those desires responsibly and creatively. Infuriating people is not a mark of success per se, but be bold enough to risk pissing off the right people for the right reasons. METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve T. UrJe Spirit of Chdst MCC 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Saturdays at 10:00 AM CommUnity Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC of the Living Spring 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a God filled and Blessed Day! 28 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com DO\VNTOWN PLAZA ofTULSA 17 West 7th Street Tulsa, OK 918-585-5898 wvw.downtownplazatulsa.com HABANA INN 2200 NW39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma Cig; OK 405-528-2221 wwv.habanainn.com KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant RENT the Musical Tulsa PAC 918-596-7111 www.myticketoffice.com SUSAN HARTMAN Independent Broker Oklahoma and Arkansas 918-698-2977 susanlhartman@gmail.com ANGLES 2117 NW 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK w~:anglesclub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 w~vw.bambooloungetulsa.com CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 www.clubmajestictulsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklaboma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 www.c21 goldcastle.com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn GAYRIBBEAN CRUISES www.gayribbeancruises.com 877-560-8318 DIVERSITY CHRISTIAN CNTR 211 S. Garnett Tulsa, OK 74128 www.realacceptance.com OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREE~I; Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM MCC of the LIVING SPRING 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pm OPENARMS YOUTH PROJECT 2015 -B S. Lakewood Tulsa, OK 74112 918-838-7104 www. openarmsproject.org want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $33.95 will be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or moneyorder to: ~he STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153 Tulsa, OK 74145 (Single Copies $3.00 per issue) NAME: Address: City:. St: Zip: Phone: Check enclosed Money Order Start Date: www.ozarksstar.com 29 Keller Williams Realty \Vihether buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. (ng~efiansityiq)n - growing up GAY in OK is You can help our teens. Support Open Arms Youth Project. For more Info: WWW. openarmsproject.org 30 the STAR www.ozarksstar,com drugs Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2008] The Star Magazine, March 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 3 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 01, 2008 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Online text Image Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwestern Missouri Western Arkansas Southeastern Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Star Magazine’s first issue began February of 2005. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004) and The Ozark Star (2004). Follows is The Metro Star (2008). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Greg Steele James Nimmo Joey D. Victor Gorin Romeo San Vicente Andrew Collins Donald Pile Ronald Blake Ray Williams Jack Fertig Liz Highleyman Devre Jackson Chaz Ward Victor Gorin Judy G. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Star Magazine, February 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 2 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/245 The Star Magazine, April 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 4 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/244 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/249 Al Gore Bars Blue Door cartoons Cathedral of Hope Deep Inside Hollywood entertainers entertainment fitness Gay marriage health Hillary Clinton HIV/AIDs HOPE horoscope Larry Craig MCC church Michael Buble Mick Cornett Night clubs Our House paparazzi Past Out Quotable Quotes Ragged Blade Real ID card recipes Star Advertisers Star classifieds Star Scene Too travel https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/88073056f2827072b9870be931b101d0.jpg d8fdc9557c15ac479efc121424369e84 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/7c13f359888fb68a2427eb6a06bac2ad.pdf 37679881844b513e2d8f1434a2e90b8b PDF Text Text ESTABLISHED 2003 www.ozarksstar.com MAY 2008 An Exclusive Interview With OGRA’s 4 Term President, Klint Wieden One of the longest running and largest of Gay Rodeo Organizations in the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) system, Oklahoma’s Great Plains Rodeo will kick off it’s 23rd year. A fun filled weekend May 23 through May 25th 2008. The event will be held in Oklahoma City at State Fair Park, 333 Gordon Cooper Blvd. Photo: Klint Wieden with his horse Cherokee. "I grew up in the small northwest Oklahoma town ofArnett. I rode horses and worked cattle my whole life, so that’s really who I am." Klint told the Star. PAGE-12 Newly revamped drag-free Tulsa Pride 2008 unveiled By Joey De OKLAHOMA CITY, OK ~The fun begins with the Great Plains Rodeo Kickoff Party hosted at the Finishline Thursday, May 22 featuring the current reigning OGRA Royalty. This is a great chance to meet and greet, dance and party, and ready yourself for the weekend to come. State Fairgrounds on Saturday May 24 and Sunday May 25, beginning at 8 a.m. both days. To keep the weekend wild the Texas Gay Rodeo Association will host their Texas T Party on that Saturday in the Copa from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. featuring fantastic food and fun. The host hotel for the Rodeo is the Hilton Garden Inn, and there is a block of rooms available at a special rate from May 22-26 that will be available until May 16 or until they sell out, whichever comes first. Registration for the event happens Friday from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Tickets are available from OGRA members for $10 or $15 at the gate. The Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association, Inc. (OGRA) is a nonprofit organization and member of the International Gay Rodeo Association, Inc. (IGRA) which is comprised of 28 state/provincial associations throughout the United States and Canada. OGRA is proud to be the first association seated at the first ever IGRA Convention in 1985 For more information check out the OGRA website at www.ogra.net. The Rodeo takes place at the Oklahoma TULSA, OK __ Organizers of this year’s Tulsa Pride Celebration are promising the public that this year’s events will be anything but boring. "We have made a lot of changes to the entire celebration," says Nate Black, one of the co-chairs. Black says the changes are intended to breathe a new sense of excitement into the pride observance and to help promote the revitalization of downtown. "People don’t kno,v downtown. They don’t know how to get here, they don’t know where to park, they don’t know how many things are down here and growing," Black says. "We have moved the events to ................ Continued Page 5 ��i 7 West 7th Street (corner 7th & ~3oulder Ave) e Tulsa, Ok 74ii9 www.ozarksstar.com �1:800o535oAtDS (2437) PROTECT YOURSELF PROTKOT YOUR PAR www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 3 �Join us for our biggest issue of the year! PRIDE 2008. Be a part of RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW Deadline Thursday l~ay t 5f.h Serving the Oklahoma GLBT community since 2003. �Mr OkAahoma Continentall Benefits OYP Tulsao By Judy G. Charles Frederick Mr Oklahoma Continental 2008 TULSA, OK __ March 28th, Singer and entertainer Chades Frederick, Mr. Oklahoma Continental, began one of the many benefits planned to support Openarms Youth Project in Tulsa to a standing room only crowd. Many parents and grandparents of the entertainers were in attendance. David Dees, owner of Club Majestic, 124 N. Boston, Tulsa, donated the use of the dub for this worthy benefit. ~he event raised $770 for OYE. Entertainers were Sabastyn Croft, Tazia Kennedy, Cort, Brooke Kennedy-Miss OK National Queen, Mindy Bartlett, KC Morgan, Kordylia Kennedy, Alex Kennedy, Iman Scott-Miss Goddess 2007, Daphne Rio and Nicole Poverty-Miss OYE. Donations to benefit the GLBT youth group, many who are or were homeless just because they are gay, can be made to Openarms Youth Project, 2015-B S. Lakewood, Tulsa, Ok. 74112, or contact Tim or Ken at 918838-7104. TULSA PRIDE: give people a reason to check it (downtown) out, but also to come enjoy our new center and see how many resources are available." The first big change this year that Black notes is the separation of the Pride Festival from the Pride Parade. This year, the parade will occur June 7 and the festival will occur June 14. For the latest updates on the Tulsa Pride Celebration, visit their web site at www. tulsapride.org. 2008 LGBT Leadership Summit OKC Following a national trend, the Pride Parade will be held in the evening, escaping the oppressive summer sun. The parade will fol!ow a new route, taking it from the Brady Arts District through downtown to the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. Saturday, May 10, 9am-5pm, Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library, 300 Park Avenue, Oklahoma City When the parade ends at 4th and Kenosha, the new Pride Block Party will kick off: "There will be 2 stages of entertainment, beer tents, vendors and all kinds of activities," says Black, who also notes that national music sensation Eric Himan will be performing. Black also says that for those with children, the second floor of the equality center will be open to provide licensed babysitters for a small fee. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ The Cimarron Alliance Foundation wil! host the 2008 LGBT Leadership Summit a one-day event with four sessions of workshops. This year’s summit features more extensive workshops about our state legislature - by far the most attended session last year - and programs appealing to college students and young adults. There will also be two community forums. A week later, the Diversity Festival will kick off in Centennial Park just west of6th & Peoria. Black says that the newly revamped festival will feature two stages of entertainment with a multi-ethnic array of performers, an international food court, children’s area, local vendors and more. The 2007 LGBT Leadership Summit was successful beyond expectations. LGBT and LGBT-friendly persons and organizations acquired tools and guidance to more effectively manage themselves and, more importantly, better collaborate with others to accomplish common goals. According to Black, including other faith and ethnic communities is not an attempt to "de-gay" Pride, but to help create community allies. "We have to realize our commitment to justice can not be for the gay community only. We have to speak out against racism and against bigotry. "The GLBT community is in every population," "By increasing our alliances we strengthen our own commitment for our people." Workshops The 2008 LGBT Leadership Summit is a one-day event with four sessions of up to five workshops per session. Workshops will address five topics: ’This is still a gay pride event," Black emphasizes. There will be a leather fashion show, there will be drag queens, and there xvill be rainbows. It’s still very gay, but it is also more professional and more inclusive." The final major change that Black says will be occurring is the moving of the www.ozarksstar.com Diversity Gala to the historic Cain’s Ballroom. Black says that not only does this help to create an emphasis on downtown, but it also provides much needed space for the event to grow. Leadership Development O Organization Development - non-profits, fundraising, etc. o Government- politics and the legislative process ® Personal Development - spirituality, equality, etc. o Anti-violence - anti-bullying, hate crimes, etc. For more information go to: wvcw.cimarronalliance.org the STAR 5 �Loving the Hater Wlaile Hating the Hate The writer gives some specific examples of public, peaceful protest that we can engage in to show that LGBTs are neither the doormats nor the monsters our enemies make us By James Nimmo to be. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ I found a link recently to a blog (vavw.bilerico.com) that contains a comment (http://tinyurl. com/4qdbph) written in reaction to reading the main story about the Oklahoma City chapter of PFLAG and their recording of Rep. Sally Kern (http://tinyurl.com/2zbpgn) that catches Kern in her spider web of hubris and cant. It’s odd that our suppressors are either afraid to be in the same room with us, fearing for their own bodily integrity, keeping their knees close together; or they, dismiss us as dippy airheads, frivolous and irresponsible. How can we be both at the same time? Like the author, I too am very disappointed with the approach of "loving the hater while hating the hate." Of course, I respect our supporters who use their close relationship with Jesus to try and gain support for LGBT citizens and other minorities who are used for verbal target practice in the ~var for suppression of civil rights. I’m delighted the Oklahoma City PFLAG chapter was able to document the duplicity of Sally Kern and record with her permission the lies she later reported as irresponsibility on the part of PFLAG. This single incident should show you the arrogance and madness that is being passed offas legislative Republican leadership. Not one elected official in Oklahoma from either major party has come strongly to the defense and support of the LGBT taxpayers living in Oklahoma. Had Kern used race, skin color, or ethnic origin as her subject I bet the rent she would be rene~ving her teaching certificate and looking for a school that would hire her. The First Amendment guarantees both sides the freedom to practice their respective religious viewpoints and the market place in which to talk about them. However, this same First Amendment does NOT give either side permission to encode their religious viewpoints into CIVIL law. I feel this is where we miss the boat in establishing our birthright to equal treatment under judicial law, and not the ten laws of Deuteronomy. There will always be a Bible verse to trump the opposing Bible verse resulting in a version of ping-pong skirmishes with Jesus as the referee. 6 the STAR Their response shows more about the fiction in their minds then about the truth of our lives. Until we get out of the religious justification business the more we’ll be dragged into its historical quagmire. Look at the present wars being fought around the world and you’ll see religious intolerance at the root. Our LGBT equality will have to be established in the legislatures and the courthouses in all fifty states without religious prejudice tipping the scales of justice. �www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 7 �e Comling o~ Age 8 the STAR w-ww.ozarksstar.com �©irecYed bs/Davd Geligan Oklahoma OiV June 8~ 2008 at 8pnq Brot~-~e~ Boy www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 9 �by Liz Highleyman What is the history o£GLAAD ?? For more than two decades, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has served as the queer community’s watchdog against biased portrayals of lesbian, ga); bisexual, and transgender people in the media. Up until the final decades of the 20th century, representations of LGBT people in l{lms, television, popular music, and mainstream publications - if present at all - typically focused on scandal or ridicule. The burst of gay activism and visibility in the late 1960s spurred a conservative backlash, and by the mid-1980s, the community was staggering under the weight of the AIDS epidemic, as people with HIV faced stigma exacerbated by media portrayals depicting them as a danger to the "general population." In 1985, the New York LGBT community was embroiled in a debate about closure of the .city’s gay bathhouses and grew- increasingly alarmed about sensationalistic AIDS coverage in the New York Post. That November, a group of long-time activists including Vito Russo, Arnie Kantrowitz, Jim Owles, and Darrell Yates Rist called a town meeting that drew more than 700 participants. Heeding the exhortation of author Jewetle Gomez to "take responsibility for what is being said about us," they formed the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). The group began as a grassroots effort, using phone trees and monthly newsletters to issue alerts about offensive media portrayals of LGBT people. Among its earliest victories, in 1987 GLAAD persuaded the New York Times to finally use the word "gay" rather than "homosexual." Ti~e following year, the New York group hired its first full-time executive director, Craig Davidson. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Richard Jennings and others started a new chapter focused on the Hollywood entertainment industry. The bicoastal organization’s clout continued to grow, enabling it to secure an apology from comedian Johnny Carson for saying "fag" on the air, followed by the suspension ofAndy Rooney by CBS for homophobic and racist comments. In 1992, Entertainment Weekly named GLAAD one of the 100 most powerful entities in Hollywood. Before long, new GLAAD chapters arose in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. But in 1995, the local groups merged into a centralized national organization with a single board, and a staff based in New York and Los Angeles; two years later, former Showtime executive Joan Garry took the helm. Over the next decade, GLAAD initiated projects focusing on communities of color (including Spanish and Chinese language media), sports media, faith-based groups, and youth. GLAAD continued to exert insider pressure, and, when needed, to organize larger public protests against biased portrayals - like Sharon Stone’s murderous bisexual temptress in the film Basic Instinct (1992) - or the omission of queer content, such as excising 10 the STAR a male-male kiss from the television show Melrose Place. Homophobic song lyrics by rapper Eminem and Jamaican dancehall artists Beenie Man and Buju Banton were other targets. GLAAD also reacted to current events, such as the murders of Matthew Shepard and transgender teen Gwen Araujo, as well as homophobic outbursts by the likes of the late Rev. Jerry Falwell and Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. But in keeping with its mission of promoting "fair, accurate, and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation," GLAAD also sought to shape positive portrayals. It consulted on television and movie scripts featuring LGBT characters and themes, pitched sympathetic stories to mainstream publications, provided spokespersons for talk shows, and trained queer individuals and groups in how to effectively use the media. In addition to wielding the "stick" of protest, the organization also dangled the "carrot" of praise, introducing the GLAAD Media Awards in 1990 to recognize favorable representations of the community and its issues. After considerable pressure from LGBT media, the organization agreed in 2007 to honor them along with nongay outlets. By 2005, when Garry turned over leadership to Neil Giuliano - the openly gay former Republican mayor of Tempe, Ariz. - the organization had a budget approaching $7.5 million and a staff of more than 40. Yet GLAAD’s explosive growth, insider strategy, and increased emphasis on star-studded events did not sit well with some activists who felt the organization had moved too far from its grassroots origins. Further, some were unhappy with tactics they regarded as censorship, such as the successful pressure campaign to cancel conservative commentator Dr. Laura Schlessinger’s television show. GLAAD has "a political agenda that is murky at best - at worst, it is dangerous to free speech, artistic expression, and the interests of LGBT people," wrote activist Michae! Bronski. "Judging the accuracy of a news report is much different than judging art. GLAAD can deal with these issues by getting out of show business and back into watchdog media commentary." Despite the criticism, GLAAD continues with its goal of"changing people’s hearts and minds through what they see in the media." According to the organization, "What people see at the movies or read in the newspaper shapes how they view and treat the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people around them, and we have a responsibility to make sure those images foster awareness, understanding and respect." For further reading: Bronski, Michael. 2005. ~Not So GLAAD Anymore." Z Magazine (May 1). Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. www.glaad.org. Gross, Larry: 2002. Up From Invisibility: Lesbians, Gay Men and the Media in America (Columbia University Press). www.ozarksstar.com �OkEq Announces Anrmat Equality Gala Saturday, May 3t, 6pm, Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N Main Ave TULSA, OK__ (ENEWS) Oklahomans for Equality is excited to announce its annual Equality Gala, held this year at the legendary Cain’s Ballroom. Benefiting OkEq, the Gala honors Lifetime Achievement Axvard xvinner Charles Faudree, Community Heroes George Kaiser Family Foundation and Carol Crawford, and Russ Bennett Spiritual Inclusion Award winner Nancy Day: The program features a champagne and hors d’oeuvre reception, live entertainment by Jared Tyler and Valerie Eskridge accompanied by Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, dinner by Taste Catering and wine donated by Loring Wine Company. Don’t miss the black tie event of the season, celebrating Tulsa’s rich diversity. Sponsorship information and tickets are available at: wxvw.okeq.org Co ° munity for People iving with H P !iA1D 8 A 501 c (3) Non Profit O~:gan:izatlon Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. VVe provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail harrism mj r@yahoo.com. www.0zarksstar.c0m New exhibit featuring artist Ann Marie Distefano at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. equal rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) individuals and families through advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. Emmy Award Winner Leslie Jordan (Brother Boy) In Oklahoma City. TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center art gallery will host its monthly First Thursday meet-the-artist reception from 6-9pm, Thursday, May 1, 2008, for the opening of it’s May exhibit, paintings by Ann Marie Distefano. Ann Marie’s paintings emerge from an aspiration to reclaim the spiritual dignity of art. "I want to make art that might open for the receptive viewer the window onto eternity," states Distefano. She continues, "My paintings are ’plugged into’ an inner source within myself that is very deep and sometimes unknown. What I seek to achieve is independence of artistic and philosophical fashions. My goal as an artist is to reveal an ineffable presence, the contemplation of which can lead the viewer towards an intuitive recognition of his or her own inherent radiance." OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ Leslie Jordan famed "Sordid Lives" star, will bring his one man show, "My Trip Down The Pink Carpet" to OKC June 8th at the Tolbert Theater @ Stage Center. "In 1982, Leslie Jordan jumped offa Greyhound bus from the hills of Tennessee, said ’hello’ to Hollywood and has never looked back. With hundreds of television and film roles to his credit, he is probably best remembered for ’Kyle’ hapless ex-con on Muphey Brown, ’Resplendent Man’ entrepreneurial super hero on Lois and Clark, and can currently be seen recurring as ’Mr. Beverly Leslie’ on the hit series, \Vgill & Grace. Mr. Jordan just finished a stint on the two hit series, Ally McBeal and Boston Public as ’Dr. Benjamin Harris’ cloning expert turned new-age reverend turned science teacher turned drama coach. Mr. Jordan has also had a successful stage career. He played ’Brother Boy’ a Tammy Wynette fixated drag queen, in Del Shores hit play Sordid Lives and went on to star in the film adaptation of that play. He also has won every award for best supporting actor LA gives in theatre (Back Stage West Garlands, LA Weekly, LA Drama Critics Circle) for his portrayal of’Peanut Leroy’ a sodden aging homosexual in the runaway hit, Southern Baptist Sissies. Distefano, a native Bostonian, has been living in Tulsa for the past four years. She is a graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts of Boston. The reception will be generously catered by donation by Baxter’s Interurban Grill. The exhibit will remain up through the month of May, and can be viewed Monday thru Saturday from 3-9pm. The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th St., in downtown Tulsa. More info can be found on the web at okeq. org. This monthly event is hosted by Oklahoman’s for Equality (OkEq)_. OkEq seeks the STAR 11 �By Victor Gorin ooking forward to the upcoming Great Plains Rodeo, O.G.R.A. President Klint Wieden shares his thoughts and hopes not only for this event but for OGRA and the gay cowboys and cowgirls of Oklahoma. Originally from the small Oklahoma community of Arnett, he grew up as a typical Oklahoma cowboy, belonging to both 4-H and the Future Farmers of America. He went on to OSU where he majored in animal science and business, and now resides in OFdahoma City with his current career of copier sales while enjoying being a cowboy on the side. We appreciate him sharing his time with us. Victor: How many years has the Great Plains Regional Rodeo been in Oklahoma City? Klint: This is our 23rd year, and it has been held for the last 15 years at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds. It began with a group of people looking for an avenue where they could have friendly competition, socialize together and work together. It was a place for people who had something in common, a love of rodeo. They were gay cowboys who didn’t really feel that they fit into the gay scene at that time. The I.G.R.A. ( International Gay Rodeo Association) was formed, and O.G.R.A ( Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association) was among the first state organizations. At the same time, the founders felt that they could also help the community by being a major fundraiser for charities of the community. Victor: A tradition that continues to this day. Klint: Besides the competition and fun involved, fundraising is truly what the rodeo all over the country. It was also read by my parents, who I had not been out with, who accepted me for the gay cowboy I was. Victor: Gay just happens, but cowboys are made. So how did it happen that you are a cowboy? Photo: Klint Wieden President OGRA Klint: I grew in the small northwest Oklahoma town of Arnett, 18 people in my graduating class. Arnett is a farming and ranching community, I rode horses and worked cattle my whole life, so that’s really who I am. Like many straight people, I thought you had to be flamboyant and feminine to be gay, and that wasn’t me. Once I learned there were country gay bars with cowboys, and gay rodeos, I thought" wow!" I fit in. That was great to kno~v. is all about. \Ve raise money all year long to put it on, and then take the proceeds from that to give back to local charities. Victor: Is it still a regional rodeo? Klint: It had formerly been the Great Plains Regional Rodeo, representing other states as well. Today it is the Great Plains Rodeo, an event solely of OGRA. There is another organization in Tulsa, the Sooner State Rodeo Association, who also has their own rodeo. Victor: Of course the situation is much better than it was over 25 years ago. There were probably a lot of gay cowboys who felt they couldn’t be themselves and fit into what they perceived the gay community to be at that time. But even today straight people are astounded that there are gay cowboys, much less a rodeo. Klint: A couple a years ago the Daily Oklahoman wrote about our rodeo. \Vhat was to be a small paragraph turned into a front page story, hit the AP wires and was read Victor: Of course the movie Brokeback Mountain had an enormous impact on America as a whole. I’m sure it had a special effect for the gay rodeo scene. Klint: It made people aware, both gay and straight, that there were people in that lifestyle who happened to be gay. So many gay cowboys could really relate to it, felt we had to hide for fear of not being accepted by our families, friends, bosses, or even the gay communir): Victor: So how rewarding has your hard work been with OGRA? Klint: \Veil this is my 4th term as the President of OGRA, I’ve been the rodeo director. I’m very out and very proud of what I’m doing. I have no problem telling businesses, like my dry cleaners, my dentist, my veterinarian that I support them, I’m a gay cowboy, and I’d like their support for our ............ Continued PAGE 23 12 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com �Wockner News Service Foreman eaves Task Force National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman quit his job April 15 and moved to San Francisco to head up the Gay & Lesbian Rights Program at the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. The fund provides more grant support to GLBT organizations than aW other nongay foundation in the U.S. Foreman was at the Task Force for five years and is credited with grmving the staff to 54 full-timers and doubling the organizanon’s budget to $10 million. "I’m incredibly privileged to have had this job for the last five years, and to have been paid to be gay for the last 18," Foreman said in an interview. "There are so many people who give their hearts and souls to our movement without any compensation or for ridiculously low salaries, and that certainly includes LGBT journalists. ’Tm also overwhelmed with pride in our people," he said. "One thing I hear a lot in my travels is: ’There’s no such thing as a gay community. No one’s on the same page. In a few years we’ll all be assimilated, etc., etc.’ I couldn’t disagree more. "Name me one community -- or family, for that matter -- where everyone agrees and everyone gets along. That’s not community, but banality.... No, there’s no monolithic gay community, but there are dozens and dozens of communities within our larger movement and they’re accomplishing amazing things every day. There’s community everywhere I go -- some purely social, others religious, others political, others professional. "While we do have a very, very long way to go, the fact that we’ve made so much progress while being such a tiny minority and against such mighty opponents is, to me, proof positive that we do indeed have a vibrant people and community." www.ozarksstar.com PlanetOut to selll Advocate, Out, Myson, porn mags PlanetOut Inc. is selling The Advocate and Out magazines -- as well as The Out Traveler, HIVPlus, three porn magazines and book publisher Alyson Publications -- to an affiliate of the gay TV network here! for $6 million. The sale price is far !ess than the $31.1 million PlanetOut Inc. paid for the magazines and book compaW when it bought LPI Media Inc. and SpecPub Inc. in 2005. PlanetOut Inc. reported a loss of $51.2 million last year. The company xvill continue to own and operate Gay.com and PlanetOut.com. In January, PlanetOut Inc. "retained Allen & Company, LLC to assist the company in evaluating strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of the company," a press release said. The corporation also announced in January "that it will no longer be providing quarterly or annual earnings guidance and will not hold quarterly earnings calls." The porn magazines included in the sale to Regent Releasing and Unzipped. A fourth SpecPub Inc. porn magazine, known as [2], has ceased publication, but the sale will include the trademark "[2]," PlanetOut Inc. CEO Karen Magee said via e-mail. Obama grants interview to Advocate Under fire for not speaking with local and regional gay cations, presidential candidate Barack Obama sat down for an interviexv with Advocate.corn on April 10. "The gay press may feel like I’m not giving them enough love. But basically, all press feels that xvay at times;’ Obama said. "Obviously, when you’ve got limited amount of time, you’ve got so many oudets. We tend not to do a whole bunch of specialized press .... But I haven’t been silent on gay issues. What’s happened is, I speak oftentimes to gay issues to a public general audience" Obama said he supports passage of a federal law protecting transgender people from discrimination but he’s not sure there’s support in Congress for the move. A bill outlawing job discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals has passed the House of Representatives and is pending in the Senate. "I have been clear about my interest in including gender identity in legislation, but I’ve also been honest ~vith the groups that I’ve met with that it is a heavy lift through Congress," he said. "\Ve’ve got some Democrats who are willing to vote for a non-inclusive bill but we lose them on an inclusive bill, and we just may not be able to generate the votes" Obama said he understands gay people’s frustration with candidates such as himself(and Hillary Clinton) who support, civil-union but not marriage for same-sex couples,’ I strongly respect the right of samesex couples to insist that even if we got complete equality in benefits, it still wouldn’t be equal because the same ~vord, marriage, assigned to it; he said. "I understand that, 3ective is also the broader ,olitical and ’ historical context in which I’m opera ing" MORE PAGE 27 the STAR 13 �Rata Esparza Slays ’Era in 2518 Eventually, all the Broadway stars try their tuck in Hollywood. And it Was just ~ matter of time before Raul Esparza, the han&ome Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award winner (both for _Company_ and TabooL wandered west. Xhe bisexual actor has already fom~.d success on the small screen, cast m a recurring ro!e on A C s h,t Pushing Daisies. BUt n~w he ma.v be s,tepping wlay outside the feel-good box he ~ been in - hes in t~ to play a s~riaI killer in Wes Craven~ latest ~een-horror fihm, 2518. Concerning a group 0fkids being stalked by a killer believed to have died on the birthday they share in common, the film will co’star teenage collies Shareeka epps (Half-Nelson). No production or release dates yet, but the scary stuffis due to shoot soon. 0 pe ) and Cosby Gay Cast Populates C vas Shifting the Canvass. an indie drama due m rackJe the complicated lives of a group of BrooMyn friends aAer 9/11. has cast several ~:aces fan~iliar to queer audiences. notably up-and-coming gay actor Cheyem~e Ja4k~on. t~t seen on film as rugby player M~k Bingha~n in United 93, and cur~endy on Broadway in the hit music~ 3~adu, Jackson will star as a heterosexuN W~ Srree~ executive involved with a group of gay ffien&. Rounding out the c~st is ~& in ~e HNI alum Scott "~,ompson, ~ well as John Paul Pimc (best remembered ~ the hotW go-go boy in N’icD and Gedde Watanabe (last seen reD,lart~ as a gay nurse on ER, but forever kmown as ’Long D~ Dong" from SNteen CanNes). ~le film rolls in June and promises ~meos ~- several ~-yevunn~ed New ~brk ni~tti~e personalties. Goes to Jail Moore kmows how hard it is for an ; a break from the business so lately she~ been a low-risk comeback? Get on indie-film bus. And that’s exacdy what he’s been doing, recently starring in the .’ist drama Flawless with Michael Caine. nd now set to shoot gay writer-director d~tchell Llchtenste~ns (Teeth) latest film. Happy Tears. She’s i~ good compan> ~oo, ~ih~e-fitm veteran P~ker Posey has signed ,n toplay lvloore’s youn get sibling. ~2ne kama focuses on the two estranged sisters me selfLaggrandizing, the other bitter and ~dn~) as they re-establish their relationlip and deal with their elderly father’s progressive dementia. Shooting now in i~hiiadelphia, look for the happiness sometim~ in 2009. who finds herself from a mate taste, 2010. Notably up-and-coming gay actor Cheyenne Jack, on. Photo: By Ben Strothmann 14 the STAR wv~,.ozarksstar.com �Brief history from around the There is a lot to learn about this versatile wine. There are plenty of good Rieslings to taste. Let~ start with Australian offerings. They are noted fbr their oily- texture and citrus fruit flavors in their youth and a smooth balance of freshness and acid as they age. New Zealand Riesling was first planted in the 1970s and has flourished in the relatively cool climate of the Marlborough area. In comparison to Australian Riesting, New Zealand produces lighter and more delicate wines that range from sweet to dry. New York, particularly in ~e Finger Lakes region, was one of the eaMiest U.S, producers of Pdesling. Plantings started to appear in California by 1857 and fbllowed in xNSshington State in 1871. New ~tbrk Riesling generally has a characteristic effervescent light body with a similarly light, mellow flavor, The wine can be dynamic though rarely robust, and ranges from dry to sweet. New York is also a notable producer of Riesling based Ice Wine, although a large majority of New ~%rk ke Wine is made from Vidal Blanc and Vigno~es. In the Pacific Northwest there is a stark contrast in Riesling production. ~Ihe grape is currently on the rise in ~VZ~shington State but on the decline in neighboring Oregon. Pdesling from this area ranges from dr?" to sweet, m~d has a crisp lighmess that bodes well for e~sy drin~ng. Often there will be an easily detectable peach and mineral complex. Some Washington State winemakers, such as Chateau Ste. Michelle, are adapting Germau-style Rieslingproduction methods, and even parmering with well&~own German vinmers like Dr. Ernest Loosen to create specialty wines such as the Eroig~ Riesling, www.ozarksstar.com ][n Cati~brnia, Riesling lags far behind in popularity to Chardonnay ~d is not as commonly planted. A notable exception is opment of high quality Late Harvest So i]~r, the Late Harvest wines produced are in the Anderson Valleys (north of Santa Rosa) where is more likely to encourage dte needed botutis develop. ~ae Riesling that does ~ fornia tends to be softer, fuller, a diverse flavors than a "tTpical" ~ smoked meats, ofBonW Doon, F Mountain A~v~& with dedicated completely to With high acidity and peach has deveto area is re t facility . white sausages, crab cakes gouda & grwere~ :this wine can be paired as an cake, apples/pears, caramel/ wmilla ice creaan, [, citric, With German Riesling, ,nit of ~vin e Pr~dikat (QmP) PRAY-dee-kahq. It is the defined by the 1971. There are six subcategories categor?; ranked from determine various levels .are: K)~BINE~, SP/&TLESE BEEI?J);NAUSLESE, EISWEIN, ENBEERENAUSLESE. Each care fined by a minimum sugar content of the which varies {::rotn region to region. The focus sugar content embodies the theoW that grapes with bdgher sugar levels are riper and therefore yield richer wines with deep colors and intense flavors. Schm~ Sohne Relax ’06 Job JOS P~Urn/Spatlese ’04 Jakob Dem~er/Kabinett ’06 ~ ’06 Pacific Rim CaliforSeries Australia ’06 And as always, I say go to your favorite wine shop, ask questions and purchase a bottle or two. Share some food & wine with friends and check this out for yourself. Although Riesling is best known from GermaW’s Mosel-Saa>Rmver, Pfalz, Rheinhessen and Rheingau m:eas, wines from Alsace and Austria attain equal greatness. France’ Alsace’s are coveted for their high sugar levels and endless aging abili9~. Food Paring Riesling is a versatile wine for pairing with food because of its balance of sugar and acidity: tt can ~ paired with Thai and Chinese cuisine and various . types of dishes prepared more on the spicy side. One can also enjoy this wine with spicy ham, pork with pineapple chutney, stir-fried snow peas with spicy shrimp, crab, turkey, barbequed or Vlr. D also hosts wine & food events known in town as the Wine Enthusiasts of Tulsa. References include: the ABC’s of wine by James Laube/vcww.Win eS pectator.com ,#~,~v. FoodandWin e.co m www.Wikipedia.org the STAR 15 �HOST HOTEL OVER FLOW HOTEL 801 South Meridian Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73108 1511 NW Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK 73118 ¯35-9~2-1400 ¯ 1-877-STAY-HGI 405-840-5557 ��by Donald Pile and Ray Williams Campbell Street, Springfield, MO Early 1900’s ~or many years, Springfield, Missouri has gotten a bad rap fi’om the gay and lesbian community all over the country. Even many of our straight friends have been hesitant about visiting Springfield. Like many cities in the "Bible Belt", Springfield has had in the past a reputation for being extremely conservative and even homophobic. Well, readers, things have CHANGED and for the better ! At the invitation of the Springfield, Missouri Convention & Visitors Bureau we visited Springfield last month. They showed us their beautiful city, their museums, attractions, galleries, dining options and we must admit that we are now in love with Springfield, Missouri and we lmow that all of our gay and lesbian readers from coast to coast will also be. Springfield, Mo. is a very "vibrant and alive" city and everybody is welcome. As our readers kmow, we are a "very out’ gay couple and we were shown the highest respect everywhere we went in Springfield. There are gays and lesbians working in every field of employment in Springfield and nearly all of them are "out". MaW of the large National companies at first were hesitant to move their offices and headquarters to Springfield but things have changed and for a variety of reasons. We want to thank so many of the younger gays and lesbians that we met while we were in Springfield for their honesty and hard work that to made this happen. Now with that being said, let us tell you about the "new and improved" Springfield, Missouri. With a population of over 420,000 for metropolitan Springfield, it is the third largest city in the State and offers an unbelievable array of surprises for any traveler. When so many cities in the country are down-sizing and doing nothing to improve their cities, the 18 theSTAR Springfield, Mo. community has grown in every ~vay imaginable in their arts, business, sports, shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Their "new and improved" downtown area is something that most cities can only dream about. All within walking distance you can admire the works of local and regional artists in more than 15 galleries, artist’s studios and other venues where you can encounter sculpture, pottery, paintings, jewelry, photography and hand blown glass demonstrations. In addition you have a choice of wonderful restaurants, coffee shops and cafes to dine. In Springfield, they MADE it happen! Springfield has over 6,000 hotel/motel rooms and over 600 dining options. So whatever you are into, you will find it in Springfield! Metropolitan Springfield has so much to offer in the way of attractions, historical places to visit and things to see. FANTASTIC CAVERNS is a must see for any first time visitor to Springfield. They open daily at 8 AM until dusk. You ride thru this ancient underground cave that has massive formations. The tour is 50 minutes and your driver will explain the entire history of the cave to you. THE SPRINGFIELD ART MUSEUM is the permanent home for some 8,500 art objects representing thousands of years of culture. They are open Tuesday thru Sunday and are located at 111 E. Brookside Dr. The SPRINGFIELD LITTLE THEATRE at the historic Landers Theatre is Missouri’s oldest and largest civic theatre. This season includes Gypsy, A Tuna Christmas, the Miracle Worker and Seussical to name just a few of their productions. "WILD BILL" HICKOK SHOOTOUT SITE in Park Central Square, right downtown is the site of the nations first recorded shootout and helped solidify the reputation of Wild Bill. Look for the marker on www.ozarksstar.com �Stage coach terra cotta on Springfidd garage. East. Markers are also located in the street showing where each man stood during the shoot out. The RAILROAD HISTORICAL Museum, 1300 No. Grant Ave. is dedicated to the preservation of railroading and you can step into a locomotive, commuter car and caboose. The MISSOURI SPORTS HALL OF FAME, 3861 E. Stan Musial Drive includes thousands of sports memorabilia, exhibits and displays and of course the Springfield Cardinals Baseball team which is the Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals and plays at Hammonds Field. Bass Pro has their big store at !935 South Campbell Ave with everything imaginable in the sports line. Tired of seeing everything yet? Well, Springfield offers a lot more things to see! The AIR AND MILITARY Museum of the Ozarks is a "hands-on" museum of military history. They are located at 2305 E. Kearney St. The Brown Derby Store at 2023 S. Glenstone offers a world-class wine selection unmatched in the Midwest. The Commercial Street Historical District (between \Vashington Ave. and Lyon Ave. is a self-guided tour which is a 6 block adventure. With a seasonal farmers market, chocolate factory, the city’s oldest tavern, new micro-brewery, antiques/art galleries, this is a great walking tour. DICKERSON PARK ZOO, 1401 W. Norton Road allows visitors to get up dose with hundreds of animals. DISCOVERY CENTER is an interactive hands-on science center and is located downtown at 438 E. St. Louis St. The TENT THEATRE is celebrating their 45th season this summer. www.ozarksstar.com This summer’s productions include Cyrano de Bergerac, June 11-14 and June 16-21, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, June 25-28, June 30-July 3, and our favorite, Anything Goes with lyrics and music by Cole Porter, July 9-12, July 14-20. The Theatre and Dance Department at Missouri State University in Sprinbffield offers a wide range of theatre and dance programs. The Gay and Lesbian Center of the Ozarks, 518 E. CommerciaI Street in Springfield supports the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in the greater Springfield, Missouri region by organizing and sponso> ing community activities and by increasing public understanding and appreciation of LGBT citizens. Josh Comp is the President and is doing a magnificent job. Their phone number is 417-869-3978. They organize Pridefest and help organize the annual variety show, the Queen City Cabaret. They are close partners with FOCUS - LGBT professionals group and with APO, Blossom women’s group, the First Sunday Community Potluck. They provide free professional counseling through the Forest Institute. They have an Individual and Community Services Advocate who provides services to the community and have a youth group program for LGBT youth which meets once a week and every fourth Friday. They provide an outlet for many social and support groups. They have been operating since !996 and are one of the oldest Gay and Lesbian Centers in the State. Volunteers are always needed so give them a call and donate a couple hours a week. For nightlife, they have the new CLUB 821 that is getting a lot of attention throughout the entire Midwest. ~xey are located at 821 West College, just 8 blocks West of the downtown area and NEVER A COVER ! (vavw.club821.corn) and phone (417) 866-4821 Their hours are Monday thru Saturday, 4 PM to 1 AM. and happy hour is daily 4 PM to 7 PM. This bar just But the most important time we had in Springfield during our recent visit there was the "DOWNTOWN AREA". The "new:" dmvntmvn area is FABULOUS !!!!! Check out their wonderful website at www.itsalldowntown.corn \re particularly enjoyed having breakfast at Galley’s Breal’~ast Care downtown at 220 East Walnut. The setting is a wonderful old nostalgic care of the past but yet has new and innovative delicious food with service to match. The owners and staff are doing it EXACTLY RIGHT! This is the only place to have breakfast in Springfiel!! Nonna’s Italian American Care, 306 South Avenue is wonderful. Although they offer non-Italian choices, why bother? Their Italian menu is what it is all about. And it is GOOD! Our best dining experience for dinner was at the Kai Restaurant, 306 South Campbell. This new downtown Photo: Donald Pie, Rob Bel (owner Club 821) & restaurant is one of the finest in Ray Williams at Club 821, Springfield, ~Ossouri the country with great atmosphere, great service and extremely great food. Continued page 27 {HeSTAR 19 �of Town By Andrew Collins Bakimore, Maryland dozens of shops. Also che& out the Baltimore Maritime Museum, National Aquarium, and World Trade Center (which offers fine views from its 27th-floor observation decD. A regal grassy knoll south of the harbor, Federal Hill Park rises majestically above downtox~qa, and the Inner Harbor. It’s an ideal spot to laze under the sun on warm afternoons. The surrounding eponymous neighborhood has loads of inviting cafes and bars, and the neighborhood’s American Visionary Art Museum ingeniously blends two historic -warehouses within a striking contemporary structure. East of the Inner Harbor, Fells Point may be America’s best-preserved Cx3lonial waterfront, with its perfectly maintained Federa!-sryle town houses, Baltimore’s gay epicenter ties north of downtown in historic Mount Vernon, which you reach by strolling north from the Inner Harbor up the city’s backbone, Charles Street. The neighbothood is anchored by Mount Vernon Square and its 178-foot-high Washington /vlonument. Nearby are the outstanding Waiters Art Museum and the Peabody Conservatory of Music, the oldest and one of the most prestigious classical music schools in the country. kbffll need to drive or take a bus up Charles Street to reach the leaf), 140-acre campus of Johns Hopkins University, which is ideal for strolling and is next to the state’s largest museum, the Baltimore Museum of Art. West of Johns Hopkins, Hampden is a good oldfashioned "Ba~vl’mer" neighborhood, a former mill-workers’ community that has more recently developed a bounty of hip boutiques, galleries, and cafes. (John Waters, who lives nearby, occasionally strolls these parts and set his movie _Pecker_ here.) Baltimore’s mostpopular lesbian bar, Sapphos, is ])art ofthe bustling Grand Central *lu~ in the heart ofthe Mount Vernon neighborhood. (Photo by Andrew Collins) If you haven’t been to Baltimore in a while, you owe yourself a visit. This friendly, unassuming city has experienced a virtual rebi,~h over the past 15 years, rehabilitating its handsome Inner Harbor by converting dilapidated piers and ,vharves into museums, shops, restaurants, hotels, and condominiums. Often featured in the movies of camp filmmaker and native son John \V-aters, Baltimore has also developed increased cachet as a welcoming gay and lesbian destination, with its many GLBT-ffiendly businesses. Fortunately, the ci.ty’s success hasn’t gone to its head. It’s hard to find a more genuine and down-to-earth breed of urbanites than the residents of Baltimore, who retain a special affection for their hometown. You may be lured to Baltirnore by the many highly publicized ’ Inner Harbo, r and indeed most attractions set around downtowns of these museums and entertainment centers live up to their billing. But be sure to save rime to explore the man), quirky- residential neighborhoods, a few of which - Mount Vernon, Federal Hill, Fells Point - are within easy walking distance of downtown. The Inner Harbor thrived for years as a shipping crossroads before falling into a state of blight. Its conversion into an entertainment and museum district has made it one of the most engaging and picturesque harbors in America. Popular attractions include the glassenc!osed Harborplace pavilions, where you can browse through 20 t~®STAR \Vhen you’re craving a memorable meal, remember that Baltimore’s cooking is full of flavor - the city- even has its o,vn spice, Old Bay Seasoning, a feisty, concoction of 16 seasonings sprinkled mostly on shellfish but required by some locals on seemingly everything but ice cream. If you’re on the run, iust wander through the copious food stalls in the Harborplace pavilions. It may look like a zoo of tourists, but yoffd be surprised how many locals graze here. Many of these places offer top-notch local seafood - particularly oysters, clams, and Chesapeake Bay blue crabs. Walk a bit south ro Federal Hill, along South Charles or Light streets, and you’ll find dozens of appealing eateries, including one of the best little restaurants in the city~ the Bicycle Bistro, where you might dine on grilled rack of lamb with a pineapple-poblano-pepper chutney, or porcini-crusted sea scallops. East of the harbor, there’s superb dining in the city’s Little Italy (Boccaccio, with such seasonal delights as local clams and mussels in a pernod-tomato broth, is a particular standout), and in nearby Fells Point, talented chef Nancy Longo helms the kitchen at Pierpoint, which is known for such inventive contemporary regional fare as smoked crab cakes, and ftied Maryland chicken breast with parmesan grits. Mount Vernon has dozens of excellent, gay-popular restaurants. At nile high end, opulently decorated Ixia scores high marks for its wellchosen wine list and superbly rendered cuisine, including grilled baby octopus with lemon-fennel confit, and lobster-crab mac-andcheese with a creamy Fontina sauce. Across the street, Sacha’s is a great spot for toothsome grazing - the many "small plates" include crisp french fries in a cone with Old Bay-seasoned creme fraiche, www.ozarksstar.com �and fried green tomatoes topped vdth lump crab meat. Continue up Charles Street and yoff!l come to trendy Donna’s, a cheerful and modern space where an arts)- crowd mingles over light salads, roasted veggie sandwiches, fresh coffee, and fantastic tiramisu. %e Hdmand has become renowned }br its spics; well-prepared kd~han food (it’s owned by the brother of A~hanistan’s president, Harold Kharzai), and Motmt Vernon Stable and Saloon is a perfect late-night venue for chicken wings, sandwiches, burgers, ribs, and similarly comforting pub standar~Is. Finally, don’t miss City Care. an airy and inviting iava joint that also serves food and wine. Make the trip a bit north toward Johns Hopkins to reach Ixia’s sister restaurant, the lovably kitschy Paper Moon Diner, which is open choice. Near here in the Hampden neighborhood is the notable for the massive pink flamingo dangling from the front of the btfilding (not to mention tasty comfort fare like Belgian wanes topped with fresh berries, and famously good meatlo~). There’s als0 great coffee to be sipped nearby at Common Ground coffeehouse, and delicious Mexican food served within the funky confines of Holy Frijoles. property" ~ns kudos ~br its helpful service, romantically decorated roo~s, ~d afternoon tea and refreshments. In Mount Vernon, the historic 1924 Clarion Peabody Court, with its 104 handsomely outfitted rooms, enthusiastically welcomes gay and lesbian travelers. You’ll ~e ~ town house bars. Other esteemed in DyCanton. This stunner appreciate one of the ci~’s Baltimore gay-bar-goers congregate mostly at a handful of mainstays. Yuppies and stand-and-model types flock almost religiously to Gr~d Ceiatral, a large, multi-level complex that consists of a video lounge, dance bar, billiards room, and outdoor deck. Also on-site is the s[vanky lesbian bar, Sapphos, with its comfy living-room-esque decor and soft lighting. ~£ other major club i~i the n’eighborhood is Club Hippo, whose r~putation for gr~at music draws a wide mix of revelers, ga34 straight, old, and young. It’s a great place to cut loose, especially on Thursday and Saturday nights. When it gets late, the party moves to Club 1722, an 18-and-over ~er-hours club open on Fridays and Saturdays into the ~ee- hours. The,tiki-themed Coconuts Caf~ is another Mr. Vernon hangout thats popular xvith lesbians, while Club Bunns caters heavil~ to Baltimore’s sizable African-kanerican gay community and has a legendary happy hour. Leather aficionados head a few blocks up Charles to the Eagle, which, though lacking any serious back-room action, nevertheless cultivates as racy, an atmosphere as any bar in town. A classic dive that’s been serving the gay community for more than 60 years (longer, say" some, than [my bar in America), Leon’s is especially popular late on weekend evenings. Nearby Jay’s on Read is ~ das~ i~ia~o bar, and Club Phoenix is a laid-back neighborhodd hangout with a small dance area and some highly entertaining drag sho~s. In Federal Hill, the Rowan Tree is a friendly neighbor~iood spot with an eclectic crowd, and over in the up-and-coming Canton section of Baltimore, The Quest caters to fans of go-go dancers. Baltimore hotels have become slightly more expensive over the years, as the city has become a serious tourist and convention destination, but rates are still much lower than in nearby Washington, D.C. Most visitors choose properties near the Inner Harbor, dose to great restaurants and attractions. An excellent option here is the Pier 5 Hotel, a hip and lively boutique property with whimsically decorated, spacious rooms, many directly facing the Inner Harbor. The same owners run the elegant, historic (and allegedly haunted) Admiral Fells Inn in nearby Fells Harbor - this charming old-world www.ozarksstar.com heSTAR 21 �KAI REffAURANT & AFTER DARK LOUNGE Missouri For an absolutely fabtflous dining experience we highly suggest you try the new KAI RESTAURANT. It is located in the new and revitalized downtown area at 306 South Campbell. From the moment you walk thru the front door you will KNOW that you are in for a very special treat. Downstairs they have the KAI After Dark Lounge which has a very eclectic modern decor. Xhey have terrific bartenders who know how to serve every kind of drink imaginable. But the real treat is going upstairs to the KAI Restaurant where they serve "Modern Japanese Cuisine" in an unbelievable setting. ~he restaurant is dark, sexy, exciting, exotic and absolutely spectacular! Go to their website’s gallery to see for yourself. We haven’t been anywhere in the Midwest that can possibly compare to our dining experience there. Our server was extremely knowledgeable as to what was on the menu and offered good suggestions. He was a true professional. We started offwith the "Hot Rock" which is one of the restaurant’s specialties. It came with thinly sliced rare top sirloin woked on a hot stone presentation. You put one slice at a time on the sizzling hot stone and it cooks in seconds. Dip it into the sauce and you have some of the finest appetizers that we have ever had. Other Kai specialities included their Kuslyaki Filet, Kobe Beef Carpaccio and their Spicy Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps. ~hey offer a full range of soups and salads including their Kai salad, Ika Sansai Salad, Seaweed Salad, Tri Tuna Salad and their Honey Walnut Mango Chicken Salad. For their entrees they offer everything from Teriyaki to black cod, sea bass to New York Strip, Filet Mignon and Kai Surf and Turf. Other entrees included Seven Samurai with seven kinds of fish on top of a California Roll, Drunken Tiger which is spicy tuna with asparagus wrapped with grilled tuna, Fantastic Four, with shrimp tempura, crab, spice tuna with fried eel on top. For desserts they offer a wide choice for any pallet including Irish chocolate cake, banana chocolate spring rolls, creme brulee, tiramisu and cheesecake. Xhe table next to us had been coming back almost every week since they opened. They get a lot of diners who came back again and again and again just because this restaurant knows how to do things the right way! It is just that simple! Kai Restaurant is in an old downtown building that they completely remodeled to perfection. We know that with all their professionalism that they will be in business for many years. When traveling around the country we find that so many restaurants try to copy each other and the Kai Restaurant is itself and it’s own creation and that is what makes it so special. By the way, their prices are extremely reasonable. No trip to Springfield, Mo. would be complete if you don’t have a wonderful dining experience at the Kai Restaurant. Their hours are Monday thru Saturday, 5:00 PM to 1:15 AM. For reservations call 417-8320077 and check out their website, www.kaiafterdark.com. People go to a restaurant not only to dine but to have a fabtflous dining experience and trust us on this one, you will have a "beyond fabulous" dining experience. When you get the best and innovative decor, great food and great service, you know you have found the perfect place! Congratulations to the owners and stafffor making the KAI Restaurant so special. 22 theSTAR www.ozarksstar.com �"While we beat our chests and proclaim ourselves the xvorld’s largest superpower, it is foolish to expect that we Americans, with only 6 percent of the world’s population, can automatically impose our xv~ll on everyone else." [p. 25] "... [~he...war in Iraq has led to a devastaring drop in world approval of the United States and sharp divisions between Muslim and Non-Muslim communities. It has provided more recruits for anti-American terrorist organizations, cost American taxpayers billions of dollars, and above all, caused loss of human life on a tragically large scale. A failure to understand the culture and history of other parts of the world has exacted a great price." ~. 28] "We cannot afford the toll that multiple Iraq-like mistakes would take on America, especially as we deal xvith emerging nations whose power and influence will become great as time passes." [p. 29] "Preemptive military engagements in the absence of an act of war against us have not proven successful. Vietnam and Iraq are dramatic examples." [p. 41] Source: David Boren, A Letter to America (2008). Norman, OK : University of Okla. Press. "Forty other countries now have a higher life expectancy than the United States, in no small part because 45 million Americans have no health insurance. When ~vill we act?" [p. 7] "... [I]t is morally imperative that we provide universal health coverage for all Ameficans...We must not rule out considering a new approach that moves away from the current rodeo. Very often they do. It’s a lot of hard work, it is very rewarding, but every year right after the Rodeo ends we start planning for the next one. Victor: Do straight people still sometimes get thrown by the idea of a gay cowboy? Klint: They don’t associate what they perceive to be a masculine lifestyle to be a part of how they perceive the gay lifestyle. So in part we are educating the public as a whole, and even still some parts of the gay community, that we come from every facet of life. Victor: So what’s in store for this year? Klint: We have a great reputation, one of the largest rodeos of the IGRA system. We have a new rodeo director from Florida, Jim Mitchell and Assistant directors Travis Parker ofOGRA & Michael Fontenot of Florida. We’re doing all kinds of promotions not only in Oklahoma but also surrounding states, and we expect people from all parts of the country. This year we are hosting the I.G.R.A.’s Board of Directors Meeting, so trustees from all of their rodeo associations throughout the United States and Canada will be here. As with tradition, all we donate stays in Oklahoma. This year we are helping out two major charities, Other Options and Rain Oklahoma. Victor: So who should join OGRA? Does one have to be a rancher or cowboy? Klint: We have many members who have never ridden a horse or worked with cattle. We welcome people who many walks of life who embrace cowboys and western heritage. As we raise money for our community, we need talented people who want to help us make a difference. employer-based system...Those who have health insurance are already paying the costs for the uninsured, who often end up in hospital emergency rooms...The uninsured wait to get help until they reach a medical crisis. This drives costs higher. There is no excuse for another presidential term to end without implementing universal health insurance." [p.p. 84-5] Source: David Boren, A Letter to America (2008). Norman, OK : University of Okla. Press. www.ozarksstar.com Victor: I think that’s an invitation. Thanks for all you and OGRA do for gay Oklahoroans, including our cowboys and cowgirls, and we can look forward to another great event. VOTER I~GISTRATION Voter registration applications may be submitted at any time. However, a valid application must be received at a motor license agency or a designated voter registration agency, or postmarked (if submitted by mail), more than 24 days prior to an election in order for the applicant to participate in that election. Deadlines for submitting valid voter registration applications prior to the 2008 statewide elections are as follows: Primary Election Friday, July 4 - Registration Deadline Tuesday, July 29 - Election Runoff Primary Election Friday, August 1 - Registration Deadline Tuesday, August 26 - Election General Election Friday, October 10 - Registration Deadline Tuesday, November 4 - Hection CHANGES IN POLITICAL AFFILIATION Changes in political affiliation may not be made during the period from June 1 through August 31, inclusive, in any even-numbered year. The last day on which a change in political affiliation can be made before the closed period is May 31; the first day on which a change in political affiliation can be made after the closed period is September 1. OTHER IMPORTANT DATES Last day to request absentee ballot for July 29 Primary Hection Wednesday, July 23 Vote early at your County Hection Board office Friday, July 25, 8 AM - 6 PM Saturday, July 26, 8 AM - 1 PM Monday, July 28, 8 AM - 6 PM Candidate Filing for federal, state, legislative and county offices June 2 - 4 wvcw.ok, gov/-elections/index.html theSTAR 23 �Photo’s by Victor G. & Judy G. @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa @ Steve’s Hideaway, Tulsa 24 @ The Ledo, Oklahoma City @Club Majestic, Tulsa @ The Copa, Oklahoma City @ Angles, Oklahoma City @ Finishline, Oklahoma City �By Greg Steele on the prowl ~e 84 & Robin Dorner with The City S~Ni~i atthe fundraiser for State Senator Andrew Rice! Marlett is runn ng aga nst the nfamous sai ~ I(em. Democratic U£. senate candidate (currently State Senator) Andrew Rice with Richard Ogden Chairperson Cimarron Alliance Foundation at a fantastic fundraiser at Ogden’s home. victor G06~ ~e~nt~ O~l~h;ma C0rpora~ tion Commissioner Jim R6tha plaque with a 45 of one is his favodte inspirations, Dion’s "Abraham Martin & Johi~2 www.ozarksstar.com State Representative A! McAffrey with Oklahbrna County Democratic Party co-chair Elle~ Ste~SS at Oklahoma City fundraiser for McAffrey. : �By Ronald Blake ho wants to see you achieve health, fitness, and overall well-being? It seems like everyone wants to see you fit into that smaller size of pants or cut back on your smoking. We live in a soci.ety where it is horrible to think that people die. You need to take advantage of this munificence of the masses. Government agencies are always watching out for you. The FDA is monitoring what medications are safe for your consumption. The FAA will not let you fly with Joe Camel smoke swirling aimlessly around the cabin. The CDC monitors the incidences of West Nile virus outbreaks in all the 50 states. Your local agency on aging center will even see to it that you have a fan or air conditioner to place in your window if you can’t afford to buy one. Your taxes are ~vorking to help you after all. Restaurants and fast food establishments are even seeking to give you healthier food. Subway leads the pack of retailers by offering you groovy grinders and showcasing the slimmed down Jared as proof of eating right. Numerous restaurants are shrinking their portion sizes and now only offering enough to satisfy one hippopotamus’ appetite. Applebee’s is one example of this sensible change. They even charge a little less for this good idea. Gosh, even Hamburglar and Grimace are putting apple slices in Happy Meals. smoking cessation classes. The Cancer Society will tell you when you should get a pap smear, colorectal check, skin screening, and breast exam. There are support groups for autism, anger management, gambling addictions, mental illnesses, and many more. If you can Google it, it is out there waiting to be uncovered by you. Even money-hungry Hollywood types have your best interests in mind. "Supersize Me" was that documentary about McDonalds and the Big Mac that put the fast-food giant into a Dow Jones suicide watch. The behemoth hamburger franchiser changed their menu in response to this fat-laden epiphany. Michael Moore took on the health care industry and all the cigar-chomping politicos inside the Beltway in his documentary "Sicko". He exposed the Swiss cheese health coverage we have for the denizens of this great land. There have even been movies like a "Beautiful Mind" and "Rain Man" that have shown a superb story but have also given us a better understanding of health issues like mental illnesses. Finally, we even have philanthropists like Bill Gates, Oprah, Bono, and numerous others who are giving money to charities to improve the lives of others. These methods include education and training. Education is one of the greatest factors affecting poor health. More educated individuals are less likely to smoke, drink, or engage in drug activity than those individuals who lack a proper education. If you want to achieve it, you must seek it. It should not be difficult; there is assistance around every corner. Excuses are around every corner too. Choose your corner care- fully. This health and fitness coltunn is brought to you by that guy who has an analog mind in a digital world. That guy is Ron Blake and he can be shaken from his reverie at w~wv.goblakefitness.com. There are not-for-profit agencies out there that are a website away from accessing information for better health. The American Lung Association will tell you where to find 26 t~÷STAR w~vw.ozarksstar.com �SPRINGFIELD, MO. NATIONAL NEV S opened last October and has quickly become extremely popular. Why? Because of the owner and staff. Rob knows how to treat customers and has hired a very professional staff. Michelte, the bar manager is the kind of bartender that everybody wants. She is fun, funny, lively, interesting, professional and you can tell that she really enjoys her job. Why can’t all bartenders across the country be like this? The other bartenders there are great also. We found everybody in this bar to be extremely friendly. How many times have you walked into a bar only to be sitting at the bar all by yourself and no one talks to you. Trust us, it won’t happen in this bar! NoY. governor .snpports Another fun place is JR’s Nightclub, 504 E. Commercial, (417) 864-2823. This is the bar "where men are comfortable, but everyone is welcome". They are open Monday thru Saturday, 5 to 1:30 AM and Sunday, 2 PM to midnight. When you walk in, people either know you or they don’t and if they don’t know you, they will shortly. Everyone is friendly. The bartenders and owner are friendly. After a couple of drinks you will know everybody in the bar. And isn’t that the idea of going to a bar, to meet other people? JR’s is the only bar in Springfield that is open on Sundays. Other places to visit are Martha’s Vineyard and Latin Vibes which features special gay shows on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. If your needing to get around the city, contact Fisk Limousines, www.fisklimo.com or give them a call at 417.862.2900. They give the best service in the entire Midwest. Springfield, Missouri is indeed a city with a great future. They want EVERYONE to visit their beautiful city. We did and we certainly enjoyed our stay there as we know that all of our readers will. The Convention & Visitors Bureau has one of the best websites in the nation, www.springfieldadventures.com. Be sure and check it out. Our thanks to Susan Wade, Public Relations Manager, Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. She is simply "the Best of the Best" and so professional, and to Mark Templeton of Springfield. same-sex marrmge New York Gov. David Patterson said April 7 that he supports legalization of same-sex marriage. Speaking by video link to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s awards dinner in Manhattan, Patterson said: "We xvill push on and bring full marriage equality to New York state. And when xve have done that, xve’re going to do more. We’re going to protect young people from bullies. We’re going to protect against the discrimination of people in the transgender community, and xve’re going to fight for decent and affordable health care for all citizens in this state." "If you xvill join with me, and if xve xvork hard enough, xve can change the face of Nexv York, which will be the catalyst to changing national policy," he said. Patterson had planned to attend the dinner but was stuck in Albany dealing with budget problems. Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! www.ozarksstar.com t~:~ {~.STAR 27 �by Jack Fertig May 2008 "Articulate conflicts, Cancer!" The Sun in Taurus offers the comforts and pleasantries of spring. Now, however, Sol is aspecting asteroid Chiron in Aquarius and new planet Eris, stirring up the question of where to settle down and with whom. Think beyond habits, and be open to surprises! ARIES (March 20 -April 19): Individualist though you are, you belong with some tribe - however awkwardly. A clash of values is inevitable, but not catastrophic. Give yourself room to be not at the center of the group, but at the edge - perhaps even the leading edge. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Your own personality is both a key and an impediment to success. Meditate and talk with a confidante. Issues of fitting in and reconciling different communities in your world seem like complications, but actually point to a solution. GEMINi (May 21 - June 20): You’re too easily tempted into arguments with others.-Better to look within and resolve your own conflicts. Knocking those around with a friend and establishing a philosophical framework are important. Just know that the real debate is internal. SAG~TTAR~US (November 22 = December 20): Team sports or games - anything from charades to rugby - can help you understand your own thought processes, or perhaps learn how to keep your mouth from getting you into trouble. You’ll never get that one perfect, but you can make progress! CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Being a capricious Cappy could get expensive. Entertain members of your family or tribe at home or through some community event, staying ever mindful of your budget. Asking others to contribute can help strengthen your bonds. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Fitting in with your family can be a problem. Imagine that you are adopted and speak a different language. What would you try to say? You wouldn’t want to be just like everyone else, so celebrate your uniqueness, and they’ll love you as you are. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Don’t be afraid to speak your mind. You may expose a few secrets, but that will probably do some good for you and others concerned. Even if there is a price to pay, you will find greater value in speaking up. CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Time to review that famous "gay agenda." How do your goals and ideals fit in with your immediate queer community and your sense of the broader community? Articulating the conflicts and exploring the issues could put you into a position of leadership. LEO (July 23 -August 22): Your ambitions can easily lead to arguments. That’s OK, as long as the point of the argument is to better understand _what’s_ right, not _who’s_ right. To fix a relationship, try seeing it in a different light. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): New ideas, even those that seem to come way out of left field, can help solve problems at work and with your health. (Chiropractic?) Don’t underestimate possibilities, wacky as they may seem, offered by other GLBT folks. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Rethinking group allegiances and community identity should prove helpful in understanding your sexual potential - not just as a lover, but as an erotic healer. Explore new forms of erotic play and perception. You can do this actively and/or academically. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Some housecleaning, literally or metaphorically, is important to improve your relationship or to help you be ready for one. An eccentric older relative or community elder offers an inspirational role model METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve T. Urie Spirit of Chdst MCC 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Saturdays at 10:00 AM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC of the Living Spring 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! 28 t~eSTAR www.ozarksstar.com �Support those who support us. DOWNTO\~N PLea of TULSA 17 West 7th Street Tulsa, OK 918-585-5898 www.downtownplazatulsa.com HABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSXWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 www.habanainn.com KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant ANGLES 2117 NW 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK www.anglesclub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 www.bambooloungetulsa.com CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 www.clubmajestictulsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com STEVES HIDEAWAY LOUNGE 11730 E. 11TH Tulsa, OK 918-437-0449 Open Sun- Sat 2pm to 2am THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESS\rAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NV4 39TH EXPRESS\gAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 ~wv.habanainn.com www.ozarksstar.com DIVERSITY CHRISTIAN CNTR 211 S. Garnett Tulsa, OK 74128 vavw.realacceptance.com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GREAT PLAINS RODEO E O. BOX 12485 Oklahoma City, OK 73157 www.ogra.net GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM MCC of the LIVING SPRING 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pm GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn DALLAS CVB Dallas, TX www.winatrip.glbtdallas.com OKC PRIDE, INC PO BOX 60296 Oklahoma City, OK 73146 www.okcpride.org OKLAHOMANS for EQUALITY 621 E 4th Street Tulsa, OK 74120 918-743-4297 www.okeq.org OPENARMS YOUTH PROJECT 2015 -B S. Lake~vood Tulsa, OK 74112 918-838-7104 www. openarmsproject.org Want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $33.95 will be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1 st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or moneyorder to: The STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #133 Tulsa, OK 74145 OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 (Single Copies $3.00 per issue) NAME: KING OF MASSAGE In or Out Calls Oklahoma City, OK 405-314-3898 Address: PHOTOGRAPHY." City: JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 St:__.Zip:. Phone: } CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 www.c21 goldcastle.com Check enclosed Money Order Start Date: theSTAR 29 �Keller Willia Chu~ Whether buying or selling I’11~ ............... work hard fo (d,efinitiqn - growing up GAY in OK is not easy) You can he~p our teens. Support Open Arms Youth Project. For more info: www. openarrnsproject.org e-mail: ~di~o~alCar~oon@q~;yndica~.co m 30 theSTAR www.ozarksstar.com �34 Bourbon St. ~04~37!-5450 Torch �TW’s-AFAB Catering G L B T G A Z I N K P �� Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document ESTABLISHED 2003 www.ozarksstar.com MAY 2008 One of the longest running and largest of Gay Rodeo Organizations in the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) system, Oklahoma’s Great Plains Rodeo will kick off it’s 23rd year. A fun filled weekend May 23 through May 25th 2008. The event will be held in Oklahoma City at State Fair Park, 333 Gordon Cooper Blvd. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK ~The fun begins with the Great Plains Rodeo Kickoff Party hosted at the Finishline Thursday, May 22 featuring the current reigning OGRA Royalty. This is a great chance to meet and greet, dance and party, and ready yourself for the weekend to come. The host hotel for the Rodeo is the Hilton Garden Inn, and there is a block of rooms available at a special rate from May 22-26 that will be available until May 16 or until they sell out, whichever comes first. Registration for the event happens Friday from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Tickets are available from OGRA members for $10 or $15 at the gate. The Rodeo takes place at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds on Saturday May 24 and Sunday May 25, beginning at 8 a.m. both days. To keep the weekend wild the Texas Gay Rodeo Association will host their Texas T Party on that Saturday in the Copa from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. featuring fantastic food and fun. The Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association, Inc. (OGRA) is a nonprofit organization and member of the International Gay Rodeo Association, Inc. (IGRA) which is comprised of 28 state/provincial associations throughout the United States and Canada. OGRA is proud to be the first association seated at the first ever IGRA Convention in 1985 For more information check out the OGRA website at www.ogra.net. An Exclusive Interview With OGRA’s 4 Term President, Klint Wieden Photo: Klint Wieden with his horse Cherokee. "I grew up in the small northwest Oklahoma town ofArnett. I rode horses and worked cattle my whole life, so that’s really who I am." Klint told the Star. PAGE-12 Newly revamped drag-free Tulsa Pride 2008 unveiled By Joey De TULSA, OK __ Organizers of this year’s Tulsa Pride Celebration are promising the public that this year’s events will be anything but boring. "We have made a lot of changes to the entire celebration," says Nate Black, one of the co-chairs. Black says the changes are intended to breathe a new sense of excitement into the pride observance and to help promote the revitalization of downtown. "People don’t kno,v downtown. They don’t know how to get here, they don’t know where to park, they don’t know how many things are down here and growing," Black says. "We have moved the events to ................ Continued Page 5 i 7 West 7th Street (corner 7th & ~3oulder Ave) e Tulsa, Ok 74ii9 www.ozarksstar.com 1:800o535oAtDS (2437) PROTECT YOURSELF PROTKOT YOUR PAR www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 3 Join us for our biggest issue of the year! PRIDE 2008. Be a part of RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW Deadline Thursday l~ay t 5f.h Serving the Oklahoma GLBT community since 2003. Mr OkAahoma Continentall Benefits OYP Tulsao By Judy G. Charles Frederick Mr Oklahoma Continental 2008 TULSA, OK __ March 28th, Singer and entertainer Chades Frederick, Mr. Oklahoma Continental, began one of the many benefits planned to support Openarms Youth Project in Tulsa to a standing room only crowd. Many parents and grandparents of the entertainers were in attendance. David Dees, owner of Club Majestic, 124 N. Boston, Tulsa, donated the use of the dub for this worthy benefit. ~he event raised $770 for OYE. Entertainers were Sabastyn Croft, Tazia Kennedy, Cort, Brooke Kennedy-Miss OK National Queen, Mindy Bartlett, KC Morgan, Kordylia Kennedy, Alex Kennedy, Iman Scott-Miss Goddess 2007, Daphne Rio and Nicole Poverty-Miss OYE. Donations to benefit the GLBT youth group, many who are or were homeless just because they are gay, can be made to Openarms Youth Project, 2015-B S. Lakewood, Tulsa, Ok. 74112, or contact Tim or Ken at 918- 838-7104. TULSA PRIDE: give people a reason to check it (downtown) out, but also to come enjoy our new center and see how many resources are available." The first big change this year that Black notes is the separation of the Pride Festival from the Pride Parade. This year, the parade will occur June 7 and the festival will occur June 14. Following a national trend, the Pride Parade will be held in the evening, escaping the oppressive summer sun. The parade will fol!ow a new route, taking it from the Brady Arts District through downtown to the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. When the parade ends at 4th and Kenosha, the new Pride Block Party will kick off: "There will be 2 stages of entertainment, beer tents, vendors and all kinds of activities," says Black, who also notes that national music sensation Eric Himan will be performing. Black also says that for those with children, the second floor of the equality center will be open to provide licensed babysitters for a small fee. A week later, the Diversity Festival will kick off in Centennial Park just west of6th & Peoria. Black says that the newly revamped festival will feature two stages of entertainment with a multi-ethnic array of performers, an international food court, children’s area, local vendors and more. According to Black, including other faith and ethnic communities is not an attempt to "de-gay" Pride, but to help create community allies. "We have to realize our commitment to justice can not be for the gay community only. We have to speak out against racism and against bigotry. "The GLBT community is in every population," "By increasing our alliances we strengthen our own commitment for our people." ’This is still a gay pride event," Black emphasizes. There will be a leather fashion show, there will be drag queens, and there xvill be rainbows. It’s still very gay, but it is also more professional and more inclusive." The final major change that Black says will be occurring is the moving of the Diversity Gala to the historic Cain’s Ballroom. Black says that not only does this help to create an emphasis on downtown, but it also provides much needed space for the event to grow. For the latest updates on the Tulsa Pride Celebration, visit their web site at www. tulsapride.org. 2008 LGBT Leadership Summit OKC Saturday, May 10, 9am-5pm, Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library, 300 Park Avenue, Oklahoma City OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ The Cimarron Alliance Foundation wil! host the 2008 LGBT Leadership Summit a one-day event with four sessions of workshops. This year’s summit features more extensive workshops about our state legislature - by far the most attended session last year - and programs appealing to college students and young adults. There will also be two community forums. The 2007 LGBT Leadership Summit was successful beyond expectations. LGBT and LGBT-friendly persons and organizations acquired tools and guidance to more effectively manage themselves and, more importantly, better collaborate with others to accomplish common goals. Workshops The 2008 LGBT Leadership Summit is a one-day event with four sessions of up to five workshops per session. Workshops will address five topics: Leadership Development O Organization Development - non-profits, fundraising, etc. o Government- politics and the legislative process ® Personal Development - spirituality, equality, etc. o Anti-violence - anti-bullying, hate crimes, etc. For more information go to: wvcw.cimarronalliance.org www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 5 Loving the Hater Wlaile Hating the Hate By James Nimmo OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ I found a link recently to a blog (vavw.bilerico.com) that contains a comment (http://tinyurl. com/4qdbph) written in reaction to reading the main story about the Oklahoma City chapter of PFLAG and their recording of Rep. Sally Kern (http://tinyurl.com/2zbpgn) that catches Kern in her spider web of hubris and cant. Like the author, I too am very disappointed with the approach of "loving the hater while hating the hate." Ofcourse, I respect our supporters who use their close relationship with Jesus to try and gain support for LGBT citizens and other minorities who are used for verbal target practice in the ~var for suppression of civil rights. I’m delighted the Oklahoma City PFLAG chapter was able to document the duplicity of Sally Kern and record with her permission the lies she later reported as irresponsibility on the part of PFLAG. This single incident should show you the arrogance and madness that is being passed offas legislative Republican leadership. Not one elected official in Oklahoma from either major party has come strongly to the defense and support of the LGBT taxpayers living in Oklahoma. Had Kern used race, skin color, or ethnic origin as her subject I bet the rent she would be rene~ving her teaching certificate and looking for a school that would hire her. The First Amendment guarantees both sides the freedom to practice their respective religious viewpoints and the market place in which to talk about them. However, this same First Amendment does NOT give either side permission to encode their religious viewpoints into CIVIL law. I feel this is where we miss the boat in establishing our birthright to equal treatment under judicial law, and not the ten laws of Deuteronomy. There will always be a Bible verse to trump the opposing Bible verse resulting in a version of ping-pong skirmishes with Jesus as the referee. The writer gives some specific examples of public, peaceful protest that we can engage in to show that LGBTs are neither the doormats nor the monsters our enemies make us to be. It’s odd that our suppressors are either afraid to be in the same room with us, fearing for their own bodily integrity, keeping their knees close together; or they, dismiss us as dippy airheads, frivolous and irresponsible. How can we be both at the same time? Their response shows more about the fiction in their minds then about the truth of our lives. Until we get out of the religious justification business the more we’ll be dragged into its historical quagmire. Look at the present wars being fought around the world and you’ll see religious intolerance at the root. Our LGBT equality will have to be established in the legislatures and the courthouses in all fifty states without religious prejudice tipping the scales of justice. 6 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 7 Comling o~ eAge 8 the STAR w-ww.ozarksstar.com ©irecYed bs/Davd Geligan Oklahoma OiV June 8~ 2008 at 8pnq Brot~-~e~ Boy www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 9 by Liz Highleyman What is the history o£GLAAD ?? For more than two decades, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has served as the queer community’s watchdog against biased portrayals of lesbian, ga); bisexual, and transgender people in the media. Up until the final decades of the 20th century, representations of LGBT people in l{lms, television, popular music, and mainstream publications - if present at all - typically focused on scandal or ridicule. The burst of gay activism and visibility in the late 1960s spurred a conservative backlash, and by the mid-1980s, the community was staggering under the weight of the AIDS epidemic, as people with HIV faced stigma exacerbated by media portrayals depicting them as a danger to the "general population." In 1985, the New York LGBT community was embroiled in a debate about closure of the .city’s gay bathhouses and grew- increasingly alarmed about sensationalistic AIDS coverage in the New York Post. That November, a group of long-time activists including Vito Russo, Arnie Kantrowitz, Jim Owles, and Darrell Yates Rist called a town meeting that drew more than 700 participants. Heeding the exhortation of author Jewetle Gomez to "take responsibility for what is being said about us," they formed the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). The group began as a grassroots effort, using phone trees and monthly newsletters to issue alerts about offensive media portrayals of LGBT people. Among its earliest victories, in 1987 GLAAD persuaded the New York Times to finally use the word "gay" rather than "homosexual." Ti~e following year, the New York group hired its first full-time executive director, Craig Davidson. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Richard Jennings and others started a new chapter focused on the Hollywood entertainment industry. The bicoastal organization’s clout continued to grow, enabling it to secure an apology from comedian Johnny Carson for saying "fag" on the air, followed by the suspension ofAndy Rooney by CBS for homophobic and racist comments. In 1992, Entertainment Weekly named GLAAD one of the 100 most powerful entities in Hollywood. Before long, new GLAAD chapters arose in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. But in 1995, the local groups merged into a centralized national organization with a single board, and a staff based in New York and Los Angeles; two years later, former Showtime executive Joan Garry took the helm. Over the next decade, GLAAD initiated projects focusing on communities of color (including Spanish and Chinese language media), sports media, faith-based groups, and youth. GLAAD continued to exert insider pressure, and, when needed, to organize larger public protests against biased portrayals - like Sharon Stone’s murderous bisexual temptress in the film Basic Instinct (1992) - or the omission of queer content, such as excising a male-male kiss from the television show Melrose Place. Homophobic song lyrics by rapper Eminem and Jamaican dancehall artists Beenie Man and Buju Banton were other targets. GLAAD also reacted to current events, such as the murders of Matthew Shepard and transgender teen Gwen Araujo, as well as homophobic outbursts by the likes of the late Rev. Jerry Falwell and Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. But in keeping with its mission of promoting "fair, accurate, and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation," GLAAD also sought to shape positive portrayals. It consulted on television and movie scripts featuring LGBT characters and themes, pitched sympathetic stories to mainstream publications, provided spokespersons for talk shows, and trained queer individuals and groups in how to effectively use the media. In addition to wielding the "stick" of protest, the organization also dangled the "carrot" of praise, introducing the GLAAD Media Awards in 1990 to recognize favorable representations of the community and its issues. After considerable pressure from LGBT media, the organization agreed in 2007 to honor them along with nongay outlets. By 2005, when Garry turned over leadership to Neil Giuliano - the openly gay former Republican mayor ofTempe, Ariz. - the organization had a budget approaching $7.5 million and a staff of more than 40. Yet GLAAD’s explosive growth, insider strategy, and increased emphasis on star-studded events did not sit well with some activists who felt the organization had moved too far from its grassroots origins. Further, some were unhappy with tactics they regarded as censorship, such as the successful pressure campaign to cancel conservative commentator Dr. Laura Schlessinger’s television show. GLAAD has "a political agenda that is murky at best - at worst, it is dangerous to free speech, artistic expression, and the interests of LGBT people," wrote activist Michae! Bronski. "Judging the accuracy of a news report is much different than judging art. GLAAD can deal with these issues by getting out of show business and back into watchdog media commentary." Despite the criticism, GLAAD continues with its goal of"changing people’s hearts and minds through what they see in the media." According to the organization, "What people see at the movies or read in the newspaper shapes how they view and treat the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people around them, and we have a responsibility to make sure those images foster awareness, understanding and respect." For further reading: Bronski, Michael. 2005. ~Not So GLAAD Anymore." Z Magazine (May 1). Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. www.glaad.org. Gross, Larry: 2002. Up From Invisibility: Lesbians, Gay Men and the Media in America (Columbia University Press). 10 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com OkEq Announces Anrmat Equality Gala Saturday, May 3t, 6pm, Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N Main Ave TULSA, OK__ (ENEWS) Oklahomans for Equality is excited to announce its annual Equality Gala, held this year at the legendary Cain’s Ballroom. Benefiting OkEq, the Gala honors Lifetime Achievement Axvard xvinner Charles Faudree, Community Heroes George Kaiser Family Foundation and Carol Crawford, and Russ Bennett Spiritual Inclusion Award winner Nancy Day: The program features a champagne and hors d’oeuvre reception, live entertainment by Jared Tyler and Valerie Eskridge accompanied by Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, dinner by Taste Catering and wine donated by Loring Wine Company. Don’t miss the black tie event of the season, celebrating Tulsa’s rich diversity. Sponsorship information and tickets are available at: wxvw.okeq.org Co ° munity for People iving with H P !iA1D8 A 501 c (3) Non Profit O~:gan:izatlon Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. VVe provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail harrismmjr@yahoo.com. www.0zarksstar.c0m New exhibit featuring artist Ann Marie Distefano at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center art gallery will host its monthly First Thursday meet-the-artist reception from 6-9pm, Thursday, May 1, 2008, for the opening of it’s May exhibit, paintings by Ann Marie Distefano. Ann Marie’s paintings emerge from an aspiration to reclaim the spiritual dignity of art. "I want to make art that might open for the receptive viewer the window onto eternity," states Distefano. She continues, "My paintings are ’plugged into’ an inner source within myself that is very deep and sometimes unknown. What I seek to achieve is independence of artistic and philosophical fashions. My goal as an artist is to reveal an ineffable presence, the contemplation of which can lead the viewer towards an intuitive recognition of his or her own inherent radiance." Distefano, a native Bostonian, has been living in Tulsa for the past four years. She is a graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts of Boston. The reception will be generously catered by donation by Baxter’s Interurban Grill. The exhibit will remain up through the month of May, and can be viewed Monday thru Saturday from 3-9pm. The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th St., in downtown Tulsa. More info can be found on the web at okeq. org. This monthly event is hosted by Oklahoman’s for Equality (OkEq)_. OkEq seeks equal rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) individuals and families through advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. Emmy Award Winner Leslie Jordan (Brother Boy) In Oklahoma City. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ Leslie Jordan famed "Sordid Lives" star, will bring his one man show, "My Trip Down The Pink Carpet" to OKC June 8th at the Tolbert Theater @ Stage Center. "In 1982, Leslie Jordan jumped offa Greyhound bus from the hills ofTennessee, said ’hello’ to Hollywood and has never looked back. With hundreds of television and film roles to his credit, he is probably best remembered for ’Kyle’ hapless ex-con on Muphey Brown, ’Resplendent Man’ entrepreneurial super hero on Lois and Clark, and can currently be seen recurring as ’Mr. Beverly Leslie’ on the hit series, \Vgill & Grace. Mr. Jordan just finished a stint on the two hit series, Ally McBeal and Boston Public as ’Dr. Benjamin Harris’ cloning expert turned new-age reverend turned science teacher turned drama coach. Mr. Jordan has also had a successful stage career. He played ’Brother Boy’ a Tammy Wynette fixated drag queen, in Del Shores hit play Sordid Lives and went on to star in the film adaptation of that play. He also has won every award for best supporting actor LA gives in theatre (Back Stage West Garlands, LA Weekly, LA Drama Critics Circle) for his portrayal of’Peanut Leroy’ a sodden aging homosexual in the runaway hit, Southern Baptist Sissies. the STAR 11 By Victor Gorin ooking forward to the upcoming Great Plains Rodeo, O.G.R.A. President Klint Wieden shares his thoughts and hopes not only for this event but for OGRA and the gay cowboys and cowgirls of Oklahoma. Originally from the small Oklahoma community of Arnett, he grew up as a typical Oklahoma cowboy, belonging to both 4-H and the Future Farmers of America. He went on to OSU where he majored in animal science and business, and now resides in OFdahoma City with his current career of copier sales while enjoying being a cowboy on the side. We appreciate him sharing his time with us. Victor: How many years has the Great Plains Regional Rodeo been in Oklahoma City? Klint: This is our 23rd year, and it has been held for the last 15 years at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds. It began with a group of people looking for an avenue where they could have friendly competition, socialize together and work together. It was a place for people who had something in common, a love of rodeo. They were gay cowboys who didn’t really feel that they fit into the gay scene at that time. The I.G.R.A. ( International Gay Rodeo Association) was formed, and O.G.R.A ( Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association) was among the first state organizations. At the same time, the founders felt that they could also help the community by being a major fundraiser for charities of the community. Victor: A tradition that continues to this day. Klint: Besides the competition and fun involved, fundraising is truly what the rodeo Photo: Klint Wieden President OGRA is all about. \Ve raise money all year long to put it on, and then take the proceeds from that to give back to local charities. Victor: Is it still a regional rodeo? Klint: It had formerly been the Great Plains Regional Rodeo, representing other states as well. Today it is the Great Plains Rodeo, an event solely of OGRA. There is another organization in Tulsa, the Sooner State Rodeo Association, who also has their own rodeo. Victor: Of course the situation is much better than it was over 25 years ago. There were probably a lot of gay cowboys who felt they couldn’t be themselves and fit into what they perceived the gay community to be at that time. But even today straight people are astounded that there are gay cowboys, much less a rodeo. Klint: A couple a years ago the Daily Oklahoman wrote about our rodeo. \Vhat was to be a small paragraph turned into a front page story, hit the AP wires and was read all over the country. It was also read by my parents, who I had not been out with, who accepted me for the gay cowboy I was. Victor: Gay just happens, but cowboys are made. So how did it happen that you are a cowboy? Klint: I grew in the small northwest Oklahoma town ofArnett, 18 people in my graduating class. Arnett is a farming and ranching community, I rode horses and worked cattle my whole life, so that’s really who I am. Like many straight people, I thought you had to be flamboyant and feminine to be gay, and that wasn’t me. Once I learned there were country gay bars with cowboys, and gay rodeos, I thought" wow!" I fit in. That was great to kno~v. Victor: Of course the movie Brokeback Mountain had an enormous impact on America as a whole. I’m sure it had a special effect for the gay rodeo scene. Klint: It made people aware, both gay and straight, that there were people in that lifestyle who happened to be gay. So many gay cowboys could really relate to it, felt we had to hide for fear of not being accepted by our families, friends, bosses, or even the gay communir): Victor: So how rewarding has your hard work been with OGRA? Klint: \Veil this is my 4th term as the President of OGRA, I’ve been the rodeo director. I’m very out and very proud of what I’m doing. I have no problem telling businesses, like my dry cleaners, my dentist, my veterinarian that I support them, I’m a gay cowboy, and I’d like their support for our ............ Continued PAGE 23 12 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com Foreman eaves Task Force National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman quit his job April 15 and moved to San Francisco to head up the Gay & Lesbian Rights Program at the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. The fund provides more grant support to GLBT organizations than aW other nongay foundation in the U.S. Foreman was at the Task Force for five years and is credited with grmving the staff to 54 full-timers and doubling the organizanon’s budget to $10 million. "I’m incredibly privileged to have had this job for the last five years, and to have been paid to be gay for the last 18," Foreman said in an interview. "There are so many people who give their hearts and souls to our movement without any compensation or for ridiculously low salaries, and that certainly includes LGBT journalists. ’Tm also overwhelmed with pride in our people," he said. "One thing I hear a lot in my travels is: ’There’s no such thing as a gay community. No one’s on the same page. In a few years we’ll all be assimilated, etc., etc.’ I couldn’t disagree more. "Name me one community -- or family, for that matter -- where everyone agrees and everyone gets along. That’s not community, but banality.... No, there’s no monolithic gay community, but there are dozens and dozens of communities within our larger movement and they’re accomplishing amazing things every day. There’s community everywhere I go -- some purely social, others religious, others political, others professional. "While we do have a very, very long way to go, the fact that we’ve made so much progress while being such a tiny minority and against such mighty opponents is, to me, proof positive that we do indeed have a vibrant people and community." Wockner News Service PlanetOut to selll Advocate, Out, Myson, porn mags PlanetOut Inc. is selling The Advocate and Out magazines -- as well as The Out Traveler, HIVPlus, three porn magazines and book publisher Alyson Publications -- to an affiliate of the gay TV network here! for $6 million. The sale price is far !ess than the $31.1 million PlanetOut Inc. paid for the magazines and book compaW when it bought LPI Media Inc. and SpecPub Inc. in 2005. PlanetOut Inc. reported a loss of $51.2 million last year. The company xvill continue to own and operate Gay.com and PlanetOut.com. In January, PlanetOut Inc. "retained Allen & Company, LLC to assist the company in evaluating strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of the company," a press release said. The corporation also announced in January "that it will no longer be providing quarterly or annual earnings guidance and will not hold quarterly earnings calls." The porn magazines included in the sale to Regent Releasing and Unzipped. A fourth SpecPub Inc. porn magazine, known as [2], has ceased publication, but the sale will include the trademark "[2]," PlanetOut Inc. CEO Karen Magee said via e-mail. Obama grants interview to Advocate Under fire for not speaking with local and regional gay cations, presidential candidate Barack Obama sat down for an interviexv with Advocate.corn on April 10. "The gay press may feel like I’m not giving them enough love. But basically, all press feels that xvay at times;’ Obama said. "Obviously, when you’ve got limited amount of time, you’ve got so many oudets. We tend not to do a whole bunch of specialized press.... But I haven’t been silent on gay issues. What’s happened is, I speak oftentimes to gay issues to a public general audience" Obama said he supports passage of a federal law protecting transgender people from discrimination but he’s not sure there’s support in Congress for the move. A bill outlawing job discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals has passed the House of Representatives and is pending in the Senate. "I have been clear about my interest in including gender identity in legislation, but I’ve also been honest ~vith the groups that I’ve met with that it is a heavy lift through Congress," he said. "\Ve’ve got some Democrats who are willing to vote for a non-inclusive bill but we lose them on an inclusive bill, and we just may not be able to generate the votes" Obama said he understands gay people’s frustration with candidates such as himself(and Hillary Clinton) who support, civil-union but not marriage for same-sex couples,’ I strongly respect the right ofsamesex couples to insist that even ifwe got complete equality in benefits, it still wouldn’t be equal because the same ~vord, marriage, assigned to it; he said. "I understand that, 3ective is also the broader ,olitical and ’ historical context in which I’m opera ing" MORE PAGE 27 www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 13 Rata Esparza Slays ’Era in 2518 Eventually, all the Broadway stars try their tuck in Hollywood. And it Was just ~ matter of time before Raul Esparza, the han&ome Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award winner (both for _Company_ and TabooL wandered west. Xhe bisexual actor has already fom~.d success on the small screen, cast m a recurring ro!e on A Cs h,t Pushing Daisies. BUt n~w he ma.v be s,tepping wlay outside the feel-good box he ~ been in - hes in t~ to play a s~riaI killer in Wes Craven~ latest ~een-horror fihm, 2518. Concerning a group 0fkids being stalked by a killer believed to have died on the birthday they share in common, the film will co’star teenage collies 0 pe ) and Shareeka epps (Half-Nelson). No production or release dates yet, but the scary stuffis due to shoot soon. Gay Cast Populates C vas Shifting the Canvass. an indie drama due m rackJe the complicated lives of a group of BrooMyn friends aAer 9/11. has cast several ~:aces fan~iliar to queer audiences. notably up-and-coming gay actor Cheyem~e Ja4k~on. t~t seen on film as rugby player M~k Bingha~n in United 93, and cur~endy on Broadway in the hit music~ 3~adu, Jackson will star as a heterosexuN W~ Srree~ executive involved with a group of gay ffien&. Rounding out the c~st is ~& in ~e HNI alum Scott "~,ompson, ~ well as John Paul Pimc (best remembered ~ the hotW go-go boy in N’icD and Gedde Watanabe (last seen reD,lart~ as a gay nurse on ER, but forever kmown as ’Long D~ Dong" from SNteen CanNes). ~le film rolls in June and promises ~meos ~- several ~-yevunn~ed New ~brk ni~tti~e personalties. Cosby Goes to Jail Moore kmows how hard it is for an ; a break from the business so lately she~ been a low-risk comeback? Get on indie-film bus. And that’s exacdy what he’s been doing, recently starring in the .’ist drama Flawless with Michael Caine. nd now set to shoot gay writer-director from a d~tchell Llchtenste~ns (Teeth) latest film. mate Happy Tears. She’s i~ good compan> ~oo, ~ih~e-fitm veteran P~ker Posey has signed taste, ,n toplay lvloore’s younget sibling. ~2ne kama focuses on the two estranged sisters me selfLaggrandizing, the other bitter and ~dn~) as they re-establish their relationlip and deal with their elderly father’s progressive dementia. Shooting now in 2010. i~hiiadelphia, look for the happiness sometim~ in 2009. who finds herself Notably up-and-coming gay actor Cheyenne Jack,on. Photo: By Ben Strothmann 14 the STAR wv~,.ozarksstar.com Brief history from around the There is a lot to learn about this versatile wine. There are plenty ofgood Rieslings to taste. Let~ start with Australian offerings. They are noted fbr their oily- texture and citrus fruit flavors in their youth and a smooth balance of freshness and acid as they age. New Zealand Riesling was first planted in the 1970s and has flourished in the relatively cool climate of the Marlborough area. In comparison to Australian Riesting, New Zealand produces lighter and more delicate wines that range from sweet to dry. ][n Cati~brnia, Riesling lags far behind in popularity to Chardonnay ~d is not as commonly planted. A notable exception is opment ofhigh quality Late Harvest So i]~r, the Late Harvest wines produced are in the Anderson Valleys (north of Santa Rosa) where is more likely to encourage dte needed botutis develop. ~ae Riesling that does ~ fornia tends to be softer, fuller, a diverse flavors than a "tTpical" ~ ofBonW Doon, F Mountain A~v~& with dedicated completely to With high acidity and peach has deveto area is re t facility [, citric, With German Riesling, of ~vine Pr~dikat (QmP) PRAY-dee-kahq. It is the defined by the 1971. ,nit New York, particularly in ~e Finger Lakes region, was one ofthe eaMiest U.S, producers ofPdesling. Plantings started to appear in California by 1857 and fbllowed in xNSshington State in 1871. New ~tbrk Riesling generally has a characteristic effervescent light body with a similarly light, mellow flavor, The wine can be dynamic though rarely robust, and ranges from dry to sweet. New York is also a notable producer ofRiesling based Ice Wine, although a large majority ofNew ~%rk ke Wine is made from Vidal Blanc and Vigno~es. In the Pacific Northwest there is a stark contrast in Riesling production. ~Ihe grape is currently on the rise in ~VZ~shington State but on the decline in neighboring Oregon. Pdesling from this area ranges from dr?" to sweet, m~d has a crisp lighmess that bodes well for e~sy drin~ng. Often there will be an easily detectable peach and mineral complex. Some Washington State winemakers, such as Chateau Ste. Michelle, are adapting Germau-style There are six subcategories categor?; ranked from determine various levels .are: K)~BINE~, SP/&TLESE BEEI?J);NAUSLESE, EISWEIN, ENBEERENAUSLESE. Each care fined by a minimum sugar content of the which varies {::rotn region to region. The focus sugar content embodies the theoW that grapes with bdgher sugar levels are riper and therefore yield richer wines with deep colors and intense flavors. Although Riesling is best known from Germa- W’s Mosel-Saa>Rmver, Pfalz, Rheinhessen and Rheingau m:eas, wines from Alsace and Austria attain equal greatness. France’ Alsace’s are coveted for their high sugar levels and endless aging abili9~. Food Paring Riesling is a versatile wine for pairing with food because ofits balance ofsugar and acidity: tt can ~ paired with Thai and Chinese cuisine and various Rieslingproduction methods, and even parmering . types ofdishes prepared more on the spicy side. with well&~own German vinmers like Dr. Ernest One can also enjoy this wine with spicy ham, Loosen to create specialty wines such as the Eroig~ pork with pineapple chutney, stir-fried snow peas Riesling, with spicy shrimp, crab, turkey, barbequed or www.ozarksstar.com smoked meats, . white sausages, crab cakes gouda & grwere~ :this wine can be paired as an cake, apples/pears, caramel/ wmilla ice creaan, Schm~ Sohne Relax ’06 Job JOS P~Urn/Spatlese ’04 Jakob Dem~er/Kabinett ’06 ~ ’06 Pacific Rim Califor- Series Australia ’06 And as always, I say go to your favorite wine shop, ask questions and purchase a bottle or two. Share some food & wine with friends and check this out for yourself. Vlr. D also hosts wine & food events known in town as the Wine Enthusiasts of Tulsa. References include: the ABC’s of wine by James Laube/vcww.WineSpectator.com ,#~,~v.FoodandWine.com www.Wikipedia.org the STAR 15 HOST HOTEL 801 South Meridian Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73108 ¯35-9~2-1400 ¯ 1-877-STAY-HGI OVER FLOW HOTEL 1511 NW Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK 73118 405-840-5557 by Donald Pile and Ray Williams Campbell Street, Springfield, MO Early 1900’s ~ormany years, Springfield, Missouri has gotten a bad rap fi’om the gay and lesbian community all over the country. Even many of our straight friends have been hesitant about visiting Springfield. Like many cities in the "Bible Belt", Springfield has had in the past a reputation for being extremely conservative and even homophobic. Well, readers, things have CHANGED and for the better ! At the invitation of the Springfield, Missouri Convention & Visitors Bureau we visited Springfield last month. They showed us their beautiful city, their museums, attractions, galleries, dining options and we must admit that we are now in love with Springfield, Missouri and we lmow that all of our gay and lesbian readers from coast to coast will also be. Springfield, Mo. is a very "vibrant and alive" city and everybody is welcome. As our readers kmow, we are a "very out’ gay couple and we were shown the highest respect everywhere we went in Springfield. There are gays and lesbians working in every field of employment in Springfield and nearly all of them are "out". MaW of the large National companies at first were hesitant to move their offices and headquarters to Springfield but things have changed and for a variety of reasons. We want to thank so many of the younger gays and lesbians that we met while we were in Springfield for their honesty and hard work that to made this happen. Now with that being said, let us tell you about the "new and improved" Springfield, Missouri. With a population of over 420,000 for metropolitan Springfield, it is the third largest city in the State and offers an unbelievable array of surprises for any traveler. When so many cities in the country are down-sizing and doing nothing to improve their cities, the Springfield, Mo. community has grown in every ~vay imaginable in their arts, business, sports, shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Their "new and improved" downtown area is something that most cities can only dream about. All within walking distance you can admire the works of local and regional artists in more than 15 galleries, artist’s studios and other venues where you can encounter sculpture, pottery, paintings, jewelry, photography and hand blown glass demonstrations. In addition you have a choice of wonderful restaurants, coffee shops and cafes to dine. In Springfield, they MADE it happen! Springfield has over 6,000 hotel/motel rooms and over 600 dining options. So whatever you are into, you will find it in Springfield! Metropolitan Springfield has so much to offer in the way of attractions, historical places to visit and things to see. FANTASTIC CAVERNS is a must see for any first time visitor to Springfield. They open daily at 8 AM until dusk. You ride thru this ancient underground cave that has massive formations. The tour is 50 minutes and your driver will explain the entire history of the cave to you. THE SPRINGFIELD ART MUSEUM is the permanent home for some 8,500 art objects representing thousands of years of culture. They are open Tuesday thru Sunday and are located at 111 E. Brookside Dr. The SPRINGFIELD LITTLE THEATRE at the historic Landers Theatre is Missouri’s oldest and largest civic theatre. This season includes Gypsy, ATuna Christmas, the Miracle Worker and Seussical to name just a few of their productions. "WILD BILL" HICKOK SHOOTOUT SITE in Park Central Square, right downtown is the site of the nations first recorded shootout and helped solidify the reputation ofWild Bill. Look for the marker on 18 theSTAR www.ozarksstar.com Stage coach terra cotta on Springfidd garage. East. Markers are also located in the street showing where each man stood during the shoot out. The RAILROAD HISTORICAL Museum, 1300 No. Grant Ave. is dedicated to the preservation of railroading and you can step into a locomotive, commuter car and caboose. The MISSOURI SPORTS HALL OF FAME, 3861 E. Stan Musial Drive includes thousands of sports memorabilia, exhibits and displays and of course the Springfield Cardinals Baseball team which is the Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals and plays at Hammonds Field. Bass Pro has their big store at !935 South Campbell Ave with everything imaginable in the sports line. Tired of seeing everything yet? Well, Springfield offers a lot more things to see! The AIRAND MILITARY Museum of the Ozarks is a "hands-on" museum of military history. They are located at 2305 E. Kearney St. The Brown Derby Store at 2023 S. Glenstone offers a world-class wine selection unmatched in the Midwest. The Commercial Street Historical District (between \Vashington Ave. and Lyon Ave. is a self-guided tour which is a 6 block adventure. With a seasonal farmers market, chocolate factory, the city’s oldest tavern, new micro-brewery, antiques/art galleries, this is a great walking tour. DICKERSON PARK ZOO, 1401 W. Norton Road allows visitors to get up dose with hundreds of animals. DISCOVERY CENTER is an interactive hands-on science center and is located downtown at 438 E. St. Louis St. The TENT THEATRE is celebrating their 45th season this summer. This summer’s productions include Cyrano de Bergerac, June 11-14 and June 16-21, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, June 25-28, June 30-July 3, and our favorite, Anything Goes with lyrics and music by Cole Porter, July 9-12, July 14-20. The Theatre and Dance Department at Missouri State University in Sprinbffield offers a wide range of theatre and dance programs. But the most important time we had in Springfield during our recent visit there was the "DOWNTOWN AREA". The "new:" dmvntmvn area is FABULOUS !!!!! Check out their wonderful website at www.itsalldowntown. corn \re particularly enjoyed having breakfast at Galley’s Breal’~ast Care downtown at 220 East Walnut. The setting is a wonderful old nostalgic care of the past but yet has new and innovative delicious food with service to match. The owners and staff are doing it EXACTLY RIGHT! This is the only place to have breakfast in Springfiel!! Nonna’s Italian American Care, 306 South Avenue is wonderful. Although they offer non-Italian choices, why bother? Their Italian menu is what it is all about. And it is GOOD! Our best dining experience for dinner was at the Kai Restaurant, 306 South Campbell. This new downtown restaurant is one of the finest in the country with great atmosphere, The Gay and Lesbian Center of the Ozarks, 518 E. CommerciaI Street in Springfield supports the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in the greater Springfield, Missouri region by organizing and sponso> ing community activities and by increasing public understanding and appreciation of LGBT citizens. Josh Comp is the President and is doing a magnificent job. Their phone number is 417-869-3978. They organize Pridefest and help organize the annual variety show, the Queen City Cabaret. They are close partners with FOCUS - LGBT professionals group and with APO, Blossom women’s group, the First Sunday Community Potluck. They provide free professional counseling through the Forest Institute. They have an Individual and Community Services Advocate who provides services to the community and have a youth group program for LGBT youth which meets once a week and every fourth Friday. They provide an outlet for many social and support groups. They have been operating since !996 and are one of the oldest Gay and Lesbian Centers in the State. Volunteers are always needed so give them a call and donate a couple hours a week. For nightlife, they have the new CLUB 821 that is getting a lot of attention throughout the entire Midwest. ~xey are located at 821 West College, just 8 blocks West of the downtown area and NEVER A COVER ! (vavw.club821.corn) and phone (417) 866-4821 Their hours are Monday thru Saturday, 4 PM to 1 AM. and happy hour is daily 4 PM to 7 PM. This bar just Photo: Donald Pie, Rob Bel (owner Club 821) & Ray Williams at Club 821, Springfield, ~Ossouri great service and extremely great food. Continuedpage 27 www.ozarksstar.com {HeSTAR 19 of By Andrew Collins Town Bakimore, Maryland Baltimore’s mostpopular lesbian bar, Sapphos, is ])art ofthe bustling Grand Central €*lu~ in the heart ofthe Mount Vernon neighborhood. (Photo by Andrew Collins) If you haven’t been to Baltimore in a while, you owe yourself a visit. This friendly, unassuming city has experienced a virtual rebi,~h over the past 15 years, rehabilitating its handsome Inner Harbor by converting dilapidated piers and ,vharves into museums, shops, restaurants, hotels, and condominiums. Often featured in the movies ofcamp filmmaker and native son John \V-aters, Baltimore has also developed increased cachet as a welcoming gay and lesbian destination, with its many GLBT-ffiendly businesses. Fortunately, the ci.ty’s success hasn’t gone to its head. It’s hard to find a more genuine and down-to-earth breed of urbanites than the residents of Baltimore, who retain a special affection for their hometown. You may be lured to Baltirnore by the many highly publicized attractions set around downtown’s Inner Harbor, and indeed most of these museums and entertainment centers live up to their billing. But be sure to save rime to explore the man), quirky- residential neighborhoods, a few of which - Mount Vernon, Federal Hill, Fells Point - are within easy walking distance of downtown. The Inner Harbor thrived for years as a shipping crossroads before falling into a state of blight. Its conversion into an entertainment and museum district has made it one of the most engaging and picturesque harbors in America. Popular attractions include the glassenc! osed Harborplace pavilions, where you can browse through dozens of shops. Also che& out the Baltimore Maritime Museum, National Aquarium, and World Trade Center (which offers fine views from its 27th-floor observation decD. A regal grassy knoll south of the harbor, Federal Hill Park rises majestically above downtox~qa, and the Inner Harbor. It’s an ideal spot to laze under the sun on warm afternoons. The surrounding eponymous neighborhood has loads of inviting cafes and bars, and the neighborhood’s American Visionary Art Museum ingeniously blends two historic -warehouses within a striking contemporary structure. East of the Inner Harbor, Fells Point may be America’s best-preserved Cx3lonial waterfront, with its perfectly maintained Federa!-sryle town houses, Baltimore’s gay epicenter ties north of downtown in historic Mount Vernon, which you reach by strolling north from the Inner Harbor up the city’s backbone, Charles Street. The neighbothood is anchored by Mount Vernon Square and its 178-foot-high Washington /vlonument. Nearby are the outstanding Waiters Art Museum and the Peabody Conservatory of Music, the oldest and one of the most prestigious classical music schools in the country. kbffll need to drive or take a bus up Charles Street to reach the leaf), 140-acre campus ofJohns Hopkins University, which is ideal for strolling and is next to the state’s largest museum, the Baltimore Museum ofArt. West ofJohns Hopkins, Hampden is a good oldfashioned "Ba~vl’mer" neighborhood, a former mill-workers’ community that has more recently developed a bounty of hip boutiques, galleries, and cafes. (John Waters, who lives nearby, occasionally strolls these parts and set his movie _Pecker_ here.) \Vhen you’re craving a memorable meal, remember that Baltimore’s cooking is full of flavor - the city- even has its o,vn spice, Old Bay Seasoning, a feisty, concoction of 16 seasonings sprinkled mostly on shellfish but required by some locals on seemingly everything but ice cream. If you’re on the run, iust wander through the copious food stalls in the Harborplace pavilions. It may look like a zoo of tourists, but yoffd be surprised how many locals graze here. Many of these places offer top-notch local seafood - particularly oysters, clams, and Chesapeake Bay blue crabs. Walk a bit south ro Federal Hill, along South Charles or Light streets, and you’ll find dozens of appealing eateries, including one of the best little restaurants in the city~ the Bicycle Bistro, where you might dine on grilled rack of lamb with a pineapple-poblano-pepper chutney, or porcini-crusted sea scallops. East of the harbor, there’s superb dining in the city’s Little Italy (Boccaccio, with such seasonal delights as local clams and mussels in a pernod-tomato broth, is a particular standout), and in nearby Fells Point, talented chef Nancy Longo helms the kitchen at Pierpoint, which is known for such inventive contemporary regional fare as smoked crab cakes, and ftied Maryland chicken breast with parmesan grits. Mount Vernon has dozens of excellent, gay-popular restaurants. At nile high end, opulently decorated Ixia scores high marks for its wellchosen wine list and superbly rendered cuisine, including grilled baby octopus with lemon-fennel confit, and lobster-crab mac-andcheese with a creamy Fontina sauce. Across the street, Sacha’s is a great spot for toothsome grazing - the many "small plates" include crisp french fries in a cone with Old Bay-seasoned creme fraiche, 20 t~®STAR www.ozarksstar.com and fried green tomatoes topped vdth lump crab meat. Continue up Charles Street and yoff!l come to trendy Donna’s, a cheerful and modern space where an arts)- crowd mingles over light salads, roasted veggie sandwiches, fresh coffee, and fantastic tiramisu. %e Hdmand has become renowned }br its spics; well-prepared kd~han food (it’s owned by the brother ofA~hanistan’s president, Harold Kharzai), and Motmt Vernon Stable and Saloon is a perfect late-night venue for chicken wings, sandwiches, burgers, ribs, and similarly comforting pub standar~Is. Finally, don’t miss City Care. an airy and inviting iava joint that also serves food and wine. property" ~ns kudos ~br its helpful service, romantically decorated roo~s, ~d afternoon tea and refreshments. In Mount Vernon, the historic 1924 Clarion Peabody Court, with its 104 handsomely outfitted rooms, enthusiastically welcomes gay and lesbian travelers. You’ll ~e ~ town house bars. Other esteemed in Dy- Canton. This stunner Make the trip a bit north toward Johns Hopkins to reach Ixia’s sister restaurant, the lovably kitschy Paper Moon Diner, which is open choice. Near here in the Hampden neighborhood is the notable for the massive pink flamingo dangling from the front of the btfilding (not to mention tasty comfort fare like Belgian wanes topped with fresh berries, and famously good meatlo~). There’s als0 great coffee to be sipped nearby at Common Ground coffeehouse, and delicious Mexican food served within the funky confines of Holy Frijoles. appreciate one of the ci~’s Baltimore gay-bar-goers congregate mostly at a handful of mainstays. Yuppies and stand-and-model types flock almost religiously to Gr~d Ceiatral, a large, multi-level complex that consists ofa video lounge, dance bar, billiards room, and outdoor deck. Also on-site is the s[vanky lesbian bar, Sapphos, with its comfy living-room-esque decor and soft lighting. ~£ other major club i~i the n’eighborhood is Club Hippo, whose r~putation for gr~at music draws a wide mix of revelers, ga34 straight, old, and young. It’s a great place to cut loose, especially on Thursday and Saturday nights. When it gets late, the party moves to Club 1722, an 18-and-over ~er-hours club open on Fridays and Saturdays into the ~ee- hours. The,tiki-themed Coconuts Caf~ is another Mr. Vernon hangout thats popular xvith lesbians, while Club Bunns caters heavil~ to Baltimore’s sizable African-kanerican gay community and has a legendary happy hour. Leather aficionados head a few blocks up Charles to the Eagle, which, though lacking any serious back-room action, nevertheless cultivates as racy, an atmosphere as any bar in town. A classic dive that’s been serving the gay community for more than 60 years (longer, say" some, than [my bar in America), Leon’s is especially popular late on weekend evenings. Nearby Jay’s on Read is ~ das~ i~ia~o bar, and Club Phoenix is a laid-back neighborhodd hangout with a small dance area and some highly entertaining drag sho~s. In Federal Hill, the Rowan Tree is a friendly neighbor~iood spot with an eclectic crowd, and over in the up-and-coming Canton section ofBaltimore, The Quest caters to fans of go-go dancers. Baltimore hotels have become slightly more expensive over the years, as the city has become a serious tourist and convention destination, but rates are still much lower than in nearby Washington, D.C. Most visitors choose properties near the Inner Harbor, dose to great restaurants and attractions. An excellent option here is the Pier 5 Hotel, a hip and lively boutique property with whimsically decorated, spacious rooms, many directly facing the Inner Harbor. The same owners run the elegant, historic (and allegedly haunted) Admiral Fells Inn in nearby Fells Harbor - this charming old-world www.ozarksstar.com heSTAR 21 KAI REffAURANT & AFTER DARK LOUNGE Missouri For an absolutely fabtflous dining experience we highly suggest you try the new KAI RESTAURANT. It is located in the new and revitalized downtown area at 306 South Campbell. From the moment you walk thru the front door you will KNOW that you are in for a very special treat. Downstairs they have the KAI After Dark Lounge which has a very eclectic modern decor. Xhey have terrific bartenders who know how to serve every kind of drink imaginable. But the real treat is going upstairs to the KAI Restaurant where they serve "Modern Japanese Cuisine" in an unbelievable setting. ~he restaurant is dark, sexy, exciting, exotic and absolutely spectacular! Go to their website’s gallery to see for yourself. We haven’t been anywhere in the Midwest that can possibly compare to our dining experience there. Our server was extremely knowledgeable as to what was on the menu and offered good suggestions. He was a true professional. We started offwith the "Hot Rock" which is one of the restaurant’s specialties. It came with thinly sliced rare top sirloin woked on a hot stone presentation. You put one slice at a time on the sizzling hot stone and it cooks in seconds. Dip it into the sauce and you have some of the finest appetizers that we have ever had. Other Kai specialities included their Kuslyaki Filet, Kobe Beef Carpaccio and their Spicy Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps. ~hey offer a full range of soups and salads including their Kai salad, Ika Sansai Salad, Seaweed Salad, Tri Tuna Salad and their Honey Walnut Mango Chicken Salad. For their entrees they offer everything from Teriyaki to black cod, sea bass to New York Strip, Filet Mignon and Kai Surf and Turf. Other entrees included Seven Samurai with seven kinds of fish on top of a California Roll, Drunken Tiger which is spicy tuna with asparagus wrapped with grilled tuna, Fantastic Four, with shrimp tempura, crab, spice tuna with fried eel on top. For desserts they offer a wide choice for any pallet including Irish chocolate cake, banana chocolate spring rolls, creme brulee, tiramisu and cheesecake. Xhe table next to us had been coming back almost every week since they opened. They get a lot of diners who came back again and again and again just because this restaurant knows how to do things the right way! It is just that simple! Kai Restaurant is in an old downtown building that they completely remodeled to perfection. We know that with all their professionalism that they will be in business for many years. When traveling around the country we find that so many restaurants try to copy each other and the Kai Restaurant is itself and it’s own creation and that is what makes it so special. By the way, their prices are extremely reasonable. No trip to Springfield, Mo. would be complete if you don’t have a wonderful dining experience at the Kai Restaurant. Their hours are Monday thru Saturday, 5:00 PM to 1:15 AM. For reservations call 417-832- 0077 and check out their website, www.kaiafterdark.com. People go to a restaurant not only to dine but to have a fabtflous dining experience and trust us on this one, you will have a "beyond fabulous" dining experience. When you get the best and innovative decor, great food and great service, you know you have found the perfect place! Congratulations to the owners and stafffor making the KAI Restaurant so special. 22 theSTAR www.ozarksstar.com "While we beat our chests and proclaim ourselves the xvorld’s largest superpower, it is foolish to expect that we Americans, with only 6 percent of the world’s population, can automatically impose our xv~ll on everyone else." [p. 25] "... [~he...war in Iraq has led to a devastaring drop in world approval of the United States and sharp divisions between Muslim and Non-Muslim communities. It has provided more recruits for anti-American terrorist organizations, cost American taxpayers billions of dollars, and above all, caused loss of human life on a tragically large scale. A failure to understand the culture and history of other parts of the world has exacted a great price." ~. 28] "We cannot afford the toll that multiple Iraq-like mistakes would take on America, especially as we deal xvith emerging nations whose power and influence will become great as time passes." [p. 29] "Preemptive military engagements in the absence of an act of war against us have not proven successful. Vietnam and Iraq are dramatic examples." [p. 41] Source: David Boren, A Letter to America (2008). Norman, OK : University of Okla. Press. "Forty other countries now have a higher life expectancy than the United States, in no small part because 45 million Americans have no health insurance. When ~vill we act?" [p. 7] "... [I]t is morally imperative that we provide universal health coverage for all Ameficans... We must not rule out considering a new approach that moves away from the current employer-based system...Those who have health insurance are already paying the costs for the uninsured, who often end up in hospital emergency rooms...The uninsured wait to get help until they reach a medical crisis. This drives costs higher. There is no excuse for another presidential term to end without implementing universal health insurance." [p.p. 84-5] Source: David Boren, A Letter to America (2008). Norman, OK : University of Okla. Press. rodeo. Very often they do. It’s a lot of hard work, it is very rewarding, but every year right after the Rodeo ends we start planning for the next one. Victor: Do straight people still sometimes get thrown by the idea of a gay cowboy? Klint: They don’t associate what they perceive to be a masculine lifestyle to be a part of how they perceive the gay lifestyle. So in part we are educating the public as a whole, and even still some parts of the gay community, that we come from every facet of life. Victor: So what’s in store for this year? Klint: We have a great reputation, one of the largest rodeos of the IGRA system. We have a new rodeo director from Florida, Jim Mitchell and Assistant directors Travis Parker ofOGRA & Michael Fontenot of Florida. We’re doing all kinds of promotions not only in Oklahoma but also surrounding states, and we expect people from all parts of the country. This year we are hosting the I.G.R.A.’s Board of Directors Meeting, so trustees from all of their rodeo associations throughout the United States and Canada will be here. As with tradition, all we donate stays in Oklahoma. This year we are helping out two major charities, Other Options and Rain Oklahoma. Victor: So who should join OGRA? Does one have to be a rancher or cowboy? Klint: We have many members who have never ridden a horse or worked with cattle. We welcome people who many walks of life who embrace cowboys and western heritage. As we raise money for our community, we need talented people who want to help us make a difference. Victor: I think that’s an invitation. Thanks for all you and OGRA do for gay Oklahoroans, including our cowboys and cowgirls, and we can look forward to another great event. VOTER I~GISTRATION Voter registration applications may be submitted at any time. However, a valid application must be received at a motor license agency or a designated voter registration agency, or postmarked (if submitted by mail), more than 24 days prior to an election in order for the applicant to participate in that election. Deadlines for submitting valid voter registration applications prior to the 2008 statewide elections are as follows: Primary Election Friday, July 4 - Registration Deadline Tuesday, July 29 - Election Runoff Primary Election Friday, August 1 - Registration Deadline Tuesday, August 26 - Election General Election Friday, October 10 - Registration Deadline Tuesday, November 4 - Hection CHANGES IN POLITICAL AFFILIATION Changes in political affiliation may not be made during the period from June 1 through August 31, inclusive, in any even-numbered year. The last day on which a change in political affiliation can be made before the closed period is May 31; the first day on which a change in political affiliation can be made after the closed period is September 1. OTHER IMPORTANT DATES Last day to request absentee ballot for July 29 Primary Hection Wednesday, July 23 Vote early at your County Hection Board office Friday, July 25, 8 AM - 6 PM Saturday, July 26, 8 AM - 1 PM Monday, July 28, 8 AM - 6 PM Candidate Filing for federal, state, legislative and county offices June 2 - 4 wvcw.ok, gov/-elections/index.html www.ozarksstar.com theSTAR 23 Photo’s by Victor G. & Judy G. @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa @ Steve’s Hideaway, Tulsa @Club Majestic, Tulsa 24 @ The Ledo, Oklahoma City @ The Copa, Oklahoma City @Angles, Oklahoma City @ Finishline, Oklahoma City Democratic U£. senate candidate (currently State Senator) Andrew Rice with Richard Ogden Chairperson Cimarron Alliance Foundation at a fantastic fundraiser at Ogden’s home. By Greg Steele on the prowl victor G06~ ~e~nt~ O~l~h;ma C0rpora~ tion Commissioner Jim R6tha plaque with a 45 of one is his favodte inspirations, Dion’s "Abraham Martin & Johi~2 ~e 84 & Robin Dorner with The City S~Ni~i atthe fundraiser for State Senator Andrew Rice! Marlett is runn ng aga nst the nfamous sai ~ I(em. State Representative A! McAffrey with Oklahbrna County Democratic Party co-chair Elle~ Ste~SS : at Oklahoma City fundraiser for McAffrey. www.ozarksstar.com By Ronald Blake ho wants to see you achieve health, fitness, and overall well-being? It seems like everyone wants to see you fit into that smaller size of pants or cut back on your smoking. We live in a soci.ety where it is horrible to think that people die. You need to take advantage of this munificence of the masses. Government agencies are always watching out for you. The FDA is monitoring what medications are safe for your consumption. The FAA will not let you fly with Joe Camel smoke swirling aimlessly around the cabin. The CDC monitors the incidences ofWest Nile virus outbreaks in all the 50 states. Your local agency on aging center will even see to it that you have a fan or air conditioner to place in your window ifyou can’t afford to buy one. Your taxes are ~vorking to help you after all. Restaurants and fast food establishments are even seeking to give you healthier food. Subway leads the pack of retailers by offering you groovy grinders and showcasing the slimmed down Jared as proof of eating right. Numerous restaurants are shrinking their portion sizes and now only offering enough to satisfy one hippopotamus’ appetite. Applebee’s is one example of this sensible change. They even charge a little less for this good idea. Gosh, even Hamburglar and Grimace are putting apple slices in Happy Meals. There are not-for-profit agencies out there that are a website away from accessing information for better health. The American Lung Association will tell you where to find smoking cessation classes. The Cancer Society will tell you when you should get a pap smear, colorectal check, skin screening, and breast exam. There are support groups for autism, anger management, gambling addictions, mental illnesses, and many more. If you can Google it, it is out there waiting to be uncovered by you. Even money-hungry Hollywood types have your best interests in mind. "Supersize Me" was that documentary about McDonalds and the Big Mac that put the fast-food giant into a Dow Jones suicide watch. The behemoth hamburger franchiser changed their menu in response to this fat-laden epiphany. Michael Moore took on the health care industry and all the cigar-chomping politicos inside the Beltway in his documentary "Sicko". He exposed the Swiss cheese health coverage we have for the denizens of this great land. There have even been movies like a "Beautiful Mind" and "Rain Man" that have shown a superb story but have also given us a better understanding of health issues like mental illnesses. Finally, we even have philanthropists like Bill Gates, Oprah, Bono, and numerous others who are giving money to charities to improve the lives of others. These methods include education and training. Education is one of the greatest factors affecting poor health. More educated individuals are less likely to smoke, drink, or engage in drug activity than those individuals who lack a proper education. If you want to achieve it, you must seek it. It should not be difficult; there is assistance around every corner. Excuses are around every corner too. Choose your corner carefully. This health and fitness coltunn is brought to you by that guy who has an analog mind in a digital world. That guy is Ron Blake and he can be shaken from his reverie at w~wv.goblakefitness.com. 26 t~÷STAR w~vw.ozarksstar.com SPRINGFIELD, MO. opened last October and has quickly become extremely popular. Why? Because of the owner and staff. Rob knows how to treat customers and has hired a very professional staff. Michelte, the bar manager is the kind of bartender that everybody wants. She is fun, funny, lively, interesting, professional and you can tell that she really enjoys her job. Why can’t all bartenders across the country be like this? The other bartenders there are great also. We found everybody in this bar to be extremely friendly. How many times have you walked into a bar only to be sitting at the bar all by yourself and no one talks to you. Trust us, it won’t happen in this bar! Another fun place is JR’s Nightclub, 504 E. Commercial, (417) 864-2823. This is the bar "where men are comfortable, but everyone is welcome". They are open Monday thru Saturday, 5 to 1:30 AM and Sunday, 2 PM to midnight. When you walk in, people either know you or they don’t and if they don’t know you, they will shortly. Everyone is friendly. The bartenders and owner are friendly. After a couple of drinks you will know everybody in the bar. And isn’t that the idea of going to a bar, to meet other people? JR’s is the only bar in Springfield that is open on Sundays. Other places to visit are Martha’s Vineyard and Latin Vibes which features special gay shows on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. If your needing to get around the city, contact Fisk Limousines, www.fisklimo.com or give them a call at 417.862.2900. They give the best service in the entire Midwest. Springfield, Missouri is indeed a city with a great future. They want EVERYONE to visit their beautiful city. We did and we certainly enjoyed our stay there as we know that all of our readers will. The Convention & Visitors Bureau has one of the best websites in the nation, www.springfieldadventures. com. Be sure and check it out. Our thanks to Susan Wade, Public Relations Manager, Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. She is simply "the Best of the Best" and so professional, and to Mark Templeton of Springfield. Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! NATIONAL NEV S NoY. governor .snpports same-sex marrmge New York Gov. David Patterson said April 7 that he supports legalization of same-sex marriage. Speaking by video link to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s awards dinner in Manhattan, Patterson said: "We xvill push on and bring full marriage equality to New York state. And when xve have done that, xve’re going to do more. We’re going to protect young people from bullies. We’re going to protect against the discrimination of people in the transgender community, and xve’re going to fight for decent and affordable health care for all citizens in this state." "If you xvill join with me, and if xve xvork hard enough, xve can change the face of Nexv York, which will be the catalyst to changing national policy," he said. Patterson had planned to attend the dinner but was stuck in Albany dealing with budget problems. www.ozarksstar.com t~:~{~.STAR 27 by Jack Fertig May 2008 "Articulate conflicts, Cancer!" The Sun in Taurus offers the comforts and pleasantries of spring. Now, however, Sol is aspecting asteroid Chiron in Aquarius and new planet Eris, stirring up the question of where to settle down and with whom. Think beyond habits, and be open to surprises! ARIES (March 20 -April 19): Individualist though you are, you belong with some tribe - however awkwardly. A clash of values is inevitable, but not catastrophic. Give yourself room to be not at the center of the group, but at the edge - perhaps even the leading edge. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Your own personality is both a key and an impediment to success. Meditate and talk with a confidante. Issues of fitting in and reconciling different communities in your world seem like complications, but actually point to a solution. GEMINi (May 21 - June 20): You’re too easily tempted into arguments with others.-Better to look within and resolve your own conflicts. Knocking those around with a friend and establishing a philosophical framework are important. Just know that the real debate is internal. CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Time to review that famous "gay agenda." How do your goals and ideals fit in with your immediate queer community and your sense of the broader community? Articulating the conflicts and exploring the issues could put you into a position of leadership. LEO (July 23 -August 22): Your ambitions can easily lead to arguments. That’s OK, as long as the point of the argument is to better understand _what’s_ right, not _who’s_ right. To fix a relationship, try seeing it in a different light. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): New ideas, even those that seem to come way out of left field, can help solve problems at work and with your health. (Chiropractic?) Don’t underestimate possibilities, wacky as they may seem, offered by other GLBT folks. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Rethinking group allegiances and community identity should prove helpful in understanding your sexual potential - not just as a lover, but as an erotic healer. Explore new forms of erotic play and perception. You can do this actively and/or academically. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Some housecleaning, literally or metaphorically, is important to improve your relationship or to help you be ready for one. An eccentric older relative or community elder offers an inspirational role model 28 t~eSTAR SAG~TTAR~US (November 22 = December 20): Team sports or games - anything from charades to rugby - can help you understand your own thought processes, or perhaps learn how to keep your mouth from getting you into trouble. You’ll never get that one perfect, but you can make progress! CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Being a capricious Cappy could get expensive. Entertain members of your family or tribe at home or through some community event, staying ever mindful of your budget. Asking others to contribute can help strengthen your bonds. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Fitting in with your family can be a problem. Imagine that you are adopted and speak a different language. What would you try to say? You wouldn’t want to be just like everyone else, so celebrate your uniqueness, and they’ll love you as you are. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Don’t be afraid to speak your mind. You may expose a few secrets, but that will probably do some good for you and others concerned. Even if there is a price to pay, you will find greater value in speaking up. METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve T. Urie Spirit of Chdst MCC 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Saturdays at 10:00 AM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC of the Living Spring 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! www.ozarksstar.com Support those who support us. DOWNTO\~N PLea ofTULSA 17 West 7th Street Tulsa, OK 918-585-5898 www.downtownplazatulsa.com HABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSXWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 www.habanainn.com KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant ANGLES 2117 NW 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK www.anglesclub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 www.bambooloungetulsa.com CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 www.clubmajestictulsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com STEVES HIDEAWAY LOUNGE 11730 E. 11TH Tulsa, OK 918-437-0449 Open Sun- Sat 2pm to 2am THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESS\rAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NV4 39TH EXPRESS\gAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 ~wv.habanainn.com DIVERSITY CHRISTIAN CNTR CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE 211 S. Garnett Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 74128 Tulsa, OK vavw.realacceptance.com 918-706-1887 GREAT PLAINS RODEO E O. BOX 12485 Oklahoma City, OK 73157 www.ogra.net GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM MCC of the LIVING SPRING 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pm OKC PRIDE, INC PO BOX 60296 Oklahoma City, OK 73146 www.okcpride.org OKLAHOMANS for EQUALITY 621 E 4th Street Tulsa, OK 74120 918-743-4297 www.okeq.org OPENARMS YOUTH PROJECT 2015 -B S. Lake~vood Tulsa, OK 74112 918-838-7104 www. openarmsproject.org OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 KING OF MASSAGE In or Out Calls Oklahoma City, OK 405-314-3898 PHOTOGRAPHY." JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 } CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 www.c21 goldcastle.com GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn DALLAS CVB Dallas, TX www.winatrip.glbtdallas.com Want the STAR delivered to your home or business? 12 issues for $33.95 will be mailed in a sealed envelope the 1 st of each month. Complete the form below and send with a check or moneyorder to: The STAR 5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #133 Tulsa, OK 74145 (Single Copies $3.00 per issue) NAME: Address: City: St:__.Zip:. Phone: Check enclosed Money Order Start Date: www.ozarksstar.com theSTAR 29 Keller Willia Chu~ Whether buying or selling I’1.....1.....~..... work hard fo (d,efinitiqn - growing up GAYin OK is not easy) You can he~p our teens. Support Open Arms Youth Project. For more info: www. openarrnsproject.org e-mail: ~di~o~alCar~oon@q~;yndica~.com 30 theSTAR www.ozarksstar.com ~34 Bourbon St. 04~37!-5450 Torch TW’s-AFAB Catering G L B T G A Z I N K P Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2008] The Star Magazine, May 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 5 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 01, 2008 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Online text PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwestern Missouri Western Arkansas Southeastern Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Star Magazine’s first issue began February of 2005. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004) and The Ozark Star (2004). Follows is The Metro Star (2008). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available star Media, Ltd Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Charles (Chaz) Ward Victor Gorin Greg Steele James Nimmo Joey D. Victor Gorin Romeo San Vicente Andrew Collins Donald Pile Ronald Blake Ray Williams Jack Fertig Liz Higheyman Devre Jackson Judy G. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Star Magazine, April 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 5 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/244 The Star Magazine, June 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 6 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/248 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/250 After Dark Ann Marie Distefano art Bars David Patterson Deep Inside Hollywood dining Equality Gala fitness Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Deformation GLAAD Great Plains Rodeo health horoscopes Leslie Jordan MCC church National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Night club Obama Our House Paparazzi on the Prowl Past Out PlanetOut Inc Q Scopes Quotable Quotes Star Advertisers Star classifieds Star Scene Too travel https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/cb4c2ecd326b5c220d5c850c5fa41f3d.jpg 51e51e5b492cb60d0c8ec2948bb61fba https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/96a70e599aab3808c96164ad04e7ad7f.pdf bf516723dfbb5da9a60a7af3a23a9ac3 PDF Text Text LOCAL NEWS N NATIONAL NEWS N WORLD NEWS N L]FESTYLE ~ FITNESS ~ TRAVEL THE PREMIER SOURCE FOR GLBT ADVICE N ENTERTAI~{EI~ OKLAHOMA More on page-6 VOLUME 7 ISSUE 11 Twitter.com/MetroStarNews ~ MetroStarNews.com FREE 1 NOVEMBER 1,2010 reaches out to GLBT Oldahomans Anti-Gay Speech Prompts Teen Suicide By Victor Gorin Metro Star Team By Jeanne Flanigan Metro Star Team Byrd Act of 2009 which expanded the categories of Federal hate crimes to include gender, disability, and sexual orientation and gender identity. On October 5 a panel discussion was held at Church of the Open Arms which attracted spectators from the GLBT community as well as other social justice groups. Mr. Hamilton introduced the panel, which included Special Agents Jim Windsor and Doug Strait, the Oklahoma City U.S. Attorney’s Office Deputy Criminal Chief Kerri Kelly, and Synthia Demons, a Senior Conciliation Specialist with the U.S. Department of Justice. Kerri Kdly began, pointing out exactly what the expanded Federal Hate Crimes law does and doesn’t do. It does not cover all FBI Special Agentfim V~ndsor Community Forum Speaker at Church of the Open Arms. Gorin photo OKI,~AHOMA CITY, OK __ "Hello, I’m Jim Win&m; I’m with the FBI and I’d like to talk to you." \Vhen Scott Hamilton of the Cimarron Alliance Foundation first heard this telephone introduction, he reacted like most of us would, somewhat apprehensive. What came together was a positive event, showing an increased interest by the Oklahoma office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation about hate crimes against people of the GLBT community. Federal authorities were further empowered by the Matthew Shepard James race, religion, color, national origin) 2. The act is intentional (nor accidental or due to negligence) 3. The act must have caused bodily harm, or a weapon or incendiary device must have be used with the intentional of causing bodily harm 4. The crime must somehow be connected to interstate commerce. The Act does not cover threats or hate speech, which includes vandalism such as anti-gay graffiti. The last provision was somewhat complex and not widely understood by the general ........ Continued See FBI Page-7 Margaret Cox, Don Hawkins and Mick Schirron among those honored at Cimarron A liance Awards Gala By Victor Gorin Metro Star Team OKLAHOMA CITY, OK A lifetime of activist work came together when one of Oldahoma’s City’s most renowned activists won yet another honor for a long legacy of service. The activism of Margaret Cox began with the Washington Urban League in 1964, but since then she has been a fixture not only for GLBT activism but in virtually every avenue of social justice. She has served as the coordinator for the Oklahoma National Organization for Women (NOW) and Metro OKC NOW. She is well known for her work with the Oldahoma Coalition to Abolish the Margaret Cox receives Lifetime Achievement Award. Gorin photo parents’ home in Norman on October 10. Zach had attended the City Council meeting, and had endured more than 3 hours of testimony from Norman citizens regarding the proclamation. While 24 of the 46 speakers were in support of it and given equal time, the people who spoke against it paraded negative, misguided, stereotypes of the LGBT community before the Council. This negativity bothered Zach for days afterward according to his sister, Nikld. Zach had endured bullying and harassment in Norman North High School, recalled his father, Van Harrington. Zach saw the same disrespectful, sometimes hateful, behavior and language used by adults at the Council meeting that night. Mr. Harrington, his wife Nancy; and 7 to 1 ro approve a proclamation declaring October "LGBT History Month." The Norman Human Rights Commission wrote the proclamation after "much deliberation" stated Norman Mayor, Cindy Rosenthal. Co-Founders Kathy Williams and Laura Belmonte of The Equality Network (TEN) made a visit from Tulsa to Norman ro consult with Council members and the Mayor. Emails and newspaper articles declared this a historic moment in Oklahoma. This action gave hope to many that things are changing in the state. And then tragedy struck. Nineteen year old Zach Harrington took his life at his Death Penalty, being arrested countless times for that cause in acts of civil disobedience. She has served as a Board Member and Secretary of the Oklahoma chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, and her GLBT activism began in 1982 when she joined the board of OKC’s Herland Sister Resources. She was a major factor behind that organization growing from small beginnings to the institution it is today serving not only on their board, but also as their-newsletter editor and various officer positions. She had been a part of the activist group Simply Equal. Later she was elected to the Board of Cimarron Alliance and later chaired it, serving in many capacities including acting as the Coordinator of Docents when the Oklahoma Holocaust Remembrance Exhibition-The Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals came to Oldahoma City in 2005. Retired from state employment as Zach was a musician and had been awarded a $ !000 grant by PFLAG in 2009 to study music. He had been living in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Although he was 6’4", he was more interested in music than athletics, Van Harrington remembers. Some of his classmates didn’t understand this and harassed him. His Facebook page tells of a private person with a sense of humor, a music and movie lover who wants ro be told that he is missed. And he is missed. At a Candlelight Vigil at 8 pm on October 13, at the Memorial Garden on the South Oval at University ......... Continued See SUICIDE Page-6 Director of the Oklahoma Public Relations Board, she has recovered well from a recent heart attack and is getting a much deserved rest, but she came out to receive this honor. Mick Schirron (center) and Don Hawkins (right) receive Media Award with well wisher (left)John Greet. ........ Continued See AWARDS Page-6 �2 November 1, 2010 �Sooner State Stampede SSRA Rode back after 5 years Fashion Designer Johnathan Kayne; a proud role By Victor Gorin Metro Star Team By Robi!~ D-Townsend Metro Star Team OKLAHO~vIA CIT~I OK Vibrant colors, shimmering fabrics, and sparkling rhinestones flooded the catwalk at Johnathan Kayne’s ’Fashion for Food’ show held last month benefiting the Regional Food Bank of Oldahomds (R~BO) Food for Kids program. More than 200 guests attended this exclusive fashion show which featured the latest creations from this nationally recognized fashion designer. Kayne is a passionate advocate for preventing childhood hunger. ’q~ais is probably the proudest moment in my life," said Kayne. "This cause has been near and dear to my heart because I was one of those hunglT children growing up." Kayne shared a time in his young life when he was overweight and did not always have good food choices. He now serves on the RFBO Celebrity Council and is a known nation wide for his great fhshion design. r tal~es $200 to ~xed a ized natlona[~y ~r’/~ls e:¢ce~lent’~ chr0nidally hungB~ dementa¢ Johnathan Kayne raised thousands ofdoll~tb" to suppO~ the school child through the RFBOS Regionat Food Banh of Oklahoma Foodfor fi~Tds program. Food for Kids program. The Photo by Robin D-Townsend event grossed more than $25,000 305 elementary schools in 42 counties across for the cause. central and western Oldahoma, providing This is the second year of I~yne’s annual backpacks to nearly 8,000 &ronically hungry fashion show which was featured last year on children each week during the school year. his TLC reality show Gown Crazy. The event There are 25 schools on the xvaiting list to featured two runway shmvs - one featuring join the program. Kayne’s latest designs and a finale show with "It is our desire that no child goes to custom items modeled by local celebrities school Monday morning with hunger pains," including OKC news anchor and former Miss said RFBO Executive Director Rodney America, Lauren Nelson. Bivens. "Vge currently serve nearly 8,000 The Food for Kids program provides hungry kids per week. We believe that when chronically hungry elementary school hunger ends, learning begins." The RFBO children with backpacks filled xvith nonoperating costs are 4% of all the funding they perishable, kid-friendly food to eat over receive. The National Center on Nonprofits weekends and holidays. Food for Kids serves ....... Continued See KAYNE Page 7 ,uptcv * Ci"v"II Rights *Criminal ’ment * Family Law. Litigation street a city, OK 73 03 Lackey Family at thdr first Gay Rodeo. GoHn photo Tim Dickman, SSRA President stated, "The 2010 Rodeo was such a success and the contestants enjoyed the accommodations at Bridle Creek Horse Ranch and Resort so much we are planning to hold our next Rodeo in 2011 at this same facility." The Sooner State Rodeo Association welcomes all who are interested in the country & western lifestyle. For more information check out their website at www. soonerstaterodeo.com 7~m Dickman, President ofSooner State Rodeo Association. Staffphoto TULSA, OK __ Cowboys and cowgirls from across America came together the first weekend of October as SSRA held their Sooner State Stampede. Hosted at the Airport East Ramada Inn, the party started there with a show celebration, and continued with the competition at the Bridle Creek Horse Ranch and Resort north of Tulsa in the hamlet of Sperry. The event was significant in that not only did it bring GLBT western lifestyle folk together from since 2005. N~e Sooner State Rodeo AssOciation was first formed in 2002 to give the GLBT and allied community of Tulsa and eastern Oklahoma a new avenue for western lifestyle expression. They hold fundraisers throughout the year not only for themselves but also various Oklahoma charities, and is one of 28 members of the International Gay Rodeo Association. Held for the first time at the Bridle Creek Horse Ranch, the event featured standard rodeo events but also those unique to gay rodeo, naturally goat dressing and a wild drag race. gc’ith over 60 contestants from across America it proved to be quite an event. "Clogger Bill" Francisco was this year’s Grand Marshal, and he got involved with gay rodeo over 20 years ago because as he puts it, "The atmosphere, all the cowboys, al! the events in the arena, I love it all." Also on hand was the current reigning Mr. MGRA Kelly Moore ( Missouri Gay Rodeo Association) who had also been Miss MGRA in 2007, the only person to ever capture both titles in that state. Although the event had a wide diversity of spectators, among the most interesting were a heterosexual family who was there viewing a rodeo of any kind for the first time, Gayla and Todd Lackey, owners of Crazy Cat Tie Dyes ~vith the children Jason and Althea. Having previous experience with the GLBT community through vending at several Pride events, it was this event that gave them their first taste of rodeo fun, Gayla stated, "I’m in it mainly for the goat dressing. Vge thought it’d be fun, so when we heard of the gay rodeo we thought ’OmiGod’ let’s go!" Candlelight Vigil Held in Edmond’s Haler Park By Victor Gorin Metro Star Team Stephanie Bolton and Bobby ~Iillican. Gorin photo EDMOND, OK__ At 7 p.m October 12. at Hafer Park in Edmond, GATE held their t lth Candlelight Vigil in honor of fellow those who had difficulty coming out, following, National Co,~ing Out Day October 11. Coming Out , coming to terms and being open about being GLBT can be a special prob!em in Oklahoma, ofren considered the buckle of the Bible Belt. Too ofren people who become known to or even perceived to be GLBT have faced ostracism from friends and famil),, loss of jobs and/or homes, and sometimes have found their very lives in jeopardy. G.A.T.E. ( Gay Alliance for Tolerance and Equality) is an official student group at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. The group would also be marching in the annual Homecoming Parade the coming Saturday for the second time. Speaking at the vigil were GATE President Brandon White as well as the Cimarron Alliance President Scott Hamilton. Also speaking were individuals among the crowd, this time numbering around 100, almost triple the number of participants attending last year. Just about summing up the experience for everybody were two proud participants, Bobby Millican and Stephanie Bolton, a dear friend and straight ally. As she puts it, " I am so proud of my friends who are here proud of themselves." �Tulsa’s Jerry Straley captures the title of Oklahoma Mr Leather 2011 Forced Off the Edge of Life’s Road By James Nimmo OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ The gay/straight alliance at the University of Central Oklahoma, a medium size state school in Edmond, OK, a bedroom town nearly contiguous with Oklahoma City, had a combination vigil/coming out day event this past Tuesday, October 12, recognizing the recent suicide ofZack Harrington and National Coming Out Day. It was held in a large public park in Edmond. I couldn’t stay for all of it but what I did see was a pretty good demonstration of being comfortable with being gay or lesbian. One of the leaders said the number was double over last year. I’d say about 70 people were there, mostly students in their early 20s, with some teenagers and older adults in the mix. I’ve known I was gay, though I didn’t know the word, since 4th or 5th grade of elementary school. The dictionary I used talked about "self-pollution". \Vv~at a scream! I was afraid it would somehow show tip when I had to go to the doctor for a required physical. "We put way too much emphasis on gender presentation and role playing when kids are too immature to understand their bodies and psychological needs. I think we should look at human development the same ~vay we look at other living organisms that morph fi’om one stage to another with radically different bodies. The outward shape of our human bodies doesn’t change so much, but the inner shape of our minds sure does-or they SHOULD change--doffing the myths and twisted beliefs we’re fed as children as we develop from our own experiences. Several of the public speakers at the Norman City Council meeting mentioned religious belief in their objection to the GLBT History Month Proclamation, malting another example of the ignorance many people have about the separation of religious views and civil policies under the First Amendment. This was the meeting attended by Zack Harrington and apparently forced him off the edge of life’s road. Civil rights are the guaranteed benefits of being a citizen of this country. They are not subject to examination by a review panel to test if citizens are "worthy". Civil rights are universal, inherent in the social contract between citizen and government. Though I am a believer in the right of self-deliverance in the face 0£ inescapable terminal illness, I’m nearly speechless and ~vordless in the face of the suicides caused by the vehement, venomous vocabulary of religious, flat-earth thinking spewed in public meetings and the media. I’m reduced to involuntary hea&shaking when trying to understand how the insidious poison of religion infiltrates young minds and dissolves the normal urge to live. Religion has al~vays been the mental fog in the road of human progress, from Galileo and Copernicus to stem-cell research to the legal recognition of citizens without regard for their sexual orientation. It would appear that until more of us recognize the futility of religion with the false authority and violence it visits on innocent people, we’ll see more GLBT suicides as roadkill on the human highway. The link below provides a video of the ill-fated Norman, Oklahoma city council meeting. Oklahoma’s Zach Harrington, 19, Kills Himself After Hateful Town Meeting: ww~v.tinyurl.com/2chqvkt "First rsday" Art Opening and Exhibit of Original Works by artist Di epac TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Noveraber Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) showcase and exhibit of local artists at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center (621 E. 4th Street in downtown Tulsa), will feature works from Tulsa artist Di Klepac Originally from Austin and living in Tulsa I:or almost two decades, Di paints what she reatly sees in her subject, bringing her unique meaning to the art she creates. Her early development was colored by watching her sister paint in the family studio of her youth 4 November ~, 20~0 in a subnrb of Austin. Di’s use of color and forceful strokes in textured tempera reach into the soul of her subject matter and pull out her views that live on the canvas. Her showings in the Brady Arts District have brought her acclaim in the Tulsa art community. The show begins with a reception on Thursday, November 4th fi’om 6-9pm and continues throughout the month. ~okeq.org Founded @ a dedicamd ~’ou~ of vo&nmers in 198& Oklahomam~r Equali~kEq is Oklahoma~ oldest gay rights o,ganizmion. From tesd,g~r HIVIAIDS and hosd,g the annual ~dsa Pride and Dive*xi{y Celebration m &e,~,a,g the Equalig @nt~r and documena*g the ~hg LGBT communig} rich histo~)~ OkEq worL,s.~r socia] justice andfid/ inch~sion ~r Ok/ahoma) lesbian, g’9~ bisexual and t,unwnder (LGBD citizens and their allies. For more i,:~rma~ion, By Victor Gorin Metro Star Team 1st runnerup Geqff~’ey ~omas, winnerJory Sou@ and 2nd runnerup Nathan Benne,: Go,in photo TULSA, OK It was a festive weekend for the leatherfolk who came together for the Oklahoma Mr. Leather \Veekend when the current reigning Oldahoma Mr. Leather Ron Harwood would pass on his title. ~xe event was hosted by the Super 8 which featured meet and greets for the various officials and spectators from throughout Oklalmma and beyond, educational classes, and of course a bar crawl. The contest came together Saturday October 9 at Club Maverick with contestants Jerry Straley- the current Tulsa Mr. Leather, Geoffrey Thomas and Nathan Benner. An event of the Tulsa Uniforra and Leather Seekers Association (TULSA), this occasion marked the 22nd year of this competition. It was emceed by Keith Hunt, Oldahoma Mr. Leather of 2004 and signing interpretation was provided by Oklahoma City~ \grill Farm with many distinguished community members on hand for the occasion. There was also a silent auction benefitting three charities, one of which is the Sharon St.Cyr Fund which works to create programs to provide hearing aids and interpre6ng services for the deaf and hearing impaired community. Funds also went to the Leather Archives & Museum located in Chicago, and also to the local Alternative Lifestyles Food Bank which provides food baskets for those of our community in need. Receiving the Ford Pruitt Award was Cathy Hill, named for 2 former outstanding TULSA members, Danny Ford and Lee Pruitt. This honor is awarded to an indMdual who has gone above and beyond worldng for the benefit of T.U.L.S.A. and the leather community overall. The contest climaxed with Nethan Benner as 1st runnerup, Geoffrey Thomas as 2nd runnerup with Jerry Straley capturing the title of Oldahoma Mr. Leather 2011. He wil! go on to represent Oklahoma at the International Mr. Leather Contest which will take place in Chicago during the Memorial Day weekend of 2011. For rnore information check out their website TULSA at www.tulsaleather.com They welcome all who have an interest in leather and its lifestyle. Tuesday November 2--Your vote is crucial STATE of OKLatHOMA__ On Tuesday November 2 you have an opportunity to be part of determining the future of Old~mma and our nation. Many. of these races are almost certain ro be extremely close. Candidates supporting our issues need our votes. It isn’t easy to take a stand ~br the GLBT community in Oldahoma. When we make the effort to vo~e we show we are worth their support. Remember that the polls are open fiom 7 a.m. til 7 p.m. on Election Day November 2, but also there is the op;ion of early voting a~ your CountT Election Board Friday October 29 lCrom 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., Saturday October 30 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., and the following Monday November 1 again from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. �[] By Rex Wockner ~ Don’t Ask, Don’t TelGayroller coaster ban back in force again The Obama administration resuscitated the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell gay ban Oct. 20 by convincing the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to temporarily stay an injunction by a federal district judge in Riverside, Calif. U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips had found the ban unconstitutional and barred any further use of it worldwide effective Oct. 12. In response, the military stopped kicking out openly gay and lesbian servicemembers and began letting open gays and lesbians sign up to enlist. Activist Dan Choi, Wockner photo But the Obama administration ~d DADT ...... -- immediately beg~ figfitifi~ ~6 brifig ;h4 ban back to life, ultimately succeeding eight days later. The Justice Department argued that an abrupt end to the ban would be harmful to the military in myriad ways. Judge Phillips was wholly unconvinced and refused to stay her injunction. ~e 9th Circuit, on the other hand, issued a brief stay -- until at least Oct. 25 -- while it considers issuing a longer stay. ~e administration also said it wants Congress, not the courts, to end the ban. ~e House of Representatives voted to end the ban earlier this year but the Senate refused after a filibuster by Sen. John McCain, RAriz. ~ere is no indication that the Senate will change its mind when it returns to XV~hington for the lame-duck session following the No~ 2 elections, even though the DADT repeal measure is a part of the bill that funds the entire U.S. military for next year. McCain’s filibuster also left the over~l military funding measure unp~sed. "Reall)~ what~ in my heart right now is it’s going to be really hard for me to vote for Barack Obama," prominent gays-inthe-military activist Dan Choi said in an interview. Choi re-enlisted in the Army at the Times Square recruiting station in New York on Oct. 19. "Call me a one-issue person, but this is re~ly pissing me off," Choi added. "~en Congress has a law that~ unconstitution~, it~ the job of the courts to cfll it unconstitution~. ~at~ Civi~ day one. Obamgs giving Dofft &k, Dofft Tell mouthto-mouth resuscitation. For him to do that at this point is upsetting, it~ dis~sting." GetEQ~UAL Director Robin ~lcGehee. ~Vockner photo GetEQUAL director Robin McGehee called the government’s successful push for a stay "a travesty." "This ... brings the military’s discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law back from the dead," she said. "It is a travesty that after numerous attempts, President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder will go down in history as the administration that breathed life back into Don’t Ask, Don’t Te!l, The lives and careers of openly gay and lesbian servicemembers are now back in the crosshairs of our government and a renewed commitment to discrimination falls squarely in the hands of this White House." ..... Servicemembers United Executive Director Alexander Nichol~ma said he’s hopeful the stay will last just a few days. "An objective look at the evidence before the court clearly indicates that ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell would not harm military readiness, but would rather enhance it," he said. Human Rights Campaign President Joe Sohnonese called DADT’S resurrection "a sad day for all Americans." "Today’s decision only furthers our resolve to send this law to the dustbin of history and also draws a spotlight on the administration to make good on their pledge to end these discharges that damage our national security," he said. Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Executive Director Aubrcy Sarvis said the stay dumped the ball back in the U.S. Senate’s lap. . "Gay and lesbian servicemembers deserve better treatment than they are getting with this ruling," he said. "~XTe now must look to the Senate next month in the lame-duck session to bring about the swift certainty needed here and to repeal this unjust law that serves no usefuI purpose." NY GOP governor candidate rash abou gays Carl Paladino, the Republican candidate for governor of New York, sounds like an oldschool homophobe. First, on Oct. 10, he said: "I didn’t march in the.., gay pride parade this year. My opponent did. And that’s not the example that we should be showing our children, and certainly not in our schools. And don’t misquote me as wanting to hurt homosexual people in any way. That would be a dastardly lie. My approach is live and let live. I just think my children and your children would be much better off and much more success~ful getting married and raising a family, and I don’t want them to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option. It isn’t." The following day Paladino went on the Today show and dug in his heels, telling Matt Lauer: "They wear these Speedos and they grind against each other and it’s just a terrible thing .... Would you take your children to a gay pride parade? I don’t think it’s proper for them to go there and ~vatch a couple of grown men grind against each other. I don’t think that’s proper. I think it’s disgusting." Video 1: tinyud.com/nogrindl. Video 2: tinyurl.com/nogrind2. In an Oct. 12 editorial, The New York Times called Paladino’s comments "bigoted" and "shockingly irresponsible," given recent anti-gay hate crimes and the spate of gay teen suicides. "A week before Mr. Paladino’s comments, police say three men in the Bronx were tortured by a group of attackers who believed they were gay," the newspaper wrote. "On Oct. 1, Rutgers University held a memorial service for a student who killed himself after police said his sexual encounter with a man was broadcast over the Internet by two classmates. For Mr. Paladino to choose this moment to make his utterly gratuitous remarks suggests at the very least an extraordinary level of insensitivity." Later Oct. 12, Paladino issued a statement that said, in part, "I sincerely apologize for any comment that may have offended the Gay and Lesbian Community or their family members." Indiana motor vehicles head arrested resigns The head of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Andrew J. Miller, was arrested Oct. 6 on a charge of public indecency for allegedly masturbating in front of an undercover cop in a cruisy public toilet in Indianapolis. He resigned following the incident. Equality NC sends Froot Loops to rep Between Oct. 6 and ! 1, each donor to Equality North Carolina had a personal message and a box of Ketlogg’s Froot Loops delivered to Republican state Rcp. Larry Brown. The stunt was a response to Brown’s having hit "reply to all" on an e-mail from House Minority" Leader Paul Stare and writing: "I hope all the queers are thrilled to see him (House Speaker Joe Hackney receiving an award from Equality NC). I am sure there will be a couple legislative fruitloops there in the audience." "If it’s fruitloops Rep. Brown wants,, then that’s what we’ll give him!" Equality" NC said. ..... More NATIONAL NEWS - page 6 November 1, 2010 �Equality Ca i£ornia marriage amendment £or rejection of Baja of Oklahoma’ Zach’s parents and sister joined Gays announce marches in Mexicali and Tecate 400 others to remember his life. While most who stood in the circular garden did not lmow Zach, many identified with his feelings of frustration ~vith society. Also honored were Jeff Riles, a young activist who captured this year’s Horizon Award, and Dr. David Macey who received their Torch Award. Kay Holladay, founder of PFLAG Norman, spoke about the importance of GLBT people and their straight friends and ~hmily encouraging and supporting each other. She said that standing up to bullies, or the bullies of friends, can make a difference. It can even save a life. She is the mother of a gay son. Mayor Rosenthral then read the proclamation, which was followed by cheers from the crowd. She told of the emails that she and other council members had received from around the world. Some were affirming, but most are condemning the council for LGBTpeopIe in Mexico’s Baja California state, where 77juana # located, are working to block a state constitutional amendment passed by the legislature that zoould seemingly ban recognition of same-sex ma.’iages. To be valid, the amendment requires ratification by a majority of the state’s municipal councils. Same-sex matriage is legal in Mexico City, and the nation’s Supreme Court has said that all31 Mexican states must recognize gay marriagesJ~om the capital ci~ Photo of this year’s ~juana pride parade by Rex Wockner Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors has joined calls for municipal councils in Mexico’s Baja California state to reject a state constitutional amendment that seemingly bans recognition of same-sex marriages. Meanwhile, local LGBT activists are organizing marches on Oct. 16 in the U.S. border city of Mexicali, the Baja state capital, and on Oct. 24 in the border city of Tecate. "It is extremely disappointing that there is an effort to amend the state constitution to not allow or recognize same-sex marriages in Baja California," Kors said. "Mexico’s Supreme Court has upheld marriage for same-sex couples and further required that legal same-sex marriages from Mexico City be recognized throughout the nation. We call on the municipal councils in Ensenada, Mexicali, Rosarito Beach, Tecate and Tijuana to reject this discriminatory effort by voting against ratification of the constitutional amendment -and to go on the record in support of marriage equality for same-sex couples." The unicameral state legislature, the Chamber of Deputies, voted 18-1 on Sept. 29 to amend the state constitution to seemingly prohibit recognition of same-sex marriages, despite the fact that the federal Supreme Court ruled this year that all 31 Mexican states must recognize gay marriages fi’om Mexico City, where they are allowed. The vote came on the final day that the right-leaning National Action Party (PAN) had control of the legislature. On Oct. 1, the leftIeaning Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) took control of a majority of the chamber’s seats, following elections thai: had been held in The PAN move appeared to some observers ~:o be an attempt by the conservative party to tauat the federal Supreme Court, although some amendment backers claimed they only hoped to prevent gay marriages from talcing place in Baja. The oddly worded amendment, however, does not include any stated exception for Mexico City marriages. It reads: "The State recognizes and protects the institution of marriage as a right of society oriented to guarantee and safeguard the perpetuation of the species and mutual support between spouses, satisfying this only, through the union of one man ~vith one woman." ("H Estado reconoce y protege la instituci6n del matrimonio como un derecho de la sociedad orientado a garantizar y salvaguardar la perpetuaci6n de la especie y ayuda mutua entre los c6nyuges, satisfacidndose este solamente, mediante la uni6n de un hombre con una mujer.") The amendment is not yet a done deal. It requires ratification by the municipal councils of at least three of Baja California’s five political subdivisions -- Ensenada, Mexicali, Rosarito Beach, Tecate and Tijuana. Those councils will remain under PAN control until Dec. 1, when new councilors from the PRI party will take office and hold a majority of council seats in the state’s political subdivisions. Ira municipal council fails to report the result of its vote by approximately the end of Octobel; the council will be counted as having approved the amendment. Local activists do not feel optimistic that a majority of the currently PAN-controlled councils will reject the amendment. "We are looking at legal paths to pursue this through the state human-rights ombudsman, to demand that he appeal the unconstitutionality of this amendment to the Supreme Court of Justice of the nation," said Armando Rodr~guez, coordinator of the Mexicali Pride Committee. Activist Gerardo M~puta from the Tijuana GLBT Cultural Community (COCUT) added: "g/e are getting the word out given that the media here are keeping this very under the radar and not giving it necessary publicity. Xge are working hard to spread the information, utilizing social networks and bars and cafes. Vge are ..... Continued see BAJA - page 11 not insisting on respectful language and behavior from those testifying. She said "We voted yes for the proclamation. We let everyone speak." Other speakers, from the OU GLBTQ student association, and President of the Norman North High School GLBT group confirmed this claim saying "They didn’t have to stand up for us. They did the right thing!" Severa! OU faculty and staff members addressed the young people in the circle, giving their names, department locations, and an invitation to come and talk anytime. Leaders of other organizations were present including GATE, OGLPC, and the OU Women & Gender Studies Department, who co-sponsored the event. Norman City Council members met again October 12 for their regular meeting and a few people come to talk about the proclamation and how it was handled. All of them ~vere congratulatory about the proclamation. David Ray, an OU professor and former City Council member, said that they had "obviously researched the issues and tallied to gay friends in drafting the proclamation." Norman resident Will Weir stated that he found the protesters of the proclamation "quite offensive in their use of stereotypes for people." Larry Dillingham recalled reading about the writing of the Constitution in 1778, and how the concept of equal representation of every citizen caused heated debate. They called the British rule a "tyranny of the majority," and created a democracy where at leeast in theory everyone is equal. Dillingham said the cotincil was exhibiting the "best use of the Constitution" in drafting and passing the proclamation for LGBT History Month. City Council member Tom Kovach pointed out that "when we allow ourselves to speak hatefully, we lower the level of discourse. Free speech does not allow hate speech." Kovach then gave statistics on GLBT harassment, bullying, and suicide from the Trevor Project, a 24 hour hot line, and online chat group, 1-866-4U-TREVOR State Representative ~like Shelton, Democrat District 9Z Gorin photo Tiae Legislator of the Year Award this time was shared by two lawmakers, State Representative Mike Shelton of OHahoma City who almost singlehandedly stopped legislation that would have opted Oldahoma out of enforcement of Federal hate crimes laws recently amended to include sexual orientation as well as other newly added categories. Nxe other was State Senator Judy Eason-Mclntyre who also had tal~en many positive stands for the GLBT community, who could not be present but whose award was accepted by Oklahoma City State Representative Al McAffrey. Don Hawkins and Mick Schirron received the Media Award for their work owning and operating the Gayly Oklahoman. Begun by Don Hawkins and his partner of that time, Ron Schaeffer, in 1983, the Gayly was the premier news source for the GLBT community. Their first issue’s main story was the victory of Don Hill and Scott Wilson (then the owners of Angles) when they won their lawsuit suing Oldahoma City for police harassment of their club, Growing from a small monthly publication with a circulation of 4000, the Gayly grew to later boast of circulation of 10,000 and became a bi-weekly publication in 1990. Ron Schaeffer passed away in 1991. After becoming Don’s partner in 1994, Mr. Schirron joined the staffas their business manager while Don acted as editor in chief. As presenter J.B. Schulein explained, the Gayly was a news lifeline for the GLBT community before the days of Twitter, Facebook or even the Internet itself. Due to the changes in the business and personal commitments Mick and Don retired from the business, their last issue January 15, 2006. Although the Gayly was sold and reincorporated that same year by Tulsans Andrew Hicks and the late Heather Harp, it ceased publication again, that last issue December ! 5, 2006 and passed into histor): But with that in mind, the Gayly had captured the attention of GLBT archMsts with what is certainly the most comprehensive resource of Oldahoma’s GLBT history during a period of vast change. So far a complete set of the Gaylys has been donated to Tulsa’s Dennis R. NeiI1 Equality Center, the Cimarron Alliance, and to the Oklalmma Historical Society which is in the process of preserving that archive electronically. The guest speaker for the event was Romaine Patterson, a longtime activist who had tmown and befriended the late Matthew Shepard in her native \Vyoming. ~e festivities concluded with an after party at Angles featuring not only Ms.Patterson, but entertainers Jozlyn V.&lch and Sonja Martinez. �By Steven Petrow &even Petrow is the author of"The Essential Book of Gay Manners & Etiquette. "Send him your questions at queeries@live.com. "Teaching Kids of Gay Parents" public. To give it clarity, she gave some examples. If a gun was used in this type of crime that would qualify because guns are not manufactured in Oklahoma. If someone followed someone onto an interstate highway in the commission of a hate crime, that would likewise qualify. Ifa hate crime took place inside a business, that would qualify as well. To further illustrate as an example, the hate crime that victimized James Byrd would have qualified as a Federal hate crime as he was dragged to death on an interstate highway. Ms. Kelly made the point that while the act does signify progress, it does not cover every situation of hate crimes against GLBT persons or those of the other protected categories. Special Agent Jim Windsor was the next speaker, and while he reiterated that the expanded Federal hate crimes protection may not cover every situation, it is progress and he stated, "My goal clearly is prevention." kYC~ile encouraging emergency calls concerning hate crimes still to be directed to local authorities via 911, he urged calling the FBI as well. Even ifa hate crime has not yet happened, if there is only suspicious behavior or threats have been made the FBI wants to know about them. He stated that frequently a visit from FBI agents to those involved in threatening behavior can often forestall trouble and/or prevent hate crimes from happening. Synthia Demons was the last speaker, who talked about efforts by the Federal authorities to promote mediation. Scott Hamilton summed ir up stating, " I have been incredibly impressed with the FBI’s commitment to working with our community, helping us understand what hate crimes are, how to report them, and prevent them from happening." To report suspicious behavior to the Oklahoma City FBI or for more information contact their Oldahoma City Office at (405) 290-7770. and Philanthropy indicates that 20-25% is the national average. Each week, the RFBO provides enough food to feed more than 77,000 hungry Oklahomans. The majority of those served by this food bank are children, seniors living on fixed incomes, and working families who cannot make ends meet. To make a tax-deductible donation, or to learn about volunteer opportunities visit www.regionalfoodbank.org or call 405.972.1111. Connect online with the Regional Food Bank at twitter.com/rfbo or facebook.com/regionalfoodbank. Kole is 9 years old and was surrendered by their owners when their daughter d~veloped allergies to him and his SiSter Sadie. Kole is a loving, easy going dog that would rather just lay around and be your household friend. He’s good with kids and cats Come see Kole and and bring home a friend. If you’d like to see Kole or any of the other adoptable dogs visit the Lab Rescue Tulsa Oklahoma website at: xvww.labrescue.net. Siloam Springs Claremore Sand Springs Jenks Owasso Sapulpa Norman Collinsville 479 524 6535 918 341 1260 918 246 2543 9t8 299 6311 918-272-4965 918 227 2722 405 321 6725 918 371 1000 November 1, 2010 i 7 �NEED YOUR VOTE �Rev Steve 3". Uric Spirit of Christ MCC 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Sunday 6:00 PM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM ’ 21 Gold Castle our BEST properties are our PEOPL ~L’ Oklahoma City, OK 73112 Have a God filled and BleSsed Day! November 1, 2010 9 �Openarms Youth Project Inc. Elects New O cers TULSA, OK (PR) __ In a special meeting, the Board of Directors for Openarms Youth Project Inc. elected new officers for 2011-12. The new officers are: Drew Diamond - President Pam Anderson - Vice-President Cheyenne Charles -Treasurer Jared Vazquez - Secretary Openarms is very proud to have Mr. Diamond serving as the President at a time when the youth of Tulsa and surrounding areas face many challenges in school, at home and life in general. His experience in law enforcement and Conflict Resolution will be a valuable asset to the board and the youth served by Openarms. As Openarms continues to grow serving a greater number of GLBTQ youth each week with expanded programming and activities this new leadership will focus Openarms on continuing to provide a safe environment for all the youth they serve. Openarms continues to operate as the longest continuously operating GLBTQyouth group for youth ages 14-21 in the state. Openarms is located at: 2015 B South Lakewood, Tulsa, OK 74112 Phone: 918-838-7104 Carpenter Square picks a winner with Sordid Lives By Victor Gorin Metro Star Team O ahoma City holds State’s first Black Gay Pride Festival By Victor Gorin Metro Star Team The Festival attracted around 300 spectators, and featured a party at the Club Pulse Event Center with entertainer Tyra Sanchez, a winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Also at the hotel were many vendors and groups doing outreach. Why is there a need for a special group for African Americans to celebrate gay pride? Oklahoma Black Pride President ~adark Knight with Lar,y. Gorin photo As the president of the organization Mark Knight puts it, "Although the gay community OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ On is diverse, often the community doesn’t the weekend of October 14-17 the first address this diversity. That’s why we decided official Black Gay Pride Festival has held in to have a gay pride celebration that celebrates Oldahoma. Hosted by OKC’s Crowne Plaza being both black and gay, to celebrate our Hotel, the event coincided with the 2010 culture and sexuality with our spin on it." Fall Conference of Black and White Men Black Gay Pride is an incorporated Together. The organization came together organization in the process of obtaining in 2009 as part of a national movement 501c3 tax status, and they plan for this reminiscent of the Civil Rights Movement, festival to be an annual event. For more the Harlem Renaissance, but also inclusive of information check out their website at www. the culture of the African Americans in the GLBT community. November 1, 2010 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Carpenter Square Theater has always been a point of light for central Oklalaoma’s lovers of unconventional drama, therefore it was not surprising and an excellent choice when they included the steamy tale "Sordid Lives" for their 2010-2011 season. With their start in 1984, Carpenter Square began with their mission of alternative theater in the Carpenter Paper Warehouse, now the parking lot of the Oklal~oma County Jail. From the beginning the theater had a bar and patrons could enjoy their adult beverages during the show, most unusual during that time period. They later moved to a former department store at N.W. 5th and Hudson, where dedicated volunteers turned that space into a 220 seat theater. They moved again when the Arts Council of Oldahoma City invited them ro Stage Center in 1997, which was their home until flood damage last summer made it unusable. Finding a temporary home at the Bricktown Hotel, their theme for their 2010-2011 season is Dramatically Different, and Sordid Lives certainly fits that category when they brought that cornfed classic to campy life. "Sordid Lives", written by Del Shores, premiered as a play in Los Angeles in 1996 and won 14 Drama League Awards. Later made into a film in 2000, the movie got mixed reviews but was nonetheless a cult classic, particularly with the gay community and especially in the South. Carpenter Square opened this saga with the premier show benefitting Other Options ( a charitable organization helping those living with HIV), raising over $400 for that organization. And the crowd was loud and ready to party! The plot was narrated by Bitsy Mae Harling (Shelly Phelps- no relation to the infamous Phelps family of Topeka Kansas), who brought the audience together in song. The story centered around the death of Peggy Ingram, the family matriarch who died a steamy death in a seedy motel room with G.W. Netherscott (Paul James), a legless man who left his wooden legs on the floor for Peggy to trip on and mortally hit her head on the bathroom sink.. Coping with her unfortunate death were her three children, Latrelle Williamson (Elin Bhaird) who was the mother of a closeted gay son Ty( Brandt Sterling), the free spirited Lavonda Dupree (Pat Tweed), and of course the institutionalized cross dressing homosexual "Brother Boy" Earl (Chris Castleberry). Also dealing with the loss was Peggy’s sister Aunt Sissy Hickey( Brenda Williams), who only wanted to stop smoking and fell off the wagon. In addition G.W. had to deal with guilt because his wooden legs had caused Peggy’s death, and the anger of his wife Noleta ( Sue Ellen Reiman). Not taking the situation well, Lavonda and Noleta rob and terrorize the local saloon, where G.W. was drowning his sorrows and his friend Wardell Bubba Owens (Todd Clark), who was Once the object of Brow:t-mr Boy’s infatuation, was tending bar. They go on to rob the local liquor store as well and wind up in the county jail. Then Wardell ( with a drastic change of heart) breaks Brother Boy out of the institution where Dr. Eve "Evil" Bollinger(Lilli Bassett) was trying to cure him of his homosexuality with little success. Although dysfunctional, the grand finale was the funeral which did bring the family together for a happy ending, and the performance was truly a crowd pleaser. The show will continue through November 6, so don’t miss out on this campy classic of down home fun. For tickets call (405) 232 6500 or check out their website at www.carpenrersquare.com This Cowboy just rode into town to his first VIETRO BOX AD! �Oklahoma City School Board again votes to appeal Court Decision to re-instate him By Victor Gorin Metro Star Team In May of 2009 the Oklahoma City School Board voted 4-2 ( 1 absent and 1 abstained) to fire Joe Quigley, an English teacher at North~vest Classen High School, claiming that he had neglected his duties and was insubordinate to district policies. He is openly gay and a well lmown activist who has carried a sign proclaiming him as a gay teacher in many OKC Pride Parades. He has been active for years on behalf of students who are or perceived to be GLBT, educating them on their rights and vcas instrumental in getting the categories "real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity,"! included in the Oklahoma City Student Handbook as groups that are part of the policy of prohibiting harassment and bullying. It was widely perceived by the GLBT and allied community that his firing was actually due to this advocacy. The 2 votes against his termination xvere Chairperson kalgela Monson and board member Wilfredo Santos Rivera. With the help of his union, the American Federation of Teachers, Joe Quigley successfully fought his termination. In September of 2009 Oklahoma County District Judge Barbara Swinton ruled in his favor, ordering his reinstatement in a scathing ruling that strongly criticized the Oklahoma City School Board, even apologizing to him for their treatment of him. The Board appealed her decision, and with a 6-2 vote decided not to reinstate or pay him during the appeals process. (The 2 votes against appeal were again Chairperson Angeta Monson and then Board member Wilfredo Santos-Rivera). This followed with a hearing in which the Oldahoma Civ School Board would have to reinstate Mr.Quigley immediately or be charged with contempt of court. ~ae Board agreed to reinstate him, and he began teaching at U.S. Grant High School. When that school was forced to remove half the teachers due to a mandated restructuring plan under the No Child Left Behind Federal law, Joe was reassigned to Douglas High School, where he is teaching English at this time. On October 6, Judge Carol M. Hansen from the Court of Civil Appeals upheld Judge Swintoffs lower court dec!sion, also ruling that the District would be required to pay the plaintiffs legal expenses. It is estimated that already the legal expenses of the plaintiff and of the district could already be well over $250,000, money many have stated could have been better spent for teachers and school facilities. On Monday, the Oklahoma City School Board then voted to appeal that ruling to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Mr. Quigley has expressed that he feels that many district employe.es have continued to treat him unfairly while his case proceeds. Myson Books stops publishing books Venerable gay publishing company Alyson Books, owned by Advocate parent company Here Media, has stopped publishing books and will rework itself into aaa e-book publisher, said Publishers WeeNy. Authors under contract can have their rights back or move to the online venture. In August, Village Voice columnist Michael Musto had complained that the company was "holding my new book hostage." Creep of he Month By D’Anne Witkowski D’Anne Witkowski has been gayforpay since 200~ She’s a j~eelance writer and poet (believe it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps of the world she reviews rock ~’ roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister "Ann Coulter" Perhaps it was Ann Coutter’s very public referral to former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards as a "faggot" that nabbed her an invitation to address a conservative gay group, or maybe it was her recent essay extolling the virtues of Ronald Reagan and his battle against "government endorsement of homosexuality." Whatever the reason, Coulter, everybody’s favorite anti-gay fag hag, appeared Sept. 21 at her long-awaited Homocon gig: a fundraiser for GOProud, a group of gay conservatives. Anti-gay right-wingers were aghast that Coulter would speak to such a depraved group and some lamented that she’d gone over to the dark side. But they needn’t have worried. Even when talking to a group of homos she has no problem not being very nice to homos. "Marriage is not a civil right. You’re not black," Coulter told the group. "Blacks must be looking at the gays saying, ’Why can’t we be oppressed like that?’" Ha, ha, ha. Get it? Because gays are all rich and can afford to hire high-profile guest speakers for their b@ fat, gay parties in New York City. Sill), gays, always pretending to have problems bigger than where their next martini is coming from. Oh, and also there are no black gays. LOL. WTE It was "one of a series of racially insensitive remarks that pervaded her speech," reported Talking Points Memo. This should come as no surprise since Coulter is widely perceived to be a racist bitch (and yes, I realize that "racist bitch" is not a strong enough term, but I’m trying to be politically correct here). So, ~vait - is Ann Coulter saying that cMl rights only apply to black people? Apparently so. According to TPM, she told "the crowd that the 14th Amendment only applies to lobbying ... the councils and (state) legislators and (municipal) Councilors to express our point of view and make them understand that this law is homophobic, and als0 (are) having the support of the (state) ombudsman of human rights." ~xe marches in Mexicali and Tecate will be combo pride and protest marches. Mexicali’s march is Saturday, Oct. 16, at 3 p.m., starting at Avenida Col6n and Calzada Justo Sierra. Mexicali sits on the California border 120 miles east of San Diego. Tecate’s march is Sunday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m. at Parque Central. Tecate sits on the California border 40 miles southeast of San Diego. The only vote cast against the amendment in the Chamber of Deputies carne from PRD (Partido de la Revoluci6n Democr~tica) Deputy Ana Maria Fuentes. A£rican-Americans and that it does not, in fact, apply to women, LGBT people or other minorities." Kind of makes me wonder if she’s actually read the 14th Amendment. Keep in mind that Coulter was made part of the event to lighten things up with her, UlTI, humor. "The gay left has done their best to take all the fun out of politics, with their endless list of boycotts and protests. Homocon is going to be our annual effort to counter the ’no fun police’ on the left," said GOProud Chairman of the Board Christopher Barron. "I can’t think of any conservative more fun to headline our inaugural part,/then the self-professed ’right-wing Judy Garland,’ Ann Coulter." Really? You can’t think of a conservative that’s "more fun" than Ann Coulter? Maybe that means there really aren’t any "fun" conservatives. But what do I know? I’m a humorless member of the gay left doing my best to take all the fun out of politics, because of how the gay left doesn’t appreciate how hilarious it is that gays can’t get married. And don’t forget the side-splitting debate around "Don’t Ask Don’t Tell." And the laffs about hate crimes legislation, or the fact that in many states it’s OK to fire someone for being gay, or deny them hospital visitation rights or a place to live. Stop, my sides. No, seriously. Stop. But hey, at least we’re not black, right? Am I right? (Cricket chirping) Guys? What’s the matter? Was it something I said? Sigh. I guess I just don’t have Ann Coulter’s silver-tongued wit. "It is our conviction that the basis of human happiness is freedom and the recognition of rights, that any restriction imposed by one or various churches or some particular morality that signifies restriction of rights or persecution of people in the fi’ee exercise of their sexual preferences is profoundly wrong and has more to do with the past and nothing to do with the future," she said. "gge oppose that the more conservative groups ... want to convert our state into some sort of medieval island with the double morality that comes with that." The legislative chamber was filled with equal numbers of LGBT people and their opponents the day of the vote. Videos of the vote and the chaotic aftermath can be seen at tinyurt.com/bcgaymat2 and tinyurl.com/ bcgaymat. November 1, 2010 �Photo’s by Victor G. By Ed Sikov Ed Sikov is the author ofDark Victory; ~e Life ofBette Davis and other books aboutfilms and f!lmmakers. Out &About in Oklahoma "q ey Hate Me. q-hey Really Hate Me!" ~’as trying not to take it personally. @ SSRA Sooner State Stampede, Tulsa @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa @ Tulsa Eagle, Tulsa Really. OK, I was taking it personally. else had they all called to say they’d be at the house in time for dinner on Friday but no earlier? Therefore no cocktail hour(s). I admit it: I’m an out-of-control control freal~. I was making a perfect meal: Bobby Flay’s barbecued salmon; Israeli couscous, which I was spirting up with saffron and grill-roasted red peppers; and a salad (from a bag - I can be lazy about salads). We would start with Pernod from the freezer, and dessert would be a delightfully thick and creamy drink made to order. Then it hit me: they were avoiding what I claimed was that week’s "cocktail du weekend"! I’d stupidly sent out an e-mail claiming that I’d found an obscure drink recipe and would be making it on Friday. It was called the Booger. It was, of course, repulsive: half part banana liqueur, half part coconut rum and half part Midori. As if this combo wasn’t wretched enough, Boogers get topped off with Baileys Irish Cream. Shake with ice. Strain. Drink. Vomit. Bogus Boogers drove them away! The puppies, Robbie and Kyle, both said they were meeting friends for drinks at low tea (wasn’t I their friend?). Craig preferred Top o’ the Pines; he was meeting Paolo there for martinis. Even Dan said he was stopping at BarHarbor for a Campari and soda before coming home. Did none of them have a sense of humor? At least Kyle apologized before bailing on me. Dan arrived around 8:30. "\Where are the snot shots?" he asked pleasantly. A growl was my reply. He turned away from me toward " the stairs, and I lost it. "Do you really think I’d make that shit?" I barked. His face took on that stricken look he gets when I bawl him out for something he doesn’t understand. ~en I felt guilty. "It was just a joke, sweetie. A bad joke. You know me. Would I ever make a Booger?" "You just might," he said, "as some sort of revenge." ~e other guys staggered in around 9:30, all totally plastered. The barbecued salmon was gummy, q-he couscous clumped. Only the salad was any good, and that was because it was still in the bag. I was seething. We ate in silence. The puppies were too drunk to talk; Craig was too caught up in his food; Paolo ,vas visibly frightened of me and my temper; and Dan knew he was already on thin ice. We both hated dinners like this; we called them "Night of the Living Drunks." So I refused to make the "cocktail du weekend." The Brandy Alexanders would have to wait. qhe Brandy Alexander It’s strictly a dessert drink. Never order one before dinner, or everyone will think you’re too young to know any better or, if you’re over 30, yotl simply have god-awful taste. 2 parts brandy 1/2 part dark creme de cacao 1/2 part or more heavy cream Nutmeg (optional) Mix brandy, creme de cacao and cream m a shaker filled with ice. Put on top and cap and shake shake shake - create some froth. Strain into a martini glass and sprinlde a little nutmeg on top. I’m the type who keeps whole nutmeg in a glass jar and uses a little nutmeg grater; McCormick’s is almost as good, though not nearly as pretentious. @ The Copa, Oklahoma City Join Metro Star Enews £or Breaking News Updates as hey happen. Keep n£ormed throughtout the month. Jo n us MetroStarNews.com TULSA, OK __ The Metro Star On-line edition at www.metrostarnews.com is updated daily with Top Local and National News stories that concern the GLBT community. The World News feed module will keep you informed about community news from around the globe. Join us, it’s FREE! @ Finishline, Oklahoma City 12 November 1, 2010 ~’~{}$TAR �& Chuck Breckenridge ~vVhcthcr buying or selling 1’tl work hard Yet you. CHECK OUT UNIQUE ~ka~sas’ 597 Magnetic Road Eureka Springs, Arkansas www.magneticvalleyresor t .corn info@magneticva!leyresor t.com 800-210-8401 479-244-6821 Downto~vn, \~;hlk Bars, Clubs, Baseball, B OK Ceneer, Tulsa Gay Center. Affordable Homes and Apartments. For more I~,~na~o# visit: wwu~gaybmdybeightstuha.com ~ ~f$~ November 1, 2010 13 �By JackFertig November 2010 "Get sick and twisted, Leo!" Mercury is trine to Jupiter, opening the mind to wonderful new ideas and observations. But both are in water signs, so those new "ideas" will be more artistic, intuitive and emotional than togicat - and then Mercury trines Uranus, sending those novel notions into wild new directions..Avoid drugs and booze. They’re just crutches for people with no insight or originality. ARIES (March 20- April 19): Speak your mind! Granted, that often leads to trouble, but now it should work out well. You could start misunderstandings with your friends, but trust your instincts to clear up any trouble. TAURUS (April 28 - May 20): Your partner wants the best for you, but taking his or her prods to your ambition too seriously can create more trouble than it will solve. Talk together about long-range goals beyond your work. A friend’s advice can be very helpful. GEMIN~ (May 21- June 2(}): Impulsive actions on your own will likely cause arguments or accidents. Be very clear about your goals, and enlist help from your boss or the experts. They’ll be glad to help you get ahead. 25 SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Asserting your own integrity and truly speaking your mind is sure to shake up your family or tribe. As Mark Twain said, you have to make people laugh when you tell them the truth. 14 November 1, 2010 3 2(~ 27 4 6 17 18 9 PISCES (February 19- March 19): What comes out of your mouth may surprise you more than your friends, but pick your company carefully. Guarding secrets may be like "trying not to think about the elephant." Just keep your mind and the conversation elsewhere. le 33 2~ ~ 34 11 12 :~3 30 ;31 32 56 57 58 38 AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Losing yourself in your work is a good way to screw up the job. Review your priorities and aims with your boss or a trusted expert. Getting clear on this issue is key to your advancement. LEO (Ju~y 23 - August 22): Old "tapes" from your upbringing can get in the way of a healthy partnership. OK, let go of "healthy" and get sick and twisted! A good erotic catharsis can be the best way to clear out the psychic junk. L~BRA (September 23 - October 22): Money problems can be dealt with, but not at the lottery or casino - and "retail therapy" is just a euphemism for "shopaholic." Analyze the situation and work it out. A serious approach will find inspired solutions. 2 14 CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): As the world moves on, revising your ideas is sometimes necessary. Do old ideas still serve your core ideals? Philosophical and political arguments with your friends can prove very educational if you can approach them with an open mind. CANCER (June 2to Ju~y 22): Small adventures, especially in sexual experimentation, are likely to get you into a terrible mess. Grander, more daring experiments are a lot safer. The real trick is to think ahead, be clear on safety issues, and trust your instincts. VlRGO (August 23 - September 22): Advice from your partner will likely shock you, but all the more reason to at least consider it very carefully. Following that line of conversation with your sweetie will also help you avoid troublesome misstatements. 1 SAG~TTAR~US (November 22 - December 20): To unlock family secrets, ignore your siblings. They’re probably confused or lying. Parents are more likely to reveal the truth, especially when they would prefer not to. The truth could be shocking; the fall-out even more so. Is it worth it to know? Across t Femme’s Guide to the Universe author Rednour 5 Type of room at a bathhouse 10 ~est Side Story gang t4 C~ of pride t 5 ~e Scales, astrologically 16 Blade name 17 Cross-dressing comedian 19 "Legs" rock trio 20 Added to the scrapbook 21 DavidSedaris’ works 23 Family diagram 24 Morales of Resurrection Blvd. 25 Some sex-toy batteries 28 Cause of Apr. angst 29 7he Naked Civil Servant author Crisp 33 ’Tm all ears" 35 "Don we now gay apparel .:;" 36 Literature Nobelist Andrd 37 Collette of United States of ~Tara 38 Working Girls director Borden 40 Vogue ~ompetit0r 41 Wdcome response after a mmbte 42 Access ending 43 Cut loose 1 Type of father Robert Reed played 2 "If I Only Brai~ 3 Says fi~rther 4 Singer Bonnie 5 Pitch that isn’t straight 6 Hissy fits 7 My People author Abba 8 JFK in}b 9 Left no doubt 10 Ethel kg~aters, for one 11 Katharine~ Butch Cassidy role 12 Perry of Metropolitan CommunityChurch 13 Suckers 18 Queer, ro srraights 22 Writer3s enc. 24 Prefix with later,~ 25 Top floor 26 It arouses two body openings 27 Where priests come together 30 Did some floor work 31 One who screws around Creating Community for People iving with H V/A DS .A 501 c (3) Non P~’ofit Organization Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail ourhousetoo9865@sbcglobal.net 65 Angdina’s tomb-raiding role 66 Chooses not to come Well 67 All s Well That Solution page 15 ~s are those �Support those who support us. Their ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you. MA SSA GE: HABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPW Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 v~vw.habanainn.com MAGNETIC VALLEY RESORT 597 Magnetic Road Eureka Springs, AR 800-2 I0-840 t x~vw.magneticvalleyresor t.com A CCO UNTING: KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant ATTORNEYAT LAW: VALERIE WILLIFORD 625 N.SV. 13th Street Oldahoma City, OK 405-226-8585 AUTO DEALERS: ENTERTAINNIENZ. z-Zaz ZO VS & S.,,AS: : ~TAtL STORES : CHURCH of the OPEN ARMS 3t31 N. PENN, OKC, OK 405-525-9555 Service Sunday 10:45 AM EXPRESSIONS Fellowship 4010 N Youngs Oklahoma City, OK 405-761-1878 ,a~vw.expressionsOKC.com HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline OKLAHOMA STONEWALL DEMOCRATES Oklahoma City, OK www.okstonewall.org BAR HELP "g’ANTED OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 www.bambooloungetutsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-2900 www.habanainn.com CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 w~a~.c21 goldcastle.com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller xXqtliams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY REAL ESTATE Nations Top Gay/Lesbian Realtors www.GayRealEstate.com 1-988-420-6683 GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com RED ROCK B.H.S. 4400 N. LINCOLN BLVC Oldahoma City, OK 73105 405-425-0473 Toll Free 1-877-339-3330 ANGLES 2117 NW 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK xwa~v.anglesclub.com JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Sunday 6pro Classified Text Advertising (n6 graphicS)2~ wor& o{ 1-esS $~51001 AddidonN ~S}~ $0 ~0 Cents each! J THE COPA 2200 Nag/39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSX~AY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com TULSA EAGLE !338 E. 3RD Tulsa, OK 918-592-1188 Open 7days week 2pm to 2am N~:~S~R/November 1, 2010 15 �D N ber 7 � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document LOCAL NEWS N NATIONAL NEWS N WORLD NEWS N L]FESTYLE ~ FITNESS ~ TRAVEL THE PREMIER SOURCE FOR GLBT OKLAHOMA ADVICE N ENTERTAI~{EI~ More on page-6 VOLUME 7 ISSUE 11 Twitter.com/MetroStarNews ~ MetroStarNews.com FREE 1 NOVEMBER 1,2010 reaches out to GLBT Oldahomans By Victor Gorin Metro Star Team Byrd Act of 2009 which expanded the categories of Federal hate crimes to include gender, disability, and sexual orientation and gender identity. On October 5 a panel discussion was held at Church of the Open Arms which attracted spectators from the GLBT community as well as other social justice groups. Mr. Hamilton introduced the panel, which included Special Agents Jim Windsor and Doug Strait, the Oklahoma City U.S. Attorney’s Office Deputy Criminal Chief Kerri Kelly, and Synthia Demons, a Senior Conciliation Specialist with the U.S. Department of Justice. Kerri Kdly began, pointing out exactly what the expanded Federal Hate Crimes law does and doesn’t do. It does not cover all Anti-Gay Speech Prompts Teen Suicide ByJeanne Flanigan Metro Star Team parents’ home in Norman on October 10. Zach had attended the City Council meeting, and had endured more than 3 hours of testimony from Norman citizens regarding the proclamation. While 24 of the 46 speakers were in support of it and given equal time, the people who spoke against it paraded negative, misguided, stereotypes of the LGBT community before the Council. This negativity bothered Zach for days afterward according to his sister, Nikld. Zach had endured bullying and harassment in Norman North High School, recalled his father, Van Harrington. Zach saw the same disrespectful, sometimes hateful, behavior and language used by adults at the Council meeting that night. Mr. Harrington, his wife Nancy; and FBI SpecialAgentfim V~ndsor Community Forum Speaker at Church ofthe Open Arms. Gorin photo OKI,~AHOMA CITY, OK __ "Hello, I’m Jim Win&m; I’m with the FBI and I’d like to talk to you." \Vhen Scott Hamilton of the Cimarron Alliance Foundation first heard this telephone introduction, he reacted like most of us would, somewhat apprehensive. What came together was a positive event, showing an increased interest by the Oklahoma office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation about hate crimes against people of the GLBT community. Federal authorities were further empowered by the Matthew Shepard James race, religion, color, national origin) 2. The act is intentional (nor accidental or due to negligence) 3. The act must have caused bodily harm, or a weapon or incendiary device must have be used with the intentional of causing bodily harm 4. The crime must somehow be connected to interstate commerce. The Act does not cover threats or hate speech, which includes vandalism such as anti-gay graffiti. The last provision was somewhat complex and not widely understood by the general ........Continued See FBI Page-7 Margaret Cox, Don Hawkins and Mick Schirron among those honored at Cimarron A liance Awards Gala By Victor Gorin Metro Star Team OKLAHOMA CITY, OK A lifetime of activist work came together when one of Oldahoma’s City’s most renowned activists won yet another honor for a long legacy of service. The activism of Margaret Cox began with the Washington Urban League in 1964, but since then she has been a fixture not only for GLBT activism but in virtually every avenue of social justice. She has served as the coordinator for the Oklahoma National Organization for Women (NOW) and Metro OKC NOW. She is well known for her work with the Oldahoma Coalition to Abolish the Margaret Cox receives Lifetime Achievement Award. Gorin photo 7 to 1 ro approve a proclamation declaring October "LGBT History Month." The Norman Human Rights Commission wrote the proclamation after "much deliberation" stated Norman Mayor, Cindy Rosenthal. Co-Founders Kathy Williams and Laura Belmonte ofThe Equality Network (TEN) made a visit from Tulsa to Norman ro consult with Council members and the Mayor. Emails and newspaper articles declared this a historic moment in Oklahoma. This action gave hope to many that things are changing in the state. And then tragedy struck. Nineteen year old Zach Harrington took his life at his Zach was a musician and had been awarded a $ !000 grant by PFLAG in 2009 to study music. He had been living in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Although he was 6’4", he was more interested in music than athletics, Van Harrington remembers. Some of his classmates didn’t understand this and harassed him. His Facebook page tells of a private person with a sense of humor, a music and movie lover who wants ro be told that he is missed. And he is missed. At a Candlelight Vigil at 8 pm on October 13, at the Memorial Garden on the South Oval at University .........Continued See SUICIDE Page-6 Death Penalty, being arrested countless times for that cause in acts of civil disobedience. She has served as a Board Member and Secretary of the Oklahoma chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, and her GLBT activism began in 1982 when she joined the board of OKC’s Herland Sister Resources. She was a major factor behind that organization growing from small beginnings to the institution it is today serving not only on their board, but also as their-newsletter editor and various officer positions. She had been a part of the activist group Simply Equal. Later she was elected to the Board of Cimarron Alliance and later chaired it, serving in many capacities including acting as the Coordinator of Docents when the Oklahoma Holocaust Remembrance Exhibition-The Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals came to Oldahoma City in 2005. Retired from state employment as Director of the Oklahoma Public Relations Board, she has recovered well from a recent heart attack and is getting a much deserved rest, but she came out to receive this honor. Mick Schirron (center) and Don Hawkins (right) receive Media Award with well wisher (left)John Greet. ........Continued See AWARDS Page-6 2 November 1, 2010 Fashion Designer Johnathan Kayne; a proud role By Robi!~ D-Townsend Metro Star Team OKLAHO~vIA CIT~I OK Vibrant colors, shimmering fabrics, and sparkling rhinestones flooded the catwalk at Johnathan Kayne’s ’Fashion for Food’ show held last month benefiting the Regional Food Bank of Oldahomds (R~BO) Food for Kids program. More than 200 guests attended this exclusive fashion show which featured the latest creations from this nationally recognized fashion designer. Kayne is a passionate advocate for preventing childhood hunger. ’q~ais is probably the proudest moment in my life," said Kayne. "This cause has been near and dear to my heart because I was one of those hunglT children growing up." Kayne shared a time in his young life when he was overweight and did not always have good food choices. He now serves on the RFBO Celebrity Council and is a known nation wide for his great fhshion design. r tal~es $200 to ~xed a ized natlona[~y ~r’/~ls e:¢ce~lent’~ chr0nidally hungB~ dementa¢ Johnathan Kayne raised thousands ofdoll~tb" to suppO~ the school child through the RFBOS Regionat FoodBanh ofOklahoma Foodfor fi~Tdsprogram. Food for Kids program. The Photo by Robin D-Townsend event grossed more than $25,000 305 elementary schools in 42 counties across for the cause. This is the second year of I~yne’s annual fashion show which was featured last year on his TLC reality show Gown Crazy. The event featured two runway shmvs - one featuring Kayne’s latest designs and a finale show with custom items modeled by local celebrities including OKC news anchor and former Miss America, Lauren Nelson. The Food for Kids program provides chronically hungry elementary school children with backpacks filled xvith nonperishable, kid-friendly food to eat over weekends and holidays. Food for Kids serves central and western Oldahoma, providing backpacks to nearly 8,000 &ronically hungry children each week during the school year. There are 25 schools on the xvaiting list to join the program. "It is our desire that no child goes to school Monday morning with hunger pains," said RFBO Executive Director Rodney Bivens. "Vge currently serve nearly 8,000 hungry kids per week. We believe that when hunger ends, learning begins." The RFBO operating costs are 4% of all the funding they receive. The National Center on Nonprofits ....... Continued See KAYNE Page 7 ,uptcv * Ci"v"II Rights *Criminal ’ment * Family Law. Litigation street a city, OK 73 03 Sooner State Stampede SSRA Rode back after 5 years By Victor Gorin Metro Star Team 7~m Dickman, President ofSooner State Rodeo Association. Staffphoto TULSA, OK __ Cowboys and cowgirls from across America came together the first weekend of October as SSRA held their Sooner State Stampede. Hosted at the Airport East Ramada Inn, the party started there with a show celebration, and continued with the competition at the Bridle Creek Horse Ranch and Resort north ofTulsa in the hamlet of Sperry. The event was significant in that not only did it bring GLBT western lifestyle folk together from since 2005. N~e Sooner State Rodeo AssOciation was first formed in 2002 to give the GLBT and allied community ofTulsa and eastern Oklahoma a new avenue for western lifestyle expression. They hold fundraisers throughout the year not only for themselves but also various Oklahoma charities, and is one of 28 members of the International Gay Rodeo Association. Held for the first time at the Bridle Creek Horse Ranch, the event featured standard rodeo events but also those unique to gay rodeo, naturally goat dressing and a wild drag race. gc’ith over 60 contestants from across America it proved to be quite an event. "Clogger Bill" Francisco was this year’s Grand Marshal, and he got involved with gay rodeo over 20 years ago because as he puts it, "The atmosphere, all the cowboys, al! the events in the arena, I love it all." Also on hand was the current reigning Mr. MGRA Kelly Moore ( Missouri Gay Rodeo Association) who had also been Miss MGRA in 2007, the only person to ever capture both titles in that state. Although the event had a wide diversity of spectators, among the most interesting were a heterosexual family who was there viewing a rodeo of any kind for the first time, Gayla and Todd Lackey, owners of Crazy Cat Tie Dyes ~vith the children Jason and Althea. Having previous experience with the GLBT community through vending at several Pride events, it was this event that gave them their first taste of rodeo fun, Gayla stated, "I’m in it mainly for the goat dressing. Vge thought it’d be fun, so when we heard of the gay rodeo we thought ’OmiGod’ let’s go!" Lackey Family at thdrfirst Gay Rodeo. GoHn photo Tim Dickman, SSRA President stated, "The 2010 Rodeo was such a success and the contestants enjoyed the accommodations at Bridle Creek Horse Ranch and Resort so much we are planning to hold our next Rodeo in 2011 at this same facility." The Sooner State Rodeo Association welcomes all who are interested in the country & western lifestyle. For more information check out their website at www. soonerstaterodeo.com Candlelight Vigil Held in Edmond’s Haler Park By Victor Gorin Metro Star Team Stephanie Bolton and Bobby ~Iillican. Gorin photo EDMOND, OK__ At 7 p.m October 12. at Hafer Park in Edmond, GATE held their t lth Candlelight Vigil in honor of fellow those who had difficulty coming out, following, National Co,~ing Out Day October 11. Coming Out , coming to terms and being open about being GLBT can be a special prob!em in Oklahoma, ofren considered the buckle of the Bible Belt. Too ofren people who become known to or even perceived to be GLBT have faced ostracism from friends and famil),, loss ofjobs and/or homes, and sometimes have found their very lives in jeopardy. G.A.T.E. ( Gay Alliance for Tolerance and Equality) is an official student group at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. The group would also be marching in the annual Homecoming Parade the coming Saturday for the second time. Speaking at the vigil were GATE President Brandon White as well as the Cimarron Alliance President Scott Hamilton. Also speaking were individuals among the crowd, this time numbering around 100, almost triple the number of participants attending last year. Just about summing up the experience for everybody were two proud participants, Bobby Millican and Stephanie Bolton, a dear friend and straight ally. As she puts it, " I am so proud ofmy friends who are here proud of themselves." Forced Offthe Edge of Life’s Road By James Nimmo OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ The gay/straight alliance at the University of Central Oklahoma, a medium size state school in Edmond, OK, a bedroom town nearly contiguous with Oklahoma City, had a combination vigil/coming out day event this past Tuesday, October 12, recognizing the recent suicide ofZack Harrington and National Coming Out Day. It was held in a large public park in Edmond. I couldn’t stay for all of it but what I did see was a pretty good demonstration of being comfortable with being gay or lesbian. One of the leaders said the number was double over last year. I’d say about 70 people were there, mostly students in their early 20s, with some teenagers and older adults in the mix. I’ve known I was gay, though I didn’t know the word, since 4th or 5th grade of elementary school. The dictionary I used talked about "self-pollution". \Vv~at a scream! I was afraid it would somehow show tip when I had to go to the doctor for a required physical. "We put way too much emphasis on gender presentation and role playing when kids are too immature to understand their bodies and psychological needs. I think we should look at human development the same ~vay we look at other living organisms that morph fi’om one stage to another with radically different bodies. The outward shape of our human bodies doesn’t change so much, but the inner shape of our minds sure does-- or they SHOULD change--doffing the myths and twisted beliefs we’re fed as children as we develop from our own experiences. Several of the public speakers at the Norman City Council meeting mentioned religious belief in their objection to the GLBT History Month Proclamation, malting another example of the ignorance many people have about the separation of religious views and civil policies under the First Amendment. This was the meeting attended by Zack Harrington and apparently forced him off the edge of life’s road. Civil rights are the guaranteed benefits of being a citizen of this country. They are not subject to examination by a review panel to test if citizens are "worthy". Civil rights are universal, inherent in the social contract between citizen and government. Though I am a believer in the right of self-deliverance in the face 0£ inescapable terminal illness, I’m nearly speechless and ~vordless in the face of the suicides caused by the vehement, venomous vocabulary of religious, flat-earth thinking spewed in public meetings and the media. I’m reduced to involuntary hea&shaking when trying to understand how the insidious poison of religion infiltrates young minds and dissolves the normal urge to live. Religion has al~vays been the mental fog in the road of human progress, from Galileo and Copernicus to stem-cell research to the legal recognition of citizens without regard for their sexual orientation. It would appear that until more of us recognize the futility of religion with the false authority and violence it visits on innocent people, we’ll see more GLBT suicides as roadkill on the human highway. The link below provides a video of the ill-fated Norman, Oklahoma city council meeting. Oklahoma’s Zach Harrington, 19, Kills Himself After Hateful Town Meeting: ww~v.tinyurl.com/2chqvkt "First rsday" Art Opening and Exhibit ofOriginal Works by artist Di epac TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Noveraber Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) showcase and exhibit of local artists at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center (621 E. 4th Street in downtown Tulsa), will feature works from Tulsa artist Di Klepac Originally from Austin and living in Tulsa I:or almost two decades, Di paints what she reatly sees in her subject, bringing her unique meaning to the art she creates. Her early development was colored by watching her sister paint in the family studio of her youth in a subnrb of Austin. Di’s use of color and forceful strokes in textured tempera reach into the soul of her subject matter and pull out her views that live on the canvas. Her showings in the Brady Arts District have brought her acclaim in the Tulsa art community. The show begins with a reception on Thursday, November 4th fi’om 6-9pm and continues throughout the month. ~okeq.org Founded @ a dedicamd~’ou~ ofvo&nmers in 198& Oklahomam~r Equali~kEq is Oklahoma~ oldestgay rights o,ganizmion. From tesd,g~r HIVIAIDS and hosd,g the annual ~dsa Pride and Dive*xi{y Celebration m &e,~,a,g the Equalig @nt~r and documena*g the ~hg LGBT communig} rich histo~)~ OkEq worL,s.~r socia] justice andfid/ inch~sion~r Ok/ahoma) lesbian, g’9~ bisexual and t,unwnder (LGBD citizens and their allies. For more i,:~rma~ion, 4 November ~, 20~0 Tulsa’s Jerry Straley captures the title ofOklahoma Mr Leather 2011 By Victor Gorin Metro Star Team 1st runnerup Geqff~’ey ~omas, winnerJory Sou@ and 2nd runnerup Nathan Benne,: Go,in photo TULSA, OK It was a festive weekend for the leatherfolk who came together for the Oklahoma Mr. Leather \Veekend when the current reigning Oldahoma Mr. Leather Ron Harwood would pass on his title. ~xe event was hosted by the Super 8 which featured meet and greets for the various officials and spectators from throughout Oklalmma and beyond, educational classes, and of course a bar crawl. The contest came together Saturday October 9 at Club Maverick with contestants Jerry Straley- the current Tulsa Mr. Leather, Geoffrey Thomas and Nathan Benner. An event of the Tulsa Uniforra and Leather Seekers Association (TULSA), this occasion marked the 22nd year of this competition. It was emceed by Keith Hunt, Oldahoma Mr. Leather of 2004 and signing interpretation was provided by Oklahoma City~ \grill Farm with many distinguished community members on hand for the occasion. There was also a silent auction benefitting three charities, one of which is the Sharon St.Cyr Fund which works to create programs to provide hearing aids and interpre6ng services for the deaf and hearing impaired community. Funds also went to the Leather Archives & Museum located in Chicago, and also to the local Alternative Lifestyles Food Bank which provides food baskets for those of our community in need. Receiving the Ford Pruitt Award was Cathy Hill, named for 2 former outstanding TULSA members, Danny Ford and Lee Pruitt. This honor is awarded to an indMdual who has gone above and beyond worldng for the benefit ofT.U.L.S.A. and the leather community overall. The contest climaxed with Nethan Benner as 1st runnerup, Geoffrey Thomas as 2nd runnerup with Jerry Straley capturing the title of Oldahoma Mr. Leather 2011. He wil! go on to represent Oklahoma at the International Mr. Leather Contest which will take place in Chicago during the Memorial Day weekend of 2011. For rnore information check out their website TULSA at www.tulsaleather.com They welcome all who have an interest in leather and its lifestyle. Tuesday November 2--Your vote is crucial STATE of OKLatHOMA__ On Tuesday November 2 you have an opportunity to be part of determining the future of Old~mma and our nation. Many. of these races are almost certain ro be extremely close. Candidates supporting our issues need our votes. It isn’t easy to take a stand ~br the GLBT community in Oldahoma. When we make the effort to vo~e we show we are worth their support. Remember that the polls are open fiom 7 a.m. til 7 p.m. on Election Day November 2, but also there is the op;ion of early voting a~ your CountT Election Board Friday October 29 lCrom 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., Saturday October 30 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., and the following Monday November 1 again from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. [] ~ By Rex Wockner Don’t Ask, Don’t Tel roller coaster Gay ban back in force again The Obama administration resuscitated the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell gay ban Oct. 20 by convincing the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to temporarily stay an injunction by a federal district judge in Riverside, Calif. U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips had found the ban unconstitutional and barred any further use of it worldwide effective Oct. 12. In response, the military stopped kicking out openly gay and lesbian servicemembers and began letting open gays and lesbians sign up to enlist. Activist Dan Choi, Wocknerphoto But the Obama administration - ~dDADT ...... -- immediately beg~ figfitifi~ ~6 brifig ;h4 ban back to life, ultimately succeeding eight days later. The Justice Department argued that an abrupt end to the ban would be harmful to the military in myriad ways. Judge Phillips was wholly unconvinced and refused to stay her injunction. ~e 9th Circuit, on the other hand, issued a brief stay -- until at least Oct. 25 -- while it considers issuing a longer stay. ~e administration also said it wants Congress, not the courts, to end the ban. ~e House of Representatives voted to end the ban earlier this year but the Senate refused after a filibuster by Sen. John McCain, RAriz. ~ere is no indication that the Senate will change its mind when it returns to XV~hington for the lame-duck session following the No~ 2 elections, even though the DADT repeal measure is a part of the bill that funds the entire U.S. military for next year. McCain’s filibuster also left the over~l military funding measure unp~sed. "Reall)~ what~ in my heart right now is it’s going to be really hard for me to vote for Barack Obama," prominent gays-inthe- military activist Dan Choi said in an interview. Choi re-enlisted in the Army at the Times Square recruiting station in New York on Oct. 19. "Call me a one-issue person, but this is re~ly pissing me off," Choi added. "~en Congress has a law that~ unconstitution~, it~ the job of the courts to cfll it unconstitution~. ~at~ Civi~ day one. Obamgs giving Dofft &k, Dofft Tell mouthto- mouth resuscitation. For him to do that at this point is upsetting, it~ dis~sting." GetEQ~UAL Director Robin ~lcGehee. ~Vockner photo GetEQUAL director Robin McGehee called the government’s successful push for a stay "a travesty." "This ... brings the military’s discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law back from the dead," she said. "It is a travesty that after numerous attempts, President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder will go down in history as the administration that breathed life back into Don’t Ask, Don’t Te!l, The lives and careers of openly gay and lesbian servicemembers are now back in the crosshairs of our government and a renewed commitment to discrimination falls squarely in the hands of this White House." .....Servicemembers United Executive Director Alexander Nichol~ma said he’s hopeful the stay will last just a few days. "An objective look at the evidence before the court clearly indicates that ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell would not harm military readiness, but would rather enhance it," he said. Human Rights Campaign President Joe Sohnonese called DADT’S resurrection "a sad day for all Americans." "Today’s decision only furthers our resolve to send this law to the dustbin of history and also draws a spotlight on the administration to make good on their pledge to end these discharges that damage our national security," he said. Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Executive Director Aubrcy Sarvis said the stay dumped the ball back in the U.S. Senate’s lap. . "Gay and lesbian servicemembers deserve better treatment than they are getting with this ruling," he said. "~XTe now must look to the Senate next month in the lame-duck session to bring about the swift certainty needed here and to repeal this unjust law that serves no usefuI purpose." NY GOP governor candidate rash abou gays Carl Paladino, the Republican candidate for governor ofNew York, sounds like an oldschool homophobe. First, on Oct. 10, he said: "I didn’t march in the.., gay pride parade this year. My opponent did. And that’s not the example that we should be showing our children, and certainly not in our schools. And don’t misquote me as wanting to hurt homosexual people in any way. That would be a dastardly lie. My approach is live and let live. I just think my children and your children would be much better off and much more success~ful getting married and raising a family, and I don’t want them to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option. It isn’t." The following day Paladino went on the Today show and dug in his heels, telling Matt Lauer: "They wear these Speedos and they grind against each other and it’s just a terrible thing.... Would you take your children to a gay pride parade? I don’t think it’s proper for them to go there and ~vatch a couple of grown men grind against each other. I don’t think that’s proper. I think it’s disgusting." Video 1: tinyud.com/nogrindl. Video 2: tinyurl.com/nogrind2. In an Oct. 12 editorial, The New York Times called Paladino’s comments "bigoted" and "shockingly irresponsible," given recent anti-gay hate crimes and the spate of gay teen suicides. "A week before Mr. Paladino’s comments, police say three men in the Bronx were tortured by a group of attackers who believed they were gay," the newspaper wrote. "On Oct. 1, Rutgers University held a memorial service for a student who killed himself after police said his sexual encounter with a man was broadcast over the Internet by two classmates. For Mr. Paladino to choose this moment to make his utterly gratuitous remarks suggests at the very least an extraordinary level of insensitivity." Later Oct. 12, Paladino issued a statement that said, in part, "I sincerely apologize for any comment that may have offended the Gay and Lesbian Community or their family members." Indiana motor vehicles head arrested resigns The head of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Andrew J. Miller, was arrested Oct. 6 on a charge of public indecency for allegedly masturbating in front of an undercover cop in a cruisy public toilet in Indianapolis. He resigned following the incident. Equality NC sends Froot Loops to rep Between Oct. 6 and ! 1, each donor to Equality North Carolina had a personal message and a box of Ketlogg’s Froot Loops delivered to Republican state Rcp. Larry Brown. The stunt was a response to Brown’s having hit "reply to all" on an e-mail from House Minority" Leader Paul Stare and writing: "I hope all the queers are thrilled to see him (House Speaker Joe Hackney receiving an award from Equality NC). I am sure there will be a couple legislative fruitloops there in the audience." "If it’s fruitloops Rep. Brown wants,, then that’s what we’ll give him!" Equality" NC said. .....More NATIONAL NEWS - page 6 November 1, 2010 Equality Ca i£ornia £or rejection ofBaja marriage amendment Gays announce marches in Mexicali and Tecate LGBTpeopIe in Mexico’s Baja California state, where 77juana # located, are working to block a state constitutional amendmentpassed by the legislature that zoould seemingly ban recognition of same-sex ma.’iages. To be valid, the amendment requires ratification by a majority ofthe state’s municipal councils. Same-sex matriage is legal in Mexico City, and the nation’s Supreme Court has said that all31 Mexican states must recognize gay marriagesJ~om the capital ci~ Photo ofthis year’s ~juana prideparade by Rex Wockner Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors has joined calls for municipal councils in Mexico’s Baja California state to reject a state constitutional amendment that seemingly bans recognition of same-sex marriages. Meanwhile, local LGBT activists are organizing marches on Oct. 16 in the U.S. border city of Mexicali, the Baja state capital, and on Oct. 24 in the border city ofTecate. "It is extremely disappointing that there is an effort to amend the state constitution to not allow or recognize same-sex marriages in Baja California," Kors said. "Mexico’s Supreme Court has upheld marriage for same-sex couples and further required that legal same-sex marriages from Mexico City be recognized throughout the nation. We call on the municipal councils in Ensenada, Mexicali, Rosarito Beach, Tecate and Tijuana to reject this discriminatory effort by voting against ratification of the constitutional amendment -- and to go on the record in support of marriage equality for same-sex couples." The unicameral state legislature, the Chamber of Deputies, voted 18-1 on Sept. 29 to amend the state constitution to seemingly prohibit recognition of same-sex marriages, despite the fact that the federal Supreme Court ruled this year that all 31 Mexican states must recognize gay marriages fi’om Mexico City, where they are allowed. The vote came on the final day that the right-leaning National Action Party (PAN) had control of the legislature. On Oct. 1, the left- Ieaning Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) took control of a majority of the chamber’s seats, following elections thai: had been held in The PAN move appeared to some observers ~:o be an attempt by the conservative party to tauat the federal Supreme Court, although some amendment backers claimed they only hoped to prevent gay marriages from talcing place in Baja. The oddly worded amendment, however, does not include any stated exception for Mexico City marriages. It reads: "The State recognizes and protects the institution of marriage as a right of society oriented to guarantee and safeguard the perpetuation of the species and mutual support between spouses, satisfying this only, through the union of one man ~vith one woman." ("H Estado reconoce y protege la instituci6n del matrimonio como un derecho de la sociedad orientado a garantizar y salvaguardar la perpetuaci6n de la especie y ayuda mutua entre los c6nyuges, satisfacidndose este solamente, mediante la uni6n de un hombre con una mujer.") The amendment is not yet a done deal. It requires ratification by the municipal councils of at least three of Baja California’s five political subdivisions -- Ensenada, Mexicali, Rosarito Beach, Tecate and Tijuana. Those councils will remain under PAN control until Dec. 1, when new councilors from the PRI party will take office and hold a majority of council seats in the state’s political subdivisions. Ira municipal council fails to report the result of its vote by approximately the end of Octobel; the council will be counted as having approved the amendment. Local activists do not feel optimistic that a majority of the currently PAN-controlled councils will reject the amendment. "We are looking at legal paths to pursue this through the state human-rights ombudsman, to demand that he appeal the unconstitutionality of this amendment to the Supreme Court ofJustice of the nation," said Armando Rodr~guez, coordinator of the Mexicali Pride Committee. Activist Gerardo M~puta from the Tijuana GLBT Cultural Community (COCUT) added: "g/e are getting the word out given that the media here are keeping this very under the radar and not giving it necessary publicity. Xge are working hard to spread the information, utilizing social networks and bars and cafes. Vge are .....Continued see BAJA - page 11 of Oklahoma’ Zach’s parents and sister joined 400 others to remember his life. While most who stood in the circular garden did not lmow Zach, many identified with his feelings of frustration ~vith society. Kay Holladay, founder of PFLAG Norman, spoke about the importance of GLBT people and their straight friends and ~hmily encouraging and supporting each other. She said that standing up to bullies, or the bullies of friends, can make a difference. It can even save a life. She is the mother of a gay son. Mayor Rosenthral then read the proclamation, which was followed by cheers from the crowd. She told of the emails that she and other council members had received from around the world. Some were affirming, but most are condemning the council for not insisting on respectful language and behavior from those testifying. She said "We voted yes for the proclamation. We let everyone speak." Other speakers, from the OU GLBTQ student association, and President of the Norman North High School GLBT group confirmed this claim saying "They didn’t have to stand up for us. They did the right thing!" Severa! OU faculty and staff members addressed the young people in the circle, giving their names, department locations, and an invitation to come and talk anytime. Leaders of other organizations were present including GATE, OGLPC, and the OU Women & Gender Studies Department, who co-sponsored the event. Norman City Council members met again October 12 for their regular meeting and a few people come to talk about the proclamation and how it was handled. All of them ~vere congratulatory about the proclamation. David Ray, an OU professor and former City Council member, said that they had "obviously researched the issues and tallied to gay friends in drafting the proclamation." Norman resident Will Weir stated that he found the protesters of the proclamation "quite offensive in their use of stereotypes for people." Larry Dillingham recalled reading about the writing of the Constitution in 1778, and how the concept of equal representation of every citizen caused heated debate. They called the British rule a "tyranny of the majority," and created a democracy where at leeast in theory everyone is equal. Dillingham said the cotincil was exhibiting the "best use of the Constitution" in drafting and passing the proclamation for LGBT History Month. City Council member Tom Kovach pointed out that "when we allow ourselves to speak hatefully, we lower the level of discourse. Free speech does not allow hate speech." Kovach then gave statistics on GLBT harassment, bullying, and suicide from the Trevor Project, a 24 hour hot line, and online chat group, 1-866-4U-TREVOR Also honored were Jeff Riles, a young activist who captured this year’s Horizon Award, and Dr. David Macey who received their Torch Award. State Representative ~like Shelton, Democrat District 9Z Gorin photo Tiae Legislator of the Year Award this time was shared by two lawmakers, State Representative Mike Shelton of OHahoma City who almost singlehandedly stopped legislation that would have opted Oldahoma out of enforcement of Federal hate crimes laws recently amended to include sexual orientation as well as other newly added categories. Nxe other was State Senator Judy Eason-Mclntyre who also had tal~en many positive stands for the GLBT community, who could not be present but whose award was accepted by Oklahoma City State Representative Al McAffrey. Don Hawkins and Mick Schirron received the Media Award for their work owning and operating the Gayly Oklahoman. Begun by Don Hawkins and his partner of that time, Ron Schaeffer, in 1983, the Gayly was the premier news source for the GLBT community. Their first issue’s main story was the victory ofDon Hill and Scott Wilson (then the owners ofAngles) when they won their lawsuit suing Oldahoma City for police harassment of their club, Growing from a small monthly publication with a circulation of 4000, the Gayly grew to later boast of circulation of 10,000 and became a bi-weekly publication in 1990. Ron Schaeffer passed away in 1991. After becoming Don’s partner in 1994, Mr. Schirron joined the staffas their business manager while Don acted as editor in chief. As presenter J.B. Schulein explained, the Gayly was a news lifeline for the GLBT community before the days ofTwitter, Facebook or even the Internet itself. Due to the changes in the business and personal commitments Mick and Don retired from the business, their last issue January 15, 2006. Although the Gayly was sold and reincorporated that same year by Tulsans Andrew Hicks and the late Heather Harp, it ceased publication again, that last issue December ! 5, 2006 and passed into histor): But with that in mind, the Gayly had captured the attention of GLBT archMsts with what is certainly the most comprehensive resource of Oldahoma’s GLBT history during a period of vast change. So far a complete set of the Gaylys has been donated to Tulsa’s Dennis R. NeiI1 Equality Center, the Cimarron Alliance, and to the Oklalmma Historical Society which is in the process of preserving that archive electronically. The guest speaker for the event was Romaine Patterson, a longtime activist who had tmown and befriended the late Matthew Shepard in her native \Vyoming. ~e festivities concluded with an after party at Angles featuring not only Ms.Patterson, but entertainers Jozlyn V.&lch and Sonja Martinez. By Steven Petrow &even Petrow is the author of"The Essential Book ofGay Manners &Etiquette. "Send him your questions at queeries@live.com. "Teaching Kids of Gay Parents" public. To give it clarity, she gave some examples. If a gun was used in this type of crime that would qualify because guns are not manufactured in Oklahoma. If someone followed someone onto an interstate highway in the commission of a hate crime, that would likewise qualify. Ifa hate crime took place inside a business, that would qualify as well. To further illustrate as an example, the hate crime that victimized James Byrd would have qualified as a Federal hate crime as he was dragged to death on an interstate highway. Ms. Kelly made the point that while the act does signify progress, it does not cover every situation of hate crimes against GLBT persons or those of the other protected categories. Special Agent Jim Windsor was the next speaker, and while he reiterated that the expanded Federal hate crimes protection may not cover every situation, it is progress and he stated, "My goal clearly is prevention." kYC~ile encouraging emergency calls concerning hate crimes still to be directed to local authorities via 911, he urged calling the FBI as well. Even ifa hate crime has not yet happened, if there is only suspicious behavior or threats have been made the FBI wants to know about them. He stated that frequently a visit from FBI agents to those involved in threatening behavior can often forestall trouble and/or prevent hate crimes from happening. Synthia Demons was the last speaker, who talked about efforts by the Federal authorities to promote mediation. Scott Hamilton summed ir up stating, " I have been incredibly impressed with the FBI’s commitment to working with our community, helping us understand what hate crimes are, how to report them, and prevent them from happening." To report suspicious behavior to the Oklahoma City FBI or for more information contact their Oldahoma City Office at (405) 290-7770. Kole is 9 years old and was surrendered by their owners when their daughter d~veloped allergies to him and his SiSter Sadie. Kole is a loving, easy going dog that would rather just lay around and be your household friend. He’s good with kids and cats Come see Kole and and bring home a friend. Ifyou’d like to see Kole or any of the other adoptable dogs visit the Lab Rescue Tulsa Oklahoma website at: xvww.labrescue.net. and Philanthropy indicates that 20-25% is the national average. Each week, the RFBO provides enough food to feed more than 77,000 hungry Oklahomans. The majority of those served by this food bank are children, seniors living on fixed incomes, and working families who cannot make ends meet. To make a tax-deductible donation, or to learn about volunteer opportunities visit www.regionalfoodbank.org or call 405.972.1111. Connect online with the Regional Food Bank at twitter.com/rfbo or facebook.com/regionalfoodbank. Siloam Springs 479 524 6535 Claremore 918 341 1260 Sand Springs 918 246 2543 Jenks 9t8 299 6311 Owasso 918-272-4965 Sapulpa 918 227 2722 Norman 405 321 6725 Collinsville 918 371 1000 November 1, 2010 i 7 NEED YOUR VOTE ’ 21 Gold Castle our BEST properties are our PEOPL~L’ Oklahoma City, OK 73112 Rev Steve 3". Uric Spirit of Christ MCC 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Sunday 6:00 PM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM Have a God filled and BleSsed Day! November 1, 2010 9 O ahoma City holds State’s first Black Gay Pride Festival By Victor Gorin Metro Star Team Oklahoma Black Pride President ~adark Knight with Lar,y. Gorin photo OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ On the weekend of October 14-17 the first official Black Gay Pride Festival has held in Oldahoma. Hosted by OKC’s Crowne Plaza Hotel, the event coincided with the 2010 Fall Conference of Black and White Men Together. The organization came together in 2009 as part of a national movement reminiscent of the Civil Rights Movement, the Harlem Renaissance, but also inclusive of the culture of the African Americans in the GLBT community. The Festival attracted around 300 spectators, and featured a party at the Club Pulse Event Center with entertainer Tyra Sanchez, a winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Also at the hotel were many vendors and groups doing outreach. Why is there a need for a special group for African Americans to celebrate gay pride? As the president of the organization Mark Knight puts it, "Although the gay community is diverse, often the community doesn’t address this diversity. That’s why we decided to have a gay pride celebration that celebrates being both black and gay, to celebrate our culture and sexuality with our spin on it." Black Gay Pride is an incorporated organization in the process of obtaining 501c3 tax status, and they plan for this festival to be an annual event. For more information check out their website at www. November 1, 2010 Openarms Youth Project Inc. Elects New O cers TULSA, OK (PR) __ In a special meeting, the Board of Directors for Openarms Youth Project Inc. elected new officers for 2011-12. The new officers are: Drew Diamond - President Pam Anderson - Vice-President Cheyenne Charles -Treasurer Jared Vazquez - Secretary Openarms is very proud to have Mr. Diamond serving as the President at a time when the youth ofTulsa and surrounding areas face many challenges in school, at home and life in general. His experience in law enforcement and Conflict Resolution will be a valuable asset to the board and the youth served by Openarms. As Openarms continues to grow serving a greater number ofGLBTQyouth each week with expanded programming and activities this new leadership will focus Openarms on continuing to provide a safe environment for all the youth they serve. Openarms continues to operate as the longest continuously operating GLBTQyouth group for youth ages 14-21 in the state. Openarms is located at: 2015 B South Lakewood, Tulsa, OK 74112 Phone: 918-838-7104 Carpenter Square picks a winner with Sordid Lives By Victor Gorin Metro Star Team OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Carpenter Square Theater has always been a point of light for central Oklalaoma’s lovers of unconventional drama, therefore it was not surprising and an excellent choice when they included the steamy tale "Sordid Lives" for their 2010-2011 season. With their start in 1984, Carpenter Square began with their mission of alternative theater in the Carpenter Paper Warehouse, now the parking lot of the Oklal~oma County Jail. From the beginning the theater had a bar and patrons could enjoy their adult beverages during the show, most unusual during that time period. They later moved to a former department store at N.W. 5th and Hudson, where dedicated volunteers turned that space into a 220 seat theater. They moved again when the Arts Council of Oldahoma City invited them ro Stage Center in 1997, which was their home until flood damage last summer made it unusable. Finding a temporary home at the Bricktown Hotel, their theme for their 2010-2011 season is Dramatically Different, and Sordid Lives certainly fits that category when they brought that cornfed classic to campy life. "Sordid Lives", written by Del Shores, premiered This Cowboy just rode into town to his first VIETRO BOX AD! as a play in Los Angeles in 1996 and won 14 Drama League Awards. Later made into a film in 2000, the movie got mixed reviews but was nonetheless a cult classic, particularly with the gay community and especially in the South. Carpenter Square opened this saga with the premier show benefitting Other Options ( a charitable organization helping those living with HIV), raising over $400 for that organization. And the crowd was loud and ready to party! The plot was narrated by Bitsy Mae Harling (Shelly Phelps- no relation to the infamous Phelps family ofTopeka Kansas), who brought the audience together in song. The story centered around the death of Peggy Ingram, the family matriarch who died a steamy death in a seedy motel room with G.W. Netherscott (Paul James), a legless man who left his wooden legs on the floor for Peggy to trip on and mortally hit her head on the bathroom sink.. Coping with her unfortunate death were her three children, Latrelle Williamson (Elin Bhaird) who was the mother of a closeted gay son Ty( Brandt Sterling), the free spirited Lavonda Dupree (Pat Tweed), and of course the institutionalized cross dressing homosexual "Brother Boy" Earl (Chris Castleberry). Also dealing with the loss was Peggy’s sister Aunt Sissy Hickey( Brenda Williams), who only wanted to stop smoking and fell off the wagon. In addition G.W. had to deal with guilt because his wooden legs had caused Peggy’s death, and the anger of his wife Noleta ( Sue Ellen Reiman). Not taking the situation well, Lavonda and Noleta rob and terrorize the local saloon, where G.W. was drowning his sorrows and his friend Wardell Bubba Owens (Todd Clark), who was Once the object of Brow:t-mr Boy’s infatuation, was tending bar. They go on to rob the local liquor store as well and wind up in the county jail. Then Wardell ( with a drastic change of heart) breaks Brother Boy out of the institution where Dr. Eve "Evil" Bollinger(Lilli Bassett) was trying to cure him of his homosexuality with little success. Although dysfunctional, the grand finale was the funeral which did bring the family together for a happy ending, and the performance was truly a crowd pleaser. The show will continue through November 6, so don’t miss out on this campy classic of down home fun. For tickets call (405) 232 6500 or check out their website at www.carpenrersquare.com Oklahoma City School Board again votes to appeal Court Decision to re-instate him By Victor Gorin Metro Star Team In May of 2009 the Oklahoma City School Board voted 4-2 ( 1 absent and 1 abstained) to fire Joe Quigley, an English teacher at North~vest Classen High School, claiming that he had neglected his duties and was insubordinate to district policies. He is openly gay and a well lmown activist who has carried a sign proclaiming him as a gay teacher in many OKC Pride Parades. He has been active for years on behalf of students who are or perceived to be GLBT, educating them on their rights and vcas instrumental in getting the categories "real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity,"! included in the Oklahoma City Student Handbook as groups that are part of the policy of prohibiting harassment and bullying. It was widely perceived by the GLBT and allied community that his firing was actually due to this advocacy. The 2 votes against his termination xvere Chairperson kalgela Monson and board member Wilfredo Santos Rivera. With the help of his union, the American Federation ofTeachers, Joe Quigley successfully fought his termination. In September of 2009 Oklahoma County District Judge Barbara Swinton ruled in his favor, ordering his reinstatement in a scathing ruling that strongly criticized the Oklahoma City School Board, even apologizing to him for their treatment of him. The Board appealed her decision, and with a 6-2 vote decided not to reinstate or pay him during the appeals process. (The 2 votes against appeal were again Chairperson Angeta Monson and then Board member Wilfredo Santos-Rivera). This followed with a hearing in which the Oldahoma Civ School Board would have to reinstate Mr.Quigley immediately or be charged with contempt of court. ~ae Board agreed to reinstate him, and he began teaching at U.S. Grant High School. When that school was forced to remove half the teachers due to a mandated restructuring plan under the No Child Left Behind Federal law, Joe was reassigned to Douglas High School, where he is teaching English at this time. On October 6, Judge Carol M. Hansen from the Court of Civil Appeals upheld Judge Swintoffs lower court dec!sion, also ruling that the District would be required to pay the plaintiffs legal expenses. It is estimated that already the legal expenses of the plaintiff and of the district could already be well over $250,000, money many have stated could have been better spent for teachers and school facilities. On Monday, the Oklahoma City School Board then voted to appeal that ruling to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Mr. Quigley has expressed that he feels that many district employe.es have continued to treat him unfairly while his case proceeds. Myson Books stops publishing books Venerable gay publishing company Alyson Books, owned by Advocate parent company Here Media, has stopped publishing books and will rework itself into aaa e-book publisher, said Publishers WeeNy. Authors under contract can have their rights back or move to the online venture. In August, Village Voice columnist Michael Musto had complained that the company was "holding my new book hostage." Creep of he Month By D’Anne Witkowski D’Anne Witkowski has been gayforpay since 200~ She’s aj~eelance writer andpoet (believe it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps ofthe world she reviews rock ~’ roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister "Ann Coulter" Perhaps it was Ann Coutter’s very public referral to former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards as a "faggot" that nabbed her an invitation to address a conservative gay group, or maybe it was her recent essay extolling the virtues of Ronald Reagan and his battle against "government endorsement of homosexuality." Whatever the reason, Coulter, everybody’s favorite anti-gay fag hag, appeared Sept. 21 at her long-awaited Homocon gig: a fundraiser for GOProud, a group of gay conservatives. Anti-gay right-wingers were aghast that Coulter would speak to such a depraved group and some lamented that she’d gone over to the dark side. But they needn’t have worried. Even when talking to a group of homos she has no problem not being very nice to homos. "Marriage is not a civil right. You’re not black," Coulter told the group. "Blacks must be looking at the gays saying, ’Why can’t we be oppressed like that?’" Ha, ha, ha. Get it? Because gays are all rich and can afford to hire high-profile guest speakers for their b@ fat, gay parties in New York City. Sill), gays, always pretending to have problems bigger than where their next martini is coming from. Oh, and also there are no black gays. LOL. WTE It was "one of a series of racially insensitive remarks that pervaded her speech," reported Talking Points Memo. This should come as no surprise since Coulter is widely perceived to be a racist bitch (and yes, I realize that "racist bitch" is not a strong enough term, but I’m trying to be politically correct here). So, ~vait - is Ann Coulter saying that cMl rights only apply to black people? Apparently so. According to TPM, she told "the crowd that the 14th Amendment only applies to lobbying ... the councils and (state) legislators and (municipal) Councilors to express our A£rican-Americans and that it does not, in fact, apply to women, LGBT people or other minorities." Kind of makes me wonder if she’s actually read the 14th Amendment. Keep in mind that Coulter was made part of the event to lighten things up with her, UlTI, humor. "The gay left has done their best to take all the fun out of politics, with their endless list of boycotts and protests. Homocon is going to be our annual effort to counter the ’no fun police’ on the left," said GOProud Chairman of the Board Christopher Barron. "I can’t think of any conservative more fun to headline our inaugural part,/then the self-professed ’right-wing Judy Garland,’ Ann Coulter." Really? You can’t think of a conservative that’s "more fun" than Ann Coulter? Maybe that means there really aren’t any "fun" conservatives. But what do I know? I’m a humorless member of the gay left doing my best to take all the fun out of politics, because of how the gay left doesn’t appreciate how hilarious it is that gays can’t get married. And don’t forget the side-splitting debate around "Don’t Ask Don’t Tell." And the laffs about hate crimes legislation, or the fact that in many states it’s OK to fire someone for being gay, or deny them hospital visitation rights or a place to live. Stop, my sides. No, seriously. Stop. But hey, at least we’re not black, right? Am I right? (Cricket chirping) Guys? What’s the matter? Was it something I said? Sigh. I guess I just don’t have Ann Coulter’s silver-tongued wit. point of view and make them understand that this law is homophobic, and als0 (are) having the support of the (state) ombudsman of human rights." ~xe marches in Mexicali and Tecate will be combo pride and protest marches. Mexicali’s march is Saturday, Oct. 16, at 3 p.m., starting at Avenida Col6n and Calzada Justo Sierra. Mexicali sits on the California border 120 miles east of San Diego. Tecate’s march is Sunday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m. at Parque Central. Tecate sits on the California border 40 miles southeast of San Diego. The only vote cast against the amendment in the Chamber of Deputies carne from PRD (Partido de la Revoluci6n Democr~tica) Deputy Ana Maria Fuentes. "It is our conviction that the basis of human happiness is freedom and the recognition of rights, that any restriction imposed by one or various churches or some particular morality that signifies restriction of rights or persecution of people in the fi’ee exercise of their sexual preferences is profoundly wrong and has more to do with the past and nothing to do with the future," she said. "gge oppose that the more conservative groups ... want to convert our state into some sort of medieval island with the double morality that comes with that." The legislative chamber was filled with equal numbers of LGBT people and their opponents the day of the vote. Videos of the vote and the chaotic aftermath can be seen at tinyurt.com/bcgaymat2 and tinyurl.com/ bcgaymat. November 1, 2010 Photo’s by Victor G. Out &About in Oklahoma @ SSRA Sooner State Stampede, Tulsa @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa @ The Copa, Oklahoma City @ Finishline, Oklahoma City November 1, 2010 ~’~{}$TAR @ Tulsa Eagle, Tulsa By Ed Sikov Ed Sikov is the author ofDark Victory; ~e Life ofBette Davis and other books aboutfilms and f!lmmakers. "q ey Hate Me. q-hey Really Hate Me!" ~’as trying not to take it personally. Really. OK, I was taking it personally. else had they all called to say they’d be at the house in time for dinner on Friday but no earlier? Therefore no cocktail hour(s). I admit it: I’m an out-of-control control freal~. I was making a perfect meal: Bobby Flay’s barbecued salmon; Israeli couscous, which I was spirting up with saffron and grill-roasted red peppers; and a salad (from a bag - I can be lazy about salads). We would start with Pernod from the freezer, and dessert would be a delightfully thick and creamy drink made to order. Then it hit me: they were avoiding what I claimed was that week’s "cocktail du weekend"! I’d stupidly sent out an e-mail claiming that I’d found an obscure drink recipe and would be making it on Friday. It was called the Booger. It was, of course, repulsive: half part banana liqueur, half part coconut rum and half part Midori. As if this combo wasn’t wretched enough, Boogers get topped off with Baileys Irish Cream. Shake with ice. Strain. Drink. Vomit. Bogus Boogers drove them away! The puppies, Robbie and Kyle, both said they were meeting friends for drinks at low tea (wasn’t I their friend?). Craig preferred Top o’ the Pines; he was meeting Paolo there for martinis. Even Dan said he was stopping at BarHarbor for a Campari and soda before coming home. Did none of them have a sense of humor? At least Kyle apologized before bailing on me. Dan arrived around 8:30. "\Where are the snot shots?" he asked pleasantly. A growl was my reply. He turned away from me toward " the stairs, and I lost it. "Do you really think I’d make that shit?" I barked. His face took on that stricken look he gets when I bawl him out for something he doesn’t understand. ~en I felt guilty. "It was just a joke, sweetie. A bad joke. You know me. Would I ever make a Booger?" "You just might," he said, "as some sort of revenge." ~e other guys staggered in around 9:30, all totally plastered. The barbecued salmon was gummy, q-he couscous clumped. Only the salad was any good, and that was because it was still in the bag. I was seething. We ate in silence. The puppies were too drunk to talk; Craig was too caught up in his food; Paolo ,vas visibly frightened of me and my temper; and Dan knew he was already on thin ice. We both hated dinners like this; we called them "Night of the Living Drunks." So I refused to make the "cocktail du weekend." The Brandy Alexanders would have to wait. qhe Brandy Alexander It’s strictly a dessert drink. Never order one before dinner, or everyone will think you’re too young to know any better or, if you’re over 30, yotl simply have god-awful taste. 2 parts brandy 1/2 part dark creme de cacao 1/2 part or more heavy cream Nutmeg (optional) Mix brandy, creme de cacao and cream m a shaker filled with ice. Put on top and cap and shake shake shake - create some froth. Strain into a martini glass and sprinlde a little nutmeg on top. I’m the type who keeps whole nutmeg in a glass jar and uses a little nutmeg grater; McCormick’s is almost as good, though not nearly as pretentious. Join Metro Star Enews £or Breaking News Updates as hey happen. Keep n£ormed throughtout the month. Jo n us MetroStarNews.com TULSA, OK __ The Metro Star On-line edition at www.metrostarnews.com is updated daily with Top Local and National News stories that concern the GLBT community. The World News feed module will keep you informed about community news from around the globe. Join us, it’s FREE! 12 & Chuck Breckenridge ~vVhcthcr buying or selling 1’tl work hard Yet you. CHECK OUT UNIQUE ~ka~sas’ 597 Magnetic Road Eureka Springs, Arkansas www.magneticvalleyresort.corn info@magneticva!leyresort.com 800-210-8401 479-244-6821 Downto~vn, \~;hlk Bars, Clubs, Baseball, BOK Ceneer, Tulsa Gay Center. Affordable Homes and Apartments. For more I~,~na~o# visit: wwu~gaybmdybeightstuha.com ~ ~f$~ November 1, 2010 13 By JackFertig 2 9 le 11 12 :~3 November 2010 "Get sick and twisted, Leo!" Mercury is trine to Jupiter, opening the mind to wonderful new ideas and observations. But both are in water signs, so those new "ideas" will be more artistic, intuitive and emotional than togicat - and then Mercury trines Uranus, sending those novel notions into wild new directions..Avoid drugs and booze. They’re just crutches for people with no insight or originality. ARIES (March 20- April 19): Speak your mind! Granted, that often leads to trouble, but now it should work out well. You could start misunderstandings with your friends, but trust your instincts to clear up any trouble. TAURUS (April 28 - May 20): Your partner wants the best for you, but taking his or her prods to your ambition too seriously can create more trouble than it will solve. Talk together about long-range goals beyond your work. A friend’s advice can be very helpful. GEMIN~ (May 21- June 2(}): Impulsive actions on your own will likely cause arguments or accidents. Be very clear about your goals, and enlist help from your boss or the experts. They’ll be glad to help you get ahead. CANCER (June 2to Ju~y 22): Small adventures, especially in sexual experimentation, are likely to get you into a terrible mess. Grander, more daring experiments are a lot safer. The real trick is to think ahead, be clear on safety issues, and trust your instincts. LEO (Ju~y 23 - August 22): Old "tapes" from your upbringing can get in the way of a healthy partnership. OK, let go of "healthy" and get sick and twisted! A good erotic catharsis can be the best way to clear out the psychic junk. VlRGO (August 23 - September 22): Advice from your partner will likely shock you, but all the more reason to at least consider it very carefully. Following that line of conversation with your sweetie will also help you avoid troublesome misstatements. L~BRA (September 23 - October 22): Money problems can be dealt with, but not at the lottery or casino - and "retail therapy" is just a euphemism for "shopaholic." Analyze the situation and work it out. A serious approach will find inspired solutions. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Asserting your own integrity and truly speaking your mind is sure to shake up your family or tribe. As Mark Twain said, you have to make people laugh when you tell them the truth. SAG~TTAR~US (November 22 - December 20): To unlock family secrets, ignore your siblings. They’re probably confused or lying. Parents are more likely to reveal the truth, especially when they would prefer not to. The truth could be shocking; the fall-out even more so. Is it worth it to know? CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): As the world moves on, revising your ideas is sometimes necessary. Do old ideas still serve your core ideals? Philosophical and political arguments with your friends can prove very educational if you can approach them with an open mind. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Losing yourself in your work is a good way to screw up the job. Review your priorities and aims with your boss or a trusted expert. Getting clear on this issue is key to your advancement. PISCES (February 19- March 19): What comes out of your mouth may surprise you more than your friends, but pick your company carefully. Guarding secrets may be like "trying not to think about the elephant." Just keep your mind and the conversation elsewhere. Creating Community for People iving with H V/A DS .A 501 c (3) Non P~’ofit Organization Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail ourhousetoo9865@sbcglobal.net 1 3 4 6 17 18 14 25 2(~ 27 ~ 2~ 33 34 30 ;31 32 38 Across 56 57 58 t Femme’s Guide to the Universe author Rednour 5 Type ofroom at a bathhouse 10 ~est Side Story gang t4 C~ of pride t 5 ~e Scales, astrologically 16 Blade name 17 Cross-dressing comedian 19 "Legs" rock trio 20 Added to the scrapbook 21 DavidSedaris’ works 23 Family diagram 24 Morales of Resurrection Blvd. 25 Some sex-toy batteries 28 Cause ofApr. angst 29 7he Naked Civil Servant author Crisp 33 ’Tm all ears" 35 "Don we now gay apparel .:;" 36 Literature Nobelist Andrd 37 Collette of United States of~Tara 38 Working Girls director Borden 40 Vogue ~ompetit0r 41 Wdcome response after a mmbte 42 Access ending 43 Cut loose 1 Type of father Robert Reed played 2 "If I Only Brai~ 3 Says fi~rther 4 Singer Bonnie 5 Pitch that isn’t straight 6 Hissy fits 7 My People author Abba 8 JFK in}b 9 Left no doubt 10 Ethel kg~aters, for one 11 Katharine~ Butch Cassidy role 12 Perry of Metropolitan Community- Church 13 Suckers 18 Queer, ro srraights 22 Writer3s enc. 24 Prefix with later,~ 25 Top floor 26 It arouses two body openings 27 Where priests come together 30 Did some floor work 31 One who screws around 65 Angdina’s tomb-raiding role 66 Chooses not to come 67 All s Well That Well Solution page 15 ~s are those 14 November 1, 2010 Support those who support us. Their ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you. HABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPW Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 v~vw.habanainn.com MAGNETIC VALLEY RESORT 597 Magnetic Road Eureka Springs, AR 800-2 I0-840 t x~vw.magneticvalleyresort.com ACCOUNTING: KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant ATTORNEYATLAW: VALERIE WILLIFORD 625 N.SV. 13th Street Oldahoma City, OK 405-226-8585 AUTO DEALERS: BAR HELP "g’ANTED ANGLES 2117 NW 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK xwa~v.anglesclub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 www.bambooloungetutsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-2900 www.habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 Nag/39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSX~AY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com TULSA EAGLE !338 E. 3RD Tulsa, OK 918-592-1188 Open 7days week 2pm to 2am MASSAGE: ENTERTAINNIENZ. ~TAtL STORES : CHURCH of the OPEN ARMS 3t31 N. PENN, OKC, OK 405-525-9555 Service Sunday 10:45 AM EXPRESSIONS Fellowship 4010 N Youngs Oklahoma City, OK 405-761-1878 ,a~vw.expressionsOKC.com HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline OKLAHOMA STONEWALL DEMOCRATES Oklahoma City, OK www.okstonewall.org OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 RED ROCK B.H.S. 4400 N. LINCOLN BLVC Oldahoma City, OK 73105 405-425-0473 Toll Free 1-877-339-3330 SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Sunday 6pro Classified Text Advertising (n6 graphicS)2~ wor& o{ 1-esS $~51001 AddidonN ~S}~ $0 ~0 Cents each! J z-Zaz ZO VS &S.,,AS: : JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 w~a~.c21 goldcastle.com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller xXqtliams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY REAL ESTATE Nations Top Gay/Lesbian Realtors www.GayRealEstate.com 1-988-420-6683 GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn N~:~S~R/November 1, 2010 15 D ber 7 N Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2010] Metro Star Magazine, November 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 11 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 01, 2010 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Metro Star’s first issue began in August of 2008. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004), The Ozark’s Star (2004), and The Star (2005). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd; Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Nimmo Victor Gorin Ronald Blake Michael W. Sasser Robin Dorner-Townsend Philip Green Romeo San Vicente Andrew Collins Jack Fertig Lisa Keen Ed Sikov Steven Petrow Rex Wockneer D'Anne Witkowski Keith Orr Chris Azzopardi Victor Gorin Judy G. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online text Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwest Missouri West Arkansas Southeast Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Metro Star Magazine, October 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 10 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/196 The Metro Star Magazine, December 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 12 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/187 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/195 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/c141f742e757cbb74c5703b59f50d96e.jpg 9e9cda562c87443ea73568f8ca157dee https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/d356e35cbb901eb137a4d4f61191f365.pdf ebbaa475a5a7c68c3e71dff45ea268b6 PDF Text Text LOCAL NEWS NATIONAL NEWS ~ WORLD NEWS ~ THE PREMIER SOURCE LIFESTYLE FOR GLBT FITNESS ~ TRAVEL N ADVICE ENTERTAINMENT OKLAHOMA ClI’4ARI::!ON ALLtANC£ FOUNDATION Oklahoma’s Oldest LGBT Organizations Seal Partnership on page-3 VOLUME 7 ISSUE 9 TwiRer.com/MetroStarNews ..... MetroStarNews.com FREE I SEPTEMBER 1,2010 Roth, Askins, Edmondson speak at Oklahoma Democratic Party event California same-sex marriages Mocked for several more months By Robin D-Townsend Contributing Writer By Rex Wockner At the Democratic H, ofFame Dinner in ~bematorial candidate Lt. GovernorJari Askins (¢ andfo~Tner Cotporation Commissioner event emcee, Jim Roth. ~ousands march in. California Aug. 4 in celebration ofJudge Vaughn Walker) mding that PropOsition 8 was unconstitutional. Photo @ David Poller (r) Robin D-Townsend OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ At the Oklahoma Democratic Party 2010 Homecoming Rally and Activists Hall of Fame Dinner, Attorney General Drew Edrnondson made it "crystal clear" that he supports Lt. Governor Jari Askins in the race for Governor of Oldahoma. Opponents in the primary dection, both candidates maintained mutual respect noted statewide by citizens as well as many media oudets. Asldns won the nomination garnering 50.28% of the "We have got to elect Jari Askins Governor of this state, no question about it. I support Jari Asldns without reservation, and I will do everything I can to get her elected governor of Oklahoma," Edmondson said as he delivered a heartfelt speech supporting Astdns. Asldns fol!owed the intro by saying, "I am truly proud to stand in front of you as your candidate for Governor. It takes every one of us, but together, we can make this happen. vote. ........ Continued See ODP Page-7 Cowboys and Cowgirls to invade Tulsa By Michael W. Sasser Contributing Writer TULSA, OK __ Oklahoma’s gay countrytinged community is welcoming back the Sooner State Rodeo Association (SSRA) Rodeo this year with the 2010 Sooner State Stampede, October 1 - 3 at the fully equipped and handsome Bridle Creek Horse Ranch and Resort in Sperry. N~e Sooner State Stampede represents the return of SSRA rodeo after several year hiatus. ~e International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) sanctions the rodeo and it is one of the most anticipated events for the regional gay community. It is expected to attract a host of competitors and fans for a fun celebration of al! things western including both good spirited competition and of course some great fun. SAN FRANCISCO, CA The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Aug. 16 blocked any same-sex marriages from taking place in California while proponents of the state’s marriage ban appeal the Aug. 4 district-court ruling that found Proposition 8 in violation of the U.S. Constitution. The appeals court said it will hear the case the week of Dec. 6, and it set up an expedited briefing schedule for the case’s attorneys. The court also ordered the proponents of the ban to prove that they have "standing" ro appeal the decision made by District Judge Va~ughn Walker. The actual defendants in the case, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown, have refused to defend Prop 8, and the Court of Appeals’ order seemed sympathetic to the idea that proponents of the ban, as "defendantintervenors," are not properly situated to appeal Walker’s ruling. If they are not that could end the case and same-sex marriage would again be legal in California under Walker’s original ruling, although a decision on standing could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The defendant-intervenors are the same people who put Prop 8 on the ballot in 2008 to overturn the state’s legalization of same-sex marriage. "The 9th Circuit put the appeal on a fast track and specifically directed the Prop 8 proponents to address ’why the appeal should not be dismissed for lack of Article III standing’ in their opening brief," said the National Center for Lesbian Rights. "That means the court will consider whether the proponents of Prop 8 have the right to file an appeal at the same time that it is considering whether Judge Walker’s decision that Prop 8 violates the federal Constitution is legally correct." ......... Continued See MARRIAGES Page-5 Headquartered in Tulsa, the Sooner State Rodeo Association is a Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgender non-profit organization dedicated to performing charitable duties for the surrounding area through fund-raisers, horse shows, and rodeo performances. SSRA was organized for individuals interested in western related events such as rodeos and horse shows, horseback riding, western/ square dancing, and clogging. SSRA bars all prejudices related to sex, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, race or any other prejudice the organization may encounter. Sooner State Rodeo Association was founded in 2002 to give men and women in the northeastern Oklahoma interested in promoting and participating in rodeo a new avenue of expression. They host fundraisers for Tulsa area charities as well as their own organization. SSRA holds royalty competitions each October for Mr. SSRA, Ms. SSRA, Miss and MisTer SSRA. Royalty is an important part of their organization as they represent SSRA at rodeos and fundraising events. SSRA is one of 28 member associations of the IGRA. IGRA serves to foster the sport of rodeo amongst other country and western activities. IGRA along with its fellow ........ Continued See RODEO Page-4 �Now is the time to work for real and lasting ctange No maffer who yot are on life’s journ~ "I am convinced that while our party is not perfect full equality for GLBT Americans will come much faster with Democrats in charge. More than ever now is the rime to be strong and continue to work for real and lasting chan g. e" Michael Mitchell, Executive Director National Stonewall Democrats By Victor Gorin Contributing writer Bani"uptcv o Civil Rights oCriminN LJ Jga Jon iment: 625 . Sth street National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director Michael ~a/iitchell zoith Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats Secretary ~ctor Gorin MIDLAND REGION CHAPTERS of the Presen The Oct 15 o 17 Crown Plaza Hotel Oklahoma City, OK Register Now! ~,.~[..e[_g....e...i~ ..h ,.eT,~ ~: ~obwmtmid~and.org ~.NABWNT.ORG For more information contact Doug Reynolds at 816-444-3692 djdoug268@aol.com 2 September t, 2010 "5~(~ l~,;;n~ hCich2gPot e rs: PACT Cleveland MACT Dallas MACT Kentucky BWMT Milwaukee BWMT Detroit Form÷~" Chapters: PACT St Louis MACT Kansas City MACT Youngstown MACT Indianapolis WASHINGTON, DC __ kanid the excitement of marriage equality making new history for the GEBT community and all Americans, the Stonewall Democrats held their National Convention in V/ashington D.C. July 30-August 1 at the Capitol Hilton Hotel. Drawing delegates from all over the country, from New Jersey to Nevada, as expected there was much discussion of marriage equality on a natiomvide and state by state basis, the military "Don’t ask don’t Tell" policy still in place, and affirming Stonewall’s alliance with organized labor which includes giving their business to unionized hotels, airlines and other goods and services whenever possible. Founded in 1997, the Stonewall Democrats is America’s only grassroots GLBT organization of the Democratic Party. They are focused on malting change primarily in three ways: Educating the GLBT community about the differences between the political parties, mobilizing the GLBT community to get out the vote for fair-minded Democrats, and to oppose the efforts of Republicans when they attempt to roll back or obstruct progress for the GLBT community while working with the Democratic Party in the struggle for equality. Viith over 90 chapters across the country including one in Oldahoma City formed in 2001, their members do the work of calling voters, doing mailings and other assistance for good candidates while working with local and state Democratic Party officials. Along with a tour of our capital city and the White House, the delegates heard from several noteworthy speakers including the Executive Director of the Democratic National Committee Jen O’Malley, along with U.S. House Representative Jared Polis ( Colorado’ Democrat District 2) who is the Ist openly gay man elected to Congress as a fi’eshman. %ey al]~ heard from two of our proudest straight allies, U.S. Representative Patrick Murphy (DemocratPennsylvania District 8), who was the first Iraqi war veteran to serve in Congress who is an ardent opponent of the U.S. military’s "Don’t ask Don’t Tell" policy along with U.S. Representative Dina Titus ( Nevada Democrat-District 3). The meeting concluded Sunday August 1 with Executive Director Michael Mitchell wishing the delegates well and encouraging them in the work facing them in the fall elections. Speaking of Oklahoma values By Robin D-Townsend Contributing Writer OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ CNN spent an afternoon at the campaign office of Brittany Novotny, taping for an upcoming segment of American Morning. Novomy is the candidate who seeks to unseat Sally Kern, the current representative of State House District 84. Kern is known worldwide for a speech when she told a group of supporters that homosexuality is "The biggest threat that our nation has, even more than terrorism or Islam." Novotny said of Kern, "She has angered a lot of people with the kind of divisive rhetoric she has used. She has been out of touch with the issues. We are at the bottom in teacher ....... Continued See NOVOTNY Page 7 �AIDS Walk OKC A Tradition of Hope Now at a new Time and Location By Victor Gorin Contributing writer State’s Oldest LGBT Organizations Seal Partnership PONCA CITY, OK (PR) __ On July 31, 2010 leaders from Oklahoma City based Cimarron Alliance Foundation and Tulsa based Oklahomans for Equality met in Ponca City for the purpose of signing a Memorandum of Understanding that creates a statewide partnership. These two organizations are the state’s oldest advocacy and education groups for Oldahoma’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Combined, they have nearly a half-century of advocating for this population. According to Toby Jenkins, President of the Oldahomans for Equality Board of Directors, the organizations have had a cordial relationship for years. "\re have always had the highest regard for Cimarron Alliance and they have been very supportive of Oklahomans for Equality as welt. This past year our organizations have had a very intentional approach in working together. The time is right to formalize our partnership." Scott J. Hamilton, Executive Director of Cimarron Alliance, concurs with Jenkins. "For the past six months our organizations have deve!oped an amazing working relationship. Our missions are very complementary and we hold OIcEq’s leadership in very high esteem. We believe that we can accomplish far more together than either of us can on our own. OKLAHOMA CITY% O.KLAHOMA CITY, OK When the AIDS virtu first surfaced in the United States during the early 1980s it not only cost many lives, it created a climate and fear and resurrected homophobia that overshadowed a period of increased acceptance of the GLBT community. The epidemic was used by conservative religious and political leaders to foster homophobia, even referred to as a "gay plague:" by the late Reverend Jerry Falxvell. In answer to a lack of serious action at first by government officials and mainstream society, gay activists took the lead in the fight against AIDS, increasing Funding for research and public education about HI.V. When NBA Star Magic ~ohnson revealed that he had AIDS, more straight allies joined this cause when it became obvious that the virus did not discriminate. Organizations formed in Oklahoma City to help those at~cted by HIV, many of which are with us today including RAIN (Regional Aids Interfaith Network), Other Options, and the Winds House. Vvrhat these agencies had in common was a desperate need for funds, thus beginning AIDS Walk OKC. ~e first AIDS Walk OKC came together in 1998, and it has grown to be one of Oklahoma City’s most prominent annual events. Money raised from the ,valks is distributed to various Oklahoma agencies helping those infected or affected by HIV including not only the before mentioned agencies, but also others involved including Planned Parenthood and the Latino Community Development Agency. In previous years it has been held in October beginning at the Crystal Gardens, but this year there has been a change of time and location with increased activity. It all happens on Sunday September 19, beginning with a 5K run sponsored by Dell. Registration for the run will begin at 11:00 a.m., beginning in Bricktown at the corner of Joe Carter Drive and Rent Avenue, and the runners take off at 12:30 that afternoon Registration to participate is $20 if purchased in advance, or $25 the day of the run. One car~ register online at www.aidswalkokc.org. The AIDS Walk itself will take place that afternoon beginning at Bricktowffs Sonic Plaza ( !ocated on the south side of Rent Avenue across from the AT&T Brickmwn Ballpark), and the theme this year is "Each Step brings Hope." There is free reserved parking for participants, with registration beginning at 12:30 p.m. with step 9fiat 2 p.m. Before the walk one can check out vendors and service organizations that xvill have booths for this event which is free and open to the public. For more information on how to participate contact info@ aidswalkokc.org. AIDS Walk OKC is a 501 c3"organization, so all contributions are tmx deductible Jenkins and Hamilton believe that this initiative will have far-reaching benefits for Oklahoma’s gay community. It forms the framework for more cohesive program development, legislative work and, ultimately they believe, serving as a powerful voice for LGBT Oklahomans throughout the state. "We are not merging our organizations," said Hamilton. "Instead, we are capitalizing on each other’s strengths and experience to serve more people than ever before." The choice of Ponca City as the location for the MOU signing was, according to Jenkins, very intentional. "We chose Ponca City because it is a neutral site, rich with Oklahoma nationally recognized landmarks and history. On September 16, 1893, the greatest land run in the history of the state began right here in Ponca City. More than 100,000 eager land-seekers raced for claims. Their stories are of endurance, hope, pride and determination, and are all of the things our organizations represent," said Jenkins. Hamilton echoed Jenkins’ sentiments and noted that Ponca City is representative of many Oklahoma towns and cities. "We love the history and symbolism here in Ponca City. We could, though, have chosen any place from here to Ardmore, from the Otdahoma Panhandle to the hills of southeastern Oldahoma. Our goal today is to demonstrate that Oklahomans for Equality and Cimarron Alliance Foundation are dedicated to addressing the needs of every LGBT adolescent, adult, and senior as well as their families, friends and loved ones in Oklahoma" he said. As important as this MOU is to both organizations, Hamilton and Jenkins indicated this is only the first step of a broader plan to include other organizations. "This creates a statewide partnership that will broaden our reach immediately," said Jenkins. "But as we move forward, we envision inviting many other organizations to join with us," he continued. "In time we will welcome LGBT groups and other allied organizations to partner with us," said Hamilton. "~ais way we gain strength and provide even greater empowerment and support for individuals and groups. \Vgorking together there is no limit to the advances we can make toward equali~ for all Oldahomans," he concluded. Oklahomans for Equality, originally called Oklahomans for Human Rights, began in 1980. The organization seelcs equal rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender individuals and fan~ities through advocacy, education, programs, alliances and the operation of the Dennis R Neill Equality Center. The mission of the Cimarron Alliance Foundation, founded in 1995, is to support educational efforts that validate personal identity, promote public enlightenment, and advance equality for LGBT Oldahomans. The full Memorandum of Understanding can be viewed at the organizations’ respective websites: okeq.org and cimarronalliance.org. TEN Co’Founder Elected to National Post ¯ Laura Belmonte, President The Equality Nelwork (TEN) TULSA, OK (PR) The Equality Network would like to congratulate our co-founder and vice-president, Laura Belmonte, on her election to the Board of Directors of the Equality Federation, the national alliance of state-based lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organizations. The Equality Federation announced the move during their annual summer meeting in Baltimore, MD. "I am honored to be elected by my colleagues from across the country to serve on the Equality Federation Board of Directors," Belmonte said. "As we continue taking important steps toward equality here in Oklahoma, I am excited to play an active role in building the LGBT equality movement on the national level. Pro-LGBT victories in places like Utah, Alabama, and South Carolina prove that the model of statewide advocacy pioneered by Equality Federation members works in challenging political climates. That is an inspiration - and a charge for action - for those of us working in the Sooner state." The Equality Federation ~vorks to achieve equality for LGBT people in every state and territory by building strong and sustainable statewide organizations in state-based movements. The Equality Network (TEN) is represents Oklahoma in the national alliance. The Equality Network works to achieve equality and secure legal protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Oldahomans through advocacy, coalition building, and individual empowerment in the political process. Ride Arc TULSA, OK (PR) A special reception to honor and meet Danielle Girdano will be held Saturday September 4th, 2010 6:00 pm at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, Tulsa. Sponsored by PFLAG Tulsa and the Dennis R. Nell Equality Center, Ride the Arc is a first-of-its kind multi-state bicycle ride for equality and justice. Spearheaded by athlete Danielle Girdano, Ride the Arc intends to publicize the need for equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) people to raise awareness about the high GLBT suicide rate, and to promote places of welcome and refuge and affirming groups. Commencing in Minneapolis on August 9th, it will end in Dallas on September 18, the eve ofDallas’s GLBT Pride Weekend. The 1,300 mile distance requires Danielle’s faith to guide and sustain her as she trains for Ride the Arc. Danielle will carry the message of love and inclusion every mile of her ride. Join Danielle for the ride of her life, and help change the world for GLBT people everywhere. For info: (www. ridethearc.org) Make donations payable to Ride the Arc. September i, 20i0 3 �It’s About a Lot More than Marriage Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern is foaming at the mouth again. She declared it "horrific" that this week’s ruling that California’s ban on same-gender marriage is unconstitutional. After I gave an interview on KTOK Radio this morning, she told the station that "homosexuality- is a behavior and the question must be asked whether all behaviors are equal. Tlais is a behavior and it’s a behavior that has been proven scientifically and statistically to be a deadly behavior." Of course this is nonsense. One’s sexual orientation is not a behavior. That’s aldn to saying Sally’s brown hair is a behavior. Sexual orientation and gender identity are like height, eye color, right handedness; they are all part of our makeup. But we shouldn’t expect truth from Sally. The website examiner.corn reported earlier that Sally said gay marriage is a form of"debauchery like abortion, porn6graphy, sex trafficldng, divorce, illegitimate births and child abuse." She even went so far as to blame gay marriage on the nation’s economic woes. And we all remember when Sally said that LGBT folks pose a greater risk to the United States than terrorism. Friends, you can’t make this stuff UP" This is the reality of where we are toda}: t heard a syndicated radio host last night talldng about a revolution because "activist judges" are not abiding by the will of the people. Odd, isn’t it, how only those judges that make rulings not in line with ultra conservatives are labeled as activists. tf decisions of equality were left up to the will of the people, ~’rican-Americans would still be riding at the back of the bus and women would stil! not have the right to vote. If it truly is the ~vill of the people in this country to deny rights to others and to provide one level of justice for some people and another level for others, then we’ve no choice but to continue our procession to the courts. The claims that allowing same-gender couples to marry violates the institution of marriage mystifies me. How in the ~vorld can my being married to another man impact negatively the marriage of a straight couple? Allowing two men or two women to marry, offering them the same rights as any other couple, strengthens the fabric of this country. Ultimately, though, this is not about marriage. It is about unequal treatment. It is about withholding rights. It is about denying liberty and justice and the pursuit of happiness to millions of Airier,cans. And this takes gay marriage from a gay issue to a human rights issue. Every good person, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, has a moral obligation to stand firm for equality for all people. We need every LGBT person and every family member of a lesbian, gay ,nan, bisexual or transgender person. We need honest legislators with integrity and pastors with compassion. We need educators and journalists and attorneys who will not back away from what is right. \re must work together, speak togethe,; march together, vote together, and love together. This is not about the future for LGBT persons. It is about the future of our nation. Scott J. Hamilton, Executive Director Cimarron Alliance Foundation 4 September 1, 2010 Religion and Sex Best Conducted by Consenting Adults in Private From the smallest crossroads one stop light town to the largest state in the American Union, religion has stood in the municipallegislative door to stop the recognition of gay/lesbian cM1 rights. Ten countries now recognize and support same-gender marriage. They are Argentina, Canada, Portugal, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and South Africa, according to the International Lesbian and Gay Law Association, (www.ILGLaw.org) . Many of these countries govern their people without the profound religious obeisance that interferes with the passage of any pro-gay/lesbian law, ordinance, or policy in the United States, regardless of the level of governance. Our national myth of being founded on equality is a shell game. N~e real root of America’s founding was the need for a fundamentalist sect to escape to a region of the world where they could call their own repressive religious shots without the need to compromise with other faith POVs. Eventually other denominations and sects infected even the Puritan tradition. Some colonies required membership and tithing towards particular churches even if the citizen choose not to attend services: Rhode Island was the first colony to recognize religious freedom of conscience. Maryland had a back-and-forth struggle regarding recognition of the Catholic and Protestant faiths. Each side suppressed the other when they had the POLITICAL power to do so. Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom from 1779 reads: "[N]o man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever; nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on ¯ account of his religiouS opinions or belief, but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities." Tlae language of the Jefferson statute clearly alludes to the suppression of fi’eedom of conscience and the coercion of property experienced in many of the Colonies. Jefferson was so proud of this accomplishment that the title is engraved, at his direction, on his grave market; but NOT the fact he was a president of the United States. ( http://en.wildpedia.org/wikil Freedom of religion ) Women are not mentioned in the Constitution and were only recognized nationally as legal voters in 1920 with passage of the Nineteenth Ainendment. African-Airier,can slaves and the indigenous Americans were spedfically enumerated as 3/5ths of a person. Several American states had educational tests or poll taxes to maintain power over minorities who the majority wanted disenfranchised from voting or removed fi’om any other participation in the governing process. It’s no wonder gays and lesbians are treated as non-entities in much of federal law. Every minority in American history has had to fight tooth-and-nail for legal recognition under the law and our gay/lesbian equality fight is no different. I think the so called sacred "institution" of marriage is as much a miasma as the myth of America’s founding being based in equality. There’s nothing sacred about it. gC~y do the 50 states allow completely~secular marriages with absolutely no mention of religious faith? Those non-religious marriages using only a state marriage license are just as valid as the recent marriage of Chelsea Clinton and the spending of an estimated three million dollars. The emotionalohopes and expectations associated with marriage have long been diminished by the actions of the heteros themselves. My relationship with my partner has lasted 33 years with total commitment toward each other in spite of the failure of our state and federal governments to give us aW of the support that hetero couples receive in spite of our paying more per centum of taxes than hetero couples 0fthe same income level. My partner and I want the same tax and other economic benefits that the heteros are getting. Judge Vaughn \Valker’s Prop 8 opinion is the very first major statement that plainly addresses the religiously-bigoted and sociallyignorant prejudices held against gays and lesbians. ( http:/hinyurl.com/28jm16s ) Whether it’s called marriage or domesticpartner benefits makes no difference to us. I’ve long said our gay/lesbian equality movement was using the xvrong word for America’s profound sky-god-believing majority" to accept. There’s no way too much political, legal, and emotional water under the bridge to recover the separation of church and state argument regarding marriage equality. We don’t need a religious blessing, societal approval or the neighborhood welcoine wagon to make a stop at our door in order to be American citizens. \Vge need ONLY the judicial and legislative equality of law, that’s all, JUST THE LAW!!! We’ll take care of our own private emotional feelings towards one another, thank you very rauch! Keep religion confined along with sexual activity in private among consenting adults. James Nimmo Oldalaoma City, OK Obamacare Pre-existing Condition Insurance Now Enrolling By Healthy Living Ne~vs Some call it health reform, some Obamacare, yet many with a pre-existing heath condition and no health insurance may call it a life saver. For them the xvait for affordable health insurance may be over. The Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP), part of the new Affordable Care Act, is now enrolling, enabling at last chronically ill and uninsured individuals access to affordable health insurance. "For too long, Americans xvith preexisting conditions have been locked out" said Secretary Kathleen Sebdius. "The PreExisting Condition Insurance Plan gives them a new option - the same insurance coverage as a healthy individual." The PCIP provides an opportunity for LGBT community members, many of whom have been denied, or could not afford, health insurance because of HIV, diabetes, cancer, or other once exclusionary conditions. Federally funded at $5 billion, PCIP is slated to provide a broad range of health coverage including primary and specialty care, hospital care, and prescription drugs. Once enrolled coverage begins immediately and will provide limitless health insurance coverage, low deductible with low co-payments, at least in theory. Early enrollment is being encouraged, howevm; as PCIP’s popularity may be substantial and there is concern that there may not be enough funding to meet the potential demand. By enrolling early you can ensure that you won’t be put on a waiting list. Ttae federal government and or states will administer PCIP so enrollment costs and eligibility, requirements may vary fi’om state to state. PCIP will run until 2014 when it will be replaced by more affordable insurance exchanges from which even members of congress will have to purchase their insurance. In the meantime, the AIDS Drug Assistance and Ryan White programs will remain in place, that is for as long as they are funded. If you are in need of health insurance coverage due to a pre-existing condition visit healthcare.gov. As enrolhnent may require proof of a pre-existing condition contact your member organizations such as SSRA donate thousands of dollars each year to charities. Winners from this year’s rodeo ,nay go on to compete at IGRA’s World Gay Rodeo Finals in Laughlin, Nevada. Its location, a terrific host hotel and a fun calendar of events have buoyed anticipation of the Sooner State Stampede. The Ramada Tulsa Airport East~.l 010 North Garnett is the host hotel, with Bridle Creek (www. bridlecreekok.com) .just a few minutes away. \vgith mention of SSRA, the hotel rate is just $55. The Sooner State Stampede fun starts on Thursday, Sept. 30 with a 7pro - 9pro VIP Party at Club 209. Friday October 1, 6pm-9pm: Registration at hotel and arena. 6pm-8pm: Entertainment (All IGRA & Association Royalty are invited to perform) 8pm-9pm: Live performance by Gary Robert Strickland from Growing Mylow. 9pm-til Homorodeo.com Meet & Greet at Tulsa Eagle. Saturday, October 2, 7:30pm: Buses load at the hotel for the Bar Crawl. $5.00 admission 8:00pro: Bar Cravd Sm~day, October 3, 7:00pro: Awards Banquet at Club Majestic. In addition to rodeo events the weekend features entertainment and bus transportation. For more information about the Sooner State Roundup, admission and schedule of events, visit ww~v.soonerstaterodeo.com. �By Rex Wockner Media decides Prop 8 judge is gay found himselfin an identical situation of ruling on an issue that is related to his or her sexual orientation. Michelangelo Signorile, who has been credited with inventing outing when he ~vas a columnist at New York’s defunct OutWeek magazine in 1989, said the Walker outing was "a testament to how easily the media is manipulated by the right into doing things about which editors and reporters claim to be staunchly opposed." He said the Walker repor~ amounted to "outrageous hypocri~ ... on the part of the corporate medid’ because "even with proof and evidence, news or~nizations reuse to report on the secretly gay sexu~ orientation of conservative, ~ti-~y politicians and public figures when the ~rgument for their exposure is made from the left." Lady Gaga denounces Arizona immigrants law U.S. District CourtJudge Vaughn Walker In a break with past practice on outing, the U.S. mainstream media decided in early August that U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who struck down Proposition 8 as unconstitutional, is gay, openly gay or reportedly gay. W’alker has never publiCly said ifhe~ gay o~ s~raight. In the p~t~ U:S~ mainsffeam media have avoided Outing people who’ve chosen nor to out .themselves. ....... Most of the reports either attributed Walker’s alleged gayness to other mainstream reports or said it is common knowledge in certain San Francisco circles. Some reports flat-out called him "openly gay," without attributing the assertion to any event or individual. ~le Associated Press took the plunge on Aug. 6, writing: "Rumors have circulated for months that Walker is gay, fueled by the blogosphere and a San Francisco Chronicle column that stated his sexual orientation was an ’open secret’ in legal and gay activism circles. Walker himself hasn’t addressed the speculation, and he did not respond to a request for comment by ~e Associated Press on Xhursday." "l-he New York Times wrote, "Several published reports have stated that the judge is himself gay." New York’s Daily News said, "The federal judge who upended California’s samesex marriage ban this week is now being scrutinized by some for being gay himself." Fox News called Walker "one of three openly gay federal judges in the country," and a CNN opinion piece called him "an~ openly gay federal judge." The Washington Post let a political analyst call Walker "openly gay." Anti-gay activists have suggested that Walker’s purported gayness means he shouldn’t have accepted the Prop 8 case, since it deals with whether marriage is only for straight people or also for gay people. ~i1~e anti-gay activists did not address ~e fact that a heterosexual judge would have The poll also found that, because of the law, 43 percent of LGBT respondents are less likely to vacation in Arizona and 36 percent are less likely to attend a convention there. Lady Gaga. Photo by Rex Wockner Lady Gaga forcefully denounced Arizona’s anti-immigrant law during a July 31 concert in Phoenix. Gaga said she had been asked tO boycott Arizona "and I said, ’You really think that us dumb fucldng pop stars are gonna collapse the economy of Arizona?’" "(We need to) actively protest prejudice and injustice and the bullshit that is put on our society," she said. "I will not cancel my show. I will yell and I will scream louder and I wil! hold you and we will hold each other and we will peacably protest this state." "Do not be afraid because if it wasn’t for all of you immigrants, this country wouldn’t have shit," the pop diva told concertgoers. The law, lm0wn as S.B. !070, requires pol!ce to check an individual’s immigration status if an officer suspects the i;xdividual may be in the U.S. illegally. LGBT direct-action group GetEQUAL had asked Gaga to take a stand against the law, saying it makes it "a crime to be brown." Gay people are much more likely than straight people to oppose the la~,v, a Harris Interactive poll found. Sixty-three percent of LGBT Americans oppose the law and 45 percent of LGBT Americans strongly oppose it. However, 60 percent of straight people support the law and 41 percent s.upport it strongly. The proponents’ opening brief is due Sepf. 17, the plaintiffs’ opposing brief is due Oct. 18 and the proponents’ reply brief is due Nov. 1. A decision that the proponents lack standing could come in December. If the 9th Circuit Court decides the proponents have standing and goes on to consider the constitutionality of Prop 8, it would not be expected to isstie a decision until sometime in early 2011. Either decision could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the plaintiffs challenging Prop 8 could appeal the 9th Circuit’s current stay to the U.S. Supreme Court right now but have given no indication they will do so. Robin Tyler, whose marriage to Diane Olson was the first same-sex marriage in southern California two years ago, said the stay is deeply disappointing. "We are tired of our emotions being batted around like pingpong balls," Tyler said. "Gays and lesbians are human beings, and there is not one legal reason to delay same-sex marriages in California. Martin Luther King said, ’Justice delayed is justice denied.’ He also said, ’Wait means never.’ Once again, our hopes have been dashed." NCLR Executig;e Director Kate Kende!l ’ ~ ...... day that couples .....must said: " Every add~nonal wait to marry again in California iS painful, but despite the terrible disappointment for the many couples whose right to marry has been delayed yet again, today’s ruling includes another significant victory for our side. The court did the right thing by putting the case on a fast track and specifically ordering that Prop 8 proponents show why they have a legal right to appeal. This ruling brings us one step closer to ending the nightmare of Prop 8 and restoring full equality for all Californians." Lambda Legal called the stay "painful." "We are saddened by the 9th Circuit’s decision to maintain the stay of Judge Walker’s ruling that Prop 8 is unconstitutional," said Jennifer Pizm; director of the group’s Marriage Project. ’%7e very much hoped to see same-sex couples again free to celebrate their love and mutual devotion through marriage starting later this week. ~/e 1,mow this delay is painful for couples in love, who have been denied their basic rights for too long already." She also said the 9th Circuit failed to apply "the standard test for when a stay should be ordered." The test requires, among other things, that an appellant prove a strong likelihood of winning on appeal and that the appellant would suffer an irreparable injury without a stay. Judge Walker said the Prop 8 proponents failed to pass any part of the test. The 9th Circuit’s order did not explain its determination. September 1, 20i0 i 5 �O ahoma City Museum of Art features Sketch to Screen E ibition with Grand Finale By Victor Gorin Contributing Writer "Ttxe work I have created for this show hopes to evoke an experience of serenity, energy and excitement for life - and silliness out of the viewer. To summarize: this show is an artistic collage of Seasons, Seasonings and Sensations. I invite you to indulge and enjoy my work." ° The show begins with a reception on Thursda?; September 2nd fi’om 6-9pro and continues throughout the month. New Faces At Tulsa Ballet N Wang Yi, 7he Vertiginous Thrill ofExactitude (William Forsythe) Featured at the Skyline Terrace party Oklahoma City Icon Ginger Lamar pictured with longtime partner f~): Gorin photo OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ Film history aficionados got a real treat when the Okdah0ma City Museum of Art featured their Sketch to Screen-The Art of Hollyw~*0od Costume Design E>~ibit May 6 thru August 15. Cocreated by Film Curator Brian Hearn and Associate Curator Jenni}~r ~os, the exhibit featm’ed costumes from films ranging from Gone with the Wind to Legally B!onde. The project was 3 years in the making, obtaining articles for exhibition from other museums and private collections throughout the country, but also including two local contributors, the O~:dahoma Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and the Oklahoma History Museum, whose items were featured in the western section of ti~e exhibit: Accompanying thi~ event was a film series of movies with costumes shown in the exhibit including not only Gone with the Wind, but also classics like Dick Tracy, Atonement, and a sing a long party with Mama Mia. Mama Mia was part of the climax of the exhibition, which was the Last Call Party" held Thursday August 12. That party featured a costume contest emceed by Johnathan Kayne, a famous gay fashion designer, and a party with a live DJ on the Skyline Terrace featuring 2 Oklahoma City icons of female impersonation, Ginger Lamar and Lexus Carrin~on. The Oklahoma City" Museum of Art is open Tuesday thru Saturday from 10 A.M. until 5:00 p.m. until October, with Thursdays open until 9 p.m, with Sunday hours from noon until 5 P.M. The museum features an excellent restaurant, with dinner & a movie package deals available. Museum members aAso get discounts at Tulsds Circle Cinema. For more information check out their website is wv,¢aokcmoa.com, telephone (405) 236 3100. Art Opening and E ibit of Original Works:, Photographs by Shelley McGoNn TULSA, OK (PR) __ The September Oldahomans for Equality (OkEq) showcase and exhibit of local artists at the Dennis R. Neitl EqualitT Center (621 E. 4th Street in downtown Tulsa), will feature the Art of Shelley McGoffin. Shelley McGoNn is a Tulsa native. Her art was originally inspired by her love of and passion for food---eating it, cooldng it, looking at pictures of it, collecting and displaying plastic versions of it and talking about it. Her first experiments with painting on canvas were centered on exaggerated still life, food generally the subject. Eventually she chose tO explore the abstract art world of inner emotional statements in this area Surrealism was always an artistic inspiration to her Salvador Dali being her main at~nity. Although her paintings are not in the Surrealistic style, her abstract works have a touch of their own surrealism. Shelley’s art impacts her life thru its ability to allow her to become a vessel into which energy vibrations which did not originate from her find a resonance. "The act of painting a piece of art on canvas is, for me a translation, a transmission of my own inner passions onto a vessel thru which I hope the viewer will experience an intimate vibration of the energy originated by and within me." The current shmv for which she has painted is all new material. It is differe~at fi’om her previous works in that is draws on her willingness and growing ability to broaden her inspirational field and try new stTles of abstract interpretation using vibrant colors and images - channeling her spirit.uai experiences with nature and equality. TULSA, OK (PR) __ Tulsa Metro Softball League, Tulsa’s only LGBT softball league, is ge’aring up for its second fall season° beginning September 19, 2010. Games vdll play on Sundays in the early evening and last through November 7, 2010. This year TMSL has set up Fall Bal! to be a relaxed social season enabling members to mix & mingle and get to lmow one another. It is also great for new members as it vcill allow them to meet people, make friends, and find or form a team for the competit@e spring season! Fall Ball registration will open on August 22, 2010. At 6PM on Sunday September 5th TMSL will hold a "Draft" party at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center in Downtown Tulsa where Volunteer Team Captains will select players for one of eight teams from a "hat" containing the tickets of all players registered for Fall Ball. TMSL will provide team .jerseys that players get to keep! TMSL has three registration options for players: 1. Players may register on an individual single player ticket. 2. Couples may register with and be placed on the same ticket as their girlfriend/ boyfriend/partner which guarantees they will be on the same team. 3. Single players may find a friend, register as a "couple", and be placed on the same ticket guaranteeing they will be on the same team. Dues for TMSL Fall Ball 2010 are set at $20.00 per player fi’om August 22, 2010 till September 5, 2010. After the "Draft" late registrations will be accepted with dues set at $30.00 per player. Late registration will be allowed until Opening Night, September 19, 2010 no registrations will be accepted after Opening Night. For more information on Fall Ball & TMSL people can visit w~v. TulsaMetroSoftball.com or emaiI at TulsaMSL@gmail.com TULSA, OK (PR) __ Tulsa Ballet artistic director Marcello Angelini announced today the addition of 12 new dancers to the company’s roster for the 2010-2011 season. "Tulsa Ballet brings the wood to our city, not only in the global premieres we offer each year, created by internationally recognized choreographers, but in the ten nationalities represented by our dancers," said Arlgelini. The new dancers include: Claudio Cocino joins the compaW as demi-solist. From Turin, Italy, Cocino trained at Teatro dell’ Opera di Roma and the Royal Ballet School in London. In 2007, he joined the Teatro Dell’Opera ballet company. He won the L. Massine Positano prize for the Art 0f Dance in Positano, Italy in 2009, one of the most prestigious awards given to rising stars or established dance personalities in Italy. Joining the corps de ballet are Forent Bouyat - France, Jo@ Antonia Checa - Spain, Alexandra Christian - U.S., Alex Harrison - Great Britain, Rodrigo Hermesmeyer - Brazil, Elise Miller - U.S., Gwdna~lle Poline - France, Erin Pritchard - U.S., Jonathan Ramirez - Colombia, Susanna Sal@ - Italy, and Laura Suttle - Great Britain. In addition, Kate Oderkirk - U.S. has been promoted from demi-soloist to soloist, and Sarah Jane Crespo - U.S. has been promoted fi’om apprentice to the corps de ballet. Ms. Crespo is the first dancer to join the company from TBII, Tulsa Balle{’s preprofessional ensemble. The company’s roster now stands at 29 artists, while TBII boasts 12 pre-professional dancers recruited ft’om some of the best American schools. Tulsa Ballet is a professional ballet company whose purpose is to serve as an essential asset of its extended community through internationally-acclaimed artistic excellence and exemplary @ucation and outreach. Regarded as one of the top ballet companies in North America and internationally recognized as a leader in the field, Tulsa Ballet consistently brings the finest works of the classical and contemporary repertory to the Oklahoma stage, presenting the same works and sharing the same worldrenowned choreographers with the top dance organizations in the World. For more information, visit ~vw~a:tulsaballet.org. �Courtesy o£~vwcw.labrescue,net By Ronald Blake Contributing W-riter Ronald Blake, Certified Fi*ness Instructor through ISSA International Sports Sciences Association 10,000 Seeps! The car won’t start. The bicycle has a flat tire. Your neighbor left for work 20 minutes ago. ~Pne bus line is 14 blocks away. The number for the cab company has been busy forever. Your pulse quickens, sweat beads on your forehead, you furrow your brow, and you realize you may have to .... WALK! Loosen your tie and put on those sneakers and "Walk Like a Man". It’s going to be different today! There is an exercise program called the "10,000 Steps a Day" and today is YOUR day to start. The goal of this program is to get people to become more aware of their health and fitness through the ancient art of walking. That many steps each day are equivalent to four or five miles traveled. Don’t "WalkAway Renee" just yet! It can be done! You will need a pedometer to measure your steps. These $20 and under devices won’t break your bank and they conveniently attach to your waistband. Stay away from buying one online since there is not any walking involved in the process. Purchase one at any of your loc,~ sporting goods stores. Then you will simply need to start "\v-vralking on $~i~!~in~!" .... .... ..... Forget what the modern world has taught you about convenience and the on-demand attitude. You will need to work to earn your 10,000 steps. It begins early in fl~e day and in earnest as you yawn, stretch, and rub your eyes after wrestling with your alarm clock. Climb out of your bed and "\Valk Like an Egyptian" to the bathroom on the other side of the house to get your day moving right. After you’ve showered, dressed, and eaten you will be ready to change the way you approach the world. You can walk to work, walk to the bus, or drive to work and park four blocks dmvn the street. You vdll need to get creative and don’t be afraid to try something different. There is always somebody out there trying this walking thing too and "You’ll Never Walk Mone." Get to work and take the stairs instead of the elevator. Get to your office and walk around your desk as you yap on the phone and earn your commissions for the week¯ Get to your lunch break and walk with your coworkers during the last half of the lunch hour. Get to the last part of your work day and meet your team members in person and not through e-mail¯ Smile or whistle on your way. It’s OK to "Walk This Way!" You have to earn those steps someway and you might as well be happy doing it! When you arrive home, you can continue to "Take a Walk on the Wild Side!" The possibilities include walking the dog, walking and talking on the phone, or just plain old wa1~ng ~ith {he ~eighbm-~ f~ ~6~ ~Cise and gossip[mongering. The 10;000 steps program is something that can be fun! It gives you that ehance to strive for a daily goal and it can change you profoundly! Get your pedometm; get motivated, and you’ll want to go "Walkin’ After Midnight." e-mail: CNN tapes for an upcoming American Morning. Photo by Robin Dorner pay; there were 40 teachers in the Putnam City School District alone that were laid off and I never saw her [Kern] put forth any legislation to stop this." Novomy said the top three issues in her campaign are helping small business, insuring that all children have the best education in Oldahoma and investing in our transportation infrastructure. "In a time where the economy is so bad, we need to be doing things to help promote bringing in businesses," said Novomy. Reflecting on the goodness of this state and the benefits of our lower cost of living she added, "We’ve got great things to attract people to Oklahoma." The youngest of five siblings, Novotny was born in Chickasha. She grew up in Oklahoma City and graduated from Westmoore High School in 1998. In 2002, Brittany graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Science and Arts of Oldahoma, earning her Jurist Doctorate from the Hastings College of Law University of California in 2005. "It’s important that we work together," said Novotny. "This is really a campaign,about all of us and our future as Oldahomans. In July 2009 the Journal Record ran an editorial stating that Kern is bad for business. CNN’s American Morning offers political, domestic and international stories. Most are scripted segments including a heavy dose of political news each morning. The program mainly focuses on news to attract viewers, who prefer a more straightforward morning show. Its main competitor is the Fox News Channel. American Morning is aired live every weekday morning from 7 to 10 am (CST). As of this writing, CNN’s air date of Novomy’s interview is not known. Please visit the Novotny website at www.brittany4hd84.com for air time and date. The results of this primary election should be used as an example in every civics class that every vote counts!" Askins thanked voters and Edmondson for their support, reflecting on her past political experiencequalifying her as the best candidate for this office. "We are privileged to have two candid,,ates leading this state who are truly a class act, said Jim Roth, former state Corporation Commissioner who served as emcee for the event. "We are so proud of the campaigns you both ran." Those inducted into the Activist Hall of Fame were Jack Boyte, Miller Newman, Charlie & Juanita King, Troy Green, Tommie Lou Levi and Rev. Dr. John A. Reed Jr. The general election will be Tuesday, November 2nd. For more information about voter registration, statewide candidates and candidates in your area, please visit www. ok.gov/elections/. this but it sounds FUN!! In tO live in a says I would do best in kids who will wrestle with me. I hope you will put in your application and cm~e ~ut to mee{ me I’ll give );ou a bi g Hi g .. If you’d like to see Grammar or any of th~ other adoptable dogs visit the Lab Rescue Tulsa Oldahoma website at: labre~Cue,net, All available dogs are listed there. We also show our dogs t~e first three Saturdays of the month, so watch the website f6r the locations. September 1, 2010 " 7 ��~ ~ ! ~nstant Ace the Nation’s Top Gay �10 September 1, 2010 ��Photo’s by Victor G. and Robin D. By Ed Sikov Ed Sikov is the author ofDark Victory; 7he Life ofBette Davis and other books aboutf!lms and fihnmakers. Out &About in Oklahoma "Snobs invent Fire Island Iced Tea" @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa @ The Copa, Oklahoma City @ 7he Democratic Homecoming andActivist Hall ofFame Dinner, Oklahonm City Six of us ~vere lined up in beach chairs judging the gym rats on parade at the water’s edge. "Why does that guy have ’Bondi’ printed on his ass?" I inquired. "I love Make Way for Tomorrow, too, but it’s a strange film to be referenced on a musclehead’s butt." "It’s not Beulah Bondi, darling. It’s Bondi Beach in Australia~" This came from my 3artner, Dan, who then turned on me: "Did rou hear what Dr. Film Studies just said?" he trumpeted to the others, who made snorting noises at my expense. Jack Fogg yawned, stretched, and said, "Let’s make Long Island Iced Tea." "You would drink that," his boyfriend Sammy replied. Jack became defensive: "What’s wrong ~vith Long Island Iced Tea?" "People wilt think we’re from Massapequa," Chipper explained. "Or Hicksville," Paolo added. "Can you imagine saying you’re from Hicksville? You might as well be from East Jesus." I agreed. "We’re maldfig ’Fire Island Iced Tea’ because we’re on Fire Island, not Long Island." "What’s in it?" Sammy asked. "We’re inventing it," I declared. "What should be in our drink?" "Lots of fruits," said Dan. "And logs of alcohol," Pao!o added. "It needs a fire component," Chipper said. "What tastes hot?" I had an inspiration: "Absolut Peppar!" Chipper got into the spirit(s): "And Citron for the fruit. And Orange Curacao. And your inevitable lime juice." "Why do you always have Orange Curacao?" asked Jack, the reporter; he was prone to interviewing people, which irritated me, so I answered: "Because Blue Curacao turns an orange Screwdriver the color of vomit." "Aha," said Jack, buying my, made-up reason. I’m dementedly jealous of Jack, so I put a notch on the Ed vs. Jack scoreboard I keep in my head. Michelangelo’s David strolled by. "What can we add t° represent him?" Dan asked. "Coke Zero!" Sammy shouted to our communal delight. ~-he pore; perfect hunk thought we were laughing at him and glared. We tried a fe~v recipes before we found one that worked, which meant we were hammered by dinnertime. I grilled the Lemon-Dill Lamb-burgers to death. Dan burned the buns. But Paolo, always under control, pulled off a lovely Caprese Salad, and since we bought a peach pie from the grocery store, dessert was fine. "Where do these great pies come from?" I once asked the Long Island teenager behind the counter. "Poh’t JefE.," she answ~ered, meaning Port Jefferson. The accent alone proved why ~ve had to have an "Iced Tea" of our own. Fire Island Iced Tea 2-parts Absolut Peppar 2-parts Absolut Citron I-part Beefeater 1-part cup tequila l/2-part Orange Curacao 1-part or 1/3-cup unsweetened lime juice 3-parts Coke Zero or the soda of your choice . Fill a tall glass with ice and add liquors and lime juice. Pour soda in gently to keep the fizz. Note: The conventional drink is called "Iced Tea" because the cola turns the white liquors tea-colored. But I prefer Limonata, the Italian le,hon soda, which makes the drink taste like spicy lemofiade. Use what you like, and dofft worry about what color the result is. If it looks gross, put it in an opaque plastic cup, stick a straw in it, and nobody will know the difference. @ Finishline, Oklahoma City Join Metro Star Enews for BreakAng News Updates as they haj~pen. Keep informed throughtout the monthr Join us at www.Metroatari’~ews.com TULSA, OK __ The Metro Star Online edition at www.metrostarnews.com is updated daily with Top Local and National Ne~vs stories that concern the GLBT community. The \Vorld News feed module will keep you informed about community news from around the globe. @ Ledo, Oklahoma City 12 September SSRA Member Don George, Tulsa The Metro Star Online was one of the first nationally to send out a News Bulletin on the California Prop 8 ruling from Federal Judge Vaughn Walker on August 4. Metro Star Online was the chosen media to release the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Oldahomans for Equality and Cimarron Alliance Foundation on July 31. Join today and we will keep you informed and it’s FREE. �Chuck Breckenridge ~hether buying or selling I’l! work hard for you. 597 M~ Road Arkansas ww~v.magneticvalleyresor t .corn info@magneticvalleyresort.com 800-210-8401 ’lecomics.com 479-244-6821 E-Mail- KylesBnB@aol.com September 1, 2010 13 �By Jack Fertig September 20t0 "Just be yourself, VirgoV’ Venus and Mars dancing through Libra while opposing Eris boost competition and conflict. Mercury retrograding past the Sun in Virgo brings egotisticai miscalculations into the picture. Go slow, easy and careful. Be the tortoise, not the hare! ARIES (March 20- April 19): Strive for your best without comparing yourself to colleagues. Can you be the best at teamwork? Even efforts to cooperate will highlight your ego, but as long as you’re your own sharpest critic, that can be good for you. TAURUS (April 20- May20): Too often you feel your best isn’t good enough. Your efforts are appreciated. Why do you shortchange yourself? Playfully exaggerating those feelings - and whatever comes up with them - can help you get clarity. GEMINI (May 21- June 20): "The family that plays together slays each other?" That’s not how it goes, but maybe you should find your fun outside for now. Either way, remember that standing in your community is based more on cooperation than being "the best" at anything. SAGITTARIUS/(November 22 - December 20): Your long-range plans are not looking good. Normally you would roll with that and adapt. Now it looks more serious, That’s just worry, but yes, some revisions need to be made. Analyze problems now; solve them next month. SCORPIO {October 23 - November 21): Friends are too eager to help, but listen politely, if briefly. There might be some good suggestions in all that meshugas. Competing with colleagues can drive you crazy. Focus on doing your best. "You’ll accomplish more. 14 September 1, 2010 4 5 i6 7 8 9 10 11 12 i13 !14 ~ 17 27 ~26 28 I 29 30 ~ 33 32 ,31 ~ ~ ! 38 I 54 AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): You may be able to convince everyone you’re right, but something at the heart of your argument is wrong. Invite criticism. Open discussion and testing your premises can help you figure out where the flaw is. ’ W 60 61162 PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Money and sex are the two biggest issues for couples to deal with, but first get ego and miscommunications out of the way. Humility and admitting mistakes is necessary on both sides, but you can only do for yourself. ancestral home 12 Hoar 13 Alpine feedback 14 ~iily Elliot epithet 22’ Bdieve :n0t!", 35 End of the quip 39 Victor/Victoria actor [¥ter 40 Verdi’opera 41 Gay Hamilton 42 L-~am of Kinsey 44 Straw hat 46 Beginning ~o whiz 47 kA. lang’s~I Gal" 52 Barrie~ precipitation 53 Source ofth( quip 55 No no~e for a l;u~c~ LEO (Ju~y 23 -August 22): Be very careful of your facts and figures. You’re likely to exaggerate the humiliation of being caught in a mistake, but the financial costs of errors can be much more real than the cost to your ego. LIBRA {September 23 - October 22): Worries about your relationship are at least exaggerated and likely unfounded. Go over them carefully, preferably with your partner, strip away the needless fears, and get a clearer vision of real problems you can work on. 3 12 CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Work is looking good if you can only keep your mouth out of the way. Absorb information and others’ perspectives now. Take time to figure that out before responding. Even if by negative examples, your family offers excellent lessons for building your future. - CANCER {June 21- July 22): Slips of the tongue reveal what you really think about your roots and your current job and trajectory. Pick your company carefully, being sure to have a confidante you can trust. Also, use these accidental insights to revise your plans. VIRG0 {August 23 - September 22): Let others plan your birthday party. You’re having too much trouble managing details and they’ll fall all over each other trying to make your bash everything you deserve. Trying to look sexy is sure to backfire. Just be yourself and they’ll come running. 1 58 V0d S uad° Character 59 Edmund to Colette? Community for People iving H V/A ©S A 501. c (3) Non Profit Or~.~nizadon Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation ~at many of our people live through each and eve.day. We provide a Toilet~ and Household Pantry for those who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves_ ~te invite anyone who would like to volun[eer or provide financial assistance to please contacl us by phone 9t 8-585-9552 or e-mail ourhousetoo9865@sbcglobal.net Solution p~e 15 23 Mil; Student b0# 26 Number 0fsidm to a gay, symbol 27 Transsexual Richards 28 Que n 0free hill 29 Dicks rtmning mate 30 Like Abner, before Viagra? 31 NB~ Sketch source 33 Stuff~ ~trides 34 % eat; to UlrichS 35 Tart taste 36 Kind of colUmn 37 Ola comedian g orge }8 Poet Teasd~e !3 Like an~igay hnguage ~5 ~ii~d testacle? 18 P !fistname, in Goldfinge~ 19 Greased th~ palm of U 56 With title tO il Fine point 53 George Burns film ~4 Gay p0rn director Fnmcis 55 Dangle like a package �Support those who support us. Their ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you. A HABANA INN 2200 N\’g 39TH EXPW Oklahoma City, OK /1-05-528-2221 w~v.habanainn.com MAGNETIC VALLEY RESORT 597 Magnetic Road Eureka Springs, AR 800-210-8401 ~wvw.magneticvalleyresor t.com ACCOUNTING: KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa. OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant ATTORNEYATLA~ VALEI~E WILLIFORD 625 N.W. 13oh Street Oldahoma City, OK 405-226-8585 AUTO DEALERS: ANTIQUES: EMPL OYNIENT ENTERTAINMENZ" RETAIL STORES: INSURANCE: ORGANIZATIONS: PHOTOGRAPHK: CHURCH of the OPEN ARMS 3131 N. PENN. OKC, OK 405-525-9555 Service Sunday 10:45 AM EXPRESSIONS Fellowship 4010 N Youngs Oklahoma City, OK 405-761-1878 www.expressionsOKC.com HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline OKLAHOMA STONEWALL DEMOCRATES Oldahoma City, OK www.okstonewall.org OKC: "Pne Copa is currendy seeking a bar OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 /:or appointment (405) 525 0730 RED ROCK B.H.S. 4400 N LINCOLN BLVC Oklahoma Ci~ OK 73105 405-425-0473 Toll Free 1-877-339-3330 ~AR HELP WANTED NIGHTCLUBS/BARS: ANGLES 2117 N~Z 39th St. Otdahoma City, OK www.anglesctub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 www.bambooloungetulsa.com HA [R SALONS & SPAS." JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 REAL ESTATE: CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 www.c21 goldcastle.com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY REAL ESTATE Nations Top Gay/Lesbian Realtors www.GayRealEstate.com 1-988-420-6683 GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com RESTAUP~tNTS: GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPP, ESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn SPIRIT OF CHPdST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET. Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Sunday 6pro Classified Text Classified FINISHLINE 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-2900 ~vve%habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 ,a~vw.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 wv~v.habanainn.com TULSA F~GLE 1338 E. 3RD Tulsa, OK 918-592-1188 Open 7days week 2pm to 2am A ILAC ~ ~ELI E ACIN R THEC R AlES G E NK~N A N TELL E E GBON R T S ARW~ G LING A OBIE L~ RENT B Ai EDG~ A A September 1, 2010 15 �"What matters, as always, is not what we can ’d t o, Stonewall Democrats is a recognized group of the Oklahoma and national Democratic Par~. Working to educate voters and politicians about issues of the GBT Tuesclay~ September 7, meet the ~ st Tuesday of every month at the ’E D RAT~C " � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document LOCAL NEWS NATIONAL NEWS ~ WORLD NEWS ~ LIFESTYLE FITNESS ~ TRAVEL N ADVICE THE PREMIER SOURCE FOR GLBT OKLAHOMA ENTERTAINMENT ClI’4ARI::!ON ALLtANC£ FOUNDATION Oklahoma’s Oldest LGBT Organizations Seal Partnership on page-3 VOLUME 7 ISSUE 9 TwiRer.com/MetroStarNews ..... MetroStarNews.com FREE I SEPTEMBER 1,2010 Roth, Askins, Edmondson speak at Oklahoma Democratic Party event By Robin D-Townsend Contributing Writer California same-sex marriages Mocked for several more months By Rex Wockner At the Democratic H, ofFame Dinner in ~bematorial candidate Lt. GovernorJari Askins (¢ (r) andfo~Tner Cotporation Commissioner event emcee, Jim Roth. Robin D-Townsend OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ At the Oklahoma Democratic Party 2010 Homecoming Rally and Activists Hall of Fame Dinner, Attorney General Drew Edrnondson made it "crystal clear" that he supports Lt. Governor Jari Askins in the race for Governor of Oldahoma. Opponents in the primary dection, both candidates maintained mutual respect noted statewide by citizens as well as many media oudets. Asldns won the nomination garnering 50.28% of the vote. "We have got to elect Jari Askins Governor of this state, no question about it. I support Jari Asldns without reservation, and I will do everything I can to get her elected governor of Oklahoma," Edmondson said as he delivered a heartfelt speech supporting Astdns. Asldns fol!owed the intro by saying, "I am truly proud to stand in front of you as your candidate for Governor. It takes every one of us, but together, we can make this happen. ........Continued See ODP Page-7 Cowboys and Cowgirls to invade Tulsa By Michael W. Sasser Contributing Writer TULSA, OK __ Oklahoma’s gay countrytinged community is welcoming back the Sooner State Rodeo Association (SSRA) Rodeo this year with the 2010 Sooner State Stampede, October 1 - 3 at the fully equipped and handsome Bridle Creek Horse Ranch and Resort in Sperry. N~e Sooner State Stampede represents the return of SSRA rodeo after several year hiatus. ~e International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) sanctions the rodeo and it is one of the most anticipated events for the regional gay community. It is expected to attract a host of competitors and fans for a fun celebration of al! things western including both good spirited competition and of course some great fun. ~ousands march in. California Aug. 4 in celebration ofJudge Vaughn Walker) mding that PropOsition 8 was unconstitutional. Photo @ DavidPoller SAN FRANCISCO, CA The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Aug. 16 blocked any same-sex marriages from taking place in California while proponents of the state’s marriage ban appeal the Aug. 4 district-court ruling that found Proposition 8 in violation of the U.S. Constitution. The appeals court said it will hear the case the week of Dec. 6, and it set up an expedited briefing schedule for the case’s attorneys. The court also ordered the proponents of the ban to prove that they have "standing" ro appeal the decision made by District Judge Va~ughn Walker. The actual defendants in the case, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown, have refused to defend Prop 8, and the Court ofAppeals’ order seemed sympathetic to the idea that proponents of the ban, as "defendantintervenors," are not properly situated to appeal Walker’s ruling. If they are not that could end the case and same-sex marriage would again be legal in California under Walker’s original ruling, although a decision on standing could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The defendant-intervenors are the same people who put Prop 8 on the ballot in 2008 to overturn the state’s legalization of same-sex marriage. "The 9th Circuit put the appeal on a fast track and specifically directed the Prop 8 proponents to address ’why the appeal should not be dismissed for lack ofArticle III standing’ in their opening brief," said the National Center for Lesbian Rights. "That means the court will consider whether the proponents of Prop 8 have the right to file an appeal at the same time that it is considering whether Judge Walker’s decision that Prop 8 violates the federal Constitution is legally correct." .........Continued See MARRIAGES Page-5 Headquartered in Tulsa, the Sooner State Rodeo Association is a Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgender non-profit organization dedicated to performing charitable duties for the surrounding area through fund-raisers, horse shows, and rodeo performances. SSRA was organized for individuals interested in western related events such as rodeos and horse shows, horseback riding, western/ square dancing, and clogging. SSRA bars all prejudices related to sex, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, race or any other prejudice the organization may encounter. Sooner State Rodeo Association was founded in 2002 to give men and women in the northeastern Oklahoma interested in promoting and participating in rodeo a new avenue of expression. They host fundraisers for Tulsa area charities as well as their own organization. SSRA holds royalty competitions each October for Mr. SSRA, Ms. SSRA, Miss and MisTer SSRA. Royalty is an important part of their organization as they represent SSRA at rodeos and fundraising events. SSRA is one of 28 member associations of the IGRA. IGRA serves to foster the sport of rodeo amongst other country and western activities. IGRA along with its fellow ........Continued See RODEO Page-4 No maffer who yot are on life’s journ~ Bani"uptcv o Civil Rights oCriminN iment: LJ Jga Jon 625 . Sth street MIDLAND REGION CHAPTERS of the Presen The Oct 15 o 17 Register Now! ~obwmtmid~and.org ~.NABWNT.ORG For more information contact Doug Reynolds at 816-444-3692 djdoug268@aol.com Crown Plaza Hotel Oklahoma City, OK ~,.~[..e[_g....e...i~..h ,.eT,~ ~: "5~(~ l~,;;n~hCich2gPoters: PACT Cleveland MACT Dallas MACT Kentucky BWMT Milwaukee BWMT Detroit Form÷~" Chapters: PACT St Louis MACT Kansas City MACT Youngstown MACT Indianapolis 2 September t, 2010 Now is the time to work for real and lasting ctange "I am convinced that while our party is not perfect full equality for GLBT Americans will come much faster with Democrats in charge. More than ever now is the rime to be strong and continue to work for real and lasting change." Michael Mitchell, Executive Director National Stonewall Democrats By Victor Gorin Contributing writer National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director Michael ~a/iitchell zoith Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats Secretary ~ctor Gorin WASHINGTON, DC __ kanid the excitement of marriage equality making new history for the GEBT community and all Americans, the Stonewall Democrats held their National Convention in V/ashington D.C. July 30-August 1 at the Capitol Hilton Hotel. Drawing delegates from all over the country, from New Jersey to Nevada, as expected there was much discussion of marriage equality on a natiomvide and state by state basis, the military "Don’t ask don’t Tell" policy still in place, and affirming Stonewall’s alliance with organized labor which includes giving their business to unionized hotels, airlines and other goods and services whenever possible. Founded in 1997, the Stonewall Democrats is America’s only grassroots GLBT organization of the Democratic Party. They are focused on malting change primarily in three ways: Educating the GLBT community about the differences between the political parties, mobilizing the GLBT community to get out the vote for fair-minded Democrats, and to oppose the efforts of Republicans when they attempt to roll back or obstruct progress for the GLBT community while working with the Democratic Party in the struggle for equality. Viith over 90 chapters across the country including one in Oldahoma City formed in 2001, their members do the work of calling voters, doing mailings and other assistance for good candidates while working with local and state Democratic Party officials. Along with a tour of our capital city and the White House, the delegates heard from several noteworthy speakers including the Executive Director of the Democratic National Committee Jen O’Malley, along with U.S. House Representative Jared Polis ( Colorado’ Democrat District 2) who is the Ist openly gay man elected to Congress as a fi’eshman. %ey al]~ heard from two of our proudest straight allies, U.S. Representative Patrick Murphy (Democrat- Pennsylvania District 8), who was the first Iraqi war veteran to serve in Congress who is an ardent opponent of the U.S. military’s "Don’t ask Don’t Tell" policy along with U.S. Representative Dina Titus ( Nevada Democrat-District 3). The meeting concluded Sunday August 1 with Executive Director Michael Mitchell wishing the delegates well and encouraging them in the work facing them in the fall elections. Speaking ofOklahoma values By Robin D-Townsend Contributing Writer OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ CNN spent an afternoon at the campaign office of Brittany Novotny, taping for an upcoming segment ofAmerican Morning. Novomy is the candidate who seeks to unseat Sally Kern, the current representative of State House District 84. Kern is known worldwide for a speech when she told a group of supporters that homosexuality is "The biggest threat that our nation has, even more than terrorism or Islam." Novotny said of Kern, "She has angered a lot of people with the kind of divisive rhetoric she has used. She has been out of touch with the issues. We are at the bottom in teacher ....... Continued See NOVOTNY Page 7 AIDS Walk OKC A Tradition ofHope Now at a new Time and Location By Victor Gorin Contributing writer OKLAHOMA CITY% O.KLAHOMA CITY, OK When the AIDS virtu first surfaced in the United States during the early 1980s it not only cost many lives, it created a climate and fear and resurrected homophobia that overshadowed a period of increased acceptance of the GLBT community. The epidemic was used by conservative religious and political leaders to foster homophobia, even referred to as a "gay plague:" by the late Reverend Jerry Falxvell. In answer to a lack of serious action at first by government officials and mainstream society, gay activists took the lead in the fight against AIDS, increasing Funding for research and public education about HI.V. When NBA Star Magic ~ohnson revealed that he had AIDS, more straight allies joined this cause when it became obvious that the virus did not discriminate. Organizations formed in Oklahoma City to help those at~cted by HIV, many ofwhich are with us today including RAIN (Regional Aids Interfaith Network), Other Options, and the Winds House. Vvrhat these agencies had in common was a desperate need for funds, thus beginning AIDS Walk OKC. ~e first AIDS Walk OKC came together in 1998, and it has grown to be one of Oklahoma City’s most prominent annual events. Money raised from the ,valks is distributed to various Oklahoma agencies helping those infected or affected by HIV including not only the before mentioned agencies, but also others involved including Planned Parenthood and the Latino Community Development Agency. In previous years it has been held in October beginning at the Crystal Gardens, but this year there has been a change of time and location with increased activity. It all happens on Sunday September 19, beginning with a 5K run sponsored by Dell. Registration for the run will begin at 11:00 a.m., beginning in Bricktown at the corner ofJoe Carter Drive and Rent Avenue, and the runners take off at 12:30 that afternoon Registration to participate is $20 if purchased in advance, or $25 the day of the run. One car~ register online at www.aidswalkokc.org. The AIDS Walk itself will take place that afternoon beginning at Bricktowffs Sonic Plaza ( !ocated on the south side of Rent Avenue across from the AT&T Brickmwn Ballpark), and the theme this year is "Each Step brings Hope." There is free reserved parking for participants, with registration beginning at 12:30 p.m. with step 9fiat 2 p.m. Before the walk one can check out vendors and service organizations that xvill have booths for this event which is free and open to the public. For more information on how to participate contact info@ aidswalkokc.org. AIDS Walk OKC is a 501 c3"organization, so all contributions are tmx deductible State’s Oldest LGBT Organizations Seal Partnership PONCA CITY, OK (PR) __ On July 31, 2010 leaders from Oklahoma City based Cimarron Alliance Foundation and Tulsa based Oklahomans for Equality met in Ponca City for the purpose of signing a Memorandum of Understanding that creates a statewide partnership. These two organizations are the state’s oldest advocacy and education groups for Oldahoma’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Combined, they have nearly a half-century of advocating for this population. According to Toby Jenkins, President of the Oldahomans for Equality Board of Directors, the organizations have had a cordial relationship for years. "\re have always had the highest regard for Cimarron Alliance and they have been very supportive of Oklahomans for Equality as welt. This past year our organizations have had a very intentional approach in working together. The time is right to formalize our partnership." Scott J. Hamilton, Executive Director of Cimarron Alliance, concurs with Jenkins. "For the past six months our organizations have deve!oped an amazing working relationship. Our missions are very complementary and we hold OIcEq’s leadership in very high esteem. We believe that we can accomplish far more together than either of us can on our own. Jenkins and Hamilton believe that this initiative will have far-reaching benefits for Oklahoma’s gay community. It forms the framework for more cohesive program development, legislative work and, ultimately they believe, serving as a powerful voice for LGBT Oklahomans throughout the state. "We are not merging our organizations," said Hamilton. "Instead, we are capitalizing on each other’s strengths and experience to serve more people than ever before." The choice of Ponca City as the location for the MOU signing was, according to Jenkins, very intentional. "We chose Ponca City because it is a neutral site, rich with Oklahoma nationally recognized landmarks and history. On September 16, 1893, the greatest land run in the history of the state began right here in Ponca City. More than 100,000 eager land-seekers raced for claims. Their stories are of endurance, hope, pride and determination, and are all of the things our organizations represent," said Jenkins. Hamilton echoed Jenkins’ sentiments and noted that Ponca City is representative of many Oklahoma towns and cities. "We love the history and symbolism here in Ponca City. We could, though, have chosen any place from here to Ardmore, from the Otdahoma Panhandle to the hills of southeastern Oldahoma. Our goal today is to demonstrate that Oklahomans for Equality and Cimarron Alliance Foundation are dedicated to addressing the needs of every LGBT adolescent, adult, and senior as well as their families, friends and loved ones in Oklahoma" he said. As important as this MOU is to both organizations, Hamilton and Jenkins indicated this is only the first step of a broader plan to include other organizations. "This creates a statewide partnership that will broaden our reach immediately," said Jenkins. "But as we move forward, we envision inviting many other organizations to join with us," he continued. "In time we will welcome LGBT groups and other allied organizations to partner with us," said Hamilton. "~ais way we gain strength and provide even greater empowerment and support for individuals and groups. \Vgorking together there is no limit to the advances we can make toward equali~ for all Oldahomans," he concluded. Oklahomans for Equality, originally called Oklahomans for Human Rights, began in 1980. The organization seelcs equal rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender individuals and fan~ities through advocacy, education, programs, alliances and the operation of the Dennis R Neill Equality Center. The mission of the Cimarron Alliance Foundation, founded in 1995, is to support educational efforts that validate personal identity, promote public enlightenment, and advance equality for LGBT Oldahomans. The full Memorandum of Understanding can be viewed at the organizations’ respective websites: okeq.org and cimarronalliance.org. TEN Co’Founder Elected to National Post ¯ Laura Belmonte, President The Equality Nelwork (TEN) TULSA, OK (PR) The Equality Network would like to congratulate our co-founder and vice-president, Laura Belmonte, on her election to the Board of Directors of the Equality Federation, the national alliance of state-based lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organizations. The Equality Federation announced the move during their annual summer meeting in Baltimore, MD. "I am honored to be elected by my colleagues from across the country to serve on the Equality Federation Board of Directors," Belmonte said. "As we continue taking important steps toward equality here in Oklahoma, I am excited to play an active role in building the LGBT equality movement on the national level. Pro-LGBT victories in places like Utah, Alabama, and South Carolina prove that the model of statewide advocacy pioneered by Equality Federation members works in challenging political climates. That is an inspiration - and a charge for action - for those of us working in the Sooner state." The Equality Federation ~vorks to achieve equality for LGBT people in every state and territory by building strong and sustainable statewide organizations in state-based movements. The Equality Network (TEN) is represents Oklahoma in the national alliance. The Equality Network works to achieve equality and secure legal protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Oldahomans through advocacy, coalition building, and individual empowerment in the political process. Ride Arc TULSA, OK (PR) A special reception to honor and meet Danielle Girdano will be held Saturday September 4th, 2010 6:00 pm at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, Tulsa. Sponsored by PFLAG Tulsa and the Dennis R. Nell Equality Center, Ride the Arc is a first-of-its kind multi-state bicycle ride for equality and justice. Spearheaded by athlete Danielle Girdano, Ride the Arc intends to publicize the need for equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) people to raise awareness about the high GLBT suicide rate, and to promote places ofwelcome and refuge and affirming groups. Commencing in Minneapolis on August 9th, it will end in Dallas on September 18, the eve ofDallas’s GLBT Pride Weekend. The 1,300 mile distance requires Danielle’s faith to guide and sustain her as she trains for Ride the Arc. Danielle will carry the message of love and inclusion every mile of her ride. Join Danielle for the ride of her life, and help change the world for GLBT people everywhere. For info: (www. ridethearc.org) Make donations payable to Ride the Arc. September i, 20i0 3 It’s About a Lot More than Marriage Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern is foaming at the mouth again. She declared it "horrific" that this week’s ruling that California’s ban on same-gender marriage is unconstitutional. After I gave an interview on KTOK Radio this morning, she told the station that "homosexuality- is a behavior and the question must be asked whether all behaviors are equal. Tlais is a behavior and it’s a behavior that has been proven scientifically and statistically to be a deadly behavior." Ofcourse this is nonsense. One’s sexual orientation is not a behavior. That’s aldn to saying Sally’s brown hair is a behavior. Sexual orientation and gender identity are like height, eye color, right handedness; they are all part of our makeup. But we shouldn’t expect truth from Sally. The website examiner.corn reported earlier that Sally said gay marriage is a form of"debauchery like abortion, porn6graphy, sex trafficldng, divorce, illegitimate births and child abuse." She even went so far as to blame gay marriage on the nation’s economic woes. And we all remember when Sally said that LGBT folks pose a greater risk to the United States than terrorism. Friends, you can’t make this stuff UP" This is the reality of where we are toda}: t heard a syndicated radio host last night talldng about a revolution because "activist judges" are not abiding by the will of the people. Odd, isn’t it, how only those judges that make rulings not in line with ultra conservatives are labeled as activists. tf decisions of equality were left up to the will of the people, ~’rican-Americans would still be riding at the back of the bus and women would stil! not have the right to vote. If it truly is the ~vill of the people in this country to deny rights to others and to provide one level ofjustice for some people and another level for others, then we’ve no choice but to continue our procession to the courts. The claims that allowing same-gender couples to marry violates the institution of marriage mystifies me. How in the ~vorld can my being married to another man impact negatively the marriage of a straight couple? Allowing two men or two women to marry, offering them the same rights as any other couple, strengthens the fabric of this country. Ultimately, though, this is not about marriage. It is about unequal treatment. It is about withholding rights. It is about denying liberty and justice and the pursuit of happiness to millions ofAirier,cans. And this takes gay marriage from a gay issue to a human rights issue. Every good person, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, has a moral obligation to stand firm for equality for all people. We need every LGBT person and every family member of a lesbian, gay ,nan, bisexual or transgender person. We need honest legislators with integrity and pastors with compassion. We need educators and journalists and attorneys who will not back away from what is right. \re must work together, speak togethe,; march together, vote together, and love together. This is not about the future for LGBT persons. It is about the future of our nation. Scott J. Hamilton, Executive Director Cimarron Alliance Foundation Religion and Sex Best Conducted by Consenting Adults in Private From the smallest crossroads one stop light town to the largest state in the American Union, religion has stood in the municipallegislative door to stop the recognition of gay/lesbian cM1 rights. Ten countries now recognize and support same-gender marriage. They are Argentina, Canada, Portugal, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and South Africa, according to the International Lesbian and Gay Law Association, (www.ILGLaw.org) . Many of these countries govern their people without the profound religious obeisance that interferes with the passage of any pro-gay/lesbian law, ordinance, or policy in the United States, regardless of the level of governance. Our national myth of being founded on equality is a shell game. N~e real root of America’s founding was the need for a fundamentalist sect to escape to a region of the world where they could call their own repressive religious shots without the need to compromise with other faith POVs. Eventually other denominations and sects infected even the Puritan tradition. Some colonies required membership and tithing towards particular churches even if the citizen choose not to attend services: Rhode Island was the first colony to recognize religious freedom of conscience. Maryland had a back-and-forth struggle regarding recognition of the Catholic and Protestant faiths. Each side suppressed the other when they had the POLITICAL power to do so. Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom from 1779 reads: "[N]o man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever; nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on ¯ account of his religiouS opinions or belief, but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities." Tlae language of the Jefferson statute clearly alludes to the suppression of fi’eedom of conscience and the coercion of property experienced in many of the Colonies. Jefferson was so proud of this accomplishment that the title is engraved, at his direction, on his grave market; but NOT the fact he was a president of the United States. ( http://en.wildpedia.org/wikil Freedom of religion ) Women are not mentioned in the Constitution and were only recognized nationally as legal voters in 1920 with passage of the Nineteenth Ainendment. African-Airier,can slaves and the indigenous Americans were spedfically enumerated as 3/5ths of a person. Several American states had educational tests or poll taxes to maintain power over minorities who the majority wanted disenfranchised from voting or removed fi’om any other participation in the governing process. It’s no wonder gays and lesbians are treated as non-entities in much of federal law. 4 September 1, 2010 Every minority in American history has had to fight tooth-and-nail for legal recognition under the law and our gay/lesbian equality fight is no different. I think the so called sacred "institution" of marriage is as much a miasma as the myth ofAmerica’s founding being based in equality. There’s nothing sacred about it. gC~y do the 50 states allow completely~secular marriages with absolutely no mention of religious faith? Those non-religious marriages using only a state marriage license are just as valid as the recent marriage of Chelsea Clinton and the spending of an estimated three million dollars. The emotionalohopes and expectations associated with marriage have long been diminished by the actions of the heteros themselves. My relationship with my partner has lasted 33 years with total commitment toward each other in spite of the failure of our state and federal governments to give us aW of the support that hetero couples receive in spite of our paying more per centum of taxes than hetero couples 0fthe same income level. My partner and I want the same tax and other economic benefits that the heteros are getting. Judge Vaughn \Valker’s Prop 8 opinion is the very first major statement that plainly addresses the religiously-bigoted and sociallyignorant prejudices held against gays and lesbians. ( http:/hinyurl.com/28jm16s ) Whether it’s called marriage or domesticpartner benefits makes no difference to us. I’ve long said our gay/lesbian equality movement was using the xvrong word for America’s profound sky-god-believing majority" to accept. There’s no way too much political, legal, and emotional water under the bridge to recover the separation of church and state argument regarding marriage equality. We don’t need a religious blessing, societal approval or the neighborhood welcoine wagon to make a stop at our door in order to be American citizens. \Vge need ONLY the judicial and legislative equality of law, that’s all, JUST THE LAW!!! We’ll take care of our own private emotional feelings towards one another, thank you very rauch! Keep religion confined along with sexual activity in private among consenting adults. James Nimmo Oldalaoma City, OK Obamacare Pre-existing Condition Insurance Now Enrolling By Healthy Living Ne~vs Some call it health reform, some Obamacare, yet many with a pre-existing heath condition and no health insurance may call it a life saver. For them the xvait for affordable health insurance may be over. The Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP), part of the new Affordable Care Act, is now enrolling, enabling at last chronically ill and uninsured individuals access to affordable health insurance. "For too long, Americans xvith preexisting conditions have been locked out" said Secretary Kathleen Sebdius. "The Pre- Existing Condition Insurance Plan gives them a new option - the same insurance coverage as a healthy individual." The PCIP provides an opportunity for LGBT community members, many ofwhom have been denied, or could not afford, health insurance because of HIV, diabetes, cancer, or other once exclusionary conditions. Federally funded at $5 billion, PCIP is slated to provide a broad range of health coverage including primary and specialty care, hospital care, and prescription drugs. Once enrolled coverage begins immediately and will provide limitless health insurance coverage, low deductible with low co-payments, at least in theory. Early enrollment is being encouraged, howevm; as PCIP’s popularity may be substantial and there is concern that there may not be enough funding to meet the potential demand. By enrolling early you can ensure that you won’t be put on a waiting list. Ttae federal government and or states will administer PCIP so enrollment costs and eligibility, requirements may vary fi’om state to state. PCIP will run until 2014 when it will be replaced by more affordable insurance exchanges from which even members of congress will have to purchase their insurance. In the meantime, the AIDS Drug Assistance and Ryan White programs will remain in place, that is for as long as they are funded. If you are in need of health insurance coverage due to a pre-existing condition visit healthcare.gov. As enrolhnent may require proof of a pre-existing condition contact your member organizations such as SSRA donate thousands of dollars each year to charities. Winners from this year’s rodeo ,nay go on to compete at IGRA’s World Gay Rodeo Finals in Laughlin, Nevada. Its location, a terrific host hotel and a fun calendar of events have buoyed anticipation of the Sooner State Stampede. The Ramada Tulsa Airport East~.l 010 North Garnett is the host hotel, with Bridle Creek (www. bridlecreekok.com) .just a few minutes away. \vgith mention of SSRA, the hotel rate is just $55. The Sooner State Stampede fun starts on Thursday, Sept. 30 with a 7pro - 9pro VIP Party at Club 209. Friday October 1, 6pm-9pm: Registration at hotel and arena. 6pm-8pm: Entertainment (All IGRA & Association Royalty are invited to perform) 8pm-9pm: Live performance by Gary Robert Strickland from Growing Mylow. 9pm-til Homorodeo.com Meet & Greet at Tulsa Eagle. Saturday, October 2, 7:30pm: Buses load at the hotel for the Bar Crawl. $5.00 admission 8:00pro: Bar Cravd Sm~day, October 3, 7:00pro: Awards Banquet at Club Majestic. In addition to rodeo events the weekend features entertainment and bus transportation. For more information about the Sooner State Roundup, admission and schedule of events, visit ww~v.soonerstaterodeo.com. By Rex Wockner Media decides Prop 8 found himselfin an identical situation of ruling on an issue that is related to his or her judge is gay sexual orientation. Michelangelo Signorile, who has been credited with inventing outing when he ~vas a columnist at New York’s defunct OutWeek magazine in 1989, said the Walker outing was "a testament to how easily the media is manipulated by the right into doing things about which editors and reporters claim to be staunchly opposed." He said the Walker repor~ amounted to "outrageous hypocri~ ... on the part of the corporate medid’ because "even with proof and evidence, news or~nizations reuse to report on the secretly gay sexu~ orientation of conservative, ~ti-~y politicians and public figures when the ~rgument for their exposure is made from the left." U.S. District CourtJudge Vaughn Walker Lady Gaga denounces Arizona immigrants law In a break with past practice on outing, the U.S. mainstream media decided in early August that U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who struck down Proposition 8 as unconstitutional, is gay, openly gay or reportedly gay. W’alker has never publiCly said ifhe~ gay o~ s~raight. In the p~t~ U:S~ mainsffeam media have avoided Outing people who’ve chosen nor to out .themselves. ....... Most of the reports either attributed Walker’s alleged gayness to other mainstream reports or said it is common knowledge in certain San Francisco circles. Some reports flat-out called him "openly gay," without attributing the assertion to any event or individual. ~le Associated Press took the plunge on Aug. 6, writing: "Rumors have circulated for months that Walker is gay, fueled by the blogosphere and a San Francisco Chronicle column that stated his sexual orientation was an ’open secret’ in legal and gay activism circles. Walker himself hasn’t addressed the speculation, and he did not respond to a request for comment by ~e Associated Press on Xhursday." "l-he New York Times wrote, "Several published reports have stated that the judge is himself gay." New York’s Daily News said, "The federal judge who upended California’s samesex marriage ban this week is now being scrutinized by some for being gay himself." Fox News called Walker "one of three openly gay federal judges in the country," and a CNN opinion piece called him "an~ openly gay federal judge." The Washington Post let a political analyst call Walker "openly gay." Anti-gay activists have suggested that Walker’s purported gayness means he shouldn’t have accepted the Prop 8 case, since it deals with whether marriage is only for straight people or also for gay people. ~i1~e anti-gay activists did not address ~e fact that a heterosexual judge would have Lady Gaga. Photo by Rex Wockner Lady Gaga forcefully denounced Arizona’s anti-immigrant law during a July 31 concert in Phoenix. Gaga said she had been asked tO boycott Arizona "and I said, ’You really think that us dumb fucldng pop stars are gonna collapse the economy ofArizona?’" "(We need to) actively protest prejudice and injustice and the bullshit that is put on our society," she said. "I will not cancel my show. I will yell and I will scream louder and I wil! hold you and we will hold each other and we will peacably protest this state." "Do not be afraid because if it wasn’t for all of you immigrants, this country wouldn’t have shit," the pop diva told concertgoers. The law, lm0wn as S.B. !070, requires pol!ce to check an individual’s immigration status if an officer suspects the i;xdividual may be in the U.S. illegally. LGBT direct-action group GetEQUAL had asked Gaga to take a stand against the law, saying it makes it "a crime to be brown." Gay people are much more likely than straight people to oppose the la~,v, a Harris Interactive poll found. Sixty-three percent ofLGBT Americans oppose the law and 45 percent of LGBT Americans strongly oppose it. However, 60 percent of straight people support the law and 41 percent s.upport it strongly. The poll also found that, because of the law, 43 percent ofLGBT respondents are less likely to vacation in Arizona and 36 percent are less likely to attend a convention there. The proponents’ opening brief is due Sepf. 17, the plaintiffs’ opposing brief is due Oct. 18 and the proponents’ reply brief is due Nov. 1. A decision that the proponents lack standing could come in December. If the 9th Circuit Court decides the proponents have standing and goes on to consider the constitutionality of Prop 8, it would not be expected to isstie a decision until sometime in early 2011. Either decision could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. - Meanwhile, the plaintiffs challenging Prop 8 could appeal the 9th Circuit’s current stay to the U.S. Supreme Court right now but have given no indication they will do so. Robin Tyler, whose marriage to Diane Olson was the first same-sex marriage in southern California two years ago, said the stay is deeply disappointing. "We are tired of our emotions being batted around like pingpong balls," Tyler said. "Gays and lesbians are human beings, and there is not one legal reason to delay same-sex marriages in California. Martin Luther King said, ’Justice delayed is justice denied.’ He also said, ’Wait means never.’ Once again, our hopes have been dashed." NCLR Executig;e Director Kate Kende!l said: "Every add~’ n~ o..n.a..l.day that cou.p.l.e.s.must wait to marry again in California iS painful, but despite the terrible disappointment for the many couples whose right to marry has been delayed yet again, today’s ruling includes another significant victory for our side. The court did the right thing by putting the case on a fast track and specifically ordering that Prop 8 proponents show why they have a legal right to appeal. This ruling brings us one step closer to ending the nightmare of Prop 8 and restoring full equality for all Californians." Lambda Legal called the stay "painful." "We are saddened by the 9th Circuit’s decision to maintain the stay ofJudge Walker’s ruling that Prop 8 is unconstitutional," said Jennifer Pizm; director of the group’s Marriage Project. ’%7e very much hoped to see same-sex couples again free to celebrate their love and mutual devotion through marriage starting later this week. ~/e 1,mow this delay is painful for couples in love, who have been denied their basic rights for too long already." She also said the 9th Circuit failed to apply "the standard test for when a stay should be ordered." The test requires, among other things, that an appellant prove a strong likelihood of winning on appeal and that the appellant would suffer an irreparable injury without a stay. Judge Walker said the Prop 8 proponents failed to pass any part of the test. The 9th Circuit’s order did not explain its determination. September 1, 20i0 i 5 O ahoma City Museum ofArt features Sketch to Screen E ibition with Grand Finale By Victor Gorin Contributing Writer "Ttxe work I have created for this show hopes to evoke an experience of serenity, energy and excitement for life - and silliness out of the viewer. To summarize: this show is an artistic collage of Seasons, Seasonings and Sensations. I invite you to indulge and enjoy my work." ° The show begins with a reception on Thursda?; September 2nd fi’om 6-9pro and continues throughout the month. N New Faces At Tulsa Ballet Featured at the Skyline Terraceparty Oklahoma City Icon Ginger Lamarpictured with longtime partnerf~): Gorin photo OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ Film history aficionados got a real treat when the Okdah0ma City Museum of Art featured their Sketch to Screen-The Art of Hollyw~*0od Costume Design E>~ibit May 6 thru August 15. Cocreated by Film Curator Brian Hearn and Associate Curator Jenni}~r ~os, the exhibit featm’ed costumes from films ranging from Gone with the Wind to Legally B!onde. The project was 3 years in the making, obtaining articles for exhibition from other museums and private collections throughout the country, but also including two local contributors, the O~:dahoma Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and the Oklahoma History Museum, whose items were featured in the western section of ti~e exhibit: Accompanying thi~ event was a film series of movies with costumes shown in the exhibit including not only Gone with the Wind, but also classics like Dick Tracy, Atonement, and a sing a long party with Mama Mia. Mama Mia was part of the climax of the exhibition, which was the Last Call Party" held Thursday August 12. That party featured a costume contest emceed by Johnathan Kayne, a famous gay fashion designer, and a party with a live DJ on the Skyline Terrace featuring 2 Oklahoma City icons of female impersonation, Ginger Lamar and Lexus Carrin~on. The Oklahoma City" Museum of Art is open Tuesday thru Saturday from 10 A.M. until 5:00 p.m. until October, with Thursdays open until 9 p.m, with Sunday hours from noon until 5 P.M. The museum features an excellent restaurant, with dinner & a movie package deals available. Museum members aAso get discounts at Tulsds Circle Cinema. For more information check out their website is wv,¢aokcmoa.com, telephone (405) 236 3100. Art Opening and E ibit of Original Works:, Photographs by Shelley McGoNn TULSA, OK (PR) __ The September Oldahomans for Equality (OkEq) showcase and exhibit of local artists at the Dennis R. Neitl EqualitT Center (621 E. 4th Street in downtown Tulsa), will feature the Art of Shelley McGoffin. Shelley McGoNn is a Tulsa native. Her art was originally inspired by her love of and passion for food---eating it, cooldng it, looking at pictures of it, collecting and displaying plastic versions of it and talking about it. Her first experiments with painting on canvas were centered on exaggerated still life, food generally the subject. Eventually she chose tO explore the abstract art world of inner emotional statements in this area Surrealism was always an artistic inspiration to her Salvador Dali being her main at~nity. Although her paintings are not in the Surrealistic style, her abstract works have a touch of their own surrealism. Shelley’s art impacts her life thru its ability to allow her to become a vessel into which energy vibrations which did not originate from her find a resonance. "The act of painting a piece of art on canvas is, for me a translation, a transmission of my own inner passions onto a vessel thru which I hope the viewer will experience an intimate vibration of the energy originated by and within me." The current shmv for which she has painted is all new material. It is differe~at fi’om her previous works in that is draws on her willingness and growing ability to broaden her inspirational field and try new stTles of abstract interpretation using vibrant colors and images - channeling her spirit.uai experiences with nature and equality. TULSA, OK (PR) __ Tulsa Metro Softball League, Tulsa’s only LGBT softball league, is ge’aring up for its second fall season° beginning September 19, 2010. Games vdll play on Sundays in the early evening and last through November 7, 2010. This year TMSL has set up Fall Bal! to be a relaxed social season enabling members to mix & mingle and get to lmow one another. It is also great for new members as it vcill allow them to meet people, make friends, and find or form a team for the competit@e spring season! Fall Ball registration will open on August 22, 2010. At 6PM on Sunday September 5th TMSL will hold a "Draft" party at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center in Downtown Tulsa where Volunteer Team Captains will select players for one of eight teams from a "hat" containing the tickets of all players registered for Fall Ball. TMSL will provide team .jerseys that players get to keep! TMSL has three registration options for players: 1. Players may register on an individual single player ticket. 2. Couples may register with and be placed on the same ticket as their girlfriend/ boyfriend/partner which guarantees they will be on the same team. 3. Single players may find a friend, register as a "couple", and be placed on the same ticket guaranteeing they will be on the same team. Dues for TMSL Fall Ball 2010 are set at $20.00 per player fi’om August 22, 2010 till September 5, 2010. After the "Draft" late registrations will be accepted with dues set at $30.00 per player. Late registration will be allowed until Opening Night, September 19, 2010 no registrations will be accepted after Opening Night. For more information on Fall Ball & TMSL people can visit w~v. TulsaMetroSoftball.com or emaiI at TulsaMSL@gmail.com Wang Yi, 7he Vertiginous Thrill ofExactitude (William Forsythe) TULSA, OK (PR) __ Tulsa Ballet artistic director Marcello Angelini announced today the addition of 12 new dancers to the company’s roster for the 2010-2011 season. "Tulsa Ballet brings the wood to our city, not only in the global premieres we offer each year, created by internationally recognized choreographers, but in the ten nationalities represented by our dancers," said Arlgelini. The new dancers include: Claudio Cocino joins the compaW as demi-solist. From Turin, Italy, Cocino trained at Teatro dell’ Opera di Roma and the Royal Ballet School in London. In 2007, he joined the Teatro Dell’Opera ballet company. He won the L. Massine Positano prize for the Art 0f Dance in Positano, Italy in 2009, one of the most prestigious awards given to rising stars or established dance personalities in Italy. Joining the corps de ballet are Forent Bouyat - France, Jo@ Antonia Checa - Spain, Alexandra Christian - U.S., Alex Harrison - Great Britain, Rodrigo Hermesmeyer - Brazil, Elise Miller - U.S., Gwdna~lle Poline - France, Erin Pritchard - U.S., Jonathan Ramirez - Colombia, Susanna Sal@ - Italy, and Laura Suttle - Great Britain. In addition, Kate Oderkirk - U.S. has been promoted from demi-soloist to soloist, and Sarah Jane Crespo - U.S. has been promoted fi’om apprentice to the corps de ballet. Ms. Crespo is the first dancer to join the company from TBII, Tulsa Balle{’s preprofessional ensemble. The company’s roster now stands at 29 artists, while TBII boasts 12 pre-professional dancers recruited ft’om some of the best American schools. Tulsa Ballet is a professional ballet company whose purpose is to serve as an essential asset of its extended community through internationally-acclaimed artistic excellence and exemplary @ucation and outreach. Regarded as one of the top ballet companies in North America and internationally recognized as a leader in the field, Tulsa Ballet consistently brings the finest works of the classical and contemporary repertory to the Oklahoma stage, presenting the same works and sharing the same worldrenowned choreographers with the top dance organizations in the World. For more information, visit ~vw~a:tulsaballet.org. By Ronald Blake Contributing W-riter Ronald Blake, Certified Fi*ness Instructor through ISSA International Sports Sciences Association 10,000 Seeps! The car won’t start. The bicycle has a flat tire. Your neighbor left for work 20 minutes ago. ~Pne bus line is 14 blocks away. The number for the cab company has been busy forever. Your pulse quickens, sweat beads on your forehead, you furrow your brow, and you realize you may have to ....WALK! Loosen your tie and put on those sneakers and "Walk Like a Man". It’s going to be different today! There is an exercise program called the "10,000 Steps a Day" and today is YOUR day to start. The goal of this program is to get people to become more aware of their health and fitness through the ancient art of walking. That many steps each day are equivalent to four or five miles traveled. Don’t "WalkAway Renee" just yet! It can be done! You will need a pedometer to measure your steps. These $20 and under devices won’t break your bank and they conveniently attach to your waistband. Stay away from buying one online since there is not any walking involved in the process. Purchase one at any of your loc,~ sporting goods stores. Then you will simply need to start "\v-vralking on $~i~!~in~!" .... .... ..... Forget what the modern world has taught you about convenience and the on-demand attitude. You will need to work to earn your 10,000 steps. It begins early in fl~e day and in earnest as you yawn, stretch, and rub your eyes after wrestling with your alarm clock. Climb out of your bed and "\Valk Like an Egyptian" to the bathroom on the other side of the house to get your day moving right. After you’ve showered, dressed, and eaten you will be ready to change the way you approach the world. You can walk to work, walk to the bus, or drive to work and park four blocks dmvn the street. You vdll need to get creative and don’t be afraid to try something different. There is always somebody out there trying this walking thing too and "You’ll Never Walk Mone." Get to work and take the stairs instead of the elevator. Get to your office and walk around your desk as you yap on the phone and earn your commissions for the week¯ Get to your lunch break and walk with your coworkers during the last half of the lunch hour. Get to the last part of your work day and meet your team members in person and not through e-mail¯ Smile or whistle on your way. It’s OK to "Walk This Way!" You have to earn those steps someway and you might as well be happy doing it! When you arrive home, you can continue to "Take a Walk on the Wild Side!" The possibilities include walking the dog, walking and talking on the phone, or just plain old wa1~ng ~ith {he ~eighbm-~ f~ ~6~ ~Cise and gossip[mongering. The 10;000 steps program is something that can be fun! It gives you that ehance to strive for a daily goal and it can change you profoundly! Get your pedometm; get motivated, and you’ll want to go "Walkin’ After Midnight." e-mail: CNNtapesfor an upcomingAmerican Morning. Photo by Robin Dorner pay; there were 40 teachers in the Putnam City School District alone that were laid off and I never saw her [Kern] put forth any legislation to stop this." Novomy said the top three issues in her campaign are helping small business, insuring that all children have the best education in Oldahoma and investing in our transportation infrastructure. "In a time where the economy is so bad, we need to be doing things to help promote bringing in businesses," said Novomy. Reflecting on the goodness of this state and the benefits of our lower cost of living she added, "We’ve got great things to attract people to Oklahoma." The youngest of five siblings, Novotny was born in Chickasha. She grew up in Oklahoma City and graduated from Westmoore High School in 1998. In 2002, Brittany graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Science and Arts of Oldahoma, earning her Jurist Doctorate from the Hastings College of Law University of California in 2005. "It’s important that we work together," said Novotny. "This is really a campaign,about all of us and our future as Oldahomans. In July 2009 the Journal Record ran an editorial stating that Kern is bad for business. CNN’s American Morning offers political, domestic and international stories. Most are scripted segments including a heavy dose of political news each morning. The program mainly focuses on news to attract viewers, who prefer a more straightforward morning show. Its main competitor is the Fox News Channel. American Morning is aired live every weekday morning from 7 to 10 am (CST). As of this writing, CNN’s air date of Novomy’s interview is not known. Please visit the Novotny website at www.brittany4hd84.com for air time and date. The results of this primary election should be used as an example in every civics class that every vote counts!" Askins thanked voters and Edmondson for their support, reflecting on her past political experiencequalifying her as the best candidate for this office. "We are privileged to have two candid,,ates leading this state who are truly a class act, said Jim Roth, former state Corporation Commissioner who served as emcee for the event. "We are so proud of the campaigns you both ran." Those inducted into the Activist Hall of Fame were Jack Boyte, Miller Newman, Charlie & Juanita King, Troy Green, Tommie Lou Levi and Rev. Dr. John A. Reed Jr. The general election will be Tuesday, November 2nd. For more information about voter registration, statewide candidates and candidates in your area, please visit www. ok.gov/elections/. Courtesy o£~vwcw.labrescue,net this but it sounds FUN!! In tO live in a says I would do best in kids who will wrestle with me. I hope you will put in your application and cm~e ~ut to mee{ me I’ll give );ou a big Hig .. Ifyou’d like to see Grammar or any of th~ other adoptable dogs visit the Lab Rescue Tulsa Oldahoma website at: labre~Cue,net, All available dogs are listed there. We also show our dogs t~e first three Saturdays ofthe month, so watch the website f6r the locations. September 1, 2010 " 7 ~~! ~nstant Ace the Nation’s Top Gay 10 September 1, 2010 Photo’s by Victor G. and Robin D. Out &About in Oklahoma @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa @ The Copa, Oklahoma City @ 7he Democratic Homecoming andActivist Hall ofFame Dinner, Oklahonm City By Ed Sikov Ed Sikov is the author ofDark Victory; 7he Life ofBette Davis and other books aboutf!lms and fihnmakers. "Snobs invent Fire Island Iced Tea" Six of us ~vere lined up in beach chairs judging the gym rats on parade at the water’s edge. "Why does that guy have ’Bondi’ printed on his ass?" I inquired. "I love Make Way for Tomorrow, too, but it’s a strange film to be referenced on a musclehead’s butt." "It’s not Beulah Bondi, darling. It’s Bondi Beach in Australia~" This came from my 3artner, Dan, who then turned on me: "Did rou hear what Dr. Film Studies just said?" he trumpeted to the others, who made snorting noises at my expense. Jack Fogg yawned, stretched, and said, "Let’s make Long Island Iced Tea." "You would drink that," his boyfriend Sammy replied. Jack became defensive: "What’s wrong ~vith Long Island Iced Tea?" "People wilt think we’re from Massapequa," Chipper explained. "Or Hicksville," Paolo added. "Can you imagine saying you’re from Hicksville? You might as well be from East Jesus." I agreed. "We’re maldfig ’Fire Island Iced Tea’ because we’re on Fire Island, not Long Island." "What’s in it?" Sammy asked. "We’re inventing it," I declared. "What should be in our drink?" "Lots of fruits," said Dan. "And logs of alcohol," Pao!o added. "It needs a fire component," Chipper said. "What tastes hot?" I had an inspiration: "Absolut Peppar!" Chipper got into the spirit(s): "And Citron for the fruit. And Orange Curacao. And your inevitable lime juice." "Why do you always have Orange Curacao?" asked Jack, the reporter; he was prone to interviewing people, which irritated me, so I answered: "Because Blue Curacao turns an orange Screwdriver the color of vomit." "Aha," said Jack, buying my, made-up reason. I’m dementedly jealous ofJack, so I put a notch on the Ed vs. Jack scoreboard I keep in my head. Michelangelo’s David strolled by. "What can we add t° represent him?" Dan asked. "Coke Zero!" Sammy shouted to our communal delight. ~-he pore; perfect hunk thought we were laughing at him and glared. We tried a fe~v recipes before we found one that worked, which meant we were hammered by dinnertime. I grilled the Lemon-Dill Lamb-burgers to death. Dan burned the buns. But Paolo, always under control, pulled off a lovely Caprese Salad, and since we bought a peach pie from the grocery store, dessert was fine. "Where do these great pies come from?" I once asked the Long Island teenager behind the counter. "Poh’t JefE.," she answ~ered, meaning Port Jefferson. The accent alone proved why ~ve had to have an "Iced Tea" of our own. Fire Island Iced Tea 2-parts Absolut Peppar 2-parts Absolut Citron I-part Beefeater 1-part cup tequila l/2-part Orange Curacao 1-part or 1/3-cup unsweetened lime juice 3-parts Coke Zero or the soda of your choice . Fill a tall glass with ice and add liquors and lime juice. Pour soda in gently to keep the fizz. Note: The conventional drink is called "Iced Tea" because the cola turns the white liquors tea-colored. But I prefer Limonata, the Italian le,hon soda, which makes the drink taste like spicy lemofiade. Use what you like, and dofft worry about what color the result is. If it looks gross, put it in an opaque plastic cup, stick a straw in it, and nobody will know the difference. @ Finishline, Oklahoma City 12 @ Ledo, Oklahoma City September Join Metro Star Enews for BreakAng News Updates as they haj~pen. Keep informed throughtout the monthr Join us at www.Metroatari’~ews.com SSRA Member Don George, Tulsa TULSA, OK __ The Metro Star Online edition at www.metrostarnews.com is updated daily with Top Local and National Ne~vs stories that concern the GLBT community. The \Vorld News feed module will keep you informed about community news from around the globe. The Metro Star Online was one of the first nationally to send out a News Bulletin on the California Prop 8 ruling from Federal Judge Vaughn Walker on August 4. Metro Star Online was the chosen media to release the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Oldahomans for Equality and Cimarron Alliance Foundation on July 31. Join today and we will keep you informed and it’s FREE. Chuck Breckenridge ~hether buying or selling I’l! work hard for you. ’lecomics.com E-Mail- KylesBnB@aol.com 597 M~ Road Arkansas ww~v.magneticvalleyresort.corn info@magneticvalleyresort.com 800-210-8401 479-244-6821 September 1, 2010 13 By Jack Fertig September 20t0 "Just be yourself, VirgoV’ Venus and Mars dancing through Libra while opposing Eris boost competition and conflict. Mercury retrograding past the Sun in Virgo brings egotisticai miscalculations into the picture. Go slow, easy and careful. Be the tortoise, not the hare! ARIES (March 20- April 19): Strive for your best without comparing yourself to colleagues. Can you be the best at teamwork? Even efforts to cooperate will highlight your ego, but as long as you’re your own sharpest critic, that can be good for you. TAURUS (April 20- May20): Too often you feel your best isn’t good enough. Your efforts are appreciated. Why do you shortchange yourself? Playfully exaggerating those feelings - and whatever comes up with them - can help you get clarity. GEMINI (May 21- June 20): "The family that plays together slays each other?" That’s not how it goes, but maybe you should find your fun outside for now. Either way, remember that standing in your community is based more on cooperation than being "the best" at anything. CANCER {June 21- July 22): Slips of the tongue reveal what you really think about your roots and your current job and trajectory. Pick your company carefully, being sure to have a confidante you can trust. Also, use these accidental insights to revise your plans. LEO (Ju~y 23 -August 22): Be very careful of your facts and figures. You’re likely to exaggerate the humiliation of being caught in a mistake, but the financial costs of errors can be much more real than the cost to your ego. VIRG0 {August 23 - September 22): Let others plan your birthday party. You’re having too much trouble managing details and they’ll fall all over each other trying to make your bash everything you deserve. Trying to look sexy is sure to backfire. Just be yourself and they’ll come running. LIBRA {September 23 - October 22): Worries about your relationship are at least exaggerated and likely unfounded. Go over them carefully, preferably with your partner, strip away the needless fears, and get a clearer vision of real problems you can work on. SCORPIO {October 23 - November 21): Friends are too eager to help, but listen politely, if briefly. There might be some good suggestions in all that meshugas. Competing with colleagues can drive you crazy. Focus on doing your best. "You’ll accomplish more. SAGITTARIUS/(November 22 - December 20): Your long-range plans are not looking good. Normally you would roll with that and adapt. Now it looks more serious, That’s just worry, but yes, some revisions need to be made. Analyze problems now; solve them next month. CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Work is looking good if you can only keep your mouth out of the way. Absorb information and others’ perspectives now. Take time to figure that out before responding. Even if by negative examples, your family offers excellent lessons for building your future. - AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): You may be able to convince everyone you’re right, but something at the heart of your argument is wrong. Invite criticism. Open discussion and testing your premises can help you figure out where the flaw is. ’ PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Money and sex are the two biggest issues for couples to deal with, but first get ego and miscommunications out of the way. Humility and admitting mistakes is necessary on both sides, but you can only do for yourself. 1 12 3 4 5 i6 7 8 9 10 ~ 11 12 i13 !14 17 ~ ~ ~26 27 I 28 29 30 ,31 ~ 32 33 ! 38 I 54 W 60 61162 Community for People iving H V/A ©S A 501. c (3) Non Profit Or~.~nizadon Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation ~at many of our people live through each and eve.- day. We provide a Toilet~ and Household Pantry for those who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves_ ~te invite anyone who would like to volun[eer or provide financial assistance to please contacl us by phone 9t 8-585-9552 or e-mail ourhousetoo9865@sbcglobal.net 35 End of the quip 39 Victor/Victoria actor [¥ter 40 Verdi’opera 41 Gay Hamilton 42 L-~am of Kinsey 44 Straw hat 46 Beginning ~o whiz 47 kA. lang’s~I Gal" 52 Barrie~ precipitation 53 Source ofth( quip 55 No no~e for a l;u~c~ 58 V0d S uad° Character 59 Edmund to Colette? ancestral home 12 Hoar 13 Alpine feedback 14 ~iily Elliot epithet 22’ Bdieve :n0t!", 23 Mil; Student b0# 26 Number 0fsidm to a gay, symbol 27 Transsexual Richards 28 Que n 0free hill 29 Dicks rtmning mate 30 Like Abner, before Viagra? 31 NB~ Sketch source 33 Stuff~ ~trides 34% eat; to UlrichS 35 Tart taste 36 Kindof colUmn 37 Ola comedian g orge }8 Poet Teasd~e !3 Like an~igayhnguage ~5 ~ii~d testacle? 18 P !fistname, in Goldfinge~ 19 Greased th~ palm ofU 56 With title tO il Fine point 53 George Burns film ~4 Gay p0rn director Fnmcis 55 Dangle like a package Solution p~e 15 14 September 1, 2010 Support those who support us. Their ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you. A HABANA INN 2200 N\’g 39TH EXPW Oklahoma City, OK /1-05-528-2221 w~v.habanainn.com MAGNETIC VALLEY RESORT 597 Magnetic Road Eureka Springs, AR 800-210-8401 ~wvw.magneticvalleyresort.com ACCOUNTING: KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa. OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant ATTORNEYATLA~ VALEI~E WILLIFORD 625 N.W. 13oh Street Oldahoma City, OK 405-226-8585 AUTO DEALERS: ANTIQUES: EMPLOYNIENT ~AR HELP WANTED OKC: "Pne Copa is currendy seeking a bar /:or appointment (405) 525 0730 NIGHTCLUBS/BARS: ANGLES 2117 N~Z 39th St. Otdahoma City, OK www.anglesctub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 www.bambooloungetulsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-2900 ~vve%habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 ,a~vw.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 wv~v.habanainn.com TULSA F~GLE 1338 E. 3RD Tulsa, OK 918-592-1188 Open 7days week 2pm to 2am ENTERTAINMENZ" RETAIL STORES: HA[R SALONS &SPAS." INSURANCE: ORGANIZATIONS: PHOTOGRAPHK: CHURCH of the OPEN ARMS 3131 N. PENN. JUDY G. PHOTO’S OKC, OK 405-525-9555 Tulsa, OK Service Sunday 10:45 AM judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 EXPRESSIONS Fellowship 4010 N Youngs Oklahoma City, OK 405-761-1878 www.expressionsOKC.com HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline OKLAHOMA STONEWALL DEMOCRATES Oldahoma City, OK www.okstonewall.org OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 RED ROCK B.H.S. 4400 N LINCOLN BLVC Oklahoma Ci~ OK 73105 405-425-0473 Toll Free 1-877-339-3330 SPIRIT OF CHPdST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET. Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Sunday 6pro REAL ESTATE: CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 www.c21 goldcastle.com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY REAL ESTATE Nations Top Gay/Lesbian Realtors www.GayRealEstate.com 1-988-420-6683 GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com RESTAUP~tNTS: GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPP,ESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn Classified Text Classified A ILAC R ~ ~ELI E ACIN R THEC R AlES G E NK~N A N TELL E T E GBON S ARW~ G LING A A OBIE L~ RENT B Ai EDG~ A September 1, 2010 15 "What matters, as always, is not what we can’tdo, Stonewall Democrats is a recognized group of the Oklahoma and national Democratic Par~. Working to educate voters and politicians about issues of the GBT Tuesclay~ September 7, meet the ~ st Tuesday ofevery month at the " ’E D RAT~C Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2010] Metro Star Magazine, September 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 9 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource September 01, 2010 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Metro Star’s first issue began in August of 2008. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004), The Ozark’s Star (2004), and The Star (2005). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd; Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Nimmo Victor Gorin Ronald Blake Michael W. Sasser Robin Dorner-Townsend Judy Gabbard Romeo San Vicente Andrew Collins Jack Fertig Lisa Keen Ed Sikov Steven Petrow Rex Wockner D'Anne Witkovski Keith Orr Chris Azzopardi Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online text Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwest Missouri West Arkansas Southeast Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Metro Star Magazine, July 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 7 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/191 The Metro Star Magazine, October 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 10 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/196 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/197 000 steps AIDs walk OKC Bitter Girl Cimarron Alliance Foundation Danielle Girdano Don't shop-Adopt Fitness-10 funnies Kyle's Bed and Breakfast Lady Gaga-Arizona immigrants law Metro scene National Post Nightclubs and Bars Oklahoma City Museum of Art Oklahoma Democratic Party Oklahoma News pre-existing condition insurance Prop 8 QPuzzle Qscopes same sex marriage Sex-Consent Shelley McGoffin Sooner State Rodeo Association Stonewall Democrats The Equality Network Tulsa ballet Tulsa Metro Softball League https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/828ad2503fa0191d057842de3d0472b7.jpg 6ec263ac80a251de5387dbfdee9c17cf https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/7735f4a6598447aadbfdd8bd1e226be0.pdf 565528a0d1c62bbfd17bbac5afe9a438 PDF Text Text WWW.METROSTARNEWS.COM "WE DELIVER DIVERSITY" AUGUST 1, 2008 NEHART "I’m not sure what homophobic means:’ Q ote from CNN Interview! From the Editor TULSA, OK __ You can still call us "The Star" although we have a new name, the Metro Star. Tiae Ozarks Star is no longer. With our primary focus on Oklahoma, we decided the Ozarks name was no longer appropriate for our publication. The State of Oklahoma and our t~vo major metropolitan areas, OHahoma City and Tulsa, will continue to be our main focus. The emerging Oklahoma cities of Lawton, McAlester, Ardmore, Muskogee and Enid also have diverse communities that are becoming more active. McPride in McAlester has made a big difference in that area. We will continue to serve them as well. By Metro Star staff Tulsa Pride ~ sets new p~ent for major events new ~home for Pride Some believe nevcs print publications have no future, that electronic media has made the newspaper obsolete. I believe there is need for both. To accommodate those thousands who visit our website, we upload our entire paper each month, an exact duplicate of the printed version. Many, including myself to ¯ think Maybe you noticed we also have a new look. We’ve changed from a magazine m a newspaper format, which will allow us more print space and to increase circulation at a lower increase in cost than the more costly magazine style. Those staples were very expensive! x~lith the added space we now can report more on national and international news that normally you don’t find in the mainstream media. We will continue to sp~ out on eqt~ rights issues and, promote those leaders and organizations who openly support equality Star Media, Ltd., publisher, was formed in Joplin, Missouri in 2003. Vie distributed our first edition New Year’s Eve that year. It was a black & white Readers Digest size of only eight pages and printed from my home printer. We printed less than a 1000 copies because the printer ran out of ink. There were only 4 paid advertisers. XXre called it "Ozarks Pride". We continued to print on my old Dell printer for several months with my dear friend Sissy Blanchard folding and stapling from the dining room table. Because people confused us with a "Pride Organization" we changed the name to the Ozarks Star. Tnat soon was referred to simply as "The Star". We moved to Tulsa in December 2004. The qnal issue of tbe Ozarks Star Magazine, July 2008 Our distribution area in the beginning was Joplin, Springfield, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Pittsburg and Tulsa. To increase our readership we expanded to Oklahoma City, Kansas City, and Wichita and recendy discovered a former Tulsan who owns Napoleon’s Itch Night Club in New Orleans that wanted to distribute "~e Star so he and fellow Oklahomans in New Orleans could keep up on our local news. Now that we’ve made the transition and I’ve filled you in on our past we hope you enjoy the Metro Star. With a new name, a new design and an optimistic outlook we will go forward. Thanks to those of you who have supported us in the past and we welcome those who will support us in the future. Sincerely, Oklahoma County Commissioner Bi ’eni Rinehart ~om District 2, a practicingpublic homo ~hobe OKI2kHOMA CITY, OK__ Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart appeared on CNN’s American Morning July 21, to defend his anti-gay comic book that he is sending out to registered Republicans in his district. Wher asked if his comic book took mudslinging to a brand new low, Rinehart replied, "Well, one person’s mudslinging, I guess, is another man’s issues. Here in the state of Oklahoma especially here in Oklahoma County, I believe that the homosexual agenda is an issue in this campaign. I thought that the cartoon book was a novel approach to telling a story for the last three, 3 1/2 years." Rinehart has been charged by Attorney General Drew Edmondson, who is depicted in the book, with illegal campaign financing for his 2004 campaign. He faces trial in September. CNN ROBERTS: In fact, let me just highlight in a little bit more detail your attack on Attorney General Drew Edmondson here as depicted in this comic book. You’ve got him holding a sign that says, "Gay rights now." And you write in the balloon over a character here, "You remember that Drev¢ Edmondson is on record to force the Boy Scouts to accept homosexuals as scout leaders, a pedifiles [sic] dream come true." Tile Attorney General has said of this comic, ’~ drowning man tends to thrash about." And the question is being raised= is this some desperate and weird attempt at payback against the attorney general because he has filed these charges Editor in Chief Wodd Pdde-Pages 9 &13 ............................. Continued on Page-6 �2 www.metrostarnews.com �New Arena Prepares 5h ne New L ght ByJoey D. When walldng the halls of the nearly completed BOK Center in dmvntown Tulsa, it is nearly impossible to be awed by just how massive the new 18,000 seat events center is. The building, ~vhich is o~en described by passers by as either a space ship or a meringue pie, has become a true addition tO the Tt~lsa skyline, with the recently added lit "BOK Center" signs. "This building is truly unique to Tulsa," says Travis Horton of Tulsa Vision Builders, a joint effort of Flintco and Manhattan Construction Companies. "In keeping with Tulsa’s precedent, a large portion of the project’s budget and efforts went to ensuring that the building’s architecture and appearance were truly unique." Located at the corner of 3rd and Denver, the BOK Center is literally a shining example of downtmvn revitalization. "When Pelli (the building’s architect) designed this building, he wanted to incorporate light into it. There are windows everDvhere in here. Even if it’s only a sliver, no matter where you are in here you can see a window? Another feature incorporating light into th~ building that most people may never think about is the terrazzo flooring that runs through out the concourse. According to Horton, the 70% mother-of-pearl mixture was purposely chosen by the architect to make the building shine. of steel and reinforced glass. "I can’t think of anything out there like it that is on this scale? While innovative and impressive, Horton also reassures that the wall is safe. "They have impact tested it with two by?burs and even subjected the model to jet-engine force winds to make sure it will hold? Just inside the glass shield is the building’s main promenade and grand staircase, and grand they are. The open aired promenade allmvs guests to appreciate the magnitude of the building and to bask in the art deco splendor of the historic downtmvn buildings that surround it. The Grand Staircase, raising from the ground level to the main bowl searing, offers event patrons a grand path to their seats, almost on a royal scale. The arena, which is being constructed with funds from the Vision 2025 bond issue, is on target for its grand opening August 30. The ribbon cutting and open house will be followed the next day by a community choir, starring Sand Springs native and Broadway performer Sam Harris. The first major act, The Eagles, will take the arena stage September 6, followed in the coming months by such acts as Celine Dion, American Idols Live, Kenny Chesney and Carrie Under~vood (just to nan~e a few). For event updates visit www.bokcenter.com. "Everything that has been done in here has had his approval. Everythingyou see from the ceiling panels to the stripes of paint on the walls have been approved by him. He has a vision to integrate light into this building,.but also to m~e it feel very open;’ said HOrton. ~ae most noticeable and unique element of the building is its sweeping glass "icon wall? "If Pelli has a signature masterpiece, this would have to be it," Horton says of the massive grid www.metrostarnews.com ~÷t~’oSTAR 3 �Ok!ahomans for Equality opens new exhibit, Treegpeak, at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center TULSA, OK__ The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center art gallery will host it’s month~¢ First Thursdays Meet’the-artist Reception from 69pro, Thursday, August 7, for the opening of its August exkibit TreeSpeak, featuring the,vorks of photographer Shelly Ledford, and painter Dawn DeMott. ~ne TreeSpeak Exhibit is being held specifically in August to acknowledge the Katrina events in New Orleans and to celebrate the rebirth of the city. The works in the exhibit will be New Orleans focttsed. Expressions Community Tulsa Couple to Marry Fellowship Relocates In San Diego. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) __ Expressions Community Fellowship ha~s relocated their facilities to the Landsbrook Event Center, formerly The Church of the Servant, 5909 NW Expressway, Otdahoma City, OK 73132. It is west of MacArthur on Northwest Expressway. "~e new facility has recently been remodeled and provides many new ~vonderful amenities as well as plenty of room to grow and launch our Children’s Ministr,,~’ said Pastor Neill Spurgin. The Church meets ever), Sunday at 2:30pm. Photo: Charles Johnston and Kelly Kirby Shelly Ledford is a native Tulsan and graduated from Northeastern State University with a degree in Literature. She has held a variety of photographic positions including staffphotographer for Newspaper Printing Corporation, MetLife and John Blanca Modeling agency and currently owns Renaissance Photography. In constant search for places xvhich vibrate a high level of universal energy, her ~vork reflects areas such as New Orleans concentrating on the above ground cemeteries, swamps and bayous in and around New Orleans, Sedona, Italy, Greece, Austria, England and Indonesia. Quotable Quotes In a passionate address to the Democratic National Committee’s Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council, Mrs. Obama delivered a rottsing call-to-equality and put her husbas~d on record as a fighter for the full equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. "Barack believes," she said, "that we must fight for the world as it should be, a world where xve ,vork together to reverse discriminatory laws." Invoking "those who marched and bled and died, from Selma to Stonewall," Michelle implored Democrats to continue those early crusaders’ march "in the pursuit of a more perfect union." For more information contact them at (405) 761-1878 or email expressionsokc@yahoo. com. DBAT Will Host DiversityJob Fair TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Diversity Business Association of Tulsa (DBAT), a program of Oklahomans for Equality, is hosting a Diversity Job Fair on Tuesday, September 16th from 1:00 to 5:00pm at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, 621 E. 4th Street in downtown Tulsa. The event will bring together lgbt job seekers and lgb{-friendly employers in a safe and comfortable environment, allowing for open dialogue and alleviating fears of discrimination. The Diversity Job Fair offers a unique opportunity for diversity-conscious employers to access the wealth of skilled and talented members of the lgbt community. Additionally, job seekers are given an unprecedented connection to companies that are lgbt-friendly. Employers are asked to have their area set up by 12:30pm the day of the event. DBAT will provide a table and t-wo chairs. Refreshments will also be provided. The Equality Center has wi-fi internet access. For more information or if your company is interested in participating in the job fair, contact Susan Hartman at dbat@okeq.org or call 918-698-2977. Congrattflations m~’~ MCC United A Metropolitan CommuniW Church 4 Sunday Services @ 11:00 AM ].623 N. Maplewood Tulsa, OK to the new Miss Gay Okdahoma America 2008, Adrienne Fischer and 1st Alternate Shantel Mandalay. TULSA, OK__ Kelly W’ayne Kirby and Charles Stanfill Johnston of Tulsa announced they will be legally married on Saturday, August 9, 2008. The wedding will take place at Point Loma Lighthouse Bluff, Cabrillo National Monument, in San Diego, California. Officiating will be Rev. Doctor David Downing, retired clergyman of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). David was one of Kelly’s youth pastors in Kansas when Kelly was a teenager. "Vge are taking five of our six kids (ages 21-26) and their significant others, my morn, and Kelly’s two sisters. Several friends are joining us in San Diego for the wedding’; Charles said. The couple will be staying at the Park Manor Suites Hotel, across the street from Balboa Park, and will host a reception there after the ceremony. " he Hot Young Hollywood Party" to benefit R.A.I.N. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) _ The party ~vill be held at Angles OKC, August 8th and will include fashion shmvs by Riot Rocket and GLAMNERD. The highlight of the evening will be a continuous raffle of luxury gifts *including a MARC JACOBS bag* donated by some of the hippest restaurants and shops in the metro. Keeping xvith the "Hollywood" theme we will have a red carpet and sponsor board for everyone to have their picture taken with. Our sponsors include; Tony Foss, Iguana, Velvet Monkey Two, 1492, Nova, Tom & Jerrys, Blue7, Duo.. "This event was nay idea of a great give back to this wonderful organization and its tireless stalk"; said Kendel R. Powers, producer of the fund-raiser. All proceeds from the event to benifit R.A.I.N. (Regional Aids Interfaith Network) www.mcctulga.org August 2008 �Room Ra~es From A~ About Our Su#es = High N~ wv,-~v.metrosta mews.corn P~et~oSTAR 5 �CYNDI SHOWS COLOURS against you for campaign irregularities for 2004?" The comic book shows a couple discussing Rinehart’s trials and tribulations as an Oklahoma County Commissioner, how Rinehart strives to accomplish better roads and bridges, lower taxes, and promote family values but is thwarted by public officials supported by Satan. "Be sure and vote--your voice counts, and it’s more important who our ,p, resident is than who is our next American Idol. Cyndi Lauper. By Victor Gorin BRENT RINEHART: "OK. Again, it’s getting a message out. It’s telling a story" of hmv I got to where I’m at the last 3 to 3 1/2 years. No~a; no one has ever - now people can talk about the homosexual aspects of this in regards to how they’re depicted but no one has ever said anything about the truthfulness of my cartoon book. How it exposes Drew Edmondson for his true agenda, and how it exposes others here in county government for their true agenda. No one and you know, you can attack the spelling of pedophile. I have to be honest with you, I don’t necessarily care if I misspelled it or not", T!~e following are quotes from a few of our other elected officials. "It’s extremely pathetic and very bigoted." Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel ’Tve really encouraged him on more than one occasion to get professional help. He really, needs it". Oklahoma County Assessor Leonard Sullivan "It’s typical Rinehart subterfuge to detract from his poor job performance and likely criminal misdeeds". Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth Once again Oklahomans has been embarrassed by someone we elected to office. Will this newest outrage provoke us to seriously look at who we vote for? q-his election year will soon tell. We must take the time to evaluate a candidate’s ability to represent us and to support equality for all citizens of this state. Many are just not capable. TULSA, OK (PR), July 16th _ Oklahomans for Equality deplores the vandalism directed at Robert Stoder, an openly gay resident of east Tulsa. Such intimidation highlights the urgent need for federal and state hate crimes legislation protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LBGT) people. Over the last week, anonymous vandals have twice attacked Stoder’s propert): The assailants set Stotler’s truck on fire and spray painted "Gay Must Go" on the charred vehicle. The comic books, which is sure to be a classic in the annals of political history for the GLBT community and Oklahoma, can be downloaded from http://do~vnloads.newsok. com/documents/rinehartcartoon.pdf Zhe purpose for publishing the 16-page book was to highlight his commitment to destroying the queers. ~q~en asked whether it’s relevant to his election, Rinehart insists that it is, because we are in a cultural war. When asked whether he’s homophobic, Rinehart played (real) dumb: I’m not even sure as to what homophobic means. But let’s just keep in mind that we are in a cultural war, not just here in the state of Oklahoma but nationwide." CNN journalist, John Roberts does not seem amused. You can tell when he does a little grammar check: "We should also point out that the word pedophile is spelled wrong in the two times that’s it’s used in this comic book". OkEq Decries Anti-Gay Vandalism in East Tulsa glndy Bell ofErasure and Cyndi Lauper at Oklahoma City True Colours Taut: OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ On June 23 the Pride Weekend in Oklahoma City was especially honored when the True Colours Tour came to the Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheater. Despite the high heat of the afternoon, the show rocked with opening act Girl in a Coma. The show then mellowed into disco heaven with the 80’S sounds of Andy Bell of Erasure, bringing back nostalgic memories of nights past vcith some of his greatest tunes, "Blue Savannah," "A little Respect; and bringing many to their feet with his dance classic "Chains of Love." Mr. Bell did a duet with Cyndi Lauper before music took an intermission ,vith comedienne Margaret Cho whose ba~vdy humor extolled what’s good about gay men and bad about the Bush administration. Then Joan Jett showed she still had her stuff, performing classics older than many of the young people dancing in the audience. V,rhen she lead community singing with her signature tune "I love Rock and Roll," ( a 1982 classic) there was no shortage of rockers who enthusiastically knew the words. This follmved with the B-52’s, the wildly fun icons of the 80’s ,vho got their name from a hairdo named after a bomber. The energy ran vdld as the audience raved to their timeless numbers including "Rock Lobster," "Private Idaho" "Roam" and course "Love Shack" which predictably brought the house dmvn. All of this vcas held together by the perfect emcee, Carson Kressley ( famous from television’s QEeer Eye for the Straight Guy) whose wisecracks (induding flirtations with the hunky security guards) witticisms and audience interaction kept the show rolling and lively between "No Oklahoman should be victimized because of his or her sexual orientation;’ asserts Freddy Owens, Executive Director of Oklahomans for EqualiD: "All of Oklahoma’s lesbian, gay; bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens should be free to live openly and safely. It is far past time that our state legislature amended our hate crimes la~vs to include the LGBT community:’ In 2006, the FBI reported 7,722 hate crimes across the US, a 7.8% increase over 2005. About half were due to racial hatred; 1,195 of the crimes - representing 15.5% - were due to bias against LGBT people. 79 of the hate crimes were reported in Oklahoma, but the state hate crimes law does not cover sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. Earlier this year, state lawmakers introduced four different bills attempting to strengthen and broaden the Oklahoma statute. None of the bills received a committee hearing. Oklahoma remains one of only 17 states whose hate crimes laws do not protect LGBT citizens. Las Vegas Nights and Lights! (aka- Drag Q een Bingo) Bingo like your mother never played.,. This annual event and fur~draiser for Our House Too will be held August 8th at the Cain’s Ballroom. Female impersonators will bring Las Vegas excitement for this, the fifth year, beginning at 8:00p.m. and ending at midnight. There will be glamorous costumes and prizes. A live auction ~vill be held and, of course, bingo! Female inapersonators will perform glittering numbers from Las Vegas shows to entertain the crowd. acts. Last but certainly not least was the dassy campy icon who epitomized an era, Cyndi Lauper, who not only has made her mark in music history but also as a gay rights activist. Opening with an electrified Statue of Liberty torch and the song "Change of Heart," she went through her many hits, climaxing of course with the timeless anthem’Girls just want to have Fun." Our House Too is a nonprofit organization serving to eliminate the social isolation of people living with HIV and AIDS in the Tulsa area. In addition to providing monthly activities and holiday celebrations, Our House Too offers food baskets and a toiletry and household pantry. Tickets for Las Vegas Nights and Lights are $10 in advance or $15 at the door per person. For advanced ticket sales call 585-9552 or 698-9997. Directory of Local Animal Shelters Tulsa Shelter Broken Arrow OKC Muskogee Stillwater Coweta Siloam Springs Claremore Sand Springs Jenks Owasso Sapulpa Norman Collinsville 918-669-6299 918-259-8311 405 297 3104 918 686 7297 405 372 0334 918-486 2137 479 524 6535 918 341 1260 918 246 2543 918 299 6311 918-272-4965 918 227 2722 405 321 6725 918 371 1000 Courtesy ofwwv.labrescue.net 6 ~®t~’oSTAR August 2008 �Wockner News Service LI.& Senate votes to repeal HI¥ travel/immigration ban Schwarzenegger denounces effort to reban same-sex marriage Key The U.S. Senate voted 80q6 on July 16 to repeal the nation’s ban on HIV-positive foreign visitors and immigrants. Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Gordon Smith, R-Ore., secured a provision to repeal the ban in the Senate’s legislation to reauthorize PEPFIMR, the President’s EmergenW Plan for AIDS Relief. ABC, FX get high marks from GLAAD ABC and the FX cable network do the best job of representing gay Americans, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said July 14. The San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau is holding a contest to give away a six-day "dream vacation" to the city for a same-sex couple to get married. GLAAD’s Network Responsibility Index tracks the quantity, quality and diversity of images of GLBT people on television. ~ae sweepstakes, which ends Aug. 1, is open to U.S. residents who are at least 25 years old. "’g~e’re celebrating the new laws allowing same-sex weddings in California," ConVis said on its ~’eb site. The measure now moves to a House-Senate conference committee, then goes to President George "\g~. Bush, who is eager to see PEPFAR re-~\tnded. "We applaud the Senate l:or rejecting this unjust and sweeping policy that deems HIV-positive individuals inadmissible to the United States," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "We call on the leaders of the House and Senate to retain the Kerry-Smith provision in conference and ensure it is included in the fin!l legislation sent to the president’s desk." "The HIV ban is ineffective, unnecessary, and Simply bad public health policy," said Rachel Tiven, executive director of Immigration Equality. "It is especially harmful to gay and lesbian families, who do not benefit from the waiver available to opposite’sex couples. The Senate’s change is welcome, and long overdue." PEPFAR will send $48 billion to Africa over the next five years to fight _AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., called the bill "the single most significant thing the president has done." Two policemen marry in Northern California Two male cops have gotten married in Northern California. Santa Rosa police officer Chris Mahurin, 25, and San ILafael police officer Alex Holm, 25, tied the knot June 20 at Paradise Ridge Winery in Santa Rosa. "It’s just a dream come true," Holm’s mother, Claire Ann Boyce, told the local Press Democrat newspaper. "It makes me feel like this generation is on its way to have what everyone should have." ~ae ceremony was conducted by gay state Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, chief sponsor of the same-sex marriage bill that t~vice passed the state Legislature only to be vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The California Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage May 15 and the ruling took effect June 16. www.rnetrostarnews.com San Diego offers gaywedding sweepstakes "Ever dreamed of being married in Paradise? In a short story, tell us why you should win the wedding vacation of your dreams in San Diego. The best story will win a trip that includes your marriage license, transportation, accommodations, dining and entertainment." California Gov. ArnoM Schwarzene~e,: Photo by Rex Wockner California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has strongly denounced the attempt to amend the California Constitution to re-ban same-sex marriage. The state Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage May 15 and the weddings began on June 16. Appearing on TV’s Meet The Press on June 29, Schwarzenegger was asked: "You have a lot of propositions on the ballot again this fall. One of them wotfld mean a constitutional ban on gay marriages. Do you support that?" "No, not at all," Schwarzenegger replied. "As a matter of fact, I think the Supreme Court made a decision there. It was apparently unconstitutional to stop anyone from getting married. It’s like 1948, the interracial marriage, when the Supreme Court of California has, you know, decided it was unconstitutional and then later on the Supreme Court of the United States followed, I think 10 or ! 2 years later. So I tahink it is, it’s good that California lead -- is leading in this way." "I personally believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman," the governor added. "But at the same time I think that my, you know, belief, I don’t want to force on anyone else, so I think we should stay with the decision of the Supreme Court and move forward. There are so many other more important issues that we have to address in California. So I think to spend any time on this initiative I think is a waste of time." It was not the first time Schwarzenegger had denounced the proposed amendment, but it was the first time he has done so on national television. Desperate Housewives: Lane. ABC photo At the beach in San Diegoi Photo by Rex tgockner ABC, wiffl shows like Brothers & Sisters, Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty, received the highest marks of the five broadcast networks. NBC and Fox scored lowest. Among 10 of the highest-rated cable channels, FX aired the largest number of GLBTinclusive hours of original programming, while TNT offered the fewest. The prize includes airline tickets; five nights at a plush hotel; dinners at five fancy restaurants; wine, cheese and chocolate tasting at an upscale venue; tickets to the renowned Old Globe Theatre; tickets to the GLBT Diversionary Theatre; "passports" to Balboa Park’s numerous museums; a massage at a swank spa; a wedding license; and tickets to Fashion Week. GLAAD examined all primetime programming -- 4,911 hours -- on the five major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and The CW) from June 1, 2007, to May 31, 2008. The group also reviewed all original primetime programming -- 1,240 hours -- on the 10 cable networks. "Time and again we see that what people watch on TV shapes how they view and treat the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people around them," said GLAAD President Nell Giuliano. "ABC and FX are ... showing other networks that including images of our community can go hand in hand with critical and commercial success." Each of the 6,151 hours of TV was reviewed for any on-screen GLBT representations, and networks were assigned a grade of excellent, good, adequate or failing. San Diego’s Balboa Park. Photo by Rex ~Vockner See www.sandiego.org/pridetobe ABC and The CW rated good, with 24 percent and 21 percent of their primetime programming hours inclusive of GLBT representations. CBS rated adequate, with 9 percent. NBC and Fox ..... continued Page-17 ............ More U. S. Nexvs page 17 ~÷troSTAR 7 �0 Photo by: Bill Gaddis Mandra Rossa Fiano/Sicilia 2006 More summer sipping. The Fiano grape comes frora the island of Sicily, and, taken a gold medal at the International Wine Challenge 2007, this botde was named as ’Great Value White Wine of the Year; Here is a medium bodied wine ~vith a fresh, floral nose. "Ihe finish has a taste of succulent pear and ripe melons. Bongiovanni Arneis 2006 ~~ere in midsummer, I find that I am enjoying lighter meals with more white wines over reds. Lately, my favorites include a diverse variety from many parts of the world. It’s been so hot that all I wanna do is relax by the pool/s~vim & sip some wine. Here are some wines other than Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc that embody the laid backness of summer. I~O~ ’ ItS hard to find sonaething that Piedmont produces in a xvhite wine that’s just as exceptional as those big Barolos and Barbarescos you read about all the time. However, one of the notable exceptions can be found in the white grape, Arneis. This wine comes from the Langhegrowing zone in Piedmont. Bright pear flavors are the hallmark of this wine. at cold temperatures. This is a wine of finesse, and elegance. At the palate it’s Sharp ~ great finish of light spices will become even years of ageing. C- Sineann Pinot Gris 2007 Torbreck VCoodcutter’s Semillon Dr. Loosen Riesling ~ 0 Michd 2007 Ken Forrester Petit Chenin Blanc 2007 This lighdy sweet, low-alc6h 8 5 percent) " _ Dr. Loosen Bros. German RJ , ngf~om Mo, Saar-Ruwer is ideal for casual mmmertime quaffing. This wine has a creamy texture with : flavors of honey, apples, peaches;aa~,d miner,s. Pair with spicy grilled chicken or ~’i food[ [ ~d Vouvray !-lno I say ~ o to vour ~avorlte - ~ as always, " ~: " wlne " shop, ask ~ti0n~ ~’nd p(,rchase a bottle or ~ ........ two:~laare[some tooa ~ wine wire rrlenos ano cnecac tins out for yourself. St. Amant Verdelho2005 This exotic Portuguese white varietal is a new wine for this California vineyard. It’s a full bodied wine that shmvs tropical fruit flavors that ;" really come alive on your palate. D’ This writer also bar tends and hosts wine & food events knownofinTulsa. town as the Wine Enthusiasts Zeveri Muller Thurgau 2006 Garci Grande Verdejo 2006 This is a 100% Muller Thurgau from Trentino’s Valle di Cerebra district in Northern Italy. The fruit is sourced from five single vineyards. The grapes are gently crushed and then macerated ..... Ftom me l~ueoa region m ~pam, tins wine , shows a crisp green apples flavor/a must for " serious smnmer sipping. References include: the ~IBC’s ofwine by James Laube/www. www.FoodandV~ne.com "Www.Wikipedia.org With Donald This months recipe courtew Phoenix, Arizona quart pot, boil the water for the pasta, (112 lg. for 2 persons max.) When the water boils, add 3 tal~lespoons of salt (preferably kosher.) Add the pa~’ta. If fresh, 2 *:ninutes will do. If *One ofthe many desserts at the restaurant" Ingredients: The Pesto: 1/2 bunch of basil (leaves only) 1/3 cup ex. Virgin olive oil Handfifl of fresh pinoli nuts 1/4 cnp grated Parmigiana (Reggiana or Granaonly) 1 dove garlic smashed pinch of salt Pasta: (~ recommend fresh pasta only) ~OW gO: In a processor, place the basil, parmigiana and clove of garlic. Turn on the processor and slowly drizzle in the oil. Add the pinoli nuts and dash of salt. qqae paste should be creamy but never add too much oil ! In a 4 8 ~e~ ~oSTAR you cannot find fresh pasta, dry pasta should take approximately 8 minutes. ~ou do NOT want to eat overcooked pasta. ~A1 dente," is the only way to enjoy it. Reserve about an 1/8 of the pasta xvater to add while tossing your pastawith the pesto sauce. Hint: Never add more oil - it doesn’t work. MACEDONIA CON LIMONE E ZUCCHERO (Fresh fruit salad With lemon juice, sugar and fresh mint) Ingredients: Berries are a good choice. Strawberries, blueberries, black and raspberries will always ~narry~vell. Melons, pears and app!es vary texture and release flavors that don t blend well with berries in this dish. Freshly squeeze 2 lemons and add 2 Tablespoons of sugar and wisk together. Blend and toss with the berries, place in a dessert cup and garnish with fresh mint. August 2008 �Wockner News Service Police stop first Cuban gay pride march Boy George banned from the U.S. Police in Havana stopped Cuba’s first gay pride parade before it could start June 25. But the details of what exactly took place are far fi’om clear. The United States has refused to give British gay singer Boy George a visa to enter the country because he faces trial in Britain for allegedly chaining a male escort to a wall in his apartment. Reports from activists in Miami said the organizers were beaten and arrested around 10 a.m. as they arrived at Don Quixote Park at 23rd and J streets in the Vedado neighborhood. Fort Lauderdale’s Sun-Sentinel newspaper, however, said the march was canceled just before its start time by activist Mario Josd Delgado Gonz~itez, who appeared at the park to report that two other organizers had been arrested a day earlier. The Miami Herald, on the other hand, reported that nine organizers were detained the morning of the march, effectively aborting the event. The Spanish H-/eb site cubaencuentro.com quoted Delgado as saying: "Cuban homosexuals are victims of repression, we don’t enjoy rights. HA~at we are doing has as its objective the reclaiming of our rights. \re want equality of opportunity, equality of assembly, and that they dont expel its from parks, university centers, schools and work centers." With a theme of"You are not alone," the group had planned to walk to the Ministry of Justice and deliver demands to the government. They sought an end tO ~nti-gay violence and repression, an apology for the government’s having incarcerated gays in work camps decades ago, acknowledgment that gays have been fired because of their sexuality, and a review of cases where homosexuals have been jailed for an offense apparently known as "dangerous levels." At the march’s end, the group planned to proceed to a diplomatic residence to hold a press conference and stage a concert. Prior to the aborted mar&, Havana gay activist Aliomar Janjaque had told the Sun-Sentinel: "H/e want to raise awareness but we don’t want to provoke a wave of repression against the gay community. If there is a hostile reaction from the government, we will stage a much larger demonstration. "We will take to the streets." \[he Herald report said Janjaque was one of the individuals detained before the parade’s start. Gays march in 3 Indian cities George had planned a summer U.S. tour and also hoped to perform a free concert for New York City’s Department of Sanitation, where he worked cleaning streets in 2006 as punishment for a drug offense. George has pleaded not guilty in the ongoing British case. Lambda Istanbul eradicated by court Istanbul’s Beyoglu Court of First Instance has formally eradicated the gay group Lambda Istanbul, saying its existence contravened societal norms of morality and decency. Issuing its opinion this month in a case it decided in May, the court declared: "While members of the association are, as men and women, subject to Article 10 of the Constitution, which states that all persons are equal before the law; since there are no constitutional regulations regarding any other gender identity besides man and woman, forraing an association based solely on sexual orientation and gender identity is against the essence and the spirit of this Article, and the concept of equality aimed by it." The court continued: "It is observed that encouragement and propaganda, in all levels of the society, of the sexual orientation of the members of the association through organizing instructive programs are predominant in the association’s aims, and that these activities are likely to bring about a tyranny of a minority over the majority, which is against legal and constitutional regulations, and that this would jeopardize the rights and freedom of the family and children, as mentioned in Article 41 of the Constitution, and the rights and the freedom of the youth, as mentioned in Article 58 of the Constitution." The court proceeded to "dissolve" Lambda Istanbul, saying the European Convention on Human Rights allows obstruction of the right to association "to protect public morality and others’ freedom." The court also found that Lambda’s bylaws contravened a Turkish law that states, "No association may be founded for unlawful or immoral purposes." Lambda Istanbul has been in existence since 1993 and had been officially registered for two years. The group has continued to operate since the ruling and is appealing the decision to the Court of Cassation. Some ZOO0 GLBTpeople staged pride marches in the Indian cities of Calcutta, Bangalore and Delhi fi~ne 29 -- the first such parades in the latter two cities. Delhi photo by Sonali ~Gulati via Woc]ener ~Vews Some 2,000 GLBT people staged pride marches in the Indian cities of Calcutta, Bangalore and Delhi June 29 -- the first such parades in the latter two cities. About 500 people marched in Calcutta, 700 in the high-tech city of Bangalore and about 800 in Delhi. "When the pride started (in Delhi), there were about 100 people and it looked like we were outnumbered by the media and the police," said correspondent Vikram Doctor. "By the time we started (marching), though ... more and more people were coming along and getting attached to the end. I was walking back and forth, trying to help with media requests, and I got a sense of how large it was growing ~vhen I realized in addition to the main group carrying the flag upfront, there was a second large group behind with placards and doing dances -- and then a really large group of stragglers behind." Calcuttgs seventh parade focused heavily on Section 377, the Indian law that bans gay sex under penalty of up to 10 years in prison. A court case, now at a crucial phase, could see the law "read down" so it no longer applies to consensual adult gay sex. "India continues to stigmatize its transgender, kothi, hijra, gay, lesbian, bisexual and other communities of marginalized sexualities and genders," organizers said. "Section 377 ... encroaches upon a person’s democratic rights, goes against the spirit of the Indian Constitution and impedes life-saving sexual health work among sexual minorities." The parade was part of Rainbow Pride W’eek, which also featured movies, a photo exhibit, a panel discussion and a candlelight memorial for people lost to anti-gay abuse or HIV. "Clearly, Indian sexual minorities are not going to settle for status quo and are garnering www.metrostarnews.com support from different stakeholders, media included, in their struggle to be free from discrimination, receive respect from all sections of society, and function as equal participants in a progressive and democratic India," organizers said at the parade’s conclusion. The Queer Media Collective issued a statement saying that GLBT people in India today find themselves at about the same point U~S. gays were when the first pride parades began in 1970. "LGBT people face a lot of harassment from the police," the group said. "Lesbians are subject to violence and even forced to commit suicide by their families. Gay men are blacks-nailed by organized rackets that involve members of the police. Bisexuals are denied the chance to express same-sex love and forced into opposite-sex marriages. Transgenders are routinely arrested and raped by the police. Same-sex couples who have lived together for years cannot buy a house together, have a joint bank account or will their property to each other without being challenged by their families .... Today in 2008, Queer Pride goes national as a sign that the time for national change has come." Czech pride attacked, 20 injured The Czech Republic’s first gay pride parade, held in the city of Brno, came under attack from extremist and neo-Nazi protesters June 28 and at least 20 of the 500 marchers xvere injured. The 150 counterdemonstrators threw tear gas, fireworks and eggs at the marchers. Police and neo-Nazis clashed for about 45 minutes at the parade’s endpoint. About 15 of the troublemakers were arrested. g~®troSTAR 9 �Oklahoma City GLBT community and their friends celebrated their annual Pride Parade and Festival, truly. By Victor Gorin OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Once again the GLBT community and their friends celebrated their annual Pride Parade and Festival truly, as the theme stated, "Coming of Age." Paul q’hompson recalled how it began 21 years ago, planned by around a dozen people, not knowing if any more people would actually show up. q-he Ku Klux Klan had threatened to show up however, ready to meet the Parade by the N.W. 39th Street Safeway (now Homeland) with hostile confrontation. As the original marchers still nostalgically recall, when the Klansmen saw around 400 marchers coming over the hill they promptly abandoned their mission and the rest is ongoing history. As soon as the festivities are over, planning for the next Parade and Festival begins. OKC Pride meetings take place the third Monday of every month year round at 7 p.m. at the Neighborhood Alliance Center (1236 N.W. 36th Street). Membership dues to join OKC Pride are only $15 per year, which not only supports the event but also gives you a vote in the organization. At the August 18 meeting OKC Pride members will elect the Board of Directors, which in turn will elect officers. Although the OKC Pride Parade & Festival is a wonderful celebration for our community, inevitably there are aspects of it that some won’t like, or improvements that could be made. As Patti Thompson puts it. "The best way to implement the changes you want to see is through participation. If you have ideas, things you’d like to change, things you liked that you want to stay the same, this is the time to come forward and let us know. We are open to all suggestions: OKC Pride is for the community, and it’s what we make it. (Photo’s Page- 12) Back to School Stylings ByJoey De TULSA, OK__ On August 4, one Tulsa salon will open its doors and help area youth begin their new school year in style. Monkey Bizness, located at 5942 S. Lewis, is offering complimentary hair cuts to the students of nearby Wright Elementary, as well as to all area BLGT students. The back to school day of beauty was the idea of Monkey Bizness stylist David Mitchell and friend Debbie Mayabb. "We wanted to do something to help BLGT youth, but the more we thought about it, the more we realized that we could so much more; says Mayabb. "Every kid deserves a good start to the school year. It doesn’t matter who they are or what they are." Photo by Victor Gorin : Michael Cich ofOKC Pride with Joe Salmonese, Director of the national Human Rights Campaign with his partner Brad Luna (Photo But over the last 21 years as the world, America and Oklahoma have changed, so has the Pride Festival and Parade. Whereas during the first few years politicians were scared to even acknowledge the event in a positive way, later public office holders and wannabes proudly participate, glad to seek our votes. This year’s Parade & Festival featured Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth, State Representative A1 McAffrey, State Senator Audrew Rice (seeking a U.S. Senate seat), Ron Marlett who is seeking to unseat the infamous Sally Kern in State House District 84. : co~munity volunteer and David ofMonkey "The for the haircuts just came to us one day; ex- Whereas in the beginning only bars, a few small gay owned businesses and extremely progressive nonprofits wanted to be associated with us, today mainstream businesses ranging from Budlight to Best Buy were proud to seek our business. As it has grown consistendy year after year, it has become an event not only for our community but also takes its place among Oklahoma City’s mainstream events. Whereas in the beginning it was only positively covered in the Gayly Oklahoman, this year’s celebration was positively covered by the Sentinel, the Oklahoma Gazette, and even the Daily Oklahoman. For the first time the Parade was held on a Friday evening with the biggest crowd ever, follo~ved by the Festival in Memorial Park the following Saturday and Sunday. As the Pride Festival and Parade has gro~vn to be an event the community celebrates and counts on, so have the responsibilities of making it happen. The event is organized by OKC Pride, an organization with members who elect a Board of Directors, who then elect a President (currently Paul Thompson) VicePresident (office vacant)a Secretary (currently Victor Gorin) and a Treasurer (Currently Patricia Miller). What truly makes it come to life are the volunteers who toil long hours to make it happen, something most spectators have no concept of and take for granted. For the first time OKC Pride had a Volunteer Coordinator, Miles Tompkins. While last year OKC Pride had around 20 volunteers, this year we had over 60, with a high percentage of those new volunteers young people (under 30), 10 ~t~oSTAR "We approached Trish, the manager of the salon, and she loved the idea. When we asked all of the stylists, the support could not have been more overwhelming:’ Mitchell says that every Monkey Business stylist will be volunteering their day off to help, free of charge. "There are so many distractions for so many young people; says Mayabb, "everyone here wants to help give these kids that extra boost to succeed. It’s special for them to be able to come in to a salon of this caliber and be taken care of by the best.’ Mayabb explains, listing off awards and recognitions that the salon’s team have won, including an Emmy won by Mitchell. The t~vo say that they worked with one of Mitchell’s clients, a TPS principal, to identify nearby Wright Elementary as the beneficiary due to economic status of its students and proximity to the salon. The salon will also be reaching out to BLGT students through Youth Services of Tulsa and DYLN. Haircuts will be offered from 10am until 4pm. All students will have to bring an item proving they are enrolled in school. The salon has also invited their clients, and the rest of the public, to become involved with the effort through their "outfit-tree." They are currendy seeking donations of basic school supplies and backpacks to equip students for the first day of school. If you would like to help, contact Monkey Biziness at (918)749-5130 or visit them on ,~wv.360.tulsa.com under the beauty section. August 2008 �celebrate our 25th anniversary pride celebration. For more information & travel deals, visit wxcw.metrostarnews.com [~etroSTAR 11 �~en banded together to,r.aisemoney for Under the direction of OYP S Mama Carol this Con~ert was held atthe Tulsa, OK. Oklahoma Fdends of 12 August2008 �@ Showtime 2qse Royal Navy marching m London s gay pmde paradeJuly 5. ScotsGay phOm via ~ockner News Halfa million at London Pride Around halfa million people turned out for London’s gay pride parade July 5, led by Mayor Boris Johnson, who wore a pink cowboy hat. MP Harriet Harman, minister of equality and deputy leader of the Labour Party, reportedly was booed as she spoke from die main stage at Trafalgar Square. Members of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force marched in uniform. The Ministry of Defence offered free travel for servicemembers who wanted to attend the parade. Tatchell said the crowd was unhappy over the UK’s treatment of gay asylum-seekers from homophobic nations. Well-known activist Peter Tatchell carried a poster with a doctored, gayed-up photo of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. ~madme~ad leads a regime that arrests, jails; flogs, tortures and sometimes executes gay people," Tatchell said. Italian gay man wins 100,000 euros for discrimination A gay man on the island of Sicily won 100,000 euros (US$159,000) from the Italian government July 12 after the military and the Transport Ministry discriminated against him. Danilo Giuffrida came out as gay during his military medical exam. Doctors later relayed his coming-out to driver’s-license officials, who then accused him of having a sexual identity disturbance, told him to retake his driving test and, when he passed it, gave him a one-year disabled-person’s license instead of the normal 10-year license. Prior to the parade, Prime Minister Gordon Brown met with activists, including actor Sir Ian McKellen0 at his residence. They discussed homophobic bullying in schools, and Browds spokesman said he was "delighted" to have met with the group. "Discrimination against those in the army who are lesbian, gay and bisexual does not give them a chance to contribute or to play a full part in the teams that are vital for our success on operations;’ said Gem Richard Dannatt, chief of the General Staff. "It is ... our absolute duty to treat our fellow soldiers as vce would wish to be treated ourselves." Britain banned gays from the military until 2000. The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force are already members of the Stonewall program. A court determined the events amounted to "sexual discrimination" and were unconstitutional. It is likely the first ruling of its sort in Italian history. British Army joins gayequality program Some 120,O00people turned outfar Henna’s~ 13th gay pride paradeJuly, 12. The British Army has joined the gay group Stonewall’s Diversity Champions program to work toward increased equality for gay and bisexual soldiers. www.metrostarnews.com ~4®troSTAR 13 �out their website. The publisher Michael McFall has done a absolutely great job. It is the finest gay guide in any state that we have ever seen. by Donald Pile and Ray Williams PHOENIX, ARIZONA There are a lot of wonderful museums, galleries and shopping in the Phoenix area. Antique Marketplace is located at 4025 North 16th Street and sells a wide range of antiques. Next door is the Root Seller Gallery 8: Apothecary that sells a large variety of artwork, books, cards, herbs, music and more. The arts are alive and well in Phoenix and there are a lot of live theatre, and musical productions. Phoenix is surrounded by maW suburban cities and our favorite is TEMPE. tt is the home of Arizona State University and is one of the most progressive cities in the nation. Check out their website at: vibranttempe.com and click on GLBT TEMPE. Michael Martin and Nancy Black at the Convention and Visitors Bureau are two of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. Their revitalized downtown is so vibrant. ’~b~zona Sunburst Inn After leaving ~Zest Hollywood we drove to Phoenix where the weather was HOT. In the daytime it was 115 but at night it cooled down to around 110! We checked in to the ARIZONA SUNBURST INN which,aas sold about a year and a half ago and Tim and James have remodeled and really changed the decor and ambiance. Tney have done a vconderful job. Both Tim and James are great hosts and they make you at home. The room furniture is very masculine. Since they have taken over they have had many guests that have returned several times. All rooms face the swimming po61 and they also have a Jacuzzi. A morning breakfast is ready whenever you want it. They have VflFI for guests and a public computer for those who forgot t° bring their lap top. They are located at 6245 North 12th Place, ideally located to all of the major gay bars and businesses. Check out their ~vebsite at: www.azsunburst.com. Their toll free nmnber is 1-800 -974-1474. They offer clothing optional stmbathing, swimruing and spa. This is the ONLY place to stay when visiting PhoenLx. There are dozens and dozens of restaurants to dine in Phoenix but our favorites are Marcellint Pdstorante which has tO be one of the finest Italian Restaurants that ~ve have had the pleasure of dining. They are located at !301 Northern Avenue. Their website is: ~wv.marcellinoristorante.com..If you want true Italian coo~ng in an exciting atmosphere with servers who are the best then dine there. Tne mvners, Sirna and Marcellino Verzino are as good as it gets. Marcellino is the chef and his "beyond Fabulous" wife Sima is the "hostess who really is the mostess’! The combination of these two people are magic! Call for reservations: 602.216-0004. For a real dining experience we just can’t recommend dais restaurant enough. 14 NetroSTAR You can’t dine at the same restaurant every day so try TICOZ at 5114 North 7th Street. To say that it is wonderfifl is an understatement. Chef Holly creates the finest entrees and desserts ever. It has a great ambiance, wonderful service and their food presentation is as good as it gets. They have a huge following and we can certainly understand why! They have a great Saturday and Sunday Brunch special and the restaurant is always packed. They make some of the finest drinks in the city. Check out their website at www.ticozofarizona.com. For reservations call 602-200-0160. Be SURE and save room for dessert. Trust us on this one. They are totally beyond Fabulous! They also mvn another restaurant not too far away, SWITCH, 2603 North Central and their website is www. switchofarizona.com and they serve wonderful food there as well. There are a lot of gay bars in Phoenix for vchatever you are into. Favorite bars includes Charlies (the cowboy bar), Amsterdam, downtown, Cell Block, the leather bar, Oz, Wild Card, and we particularly enjoyed the KoBalt at Park Central ~vhich has a piano bar sometimes. Phoenix is the largest city (area wise) in the country so you certainly need a car to get around town. There are a lot of neighborhood bars around the city besides the large bars. They also have a couple of bath houses, the FLEX and the CHUTE. Most of the bars are located between 7th Avenue and 16th Street near Central Avenue. ~Ihe best place to find any bar or business in Phoenix is in the ARIZONA PRIDE GUIDE, vc~vw.arizonaprideguide.com. This informative guide is free and tells about the entire state of Arizona. It is distributed free all over the State or you can have them send you one.Just check Phoenix is a very friendly city and you are sure to make lots of new friends. Other websites to check out be~bre visiting Phoenix are: ¯aw~a~.gayarizona.com, w,a-,v.arizonaguide.com and w~avisitphoenix.com. The major gay publication is Echo, xwvw:echomag.com Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! CALIFORNIA MARRIAGE LICENSE INFORMATION By Donald Pile and Ray Williams Donald and Ray were legally married in Palm Springs, California, June 17th which was the first day that same-sex marriage became legal in California. "Ihey have been a gay couple for 37 years) As of June 17, 2008 the marriage laws in California were changed to allow same-sex couples to marry as well as heterosexual couples. There is no difference in the forms with the exception that in the same-sex marriage forms, they list "Party A" and "Party B" rather than bride and gr0bm. You can apply for a marriage license at nearly dl the county court houses in the state. A couple of counties have refused to marry same-sex couples and they are not allowed to marry heterosexual couples as well. A special note: For same-sex couples to be married in the State of Massachusetts, they have to be legal residents of that state. In California, there is NO residency requirement. Anybody from any state in the country can now be married legally in California. If your ID does not contain your full legal name you must provide a certified copy of your birth certificate or a Social Security card. Otherwise, a driver’s license is sufficient for proof. If you have been divorced within the last two years you must bring in a certified copy of your divorce decree. Both parties must appear to apply for and pick up their marriage license. Different counties xvithin the State of California charge different prices and they vary from $55.00 to $70.00. They accept cash and debit cards only. The license is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. The license is typed tip and given to you in about 30 minutes. Should you desire to get married right there, they offer a civil marriage ceremony right at the court house. Naere is a fee of $35.00~ You are taken into a private room and the clerk as well as a wimess that they will provide in case you. don’t take some with you goes thru the marriage ceremony. The ending remarks are "In as much as Donald and Raymond have thus consented together in marriage, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the State of California as a Deputy Comrnissioner of Civil Marriages for the County of l~verside, I now pronounce you to be united in marriage. "AND TRUST US, IT JUST DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT MOMENT! After 37 years together, dais was one of the finest sentences that we have ever heard! You do not need a blood test or health certificate. There is no waiting period to get married. The entire process from start to finish takes less than one hour. Some couples prefer to get the license and then plan a wedding afterwards in a few days. Eight states allow same-sex marriage alternatives: In Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Vermont, same-sex couples can enter civil unions and receive the same statelevel benefits and responsibilities conveyed in traditional marriages. Similarly, Oregon residents can register as domestic partners and receive all state marital rights. Couples in Hawaii, Maine and Washington state can register as domestic partners and receive many of the most important marital rights. Suggestion: Don’t fly out for the weekend expecting to get married. The Court Houses are open Monday thru Friday only. What you need... Both parties must provide valid photo ID August 2008 �EUREKA SPRINGS SUMMER ,E, UREKA SPRINGS, AR;__ Eureka Springs is gearing up for its Summer Diversty Festivel to be held August 1,2,3, 2008 ~vith many events, shows and pool parties planned, including the now famous PDA in die park, where all persons are invited to show "Public Display of Affection" for their spouse or partner. Eureka Springs welcomed its 200th gay couple (Visiting from Chicago) to register under the domestic partnership registration law. History was made on May 14, 2007 when the Eureka Springs City Council unanimously approved the "Domestic Partner Registration (DPR). Although the document does not entitle couples legal benefits as in a marriage, it does act as a wonderful validation and acknowledgement of their relationship and commitment to each other. This was a first for Arkansas and hopefully, will inspire other registries throughout the state and beyond. Persons from anT0¢here may register in Eureka Springs.’ Visit www.diversitypride.com or ww~v.eurekapride.com for more information. AUg 1, 2008: Welcome Mixer at Marquee’s 7 - 9 PM (open for dinner 4 - 10pm) Aug 1, 08: Miranda Ray Performs at Jaek’s Place 10:00 PM Aug 1, 08: Miranda Meridian Performs at Lumberyard 8:00 PM Aug 1, 08: Diversity Bikers Brunch & Fun Run. Iron Horse Stables at 10 AM then ride to the PDA Aug 2, 08: PDA in Basin Park 12 Noon Aug 2, 08: Bear Pool Party. 1 PM - ? at Tradewinds Aug 2, 08: Diversity Bikers Raid the Pool Party & Fun Run starting at Planner Hill Parking Lot 3:30 - 5 PM Aug 2, 08: Miranda Ray Performs at Jack’s Place 10:00 PM Aug 2, 08: Miranda Meridian Performs at Lmnberyard 8:00 PM ALSO: Aug 1-2, 08: Yards & Yards of Yard Sales Aug 3, 08: Lucky 13 Cinema: Double feature "Across the Universe" & "Wizard ofOz", music of"Dark Side of the Moon" www.metrostarnews.com NetroSTAR 15 �by Jack Fertig AUGUST 2008 "Keep your balance, Aries!" The most troublesome planets are stirring up discord - Mars opposing Uranus, Mercury opposing Neptune. Looking to Eris for the best aspects is like borrowing sugar from Lucrezia Borgia! With everyone shooting their mouths off and facts getting jumbled, focus on careful listening and discernment. ARIES (March 20 -April 19): Struggles at work might make you feel you’re on the wrong team. What’s easier to change - your job or your attitude? Time out, playful relaxation, and self-care (massage? acupuncture?) are needed to keep your balance. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): A~guments at home need to be settled to avoid tension that can screw you up at work. Friends who want to play may keep you from what you really find entertaining and relaxing. Take time at home to contemplate your goals in work and in life. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): You probably can’t avoid arguments this week, but you canopick and choose them. Remember the simple, obvious rules: logic has nothing tO do with religion or sex; authorities should be criticized with extreme diplomacy and care; and friends who will forgive anything are the best to hang with! CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Arguments about sex can come up easily, especially if you’re unclear about what you really want. You need some guidance, a new philosophical or spiritual perspective. Explore those intangibles, and the touchy-feely will be easier to work out. The Ledo, Oklahoma City @ Angles, Oklahoma City LEO (July 23 - August 22): Your partner (or Jack of one) seems especially aggravating now, and your sexual needs are not being propedy met - probably because you are at some level reassessing them. A good political argument may somehow kick your priorities and Needs into better focus. ......... VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Make a list of your worries. Cross off the ones you can’t do anything about, then list the steps you can take to deal with the others. A partner’s input may be helpful. An amorous retreat will be even more so. .... LIBRA (September 23 - October 22):.Nob0d~ else will fix what’s bothering you, so what ape _you_ doing about it? Big as some problems are, you can make a difference! You could even bring friends into a volunteer effort as if it were a social event. @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa The Copa, Oklahoma City SCORPIO ((~ctober 23 - November 21): "(our playful jabs at social critique can get you a reputation. Will hosts send you invitations due to real affection or out of self-defense? Focus that acuity on working more effectively, and you could accomplish a lot! SAGITTARIUS (Nov.ember 22 - December 20): Arguments aren’t as likely to show that you’re right as much as that you insist on "being right." A little humility and listening can go a long way. Better yet, playful word games are preferable to serious debate. CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Arguments about sex, sexuality, and gender issues can easily get out of hand. If you must react as if your mother’s honor were at stake, think of how she’d want you to be civil in your debate. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Sexual values and tastes change with age and experience. Although that’s normal, staying in sync with your partner may be the big challenge! Communication is always the key. Be open to exploring differences as well as common ground. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Your ideas for improvements at work are, um, intriguing. Discuss them with a colleague or two, allowing that they may be a bit off the wall. Still, they could be the seeds of much better ideas. Focus on efficiency and economy. @Club Majestic, Tulsa 16 MetroSTAR , @ Finishline, Oklahoma City August 2008 �Massachusetts may OK marriage for out-ofstarers Massachusetts’ legislature is considering repeal oi:a 1913 law that prohibits people from other states from getting married there if the marriage wouldn’t be allowed where they live. ’The law -- which stopped interracial couples who couldn’t marry in their own states t~¥om n~arrying in Massachusetts -- was resurrected aider Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage in 2004. ~e speaker of the House, the president ofth~ Senate and Gov. Deva! Patrick all support the law’s repeal. U2S. Census Bureau won’t count married gays ~ae U.S. government will not count married gay couples in the 2010 censtts, the San Jose Mercury News reported July 12. Instead, same-sex couples who accurately report that they are married will have their response tabulated by the Census Bureau as if they had checked "unmarried partners." Same-sex marriage is legal in California and Massachuset:tS[ in addition, New Yorkers who m~r~ in those states or abroad are recognized as married in New York state. Brot,~ers & Sismrs actors Matthew Rhys (who plays gay character Kevin Walker) and Sally Field. GLAAD photo repre.sentations. Lifetime and MTV ranked adequate. A&E, Spike, TBS, TNT m~d USA received failing grades. The ful! report is at glaad.org/media/nri/ NRI_2008.pdf. "Barack believes that ,ve must fight for a world as it should be. A ,vorld where together we work to reverse discriminatory laws like D.O.M.A. (Defense of Marriage Act) and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell," Mrs. Obama said, addressing an audience of 250 people at a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee. ~ae Mercury News said the Census Bureau’s decision was based on the federal Defense of i~{arriage Act (DOMA) "and other mandates." DOMA, signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996, states, in part: "In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word ’marriage’ means only a leg~d union between one man and one woman ,as husband and wife, and the word ’spouse’ refers only to a person of the opposite sex ~vho is a husband or a wife." Gary Gates of the Williams Institute, a think tank at the University of California Los Angeles Law School, told the newspaper that the bureau’s decision "goes against everything the census stands fo,:" "It’s a systematic hiding not only of married gay couples, but gay couples as families, which I would argue is a fundamentally political decision," Gates said. METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES ~ Transsexnal Richards Rev Steve T. Uric Spirit of Christ MCC 2902 E 2® Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Saturdays at t0:00 AM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC 0fthe Living Spring received failing grades for their 6 percent and 4 percent of programming hours with GLBT images. Of the 10 cable networks evaluated, FX, HBO and Showtime each received a grade of good, with FX leading with 45 percent of programming hours featuring GLBT www.metrostarnews.com t7 Elk Street Eureka Spdngs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! ~et~oSTAR 17 �\ KiNG OF MASSAGE GFeBt Touch Man to Man F.tl Body Massage 2 hands or 4 hands available out calls (405) Now Hiring Male & Female Keller Williams Realty Chuck Breckenridge ~rhether buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. Freelance Reporters Needed For Oklahoma City, Tulsa and all area’s Qualifications to stamews@sbcglobal.net or mail to: The Star, PO Box 581718 Tulsa, OK 74158 Creating Community for People ~iving H~V/A~DS 50’I c (3) No~: P~ofit ()rgaaizafion Metro Star Chssfieds Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are HtV+ and or living with AiDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone who ¯~/ould like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail hardsmmjr@yahoo.com. [] 2" square ON SALE! for as litde as $33 per issue. Email: starnews@sbcglobal.net offer good until 8/16/08 918.835.7887 SAVE & FILL YOUR PIGGY [] grWW.METROSTARNEWS.COM 18 www.rnetr0starnews.c0m �Support those who support us. Their ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you. OPENARMS YOUTH PROJECT DOWNTOWN PLAZA of TULSA 17 West 7th Street Tulsa, OK 918-585-5898 www:downtownplazatulsa.com HABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 ~v.~vw.habanainn.com KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant ANGLES 21!7 NW 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK vavw.anglesclub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 wv~#abambooloungetulsa.com CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 wvw.dubmajestictulsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 NxY-/- 39TH EXPRESSWAY Otdahoma City, OK 405-525-{3730 xwvw.habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESS"gAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com 2015 -B S. Lakewood Tulsa, OK 74112 918-838-7104 www. openarmsproject.org OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 KING OF MASSAGE In or Out Calls Oldahoma City, OK 405-314-3898 JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 N\V EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 www.c21 goldcastle, com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller vvrilliams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: w ~,av. gaybradyheights tulsa.com GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn DALLAS CVB Dallas, TX www.glbtdallas.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.corn HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV!STD Hotline SPIPdT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM MCC of the LIVING SPRING !7 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pro MCC UNITED 1623 N. Maplewood, Tulsa, OK 9t8-838-1715 www.mcctutsa.org L N÷troSTAR 19 www.metrostarnews.com �Advertisement paid for by friends OfRon Marlett. OKLAHO ESE "I’m Ron Marlett and I’m running for State House District 84 because I want a chance to bring about change that really matters for my fellow Oklahomans: good jobs, affordable healthcare, a quality educational system and real freedom and equality." I NEED YOUR HELP TO WIN THIS ELECTION, WE CAN NIAKE ~T HAPPEN! need money and volunteers! Ron Marlett P.O. Box 854 Bethany, OK 73008 (405) 640-2069 www.ronmarlettforhousedistrict84.com � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document WWW.METROSTARNEWS.COM "WE DELIVER DIVERSITY" From the Editor TULSA, OK __ You can still call us "The Star" although we have a new name, the Metro Star. Tiae Ozarks Star is no longer. With our primary focus on Oklahoma, we decided the Ozarks name was no longer appropriate for our publication. The State of Oklahoma and our t~vo major metropolitan areas, OHahoma City and Tulsa, will continue to be our main focus. The emerging Oklahoma cities of Lawton, McAlester, Ardmore, Muskogee and Enid also have diverse communities that are becoming more active. McPride in McAlester has made a big difference in that area. We will continue to serve them as well. Some believe nevcs print publications have no future, that electronic media has made the newspaper obsolete. I believe there is need for both. To accommodate those thousands who visit our website, we upload our entire paper each month, an exact duplicate of the printed version. Many, including myself to ¯ think Maybe you noticed we also have a new look. We’ve changed from a magazine m a newspaper format, which will allow us more print space and to increase circulation at a lower increase in cost than the more costly magazine style. Those staples were very expensive! x~lith the added space we now can report more on national and international news that normally you don’t find in the mainstream media. We will continue to sp~ out on eqt~ rights issues and, promote those leaders and organizations who openly support equality Star Media, Ltd., publisher, was formed in Joplin, Missouri in 2003. Vie distributed our first edition New Year’s Eve that year. It was a black & white Readers Digest size of only eight pages and printed from my home printer. We printed less than a 1000 copies because the printer ran out of ink. There were only 4 paid advertisers. XXre called it "Ozarks Pride". We continued to print on my old Dell printer for several months with my dear friend Sissy Blanchard folding and stapling from the dining room table. Because people confused us with a "Pride Organization" we changed the name to the Ozarks Star. Tnat soon was referred to simply as "The Star". We moved to Tulsa in December 2004. Tulsa Pride~sets new p~entfor major events new ~home for Pride The qnal issue oftbe Ozarks Star Magazine, July 2008 Our distribution area in the beginning was Joplin, Springfield, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Pittsburg and Tulsa. To increase our readership we expanded to Oklahoma City, Kansas City, and Wichita and recendy discovered a former Tulsan who owns Napoleon’s Itch Night Club in New Orleans that wanted to distribute "~e Star so he and fellow Oklahomans in New Orleans could keep up on our local news. Now that we’ve made the transition and I’ve filled you in on our past we hope you enjoy the Metro Star. With a new name, a new design and an optimistic outlook we will go forward. Thanks to those ofyou who have supported us in the past and we welcome those who will support us in the future. Sincerely, Editor in Chief Wodd Pdde-Pages 9 &13 AUGUST 1, 2008 NEHART "I’m not sure what homophobic means:’ Q ote from CNN Interview! By Metro Star staff Oklahoma County Commissioner Bi ’eni Rinehart ~om District 2, apracticingpublic homo ~hobe OKI2kHOMA CITY, OK__ Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart appeared on CNN’s American Morning July 21, to defend his anti-gay comic book that he is sending out to registered Republicans in his district. Wher asked if his comic book took mudslinging to a brand new low, Rinehart replied, "Well, one person’s mudslinging, I guess, is another man’s issues. Here in the state of Oklahoma especially here in Oklahoma County, I believe that the homosexual agenda is an issue in this campaign. I thought that the cartoon book was a novel approach to telling a story for the last three, 3 1/2 years." Rinehart has been charged by Attorney General Drew Edmondson, who is depicted in the book, with illegal campaign financing for his 2004 campaign. He faces trial in September. CNN ROBERTS: In fact, let me just highlight in a little bit more detail your attack on Attorney General Drew Edmondson here as depicted in this comic book. You’ve got him holding a sign that says, "Gay rights now." And you write in the balloon over a character here, "You remember that Drev¢ Edmondson is on record to force the Boy Scouts to accept homosexuals as scout leaders, a pedifiles [sic] dream come true." Tile Attorney General has said of this comic, ’~ drowning man tends to thrash about." And the question is being raised= is this some desperate and weird attempt at payback against the attorney general because he has filed these charges .............................Continued on Page-6 2 www.metrostarnews.com New Arena Prepares 5h ne New L ght ByJoey D. When walldng the halls of the nearly completed BOK Center in dmvntown Tulsa, it is nearly impossible to be awed by just how massive the new 18,000 seat events center is. The building, ~vhich is o~en described by passers by as either a space ship or a meringue pie, has become a true addition tO the Tt~lsa skyline, with the recently added lit "BOK Center" signs. "This building is truly unique to Tulsa," says Travis Horton ofTulsa Vision Builders, a joint effort of Flintco and Manhattan Construction Companies. "In keeping with Tulsa’s precedent, a large portion of the project’s budget and efforts went to ensuring that the building’s architecture and appearance were truly unique." Located at the corner of 3rd and Denver, the BOK Center is literally a shining example of downtmvn revitalization. "When Pelli (the building’s architect) designed this building, he wanted to incorporate light into it. There are windows everDvhere in here. Even if it’s only a sliver, no matter where you are in here you can see a window? Another feature incorporating light into th~ building that most people may never think about is the terrazzo flooring that runs through out the concourse. According to Horton, the 70% mother-of-pearl mixture was purposely chosen by the architect to make the building shine. "Everything that has been done in here has had his approval. Everythingyou see from the ceiling panels to the stripes ofpaint on the walls have been approved by him. He has a vision to integrate light into this building,.but also to m~e it feel very open;’ said HOrton. ~ae most noticeable and unique element of the building is its sweeping glass "icon wall? "If Pelli has a signature masterpiece, this would have to be it," Horton says of the massive grid of steel and reinforced glass. "I can’t think of anything out there like it that is on this scale? While innovative and impressive, Horton also reassures that the wall is safe. "They have impact tested it with two by?burs and even subjected the model to jet-engine force winds to make sure it will hold? Just inside the glass shield is the building’s main promenade and grand staircase, and grand they are. The open aired promenade allmvs guests to appreciate the magnitude of the building and to bask in the art deco splendor of the historic downtmvn buildings that surround it. The Grand Staircase, raising from the ground level to the main bowl searing, offers event patrons a grand path to their seats, almost on a royal scale. The arena, which is being constructed with funds from the Vision 2025 bond issue, is on target for its grand opening August 30. The ribbon cutting and open house will be followed the next day by a community choir, starring Sand Springs native and Broadway performer Sam Harris. The first major act, The Eagles, will take the arena stage September 6, followed in the coming months by such acts as Celine Dion, American Idols Live, Kenny Chesney and Carrie Under~vood (just to nan~e a few). For event updates visit www.bokcenter.com. www.metrostarnews.com ~÷t~’oSTAR 3 Ok!ahomans for Equality opens new exhibit, Treegpeak, at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center TULSA, OK__ The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center art gallery will host it’s month~¢ First Thursdays Meet’the-artist Reception from 6- 9pro, Thursday, August 7, for the opening of its August exkibit TreeSpeak, featuring the,vorks ofphotographer Shelly Ledford, and painter Dawn DeMott. ~ne TreeSpeak Exhibit is being held specifically in August to acknowledge the Katrina events in New Orleans and to celebrate the rebirth of the city. The works in the exhibit will be New Orleans focttsed. Shelly Ledford is a native Tulsan and graduated from Northeastern State University with a degree in Literature. She has held a variety of photographic positions including staffphotographer for Newspaper Printing Corporation, MetLife and John Blanca Modeling agency and currently owns Renaissance Photography. In constant search for places xvhich vibrate a high level ofuniversal energy, her ~vork reflects areas such as New Orleans concentrating on the above ground cemeteries, swamps and bayous in and around New Orleans, Sedona, Italy, Greece, Austria, England and Indonesia. Quotable Quotes In a passionate address to the Democratic National Committee’s Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council, Mrs. Obama delivered a rottsing call-to-equality and put her husbas~d on record as a fighter for the full equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. "Barack believes," she said, "that we must fight for the world as it should be, a world where xve ,vork together to reverse discriminatory laws." Invoking "those who marched and bled and died, from Selma to Stonewall," Michelle implored Democrats to continue those early crusaders’ march "in the pursuit of a more perfect union." Sunday Services @ 11:00 AM m~’~ ].623 N. Maplewood Tulsa, OK MCC United A Metropolitan CommuniW Church www.mcctulga.org Expressions Community Fellowship Relocates OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) __ Expressions Community Fellowship ha~s relocated their facilities to the Landsbrook Event Center, formerly The Church of the Servant, 5909 NW Expressway, Otdahoma City, OK 73132. It is west of MacArthur on Northwest Expressway. "~e new facility has recently been remodeled and provides many new ~vonderful amenities as well as plenty of room to grow and launch our Children’s Ministr,,~’ said Pastor Neill Spurgin. The Church meets ever), Sunday at 2:30pm. For more information contact them at (405) 761-1878 or email expressionsokc@yahoo. com. DBAT Will Host DiversityJob Fair TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Diversity Business Association ofTulsa (DBAT), a program of Oklahomans for Equality, is hosting a Diversity Job Fair on Tuesday, September 16th from 1:00 to 5:00pm at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, 621 E. 4th Street in downtown Tulsa. The event will bring together lgbt job seekers and lgb{-friendly employers in a safe and comfortable environment, allowing for open dialogue and alleviating fears of discrimination. The Diversity Job Fair offers a unique opportunity for diversity-conscious employers to access the wealth of skilled and talented members of the lgbt community. Additionally, job seekers are given an unprecedented connection to companies that are lgbt-friendly. Employers are asked to have their area set up by 12:30pm the day of the event. DBAT will provide a table and t-wo chairs. Refreshments will also be provided. The Equality Center has wi-fi internet access. For more information or if your company is interested in participating in the job fair, contact Susan Hartman at dbat@okeq.org or call 918-698-2977. Congrattflations to the new Miss Gay Okdahoma America 2008, Adrienne Fischer and 1st Alternate Shantel Mandalay. Tulsa Couple to Marry In San Diego. Photo: Charles Johnston and Kelly Kirby TULSA, OK__ Kelly W’ayne Kirby and Charles Stanfill Johnston ofTulsa announced they will be legally married on Saturday, August 9, 2008. The wedding will take place at Point Loma Lighthouse Bluff, Cabrillo National Monument, in San Diego, California. Officiating will be Rev. Doctor David Downing, retired clergyman of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). David was one of Kelly’s youth pastors in Kansas when Kelly was a teenager. "Vge are taking five of our six kids (ages 21-26) and their significant others, my morn, and Kelly’s two sisters. Several friends are joining us in San Diego for the wedding’; Charles said. The couple will be staying at the Park Manor Suites Hotel, across the street from Balboa Park, and will host a reception there after the ceremony. " he Hot Young Hollywood Party" to benefit R.A.I.N. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) _The party ~vill be held at Angles OKC, August 8th and will include fashion shmvs by Riot Rocket and GLAMNERD. The highlight of the evening will be a continuous raffle ofluxury gifts *including a MARCJACOBS bag* donated by some of the hippest restaurants and shops in the metro. Keeping xvith the "Hollywood" theme we will have a red carpet and sponsor board for everyone to have their picture taken with. Our sponsors include; Tony Foss, Iguana, Velvet Monkey Two, 1492, Nova, Tom &Jerrys, Blue7, Duo.. "This event was nay idea of a great give back to this wonderful organization and its tireless stalk"; said Kendel R. Powers, producer of the fund-raiser. All proceeds from the event to benifit R.A.I.N. (Regional Aids Interfaith Network) 4 August 2008 Room Ra~es From A~About Our Su#es = High N~ wv,-~v.metrostamews.corn P~et~oSTAR 5 against you for campaign irregularities for 2004?" The comic book shows a couple discussing Rinehart’s trials and tribulations as an Oklahoma County Commissioner, how Rinehart strives to accomplish better roads and bridges, lower taxes, and promote family values but is thwarted by public officials supported by Satan. The comic books, which is sure to be a classic in the annals of political history for the GLBT community and Oklahoma, can be downloaded from http://do~vnloads.newsok. com/documents/rinehartcartoon.pdf Zhe purpose for publishing the 16-page book was to highlight his commitment to destroying the queers. ~q~en asked whether it’s relevant to his election, Rinehart insists that it is, because we are in a cultural war. When asked whether he’s homophobic, Rinehart played (real) dumb: I’m not even sure as to what homophobic means. But let’s just keep in mind that we are in a cultural war, not just here in the state of Oklahoma but nationwide." CNN journalist, John Roberts does not seem amused. You can tell when he does a little grammar check: "We should also point out that the word pedophile is spelled wrong in the two times that’s it’s used in this comic book". BRENT RINEHART: "OK. Again, it’s getting a message out. It’s telling a story" of hmv I got to where I’m at the last 3 to 3 1/2 years. No~a; no one has ever - now people can talk about the homosexual aspects of this in regards to how they’re depicted but no one has ever said anything about the truthfulness ofmy cartoon book. How it exposes Drew Edmondson for his true agenda, and how it exposes others here in county government for their true agenda. No one and you know, you can attack the spelling of pedophile. I have to be honest with you, I don’t necessarily care if I misspelled it or not", T!~e following are quotes from a few of our other elected officials. "It’s extremely pathetic and very bigoted." Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel ’Tve really encouraged him on more than one occasion to get professional help. He really, needs it". Oklahoma County Assessor Leonard Sullivan "It’s typical Rinehart subterfuge to detract from his poor job performance and likely criminal misdeeds". Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth Once again Oklahomans has been embarrassed by someone we elected to office. Will this newest outrage provoke us to seriously look at who we vote for? q-his election year will soon tell. We must take the time to evaluate a candidate’s ability to represent us and to support equality for all citizens of this state. Many are just not capable. CYNDI SHOWS COLOURS "Be sure and vote--your voice counts, and it’s more important who our ,p,resident is than who is our next American Idol. Cyndi Lauper. By Victor Gorin glndy Bell ofErasure and Cyndi Lauper at Oklahoma City True Colours Taut: OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ OnJune 23 the Pride Weekend in Oklahoma City was especially honored when the True Colours Tour came to the Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheater. Despite the high heat of the afternoon, the show rocked with opening act Girl in a Coma. The show then mellowed into disco heaven with the 80’S sounds ofAndy Bell ofErasure, bringing back nostalgic memories of nights past vcith some ofhis greatest tunes, "Blue Savannah," "A little Respect; and bringing many to their feet with his dance classic "Chains ofLove." Mr. Bell did a duet with Cyndi Lauper before music took an intermission ,vith comedienne Margaret Cho whose ba~vdy humor extolled what’s good about gay men and bad about the Bush administration. Then Joan Jett showed she still had her stuff, performing classics older than many ofthe young people dancing in the audience. V,rhen she lead community singing with her signature tune "I love Rock and Roll," ( a 1982 classic) there was no shortage of rockers who enthusiastically knew the words. This follmved with the B-52’s, the wildly fun icons ofthe 80’s ,vho got their name from a hairdo named after a bomber. The energy ran vdld as the audience raved to their timeless numbers including "Rock Lobster," "Private Idaho" "Roam" and course "Love Shack" which predictably brought the house dmvn. All ofthis vcas held together by the perfect emcee, Carson Kressley ( famous from television’s QEeer Eye for the Straight Guy) whose wisecracks (induding flirtations with the hunky security guards) witticisms and audience interaction kept the show rolling and lively between acts. Last but certainly not least was the dassy campy icon who epitomized an era, Cyndi Lauper, who not only has made her mark in music history but also as a gay rights activist. Opening with an electrified Statue ofLiberty torch and the song "Change of Heart," she went through her many hits, climaxing ofcourse with the timeless anthem’Girls just want to have Fun." OkEq Decries Anti-Gay Vandalism in East Tulsa TULSA, OK (PR), July 16th_Oklahomans for Equality deplores the vandalism directed at Robert Stoder, an openly gay resident of east Tulsa. Such intimidation highlights the urgent need for federal and state hate crimes legislation protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LBGT) people. Over the last week, anonymous vandals have twice attacked Stoder’s propert): The assailants set Stotler’s truck on fire and spray painted "Gay Must Go" on the charred vehicle. "No Oklahoman should be victimized because of his or her sexual orientation;’ asserts Freddy Owens, Executive Director ofOklahomans for EqualiD: "All of Oklahoma’s lesbian, gay; bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens should be free to live openly and safely. It is far past time that our state legislature amended our hate crimes la~vs to include the LGBT community:’ In 2006, the FBI reported 7,722 hate crimes across the US, a 7.8% increase over 2005. About halfwere due to racial hatred; 1,195 of the crimes - representing 15.5% - were due to bias against LGBT people. 79 of the hate crimes were reported in Oklahoma, but the state hate crimes law does not cover sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. Earlier this year, state lawmakers introduced four different bills attempting to strengthen and broaden the Oklahoma statute. None of the bills received a committee hearing. Oklahoma remains one of only 17 states whose hate crimes laws do not protect LGBT citizens. Las Vegas Nights and Lights! (aka- Drag Q een Bingo) Bingo like your mother never played.,. This annual event and fur~draiser for Our House Too will be held August 8th at the Cain’s Ballroom. Female impersonators will bring Las Vegas excitement for this, the fifth year, beginning at 8:00p.m. and ending at midnight. There will be glamorous costumes and prizes. A live auction ~vill be held and, of course, bingo! Female inapersonators will perform glittering numbers from Las Vegas shows to entertain the crowd. Our House Too is a nonprofit organization serving to eliminate the social isolation of people living with HIV and AIDS in the Tulsa area. In addition to providing monthly activities and holiday celebrations, Our House Too offers food baskets and a toiletry and household pantry. Tickets for Las Vegas Nights and Lights are $10 in advance or $15 at the door per person. For advanced ticket sales call 585-9552 or 698-9997. Directory ofLocal Animal Shelters Tulsa Shelter 918-669-6299 Broken Arrow 918-259-8311 OKC 405 297 3104 Muskogee 918 686 7297 Stillwater 405 372 0334 Coweta 918-486 2137 Siloam Springs 479 524 6535 Claremore 918 341 1260 Sand Springs 918 246 2543 Jenks 918 299 6311 Owasso 918-272-4965 Sapulpa 918 227 2722 Norman 405 321 6725 Collinsville 918 371 1000 Courtesy ofwwv.labrescue.net 6 ~®t~’oSTAR August 2008 Wockner News Service LI.& Senate votes to repeal HI¥ travel/immigration ban Key The U.S. Senate voted 80q6 on July 16 to repeal the nation’s ban on HIV-positive foreign visitors and immigrants. Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Gordon Smith, R-Ore., secured a provision to repeal the ban in the Senate’s legislation to reauthorize PEPFIMR, the President’s EmergenW Plan for AIDS Relief. The measure now moves to a House-Senate conference committee, then goes to President George "\g~. Bush, who is eager to see PEPFAR re-~\tnded. "We applaud the Senate l:or rejecting this unjust and sweeping policy that deems HIV-positive individuals inadmissible to the United States," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "We call on the leaders of the House and Senate to retain the Kerry-Smith provision in conference and ensure it is included in the fin!l legislation sent to the president’s desk." Schwarzenegger denounces effort to reban same-sex marriage California Gov. ArnoM Schwarzene~e,: Photo by Rex Wockner ABC, FX get high marks from GLAAD ABC and the FX cable network do the best job of representing gay Americans, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said July 14. GLAAD’s Network Responsibility Index tracks the quantity, quality and diversity of images of GLBT people on television. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has strongly denounced the attempt to amend the California Constitution to re-ban same-sex marriage. San Diego offers gaywedding sweepstakes The San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau is holding a contest to give away a six-day "dream vacation" to the city for a same-sex couple to get married. ~ae sweepstakes, which ends Aug. 1, is open to U.S. residents who are at least 25 years old. "’g~e’re celebrating the new laws allowing same-sex weddings in California," ConVis said on its ~’eb site. "Ever dreamed of being married in Paradise? In a short story, tell us why you should win the wedding vacation of your dreams in San Diego. The best story will win a trip that includes your marriage license, transportation, accommodations, dining and entertainment." "The HIV ban is ineffective, unnecessary, and Simply bad public health policy," said Rachel Tiven, executive director of Immigration Equality. "It is especially harmful to gay and lesbian families, who do not benefit from the waiver available to opposite’sex couples. The Senate’s change is welcome, and long overdue." PEPFAR will send $48 billion to Africa over the next five years to fight _AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., called the bill "the single most significant thing the president has done." Two policemen marry in Northern California Two male cops have gotten married in Northern California. Santa Rosa police officer Chris Mahurin, 25, and San ILafael police officer Alex Holm, 25, tied the knot June 20 at Paradise Ridge Winery in Santa Rosa. "It’s just a dream come true," Holm’s mother, Claire Ann Boyce, told the local Press Democrat newspaper. "It makes me feel like this generation is on its way to have what everyone should have." The state Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage May 15 and the weddings began on June 16. Appearing on TV’s Meet The Press on June 29, Schwarzenegger was asked: "You have a lot of propositions on the ballot again this fall. One of them wotfld mean a constitutional ban on gay marriages. Do you support that?" "No, not at all," Schwarzenegger replied. "As a matter of fact, I think the Supreme Court made a decision there. It was apparently unconstitutional to stop anyone from getting married. It’s like 1948, the interracial marriage, when the Supreme Court of California has, you know, decided it was unconstitutional and then later on the Supreme Court of the United States followed, I think 10 or ! 2 years later. So I tahink it is, it’s good that California lead -- is leading in this way." "I personally believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman," the governor added. "But at the same time I think that my, you know, belief, I don’t want to force on anyone else, so I think we should stay with the decision of the Supreme Court and move forward. There are so many other more important issues that we have to address in California. So I think to spend any time on this initiative I think is a waste of time." Desperate Housewives: Lane. ABCphoto ABC, wiffl shows like Brothers & Sisters, Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty, received the highest marks of the five broadcast networks. NBC and Fox scored lowest. Among 10 of the highest-rated cable channels, FX aired the largest number of GLBTinclusive hours of original programming, while TNT offered the fewest. GLAAD examined all primetime programming -- 4,911 hours -- on the five major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and The CW) from June 1, 2007, to May 31, 2008. The group also reviewed all original primetime programming -- 1,240 hours -- on the 10 cable networks. "Time and again we see that what people watch on TV shapes how they view and treat the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people around them," said GLAAD President Nell Giuliano. "ABC and FX are ... showing other networks that including images of our community can go hand in hand with critical and commercial success." At the beach in San Diegoi Photo by Rex tgockner The prize includes airline tickets; five nights at a plush hotel; dinners at five fancy restaurants; wine, cheese and chocolate tasting at an upscale venue; tickets to the renowned Old Globe Theatre; tickets to the GLBT Diversionary Theatre; "passports" to Balboa Park’s numerous museums; a massage at a swank spa; a wedding license; and tickets to Fashion Week. ~ae ceremony was conducted by gay state Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, chief sponsor of the same-sex marriage bill that t~vice passed the state Legislature only to be vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The California Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage May 15 and the ruling took effect June 16. It was not the first time Schwarzenegger had denounced the proposed amendment, but it was the first time he has done so on national television. Each of the 6,151 hours ofTV was reviewed for any on-screen GLBT representations, and networks were assigned a grade of excellent, good, adequate or failing. ABC and The CW rated good, with 24 percent and 21 percent of their primetime programming hours inclusive of GLBT representations. CBS rated adequate, with 9 percent. NBC and Fox .....continued Page-17 San Diego’s Balboa Park. Photo by Rex ~Vockner See www.sandiego.org/pridetobe ............More U. S. Nexvs page 17 www.rnetrostarnews.com ~÷troSTAR 7 Photo by: Bill Gaddis 0 More summer sipping. ~~ere in midsummer, I find that I am enjoying lighter meals with more white wines over reds. Lately, my favorites include a diverse variety from many parts of the world. It’s been so hot that all I wanna do is relax by the pool/s~vim & sip some wine. Here are some wines other than Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc that embody the laid backness ofsummer. Mandra Rossa Fiano/Sicilia 2006 The Fiano grape comes frora the island of Sicily, and, taken a gold medal at the International Wine Challenge 2007, this botde was named as ’Great Value White Wine of the Year; Here is a medium bodied wine ~vith a fresh, floral nose. "Ihe finish has a taste ofsucculent pear and ripe melons. Bongiovanni Arneis 2006 ItS hard to find sonaething that Piedmont produces in a xvhite wine that’s just as exceptional as those big Barolos and Barbarescos you read about all the time. However, one of the notable exceptions can be found in the white grape, Arneis. This wine comes from the Langhegrowing zone in Piedmont. Bright pear flavors are the hallmark ofthis wine. Zeveri Muller Thurgau 2006 This is a 100% Muller Thurgau from Trentino’s Valle di Cerebra district in Northern Italy. The fruit is sourced from five single vineyards. The grapes are gently crushed and then macerated at cold temperatures. This is a wine of finesse, Sineann Pinot Gris 2007 and elegance. At the palate it’s Sharp ~ Torbreck VCoodcutter’s Semillon great finish oflight spices 2007 will become even years ofageing. C- Ken Forrester Petit Chenin Blanc 2007 Dr. Loosen Riesling ~ 0 Michd ~d Vouvray This lighdy sweet, low-alc6h 8 5 percent) " _ !--ln~o as al"ways, ~I :say ~o to vour ~avorl" te wl"ne Dr. Loosen Bros. German RJ , ngf~om Mo, shop, ask~ti0n~~’nd p(,rchase a bottle or Saar-Ruwer is ideal for casual mmmertime two:~laare[some t~oo.a ~.wi.ne w.ir.e rr.leno.s a.no quaffing. This wine has a creamy texture with : cnecac tins out for yourself. flavors ofhoney, apples, peaches;aa~,d miner,s. Pair with spicy grilled chicken or ~’i food[ [ St. Amant Verdelho2005 This exotic Portuguese white varietal is a new D’ wine for this California vineyard. It’s a full bodied wine that shmvs tropical fruit flavors that This writer also bar tends and hosts wine & really come alive on your palate. ;" WfooindeeEvennthtsuksinaoswtsnoifnTtuolswan. as the Garci Grande Verdejo 2006 F ..... References include: the ~IBC’s ofwine byJames Laube/www. tom me l~ueoa region m ~pam, tins wine , shows a crisp green apples flavor/a must for www.FoodandV~ne.com serious smnmer sipping. " "Www.Wikipedia.org I~O~ ’ With Donald This months recipe courtew Phoenix, Arizona *One ofthe many desserts at the restaurant" Ingredients: The Pesto: 1/2 bunch ofbasil (leaves only) 1/3 cup ex. Virgin olive oil Handfifl offresh pinoli nuts 1/4 cnp grated Parmigiana (Reggiana or Granaonly) 1 dove garlic smashed pinch ofsalt Pasta: (~ recommend fresh pasta only) ~OW gO: In a processor, place the basil, parmigiana and clove ofgarlic. Turn on the processor and slowly drizzle in the oil. Add the pinoli nuts and dash ofsalt. qqae paste should be creamy but never add too much oil ! In a 4 quart pot, boil the water for the pasta, (112 lg. for 2 persons max.) When the water boils, add 3 tal~lespoons ofsalt (preferably kosher.) Add the pa~’ta. If fresh, 2 *:ninutes will do. If you cannot find fresh pasta, dry pasta should take approximately 8 minutes. ~ou do NOT want to eat overcooked pasta. ~A1 dente," is the only way to enjoy it. Reserve about an 1/8 ofthe pasta xvater to add while tossing your pastawith the pesto sauce. Hint: Never add more oil - it doesn’t work. MACEDONIA CON LIMONE E ZUCCHERO (Fresh fruit salad With lemon juice, sugar and fresh mint) Ingredients: Berries are a good choice. Strawberries, blueberries, black and raspberries will always ~narry~vell. Melons, pears and app!es vary texture and release flavors that don t blend well with berries in this dish. Freshly squeeze 2 lemons and add 2 Tablespoons ofsugar and wisk together. Blend and toss with the berries, place in a dessert cup and garnish with fresh mint. 8 ~e~ ~oSTAR August 2008 Police stop first Cuban gay pride march Police in Havana stopped Cuba’s first gay pride parade before it could start June 25. But the details of what exactly took place are far fi’om clear. Reports from activists in Miami said the organizers were beaten and arrested around 10 a.m. as they arrived at Don Quixote Park at 23rd and J streets in the Vedado neighborhood. Fort Lauderdale’s Sun-Sentinel newspaper, however, said the march was canceled just before its start time by activist Mario Josd Delgado Gonz~itez, who appeared at the park to report that two other organizers had been arrested a day earlier. The Miami Herald, on the other hand, reported that nine organizers were detained the morning of the march, effectively aborting the event. The Spanish H-/eb site cubaencuentro.com quoted Delgado as saying: "Cuban homosexuals are victims of repression, we don’t enjoy rights. HA~at we are doing has as its objective the reclaiming of our rights. \re want equality of opportunity, equality of assembly, and that they dont expel its from parks, university centers, schools and work centers." With a theme of"You are not alone," the group had planned to walk to the Ministry of Justice and deliver demands to the government. They sought an end tO ~nti-gay violence and repression, an apology for the government’s having incarcerated gays in work camps decades ago, acknowledgment that gays have been fired because of their sexuality, and a review of cases where homosexuals have been jailed for an offense apparently known as "dangerous levels." At the march’s end, the group planned to proceed to a diplomatic residence to hold a press conference and stage a concert. Prior to the aborted mar&, Havana gay activist Aliomar Janjaque had told the Sun-Sentinel: "H/e want to raise awareness but we don’t want to provoke a wave of repression against the gay community. If there is a hostile reaction from the government, we will stage a much larger demonstration. "We will take to the streets." \[he Herald report said Janjaque was one of the individuals detained before the parade’s start. Wockner News Service Boy George banned from the U.S. The United States has refused to give British gay singer Boy George a visa to enter the country because he faces trial in Britain for allegedly chaining a male escort to a wall in his apartment. George had planned a summer U.S. tour and also hoped to perform a free concert for New York City’s Department of Sanitation, where he worked cleaning streets in 2006 as punishment for a drug offense. George has pleaded not guilty in the ongoing British case. Gays march in 3 Indian cities Lambda Istanbul eradicated by court Istanbul’s Beyoglu Court of First Instance has formally eradicated the gay group Lambda Istanbul, saying its existence contravened societal norms of morality and decency. Issuing its opinion this month in a case it decided in May, the court declared: "While members of the association are, as men and women, subject to Article 10 of the Constitution, which states that all persons are equal before the law; since there are no constitutional regulations regarding any other gender identity besides man and woman, forraing an association based solely on sexual orientation and gender identity is against the essence and the spirit of this Article, and the concept of equality aimed by it." The court continued: "It is observed that encouragement and propaganda, in all levels of the society, of the sexual orientation of the members of the association through organizing instructive programs are predominant in the association’s aims, and that these activities are likely to bring about a tyranny of a minority over the majority, which is against legal and constitutional regulations, and that this would jeopardize the rights and freedom of the family and children, as mentioned in Article 41 of the Constitution, and the rights and the freedom of the youth, as mentioned in Article 58 of the Constitution." The court proceeded to "dissolve" Lambda Istanbul, saying the European Convention on Human Rights allows obstruction of the right to association "to protect public morality and others’ freedom." The court also found that Lambda’s bylaws contravened a Turkish law that states, "No association may be founded for unlawful or immoral purposes." Lambda Istanbul has been in existence since 1993 and had been officially registered for two years. The group has continued to operate since the ruling and is appealing the decision to the Court of Cassation. Some ZOO0 GLBTpeople stagedpride marches in the Indian cities ofCalcutta, Bangalore and Delhifi~ne 29 -- thefirst such parades in the latter two cities. Delhiphoto by Sonali ~Gulati via Woc]ener ~Vews Some 2,000 GLBT people staged pride marches in the Indian cities of Calcutta, Bangalore and Delhi June 29 -- the first such parades in the latter two cities. About 500 people marched in Calcutta, 700 in the high-tech city of Bangalore and about 800 in Delhi. "When the pride started (in Delhi), there were about 100 people and it looked like we were outnumbered by the media and the police," said correspondent Vikram Doctor. "By the time we started (marching), though ... more and more people were coming along and getting attached to the end. I was walking back and forth, trying to help with media requests, and I got a sense of how large it was growing ~vhen I realized in addition to the main group carrying the flag upfront, there was a second large group behind with placards and doing dances -- and then a really large group of stragglers behind." Calcuttgs seventh parade focused heavily on Section 377, the Indian law that bans gay sex under penalty of up to 10 years in prison. A court case, now at a crucial phase, could see the law "read down" so it no longer applies to consensual adult gay sex. support from different stakeholders, media included, in their struggle to be free from discrimination, receive respect from all sections of society, and function as equal participants in a progressive and democratic India," organizers said at the parade’s conclusion. The Queer Media Collective issued a statement saying that GLBT people in India today find themselves at about the same point U~S. gays were when the first pride parades began in 1970. "LGBT people face a lot of harassment from the police," the group said. "Lesbians are subject to violence and even forced to commit suicide by their families. Gay men are blacks-nailed by organized rackets that involve members of the police. Bisexuals are denied the chance to express same-sex love and forced into opposite-sex marriages. Transgenders are routinely arrested and raped by the police. Same-sex couples who have lived together for years cannot buy a house together, have a joint bank account or will their property to each other without being challenged by their families .... Today in 2008, Queer Pride goes national as a sign that the time for national change has come." "India continues to stigmatize its transgender, kothi, hijra, gay, lesbian, bisexual and other communities of marginalized sexualities and genders," organizers said. "Section 377 ... encroaches upon a person’s democratic rights, goes against the spirit of the Indian Constitution and impedes life-saving sexual health work among sexual minorities." The parade was part of Rainbow Pride W’eek, which also featured movies, a photo exhibit, a panel discussion and a candlelight memorial for people lost to anti-gay abuse or HIV. "Clearly, Indian sexual minorities are not going to settle for status quo and are garnering Czech pride attacked, 20 injured The Czech Republic’s first gay pride parade, held in the city of Brno, came under attack from extremist and neo-Nazi protesters June 28 and at least 20 of the 500 marchers xvere injured. The 150 counterdemonstrators threw tear gas, fireworks and eggs at the marchers. Police and neo-Nazis clashed for about 45 minutes at the parade’s endpoint. About 15 of the troublemakers were arrested. www.metrostarnews.com g~®troSTAR 9 Oklahoma City GLBT community and their friends celebrated their annual Pride Parade and Festival, truly. By Victor Gorin OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Once again the GLBT community and their friends celebrated their annual Pride Parade and Festival truly, as the theme stated, "Coming ofAge." Paul q’hompson recalled how it began 21 years ago, planned by around a dozen people, not knowing ifany more people would actually show up. q-he Ku Klux Klan had threatened to show up however, ready to meet the Parade by the N.W. 39th Street Safeway (now Homeland) with hostile confrontation. As the original marchers still nostalgically recall, when the Klansmen saw around 400 marchers coming over the hill they promptly abandoned their mission and the rest is ongoing history. Photo by Victor Gorin: Michael Cich ofOKCPride withJoe Salmonese, Director of the nationalHuman Rights Campaign with hispartner BradLuna As soon as the festivities are over, planning for the next Parade and Festival begins. OKC Pride meetings take place the third Monday ofevery month year round at 7 p.m. at the Neighborhood Alliance Center (1236 N.W. 36th Street). Membership dues to join OKC Pride are only $15 per year, which not only supports the event but also gives you a vote in the organization. At the August 18 meetingOKC Pride members will elect the Board ofDirectors, which in turn will elect officers. Although the OKC Pride Parade & Festival is a wonderful celebration for our community, inevitably there are aspects ofit that some won’t like, or improvements that could be made. As Patti Thompson puts it. "The best way to implement the changes you want to see is through participation. Ifyou have ideas, things you’d like to change, things you liked that you want to stay the same, this is the time to come forward and let us know. We are open to all suggestions: OKC Pride is for the community, and it’s what we make it. (Photo’s Page- 12) Back to School Stylings ByJoey De TULSA, OK__ On August 4, one Tulsa salon will open its doors and help area youth begin their new school year in style. Monkey Bizness, located at 5942 S. Lewis, is offering complimentary hair cuts to the students ofnearby Wright Elementary, as well as to all area BLGT students. The back to school day ofbeauty was the idea ofMonkey Bizness stylist David Mitchell and friend Debbie Mayabb. "We wanted to do something to help BLGT youth, but the more we thought about it, the more we realized that we could so much more; says Mayabb. "Every kid deserves a good start to the school year. It doesn’t matter who they are or what they are." But over the last 21 years as the world, America and Oklahoma have changed, so has the Pride Festival and Parade. Whereas during the first few years politicians were scared to even acknowledge the event in a positive way, later public office holders and wannabes proudly participate, glad to seek our votes. This year’s Parade & Festival featured Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth, State Representative A1 McAffrey, State Senator Audrew Rice (seeking a U.S. Senate seat), Ron Marlett who is seeking to unseat the infamous Sally Kern in State House District 84. Whereas in the beginning only bars, a few small gay owned businesses and extremely progressive nonprofits wanted to be associated with us, today mainstream businesses ranging from Budlight to Best Buy were proud to seek our business. As it has grown consistendy year after year, it has become an event not only for our community but also takes its place among Oklahoma City’s mainstream events. Whereas in the beginning it was only positively covered in the Gayly Oklahoman, this year’s celebration was positively covered by the Sentinel, the Oklahoma Gazette, and even the Daily Oklahoman. For the first time the Parade was held on a Friday evening with the biggest crowd ever, follo~ved by the Festival in Memorial Park the following Saturday and Sunday. As the Pride Festival and Parade has gro~vn to be an event the community celebrates and counts on, so have the responsibilities ofmaking it happen. The event is organized by OKC Pride, an organization with members who elect a Board ofDirectors, who then elect a President (currently Paul Thompson) Vice- President (office vacant)a Secretary (currently Victor Gorin) and a Treasurer (Currently Patricia Miller). What truly makes it come to life are the volunteers who toil long hours to make it happen, something most spectators have no concept ofand take for granted. For the first time OKC Pride had a Volunteer Coordinator, Miles Tompkins. While last year OKC Pride had around 20 volunteers, this year we had over 60, with a high percentage of those new volunteers young people (under 30), (Photo : co~munity volunteer and David ofMonkey "The for the haircuts just came to us one day; ex- "We approached Trish, the manager ofthe salon, and she loved the idea. When we asked all ofthe stylists, the support could not have been more overwhelming:’ Mitchell says that every Monkey Business stylist will be volunteering their day off to help, free ofcharge. "There are so many distractions for so many young people; says Mayabb, "everyone here wants to help give these kids that extra boost to succeed. It’s special for them to be able to come in to a salon ofthis caliber and be taken care ofby the best.’ Mayabb explains, listing offawards and recognitions that the salon’s team have won, including an Emmy won by Mitchell. The t~vo say that they worked with one ofMitchell’s clients, a TPS principal, to identify nearby Wright Elementary as the beneficiary due to economic status ofits students and proximity to the salon. The salon will also be reaching out to BLGT students through Youth Services ofTulsa and DYLN. Haircuts will be offered from 10am until 4pm. All students will have to bring an item proving they are enrolled in school. The salon has also invited their clients, and the rest ofthe public, to become involved with the effort through their "outfit-tree." They are currendy seeking donations ofbasic school supplies and backpacks to equip students for the first day ofschool. Ifyou would like to help, contact Monkey Biziness at (918)749-5130 or visit them on ,~wv.360.tulsa.com under the beauty section. 10 ~t~oSTAR August 2008 celebrate our 25th anniversary pride celebration. For more information & travel deals, visit wxcw.metrostarnews.com [~etroSTAR 11 12 ~en banded together to,r.aisemoney for Under the direction of OYP S Mama Carol this Con~ert was held atthe Tulsa, OK. Oklahoma Fdends of August2008 @ Showtime 2qse RoyalNavy marchingm LondonsgaypmdeparadeJuly 5. ScotsGayphOm via ~ockner News Halfa million at London Pride Around halfa million people turned out for London’s gay pride parade July 5, led by Mayor Boris Johnson, who wore a pink cowboy hat. Members of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force marched in uniform. The Ministry of Defence offered free travel for servicemembers who wanted to attend the parade. Well-known activist Peter Tatchell carried a poster with a doctored, gayed-up photo of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. ~madme~ad leads a regime that arrests, jails; flogs, tortures and sometimes executes gay people," Tatchell said. MP Harriet Harman, minister of equality and deputy leader of the Labour Party, reportedly was booed as she spoke from die main stage at Trafalgar Square. Tatchell said the crowd was unhappy over the UK’s treatment of gay asylum-seekers from homophobic nations. Prior to the parade, Prime Minister Gordon Brown met with activists, including actor Sir Ian McKellen0 at his residence. They discussed homophobic bullying in schools, and Browds spokesman said he was "delighted" to have met with the group. Italian gay man wins 100,000 euros for discrimination A gay man on the island of Sicily won 100,000 euros (US$159,000) from the Italian governmentJuly 12 after the military and the Transport Ministry discriminated against him. Danilo Giuffrida came out as gay during his military medical exam. Doctors later relayed his coming-out to driver’s-license officials, who then accused him ofhaving a sexual identity disturbance, told him to retake his driving test and, when he passed it, gave him a one-year disabled-person’s license instead ofthe normal 10-year license. A court determined the events amounted to "sexual discrimination" and were unconstitutional. It is likely the first ruling ofits sort in Italian history. "Discrimination against those in the army who are lesbian, gay and bisexual does not give them a chance to contribute or to play a full part in the teams that are vital for our success on operations;’ said Gem Richard Dannatt, chief ofthe General Staff. "It is ... our absolute duty to treat our fellow soldiers as vce would wish to be treated ourselves." Britain banned gays from the military until 2000. The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force are already members ofthe Stonewall program. British Armyjoins gayequality program The British Army has joined the gay group Stonewall’s Diversity Champions program to work toward increased equality for gay and bisexual soldiers. Some 120,O00people turned outfar Henna’s~ 13th gayprideparadeJuly, 12. www.metrostarnews.com ~4®troSTAR 13 by Donald Pile and Ray Williams PHOENIX, ARIZONA ’~b~zona Sunburst Inn After leaving ~Zest Hollywood we drove to Phoenix where the weather was HOT. In the daytime it was 115 but at night it cooled down to around 110! We checked in to the ARIZONA SUNBURST INN which,aas sold about a year and a halfago and Tim andJames have remodeled and really changed the decor and ambiance. Tney have done a vconderful job. Both Tim and James are great hosts and they make you at home. The room furniture is very masculine. Since they have taken over they have had many guests that have returned several times. All rooms face the swimming po61 and they also have a Jacuzzi. A morning breakfast is ready whenever you want it. They have VflFI for guests and a public computer for those who forgot t° bring their lap top. They are located at 6245 North 12th Place, ideally located to all of the major gay bars and businesses. Check out their ~vebsite at: www.azsunburst.com. Their toll free nmnber is 1-800 -974-1474. They offer clothing optional stmbathing, swimruing and spa. This is the ONLY place to stay when visiting PhoenLx. There are dozens and dozens of restaurants to dine in Phoenix but our favorites are Marcellint Pdstorante which has tO be one ofthe finest Italian Restaurants that ~ve have had the pleasure of dining. They are located at !301 Northern Avenue. Their website is: ~wv.marcellinoristorante. com..Ifyou want true Italian coo~ng in an exciting atmosphere with servers who are the best then dine there. Tne mvners, Sirna and Marcellino Verzino are as good as it gets. Marcellino is the chef and his "beyond Fabulous" wife Sima is the "hostess who really is the mostess’! The combination of these two people are magic! Call for reservations: 602.- 216-0004. For a real dining experience we just can’t recommend dais restaurant enough. You can’t dine at the same restaurant every day so try TICOZ at 5114 North 7th Street. To say that it is wonderfifl is an understatement. ChefHolly creates the finest entrees and desserts ever. It has a great ambiance, wonderful service and their food presentation is as good as it gets. They have a huge following and we can certainly understand why! They have a great Saturday and Sunday Brunch special and the restaurant is always packed. They make some ofthe finest drinks in the city. Check out their website at www.ticozofarizona.com. For reservations call 602-200-0160. Be SURE and save room for dessert. Trust us on this one. They are totally beyond Fabulous! They also mvn another restaurant not too far away, SWITCH, 2603 North Central and their website is www. switchofarizona.com and they serve wonderful food there as well. There are a lot ofgay bars in Phoenix for vchatever you are into. Favorite bars includes Charlies (the cowboy bar), Amsterdam, downtown, Cell Block, the leather bar, Oz, Wild Card, and we particularly enjoyed the KoBalt at Park Central ~vhich has a piano bar sometimes. Phoenix is the largest city (area wise) in the country so you certainly need a car to get around town. There are a lot ofneighborhood bars around the city besides the large bars. They also have a couple of bath houses, the FLEX and the CHUTE. Most ofthe bars are located between 7th Avenue and 16th Street near Central Avenue. ~Ihe best place to find any bar or business in Phoenix is in the ARIZONA PRIDE GUIDE, vc~vw.arizonaprideguide.com. This informative guide is free and tells about the entire state of Arizona. It is distributed free all over the State or you can have them send you one.Just check out their website. The publisher Michael McFall has done a absolutely great job. It is the finest gay guide in any state that we have ever seen. There are a lot ofwonderful museums, galleries and shopping in the Phoenix area. Antique Marketplace is located at 4025 North 16th Street and sells a wide range ofantiques. Next door is the Root Seller Gallery 8: Apothecary that sells a large variety of artwork, books, cards, herbs, music and more. The arts are alive and well in Phoenix and there are a lot oflive theatre, and musical productions. Phoenix is surrounded by maW suburban cities and our favorite is TEMPE. tt is the home of Arizona State University and is one of the most progressive cities in the nation. Check out their website at: vibranttempe.com and click on GLBT TEMPE. Michael Martin and Nancy Black at the Convention and Visitors Bureau are two of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. Their revitalized downtown is so vibrant. Phoenix is a very friendly city and you are sure to make lots ofnew friends. Other websites to check out be~bre visiting Phoenix are: ¯aw~a~.gayarizona.com, w,a-,v.arizonaguide.com and w~avisitphoenix.com. The major gay publication is Echo, xwvw:echomag.com Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! CALIFORNIA MARRIAGE LICENSE INFORMATION By Donald Pile and Ray Williams Donald and Ray were legally married in Palm Springs, California, June 17th which was the first day that same-sex marriage became legal in California. "Ihey have been a gay couple for 37 years) As ofJune 17, 2008 the marriage laws in California were changed to allow same-sex couples to marry as well as heterosexual couples. There is no difference in the forms with the exception that in the same-sex marriage forms, they list "Party A" and "Party B" rather than bride and gr0bm. You can apply for a marriage license at nearly dl the county court houses in the state. A couple of counties have refused to marry same-sex couples and they are not allowed to marry heterosexual couples as well. A special note: For same-sex couples to be married in the State of Massachusetts, they have to be legal residents of that state. In California, there is NO residency requirement. Anybody from any state in the country can now be married legally in California. What you need... Both parties must provide valid photo ID If your ID does not contain your full legal name you must provide a certified copy of your birth certificate or a Social Security card. Otherwise, a driver’s license is sufficient for proof. If you have been divorced within the last two years you must bring in a certified copy of your divorce decree. Both parties must appear to apply for and pick up their marriage license. Different counties xvithin the State of California charge different prices and they vary from $55.00 to $70.00. They accept cash and debit cards only. The license is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. The license is typed tip and given to you in about 30 minutes. Should you desire to get married right there, they offer a civil marriage ceremony right at the court house. Naere is a fee of $35.00~ You are taken into a private room and the clerk as well as a wimess that they will provide in case you. don’t take some with you goes thru the marriage ceremony. The ending remarks are "In as much as Donald and Raymond have thus consented together in marriage, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the State of California as a Deputy Comrnissioner of Civil Marriages for the County of l~verside, I now pronounce you to be united in marriage. "AND TRUST US, IT JUST DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT MOMENT! After 37 years together, dais was one of the finest sentences that we have ever heard! You do not need a blood test or health certificate. There is no waiting period to get married. The entire process from start to finish takes less than one hour. Some couples prefer to get the license and then plan a wedding afterwards in a few days. Eight states allow same-sex marriage alternatives: In Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Vermont, same-sex couples can enter civil unions and receive the same statelevel benefits and responsibilities conveyed in traditional marriages. Similarly, Oregon residents can register as domestic partners and receive all state marital rights. Couples in Hawaii, Maine and Washington state can register as domestic partners and receive many of the most important marital rights. Suggestion: Don’t fly out for the weekend expecting to get married. The Court Houses are open Monday thru Friday only. 14 NetroSTAR August 2008 EUREKA SPRINGS SUMMER ,E,UREKA SPRINGS, AR;__ Eureka Springs is gearing up for its Summer Diversty Festivel to be held August 1,2,3, 2008 ~vith many events, shows and pool parties planned, including the now famous PDA in die park, where all persons are invited to show "Public Display ofAffection" for their spouse or partner. Eureka Springs welcomed its 200th gay couple (Visiting from Chicago) to register under the domestic partnership registration law. History was made on May 14, 2007 when the Eureka Springs City Council unanimously approved the "Domestic Partner Registration (DPR). Although the document does not entitle couples legal benefits as in a marriage, it does act as a wonderful validation and acknowledgement oftheir relationship and commitment to each other. This was a first for Arkansas and hopefully, will inspire other registries throughout the state and beyond. Persons from anT0¢here may register in Eureka Springs.’ Visit www.diversitypride.com or ww~v.eurekapride.com for more information. AUg 1, 2008: Welcome Mixer at Marquee’s 7 - 9 PM (open for dinner 4 - 10pm) Aug 1, 08: Miranda Ray Performs at Jaek’s Place 10:00 PM Aug 1, 08: Miranda Meridian Performs at Lumberyard 8:00 PM Aug 1, 08: Diversity Bikers Brunch & Fun Run. Iron Horse Stables at 10 AM then ride to the PDA Aug 2, 08: PDA in Basin Park 12 Noon Aug 2, 08: Bear Pool Party. 1 PM - ? at Tradewinds Aug 2, 08: Diversity Bikers Raid the Pool Party & Fun Run starting at Planner Hill Parking Lot 3:30 - 5 PM Aug 2, 08: Miranda Ray Performs at Jack’s Place 10:00 PM Aug 2, 08: Miranda Meridian Performs at Lmnberyard 8:00 PM ALSO: Aug 1-2, 08: Yards & Yards ofYard Sales Aug 3, 08: Lucky 13 Cinema: Double feature "Across the Universe" & "Wizard ofOz", music of"Dark Side ofthe Moon" www.metrostarnews.com NetroSTAR 15 The Ledo, Oklahoma City @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa @Angles, Oklahoma City The Copa, Oklahoma City @Club Majestic, Tulsa @ Finishline, Oklahoma City by Jack Fertig AUGUST 2008 "Keep your balance, Aries!" The most troublesome planets are stirring up discord - Mars opposing Uranus, Mercury opposing Neptune. Looking to Eris for the best aspects is like borrowing sugar from Lucrezia Borgia! With everyone shooting their mouths off and facts getting jumbled, focus on careful listening and discernment. ARIES (March 20 -April 19): Struggles at work might make you feel you’re on the wrong team. What’s easier to change - your job or your attitude? Time out, playful relaxation, and self-care (massage? acupuncture?) are needed to keep your balance. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): A~guments at home need to be settled to avoid tension that can screw you up at work. Friends who want to play may keep you from what you really find entertaining and relaxing. Take time at home to contemplate your goals in work and in life. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): You probably can’t avoid arguments this week, but you canopick and choose them. Remember the simple, obvious rules: logic has nothing tO do with religion or sex; authorities should be criticized with extreme diplomacy and care; and friends who will forgive anything are the best to hang with! CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Arguments about sex can come up easily, especially if you’re unclear about what you really want. You need some guidance, a new philosophical or spiritual perspective. Explore those intangibles, and the touchy-feely will be easier to work out. LEO (July 23 - August 22): Your partner (or Jack of one) seems especially aggravating now, and your sexual needs are not being propedy met - probably because you are at some level reassessing them. A good political argument may somehow kick your priorities and Needs into better focus. ......... VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Make a list of your worries. Cross off the ones you can’t do anything about, then list the steps you can take to deal with the others. A partner’s input may be helpful. An amorous retreat will be even more so. .... LIBRA (September 23 - October 22):.Nob0d~ else will fix what’s bothering you, so what ape _you_ doing about it? Big as some problems are, you can make a difference! You could even bring friends into a volunteer effort as if it were a social event. SCORPIO ((~ctober 23 - November 21): "(our playful jabs at social critique can get you a reputation. Will hosts send you invitations due to real affection or out of self-defense? Focus that acuity on working more effectively, and you could accomplish a lot! SAGITTARIUS (Nov.ember 22 - December 20): Arguments aren’t as likely to show that you’re right as much as that you insist on "being right." A little humility and listening can go a long way. Better yet, playful word games are preferable to serious debate. CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Arguments about sex, sexuality, and gender issues can easily get out of hand. If you must react as if your mother’s honor were at stake, think of how she’d want you to be civil in your debate. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Sexual values and tastes change with age and experience. Although that’s normal, staying in sync with your partner may be the big challenge! Communication is always the key. Be open to exploring differences as well as common ground. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Your ideas for improvements at work are, um, intriguing. Discuss them with a colleague or two, allowing that they may be a bit off the wall. Still, they could be the seeds of much better ideas. Focus on efficiency and economy. 16 MetroSTAR ,, August 2008 Massachusetts may OK marriage for out-ofstarers Massachusetts’ legislature is considering repeal oi:a 1913 law that prohibits people from other states from getting married there if the marriage wouldn’t be allowed where they live. ’The law -- which stopped interracial couples who couldn’t marry in their own states t~¥om n~arrying in Massachusetts -- was resurrected aider Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage in 2004. ~e speaker of the House, the president ofth~ Senate and Gov. Deva! Patrick all support the law’s repeal. U2S. Census Bureau won’t count married gays ~ae U.S. government will not count married gay couples in the 2010 censtts, the San Jose Mercury News reported July 12. Brot,~ers &Sismrs actors Matthew Rhys (who plays gay character Kevin Walker) and Sally Field. GLAAD photo repre.sentations. Lifetime and MTV ranked adequate. A&E, Spike, TBS, TNT m~d USA received failing grades. The ful! report is at glaad.org/media/nri/ NRI_2008.pdf. Instead, same-sex couples who accurately report that they are married will have their response tabulated by the Census Bureau as if they had checked "unmarried partners." Same-sex marriage is legal in California and Massachuset:tS[ in addition, New Yorkers who m~r~ in those states or abroad are recognized as married in New York state. ~ae Mercury News said the Census Bureau’s decision was based on the federal Defense of i~{arriage Act (DOMA) "and other mandates." DOMA, signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996, states, in part: "In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word ’marriage’ means only a leg~d union between one man and one woman ,as husband and wife, and the word ’spouse’ refers only to a person of the opposite sex ~vho is a husband or a wife." Gary Gates of the Williams Institute, a think tank at the University of California Los Angeles Law School, told the newspaper that the bureau’s decision "goes against everything the census stands fo,:" "It’s a systematic hiding not only of married gay couples, but gay couples as families, which I would argue is a fundamentally political decision," Gates said. received failing grades for their 6 percent and 4 percent of programming hours with GLBT images. Of the 10 cable networks evaluated, FX, HBO and Showtime each received a grade of good, with FX leading with 45 percent of programming hours featuring GLBT "Barack believes that ,ve must fight for a world as it should be. A ,vorld where together we work to reverse discriminatory laws like D.O.M.A. (Defense of Marriage Act) and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell," Mrs. Obama said, addressing an audience of 250 people at a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee. METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve T. Uric Spirit of Christ MCC 2902 E 2® Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Saturdays at t0:00 AM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC 0fthe Living Spring t7 Elk Street Eureka Spdngs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! ~Transsexnal Richards www.metrostarnews.com ~et~oSTAR 17 \ KiNG OF MASSAGE GFeBt Touch Man to Man F.tl Body Massage 2 hands or 4 hands available out calls (405) Keller Williams Realty Chuck Breckenridge Now Hiring Male & Female Creating Community for People ~iving H~V/A~DS 50’I c (3) No~: P~ofit ()rgaaizafion Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are HtV+ and or living with AiDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone who ¯~/ould like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail hardsmmjr@yahoo.com. ~rhether buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. Freelance Reporters Needed For Oklahoma City, Tulsa and all area’s Qualifications to stamews@sbcglobal.net or mail to: The Star, PO Box 581718 Tulsa, OK 74158 Metro Star Chssfieds 2" square ON SALE! for as litde as $33 per issue. Email: starnews@sbcglobal.net offer good until 8/16/08 918.835.7887 SAVE & FILL YOURPIGGY [] [] grWW.METROSTARNEWS.COM 18 www.rnetr0starnews.c0m Support those who support us. Their ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you. OPENARMS YOUTH PROJECT DOWNTOWN PLAZA ofTULSA 17 West 7th Street Tulsa, OK 918-585-5898 www:downtownplazatulsa.com HABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 ~v.~vw.habanainn.com KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant ANGLES 21!7 NW 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK vavw.anglesclub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 wv~#abambooloungetulsa.com CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 wvw.dubmajestictulsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 NxY-/- 39TH EXPRESSWAY Otdahoma City, OK 405-525-{3730 xwvw.habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESS"gAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.corn HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV!STD Hotline SPIPdT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM MCC of the LIVING SPRING !7 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pro MCC UNITED 1623 N. Maplewood, Tulsa, OK 9t8-838-1715 www.mcctutsa.org www.metrostarnews.com 2015 -B S. Lakewood Tulsa, OK 74112 918-838-7104 www. openarmsproject.org OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 KING OF MASSAGE In or Out Calls Oldahoma City, OK 405-314-3898 JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 N\V EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 www.c21 goldcastle,com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller vvrilliams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: w~,av. gaybradyheightstulsa.com GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn DALLAS CVB Dallas, TX www.glbtdallas.com L N÷troSTAR 19 Advertisement paid for by friends OfRon Marlett. OKLAHO ESE "I’m Ron Marlett and I’m running for State House District 84 because I want a chance to bring about change that really matters for my fellow Oklahomans: good jobs, affordable healthcare, a quality educational system and real freedom and equality." I NEED YOUR HELP TO WIN THIS ELECTION, WE CAN NIAKE ~T HAPPEN! need money and volunteers! Ron Marlett P.O. Box 854 Bethany, OK 73008 (405) 640-2069 www.ronmarlettforhousedistrict84.com Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2008] Metro Star Magazine, August 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 8 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource August 01, 2008 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Metro Star’s first issue began in August of 2008. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004), The Ozark’s Star (2004), and The Star (2005). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd; Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Greg Steele James Nimmo Joey D. Victor Gorin Rex Wockneer Romeo San Vicente Andrew Collins Donald Pile Ronald Blake Ray Williams Jack Fertig Devre Jackson Chaz Ward Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online text Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwestern Missouri Western Arkansas Southeastern Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Star Magazine, July 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 7 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/247 The Metro Star, September 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 9 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/201 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/198 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/2698e69563dac442975726fa3ccdc324.jpg 91080cec75c4608c9092062fd36d7424 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/db0ee4c2ed6d12764a885c1600e0ad76.pdf 7d031eefaacd3f2b0159c6bb31da4c3d PDF Text Text ~NWW.METROSTARNEWS.COM "WE DELIVER DIVERSITY" DECEMBER 1, 2008 WoCkmer News Service life and times ofan OHahoma legend. ByMetro StarStaff protesting Califom,as ’assage ofl~ropost, tion 8. Wackner News Photo) Bill Francisco, ~ Clogger Bill, has pofarmed over 350 b~efits andfundraisen for the ~dsa and surrounding Communities since !93Z In the beginning, God created heaven and earth and Bill Francisco on September 5, 1931. He was born in the middle of the Great Depression. His Mother and Dad were Portuguese farmers, poor as the dirt they farmed. His job until school years was pulling weeds in the garden. An estimated 7,500 to 15,000 people marched through Manhattan Nov¯ 12 protesting caiifornia’~ Proposition 8, the state ~-on~titution Nov. 4 to end same:sex marriage, which yeas legalized by the former New York Ammerican Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Normal Siegel Said t~e was c0mfortable ,vith a figure of 7i500; and longtime gay activist Bill Dobbs, who opposes same.sex marriage, favoring civil unions instead, said 5,000 to 7,000. ~e march began at the Mormon Temple on Columbus Av, enue, went down Broadway, turned east on 61St Street, then south on Central Park West to Columbus circle, "Tonight was an amazing success and I was proud of New York City standing in Solidarity with California and getting people out in the streets doing something meaningful," said Johnson, who is director of government affairs at a Wall Street realresta*e-development firm and political director of the popular gay blog Towleroad. Gay activists have claimed that more than half of the money that funded the ubiquitous TV ads that convinced Californians to vote for Prop 8 was donated by Mormon families at the church’s urging. Estimates of the turnout for the march varied. Journalist and radio personality Michelangelo Signorile reported 15,000; lead organizer Corey Johnson estimated 12,000; blogger and participant Joe Jervis (JoeMyGod) Said 10,000 to 15,000; "My career started when I was six ),ears old. I was in the 1st grade in Tulsgs Longfellow Hementary Schoo! at sixth and Peoria. We did a fund-raiser for the school. They staged still life portraits of Oklahoma history. I was selected as the young boy in the Ponca City.statue of The Pioneer Woman for my very first on-stage performance. Playing a statue, I had to stand perfectly still and not move for three minutes! The most difficult thing in the world for a six year old boy to do is stand still! I wanted to do such a good job, every night when the curtain went up, I would hold my breath the full three minutes so I wouldn’t move a muscle and be the perfect statue, but of course I almost passed out." My name is Chili. ........ Continued see SANTA page-15 California’s Supreme Court has been asked to delete Prop 8 from the constitution, anda ruling is expected rdatively quickly. The American Civil Libe*:ties Union, Lambda Legal, the National Center for Lesbian Rigl!ts and other parties say Prop 8 illegally "revised" the state constitution rather than merely amending it. .,,,,....,.:Con{inued see NYC Page-8 �2 December 2008 �~#w.metrostarnews.com �Oklahoma City GLBT and Allied Community Rallies Over two hundred demonstrators t~llied on the Oklahoma City, City Hall steps to p~otest discrimination voted in by California, Arizona, Florida and Arkansas on Nov 4. Photo by ~ctor Gorin. On November 15 on the steps of the Oklahoma City Hall, there was an outpouring of emotion & solidarity as over 200 GLBT people and their fair minded allies gathered together to protest the passage of Proposition the rights of those who may want to marry later, but also left in legal limbo s~ae sex couples who had already gotten married For Trey Dill, who brought it all together, organizing this protest was his first venture in social activism. As he puts it, "After the passage of Proposition 81 found myself kind of angry, and Igot on the Internet and began browsing every GLBT website. One day I stumbled onto the jointheimpact.com website, which was organizing these rallies nationwide. There ~vas a listing for Oklahoma City, yet nobody here was involved, so I decided that I was going to do this." At 24, a lifdong Oklahoman, he brought it together through Internet work and word of mouth, naakAng a grand occasion that received mainstream televi- McCullar and Marlena Weaver, who had gotten married in California October 20, xvhose marriage is now in legal limbo. Although they realized that their marriage would not be recognizedqn Oklahoma, the passage of Proposition 8 still hurt. As Kara put it, "It makes us feel like we’re not worthy enough. ~aey’ll take our taxes, ~ve l~ve in the same community, yet we are second class citizens. We’re here to protest this, because gay or straight we all should have the same rights. STOP HATE IN THE HALLWAYS By Victor Gorin OKLAHOMA CITY. OK Educators, mental health professionals, activists and others interested in Oklahomds students came together November 13 for the 2nd Stop Hatred in the Hallways Conference. Following the success of the first conference held in Oklahoma City, this meeting was held at the U.S. Postal Service’s National Facility for Employee Development in Norman, bringing in people throughout Oklahoma interested in making Oklahoma’s schools safer. The Conference was originally organized by Cimarron Alliance, mainly because of a glaring need that wasn’t being met. While there have been many incidents of school violence, and conferences and discussion to address it, there had never been a conference, seminar or major Ann Simank Social worker &former OKC Councilperson, Randy Tate Conference organiz~ Tanya Cox representingACLU Oklahoma. Photo by Victor Gorin meeting that included what many feel is the most common form of bullying, those who are or are perceived to be gay or lesbian. Whether the problem is growing or simply being recognized and addressed is open to question. What is certain is that there definitely is a problem. In a national study, over 30% of U.S. students reported being involved in bullying either as a bully 13%, a victim 11%, or both 6%. Coming dose to home, the Oklahoma State Department of Health did a study surveying 7848 Oklahoma students. They found similar results, with 33% that had been involved in bullying, 12% as the bullg, 14% as the victim, and 7% involved in both. One in five students worried often or daily about being bullied. More than half never reported it to an adult at school or a parent. When asked what could be done about the situation, 213 of those xvho were bullied and half of those not bullied wanted better adult supervision. of 37 school shooting incidents found that 71% of the shooters felt threatened and/or persecuted, or had been attacked. Following a welcome by Richard Odgen, Chairman of Cimarron Mliance, the conference was addressed by Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson. He pointed out how things have dhanged, how prejudices of home are brought to schools, and those who ,ire different frequently become objects of bullying. ............. Continued see STOP HATE page-11 Not only is bullying damaging to both the victims, but frequendy the bullies suffer as well, with over 60% of those categorized as bullies in grades 6-9 having at least one criminal conviction by age 24. A study with the U.S. Department of Education December 2008 �Room Rates From $42.95 A~ About Our Su#es www.metrostarnews.com ~et~tJSTAR 5 �What’s the Matter with Oklahoma? OkEq Sponsors a Care Drive OGRA Announces 2009 Royalty Team By Gov. David V/alters TULSA, OK (PR) __ OkEq is sponsoring a Care Drive as part of our Home for the Holidays. Donations are being accepted at the Center for Our House Too, which serves approximately 75 clients affected by HIV and AIDS. Our House Too needs personal items such as cleaning supplies and toiletry items. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) _ OGRA has announced the New OGRA 2009 Royalty Team. Miss OGRA 2009, Anita Ryder Mr OGRA 2009, Larry Bourne Ms OGRA 2009, Brooklyn Rachelle OGRA would like to invite everyone to come and join us for our next genera! membership meeting, Sunday December 7th 2008 at 2:00 PM at the Ledo, in the Habana Inn Complex. The Parish Church of St. Jerome’s Food Pantry served over 500 householcks and over 1000 people last year. The food pantry needs canned foods, stuffing mixes, hamburger helpers, etc. The drive will continue until the end of the year. A full list 0fitems needed is available at the Center and on our website, ~wccw.okeq.org Holiday Music Is In Air Photo: Gov. David Walters (nndb.conO I waited three days in the hopes that my fuming at Oklahoma’s counter performance to the collective heave ho that the rest of the nation gave to the Republicans would subside. It has not. Axnending the title of Tnomas Franks’ insightful book about how conservatives won the heart of g,ansas ,.. "What’s the Matter with Oklahoma?" Did we really just do this? We’re the winner of the national championship for the highest McCain/Palin margin at 65.6 percent; the only state where Republicans gained ground in the state house, senate and statewide offices; and the only state in which McCain/Palin carried every county. Not one of our 77 counties ,vent Democratic, not a single blue dot. Sen. Obama polled 10.8 percent in Beaver County. This was not out of 100 votes where percentages are easily distorted, but out of 2,462 votes cast. Now you are thinking that we cannot expect mu& progressive thought out of a county best known for its cow-chip throwing contest (two tries if you lick your fingers after the first). BUt I have been to Beaver county and met good people and don’t understand 89.2% decided Sarah Palin should be vice president of the United States. It’s not just our friends in Beaver scouring the landscape for aerodynamic cow patties. Twenty-one counties fell below 25 percent for Obama and 39 counties, more than half of the 77, fell below 30 percent. The top bastion of Democratic performance? Cherokee county, where they used to spray for Republicans, held McCain/Palin to "only" 56.percent. The heart of our most Democratic county only allowed Obama to get within 12.2 percent of a single county victor,/. Howard Dean called me as I was looking at these .......... Continued See WALTERS 6 ~etroSTAR TULSA, OK (OKEQ) Council Oak Men’s Chorale Presents "A Holiday Happening" - an event so festive even Rudolph will be jealous! December 2nd, 5th, and 6th starting at 8:00pro at the Trinity Episcopal Church. For more information visit the web site at http://vcww. counciloak.org. Sisters In Song is also holding a Holiday Concert. The event scheduled for Dec 13th. Stay tuned for details or visit ww~v.myspace. com/sistersinsong. NEW GAY CLUB OPENS IN JOPLIN JOPLIN, MO (PR) __ With several new GLBT bars opening and closing this past year, the Joplin Gay Community is looking forward to a place to gather and have fun that they can depend on to be open the next day. The PLA-Mor Lounge should be just that. Local business man and owner of the new dub, Bill Jack is well know and respected in the area. They are open Monday- Saturday 3:00PM to 1:30 am. Located at 532 South Joplin Ave Joplin MO 64801, phone 417-624-2722. The OGRA 2009 Royalty Team would !ike to invite everyone to their first fundraiser of their reign, Saturday December 20th 2008 from 8:00 PM until 10:00 PM at the Finishline, in the Habana Inn Complex. They ~vill be raising money for the 2009 Great Plains Rodeo and their Charity Partners. During the evening a Christmas wreath auction will be held and door prizes will be given away. They will also be issuing the organizations contributions to the charity partners for 2008. "Please join us to recognize al! the hard work the organization has done for this community during the 2008 year." N~e 2008 charity partners are RAIN Oklahoma and Other Options. Dennis R. Neill Equality Center opens December exhibit TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Dennis R Neill Equality Center Gallery exhibit for December is a fundraiser for the Gallery. The theme for the exhibit is ’Reflection on a Red Stiletto’. Each of the eleven participating artists were given ~a red stiletto to use in their creation or to use as inspiration for their creation. That piece ~vill be donated to the Gallery and available for purchase throughout the exhibit in a silent auction. The Opening Night Reception for the exhibit ~Vill be Thursday, December 4th, from 6 to 9pro, at the Center, 621 E 4th St, Tulsa. The exhibit and silent auction will rm~ through December 31. Each artist will also have one additional piece of his/her artwork on display for sale. Proceeds from this fuaadraiser will go towards the purchase of wood benches for the Gallery, additional lighting, additional display pieces, etc. Artists that will be participating include: Michael Christopher Ann Marie DiStefano Karen Greenawalt G Krysta Hamilton Allie Jensen Nick Kountoupis Sharyl Landis Josh New Jessica Newman Directory of Local Animal Shdters Tulsa Shelter Broken Arrow OKC Muskogee Stillwater Coweta Siloam Springs Claremore Sand Springs Jenks Owasso Sapulpa Norman Collinsville 918-669-6299 918-259-8311 405 297 3104 918 686 7297 405 372 0334 918-486 2137 479 524 6535 918 341 1260 918 246 2543 918 299 6311 918-272-4965 918 227 2722 405 321 6725 918 371 1000 Courtesy ofwvoCalabrescue.net December 2008 �Wockner News Service Colorado sends openly gay man to Congress Schwarzenegger: State Supremes may undo Prop 8 Laxwers for the gay side filed suit in the state Supreme Court on Nov. 5 seeking to annul Prop 8. They said it is not merely an amendment to the constitution but rather a "revision" that fundamentally alters the guarantee of equal protection. Don Perata and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass. Constitutional revisions require a t~vo-thirds vote of the Legislature to reach the ballot. Prop 8 got there by activists’ collecting signatures on petitions. When changes in the constitution have farreaching effects on the document’s structure and purpose, the process of amending it must begin in the state Legislature, with a two-thirds vote. The process cannot start solely with voters signing petitions, as was the case with Prop 8. "Proposition 8 is invalid because the initiative process was improperly used in an attempt to undo the constitution’s core commitment to equality for everyone by eliminating a fundamental right from just one group -- lesbian and gay Californians," said the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Photo: j~red Polls by Rex l~ckner California Gov. A,wold Schwarzenegger thinks the state Supreme Court may annul Prop 8. Photo by Rex Wockner " Openly gay Jared Polls was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 4 from Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses areas north and west of Denver, including the city of Boulder. California Gin: Arnold Schwarzenegger told CNN on Nov. 9 that the state Supreme Court may welt "undo" Proposition 8, the voter initiative that re-banned same-sex marriage Nov. 4 by amending the state constitution. Polls, a 33-year-old Democrat, is the first openly gay man elected to Congress who was out when elected t’or the first time. U.S. Rep. Tamlnv Baldwin. D-Wis., holds the female distincrmn in that regard. ,~d the governor suggested he thinks that would be a good ~ove. "~e voters of out" district have spoken clearly that they ~an~ change brought t~ Washing~rn,Polls told the Denver Post. "I look fbr~vard to taking my out-of-the-box approach and creative ideas to help shake up "Washington? maybe, as goo_d a campaigner had as much ’ gg er moneY behind ~t, " " whatever, Schwarzene said. "I think it is unfortunate, obviously, but In his primary-election victory speech in August, Polls introduced his partner, made reference to being gay, ~d said, "I always worried that that ~vould get in the way (of) giving back mad contributing to our society:’ A millionaire who made his money in online ventures, Polis spent $ 5.6 million of his own funds in the campaign. Polls becomes the sixth open gay to serve in the I-louse of Representatives, following in the footsteps of Baldwin, current Rep. Barney Frank kD-Mass.), and former Reps. Gerry Studds (D-Mass.), who is deceased, Steve Gunderson (R-Wis.) and Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.). Frank, 68, is now the powerful chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. Frank told the Post in August, "We are reaching that point where among.Democratic voters sexual orientation of a candidate is not a factor." He also said that once he’s no longer the only gay male congressman, he won’t feel as much pressure to be a role modd and plans to start smoking cigars in public again. °I can start indulging some bad habits; Frank said. "Let the young gay people find someone else to emulate? www.metrostamews.com "They had a very, very strong campaign, the pro-Proposition 8 people, and I think that the people that tried to defeat it did not have, it’s nrt the end because I think this will go back into the courts, this will go back to the Supreme Court because the Supreme Court very clearly in California has declared this unconstitutional. It’s the same as in the 1948 case xvhen blacks and whites were not allowed to marry. This falls into the same category. So, I think that we will again, you know, maybe undo that, if the court is willing to do that, and then move forward from there and again lead in that area? In addition to the anti-gay side’s having aired much more effective ads than the pro-gay side did in the huge TV-advertising war, Schwarzenegger said there were other factors that aided Prop 8’s passage. "Because of the big turnout amongst AfricanAmericans and Latinos, that had an effect also, which they did not expect, so there’s all kinds of other things there;’ he said. "And I think the religious groups have done a really big campaign, a lot of them, to support Proposition 8, and so on, and so it’s a very, very difficult thing." Before the TV ad war started, Prop 8 had been losing in the polls by as much as 17 points. 2qae governor also offered some advice to California’s gay population. "(Y)ou should never ever give up; he said. "They should never give up. They should be on it and on it until they get it done: Gay groups and others have filed suit seeking to invalidate Prop 8, arguing that it unconstitutionally "revised" the constitution, rather than merely amending it. "Proposition 8 is invalid because the initiative process was impropetly used in an attempt to undo the constitution’s core commitment to equality for everyone by elinainating a fundamental right from just one group -- lesbian and gay Californians;’ said the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. "Proposition 8 also improperly attempts to prevent the courts from exercising their essential constitutional role of protecting the equal prote.ction rights of minorities," the groups said. Same-sex marriages begin in Connecticut Same-sex couples began marrying in Connecticut on Nov. 12 after final judgment was entered in a case decided by the state Supreme Court on Oct. 10. In a 4-3 ruling, the court had declared that the state’s policy ofoff~ring same~sex couples:only civil unions violated that state constitution’s guarantee Of equal protection under the law. One report, based on partial data, said 66 marriage licenses were issued to same-sex couples across the state in the initial hours after samesex marriage becanae legal. On S,a.ra,,y, No . 15, w=e .ge, ,-oorai- hated anti-~grop 8protests across the country at 10:30 a.ra. Ca~fornia time. 7his was the scene in San Francisco. Viockner News pboto by Steve Silb~an With California voters’ recent decision to re-ban same-sex marriage, Massachusetts is the only other U.S. state where gay couples can marry. ~ae California move, which anaended the state constitution, is under assault in several new lawsuits filed with the state Supreme Court, and gays and their supporters have staged numerous large street demonstrations up and dmvn the state since Nox: 4. Legislators want Pro 8 overturned Direct Cremation From $595 Forty-four California legislators filed a brief with the state Supreme Court on Nov. 10 urging that Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment that voters passed to qe-ban same-sex marriage, be overturned. MORTUARY SERVICE, ~c Traditional Funeral Services at Affordable Prices (405) 230- 1310 or !-800-913-1310 Pre-Need Plan CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED Signers included Senate President Pro Tempore 2415-C North WalnutAvenue, Oklaho MetroSTAR 7 �California Supreme Court Grants Review In Prop 8 Legal Challenges Court To Determine Constitutionality of Prop 8 SAN FRANCISCO, CA (PR) __ November 19, 2008) -- Today the California Supreme Court granted review in the legal challenges to Proposition 8, which passed by a narrmv margin of 52 percent on November 4. In an order issued today, the Court agreed to hear the case and set an expedited briefing schedule. q-he Court also denied an immediate stay. On November 5, 2008, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit challenging the validity of Proposition 8 in the California Supreme Court on behalf of six individuals and Equality California. The City of San Francisco, joined by the City of Los Angeles and Santa Clara County, filed a similar challenge, as did a private attorney in Los Angeles. clause of the California Constitution and violates the fundamental right to marry. Proposition 8 would completely eliminate the right to marry only for same-sex couples. No other initiative has ever successfully changed the California Constitution to take avcay a right only from a targeted minority group. Over the past 100 years, the California Supreme Court has heard nine cases challenging either legislative enactments or initiatives as invalid revisions of the California Constitution. In three of those cases, the Court invalidated those measures. For more information on dais case, go to: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/ highprofile/prop8.htm MISS BAMBOO 2009 CROWNED By Greg Steele On November 17, 2008, the California Council of Churches and other religious leaders and faith organizations representing millions of members statewide, also filed a petition asserting that Proposition 8 poses a severe threat to the guarantee of equal protection for all, and was not enacted through the constitutionally required process for such a dramatic change to the California Constitu~ tion. On the same day, prominent California womeffs rights organizations filed a petition asldng the Court to invalidate Proposition 8 because of its potentially disastrous implications for women and other groups that face discrimination. In May of 2008, the California Supreme Court held that barring same-sex couples from marriage violates the equal protection 8 ~®t~oSTAR "Proposition 8 is invalid because the initiative process was improperly used in an attempt to undo the constitution’s core commitment to equality for everyone by eliminating a fundamental right from just one group -- lesbian and gay Californians," the legal groups said. "Proposition 8 also improperly attempts to prevent the courts from exercising their essential constitutional role of protecting the equal protection rights of minorities," the groups said. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Nov. 10 expressed support for overturning Prop 8. "This will go back to the Supreme Court because the Supreme Court very clearly in California has declared this unconstitutional," Schwarzenegger told CNN. "It’s the same as in the 1948 case when blacks and whites were not allowed to marry. This falls into the same category. So, I think that we will again, you know, maybe undo that, if the court is willing to do that, and then move forward from there and again lead in that area." The lawsuits allege that, on its face, Proposition 8 is an improper revision rather than an amendment of the California Constitution because, in its very title, which ,vas "Himinates the right to marry for same-sex couples," the initiative eliminated an existing right only for a targeted minofit): If permitted to stand, Proposition 8 would be the first time an initiative has successfully been used to change the California Constitution to take way an existing right only for a particular group. Such a change would defeat the very purpose of a constitution and fundamentally alter the role of the courts in protecting minority rights. According to the California Constitution, such a serious revision of our state Constitution cannot be enacted through a simple majority vote, but must first be approved by two-thirds of the Legislature. Since the three lawsuits submitted on November 5, three other lawsuits challenging Proposition 8 have been filed. In a petition filed on November 14, 2008, leading African American, Latino, and Asian American groups argued that Proposition 8 threatens the equal protection fights of all Californians. A constitutional revision requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to begin the process, while an amendment can be placed on the ballot simply by collecting enough voter signatures on petitions, as was the case with Prop 8. Schwarzenegger also urged gay Californians up" on marriage..... equali~.: to "never ever g ire .... "They should be on it and on it until they get it done," he said. Photo: Miss Bamboo 2009 Lady Katherine TULSA, OK __ No prelim, no registration fees, not known for glamour, but an absolute celebration of campy fun with a big heart. That is the Miss Bamboo Pageant. Although this year’s contestants did break with tradition and were quite stylish. Lady Katherine was a bit sleazy with her very revealing Victoria Secret underwear! Votes for each contestant were determined by the amount of money each was given by the audience for their performance. Our House Too of Tulsa ~vas the recipient of this years proceeds of $625.00. Our House Too offers a variety of services for people who are HIV+ or living with AIDS. You can contact them at 918-585-9552 or 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 Conspicuously absent from the entertainment line-up this year was self proclaimed Empress of the Bamboo, Miss Mona Lott and Miss Bamboo 2007 (2 X default) Czarina Rottchacokoffwho’s Hollywood caliber talent was very much missed. December 2008 �Neiman Marcus Gift Idea For Christmas 2008 Limited-Edition Fighter Motorcycle There’s the startling, dare we say sex); design that fuses raw power with crisp simplicity. It’s an evolution of the machine, at once taken back down to its core elements while being reinvented and re-engineered for optimal performance. It’s our street-legal sci-fi dream come to life, in the form of the limitededition Fighter Motorcycle. Ours exclusively courtesy of Confederate Motor Company°, the first ever Fighter packs 190 mph of performance into its cutting edge carbon fiber, titanium, andaluminum chassis~ There’s the 64" wheelbase, 27"H seat, integrated braking system, tots of high-tech bells and whistles, and custom NM edition features. But, honestly, ride it once and you’ll be too jacked up on adrenaline to remember all the details. (To view them in all their glory, go here.) To score one of only 45 of these raw, raging, right on machines, call 1.877.9NM.GIFT. Item Limited-Edition Fighter Motorcycle Price $110,000.00" OCBF9_NMO3594 *Manufacturer’s suggested retail price. Price excludes all taxes, tide, licensing, registration f~es, and transportation costs. Neiman Marcus is acting as the advertiser of this product. All sa]es will be conducted solely by participating, authorized dealers in the United States. Sunday Services @ 11:00 A}4 1623 N. Maplewood Tu{sa, OK Un A Metropolitan Community Church v~.metrostarnews.com 918-838-1715 % w.mcctu sa.org ~®t~oSTAR 9 �Is Gay Marriage A Q,Eestion Of Rights? By Gerald Libonati ~e marriage protection amendment that bans same-sex couples from marrying was on the ballot in three states last Tuesday. It passed in Florida and California by a margin of 52% to 48% with a majority of the precincts counted. In Arizona, a conservative state that once rejected the amendment, it passed by 56% to 44%. [[he results came as no surprise, emphasizing once again that the rights of unpopular minorities should never be put to a popular vote. How many times was the Equal Rights An,~, endment for ~vomen squashed? The first public Womans Rights Convention was held in 1848 west of Syracuse, New York. African-Amlericans did not win equal rights by a popular vote. The country vehemently fought against it. Equality for blacks required an act of Congress. So too, should equal rights for ay men and lesbian women be written into lave, not restricted y it. c Some might feel gay marriage is not a question of rights, yet the expression of religious values is protected by the first amendment. After all, it is a religious Viewpoint that same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry, and it is the spiritual vie~cpoint of gay and lesbian couples (and the mental health community) that homosexuality is a good and valid expression. It is, to be sure, a religious debate as well as one of legal benefits. One can’t help feeling violated every time there is a gay/lesbian issue on the chopping block. It becomes a lightning rod for the religious right to rally agm’nst with their bumper stickers and selbrighteous slurs. How many gay and lesbian people feel battered during times like this? Yet, the struggle for gay rights may be part of a process that has not yet finished. Certainly, the zeitgeist has improved significantly over the years regarding attitudes toward gay/lesbian people. And if it is hard to imagine a time when GLBT people are a part of the Atnerican mainstream, remember it was once hard fbr women and black Americans to imagine, too. Gerald Libonati is an award-winning wrimr in South Florida. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, 7he Miami Hera~ 7he Advocate and various gay/lesbian newspapo’s. He is the author of the new novel, ’7~eter Wo~" the sto~ ofa famous gay rock star who goes incognito m find love. NO on Prop 8 Campaign Leaders Call on Community to Stand Together SACP,AMENTO, CA (PR) __ Top leaders from the NO on Prop 8 campaign today issued the follmving statement urging leaders in the community to stand together following the passage of Prop 8. "We achieve nothing if we isolate the people who did not stand with us in this fight. We only further divide our state if we attempt to blame people of faith, African American voters, rural communities and others for this loss. We know people of all faiths, races and backgrounds stand with us in our fight to end discrimination, and will continue to do so. Now more than ever it is critical that we work together and respect our differences that make us a diverse and unique society.. Only with that understanding will we achieve justice and equality for all." years now I have heard the ~vord Wmt. It nngs ~n the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This "Wait" has almost always meant Never. We must come to see, with one ofou distinguished jurists, that "justice too long delayed is justice denied." ( http://www.mlkonline.net/jail.html ) Geoff Kors, Executive Director, Equality California Kate Kendell, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights. Lorri Jean, CEO, Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center Delores Jacobs, CEO, San Diego Gay and Lesbian Center 925 L Street, Suite 1200 Sacramento, CA 95814, As we march, let’s take our chant from the newly-elected President Obama’s campaign, Yes, we can! Time for Waiting is Over -he Time for Action is NOW. By James Nimmo OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ A recent joint press release from Equality California, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center ,,,a,,n~d the San Diego Gay and Lesbian Center is counseling that We achieve nothing if we isolate the people who did not stand with us in this fight. We only further divide our state if we attempt to blame people of faith, African American voters, rural communities arid others for this loss. I disagree completely. No longer, no longer, no longer must religion be used as the cudgel to separate any person from their legal rights of fair treatment and protection under the law. I walked by a religious proselytizer today in downtown Oklahoma City. I hadseen him yesterday when he made a speech for Gee-sus on the bus I was riding. Today, though, he was on the sidewalk and said to me, "Did you know God loves you?" I looked him in the eye for a few seconds and replied, "F*** ofiq.", and walked away. I’ve never acted that way to a stranger before and depending on the perceived physical danger to me, it wofft be the last time I respond to an uninvited encounter with a proselytizer. Religion has and continues to be the major block to the implementation of rights for gay/lesbian citizens because of wh~tt we do in private and who we love in public. Religion ,vas the chain around the necks of slaves, it’s been the chastity belt forced on women’s reproductive choice, and it’s been the Closed book preventing the age-appropriate teaching of responsible sexual information to children. Religion instructs the empty-headed to fear our differentness, to treat us with disrespect and with barely concealed contempt to encourage violence against our property and bodies. Wegays/lesbians are far too complacent, accepting, and willing in our own disenfranchisement from our birth right as citizens. "This has been an incredibly difficult week for Californians who are disappointed in the passage of Proposition 8, which takes away the right to marry for same-sex couples in our state. We feel a profound sense of disappointment in this defeat, but know that in order to move forward we must continue to stand together as one community in order to secure full equality in California. I welcome the peaceful protests in California and elsewhere that are demanding the protection and benefits of the laws that are applied to others but not to us. "In working to defeat Prop 8, a profound coalition banded together to fight for equality. Faith leaders, labor, teachers, civil rights leaders and communities of col0r, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, public officials, local school boards and city councils, parents, corporate law firms and bar associations, businesses, and people from all walks of life l’oined together to stand up against discrimination. We must build on this coalition in order to achieve equal rights for all Californians. Dr. M. L. King said it best in his "Letter from Birmingham Jail", April 16, 1963 with this paragraph: 10 ~÷troSTAR Our self-appointed equality leaders who counsel shyness and acceptance of a later time should act like leaders or get out of our way. The time is long past for coyness and politeness. X~re know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given b~ the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct-action campaign that was "well timed" in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For With the immorally presented kangaroo-court vote that passed Prop 8 in California and with other anti-gay measures in Arizona, Florida, and Arkansas, I think we gays/lesbians have waited long enough. Let the marches continue! numbers. He wanted to say, "thank you" ... for what I have no earthly idea. I unloaded about our local results, but Howard didfft take the bait. His politically correct language has been finely honed from thousands of scathing attacks on each of his utterances. He opined that the economy is much better in Oklahoma than most states and that many other states have a sizable portion of their popul,a,tion tl~at,~ould normally be concerned about leaders who are different than they are. But in those states the economy and the need for change overwhelmed their normal reticence to select someone "unlike" them. Man that guy can talk. While t am fuming, foaming, uttering and mumblin,F, obscenities, he sounds like he just graduated from The vabama School of Cool. So should we do anything? Of course we should. Not just for competitive partisan reasons, but because it’s not good for Oklahoma to run so counter. One national media service recently said bas,,ed on the polls, the future of the Re, publica,n Party lies with old white people and hayseed states. I, dont believe that, but much of me nation does and we dont need to be in that category. Another pundit said that to understand the current Republican Party one has to "understand the unique culture and politics of Appalachia." Are you kidding me? Hayseed states and Appalachia! Call your local chamber and ask them if they think this is somehmv good for us. From a national image it’s a disaster. From a local basis can you imagine how this emboldens Republicans in the state house, now firmly in control of the l~gislature? Do you think we are going to hear much about education, health care and jobs -- or are we simply going to get a double dose of Guns, God, and Gays? Gun sales in Oldahoma skyrocketed immediately prior to the election and particularly afterwards. The vast majority of these Oklahoma voters really believe that Obama -- in addition to not being a Christian, being affiliated with terrorists and intent on doubling our taxes -- is also going to take their guns! What was that comment during the campaign about clinging? So what do we do? Before we start shouting and stepping all over each other like the national Republicans, we should first calmly talk about process. Hmv do we determine what are the highest contributing factors to this unusual trend in Oldahoma? Let’s assume that we can identify with polling and focus groups the top 20 contributing factors, and then perhaps we can identify that half of these we cannot do an) thing about.., but a plan to address the other half may have merit. I have lots ofideas ... but I really have to cool off first. Posted by David Waiters at: http:llreddirtblog.typepad.coml red dirt blog/ December 2008 �Oklahoma Couple Marries Rhis was best shown by the keynote speaker, Stephen Wessler, who directs the Center for the Prevennon of Hate Violence located in Pordand, Maine, and was a former assistant Attorney General in that state was well. He is the author of the book, "The Respectful School," and has received many awards for his work in the area of civil rights. Robbins, 46, and Damon Romine, 42, have been together for nine years and Barrett and David Romine have been together for 16 years. It was believed to be California’s first same-sex double wedding ceremony shared by a father and son. Same-sex marriage became legal in California on June 16, following a Supreme Court ruling, and became illegal again on Nov. 4, following passage of a ballot initiative that amended the state constitution to negate the ruling. Gay groups have filed suit to block the amendment from taking effect. At press time, the State Supreme Court had not ruled on the case, and county officials had stopped issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Will & Grace creator marries Photp: Rex Ball, Architect/Urban Designer, a former US Commissioner ofFine Arts and Stephen Edwards, multi-award winning Interior Designer in Oklahoma were mar~ed October 24 in Palm Springs, CA by Mayor Steve Pougnet. The couple has been together for 24 years. Both are originally from Central Oklahoma where they first met. Having also lived in Washington, D.C. the couple settled in Tulsa in 1996. B~th ~e a~tive iii Hist0fi~il PreserVation and have renovated two Tulsa houses for themselves both of which are located in neighborhoods on the National Register of Historic places. In Oklahoma City they renovated the Mid-Century landmark Raymond Carter designed Residence on Barnes Circle which is also visible from Pennsylvania Avenue. OkA¢homa State Attorney Gene~al Drew Edmondson. A speaker at the 2nd Stop Hate in the Hallways Conference. Photo by Hctor Gorin The services were conducted on Friday, October 24 by the Mayor of Palm Springs in the Mid-Century designed City Hall. q-he Mayor hadwritten the words of the service. Witnesses were former Tulsans Mike Green and Jim Trotter also Architect Dan Logan of Palm Springs and Malibu. The couple has 5 daughters and nine grandchildren. Father and son marry partners in He pointed out that serious bullying begins with words. He told of a student (pseudonym John), ~vho was perceived to be gay by 4 male students at his school. At first they talked behind his back, and nobody objected. It escalated to name calling direcdy to John. ~aen it escalated to tripping and shoving in the hall, with no objections or intervention. The following February he ~vas jumped by three boys and severely beaten, and nobody intervened or told an adult. This followed by 3 more similar incidents, including an attempt in the bathroom to put his head in an unflushed toilet, and another incident where a boy put John’s head in a noose and pulled it tight for over 40 seconds. Finally, When one of the boys threatened to shoot John, the threat was overheard by a girl ~vho reported this to school authOrities, Finally the police were called and Mr. Wessler, as a prosecutor with the state hate crimes prosecution unit, finally took action. Ironically, the four boys involved in the harassment were age 12. Although the conference included the issues of GLBT students, it was also inclusive of other forms as ~vell, including those of Islamic students ~vho were harassed (frequently called terrorists), Latinos frequently called "beaners" or "tacos". Other issues included students with disabilities, and other characteristics such as being overweight. Reverend Scott Jones of Oklahoma City’s Cathedral of Hope led a panel discussion of religion and the role it played in harassment, and also those who are victimized. Another workshop conducted by Kathy Middleton with the Oklahoma State Department of Health, showed and demonstrated how bullying could be prevented, and how students & administrators can deal with it. And intervention can’t come too soon, not only for those bullied, but for all Oklahoma students who have the right to a productive, safe education. www.metrostarnews.com Palm Springs double wedding By Rex Wockner Max Mutchnick, a creator and executive producer of TV’s Wilt & Grace, got married to lawyer Erik Hyman on Oct. 25 in Beverly Hills. "We wanted to be a part of the wave of same-sex couples getring married before the election," Mutchnick told The New York Times. ~e couple have been together for two years. They moved in together a week after meeting and have never spent a night apart since. Mutchnick told The Times that Hyman is the most intelligent and confident man he’s ever met, and the only one he’s met who can withstand his insecurities and histrionics. Hyman said he felt hard for Mutchnick’s passion, charm and humor. The couple have two daughters, who were born to a surrogate. California voters ended same-sex marriage in the state Nov. 4, amending the state constitution to say, "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." Gay groups have filed suit to block the amendment from taking effect. At press time, the State Supreme Court had not ruled on the case, and county officials had stopped issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. OKLAHOMA CITY COUPLE WED IN CALIFORNIA Charles Robbins, executive director of ~e Trevor Project, and Damon Romine, director ofentertainment media at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, got married Nov. 2 in Palm Springs in a double ceremony that also saw Romine’s father, David, marry his parmen La~wy Barrett. From left: Robbins, Damon Romine, David Romine and Barrett. Photo by David A. Lee Charles Robbins, executive director of~he Trevor Project, the national suicide-prevention helpline for gay youth, and Damon Romine, director of entertainment media at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, got married Nov. 2 in Palm Springs in a double ceremony that also saw Romine’s father, David, marry his partner, Larry Barrett. Kara McCullar & Marlena Weaver demonstrate on Oklahoma City Hall steps. The couple was legally married in California October 20. Photo by Victor Gorin. MetroSTAR 11 �@ Steve’s Hideaway, Tulsa @Club Majestic, Tulsa @Club 209, Tulsa @ Bamboo Lounge, TulSa ..... @ Angles, Oklahoma City @ Finishline, Oklahoma City @ The Ledo, Oklahoma City Community Fellowship "A place where you can be who God created you to be andfi’iends’hips become family" Worship Experience Sundays 5:30p.m. Pastor Neill Spurgin PastorNeih’@ExpressionsOKC.com (40 ) 76 - 7s @ The Copa, Oklahoma City 12 ~w. Express ions OKC. corn Lansbrook Event Center 6009 NW Expressway Oklahoma City, OK December 2008 �On Saturday, Nov. 15, there were coordinated anti,Prop. 8 protests in 300 cities in all 50 states and several other countries at 10.30. a.m. California time, ~lengthy march from San Diego’s Balboa Park to the Count~ 25;000 ~ar~hers, Photo by Re~ Wockne~ On Sa~twday, Nov. 1£ there were huge, coordinated anti-Prop 8 protests across the country at 10:30 a.m. Ca~lifo~ia time. ~is wa~ the stone in San ~,n&co. ~&ner News pbom by Steve 39am the stage to repeate!ly create a~ant rambowflag, to the de@,}t ofnews photographers and cameramen. ter and ~dsa rallied in opposition to California’s Prop S. Arqzona, Florida outlJwed Mardage ~quality an~ Arkansas voted toprobibit GLBT~doption, Saturda November 15, 2008 25,000 str~g mti~Prop 8 grassroots protest in San Di~g0~ �N Wockner News Service Caribbean health offidals call for repeal of buggery laws UK Ministry of Defence paid $6.2 million to sacked soldiers Some government officials in attendance at the recent annual meeting of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS called for repeal of laws that criminalize gay sex as a pathway to slowing the spread of the virus, the Caribbean Media Corporation reported. The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence has paid $6.2 million to people who were kicked out of the armed forces before the gay ban was lifted in 2000, officials said Nov. 7. "Ifxve repeal the Buggery Act it reduces risky behavior and puts the onus on men who have sex xvith men to act in a responsible way," said Dr. Peter Figueroa, head of the Jamaican Ministry of Health’s AIDS program. "When people see themselves as excluded or discrimihated against and stigmatized, it promotes risky behavior? The health minister of the island nation of Dominica, John Fabien, agreed, saying: "We need to take this to another level, I think the level of prime ministers .... The whole question of men who have sex with men ... we can’t Sixty-five people have been compensated, receiving an average of $96,300 each. "Over the past few years the MoD has made strenuous efforts to reach amicable settlements in relation to those legal claims which remained outstanding and we are pleased that compensation has now been awarded in all these cases;’ a spokesman said. Britain’s armed forces lifted their gay ban on orders from the European Court of Human Rights. Gay couple arrested in Mexico for kissing and hugging UK to give lesbians equal access to fertility treatment Txvo male U.S. citizens were arrested in Playa del Carmen, in Mexico’s Q,~intana Roo state, for kissing and hugging in public, the Mexico City daily E! Universal reported Oct. 22. A controversial bill that passed Britain’s House of Commons Oct. 22, authorizing stem-celt research that implants human cells into animal eggs creating hmnan-animal hybrids, also cleared the way for lesbians to access fertility treatment and for a lesbian couple to be named on a birth certificate as a child’s parents. Eric Schroeder, 22, andJosd Mdndez, 35, were accused of committing "a moral misdeed" (una falta a la moral), jailed for 15 hours and fined 2,000 pesos ($148). Schroeder told the paper that on Oct. 10 the couple was "resolving some differences that we had" and, as they walked out of the house, "there were a few hugs and a kiss out front:’ At that point, police arrived, handcuffed them, then drove them around while they "picked up more people who presumably had committed other crimes," he said. .................. 1 ...."-They, wanted money and realizingthey , bow our heads in the sand and say it do~s no{..... DutCh men convlc~:eG weren t going to get it, they drove us around ’ Schroeder said. happen.and try toI ,villsee howbedriving, ve couldthe getPr°cessthingsbaCkgoingh°me .... gge need to really fall in line mad try to get it off the books." Barbados’ health minister, Dr. David Estwick, asked, "What are we going to do about reaching men who have sex with men when we have laws against their sexual activity in most Caribbean countries. Jamaica’s Figueroa added that when gay sex is stigmatized, "it drives not only the epidemic underground, but it also means that men ~vho have sex with men disguise their sexuality, take on a girlfriend and have sex with women who are unaware that they are really people who have sex with men, and therefore this acts as a bridge in terms of HIV transmission from the gay community." The lneeting was held in Montego Bay, Jamaica. According to Amnesty International, 11 Caribbean-area nations continue to ban gay sex -- Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jmnaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. of inj ecting sex p ar triers with HIV Two men in Groningen, Netherlands, were convicted Nov. 12 of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm by injecting several men ~vith HIV-infected blood after apparendysedating them during gay sex parties arranged over the Internet. One of the perpetrators, who vcas also convicted of rape, received a nine-year prison sentence and the other was sentenced to five years. The Groningen District Court determined that while all the victims in the case were HIV-positire, there was no way to know if the assaults caused their infections, given that they had willingly participated in barebacking orgies. Resistance in UK to gay adoption Hungarian Parliament passes nexv hate-crime laws A recent ICM Research survey conducted for the United Kingdom’s National Adoption Week revealed a high degree of resistance to adoption by gay couples. Hungary’s Parliamentpassed legislation in early November extending hate-crime laws to cover members "ofa social group" and making it possible to initiate civil proceedings against someone ~vho engages in degrading or intimidating behavior toward another based on "sexual orientation." The poll of 1,007 people found that 40 percent ofth0se questioned think gay male couples should not be allowed to adopt and 36 percent think lesbian couples should be banned from adopting: The changes need the approval of President L~szl6 S61yom and also must be able to withstand possible Constitutional Court challenges. The court previously has struck down socalled hate-speech laws on freedom-of-speech grounds. 14 ~÷troSTAR Susan Cotton, adoption manager for the charity Action for Children, told the BBC the findings xvere "shocking and disappointing." "We have successfully placed children with both gay couples and single people. We know it works," she said. The couple’s eventual incarceration at the main police station ended after they paid a cop a 300-peso fee to take one of their credit cards and withdraw money to pay the 2,000-peso fine, Schroeder said. S P ain’s ueen Sofia hot water with gays Spain’s Q~een Sofia is in hot water with gays after the newspaper H Pals published excerpts Oct. 29 from an upcoming biography of the queen by journalist Pilar Urbano. ha "The Q~_een Up Close" ("La Reina muy de cerca"), Sofia, 69, is quoted as saying: "I can understand, accept and respect that there are persons of other sexual tendencies, but should they feel proud to be gay? Should they ride on a parade float and come out in demonstrations ? ffall of those of us who aren’t gay came out in protest we would halt traffic." She went on: "If those persons want to live together, dress up as bride and groom and marry, they could have a right to do so, or not, according to the laws of their country, but they shouldn’t call dais matrimony, because it isfft. q-here are many possible names: social contract, union contract? Spain is one of six countries where same-sex couples have access to full marriage. A royal spokesperson conaplained that the quotations are not "exactly" accurate. The State Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transse~uals and Bisexuals demanded that Sofia recant her reported statements. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill passed the House of Commons 355-129 and is unlikely to be further modified before becoming law. "We’ve always thought it scandalous that lesbian couples could lawfully be excluded from the safety of (National Health Service) clinics, for which we all pay," said Ben Summerskill, chief executive of leading gay lobby group Stonewall. "Often they’ve been forced to use unregulated backstreet services instead? ,, Children in lesbian and gay families develop in exactly the same social and intellectual way as any others," he said. "This latest step forward for our communities is an important reminder that lesbian and gay families are every bit as loving and tender and magical as any other." Irish president condemns Speaking at a GLBT youth forum in Galway on Oct. 30, Irish President Mary McAleese condemned anti-gay bullying. "Homophobic bullying continues to be a societywide issue, including in our schools, and the link between it and suicide sends a clear message that this trend must be reversed," she said. "By refusing to go along with loudly voiced prejudices, we can overcome the bias and hostility experienced by many young gay people throughout the country." McAleese also said people don’t choose to be gay but rather discover that they’re gay. Australian de facto couples who split to be treated as divorced Australia’s Senate passed a bill Oct. 16 to treat unmarried couples who break up the same as married couples who divorce. The measure, which was returned to the lower house for approval of Senate anaendments, will create a uniform national standard for separating de facto coupmsles, gay and straight, sendin g them to federal family-law courts to work out property settlements, pension splits and other Issues. Attorney-General Robert McClelland said the changes are "long overdue." December 2008 �"In my junior high school years at Wilson Jr. High I delivered the Tulsa Daily "World morning paper on horseback for three years on what was then a two lane country road called Yale Ave. I had to quit riding horseback because the customers of a new housing development called "White City" complained that my horseback deliveries was tearing up their beautiful yards. I graduated in the 10th graduating class of Will Rogers High Schoo! in 1949." "The start of my dancing career was 1950 ~vhen I joined the new qfillsa Opera Ballet. ~-his was the time when opera companies retrained a Corps de Ballet and operettas were popular. ~l~.e Tulsa Opera_ Ballet would practice in the ballroom of Richard Mansfield Dickenson’s home on Riverside Drive and F!ouston Ave., which is now known as the Spotlight Theater on Riverside Dr. "t received a scholarship in 1952 to study dance with the "Ruth St. Denis Dance Foundatioff’ in Hollywood. While I was there I also studied ballet and jazz at the "Eugene Loring School of Ballet. M1 of the great dancers of the Holly~vood musicals of the 50’s would teach in their idle time at Loring’s studio, t was honored to take classes with some of Hollywood’s best. I was accepted with 150 other dancers in the Chorus of"On the Rivera" staring Danny Kaye and the Great "Gwen -Verdoff’. However, I nm~er made it to the final Audition because my dance career was interrupted in 1953 with a draft call from UNCLE SAM. Thinking my dance career was oveI; ! found it was just beginning." but I had to work the next day. I took a shower to wash the gold pigment away and my hair turned green! I went to work and was ridiculed, LOL, the boy with the green hair." "In 1956 1 began dancing with the "Tulsa Civic Ballet" today knmvn as Tulsa Ballet Inc. I danced the premier of The Nutcracker and also performed the first Dr. Coppelius In Tulsa at the Municipal Theater today our Lady on Brady I also danced in the first two summer musicals with the "Tulsa Little Theater" at the 15th and Delavcare Playhouse." She could er my given name. She what my name was and \ in his usual vivacious reply said "just// ke C LO G GERB I //, Because volunteer dancing could not sustain me financially, I went to work for American Airlines in 1955. In 1961 American decided to move their finance department to NYC where they purchased their first computer. This was my opportunity to see hmv the professionals dance in the Big Apple. Let me tell you, I was just a little worm in the Big Apple. What a culture shock, nobody does volunteer dancing in New York. Everyone is a union professional. ! realized my love of country folk music, bluegrass and clogging there. I studied with the International School of Dance one semester. I realized dogging was what I wanted to dance the rest of my life. Isn’t is ironic? I fell in love with dogging in ]"FYC and had it all around me growing up in Tulsa. I returned home to Tulsa after 13 years in New York and spent all my free time attending clogging classes and workshops. The IGRA had become very popular with clogging teams throughout the U.S. and Tulsa. I attended a fund-raiser for OGRA in 1987 at "STROKES" and saw the renowned "Bunkhouse Cloggers" from Oklahoma City perform. I was so excited and impressed to see a rodeo clogging team that I wanted to form one from Tulsa for OGRA. Thus the "GREEN COUNTRY CLOGGERS" ~vere born in 1988. The Green Country- Cloggers became famous from the Mississippi west to Los Angeles, dogging to standing ovations in Oklahoma City, Dallas, Phoenix, Denver, Los Angles, Kansas, Joplin and Tulsa..We performed for two seasons at Tulsa Mayfest and the Bluegrass/Chilifest. Photo: Bill Franc#co served in the A4ilimry 1953-1955 "My tour of duty took me to the occupation forces in Augsburg, Germany. I was blessed! They allowed me to continue my volunteer dancing for tile kindergarten kids in West Germany." "I was honored for nay volunteer dancing in Germany by becoming the only American awarded a medal by the city of "Augsburg at the 1954 Fashing Festival. They even wrote a nice article about me in the Augsburg newspaper which was in Get,nan and I didn’t understand a word of it. I sent it home to my mother in NAsa and she gave it to the Tulsa \Vorld to interpret and they published it in English in the Tulsa World Sunday Mar. 21, 1954." "Rett,rning home to Tialsa in 1955, I again auditioned for the renowned Tulsa Opera. I landed the leading male dancer, all with gold pigment and Crisco! I was beautiful (like an Oscar) ,~w.metrostarnews.com When the Green Country Cloggers moved their practices to Tulsa’s Silver Star for bigger dance space we were doing a big fund-raiser to raise money to take the cloggers to Los Angeles ~br a rodeo performance. Our Mistress of Ceremonies was a eighteen year old (not old enough for the bar) known as KA~S KOHL. To this day in 2008, Kris Kohl has done more benefits and fun&raisers than any other entertainer in Tulsa and she is the real legend of this community. Our music maestro, arranger, recording artist and D. J. from the cloggers conception in 1988 was Ron Greenwood. Thank you Quake for all your loyalty and contributions to the cloggers. Kris Kohl was to introduce my solo. She could not remember my given name. She asked Qtmke what my name was and in his usual vivaciotrs reply said "just call him CLOGGERBILL" And from that time on, fbr 18 years, to the birth of"Santa, I have been known as "CLOGGERBILL" Now I’ve forgotten my real n~e. class at the community center. They asked if I would dress as Santa and clog for the kids at their Children’s Christmas Party, of course I said yes. That was the birth of"Santa Clog". The kids just loved Santa Clogging and a lot of adults also. The next year I created my own Santa Suit, and started growing nay own beard with theatrical white wash. Since I’ve performed hundreds of Santa Clog benefits over the past ten years. It was so much fun (because I’m such a ham), that’s when I decided I wanted to be the real Santa for the rest of my life. In 2004 1 entered "SANTA_" in the Grand Lake dogging championship in Grove, Oklahoma. I had worked so hard on the choreography that I pinched the ~ciatic nerve in my left hip and neuropathy begin to set in. But I kept going. I knew I had to win that competition before I could qualify for National World Competition. I did win mad took 1st place in that show. I guess when you stop your career, you should always stop at the top, when everyone knows who you are, not what you were. I tried to do a couple more Santa Clog benefits in 2005 but my leg was in such pain I could not continue. I then had lower back surgery and the severe pain was gone but the neuropathy would not go away. I would like to thank my two very best friends for sticking by me and helping me through this crisis. Mr. Paul: (aka), Helga. another community legend of spirit, giving, benefits and caring, for getting me the best surgeons, standing by me thru surgery and coming by my home on his way to ~vork every day to wash my ass and change my bandages. Arnie XWard, for taking so much time offwork to take me back and forth from exams, doctors and hospitals. SANTA loves you both so dearly. I would not have survived without you. No~v Santa only does children benefits, private corporate parties and my favorite adult bars: N0 eio~ng; just takAng pictures, giving out pre~ents havi@ ~ iittl~ ~,~ arid .... loving every moment. Now I am one of the most sought after Santa’s in Tulsa. I begin getting requests for appearances in July for the December season. Santa has appeared in four magazine and six newspaper articles. Someday I dream of Santa dancing again in the spirit of the season. From 1937 to 2004 (67 years) I have danced over 350 performances, benefits and fund-raisers for the Tulsa and su> rounding communities. I was actually paid union wages for one show. The Vandever’s summer fa~shion show at Southern Hills Country Club about 30 years ago. So, if you divide the $50.00 into 350 performances, I have been paid just about .07 cents per performance. Does that make me a professional volunteer? I would like to take this opportunity to let the world know how very much I appreciate all the support and devotion of good friends, entertainers and bar~8~ners (past and present) for helping me do what I love best, DANCE !! As Santa said when he rode out of sight, Happy Holidays and to all a Good Night ! I left the Green Country Cloggers in the capable hands of the worlds best Leather Clogger "Gene West" who took the cloggets to new heights. I formed the "OK Country Cloggers" from other Cloggers around Tulsa. We performed benefits for Tulsa Opera at Cains Ballroom and Tulsa Ballet Inc, at Harwellen. The OK Country Cloggers quickly dwindled into a trio competition team. The Ok Country Cloggers had performed for two seasons for "Black Gold Days" in Glenpool. I was teaching a clogging ~etroSTAR 15 �QEe’ Syrah, Syra :: Celebrate the holidays with a cool red wine Brief history For most wine lovers, as we talk about Syrah or Shiraz; two specific places of the xvorld come tO mind: Rh6ne Valley in France and Australia. Syrah is found in other wine regions of the ~vorld, though- California, Italy and South Africa- hmvever the reference areas of this grape are still considered France and Australia, each being identifiable for its particular style. Of course, of the two regions, the one having a longer tradition is the Rh6ne Valley, whereas in Australia, Syrah - or Shiraz, as it is commonly known in the land of kangaroos - has a history shorter than two centuries. ~ais grape may not be commonly associated with the holidays like other red wines, however, this varietal rates highly among the most elegant, tastefhl and food friendly wines. To that end, I recommend that we consider adding a bottle or two to our wine shopping list for this season. We have much to celebrate and sharing wine & food with friends & family is the best thingwe can do. The northern part of the Rh6ne Valley, in France, remains one of tl~e undisputed reference point.s for the production of wines made with the Syrah grape. The best examples of varietal Syrah, are the ones produced with the appellations Hermitage, C6te-R6tie, Cornas, St-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage. Wines produced in these areas have Strong fruit aromas, a good acidity, dry body and an appreciable mineral taste. Hermitage has a deep color and intense fruit aromas, in particular black currant, full body and evident astringency. Syrah is also common in the southern part of Rh6ne Valley and it is used in Ch~teauneuf-du-Pape This months recipe courtesy of: Directions: Ogunquit, Main About 4 hours before ser~,ing: Remove giblets and neck from goose. Refrigerate giblets and neck to use in soup another Discard fat from body cavity; rinse goose with running cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Fasten neck skin to the back with 1 or 2 skewers, With goose breast-side up, lift wings up toward neck, then fold under back of goose. With string. tie legs and tail together. With fbrk, prick goose skin in several places. Place goose, breast-side up, on rack in open roasting pan. Rub goose with 2 teaspoons salt. Insert meat thermometer into thickest part of meat between breast and thigh, being careful tha pointed end of thermometer does not touch bone. Roast goose in 350 degree oven about 3 hours. Start &ecking for doneness during last 30 ~ninutes of roasting goose. Christmas Goose With Cabbage t frozen goose (12 pound size), thawed salt 1 medium sized head red cabbage I medium sized head green cabbage 1 medium sized onion 1 large green cooking apple 1 package (8 ounce size) sliced bacon 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 teaspoons sugar 1 teaspoon caraway seeds 1/4 cup currant jelly 2 tablespoons &T marsala wine 16 #~®troSTAR ’04- Oregon Slammer ’06- California (which translates as New Castle common in southern Languedoc-Roussillon blended with Grenache Noi C Syrah fro aromas of black pepper associated with wines Trinity Pousseur ’06- California to emit often to your favorite wine purchase a bottle or ~d & wine with friends and r yourself. area. Food parings Syrah is a good turkey or ham F ’ " who knew ? We always think Pinot best red wine choice. A lot may hinge on the way your meat is prepared. Appetizers with veggies or cheeses with a sharp like flavor can also pair ~vell. This writer also bar tends and hosts wine & food events known in town as the Wine Enthusiasts of Tulsa. www.~neSpectato~:com www.Foodand~ne.com ............. www.~Vikipedia.org slotted spoon, remove bacon to paper travels to drain. In bacon fat in saucepan over medium heat, cook green cabbage, onion, caraway seeds, and I teaspoon salt until cabbage and onion are very tende}, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally; keep warm, About 20 minutes before goose is done, in small saucepan, heat red currant jelly and marsala. Brush goose occasionally with idly mixture. Goose is done when thermometer reaches 180 degrees to 185 degrees and thickest part of leg feels sof~ when pressed ~th fingers protected by paper towels. When goose is done, remove skewers and string. Linep,latter with reserved red and green cabbage leaves. Place goose on cabbage leaves: let stand 10 minutes for easier carving. Spoon red and green cabbage on platter with goose. Mier goose has roasted fbr I hour. prepare red andgreen, cabbage’, reserve fi.~v outer leaves of red and green cabbage for garnish. Slice red and green cabbage and onion; dice apple; cut bacon into 1/2 inch pieces, it into a In 12-inch skillet over medium- lmv h~r. cook half of bacon until browned. With slotted spoon, remove bacon to paper towels to drain. In bacon tht in skillet over medium heat, cook red cabbage, apple, red wine vinegar, sugm; and 1 teaspoon salt until cabbage is very tender, about 25 minutes. stirring occasionally; keep warna. Meamvhile, in ~-quart saucepan over medium-low heat, cook remaining bacon until browned.iWith )resence Jonathaffs Restaurmat Bourn ~ December 2008 �Trace Adkins At the BOK Center, Tulsa INSIDE HOLLYWOOD Deep Inside Hollywood, which reports on new projects for Nicole Kidman and Jane Fonda By Romeo San Vicente Fonda Returns to Broadway with Moises Kaufman TRACE ADKINS with special guests: Craig Morgan & Jason Michael Carroll Tickets On Sale Oct 3 @ 10am Ticket Prices: $52 and $42 When Trace Adldns appears on stage, his towering presence and floor-shaldng baritone instantly energizes the crowd. With a string of hits spanning more than a decade like "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk; "Hot Mama," "I Got lVly Game On," and "Ladies Love Country Boys;’ and his powerful, heart-stirring ballads like "I’m Tryin;’ "Arlington;’ "Every Light In The House;’ and "I Came Here To Live;’ Adldns takes his audience on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Cirque du SoleiFs Saltimbanco Dec 10, 2008 to Dec 14, 2008 at BOK Center Cirque du Soleil’s Saltimbanco December 10th at 7:30 December 1 lth at 7:30 December 12th at 3:30 & 7:30 December 13th at 3:30 & 7:30 December 14th at 1:00 & 5:00 Ticket Prices:S97, $77, $62, and $42 Group tickets: For groups of+20 or more receive 10% offyour tickets, group discounts do not apply to Friday or Saturday show times. For group tickets please call 918-894-4252 Cirque du Soleil weaves its magic in Tulsa for the first time with Saltimbanco. Saltimbanco is the very first "classic" Cirque du Soleil touring show to be presented in arena. The Saltimbanco arena tour, proudly presented by iShares, will performed 8 shows at the BOK Center from December 10 to 14 inclusively. December At ~lhe P.A.C. Tulsa Performance Dates 3 FREE Brown Bag It: Tulsa Festival Ringers John H. Williams Theatre 4-28 FREE Artist Janet Duvall PAC Gallery 5 Available by Subscription Tina Brown Chapman Music Hall I View Interactive Seating Chart 6 BUY Christmas with TOC Chapman Music Hall I View Interactive Seating Chart 11-14, 16-23 BUY A Christmas Carol John H. Williams Theatre Dec 12-t4, 19-21 _ Wind in the Willows, Charles E. Norman Tl~eatre Dec 12-14, 17-20 BUY The Santaland Diaries, Liddy Doenges ~eatre Dec 13-14, t8-21 BUY The Nutcracker (Tulsa) Chapman Music Hall She’s a producer, memoirist, exercise guru, and multi-Oscar-winning actress, but fihn legend Jane Fonda’s roots go all the way back to Broadway. And while she hasn’t strutted and fretted her hour upon the stage since the early 1960s, Fonda is preparing her return to the Great White Way in a new play ~vritten and directed by Moises Kaufman, the gay writer behind "The Laramie Project". "33 Variations" focuses on a musicologist (Fonda) and her study of Beethoven’s obsession with a particular piece of music. Fonda hasn’t been completely absent from the stage--in recent years, she:s participated in several one-night-only special presentations of Eve Ensler’s "The Vagina Monologues". Get ready for New York to be abuzz when the woman who was Barbarella returns to Broadway this winter. Landon’s Career Remains Hot with "Burning Palms" "Burning Pahns" may sound like a clothing-optional gay resort, but it’s actually the new film written and directed by Christopher Landon, the openly gay son of TV legend Michael Landon. On the heels of Christopher’s success as the co-writer of the hit "Disturbia", dais Holl)-a,ood legacy returns with a new satire that pokes fun at the residents of various segments of Los Angeles, and "Burning Palms" boasts an interestingly eclectic ensemble. Slated to star in the fihn are Dylan McDermott, Shannen Doherty, Lake Bell, Nick Stahl, Zoe Saldana, Adriana Barraza ("Babel"), Colleen Camp and Rosamund Pike. They’ll play characters whose storylines overlap in five different vignettes set in different L.A. neighborhoods. Vditch for the smoke in 2009. Kidman and Tneron Go Out [’or "Danish" Nicole Kidman and Chadize Theron both won Oscars for playing lesbians and for ~vearing fake noses--in "The Hours" mad "Monster", respectively--but the mind reels about what kind of prostheses will be required for their next movie. "The Danish Girl" will star the duo as real-life artists Einar and Greta Wegener. Einar (Yddman) began life as a man but later became the world’s first transsexual in 1931; Einar’s road to womanhood began xvhen he stood in for a female model in a painting that Greta (Theron) was creating. Anand Tucker ("Shopgirl", "Hilary and Jackie") will direct from Lucinda Coxon’s adaptation of David Ebershoff’s book. Look for Kidman and Theron to astound the world almost as much as the real Wegeners did, when "Tne Danish Girl" eventually hits theaters. Soon, We’ll MI Be "Spartacus" The smash success of"300" put muscular, leggy men in togas back on the ctfltural radar, and "Xena" exec producer Sam Raimi (who directed some obscure art films with "Spider-Man" in the tide) intends to keep them there. Raimi is one of the driving forces behind "Spartacus", a new series for the Starz cable channel that centers around a legendary slave rebellion against the Roman Empire. Insiders say the show will shoot for the same intense violence and distinctive graphic-novel look of both "300" and "Sin City", so Romeo figures that means lots of oiled up, brawny lugs fighting each other to the death in leather miniskirts. And that’s good TV! "Spartacus" starts shooting in New Zealand at the beginning of the year ~vith an eye to unfurling its muscular majesty on Starz next summer. More ENTERTAINMENT see page 20 www.metrostarnews.com N~troSTAR 17 �entire country, we want to thank the gays and lesbians in California for fighting this batde for us. And keep fighting until we win! by Donald Pile and Ray Williams GAY TRA¥ LER’S, BOYCOTT UTAH "Morman Church Millions Help Pass Prop 8" EUREKA SPRINGS, AR (PR) __ In one of the slowest economic periods in recent memory, and at a time when other tourist destinations are experiencing downturns, this Ozarlcs getaway is doing remarkably well. things "right", it is time for the rest of gays and lesbians in the rest of the country to do what they can to help. So secondly; we are telling our readers to BOYCOTT UTAH ! Salt Lake City is the world headquarters of the Mormons and the Mormon’s account for about 62% of the population of Utah. Tourism brings in about $6 billion a year to Utah. They have ~vorld-class skiing, the film festival among many, things. Thousands of Mormons worked as volunteers and spent tens of millions of dollars on Proposition 8. Photo: Salt Lake CiF Temple M1 travelers have a choice ..... a choice as to where to go, where to stay, where to dine and where to visit. A few years ago the state of Colorado made some very bad decisions and thousands and thousands of both business as well as personal travelers made the choice NOT to visit or spend any money in that state. The state was financially hurt terribly by that boycott as conventions and business meetings were canceled. Fortunately the state mended its ways and now the gay community has once again started visiting the state. We are extremely" proud of the fact that Colorado elected the first openly gay congressman, Jared Polls. He was certainly the best person for that position. And now we come to Proposition 8. As one of the nearly 20,000 gay couples who were LEGALLY married this summer, we were devastated with the results on Nov. 4. Since we do not live in Cali~brnia we are not able to attend any of the rallies and protest marches but our readers from around the country have sent us dozens and dozens ofemails asking what they can do. We have told them two things. First, GO to California, spend money with those ~vho are wanting our business. There are thousands of straight owned businesses in California who are on our side. There are thousands of gay mvned businesses who have worked hard on defeating Proposition 8 as well as thousands and thousands of gays and lesbians who went door to door and worked tirelessly. They are all to be conm~ended highly. They did not sit idly by and just hope for a victory. They worked long and hard. So as the gays and lesbians who live in California take to the streets and protest and march and do whatever that they can to have the California Supreme Court step in and make 18 ~÷troSTAR Eureka Springs Tourism Increases Despite Tough Economic Times Mayor Dani Joy’s o~ce reports that receipts f~r Eureka Springs city sales t~es have increased, year-to-date, 2.36% over last year. Meanwhile, City Advertising and Promotion Commission figures reflect an even larger improvement. Operations Manager Sheila Hulsey said 2008 C.A.EC. tax collections year-to-date are up 9.6% over the same period in 2007. Photo: Golden Gate B,;idge San Francisco. Califo,saia’sflght against Prop 8failed on November 4 mobilizing hundreds ofthousands who held protest rallies around the world. Visit California. As just one gay couple out of the nearly 20,000 gay couples who were LEGALLY married this summer in California, we resent the Mormon Church’s involvement in our civil rights. Is it okay they can have 10 spouses, but yet deny us to have just one ? Mormon spokesmen say that they had a right to do ~vhat they did. \Ve also have a right to do what we are doing, ha 2008 you just cannot take away anybody’s civil rights and expect not to get a backlash. You cannot take away our legal marriage and get away with it. No, NO, NO ! No matter what state you live in, BOYCOTT the Mormon Church but by all means BOYCOTT the entire state of Uta!! Don’t go there, don’t spend your gay dollars there, don’t purchase anything from any company that is based in Utah. There will be plenty of listings of businesses who gave money for Proposition 8. Boycott them all! The gaypress in California Photo: Echo Lake Denver; CO. Fortunately Colorado mended has done and will continue to do it’s ways and now the gay community has once again started a fabulous job of keeping all of us visiting the state. informed about Proposition 8. This is not just a California story, but a story for the entire country. With Barack Obama becoming the first African-American President of the country it wotfld have been nice to think that prejudices were going to be a thing of the past. However the Mormon Church proved us wrong about that. Hate still does exist and mainly in the eyes of the Mormon Church. Mayor Joy believes several factors are respon;ibte for the city’s strong economic showing in the face of national financial turmoil. "First of all, our community has come together this year in a coordinated effort to make the tourist’s stay in Eureka Springs the best it can be. "And, simultaneously, we’ve done a better iob of marketing ourselves." Tne mayor also cited high gas pr!ces as afactor. "When gas was near!y" $4 a gallon, travelers saved money by staying closer to home." She continued, "Some chose a domestic vacation instead of taldng an overseas flight. Many others picked a destination within a few hours drive over one a few days away." Joy also believes Eureka Springs’ relatively inexpensive lodging and meals have helped the city grow while other tourist destinations have declined. "We’re quite a bargain compared to the larger, glitzier vacations spots," she said. Finally, the city’s quiet, relaxing feel could be a factor. "When you come here you feel like you’ve stepped back in time," the mayor stated. "We have Victorian homes, locally owned shops in an historic downtown, and no stop lights or mega-malls. We’re a very refreshing escape from the rat race--and, especially these days, people value that!" Once October figures are received by the city and the C.A.P.C., Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Feldman believes they will shove an even larger improvement. "Most of our members say they’re having an excellent month," he commented. ’~md several business owners have told me they’ve had their biggest days and weekends in history." For info on Eureka Springs, contact Ken Rundel, CAPC, P.O. Box 522, Eureka Springs, AR, 72632. 479-253-7333 ken@eurekasprings.org On behalf of millions of gays throughout the December 2008 �www.metrostarnews.com #~®troSTAR 19 �OKC Civic Center Music Hall December Events Nov. 28 - Dec. 20 A NICE FAMILY GATHERING a comedy by Phil Olson Nov. 28- Dec. 21 ROMEO &JULIET Dec. 4 - Dec. 6 A VERY MERRY POPS presented by the Oklahoma City" Philharmonic Dec. 5 - Dec. 21 THE JUNGLE BOOKby Rudyard Kipling, adapted by Rick and Erin Cheek Dec. 5 - Dec. 21 A TUNA CHRISTMAS by Ed Howard, Joe Sears and Jaston Williams Dec. 6 - Dec. 7 THE NUTCRACKERpresented by the Tulsa Ballet Dec. 7 CANTERBURY CHRISTMAS Dec. 11 CARLOS MENCIA Dec. 12 John Prine with Iris DeMent Dec. 13 - Dec. 21 THE NUTCRACKER - OI<C Ballet CompaW Photo afMike P~,or in American ~eatre Co’s produ~:tion ~se Santaland Diaries. Photo by Michad Ervin, Ervin Productions. TULSA, OK (PRy __ The Santaland Diaries, a merrily subversive t~ale, is David Sedaris’ humorous and acerbic acconnt of working as an elf at Macy’s in Manhattan. It has become an ’anti-holiday’ cult classic. NPR humorist and best-selling author David Sedaris made his comic debut reading his "Santaland Diaries" on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition. Sedaris’ sardonic humor and incisive social critique have since made him one of NPR’s most popular and humorous commentators. In 2001, Sedaris became the third recipient of the Thurber Prize for American Humor, and was named by Time magazine as "Humorist of the Year." Website- www.lo iecomics.com E-Mail- KylesBnB(~aol.com bitter girl The Santdand Diaries runs December 12th through 20th in the Doenges Tneatre of the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Curtain time is at 8:15 PM xvith matinees at 2:15 PM. Tickets at MyTicketO~ce.com, area Reasor’s stores, at the Performing Arts Center at 3rd and Cincinnati, or chage by phone a 596-7111. emalh bittergirl@qsyndicate.com 20 December 2008 �by Jack Fertig December 2008 "Be playfut, Libra,"" Mercury is in Sagittarius stimulating talking, so work on listening. He’s tripping through aspects first to Uranus and Chiron, offedng healing through inspiration and wild experiments, then to Saturn, Neptune, and Eris, offering ways to either protect or unblock tribal notions and boundaries, especially across religious/spiritual barriers. It’s a good chance to get through to fundies in the family. ARIES (March 20-Apri~ 19): Some of the craziest ideas from your wildest dreams will have some practical application. They will need some work. Hash it out with a few friends to see how those wacky notions can fit in the real world. TAURUS (AprR 20 - May 20): How do social pressures influence your sexual autonomy? Playing with others necessarily requires some compromises, but you’re entitled to stand up for yourself. You may want to hold back on the impulse and negotiate a more fulfilling position. GEMiNi (May 21- June 20): To reconcile problems with a partner or colleague, try exploring entirely new ideas. What you eventually do work out can inspire fu[ther innovations to provide a new ~roach to long-standing problems at home. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): You’re even more loquacious than usual, but that can help heal old family problems. Work problems are more complicated, but keep talking. Focus creative, competitive playfulness towards achieving your ambitions. CAPRICORN (December 2t - January 19): Let your mind wander a bit. Discuss the crazier dreams and ideas that emerge with a friend. Letting yourself sound a bit weird can prove valuable. You don’t have to agree with old-fashioned notions, but study them well to develop a clearer argument against them. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Your friends are used to your weird side so don’t be shy. Revealing some of your wilder fantasies can prove therapeutic, maybe for them as well. Airing those notions can also help you clarify your sexual.boundaries. PISCES (February 19 - March t9): Some of your ambitions are unrealistic; talk privately with a boss or some expert to develop clearer goals. Then take time out to consider what you need to do to improve your relationship. Never mind your partner’s faults. What do _you_ need to do? CANCER (June 21- July 22): Sexuality can be healing, catalyzing new ideas - especia!ly when you try something new! Open yourself up to exploring fantasies. The oneg that are hardest to verbalize will teach you tocommunicate in new ways. LEO {July 23 - August 22): Casual jests can be unintentionally hurtful. Be ready to apologize, and to learn something in the process. Your humor will be handier when grappling with arguments that leave you wondering What’s really important. Balancing sympathy and logic is the tdck! VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Cleaning house can help solve problems with your partner, or just bring up problems that have been hidden. Keep up the effort even if it means an argument. The make-up sex will be terrifi!! LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Trying to be logical at work will backfire. Be playful and allow yourself to be inspired. Playing competitively with others can bdng out some long-hidden demons. Open discussion and humor can exorcise them once and for all. SCORPIO (October 23- November 2t): Set aside some money for impulse spending, but keep the receipts! Arguments with friends are especially likely, but keep in mind that these are people you have to live and work with. Keep your disagreements civil and your ego under control. ww-w.metrostarnews.com MCCo METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve T. Urie Spidt0fChdst MCC 2902 E20~ S~t J0plin, M0~04 417-52~84~ W0mhip Saturdays at 10:00 AM C0mmun~ Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC of the Living Spdng t7 Bk SHeet Eureka S~gs, AR 72632 479-25~9337 W0mhip Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! #~etroSTAR 21 �KING OF MASSAGE Great Touch Man to Man Fu!t Body Massage 2 hands or 4 hands available Now Hiring Male & Female Keller Williams Realty Chuck Breckenridge ~rhether buying or selling I’!1 work bard for you. lo800o535oAIDS (2437) Oklahoma’s HlVlSTB Hotline Creating Oomm u nity for People ~iving with H~V/A~DS 501 c (3) No~-I pi:ofit Orga~zatlon Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that l~nany of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HtV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. VVe invite anyone who ~zould like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail ourhouseloo9865@sbcglobal.net [] WVg,r~TgZ M ET RO S TA R2q EVgS .COM 22 {~*~{?troSTAR December 2008 �Support those who support us. Their ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you. HABANA INN 2200 1"-,I%z 39TH EXPRESSV/AY Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 ,a~,vw.habanainn.com Fd~LLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. I-IMRVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Cerdfied Public Accountant VALERIE WILLIFORD 625 N.~. I3th Street Oklahoma City, OK 405-226-8585 OKC MORTUARY 2415-C N. WALNUT AVE. Oklahoma City, OK 800-913-1310 ANGLES 2117 NW 39th St. Oklahoma Cig; OK ww~v.anglesclub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa OK ...... ..... 918-836:8700 ........................ wv,~v.gambooloungetulsa.com HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM MCC of the LIVING SPRING 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Wbrship Sundays 6pm MCC LFNITED 1623 N. Maplewood, Tulsa, OK 918-838-1715 ,a~ovw.mcctulsa.org OPENARMS YOUTH PROJECT 2015 -B S. Lakewood Tulsa, OK 74112 918-838-7104 ,~vw. openarmsproject.org CHUCK BP~CKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 I,~V 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn TOM & JERRYS 1501 N.W. 23RD Oklahoma City, OK 405-524-9100 0 OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 >> KING OF MASSAGE In or Out Calls Oldahoma City, OK 405-314-3898 CLUB 209 209 N. BOULDER Tulsa, OK ~18-584-9944 CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 www.clubmajestictutsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 I’~77 39TH EXPRESSWAY OHahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 xwzw.habanainn.com STEVES HIDEAV/AY LOUNGE 11730 E. llTH Tulsa, OK 918-437-0449 Open Sun- Sat 2pro to 2am THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE END UP 5336 E. ADMIRAL PLACE Tulsa, OK 918-836-0915 THE LEDO 2200 I’,IW 39TH EXPRESSVc’AY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com EXPRESSIONS Comm Fellowship 6009 NW Expressway Oklahoma City, OK 405-761-1878 ~a~a~v.exp ressionsOKC.com www.metrostarnews.com CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW- EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 www.c2 tgoldcastle.com L ~ L ~ R A A N I N A R "A C R H E E $ E A A P 0 L A N A R $ T A $ A AB L ! V E ! N AG A T N E ¥ 0 D 0 W A D U P R ! O RE S S E E S A $ T 0 N Og RO AR GA N $ N®troSTAR 23 �� Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document ~NWW.METROSTARNEWS.COM "WE DELIVER DIVERSITY" DECEMBER 1, 2008 life and times ofan OHahoma legend. ByMetro StarStaff WoCkmer News Service Photo) Bill Francisco,~Clogger Bill, haspofarmed over 350 b~efits andfundraisenfor the ~dsa and surrounding Communities since !93Z In the beginning, God created heaven and earth and Bill Francisco on September 5, 1931. He was born in the middle of the Great Depression. His Mother and Dad were Portuguese farmers, poor as the dirt they farmed. His job until school years was pulling weeds in the garden. "My career started when I was six ),ears old. I was in the 1st grade in Tulsgs Longfellow Hementary Schoo! at sixth and Peoria. We did a fund-raiser for the school. They staged still life portraits of Oklahoma history. I was selected as the young boy in the Ponca City.statue of The Pioneer Woman for my very first on-stage performance. Playing a statue, I had to stand perfectly still and not move for three minutes! The most difficult thing in the world for a six year old boy to do is stand still! I wanted to do such a good job, every night when the curtain went up, I would hold my breath the full three minutes so I wouldn’t move a muscle and be the perfect statue, but of course I almost passed out." ........Continued see SANTA page-15 protesting Califom,as ’assage ofl~ropost, tion 8. Wackner News An estimated 7,500 to 15,000 people marched through former New York Ammerican Civil Liberties Union Executive Manhattan Nov¯ 12 protesting caiifornia’~ Proposition 8, the Director Normal Siegel Said t~e was c0mfortable ,vith a figure - - state ~-on~titution of 7i500; and longtime gay activist Bill Dobbs, who opposes Nov. 4 to end same:sex marriage, which yeas legalized by the same.sex marriage, favoring civil unions instead, said 5,000 to 7,000. ~e march began at the Mormon Temple on Columbus Av, "Tonight was an amazing success and I was proud ofNew enue, went down Broadway, turned east on 61St Street, then York City standing in Solidarity with California and getting south on Central Park West to Columbus circle, people out in the streets doing something meaningful," said Johnson, who is director of government affairs at a Wall Street realresta*e-development firm and political director of the popular gay blog Towleroad. California’s Supreme Court has been asked to delete Prop 8 from the constitution, anda ruling is expected rdatively Estimates of the turnout for the march varied. Journalist and quickly. The American Civil Libe*:ties Union, Lambda Legal, radio personality Michelangelo Signorile reported 15,000; the National Center for Lesbian Rigl!ts and other parties say Gay activists have claimed that more than half of the money that funded the ubiquitous TV ads that convinced Californians to vote for Prop 8 was donated by Mormon families at the church’s urging. lead organizer Corey Johnson estimated 12,000; blogger and Prop 8 illegally "revised" the state constitution rather than participant Joe Jervis (JoeMyGod) Said 10,000 to 15,000; merely amending it. .,,,,....,.:Con{inued see NYC Page-8 My name is Chili. 2 December 2008 ~#w.metrostarnews.com Oklahoma City GLBT and Allied Community Rallies Over two hundred demonstrators t~llied on the Oklahoma City, City Hallsteps to p~otest discrimination voted in by California, Arizona, Florida andArkansas on Nov 4. Photo by ~ctor Gorin. On November 15 on the steps ofthe Oklahoma City Hall, there was an outpouring ofemotion & solidarity as over 200 GLBT people and their fair minded allies gathered together to protest the passage ofProposition City, yet nobody here was involved, so I decided that I was going to do this." At 24, a lifdong Oklahoman, he brought it together through Internet work and word of mouth, naakAng a grand occasion that received mainstream televithe rights ofthose who may want to marry later, but also left in legal limbo s~ae sex couples who had already gotten married For Trey Dill, who brought it all together, organizing this protest was his first venture in social activism. As he puts it, "After the passage ofProposition 81 found myself kind ofangry, and Igot on the Internet and began browsing every GLBT website. One day I stumbled onto the jointheimpact.com website, which was organizing these rallies nationwide. There ~vas a listing forOklahoma McCullar and Marlena Weaver, who had gotten married in California October 20, xvhose marriage is now in legal limbo. Although they realized that their marriage would not be recognizedqn Oklahoma, the passage ofProposition 8 still hurt. As Kara put it, "It makes us feel like we’re not worthy enough. ~aey’ll take our taxes, ~ve l~ve in the same community, yet we are second class citizens. We’re here to protest this, because gay or straight we all should have the same rights. STOP HATE IN THE HALLWAYS By Victor Gorin OKLAHOMA CITY. OK Educators, mental health professionals, activists and others interested in Oklahomds students came together November 13 for the 2nd Stop Hatred in the Hallways Conference. Following the success of the first conference held in Oklahoma City, this meeting was held at the U.S. Postal Service’s National Facility for Employee Development in Norman, bringing in people throughout Oklahoma interested in making Oklahoma’s schools safer. The Conference was originally organized by Cimarron Alliance, mainly because ofa glaring need that wasn’t being met. While there have been many incidents ofschool violence, and conferences and discussion to address it, there had never been a conference, seminar or major Ann Simank Social worker &former OKC Councilperson, Randy Tate Conference organiz- ~ Tanya Cox representingACLU Oklahoma. Photo by Victor Gorin meeting that included what many feel is the most common form ofbullying, those who are or are perceived to be gay or lesbian. Whether the problem is growing or simply being recognized and addressed is open to question. What is certain is that there definitely is a problem. In a national study, over 30% of U.S. students reported being involved in bullying either as a bully 13%, a victim 11%, or both 6%. Coming dose to home, the Oklahoma State Department of Health did a study surveying 7848 Oklahoma students. They found similar results, with 33% that had been involved in bullying, 12% as the bullg, 14% as the victim, and 7% involved in both. One in five students worried often or daily about being bullied. More than halfnever reported it to an adult at school or a parent. When asked what could be done about the situation, 213 of those xvho were bullied and halfofthose not bullied wanted better adult supervision. Not only is bullying damaging to both the victims, but frequendy the bullies suffer as well, with over 60% ofthose categorized as bullies in grades 6-9 having at least one criminal conviction by age 24. A study with the U.S. Department ofEducation of37 school shooting incidents found that 71% ofthe shooters felt threatened and/or persecuted, or had been attacked. Following a welcome by Richard Odgen, Chairman of Cimarron Mliance, the conference was addressed by Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson. He pointed out how things have dhanged, how prejudices of home are brought to schools, and those who ,ire different frequently become objects ofbullying. .............Continued see STOP HATE page-11 December 2008 Room Rates From $42.95 A~About Our Su#es www.metrostarnews.com ~et~tJSTAR 5 What’s the Matter with Oklahoma? By Gov. David V/alters Photo: Gov. David Walters (nndb.conO I waited three days in the hopes that my fuming at Oklahoma’s counter performance to the collective heave ho that the rest of the nation gave to the Republicans would subside. It has not. Axnending the title ofTnomas Franks’ insightful book about how conservatives won the heart of g,ansas ,.. "What’s the Matter with Oklahoma?" Did we really just do this? We’re the winner of the national championship for the highest McCain/Palin margin at 65.6 percent; the only state where Republicans gained ground in the state house, senate and statewide offices; and the only state in which McCain/Palin carried every county. Not one of our 77 counties ,vent Democratic, not a single blue dot. Sen. Obama polled 10.8 percent in Beaver County. This was not out of 100 votes where percentages are easily distorted, but out of 2,462 votes cast. Now you are thinking that we cannot expect mu& progressive thought out of a county best known for its cow-chip throwing contest (two tries if you lick your fingers after the first). BUt I have been to Beaver county and met good people and don’t understand 89.2% decided Sarah Palin should be vice president of the United States. It’s not just our friends in Beaver scouring the landscape for aerodynamic cow patties. Twenty-one counties fell below 25 percent for Obama and 39 counties, more than half of the 77, fell below 30 percent. The top bastion of Democratic performance? Cherokee county, where they used to spray for Republicans, held McCain/Palin to "only" 56.percent. The heart of our most Democratic county only allowed Obama to get within 12.2 percent of a single county victor,/. Howard Dean called me as I was looking at these ..........Continued See WALTERS OkEq Sponsors a Care Drive TULSA, OK (PR) __ OkEq is sponsoring a Care Drive as part of our Home for the Holidays. Donations are being accepted at the Center for Our House Too, which serves approximately 75 clients affected by HIV and AIDS. Our House Too needs personal items such as cleaning supplies and toiletry items. The Parish Church of St. Jerome’s Food Pantry served over 500 householcks and over 1000 people last year. The food pantry needs canned foods, stuffing mixes, hamburger helpers, etc. The drive will continue until the end of the year. A full list 0fitems needed is available at the Center and on our website, ~wccw.okeq.org Holiday Music Is In Air TULSA, OK (OKEQ) Council Oak Men’s Chorale Presents "A Holiday Happening" - an event so festive even Rudolph will be jealous! December 2nd, 5th, and 6th starting at 8:00pro at the Trinity Episcopal Church. For more information visit the web site at http://vcww. counciloak.org. Sisters In Song is also holding a Holiday Concert. The event scheduled for Dec 13th. Stay tuned for details or visit ww~v.myspace. com/sistersinsong. NEW GAY CLUB OPENS INJOPLIN JOPLIN, MO (PR) __ With several new GLBT bars opening and closing this past year, the Joplin Gay Community is looking forward to a place to gather and have fun that they can depend on to be open the next day. The PLA-Mor Lounge should be just that. Local business man and owner ofthe new dub, Bill Jack is well know and respected in the area. They are open Monday- Saturday 3:00PM to 1:30 am. Located at 532 South Joplin Ave Joplin MO 64801, phone 417-624-2722. OGRAAnnounces 2009 Royalty Team OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) _ OGRA has announced the New OGRA 2009 Royalty Team. Miss OGRA 2009, Anita Ryder Mr OGRA 2009, Larry Bourne Ms OGRA 2009, Brooklyn Rachelle OGRA would like to invite everyone to come and join us for our next genera! membership meeting, Sunday December 7th 2008 at 2:00 PM at the Ledo, in the Habana Inn Complex. The OGRA 2009 Royalty Team would !ike to invite everyone to their first fundraiser of their reign, Saturday December 20th 2008 from 8:00 PM until 10:00 PM at the Finishline, in the Habana Inn Complex. They ~vill be raising money for the 2009 Great Plains Rodeo and their Charity Partners. During the evening a Christmas wreath auction will be held and door prizes will be given away. They will also be issuing the organizations contributions to the charity partners for 2008. "Please join us to recognize al! the hard work the organization has done for this community during the 2008 year." N~e 2008 charity partners are RAIN Oklahoma and Other Options. Dennis R. Neill Equality Center opens December exhibit TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Dennis R Neill Equality Center Gallery exhibit for December is a fundraiser for the Gallery. The theme for the exhibit is ’Reflection on a Red Stiletto’. Each ofthe eleven participating artists were given ~a red stiletto to use in their creation or to use as inspiration for their creation. That piece ~vill be donated to the Gallery and available for purchase throughout the exhibit in a silent auction. The Opening Night Reception for the exhibit ~Vill be Thursday, December 4th, from 6 to 9pro, at the Center, 621 E 4th St, Tulsa. The exhibit and silent auction will rm~ through December 31. Each artist will also have one additional piece ofhis/her artwork on display for sale. Proceeds from this fuaadraiser will go towards the purchase ofwood benches for the Gallery, additional lighting, additional display pieces, etc. Artists that will be participating include: Michael Christopher Ann Marie DiStefano Karen Greenawalt G Krysta Hamilton Allie Jensen Nick Kountoupis Sharyl Landis Josh New Jessica Newman Directory ofLocal Animal Shdters Tulsa Shelter 918-669-6299 Broken Arrow 918-259-8311 OKC 405 297 3104 Muskogee 918 686 7297 Stillwater 405 372 0334 Coweta 918-486 2137 Siloam Springs 479 524 6535 Claremore 918 341 1260 Sand Springs 918 246 2543 Jenks 918 299 6311 Owasso 918-272-4965 Sapulpa 918 227 2722 Norman 405 321 6725 Collinsville 918 371 1000 Courtesy ofwvoCalabrescue.net 6 ~etroSTAR December 2008 Wockner News Service Colorado sends openly gay man to Congress Schwarzenegger: State Supremes may undo Prop 8 Photo:j~red Polls by Rex l~ckner Openly gay Jared Polls was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 4 from Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses areas north and west of Denver, including the city ofBoulder. Polls, a 33-year-old Democrat, is the first openly gay man elected to Congress who was out when elected t’or the first time. U.S. Rep. Tamlnv Baldwin. D-Wis., holds the female distincrmn in that regard. California Gov. A,wold Schwarzenegger thinks the state Supreme Court may annul Prop 8. Photo by Rex Wockner " California Gin: Arnold Schwarzenegger told CNN on Nov. 9 that the state Supreme Court may welt "undo" Proposition 8, the voter initiative that re-banned same-sex marriage Nov. 4 by amending the state constitution. ,~d the governor suggested he thinks that would be a good ~ove. "They had a very, very strong campaign, the pro-Proposition 8 people, and I think that the people that tried to defeat it did not have, "~e voters of out" district have spoken clearly maybe, as goo_d a campaigner had as much that they ~an~ change brought t~Washing~rn,- moneY behi"nd ~" t, whatever, Schwarz’ enegger Polls told the Denver Post. "I look fbr~vard to said. "I think it is unfortunate, obviously, but taking my out-of-the-box approach and creative ideas to help shake up "Washington? In his primary-election victory speech in August, Polls introduced his partner, made reference to being gay, ~d said, "I always worried that that ~vould get in the way (of) giving back mad contributing to our society:’ A millionaire who made his money in online ventures, Polis spent $5.6 million of his own funds in the campaign. Polls becomes the sixth open gay to serve in the I-louse ofRepresentatives, following in the footsteps of Baldwin, current Rep. Barney Frank kD-Mass.), and former Reps. Gerry Studds (D-Mass.), who is deceased, Steve Gunderson (R-Wis.) and Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.). Frank, 68, is now the powerful chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. Frank told the Post in August, "We are reaching that point where among.Democratic voters sexual orientation ofa candidate is not a factor." He also said that once he’s no longer the only gay male congressman, he won’t feel as much pressure to be a role modd and plans to start smoking cigars in public again. it’s nrt the end because I think this will go back into the courts, this will go back to the Supreme Court because the Supreme Court very clearly in California has declared this unconstitutional. It’s the same as in the 1948 case xvhen blacks and whites were not allowed to marry. This falls into the same category. So, I think that we will again, you know, maybe undo that, if the court is willing to do that, and then move forward from there and again lead in that area? In addition to the anti-gay side’s having aired much more effective ads than the pro-gay side did in the huge TV-advertising war, Schwarzenegger said there were other factors that aided Prop 8’s passage. "Because of the big turnout amongst African- Americans and Latinos, that had an effect also, which they did not expect, so there’s all kinds of other things there;’ he said. "And I think the religious groups have done a really big campaign, a lot ofthem, to support Proposition 8, and so on, and so it’s a very, very difficult thing." Before the TV ad war started, Prop 8 had been losing in the polls by as much as 17 points. 2qae governor also offered some advice to California’s gay population. °I can start indulging some bad habits; Frank said. "Let the young gay people find someone else to emulate? "(Y)ou should never ever give up; he said. "They should never give up. They should be on it and on it until they get it done: Laxwers for the gay side filed suit in the state Supreme Court on Nov. 5 seeking to annul Prop 8. They said it is not merely an amendment to the constitution but rather a "revision" that fundamentally alters the guarantee of equal protection. Constitutional revisions require a t~vo-thirds vote ofthe Legislature to reach the ballot. Prop 8 got there by activists’ collecting signatures on petitions. "Proposition 8 is invalid because the initiative process was improperly used in an attempt to undo the constitution’s core commitment to equality for everyone by eliminating a fundamental right from just one group -- lesbian and gay Californians," said the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. "Proposition 8 also improperly attempts to prevent the courts from exercising their essential constitutional role ofprotecting the equal prote. ction rights of minorities," the groups said. Same-sex marriages begin in Connecticut Don Perata and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass. Gay groups and others have filed suit seeking to invalidate Prop 8, arguing that it unconstitutionally "revised" the constitution, rather than merely amending it. When changes in the constitution have farreaching effects on the document’s structure and purpose, the process of amending it must begin in the state Legislature, with a two-thirds vote. The process cannot start solely with voters signing petitions, as was the case with Prop 8. "Proposition 8 is invalid because the initiative process was impropetly used in an attempt to undo the constitution’s core commitment to equality for everyone by elinainating a fundamental right from just one group -- lesbian and gay Californians;’ said the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Same-sex couples began marrying in Connecticut on Nov. 12 after final judgment was entered in a case decided by the state Supreme Court on Oct. 10. In a 4-3 ruling, the court had declared that the state’s policy ofoff~ring same~sex couples:only civil unions violated that state constitution’s guarantee Ofequal protection under the law. One report, based on partial data, said 66 marriage licenses were issued to same-sex couples across the state in the initial hours after samesex marriage becanae legal. With California voters’ recent decision to re-ban same-sex marriage, Massachusetts is the only other U.S. state where gay couples can marry. ~ae California move, which anaended the state constitution, is under assault in several new lawsuits filed with the state Supreme Court, and gays and their supporters have staged numerous large street demonstrations up and dmvn the state since Nox: 4. On S,a.ra,,y, No . 15, w=e .ge, ,-ooraihated anti-~grop 8protests across the country at 10:30 a.ra. Ca~fornia time. 7his was the scene in San Francisco. Viockner Newspboto by Steve Silb~an Legislators want Pro overturned Forty-four California legislators filed a brief with the state Supreme Court on Nov. 10 urging that Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment that voters passed to qe-ban same-sex marriage, be overturned. Signers included Senate President Pro Tempore 8 Direct Cremation From $595 MORTUARY SERVICE, ~c Traditional Funeral Services at Affordable Prices (405) 230- 1310 or !-800-913-1310 Pre-Need Plan CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED 2415-C North WalnutAvenue, Oklaho www.metrostamews.com MetroSTAR 7 California Supreme Court Grants Review In Prop 8 Legal Challenges Court To Determine Constitutionality of Prop 8 SAN FRANCISCO, CA (PR) __ November 19, 2008) -- Today the California Supreme Court granted review in the legal challenges to Proposition 8, which passed by a narrmv margin of 52 percent on November 4. In an order issued today, the Court agreed to hear the case and set an expedited briefing schedule. q-he Court also denied an immediate stay. On November 5, 2008, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit challenging the validity of Proposition 8 in the California Supreme Court on behalf of six individuals and Equality California. The City of San Francisco, joined by the City of Los Angeles and Santa Clara County, filed a similar challenge, as did a private attorney in Los Angeles. The lawsuits allege that, on its face, Proposition 8 is an improper revision rather than an amendment of the California Constitution because, in its very title, which ,vas "Himinates the right to marry for same-sex couples," the initiative eliminated an existing right only for a targeted minofit): If permitted to stand, Proposition 8 would be the first time an initiative has successfully been used to change the California Constitution to take way an existing right only for a particular group. Such a change would defeat the very purpose of a constitution and fundamentally alter the role of the courts in protecting minority rights. According to the California Constitution, such a serious revision of our state Constitution cannot be enacted through a simple majority vote, but must first be approved by two-thirds of the Legislature. Since the three lawsuits submitted on November 5, three other lawsuits challenging Proposition 8 have been filed. In a petition filed on November 14, 2008, leading African American, Latino, and Asian American groups argued that Proposition 8 threatens the equal protection fights of all Californians. On November 17, 2008, the California Council of Churches and other religious leaders and faith organizations representing millions of members statewide, also filed a petition asserting that Proposition 8 poses a severe threat to the guarantee of equal protection for all, and was not enacted through the constitutionally required process for such a dramatic change to the California Constitu~ tion. On the same day, prominent California womeffs rights organizations filed a petition asldng the Court to invalidate Proposition 8 because of its potentially disastrous implications for women and other groups that face discrimination. In May of 2008, the California Supreme Court held that barring same-sex couples from marriage violates the equal protection clause of the California Constitution and violates the fundamental right to marry. Proposition 8 would completely eliminate the right to marry only for same-sex couples. No other initiative has ever successfully changed the California Constitution to take avcay a right only from a targeted minority group. Over the past 100 years, the California Supreme Court has heard nine cases challenging either legislative enactments or initiatives as invalid revisions of the California Constitution. In three of those cases, the Court invalidated those measures. For more information on dais case, go to: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/ highprofile/prop8.htm MISS BAMBOO 2009 CROWNED By Greg Steele Photo: Miss Bamboo 2009 Lady Katherine TULSA, OK __ No prelim, no registration fees, not known for glamour, but an absolute celebration of campy fun with a big heart. That is the Miss Bamboo Pageant. Although this year’s contestants did break with tradition and were quite stylish. Lady Katherine was a bit sleazy with her very revealing Victoria Secret underwear! Votes for each contestant were determined by the amount of money each was given by the audience for their performance. Our House Too ofTulsa ~vas the recipient of this years proceeds of $625.00. Our House Too offers a variety of services for people who are HIV+ or living with AIDS. You can contact them at 918-585-9552 or 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 Conspicuously absent from the entertainment line-up this year was self proclaimed Empress of the Bamboo, Miss Mona Lott and Miss Bamboo 2007 (2 X default) Czarina Rottchacokoffwho’s Hollywood caliber talent was very much missed. A constitutional revision requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to begin the process, while an amendment can be placed on the ballot simply by collecting enough voter signatures on petitions, as was the case with Prop 8. "Proposition 8 is invalid because the initiative process was improperly used in an attempt to undo the constitution’s core commitment to equality for everyone by eliminating a fundamental right from just one group -- lesbian and gay Californians," the legal groups said. "Proposition 8 also improperly attempts to prevent the courts from exercising their essential constitutional role of protecting the equal protection rights of minorities," the groups said. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Nov. 10 expressed support for overturning Prop 8. "This will go back to the Supreme Court because the Supreme Court very clearly in California has declared this unconstitutional," Schwarzenegger told CNN. "It’s the same as in the 1948 case when blacks and whites were not allowed to marry. This falls into the same category. So, I think that we will again, you know, maybe undo that, if the court is willing to do that, and then move forward from there and again lead in that area." Schwarzenegger also urged gay Californians to "never ever gir.e u.p".o.n marriage.e.q.u.al.i~.: "They should be on it and on it until they get it done," he said. 8 ~®t~oSTAR December 2008 Neiman Marcus Gift Idea For Christmas 2008 Limited-Edition Fighter Motorcycle There’s the startling, dare we say sex); design that fuses raw power with crisp simplicity. It’s an evolution of the machine, at once taken back down to its core elements while being reinvented and re-engineered for optimal performance. It’s our street-legal sci-fi dream come to life, in the form of the limitededition Fighter Motorcycle. Ours exclusively courtesy of Confederate Motor Company°, the first ever Fighter packs 190 mph of performance into its cutting edge carbon fiber, titanium, andaluminum chassis~ There’s the 64" wheelbase, 27"H seat, integrated braking system, tots of high-tech bells and whistles, and custom NM edition features. But, honestly, ride it once and you’ll be too jacked up on adrenaline to remember all the details. (To view them in all their glory, go here.) Item Limited-Edition Fighter Motorcycle Price $110,000.00" OCBF9_NMO3594 To score one of only 45 of these raw, raging, right on machines, call 1.877.9NM.GIFT. *Manufacturer’s suggested retail price. Price excludes all taxes, tide, licensing, registration f~es, and transportation costs. Neiman Marcus is acting as the advertiser of this product. All sa]es will be conducted solely by participating, authorized dealers in the United States. Un A Metropolitan Community Church Sunday Services @ 11:00 A}4 1623 N. Maplewood Tu{sa, OK 918-838-1715 % w.mcctu sa.org v~.metrostarnews.com ~®t~oSTAR 9 Is Gay Marriage A Q,Eestion Of Rights? By Gerald Libonati ~e marriage protection amendment that bans same-sex couples from marrying was on the ballot in three states last Tuesday. It passed in Florida and California by a margin of 52% to 48% with a majority of the precincts counted. In Arizona, a conservative state that once rejected the amendment, it passed by 56% to 44%. [[he results came as no surprise, emphasizing once again that the rights of unpopular minorities should never be put to a popular vote. How many times was the Equal Rights An,~,endment for ~vomen squashed? The first public Womans Rights Convention was held in 1848 west of Syracuse, New York. African-Amlericans did not win equal rights by a popular vote. The country vehemently fought against it. Equality for blacks required an act of Congress. So too, should equal rights for cay men and lesbian women be written into lave, not restricted y it. Some might feel gay marriage is not a question of rights, yet the expression of religious values is protected by the first amendment. After all, it is a religious Viewpoint that same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry, and it is the spiritual vie~cpoint of gay and lesbian couples (and the mental health community) that homosexuality is a good and valid expression. It is, to be sure, a religious debate as well as one of legal benefits. One can’t help feeling violated every time there is a gay/lesbian issue on the chopping block. It becomes a lightning rod for the religious right to rally agm’nst with their bumper stickers and selbrighteous slurs. How many gay and lesbian people feel battered during times like this? Yet, the struggle for gay rights may be part of a process that has not yet finished. Certainly, the zeitgeist has improved significantly over the years regarding attitudes toward gay/lesbian people. And if it is hard to imagine a time when GLBT people are a part of the Atnerican mainstream, remember it was once hard fbr women and black Americans to imagine, too. Gerald Libonati is an award-winning wrimr in South Florida. He has writtenfor the Sun-Sentinel, 7he Miami Hera~ 7he Advocate and various gay/lesbian newspapo’s. He is the author ofthe new novel, ’7~eter Wo~" the sto~ ofafamous gay rock star who goes incognito mfind love. NO on Prop 8 Campaign Leaders Call on Community to Stand Together SACP,AMENTO, CA (PR) __ Top leaders from the NO on Prop 8 campaign today issued the follmving statement urging leaders in the community to stand together following the passage of Prop 8. "This has been an incredibly difficult week for Californians who are disappointed in the passage of Proposition 8, which takes away the right to marry for same-sex couples in our state. We feel a profound sense of disappointment in this defeat, but know that in order to move forward we must continue to stand together as one community in order to secure full equality in California. "In working to defeat Prop 8, a profound coalition banded together to fight for equality. Faith leaders, labor, teachers, civil rights leaders and communities of col0r, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, public officials, local school boards and city councils, parents, corporate law firms and bar associations, businesses, and people from all walks of life l’oined together to stand up against discrimination. We must build on this coalition in order to achieve equal rights for all Californians. "We achieve nothing ifwe isolate the people who did not stand with us in this fight. We only further divide our state if we attempt to blame people of faith, African American voters, rural communities and others for this loss. We know people of all faiths, races and backgrounds stand with us in our fight to end discrimination, and will continue to do so. Now more than ever it is critical that we work together and respect our differences that make us a diverse and unique society.. Only with that understanding will we achieve justice and equality for all." Geoff Kors, Executive Director, Equality California Kate Kendell, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights. Lorri Jean, CEO, Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center Delores Jacobs, CEO, San Diego Gay and Lesbian Center 925 L Street, Suite 1200 Sacramento, CA 95814, Time for Waiting is Over -he Time for Action is NOW. By James Nimmo OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ A recent joint press release from Equality California, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center ,,,a,,n~d the San Diego Gay and Lesbian Center is counseling that We achieve nothing ifwe isolate the people who did not stand with us in this fight. We only further divide our state ifwe attempt to blame people of faith, African American voters, rural communities arid others for this loss. I disagree completely. No longer, no longer, no longer must religion be used as the cudgel to separate any person from their legal rights of fair treatment and protection under the law. I walked by a religious proselytizer today in downtown Oklahoma City. I hadseen him yesterday when he made a speech for Gee-sus on the bus I was riding. Today, though, he was on the sidewalk and said to me, "Did you know God loves you?" I looked him in the eye for a few seconds and replied, "F*** ofiq.", and walked away. I’ve never acted that way to a stranger before and depending on the perceived physical danger to me, it wofft be the last time I respond to an uninvited encounter with a proselytizer. Religion has and continues to be the major block to the implementation of rights for gay/lesbian citizens because of wh~tt we do in private and who we love in public. Religion ,vas the chain around the necks of slaves, it’s been the chastity belt forced on women’s reproductive choice, and it’s been the Closed book preventing the age-appropriate teaching of responsible sexual information to children. Religion instructs the empty-headed to fear our differentness, to treat us with disrespect and with barely concealed contempt to encourage violence against our property and bodies. Wegays/lesbians are far too complacent, accepting, and willing in our own disenfranchisement from our birth right as citizens. I welcome the peaceful protests in California and elsewhere that are demanding the protection and benefits of the laws that are applied to others but not to us. Our self-appointed equality leaders who counsel shyness and acceptance of a later time should act like leaders or get out of our way. The time is long past for coyness and politeness. Dr. M. L. King said it best in his "Letter from Birmingham Jail", April 16, 1963 with this paragraph: X~re know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given b~ the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct-action campaign that was "well timed" in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the ~vord Wmt. It nngs ~n the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This "Wait" has almost always meant Never. We must come to see, with one ofou distinguished jurists, that "justice too long delayed is justice denied." ( http://www.mlkonline.net/jail.html ) With the immorally presented kangaroo-court vote that passed Prop 8 in California and with other anti-gay measures in Arizona, Florida, and Arkansas, I think we gays/lesbians have waited long enough. Let the marches continue! As we march, let’s take our chant from the newly-elected President Obama’s campaign, Yes, we can! numbers. He wanted to say, "thank you" ... for what I have no earthly idea. I unloaded about our local results, but Howard didfft take the bait. His politically correct language has been finely honed from thousands of scathing attacks on each of his utterances. He opined that the economy is much better in Oklahoma than most states and that many other states have a sizable portion of their popul,a,tion tl~at,~ould normally be concerned about leaders who are different than they are. But in those states the economy and the need for change overwhelmed their normal reticence to select someone "unlike" them. Man that guy can talk. While t am fuming, foaming, uttering and mumblin,F, obscenities, he sounds like he just graduated from The vabama School of Cool. So should we do anything? Ofcourse we should. Not just for competitive partisan reasons, but because it’s not good for Oklahoma to run so counter. One national media service recently said bas,,ed on the polls, the future of the Re,publica,n Party lies with old white people and hayseed states. I, dont believe that, but much ofme nation does and we dont need to be in that category. Another pundit said that to understand the current Republican Party one has to "understand the unique culture and politics ofAppalachia." Are you kidding me? Hayseed states and Appalachia! Call your local chamber and ask them if they think this is somehmv good for us. From a national image it’s a disaster. From a local basis can you imagine how this emboldens Republicans in the state house, now firmly in control of the l~gislature? Do you think we are going to hear much about education, health care and jobs -- or are we simply going to get a double dose of Guns, God, and Gays? Gun sales in Oldahoma skyrocketed immediately prior to the election and particularly afterwards. The vast majority of these Oklahoma voters really believe that Obama -- in addition to not being a Christian, being affiliated with terrorists and intent on doubling our taxes -- is also going to take their guns! What was that comment during the campaign about clinging? So what do we do? Before we start shouting and stepping all over each other like the national Republicans, we should first calmly talk about process. Hmv do we determine what are the highest contributing factors to this unusual trend in Oldahoma? Let’s assume that we can identify with polling and focus groups the top 20 contributing factors, and then perhaps we can identify that half of these we cannot do an) thing about.., but a plan to address the other half may have merit. I have lots ofideas ... but I really have to cool off first. Posted by David Waiters at: http:llreddirtblog.typepad.coml red dirt blog/ 10 ~÷troSTAR December 2008 Rhis was best shown by the keynote speaker, Stephen Wessler, who directs the Center for the Prevennon of Hate Violence located in Pordand, Maine, and was a former assistant Attorney General in that state was well. He is the author ofthe book, "The Respectful School," and has received many awards for his work in the area of civil rights. OkA¢homa State Attorney Gene~alDrew Edmondson. Aspeaker at the 2nd Stop Hate in the Hallways Conference. Photo by Hctor Gorin He pointed out that serious bullying begins with words. He told ofa student (pseudonym John), ~vho was perceived to be gay by 4 male students at his school. At first they talked behind his back, and nobody objected. It escalated to name calling direcdy to John. ~aen it escalated to tripping and shoving in the hall, with no objections or intervention. The following February he ~vas jumped by three boys and severely beaten, and nobody intervened or told an adult. This followed by 3 more similar incidents, including an attempt in the bathroom to put his head in an unflushed toilet, and another incident where a boy put John’s head in a noose and pulled it tight for over 40 seconds. Finally, When one ofthe boys threatened to shoot John, the threat was overheard by a girl ~vho reported this to school authOrities, Finally the police were called and Mr. Wessler, as a prosecutor with the state hate crimes prosecution unit, finally took action. Ironically, the four boys involved in the harassment were age 12. Although the conference included the issues ofGLBT students, it was also inclusive ofother forms as ~vell, including those of Islamic students ~vho were harassed (frequently called terrorists), Latinos frequently called "beaners" or "tacos". Other issues included students with disabilities, and other characteristics such as being overweight. Reverend Scott Jones ofOklahoma City’s Cathedral ofHope led a panel discussion ofreligion and the role it played in harassment, and also those who are victimized. Another workshop conducted by Kathy Middleton with the Oklahoma State Department of Health, showed and demonstrated how bullying could be prevented, and how students & administrators can deal with it. And intervention can’t come too soon, not only for those bullied, but for all Oklahoma students who have the right to a productive, safe education. Oklahoma Couple Marries Photp: Rex Ball, Architect/Urban Designer, aformer US Commissioner ofFine Arts and Stephen Edwards, multi-award winning Interior Designer in Oklahoma were mar~ed October 24 in Palm Springs, CA by Mayor Steve Pougnet. The couple has been together for 24 years. Both are originally from Central Oklahoma where they first met. Having also lived in Washington, D.C. the couple settled in Tulsa in 1996. B~th ~e a~tive iii Hist0fi~il PreserVation and have renovated two Tulsa houses for themselves both ofwhich are located in neighborhoods on the National Register of Historic places. In Oklahoma City they renovated the Mid-Century landmark Raymond Carter designed Residence on Barnes Circle which is also visible from Pennsylvania Avenue. The services were conducted on Friday, October 24 by the Mayor of Palm Springs in the Mid-Century designed City Hall. q-he Mayor hadwritten the words of the service. Witnesses were former Tulsans Mike Green and Jim Trotter also Architect Dan Logan of Palm Springs and Malibu. The couple has 5 daughters and nine grandchildren. Father and son marry partners in Palm Springs double wedding By Rex Wockner Charles Robbins, executive director of~e Trevor Project, and Damon Romine, director ofentertainment media at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, got married Nov. 2 in Palm Springs in a double ceremony that also saw Romine’sfather, David, marry hisparmen La~wy Barrett. From left: Robbins, Damon Romine, David Romine and Barrett. Photo by DavidA. Lee Charles Robbins, executive director of~he Trevor Project, the national suicide-prevention helpline for gay youth, and Damon Romine, director of entertainment media at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, got married Nov. 2 in Palm Springs in a double ceremony that also saw Romine’s father, David, marry his partner, Larry Barrett. Robbins, 46, and Damon Romine, 42, have been together for nine years and Barrett and David Romine have been together for 16 years. It was believed to be California’s first same-sex double wedding ceremony shared by a father and son. Same-sex marriage became legal in California on June 16, following a Supreme Court ruling, and became illegal again on Nov. 4, following passage of a ballot initiative that amended the state constitution to negate the ruling. Gay groups have filed suit to block the amendment from taking effect. At press time, the State Supreme Court had not ruled on the case, and county officials had stopped issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Will & Grace creator marries Max Mutchnick, a creator and executive producer ofTV’s Wilt & Grace, got married to lawyer Erik Hyman on Oct. 25 in Beverly Hills. "We wanted to be a part of the wave of same-sex couples getring married before the election," Mutchnick told The New York Times. ~e couple have been together for two years. They moved in together a week after meeting and have never spent a night apart since. Mutchnick told The Times that Hyman is the most intelligent and confident man he’s ever met, and the only one he’s met who can withstand his insecurities and histrionics. Hyman said he felt hard for Mutchnick’s passion, charm and humor. The couple have two daughters, who were born to a surrogate. California voters ended same-sex marriage in the state Nov. 4, amending the state constitution to say, "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." Gay groups have filed suit to block the amendment from taking effect. At press time, the State Supreme Court had not ruled on the case, and county officials had stopped issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. OKLAHOMA CITY COUPLE WED IN CALIFORNIA Kara McCullar & Marlena Weaver demonstrate on Oklahoma City Hall steps. The couple was legally married in California October 20. Photo by Victor Gorin. www.metrostarnews.com MetroSTAR 11 @Club 209, Tulsa @Club Majestic, Tulsa @ Bamboo Lounge, TulSa ..... @ Finishline, Oklahoma City @ The Copa, Oklahoma City 12 @Angles, Oklahoma City @ The Ledo, Oklahoma City @ Steve’s Hideaway, Tulsa Community Fellowship "A place where you can be who God created you to be andfi’iends’hips becomefamily" Worship Experience Sundays 5:30p.m. Pastor Neill Spurgin PastorNeih’@ExpressionsOKC.com (40 ) 76 - 7s ~w.ExpressionsOKC. corn Lansbrook Event Center 6009 NWExpressway Oklahoma City, OK December 2008 On Saturday, Nov. 15, there were coordinated anti,Prop. 8 protests in 300 cities in all 50 states and several other countries at 10.30. a.m. California time, ~lengthy march from San Diego’s Balboa Park to the Count~ 25;000 ~ar~hers, Photo by Re~ Wockne~ On Sa~twday, Nov. 1£ there were huge, coordinated anti-Prop 8protests across the country at 10:30 a.m. Ca~lifo~ia time. ~is wa~ the stone in San ~,n&co. ~&nerNewspbom by Steve 39am the stage to repeate!ly create a~ant rambowflag, to the de@,}t ofnews photographers and cameramen. ter and ~dsa rallied in opposition to California’s Prop S. Arqzona, Florida outlJwedMardage ~quality an~ Arkansas voted toprobibit GLBT~doption, Saturda November 15, 2008 25,000 str~g mti~Prop 8 grassroots protest in San Di~g0~ N Wockner News Service Caribbean health offidals call for repeal of buggery laws UK Ministry ofDefence paid $6.2 million to sacked soldiers Gay couple arrested in Mexico for kissing and hugging UK to give lesbians equal access to fertility treatment Some government officials in attendance at The United Kingdom’s Ministry ofDefence the recent annual meeting ofthe Pan Carib- has paid $6.2 million to people who were Txvo male U.S. citizens were arrested in Playa A controversial bill that passed Britain’s House del Carmen, in Mexico’s Q,~intana Roo state, ofCommons Oct. 22, authorizing stem-celt bean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS called kicked out ofthe armed forces before the gay for kissing and hugging in public, the Mexico research that implants human cells into animal for repeal oflaws that criminalize gay sex as a ban was lifted in 2000, officials said Nov. 7. eggs creating hmnan-animal hybrids, also pathway to slowing the spread ofthe virus, the City daily E! Universal reported Oct. 22. cleared the way for lesbians to access fertility Caribbean Media Corporation reported. Sixty-five people have been compensated, receiving an average of $96,300 each. Eric Schroeder, 22, andJosd Mdndez, 35, were treatment and for a lesbian couple to be named "Ifxve repeal the Buggery Act it reduces risky accused of committing "a moral misdeed" (una on a birth certificate as a child’s parents. behavior and puts the onus on men who have "Over the past few years the MoD has made falta a la moral), jailed for 15 hours and fined sex xvith men to act in a responsible way," strenuous efforts to reach amicable settle- 2,000 pesos ($148). The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill passed the House ofCommons 355-129 and is said Dr. Peter Figueroa, head ofthe Jamaican ments in relation to those legal claims which Ministry of Health’s AIDS program. "When remained outstanding and we are pleased that Schroeder told the paper that on Oct. 10 the unlikely to be further modified before becompeople see themselves as excluded or discrimi- compensation has now been awarded in all couple was "resolving some differences that ing law. hated against and stigmatized, it promotes these cases;’ a spokesman said. we had" and, as they walked out ofthe house, risky behavior? "there were a few hugs and a kiss out front:’ "We’ve always thought it scandalous that lesbian couples could lawfully be excluded from the Britain’s armed forces lifted their gay ban on safety of (National Health Service) clinics, for The health minister ofthe island nation of orders from the European Court ofHuman At that point, police arrived, handcuffed them, Dominica, John Fabien, agreed, saying: "We Rights. then drove them around while they "picked up which we all pay," said Ben Summerskill, chief need to take this to another level, I think the more people who presumably had committed executive ofleading gay lobby group Stonewall. other crimes," he said. "Often they’ve been forced to use unregulated level ofprime ministers.... The whole ques- backstreet services instead? tion ofmen who have sex with men ... we can’t bow our heads in the sand and say it do~s no{..... .................. 1 ...."-They,wanted money and realizingthey , ,, DutCh men convlc~:eG weren t going to get it, they drove us around Children in lesbian and gay families develop happent.rayndtoI,villsee howbderivveincgou, ldthe getPr°cessthingsbaCkgoingh.°.m..e of injecting sex partriers Schroeder said. ’ in exactly the same social and intellectual way gge need to really fall in line mad try to get it off the books." Barbados’ health minister, Dr. David Estwick, asked, "What are we going to do about reaching men who have sex with men when we have laws against their sexual activity in most Caribbean countries. Jamaica’s Figueroa added that when gay sex is stigmatized, "it drives not only the epidemic underground, but it also means that men ~vho have sex with men disguise their sexuality, take on a girlfriend and have sex with women who are unaware that they are really people who have sex with men, and therefore this acts as a bridge in terms ofHIV transmission from the gay community." The lneeting was held in Montego Bay, Jamaica. According to Amnesty International, 11 Caribbean-area nations continue to ban gay sex -- Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jmnaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. Hungarian Parliament passes nexv hate-crime laws Hungary’s Parliamentpassed legislation in early November extending hate-crime laws to cover members "ofa social group" and making it possible to initiate civil proceedings against someone ~vho engages in degrading or intimidating behavior toward another based on "sexual orientation." The changes need the approval of President L~szl6 S61yom and also must be able to withstand possible Constitutional Court challenges. The court previously has struck down socalled hate-speech laws on freedom-of-speech grounds. with HIV Two men in Groningen, Netherlands, were convicted Nov. 12 of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm by injecting several men ~vith HIV-infected blood after apparendysedating them during gay sex parties arranged over the Internet. One of the perpetrators, who vcas also convicted ofrape, received a nine-year prison sentence and the other was sentenced to five years. The Groningen District Court determined that while all the victims in the case were HIV-positire, there was no way to know if the assaults caused their infections, given that they had willingly participated in barebacking orgies. Resistance in UK to gay adoption A recent ICM Research survey conducted for the United Kingdom’s National Adoption Week revealed a high degree of resistance to adoption by gay couples. The poll of 1,007 people found that 40 percent ofth0se questioned think gay male couples should not be allowed to adopt and 36 percent think lesbian couples should be banned from adopting: Susan Cotton, adoption manager for the charity Action for Children, told the BBC the findings xvere "shocking and disappointing." "We have successfully placed children with both gay couples and single people. We know it works," she said. The couple’s eventual incarceration at the main police station ended after they paid a cop a 300-peso fee to take one oftheir credit cards and withdraw money to pay the 2,000-peso fine, Schroeder said. SPain’s ueen Sofia hot water with gays Spain’s Q~een Sofia is in hot water with gays after the newspaperH Pals published excerpts Oct. 29 from an upcoming biography of the queen by journalist Pilar Urbano. ha "The Q~_een Up Close" ("La Reina muy de cerca"), Sofia, 69, is quoted as saying: "I can understand, accept and respect that there are persons ofother sexual tendencies, but should they feel proud to be gay? Should they ride on a parade float and come out in demonstrations ? ffall ofthose ofus who aren’t gay came out in protest we would halt traffic." She went on: "Ifthose persons want to live together, dress up as bride and groom and marry, they could have a right to do so, or not, according to the laws of their country, but they shouldn’t call dais matrimony, because it isfft. q-here are many possible names: social contract, union contract? Spain is one ofsix countries where same-sex couples have access to full marriage. A royal spokesperson conaplained that the quotations are not "exactly" accurate. The State Federation ofLesbians, Gays, Transse~ uals and Bisexuals demanded that Sofia recant her reported statements. as any others," he said. "This latest step forward for our communities is an important reminder that lesbian and gay families are every bit as loving and tender and magical as any other." Irish president condemns Speaking at a GLBT youth forum in Galway on Oct. 30, Irish President Mary McAleese condemned anti-gay bullying. "Homophobic bullying continues to be a societywide issue, including in our schools, and the link between it and suicide sends a clear message that this trend must be reversed," she said. "By refusing to go along with loudly voiced prejudices, we can overcome the bias and hostility experienced by many young gay people throughout the country." McAleese also said people don’t choose to be gay but rather discover that they’re gay. Australian de facto couples who split to be treated as divorced Australia’s Senate passed a bill Oct. 16 to treat unmarried couples who break up the same as married couples who divorce. The measure, which was returned to the lower house for approval ofSenate anaendments, will create a uniform national standard for separating de facto coupmsles, gay and straight, sending them to federal family-law courts to work out property settlements, pension splits and other Issues. Attorney-General Robert McClelland said the changes are "long overdue." 14 ~÷troSTAR December 2008 "In my junior high school years at Wilson Jr. High I delivered the Tulsa Daily "World morning paper on horseback for three years on what was then a two lane country road called Yale Ave. I had to quit riding horseback because the customers of a new housing development called "White City" complained that my horseback deliveries was tearing up their beautiful yards. I graduated in the 10th graduating class of Will Rogers High Schoo! in 1949." "The start of my dancing career was 1950 ~vhen I joined the new qfillsa Opera Ballet. ~-his was the time when opera companies retrained a Corps de Ballet and operettas were popular. ~l~.e Tulsa Opera_ Ballet would practice in the ballroom of Richard Mansfield Dickenson’s home on Riverside Drive and F!ouston Ave., which is now known as the Spotlight Theater on Riverside Dr. "t received a scholarship in 1952 to study dance with the "Ruth St. Denis Dance Foundatioff’ in Hollywood. While I was there I also studied ballet and jazz at the "Eugene Loring School of Ballet. M1 of the great dancers of the Holly~vood musicals of the 50’s would teach in their idle time at Loring’s studio, t was honored to take classes with some of Hollywood’s best. I was accepted with 150 other dancers in the Chorus of"On the Rivera" staring Danny Kaye and the Great "Gwen -Verdoff’. However, I nm~er made it to the final Audition because my dance career was interrupted in 1953 with a draft call from UNCLE SAM. Thinking my dance career was oveI; ! found it was just beginning." Photo: Bill Franc#co served in the A4ilimry 1953-1955 "My tour of duty took me to the occupation forces in Augsburg, Germany. I was blessed! They allowed me to continue my volunteer dancing for tile kindergarten kids in West Germany." "I was honored for nay volunteer dancing in Germany by becoming the only American awarded a medal by the city of "Augsburg at the 1954 Fashing Festival. They even wrote a nice article about me in the Augsburg newspaper which was in Get,nan and I didn’t understand a word of it. I sent it home to my mother in NAsa and she gave it to the Tulsa \Vorld to interpret and they published it in English in the Tulsa World Sunday Mar. 21, 1954." "Rett,rning home to Tialsa in 1955, I again auditioned for the renowned Tulsa Opera. I landed the leading male dancer, all with gold pigment and Crisco! I was beautiful (like an Oscar) but I had to work the next day. I took a shower to wash the gold pigment away and my hair turned green! I went to work and was ridiculed, LOL, the boy with the green hair." "In 1956 1 began dancing with the "Tulsa Civic Ballet" today knmvn as Tulsa Ballet Inc. I danced the premier of The Nutcracker and also performed the first Dr. Coppelius In Tulsa at the Municipal Theater today our Lady on Brady I also danced in the first two summer musicals with the "Tulsa Little Theater" at the 15th and Delavcare Playhouse." keShe could er my given name. She what my name was and \ in his usual vivacious reply said "just// CLOGGERB I //, Because volunteer dancing could not sustain me financially, I went to work for American Airlines in 1955. In 1961 American decided to move their finance department to NYC where they purchased their first computer. This was my opportunity to see hmv the professionals dance in the Big Apple. Let me tell you, I was just a little worm in the Big Apple. What a culture shock, nobody does volunteer dancing in New York. Everyone is a union professional. ! realized my love of country folk music, bluegrass and clogging there. I studied with the International School of Dance one semester. I realized dogging was what I wanted to dance the rest ofmy life. Isn’t is ironic? I fell in love with dogging in ]"FYC and had it all around me growing up in Tulsa. I returned home to Tulsa after 13 years in New York and spent all my free time attending clogging classes and workshops. The IGRA had become very popular with clogging teams throughout the U.S. and Tulsa. I attended a fund-raiser for OGRA in 1987 at "STROKES" and saw the renowned "Bunkhouse Cloggers" from Oklahoma City perform. I was so excited and impressed to see a rodeo clogging team that I wanted to form one from Tulsa for OGRA. Thus the "GREEN COUNTRY CLOGGERS" ~vere born in 1988. The Green Country- Cloggers became famous from the Mississippi west to Los Angeles, dogging to standing ovations in Oklahoma City, Dallas, Phoenix, Denver, Los Angles, Kansas, Joplin and Tulsa..We performed for two seasons at Tulsa Mayfest and the Bluegrass/Chilifest. When the Green Country Cloggers moved their practices to Tulsa’s Silver Star for bigger dance space we were doing a big fund-raiser to raise money to take the cloggers to Los Angeles ~br a rodeo performance. Our Mistress of Ceremonies was a eighteen year old (not old enough for the bar) known as KA~S KOHL. To this day in 2008, Kris Kohl has done more benefits and fun&raisers than any other entertainer in Tulsa and she is the real legend of this community. Our music maestro, arranger, recording artist and D. J. from the cloggers conception in 1988 was Ron Greenwood. Thank you Quake for all your loyalty and contributions to the cloggers. Kris Kohl was to introduce my solo. She could not remember my given name. She asked Qtmke what my name was and in his usual vivaciotrs reply said "just call him CLOGGERBILL" And from that time on, fbr 18 years, to the birth of"Santa, I have been known as "CLOGGERBILL" Now I’ve forgotten my real n~e. I left the Green Country Cloggers in the capable hands of the worlds best Leather Clogger "Gene West" who took the cloggets to new heights. I formed the "OK Country Cloggers" from other Cloggers around Tulsa. We performed benefits for Tulsa Opera at Cains Ballroom and Tulsa Ballet Inc, at Harwellen. The OK Country Cloggers quickly dwindled into a trio competition team. The Ok Country Cloggers had performed for two seasons for "Black Gold Days" in Glenpool. I was teaching a clogging class at the community center. They asked if I would dress as Santa and clog for the kids at their Children’s Christmas Party, of course I said yes. That was the birth of"Santa Clog". The kids just loved Santa Clogging and a lot of adults also. The next year I created my own Santa Suit, and started growing nay own beard with theatrical white wash. Since I’ve performed hundreds of Santa Clog benefits over the past ten years. It was so much fun (because I’m such a ham), that’s when I decided I wanted to be the real Santa for the rest of my life. In 2004 1 entered "SANTA_" in the Grand Lake dogging championship in Grove, Oklahoma. I had worked so hard on the choreography that I pinched the ~ciatic nerve in my left hip and neuropathy begin to set in. But I kept going. I knew I had to win that competition before I could qualify for National World Competition. I did win mad took 1st place in that show. I guess when you stop your career, you should always stop at the top, when everyone knows who you are, not what you were. I tried to do a couple more Santa Clog benefits in 2005 but my leg was in such pain I could not continue. I then had lower back surgery and the severe pain was gone but the neuropathy would not go away. I would like to thank my two very best friends for sticking by me and helping me through this crisis. Mr. Paul: (aka), Helga. another community legend of spirit, giving, benefits and caring, for getting me the best surgeons, standing by me thru surgery and coming by my home on his way to ~vork every day to wash my ass and change my bandages. Arnie XWard, for taking so much time offwork to take me back and forth from exams, doctors and hospitals. SANTA loves you both so dearly. I would not have survived without you. No~v Santa only does children benefits, private corporate parties and my favorite adult bars: N0 eio~ng; just takAng pictures, giving out pre~ents havi@ ~ iittl~ ~,~ arid .... loving every moment. Now I am one of the most sought after Santa’s in Tulsa. I begin getting requests for appearances in July for the December season. Santa has appeared in four magazine and six newspaper articles. Someday I dream of Santa dancing again in the spirit of the season. From 1937 to 2004 (67 years) I have danced over 350 performances, benefits and fund-raisers for the Tulsa and su> rounding communities. I was actually paid union wages for one show. The Vandever’s summer fa~shion show at Southern Hills Country Club about 30 years ago. So, if you divide the $50.00 into 350 performances, I have been paid just about .07 cents per performance. Does that make me a professional volunteer? I would like to take this opportunity to let the world know how very much I appreciate all the support and devotion of good friends, entertainers and bar~8~ners (past and present) for helping me do what I love best, DANCE !! As Santa said when he rode out of sight, Happy Holidays and to all a Good Night ! ,~w.metrostarnews.com ~etroSTAR 15 QEe’ Syrah, Syra :: Celebrate the holidays with a cool red wine Briefhistory ~ais grape may not be commonly associated with the holidays like other red wines, however, this varietal rates highly among the most elegant, tastefhl and food friendly wines. To that end, I recommend that we consider adding a bottle or two to our wine shopping list for this season. We have much to celebrate and sharing wine & food with friends & family is the best thingwe can do. For most wine lovers, as we talk about Syrah or Shiraz; two specific places ofthe xvorld come tO mind: Rh6ne Valley in France and Australia. Syrah is found in other wine regions of the ~vorld, though- California, Italy and South Africa- hmvever the reference areas of this grape are still considered France and Australia, each being identifiable for its particular style. Ofcourse, of the two regions, the one having a longer tradition is the Rh6ne Valley, whereas in Australia, Syrah - or Shiraz, as it is commonly known in the land ofkangaroos - has a history shorter than two centuries. (which translates as New Castle common in southern Languedoc-Roussillon blended with Grenache Noi C Syrah fro aromas ofblack pepper - associated with wines Food parings The northern part of the Rh6ne Valley, in France, remains one of tl~e undisputed reference point.s for the production ofwines made with the Syrah grape. The best examples of varietal Syrah, are the ones produced with the appellations Hermitage, C6te-R6tie, Cornas, St-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage. Wines produced in these areas have Strong fruit aromas, a good acidity, dry body and an appreciable mineral taste. Hermitage has a deep color and intense fruit aromas, in particular black currant, full body and evident astringency. Syrah is also common in the southern part ofRh6ne Valley and it is used in Ch~teauneuf-du-Pape to emit often area. Trinity ’04- Oregon Slammer ’06- California Pousseur ’06- California to your favorite wine purchase a bottle or ~d & wine with friends and r yourself. Syrah is a good turkey or ham F ’ " who knew ? We always think Pinot best red wine choice. A lot may hinge on the way your meat is prepared. Appetizers with veggies or cheeses with a sharp like flavor can also pair ~vell. This writer also bar tends and hosts wine & food events known in town as the Wine Enthusiasts ofTulsa. www.~neSpectato~:com www.Foodand~ne.com ............. www.~Vikipedia.org This months recipe courtesy of: Directions: Ogunquit, Main Christmas Goose With Cabbage About 4 hours before ser~,ing: Remove giblets and neck from goose. Refrigerate giblets and neck to use in soup another Discard fat from body cavity; rinse goose with running cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Fasten neck skin to the back with 1 or 2 skewers, With goose breast-side up, lift wings up toward neck, then fold under back of goose. With string. tie legs and tail together. With fbrk, prick goose skin in several places. Place goose, breast-side up, on rack in open roasting pan. Rub goose with 2 teaspoons salt. Insert meat thermometer into thickest part of meat between breast and thigh, being careful tha pointed end of thermometer does not touch bone. Roast goose in 350 degree oven about 3 hours. Start &ecking for doneness during last 30 ~ninutes of roasting goose. slotted spoon, remove bacon to paper travels to drain. In bacon fat in saucepan over medium heat, cook green cabbage, onion, caraway seeds, and I teaspoon salt until cabbage and onion are very tende}, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally; keep warm, About 20 minutes before goose is done, in small saucepan, heat red currant jelly and marsala. Brush goose occasionally with idly mixture. Goose is done when thermometer reaches 180 degrees to 185 degrees and thickest part ofleg feels sof~ when pressed ~th fingers protected by paper towels. When goose is done, remove skewers and string. Linep,latter with reserved red and green cabbage leaves. Place goose on cabbage leaves: let stand 10 minutes for easier carving. Spoon red and green cabbage on platter with goose. t frozen goose (12 pound size), thawed salt 1 medium sized head red cabbage I medium sized head green cabbage 1 medium sized onion 1 large green cooking apple 1 package (8 ounce size) sliced bacon 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 teaspoons sugar 1 teaspoon caraway seeds 1/4 cup currant jelly 2 tablespoons &T marsala wine Mier goose has roasted fbr I hour. prepare red andgreen, cabbage’, reserve fi.~v outer leaves of red and green cabbage for garnish. Slice red and green cabbage and onion; dice apple; cut bacon into 1/2 inch pieces, In 12-inch skillet over medium- lmv h~r. cook half of bacon until browned. With slotted spoon, remove bacon to paper towels to drain. In bacon tht in skillet over medium heat, cook red cabbage, apple, red wine vinegar, sugm; and 1 teaspoon salt until cabbage is very tender, about 25 minutes. stirring occasionally; keep warna. Meamvhile, in ~-quart saucepan over medium-low heat, cook remaining bacon until browned.iWith Jonathaffs Restaurmat ~ Bourn it into a )resence 16 #~®troSTAR December 2008 Trace Adkins At the BOK Center, Tulsa TRACE ADKINS with special guests: Craig Morgan &Jason Michael Carroll Tickets On Sale Oct 3 @ 10am Ticket Prices: $52 and $42 When Trace Adldns appears on stage, his towering presence and floor-shaldng baritone instantly energizes the crowd. With a string ofhits spanning more than a decade like "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk; "Hot Mama," "I Got lVly Game On," and "Ladies Love Country Boys;’ and his powerful, heart-stirring ballads like "I’m Tryin;’ "Arlington;’ "Every Light In The House;’ and "I Came Here To Live;’ Adldns takes his audience on a roller coaster ride ofemotions. Cirque du SoleiFs Saltimbanco Dec 10, 2008 to Dec 14, 2008 at BOK Center Cirque du Soleil’s Saltimbanco December 10th at 7:30 December 1 lth at 7:30 December 12th at 3:30 & 7:30 December 13th at 3:30 & 7:30 December 14th at 1:00 & 5:00 Ticket Prices:S97, $77, $62, and $42 Group tickets: For groups of+20 or more receive 10% offyour tickets, group discounts do not apply to Friday or Saturday show times. For group tickets please call 918-894-4252 Cirque du Soleil weaves its magic in Tulsa for the first time with Saltimbanco. Saltimbanco is the very first "classic" Cirque du Soleil touring show to be presented in arena. The Saltimbanco arena tour, proudly presented by iShares, will performed 8 shows at the BOK Center from December 10 to 14 inclusively. December At ~lhe P.A.C. Tulsa Performance Dates 3 FREE Brown Bag It: Tulsa Festival Ringers John H. Williams Theatre 4-28 FREE Artist Janet Duvall PAC Gallery 5 Available by Subscription Tina Brown Chapman Music Hall I View Interactive Seating Chart 6 BUY Christmas with TOC Chapman Music Hall I View Interactive Seating Chart 11-14, 16-23 BUY A Christmas Carol John H. Williams Theatre Dec 12-t4, 19-21 _ Wind in the Willows, Charles E. Norman Tl~eatre Dec 12-14, 17-20 BUY The Santaland Diaries, Liddy Doenges ~eatre Dec 13-14, t8-21 BUY The Nutcracker (Tulsa) Chapman Music Hall More ENTERTAINMENT see page 20 www.metrostarnews.com INSIDE HOLLYWOOD By Romeo San Vicente Deep Inside Hollywood, which reports on new projects for Nicole Kidman and Jane Fonda Fonda Returns to Broadway with Moises Kaufman She’s a producer, memoirist, exercise guru, and multi-Oscar-winning actress, but fihn legend Jane Fonda’s roots go all the way back to Broadway. And while she hasn’t strutted and fretted her hour upon the stage since the early 1960s, Fonda is preparing her return to the Great White Way in a new play ~vritten and directed by Moises Kaufman, the gay writer behind "The Laramie Project". "33 Variations" focuses on a musicologist (Fonda) and her study ofBeethoven’s obsession with a particular piece of music. Fonda hasn’t been completely absent from the stage--in recent years, she:s participated in several one-night-only special presentations ofEve Ensler’s "The Vagina Monologues". Get ready for New York to be abuzz when the woman who was Barbarella returns to Broadway this winter. Landon’s Career Remains Hot with "Burning Palms" "Burning Pahns" may sound like a clothing-optional gay resort, but it’s actually the new film written and directed by Christopher Landon, the openly gay son ofTVlegend Michael Landon. On the heels of Christopher’s success as the co-writer of the hit "Disturbia", dais Holl)-a,ood legacy returns with a new satire that pokes fun at the residents ofvarious segments ofLos Angeles, and "Burning Palms" boasts an interestingly eclectic ensemble. Slated to star in the fihn are Dylan McDermott, Shannen Doherty, Lake Bell, Nick Stahl, Zoe Saldana, Adriana Barraza ("Babel"), Colleen Camp and Rosamund Pike. They’ll play characters whose storylines overlap in five different vignettes set in different L.A. neighborhoods. Vditch for the smoke in 2009. Kidman and Tneron Go Out [’or "Danish" Nicole Kidman and Chadize Theron both won Oscars for playing lesbians and for ~vearing fake noses--in "The Hours" mad "Monster", respectively--but the mind reels about what kind ofprostheses will be required for their next movie. "The Danish Girl" will star the duo as real-life artists Einar and Greta Wegener. Einar (Yddman) began life as a man but later became the world’s first transsexual in 1931; Einar’s road to womanhood began xvhen he stood in for a female model in a painting that Greta (Theron) was creating. Anand Tucker ("Shopgirl", "Hilary and Jackie") will direct from Lucinda Coxon’s adaptation ofDavid Ebershoff’s book. Look for Kidman and Theron to astound the world almost as much as the real Wegeners did, when "Tne Danish Girl" eventually hits theaters. Soon, We’ll MI Be "Spartacus" The smash success of"300" put muscular, leggy men in togas back on the ctfltural radar, and "Xena" exec producer Sam Raimi (who directed some obscure art films with "Spider-Man" in the tide) intends to keep them there. Raimi is one ofthe driving forces behind "Spartacus", a new series for the Starz cable channel that centers around a legendary slave rebellion against the Roman Empire. Insiders say the show will shoot for the same intense violence and distinctive graphic-novel look ofboth "300" and "Sin City", so Romeo figures that means lots ofoiled up, brawny lugs fighting each other to the death in leather miniskirts. And that’s good TV! "Spartacus" starts shooting in New Zealand at the beginning ofthe year ~vith an eye to unfurling its muscular majesty on Starz next summer. N~troSTAR 17 entire country, we want to thank the gays and lesbians in California for fighting this batde for us. And keep fighting until we win! by Donald Pile and Ray Williams GAY TRA¥ LER’S, BOYCOTT UTAH "Morman Church Millions Help Pass Prop 8" Photo: Salt Lake CiF Temple things "right", it is time for the rest ofgays and lesbians in the rest of the country to do what they can to help. M1 travelers have a choice..... a choice as to where to go, where to stay, where to dine and where to visit. A few years ago the state of Colorado made some very bad decisions and thousands and thousands ofboth business as well as personal travelers made the choice NOT to visit or spend any money in that state. The state was financially hurt terribly by that boycott as conventions and business meetings were canceled. Fortunately the state mended its ways and now the gay community has once again started visiting the state. We are extremely" proud ofthe fact that Colorado elected the first openly gay congressman, Jared Polls. He was certainly the best person for that position. So secondly; we are telling our readers to BOYCOTT UTAH ! Salt Lake City is the world headquarters of the Mormons and the Mormon’s account for about 62% of the population of Utah. Tourism brings in about $6 billion a year to Utah. They have ~vorld-class skiing, the film festival among many, things. Thousands ofMormons worked as volunteers and spent tens ofmillions ofdollars on Proposition 8. As just one gay couple out of the nearly 20,000 gay couples who were LEGALLY married this summer in California, we resent the Mormon Church’s involvement in our civil rights. Is it okay they can have 10 spouses, but yet deny us to have just one ? Mormon spokesmen say that they had a right to do ~vhat they did. \Ve also have a right to do what we are doing, ha 2008 you just cannot take away anybody’s civil rights and expect not to get a backlash. You cannot take away our legal marriage and get away with it. No, NO, NO! Photo: Golden Gate B,;idge San Francisco. Califo, saia’sflght against Prop 8failed on November 4 mobilizing hundreds ofthousands who held protest rallies around the world. Visit California. And now we come to Proposition 8. As one ofthe nearly 20,000 gay couples who were LEGALLY married this summer, we were devastated with the results on Nov. 4. Since we do not live in Cali~brnia we are not able to attend any of the rallies and protest marches but our readers from around the country have sent us dozens and dozens ofemails asking what they can do. We have told them two things. First, GO to California, spend money with those ~vho are wanting our business. There are thousands ofstraight owned businesses in California who are on our side. There are thousands ofgay mvned businesses who have worked hard on defeating Proposition 8 as well as thousands and thousands ofgays and lesbians who went door to door and worked tirelessly. They are all to be conm~ended highly. They did not sit idly by and just hope for a victory. They worked long and hard. So as the gays and lesbians who live in California take to the streets and protest and march and do whatever that they can to have the California Supreme Court step in and make No matter what state you live in, BOYCOTT the Mormon Church but by all means BOYCOTT the entire state of Uta!! Don’t go there, don’t spend your gay dollars there, don’t purchase anything from any company that is based in Utah. There will be plenty oflistings of businesses who gave money for Proposition 8. Boycott them all! The gaypress in California has done and will continue to do a fabulous job ofkeeping all ofus informed about Proposition 8. This is not just a California story, but a story for the entire country. With Barack Obama becoming the first African-American President of the country it wotfld have been nice to think that prejudices were going to be a thing ofthe past. However the Mormon Church proved us wrong about that. Hate still does exist and mainly in the eyes ofthe Mormon Church. Photo: Echo Lake Denver; CO. Fortunately Colorado mended it’s ways and now thegay community has once again started visiting the state. On behalfofmillions ofgays throughout the Eureka Springs Tourism Increases Despite Tough Economic Times EUREKA SPRINGS, AR (PR) __ In one of the slowest economic periods in recent memory, and at a time when other tourist destinations are experiencing downturns, this Ozarlcs getaway is doing remarkably well. Mayor Dani Joy’s o~ce reports that receipts f~r Eureka Springs city sales t~es have increased, year-to-date, 2.36% over last year. Meanwhile, City Advertising and Promotion Commission figures reflect an even larger improvement. Operations Manager Sheila Hulsey said 2008 C.A.EC. tax collections year-to-date are up 9.6% over the same period in 2007. Mayor Joy believes several factors are respon- ;ibte for the city’s strong economic showing in the face of national financial turmoil. "First of all, our community has come together this year in a coordinated effort to make the tourist’s stay in Eureka Springs the best it can be. "And, simultaneously, we’ve done a better iob of marketing ourselves." Tne mayor also cited high gas pr!ces as afactor. "When gas was near!y" $4 a gallon, travelers saved money by staying closer to home." She continued, "Some chose a domestic vacation instead of taldng an overseas flight. Many others picked a destination within a few hours drive over one a few days away." Joy also believes Eureka Springs’ relatively inexpensive lodging and meals have helped the city grow while other tourist destinations have declined. "We’re quite a bargain compared to the larger, glitzier vacations spots," she said. Finally, the city’s quiet, relaxing feel could be a factor. "When you come here you feel like you’ve stepped back in time," the mayor stated. "We have Victorian homes, locally owned shops in an historic downtown, and no stop lights or mega-malls. We’re a very refreshing escape from the rat race--and, especially these days, people value that!" Once October figures are received by the city and the C.A.P.C., Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Feldman believes they will shove an even larger improvement. "Most of our members say they’re having an excellent month," he commented. ’~md several business owners have told me they’ve had their biggest days and weekends in history." For info on Eureka Springs, contact Ken Rundel, CAPC, P.O. Box 522, Eureka Springs, AR, 72632. 479-253-7333 ken@eurekasprings.org 18 ~÷troSTAR December 2008 www.metrostarnews.com #~®troSTAR 19 OKC Civic Center Music Hall December Events Nov. 28 - Dec. 20 A NICE FAMILY GATHERING a comedy by Phil Olson Nov. 28- Dec. 21 ROMEO &JULIET Dec. 4 - Dec. 6 A VERY MERRY POPS presented by the Oklahoma City" Philharmonic Dec. 5 - Dec. 21 THEJUNGLE BOOKby Rudyard Kipling, adapted by Rick and Erin Cheek Dec. 5 - Dec. 21 A TUNA CHRISTMAS by Ed Howard, Joe Sears and Jaston Williams Dec. 6 - Dec. 7 THE NUTCRACKERpresented by the Tulsa Ballet Dec. 7 CANTERBURY CHRISTMAS Dec. 11 CARLOS MENCIA Dec. 12 John Prine with Iris DeMent Dec. 13 - Dec. 21 THE NUTCRACKER - OI<C Ballet CompaW Photo afMike P~,or in American ~eatre Co’s produ~:tion ~se Santaland Diaries. Photo by MichadErvin, Ervin Productions. TULSA, OK (PRy __ The Santaland Diaries, a merrily subversive t~ale, is David Sedaris’ humorous and acerbic acconnt ofworking as an elf at Macy’s in Manhattan. It has become an ’anti-holiday’ cult classic. NPR humorist and best-selling author David Sedaris made his comic debut reading his "Santaland Diaries" on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition. Sedaris’ sardonic humor and incisive social critique have since made him one ofNPR’s most popular and humorous commentators. In 2001, Sedaris became the third recipient ofthe Thurber Prize for American Humor, and was named by Time magazine as "Humorist of the Year." The Santdand Diaries runs December 12th through 20th in the Doenges Tneatre ofthe Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Curtain time is at 8:15 PM xvith matinees at 2:15 PM. Tickets at MyTicketO~ce.com, area Reasor’s stores, at the Performing Arts Center at 3rd and Cincinnati, or chage by phone a 596-7111. Website- www.lo bitter girl iecomics.com E-Mail- KylesBnB(~aol.com emalh bittergirl@qsyndicate.com 20 December 2008 by Jack Fertig December 2008 "Be playfut, Libra,"" Mercury is in Sagittarius stimulating talking, so work on listening. He’s tripping through aspects first to Uranus and Chiron, offedng healing through inspiration and wild experiments, then to Saturn, Neptune, and Eris, offering ways to either protect or unblock tribal notions and boundaries, especially across religious/spiritual barriers. It’s a good chance to get through to fundies in the family. ARIES (March 20-Apri~ 19): Some of the craziest ideas from your wildest dreams will have some practical application. They will need some work. Hash it out with a few friends to see how those wacky notions can fit in the real world. TAURUS (AprR 20 - May 20): How do social pressures influence your sexual autonomy? Playing with others necessarily requires some compromises, but you’re entitled to stand up for yourself. You may want to hold back on the impulse and negotiate a more fulfilling position. GEMiNi (May 21- June 20): To reconcile problems with a partner or colleague, try exploring entirely new ideas. What you eventually do work out can inspire fu[ther innovations to provide a new ~roach to long-standing problems at home. CANCER (June 21- July 22): Sexuality can be healing, catalyzing new ideas - especia!ly when you try something new! Open yourself up to exploring fantasies. The oneg that are hardest to verbalize will teach you tocommunicate in new ways. LEO {July 23 - August 22): Casual jests can be unintentionally hurtful. Be ready to apologize, and to learn something in the process. Your humor will be handier when grappling with arguments that leave you wondering What’s really important. Balancing sympathy and logic is the tdck! VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Cleaning house can help solve problems with your partner, or just bring up problems that have been hidden. Keep up the effort even if it means an argument. The make-up sex will be terrifi!! LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Trying to be logical at work will backfire. Be playful and allow yourself to be inspired. Playing competitively with others can bdng out some long-hidden demons. Open discussion and humor can exorcise them once and for all. SCORPIO (October 23- November 2t): Set aside some money for impulse spending, but keep the receipts! Arguments with friends are especially likely, but keep in mind that these are people you have to live and work with. Keep your disagreements civil and your ego under control. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): You’re even more loquacious than usual, but that can help heal old family problems. Work problems are more complicated, but keep talking. Focus creative, competitive playfulness towards achieving your ambitions. CAPRICORN (December 2t - January 19): Let your mind wander a bit. Discuss the crazier dreams and ideas that emerge with a friend. Letting yourself sound a bit weird can prove valuable. You don’t have to agree with old-fashioned notions, but study them well to develop a clearer argument against them. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Your friends are used to your weird side so don’t be shy. Revealing some of your wilder fantasies can prove therapeutic, maybe for them as well. Airing those notions can also help you clarify your sexual.boundaries. PISCES (February 19 - March t9): Some of your ambitions are unrealistic; talk privately with a boss or some expert to develop clearer goals. Then take time out to consider what you need to do to improve your relationship. Never mind your partner’s faults. What do _you_ need to do? MCCo METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve T. Urie Spidt0fChdst MCC 2902 E20~ S~t J0plin, M0~04 417-52~84~ W0mhip Saturdays at 10:00 AM C0mmun~ Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC of the Living Spdng t7 Bk SHeet Eureka S~gs, AR 72632 479-25~9337 W0mhip Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! ww-w.metrostarnews.com #~etroSTAR 21 Keller Williams Realty Chuck Breckenridge KING OF MASSAGE Great Touch Man to Man Fu!t Body Massage 2 hands or 4 hands available Now Hiring Male & Female lo800o535oAIDS (2437) Oklahoma’s HlVlSTB Hotline Creating Oommu nity for People ~iving with H~V/A~DS 501 c (3) No~-I pi:ofit Orga~zatlon Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that l~nany of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HtV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. VVe invite anyone who ~zould like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail ourhouseloo9865@sbcglobal.net ~rhether buying or selling I’!1 work bard for you. [] WVg,r~TgZMETROSTAR2qEVgS.COM 22 {~*~{?troSTAR December 2008 Support those who support us. Their HABANA INN 2200 1"-,I%z 39TH EXPRESSV/AY Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 ,a~,vw.habanainn.com Fd~LLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. I-IMRVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Cerdfied Public Accountant VALERIE WILLIFORD 625 N.~. I3th Street Oklahoma City, OK 405-226-8585 ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you. HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM MCC of the LIVING SPRING 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Wbrship Sundays 6pm OKC MORTUARY 2415-C N. WALNUT AVE. Oklahoma City, OK 800-913-1310 ANGLES 2117 NW 39th St. Oklahoma Cig; OK ww~v.anglesclub.com MCC LFNITED 1623 N. Maplewood, Tulsa, OK 918-838-1715 ,a~ovw.mcctulsa.org OPENARMS YOUTH PROJECT 2015 -B S. Lakewood Tulsa, OK 74112 918-838-7104 ,~vw. openarmsproject.org OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 BAMBOO LOUNGE KING OF MASSAGE 7204 E. PINE In or Out Calls Tulsa OK ...... ..... Oldahoma City, OK 918-836:8700 ........................ 405-314-3898 wv,~v.gambooloungetulsa.com CHUCK BP~CKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 I,~V 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn TOM & JERRYS 1501 N.W. 23RD Oklahoma City, OK 405-524-9100 0 >> CLUB 209 209 N. BOULDER Tulsa, OK ~18-584-9944 CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 www.clubmajestictutsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 I’~77 39TH EXPRESSWAY OHahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 xwzw.habanainn.com CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW- EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 www.c2 tgoldcastle.com STEVES HIDEAV/AY LOUNGE 11730 E. llTH Tulsa, OK 918-437-0449 Open Sun- Sat 2pro to 2am THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE END UP 5336 E. ADMIRAL PLACE Tulsa, OK 918-836-0915 THE LEDO 2200 I’,IW 39TH EXPRESSVc’AY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com EXPRESSIONS Comm Fellowship 6009 NW Expressway Oklahoma City, OK 405-761-1878 ~a~a~v.expressionsOKC.com L ~ L $ ~ R A A V E A N I ! A T N A R N D 0 C R E E R ! $ E E A "A H A L A $ A P A R T 0 N A N N E ¥ W O 0 Og $ AB L ! AG 0 A D RE N RO AR GA U P S S E S $ T www.metrostarnews.com N®troSTAR 23 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2008] Metro Star Magazine, December 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 12 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 01, 2008 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Metro Star’s first issue began in August of 2008. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004), The Ozark’s Star (2004), and The Star (2005). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd; Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Greg Steele James Nimmo Joey D. Victor Gotin Rex Wockner Susan A. Muscari Vernon Britt Romeo San Vicente Andrew Collins Donald Pile Ronald Blake Ray Williams Jack Fertig Devre Jackson Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online text Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwest Missouri West Arkansas Southeast Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource Metro Star Magazine, November 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 11 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/200 The Metro Star Magazine, January 1, 2009; Volume 6, Issue 1 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/132 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/199 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/076a5bb6a56465df4fdce16156314088.jpg 9827cfd2bb72d258ee41dcc7d49917d5 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/20c2dab467cae8b8f01ea335c9dbeacc.pdf 9eb53b6a9f42eeb9ec85a375edbac995 PDF Text Text WWW.METROSTARNEWS.COM NOVEMBER 1, 2008 "WE DELIVER DIVERSITY" By Metro Star Staff U.S. Senator Barack Obama State Senator Andrew Rice Andrew Rice, currently a State Senator District 46, is running against incumbent Republican James Inhofe for U.S. Senate Corp. Commissioner fim Roth Ron Marlett Chad Hawkins Dana Orwig Democrat Ron Marlett is run"I think any crime committed Dana Orwig is running against ning against incumbent Repub- against a person because of Republican Jason Nelson, who lican Sally Kern of State House their sexual orientation that is worked as a fund-raiser in District 84. not considered a hate crime, 2001, raising $6 million dollars is unacceptable. A hate crimes glii ~tis~be ~a ~to i~t~de Anarew born April When Jim Roth was elected opp~rt~fiity to run against a sexual orient,+ion/’ Tulsa 23, 1973, attended Casady state representarive with mo~ to represent thd citizens 0f ~emScrat Chad Hawldns for Dana Orwig is running f’or Blade on Sept. 10. College in 1996 with a Oklahoma Countys D~stnct nation~ (and even som~ ifite> state Re~+++ntatig+ Di++ric~ the second time to reprenati0nal) fiotoriety. Sal!~ bachdor’s degree in Religious 1 in 2002, it was a mile~9 against[ Repiiblidm~ i~eumr sent the constituents of State "Michelte and I have been Studies, then went on to stone not only to the GLBT the ineumbefit for House District 87. She ran b+nt Weld0fi Wat+ofi! receive his Masters in Theo- community but also for ,vas already we!! lmo~ for her blessed with many openly gay unsuccessfully in 2006 against logical Studies from Harvard Oklahoma County residents agenda as a self-described "warand lesbian friends and cotRepublican incumbent Trebor Divinity School in 1999. leagues whom we have been rior for Judeo-Christian values". Chad Hawldns, born in Tul- Worthen, who is not running who longed for positive sa, a graduate of Jenks High From 1996 to 1999, he stud- change. close to for many years," the She crusaded against the book for the position again. Now not ied drug addiction problems School, Tulsa Community "King and King" being in the Democratic presidential candihaving to run against an incumand treatment in urban India. Needless to say, they got it. Children’s Section of Oklahoma College and Northeastern date said. "xghile that fact has bent, with a better campaign During graduate school he State University. "I believe made the issues facing the Public libraries, referring to it A welcome change during and strategy and voters more produced a documentary in this country, I believe in his first term was that he as "obscene" and claiming that hungry for change, she is very the State of Oklahoma and I optimistic about this upcoming ..... Cont. see OBAMA pg-6 ..... Cont. see RICE pg-6 Oklahoma libraries were atgot 8 bridges built in his tempting to "sexualize your chil- believe in the City of Tulsa. district, while his predeelection. Unfortunately, poor leaderdren." SWnen minimum wage cessor only got one. He i spearheaded expanding a was $5.15 an hour she opposed ship and lack of or simple She has lived in the District disregard for foresight and raising it, wanting a study of policy of nondiscriminafor more than 28 years, with how people on this income level planning has lead to a rotting her husband Steve, who is a tion for Oklahoma County By Vicor Gorin infrastructure, substandard budget their money. During employees that included physician Oklahoma City’s VA education, and a dependence hospital. They have 2 daughhearings on immigration, she sexual orientation and the OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ For over 10 years Red Rock on foreign energy sources due ters, along with 2 son in-laws North provided free HIV testing and counseling at their former handicapped. Jim not only asked a wimess who stated that to a failed national energy won widespread respect for she was Puerto Rican if she was and 2 lively grandsons. She has OKC location on the N.\V. 39th Street Strip. It came to be a policy." himself, but unprecedented an American. But ,#chat finally been ordained as a deacon in haven where those questioning their HIV status, those affected prompted Ron Marlett to run respect for the office itself. the Episcopalian Church, and by HIV, and those needing to learn more about it could seek For more info. visit: was hearing the infamous This was dearly shown has served in ways ranging from help in a non-judgmenta! place. Now located inside the Red Hawkins4tulsa.com .... Cont. see MARLETT pg-6 Rock Behavioral Health Services Headquarters at 4400 N. .... Cont. see ORWIG pg-6 .... Cont. see ROTH pg-6 Lincoln Boulevard, they still provide those services in the same way, their mission unchanged. The testing clinic is located on the 2nd floor, and the testing is free and confidential on a walk-in basis from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday thru Thursday, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Fridays. Testing is free & available for those over 13 years old. "A_merica, this is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page of the policies of the past." Jim Roth-incumbent Democrat Oldahoma Corporation Commissioner running against Republican Dana Murphy. ROCK NORTH NEW PLACE, SAME MISSION Other services are provided as well, including mental health and substance abuse assistance & counseling focused mainly on the GLBT community and/or those who are HIV infected or affected. Red Rock is a nonprofit agency, worldng in partnership with the Oklahoma State Health Department, that also ........... Continued see RED ROCK pg-11 Latino Night at Local Club Successful Law ~ gays m �~Marl~t. "I’m Ron Marlett and I’m running for State House District 84 because I want a chance to bring about change that really matters for my fellow Oklahomans: good jobs, affordable healthcare, a quality educational system and real freedom and equality." I NEED YOUR HELP TO WIN THIS ELECTION, WE CAN MAKE ~T HAPPEN! need money and volunteers! Ron Mar~ett RO. Box 854 Bethany, OK 73008 (405) 640-2069 www.ronmarlettforhousedistrict84.com �www.metrostarnews.com ~t~oSTAR 3 �LATINO NIGHT AT OKC’s ANGLES Sabados maravillosas otre veces! By Victor Gorin When Latino night debuted at Angles September 28, it was a time of anxious anticipation. ~fhere had been numerous attempts to bring business up at Angles since Nick Post had acquired it last year. During the last few ),ears Angles had gone from being packed on the weekends to virtually empty, and there had been many ideas and brainstorms to bring back the crowds they had before. One of these was Latino Night, featuring Spanish music where GLBT Latinos & their friends could celebrate their culture and be themselves, something that had been successful at the late Club Rox ( inside the late Hollywood Hotel) and at Sisters (a former Lesbian dub now the location of Phoenix Rising). This was a party with no place to go that Latino partiers were dying to celebrate. it, "We could go to straight Latino clubs where we guys could not dance together. At gay clubs we could occasionally hear Latino music, but we knew we needed a place of our own where we could dance together, enjoy our music and culture as Latinos." He wants to thank those who helped him make it happen. "The Gay Latino community is growing, and the people helping me have been wonderful, bringing music, giving me ideas, being together and supporting each other as one, and I want to thank these people who helped me put this together." For the community, it fills a need. As Latina Yogi Doroteo puts it,"It means a lot for our community, it gives the gay Latino community a place to go, to meet other Latinos. It also helps the community as a whole get to l~aaow us better, and that is needed." Spearheading this effort was DJ Juan Adame, who with his friends spearheaded the idea. The first night was trepidation personified, but they distributed flyers, talked it up, texted & emaited everybody they knew and hoped for the best. Needless to say Angles was overvchelmed ~vith a huge crowd of partiers, gay and lesbian Latinos, some Asians, some Caucasians, and some straight people who know a good time when it’s happening, many coming from Tulsa and other places to fiesta with the locals. It needed to happen because as DJ Juan puts P~6~n a suc~es~ Latifi6 nigh~ Will h~n ev~ ery other Saturday at Angle.s for those seeking tiempos buenos ( good times). It obviously was long overdue. ( November Schedule is Saturdays 8 & 11) Transgender Day o£Remembrance Observance On November 20th at Dennis R. Neill Equality Center Gender Advocacy Team, and other community leaders for a special evening remembering individuals who have died as victims ofantitransgender hatred or prejudice. The event will be at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center on Thursday, November 20th, 2008, at 7:00 PM. ~ne Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th Street, on the corner of 4th Street & Kenosha in Downtown Tulsa, Oldahoma. "Sometimes, as a cornmunity, we forget the struggles of people who are not as visible as others. Yet, I am proud of our organization’s commitment to the full inclusion of the transgender community. This June saw a very successful "Gender Avengers" production celebrating the "T" of LGBT Pride. We have very dedicated transgender volunteers, program participants and committee leaders. The full participation of all members of our community is essential to fulfilling our mission." said OkEq Board President Toby Jenkins. Zoey Sloane, a member of the Pride Marketing Team and the Gender Advocacy Team, noted that, "Discrimination and violence towards gay and lesbian people, as well as towards transgender people, is usually because of a real or perceived gender or gender-role variance. A guy is targeted because he’s "too feminine," or a girl is targeted because she’s "too butch." It really has much more to do with gender issues than sexual orientation. Hopefully, that realization will cause more people tobe commi~t~ ~ th~ ~!! i~[~ ...... ~i0~; ~f’e~ ~nd ~fiality 6f ~ebpl~ who af~ ..... transgender." According to the website http://gender. org/remember/day/, the Transgender Day of Remembrance serves the purpose of raising public awareness of hate crimes against transgendered people. It publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten, and it allows the expression of love and respect for real people here in our communities in the face of local and national ignorance, indifference and hatred. TULSA, OK (PR) __ Please join the members and friends of Oklahomans for Equality(OkEq), the members of the OkEq CC United Metropolitan Community Church 4 ~et;oSTAR Sunday Services @ 11:00 AM 1623 N, Maplewood Tulsa, OK www,mcctu sa,o g November 2008 �wv,~N.metrostarnews.com ~et~’~STAR 5 �GLBT community more personal, the fundamental reasons I have for supporting equality are greater than any individual .... We need to end the divisive politics of George W. Bush and pursue policies that treat all of us, regardless of identity or background, with dignity, equality and respect." Obama vowed, "If elected, I would call on Congress to enact legislation that would repeal DOMA and ensure that the over 1,100 federal legal rights and benefits currendy provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally recognized unions." For more information visit: w~wa~.BarrackObama.com entitled Ashes, which focused on the AIDS epidemic there. Back home again, he won election to the Oklahoma State Senate in 2006, representing approximately 71,000 people in central Oldahoma City. He has served on the Committees of Business and Labor, Health and Human Resources (co-chair), and Public Safety and Homeland Security. He led a successful effort to make it easier for lo~ governments to donate abandoned properties for use by Habit for Humanity" for lo~v income housing. He also authored legislation to create a State Veteraffs Health Insurance Program to provide coverage to uninsured Oklalaoma veterans. for our cars or flip a light switch, as,vell as many other blessings ~ve take for granted. He has proven himself again in the time he has already served on the Commission that he is beholden to the people and not special interests, and has the courage to stand up for ~vhat is rig~ht even if he has to stand alone. As Jim puts it: "I’m standing for over 3 million Oklahomans who want a brighter tomorrow. I’m mindful that it takes an oath, a responsibility and the ethics to serve 100% of this state. It’s been my honor to take the oath to do it, and I hope for the opportunity to continue to serve." Sunday school teacher to prison ministry. She has been a teacher in both public and private schools, and truly understands firsthand issues of education. She also understands and is committed to the needs of working Oklalaonaans. Endorsed by the AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, she is committed to helping Oklal~oma’s small businesses stay competitive and supporting the companies already here. VC-hen asked if she supports the "gay agenda", this is her answer. "I have friends and family members who are gay. I also have supporters how are gay. My position is that our government should protect the civil rights of all its citizens." recording (the one that made youmbe) of Sally Kern speaking at a Republican meeting, where she stated that gays were a bigger threat than terrorism or Islam, and compared them to cancer. Ron Marlett heard the comments about the GLBT community, and decided that he had to run, to offer the Oklahomans of District 84 something better. Currently a social worker with Community Pathways Unlimited ( an agency working with disabled and elderly people in Oklahoma nursing homes) he said in an interview with the Metro Star that he could not let Ms. Kern go unchallenged. Mr. Marlett earned an excellent score when he responded to a survey from the Oklahoma Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus, and has been an outspoken advocate for equality for all Oklalaomans. He grew up in a union household, supports workers’ rights and won the endorsement of the Oklahoma State AFLCIO, in contrast to the voting record and statements of his opponent. He faces a tough race in a very conservative district. .... His main point? " I think the biggest difference between me and my opponent is that I will fight for everyone’s freedom. She has already made it clear in her own words that not all religions or lifestyles are equal. IfI am elected to represent District 84 1 hope this will send a message not only to our state to also to our nation that our freedoms and equality are important." Unlike Senator Inhofe, who coined the phrase God Guns and Gays and has also stated that he’s proud that his family history has no homosexuality, Andrew Rice supports equalitty for all Oklahomans and will take those values to Washington. He is supported by the eace and justice community and organized bor, as opposed to Inhofe who has a 0% rating from the AFL-CIO, has opposed most minimum wage increases, and is ~vell known as a ruatter of record that he is no friend of working people. Andre~v also doesn’t share Inhofe’s view that global warming is a hoax. ~ ~ae choice could not be more clear. Let’s elect Andrew Rice to be our voice in Washington. Directory of Loca_[ Animal Shelters by his re-election in 2006 when his opponent, David Mehlhaff ran his campaign almost totally on the premise of bigotry, rarely if ever bringing up Mr. Roth’s job performance. When the constituents could see first hand the benefits of competent compassion, they recognized what was important and voted Jim back in handily with 63.4% supporting him. His abilities and dedication were recognized by Republicans and Democrats from many walks of life, including Governor Henry, who appointed him June 1, 2007 to serve Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode’s unexpired term when she resigned to take a job in the private sector. Although many constituents don’t give it much thought, the Commission touches our lives as we get gas 6 ~/et~"oSTAR Tulsa Shelter Broken Arroxv OKC Muskogee Stillwater Coweta Siloam Sprfngs Claremore Sand Springs Jenks Owasso Sapulpa Norman Collinsville 918-669-6299 918-259-8311 405 297 3104 918 686 7297 405 372 0334 918-486 2137 479 524 6535 918 341 1260 918 246 2543 918 299 6311 918-272-4965 918 227 2722 405 321 6725 918 371 1000 Courtesy o f w,a~v.labrescue.net November 2008 �Wockner News Service Connecticut Supremes legalize same-sex marriage Three down, 47 to go. Connecticut’s Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage Oct. 10, following in the footsteps of California and Massachusetts. In a 4-3 decision, the justices said denying same-sex couples equal access to marriage violated the state constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law. the economy is falling apart, I don’t care what you do!"~ DeGeneres said to Leno, "They are trying to ... stop gay people from marrying, like somehow Portia and I staying at home watching Dancing With the Stars is affecting anybody." Etheridge, Michaels to marry Gov. M. Jodi Rell said she didn’t like the ruling but has no plans to oppose it. "The Supreme Court has spoken," she said. "I do not believe their voice reflects the majority of the people of Connecticut. However, I am also firmly convinced that attempts to reverse this decision -- either legislatively or by amending the state constitution -- will not meet with success." The case was brought in 2004 in New Haven Superior Court on behalf of eight gay and lesbian Connecticut couples who had been denied marriage licenses, q-he couples now have been together for between 10 and 32 years and are raising a total of 14 children. Tne court’s 85-page decision can be read online at tinyurl.com/conndec. Same-sex marriage also is legal in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa and Spain -- and will become legal in Norway in January. Jay Leno supports samesex marriage TV talk show host Jay Leno expressed unequivocal support for same-sex marriage on his Oct. 1 broadcast. During a chat with out talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, Leno said: "I come from Massachusetts, and they’ve had it in Massachusetts for a !ong time. And it’s.fine. Tile world doesn’t collapse. "You know, I must admit, I go to West Hollywood -- people know that’s the gay area. The nicest area, the cleanest area, the safest area. I mean, I dofft get it. I mean, if two people warn to have something together -- w~,~w.rnetrostarnews.com California protects gay seniors Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill Sept. 28 to help prevent anti-gay bias in senior-care facilities and nursing homes. "Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay" people are entitled to marry," the decision said. "To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay, persons and another to all others." The ruling is expected to take effect around Nov. 7. Attorney General Richard Blumenthai said he ~vould not challenge the decision in any way: Backers of the gay-marriage ban say the poll should be a wake-up call to conservatives to vote. Opponents say the poll shows they have made progress in explaining that the proposal could jeopardize domestic partnership benefits that many governments and companies offer straight and gay employees. The ruling is expected to take effect around Nov. 7. Same-sex marriage also is legal in California, Massachusetts, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa and Spain -- and will become legal in Norway in January. There is no residency requirement to get married in the three U.S. states or Canada. Gays protest at Louisville McDonald’s The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, requires licensed health care professionals who have constant interaction with seniors to attend a training program on preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Singer Melissa Etheridge, 47, and actress Tammy Lynn Michaels, 33, are getting married, Etheridge told tile TV show Extra on Oct. 1. "Yes, we have four children and we’re trying to find the right time," Etheridge said. California’s Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in June. On Nov. 4, voters will decide whether to amend the state constitution to undo the ruling. Polls have shown support for same-sex marriage as high as 55 percent and as low as 42 percent. They have clocked opposition to same-sex marriage as high as 47 ~percent and as low as 38 percent. Seven to l0 percent of voters have polled as undecided on Prop 8. FLORIDA State Amendments Seem Likely to Lose "Some members of the (GLBT) community living in nursing homes have been denied their most basic rights, including the simple choice to spend time with a loved one, because of their sexual orientation or gender identity," said Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors. "We appreciate the support of Gov. Schwarzenegger and the Legislature for approving this measure, which ¯;viii prractively create a culture of respect and understanding for all seniors living in care facilities." EQCA said basic rights such as the choice to live in the same nursing home with a partner and the right too hospital visitation are routinely denied to older same-sex couples. Connecticut residents support same-sex marriage decision A Hartford Courant/University of Connecticut poll has found that 53 percent of state residents support the Oct. 10 state Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage, and 42 percent don’t like it. Posted by Daily Queer News October 20, Among Democrats, 72 percent support it while, among Republicans, 69 percent oppose it. An effort to rewrite the Florida Constitution to prohibit gay marriage is falling short of the numbers needed for victory in the Nov. 4 election, a Sun Sentinel and Florida TimesUnion poll shows. The poll of 502 adult residents had a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points. Tne poll of 600 likely voters shows support for Amendment 2 at 53 percent, less than the 60 percent approval rate required to change the constitution. ~ae gay-marriage question is one of six statewide referendums on this year’s lengthy ballot. The poll found uncertainty high on all of the rest, which range from tax breaks for homeowners who install hurricane protection to elimination of racist language from the state constitution. In a 4-3 decision, the Connecticut justices said denying same-sex couples equal access " " ’ to marriage violated the state consntunons guarantee of equal protection under the law. "Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay people are entided to marry," the decision said. "To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others." Gay activists and others protested outside a downtown Louisville McDonaM’s on Oct. 10 after an employee called a gro. ~p ofgay customers ’faggots"and a sup~isor said the incidwnt was no"big deal" and refused to refiand the customers’ money. Fairness carnpaign photo Gay activists and others protested outside a downtown Louisville McDonald’s on Oct. 10 after an employee called a group of gay customers "_faggots" and a supervisor said the incident was no "big deal" and refused to refund ~e customers’ money. "For any business to treat its gay customers this way is beyond the pale," said protester Becca O’Neill from the University of Louisville’s Lambda Law Caucus. q-he demonstrators carried signs reading, "Discrimination Don’t Belong in a Happy Meal," "Homophobia Served Here" and "NOT Lovin’ It." "We have a law against anti-gay discrimination in Louisville, but we want people to know that these incidents still happen and that bttsinesses that take part in this kind of illegal discrimination will be held accountable," said Jeff: Rodgers, co-coordinator of the Fairness Campaign. Ryan Marlatt, Teddy Eggers and three friends had stopped for lunch at the East Market Street McDonald’s on July 26. As they waited for their food, an employee referred to them as "faggots" to another employee. Marlatt and Eggers asked to speak with a manager, who then refused to refund the group’s purchase. Marlatt said he attempted several times in the following weeks to contact the general manager of the restaurant and the corporate offices, but got no response. The group seeks an apology, a refund of $28 and disciplinary action against tile employees involved. }&~troSTAR 7 �LGBT Entrepreneurs Keep Going as Financial Titans Struggle delivered. We’ve had to lay offa few people and we’ve stopped giving vacation pay this year for the first time ever," he says. Marci Bair, a financial planner and employee benefits consultant in San Diego, has only gotten busier. Despite this past year’s economic slowdmvn, the recent credit crunch and plummeting stock prices on Wall Street, LGBT small business owners, like many of their straight counterparts, are successfully riding out the storm. "~lhe majority of my clients are small business owners coming in for advice on how to cut costs and [,,estructure their employee benefits," Top economists and business leaders have declared the current financial morass an "economic apocalypse," yet recent congressional action on the $700 billion bailout bill points the way to what many hope is a brighter economic future. "This bill’s success shows that Americ£s la,vmakers understand the importance of a strong economy--and particularly that the tightening credit crisis was risking the ability of small businesses to make payroll, stock shelves and keep up with day-to-day expenses," says Chance Mitchell, co-founder and CEO of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. "In short, without this package, small businesses which make up the engine that run the United States economy seriously risked coming to an abrupt halt," Mitchell adds. The biggest threat to small businesses from U.S. financial woes is the tightening of credit markets. Credit is a lifeline for small businesses looking to grow and maintain operations, and in some places, it’s getting harder to find. Many banks are boosting credit score thresholds and tightening credit all around. "Small business owners, whether or not they use credit to run or expand their own businesses, know that access to credit and a fully functioning financial market are important to them and to their customers, suppliers and vendors," says Todd Stottlemyer, president and CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business. For LGBT small businesses, the focus is on making do in this unpredictable economy. Ask Izzy Schechner, a member of Plexus, the LGBT chamber for Cleveland, Ohio. He owns D&I Restaurant Group, a corporate catering company that’s closer than most small businesses to the banldng crisis--one of the cafeterias D&I runs is for a commercial bank. "A lot of my customers in the cafeteria are either cutting back their orders drastically or bringing food from home," says Schechner. "That has impacted our business by about 25 or 30 percent." In addition to dropping customer orders, Schechner has stopped cashing his own paycheck while making some painf~ cuts to his business. "For the first time we’ve been going to discount wholesalers like Sam’s Club and Costco to get the same products we norm_ally have 8 P#~÷t~oSTAR sa~ys Bair. We primarily look at ~il the aspects or the business where we can cut costs; a significant cost is in the health insurance area." Bair, who belongs to the her local LGBT chamber, the Greater San Diego Business Association, says that business owners for the most part want to keep as many options open for their employees as possible. "Now is not the time for employees to be without insurance," she says. "Some owners are going for a ~igher deduct!ble plan, while others want to hang in there with their current plans" in anticipation of better times. And making sure to do business in the community is key to bringing those better times back, says Sam McClure, executive director of Twin Cities Quorum, the LGBT chanaber of commerce for Minneapolis and St. Paul. "We’re seeing relationships among LGBT businesses grow e~’en tighter since this economic crisis started," says McClure. "We’re talking about how important it is to do business in your community again, even more than usual, and that’s something that we haven’t really talked about since the late 80s." McClure also points to individual measures businesses can take, and that her chamber has consistently pushed,,, such as maintaining a high credit ratin, g. ’ Planning strategically,. for growth is cruc,al now, because I dont th~nk businesses are going to have,as much flexibility as in the past, she says. ’ So being part of .the community has taken on a higher level of importance. Bair too is doing her part for the LGBT coinmunity and members of the LGBT chamber. She’s helping LGBT couples and individuals maneuver through complicated financial and health care decisions as they face layoffs and office c!osures. 8chechner says that he feels supported by fellow LGBT entrepreneurs as wellas he maneuvers through this difficult economy. "It’s comforting to have a sounding board from our chanlber of commerce, just to bounce ideas off of and to help with cost-saving strategies, networking, and to help utilize our resources to the max," he says. McClure suggests LGBT entrepreneurs practice an economics of conscience. "Whenever we earn or spend a dollar inside of our community we are flexing our considerable economic muscle. I would say to every gay and gay-friendly business owner, choose thoughtfully where you buy your next cup of coffee, where you have your next lunch meeting, where you invest your retirement funds, where you go for happy hour. "Every choice is a new opportunity to drive our economic power for change." (Source NGLCC http://v~ccw.nglcc.org/BIZ/ index ) November 2008 �How to Protect Your Loved Ones When the State Will Not Life planning helps same-sex couples protect each other. By Attorney Susan A. Muscari By ~vorking with a team of an estate planning attorney and a CPA, same-sex couples can esfablish finite directives and asset protections through a Revocable Living Trust, allmving couples to pass assets to their partner. Though the state of Oklahoma may not recognize or respect same-sex marriages, samegender trusts are recognized by the state and have not been successfully challenged. A trust, with very careful planning, can also help same-sex couples avoid several tax consequences. I~hoto: 7~dsa AttornG Susan A. 3d.,~scari Same-sex couples face several challenges when it comes to the legal and tax system, especially in the state of Oklahoma where same-gender marriages are not recognized. If one partner dies, the remaining partner may find themselves in a legal battle against the deceased~ family - unless a legally binding plan has been put into effect. Ira homosexual couple was married in a state that recognized it as legal, and then moved or returned to Oldahoma, Oklahoma still does not recognize that marriage. For same-sex couples, the tax burden is much larger than that ofheterosexua~ married couple. However, while all residents must abide by Otdahoma’s laws, there are ways to navigate them to ensure the assets and real estate of you and your partner are titled to enable fewer tax penalties. Tixere are also preparations partners can make to ensure each person’s wishes are fotlmved in the situation of a catastrophic illness, temporary incapacitation, or the event of death. ~xere are five essential documents that same-sex couples should create t~ protect themselves and their partners. Prepare an Advanced Medical Directive Setup Durable Power of Attorney Create a Revocable Living Trust Prepare a Last Will and Testament Setup an Authorization to Disclose Medical Records First, an Advanced Medical Directive allows same-sex partners to name each other as healthcare proxy, permitting a partner to speak with physicians on the other’s behalf. It is often hard on both the individual’s family and partner in times of distress and tensions can arise resulting in conflicting opinions in terms of care. The medical directive ensures there is no confusion as to who will be making the decisions on behalf of an individual if they are unable to do so for themselves. Along that same line, instituting a Durable Power of Attorney provides same-sex couples the right to make personal and financial decisions on behalfofa partner if they ever become disabled. There am two ways for domestic partners to set up a trttst; one option for couples is to set up separate trusts and designate each other as the beneficiaries. This is the best option for couples Who may have competing interests such as a child from a previous relationship. Separate trusts can provide for the child as well as the partner in a worse-case scenario situation. The second option is to create a joint trust in which the assets of both indMduals are combined into one trust. While this is the ideal for long-term couples, it is imperative to enter into this arrangement xvith the understanding that there will likely be tax consequences. Ti~e best advice for couples who decided to go the course of a shared trust is to let the assets remain in the trust. As long as the assets stay where they are, the surviving partner can avoid extreme tax consequences that same-sex couples often fall under. Palin Indicates Support for Federal Marriage Amendment Nearly 60 percent of Americans oppose writing discrimination into U.S. Constitution Lastly, with an authorization to disclose medical records and a Last Will and Testament in place, same-sex couples can institute a No Contest Clause, effectively establishing partners as personal representatives of each other. It also protects the remaining partner from anyone who may contest their rights as a representative and beneficiary. WASHINGTON, DC (PR-HRC) __ Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP nominee for vice-president, has indicated in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network that she would support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution excluding gay and lesbian couples from marriage. The so-called Federal Marriage Amendment has faced bipartisan opposition in both houses of Congress, both of which have voted the FMA down twice. The crt~x of the matter is that there are ways to plan for domestic partners, but do not count on Oklahoma and its laws to provide that protection. Same-sex partners deserve the same protection that their heterosexual counterparts receive, but it takes careful life planning aa~d the right documents in place to do so. Sarah Pahn ~s out of step w~th the majomy of Americans, nearly 60 percent of whom are opposed to writing discrimination into the U.S. Constitution," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Her view stands in stark contrast to the ideals that make America great: freedom, opportunity, and eq~,ality. These are the tenets upon which our nation was built. For a personal consultation on your specific needs, you may contact Susan at (918) 770-3423 or visit: ,aw~w.muscarilaw.com. An August 2008 poll from TIME Magazine shows that 58 percent of Americans believe that the U.S. Constitution should not be amended to define marriage as being between one man and one woman. The Human Rights Cam, paign PAC, the political action committee of the nations largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, previously released an online video in response to comments made by Patin in which she stated that she believes homosexuality is a choice. The video released by HRC PAC is narrated by Michael Cole, senior manager of HRC’s media center, who flew to Alaska with a video production crew to talk with Wasilla’s LGBT community. View the video at http:/ha~-,v.youtube.com/hrcmedia. www.metrostarnews.com ~I®t~~STAR 9 �Palin tries to walk center line on gays News analysis by Rex Woc¼aer Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is strongly against same-sex marriage and has a history of speaking against gay rights, but in the current campaign she’s attempting to strike a middle ground. "I am not going tO judge Americans and tile decisions that they make in their adult personal relationships," she recently told CBS News. "t have one of my absolute best friends for the last 30 years who happens to be gay, and I love her dearly -- and she is not my ’gay friend,’ she is one of my best friends, who happens to have made a choice that isn’t a choice that I have made, but I’m not going to judge people." Rea Carey; lesbian, gay; bisexual and transgender rights leader, demands higher standard from national candidates WASHINGTON, DC (PR) __ Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund, responds to the vice presidential debate between Republican Gov. Sarah Palin and Democratic Sen. Joseph Biden.Statemerit by Rea Carey, Executive Director National Gay’and Lesbian ~ask Force Action Fund There also has been Internet chatter that no one can identify who Palin’s lifelong lesbian pal is. Patin likewise attempted to appear tolerant during the Oct. 2 vice presidential debate. But then she stated unequivocally: "I will tell Americans straight up that I don’t support defining marriage as anything but between one man and one woman, and I think through nuances we can go round and round about what that actually means. But I’m being as straight up ~vith Americans as I can in my nonsupport for anything but a traditional definition of marriage." Because Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Joe Biden also claim to oppose same-sex marriage, because Palin was trying to sound tolerant, and because debate host Gwen Ifill was anything but aggressive in her questioning, some debate viewers xvere lei~ with the impression that there is no difference between the two teams on issues of gay equality. Nothing could be further from the truth. Obama and Biden support giving same-sex couples all the rights of marriage -- everything but the word -- and oppose attempts to ban same-sex marriage in the states where it is legal. John McCain and Palin, on the other hand, support statewide bans on same-sex marriage, do not speak in support of civil unions, and, in the final analysis, seemingly would go only so far as letting gay people visit a sick partner in the hospital and allowing them to sign private contracts to attempt to protect their relationship legally. That’s a far cry from the Democratic position in favor of granting gay" couples all marriage rights under a different label. "Do I support granting same-sex benefits?" Biden asked during the debate with Palin. "Absolutely positive!): Look, in an Obama-Biden administration, there will be absolutely no distinction from a constitutional standpoint or a legal standpoint between a same-sex and a heterosexual couple." 10 ~÷t~°oST,~R or A Tragedy Waiting for an Ending By James Nimmo O~HOMA CITY, OK __ I attended the last of two debates between Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth and the GOP opponent Dana Murphy. Held at Oldahoma City University" in the School of Law Building there were about ! 50 people listening including GOP Rep, Sally Kern and her husband. I think if you’re reading this you know that Ms. Kern carried a loaded hand gun twice into the Oklahoma Capitol Building and that every waking moment of her life is devoted to thinking about how gay men and lesbians conduct their private lives and how she can break up the action. I think her husband, Rev. Steve Kern, chief minister at Olivet Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, is also devoted to the s,ame voyeurism consuming his wi~. I believe this because I ve attended in the early spring five services preached by Rev. Kern and he never failed to mention the clinical, pseudo-scientific word "homosexuality" in those sermons and the great evils spurting there from. He even said that men having sex with other men look like dogs. I swear I’m not making this up! Imagine saying this in front of 60- and 70-year old white hetem men and women steeped in the blood of their G-sus! Palin, however, was judged for that comment by gay activists, who took exception to her saying that being gay is a "choice." "If there~ any kind of suggestion at all from my answer that I would be anything but tolerant of adults in America choosing their partners, choosing relationships that they deem best for themselves -- you know, I am tolerant and I have a vmT diverse i]amily and group of friends and even within that group you would see some who may not agree with me on this issue, some very dear friends who don’t agree ~vith me on this issue," she said. "But in that tolerance also, no one would ever propose, not in a McCain-Paliri administration, to do anything to prohibit, say, visitations in a hospital or contracts being signed, negotiated bet~veen parties." ¯he Fruit Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree ? At the conclusion of the debate I went up to Ms. Kern and reminded her that it’s also illegal to carry a gun onto a college campus. She replied that I was ~velcome to call a securityguard and have her purse searched. I declined the invitation saying I wanted to make sure she knew the law. Press release photo: Rea Care),, Executive Director National Gay and Lesbian Ta~-k Force Action Fund "I found myself reacting as ifI had heard fingernails on a chalkboard when Gov. Sarah Palin talked about her tolerance. I’m sorry, but tolerance with a smile does not equal support for our lives nor does it honor the validity of our relationships and families. Much of the country has moved well beyond the condescension and dismissiveness of’tolerance.’ We have higher expectations than patronizing statements of tolerance by anyone seeking to lead this nation. We also have higher expectations for those political leaders, such as Sen. Joseph Biden, who have been our allies on so many issues to finally, and unequivocally, stand up for our full equality. "I look fotward to a day xvhen the leadership of our country can set an example and dearly state that it is time for the rejection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans to end. Too many elected officials have not even met the low bar of calling for complete legal equality for all Americans. "We live in difficult times. Families sit at their kitchen tables dealing with the challenges of our day, -- keeping their jobs, putting fuel in their tanks and food on the table, and obtaining good and affordable health care. Our families -- LGBT families -- are dealing with the exact same concerns, only without the legal protections that are so critical to our welfare. What I wanted to hear in the debate, and did not, is a belief that protections and opportunities, like marriage, should exist so that our families have the ability to both thrive and to contribute to society on equal footing with our straight friends and neighbors." Fearing that his Biblica! help-meet made from a rib ~vas losing the thread of the discussion, Rev. Kern asked me why I was so hung tip on Sally’s gun toting. I asked Rev: Kern why were he and Sa!ly~ so hung up on "homosexuality"? Is it because the fruit hasnt fallen far from the tree? Oh, but Rev. Kern said they’re only interested in morality and that I should attend their church and see what it’s like. I reminded him I’d been to their church five times and I had all the X-tian morality I could stomach. Let me tell you I was the unidentified man escorted from the Bethany City Hall two weeks ago when I stood up at a political forum and asked on behalf of public safety ifSally Kern was carrying her gun in a "no weapons" area such as the auditorium we were sitting in. Shouldn’t it bother you to know that there are people on the public payroll who have no intention of obeying the law when it applies to their idea that they are ABOVE earthly law and prefer the higher law of the Triune heavenly father-son-holy spirit? An interview with Jesse Kern, one of the sons of the heteroKerns, appeared in the Tulsa World ( http:,//tinyurl.com/ 39kpsq ) earlier this year when his mothers You Tube speech ( http:lltinyurl.comlyq91ak ) was burning on the internet like the purifying fires of hell. Jesse said he was not gay and had given his sexuality to his god. That’s funny. I didn’t know God needed a sex buddy. I’m no psychiatrist, I’m purely an observer but doesn’t something he-re smell a bit musty, like it’s been in the closet too long? Let me see: a grown man raised in a fervently fundie church doffs that background, ( http://tinyurl.com/66axyu ) joins a new-age kind of commune, and devotes his sex life to the god of his imagination. At the same time his parents are on a 24-7 rampage for morality, looking for semen stains between every sheet, and partner their politics to organizations associated with some unsavory characters. ( http:l/gossip-boy.comlKern_Campaign.html ) It seems to me that Sally Kern and her family are a tragedy waiting for an ending. November 2008 �Ten years. ousands victimized. Not action. provides referrals for assistance for housing, food and other medical issues. Thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have been victims of hate-motivated violence since Matthew Shepard’s death, and still there is no federal hate crimes law covering sexual orientation and gender identity Despite the change in location, many of their former clients from the N.W. 39th Street area have come to the new place, as well as others from that area. Although not as ideal as the other location, Mike Maus, a longtime counselor for Red Rock, states that it has worked out. He also feels that because he is well known as a openly gay man who is HIV positive, this helps clients feel comfortable and OK with seeking testing WASHINGTON, DC (PR) __ Sunday; Oct. 12, marked the 10-year anniversary of the brutal death of Matthew Shepard, and many states and the federal government have yet to enact hate crimes protections covering both sexual orientation and gender identity. This, despite the fact that thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people have been the targets of hate-based violence in the decade since Shepard’s murder, according to statistics from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP). Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund "Ten years ago, the shocking murder of Matthew Shepard sent a national clarion call for stronger federal la~vs to combat crimes motivated by hate. Since then, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have continued to fall victim to hatestoked violence in shocking numbers. Despite this epidemic ofanti-LGBT violence, the federal government has refused to enact a hate crimes law covering sexual orientation and gender identity. This shameful failure of national xvill and resolve must end in 2009 with a new president and a new Congress. "Today, we remember mad mourn Matthew Shepard. We also remember other young people whose voices fell silent this past yeai: "We mourn Ashley Sweeney of Detroit, Mich., shot to death in February 2008; we mourn Lawrence King of Oxnard; Calif., shot to death in his middle-school classroom in February 2008; we mourn Simmie Williams Jr. ofFt~ Lauderdale, Fla., shot to death in February 2008; and we mourn Angle Zapata of Greeley, Colo., beaten to death with a fire extinguisher in July 2008. We remember and mourn all victims of hate violence, but especially these and other young gendernonconforming people, who died in the hope of freedom to live their lives as they wished." Assessment of progress during the past 10 years Currently, 31 states and D.C. have hate crimes laws that track or make illegal crimes motivated by sexual orientation mad/or gender identity and expression. However, by the time of Matthew Shepard’s death in 1998, 23 of these 31 states had already passed their laws. Since his death 10 years ago, only eight states have added hate crimes protections (Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Tennessee and Texas). In 19 states, there are no hate crime laws protecting anyone in the LGBT community. On the federal level, champions in both the House and Senate have continued to prioritize passage of legislation that would expand and sn-engthen federal hate crimes legislation. In the 110th Congress, both chambers with bipartisan majorities passed the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act as a free-standing bill in the House and an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization Act in the Senate. This is the first time both chambers have considered a bill that included both gender identity and sexual orientation. However, strategic and procedural problems prevented Congress from sending a bill to President George Bush, who promised to veto the bill if it did reach that point. Epidemic of anti-LGBT violence LGBT people are disproportionately affected by hate violence. Reports produced by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Photo provided by aJ~iend of the victim shows Universi{y of Wyoming gay college student Matthew Shepard who was beaten and Ie’.fifior dead in a W~ominy’.gpastute near Laramie, I~210.,~y on Oct. 7, 1998. In the 10 years since, more than 30 states havepassed laws addtessing bias-related crimes against gays, but gay,rights advocates point to a series offrustrations including thefailure of federal hate-crime legislation. (AP) Forc~ (i984=1993) and the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (1994-2007) have documented more than 35,000 anti-LGBT crimes over the last two decades. It is important to note that these statistics are based on reports from only a handful of local LGBT crime victim assistance agencies. Indusion of transgender people in hate crimes laws is especially important because violence against transgender people is widespread, largely underreported, and disproportionately greater than the number of transgender people in society. The total number of victims reporting anti-LGBTQ violence to NCAX¢~ in 2007 was 2,430, which represents a 24 percent increase over the total number of victims reported in 2006. ~-he Task Force has led the movement-wide effort to secure an effective and full governmental response to hate crimes against LGBT people, beginning with the launch of its groundbreaking anti-violence project in 1982. Task Force organizing, coalition building and lobbying resulted in the 1990 passage of the Hate Crimes Statistics Act, sponsored by U.S. Rep. John Conyers. Photo: Red Rock Counselor ~adike Maus by Victor Gorin As Mike puts it, ’~We are stil! testing as many people as we were before, and we will continue to have a presence in the gay community, keeping on with outreach programs, passing out condoms inthe barsl and educating When possible, particularly at special events such as Pride and World AIDS Day." "We are here to help people determine their HIV status, and develop a plan to deal with that status. Treatment is available for all people with HIV in the United States, regardless of xvhether you have a job, money or insurance. We want to get the word out that we’re here to help." Red Rock HIV testing 877-339 3330 Mike Maus--(405)425-0473 Red Rock Behavioral Health Services (405) 424 7711 Oklahoma STD Hotline 800 535 2437 Oklahoma City-County Health Department STD Clinic (405) 427-8651 Positively Living Support Group-Every Tuesday at Red Rock 5:30 p.m. for those infected or affected by HIV. Tuesday Night Supper Club---Social dinners at varied restaurants every other Tuesday for those likewise dealing with HIV. For more information Chuck Longacre (405) 425-0448. Ouotable Ouotes "But our country’s journey toward equality is not finished. It’s been five years since Lawrence v. Texas. It’s been 39 years since Stonewall. And we still have more work to do before we achieve equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans. Election Day offers an opportunity to take another crucial step toward equality. Millions have joined this movement for change. People are hoping again -- believinggaain -- that we can come together to create, a stronger, fairer nation. And on November 4 we 1! have a chance to put that hope into action." Direct Cremation From $595 TION MORTUARY SERVICE,~ Traditional Funeral Services at Affordable Prices (405) 230- 1310 or !-800-913-1310 Pre-Need Plan CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED Michelle Obama 2415-C North Walnut Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma www.rnetrostarnews.com NetroSTAR 11 �@Club 209, Tulsa @Club Majestic, Tulsa By Greg Steele @ Angles, Oklahoma City @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa @ Finishline, Oklahoma City @ The Copa, Oklahoma City xk~/rith all the outing of gay penguins, sheep, dogs and other species, is there a possibility there are gay turkeys? How would you know if you were eating one of our own? I mean the poor critters are just herded into the slaughter pen, humanely killed, I presume, plucked and whisked off to Walmart. I for one wil! be asking the Walmart meat lady if my turkey was gay! I refuse to bake, fry, barbecue or boil a family member. We assume that all turkeys are hetero, and it’s OK to bake or fry ect., a homophobic hetero turkey, but what if your turkey was hetero and gay friendly? This outing of animals and now fowl is just not right. It raises so many questions and creates so many problems and it’s Thanksgiving for God’s sake. W~here are r~e Fowl Rights people when you need them! Have a Great Holiday! @ The Ledo, Oklahoma City 12 ~VI÷troSTAR @ The Lab Rescue, Tulsa November 2008 �Artists Cindy Swanson and Sharyl Landis e ibit at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center TULSA, OK (PR) The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center art gallery will host its monthly First Thursday meet-the-artist reception from 6-9pm, Thursday, November 6, 2008, for the opening of it’s new exhibit featuring artists Cindy Swanson and Sharyl Landis, Swanson will be displaying many of her mosaic works of art. Drawn to the art form by her attraction to the colored glass, Cindy has qtudie.dthe medium i~ Italy under the guidance of two master tlqosalsts. Landis will be featuring her mixed-media art at the show, which She describes as "fascinating and full of whimsy’!. Shawl loves using her hands to transform objects into unique designs through the blending of colors, shapes, and textures. Mosaic "Just Balother Day" ~Pnis monthly event is hosted by Oldahoman’s for Equality (OkEq). OkEq seel~ equal rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual &:Transgender (LGBT) individuals and families {lx~bugh advocac~ education, programs, alliances, and the Operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. Since 1997, beading has been Sharyl’s primary form of expression, though in recent years she has expanded into hand dyed textiles and using beadwork as a 3-D addition to her paintings and textiles. urban living 13 TOWNHOMES 2 1 st @ BAain Street VIEW OF DOWNTOWN SKYLINE SOPHISTICATED DESIGN OPEN LIVING SPACES EXPANSIVE GLASS FRONTS ELEVATOR OPTIONAL PRIVATE OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES POOL OPTIONAL DESIGNER FINISHES AND FIXTURES SECURE GATED ENTRY ENERGY EFFICIENT UTICA SQUARE NEARBY GREEN AMENITIES AVAILABLE ELEVATOR OPTIONAL ADJACENT TO TULSA PARKS SPACIOUS COMMON DRIVE ROOFTOP PATIO GARDENS AVAILABLE MARTIN NEWMAN 9 I 8.582.4673 MLONEWMAN www.metrostarnews.com The exhibit will remain up through the month of November, and can be viewed Monday thru Saturday from 3-gpm. The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th St., in downtown Tulsa. More info can be found on the web at okeq.org. ’PET FRIENDLY GATED GUEST PARKING ONE BLOCK FROM RIVER TRAILS SMART URBAN LIVING CONTEMPORARY STAINLESS APPLIANCES HEATHER MCGRAW 918.607.1 t77 H MCGRAW@MCGRAWOK. COM ~etroSTAR 13 �Wockner News Service Mitcham is sad he was Head of British army only out gay at Olympics addresses gay conference Larry K ng quizzes Ahmadinejad on gays in 1ran The head of Britain’s army, Gen. Richard Dannatt, chief of the general staff, made history by addressing a gay conference in London Oct. 9, The Sunday Telegraph reported. In remarks to the Fourth Joint Conference on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual Matters, Dannatt said that respecting GLBT officers and soldiers is "a command responsibility" that is mandatory- to ensure "operational effectiveness." Gold-medal diver Matthew Mitcham told the Sydney Morning Herald on Oct. 8 that he is sad he was the only out gay man at the Beijing Olympics. "I was actually very surprised I was the only out male at the Olympic Games," he said. "It’s a little bit sad. I think, because statistically there should be a lot more but, you know what, it’s each to one’s own. I’m not going to pressure awbody else to come out of the closet because it’s their own choice. But I’m proud to be there, proud to be that one that lots of other people can look up to." Some 10,500 athletes took part in the games. Mitcham’s gold-medal dive received the highest score in Olympic diving history. kish trans laws need updating Ireland needs to fix its laws on transgender issues, the Irish Human Rights Commission said Oct. 1. Among other things, post-op transsexuals should be able to get a new birth certificate aa~d get married to someone of the opposite sex, the commission said. The group recommended the government move on the matter with urgency; pointing out that the current laws rtm afoul of decisions by the European Court of Human Rights. Norwegian church will not marry gays when law takes effect Norway will become the seventh nation to grant same-sex couples access to full marriage in January, but the dominant Church of Norway will not marry gays, the state church’s bishops said Oct. 8. Pastors will be permitted to offer prayers for gay couples who get married but may not bless them, the bishops said. Same-sex marriage also is allmved in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain and, in the U.S., California, Connecticut and Massachusetts. 14 ~et~oSTAR "We have made real progress in our understanding of equality and diversity in the military context, and there is a desire to achieve more yet," he said. "Respect for others is not an optional extra, it is a command responsibility and an essential part of leadership, teamwork and operational effectiveness." Britaiffs arrned forces lifted their gay ban in 2000 on orders from the European Court of Human Rights. U.S. TV inte,wiewer Lar~y King quizzed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his nation’s treatment ofgays Sept. 23. Screen-capture photo Iraqi gay leader assassinated The Baghdad head of the international group Iraqi LGBT was assassinated in late Seprember, activists in London reported. Bashar, 27, was gunned down in a barbershop. "Militias burst in and sprayed his body with bullets at point-blank range," said leading British gay activist Peter Tatchell. "~e exact identity of the gunmen is unclear, but he was probably murdered by the Islamist death squads who are targeting lesbian and gay Iraqis for ’sexual cleansing.’" Bashar was the local coordinator of foreignfunded "safe houses" for gays and lesbians living in Iraq. "His efforts saved the lives of dozens of people," Tatchell said. "Bashar xvas a ldnd, generous and extremely brave young man -- a true hero who put his life on the line to save the lives of others." Dutch men on trial for deliberate HIV transmission Three men from Groningen, Netherlands, are on trial for ddiberately infecting at least 12 other men with HIV, several news agencies reported. Hans Jurgens, 39, Peter Mulder, 50, and Wim Deld~er, 49, allegedly advertised gay sex parties online, lured participants to their location, then drugged them, raped them and injected them with HIV-positive blood. Prosecutors want the trio to be jailed for between eight and 15 years. U.S. TV interviewer Larry King quizzed Iranian President Malamoud Ahmadinejad on his nation’s treatment of gays Sept. 23. q]aere have been persistent, though unconfirmed, reports for years that Iran hangs men for the crime of engaging in gay sex. King said: "People (are) protesting that they don’t have the same rights as other people. Homosexuals -- you said last yea,; you denied there were homosexuals (in Iran). There’s homosexuals everywhere." Ahmadinejad replied: "I said it’s not the way it is here (in the U.S.). In Iran this is considered a very -- obviously most people dislike it. And we have actually a law regarding it and the law is enforced. It is a law that was passed. It was legislated. And it is an act that is against human principles. A lot of things can happen. It can cause psychological problems, social problems that affect the whole society, Remember that God’s rules are to improve human life. In our religion, this act is forbidden and the Parliament has legislated about it. Not now, 70 years ago. This is something that happened 70 years ago, before the Islamic R~public became --" King interjected, "So what happens to gay people?" Ahmadinejad replied: "Well, of course, nobody has held protests. You are -- are you concerned for 70 million Iranian people or a few homosexuals? Let’s assume in Iran -- let’s assume in the United States that 200 million people drive cars and a million violators are rounded up and they just basically violate driving laws. Should we be worried for the 199 million people whose safety we must be concerned about or the one million violators? The law is the law and it’s law. And it must be enforced. Of course, we do pay attention that in Iran nobody interferes in the private lives of individuals. We have nothing to do with the private realm of people. ~ais is at the (level of) nor-private, public morality. In their own house, nobody ever interferes with people." Last year, during a speech at Columbia University in New York City, Ahmadinejad also was asked about the nation’s treatment of gay people. He responded: "We in Iran ... don’t have hamjensbaz (a derogatory term for homosexuals) like you have in your country. In our country; there is no such a thing. In Iran, such a thing does not -- in Iran, in Iran, absolutely such a thing does not exist as a phenomenon. I don’t know who told you otherwise." Iran is known to have executed several teens and men accused of engaging in sodomy, although in nearly all the cases that have been publicized in recent years the individuals were accused of other crimes as well, such as rape. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission has said it suspecrs that other charges often are tacked onto sodomy cases to prevent the public outrage that wood accompany executions carried out solely for the crime of consensual adult gay sex. The group also has said it believes executions solely for gay sex are taking place out of the public eye. "Our suspicions (are) that their current practice really is to rid society of lesbians and gay men," the organization said last year. Human Rights Watch, on the other hand, has said it cannot fully document any executions in Iran in recent years carried out solely for the crime of consensual adult gay sex. November 2008 �Re Roc Horror Show- Next in "Lyric at the Plaza" Series Performances are October 9th through November 1st: Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays at 8:00pm, Saturdays at 6:00pm & 10:00pm. However, t_he Friday, October 31 st performance and the late Saturday, November 1st performance will both begin at midnight instead of the times previously listed. For tickets: w~wc.lyrictheatreokc.com, (405) 524-9312, or in person at 1727 NW 16th St, Oklahoma City, OK. Celine Dion Nov 13, 2008 at BOK Center Lyric’s production of The Rocky Horror Show is sponsored by the Oklahoman, King’s Limo & Private Jet, the Copa, and Angles. Annual support is provided by Mlied Arts and the Oklahoma Arts Council. In Oklahoma City, the renovation and opening of Plaza ~eatre as an intimate live performance venfie has enabled Lyric to expand its programming to include even more entertainment options for adventuresome theatergoers. Get ready for a night of frolics and fun at The Rocky Horror Show! (rated R for strong language, sexually explicit scenes, and mature themes) Carrie Underwood Oct 29, 2008 at BOK Center With art: Frank ’iV’ Furter (Monte WheekO prepares to give Brad (Brad!o, Beah~) and Janet (Heather Hawkins) a wild n~ht to remembe~ (_Photo by ~ndy Mutz) O~HOMA CITY, OK (PR) __ Lyric ~eatre, Oklahoma’s premiere professiona! theatre company, concludes the 20072008 "Lyric at the Plaza" season with the big, bad, rock-n-roll musical, The Rocky Horror Show. From October 9th through November 1st, Lyric will present the live version of the spectacular cult classic film about the madcap adventures of Brad Majors and his fiancd Janet Weiss, who approach the spooky Frankenstein place to find help for a flat tire. In the house, though, they encounter the maniacal Dr. Frank ’N’ Furter, the rippling Rocky, the vivacious Magenta, and experience the boldest, naughtiest party of their lives. Lyri& production of Tne Rocky Horror Show will be directed and choreographed by Nick Demos and will be his final show at the helm of Lyric ~qeatre. The Rocky Horror Show was first created by writer/actor Richard O’Brien as a stage musical in 1973. The cinematic version starring Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon followed t~vo years later and went on to become one of the most famous and ardently followed cult films of all time. This popularity has kept the live musical in almost continuous production at theatres around the ~vorld ever since. Oklahoma audiences are encouraged to get into the intended spirit of the show by dressing up and participating in all of the talk-back and extracurricular activities that make Rocky Horror such a wild theatrical experience. Audience participation packages will be available for purchase at the theatre. Like all Lyric productions, The Rocky Horror Show features a blend of talent both from New York and from Oklahoma. Monte ~qaeeler (Off-Broadway: The IT Girl, Streakiri!) stars as Frank ’N’ Furter, Bradley Beahen (assistant director- Enter Laughing, the Musical) performs as Brad, and Oklahoma native Heather Hawkins (Broadway: Avenue Q) gets down and dirty as Janet. The role of Rocky himself is played by Nick Adams, best known for performing opposite Mario Lopez in the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line. Local talent letting loose for Rocky Horror indudes Renee Anderson as Magenta, Brian Hamilton as Rift Raft, Stephen Hilton as the Narrator, and Michael Todd as Eddie/Dr. Scott. They and a whole host of actors playing Phantoms and Transylvanians will lead the raunchy celebration that includes timeless numbers including "S~veet Transvestite", "Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch Me", and the rousing "Time Warp." Tickets for The Rocky Horror Show are $40. Senior discounts (ages 65+), Group discounts (10+), and College Student discounts (week of show with ID) are also available. ~#ww.metrostarnews.com Tickets On Sale Now! Time: 8:00pm Doors: 7:00pm Ticket Prices: $167.00, $127.00, $77.00. $49.50 BUY EXCLUSIX.~ GOLD HOT SEATS Tulsa is one of 45 cites and the only city in Oldahoma on this tour. Throughout her career, Celine has been honored with over 1000 Awards, including Grammys, Oscars, Golden Globes, World Music, Juno and Felix Awards. She is the biggest-selling female artist of all time. Celtic Thunder Nov 19, 2008 at BOK Center Show time: 8:00pm Ticket Prices: $37.50, $47.50, $57.50, additional surcharges may apply CELTIC THUNDER, a brand-new show created and produced by Sharon Browne, will make its debut in the U.S. with a public television special airing on local stations nationwide in March 2008. Carrie Underwood’s Carnival Ride Tour October 29th, 2008 7:30 pm Prices: $55, $45, $35 Tickets on sale Friday, Sept 12 @ 10am Checotah, Okla. native and two-time Academy of Country Music Top Female Vocalist, Carrie Underwood, is scheduled to stop at the BOK Center on October 29, 2008, for a live performance from her Carnival Ride Tour. With a recordbreaking start to her career, Carrie Underwood has been ,,the top-sellin, g artist,, to come from Fox’s hit television, show, American Idol, and has taken the country mus,c world by storm. Eagles Nov 11, 2008 at BOK Center By popular demand the Eagles will return for a second show!!!! Ticket prices: $187, $87, and $52 The Eagles coming back to play a second date at the BOK Center is a huge accomplishment for the city and attests to the level of excitement and enthusiasm for both the band and the new BOK Center. We need to show the band a gratitude of thanks for ~eturning for a second date in the form of another sell-out said John Bolton, General Manager. Due to overwhelming d,,e,mand, the Eagles have a,dded a second Tulsa date to their Long Road Out of Eden world tour. The Eagles will perform live on Tuesda); November 1 lth at the BOK Center and the band - Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe ~Valsh and Timothy B. Schmit - will be perfo,r,ming curre,,nt !~its from Long Road ,,Out of Eden including How Long and Busy Being Fabulous as well as their classic songs. The Eagles have sold more than 120 million albums worldwide, earning five #1 U.S. singles and four Grammy Awards. Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 is the best-selling albu,,m of all time, exceeding sales of 29 million units. The bands Hotel California and Tneir Greatest Hits Volume 2 have sold more than 16 and 1 ! million albums respectively. The Eagles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Filmed in Dublin the special features five male vocalists (ranging from !4 to 40 - Damian McGinty, Keith Harkin, Ryan Kelly, Paul Byrom, and George Donaldson) perfor,,m, ing an eclectic mix of songs, ranging from the traditional Mountains ofMourne" and "Come By the Hills" to international hits such as "Brothers in Arms" and "Desperado," as well as original compositions by CELTIC THUNDER’s legendary musical director and composer Phil Coulter. November At ~lhe P.A.C Tulsa Nov 1, Janis Ian John H. Williams Theatre Nov 5, FREE Brown Bag It: Rossitza Jekova-Goza, violin tCathleen Westby Pavilion Nov 6-23 FREE Pictures From Lookout Mountain PAC Gallery Nov 7-9, 13-15 Master Class Liddy Doenges Theatre Nov 7, Liz Carrol John H. Williams Theatre Nov 8, Missa Solennelle and Stabat Mater Chapman Music Hall Nov 12, Forces of Nature Dance Theatre John H. Williams Theatre Nov 12, FREE Brown Bag It: Randy xY~imer, guitar Kathleen Xgestby Pavilion Nov 13, Ivory and Gold Trio John H. Williams Theatre Nov 15, Tt~e Magical Music of Disney Chapman Music Hall Nov 15, Essence of India: Bharata Natyam John H. Williams Theatre Nov 18, Akoka (Messiaen I~ASMIX): David Krakauer, Matt Haimovitz and Friends John H. Williams Theatre Nov 18-23, Available by Subscription The Rat Pack Chapman Music Hall Nov 19, Krakauer/Haimovitz Cabaret Charles E. Norman Theatre Nov 19, FREE Brown Bag It: Anam Cronan, Celtic flute and harp Kathleen Westby Pavilion Nov 20-23, Moonlight and Magnolias Liddy Doenges Theatre Nov 21-22, Not Currently On Sale (TU Forensics) Charles E. Norman ~eatre Nov 23, American Chamber Players John H. Williams Theatre ~÷troSTAR 15 �Chardonnay The Chardonnay grape variely is a classic white wine grape grown all over the world. The original fame of Chardonnay comes fi’oru its success in the region of Frande. \Vhite Burgundy must be made from the Chardonnay grape unless the label indicates it was made from a much less well ka~own grape, Aligot& The Burgundy region, located in the central part of eastern France, is the home of some of the finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines in the world. The Chablis area is a sub region of Burgundy that makes wonderful Chardonnay based wines from a chalkT soil. ~l]~e wines ftom the vineyard ’Le Montrachet’ and from the adjoining vineyards of Chassagne Montrachet and Puligny Montrachet are prized around the world for their fine quality. he winter holidays are on their way. And though I may talk more about the following types of wines in my next few columns, we felt they needed an introduction for this season of sharing food & wine with family & fi’iends. We’re covering Chardonnay, which is the most popular ~vhite wine and pairs well with chicken, vegetable dishes &: turkey breasts. Pinot Noii; whichpairs well with hams, breaded stuNng & dark meat turkey. Sparkling ,,vine/Cava, which pairs well with raw ftuits & nuts. Port which pairs well with Chocolate cakes, sweet potato pies & pumpkin cheesecakes. ~he following is a brief description of the grapes and wines priced around $15. ~ Chardonnay takes oak well, and many higher priced versions of this grape are tTpically fermented and/or aged in oak barrels. When Chardonnay is aged in oak barrels, it may pick up vanilla overtones in its aromas and flavor. Chardonnay also ages well in the bottle, though it will not age as long as many red wines. It likes slightly cooler climates (warm days/cool nights) and develops less aciditT than Sauvignon Blanc. Some producers put their Chardonnay (or some of it) through malolactic fermentation which reduces crispness and brings out a rich, buttery taste. This usually shortens the life of the wine as far as aging is concerned. wineries throughout the world including h:aly, New Zealand Spain, South Africa, Ausn-alia, Chile and Argentina. In the U S, \Vashington State and California’s Russian River and Carneros areas~produce some of the best domestic versions of this wine. Pinot Noir Pinot noir grapes are grown around the world, mostly in the cooler regions, but grape is chiefl? region of France. It is widely to produce some of the fines~ ~vorld. Pinot noir has pellation famous Pinot Noir produces age veiT wel! in good flavors as they age, often 20 years after the vintage. problem starts with duce a and shape emerge ness, ted in s " includin ~: cherry; plum, strawberry. Complex flavors revealing chocolate, earthitrut~es. Only Pinot Noir, td Meunier grapes are permitwines from the Champagne ~urgundy~ Cava can Wonderful Pinot Noirs come the world. It’s grown in many is known by’ different names in different countries: Some locations and names Algeria; Argentina, Australia, Austria Blauburgunder or Spatburgunder), Brazil, Canada, Czechoslovakia, England, France, Germany (Sp~tburgunder), Greece, Hun Italy (P!not Nero or Blauburgunder), New Zealand, Switzerland (Clevner, labeled "D01e" when blended with Gamay Noir), U~{i{dd States, and Yugoslavia (Burgundac). Pinot is a diNcult grape to work with It’s >~ ......... hard to get a consistent, great P~not and {he ~’: used in Spain for sparlding using the same method in France’s Champagne disfamous region fi)r spar;. While a good Cava will rarely be with top Champagne, it wii! still be quite pleasant. Additionally, Cava is inexpensive enough to be an evmTday drink between special occasion splurges on Champagne. Cava is the name of a type of white or pink sparlding wine, produced mainly in the Pened~s region in Catalonia, Spain, 40 kin to the south west of Barcelona. Its name is . ......... Continued see 3~NE page-20 :..... Chardonnay is planted at hundreds of Withr This months recipe courtesy of: Rent, Nevada 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1/2 teaspoon oregano 2l’alapefi° peppers, chopped (or more ro suit your taste) 2 tablespoons white vinegar 1 medium onion, findy chopped 2 tablespoons fi’esh cil£ntro, Chopped 1 clash %b~co sauce lettuce leaf (to line serving bowls) avocado {optional) black olives, sliced (for garnish) (optional’, Directions: P~CIPE: MEXICAN CEVICHE ~ Ib batibut fillet or sea bass fillet or red snapper fillet ~ or use a mixture of fish and ~hrimp) %6 limes (Enough Juice to cover fish) ~ cup diced fresh t6mato ! green pepper, sweer, chopped 4 tablespoons chopped parsley or chopped cilantro l/4 teaspoon salt Dice the fish tapproximately 1A inch, dice ifusing shrimp. Marinate fish in dae lime juice in the fridge overnight (this step cooks the fish). Pour of~most of the lime iuice. Add remaining ingredients except lettuce, avocado and olive. [!oss xvell and arrange in individual serving bowls that are lined with lettuce leaves. Then garnish with sliced avocMo and sliced black olives. h6ine November 2008 �More gay- characters on TV this year ..Woclmer News Service Tile number of GLBT characters on broadcast-TV networks’ scripted series has more than doubled in the new season compared with last year, says the Gay & Lesbian Mliance Against Defamation. GLBT representations account for 2.6 percent of all scripted series regular characters in the 2008-2009 broadcast television schedule, up from 1.4 percent in 2005, 1.3 percent in 2006 and 1.1 percent in 2007, GLAAD said Sept. 23. Shawn PyJ~om plays openly gay Andrew l~n De Kam]) on the ABC series Despwate Mi,’hael Urieplays openly gay Marc St. flames on t,Se ABC s~’ies Ugly Housewives. GlAAD phow Bert); HRC photo The study looked at 88 scripted comedies and dramas airing in the new season on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and Tile CW. It found 16 GLBT characters, compared ,vith seven last season. "This dramatic increase shows how far many networks have come in deve!oping ~omplex, multilayered lesbian, gay; bisexua! a~d tran~gender characters," said GLAAD President Nell G: Giuliano. ABC is offering seven such characters this year, Fox has five, NBC has three, The CW has one, and CBS has none. The nunaber of non-contract, recurring GLBT characters also has risen this year -- from 13 to t9. "Ti~egrowing number of recurring characters is another example of the networks’ progress towards being more inclusive," Giuliano said: "As the networks gradually add characters from all backgrounds and walks of life-to primetime programming, more and more Americans are seeing their LGBT friends and neighbors reflected on tile smal! screen." On mainstreara cable networks, the number GLBT series regular characters h~s dropped to 32 from last year’s high of 40. ~ae gay networks here! and Logo have 39 series regular GLBT characters this year. For fut! details, visit http://~wcw.glaad.orgleyelontv/20081. OKC Civic Center Music Hall November Events Oct. 17 - Nov. 8 DOUBT, A PARABLE a drama by John Partick Shanley Oct. 17 - Nov. 9 The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Harvey Mackie Oct. 31 - Nov. 1 HITCHCOCK AT THE MOVIES presented by the Oklahoma City Philaharmonic Nov. 2 UNDERTHE BIG TOP: SYMPHONY AT THE CIRCUS presented by the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Nov. 8 CARMINA BURANA presented by the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Nov. 9 Terry Fator - LI’V~ Nov. 11 - Nov. 16 THE RAT PACK-Live at tile Sands! Nov. 23 OLIVERI presented by Broadway Tonight Nov. 28 - Dec. 21 ROMEO &JULIET Nov. 28 - Dec. 20 A NICE FAMILY GATHERING a comedy by Phil Olson www.metrostarnews.com ~etroSTAR 17 �More gay characters on TV this y-ear ..Wockner News Service The number of GLBT characters on broadcast-TV networks’ scripted series has more than doubled in the new season compared with last yeal; says the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. GLBT representations account for 2.6 percent of all scripted series regular characters in the 2008-2009 broadcast television schedule, tip from 1.4 percent in 2005, 1.3 percent in 2006 and !. 1 percent in 2007, GLAAD said Sept. 23. ldm De I&mp on the ABC series Des~am &: flames on the ABC series Ug& Housewives. GLAAD photo Bet~. HRC photo The study looked at 88 scripted comedies and dramas airing in the new season on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and The CW. It found !6 GLBT characters, compared with seven last season. "This dramatic increase shows how far many networks have come in developing complex, multi!ayered lesbian, gay, " GLAAD President " characters, ’ sa~d bisexual and transgender .... Nell G: Giuliano. ABC is offering seven such characters this year, Fox has five, NBC has three, ~ae CW has one, and CBS has none. The number of non,contract, recurring GLBT characters also ha~ risen this year -- from 13 to 19. "Thegro~ving number of recurring characters is another exanapie of the networks’ progress towards being more inclusive," Giuliano said. "As the network~s gradually add characters from all backgrounds and walks of life-to primetime programming, more and more Americans are seeing their LGBT friends and neighbors reflected on the small screen." On mainstream cable networks, the number GLBT series regular characters has dropped to 32 from last year’s high of 40. ~ae gay net-works here! and Logo have 39 series regular GLBT characters this year. For ful! details, visit http://w~v.glaad.org/eye/ontv/2008/. OKC Civic Cen er Music Hail November Events Oct. 17 - Nov. 8 DOUBT, A PARABLE a drama by John Partick Shanley Oct. 17 - Nov. 9 The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Harvey Maclde Oct. 31 - Nov. 1 HITCHCOCK AT THE MOVIES presented by the Oldahoma City Philaharmonic Nov. 2 UNDERTHE BIG TOP: SYMPHONY AT THE CIRCUS presented by the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Nov. 8 CARMINA BURMNA presented by the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Nov. 9 Terry Fator - LIVE Nov. 11 - Nov. 16 THE RAT PACK-Live at the Sands! Nov. 23 OLI’\@Pd presented by Broadway Tonight Nov; 28 - Dec. 21 ROMEO &JULIET Nov. 28 - Dec. 20 A NICE FAMILY GATHERING a comedy by Phil Olson w"etw.metrostarnews.com ~÷troSTAR 17 �by Donald Pile and Ray Williams RENO, NEVADA Biggest Little City in the /brld" Photo: Downtown Reno Nevada First off, we have to say that in all of our travels, Reno is one of the friendliest places we have been. We stayed for four nights and met dozens of gay men and lesbians. Reno is like I.as Vegas was 20 or 30 years ago, a small, friendly town that is extremely easy to navigate. During the week there are not a lot of people there, and most things are within walking distance. Sometimes they do have "special" weekends, so if you are not into major crowds then go during the week. They day we left they were having a motorcycle convention with several thousands coming in so we were glad be on our way out oftown. Being a tourist town, everyone is extremely friendly and hdpful. Tne downtown area is very safe and well lit but of course one always has to be on guard at all times. Thl-here are no gay accommodations in Reno, but the Sands Regency Casino Hotel, which is located right downtown, welcomes everybody, qlle hotel hosts several gay events, and they have great rates. We were there in the middle of the week and got a mini-suite for just $39, which is unbelievably inexpensive. It also has the largest outdoor swimming pool in Reno. Several other gay men were staying at the hotel, and we all partied pool side. They have several nice restaurants and snack shops. The hotel often has lastminute room specials on its Web site, voww. sandsregency.com. Actually, wherever you are traveling, it is a great idea to check out the hotel/motel website as they do often have special, last minute rates. Six gay bars are listed in Reno. Tne downtown bar is a complete dump and dirty, and we do mean a "dump and dirty"! %vo on the east side of town are not open when their hours say they are, and the one on the west 18 side of town opens and closes when it wants to, so omit those four bars from your list. Isn’t it amazing that some gay bars don’t seem to have the common business acumen to be open when they post their business hours right on their front door? One bar was to open at 2 PM and we and the beer delivery man were waiting for it to open. Nae delivery man said that it was always late opening by an hour or two. We liked Carl’s Pub, 3310 S. Virginia St., which is about 30 blocks south of downtown. It is an extremely friendly bar. Everyone ~omes up and introduces themselves and makes you .feel very welcome. They are always having "special theme nights" and something is always happening. The other bar in Reno is the Patio Bar. It is clean, and the bartenders and patrons are friendly. We (as well as a few other patrons) had some issues with drink prices as the bartenders charged different patrons different prices for the same drinks. We confronted the bartenders and owners about this problem and they didfft want to talk about it. Apparently they charge locals one price and travelers another higher price, so we left and didn’t return. For those wanting a bathhouse, Steve’s Baths, 1030 x~ Second St., is open 24 hours a day. All the casino/hotels have great food specials all day long. Inexpensive breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets can be found at most all of the casinos. Luckily we found one of the finest Mexican restaurants in the country. Beto’s, a family-owned restaurant which is right across the street from the Patio Bar, and they make the finest homemade meals from scratch. Do not miss dining there. It is very inexpensive, and the food is outstanding. There are so many things t0 do and see in Reno. You really should stay right downtown so you can walk the strip and see all the sights and sounds. Reno has a lot of art galleries and museums. The Fleischmann Planetarium and the Nevada Historical Society Museum are dose to one another at 16th Street and North Virginia Street. The National Automobile Museum is at 10 S. Lake St., and the Nevada Museum of Art is at 160 W. Liberty St. One day, hop in your auto and take a driving trip down to Carson City, the state capital which is just a 35-minute drive to the south, and it makes a great short day visit. It is a very old city, and the architecture is remarkable. Actually, you could spend the entire day there. Places of interest include the Capitol building and other government buildings. Virginia Cit); in the mountains, is a must on your return trip to Reno. It was an old mining town, and you can take tours visiting mines, schoolhouses and homes from the late 1800’S. It is located right in the mountains. Be sure and take your camera. Lake Tahoe is a short drive from Reno and is a "must see and do" thing to do when visiting Ren6. Lake Tahoe is best knmvn for its beautiful blue and clear water (99% pure) ,and is surrounded by mountains which rise more than 4,000 feet above the shore. The lake is 22 miles long, 12 miles wide; about one-third lies in Nevada, the rest in California. The water drains from Lake Tahoe through the Truckee River which is one of a few rivers that run inland to the desert rather than towards the ocean. Pyranaid Lake, the remnant of ancient oceans which used to cover Nevada’s desert is the final destination of the Truckee River. Lake Tahoe is the third deepest lake in North America as it has all average depth of 989 feet but the deepest point is about 1,645 feet. The surface ~vater (12 feet) can warm to 68 F in summer, allowing swimming, while depths below 700 feet remain a constant 39 E Perhaps this is why Lake Tahoe is comfortable through the summer despite its proximity to the desert. Annual snowfall averages 40 feet, with snow pack averaging 20 feet which explains why downhill and cross-country skiing are very popular in the winter. Summer activities include hiking, white water rafting, beach picnics and other water activities. There are many ski and summer resorts as well as state park locations to choose from. Hevation at the lake is 6,229 feet Tney, of course, have gaming everywhere, even in the small towns and villages in Nevada. By the way, we just love how they have changed the name from gambling to gaming. Guess they want u~to forget that we are losing our money and think instead that we are participating in a game, to make it more fun! Uuless your winning money then LOSING money is Not fun! Between the inexpensive hotels, food and entertainment, Reno is a very good choice for a wonderful traveling experience. Before going to Reno, check out renodean.com for a complete listing of things to see and do there for the gay traveler. Dean is a ~vonderfu! guy, and he is more than glad to help you with suggestions. Another good website to check out is http:/lwww.visitrenotahoe.com/. You can have them send you a free booklet with a listing of everything to see and do there. Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! EUR£KA SPRINGS Fall Diversity Weekend 10/31 - 11/02 2008 EVENTS SCHEDULE: FRIDAY 10/31/08 Eureka Springs Limousine will provide rides for the weekend with wristbandfor $20. Mixer at Marquee’s at 7 - 9 PM. Karaoke with Tiny and Lady A with Costume Contest at Henri’s 9 PM. Ashley McBryde at Jack’s Place 9 PM. Costume Contest at Tiki Torch 9 PM. Costume Contest at Eureka Live 9 PM. Diversity Band at Chelsea’s 9 PM. Miranda Ray at the Lumberyard 10 PM. After Hours Breakfast at Harp’s 57. 11 PM -3AM SATURDAY 11/01/08 "Name that Tune" with Sandy at Smokehouse Cafe 8 - 11:30 AM. Diversity Bikers "Show N’ Shine" and "Hall N’ Back" Poker Run, Halloween Theme. Planner’s Hill Parking Lot 10 AM. Walking Tour starting at Basin Park. 10 AM. PDA (Public Display of A_ffection) Basin Park 12 Noon. Matinee’ Diversity Drag Show with Caribou Barbie at Tiki Torch 2 PM with encore at 10 PM. Rocky Horror Picture Show Part/at the Gem (Basement of the Aud). Doors open at 6:30 PM. Karaoke with Tiny and Lady A at Henri’s 9 PM. Ashley McBryde at Jack’s Place 9 PM. Kiss Tribute Band (Male Illusionist) at the Lumberyard 7 PM. Drag Show with Alexis LaRue at the Lumberyard 8 PM. Miranda Ray and the Backwoods Divas at Eureka Live 10 PM. After Hours Breakfast at New Delhi Deli from 9 PM to 3 AM. After Hours Breakfast at Harp’s 57. 11 PM -3AM For more informations visit Diversity Pride Events www.diversitypride.cora or www. eurekapride.com November 2008 ��derived from the Catalan word for cellar. There are a small number of areas in Spain outside Catalonia that also produce Cava. Cava is produced in varying levels of dryness of the wine which are: brut nature, brut (extra dry), seco (dry), semiseco (medium) and dulce (sweet). Under Spanish Denominaci6n de Origen laws, Cava can be produced in six wine regions and must be made according to the Traditional Method with second fermentation in the bottle and uses a selection of the grapes macabeo, parellada, xarelolo, Chardonnay, Pinot noir, and Subirat. Port Tawny ports are wines made from red grapes that are aged in wooden barrels, exposing them to gradual oxidation and evaporation. As a restflt, they gradually mellow to a golden-brown color. The exposure to wood imparts "nutty" flavors to the wine, which is blended to match the house style. Ta.wn~ ports are sweet or medium dry and typicany drunk as a dessert wine. When a Port is described as Tawny, without an indication of age, it is a basic blend of wood aged port that has spent at least seven years in barrels. Above this is Tawny with an indication of age which represents a blend of sev,e, ral vintages, with the averse years "in wood stated on the label. TiLe omcial categories are 10, 20, 30 and over 40 years. For each category, the average age of the various vintage is at least that of the given category. It is also possible to produce an aged white t~ort in the manner of a tawny, with a number of shippers now marketing 10 year old White Ports. And as always, I say go to your favorite wine shop, ask questions and purchase a bottle or two. Share some food & wine with friends and check this out for yourself. qSis writer also bar tends a~d hosts wine & food events known in town as the E-Mail- KylesBnB@aol.com bitter glrl �by Jack Fertig November 2008 "Keep it p~atonic, Aquarius!" Venus is in Sagittarius, wanting to play, but she’s triggering an opposition between Saturn and Uranus. Harness that wild, fun energy to balance responsibility and inspiration. ARIES (March 20 -Apri~ 19): Let your eye and ear wander to new artistic perspectives. Challenge yourself to appreciate things you’d normally avoid. The stimulation will help you to understand your place in the world better, to mend old friendships and make new ones. TAURUS (April 20 -May 20): Too much self-criticism is blocking the creative edge you need to realize your goals. Sexual adventure - yes, something entirely new! - will help you over that hump. The stars suggest exploring domination fantasies. If you have a better idea, follow your own dreams. GEMIN! (May 21 - June 20): Your political skills and foresight are especially sharp now. Look at any conflict, not as a logical argument, but as a dramatic scene to be resolved. The best answers will c0me way0~ of left field. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): Being playful, charming, outspoken, and fun certainly has its place, but it also makes you the target of annoyed persons at home and at work. That offers a creative challenge to focus and grow; but find a place to have your fun, too! CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Don’t get caught up in debates. Just listen to new ideas and arguments against them. If they contradict deeply held beliefs, accept the challenge quietly, and see where you have room to grow. Allow yourself an impulse buy for your home. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): A friend who wants "benefits" risks spoiling a good thing. Keep it platonic. Discuss the possibilities so your pal can realize what a disaster it would be in the long run. In the end, it should be good for a laugh. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Too much fun at work can make your partner feel neglected. What really counts in your career? What satisfactions does it offer that you don’t find in love? Reevaluate your priorities, and be frank with your baby about them. GANGER (June 21 = July 22): New approaches at work are worth trying, if only experimentally. Whether they work or not, your adaptability and thoughtful acceptance of criticism is what really counts. Bite your tongue and challenge your brain: Ambitious rivals may prove more helpful than well-meaning friends. LEO (July 23 o August 22): Your naturally playful eroticism can get a little out of hand, leading to rude surprises. Have a very deep heart-to-heart with your partner about sex, but also about whatever philosophical or religious differences you may have. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Take your partner Or roommate windowshopping for some exotic house decor. No need to buy; just browsing will help clarify domestic problems. A new approach to housework is also helpful, and remaining problems might be best resolved in the bedroom. LIB~ (September 23 - October 22): Life is stressful lately. Find a good friend and let it all out, even if it seems like a long, rambling, nonsensical torrent. That’s what good friends are for. Playful competition in some intellectually stimulating game also offers a sense of balance. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Any efforts to deal with finances now can cause more frustration than they would alleviate. Find cheap ways to enjoy the company of your friends. Spiritual lessons from childhood will help you deal with competition at work. www.metrostarnews.com METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve T. Urie Spidt0fChdst MCC 2902 E 20~ S~eet J0plin, M0~04 417-52~8480 W0mhip Saturdays at 10:00AM C0mmuni#! Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC 0fthe Living Spring 17 Elk S~t Eureka Slxings, AR 72632 47~253-9337 W0~hip Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a GOd filled and BleSSed Day! ~÷troSTAR 21 �K~NG 0~ MASSAGE Great T0uch Man to Man Fult Bo~{y Massage 2 hands or 4 hands available out calls 5) Now Hiring Male & Female Keller Williams Realty Chuck Breckenridge Whether buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. NW Arkansas GLBT Community- Center "Linldng Together as One" (2437} For more information: Oklahoma’s HIV!STD Hotiine PROTECT YOURSELF PROTECT YOUR 888-391-9222 WWW.NWAGLBTCC.ORG Community for People ~iving IN MEMORIAM A 50I c (3) Non Peofit Organization Our House, Too Tulsa a~ {9!8) 812.7~ MATTHEW ARON VH-IITE offers a variety of activities for people who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-nlail ou rhousetoo9865@ sbcglobal.net [] Matthew passed from dais life at the OU Medical Center at 5:30 a.m. September 12 after losing a battle with cancer. He was known to his many fi’iends as a happy caring person, truly shown by his many years workingas a nurse her~ in Oklahoma where his good nature touched countless lives. Born March 10, 1966 in Grenta, Virginia, he left home at age t6 as his family could not accept him as agay man, and he traveled the kountry before settling in Oklahoma, working as a jack of all trades. His funeral service was held at Epworth United Methodist Church October 20. He leaves behind a legacy of many fi’iends. ~ WWW.METROSTARNEWS.COM 22 November 2008 �Support those who support us. Their ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you. OUR HOUSE, TOO ~=l=] HABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma Cit); OK 405-528-2221 wv~,v.habanainn.com KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant OKC MORTUARY 2415-C N. WALNUT AVE. Oklahoma City, OK 800-913-1310 ANGLES 2117 NV¢" 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK ;m~w.anglesclub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 v~ww.bambooloungetulsa.com CLUB 209 209 N. BOULDER Tulsa, OK 918-584-9944 CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 w~v.clubmajestictulsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 ~-~W 39TH EXPI~SSWAY Oldahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oldahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 wvw.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 ~,PvV 39TH EXPRESS\VAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 ww~v.habanainn.com Tulsa, OK 74127 ~ KING OF MASSAGE In or Out Calls Oklahoma City, OK 405-314-3898 JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NV$ EXPRESS\rAY Oldahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 www.c2 lgoldcasde.com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com 21 EAST TOWNHOMES 21ST & MAIN Tulsa, OK 918-582-4673 or 918-607-1177 www.21East.us GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NV¢- 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn TOM & JERRYS 1501 N.W. 23RD Oklahoma City, OK 405-524-9100 $ B~ HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM MCC of the LIVING SPRING 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pro MCC UNITED 1623 N. Maplewood, Tulsa, OK 918-838-1715 v~wamcctulsa.org OPENAI~MS YOUTH PROJECT 2015 -B S. L~ewood Tulsa, OK 74112 918-838-7104 www. openarmsproject.org www.metrostarnews.com RA A AR SIS A T YN ~y LE U T E NN OS B ~ ¢ AT ¢O N Y N ODOI FE OD H A A F LE DE N i ¢ R A D O T L O B L ~G TR R ANID ~ L DA Y$ E RH NetroSTAR 23 �We believe tha~ hornosexua~i~ is no~ a g÷netic trait but a chosen ~ifes~y~e. We oppose the portraya~ of hornosexua~ or promiscuous behavior ~n a positive ~igh~ ~n We oppose ~he erosion of our military read~ness ~h~o~gh openly practicing homosexuals serving ~n ~he m~ary "We support the ful~ inclusion of a~l families, including same-sex coupbs, in ~he ~ife of our nation,and support equa~ responsibility, benefits, and protections. We wi~ enact a comprehensive bipartisan employment non-discrimination act. We oppose the Defense of Marriage Ac~ and a~! a~ernpts to use ~his issue to divide (Page 52, 2008 DNC P~afforrn) We oppose ~he ~romo~on o~ homosex~a~, ~h~ e~m~na~on o~ ~aws aga~ns~ sodomy, ~nd ~he granting o~ m~nor~y pro~ec~on or ~pec~a~ s~a~s ~o any person based upon sex~a~ preference or ~es~e choice. + +.oksPonewal+.org Taken from current platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties of Oklahoma. � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document WWW.METROSTARNEWS.COM "WE DELIVER DIVERSITY" By Metro Star Staff U.S. Senator Barack Obama State SenatorAndrew Rice Corp. Commissionerfim Roth Ron Marlett Chad Hawkins "A_merica, this is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page of the policies of the past." Blade on Sept. 10. "Michelte and I have been blessed with many openly gay and lesbian friends and cotleagues whom we have been close to for many years," the Democratic presidential candidate said. "xghile that fact has made the issues facing the .....Cont. see OBAMA pg-6 Andrew Rice, currently a State Senator District 46, is running against incumbent Republican James Inhofe for U.S. Senate Anarew born April 23, 1973, attended Casady College in 1996 with a bachdor’s degree in Religious Studies, then went on to receive his Masters in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School in 1999. From 1996 to 1999, he studied drug addiction problems and treatment in urban India. During graduate school he produced a documentary .....Cont. see RICE pg-6 ROCKNORTH NEW PLACE, SAME MISSION By Vicor Gorin OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ For over 10 years Red Rock North provided free HIV testing and counseling at their former OKC location on the N.\V. 39th Street Strip. It came to be a haven where those questioning their HIV status, those affected by HIV, and those needing to learn more about it could seek help in a non-judgmenta! place. Now located inside the Red Rock Behavioral Health Services Headquarters at 4400 N. Lincoln Boulevard, they still provide those services in the same way, their mission unchanged. The testing clinic is located on the 2nd floor, and the testing is free and confidential on a walk-in basis from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday thru Thursday, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Fridays. Testing is free & available for those over 13 years old. Other services are provided as well, including mental health and substance abuse assistance & counseling focused mainly on the GLBT community and/or those who are HIV infected or affected. Red Rock is a nonprofit agency, worldng in partnership with the Oklahoma State Health Department, that also ...........Continued see RED ROCK pg-11 Jim Roth-incumbent Democrat Oldahoma Corporation Commissioner running against Republican Dana Murphy. When Jim Roth was elected to represent thd citizens 0f Oklahoma Countys D~stnct 1 in 2002, it was a milestone not only to the GLBT community but also for Oklahoma County residents who longed for positive change. Needless to say, they got it. A welcome change during his first term was that he got 8 bridges built in his district, while his predecessor only got one. He i spearheaded expanding a policy of nondiscrimination for Oklahoma County employees that included sexual orientation and the handicapped. Jim not only won widespread respect for himself, but unprecedented respect for the office itself. This was dearly shown ....Cont. see ROTH pg-6 Democrat Ron Marlett is running against incumbent Republican Sally Kern of State House District 84. opp~rt~fiity to run against a state representarive with mo~ nation~ (and even som~ ifite> nati0nal) fiotoriety. Sal!~ the ineumbefit for ,vas already we!! lmo~ for her agenda as a self-described "warrior for Judeo-Christian values". She crusaded against the book "King and King" being in the Children’s Section of Oklahoma Public libraries, referring to it as "obscene" and claiming that Oklahoma libraries were attempting to "sexualize your children." SWnen minimum wage was $5.15 an hour she opposed raising it, wanting a study of how people on this income level budget their money. During hearings on immigration, she asked a wimess who stated that she was Puerto Rican if she was an American. But ,#chat finally prompted Ron Marlett to run was hearing the infamous ....Cont. see MARLETT pg-6 "I think any crime committed against a person because of their sexual orientation that is not considered a hate crime, is unacceptable. A hate crimes glii ~tis~be~a~to i~t~de sexual orient,+ion/’ Tulsa ~emScrat Chad Hawldns for state Re~+++ntatig+ Di++ric~ ~9 against[ Repiiblidm~ i~eumr b+nt Weld0fi Wat+ofi! Chad Hawldns, born in Tulsa, a graduate ofJenks High School, Tulsa Community College and Northeastern State University. "I believe in this country, I believe in the State of Oklahoma and I believe in the City ofTulsa. Unfortunately, poor leadership and lack of or simple disregard for foresight and planning has lead to a rotting infrastructure, substandard education, and a dependence on foreign energy sources due to a failed national energy policy." For more info. visit: Hawkins4tulsa.com NOVEMBER 1, 2008 Dana Orwig Dana Orwig is running against Republican Jason Nelson, who worked as a fund-raiser in 2001, raising $6 million dollars Dana Orwig is running f’or the second time to represent the constituents of State House District 87. She ran unsuccessfully in 2006 against Republican incumbent Trebor Worthen, who is not running for the position again. Now not having to run against an incumbent, with a better campaign and strategy and voters more hungry for change, she is very optimistic about this upcoming election. She has lived in the District for more than 28 years, with her husband Steve, who is a physician Oklahoma City’s VA hospital. They have 2 daughters, along with 2 son in-laws and 2 lively grandsons. She has been ordained as a deacon in the Episcopalian Church, and has served in ways ranging from ....Cont. see ORWIG pg-6 Latino Night at Local ~ gays m Club Successful Law ~Marl~t. "I’m Ron Marlett and I’m running for State House District 84 because I want a chance to bring about change that really matters for my fellow Oklahomans: good jobs, affordable healthcare, a quality educational system and real freedom and equality." I NEED YOUR HELP TO WIN THIS ELECTION, WE CAN MAKE ~T HAPPEN! need money and volunteers! Ron Mar~ett RO. Box 854 Bethany, OK 73008 (405) 640-2069 www.ronmarlettforhousedistrict84.com www.metrostarnews.com ~t~oSTAR 3 LATINO NIGHT AT OKC’s ANGLES Sabados maravillosas otre veces! By Victor Gorin When Latino night debuted at Angles September 28, it was a time of anxious anticipation. ~fhere had been numerous attempts to bring business up at Angles since Nick Post had acquired it last year. During the last few ),ears Angles had gone from being packed on the weekends to virtually empty, and there had been many ideas and brainstorms to bring back the crowds they had before. One of these was Latino Night, featuring Spanish music where GLBT Latinos & their friends could celebrate their culture and be themselves, something that had been successful at the late Club Rox ( inside the late Hollywood Hotel) and at Sisters (a former Lesbian dub now the location of Phoenix Rising). This was a party with no place to go that Latino partiers were dying to celebrate. Spearheading this effort was DJ Juan Adame, who with his friends spearheaded the idea. The first night was trepidation personified, but they distributed flyers, talked it up, texted & emaited everybody they knew and hoped for the best. Needless to say Angles was overvchelmed ~vith a huge crowd of partiers, gay and lesbian Latinos, some Asians, some Caucasians, and some straight people who know a good time when it’s happening, many coming from Tulsa and other places to fiesta with the locals. It needed to happen because as DJ Juan puts it, "We could go to straight Latino clubs where we guys could not dance together. At gay clubs we could occasionally hear Latino music, but we knew we needed a place of our own where we could dance together, enjoy our music and culture as Latinos." Gender Advocacy Team, and other community leaders for a special evening remembering individuals who have died as victims ofantitransgender hatred or prejudice. The event will be at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center on Thursday, November 20th, 2008, at 7:00 PM. ~ne Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th Street, on the corner of 4th Street & Kenosha in Downtown Tulsa, Oldahoma. He wants to thank those who helped him make it happen. "The Gay Latino community is growing, and the people helping me have been wonderful, bringing music, giving me ideas, being together and supporting each other as one, and I want to thank these people who helped me put this together." For the community, it fills a need. As Latina Yogi Doroteo puts it,"It means a lot for our community, it gives the gay Latino community a place to go, to meet other Latinos. It also helps the community as a whole get to l~aaow us better, and that is needed." P~6~n a suc~es~ Latifi6 nigh~ Will h~n ev~ ery other Saturday at Angle.s for those seeking tiempos buenos ( good times). It obviously was long overdue. ( November Schedule is Saturdays 8 & 11) Transgender Day o£Remembrance Observance On November 20th at Dennis R. Neill Equality Center "Sometimes, as a cornmunity, we forget the struggles of people who are not as visible as others. Yet, I am proud of our organization’s commitment to the full inclusion of the transgender community. This June saw a very successful "Gender Avengers" production celebrating the "T" ofLGBT Pride. We have very dedicated transgender volunteers, program participants and committee leaders. The full participation of all members of our community is essential to fulfilling our mission." said OkEq Board President Toby Jenkins. Zoey Sloane, a member of the Pride Marketing Team and the Gender Advocacy Team, noted that, "Discrimination and violence towards gay and lesbian people, as well as towards transgender people, is usually because of a real or perceived gender or gender-role variance. A guy is targeted because he’s "too feminine," or a girl is targeted because she’s "too butch." It really has much more to do with gender issues than sexual orientation. Hopefully, that realization will cause more people tobe commi~t~ ~ th~ ~!! i~[~ ...... ~i0~; ~f’e~ ~nd ~fiality 6f ~ebpl~ who af~..... transgender." According to the website http://gender. org/remember/day/, the Transgender Day of Remembrance serves the purpose of raising public awareness of hate crimes against transgendered people. It publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten, and it allows the expression of love and respect for real people here in our communities in the face of local and national ignorance, indifference and hatred. TULSA, OK (PR) __ Please join the members and friends of Oklahomans for Equality(OkEq), the members of the OkEq CC United Metropolitan Community Church Sunday Services @ 11:00 AM 1623 N, Maplewood Tulsa, OK www,mcctu sa,o g 4 ~et;oSTAR November 2008 wv,~N.metrostarnews.com ~et~’~STAR 5 GLBT community more personal, the fundamental reasons I have for supporting equality are greater than any individual.... We need to end the divisive politics of George W. Bush and pursue policies that treat all of us, regardless of identity or background, with dignity, equality and respect." Obama vowed, "If elected, I would call on Congress to enact legislation that would repeal DOMA and ensure that the over 1,100 federal legal rights and benefits currendy provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally recognized unions." For more information visit: w~wa~.BarrackObama.com entitled Ashes, which focused on the AIDS epidemic there. Back home again, he won election to the Oklahoma State Senate in 2006, representing approximately 71,000 people in central Oldahoma City. He has served on the Committees of Business and Labor, Health and Human Resources (co-chair), and Public Safety and Homeland Security. He led a successful effort to make it easier for lo~ governments to donate abandoned properties for use by Habit for Humanity" for lo~v income housing. He also authored legislation to create a State Veteraffs Health Insurance Program to provide coverage to uninsured Oklalaoma veterans. Unlike Senator Inhofe, who coined the phrase God Guns and Gays and has also stated that he’s proud that his family history has no homosexuality, Andrew Rice supports equalitty for all Oklahomans and will take those values to Washington. He is supported by the ~eace and justice community and organized bor, as opposed to Inhofe who has a 0% rating from the AFL-CIO, has opposed most minimum wage increases, and is ~vell known as a ruatter of record that he is no friend of working people. Andre~v also doesn’t share Inhofe’s view that global warming is a hoax. ~ae choice could not be more clear. Let’s elect Andrew Rice to be our voice in Washington. by his re-election in 2006 when his opponent, David Mehlhaff ran his campaign almost totally on the premise of bigotry, rarely if ever bringing up Mr. Roth’s job performance. When the constituents could see first hand the benefits of competent compassion, they recognized what was important and voted Jim back in handily with 63.4% supporting him. His abilities and dedication were recognized by Republicans and Democrats from many walks of life, including Governor Henry, who appointed him June 1, 2007 to serve Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode’s unexpired term when she resigned to take a job in the private sector. Although many constituents don’t give it much thought, the Commission touches our lives as we get gas for our cars or flip a light switch, as,vell as many other blessings ~ve take for granted. He has proven himself again in the time he has already served on the Commission that he is beholden to the people and not special interests, and has the courage to stand up for ~vhat is rig~ht even if he has to stand alone. As Jim puts it: "I’m standing for over 3 million Oklahomans who want a brighter tomorrow. I’m mindful that it takes an oath, a responsibility and the ethics to serve 100% of this state. It’s been my honor to take the oath to do it, and I hope for the opportunity to continue to serve." Sunday school teacher to prison ministry. She has been a teacher in both public and private schools, and truly understands firsthand issues of education. She also understands and is committed to the needs of working Oklalaonaans. Endorsed by the AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, she is committed to helping Oklal~oma’s small businesses stay competitive and supporting the companies already here. VC-hen asked if she supports the "gay agenda", this is her answer. "I have friends and family members who are gay. I also have supporters how are gay. My position is that our government should protect the civil rights of all its citizens." recording (the one that made youmbe) of Sally Kern speaking at a Republican meeting, where she stated that gays were a bigger threat than terrorism or Islam, and compared them to cancer. Ron Marlett heard the comments about the GLBT community, and decided that he had to run, to offer the Oklahomans of District 84 something better. Currently a social worker with Community Pathways Unlimited ( an agency working with disabled and elderly people in Oklahoma nursing homes) he said in an interview with the Metro Star that he could not let Ms. Kern go unchallenged. Mr. Marlett earned an excellent score when he responded to a survey from the Oklahoma Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus, and has been an outspoken advocate for equality .... for all Oklalaomans. He grew up in a union household, supports workers’ rights and won the endorsement of the Oklahoma State AFLCIO, in contrast to the voting record and statements of his opponent. He faces a tough race in a very conservative district. His main point? " I think the biggest difference between me and my opponent is that I will fight for everyone’s freedom. She has already made it clear in her own words that not all religions or lifestyles are equal. IfI am elected to represent District 84 1 hope this will send a message not only to our state to also to our nation that our freedoms and equality are important." Directory ofLoca_[ Animal Shelters Tulsa Shelter 918-669-6299 Broken Arroxv 918-259-8311 OKC 405 297 3104 Muskogee 918 686 7297 Stillwater 405 372 0334 Coweta 918-486 2137 Siloam Sprfngs 479 524 6535 Claremore 918 341 1260 Sand Springs 918 246 2543 Jenks 918 299 6311 Owasso 918-272-4965 Sapulpa 918 227 2722 Norman 405 321 6725 Collinsville 918 371 1000 Courtesy ofw,a~v.labrescue.net 6 ~/et~"oSTAR November 2008 Wockner News Service Connecticut Supremes legalize same-sex marriage Three down, 47 to go. Connecticut’s Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage Oct. 10, following in the footsteps of California and Massachusetts. In a 4-3 decision, the justices said denying same-sex couples equal access to marriage violated the state constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law. "Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay" people are entitled to marry," the decision said. "To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay, persons and another to all others." The ruling is expected to take effect around Nov. 7. Attorney General Richard Blumenthai said he ~vould not challenge the decision in any way: Gov. M. Jodi Rell said she didn’t like the ruling but has no plans to oppose it. "The Supreme Court has spoken," she said. "I do not believe their voice reflects the majority of the people of Connecticut. However, I am also firmly convinced that attempts to reverse this decision -- either legislatively or by amending the state constitution -- will not meet with success." The case was brought in 2004 in New Haven Superior Court on behalf of eight gay and lesbian Connecticut couples who had been denied marriage licenses, q-he couples now have been together for between 10 and 32 years and are raising a total of 14 children. Tne court’s 85-page decision can be read online at tinyurl.com/conndec. Same-sex marriage also is legal in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa and Spain -- and will become legal in Norway in January. Jay Leno supports samesex marriage TV talk show host Jay Leno expressed unequivocal support for same-sex marriage on his Oct. 1 broadcast. During a chat with out talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, Leno said: "I come from Massachusetts, and they’ve had it in Massachusetts for a !ong time. And it’s.fine. Tile world doesn’t collapse. "You know, I must admit, I go to West Hollywood -- people know that’s the gay area. The nicest area, the cleanest area, the safest area. I mean, I dofft get it. I mean, if two people warn to have something together -- the economy is falling apart, I don’t care what you do!"~ DeGeneres said to Leno, "They are trying to ... stop gay people from marrying, like somehow Portia and I staying at home watching Dancing With the Stars is affecting anybody." Etheridge, Michaels to marry Singer Melissa Etheridge, 47, and actress Tammy Lynn Michaels, 33, are getting married, Etheridge told tile TV show Extra on Oct. 1. "Yes, we have four children and we’re trying to find the right time," Etheridge said. California’s Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in June. On Nov. 4, voters will decide whether to amend the state constitution to undo the ruling. Polls have shown support for same-sex marriage as high as 55 percent and as low as 42 percent. They have clocked opposition to same-sex marriage as high as 47 ~percent and as low as 38 percent. Seven to l0 percent of voters have polled as undecided on Prop 8. FLORIDA State Amendments Seem Likely to Lose Posted by Daily Queer News October 20, An effort to rewrite the Florida Constitution to prohibit gay marriage is falling short of the numbers needed for victory in the Nov. 4 election, a Sun Sentinel and Florida Times- Union poll shows. Tne poll of 600 likely voters shows support for Amendment 2 at 53 percent, less than the 60 percent approval rate required to change the constitution. ~ae gay-marriage question is one of six statewide referendums on this year’s lengthy ballot. The poll found uncertainty high on all of the rest, which range from tax breaks for homeowners who install hurricane protection to elimination of racist language from the state constitution. Backers of the gay-marriage ban say the poll should be a wake-up call to conservatives to vote. Opponents say the poll shows they have made progress in explaining that the proposal could jeopardize domestic partnership benefits that many governments and companies offer straight and gay employees. California protects gay seniors Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill Sept. 28 to help prevent anti-gay bias in senior-care facilities and nursing homes. The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, requires licensed health care professionals who have constant interaction with seniors to attend a training program on preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. "Some members of the (GLBT) community living in nursing homes have been denied their most basic rights, including the simple choice to spend time with a loved one, because of their sexual orientation or gender identity," said Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors. "We appreciate the support of Gov. Schwarzenegger and the Legislature for approving this measure, which ¯;viii prractively create a culture of respect and understanding for all seniors living in care facilities." EQCA said basic rights such as the choice to live in the same nursing home with a partner and the right too hospital visitation are routinely denied to older same-sex couples. Connecticut residents support same-sex marriage decision A Hartford Courant/University of Connecticut poll has found that 53 percent of state residents support the Oct. 10 state Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage, and 42 percent don’t like it. Among Democrats, 72 percent support it while, among Republicans, 69 percent oppose it. The poll of 502 adult residents had a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points. In a 4-3 decision, the Connecticut justices said denying same-sex couples equal access to marriage violated the state consn" tun"on’s guarantee of equal protection under the law. "Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay people are entided to marry," the decision said. "To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others." The ruling is expected to take effect around Nov. 7. Same-sex marriage also is legal in California, Massachusetts, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa and Spain -- and will become legal in Norway in January. There is no residency requirement to get married in the three U.S. states or Canada. Gays protest at Louisville McDonald’s Gay activists and others protested outside a downtown Louisville McDonaM’s on Oct. 10 after an employee called a gro.~p ofgay customers ’faggots"and a sup~isor said the incidwnt was no"big deal" and refused to refiand the customers’ money. Fairness carnpaign photo Gay activists and others protested outside a downtown Louisville McDonald’s on Oct. 10 after an employee called a group ofgay customers "_faggots" and a supervisor said the incident was no "big deal" and refused to refund ~e customers’ money. "For any business to treat its gay customers this way is beyond the pale," said protester Becca O’Neill from the University of Louisville’s Lambda Law Caucus. q-he demonstrators carried signs reading, "Discrimination Don’t Belong in a Happy Meal," "Homophobia Served Here" and "NOT Lovin’ It." "We have a law against anti-gay discrimination in Louisville, but we want people to know that these incidents still happen and that bttsinesses that take part in this kind of illegal discrimination will be held accountable," said Jeff: Rodgers, co-coordinator of the Fairness Campaign. Ryan Marlatt, Teddy Eggers and three friends had stopped for lunch at the East Market Street McDonald’s on July 26. As they waited for their food, an employee referred to them as "faggots" to another employee. Marlatt and Eggers asked to speak with a manager, who then refused to refund the group’s purchase. Marlatt said he attempted several times in the following weeks to contact the general manager of the restaurant and the corporate offices, but got no response. The group seeks an apology, a refund of $28 and disciplinary action against tile employees involved. w~,~w.rnetrostarnews.com }&~troSTAR 7 LGBT Entrepreneurs Keep Going as Financial Titans Struggle Despite this past year’s economic slowdmvn, the recent credit crunch and plummeting stock prices on Wall Street, LGBT small business owners, like many of their straight counterparts, are successfully riding out the storm. Top economists and business leaders have declared the current financial morass an "economic apocalypse," yet recent congressional action on the $700 billion bailout bill points the way to what many hope is a brighter economic future. "This bill’s success shows that Americ£s la,vmakers understand the importance of a strong economy--and particularly that the tightening credit crisis was risking the ability of small businesses to make payroll, stock shelves and keep up with day-to-day expenses," says Chance Mitchell, co-founder and CEO of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. "In short, without this package, small businesses which make up the engine that run the United States economy seriously risked coming to an abrupt halt," Mitchell adds. The biggest threat to small businesses from U.S. financial woes is the tightening of credit markets. Credit is a lifeline for small businesses looking to grow and maintain operations, and in some places, it’s getting harder to find. Many banks are boosting credit score thresholds and tightening credit all around. "Small business owners, whether or not they use credit to run or expand their own businesses, know that access to credit and a fully functioning financial market are important to them and to their customers, suppliers and vendors," says Todd Stottlemyer, president and CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business. For LGBT small businesses, the focus is on making do in this unpredictable economy. Ask Izzy Schechner, a member of Plexus, the LGBT chamber for Cleveland, Ohio. He owns D&I Restaurant Group, a corporate catering company that’s closer than most small businesses to the banldng crisis--one of the cafeterias D&I runs is for a commercial bank. "A lot ofmy customers in the cafeteria are either cutting back their orders drastically or bringing food from home," says Schechner. "That has impacted our business by about 25 or 30 percent." In addition to dropping customer orders, Schechner has stopped cashing his own paycheck while making some painf~ cuts to his business. "For the first time we’ve been going to discount wholesalers like Sam’s Club and Costco to get the same products we norm_ally have delivered. We’ve had to lay offa few people and we’ve stopped giving vacation pay this year for the first time ever," he says. Marci Bair, a financial planner and employee benefits consultant in San Diego, has only gotten busier. "~lhe majority ofmy clients are small business owners coming in for advice on how to cut costs and [,,estructure their employee benefits," sa~ys Bair. We primarily look at ~il the aspects or the business where we can cut costs; a significant cost is in the health insurance area." Bair, who belongs to the her local LGBT chamber, the Greater San Diego Business Association, says that business owners for the most part want to keep as many options open for their employees as possible. "Now is not the time for employees to be without insurance," she says. "Some owners are going for a ~igher deduct!ble plan, while others want to hang in there with their current plans" in anticipation of better times. And making sure to do business in the community is key to bringing those better times back, says Sam McClure, executive director of Twin Cities Quorum, the LGBT chanaber of commerce for Minneapolis and St. Paul. "We’re seeing relationships among LGBT businesses grow e~’en tighter since this economic crisis started," says McClure. "We’re talking about how important it is to do business in your community again, even more than usual, and that’s something that we haven’t really talked about since the late 80s." McClure also points to individual measures businesses can take, and that her chamber has consistently pushed,,, such as maintaining a high credit ratin,g. ’ Planning strategically, . for growth is cruc,al now, because I dont th~nk businesses are going to have,as much flexibility as in the past, she says. ’ So being part of .the community has taken on a higher level of importance. Bair too is doing her part for the LGBT coinmunity and members of the LGBT chamber. She’s helping LGBT couples and individuals maneuver through complicated financial and health care decisions as they face layoffs and office c!osures. 8chechner says that he feels supported by fellow LGBT entrepreneurs as wellas he maneuvers through this difficult economy. "It’s comforting to have a sounding board from our chanlber of commerce, just to bounce ideas off of and to help with cost-saving strategies, networking, and to help utilize our resources to the max," he says. McClure suggests LGBT entrepreneurs practice an economics of conscience. "Whenever we earn or spend a dollar inside of our community we are flexing our considerable economic muscle. I would say to every gay and gay-friendly business owner, choose thoughtfully where you buy your next cup of coffee, where you have your next lunch meeting, where you invest your retirement funds, where you go for happy hour. "Every choice is a new opportunity to drive our economic power for change." (Source NGLCC http://v~ccw.nglcc.org/BIZ/ index ) 8 P#~÷t~oSTAR November 2008 How to Protect Your Loved Ones When the State Will Not Life planning helps same-sex couples protect each other. By Attorney Susan A. Muscari I~hoto: 7~dsa AttornG Susan A. 3d.,~scari Same-sex couples face several challenges when it comes to the legal and tax system, especially in the state of Oklahoma where same-gender marriages are not recognized. If one partner dies, the remaining partner may find themselves in a legal battle against the deceased~ family - unless a legally binding plan has been put into effect. Ira homosexual couple was married in a state that recognized it as legal, and then moved or returned to Oldahoma, Oklahoma still does not recognize that marriage. For same-sex couples, the tax burden is much larger than that ofheterosexua~ married couple. However, while all residents must abide by Otdahoma’s laws, there are ways to navigate them to ensure the assets and real estate of you and your partner are titled to enable fewer tax penalties. Tixere are also preparations partners can make to ensure each person’s wishes are fotlmved in the situation of a catastrophic illness, temporary incapacitation, or the event of death. ~xere are five essential documents that same-sex couples should create t~ protect themselves and their partners. Prepare an Advanced Medical Directive Setup Durable Power ofAttorney Create a Revocable Living Trust Prepare a Last Will and Testament Setup an Authorization to Disclose Medical Records First, an Advanced Medical Directive allows same-sex partners to name each other as healthcare proxy, permitting a partner to speak with physicians on the other’s behalf. It is often hard on both the individual’s family and partner in times of distress and tensions can arise resulting in conflicting opinions in terms of care. The medical directive ensures there is no confusion as to who will be making the decisions on behalf of an individual if they are unable to do so for themselves. Along that same line, instituting a Durable Power ofAttorney provides same-sex couples the right to make personal and financial decisions on behalfofa partner if they ever become disabled. By ~vorking with a team of an estate planning attorney and a CPA, same-sex couples can esfablish finite directives and asset protections through a Revocable Living Trust, allmving couples to pass assets to their partner. Though the state of Oklahoma may not recognize or respect same-sex marriages, samegender trusts are recognized by the state and have not been successfully challenged. A trust, with very careful planning, can also help same-sex couples avoid several tax consequences. There am two ways for domestic partners to set up a trttst; one option for couples is to set up separate trusts and designate each other as the beneficiaries. This is the best option for couples Who may have competing interests such as a child from a previous relationship. Separate trusts can provide for the child as well as the partner in a worse-case scenario situation. The second option is to create a joint trust in which the assets of both indMduals are combined into one trust. While this is the ideal for long-term couples, it is imperative to enter into this arrangement xvith the understanding that there will likely be tax consequences. Ti~e best advice for couples who decided to go the course of a shared trust is to let the assets remain in the trust. As long as the assets stay where they are, the surviving partner can avoid extreme tax consequences that same-sex couples often fall under. Lastly, with an authorization to disclose medical records and a Last Will and Testament in place, same-sex couples can institute a No Contest Clause, effectively establishing partners as personal representatives of each other. It also protects the remaining partner from anyone who may contest their rights as a representative and beneficiary. The crt~x of the matter is that there are ways to plan for domestic partners, but do not count on Oklahoma and its laws to provide that protection. Same-sex partners deserve the same protection that their heterosexual counterparts receive, but it takes careful life planning aa~d the right documents in place to do so. For a personal consultation on your specific needs, you may contact Susan at (918) 770-3423 or visit: ,aw~w.muscarilaw.com. Palin Indicates Support for Federal Marriage Amendment Nearly 60 percent ofAmericans oppose writing discrimination into U.S. Constitution WASHINGTON, DC (PR-HRC) __ Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP nominee for vice-president, has indicated in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network that she would support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution excluding gay and lesbian couples from marriage. The so-called Federal Marriage Amendment has faced bipartisan opposition in both houses of Congress, both of which have voted the FMA down twice. Sarah Pahn ~s out of step w~th the majomy ofAmericans, nearly 60 percent ofwhom are opposed to writing discrimination into the U.S. Constitution," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Her view stands in stark contrast to the ideals that make America great: freedom, opportunity, and eq~,ality. These are the tenets upon which our nation was built. An August 2008 poll from TIME Magazine shows that 58 percent ofAmericans believe that the U.S. Constitution should not be amended to define marriage as being between one man and one woman. The Human Rights Cam,paign PAC, the political action committee of the nations largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, previously released an online video in response to comments made by Patin in which she stated that she believes homosexuality is a choice. The video released by HRC PAC is narrated by Michael Cole, senior manager of HRC’s media center, who flew to Alaska with a video production crew to talk with Wasilla’s LGBT community. View the video at http:/ha~-,v.youtube.com/hrcmedia. www.metrostarnews.com ~I®t~~STAR 9 Palin tries to walk center line on gays News analysis by Rex Woc¼aer Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is strongly against same-sex marriage and has a history of speaking against gay rights, but in the current campaign she’s attempting to strike a middle ground. "I am not going tO judge Americans and tile decisions that they make in their adult personal relationships," she recently told CBS News. "t have one ofmy absolute best friends for the last 30 years who happens to be gay, and I love her dearly -- and she is not my ’gay friend,’ she is one of my best friends, who happens to have made a choice that isn’t a choice that I have made, but I’m not going to judge people." Palin, however, was judged for that comment by gay activists, who took exception to her saying that being gay is a "choice." There also has been Internet chatter that no one can identify who Palin’s lifelong lesbian pal is. Patin likewise attempted to appear tolerant during the Oct. 2 vice presidential debate. "If there~ any kind of suggestion at all from my answer that I would be anything but tolerant of adults in America choosing their partners, choosing relationships that they deem best for themselves -- you know, I am tolerant and I have a vmT diverse i]amily and group of friends and even within that group you would see some who may not agree with me on this issue, some very dear friends who don’t agree ~vith me on this issue," she said. "But in that tolerance also, no one would ever propose, not in a McCain-Paliri administration, to do anything to prohibit, say, visitations in a hospital or contracts being signed, negotiated bet~veen parties." But then she stated unequivocally: "I will tell Americans straight up that I don’t support defining marriage as anything but between one man and one woman, and I think through nuances we can go round and round about what that actually means. But I’m being as straight up ~vith Americans as I can in my nonsupport for anything but a traditional definition of marriage." Because Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Joe Biden also claim to oppose same-sex marriage, because Palin was trying to sound tolerant, and because debate host Gwen Ifill was anything but aggressive in her questioning, some debate viewers xvere lei~ with the impression that there is no difference between the two teams on issues of gay equality. Nothing could be further from the truth. Obama and Biden support giving same-sex couples all the rights of marriage -- everything but the word -- and oppose attempts to ban same-sex marriage in the states where it is legal. John McCain and Palin, on the other hand, support statewide bans on same-sex marriage, do not speak in support of civil unions, and, in the final analysis, seemingly would go only so far as letting gay people visit a sick partner in the hospital and allowing them to sign private contracts to attempt to protect their relationship legally. That’s a far cry from the Democratic position in favor of granting gay" couples all marriage rights under a different label. "Do I support granting same-sex benefits?" Biden asked during the debate with Palin. "Absolutely positive!): Look, in an Obama-Biden administration, there will be absolutely no distinction from a constitutional standpoint or a legal standpoint between a same-sex and a heterosexual couple." Rea Carey; lesbian, gay; bisexual and transgender rights leader, demands higher standard from national candidates WASHINGTON, DC (PR) __ Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund, responds to the vice presidential debate between Republican Gov. Sarah Palin and Democratic Sen. Joseph Biden.Statemerit by Rea Carey, Executive Director National Gay’and Lesbian ~ask Force Action Fund Press releasephoto: Rea Care),, Executive Director National Gay and Lesbian Ta~-k Force Action Fund "I found myself reacting as ifI had heard fingernails on a chalkboard when Gov. Sarah Palin talked about her tolerance. I’m sorry, but tolerance with a smile does not equal support for our lives nor does it honor the validity of our relationships and families. Much of the country has moved well beyond the condescension and dismissiveness of’tolerance.’ We have higher expectations than patronizing statements of tolerance by anyone seeking to lead this nation. We also have higher expectations for those political leaders, such as Sen. Joseph Biden, who have been our allies on so many issues to finally, and unequivocally, stand up for our full equality. "I look fotward to a day xvhen the leadership of our country can set an example and dearly state that it is time for the rejection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans to end. Too many elected officials have not even met the low bar of calling for complete legal equality for all Americans. "We live in difficult times. Families sit at their kitchen tables dealing with the challenges of our day, -- keeping their jobs, putting fuel in their tanks and food on the table, and obtaining good and affordable health care. Our families -- LGBT families -- are dealing with the exact same concerns, only without the legal protections that are so critical to our welfare. What I wanted to hear in the debate, and did not, is a belief that protections and opportunities, like marriage, should exist so that our families have the ability to both thrive and to contribute to society on equal footing with our straight friends and neighbors." ¯he Fruit Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree ? or A Tragedy Waiting for an Ending By James Nimmo O~HOMA CITY, OK __ I attended the last of two debates between Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth and the GOP opponent Dana Murphy. Held at Oldahoma City University" in the School of Law Building there were about ! 50 people listening including GOP Rep, Sally Kern and her husband. I think if you’re reading this you know that Ms. Kern carried a loaded hand gun twice into the Oklahoma Capitol Building and that every waking moment of her life is devoted to thinking about how gay men and lesbians conduct their private lives and how she can break up the action. I think her husband, Rev. Steve Kern, chief minister at Olivet Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, is also devoted to the s,ame voyeurism consuming his wi~. I believe this because I ve attended in the early spring five services preached by Rev. Kern and he never failed to mention the clinical, pseudo-scientific word "homosexuality" in those sermons and the great evils spurting there from. He even said that men having sex with other men look like dogs. I swear I’m not making this up! Imagine saying this in front of 60- and 70-year old white hetem men and women steeped in the blood of their G-sus! At the conclusion of the debate I went up to Ms. Kern and reminded her that it’s also illegal to carry a gun onto a college campus. She replied that I was ~velcome to call a securityguard and have her purse searched. I declined the invitation saying I wanted to make sure she knew the law. Fearing that his Biblica! help-meet made from a rib ~vas losing the thread of the discussion, Rev. Kern asked me why I was so hung tip on Sally’s gun toting. I asked Rev: Kern why were he and Sa!ly~ so hung up on "homosexuality"? Is it because the fruit hasnt fallen far from the tree? Oh, but Rev. Kern said they’re only interested in morality and that I should attend their church and see what it’s like. I reminded him I’d been to their church five times and I had all the X-tian morality I could stomach. Let me tell you I was the unidentified man escorted from the Bethany City Hall two weeks ago when I stood up at a political forum and asked on behalfof public safety ifSally Kern was carrying her gun in a "no weapons" area such as the auditorium we were sitting in. Shouldn’t it bother you to know that there are people on the public payroll who have no intention of obeying the law when it applies to their idea that they are ABOVE earthly law and prefer the higher law of the Triune heavenly father-son-holy spirit? An interview with Jesse Kern, one of the sons of the hetero- Kerns, appeared in the Tulsa World ( http:,//tinyurl.com/ 39kpsq ) earlier this year when his mothers You Tube speech ( http:lltinyurl.comlyq91ak ) was burning on the internet like the purifying fires of hell. Jesse said he was not gay and had given his sexuality to his god. That’s funny. I didn’t know God needed a sex buddy. I’m no psychiatrist, I’m purely an observer but doesn’t something he-re smell a bit musty, like it’s been in the closet too long? Let me see: a grown man raised in a fervently fundie church doffs that background, ( http://tinyurl.com/66axyu ) joins a new-age kind of commune, and devotes his sex life to the god of his imagination. At the same time his parents are on a 24-7 rampage for morality, looking for semen stains between every sheet, and partner their politics to organizations associated with some unsavory characters. ( http:l/gossip-boy.comlKern_Campaign.html ) It seems to me that Sally Kern and her family are a tragedy waiting for an ending. 10 ~÷t~°oST,~R November 2008 Ten years. ousands victimized. Not action. Thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have been victims of hate-motivated violence since Matthew Shepard’s death, and still there is no federal hate crimes law covering sexual orientation and gender identity WASHINGTON, DC (PR) __ Sunday; Oct. 12, marked the 10-year anniversary of the brutal death of Matthew Shepard, and many states and the federal government have yet to enact hate crimes protections covering both sexual orientation and gender identity. This, despite the fact that thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people have been the targets of hate-based violence in the decade since Shepard’s murder, according to statistics from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP). Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund provides referrals for assistance for housing, food and other medical issues. Despite the change in location, many of their former clients from the N.W. 39th Street area have come to the new place, as well as others from that area. Although not as ideal as the other location, Mike Maus, a longtime counselor for Red Rock, states that it has worked out. He also feels that because he is well known as a openly gay man who is HIV positive, this helps clients feel comfortable and OK with seeking testing "Ten years ago, the shocking murder of Matthew Shepard sent a national clarion call for stronger federal la~vs to combat crimes motivated by hate. Since then, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have continued to fall victim to hatestoked violence in shocking numbers. Despite this epidemic ofanti-LGBT violence, the federal government has refused to enact a hate crimes law covering sexual orientation and gender identity. This shameful failure of national xvill and resolve must end in 2009 with a new president and a new Congress. "Today, we remember mad mourn Matthew Shepard. We also remember other young people whose voices fell silent this past yeai: "We mourn Ashley Sweeney of Detroit, Mich., shot to death in February 2008; we mourn Lawrence King of Oxnard; Calif., shot to death in his middle-school classroom in February 2008; we mourn Simmie Williams Jr. ofFt~ Lauderdale, Fla., shot to death in February 2008; and we mourn Angle Zapata of Greeley, Colo., beaten to death with a fire extinguisher in July 2008. We remember and mourn all victims of hate violence, but especially these and other young gendernonconforming people, who died in the hope of freedom to live their lives as they wished." Assessment of progress during the past 10 years Currently, 31 states and D.C. have hate crimes laws that track or make illegal crimes motivated by sexual orientation mad/or gender identity and expression. However, by the time of Matthew Shepard’s death in 1998, 23 of these 31 states had already passed their laws. Since his death 10 years ago, only eight states have added hate crimes protections (Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Tennessee and Texas). In 19 states, there are no hate crime laws protecting anyone in the LGBT community. On the federal level, champions in both the House and Senate have continued to prioritize passage of legislation that would expand and sn-engthen federal hate crimes legislation. In the 110th Congress, both chambers with bipartisan majorities passed the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act as a free-standing bill in the House and an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization Act in the Senate. This is the first time both chambers have considered a bill that included both gender identity and sexual orientation. However, strategic and procedural problems prevented Congress from sending a bill to President George Bush, who promised to veto the bill if it did reach that point. Epidemic of anti-LGBT violence LGBT people are disproportionately affected by hate violence. Reports produced by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Photo provided by aJ~iend ofthe victim shows Universi{y ofWyominggay college student Matthew Shepard who was beaten and Ie’.fifior dead in a W~ominy’.gpastute near Laramie, I~210.,~y on Oct. 7, 1998. In the 10 years since, more than 30 states havepassed laws addtessing bias-related crimes against gays, but gay,rights advocates point to a series offrustrations including thefailure of federal hate-crime legislation. (AP) Forc~ (i984=1993) and the National Coalition ofAnti-Violence Programs (1994-2007) have documented more than 35,000 anti-LGBT crimes over the last two decades. It is important to note that these statistics are based on reports from only a handful of local LGBT crime victim assistance agencies. Indusion of transgender people in hate crimes laws is especially important because violence against transgender people is widespread, largely underreported, and disproportionately greater than the number of transgender people in society. The total number of victims reporting anti-LGBTQ violence to NCAX¢~ in 2007 was 2,430, which represents a 24 percent increase over the total number of victims reported in 2006. ~-he Task Force has led the movement-wide effort to secure an effective and full governmental response to hate crimes against LGBT people, beginning with the launch of its groundbreaking anti-violence project in 1982. Task Force organizing, coalition building and lobbying resulted in the 1990 passage of the Hate Crimes Statistics Act, sponsored by U.S. Rep. John Conyers. Ouotable Ouotes "But our country’s journey toward equality is not finished. It’s been five years since Lawrence v. Texas. It’s been 39 years since Stonewall. And we still have more work to do before we achieve equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans. Election Day offers an opportunity to take another crucial step toward equality. Millions have joined this movement for change. People are hoping again -- believinggaain -- that we can come together to create, a stronger, fairer nation. And on November 4 we 1! have a chance to put that hope into action." Michelle Obama Photo: Red Rock Counselor ~adike Maus by Victor Gorin As Mike puts it, ’~We are stil! testing as many people as we were before, and we will continue to have a presence in the gay community, keeping on with outreach programs, passing out condoms inthe barsl and educating When possible, particularly at special events such as Pride and World AIDS Day." "We are here to help people determine their HIV status, and develop a plan to deal with that status. Treatment is available for all people with HIV in the United States, regardless of xvhether you have a job, money or insurance. We want to get the word out that we’re here to help." Red Rock HIV testing 877-339 3330 Mike Maus--(405)425-0473 Red Rock Behavioral Health Services (405) 424 7711 Oklahoma STD Hotline 800 535 2437 Oklahoma City-County Health Department STD Clinic (405) 427-8651 Positively Living Support Group-Every Tuesday at Red Rock 5:30 p.m. for those infected or affected by HIV. Tuesday Night Supper Club---Social dinners at varied restaurants every other Tuesday for those likewise dealing with HIV. For more information Chuck Longacre (405) 425-0448. Direct Cremation From $595 TION MORTUARY SERVICE,~ Traditional Funeral Services at Affordable Prices (405) 230- 1310 or !-800-913-1310 Pre-Need Plan CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED 2415-C North Walnut Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma www.rnetrostarnews.com NetroSTAR 11 @Club 209, Tulsa @Angles, Oklahoma City @ Finishline, Oklahoma City @ The Ledo, Oklahoma City @Club Majestic, Tulsa @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa @ The Copa, Oklahoma City @ The Lab Rescue, Tulsa By Greg Steele xk~/rith all the outing of gay penguins, sheep, dogs and other species, is there a possibility there are gay turkeys? How would you know if you were eating one of our own? I mean the poor critters are just herded into the slaughter pen, humanely killed, I presume, plucked and whisked off to Walmart. I for one wil! be asking the Walmart meat lady ifmy turkey was gay! I refuse to bake, fry, barbecue or boil a family member. We assume that all turkeys are hetero, and it’s OK to bake or fry ect., a homophobic hetero turkey, but what ifyour turkey was hetero and gay friendly? This outing of animals and now fowl is just not right. It raises so many questions and creates so many problems and it’s Thanksgiving for God’s sake. W~here are r~e Fowl Rights people when you need them! Have a Great Holiday! 12 ~VI÷troSTAR November 2008 Artists Cindy Swanson and Sharyl Landis e ibit at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center Mosaic "Just Balother Day" TULSA, OK (PR) The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center art gallery will host its monthly First Thursday meet-the-artist reception from 6-9pm, Thursday, November 6, 2008, for the opening of it’s new exhibit featuring artists Cindy Swanson and Sharyl Landis, Swanson will be displaying many of her mosaic works of art. Drawn to the art form by her attraction to the colored glass, Cindy has qtudie.dthe medium i~ Italy under the guidance of two master tlqosalsts. Landis will be featuring her mixed-media art at the show, which She describes as "fascinating and full ofwhimsy’!. Shawl loves using her hands to transform objects into unique designs through the blending of colors, shapes, and textures. Since 1997, beading has been Sharyl’s primary form of expression, though in recent years she has expanded into hand dyed textiles and using beadwork as a 3-D addition to her paintings and textiles. The exhibit will remain up through the month of November, and can be viewed Monday thru Saturday from 3-gpm. The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th St., in downtown Tulsa. More info can be found on the web at okeq.org. ~Pnis monthly event is hosted by Oldahoman’s for Equality (OkEq). OkEq seel~ equal rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual &:Transgender (LGBT) individuals and families {lx~bugh advocac~ education, programs, alliances, and the Operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. urban living 13 TOWNHOMES SOPHISTICATED DESIGN EXPANSIVE GLASS FRONTS PRIVATE OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES DESIGNER FINISHES AND FIXTURES ENERGY EFFICIENT GREEN AMENITIES AVAILABLE ELEVATOR OPTIONAL ADJACENT TO TULSA PARKS SPACIOUS COMMON DRIVE ROOFTOP PATIO GARDENS AVAILABLE MARTIN NEWMAN 9 I 8.582.4673 MLONEWMAN 2 1 st @ BAain Street VIEW OF DOWNTOWN SKYLINE OPEN LIVING SPACES ELEVATOR OPTIONAL POOL OPTIONAL SECURE GATED ENTRY UTICA SQUARE NEARBY ’PET FRIENDLY GATED GUEST PARKING ONE BLOCK FROM RIVER TRAILS SMART URBAN LIVING CONTEMPORARY STAINLESS APPLIANCES HEATHER MCGRAW 918.607.1 t77 HMCGRAW@MCGRAWOK. COM www.metrostarnews.com ~etroSTAR 13 Mitcham is sad he was only out gay at Olympics Gold-medal diver Matthew Mitcham told the Sydney Morning Herald on Oct. 8 that he is sad he was the only out gay man at the Beijing Olympics. "I was actually very surprised I was the only out male at the Olympic Games," he said. "It’s a little bit sad. I think, because statistically there should be a lot more but, you know what, it’s each to one’s own. I’m not going to pressure awbody else to come out of the closet because it’s their own choice. But I’m proud to be there, proud to be that one that lots of other people can look up to." Some 10,500 athletes took part in the games. Mitcham’s gold-medal dive received the highest score in Olympic diving history. kish trans laws need updating Ireland needs to fix its laws on transgender issues, the Irish Human Rights Commission said Oct. 1. Among other things, post-op transsexuals should be able to get a new birth certificate aa~d get married to someone of the opposite sex, the commission said. The group recommended the government move on the matter with urgency; pointing out that the current laws rtm afoul of decisions by the European Court of Human Rights. Norwegian church will not marry gays when law takes effect Norway will become the seventh nation to grant same-sex couples access to full marriage in January, but the dominant Church of Norway will not marry gays, the state church’s bishops said Oct. 8. Pastors will be permitted to offer prayers for gay couples who get married but may not bless them, the bishops said. Same-sex marriage also is allmved in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain and, in the U.S., California, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Head ofBritish army addresses gay conference The head of Britain’s army, Gen. Richard Dannatt, chief of the general staff, made history by addressing a gay conference in London Oct. 9, The Sunday Telegraph reported. In remarks to the Fourth Joint Conference on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual Matters, Dannatt said that respecting GLBT officers and soldiers is "a command responsibility" that is mandatory- to ensure "operational effectiveness." "We have made real progress in our understanding of equality and diversity in the military context, and there is a desire to achieve more yet," he said. "Respect for others is not an optional extra, it is a command responsibility and an essential part of leadership, teamwork and operational effectiveness." Britaiffs arrned forces lifted their gay ban in 2000 on orders from the European Court of Human Rights. Iraqi gay leader assassinated The Baghdad head of the international group Iraqi LGBT was assassinated in late Seprember, activists in London reported. Bashar, 27, was gunned down in a barbershop. "Militias burst in and sprayed his body with bullets at point-blank range," said leading British gay activist Peter Tatchell. "~e exact identity of the gunmen is unclear, but he was probably murdered by the Islamist death squads who are targeting lesbian and gay Iraqis for ’sexual cleansing.’" Bashar was the local coordinator of foreignfunded "safe houses" for gays and lesbians living in Iraq. "His efforts saved the lives of dozens of people," Tatchell said. "Bashar xvas a ldnd, generous and extremely brave young man -- a true hero who put his life on the line to save the lives of others." Dutch men on trial for deliberate HIV transmission Three men from Groningen, Netherlands, are on trial for ddiberately infecting at least 12 other men with HIV, several news agencies reported. Hans Jurgens, 39, Peter Mulder, 50, and Wim Deld~er, 49, allegedly advertised gay sex parties online, lured participants to their location, then drugged them, raped them and injected them with HIV-positive blood. Prosecutors want the trio to be jailed for between eight and 15 years. Wockner News Service Larry K ng quizzes Ahmadinejad on gays in 1ran U.S. TVinte,wiewer Lar~y King quizzed Iranian PresidentMahmoud Ahmadinejad on his nation’s treatment ofgays Sept. 23. Screen-capture photo U.S. TV interviewer Larry King quizzed Iranian President Malamoud Ahmadinejad on his nation’s treatment of gays Sept. 23. q]aere have been persistent, though unconfirmed, reports for years that Iran hangs men for the crime of engaging in gay sex. King said: "People (are) protesting that they don’t have the same rights as other people. Homosexuals -- you said last yea,; you denied there were homosexuals (in Iran). There’s homosexuals everywhere." Ahmadinejad replied: "I said it’s not the way it is here (in the U.S.). In Iran this is considered a very -- obviously most people dislike it. And we have actually a law regarding it and the law is enforced. It is a law that was passed. It was legislated. And it is an act that is against human principles. A lot of things can the private realm of people. ~ais is at the (level of) nor-private, public morality. In their own house, nobody ever interferes with people." Last year, during a speech at Columbia University in New York City, Ahmadinejad also was asked about the nation’s treatment of gay people. He responded: "We in Iran ... don’t have hamjensbaz (a derogatory term for homosexuals) like you have in your country. In our country; there is no such a thing. In Iran, such a thing does not -- in Iran, in Iran, absolutely such a thing does not exist as a phenomenon. I don’t know who told you otherwise." Iran is known to have executed several teens and men accused of engaging in sodomy, happen. It can cause psychological problems, although in nearly all the cases that have been social problems that affect the whole society, publicized in recent years the individuals were Remember that God’s rules are to improve human life. In our religion, this act is forbidden and the Parliament has legislated about it. Not now, 70 years ago. This is something that happened 70 years ago, before the Islamic R~public became --" King interjected, "So what happens to gay people?" Ahmadinejad replied: "Well, of course, nobody has held protests. You are -- are you concerned for 70 million Iranian people or a few homosexuals? Let’s assume in Iran -- let’s assume in the United States that 200 million people drive cars and a million violators are rounded up and they just basically violate driving laws. Should we be worried for the 199 million people whose safety we must be concerned about or the one million violators? The law is the law and it’s law. And it must be enforced. Ofcourse, we do pay attention that in Iran nobody interferes in the private lives of individuals. We have nothing to do with accused of other crimes as well, such as rape. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission has said it suspecrs that other charges often are tacked onto sodomy cases to prevent the public outrage that wood accompany executions carried out solely for the crime of consensual adult gay sex. The group also has said it believes executions solely for gay sex are taking place out of the public eye. "Our suspicions (are) that their current practice really is to rid society of lesbians and gay men," the organization said last year. Human Rights Watch, on the other hand, has said it cannot fully document any executions in Iran in recent years carried out solely for the crime of consensual adult gay sex. 14 ~et~oSTAR November 2008 Re Roc Horror Show- Next in "Lyric at the Plaza" Series With art: Frank ’iV’ Furter (Monte WheekO prepares to give Brad (Brad!o, Beah~) andJanet (Heather Hawkins) a wild n~ht to remembe~ (_Photo by ~ndy Mutz) O~HOMA CITY, OK (PR) __ Lyric ~eatre, Oklahoma’s premiere professiona! theatre company, concludes the 2007- 2008 "Lyric at the Plaza" season with the big, bad, rock-n-roll musical, The Rocky Horror Show. From October 9th through November 1st, Lyric will present the live version of the spectacular cult classic film about the madcap adventures of Brad Majors and his fiancd Janet Weiss, who approach the spooky Frankenstein place to find help for a flat tire. In the house, though, they encounter the maniacal Dr. Frank ’N’ Furter, the rippling Rocky, the vivacious Magenta, and experience the boldest, naughtiest party of their lives. Lyri& production of Tne Rocky Horror Show will be directed and choreographed by Nick Demos and will be his final show at the helm of Lyric ~qeatre. The Rocky Horror Show was first created by writer/actor Richard O’Brien as a stage musical in 1973. The cinematic version starring Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon followed t~vo years later and went on to become one of the most famous and ardently followed cult films of all time. This popularity has kept the live musical in almost continuous production at theatres around the ~vorld ever since. Oklahoma audiences are encouraged to get into the intended spirit of the show by dressing up and participating in all of the talk-back and extracurricular activities that make Rocky Horror such a wild theatrical experience. Audience participation packages will be available for purchase at the theatre. Like all Lyric productions, The Rocky Horror Show features a blend of talent both from New York and from Oklahoma. Monte ~qaeeler (Off-Broadway: The IT Girl, Streakiri!) stars as Frank ’N’ Furter, Bradley Beahen (assistant director- Enter Laughing, the Musical) performs as Brad, and Oklahoma native Heather Hawkins (Broadway: Avenue Q) gets down and dirty as Janet. The role of Rocky himself is played by Nick Adams, best known for performing opposite Mario Lopez in the Broadway revival ofA Chorus Line. Local talent letting loose for Rocky Horror indudes Renee Anderson as Magenta, Brian Hamilton as Rift Raft, Stephen Hilton as the Narrator, and Michael Todd as Eddie/Dr. Scott. They and a whole host of actors playing Phantoms and Transylvanians will lead the raunchy celebration that includes timeless numbers including "S~veet Transvestite", "Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch Me", and the rousing "Time Warp." Tickets for The Rocky Horror Show are $40. Senior discounts (ages 65+), Group discounts (10+), and College Student discounts (week ofshow with ID) are also available. Performances are October 9th through November 1st: Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays at 8:00pm, Saturdays at 6:00pm & 10:00pm. However, t_he Friday, October 31 st performance and the late Saturday, November 1st performance will both begin at midnight instead of the times previously listed. For tickets: w~wc.lyrictheatreokc.com, (405) 524-9312, or in person at 1727 NW 16th St, Oklahoma City, OK. Lyric’s production ofThe Rocky Horror Show is sponsored by the Oklahoman, King’s Limo & Private Jet, the Copa, and Angles. Annual support is provided by Mlied Arts and the Oklahoma Arts Council. In Oklahoma City, the renovation and opening of Plaza ~eatre as an intimate live performance venfie has enabled Lyric to expand its programming to include even more entertainment options for adventuresome theatergoers. Get ready for a night of frolics and fun at The Rocky Horror Show! (rated R for strong language, sexually explicit scenes, and mature themes) Carrie Underwood Oct 29, 2008 at BOK Center Carrie Underwood’s Carnival Ride Tour October 29th, 2008 7:30 pm Prices: $55, $45, $35 Tickets on sale Friday, Sept 12 @ 10am Checotah, Okla. native and two-time Academy of Country Music Top Female Vocalist, Carrie Underwood, is scheduled to stop at the BOK Center on October 29, 2008, for a live performance from her Carnival Ride Tour. With a recordbreaking start to her career, Carrie Underwood has been ,,the top-sellin,g artist,, to come from Fox’s hit television, show, American Idol, and has taken the country mus,c world by storm. Eagles Nov 11, 2008 at BOK Center By popular demand the Eagles will return for a second show!!!! Ticket prices: $187, $87, and $52 The Eagles coming back to play a second date at the BOK Center is a huge accomplishment for the city and attests to the level of excitement and enthusiasm for both the band and the new BOK Center. We need to show the band a gratitude of thanks for ~eturning for a second date in the form of another sell-out said John Bolton, General Manager. Due to overwhelming d,,e,mand, the Eagles have a,dded a second Tulsa date to their Long Road Out of Eden world tour. The Eagles will perform live on Tuesda); November 1 lth at the BOK Center and the band - Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe ~Valsh and Timothy B. Schmit - will be perfo,r,ming curre,,nt !~its from Long Road ,,Out of Eden including How Long and Busy Being Fabulous as well as their classic songs. The Eagles have sold more than 120 million albums worldwide, earning five #1 U.S. singles and four Grammy Awards. Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 is the best-selling albu,,m of all time, exceeding sales of 29 million units. The bands Hotel California and Tneir Greatest Hits Volume 2 have sold more than 16 and 1 ! million albums respectively. The Eagles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Celine Dion Nov 13, 2008 at BOK Center Tickets On Sale Now! Time: 8:00pm Doors: 7:00pm Ticket Prices: $167.00, $127.00, $77.00. $49.50 BUY EXCLUSIX.~ GOLD HOT SEATS Tulsa is one of 45 cites and the only city in Oldahoma on this tour. Throughout her career, Celine has been honored with over 1000 Awards, including Grammys, Oscars, Golden Globes, World Music, Juno and Felix Awards. She is the biggest- selling female artist of all time. Celtic Thunder Nov 19, 2008 at BOK Center Show time: 8:00pm Ticket Prices: $37.50, $47.50, $57.50, additional surcharges may apply CELTIC THUNDER, a brand-new show created and produced by Sharon Browne, will make its debut in the U.S. with a public television special airing on local stations nationwide in March 2008. Filmed in Dublin the special features five male vocalists (ranging from !4 to 40 - Damian McGinty, Keith Harkin, Ryan Kelly, Paul Byrom, and George Donaldson) perfor,,m,ing an eclectic mix of songs, ranging from the traditional Mountains ofMourne" and "Come By the Hills" to international hits such as "Brothers in Arms" and "Desperado," as well as original compositions by CELTIC THUNDER’s legendary musical director and composer Phil Coulter. November At ~lhe P.A.C Tulsa Nov 1, Janis Ian John H. Williams Theatre Nov 5, FREE Brown Bag It: Rossitza Jekova-Goza, violin tCathleen Westby Pavilion Nov 6-23 FREE Pictures From Lookout Mountain PAC Gallery Nov 7-9, 13-15 Master Class Liddy Doenges Theatre Nov 7, Liz Carrol John H. Williams Theatre Nov 8, Missa Solennelle and Stabat Mater Chapman Music Hall Nov 12, Forces of Nature Dance Theatre John H. Williams Theatre Nov 12, FREE Brown Bag It: Randy xY~imer, guitar Kathleen Xgestby Pavilion Nov 13, Ivory and Gold Trio John H. Williams Theatre Nov 15, Tt~e Magical Music of Disney Chapman Music Hall Nov 15, Essence of India: Bharata Natyam John H. Williams Theatre Nov 18, Akoka (Messiaen I~ASMIX): David Krakauer, Matt Haimovitz and Friends John H. Williams Theatre Nov 18-23, Available by Subscription The Rat Pack Chapman Music Hall Nov 19, Krakauer/Haimovitz Cabaret Charles E. Norman Theatre Nov 19, FREE Brown Bag It: Anam Cronan, Celtic flute and harp Kathleen Westby Pavilion Nov 20-23, Moonlight and Magnolias Liddy Doenges Theatre Nov 21-22, Not Currently On Sale (TU Forensics) Charles E. Norman ~eatre Nov 23, American Chamber Players John H. Williams Theatre ~#ww.metrostarnews.com ~÷troSTAR 15 Chardonnay The Chardonnay grape variely is a classic white wine grape grown all over the world. The original fame of Chardonnay comes fi’oru its success in the region of Frande. \Vhite Burgundy must be made from the Chardonnay grape unless the label indicates it was made from a much less well ka~own grape, Aligot& he winter holidays are on their way. And though I may talk more about the following types of wines in my next few columns, we felt they needed an introduction for this season of sharing food & wine with family & fi’iends. We’re covering Chardonnay, which is the most popular ~vhite wine and pairs well with chicken, vegetable dishes &: turkey breasts. Pinot Noii; whichpairs well with hams, breaded stuNng & dark meat turkey. Sparkling ,,vine/Cava, which pairs well with raw ftuits & nuts. Port which pairs well with Chocolate cakes, sweet potato pies & pumpkin cheesecakes. ~he following is a brief description of the grapes and wines priced around $15. The Burgundy region, located in the central part of eastern France, is the home of some of the finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines in the world. The Chablis area is a sub region of Burgundy that makes wonderful Chardonnay based wines from a chalkT soil. ~l]~e wines ftom the vineyard ’Le Montrachet’ and from the adjoining vineyards of Chassagne Montrachet and Puligny Montrachet are prized around the world for their fine quality. Chardonnay takes oak well, and many higher priced versions of this grape are tTpically fermented and/or aged in oak barrels. When Chardonnay is aged in oak barrels, it may pick up vanilla overtones in its aromas and flavor. Chardonnay also ages well in the bottle, though it will not age as long as many red wines. It likes slightly cooler climates (warm days/cool nights) and develops less aciditT than Sauvignon Blanc. Some producers put their Chardonnay (or some of it) through malolactic fermentation which reduces crispness and brings out a rich, buttery taste. This usually shortens the life of the wine as far as aging is concerned. Chardonnay is planted at hundreds of ~ Withr This months recipe courtesy of: Rent, Nevada P~CIPE: MEXICAN CEVICHE ~ Ib batibut fillet or sea bass fillet or red snapper fillet ~ or use a mixture of fish and ~hrimp) %6 limes (Enough Juice to cover fish) ~ cup diced fresh t6mato ! green pepper, sweer, chopped 4 tablespoons chopped parsley or chopped cilantro l/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1/2 teaspoon oregano 2l’alapefi° peppers, chopped (or more ro suit your taste) 2 tablespoons white vinegar 1 medium onion, findy chopped 2 tablespoons fi’esh cil£ntro, Chopped 1 clash %b~co sauce lettuce leaf (to line serving bowls) avocado {optional) black olives, sliced (for garnish) (optional’, Directions: Dice the fish tapproximately 1A inch, dice ifusing shrimp. Marinate fish in dae lime juice in the fridge overnight (this step cooks the fish). Pour of~most of the lime iuice. Add remaining ingredients except lettuce, avocado and olive. [!oss xvell and arrange in individual serving bowls that are lined with lettuce leaves. Then garnish with sliced avocMo and sliced black olives. wineries throughout the world including h:aly, New Zealand Spain, South Africa, Ausn-alia, Chile and Argentina. In the U S, \Vashington State and California’s Russian River and Carneros areas~produce some of the best domestic versions of this wine. problem starts with duce a and shape Pinot Noir Pinot noir grapes are grown around the world, mostly in the cooler regions, but grape is chiefl? region of France. It is widely to produce some of the fines~ ~vorld. Pinot noir has pellation famous Pinot Noir produces age veiT wel! in good flavors as they age, often 20 years after the vintage. ~urgundy~ can Wonderful Pinot Noirs come the world. It’s grown in many is known by’ different names in different countries: Some locations and names Algeria; Argentina, Australia, Austria Blauburgunder or Spatburgunder), Brazil, Canada, Czechoslovakia, England, France, Germany (Sp~tburgunder), Greece, Hun Italy (P!not Nero or Blauburgunder), New Zealand, Switzerland (Clevner, labeled "D01e" when blended with Gamay Noir), emerge ness, ted in s " includin ~: cherry; plum, strawberry. Complex flavors revealing chocolate, earthitrut~ es. Only Pinot Noir, td Meunier grapes are permitwines from the Champagne Cava used in Spain for sparlding using the same method in France’s Champagne disfamous region fi)r spar- ;. While a good Cava will rarely be with top Champagne, it wii! still be quite pleasant. Additionally, Cava is inexpensive enough to be an evmTday drink between special occasion splurges on Champagne. Cava is the name of a type of white or pink sparlding wine, produced mainly in the Pened~s region in Catalonia, Spain, 40 kin to the south west of Barcelona. Its name is U~{i{dd States, and Yugoslavia (Burgundac). . .........Continued see 3~NE page-20 Pinot is a diNcult grape to work with It’s >~ ......... hard to get a consistent, great P~not and {he ~’: :..... h6ine November 2008 More gay- characters on TV this year ..Woclmer News Service Tile number of GLBT characters on broadcast-TV networks’ scripted series has more than doubled in the new season compared with last year, says the Gay & Lesbian Mliance Against Defamation. GLBT representations account for 2.6 percent of all scripted series regular characters in the 2008-2009 broadcast television schedule, up from 1.4 percent in 2005, 1.3 percent in 2006 and 1.1 percent in 2007, GLAAD said Sept. 23. Shawn PyJ~om plays openly gay Andrew Mi,’hael Urieplays openly gay Marc l~n De Kam]) on the ABCseries Despwate St. flames on t,SeABCs~’ies Ugly Housewives. GlAADphow Bert); HRCphoto The study looked at 88 scripted comedies and dramas airing in the new season on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and Tile CW. It found 16 GLBT characters, compared ,vith seven last season. "This dramatic increase shows how far many networks have come in deve!oping ~omplex, multilayered lesbian, gay; bisexua! a~d tran~gender characters," said GLAAD President Nell G: Giuliano. ABC is offering seven such characters this year, Fox has five, NBC has three, The CW has one, and CBS has none. The nunaber of non-contract, recurring GLBT characters also has risen this year -- from 13 to t9. "Ti~egrowing number of recurring characters is another example of the networks’ progress towards being more inclusive," Giuliano said: "As the networks gradually add characters from all backgrounds and walks of life-to primetime programming, more and more Americans are seeing their LGBT friends and neighbors reflected on tile smal! screen." On mainstreara cable networks, the number GLBT series regular characters h~s dropped to 32 from last year’s high of 40. ~ae gay networks here! and Logo have 39 series regular GLBT characters this year. For fut! details, visit http://~wcw.glaad.orgleyelontv/20081. OKC Civic Center Music Hall November Events Oct. 17 - Nov. 8 DOUBT, A PARABLE a drama by John Partick Shanley Oct. 17 - Nov. 9 The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Harvey Mackie Oct. 31 - Nov. 1 HITCHCOCK AT THE MOVIES presented by the Oklahoma City Philaharmonic Nov. 2 UNDERTHE BIG TOP: SYMPHONY AT THE CIRCUS presented by the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Nov. 8 CARMINA BURANA presented by the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Nov. 9 Terry Fator - LI’V~ Nov. 11 - Nov. 16 THE RAT PACK-Live at tile Sands! Nov. 23 OLIVERI presented by Broadway Tonight Nov. 28 - Dec. 21 ROMEO &JULIET Nov. 28 - Dec. 20 A NICE FAMILY GATHERING a comedy by Phil Olson www.metrostarnews.com ~etroSTAR 17 More gay characters on TV this y-ear ..Wockner News Service The number of GLBT characters on broadcast-TV networks’ scripted series has more than doubled in the new season compared with last yeal; says the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. GLBT representations account for 2.6 percent of all scripted series regular characters in the 2008-2009 broadcast television schedule, tip from 1.4 percent in 2005, 1.3 percent in 2006 and !. 1 percent in 2007, GLAAD said Sept. 23. ldm De I&mp on theABCseries Des~am &: flames on theABCseries Ug& Housewives. GLAADphoto Bet~. HRCphoto The study looked at 88 scripted comedies and dramas airing in the new season on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and The CW. It found !6 GLBT characters, compared with seven last season. "This dramatic increase shows how far many networks have come in developing complex, multi!ayered lesbian, gay, bisexual and tran.s.....g.. ender characters, ’ sa~" d GLAAD Pres"ident Nell G: Giuliano. ABC is offering seven such characters this year, Fox has five, NBC has three, ~ae CW has one, and CBS has none. The number of non,contract, recurring GLBT characters also ha~ risen this year -- from 13 to 19. "Thegro~ving number of recurring characters is another exanapie of the networks’ progress towards being more inclusive," Giuliano said. "As the network~s gradually add characters from all backgrounds and walks of life-to primetime programming, more and more Americans are seeing their LGBT friends and neighbors reflected on the small screen." On mainstream cable networks, the number GLBT series regular characters has dropped to 32 from last year’s high of 40. ~ae gay net-works here! and Logo have 39 series regular GLBT characters this year. For ful! details, visit http://w~v.glaad.org/eye/ontv/2008/. OKC Civic Cen er Music Hail November Events Oct. 17 - Nov. 8 DOUBT, A PARABLE a drama by John Partick Shanley Oct. 17 - Nov. 9 The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Harvey Maclde Oct. 31 - Nov. 1 HITCHCOCK AT THE MOVIES presented by the Oldahoma City Philaharmonic Nov. 2 UNDERTHE BIG TOP: SYMPHONY AT THE CIRCUS presented by the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Nov. 8 CARMINA BURMNA presented by the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Nov. 9 Terry Fator - LIVE Nov. 11 - Nov. 16 THE RAT PACK-Live at the Sands! Nov. 23 OLI’\@Pd presented by Broadway Tonight Nov; 28 - Dec. 21 ROMEO &JULIET Nov. 28 - Dec. 20 A NICE FAMILY GATHERING a comedy by Phil Olson w"etw.metrostarnews.com ~÷troSTAR 17 by Donald Pile and Ray Williams RENO, NEVADA Biggest Little City in the /brld" Photo: Downtown Reno Nevada First off, we have to say that in all of our travels, Reno is one of the friendliest places we have been. We stayed for four nights and met dozens of gay men and lesbians. Reno is like I.as Vegas was 20 or 30 years ago, a small, friendly town that is extremely easy to navigate. During the week there are not a lot of people there, and most things are within walking distance. Sometimes they do have "special" weekends, so if you are not into major crowds then go during the week. They day we left they were having a motorcycle convention with several thousands coming in so we were glad be on our way out oftown. Being a tourist town, everyone is extremely friendly and hdpful. Tne downtown area is very safe and well lit but of course one always has to be on guard at all times. Thl-here are no gay accommodations in Reno, but the Sands Regency Casino Hotel, which is located right downtown, welcomes everybody, qlle hotel hosts several gay events, and they have great rates. We were there in the middle of the week and got a mini-suite for just $39, which is unbelievably inexpensive. It also has the largest outdoor swimming pool in Reno. Several other gay men were staying at the hotel, and we all partied pool side. They have several nice restaurants and snack shops. The hotel often has lastminute room specials on its Web site, voww. sandsregency.com. Actually, wherever you are traveling, it is a great idea to check out the hotel/motel website as they do often have special, last minute rates. Six gay bars are listed in Reno. Tne downtown bar is a complete dump and dirty, and we do mean a "dump and dirty"! %vo on the east side of town are not open when their hours say they are, and the one on the west side of town opens and closes when it wants to, so omit those four bars from your list. Isn’t it amazing that some gay bars don’t seem to have the common business acumen to be open when they post their business hours right on their front door? One bar was to open at 2 PM and we and the beer delivery man were waiting for it to open. Nae delivery man said that it was always late opening by an hour or two. We liked Carl’s Pub, 3310 S. Virginia St., which is about 30 blocks south of downtown. It is an extremely friendly bar. Everyone ~omes up and introduces themselves and makes you .feel very welcome. They are always having "special theme nights" and something is always happening. The other bar in Reno is the Patio Bar. It is clean, and the bartenders and patrons are friendly. We (as well as a few other patrons) had some issues with drink prices as the bartenders charged different patrons different prices for the same drinks. We confronted the bartenders and owners about this problem and they didfft want to talk about it. Apparently they charge locals one price and travelers another higher price, so we left and didn’t return. For those wanting a bathhouse, Steve’s Baths, 1030 x~ Second St., is open 24 hours a day. All the casino/hotels have great food specials all day long. Inexpensive breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets can be found at most all of the casinos. Luckily we found one of the finest Mexican restaurants in the country. Beto’s, a family-owned restaurant which is right across the street from the Patio Bar, and they make the finest homemade meals from scratch. Do not miss dining there. It is very inexpensive, and the food is outstanding. There are so many things t0 do and see in Reno. You really should stay right downtown so you can walk the strip and see all the sights and sounds. Reno has a lot of art galleries and museums. The Fleischmann Planetarium and the Nevada Historical Society Museum are dose to one another at 16th Street and North Virginia Street. The National Automobile Museum is at 10 S. Lake St., and the Nevada Museum ofArt is at 160 W. Liberty St. One day, hop in your auto and take a driving trip down to Carson City, the state capital which is just a 35-minute drive to the south, and it makes a great short day visit. It is a very old city, and the architecture is remarkable. Actually, you could spend the entire day there. Places of interest include the Capitol building and other government buildings. Virginia Cit); in the mountains, is a must on your return trip to Reno. It was an old mining town, and you can take tours visiting mines, schoolhouses and homes from the late 1800’S. It is located right in the mountains. Be sure and take your camera. Lake Tahoe is a short drive from Reno and is a "must see and do" thing to do when visiting Ren6. Lake Tahoe is best knmvn for its beautiful blue and clear water (99% pure) ,and is surrounded by mountains which rise more than 4,000 feet above the shore. The lake is 22 miles long, 12 miles wide; about one-third lies in Nevada, the rest in California. The water drains from Lake Tahoe through the Truckee River which is one of a few rivers that run inland to the desert rather than towards the ocean. Pyranaid Lake, the remnant of ancient oceans which used to cover Nevada’s desert is the final destination of the Truckee River. Lake Tahoe is the third deepest lake in North America as it has all average depth of 989 feet but the deepest point is about 1,645 feet. The surface ~vater (12 feet) can warm to 68 F in summer, allowing swimming, while depths below 700 feet remain a constant 39 E Perhaps this is why Lake Tahoe is comfortable through the summer despite its proximity to the desert. Annual snowfall averages 40 feet, with snow pack averaging 20 feet which explains why downhill and cross-country skiing are very popular in the winter. Summer activities include hiking, white water rafting, beach picnics and other water activities. There are many ski and summer resorts as well as state park locations to choose from. Hevation at the lake is 6,229 feet Tney, of course, have gaming everywhere, even in the small towns and villages in Nevada. By the way, we just love how they have changed the name from gambling to gaming. Guess they want u~to forget that we are losing our money and think instead that we are participating in a game, to make it more fun! Uuless your winning money then LOSING money is Not fun! Between the inexpensive hotels, food and entertainment, Reno is a very good choice for a wonderful traveling experience. Before going to Reno, check out renodean.com for a complete listing of things to see and do there for the gay traveler. Dean is a ~vonderfu! guy, and he is more than glad to help you with suggestions. Another good website to check out is http:/lwww.visitrenotahoe. com/. You can have them send you a free booklet with a listing of everything to see and do there. Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! EUR£KA SPRINGS Fall Diversity Weekend 10/31 - 11/02 2008 EVENTS SCHEDULE: FRIDAY 10/31/08 Eureka Springs Limousine will provide rides for the weekend with wristbandfor $20. Mixer at Marquee’s at 7 - 9 PM. Karaoke with Tiny and Lady A with Costume Contest at Henri’s 9 PM. Ashley McBryde at Jack’s Place 9 PM. Costume Contest at Tiki Torch 9 PM. Costume Contest at Eureka Live 9 PM. Diversity Band at Chelsea’s 9 PM. Miranda Ray at the Lumberyard 10 PM. After Hours Breakfast at Harp’s 57. 11 PM -3AM SATURDAY 11/01/08 "Name that Tune" with Sandy at Smokehouse Cafe 8 - 11:30 AM. Diversity Bikers "Show N’ Shine" and "Hall N’ Back" Poker Run, Halloween Theme. Planner’s Hill Parking Lot 10 AM. Walking Tour starting at Basin Park. 10 AM. PDA (Public Display ofA_ffection) Basin Park 12 Noon. Matinee’ Diversity Drag Show with Caribou Barbie at Tiki Torch 2 PM with encore at 10 PM. Rocky Horror Picture Show Part/at the Gem (Basement of the Aud). Doors open at 6:30 PM. Karaoke with Tiny and Lady A at Henri’s 9 PM. Ashley McBryde at Jack’s Place 9 PM. Kiss Tribute Band (Male Illusionist) at the Lumberyard 7 PM. Drag Show with Alexis LaRue at the Lumberyard 8 PM. Miranda Ray and the Backwoods Divas at Eureka Live 10 PM. After Hours Breakfast at New Delhi Deli from 9 PM to 3 AM. After Hours Breakfast at Harp’s 57. 11 PM -3AM For more informations visit Diversity Pride Events www.diversitypride.cora or www. eurekapride.com 18 November 2008 derived from the Catalan word for cellar. There are a small number of areas in Spain outside Catalonia that also produce Cava. Cava is produced in varying levels of dryness of the wine which are: brut nature, brut (extra dry), seco (dry), semiseco (medium) and dulce (sweet). Under Spanish Denominaci6n de Origen laws, Cava can be produced in six wine regions and must be made according to the Traditional Method with second fermentation in the bottle and uses a selection of the grapes macabeo, parellada, xarelolo, Chardonnay, Pinot noir, and Subirat. Port Tawny ports are wines made from red grapes that are aged in wooden barrels, exposing them to gradual oxidation and evaporation. As a restflt, they gradually mellow to a golden-brown color. The exposure to wood imparts "nutty" flavors to the wine, which is blended to match the house style. Ta.wn~ ports are sweet or medium dry and typicany drunk as a dessert wine. When a Port is described as Tawny, without an indication of age, it is a basic blend of wood aged port that has spent at least seven years in barrels. Above this is Tawny with an indication of age which represents a blend of sev,e,ral vintages, with the averse years "in wood stated on the label. TiLe omcial categories are 10, 20, 30 and over 40 years. For each category, the average age of the various vintage is at least that of the given category. It is also possible to produce an aged white t~ort in the manner of a tawny, with a number of shippers now marketing 10 year old White Ports. And as always, I say go to your favorite wine shop, ask questions and purchase a bottle or two. Share some food & wine with friends and check this out for yourself. qSis writer also bar tends a~d hosts wine & food events known in town as the bitter glrl E-Mail- KylesBnB@aol.com by Jack Fertig November 2008 "Keep it p~atonic, Aquarius!" Venus is in Sagittarius, wanting to play, but she’s triggering an opposition between Saturn and Uranus. Harness that wild, fun energy to balance responsibility and inspiration. ARIES (March 20 -Apri~ 19): Let your eye and ear wander to new artistic perspectives. Challenge yourself to appreciate things you’d normally avoid. The stimulation will help you to understand your place in the world better, to mend old friendships and make new ones. TAURUS (April 20 -May 20): Too much self-criticism is blocking the creative edge you need to realize your goals. Sexual adventure - yes, something entirely new! - will help you over that hump. The stars suggest exploring domination fantasies. If you have a better idea, follow your own dreams. GEMIN! (May 21 - June 20): Your political skills and foresight are especially sharp now. Look at any conflict, not as a logical argument, but as a dramatic scene to be resolved. The best answers will c0me way0~ of left field. GANGER (June 21 = July 22): New approaches at work are worth trying, if only experimentally. Whether they work or not, your adaptability and thoughtful acceptance of criticism is what really counts. Bite your tongue and challenge your brain: Ambitious rivals may prove more helpful than well-meaning friends. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): Being playful, charming, outspoken, and fun certainly has its place, but it also makes you the target of annoyed persons at home and at work. That offers a creative challenge to focus and grow; but find a place to have your fun, too! CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Don’t get caught up in debates. Just listen to new ideas and arguments against them. If they contradict deeply held beliefs, accept the challenge quietly, and see where you have room to grow. Allow yourself an impulse buy for your home. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): A friend who wants "benefits" risks spoiling a good thing. Keep it platonic. Discuss the possibilities so your pal can realize what a disaster it would be in the long run. In the end, it should be good for a laugh. PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Too much fun at work can make your partner feel neglected. What really counts in your career? What satisfactions does it offer that you don’t find in love? Reevaluate your priorities, and be frank with your baby about them. LEO (July 23 o August 22): Your naturally playful eroticism can get a little out of hand, leading to rude surprises. Have a very deep heart-to-heart with your partner about sex, but also about whatever philosophical or religious differences you may have. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Take your partner Or roommate windowshopping for some exotic house decor. No need to buy; just browsing will help clarify domestic problems. A new approach to housework is also helpful, and remaining problems might be best resolved in the bedroom. LIB~ (September 23 - October 22): Life is stressful lately. Find a good friend and let it all out, even if it seems like a long, rambling, nonsensical torrent. That’s what good friends are for. Playful competition in some intellectually stimulating game also offers a sense of balance. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Any efforts to deal with finances now can cause more frustration than they would alleviate. Find cheap ways to enjoy the company of your friends. Spiritual lessons from childhood will help you deal with competition at work. METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve T. Urie Spidt0fChdst MCC 2902 E 20~ S~eet J0plin, M0~04 417-52~8480 W0mhip Saturdays at 10:00AM C0mmuni#! Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC 0fthe Living Spring 17 Elk S~t Eureka Slxings, AR 72632 47~253-9337 W0~hip Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a GOd filled and BleSSed Day! www.metrostarnews.com ~÷troSTAR 21 out calls 5) K~NG0~ MASSAGE Great T0uch Man to Man Fult Bo~{y Massage 2 hands or 4 hands available Now Hiring Male & Female Keller Williams Realty Chuck Breckenridge Whether buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. (2437} Oklahoma’s HIV!STD Hotiine PROTECT YOURSELF PROTECT YOUR Community for People ~iving A 50I c (3) Non Peofit Organization Our House, Too offers a variety of NWArkansas GLBT Community- Center "Linldng Together as One" For more information: 888-391-9222 WWW.NWAGLBTCC.ORG IN MEMORIAM MATTHEWARON VH-IITE Tulsa a~ {9!8) 812.7~ activities for people who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves. We invite anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-nlail ourhousetoo9865@sbcglobal.net Matthew passed from dais life at the OU Medical Center at 5:30 a.m. September 12 after losing a battle with cancer. He was known to his many fi’iends as a happy caring person, truly shown by his many years workingas a nurse her~ in Oklahoma where his good nature touched countless lives. Born March 10, 1966 in Grenta, Virginia, he left home at age t6 as his family could not accept him as agay man, and he traveled the kountry before settling in Oklahoma, working as a jack of all trades. His funeral service was held at Epworth United Methodist Church October 20. He leaves behind a legacy of many fi’iends. [] ~ WWW.METROSTARNEWS.COM 22 November 2008 HABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma Cit); OK 405-528-2221 wv~,v.habanainn.com Support those who support us. Their ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you. OUR HOUSE, TOO ~=l=] Tulsa, OK 74127 ~ KELLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant OKC MORTUARY 2415-C N. WALNUT AVE. Oklahoma City, OK 800-913-1310 ANGLES 2117 NV¢" 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK ;m~w.anglesclub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 v~ww.bambooloungetulsa.com CLUB 209 209 N. BOULDER Tulsa, OK 918-584-9944 CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON Tulsa, OK 918-584-9494 w~v.clubmajestictulsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 ~-~W 39TH EXPI~SSWAY Oldahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oldahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 wvw.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 ~,PvV 39TH EXPRESS\VAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 ww~v.habanainn.com HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service Saturday 9:30 AM MCC of the LIVING SPRING 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pro MCC UNITED 1623 N. Maplewood, Tulsa, OK 918-838-1715 v~wamcctulsa.org OPENAI~MS YOUTH PROJECT 2015 -B S. L~ewood Tulsa, OK 74112 918-838-7104 www. openarmsproject.org KING OF MASSAGE In or Out Calls Oklahoma City, OK 405-314-3898 JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NV$ EXPRESS\rAY Oldahoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 www.c2 lgoldcasde.com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com 21 EAST TOWNHOMES 21ST & MAIN Tulsa, OK 918-582-4673 or 918-607-1177 www.21East.us GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NV¢- 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn TOM & JERRYS 1501 N.W. 23RD Oklahoma City, OK 405-524-9100 A $ B~ A F i ¢ R D O ODOI FE AT OD LE H L DE A N R ANID ~ L DA SIS A T ~y ¢ T Y$ A LE OS T E N Y L ~G E RA AR YN U NN B ~ ¢O N O B TR RH www.metrostarnews.com NetroSTAR 23 We believe tha~ hornosexua~i~ is no~ a g÷netic trait but a chosen ~ifes~y~e. We oppose the portraya~ of hornosexua~ or promiscuous behavior ~n a positive ~igh~ ~n We oppose ~he erosion of our military read~ness ~h~o~gh openly practicing homosexuals serving ~n ~he m~ary We oppose ~he ~romo~on o~ homosex~a~, ~h~ e~m~na~on o~ ~aws aga~ns~ sodomy, ~nd ~he granting o~ m~nor~y pro~ec~on or ~pec~a~ s~a~s ~o any person based upon sex~a~ preference or ~es~e choice. "We support the ful~ inclusion of a~l families, including same-sex coupbs, in ~he ~ife of our nation,and support equa~ responsibility, benefits, and protections. We wi~ enact a comprehensive bipartisan employment non-discrimination act. We oppose the Defense of Marriage Ac~ and a~! a~ernpts to use ~his issue to divide (Page 52, 2008 DNC P~afforrn) + +.oksPonewal+.org Taken from current platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties of Oklahoma. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2008] Metro Star Magazine, November 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 11 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 01, 2008 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Metro Star’s first issue began in August of 2008. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004), The Ozark’s Star (2004), and The Star (2005). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd; Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Greg Steele James Nimmo Joey D. Victor Gorin Rex Wockner Susan A. Muscari Vernon Britt Romeo San Vicente Andrew Collins Donald Pile Ronald Blake Ray Williams Jack Fertig Devre Jackson Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online text Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwest Missouri West Arkansas Southeast Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Metro Magazine, September 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 9 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/201 The Metro Star Magazine, December 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 12 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/199 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/200 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/e630b22f0547c185dc6217b0f9f80c72.jpg 78a2addce6b305037752c6c1175f8681 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/3d425fe4b36394781ccc0dc0f72c783a.pdf 8d2ecd86c3fdc71351621ce90983b66a PDF Text Text Exclusive Interview with Ron Marlett Democratic Candidate for State Rep. Dist. 84 against Sally Kern. See Page-3 WWW.METROSTARNEWS.COM GLBTQYou h Center Struck by "WE DELIVER DIVERSITY" 2008 STATE FAIR Oklahoma’s hate-crimes law makes it a crime to "intimidate or harass another person because of the person’s race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin or disability" and adds punishment beyond what would be imposed for the underlying crime, such ,as assault or vandalism. Oklahoma is one of 17 states whose hate-crimes laws don’t include protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who are targeted because of their sexual orientation or identity. The 2006 FBI Hate Crime Statistics show an 18% increase in hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. GLBT people now make up 16% of hate crimes in the United States. "Ilae National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) reports a recent rash of at least 13 brutal and violent hate crimes that have occurred throughout the country on the heels of the murder of 15 year-old Lawrence King in Los Angeles and the brutal beating ofDuannaJohnson, both in February of 2008. NCAVP reports that these hate crimes may indicate a frightening trend of increases in both the n~ber ~nd SeV~r-iW of anti-LGBT Violence: GLBTQ youth are particularly vulnerable to harassment and depression. By providing a safe environment to be themselves, Openarms believes it allows the youth an opportunity to grow and mature into the young adults they are meant to be, without the fear o£jndgm~, ~p~narms Youth Project is governed by the y0uth it serves for progtamming as well as an adult Board of Directors and financial mana ReC~tly at the home of Robert S~6der and his p~er in east Tulsa near 21St and Garnett, was spray-paintedwith m~ssages "I’ll be back" and "Gay lviust G6". There Were damages 0n two different occasions including a car that was parked in the driveway that ~ ~pray-painted and burned. which they will not accomplish] ] mofi~ away from th~ pro~anS vulnerable population. This latest act of defiance will literally[ take food from their mouths as the Thursday night dinner is one of the largest group gatherings at the youth center. Each Thursday as many as fifty youths arrive for a warm meal and social time together. This meal, fimded by community supporters, costs Openarms over $100.00 per week and is a program the youth and adult board are dedicated to continuing weekly. the money needed to install an updated security system which the police say is the only way they can address the situation. This system will place cameras around the perimeter of the building that will begin recording when triggered by movement. This updated system will allow Openarms to provide authorities with photographs of the perpetrators should they return. This system will cost approximately $4,000 and the money must be raised in addition to Openarms regular operating budget to prevent the downsizing of programming at the center. You may visit their website at www.openarmsproject.org or phone 918-838-7104 for additional information. Openarms Youth Project is a fully qualified 501c3 non-profit corporation. OKLAHOMA MUST HAVE GLBT INCLUSION IN HATE CRIMES LAW By Chaz Ward TULSA, OK (PR) __ In the early morning hours of August 12th, Openarms "ibuth Project ~vas yet again su’uck by vandals. An unidentified individual broke into the facility by prying the fence loose from its post and kicking down a secondary gate to enter the patio area of the youth center. Upon entry, they overturned trash cans on the patio and threw a large rock through the window of the double doors used to access the patio. The invasion immediately triggered the alarm system and the vandals fled the scene. This is the most recent of four acts of property damage directed at Openarms Youth Project, the only center in the Tulsa area serving the GLBTQyouth ages 14-21. q-he Board of Directors and volunteers are determined to raise SEPTEMBER 1, 2008 TULSA, OK You know fall is near when you can smell the aromas and take in the sounds of Oklahoma’s two great state fair’s. Now bigger and better both the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City and the Tulsa State Fair will lure you in with new entertainment, mountains of corn dogs, indian tacos and rivers of cold beer. The 2008 Oklahoma State Fair® LIVE! tickets went on sale July 12. Gate admission tickets are free for children 5 and undeh $5 for children (ages 6-11), $8 for adults (12 and older), q-his year’s fair opens ~lursday, September 11 and runs through Sunday, September 21 at State Fair Park, Oklahoma City. ....................... Continued see STATE FAIR Page-12 We must not forget the Oklahoma City, October 26, 2007 brutal murder of Steve Domer (Photo) who was killed because he was ~. Tortured and murdered by Darrell Madden a member of the United Aryan Brotherhood, a white supremacist group. It was speculated that Mr. Domer’s murder may have been a gang rite of passage. The murder garnered national attention, somewhat reminiscent of the murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming in 1998. Darrell Madden could not be charged with a hate crime because Federal and Oklahoma hate crimes laws do not cover sexual orientation. In the 2008 Oklahoma legislative session, five bills were introduced pertaining to hate crime laws but all of them failed. The voice of the GLBT community has not been heard at the State Capitol. Activists, advocacy groups and some legislators have failed to get the attention of those elected officials who believe sexual orientation inclusion in our hate crimes law is not needed. We have to consistently voice our outrage to those who remain an obstacle in our fight for equality. ............... Continued See HATE CRIMES Page-4 �2 Met~oS~’AR September 2008 �Fascism Can Not Be Tolerated Oklahoma An Interview With Ron Marlett by Victor Gorh-~ PSAL~¥h "Let the wordsj~om my mouth and the meditations ofmy heart be a blessing to God’~ "It ~ a shame that politicians can’tpractice what this Psalm says. 3d.y opponent has a history ofusing character assawsination, whisper campaigns, and misinfo~vnation. I refi,se to use those tactics, but rather want tofollow that Psalm’; Ron 3~[arlett. Born in Binger, Oklahoma, Ron Marlett was raised in Union City until he graduated from Union City High School in 1967. He went on to get his degree in social work and began working for Oklahomas Department of Human Services, later becoming a licensed clinical social worker. He met his wife Liz in 1974 While attending OU, and they wi]] proudly celebrate their 25th Anniversary this year. Photo: Ron d~Lm’lett Democrafc Candidatefor State Rep. Dist. 84 against SalO, Kern. Currently employed with Community Pathways Unlimited, he counsels the elderly and disabled in nursing homes across the state. Today he faces the trials and tribulations that come with running for office, ~d does so ~vith pride and optimism. VICTOR: This is sure to be a formidable race. Xgrhat inspired you to run against Sally Kern? I received a contribution from a gay man living in Latvia, and he said that in today’s society no candidate would ever openly attack blacks using the n word, or refer to women or other ethnic groups in a similar way. Yet gays are considered fair game, and with some people this tactic can get you votes. This is wrong and has to be challenged. VICTOR: What you do think is the purpose of this scapegoating ? RON MARLETT: To serve as a distraction from the degradation of freedom and equality, and economic hardship. RON MARLETT: I have always been suspicious of extremism on the left or the right, as both can rob us 0f0ur fre~d6nls~ Over the years ................... I read a wonderfiil book called "American Fascists" by Chris Hedges. I was reading that when Sally’s youtube conunents came out. W’hen I heard the comments she made it dawned on me that she had taken positions also taken by fascists. Xhe minute I heard it I decided, ’Tin got to run. This cannot go unchallenged." VICTOR: How did your family feel about that ? RON MARLETT: At first they were shocked, they are now su p ortive ¯ I don t think anyone who runs for o~ce for the first time has any sense of what demands it ~vill make on your life. AA McA~-ey (State Representative District 88) told me it would the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. VICTOR: Are you convinced now that he’s right? RON MARLETT: I’m convinced yes. I also think families of first time candidates have no idea of what is involved, what sacrifices have to be made. VICTOR: Do you still think it is worth it? RON MARLETT: I have no doubt whatsoever. It is worth it because if this extremism is not stood up to and challenged America is going m slip further and further towards a fascisQtyl-e dictatorship. Naomi ~31fe, in her book The End of America;’ lists ten steps that have to be taken to move from democracy to dictatorship, and the Bush administration has accomplished at least hdfofthose. As in Nazi Germany anytime a group is a scapegoat, marginalized, persecutedandin the worst Cme exterminated, they move on to another scapegoat. ww~v.metrostarnews.com VICTOR: Other than your support for GLBT equality, do you differ fromMrs. Kern in other ar*e~? .. RON MARLETT: Without seems to have a fundamental misunderstandhag of the Constitution, and the separation Of Church and State. For a legislator to come out and declare themselves a "warrior for Judeo Christianprinciples" is a clear threat to that. The job of government is to protect the rights of all religions, to see to it that minorities~ren’t persecuted. VICTOR: And on economic issues ? RON MARLETT: I drastically disagree with her in that area as well. She is so tied into the "trickle dmvn" theory of economics. She has no goal, no dreaan or vision for anything to create opportunities for working people to achieve their dreams. VICTOR: I remember when she opposed raising minimum wage when it was $5.15 an hour, claiming that those on minimum wage needed to better budget their money, RON MARLETT: V/ell I would challenge her to forfeit all of her salary in excess of what she would earn .on minimum wage and then get back with us and let us know how well it works. I see people worldng minimum wage jobs that have to Work mor~ than one job]She is woefully out of touch with these issues~ She further demonstrated that when she voted to remove the sales tax from gold and precious metals while retaining it on groceries. VICTOR: You also grew up in a union household. Can you tell us about that ? ............. Continued see MARLETT Page-4 NetroSTAR 3 �RON MARLETT: My father worked as a lineman for Caddo Electric Coop near Binger Oklahoma. He climbed utility poles, working in close contact with 7200 volt wires, sometimes during thunderstorms and made about $1.65 an hour. No matter how well we tried to budget, my family scraped by month by month. When that coop was’successfully unionized by their employees, wages went up, 0aad we began to live more comfortably and were able to attain the American dream, which would not have happened otherwise. Despite what opponents claimed, the Coop continued to operate and rates did not dramatically increase. I feel that organized labor today could play a major part in making the lives of working people better. VICTOR: So despite the promises made, do you feel that Oklahoma benefited when Right to Work ~vas passed in 2001 ? Governor Keating claimed we’d get a $75 a week raise. RON MARLETT: They also promised massive manufacturing jobs I have yet to see. I have seen companies leave our state including GM, Delta Faucet and Bridgestone Tires. Clearly, Right to ~Zork was wrong. VICTOR: You are a strong supporter of public education. Howdo you differ from your opponent in that area? RON MARLETT: I’m certain Ms. Kern would like to bring public education to a screeching halt. I understand that she was once a teacher h-~ Oklahonaa City, but she has betrayed her fellow teachers by accusing them of attempting to seduce young children into the homosexual lifestyle, and she has likewise accused librarians. She would support providing vouchers to send their ch~ldre~ to l~rivate religious schools. As for myself, you couldn’t find a stronger supporter of public education. No system is perfect, all systems can improve, however this system has worked well. I am a product of public education. VICTOR: How about the enviromnent ? RON MARLETT: I believe we have a moral responsibility to care for the earth and the environment. Long term use of fossil fuels will .harm us more than help us. I would support tax credits for home insulation, hybrio cars, or energy efficient major appliances. I would favor rewarding positive changes. VICTOR: Getting back to your campaign, it has garnered national and international attention. Also it represents no.t iust a state house race, but two vasdy different icteologies. Local Artist Gives Back By Judy Gabbard RON MARLETT: I may get more e-mails than other candidates, and I doubt if any other candidate has gotten a contribution from Latvia. But even with this higher profile, you face the same pressures and do the same things, you go tO fund-raisers, you meet people, and knock doors. VICTOR: How has the door knocking gone so far ? RON MARLETT: With door knocking Independent and Democratic households, I’ve only had 2 people state that they would vote for nay opponent. The Democrats are in a slight majority in nay district, and my response from Independents has been extremely encouraging. I have had Republicans assure me they would vote t’or me, and there are even 2 Republican voters displaying my yard signs. I am also encouraged by the number of young voters and/or ne~v voters. Photo: Dennis Olson VICTOR: Sally Kern was unopposed in 2006, and in 2004 was elected by a wide mar~in over a Democratic opponent. Do you mink there have be~n changes in the district and in America that wil! help influence voters to elect you? Dennis Olson a medal winning gymnast and sociology major has made his mark among artists and writers. Dennis attended San Jose State University on a gymnastic scholarship and received a degree from UCLA in Sociology. He has proved his talent without formal training in the arts. A Native American residing in Oklahoma City he has gained international attention through his art shows in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Indianapolis and Germany. RON MARLETT: I think things have changed, including a great increase in presidential power that concerns both conservatives and liberals. I think things have gotten worse for all Americans, economically and politicall~; mad it can’t be allowed tO continue. _~ definition of insanity is tocontinue to do what didn’t work in the first place, and to expect a different result. W’e need different ways of making things work. Dennis donates proceeds from sales of his art and poetry back to the community and to advocacy organizations. Tulsa’s Equality Center is among the many recipients. Dennis has used his talent to improve relationships with our con~nunity by building bridges 3f tini{y: Hi~ talents in sociology and gymnastics has gained Olson respect around the world but he has not stop there. He plans to continue to use art and writing in his pursuit of diversity and equality. On August 30 there will be a Voter Registration Drive & Concert at Elderline Park in Bethany. We hope to see of lot of hopeful voters there. I think the biggest difference between me and nay opponent is that I ~vill fight for everyone’s ffeedora. She has already made it clear in her own words that not all religions or lifestyles are equal. IfI am elected to represent District 84, Ihope this will send a message not only to our state but also to our nation that the pendulum needs to swing the other way, and that our freedorns and equality are important. This could also show candidates that you can proudly take this stand and win. I appeal to the GLBT community and all progressives who want a better Oklahoma, I need money and volunteers. VICTOR: Well I hope you get them, and ~ve wish you all the luck in the world, because there is a lot at stake here. Thanks for running. NOTE: To contact Ron 3darleit see back cover advertiseraent. Oklahomans for Equality Executive Director, Freddie Owens and his organization believe that the law needs to be revised to include GLBT people and to increase the punishment by changing a first-time offense from a misdemeanor to a felony. "Passing legislation to have a hate-crimes law to inclt[de ~exual orientation is something that the organization has been working on for years," Owens said. "We are really going to beef up our advocacy efforts at thest~ite and local level. We are positioning ourselves to be the premier organization in the state of Oklahoma that deals specifically with these issues." It is our right and obligation to speak out. The tirades of people such as Sally Kern and Brent Rinehart only fuel hatred toward the GLBT community. \Vho will be next? You, a family member, or your next door neighbor? We are all vulnerable and potential targets t’or these hateful acts. o oMCC United ~~ ~ A Metropolitan Community Church 4 Sunday Services @ 11:00 AM 1623 N. Maplewood Tulsa, OK 91.8-838-171.5 At the recent OkEq public forum on hate crimes, Robert Stotle~ the East Ttdsan who was vandalized said. "We are not asking for special privileges, but equality." www.mcctulsa.org September 2008 �From ~0.95 AskAbo~ Our Suites �Wockner wire service California ruling changed more than marriage law that efforts to politically exploit anti:gay bias no longer work. xare have a chance here in California to deal a crushing defeat to the anti-gay forces that have caused incalculable damage to our community for years. This is our opportunity to make a difference that will go down in history books as a critical turning point." Ellen, Portia get married Minter also talked with Nle BottomLine about his 1996 sex-change operation. "I have been struck by how much more immediate ’unearned’ credibility and respect I get as a completely average-looking man than I did as a visibly masculine-appearing woman," Minter said. "The difference is stark -- whether it is service in a restaurant or on a plane, or appearing m court. Gay man likely to be elected to Congress Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, 50, and actress Portia de Rossi, 35, got married Aug. 16 at their home in Beverly Hills. Shannon Minter, legal director ofthe National Center for Lesbian Rights and lead lawy~’for the successfid gay side in the Calij$rnia same-sex marriage case Photo by Rex l~Vockner They are the biggest names to tie the knot since the California Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage took effect on June 16. The California Supreme Court’s May ruling legalizing same-sex marriage did much more than that. says Shannon Minter. legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights and lead lawyer for the successful gay side in the California nlarriage case. In an Aug. 2 interview with Los Angdes journalist Karen Ocamb, Minter said: "The fun&mental-right-to-marry part of the holding was extremely significant, but the court’s holding that sexual orientation is a suspect classification was shinning-- completely unprecedented. I think it will forever change the legal landscape for LGBT people in the country; it’s going to have a huge impact on courts in other states and, ultimately, on the federal courts. We are now living in a different legal world because of what the court did2 The court’s determination rneans that any discrimination based on sexual orientation is constitutionally subject to the strictest level ofscrutiW by California courts, which makes it dramatically harder for aW level of government to defend itsdfin aW arena where gays, lesbians and bisexuals are not treated the same as heterosexuals. A government now has to prow it has a specific "compelling interest" -- rather than a mere "rational basis" -- when it treats GLB people differently in any way. hi another interview; with the Palm Springs gay" magazine The BottomLine on Aug. 1, Minter said that if the California ballot measure to amend the state constitution to re-ban saanesex marriage fails in November, it will be a "crushing defeat" for gays’ opponents. "If we defeat this proposition, as I bdieve we will, that victory will resonate across the country," he said. "Not only will marriage in California be secure, but we will have demonstrated (3 NetroSTAR Reports said 19 people attended the ceremony, including both women’s mothers. De Rossi’s mother came from Australia for the wedding. DeGeneres wore white pants and a white vest. De Rossi wore a big pink dress. DeGeneres had announced their engagement on her TV show the day after die Supreme Court’s May 15 ruling. Jared Polis of Colorado is considered a shoo-in to become the sixth openly gay person elected to the U.S. Congress, and thefirst open, gay man elected to Congress as a nonincumbent. Campaign photo An openly gay man won the Democratic primary in Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District Aug. 12 and is considered a shoo-in to win the general election in November. If he does, Jared Polis, 33, will become the first openly gay man elected to Congress who was out when elected for the first time. U.S. Rep. Tammy Bal&vin, D-Wis., holds the female distinction in that regard. "At the Millennium March on Washington in 2000, Congressxvoman Tanamy Baldwin told hundreds of thousands of LGBT people gathered on the National Mall, ’If you dream of a world in which there are more openly gay elected officials, then rtm for office ... and you will live in such ~ world,’" said Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund President Chuck Wolfe. "I thought of that quote dlis evening when I learned that Rep. Baldwin and Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) will be joined by another openly gay colleague in the United States House of Representatives." ........... Continued see POLIS Page-7 "Yesterday, if you haven’t heard, the California Supreme Court overturned a ban on gay marnage;’ she said. "So I would like to say right now for die first time, I am annou~acing I aan getting married .... I’m so excited. If I’m this emotional now just saying it, I can’t imagine how that’s gonna be, but it’s something dlat I’ve, of course, vce’ve ~vanted to do, and we want it to be legal and we’re just very, very excited:’ In a September 2005 interview with The Advocate, de Rossi said: "I ran into Ellen (again) at a photo shoot about a year ago and she took my breath away. That had never happened to me in my life, where I saw somebody and (experienced) all of those things you hear about in songs and read about in poetry. My knees were weak. It was amazing. And it ~vas very hard for me to get her out of my mind after that. And then when I saw her again that night (at the VH1 awards show) we started talking and that’s that. W-e just were kind of supposed to be together. ~lat’s my side of the story. I really, really hated all the pain I put (then girlfriend) Francesca (Gregorini) through, and I really didn’t want to hurt her. But I just couldn’t ignore the feelings I had for Ellen: Directory of Local Animal Shelters Tulsa Shelter Broken Arrow OKC Muskogee Stillwater Coweta Siloam Springs Claremore Sand Springs Jenks Owasso Sapulpa Norman Collinsville 918-669-6299 918-259-8311 405 297 3104 918 686 7297 405 372 0334 918-486 2137 479 524 6535 918 341 1260 918 246 2543 918 299 6311 918-272-4965 918 227 2722 405 321 6725 918 371 1000 Courtesy ofwww.labrescue.net September 2008 �Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau annonces "Win a Trip to Dallas" sweepstakes winner DALLAS, TX (PRAug. 5th) __ The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB) announced today the winner of its "Win a Trip to Dallas" sweepstakes. Yvette Roper ofJamaica , NY was selected to receive a vacation package to Dallas. The promotion is part of a new integrated marketing communications campaign that targets the lesbian, ga~; bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The campaign launched in April at a Dallas press tour that included members of the domestic and international gay press. Ms. Roper will receive two roundtrip American Airlines tickets to Dallas and a two-day, threenight stay at the Crmvne Plaza Hotel Dallas Market Center. In addition, Roper xviLl receive two tickets to attend Gay Day at Six Flags Over Texas, compliments of the Dallas Voice. A gift basket will await the winner at the hotel, complete with goodies to make their Dallas visit memorable. Ms. Roper and a guest will travel to Dallas in September and experience Dallas Pride fi~sthand. 2-he city celebrates 25 years of Ptide wheu the Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade marches through the Oak Lawn neighborhood on September 21, 2008. "TMs promotion is part ofour ’Try Dallas on for Size’ campaign;’ said Phillip Jones, president & CEO of the DCVB." Dallas is a diverse and vibrant city, with more than $12 billion in development that adds additional dining, shopping, cultural and entertainment options every year. September weather is perfect for ,vatching one of the largest pride parades in the nation, with participants that include city officials, community leaders and thousands of supporters. We look forward to showcasing our city’s ’Live Large. Think Big’ way of life." For more information on Dallas Pride, or to discover more about how Dallas reaches out to the LGBT community, visit wv~wc.glbtdallas. US Border Agency Says It Can Seize Laptops Agam Shah, IDG News Service Travelers beware: U.S. agents now have the authority to seize and retain laptops indefinitely, according to a new policy detailed in documents issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The DHS document, issued July 16, appears to state publicly a policy that has already existed. Laptops and electronic devices have been subject to search in the past, and travelers have reported not getting their devices back. The policy has drawn strong criticism from lawmakers and nonprofit groups, who charged that the searches were invasive and a violation of an individual’s privacy rights. Computers contain a vast amount of private information about family, finances and health, which could be easily copied and stored in government databases, the Hectronic Frontier Foundation has complained. ~e policy document states that being able to examine documents and electronic devices is. crucial for "detecting information concerning terrorism, narcotics smuggling.., contraband including child pornography, and.., other import or export control laws." The new DHS policies allow customs agents to analyze the contents oflaptops without any suspicion of~vrongdoing, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold said in a statement. "The policies that have been disclosed are truly alarming;’ Feingold wrote. The policy could blur the distinction between "search" and ’seizure; which could also allow DHS officials to steal personal documents from laptops it has retained, Feingold wrote. -he American Family Association called a boycott of McDonald’s The organization is upset that the fast-food giant has joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, given it mone); and put one of its executives on the group’s board. Wolfe called Polis’ likely win in the heavily Democratic district an important gay milestone. "It sends an unmistakable signal that voters are willing to consider gay people as leaders at the highest level of government, and brings us closer to the kanerican ideal of a truly representative government," he said. In his victory speech, Polis introduced his partner, made reference to being gay, and said, "I always wo}ried that would get in the way (of) giving back and contributing to our society:’ A millionaire who made his money in online ventures, Polis spent $5 million of his mvn funds in the primary campaign. Agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection will also be allowed to translate and share documents with other government agencies. The AF,A says its nearly 3 million supporters dont want to sp,e,n~t money at establishments that actively promote the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage." www.metrostarnews.com Never before in our country’s history has there been a nationalparty pla~omn that is so indusive ofour entire community.... Is the pla~orm perfect? No.... Is it a goodfoundation ? Unequivocally yes." -- Rea Carey, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund As part of border search policy, government agents are now authorized to seize electronic devices and inspect documents in them, the document states. The electronic devices might include laptops, cell phones, portable music players or storage devices such as portable hard drives. com. Dallas is a destination that inspires big ideas and promises many memorable experiences. This richly diverse city is home to some of the best shopping and dining in America ; one Of the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations; and outstanding performing and visual arts in the largest contiguous urban arts district in the nation. Dallas is an authentic, sophisticated and distinctive gatewa): For additional LGBT visitor information, please visit ~z~v.glb tdallas.com. Broad and historic inclusion of LGBT issues in proposed Democratic National Platform If elected, he ~vill fill the seat ofRep. ~4ark Udall, who is running for the U.S. Senate. Phota: U..S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-~Vi3 ) WASHINGTON, DC (PR) __ National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund Executive Director Rea Carey spoke today at an audio press conference about the Democratic National Platform, which was hosted by the National Stonewall Democrats and featured U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), a member of the Platform Committee. Carey talked about the historic Significance of the proposed Democratic National Platform as it relates to issues impacting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)community. Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund "The vision put forth in the 2008 Democratic National Platform is historic in its embrace of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. Never before in our country’s history has there been a national party platform that is so inclusive of our entire community. "It is a forward-looking platform in so many areas, including those relating to LGBT people. The Task Force Action Fund is certainly pleased to see that in the opening paragraph of the section tided ’A More Perfect Union,’ for the first time the platform explicitly calls for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This demonstrates the success and unprecedented partnership between LGBT advocates and courageous public leaders, including Representative Baldwin, in educating the public and policymakers on the need for fully inclusive anti-discrimination protections. "The plank that includes a comprehensive Employment Non-Discrimination Act recognizes the LGBT community’s call ~br fully inclusive legislation, a critical element if we are to have legislation that protects all of us, equally. Polls would become the sixth openly gay person to serve in the House of Representatives, following in the footsteps of Baldwin, Frank, and former Reps. Gerry Studds, D-Mass., who is deceased, Steve Gunderson, R-Wis., and Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz. Frank, 68, is now the powerful chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. Frank told the Denver Post, "We are reaching that point where among Democratic voters sexual orientation of a candidate is not a factory He also said that once he’s no longer the only gay male congressman, he won’t feel as much pressure to be a role model and plans to start smoking cigars in public again. "I can start indulging some bad habits;’ Frank told the Post. "Let the young gay people find someone else to emulate." Indonesian transgender woman wins U.S. asylum A 42-year-old transgender woman from Indonesia won asylum in the U.S. based on Indonesia’s treatment oftransgender people, the Jakarta Post reported Aug. 11, citing activist reports. Michelle Saras~vati, who was a man named Michael Setiabudi until 2006, had been in the U.S. since 1998, remaining in the country illegally when his work visa expired in 2001. As a gay man, he lost an asylum claim in 2005. Saraswati then reapplied for asylum as a transgender woman in 2006 and won her case at the San Francisco Immigration Court. The Post said Saraswati convinced the court that Indonesia lacks legal protections and employment opportunities for transgender people. "Is the platform perfect? No. There is much more work to be done, especially to improve issues of family recognition. However, is it a good foundation? Unequivocally yes." NetroSTAR 7 �Viognier [vee-oh-nay] For those who haven’t experienced Viognier, the first glass is quite a revelation. This wine xvill embody al! or some of the following: honeysuckle, citrus blossoms, lychee, ripe melon, freshly picked peaches or apricots and ripe pear. Winemaker Craig Williams, from Joseph Phelps Vineyards, says Viognier contains floral compounds called Terpens. They are also found in Muscat and Riesling. So, think of the most aromatic Muscat or Riesling you’ve ever encountered, then concentrate it and you have Viognier. The majority of French Viogniers are sold as Vin de Pays in the Languedoc. In the Pdaone wine region, the grape is often blended with Roussanne, Marsanne and Grenache blanc. In the Northern Rhone the grape is sometimes blended with Chardonnay. Since the late !980s, plantings of Viognier in the United States and Canada have increased dramatically. The Rhone Rangers of the mid 1980s help spark the increased interest in Viognier in California and now Californigs Central Coast is the leading producer. ,~thith the heat of summer coming to a close, this season marks what many consider to be white wine’s last hurrah. Lots of people seem to want to drink more reds in the colder months so we’re listing some cool white wines that don’t live in the spotlight and iust happen to start with the letter V’ And this month, we are all about the ’V! Cline 2007 California Yulamba Y’ series 2007 Austrailia White Knight 2006 California Some Portuguese l~mles call this Gouveto, The Godello ~rape~gr6wn in northwest Spain is believed torte the ~ame variety as Verdelho. Wines from the to The grape has bee~ successful in the vineyards of Australia, parfieularly the Hunter Valley region, Langhorne Creek and the Swan Valley. Australian versions of Verdelho are noted for their intense flavors with hints of lime honeysuckle. California is this varietal as well. of styles from tages In 3roduced in bulk vintners and post-teen party-goers Good Vouvray i, firm, and delicate, character. St. Amant 2005 Mar~ rather than chenin Verdejo [ver-day-ho] This is a has long region France Picard 2006 France about ~o to your favorite wine and purchase a bottle or : food & wine with friends and for yourself the 11 th Century. For winemakin on Verdejo. As a consequence, In white wines from the Rueda region were ognized by a Denominaci6n de Origen Wmeslabeled Rueda must contain 50 Y0 ,s Verdejo" must contain 85% Verdejo, and often 100% Verdejo. Verdelho [vehr-DEH-lyoh] IVb&_DEIP,A’S most widely planted white-wine grape, Verdelho is classified as a noble or classic grape. On the Portuguese mainland, it is recommended in the DAO region’s ,vhite wines and in the production of white port. Vouvrav ~ Verdejo wines are aromatic, often soft and full~bbdied. They can be somewhat reminiscent Of Sauvignon blanc wines ftom a ~varm climate. D’ This writer also bar tends and hosts wine & food events known in town as the Wine Enthusiasts of Tulsa. Rqgrences indude: the ~4BC’s ofwine by James Laubd wwua ~,VineSpectatomom www.FoodandFVine.com www.PVikipedia.orgwww.77:d’Vorldl~deWine.com Garci Grande 2006 Spain Marquis de Riscat 2007÷~Spain This months recipe: Springfield, Ill DIRECTIONS MAKE THE SAUCE: Set up a double boiler or se~ a medium-sized stainless-steal bowl over a pot 0fsimmering water. Check to make sure the bottom ~Ho~v;eshoe Sandwich" Recipe for Horseshoe Sandwich 2 slices of’toast ( 1 slice of toast is a ponyshoe) topped with a slice of ham, hamburger, turkey or chicken. Cover in Cheese sauce a~d topped with french ~ies. Cheese Sauce 3 ctws Shredded Cheddar Cheese (some people prefer white sharp cheddar) 1/2 cup Beer 2 e~ yokes 2 tablespoons butter i re,pooh Vgorcestershire sauce salt & pepper to taste 8 Net~°oST~kR Worcestershire ,vith Salt to taste. To avoid a stringy sauce, it is important to constandy stir the Ch~ese and be s}tre tha.t the water is not boiling, but rather sunmenng. COOK THE MEAT: Whichever you choose, just cook in the usual way ASSEMBLE THE DISH: For each serving, place two slices of the toast on a large plate and top each with the meat. Pour the rarebit sauce over the meat and top the sauce with French fries. Serve immediately. September 2008 �Wockner News Service Lesbos residents lose ’lesbian’ lawsuit Three residents of the Greek islaaad of Lesbos who filed suit to reclaim the word "lesbian" and stop the group Homosexua! and Lesbian Community of Greece (OLKE) from using it lost their case July 22. The plaintiffs claimed the alleged theft of "lesbian" from the island’s residents amounted to "psychological and moral rape." .An Athens court found the claim baseless mad ordered the trio to pay $363 in costs. Plaintiff Dimitris Lanabrou vmved to appeal the ruling. Gay women are believed to have adopted the word in memory of Sappho, a poet who lived on the island in the sixth century B.C. and ~vrote about love between women. Con}ugal visits blocked for Costa Rican gay inmates Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court ruled Aug. 10 that gay inmates have no right to conjugal visits. The ruling came in the case of a former inmate who had been allowed such visits with a current inmate, only to see them halted later by prison officials, However, reports said another, similar case is still before the court, but ~vith different arguments. That case claims it is a violation ofim~qates’ right to sexual freedom to restrict conjugal visits to heterosexual couples. Panama legalizes gay sex Panamanian President Martin Torrijos Espino signed a decree July 29 repealing a 1949 law that criminalized sodomy trader penalty of a $500 fine or jail time. The move followed protests by the gay group New Men and Women of Panama and other human-rights defenders, local media said. The decree, issued by the Ministry of Health and also signed by Health Minister Rosario E. Turner, said the ban was at odds with the Panamanian Constitution and international htmaan-rights treaties Panan~a has signed. It also said the law conflictedwith the Health Ministry’s policy to "maintain respect for the sexual preferences of each person, without the existence of any type of discrimination" in the operation of its sexually transmitted diseases programs. w,~.metrostamews.com According to Amnesty International, 11 nations in Central America, South America and the Caribbean continue to ban gay sex -- Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. President defends gay rights in draft Ecuadorean constitution President Rafael Correa has defended a new draft Ecuadorean constitution that grants same-sex couples the rights of marriage, E1 Teldgrafo reported Aug. 1. All of the countries are former British colonies. The document faces a popular vote Sept. 28. Georgian gay leader discusses invasion Speaking in the city of Monteverde, Correa said: "Jesus of Nazareth never preached hatred, homophobia or segregation; instead he kne~v to say, ’Love one another.’ Georgian gay activist Paata Sabelashvili, head of the Tbilisi-based GLBT group Inclusive Foundation, communicated with San Francisco blogger Michael Petrelis on Aug. 11. The country, a former Soviet republic, has been at war with Russia since being attacked Aug. 7. A ceasefire agreement was signed on Aug. 15, but some fighting has continued. "Let me thank you for expressing solidarity in this difficuk moment," Sabelashvili wrote. "Unfortunately, I have not been able to take good care of the NGO (nongovernmental organization) these days as I was helping out journalists who covered the events. I was with Danish TV2 journalists as close to capital of South Ossetia as 6 km today. Bombs have been dropped around us. We saw 3 jets and heard more, as well as the noise from more than 20 charges being released." "It is close to panic situation," Sabdashvili said. "I am now sitting in the office and try to get (hold of) family and friends. Mobile phones are down. I am not sure ~vhen will Internet go off. Russian troops are stationed 20 km west to capital Tbilisi and people are fleeing the city. I do not know what is on invaders’ mind but it is really bad xvhat is on in town. Only reason our Web site still works is that it is placed outside Georgia and does not have Georgiaff domain. "It is not so easy for me to make clear points. So, obviously, I need to stop writing and go back to why I came to office: to back up all our workfiles in case office is bombed. I thank you for thinking of us and I wish peace to all of you no matter where you are. By the way, we are out and publicly visible -- you can see that in our magazine as well." Xhe group’s Web site is inclusive-foundation. org. Estonia considers samesex partners h’p 1 aw Estonia’s Justice Ministry is drafting a same-sex partnership laxv, with plans that it come into ~0rce in 2009. The proposed statute is expected to cover such areas as inheritance, property rights and citizenship. A poll by the nevcspaper Eesti P~ievalehelt sugests the measure willt~p~ass Parliament, as long as ~t doesn t include adopnon rights. Photo: Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa. Photo: Presidencia de la Rep(~blica del Ecuador "It is false that (the draft) is recognizing as family the union of homosexuals. What we are doing is recognizing the dignity of all people without discrimina- tion based on race, sex, sexual orientation, etc" "Let’s hope, now that there’s been so much talk about moral incompatibilities bet~veen the new constitution and the Gospel, sometimes utilizing falsehoods, that we also can talk with equal force about the profound incompatibility of the social situation -- of that inequality, of that existing social injustice -- with the Gospels," Correa said. A poll released Aug. 5 found that 47 percent of citizens plan to vote for the constitution and 31 percent plan to reject it. A "yes" vote of more than 50 percent is needed for the document to take effect. The poll questioned 1,160 citizens nationally and had an error margin of 4 percent and a confidence level of 95 percent. Hate crimes mar Europride in Stockholm A series of hate crimes marred the 10-day Europride cdebration, held this year in Stocltholm from July 25 to Aug. 3. On July 27, two men ~vho had just kissed were stabbed and robbed of their cell phones in the Tantolunden area by attackers who shouted anti-gay slurs. One of the victims was seriously injured. On July 30, two men were assaulted outside a 7-Eleven store in the downtown area by attackers who shouted homophobic insults, q-hey suffered minor injuries. Police later arrested three alleged assailants, ages 17 to 20. Police classified both incidents as hate crinqes, said the Stockholm publication The Local. In addition, three Lutheran churches were vandalized because the Church of Sweden took part in Europride. The buildings and grounds were plastered with flyers condemning homosexuality and the pride events. Xhe flyers described the perpetrators as "orthodox Christians: On Aug. 2, about halfa million people turned out for the Europride parade, despite drenching rainfall. Ecuador draft constitution creates same-sex unions A new draft Ecuadorean constitution approved by a special assembly in July will grant same-sex couples the rights of marriage. The document faces a popular vote on Sept. 28. "Ihe hierarchy of the Ecuadorean Roman Catholic Church has denounced the draft because of the recognition of gay unions and its apparent failure to ban abortion outright[ Gays arrested in Saudi Arabia Fifty-five young men were arrested at a gay dance party in Saihat, Saudi Arabia, July 28, local media reported. Col. Abdul Aziz Soleiman, spokesman for security forces in the Eastern Region, said the party took place on a farm and that two of the detainees were wearing women’s makeup and dancing for the other attendees. The Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Unit took part in the raid, reports said. Saudi authorities have raided other gay parties in recent months, according to the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. MetroSTAR 9 �Pagan Pride exhibit at the De m% R. Neill Equality Center TULSA, OK (PR) Tile Dennis R. Neill Equality Center art gallery will host its monthly First q’hursday meet-the-artist reception from 6-9pm, Thursday, September 04, 2008, for the opening of it’s ne~v exhibit, Pagan Pride. Fly Over Trees q-his is the second year in a row the Equality Center has hosted the art show, consisting of Pagan/Heathen artists, in conjunction ~vith q~e Oldahoma Pagan/Heathen Alliance, Inc. (OPHA). This year’s Gallery show will be expanded to include even more art mediums. There will be watercolours, acrylics, oil on canvas, digital art, photography, day sculpture, custom glass, textile art, and more. OPHA has gathered together artists within the Pagan and Heathen comnaunities to showcase themes that have been given birth through the artist’s spirituality and reflection on die world. Beloved Daughter Tulsa, Ok 74119 Autumn Dancers More information on the artists and the Pagan/Heathen Alliance can be found on the web at http://www.oklapha.org. The reception will be generously catered by donation by Brother’s Pizza. The exhibit will remain up dirough the month of September, and can be viewed Monday thru Saturday from 3-9pro. The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th St., in downtown Tulsa. More info can be found on the web at okeq.org. This monthly event is hosted by Oklahoman’s~r Equality (OkEq). OkEq seeks equal rightsfor Lesbian, Ga3~ Bis~al & ~’ansgender (LGBT) individuals andfamilies through advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation ofthe Dennis R. Neill Equality Cente~ �@ The Ledo, Oklahoma City @ The Copa, Oklahoma City @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa @ Angles, Oklahoma City @Club Majestic, Tulsa @ Finishline, Oklahoma City w~v.metrostarnews.com t~÷t~°oSTAR 11 �ROCK RED NORTH SEEKING NEW LOCATION "Following on the heels of the very successfu! Centennial Celebration last year, we are looking forward, with great anticipation, to the second century of the Oklahoma State Fair," said Tim O’Toole, president and general manager of the Oklahoma State Fair. "This year’s event is shaping up to rival what we offered last year. We are planning a very large and LIVE! party for the people of Oklahoma." ~ae 2008 Oklahoma State Fair° LIVE! returns xvith four premier attractions: Disney’s High School Musical: q-he Ice Tour, Beauty & the Bulls, PRCA Rodeo Action and Extreme Monster Truck Nationals. LIVE opens with Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour School is cool again when Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour is in session. Starting Thursday, September 11, the 10-show ice production of High School Musical and High School Musical 2 featuring the songs and dance from both smash hit movies and a cast of world-class skaters will keep guests cheering for more. Tulsa State Fair begins September 25 and will run through October 5th. q-he 2007 run had an attendance of 987,057. Ticket Prices: Adults: $8.00 Seniors aged 62+: $4.00 Military Personnel: $4.00 with valid ID Children 6-12:$5.00 Children 5 and under: FREE! Advance Tickets went on sale August 1 lth, September 22nd at area QuikTrip, Reasors, and Homeland !ocations, as well as the Expo Square Ticket Ot~ce. $20 for a book of 4 gate achnission tickets. $10 for a book of 20 ride tickets. ~]ae Community Stage will host a variety of entertainment throughout the 11 day run, 33 artists in all. Paid events following the rodeo will include country artists Rodney Atldns, October 2, Pat Green October 3, and Gary Allen October 4. Disney Highschool Musical will run September 25-28. Country Star Cris Cagle Beer Garden shows will include a popular Oklahoma band, the Stars. Rockandcountryroll Hurricane Mason, SeXtion 8, Red Dirt Rangers, Jumpstart, Mojo Dogs, eleven groups in all will keep you entertained. Boyz II Men will perform on the Oklahoma Main Stage Sept 27, 8pm, Oak Ridge Boys Sept 28, Cris Cagle Sept 30th 8pro and eleven other popular stars. "12 ~etroSTAR By Victor Gorin Neil Patrick Harris wants to represent ’normal’ gays "He’s dreamy. Just dreamy," Harris said. ’Tve been a fan of his since season I of The Mole. I just thought he was so cool when he talked in this cool, low, secret-agent voice ~- ’If you can accomplish this task...’" W-ockner wire service Harris continued: "Listen, no one can tell anyone how big their steps should be or when they can take them. You can take issue with someone making overtly denying statements, and you can take issue with people straightup presenting themselves as someone that they’re not -- because I think that’s kind of shady and not very stand-up. But you can’t fault someone for going through the process at their own time." Photo: Chuck Longacre, Outreacb Educato? ~t Red Rock North For over 5 years Red Rock North has served the GLBT community and those infected or affected by HIV at their current location at 2240 N.W. 39th Street, an area long kalown in OKC as the 39th Street Strip. HIV Outreach educators Chuck Longacre, Randy Shanahan and Mike Maus, along with director Connie Motleyprovide free HIV testing and counseling, which clients often need regardless of their test results. Recently they have begun a support group for those living with or affected by HIV on Tuesday nights at 5:30 p.m. In addition there is now a Supper Club on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays as well, providing those individuals with a non alcoholic socia[activity. Red Rock is a statewide nonprofit organization ( 50 lc3) headquartered in Oklahoma City at 4400 N. Lincoln, with facilities in Tulsa along with smaller communities including Chandler, Elk City and H Rent, which helpsprovide a much n~eded rural outreach. Co~l~ined with standard forms of outreach ( word of mouth, advertising and networking with organizations), many clients are reached through the Internet, with counselors communicating in gay chatrooms answering questions and encouraging those at risk to be tested. This ne~v outreach has grown so that around 10% of those coming in have been reached by cyberspace. Clients are provided an oral test which is completed in around 20 minutes. The quick results can sometimes show a false positive result, so those testing positive receive an additional blood test to be conclusive. The tests are very important, not only to prevent transmission of HIV to others, but also so that those infected can begin treatment which often can enable them to stay healthy. According to recent CDC estimates, almost i out of 4 of with HIV infected don’t know they are infected In May 2007, Out put two models on its cover holding pictures of Cooper and Jodie Foster in front of their faces above the words, "The Glass Closet: Why the Stars Won’t Come Out and Play." Cyndi Lauper: I had to come out as straight Gay actor Neil Patrick Hare’is. GLAAD photo Openly gay actor Neil Patrick Harris from TV’S How I Met Yohr Mother tells Out magazine in its September issue that he wants to be a role model for normal gay people. "I’m striving to be an example of normalcy," Harris said. "Because I’m noticed as an actor, people are aware of what’s happening in my life .... I’m a big proponent of monogamous relationships regardless of sexuality, and I’m proud of how the nation is steering toward that. ~aen you can look around and say, ’I really deeply feel like I’m in love with this person, there are people who feel the same thing, and those models are normal.’ The ’normal’ couples were sort of in the shadows for the past 15 or 20 years because you sort of needed other people to come forward and speak out." Pop singer Cyndi Lauper told The Times of London on Aug. 2 that she had to come out as straight. "My sister was gay, my best friends were gay, so I figured I had to be gay; she said. "So I did everything they did. I tried kissing girls. But it didn’t feel right for me and eventually I was forced to come out as a heterosexual." In addition to counseling, Red Rock provides free condoms, lubes, dental dams and other preventative items, as well as offering education. While offering the supplies and facts, counselors at Red Rock recognize emotional factors that come into play including the complexities of relationships, self esteem issues, and homophobia. Since a year ago the proportion of their clients testing positive has doubled, showing a clear need for more a~vareness. As Chuck Longacre puts it, "You just have to tell them ~vhat the risks are and let them make their own decisions, to empower them with the facts to encourage safe sex practices.’ As of press time it isn’t certain where the ne~v location for Red Rock North will be, although hopefi~y it could be nearby to best serve their current clientele. However, they are still in operation, and are still encouraging those at risk to be tested. They are also willing to speak to interested groups about testing and their other work in this area. For more information call 405 524 6500, then dial 200 for the Lauper also launched a broadside against George W. Bush. "When I hear people like George Bush talk about the gay community being anti-American it makes my blood boil," she said. Out magazine’s 3day 2007 coven In a more lighthearted moment, Harris told Out he thinks CNN anchorman Anderson Cooper is dreamy and is not a Candidate for outing. "The guy who saved the Vghite House, one of the heroes who crashed that plane on 9/11, was gay -- the rugby player Mark Bingham, who died on United 93. And does Bush ever mention that ? ... That gay guy saved his lousy ass:" operator. September 2008 �ifest > enteAainm Hadrian t Gay Emperor By Arifa Akbar His attempt to fortify the Roman Empire is well lra~own. But an exhibition focuses on another side of the man The bust is classically Roman, the face imperious. But this is no ordinary emperor: As a major new exhibition at the British Musenm makes dear, Publius Aelius Traianus Hadrianus was not 0nly a peacemaker who pulled his soldiers out of modernday Iraq. He was also the ilrst leader of Rome to make it clear that he wa~ gay. Hadrian: EiTapire and Conflict will see the bust make pilgrimages to both ends of HadriaNs x~htl, the first time it has left: the British Museum since being found in the Thames 200 years ago. But it is the singular life-story of the gay emperor d~at is likely to capture the interest of most visitors. ~rer being made emperor AD117, he inherited a Roman Empire in its prime, which had thrived on a policy of endless expansion and conquest. His first move, within hours of coronation, was to withdraw his troops from Mesopotamia, now Iraq, and fortify the empire~ boundaries by building his eponymous wall in northern England and others in the Danube and the Rhine valleys, ushering in a ne~v era of peace. The reign that followed can be traced through 200 ancient treasures, many of which have never been display in Britain. Several of the artefacts relate to his male consort, Andnous, who accompanied him on his travels around the empirel These items include a poem written on papyrus, featuring the two men hunting together, and new finds that include memorials to the dead lover at Hadrian’s villa in Tivoli. .Although it was not uncommon for his predecessors to have taken gay lovers alongside a female spouse, Hadrian was unique in making his love "official" in a xvay that no other emperor had before him. Are you going to California to get married? Send us your wedding announcement with photo’s. To: starnews@sbcglobal.net We will include you in the Metro Star wedding section. Your contact info must be included. ~.metrostamews.com ~÷troSTAR 13 �by Donald Pile and Ray Williams SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS AND WAS PRESIDENT LINCOLN GAY? They have been there for several years. Did we mention that everybody there is extremely friendly? Other gay bars seem to come and go in Springfield but the Station House is always there. They usually have quite a few events going on all the time. There is no smoking in aW bar or restaurant in the entire State of Illinois (the 19th State to have a no-smoking policy) so everybody is certainly glad about that! The MCC Church is located at 50! West Monroe and their website is ww~v.heartlandcommunitymcc.org. There are several other churches in the city that welcomes gays and lesbians. Springfield is a very progressive and liberal-minded community. So ~vhether you visit Springfield for a day, a couple of days or a week, you will find plenty of things to see and do. You can take great day trips within 60 miles to visit also. The cities of Bloomington, Peoria and Decatur offer a lot of interesting places to visit also. ~ae airport is just to the north of tmvn so if you’re flying in you can pick a rental auto right there. Shopping, sight-seeing, dining, nightlife, Springfield has it all and more. The historical things to see and do in Springfield are really mind boggling! Just the Lincoln factor alone makes it all worthwhile! "~tbraham Lincoln Presidential Museum & Library" ¯ Springfield is the Capital of Illinois and also the resting place of our 16th President. It is located 100 miles north of St. Louis on Interstate 55. q-he Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library opened in downtown Springfield three years ago to huge crowds every day. On weekends, tourists come from all over to visit and on weekdays schoo! children are bussed in so it is busy all the time. The Museum is in one building and the Library is directly across the street. Was our 16th President gay or bi? For some good information on that subject, we suggest you read THE INTIMATE WORLD OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN by C. A. Tripp. The renowned psychologist offers an entirely ne~v perspective on our most enigmatic president. It is the new "bombshell" 0fa book asking a startling question: W-as Lincoln gay? While downtown, visit Lincoln’s Springfield home as well as the old State House. Springfield is full of history and among the many things to see are the Vachel Lindsay Home which is the 1879 birthplace of this native Springfield poet/artist. Also visit the Lincoln Depot where Lincoln departed his beloved Springfield for the Presidency, the Executive Governor’s Mansions, the Illinois State Capitol, the Lincoln-Herndon Law Office where Lincoln practiced law from 1842 to 1852 and the Dana-Thomas House which is one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s finest prairie-style homes. One would think that this house was built in the 1950’S or 1960’S but it was actu~ly built between 1902 and !904. It has 15 rooms and is spread out over a half block area. Luckily the owner sold the property to a Publishing CompaW in the 1940’S with all the furniture intact and then in turn sold it to the State of Illinois in the 1980’S with the furniture still intact so this is the only Frank Lloyd Wright house with all furnishings intact. Even if you are not 14 M~t~oSTAR into the arts and crafts design movement, this is a must see tour. Other sites to visit are the Illinois Fire Museum, Illinoi~ State Museum, Illinois State Military Museum, Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation Museum and E&vards Place, which is a beautifully preserved Italianate mansion ~vhich was built in 1833 which is now part of the Springfield Art Association. Not tired ofwalkingyet? Then also visit the Air Combat Museum, the Lawrence Memorial Library, the World War Illinois Veterans Memorial, Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War Museum, Grand Army’of the Republic Memorial Museum and of course no visit to Springfield would be complete without going to the Lincoln Tomb which is located in the Oak Ridge Cemetery just north of downtown. You can take a tour thru the mausoleum to visit the final resting place of President Lincoln and his wife. It will take you several days just to visit everything in Springfield so if you have just a couple of days, be sure and check out everything on line to make your major list of places to visit. There are a lot of restaurants in the city. They are famous for their "horseshoe sandwiches2 which is bread, topped with french fries and your choice of beef, turkey or chicken and then a nice blended cheese sauce on top. Although it is called a sandwich you have to eat it with a fork. Be sure and try one of them while you are there. For nightlife, we always enjoy the Station House Bar at 306 East ~Fashington downtown. ~Ilae owner and bartenders are extremely friendly and make out oftowners always feel welcome. It is just the right size of a bar..., not huge yet not cramped. They have a side room the same size as the main room xvhen the crowd gets really big. They have a great rectangular bar in the center where it is easy to see and tall Before going to Springfield be sure and check out a few websites including, www.visit-springfieldillinois.com and www.alplm.org/home. html for the Lincoln Museum. There are dozens of mainstream motels and hotels in the greater Springfield area to stay. Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! Getting Information Before Traveling By Donald Pile and Ray Williams A lot of times when visiting a new city, state or an area that you are not familiar with, where can you find information about it ? \Veil, surP risingly there are several great sources. Trave! books of course are the number one ideal thing to read. Just check out a few at the local library and do your research before traveling. ~rrite down all the information, addresses and phone numbers that you think you might need. If you want to tour museums, galleries, historical sights or whatever just be sure and find out when they are open and their hours. There is nothing worse than driving someplace only to see a closed sign. Reading travel columns in both gay as well as straight publications also gives a good insight on xvhat to see and do. The writers have actually been to those places and give a better perspective on what to see aaad do. Almost all travelers are interested in different things to do, be it sports, arts, fine dining, sight-seeing or whatever so each traveler really is a very spe,cial and unique person. Many gay travelers don t even hav-e a desire to go to a gay bar When traveling. They are just interested in doing so many other things. In our travels to major resort cities it seems as thou a lot of gays just stay right in their resort and take advantage of the social activities that they offer there. You can also find great.ideas about a place by just "talking to people. On a flight not too longago a friend of ours happen to mention to the flight attendant that he was going to Atlanta and had never been there before2 ~e flight attendant was ex~emei~ friendly; told him that he flies there all the time and has to stay over a few days mad wrote down several restaurants, bars and museums for him to visit. Sometimes the person sitting next to you has some ideas on where to visit and dine. In restat,~,rants as well a,s, bars, if you just take the time to talk to people you will be surprised how much information you can get from the locals. Bartenders seem to always know where the locals go and where not to go, If you are going someplace really different, like the Grand-Canyon, Ye- llowstone or places like that then head down to your local library and check out some videos on your destination. Most of these scenic places really offer so much to See that you need to narrow it down to just the best parts that you want to see. "Lincoln Bronze Statue" And of course the Internet is still one of your best tools to use before traveling. Almost every city, state, museums, galleries, historical attractions now have their own website so you can visit and obtain the vital information that you need to know about before traveling. Many times you can purchase tickets to these p!aces you want to visit right on line before takin~ offon your trip. Both the Convention anti Visitor’s Bureaus websites for cities and states really offer a lot of ideas on what to do when visiting them and the surrounding area. Many times local business will even advertise on their websites with coupons for restaurants and the different places to visit, so be sure and pick up a copy of the local newspaper to see what newis happening. to everybody. September 2008 �v~w,~.metrostamews.com ~et~oSTAR 15 �by Jack Fertig September 2008 "Stand up for yourself, Virgo!" A Sun-Saturn conjunction in Virgo sounds like hard work and criticism. This one harmonizes a dangerously boisterous Mars-Jupiter square, bringing focus and purpose to high energies that could otherwise be squandered. Cladfy your goals, work with others, and be open to criticism, and you can achieve almost anything! ARIES [March 20 -April 19): Your leadership Skills can shine through if you’re a good follower. Let others take the lead, and be willing to work with them. Your suggestions and efforts as a humble part of the team will serve the team well, and you even better. Participate in the iarS;est LGBT Corn[]unity Survey in history, and help demonstrate the Everyone who completes the survey by Sept 14, 2008 wi~! be entered into a drawing to win one of FiVE iP0d Shuffles or the 6rand Prize of TWO free airline tickets fr0~0 any of the participating airline’s destinations in the 48 continental U.S. States, plus Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Restrictions apply. P~ease take the survey today, and tell your friends! Tren~end0us strides toward full equality have been achieved by our communities over the past decade. There’s Power in Our Pride. Power to make a difference: Bay and lesbian survey studies have opened doors (and minds) in leading con,~orations and organizations, which in turn have recognized the value of their LGBT employees through the establishment of equal hiring policies and domestic partner benefits. This has been a catalyst, leading to sweeping changes in political and Social inclusivity. Demographic reports also influence marketing investment. Virtually absent until recently, we now see a growing variety of products and services represented in gay media, celebrating our diversity. Ads keep LGBT publications and websites in business, serving their communities with independent news and information. Beyond simply advertising, though, these companies support us in many ways, including sponsoring community events and funding community-based charities in order to earn our loyalty. Taking an annual pulse on market trends through surveys helps demonstrate the LGBT community’s growing power, and influences positive change. We respect your privacy. All personal survey data is held confidentially by Community Marketing, Inc., an independent market research and communications firm based in San Francisco (founded 1992, and proudly 100% gay-owned and -operated) and will not I be sold to third parties or used for marketing purposes. Thank you! Community Mark÷ting, ® 2008 Community Marketing, inc., 584 castro st. #834, san Francisco CA 94114 USA ~.ComrnunityMarketinglnc.com TAURUS [April 20 - May 20): If having fun feels like too much work, try to have fun at work. A little creativity on the job can boost morale and encourage you and your colleagues to work smarter, getting more done with less effort. GEMINI [May 21 - June 20): Fun may seem too important, and you could be frittering away energy that could be used in more satisfying - and yes, more deeply "fun" - ways. Start at home. Your partner, roommate, or even parent could have some very helpful ideas. CANCER [June 21 - July 22): Working too hard at making your partner happy could backfire. A serious discussion can open up issues you need to work on. It sounds tough, but this is a golden opportunity to improve things tremendously. LEO [July 23 -August 22): The big picture seems a bit off, and your efforts to correct it could be too all-encompassing to be effective. Focus on crucial details. What’s most important? Don’t be embarrassed to seek help from an authority. VIRGO [August 23 - September 22): Letting others choose your fun and games can get expensive. Don’t be afraid to set your limits and state your desires. Being a team player means compromises on all sides. You will all have more fun if you stand up for yourself. LIBRA [September 23 - October 22): You[ current rash of energy could be eas ly exploitedby’a f~ily member or housemate. Stop and think. What do you really want to do? Some volunteer work will do both you and your community a lot of good! SCORPIO [October 23 - November 21): Worrying about what others think will only clog up your brain. Focus on your personal goals and where you want to be in 10, 20, or 30 years. Meditation helps. Planning is even better. Doing both is best. SAGITTARIUS [November 22 - December 20): Real friends love you for your charms, not your generosity. Entertain and plan as if you were head of accounting. Be resourceful! You can be frugal and fabulous, which will also impress the people who count. CAPRICORN [December 21 - January 19): Teamwork is the key to success. Do you really want to be in charge? You’re probably better as the power behind the throne. Your best ideas, .important as they are, have room for improvement. Discuss them with an expert. AQUARIUS [January 20 - Februar3, 18): Those arguments that seem so irresistible are not that important. Make your point and let it go. Take a quiet, amorous holiday, exploring techniques of pleasure. Discover what really works for you and your partner. Don’t fall back on habit or presumption! PISCES [February 19 - March 19): Top? Bottom? Could be time to switch. Don’t be afraid to interrupt lovemaking to discuss needs, techniques, or other important issues, not necessarily sexual. An older friend, maybe an ex, may have very helpful insights. 16 &~troSTAR September 2008 �Small Business: Economic Woes Lead to Oppornmity Despite the bleak news about the economy and the continuing credit crunch, small b~lsiness owners have some built-in advantages for survMng--and thrMng--during troubling times like these. Unlike corporate giants, they have flexibility on their side, allmving them to respond more quickly to customers’ needs and even to try t~ing their businesses in new directions. Small businesses also are uniquely poised to adjust their budgets to offset a downturn in sales. A nimble small business owner can reduce costs overnight, trimming office supplies, water delivery services, travel expenses and trash pick-ups. Also many LGBT businesses can rely on loyalty within their general community and with their LGBT customers to offset any drops in sales that might come from wary consumers looking to cut back. ~V~nat distinguishes successful LGBT businesses is their connection to their communities;’ says Justin Nelson, co-founder and president of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. "They have strong ties to their customers, and they are participants in the success of their communities. The loyalty they engender through their support of community events and causes can come back to them in tough economic times:’ ................ ® Identifying core markets and targeting marketing efforts to them. Finally, a more personal approach to boosting business may be increasing networking ef~brts: Alliances with other LGBT business owners can lead to financial opportunities. By taking advantage ofweeldy breakfast meetings, receptions or cocktail parties hosted by the local LGBT chamber, entrepreneurs can make connections that translate into business and profits. "As chamber professionals, we need to be out talking to people about the choices they’re making;’ says Minnesot£s Sam McClure, executive director of Q~orum: The Tvcin Cities GLBTA Chamber of Commerce. "We have to ask ourselves: ’Does all of this move us forward?’ Supporting this or that LGBT business should be part of the larger effort to move us all forward. It’s the whole rising-tide concept. "If we let aW of our LGBT business owners fail when we could have helped them, then xve’re doing a disservice to them and our entire cormnunity. They’re creating jobs and the energy that fuels philanthropy. I think we should be out there reminding everyone that it makes a difference where you buy your coffee or your gas or your office equipment? (Source NGLCC http:i/www.nglcc.org/BIZ/index ) gqlile keeping a close eye on the budget and taking advantage 0fcustomer loyalty will help maintain business, it won’t necessarily create new business. That’s where the confident entrepreneur n~eds to stay the course and bravely ma~e even gr{a{&" inxestments in marketing and advertising to stand out fi’6m fl~e crowd, experts say. "~ne tendency is to want to cut back on all your spending to reduce your overall budget," says Kimberlee Willialns, principal and ~narketing director ofFEMWORKS, LLC, a Newark, New Jersey marketing firm that specializes in outreach to the African-American LGBT community. "But what you need to do is invest more money into marketing at these points. Customers still need your services and products, and this might be the time where you can stand above the crowd because your competitors are cutting back their marketing dollars." Some other suggestions for surviving an economic downturn include: ~ Evaluating workforce needs and adjusting accordingly, hiring temporary staffor interns to fill the gap or instituting a hiring freeze; ~ Offering overtime benefits to hourly employees to stave offhiring a full-time employee; ¢ Talking to your bank about extending a line of credit; ® Staying in touch with customers and letting them lmow the value of their business; ÷ Asking vendors and suppliers for concessions on the length of payment periods and interest rates; ÷ Being more aggressive xvhen collecting money owed the company, including offering clients the choice of charging their payments; www.metrostarnews.com METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve T. Orie Spidt of Christ MCC 2902 E2Olh Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-52~80 Worship Saturdays at 10:00 AM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC of the Living Spdng 17 Elk S~eet Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a GOd filled and BleSSed Day! N~troSTAR 17 �KING OF MASSAGE Groat Touch Man to Man Fult Body Massage 2 hands or 4 hands available Keller Williams Realty Chuck Breckenridge Whether buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. 1o800o535oAIDS (2437) Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline ~NWAGLBTCC~ORG Community for P÷opl÷ tiving Metro Star Classfieds Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are H1V+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves, VVe invi{e anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail harrism mjr@yahoo.com. 2" square ON SALE! £oras little as $33 per issue. Email: starnews@sbcglobal.net offer good until 9/16/08 918.835.7887 SAVE & FILL YOUR PIGGY [] WWW.METROSTARNEWS.C OM 18 ~etroSTAR September 2008 �Support those who support us. Their ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you. DOWNTOWN PL.aLZA of TULSA I7 West 7th Street ~Ihtsa, OK 918-585-5898 *~vw.downto~vnplazatulsa.com I-LABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 www.habanainn.com ~LLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant OPEN,MRMS YOUTH PROJECT 2015 -B S. Lakewood Tulsa, OK 74112 918-838-7104 www. openarmsproject.org OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 KING OF MASSAGE In or Out Calls Oldahoma City, OK 405-314-3898 JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 ANGLES 2117 NW 39th St. Oldahoma City, OK v~,~v.anglesclub.com CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW EXPRESSWAY Oklakoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 wvw.c2 lgoldcastle.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 v~aw<bambooloungetulsa.com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON ........ Tulsa, OK 918£584-9494 www.clubmajestictulsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 i’~V 39TH EXPP,_ESSWAY O~-~.homa City, OK 405-5252073~3 w~wc.habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 NW- 39TH ~RESSWAY OkAahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 ~a~vw.habanainn.com GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com GUSHER’S PdSSTAURANT 2200 ~xWg 39TH ~RESSWAY Oklalmma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn DALLAS CV~B Dallas, TX ww~v.glbtdallas.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY OkJahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 wv~v.habanainn.com HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oldahoma’s HIV/STD Hottine SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service SatOrday 9:30 AM MCC of the LIVING SPRING 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pm MCC UNITED 1623 N. Maplewood, Tulsa, OK 918-838-!715 ~,w.v.mcctulsa.org www.metrostamews.com ~etroSTAR 19 �"I’m Ron Marlett and i’m running for State House District 84 because I want a chance to bring about change that really matters for my fellow Oklahomans: good jobs, affordable healthcare, a quality educational system and real freedom and equality." .......... ! NEED YOUR HELP TO WIN THIS ELECTION, WE. CAN MAKE ~T HAPPEN! need money and volunteers! Ron Marlett P.O. Box 854 Bethany, OK 73008 (405) 840-2069 www.ronmarlettforhousedistrict84.com � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data magazine Text Any textual data included in the document Exclusive Interview with Ron Marlett Democratic Candidate for State Rep. Dist. 84 against Sally Kern. See Page-3 WWW.METROSTARNEWS.COM "WE DELIVER DIVERSITY" SEPTEMBER 1, 2008 GLBTQYou h Center Struck by TULSA, OK (PR) __ In the early morning hours ofAugust 12th, Openarms "ibuth Project ~vas yet again su’uck by vandals. An unidentified individual broke into the facility by prying the fence loose from its post and kicking down a secondary gate to enter the patio area ofthe youth center. Upon entry, they overturned trash cans on the patio and threw a large rock through the window ofthe double doors used to access the patio. The invasion immediately triggered the alarm system and the vandals fled the scene. This is the most recent of four acts ofproperty damage directed at Openarms Youth Project, the only center in the Tulsa area serving the GLBTQyouth ages 14-21. GLBTQ youth are particularly vulnerable to harassment and depression. By providing a safe environment to be themselves, Openarms believes it allows the youth an opportunity to grow and mature into the young adults they are meant to be, without the fear o£jndgm~, ~p~narms Youth Project is governed by the y0uth it serves for progtamming as well as an adult Board of Directors and financial mana which they will not accomplish] ] mofi~ away from th~ pro~anS vulnerable population. This latest act ofdefiance will literally[ take food from their mouths as the Thursday night dinner is one ofthe largest group gatherings at the youth center. Each Thursday as many as fifty youths arrive for a warm meal and social time together. This meal, fimded by community supporters, costs Openarms over $100.00 per week and is a program the youth and adult board are dedicated to continuing weekly. q-he Board ofDirectors and volunteers are determined to raise the money needed to install an updated security system which the police say is the only way they can address the situation. This system will place cameras around the perimeter ofthe building that will begin recording when triggered by movement. This updated system will allow Openarms to provide authorities with photographs of the perpetrators should they return. This system will cost approximately $4,000 and the money must be raised in addition to Openarms regular operating budget to prevent the downsizing ofprogramming at the center. You may visit their website at www.openarmsproject.org or phone 918-838-7104 for additional information. Openarms Youth Project is a fully qualified 501c3 non-profit corporation. 2008 STATE FAIR TULSA, OK You know fall is near when you can smell the aromas and take in the sounds of Oklahoma’s two great state fair’s. Now bigger and better both the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City and the Tulsa State Fair will lure you in with new entertainment, mountains of corn dogs, indian tacos and rivers of cold beer. The 2008 Oklahoma State Fair® LIVE! tickets went on sale July 12. Gate admission tickets are free for children 5 and undeh $5 for children (ages 6-11), $8 for adults (12 and older), q-his year’s fair opens ~lursday, September 11 and runs through Sunday, September 21 at State Fair Park, Oklahoma City. .......................Continued see STATE FAIR Page-12 OKLAHOMA MUST HAVE GLBT INCLUSION IN HATE CRIMES LAW By Chaz Ward Oklahoma’s hate-crimes law makes it a crime to "intimidate or harass another person because ofthe person’s race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin or disability" and adds punishment beyond what would be imposed for the underlying crime, such ,as assault or vandalism. Oklahoma is one of 17 states whose hate-crimes laws don’t include protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who are targeted because of their sexual orientation or identity. The 2006 FBI Hate Crime Statistics show an 18% increase in hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. GLBT people now make up 16% ofhate crimes in the United States. "Ilae National Coalition ofAnti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) reports a recent rash ofat least 13 brutal and violent hate crimes that have occurred throughout the country on the heels ofthe murder of 15 year-old Lawrence King in Los Angeles and the brutal beating ofDuannaJohnson, both in February of2008. NCAVP reports that these hate crimes may indicate a frightening trend ofincreases in both the n~ber ~nd SeV~r-iW of anti-LGBT Violence: ReC~tly at the home ofRobert S~6der and hisp~erin east Tulsa near 21St and Garnett, was spray-paintedwith m~ssages "I’ll be back" and "Gay lviust G6". There Were damages 0n two different occasions including a car that was parked in the driveway that~~pray-painted and burned. We must not forget the Oklahoma City, October 26, 2007 brutal murder of Steve Domer (Photo) who was killed because he was ~. Tortured and murdered by Darrell Madden a member of the United Aryan Brotherhood, a white supremacist group. It was speculated that Mr. Domer’s murder may have been a gang rite of passage. The murder garnered national attention, somewhat reminiscent of the murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming in 1998. Darrell Madden could not be charged with a hate crime because Federal and Oklahoma hate crimes laws do not cover sexual orientation. In the 2008 Oklahoma legislative session, five bills were introduced pertaining to hate crime laws but all of them failed. The voice ofthe GLBT community has not been heard at the State Capitol. Activists, advocacy groups and some legislators have failed to get the attention of those elected officials who believe sexual orientation inclusion in our hate crimes law is not needed. We have to consistently voice our outrage to those who remain an obstacle in our fight for equality. ...............Continued See HATE CRIMES Page-4 2 Met~oS~’AR September 2008 Fascism Can Not Be Tolerated Oklahoma An Interview With Ron Marlett by Victor Gorh-~ PSAL~¥h "Let the wordsj~om my mouth and the meditations ofmy heart be a blessing to God’~ "It ~ a shame thatpoliticians can’tpractice what this Psalm says. 3d.y opponent has a history ofusing character assawsination, whisper campaigns, and misinfo~vnation. I refi,se to use those tactics, but rather want tofollow that Psalm’; Ron 3~[arlett. Born in Binger, Oklahoma, Ron Marlett was raised in Union City until he graduated from Union City High School in 1967. He went on to get his degree in social work and began working for Oklahomas Department of Human Services, later becoming a licensed clinical social worker. He met his wife Liz in 1974 While attending OU, and they wi]] proudly celebrate their 25th Anniversary this year. Photo: Ron d~Lm’lett Democrafc Candidatefor State Rep. Dist. 84 against SalO, Kern. Currently employed with Community Pathways Unlimited, he counsels the elderly and disabled in nursing homes across the state. Today he faces the trials and tribulations that come with running for office, ~d does so ~vith pride and optimism. VICTOR: This is sure to be a formidable race. Xgrhat inspired you to run against Sally Kern? RON MARLETT: I have always been suspi- I received a contribution from a gay man living in Latvia, and he said that in today’s society no candidate would ever openly attack blacks using the n word, or refer to women or other ethnic groups in a similar way. Yet gays are considered fair game, and with some people this tactic can get you votes. This is wrong and has to be challenged. VICTOR: What you do think is the purpose ofthis scapegoating ? RON MARLETT: To serve as a distraction from the degradation of freedom and equality, and economic hardship. cious ofextremism on the left or the right, as VICTOR: Other than your support for GLBT both can rob us 0f0ur fre~d6nls~ Over the years equality, do you differ fromMrs. Kern in other ................... ar*e~? .... I read a wonderfiil book called "American Fascists" by Chris Hedges. I was reading that when Sally’s youtube conunents came out. W’hen I heard the comments she made it dawned on me that she had taken positions also taken by fascists. Xhe minute I heard it I decided, ’Tin got to run. This cannot go unchallenged." VICTOR: How did your family feel about that ? RONMARLETT: Without seems to have a fundamental misunderstandhag ofthe Constitution, and the separation Of Church and State. For a legislator to come out and declare themselves a "warrior forJudeo Christianprinciples" is a clear threat to that. The job ofgovernment is to protect the rights ofall religions, to see to it that minorities~ren’t persecuted. RON MARLETT: At first they were shocked, they are now su portive¯ I don t think anyone who runs for o~ce for the first time has any sense ofwhat demands it ~vill make on your life. AA McA~-ey (State Representative District 88) told me it would the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. VICTOR: Are you convinced now that he’s right? RON MARLETT: I’m convinced yes. I also think families offirst time candidates have no idea ofwhat is involved, what sacrifices have to be made. VICTOR: Do you still think it is worth it? RON MARLETT: I have no doubt whatsoever. It is worth it because if this extremism is not stood up to and challenged America is going m slip further and further towards a fascisQtyl-e dictatorship. Naomi ~31fe, in her book The End ofAmerica;’ lists ten steps that have to be taken to move from democracy to dictatorship, and the Bush administration has accomplished at least hdfofthose. As in Nazi Germany anytime a group is a scapegoat, marginalized, persecutedandin the worst Cme exterminated, they move on to another scapegoat. VICTOR: And on economic issues ? RON MARLETT: I drastically disagree with her in that area as well. She is so tied into the "trickle dmvn" theory ofeconomics. She has no goal, no dreaan or vision for anything to create opportunities for working people to achieve their dreams. VICTOR: I remember when she opposed raising minimum wage when it was $5.15 an hour, claiming that those on minimum wa e needed to better budget their money, g RON MARLETT: V/ell I would challenge her to forfeit all ofher salary in excess ofwhat she would earn .on minimum wage and then get back with us and let us know how well it works. I see people worldng minimum wage jobs that have to Work mor~ than one job]She is woefully out oftouch with these issues~ She further demonstrated that when she voted to remove the sales tax from gold and precious metals while retaining it on groceries. VICTOR: You also grew up in a union household. Can you tell us about that ? .............Continued see MARLETT Page-4 ww~v.metrostarnews.com NetroSTAR 3 RON MARLETT: My father worked as a lineman for Caddo Electric Coop near Binger Oklahoma. He climbed utility poles, working in close contact with 7200 volt wires, sometimes during thunderstorms and made about $1.65 an hour. No matter how well we tried to budget, my family scraped by month by month. When that coop was’successfully unionized by their employees, wages went up, 0aad we began to live more comfortably and were able to attain the American dream, which would not have happened otherwise. Despite what opponents claimed, the Coop continued to operate and rates did not dramatically increase. I feel that organized labor today could play a major part in making the lives ofworking people better. VICTOR: So despite the promises made, do you feel that Oklahoma benefited when Right to Work ~vas passed in 2001 ? Governor Keating claimed we’d get a $75 a week raise. RON MARLETT: They also promised massive manufacturing jobs I have yet to see. I have seen companies leave our state including GM, Delta Faucet and Bridgestone Tires. Clearly, Right to ~Zork was wrong. VICTOR: You are a strong supporter ofpublic education. Howdo you differ from your opponent in that area? RON MARLETT: I’m certain Ms. Kern would like to bring public education to a screeching halt. I understand that she was once a teacher h-~ Oklahonaa City, but she has betrayed her fellow teachers by accusing them of attempting to seduce young children into the homosexual lifestyle, and she has likewise accused librarians. She would support providing vouchers to send their ch~ldre~ to l~rivate religious schools. As for myself, you couldn’t find a stronger supporter ofpublic education. No system is perfect, all systems can improve, however this system has worked well. I am a product of public education. VICTOR: How about the enviromnent ? RON MARLETT: I believe we have a moral responsibility to care for the earth and the environment. Long term use offossil fuels will .harm us more than help us. I would support tax credits for home insulation, hybrio cars, or energy efficient major appliances. I would favor rewarding positive changes. VICTOR: Getting back to your campaign, o oMCC United ~~~ A Metropolitan Community Church Sunday Services @ 11:00 AM 1623 N. Maplewood Tulsa, OK 91.8-838-171.5 www.mcctulsa.org it has garnered national and international attention. Also it represents no.t iust a state house race, but two vasdy different icteologies. RON MARLETT: I may get more e-mails than other candidates, and I doubt ifany other candidate has gotten a contribution from Latvia. But even with this higher profile, you face the same pressures and do the same things, you go tO fund-raisers, you meet people, and knock doors. VICTOR: How has the door knocking gone so far ? RON MARLETT: With door knocking Independent and Democratic households, I’ve only had 2 people state that they would vote for nay opponent. The Democrats are in a slight majority in nay district, and my response from Independents has been extremely encouraging. I have had Republicans assure me they would vote t’or me, and there are even 2 Republican voters displaying my yard signs. I am also encouraged by the number ofyoung voters and/or ne~v voters. On August 30 there will be a Voter Registration Drive & Concert at Elderline Park in Bethany. We hope to see oflot ofhopeful voters there. VICTOR: Sally Kern was unopposed in 2006, and in 2004 was elected by a wide mar~in over a Democratic opponent. Do you mink there have be~n changes in the district and in America that wil! help influence voters to elect you? RON MARLETT: I think things have changed, including a great increase in presidential power that concerns both conservatives and liberals. I think things have gotten worse for all Americans, economically and politicall~; mad it can’t be allowed tO continue. _~ definition of insanity is tocontinue to do what didn’t work in the first place, and to expect a different result. W’e need different ways ofmaking things work. I think the biggest difference between me and nay opponent is that I ~vill fight for everyone’s ffeedora. She has already made it clear in her own words that not all religions or lifestyles are equal. IfI am elected to represent District 84, Ihope this will send a message not only to our state but also to our nation that the pendulum needs to swing the other way, and that our freedorns and equality are important. This could also show candidates that you can proudly take this stand and win. I appeal to the GLBT community and all progressives who want a better Oklahoma, I need money and volunteers. VICTOR: Well I hope you get them, and ~ve wish you all the luck in the world, because there is a lot at stake here. Thanks for running. NOTE: To contact Ron 3darleit see back cover advertiseraent. Local Artist Gives Back By Judy Gabbard Photo: Dennis Olson Dennis Olson a medal winning gymnast and sociology major has made his mark among artists and writers. Dennis attended San Jose State University on a gymnastic scholarship and received a degree from UCLA in Sociology. He has proved his talent without formal training in the arts. A Native American residing in Oklahoma City he has gained international attention through his art shows in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Indianapolis and Germany. Dennis donates proceeds from sales ofhis art and poetry back to the community and to advocacy organizations. Tulsa’s Equality Center is among the many recipients. Dennis has used his talent to improve relationships with our con~nunity by building bridges 3f tini{y: Hi~ talents in sociology and gymnastics has gained Olson respect around the world but he has not stop there. He plans to continue to use art and writing in his pursuit of diversity and equality. Oklahomans for Equality Executive Director, Freddie Owens and his organization believe that the law needs to be revised to include GLBT people and to increase the punishment by changing a first-time offense from a misdemeanor to a felony. "Passing legislation to have a hate-crimes law to inclt[de ~exual orientation is something that the organization has been working on for years," Owens said. "We are really going to beef up our advocacy efforts at thest~ite and local level. We are positioning ourselves to be the premier organization in the state of Oklahoma that deals specifically with these issues." It is our right and obligation to speak out. The tirades of people such as Sally Kern and Brent Rinehart only fuel hatred toward the GLBT community. \Vho will be next? You, a family member, or your next door neighbor? We are all vulnerable and potential targets t’or these hateful acts. At the recent OkEq public forum on hate crimes, Robert Stotle~ the East Ttdsan who was vandalized said. "We are not asking for special privileges, but equality." 4 September 2008 From ~0.95 AskAbo~ Our Suites Californiarulingchanged more than marriage law Shannon Minter, legal director ofthe National Center for Lesbian Rights and lead lawy~’for the successfidgay side in the Calij$rnia same-sex marriage case Photo by Rex l~Vockner The California Supreme Court’s May ruling legalizing same-sex marriage did much more than that. says Shannon Minter. legal director ofthe National Center for Lesbian Rights and lead lawyer for the successful gay side in the California nlarriage case. In an Aug. 2 interview with Los Angdes journalist Karen Ocamb, Minter said: "The fun&- mental-right-to-marry part ofthe holding was extremely significant, but the court’s holding that sexual orientation is a suspect classification was shinning-- completely unprecedented. I think it will forever change the legal landscape for LGBT people in the country; it’s going to have a huge impact on courts in other states and, ultimately, on the federal courts. We are now living in a different legal world because of what the court did2 The court’s determination rneans that any discrimination based on sexual orientation is constitutionally subject to the strictest level ofscrutiW by California courts, which makes it dramatically harder for aW level ofgovernment to defend itsdfin aW arena where gays, lesbians and bisexuals are not treated the same as heterosexuals. A government now has to prow it has a specific "compelling interest" -- rather than a mere "rational basis" -- when it treats GLB people differently in any way. hi another interview; with the Palm Springs gay" magazine The BottomLine on Aug. 1, Minter said that ifthe California ballot measure to amend the state constitution to re-ban saanesex marriage fails in November, it will be a "crushing defeat" for gays’ opponents. "Ifwe defeat this proposition, as I bdieve we will, that victory will resonate across the country," he said. "Not only will marriage in California be secure, but we will have demonstrated Wockner wire service that efforts to politically exploit anti:gay bias no longer work. xare have a chance here in California to deal a crushing defeat to the anti-gay forces that have caused incalculable damage to our community for years. This is our opportunity to make a difference that will go down in history books as a critical turning point." Ellen, Portia get married Minter also talked with Nle BottomLine about his 1996 sex-change operation. "I have been struck by how much more immediate ’unearned’ credibility and respect I get as a completely average-looking man than I did as a visibly masculine-appearing woman," Minter said. "The difference is stark -- whether it is service in a restaurant or on a plane, or appearingm court. Gay man likely to be elected to Congress Jared Polis ofColorado is considered a shoo-in to become the sixth openly gayperson elected to the U.S. Congress, and thefirst open,gay man elected to Congress as a nonincumbent. Campaign photo An openly gay man won the Democratic primary in Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District Aug. 12 and is considered a shoo-in to win the general election in November. Ifhe does, Jared Polis, 33, will become the first openly gay man elected to Congress who was out when elected for the first time. U.S. Rep. Tammy Bal&vin, D-Wis., holds the female distinction in that regard. "At the Millennium March on Washington in 2000, Congressxvoman Tanamy Baldwin told hundreds ofthousands ofLGBT people gathered on the National Mall, ’Ifyou dream ofa world in which there are more openly gay elected officials, then rtm for office ... and you will live in such ~ world,’" said Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund President Chuck Wolfe. "I thought ofthat quote dlis evening when I learned that Rep. Baldwin and Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) will be joined by another openly gay colleague in the United States House of Representatives." Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, 50, and actress Portia de Rossi, 35, got married Aug. 16 at their home in Beverly Hills. They are the biggest names to tie the knot since the California Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage took effect onJune 16. Reports said 19 people attended the ceremony, including both women’s mothers. De Rossi’s mother came from Australia for the wedding. DeGeneres wore white pants and a white vest. De Rossi wore a big pink dress. DeGeneres had announced their engagement on her TV show the day after die Supreme Court’s May 15 ruling. "Yesterday, ifyou haven’t heard, the California Supreme Court overturned a ban on gay marnage;’ she said. "So I would like to say right now for die first time, I am annou~acing I aan getting married.... I’m so excited. If I’m this emotional now just saying it, I can’t imagine how that’s gonna be, but it’s something dlat I’ve, ofcourse, vce’ve ~vanted to do, and we want it to be legal and we’re just very, very excited:’ In a September 2005 interview with The Advocate, de Rossi said: "I ran into Ellen (again) at a photo shoot about a year ago and she took my breath away. That had never happened to me in my life, where I saw somebody and (experienced) all of those things you hear about in songs and read about in poetry. My knees were weak. It was amazing. And it ~vas very hard for me to get her out ofmy mind after that. And then when I saw her again that night (at the VH1 awards show) we started talking and that’s that. W-e just were kind ofsupposed to be together. ~lat’s my side ofthe story. I really, really hated all the pain I put (then girlfriend) Francesca (Gregorini) through, and I really didn’t want to hurt her. But I just couldn’t ignore the feelings I had for Ellen: ...........Continued see POLIS Page-7 Directory ofLocal Animal Shelters Tulsa Shelter 918-669-6299 Broken Arrow 918-259-8311 OKC 405 297 3104 Muskogee 918 686 7297 Stillwater 405 372 0334 Coweta 918-486 2137 Siloam Springs 479 524 6535 Claremore 918 341 1260 Sand Springs 918 246 2543 Jenks 918 299 6311 Owasso 918-272-4965 Sapulpa 918 227 2722 Norman 405 321 6725 Collinsville 918 371 1000 Courtesy ofwww.labrescue.net (3 NetroSTAR September 2008 Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau annonces "Win a Trip to Dallas" sweepstakes winner DALLAS, TX (PRAug. 5th) __ The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB) announced today the winner ofits "Win a Trip to Dallas" sweepstakes. Yvette Roper ofJamaica , NYwas selected to receive a vacation package to Dallas. The promotion is part ofa new integrated marketing communications campaign that targets the lesbian, ga~; bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The campaign launched in April at a Dallas press tour that included members of the domestic and international gay press. Ms. Roper will receive two roundtrip American Airlines tickets to Dallas and a two-day, threenight stay at the Crmvne Plaza Hotel Dallas Market Center. In addition, Roper xviLl receive two tickets to attend Gay Day at Six Flags Over Texas, compliments ofthe Dallas Voice. A gift basket will await the winner at the hotel, complete with goodies to make their Dallas visit memorable. Ms. Roper and a guest will travel to Dallas in September and experience Dallas Pride fi~sthand. 2-he city celebrates 25 years ofPtide wheu the Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade marches through the Oak Lawn neighborhood on September 21, 2008. "TMs promotion is part ofour ’Try Dallas on for Size’ campaign;’ said Phillip Jones, president & CEO ofthe DCVB." Dallas is a diverse and vibrant city, with more than $12 billion in development that adds additional dining, shopping, cultural and entertainment options every year. September weather is perfect for ,vatching one of the largest pride parades in the nation, with participants that include city officials, community leaders and thousands of supporters. We look forward to showcasing our city’s ’Live Large. Think Big’ way oflife." For more information on Dallas Pride, or to discover more about how Dallas reaches out to the LGBT community, visit wv~wc.glbtdallas. com. Dallas is a destination that inspires big ideas and promises many memorable experiences. This richly diverse city is home to some of the best shopping and dining in America ; one Of the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations; and outstanding performing and visual arts in the largest contiguous urban arts district in the nation. Dallas is an authentic, sophisticated and distinctive gatewa): For additional LGBT visitor information, please visit ~z~v.glbtdallas.com. US Border Agency Says It Can Seize Laptops Agam Shah, IDG News Service Travelers beware: U.S. agents now have the authority to seize and retain laptops indefinitely, according to a new policy detailed in documents issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. As part of border search policy, government agents are now authorized to seize electronic devices and inspect documents in them, the document states. The electronic devices might include laptops, cell phones, portable music players or storage devices such as portable hard drives. Agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection will also be allowed to translate and share documents with other government agencies. The DHS document, issued July 16, appears to state publicly a policy that has already existed. Laptops and electronic devices have been subject to search in the past, and travelers have reported not getting their devices back. The policy has drawn strong criticism from lawmakers and nonprofit groups, who charged that the searches were invasive and a violation ofan individual’s privacy rights. Computers contain a vast amount ofprivate information about family, finances and health, which could be easily copied and stored in government databases, the Hectronic Frontier Foundation has complained. ~e policy document states that being able to examine documents and electronic devices is. crucial for "detecting information concerning terrorism, narcotics smuggling.., contraband including child pornography, and.., other import or export control laws." The new DHS policies allow customs agents to analyze the contents oflaptops without any suspicion of~vrongdoing, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold said in a statement. "The policies that have been disclosed are truly alarming;’ Feingold wrote. The policy could blur the distinction between "search" and ’seizure; which could also allow DHS officials to steal personal documents from laptops it has retained, Feingold wrote. -he American Family Association called a boycott of McDonald’s The organization is upset that the fast-food giant has joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, given it mone); and put one of its executives on the group’s board. The AF,A says its nearly 3 million supporters dont want to sp,e,n~t money at establishments that actively promote the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage." Broad and historic inclusion ofLGBT issues in proposed Democratic National Platform Never before in our country’s history has there been a nationalpartypla~omn that is so indusive ofour entire community.... Is thepla~ormperfect? No.... Is it agoodfoundation ? Unequivocallyyes." -- Rea Carey, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund Phota: U..S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-~Vi3) WASHINGTON, DC (PR) __ National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund Executive Director Rea Carey spoke today at an audio press conference about the Democratic National Platform, which was hosted by the National Stonewall Democrats and featured U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), a member ofthe Platform Committee. Carey talked about the historic Significance ofthe proposed Democratic National Platform as it relates to issues impacting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)community. Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund "The vision put forth in the 2008 Democratic National Platform is historic in its embrace of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. Never before in our country’s history has there been a national party platform that is so inclusive ofour entire community. "It is a forward-looking platform in so many areas, including those relating to LGBT people. The Task Force Action Fund is certainly pleased to see that in the opening paragraph of the section tided ’A More Perfect Union,’ for the first time the platform explicitly calls for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This demonstrates the success and unprecedented partnership between LGBT advocates and courageous public leaders, including Representative Baldwin, in educating the public and policymakers on the need for fully inclusive anti-discrimination protections. "The plank that includes a comprehensive Employment Non-Discrimination Act recognizes the LGBT community’s call ~br fully inclusive legislation, a critical element ifwe are to have legislation that protects all of us, equally. "Is the platform perfect? No. There is much more work to be done, especially to improve issues of family recognition. However, is it a good foundation? Unequivocally yes." Wolfe called Polis’ likely win in the heavily Democratic district an important gay milestone. "It sends an unmistakable signal that voters are willing to consider gay people as leaders at the highest level ofgovernment, and brings us closer to the kanerican ideal ofa truly representative government," he said. In his victory speech, Polis introduced his partner, made reference to being gay, and said, "I always wo}ried that would get in the way (of) giving back and contributing to our society:’ A millionaire who made his money in online ventures, Polis spent $5 million ofhis mvn funds in the primary campaign. If elected, he ~vill fill the seat ofRep. ~4ark Udall, who is running for the U.S. Senate. Polls would become the sixth openly gay person to serve in the House of Representatives, following in the footsteps ofBaldwin, Frank, and former Reps. Gerry Studds, D-Mass., who is deceased, Steve Gunderson, R-Wis., andJim Kolbe, R-Ariz. Frank, 68, is now the powerful chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. Frank told the Denver Post, "We are reaching that point where among Democratic voters sexual orientation ofa candidate is not a factory He also said that once he’s no longer the only gay male congressman, he won’t feel as much pressure to be a role model and plans to start smoking cigars in public again. "I can start indulging some bad habits;’ Frank told the Post. "Let the young gay people find someone else to emulate." Indonesian transgender woman wins U.S. asylum A 42-year-old transgender woman from Indonesia won asylum in the U.S. based on Indonesia’s treatment oftransgender people, the Jakarta Post reported Aug. 11, citing activist reports. Michelle Saras~vati, who was a man named Michael Setiabudi until 2006, had been in the U.S. since 1998, remaining in the country illegally when his work visa expired in 2001. As a gay man, he lost an asylum claim in 2005. Saraswati then reapplied for asylum as a transgender woman in 2006 and won her case at the San Francisco Immigration Court. The Post said Saraswati convinced the court that Indonesia lacks legal protections and employment opportunities for transgender people. www.metrostarnews.com NetroSTAR 7 ,~thith the heat of summer coming to a close, this season marks what many consider to be white wine’s last hurrah. Lots of people seem to want to drink more reds in the colder months so we’re listing some cool white wines that don’t live in the spotlight and iust happen to start with the letter V’ And this month, we are all about the ’V! Viognier [vee-oh-nay] For those who haven’t experienced Viognier, the first glass is quite a revelation. This wine xvill embody al! or some of the following: honeysuckle, citrus blossoms, lychee, ripe melon, freshly picked peaches or apricots and ripe pear. Winemaker Craig Williams, from Joseph Phelps Vineyards, says Viognier contains floral compounds called Terpens. They are also found in Muscat and Riesling. So, think of the most aromatic Muscat or Riesling you’ve ever encountered, then concentrate it and you have Viognier. The majority of French Viogniers are sold as Vin de Pays in the Languedoc. In the Pdaone wine region, the grape is often blended with Roussanne, Marsanne and Grenache blanc. In the Northern Rhone the grape is sometimes blended with Chardonnay. Since the late !980s, plantings of Viognier in the United States and Canada have increased dramatically. The Rhone Rangers of the mid 1980s help spark the increased interest in Viognier in California and now Californigs Central Coast is the leading producer. Cline 2007 California Yulamba Y’ series 2007 Austrailia White Knight 2006 California Verdelho [vehr-DEH-lyoh] IVb&_DEIP,A’S most widely planted white-wine grape, Verdelho is classified as a noble or classic grape. On the Portuguese mainland, it is recommended in the DAO region’s ,vhite wines and in the production of white port. Some Portuguese l~mles call this Gouveto, Vouvrav The Godello ~rape~gr6wn in northwest Spain ~ is believed torte the ~ame variety as Verdelho. Wines from the to The grape has bee~ successful in the vineyards of styles from ofAustralia, parfieularly the Hunter Valley tages In region, Langhorne Creek and the Swan Valley. Australian versions of Verdelho are noted for their intense flavors with hints of lime honeysuckle. California is this varietal as well. St. Amant 2005 Mar~ Verdejo [ver-day-ho] This is a has long region about the 11 th Century. For winemakin on Verdejo. As a consequence, In white wines from the Rueda region were ognized by a Denominaci6n de Origen Wmeslabeled Rueda must contain 50 Y0 ,s Verdejo" must contain 85% Verdejo, and often 100% Verdejo. Verdejo wines are aromatic, often soft and full~bbdied. They can be somewhat reminiscent OfSauvignon blanc wines ftom a ~varm climate. Garci Grande 2006 Spain Marquis de Riscat 2007÷~Spain rather than chenin 3roduced in bulk vintners and post-teen party-goers Good Vouvray i, firm, and delicate, character. France Picard 2006 France ~o to your favorite wine and purchase a bottle or : food & wine with friends and for yourself D’ This writer also bar tends and hosts wine & food events known in town as the Wine Enthusiasts ofTulsa. Rqgrences indude: the ~4BC’s ofwine byJames Laubd wwua ~,VineSpectatomom www.FoodandFVine.com www.PVikipedia.orgwww.77:d’Vorldl~deWine.com This months recipe: Springfield, Ill DIRECTIONS MAKE THE SAUCE: Set up a double boiler or se~ a medium-sized stainless-steal bowl over a pot 0fsimmering water. Check to make sure the bottom ~Ho~v;eshoe Sandwich" Recipe for Horseshoe Sandwich 2 slices of’toast ( 1 slice oftoast is a Worcestershire ,vith Salt to taste. To avoid a stringy sauce, it is ponyshoe) topped with a slice ofham, important to constandy stir the Ch~ese and be hamburger, turkey or chicken. Cover in Cheese sauce a~d topped with s}tre tha.t the water is not boiling, but rather french ~ies. sunmenng. Cheese Sauce 3 ctws Shredded Cheddar Cheese (some people prefer white sharp cheddar) 1/2 cup Beer 2 e~yokes 2 tablespoons butter i re,pooh Vgorcestershire sauce salt & pepper to taste COOK THE MEAT: Whichever you choose, just cook in the usual way ASSEMBLE THE DISH: For each serving, place two slices ofthe toast on a large plate and top each with the meat. Pour the rarebit sauce over the meat and top the sauce with French fries. Serve immediately. 8 Net~°oST~kR September 2008 Wockner News Service Lesbos residents lose ’lesbian’ lawsuit Three residents of the Greek islaaad of Lesbos who filed suit to reclaim the word "lesbian" and stop the group Homosexua! and Lesbian Community of Greece (OLKE) from using it lost their case July 22. The plaintiffs claimed the alleged theft of "lesbian" from the island’s residents amounted to "psychological and moral rape." .An Athens court found the claim baseless mad ordered the trio to pay $363 in costs. Plaintiff Dimitris Lanabrou vmved to appeal the ruling. Gay women are believed to have adopted the word in memory of Sappho, a poet who lived on the island in the sixth century B.C. and ~vrote about love between women. Con}ugal visits blocked for Costa Rican gay inmates Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court ruled Aug. 10 that gay inmates have no right to conjugal visits. The ruling came in the case ofa former inmate who had been allowed such visits with a current inmate, only to see them halted later by prison officials, However, reports said another, similar case is still before the court, but ~vith different arguments. That case claims it is a violation ofim~qates’ right to sexual freedom to restrict conjugal visits to heterosexual couples. Panama legalizes gay sex Panamanian President Martin Torrijos Espino signed a decree July 29 repealing a 1949 law that criminalized sodomy trader penalty ofa $500 fine or jail time. The move followed protests by the gay group New Men and Women ofPanama and other human-rights defenders, local media said. The decree, issued by the Ministry of Health and also signed by Health Minister Rosario E. Turner, said the ban was at odds with the Panamanian Constitution and international htmaan-rights treaties Panan~a has signed. It also said the law conflictedwith the Health Ministry’s policy to "maintain respect for the sexual preferences ofeach person, without the existence ofany type ofdiscrimination" in the operation of its sexually transmitted diseases programs. According to Amnesty International, 11 nations in Central America, South America and the Caribbean continue to ban gay sex -- Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. All of the countries are former British colonies. Georgian gay leader discusses invasion Georgian gay activist Paata Sabelashvili, head of the Tbilisi-based GLBT group Inclusive Foundation, communicated with San Francisco blogger Michael Petrelis on Aug. 11. The country, a former Soviet republic, has been at war with Russia since being attacked Aug. 7. A ceasefire agreement was signed on Aug. 15, but some fighting has continued. "Let me thank you for expressing solidarity in this difficuk moment," Sabelashvili wrote. "Unfortunately, I have not been able to take good care ofthe NGO (nongovernmental organization) these days as I was helping out journalists who covered the events. I was with Danish TV2 journalists as close to capital of South Ossetia as 6 km today. Bombs have been dropped around us. We saw 3 jets and heard more, as well as the noise from more than 20 charges being released." "It is close to panic situation," Sabdashvili said. "I am now sitting in the office and try to get (hold of) family and friends. Mobile phones are down. I am not sure ~vhen will Internet go off. Russian troops are stationed 20 km west to capital Tbilisi and people are fleeing the city. I do not know what is on invaders’ mind but it is really bad xvhat is on in town. Only reason our Web site still works is that it is placed outside Georgia and does not have Georgiaff domain. "It is not so easy for me to make clear points. So, obviously, I need to stop writing and go back to why I came to office: to back up all our workfiles in case office is bombed. I thank you for thinking of us and I wish peace to all ofyou no matter where you are. By the way, we are out and publicly visible -- you can see that in our magazine as well." Xhe group’s Web site is inclusive-foundation. org. Estonia considers samesex partnersh’p 1aw Estonia’s Justice Ministry is drafting a same-sex partnership laxv, with plans that it come into ~0rce in 2009. The proposed statute is expected to cover such areas as inheritance, property rights and citizenship. Apoll by the nevcspaper Eesti P~ievalehelt sugests the measure willt~p~ass Parliament, as long as ~t doesn t include adopnon rights. President defends gay rights in draft Ecuadorean constitution President Rafael Correa has defended a new draft Ecuadorean constitution that grants same-sex couples the rights of marriage, E1 Teldgrafo reported Aug. 1. Photo: Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa. Photo: Presidencia de la Rep(~blica del Ecuador tion based on race, sex, sexual orientation, etc" The document faces a popular vote Sept. 28. Speaking in the city ofMonteverde, Correa said: "Jesus ofNazareth never preached hatred, homophobia or segregation; instead he kne~v to say, ’Love one another.’ "It is false that (the draft) is recognizing as family the union ofhomosexuals. What we are doing is recognizing the dignity ofall people without discrimina- "Let’s hope, now that there’s been so much talk about moral incompatibilities bet~veen the new constitution and the Gospel, sometimes utilizing falsehoods, that we also can talk with equal force about the profound incompatibility ofthe social situation -- of that inequality, of that existing social injustice -- with the Gospels," Correa said. A poll released Aug. 5 found that 47 percent ofcitizens plan to vote for the constitution and 31 percent plan to reject it. A "yes" vote ofmore than 50 percent is needed for the document to take effect. The poll questioned 1,160 citizens nationally and had an error margin of4 percent and a confidence level of95 percent. Hate crimes mar Europride in Stockholm A series ofhate crimes marred the 10-day Europride cdebration, held this year in Stocltholm from July 25 to Aug. 3. OnJuly 27, two men ~vho had just kissed were stabbed and robbed oftheir cell phones in the Tantolunden area by attackers who shouted anti-gay slurs. One of the victims was seriously injured. OnJuly 30, two men were assaulted outside a 7-Eleven store in the downtown area by attackers who shouted homophobic insults, q-hey suffered minor injuries. Police later arrested three alleged assailants, ages 17 to 20. Police classified both incidents as hate crinqes, said the Stockholm publication The Local. In addition, three Lutheran churches were vandalized because the Church of Sweden took part in Europride. The buildings and grounds were plastered with flyers condemning homosexuality and the pride events. Xhe flyers described the perpetrators as "orthodox Christians: On Aug. 2, about halfa million people turned out for the Europride parade, despite drenching rainfall. Ecuador draft constitution creates same-sex unions A new draft Ecuadorean constitution approved by a special assembly in July will grant same-sex couples the rights of marriage. The document faces a popular vote on Sept. 28. "Ihe hierarchy of the Ecuadorean Roman Catholic Church has denounced the draft because of the recognition ofgay unions and its apparent failure to ban abortion outright[ Gays arrested in Saudi Arabia Fifty-five young men were arrested at a gay dance party in Saihat, Saudi Arabia, July 28, local media reported. Col. Abdul Aziz Soleiman, spokesman for security forces in the Eastern Region, said the party took place on a farm and that two of the detainees were wearing women’s makeup and dancing for the other attendees. The Propagation ofVirtue and Prevention of Vice Unit took part in the raid, reports said. Saudi authorities have raided other gay parties in recent months, according to the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. w,~.metrostamews.com MetroSTAR 9 Pagan Pride exhibit at the De m% R. Neill Equality Center TULSA, OK (PR) Tile Dennis R. Neill Equality Center art gallery will host its monthly First q’hursday meet-the-artist reception from 6-9pm, Thursday, September 04, 2008, for the opening of it’s ne~v exhibit, Pagan Pride. Fly Over Trees q-his is the second year in a row the Equality Center has hosted the art show, consisting of Pagan/Heathen artists, in conjunction ~vith q~e Oldahoma Pagan/Heathen Alliance, Inc. (OPHA). This year’s Gallery show will be expanded to include even more art mediums. There will be watercolours, acrylics, oil on canvas, digital art, photography, day sculpture, custom glass, textile art, and more. OPHA has gathered together artists within the Pagan and Heathen comnaunities to showcase themes that have been given birth through the artist’s spirituality and reflection on die world. Autumn Dancers More information on the artists and the Pagan/Heathen Alliance can be found on the web at http://www.oklapha.org. The reception will be generously catered by donation by Brother’s Pizza. The exhibit will remain up dirough the month of September, and can be viewed Monday thru Saturday from 3-9pro. The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center is located at 621 E. 4th St., in downtown Tulsa. More info can be found on the web at okeq.org. Beloved Daughter This monthly event is hosted by Oklahoman’s~r Equality (OkEq). OkEq seeks equal rightsfor Lesbian, Ga3~ Bis~al & ~’ansgender (LGBT) individuals andfamilies through advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation ofthe Dennis R. Neill Equality Cente~ Tulsa, Ok 74119 @The Ledo, Oklahoma City @ The Copa, Oklahoma City @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa @Angles, Oklahoma City @Club Majestic, Tulsa @ Finishline, Oklahoma City w~v.metrostarnews.com t~÷t~°oSTAR 11 "Following on the heels of the very successfu! Centennial Celebration last year, we are looking forward, with great anticipation, to the second century of the Oklahoma State Fair," said Tim O’Toole, president and general manager of the Oklahoma State Fair. "This year’s event is shaping up to rival what we offered last year. We are planning a very large and LIVE! party for the people of Oklahoma." ~ae 2008 Oklahoma State Fair° LIVE! returns xvith four premier attractions: Disney’s High School Musical: q-he Ice Tour, Beauty & the Bulls, PRCA Rodeo Action and Extreme Monster Truck Nationals. LIVE opens with Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour School is cool again when Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour is in session. Starting Thursday, September 11, the 10-show ice production of High School Musical and High School Musical 2 featuring the songs and dance from both smash hit movies and a cast ofworld-class skaters will keep guests cheering for more. Tulsa State Fair begins September 25 and will run through October 5th. q-he 2007 run had an attendance of 987,057. Ticket Prices: Adults: $8.00 Seniors aged 62+: $4.00 Military Personnel: $4.00 with valid ID Children 6-12:$5.00 Children 5 and under: FREE! Advance Tickets went on sale August 1 lth, September 22nd at area QuikTrip, Reasors, and Homeland !ocations, as well as the Expo Square Ticket Ot~ce. $20 for a book of 4 gate achnission tickets. $10 for a book of 20 ride tickets. ~]ae Community Stage will host a variety of entertainment throughout the 11 day run, 33 artists in all. Paid events following the rodeo will include country artists Rodney Atldns, October 2, Pat Green October 3, and Gary Allen October 4. Disney Highschool Musical will run September 25-28. Country Star Cris Cagle Beer Garden shows will include a popular Oklahoma band, the Stars. Rockandcountryroll Hurricane Mason, SeXtion 8, Red Dirt Rangers, Jumpstart, Mojo Dogs, eleven groups in all will keep you entertained. Boyz II Men will perform on the Oklahoma Main Stage Sept 27, 8pm, Oak Ridge Boys Sept 28, Cris Cagle Sept 30th 8pro and eleven other popular stars. ROCK RED NORTH SEEKING NEWLOCATION By Victor Gorin Photo: Chuck Longacre, Outreacb Educato? ~t Red Rock North For over 5 years Red Rock North has served the GLBT community and those infected or affected by HIV at their current location at 2240 N.W. 39th Street, an area long kalown in OKC as the 39th Street Strip. HIV Outreach educators Chuck Longacre, Randy Shanahan and Mike Maus, along with director Connie Motleyprovide free HIV testing and counseling, which clients often need regardless oftheir test results. Recently they have begun a support group for those living with or affected by HIV on Tuesday nights at 5:30 p.m. In addition there is now a Supper Club on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays as well, providing those individuals with a non alcoholic socia[activity. Red Rock is a statewide nonprofit organization (50 lc3) headquartered in Oklahoma City at 4400 N. Lincoln, with facilities in Tulsa along with smaller communities including Chandler, Elk City and H Rent, which helpsprovide a much n~eded rural outreach. Co~l~ined with standard forms ofoutreach ( word ofmouth, advertising and networking with organizations), many clients are reached through the Internet, with counselors communicating in gay chatrooms answering questions and encouraging those at risk to be tested. This ne~v outreach has grown so that around 10% ofthose coming in have been reached by cyberspace. Clients are provided an oral test which is completed in around 20 minutes. The quick results can sometimes show a false positive result, so those testing positive receive an additional blood test to be conclusive. The tests are very important, not only to prevent transmission of HIV to others, but also so that those infected can begin treatment which often can enable them to stay healthy. According to recent CDC estimates, almost i out of4 ofwith HIV infected don’t know they are infected In addition to counseling, Red Rock provides free condoms, lubes, dental dams and other preventative items, as well as offering education. While offering the supplies and facts, counselors at Red Rock recognize emotional factors that come into play including the complexities ofrelationships, selfesteem issues, and homophobia. Since a year ago the proportion of their clients testing positive has doubled, showing a clear need for more a~vareness. As Chuck Longacre puts it, "You just have to tell them ~vhat the risks are and let them make their own decisions, to empower them with the facts to encourage safe sex practices.’ As ofpress time it isn’t certain where the ne~v location for Red Rock North will be, although hopefi~ y it could be nearby to best serve their current clientele. However, they are still in operation, and are still encouraging those at risk to be tested. They are also willing to speak to interested groups about testing and their other work in this area. For more information call 405 524 6500, then dial 200 for the operator. Neil Patrick Harris wants to represent ’normal’ gays W-ockner wire service Gay actor Neil Patrick Hare’is. GLAADphoto Openly gay actor Neil Patrick Harris from TV’S How I Met Yohr Mother tells Out magazine in its September issue that he wants to be a role model for normal gay people. "I’m striving to be an example of normalcy," Harris said. "Because I’m noticed as an actor, people are aware ofwhat’s happening in my life.... I’m a big proponent of monogamous relationships regardless of sexuality, and I’m proud of how the nation is steering toward that. ~aen you can look around and say, ’I really deeply feel like I’m in love with this person, there are people who feel the same thing, and those models are normal.’ The ’normal’ couples were sort of in the shadows for the past 15 or 20 years because you sort of needed other people to come forward and speak out." Out magazine’s 3day 2007coven In a more lighthearted moment, Harris told Out he thinks CNN anchorman Anderson Cooper is dreamy and is not a Candidate for outing. "He’s dreamy. Just dreamy," Harris said. ’Tve been a fan of his since season I ofThe Mole. I just thought he was so cool when he talked in this cool, low, secret-agent voice ~- ’If you can accomplish this task...’" Harris continued: "Listen, no one can tell anyone how big their steps should be or when they can take them. You can take issue with someone making overtly denying statements, and you can take issue with people straightup presenting themselves as someone that they’re not -- because I think that’s kind of shady and not very stand-up. But you can’t fault someone for going through the process at their own time." In May 2007, Out put two models on its cover holding pictures of Cooper and Jodie Foster in front of their faces above the words, "The Glass Closet: Why the Stars Won’t Come Out and Play." Cyndi Lauper: I had to come out as straight Pop singer Cyndi Lauper told The Times of London on Aug. 2 that she had to come out as straight. "My sister was gay, my best friends were gay, so I figured I had to be gay; she said. "So I did everything they did. I tried kissing girls. But it didn’t feel right for me and eventually I was forced to come out as a heterosexual." Lauper also launched a broadside against George W. Bush. "When I hear people like George Bush talk about the gay community being anti-American it makes my blood boil," she said. "The guy who saved the Vghite House, one of the heroes who crashed that plane on 9/11, was gay -- the rugby player Mark Bingham, who died on United 93. And does Bush ever mention that ? ... That gay guy saved his lousy ass:" "12 ~etroSTAR September 2008 ifest > enteAainm t Hadrian Gay Emperor By Arifa Akbar His attempt to fortify the Roman Empire is well lra~own. But an exhibition focuses on another side of the man The bust is classically Roman, the face imperious. But this is no ordinary emperor: As a major new exhibition at the British Musenm makes dear, Publius Aelius Traianus Hadrianus was not 0nly a peacemaker who pulled his soldiers out of modernday Iraq. He was also the ilrst leader of Rome to make it clear that he wa~ gay. Hadrian: EiTapire and Conflict will see the bust make pilgrimages to both ends of HadriaNs x~htl, the first time it has left: the British Museum since being found in the Thames 200 years ago. But it is the singular life-story of the gay emperor d~at is likely to capture the interest of most visitors. ~rer being made emperor AD117, he inherited a Roman Empire in its prime, which had thrived on a policy of endless expansion and conquest. His first move, within hours of coronation, was to withdraw his troops from Mesopotamia, now Iraq, and fortify the empire~ boundaries by building his eponymous wall in northern England and others in the Danube and the Rhine valleys, ushering in a ne~v era of peace. The reign that followed can be traced through 200 ancient treasures, many ofwhich have never been display in Britain. Several of the artefacts relate to his male consort, Andnous, who accompanied him on his travels around the empirel These items include a poem written on papyrus, featuring the two men hunting together, and new finds that include memorials to the dead lover at Hadrian’s villa in Tivoli. .Although it was not uncommon for his predecessors to have taken gay lovers alongside a female spouse, Hadrian was unique in making his love "official" in a xvay that no other emperor had before him. Are you going to California to get married? Send us your wedding announcement with photo’s. To: starnews@sbcglobal.net We will include you in the Metro Star wedding section. Your contact info must be included. ~.metrostamews.com ~÷troSTAR 13 by Donald Pile and Ray Williams SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS AND WAS PRESIDENT LINCOLN GAY? "~tbraham Lincoln PresidentialMuseum &Library" ¯ Springfield is the Capital of Illinois and also the resting place ofour 16th President. It is located 100 miles north ofSt. Louis on Interstate 55. q-he Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library opened in downtown Springfield three years ago to huge crowds every day. On weekends, tourists come from all over to visit and on weekdays schoo! children are bussed in so it is busy all the time. The Museum is in one building and the Library is directly across the street. Was our 16th President gay or bi? For some good information on that subject, we suggest you read THE INTIMATE WORLD OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN by C. A. Tripp. The renowned psychologist offers an entirely ne~v perspective on our most enigmatic president. It is the new "bombshell" 0fa book asking a startling question: W-as Lincoln gay? While downtown, visit Lincoln’s Springfield home as well as the old State House. Springfield is full ofhistory and among the many things to see are the Vachel Lindsay Home which is the 1879 birthplace ofthis native Springfield poet/artist. Also visit the Lincoln Depot where Lincoln departed his beloved Springfield for the Presidency, the Executive Governor’s Mansions, the Illinois State Capitol, the Lincoln-Herndon Law Office where Lincoln practiced law from 1842 to 1852 and the Dana-Thomas House which is one ofFrank Lloyd Wright’s finest prairie-style homes. One would think that this house was built in the 1950’S or 1960’S but it was actu~ly built between 1902 and !904. It has 15 rooms and is spread out over a halfblock area. Luckily the owner sold the property to a Publishing CompaW in the 1940’S with all the furniture intact and then in turn sold it to the State of Illinois in the 1980’S with the furniture still intact so this is the only Frank Lloyd Wright house with all furnishings intact. Even ifyou are not into the arts and crafts design movement, this is a must see tour. Other sites to visit are the Illinois Fire Museum, Illinoi~ State Museum, Illinois State Military Museum, Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation Museum and E&vards Place, which is a beautifully preserved Italianate mansion ~vhich was built in 1833 which is now part of the Springfield Art Association. Not tired ofwalkingyet? Then also visit the Air Combat Museum, the Lawrence Memorial Library, the World War Illinois Veterans Memorial, Daughters ofUnion Veterans ofthe Civil War Museum, Grand Army’ofthe Republic Memorial Museum and ofcourse no visit to Springfield would be complete without going to the Lincoln Tomb which is located in the Oak Ridge Cemetery just north ofdowntown. You can take a tour thru the mausoleum to visit the final resting place of President Lincoln and his wife. It will take you several days just to visit everything in Springfield so ifyou have just a couple ofdays, be sure and check out everything on line to make your major list ofplaces to visit. There are a lot of restaurants in the city. They are famous for their "horseshoe sandwiches2 which is bread, topped with french fries and your choice ofbeef, turkey or chicken and then a nice blended cheese sauce on top. Although it is called a sandwich you have to eat it with a fork. Be sure and try one ofthem while you are there. For nightlife, we always enjoy the Station House Bar at 306 East ~Fashington downtown. ~Ilae owner and bartenders are extremely friendly and make out oftowners always feel welcome. It is just the right size of a bar..., not huge yet not cramped. They have a side room the same size as the main room xvhen the crowd gets really big. They have a great rectangular bar in the center where it is easy to see and tall to everybody. They have been there for several years. Did we mention that everybody there is extremely friendly? Other gay bars seem to come and go in Springfield but the Station House is always there. They usually have quite a few events going on all the time. There is no smoking in aW bar or restaurant in the entire State of Illinois (the 19th State to have a no-smoking policy) so everybody is certainly glad about that! The MCC Church is located at 50! West Monroe and their website is ww~v.heartlandcommunitymcc. org. There are several other churches in the city that welcomes gays and lesbians. Springfield is a very progressive and liberal-minded community. So ~vhether you visit Springfield for a day, a couple of days or a week, you will find plenty of things to see and do. You can take great day trips within 60 miles to visit also. The cities ofBloomington, Peoria and Decatur offer a lot ofinteresting places to visit also. ~ae airport is just to the north of tmvn so ifyou’re flying in you can pick a rental auto right there. Shopping, sight-seeing, dining, nightlife, Springfield has it all and more. The historical things to see and do in Springfield are really mind boggling! Just the Lincoln factor alone makes it all worthwhile! Before going to Springfield be sure and check out a few websites including, www.visit-springfieldillinois. com and www.alplm.org/home. html for the Lincoln Museum. There are dozens ofmainstream motels and hotels in the greater Springfield area to stay. Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! "Lincoln Bronze Statue" Getting Information Before Traveling By Donald Pile and Ray Williams A lot oftimes when visiting a new city, state or an area that you are not familiar with, where can you find information about it ? \Veil, sur- Prisingly there are several great sources. Trave! books of course are the number one ideal thing to read. Just check out a few at the local library and do your research before traveling. ~rrite down all the information, addresses and phone numbers that you think you might need. If you want to tour museums, galleries, historical sights or whatever just be sure and find out when they are open and their hours. There is nothing worse than driving someplace only to see a closed sign. Reading travel columns in both gay as well as straight publications also gives a good insight on xvhat to see and do. The writers have actually been to those places and give a better perspective on what to see aaad do. Almost all travelers are interested in different things to do, be it sports, arts, fine dining, sight-seeing or whatever so each traveler really is a very spe,cial and unique person. Many gay travelers don t even hav-e a desire to go to a gay bar When traveling. They are just interested in doing so many other things. In our travels to major resort cities it seems as thou a lot ofgays just stay right in their resort and take advantage ofthe social activities that they offer there. You can also find great.ideas about a place by just "talking to people. On a flight not too longago a friend ofours happen to mention to the flight attendant that he was going to Atlanta and had never been there before2 ~e flight attendant was ex~emei~ friendly; told him that he flies there all the time and has to stay over a few days mad wrote down several restaurants, bars and museums for him to visit. Sometimes the person sitting next to you has some ideas on where to visit and dine. In restat,~,rants as well a,s, bars, ifyou just take the time to talk to people you will be surprised how much information you can get from the locals. Bartenders seem to always know where the locals go and where not to go, Ifyou are going someplace really different, like the Grand-Canyon, Ye-llowstone or places like that then head down to your local library and check out some videos on your destination. Most ofthese scenic places really offer so much to See that you need to narrow it down to just the best parts that you want to see. And of course the Internet is still one ofyour best tools to use before traveling. Almost every city, state, museums, galleries, historical attractions now have their own website so you can visit and obtain the vital information that you need to know about before traveling. Many times you can purchase tickets to these p!aces you want to visit right on line before takin~ offon your trip. Both the Convention anti Visitor’s Bureaus websites for cities and states really offer a lot of ideas on what to do when visiting them and the surrounding area. Many times local business will even advertise on their websites with coupons for restaurants and the different places to visit, so be sure and pick up a copy of the local newspaper to see what newis happening. 14 M~t~oSTAR September 2008 v~w,~.metrostamews.com ~et~oSTAR 15 Participate in the iarS;est LGBT Corn[]unity Survey in history, and help demonstrate the Everyone who completes the survey by Sept 14, 2008 wi~! be entered into a drawing to win one of FiVE iP0d Shuffles or the 6rand Prize of TWO free airline tickets fr0~0 any of the participating airline’s destinations in the 48 continental U.S. States, plus Canada, Mexico and the Restrictions apply. by Jack Fertig September 2008 "Stand up for yourself, Virgo!" A Sun-Saturn conjunction in Virgo sounds like hard work and criticism. This one harmonizes a dangerously boisterous Mars-Jupiter square, bringing focus and purpose to high energies that could otherwise be squandered. Cladfy your goals, work with others, and be open to criticism, and you can achieve almost anything! ARIES [March 20 -April 19): Your leadership Skills can shine through if you’re a good follower. Let others take the lead, and be willing to work with them. Your suggestions and efforts as a humble part of the team will serve the team well, and you even better. TAURUS [April 20 - May 20): If having fun feels like too much work, try to have fun at work. A little creativity on the job can boost morale and encourage you and your colleagues to work smarter, getting more done with less effort. GEMINI [May 21 - June 20): Fun may seem too important, and you could be frittering away energy that could be used in more satisfying - and yes, more deeply "fun" - ways. Start at home. Your partner, roommate, or even parent could have some very helpful ideas. CANCER [June 21 - July 22): Working too hard at making your partner happy could backfire. A serious discussion can open up issues you need to work on. It sounds P~ease take the survey today, and tell your friends! Caribbean. Tren~end0us strides toward full equality have been achieved by our communities over the past decade. There’s Power in Our Pride. Power to make a difference: tough, but this is a golden opportunity to improve things tremendously. LEO [July 23 -August 22): The big picture seems a bit off, and your efforts to correct it could be too all-encompassing to be effective. Focus on crucial details. What’s most important? Don’t be embarrassed to seek help from an authority. VIRGO [August 23 - September 22): Letting others choose your fun and games can get expensive. Don’t be afraid to set your limits and state your desires. Being a team player means compromises on all sides. You will all have more fun if you stand up for yourself. Bay and lesbian survey studies have opened doors (and minds) in leading con,~orations and organizations, which in turn have recognized the value of their LGBT employees through the establishment of equal hiring policies and domestic partner benefits. This has been a catalyst, leading to sweeping changes in political and Social inclusivity. Demographic reports also influence marketing investment. Virtually absent until recently, we now see a growing variety of products and services represented in gay media, celebrating our diversity. Ads keep LGBT publications and websites in business, serving their communities with independent news and information. Beyond simply advertising, though, these companies support us in many ways, including sponsoring community events and funding community-based charities in order to earn our loyalty. Taking an annual pulse on market trends through surveys helps demonstrate the LGBT community’s growing power, and influences positive change. We respect your privacy. All personal survey data is held confidentially by Community Marketing, Inc., an independent market research and communications firm based in San Francisco (founded 1992, and proudly 100% gay-owned and -operated) and will not I be sold to third parties or used for marketing purposes. Thank you! Community Mark÷ting, ® 2008 Community Marketing, inc., 584 castro st. #834, san Francisco CA 94114 USA ~.ComrnunityMarketinglnc.com LIBRA [September 23 - October 22): You[ current rash of energy could be eas ly exploitedby’a f~ily member or housemate. Stop and think. What do you really want to do? Some volunteer work will do both you and your community a lot of good! SCORPIO [October 23 - November 21): Worrying about what others think will only clog up your brain. Focus on your personal goals and where you want to be in 10, 20, or 30 years. Meditation helps. Planning is even better. Doing both is best. SAGITTARIUS [November 22 - December 20): Real friends love you for your charms, not your generosity. Entertain and plan as if you were head of accounting. Be resourceful! You can be frugal and fabulous, which will also impress the people who count. CAPRICORN [December 21 - January 19): Teamwork is the key to success. Do you really want to be in charge? You’re probably better as the power behind the throne. Your best ideas, .important as they are, have room for improvement. Discuss them with an expert. AQUARIUS [January 20 - Februar3, 18): Those arguments that seem so irresistible are not that important. Make your point and let it go. Take a quiet, amorous holiday, exploring techniques of pleasure. Discover what really works for you and your partner. Don’t fall back on habit or presumption! PISCES [February 19 - March 19): Top? Bottom? Could be time to switch. Don’t be afraid to interrupt lovemaking to discuss needs, techniques, or other important issues, not necessarily sexual. An older friend, maybe an ex, may have very helpful insights. 16 &~troSTAR September 2008 Small Business: Economic Woes Lead to Oppornmity Despite the bleak news about the economy and the continuing credit crunch, small b~lsiness owners have some built-in advantages for survMng-- and thrMng--during troubling times like these. Unlike corporate giants, they have flexibility on their side, allmving them to respond more quickly to customers’ needs and even to try t~- ing their businesses in new directions. Small businesses also are uniquely poised to adjust their budgets to offset a downturn in sales. A nimble small business owner can reduce costs overnight, trimming office supplies, water delivery services, travel expenses and trash pick-ups. Also many LGBT businesses can rely on loyalty within their general community and with their LGBT customers to offset any drops in sales that might come from wary consumers looking to cut back. ® Identifying core markets and targeting marketing efforts to them. Finally, a more personal approach to boosting business may be increasing networking ef~brts: Alliances with other LGBT business owners can lead to financial opportunities. By taking advantage ofweeldy breakfast meetings, receptions or cocktail parties hosted by the local LGBT chamber, entrepreneurs can make connections that translate into business and profits. "As chamber professionals, we need to be out talking to people about the choices they’re making;’ says Minnesot£s Sam McClure, executive director ofQ~orum: The Tvcin Cities GLBTA Chamber ofCommerce. "We have to ask ourselves: ’Does all of this move us forward?’ Supporting this or that LGBT business should be part ofthe larger effort to move us all forward. It’s the whole rising-tide concept. ~V~nat distinguishes successful LGBT businesses is their connection to their communities;’ says Justin Nelson, co-founder and president of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber ofCommerce. "They have strong ties to their customers, and they are participants in the success oftheir communities. The loyalty they engender through their support ofcommunity events and causes can come back to them in tough economic times:’................ gqlile keeping a close eye on the budget and taking advantage 0fcustomer loyalty will help maintain business, it won’t necessarily create new business. That’s where the confident entrepreneur n~eds to stay the course and bravely ma~e even gr{a{&" inxestments in marketing and advertising to stand out fi’6m fl~e crowd, experts say. "~ne tendency is to want to cut back on all your spending to reduce your overall budget," says Kimberlee Willialns, principal and ~narketing director ofFEMWORKS, LLC, a Newark, NewJersey marketing firm that specializes in outreach to the African-American LGBT community. "But what you need to do is invest more money into marketing at these points. Customers still need your services and products, and this might be the time where you can stand above the crowd because your competitors are cutting back their marketing dollars." Some other suggestions for surviving an economic downturn include: ~ Evaluating workforce needs and adjusting accordingly, hiring temporary staffor interns to fill the gap or instituting a hiring freeze; ~ Offering overtime benefits to hourly employees to stave offhiring a full-time employee; ¢ Talking to your bank about extending a line ofcredit; ® Staying in touch with customers and letting them lmow the value oftheir business; ÷ Asking vendors and suppliers for concessions on the length ofpayment periods and interest rates; ÷ Being more aggressive xvhen collecting money owed the company, including offering clients the choice of charging their payments; "Ifwe let aW ofour LGBT business owners fail when we could have helped them, then xve’re doing a disservice to them and our entire cormnunity. They’re creating jobs and the energy that fuels philanthropy. I think we should be out there reminding everyone that it makes a difference where you buy your coffee or your gas or your office equipment? (Source NGLCC http:i/www.nglcc.org/BIZ/index ) METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve T. Orie Spidt of Christ MCC 2902 E2Olh Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-52~80 Worship Saturdays at 10:00 AM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM MCC of the Living Spdng 17 Elk S~eet Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays at 6:00 PM Have a GOd filled and BleSSed Day! www.metrostarnews.com N~troSTAR 17 1o800o535oAIDS (2437) Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline Community for P÷opl÷ tiving Our House, Too offers a variety of activities for people who are H1V+ and or living with AIDS to help combat the social isolation that many of our people live through each and everyday. We provide a Toiletry and Household Pantry for those who are HIV+ and or living with AIDS who cannot afford to purchase these items for themselves, VVe invi{e anyone who would like to volunteer or provide financial assistance to please contact us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail harrismmjr@yahoo.com. KING OF MASSAGE Groat Touch Man to Man Fult Body Massage 2 hands or 4 hands available Keller Williams Realty Chuck Breckenridge Whether buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. ~NWAGLBTCC~ORG Metro Star Classfieds 2" square ON SALE! £oras little as $33 per issue. Email: starnews@sbcglobal.net offer good until 9/16/08 918.835.7887 SAVE & FILL YOUR PIGGY [] WWW.METROSTARNEWS.COM 18 ~etroSTAR September 2008 Support those who support us. Their ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you. DOWNTOWN PL.aLZA ofTULSA I7 West 7th Street ~Ihtsa, OK 918-585-5898 *~vw.downto~vnplazatulsa.com I-LABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 www.habanainn.com ~LLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant ANGLES 2117 NW 39th St. Oldahoma City, OK v~,~v.anglesclub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 v~aw<bambooloungetulsa.com CLUB MAJESTIC 124 N. BOSTON ........ Tulsa, OK 918£584-9494 www.clubmajestictulsa.com FINISHLINE 2200 i’~V 39TH EXPP,_ESSWAY O~-~.homa City, OK 405-5252073~3 w~wc.habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 NW- 39TH ~RESSWAY OkAahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 ~a~vw.habanainn.com THE LEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY OkJahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 wv~v.habanainn.com HOPE TESTING CLINIC 3540 E. 31st Tulsa, OK 800-535-2437 Oldahoma’s HIV/STD Hottine SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC 2902 E. 20TH STREET, Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480 Service SatOrday 9:30 AM MCC of the LIVING SPRING 17 Elk Street Eureka Springs, AR 72632 479-253-9337 Worship Sundays 6pm MCC UNITED 1623 N. Maplewood, Tulsa, OK 918-838-!715 ~,w.v.mcctulsa.org OPEN,MRMS YOUTH PROJECT 2015 -B S. Lakewood Tulsa, OK 74112 918-838-7104 www. openarmsproject.org OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 KING OF MASSAGE In or Out Calls Oldahoma City, OK 405-314-3898 JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW EXPRESSWAY Oklakoma City, OK 73112 405-840-2106 wvw.c2 lgoldcastle.com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa New and Historic Homes for Sale and Rent For Info: www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com GUSHER’S PdSSTAURANT 2200 ~xWg 39TH ~RESSWAY Oklalmma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn DALLAS CV~B Dallas, TX ww~v.glbtdallas.com www.metrostamews.com ~etroSTAR 19 "I’m Ron Marlett and i’m .......... running for State House District 84 because I want a chance to bring about change that really matters for my fellow Oklahomans: good jobs, affordable healthcare, a quality educational system and real freedom and equality." ! NEED YOUR HELP TO WIN THIS ELECTION, WE. CAN MAKE ~T HAPPEN! need money and volunteers! Ron Marlett P.O. Box 854 Bethany, OK 73008 (405) 840-2069 www.ronmarlettforhousedistrict84.com Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2008] Metro Star Magazine, September 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 9 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource September 01, 2008 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Metro Star’s first issue began in August of 2008. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004), The Ozark’s Star (2004), and The Star (2005). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd; Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Greg Steele James Nimmo Joey D. Victor Gorin Rex Wockner Romeo San Vicente Andrew Collins Donald Pile Ronald Blak Ray Williams Jack Fertig Devre Jackson Chaz Ward Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online text Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwestern Missouri Western Arkansas Southeast Kansas Eastern Oklahoma The United States of America (50 states) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19 Relation A related resource The Metro Star Magazine, August 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 8 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/198 The Metro Star Magazine, November 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 11 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/200 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/201